Author's Note: I don't own any of these characters. I'm a huge fan of the potential that Harvey & Jessica have and, given the lack of FF out there I decided to take a swing at it.

"Boy, I just kicked your ass and you didn't just want it–you begged for it. Now you are going to stay here, be humble, and learn your goddamn place."

Jessica saw it coming before it happened. Something in the air changed the longer he stood there in silence, her final words echoing between them. And then there was that slight twitch of his jaw. So yeah, she saw it coming. And she knew that she should have walked away, but she was just so sick and tired of this man. His smugness. His cockiness. And his goddamn arrogance.

Three weeks later.

Jessica didn't look up when the door to her office opened. Her eyes remained fixed on the paperwork in front of her and she bit back a smile when her visitor finally spoke.

"So we're just going to act like that never happened?"

She took her time affixing her signature to the dotted line, making sure that each letter was cold and precise. It wasn't until she completed the tail of the 'n' in her last name that she finally acknowledged the man in her office.

"Act like what never happened?"

Harvey narrowed his eyes slightly, clearly bothered by her indifference.

"Jessica," he bit out. A warning.

She raised an eyebrow at his tone, putting down the pen and slowly leaning back in her seat. "Harvey," she said in a measured tone of her own, daring him to continue.

Harvey unbuttoned his jacket as he leisurely made his way over to her couch, settling in as though he had every right to be there. The smug bastard.

"You kissed me."

Jessica allowed a brilliant smile to shine through as she tilted her head in faux confusion.

"That's not how I remember it."

"No?"

"No," she said. "I recall having to tell you, yet again, exactly how this firm operates and you chose to kiss me."

"And yet you didn't move away."

"I believe I did."

"Not after kissing me back."

"Harvey," she smiled again, this time using the one reserved for dismantling opposing counsels, "we can go back and forth about this all day, but I'd like to skip ahead to the part where you tell me why you're here."

He nodded. "It's actually quite simple," he with a smile of his own. "You kissed me."

Jessica shrugged a shoulder, clearly not impressed. "If you're going to rehash details that we've already covered about something that happened nearly a month ago, then-"

"And since that kiss," Harvey continued, completely cutting her off, "you haven't said a word to me. Why is that?"

She let out a humorless laugh. "You think I'm avoiding you?"

"You tell me."

"Harvey, don't flatter yourself. I've been busy handling the Harding case. If you needed to reach me, you knew where to find me."

"Right," he said slowly, the single syllable drawn out cynically.

Jessica slowly rose and moved to stand in front of her desk, leaning against it as she faced the man who had come to be her partner in almost everything over the years. Almost everything.

"I'm still waiting for you to tell me why you're here."

Harvey looked at her for a moment before rising himself and walking over to her, stopping only once they were toe to toe.

"I wanted to see your face."

Jessica raised her eyebrow at the absurdity of the statement.

"You wanted to see my face," she repeated slowly, each syllable dripping with the cynicism his words took on moments earlier.

He smirked and Jessica was taken aback by the predatory gleam in his eye.

"I've been thinking long and hard and I wanted to see your face when I shared those thoughts with you."

She inhaled slightly when he moved in even closer and placed his hands on either side of her on the desk, boxing her in. She watched as his eyes, darkened to the color of whiskey, ran across her face, lingering on her lips before meeting hers again.

"Jessica Pearson," he began in a low measured tone. "You said I'm going to learn my place and I find it hard to believe that you'd think for a second that I haven't always known it. And I want nothing more," he continued, moving his head slightly to bring his lips to her ear, "than show you yours. Remember how you said that I begged for it?" He moved back to hold her gaze. "You have no idea how much I'm going to enjoy returning the favor."

His eyes flicked back down to her lips and he waited a beat before straightening up.

"Go home and get some sleep," he said, making his way over to the door. "I know that Harding case has taken a lot out of you."

Jessica watched him walk away and it wasn't until he disappeared down the hallway that she let out the breath that she didn't even realize she'd been holding. Shit.

A few weeks later.

"Did you hear about the Billingham decision," Harvey asked as he made his way over to her couch.

"I did. I would say excellent job, but you don't need your ego inflated any more."

Harvey laughed. "You keep me grounded. Thank you for that."

She shot him a look before returning to her work. "It's 9pm. The day is long over. Shouldn't you be out celebrating your victory?"

"I am," he said calmly as he watched her. "Besides," he said moments later, breaking the silence that fell between them, "when you've had as many wins as I have, there's no need for grandeur."

"Ah," Jessica said rolling her eyes. "There's the humbleness I've come to expect."

They sat still for a few moments, Harvey willing her to look at him and Jessica actively avoiding his eyes.

"Jessica," he said, his voice calm, yet insistent.

She looked up to find him standing in front of her desk, looking every bit a man on a mission. She narrowed her eyes slightly, refusing to back down from his unspoken challenge.

"Remember what I said a few weeks ago?" he asked, straight to the point.

"About?"

"I'm sure you'll remember if you try hard enough."

He was baiting her and she knew it, but that didn't stop her from playing along.

She laughed. "Oh yes. That." She shook her head and began to pack up her things for the night.

"'Oh, yes? That?'" Harvey repeated.

"You've stated your case, Harvey, but I'm not quite sure what you expect me to do with that information."

"Stupidity isn't a good look for you," he said.

"Excuse me?" Jessica stopped, incredulous.

Harvey walked around her desk until he stood in front of her. "Stand up."

Jessica threw him a look that let him know exactly how she felt about his command. "I think it's time for you to leave."

"And I think it's time that you get up. You're done for the night anyway, aren't you?" He smirked, clearly pleased with himself.

"You're so damn arrogant."

"Oh I know I am, but I have every right to be."

"Oh, is that so?"

"It is."

She sighed, but allowed him to help her put on her trench coat and opened the door, turning off the lights behind them. They walked down the hallway in silence and when they reached the elevator Harvey was the first to speak.

"Where should we go for dinner?"

Jessica scoffed as the doors opened and she walked into the car.

"I'm not going to dinner with you, Harvey."

"Why not?" he asked as he reached across her to press the button for the lobby.

"Because it's been a long day and I want nothing more than to climb into bed with a glass of wine."

"Weren't you the one who was just telling me that I needed to celebrate my victory?"

"I was. And you should. Just not with me."

"I don't see why not. We have the same idea of a good time."

Jessica tossed him a look as the elevator doors opened and stepped out into the lobby, her heels echoing on the marble tiles.

"Have dinner with me, Jessica," Harvey said as they walked out of the building onto the sidewalk, the brisk air signaling the impending change of seasons.

"Why."

"Because I'm hungry and I know you haven't eaten all day."

A small smile crossed her face as she slowly shook her head.

She repeated her question. "Why."

Harvey looked at her and sighed. He stepped closer to her.

"You know why."

She opened her mouth to reply, but Harvey held up a hand to stop her.

"I meant every word of what I said. I will show you. And you will beg."

Jessica shivered and she wasn't quite sure if it was because of the intensity of his stare or the night air.

"But that's not what this is about. This is me, an established and successful lawyer, asking you, another established and successful lawyer, to share a meal. No tricks. No expectations." He took a couple of steps away from her and opened the door to the car that had pulled up beside them. "When the time has come there will be no confusion. No questions. No room for feigning ignorance." He looked at her, watching the myriad of expressions cross her face. He smiled softly. "So I'll ask again - where should we go for dinner?"

Author's Note Part II: Not quite sure where I'm gonna go with this one, but I like the idea of this not being an immediate pairing. Hm. Let me know your thoughts though.