Well, I've been back from Paris for 6 days now and I hope my experience translates well into this story. Excuse my taking a small break from "It's complicated" to write up my version of Tuckson in Paris while its still fresh in my mind. The first chapter will be Tuckson only and the subsequent chapters will add the rest of their entourage back into the fold. I know this is quite a bit further into the relationship than I have written in my previous story so far (years!), but this is where "It's Complicated" is headed. So I hope you will enjoy Paris with me and the TucksonPlus family! I'll return to "It's Complicated" soon.
WEDNESDAY, June 15, 2016
"Wow," Ed said chuckling as he gave Olivia a hand out of the taxi and closed the door behind her. "I think I just saw my life, your life and the lives of a dozen other people flash before my eyes."
"I'm just impressed that the driver actually apologized for the traffic and making us late for our reservation. I'm not really sure there is a such thing as late here?" she questioned looking back as the taxi driver flew across the next intersection taking a left from the vicinity of where a right lane would be located if there were any lanes marked.
"I don't know but I thought I was putting my life in danger in New York City taxis. That was insane!" Ed exclaimed, shaking his head. "Do they even have a such thing as lanes in this city? It's one thing for New Yorkers to ignore the lanes but this is crazy…and the scooters and motorcycles and bicycles weaving in and out and around all over the place. Just no."
Olivia laughed at Ed and held onto his hand as she adjusted the pleated skirt around her legs. Ed stood back and looked at the vision in red chiffon before him. The sleeveless bodice hugged the curves of her breasts before darting in around her waist then dropped into a flowing sheer skirt with a high-low hem that flirted with revealing varying amounts of leg as she moved to let go of his hand and took his arm. Ed eyed her legs admiringly. She had finished the elegant look with a pair of nude four-inch high heel sandals that gracefully showed off the curves of her feet and drew his eyes back up to her shapely calves.
"You're so beautiful," he breathed.
"Je t'aime, mon beau" she replied.
"That's so sexy," the skin around Ed's eyes relaxed and crinkled into an appreciative smile just for her.
"Shall we?" She asked indicating the short walk to the corner entrance of the restaurant already being held open by an attendant.
"Absolutely," Ed replied, placing his hand over hers on his arm and escorting her inside with a nod to the man holding the door for them.
"Bonjour," greeted one of two hostesses as they entered the highly esteemed establishment known as La Tour d'Argent.
"Bonjour, madam, monsieur," greeted the other one moving to check a reservation book.
"Bonjour," Olivia replied as Ed nodded at the hostesses in return. "J'ai une reservation pour deux sous le nom de Tucker."
Ed squeezed Olivia's hand on his arm and flashed her a sly smile as the hostess verified their reservation then with a nod to the remaining hostess showed them into the salon.
"This way, s'il vous plait," she explained indicating that they take a seat. "Someone will be with you shortly," she continued in English smiling at Ed.
"Thank you," Ed replied.
"Merci," Olivia echoed.
"So, this is fancy," Ed said making a face, clearly uncomfortable in the formal sitting room. He took a seat in a high-backed armchair facing Olivia after she chose a seat by the window and looked out at the view along the front of the street while she took in the ornate decor.
"Hmm," Olivia responded indulgently finding Ed's grousiness to be endearing rather than negative these days. "Do you think the kids are going to be irritable tonight? I'd hate…"
Ed interrupted her, "The kids are fine. Stop worrying about 'em. We had a long day and they will no doubt conk out quickly as they haven't adjusted to the time change yet. I haven't either," he grumbled.
"I hope we have a good view of Notre Dame from our table," Olivia said, peering out through the window. "It was just so incredible to see it in person today."
"It really was," Ed agreed. "And I'm just still blown away by the space and that ribbed ceiling in the refectory in the Conciergerie. Wow, that ceiling was grand."
"And the stained glass in Saint Chappelle," Olivia continued his line of thought. "I can't believe that we've seen so much already and we haven't even been here two full days yet."
A young man approached the couple from another door along the far wall. "Monsieur and Madam Tucker, if you'll come with me this way, s'il vous plait," he said and turned around to lead them down a back hall towards a small elevator. Ed shot Olivia a smirk before dropping his eyes to the diamond ring adorning the ring finger of her left hand.
"I really like the sound of that," Ed whispered, bringing her hand to his lips as they followed the young man into the elevator.
"I am not changing my name. Do not even think about it. Besides, it wouldn't be fair," Olivia hissed back and rolled her eyes at him.
"I know and I really don't care," Ed said, smirking. "But I also won't mind when people make that mistake every so often. I want everyone to know that you're with me."
Olivia just smirked back and shook her head at him. The elevator took them up to the sixth floor restaurant level where a tall mature gentleman with grey hair met them and ushered them to a table at the front of the upper level of tables. A simple step separated the tables above from already partially filled tables of the lower level. Thin white shades were drawn down halfway across the wrap-around bay windows, partially obscuring the view while shading the diners from the harsh light of the sun. However, Olivia could just make out the shadow of the towers of Notre Dame through the shades. The sun would be setting just beyond the famed church and she suddenly realized with a slight gasp that they were going to have a magnificent view when the shades were pulled back up.
The headwaiter and a fellow server seated Ed and Olivia next to one another facing the shaded view. Their table sat flush to the rail along the upper seating level. The waiter laid their napkins across their laps and handed them the menus. He greeted them in French then explained the menus to them in English, pointing out the prefixe menu, which contained five courses of duck followed by dessert before leaving them to peruse the choices. Another waiter happened by with a tray of flutes containing a pink sparkling liquid and asked the couple if they would like a glass of the rose champagne to which Olivia nodded and replied "Merci".
"Too bad the sun is in our eyes," Ed commented. "I bet that would be a wonderful view if they were able to raise the shades while we were here."
"It's going to be magnificent when they raise the shades. We'll be able to see it," Olivia said positively.
"That's hours away," Ed said doubtfully, "Sun isn't setting 'til after ten and it's just half past seven now."
"We'll still be here, Ed," Olivia insisted.
"Seriously?" Ed questioned her with a raised eyebrow.
"Trust me," Olivia smiled at him and raised her glass of champagne.
"Oh, I do," Ed's eyes crinkled and he raised his glass to touch hers.
"So, what's on the agenda for tomorrow?" Olivia asked.
"We'll play it by ear," Ed said mysteriously with a quirk of his eyebrow. Olivia laughed at him.
"Sure we will," she replied knowingly with a smirk. Olivia had made a list of must-sees, want-to-sees and if we have time can-we-sees, and the plan was to hit as many things on her to do list as possible and on the best days possible without running themselves or the kids into the ground.
"Probably depends on the weather. Thought it looked like there was a chance of rain tomorrow, right?" Ed asked.
"That's what the forecast said last week but since we've been here, it just seems to be forecasting sun and increasing heat for the rest of the week. Looks like all the layers I packed are not going to be necessary. I may have to wash all my sleeveless blouses and re-wear them since half the clothes I packed for chillier weather are not going to be useful," Olivia sighed.
"Laundry service shouldn't be any problem," Ed pointed out.
"No, apparently, all services are quite taken care of," Olivia laughed with Ed. A young woman approached Ed and asked him a question in French to which Olivia replied back in French then told her that it would be preferable to speak English for Ed and yes they would like to see the wine list. She left the table momentarily. As Ed turned to say something to Olivia, he was startled when a five-inch binder was dropped on the table beside his champagne glass.
"Oh!" he said looking at the binder with consternation. Olivia laughed at the disgruntled look on his face.
"They have something like 15,000 wines to choose from here," Olivia told Ed.
"Oui, madam," the young lady agreed with Olivia, then asked Ed if he knew what region or style he wanted to go with so she could narrow it down.
"To what?" he replied, "a few hundred?" Both ladies were laughing at him when the austere headwaiter from earlier approached the table and spoke quickly with the wine sommelier in French. Olivia raised her eyebrow at their conversation, then glanced at Ed and gave him a smirk. The female wine sommelier nodded to the couple before hefting the large binder off the table and backing away. Ed looked at the headwaiter in askance.
"I'm sorry for any confusion, madam, monsieur," the waiter said patiently in explanation. "It is my understanding that you will be having the prefixe menu consisting of the duck and that the selection of a bottle of wine has already been pre-arranged for you."
Olivia smiled at the look of utter relief that crossed Ed's face and silently hid her laughter as she heard him mutter, "Oh, thank God," under his breath.
"The bottle will be brought out to you shortly for your approval," the waiter continued taking their menus. "In the meantime, can we get you another glass of champagne?"
"Oui, monsieur," Olivia replied allowing Ed a reprieve from any decision-making.
"They need to digitize their wine list before that poor young lady throws out her back," Ed joked and finished the remaining champagne in his glass. Olivia laughed.
"I don't know, Ed. If they handed you a tablet it most certainly would not have had the same effect as that binder."
"That's definitely true," Ed said as the waiter took their empty glasses and replaced them with full ones.
"To your savior," Olivia raised her glass in toast, raising her eyebrow.
"Absolutely," Ed said clinking his glass to hers and bestowing a warm knowing smile on her. Another young lady approached the table and asked if they would like still or sparkling water then offered them the choice of a variety of bread from a basket. Before they could settle back into conversation, yet another waiter approached them with two small plates that he placed before them.
"Compliments from the chef this evening," the waiter went on to explain the amuse bouche of duck sausage to them in stilted English then left them to try the small bite.
Ed popped the bite in his mouth with the attached silver toothpick then his eyes widened as he looked at Olivia and took a sip of champagne to wash it down. Olivia hummed as Ed quietly told her, "That is the best bite of sausage or duck I think I have ever tasted. That wasn't the first course was it?"
"It was really good and no, Ed, that was not the first course," Olivia said shaking her head and taking a sip of her own champagne. She reached across the table to finger the clear duck figure sitting there. Ed looked around to the other tables and noticed they all had a different colored ducks decorating each table. A silver candelabra housed two lit candles elegantly dripping wax along their lengths, a small clear vase about the size of his hand held a single red rose with little to no stem, and beautiful etched silver water goblets now filled with still water was the only other décor on their table. "Simple but elegant," Olivia remarked then sighed and sat back in her chair giving Ed a contented look with a small curve along her mouth.
"Is Paris what you expected?" he asked.
"Yes and no." Olivia looked thoughtful and glanced around the restaurant. "It's not as crowded and touristy as I expected, I guess."
"Maybe at the weekend," Ed suggested.
"Maybe," she said, "The architecture and the décor is so elaborate and detailed and yet the culture of the people is so relaxed and laid back." She smiled and looked up at Ed taking his hand.
"It's nice to slow down once in a while and just breathe," Ed replied, understanding her sentiment.
"Yes, it is," she said. "I feel like that's what I'm supposed to do here. That's its purpose. Slow down. Relax. Just enjoy the sights. Enjoy life."
"Then that's what we'll do," Ed said simply.
"That's what we are doing," she smiled back at him squeezing his hand. Olivia felt a presence behind them and looked to discover the austere headwaiter holding a dusty bottle of wine for their review.
"The 1997 Faiveley Nuit Saint Georges from Burgundy," he introduced the wine bottle as chosen for them.
"Ed," Olivia exclaimed looking at him, "a twenty year old burgundy? This is too much. We couldn't possibly."
"Yes, we could," Ed countered. "Is it drinkable?"
Olivia gasped and looked back to the bottle before taking a glance at the facial expression on the waiter's face. Not so much as a tick had marred his facial expression at Ed's remark.
"That's an understatement," she replied.
"We are in Paris on a well-deserved and long overdue vacation. There is nothing wrong with indulging in something decadent and expensive once in a while," Ed resolutely pointed out. "Just sit back and enjoy it."
"Alright," Olivia said and nodded her head at the waiter.
"Open 'er up," Ed told him with an accompanying rolling hand gesture.
"Certainly, monsieur," the austere waiter motioned for the young female sommelier to take the wine bottle and she placed it in a basket on a small rolling table which contained a small tasting glass. She rolled the small table around the front of Olivia and Ed so that they could observe her remove the cork. She deftly used the corkscrew to remove the foil then proceeded to carefully insert the screw into the cork.
"This is quite a dusty bottle," she remarked with a slightly nervous smile at the couple as she carefully tried to draw out the cork. She came away with about a third of it, which she discreetly slipped into the pocket of her jacket before making another attempt to capture the cork. A good chunk of it came away on her second attempt and she maneuvered the table around to observe the interior of the neck of the bottle in better lighting. She excused herself momentarily then returned with a long tweezer-looking implement, which she carefully inserted into the bottle and pulled out a few more pieces.
"You're really having to work for this one, aren't you?" Ed remarked.
"Oui, monsieur," she replied, "but it will be worth it." Again, she peered down the neck into the bottle and then moved it to tip a small amount of wine into the small glass on the table and excused herself for a moment, leaving with the glass then returning without it. She removed the bottle from the basket and Ed indicated to allow Olivia to do the tasting. She poured a small amount of wine into Olivia's glass. Olivia swirled her glass then held it up to the light.
"Wow, that's really dark," Ed remarked.
"Age," Olivia said with a quirk of her eyebrow then took a sip, closing her eyes and savoring the flavors of the tannins. She opened her eyes slowly as a smile spread across her face. She turned to the sommelier and nodded her head with a quick "Oui." The female sommelier smiled in return and finished filling Olivia's glass before she moved to fill Ed's glass then placed the bottle on the front of their table with the label facing the couple and rolled the cart away with a comment to enjoy.
Ed turned to Olivia and raised his glass, "To our first vacation together, hopefully one of many."
Olivia returned the gesture intoning, "To Paris."
"To Paris," Ed repeated as they clinked their glasses together. They each took a sip of wine then placed their glasses on the table. Ed reached to cup Olivia's cheek with his left hand and drew her close to him. "I love you," he said before softly brushing her lips with his.
"I love you, too. Thank you for bring me here," Olivia smiled sweetly at Ed.
"So," Ed looked at Olivia somewhat bashfully after his romantic gesture and proceeded to change the subject, "what has been your favorite sight so far and what are you most looking forward to?"
"I think we're going to have a hard time beating Notre Dame. The whole experience was just incredible, the church, the statues, the paintings and other art, the architecture, the towers with that view, and those crypts. Just unbelievable, I could go on and on," Olivia laughed and reached for a piece of bread, breaking it into pieces and smearing it with butter.
"I know, that was my overall favorite so far too," Ed replied with a contemplative look on his face. "I'm still kind of confused over the garden thing. Tuilieries wasn't what I was expecting. It's spring and there were hardly any flowers. I mean the statues and the way those large trees were cut to look like hedges towering over our heads was incredible but I just expected more color."
"I think garden means something different in that context than what you were expecting, Ed," Olivia pointed out. "The boys really loved those tiger statues. I'm glad they didn't get hung up on the fact that a lot of the human statues were unclothed."
"Well, we're certainly exposing them to art of that nature early, so hopefully they'll learn to appreciate it instead of being embarrassed by it. I don't want my children to be scared of things they don't understand. I feel like I didn't get the chance to really expose my girls or Cillian to such things while they were growing up," Ed said guiltily thinking about his earlier failures as a parent.
"They turned out all right anyway, Ed," Olivia said putting her hand consolingly over his. "Whether that was your influence during the times you were around them or them wanting to be contrary to their mother, I'm not sure, but the end result remains the same. I'm not saying they don't have "daddy issues" but they are certainly not alone in the world there!" Olivia picked up her wine glass and gestured towards herself. "Not to mention that you have made a huge effort to make up for all the lost time and all of your children seem to be appreciating it, even if some of them have been more difficult than others."
"Yeah, it's much better," Ed admitted. "I wish I hadn't waited so long to try to figure it out. I'm sure there will be plenty of bumps in the road ahead but the ride will be worth it."
A waiter materialized behind them with two plates, which he placed in front of Ed and Olivia, describing the simple dish made with peas in duck jus garnished with amaranth.
"Ok. They're peas," Ed commented after the waiter left them alone. "I can see that and I'm okay with that. This is good. I can do this. Peas." He nodded his head. Olivia knew he had been a little nervous about coming to the fancy French restaurant and what the menu entailed since he was mainly a meat and potatoes guy, although over the course of the last few years, he had managed to be a little more adventurous into culinary trends due to the company he kept. Ed managed to scoop a few morsels on his spoon and gave it a taste while Olivia moved to do the same.
"Hmm," she commented looking at him with a sparkle in her eye then took a sip from her wine glass.
"And once again, I think those may be the best peas I've ever tasted in my life," Ed informed her with a smile. "I'm sensing a theme here."
Olivia laughed. "And it wasn't a large dish, which is good since we have at least four more dishes, a cheese cart and dessert to come," she commented.
"Wow," Ed said, "Well, the chef has changed the way I view sausage, duck and peas so far so bring it on! I'm especially looking forward to dessert."
"Oh, I know."
"I didn't mean that," Ed groaned, "well, I did. That too, but you know I love my sweets."
"I know you love your chocolate," Olivia told him, "but I think the dessert on this menu was apricot so don't get your heart set on chocolate, okay?"
"Whatever it is, I'm sure it will be delicious, chocolate or not" Ed shrugged.
"I was thinking," Olivia said taking another sip from her wine as the waiter removed the plates now cleaned of any remnants of the pea dish, "Maybe I should ask the concierge which day he thinks it would be best for us to take the train to Versailles. The timing on our side trip needs to be just right. I'd hate to go on the weekend and hit a bunch of crowds. We need to decide which items on the list will be less popular with the three-day tourists and try to hit those maybe on the weekend and maybe on Tuesday when the Louvre is closed. I'm really glad we crossed Notre Dame off our list today. It turned out perfect."
"Our museum pass works at Versailles too, right?" Ed asked.
"I think it works everywhere except for the gardens," Olivia replied as a waiter returned to place a card beside both Olivia and Ed then proceeded to refill their wine glasses.
"What's this?" Ed asked picking up the card after the waiter left.
"It's the card identifying your duck. Is it the same number as mine?" she asked.
"It says number 1,157,474. Does that mean they've served over a million ducks in this place?" Ed gasped.
"Well, this place has been around for hundreds of years and duck is the specialty," Olivia pointed out. "Hmm, same number as mine."
"Aww, we're sharing a duck. I love it," Ed said leaning over to give her a smooch with a sappy grin.
"Oh my god. You've finally lost it. Mooning over sharing a duck with me," Olivia laughed smooching him right back.
"Hey! We're in Paris, the most romantic city on earth. Give me a break!"
"Alright," she said, leaning over and placing a more lingering kiss on his lips. She sat back and gasped as she realized the waiters were raising the shades. It was still a little bright outside and she had to squint for a moment adjusting her eyes to the light beaming from behind the sight of Notre Dame spectacularly viewed from the now unobscured windows in front of them. "We have got to get a picture of that view before we go."
"Think they frown on that here?" Ed asked.
"It's my understanding that you get a photo with your dinner, so I don't think so," Olivia told him. The austere headwaiter was already taking a photo of the couple seated behind them then proceeded with their camera up to the window to capture a photo of the view for them as well. Olivia watched as a tour boat floated by on the Seine, flocked with tourists enjoying the views. "We really should take a boat tour while we're here."
"I'm sure that can be arranged," Ed replied taking another sip of wine as the headwaiter stepped back up onto their level to return the camera to the couple behind them. He stepped forward and told Ed and Olivia he would take a picture for them after their next course when the light was a little softer.
"Merci, Monsieur," Olivia told him with a smile.
"I love seeing you smile like that," Ed told her once they were left alone again. "You can light up a room with that smile, but you've certainly lighted up my life with it."
Olivia started to make a wise crack about Ed quoting song lyrics now but then decided to just let it go and smiled radiantly back at him enjoying the moment. A couple of waiters materialized with their next course, describing the next parts of their duck to be served were the tongue and heart in a vinaigrette with a variety of flower buds.
"Okay, I think they just lost me on this one," Ed said eyeing the dish suspiciously.
"Just try it, Ed," Olivia said and picked up her fork. The couple took a few tentative bites of the dish and a few sips of wine then checked in with each other.
"This part is pretty good," Ed said pointing at one of the morsels of meat with his fork, "but this other one is a little tough," he continued pointing to the thin twisting piece on the plate.
"I think that's the tongue," Olivia mused, eyeing Ed's plate then looking back at her own, "and I think I agree. They both have a really good flavor but the one is a little tough."
"Huh," Ed said taking another bite. "Interesting, I guess. I never imagined that I would be sitting in a restaurant in Paris with Olivia Benson trying duck organs."
Olivia laughed at his facial expression and replied, "Don't even get me started on all the things that I'd never imagined."
"Well, apparently, we've got plenty of time if you want to make a list. There's still three more courses plus dessert, and I have got to see that view with all the lights lit up in the background," Ed sat back from his plate and reached for his wine, enjoying the view of Notre Dame through the windows as the sun set behind it.
"Monsieur, would you like that picture now?" the headwaiter approached Ed's other side as two of the younger servers took their plates away from the table.
"Oh, yes, I would," Ed said, removing the small camera he had purchased for the trip from his inside jacket pocket and handing it over to the gentleman. He took a photo of Ed and Olivia then stepped down to the lower level and approached the window to take a photo of the view for them as Ed remarked, "That little camera has turned out to be really handy and it takes a wonderful photo. I used to traverse all over the national parks and later in Ireland on vacation with the girls with this huge monstrosity around my neck and now you can take just as good a photo with something that fits in the palm of your hand. Technology is amazing."
"I'm just amazed that you learned how to use the Wi-Fi signal and have been posting photos for everyone back home," Olivia laughed. Olivia had been surprised to learn that Ed had private Instagram and Facebook accounts that he shared family and vacation photos with a small private group of close family members and friends who were familiar with their situation. She suspected his son, Cillian, had something to do with those particular accounts but Ed had been pretty good so far at posting photos on their trip everyday.
The headwaiter returned Ed's camera and Ed attempted a "Merci, Monsieur," and Olivia beamed at him for his effort.
Olivia sat back in the chair with a sigh, picking up her wine glass again in one hand and taking Ed's hand on the table in her other. "This view really is spectacular."
"Yes, it is," Ed replied raising her hand to his lips and brushing a soft kiss across her palm, eyeing her with a smirk, then he turned his head towards the window to enjoy the view outside as well.
...
"What do you suppose is in those?" Ed asked as he held open the door for Olivia and they exited the restaurant to the street. Olivia looked at the two small boxes that were handed to them as they took their leave. Ed approached the waiting doorman and asked for a taxi before drawing his pack of cigarettes out of his pocket, shaking one out and lighting it for the wait.
Olivia looked around the quiet street, the traffic had died down to almost nothing and the boats and people walking along the Seine seemed to have dwindled down too. "I don't know," she replied turning one of the boxes over in her hand, "maybe a little something sweet for later? Chocolate, perhaps," she suggested.
"I couldn't eat another thing," Ed said groaning as he exhaled smoke in the opposite direction to where Olivia was standing and turning to take in the sight of Notre Dame all lit up again, the view slightly different now that they were down at street level, "chocolate or not."
"Me, either," Olivia commented. "We'll save it for tomorrow. Maybe give it to the boys."
"If it's chocolate, I'll at least want a bite," Ed whined.
Olivia laughed, "Well, maybe one of them will let you have a bite."
"Yeah, right," Ed laughed. "They won't be letting go of anything chocolate that easy."
"It's your own fault," Olivia told him. "You created those chocolate monsters."
Ed laughed as the doorman pointed to the taxi quickly approaching. Ed moved to the deposit his butt in the cigarette receptacle by the door then ushered Olivia to the taxi where the doorman held the door for them. Olivia gave the taxi driver the address to the apartment where they were staying and then settled back in for the ride under Ed's outstretched arm along the backseat.
They reached their destination in only minutes and Ed remarked when the driver told him seven euros that this ride was a far different experience than the thirty euro ride to the restaurant in crazy traffic. Olivia agreed laughingly as they alighted from the taxi and entered the building that housed the apartment in which they were staying during their visit to Paris. They walked along the now quiet passage, which had been teaming with people shopping earlier in the day, and headed to the third floor above that housed the apartment. Ed quietly unlocked the door and made a grab for Olivia's arm as she moved with intent into the apartment.
"Everyone has already settled down for the night," he whispered, "and we already said goodnight to everyone before we left. Let's not disturb anyone now but continue our own evening. They'll be just fine until morning."
Olivia gave him a look of protest before thinking about his perspective then acquiesced. He was right. Walking on the old creaking hardwoods of the apartment towards the secondary bedroom would probably only wake the other occupants and if there had been any problems, they would already have been apprised of them. Olivia's skirt swished as she changed directions and headed for the kitchen with the two small boxes, which she waved at Ed in explanation. He followed her to retrieve a couple of glasses which he filled with water while she stowed the mystery boxes in the refrigerator and followed her back to the bedroom they were using as a master.
Ed quickly moved to one of the nightstands that flanked the king size bed and placed the two water glasses on it then moved back towards Olivia with intent. She raised an eyebrow in his direction as he approached her and took her in his arms.
"I had the most wonderful evening sharing dinner and that wonderful view with you, talking about our trip and our lives and our children, our family," Ed corrected himself with a smile, "and now I intend to have a most enjoyable night with you, undressing you and worshiping every delectable inch of you, then holding you while you fall asleep in my arms."
"Mm," Olivia replied wrapping her arms around his neck, "that sounds like a very good end to a fantastic evening."
"Good," Ed replied, dropping kisses along her jawline, "relax and enjoy."
Ed's kisses trailed across her cheek before he took her lips in a firm but tender kiss. He pulled back to stare intently into her deep brown eyes before moving behind her, trailing his hand along the red chiffon as he searched carefully for the tiny zipper that was hidden underneath the flow of her hair. He put his left hand at the back of her head, running his fingers lightly through her hair before brushing it carefully away from the zipper so as not to catch as he opened her dress with his right. Olivia gasped as the slight tugs against her scalp caused tiny pricks of sensation to flow down the back of her neck and back, giving her a slight whisper of goose bumps along her upper arms.
"Cold?" Ed rasped along her ear as the fingers of his right hand found the tiny zipper and his other hand let go of the strands of her hair to grasp her upper arm and rub it lightly.
"No," Olivia whispered, shivering again.
Ed gave a low chuckle, his voice shimmering against her ear as Olivia's skin prickled with sensation at the breath he blew across her neck. He moved his left hand to the nape of her neck then grasped the material of the dress with it as his right hand pulled slowly at the zipper, slowly opening inch by inch to reveal the sexy lines of her back for his eyes. He paused halfway to his destination to drop light kisses along the opening and Olivia shivered again.
Ed raised his head and finished bringing the zipper down to its end just above the generous curve of Olivia's bottom. He could not resist the urge to give her buttocks a slight squeeze through the wispy chiffon material before he let her go. His hands went to the small bits of material at her shoulders still holding her dress in place. He simultaneously drew them down her arms on both sides and the dress fell with a whoosh to the soft area rug covering the hardwood floor at their feet.
Olivia slowly turned around stepping out of the dress now crumpled around her feet and slid it aside with a heel. Ed leaned over to pick it up and hang it over a chair but stopped mid-reach to gasp at the sight of Olivia standing there dressed in nothing but her high heels and a set of lingerie from his wildest fantasies. The sheer black material that cupped the curves of Olivia's gorgeous breasts was embroidered along the lacy edge with the an intricate red design and finished off with a small red bow that rested on the dip between her breasts. Ed let his eyes drop down Olivia's curves to find a matching set of sheer black material covering her hips with red embroidery leading to that most intimate part of her.
Ed groaned then asked Olivia in a very husky voice, "Did you buy those for yourself or were they a gift?"
"They're Simone Perele," Olivia said as if that explained everything then she smiled slyly. "French lingerie for a French vacation. Oh, and they were a gift."
"For you or for me?" Ed asked still trying to get control over his body.
"Umm...probably both?" Olivia shrugged, the movement accentuating the lingerie's support of her ample bosom.
"Someone knows exactly what I like," Ed smiled teasingly.
"So you like them?" Olivia asked with a smirk.
"No, I love them," Ed replied, taking a step back toward her while raising an eyebrow in her direction. "They're very distracting but I have plans and I will not be deterred. We'll leave them where they are for now, for our enjoyment." He mused over her body a little longer before taking another step in her direction. "Keep the heels, too," he suggested.
"Whatever you want," Olivia laughed with another shrug.
"Actually, I'd rather give you what you want," Ed said and backed her up against the bed. "Have a seat and I'll take these off for you. You've done nothing but walk all over the city for the last couple of days. Your feet deserve some attention." Ed boosted up her onto the large raised mattress and settled her into a reclining position before pulling her right leg up and settling her foot against his shoulder.
"Hold on," she said raising a hand in his direction. "You have way too many clothes on, Captain Tucker. Lose the jacket and the shirt. Maybe the pants too."
Ed laughed and complied quickly with Olivia's request, returning back to the bed clad only in a pair of dark gray boxer briefs which showed off his surprisingly fit for a man in his mid-fifties body. He raised her foot again to his shoulder and began to work on opening the fastener along the straps of her right foot.
"Hmm," she moaned as he slipped the shoe off her foot and let it drop to the floor before moving it to brace her arch against his left pec and massaging the back of her heel then moving to her toes. He rubbed firmly front and back then moved in between and she let out a little squeal.
"Ticklish?" he asked smiling and sliding his fingers between her toes, she curled them under in response and bit her bottom lip. Ed smiled in response and moved his left hand down along her arch before firmly rubbing the ball of her foot with this right thumb. Olivia groaned.
"You have no idea how good that feels," she said in a low voice.
"Hmm," Ed continued to rub along her foot, sweeping along her arch and lowering his mouth to trace his lips followed by his tongue along the curve. Then he gripped her heel and massaged firmly along the edge while he placed kisses along each of her toes until she curled them under again and bit her bottom lip. "Such sexy feet," he whispered before dropping a kiss along the inside of her arch and feathering his fingers along the inside of her calf as he drew her foot back across his opposite shoulder and kissed up the outside of her leg. He paused to wander his mouth behind her knee before placing one of his own on the mattress to take some of his weight and continued his kisses and carresses up the outside of her thigh.
He leaned his weight on his left hand pressed against the mattress as he kissed up the outside of Olivia's right hip and his right hand slid up the inside of her leg to hold her in place. He trailed kisses back down her hip and paused over the edge of the top of her panties. He lightly flicked his tongue under the elastic band holding them in place, tracing the edge back to where her buttock rested against the bed then back to her front but never moving further than the indention just past the protrusion of her hipbone. He let the elastic band pop back in place before he kissed down to the band of elastic encircling her leg, then he again slid his tongue under the edge following it slightly under the curve of her buttock before following it to the middle of the top of her thigh and pulling back again.
"Tease," Olivia accused with a heavy breath.
"I'm just getting started, baby," Ed laughed.
Olivia groaned again as Ed kissed her along her leg all the way back to her foot before continuing around to kiss up the inside of her leg following the same agonizing path, just pausing behind her knee before dragging his tongue along the inside of her thigh. This time he stopped at the elastic band encircling her leg on the inside and slowly flicked his tongue inside the edge and Olivia felt a rush of desire hit her just an inch away from his tongue. She groaned for him to move closer but he pulled away and looked up at her mischievously before lowering his head between her legs and drawing a firm tongue from her pubic bone down to the crease of her buttocks through her panties.
"Take them off," Olivia complained.
"Not just yet," Ed murmured sexily as he continued his path back down the inside of her thigh.
Ed moved back from the bed to throw her a cheeky look while placing her right leg back on the bed and lifting her left foot to his shoulder and starting to undo her shoe.
"Seriously?" she asked, "Please tell me you are not about to start that whole tease all over again on this side?"
"Patience," he clucked his tongue at her and grinned. "I will not be rushed. I am savoring you just as we savored that poor duck, the delicious wine and that incredible view for hours tonight." Olivia groaned in response as he started with a massage to her left foot this time following the same slow, agonizing path up and down the outside of her left leg before continuing up the inside of her thigh and teasing her lightly with his tongue between the legs again but only along the edges and outside of her underwear.
When he was done with his thorough exploration of her lower half, he began to kiss up across her belly and ribcage then moved to hover over her breasts, a hand on either side of her holding his weight. He stopped to inspect the sheer lacy goodness of her black and red lingerie before lowering his hot wet mouth to encompass as much of her cloth filled breast in his mouth as he could manage. He slowly sucked at the material covered flesh then drew back to repeat with her other breast. He pulled back to look into her eyes, dropped a little kiss on her lips before moving back to her right breast and giving the hardened nipple a little nip.
Olivia gasped as Ed chuckled then moved back to her mouth to give her a more prolonged passionate kiss, settling his weight slightly against her body. She raised her arms to hold him while she returned his kiss. His tongue tangled lazily with her more insistent one as she showed him how turned on his teasing was making her. She thrust her tongue boldly against his, enjoying his lazy lovemaking but still wanting to move things along. Ed continued the passionate kisses and light caresses up and down her arms with his hands while she hugged his body closer to hers, writhing up against him. She moved her legs to try to embrace him but he pulled back.
"Not yet," he murmured against her lips as he pulled away. "I still have a whole other side of you to explore."
Olivia gasped as Ed quickly flipped her on her belly and moved her hair aside from her neck to suckle lightly at the nape. He feathered his fingers lightly along the back of her ribcage on either side of her spine, drawing circles and figures that made her shiver as he kissed each vertebra down her back, lightly tonguing the grooves in between until he reached the fastener on her bra. He deftly pulled the hooks from the eyes and let the bands fall towards the bed as he slid his hands back up to her shoulders taking the straps along the way and sliding them off her shoulders. He fingers lightly massaged all the lines on her skin where the fabric had clung to her as he continued to kiss each vertebra further down into the small of her back.
As he approached the final item of clothing left clinging to her body, Olivia's hips began to rise towards him from the bed, emphasizing the curves of her buttocks. "God," he whispered, "you have such a great ass." She wiggled her hips back at him and he groaned palming her buttocks in his hands, kneading firmly. He planted his knees on the bed between her legs then leaned over to whisper his tongue lightly along the top band of her panties as she groaned her frustration again. He chuckled at her before moving both hands to the sides and tugging at her underwear to pull it over the generous curves as he admired each and every inch as he revealed it. He sat back pushed her hips down and pulled her feet up above the backs of her knees to slip the underwear down and off before throwing it back to the floor over his shoulder.
"Finally," she said. "Took you long enough to get me naked, don't ya think?"
"Watch the sass, Benson, or I can drag this out twice a long," Ed warned in a firm voice before losing it and laughing at his own frustration. He was just about at the edge of his control and now that he had her naked, there would not be much more time to tarry. He leaned over an nipped at her buttock then took a nip at the other one before sliding an arm underneath her a flipping her over, making sure not to knock himself upside the head with one of her long legs as it encircled him. She reached for the band on his underwear and started shoving them down frantically before reaching for him and drawing him closer to her.
Ed kicked his underwear off his legs and in a direction away from the bed but did not pay attention to where it went as Olivia was already drawing him into her body. He groaned.
"I was going to repeat the whole leg tribute again without the underwear this time," Ed complained, quickly losing all control of his planned lovemaking.
"You can torture me some more later," Olivia whispered as she thrust up against him, seating his erection deeply in her body as he collapsed against her, quickly drawing his palms up underneath her shoulders and planting kisses along her neck.
"It was going to be the best oral you've ever had," Ed promised.
"Okay," Olivia told him, placating him, unable to keep from moving against him, the fires stoked by his teasing rising within her would not be put out easily. Ed squeezed her tight then moved to his elbows which he planted close to her body so he could hold her face in his hands and look deeply into her eyes with his intense blue gaze. He pulled his lower body back from her and slowly thrust forward, tunneling through her hot, tight, wet passage until he was buried so deeply inside her he lost all sense of self.
"I love you so much," he groaned, then proceeded to set a slow steady rhythm that both satisfied and frustrated them both, their bodies straining against one another, struggling both against and into the intense pleasure they were feeling in each other's arms.
"Ed," she moaned back, gripping him as his slick body slid against hers, his chest brushing the hardened tip of her breasts lightly. "Harder, faster," she demanded.
Ed increased his tempo and Olivia slid her legs around his back and dug her heels into his buttocks to press him closer, desperate for more. Ed groaned and tried to shallow his thrusts.
"Olivia, release the kung-fu grip on your legs, baby," he prodded, pulling at them. Olivia let him go as he slid his arms under her knees and hooked them in his elbows tilting her pelvis up and shortening his thrusts until he heard her moan incoherently. "There?" he questioned.
"Yes," she hissed. "Right there!"
Ed directed his body to hammer her with hard shallow thrusts in the spot she indicated until she was shuddering all around him, clasping him tighter than the most fitted of gloves. He gritted his teeth and held back with everything he had as she finished crying his name and clasping at his body. He collapsed momentarily against her, allowing her a moment to recover. When he felt her breaths start to slow down, he looked at her to see her senses were starting to come back and he instructed her to wrap her legs around his waist and hold on to him. Olivia looked at him and locked her ankles behind his back.
"You didn't finish," she said as he pulled her up in his arms and sat back on the bed with her in his lap, managing to stay connected to her body by her tight hold on him.
"I'm not done with you yet," he gasped still trying to catch his breath. "I intend for this night to last much longer than that. Besides, I have something I want to say to you."
"Right now?" Olivia questioned, quirking an eyebrow at him.
"Yes, right now," Ed returned with his classic smirk.
"Well, I'm all ears, if you want to have a discussion right now," Olivia said facetiously, squirming against him, her ankles still locked behind his back on the bed.
"Behave," he reprimanded firmly before dissolving into another smirk. "This isn't a discussion. It's a monologue."
"Well, excuse me. Proceed, Captain," Olivia laughed.
"I just wanted to thank you," Ed started, looking deeply into her eyes with such sincerity that Olivia froze in her joviality, realizing that he was about to impart something very serious to her. "Thank you for giving me another son, a healthy child. Thank you for allowing me to raise him the way I believe that all children should be raised. Thank you for giving our child a brother to love and thank you for allowing me to be a part of his life as well, to be a father to him the same way that I am a father to our biological son. I couldn't love him more than if he were our own."
"Ed..." Olivia started, tears coming to her eyes but he shushed her as his own eyes started to water and his voice became even more gravelly than normal.
"I'm not done yet. I am so grateful for everything that you have given me. I will be so grateful for every moment, every affection, every word that you gift me in the future. Most of all, thank you for giving me a chance to love you, to share this wonderful life with you. Thank you for loving me back. Thank you for being open to living this crazy life that we have chosen in this highly unusual situation. I love you so much, the person that you are, the mother that you are, the lover that you are, the friend that you are, I could keep going on and on about all the things that you are, all the balls that you juggle and the hats that you wear. All that you are is just so incredible. I will always respect you as a woman, as a cop, as a friend, as a co-parent. If I ever, I mean ever, give you any reason to doubt that just slap me upside the head."
Olivia laughed through her tears and started to wipe the tears from his cheeks with her hands that cupped them. He laughed through his tears.
"Thank you for coming to the city of lights with me."
"Ville lumière," Olivia whispered back.
"City of love," Ed continued.
"Ville d'lamour."
"I'm especially grateful that you whisper sweet nothings in my ears in French," Ed whispered in her ear. Then he concluded his speech as he began to move slowly inside her body again. "I love you, Olivia Margaret Benson."
"Je t'aime, Edward Patrick Tucker," Olivia gripped Ed as they began to make love again, enjoying the city of light and love as only those deeply in love can.
Author's footnote - the weather for my trip to Paris in June 2017 was a little different than June 2016, so forgive me for using my weather instead of the true weather during the actual time period of their trip. It didn't rain at all for my entire trip (they were having quite the heat wave), and I thought that would make it easier for our little family to take in all the sights and not worry about rain but maybe have a little irritation from the unusual and unexpected heat. Oh, and if I made any horrid mistakes in my French (I tried to stick to simple phrases), please correct me and I'll fix them! This will probably be the only chapter that is Tuckson only.