Clearly, Liv had needed a good cry. Sure, maybe it hadn't been the best time or place—Liv had never imagined that she'd have a sob fest in the other Olivia's bathroom—but it had felt damn good.
Wiping her face, Liv stepped out of the bathtub. Water streamed down her body and started to pool on the bathroom tiles. Olivia got up as well. The bottom of her pants and the back of her shirt were soaked. Olivia's eyes were carefully averted from Liv's body, a blush creeping up her neck.
Liv couldn't help it, she laughed. Her alternate had just hugged Liv's wet, nude body for at least an hour, and now she couldn't even look at it. Not to mention she'd seen this—their—body countless times in the past.
"What, you don't ever look at yourself in the mirror naked?" Olivia didn't answer. It was clear that she desperately wanted to get out of the bathroom, but Liv was blocking her way. Taking her time, Liv wiped herself down with a towel. "You should probably get out of those clothes. You must be freezing."
Olivia rubbed her forehead then ran her hand through her hair, a nervous habit they both shared. "Well, I would, but I can't get out." The comment was very pointed.
Again, Liv couldn't hold back a chuckle. "Relax! Don't be so uptight. Here." Dropping the towel, Liv spread her arms open. Her body was now completely on display.
If Liv had been trying to get a rise out of Olivia, she would have felt very accomplished at that moment. This time, however, Liv was just utterly flabbergasted by how prudish Olivia was being.
Olivia's cheeks were bright red now, her eyes fixed on the floor. "What are you doing?"
"What I am doing is trying to get you to relax. Clearly, it's hopeless." Liv grabbed her towel and wrapped it around her body. She turned to leave the bathroom, then stopped, a question bubbling up her throat. "Can I ask you something?"
Olivia met her eyes. Her jaw was squared, hands crossed against her chest. "Okay." Her chin jutted up, as though Olivia had decided this was a challenge.
"You're probably gonna want to slap me for asking this, but when was the last time you got any?"
"You're right, I do want to slap you."
"No, I'm serious." Liv studied Olivia. She was in her defensive mode, closed off, unreachable. Liv sighed, frustrated by Olivia's distance, her inability to talk about her feelings. "Look, you're not 15 anymore. We can talk about things like this, no one's judging."
Olivia's eyes remained guarded, but her shoulders relaxed a little. "It's been over a year," she admitted.
"Jesus, seriously?" Liv couldn't believe it. "God, no wonder you're tense. I've been without Frank for a couple of weeks and I'm already dying." Liv shook her head, staring at Olivia. "Why?"
"I don't know. I'm busy with work, so I don't have time to go boyfriend-hunting, and on the rare occasions I do have free time, I'd rather be alone." She broke off, then continued after a few moments. "And…and I feel like…when I think about being with someone, it feels like betrayal." Her hands spread out in a gesture of confusion. "I don't know why."
Liv frowned, trying to understand. "John Scott died over three years ago. And besides, you don't need a boyfriend to have sex." She approached Olivia, grabbed her shoulders, and pulled her in front of the bathroom mirror. "Look at you, you're gorgeous, and I don't mean that in conceited way. You are hot. Guys will get in a line. Go out, get drunk, and get laid!"
Their eyes met in the mirror. Liv brushed Olivia's golden hair to one side of her neck. It was still a little damp from sitting in the shower. Olivia said nothing, but Liv could see the doubt in her eyes.
"You don't think you are, do you?" Liv whispered it into Olivia's ears, and she began to rub the back of Olivia's neck, working at the tightness bottled up there. Color was once again rising into Olivia's cheeks, and Liv could feel warmth spread across her own body as well. "You're an idiot then."
They had not broken eye contact, and tension was building between the two. They were two objects that should never touch, and yet right now, they couldn't be closer. Liv's body was pressed against Olivia's. She wrapped her free arm around Olivia's waist, pulling her closer. Olivia was stiff in her arms, but as Liv continued to massage her neck, she began to unwind.
"What are you doing?" Olivia whispered in a low, husky voice.
Liv didn't answer. A familiar feeling was blooming below her stomach, and suddenly Liv wasn't quite sure what she was doing, either. Her breath caught in her throat, and, still embracing Olivia, Liv got very, very still.
They were at an impasse. Neither Olivia wanted to make the first move, whatever that move might be. So they stood there, in front of the mirror, watching each other. Looking into each other.
...
Hot, Liv had called her. And Olivia was hot; her entire body felt as though it were on fire. But she didn't know why. Warmth spread from the spots where her body touched Liv's, but it also came from within her. Olivia couldn't decide whether that heat was caused by a sudden surge of passion or a combination of fear and shame. Olivia was incredibly confused.
She thought back to that moment on the river bank when she had given Liv CPR. When their lips had touched, there had been an intense flow of energy between the two, a spark that had ignited Olivia in a way she hadn't felt in a very long time. Olivia was feeling that again, and it stirred a desire in her. Desire. Lust for an alternate version of herself.
Almost imperceptibly, Liv began to tighten her hold on Olivia's stomach. Olivia's heart rate increased and her breathing became shallower. In the mirror, Olivia saw Liv smile. Liv's other hand left Olivia's neck and traced a meandering line down her back until she reached the hem of Olivia's pants.
Olivia went stiff, barely breathing. She didn't know why she was so paralyzed. What was wrong with her? What the hell was going on? She could stop it all, Olivia knew that. She could break free, and her alternate would laugh it off, as though it had all been a big joke.
Was Liv playing with her, poking at Olivia's weaknesses, trying to illicit a reaction? Twenty-four hours ago, Olivia would have been positive that's what this was, but so many things had changed since then. Now, Olivia was sure that Liv wouldn't play with her like this. But if that wasn't what was happening, then what the hell was and why didn't it feel wrong?
Liv's hand slipped under Olivia's sweats. It was a slow, careful movement, as though Olivia was a wild animal that would dash away at the slightest hint of sudden movement.
Olivia couldn't breathe anymore, and the heat inside her was growing. It was definitely desire, Olivia could no longer hide that fact from herself. Nor, apparently, could she hide it from her alter.
"Is this what you want?" Liv asked her. She started to gently nibble at Olivia's ear, flicking her tongue against the bottom of Olivia's earlobe.
It was a good question. To want something like this, you'd have to either be a complete sexual daredevil or very emotionally damaged. Olivia knew which category she fell under and could guess what Liv's was, too. Knowing that something was fucked up, however, was different than caring that it was fucked up, especially when it felt so good.
And what was the harm, really? No risk of pregnancy or STDs. She was in a safe environment—she knew Liv would stop if Olivia got cold feet partway through—,and it wasn't as though their working relationship could be much worse after this than it was when the bridge was first created. More awkward, yes, but surely that was better than the utter enmity they'd had for each other originally. And it had been so long.
So what the hell. "Yes," Olivia breathed.
...
Liv didn't surprise easily. She hadn't been surprised when Frank had broken up with her, nor had she been at all shocked when Lincoln had kissed her one night after a long day. But this stunned her.
Is this what you want? Liv had asked, stroking Olivia's stomach, hand inching down the back of her pants. And, against all her expectations, Olivia had answered yes.
Liv didn't waste any time. She spun Olivia around so they were face to face. Olivia's face was so red that Liv could practically feel heat emanate from it. They looked at each other for a moment, then came together.
Their lips met and there was a pleasant shock, as though an electrical current had run between them. Their bodies fit together perfectly, pieces of a puzzle. Liv dropped her towel to the floor and kicked it out of the way, arm reaching around Olivia to pull her even closer. Olivia went with it, putting her hands to Liv's cheeks and pushing the two of them against the door.
Liv gasped into Olivia's mouth at the impact, then laughed. They broke apart, frantically coming up for air. Both of their chests were heaving.
Liv pressed herself against Olivia again, this time her mouth going for Olivia's neck. While she showered it with kisses, Liv's hands worked at Olivia's shirt, sliding it up her back. Olivia raised her arms above her head, and Liv finally managed to get Olivia's shirt off.
Olivia's torso was covered in a sheen of sweat. Liv crouched down, grinning up at her alternate's flushed face. She nuzzled her nose against Olivia's belly button then slid her tongue farther down, stopping when it met Olivia's pants. Olivia's was breathing loudly, her stomach muscles fluttering against Liv's face.
Liv grabbed the hem of Olivia's pants and ripped them off. Olivia was gracious enough to step out of them.
She stood back up and faced her alternate. Smirking, Liv said, "Doesn't seem fair that one of us is completely naked and the other isn't."
A sly smile slid across Olivia's face. Slowly, tantalizingly, Olivia reached behind her and undid her bra snaps. Watching Liv closely, she let the bra drop to the ground. She repeated the enticing performance with her underwear. "That better?"
Not quite speechless, Liv murmured, "Much."