A/N – Please note that this chapter is rated M for sexual content.
Chapter 8 – Inevitable
"I had a really good time tonight."
While Olivia and Jake dined at Umberto's, a still night had fallen on Portside. The bright sky of the day had ebbed to an inky black and the distant stars were shrouded in building clouds, their weak light completely extinguished. The air was thick, heavy with humidity, the day's sweltering heat having abated only minimally since the sun set. The concealed crickets chirruped cheerfully as Olivia and Jake crossed the front lawn leading to the Benson home, the deep green grass tickling Olivia's toes through her open sandals. Her feet ached from the sandal's tall heels, a torture she avoided as often as possible, and she had to make a concerted effort not to limp. She couldn't wait to get inside, peel the painful heels off, and shove her sore toes in a warm bath.
"Yeah, me too," Olivia murmured quietly in response to his comment, instantly feeling a stab of guilt for the half-truth. She hadn't had a horrible time, but it hadn't been particularly wonderful either. Still, it seemed like the right thing to say.
She had insisted that Jake didn't need to get out of the truck, that he didn't need to walk her to the door, but he had insisted equally adamantly that he did. From the way he hovered slightly behind her and kept a guiding hand on the small of her back, Olivia was able to deduce with minimal effort that he was really hoping for an invitation in.
Not gonna happen.
Mrs. Leland had forgotten to leave the porch light on and the moon was blanketed by clouds, leaving only the distant street lamps as guiding lights. The dark was smothering, suffocating, as they walked up the porch stairs together. Eyes not fully adjusted, Olivia snagged the toe of one of her sandals on a stair, stumbling a bit before Jake caught her with a firm hand, holding on until she was steady enough to smile at him sheepishly.
Eventually reaching the front door in one piece, Olivia slowly withdrew her keys from her purse and prepared herself for the always awkward task of blowing off her date.
"Well, thanks Jake. It was fun tonight."
Liar, liar.
"It was my pleasure." Jake's voice was low, husky, and thick with innuendo, and Olivia stifled a giggle at his rather pathetic attempt to seduce her. He was standing far closer than was strictly necessary, his broad shoulder brushing against hers awkwardly, his hands shoved into the pockets of his khakis. After a dinner chock full of courageous bravado, he looked nervous again, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. His car keys jingled lightly as he fiddled with them in his pocket. "Could I, uh, come in?"
Sighing inaudibly, Olivia smiled kindly at Jake, lifting a hand to cup his face. In the minimal light, he looked way younger than he was. "I'm actually really tired. Sorry. I'm not up for company."
Jake nodded amiably, accepting that excuse good-naturedly and without apparent offense. "I understand. Can I see you again?"
Too soft-hearted to reject him twice in the same night, Olivia grudgingly agreed, trying to keep her voice light, breezy, and casual. "Okay, sure. Call me or stop by the house. We'll pick a time."
If her lack of enthusiasm was evident, Jake either didn't notice or didn't want to notice. "Cool."
When he smiled at her again, Olivia felt a flicker of disappointment that she wasn't more attracted to him. He was a good guy. She could certainly do worse. She HAD done worse. If only he wasn't so immature, if he was just a bit rougher, not so "pretty" . . .
A bit more like Elliot.
"Goodnight Jake." Olivia smiled one final time and had turned away to insert her key in the lock when Jake gently gripped her elbow, turned her back to face him, and kissed her softly.
He was a good kisser - not too pushy but not too passive. Despite her reservations, Olivia had to admit that it felt . . . nice. Good even. It felt even better when he put his hands on her hips to draw her closer and when those same hands slipped around and caressed the small of her back, making her shiver. She instinctively pressed herself against him and felt his lithe muscles, strong against his skin.
As he opened his mouth to deepen the kiss, Olivia's internal debate raged on. Maybe she should invite him in. It had been a while since she had had sex. Even longer since she had had good sex. Many, many years since she had had incredible sex. What harm would it do to invite him in? It was no one's business but theirs after all.
Olivia's decision was made for her when a deep voice from the darkness killed the mood.
"You two want to take that inside? This isn't the French Quarter."
The words may have been joking, but the tone was anything but. Breaking the kiss, both Olivia and Jake jumped in surprise, whirling around and straining their eyes in the darkness to locate the familiar voice's owner. Olivia caught sight of Elliot first, lurking at the bottom of the porch stairs, one forearm resting against the wooden pillar. The darkness effectively cloaked his face, but she could see his eyes glittering dangerously.
Stiffening angrily at the intrusion, Olivia briefly considered grabbing Jake's hand and yanking him inside just to spite Elliot, but she didn't get the chance. Jake was already deferring to his superior, dropping his hands and backing away from her slowly. He didn't look happy, but Elliot looked downright menacing.
"I really should get going. I know you're tired. But I'll call you, okay?"
Olivia sighed, irritated. "Sure. Thanks again for everything."
"Goodnight Olivia. See you in the morning Sherriff." Slipping down the stairs and edging past Elliot, Jake disappeared into the darkness beyond where his truck waited patiently. After a moment, the truck's ignition caught and the former couple watched its red taillights until they vanished down the street.
Gritting her teeth, Olivia directed a fiery gaze at Elliot. A content smirk lingered on his face as he gazed arrogantly in the direction Jake had disappeared.
"You're an ass." Her hands trembling slightly in anger, Olivia shoved her key roughly into the lock.
"I know," Elliot chuckled. The porch stairs creaked as he walked up toward her, his expression serious once again. Silently, his light eyes slowly travelled up and down her body before darkening slightly. Despite her irritation, Olivia felt herself warming under his gaze.
Quickly forcing his facial expression back to neutral, Elliot spoke coolly. "Nice dress."
Olivia huffed at the compliment. "What the hell are you doing here? Nothing better to do than wait up for me?"
"Don't flatter yourself sweetheart," Elliot muttered darkly, moving right into her personal space, every bit as close as Jake had been moments earlier. Even in heels she was shorter than he was and his large frame dwarfed hers.
Anyone who didn't know Elliot would have been scared senseless.
"I just thought I would patrol the neighborhood, being as it is the site of the most recent break-in. You should be thanking me for keeping your block safe."
The porch light suddenly flicked on and they both blinked repeatedly in the bright light.
"Has the thief ever come back to the same place twice?" Olivia inquired harshly, her hands flying to her hips as she squinted into the light to look up at him.
Elliot's face paled slightly and he shoved his hands into the pockets of his dark jeans. "No. Not yet. But you never know." Releasing a loud sigh, he softened his tone. "Look, I didn't come here to fight with you."
"Good to know. So why did you come here?" Olivia's voice started off callous but petered out, her anger diminishing.
Body tensing, Elliot hesitated. Why was he here? Did he really want to be honest about that with himself, never mind her?
"I'm here to . . . ."
To what? Apologize for the way he had been treating her? To call a truce, so that Chase didn't have to witness two adults treating each other disrespectfully anymore? To tell her that he didn't hate her and that he didn't like her going out with Jake, even though it was not his place to say anything?
To tell her how amazing she looked in that dress?
But none of that was what came out.
"I'm here to pick up that list of stolen items from you."
Olivia looked at him quizzically, her chocolate eyes assessing as she scanned his face, searching for something she couldn't quite put her finger on.
After a moment, she nodded. "Okay, come in."
"I can wait out here if you just want to go grab it."
Better if he didn't go inside. Anxious energy was radiating from his shoulders and Elliot wondered absently how long he would be able to maintain a professional front.
Olivia glanced at him oddly, her skin glowing ethereally in the bright light. "Don't be ridiculous. Come in."
Twisting the handle, Olivia pushed open the door and disappeared inside as bright light from the kitchen poured out. Elliot took a deep breath before following behind her, hands still shoved in his pockets.
Mrs. Leland was standing awkwardly in the kitchen, pretending in vain that she hadn't been eavesdropping. A short, stout woman with strong, handsome features and gunmetal gray hair, she had been Serena's housekeeper for as long as Olivia could remember.
"Hello Olivia." Mrs. Leland's face brightened when she saw Elliot enter behind her, his expression somber. "Oh, hello Elliot! I thought Olivia was still out with Jake."
"Mrs. Leland." Elliot greeted her politely with a nod of his head, his eyes drifting back to Olivia as a cocky smile danced on his lips.
"Thank you so much for staying with Chase," Olivia blurted out quickly, hoping to avoid all discussion of her date as she lowered her purse to the counter. "Make sure the next time you need a day off you just take it."
Shaking her head, Mrs. Leland waved a dismissive hand. "It's no problem dear. He's such a good boy. He spent the entire night helping me around the house and talking about how much fun he had today with Elliot."
"I'm glad," Olivia said genuinely, shooting a warm smile involuntarily toward Elliot.
Patting her hair, Mrs. Leland grabbed her purse off the breakfast island and slung the worn leather strap over her shoulder. "Well, I'll be on my way and leave you two alone."
For some reason, Olivia suddenly felt compelled to insist that they didn't need to be alone, that Elliot would only be there for a minute, but she lost her opening when Elliot spoke.
"I'll walk you to your car while Olivia looks for something for me. With all the weirdness going on in this town lately, no one should walk alone. Even if it isn't very far. "
As soon as the screen door slapped shut behind them, Olivia took a deep, shaky breath and wiped her clammy hands on her dress. Inexplicably, she felt completely on edge. There was something in the air, something electric, something hard to pin down. The atmosphere was virtually crackling with it.
Frantically, Olivia tried to remember where she had put the list. The sooner she found it, the sooner she could hand it to Elliot, and the sooner he would be gone. When her addled brain finally started functioning again, Olivia crossed the room and flipped through the papers she kept in an unwieldy heap on top of the fridge. She was certain that was where she had put it, but her trembling fingers were having trouble locating it.
"You find it?"
Olivia hadn't heard the door open to signal his re-entry, but suddenly Elliot was right behind her. Right right behind her, his deep voice echoing in her ear. When she backed up just a bit in surprise, she felt his chest brush against her back and heat flooded through her. At that moment, by sheer dumb luck, her fingers closed around the desired list and she removed it from the pile, slowly turning around to face him. Elliot was standing so close that, in order to avoid touching him, Olivia had to press her back firmly against the cool refrigerator, trapped between his strong body and the rumbling appliance.
A kiss was inevitable.
His mouth was hard, hot, and demanding, the complete opposite of the way Olivia remembered it. He was still an incredible kisser, but there was something forceful, something primitive about this kiss she had never experienced from him. He had always been so gentle with her before, so attentive. There was nothing tender, nothing tentative about him now. He kissed her hard, his tongue sneaking into her mouth as she whimpered with pleasure.
Her whimper encouraging him, Elliot drew her tight against his body. The contact short-circuited her brain, and Olivia slid her arms instinctively around his neck, her hands finding their way into his close cropped hair and caressing his scalp. It was then his turn to emit a groan of pleasure and his fingers tightened at her waist, digging into her skin through the fabric of her dress.
Without breaking the contact, Olivia dropped one of her hands down to his chest, exploring, his strong muscles straining against her fingertips. He tasted amazing, uniquely Elliot, and the magic he was working with his mouth had her dazed, confused, and wanting so much more. Stealthily, Olivia moved her hand under his t-shirt to his stomach and he trembled from the skin-to-skin contact. Fast losing all control, Elliot's fingers reached up to the back of her dress, searching frantically for the silver zipper that travelled down the back.
He needed to touch her, to feel her bare skin in intimate places.
Finally locating the zipper, Elliot tugged it down roughly. Halfway to the bottom, it snagged on the fabric and no matter how hard he tugged, it wouldn't budge.
"Dammit," Elliot muttered into her mouth and Olivia had to stifle a giddy giggle. His strong hands gripping her hips, he turned them both around and pushed her backward until they bumped into the breakfast island. Swiftly grabbing her thighs, Elliot hoisted her up easily onto the smooth counter.
Struggling to regain her equilibrium, Olivia's hand flailed backward, sending a silver pot on the counter to the floor with a ringing crash. Neither of them even noticed, their hands, mouths, and fingers still exploring territory that was vaguely familiar but also new. Drawing her hips forward, Elliot moved to stand between her thighs and Olivia gasped as he pressed against her. Fumbling, his hands trembling, he shoved the hem of her dress up roughly until Olivia could feel the cool marble of the countertop against the skin of her legs and backside. Reaching under the bunched fabric, Elliot groaned internally when he felt the enticing lace of her panties.
Breaking away from her mouth for only a moment, Elliot lowered his lips to her neck, biting and then quickly soothing the sting with a languid lick. Gasping and squirming away from the pleasurable pain, Olivia shoved him back forcefully, her actions belying her urgent need for him. Without a doubt, he was gunning to leave a mark, and she didn't even care.
"Jerk," Olivia muttered heatedly before yanking him back to her and closing her mouth on his, hands digging through his hair.
"I know," Elliot mumbled against her lips, his fingers reaching down and expertly exploring between her legs through the thin fabric of her panties. Olivia gasped with pleasure at his touch and threw her head back, breaking the kiss and effectively banging her head against the glass-windowed cabinets that sat above the breakfast island. Elliot slid a hand up until it tangled in her hair, caressing the sore spot gently, the back of his hand providing welcome protection against a repeat event.
"Elliot," Olivia whimpered, intense sensations hijacking and assaulting her logic centre. She needed him, needed more of him, needed all of him, and he sensed that. Dropping his hands to her hips again, he picked her up off the counter and effortlessly carried her over to the kitchen table, setting her down gently on top of it. Leaning forward, he kissed her hard again, his body pressing her back until she lay on the table, his hands once again bunching up her dress until it was around her waist. Olivia lifted her hips to accommodate his efforts as he drew her lacy panties down and off her legs, dropping them unceremoniously to the tiled floor.
Desire coursed through Olivia's body as Elliot's rough hands caressed her thighs. Pausing for a moment, he pulled back to look at her, his eyes dark with need. Elliot's heart thudded with a complex mix of emotion as she lay before him, exposed, vulnerable, her chest rising and falling rapidly.
They both knew how wrong this was.
There was still so much that needed to be said between them, still so much to sort out. Still so much that possibly couldn't be sorted out.
But neither of them gave a damn.
Leaning back over her, supporting his weight on one strong arm, Elliot kissed her again, softer this time. He pulled her forward gently, her damp skin squealing on the lacquered tabletop, until he was poised between her legs again. Olivia's eyes fluttered closed in anticipation and, although she couldn't see, she could hear the tinkle of his belt buckle as he undid it, followed immediately by the sound of a zipper lowering.
Before either of them could think too much, could question the appropriateness of what was happening, could start analyzing their true feelings, he was inside her and they both groaned loudly.
It had been a while for Olivia, and Elliot wasn't exactly gentle, too caught up in his rampant need and violent emotions. She winced at the pressure initially, but the pain was quickly banished by pleasure as she adjusted to him. Hands gripping the edge of the table, Olivia arched her back under him and a long, low whimper escaped her lips, nearly driving Elliot crazy.
Christ, she was responsive. Any more responsive and he would have lost his damn mind. The far too few times they had made love twelve years ago, she had been more tentative, uncertain of her own body and what brought her pleasure.
Not anymore. There was nothing tentative about her now.
His arms shaking visibly with the effort, Elliot lowered his mouth to hers as he slowly withdrew and then thrust in again, grunting quietly. Olivia gasped and then moaned, a flood of pleasure making her entire body tingle. He filled her so completely and her body trembled as he ran a shaking hand along her sides, caressing her curves.
God, if he hit that spot just a couple more times . . .
Olivia's right hand left the edge of the counter, flying up to grip Elliot's shoulder so tightly she feared she would draw blood. He felt so good, so right, so natural and, with a needy whimper, she spread her legs further to accommodate more of him.
"Mom?"
A small voice from the direction of the stairs startled them both, their thumping hearts leaping up into their constricted throats. Elliot physically jumped back, stumbling in his haste to move away. Olivia quickly pushed herself off the table with a squeak, rearranging her dress while Elliot tucked himself back into his pants.
"What's the matter Chase?" Olivia called out guiltily, smoothing her dress down over her hips and trying to straighten her disheveled hair. Thinking quickly, Elliot picked up Olivia's panties and smoothly hid them under her purse.
A second later, Chase's freckled face peered around the corner of the entrance to the kitchen, his sandy hair sticking up haphazardly. "I heard a noise. I was worried it was the robber again." His chocolate eyes shifted to Elliot, who was attempting furtively to inch his way toward the front door and escape. Chase's face brightened when he recognized Olivia's companion. "Oh, hi Elliot!"
"I'm sorry I woke you honey," Olivia soothed quickly, trying to divert his attention from Elliot and the questions she knew were brewing in his intelligent little mind. Willing her hands to stop shaking, she pointed to the pot on the floor. "I just knocked a pot off the counter. It's okay. Why don't you run back up to your room and I'll be up in a second to tuck you in."
Curiosity dancing on his young features, Chase didn't budge, his dark eyes flicking back and forth amusedly between Elliot and Olivia.
Reaching over to the breakfast island, Olivia hastily grabbed the list for Elliot and shoved it at him. "Here's the list. Thanks Elliot. I'll, uh, see you later."
"Yeah. Sure. Have a good night." Elliot snatched the list from her hands quickly, spinning on his heels and bolting for the door, his ears fire engine red. Within seconds he had vanished into the darkness beyond, the screen door snapping closed behind him.
"Alright, back to bed!" Olivia insisted brightly, quickly ushering Chase into the living room and back up the stairs. Chase said nothing as they walked but his wide smirk spoke volumes. Olivia's face burned with embarrassment and she imagined her ears were every bit as red as Elliot's.
"What are you grinning about, Chuckles?" Olivia joked nervously as she herded Chase up the stairs, one hand firmly on his bony shoulder.
"Nothing," Chase smirked as he glanced toward the top of the steps, his eyes dancing merrily as if laughing at a private, internal joke. "Were you and Elliot going to have sex?"
Olivia's face paled and she stared at Chase in shock, momentarily halting their upward progress. "Chase! How do you know what sex is? You are only eleven years old. Did you learn about sex in school already?"
Chase rolled his eyes. "Duh Mom. I read about it on Wikipedia."
Olivia almost laughed despite herself. "No Chase, we were not about to have sex."
Technically, not a lie. They had been having sex. They weren't about to have it.
A wide grin still spread across his face, Chase's eyes twinkled merrily as he continued climbing the stairs.
"Okay Mom. If you say so."
