[finally, the sex scene; don't read it this isn't your thing! Thanks again for all the ongoing reviews, I love reading them.]

Olivia leaned forward and wiped the tiniest smudge of chocolate from below Alex's lip. She really just wanted any excuse to touch her.

Alex smiled. "Dinner was amazing, Liv," she said. "I'm not sure the opera could live up to that!"

Olivia's voice was tremulous. "Alexandra, I have to tell you, I am this close to forgetting all about the opera and dragging you back to the apartment right now."

"Oh no," Alex's tone was playful. "Anyway, anticipation is half the fun. And you've paid so much for those tickets, there's no way we're going to let them go to waste. And," she added, "you look so beautiful, I want to show you off."

Olivia returned her smile. "You will come home with me after though, right?" she asked, for the first time slightly nervous.

"You just try and stop me," Alex leant forward and kissed her softly.

"It doesn't have to be my apartment," Olivia started to babble slightly. "I mean, if you are happier in your place, we can go there. I just really want to spend the night with you Alex."

Alex looked deep into her eyes. "Me too, Olivia," she said. "I want it more than anything. I've never wanted anyone the way I want you. Your apartment though, if that's okay?"

Olivia nodded.

"I love your apartment," Alex went on. "It's so warm and cosy. I'm comfortable and relaxed there."

"It's cramped, you mean," Olivia laughed.

"No," Alex's voice was serious. "It isn't. It's a real home; the couch is comfortable, it's lived in, and everything in it reminds me of you. I hate my apartment," she blurted out.

"You hate it?" Olivia was confused. "Sell it, and find something you like then."

"It's not as simple as that," Alex sighed. "It's a family apartment. Belongs to my mother. She bought apartments for all three of us," Alex had previously told Olivia that she had a brother and a sister. "But they remain in her name. And she sent her decorator in. It's all to her taste. And I hate it," she sounded almost venomous for a moment. "White sofas, hard edges, too much glass."

Olivia took both of Alex's hands in her own. "Well then, my darling, we'll go to my apartment. And you are welcome there any time you want. Any time at all. And," she looked closely at Alex, "I'm here any time you want to talk about your mother too. I know what it's like, remember, to have 'mother issues'."

Alex looked up at her. "I love you so much, Olivia Benson."

"And I love you, Alexandra Cabot."

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As they sat in their seats, Alex reached over and took Olivia's hand, kissing it softly. She pulled it down into her lap, and held on to it firmly. Olivia's heart filled with joy; she had never before felt this degree of intimacy and comfort with another person - and they hadn't even slept together.

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Olivia had never seen the whole of La Traviata before. She had the music on CD, and had seen part of it on TV once, but sitting through the whole opera was thrilling and moving far beyond what she had expected. As the final act drew to a close, and the audience applauded wildly as the main character Violetta died painfully from consumption, she turned to face Alex. She was shocked and concerned to see that Alex's face was contorted, tears pouring down her face; the blonde was trying desperately to keep hold of her emotions, and failing.

"Alex?" Olivia asked. "Are you okay? It's just a story, Alex," she squeezed her fingers gently, grateful that they were in the middle of the row so that they didn't have to get up to let anyone pass as the audience departed.

Alex looked at her, devastation in her face. "I'm sorry," she spoke eventually, her voice cracking. "It's crazy; when I saw Violetta there on that bed, it made me think of you. And I wondered," her breathing quickened, "what I would have done if you hadn't gotten better. You were so sick, Liv," she was crying openly now. "You had such a high fever. And then you got that chest infection. Oh Olivia, I don't think I could bear it if anything happened to you."

Olivia pulled her into her arms. "I'm fine, Alex," she spoke tenderly. "I had a wonderful nurse, and I'm all better now. It's okay, it really is."

Alex melted into her embrace. "Take me home?" she pleaded.

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The tension in the cab was palpable, both women counting the seconds until they could be alone together. At one point, Olivia reached over and took Alex's hand, the touch between them almost electric.

Olivia over-tipped the cab driver, and they both made their way into the building with indecent haste. "Elevator?" Olivia's voice was lower than usual.

Alex nodded, and Olivia opened the old-fashioned iron gates; once inside, she shut the gates, and pressed the button for the second floor. "It's real slow," she said apologetically to Alex.

"Good," Alex said, as she reached for the brunette, pulling her towards her. "Time for me to kiss you then," she stepped forward and, cupping the back of Olivia's head, drew her into the most passionate kiss Olivia had ever experienced.

"Oh my God," Olivia whispered as they passed the first floor. "Oh Alex," she kissed her back, the kiss deepening as they lost themselves in each other. Greatly daring, Olivia slid one hand inside Alex's dress, and was almost overcome as she realized that her earlier surmise about Alex being bra-less was accurate. Very gently, she cupped a breast, which was a little larger than she had imagined, and so firm and pert that she almost came on the spot. She ran a thumb over the nipple, gasping with pleasure as it sprang into a stiff peak at her touch.

Alex was almost beside herself with desire, and was unable to stop herself crying out with pleasure as Olivia teased her nipple. "Liv," she was almost incoherent, "don't stop... oh God, that's good, oh my baby..." Just as she reached out to touch Olivia, the elevator pinged, announcing its arrival on the second floor. Both women barked with laughter.

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"Damn it!" Olivia's hand shook as she tried to unlock the door to her apartment, and she dropped the keys.

"Here," Alex said impatiently, picking the keys up from the floor and swiftly opening the door.

As the door shut behind them, the two women seized upon each other, kissing, fumbling, panting with desire. They stumbled giggling towards the bedroom.

"I want to see you," Alex's voice was rough with lust. "Please Liv," she pulled at her girlfriend's dress.

"You first," Oliva said. "I want to see your beautiful body."

Never before had Alex felt so comfortable, so safe with a lover. Without a trace of embarrassment, she stepped out of her dress, letting it pool on the floor. She stood in front of a stunned Olivia in just her panties and silk stockings.

Olivia stared at her breasts, overcome with desire. She had never seen anything so beautiful; Alex's nipples were a deeper pink than she had expected, and she couldn't stop herself reaching out and touching. Very gently, she kissed a rosy bud, her tongue darting out and flicking over the tip.

Alex gasped with pleasure. This was going to be a night to remember. She looked up at Olivia. "Now you," she whispered.

Olivia turned her back to Alex. "You do it," she said, gesturing to the zip at the back of her dress.

Very slowly, Alex moved the zip down, sliding her hands onto Olivia's back, parting the cloth and slowly, sensuously, guiding it down her arms onto the floor. She took in the plane of Olivia's back, strong and sinewy, yet soft, her muscles clearly visible. Alex ran her hands over Olivia's back, delighting in the warmth and softness. Her hands stopped at the clasp of Olivia's black, lacy bra. "May I?" she asked.

Olivia grunted her assent, so Alex unhooked the bra, and pulled the straps down Olivia's toned arms. Olivia had still not turned to face Alex, so the blonde put her arms round her waist, flattening her palms against the detective's stomach. Slowly, she brought her hands up to cup Olivia's full breasts, eliciting a gasp from the brunette as her hands deliberately brushed against the nipples. "Turn around for me, baby," Alex's voice crackled with desire.

Olivia turned to face Alex, anxiety in her expression. "Are you okay?" Alex asked, keeping her gaze fixed on Olivia's eyes.

Olivia nodded. "I just hope that I'm enough for you Alexandra," she said in a tremulous tone. "You're so perfect, I can never measure up."

Alex laughed, a sound that filled Olivia with hope and happiness. "You have to be kidding me," she replied, at last daring to look at the sight in front of her. Her gaze fell on Olivia's full, perfect breasts, with the large dark nipples standing to attention, awaiting her touch. "Oh my God, Liv," Alex breathed. "I think you must be just about the sexiest woman on the planet."

She kissed her again, full on the lips, and Olivia groaned at the passion of the kiss, returning it with equal fervor.

The eventually broke apart, and Alex reached down, pulling Olivia's panties to the floor. She was enraptured at the sight of her lover's glistening center, placing a kiss just above the hairline.

"Not this time," Olivia's voice shook. "This time I want to hold you; I want to see your face as you come. Is that okay?"

Alex just grinned, nodding her assent. "It's not going to take long," she said unsteadily. "I don't think I've ever felt so ready."

"Nor me," Olivia said huskily, as she pushed her on the bed, and slowly removed her stockings and panties, taking the time to kiss all the way down her long legs as they became exposed.

Olivia climbed onto the bed, and pulled Alex into her lap, so that they could hold each other as close as possible. She leant down and took one tight nipple in her mouth, toying with the other with her left hand. Alex unconsciously started to rock, grasping one of Olivia's breasts, using her other hand to move lower. Olivia grinned as she felt the invading fingers, and moved her hand to Alex's center to mimic the action.

Within minutes, they were rocking desperately against each other, their breath coming in shortened gasps. Olivia released Alex's breast to kiss her eagerly, the noises that her lover was making filling her with joy and desire.

Only a few short minutes later, Alex felt her climax building. "More, Liv," she pleaded. "Harder... oh my God, Olivia, that's it, honey, just there..."

Olivia looked at Alex's face, her eyes half-lidded, her sweet mouth half-open as she neared completion. She took her nipple in her mouth again as Alex mewled and panted, "come for me, baby," Olivia whispered, and bit down very gently, her teeth tugging the rigid peak. She looked up just in time as Alex's back arched as her orgasm overtook her; the sight of Alex's abandon tipped Olivia over the edge, and the women came almost simultaneously, bucking wildly against each other for what seemed like minutes.

Alex collapsed bonelessly against Olivia, who carefully guided them both back to the mattress. For long minutes, they just held each other, trying to get their breathing under control. Eventually, Alex looked up at Olivia, seeing tears rolling down her cheeks. "Hey," Alex was still panting a little, "are you okay Liv?"

Olivia nodded, equally breathless. "I've never been better, my precious darling Alex."

Alex leaned over, and kissed the tears from Olivia's face. "Nor me," she said, a satisfied smile on her face. "I never knew it could be that good. We are going again soon, though?"

Olivia smiled back. "I want to spend the whole night making love to you," she whispered, cupping Alex's face and kissing her.

Alex smiled again. "That's the best news I've ever heard. We'll just take a little rest, huh?"

Olivia nodded happily, as Alex snuggled in to her, her lips closing over one of Olivia's nipples. She cupped the back of her head lovingly as she suckled; within minutes, Alex was asleep. "You sleep, my precious girl," Olivia whispered. "We've got all night."