The Beginning in the End
Chapter 11
Her first week back had been surprisingly quick and mostly painless. Tess ran a hairbrush through her auburn locks. She sat at her vanity, getting ready for her big date night with Oliver, and she was nervous.
The evidence of said nerves was the shaking her hand was doing as she pulled the brush through her hair. Tess closed her eyes and sat the brush down on the marble countertop of her vanity.
She took in one measured breath.
The week had been really nice and it was because of Oliver's constant but never overwhelming presence that was reassuring but not clingy. It struck just that perfect balance between being around and not hanging around.
They had shared lunch dates and coffee breaks. It was friendly but never casual. Yesterday had proved that when he had caught her hand in his as they exited the coffee house near the Daily Planet and asked her on a date.
Tess had said yes and while she was not regretting her acceptance; she was getting really worked up over it which annoyed her.
She opened her eyes and stared at her reflection. "You are being ridiculous. It's just Oliver."
Her nerves had settled a little and she assessed her reflection. Oliver had invited her to his apartment for a home cooked meal. It was romantic. He knew it and so did she. The possibilities for the night were exciting and scary to her.
Tess had opted for a casual look with her hair and her make up. Her hair was falling in soft waves around her face and she tried hard not to think about the reason she had left it down was so that Oliver could run his fingers through it. She wore very little makeup and it was because he had never liked her to.
The form fitting black dress wasn't all that much of a stretch but it was yet another thing she chose with him in mind. Black was his favorite color despite his affinity to dress in green leather and he had always loved the way it looked on her.
It had been a long time since Tess dressed only for Oliver and as she looked at the woman in the mirror she got an overwhelming feeling that she was seeing her true self.
Oliver only wanted Tess. He did not want Mogul Tess or Editor Tess or Watchtower Tess.
And it went both ways. Tess only wanted Oliver. That is why their relationship was so raw between them. They could be themselves around each other and still find acceptance.
Tess smiled.
As she collected her courage she heard Oliver's voice ring out across the mansion.
"Mercy? Your carriage waits…"
She turned her head toward the door, stood up, threw one glance back at her reflection, and grabbed her purse as she walked out of her bedroom. Only a few seconds later, she was standing at the balcony looking down on Oliver. He was sitting on one of the couches by the dormant fireplace and it took him a moment to notice her. When he found her the electricity that sparked instantly as their eyes locked made her weak in the knees. She gripped the railing harder and cocked her head to the side.
"Have mercy." Oliver smirked.
She raised an eyebrow and shook her head.
"Not a chance."
Oliver only threw her a cocky smirk and shrugged. "Oh well, I guess I will just have to suffer."
Tess smiled as she trailed her fingers along the railing as she descended the stairs. He met her at the bottom and the heat rolling off his body was already sending shivers down her spine. She had missed this. Their banter was like pouring gasoline onto their fire. It just made them explode with excitement and more importantly, anticipation.
She touched her hand to his cheek. His eyes were drawn to her lips.
"Oh, I think I can make you suffer." Tess leaned a little. Their breathing became intermixed, his eyes closed, and then she pulled away suddenly.
She took a few steps away from him and turned to look over her shoulder at him. He had not moved an inch but his eyes were open and he turned his head to look at her with a mock glare but a smiling playing on his lips.
"See?" She teased and she sauntered out the doorway knowing he would follow because he always did. It felt good to fall back into their rhythm. It was one that had been theirs for years but now it was finally getting a chance to become a full blown symphony.
A while later they were back at Oliver's apartment in Metropolis. It had a fabulous view of the park. The green, that was barely visible at night, would make a nice contrast to Oliver's modern style of decorating. He had always been into clean lines, neutral colors, and stainless steel.
She found herself at the island in the kitchen and sat on a bar stool. "I see your decorating skills have not improved much."
Oliver looked offended. "What are you talking about? I think this place looks rather homey."
"Oliver, give me a break, you don't have one picture out, not even a really odd looking who the hell knows what it even is expensive painting, and that couch looks about as comfortable as those metal slabs at the morgue."
He set down a wine glass in front of her and began to pour. "I doubt that the morgue has had many complaints about the comfort level of those slabs, though."
She smiled watching the red wine splash its way into the bottom of her glass. Tess touched the stem with her fingers. "True… but you might just get some complaints about the comfort level of that couch. And you know how much I love a comfy couch."
Tess looked at him through her eyelashes. He was staring at her mouth.
The air became thick in an instant. And just as fast his mouth was on hers.
Their lips crashed together.
He grabbed her by the neck to pull her close and she wrapped her arms around his torso feeling the heavy cable knit sweater under her fingers. It was navy blue and she loved that color on him. The thought of how good he looked in it spurned her on as she ran her hands up his back and the pushed her hips towards his. His hands roamed down her body and into her hair.
Their movements were frantic. Their mouths fighting for dominance over the other and their kiss was like they had been dying of thirst for years and were finally get a drink of water. She bit his lip forcefully and he pulled back a fraction in surprise. Tess opened her eyes and she could see he was pleased with her. He always liked it when she was a little rough. It was a turn on for him that she never took his guff.
She smiled playfully at him and leaned in for another kiss but Oliver pulled back even further. Tess tried holding him close but he put both of his hands on her face to steady her and when she saw the look on his face she sobered up.
"What is it?" She asked.
"I don't want to rush into this Tess." Oliver said softly. He pushed a lock of hair back from her face. "This is killing me but I think we should wait just a little bit… I want to do this right."
Tess sighed and mimicked him by placing both of her hands on his face. "Don't worry about doing this right like we're in a story. We're not. Oliver… we've screwed this up enough times in the past to know that the only we could not get this right is to let it go again."
Oliver smiled but he continued his protest. "I just think that we should do things the proper way. You know, dinner, dancing—"
She shook her head. "Oliver, I love you. And that's not us—we've been pretending for years that we don't feel anything… I have been pretending for years. I don't want to pretend anymore."
Tess thought that she would feel dread if she had to ever admit to Oliver that she loved him after everything that had happened to him. For years, she had lived her life thinking that she was winning some sort of game, the break up game; if she pretended not to love him after all of the ways that he had hurt her.
None of that mattered anymore if he was willing to put his heart on the line then so was she.
Oliver flashed the brightest smile she had ever seen on him in her life.
He rubbed his thumbs over her cheeks. "I love you, Tess."
Oliver then lifted her off the bar stool. She wrapped her legs around him instinctively and yelped in the process. "What are you doing?"
He started walking down a long white hallway and just looked up at her mischievously.
"I am taking you to my bed."
Tess wrapped her arms around his neck then placed her lips against his ear. She tugged on his earlobe with her teeth then whispered, "Good."
Oliver growled as she began to trace kisses up and down his neck. Tess was so preoccupied in her ministrations that she only heard him kick the door open and it slammed against a nearby wall.
The room was dark and there just a little hint of moonlight coming through the windows. The plush comforter hit her skin as Tess fell down on the bed and Oliver was immediately on top of her. He had one arm above her head and another slowly inching up her dress. Tess' lips found his again as her need for contact with him overwhelmed her. Her skin was hot wherever he touched it and there was an aching in her belly.
Tess pulled on his hips and then moved her hands underneath his sweater. Her fingers could feel the smooth planes of his back and she wanted more.
She tore her mouth away from his and tugged on his sweater. "Off. Now."
Oliver gladly obliged by pulling it up over his head and tossing it to the side. Her lips found his again as more clothes were shed the intensity began to increase.
His touch was like a drug that she had not had in way too long. It was a craving she had and Oliver was not something she could get enough of. Her body began to shake. His breathing became labored. And before long the two were reunited as two lovers should be and they fit like they always did… perfectly.
Hours later Tess was sprawled out against Oliver with her head on his naked chest. Only a sheet covered their bare bodies and he was running his hands through her hair. She smiled at the motion; it was a good idea to leave her hair down. It was early in the morning, the city outside was quiet and Oliver broke the silence inside.
"We forgot to have dinner… are you hungry?" He joked.
Tess smiled. "Sure…"
And they both headed toward the kitchen blissfully happy.
End of Chapter 11