A/N: You're getting 2 chapters today. I'm feeling so productive.
Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
Spoilers: None
We'll See
Chapter 12
Alicia was confused as she sipped her coffee, while sitting next to Eli on her couch. They were warm and comfortable and she was reluctant to let him leave, even as she knew she should. She set aside her cup while the war fought itself inside her head. The Alicia inside her was fighting with the woman who had been Mrs. Florrick. 'Alicia' finally won, shoving the other person back into her box. It was getting easier each time she did it. She was slowly regaining her independence and her spark.
"Will you stay tonight?" She asked softly, thankful that he'd also set aside his cup, He studied her seriously.
"Is that what you really want?" He asked equally soft. But she knew he was really asking if she was ready for him to stay.
"I can't say that I ready for more than someone sleeping beside me, but yes." She nodded to confirm her though. She wasn't ready to have sex with him yet. That was too intimate, and she wasn't sure she could handle it yet. She was sure that if they allowed things to go that far so soon then it would ruin the small amount of comfort they'd found with each other.
"Ok." He answered, confident that she knew herself well enough to dictate how far she wanted to go. She took the initiative and snuggled into his side. Now that she knew he was going to stay with her, at least for the night, then there was no reason to hold herself back from touching him.
They enjoyed the feel of being in close contact with one another for a while longer before she felt herself starting to drop off. She shifted to sit up and found him eying her drowsily as well. She stood and took his hand, pulling him up behind her. Once he was standing she kept his hand in hers and tugged gently to keep him following her into her bedroom.
It felt natural for him to be there in her room. It had never felt right the few times Peter had only stepped over the threshold. She entered the bathroom and pulled out a spare toothbrush for him to use. It was kind of comforting to see another toothbrush next to hers in the holder. He had shed his tie and unbuttoned the cuffs of his shirt when he entered the bathroom behind her. He watched her in the mirror as she washed away her makeup and brushed her own teeth. He followed suit. He had to admit that being with her in her small bathroom felt right.
When they were finished with the bathroom, he followed her out into her bedroom. She slowly peeled out of her vest and her shirt. She really didn't have any qualms about undressing in front of him. She turned and reached into her drawer to pull out a night gown. His hands were warm on her back as he released the clasp of her bra for her, and then placed a soft kiss on her shoulder before stepping away. It wasn't meant to be seductive, but she was seduced by it anyway. She pulled off the bra and slipped her night gown over her head. She turned around to find Eli watching her with smoldering eyes.
Alicia reached up and began to unbutton his shirt, tugging it out of his pants and slipping it of his shoulders. She pulled up his undershirt and over his head. He had already toed off his shoes in the living room. He unbuttoned his pants and let them fall to the floor before stepping out of them and his socks. He piled his clothing on a chair by Alicia's dresser. He felt a little exposed standing there in nothing but his boxers.
Alicia pulled back the covers on her bed and he took the other side of the bed. They laid down facing each other and she reach back to turn the light off. There was enough light coming in through her window that she could just make out his features and the gleam of his eyes in the darkness. She reached out to trace his features and when she reached his lips, the pressed against her fingertips in a chaste kiss. His hands reached out and pulled her closer, until he could feel their breath mingling across the pillow they were suddenly sharing. He wrapped his arms around her, tucking her head under his chin, and she nuzzled into his neck. It felt so right to be there in his arms. She breathed in his scent and slowly let herself relax and drift off into her first night of uninterrupted sleep that she'd had for as long as she could remember.
Eli felt her breathing even out and allowed himself to relax as well. Alicia was a very attractive woman, and one particular appendage of his was very interested in her. He allowed his control to ease a little because he would never be able to sleep if he had to keep telling himself to behave. He took a few deep breaths, pulling the smell of her shampoo and perfume into his lungs. He allowed himself to drift in her presence and float off to his own sleep.
When Alicia awoke, she was warm and very content. She could feel the movement of Eli's even breathing beneath her head, and hear his heartbeat in its steady beating soothing her back into sleep. But something had woken her in the first place. She wasn't awake enough to put her finger on it, until she heard the front door slam, and her daughter yelling. She sat up quickly and was already disentangling herself from Eli, when her bedroom door was flung open.
"Mom…" Grace trailed off, tears in her eyes, as she spotted Alicia, and a now awake Eli.
