a/n: and the smut returns! I crapped out this chapter way faster than I thought I could! I hope you enjoy it! Also, a huge thank you to firetipmyballs for beta'ing this and also being my freaking savior. don't forget to check out the website for this fic! (just remove the spaces.) thearrangement . carrd . co !

song of the chapter: capital letters - hailee steinfeld

Chapter Eight - Illumination

When her eyes opened, she was hit with the memories of the day previous. The Santorini sunshine beamed against the stark white walls, casting a comforting warmth over her body. She could hear the waves crashing from down off from the mountainside, and the sea salt in the air was even stronger than it had been last night.

With a tired sigh, she rolled over under the tumbled white sheets. Without even needing to look, she could see a shirtless Elliot propped up on his elbow, staring down at her. When her eyes did open once more, she saw the grin on his face and the sparkle in his eyes.

"Morning, sunshine." he smirked, taking a sip from the coffee cup he held in his hand.

Her dark brown hair was splayed over the crisp pillowcase, highlighting the almost invisible red tint in the strands. She smiled lazily, taking a deep breath through her nose. "Do you always stare at me when I sleep?" she mumbled.

"Yes," he stated matter-of-factly.

She giggled, sitting up and taking the coffee mug from him and taking a sip. "So, what's on the docket for today?"

"Whatever you want. We could go for a boat ride? Maybe a wine tasting?" he removed the coffee mug from her grip, setting it on the table beside him. "Both?" he leaned down, hovering over her before pulling her into a kiss.

"Don't we have to visit HQ at some point? Mmph…" she trailed off. Her arms wrapped around his neck as he kissed along her throat, sending her into a fit of giggles. "Business trip, remember?"

"Trust me, I'm all business," he whispered, nibbling on her ear. "Just enjoy yourself, will ya? We're on the most beautiful island in the world and you're thinking about work. You're beginning to sound like me."

When he was nose to nose with her, she smiled. It was a lazy, came-with-ease smile as she sunk deeper into the bed beneath her. She was happy, and it was strange. She wasn't sure what it was that he had said that changed her mind, but she felt the shift. He was right, there was no shame in allowing herself to enjoy life a little bit.

She pecked his lips softly, her arms still hooked around his neck. "Okay, you're right. A boat ride and some wine does sound much needed." Her eyes closed at their own volition as she took in the intoxicating scent of him. Yesterday's cologne was wearing off and the natural musk of him was peaking through. The warm weight of him above her was every nerve in her body jitter with anticipation and glee.

Her arms pulled away from his shoulders and her hands came up to cup his cheeks, pulling him back against her once more. She could taste the bitter black coffee on his tongue and her brain went haywire. That was the thing about kissing Elliot; once she started, she never wanted to stop. She could spend endless days doing nothing but kissing him. He communicated through touch as if it were his first language and only she could understand.

"I'll make breakfast if you wanna take the first shower. Or, we could shower together," he smirked against her lips, nuzzling his nose against her cheek.

"Slow down, hotshot. Wine and dinner were promised for later, so I guess you're gonna have to earn it first." she smiled, sliding out from under him in nothing but her tank top and panties. First she grabbed her swimsuit from her bag and the black slip to cover it and then she swiped the mug of coffee from the nightstand. She stopped in the bathroom doorway, leaning against the doorframe as she took a sip. "However, I wouldn't be opposed to that shared shower later."

She shut the door before he could respond, finding herself in possibly the most beautiful bathroom she had ever seen. The entirety of the room was stark white and marble, the shower made entirely of clear and visible glass. On the far end of the room beside the window was a massive oval shaped tub with sleek, stainless steel taps. The design was minimalist and yet it screamed luxury. Her mind wandered to the idea of what it would be like to slip under the water in the tub with Elliot behind her, given that it was the perfect size for the both of them.

Beside the double vanity, she grabbed a set of the fluffy white towels that had been set out. The breeze of Santorini was somehow flowing through the bathroom, only further igniting the bliss in her bones. Work could wait, Red Light could wait, it could all just wait while she let herself relax and enjoy it.

Santorini was obviously special to him, and even more so given that he wanted to share it with her.

The ride to the marina was short and quiet, both of them just taking in the view of the amazing island. The windows were rolled down and the breeze ran against both of their faces. Olivia was too consumed with the surroundings to focus on Elliot, especially since she had been asleep when they'd first arrived. She had missed the beauty of it, wanting now to soak in as much of it as she could.

The vehicle pulled into the parking at the marina and Olivia was instantly blown away at how crystal clear the water was. As she stepped out of the car, her breath was taken away at the sight. "God, this is stunning." she gasped, trying to take it all in.

"I've been to a lot of places, but I can't ever get over how beautiful it is here," Elliot commented, tugging on the first button of his white shirt. He looked around, surveying the area with a familiar sense of nostalgia. He felt at home in a lot of places, that was just part of his job, but Santorini was a bit different. It was his one true runaway. "Hey uh — Christos? Why don't you hang back? Take the car, do whatever you want, and we'll give you a call when we're on our way back. I think we've got it from here."

"Are you sure, sir?" the man asked, suddenly looking anxious. His chest puffed out the slightest bit, his jaw visibly clenching. They were standing toe to toe and for the first time, Olivia realized how similarly statuesque he was to Elliot. Although, it didn't make her feel the same safety she felt around Elliot. Instead, she just felt further discomforted by the man. "Not to step out of line, but you hired me as your security detail. I can't really do my job if I'm not covering you."

Elliot stepped forward, his brows furrowing slightly as his lips pursed. Olivia recognized the look on his face, it was a look she had seen often in the office. Usually, it came with a non-verbalized threat against anyone who tried to one-up him on his own turf. She only ever labelled it in her head as his 'nearly feral' expression. He slid his aviators down his nose, "I hired you as a cautionary measure, and I appreciate the loyalty," he grinned, stepping even closer as if he were an animal hunting its prey. "But I do believe I am a man who can protect himself for a few hours on the very water that I have been on countless times. Like I said, I've got it from here."

The silence was choking her as she watched the showdown between the two men. Elliot was staring him down without even so much as a blink for several seconds before the other man relented. His gulp was audible as he stepped back. "Yes, sir."

He and Olivia began walking closer towards the dock, leaving Christos behind as if he hadn't even existed in the first place. Elliot carried a bag on his arm and Olivia could hear the clinking of bottles of booze and snacks between the canvas tote. She remembered that he'd mentioned something about bringing their lunch out on the boat. In all fairness, she was hoping that the food would be native to the location because they hadn't gotten around to trying actual greek cuisine yet. "My boat isn't far from here,"

"Your boat? I thought we were getting a rental or something, I didn't know you kept a boat here." she laughed.

"I got it a few years ago." he replied, smiling at her. "I didn't have the heart to get rid of it so I've been paying the marina to look after it, and a few guys down at the HQ here to spruce it up every once in a while."

"Is there something special about it?" She asked, looking up towards him as they strolled.

He didn't answer for a few moments, choosing rather to let the sun beam down over his face as he tipped his head back. She heard the sharp inhale, realizing he was immersing himself with the scent of the sea water. His mouth opened and closed as he reluctantly began to answer her."I uh — I spent a lot of time with my daughter on the boat when she was little."

It took everything in her not to stop right there in her tracks. He hadn't mentioned his daughter in a long time, and she nearly forgot about her existence. "Oh," Olivia answered back, feeling sheepish after the confession.

"And this —" he stopped, a huge grin growing on his face. "This is her." He held up the keys as his head nodded in the direction of one of the boats. It was beautiful — of course. Newly restored it seemed, especially given that there wasn't an inch of peeling paint or rust on it. The entire deck was as white as the walls inside their villa, with a blue stripe around the body of it. "I had the guys come out and take it for a test drive a few days before we got here, she still runs like the day I got her."

With a sense of giddiness in his steps, he ran down the dock and threw himself over the edge and into the boat. "Here, take my hand," he reached out pretending to grab her by the arm only to pick her up by her waist despite her giggling pleas for him to be careful. Once her feet were planted firmly on the floor of the deck, he tossed his keys up in the air and caught them. "Ready to hit the open water?"

"As I'll ever be," she smiled back, sitting in a seat near the navigation as he took over. The boat whirred to life, the engines sounding just as sharp as they did the day he first got the keys. Through the dark shade of her sunglasses, she saw the smile he wore as the sound hit his ears. It was music to him, that much was painfully obvious.

As they strode across the clear blue water, her thoughts wandered away from her. She thought about his daughter and suddenly, she understood the sacredness of this place. He wasn't here to woo her and win her over.

He was here to share.

She could see it in him. He wanted her in on the experiences that made him the happiest. That stirred something in her, but she couldn't put her finger on exactly what it was. It scared her. She would be a fool if it didn't. Elliot was never shy about showing her love and adoration. For a while, she wondered if that was just his way of expressing any sort of care. It wasn't long until she realized that she was wrong; it was just her.

Even though the rip between the boat and the water was deafening, it was peaceful. An unspoken serenity between the two of them as they ventured out past the alcove of the marina and out into the open water. Everything about it was perfect, from the way the sun's shining warmth didn't burn to the cool breeze coming off the water.

"Come here," he smiled, motioning for her to walk to him.

She pushed herself out of the chair, cautiously walking toward the navigation.

"Wanna drive?" He grinned as she laughed, completely taken back by the offer. "C'mon, it's easy. Here," he placed her in front of him, his hands on top of hers as he guided them to the wheel. She looked over her shoulder and laughed as he steered through her hands. She could feel the heat of his breath on her neck along with the chill of the air.

His hands moved away from where they rested on hers, instead landing on her waist. He pressed his body against her back, chuckling deep in her ear. "See? You got it. Wanna go faster?"

Yes.

Her eyes practically rolled into the back of her head. Without saying anything, she simply nodded, trying to focus on the path in front of her. The GPS had mapped out the course on the screen and she watched as they slowly veered off course.

One hand remained on her hip but the other left to grab one of hers from off the steering wheel. "Clutch this," he placed her hand on the lever. "Slowly push it upwards, towards the windshield."

She wanted to melt into him as he guided her movements further. The wind pushed further against her, colliding a coolness against her where the warm sun beamed down. This was living, she thought. The adrenaline pushed a smile to her face as the boat sped up, an unintentional giggle rising to the top of her lungs. It was just them and the wide channel of translucent water.

Magic, that was the best word that came to her mind. When she thought of the fearlessness she felt on the water and the way his touch felt like sparks against her skin, it could only be defined as magical.

"You're a natural!" He shouted, forcing his volume to rise higher over the increasingly loud sound of the waves.

Magic, and maybe freedom.

"So… you spent a lot of time here with Kathleen?"

They had dropped anchor out in the middle of the water, no sight of land anywhere in their range. She was lounging peacefully on the deck while he sat back with a drink in his hand, taking in the warmth of the unshielded sun.

His comment about his daughter from earlier hadn't left her mind, and she knew it wouldn't until the cards were on the table.

"Yeah," he smiled, his eyes falling to the floor. "We'd all come here to Greece, my ex-wife thought of it as the only place I'd ever actually allow myself to take a break. She would literally beg for us to come here, I always just thought she liked to vacation but she was just trying to get my attention." his eyes went sad as he allowed her the smallest glimpse into his past. "But sometimes she'd go out and go shopping, something to give me and Kathleen some time alone to bond. We'd always sit out here and just… talk. I mean, there's not much conversation to be had with a toddler, but we'd make it work."

"Sounds like some of your best memories were out here," she smiled softly at him. She could feel the awkwardness, there was no point in trying to hide it. She was afraid of overstepping, he was afraid of his emotions, it wasn't a perfect mix.

"She liked to uh," he paused, laughing into his hand as his head shook. "She liked to lean over the edge of the boat and 'say hi to the fishies' as she called it. I'd hold her by the straps on her little pink life-jacket and she'd wave her hand at the water. Every day we were here, she'd beg to come say hi to the fishies."

He was trying not to choke up. It may not have been an audible give away but she prided herself in at least understanding and expecting his next move. He was on the cusp, she could feel it. Yet, she couldn't stop the prying. She wanted to. She wanted to find the ability to shut up and stop toeing the line but the line was right there and it was calling to her.

"Do you miss it?"

Her eyes found his and there was something deep hidden in her stare. Something resembling disapproval. She hadn't outright expressed her cross feelings for his absence in his daughter's life, it wasn't her place. But it was hard to hold it back when she knew what it was like to go through life without a parent.

So, her question sat there like a loaded gun. Do you miss her? Do you miss the moments that don't even need to be missed? She remembered what he had said that night at their fancy dinner, about how his second divorce was messy and he was so miserable that he wanted to keep Kathleen away from that.

"More than anything," he answered, shamefully looking down into his lap. The boat rocked against the soft waves, the gentle breeze blowing in both of their ears.

It was making more sense to her as the moments passed. A realization that was somehow both comforting and absolutely terrifying at the same time.

His intent in bringing her here was much deeper than he probably even knew. He missed his daughter, but he had created those memories of her with the wrong woman. As long as Olivia was there, he could relive those memories with his daughter in his head alongside the person he'd wished had been there with them.

"You uh — you never told me the full story, you know. About Kathleen and everything." It was her turn to stare into her lap, picking at the strings that hung from her bikini. She didn't want to push, but that was what their relationship was. A constant push and pull against each other.

Though, he got what was coming to him. She hadn't forgotten the ambush at his apartment, about Monique and her mother. She had spilled part of her soul out, it was his turn.

He wearily shook his head, staring down at the floor. "It's not a pretty story."

"Neither was the one about my mom." she quipped without hesitation.

"Fair enough," he chuckled, his head cocking to the side. He scratched the back of his neck, his tell-tale sign of nerves but she wasn't going to let up. Not if they wanted this to go anywhere further than just her telling her secrets and him remaining emotionally locked up. "Like I told you, my divorce was hard. I've been married three times and it was the only marriage that I actually put effort into — and the only marriage that lasted more than two years."

Olivia nodded, ensuring him that she was paying attention.

"Kathy, or 'ex-wife number two' as you know her, she wasn't what you think. It was never about money for her and sometimes, I think it would've been easier if it had been." he wiped at his face, growing more nervous as she listened. "At least that way I could've made a much more clean break of it all. Except, there were feelings involved and that made it so much worse. I honestly thought I was going to spend the rest of my life with her. Though, as you know, I'm a workaholic and she didn't like that, so we grew apart."

"You're not as ice cold as you like everyone to think." she murmured.

"I became… very bitter. I felt ashamed because I thought I had let myself get played; I wore my feelings on my sleeve. I wasn't clear-headed when the divorce started to happen, I was a mess. But the one clear thought I was absolutely sure about was that I didn't want my daughter in the crossfire. So, I surrendered. I knew that the harder I put up a fight, the more bitter towards Kathy I would become." he paused, his eyes closing with one deep exhale. "My girl... my little girl, she didn't deserve to become a pawn and I was afraid that I would unintentionally turn her into one if the divorce got any worse."

"So, you saw it as an act of love?" She asked. The ultimate sacrifice, yet all misplaced.

"Not a single day goes by that I don't wish she was by my side. Believe me. I've never missed a piano recital, a career day, a ballet performance. I pay for her to get the best education and I make sure she's got everything she needs. I'm just not the dad that's there every day and I hate it. I… I fucking hate it, Olivia."

"So… if you're not the dad you want to be, what dad are you?"

"The one who knows his daughter's name but not her favorite color," he sighed. "The one who has her photos on his desk but isn't in any of them. I'm a little less than a stranger to her. I distanced myself to protect her but in the process, but I always thought that it would only be a short matter of time until we were back to our normal relationship. I let time slip away."

His eyes were red from the denial of tears and he wasn't looking at her. How could he? Meanwhile, she stared him down with the force to burn a hole into him.

"What's stopping you now?" Olivia asked carefully. She could feel that anger, it was on low boil but it could rise to the top at any moment. You have no excuse not to be in her life.

"Fear," he answered bluntly. "Of what, I'm not sure. Maybe I'm afraid to face that our bond isn't what it used to be, or that it never will be again. More than anything, I'm afraid she'll look at me with those bright blue eyes and only see a failure. Someone who gave up when, in reality, it was the opposite."

Olivia nodded, understanding the logic that he had ingrained into his mind. From the outsider's point of view, it might not make sense. But it made sense to him. "That's why we're here," she whispered, her voice hoarse from the tension of unspilled emotions. "You feel closer to her here."

He nodded once, refusing to look up.

"Sometimes, we cling to memories because they're safer. They are unchanging and unrelenting. Reality, on the other hand, is static. Unexpected and completely in the air at all times. We spend more time fearing the outcome than we do experiencing it. Except now, you're sitting here, a million miles away from home while chasing a memory when you could be making new ones. Take it from a girl who doesn't even need to explain what her paternal situation is — you walk in the door and be a dad to that little girl, she'll be a hell of a lot more forgiving to you than if you never return."

The silence was thick enough that it could be cut with a knife. He didn't know what to say, or if there was even anything to be said. In his gut, she made a lot of sense. That was something he had come to realize about her; sense was her superpower.

Instead of using words, he stood up and walked along the deck to sit beside her. Wrapping his arms around her, he laid the both of them back into the lounger. Her head buried into his shoulder when his hand rested on her waist. It was a promise of something that words couldn't do justice for. It was a plea for her to understand that she was immeasurably helpful to him. It was a promise to sit on her words and consider them, despite the fear. It was appreciation that he wasn't chasing a memory alone, and that she might become the very guiding light that brings him to the forefront of something new.

"I'm lucky to have you," he murmured into her hair.

It was rare when their touch wasn't something that came with electricity beneath it. When it was just two people finding comfort in one another. There was no intent behind where he touched her and no reason why, no ulterior motive. Just the sunshine, the presence, and the relief that she still had hope that he could make better decisions.

"The wine tasting tour was postponed so I hope this can make up for it," Elliot whispered in her ear, guiding her into the beautifully lit restaurant. String lights hung from the ceiling and greenery made up the walls. The entire restaurant was overlooking the stunning sea as soft music drifted through the building. "The tasting is tomorrow after we drop by SE headquarters."

"This is… wow," Olivia gasped, eyeing her entire surroundings up and down. The whole restaurant was empty, and despite the fact that she'd hoped otherwise, she knew exactly why it was empty. Elliot had done what Elliot does — he'd bought the place for the night. She could tell because the staff stood around waiting for them with a smile as if there was a gun to their heads.

He stepped beside her, pulling out the chair at their designated table for her to take a seat at. Without needing to be asked, one of the waiters rushed over a bottle of what he knew was her favorite wine. "I'd like to propose a toast," Elliot said, as soon as the filled glass was in his hand.

"What are we toasting to?" she raised her glass in alignment with his.

"Well, I know I was aiming to make this trip a vacation for you, but there is a hint of work news that I think you'll be happy to hear." He gave her a devilish grin. "After the U.S. and Canada roll out your Red Light app, Greece will be one of the next countries following suit. That's part of the reason we're here. I wanted to check in with HQ to make sure that they're beginning preparations for whatever service departments will need to be placed here in order to run the app."

Olivia's jaw dropped, almost as if it were in slow motion as his words washed over her. It wasn't a wooed, blown away by a romantic gesture kind of gasp. It was small; she felt small. She, Olivia Benson who was simply herself, was responsible for this. "Wh-what?"

"Funding has already been set up for when Phase II of the project is done, which is the service centers that host the app. Several of which will be set up here in Greece following the launch. You're worldwide, Olivia, and you don't even know it," he smirked, clinking his glass against hers which remained in her frozen hand. "Cheers."

"Cheers… I mean, I—" she sputtered, forcing herself to take a deep breath. "Isn't it a bit early? These things take time and trials and working out the kinks. Why are we funneling funding into this when it's not even finished being developed yet?" she gasped, spewing her words without a single pause.

"Because, like I told you before, I believe in you." He smiled, reaching for her panicked hand across the table. "Your idea is solid, Liv. I'd be a fool not to do everything I can to make it a reality. Is it risky to put it all on the line so early? Yeah, but only if I wasn't 100% sure that it would come to fruition swiftly. I think you're forgetting that my ego and confidence has gotten me to where I am, not luck."

She nodded, forcing away the tears in her eyes — which he still saw despite her effort to hide them. "Isn't Tucker going to be pissed?" she laughed through a sniffle. "He runs finances, he has to know what's happening."

"Don't worry about him." Elliot sneered, picking up the menu. "I'd love to hear him protest the creation of an app like this. He knows damn well it's groundbreaking, he just won't admit it because it didn't come from the people who usually pitch. He knows why we're here — or, at least why we should be here."

"I don't want you to catch any flack about this, El," she sighed, also picking up the menu. "I mean, you might be the CEO but he's in a seat where he can make your life miserable with just a few votes. He plays the system dirty, just like he tried to do last time. If it weren't for a very nerve-wracking trip to a Porsche dealership and extensive background searches for blackmail material, he would've gotten his way."

"I promise, you don't have to worry about me. I will fund this damn project out of my own bank account if I have to, Liv. I meant it when I told you how much I support this idea. It's risky to make the moves ahead of time, yes, but that's just part of the game." He sighed, flashing her a soft smile.

One of the waiters came over and nervously took their orders, not long before the sound of live violin music flowed through the enclosure. Olivia's eyes went wide once more and Elliot had already plastered a smirk on his face before she could say anything.

"So, tonight we celebrate. We celebrate hope, we celebrate a victory, we celebrate new beginnings. We celebrate you, Olivia Benson, because you are one of the hardest working people I've ever met and you harbor a passion that is rare and admirable."

The words nearly slipped out, she felt them on her tongue. Three vulnerable, terrifying, life-changing words that were so close to falling out that she feared she had actually said them instead of just thinking them. But she didn't, and she thanked God for that. She lifted her glass once more, chiming against his and withholding the words that floated around in her mind, instead deciding to go only with "We celebrate,"

As their evening was spent with soft laughter and passing glances, a familiar yet unknown presence watched carefully. Each accidental touch and expression of admiration towards one another was mentally noted by the man standing guard there to protect them.

He strode out front of the villa, spotting the SUV that they had arrived in. Some of their luggage was still stowed away in the back. As he unlatched the back, he stopped at the sound of footsteps behind him.

"Mr. Stabler, sir. Could I offer you some help?" Christos appeared, his arms folded behind his back as he smiled.

"Uh...yeah," Elliot paused before nodding, stepping away from where the two suitcases in the back sat. "Yes, please." He didn't like the man. There was no legitimate reason to dislike him, only that the new guard gave him a chill down his spine every time he smiled. It was something in his eyes, they were dark and all-knowing, but knowing what, he wasn't sure. He couldn't see that far into them, and maybe that's what he disliked the most.

"I was about to retire for the evening when I saw you come out here," Christos grinned, grabbing one of the suitcases from the trunk and hauling it out. "Are you enjoying your stay here?"

"Yeah, it's nice to be back." Elliot smiled, forcing himself to try to relax. How harmful could the man be, after all, he was there to protect Elliot. "It's been a while since I've been here but it's just as beautiful."

"And Miss. Benson? She's enjoying her stay also?"

Elliot stopped and turned to stone. His jaw locked up as he replayed the last twenty four hours in his mind, word for word. He traced back to every single conversation shared with the man, repeating verbatim in his head. It wasn't the tone of the man's voice that bothered him, despite the fact that it sounded as if it was meant to be secretive. It was something else.

"Hey, Christos…" Elliot smiled, stuffing his hands into his pocket and taking a step closer. "How do you know her name?"

"Pardon me, sir?" Christos shrunk into his shoulders. "I assure you, you've told her her name before. On the tarmac, yesterday, I believe?" His smile did not relent and neither did Elliot's as they entered into what seemed to be a staring competition.

"No, you see, at most, you've heard me use her first name. I don't recall a single time where I mentioned her last name to you." Elliot took another step closer, refusing to blink as he stared the man down. There were a million unspoken words in his eyes, a handful of which were obvious threats.

Though, it was then when something eerie happened. The smile on Christos' face had warped from unsettling to absolutely bone-chilling. Elliot wasn't sure what had changed, maybe the certainty in his eyes? As if he had plotted a surefire exit point from the conversation.

"Sir," his smile grew wider, eyes glued to Elliot's. "Her name is printed on the tag."

It took Elliot a moment to catch on and given that the man in front of him made no effort to point to the direction he was referring to, Elliot had to find for himself that Christos' fingers were clutching the white flight tag still on Olivia's suitcase. His eyes flicked down to the luggage and back up to the guard's.

God fucking damnit.

It was a stroke of luck and nothing more.

Christos hauled the last suitcase from the trunk before wiping his hands at his sides. The arrogant and threatening smile was still just as prevalent as before. "She is your… assistant, no?"

It was at that moment that he severely regretted not bringing Skylar along for the trip. At least he didn't ask questions, much less about Olivia.

Elliot remained statuesque for a moment before grabbing both suitcases by the handles. He didn't have time to weigh his options of answers. One was a lie, the other was too much truthful. Before parting, he stepped toe to toe with the guard, staring down at him with narrow eyes. "Good night, Mr. Ardino." Stabler grinned, turning on his heel as he dragged the luggage into the home, leaving Christos to watch.

His blood felt cold.

"Liv?" he called out as soon as he re-entered their villa. The entire place is without a sound and he'd said there wasn't a strike of fear going through him. His pace throughout the apartment grew faster as he made his way into the bedroom.

The conversation played through his mind as he wandered around the area, searching for Olivia. More than anything, he just wanted her in his sights for a solid second to know that she was alright, and to ground him back to reality.

"Olivia?" he tried again, no response.

He came to a full halt as he spotted a small piece of folded paper on the bed. Carefully, he stepped close enough and unwrapped the little letter.

'Follow the trail,' he repeated out loud. He glanced up, trying to figure out what trail the note was referring to before he spotted her sandals near the patio door. The note was ditched and he stalked carefully towards the black flip-flops.

As soon as he'd reached those, he could see the vague outline of her silk swim-cover a few yards away beyond the glass. He let himself out through the sliding door, feeling a smirk growing on his lips. He had wondered when the first move would be made, but he'd thought it would be him making it.

She always liked to prove him wrong.

Once he reached the slip that laid carefully on the stone pathway, he narrowed his eyes at what was ahead of that. He trailed closer, unable to make out what the object was in the dim lighting.

God damnit, Olivia.

He leaned over, picking up the slinky black bikini top that was strewn on the ground. He bunched it up, stuffing it in his pocket as he neared towards the pool. The pathway curved around and the reflection from the lights in the still out of sight pool was bouncing off of a nearby wall.

On the glass gate entrance to the pool was the matching black bikini bottoms, dangling from the post. He looked over the barrier, spotting her on the far end of the pool with her back to him. Her hair was brushed slickly back and her arms were folded on the ledge as she overlooked the view of Santorini.

Everything around them was a mixture of orange and blue hues, alternating from the light of the pool and the lights around the villa. She looked ethereal to say the least. The bare curves of her body stood out to him, the orange glow accentuating every feature. From there, he could see how soft her skin looked and how perfectly her ass would fit in the palm of his hand.

As silently as possible, he opened the gate and let himself through. He knew she was aware of his presence even without having seen a reaction in her. He wondered for a moment if she was smiling or smirking as her eyes scanned over the view. It had to be one of the two, she knew what she was doing.

His bottom lip dropped into a soft grin as he slowly unbuttoned the crisp white shirt that covered him. For now, he was content with just watching her. Even with no movement or intent, she was a lot to watch. He wanted the image of her burned into his memory, the outline of her body seared into the backs of his eyelids.

"You just gonna stand there, Stabler?" She asked, not bothering to turn around and look at him.

Another button on his shirt popped from the careful ministrations of his fingers. He paid close attention to the curved arch of her lower back. His smile broadened

"I might," he retorted, the obviousness of his Queens accent becoming clear. He did that a lot, she noticed. When he'd end a sentence and keep his mouth opened, he always sounded a little bit more like his New York roots. "I got your invite."

"Took you long enough. You're late to the party," she replied, still not bothering to pick her head up and look at him. He started to wonder less about the smile on her face and more about what her eyes looked like. Another button came loose from his shirt. Were the lights from the view ahead of her reflecting from her deep brown irises? They were probably golden by now; he'd noticed that about her eyes when they caught the light.

"So, you're the one calling the shots now?" He asked playfully. Another smirk, and at this point, he worried that his face would get stuck like that.

"Let's be honest," she finally turned, her bare chest on display as she leaned against the edge of the pool. Her arms stretched out on either side of her, resting on the concrete. "When aren't I calling the shots?"

It took everything in him not to waver at the sight of her. His mouth went dry and all of the blood in his body was rushing south. Everything about her was all too inviting and the intent to slowly ease into this was gone. The remainder of the buttons on his shirt were nearly ripped from the seams. He tossed the shirt on a lounge chair he was certain was behind him somewhere. Fuck it, the shirt was expensive but not nearly as priceless as the vision of her.

Not bothering with his shorts, he shocked her with his urgent dive into the pool. They'd spent all day denying themselves of what they actually wanted, there was no point in waiting any longer — not that he was positive he even could wait.

The splash of water drenched her but she was far from actually caring. As soon as the droplets were brushed away from her eyes, she looked around to see if he had come up. Before she could spot him, she felt his hands from underneath the water grazing up her legs.

She shivered as one hand reached down for him, wading through the water until she caught him by the shoulder. Her palm stroked up the back of his neck, toying with the prickly hairs from his buzz cut.

Most of their time together was spent at work, and even then, they barely kept their hands off of each other. The entire day spent in the most beautiful place on Earth without finding release in each other? It made the day seem longer than she had expected. She was learning all too quickly that keeping their hands off of each other was a chore.

Bubbles of air escaping from his mouth mixed with the touch of his lips on her stomach was all she could feel. The entirety of her focus was on the heightened sense of him. Almost two days without them properly fucking — how could she feel this starved? The last time he had been able to explore her full body with more than just his fingers while 42,000 feet in the air was the night before their flight.

In some odd way, it thrilled her even more. She had spent the entire day wondering when it would happen. The boat seemed the most likely to her at first but the conversation had hit something beyond their usual boundary and sex was off of the list after that. Obviously, he couldn't do much at dinner. Still, she had waited and waited all day for a moment that hadn't come.

He came up for air, his bare chest against hers as the water dripped from him. Before he could catch his breath, her arms latched onto his neck, her lips attacking his with ferocity. Her legs wrapped around his hips, anchoring him tightly against her. She could feel the hardness beneath his shorts as she ground against him, searching for the closeness that they had been without for too long.

The way he kissed her felt different. There was something more than just want mingled into it, he was kissing her with the intent of marking her. He made no room for a dominant fight over the kiss, taking all control and refusing to offer a compromise on that. He kissed her as if there was a message in his lips, a plea for her to understand something.

She could feel his urge to claim her, which only fanned the flames inside of her. She grasped at his back, clawing her nails over his skin trying to eliminate any space between their bodies. Her eyes felt as heavy as lead when she tried to open them, she was too relaxed in his arms. Though, she could only imagine how absolutely beautiful he looked. That's what he was to her — he was beautiful. Chiseled like a masterpiece of Michelangelo. Reflections of light in the beads of water on his skin, replicating diamonds from the finest jewelers. He was beauty.

"It's just you and me," he whispered, reminding her as if she had forgotten. Maybe she had. Some part of her was still tense, feeling as if she was crossing some line by having sex with him in circumstances of business. It wasn't a quickie in the bathroom at the office, it was more than that. But it was just the two of them, she mentally reminded herself.

She pulled away for a moment to stare at him in amazement. "This… this has been one of the best days I've had in a while. Thank you." she whispered with sincerity. Her hand came up to caress his cheek, his hand covering hers as she did so.

With a softness in his smile that matched his eyes, he leaned back down for a slower kiss. His hands went under the water to lift her back up closer against him, firmly settled so her thighs rested on his arms. Carefully trying not to let go of the weight of her, he pushed down at his boxers until they drifted down past his ankles.

He could feel how wet she was from where she rubbed against him, feeling the obvious difference in texture from the pool water. Excitement thrilled through both of them as his cock nudged against her. Her head fell back slightly as he ground deeper against her. "El," she whispered.

He reached down, rubbing the tip of his cock against her entrance before slowly pushing into her. He bit back his own sounds as she breathed heavily under him. Through barely open eyes, he could see the ferocious bite she had going down on her bottom lip. Her legs hooked tighter around him as if some magnetic pull had tethered her to him.

"I will never get used to how amazing you feel," he managed to get the words out without shuttering. One of his hands freed, moving to grip the edge of the pool for more traction. His body moved perfectly against hers, his thrusts meeting her clit with every inward motion.

Her mind was elsewhere. She was overcome with the euphoria of finally feeling relief from the pressure that had been between her thighs all day. Her cheeks were rose red from the heat in her body, and she silently thanked God that they weren't in the hot tub because she'd probably melt all together.

His hand that remained under the water gave a tight squeeze on her ass, which in turn made her clench around him. She sucked in a breath, trying to keep her volume down for reasons unbeknownst to her. "Elliot," she whispered again, unsure of why she was calling for him. It was an automatic response, when she felt herself spiraling out of this realm from his touch and his touch alone, she called to him.

"I have waited," he stopped, out of breath as he worked against the weight of the water to fuck harder into her. "I have dreamt of fucking you right here for months." he admitted, his words falling against her neck as he licked and nipped at the skin. "Months, Olivia. You, me, and paradise."

There she was again, dangerously close to dropping those three words that she had promised herself she wouldn't say. She had but an iota of strength left in her and all of it was used to force herself from saying what she wasn't ready to say yet. It was hard not to, given how perfectly it burned when he stretched her. When it felt as if there was not a single person on the planet who could fit her like he did.

"Harder," was all she managed to squeak out as her nails dug deeper into him. The water splashed around them in the most obscene ways he ground down into her. The further back her head fell, the more access he had to mark her neck. She wasn't going to last much longer and she knew it. Her mind had spent too much time over the past two days wondering what it would be like for them to fuck in Santorini, her fantasies had primed her too much.

The words were swirling closer in her mind, on repeat. Her constant internal monologue screaming them as loudly as possible, begging for her to just open her mouth and say them. Every thrust, every squeeze, every moan, there was nothing else she wanted to say other than those three goddamn forbidden words. What else was there to say when she was in a beautiful place with a beautiful man feeling the utmost incredible pleasure?

"Jesus Christ, Elliot."

Okay, not those three words but it was better than saying what her mind had on repeat.

When his hand came down to her clit, she knew she was on the brink. Her legs clutched him tighter against her body, her breath speeding up as he fucked into her against the wall of the pool. "I'm gonna—" she started to murmur, getting lost in the sparks that flew behind her eyelids. It was the epic rise that she could never describe unless she was experiencing it in real time. The up and up that didn't waver.

"I've got you," he groaned in her ear, his fingers moving just as perfectly as they always did. At that moment, she snapped. The up and up reached its highest and all she could was the violent thump of her heartbeat in her ears as she came around him. She grabbed at any part of him she could reach and the flashes of light grew brighter.

Her undoing led him to his. He'd tried to make it through her entire orgasm without his own taking over, but gladly failed. His growl was almost animalistic as she squeezed around him. As if they were seeing the same fireworks, splashes of bright white lights filled his vision through closed eyes — just the same as hers.

On instinct, her lips found his and crashed down. His breathing was just as jagged as hers as they came down from their mutual high. He pulled away from the kiss, resting his forehead on hers. "Round two inside?" he mumbled with a laugh.

"Absolutely," she chuckled.

What neither of them had been aware of was that the bright flash of ecstasy just happened to come at impeccable timing. As soon as both of their eyes had closed in the throes of their climax, a carefully timed flash of a camera had gone off from a covert location. For the first time since the start of their… arrangement, there was photo-proof of the very messy situation. And whose hands it would end up in?

Only the wrong ones.