9. Vulnerable

When Gene stops his car near Olivia's building, he sees another car pull up. It's Olivia and her partner, who has driven her home. He watches as the two Detectives talk for a minute before she gets out of the car. She goes inside, but her partner doesn't leave yet. He seems to be waiting for something and looks up at the building for a while. Gene wonders why the man is still there. What is he waiting for? Then he sees the light in Olivia's apartment go on, then off again. She blinks her lights three times, and that's when her partner starts his car and drives off. It must be their signal that she's inside and safe and although he's wondered how close these two actually are and if he isn't getting in the middle of something, right now he appreciates the man's concern for her wellbeing.

Once the other car has turned the corner, Gene gets out of his car and walks up to the building. Olivia buzzes him up quickly and he wonders what he'll find once he gets to her door. She must be dead on her feet and he suddenly feels awkward being here. But she asked him to. She said please and the hurt in her voice had been almost physically painful for him. He knocks on the door softly and takes a deep breath when he hears her unbolt the door and open it.

She looks up at Gene and the defeat in her dark eyes propels him into action. He steps forward and wraps her up in a warm, protective embrace. Olivia whimpers but burrows into his chest, her arms wrapping around his waist tightly. Gene doesn't know what to say to her, all he knows is that she shouldn't be alone right now.

"I'm here," he simply whispers a few times, gently stroking her back with one hand while keeping his other arm locked around her shoulders.

He kicks the door closed behind him with one foot and then leans against his, holding Olivia close to him. He knows she's still fighting her tears but he also knows she's about to break.

"I've got you baby," he tells her softly when he feels how she's still fighting, trying to control her breathing. "It's alright to cry. It's alright."

After another long minute, the first sob comes out. Olivia still doesn't want to give in but there is no stopping it anymore. The dam is breaking, one soft sob at a time. Tucked away safely against Gene's chest, she knows that it really is alright to let it all out and she finally gives in.

She cries softly at first but then louder, lamenting the loss of little Shirley's life and cursing the unfairness of it all. Gene absorbs all of her pain and frustration silently, just holding her and kissing her temple or her hair from time to time and stroking her back.

And it's enough.

Olivia knows her face is going to be puffy and red but it doesn't seem to matter. She has no idea how long she's been crying but she knows she's never cried like this before in her life. Not in front of someone else anyway. It's cathartic but it's also exhausting and after a while, Gene suggests that they sit down. Olivia agrees and she snuggles up against him on the couch, taking a few deep breaths to regain her composure just a little bit. She feels absolutely drained and when Gene encourages her to close her eyes, her protest is only for show. She is asleep within minutes.

…

Gene watches her sleep. He has seen her sleeping many times before but it's never been like this. He isn't with her for physical pleasure but merely to give her emotional support. He is here because he feels a need deep inside him to know that Olivia will be alright. He tries very hard not to think about how new that feeling is to him; tries to tell himself it's just the unusual circumstances because Olivia has such an unusual job. He pushes away any thoughts about possible other reasons that he might feel this way, not ready to examine any of them or even acknowledge there might be other reasons. His back is beginning to protest a little because he is slumped in the corner of the couch a little awkwardly, but he remains still for as long as possible. He doesn't want to disturb Olivia now that she is getting some much needed rest.

When she stirs and her eyes flutter open after half an hour, he uses the opportunity to suggest they move to her bed. Olivia simply nods and lets him lead her into her bedroom. He helps her out of her outer clothes, leaving her underwear and a tank top on and then quickly strips out of his dress shirt and pants before laying down next to her.

"Just go back to sleep," he tells Olivia softly.

He knows she must be wondering if he expects anything else from her, but he doesn't. It's not why he's here, he assures her.

Olivia closes her eyes but doesn't fall asleep again right away. She still feels drained and empty, but she is also very much aware now of Gene's presence. He is here, in her bed, and not expecting sex from her. He's here for her, so she won't be alone. She has cried in his arms and he's still here. Her vulnerability hasn't scared him off and he is laying with her in the middle of the afternoon because she needs to sleep.

He cares.

And it makes her wonder.

"Shouldn't you be working?" she mumbles against his neck.

Gene rubs her cheek softly with his own.

"Don't you worry about that. I'm here now and you need to sleep. And later on, you need to eat. Just rest now, alright?"

"Alright."

The next time she wakes up, it's already getting a little dark outside and Gene isn't next to her anymore. For a minute, she thinks he must have left and she doesn't know how to feel about that. But then she hears something in her apartment and she slips out of bed to see what he's up to.

Gene smiles at her from the kitchen when she comes out of her room.

"What's going on here?" Olivia inquires, looking at all the activity in her kitchen.

"I'm making dinner," Gene tells her with a grin. "I had some groceries delivered. I hope you don't mind."

"Uh … no … I guess not?" she says, highly surprised at his actions but not displeased.

Gene is moving around in her kitchen in just his dress shirt and boxer shorts, and he seems to feel right at home there.

"Why don't you take a shower and freshen up while I finish up here," Gene suggests.

"I didn't know you could cook," Olivia mumbles before turning around to go and take a shower, because that does sound like a good idea.

"I am a man of many talents," Gene declares, and Olivia chuckles.

He sure is right about that.

Once in the bathroom when she looks in the mirror, her appearance shocks her a little. She looks horrible, her face still puffy, with traces of smudged makeup underneath her eyes and even on her cheeks. No wonder Gene had sent her off to freshen up, she thinks. This isn't exactly what he's used to seeing when they hook up.

She takes a long shower and when the water begins to cool, she lets it pour over her face to hopefully cool and calm her skin. She then takes her time applying facial cream on her skin, dabbing some extra underneath her eyes to hopefully get rid of the bags under her eyes a little quicker. She slips into her soft pink robe and finds herself finally feeling somewhat human again. The loss of Shirley Ross's life will haunt her for a while longer, but the edge has been taken off after a good cry, some sleep and a shower. And as if on cue, her stomach starts to growl when she returns to the kitchen and the smell of whatever Gene has cooked up fills her nostrils.

"It's just pasta," Gene tells her before she can ask, "but the sauce is a family recipe."

They sit side by side on the stools at her breakfast bar and dig in. After finishing her meal, Olivia announces that she most definitely needs to have that family recipe. Gene smiles at her, content that she's eaten as much as she has.

"I think that can be arranged," he tells her and when Olivia tilts her head and narrows her eyes a little, he realizes that she knows that there's more. It's a strange feeling, this sense of being seen when he's made sure all his life not to let people see too much of him. But it's as if Olivia can see right through him.

"What?" he asks her with a slightly nervous chuckle and Olivia's perfect eyebrows shoot up in surprise.

"I didn't say anything."

"I know, but …"

He feels clumsy now and that is definitely a new feeling. Gene Butler is not clumsy when dealing with a woman!

"I thought you were going to say something, actually," Olivia remarks, unknowingly saving him from his embarrassment. Or is it knowingly?

"Now how did you know that?" he asks her, leaning over to tap her nose with his finger.

He smiles when she grins at him, and he feels more confident again.

Olivia shrugs.

"You were, weren't you?" she asks and he admits it then.

"Actually, I wanted to ask you something. I don't know if this is the right time to ask though."

"I'm feeling better than before, thanks to you," Olivia says, and she puts a hand over his on the breakfast bar.

"I'm glad I could help," Gene tells her warmly, covering her hand with his other hand.

Then he tells her about the Big Butler Bash, and his mother's request that he bring a nice girl along this year.

"So I was thinking, if you come along you can ask my mom about the pasta sauce recipe yourself," he finishes.

"You have the recipe. You just made it," Olivia reminds him and it's his time to shrug.

"I'm still asking you along."

When Olivia doesn't respond right away, he wonders what she's thinking. As transparent as he just felt with her, she is still somewhat of a mystery to him.

"It wouldn't be a date, if that's what you're wondering," he offers her and when he sees the question in her eyes fade, he knows it was the right thing to say.

"Alright. I think I understand. How do I introduce myself to the other guests then?"

"I'll introduce you," Gene says gallantly but that's not what Olivia meant.

"So how will you introduce me?" she insists. "As your concubine?"

That makes Gene laugh out loud and Olivia grins too. But she's being serious. Until now, she and Gene had just hooked up for sex but something seems to be changing and she needs to know what that change entails. He's here now as a friend; that's already a big change. And now he's asking her along to this family thing. He has assured her it's not really a family event, just an event that happens to be organized by his mother at their estate. There will be lots of other people, friends and business associates; even the odd celebrity. Is he bringing her as a friend? Wouldn't that change the nature of their arrangement a little too much?

"I'd like to introduce you as a good friend. If that's alright with you?"

Olivia wiggles her head. She wouldn't call them good friends, yet. She barely knows him, aside from his body. And that was supposed to be it.

"Unless you don't consider us friends," Gene adds, making a pouty face that makes her chuckle and punch him in the shoulder.

"Ass."

"I know you like my ass," Gene retorts. "And I adore yours."

They look into each others' eyes and something shifts again. Olivia bites her lip and her eyes drop to Gene's mouth while his drop to her cleavage.

"Can you stay a little while longer?" Olivia asks softly and they both know what she's asking him.

Unfortunately, Gene needs to check his watch first.

"You have other plans tonight?" Olivia inquires.

"Would you hate me terribly if I told you I do?" Gene asks, and if she didn't know any better, she would think he feels a little guilty about having plans.

But why would he feel guilty? She was supposed to be with him last night, not tonight. Of course he has other plans. She knows his lifestyle and they've always been open about their expectations of each other.

"I could never hate you, Gene," she assures him, placing a hand against his cheek. "Just … don't leave right away?"

The both slide off the stools and into each other's arms then, and before kissing her Gene tells her that he has almost two hours before he has to be elsewhere. Olivia's body clenches in several places while Gene kisses her deeply and she kisses him back eagerly. Almost two hours. They should spend them wisely.

And they do. Gene makes quick work of her robe, growling when he discovers that she is completely naked underneath. Olivia drags him into her bedroom and before they hit the mattress, his shirt and boxer shorts are on the floor. Any remaining pain and frustration about the case is translated into a heated passion with which Olivia rides her lover, her body gushing with a feral need to be satisfied. No foreplay was needed and Gene is hard as a rock inside her. The man is built for sex and she can't get enough of him. She knows he will be inside another woman before the night is over but she tries not to think about that. He is here now, for her, and she's going to take all she can get before he has to leave.

She comes hard suddenly before she can stop it and her body shakes as her orgasm rips through her. When Gene flips them over and attacks her breasts with his tongue, lips and teeth, Olivia arches her back and grabs the headboard of the bed to give him maximum access to her body.

He grunts her name a few times while he fucks her hard, her perfect body writhing underneath him with the pleasure he is giving her. He wishes he could go even deeper, wishes he could crawl into her skin completely to be one body with her. He has seen the emotion in her eyes and he feels a need to get even closer to her, perhaps on a different level. When she shatters around him for the second time since they started their erotic dance, he joins her, emptying himself, and it feels like he is being poured out completely into her. It's almost like an out-of-body experience that leaves him speechless for a long time, even after their bodies have calmed down and they are resting underneath the covers together.

Even later, when he drives back to his hotel to meet Natalie, he is still a little dazed. Today had been different in every way, from holding Olivia as she cried to making dinner for her and then making love to her like he had never experienced before.

Making love, you say? Gene asks himself.

He shakes his head. He needs to snap out of it and fast. Natalie is waiting for him. It's just sex. This is the life he has chosen and this is how it's going to stay.

…

Or is it?
Dun dun ...