A Second Act-Part 4
Author's Note: I am enjoying writing them in this scenario. As always, anything in italics is a flashback.
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"I...oh...god," Liz sighed as she leaned her head back against the bed.
"Jesus Christ," Ressler sighed.
Their combined orgasm left them breathless as their sweaty bodies were still entwined. After a minute, he twisted around so they weren't in such an awkward but very sexy position anymore. Liz settled her sweaty back against his sweaty chest and sighed in satisfaction.
She felt his warm arm wrap around her waist and his stomach heaving for breath behind her. Their second time making love was far more physical than the first time, and they were both left gasping for air. It was 3 am and they had not gone to sleep yet; laying, laughing, playing, and talking between acts. The first time had been...emotional. They may have both cried at some point; out of loss or ecstasy or joy or a combination of all three, neither was sure. They had talked about sex, about themselves, about work, and about their kids.
"I knew it would be like this," he said softly behind her.
She looked over her shoulder and smiled at him.
"You did?" Liz asked him.
He nodded.
"Which time?" Liz asked.
"Both," he said quietly as he kissed her shoulder.
"Really?" Liz asked, surprised.
"You expected something different?" Ressler asked, surprised.
"I...I...I had these ideas for years..." Liz snickered as she blushed and turned in his arms to face him. "It's stupid really."
"What?" He asked, intrigued. "Can I do something that...?"
Liz laughed and buried her face in his chest.
He pinched her butt and she jumped and laughed.
"Tell me," he laughed with her as he watched her squirm against him embarrassed.
She shook her head against his chest and he tried to pull her away so he could see her face.
"Okay, tell me..." he said as he was thinking. "When did you come up with one of these scenarios?"
She giggled against him; clearly mortified.
"Not the scenario, just what was going on with us at the time that it came to you," he said, looking for clues.
She looked up at him.
"There's that beautiful face," he smiled down at her.
"So, how did it go?" Aram asked Ressler as he walked toward them with a coffee in his hand and his satchel over his shoulder.
"I haven't even put down my bag," Ressler joked.
"How'd what go?" Liz asked, intrigued.
"I set him up with a woman from my step class," Aram said to her.
"A date? You went on a date?" Liz asked, surprised and upset.
"Technically it's a third date," Aram said.
"You've been on..." Liz started, her stomach dropping as she spoke.
"No, it's a first date and the other two women, as lovely as they are, weren't for me," Ressler said.
"Third times a charm," Aram smiled.
"I didn't know...you're dating?" Liz asked. "How did I not know?"
"I am," he said as he met her eyes. "Reluctantly."
"Reluctantly?" Liz asked, her mouth dry.
Ressler exchanged a look with Aram.
"It's been over a year since Audrey died and Aram convinced me that I needed to...try," Ressler said. "I'm sorry, I felt weird telling you and I probably..."
"Weird? Why?" Liz asked, her heart racing in her chest.
"You and Audrey were so close and...honestly, I don't even know why I'm doing this..."
Liz nodded. She wanted to tell him to stop dating anyone but didn't know how she could explain her reasoning for that. She was in love with the man; had been for years and had squashed that down deep inside her as she watched him have a wonderful life with Audrey until she was gone. Then, it felt weird to tell him; felt like a betrayal of her friend who she loved and had lost as well. It felt like it could be the one thing she could say that would destroy their friendship. He'd never given any indication since he had been with Audrey or after she was gone that he was interested in her. Ever.
"Because you think it's time?" Liz asked; saying the opposite of what she really wanted to say.
He sighed and shook his head.
"I think I'm going to take some time Aram," Ressler said. "Beth was lovely, but I think I'll find something wrong with everyone right now and I need to date again when I only see what's right about someone."
Liz swallowed hard and nodded.
"I think that's a good plan," Liz said. "And when, and if, the moment is right then it's right..."
Aram looked at Ressler and shook his head. "Look, I know you loved Audrey and I know the likelihood that you get hit by lightning two times is..."
"Impossible," Ressler finished for him.
Aram nodded and sighed. "You'll know when it's right. Maybe you'll bump into someone at a coffee shop or at the girl's school... you'll get there."
Liz finished telling him the memory and then nuzzled her nose into his chest.
"So, I was wrong," Ressler said as he rubbed her shoulder. "Lightning can strike twice for one person."
"I wouldn't know," Liz said softly.
Confused he moved his head to see her face better. When she saw the look of confusion she smiled.
"I wouldn't know because this is my first lightning," Liz said softly as her eyes flicked toward his.
He chuckled softly and rubbed up and down her arm.
They lay in silence both deep in their thoughts.
"I didn't know," he said honestly.
"I know," she replied quietly.
"But now I do," he said as his hand stopped and he gripped her shoulder a little.
"You have for a few months," Liz said.
"And I'm a man of action," he said with a snicker.
She chuckled with him.
He sighed and played with a tendril of her hair wrapping it around his finger and releasing it then doing the same motion again and again. Liz felt her eyes starting to close; it was hypnotic and she was tired.
"It was a coffee shop fantasy wasn't it?" He asked in the quiet dark of their room.
She nodded against his chest.
"How?" He asked.
"Quick and dirty in the washroom against the sink," Liz tiredly confessed her fantasy.
"Maybe after we get a handle on this a little more," he smirked as he placed his hand palm open on her ass. "But a first time? Nah...I want every inch of you so I can take my time."
She blushed and kissed his chest.
"I agree," Liz said with a yawn. "I said it was stupid."
He drew a light circle with his finger on her one ass cheek.
"Not one thing about you, Liz Keen, is or ever will be stupid," he said honestly.
She nodded against him and within moments was asleep.
He lay with her against him for another half hour thinking about Audrey and Liz and himself. Did Audrey know Liz had something for him all those years in an instinctual way women do? Did she ever worry about him and Liz? Or did she know what was true, that he loved Audrey with literally all of his heart just as he now loved Liz? He felt not one bit of guilt about his relationship with Liz. She was his best friend, his confident, and now the woman that held his heart. And when he finally fell for Liz Keen, he fell hard.
To be continued...let me know what you think!