Chapter Eleven: Perfect

Alex

"Hey you! Where's my girl?" I'm surprised not to see you waiting for me in the kitchen. I open the oven door to find a slightly charred... is that stuffing? It's not like you to let something burn.

"Hey, Livvy? Where are you?" I hear some movement in the bathroom, and go to open the door, surprised again when I find it locked.

"Liv, are you ok?"

"I'm fine Alex, I'll be out in a minute." I could swear I hear you sniffling, and when you finally emerge I almost think you've been crying.

"Baby, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing Alex, really. Look, I killed dinner, how about going out?"

"Are you sure? You look tired."

"I'm positive." You smile, but I can still tell something's wrong. I decide not to push as you give me the gentlest of kisses, and instead I follow you into the bedroom and change into something more comfortable as you pull on some jeans and a leather jacket.

At dinner, you try to be relaxed and interested, but I can still see you're distracted. Halfway through our meal I move over to your side of the table, and we finish eating hand in hand, silent.

Olivia

When you came home from work, I was still trying to wash away the tears my conversation with your mother left on my cheeks. It's not as though I expected her support, but some of the things she said tonight were cruel to a degree I've never seen before. I've heard kinder things from suspects. After Elliot's good news, I was so hoping maybe luck was on my side. Regardless, I'm still going to continue with my plan, but I can't shake my sadness at your mother's refusal to recognize the beautiful person I know you to be. I managed to slide the lock home on the bathroom door just as I heard you stop outside the door, and I'm grateful that you don't push me when I come out.

I'm still not feeling myself over dinner, and I feel guilty, knowing you're concerned about me, but I just can't shake your mother's voice from my head.

"You have made my daughter a pervert. Because of you she's no better than the men she used to put in jail."

"I'll never understand Alexandra's desire to fix people. I'll certainly never understand her desire to fix you of all people"

I'm brought away from her voice as you slide into the booth next to me, picking up my hand with yours, and holding it through the rest of our meal. I manage not to cry, but I can't help the desire. I'll never understand how anyone could push you away.

Alex

The next two days, you're more solemn than before, and as much as I'd like to think it's because you're sad about leaving, I can't help noticing a touch of anxiety in everything you do. You actually overcooked last night's salmon and that's when I decided I had to say something. You cook salmon like it's a religious experience, and the fact that you served it overdone makes me think this is serious.

"Ok. That's it. Talk to me."

"Sorry about the salmon."

"It's not about the salmon Liv. What is going on with you?"

"I'm just a little nervous about something. I promise I'll be better by tomorrow."

"Why?"

You look up and for the first time in two days I can see a sparkle back in your eyes. "Because I have a really wonderful gift to be thankful for."

"Boy do you know how to make a girl blush."

"I am you know."

"What?"

"Grateful. For you. I don't think I say that enough."

"Olivia."

"I just wanted to say that... that's all. Why are you looking at me like that?"

I can't help the confused look on my face. It seems like all of a sudden whatever clouds were hanging over your head are gone.

Olivia

After ruining a perfectly good salmon I give up worrying about your mother. Screw your mother. Actually, I wonder if that would help. Maybe I should try to find her a boyfriend... then she won't worry as much about how I'm perverting you.

I can tell you're confused when I suddenly shift out of my doldrums, but once I finally cast your mother out of my head, all I can do is think about tomorrow. You have no idea what's in store after dinner, but I've discovered that with my biggest surprise only one day away, I'm not nervous anymore. I've had to remind myself not to carry the box around with me, since you've taken to walking around with your hands in my pockets to keep warm. It's a cute little gesture, but it means I have to trust the rings will be safe in my suitcase, hidden away under the bed.

Alex

By the time I wake up Thanksgiving morning, I can already smell the most incredible combination of spices coming from the kitchen. Seeing that it's only 8am, I wonder how long you've been up. When I drag myself into the kitchen you're bustling about with nervous energy, checking on the roasting turkey, and mixing together a bunch of things I don't recognize, then opening cupboards and digging around for I don't know what.

"Hey chere chef. Gotta minute?"

I step into your path and stop you with a kiss.

"Morning sleepy-head. Coffee's brewing."

"Sleepy-head? Olivia it's only 8am! How long have you been up?"

"Ummm since 5:30 I think. Lots to do."

"You do realize you're not cooking for the whole town right? Just us?"

"Yup, it just has to be perfect. And since everything's from scratch it's a time-consuming process."

"I see." You're already spinning away from me, checking something on the stove.

"Ok, well... since you seem to have everything under control, I'm going to take a shower. Back in a bit."

"Mmhmmm."

I leave you to your chef-ing and step into the bathroom, dumping my clothes in the hamper before easing under the deliciously hot water. Before long, I hear you come in, and feel your body climbing in behind me.

"Hi. What happened to dinner?"

"Well, I turned the heat off on the stove, and the turkey can live without me for a little bit. And everything else can wait to get started later. So I thought I'd have a little... breakfast." You have that look in your eyes, and I can't suppress a groan as you lower yourself to your knees, staring up at me from between my legs, water streaming down your face, and giving your tan body a reflective glow.

Olivia

I feel bad for ignoring you in the kitchen, but once things are set up to continue without my supervision, I decide to make it up to you. I slip into the shower behind you and turn you around from the spray to face me.

"Hi. What happened to dinner?"

"Well, I turned the heat off on the stove, and the turkey can live without me for a little bit. And everything else can wait to get started later. So I thought I'd have a little… breakfast." I sink to my knees, noticing that your shower has better traction than mine does... I'll have to ask where you got the mats... but later. For now, I look up through the falling water at the grin that's spreading across your face. I nuzzle my nose in your peachfuzz, and then slide my tongue up the opening of your slit, gathering the water and your juices on my lips, using it to part you, dipping gently towards your heat as you moan above me.

I suckle you gently, slowly moving my tongue savoring the taste of you in my mouth. Your hand reaches down and tangles in my hair, holding me to you as I slowly move my tongue inside you, stretching to reach your walls, then pulling out to tease your clit as the water falls around us, mixing with you as it slides down my face, my chin, drips down my shoulders and drops from my breasts. The mat beneath my knees is softer than it looked, and for once I'm able to really enjoy having you here.

I peek up at your face, water dripping onto my face as I slide one finger inside of you, watching you bite your bottom lip in response to my actions. Your eyes are closed and they squeeze tighter as I add a second and third finger, and you moan your approval before whispering into the water,

"Jesus, Liv. Don't stop."

Lucky for you, I have no intention of stopping, and instead I put my mouth back to you, taking your swollen clit between my lips, twirling around it with my tongue as my fingers continue to push and pull inside of you. When I'm ready for you to come, I find that hidden spot with my middle finger, tickling gently inside of you and giving your clit another flick as I feel you clasping around my fingers, trying to draw me in, to keep me inside of you as your orgasm weakens your knees. My fingers slide from inside of you, coated as you sink slowly down the wall of the shower, squatting awkwardly in front of me as you reach to pull my head towards you, your lips already open and waiting for my tongue. We readjust our positions and I sit on the floor of the shower as you sit in my lap, legs straddling my hips. You kiss me deeply, moving your tongue inside my mouth to massage mine, and I feel your hand moving from behind my back, over my shoulder and then down, pausing to play absently with my nipple before you move further downward, your fingers finding a way between our bodies to stroke my own slit, to flick my own clit as I feel my own arousal building as the shower slowly goes from hot to lukewarm, and the smell of dinner weaves its way through the air. By the time you let me come, it's time to get out and check on the turkey, and I can't help smiling... thinking that this is the perfect way to begin this perfect day.