Chapter 13 - Conflict
Author's Notes:I'm so sorry for the delay in getting this out. Part of it was due to RL being an actual pain in the butt, and the other was from a lack of mojo. Thankfully, when you have a friend like Nathalie, the mojo comes back pretty quickly and you get a 7K-word chapter.
Thanks to everyone who reviewed and sent me notes asking me to update. This is for y'all.
Warning: The last part of this chapter is M-rated.
"That was not what happened!" Harvey sputtered, as he and Marcus heaved the final wine crate into place. "Jen… I mean, Mrs. Garfield needed help with her kitchen sink."
Marcus rolled his eyes, "And she needed a sixteen year old to help with that, I'm sure. Admit it, Harvey. You were smitten. If it helps, I think she was just as taken by you."
Harvey looked incredulously at his brother, "Why does that sound far worse than my supposed crush on her?"
Marcus snuffled a laugh out and thumped his brother's arm, "That wasn't even the point I was making, dickhead."
"I know what point you were making, loser," Harvey groused. "And you're… not wrong. There was a little bit of Donna in her. Just a little, though. She had red hair, she had a way of getting what she wanted and…"
"You couldn't say no to her," Marcus grinned.
It was Harvey's turn to roll his eyes, but he knew Marcus was right.
He wondered what Donna had been up to, while he was here. This had been the first time they were apart from each other since they'd gotten together and it already felt weird.
He supposed he would have to get used to it, especially once they returned to New York. With her continuing to work for Louis, the most he'd get to see her was during lunch breaks and the occasional visit to her cubicle. He didn't think Louis would take too well to him doing the latter too much.
Deciding to check in with her and perhaps entice her to a spot of lunch in his brother's restaurant, he slipped his phone out and dialled her. As he waited for her to answer, he caught his brother's knowing smirk out of the corner of his eye.
That was something he'd need to get used to, as well: his brother being annoyingly smug about his relationship with Donna. And god, Mike was going to be unbearable.
But the truth was, he was rather looking forward to it. He knew that as much as they'd enjoy teasing him, his friends would be genuinely happy for him and Donna.
His thoughts were interrupted by Donna answering the call.
"Harvey, hey." Donna's voice was light, but Harvey thought he detected a note of tension in her voice.
"Hey, beautiful," he returned.
A light chuckle echoed in his ear.
"Everything go alright with Louis?" he asked as he heard her shuffle around.
"More or less," she said. "He took our news about as well as I thought he would."
"So, not well."
"He came around in the end." She let out a sigh. "We'll just have to wait and see how he acts when we return."
Harvey made a low noise of annoyance, "He's just going to have to put up and shut up."
"Harvey," she let out warningly.
"I mean it, Donna. I'm not going to let him give us a hard time over this."
"He won't," she said. "I'll make sure of it. You have to let me handle this, remember?"
"I will," He sighed. "Anyway, I was calling to…"
"The house is still standing," she said, snickering.
"I… what?"
"I figured you were calling to check if I hadn't burned the house down," she said.
"Donna, that's not…," he huffed indignantly before he heard her laughter down the line.
"I was joking, Harvey," she said. "So why are you calling?"
"I was just wondering if you'd like to join me for lunch here at Marcus' restaurant," he asked and raised his voice so Marcus could hear. "You can decide if the food here passes muster. I know Marcus likes to brag a lot, but I bet that's all talk."
"Oy!" came his brother's retort. "You haven't even eaten here, yet! Passes muster, my ass."
"Harvey, be nice." Donna's voice cut in. "But, mind if we take a rain check? We can go tonight for dinner, instead?"
He frowned, "Donna, is everything alright?"
"Yes, Harvey. I promise. I just have a bit of a headache, and I could use a lie-in."
Tamping down on his growing anxiety, he said, "OK. I'll bring you some lunch from here anyway."
"That would be lovely, Harvey," she said. He could hear the apology in her voice.
Deciding that he'd spent enough time away from her, he hung up and headed towards his brother to grab some lunch.
Marcus must have noticed the troubled expression on his face as he approached him, "What's up? Is Donna coming?"
"No," Harvey said, distractedly running his hand through his hair. "She has a headache and wants a lie-in."
Marcus smirked, "Tired her out, have you?"
"Marcus," Harvey shook his head. "No, something's up. She sounded… off when she picked up the phone."
"Did something happen at work, maybe? She said something about that Louis guy?"
"Maybe," Harvey said slowly. "I should go to her."
A half-hour later, Harvey was back home. Depositing their lunch on the kitchen counter, he headed upstairs.
Opening their door, he poked his head in and caught sight of his girlfriend's fiery locks peeking out of the sheets. She was apparently asleep, and he wondered if he'd misread the tension in her voice. Maybe she just was really tired out from the last few days.
Harvey knew because he himself was exhausted, and Donna had let him sleep in this morning for that very reason. He looked at his watch and debated whether he should wake her up for lunch or let her sleep. However, as he stepped closer to the bed, he heard her voice.
"I'm not asleep, Harvey. I was just resting my eyes."
There was a note of amusement in her voice.
He smiled, feeling the rest of his anxiety ebb away even as concern bubbled up, "Is it bad? Your headache?"
She shook her head and raised herself on her elbows.
"Not that bad," she said, scrunching her nose up. "It's just a bit of a tension headache. Yelling at Louis isn't pleasant."
He chuckled lowly and sat down on her side, and leaned down to press a gentle kiss on her forehead. But Donna moved her head up so that his lips landed on her own, as her arms came around his neck.
"Hmmm," she hummed against his lips. "I missed you. You left me by my lonesome in this big old house."
He smirked, "I missed you, too. But let me submit that it was your idea to stay back, Paulsen. Apparently Rachel and Louis were more appealing than your boyfriend."
"Obviously," she shot back. "Rachel's my dearest friend. And Louis pays my salary."
"Obviously," he returned, before standing up to divest his button-down and jeans.
When he was done, he stepped back to her side.
"Scooch forward."
Donna did as she was told, and he slipped behind her, moving his legs so that she was sat in between them.
Sensing his intention, Donna slipped her camisole off, exposing her bare back to his gaze.
Harvey felt his arousal build at the sight, but swallowed it down. Setting his hands on her shoulder, he pressed his thumbs into the hard knots in her neck, trying to ease the tension in them.
Donna's head fell on his shoulders as she let out a moan and her hands slipped down to clutch his thighs.
"Don't stop," she murmured, her voice breathy against his ear. "That feels so good."
There was no denying what her words were doing to him. Harvey shifted against her and felt his front brush against her lower back.
He paused his ministrations, as Donna let out a tinkle of laughter.
"Looks like you might need a rubbing down of your own after this," she said, wiggling her ass lightly against him.
He moved his hand to her waist to still her, before lightly poking her side.
"You're one to talk," he said.
And to prove his point, he moved his hand under the sheet. He slipped closer to her front and even barely touching her, he could feel the damp heat emanating from there.
Donna let out a sound that was a cross between a moan and a squeak.
He pressed a laugh into her bare shoulder while he moved his fingers to the top of her covered thigh and grazed them soothingly against the silk of her pajama bottoms.
Donna let out a soft breath and leaned her body forward, waiting for him to continue his back rub.
He acquiesced and his hands slid back down to the center of her spine, while he pressed the heels of his palm into her skin. As he worked her muscles, he found his concern growing at the amount of tension she appeared to be carrying.
"God, Donna," he murmured. "Your back is literally seizing up. You can't tell me all this is a result of a conversation with Louis?"
To his surprise, he felt her stiffen even more under his touch.
"Donna?"
She sighed and reached behind for one of his hands, and brought it to her lips before lacing her fingers through his.
"I was hoping to wait a little before I told you this," she said, turning in his arms without letting go of his hand.
He sensed that it was almost as she was afraid to let go of his hand. He squeezed her hand in reassurance, even as anxiety bubbled in his stomach.
"Told me what? Donna, you're scaring me. Has something happened back at home?"
She shook her head urgently, dropping his hand and touching his cheek, "No. No, Harvey. Nothing back home."
"Did something happen here when I was gone?"
She dropped her gaze and reached for her camisole top. He watched as she slipped it back on, barely registering her bare breasts disappearing under it. His mind had started racing again.
"Harvey," she said, scooting close to him again. "Something did happen. Your mother showed up when you were gone."
He stared at her, as worry started edging out and anger began creeping in, "I don't believe her. She must have thought we'd be alone here. Except I wasn't here. I shouldn't have left."
"Actually," she hesitated a little, before looking straight into his eyes. "It's a good thing you were gone."
"What?" he frowned. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"Listen," she grabbed his hand again. "She came to apologize to you. To us. I told her you weren't there, but she asked if she could talk to me anyway."
"And you let her?" he asked her in disbelief.
"I couldn't exactly kick her out, Harvey. This isn't my house. And maybe, I… "
She broke off and looked down at their joined hands. She ran her thumb back and forth over his knuckles - it was an action that he recognized as one she did when she was uncertain and nervous.
He waited for one more beat before impatience rippled through him.
"Maybe you what?"
"And maybe I wanted to hear what she had to say," she said, her grip tightening on his hand. "And going by what she said, I think… "
Harvey didn't let her finish, "No."
He wrenched his hand from her grasp and stood up. He felt his heart pang as her face fell at his action.
Donna stood up as well, "Harvey, I've always stayed away from this subject because I knew how much it hurt you. How much she hurt you. But I can't anymore."
He glared stonily at the floor, not looking at her, "You can. I don't want to talk about this, Donna."
"You have to. Harvey, she has been trying to reach you ever since you got here. And she might not have gone about it in the best way, but she's still trying."
"Donna…"
"Enough is enough," she said, stepping closer to him. "You need to at least try to put this all behind you."
"It's not that easy," Harvey gritted out, feeling a sense of betrayal and panic coursing through him. "You, of all people, know that."
"I know. But you have to start somewhere. You both have to."
He looked at her, hurt, "You don't think I've tried? You know I have and every time I have... "
"I know what happened," she said. "But you weren't there this morning. She understands what she did."
"Does she? What makes you think anything has changed? This is Lily. Trust me, she never has been able to look beyond her own selfish needs."
Donna stayed quiet and Harvey felt yet another ripple of anger course through him.
"What? Am I wrong?" he snapped.
She looked startled at his outburst, but shook her head, "You're right. But, Harvey, this isn't about what she did then, anymore. This is about now and about the future. Do you really want to go through the rest of your life keeping her at arm's length?"
Harvey didn't reply.
Donna placed a tentative hand on his folded arms, her gaze trying to catch his. But he closed his eyes, and he heard her let out a sigh.
"Harvey, when Marcus accused you last night of being alone in New York, I told him that you had built a family of your own to make up for the one you lost here. However, the truth is, I'm not sure how long they'll be able to fill the void. Jessica will eventually want to move on. Mike and Rachel are embarking on their own life together. You need your family - your real family. And that includes your mother. You need to make things right with her."
Harvey shook his head, setting his palm on hers, "You had one conversation with her, Donna. I'm sorry, but I've had a lifetime of experience with Lily's nonsense. What is it they say? Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. But fool me over and over… I can't do that again."
"Harvey…"
Harvey ran his hand through his hair. It was apparent that she wasn't going to let this go.
"Don't. This conversation is over. I cannot believe you're taking her side on this."
"What?" She asked, looking bewildered. "Her side?"
"Yes," he growled. "She comes in here - uninvited, again I might add - and feeds you a few chosen lines, and you believe her."
She glared back at him, her hazel eyes flashing, "Do you think I'm that naïve? I was pissed at her for showing up that way again. I wasn't going to let her blindside you again! But I talked to her and I'm telling you, she's repentant. But even if I'm wrong about that, it doesn't mean I'm taking her side! You think I'm pushing this for her benefit?"
"Then why are you pushing it?"
"For yours!" She said, her voice breaking. "I love you, Harvey. It killed me to see you excluded from everything that was going on here. Marcus nearly died. You were so close to not having this." She waved her arms around. "All because of your unresolved issues with your mother! Do you want to keep missing out?"
"Donna…"
"Do you? I saw how it broke you. You've wanted to fix this. You always have. You came so close during your Dad's funeral - you were ready then!" Her voice softened. "And I think you still are."
"I don't think I am," he said, shaking his head.
"You don't believe that," she said, firmly.
"Well, I do," he said. "And I'm done talking any further about this."
"But…"
"Please, Donna."
She looked at him for a moment before sighing, "OK. I won't bring it up again."
An uncomfortable silence descended between the two of them. Harvey looked at Donna's face, and felt his heart lurch at the disappointment in her features.
"Donna," he began, gently reaching for her arm and tugging her towards him.
She came willingly into his arms but interrupted him before he could say anything.
"I think I'm gonna take a nap," she said quietly. "My head still feels heavy."
Guilt sliced through him like an arrow.
She must have sensed his thoughts, because she immediately pressed her forehead to his.
"Not your fault, Harvey," she whispered.
"I brought lunch. Maybe you'll feel better with some food in you?"
"I'm not hungry yet," she returned, shaking her head. "I'll let you know when I am."
He nodded, feeling even shittier than he had, if that was possible.
As she made to move towards the bed, he stopped her, "Hey. Are we OK?"
She furrowed her brow, "Of course."
"Are you sure?"
She smiled gently and pressed a light kiss to his lips, "I am. I just… I just want you to be happy. And I thought that this would help. Maybe I was wrong."
With that, she slipped into bed and he helped tuck her in. Once she was, he sat on the side of the bed like he had before.
Donna gazed quietly at him from under the covers, and he took her hand.
"Get some sleep, " he said.
"What are you gonna do?"
He shrugged, "I dunno. I'll find something to do."
"You could join me," she said.
He shook his head. He knew he wouldn't be able to rest just yet.
"Harvey," she said. "I'm sorry. I told Lily that you might not be ready. And I shouldn't have pushed."
"You have nothing to be sorry for, Donna. I know you were looking out for me. If anything, I am the one who should be apologizing. I shouldn't have snapped at you."
She smiled, "That's alright. I still love you."
"I love you, too," he returned and leaned down to kiss her gently. "Get some sleep."
He sat with her until sleep finally claimed her. Smiling softly at her soft snores, he slipped his clothes back on and then left the room.
He needed a walk.
As he made his way down the quiet neighborhood, her words came back to him.
I just want you to be happy. And I thought that this would help. Maybe I was wrong.
Except, Harvey thought, Donna was never wrong. Especially when it came to getting him to do the right thing.
She'd always been his compass. It was one of the reasons her leaving had left him feeling adrift.
Harvey let out a frustrated sigh as his thoughts turned to his mother.
Was he really, as Donna had pointed out, ready to try again? After their last two encounters, he was certain that it was a lost cause.
His mother had seemed utterly incapable - or perhaps, unwilling - to understand the gravity of what her actions had done to him.
And both times, he'd come away with a deep feeling of betrayal and despair that had threatened to swallow him whole. It had been Donna who'd been his port in the storm.
The first time - after his failed attempt to reconcile with his mother at his Dad's funeral - she'd spent the night with him at his office. They'd sat mostly in silence, listening to his father's music while working their way through a whole bottle of Macallan. They'd both woken up with terrible hangovers the next morning.
And back then, being unable to show her his gratitude the way he really wanted to, he'd instead spent the weekend spoiling her with breakfast at one of her favorite restaurants, followed by a long excursion to Bloomingdales and premium tickets to the Gershwin Theater's production of Wicked which he'd obtained by pulling a fair number of strings. He was still repaying some of the favors he'd owed from that.
But it had been worth it. She was always worth it.
And the second time had been yesterday, when he'd felt completely alienated from his family, she'd stuck close to him and then later allowed him to find comfort in her arms.
But that had been after she'd eviscerated both Marcus and Bobby, which according to Marcus had shaken them to their core.
He knew he owed his reconciliation with his brother to her. And he realized with yet another painful pang the effort it must have cost Donna to face his family.
Just as it must have to face his mother without him there, and he had dismissed it - dismissed her - in his own stubbornness about his mother.
God, he was such an idiot.
Harvey stopped walking and as he did, he became aware of where he was.
His old neighborhood. In front of his dad's house - their house. The house he'd never come back to after his family had broken down.
He swallowed as he took in the familiar façade of his former home. There had been a time - a very brief time after the Specters had first moved in - where he had been happy and his only source of discontent had been the kid, Kyle Foster, who had lived two doors from them who Harvey was convinced was spawned in a pod. The same kid who'd used Marcus as a punching bag until Harvey had finally snapped and decked him.
A few months later, Kyle Foster became the least of his problems, when he came home to the beginning of a nightmare.
And yet...
The past few weeks had been revelatory and had turned a lot of his perceptions upside down; the biggest one being his father's unintended complicity in his issues. As wonderful as he believed his father to be, his sessions with Dr. Werner had given him a clarity that as difficult as it was to accept, had eased the burden of his guilt from his past.
So, why did it feel like his stomach was still filled with lead?
Dr. Werner had touched upon it briefly, but he had not been ready to pursue it then. However, after his argument with Donna, he couldn't ignore it anymore.
If he truly wanted to put his past behind him, he needed to find a way to make peace with his mother's actions. They were still unforgivable, but his sessions with his Dr. Werner had made him consider - very reluctantly - her side of it.
His father's lack of attention to their marriage had been a factor and Bobby had been there when his dad hadn't. And his mother had fallen for him - something that was out of her control.
Did that mean he could forgive his mother?
Donna had been right: he couldn't continue this way - especially for Marcus' sake. He didn't want to miss out on any more of his brother's life. And somewhere down the line, when he and Donna had a family of their own, he wanted his brother to know them.
The fact remained that as long as things remained unresolved between him and Lily, Marcus would always be forced to choose.
And then there was the fact that despite his animosity towards Bobby, he'd still been hoping for a way to reconcile with his mother.
So, what was stopping him now?
Fear?
That it could still go wrong like it had before?
Except, things were different this time. Because of Donna.
And according to her - which was the only "according to" that mattered, aside from his own - his mother was genuinely repentant and desperate to fix things.
He didn't know if he could trust his mother's epiphany.
But he trusted Donna.
And after everything she had done, he owed it to her to try, which was all she was asking of him. Whatever came of it, they'd deal with it.
Donna was still asleep when Harvey returned. She was hugging his pillow to her with her nose buried in it.
Deciding to let her sleep for a little while longer, he decided to catch up on his work emails - which he had been all but ignoring the past few days. Grabbing his laptop, he slid onto the bed next to her.
He watched her sleep for a few minutes, gently pushing a stray lock of hair that had fallen across her forehead. Her face was clear and she no longer looked pale, which meant hopefully that her headache had eased up.
He slid his eyes back to his laptop and groaned at the state of his inbox. Thankfully, most of the urgent mails had been handled by Mike and Rachel. He made a mental note to treat them both to a dinner for two when he got back - or better yet, a double date with him and Donna.
Harvey was in the middle of reviewing a case brief that Mike had prepared, when he heard the sheets rustle. Turning, he saw Donna stir, before a manicured finger reached up to scratch her nose and then she blinked against the light in the room.
"Hey," he murmured.
Donna looked blearily up at him, a sleepy smile on her face.
"Hey," she said, stretching slightly.
"How's your head?" he asked, tracing a gentle finger across her forehead.
"Better," she yawned, before turning on her side. Pushing the pillow she was hugging out of the way, she snuggled closer to him, her face pressing into his side. "Hmmm," she said, her arm slipping around his stomach. Noticing he was dressed, she added, "Did you go out?"
He placed his laptop on the side table, before sliding his arm around her shoulder and squeezing it.
"Yeah, I just needed a little walk to clear my head."
Her eyes widened a little, and her expression turned a little hesitant, "Harvey, I didn't mean to ups…"
He immediately shook his head, "No, no. I'm not upset, Donna. How could I be, when you were right?"
A small frown creased her forehead, "I am?"
Harvey slid down to lay his head next to hers, "You are. You're Donna, remember?"
Her hand came up to stroke the side of his face, brushing against the moles over his eye, "I am. But, I've been known to be wrong a few times - this past week, for instance."
"That was only because I was too scared to show you how I really felt," he countered affectionately, using his other arm to pull her closer to him by the waist. Her silk-clad leg slid between his and his head bent forwards so that their noses were almost touching.
She chuckled and brushed her nose against his, before pressing a kiss to it. Turning serious, she asked, "So what does that mean? Are you gonna try to talk to Lily?"
He nodded, "I am."
Donna smiled and this time she kissed him fully on the mouth, "That's wonderful to hear, Harvey."
Harvey returned the kiss and tried to smile, but hesitation kept it from fully forming. And, as she always did, Donna caught on to it.
"Talk to me," she said gently. "What's on your mind?"
"What if I can't?" he said, voicing his fear, despite his earlier determination to work through it.
He realized he still needed to hear her reassurance
"I think you can," she said. "I have faith that you can. Do you know how I know that?"
Harvey shook his head.
"The painting," Donna said, simply.
He stiffened, "What?"
"The painting. You told me what that painting meant to you. Why do you still have it? If you don't want her in your life - if she really means nothing to you - why is it there? Louis never resists taking a dig at it and Mike has teased you relentlessly about it, and yet, there it hangs for everyone to see."
"It doesn't mean…"
"Doesn't it? You miss her, Harvey. You miss your mother."
"I don't miss her," he said. "That painting is a reminder of what she never was. What she never wanted to be."
"That's not true," she countered. "It is the happiest memory you carry of her. And don't think I haven't seen you gazing at it whenever you were having a bad day. That tells me that you do want her in your life for real. For that, all you need to do is just… forgive her."
Harvey didn't reply immediately but turned his gaze to his hand which was running absently along her waist. Donna watched him, her own hand sliding behind him to run soothingly all over his back.
After a while, Harvey looked back at her face which was full of pride and compassion. He smiled slightly, "I guess we'll have to see what happens when I have lunch tomorrow with her."
"Not tonight?"
He shook his head, "I need a little time, and I promised Marcus I'd take you to dinner at his restaurant tonight for our first proper date. I know it's not Del Posto, but..."
She stopped him with a kiss, "It's perfect. It's Marcus' restaurant - it's more than perfect. In fact, I expect you to take me there every time we come here."
"Every time?" Harvey asked, his eyebrows raising playfully.
"Well, I… I mean, I thought…," she began, before she caught his expression. She smacked his chest.
He grinned at the way Donna's cheeks turned pink and kissed her, his tongue swiping briefly across hers, "I can't wait to bring you here again. I know Marcus and Katie want that, as well."
"I know they do," she sassed back. "In fact, Katie even told me I could come here on my own, if I wanted to."
He poked her side, "Good to see that you two are getting along."
"We have to stick together like I told you," she tweaked his side in retaliation. "We need each other to take the Specter boys on."
"You make us sound like a pair of misbehaving delinquents," Harvey said, a slight whine in his voice, and slid his palm under her camisole top
"Exactly," Donna nodded vigorously, even as a quick breath escaped her when his palm splayed across her back.
"I'll show you misbehaving," he growled into her neck, before rolling her under him and slipping her top off her body.
His gaze slid down to her breasts, and he licked his lips at the sight of the taut pink peaks just begging to be kissed.
And he did just that; bending his head first to kiss her mouth. He sighed as her lips automatically parted. Their tongues slid against each other in a dance that was now familiar, but that still sent shivers down his spine as though it were the first time.
Donna let out a moan when he broke the kiss, her hands moving to his button-down and in no time, Harvey felt his bare chest brush against hers. He moved his face down her throat, his nose brushing lightly against the skin - she smelled faintly of strawberries and peaches.
He pressed a soft kiss in the hollow just above her chest before moving down to the swell of her left breast and covered her nipple with his lips.
As Harvey lavished his attention on it, he felt her hands slide into his hair. A small sigh of content escaped his lips when her nails began to scrape gently against his scalp.
When he switched to her other breast, Donna's leg slid up over his waist in response, and she pressed her hips against his, moving deliberately against the bulge straining through his jeans.
"Donna," he groaned, moving his hand to pull her leg still further up his waist, while pressing his hips down to give her more of what he knew she was demanding.
Donna's replying moan confirmed it and he removed his hand from her leg and slipped it in between their bodies and then down to her covered center.
At that, Donna's hands left his hair as her back arched. He watched her, mesmerized by the effect he seemed to be having on her.
Her red mane was splayed against the gray pillow, and her eyes were closed. The early afternoon light coming through the window cast her in sharp relief, making every freckle on her beautiful skin stand out.
God, she was simply ethereal.
Harvey felt his chest fill at the thought that this was going to be the rest of his life.
Even through the silk, he could feel how wet she was. He ran his thumb along the crease, feeling the cloth become damper.
The movement caused her to jerk against his fingers, and she raised herself slightly from the pillow to reach his ear.
"Harvey," she said, her hands moving to the clasp of his jeans, while he tugged the string of her pajamas loose. "Off with these, please."
He sat up on his knees to oblige, struggling a little, thanks to his own arousal. As he did, his eyes fell on Donna who was now leaning on her elbows, watching him.
She was biting her bottom lip, while her doe eyes followed the movements of his hands. When he finally felt himself spring free, a low groan escaped her and he felt her reach for him.
She sat up, so that she was at eye-level with his hips and then…
He closed his eyes as her heat engulfed him. His hand came to rest in her hair, and he tugged on her locks, unsure if that meant he wanted her to continue or stop. Her other hand came to rest on the swell of his ass, causing him to jerk into her mouth.
As she worked him, Harvey kept his eyes on her bobbing head and he returned her earlier gesture, allowing his nails to stroke into the soft skin on the back of her head. The moan she released shot a jolt of electricity up his spine.
Before long though, he decided that he needed to be inside her before he hit the point of no return. He slipped the hand over her head down to her cheek and simply said, "Donna."
She looked up, her mouth still around him and he felt his stomach jump at the sight. He stroked the swell of her cheek and she released him, as he tugged her face upwards to reach his.
The movement brought Donna to kneel in front of him and they both simply stared at each other for a beat, before their lips crashed together in a passionate kiss. Harvey's hands slid down her back and he was momentarily startled to encounter bare skin when he reached her ass; the loosened pajamas had slid down and were now bunched around her knees.
"No panties?" he asked, tugging playfully on her bottom lip.
She shrugged, "Kinda pointless."
He grinned, "Fair point."
With that, he stroked his hands down the back of her thighs once before slightly tugging them apart while leaning into her. The movement caused Donna to lose her balance and she fell backwards with a shriek. But she regained her reflexes fast enough to pull him down along with her and both hit the sheets with loud oofs.
"You OK?" he asked, feeling winded. He raised himself slightly to look at her, his left hand coming up to push her hair away from her face.
She giggled and nodded, pulling his face down to hers again to claim his lips for a deep kiss. Harvey indulged her for a few moments, before breaking the kiss and sliding down her body again.
Reaching her knees, which were still slightly constrained by the bunched up pajamas, he wasted no time in tugging the offending clothes completely off her. As soon as her legs were free, Donna immediately parted them, baring herself to his gaze.
He moved his face back between her legs, his eyes closing briefly at her scent. He slid his arms around her knees and lifted them to rest on his shoulders, before pressing his lips to her center.
"Harvey!"
It was lucky that the house was empty, because her shout echoed into the room.
Showering his attention on her, he stroked his tongue once, twice over her folds. He felt her writhing against the sheets, and he tightened his grip on her knees, parting them a little more before bending them towards her chest, all while continuing to ravish her.
"Ooooh Haaar…" Donna's hands came to rest on his head, when he slipped a finger into her, and then another, before finding and hitting her sweet spot with an ease that half-surprised him.
He stroked inside her with a steady pace, working her up to her first release which had her pushing his head even further into her as she came around his fingers and lips.
Harvey slid back up until their chests were pressing against each other. He watched Donna recover from her high, before her arm came to hang loosely around his neck.
"Hi," she murmured, her expression content and sated.
He smiled and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead.
"Hi," he said. "Do you know how beautiful you are?"
"Hmmm," she hummed, stretching languorously against him. "So I've heard you say a few times these past few days."
"Only because it's true," he said, pecking her nose before kissing her lips again.
"You're not shabby looking either, Harvey," she said, grinning and he found himself falling all over in love with the way the light caught the sparkle in her eyes.
He stroked his thumb lightly against the side of her face, occasionally brushing the crease of her lips.
Donna's eyes closed briefly at his touch and when she opened her eyes, she caught his gaze. And Harvey was startled to see the emotion brimming in them.
"I love the way you love me," she said softly.
He felt his heart soar as his own eyes pricked at her words.
"Donna," he said around the lump in his throat. "Your love is the only thing that keeps me going. It's all I'll ever need."
She gave him a watery smile, "Ditto."
He bent down to kiss her slowly, pouring everything he felt for her into it. At the same time, he felt Donna's legs part around his hips and he slipped inside her.
Once he was buried to the hilt, he broke the kiss and then raised himself slightly to look at her. Donna's eyes were open and he smiled gently at her before he began to move.
He was determined to take his time with her, even though he already felt close to the edge. He set a steady rhythm at first, sliding deep into her heat with every thrust while his fingers found her own. Lacing them together, he raised them over her head, pressing them into the pillow.
Donna whimpered as the action caused her back to arch into his chest. Harvey bent down to capture her lips briefly before sliding his gaze down to her chest. He was momentarily transfixed by the way her breasts bounced in response to their movements before he freed his right hand to cup her left breast.
He shifted his gaze back to Donna's face. It was an image he was never going to tire of: her eyes black with arousal and her lips slightly parted, expelling short breaths that spoke of her climbing arousal.
Harvey knew that he wouldn't be able to hold on much longer, though, and Donna had sensed it too, because she tightened her grip around him and tugged him closer to her.
"Let go, Harvey," she murmured. "It's alright."
But he merely shook his head and pressed a kiss to her lips. Then he slipped his hand between them, and reaching her bundle of nerves, he rubbed his thumb across it in a rhythm that matched the pace of his thrusts.
Donna's breaths were now coming in shorter spurts and he felt her walls begin to flutter around him. Much like he'd done during their first time here in Boston, Harvey pulled both of Donna's legs further up his sides so they were now resting under his arms. The new angle made both of them cry out and Harvey increased his pace.
Donna's whimpers now rent the air; she was completely mindless of where they were. He captured her lips and their moans mingled together. Her hands found purchase on his back as she finally let go, sobbing his name against his mouth. And he was pulled right along with her, his own release making him see stars as he emptied himself inside her.
Collapsing on top of her, he let himself revel in the way her warmth immediately engulfed him. Her hands moved aimlessly over his back, while her chest moved against his as she caught her own breath. He felt her press her nose into his temple and take a deep breath, evidently taking his scent in.
He smiled against her skin - it was something she always did after they'd made love and even sometimes when they were just lying together.
"I love you, Harvey."
He raised his head to look at her and found her smiling at him, her fingers slipping through his damp hair. Once again, he felt his heart jump at the simple words that she'd just said and marveled at how easy they came to him.
"I love you, too."
He was about to slip out of her embrace when he felt her stomach rumble.
A low laugh escaped him and he saw Donna's face turn bright red.
"Well, I guess I'm hungry now," she said, running her fingers distractedly over his arm.
"Yeah, it figures," he said, squeezing her waist and finally slipping out of her.
He reached for the box of tissues on the table and helped her clean up, before sliding out of the bed and tugging her along with him.
"Time to get some chow into your belly," he said, wrapping his arms around her.
"Yeah," she murmured against his lips. "Sounds like a plan."
Author's Notes: Hope y'all liked this update. Please let me, as always, let me know what you think. Your reviews make my world go round.
Reviewers get to help Darvey deal with being stuck at home by choosing what activity they do: Harvey teaching Donna to cook his mother's favourite dish or Donna letting Harvey in on her favorite routine she shared with her mother on sick days.
Fanfic writers can also feel free to use the above as prompts to make this girl happy.