Donna wakes the next morning with a dull headache, helped along by the half bottle of wine she'd finished after getting home. And yet she couldn't be sure whether the anxiety, regret, and vague sense of dread she's feeling this morning could be attributed to the alcohol or just the confusing emotions of a late night with Harvey.
He'd seemed…different. Vulnerable. Searching. As though he might be ready to acknowledge their situation. But then…the same thing. Harvey trying to run away at the first sign of their 'normal' breaking down, leaving her bewildered and heartbroken.
But she's a professional, so she pushes it all aside, puts on a brave face and a devastating dress, and is out the door by 7 am as always. She grabs an extra-large triple latte on the way, needing the additional boost today. As she double-checks Harvey's calendar on her way into the firm she remembers with a surge of relief that he has meetings all morning, and she'll have at least a few hours to collect herself before having to face him.
Determined to start her new position as soon as possible, she's prepared a massive to-do list for the day to wrap things up with Harvey and get ready for her role as COO. So she heads straight to HR and reviews her new contract, negotiating firmly on all the points she disagrees with. As she writes a check for half a million dollars and it all becomes official, it hits her how she's just signed her way into a new life. One where she's her own boss and she can set her own hours and goals and priorities, and the rush of adrenaline it gives her completely restores her good mood.
Her next task is to pick her new office from the available options, and though she hesitates for a moment, she ends up choosing the one beside Jessica's. Despite his reluctance, she's confident that Harvey will choose to claim it eventually, and no matter who the managing partner is, it will be convenient to be right next door.
It's not an emotional decision, she tells herself.
Just good sense.
※※※
She's contemplating going for her second caffeine fix of the day when she sees Mike approaching her cubicle, grinning broadly.
"I hear congratulations are in order."
"You heard right," she says, returning his smile.
"I'm really happy for you, Donna. I can't think of anyone more deserving of a promotion."
"Thanks, Mike."
With a glance toward the empty office across the hall, he asks, "How's Harvey taking it?"
"Oh, he seems to be coping fine."
Mike nods, and despite the pause, she can tell he's got something more to say on the subject. He looks around, seemingly to check if they're alone, and lowers his voice. "Do you think that maybe…this will change things between the two of you?"
His wording is vague but his meaning is clear. Donna's heard enough of Mike's not-so-subtle hints over the years to know exactly what he's getting at. If she'd had any such notions, they'd certainly been stamped out by the previous night's events.
She almost retorts, Why don't you ask Harvey? but manages a more diplomatic response. "Mike, Harvey and I are just fine. Nothing needs to change, and nothing will."
But Mike goes on, undeterred. "Just think about it. Things are different now, you won't be working for him anymore. Maybe, if you tell him how you feel…"
She lets out a frustrated sigh and resists the urge to roll her eyes. Getting grilled about her feelings for Harvey is not one of the items on her long to-do list today. "I…it's complicated, okay? And I don't really want to talk about this right now."
"I get it. There's a lot of history there," he says gently. "But if you can get past all that, you could be so happy—"
"I am happy, Mike. I just got a promotion, remember?"
"I know. And I'm so glad. I just thought that maybe you could be even happier. Both of you."
"Mike, two people have to want to be together to be happy. And Harvey and I…don't want to be together."
She's a good actress, and she delivers the line well. But Mike's spent too much time with both of them to fall for that performance. He looks her straight in the eye, and not for the first time, she laments the fact that lawyers can't help pressing until it hurts.
"Have you talked to him about it?"
"Look. Harvey has made it very clear that he isn't willing to risk our professional relationship. So there's nothing more to talk about." She tries to make it sound final, so that he'll stop pushing. Picking up a file at random, she walks across the hall under the pretense of dropping it off on Harvey's desk. To her annoyance, he follows her into the office.
"And what about you? Would you risk it?"
She freezes at his words, her back to him, glad that he can't see the answer written all over her face.
Sometimes, Harvey's question haunts her dreams. 'Are you saying you want everything?' What might have happened if she'd said yes?
Then she looks down at the couch and reminds herself that she knows the answer. He would have run scared, just like he did last night. Something inside her snaps.
She spins around to face him. "Mike, I appreciate where your heart is, but when I want your advice on my personal life, I'll ask for it, okay?" It comes out harsher than she intended, but she's always hated it when people pry into their relationship and just yesterday she'd been rudely questioned about it by four men when it was none of their business and so today, she's had enough.
"Okay, Donna. I'm sorry."
She watches him walk away with her mind swirling in doubt, annoyed at him for bringing up the topic instead of just focusing on her good news. Annoyed at him for being right, because she knows deep down that she wants to be with Harvey, that she's known for years, despite all her efforts to move on.
But mostly, she's annoyed at herself, for letting her non-existent love life affect her mood when she should be celebrating the biggest achievement of her career.
※※※
Seeking distraction, Donna spends the afternoon settling into her office. She unpacks boxes, finishes her paperwork, and spends at least half the time just admiring the view, still in disbelief that it's really hers.
The end of the day arrives, and there's only one item she hasn't unpacked. The silver object at the bottom of the box doesn't seem to belong in her new space; it's like an anchor holding her in the past, an obstacle she needs to confront to move on. But even though it won't be needed anymore, the can opener is a part of her — a part of them — that she can't let go, no matter how frustrated she is with Harvey.
She's torn.
Torn between accepting that she doesn't need a man to make her happy, that she can design her own future, and a lingering feeling of loneliness that's only heightened by the empty office next to her. She finally feels like she is where she's meant to be, but he needs to take the final step too, in more ways than one, for them to be side by side.
As she touches the cold metal absent-mindedly, a shiver spreads up her spine, and she knows she can't avoid him any longer.
All afternoon, she'd been delaying the inevitable, still faintly annoyed by her conversation with Mike. But now she's run out of tasks to procrastinate with. So she finally heads to Harvey's office, carrying the thick stack of folders that she's prepared for him.
"Hey," she announces herself in the doorway.
He drops the file in his hand at the sound of her voice and looks up. "Hey, there you are," he says nervously. "Listen, Donna, about last night…"
She cuts him off. "It's fine, Harvey, you don't need to say anything." This time, she hasn't spent all day wondering if he would acknowledge last night. This time, she didn't allow herself to expect anything at all.
"But I wanted to apologize for, uh, making you think that I—"
"Harvey, it was just drinks, it's not like I was expecting anything more…" She immediately curses herself for the wording.
He sighs, his eyes cast downward, and rubs his temple. "Right…yeah." An awkward silence settles between them, and then she notices the boxes on the floor.
"You're moving?"
"Yeah, I thought I'd…transition over to Jessica's office. You were right, it's time to take the next step."
"That's good. We'll still be neighbors, then."
"Yeah," he says with a subdued smile, as he stares at her empty cubicle through the glass. "So, you're, uh…I guess this is it, then?"
Determined to avoid a sentimental goodbye when they're just moving down the hall, she launches into her completed to-do list. "I've pre-booked your schedule for the next two weeks, prepared the paperwork for your ongoing cases, and left detailed handover notes for your temp." She steps forward and arranges the files on his desk. "Is there anything else you need?"
"No, no, that's fine. Thanks," he says softly.
"Okay. Goodnight, Harvey."
She turns on her heel, heading to her cubicle for the last time to pick up her bag.
"Wait. Donna," he calls out.
She stops in her tracks, her heart pounding as though this could be it; her brain telling her that hope had never worked out for her before. But she's not ready to lose faith that he'll get there, someday, so she turns back, finding him closing the distance toward her.
"Um…I wanted to show you this." He shows her a sheet of paper, and she raises an eyebrow in confusion.
"What is it?"
"You were right, that you doing all of this brought back memories of last time, when…things didn't go so well. I was looking through some old files when I found this…it was an assignment I was supposed to do, for—you know."
Unsure how to react, she accepts the page from him wordlessly, wondering why he would want to show her something so personal. He had hardly shared anything about his time in therapy, and she'd never expected that to change.
It's a questionnaire about family, but it's barely filled out, with a few words scattered here and there.
"I, uh…never handed it in," he explains.
Nothing particularly catches her attention until she reaches the bottom of the page.
...
10. What does 'home' mean to you?
Donna
...
She stares at the page, blinking rapidly, making sure she hasn't imagined it. Tears begin to form in her eyes as years of memories flash by —
She sees Harvey, telling her that they'd made partner, together. Harvey, turning away in pain after she tells him he's lost his father. Harvey slipping his hand in hers the night Jessica left, and Harvey standing beside her, proudly admiring his new picture of him and his mother.
And now, Harvey standing in front of her, telling her she's his home.
He looks at her earnestly, and says words that break and heal her heart all at once. "I just wanted you to know, even if you're not working for me anymore…it's still true. It always will be."
"Harvey," she starts, despite having no idea of what she plans to say. Maybe you'll always be my home too. Maybe one day, we could even share a home. And a family and—
"Donna!" A voice calls out from behind her, breaking her reverie. It's Rachel, hurrying over to greet her. She stops short as she approaches the cubicle, finding them both glassy-eyed and staring at each other. "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt…" she says, as she absorbs the intensity of their gaze.
Donna snaps out of her trance. "No, it's fine, Rach, I was just, um…" What had she been doing again? Oh right. "Leaving."
She tries to meet Harvey's eyes to silently apologize for the abrupt end to their conversation, but she finds he's already turned away, heading back into his office.
"So are you free tonight?" Rachel is bubbling with excitement, and Donna struggles to keep up with the change in mood.
She glances in the direction of Harvey's office one more time, but he's looking out the window. Faced with the prospect of another disappointing non-conversation with him, or a carefree night with Rachel, she chooses her best friend.
"Absolutely. What do you have in mind?"
"How about…Michelle Ross and Harriet Specter go out for a drink?" Rachel suggests, her eyes sparkling with implied mischief.
"I'd love that, Rachel."
Their old alter egos bring back plenty of amusing memories, and also a pang of heartache. Beyond the powerful rush it had given them to play the role of lawyers, she'd always felt a secret thrill in trying on Harvey's name as her own.
"You know," she ponders, as they head to the elevators together, "I think it might be time to send Michelle Ross and Harriet Specter into retirement."
"Why's that?" Rachel asks in surprise.
She smiles. "It just so happens that Rachel Zane and Donna Paulsen have a lot to be proud of these days."
※※※
Two hours later, they're settled into a booth at a nearby bar, with their third round of margaritas in hand. Her anxieties have all melted away and it feels good—Donna hasn't let herself relax like this for weeks, not since they'd gone out to celebrate Mike getting into the bar.
"By the way, I'm so sorry I wasn't around to celebrate with you last night!"
"It's okay! Don't worry about it, Rach. I had drinks with Harvey."
"Oh yeah? How was that?"
"You know. The usual." She waves her hand dismissively. "Me thinking he's about to say something about us when he's really about to run away."
"Oh, Donna…I'm sorry. That must be so frustrating."
"I mean, it could be worse," Donna says, trying to keep the conversation light-hearted. "At least he hasn't freaked out or tried to convince me to stay."
"It seems like he's trying to be supportive."
"Yeah, he is," she concedes. "I mean, earlier tonight, he said whether or not I'm working for him, he'll always…think of me as home."
Rachel stares at her, slack-jawed. "Harvey said that?"
She nods.
"Um…do you think he was…trying to say something?"
"Honestly, I don't know. I've had enough of trying to decode his mixed messages. He's so scared of feeling something real, and I just can't deal with that anymore."
Donna usually follows the principle of everything means something. Every word or action she observes is a clue towards someone's traits, emotions, or history. It's what enables her to read people, make deductions, and figure out what they're thinking before they know it themselves.
But her and Harvey, on the other hand, exist in a parallel universe where nothing means anything.
The late-night flirting with lingering glances.
The thinly-veiled jealousy of her lovers.
'You know I love you, Donna'.
Doesn't mean anything.
So even though an outsider might draw certain conclusions from such a conversation, she won't. Because she knows that tomorrow, and the day after, and the day after, they will be exactly the same, and nothing will change.
Because it doesn't mean that he wants more.
Unless…
Unless.
What if it all did mean something—what if it meant that his self-preservation instinct is just as strong as hers?
And then it hits her like a ton of bricks. Maybe the fear in his voice when he asked what she meant by 'more' was because deep down, he was scared that the answer wasn't him.
Maybe her attempts to deny and conceal her feelings to make things less awkward for them had been so successful that he really didn't know how she felt about him.
And if that's the case, then it's up to her to find the courage to be honest with him.
About everything.
She must look stricken at the thought because Rachel stares at her in concern. "Donna? Is everything okay?"
She can't be sure. But she needs to know. "Rach, I'm so sorry, but I have to go."
"Where?"
"I just have to…" she trails off, lost in thought, and the knowing smile that appears on Rachel's face tells Donna that she understands, that she doesn't mind this sudden change in plans at all.
It's late now and she's sure he's left the office. But in her current state she won't be able to rest until she sees him, until she gets clarity, or closure, or whatever would calm her agitated mind.
When she makes it to the street and feels the cool air hit her arms, she realizes she's forgotten her coat inside, a minor detail in her whirlwind of emotion. She probably should go back in and get it, but there's a sense of urgency pulling her forward, as though every extra minute is an unacceptable delay. It's just her luck that it happens to be raining, and of course there are no cabs on their block. So she runs toward a flash of yellow on the street ahead, getting drenched in the process.
As she breathlessly gives the driver the address, she tries not to think about the fact that he might be at the gym or on a date or a thousand other places. And as she starts to calm down, the questions start coming—what on earth is she going to say? What if he isn't alone? What if she ruins everything, and horribly awkward and uncomfortable conversations become their new normal?
Shut up, brain.
She's so distracted that the cab driver has to clear his throat pointedly. "Uh, Miss? We're here."
After a hurried mix of sorry and thank you and here's a twenty and keep the change, she's out the door and into Harvey's building.
The doorman waves her up, recognizing her instantly, and she now has nine floors of elevator ride to figure out what she's going to say.
She comes up with nothing.
Maybe when she sees him, she'll know.
She bangs on the door—three, four, five knocks; she loses count—and it whips open after the briefest of moments.
Harvey stares at her in alarm, taking in her windswept hair, wet dress, and lack of outerwear. In contrast, he looks perfectly put together as always, despite having discarded his jacket and tie. "Donna? What happened? Are you okay?"
She stares at him, realizing that she probably should have thought this through a bit more, that her presence in such a state could only alarm him. But she needs to make him understand – needs him to see exactly what he does to her, because she doesn't want to hide it anymore.
She opens her mouth to respond and the words tumble out before she even realizes what she's saying. "You weren't there."
"What?"
"After my interview…when I looked around…you weren't there."
It's vague and indirect, and understandably, it does nothing to erase the confusion etched on his face.
"Oh…Donna, I wanted to be there, it's just…Stillman called me out of the blue and I didn't know when you'd be finished, so…"
He's so apologetic that it makes her feel guilty; she can't let him think that she came here to criticize him. Nothing could be further from the truth. "It's okay, Harvey. I understand." She tries again. "The thing is…I wanted you to be there. All my successes and failures…you're the one I want to run and tell."
Closer to the point, she thinks with frustration, but still not all the way there. All the years of suppression and denial had left her totally unable to articulate her feelings.
"What are you saying, Donna?"
He's wearing the same cautious expression as when he asked what she meant by 'more' and all of her doubt and uncertainty rapidly comes charging back, as she wonders if she'd misinterpreted everything. She hasn't yet reached the point of no return, and all of a sudden every fiber of her being wants to run away and escape the unbearable tension between them.
"Oh god, this is stupid, I'm going to…" She spins away from him in embarrassment, but before she can make it through the doorway he's grabbing her wrist to stop her.
"Wait. Don't go," he says in a low voice.
"Why not?" she whispers, still facing away; still unable to look him in the eye.
"Because I'm here now."
She turns to him like a moth drawn to a flame, unable to resist though she knows he could be her destruction. His fingers release her wrist and reach out to her, grazing across her cheek. "I'm right here. And I'm not going anywhere." And then his arms wrap around her frame and hold her close, and somehow, although they don't do this, ever, it feels like coming home.
As she notices the dampness soaking into his clothes, Donna is suddenly reminded of her misadventure in the rain; it had temporarily been driven from her mind by the emotional chaos controlling her thoughts. Pulling back apologetically, she mourns the loss of contact immediately. "Harvey, your shirt, it's getting—"
"Don't care," he growls, drawing her in once more, this time even tighter. Still trembling partly from cold and partly from nervousness, she breathes him in as a moment or an eternity passes (she's not quite sure), neither of them wanting to let go. Finally, he ends the silence. "You're shaking, Donna," he murmurs. "Let's get you warmed up."
Now it's her turn to pull him back, as he breaks their embrace and tries to lead her further into the apartment, focused on the task of taking care of her. "Wait, Harvey…there's more I need to tell you…"
As he looks at her expectantly, her heart beats a symphony against her chest, pounding so loudly that she thinks he must be able to hear it. Taking a staggering breath to calm herself, she tells him the truth that's been tormenting her day after day.
"When I said I wanted more, this job…it's what I wanted. But it isn't…everything I wanted."
And there it is. Maybe honesty isn't so terrifying, in the end.
He closes the distance between them once more, eyes fixed on hers with an intensity that makes her head spin. She looks down, rattled. "What else do you want, Donna?" he whispers, gently tilting her chin up to meet his gaze. And then she recognizes something else in his eyes, something mixed with the caution and the apprehension that have seemed ever-present lately.
Hope.
She says nothing, still overwhelmed by the moment and their closeness and him. But they had never needed many words, after all. Seeing the warmth and desire and longing radiating from her eyes is an answer enough for him to finally lean in, physically and symbolically, and press his lips against hers.
Tentative at first, as though waiting for her response, it's nevertheless enough to break through the wall of restraint they had so carefully cultivated over the years. She kisses him back with fervor as every emotional barrier between them comes crashing down, her body acting of its own volition as her mind struggles to catch up with the reality unfolding. The reality that he wanted her just as much as she wanted him, that it could really be as simple as that after all the heartbreak and angst and pain they had endured.
His arms clasp tightly around her waist and draw her in like he's claiming her as his own, and she willingly surrenders, dropping her bag and wrapping her arms around his neck, ready to give him her body the same way she'd given her heart and soul long ago.
As he deepens the kiss his hands roam over her ass, and she responds with a moan, pressing her hips pressed into his groin. She needs to feel more of him and she remedies the situation by tugging his shirt out of his pants and ripping it open, as his tongue continues to mingle with her own.
Suddenly it's all too much and she pulls back to catch her breath, leaning her palms into his bare chest as though making sure he was real. "I can't believe…"
"This is really happening?"
She hums into his shoulder in confirmation.
"I can," he says, with a soft sureness that surprises her. "Because I've dreamed about this moment so many times. And this — the real thing — is a thousand times better."
"You've dreamed…about us?" she says, all disbelief and wonderment.
"Forever. It's always been you."
Between this heartfelt confession and the way his erection is straining against the confines of his pants, her anticipation reaches fever pitch, and she fuses her lips with his once more and pushes him backward in the direction of his bedroom, kicking off her heels in the process. As she begins to work on his belt, they stumble up the step and sink into the bed as one, guided only by the distant lights of the city.
"Wait," he drags himself off the bed reluctantly, and she groans at the loss of contact. She doesn't want to be separated from him now, even for a moment.
"Whyy?"
The room is suddenly illuminated and he's at her side again in an instant. "Because I need to see you," he says with a reverence that makes her even more light-headed.
She's still wet from the rain, and the combination of cool skin and arousal is sending chills down her body like she's never experienced before. But Harvey provides all the heat she needs, her insides igniting with every look and touch and caress even as they shed layers of clothing. Each piece lost feels like a piece of their baggage being left behind, until they're completely naked, their feelings and bodies laid bare. As he stands at the foot of the bed removing his boxers, Donna allows herself a moment to trail her gaze over his form, still just as impressive as it was over a decade ago. She can only hope he thinks the same about her. She's never felt so vulnerable and yet so safe as he slides the final delicate barrier of lace from her body and pauses for a moment just drinking her in, looking like all his dreams have come true.
And then, unable to resist him any longer, she unknowingly reenacts one of those dreams when she crawls forward and takes him into her warm mouth, grasping the base of his shaft while her tongue circles the head and laps up the droplets of moisture forming there. She drags the tip across her lips and he closes his eyes and fists his hands into her hair, torn between urging her on and slowing her down. He's fully hard already and he groans and swallows thickly as his length disappears further down her throat. Her actions combined with the sight of her on all fours is nearly enough to end him, and he shudders and stills her motion with a hand on her cheek.
Without any words shared between them, Donna understands that he doesn't want this to be over too soon. Not when they've just begun. She releases him regretfully, determined to finish the task later. She has barely a second to slide back onto the bed, though, before he's eagerly covering her body with his own. Firm hands roam over soft skin as they trace a path from her hips to her shoulders. His erection is distractedly pressing into her inner thigh while he sucks on her pulse point, and her clit starts to throb with need.
When his tongue moves south to explore the peaks and valleys of her breasts, lingering over every freckle, she's overcome with a dizzying bliss. It's all too much for her to process—the fact that she's naked, in Harvey's bed, that it's Harvey teasing her nipple with his teeth and grinding into her and oh god, it isn't imagination or fantasy tonight, it's really him. It's the culmination of twelve goddamn years of foreplay, and she almost forgets to breathe.
The one thing keeping her grounded is the fact that she's trapped beneath his satisfying weight, but then he's sliding down her torso leaving feather-light kisses in his wake, and she almost lifts off the bed in anticipation when he reaches the sensitive spot just inside her hip bone. His hands clamp onto her thighs to hold her steady, and her fingers find their way to his hair, nails digging into his scalp when he first makes contact with her clit. It's exquisite torture, the way he starts swirling his tongue, applying more and more pressure, and she's not sure how much longer she can hold out. She whimpers incoherently, squirming against his mouth, and he pauses to look up, his pupils dark with desire. Without taking his eyes off her face, he slides two fingers into her slick entrance and begins to pump them in and out, watching enthralled as his ministrations take her to the brink.
"Harvey…it's time…for you to come inside…" she pleads, raising her hips in a brazen invitation.
But he refuses to relent, beginning to alternate between sucking and licking her clit while his fingers speed up. "Not…yet…" he murmurs, the low vibrations and warmth of his breath on her folds causing her to shiver at the sensation. His tongue presses down – hard – as his fingers curve inside her, and her walls clench around them, spasming in the first ripples of her release.
She's just reaching the peak of her climax when he suddenly withdraws his fingers and buries himself inside her, gliding effortlessly into her wetness. Though she'd been begging for it, it still manages to make her gasp in surprise, sending new shockwaves through her limbs and drawing out the tension of an orgasm that seems to last forever.
Donna already knew all about Harvey's talents in bed. And she'd experienced firsthand how he could draw pleasure from her body until she barely remembered her own name. But there's a tenderness in every movement tonight that wasn't there the other time, and when combined with the intensity of their passion it threatens to overwhelm her senses. As he continues to drive into her, each whimper and moan that falls from her lips spurs him on further. She wraps her legs around his waist to bring them even closer, taking him deeper and sending her into a heady daze. She starts contracting her core, matching him with each thrust, and Harvey's eyes close in warning.
"Donna, if you don't stop doing that…I'm…" he gasps.
There will be time later for slow lovemaking, she knows. Right now, she just wants to feel everything. "You can let go, Harvey. Let go for me…"
Reaching for her hand that's gripping the sheets beside her, he threads his fingers between hers, still seeking more connection, more touch, though they're as close as two people can possibly be. He kisses her, long and slow, and then finishes hard and fast, finding the perfect angle to make her cry out his name in ecstasy. His rhythm is relentless now; her walls begin to shudder at the onslaught and it's all he needs to push him over the edge with her. Losing herself in waves of pleasure, she falls apart as her release shatters through her body. But when he moans her name as he comes, and collapses into her embrace, she's never felt more whole.
※※※
Later, when their heartbeats have steadied in the quiet of the afterglow, they have a moment to ponder everything that's changed in the space of a few hours. They're lying face to face, close enough that their breaths are mingling, and she sees the worry in Harvey's eyes before he voices it.
"Donna, I don't know if I…I mean, I've never been any good at relationships…" He stumbles over the words, embarrassed and unsure. Gently encouraging him, she strokes his back with her fingertips. "What if I can't…be what you need?"
She understands instinctively that he's not searching for a way out this time; he's only in need of the reassurance in his own worth that she's been giving him since the day they met.
"Harvey." With a hand on his cheek, she guides his gaze to meet hers. "You already are."
Now she can read a myriad of emotions in his eyes; there's love and gratitude and relief and amazement and a kind of comfort she's never seen there before, that comes from belonging, and she feels it too.
"Donna…" He whispers her name like it's a poem and a prayer. He doesn't need to finish his thought because they're finally on the same page, writing their story together.
"I know."
※※※
As the early morning sunlight streams into the room, Donna gradually regains consciousness. She feels the warm body stir behind her, breathes in the scent of Harvey on the tousled sheets of an unfamiliar bed, and her brain starts to process her new world.
He's real.
We're real.
It happened.
"Good morning," Harvey murmurs, head buried in her neck and fingers exploring the bare skin of her hip.
"Mmmm. It sure is." She leans back into his chest, reminiscing about the events of last night. Of the little sleep they'd gotten, she'd spent most of it dreaming about him, leaving her wet and needy before she's even opened her eyes.
"I like you naked. In my bed." His arm curls around to cup her breast and she stifles a moan as his palm begins a gentle massage.
"Only in your bed?" she teases.
"Oh, I'm not picky about the location. Bed…shower…kitchen…office—"
"Stop right there." She gives him a playful elbow. "Don't get any ideas, mister."
"Are you telling me you don't have any office fantasies?" He whispers in her ear and then bites down on the lobe, and she struggles to keep her composure.
"Well," she starts tentatively, "I may or may not have dreamed about…you taking me on your desk."
"Donna." He growls at the image, his dick twitching against her ass.
"What about you?" she prompts, curious to know if Harvey had thought of her that way there, despite the boundaries she'd imposed all those years ago.
"Too many," he groans. "Desk, elevator, file room, library, conference room table…" Her eyes widen as the list continues. "Oh, and there's a new one now." He smirks. "Your office."
"Oh no, my office will be used for strictly professional activities," she jokes, but the thought of having her former boss on her desk sends a pulse straight to her core.
"I can be very persuasive, you know." He promptly proves his point by tracing her spine with his tongue, all the way from her lower back to the nape of her neck, leaving her shuddering and on the verge of losing control.
His hand wanders over her hip and she sighs in contentment as it slips between her legs, testing the waters. He groans as he feels how slick she is, wasting no time in replacing his fingers with the tip of his cock at her entrance. She arches her back in encouragement, but he stops then and pulls back, causing her to let out an impatient moan.
"Please, Harvey, I'm…"
He chuckles at her neediness. "Turn around."
"What is it?" She rolls over to face him, confused at the interruption.
"Just wanted to do this," he says, before pulling her in for a kiss.
"Oh," is all she can manage as he tucks a stray strand of hair behind her ear, her heart melting at his romantic side that he'd tried to hide for so long.
Moving his hand to her lower back, he tugs her closer to align their bodies, and she hooks a leg over his hip to grant him access to her center. Finally sinking into her in a deliciously long motion, her arousal grows with every inch until he's fully sheathed inside her.
He can sense her impatience resurfacing because he grins and starts to move. "Somewhere you need to be, Donna?" he says, playfully nipping at her shoulder as he rotates his hips at a torturously slow pace.
"No, I just need…you…to— more," she gasps between thrusts as he gradually speeds up the tempo.
"Oh, I plan on taking my sweet time this morning." As if to prove a point, he stills inside her, then pulls almost all the way out before sliding home again.
It feels so good that she has no more objections. So she gives in to the unhurried pleasure, letting him lead, and savors each second of the incomparable fullness that she'd missed for the past twelve years.
While he moves inside her he trails open-mouthed kisses along her neck; her fingers travel over his back, admiring the toned muscles of his shoulders. Finally, they have the chance to rediscover every inch of each others' bodies that they'd denied themselves access to for so long.
Having been pressed together in the most intimate embrace, he eventually pulls her onto his lap to admire the view. She relishes the opportunity to be in control. He watches, mesmerized, as her full breasts dance in front of him, swaying in sync with each rock of her hips. "Fuck, Donna," he says in awe. "Do you know how beautiful you are?"
She blushes, still not used to this new Harvey who seemed to share his feelings at every chance he gets. Leaning forward to thank him with a kiss, she momentarily loses track of time and place as his tongue glides against hers, eliciting sensations that reach every corner of her body. Despite her haze of arousal she manages to remember that they need to make it into the office today. Although she'd love nothing more than to spend the entire morning leisurely enjoying each others' company, being late on the first day in her new job wouldn't create the best impression.
So she slips off and kneels beside him, looking across her shoulder, her eyes challenging him to come and take what he needs. It only takes a moment for him to catch up, giving her one more passionate kiss before tugging her hips toward him and reuniting their bodies once more. Knowing what will drive them both to the brink, he reaches around and swipes at her clit, and it's all she needs to start unraveling. Grabbing the headboard for support, she arches her back to shift the angle, crying out at the delicious stretch when he hits exactly the right spot inside her, again and again and again.
※※※
An hour and a half later, they find themselves in the elevator heading for the fiftieth floor. They'd somehow managed to make it out the door, after one more round in the shower and another half-round in bed (which was an acceptable substitute for breakfast, according to Harvey). Donna wobbles on unsteady legs in her four-inch heels, as he smirks in satisfaction beside her.
"Someone's pleased with himself."
"Don't I deserve to be, given that you've had seven orgasms since last night and can barely walk?" His smugness is equal parts exasperating and endearing.
"You were counting?" She raises her eyebrows.
"You weren't?!" he says, faux-hurt. "That was some of my best work, you know."
"Are you saying it's all downhill from here?"
"Believe me, there's much more where that came from." In a flash he has her pinned her to the wall of the elevator, hand sliding tantalizingly up her thigh.
"Harvey! We're almost…at work…" she whimpers, embarrassed at the immediate effect he has on her.
"Mm-hmm." His fingers toy with the hem of her dress. "Never too early to get started on that office fantasy list."
"You're an idiot." She rolls her eyes, but her mouth curves into a reluctant smile. "Not a chance." She forces them apart, unable to take any more temptation.
"You're right. Not here. We should definitely start with the file room," he says with mock seriousness, as the elevator reaches their destination. They exit together, his hand placed protectively on her lower back to steady her. She's a bit self-conscious as they walk through the halls of the firm together, unwilling to show off their new relationship too openly; but at the same time, his willingness to do so makes her happy.
"Haven't you had enough of me by now, anyway? It was seven times," she says, lowering her voice as an unsuspecting associate passes by.
"Of you? Never." Despite the lightness of the conversation, there's a seriousness to his tone that makes her stomach flip.
"Some of us have work to do, you know. Did you forget it's my first day as COO?"
"Nope." He smiles as she comes to a stop outside their offices, staring at the stunning arrangement of white calla lilies on her desk.
"From you?" She looks at him for confirmation, her heart fluttering. He nods. "They're beautiful, Harvey. Thank you." Knowing that he had never been one to make romantic gestures made it all the more meaningful.
"I know I didn't always express it in the best ways…but I'm so proud of everything you've accomplished. With and without me. And I can't wait for you to show everyone how much you deserve this."
"I love you," she whispers, her fingers reaching out to graze his palm in the most subtle of touches.
"Love you too," he murmurs against her ear.
It comes out so naturally that she wonders how they ever held it in.
So they enter their adjoining offices, finally side by side in every way. He gives her an encouraging wink as they part, with a gentle squeeze of her hand.
"You're gonna make a hell of a COO, Paulsen."
And, of course, she does.
※※※ Fin ※※※
A/N: Thank you so much for the kind comments on the first chapter. And thanks again to Wika for fixing my mistakes and fixing my brain when I start to doubt myself. It's been really nice to immerse myself in the world of Darvey again. I will always be grateful to this lovely fandom for being so supportive when I stepped outside my comfort zone and started writing. Hopefully inspiration will strike again at some point in the future, but for now, I hope you enjoyed the conclusion of this story :)
Jules xx