A/N: Thank you all so very much for all the amazing reactions this story has gotten! I truly had never expected that to happen and it makes me incredibly happy and incredibly grateful!
So, let's head back to Lake Placid one last time to watch our favorite fools hopefully finally getting it right ;) Enjoy the last ride! (This chapter ventures into M for a little bit at the end, just so you're warned.)
You And I Collide – Part 3
At 7 am the next morning, Donna finally gives up on sleep for good. The night had been fitful and sleepless, as their conversation, and especially Harvey's last words, kept repeating themselves over and over and over again in her head. The hopeful expression on his face had haunted her, just as much as the pained one from seconds before he had left her standing alone.
Her level of frustration is already skyrocketing again, maybe even more so than it had before. They'd been so close to something and had somehow, once again managed to completely screw it up. Only that now, it feels like they had talked themselves into a situation that they might not be able to go back from. While at the same time it seems to be impossible for them to move forward.
It scares her, the thought that they might not be able to go back. And yet, that thought doesn't terrify her nearly as much as the realization that they may never move forward.
She'd been wracking her head over everything he'd said the previous night and more than ever she's convinced that they are finally on the same page, after over a decade of denying themselves what they truly desired. The only thing she couldn't understand is why is it so damn hard for them to get it right.
If she'd just been able to say something. Or do something. The look in his eyes, the open, vulnerable expression he had been carrying, should have told her everything she needed to know. He was there. In that moment. And he was finally ready. Instead of lying in her bed alone, she could be feeling his arms wrapped around her. She could be feeling his warmth and comfort and safety. Could be caressing his soft skin and breathing in his intoxicating scent. She doesn't even have to concentrate very hard to see it all right in front of her eyes, as memories and fantasies blend into one powerful daydream in her head.
Desperate to fall back asleep, Donna keeps twisting and turning for another half hour, before she finally capitulates and rolls out of bed. With a tired body and a restless mind, she heads for the bathroom to get a towel, that she spreads on the bedroom floor before she slips into her yoga pants.
Hoping that a quick yoga routine might help her to relax and find her equilibrium, she begins to slow her breathing. Soon enough, the concentrated and deliberate movements, as well as the deep and even inhales and exhales, are having the desired effect. Being solely focused on her languid motions, on the way her muscles stretch to strike the right pose and on how her flexibility increases with every second that passes, is slowly but surely chasing off the thoughts in her head. She loves that feeling of peace and serenity that vibrates through her body when she exercises; it always feeling like a gentle caress on her overstrained muscles and mind.
An entire hour passes in no time at all, and once she is done, she remains seated on the ground for a few moments longer while her heart rate returns to normal. Utter silence fills the space; no sign of Harvey being awake yet even though they're set to meet Rachel and Mike for breakfast shortly. After a quick stop at the huge windows overlooking the forest – its trees carrying another few inches of snow that had fallen throughout the night – and watching the sun ascend over the hilltops in the distance, Donna heads for the shower.
She takes her time getting ready, not wanting to stress herself when she had just found her balance again. After drying off and drying her hair, she slips into a pair of jeans and an emerald wooly jumper, that would undoubtedly keep her warm that day. With a few, expert hand movements, Donna puts on some mascara, powder, and lip-gloss, before she is ready to tackle the day.
The living room lies still empty and quiet when she enters it a few minutes before they were supposed to leave. She waits by the window front, again watching the sun and the trees and the hills, that emanate a kind of tranquility that only untouched nature could.
When there is still no sign of Harvey at 9:30 am, Donna carefully knocks on his door. "Harvey?"
Silence stretches behind the wooden barrier, as she listens for any sign of movement. When nothing happens, she tries again, a little louder this time. Only then can she hear the rustling of sheets and moments later heavy footfalls on the floor. The door finally opens and a sleepy and yawning Harvey greets her on the other side. It takes him a few moments to register what is happening, but once he catches up, his tired expression is instantly chased off by a more cautious one.
"Morning," he murmurs, his voice still hoarse from sleep.
"Good morning," she replies more vividly while smiling at him, almost shyly.
"Everything okay?" He asks with his eyes resting on her and Donna can practically see the wheels turning inside of his head.
"Yeah. I just wanted to check in on you…" Donna begins, successfully ignoring the tension growing between them. "We're supposed to be meeting Rachel and Mike for breakfast at half-past nine, remember?"
His gaze wanders to the huge clock on the wall by the kitchen, which announces that it already is half-past nine.
"Oh shit," Harvey groans, running his hand through his hair. "My alarm hasn't gone off."
"It's alright, don't worry," she tries to reassure him. "I'll head downstairs and let them know that you'll join us in a bit."
"Okay, great. Thanks, Donna," Harvey replies with a grateful smile.
"Of course. See you down there," Donna says and heads for the door, where she is stopped by Harvey once more.
"Donna?"
She turns around and looks back at him. "Hmm?"
"Is everything really okay?" He wants to know, not able to hide the nervousness from his voice.
"Yeah, it is," she responds immediately and almost even believes it herself.
He studies her for a moment, not nearly as convinced by her words as she seems to be. "Can we maybe talk later? There are a few more things I'd like to say."
The look in his eyes and the tone in his words immediately send her heart running once more, and the balance she's worked so hard for this morning flies out of the window and into the wilderness. With a small nod, she agrees. "Of course, Harvey."
She holds his gaze for a moment longer, trying to catch a glimpse of what's going on inside of his head, before the moment gets broken by his nod and disappearance into his room.
Over breakfast, once Harvey had joined them, Donna and Rachel decide to head back into town again to make another visit to the small, Italian boutique they had found yesterday. There's a pair of shoes Rachel had taken an interest in, and a stylish, cherry-colored handbag in the shop window that Donna had set her eyes on. For some inexplicable reason they had both been reasonable the day before and had quickly moved on from the shop, but considering they are still talking about it, they want to take another look and maybe opt for being unreasonable after all.
The guys discuss whether to join them on their trip into town or just wait by the pool for their return, but in the end, to everyone's surprise, it is Harvey who votes for going with them, unbeknownst to everyone (except maybe Donna) in the hopes of getting a few moments to talk to Donna in private.
He soon finds out though what he should have known from the beginning, and that is that there is no moment of privacy when Mike and Rachel are with them. Two minutes into their walk, the first one engages Harvey in a conversation about the latest Knicks game, while the latter walks ahead and strings Donna along, eager to get to the boutique as quickly as possible.
The shoes and the bag are luckily still there and without much hesitation this time around, they do end up making the purchase. Being the gentlemen that they are, Mike and Harvey offer to carry their bags, and the two women navigate them down the shopping street, making them stop a couple more times as they go.
Every once in a while, Harvey and Donna's gazes meet and they get lost in several moments that speak so loudly that everyone close to them can see what's going on.
The energy between Donna and Harvey had shifted noticeably, seeming more charged now than it had already always been. The timer of the bomb that is their relationship is finally running out and they can both see the red digits counting down before their inner eyes. Would the blast let them live? Or would it take them down and bury them beneath the rubble of all their missed opportunities and unsaid words?
It's obvious that they would soon find out, as another silent moment transpires between them that makes them want to just have it out already. And if Rachel hadn't intervened, they probably would have even done so.
"Shall we head back now? Mike and I have a couples massage scheduled at three and if we wanna get there in time, we should probably get going in the next fifteen minutes or so."
"Sure, we can definitely do that," Donna agrees with a nod. "I have an appointment at 3:15 with Angelo anyway."
The thought of someone getting to touch Donna's naked skin is making Harvey's blood boil all over again, but he swallows it down, waiting patiently for the moment he would be able to get everything out that's been brewing inside of him since the night before.
It's funny, how for years he couldn't see past the fear of losing her, it having prevented him from thinking and feeling all these thoughts and emotions that had been washing over him uncontrollably for days; and how now, that he had finally set his mind on doing something about it, it couldn't happen soon enough because he couldn't stomach the thought of being kept away from being with her another second longer.
All through the night, Harvey had replayed every second of their conversation and all the other personal ones they've had over the years. He'd begun to dissect everything they've ever said to each other, everything they've ever done to protect each other, every glance and touch and word; his mind repeatedly having come back to that kiss a couple of weeks ago. He could still feel the tingle in his body, could still feel her hands sliding through his hair, could still taste the desperation on her lips and could still see the intense and overwhelmed expression in her eyes, that he had been feeling just as much.
They had both wanted it. They had both wanted more. And as much as he hates to admit it, seeing as he had still been with someone else at the time, he knows he had wanted Donna with every fiber of his being and had been so close to moving her towards her desk if she hadn't broken away.
The more he thinks about it, and the more often he recalls her reactions and her looks and touches, the more convinced he is that she had to have been lying when she'd said that she hadn't felt anything when they kissed.
Because how could she have not, when the world stopped turning and the energy kept flowing, surrounding them in need and love and passion? She'd had to have felt that. He knows that he doesn't have the best track record when it comes to women, but he's convinced that the kind of intensity he felt when they collided could never have been reached if it had been solely one-sided.
He had that realization at about five o'clock in the morning, after a night of twisting and turning and of walking towards her room two and a half times before returning to his bed. And once the truth had set in, it had finally brought the needed peace of mind to let him fall asleep, even though he couldn't wait to talk to her about it.
Which, Harvey desperately hopes, he'd finally be able to do soon.
~o~o~
After her massage, Donna almost feels like a new person again. While Angelo couldn't do anything about the emotional tension that's taken a hold of her, he had at least been able to do something about the physical one.
With a somewhat lighter spring in her steps, Donna heads straight for the Finnish sauna after her treatment to further the relaxation. Stripping down her bikini, she takes a quick shower to wash off the oil, before she wraps her towel tightly around her and steps into the steaming room. Immediately heat engulfs her, as she aims for the far corner of the deserted room. She climbs to the top and lies down on the warm wood beneath her body. It takes less than a minute for the sweat to break out, Donna concentrating on retracting all bodily functions to a minimum as she tries to withstand the pressure of the intense heat.
It's almost meditative, the peace and the quiet. How focusing on breathing in and out and in and out is calming her mind.
She doesn't know how long she's been lying there, certainly almost long enough to have to get out soon, when the door opens and a breeze of cool air swirls through the sauna. It makes her look up and her heart almost stops when her eyes land on Harvey; hair wet, upper body glistening, towel hanging low on his hips.
Time freezes, as they stare with uncertainty at each other. More coldness streams in while Harvey stands in the opened door, trying to decide what to do.
„I-. I'm sorry. I didn't know you were in here. I'll come back later."
"You don't have to leave on my account. There is enough room to fit two people in here," Donna replies, chuckling nervously while she sits up. The temperature is too high for her beneath the roof now, so she crawls down to the lowest bench near the ground.
Harvey walks closer, sitting down on the empty spot beside her.
"How was your massage?" Harvey asks before any form of awkward silence could grow between them.
"It was good. Very relaxing," Donna answers, as she takes a sideways glance at him.
"Good. I'm glad."
"I didn't know you did saunas?"
"I don't. But I thought I'd give it a try. See what the fuss is all about."
"See, I told you you'd get used to relaxing," Donna quips. "Maybe mudding with Louis will happen after all."
Harvey chuckles. "No. Still only over my dead body."
"Louis would probably tell you that that could be arranged," Donna jokes.
"Well, I sure hope that my death is still far-off," Harvey replies, half-serious, half-amused.
Donna looks at him more fully now, finding his eyes resting on her face already. "I hope so, too."
The banter gets vaporized by the heat, turning his expression as open and as vulnerable as it had been the night before, mixed with an ounce of desperation that's been fueled by hours and hours of holding back. The gaze grows in intensity, both waiting for the other one to break it, which doesn't happen for the longest time.
"It's really hot in here," Harvey breathes, being the first one to break the silence.
"That's the whole point, Harvey," Donna laughs nervously.
It's only now occurring to them that they are actually in a sauna. Together. Naked. Only two very flimsy barriers between them that could easily be discarded with the flick of a finger.
All of a sudden, the heat is no longer just exterior, but actually interior as well, pushing thickly through their veins. It's making Harvey's fingers prickle with need; to touch her, to caress her, to pull her close. And the way she's eyeing him curiously, even with that slight hint of hesitation and reservation, tells him that he could. That she would let him. That she wants him to.
"Donna," he croaks, his voice having suddenly dropped an octave.
Magically drawn together, he's leaning in the same moment she begins to lean in as well, the air between them cracking with energy.
"I-," he whispers, the words dancing on the tip of his tongue and ready to finally spill, when the door to the sauna gets pushed open again, rushing in another wave of cold air that chases away the fire.
The spell gets broken just like that, both of them quickly pulling away, mere seconds before they hear Rachel's and Mike's voice.
"There you are," Rachel remarks excitedly, walking into the sauna with a knowing glint in her eyes.
"We've been looking all over for you," Mike adds, holding his wife's hand as they take their seats diagonally from the couple they've just interrupted.
"Have we interrupted something?" Rachel asks after a short moment of utter silence, eyeing them both curiously.
Donna shakes her head with the tiniest of movements before she gets up from her seat. "I've been in here for fifteen minutes already, so I gotta catch a break now. I'll see you outside in a few?"
"Absolutely," Rachel confirms with an emphasizing nod, her eyes drifting between Donna and Harvey.
Donna waits for another second, her gaze resting on Harvey before she turns around and practically storms out of the room.
Harvey is still too stunned to react, only able to watch her disappear as another moment slips them by.
~o~o~
The rest of the afternoon and evening go by in a blur, with the tautness between Harvey and Donna reaching its climax and Mike and Rachel somehow managing to add to it with the occasional tease that puts their friends even more on edge.
By the time they finally part ways at the end of the night, it feels like only another drop of oil to the fire is missing to start that wildfire that no one would be able to extinguish. Relief and nervousness wash over them simultaneously, as they watch the newly-weds heading down the corridor to their suite, leaving them alone at last.
They stand quietly for a second until Harvey turns towards Donna.
"Shall we?" He asks, pointing the other way and in the direction of their suite.
Donna just nods, setting herself in motion on wobbly legs.
Once inside, Harvey closes the door behind them with a soft click, the sound immediately sending goosebumps over Donna's body.
And despite having longed to be alone with each other all day long, now that they are, neither really knows where to begin. Luckily though, Harvey has his mind set on sorting all of this out one way or another. Tonight., So it's him who finally pushes aside his worries and begins to set things into motion.
"Wanna grab some wine and a blanket and head outside on the balcony?" Harvey suggests in an attempt to loosen the tension, and in order to keep himself from rushing to her and just finishing what they had almost started in the sauna earlier that day. Some fresh air sounded like a great idea to cool himself down and finally get those words out that he'd been dying to say for far too long.
"Sure, that sounds like a nice idea," Donna concurs, smiling tentatively at him.
"You get the blanket and I'll get the wine?"
"On it," Donna confirms, walking over to the couch where a huge and cozy blanket is draped over the backrest. Folding it in her arms, Donna silently follows Harvey through his room and out onto the balcony.
The night sky is cloudless once more, a full moon rising above the darkened hilltops in the distance. Stars sparkle like diamonds, catching Donna's attention for a moment before she focuses on her immediate surroundings again.
Harvey is busy opening the bottle, while Donna begins to unfold the fabric that would hopefully be able to keep them warm.
"What a shame," Donna says suddenly, needing to fill the silence. "The jacuzzi will have been neglected all weekend."
It takes Harvey a moment to catch up, as his eyes find the hot tub in the corner behind Donna. Then his gaze drifts from there to her and back again, contemplating for only a second really before his next words tumble out.
"Well. We could skip the blanket and just get into this thing instead?" He offers the alternative, now actually hoping that she will go for it because it'd definitely be warmer and more comfortable than the cold bench.
"Uhm. Sure. Yeah. We can do that," Donna replies, taking a step back from the lounge area. "Do you know how to turn it on?"
"It can't be too hard. I'll figure it out," he nods reassuringly, already moving past her to get to the jacuzzi.
"Okay. Well, I guess I'll get changed then," she says, placing the blanket on the bench before hurrying back inside, praying that the momentary distance would help to slow her speeding heart.
In her bathroom, she slips back into her burgundy bikini and expertly binds her wavy hair in a loose bun on top of her head. Then, with the too big bathrobe tightly wrapped around her slender frame and a towel in her hand, she joins Harvey outside again ten minutes later.
He had come through with his promise and had indeed managed to turn on the jacuzzi, dipping his hand in to test the temperature just as she steps out onto the balcony again.
"Great timing," he smiles at her, pulling his hand back. "It just reached the perfect temperature."
He'd already changed into his trunks as well, his bathrobe hanging openly on his body and catching Donna's attention as it flutters in the slight breeze. Nervousness pools in her stomach as the reality sinks in that they would be getting into the hot tub together, and that this time, there would be no one interrupting them.
As Donna walks closer, she can see two wine glasses are already placed on the little tray in the left corner of the whirlpool and the warm light shining outside from his bedroom is illuminating the space in an atmospheric glow.
Donna joins Harvey by the tub and is the first one to drop her robe to the ground. Holding out his hand for her, Harvey helps her step into the warm and bubbly water, into which she immediately sinks to escape the cold.
When Harvey loses his bathrobe seconds later, Donna has to will herself not to unabashedly stare at him because even though she'd seen him dressed down like this for days now, his toned body still utterly takes her breath away. He isn't overly trained, but there are still plenty of muscles visibly dancing beneath his skin with every move that he makes. Muscles and skin that make her fingers itch to just throw caution into the fire and finally touch him the way they both want to touch each other.
Coming to sit right next to her, Harvey makes sure that there is only enough space between them to easily close it should the chance arise that he would be allowed to do so. With their shoulders almost touching, they are both facing the night sky; the view for the first couple of minutes a welcome distraction from whatever it is that would be happening next.
This time, the silence is a lot more comfortable than it had been the night before and Donna is even able to somewhat let go of the inner stress because she knows that one way or another, things were finally about to change. All she can do now is trust Harvey and pray that it would change for the better.
It takes him another minute or two to finally find the courage to speak, as he takes a deep breath and exhales shakily. "Funny how I said this morning that there's more that I wanted to tell you… and now that I finally have the chance, I don't know where to start."
Donna can hear the desperation shining through, but it's alleviation she feels when she realizes that Harvey truly isn't going to deny what had happened and is willing to talk, even if he doesn't know where to begin. The knowledge is sending goosebumps over her body that get hidden by the water, as their eyes meet in an open gaze.
"Did you mean what you said last night?" Donna asks after a few moments of silence, trying to guide them in the right direction.
"Which part?" He asks ambiguously, out of reflex more than anything else.
Donna is taken aback by his words for just a second but doesn't want to let them deter her. "I mean-," she begins but is just as quickly interrupted by Harvey.
"No, I'm sorry, Donna, wait," he says, eyeing her apologetically.
He doesn't want to be evasive. He does not want to be that guy anymore. He'd sworn to himself last night that he wouldn't be that guy anymore. "It doesn't matter which part because I meant everything I said. Down to the very last word."
His statement, and especially the affection and honesty in his words, is like a lifeline drawing Donna closer.
"And I'm scared shitless here that I'm going to say the wrong thing. Or that I've misinterpreted what's been going on the last couple of days," Harvey admits openly. "But I'm tired of pretending, Donna… and I can't do it anymore." His eyes anchor themselves in hers, keeping them both safe and secure on this lifeboat that is their fragile but unwavering relationship. "I'm tired of pretending that things between us are back to normal. Because it's the last thing they've ever been and it's also the last thing I ever want them to be," he states, twisting in his seat to face her more directly, before he carefully reaches for the hand that's lying on her thigh. "I can't pretend anymore that I don't want you. And that I haven't wanted you since the day we met." That's all it takes for the first tears to well in her eyes, but she tightly holds on to his hands which he hopes is a good sign. "And most of all, I can't pretend anymore that I'm not in love with you, when it's all I've been for as long as I can remember."
Blood is thundering through her ears, as she carefully listens to every word he is saying. But apparently, no matter how much she had tried to prepare herself for this conversation all day long (with all the positive and negative outcomes having run repeatedly through her mind) to hear him actually say those words is more than her heart and head can handle; the moment stunning her into utter silence just like it had the night before.
It's only the look in her eyes and the tight squeeze of her hand that keeps Harvey hopeful, even when the doubts are tugging at his heart. Time starts to slow down around them, as even the last walls between them are torn down by the tsunami that is rolling in.
Only when they can't possibly withstand the silence any longer, does he finally break it with a pleading sound in his voice.
"Tell me I didn't imagine those last couple of days," he begs, with nothing more than a whisper.
Donna immediately shakes her head, not wanting him to think for even a second that she wasn't right there with him. "You didn't," she confirms just as quietly, her voice streaked with emotion.
"Please tell me I didn't make a mistake by being so honest with you tonight…"
"You didn't, Harvey," Donna replies, squeezing his hand again.
Their eyes remain locked as they get lost in the vortex of the feelings that are drowning them but setting them free all the same. They are almost there now, almost able to reach the safety of the shore, where peace and happiness and love await them with open arms.
"Did you lie when you said you didn't feel anything when you kissed me?"
"I did."
"Why?"
"Because you were so angry with me," Donna explains, as a flicker of pain burns her soul at the memory of their fight. She takes a deep breath, not wanting those thoughts to cloud the euphoria that had begun to swell. "For the first time, I was terrified of actually, really losing you."
"I wasn't angry with you, Donna. I was angry with myself," he admits. "For wanting you, while being with someone else. For actually being with someone else when I knew it was you that I'd wanted all along." With every further admission, he feels more weight being lifted off his shoulders "It wasn't you who made me the one thing I never wanted to be. I'd done that all by myself. And I'm sorry for ever accusing you of it."
It's another apology that Donna hadn't needed, but now that he'd offered it, she can instantly feel its soothing effect. "It's okay, Harvey," she sighs. "I still shouldn't have kissed you."
Harvey takes in her words; tries to imagine a reality in which their kiss hadn't happened and pushes that thought away right afterward because it isn't a reality he ever wants to live in.
"Everything happened exactly the way it was supposed to," Harvey assures her, as his eyes turn more serious and with another question already forming inside of them. "So... you did feel something when we kissed?" He asks, wanting to make sure that he'd heard her correctly before he could allow himself to finally close the remaining distance.
His nervousness almost makes her want to chuckle if only the look in his eyes didn't make it impossible to do so. "I did," she confirms again, her voice dropping to a low and affected whisper instead of a chuckle.
Harvey studies her for a long moment, as their reality almost visibly shifts from what they've been for thirteen years to what they are going to be for the rest of their lives.
"Am I allowed to make you feel something again?" He whispers, already ever so slightly leaning in.
"No, Harvey," Donna replies, a soft smile tugging at her lips. "You're allowed to make me feel everything."
And then her smile gets wiped off her face only a micro-second later when Harvey crashes into her like a wave against its shore.
His lips find hers in a desperate kiss, that is fueled by all the truths and emotions worth of thirteen years, poured into one single touch. Harvey's free hand slides from her shoulder up her neck and from there straight to the back of her head, keeping her close even though she shows no sign of wanting to move. Ever again.
The kiss deepens when his tongue traces her lips, seeking entrance that she all too gladly grants, while her hand desperately grasps for his shoulder to keep herself from floating away on that wave of intensity.
It hasn't been that long since the last time they'd kissed and while she'd thought that kiss had already made her feel everything, it was nothing compared to the feelings Harvey's lips are currently triggering inside of her. It's a ball of energy that is expanding with every second they connect more deeply until it presses against her heart and her skin in an all-consuming need for more.
Harvey tugs on her hand then, pulling Donna closer into his side, even though it feels like he couldn't possibly get close enough to her anyway. He loosens his grip on her hand, letting his fingers travel up her arm instead. Goosebumps tickle his fingertips the further he goes; her physical reactions to him stirring something very primal deep inside of him. It's transcending everything he's ever felt before, emotionally even more so than physically.
The angle is quickly becoming unbearable, it not allowing the kind of closeness they are both longing for so much. It's Donna's patience that runs out first, making her lift herself from her seat and twisting around in one fluid motion to float in front of Harvey. His hands automatically reach for her waist, pulling her close again and onto his lap.
Their lips fuse in another burning kiss; Donna's hands traveling from his shoulders to the back of his head, dampening his hair with her moist fingers as she slowly lets them slide through them. Both her knees come to rest beside his hips, Donna pressing herself even tighter against his in an attempt to squeeze out every last inch of space between them. Their upper bodies touch, fire and water colliding in a heated rush.
The bubbly water around them feels like a million caresses on their sensitive skin, only adding to the intense pressure that is already building deep inside of them. They break apart minutes or hours later, finally coming up for oxygen that quickly fills their lungs. Instead of their lips, their eyes meet in a wordless connection, tentative smiles playing on both of their faces.
Donna's hands are still playing with his hair and elicit a low groan from him when she reaches the tender skin right behind his ears. In return, Harvey's arms sneak around her waist, his palms flattening on the small of her back where he adds some additional pressure to hold her close.
She gently but surely angles his head towards her again, leaning down to kiss him once more. Catching her moan with his lips, Harvey's hands begin to travel up her back, alternating between teasing slides and gentle scratches that make her lose her mind. Arousal is meandering through her veins, filling every nerve ending it is touching with excited elation.
It's seeping from her right into him; the arousal and need and desire fueling his own that is already dangerously close to the melting point. His hands stop his movements when they find her bikini top, fingertips tracing the band before they slide back down to where they came from. Upon reaching her bottoms, Harvey repeats the motion all over again, fingers teasingly gliding alongside the hem.
The touch leaves her shaking in his embrace, and the groan caught between them is sending another current of desire through his body and straight to his groin. He's growing hard and needy, each smoldering touch an attack on his resolve that is so close to breaking at an alarming speed.
Donna pulls back again and there are no more smiles left on their faces. Instead, their eyes are hooded and blazing with want, heavy breaths escaping their swollen lips. His eyes tie themselves to hers, both of them intently watching each other as his hands travel up along her spine again. When he reaches her bikini top this time around, with the flick of his fingers, he releases the clasp and gets rid of the fabric that dared to keep them apart.
Harvey breaks their eye-contact, gazing down at her breasts instead that are dancing just beneath the surface of the sputtering water. His palms travel from her back to the front, and despite the cooling water, they're leaving a scorching trail along her skin. Donna's head falls back in ecstasy, as his fingers circle her nipples, which are already hard and erect and begging for his touch. She has to bite back the moan that his trembling in her chest, not wanting to rouse the attention of their neighbors to what is transpiring on that balcony only a few feet away.
His fervid caresses are setting Donna's body aflame, and there is no amount of water on this planet that would ever be able to extinguish it again.
"You have no idea how long I've waited for this," Harvey groans ever so quietly, while his hands reacquaint themselves with her curves; every touch eliciting a tantalizing reaction.
"Thirteen years," she breathes, sliding along his thighs to settle deeper into his crotch. The intimate contact shoots a wave of ardor through their bodies before it torridly pools right where it's been sent off from.
"Twelve and a half," he corrects hoarsely, his hips surging upwards pretty much on their own volition. He is craving the painful friction almost as much as getting rid of the barriers, while at the same time it also just feels way too perfect to change even the slightest thing about what they are currently doing.
"Forever," Donna moans against his lips before they unite in another kiss that leaves them breathless in a matter of seconds.
Donna's fingers greedily slide over his damp skin, touching and teasing every inch they can reach. Every movement and moment is pushing them closer, both already way too far gone to stop now even if they wanted to.
Which they don't. Because there simply is no stopping a wildfire like theirs.
His hands begin to roam again as well, pushing buttons that he remembers all too well and some new ones he hadn't known about but swears he would find out about for the rest of their lives. Each discovery and rediscovery has Donna shaking and trembling, goosebumps running up and down her arms and thighs on their chase for release.
Spurred on by her intense reactions to his touches, Harvey lets his hands slide from the back of her thighs beneath her bikini bottoms from both sides, his palms gently squeezing her cheeks and pressing her forward in a desperate attempt to ease the aching in his groin. His lips shoot straight for Donna's neck to muffle his moans when she begins to grind against his hardness with deliberate rotations of her hips. Her own mouth is pressed against the side of his head, exhaling shakily into his hair with every thrust against her center.
They stay like this for a small eternity, touching and grinding and sighing, Harvey angling her hips in just the right way for each of their slides to hit that spot between her legs. It wouldn't be enough to get him off like that, but by the way her trembling and heart rate are intensifying, Harvey can sense that it would be for her.
Before long, Donna can feel the intense coiling deep within, the energy growing and expanding. His mouth against her skin, the gentle sucking alternating with the teasing nibbles against her pulse point, is making her lose her breath, speeding up her movements on top of him that leave him trembling with want just as much.
The water is crashing around them and against them, cooling them down and heating them up all at once; the sensations that are attacking them full force almost too much to handle.
Harvey watches Donna mesmerized; the way she's riding him, her fiery waves dangling just above the surface of the water and clinging to her chest and breasts that are gently bouncing with every move that she makes.
She is scorching flames and blazing fire, the force of nature he'd never dared to get too close to out fear of getting burned alive; only to now learn that her fire isn't deadly but actually giving him life in ways he never thought possible. It's melting away the chains around his heart and his body, freeing him from memories and experiences that had held him back for all of his life.
Her fire is love and he wants to bask in its warmth, in her warmth for the rest of his days.
In this moment, Harvey wishes he could look into Donna's eyes, to tell her, to let her feel what she is making him feel; but her movements grow erratic just then and her next moan that cascades hotly over his damp skin is making him lose his train of thought and get lost in the sensations with her.
With the next deliberate thrust of his rock hard erection against her heat, Donna's inner tremble expands to the outside as a blinding explosion goes off. Pulling back his hands from her panties, he instantaneously wraps his arms around her shaking form, while he keeps grinding and thrusting to help her ride out that wave of euphoria.
Then silence engulfs them, as their movements cease and they melt into each other.
Her heart is tangibly thumping against his chest and while she would love to stay like this forever, there is something else she yearns for even more. Having barely even calmed down yet, Donna's lips disconnect from the side of his head and move to his ears instead. "Take me inside, Harvey. Take me to bed," she almost begs, her voice stricken with longing and want.
The sound of her voice makes them break apart, at last, Harvey eyeing her intensely before he nods. Donna slides off of him and watches, as Harvey comes to stand on shaky legs. His body is taut and dripping, droplets of water running over his chest and down to his trunks, where his pulsating hardness is protruding the dark and wet fabric.
Once outside, he slips into his bathrobe, before he picks up hers, holding out one hand to help her out and then immediately wrapping her in the warming and drying garment. They only share a quick but reassuring glance, before Harvey flicks off the jacuzzi and heads into his bedroom right after Donna.
In front of his king-sized bed, they come to a halt, as a new wave of shyness overcomes them both. Harvey reaches up to pull a strand of hair out of her face, as Donna stands on her tiptoes to level herself with him for another kiss. With his arms, he's pulling her against him again and keeps her close as they lose themselves in each other.
The kiss isn't as heady and desperate as the last one they've shared, but every bit as overwhelming and consuming. It's hard to believe that they have managed to go without that feeling for so long, when now it's everything they can never let go of ever again. And luckily never have to let go of ever again as well.
They barely register how they rid each other of all the layers that are separating them and only when they are both naked, do they break apart for a moment, as they both crawl onto the bed and beneath the covers.
Not able to withstand that burning desire to be close to Donna any longer, Harvey doesn't waste another second to slide on top of her, them instantly fitting together in ways it had never fit with anyone else.
Their eyes connect wordlessly once more, as every inch of their skins fuse together.
'Is this okay?' His gaze asks for permission.
'Please,' hers pleadingly replies, while her fingers cover his back with feathery touches that have him shivering in her embrace.
A soft smile plays on his lips, as he shifts his weight to one arm, while his free hand begins a gentle caress down her body. They're still damp from their bath and combined with the heat beneath the covers, their touches glide over each other easily and effortlessly.
Donna's hands travel from his back to his front, the muscles of his chest contracting beneath her teasing touches. His nipples harden when her fingernails gently scratch over them; eliciting a low grown from Harvey and sending another rush of blood down south that makes him even more painfully hard than he already was.
Wanting to make sure that Donna is ready for his length, Harvey sneaks a hand between them, instantly finding her hot and wet and pulsating, as his fingertips gently tease her sensitive opening. Her walls are fluttering as he inches one finger in, preparing her with careful movements for the intrusion that was about to follow.
More liquid heat pools down below as Harvey inserts another finger and begins an even but intense rhythm, that due to the remnants of her barely subsided first orgasm pushes her dangerously close to a second one in a matter of heartbeats. The tingling is already starting again, and if he hadn't stopped in the exact second that he had, he would have sent her flying all over again. He knows her well enough though - even if they'd only been intimate like this once before – and can see the way her eyes glaze over and how her lower lip begins to quiver, just when her walls begin to tighten. That's when he withdraws his hand, reaching for his length instead that he brings close to her center without further hesitation.
Coating himself with her wetness, he lets his hardness slide between her folds a couple of times, quickly teasing her throbbing clit to another point of no return. Her moans swell in volume, a mixture of his name and a string of words he can't make out, when her whole body tightens like a chord on a violin, waiting to be stroked. And he finally does, when he thrusts into her welcoming heat; the deep and languid penetration instantly setting off her second climax of the night. Harvey slides all the way in before he has to keep still, lest the ferocity of her orgasm triggering his before they had any chance to really begin.
With a thundering heart, Harvey watches Donna writhe beneath him; her eyes screwed closed as waves and waves of passion roll over her. His hand slides from her sternum down her stomach, and then back up again to her breast, his fingertips teasing her nipple only intensifying her shivers and moans. He ever so slightly presses into her further, even that tiny movement able to prolong her high for just a moment longer.
Harvey patiently waits for Donna to return to him, physically as well as mentally; and only when her eyes open and find his, and when her hips invitingly nudge his, does Harvey release the breath he has been holding, as he slowly begins to move.
The rhythm he sets at first is unhurried and even, giving them both the time to adjust to the new reality that is building around them and between them. Their hands roam freely, as do their lips; both covering every stretch of skin they can reach with the love they hadn't been able to share in the past.
Slow and languid soon turns into hungry and desperate though, as instincts gradually begin to take over the closer Harvey gets to the edge. He picks up his speed, his strokes returning him to her quicker and quicker with every moment that passes by. Her sighs and moans spur him on even further and while he knows that she'd already orgasmed twice, he hopes that he could bring her along one more time, needing her right by his side when he got lost in the current of their love.
So he puts even more strength and vigor into his thrusts, bumping into her erratically while trying to hold on to his sanity with all of his might.
Even with his instincts having taken over at this point, Donna can see by the look in his eyes, that he is holding out for as long as he can, undoubtedly wanting to wait for her to be there with him when they fell.
"Let go, Harvey," Donna exhales, her hot breath a sweet and gentle caress on his face. "I don't know if I can… again."
He studies her intently, slowing his thrusts ever so slightly, while he reaches for one of her knees to hike it higher up on his waist. "I've got you," he rasps, his whole body screaming to release, while his eyes are full of love and devotion. The new angle allows him to slide in even deeper, and to press more firmly against that spot inside of her. His free hand slips between them, circling her clit instead of teasing it directly in the hopes of stimulating enough without over-stimulating her bundle of nerves. Her deep groans are telling him that he's got it right, only then allowing himself to pick up his speed again.
It's only a matter of moments now to get Donna there as well, his length and his fingers finding a rhythm that pushes both him and her closer and closer, with every additional stroke deep inside of her.
Donna's walls begin to tremble the second his groin begins to coil, intense heat and light spreading through his muscles before he succumbs to the intensity and combusts into a million sparks. Only distantly can he hear Donna cry out his name, as her fingers dig into his back almost painfully. Her trembling walls draw out his orgasm, just as his jerky bumps prolong hers as well until it feels like it would never end again.
It's minutes later when Harvey finally collapses on top of her, Donna instantly wrapping her arms and legs around him to keep him right where he is. At first, she is too exhausted to even move a muscle, but soon her fingers begin to draw soothing circles all over Harvey's sweaty back, that not only calm him but her just as much.
The world stops turning as time slows down; peace and quietness engulfing them in the sanctuary of each other's arms.
And they stay. Like that. Because they can. And because nothing and no one is forcing them apart and never would ever again.
They relax.
Enjoy.
Relish.
In the warmth.
The comfort.
The reassurance that this is real.
When strength and composure have returned to his body, Harvey lifts himself up again, his eyes coming to rest on Donna's sparkling ones, in its depths finding his past, present, and future all lied out for him.
Her. And him. Forever.
Donna's left hand comes up to his face, caressing his cheek before her thumb traces his eyebrow. A sense of belonging she's never felt before is filling her to the brim, and emotions she's kept inside for too long are finally spilling over.
"I love you, Harvey," she whispers quietly, not wanting to break the spell of the moment.
A happier grin than she's ever seen on him is lightening up his face, his eyes crinkling with joy and content. "I love you, too," he replies, leaning down to softly kiss her lips.
When he breaks away from her, he smiles gently as he pulls out of her body to roll off of her, not wanting to crush her with his weight any longer. A shiver runs through her due to the hyper-sensitivity that is her body and she moans quietly when their physical connection dissolves.
Harvey halts immediately, looking at her concerned. "You okay? Did I hurt you?"
"You didn't hurt me. I'm just overwhelmed," Donna replies with a sigh, caressing his chest with her hand as he comes to lie right beside her.
"It was pretty intense, yeah," Harvey agrees with a spark in his eyes.
"I'm gonna feel that intensity for the next couple of days, that's for sure," Donna smiles, inching closer into his side.
"Only in good ways, I hope?"
"Only in the best ways," she confirms.
"Good," Harvey breathes, and Donna can feel his grin as he presses his lips against her forehead. "Happy Valentine's Day, Donna."
His words make her pause, as a smile appears on her own face. "I thought you didn't do Valentine's Day?" Donna asks him teasingly instead of returning the sentiment. She twists her head to get a better look at him and the teasing is gone as quickly as it came when she sees the honesty in his eyes.
"Don't you know by now? With you, everything's different."
Donna's heart almost bursts, as they kiss and become what they were always meant to be.
~o~o~
With a freshly pressed orange juice in his hands, Mike walks back to their breakfast table, that is still only occupied by his wife and the red rose petals strewn over it. The hotel had gone all out for Valentine's Day, today even more so than they had over the weekend already. Roses are spread everywhere and over at the buffet, heart shaped muffins and strawberry and whipped cream topped cakes are waiting for the guests of the hotel. Soft, romantic music is playing in the background, setting a serene and peaceful atmosphere all around.
Mike is solely focused on his wife though, his eyebrow raising in question, as he takes in Rachel's expression, who is looking a lot happier and a lot more excited than when he had left her five minutes ago. He can't even remember the last time he'd seen her smile like that; white teeth flashing and eyes crinkling and sparkling with joy.
"What's gotten into you?" Mike asks surprised, putting his glass on the table.
"Donna just texted," Rachel squeals and even without saying any more, Mike instantaneously knows what's gotten into her. "She wrote they'd meet us for lunch since they had an impromptu morning meeting. Morning meeting."
"Please. She did not write 'morning meeting'?!"
"Oh, she did," Rachel replies with a nod, showing Mike her cellphone.
** Hey Rach, Harvey and I have an impromptu morning meeting ;) We'll catch up over lunch? **
"Holy shit," Mike expels, no longer able to contain his excitement either. "They finally did it."
"I told you it would work!" Rachel squeals, as her grin spreads even more.
"Yeah, looks like you won," Mike chuckles in satisfaction and enjoys the joyous expression on Rachel's face.
"I sure did," Rachel gloats, leaning back in her chair.
"I can't believe that they really did it."
"It was about damn time," Rachel reminds him, sighing contently. "Well, my job here is done," she adds, rubbing her hands together. "I'm ready for Seattle now."
"So am I," Mike agrees with his wife, leaning in to place a quick kiss on her lips.
Then a satisfied smile appears on his face.
"What?" Rachel wants to know, eyeing him curiously.
"I guess we'll only have to plan for one guestroom now after all."
"Thank god. Imagine how we'd have to explain to our kids why one of them had to give up their bedrooms every time Auntie Donna and Uncle Harvey came to visit just because they've been too stupid to work out their shit."
They both laugh at that, happy and pleased with how things had turned out in the end.
It would undoubtedly be hard to leave their friends behind starting tomorrow but at least now they no longer had to worry about them being alone and miserable but actually had the reassurance that they would be happy for the rest of their lives.
~ The End ~
A/N: And that's it. I want to take the chance again to thank you all for the wonderful reviews and all the love. And of course for the patience; I hope it paid off in the end :) I'd love to hear your thoughts one last time, if you got another minute to spare :) XOXO
And also thank you again, Aimee and Nanna! You have made this story better and I'm forever grateful for your support and your guidance, that teaches me so much! Love you both XOXO