How Many Times

Chapter Six

Olivia felt the sun shining across her face and she reached across the bed to find it empty, she laid there another minute taking in the scent of the sheets that was a mixture of Noah's baby shampoo and Rafael's cologne. She could hear whispered voices from the next room. Well, Rafael's was whispering and Noah's was attempting his best almost two year old whisper.

"O's Rafi, mas O's" She heard her son saying as she stopped for a minute to listen to them.

"Mas, O's por favor" She heard Rafael add gently

"Mas O's por favor" Noah repeated holding his bowl out.

"Si, Noah, buen trabajo (good job)" Rafael told him as he poured more Cheerios into his bowl.

"Spanish lessons with breakfast?" She asked with a smile.

"Mamma!" Noah said happily jumping up and running to her.

She scooped him up and kissed him, "Good morning, My Love, did Rafi get you O's?"

"Si!" He answered and wiggled to get back to his breakfast.

"Thank you for getting up with him." She said smiling at Rafael.

"I can see that he and I are both early birds." Rafael laughed. "There's coffee" He said motioning carafe on the table in front of him.

"I should probably put some clothes on." She said suddenly remembering she was standing before him in nothing but her t-shirt and panties.

"Or you could just come sit and have coffee with me." Rafael replied not attempting to hide his admiration for how she was currently dressed.

Olivia hesitated for a minute, it was one thing to be in a dimly lit room with him at night, but here in the early morning sunlight he could see so much more of her, parts he hadn't seen, parts sense Lewis she kept covered. She looked back at him and the soft smile across his lips and the desire in his eyes.

"Olivia, it's ok, come sit with me." He said gently as if he was reading her thoughts.

She walked across the room to him and took the coffee he offered her. He leaned back against the arm of the couch gently puling her back against himself. They sat there watching Noah drinking their coffee with Rafael running his fingers through her hair.

"Is this all right? Is it bothering you?" He asked her softly remembering that night he had helped her cut her hair.

She learned up and kissed him, "No, it feels good."

They spent the morning on the beach with Noah and after lunch Rafael talked Olivia into letting the family's nanny keep an eye on Noah while he napped so they could go sailing. The afternoon on the boat was a perfect as the one that both remembered from six years earlier.

"How old do you think Noah has to be before I can teach him to sail?" Rafael asked as they were docking the boat.

Olivia laughed, "We should probably teach him how to swim first."

Rafael came around to help her down from the dock dropping his arms around her waist and pulling her closer than he had allowed himself all day and smiled at her, "You said we."

Olivia became flustered and began to stammer, "I just meant…" but she was silenced by his lips on hers. It wasn't one of the soft flirty kisses they had over the weekend, and it wasn't the emotionally charged kiss they had shared in her apartments after their fight a few months ago. No this kiss has the depth and desire of a man that had been waiting for something for longer than anyone would have expected. Olivia let out a soft moan when he slowly released her from it.

"We, us, together, I like those words Olivia, especially when used in reference to events happening in the future. I love you Olivia and I want a future together with you and Noah. " He told her before kissing her again.

"What do you want Olivia?" He asked her his heart racing unsure of her answer.

She looked down at the sand between her toes and back up at his face that showed so much love, she placed a hand on his chest, "I want just a little more time." She whispered.

"Olivia…" He said fear forming inside of him about what might come next.

She kissed him softly, "Don't worry Rafael, I'm not going to run." She assured him before returning to her room.

Olivia returned to her room where Noah was playing with the Nanny.

"Mamma, where Rafi?" He asked looking past her.

"We'll see him soon." She said picking him up and giving him a kiss.

Olivia paced the room for a while trying to sort through her thoughts but all of her thoughts were of Rafael. She could see his smile, feel the ever present touch of his hand on her back, she remembered the way he had stood by her through the worst days of her life, then she remembered him playing with Noah and the way he looked at her this morning. She took a breath picked up her phone and sent him a text.

Bottom of the stairs one hour

An hour later Rafael was waiting nervously at the bottom of the steps, still unsure of what she was thinking or feeling. When she appeared on the steps though he was completely blown away by sight of her in that same red sundress and the sandals he had held onto for all of those years. It was as if the six years hadn't passed only this time she was carrying her son, which made her even more beautiful.

"I'm not the same woman I was the last time I wore this dress." She told him when she reached the bottom of the stairs, "That woman had nothing to lose because she was too scared to try anything. Today I have so much, but I am more scared of what I might miss out on if I don't try. I love you Rafael, I have for six years no matter how many times I have fought against it, it's is always there. We, us, together, the future, that's what I want the most." He pulled her into a kiss until her heard Noah begin to giggle.

"Raffil kiss Mamma" the boy said.

Rafael took Noah into his arms, "That's right Amigo, Rafi plans to kiss Mamma a lot."

They were sitting at the table at dinner with Rafael's hand drawing circles on Olivia's leg under the table

when Noah began to get fussy.

"I'm not sure he's going to make it to the fireworks," Olivia said.

Rafael leaned over with a smile, "How about we go put him to bed and watch the fireworks from my room ?" Olivia smiled and took his hand as they gathered Noah and left for their suite, Rafael stopping by the bar once again for a bottle of wine.

Noah's day of fun on the beach had him worn out and Olivia had him asleep in his pack and play in a matter of minutes. She took a breath before walking back into Rafael's room where she found him out on the balcony, she slid up behind and wrapped her arms around him.

"Hi, Little Man asleep?" He asked as turned to face immediately drawing her in for a long kiss.

"Yes, he passed out." She said as she walked to the railing and looked out into the dark and listened to the waves below. Rafael wrapped his arms around her, scooted her hair from her shoulder and began trailing kisses from her bare shoulder up her neck. He felt her stiffen a little and stopped.

"What's wrong?" He asked softly.

"Nothing" She said turning around wrapping her arms around her neck and kissing him, but Rafael knew better. He slowly pulled back and took her arms from around his neck holding her hands in his.

"Olivia, what's wrong?" He asked again.

Olivia dropped her head not wanting to look at him, "It's just there hasn't been a lot of this since…" her voice trailed off.

Rafael titled her head up slowly so he could see her eyes, "Since Lewis?" he asked sighing when she nodded.

"Other than Brian there hasn't been anyone, and well this or the lack of this probably part of what came between us. I always did my best to forget everything but sometimes I couldn't" She confessed.

"Olivia, I love you and nothing has to happen yet, I'm not rushing you." He told her kissing her hand.

Olivia shook her head and kissed his hand in return, "Rafael, I love you and I trust you completely, I have learned I will never forget what Lewis put me through, but I am not letting him take anything else from me. I want you to make love you to make love to me, tonight."

Rafael's eyes shimmered as he looked at her, "Promise me you won't try and hide it from me, you never have hide what you are feeling from me. I want all of you the strong and brave parts and the scared and sad parts, I want it all."

"I promise." She said before sliding her arms back around his neck and kissing him. Rafael pulled back and wrapped an arm behind her legs and the other around her shoulders, picking her up and carrying her back into the bedroom.

"We're going to miss the fireworks." She said with a giggle.

"No, we're not." He assured her with a fiery kiss as he managed to untie the strap of her dress letting it fall to the floor as he settled her on the bed. He took his time exploring every inch of her body with his hands, with his mouth, making up for the years of waiting, until he heard her whimper his name.

"Rafael, now please." Her voice strained with desire. He moved back up her slowly bringing them together until they lay breathless in each other's arms.

TBC