Strange Attraction

Law & Order: SVU

by RoadrunnerGER

Disclaimer: Don't own them, not one of them. Lucky Dick Wolf. :D

A/N: Thanks for the reviews. :D Yes, I'll keep going. LOL I just read something that made me think about this story and I decided to change a few small things. I think it's better now. Please let me know… ;) Enjoy!

5

Doubts

They stood for several minutes and just looked at each other. Mike was patient. He knew that he had to wait. If he had a chance, then he had just one try. One wrong move and Elliot would shut down, tell him off… or beat him up.

"I'm not gay," Elliot finally said.

"Neither am I," Mike replied.

"So what the hell was that?"

"Hmmm… as far as I know it's called a kiss," Mike chuckled.

Elliot frowned. "I know that… but why did you kiss me?"

"I already told you that I just felt like doing it." Mike strolled to the coffee table to pick up his whiskey. He glanced at Elliot who was still standing in the door, tense, a shade of red on his cheeks and uncomfortably shifting his weight from one foot to the other. Mike smiled at his scotch. He's still trying to process what just happened. I guess I can be glad that he didn't just lash out at me.

Glancing at Elliot once more Mike said, "You're cute when you're embarrassed."

So? Am I? Cute? Elliot was still confused. "I don't get that. If you're not gay, why would you want to kiss me?"

Mike tilted his head to the side and smirked. "And I thought you worked sex crimes…"

"Um…" He's right. Oh my, he has me really confused.

"Well, I prefer women, but the keyword is prefer. Sometimes I like to enjoy men… if I get the opportunity. Hmm… I guess people would describe me as bisexual with a preference for women." And I guess, too, that there goes my chance. Dammit! "I have the pants there," he gestured at the chair he had thrown them over.

Elliot glanced at them but did not move. Suddenly he was acutely aware of the fact that he was just in his briefs and shirt and blushed dark crimson.

Even as Mike deliberately looked away from him, he felt the tension build between them. Mike could not stand it for long, so his gaze drifted back to rest on Elliot who noticed it at once this time. Frowning he returned the stare. Now he could see that a small smile touched Mike's lips.

He seems to enjoy what he's seeing, Elliot thought. I can read the signs… why didn't I notice it earlier? Surprised but with terrifying clarity he noticed that, now that he paid attention to Mike's features to read him, he also recognized appealing aspects. Such as his green eyes that still are looking me over, trying to decide how to hit on me…

A shudder washed over him. Rage fought against confusion, revulsion against attraction.

Attraction?!

Elliot swallowed when this thought crossed his mind.

But he did not try to take advantage of the situation. He showed his interest and backed off. Elliot swallowed. He showed his interest. He is interested in me! Sexually! A chill ran down his back.

"Before you ask… the pizza mess was an accident. I did not deliberately drop it to get you out of your clothes." Mike chuckled. "Even though I have to admit that it has its merits."

Watching Elliot while he tried to figure out what was going on with him was exciting… and even without the perplexed look, just the sight of him was breathtaking. Those muscles. How I wish I could touch them

The way Mike raised his eyebrow over his smirk struck a chord in Elliot, who shivered as he felt the sudden flash of attraction. What the hell!?

Once more he stared at the pants, but he could not make the two steps he would need to reach them. Instead he was captivated by the stunning green eyes of his fellow detective.

"Why me?" he croaked.

Mike laughed long and loud, leaving Elliot embarrassed. When Mike finally was able to speak again, he just said, "You really have no idea just how gorgeous you are, do you?"

Elliot did not think he could turn any redder, but he certainly felt the heat as even more blood rushed into his cheeks, and he had to turn away.

"You're gorgeous… and really cute when you're embarrassed." Mike sounded completely honest and innocent. Sipping at his scotch again, he glanced over the rim of the glass at Elliot, who still had not moved… and did not appear as if he was about to move any time soon.

"You okay?" Mike asked.

Elliot shrugged. He did not know if he was okay. Right now he did not know anything, least of all what he should do now. While his mind told him to grab the pants and get the hell out of here, his body was reacting quite differently to Mike's signals.

"I bet you've broken several hearts, male and female, over the years."

When Elliot still could not make eye contact several minutes after the blush had faded, Mike wondered aloud, "What the hell happened to you to make you think so little of yourself?"

Now Elliot looked up and pierced him with a sapphire glare. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

Mike silently cursed his careless tongue. He had only wanted to have fun, not initiate a deep psychological probe that left Elliot feeling vulnerable and exposed. The guy had already taken a hell of a big risk tonight just by letting himself be kissed… even if that had happened by surprise. Still, the question begged an answer, so he tried to keep his tone gentle as he replied.

"That swagger, the way you carry yourself, the confidence you show, it makes people admire you, trust you, and want to be close to you. And by people, I mean women and men, platonically and, well, not so platonically, obviously." He took a deep breath. Please let me do this right… "For you to be so… oblivious to that, I can only imagine that somewhere along the line, someone whose opinion mattered to you made you feel worthless."

"Look, Mike…" Elliot began hesitantly, but Mike cut him off.

"Hey, relax. It's none of my business." Mike kept an eye on him. He wanted to say more but was not sure how his colleague would take it right now. Well, what's the worst that can happen? I suppose he could explode at me. I'll be lucky if he talks with me at all the next time we meet, so I can just say it, can't I? He took another deep breath and went on, "I've probably said too much already, but I think you should know, you're entitled to have a higher opinion of yourself than what you seem to. Besides being ravishingly sexy, you're a pretty good cop, and a really nice guy."

Somewhere deep inside of Elliot these words touched a nerve. Instinctively Mike had addressed his worst memories and fears. He had not gotten many compliments when he was younger, at least not from anyone who mattered, and the few times that he did, if he managed to feel too proud of himself, he was cruelly cut down again. So he had learned to be very self-controlled and contained, but the older he got, the harder it was to keep everything in. Whenever he allowed his emotions to rule his actions he started to worry that someone would shame him… and being scared made him angry.

I must have been scared a lot over the past couple of years to have developed such a reputation as a hot head, he suddenly realized.

Still he frowned at Mike, unsure of what to think, what to do. He knew, now at the latest, he should just grab his stuff and leave, but something held him back.

"Y… you think I'm sexy?" The words were out before he even realized that he was speaking.

Mike could not hide his smirk. Elliot's incredulity just made him even more inviting… and challenging. So far he had been interested, now he felt an aching determination. "Yeeeaah, I do."

Elliot blushed again, adorably, and Mike took a perverse delight in being able to make him turn red so easily. It was much more attractive than some of the arrogant jerks he knew who expected people to admire them and that only encouraged him further.

Mike watched him and wondered if he might get a second chance. Insecurity and hesitation were still written in Elliot's features.

If I don't take the initiative, nobody will…

So Mike slowly put down his drink on the coffee table. Equally slowly he approached Elliot.

What?! Elliot was frozen in place. He heard his own blood rush in his ears but could not move. Do I want to move? That's wrong! But still… why do I feel so attracted? He's male, for God's sake! Is it what he said? What he's doing? He saw him bridge the distance between them and glanced at the pants. Then his gaze was directed on Mike again. He was barely one foot away now.

When Elliot did not flinch back from him, Mike raised his right arm to reach out for him, but he did not touch him right away. Elliot had lowered his gaze and Mike was not certain what to do now. So he held his hand about an inch away from Elliot's neck. How he yearned to caress him! Elliot stood, breathing hard, his lips slightly parted. How I yearn to kiss them, Mike thought. But I should not risk it right now. So he just held his position, studying Elliot's features.

"Don't pass out on me," he gently teased.

That made Elliot look up. Mike was not that wrong with his remark. Actually he felt a bit dizzy when Mike now laid his hand on his neck, gently caressing it. He gasped.

Mike did not hold the contact for long. He just wanted to tease Elliot a bit. Then he took his fellow detective's right wrist and raised the arm… to lay the palm on his own chest.

Still Elliot could not move, even if he would have wanted to. Through the shirt he felt Mike's strong chest rise and fall… and the hard nipple tickled his palm, sending strange sensations through his entire body.