A/N: Most of us know what a beautiful voice Raul Esparza has. Hearing him sing Defying Gravity literally gives me goose bumps every time. I have always wanted to hear him sing as Barba. So here goes. Lucky Annie.
Disclaimer: I do not own Law and Order: SVU or any of its characters. I do not own any of the songs mentioned herein either.
Sing!
The book was a much-needed relief from the one she was supposed to be editing. Annie read books on psychology mostly when she had had 2-3 bad manuscripts in a row. There was a time when she only edited non-fiction in psychology. But romance was where her heart lay. No matter how many terrible manuscripts she received, nothing had ever been able to shake her faith in a good love story.
"I'm so sorry. A warrant..."
Raf was kissing her before she could see him or register his presence. Annie kissed him back and closed the book.
"It's all right. I haven't been here long"
Half an hour of delay was nothing when meeting ADA Barba for a date. He unbuttoned his coat before being seated. Annie said,
"I told them to bring in a scotch when they saw an overworked, sexily suited man joining me. It should be here any... there it is. Thank you, Sheba"
"Thank you"
Once the waitress was out of earshot, Annie leaned forward and shared the tidbit she had been holding on to.
"Her name is actually Bathsheba. Like Bathsheba Everdeen! Far From The Madding Crowd - you read that one? What?"
Rafael exhaled a breath, smiling and staring still.
"Your glasses. You look... captivating"
Annie avoided blushing by saying,
"You give me more compliments on my looks than I've received in total from the whole world. Maybe you need glasses"
"Why are you so uncomfortable with compliments?"
"I'm just hungry. I ordered a deep dish something. Prep takes 20 minutes. What do you want?"
Rafael examined the menu line by line. He always did that at a new restaurant. Giving in, the menu was laid down.
"You order for me. I'm not a fan of Italian food"
"Foodies could shoot you for saying that. I could, on a hung-over morning, elitario"
"It's not my thing"
Annie shook her head, read the menu. Rafael was exceptionally difficult to please. So her task was more bothersome than it would seem.
"How about some tortellini? No potatoes. Your tummy still hurting after meals?"
"No. You remembered that?"
"Of course, I did. I like to fuss about your health"
His hand sought hers. Annie smiled, eyes still on the menu. It was no small feat to have made Rafael Barba physically comfortable around her. They still had sex with his socks on but, baby steps.
"Order anything, just do it quick. I want to talk to you about something"
"Fine"
She called Sheba over to their table and placed the order. Rafael was impetuously playing with her fingers and nails.
"Got a manicure yesterday"
He kissed her hand and held it under his chin, still kissing it. Annie grinned.
"Oh boy. This one's going to be a biggie"
"It's not a biggie. I was just hoping you would meet my Mom this weekend"
She did a double take. She would have extricated her hand from his hold too, but that would have seemed cruel.
"You want me to meet your mother?"
"Yeah. I mentioned you in the passing and she is kind of excited to meet the woman who has made her son so happy"
"What did you tell her about me?"
He promised,
"Nothing serious. Just that I had met someone I liked"
"Raf", she tried, "Don't you think it's too soon for me to meet her?"
"It's not like that. She just wants to make your acquaintance"
"I'd love to meet her too but... I'll need some time. I've never met a boyfriend's mother before"
"Yes. I totally understand. But you have no reasons to be afraid. My mother is a gentle and loving woman"
"I'm sure she is but I have to - I don't know - prepare myself. What if I blurt out something inappropriate?"
"Well, anyone who is going to be around you has to get used to that. The sooner, the better, I say"
His grin did not cease despite of her obvious glare. Sheba came through with their food, and soon the conversation steered into a different direction.
The fork clanged against the plate as Annie stabbed the puffed pastry. Rafael was as quiet and meticulous as ever.
"Since you already told your Ma that I'm meeting her this weekend, without checking with me first, asshole that you are..."
He only nodded with a smile and a mouthful of food.
"...I demand some sort of sexual favor from you. I am excited to meet your mother but you kind of ambushed me. So get ready to do my bidding, Barba"
"What do you have in mind?"
Annie chewed food while looking at the ceiling, engrossed in thought. Her reply brought some disappointment to him.
"Maybe it doesn't have to be sexual. Maybe it could be something you don't like doing"
"There's the Annie I know", he quipped.
Her voice rose, evidently with excitement.
"You could sing for me!"
"No way"
The harsh response did not undermine Annie's fresh resolve by an inch. She employed flattery.
"You obviously have a great singing voice"
"No, I don't"
"I shit you not. I mean, I wouldn't mind if we were in the middle of sex and you started singing instead of telling me how good I was making you feel, and how grateful you are that I have sex with you"
"I don't recall ever having said that"
"I'm just thinking aloud"
Rafael wiped at his mouth with the napkin,
"There will be no singing on my part"
"I suppose I can tell your mother that her son only does me doggy style"
"That's a lie and there's no way you would say that to her"
Annie finished her last morsel of food.
"I would. Nothing's beneath me"
"You don't have to blackmail me with a useless threat. I'll sing you a damn song. Which one do you want?"
Sheba came over to clear the plates. Annie dismissed her by asking for the dessert menu.
"The choice of the song is up to you, Rafael. Surprise me"
"Come on", he laughed.
"How tough can it be? I mean, even something in Spanish, will do. I think I know a bolero"
"No, you don't"
Annie began to sing,
"Amor, si me llamas amor..."
She was butchering the lyrics when he interrupted her with a laugh.
"That's the mariachi serenade from that Keanu Reeves movie!"
"At least, I'm not afraid to sing to you!"
As it is with people who are happy, Rafael and Annie's voices rose. Most of the guests had left anyway. Not that these two, so lost in each other, would have noticed it.
Few Days Later -
It had been just another day at work. Annie's coworkers had been their annoying selves. Especially Clark with his promotion. She had blasted ABBA in her car all the way home. The tune was still on her lips when she opened the door to her apartment. Turning the lights on, Annie found her boyfriend standing in the drawing room.
"Rafael?"
He looked dashing in a black shirt and dark blue jeans, no coat, no suspenders. Surprise was soon overwhelmed by seething attraction.
"Hubba-hubba!"
Annie shamelessly started pulling off her clothes. Rafael had to put a halt to the stripping. His laughter rang through her apartment.
"Hey, hey! Will you take a minute?"
"Have you looked into the mirror? No!"
"Annie", he took her into his arms, "I am flattered. But I was planning on singing to you first"
She smiled, stunned.
"Really?"
He nodded. Annie traced his hairline with her fingers, inhaled his cologne. She bit her lip and let go of a deep breath.
"You look good", she whispered.
"Yeah?"
Rafael looked younger and... relaxed. Annie wouldn't stop touching him.
"Shall I sing to you or are you just going to feel me up? Annie?"
"I'm thinking"
He grinned,
"You're insatiable"
Kissing her, passing his hands down to her hips, Rafael slowly started to move her in a rhythm. His kisses strayed to her face. He kissed her ear and sang.
"Strangers in the night..."
Annie smiled up at him. What a treasure he was. He was taking her back to the time they had first met.
"Something in your eyes was so inviting. Something in your smile was so exciting. Something in my heart told me I must have you"
His smile, his voice - he was serenading her.
"Strangers in the night. Two lonely people, we were strangers in the night..."
Annie lowered her head on his shoulder, closed her eyes and swayed with him. Rafael's voice was low and sweet.
"...it turned out so right for strangers in the night"
P.S. The song is Frank Sinatra's Strangers in the Night. Thank you for reading!