A/N: second, longer draft of this chapter. Currently working on third.
He throws the door open. Surprise. She stands there, eyes burning, lips wet and apart. He makes a split-second decision.
"In or out, Harlee? In or out? But I should warn you-you cross that threshold, there is no telling what may happen tonight".
She just stands there, frozen.
"Ok, let me help you make up your mind". He pulls her in through the doorway and she has to put her hands out to stop herself from falling right into him. There is a breathless jolt of wanting when their lower bodies collide. And high between her thighs, begins to beat an ache so strong she could double over. He is not far behind-he would take her right then and there, hard, against the silk-covered wall, if he hadn't learned any patience over the last few months. But he did. So he asks the pink elephant question:
"Why are you here? The last time wasn't enough?"
"You are an ass", she tries to pull away but he will be damned if he lets her go tonight.
"I am sorry. Thank you for coming to see me."
"You should thank your wife".
His eyebrows shoot up. Harlee 1, FBI zero.
"What? You are joking, right?"
"No, not at all. She gave me a full run-down, too".
"Yes, she is a good storyteller".
"No doubt".
"So-your new precious intel-does it make everything honkey-dorey between us?"
"Afraid not".
"Not even a tiniest little bit?" He holds his thumb and forefinger together to indicate a speck of dust.
"Yeah, maybe exactly that much."
And now he is crumbling bit by bit in front of her and she...fuck, she is tough. He releases her, walks to the couch and sinks into it, elbows on knees, legs apart. He looks thoughtful.
"You know, Harlee, it doesn't have to be so hard. It's just you and me now. The jobs, deals, lies, it's all done, all of it. I'm not saying forget about it, just move past. Are you willing to give that to me? For one night?"
"The past, it's hard to let go".
"For one night? It's not" and he stretches a hand towards her. She doesn't move.
"Are you afraid?"
"You know that provokes me" and, of course, she steps closer and offers her hand.
"That's why I said it", he pulls her in, gently, the rest of the way. His fingers land at the dip of her collarbone and travel all the way down her front. She is waiting.
"It's a beautiful dress but... it's too tight."
He bends down to where the silk is still wet from the mud. His palm dips underneath it and glides upward until it can't anymore. He looks at her for permission and her quickening breath grants it. That's when his other hand lands on her thigh and she hears a miserable cry of ripping fabric. She looks down and now her dress is not only low-cut, it has acquired a slit, mile-high.
Still looking up, he slides his hands through it to circle her thighs and suddenly she is kneeling above him, legs apart, gasping as she tries to stop her descent with her arms.
"Any better now?" he asks.
She answers him by bringing his hands onto her shoulders and pushing down, down until she comes to rest on his lap. Oh, God...It feels so good, so hot, that she wants to lean her forehead into him and let everything go, just for one night. But can she? Except...
"Much", she unguardedly sighes. Fuuuuuck, that was fast.
He lets one hand rest on her bare thigh and gently flicks her nose with the other.
"You are my catnip, did you know that?"
"That's a nice way of putting it, Stahl. Cats usually don't lose their jobs while eating it."
"Well, if I use any terms that are stronger you may turn around and run. And that's not what I want tonight."
"And what do you want, Robert?"
"That's a dangerous question." He gives her his trademark smile.
"You are talking to a cop."
"Who is also a woman. A woman I ..."
"A woman who wants to know why the hell she came all the way here."
"I thought it was for my pretty eyes."
"You are an idiot."
"But a happy one", and he totally grins like an imbecile.
Then he leans back and finds her eyes.
"Harlee, all jokes aside, I wish there was something good between us". He looks down, "well, besides that". She tries to keep herself from smiling but can't help it and wiggles her butt. The movement makes her sink into him deeper and she starts to feel so many good things all at once.
"Ok, I will try to keep the witty banter aside so please listen. I know I fucked up, a lot" he continues, "I tried to control the wrong things so much that I forgot about my life and almost ruined yours. I am so sorry, Harlee". There is clarity in his eyes. "I should have stopped but it all felt like I lost my mind. The job-it was almost impossible in the first place but having you there made it that much harder. I lied to you when I said you were just an "asset". I began to want you more and more each time I saw you and it drove me nuts that you wouldn't have me. It drove me nuts when you slept with someone else. You, with that fucking phone, do you know what it felt like? Like being stabbed with a blunt knife, over and over again. Sometimes, I was so angry at you that I wanted to fuck you into the ground but I never, ever, would have done it against your will. I am so sorry for insisting that you accept me. Right now I just wish you could forgive me". And then it's like he wakes up: "No, never mind what I want. What about you, Harlee?"
"What about me?"
"What do you want?"
Her turn to confess, isn't it? She knows what she wants but it's hard to admit all at once. So she starts at the beginning.
"Fuck me".
It's like gasoline to his fire, so direct a command.
"Harlee..."
She looks him square in the eye and repeats,
"Robert, just fuck me". And he ignites.