A/N: Having just surpassed 200,000 words I have to say how grateful I am to still be here, telling this story. I am so thankful to all of you who are still reading, to those who are new, and to those who leave me such lovely feedback (both here and on my other stories, too). It really does mean the world to me.
I can't say when I'll next update (this exam I'm taking is fast approaching), and I know there are some important scenes to come. But for now, I hope you enjoy what I've imagined for our favorite couple. I still love them as much as I ever did. I hope this ship never sails.
Chapter 30 - What Are They Saying?
The morning after the Rockefeller event, Fitz wakes suddenly, his mind and body immediately alert. It takes him a couple of seconds to figure out why: last night. Going public. The media.
His heart is racing as he sits up, switches on the lamp, grabs his phone from the nightstand. Olivia is still asleep beside him, perfect and carefree. God, he hopes more than anything that the world will be kind to her. She deserves nothing less.
He has several texts from Harrison, all sent within the last hour between seven and eight AM. Each message contains a link to a blog post, a news article. The final one reads: 'All positive, including comments. You both aced it, man. I haven't sent these to Liv but you can show her. See you soon.'
The relief that washes over him is so, so sweet. He hadn't realized it was worrying him so much. He opens the first article, on a tabloid news site. The headline reads: Olivia Pope Steps Out With Handsome New Man. Below is a professional photograph of them both with their group on the red carpet, followed by several more amateur images of them inside the event: standing together, smiling during an intimate conversation; sitting at their table, Olivia leaning against his shoulder as John Legend played; in a different group after dinner, his arm around her, looking unmistakably like a couple.
The author hasn't identified him but the second article - on Perez Hilton - has, showing a photo of him and Henry at the Unicef gala back in October, commenting on the fact that Olivia was at the event too. They've also dug up the picture of the two of them together on her birthday, when he had his arm around Huck's wife's shoulders. They've followed it with a short bio of him:
'Dr Grant has a PhD in Political Science from Columbia and runs an international organization supporting businesses and young entrepreneurs from disadvantaged countries. He is the son of former Republican Senator Fitzgerald Thomas Grant II and has been married to Melody Grant, a corporate lawyer, for ten years. A statement produced by Miss Pope's management team this morning states that Dr Grant and his wife have been separated for 'several months' now and are in the process of divorcing. It also notes that the new couple have long run in the same circles and, since the start of their relationship earlier this year, are very happy together. Despite their thirteen-year age gap, which might be concerning to some, it's not hard to see why these two beautiful people are attracted to one another. We wish them all the best for the future!'
Fitz can't stop grinning. It's the weirdest feeling to have something like this written about him. It makes his life seem so extraordinary, when really he's just a guy who fell in love with a girl; a guy who wants nothing more than to simply come home to her every night, to nurture their family.
He quickly forwards the Perez Hilton link to Henry and Mark before putting his phone aside and snuggling back down into bed, wrapping Olivia up in his arms. She stirs as he kisses her forehead.
"Morning," she mumbles, turning into him, slipping her leg between his so she can get even closer. He can feel her baby bump against his abdomen, her whole body radiating heat beneath the thick bedcovers. This is, without doubt, his most favorite place in the world.
"Morning beautiful. Guess what?"
"Mm?"
She's still half-asleep; still oblivious to the momentous news awaiting her.
"We're public - and so far, it's all positive."
"What? Oh my god!" Suddenly she's sitting up, reaching for her phone. "What are they saying? Who's reporting it?"
Fitz tells her what he's read; shows her the links Harrison sent. She spends the next few minutes scrolling through them herself, a smile starting to curve her lips. When she's finished, she looks at him and she's beaming.
"I'm so relieved. Ahh, this is amazing!"
Their smiles become laughter, releasing all tension. Olivia squeezes his hand in hers; leans over to kiss him.
"At last, everyone knows you're my boyfriend."
"And everyone knows how fucking lucky I am."
She thinks he's joking, giggling and kissing him some more, but he isn't. He's never been more serious.
He moves her onto his lap, lifting her silk pajama shirt. "Happy fifteen weeks," he says tenderly. "Today you're the size of an apple, little one."
Olivia sighs, running her palm over her belly. "You're growing so fast," she tells their child, her voice gentle and full of wonder. "I wish I could feel you wriggling your little arms and legs in there."
It's the same voice Fitz imagines she'll use when the baby arrives: when she's holding and nurturing her first-born; when she's watching them sleep in her arms and whispering over and over just how much they've changed her world. It's an image he thinks of often; one which brings a lump to his throat, which he can't wait to finally witness for real.
"We need to take my picture again today," she continues, and he smiles. This Sunday morning tradition has quickly become one of the things he looks forward to most.
"Shall we do it now, before we go out?"
"Okay. Just give me a minute to use the bathroom."
Fitz gets out of bed too, going to turn up the heating so she's not too cold. When he returns she's standing in plain black underwear against the white wall and he can see, even without looking at photos from last week, that her whole body has changed over the past seven days. Olivia knows it too; he can tell by the excitement in her eyes.
He takes several shots with his phone, marveling at how stunning his girl is this morning. "Baby," he says, beckoning her over to sit on his knee, showing her the images. "You're glowing. Look at you."
She compares herself to the previous week, noting the differences in the shape and size of her tummy, in the growth of her boobs and the curve of her spine. "I already feel big," she muses, holding his hand beneath hers on her abdomen. "I can't imagine a time when we'll look back at these pictures and say how tiny I was."
"Mm." Overcome with love for this incredible woman, Fitz kisses her neck, sliding his palms up to her chest and squeezing her breasts. "These aren't tiny."
She laughs, tilting her head away, granting his lips better access. "Fitz."
"What?" He's found the spot just beneath her ear which always leaves her speechless. "I love your boobs, Livvie."
He feels her shiver. "I always thought you were an ass man," she remarks, and it ends in a gasp when he pinches her nipples through her bra. His left hand drifts down again, over the soft swell of her belly.
"When it comes to you, sweet baby…"
She lets out the most divine moan when he touches her through her cotton panties, his fingertips drawing feather-light circles on her clit, and he realizes - as all the blood in his body rushes straight to his groin - that she's not the only one with insatiable hormones these days.
"…I'm an everything man."
An hour later, still high and giggly after their morning playtime together, Olivia and Fitz leave her apartment for a pre-planned 'photo opportunity'. They're going to wander around the neighborhood and Harrison has arranged a photographer to capture 'candid' images of them, which he'll then leak to the media as an anonymous member of the public.
Outside on the street it's freezing cold, their breath rising in clouds in front of their faces - but Olivia doesn't care. Bundled up in a black Max Mara wool coat, with thick winter leggings and a pair of metallic gray Saint Laurent ankle boots she's been dying to wear for weeks, she strolls around the Upper East Side with her arm linked through her boyfriend's and feels like she's on top of the world. They haven't been able to do this since London, and with everything that's happened since then, those days seem so distant - like a different life altogether.
They stop to buy takeaway coffee from the window of a trendy café and try to act as natural as possible while they wait, knowing this is the place where the photographer is lurking.
"You seem nervous," Fitz comments, gripping her hand in his.
She shakes her head, a smile on her face. "I'm not. I just really want to see these pictures later, to see what we look like together right now."
"Well, I'm pretty sure I look amazing. And you…" He lets his gaze roam over her and then shrugs, his expression perfectly nonchalant. "You're alright, I guess."
Her outraged laugh makes him smirk, and he stops her from trying to take a swipe at his chest by pulling her into a hug. "You know I'm joking," he murmurs, holding her tight in his arms, swaying their bodies together. He kisses her temple, just below the brim of her woolly hat, and then releases her enough so she can look up at him. Cameras or not, her besotted smile is one hundred percent real.
"I love you," she says quietly, uncaring about the people around.
"I love you too, gorgeous girl."
His smile is radiant. Joy fizzes in her veins; bursts to life inside her ribcage, making her heart beat wildly. She kisses him without thinking, sweetly and for a long time, until the world has disappeared and there's no café, no photographer; nothing beyond the two of them, wrapped up in love and their biggest, best secret.
They only break apart when she hears a voice saying pointedly: "Two flat whites for… Fitz."
This is a different barista from the one who took their order and she's staring at them both, her mouth open. Olivia realizes that they've been recognized; that this young woman has already been on social media this morning, and is well aware that what she's witnessing right now is essentially breaking news.
Feeling heat flood her cheeks, Olivia smiles guiltily, embarrassed at being caught making out - and receives a huge grin in reply.
"You're Olivia Pope, right?"
She nods. "I am."
"Awesome," the girl says excitedly, looking back and forth between her and Fitz. "I hope you both enjoy the coffees. Merry Christmas!"
"Thank you," Fitz smiles, taking their drinks. "Merry Christmas to you too."
He steers Olivia away down the sidewalk, passing one cup to her before wrapping his free arm around her waist. "You are so cute when you blush," he says fondly, squeezing her against him.
"I thought I was cute all the time?" She says it with a pout, gazing up into his blue eyes which are bright and full of adoration.
"Even more so when you do that." He kisses her quickly, barely interrupting his stride. She wants him to continue but her phone goes off, signaling a message. It's from Harrison.
We got it. Photos look great. I'm emailing them now, let me know which ones you'd like me to put out. Ps. I'm so pleased for you Liv. I've never seen you so happy. Keep it up, girl.
She shows it to Fitz.
"Hmm," he says thoughtfully. "Why are you so happy?"
She laughs loudly, gleefully, tilting her head back, closing her eyes. How many answers could she give? A thousand, easily. Maybe more. But he doesn't need to hear them.
He already knows the reason is him.
Later that day she's hanging out with Abby on her sofa while Fitz has driven over to Henry's to pick up the last of his belongings. Obviously her best friend has been following the story religiously since it broke overnight, and is up to date with all the latest articles. She even finds the photos taken that morning within minutes of them being shared on Instagram.
"God, you two are ridiculously hot together," she sighs, scrolling through pictures of them standing outside the café window, Fitz hugging her, them kissing, talking to the barista. They're not the best quality images, as if taken from a distance with a camera phone, and it really makes them seem authentic and not at all staged.
"Wow," Abby continues, now reading some of the comments below. "So many people are seriously crushing on Fitz. 'Who is this hunk?' Something in Spanish. Something in… Dutch, I think? 'She's so fucking lucky.' 'When they break up, I'm next in line!' Ha. As if that's ever gonna happen, sweetheart."
Olivia grins, thankful for her friend's fierce and unwavering support. She's been avoiding the public's reaction on both Fitz and Harrison's advice, because they know her, and they know she'd take the faintest criticism to heart. Even though she keeps telling herself, and them, that she doesn't care what anyone says about her, she does. And she won't let anything burst her ecstatic little bubble today.
"Do you want another cup of tea?" she asks Abby now, trying to steer her away from Instagram in case she comes across any unsavory comments. It's much easier to pretend they just don't exist. "Anything to eat?"
"No, I'm good thanks." She puts her phone down. "Hey, have you had any weird cravings yet?"
"Not that I've noticed. I like coffee again, which is good. Still not particularly keen on red meat. The thought of a rare steak makes me nauseous."
"You used to eat it blue-"
Olivia makes a face. "Can we not?"
"Sorry. Have you felt the baby moving yet?"
"No, no yet. It's too early. But he or she is growing fast though." She lifts her sweater, showing Abby her bump. "She's the size of an apple today."
"Oh my god." Her friend looks stunned. "An apple. That's quite big."
"I know. Next week she'll be an avocado, then a turnip, then… a bell pepper, I think. I can't remember what comes after that. Eventually, at forty weeks, apparently she'll be the size of a small pumpkin."
"Which you have to pass through your vagina."
Olivia grimaces and holds up her hand, stopping Abby from continuing. "I'm not even contemplating that right now. It seems like way too far in the future."
Abby laughs. "Ignorance is bliss right? Well, fair enough. If I ever have kids, I wanna be knocked out for the whole birth part. Wake me up when it's over."
"I don't think they do that."
"They will. My rich husband will pay them to. By the way, you keep saying 'she'. Did you find out the gender?"
Olivia shakes her head. "No. Some days I think she's a 'she', some days a 'he'. I don't like saying 'it'. They offered me a test to find out, when I had my other bloods taken, but I'm not sure if I want to know."
"What does Fitz think?"
"You know him," she says softly. "He just says he'll do whatever I want to do."
Abby rolls her eyes affectionately. "Of course he does. How did you get him to be so smitten with you?"
"I have no idea. Although being pregnant with his baby has a lot to do with it, I think. You literally can't put a foot wrong when you're carrying a man's child."
"He worshipped you long before you found out you were pregnant."
Olivia smiles and shrugs her shoulders. "In that case, I don't have an answer for you. Just… keep looking, until you find a guy who will worship you."
Just at that moment, she hears the front door open - and then a second later, into the living room walks none other than Henry. She raises her eyebrows at Abby, who turns bright red, making her laugh.
"Hey Liv. Abby." Henry looks between them, frowning. He's carrying a cardboard box in his arms. "What's going on? Are we interrupting something?"
"No, nothing. Don't worry."
Fitz appears beside him, also holding a box of his things. He puts it down on the coffee table and bends over to kiss Olivia hello, oblivious to the tension in the room. "Hi beautiful. How are you?"
"I'm good."
"Hey Abby." He kisses her cheek. "It's been a while. How are things with you?"
"Fine, thank you."
He straightens up again. There's an awkward pause. Olivia is smirking at how uncomfortable Abby is, because it's something that never, ever happens to the loud, confident lawyer. Fitz meets her eyes, silently asking what's going on, but she just mouths the word 'later' and decides to stop torturing her poor friend.
"Henry. Can I get a hug please?" She stands up as he places his box on a chair, before pulling her into his arms.
"For you, Miss Pope, anything."
She grins into his sweater. She's missed him.
"I was just going to make some tea," she lies when he lets her go. "Fitz, come help me?"
The kitchen is attached, so they're barely out of earshot, but she wants to give her two visitors - who she desperately hopes will start dating one another - a little bit of space to say hello. Sure enough, once she's put the kettle on, she hears Abby laughing and knows she did the right thing.
"What was that about?" Fitz asks quietly, his hands around her waist, nuzzling his nose in her hair. He's only been gone two hours but she knows he's glad to be home, to be with her, once again.
"I was just telling Abs to find a man to worship her, and in walks… Dr Henry J. Hunter. The timing could not have been more perfect."
He smiles and glances over at them. "I think he's been really lonely since I moved out, actually. It might just be because Christmas is coming up, but he seems a bit down."
"All the more reason for us to get them together then."
Fitz chuckles at her determined expression. "Okay, Mrs Matchmaker. I was going to suggest Henry stay for dinner this evening. Does Abby have plans?"
"If she does," Olivia says seriously as the kettle boils, "I will be canceling them for her."
"So my mom jumps behind the kitchen island, completely naked," Abby is saying several hours later, barely able to speak because she's laughing so much, "And my dad is desperately trying to find something to cover himself up and he grabs the- the uncooked turkey!"
"No!" Henry can barely contain his own laughter.
"I'm serious," she goes on. "My brother and I have never let him forget it. Now we have roast beef on Thanksgiving."
Olivia, who heard this story the day after it happened five years ago, still finds herself giggling at the imagery it conjures. Abby's father Richard, a decorated former Army surgeon, is not the kind of man who embarrasses easily - but she's never been able to look at him in quite the same way since.
She feels Fitz take her hand beneath the table and turns to see him wiping a tear from his eye. "My god. Can you imagine that wet, cold meat against your-?"
Henry makes a face. "No, and I never want to. I'm glad we finished eating before you shared that lovely tale, Abigail."
They've all had a couple of glasses of wine - apart from Olivia, of course - and the alcohol has certainly dissolved any residual nervousness between Abby and Henry. They're getting along like a house on fire.
"My dad's a softie really," Abby says wistfully, reaching for the bottle of red in the middle of the table.
Olivia frowns. "Is he? I think he's terrifying."
"No, that's your dad. Speaking of which - I'm guessing you haven't told him about the baby yet?"
She shakes her head, feeling tension rise in her body. She's been having such a great time today she'd managed to put her worries about her father to the back of her mind. "I haven't even told him about Fitz."
"But surely he knows now?" Henry asks. "You two are all over the media. I even heard about you on the radio earlier."
"Well, he goes to church on Sunday morning before playing golf with his friends, and then they have a supper club in the evening. They're all academics and scientists; not the sort of people who are on Twitter. So he might not know yet."
It's wishful thinking. She's been expecting him to call all day and with each passing hour, she's torn between believing he hasn't heard yet and that he has, and he's so upset with her that he can't bear to speak to her.
Fitz puts his arm around her and draws her close. "Whatever happens, you know he loves you. When you see him this week I'm sure it will all be fine."
"I hope you're right. Anyway." She deliberately brightens her tone. "Anyone for ice cream?"
"Yes!" Abby shouts. "Ice cream fixes everything. So does wine. Do you miss wine?"
Olivia laughs. "I do."
As Abby and Henry start to clear plates, Fitz leans in to whisper in her ear: "Don't worry. You can taste it on me later."
It's something they've joked about before and he grazes his lips lightly over hers, giving her a preview.
"Mmm," she sighs, looking at his handsome face, breathing him in. A plume of desire sinks down through her belly, settling deep in her core, silky and warm. "I can't wait."
"I know you can't."
She kisses him again before making herself stand up, stopping herself getting carried away. "You're our guests," she says to Henry and Abby. "Please sit down and let us do that."
"Nope," Henry counters. "You're pregnant. You can't lift a finger."
"This isn't the eighteen-hundreds!"
He grins at her. "I know. I'm teasing. But I want to help. You've taken this burden off my hands-" He gestures to Fitz- "So it's the least I can do."
"He is quite a burden," she says lovingly, running her fingers through his hair. "I was hoping you'd take him back sometimes, when I need a break?"
"It'll cost you."
"How much?"
"I am right here, you know," Fitz interjects. Then he says to Liv: "Don't pay him any more than twenty bucks. His place isn't even that nice and he bullies me when I'm there."
"I do not! I'm a great host-"
"-Who leaves his underwear all over the house."
Abby looks thoroughly amused. "Are you two always like this?"
Olivia confirms it. "Oh yeah. It's exhausting. I feel like I already have two children sometimes." Henry opens his mouth but she shuts him down before he can speak. "And don't you dare call me 'Mommy', or I will kill you."
His wounded expression tells her that is exactly what he was about to say. "I remember when you used to be fun," he laments, sadly shaking his head.
"I remember when you used to be handsome. Oh wait. No I don't."
"Ouch!"
"Baby," Fitz says, looking seriously impressed. "That was awesome."
She high-fives him, giggling. "I know. Some people are just easy targets."
Henry throws his napkin at her. She blows him a kiss.
A few hours later, Abby texts her.
Home safe. He made the cab wait and walked me to my door. I didn't kiss him or offer him a night cap - you should be proud of me!
And then a second message, moments later:
We're going out on Wednesday. No big deal.
And then:
Aaahhhhh! :)))))
Olivia squeals, showing her phone to Fitz who's in bed beside her. "Henry asked her out!"
"Finally. By the way, I had a call from Cyrus while you were in the shower. He said the whole office has been trying to get in touch with him today, grilling him about you and me."
"I bet he loved that."
Fitz grins. "Oh, undoubtedly. And Mark's just texted to say congratulations to us both."
"Stephen sent me a message as well. He says hi."
"Tell him I say hi back." She begins to type but he takes the phone off her. "But not now. Now, I want you for my own."
Smiling, she leans over to switch off her lamp and then snuggles down beside him. "Thanks for dinner. It was yummy."
"No problem." He turns towards her, drawing her into his arms, and she runs her fingers lazily through his hair. This is always her favorite time of day.
"You know, I'm sad we don't see Henry as often as we used to. I really like him."
"Hey, he was my friend first. You can't have him."
"You're just worried he likes me better than you."
"Of course I am. You're perfect. How could he not?"
She feels her cheeks growing warm. "You say the sweetest things."
"I give the sweetest kisses, too."
"Oh really?"
"Mmhmm."
He makes her wait, his warm mouth hovering just out of reach as his hands slide beneath her pajamas, up along her spine and down, to curl around her bottom and pull her firmly into his rising erection. The air shifts around them. She gasps his name.
"Tell me what you want, Livvie."
And just like that, she's his.
She hooks her leg over his hip, rolling him onto his back. "I can show you, if you like…"
She'll never get over the way his eyes devour her bare body, after she's peeled off her top and thrown it carelessly aside. She cups her boobs and begins to gently massage them, releasing some of the ache there, watching him the whole time. Then, knowing she has his utmost attention, she slips one hand down, slowly, over her abdomen; plays with the tie of her pajama pants, letting her fingers delve beneath the waistband and then quickly reappear, to draw circles around her belly button, to caress her breasts again. Being in control like this almost never happens with Fitz, and it's so exhilarating. She feels like a goddess.
"Take off your clothes," she says eventually, when her blood is throbbing through her veins. He hasn't even touched her - she's done it all herself - and yet it's the fire in his eyes which is really getting her off. That, and his rock-hard cock tenting his pants, nestled so snugly between her thighs and providing her with the most exquisite friction.
She lifts herself so he can strip, and takes the opportunity to rid herself of the rest of her clothes too. Then she's straddling him again, gripping him in her palm, rubbing his tip against her clit so that they both moan.
"Fuck, baby." His voice is so deep she feels it vibrate through his bones. "You're so fucking sexy."
"I know."
She leans forwards, hands on the bed beside his ribs, wiggling her hips until she can feel him pressing against her entrance. She knows he wants to move, to push up and into her, but she stops him with a warning look.
"I'm in charge," she murmurs, ducking her head, ghosting her lips over his. "Don't you dare."
And then she's sitting up again, touching herself, letting her head fall back and her back arch. She imagines how incredible her body must look right now, using that image and the power it gives her and her boyfriend's enormous, glorious erection to bring herself closer and closer to the edge. And while crossing over that line is so, so tempting, there comes a point where suddenly, it's not enough. She needs him inside of her. She needs to be fucked.
Before she does that, though, she knows she needs to play with him too. She's been selfish in a way he never is, and she wants to make him feel so good. Scooting down the bed, she pushes his legs apart and takes him in her mouth - as far as she can. He swears loudly, every muscle tensing, and when she looks up at his face he's watching her so intently with the darkest eyes she's ever seen, and she wants him more now that she's ever wanted him before because she really, really fucking loves this extraordinary man.
She blows him for as long as she can, which in reality is probably only thirty seconds but he doesn't seem to need more anyway because he's pulling on her shoulders, telling her to "Come here" in the fucking sexiest, most loving way she's ever heard. Their mouths crash together, a hot mess of tongues and teeth and desperate noises, and when Olivia sinks down onto him with her knees spread far apart, the way he stretches her is one of the most sensational things she has ever felt.
Then she has to revise that statement, because he takes hold of her hips and pounds into her so hard, so unbelievably fast, that the orgasm he triggers completely blows her away. It rips through her like a hurricane; destroys everything she knows. It's outrageously good.
And it doesn't end.
He's moving again, and after she's had a minute to remember where she is she takes over from him, riding him with her hands buried in his hair, kissing him like it's the last chance she'll ever get, loving him with everything she has.
"Love you," she breathes against his lips, feeling his palm caress the back of her thigh, his finger pressing between her cheeks before slipping inside her, giving her that sense of fullness she hasn't felt since the evening on his boat - a feeling which takes her to a different place altogether.
"Love you too," Fitz utters in reply, meeting her thrusts, gazing deep into her eyes. He's trying to read her, to see if she's going to fall apart again, but it doesn't matter - the way she screams tells him yes, and then he lets go too, closing his eyes, crying out in ecstasy. His last movements are erratic, his mouth seeking hers for one final, frantic kiss until, at last, they both still; thoroughly spent.
After the strength of her first climax, she didn't think a second would be remotely possible - and yet, somehow, it was even more intense. "Fuck," she whimpers, collapsed on his chest, held tightly in his embrace. "I can't even… Fitz. My god. I don't think I'll ever walk again."
He laughs, shaking beneath her. "That good huh?"
She manages to lift her head, to rest her chin on his breastbone and look at him. He's sweaty, his curls unruly, his lips moist from hers. She thinks he's the most beautiful he's ever been.
"So. Fucking. Good."
She kisses him, and when he removes his finger from inside of her it sends another wave of pleasure searing along her nerves, making her limbs jerk and her insides clench deliciously.
"You're so naughty," she gasps, and she can tell from his expression that he knows it, and that he's immensely pleased with himself.
"You can talk," he says, amused. "You're the one who sat on top of me and touched yourself. You basically used me as a sex toy. Such a fucking tease, Livvie."
"Are you… complaining?"
"Not one bit."
He rolls them over and climbs off of her with a quick kiss, passing her a Kleenex from the nightstand before making his way into the bathroom. He leaves her sprawled naked in the middle of the bed, wondering if she'll ever have the energy to move; if her limbs will ever recover from this blissful feeling of weightlessness.
"By the way," she calls out, and even her voice sounds exhausted now, "You didn't taste like red wine. You brushed your teeth. I was disappointed."
He returns a minute later and she can hear him chuckling. "Wow. Look at you. I actually broke you, didn't I?"
She opens one eye. He's still bare, and mouth-wateringly gorgeous. "You did. The best two orgasms of my life."
"And yet you used the word 'disappointed' just now…?"
"I really miss red wine."
"No you don't." He takes her hands and pulls her to sit. She feels as weak as a ragdoll.
"No, I don't," she concedes, very reluctantly shuffling towards the edge of the bed so she can go clean up before she sleeps. Fitz helps her stand and she hugs him, not just because she's tired but because she's desperately in love with him - and it makes her needy. "I'll miss you though, if you ever go away."
"Then I won't go away."
"Do you promise?"
He lifts her chin with his finger. His smile warms her from head to toe. "I promise. I will love you forever. And I'll be here - for both of you - forever."
And she believes him.
