Part 3

***

Shifting against the mattress, she felt a warm body wrapped around her. Sighing softly, contently she breathed him in, felt a soft warmth against her neck and slowly her eyes opened realizing she was curled up into Peter. He was still fast asleep. Her eyes opened watching him sleep, feeling his hands against her hips, slowly drawing a pattern beneath her t-shirt as he held her to him.

She contemplated slipping from his grasp, untangling herself, never telling him about this very moment.

In all honesty though, she didn't want to move. It felt good, even if he was dreaming it was another woman, another body, another something---she felt oddly comforted.

"Livia," he rasped and her eyes trained on him, smiling when she glanced down, stifling a laugh. So apparently it was one of those dreams. He shifted in his sleep, bringing her body beneath his. Not once did his eyes open as she felt his body pinning her to the mattress.

She opened her mouth, to object, to wake him up, knowing somehow this was wrong and yet, never had it felt so good, so right. She didn't say anything, felt his hands roam her hips and her eyes closed. She let him grind into her hips, felt her heart pounding and his mouth against her neck. It was a lazy kiss, sloppy and messy but she didn't expect more from a sleeping Peter.

Biting down on her bottom lip she suppressed a moan as she felt the desire within her building. She'd been through a lot lately, maybe this was what she needed to move on, heal old wounds.

If there wouldn't have been clothes between them she would have felt him driving into her. Instead his hips rocked as his lips moved over her neck. Her breathing quickened as her heart raced. Her mind didn't think about anything but this very moment, what she was feeling, experiencing.

She shuddered beneath him. Her neck arching back against the pillow, her fingers digging into the sheets, bunching them in fists trying not to wake Peter. As much as she wanted to, she didn't want him to pull away. She didn't want this to end. She needed this with him.

Feeling his body still above hers, carefully she slipped from his grasp, quietly heading to the bathroom needing to get changed and take a cold shower. With her back to him, his eyes opened a smirk on his face. She never saw the look in his eyes, the knowing fact on what had happened between them. He heard the door close and the shower run. He knew she was probably taking a cold shower, trying to cleanse herself and forget what just transpired. He wasn't going to let her forget. No chance of that happening.

***

Coming out from the bathroom, Peter didn't so much as attempt to hide the smile on his face. "Save me any hot water?" He asked, watching as she ran the towel through her hair.

Her smile matched his, but she believed for a different reason. "Yeah, I did." Olivia nodded. "How'd you sleep?" She tried not to stare at him but his eyes were locked on hers.

"Good. I had a really great dream," he beamed, gauging her reaction.

Olivia nodded slowly, "I'm not surprised." She turned heading for the front door, grabbing her key doing her best to avoid his stare. "I'm going to grab us breakfast. You should get ready we have a flight to catch soon." With that she headed out the front door, her heart was still pounding. No amount of time in the shower had helped soothe her. The problem was, her body, her heart, none of it wanted to calm down. She craved more from Peter but she knew it was risky. She'd done relationships with coworkers. It wasn't the best of ideas.

She grabbed two coffees, keeping an eye on the time. Bringing it back to the room, she pushed the door open, seeing Peter putting his shirt on. Her eyes stared at his chest, finding it difficult to look away.

"What'd you bring me?" Peter asked eyeing the drinks. He finished getting himself dressed.

"Coffee, just the way you like it," she offered him the cup.

"What'd I do to deserve this?" Peter smiled a knowing grin taking it from her hands, "thanks, Livia." He took a sip feeling it burn its way down his throat. It felt good.

"Yeah," she nodded her eyes glancing around the room, anywhere but him. She could feel his eyes on her and it was making her slightly nervous. He didn't remember any of what happened, right? He was probably just in a good mood from sharing a bed, getting a decent night's sleep. That had to be the reason. Or maybe that dream he was telling her about. If only he knew the truth. No, she couldn't tell him. He'd probably feel violated, that she'd taken advantage of him---since she'd been the one awake during all of it. She should have stopped him. Truth was, she hadn't wanted to though. "We should head out to the airport soon. Don't want to miss our flight."

"Yeah, I'm ready," Peter nodded holding his cup in one hand and grabbing his bag in the other. Olivia reached for her bag, watching as Peter handed her his cup. "I'll take that, you hold my drink, okay?"

"I---okay," she didn't feel like arguing. Olivia grabbed the door, leading him down and to a cab. Together they sat beside one another, his leg brushing against hers with each bump. She couldn't help but notice it, feel a spark each time it happened. She sucked in a breath, trying not to think about it. Her attention turned towards the window. She tried thinking about the case, about Boston and home but she kept feeling Peter beside her. Maybe that was a good thing? He'd taken her mind off all the terrible things she'd been dealing with. Right now though, it didn't feel good. Maybe because she felt guilty? It was a secret she had to keep.

"I'll take my coffee," Peter reached for his cup, his fingers brushing her hand intentionally. "You're quiet this morning. More so than usual." He sipped his coffee, his eyes on her the entire time.

"Just thinking," she answered glancing at him.

"About?" He waited for her to respond, doing his best not to push her. It'd been difficult lately. She hadn't been the most forthcoming with how she'd been feeling and what she'd been going through.

"It's been nice to be away from home for awhile," Olivia admitted. She didn't elaborate on all the reasons why. She didn't have to for him to know and understand.

"Worried that things will go back to the way they've been?" Peter guessed.

"It just feels like a lot of pressure," she breathed. "Bell---I failed. He sent me a message and I screwed up. I couldn't remember his message and it was all for not."

"I don't think that's entirely true," he shifted beside her, his hand reaching out, stroking her cheek, pushing the hair out of her face. "You know more than when we started. That's something."

"Nearly dying in the process, what's that Peter?" She was still bitter about it. How could she not be? She felt like a puppet.

"You're here," he stared at her, "real as ever," his thumb stroked her cheek for a moment before finally pulling his hand away. "Don't ever forget that." He didn't want her living in the past, thinking about every time they'd failed at something. It would get them nowhere.

Her eyes fell shut as she exhaled a long breath. "Yeah, I guess I am." It still didn't feel real though. After being pulled through dimensions without knowing it, she hated wondering if she could walk through the door again, between worlds and not know the difference. It terrified her. She felt his breath against her temple as he planted a soft kiss trying to calm her down.

"We'll figure this out, together." He assured her.

"I know we will," she nodded slowly tentatively, giving Peter a weak smile trying to assure him she was fine. Finally he pulled back as the driver pulled up out front of the airport. It was time to go home.