Chapter 8

They carried Elliot's bags and the bags full of alcohol and snacks up the stairs to Fins apartment.

"You ever been here before?" asked Olivia.

"Nope, you?"

Olivia shook her head as Elliot opened the door, they both walked in and stopped and stared.

"Wow" said Olivia.

"Yeah" said Elliot

"This place is great" Olivia said putting the bags on the floor. The apartment was open plan the walls white, the floor white tiles. A huge black couch in the middle of the room with an indoor fire pit in the middle of the room. A massive flat screen TV was on the wall with surround sound and speakers everywhere. One wall was just complete windows, from floor to ceiling.

"Talk about pimping out your pad" said Elliot

"You know we shouldn't be too surprised really" said Olivia "remember when he first turned up with all his bling"

Elliot smiled "Well he said my room was the first door in the corridor on the kitchen side" he said carrying his bag towards it, followed by Olivia. He opened the door and walked in. There was a massive bed and TV and decorated black and red. He walked in and dropped his bag opening the door to the on suit bathroom which housed a walk in shower and Jacuzzi bath. He turned to Olivia smiling.

"Liv how long did Fin work Narcotics and how deep undercover did he go" he laughed "To be able to afford all this"

Olivia laughed "I don't know are we definitely in the right apartment"

"I think I will cancel the signing for the apartment and ask him if I can just stay her" he said turning to her.

"Come on" she said "I need a drink" and she turned and walked back to the main living area. Elliot looked at the walk in shower and bath, if he knew Fins place was like this he would never have invited her back here for drinks. Christ all he could think about was him and her naked in that huge shower, he looked down "Damn it" he snapped when he seen what was arising. What is wrong with you Stabler get a grip of yourself?

"Did you say something" shouted Olivia from the other room.

"No I will be out in a minute" he shouted back, As soon as I came myself down he sighed. He honestly didn't know how long he would be able to hold his promise to her and take things slow. Just thinking about her made him ache for her, she was like a drug and he was an addict, he craved for her all the time. The best thing he could do tonight was to either get so drunk and pass out, or he could make up some lie and tell her he had a change of mind and apologise and to her. He looked at himself in the mirror "Who the hell are you trying to kid" he asked himself smiling "you aint going to ask her to go anywhere" he stood looking at himself in the mirror.

"El" Elliot jumped and spun round "Are you talking to yourself, I thought I heard you talking"

"Err….no….sorry I'm coming" he said following her out the room praying he could control himself tonight and not fuck everything up.

Olivia had opened two beers and put some chips into a bowl as well as pouring two shots of tequila.

"I just need to cut the limes" she said smiling and we are good to go"

Elliot stood behind her and leaned up against the kitchen bench and watched her from behind his eyes wandering up and down her body.

"Are you checking me out Stabler?" she asked without turning round.

"Yep…..we only said no touching nothing about looking" she turned round and threw a piece of lime at him.

"Come on" she said passing him a shot of tequila. She licked her hand and put some salt on it before passing it to Elliot who copied her. "To me getting my partner back" they raised the glasses, licked the salt, downed the drinks and sucked the lime.

"Jesus the first one always gets me" said Oliver shuddering. They carried everything over to the couch and sat down on the floor putting the beer, tequila and snacks in-between them. Just like a barrier Olivia thought to stop them getting too close.

"Do you want to put the TV on or just talk?" asked Elliot.

"How about we just talk for a while"

"Okay however no talk of Kathy or kids for one night I just want to relax and enjoy myself before the hell starts on Monday"

"Deal" she said pouring tequila and handing one to Elliot.

"You Detective Benson are a bad influence"

"No…you have just been stuck at home for to many Saturday nights" she said as they drank the shot.

They left the tequila alone for a while and just drank beer not wanting to get too drunk to quick and ruin the night, they were sat facing each other their arms resting on the couch their hands almost touching.

"Liv…when did you realise your ….feelings had changed for me?"

Olivia picked up her bottle and took a long drink.

"Erm I'm not sure. It's not like I woke up one morning and thought shit I want to jump my partner"

"You want to jump me huh" he laughed. She hit his arm and glared at him. "Sorry" he smiled.

"What about you, when did you realise?"

"When you left and went undercover, well no just before then…Gitano, I realised then that the feelings I had ran a lot deeper than they should for a partner. I mean don't get me wrong I always fantasied about …Jumping you" he smiled at her. "But I realised then that I loved you. When you left I was unbearable to live with especially at work"

"Until you were partnered with Dani?" Olivia said a hurt look on her face.

Elliot looked down "Liv I…..I thought you were gone for good, I was angry with you. I was going through all the shit with Kathy the first time round and you weren't there"

"Did you love her" she asked playing with the top of her beer bottle so she didn't look at him.

"No Liv….I swear, god I loved you. I used to pray every night that you would come home"

"But you did kiss her?"

He nodded and dropped his head "I'm sorry" he said a tear falling down his cheek "I thought kissing her would help me forget you somehow, but when I kissed her, it was you I thought of. Believe me Liv it was one kiss". He kept his head down unable to look at her feeling ashamed.

"El it's okay, I done stupid things as well hell I slept with Porter for one trying to forget about you" she reached over and lifted his chin up and wiped the tear from his cheek. "Look we both done things we regret let's forget the past and look forward to the future, deal"

"Deal" he smiled his eyes locked on hers.

"Liv…." He moved forward towards her.

"Yeah" she whispered, her head moving towards his.

"I think I need…..to…to err" his lips were so close to hers.

"Kiss me"

"Okay" he leaned in and pressed his lips to her, cupping her face with one hand as their lips gently brushed each other. "I have wanted you to do that all day" she sighed into his mouth.

"Me to" he said in-between kisses.

"We still need to …"

"Yeah I know take things slow" he said as he slipped his tongue into her mouth and deepened the kiss.

"Yo El!" they heard as the front door opened. Olivia sprang back away from Elliot and his kiss, and quickly picked up her beer.

"Damn you Fin" Elliot cursed.

"Saved by the Fin Man" aid Olivia forcing a smile, but deep down grateful he came home when he did cause she knew she wouldn't of been able to control herself.

"Hey "said Elliot as he and Olivia both looked to the door.

"We got done early so I thought I would bring the guys back for a game of poker and a few drinks" Fin said walking in with Munch and Huang "Celebrate your first Saturday night as a Bachelor"

"Yeah great" he said looking up from the floor where he and Olivia still sat.

"Are we disturbing something? "Asked Munch winking.

"No!" they both said together.

"Yeah right, what do you think Doc?"

"They were pretty quick at the denial" George said laughing.

"Don't worry, Baby girl, I figured you would be here so…" before Fin could finish Casey and Melinda walked in "I brought you some company"

It didn't take long for the guys to set up the poker table while the women sat on the couch with a few bottles of wine catching up on gossip, Fin had music playing in the background.

"So Fin how the hell do you afford a pad like this?" asked Munch.

"Yeah me and Olivia reckon you were with Narcotics for too long if you know what I mean" winked Elliot to Munch.

"You know I did wonder that myself the first time I came over her"

"For you information you smart asses it was all the extra money I got when undercover plus some savings I had, this is all due to hard work"

"Yeah well all my hard work went on a cheating wife and five kids" said Elliot downing his bottle and going to the fridge to get four more.

"Yeah well mine went to 4 ex-wives" grumbled munch. "So I beat your soon to be one ex wife"

"Yeah well free and single is the way forward" laughed Fin "What do you say Doc"

"Actually" said Huang taking a beer from Elliot "I have been in a relationship for the last 5 years"

"So how come we aint eva met him or seen photos"

Haung shrugged "I don't know, I guess my private life never comes up"

"Yeah your too busy getting into ours" said Elliot.

Olivia found her eyes wandering over and watching Elliot as he played poker. As much as she was enjoying the catch up and drinks with her friends, she had been looking forward to a quiet night with just her and El. Every now and then Elliot would look up at her; she would quickly look away so he didn't catch her.

"You know Olivia" whispered Casey leaning over to her "He isn't going anywhere"

"What….. What you on about?"

"Oh come on you can't take your eyes off him"

Olivia blushed and smiled "Am I that obvious?"

Melinda and Casey both nodded "And he aint much better he can't stop staring either, I think you two need to do the deed and get it out the way"

"El…El it's your go man" said Fin

"Sorry…."

"Yeah right your mind aint on this is it"

Elliot shook his head "sorry guys" he said throwing his cards onto the table.

"Yo Ladies you coming to join us the games over" shouted Fin "Grab the bottles of tequila, lime and salt on the way" Half an hour later and one bottle of tequila gone they were all sat round the table laughing at Munches theories. Elliot couldn't remember ever feeling so relaxed he looked over at Olivia and nodded to the kitchen area as he stood up saying he would get some more beers.

"You okay" he asked her as she joined him at the fridge.

"Yeah starting to feel a little light headed but good"

"Yeah me too. Look Liv about earlier.. The kiss" Olivia place a finger on his lips.

"Ssshh" she said "Nothing happened we kissed"

"Yeah but I wanted it to so much, if the guys hadn't turned up when they did…"

"We would have gone too far and fucked up your chances of ever getting Eli cause Kathy would use it against you"

"Yeah I know but it doesn't stop me wanting you" he moved towards her their bodies touching "I can't be in a room with you drinking and being so close…. I need to ….can I kiss you again" he whispered.

Olivia looked over to the table where everyone was sitting talking still. "El everyone is there"

"I know Liv, but its driving me mad and I know its driving you nuts as well I've seen you looking over. You hate this as much as I do" he said his voice just above whisper and so deep and sexy Olivia felt her heart start to race as his face got closer to hers.

"Oh God El, please" she begged him "Stop please, this is killing me, I want you so much"

"Just one kiss, that's all I swear, you will be going soon anyway"

Olivia swallowed hard "Jesus El, I have never wanted someone so much in my life" she said as their lips met, soft and gentle at first, before turning harder. Elliot ran his hand through her hair pulling her closer to him, as his tongue fought with hers. Olivia moaned into his mouth as he pushed her up against the sink as he kissed her hard and with more passion than she had ever felt before.

Their five friends sat at the table and just stared at the couple in the kitchen as they made out at the kitchen sink.

"Oh boy" said Haung " I can see some busy times ahead in my office" he sighed as they watched them.

"My god I'm getting turned on just watching them" said Casey. "I have never seen a kiss with so much passion"

"Well Novak I could help there" said Munch laughing earning him a dig in the ribs from Casey.

"You know I always thought Elliot would be the strong, passionate romantic type" sighed Melinda

"Oh Yeah" said Casey nodding "God I bet he is amazing in bed" she sighed. "I mean just look at his body he is well fit for his age"

"God I bet he knows his way around a womans body…..if not I don't mind showing him" laughed Melinda

"Hey, hey, hey ladies" said Fin. "Please don't tell me you two sit all day dreaming about Mr Muscles over there."

"Oh yeah" said Melinda "all that brooding, anger and passion, plus that body, did we mention the body, oooh yeah Olivia is one lucky lady"

"Yeah well she is one lucky lady who can get a cab with me" said Casey "She said earlier she was definitely not stopping here tonight and to make sure she left with me so that's what I will do"

"Okay so who is going to break that up" said Melinda. They all looked at each shaking their heads.

"Bunch of babies" said Munch stepping forward. He went to the sink and removed the tap and pulled the extendable pipe and pointed it towards Olivia and Elliot.

"He's not" said Haung.

"Ooh I think he is " smiled Casey.

"Jesus Elliot will kill him "said Fin as they all stood watching Munch as he turned the tap on. Water shot out and covered Elliot and Olivia making Olivia scream as they pulled apart. Everyone burst out laughing as Munch kept the water on them. Elliot spun round and glared at Munch about to say something until Olivia burst out laughing.

"You prick John" she laughed as he turned the water off.

"Munch man, you can mop that up" laughed Fin.

Elliot turned to Olivia water dripping off him and smiled at Olivia stepping into her arms "I love you Baby" he said.

"I love you to but I need to go"

"I know" he sighed "Will I see you tomorrow sometime, I need to see Kathy in the afternoon I'm going to try and talk to her, can I call over after?"

"Yeah sure " she said shivering.

"Hold on I will get you a dry top to put on" he said running into his room and returning with a hoody handing it to her.

"Thanks" she said putting it on as everyone else got ready to leave and said their goodbyes. Elliot gave Olivia a quick kiss as she turned to leave with the others. John held out his hand to Elliot.

"I owe you for that" he grinned at Munch who smiled back at him.

"Yeah when, you don't work with us anymore I won't see you for ages"

"Actually Munch I start back there next week, so watch that bone ass of yours, okay payback can be a bitch"

"Oh shit " said Munch as he left with rest.

Fin looked at Elliot when they closed door.

"Fuck man" he said looking at the goofy smile Elliot had on his face "Your are totally in love with Baby girl aint you"

Elliot nodded "So much it friggin hurts" he said picking up a beer.

I'm enjoying the slow build up in their relationship. Don't worry for all those that like a bit smut it arrive shortly and I promise I will be with a bang.

For those of you who read Burnout I haven't abandoned the story for this one I should be posting an update tomorrow. Please keep the feedback coming and let me know if there is anything you would like to see happening and I will see what I can do J