Author's note: I am so sorry for the long break since the last update. I have been insanely busy, and I also lost my muse for a bit. I do not like updating merely for the sake of updating. I wanted this chapter, and all others, to be perfect. Thank you for the awesome reviews, and the continued support of this story. There is much more to come, and I promise the worst is out of the way. Let me know what you think of this next chapter. Warning: It will contain mature content. Thanks for reading.
Casey sat across from Olivia, staring blankly at her menu. She wanted to pick something quickly, but every time she tried to imagine herself eating anything, the butterflies in her stomach swirled, reminding her that she couldn't eat if she wanted to. As it was, she had barely had a few sips of water and a couple nibbles on her breadstick. Olivia, on the other hand, had already finished her salad, and was on her second bread stick. Casey wondered sometimes how the older woman maintained such an athletic body when she was always hungry.
"You alright over there?" Olivia asked.
"Hmm?" Casey's gaze shot up, and when she saw the half smirk, half concerned look on Olivia's face, she rolled her eyes. "Yes, I'm fine," she answered. "Just happy. So happy that everything on this menu looks incredible."
"I think that's just your hormones talking," Olivia answered. "But hey, at least I won't be the only one eating more than a few slices of bacon and some orange juice anymore."
Casey shrugged. She knew Olivia was only teasing, but it also made her feel a little self conscious. She had developed a bit of a complex over the years about eating in front of people. It was partially due to her mother when she was little. Her mother had once remarked that it was rude to eat when someone else wasn't, when Casey had thanked her for taking her out to dinner, as if implying that she was only feeding her because she had to. Something about those words had evolved into a complex for Casey, who hadn't been able to really eat in front of people since then. And when she did, she was often clumsy, and spilled things, which made her feel even worse.
As if sensing her thoughts, Olivia reached across the table and gently took Casey's left hand in hers, her fingers grazing the ring that now rested upon the younger woman's finger. "Hey, nothing you do could ever make me stop loving you. But you need to eat more than a few crumbs of bread. You know that this is your favorite restaurant. Who else makes lobster bisque so perfectly?"
Casey smiled softly, knowing how right Olivia was. And, truthfully, she had been craving lobster for several days. She knew it was why Olivia had brought her here, and she truly appreciated the effort. "Okay," she murmured, closing the menu and placing it on top of Olivia's.
Olivia smiled. "I love you."
"I love you too," Casey answered, just as their server approached. Her nametag read Elodie, and her black hair was pulled into a bun that had to have hurt her head.
"Are you ladies ready to order?" she asked. Casey noticed that she didn't remove her book and pen from her apron, as most servers would. She knew that many restaurants were instructing their waitresses to try to memorize the orders now. Supposedly, it increased the tips one received if they could memorize page after page of complicated dinner orders. Casey, personally, didn't care either way. She just wanted her food to come out the way she ordered it.
Olivia cleared her throat quietly. "Casey, do you want to go first?"
Casey smiled softly, loving the older woman's chivalry. "Sure," she answered. She shifted in her seat to better face the waitress. "I'd like to start with some unsweet tea with lemon, please. As for my dinner, I would like to order the lobster bisque, but can you make sure it comes easy on the onions, and with absolutely no sherry?" It would taste different, for sure, but she wouldn't dream of having a drop to drink while she was pregnant.
Elodie smiled, nodding. She looked like a deranged Barbie doll, and Casey wondered if her cheeks ever hurt from smiling so widely. She turned to Olivia. "And for you, Ma'am?"
Olivia returned the smile, albeit a bit tersely. "I'm just going to have the roast chicken dinner, please. How it comes is fine. I'm not picky."
"Will that be all?"
"Yes," Casey and Olivia answered simultaneously. As their server smiled once more and took their menus, promising to be back with their food, Casey's tea, and a refill of Olivia's wine shortly, Casey looked at her girlfriend. "This place really does have the best lobster bisque in the city," she confessed.
Olivia nodded. "I know. That's why we came here," she replied. She brushed her fingers gently across Casey's ring. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm floating," Casey murmured. She smiled, returning the gentle hand squeeze Olivia gave her. "Really, Olivia, I'm great. I feel completely normal tonight. I feel..blissful, in love, wanted...I can go on, but I would eventually run out of adjectives once I hit the end of the thesaurus." She sighed happily, taking another small sip of her water. She carefully avoided smearing her lipstick. It was unsightly, and embarrassing.
"Good," Olivia answered. She returned the smile. "Well, we have a lot to plan for, and much to do. But for now, what do you say we enjoy our dinner, and our night as a couple? Let's just be...us."
Casey smiled. "I think that sounds perfect," she replied.
Hours later, Casey waited as Olivia unlocked the front door of the apartment. Casey knew it would be much more practical to move in with Olivia officially, once they disclosed, but she would be lying if she tried to convince herself that she wouldn't miss her own apartment, even a little. So much had happened there, but it had also been her home for over a decade, and she couldn't imagine not falling asleep to the same walls, the same furniture. She couldn't visualize someone else's name on the lease.
But then she glanced at Olivia, and her emotions swirled within her all over again. It was as if someone had flipped a switch in her mind, and she suddenly couldn't imagine her home as being anywhere other than with her best friend, the woman she loved more than she had ever loved anyone. Love truly was a crazy coaster ride.
As they entered the apartment, Olivia shut the door behind them and smiled, wrapping her arms around Casey's waist, pulling her in for a passionate kiss. Casey moaned softly into the older woman's mouth, threading her fingers in Olivia's soft chestnut hair. "I love you," she half moaned against Olivia's lips.
"I love you too," Olivia whispered, gently pulling back. She brushed a stray scarlet curl out of Casey's eyes, smiling. "Are you sure?" she questioned. Casey had informed her earlier that she wanted to celebrate their engagement like any other couple would.
Casey nodded without even thinking about it. She had already invested too much energy into thinking about it. "I'm sure," she whispered.
Olivia smiled, taking the younger woman's hand and leading her into the bedroom. She pushed Casey against the wall, somehow managing to kiss her and unzip her dress at the same time. It was such an elegant, passionate, and simple move that Casey had never experienced before, and had thought was only possible in movies. Once Casey was down to nothing but the lingerie she had bought specifically for tonight, Olivia led her to the bed, gently pushing her onto her back.
The older woman unbuttoned her own blouse and slacks, and easily slid out of them, before dropping them to the floor. Casey, normally a bit of a neat freak, didn't even care at the moment. As they resumed their passionate kiss, Casey tangled her legs around Olivia's waist, noticing that the older woman was wearing a simple pair of silk boxers and little else. She tried not to stare at Olivia's abs, or at her ample cleavage.
Olivia kissed a line down Casey's neck, and growled softly in her ear. "I love you, Casey Novak," she whispered.
"I love you, too, Olivia Benson," Casey purred. She closed her eyes, throwing her head back as Olivia continued to kiss along her neckline. Olivia easily separated her from what little clothing she still had on, but instead of feeling naked and exposed, Casey only felt more in love with the beautiful older woman.
Olivia trailed her fingers across Casey's naked skin, smiling as Casey shivered and squirmed beneath her. Casey could feel the goosebumps rise on her skin from the mere feeling of her girlfriend's fingers on every inch of her body. Olivia paused in her efforts, meeting Casey's gaze for a moment, then gently kissing each of the younger woman's nipples, which had, embarrassingly, already hardened against the welcome assault.
Olivia smirked. "Well, isn't someone happy to see me?" Before Casey could respond, the brunette gently pushed the younger woman's thighs apart, brushing her fingers between them. Casey sucked in a breath, hoping Olivia didn't notice just how badly she needed her, and just how painfully her desire had been burning throughout the entire night. But Olivia just smirked again, saying nothing, but brushing her fingertips between Casey's legs, coating them in the younger woman's wetness. Casey squirmed uncomfortably. "Is there a problem?" Olivia questioned, bringing her fingers to her lips.
Casey almost screamed as Olivia sucked her fingers clean. "No..no problem," she eked out, too keyed up to be embarrassed by the pleading tone in her own voice.
"How about now?" Olivia whispered, her voice barely above a husky whisper. Without warning, she buried two fingers into Casey, her thumb circling the younger woman's clit. Casey let out a little whimper, moaning beneath her. Olivia watched as her nails raked against the sheets, her fingers grasping at the comforter. Olivia continued her torture, not missing a beat as she positioned herself above the redhead, kissing her passionately. "Have I ever told you how much I love you?" the sergeant whispered, her voice husky with desire and lust.
Casey nodded weakly, arching her body with a gasp as Olivia entered another finger inside of her. God, at this rate, she wasn't going to last long at all. "Y-yes," she managed, her voice a needy moan.
"Have I ever told you...how beautiful you are?" Olivia growled, biting the base of Casey's throat, purring in response to the attorney's moan. She massaged Casey's clit, her long fingers curling inside of her, her teeth grazing Casey's neck, then her shoulder, then each of her breasts in turn. "Come on, baby. I know you want me," the brunette whispered as Casey arched her body into her, digging her nails sharply into the sheets in an effort not to cry out.
Casey wanted to fight, but after only a few minutes, she was reduced to writhing upon the bed, whimpering Olivia's name, moaning every expletive she knew, and crying for more. Olivia responded by yanking her fingers out of her and positioning herself at the end of the bed. Pushing Casey's legs further apart, the brunette buried her tongue inside of her, her soft growls sending almost painful vibrations throughout Casey's body.
Without warning, Olivia nipped at Casey's painfully swollen clit, sending the attorney screaming over the edge. She came hard, yanking at Olivia's hair, her nails digging sharply into the older woman's back. By the time she had collapsed with a little whimper upon the bed, unable to formulate a single thought, she was too worked up to be embarrassed that Olivia had driven her over the edge so easily.
Olivia laid down beside her, licking her lips carefully. "Hmm. I knew I was good, but not that good."
Casey groaned weakly, managing to smack her gently with a pillow. "Fuck you, Olivia," she whispered.
"Oh yes, there will be lots of that going around tonight," Olivia answered. Casey could practically feel her smirking in the darkness. "Lots of that, indeed..."