Alright then ... here we go. The Christmas finale has passed, but I guess we're not done yet ...

I know it's been a while, so I hope I'm still writing in the same style and feeling of the previous chapters!

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78. Candy

"Elliot!"

His name on her lips was all he wanted to hear. He needed to convince her.

"Liv, Greg said we could try," he encouraged her.

He'd had his checkup and he'd asked Greg without beating around the bush if he could have sex again. Greg had given them a very clear, professional answer. Although it had been only three weeks since the accident, if Elliot didn't experience pain in his hip, it was fine. Considering his cast and painful ribs, Greg suggested that Elliot remain on his back the first few times, or maybe in a sitting position, until he felt more confident about different positions. Other positions might have to wait until his cast came off, which would be in about two more weeks. But basically, all positions were allowed unless it hurt, except laying on his side. That would put too much strain on the hip joint.

"In other words, let Liv do all the work," Elliot had remarked, earning him Olivia's token Benson glare.

Greg had glanced shyly at Olivia then, who had looked out the window pretending she wasn't listening and had ignored both men after that.

She couldn't ignore him now though. Elliot had managed to roll on his right side while Olivia was on her back next to him, and he'd snuck his left hand up her shirt while his right arm was under her neck. His lips were skimming her jawline and he was all but begging her to cooperate. His thumb was grazing the underside of her right breast and despite her attempts to object, he could feel her arching into his touch.

"You know you want it," he said huskily and Olivia groaned softly, closing her eyes.

"I never said I didn't," she admitted. "But I don't want to hurt you."

"Right now, I'm hurting in a whole different way," he said, and when Olivia turned her head to look at him, he smirked.

"I thought your painkillers were libido killers as well," Olivia tried again.

"Not anymore," he told her, wiggling his eyebrows. "Can't you tell?"

Olivia bit her lip. She wasn't about to feel him up to check how excited he was. When Elliot moved his hand up a little, cupping her breast, she felt her resistance dwindle a bit. But not enough to give in. Yet.

"Elliot," she sighed again.

He kissed her ear softly and goosebumps broke out all over the left half of her body, right down to her knees. It had been so long for her, and she guessed for him as well. But she didn't want to rush their first time. It meant too much to her, and so she told him,

"I just want it to be something really special, El. I don't want to have to stop halfway through because you're in pain."

"Then don't stop. You know I can take it."

"I don't want you to 'take it'. I want you to enjoy it."

Elliot kissed her cheek and smiled, his lips still brushing her skin when he spoke.

"Believe me, I'm going to enjoy it. Don't you ever doubt that, Olivia Benson. I've waited too long not to enjoy every second of being with you at last."

Olivia turned her head to look at him and the reality of the moment hit her. Here she was, in bed with her former partner, the man she'd loved for years when she shouldn't have. He actually came back to her and it was so natural now. They were so at ease with each other. It really was their time now, and even though they'd only been back in each others' lives for three weeks, it felt like those years apart had been wiped away clean. And along with it, the awkwardness and complicated-ness had been wiped away as well. So why was was she still fighting the inevitable?They had all the time in the world now to explore the new dynamics of their relationship. And getting to know each other physically didn't need to be a monumental experience with fireworks and unbridled passion. They weren't writing the next chapter of 50 shades of whatever. They were here, together, and free to love each other in any way they wanted to.

Olivia propped herself up on her left elbow and looked at Elliot, who looked up at her questioningly.

"I never thought it would be like this," she admitted with a small smile.

Elliot caught on quickly and grinned. He reached up to touch her face.

"Me neither Liv."

"You thought about it when we were still partners?"

"Oh yeah."

Olivia chuckled.

"More than I should have," Elliot added.

She wiggled her head and then admitted,

"Me too."

"But I never wanted us to be a fling or an affair, Liv. You meant too much to me."

Olivia nodded, understanding what he meant. It hadn't just been his marriage vows holding him back, but also his respect for her.

"I felt the same way," she told him, putting a hand on his chest and caressing it gently.

Elliot took a deep breath and swallowed before he spoke again.

"Do you know what you do to me, just touching me like that?" he asked her, and his honest blue eyes made her melt inside. "Or looking at me like that," Elliot added, almost whispering.

Olivia leaned forward until her forehead was resting against Elliot's cheek.

"I've wanted this for so long," she said quietly, "and then I had to convince myself to go on without you."

Elliot turned his head to kiss her forehead.

"I'm sorry you had to go through that."

"And now you're back and you're mine and ... I feel like a kid in a candy store that's been told she can buy whatever she wants and ... I just don't know where to start."

Elliot groaned softly and it was something between a sound of endearment and a sound of impatience.

"I may be able to help you choose," he said, and when Olivia sat up and looked at him expectantly, he grabbed her pillow, put it on top of his own under his head and shoulders, and held out his right arm invitingly.

Olivia smiled, and the mischievous look in her eyes made his heart beat faster. Was she going to give in?

"Well ..." she said, pensively, not moving into his arm yet. "I will need to check out the merchandise a little better first. Maybe get a taste? What do you recommend?"

Elliot laughed out loud and then put a hand over his mouth. They didn't want to wake up Noah now. When there was no sound from Noah's room, he looked up at Olivia again.

"If I show you some of my product, what do I get in return?"

Olivia grinned and bit her lip. What had once been her favorite part about jumping into bed with a guy, wasn't her favorite part anymore. She'd have to take her shirt off at some point, and Elliot would see her scarred body. And while she had gotten used to it by now, she wasn't sure wat it would do to Elliot to see the damage that had been done to her up close.

When Elliot saw her hesitation, he rubbed her side gently.

"It doesn't matter to me what you look like, Olivia. The best flavors aren't always wrapped in the most pristine wrappers, right?"

Olivia chuckled, amused that he was being so serious while still staying in the candy metaphor.

"That's true, but we're usually attracted to the colors of the wrappers first, aren't we?"

Elliot nodded and looked into her eyes.

"You're right. And from where I'm at, the colors on you are pretty amazing."

Olivia swallowed hard, and then lowered herself carefully, until she was able to look into Elliot's eyes up close.

"So are yours," she whispered, taking in the shades of blue and green in his eyes.

But most of all, she saw the love there. The most beautiful color of all. She kissed him on the lips and they both closed their eyes then, forgetting about candy and colors and wrappers. Elliot grunted a little, without breaking the kiss, when he pulled her on top of him, and Olivia quickly placed her hands and knees on the mattress to shift her body weight to her arms and legs in stead of Elliot's body. Elliot tangled one hand in her hair, making sure she wasn't going to move away any further. He didn't care about his painful ribs right now. All he could think of was Olivia's body on top of his at last. She was going to give in ... she was going to give in.

When Olivia broke off the kiss, she sat up on her knees, straddling his waist, and smiled down at him. What now?

"I'm gonna need some help," Elliot said, feeling a little embarrassed, but there was no way around the fact that he wouldn't be able to get more 'comfortable' without assistance.

"I can help you," Olivia said, not reacting visibly to his embarrassment at all.

She tossed the comforter to the side and helped Elliot sit up to take his tank off. She blew out a breath slowly. She'd never take his muscular chest, shoulders and arms for granted. She knew he'd worked hard to look this way and it was still hard to believe she could touch him now. Elliot leaned back a bit, placing his palms on the mattress behind him. He looked at Olivia then, letting his eyes roam her shirt.

"Your turn."

Don't think, she told herself. Just show him, and deal with his reaction.

She reached for the hem of her shirt and heard Elliot hold his breath when she pulled the shirt up, exposing her scarred upper body to him for the first time. She couldn't believe they were actually doing this and she looked down at his abs after tossing her shirt aside. She didn't need to see his initial shock. She'd look up once he was able to mask it.

Elliot lifted one hand, still leaning on the other one, and Olivia prepared herself for his touch. But his hand went up further than she'd expected, until he put a finger under her chin to make her look up at him. She could feel his hand trembling, and when she finally met his eyes, she could see a sheen of tears in them.

"Liv ..."

Elliot cleared his throat when the word got stuck, and then tried again.

"Liv, I am so very sorry I wasn't there for you. But ... but you will always be the most beautiful woman in the world to me. Can you believe that?"

Olivia wanted to deflect his comment like she always did, but Elliot's thumb, caressing her cheek gently, helped her not to look away this time and to accept what Elliot was saying.

"Okay," she said softly and Elliot knew it was all he could ask for right now.

They'd get there, one step at a time. And her body truly didn't leave him unaffected. He could see the scars but he he could also see her soft skin, her powerful yet feminine shoulders and arms, the way her chest was heaving while she breathed and her amazing, full breasts. Elliot leaned back then, lowering his upper half back onto the mattress. Olivia followed like he had hoped, and when they were skin on skin at last, he felt like he was going to burn to a crisp on the spot. The feeling of her full breasts brushing against his body made his heart thump in his chest and his hands were on her waist instantly, guiding her forward as she moved in to kiss him again.

Olivia sought out Elliot's tongue with hers and relaxed against his body consciously. They were actually doing this. After all these years of looking, wanting, yearning, and then trying to forget, he was underneath her, almost completely naked. They were kissing, touching, exploring. When Elliot moaned, Olivia felt her body respond to him everywhere. She didn't want to hurt him, but her desire was beginning to override her rational thoughts. Elliot was a strong man but he wouldn't do anything to slow down his recovery. Not now. Not when he wanted to be with her so badly.

Elliot could feel Olivia give in, little by little. Her hands were caressing him and it was better than he'd imagined. And he'd imagined this moment a lot. He caressed her back and then her ass, and he pulled her closer to him once his hands were locked behind her thighs. Olivia groaned into his mouth and he felt his body twitch. She must have felt it too, and when he felt her smile against his lips, he wished he didn't have to stay on his back.

"Don't tease me Liv," he mumbled, when he felt her scoot back and put a little extra pressure on his pelvic area.

"Just testing what you hip can take," she said as innocently as she could manage, and then they both chuckled.

Elliot moved his hands up from her thighs, over her hips and waist, until he could cup her breasts. Olivia leaned on her elbows to give him room to touch her, and when his thumbs grazed her nipples, she closed her eyes and dropped her forehead to his shoulder.

"I can't believe this is really happening," Elliot said softly, his voice trembling with emotion as well as arousal.

"Me neither," Olivia whispered.

"But it is."

"Yes, it is."

...

To be continued ... soon! Yes, I know. It's cruel to stop here but I needed one more chapter to alert everyone that the rating is going up. Finally! So if you're not following me or this story, make sure to adjust your filters when you check for the next update. Leave a review?