Okay, I know it's been such a long time since I updated. I've just been in such a slump. I have so many fics on my laptop that are basically finished, halfway finished, nowhere near finished, etc., that I really want to get to – I've just been really struggling. I even have three multi-chapter fics that I've been working on for years. I'm determined to post them, I just hate posting multi-chapter fics when I don't have the whole story at least worked out.
So, anyway, please pray for me and that I find some inspiration!
In the meantime, I figured I'd post another chapter of this story in the hopes it would motivate me to work on my other stuff. Hope you like it!
««« ×ǁ MILESTONES ǁ× »»»
He doesn't even have to lift a lid to know it's still early, and while the last thing he wants to do is open his eyes, it happens almost without his consent. It's when his arm stretches across the bed, hoping to tug her warm body closer to his, and instead he encounters nothing but the empty bedsheets.
That's when it happens – a frown touches his lips as he blinks a few times, trying to clear his hazy vision.
Confirming that she's not lying beside him, he sits up and tries to listen for her, wondering if she's already hopped into the shower.
"Donna?" He calls out to her as he scans his brain, hoping he didn't forget an early meeting she had scheduled or a spin class she planned to attend.
He waits a beat, but doesn't get a response. Instead, the sound of her bare feet padding across his hardwood floors is enough of an answer for him, his lips turning upward at the realization that she's still there.
"What are you doing?" He calls out to her again, moments away from getting out of bed and investigating it himself.
"Making coffee," she announces as she appears in the doorway, a blend of simmering red hair, creamy skin, and the crisp white fabric of his dress shirt.
She looks so good that he doesn't even notice the steaming mug of coffee she's holding in each hand.
"C'mere," he encourages, unable to fight the urge to get his hands on her.
The truth is, he's so done fighting that urge.
"Me or the coffee?" She teases with a raised eyebrow and half a smirk.
"You," he answers without hesitation. "But also the coffee," he adds, playfully.
A chuckle escapes her lips as she glides across his bedroom, taking a seat on his side of the bed and offering him one of the coffee cups.
As he accepts the mug and raises the rim to take a sip, his palm lands on her bare knee and he gives it a gentle squeeze in a silent thanks.
The moment the liquid hits his taste buds, his eyes close of their own volition while he savors the taste. No matter how many times he's tried, he has never been able to replicate the perfection that is a cup of coffee prepared by Donna Paulsen.
It was one of the innumerable things he missed when she left his desk – the coffee she'd bring back for him whenever she went to get herself a cup – it was incomparable.
It's something he has certainly not taken for grantid since being able to enjoy it on the regular once again. Although, he's never gotten to enjoy it quite like this – three seconds in and he's already hooked.
"Mmm…" he hums before opening his eyes to find her watching, looking wholly amused.
"Good?" She smirks.
"The best," he confirms, placing the mug on his nightstand, and turning back to her with a big smile. The hand that had been on her knee is now inching up her thigh, the pads of his fingers relishing her soft skin. It's when he comes in contact with the fabric of his dress shirt that something in his mind clicks – the familiarity of the moment.
Donna seems to pick up on the realization he's had because she tilts her head to the side and asks, "What is it?"
"Nothing, I just… I had a dream like this, once," he meets her eyes with a smile.
"Oh?" She responds, her interest definitely peaked.
"Yeah – you brought me coffee in bed, and you were wearing my shirt," he explains as he toys with the hem.
Donna hmms in response, an amused smile tracing her lips. "Of course that's what you'd dream about," she teases.
"It was a great dream," he tells her, delighting her with a big grin.
Donna laughs at his silly expression, running her fingers through his bedhead, and wearing a happy smile.
Harvey relishes the sight of her laughter, feeling so fortunate that he gets to witness it like this nowadays. Once she eventually quiets down, he leans in and press a gentle kiss to her lips, wanting to give her a proper greeting.
When he pulls away, he doesn't go far, instead resting his forehead against hers and exhaling a breath.
"This is much better, though."
(→→⁕←←)
They're a fit of giggles as they stumble through her front door, neither one of them even sure what they're laughing about anymore.
It's Friday night and they don't have to work tomorrow and well, they may have gone a bit overboard. In all honesty, they've both had way too much to drink, but it's the perfect amount of way too much – feeling light and free and silly.
With everything that's been happening at the firm these last several weeks, they hadn't had a chance to have a night out like this before – one where they just let go and not give a second thought to ordering that extra drink.
She's not sure what made them decide to have one tonight, but she's glad for it.
It was exactly what they needed.
"I don't know why you won't just admit it," Harvey declares, a big grin lighting up his face. "That bartender was definitely flirting with you," he maintains as he shrugs off his suit jacket and folds it over the back of the couch.
Donna giggles, kicking off her heels and losing her height. Meeting Harvey's eyes, she catches the amusement shining in them and sashays across the room, her palms landing on his chest as she says, "Can you blame her?" She smirks, her eyes twinkling with mischief.
His gaze darkens in response, his hands curving around her sides and tugging her closer. "Nope. Definitely not," he proclaims.
"Plus, you liked it," Donna accuses, confronting him with her narrow gaze. "Don't lie," she adds quickly, poking her finger into his chest.
"I didn't hate it," he admits, trying to stifle the curl of his lips. Meanwhile, the alcohol's got him feeling greedy – his hands roaming her body like he doesn't get to touch her every single night of the week. "Although… if she kept it going much longer, I might've had to do something about it," he tells her, breathing the words into her neck.
"Oh really?" She asks, highly entertained by the thought.
She feels his smile hiding at the edge of her collarbone before he scatters a few kisses on her neck. "You know how I feel about sharing you," he elaborates, his voice low and turned on, the buzz in his skull only making him want her more. He nips at her skin a little, just to reinforce the point.
Donna hmms in response, her palms taking their time, roaming those prominent muscles in his back. "Wow, I would've thought you'd immediately start angling for a threesome," she teases.
At that, he makes a noise, muffled against her throat, before pulling back to meet her eyes. His own are narrow and staring straight back at her, paired with the beginnings of a frown. "I'd never want someone else getting in the way of this," he tells her, genuine and without hesitation, refusing to take the bait. "You're all I want," he adds, his eyes glassed over but looking deep into her soul.
It's all she needs to hear before she's suddenly done with the conversation, grabbing his hand, and leading him towards her bedroom, just like she did that one night so many weeks ago.
It feels like a lifetime ago, but just as he did back then, he follows her without question.
Tugging him across the threshold of her bedroom, she pulls him close, standing on her toes so she can get within reach.
"Me too," she whispers against his lips.
(→→⁕←←)
She only strolled in a few minutes ago but she's already made herself comfortable, nursing a glass of wine on the couch as she enjoys the laid-back riff and melodic bass of Sonny Sitt playing on Harvey's record player.
Glancing at the clock, she assumes he'll be home any minute. After having one too many late nights this week, he promised her they'd spend the evening together, just the two of them, making up for the time they'd lost over the past several days – and more.
True to his word, she doesn't wait long. Harvey wanders in just a few minutes later, looking far more relaxed than he did at the office – that adoring expression on his face and a bag of takeout in his arms.
"Hey," she greets him, getting up from the couch to sashay towards the kitchen.
He smiles as he watches Donna glides around the counter, reaching into his cabinet to grab a wine glass for Harvey, while clearly planning on refilling her own.
Harvey doesn't feel like waiting, though. After dropping the takeout on the counter, he immediately sneaks behind her, getting both hands on her waist, and placing a few kisses along her collarbone and throat while she tries to focus on pouring them each a glass of wine.
She makes it about five more seconds before she's forced to give in to his distraction and put the wine bottle back on the counter. Of course, that only encourages Harvey more, and within seconds, Donna is humming her approval, and tilting her head to the side to give him more room to work, relishing the feel of his touch.
He loves coming home to her like this. After the long hours of having to stay professional and keep a respectable distance, he truly can't wait for moments like these – just standing in his kitchen, his hands on her body, and his lips exploring.
It's small, but it's everything.
Smiling against her skin, he takes a few more seconds to nip at her neck before eventually urging her to turn around.
Turning in his grasp, she winds her arms around his neck, pulling herself closer as they stand there, beaming at each other.
"Hi," he says, drunk on happiness, as he leans in, hovering over her lips.
"Hi," she replies, unable to suppress the megawatt smile before she closes the gap between them.
It's a quick kiss, but it ties them over.
"How was court?" She inquires once they separate.
"I killed it," he declares with his signature smug grin. "How was your day?" He wonders as he runs his hands up and down her back. His hearing went much later than expected, so they really didn't see much of each other.
"Kind of rough… I had to endure Mrs. Jenkin's quarterly rampage – I was on the phone with her all morning, trying to calm her down," she says with a dramatic roll of her eyes. "And then Louis was in a particularly ridiculous mood today… he's decided that we should all have those standing desks and that all of our meetings should be standing meetings, from now on," she chuckles. "Apparently, sitting is the new smoking," she quips.
"Oh of course," Harvey retorts, rolling his eyes at his partner's antics.
"Gretchen's decided that Sheila's pregnancy hormones are contagious," Donna informs him with a silly smirk.
"You know… she could be on to something," Harvey decides, an amused laugh rumbling in his chest. "Maybe he's caught her pregnancy cravings, too," he contemplates. "Yesterday, I found him in the executive kitchen, sorting a family-size bag of gummy bears – evidently, he only likes the clear ones," Harvey explains.
"The clear ones?!" Donna exclaims, looking personally offended. "No one only likes the clear ones," she argues.
"It's Louis," he shrugs, nothing further needing to be said.
"Does he not realize that all the gummy bears are exactly the same flavor?" She continues, still in awe over the revelation.
"Again, it's Louis," he repeats, his eyes brimming with amusement.
"He is quite the character," she agrees with a smile.
"That's the nice way of putting it," he chuckles.
Donna responds with a laugh before her eyes find the bag of takeout sitting on the counter. "So, what'd you get? I'm starving," she declares before wandering out of his grasp to start unpacking their dinner. As soon as she sees those familiar cartons, she glances back at him to exchange a smile.
She's not sure how or if he knew that she's been craving it lately, not wanting to suggest it since she knows he's not the biggest fan. It's truly the only downside to them sharing so many meals these last couple months.
"You know, for someone who always complains about how shitty this place is, you sure have eaten it a lot over the years – I think you actually like it," she accuses, narrowing her eyes at him.
Harvey chuckles, wandering his way back towards hers, standing close enough so her back is against his front while his hands land on her waist again. "Or maybe… I just liked eating it with you," he says, sweetly before placing a kiss below her ear.
It's far from the first time he's said something like this to her, and even still, she feels like her heart is going to burst from the words and well – all of a sudden, she's got something other than Thai food on her mind.
««« ×ǁ MILESTONES ǁ× »»»
Please don't forget to leave a review! They are my biggest source of inspiration. And if you have any ideas about other milestones you'd like to see, let me know!