Notes: So I don't normally do one shot collections like these. But I've got a ton of bits and bobs written courtesy of these two living rent free in my head so I'm going to post them collectively here. Hope you enjoy :)

-:-

"Love me how?"

She pokes and prods, demands an answer with that look in her eye that tells him she's not leaving here without one and he's not going to be able to wiggle his way out of this one. Yet the words are stuck, lodged somewhere deep in his sternum where Harvey can't even access them, let alone articulate them in a way that will satisfy her.

"I don't know!" Harvey exclaims eventually, practically shouting it at her as he finally bends to Donna's determined will, chest heaving with the exertion of trying to give her what she wants. "I don't have a goddamn clue how I love you, I just know I do."

And that, at least, is the truth.

Not all of it. If Harvey were truly honest with himself and his feelings, he knows that there's too many layers to his relationship with her, to what they mean to each other and the way she makes him feel to not have some idea of the nature of those feelings. She's not just his secretary or even his friend. She's more. Maybe even everything.

"Bullshit," Donna scoffs, shaking her head at him, eyes flaring with annoyance and something else he can't quite read. He's never seen it before. "That's a cop out and you know it. And I am so sick and tired of waiting and waiting for you to figure out your emotions, Harvey. I've been doing it for twelve freaking years and I can't take it anymore." The redhead pauses in her rant, a slight glint of tears welling up as the rigid stance of her shoulders ever so slightly deflates. "I don't know how much longer I can wait for you to be ready, Harvey."

And a part of her sounds broken over it, her words a knife twisting in his gut. This is it. A now or never moment, and all he can do is sit frozen in his chair, afraid whatever move he makes will be the wrong one, will be the nail in the coffin that breaks them. He can't have that, can't lose her. The very thought sucks all the air out of his lungs. "Donna… please…" Harvey doesn't even know what he's pleading for, all he can process at the moment is that they have to get past this, back to normal. Except normal isn't working for them anymore. Maybe it hasn't in a long time.

Donna bites her bottom lip, keeping her tears at bay as she studies him, sorrow dulling her gorgeous hazel irises before she nods resignedly at him. "I should have known." And he feels like he's let her down somehow, like he's never been more of a disappointment than he is right this second. How did they get to this point? Swiping a lone tear across her cheek, Donna smiles regretfully at him. "I love you, Harvey, but I can't do this anymore."

She turns on her heel, walking out of his office and it feels as if it's a metaphor for her walking out of his life. All of a sudden, panic grips him by the throat, his airway closing in on him as he sucks in oxygen, and before Harvey even realizes what's happening he's on his feet, taking giant strides after her down the hallway. "Donna!" he shouts, thankful that it's late enough in the office that most of the support staff and associates are no longer milling about as he chases his secretary down.

In under thirty seconds he's caught up to her, reaching out to circle a hand around her wrist, pulling her back to him, and the move drags her body flush against his. Heat flares between them, igniting their senses as Harvey's gaze catches Donna's equally shocked and anguished one. This is why they are so careful never to touch, to never get too close to one another, not since The Other Time, because the second they do the embers of their desire spark.

But they've wedged a foot through that door, just a glimmer of light, of hope, shining through the crack since the other night. He's ignored it, had run from it just as she'd accused him of, but the evidence of it is blatantly staring him in the face when Harvey is holding her against him.

It's what has him leaning forward to capture her lips with his own, his free hand lifting to thread through the flaming tresses of her hair and grip the back of her head, holding her to him, to the moment. Infinity spreads out around them. Everything, all at once.

She stills in his arms, taken aback for a heartbeat before her arms wrap around his neck, a palm cupping his cheek and her mouth opens beneath his. Twin groans rumble in their throats as their lips press frantically together, nerve endings tingling from every point of contact between their bodies. Twelve years of pent up sexual tension, of words unsaid, longings long buried and ignored coming to life in a burst of color.

Now that the barrier has been broken, he can't get enough, his tongue darting out to tease Donna's, hand streaking down her side sensually, gripping around her hip while need claws through him. Harvey doesn't know how long they stand there, wrapped up in each other, only breaking apart when the burning in his lungs becomes too much and even then he can't help himself from dragging her lower lip between his teeth, groaning when her nails scratch lightly at the base of his skull.

"Harvey—" Donna breathes softly, the gravely tone barely above a whisper drives him crazy and he dives in to kiss her again. He's lost his mind, might be putting everything they are in jeopardy, but the image of her walking away from him grips him and suddenly he knows, with total clarity, that this is worth the risk.

"I want you, Donna," Harvey heaves, forehead pressed to hers when they part mouths once more. "I love you and I can't lose you." He's scared, afraid that he's not good enough for her, that he can't be what she deserves, and yet, for some reason she's stood by him all these years. So maybe he is. Maybe it's time that he believes in himself as much as she does. "I'm not sure I'm ready, but I can try. If you'll let me."

The redhead draws back, just enough that she can look him in the eye, that piercing gaze of hers that makes him think she can actually see straight into his soul leveled toward him. For a minute the silence spans between them, Harvey's heart rate increasing with each passing second before Donna sighs and lifts her hand to brush back the hair at his temple. "I'll always let you. That's all I want, Harvey. A real chance. No more running. For either of us."

He nods solemnly, a promise in his eyes as he wraps his arms tightly around her waist and anchors them at the base of her spine, their bodies flush. "No running. I'm willing to gamble on us if you are, Paulsen."

She chuckles, pulling him forward so their lips meet in a soft kiss, both of them quickly getting used to the feeling of being able to perform such a simple action they've denied themselves for far too long. "It's a good thing that you always win then, Specter."