AN: So, I have a feeling some of you are going to hate me at the end of this chapter. But I have already written the next one, so I promise not to leave you hanging for too long.
After hanging up with Ed, she climbed out of bed. It had been a couple weeks since the two had decided to give their relationship another chance or rather he had allowed Olivia a chance to right her wrong. But they hadn't had the opportunity to be alone since then. The last time she'd had sex had been with Ed, which was over a year ago at this point. And she had a lifetime of experience taking care of things herself, but she was starting to be in a state of perpetual arousal. The idea that Ed was coming over in the middle of night because she wanted him there was doing nothing to quench her adult desires. Since Noah was older now, she was grateful for all the experience they had keeping quiet to avoid alerting a little boy to their grown up activities.
The first time they had sex with Noah in the next room was during their trip to Paris. Ed had gotten them a suite at a rather fancy hotel. At first Olivia was uncomfortable with the idea of Ed spending so much money on their trip. In fact she nearly bailed on the trip all together at least twice. She had always been independent, and the idea that a man, or really anyone, wanted to spend that kind of money on her and Noah was hard to comprehend. She also didn't like the idea that she'd owe him. After about a week of negotiations, Olivia agreed that Ed would cover the accommodations and the majority of the food cost. While Olivia would pay for her and Noah's flights and any souvenirs the three of them would get. Of course, Ed then paid for several activities while they explored the city, and the couple hadn't exactly discussed that before hand. But once they got there, Olivia finally let her guard down and allowed herself to be spoiled by this man who was so clearly smitten with her and her son.
And then Ed wooed her everyday they were there. She had to think about very little during the trip, because Ed had planned just enough to make sure Noah's schedule didn't go too haywire, but there was still plenty of spontaneity. After they landed the three were so jet lagged that they mostly rested and slept for the first 12 hours. That night they found a little cafe around the corner, which was packed with tourists, but was still really good. Afterwards they walked through the city, taking in the views and helping to tire Noah out so that he would get to sleep that night. Ed read to Noah that night and she remembers watching the little boy cuddle this rough IAB Captain and falling so completely in love with him.
Once the little boy was asleep they retreated to the master bedroom, which had a breathtaking view of the city, and while she was dripping, she initially denied his advances. He was so patient with her assuring her the little boy was asleep and that they could keep it down. It wasn't that they were particularly loud to begin with, she just hated the idea of Noah seeing anything, and she hated the idea of him hearing anything more. He continued to assure her that Noah would be fine, and that this trip was meant to be a retreat for the two of them too. Finally she relented and allowed him to love her body.
While she had sex with plenty of men before, there was only two other people she would say she had made love with. The first, of course, was Brian. She loved Brian and a part of her always would love him. Brian wasn't ready to grow up and while that made him somewhat more interesting in bed, it meant that they were never going to be a forever. The only other man she would say she had been in love with was Burton. The man she had been engaged to despite her mother's objections. But what she had with Ed was so vastly different than what she had with either of the other two men.
Ed was slow and meticulous. He made her body do things that she had never imagined possible. The first time they had sex was seared into her memory. At first she chalked it up to her 2+ year relationship with her vibator. But Ed quickly proved that he was significantly more experienced and talented in the bedroom than Brian or Burton. Reflecting on it now, she could see how his job actually made him a better lover. The talent he had for reading a bad cop and his relentless pursuit of truth and good transferred to the bedroom. Even if she wanted to, she wouldn't have been able to fake anything with Ed. He would have known, and then he would have resolved to do better. Olivia had never felt more cherished and whole then when she was with Ed Tucker.
Now after a year of missing that feeling Ed was on his way over. She was nervous. She wanted it to be as good for him as he always made sure it was for her. It wasn't that she had an expansive wardrobe, but she had gotten something sexy for him for Valentine's Day last year. Of course, she dumped him before that day arrived. So she went through her drawers until she found the pure white see through teddy and matching thong. Secretly she had done some prep work the morning before hoping that Ed would be accompanying her home after Noah's baseball game. She had a feeling that the wait was going to be more than worth it.
After changing out of her tank top and sleep shorts, she brushed her teeth and put on her robe so she could answer the door. The last thing she wanted her little boy to see was her wearing this skimpy number, and she didn't want Ed to knock and risk waking Noah. While the little boy typically slept until about 8, it was close enough now that if he woke up, he wouldn't be going back to sleep. Especially if Ed Tucker was in the apartment.
Grabbing her phone from the night stand she headed to the door to wait for Ed. It was now 4:51, and Ed would be arriving any moment. She found herself both excited and anxious. She had no doubt that the sex by itself would be good. But she worried that the guilt she felt would come creeping up. Allowing Ed to leave that night she watched the hurt cross his face. She knew then that he had given himself to her and her rejection made him feel stupid.
She had dumped him not too long after he had told her that he loved her. It took them almost a year to say the words to each other directly. Before that he would say things like I love how dedicated you are to the job, or I love Noah. Or he would tell her how proud of her he was. She would say that she appreciated him or that she loved how he treated her little boy.
Ed had said it first. It was New Year's Eve and Noah was already asleep. It was only about 10 pm. So while they had Times Square on the television they weren't really paying attention. She was leaning against him as he ran his fingers through her hair. She let her eyes close at the feeling and just enjoyed the quiet of the moment. She felt him press his lips to her hair line before she heard him barely rumble, "I love you." The words caught her a little off guard but they made her heart swell. She pulled away to look him in the eye and seeing the vulnerability in his eyes only made her more certain of her own feelings. She kissed him. Hard. She pulled away and whispered, "I love you, too". She didn't feel the need to add that she always would, like she had done for Brian. At that moment, she knew she'd be telling him that for the rest of their lives. Remember that moment, and thinking about this year away from Ed, she knew that she would be telling him she loved him for as long as he'd let her.
Her phone pinged and she looked down to see a text from Ed: I'm here.
She took a deep breath, pulled her robe tighter around herself, and then opened the door.