Speed Dating Bensler fic: Chapter 2 First Date
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Olivia's gaze swept the room until she found him in one of those corners—Elliot, relaxed into a couch, a glass of whisky cradled in his hand. He seemed more relaxed than the previous night, wearing another open-collared, long sleeved shirt rolled at the cuffs, and jeans.
“Impressive choice Stabler,” Olivia said as she walked over to him. “Although the candlelight? I didn’t take you for a romantic.”
She gestured toward the small flickering candle on the coffee table. Elliot’s mouth curved into a slow, radiant smile as he looked up at her. She looked stunning.
“Hey, like I said…I’ve got mystery Liv. Besides, thought we could go somewhere more private to talk.”
Elliot stood to greet her, and to her surprise, brushed his lips lightly against her cheek. She flushed before she could stop herself.
“And maybe,” he murmured, close enough for only her to hear, “I like a little romance.”
First Date
The bar Elliot had chosen, Amber & Oak, was far more intimate than the last place. Olivia stepped into a dimly lit room where the air felt warm and hushed. A broad marble counter stretched along the far wall, lined with oakwood stools, each separated by a flickering faux candle. Couples were already settled in, leaning close over plates of charcuterie and glasses of amber whisky. From the shelves behind the barman, rows of polished bottles gleamed in the low light—a clear nod to the house specialty. Olivia wasn’t surprised; this had Elliot written all over it. The walls in the room were draped with red, velvet curtains. Plush velvet couches and deep armchairs were tucked into the corners, each with a low coffee table between them, inviting conversation.
Her gaze swept the room until she found him in one of those corners—Elliot, relaxed into a couch, a glass of whisky cradled in his hand. He seemed more relaxed than the previous night, wearing another open-collared, long sleeved shirt rolled at the cuffs, and jeans.
“Impressive choice Stabler,” Olivia said as she walked over to him. “Although the candlelight? I didn’t take you for a romantic.”
She gestured toward the small flickering candle on the coffee table. Elliot’s mouth curved into a slow, radiant smile as he looked up at her. She looked stunning.
Olivia had opted to wear her hair up tonight in loose curls, so a few tendrils fell around her frame, softening her features. She wore an off-the shoulder, midnight blue mini dress, the fell just below her knees. Like the previous dress, it dipped between her breasts and hugged her curves. It drew more than one glance from other men in the room—not that she noticed. She’d paired it with brown leather kitten boots, understated but elegant.
“Hey, like I said…I’ve got mystery Liv. Besides, thought we could go somewhere more private to talk.”
Elliot stood to greet her, and to her surprise, brushed his lips lightly against her cheek. She flushed before she could stop herself.
“And maybe,” he murmured, close enough for only her to hear, “I like a little romance.”
Olivia’s breath caught in her throat, and she took a moment to calm down her fluttered heart. She arched an eyebrow as she let him guide her into the couch next to him. “You? No, I don’t think so.”
Elliot leaned back against his seat, eyeing her. “You act like you have me all figured out. Maybe I’ve changed.”
Olivia met his gaze. Her heart raced a little at the intensity in his eyes, the kind of unguarded honesty he rarely offered. She would be lying if she said it didn’t scare her a little.
“So,” Elliot took a sip from his drink, watching her with a twinkle in his eye. “We both matched, huh? You pull any other dates?”
Olivia hesitated, glancing down before answering. “Actually, you were the only one.” Olivia saw his grin and quickly added, “Don’t flatter yourself Detective. I was four drinks in by the time the night was over. I couldn’t place a face to a name.”
Elliot raised his eyebrows and gave her a look—half amusement, half disbelief—but didn’t call her on it.
Olivia cleared her throat and asked, her tone carefully casual. “And you? Did you meet anyone else last night?”
Elliot shook his head. Then without pausing for breath, he said casually, “You’re the only one I wanted to see again.”
There it was again—his habit of saying exactly what he felt, bold and audacious. His eyes were steady on hers, the sincerity impossible to misread.
Olivia’s throat tightened, and she deflected. “I see. So no date with a blonde then?”
He frowned slightly, catching the shift in her tone. “Blonde? You mean Tiffany?”
“She has a name. She seemed…taken with you.”
Elliot’s lips twitched into a small smile. “Is that a hint of jealousy I hear Captain? I didn’t realise you were keeping track of me last night.”
Olivia scoffed slightly. “You’re mistaken Detective.”
Elliot studied her through squinted eyes, amused. “No need to be defensive Benson. It’s just an observation.” Elliot took a swing of his drink and continued. “Besides, I think she was more interested in the badge than myself.”
Olivia’s lips parted slightly in a small ah. “Every woman likes a man in uniform.”
Elliot raised his eyes, a suggestive look gleaming in them. “Every woman?”
Olivia bit her lip and dipped her head down, avoiding the intensity in his eyes and the look that read; even the woman sitting in front of me?
Deflecting, Olivia asked, “So, does Kathleen know that we matched?”
“She, uh…saw the text and found out that we matched. It didn’t take her long to figure out who I was meeting tonight. What about Rollins?”
“She eventually wore me down too. Surprisingly, she’s excited for our date.”
Elliot smiled. “Kathleen too.” Seeing Olivia’s look of surprise, he said, “Don’t look surprised, she’s always had a fondness for you Liv.”
Olivia shrugged slightly, briefly glancing down. “After Kathy died…I felt guilty,” Olivia admitted softly. She swallowed, trying to find the words. “I know I have no reason to, we never….you would have never…” Olivia’s voice trailed off, not finishing what was hanging in the air.
Olivia feared that Kathy always suspected that there was something more to the emotional connection they had, as office husband and wife. She even admitted to Olivia that she could be there for Elliot in ways that she never could.
Elliot could see the torture on Olivia’s face and he shook his head slowly. “Liv, don’t.”
Olivia met his eyes and said quietly, “Since her death…I feel almost relieved that Kathleen isn’t upset, let alone supportive.”
“Kathleen has known you for years Liv, you’re like family to her. She would never be upset at you.”
They shared a small smile. “Well, regardless, I don’t doubt they’ll be questions for us once we return.” She leaned forward, a lighter playfulness returning to her tone. “What shall we tell them?”
A suggestive looked gleamed in his eye, and his his voice dropped an octave when he whispered, “Well, it depends how you want to play this Liv.”
Olivia raised her eyebrows at him. Then to his surprise, Elliot took her hand resting on her knee, and brought it to his lips, placing a chaste kiss to her knuckles. Olivia shivered at his touch. It was light and cool, but powerful enough to send her heart accelerating
“What was that?” Olivia whispered as he gently let her hand down.
Elliot shrugged. “My move.” His lips curved into a hint of a smirk, sensing the breathlessness in her voice. “So, how do you want the cards to fall?”
Olivia studied him for a moment, weighing his words. Then, with a faint smirk, she rested her hand lightly on his knee. Her voice was thick with desire when she said, “I think, you need to buy me a drink first Detective…and we see where this goes.”
Elliot didn’t miss the suggestive twinkle in her eye. He didn’t need asking twice. Within seconds, Elliot was out of his seat and heading for the bar.
Olivia almost laughed at the excited bounce she saw in his step. She leaned forward to rest her chin on her hand, watching him line up, admiring his frame. Although it felt like nothing had changed when it came to their emotional connection, the same fire still there as if he had never left, but physically…Olivia’s eyes dragged down his body, admiring his defined muscles through his tight shirt.
There was something new there.
Since his healing journey, it was clear that Elliot had been working out. It lit a whole new fire of desire within her. She was nervous. But through the nerves, she also felt excited. Olivia wasn’t sure what she was expecting from tonight, but was starting to suspect what Elliot was hoping for.
Elliot returned shortly later with her drink.
“Whisky on the rocks,” Olivia said impressively, taking her drink. “You remembered.”
Elliot clicked his tongue as he sat down. “Same as always.”
Olivia took a sip, relishing the warm burn running down her throat and the soothing feeling of it in her stomach. When she looked up, she saw his eyes on her.
Olivia cocked her head to the side, casting him a flirtatious smile from above her glass. “You’re staring Detective.”
Elliot cast her a sheepish smile. “Can’t help it. You’re…breathtaking Liv.”
Olivia’s breath caught in her throat once more. It was the way he was looking at her…with such raw openness and vulnerability. He starred at her like she was a work of art. She dipped her head to hide the heat rising in her cheeks.
Elliot took a swing of his drink, eyes still on her when he casually said, “I like that dress on you to. How come you never wore dresses like that back when we worked together?”
“We didn’t exactly do this kind of thing,” she countered. “Dresses like what?”
“Like that,” he said, his gaze flicking briefly to her shoulders, admiring hint of skin at her neckline. “It’s… sexy.”
Olivia was truly caught off guard this time. She didn’t know whether to laugh or fire back with a retort of her own. But Elliot held held her gaze, bold and daring. It sent her heart fluttering in her chest once more. And Olivia couldn’t deny that she wasn’t enjoying the clear attraction he had towards her.
Olivia tilted her head to the side as she squinted at him, her lips curving into a faint smile. Her voice was flirtatious and a little curious when she spoke. “Sexy, huh?”
“Mmhmm,” he said, the corner of his mouth lifting.
Olivia slowly crossed her leg over the other. Then her eyes dragged down the line of his body before meeting his again. She said, “You know, you clean up fine yourself too Stabler.”
His smile deepened. The air between them shifted—still light, still teasing, but charged.
“You always do that,” Elliot observed.
Olivia tilted her head to the side once more, squinting at him. “Do what?”
Elliot gestured towards her. “That little head tilt when I get under your skin,” he said. “It’s—” he let out a small breath of a laugh, “endearing.”
Olivia huffed out a laugh, shaking her head slightly. “You’re impossible.” But the corner of her mouth betrayed her, curving up despite herself.
Elliot suddenly changed tracks. “Liv, can I ask you something? I wanted to know, why did you write my name down? I mean when you turned down my offer to leave…I was a little surprised when I saw that we matched.”
Olivia’s eyes blossomed with surprise, taken back. Of course she would write his name down. “I wanted to see you again.” Olivia hesitated, a little confronted at being put on the spot. Then she said, “I was curious to see where this goes.”
“Can I share what I think?”
Olivia tilted her head to the side, curious but silent, letting him answer.
“I think,” Elliot whispered, his voice dropping to a smoky whisper. “You wanted to see if we still have it. That spark.”
Olivia arched her brow, an amused smile gracing her lips. “Spark?”
“This spark.”
Then he took her wrist once more and brought it up to his mouth, stirring a gasp from her lips.
“Here,” Elliot murmured into her skin. Then his lips slowly trailed up her arm and he placed another chaste kiss on her forearm, “Here.” Then he turned her hand over in his, delicately cradling her fingers in his, before bringing his mouth down to the accelerating pulse on her wrist once more. “And here.”
His kiss was soft, his touch feathery light, but enough to send her heart galloping in her chest and drumming in her ears. Olivia could barely breathe. She couldn’t think, desire stirring in every cell of her body. Her glass of whisky trembled in her hand and she clutched it tighter, willing herself not to drop it.
Elliot smirked, seeing the clear effect he was having on her. “Well Captain, am I right?”
Judging from her stunned silence, Elliot knew his answer.
“So,” Elliot said slowly, placing her hand back down on her leg, but he didn’t let her go, his thumb ghosting over her knuckles. “How did I do?”
He was referring to the competition they had set last night. Clearly, it wasn’t over. Olivia cleared her throat, trying to hide the desire in her voice when she breathed, “Better.”
Then she took a sip from her drink and said, “Perhaps there’s hope for you yet Detective.”
Elliot grinned.
Olivia glanced down, watching their intertwined hands. She couldn’t deny the chemistry. His touch alone was enough to send her body flushing, shivering, clearly wanting more. At the same time, it felt right, natural, her hand in his.
“Can I ask you a question El?”
Elliot looked up, a little taken back at the new sincerity in her tone.
Olivia met his eyes. “Why did you leave so soon last night?” Seeing his look of surprise, she added softly, “I felt awful, pushing you away again like that. I didn’t mean to. You just caught me off guard and…” she shook her head slightly, trying to find the right words. “I just didn’t want to hurt you.”
Elliot’s heart softened at her compassion. Of course she would be concerned for him.
“Liv, I left because I didn’t want to watch you talk to any of the other guys there.”
Olivia raised her head, surprised. Then she said teasingly, “You were jealous.”
Elliot raised a brow. “And you weren’t?”
Olivia lowered her eyes to her drink, a small frown pinching her features. She confessed, “Maybe I was a little distracted watching you flirt with that blonde…”
She looked back up, seeing his smile. Olivia said teasingly, “So what would you have done to the men I spoke to if you stayed? Beat them up for me?”
Elliot huffed. “I doubt you would have liked that. You never approved of how I treated your boyfriends.”
No. Olivia remembered how protective Elliot used to be with her, and the hostile energy he expressed towards her boyfriends - Cassidy, Erickson, Moss. Elliot always looked as if he wanted to shove them right outside the prescient when they came to pick her up. Olivia breathed out a small laugh. “No, you were never so nice to them, were you?”
“They were never good enough for you, Liv.”
He said it so casually, so matter-of-fact, that it caught her off guard.
“Not all of them,” Olivia murmured.
Elliot blinked, startled by her tone. She wasn’t teasing. She was staring down into her glass, a shadow flickering across her eyes. His chest tightened at the grief written there.
“Who was he?” he asked softly.
Olivia looked up, meeting his gaze for a long, quiet moment before shaking her head. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
He squeezed her hand until she lifted her eyes again. “Liv, I want to know. Trust me.”
She hesitated, throat working as she swallowed, then slowly set her glass aside. “Alright. It was Ed.”
“Tucker?” The name slipped out before Elliot could stop it, sharper than he meant, and he winced at himself.
Her glare was instant. “I knew you wouldn’t approve.”
Hands up, he shook his head quickly. “I’m sorry—I just wasn’t expecting it. Please…tell me.” His voice softened. “I want to understand.”
She gave him a steady, warning look, but after a beat she nodded, eyes lowering back to her drink. “We dated longer than most people realize. It wasn’t a fling, Elliot. I… I loved him.” Her voice cracked, and she forced herself to go on. “He wanted to retire. He asked me to marry him. But I wasn’t ready to leave the job—I couldn’t retire, there was still so much left I had to do. So he married someone else. And then, a year later…” Her voice faltered. “Cancer. He was gone.”
“Oh, Liv.” Elliot’s whisper was heavy with sorrow.
Olivia hadn’t realized she was crying until a tear slid into her glass. A ragged breath left her chest, a sob catching in her throat. In an instant, Elliot was pulling her into his arms.
“I’m sorry,” she mumbled into his collar, ashamed of the way the grief still blindsided her after all these years.
“Don’t,” he whispered fiercely, his arms tightening around her. “I’m the one who’s sorry—for not being here when you needed me.”
And she knew he meant it. She could hear it in the rough edge of his voice, feel it in the way he clung to her. He regretted the years she had grieved alone.
Olivia closed her eyes, exhaling into the safety of his embrace. Despite the ache in her chest, this—being here, in his arms—felt natural. Right.
After a moment, she lifted her head, swiping at the wet streaks on her cheeks. Mascara smudged on her finger. “God, I’m a mess.”
Elliot’s lips curved into a smile, warm and crinkling at the corners. “You’re still gorgeous.”
A breathy laugh escaped her. She tilted her head, teasing through her tears. “Do I still look sexy?”
“You always look sexy, Liv.”
Her breath caught, not just at the words but at the certainty behind them. She knew he wasn’t only talking about tonight. He meant all the years, all the late nights at the precinct, all the versions of herself she’d been in front of him.
She studied his face. The same marble blue eyes she had memorized long ago, but lined now with age and everything he’d carried. Crinkles at the corners, reminders of old smiles. Creases carved between his brows. Without thinking, her hands rose to his face, thumbs tracing those lines with aching tenderness.
His breath hitched under her touch.
So much had changed. His openness. His vulnerability. And physically…
Her hands slid down, resting on his broad shoulders. Her hand slid down an arm, wrapping around his bicep. She felt the solid strength of him beneath her palms, so familiar and yet different. Years apart, and still her body remembered this closeness as if no time had passed. She felt his hands curling into her waist, responding to her touch.
Olivia dipped her head down into his chest, her eyes fluttering shut as she breathed in his scent. She could smell leather and familiar hint of musk from his aftershave. It brought back memories of long nights spent in the car with him. She brushed her nose against his collarbone, and heard his breath catch in his throat.
“Liv…” Elliot’s voice broke the silence. It was barely a whisper, but reverent, aching with everything unsaid.
Olivia lifted her eyes up. Elliot’s eyes searched hers, unguarded, and for a moment neither of them moved.
Olivia swallowed hard, her heart beating faster under the weight of his gaze. Her thumbs brushed over the curve of his jaw, lingering. “I just can’t believe you’re here,” she breathed, as if still needing to convince herself it was real. “You came back.”
“I’ll never leave again,” he promised, raw and certain.
The words stole the air from her lungs.
“You’ve changed, you know.”
Elliot raised his brow. “Changed?”
“Mmm-hmm.” Olivia’s voice was low as her hands wandered down his arms and across his chest, feeling his muscles tense beneath her touch. “You were never so open with your feelings before.”
Elliot’s cheeks lifted into a faint smile. “Therapy. You’re not the only one healing scars.”
Olivia’s mouth lifted into a soft smile of her own. “I like it,” she admitted, her tone quiet but sincere. Then her eyes dipped briefly to his chest. “And you’ve been working out, too.”
His brow lifted, a spark in his eye. “Do you like that change too?”
A flush crept up her cheeks. She bit her lip and nodded. “I do.”
The heat between them deepened. She met his gaze and saw the same flames of desire dancing in his eyes. Without another thought, Olivia closed the distance between them, her lips brushing his in a chaste kiss. The kiss was soft yet firm, enough to send his heart thundering between their chests. When her lips parted his so she could drink him in further, breathing him in as if he was her oxygen, she heard a small groan vibrate from the base of his throat.
Olivia pulled back, fighting a grin at the stunned look on his face.
“God, Liv…” Elliot’s voice was thick with desire. “What are you doing to me?”
Olivia laughed a soft, breathy thing, her eyes lowering to his chest. She toyed with the button of his shirt, fingers brushing over the warm skin beneath.
Her tone was dripping with desire when she whispered huskily, “I think you need to take me home, Detective… before we get into trouble.”
Elliot grinned. He didn’t need telling twice.
