Prompt - 'Night'. Olivia savours the night. Follows on from the previous two prompts 'Dirty' and 'Confession'.
Warnings: None really. Fluffy and sweet.
***
Nights had never been her favourite time of day. Even with Noah asleep in the next room it still felt lonely. She would never admit to being afraid of the dark but there was an element of truth in that statement. Even the blare of sirens, drunken shouts in the street and trucks roaring along in the early hours were not always enough noise to drown out her own thoughts, anxieties, and fears.
But now, lying in bed, curled against Rafael’s chest, his presence overwhelmed the room and her. The warmth of their bare chests and legs tangled together was incredibly comforting and the steady sound of his soft breathing made her feel calmer than she ever had.
When she had walked through her front door tonight, she had never expected this to the outcome, but she was beyond thrilled that it had been. Her heart was at peace.
She felt his breathing change under her palm, where it laid protectively over his heart, and she turned to observe his face.
“I can hear you thinking.” he mumbled, his voice groggy, the arm curled around her back tightening slightly.
“Sorry.” she whispered.
“S’ok.” he groaned, stretching his back, and moving them both so they were lying facing each other, legs and arms still entwined.
“It’s not a dream.” he whispered, “trust me. I’m here.”
“It’s not that.” she chuckled, nuzzling her face into the crease of his neck.
“After so long being alone, I thought it would feel strange to share my bed, but it doesn’t.”
“Good. I have no intention of leaving, at least not at,” he lifted his head to squint at the clock behind her, “three thirty in the morning.” he smiled sleepily.
“That’s fine with me.” she smiled, pressing a soft lingering kiss to his lips and he hummed in response.
“If you’re not going back to sleep, I can think of something else to do.” he murmured, letting his mouth find that sweet spot behind her ear.
She giggled, and then gasped as his teeth grazed her pulse in her throat. Her hands came up to tug his hair, drawing his face up to hers as their lips met languidly, unhurriedly, as they delighted in savouring every brush of lip and clash of tongue.
Her body sank into his and she wondered how she had known him for so many years and not had the courage to tell him how she felt before or experience him like this because he was intoxicating.
Even after only a few hours together, there was something about them that worked perfectly. He moved on instinct, so did she and savoured learning those tiny details that only those blessed to be intimate could know. It turned out he had a thing for her nails raking down his back, and she was happy to admit she had never climaxed so quickly as she did from his talented hands and mouth. They both relished in knowing that this was only the beginning of learning about each other.
The nights soon became her the best thing about her day.
Alex Goot - Pretty Eyes (I think @khughes830 kinda infected me with the amazing songfics 😅) I'm just cursing the summer break because I'm almost out of Barson edits/pictures to edit. If you happen to have a picture/quote/lyrics/several pictures (to put together) you would like me to butcher to a little edit, don't hesitate to submit them to my blog or PM them to m! 😊
Prompt - ‘Confession’. Rafael makes an overdue admission to Olivia.
No warnings apply. Fluff.
***
He grinned and continued to sip his scotch, savouring the peace and quiet. Her apartment had always felt more homely than his, colourful drawings pinned to the fridge and the wall around the kitchen archway. Pictures of her, Noah and other friends adorned the walls. Some knickknacks here and there, some clearly made by Noah, wonky lumps of clay with excessive glitter or fingerprints, endearing all the same.
Her fingers twitching against the back of his hand brought him back from his reverie and he cleared his throat and reluctantly removed his hand from her leg, the warmth of her body still tingling his hand as he toyed with his own slacks and studiously avoiding her gaze.
“So, I should get going.” he said abruptly, downing the rest of his scotch and standing up, his head moving around in search of his jacket and briefcase.
She stayed sitting, watching him with an odd expression as he moved about gathering his things. His tie went into his jacket pocket before he folded it over the edge of the couch so he could tug his shoes own. His palms were sweating. Something had shifted between them in recent months since he had returned to New York and now it was unnerving him for than he could tolerate. She stood slowly as he went to pick up this jacket and pulled it from his arms, laying it back down.
He watched her, breath baited as she reached out to entwine her fingers with his and he tilted his head.
“‘Liv.” he whispered; his voice huskier than he had heard it before.
She pressed her free hand to his jaw, her thumb smoothing over the faint trace of stubble on his jaw before she pressed a finger to his lips. He gulped.
“You can stay if you like.” she whispered, their bodies now so close he was sure she would be able to feel his heart racing.
He shook his head, but his eyes never left hers. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Why not?” she frowned, her eyes glistening in the dusk light.
“Because you dramatically underestimate my feelings for you. And in a few minutes, you’re going to realise you made a horrible mistake and you’re going to hate me, and I really don’t want that to happen.”
“I could never hate you, Rafa. Never.” her voice came out as barely a whisper.
“Are you sure? If I told you what’s going through my mind, right this second. Can you be sure?” he asked, ducking his head to meet her eyes as she focussed on the floor.
“If it’s that you’re going to tell me you’re leaving again then yes. If you’re going to kiss me and tell me that you love me as much as I love you. Then no.”
His jaw dropped. That was nowhere near what he was expecting but he couldn’t stop the boyish grin splitting across his face as he moved his hands to her waist and tugged her against him. Arms wrapped around each other he buried his face into her neck, his breath tickling her skin he breathed her in deeply, relishing the feel and scent of her finally so close to him.
“I love you, Olivia Benson.” he murmured into her jaw, pressing a tender kiss to her skin, and pulling back to look her dead in the eyes to say it again.
“I love you, beyond words, more than anything. If you’ll have me, I’m yours.” he spoke softly, his voice catching slightly as he cupped her face gently, brushing the softest kisses onto her lips.
She smiled into his lips, kissing him properly, her arms looping around his neck to hold him as tightly as possible.
“If you think I’m letting you go now, you’re sorely mistaken.” she chuckled, rubbing their noses together before kissing him again, their lips becoming more confident, teasing and caressing until they were both clamouring for more. Hands roaming across bodies as they stumbled to the couch, and she pulled him down on top of her. He pulled back and braced his hands either side of her head.
“’Liv, wait a minute.” he whispered, their foreheads pressed together.
“I thought you wanted this.” she replied, her eyes peering up at him.
“Oh, no, I do! I do! I just…well I, would I be able to shower? It’s just, I’m really dirty, I’ve got flour and God knows what all over me.” he chuckled, kissing her temple, trailing his lips down to her jaw and to then to her throat.
She burst out laughing and he frowned. “Of course, you can.”
He sighed in relief, kissing her once more before he moved away and stood up, holding his hand out.
“Do you, uh, want to…” he trailed off, nodding his head towards her room, and hoping she would understand what he was asking. When he had arrived, he had no idea that inviting her to shower with him was going to be the result of the evening and suddenly his nerves were overwhelming. He was delighted to find she was on the same wavelength.
“Yes, please.” she grinned, standing up and tugging him towards her room and he simply smiled and kissed her as soon as the door to her room slammed shut.
Prompt - ‘Dirty’. Rafael and Noah try to bake a cake.
No warnings apply. Fluff.
***
“Why did we think this was a good idea, amigo?” grumbled Rafael as he looked around the kitchen at the mess. Flour all over the counters, sugar sprinkled all over the floor, drips of raw egg in amongst it all.
“Mom’s gonna be maaaad.” whispered Noah.
“No, she’s not, we’ll get this cleaned up, put you in the bath and she’ll never know.” said Rafael firmly.
Just as they had put the ingredients back in their correct places and each grabbed a damp cloth, they heard the click of the lock.
“Oh no!” whispered Noah, looking hesitantly over his shoulder as he and Rafael both ducked to the floor.
“Noah? Lucy? I’m home!” she called out, hanging her coat up and making her way around the corner, she froze seeing the state of her kitchen.
“Noah Porter Benson, you better appear right now so help me God!” she shouted, arms folded across her chest.
Noah slowly stood up, his wild curls caked with food and icing smeared all over his face. Olivia frowned and then rolled her eyes when she saw Rafael pop up next to him.
“I should have known.” she sighed, scrubbing a hand across her face.
“Lucy had to go, something about a sick roommate. I only popped in to drop that file off and well…” he trailed off, shoving his hands in his pockets and rocking back on his heels, “sorry, ‘Liv.”
“We were making you a cake, Mom!” explained Noah, pointing to the countertop behind him.
“Uh huh.” she nodded, coming around to enter the kitchen and she couldn’t help but laugh when she saw the entire kitchen and it’s two occupants.
Rafael and Noah both laughed, but more nervously and Rafael shrugged, “I was going to get him in the bath and clean up before you got home.”
“Well, now I get to put my feet up with a slice of cake and a glass of wine while you both fix this, then don’t I?” she narrowed her eyes at them both and they both nodded eagerly, setting about to serve up said delicacies.
***
It took two lots of shampoo and a thorough combing to rid Noah’s hair of cake ingredients but once clean and with pyjamas on, Rafael agreed to two stories before he said goodnight and tucked the boy in.
Returning to the living room he saw Olivia lounging on the couch, a second glass of wine in hand and a glass of scotch lying in wait for him. He snatched it up and sipped as he sat.
“I really am sorry, ‘Liv, Noah wanted to make you a cake and I couldn’t say no. I genuinely didn’t mean to overstep, or for us to make such a mess.”
“I’m not mad, Rafa, honestly, I just don’t think I’ve ever seen my kitchen so, dirty!” she laughed, “how did one cake turn into that?” she nodded her head towards the kitchen, laughing and taking another sip of wine.
“I’m not sure. Everything was fine, then I knocked over the flour, then Noah tried to crack the eggs on his own and before I knew it, we were both filthy and so was the kitchen!” he chuckled, sipping his scotch, and sighing back into the couch.
“Well, it was very sweet, of you both to make me cake. I don’t think anyone’s ever done that for me.” she said quietly.
“Well, say the word and we’ll do it again, any time you like. Although maybe with your supervision.” he chuckled, patting her thigh.
“That would be nice.” she replied, covering his hand with her own and giving him a dazzling smile.
Prompt - ‘Sick’. Rafael catches the flu, and needs some help.
No warnings apply. Fluff.
***
Rafael felt like death. He couldn’t be sick, he never was, but at that moment he was sure he needed the last rites. He groaned as he lifted his head from his desk to check his watch. Only three minutes had passed. If he could get through his meeting with Buchannan, he could leave.
He lay his head back down, relishing the cool feel of his desk on his cheek as he closed his eyes, what little light there was glaringly bright. The blinds had been pulled down, the lights were off, but it wasn’t completely dark and that only served to make his head throb even more. He had loosened his tie, his neck clammy with sweat and his collar suffocating.
He heard a soft knock on the door, and he mumbled something unintelligible. He had explicitly told Carmen no calls, no uninvited visitors, he was to be left alone for the next hour.
“No offence but you look like death warmed up.” came a soft voice from in front of him.
He had no energy to move so smiled slightly and snorted as he heard footsteps to the side of his desk. He moaned when he felt a cold hand on his forehead and fingers brush back his hair.
“You need to go home, Rafa.”
“Meeting.” he grumbled, sighing as he felt the hand still on his head stroking over his head and down his neck.
“I told Carmen to reschedule it when she rang me saying you looked like hell. I’m taking you home.” she said gently, and he lifted his head and opened his eyes slowly, squinting at the fuzzy figure stood to the side of him.
She smiled and turned to pack up his briefcase, sweeping up the files from the desk and pulling his jacket from the back of his chair.
“S’all your fault.” he muttered.
“I’ll be sure to tell Noah to be more considerate with his germs.” she chuckled, putting her arm around his waist to let him lean into her body.
He sagged against her, his legs feeling jelly-like. She moved him out of the door, thanking Carmen as they made their way to the elevator. He flinched when it chimed on arrival, the noise piercing through his head.
“Where we goin’?” he whispered as she pulled out onto the street but going in the opposite direction to his apartment.
“My place where I can keep an eye on you.”
“To the scene of the crime.” he moaned, resting his head back and squeezing his eyes shut as another wave of pain flooded his body.
“Rafa, you have the flu. Don’t be so dramatic. I told you not to visit when Noah was sick, and you ignored me.”
“Well, someone had to help out.” he whispered, clutching the door handle until his knuckles went white.
“And now I’m looking after you, so quit complaining.” she laughed.
“Mmm.” he hummed, reaching out a hand across the console to touch hers, “thank you.”
She squeezed his hand, rubbing her thumb over his knuckles. “You’re welcome. Now rest, we’re almost home.”
He may have been sick, feverish, and feeling like he had been hit by a truck but hearing her say ‘home’ made his heart leap.
