Notes: Oof, I've been sitting on this one for a while. Not beta-read. Never beta-read.
Rating: Mature
Warnings: Early established relationship; office make-out
Summary: It’s a real shame that Rafael will be stuck in his office…But you could always drop off something sweet.
He leaves three things on your voicemail: A reason, an apology, and a murmured petname—mi vida.
You have to google what that means, and when you do, it kicks off butterflies in your stomach. Of course, most messages from Rafael do, even when he’s standing you up for a date.
Well. Does it count as standing up if he called and told you that he wouldn’t be able to make it after you showed up at the bar where the two of you were meant to meet up?
Probably not—it is probably, technically, just cancelling. And it’s something that you’re rapidly coming to realize is simply a reality of dating Rafael Barba.
You toy with your phone as you consider what to do next. You’re already out, you can just grab a bite, maybe a drink. It’s a real shame that Rafael will be stuck in his office…But you could always drop off something sweet.
--
"What are you doing here?"
"Oh, uh—" You look between Carmen and Rafael as they both wait for you to answer, a guilty smile curling your lips. "I just figured you'd have a late night. I was dropping off something for you to have later." You hold the bag up as you say so, melting a touch as Rafael's surprise shifts to warmth.
"Come in," He nods you closer. You give Carmen another flighty smile before hurrying closer, sliding past him and into his office. You take a quick look around as Rafael closes the shades on his door and windows. You've been in there a time or two, but only for a couple of minutes at a time. Your eyes sweep across the open files spread over his desk, accompanied by legal pads, a couple of pens, his open laptop.
"I'm sorry," You blurt as he rounds closer, clarifying when confusion washes his handsome face again. "I mean, I didn't mean to interrupt your flow or anything, I—I was planning to just leave this with Carmen."
"Well," He takes the bag from you. "I'm glad you didn't just leave it with Carmen."
"I would've if you hadn't come out."
"I heard your voice," He sets the bag down on his desk before he takes one of the chairs in front of his desk, carrying it around to set it beside his and setting his hands on the back of the seat. "C'mere."
You settle down in it, smiling as Rafael joins you, unpacking the cherry empanada and breaking it in two. You reach for the smaller piece, but Rafael tuts, holding out the larger of the two.
“Rafael,” You tut, waiting for the smaller one regardless, “All of this was supposed to be for you, that’s why I only got one. Gimme.”
Rafael pouts before he does as you ask, passing you the smaller piece. He leans in as he does, pressing a soft kiss to your lips. You smile at the touch, leaning back and relaxing in your seat.
"Are you headed for a late night?" You ask, fighting the urge to get a closer look at his files.
"It would appear so," Rafael sighs, glancing toward his desk. "We got some evidence late from the defense."
"You can't ask for an extension?"
"We did."
“Yikes. Sorry.”
“Mm. What’d you get up to today?” He asks before raising the empanada for a bite.
“Oh, you know, work. Put off some errands I’ve been meaning to run.”
“Any particular reason?”
“Honestly? I just didn’t feel like it. It’s been so gross out,” You wrinkle your nose, nodding toward the window. “I hate that you’re working late, but at least you’re working late in air conditioning.”
“Tell you what,” Rafael dusts his hands of the remaining flaking pieces of pastry, “We’ll do them together this weekend.”
Your brows tip up in surprise, and Rafael chuckles, “What?”
“You wanna come grocery shopping with me?”
"I'd love to. You can learn a lot about someone from how they buy their groceries. Besides," He nudges his knee against yours. "I haven't seen you all week."
You swallow a comment with your next bite, but Rafael seems to read your silence all too well, tacking on:
"I know that's my fault."
You shake your head. "Fault isn't—I mean, it's work, Rafa. Besides, it's not like I didn't know what I was getting into."
"Still."
"No 'still.' You set those expectations early. And you don’t do this all the time. Just, you know. Some of the time."
Rafael smiles, and appears to be winding up to say something else when there's a knock at the door. He tips his chin up, calls out, "Yes?"
Carmen opens the door, offering you an apologetic smile before turning the full force of her attention back to Rafael.
"Carisi called, said he found new footage of the victim. He’s sending it over.”
"Thank you."
You lean back in your seat as Carmen shuts the door, popping the last of the sweet morsel into your mouth.
"I should get out of your hair."
"Stay a couple more minutes."
You give Rafael a chastising smile, nodding toward his computer when it chimes with an email.
"You should check that. I'm sure it's important."
"So are you."
"It's different."
Rafael lets out a soft, dissatisfied grunt as he turns to his laptop. You gather the scraps of packaging, throwing them out before you turn back to give Rafael one more goodbye. Or, at least, you mean to—but the man is hunched over his laptop.
"Have you been sitting like that all day?" You tut.
“Hm?...Oh—most of it, I guess.”
You hesitate, swiping your hands against your pants before rounding behind his seat. His head tips back toward you, but his eyes stay set on the screen.
“Can I touch you?” You murmur. It takes him a moment, but Rafael nods. You reach down, sliding your hands over the back of his neck. You watch him draw in a deep breath, his shoulders lifting and falling with it. You work your fingers under his collar, massaging at the base of his neck. You hear and feel his soft hum, and you increase the pressure just a touch, sweeping your thumbs up and rubbing in small, firm circles.
You consider stopping when Rafael doesn’t move or make another sound—and then his laptop screen dims, and you eye his reflection. Your lips pull with a self-satisfied smile as you see his eyes closed, his lips parted slightly. You use the palm of one hand to massage the base, sliding the other up into his hair and gently combing your fingers over his scalp. You glance toward the computer as it chimes again, and you lean back reluctantly, smoothing Rafael’s hair back and lifting your hand out of his collar.
“Okay,” You sigh, “Really getting out of your hair this time—literally.”
You step back out from behind his chair, ready to leave, but Rafael catches hold of your hand. You look down at it, then catch his eye as he pushes his chair back, tugging you to stand between his legs. You drag your feet just a little, brow furrowing as you take in his face. There’s a slight flush in his cheeks; his eyes are dark as he smooths his other hand over your thigh, hooking it around the back to guide you even closer.
Rafael raises your hand to his lips, pressing a tender kiss to your knuckles before he rises from his seat, chest brushing yours. His eyes sweep across your face before he leans in, catching your lips in a kiss.
You think, at first, that it’ll be a quick goodbye kiss—but the slide of Rafael’s hands around your back tells you that he intends it to be otherwise.
There’s a tang of cherry on his tongue as he dips it between your lips, a soft groan falling from him as you tip your head to the side, deepening your kiss. He eases you a step back, then another, and you barely startle as the backs of your thighs bump against the edge of his desk. Your arms lift to curl around his shoulders, pressing your chest against his as he settles between your thighs. Your thighs twitch around his hips as his hand smooths down your back, his fingers bruising tantalizingly at your waistband.
“Rafa,” You breathe against his lips, the murmur of his name chased by a moan as he ducks his head, nipping tenderly at your jaw. You slip your hands beneath his suit jacket, easing it from his shoulders, and grinning as he lets go of you just long enough to shake it off. You part your lips as his tongue sweeps between your lips, teasing at yours as his hands grasp your hips.
You curl your hands around his suspenders, prepared to haul him closer—and freezing when there’s a knock on the door.
Rafael calls out, “One minute!” as you dip your head, resting your forehead against his shoulder.
“Got carried away,” You mumble.
“We both did.”
“You really do need to watch it with that tech-neck.”
“Mm.”
“I mean you were bent all over that keyboard—”
Rafael’s hand curl around your jaw, tipping your chin up to meet his eyes.
“I’m fully aware, mi vida.”
You bite the inside of your cheek to keep from grinning, give him a small nod. His eyes narrow slightly, head tipping.
“What’s that face for?” He prods.
“Nothin’. Just—Liked hearing it on the phone, like it even more in person.”
Rafael grins, leaning in and brushing his lips against yours. “Mi vida.”
“Okay,” You chuckle. “I really should go, ‘cause it’s late, and someone is waiting on you. Shouldn’t hold them up. If we're not careful, you’ll be snoring in court tomorrow.” You lean in, pressing another soft kiss to Rafael’s lips before you gently dislodge yourself from him, stepping around the desk. Rafael sticks close, taking your hand in his and giving your knuckles another kiss.
“I’ll make it up to you,” He promises.
“There’s nothing to make up for, Rafael, honestly,” You swear. “Text me when you get home?”
“It’ll be late.”
“S’alright.”
“Okay.”
You give his hand one more squeeze before opening the door to his office, giving a quick wave to Carmen and Detective Benson before hurrying to leave.
