Prompt - 'Fight'. Olivia and Rafael can argue like the best of them.
Warnings - very very light angst, one or two words of bad language.
***
They had both been wrong, that was the real problem. They had both been stubborn. They had both been unwilling to relent and now it had descended into chaos.
“ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?” she screamed, whirling around to see him stalk across the living room.
“’Liv, can we table this for another day please?”
“No, we can’t, Barba!” she shouted, slamming her hands down on the counter and facing him with a steely expression, “Are you seriously considering taking this job?”
“I DON’T KNOW!” he screamed back, waving his hand in the air before allowing it to drag down his face, closing his eyes briefly and breathing in deeply.
“I don’t know.” he groaned, turning to slouch on the couch, yanking at his tie and flinging across the room in frustration.
She took a deep breath and watched him for a moment, his elbows on his legs as he bowed his head and ran his fingers through his hair. She sighed and bit her lip moving to sit next to him.
“I’m sorry.” she whispered, but he didn’t turn his head and laughed quietly.
“No, you’re not.” he said softly, and she frowned, “and you shouldn’t be. You have every right to be angry. I should have told you before, I just…oh I don’t know.”
“You can’t seriously be considering a permanent job with that firm, Rafael.”
“It’s good money, ‘Liv. And I can’t keep bouncing from one thing to another, not now. We need stability, how can I support my family if I don’t know where my next paycheck is coming from?”
“You know that’s a really old-fashioned way of thinking.” she chuckled, giving him an affectionate smile.
“Well, I’m an old-fashioned guy.” he laughed softly, leaning back against the couch, and giving her a loving smile. “I just meant you and Noah deserve more. I take my responsibilities seriously. I promised you I would never let you down and right now I feel like I’m doing exactly that.”
“You’re not, and if you decide to take the job, I will stick by you. It was just the thought of…”
“Defending rapists and murders?”
She nodded.
“I thought the same thing.” he said quietly, rubbing his palm over his thigh repeatedly, his skin clammy.
“But there’s something else bothering you?” she whispered, taking his hand in hers and squeezing it gently, reassuring him that she was there and not about to run away.
“A permanent job means we can make plans, ‘Liv. I was hoping we could start thinking about our future.”
She gave him a puzzled expression and he sighed, avoiding her eyes, and blushing slightly.
“Maybe we could look at houses, somewhere quieter, with a yard for Noah. You’re not going to want to marry me if I can’t offer you anything, Olivia.”
“You really think that I need any of that, Rafael? I want you. Job or no job. Hell, we could live on a dollar a day and as long we all had somewhere to sleep, food on the table and each other, I would be happy.”
He gave her a gentle smile and brought their joined hands up to his mouth, pressing a tender kiss to the back of her hand before she spoke again. “Besides you haven’t asked me yet.”
He laughed and tugged her into his side, their hands untangling so he could curl her into his side and hold her to his chest, her face pressed into the crook of his neck.
“I had another job offer, which is actually what I was going to tell you before Rita opened her big mouth.” he murmured into her hair and she tilted her head back to kiss his cheek, sitting up to make sure her attention was solely on him.
“There’s an opening at Columbia. I had a phone call from them yesterday, it’s a good salary, really good in fact, with all the benefits, and obviously weekends off and a certain degree of flexibility with Noah and your working hours.”
“Teaching? Wow! It sounds perfect, Rafael.” But she frowned when she saw him staring off into the distance and looking less than thrilled. “So why am I getting the impression you’re not keen?”
He shrugged and it became clear to her immediately.
“They contacted you, which means they want you. The past is irrelevant. Your reputation as a brilliant lawyer with a phenomenal conviction rate has preceded you. They will have done a thorough check into your credentials and anything else they found; they have obviously thought isn’t important.”
“Do you really think so?” he asked in a timid whisper.
“I know so. And if you want to get it off your chest, speak to them about it. Arrange a meeting and bring it up so you know where you stand.”
“I think I’ll do that. They wanted me to go to campus next week anyway.”
“There you go. It’ll all work out, Rafa.”
He laughed and pulled her forward to kiss her tenderly, cupping her face in his warm hands. “Your faith amazes me.” he murmured, pulling back only enough to speak, their breaths still mingling.
“Sometimes a little faith and a lot of love is all we have.”
“So about earlier, is this where I make it up to you?”
She chuckled and arched an eyebrow. “You can certainly try.”
***
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It wasn’t meant to happen this way. It was just an excuse. A fun excuse to heal that lonely heart. They both agreed it was just casual. Fun. It meant nothing. But then she found herself in his bed for longer and his arms much tighter. She stayed for morning breakfast and soon well into lunch. Lust turned into passion. Desire into adoration.
A strictly at home, no one must know, friendship blossomed. Him the illustrious ADA of Manhattan, her the Lieutenant of the elite. She wasn’t even aware it was happening. One day she was tangled between freshly laid sheets. The next she was wrapped up beneath the bright colours of autumn leaves. That is where it happened.
A snapshot in time was all it took. A simple click of a device and all had been revealed.
“I just wanted to post a picture of the food,” she would say, “it was so beautiful I just had to.”
“Is that Barba?” they would ask. “In her photo, that is his suit.”
It was out. No rewind button here. For this, she had no plan. No course of action that could save her. She had made a mistake, one that would cost her what she was just learning to love.
He couldn’t stand the thought of returning to where they began. Friends and nothing more would never be enough. He knew what to tell her. Planned it all in his mind. But when she stood before him, words escaped him.
She saw him standing there and suddenly she knew. He was her world and for that, she had to say, “In twenty years, I don’t want to think of you as the one who got away, but have you there laughing by my side at how for so long we were too afraid.”
Barson drabble, established relationship, based in the future of the Iowa Vs Italy universe. Funny and silly, no warnings really apply. Noah's around 15 years old and teenagers and their parent's libidos don't mix. Enjoy!
WC: 702.
***
“Oh Jesus! Mom! Dad!” came Noah’s shout as he walked into the living room.
“Noah! What the hell!” came her mother’s cry as she shoved Rafael off her and stumbled to her feet, grabbing her blouse from the floor and hastily trying to button it.
“I forgot my gym bag.” said Noah quietly, his eyes firmly fixed on the floor, trying to ignore his mother stood there in only her bra and slacks.
“Why didn’t you tell us you were coming home?” she asked, correcting her pants and running her fingers through her hair.
His jaw dropped and his eyes came up to meet hers. “What? Tell you and Dad, who aren’t meant to be here, that I’m coming home for thirty seconds to pick up something that you reminded me not to forget this morning?”
“Mijo.” said Rafael in a strict tone, not happy tolerating attitude from his son even if he and Olivia might possibly be in the wrong. Noah’s eyes met his father’s.
“Dad, please can you sort yourself out.” groaned Noah, waving a hand at his father who was still bare from the waist up with his boxers showing and belt and fly undone.
“Shit.” muttered Rafael, turning away slightly to hastily tug on his undershirt and correct his pants.
“I’m going to get my bag, and I’m going to leave as quickly as possible.” said Noah, holding his hands up and turning away to leave.
“Look, Noah…” started Olivia, stepping forward.
Noah spun back around. “It’s fine, really, Mom. You and Dad snuck out from work early and I shouldn’t have been home. I get it. But please, can you not on the couch? I have to sit there.”
They both watched him stalk up the stairs to his room before Olivia smacked Rafael on the arm.
“This is all your fault.” hissed Olivia.
Rafael frowned furiously. “Mine? I’m sorry but who jumped me the moment I walked through the door.”
“And who steered us towards the couch when we have a perfectly good bed, upstairs?” she growled, waving her arm in the direction of the staircase.
“What can I say. You’re irresistible and I didn’t want to wait.” shrugged Rafael, a smug grin tugging at his lips.
“Rafa!” she exclaimed, smacking his bicep.
He winced but laughed, cautiously placing his hands on her waist and pulling her into his body. “So, once he leaves….”
“You’re insatiable.” she sighed, her hands looping around his neck.
“You love that about me.” he whispered, kissing her softly.
She smiled gently and sighed deeply. “God help me, I do.”
“Mom! Dad! I’m leaving now. Be safe!” came a shout from near the front door.
Rafael scowled. “That cheeky little fuc -”
“Come on.” she laughed, grabbing his hand, and tugging him up the stairs.
***
“What’s wrong with you, Noh?”
“Nothing, I’m fine.” Noah replied, slamming his locker door a little too loudly.
“Did your mom give you a hard time about your bag? She did remind you this morning before we left.”
“Remind me to tell her to stop giving you a lift to school, J.” grumbled Noah.
Jamie laughed and returned to changing his footwear. “So, what was it?”
“Nothing I want to talk about. No, she didn’t give me a hard time, but her and Dad were there when I went home.”
Jamie looked puzzled; his mind was a couple of seconds behind that afternoon. “So?”
Noah raised his eyebrows.
“Ohh.” chuckled Jamie, “you mean you walked in on them…?”
“No, but they were on the couch, and in less clothing than I feel comfortable seeing.” muttered Noah.
“Wow.” replied Jamie, his jaw dropping.
Noah groaned, and scrubbed his hands over his face, as if that would erase the image of his parents half naked on the couch. “Yeah. But can we please stop talking about it.”
“You know they probably just carried on when you left right?”
“Jesus! Jamie! I don’t need that image in my head!” mumbled Noah, picking up his bag and shoving it in his locker. “It’s bad enough to see them making out like that as it is!”
“Well, let’s get your mind off it, come on, man. Let’s go.”
Barson (pre-relationship kind of) drabble, very mild angst, slightly fluffy, using the prompt - "H-how long have you been standing there?"
WC: 1277
***
“H-how long have you been standing there?” he asked, his face burning when he turned to the look at the door and saw her stood in the doorway, leaning to one side, arms folded across her chest, a small smile on her face. She looked as lovely as she always did.
“Long enough.” she shrugged, stepping into his inner sanctum, “you really went to bat for me, huh?”
He threw his phone down violently on his desk, growling some Spanish words she didn’t catch under his breath before stalking back and forth, his mind racing.
“We’re partners, ‘Liv. I’m not going to let anyone threaten you like that. If Buchanan thinks he’s going to hold me to ransom he’s got another thing coming. Slimy arrogant bastard!” Rafael spat, his eyes burning, his fists clenched at his side.
“In all the years I’ve known him, he’s always been like that. It’s why he’s a defence attorney. He doesn’t care about anything except his own reputation and having his clients found not guilty - no matter the cost to others.” she replied, sounding exhausted and unsurprised at this antics.
“That’s not acceptable, I’m not allowing that to happen.” he said firmly, slamming a hand on the desk.
“Raf, I’m a big girl, I can take care of myself.” she sighed, shaking her head.
“That’s not the point. He can’t make wild accusations just to try and torpedo our case. And threatening you, there’s the dumbest idea I’ve ever heard. Does he really think your squad isn’t loyal to you? And that you don’t conduct yourself without complete integrity?” replied Rafael, his voice getting angrier and louder, echoing through the room.
“I think he’s betting that he can distract enough from his client to win. It’s not a new strategy, Rafael. We’ve seen it a million times. And sometimes it works, Buchanan is bluffing but a cop has cut a corner, and he gets what he wants.” she shrugged, stepping towards his desk and resting her hands on the back of the chair positioned opposite it.
“It’s infuriating!” he spat, his eyes blazing bright.
“I know it is. But please don’t worry about me. Worry about Rachel, and this case, and getting her the justice that she deserves.” she smiled gently, secretly touched that Rafael was defending her so vigorously.
“I’m always going to worry about you, ‘Liv. That’s what best friends do.” he gave her that half grin that made her knees go weak if she was honest. This time there was also something about his tone of voice that made her breath catch.
“Would it make you feel better if I take a step back and let Fin and Amanda take over?” she asked quietly, focussing on her own hands, and not his face, “they’ve been just as involved as I have. If we did that, would it help your case?”
“I can’t ask you to do that.” replied Rafael sighing and shaking his head.
“Would it help the case?” she repeated more firmly, looking up quickly and staring him down.
“Probably. I know I’d feel a lot better if Buchanan isn’t anywhere near you. I trust you but I would rather not have this hanging over us.” he grumbled, running his hands through his hair – a trademark sign of his uncertainty about the situation.
“Then that’s what we’ll do. If you’re free tomorrow, we can all meet, make sure this case is a solid as it can be, and that we win. And I will keep well away from it.”
“Are you micromanaging me?” he chuckled, tilting his head to watch her more closely.
“Just a little. But it’s only for your own good.” she smiled.
“I thought I was the one who was protecting you?” he replied again, moving from behind his desk to perch on the side, arms folded across his chest.
“Who said we can’t protect each other? Isn’t that how partners work?” she asked gently, her eyes warm and fixed on his.
“Very true.” he chuckled.
“For the record I think it’s very sweet that you want to defend my honour.”
“I don’t think anyone has described me as anything remotely akin to ‘sweet’ before.” he snorted, resting his hands on the edge of the desk, gripping the surface tightly, hesitance filling him as he was sure if she complimented him anymore, he would lose his mind.
“Well, you are, Rafael Barba.” she said quietly, as she stepped forwards, a slight blush gracing her lovely cheeks, “thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” he replied as smoothly as he could when she was stood so close, practically between his legs, her perfume wafting through the tiny amount of air between them.
She moved to press a kiss to his cheek, her hand coming up to clutch his shoulder as she did. In response he moved a hand to her waist, savouring the warmth of her body detectable through her thin blouse, one finger slipped under the fabric, and he could touch her skin. He gulped and closed his eyes and breathed her in, the feel of her lips on his now rough cheek, her fingers delicately curled into his shirt, her scent – subtle and powerful all at once. She was heaven.
“You want to get a drink?” she whispered; her face impossibly close to his.
“No.” he murmured, his hand tightening on her waist, the other coming up to stroke her cheek.
She blushed and looked down, sighing, “Dinner?”
“No.” he shook his head, pulling her closer so her free hand landed on his chest to steady herself, his thumb now tracing the line of her jaw, his eyes nearly black as he refused to look away from her.
For a second, she knew this wasn’t a good idea, it was a terrible idea. They prided themselves that despite their close bond, they had never allowed it to go further than that. But as he caressed her skin and stared at her as if she was the only person in the world, she knew that there was a reason she wasn’t pulling away.
He saw the flicker in her eyes as she had her lightning bolt realisation, and suddenly, their lips were locked together. She had never been kissed like this, passionate but gentle, he was sweet; he was confident, and loving, and so fucking sexy. His hands had moved to her lower back, desperately trying to clutch her closer, as if he desired their bodies to meld into one. And then when she felt his groan vibrate through her body she smiled into the kiss, and he pulled back.
“I’m curious what Buchanan accused me of now.” she whispered across his cheek, her lips nuzzling his face, Rafael leaning into it, rejoicing that this phenomenal woman was finally this close to him.
“Ironically, he accused you of being romantically involved with someone in the NYPD and you not disclosing.” he murmured across her skin, his lips tasting the sweet curve of her throat now and she sank into his body.
She looked shocked for a second before she burst out laughing and rested her forehead to his, breathing in deeply and relishing this new intimacy between them.
“Think we all need some irony in our lives, don’t we? Besides, technically you don’t work for the NYPD.” she replied, pressing a lingering kiss to his forehead.
“A technicality that I’m incredibly thankful for right now. Honestly, Olivia, I can live without irony if I can have you.” he replied smoothly and she smiled brilliantly, before touching her lips to his again. It turned out Buchanan had been right, though neither of them ever told him that.
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Barson drabble, fluff, using a prompt from Twitter's @incorrectBarson - "Are you trying to seduce me into better sleeping habits?"
WC: 614
***
“I don’t need to go to bed. I’m not tired and I still have work to do.” grumbled Rafael as he heard her footsteps shuffling behind him.
“But it’s cold tonight and I need warming up.” she whined, coming to a standstill behind him.
“Are...are you trying to seduce me into better sleeping habits?” he smirked, his smile turning into a groan as her hands worked his shoulders, her fingers dancing across his aching muscles.
“Is it working?” she whispered, her lips hovering deliciously close to his ear, her breath gliding across his skin as the shivers whipped up his spine.
He sighed heavily, his head falling back against her stomach and his eyes fluttering shut. “It might be.”
Her hands slipped under his collar, kneading the back of his neck and up the sides as her thumbs stroked up into his hairline. He winced as she hit a particularly sore patch and she pressed a tender kiss to his forehead, her lips lingering on his skin.
“Why don’t you come to bed, and we can work off some of that tension, hmm?” her voice dropping to a husky whisper he adored.
“But I have…” he trailed off as she scraped her nails down his throat and under the fabric of his shirt to rub his chest.
“Nothing here that’s urgent. Come to bed, Rafael.” she murmured, turning her head to kiss under his ear, and down the side of his jaw.
“You can be very persuasive when you want to be.” he muttered, his head rolling as she continued her assault of mouth on his skin.
“I thought that was your line.”
“It still is, but you can give me a run for my money.” he chuckled, tugging her hand, and swivelling his chair so they were facing.
Patting his knee, she perched on it, her arms looping around his neck, his face tucking into her shoulder to breathe her in. Jasmine and orange had gone in her bath tonight, the summery scent lingering on her skin sent his senses into overdrive. He slid his hand from her knee to mid-thigh, relishing the smooth silkiness under his palm. He suspected she was naked underneath, and that possibility flooded his brain with far more pleasant thoughts than he had been thinking some five minutes earlier.
“No pyjamas, Captain?”
“I was hoping I wouldn’t need them until later.” she whispered, kissing him slowly and raking her nails into his hair.
He felt his body instantly relax into her embrace, his lips matching hers, his tongue suddenly desperate to taste more of her. He tugged her bottom lip between his and he drew his hand dangerously high on her leg, sliding around and under her ass to shift her legs so she was straddling him.
“Rafa. Bed. Now.”
“Why not right here?”
“Because your back and my knees will remind us why it was a bad idea in the morning.” she laughed softly, gingerly climbing off him and holding out her hand to pull him up.
“We’re not that old.” he frowned.
“No, we’re not. But there’s a reason we spent a crazy amount on that mattress when we moved in here, and it wasn’t just for sleeping.”
He grinned remembering how much they had enjoyed ‘testing’ the new bed. “I knew there was another reason my AMEX took a beating.”
“It’s also because you love me.”
“That I do.”
“Then come and show me.” she whispered, walking backwards as she slowly started to slide the robe off her shoulder. The next thing he knew was the robe hitting his face and he caught a glimpse of her naked figure disappearing around the doorframe.
Barson (pre-relationship) drabble, mild angst, mentions of gun violence and blood, using the prompt - “Promise me you’ll look after my mother.”
WC: 876
***
“The wound to Mr Barba’s side is superficial, the bullet grazed him, barely went through at all.”
“And his leg?” she asked anxiously, her hands twisting together, trying to let herself ignore the blood staining her own flesh, his blood.
“That one’s not so good, entry wound but no exit, but what you did? That probably saved his life, any more blood loss and it would’ve been close. You riding with us, Lieutenant?”
“Try and stop me.” she barked, before climbing up into the back of the vehicle.
His face was pale, beads of sweat gathering at his hair line, and his eyes were bloodshot. She watched as he closed his eyes and tried to take a deep breath, struggling to absorb any air.
“Fuck, it hurts.” he growled, throwing his head back and writhing against the pillows.
“The morphine isn’t doing anything?” she asked quietly, taking the seat opposite him but leaning forwards so she could be as close as she could.
“Barely taking the edge off.” he whimpered, clutching at the bedsheets and she was struck by how much blood was soaked into his clothes.
“Looks like your suit hasn’t done too well either.” she smiled weakly.
His suit jacket had long been discarded, his shirt torn open, the wound on his side having caused blood to pool across his undershirt, which had also been cut away, his bare torso on display, all manner of monitors stuck across him. She moved her eyes down to his legs, one side still looked ‘normal’, the other was cut away, bandages wrapped around his thigh, blood soaking through the fabric and streaked all over his knee and calf. She shivered when she realised a few inches either way and the EMT was right, she might not have been able to stop the bleeding.
“How much longer till we’re there?” she turned to ask the EMT perched at the foot of the stretcher, watching Rafael’s monitors like a hawk.
“We’re minutes away, Lieutenant.” the man replied, a sympathetic look on his face.
“Was anyone else hurt?” he asked quietly, his eyes closed, his knuckles turning white at the tight hold he had on the cool metal rail.
“The court officer and a civilian in the gallery, but we got the shooter.” she replied, her hands clutched together next to his torso, trying their best not to impulsively touch him, “but that’s not important, we need to focus on you, Rafa.”
“Your faith in the best outcome always astounds me.” he muttered.
“That’s why you’re the cynic and I’m the optimist.” she smiled, and she flinched when his free hand grabbed hers, she moved one so they could entwine their fingers, and for a second, they just held each other’s gaze. She blinked back a few tears, bringing his hand, now encased in both of hers up to her face and pressing a kiss to his knuckles. “You let this take you away from me and I’ll kill you myself.”
He laughed and instantly regretted it, his body curling up in protest, “Shit, ‘Liv, don’t make me laugh. But I do need you to do something for me.”
“Anything.” she nodded firmly.
“Promise me you’ll look after my mother.” he said quietly, his eyes blazing and fixed on hers.
“Rafael, no.” she whispered.
“Olivia, please listen, you can’t tell me this isn’t serious. If anything happens, please, look after her.” he responded, squeezing her hand.
“That’s not going to happen. You’re going to be fine.” she replied, her voice wavering as her emotions bubbled over.
“I know I’m the cynical one, but in this case it’s justified.” he winced as another wave of pain pulsed through his body.
“You are going to be fine, Rafa. You have to be, I, I, uh, you have to be.” her voice finished in a whisper and the tears started flowing down her cheeks.
“I’ll do my best; I’ll make that my promise to you. One promise each, deal?” he replied, his own voice croaky and hoarse with feelings he couldn’t express.
Their eyes were locked together, and she gave him a weak smile and a nod. In that split-second they both knew what it was they wanted to say, but couldn’t, they wouldn’t, because those words deserved more than a deathbed style moment of confession. They deserved more than that.
They were pulled from their moment as the ambulance jerked to a stop and the back doors were pulled wide open to unload the patient. Olivia kept their hands linked for as long as possible until they pulled him to far away and a nurse stopped her from going through the double doors to the operating theatre. He turned his head to try and look back at her as their fingers grazed against each other’s as they finally lost contact.
It was only when the doors slammed shut behind him, that she fell back against the wall, collapsing to the floor, her arms hugging her legs to her torso as she cried, and cried. Every sound, every scent, every movement surrounding her drifted away as she focussed on his touch, his eyes and that promise. He was going to be fine, he had to be – so she closed her eyes and she prayed.
***
Don’t hate me, he doesn’t die though, it’s all good.
Tagging anyone I know who might like these, if you want to be tagged in any Barson/Barba/Liv fics then please let me know - that way I can create an actual tag list!
Barson drabble, fluff, continued from this - Rafael helps Olivia feel better with some tender love and care.
WC: 749
***
“Sit. Drink.” he whispered.
She hummed her response as she closed her eyes and rested her hands on the bed, her fingers curling into the bedspread.
She could hear the water running in the bathroom, and his quiet footsteps as he moved about only a few feet away. She sighed and rolled her neck back and forth; the painkillers had barely taken the edge off. Her head felt like it was being crushed by a ten-tonne weight. Her eyes burned, the light on the nightstand even too much to tolerate. She gripped the glass slowly, letting the cool water flow down her throat, replacing the glass on the side, and closing her eyes once more.
She jumped at a sudden hand on her shoulder but soon relaxed when her eyes squinted open to see concerned frown hovering over her.
“Shower’s ready, come on.” he murmured, eying her with heartfelt concern.
He held out a hand for her and she gripped it tightly, leaning on him heavily as she became upright. His arm wrapped around her waist as they moved to the bathroom.
She shrugged off her blazer and went to remove her blouse but was struggling to undo the buttons. She felt his hands move hers to fall to the side and sighed as he removed the offending fabric and start working on her pants. She held onto his shoulders as she stepped out of each pant leg, and she was left stood in her underwear.
He kissed her forehead, his lips trailing across her temple and down her cheek and she sank into his arms.
“You’ll feel better soon, ‘Liv, I promise.”
She smiled although it came across as more of a grimace as she removed her underwear and turned to step into the shower. He had already undressed and guided her under the water carefully before stripping off his boxers and joining her.
She had to rest her hands on the wall, her head dropping down to her chest as she let the hot water soothe her neck and shoulders.
He moved to stand behind her, his hands grazing up her sides and into her sore spots, his fingers working into her muscles, and she groaned loudly.
“Tilt your head back, cariño.”
He squirted a dollop of shampoo into his hands and worked her scalp, not only to work in the liquid but to try and relax her. She tilted her neck as he moved to one side, then the other, the pressure in her head finally easing ever so slightly. He rinsed the shampoo carefully before applying conditioner and lathering up a loofah to wash the rest of her body.
Olivia was content. His touch across her body, manipulating every curve and dip in her skin, soothing her entire body, not just the parts that ached the most. Usually at this point she would be keening for something more, his mouth following the path of his hands, his lips working her into a frenzy. But not today, she was quickly feeling extraordinarily fatigued, her eyes stayed closed, and her knees sagged so he held her up, his strong arms keeping her safe.
He moved away only for a second, stepping out and assisting her back to dry land, wrapping a soft fluffy towel around her body. He turned the water off and grabbed his own towel, securing it at his waist as he guided her back into their bedroom. He had left a pair of comfy pyjama shorts and a t-shirt on the bed for her and after drying carefully she changed and wrapped a small towel around her damp hair.
“Nap time.” she whispered, holding out a hand to him as he emerged from the bathroom, dry and dressed in sweatpants but bare chested.
“Give me two minutes.” he replied as he left the room.
She clambered into bed, her body relaxing instantly as the cool feel of the bedsheets enveloped her body.
She vaguely heard him return, his presence was instantly comforting, soothing, calming and she had never been so relieved to have someone whom she loved so much and loved her in return.
“Can’t sleep ‘til you’re here, Rafa.” she murmured, curling into his side, her head pillowed by his arm and his hand pinching and moving across the muscles in her neck very gently.
“You’re the best migraine cure.” she smiled.
“Just doing my part.” he grinned, kissing her softly as her eyes fluttered shut, “Rest, ‘Liv, I’ve got you.”
