TROTD - Chapter Five: Lift Up Every Stone

Olivia lay next to Fitz, her head on his chest and one leg tossed lazily over his. She was wearing one of his shirts; he was in only his boxer shorts.

“Tell me more about you” she said turning her head to face him and pulling the comforter around them.

“What do you want to know?”

“Why does your family care about whether you give money to Megan?” she asked running her fingers over his muscular chest.

“To be a Grant in Hollywood is a big deal” he began, “My father threatened to cut off my inheritance and disown me if I divorced her when I wanted to seven years ago.”

“Why?”

“Because my kids were young and my father doesn’t believe in a Grant walking away from responsibility” Fitz was matter of fact, “and to him being responsible means more than throwing money at the problem.”

            Fitz watched Olivia digest the information. She wrinkled her forehead as she contemplated Fitz’s family situation. It was the same look he’d seen on her face when she was struggling to memorize her lines or concentrating on something she was reading.

“Doesn’t it bother your father that it looks like you date a million women?” she finally asked, “I would think he’d find that worse than divorcing your wife.”

“It’s different in this town, only the tabloids linked me romantically to those women. To everyone else they were just escorts to awards shows and parties” Fitz explained, “My friends knew it all boiled down to a bunch of first dates with women who looked nice and that was about it.”

“So why change now?” she placed a light kiss on his chest, “Why do you want more now?”

“You, Olivia” he pulled her up so he could look into her eyes, “I met you and I didn’t sleep for weeks. Then I got to hold you and it was just, right, then I hurt you and the insomnia came back.”

“I haven’t slept well either” she admitted, “I feel so relaxed when I’m with you. It’s hard to believe I’ve only known you a short time.”

“How do we fix the insomnia then?” he grinned at her, touching his lips lightly to the tip of her nose.

“I’m sure we’ll think of something” she whispered, running her fingers along his jaw.

“Mmm hmmm” he breathed moving his lips to hers. She felt his strong hand slide to the back of her head, holding her mouth against his. All rational thought escaped her as his masculine scent rose to her nostrils and her hands explored the rippling muscles of his chest and back. He tentatively deepened their kiss, still afraid that she might change her mind. It was clear that she hadn’t when he felt her suck gently on his tongue. He smiled unconsciously against her lips.

            Olivia wanted to feel every inch of Fitz. She wanted his hands on her and their bodies pressed together. She wanted to taste all of him, the difference between his lips and his ear lobe and the crook of his neck and the curve of his jaw. She moved her hands to his shoulders then into his hair feeling the soft curls caress her hands. It amazed her how different touching him like this was compared to touching him during their scenes. Both were erotic in their own way but this felt real. Their scenes were purely physical, even when they found themselves carried away, but this was emotional and spiritual, like their souls connected. A sudden panic hit her and she pulled back abruptly.

“What’s the matter?” Fitz asked breathlessly, “Are you okay?”

“Fine” she started to roll away from him.

“Did I do something?” he sounded slightly panicked, “Olivia?”

“No, I’m okay” she didn’t look in his direction.

            Fitz was startled when she pulled away from him quickly. He wondered if he’d done something wrong. Maybe he’d pushed too hard, maybe she wasn’t ready for all of this. He just wanted to be close to her, he wanted the smell of her, the sight of her magnificent dark curls strewn across his pillow, whatever she would give him. He’d never felt this way about a woman before, especially one he had really just met. She was still a virtual stranger but he looked forward to learning all about her.

“Livie, what’s going on?” he moved closer to her, kissing her shoulder lightly several times.

“It’s all of this,” she rolled to her back, “It’s overwhelming.”

            She turned to look at him, “Doesn’t all of this seem like a lot?”

“Overwhelming as hell sometimes” he agreed lacing his fingers with hers, “but I have spent the last three months praying that I’d get this feeling back.”

“I don’t like how much I’ve thought about you the past several months,” Olivia admitted, “I thought it was going to be hard working with you but it was being away from you that was the hard part.”

“It was hard being away from you too” he turned her to her side so he could look into her eyes, “I hated it.”

“I hated being away from you but I hated that I felt that way,” she bit her lip, “I wanted to hate you but I couldn’t. No one has ever made me this crazy. Of course you had to be married, there had to be something wrong with you. You had to be gorgeous and you had to be sweet to me and you had to be fantastic in bed and you had to be…married.” She whispered that last word as she laid her forehead on his chest.

“I’m sorry, Livie,” he kissed her hair, “I’m sorry I hurt you. I swear that I was going to tell you.”

“Stop, Fitz,” she looked him in the eye again, “I’m past it, maybe it makes me a terrible person but I’m past caring that you’re technically married. I want to be with you.”

“I want to be with you too” he said quietly, running his fingers through her hair, “And I know what you mean about feeling crazy. I haven’t gone out in months, not since the Glamour party. I picked up the phone to call you a thousand times but I didn’t know what to say other than that I was sorry.”

“I looked forward to work though” she smiled, “I liked seeing you.”

“I really liked seeing you” he smiled and kissed her lips, “I would pray that you wouldn’t see me staring at you. Abby caught me a few times; she probably thought I was a total creep.”

“She’s never been your biggest fan” Olivia smiled against his lips, “She would kill me if she knew I was in your bed right now.”

“Aren’t you coming to my party with her?” he asked.

“Yeah, she wasn’t crazy about hanging out with your crowd but she knew I wanted to come to the party” she replied, “Of course she thinks I just want to be with fancy Hollywood types.”

“Hey, I’m one of those fancy Hollywood types” he laughed. It made her smile to hear his laugh, a full baritone laugh accompanied by a genuine huge smile.

“You are a fancy, schmancy Hollywood type” she walked her fingers up his chest then to his lips, “so I guess Abby was right. I do want to be with a fancy Hollywood type.”

            Fitz felt Olivia’s hands leave a searing trail across his skin; He closed his eyes, attempting to maintain his composure. Olivia had asked him earlier if he wanted her. He had admitted to her that he did but it was so much more than that. He didn’t simply want her body, though at the moment that was the preponderance of what he was thinking, he wanted her smile, her intellect, her sense of humor, and that bottom lip that she insisted on biting.

“It’s getting late, aren’t you tired?” he asked running his fingers under her shirt along her spine.

“A little” she whispered, “but I’m enjoying laying here and talking to you.”

“Put your head on my chest and we’ll talk some more” he smiled down at her, “We’ll talk until you fall asleep. Just remember you need your rest for tomorrow when you meet those big Hollywood types.”

            She grinned up at him before laying her head on his chest. She quickly fell asleep to the sound of his heart beating steadily beneath her ear.

X-X

“Wow, Liv that dress is gorgeous” said Abby as Olivia spun around in her nearly backless pewter Ferragamo dress.

“Thanks, I splurged,” she replied fixing her curls for the thousandth time in the mirror.

“Who are you dressing for?” laughed Abby, “Hoping to meet a special someone?”

“No” Olivia could feel her cheeks grow red.

“You haven’t been on a date in forever,” observed Abby, “The last guy I saw sitting even remotely close to you was Mr. Hottie himself and we both know he’s not your type.”

“Exactly, too pretty,” responded Olivia trying to cover her nervousness, “And it would be strange because we have to work together.”

            Abby and Olivia finished readying themselves for the party then hurried out the door of Abby’s condo to the waiting car. Olivia wrung her hands the entire way to Fitz’s house. She wondered if she would have any opportunity to talk to him. He was the host, after all, so he would likely be busy. She was glad that Abby would be there to keep her company since she really wouldn’t know anyone else. Before she could get too lost in her thoughts they arrived at the party and she found herself taking deliberate deep breaths on the way to the door.

“I cannot believe you dragged me here” whispered Abby as they walked through the front door.

“Just try to have a good time” Olivia whispered back.

“Olivia, Abby” she heard Fitz’s voice but didn’t see him at first. Then he was suddenly directly in front of them. He hugged Abby politely then turned to Olivia. She felt the temperature in the room abruptly rise when he put his arms around her. He was dressed in a light gray suit that, ironically, complemented her dress. He looked so handsome, even more so than usual. He ran his hands down her bare back, stopping where her dress began.

“Nice to see you Olivia” he said almost too loudly then kissed her cheek and lowered his voice to add, “This dress might be the death of me. You look stunning and you feel amazing.”

            She nibbled on her lower lip as he placed another kiss on her cheek and pulled back from her. She gazed up at him for a few seconds then turned to Abby who had started talking to a man standing nearby. Since Abby was otherwise occupied, Fitz took the opportunity to say quietly, “Don’t bite your lip like that Olivia.” He flashed a naughty grin and looked her up and down once more, “You know that’s my job.”

            Olivia felt her knees grow slightly weak and she was convinced he was trying to drive her insane. She licked her lips then ran her teeth over her lower lip for good measure. She could play this game too. It was going to be a very long night, she decided.

            Abby looked around the party while Olivia and Fitz greeted one another. Standing several feet away was a familiar looking man she remembered seeing at a few clubs around town. He was attractive so she took the opportunity to introduce herself. His name was Charlie and, she learned, he was Fitz’s best friend.

“So what’s with his need to constantly have a different blond on his arm?” she asked gesturing in the direction of Fitz and Olivia.

“He just enjoys women,” replied Charlie, “but he met someone several months back. He hasn’t really dated since.”

“Is she a total bimbo?” Abby laughed.

“I’ve honestly never met her,” Charlie replied, “but he seems smitten. What’s the story with the Princess?”

“She’s not stuck up, she’s shy” Abby corrected, “She is an only child and her parents aren’t very happy that she decided to pursue acting. Especially since she just finished her master’s degree.”

“She’s smart?” Charlie sounded surprised.

“She had a double major in Political Science and Chemistry” replied Abby, “Her master’s is in Pharmaceutical Chemistry.”

“Would never have guessed,” Charlie shrugged, “But she seems to have gotten Fitz’s attention.”

            They looked over in the direction of Olivia and Fitz. They were talking closely, both smiling and his hand was on her arm. Abby assumed they were just being friendly co-workers and told Charlie as much.

“If you say so,” he smiled, “let me get you a drink and maybe you can tell me a little more about you.”

X-X

            Fitz led Olivia further into the house, “How about a drink?” he asked taking her wrap.

“That would be fantastic” she replied politely. She suddenly felt self-conscious as if everyone at the party knew she was interested in Fitz. She felt herself blush and found the need to concentrate on every breath she took. Fitz took her hand and led her to the wine cellar.

“Pick a bottle” he smiled when they reached the bottom of the stairs, “anything you want.”

“You’re not serving wine upstairs?” she asked slightly confused.

“Sure, we’ve got tons up there” he replied, “but you’re not just any guest. I want to drink a good wine with you. One that you choose.”

            Olivia began to look over the bottles finally pulling one from its resting place and handing it to Fitz, “I hope champagne is okay” she smiled.

“I’d love to drink champagne with you Olivia” he moved closer to her then he read the label on the bottle and couldn’t stifle a laugh, “Games of Seduction huh?”

“Well, Moet and Chandon is some of the best” she explained trying to keep a straight face, “and the rose is just really special.”

“So the fact that it’s called ‘Games of Seduction’ didn’t enter into your decision?” he grinned.

“Not at all” she breathed. He was now just inches away from her and she could smell his cologne again mixed with the scent that was him. He bent to kiss her cheek and run his thumb along her jaw. She felt her breathing quicken when he touched her and she closed her eyes to relish the sensation.

“I didn’t really bring you down here just to pick wine” he admitted and kissed her forehead, “When I saw you in this dress I needed to kiss you, really kiss you.”

            Their lips met and Olivia’s anxiety dissolved. She touched his perfectly tailored suit feeling his chiseled muscles beneath while he ran his hands over her bare back. He would swear the material at the back of her dress barely covered her ass. He felt his burgeoning erection endeavoring in her direction at the thought. The dress was sexy and, he figured, at least partially selected with him in mind. As much as he loved it he didn’t want other men at the party looking at her. She was young and beautiful and most of the men there knew she was fairly new to Hollywood. He was concerned that one of them would think she was the type of actress interested in sleeping her way to success. His jealousy and concern made his kisses more forceful. He wanted to somehow mark her as his, though he really had no claim to her. His mouth moved to her neck and then her shoulder. She enjoyed the feeling of his mouth on her body and ran her fingers through his hair as a sign of approval. She felt his lips move further back on her shoulder then the exquisite pain of him sucking slightly then his teeth sinking into her flesh. He held her tighter, not allowing her to move from the contact with his mouth.

“Fitz” he heard her say his name like she had when they had made love that first night.

“You taste so good Olivia” he pulled his mouth from her neck to say, “You smell delicious. You make me want to skip out on my own party and take you somewhere.”

“We should probably get back upstairs,” she kissed his lips urgently, “everyone will be looking for you and Abby will be looking for me.”

“You’re probably right” they continued to kiss neither having the resolve to pull away.

            Finally the sound of footsteps shook them from their haze and they collected themselves. Fitz pulled Olivia’s hair forward slightly to cover the red love bite he had left on her shoulder. He gave himself a secret smile, he had marked her. She smiled at him touching the mark, she would normally have been upset about someone leaving a mark like that on her, especially someone she just started dating, but with Fitz it was different. He had left his mark on her, she was his.