TROTD - Chapter Twenty-Four: Inside Job

Inside Job

“Livvie, sit down,” Fitz caught her as she rushed past him on the way to the pantry, “Everything is perfect. We aren’t hosting the Queen of England, just a college kid who is currently,” he took a deep breath in an attempt to clear visions of Ellie and Josh from his imagination, “currently dating my youngest daughter.”

            Olivia couldn’t hide the smile that curved her lips in response to his unease concerning Ellie dating. As protective as Fitz was about her and their unborn baby, he was just as fiercely defensive of his two older children. She slid her arms around his waist, burying her nose into his plush cashmere sweater, inhaling deeply.  Taking a moment to savor the warmth of his embrace and his masculine smell, she stood silent.

“How serious do you think they are?” Fitz wondered, his hands absently roaming over her back.

            She took a step back, cupping his face in her hands and pressing her lips to his in a chaste kiss, “I think you need to stop worrying or you’re going to drive yourself insane.”

“I mean do you think they…” his face conveyed a thought that he couldn’t bear to put into words.

“Do I think they’ve had sex?” Olivia guessed.

“Shh….God, don’t even say it. I just can’t bear the thought,” he still looked stricken, “She’s just a kid.”

“First of all she isn’t a kid, she’s about to go to college,” her fingers massaged the back of his neck and shoulders, softening the message she delivered, “Second, I can almost guarantee you that they have slept together.”

            He ran his hand through his hair, walking to the window and looking out onto the deck where Heather and Ellie sat chatting, “Liv, am I being overprotective?”

            He turned back to her, searching her face for an answer, his fingers raking his hair again.  She pulled him to her, taking his hands in hers if for no other reason than she wanted him to keep his hair long into old age. He visibly relaxed at the touch of her hand and leaned in to kiss her.

“Maybe just a tad overprotective,” she muttered against his lips, “Remember she’s an adult and if Josh makes her happy and treats her well we should approve.”

            Fitz closed his eyes, inhaling the scent of her shampoo, “You almost sound like a parent,” he nibbled the delicate skin of her neck.  A rosy glow colored her cheeks, the sensation of his mouth on her sensitive skin sending warmth spreading through her. The simplest things made her turn to jelly in his arms, the rumble of his baritone, his big, powerful hands touching her, his lips claiming hers.

“I love you,” she whispered under half-lidded eyes, lost in the simplicity of holding and being held by Fitz.

            He stroked her cheek with a feather light touch, “I’ll never stop loving you.”

            They came together, lips joining in their familiar dance of passion. He held her as close as her growing belly would allow while she tugged his curls in gratification. Engrossed in their embrace, Olivia and Fitz barely registered the patio door opening but the exaggerated slam shook them from their trance.

“Disgusting,” Ellie blurted, her face screwed into a sour scowl, “She’s already pregnant what are you two trying to do?”

            Fitz cleared his throat, holding Olivia in front of him, willing the obvious effect of his arousal to abate, “You girls ready for dinner?”

            Ellie rolled her eyes, “So we’re just going to ignore the fact that you two insist on making out in the room where we eat?”

“Stop,” Heather interjected, “El, let’s go change. I’ll let you borrow that dress.”

            Fitz opened his mouth to protest Ellie borrowing her sister’s dress but the nearly imperceptible shake of Olivia’s head suggested he hold his tongue.  He exhaled sharply as he watched his daughters disappear up the stairs.

“I can’t do this Livvie. I’m not ready.”

            Olivia took his hand, entwining their fingers, and gave him a sympathetic smile, “You’ll be great. Just remember, no Tarzan.”

            He pulled her into him, causing her to giggle when he kissed the tip of her nose, “Got it. No caveman unless I’m claiming my woman.”

“Your woman?” she said with mock indignation, “Your woman?”

            His lips brushed against the spot just below her ear, the place that made her center immediately warm. He let his mouth trail down the length of her neck, the goose bumps left in their wake not going unnoticed.

“We have half an hour until the boyfriend gets here,” his voice was thick with need, the bulge in his pants jutting against her belly.

            The way he touched her was magic, even after months of being virtually inseparable he set her alight with anticipation. When they were first together it was the mystery, the tug of raw attraction. Now it was the memory of his hands imprinted on her skin, how he said her name, and knowing what that glint in his eye meant. It was being intimately familiar with the way he controlled her body, how he knew what she wanted, what she liked, often before she did. The magic of his fingers, how his mouth teased and tormented, and just what he could do with that firmness that was urging against her. A secret smile tempted her lips at the thought. Fitz was handsome and charming, well built and obviously strong, but she knew no one would ever truly comprehend what gave her the silly grin she wore around him or the chill that prickled her spine when he whispered to her.

“Heather and Ellie are upstairs,” Olivia skimmed her nails along the nape of his neck.

“We’ll be quick…and quiet,” Fitz’s hands rubbed the sides of her belly.

            She shook her head with a giggle and a smile, “Help me finish setting the table.”

            Fitz picked up the dessert plates sitting on the counter with a pout before leaning in to catch Olivia’s lower lip between his teeth, “I’ll be counting the minutes until I get you naked.”

            She playfully squeezed his backside when he sucked her lip to calm the sting of his teeth.  The close proximity was heady for both of them and they found themselves lost in a passionate embrace.

“Jesus, don’t you two ever stop?” Ellie announced walking into the kitchen.

            Olivia quickly pushed away from Fitz, wiping her lips with the back of her hand. Fitz reached for her hand to keep her close but she slipped from his grasp.

“Can you not do that while Josh is here?” Ellie continued, “I’ll be totally embarrassed.”

            Fitz held the stack of dessert plates out to Ellie and Heather, “Take these into the dining room, please.”

            Ellie rolled her eyes as her sister took the plates, “I’m serious, it’s gross.”

            The girls walked towards the dining room and Olivia moved to check the chicken cooking in the oven.

“I hope he can manage to keep his hands to himself,” Ellie lamented, placing the last plate on the table.

“He’s happy, why can’t you be happy for them?”

            Ellie met Heather’s stare with a shrug and a nonchalant smile. The doorbell saved her from having to answer her sister’s question, “I’ll get it!”

            Olivia heard a giggle from the direction of the front door and shifted a pointed look in Fitz’s direction, “Behave.”

“As long as he’s respectful I’ll give him a chance,” Fitz assured her before giving her a quick kiss and heading in the direction of Ellie’s voice.

“Mr. Grant,” Fitz noticed Josh straighten at his approach and shook the young man’s outstretched hand.

“Josh.”

“Look Daddy, Josh brought me flowers,” Ellie smiled from ear to ear and held up a large bouquet of lavender and pink flowers.

“Very nice,” Fitz was impressed with the gesture but did his best not to allow it to show.

“I also brought flowers for Olivia, Sir. If that’s alright with you,” it was clear that Josh was anxious and he wiped one sweaty palm then the other on his slacks.

“Josh,” Olivia beamed, walking into the foyer and pulling him into a warm embrace.

            He held the flowers out to her and she gladly took them, inhaling deeply before walking back in the direction of the kitchen.

“Let me take your coat, Josh” Fitz said, “Come in and have a seat. We can talk while Liv finishes dinner.”

            Fitz led Josh into the study, an attempt to keep him off kilter and afford them some measure of privacy.  He sat in the well-worn leather armchair and gestured for Josh to take the seat opposite him.

“So, Josh,” he poured himself a generous glass of scotch then brought the glass to his lips.

“Sir,” Josh interrupted, his speech pressured, “I really care about Ellie. I know you’re worried about our age difference, Sir. I mean, I really respect her, and I respect you, Sir….”

            Fitz was pleased to see that his tactic was succeeding and almost felt bad for Josh. He considered how much he wanted to impress Olivia’s parents and the look on her father’s face when they’d told him Olivia was expecting. Something in him softened a bit, “Listen Josh, my only concern is that you respect Ellie and that you’re good to her.”

            Olivia was approaching the door and stopped short at Fitz’s statement. Her palm smoothed over her belly, her eyes moist, not only was he a good man but an amazing father. She wondered how she and Peanut got so lucky. He leaned back in his seat, crossing his ankle over his knee, she couldn’t look away. The sweater he wore strained over his biceps when his arms settled across his chest, heat settled low in her belly and she licked her lips at the thought of those strong arms flexing as he loomed above her or gripping her securely when he took her against the wall.

            She shook her head to clear the sweltering thoughts, fanning herself in hopes of easing the flush that had overtaken her. Deciding she had collected herself sufficiently she eased the door open and poked her head inside.

“Dinner is ready,” she smiled at Josh before her gaze turned to Fitz and her expression took on a heated edge. His eyes traveled from her moist lips to her ample breasts peeking out from her top finally settling on her sparkling eyes. Fire danced there, a smoldering flame he was used to seeing when they were separated across a room or were waiting to shoot their scenes. He cleared his throat, conjuring the unsexiest thoughts he could.

            Josh rose immediately and walked towards the kitchen leaving Fitz to tamp the blaze Olivia had ignited.

“Coming?” Olivia said, still lingering in the doorway.

            Her words stoked the inferno and he knew it would be some minutes before he’d be comfortable around their guests.

“Livvie….”

            She took several steps into the room, “Did you need a hand?”

“Olivia…..”

            Then she was a mere arm’s length away, close enough he could feel her, the heat that radiated from her, the floral notes of her perfume, and his overwhelming need for her.

“My full name huh?” her nails ran near his temple, just below his ear, and along the edge of his hairline.

“Please…..” the ache in his groin was agonizing.

“Aren’t you hungry?” he knew her words were carefully chosen.

“You’re going to kill me…..” he whispered as she dropped to her knees in front of him, still not making further contact with him. All he wanted was to touch her, the slope of her shoulder, the curve of her breast, the angle of her hip. His thoughts weren’t helping quell the circumstance below his waist and things were only made worse by her hands moving along his thigh, his skin scorching beneath her fingers.

“Is there anything I can do for you?” it was flirty and husky and designed to drive him mad.

“Fuck Liv, I’m not a saint,” he huffed, nearly leaping from his seat and moving quickly to the door. She heard the door latch and the lock engage, immediately warming her to the core. He turned back to her, stalking towards her, his stare forcing her backwards until the backs of her legs hit the edge of the couch and she fell clumsily to the cushions.

“What are you going to do?” her heart thudded in her chest, sounding in her ears like the thump of a drum.

            He straddled her thighs, lowering himself over her when a sharp knock on the door sent him falling onto the couch beside her.

“Dad,” Heather called from the hall, “Is everything okay?”

            The handle jiggled and Fitz did his best to set his arid mouth to work, “Fine,” it came out as a prepubescent squeak and he cleared his throat before trying again, “Be right there.”

“Okay,” Heather sounded satisfied and retreated back to the dining room.

“You almost got us in trouble,” Fitz warned, offering a hand to Olivia then smoothing his sweater.

“I just said that dinner was ready. How is that causing trouble?” she asked innocently, allowing her palm to rest over his heart.

“Can I give you a hand? Was I coming? Hungry?” he was dubious, “You’re lucky I didn’t lose it as soon as you touched me.”

            She offered a most pleased smile before bringing her lips to his then led him out of the study and to the dining room.

            Dinner was fairly uneventful, superb food, casual conversation, and smiles all around. Fitz caught Olivia’s eye when he saw Ellie take Josh’s hand, tempted to put a stop to the contact. But Olivia slid her fingers between his and brushed her thumb over the back of his hand, a gesture that was meant to reassure.

            Fitz smiled in return, finding solace in the touch of the woman he loved and having the people who meant the most to him happy.

“Josh and I are going to a movie,” Ellie announced a few minutes later, puncturing the comfortable silence.

“I thought we’d get to know Josh a little bit better,” contended Fitz as the couple started towards the foyer.

“Daddy,” maintained Ellie, “We had dinner isn’t that enough?”

            Fitz opened his mouth to argue but a quick squeeze of his hand by Olivia stopped his protest.

“You two have fun,” Olivia spoke up, giving a little wave.

“Thanks Liv,” Ellie rushed back, surprising Olivia with a firm hug, “I owe you one.”

X-X

“Tell me the truth, did you spike her food or something?” Fitz asked as he pulled his sweater over his head exposing his bare, sculpted chest. Ellie and Josh had left for the movies and Heather to her apartment, leaving them all alone. Much to Olivia’s dismay, Fitz had spent the bulk of the time marveling at Ellie’s civil behavior.

“Come to bed,” she sauntered from the bathroom, glancing back over her shoulder to be sure he was watching before she cocked her hip to the side in a seductive sway.

            A low growl resounded from him, the memory of her earlier words, the flirting, the heat, the craving. The shift in her hormones made her both more aggressive and more responsive, something that he didn’t remember happening with Megan. But then the list of firsts with Olivia was longer than his arm.

            He watched her peel back the covers on the bed and slide beneath before following her lead. She curled on her side, squirming around until she felt the familiar dip in the mattress and his warm body settle just behind hers.

            Before he lay his head on the pillow, he reached his hand around to touch her belly, “I love you little Peanut and I love your Mommy.”

            She scooted back against him, longing for him to touch her the way she’d been daydreaming for hours. She wanted his hands all over her and his mouth on hers, his fingers digging into her flesh and his rigid length finding purchase deep within her. He rewarded her incursion with a small roll of his hips bringing his erection dangerously close to her center.

“Make love to me Fitz,” she breathed over her shoulder.

“Whatever my Livvie wants my Livvie gets,” he rumbled into the hair at the nape of her neck.

            The night was about relieving the unbearable tension that simmered between them all evening, reconnecting, and celebrating the ostensible improvement in the relationship between Olivia and Ellie.

            Fitz rolled Olivia to straddle him, beginning his tactile exploration of her form. She settled against his chest as best she could and brushed her lips over his.

“I love you,” she whispered just before he captured her mouth fully. Their exchanged moans were lost to the other in a masterpiece of gratification. He was just beginning his venture over her breasts when her phone rang, startling them both. She ignored the intrusion, pressing herself harder against him before her phone rang a second time, the caller clearly not appreciating that she was indisposed.

            With an irritated lament she crawled to the nightstand in pursuit of the offending device, “Hello?”

            She scrambled from the bed, pulling on a pair of jeans and Fitz’s sweatshirt, dragging her hair into a haphazard ponytail, as she listened intently to the voice on the other end of the line.

“I’ll be there in fifteen minutes,” she assured the person on the other end, “Stay put and don’t worry.”

            Her eyes scanned the room after she ended the call, searching for her purse and keys.

“Where are you going?” he sounded alarmed at her haste, “Who was on the phone?”

“I just have to run out,” she offered a hurried smile before grabbing her keys and walking from the room, Fitz rushing close behind.

“Olivia, where are you going?” his voice was urgent.

“I have to go pick up Ellie,” she didn’t turn back to meet his stare but the mood in the room shifted when she sensed the words hit him, “She needs a ride.”

“Where is she? Is she alright? I’m coming with you,” then Fitz was headed back up the steps, putting on the first pair of pants he came across and dragging a t-shirt over his head as he hurried back to the foyer.

“Just stay here. She’s fine,” Olivia was soothing. He caught her hand before she could slip out the door, turning her so she had no choice but to look him in the eye.

“Where is she?” he wouldn’t let it drop.

“The restaurant,” Olivia admitted, bracing herself.

“What rest…….my restaurant?” the pieces were starting to come together.

“She and Josh were there…..and the bartender served them…..” her voice trailed off and her gaze fell to the slate tiles under her feet.

“They were drinking?” Fitz was yelling now, his fingers exerting more pressure on her wrist by the second. Then he took a deep breath, “Just tell me she’s okay.”

“She had a fake ID,” Olivia extracted her arm from his grip, “and Edison is threatening to call the police.”

A/N: So there you have it. Looking forward to hearing your feedback. Looks like Edison isn’t going away quietly. Do you think Ellie has really turned over a new leaf? Thanks for reading. This story has brought so many amazing people into my life. I am thankful both for that and for each and every one of you who continues to read and follow Olivia and Fitz on their journey and emboldens me to continue.

XO,

RG