"Forever sounds good," Oliver whispers, his voice steady and sincere. Their lips meet again, the kiss deepens, becoming slower and more intimate as they explore each other's mouths with leisurely curiosity. Oliver's hands roam Harper's back, tracing the curves of her spine before settling on the clasp of her panties. He does not rush, instead savouring the moment of anticipation as his fingers works the fabric free. "You are so perfect," he murmurs against her lips, breaking the kiss just long enough to speak. "Every part of you." His own sweatpants follow next, kicked off carelessly onto the floor. Now completely bare, he guides her to lie back against the sofa cushions, positioning himself over her with careful reverence. His body is warm and solid against hers, skin against skin for the first time all evening.
"I want to feel you everywhere," Oliver says softly, his voice full of genuine affection. "No more barriers between us." He settles between Harper's legs, his weight supported on his elbows to avoid crushing her. His gaze is worshipful as he looks down at her naked body in the soft light, taking in every detail with reverence. "Look at you," he says quietly, his voice thick with emotion. "Lying here in my apartment like you belong here." He leans down to press soft kisses along her collarbone, each one deliberate and filled with tenderness. His hands explore every curve they have been denied access to during work hours– her hips, the swell of her breasts, the delicate skin of her inner thighs. Each touch is meant to savour rather than claim.
"You have no idea what it does to me, seeing you like this. Knowing I got to have this every night if I am lucky," Oliver confesses against her skin. "If we are both lucky," Harper corrects him. Her arms encircle his neck and pull him down for another kiss. "This is perfect. You are perfect." He melts completely into the kiss, his body relaxing against hers as if her words have finally allowed him to let go of the last remnants of hi professional façade. He returns the kiss with equal fervour, pouring all the pent-up affection and desire from their day apart into the simple act of pressing his lips to hers. "Perfect for you," he whispers when they break apart for air. His forehead rests against hers, their breaths mingling in the small space between them. "Because you are perfect for me."
Oliver's hands find hers where they are linked behind his neck, lacing their fingers together as he brings them up to rest on either side of her head. The gesture feels intimate and committed– more than just physical intimacy; it is a promise of something deeper. His expression turns serious, his gaze intense as he studied her face in the dim light. "I mean it, Harper. You are not just some fling for me." His voice is low and earnest. "This– us– it is important. More important that anything at the office." He shifts his weight slightly, allowing is body to press more fully against hers. The heat between them is palpable, a tangibly connection that goes beyond simple attraction.
"I do not just just want you for tonight or tomorrow," Oliver continues, his thumb stroking gently along her cheekbone. "I want to wake up next to you every morning. I want to fight with you over who gets the last slice of pizza. I want to see you in my kitchen making coffee in one of my old shirts." His hands move to frame her face completely, holding her steady as he searches her blue green eyes for any sign of hesitation. "Tell me what you want too," he says softly but firmly. "Honestly, I want that too," Harper admits softly. "I keep trying to slow down but the way I feel about you… it is overwhelming." Oliver's entire demeanour shifts, the last traces of his usual control melting away completely.
A genuine, relieved smile breaks across his face as he rests his forehead against hers. "Thank God," he breathes out, the words filled with pure relief. "Because I have been fighting this for the last couple of days. Trying to convince myself this was just some office romance that would burn out after a few months." His hands move from her face to cup her jaw, tilting her head up so their eyes meet directly. The vulnerability in his expression is startling– raw and honest in a way she has never seen him before. "You are not overwhelming, Harper. You are everything." His voice cracks slightly on the last word. "I have been falling for you since that first day where you argued with me about client strategy for an hour straight." He laughs softly at the memory, his blue eyes crinkling at the corners. "I think I fell in love with your stubbornness first."
"My stubbornness?" Harper echoes. "That is a first." Oliver's smile widens, genuine amusement dancing in his blue eyes. "What can I say? I am a sucker for a woman who knows what she wants and is not afraid to go after it." He shifts his weight slightly, settling more comfortably between her legs. "Remember that meeting last week where you completely shut down my proposal for the Johnson account? You had me completely on the defensive for twenty minutes straight." His thumb traces lazy circles on her hipbone. "Most people would have backed down. You just kept pushing until I saw your point." He shakes his head with fond memory. "I spend the rest of the day thinking about how impressive that was. And how much I wanted to kiss you right then and there."
"It was king of sexy," Harper said biting her lower lip. "How you treat me as an equal. You did not threaten to fire me or tell me to know my place." Oliver's blue eyes darken with heat at the sight of her biting her lip, a low growl escaping his throat. "God, you have no idea what that does to me," he says his voice dropping to husky whisper. "The way you challenge me at work, then look at me like that…"