They had Bodner in custody. Not the one they expected, but nevertheless, the night was a success. Tony and Ziva went back to their hotel for the night, to await the first flight back to DC.
Neither minded sharing a hotel room much. They were accustomed to it from previous travels. Although it was still not without its awkward moments, the two had to admit it was nice to have company for the night, even in a separate bed. They had shared many hotel rooms on undercover missions, always having to appear as commonplace as possible. Usually they were a married couple on their honeymoon, or a new couple in love seeing the world together for the first time. It was so easy, the way they moved together through all their assignments. So effortless, the way they laughed, hugged, held each others hands and hung on each word the other said. So effortless, in fact, that their own team had questioned in previous assignments how much of it was pretend and how much was reality.
But behind closed doors, they returned to their usual selves. Ziva, coughing, trying to hide the way her breath caught in her throat when Tony looked at her in a certain way or the way he patted the bed and invited her to lay beside him. Tony pretending his heart didn't skip a beat when she accepted the offer and lay there staring at him. Always avoiding the effect the other had on them and chopping it up to a great, old fashioned partnership. But after the events of the night, and what may possibly be the best 'acting' they had ever done, neither could deny that the spark that bounced so freely between them, was real.
Ziva was on the phone with Gibbs updating him on their flight back. When she ended the call, she realized there was a light music playing. Tony stood in front of her with his hand extended and said, "You know, in our line of work, one rarely ever finishes a dance, don't you find that frustrating, Z"? Ziva's mind went back to the moment when Tony told her to act like she was just with him, and she thought about her fathers words to her, that someone, someday would deserve her love. She thought abut all Tony had done for her and all they had been through together, and knew in that moment, with this one small gesture, that Tony did deserve it. She was unsure, however, of whether he returned it. For some reason, this night had some hint of finality in it, and Ziva wasn't going to be the one to let the moment pass them by. So she took his hand, nodded her head and said, " I do believe Bond would be disappointed, we better not leave it there". Tony smiled at her attempted movie reference and brought up the oh-so-common elephant in the room."Ziva, I know this is strange for us, considering there's no one watching us, but I truly did want to finish our dance. I keep thinking about the look you had on your face when you were pretending that I was the only person in the room you even noticed. " Ziva flashed a dazzling, shy ,smile at him as they began to move. They looked into each others eyes for a long moment. Neither spoke or realized how close they had leaned to the other until just before their lips touched. "Tony, you were the only person in the room to me" Ziva whispered. And then it began. Their lips touched ever so slightly in a sweet, perfect kiss.
Although they had kissed many times years before, nothing could've prepared them for the overwhelming, intense emotion that this kiss brought on. Tony was mesmerized by the softness of her lips. Perhaps the softest, most sensual lips he had ever kissed. No, definitely. Ziva wasn't prepared for the strong, full feel of Tony's lips against hers. She felt safe, secure, protected and loved. They continued this way, dancing, holding each other and placing small kisses on the lips and face of the other until Tony could bear it no longer. He kissed Ziva with more passion than he had ever placed in a kiss before.
As the kiss deepened, an intense hunger burned itself through their bodies. Ziva felt it, starting in her fingers and spreading throughout her body. She reached her arms around Tony's neck and moved her fingers along his ears, neck and face. Tony reluctantly broke off the kiss and began hungrily kissing Ziva's neck, as he listened to her soft moans encouraging him to continue. He lost himself in her smell, the taste of her sweet skin and the fire burning through him for this woman. Ziva ran her fingers through his hair, down his back and shoulders all the while thinking "Closer, I want him closer to me". Even though he was impossibly close already. His lips and tongue felt like flames igniting a fierce desire in her.
Zivas voice is what brought Tony back to reality. "Tony. Tony, we need to stop". "Can we, Ziva"? Tony asked. "Look, Tony, I'm not saying I want to, I just think we need to talk before this gets out of hand. I don't want this to be a Berlin fling. Tony, I Tony, I don't know how to say this-." Her stuttering was cut off by a light kiss on her lips, "Ziva, I love you. I have loved you since the moment I saw you. I was made to love you. Now that we've opened up this part of us, how can it just be a Berlin fling"? "Oh, Tony, I've loved you for so long. Just tonight, when we were dancing, I knew I had to tell you soon." Ziva placed a kiss on Tony's cheek and smiled her shy smile again. This melted Tony's heart completely.
"Come lay down with me, Z. It's been a long day and you need some rest", Tony said as he went and turned off their dancing music coming from his cell phone. Ziva had to admit that, although she is not one to cuddle, by any means, she was entranced, and could not wait to feel Tony's body laying close to hers, arms around her. So, she followed him over to the bed. "Let's get you comfortable, Z." Tony began very slowly and sensually unbuttoning the soft navy blue material of Ziva's dress. He guided it down her body slowly, careful only to touch her in the least sexual way possible. His hands brushing only against her shoulder, arms, and legs while removing the garment. This revealed her beautiful sky blue lace cami and matching panties. Tony thought he would faint from the sight of the overwhelming, impossible beauty standing before him. "Ziva, I've never seen anything more beautiful in all my life." Ziva locked eyes with him and touched his shoulders. "Let's get you comfortable too, Tony", she said completely breathless.
She could not help the racing, pounding beats of her heart as she watched Tony undress her. His eyes looked so sexy. The rough texture of his hands had an incredible effect on her, he was so masculine, so strong. Yet his hands were carefully avoiding her breasts, her stomach, her thighs. Teasing her, she thought. Ziva carefully unfastened his belt, sending a wave of desire through him as her soft fingers touched his waist. She unbuttoned and unzipped his pants and guided them to the floor. She raised up and unbuttoned his shirt slowly. Painfully slow in fact. She just wanted to feel his skin. Ziva pushed the white button down off Tony's back and raised his undershirt off over his head. She couldn't help but run her hands down his strong, muscular, very bare chest. Tony was now wearing a dark colored pair of boxers and nothing else. Tony just stared at her, enchanted by the twinkle of desire in her eyes. Watching her marvel over him. "Let's go to bed, my Ziva" Tony whispered. Ziva nodded, not knowing what to expect
.
The two loved each other, that was a given. They always had. Even before they became best friends and confidants. But Ziva couldn't shake the feeling that if they were to make love here, tonight, when they got back home it would just be a distant memory. Something that happened between them in a foreign, romantic city. Just as she was about to voice this concern the second time, Tony took her hands in his started to speak. "Z, as bad as I want you, right now, I want to do this the right way. You know, back at home, in a memorable place. A place we will spend our days and nights together. I just-" Ziva's lips cut him off. She pulled back and said, "Oh, Tony, you don't have to say any more. I feel the same. Thank you for being so wonderful." Tony touched her face and the couple stared into each others eyes for a long moment. Then they leaned in again, a silent force gently but passionately pulling them together. When their lips met this time, it was like fireworks. No, like a cool breeze on a summers day. A walk on the beach with bare feet. The perfect heaven on earth. Tony deepened their kiss and Ziva's hands were all over his chest, his back, even holding on to his hair for dear life. Tony's hands went just under the bottom of her lace cami to feel the perfect, smooth skin of her stomach. Things were getting heated, so Tony finally pulled away, kissing her forehead and laid down on the bed, pulling her by her hand with him. Ziva lay on her side, facing Tony as their arms and legs intertwined into an impossibly comforting, loving position. "I love you, David," Tony said quietly. "I love you too, DiNozzo."
They drifted to sleep wrapped around each other. Both confident that they were loved, and that no matter what the future may bring, someone had their back.