Author's note: It's funny how I'm gone for months and then come back with smut. Well, sort of...


House of Cards

It was like a house of cards, built over a period of time, only to collapse before it reached its peak. Or like setting dominoes up and then watching helplessly as they don't all fall down.

It was frustration she couldn't compare with anything else, and she wondered if any of the men she was with ever noticed it, how she was sometimes more on edge and snappier. She knew Gibbs picked up on it more often than not, if judging by the furtive glances he would keep giving her. But he never pressed on, not after she pushed him back the first time he tried to go back down on her.

Truth was, sometimes the orgasms took her by surprise, no matter how strong the build up was. And sometimes – sometimes it just felt like an orgasm never reached its peak, leaving her feeling empty and frustrated. It felt like no matter how hard she tried – and boy, did she try – the climax would just keep on slipping out of her grasp.

"Son of a bitch," – she half screamed, voice hoarse, as she ran one hand through her hair while the other one slammed against the bed, fisted.

Gibbs lifted his head from between her legs, knowing look in his eye. She couldn't meet his gaze, not wanting him to feel responsible – she still couldn't figure out what was causing these near misses, but it was definitely not his fault. If anybody was a giving and caring lover, it was Leroy Jethro Gibbs.

He moved up her body, but she turned her head away, avoiding his lips. She wasn't in the mood and, frankly, she felt like leaving the bed altogether. As he moved resignedly to the side, his leg accidentally grazed her and she gasped, feeling the orgasm seeping through her fingers like sand once again.

Gibbs placed a soft kiss behind her ear, a peace offering, and turned his back to her. She sighed in frustration again, rubbing her eyes tiredly, before turning on her side, her back to him, and closing her eyes.


- True story, bro.