His voice—it was commanding, gruff, deep, and could also be incredibly smooth and soothing. Sometimes she wished he wasn't so quiet and monosyllabic, just so that she could hear it more often. Then again, she wondered if that was what made his voice so special—the fact that he used it so sparingly—because it made it more meaningful when he actually talked.
It was, perhaps, what also made it more hurtful when he spoke out of anger.
There were instances when he argued that she would also find herself feeling a little aroused, because in many of those instances they were both just tearing into each other to try and let out tension of a different nature—and it usually resulted in a hot night of trying to make it up to each other.
She liked the sounds he made on nights like those—the grunts, groans, and moans of pleasure—the way he would almost shout her name at the end. Those were the moments he was most expressive with his voice.
It didn't matter what situation they were in, anytime he addressed her as "Jen" it would grab her attention. She liked the way he said it, with that slight growl in his voice, the way it sounded so familiar and affectionate.
The sound of his laugh always brought the biggest smile to her face.
Her favorite thing was those rare nights when he would whisper "I love you" as he held her in his arms while they fell asleep.
He loved her alto voice and how expressive it was. She may have learned over the years how to mask her true emotions when she was doing her job and speaking politics—but he could always decipher how she was truly feeling just by listening carefully.
There was possibly nothing else in the world that made him feel more whole than the sound of her laughter, even if it was a result of her teasing or laughing at him. Hell, the way she sounded when she was teasing him always made it hard for him not to smile, because he loved how amused and happy she sounded.
And there was possibly nothing else in the world that made him feel more guilty or hate himself more than when he crossed the line out of anger and said something too hurtful. The way her face would look stricken for that split second and her voice would waver in response always made him realize he was the biggest bastard on earth. He always tried his best to apologize and make it up to her after those moments, and try harder to be more gentle when a work conflict arose—because he knew he couldn't live without the sound of her laughter ever again.
The way she said his name could make him completely lose track of his thoughts. It practically rolled off her tongue in a purr, and when she addressed him by his name it was usually a good sign—one of familiarity and affection. When she addressed him as "Special Agent Gibbs" she was either putting on a professional front for work, or he was definitely in hot water with her.
He loved how loud she was in bed, and how she would moan and gasp. He loved that the pleasure and excitement in her voice was a result of him making love to her.
He had taken for granted the way she said "I love you" in Paris so many years ago, but it was something he cherished every time she said it now.