Sorry it took me so long but my defense it's a pretty long chapter once more :D Hope you enjoy :)
Next one isn't written yet but it should be shorter so hopefully won't take me quite as long to write :)

Fitz wasn't relaxing. She had him pinned to the wall, mouthing at his pulse point in a way that usually left him delightfully speechless and panting, and instead he was still rambling.

"I know I overreacted but I ... mmmh ... I didn't mean to ruin the mood ..."

Was he trying to apologize? That was definitely new. Usually, when he realized he was wrong, he found a way to distract her so he wouldn't have to really acknowledge it (usually a rather delightful one now that they were whatever they were). And while she appreciated this new development and would definitely go back to the conversation later, now she was in the mood for something else.

Fitz was skimming his fingers down her sides under her blouse in that achingly soft way he always did without really thinking about it. Muscle memory really was a beautiful thing. But it usually was after they had sex, when he was feeling more tender and their thirst for pleasure and each other had been quenched. The feeling was delightful and always appreciated but despite the burgeoning hardness she could feel against her pelvis, Fitz apparently had trouble getting out of his head.

"That's alright Fitz, really ..." She whispered in his ear before capturing his earlobe between her lips. The sensation made him gasp loudly and she took this opportunity to start unbuttoning his shirt. Moving to his mouth, she skimmed her tongue over his lower lip and was rewarded with a low groan just before he kissed her harder, deepening the kiss as he pulled her closer. She smiled into the kiss as she felt his hardening cock press against her groin and allowed herself to enjoy the sensation, knowing now that things would progress her way sooner or later anyway. They did such incredibly dirty things to each other -things she thought were reserved for ridiculously unrealistic porn books or movies- that she sometimes forgot what an amazing kisser Fitz was, always using his hands to heighten the feeling of the fantastic things he did with his lips and tongue. He'd just pulled on the elastic of her tight ponytail and was now threading his hands into her hair, loosening her slight curls and massaging her scalp the way he'd probably seen her do more than once, and she moaned in pleasure and contentment, thinking she was finally having his full attention.

Her hands had drifted down to his waist, about to undo his belt after finally having opened his shirt completely, when he broke the kiss.

"But really I don't want us to fight all the time, it was nice before and I wish we could ... we could ..."

"Fitz, do you want to stop?" She cut him off, completely breathless. She thought she might die of frustration if he actually said yes but she didn't want to force him to do anything. She didn't want to be the kind of woman who thought all men were always good to go when it came to sex. If he wanted to talk, if he had something to say that couldn't wait another minute, she'd listen to him and, considering the few clear words he'd managed to let out already, it might even lead to something good. "We can hu ... we can ..."

His hands were still in her hair, idly tracing patterns on the back of her head and neck and it was making it hard to focus on words.

"No no no no no!" He cut her off, pulling her body flush to him, making his arousal pretty obvious to her once more. "I can wait … I just ... you know ..." He whispered against her lips. "I hu ... always have trouble getting something out of my head once it's stuck there ..." he added with an apologetic shrug.

Well. She certainly knew of one way to get him out of his head.

"Well that's good then 'cause it would have been a shame if I wore that awful contraption all afternoon for nothing!" She grinned and he looked at her in mild confusion.

"What do you ..." He started before she started unbuttoning her blouse, and then he understood. Slowly sliding each button through its hole, she never broke eye contact. Fitz seemed frozen, his pupils going wider and wider as more skin and more lace were revealed. She could never do the whole strip tease thing for any of her boyfriends before, she'd tried a few times but always ended up a giggling mess as she felt too weird and ridiculous to continue. That look on Fitz's face though ... that was something else. It was making her feel sexier, bolder and more revered than she ever felt before.

When she was done with the buttons of her blouse, she pushed it off her shoulders, finally revealing the deep purple bra that's been torturing her all day. She had to admit the pattern of the lace was gorgeous and the shape of it was giving her boobs a volume she never knew they could ever have without her getting pregnant or gaining a significant amount of weight. In addition to that, the thing didn't really cover a lot, her hard nipples pointing through the fabric, which also meant she'd spent all day looking down at her cleavage in fear that they'd show through her blouse whenever it got a little colder or that one of her boobs would just jump out if she moved too much.

"Christ Jemma ..." was all Fitz could say as his gaze couldn't seem to fixate on either her breasts or the predatory smile she wore on her face. That was, until she reached for the zipper of her skirt and pushed it down her legs, revealing the matching barely there knickers and the pair of stay up stockings that made her hesitate between feeling sexy and naughty all day and worried that the damn things wouldn't actually stay up.

Now, as Fitz groaned, actually groaned, at the sight, she decided it's all been worth it. He took her hand in his softly and before she could wonder what he had in mind, he pulled it up and made her twirl. She giggled at the ridiculousness and adorableness of the gesture, turning around once more to make sure he really had a good look at it. Because once it'd be off, she would never wear it again. (She'd propably burn it just to be sure if the damn thing didn't cost more than her whole outfit)

Landing into his arms, she let him capture her lips, slipping his tongue desperately between her lips and mapping out her mouth with a passion that left her breathless. Still, she didn't forget what she had in mind and went back to undoing his belt, the button and zip of his trousers following soon, giving her more room to grab his hard cock, giving it a tentative rub then adding more pressure as she felt him surge into her small hand.

"Jemma ..." he moaned into her neck where he'd started biting and kissing the skin there equally hungrily in that way he knew turned her on and always made her want to do very dirty things to him. Which she was already planning on doing anyway. "God you're so ... so ... I can't believe you're ...this ... with me, I'm so ..."

He was obviously trying to pay her some kind of compliment but the words were coming out completely jumbled. She found it strangely endearing the way he could get completely overwhelmed when she did something surprising or new. Especially since it was quite a big contrast with the confident way he acted on stage during his presentations or even with her the rest of the time. She liked that she was probably one of the only people privy to that side of him that made him just that much more interesting to her.

And as it was, she knew exactly the way to stop the stuttering of his brain by making it blissfully blank. Well, there were actually several ways to achieve that same goal but she'd actually been fantasizing about something very specific for weeks, especially since she'd bought that lingerie set, knowing that it would most likely blow his brains out. It even had her grinning and blushing every time she stumbled upon it in her underwear drawer.

Pushing slightly away from him and letting go of his cock, she grinned at the pathetic little whimper he let out. Then, looking directly into his eyes once more, she slowly sank to her knees.

"Jemma?" He let out, his tone at the same time questioning and hopeful but she didn't answer. Instead, she grabbed his trousers and boxer briefs and pulled them down slowly until his cock was free from its constraint, sticking out thick, red and very hard, just like she wanted him. Still not taking her eyes off his, she gave one first slow lick from base to head that had him shivering all over, and her grinning widely, before she lowered her mouth and took him all in. Her hands moved from his hips to his deliciously firm bum and she moved her head up again, making a show of sucking him slowly, finishing with a swirl of her tongue against the head, and he released a harsh breath, his head falling back against the wall in reaction to the pleasure she was giving him. She kept it slow at first, bobbing her head up and down, trying to take more of him every time and greatly enjoying the way he whimpered when he hit the back of her mouth. She'd never loved giving oral sex before. When she was younger, she did it first out of curiosity and then, at best, it's been fun, making her feel a little naughty if not actually turned on. She didn't do it often and most of the time it was either to reciprocate when she'd been given oral sex or when she wanted to be given oral sex in return. With Fitz, like everything else, it was different. Maybe because theirs was supposed to be a relationship based on sex only or maybe because, ironically, in bed they've been understanding each other perfectly from the moment they first kissed. With him, she wasn't scared of being judged for what she wanted and really liked and Fitz being quite imaginative, she'd discovered a lot about herself. It's even been quite a revelation. For instance, she'd discovered that she quite liked sex to be rough once in a while, liked him to take her hard and fast against a wall as much as she loved the way he could literally spend hours taking her apart in the most tender and sensual way. And although she'd always seen herself as dominant in bed and still felt like it, she also didn't mind letting Fitz have the upper hand and surprise her, or even the occasional slap on the butt he gave her teasingly and that had a lot more effect on her than he intended. And for someone who, quoting Fitz, liked rules more than life itself, she'd also learned that semi-public sex and the risk of being discovered actually gave her quite a thrill. That discovery came along with discovering that for the first time in her life, there were moments where she literally couldn't keep her hands off him. And when it came to giving him blow jobs, it was like he reacted to it more like a woman than like all the men she ever knew and it was incredibly rewarding. He felt that pleasure from his head to his toes and all his body was reacting to it. Goosebumps formed on his skin, all his muscles tensed and he made the most indecent noises that sent wave after wave of heat directly to her center. And if he got so adorably cuddly and affectionate afterwards that it melted her heart, well …

At some point, she felt his bum tensing and she knew he was trying to stop himself from thrusting into her mouth as he got closer to his release, his hand gently curved behind her neck, mostly in a need for more physical contact rather than to control her movements. But as it was, she wouldn't mind him losing control a bit -or actually giving him more depending on the perpective- she actually liked to feel the force of his desire for her and she truly wanted him to enjoy himself as much as she did when he went down on her. So she stopped moving her head for a moment, humming around his cock as she used the grip she had on his butt to pull him closer and deeper into her mouth, hoping he would get the message.

His hand stilled in her hair and he groaned something unintelligible that would have made her giggle if her mouth wasn't quite so full. Then he started thrusting into her mouth slowly, as not to overwhelm her and his breathing became ever louder. His head was no longer resting against the wall and he was looking at her with a hunger that was almost scary in its intensity. Once she picked up on his rythm, she started bobbing her head up and down again, increasing the succion of her lips and she felt him twitch immediately.

"Jemma ..." He breathed out as his hand went to the back of her head again, making a mess of her hair, while the other cupped her cheek in the softest gesture anyone's ever had towards her while she was sucking him off. It was all so good and erotic, she couldn't help moaning around his cock as she wondered if she could actually come from the touch of his hands and the thickness and heat of him against her tongue.

But before she could test her theory, Fitz's thrusts started to get faster.

"God I'm so-so ..." He croaked but she knew what he was trying to say already from the way his cock kept twitching. So she tried to losen her jaw to suck a bit more of him inside as he humped her face without much restraint now. Wetness was gathering even more between her legs at the force of his lust made itself more and more evident. He was groaning each time he hit the back of her mouth and she could feel how close he ...

His hips finally stilled and as she bobbed her head up and down once, twice more, his whole body tensed and a second later, he was spilling down her throat with a shout of ecstasy that must have been heard at least three rooms away and made her feel wickedly proud of herself. She kept moving for a moment, making sure his orgasm lasted as long as possible, and only when it felt like he was completely spent did she release his softening cock.

She just had the time to quickly wipe her mouth with the back of her hand before he sank to his knees and engulfed her in a tight embrace that had her laughing out loud in delight.

"Fuck Jemma … I can't believe you're real sometimes …" He breathed against her ear as he softly caressed her back. She felt like he was leaning on her as much as he was holding her and it made her grin widely once more, feeling quite proud of having turned his legs to jelly like he did to her so often. "Looking like this and not letting me touch you but then doing … this …". Aww, she recognized him well, doing all kinds of dirty things to her and with her but incapable of saying the words. Pulling back slightly, he cupped her cheeks with both hands, looking into her eyes with such intensity that it made her want to look away and never look anywhere else at the same time, and then he kissed her softly, taking the time to let the kiss grow deeper at its own pace and it was in moments like this, in between all the sex and bickering, that she felt like he, too, felt more than they were supposed to be, and that it would only take a little courage to finally talk about what they were to each other now.

Once strength had apparently returned to his legs, Fitz broke their embrace and stood up, pulling his boxers and trousers back up as he did and immediately offered his hand to help Jemma up.

"So …" She said, trailing her hand down his bare torso. "Do you believe me now when I tell you I don't think you're a bad person? Do you think I would suck you off like that if I thought you were some kind of potential super vilain?" She asked, grinning at the way he blushed at the use of her words, and he pretended to think for a moment before encircling her waist and pulling her closer as he grinned down at her.

"Yeah … probably not!"

"Good!"

"Although …"

"What Fitz?" She asked, rolling her eyes.

"I could be a really good super vilain if I wanted to …"

"Oh please Fitz …"

"I'm a genius engineer, imagine all the terrible things I could do …"

"No I'm sorry Fitz, no one has ever seen a super vilain with a Scottish accent, it's just too … nice" She shrugged and he raised an amused eyebrow at her.

"Well I can do a very convincing American accent anyway …"

"And you'd need a big black moustache too, which wouldn't be a good look on you and anyway, your facial hair is kinda reddish when it grows out!" She finished with a triumphant smile, feeling way too proud for winning such a ridiculous argument.

"Oh … so that's your final say on it? I just don't have what it takes to be bad?"

"Yep!" She grinned.

"Alright then …" He said, pulling back from her with a strange gleam in his eyes.

"Fitz?" She asked, but before she had the time to say anything else, he was upon her, one arm catching her around her back and the other behind her knees as he lifted her up. "Fiiiitz" She squeaked in surprise, fake outrage and quite a lot of delight. "Fitz, what are you doing?" She insisted when he started carrying her bridal style towards the large bed in the middle of her room.

"God, they really don't want you to leave, do they?" He exclaimed with a whistle when he gave a look around. The place was larger than her own apartment in New York with large bay windows giving them a breathtaking view over the city and a bed that was probably almost as big as her whole dorm room in college.

Depositing her gently on the bed, he followed her on his hands and knees, hovering over her with a predatory smile on his face. "Fitz?" She repeated once more.

"I"m gonna have to show you how very wicked I can be …" He said in what was, she had to admit, quite a convincing American accent, and she chuckled nervously as it sent shivers of anticipation down her spine.

"Alright then … do your worst …" She answered, raising a defiant eyebrow at him.

-0-0-0-

"Oh yes yes YES" Jemma cried out as Fitz palmed her arse to accompany the swaying of her hips. He'd been caressing her stocking covered thighs with an enthusiasm that had her grinning even though she never really understood what was so special about it but she was getting closer to climax now and he knew what to do to to help her get there. The flicking of his tongue against her clit suddenly became quicker and more insistent. Needing something to give herself more leverage, she laid her palms flat against the wall as she kept on riding his mouth. Her head was bowed back in pleasure and it's only when he started to hum against her sensitive nub that she looked down and met his eyes. His usually sky blue eyes were completely darkened by desire and the simple sight would have been enough to make her come, which is why it took her so long to realize what HE was looking at precisely. The position and the rocking of her hips was giving him an especially nice view of her lace clad breasts. She grinned remembering all the times he complimented her breasts and all the time he would spend just caressing them and kissing them and licking them even when it didn't lead to something more. Fitz was most definitely a boob's man and even though he seemed to really appreciate the lingerie, she decided to give him what he clearly wanted. Straightening up a bit, she reached behind her back and popped her bra open. It felt so good to be free of that awful torture device that shivers ran down her spine and she sighed in delight.

Not even giving it much thought, she brought her hands to her sides and then to the underside of her boobs to gently rub the parts where the bra had left marks on her skin, exactly like she would do at home after wearing one of her less comfortable bras all day. It's only when she felt Fitz's fingers dig deeper into the skin of her ass and his tongue move deeper into her heat that she realized the effect it must have on him. So she kept going, making a bit of a show of slowing massaging the skin and plucking at her hard nipples, wishing it was his hands on her instead but enjoying the feeling nonetheless. She started swaying her hips faster again as he lapped at her folds with renewed enthusiasm. She could feel her toes curling and goosebumps forming up her legs and, announcing an especially strong orgasm. She just needed a little bit ...

"More!" She asked almost pleadingly, desperately, feeling like she needed just one more push but not knowing what exactly. Fitz helped her rock her hips faster against his mouth as he sucked on her clit with utterly pornographic slurping noises and it's only when she gasped, holding her breath for the wave of her climax she could feel approaching that he let go of her arse and slapped one hand back on her left cheek, repeating the motion once, twice more when she squealed in pleasure. The blow was light, not leaving a single mark on her pale skin but it was unexpected and kinky enough to finally make her topple over the edge, her orgasm crashing over her hard as she fell forward, catching herself on the wall.

"Oh God Fitz yes!" She shouted in ecstasy as she felt the muscles of her stomach and thighs clench in time with her inside walls as wave after wave of pleasure passed over her. Every one of them was just a little less strong than the previous one but still completely incredible, the intensity of it almost too much for her body to bear. But finally, after what felt like forever, her vision became clear again and she got back to her senses. Realizing she was still straddling his face, she made what seemed like an inhuman effort, lifted one leg over him and let herself fall gracelessly on her back next to Fitz.

"Sorry …" She breathed out almost shyly. "Didn't mean to smother you like that, it's just it was really …"

"I'll live …" He replied, rolling on his side to look at her, trailing his hand over her chest and stomach and, from the small smile playing at his lips, clearly enjoying the way it made her shiver all over, her skin still deliciously sensitive from her orgasm. Sometimes it felt like he enjoyed taking her apart even more than he enjoyed his own orgasms, which was saying something really.

"Okay you win …" She let out after a time, rolling around to face him and look him in the eyes with a wide and slightly mischievous smile on her face.

"Uh?"

"You can be a super vilain or an evil scientist or whatever you want if that's how you plan on convincing me every time …" She replied and he burst out laughing, a bright uninhibited happy laugh that made her heart swell in her chest and made her want to kiss him and burry her face in the crook of his neck to breathe him in. God she'd missed him. She'd last seen him six weeks ago in London and she'd been missing him terribly and it made her wonder how much longer she could go on without telling him that.

"Brilliant!" He grinned and beat her to her own idea, pressing his lips to hers softly before pulling her into his chest, his arm tightly wrapped around her shoulder as he sighed contentedly.

"So ..." He started after a moment of companionable silence. "Did you wear ... these for me?" He asked, nodding towards the offending garments they'd thrown haphazardly on the ground next to the bed.

"These old things? Nah! I just didn't have anything else to wear!" She replied, affecting a casual tone and he chuckled.

"Well ... if I knew you had this on under your clothes, I would have dragged you here the moment you came off stage."

"Oh yeah? And what makes you think I would have followed?" She replied, looking at him from under her lashes.

"Considering you're usually the one dragging me ... places, I think my chances are good ..." He grinned.

"Cheeky!" She quipped but still somehow blushing at one specific memory of a time she'd been a little too impatient to be with him and dragged him into a supply closet only a few meters away from the room she was supposed to be giving her speech fifteen minutes later. But she was positive he'd been the one who started it and she would never say otherwise.

Before she even had the time to raise her hand to swatt his chest, he caught it midway and brought it to his lips instead. He kissed first one knuckle and never breaking eye contact, he kissed them all one after the other delicately before bringing her hand back on his chest just above his heart. He smiled at her then and it was just as achingly sweet and tender as his gesture, without a hint of mischief, just pure sincerity.

Jemma felt the words stuck in her throat just fighting to come out as she was becoming mesmerized by the erratic beating of his heart contrasting with the apparent peacefulness of his features. Did he put her hand there on purpose? Was it his way of showing rather than telling how he felt about her?

"Well …"He started almost shyly, trailing his hand down her hip towards the only piece of her scandalous attire still on her skin. "Wether it was for my benefit or not …" She could see the tiny smirk on the corner of his lips, because of course it was for him and he knew it. "I really REALLY appreciate it …" He trailed off.

"Yeah? Well then I guess it's all been worth it then." She grinned, moving one leg until it was hooked over his for emphasis. She had to admit they did look make her legs look nice.

"Mmmhmm …" He nodded before bringing his other hand to her cheek and pressing his lips to hers. It was tender and a little lazy and she didn't miss the way his heart started beating a little faster under her hand. They were both smiling happily when they pulled apart. "This cannot be comfy though?" He asked, playfully making the elastic of her stocking pop and she giggled.

"Actually those aren't so bad" She replied, looking down at her legs. "But that bra, I'm pretty sure it's been designed by someone who hates women and wants to see them suffer!"

Fitz burst out laughing, his head falling back against the pillow until he looked down again and realized the way she was (not very convincingly) glaring at him. "Sorry …" He said with a sheepish smile before pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Well although I obviously think you looked fantastic in those, I absolutely encourage you not to wear any if it's more comfortable to you."

"Of course you would!" She replied, rolling her eyes and he grinned a little wider. "Or you know I have some free time these days, I could put all my engineering skills at work and create the perfect bra for you!"

"Oh would you really?" She asked, knowing it was a joke but wondering if he could actually do it. With proper motivation, she was pretty sure he could. And he'd make a fortune with it nonetheless.

"Oh yeah … of course I would need to borrow those …" He said, affecting a casual tone as he moved his hand back up to cup her breast delicately. "… for science purposes of course …"

"Ugh Fitz! Sometimes I think you're this man with an exceptional mind I can have pretty amazing conversations with and then you just remind me you're also quite a basic man …" She said, swatting his chest for good this time and although what she said was quite true, she didn't really mind it that much. And she couldn't blame him really, she never found someone who was so stimulating on both an intellectual and physical level. If only they could stop bickering and start communicating a little bit more on what their relationship was, what they had could become something beautiful.

"Exceptional mind?" He repeated with a grin.

"Of course Fitz! I'm not gonna pretend you're not one of the smartest persons I know but is that really all you took from this?" She asked with a raised eyebrow, not knowing if she should be annoyed or amused.

"Yeah no … sorry" He let out with a sheepish smile, letting go of her breast with a sigh. "But you really are awfully tempting like that though …" He added as he extricated himself from under her, letting her gently fall back into the pillows. She watched him curiously as he sat up next to her over the covers, totally unashamed in his nudity, which was a nice change really. Despite what they were doing together, it had taken him several encounters for him to stop shying away from her gaze when he was fully naked. She had to admit it was kind of cute to see him blush like that, especially since there was nothing to be ashamed of. He was still quite lean but not skinny like he used to be and his upper chest and arms were nicely defined and she'd come to find the freckles on his shoulders to be rather endearing. But she liked it even better that he seemed to trust her and himself enough not to put clothes back on the moment they were done having sex.

"So speaking of beautiful brains …" He started as he reached up, took one of her legs and pulled it onto his lap, proceeding to slowly pull off her stocking.

"Fitz?" She asked, a little confused as to what the start of his sentence had to do with what he was doing.

"Can't make that comfy bra for you right now but I can make sure you're as comfortable and relaxed as possible when we're together." He replied with the softest expression on his face as he grabbed her other leg and pulled off her other stocking. The touch of his hands on her skin was equally soft and she realized that it was one more of those hundreds of little things she missed when she was alone in her bed at night and that made her heart ache every time they parted as if there really was only sex between them. Before she had the time to take her legs off his lap, he'd started massaging one foot and she couldn't refrain the soft pleasured moan she let out at the sinful sensation of his fingers and thumbs expertly working the tensions there after having spent hours wearing high heels.

He smiled even wider at her reaction before going back to his previous sentence.

"So speaking of beautiful brains, I really want you to know that I didn't mean to sound negative about your dendrotoxine …"

"Fitz I told you it's alright …"

"I know I know I believe you" He cut her off, his voice gentle as he let his hands move up to her calf and she sighed softly. Maybe she wouldn't throw away the lingerie after all if it made him give her such a delicious and thorough massage every time. "And I fully understand that what I was talking about isn't something that's doable at SciTech but I really meant it when I said it's revolutionary and it's just … I can't stop thinking about it and all the things I could create to multiply its applications. It's just how my mind works, you know how it's like, right?" He asked, turning an hopeful look towards her.

She recognized this look on his face because she wore it so often herself. It was the look she had whenever she explained one of her projects or even simply something she read about and hoped people would see what she saw in it. See how brilliant it was and all the amazing potential it had. And she supposed it was one of the reasons her brain had always been attracted to Fitz's over the years despite their complicated relationship.

"Yeah …yeah I know" She said with a soft smile, feeling her heart flutter a bit at his praise, knowing that it really meant something coming from him. "Wait but that means you'd have to be working with me, you know that right?" She added with a raised eyebrow, surprisingly not feeling completely reluctant at the idea. The few times they did back in uni had been really productive but really quite tense and exhausting to say the least.

"I don't know ... I mean nothing's felt so exciting in quite some time so I guess … yes?" He replied tentatively. "But it's not like you'd want to anyway, I remember the few things you called me back then so ..."

"Well strangely enough I think I would ..." She cut him off and his eyes shot up in surprise, making her smile shyly. "It's not always been easy but it feels like we found a way to work together pretty well these past months …" She trailed off, looking down at his hands working their magic on her foot and he chuckled.

"Well yeah but I don't think THIS would be acceptable in a lab. I do recall that we have the same standards when it comes to lab safety at least."

"I know!" She said, teasingly poking his stomach with her toe. "I was just thinking … maybe we could expand our communication skills in bed to other areas someday …" She said, hoping he would get the deeper meaning in her sentence. She liked where this conversation was going and she hoped she was actually able to use those skills to tell him everything she'd been wanting to say for some time now. But once more the words seemed to remain stuck in her throat, all her fears, insecurities and confusing memories forcing her to stay quiet about what was more important.

"Yeah yeah … that'd be really nice." He said, his fingers coming to an almost complete stop on her skin as if his thoughts were keeping him too distracted. "Well who knows maybe SciTech will collaborate with MaxIndustries someday and you'll get to regret what you just said …" He said with a small grin. She knew he was most likely joking but she'd already seen that slightly self-deprecative side of him. It made her understand him better. What she'd always taken as arrogance or aggressiveness was in fact mostly a lack of self confidence. That was why she had to repeat some things over and over again for him to finally believe it, especially when she complimented him wether it was on his intelligence or physical appearance.

"Oh no I don't think I would …" She replied and his smiled softened.

Bending forward a bit, he pressed a light kiss to her ankle and then a few other ones as he went up her calf. It was kind of a strange thing to do and his beard was tickling her sensitive skin and it was so sweet that she just couldn't help giggling happily.

"So no exciting new project for you?" She asked, only now realizing what he'd said a few minutes earlier. She thought he was happy at MaxIndustries, after the big success his drones had been, she could only imagine how he'd probably been given responsibility for the most important new projects.

"Yeah no, not exactly …" He sighed. "I mean I'm not complaining, I love those drones, they were my idea from the start and I love that it's used to prevent a lot of people from getting in danger but hum … it's been almost a year now and I've barely had the time to develop anything else. They keep asking me for updates and new functions that I don't … I mean I didn't even have the beginning of a project to present here this year …"

"Oh yeah, I was disappointed not to see tour name on the program this time, didn't even know if you'd come …" She replied, realizing only afterwards what her words really meant and her heart skipped a beat. Her stomach twisted uncomfortably in frustration and longing, or maybe even sadness, because she wished she could openly tell him that she would have missed him if he didn't come this time, without having to fear he'd think it was too much and push her away. She wanted to embrace him and kiss him and tell him she missed him when they first saw each other after a long time and never again pretend to be casual acquaintances.

She saw the beginning of a teasing smile on his face, one of their default settings with each other, along with annoyance, anger and now lust, but it soon transformed into something different, something much softer and tender, almost ... knowing.

"Ah no ... wouldn't want to miss all of this ..." He finally said. Then deliciously putting a little pressure on her foot with his thumbs for the last time, he let go off her legs and she barely had the time to whine before he came back next to her again. He lied down on his back and, almost tentatively, he reached around her shoulder and pulled her until she was resting on her side, her arm draped over his chest and leg over his thigh.

He was so warm and smelt so nice she couldn't help sighing in contentment when he ran his fingers along her bare arm.

"Yeah ..." He whispered, an answer to her silent affirmation. "This is really nice ..."

Those weren't the exact words she wanted to hear but for now, they would do.

-0-0-0-

They remained like that for a long time : in each other's arms, talking about all the ideas Fitz didn't have the time to develop these days and all the uses he could imagine for her dendrotoxine. And even though Jemma did roll her eyes a few times, the conversation was incredibly nice and, as always, stimulating. Maybe it was their combined state of post orgasmic bliss or half admitted fondness for each other, but Jemma only felt interest, admiration and amusement rise inside her and she thought her jaw might end up hurting in the morning with the way she couldn't keep the smile off her face.

It was possibly hours before the conversation started to slow down, their voice becoming lower and their words slurring from the exhaustion of the day and their previous activity. But when Jemma felt like they could easily fall asleep during the next break in conversation, something started shifting once more. Fitz's unconscious caresses up and down her back suddenly seemed to have more intent. It was like his conscious brain going into sleep mode made his more primal instincts kick in. Not that there was anything primal in the way he touched her. It was as delicate as if he was petting a cat and it probably was what made her stretch against his side. All her limbs tensed in a way that made him chuckle softly and when they relaxed, she snuggled to him even more possessively, her lips ghosting his pulse point, one arm still slung across his chest and one leg hooked higher across his hips.

"Oh hi …" She grinned softly as she felt the evidence that his body was definitely awake against her thigh. He groaned in response and pulled her closer, making her giggle and, maybe just a little, bringing her nipples to attention as they deliciously pressed against his side and chest. "To what do I owe the honor?" She asked and this time he chuckled.

"That was a really stimulating conversation …" He replied and she burst out laughing, well as much as someone can really burst out laughing in such a sleepy state.

"Hey! I'm serious you know!" He said with an affronted tone as he cupped her cheek to make her look up at him and she raised a disbelieving eyebrow. "What? Does it really come as a surprise that your brilliant brain is a turn on to me?" He added and her stomach did a little flip at what was probably the best compliment anyone ever given her while in bed.

Not knowing what to respond to that, she used her hand on his chest to push herself up and bring her lips upon his. He responded to it immediately, his hands slipping into her mussed up hair as his tongue softly grazed her lips, reigniting the fire in her without really giving her what she wanted. Mmmh, he definitely knew how to use that brilliant brain of his to turn her on as well. Without even realizing it, she'd started grinding her hips against his side, needing friction to release the ache growing between her legs.

"Jemma …" He breathed against her lips. "You know we don't have to …"

She cut him off, slipping her tongue inside his mouth this time, keening in pleasure.

"If you're too tired …"

His hand descended down her back until he could palm her arse. The tips of his fingers grazed the fine skin at the inside of her thighs and she sighed.

"… I'll just take care of it myself …"

The image combined with his impossibly deep voice sent a bolt of heat straight to her center. This relationship-affair-whatever it was that she had with Fitz for a year now sometimes made her feel like she was catching up on those years where she should have been horny and experimenting with sex and was instead too busy getting her PHDs. Except that from the conversations she's had with several of her friends, what she had with Fitz was even better because they both had quite a bit more experience and technique now. Still, it always made her roll her eyes at herself when she got so affected by something as ordinary as imagining Fitz masturbating.

"Mmmh yeah … would be a real hardship … to have sex with you now ..." She whispered in his ear as she let her hands go down to his stomach, gently grazing the skin with her nails, leaving a trail of pebbled skin in their wake. She could feel his abdominal muscles contract and she smiled fondly. "But I suppose I could be convinced …"

"Do you really?" He rasped against her neck.

God she loved it when he was like that. All sleepy and horny at the same time. With his voice impossibly low and rough, his eyes half lidded and his lean graceful body on display, he was the embodiment of decadence, straight out of one those erotic paintings from the 19th century. She was almost tempted to pleasure him with nothing but her hand, just so she'd be able to watch all the stages of ecstasy play out on his face, but as good as it's been earlier, she'd missed being close to him there was an ache between her legs that needed that connection, that needed to be filled and nothing but his cock would do.

So as she captured his lips again, she let the leg already across his hip slide all the way to the other side and pushed herself up until she was straddling his hips, his hard length pressing against her folds. They both moaned in synchrony at the delightful sensation. She couldn't believe how quickly she went from sleepy to so completely aroused but she really was. So, without waiting another second, she reached for his hardness, placed it against her entrance and slowly, easily, slid down on him.

"Jemma" He breathed out in pleasure, his hips thrusting up of their own volition. She started riding him then, lifting her hips up and down slowly at first to get used to the way he always filled her so perfectly. His hands came to grab her rear and she started lifting her hips further until only the tip of him remained inside and then she'd go down slowly to take the time to enjoy the slide of him deep inside her every time she came down on him.

The way he was looking up at her with such lust and awe was intoxicating, almost too intense, and when he started thrusting up again, her eyes closed of their own volition. The intensity of the sensations in her body and the feelings in her heart and mind threatening to pour over the surface made her almost dizzy and she let her hands fall back behind her on his thighs. Of course, that did nothing put out the fire in her as the new angle made his cock hit her g-spot on every up stroke. Their bodies were rocking against each other, tearing moan after moan from her throat and she could feel her orgasm approaching.

"Jemma …" He cried out almost desperately as he let his hands go up to her breasts, but not able to caress them properly with the way her body was angled backward. "Jemma I need … I …" he tried to say but he couldn't seem to get the words out, seemingly too overwhelmed by the sensations their bodies crashing against each other were creating. So he let out a loud grunt of frustration, let go of her breasts and pushed himself up. The sudden movement brought him deeper inside her and she squealed in pleasure and surprise before being engulfed in his embrace, his lips capturing hers in a heated kiss.

"Fitz!" She cried out when their lips parted, the fierceness of his desire making her giggle and moan at the same time. She couldn't move quite as much in that position so she started rocking and rolling her hips and the contact of his chest against her hardened nipples more than made up for the lack of movements.

Fitz wasn't idle either. he buried his hands in her hair and moved his lips towards her neck, kissing and nipping and caressing her skin with a tenderness that threatened to melt her heart as much as it kept the fire going inside her.

"I've missed this so much ..." He whispered against her skin. "I want you so much, I need you closer-God I ..."

She was used to him telling her how gorgeous and sexy she was and how much he desired her and if it usually made her want to do all kinds of scandalous things with him (especially with that gravelly low voice he sometimes used) and gave her quite the ego boost, she wasn't used to him expressing these kinds of feelings and it made her heart beat even faster if it was possible. She'd noticed how possessive he could be when she woke up trapped in his arms or when he glared at other young attractive men when he thought she wasn't looking. But she'd always figured it was some kind of primal male possessiveness and even though it did make her smile several times, she never dreamed it could be more than that. But now, his words and the way he held her and looked at her, it felt different, almost romantic and …

"I've missed you so much … I wish we …"

His voice died down, his eyes going wide as he realized the words that just came out of his mouth. So before he had the time to regret them or take them back, thinking they weren't welcome, she softly pulled his face to hers with her hands on his cheeks and kissed him. Softly, tenderly as she tried to pour everything she felt for him in it.

"I've missed you too …" She whispered against his lips when they broke apart, her face still too close to his to really see his reaction and maybe it was better that way.

And then, she started moving again and they got lost in it. Maybe it was this little pause or the change in position but Jemma liked to believe it was the words they exchanged that made things even more intense after that. His mouth latched onto her nipple and her hands threading through his hair, they writhed against each other for a few more minutes, closer than she ever thought possible while still moving and finally, she felt the telltale sign of an incoming orgasm, starting in her toes, moving up her legs until it exploded from her center, crying out his name for everyone to hear. She suspected their little affair wasn't exactly a secret anymore anyway, at least to the usual crowd she met at pretty much every conference around the world. They hadn't been really discreet about it, especially these past few times and now, she didn't think she wanted to anyway.

Fitz held her through it, kissed and caressed her skin passionately to prolong her pleasure and when she felt like it would never stop, like she couldn't feel more ecstasy, he thrusted up a few times and as she felt him pulse inside her through his own release, another wave of pleasure washed over her. The unexpectedness of it made her lose balance and as Fitz was still gasping from his own pleasure, they both toppled backwards on the bed in a graceless mess of limbs and sweat slick skin. Jemma looked up and when their eyes met, she could see the same mirth and simple happiness she felt reflected in his gaze and they burst out laughing, high on endorphines, pleasure and one another.

Giving him one last sloppy kiss, she slowly slid off him and let him cradle her against his chest. She knew that she should stand up and go wash up a bit and then finally have that talk with him. After all, it seemed that her feelings were not completely unreciprocated and now was the best opportunity she'd been given since that thing started between them. But she didn't know if it was the late hour, the exertion of their lovemaking or simply the delightfully warm feeling of his body against hers, but she found herself slipping into sleep before she was even able to utter a single coherent sentence.

And as her mind was already starting to drift towards dreamland, she heard a few mumbled words coming out of his already sleepy form.

"…. you …"

"Fitz?" She asked softly but his mind had already drifted it seemed. His hold on her shoulder tightened though and he pulled her closer into his chest, a soft smile playing on his lips. Sighing, she pressed a kiss to his collarbone and like that she was asleep.

-0-0-0-

Jemma woke up a few hours (too few hours!) later to a cold and empty bed. As the memories from the previous night came back to her, her stomach tightened uneasily. Did he really leave her without even a word? Not willing to discuss what he'd said to her in the heat of the moment. Or did she dream that last part and their relationship, whatever it was, would remain unchanged? But before her brain had the time to go through more depressing scenarios, the door to the bathroom opened to a cloud of sweet smelling mist and Fitz walking out of it with only a towel around his waist.

"Hey, you're up!" He said with a bright and slightly shy smile when he noticed she was looking at him from where she was still laying on her side on the bed. "I have an early plane and you looked so peaceful sleeping I didn't want to wake you … but I'm glad you are now …" He added as a way of an explanation for waking up so insanely early especially since the talks of the day didn't start for another four hours.

Coming to seat next to her on the bed, he pressed a soft kiss to her shoulder and the softness of the gesture did a good job dissolving the rest of that uneasy feeling in her stomach.

"Oh … so you're not staying for the rest of the conference?" She asked, her voice still sleepy and he chuckled as he scratched his neck in that gesture that she knew meant embarrassment most of the time.

"Mmmh no … big meeting at work early tomorrow but I … I couldn't miss yesterday's talks …" He replied.

Oh.

"Oh is that so?" She asked, trying her best to dial down the huge smile that threatened to split her face in two.

"Yeah … so I was thinking" He started before looking up, taking a deep breath and then looking back down at her. "Maybe you and I we could hum … I mean if you wanted ... see each other and talk and …"

"You mean as opposed to what we're doing right now?" She asked, teasing and slightly confused but still smiling widely at how endearingly awkward he could get sometimes.

"No I …" He started, looking up again as if asking for help to some higher power she knew he didn't believe in. "I mean something we actually agree upon beforehand and maybe there'd be dinner or a movie or-or anything else you'd like and if it happens to be in Boston, you could even come to my place and …"

"Fitz?" She stopped him before he started to feel obligated to describe every little thing they could do together. She straightened up in bed, for some reason feeling the need to pull the covers up over her breasts as she did, and took his hand. "Do you mean that you want us to go on a date?" She asked, those damn butterflies in her stomach making her heart beat incredibly fast.

"I mean that I really like that thing we have but also I like ... you and for some time now I've been wanting more so hu ... yeah ... what do you think?" He finished.

The hand that wasn't holding hers was fidgeting nervously with the hem his towel and her tenderness for him was threatening to overwhelm her completely. So she grabbed that hand and brought it with the other close to her face. She pressed a few kisses there before looking back up at him.

"I think I'd really like to see you somewhere that has real sunlight!" She finally said and a wide happy relieved smile bloomed on his face. "And see how we fare outside of these bloody conferences!"

"Really?" He asked, his voice full of hope.

"Really ... I mean we live a few hours away from each other and we're both really busy but I ... I wanna try. I want to give ourselves aooomph ..."

Her words were cut short by Fitz pulling her into a kiss. She almost pushed him back, not wanting him to smell what was probably her awful morning breath but he tasted all fresh and minty and yet he didn't seem to care so she decided that she wouldn't either. She melted into him, their lips dancing across each other's delicately as his hand came to rest in her hair, tilting her head to deepen the kiss.

"Brilliant ..." He breathed out as they broke the kiss and she couldn't help giggling at how childishly enthusiastic that sounded.

"So ... how do we hum ... proceed? " He asked, whincing at his own choice of word. "I mean ... should we find a date or ..."

"Fitz!" She cut him off with an amused grin, wondering when was the last time he asked somebody out on a date. He was lucky he was this cute because smoothness definitely wasn't his strong suit. "I know for a fact that the next two weeks will be hectic and even after that I can't say for sure ..."

She could see the disappointment clearly on his face and she wanted to hug him. And kick herself for missing the signs that he too wanted more.

"... but I know I don't want to go so many weeks without talking to you ..." She said, biting her lip nervously, waiting for him to react and seeing only tenderness in his eyes.

"... so how about we exchange phone numbers so we can talk or text or whatever and the moment we both have some free time, we plan something? And even if it's at the next conference then be it. But we can make it up by skipping a few talks to go out together. In the sunlight."

"Wow!" He grinned.

"What?"

"Nothing just ...you really must have it bad if you're willing to miss a few talks for me." He replied, waggling his eyebrows exaggeratedly.

"Ugh Fitz!" She sighed, falling back into the pillows.

"Sorry … sorry!" He said, grinning in a way that didn't look apologetic at all. "I think it'd be a really good start … well more like a new beginning or something but yeah …"

Using her hold on his hand, she pulled him to her and into another kiss. Even with the prospect of regular conversations, she knew she wouldn't get to see him for at least two or three weeks and she wanted to get the best of the time they had left before he left for the airport. She quickly deepened the kiss, making him whimper softly, and with her arms around his chest, pulled him closer until she could feel his whole weight on top of hers and his body react. She opened her legs and welcomed him in the cradle of her legs as she easily pulled his towel away. She knew she must come out pretty horny right but she couldn't bring herself to care when he smelt so nice and his butt felt so firm under her hands. Only when his hand came up to cup her breasts and roll her nipple into a hard peak did she release his lips and moved to capture his earlobe between her lips.

"How-how long … before … before you have to leave for the airport?" She whispered breathlessly into his ear.

"Not long enough" He sighed.

And with that he moved up and away from her and she whined, actually whined, at the loss of contact.

"Sorry …" He said, moving to press one last kiss to her pouting lips. "I should already be outside, trying to catch a cab and I still have to go back to my room to grab my stuff."

"Alright then" She said, rolling her eyes good-naturedly. "Go get dressed then, don't know how long I can control myself if you keep walking around like that …" She said in a exaggeratedly hushed voice as she gave his now fully naked body a very obvious once over.

"Vixen!" He replied, glaring very unconvincingly before standing up to go hunting for his clothes scattered all around the bed.

"Here" He said, grabbing his phone on the nightstand and giving it to her. "Do you mind adding your contact in my phone while I finish getting dressed? And send yourself a text so you can have mine, yeah."

"Sure" Jemma grinned as she took his phone.

-0-0-0-

Three minutes later, Jemma found herself in her room's hallway, feeling like a movie star as she gave Fitz one last kiss (a very romantic one if she said so herself) wearing nothing but bedsheet as a toga.

"I'll talk to you soon then …" He said, letting go of her lips with an adorable sigh.

"Yes … I'm looking forward to it." She replied with a soft smile.

And with one last kiss and a hug, Fitz was out the door. As she walked back into her room, Jemma heard that he'd started running down the hall and it warmed her heart. He must have really waited for the last moment to leave her. Crossing the room, she pulled the sheet more snuggly around her shoulders and sat on the small couch by the window overlooking the street. Barely three minutes later, she saw Fitz's tiny silhouette running out of the hotel's entrance and grinned. She knew she should feel guilty for making him run like that and risk missing his plane but she couldn't help feeling a little giddy about how ridiculously romantic it all was.

Fortunately, he managed to hail a cab rather quickly and with the traffic not looking so bad at this time of day, she was confident he'd get to the airport on time. Sighing, she stood up, left the sheet on her bed and walked towards the bathroom. She could have used a few more hours in bed but with her head buzzing with everything that's happened since the previous night, there was no way she'd be able to find sleep again. Just as she was opening the door, another buzz sounded, this time coming from her phone.

Taking it from the nightstand, she grinned when she saw the text message coming from Fitz. It just said "Jemma" followed by at least ten exclamation points.

So he'd finally looked at his phone and saw the picture she used for herself in his contact list.

She could picture the exact shade of red he must have turned to as he saw the picture on his phone, seating in the back of a cab and probably looking all around him to make sure no one else could see it. Smiling mischievously, she just sent him back an innocent "Yes Fitz?" and entered the bathroom. She was going to like that new side of their relationship.