KATE
She was trying to concentrate on the conversation at the dinner table, she really was. But Gibbs was making it impossible, as he had been all evening. The most frustrating thing was that she was fairly sure he wasn't even doing it on purpose. Most of their fellow guests were as drunk as if this were the last night of a DiNozzo spring break extravaganza, not a society gathering at a home renowned for its class and taste. Kate couldn't decide if she was relieved or annoyed that common sense prohibited her from joining them.
Gibbs' hand was resting lightly on her thigh, and in her imagination it was practically burning through the fabric. She wondered if he was as aware of it as she was. It was maddeningly distracting. Part of her would've liked to have dampened her emotions and reactions in alcohol, just to survive the evening, and another part of her already wasn't sure she how she was going to keep her hands off him after half a glass of wine. It seemed rather ironic that they'd managed to stay more or less decent swimming and lounging round the pool for two hours, but now in company all she wanted to do was tear his clothes off just so she could feel his body against hers again.
Eventually she gave in to temptation and laid her own hand over his, enjoying the contrast of his weathered knuckles against her smooth palm. She savoured the simple pleasure of touching him without having to pretend that it was for any reason other than really wanting to.
He looked at her tenderly. She smiled back, then let her gaze drop to the table even as she leaned into him. One of these days, she might just get used to seeing that expression on his face, but she didn't think it would come any time soon. For now, it was simply overwhelming. He dropped a kiss on her temple. She was pretty sure that feeling his lips against her skin was a sensation she wouldn't grow tired of in a hurry, either.
"Well, somebody's in love, I guess," came a penetrating voice from over the table. A couple of people laughed at the man's resigned tone.
"Told you. Cough up." That voice, louder still, came from the other side of Gibbs, and Kate suddenly felt like the entire party was looking at them as her cheeks grew hot.
"Well, I'm going to double check before I give you any money..."
Someone had placed a bet on them? Oh, God. She turned startled eyes towards Gibbs, wondering how he'd take that. Even after everything that had happened this last few days, and especially all the time they'd spent with each other this afternoon, she hadn't been brave enough to repeat the L word.
Having someone else say it was not how she'd envisaged this moment, and having fellow guests gamble on them... She half expected his expression to fall or simply to close up, shut down, pretend not to have heard. Either that or have him punch the man in the nose.
To her surprise, his gaze was steady and intent, and if anything his eyes were conveying more emotion, more - did she dare even think it? - love than she could have imagined. There was a pause as they looked at one another, and then his mouth twitched into that little grin that made her heart flutter.
"Guilty as charged." He studied her face, watching her reaction. She felt joy break over her as what he'd said had registered, and this time she didn't even think to care about the vague rustle of banknotes and the grumbling and laughter as she tilted her mouth to reach his and kissed him softly but deeply.
When they surfaced for air she felt like someone had slipped something in her drink. "Ditto," she murmured against his mouth, and both felt and saw the smile that creased his lips and crinkled his eyes.
"Get a room," said someone, and more laughter rippled round the room.
"Got one," Gibbs shot back to the rest of the party's amusement, but his eyes never left hers.
She wondered for a second if it would be considered bad form to get up and drag him from the table back to their suite. Not that she thought he would need any encouragement. He squeezed her knee and quirked an eyebrow, and she wondered if her desire was that obvious to everyone else.
The conversations around them restarted, and Gibbs took the opportunity to lean down and whisper in her unbugged ear. "Think you can wait another half hour?"
There was laughter in his tone, and he chuckled when she elbowed him.
She might actually be tempted to kill him, one of these days, if it wasn't for the fact he made her feel this way. "Maybe, maybe not. How about you?"
Another laugh, and then he moved in even closer, his breath tickling her ear and sending goosebumps over her neck as he spoke, no longer teasing but low, husky and full of promise
"I'll manage. More or less. And Katie... I'll make sure it's worth the wait."
