They had a nice afternoon leading up to New Year Eve's night. After they talked and drank their hot chocolate; John had disappeared when her son called to talk. While he was gone, Bear had lounged beside her on the couch and rested his head on her lap allowing her to pet him. Once her son hung up she had gone in search for John and found him in the kitchen making dinner. And it had been a wonderful dinner too: chicken parmesan with steamed broccoli and French bread on the side. John had produced red wine for the occasion. Coupled with the delicious food, tasty wine, they had a very enjoyable conversation causing her to momentarily forget that they just met and this wasn't an intimate dinner date with a man she was attracted to because John was the man she was stranded with when her car slid into his ditch. She wondered if fate intervened on their behalf.

It was that thought that plagued her the entire rest of the evening.

Did she really believe in fate?—she had been a firm believer that one made their own destiny. But that belief changed the moment she survived a gunshot wound to the chest; beating all the odds that said she wasn't going to pull through. But did she believe that two people could be fated to meet?—that her and John were supposed to meet; she wasn't sure.

"Thinking about your son?" Joss blinked and shifted her gaze off the television with the holiday special they were watching and onto John after he spoke. "You grew quiet. Are you thinking about your son?" he asked again.

John didn't point out that she had been singing along with some of the songs she knew because he had been worried if he had commented on it that she might stop. He had enjoyed listening to her; Joss had such a soft and harmonious voice, she could carry a tune and he was hoping she was going to sing along some more.

"Uh…no, I know my son is having fun at his party with his dad. I'm sure he'll text me after midnight strikes to wish me a Happy New Year," she murmured.

Joss hoped that satisfied him, and he didn't dig further for why she grew quiet. She had been so lost in thoughts about John and fate that she hadn't realized she had grown so quiet for him to notice. It hadn't helped that after seeing the texts from Shaw all she could think about was sex all afternoon and evening. The raunchy things Shaw suggested she should do to John were blush inducing; not that she even needed Shaw's wicked ideas since her own mind conjured up some possibilities all on its own.

Joss shifted trying to alleviate the pressure between her legs as the racy thoughts crossed her mind again. They sat together on his couch, watching the countdown special, quietly talking. Thankfully John had let her change the subject, and Bear was asleep in his doggie bed since it well past his bedtime. It was so interesting to learn that John really had no clue about pop culture. John admitted to watching mainly documentaries, sports, action movies, and the Military Channel. He didn't know what Scandal was, which wasn't shocking, but what was: was he didn't know what The Voice was. She almost told him that they were going to be watching it when it aired again to get him cultured. He didn't even know who Adam Levine was which should be against the law! But she stopped herself because she wasn't going to be here when the show began airing again so she couldn't force the show onto him or not. And that left her feeling oddly sad.

The countdown to the New Year begun so she silently counted down with Ryan Seacrest and the crowd and as they finally hit one she turned to look at John: "Welcome 2017! Happy New Year, John!" she said and acted on impulse; leaning over and brushed her lips across his in what was to be a sweet kiss just to ring in the New Year.

Joss nearly moaned out loud because his lips were so damn soft, softer than she imagined; as she pulled back reluctantly after a too brief kiss and caught his blue gaze as he sat staring at her. She half debated on dipping in for another kiss but not quick or teasing; but she didn't get that chance because John leaned in and captured her lips with his, his left hand lifting to cup her cheek gently.

She sighed as his lips were warm and sure on hers, not hard or demanding but sensual and it made her want more. Wanted to part his lips to taste him, wanted him to taste her, let their tongues tangle and explore, and wanted to feel his hard body resting against her soft one. But her desire for more went unheeded as John didn't deepen it nor allow it to spiral out of control because after a moment he pulled back abruptly and she saw surprise written on his handsome face. Like he hadn't meant to kiss her or hadn't meant to enjoy it. She wasn't sure which but hoped for the latter.

"Happy New Year, Joss," he murmured, averting his gaze and frowned as he looked at the television as the camera panned to the crowd as everyone kept kissing. He cleared his throat, "I, uh, I'll go get us another couple beers." John said as he climbed to his feet.

Joss watched him go; when he disappeared from view Joss leaned her head back against his cushy couch, and rubbed her hands through her hair. What the hell was she doing?—kissing a man she barely knew. They were stuck here together in his home thanks to the worst blizzard to hit the east coast in the last fifty years. But even though she invaded his home and he was a little stiff he had been the gracious host: offering her food, engrossing conversation (when she could get him to talk), getting her an amazing guest room with a bathroom. He even went down to get her suitcase for her yesterday and got her a crutch so she could get around without a problem. John was a very interesting man and fun to argue with. Not to mention downright gorgeous and could fuel some sex filled dreams.

Her gaze slid off the TV screen to the hallway that led to his kitchen. It was taking an awful long time to get some beers out of a fridge and come back. Joss harrumphed as she climbed to her feet to go seek him out. Bear lifted his head and deemed it not worth his time to follow as he laid his head back down, and kicked his legs out to get comfortable in his doggie bed. She settled the crutch under her arm and made the slow trek to his kitchen rehearsing what she wanted to say to him. Should she tell him that she was attracted to him or was it better to just play it off? She wasn't the type of person to not tell the truth and the truth was that she was attracted to John but she also didn't want awkwardness between them since they had another day or two together. Maybe she should wing it; see what he said and go from there?

Joss entered the kitchen and saw he had the beers out on the kitchen island that he was standing behind, even uncapped for them, but seemed to be dragging his feet. John looked up and she forced a smile, "Figured to stretch my legs," she muttered.

John nodded. "Yea," he agreed before awkward silence filled the room.

Joss exhaled in annoyance with them both. Sure they were marooned together but they surely could act as adults around each other. They weren't some giggly adolescents. Her eyes raked over him: nope, there was definitely nothing boyish about John at all.

"Look I don't want any awkwardness between us because we were just getting to know each other and feel comfortable together. Yes, we kissed but it was because we were ringing in the New Year," she announced.

John lifted his gaze and she saw how intense they were. "Yours was," he agreed solemnly.

"We got caught up in the moment John, that's all it was," she said.

John moved close and she felt suddenly like all the air in the room had been zapped. "Is it Joss?" he whispered.

She didn't back down as she tilted her chin up and her gaze slipped down to his soft pink lips before raising it once more. Well if he was going to light the match; she'd bring the gasoline. "You tell me, John; is there more to it than just getting caught in the moment?" she challenged.

His eyes were intent on her; on her eyes, then her lips, before he stepped back and Joss felt like she could breathe once more and effectively breaking the moment between them. "Let's just forget it ever happened," he murmured as he handed her-her beer.

Joss half-smiled, what did she expect: John to admit that he kissed her because he was attracted to her? She was beginning to suspect that she wasn't the only one battling an unwanted attraction here and didn't quite know what to do about it. She held her beer up. "Forget what?" she wondered with a smirk.

John softly chuckled as they made their way back to the living room.


Joss couldn't forget it. She sat on the bed in her room, in her jammies, with the television on, sleepless as it was nearing two in the morning. They had both decided to retire to their rooms not long after that kiss. It was between them now because she had been hyperaware of sitting close to him as they watched the special for a little while longer until both escaped from the tension that swirled between them. She just knew she was going to be in for another restless night because it was all due to that kiss, not hers, but his; because his held a promise of more. His included a soft touch of his hand on her cheek which if she closed her eyes; she could feel the imprint of the warm palm pressed there.

She set the remote for the TV down after turning it off and reached over to grab her phone to check to see if her son texted her. He had. Joss smiled as she read the cute little text with a picture of him and Hayley with 2017 glasses on their faces. She texted them back including an emoji blowing a kiss.

Joss nearly groaned as she saw she had six unread texts from Shaw alone. Great, what did she want?—hadn't she heard enough of her bawdy suggestions. She began reading them and sighed with relief that it seemed that Shaw had decided to take pity on her and not text her anymore of her ideas.

She texted her friend back and frowned when her phone rang nearly instantly. It was Shaw. Joss reluctantly answered it, looking at the closed door. "Happy New Year, Shaw," she murmured quietly.

"Yea, whatever; tell me you slept with this guy," Shaw demanded in greeting.

Joss rolled her eyes. "Yea, I slept with him, that's why I'm talking to you," she replied dryly.

Shaw snorted. "Okay, so you haven't slept with him yet but at least tell me you are thinking about it!"

"Haven't you heard a thing I said: we barely know each other?!" Joss stated with a huff. Indignation would serve her good because she truly didn't want to accidentally admit that they kissed. Shaw would be all over that and double down on her texts that were M rated.

"You know this guy longer than I know any of my bed partners," Shaw pointed out.

"But I'm not you. I don't pick up random people in a bar, Shaw," she argued before she sighed. "Can we just agree to disagree: tell me what you and Felicia did to ring in the new year instead of harassing me about accosting the man that I'm stranded with."

"We had drinks at a bar. Felicia went home while I am still waiting for someone hot to walk through the door, but no such luck," Shaw complained awfully close to whining. "I need sex and no one here gets me going."

Joss winced. "Remember that conversation we had about giving too much information, Shaw?" she asked quietly.

"Yea. What of it?"

"This is one of those times." Joss explained.

"Fine, let's talk about you: so what did you do if it wasn't this hot guy?" Shaw demanded.

Joss leaned back into the pillows with a shake of her head. "We talked," Joss started and laughed as Shaw made obnoxious snoring sounds. "It might sound boring to you but I enjoyed our conversation."

"Yea but why talk when you can have hot sex."

That was a good question but she refused to acknowledge it. "Have you ever considered that maybe talking can be a prelude to sex? It can be a form of foreplay, Shaw," Joss stated and then realized what it sounded like. "Not in our case but in others." she added quickly.

Shaw snickered. "Oh, really: okay, so how is this guy's conversational skills, Carter?" she asked sardonically.

"Well John is kind of quiet and on the shy side but once you find a topic of conversation he'll touch on he's exemplary." Joss said with a fond smile.

"Sounds kind of like someone I know but the quiet ones are typically animals in the sack," Shaw concluded. "Thank god, you need to get laid by someone that knows what he's doing down there; orgasms galore will make up for lack of them for the last decade or so."

"Thanks, Shaw," Joss muttered.

"Hey, I'm just telling the truth; when was the last time you had sex?"

"Let me see, half past none of your business," Joss stated dryly.

Shaw made a sound. "Someone seriously hot just came in, Carter. I got to go get me some of that; so a piece of advice: get some yourself, and now Happy New Year to me."

Joss pulled the phone away from her ear with a look of disgust as Shaw hung up on her. "Ew. I need to have another talk with her about giving too much information," she said to herself as she flung the phone onto the nightstand as she leaned back onto her back and stared up at the ceiling.

Now it was time to sleep. She shut her eyes and prayed slumber would come soon.


AN: Did someone ask for an extra helping of sexual tension?-well, here we go and this isn't even the worst of it :)

As always I thank you guys for reading!