A/N: I am absolutely thrilled by the response to this story. Once again, thank you so much to everyone who has read, reviewed, followed, and favorited this story. I'm happy to have created something that you enjoy.

So, pretty, pretty please review! I hope you enjoy. These two are FINALLY getting somewhere.


John was in the kitchen preparing his last cup of tea before bed. I silently walked across the flat until I was standing right behind him. I stood quietly, watching as he went through the familiar motions. I inhaled lightly; he smelled good. I scanned his shoulders. His appearance was unassuming, but underneath was the body of a soldier. I could just detect the tone of his muscles. I wanted to spend days examining them. John dropped his spoon in the sink, and I quickly redirected my attention to the issue at hand. I assumed a neutral facial expression just as he turned.

"Bloody hell, Sherlock!" he cursed, dropping his cup and sloshing tea down his front. "Are you trying to give me heart failure?"

"Of course not," I murmured.

John gulped. "Did you need something?"

"I need to ask you a question." I took a step forward, forcing him to take a step back. He was against the counter now.

"Wha-what did you want to know?" he stuttered. He flushed, and his pupils dilated.

"Are you attracted to me?" His eyes widened in fear. He was trying to come up with something to say without incriminating himself. His reaction betrayed him however; he was attracted to me.

"Um, why do you want to know that?"

I took a fraction of a second to suppress the panic I was feeling before I continued. "Because I believe that I am in love with you, John Watson. And I'm fairly certain that you return the sentiment."

John gulped again. "And what brought this on?"

"Several hours of contemplating what has been happening between us since long before I left."

"Ah. And tell me, what do you see?"

"Growing affection between us. Physical attraction. Emotional attachment. That I need you."

I watched as John took a deep breath and clenched his jaw. He had decided on a course of action. I fidgeted anxiously, waiting to see if he would acknowledge his feeling or ignore them.

"I suppose I've been seeing the same thing." I let out the breath that I hadn't realized I was holding.

"Just one condition, John. I-I can't change who I am. I am selfish and rude. Relationships are supposed to be selfless and caring." I took a step back, not quite meeting his eye.

John caught my wrist and pulled me back toward him, looking me straight in the eye with a blistering intensity. "What do you mean you aren't selfless? You jumped off a fucking building to save my life. Granted, it was a crackpot scheme that you are never ever going to repeat under any circumstances, but you did that for me. I don't want you to change. I fell in love with you the way you are. And I've lived with you for years. I think I'm well aware of what a relationship with you would entail-mmph."

I cut off the end of his sentence by pressing my lips to his. John paused for a moment, stunned, before he responded eagerly, his lips slightly parted moving against mine. I tangled my hands in his jumper, pulling him closer. He moaned and moved his free hand up to cup my face. Tentatively, I swiped the tip of my tongue across John's bottom lip. He parted his lips, his tongue meeting mine. His tongue stroked mine, and I stroked his tongue back. John moved his hand from my face to cup the back of my head, tangling his fingers in my curls in the process. I was surrounded by John, his scent, his warmth, his strength; and I never wanted to leave. Unfortunately, I needed to breathe, so I pulled back and trailed kisses across his jaw.

"Jesus, Sherlock," John moaned as I moved down to where his neck met his shoulder and sucked hard. He would definitely have a mark there.

I pulled back and was about to suggest moving to somewhere more comfortable when my phone went off. I buried my face in John's shoulder as I groaned. Things were finally progressing. We were interrupted just as things got interesting. Typical. I pulled my phone out of my pocket to check my message. It was a text from Lestrade.

Case. Body in same position as that cold case. Can you come? -GL

I looked at John excitedly. "There's a case. Same as the body in the cold case!" John sighed as I stepped away from him and sent a quick reply to Lestrade. I glanced at John. His lips were red and swollen, and the front of his jumper was wrinkled. I smirked at him. "That was enjoyable." I turned, my dressing gown swishing behind me dramatically as I rushed to my room to get dressed. When I returned, John was putting his coat on.

"We'll have to do that again sometime," I said as brushed my finger across the mark on his neck.

"Definitely," he replied. He tipped his head upwards and placed a soft kiss on my lips before turning and walking out the door. I quickly put my coat and scarf on and followed behind him.