Okay...last chapter before a time jump! To quote a recent MW interview regarding season X, "...and we are going to place in your palm, we're going to place so many goodies. So many little treats, little sugary, slightly alcoholic treats. And they're going to feel good and taste good and you're going to be happy."
Thank you again for the follows and reviews! Enjoy!
The team laughed and enjoyed animated conversation over dinner. At the small expense of Tony's pride, the picture had broken the ice and returned the team to feeling like family. As dinner was finished, Abby offered to help Ziva clear the table as the men broke open the bottle of bourbon. Abby stood next to Ziva, loading the dishes in the dishwasher as Ziva rinsed them, "So, Ziva…how's Tony?"
"We just left him a moment ago…he is fine…"
Abby laughed, "No, I mean 'how is he' wink wink nudge nudge…you know…in bed? Does his reputation proceed itself?
Ziva lost her grip on the plate she was rinsing, sending it careening back into the sudsy water and causing water to splash onto the floor and counter, "Abby! Oh my god. I cannot believe you just asked that!"
"Well?"
Ziva's cheeks turned pink as she resumed rinsing dishes. She hesitated for a moment trying to find the right words, "Let us just say that I am…satiated."
Abby wagged her eyebrows at Ziva jokingly, causing them both to laugh. The two returned to the dining room with dessert plates, forks, and the cheesecake Gibbs supplied for the evening's festivities. Ziva cut and plated the dessert as Abby passed it around the table. They returned to the kitchen once more bringing coffee cups and the coffee pot with them. As they took their seats, Tony and Ziva turned to each other. He raised his eyebrows and she nodded. He cleared his throat, "All right, so as you all know, we asked you here tonight so we could apologize for what happened yesterday, as well as for keeping our relationship a secret from all of you…well, at least we thought we kept it a secret."
Everyone chuckled as Ziva began to speak, "We are so sorry for causing any upset and for hurting your feelings. All of you are our family. That being the case, we want to be honest with you. So, if you have any questions regarding our relationship, now is your opportunity."
Abby raised her hand and pursed her lips. Tony looked and her and smiled, "Yeah Abs…"
"How long have you two been...uh…dating?"
Ziva answered, "A few days. It started the night we closed the Burrows case. After everything that had happened that day, Tony was there for me. Although, it does feel like it has been longer than that. I feel as though we had been avoiding what was inevitable for years."
Tony squeezed her hand under the table, as they turned and looked into each others eyes. Abby cried out, "Awwwwwe you guys! That is so sweet!"
Ducky turned to them next, "So you two are in love? I think that is splendid."
Tony spoke first, "We are. I love her so much."
Ziva leaned into his should for a brief moment before speaking, "I am very much in love. I thought I had experienced love before, but everything pales in comparison to how I feel now."
Palmer turned to them, "I don't have any questions, but I just want to tell you how happy I am for you two!"
Ziva responded, "Thank you, Jimmy."
Tony could tell McGee's gears were turning, "Alright McNugget, I know you've got something to ask…out with it!"
"If Ziva knew you were at the hospital, why did she act surprised when Gibbs told us that you were in the E.R.?"
Gibbs choked on his bite of cheesecake, and reached for his bourbon. Ziva turned a deep shade of burgundy as Tony looked at McGee, "I've trained you too well…"
Ziva turned to Tony, unsure of how to proceed. Abby finally spoke up, "No more secrets you two!"
Ziva sighed, "That morning, Tony brought me breakfast in bed. After we ate, the dirty dishes….well…they were knocked over. We thought they had all landed on the floor, but they hadn't…"
Abby sat with her mouth agape. McGee coughed and cleared his throat, now regretting his question as the image of Tony and Ziva's post-breakfast coitus entered his mind. Palmer sat with a grin across his face, and Ducky blushed and sympathized with the couple's embarrassment. Tony finally broke the silence, "Well that was sufficiently awkward. Anymore questions?"
Gibbs finally spoke up, "Duck…pass me the bourbon."
Gibbs threw the bottle bourbon back, took a shot, and responded, "Nah. I think we're good."
The team nodded in agreement and laughed as Gibbs frank response broke the uncomfortable silence. Ziva looked across the table, "Would anyone like anymore coffee or cheesecake?"
"Actually Ziver, I think I am going to be on my way."
"Jethro, I will walk out with you."
Ducky and Gibbs got up from the table as Tony gathered their coats. Ziva hugged them both and thanked them for coming. Tony handed them their coats and shook their hands as they exited the apartment yelling after them, "Drive safe!"
Palmer was the next to leave the apartment, looking forward to getting home to his fiancé. Ziva hugged him, "Please have Breena call. We are looking forward to brunch next weekend."
"We are too!"
"Goodnight Ziva"
Tony yelled from the table, "G'night Palmer!"
Palmer waved through the door as he started to walk down the hall. Abby and McGee were the remaining team members as Ziva started to remove the dessert plates and take them to the sink. Abby followed close behind with the coffee cups. Ziva had just set the plates and cups in the soapy water as Abby hugged her tightly and unexpectedly, "I'm so sorry I got so mad Ziva! We all love you and Tony so much!"
"Thank you, Abby. Tony and I love all of you too."
Abby pulled away and smiled, "Well, I think it is time for me and McGee to go…"
"Are you sure? You are more than welcome to stay longer."
"Nah, I'm taking McGee to get a tattoo!"
"WHAT!"
Ziva jogged towards the table, "McGee, you are getting a tattoo?!"
"Damn it, Abby! I told you that you weren't allowed to tell anyone!"
Tony's smile grew wide and he started to laugh, "Woah, woah, woah McGee…you, Timothy McGee, are getting inked?"
Abby smiled smugly, "He lost a bet, and those were the terms. If I was right, he had to get a tattoo of my choosing, but he gets to pick where it goes."
Ziva laughed, covering her mouth with her hand, "McGee! Why would you ever agree to those terms on a bet?"
"I was fairly certain I wouldn't lose!"
Tony turned to him, "So what was this bet?"
McGee sighed and turned to Abby, who gestured with her hand for him to tell Tony and Ziva while she pursed her lips. "I bet Abby that you two would never figure out that you love each other."
Tony sucked in air, "Well, that sucks for you…what's he getting' Abs?"
Abby smiled, "I haven't quite decided yet, but it is going to be EPIC!"
Ziva laughed as McGee whimpered and looked to Abby with pleading eyes. Abby turned to him, "Awe puppy eyes…they're not going to work McGee. Now let's go! We have a 9 o'clock appointment with T-Bone!"
Ziva and Abby embraced as Tony shook McGee's hand and said good night. Abby broke from Ziva and pulled Tony into a tight hug. Ziva hugged McGee and whispered, "It will not hurt too much…"
As the two walked down the hall, Tony leaned out of the apartment door and shouted, "Whatever you do, don't get a tramp stamp Tim!"
McGee glowered over his shoulder as Abby dragged him out of the building by his hand.
Tony shut the door and he and Ziva doubled over in a fit of giggles and laughter.
XXX
The dishwasher began its cycle and the table was cleared of any evidence of dinner other than the flower arrangement of peonies. Ziva stood in the kitchen, wiping down the counter when she became enclosed in a set of strong arms. Tony began to breathe heavily down her neck and whispered into her ear, "You owe me…"
"Oh, do I?"
"You let me think that picture was deleted…"
She let out a throaty chuckle as Tony brought one hand up, sweeping the hair off of her neck. "It was deleted, Tony…I just managed to send it before you deleted it…"
He brought his face to her neck, peppering it with feather light kisses. She leaned into his touch, reaching up and placing her hand on the side of his head. His kisses moved along her jaw as he breathed between them, "Don't care…still owe me…"
Ziva turned and faced him, bracing her small palms against his chest, as he began to pepper her forehead, cheeks, nose, and lips with light kisses. "Well…I just do not know what I could possibly do to make it up to you…"
She could feel Tony grin against her lips, "I have a few ideas, Ziiiiivah…"
She ran a palm down his chest, lingering on his stomach before running it down the front of his jeans, "I could start where I left off this afternoon…yes?"
Tony's head dropped back as he groaned, "Oh yeah…I think that's a good start…"
Ziva stood on her tippy toes and strained her neck as she nipped at his bottom lip, and used the palm on his chest and her body weight to push him up against the counter. His hands came to her torso as his hips hit the marble of the counter. As they continued to fight for dominance in the kiss, she could feel him growing under her touch, eliciting a moan from her. She pulled away from him and his lips before lifting her sweater over her head, revealing mere scraps of lace straining against her heaving chest. Tony's eyes grew wide as she looked at him and demanded, "Pants. Off."
Tony's eyes were trained on her as he unbuckled his belt and pushed his pants down his body, leaving him in his boxers and t-shirt. His eyes focused on her taut nipples, which were now pushing against the lace. Ziva called him with authority, "Tony."
He looked into her eyes and burned through her with a passionate gaze as her hands slowly popped the button on her jeans and ran the zipper down. She ran her palm over herself through her jeans, moaning and throwing her head back, closing her eyes and licking her lips in pleasure. She hooked her thumbs into the waist band of her jeans and tugged, revealing a black lace thong that matched the lace strewn across her chest. Tony rubbed the lower half of his face with his hand as he felt his mouth go dry. She stepped out of her jeans and moved back into his touch. She lifted his shirt over his head and dropped to her knees in a swift and smooth motion. He braced himself against the counter and she breathed hot and heavily against the thin fabric of his boxers. She nipped at his hardened length through the material causing him to release a series of grunts and moans as he threw his head back. He was brought back to her as he heard her again, "Tony. Look at me."
He looked down into her eyes as Ziva pulled his boxers to his ankles. She ran her hands along the length of his thighs as she breathed heavily on him. He reached down, tilting her chin up to him. "Zi?"
Hot breath hissed from between her lips and danced around his sensitive skin, "Yesss…"
"I wanna watch you…"
Her face contorted, confused, "I am right here, yes? All you have to do is look down."
He smiled and ran a hand through her hair, "No I mean I want to watch you...with yourself…"
Her eyes darted back and forth between his a few times as she processed his request. She brought herself to her feet and took his hand in hers. She tugged his hand and he followed her to the bedroom. She laid herself out on the center of the bed, arranging pillows behind her head and sinking comfortably into the mattress. Tony stood at the foot of the bed, stunned still as Ziva ran the back of her hand down her neck and into the valley of her chest, where her hand flipped and her palm and fingers slid down her toned stomach and under the lace of her thong. One of her knees turned out as she exposed her core to herself with her thumb and middle finger. She ran her index finger up her center until it found her bundle of nerves. She began to methodically, slowly, and lightly undulate her finger against it. Her head pushed back into the pillows with her eyes shut as her free hand grasped the pillow case. Small gasps of pleasure escaped from her lips as her breathing picked up pace and her tongue darted out to moisten her lips. Tony crawled onto the bed beside her, causing her eyes to snap open and look at him. "I just wanna get closer…" he breathed, " This is the sexiest thing I've ever seen…"
She returned to strumming her finger, and without warning dipped it into her core briefly before she continued to move her flinger against herself for a few moments longer. She removed her hand and lifted her bottom off of the bed while pulling the lace off. Her hand returned to its mission as her other hand released its grip on the pillow case and descended to her chest. She pulled lightly at her breast and nipple through the fabric as her other hand picked up its pace. Tony swallowed hard and groaned with her as her nimble fingers pushed into her. She began to rock against her hand, as grunts escaped from her lips. Tony's hips thrust against her side involuntarily as he watched her fingers disappear to the heat he wanted to be enveloped in. Her hips began to lift off of the mattress as her fingers picked up a steady pace. She was close, so close. She pulled her fingers from her center and began to press them into her nerves again. She bit her lip as her wrist began to flick and her other hand clamped down, pinching and pulling her nipple. Tony whispered into her ear, "I want to hear you…"
Her wrist flicked at his words, almost violently, as mewls of pleasure began to fall from her lips. "Come for me Zi…"
He ran a hand from her knee and down her thigh, settling it on top of hers as she screamed out. He wanted to feel her bring herself over the edge. She panted heavily and pressed her head into the pillows, lifting her seat and lower back off of the mattress. A sheen of sweat shone across her body and her hair was matted to the side of her face and the back of her neck as she breathed heavily and relaxed. Tony watched, propped up on his side in awe, stroking himself. Her show had turned him to stone, and he throbbed for her. Ziva collected herself as best she could, before turning onto her side with her back to Tony. He breathed heavily into her neck and began to suck on the flesh that was exposed to him, "Do you have any idea how incredibly sexy that was to watch?"
She let out a deep, seductive laugh and leaned into his mouth. Her leg snaked behind her and over his body, pulling him towards her. He could feel the heat radiating from her center, and he groaned. His pleasure teetered towards pain as he reached between them and pushed himself into her center. He stilled, hoping to collect himself before he began to move within her. He nearly lost it as Ziva rolled her hips towards him, encouraging him to move. A groan and hiss escaped from his lips. He knew that if he didn't take control of this situation, it would be over in seconds. Tony slowly began to pull and push within her, gaining momentum languidly. Determined to send Ziva descending into pleasure once more before he plummeted as well, he reached over her body, pulling the scrap of material that covered her breast, allowing his hands better access to her nipple. He licked his thumb and forefinger and returned them to her chest, pulling and pinching. Her head rolled back towards him, as he heard her sigh in pleasure.
She began to roll her hips against him again, quickening their pace. Tony moved his hand from her chest to her folds, mimicking her movements from earlier. She was unraveling fast, and he had never been so thankful. He couldn't hold on for a minute more. Her body began to quiver against his as she cried out, "Shpikh, Tony! Come!"
He thrust deeply twice more, continuing his manual ministrations on Ziva's body, finally reaching release as she panted and rocked against him. He pulled himself from her, eliciting a finishing moan from her lips. She pushed her body back, settling into him as his arm came over her body. A soft snore filled the room as Ziva found sleep. Tony smiled and stifled a small laugh as he covered them both with the comforter and whispered into the dark room, "I love you, Zi..."
