I wasn't sure whether the last chapter worked but all the reviews I got were positive so I guess that is a good sign. You might hate me half way down this chapter but keep going, I think that I redeem myself.
Halfway down the main road, Tony pulled into the side, sliding neatly into a space.
Frowning, Ziva looked around her. 'What are we doing here?' she asked curiously.
Tony grinned and opened his door. 'Come on,' he called over his shoulder, running across the road, dodging the cars. Hurriedly, Ziva followed, holding up her hand in apology to the beeping drivers. Tony slowed down on the opposite pavement and took her hand, leading her towards a shop window. 'What do you think?' he whispered, pushing his mouth through the curtain of hair shielding her ears.
Ziva's mouth opened in silent admiration. 'They're beautiful,' she cried. She placed her hand on the glass, emulating a child staring through a toy shop window at a shiny toy motor car.
'Which one do you like?' he asked, ignoring the price tags on the diamond rings.
Ziva turned from the one she had been staring at lustily. She jabbed her finger at the glass, pointing at a mammoth diamond set into an elaborate gold band.
Tony swallowed, preparing himself mentally before looking at the price. He stifled a gasp of horror and grinned weakly. 'Sure,' he agreed, completely willing to pay the extortionate fee.
Ziva chuckled. 'I was kidding, Tony,' she assured him. 'I wouldn't ask you to pay that much.'
Tony laughed weakly, thoroughly relieved to be freed from that kind of responsibility. 'Thank God,' he breathed. 'So, which one do you really like?'
Ziva immediately turned to the one she had originally been lusting over and pointed at it.
Tony peered at the scrawled writing on the tag and smiled gratefully. Ziva had mercifully chosen a reasonably priced one, not that Tony wouldn't have willingly coughed up for the ridiculously expensive one, of course.
Naturally, the shop was closed for the evening, but Tony made up his mind to come back early the next morning. They walked back across the road, holding hands, and climbed into their respective seats in the car.
Watching the traffic move slowly across the crossroads in front of the stationary car, Ziva turned to Tony and clutched at his arm. 'Thank you, Tony,' she murmured softly.
Tony looked up, not really hearing what she had said. 'No,' he replied. 'The lights are still red.'
Ziva frowned. 'What?'
'What did you say?' Tony inquired, realising that he had probably made something up.
'I thanked you,' she snapped.
Tony blushed apologetically. 'Sorry, I thought you were telling me to go.'
Ziva glanced up at the traffic lights. 'Go, Tony,' she ordered.
'Yes, Ziva, that's what I said,' he told her irritably, annoyed by their lack of successful communication.
Ziva rolled her eyes, hiding her dismay that what had been meant to be a touching moment had not gone as planned. 'No, Tony,' she said, as if talking to a child. 'The lights are red.'
Tony glanced out the window, shot Ziva a glare and moved off, cursing the impatient, honking drivers behind him.
Ziva sighed and leant back in her seat. 'Nothing ever works out for us,' she grumbled quietly.
'I know what you mean,' Tony agreed sympathetically.
Ziva shook off her self-pity and sat up, her eyes flashing stubbornly. 'This is,' she declared emphatically. 'This relationship will work.'
Tony nodded. 'Of course it will,' he promised.
They shared a meaningful smile before focusing their attention back on the road. The rest of the journey was spent in companionable conversation, lightly discussing neutral topics.
Walking through the glass doors, Ziva was finally able to appreciate the memories that she had in the hotel. Before, she had blindfolded but, fully sighted, she was hit by a wave of nostalgia. It had been easy to have enjoyable, uncomplicated sex while undercover. If the same scenario had presented itself (before this marriage thing had changed their relationship irrevocably), it would have been fraught with complications.
'Room 1022,' Tony requested.
The receptionist handed him the key and they walked up to their room, shoulders bumping as they climbed the stairs.
Tony dimmed the lights as soon as the door was closed and Ziva pulled the curtains together. Smiling seductively in the low light, Ziva advanced on him, shedding her dress as she moved.
Tony was soon disrobed as well and they fell onto the bed, lips locking. The sex was fairly standard: the same as they had before, mixing emotional passion with physical pleasure with gentle caresses.
Him on top. Her on top. Lips on lips. Lips on dick. Lips on clit. Missionary. Anal. Oral.
Afterwards, Tony lay panting on the bed, wondering how the whole event had flashed past him. He had barely had time to register Ziva's milky body before his erection had been satisfied and she had rolled off him, sweaty from her climax. Now, he lay alone on the bed, thinking back over the sex, remembering it with a strange blurry clarity. What had changed? Had commitment altered the way they perceived each other?
Ziva stared at her reflection in the mirror. Surely, sex was meant to improve with love? Surely, that was how relationships worked? She cursed herself for being so inexperienced. Never before had she admitted that she loved someone, never before had she even been in love. She shook her head, trying to rid herself of the niggling doubts that lingered. As yet, she hadn't been able to commit herself to him fully.
She drew herself up and turned resolutely from the mirror, leaving the lesser reflection of herself behind. She loved Tony. That should be reflected in their sex.
Tony sat up as Ziva strode purposefully into the room, still naked. She climbed onto the bed beside him and laid her hand on his chest, stroking it gently.
'I'm ready, Tony,' she promised.
Tony smiled encouragingly, although he was not sure what she was referring to.
'I'm ready to love you, Tony,' she expanded.
This time, Tony's smile was broad and genuine.
'I'm ready too,' he replied.
His thigh pushed in between her thighs, all three limbs still damp from the exertion of their earlier sex.
Tony's eyes closed peacefully and he pulled her closer. She lay stiff for a moment, disappointed that her plan to have gentle, heated sex looked unpromising. A contented smile broke out on her face, making her skin glow, as she realised that this could be just as romantic as sex. She nestled her head into his chest and moaned pleasurably. This was what love was. And she could lie here for eternity.
Everybody watched Swan Song, right? The elevator scene was so AMAZING! I think that I am going to have work in a scene in the elevator at some point in this fic dedicated to that WONDERFUL moment. I don't quite understand why Ziva was so upset by Franks's death but that did not spoil the scene. Loved Kort's appearance too. He is always fantastic. And he's British which gets him instant love from me!