Tony took a deep breath and stepped out into the sun, it was still quite early in the morning so the rays weren't exactly roasting but the cool breeze was pretty refreshing. He sat down and started to blow up Zippy's ring while he waited for her and Ziva to appear. The pool was quiet, with only a few dedicated swimmers trying to get a few laps in before the masses of families descended for a weekend dip. Those families of course didn't live with Ziva and Zippy, a nice, relaxing lie in was not for them. He was just sealing the ring when the heard Zippy's excited chattering coming from the ladies' changing room. He looked up just as they emerged, Zippy already had on her wings while Ziva held her hand tightly. He tried to surreptitiously stare at Ziva, her swimming costume left nothing to the imagination, clinging to her like a second skin. He remembered when she had bought it, they had gone shopping a week after the fire to replenish her wardrobe, she had grabbed it from a pile, said "this will do", and that was that. No thought had gone into it at all and yet the deep emerald green complemented her olive skin flawlessly and it displayed her body perfectly. Tony sighed, her body was perfect, it was actually perfect and he had to sleep next to it every night. He deserved a medal.
"Pickle!" Zippy shouted and waved at him, her feet were slapping against the tiles as she hurried towards him.
"Hey, already to jump in?" he grinned at her as she finally arrived at his knee, she nodded and then raised her arms for him to slip on the ring. Tony dropped it over but it got stuck on her wings,
"Oh," she exclaimed indignantly and then started wiggling her arms and body, trying to make it slip down. Tony and Ziva laughed at her as she hopped about, "humph," she stopped and let her arms flop forwards, "Help me!" she whined forlornly, "stuck!"
"Come here honey," Tony reached out and pulled it back over her head, "Maybe stepping into it will be easier." he held it low and she carefully lifted one leg and then the other inside it before pulling it up to her waist and grinning triumphantly at them both. "All set Thorpedo?" Tony asked, she nodded and turned towards the pool.
"Do you want to jump in?" Ziva asked and reached down to take hold of one of the little girl's hands, causing her to start waddling as her ring slid down on one side.
"Yes!" Zippy nodded enthusiastically as the three of them made their way towards the shallow end. Ziva slipped into the pool and held up her hands for the little girl to jump into. Zippy crouched down and then sprang of the edge into Ziva's waiting arms.
"Wow! Well done! That was a huge, big jump!" Ziva congratulated her while Tony clapped loudly,
"Ok move over Zippy," he crouched down too, "Ready to catch me now Ziva?" Ziva laughed and retreated further into the pool, dragging Zippy with her.
"No! You are too big to be caught Tony." Tony pouted and straightened up.
"You could have at least pretended!"
"I am sorry Tony, you can jump in the deep end, Zippy will like the big splash!" Ziva chuckled at her own joke.
"Hey! There would be no big splash, just a tiny little ripple." he retorted and sat on the edge, ready to join them in the pool, "Oooooof," he placed a hand on his belly and frowned.
"See, I told you all that breakfast was not a good idea before swimming. You will get cramp."
"That's just an old wives' tale I'll be fine, besides I only had a little snack."
"It was not a little snack, it was a feast! Eggs, toast, tomatoes and bacon," she wrinkled her nose in disgust at the last one and Tony frowned at her.
"What? I didn't force you to eat it. Anyway it's not like you're so strict, how many Philly cheese steaks have you packed away? Very kosher!"
"Ooooooh grouchy, I just do not like the smell Tony. Everything will be smelly when we get back." she smiled and then turned her attention back to Zippy who was bobbing happily in front of her. "Can you catch me?"
"YES!" Zippy squealed as Ziva leapt back and began jogging through the water.
"I do not think you can!" she teased as Zippy began pumping her legs, wobbling after her. Ziva moved round the shallow end at a slow pace, just fast enough to remain out of the little girl's reach.
"Ah! You almost got me!" she shouted over her shoulder, glancing back to check how far behind Zippy was. Ziva was too busy looking back to notice Tony sneak up next to her and when he grabbed her she let out a startled scream.
"Ha! Gotcha! Come on Zippy, come and get her!" Tony laughed and called at the little girl,
"Ah! No! This is not fair! Cheat!" Ziva protested and squirmed in his arms but he kept a tight hold on her until Zippy reached them and grabbed her arm.
"See! Catched you!" she grinned triumphantly and Ziva groaned and flopped down in mock defeat.
"Even your ninja skills are no match for us!" Tony gloated and kept his tight grip around her waist. `
"Ah you are just too fast for me Zippy! Will you show Pickle how far you can swim?" The little girl nodded enthusiastically while Ziva continued to lean on Tony's chest, she could feel his hair brushing against her back. She wriggled again and he finally dropped his arms to his sides allowing her to step away from him.
"Come on then, you can move better without the this." she lifted Zippy out of the ring and pushed it to the side. "Move back Tony."
"Tell me when." he said and began walking through the water.
"Ok that will be fine."
"No! more!" Zippy protested, he took a step back, "More!" another step back, "More, more, more!" Tony moved a bit further back.
"Zippy, are you sure, that's very far."
"I can do it Zizi!"
"Alright then, ready, steady, GO!" Zippy lunged forwards and began paddling through the water, determinedly. Ziva and Tony shouted and clapped as she pushed kicked and splashed towards him,
"You're almost there, come on!" she continued struggling through the water towards him until she was just over a metre away form him. Tony bent down and reached his arms out towards her as she propelled herself the last little bit until she finally reached him. He cheered and grabbed her, lifting her out of the water and holding her high over his head. "WOW! Well done, that was amazing!" Ziva smiled as she watched Zippy shriek and giggle in the air, flicking water everywhere. Little droplets were falling from her and dripping down onto Tony's chest before rolling down into the pool. She found herself staring at him, Tony didn't exactly have the perfect physique, definitely not the kind of body she usually found attractive. He wasn't rippled with muscles and although solid he was still a little bit cuddly around the edges and yet, here she was eyeing him up.
" . . . Ziva!" she suddenly realised that Tony was shouting to her,
"Oh, sorry what was that?" she asked innocently.
"I was just saying she's like a little fish huh?"
"Yes, very good Zippy!" she congratulated her distractedly,
"You ok?"
"Yes I am fine. I think I will go for a swim, are you ok with her?"
"Yeah sure, I prefer playing anyway not much of a swimmer!" He grinned and watched as dove elegantly under the water and glided past him.
Later that evening Tony stepped into the apartment, returning from an afternoon at his friend's "Hello?" He called out into the empty living room, there was no reply but he soon heard a door closing.
"Hi," Ziva emerged from the girls' room and walked over to the couch. "Did you have fun at Mike's?"
"Yeah was it was good we went to the park and played a few games, I of course, was unstoppable."
"Mmmm, of course." she smiled an leant back into the cushions as he sauntered over.
"Oh hey guess what!" he exclaimed suddenly as he flopped down next to her.
"What?"
"Andrew's getting married!"
"Really?" Ziva turned to face him a look of surprise etched across her face, she had met Andrew and he definitely did not seem like the marrying kind. "To who?"
"I dunno, some chick he met at a work thing. Just out of nowhere BOOM engaged then BOOM next month, wedding!"
"Well, good for them I suppose." she paused, "What does she look like?"
"Oooooh, she's HOT!"
"Uh-ha." Ziva nodded knowingly.
"Well someone's feeling cynical, maybe it was love at first sight. Maybe they're sole mates, you believe in that right?" he raised his eyebrows at her and she shrugged.
"Maybe." she replied quietly and they lapsed into silence for a few seconds, both staring at the wall in front of them.
"The guys are planning a week long bachelor party."
"What?"
"To Florida, they just decided today and started booking flights for next Monday!"
"Are you going?"
"Nah, thought I'd better not." Ziva smiled and tilted her head gently,
"Tony, you can go away with your friends, you are not tied to us!" he smiled and turned to look at her,
"Leaving in a week? I'll never get that off!" he shrugged and slouched down.
"You could ask."
"It's ok, I think I'm too old for that kind of holiday, don't you think?"
"Oh yes I do think so, I just did not realise you did!"
"Well y'know I think I've gained a certain maturity!" he grinned at her cheesily, "Besides I bet you a hundred bucks by this time next week that girl will be long gone!"
"Ah who is cynical now?" Ziva laughed shoved him light heartedly, he snorted indignantly and reached out to brace himself on the arm of the sofa.
"Well clearly, I am spending to much time with you!" he put his feet up on the coffee table and sighed. "Is Zippy in bed already?"
"Yes., she was exhausted from all the swimming."
"She was great, can't believe how fast she learns!"
"I know she is a natural. Leo's in bed too, she is feeling very sorry for herself."
"You take her to get that thing taken out?"
"Yes, but it is still very painful I think. But I have no sympathy, she is still very much in the dog's bed!" Tony chuckled and stood up,
"I think I'm going to have a bath, all this exercise in one day isn't good me." he stretched out his back and headed towards his bedroom.
Tony enjoyed a long soak before finally emerging from the bathroom an hour and a half later. Ziva was sitting on the bed already in her pyjamas.
"Are you sure that was long enough?" she asked sarcastically,
"Hey, if you're having a bath you gotta do it right. No point in jumping in for ten minutes!" he retorted as he towelled his hair dry. She watched him as he did, he was wearing just a towel wrapped around his waist. His skin was moist, still slightly hot and pink from the bath. Her breath began to quicken as erotic thoughts started to flash through her mind, she wondered what he would taste like. As she stared at his chest she imagined biting it, would it be firm or slightly soft? What kind of sound would he make? Ziva suddenly shook her head, trying to push these thoughts out of her mind. She should not be thinking about this, not about Tony, he was her partner. She jumped off the bed but tried to keep a normal pace as she headed into the bathroom to brush her teeth, the whole time repeating "He's my partner, my partner, my partner." to herself. Tony watched her strange behaviour and frowned, wondering what was going on in her head.
Several hours later Tony was woken by a sharp kick to the back of shin. He groaned and rolled over to try and shove Ziva away.
"Tony. . ." she whispered softly,
"What?"
"Tony . . ." she said again, only this time it was more of a whimper.
"What? What is it?" she said nothing more, just sighed deeply. He frowned and leaned over, her eyes were still closed he shook his head and lay back down, she was still asleep.
"Oh!" Ziva gasped and gripped the bed sheets tightly, Tony propped himself back up on his elbow, trying to work out what was going on. "Mmmmm . . . MMMMMMM, Tony" she arched her back slightly and her leg shot out and kicked him again.
"Oh wow . . ." Tony gasped, "She's dreaming about me!" he watched her writhe for a few more seconds, not wanting to wake her up and end it. He thought of all the times she had appeared in his dreams, he wondered if there were similarities with hers, would she let him do all the things he'd imagined doing to her? He couldn't hold himself back anymore and reached his hand out to her stomach.
"Ziva." he shook her gently and she jolted awake suddenly, her eyes wide open and shocked.
"Tony?" she gasped, "What . . . What is it?" she asked nervously.
"You were having a dream . . ."
"No, no I was not." she replied emphatically,
"You were. You definitely were, I heard you." Ziva blushed furiously, remembering all the things he had been doing in her dream, she couldn't even imagine what noises she would have been making. She didn't want to think about it.
"You imagined it, I was not dreaming." she snapped at him and rolled onto her side, leaving him staring at her back. Tony sighed and stared at her for a moment, weighing up his options until he impulsively just reached out and wrapped his right arm around her, pressing it against her tummy. He leant towards her and gently brushed his lips along the back of her neck before sighing and pressing his lips more firmly against her skin. Ziva gasped, it almost sounded like a sob, when she felt him kiss her but wrapped her fingers around his hand and tried to push it off of her. "Tony . . . Please," she whispered but he refused to let go and nuzzled her neck softly, breathing in her scent.
"No Ziva, no," he whispered, his hot breath skimming across her ear just before he kissed the skin right behind it. He then trailed his lips down her neck and along her shoulder, sucking it gently until she finally moaned and began rolling over. Ziva arched her head back, leaving her throat open for his lips, he obliged and pressed a hot kiss against every inch of her neck. His hand started to slide over her body, reaching up and stroking her face and then running slowly through her hair. She placed her own hand over his and guided it back down, firmly pressing it against her breast. Tony took the hint and squeezed it softly, eliciting a low groan from her , he squeezed it again, this time more tightly, and started moving his lips down from her neck towards her chest. He began to run his thumb in tight, slow, circles around her nipple while he moved down her body. Soon he ran out of skin and met her top but placed his mouth on top of her other breast, his hot breath teasing her through her thin vest. He flicked his tongue across its nipple and then took it in his mouth sucking it forcefully as she wriggled underneath him. He continued to taunt her through the fabric until she reached down and pulled up her top herself, desperate to feel his tongue on her skin. He only raised his head enough to allow her to move the garment up, keeping his face close to her body because he was afraid that if their eyes met the moment would be broken. Tony stared at her newly exposed breasts, they were perfect and pert, just the way he had imagined them. He suddenly lunged forward and took one back in his mouth, closing his eyes as his tongue swept across its soft skin. Ziva moaned loudly as his hand slipped down her stomach, gently caressing her as he ran his hand towards her thigh and then round to her butt and digging his fingers deep into her flesh.
"Tony!" she gasped and her own hand suddenly flew to his head, tugging his hair hard and he retaliated by closing his teeth around her hardening nipple. "AH!" Ziva squealed and jerked her hips up into the air. She was now panting hard as his teasing took its effect but it wasn't enough and she moved her other hand to her neglected breast, squeezing it herself. "Tony, Tony, please!" she gasped desperately, encouraging him to go further so he began to pull his hand away from her ass and round to the inside of her thigh. Ziva bit her lip in anticipation as his fingers moved tortuously slowly towards her centre, she whimpered and pushed his face deeper into her chest. His hand had just reached the bottom of her shorts, just inches away from his target when his phone erupted into life, vibrating and ringing on the bedside table. Ziva threw her head back into the pillow and moaned in frustration while he briefly leant his head against her chest before grudgingly rolling off of her to answer it.
"DiNozzo?" he answered tersely. Ziva pulled herself up slowly and wrapped her arms around her legs, shocked by what just happened. Well, what almost happened.
"Right," Tony barked down the phone while she spun round slowly and dropped her feet to the floor.
"Right, we'll meet you at the office then." Tony snapped his mobile shut and turned to look at Ziva but was surprised to see her halfway across the room. "We have to . . ."
"I heard, I will go and tell Leora that we have to go to work." she said coolly and disappeared out the door. He frowned after her for a few moments before jumping up and heading into the bathroom for a shower. He definitely needed a cool shower before work so he turned the water temperature right down and stepped under the cold torrent. He began scrubbing his body furiously, trying to decipher Ziva's strange reaction. What had happened? Two minutes ago she'd been squirming underneath him and now, well, she wasn't exactly in ecstasy. He stood under the cold stream and tried to plan out what he should do next, trying to guess what she was thinking. Once he felt that the cold water had done its job he hopped out of the shower and grabbed a towel. He stepped out into the bedroom but found it empty.
"Ziva?" he called out and headed out into the hallway and then into the living room but there was no sign of her. She'd gone with out him.
