A/N

Thanks for your patience in this crazy time of year. Thankfully show went really well and, as crazy as it was, seeing the kids enjoy themselves and have a great time made all the nutty times worthwhile.

I didn't want to rush this chapter out as I really love it and wanted to do it justice so hopefully it's at that point now and I'll be able to move on to the next part of the story, get it written and out without too much delay.

Popping back to right where we left Jessie in Bachelorette. Just in case you are wondering, it definitely heats up, as usual it's not graphic. But for those who need them keep the skim reading glasses handy, though I hope you won't need them.

Hope you enjoy. Love to hear from you.

Chapter 175 - B&B

Jessie's heart pounded, her breath shallow and rapid. She desperately wanted to lean back into him and his touch but before she could he moved and she felt the heat shift in front of her. The soft sound of his footsteps on the carpet the only thing breaking the silence aside from her breathing. Then he stepped close enough to just brush against her and her breath came out in a rush. The shift of her hair told her he was touching it and she couldn't wait anymore. She was desperate to feel him, touch him properly. With a slight shift onto her toes, she leaned forward. The picture in her minds eye of him accurate enough that the kiss to his lips was right where she wanted it. Lips that were familiar; their feel, shape, warmth along with the spark that shot through her at the touch - confirmation she didn't need but welcomed. She brushed her lips over his once more, a request for him to be apart of the kiss too.

When his hands slid into her hair, the first firm touch so far, she almost whimpered in relief then his lips pressed against hers and he took control of the kiss. The sensations, the overwhelming feel of him against her, his touch, his taste, and the way he knew what to do to have her clinging to her shoulders. The intent clear to have her weak in the knees and desperate for more of him. She knew this kiss and she didn't mind at all. She knew it would be relentless and intense, heated and passionate. But it was also more. It held every ounce of love that he felt for her; that message was clear even in the midst of the heat.

Both pulled back at the same time and the breaths they sucked in unsteady. He rested his forehead against hers.

"So who did you trust the most?" Callen asked. His voice was soft, full of passion. She could hear in it the control he was trying hard to keep.

She lifted a hand from his shoulder and stroked his cheek, slightly rough but oh so familiar. She knew every part of his face, including the faintest scar that you couldn't see but could feel if you were aware enough just along his jaw. She also knew he was rarely clean shaven because he could see it and didn't want to be reminded of how it happened. She smiled at the feel of it under her fingers, of the memories of how she'd helped him get through that and how even though he still didn't favour the clean shave, his reason now was not to hide the scar, but because she loved the slight roughness and how it felt against her skin. He certainly made the most of that information.

"I know you G," Jessie said. "I felt you even when you weren't touching me, felt your presence behind me. I knew. I felt safe, home." In a way she'd never felt before, even with Trevor and Alex. "Right where I'm meant to be." She ran her finger over his lips. "And I definitely know these lips and your kiss. But you are right. It wasn't just me. I also know Trevor. He would never have left me alone if I wasn't safe. And that meant you."

Callen pressed light kisses from her forehead down the side of her face, across her cheek. Then, briefly and frustratingly, across her lips for the barest of moments before moving just below her ear on the other side.

"Why are you here?" she asked.

"Planned."

"Planned but - Oh." The memory of Trevor's last words back to the boys at the house came back to her. The chimes that had slightly distracted her. "Midnight," she said softly.

"Not one second before." Jessie felt Callen's fingers on the knot of the blindfold. She lifted her hands and covered his.

"I don't need it off G. I don't need to see to know it's you."

"I know." Callen shifted her hands back to his shoulders and then his went back to the knot. "But I want to see you."

The blindfold fell away. She blinked and focused on him. He smiled.

"Hi."

"Hi," she whispered back.

"I want to see you Doc," he told her. "I want to see those eyes that tell me the truth. I want to see the intensity in them. I want to see the heat grow." Callen stepped even closer, his body now up against hers as his hands went to the zip at the back of her dress and he slowly lowered it. "I want to see them darken." He smiled. "Just like that when I touch you." Because not only had he lowered the zip but he'd trailed a single finger down the skin that was revealed. With the zip all the way down, his hands came back to her shoulders and he nudged the straps of the dress off. It slipped to the floor with a quiet whoosh.

His gaze dropped and followed his fingers as they trailed down the bra strap to trace the line of lace. His touch set fire to her skin. Where he didn't touch the anticipation ran over her skin like a tingle.

"Red and black," he murmured. "This tops straight red."

"Maybe one day," Jessie's words hitched when his thumbs brushed across the hard, lace covered peaks. "We'll figure out the best colour."

"From the looks of the table we have plenty to choose from."

Jessie smiled. "That's not even half of it."

Callen lifted his gaze back to her face. She had no idea how her knees didn't buckle and have her fall at his feet between the heat and need in his eyes and his fingers were still caressing her through the lace.

"I have strict orders for the gift card," she said, "half my choice half yours."

The heat rose in his eyes and Jessie felt her own rise in response. Callen shifted closer, his lips hovered just above hers. "And just where is this gift card to be spent?" His fingers slipped around her and traced her spine lightly. They lingered on the clasp of the bra and she held her breath.

"Well?" Callen prompted, obviously not going any further until she answered. And when she did she heard his breath catch. From that Jessie knew he at least had some idea what options were available. Probably because that was the shop Kensi and Nell had coerced her into buying from online that fated tequila night.

His fingers unclipped the clasp, then he kissed his way to the straps. Jessie felt the slight nip of his teeth before first one side then the other were nudged from her shoulders to join the dress on the floor. His hands moved slowly from her back, down to her hips then up to the dip at her waist and even slower over her rib cage until he cupped her breasts in his hands and continued as he had before, this time with nothing between which intensified every touch.

"Just so you know," he said, "this colour tops all. Always will." Then before she could respond his mouth was on hers and his kiss sent the temperature between them soaring higher.

"G please," she begged when he pulled back. "Please." The kiss wasn't enough, neither was the touch of his hands because he'd stopped moving them the moment his lips had touched hers.

Callen stepped back abruptly and Jessie felt a flash of disappointment that disappeared quickly when he yanked his shirt over his head. "Bed Doc. I'd carry you but I suspect I'd get in trouble and that is not the kind of trouble I'm looking for tonight."

Jessie backed toward the bed, her eyes locked on his. Her hands lowered to her hips and the matching underwear. Callen shook his head and her hands stopped.

"Mine," he said. Her heart skipped and then sped up at the heat in his words and the possession she heard in them. She'd never been one to consider people a possession but when it came to him, she'd gladly be his - afterall he was hers too. The bed brushed the back of her knees. She settled back on her elbows and watched him walk toward her. It was almost like she was caught in a trap; his gaze held hers, she couldn't look away. Except this wasn't a trap. It was simply where she wanted to be.

"Your leg?" Jessie managed to ask when she could finally look somewhere else, which was when she noticed that his pants had disappeared at some point she didn't notice and he was naked.

"Leg's fine. Had the boot on all night. Save my time for now." He knelt on the bed and leaned over, his fingers slipped under the waistband of her underwear. She lifted her hips and he drew them down and off, in a smooth easy motion, his eyes followed the path and then he let his gaze travel over her completely. "You are so beautiful Doc. All of you." He lifted her foot, cupped it in his hand and pressed a kiss to the side of it then moved on to her ankle. "How did I get so lucky?" He moved slowly over her calf, the soft brush of his lips, the whisper of his breath, combining to sensitize every inch of skin he touched.

Jessie smiled. "It's not about being lucky. You deserve to be loved G."

"And you love me." It wasn't a question really. More statement with just a hint of disbelief.

"More than I ever dreamed I could love someone."

By then his lips were at her knee. His other hand had joined in and followed the path his lips had taken on the other leg. She watched as he opened his mouth and sucked at a sensitive spot. The pull and pressure sent intense waves of desire right to her core. Her head dropped back and her eyes closed.

And he stopped.

She opened them. "G?"

"Keep them open," Callen ordered softly, yet she heard the seriousness his request. It was clear now he hadn't been kidding when he said he wanted to see her reactions in her eyes.

Then his fingers and lips continued their sweet and demanding touch. Every time her eyes closed he stopped until she looked at him again. And only when she kept them on him and didn't look away did he let her finally fly. The look in his eyes when she did sent her soaring even higher.

It was the start of a perfect end to her bachelorette party.

Callen studied Jessie as she slept beside him. The softness to her features, the slight smile and the eyelashes that rested below her eyes with no dark shadows under them. It hadn't been an easy time for her this year. He'd worried that with everything that had happened that she'd be tempted to walk away. He wouldn't blame her at all but he was glad she hadn't. Glad she'd fought for them, glad he'd fought for them too and hadn't let that niggly nasty voice inside his head win. It had tried, especially earlier in the year. He wasn't worthy of her. He wasn't good enough. She'd never be safe with him. And many other little words that before her would've had him run in the other direction without a second thought. She'd given him so much including the ability to fight against that part of him.

Her gentle breathing told him she was calm and relaxed, which ultimately meant she felt safe. Callen also took note of the way her head was tilted toward him, like she was seeking him out or knew where he was. It wasn't something that he'd thought about until he'd had to sleep on the other side of the bed after the accident. Normally she was on his left but if he wanted to hold her, and he definitely did, she'd needed to be on the other side of him. That had been when he'd realised that she always had her head turned in his direction if she was on her back as well as that she slept on her side facing him. It wasn't that she'd favoured sleeping on her right after all.

Callen trailed a finger gently down her arm before he linked his fingers with hers. She stirred and that touch of a smile grew bigger. The soft sigh hit him with the depth of its contentedness. He pressed a kiss to her shoulder.

"Morning," Jessie murmured, eyes still closed.

"Morning."

Jessie blinked slowly and focused on him. Her eyes narrowed in suspicion quickly. "Why do you look so -"

"Satisfied," he cut her off. "Do you really have to ask?"

Jessie blushed and his smile grew. They were both thoroughly satisfied after last night, or should that be this morning since he didn't arrive until today. Jessie yawned. "No, not that. And of course I don't have to ask. You look like you're planning something and I'm not sure if it's a good or a bad thing."

"Could be both." Callen tugged the sheet but Jessie tightened her grip and rolled toward him.

"Uh, uh." She shook her head. "You're in trouble. You set me up."

"How?" Callen trailed his fingers up her arms again, hoping to tempt her to release her grip on the sheet.

"Those questions, the ones you made sure I'd have to drink on."

Callen grinned. "Which questions were those?" He knew which ones, he just wasn't sure which of them had actually worked.

"Home instead of chocolate and not enough ring a bell?"

Home he'd figured was definitely a winner but the not enough? Well he had hoped she already knew that but at least she did now.

"But Doc," Callen shifted and lowered his head, brushed the edge of her ear with his lips, "you did taste like home and as for not enough." Her head shifted a little, opened up her neck and he moved his attention there as he continued his answer. "There's a reason we tend to watch DVD's. I'm very hopeful that you'll distract me."

Jessie playfully pushed him away. "Now who's distracting who?"

"You're distracting me."

She raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

"Well you are the one who put a stop to what I was doing, therefore distracting me from my mission."

"You're the one who had me down four shots of tequila."

"Maybe."

"No maybe's. You set me, actually us, up. Trevor even picked up on it."

Callen grinned. He wasn't sure Trevor would figure that out. Obviously the man had learned a lot about him during their time together. Next time he'd have to be more devious.

"Then," he said, "you should've also figured out I made sure you would remember last night." He didn't want her to forget anything of what he hoped was a fun night which was why he'd asked Trevor to make sure she didn't mix drinks.

"I remember everything." Jessie lifted her hand to his cheek, her touch soft and comforting. "Especially after midnight." Her fingers trailed down his neck to his chest, still soft but not quite so comforting any more but still very good. Callen caught her hand when she reached his waist and showed no sign of stopping her journey. He lifted it to his lips, pressed a kiss to the palm of it and watched her eyes darken a touch when his tongue flicked out against her skin.

"Good," he said. "I wanted you to have fun. Not worry about me."

"I'll always worry about you, but thank you. And I did have fun though," she shook her head. "Those questions. Kensi and Nell. They are wicked."

"Doesn't matter what you told them, they're your friends. You can trust them." He trusted them. He wouldn't have set them loose on her if he didn't know she was safe in all ways.

"Yeah, trustworthy wicked friends."

Now he was more than a little curious about those questions he'd originally been planning to leave as their little secret. "What did you tell them exactly?"

"You're rather efficient at removing certain … pretty items of clothing and even though I didn't answer, there was a question regarding outdoor activities that they've probably made up their own answer to."

"Wrong I'm sure."

"With those two, I'm not so sure. Speaking of those two, did you know that they roped Michelle into their wickedness?"

Callen raised an eyebrow at that. He knew Michelle well and knew she was never pulled into something she didn't want to be involved with. "Are you sure it wasn't the other way around?"

"I'm sure."

Callen took advantage of the fact Jessie had released the sheet and tugged. She reached for it too late as it slid to the floor at the bottom of the bed. "We'll have to do something about that then. Can't have them being right." He rose from the bed and picked up the blue robe he'd set off to the side earlier.

"G what are you up to?" She hadn't moved yet, a wary look in her eyes.

"Breakfast. Balcony is calling." Callen tilted his head in invitation and held up the robe. "Come on Doc."

There was a very slight pause before she slid across the bed and stood in front of him.

"You said something about proving them wrong."

Callen thought he caught a hint of interest in her words. "Breakfast." His lips twitched. "Then maybe." She slipped her arms into the robe, turning around as she did. He moved in close behind her and tied the knot in front before he traced the curves of her body through the soft silk. "Knew you'd feel good through this." Way better than his imagination had been when he'd been looking for something as a gift for her for last night.

Jessie leaned back against him, her body soft and open to his touch. "G, will breakfast keep?" she asked.

Callen turned her in his arms, rested one hand on her lower back which keep her body against his. He lifted his other hand to her face and stroked her cheek. "Promise," he said. "Breakfast will be worth it." With a quick light kiss across her lips, he started to move them backward to the balcony door. He sat down and guided her so she straddled his lap. The chair had no arms and while this wasn't the way he'd planned it, it felt perfect, even if it was a touch distracting.

"G," Jessie breathed his name, no doubt feeling his body already growing in response to her against him, and the way she said it.

"Trust me." Callen reached over to the plate and grabbed a strawberry from the breakfast he'd already set up while she'd been sleeping. He held it to her lips and with their eyes locked on one another she bit into it. The juice ran down to her chin and he caught it with his tongue.

"What are you planning?" she asked breathlessly.

"A feast to celebrate." The feast might include a little more than the food on the table but he was good with that, and he'd make sure she was too.

"Celebrate what?"

"Us." The rest of the strawberry and a small bite-sized piece of waffle disappeared cleanly this time.

Jessie smiled. "I thought that was what the wedding was for."

"Don't want to wait."

"G what's going on?"

There was a gap in the robe and Callen was tempted to part it but he didn't, though he did loosen the knot so when he wanted to later he could.

"You know I've spoken with my dad," the word came out easier than he expected it to, "a little more lately."

Jessie nodded. "And I'm glad." Her thumb stroked his shoulder back and forth in a comforting gesture. Talk of his father tended to get him tense, not this time though.

Callen fed her a spoonful of yoghurt and a strawberry, which he ran down her neck, and lower, after she took a bite of it and then proceed to clean it up, leaving them both distracted and her more than a touch breathless. Lucky he'd undone the knot because it gave him a much better canvas to work with.

"G?"

Callen pulled his focus back on what he was trying to say even though he could hear the request to continue in the other direction in the way she said his name. "My mom," he said. "She loved different cultures and languages. It's what she was studying as her cover. She couldn't go to all the places but she could learn from the books she had access to. Did you know they weren't actually married?"

Jessie shook her head. "No I didn't."

"They didn't want to take that step because of the risk it brought of bringing attention to them, given what the two of them did."

Jessie frowned. "G do you want to get married?"

"Yes," Callen answered quickly. Apparently he hadn't thought through all the ways this could go. "I do," he assured her. "We will. In two weeks." He cupped her cheek in his hand and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. "I'm not backing out Jessie. And you know Hetty has organised the paperwork to keep it all safe and off the radar of those who shouldn't know."

"I know. I'm not sure where you are going with this though."

"I'm sorry," Callen said. "Something my mom loved the idea of was the Celtic tradition of handfasting." He reached out to the table and lifted the colourful ribbon he'd placed there under a napkin. "I have so little of my mom and …" Callen stopped and swallowed. This wasn't quite the way it was meant to go. He took a breath and felt Jessie's fingers gently brush the back of his neck. It helped. He smiled his thanks and continued. "This was the way she committed to my father instead of traditional marriage. It was between them."

Callen lifted Jessie's hand to his lips, kissed her fingertips and then linked their fingers. "Usually someone else does it but this is just between us. My promise to you. My wishes for us."

It had been a niggle of an idea in his mind when his father had first spoken to him about what his mother had done for them. As time had passed, the idea wouldn't leave Callen and continued to grow stronger. To Jessie marriage, while she'd made it clear she wanted it with him, wasn't the most important part. The more he thought the more he realised just how perfectly this would fit with what she felt. This would bring a connection with his mother into their life as well as give Jessie what she needed most, without the extra. No paper. No ring. Just promises from the heart and purely between them. He'd researched, found the colours that would mean the most to them. He'd then trusted Nell to find the softest, prettiest ribbons she could. Because given Jessie's attachment to soft material he wasn't going to go with just any ribbon. Nell had looked at him suspiciously, he hadn't actually told her what it was for, but did as he asked with no questions. Once he had the ribbons, his skills with Jessie's hair had come into play as he'd braided the numerous strands together.

Callen slipped the start of the ribbon under his finger and held it firmly.

"Dark blue for a safe life," he started.

His greatest wish for their future.

Jessie's breath hitched as he started to twine the ribbons around their joined hands, only tight enough to stay. The binding together came from within, from the promises he was making to her. Just like his mother had made to his father.

"Light blue for patience and understanding."

Because patience and understanding was a large part of the solid foundation they had built with each other.

"Green." Callen smiled. "Peace, home and family."

Her gift to him and his to her. She had given him a home and family, not just in herself but with giving him the ability to open up and accept those who wanted to be his. And peace was the thing they craved for each other almost as much as safety. He hoped and wished with everything in him that he could bring that to the rest of their lives.

"Red. Health, courage and passion."

Given what they'd been through medically it was appropriate. And courage was something they had both shown stepping into this life together. As for passion, they didn't need any help in that department but it was definitely a part of who they were together.

"Pink. For truth, partnership and happiness."

Truth was the strongest part of the foundation of their relationship. They were partners. That had been shown with how they had, together, handled things, both before and after they had gotten together. And that would continue in their future. And happiness? Well that was a given. To see her smile, hear her laugh - he'd been trying to do that since not long after he'd meet her. Always would.

"Black. For protection and," oddly enough, "pure love."

Callen had been surprised by the meaning of that colour. Tears slid silently down Jessie's cheeks. He wanted to wipe them away but he one more to go before he could.

"And gold." Callen slid the end of the rope under the finger that held the beginning of the strands, creating a complete circle. "Unity, strength and a long life."

Together they were stronger. And how he desperately wanted a long life with her. He leaned forward and kissed the tears from her cheeks.

"Always," he said. "You and me."

"Always," she whispered in agreement.

Callen's mouth covered hers, the whisper of her end of the word caught at the beginning of a kiss that was full of so much emotion from both of them. The fingers of their linked hands tightened while the other hands, free, touched and stroked and added to the depth of the promises made. Callen nudged the robe open, but not far enough that it would fall from her shoulders. Even though the balcony was isolated from view of any other buildings, he knew she trusted him to ensure no one saw anything. Their touch heated each other, built in intensity, just as the emotion built in a kiss that neither of them seemed to want to end. Callen was the first to pull back but only to reach for the protection he'd already placed on the table earlier. The heat between the two of them flared easily enough that they always made sure something was nearby. Jessie took it from his fingers, held his gaze with hers as she tossed it back on the table. Callen breath halted as he heard it slide across and land on the ground, well out reach. He watched a smile slowly spread on her lips and with a slight shift of her body she took him in, hot warm and nothing between them. It took all Callen's control not to move and set off the climax that was right there waiting.

"Doc?" They had a deal. She would tell him she was ready by stopping the protection.

Her smile grew then she shifted and he slid deeper just as her mouth covered his and she took charge of the kiss this time. They flew together higher and hotter, hearts racing, breaths heavy and bodies shattering apart in a mutual climax that was a perfect close to the promises that had been made.

Jessie's head dropped to his shoulder, her body softened into his and Callen's hand settled against her back, holding her safe on his lap.

"G," she murmured, her breath a whisper across his skin. "Need a favour."

"Anything you want." He felt her smile against his shoulder.

"Can you stop getting better at tell? Because if you keep this up, I'm going to be in a mountain load of trouble."

Callen smiled and his fingers slowly tracing the vertebrae of her spine one by one under the silk.

"You want me to stop talking?"

"No." Jessie lifted her head and brushed a finger over his lips. "Never. They … you…" She took a breath. "You have a habit of finding words that bypass my brain and go straight to my heart. All I can do is feel and respond."

"Exactly what I was hoping for. You're safe with me Doc. Though," he lifted and eyebrow and studied her for just long enough for a nervous look to enter her eyes. "It will be interesting one day to find out just how far I can take you with words alone."

Her breath came out in a rush. "You are -"

"Adorable," he filled in.

Jessie laughed softly. "Very much." She kissed him, soft, lingering and gentle. "Thank you."

Callen slid his free hand into her hair and held her close, brushed his lips over hers more than once but wouldn't take it deeper. He needed a moment to think before he spoke.

"Jessie, are you sure?"

She lifted her head and smiled. He could see in her eyes she knew exactly what he was asking about

"I'm sure," she said. "Was going to be a wedding present but now seemed the perfect time." Her smiled dimmed just a little. "But G, one more try that's all. I don't think I could do it again if we lose another."

Callen nodded. "Okay. If it doesn't work, it'll just be you and me." He'd hoped she'd be ready someday to try again. He hadn't expected it to be this soon though with everything they'd been dealing with. She was working through things with him together with a grief counsellor Jacob had recommended, as well as on her own.

Jessie glanced at the food on the table. "Think we can take this inside and finish it?'

"Don't want to stay where you are?" Callen liked where she was. Not just because of how it felt to be sitting there, their bodies still joined, but having her close and in his arms. It was intimate and personal, especially after what had just happened between them.

"Don't want to hurt your leg."

Callen reached out for another strawberry and fed it to her. "You won't. But inside would be good." His fingers trailed over the shoulder of the blue robe and down her arm. "Wouldn't want to mess this up. It would be a," he smiled, "terrible shame. We should definitely get rid of it before you get messy."

Jessie eye's twinkled as she got the message. She lifted their still joined hands. "It's going to be a little difficult at the moment to take it off."

Callen stared at the multi-coloured soft ribbons that bound them together. The sight of her hand, slightly smaller and paler, yet just as strong even though it was in different ways, entwined with his brought more emotion to the surface than he expected. He brought them to his lips, kissed each one of her fingers in turn.

"Not sure I want to undo it yet," Callen admitted. "Like the look of it."

"So do I," Jessie said softly and then repeated his actions on his own fingers. "This was perfect G. You…" The tears welled in her eyes but she was smiling. "I … Thank you."

"Shall we see how long we can keep it like this?"

"We'll have to check out soon."

Callen heard the disappointment in her voice at the idea, saw it in her eyes and revelled in the simple fact he could take that away in just a few words.

Callen shook his head and smiled. "Room's booked through until tomorrow. All part of the plan." And somehow he'd find a way to thank Trevor for this. It was perfect.

"So we've got all day?"

"We do."

Jessie's fingers dusted over his cheek and lips before she pressed a light kiss to each corner of his mouth. "Very lucky me," she whispered.