-SECURE LOCATION- DETECTIVE CARTER'S HOME

DATE: 9/6/2013

TIME: 22:31:54

Dinner was delicious. John's company was even better. Joss was careful to keep their dinner date simple. They didn't talk about what this was or wasn't. They just enjoyed each other's presence and talked nearly all night, which was a bit surprising since John was naturally quiet. He was reserved and preferred to blend in then stand out. But prying conversation out of him wasn't difficult when she got him alone. Tonight was no different other than he seemed relaxed, probably because she didn't railroad him into talking about their feelings, and truly they had many similar interests. She still couldn't believe she was blind to this attraction until now. But now, now her eyes were wide open.

Very open, or rather closed, right now, seeing as she lying atop of John, mouth fused to his, sucking on his tongue, as they made out on her couch. Joss was submerged in a pool of desire. Really, it was John's fault. She hadn't planned on making any move on him. But he had to go all debonair on her, and look like sex in his black Henley shirt and blue jeans, which both molded to his body perfectly. Next time he'd learn to not tell her that she was beautiful when she was drunk on lust.

His hands were cupping her cheeks, while casually ringing her bells as he kissed like a god, because John was that good of a man. Meanwhile, she had her hands under his shirt, running all over his chest, flicking his nipples, liking the sounds he made as she did, and loving the feel of his hard muscular body beneath hers. Truly, it was a marvel to be allowed to touch him and Joss felt an overwhelming rush of desire to feel his skin against hers with no barriers between them.

She squeezed her thighs together as the pressure gathered there. Their kisses had long since grown more urgent than the gentle exploratory ones. Their breathing was heavy as they both took short breaks, kissing other parts of skin, until their mouths found their way back to each other's, unable to bear being apart for more than a breathless moment or two. Moans were mutually shared as their bodies shifted restlessly as the arousal grew.

It was John that seemed to break out of the fog first. He held her back as he let his head rest on the cushion of her couch. He stared up at her with his mouth red and wet, eyes no longer blue but black from want.

"We need to slow down," he rasped, voice thick with need.

Joss nodded as she climbed off him and was slightly embarrassed by how turned on she was. Her inner thighs were slick from her wetness, with her panties clinging uncomfortably. Her nipples were hard and rubbing against her bra cups. She looked down to his lap and was grateful to see the healthy bulge in his jeans. John was just as turned on.

He sat up and she moved close. She let her left hand slide to his neck to bury her fingers into his hair there while fingering his jaw with the other. Joss was willing to let him pump the brakes a bit but she wasn't letting him cool off too much.

"We need to think this through, Joss." his voice was still breathless, and she liked it.

Joss stroked his bottom lip with her thumb. "Feelings have no thought process, John. I want you. I want this," she let her voice grow low, seductive. John looked seduced but then he slipped free of her arms and was standing. He ran a hand through his hair and she eyed him from her seat. A realization dawned on her and she could kick herself. "I'm sorry," she apologized, getting herself more in control.

That earned her his gaze. "Why are you apologizing?"

"Oh, not for kissing you if that's what you think. Or feeling you up, nope not sorry for that one bit," she assured throatily, as her eyes raked over him from head to toe, staying a bit too long on his crotch before she looked into his eyes again. "I'm apologizing for forgetting that you haven't truly dated in a while, that it must feel like I'm moving at warp speed."

John averted his gaze but he didn't deny it. She cursed herself. John had only just begun opening up about Jessica and opening up to the idea of moving forward. He had kissed her so briefly and tentatively that morning at his place. Since then she had taken over. She needed to slow down to let him catch up.

There was a part of her that was perversely satisfied that she was the first woman he wanted more than just her body. If it was just sex then John wouldn't be feeling so overwhelmed. If it was just sex for him, than they'd be in her bed naked and in throes of passion because hookups were what he was used to; sharing his body, and nothing else. Well, she wanted his body, but also she wanted the else he kept from everyone.

She slowly stood and looped her arms around his neck. "How about we have dinner again tomorrow? It will be our second date. I'll even call a restaurant," she murmured and she saw a faint smile on his face.

"I'd like that."

Joss lifted her chin to kiss him and he bent down just enough to let their lips touch gently. She tempered it, so the need didn't explode, and they'd be on the couch again.

Joss leaned back. "I think I should tell you something before we get in too deep, John. Get us reading the same book, so to speak."

"What?" he sounded wary.

"I don't want just your body," she whispered.

He cupped her cheek. "I don't want just yours either."

She smiled then, grateful they understood where each other stood. Now she just needed to get John to the page she skipped ahead to.

-SECURE LOCATION- SAFE HOUSE

DATE: 9/13/2013

TIME: 20:41:33

John sat in the safe house watching Joss out of the corner of his eye. She was talking with Shaw. The past week had been eye-opening. They had a few dates since the initial one where she agreed to go slowly. And Joss had slowed down. They enjoyed their dates and conversations. John was charmed and quite frankly, smitten—which, he'd shoot anyone if they said that to his face—with her and it was nice to enjoy someone as much as he enjoyed her company.

But they hadn't had sex yet and he was a bit frustrated.

On their last date, they had made out again but this time on her front stoop. But Joss hadn't let him into her place. She just told him good night, pecked him on the lips, turned, and went inside sliding the door shut in his face. It was as effective as a cold bucket of water poured atop him. Longing for an intimate connection with Joss was taking over his life. He was in a constant state of arousal near her even when they were supposed to be working on a number. John was having trouble sleeping. It wouldn't be the first time, but the reasoning was new: he awoke from erotic dreams with a hard on, and alone. While he needed her to slow down to let him get used to being in a relationship that wasn't strictly sexual, he didn't think posing as virgins was necessary either.

"Can I have everyone's attention?"

John was drawn out of his wayward thoughts and shifted only his eyes to Joss, who was standing and waiting. "What's wrong, Jocelyn?" Harold asked, concern causing lines on his forehead.

Joss didn't spare John a glance as she spoke, "John and I are dating," John's eyes widened and felt all eyes shift to him. "I'm only telling you our personal business because I'm not going to be grilled like a schoolgirl when I decline drinks," her eyes were pointed on Shaw then. "Does anyone have any questions, comments, or concerns?" Joss demanded, but before she allowed anyone to voice their opinion she added, "Even if you do, keep your damn mouths shut because we really don't care."

There was a hush in the room as eyes took them in. John flicked his gaze over their friends. Fusco looked mildly horrified. Shaw seemed annoyingly smug. Finch was genuinely happy. And Bear, well Bear didn't care what the humans were doing because his eyes were on the bone he was gnawing on.

"On that note, I'm out." Fusco muttered as he stood. He looked at Joss and then him. "Wonder Boy and my partner, like oil and water," he muttered in blatant disbelief as he left.

Finch stood next, Bear instantly at his side. "I think its wonderful news, but I need to go as well. I nearly forgot that I have some business to attend too."

John's gaze narrowed. "What business?"

Harold turned. "I am a billionaire, Mr. Reese; I do have ventures that require my consideration. Enjoy your evening with Jocelyn," he murmured, and then looked at Joss. "Goodnight, Joss."

"Good night, Finch," she replied warmly.

John watched with dismay as Shaw was the next one to stand. "All right, I guess I'll go too seeing as everyone is leaving so you two can argue and then bang." Then before disappearing out of the door, she poked her head back in. "Have fun…and give Carter lots of orgasms." With that she was gone.

"And then there were two," Joss deadpanned as she glanced around the room. John smiled a little. "Here I thought the only way I could clear a room like that is by singing," she came over and sat down beside him on the couch.

"You have a lovely voice…."

She smiled. "You're sweet, John, but I can't carry a tune to save my life." Her eyes turned serious as she glanced his way. "I'm sorry that I didn't consult you before I just announced it to our friends."

"It wasn't a secret," he murmured, not wanting her apology. They were going to have to tell them sooner or later.

"Well, you didn't exactly seem to want to share the news."

He cocked his head. "I never saw the opportunity. We don't just share our private life, Joss. We're not exactly the sharing types."

She nodded absently. "True. Still, I should have run it by you. But Shaw was being particularly annoying tonight about why I didn't want to have drinks. I was hoping to lure you someplace to have some with me, alone."

"Maybe some other night," he murmured. With the way he was feeling tonight, he didn't trust himself around Joss with alcohol in his system.

"Don't want to be in my company, John?"

Oh, he wanted to be in her company alright. But talking and having drinks were last on the agenda of what he wanted to do with her. "It's not that."

"Then what is it?"

John looked at her then, the want was nearly unbearable. But he controlled it. "I'm just…tired," he lied. She didn't reply but rather was watching him but he didn't avert his gaze. He couldn't tell what she was thinking. John stood then. "See you tomorrow?"

"No." she stated as she stood too. He glanced at her with surprise. "Guess Shaw was right about one thing: we are going to argue."

"Excuse me?"

He now noticed the anger lines on her face. "You know what; you're a smart man, so figure it out. Come find me when you do," she stated tersely. Joss walked towards the door but stopped from exiting, to turn to look back at him. "Do you remember that conversation we had months ago in this very safe house? When you asked me if I thought you should get a life?"

"I remember," he replied, still trying to figure out what he said that upset Joss so.

"I think you should get one, preferably with me." With that she exited and shut the door with force. John stood in the center of the safe house, lost.

AN: Honestly, I couldn't help that Shaw bit. All I kept imagining her saying was different sexual lines, each one more raunchy than the last. This I felt was the best one because it wasn't over the top but fit the 'I-got-a-not-so-secret-girl-crush on Joss Carter. Shaw would want Joss taken care of ;D

Thanks for reading!