A/N: Things are about to get…explosive.

He snatched another baby carrot from her, earning a bat on the hand.

"John!" she said exasperatedly. He chuckled.

Rose was beautiful when she was annoyed. Well, she was always beautiful to him. Especially now that he realized his feelings. A surge of jealousy went through his blood as he thought about her boyfriend.

"How's Harold?"

He tried not to put too much venom in his question. He wished he had realized how he felt for her before she had gone out with that cad. Because then he would be the one who got to hold her, kiss her, and do things to her that John refused to think about.

He was letting his mind run rampant. He didn't actually know if anything physical had happened. Whenever he saw those two together, it came off very platonic. And Clara was no help at getting any information out of her. After all, it was supposed to be fake. Now he wasn't so sure.

Rose began to tell a story about Harold Saxon but John tuned her out. He was engrossed in how she looked today. Skinny jeans and a bright pink button-down blouse with a steep neckline, revealing some supple bosom. As his eyes traveled the seam of the blouse downwards, he licked his lips.

Tell her.

He swallowed.

"John? Have you been listening?"

His eyes snapped to her cinnamon ones. Caught out, he shook his head, cheeks heating up. She rolled her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Rose. I've had a lot on my mind lately." Like kissing you.

She nodded and poured the carrots into the salad. Then she reached for the cucumbers to start cutting them up. John walked around the island to stand next to her, needing her presence. Needing her warmth. Needing her.

"Yes, I know. You have been distracted for a while. God forbid you should tell your best friend about it," she said sarcastically.

He sighed. "I will Rose. I promise."

That seemed to satisfy her. She took one of the strips of cucumber just as John reached over her left shoulder for it, their fingers touching. Electricity shot through him and he drew in a breath. Rose turned her head to the left to look at him, her lashes fluttering.

Fuck, she's so beautiful.

The tension in the room was palpable. You could cut it with a knife. John stared into her cinnamon eyes as she stared back, both breathing heavily. His left hand moved from the cucumber to cover her hand, his right resting lightly on her hip.

A strand of blonde hair fell into her eye and she moved it away with her right hand. The gesture caused her perfume to waft into his nose. He closed his eyes briefly and swallowed.

God, she smells heavenly.

She sucked in a breath. His eyes opened and they continued to stare at each other, everything else fading away.

Do it.

John's eyes flickered to her lips and then back to her, as though asking. She didn't say anything; just continued looking into his green eyes.

He found himself being drawn closer to her, and her to him. His heart was racing, his body on fire from where his hands rested on her. The look in Rose's eyes seem to convey that she was aching for him as much as he was for her.

His lips brushed hers….

RIIINNNGGGG.

The moment was broken. She lowered her head and John kissed her forehead. He quickly removed his right hand from her waist and his left from covering hers. They both pouted at loss of contact.

Rose wiped her hands on the dish towel and moved to answer the door. John kicked himself.

I love you, Rose. How do you not see it?

He began formulating another plan.

His mood turned sour as Harold followed Rose into the kitchen, carrying a bottle of wine. John noted it was an expensive kind. He was trying too hard to woo Rose for whatever his gain was.

Show off.

Harold looked at him and smiled. A predatory smile. John narrowed his eyes.

Rose will be mine.

Two weeks later, Rose excitedly knocked on John's door. He opened it, disheveled. It was early, she knew that. But she didn't think he had slept in.

"Rose?" he asked softly. His heart soared at seeing her.

"Hi," she said quietly. "May I come in?"

He nodded and stepped aside. Her perfume wafted its way into his nostrils and he closed his eyes as he took a large whiff.

Someone started waking up.

Taking a moment to compose himself, he shut the door. Then he turned to the woman he was madly in love with.

"Tea?" he asked as he strode past her. She nodded and followed, a bounce in her step.

"To what do I owe the pleasure this early, Rose?"

The blonde glanced at the clock. 6:41 am. Oops. She guessed it was a bit early, especially on a Saturday, but she couldn't wait. She had to share her news with her best friend.

John ran a hand through his already-messy hair. Rose thought it made him look sexier.

I'd love to run my hands through it.

She eyed the stubble on his jawline and chin and wondered how that would feel against her…down there.

Stop it! She chastised herself.

"Sorry," she said as he placed a teacup in front of her. He glanced at her. "I was so excited I didn't realize how early it was."

John chuckled as he reached for his own teacup. "You know I never mind seeing you, no matter the time."

Rose nodded. Then she realized something. "Where's Clara?"

The kettle began whistling and John moved it to another burner. "She stayed at Adam's last night."

Rose raised an eyebrow at that. Clara had informed her best friend about some things with Adam that didn't sit right with the blonde. Things she had yet to tell her big brother.

Rose felt it wasn't her place…yet.

"She hasn't been dating him that long; you sure you're okay with that?"

The doctor poured the water into her teacup and then repeated the action with his own. "She's a big girl; she can handle herself." His voice was gruff as he was shaking the sleep away.

Rose nodded. John was always overprotective of his little sister. She wondered what he would do if Adam crossed a line.

Returning the kettle to the stove, John repeated his question. "To what do I owe the pleasure, Rose?"

She jolted out of her thoughts, remembering why she was there. She reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out an envelope.

"I have a present for you!"

John's green eyes lit up. Rose chuckled. She loved it when he acted like a kid.

"Gimme," he said. He snatched the envelope from her and opened it eagerly. She flat-out guffawed at him now. He glanced at her and smiled.

He pulled four tickets out of the envelope to the band Redfern. His jaw dropped.

"Redfern?!" he exclaimed. The blonde nodded.

"Surprise!"

John couldn't help himself. He crossed the short distance to where she was and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a big hug. She returned it.

"How?" he asked into her hair.

"Harold."

John froze. Suddenly the thought of Redfern made him sick. He released his friend and looked into her eyes. "What" he said coldly.

What the hell? She wondered.

"John?" she asked. He pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Why, Rose?"

She looked thoroughly confused. "Why what?"

He gestured to the tickets. "Why did you give me these, given how I feel about Saxon?" And you, he thought.

She shrugged. "I figured it was a good way for the two of you to spend some time together. Maybe he would stop trying to shut you down if he knew you. Clara could work her analytical skills on him; put that degree to good use."

His blood boiled. Harold was royally fucking up his life. And he had a sneaking suspicion it was deliberate.

Fucking Saxon!

"Why is it such a big deal?" she asked her friend. He turned away from her. His voice was quiet when he spoke.

"Rose, no matter how much we try, Harold will never be my friend. He has a mole in my company and is trying to shut my lab down." He turned back to her, his green eyes now darkened. "If I remember correctly, you were supposed to be giving me intel."

She nodded, not understanding where this was going. "And I have. I told you that he was planning something soon but didn't go into detail." She gently placed her hand on his arm.

John took a deep breath. "Rose, that could mean anything. It doesn't help."

She whipped her hand away, clearly hurt. "Well I'm sorry that you think that," she spat. The handsome man turned to her. His eyes were still dark, but now they were curious.

"I told you I didn't really want to go out with him, but you and Clara insisted. 'Get intel,' you said. Well, I did. And I will continue to do so. Why do you think I got us tickets? We can learn some of his plan at the concert and maybe talk to him about leaving you alone. Did you think I had other intentions?"

John glanced down at her plump lips, lips he hadn't stopped thinking about since that day his brushed hers. He imagined Harold Saxon kissing them.

His blood boiled.

"It won't work, Rose."

She threw up her hands in frustration. "I don't get you," she said. "Why the hell are you acting like this?"

Because I'm in love with you, he thought. And until now, he thought she reciprocated. But doing this, he wasn't so sure.

"I'm sorry, Rose," he said quietly. "I can't accept the gift if it's from him. If nothing else, it looks like bribery."

The blonde stared at him. He held her gaze. "I can't…." she ran her hands through her hair. "You know what? Forget it. I was trying to do a nice thing, figuring you would be happy to get the chance to air your grievances. But clearly I was wrong." She grabbed the envelope and stuck it in her purple leather jacket.

Turning on her heel, she began to exit the kitchen. "Don't call me for two weeks," she shouted.

John sighed. He had no choice. He followed after her.

"Rose," he said. She ignored him and kept walking.

She reached for the doorknob and suddenly she was spun around to look into fiery green eyes. Before she had time to react, her back was against the door, his body pressed firmly against hers as his lips landed on hers, hard.

Rose's eyes grew wide and she froze. What the hell is happening? John's left arm pressed against the door, his right one resting on her hip. She was effectively trapped.

After her brain came back online, she realized that John was kissing her! And although she wasn't sure why, she wasn't about to waste the opportunity. She closed her eyes and kissed him back as his lips grew stronger against hers.

Fuck, he's a good kisser.

She wound her hands into his unruly hair, finally running her fingers through it. He groaned and his tongue pressed against her lips, asking for permission. She granted it and he slid inside her mouth. He tasted of earl grey tea and toothpaste.

He was divine.

Realizing that Rose was kissing him back, Little John began waking up again. He pressed himself against her harder than he already was, making sure she knew how he felt. She was so soft and delicate against him. His left hand left the door and he cupped the back of her head as he tilted hers to gain better access with the kiss.

"Rose," he moaned into her mouth. She ran her tongue against the back of his teeth and his dick instantly grew harder.

Fuck me!

They remained entangled like that until the last possible second before they had to breathe. Pulling away just enough to take in gulps of air, they both returned to their previous activity. John's right arm wound its way around her waist as she moved one hand to cup his cheek. This next kiss was just as passionate, just as explosive, as the first one.

He wanted to tell her everything in that kiss. He ground against her, letting her feel him. Her eyes flew open. She gently pushed against him and he broke the kiss, pulling back slightly.

"John?" He nipped her nose.

"Yes?"

"You're—you're pressing against me."

He looked into her beautiful eyes. They had darkened. His had too. "Yes?" he repeated. Then "oh! Am I hurting you?" He pulled his body away from her. She tried not to be affected at the loss of contact. She didn't want him to do that.

"No, not at all." He was still close. She could still feel his breath on her face. She kissed him quickly, letting him know she didn't want him to pull completely away. "I just…I was surprised as you're…." She gestured down.

He chuckled and gently ran a hand down her neck. "Aroused?" he supplied. She nodded.

"That happens frequently around you, Rose Tyler," he said in her ear. She shivered, her overheated body now completely on fire.

Her eyes grew wide at his words and she sucked in a breath. "What?" she couldn't have heard him correctly. Dr. John Smith aroused by ME? Impossible.

"Rose," he said quietly, still close to her ear, "I've been attracted to you from the day we met. But this last year, the feelings I buried surfaced. This," he said, gesturing down to the large bulge still prominent in his pants, "and this," he now ran his finger over her lips, "are my ways of trying to tell you how I feel about you. How I've felt about you since day one."

Finally, the truth is coming out.

She opened her mouth slightly and took the tip of his finger in it. His green eyes grew wide and darkened even more at the movement. Little John hardened and once again, the doctor pressed her to him to feel him. She liked the sensation. She rubbed against his erection and he groaned.

I could get used to this.

"And what exactly are your feelings?"

She dared not hope. He was saying things to her she had only dreamt of. Her fantasies were coming true. She felt him shift against her leg. She shivered and continued sucking on his finger, looking up at him through her lashes.

Damn that look! He thought.

John swallowed and closed his eyes to regain control. He was in danger of losing it and taking his best friend in the hallway. She deserved better than that.

But dammit, she didn't make it easy.

Reopening his eyes, he looked directly into hers and finding his voice, he spoke low. The words were truthful and full of conviction.

"Rose Tyler, I love you."

A/N: Thanks for reading!