AN: And now it's been more than a year since I've posted here (*hangs head in shame*). For what it's worth, I have several partially written chapters and stories (and this wasn't even one of them!) but the time/energy/motivation to write has been scarce. This chapter is also more than 1000 words, but I blame that on being rusty.
This chapter takes place the morning after Densi's first night in Mammoth.
It had been a long time since she felt like this. Kensi woke in a surprisingly comfortable California King in a Lake Mammoth cabin. The flames in the fireplace had died down overnight and left a chill in the air but she was perfectly cozy under the blanket despite her nakedness. It probably had something to do with the body pressed against her back, the arm draped across her waist that ended with the hand resting on her breast, and the other arm under her neck. Kensi smiled, more content than she'd been for longer than she cared to remember.
"Penny for your thoughts," Deeks said, his voice rough and sexy with sleep. His arm pulled her even closer to him, and Kensi could feel his arousal against her backside.
"A penny? What kind of a cheap date do you think I am?" she teased as she shifted her rear, not at all comfortable with admitting what she had been thinking, but more than willing to distract him with sex.
"Do you know how much this place costs during the winter holiday season? I have nothing but pennies left. But I'll give you five of them for that thought, just to prove that Monty and I think you're anything but cheap."
Kensi turned her head and kissed the arm she was resting on while she pretended to consider his counteroffer. "How about if I take my payment in kind and in advance?" She shifted so they were face to face and helped Deeks forget about pennies and thoughts.
An energetic romp and a brief nap later, Deeks pulled Kensi into his arms and offered again. "So will five cents do the trick or do I have to up the ante to seven? I'll tell you now, a dime will be my final offer and when you consider that the going rate is one cent, you are getting a hell of a price for one little thought."
"Wow, Deeks, that's an incredibly generous offer. Unfortunately, I don't remember that thought anymore; guess you managed to blow my mind," Kensi smiled appreciatively.
He looked at her askance, "You sure about that?"
"Yeah, no…of course. Why?"
"I've known you long enough to know that even though you are an incredibly good undercover agent, you are also an incredibly bad liar."
"What? No, it really was that good! Mind-blowing is an accurate description."
He chuckled, "Oh I agree with you," and placed a quick kiss on her lips, "but that's not what I was talking about."
Kensi closed her eyes and let out a puff of breath, conflicted. "I'm not sure it's something you want to hear right now, that's all."
Trying but failing not to sound hurt, Deeks prodded, "I'm your partner, Kensi. You know you can tell me anything, right?"
She nodded and met his eyes. "And if you were just my partner, I'd probably tell you. But as…"
"Your boyfriend?"
"Yes, as my boyfriend," Kensi grinned at the word, "I don't think this is the right time. Can we please put a pin in it for a while?"
"Or how about you tell me, as your partner, and I promise not to consider the information as your boyfriend."
She smiled again, thinking that he should at least get an A for effort. "I appreciate the suggestion, but you can't just ignore something like this."
"But it's not right that you don't get the benefit of having your partner to confide in. I mean, I still have Monty."
"Oh, that's a good idea, I can tell Monty!"
"Sure, and then he'll turn around and tell me, but he'll get the details all wrong and chaos will ensue."
Kensi sighed, "You really want to know that badly?"
"Who? You mean Boyfriend Deeks? Boyfriend Deeks doesn't even know we're having this conversation. This is Partner Deeks you're talking to right now."
"I'm naked in bed with my partner?"
"We do work undercover together, don't we?" he winked.
She laughed. "Okay fine, I'll tell my partner what I was thinking this morning."
"I'm all ears Kensalina," Deeks tightened his embrace and rested his chin on her head.
"I was thinking about how good it felt to wake up with you—
"Not me, Kens. You woke up spooning with that Norse god of a boyfriend, not your hunky beefcake partner."
She corrected herself, trying not to smile, "Right, sorry. It felt really nice to wake up next to my boyfriend earlier. Better than the last time, you know? Because we didn't have to rush to work and pretend nothing was different between us. And because…"
"Go ahead, partner. Because…" he said softly.
She cleared her throat a little, "Because today I was at peace in a way I haven't been in a while. And I…I want to wake up like that…every day. Like every day for a long time. With my boyfriend."
Hissing in a breath, he said, "Oh boy. Yeah, I can see why you were worried about telling him that."
Kensi dropped her face to his chest, mortified. "Oh no, Deeks. I'm so sorry. Can you just forget I said anything?"
"Nah, I'm just kidding." When she didn't seem to believe him, Deeks said sincerely, "So you don't think the boyfriend is ready to hear this yet and you're afraid he'll run for the hills if he knows."
"Exactly," she moaned. "What guy wants his new girlfriend to talk in terms of every day and a very long time?"
"A mature one who knows what a great catch his ladybird is?"
"Mature isn't the first word most people would use to describe my boyfriend," Kensi lightly pinched Deeks' side in revenge.
"Touché. But he's smart enough to know how amazing you are, yeah?"
"He's smarter than I like to admit."
"Plus I heard somewhere that when you suggested going to the next level you used phrases like 'all in' and "the day after tomorrow?'"
"We did both say all in, but I meant actually dating and calling it a relationship instead of a 'thing.' And I'm not sure I got to finish my thought about it being long-term."
"Why's that?"
"He kissed me."
"Right in the middle of what you were saying?"
"Yeah."
"Wow. Sounds like he was anxious to seal the deal. And to be clear, 'all in' pretty much implies long-term."
"You think so?"
"Yup," Deeks popped the "p" the way she loved. "Hell, didn't you once tell me this guy basically said he was falling in love with you the first time you, uh…"
"Had sex?"
"Yeah. If he said that way back then, something tells me he'd be okay with you thinking about a future together."
Kensi grimaced slightly. "Maybe. But wouldn't you be a little wary of hearing that for the first time under those circumstances?"
"Did he say it as he was… finishing?"
She chuckled, "No, earlier."
"Hmm. When he saw you naked for the first time?"
"Nope, we were fully clothed."
Deeks rolled his eyes, "Well since I'm not your boyfriend, I can only guess what he was thinking at the time, but it sounds to me like he probably meant it when he said he was falling for you."
She considered his words for a moment. "So you're saying that if you were my boyfriend, and not just my partner, you wouldn't freak out if I told you the truth about what I was thinking this morning?"
"That's what I'm saying."
"Good to know," Kensi couldn't contain a wide smile. "Thanks, partner. This was really helpful."
"Glad I could help," he grinned back. "Now I have a favor to ask you—can you be just my partner and not my girlfriend for a minute?"
"Sure. What's up?"
"Well partner, I just started dating this amazing woman and I want to tell her I love her without freaking her out…"