Gibbs woke just as dawn broke, same as he did every other morning. Unlike other mornings he didn't wake on his couch, didn't find himself in the clothes from the day before and he wasn't staring at an empty fireplace hearing the echoes of a previous life. As awareness of the day washed over him, he felt her satin skin nestled close against him. Her dark hair splayed out against her sheets, her body bare to his gaze except for the circle of gold wrapped around her wrist. Rising slowly in the bed he watched her breathing, taking in her beauty letting the image burn in his mind. She was his, he felt the gift of that knowledge caused his body to react even more than it had to the sight of her lying bare before him.

He'd taken her many times the night before, claimed her just as she'd demanded over and over and yet his body still urged him to take her again. That part of him he'd buried years before reared it's ever anxious head. It still shocked him that she'd sensed his need to dominate, but what shocked him more was her understanding of that need. He'd met another woman who thought she'd understood it only to find out that for him it went deeper than role playing, it had nothing to do with pain and everything to do with being given the gift of trust.

"How did you know sweet Ziva …" he let his hand trace the smooth skin of her back keeping his touch gentle but light enough not to scare her.

Ziva felt Gibbs rise in the bed; she didn't move savoring the scent of him on her sheets, the sound of his breathing as he watched her. She knew he was watching her could feel his eyes on her as surely as she'd felt his touch the night before. He was aroused it weighted the air and her body recognized his need. It had been this way from the beginning with him. The slightest hint of need in him and her body would instantly respond. Just after Ari she had wanted to hate herself for it but found the self-loathing wouldn't come, instead the attraction, her own need only grew stronger. She felt his touch and his words interrupt her thoughts. He'd known she was awake.

Gibbs watched her push aside the heavy fall of her hair and smile at him. He almost pinned her back to the bed and drove into right then, somehow he found the will to stop. She sat up reaching for the sheet until he shook his head.

"No."

Ziva stopped her body reacting instantly. One small word and she was aching for him. Except it wasn't the word it was the way he said it, more than that the way he felt when he said it. Watching him she saw a part of him she'd only caught glimpses of before. Letting go of the sheet she pushed it away, tossing her hair back, she sat on her knees across from him waiting.

"How did you know Ziva?" Gibbs couldn't let the question go. His body begged him to hard and desperate the sight of her kneeling, hair falling all around her wearing nothing but that intoxicating piece of gold and she was damn near killing him.

Ziva smiled, Gibbs always needed answers something she understood. He wanted her just as much as his answer. Sitting on the edge of the bed draped in the comforter did little to hide his need. Feeling again the need to have him in her mouth she bit at her lower lip and somehow found his gaze again. "I watched you Jethro. At first it was because of Ari, after it was because I needed to learn my place. At least that is what I told myself. Really it is because the moment I saw you I wanted you in my bed."

Gibbs couldn't help but move the slightest bit closer when she spoke and he couldn't hide the grin. Shaking his head he let one finger trace her collarbone. "It didn't make sense then did it. We'd both lost so much."

Ziva nodded knowing he was referring to both Kate and Ari. "I accepted what I felt thinking it would pass. But, there was this moment. It was during a case we had dinner as a team afterwards. Most everyone had left except"

Gibbs knew the exact moment she was referring to. "Except Ducky and Palmer."

Ziva sighed not bothering to hide her relief that he too remembered the moment. "Ducky was telling a story that related to our case about a woman who had been in a submissive relationship for years and never suffered an injury. Yet the woman in our case had been so badly treated. Palmer could not understand how anyone could allow someone to have control in a relationship. It was about being equals. And I said.."

"You said sometimes if you trust someone the idea of giving yourself over to that person in nearly every way is a gift to yourself. I remember you followed it up with or so you had read. But I remember when you said it Ziva."

Ziva nodded. "And what I remember Jethro is the way you looked at me when I did. In that moment you very much wanted to be alone with me. Or at the very least in that little corner at the back of that restaurant that is hard to find unless you are looking for it."

Gibbs hadn't known she'd seen him but it explained so much. Before he could speak she drew closer, the scent of her teasing him reminding him of how much she wanted him.

"I watched your face and saw a man you could not be or would not let yourself be. I did not understand why then. I was still too new to the team but in time I understood. Still in that moment I knew I was not going to get past my attraction for you, understood that while you might be attracted to me there was nothing to be done about it. Then I saw you standing in that alcove and as quickly as I had accepted what I could not change I knew that someday I would be right where I am now." Ziva didn't look away despite her bold words and the way they could be misconstrued. She would not lie to him. That first image of him needing her had branded her. Remembering that night her body clenched tight with desire.

After she'd spoken Ducky had picked up the conversation with statistics and Gibbs had excused himself. Waiting the proper amount of time she'd done the same. It hadn't taken but a second for her to survey the building and decipher where he might have gone. She'd found him standing in a small alcove back straight against the wall, breathing hard, fists clenched at his side, his body obviously aroused. He hadn't seen her and she'd respected his privacy so she'd crept away without letting him see her.

"That is how I knew Jethro."

"If you had come any closer Ziva, I couldn't have stopped myself from taking you there against the wall. I stood there half hoping you would." The surprise on her face was worth the admission. His hand found the bracelet tracing the intricate patterns. "It's morning Ziva, if you have any regrets say so now. If we do this, if I embrace this part of me again.."

Ziva felt his hand tremble ever so slightly against hers, such a telling sign from such a complex man. She'd expected this; things had happened damn fast and yet agonizingly slow. She felt her heart trip in its usual beat. Like the night before he was being so careful with her, but also with himself. Apparently she had waited too long to answer, he sighed and stood. The sight of him bathed in the early morning light, battle scarred and wanting her drove out any verbal answer. Leaning forward she grasped his hips and drew his erection deep in her mouth.

Gibbs went to step from the bed prepared to give Ziva some space, his question seemed to have caused the doubt he so feared or so he thought. In an instant she was kneeling mouth wrapped around him moaning out a sound of pleasure that nearly caused him to come in her mouth that very moment. His hands clenched in her hair and her mouth gave long leisurely pulls that threatened to take all his coherent thought. The image of her this way and the feel was a cascade of color in his mind. His entire body ached and he tugged her hair just a tad too hard forcing her to release him. "Another time Ziva I want you on your knees while I come in your mouth but right now I need to be inside you." Pulling her up from the bed he pressed her against the wall. "One more time Ziva you are sure?"

Ziva wanted him to touch her wanted his very nature the one he was fighting so hard against at this very moment. "Yes, no regrets no doubts, ask me now, in a week, in a year the answer will still be the same Jethro I am yours."

Gibbs watched her face as she spoke; he saw only truth and the blatant need for his touch. Grasping her hips he spread her legs with his knee. "I liked the skirt you wore last night Ziva, I've always liked it when you wear skirts. I pictured my hand running up your legs, touching you, pushing inside of you." His hand mimicked his words and she cried out at his touch. He chuckled and finally let the man she so wanted have full reign. "From now on Ziva whenever practical, that is what you will wear for me. If we're home, on this mission, outside of work, if it's safe I want you in a skirt. Something easy to touch you in, that I can lift up and easily slide inside you while you're wearing it." Again his actions mimicked his words. Plunging deep inside her he had to count to ten before he could speak again. "I want to know that at any time I could have you just like this." He lifted her arms above her head locking their hands together. "I want you to tell me what you like, what you want, always. I can't always be gentle, won't always be likeable but I will never..never hurt you."

Ziva took a deep shuddering breath, Gibbs' deep thrusts were breath stealing and his words fired her skin. Meeting his gaze she nodded. Letting one hand escape his grasp she wrapped her hand around the chain draped across his chest. Just as her hand grasped the key she felt the wave of pleasure hit her. She called out his name clinging to him even as he rocked inside her.

Gibbs saw a flash of gold in the morning light the feel of her surrounding him so tightly and the acceptance of all he was and brought his mouth to her ear. "You are mine Ziva David, here, now, always, mine." She called out again and it was only then that he allowed his own release.

Ziva was grateful an hour later that they had woken so early. Glancing at the clock she knew they needed to get ready for work. Gibbs had just enough time to go home and change if he left soon.

Gibbs saw her glancing at the clock and sighed. "I have to go soon. "

Ziva smiled and turned in his arms. "It is work Jethro I will see you there." She stroked his hair not wanting him to leave. He caught her wrist and looked at the bracelet.

"What will you tell them?"

Ziva looked at him knowing what the question was really about. "What do you want me to tell them, what would please you Neshama?" Ziva never let her gaze waiver from his.

Gibbs thought for a moment, wondering how much he was willing to reveal. "You will tell them it was a gift. For now nothing more. If they get too nosy remind them you like your privacy. Tonight we will go out for dinner, far enough away that it looks like we're trying to hide but close enough we might just get caught. Now tell me what that words means. "

Ziva blushed telling him would reveal just how deeply she felt and despite the fact he knew her feelings translating the word was different. But "that" Gibbs was asking the one she'd drawn out the one she wanted, trusted. "It means you are my soul, my spirit."

Gibbs watched her closely saw the small hint of vulnerability she tried to hide and understood that saying anything right now would be too much for her he chose to kiss her instead. Then he left knowing it wasn't an ending but a beginning.