Author's note:
Monday is here! :) Who's excited? Thank you all, again, for all the support and your excitement over this story. You're wonderful group of people.
Thank you, Guest, for your contribution – I'm glad you liked the last chapter. :)
My dear Debbie, I agree with you – Tim cares and he will show it in the following chapters as well. :)
And Celine Krause, I can't answer at the moment whether it will be like Kissing Deal since I haven't even properly started next chapter but I promise there will be a kiss in there. ;) Thank you that you aren't angry with me for the break, it's necessary and I feel sorry it but that's life. School life, to be exact.
I gave a lot of thought what sort of dress Ziva should wear for the dinner. You know, to make Tony speechless and so on. But I was getting desperate because I just couldn't decide what colour and how it should look. Then, the saviour came, literally. So, many thanks to Athenalarissa, my dear friend, who came up with this idea, because I fell in love with it immediately.
Since I love Greece in general, to 'borrow' dress of this one Greek singer was just a superb idea. I'm not quite sure whether I was able to capture the description of the dress well, so I highly recommend you to look at the picture of it on the internet (since I can't put the link in here). It will be better for you to imagine the dress, because they are a great part of this story and it's just so beautiful and wonderful dress that you have to see it by your own eyes.
So, please go – either Youtube or Google Images – and type 'Kati Garbi Eurovision' – the first videos on Youtube are from her performance where she wore the dress so you can see it in action (and I beg you to watch the video, the photos aren't able to capture the beauty of it, really) and in Google Images – you can see it in the first three lines. I recommend more the video because it's been few years since that Eurovision performance, so there aren't too many good photos. The best one is the first one on Youtube (length 4:25), from the time 1:23. I hope you'll like it. :)
Anyway, onward to chapter – a bit longer since it's my last one for few weeks. Enjoy!
Disclaimer:
I do not own NCIS or the characters.
Towel – Chapter 15
Ziva rushed through the hotel hallway, carrying the gift for Breena in her hands, careful not to drop it, but still looking like a lady who pays attention to her manners. She knew she was late, and Abby probably was sitting down at the bar already, waiting for her and wondering where she might be. But she had to congratulate herself for her appearance, considering the time pressure she was in.
It had been a heroic performance, she had to give herself that. To put the make-up on her face that matched her dress, do something with her hair, choose the right accessories and put the dress on in such a short period of time, that was worth of an Olympic medal at least. Not to mention that she didn't forget the gift for Breena, and she even made the bed because she couldn't believe her eyes in what state of mess the sheets were.
Descending the stairs into the hotel's lobby, she carefully looked around to be sure that nobody was in sight and she didn't have to cover herself in the dress she wore. Like she'd said before, she loved it. But she was still nervous about it. She didn't mind reactions of other men, she was used to them, but she dreaded Tony's reaction. Especially his innuendos or touches after what had happened between them.
The dress was made like it were for a Greek goddess, close-fitting and floor-length, but since she wore high heels, it reached just above her ankles. The shade of cyan blue shone into the night, supported by clear Swarovski crystals that decorated the golden patches on the straps from the side and the collar around her neck. All the decorations on the dress only underlined her goddess-like appearance.
Her biggest 'problem' was the long slit with the straps on her sides. There were four straps, about five-centimetres wide, starting just below her armpit with gaps of the same width, showing her naked skin, ending in the place where her lap was. The dress then continued down with a great view on her legs. Luckily, even though it looked like she wasn't wearing any panties, she managed to hide thongs behind the material so that she actually wore some underwear. She felt almost naked, already, like that, and it was enough to send the fantasies of any man into overdrive.
The straps framed her figure and hugged her curves on both of her sides, hiding enough of her breasts but, rather, revealing her hips. Her legs weren't able to hide behind the cotton and silk fabric, despite its length, and the same went for her lap and her backside. The two last straps that were supposed to hide those parts were actually the longest ones. So the fabric of the dress hid just the really necessary flesh while the straps, together with the gaps between them, provided a very sexy view on her body from the side.
And that meant that all Tony needed was to stick his finger between the third and fourth strap, and she would have to deal with a great problem since he would have free access to her intimate parts or her butt. She truly didn't have any idea how to make him to keep his hands to himself, because she couldn't imagine her reaction when his fingers touched her, especially after she had proved to herself that she wasn't immune to his charm at all.
At least her breasts were really covered, the upper part of the dress was amazing for that. It had a circular top connected to the main fabric of the dress, decorated and hemmed with those, already mentioned, golden patches and clear Swarovski crystals, just like on the straps. Also, she wore a bracelet, made of the same cloth with the same decorations on her left hand, that went with the dress.
It really made her to look like a goddess and she couldn't wait to put it on and show herself off, despite her uncertainty over Tony's reactions. Particularly because Breena wanted her to wear this dress at the rehearsal dinner, so she would enchant every man in the room and finally find her matching partner among the wedding's guests. Not that she actually wanted to find someone, but she didn't want to disappoint Breena, who had appeared be very enthusiastic about it.
Her accessories excellently fit to the dress, from the bracelet, across her purse she had been able to find so it would match, to her earrings and her shoes. They were about eight centimetres high, gold-and-cyan-blue-themed with small crystals on the strips, so it perfectly matched everything she had bought. Her make up with blue eye shadow, only added to the perfection.
Her hair had been mess after her afternoon encounter with Tony, so it had been rather hard to do something with it. Luckily, she had taken her hair rollers with her to the hotel, wanting to do some fancy hairstyle for the wedding. So, she had used them now to tame her natural curls and made them more pretty. She had decided not to do anything else with her hair but curl it, because Tony loved when she had her hair down and wavy. Maybe it could divert his attention from the dress.
But overall, she was satisfied with her appearance. She loved to dress herself up from time to time, not being in agent mode for once and just enjoying how it felt to be a woman. Especially because, after all the 'not-dating stuff' with Tony they had practiced over the last few weeks, she had actually gotten used to it. They had been uncovering sides of each other that they hadn't had any idea even existed, and it had been really nice and pleasant.
Nevertheless, in order to survive this night, she had to forget about everything and forbid herself to think about Tony in any other way than as her friend and her accompaniment on the wedding. She had to forget, and not only about those 'dates' from the last few weeks, but primarily about what had happened between them. It could take her somewhere where she couldn't afford to be while being on her friend's rehearsal dinner.
Her main reason why she wanted to forget about those events in her room that had happened moments ago was that she still wasn't sure how to face it. She believed that he had fallen in love with her, because everything he had said to convince her about it had been sincere and honest. She didn't have any more reason not to believe him, so she did trust him. He loved her, and because she had admitted her love for him, she loved him back.
However, she was confused with the usage of the word 'too' at the end of his love confession, because she wasn't aware that she had said anything about her own feelings. But something deep inside her was telling her that it was possible that she had opened her mouth and had let the words to slip out without warning. Such a thought terrified her, of course.
She couldn't believe that he had been able to shake with her existence so strongly that she wouldn't be aware of what she had been saying. That was just impossible, no man had ever had such power over her. Still, it was bugging her because she knew that it was the only explanation to his confidence over her feelings towards him. He somehow knew she loved him.
And the second side of all of this wasn't making it any easier. They had slept together – that was a fact. Fine, she could live with that, she didn't see any problem with it. She was even able to accept that it had been love-making, because he was in love with her and she was in love with him. That is what people in love do – make love. So, she had come to terms with what had happened and why.
Nonetheless, there was one big 'but'. Something she couldn't overlook so easily and he couldn't, either. There were certain reasons why they hadn't given in to the temptation earlier, why they had pretended it hadn't been happening and why they hadn't acted on their mutual physical attraction before. And those reasons were still there, they didn't disappear despite Tony's efforts to convince her the opposite.
They couldn't be together. Not because they didn't love each other, but because they would never work as a couple. She was an emotional mess, a control freak and she had trust issues while he had commitment issues, and if he wanted to be honest with himself, his previous relationships had made him an emotional mess, too. She couldn't imagine how they could make a couple with personal troubles like these.
Not to mention that their friendship was something she valued greatly. It was one of the best things in her miserable life that she had and she couldn't lose it. Knowing her way of handling relationships and Tony's way, too, she was sure that one of them, sooner or later, would sabotage their relationship. And it would mean the subsequent end of the most precious friendship she'd ever had.
And last, but not least, the most important reason why they couldn't be together – their partnership. It didn't matter whether Rule 12, Gibbs himself or their job in general would stand in their way. She just couldn't imagine how they could work together while being together as a couple. The unimaginable fear she would feel when he went to arrest a suspect or something, knowing it might turn badly and he could end up with some life-threatening injury...
Simply, she couldn't afford to lose him – both as her friend and her partner. So, no matter how deep her love towards him was, she had to forget about it, because to be in love with him was forbidden for her. It pained her a lot. She wanted to scream in desperation over the unfairness, because a man she loved and who loved her back couldn't be hers. And she wanted so much to be with him, but it probably wasn't meant to be. Fate and the circumstances were against them.
With a weary sigh, she looked around the hotel's bar that was just next to the hall where the rehearsal dinner was supposed to take place. She immediately spotted Abby, who was seated on the bar stool in her gothic black dress, which Breena and she had convinced her to buy for this occasion, just as Abby and Breena had done with hers. It wasn't as revealing as her dress, but it didn't mean Abby didn't look fabulous. Because she was definitely very attractive to all the men in the room.
Currently engaged in a chat with the barman, she didn't notice that Ziva was headed in her direction. But she turned her head to her the moment Ziva took her seat next to her on the bar stool, and smiled at her widely. "Finally! Where the hell have you been? You are fifteen minutes late! I was starting to worry about you." She attacked her with her sentences, even though her smile showed that she had been too busy talking to the handsome barman to actually worry about her friend.
Ziva put the gift for Breena on the bar, noticing that Abby had the wrapping paper, huge bow and scissors prepared, already, so they could start with the wrapping. She raked her hair in an attempt to calm herself down and stop occupying her mind with Tony. "I'm sorry, I tried to do something with my hair and it still didn't look the way I wanted. And I completely forgot about time." She lied to Abby easily even though it had been partially true, because to do with her hair what she had done in such a short time was pretty hard.
Abby just smiled even wider, probably not at all thinking over her answer as the barman finally took his eyes off her and looked at Ziva. "What can I get for you?" He smiled at her sweetly, but, although he had to admit the woman in front of him looked like a goddess, Abby seemed to be more interesting to him.
Ziva returned the smile, quickly thinking about what to order as an aperitif. "Gin and tonic, please." She replied and turned sideways to face Abby as the barman hummed in agreement and went to mix the drink.
She raised her eyebrow at Abby and wiggled with it suggestively towards the barman, wondering whether she might have interrupted anything. Which wasn't that unfair, after all, if she considered how Abby had interrupted her moments with Tony. But Abby just blushed, smiled and waved her hand at it like it had been nothing. However, it was visible that she was very pleased with the attention of the man behind the bar.
Ziva rolled her eyes and leaned in closer to Abby. "I think you should give it a chance. He seems like a good guy. And you look beautiful, Abby." She whispered into her ear, hoping the barman hadn't overheard anything because she didn't want to put him into an embarrassing situation.
Abby pulled away and just winked at her mischievously, taking a sip from her own drink. "By the way, you look fabulous, too. Breena was right about this dress. You're gonna be a star tonight." She appreciated Ziva's appearance too, wondering how Tony would react the moment he saw her. She knew very well that her long-time friend had a thing for his Israeli colleague.
Ziva smiled gratefully, accepting the drink from the barman and sighed nervously. "I don't know. I'm still not sure whether I should wear it." She replied, smoothing the dress a bit, rather avoiding the look at her half-naked sides. She wanted to have this rehearsal dinner behind her and quickly.
It was Abby's turn to roll her eyes at it. Her friend looked like a goddess and she wanted for her to be happy. So, if the dress could help her to attract some fair, handsome man, then she should wear it and make use of it. And if not, then she could finally enjoy the time to dress up and feel like a woman from time to time, not being in her constant ninja-agent mode. They were supposed to have a good time here and relax.
With a sigh, and exchanging a wink with the barman, she took the gift so they could start wrapping it up. Ziva put down the drink and rushed in to help with it, taking the scissors in her hands and cutting the wrapping paper off at a required length. Even the barman helped them and gladly held something when they asked him to, doing it to please Abby.
In the meantime, two men in suits were just descending the stairs to the hotel's lobby, engaged in a conversation about something unimportant. McGee held the gift for Jimmy in his hands, now, finally, all wrapped up, and even really nicely, which was pretty decent since he had never been good at wrapping gifts and, judging by his efforts in the room, Tony had never been good at it, either.
But they had managed, and the bonus was that it had shut Tony's mouth up for a while. He had kept talking and talking about everything and nothing since they had left his room, and McGee was starting to have the urge to punch him so he would stop talking. It was just Tony's way to divert the conversation from his disappearance because he could clearly see that McGee didn't believe him at all and, moreover, that he had decided to find out what the truth was.
What Tim didn't know was that Tony had also tried to mask his nervousness with his babbling. Because he dreaded the moment he would have to face Ziva. Despite everything that had happened between them in her room, he couldn't shake the feeling that she would try to find some way to ruin it. He so much wanted to believe that she could have changed, but he had known her long enough to know that she always ran away from things that concerned them.
And this probably wasn't an exception. He did believe that he had convinced her about his feelings, and that she had accepted his love. But that didn't mean, unfortunately for him, that she had stopped having second thoughts. Her mind was always a mystery, and when she started to think, it got dangerous. She'd always found a way how to back away from everything, making him to give up and hope for another chance.
But he wasn't going withdraw from this race. He was determined to claim his prize. They had gone too far in her room to make him surrender. He couldn't let it go so easily and allow to her to destroy his endeavour to win her heart. It had been their afternoon and he intended to make this their night. He had plenty of time to convince her to give the relationship a chance, no matter how many obstacles stood in their way.
He was advantaged because she had asked him to keep her company at the wedding, and primarily at the rehearsal dinner. According to her request from a few weeks back, he was supposed to guard her and be her protector. She had done it because she trusted him and, especially, because it had been after she had spent whole day with Breena and Abby shopping, which had resulted in her buying the revealing dress.
She had explained to him, during one of their 'non-dates', that Breena had decided to make everybody around her happy and that meant to find love for those who were single. Tony had understood immediately, because, just like him at that time, she hadn't been interested in pursuing a relationship with anyone. After what had happened with Ray, she just didn't have the strength to start over.
She needed to take a rest from relationships for a while and Tony had taken care of the page of dating she'd actually missed with their dinners and movie nights. It had been enough for her and the way they had fallen asleep on her couch had been pleasant as well. Knowing it hadn't had any serious nature, she could stay calm and let her mind wander wherever it could.
He had gladly accepted this offer, actually hoping for the whole time that they would go to the wedding together and not with someone else. He understood her reasons why she didn't want to be impolite towards Breena, since they had become friends when she had incorporated her and Abby into the wedding planning. Like that, she could leave her in the impression that Ziva might find someone, even though Tony would drive away any possible suitor.
It was a perfect plan and Abby, with McGee, had agreed on a similar one. Both girls hoped that Breena wouldn't notice, being too busy and nervous over her own wedding and not really caring whether they tried to get to know some men. However, they didn't dare not to wear the dresses Breena had convinced them to buy, and that were supposed to attract the attention, because that would be improper.
For Tony, it meant a wonderful opportunity to touch Ziva, be in her proximity, invade her personal space and practically behave like a boyfriend. Knowing, now, that she wasn't immune to his charm, he couldn't wait for the rehearsal dinner to start. Not to mention that he had planned to visit her room once again tonight and finally take his time exploring her divine body, pleasing her like she deserved.
He knew that he would have to deal with her more-than-likely refusal, but he already knew his way around her and how to make her yield. He was certain about her feelings. He knew she loved him and that was something she couldn't change. She couldn't take her words back, especially when she didn't have any idea she'd said them aloud. Besides, he could read it in her eyes and sense it in her kiss. And she couldn't openly lie through those.
He could understand what she was afraid of, because he had the same worries as well. He didn't want to lose their friendship and partnership, too. But he loved her, and he wouldn't ever forgive himself if he didn't try to see what it was like to be with her. He wanted to be in a relationship with her because his heart desired it like nothing else. No woman had made him feel like that, not even Wendy or Jeanne.
He was truly ready to risk everything and give as much as he could to the relationship, sacrificing anything that would be required. He was ready for the commitment. Hell, he would even propose to her if it was the only thing that would convince her that their love was worth such a serious level. He didn't care about Gibbs, nor about Rule 12. They didn't interest him at all. All he wanted was finally find his happiness, and after a very long time, he was sure that Ziva was the only one who could bring it.
He knew it would be a hard work trying to convince her to stop being so scared and finally act on the feelings she had for him. But he was prepared to do so if it was necessary. She was worth every second she invaded his mind, which had been happening quite often lately. Still, he was nervous about facing her for the first time since he had confessed his love for her, even with words. He didn't want to experience a broken heart again.
However, everything in his brain went blank the moment they entered the hotel's bar. To McGee's relief, he even stopped talking as his jaw dropped to the floor, staring at the beauty in front of him. He halted his movement, rooted to the spot as his eyes tried to believe to what they saw. McGee didn't understand at first, but when he looked in the same direction as Tony, he realized what had captivated him so much. Or 'who', was better to say.
Tony's eyes feasted on the woman in the cyan blue dress who sat on the bar stool, chatting casually with Abby as they were finishing the wrapping up of the gift for Breena. Since she was sitting sideways, she was giving a great view at her left side, which was half-naked due to the nature of the dress. Her long leg was hooked around the chair leg to steady herself, and he couldn't take his eyes off it because it wasn't that long ago when this particular leg was hooked around his hips.
But he managed to appreciate the rest of her body in the same way. His eyes travelled up her side, examining the four straps with golden patches as they started just below her lap and ended under her armpit, with gaps in between where he could see her naked skin. He now understood why she had been so eager to make him her protector, because this dress was certainly capable of attracting anybody.
And he couldn't stand the thought that somebody else would touch her, especially if she was wearing such dress. He wanted to be the one who would gently trace the skin on her sides in the gaps between the straps, who would gently caress her curves in the dress that made her look like a goddess, who would dare to stick the finger beneath the fabric and try to find out whether she wore some sort of underwear.
He wanted to hook the leg around his hips again, he wanted to feel her burning heat, to hear her fitful breaths, her moans, her whimpers as she writhed under him... He had to shake his head a bit to make such thoughts go away. This wasn't really an appropriate moment to have a vivid sexual fantasy about his beautiful Israeli goddess. But he couldn't help it, his heart skipped a beat the second he had laid his eyes upon her.
She hadn't wanted to show him the dress before, even though he had begged her to do so, claiming that they should 'fit' together at the wedding, so he would know what kind of tie and shirt he should wear. But the only thing she had told him about the dress was the colour and that it was a bit revealing. He had never guessed that it could be such amazing piece of cloth that was able to send his libido into overdrive.
Maybe it was better that she hadn't shown herself in the dress earlier, because he knew very well that the night would have ended up in somewhat different way than it had. Because he wouldn't have been able to control himself once he had seen her in the dress, especially if they had been all alone in her apartment. They wouldn't have left the bed for quite some time, that was for sure.
He closed his eyes and shook with his head once again to suppress the sexual fantasies because he had to control himself at the moment. It was his duty to survive the night by her side and not to think what he would love to do with her in the meantime. And because the sight of her was magnificent, he still wanted to look at her and appreciate her curves with his eyes, at least. Maybe even with few immodest words.
He cracked a smile when he realized how much fun he could actually have teasing her throughout evening. He couldn't wait to endlessly stare at her, making her squirm in her chair. To send her lascivious gazes anytime she would make an eye contact with him, knowing it would have only one effect on her. To lightly use his fingertips to caress her skin and to puff his hot breath next to her hear, watching her shiver with excitement. To watch as she bit her lip to stop herself from moaning in front of their friends.
Meanwhile, McGee recuperated from the blow he had suffered when he had seen his two friends in their dresses. They both looked breathtaking, but when he looked over at Tony, it was more than obvious that his eyes were focused only on Ziva, and that he didn't register Abby at all. Tim, however, had registered her and what he didn't like was the way the barman was smiling at her, constantly brushing his fingers over her hand.
He had to go over there and stop it, since he was supposed to be Abby's protector in the same way as Tony was supposed to be for Ziva. "Stop drooling, Tony. If you're done staring, we should go over there, don't you think?" He nudged Tony and slapped his arm to make him to snap out of his enchanted stupor.
Tony looked at him in puzzlement, closing his mouth because he had really been practically drooling, but nodded in agreement and started his way closer to the bar. His eyes still couldn't get enough of the woman in front of him, but he managed to shift them onto Abby as well, and also appreciate her choice of her dress. Breena had done a wonderful job, he had to give her that. And he definitely had to thank her for it.
The girls had finished wrapping up the present, being overly satisfied with the result because it looked really pretty. Nevertheless, they had to move into the hall next to the bar soon, because the dinner was supposed to start in few minutes. Ziva, wanting to check her make-up and do some other necessary things, decided to find the restrooms and assure herself that everything was fine with her dress and that she wasn't revealing more than it already revealed.
"Can I ask you – are there any restrooms? Or do I have to go back to my room?" She asked the barman sweetly, waiting for him to cease his fascination over her friend who was sitting next to her.
"No, they're down here. Just turn left and go straight down the hall." The barman replied with a smile, pointing his finger in said direction and registering that pair of men were approaching the ladies.
Ziva thanked him, exchanging a smile with Abby as she grabbed her purse and jumped off the bar stool. Without looking behind her shoulder, she turned over on her heels and wanted to make a first step into the direction of the restrooms, when she suddenly collided into something solid. She stumbled, not knowing what was happening, but somebody grasped her left wrist to help her keep the balance.
Seeing someone's chest right in front of her, she lifted her eyes up confusedly, wondering who the man she had crashed into was. She was welcomed with grinning face of the one and only Tony DiNozzo, who was apparently very pleased that their bodies were pressed together. She couldn't help but groan inwardly as she tried to hide the blush that crept into her cheeks, since this was the first time she saw him after he had left her room.
"Careful, sweetcheeks. You almost knocked me down." He told her with amusement, gripping her wrist gently as he sent her one of his best smiles.
Her knees almost buckled when she locked her eyes with him, getting lost in the depths of his sparkling orbs. She couldn't get enough of the affectionate warmth in his gaze that made a familiar feelings spread through her veins as she started falling for him even harder. Her whole body tingled thanks to his touch as her heart rate increased and she had to speed up the frequency of her breaths to keep up with her heart.
"Tony." She managed to greet him, completely ignoring the world around her because he was the only thing in the world she was living for. She didn't register how Abby and McGee closely observed the interaction of their two friends.
His whole world was shaken when she uttered his name in her smooth voice, and all he could think about was her delicious lips, which had lost the swollen shape he'd so hardly worked on in her room. He wanted to puff them up once again, and maybe even more than earlier that day. What pleased him the most, however, was the love he saw in her eyes, and that meant one thing – she had believed his feelings and had finally accepted that he was really in love with her.
Trying to fight the urge to kiss her right on the spot, he made a tiny step forward, forcing her to lean against the barstool behind her and pressing her back into it. Since she didn't have any space to take a step back, their bodies were now filling all the tiny cracks between them. But it seemed that she didn't mind it whatsoever, having eyes only for him as the smitten look appeared on her face.
But he broke the eye contact as he began to inspect the dress she wore, detail by detail, his ears catching her silent whimper. "Nice dress. You look... simply gorgeous." He appreciated her stunning appearance, not at all contemplating the usage of his words. He had chosen them for purpose, knowing she would remember what words he had used when he'd finally gotten rid of the towel.
Ziva was washed over by an immense heat wave the second he had let those words out of his mouth, remembering very well in what situation he had said them earlier. Especially because he was looking at her with the same expression of adoration as before. She couldn't help but to look at his lips, desiring his kiss so much, but knowing it wouldn't be appropriate in the public place like this, not to mention that she had decided to forget about her love for this man.
So to distract herself a bit, she slipped her eyes towards his chest to see what he was wearing. She couldn't help but smile when she saw his dark blue suit, light blue shirt (not cyan blue but still blue) and golden silk tie. He had really dressed himself up so they would fit together, which was supposed to show anybody at the rehearsal dinner that he was keeping her company tonight.
She inhaled deeply to smell what kind of cologne he had chosen and was satisfied with the familiar scent she loved so much. Not that she told him that, of course. She suddenly felt like a princess who's Prince Charming had just arrived. Especially after she looked back into his eyes and caught him studying her, obviously very pleased with himself that she liked his choice of clothes.
"Thank you. You don't look so bad, either." She replied, getting lost in his eyes again. It wasn't that hard since his gaze was able to turn her into a mush.
They stared at each other for another couple of seconds, fighting against their greatest desires and urges. Abby and McGee just observed it, not saying anything because they didn't dare to interrupt such a moment between them. One thing was for sure – something must have happened, because the change in their behaviour was rather noticeable. All they needed was to find out exactly what, when and how.
Ziva, then, finally realized that she had been on her way somewhere and shook her wrist to make Tony let go of it. "If you'll excuse me, I was on my way to the restrooms. So if you could be so kind and let me pass, I'd be grateful." She told him, and he let go of her wrist, but still kept the eye contact between them endlessly.
"Of course." He responded, and took one tiny step back to give her some space so she could go through. It was enough for her to squeeze into the gap between the barstool and his body, but she couldn't avoid rubbing her chest against his, which sent a jolt of electricity through them.
She quickly retreated into the hall to find the restrooms, feeling Tony's eyes on her back. When the door closed behind her, she leaned against it and breathed in and out few times to calm herself down. It was getting ridiculous what this man was able of making her feel just by looking at her in his unique way. Her hands were shaking and her knees felt like jelly as the warmth in her belly made her realize one important thing.
She couldn't forget about her love for him, because she loved him too much. If he was able to cause such a reaction she was having now, then she had to admit that the love for him was too strong to just pretend it didn't exist. But what she was supposed to do with her promise, then? She still couldn't afford to lose him. That would be her undoing. And she was sure it would happen, if she decided to act on her feelings. She had truly put herself in very sticky situation, because it didn't have any acceptable solution.
After she disappeared, Tony finally took his eyes off the place where he had seen her for the last time and turned his head to the barman who had been apparently waiting for him to get his attention. "Dry Martini, thanks." He ordered for himself, and took his seat right next to Ziva's, turning aside to chat with his friends.
McGee was looking at him with such suspicious expression that Tony, rather, avoided the eye contact and paid attention to Abby. She had more amiable look on her face, giving a sweet smile to Tony, mixed with amusement over the scene she had just witnessed. Neither of them could call it trivial, because the tension that was in the air had been able to be cut by knife. She wondered how Tony wanted to explain it.
"What?" Tony asked when he couldn't stand the staring anymore, begging silently with his eyes for them not to analyze it and leave it be.
Abby's smile widened, but she registered that it wasn't comfortable for Tony to talk about it right now, so she, rather, dropped the topic. "Nothing. I'm just curious where you've been. We almost got the search party together, you know." She told him, genuinely wondering what had been behind Tony's disappearance because McGee hadn't explained it in his message. He had only informed her that Tony had been found.
Tony just sighed wearily while Tim chuckled as he took his seat next to Abby. "You won't believe it. He allegedly fell asleep while having a bath." He informed her with obvious sarcasm in his voice, showing that he had great doubts whether it had been true.
"Really?" Abby wondered in surprise, not having expected such an answer. She looked at Tony to get the confirmation from him as he just finished his eye-roll over McGee's mistrust.
"Yes. What's so strange about it?" He huffed in annoyance, starting to hate the bewilderment over his little disappearance. Why did he still have to explain it? He had just gotten out of their sight for few hours, it wasn't the end of the world.
Abby just shrugged with her shoulders, sensing his growing anger. She didn't consider it a strange thing. She just hadn't expected that that would be the reason. "But you don't seem to believe him." She remarked, and looked at McGee, who accepted his aperitif from the barman, not at all calm over the smile the man exchanged with Abby.
"No, I don't. Not a word." He confirmed and took a sip from his drink, focusing his gaze on Tony who gulped nervously. Tim hadn't bought his story at all, and his scene with Ziva, which Tim and Abby had just witnessed, had probably given him another proof of what the reason for his disappearance could be.
Abby looked between the two men in confusion, wondering why McGee didn't believe Tony and why Tony suddenly seemed to be so nervous. "What's going on?" She asked them both, wanting to get to the bottom of this and find out the truth. She was able to believe Tony's story, but Tim apparently had some motive to be doubtful about Tony's statement. And she wanted, no, needed, to know why.
Exchanging a look with Tony, who silently begged him to stay silent for the time being because he didn't want to put Ziva into some embarrassing situation, Tim decided not to say anything for now. He still had plenty of time to observe the two of them and find out what had happened between them, because he had no doubt that those two had crossed the imagery line of their friendship.
"I'll explain it later. But I want to ask you something..." McGee started to put his full attention on Abby, suspiciously watching the barman as he fell into a quiet conversation with her about what it meant to be her protector.
Tony gave out a sigh of relief, trying not to eavesdrop, because he was glad that they had stopped perceiving his presence. He knew that he was in big trouble because he had dared to disappear, and he knew that he had to discuss it with Ziva so he could even know whether he was allowed to tell the right reason to someone. But he dreaded the conversation, because he still wasn't sure what state their relationship was even in.
Ziva came back and immediately stopped in her tracks when she registered that Tony was sitting on the barstool next to hers. She should have expected that he would sit there, trying to be in her proximity as much as he could. Well, she didn't have any other choice but to come to terms with it. He was supposed to be her company for tonight, after all, so she had to get used to sitting next to him. Although it would be hard for her to take her mind off of what she would rather do with him.
She decisively started her way back to the bar, sitting on the same barstool as before, trying to ignore Tony's eyes on her. She noticed that McGee and Abby were talking about something, so she let them be and, rather, paid attention to her glass of gin and tonic. Tony opened his mouth to say something, but the barman interrupted him when he put his Martini in front of him.
"Here's your Martini." He told him, and nodded gratefully at the thanks Tony sent him.
Noticing Tony's choice of drink, Ziva couldn't do anything else but to roll her eyes. "Let me guess. Shaken, not stirred." She remarked sarcastically, shaking her head at him. He couldn't stop being childish for once and had to order this overused aperitif like it was the only choice he had had.
Tony stopped in the middle of his movement of bringing the glass to his mouth, raising an eyebrow on her. "Impressive. Since when do you know your Bond?" He asked her in surprise, wondering how she had known about it and why she hadn't told him sooner. It wasn't so often when she got a movie reference, although he had taught her a lot during these last few weeks. Still, she had refused his efforts to make her watch Bond movies numerous times.
Ziva risked it and looked at him, trying to hold out against his gaze and not to melt under the warm look he was sending her. "I do not know Bond, but I know you." She replied boldly, looking him up and down and immediately turning her head away to take a sip from her drink.
He stared at her for a second before his mouth created a wide smile, pleased that she had admitted she knew him. It was nice to hear it because it proved how close they really were. Sometimes, even so close that they had been able to communicate without words. Nevertheless, he also added the 'care-to-explain' look, nudging her when she pretended she didn't see him.
She sighed wearily, raking her hair and looking back at him. "Sometimes, you are just one big movie cliché, Tony." She told him, showing him that she really wasn't in the mood for his childish behaviour tonight. Not that she really minded it but he was making her nervous with everything he did. It would be better if he just sat and did nothing.
He didn't say anything in return and, rather, paid attention to his glass as she turned away and smiled at Abby who was still engaged in conversation with Tim. In the corner of her eye, she noticed that the barman looked a bit lost, apparently wanting to dazzle Abby, but feeling very unsure of what sort of relationship she had with McGee. It looked actually pretty interesting to see her friend between two men.
Suddenly, she gasped as Tony's hand landed on her hip and his body pressed onto her back. She didn't know how to react, not wanting to make a scene, so she just gripped the glass with her drink and tried to calm her breathing. Nobody, not even he, was supposed to know what his touch was able to do to her. She had to get a grip over herself and very soon. Otherwise she wouldn't survive this dinner.
"Then you won't be offended if I ask you to be my Bond girl tonight?" He whispered the question into her ear huskily, making her shiver noticeably. His fingers lightly brushed across the naked skin in between the straps of her dress, teasing her in his own unique way.
She gulped and turned back to look at him. She may not have known Bond, but she knew those well-known things about him, one of them being the 'shaken, not stirred' Martini. The second one was Bond and his Bond girls. And even though she had never seen any of the Bond movies, she didn't have to guess how it usually ended between those girls and Bond. For her, it now meant that if she agreed with his suggestion, then the night would end with only one result – in bed with Tony.
She didn't know how to reply, so she just watched him as he showed the smug smile that showed how satisfied he was with himself that he had been able to throw her off balance. It hadn't happened too often, so he was glad for a moment like that. To see Ziva David completely speechless was another sight to die for. Leisurely, he took the toothpick with the olive out of his Martini, shook off the rest of the alcohol liquid and held it right in front of her mouth.
"Want to eat my olive?" He challenged her flirtatiously, giving her the option to refuse. It was an analogy to his question about her being his Bond girl – if she ate the olive, she would agree. If she refused to eat it, she wouldn't be interested in what it felt like to be a Bond girl.
He wasn't the only one who could read well between the lines. She was capable of that, too. So she knew very well what he had hinted at this current question. The decision problem, however, wasn't in what she wanted, because of course she wanted to end up in a bed with him. The main question was whether she wanted to break the promise she had given to herself. Thus, to risk she might lose him over her incompetence to maintain a relationship.
But, damn, she wanted that olive. Not only because she loved olives and it wouldn't be the first time she had stolen it from his drink, but she primarily wanted him. All of him. And not just for the sexual subtext, she truly wanted to give herself over to him and never let him go. It was now or never, again. A decision she had to make without properly having a think about it, with a risk she might regret later.
Biting her lip and watching the olive on the toothpick; as if it were a crystal ball that could tell her that her future with Tony would be only bright, and she didn't have to be so afraid of losing him because it would never happen; she opened her mouth and leaned in to reach for the toothpick. He grinned like a Cheshire cat, sticking the olive into her mouth and watched as her lips were sliding over the toothpick while she closed her eyes in pleasure over the olive.
He dug his nails into her skin on her waist the moment she opened her eyes and hummed in appreciation, chewing and swallowing the olive. He wanted to kiss her so much right now, to taste the olive flavour in her mouth, mixed with his Martini and her gin and tonic. And she was tempted too, he could see it in her eyes and the way she was looking at him.
He could hear the blood rushing through his head and even her hammering heart as they both started to close the gap between them, oblivious to the world around them. They had eyes just for each other. They didn't care in what way Abby and McGee would take it. They just desired the same thing – the sweet sinful kiss. But the reality hit them really hard, because they were interrupted by Jimmy's arrival.
"Hey guys!" Jimmy greeted them enthusiastically, maybe too much, even for his personality. He wore a decent suit and had a wide smile on his face. It was obvious that he was nervous as Hell with the upcoming wedding, and he tried to mask it behind his cheerfulness.
Those two snatched out of their amorous haze and joined McGee and Abby in greeting Jimmy. They gladly tried to calm him down, although Tony had to tease him a bit because it was just his nature to do so. After all, this was just a rehearsal dinner, not the wedding itself. However, it seemed that nothing could remove paleness on Jimmy's face, especially after he finally registered what Abby and Ziva wore.
He was speechless for few seconds, not really knowing what to do with his eyes, but then he found the solid ground. "Wow! You look fabulous. Both of you!" He exclaimed, shifting his gaze between the two women and trying to appreciate their beauty as the right gentlemen should do.
"Thank you, Jimmy." Abby smiled and went to hug him, giving him a kiss on the cheek, which Jimmy accepted gratefully. Abby's hugs were always able to make him feel a lot better.
"It's the work of your wife-to-be." Ziva commented, and Jimmy apologized through his gaze, knowing very well about Breena's efforts to be a good matchmaker, but too polite to make her stop.
Ziva just waved her hand at it. After all, she had obtained a wonderful protector who would stay by her side for all night if she wanted him to. She jumped up a bit when Tony embraced her with his right arm, possessively holding her around her waist. Nevertheless, she knew she had to get used to it, so she relaxed and melted into his embrace very easily.
"This calls for a photo." Jimmy enthusiastically offered, not waiting for anyone's approval as he beckoned one of the photographers whom he had hired for the whole event to take the photos for them.
Then he went over to the girls who positioned him right in between them, Ziva on his left side and Abby on his right. Tony then glued himself to Ziva, still holding her in his arms, in the same fashion as McGee glued to Abby and they all stood motionlessly for few seconds to give to the photographer time to take some good pictures. It was a happy moment, after all, and they wanted to have some tangible memory on this night.
After the photographer was done, Jimmy announced to them that the dinner was about to start and that they should all move to the hall where it was being held. So, they took their drinks and followed Jimmy, laughing together and ready to enjoy themselves. This weekend was about their friend's wedding, because he was getting married and they should have fun.
The End of Chapter 15
So, I hope you enjoyed the chapter, because hey – no cliffhanger! :D I wouldn't do that to you, especially because you have to wait for a new chapter few weeks. I think that a lot of you recognized that I borrowed a piece of dialogue from certain episode... ;) It was suggesting itself...
Again, thanks to Athena for the awesome idea about the dress, because I will love her for it until the end of my life and beyond. Thanks, sweetie! :*
I wish you all nice week, beautiful February and amazing March! I'll try to deliver you the new chapter as soon as I can, I promise. If anybody has any questions, I'll always be reachable through PM. ;)
Love you guys! :) And see you soon, I'll miss you terribly.