A/N: This is so fluffy, prepare yourselves.
One of the biggest surprises to Deeks after his and Kensi's relationship had gone to the next level was how physically affectionate Kensi could be, and in a selfless way. Over the years, he's experienced moments here or there of her hugs, little touches... but most of them were undercover, as if she'd needed an excuse to touch him, to kiss him on the cheek or to hug him. In actuality it had seemed like her favorite way to show her feelings was to punch him. He knew then and now that it was because she didn't quite know what to do about her feelings for him while their "thing" was up in the air, so she fell back on feigned violence instead.
So, this side of Kensi is so new to him, and he treasures it. It isn't rare for him to wake up to her lips traveling across his exposed skin, peppering him with tender kisses; trailing her fingers along his skin after each kiss... it's as if she has no expectations from him in those times. Like she doesn't need it reciprocated, she isn't expecting them to take it to the next level, she just takes her time and cares for him in this physical, intimate, and gentle way. She might not even realize that it's exactly what he needs. He hadn't gotten much physical affection when he was growing up in a dysfunctional household. Even with the women he'd been with before Kensi, though they could be affectionate, it had always felt like they had further expectations. He'd had no problem with that at the time, but they'd never cared for him in the way Kensi does, and there's no comparison.
One night after he and Kensi had made love, they lay in bed, holding each other. His lips rested against her forehead, and his fingers slipped through her hair over and over. He'd hear Kensi sigh in response to his touch every so often. Eventually, her hand began traveling lightly over his back. Her fingers traced slow shapes and even spelled out words, like "hi," making him chuckle. Soon, he began to drift off, lulled by the motion of her fingers on his back. As he did, he felt the motion of her fingers become more deliberate. He kept his eyes closed and concentrated on the shapes that her fingers were drawing. He caught a "V", and an "O". He kept paying attention and it felt like she kept repeating what she was drawing on his skin. He missed some letters along the way until he realized she was spelling out "I love you" on his back. He'd had no doubts that she did, as she showed him how she felt about him through the physical affection she gives him, but she had never said it "out loud." He wrapped his arms around her more tightly and with his lips against her ear, he breathed, "Love you, too." She inhaled suddenly as if she was surprised that he was awake. She paused before she ran the palm of her hand up and down his back once and then rested it between his shoulder blades. Kissing the side of his neck, she burrowed herself deeper into his arms and they both drifted off to sleep together.