Doing Things Differently

Title: Doing Things Differently
Rating: 15
Pairing: Abby/Gibbs
Category: Friendship/Romance
Summary: Will Abby's birthday morning turn out to be different than normal? Written for the Gabby Shipper Forum Hiatus Creative Drive and the prompt 'Morning'.

Things were being done different lately... or so it seemed.

And Gibbs himself was subtly different too.

Ever since the shadow of Mexico and the Reynosa cartel had been lifted from his shoulders, he seemed somehow a lot more relaxed, settled, and was generally less grumpy with everyone. With her, he'd been even more open and unguarded. Their flirting had taken on an extra intense edge lately, drawing closer to the invisible line they'd both been hiding behind for years.

Did he initiate more hugs, holding her more tightly and for longer? Did he smile at her more often? Were the cheek kisses slightly closer to her lips, and did they linger? She wondered at first if she was imagining things. But the signs of his altered behaviour became even more pronounced at her pre-birthday dinner... the highlight of her year in so many ways.

There she could pretend that they were a couple, at least for a few hours.

After this evening though, perhaps she wouldn't need to pretend any longer? Or was she reading too much into his actions... hoping too much?

Did the hand that curl almost possessively round her waist instead of settling at the small of her back as he escorted her into the restaurant mean anything?

Was his glare at the waiter who fussed around her as she was being seated slightly fiercer than usual?

Was it deliberate that he sat next to her, almost thigh to thigh, instead of opposite as he usually did?

The Italian restaurant itself was somewhere they'd never been before... dark, intimate, expensive, where the tables were private and secluded, where the dancing was slow and tempting, and the atmosphere one of seduction.

The meal had been delicious and he'd been particularly attentive throughout. He looked especially hot tonight... the dark suit and crisp white shirt making him look positively edible. She'd enjoyed their light-hearted banter as always, toying with the black rose he'd given her earlier. His present of an elegant black choker with a hanging drop emerald was stunning, and she'd seen the pleasure in his eyes as she'd thrown her arms around him and kissed his cheek to thank him.

They'd shared part of their meals, and the action of feeding each other titbits was infused with a sexual tension which mounted as the evening wore on.

What was unmistakable though was the heat in his eyes when they'd shared dessert. And when some ice cream caught at the side of his mouth and she wiped it away, his reaction was electric. He caught her hand as she started to draw it back and closed his lips around her thumb. Keeping his eyes locked on hers, he licked the ice cream off with sinuous sweeps of his tongue, finally suckling her thumb clean.

She could barely refrain from moaning out loud as she felt the tug of desire go straight to her core.

So she'd taken her courage in both hands and leaned close to ask, "Dance with me?" And for once, he'd acquiesced, taking her hand to guide her to the floor.

Instead of holding her at a safe, polite distance, he'd gathered her close until their bodies were flush, his large hand covering her smaller one completely as he held it gently against his chest.

As one dance drifted into two, she found herself snaking her arms round his neck, while his arms slid round her waist, almost cradling her. She could feel every movement Gibbs made, the warmth of his hands on her back burning through the thin silk of her dress. Her pulse pounded at the feel of his hot breath on her neck and his cheek nuzzled against hers as he buried his nose in her hair.

"This is different, Gibbs." Her voice sounded husky even to her own ears and it caused him to tighten his grip for a second.

"A bad difference or a good one, Abbs?" came the low murmur against her neck, causing her to shiver.

"Oh really, really good. Can we dance for a few more songs?" Being pressed against him like this was intoxicating. And there was no mistaking the typical male response to holding a warm female body close. She was brushing against what felt like a very impressive… reaction.

"It's your birthday, Abbs, you can have anything you want." There'd been a heated promise in his eyes that she hoped she wasn't imagining, or she'd embarrass herself before the evening was through.

Several equally slow dances later, she was so impossibly turned on that she had to step back to gather her breath. The spark of disappointment in his eyes as she did so faded when she asked him, almost shyly, "Take me home?"

The boyish grin that broke out made her hopes spike even higher.

After paying the bill, Gibbs took her hand as they walked to his car. She could feel the tension rising between them and she was acutely conscious of every breath he took, every glance, every slight move he made.

Opening the car door for her, he stopped her from climbing in and stepped close, crowding her against the side of the car. Cupping her face in his calloused hands, he bent to kiss her softly, lingeringly and drew back, uncertainty and desire in his eyes.

She smiled widely at him and pressed up to return his kiss, losing herself in the taste and feel of him. She wound her arms round his neck, wanting nothing more than to reassure him that she was more than okay with this change. "I really like this different birthday."

"Anything else you wanna do differently this birthday, Abbs?" He settled his arms round her waist, pressing a kiss to her nose before nuzzling his way across her cheek, his lips ghosting against her skin.

"Yeah, I wanna greet my birthday morning with you buried deep inside me."

And so she did.

The end.