One of the benefits of living on the beach was being able to have a bonfire whenever. Paige was pretty sure the only thing that stopped them from having bonfires every night was their caseloads. But with the kind of work they did, it was nice to unwind as a group. Have a drink. Laugh. Share some of the crazy things they encountered during the day.

Paige slowly looked around the bonfire, debating where to sit. She and Mike had been sleeping together for almost a month. Not every night, but fairly regularly. They hadn't talked about if their thing was turning into something more.

Once their roommates figured out they weren't bothered by being teased about sleeping together, the teasing died down considerably. It also helped that she and Mike weren't (always) all over each other unless they were alone. But since their schedules didn't always match up, they had come up with a way to let the other know if they wanted company. If their door was cracked open at night, it was an open invitation. The first time she left her door cracked and Mike didn't come in, she was slightly annoyed until he stumbled home from driving Bello around all night while she was getting breakfast. That same night it was her turn to work all day and most of the night, and when she finally made it home she saw his door cracked. She must've stood in the hallway for five minutes while she figured out what to do. She barely had energy to crawl into her own bed, much less Mike's. But she remembered being slightly put off when she thought he wasn't interested. If they weren't dating and they weren't interested in sex - then what were they to each other?

Paige slipped into Mike's room, quietly closing the door behind her. As tempted as she was to climb into bed with him, the only thing on her mind tonight was sleep, but she didn't want him to think she wasn't interested.

"Mike?" She quietly asked, not wanting to wake him. She thought about getting in bed with him anyway and just going to sleep, but wasn't sure if that crossed some boundary. She laughed softly to herself when she realized just sleeping crossed a line, but sex didn't.

"Hey," Mike sleepily said as his eyes slowly opened.

"I had a really long day, but I saw your door open. I know you were with Bello last night and tonight I spent forever on surveillance. I just didn't..."

She wasn't sure how long she stood there, awkwardly rambling before Mike climbed out of bed.

He lightly brushed his lips over hers, "You can sleep here, if you want."

Now that his lips had touched hers and his hands were around her waist, she debated staying but knew if she stayed, she wouldn't sleep. Paige lightly trailed her fingers down his chest, resting them on the waistband of his boxers. "I'm tempted, but if you're right here, I know I won't sleep and I - "

Mike softly kissed her, silencing her. "It's okay."

"Tomorrow, okay?"

"It's a date."

When they got together the next night, things were explosive. In fact, she still had bruises on her hips and was pretty sure Mike's back was still scratched up. She flushed as she thought about the love bites that decorated her body, hidden beneath her clothes.

Mike noticed her hesitation and motioned to the spot next to him. Ignoring the smirk from Johnny, she went to sit next to Mike.

"Hey," Paige quietly said as she scooted closer to him.

Mike slid his arm around her and kissed the top of her head, "Busy day?"

Most of the time when they kissed, it was a prelude to sleeping together. But this, just being together like this was nice. She loved sleeping with Mike. The sex was incredible and she felt safe to push her sexual boundaries and explore things. But she was starting to feel like they were more than just sex. More than friends with benefits and she wasn't sure how to address it with Mike. If she should, because Mike seemed fine with their arrangement. The arrangement that was her idea. Pushing thoughts about their arrangement out of her mind, she shook her head and turned slightly to face him. "I'll spare you the boring details, but the good news is I closed my case."

"Yeah? That's great news." Mike held up his beer bottle and clinked it against hers. He started to take a drink but lowered his bottle and reached for hers. Setting both of them down, he grabbed her hand and examined it. "What happened?" Mike lightly traced his fingers over the broken skin on her knuckles before rubbing his thumb over the bruise on her wrist.

Smiling slightly at his concern, she met his eyes. "Some asshole thought it would be a good idea to resist arrest and he grabbed my wrist and threw me against the wall."

"You okay?" Mike asked, softly kissing her hand.

Not minding the extra attention, she turned her wrist slightly so Mike could see the rest of her bruise, smiling when he kissed that too. She didn't normally let guys dote on her like that, she wasn't some fragile flower that needed protecting. But she appreciated that Mike wasn't pointing out how dangerous her job could be, which most guys would, if they had any idea what she really did. "I punched him and broke his nose."

Mike kissed her wrist once more before releasing her hand and giving back her beer, "Remind me not to piss you off."

"Do you two want the rest of us to leave?" Johnny asked. "Cause if you want some alone time, you have a room."

"Two rooms," Charlie said.

Paige rolled her eyes and kissed Mike on the cheek, "Jealous cause you're sleeping alone Johnny?"

"What? No!" Johnny insisted. "I just saw this girl last night, let me tell you - "

"How about you don't tell us," Jakes said.

"This girl, she was a perfect ten though. Stunning," Johnny said. "Briggs, you saw her."

"So why was she with you?" Mike asked, his warm smile taking the malice out of his words. Everyone laughed as Johnny shook his head.

"You're lucky that your girl has a mean right hook," Johnny said, waving his beer bottle at the pair. "You should've seen this guy. He grabbed P, threw her against the wall and she went all bad ass on him."

"Bad ass, huh?" Mike murmured. "Sounds hot."

"You better behave."

"If I don't?" Mike nibbled her ear, "You gonna make me?"

"That can be arranged," Paige whispered, before turning to kiss him, tugging slightly on his shirt.

"Hey! Enough of that!" Johnny shouted. "I'm in the middle of a story."

Paige pulled away from Mike, laughing as Mike snuck in one more quick kiss. He started to pull back and she leaned forward, lingering for a few more seconds. "Later," Paige promised. Now she remembered why she and Mike kept their hands to themselves when everyone was around, because once they started it was nearly impossible for them to stop. "Continue."

"So this guy, he's at least twice her size. Paige kneed him in the groin and punched him in the nose. This guy, he's screaming at her. Paige threatened to hit him again if he didn't put his hands up. He was hesitant, because he didn't want to let go of his nose. She aimed her gun at him, threatened to shoot unless he put his hands behind his head, so he did. Blood was squirting everywhere. Paige was pissed because - "

"He got blood on my shirt! It was a new shirt!"

"You broke his nose," Johnny reminded her.

Paige waved her hand in front of her, showing off her bruised knuckles. "I know!"

Mike took her hand in his, kissing it before intertwining their fingers and pulling her closer, "Want to get out of here, Rocky? Grab a late dinner or - "

"We could order pizza. They deliver it in a box, you know. In case you need some to play drill sergeant with Bello's men. I know they have their WQB's, but - "

"You heard?" Mike laughed, shaking his head.

"Yes and luckily for me, you're a quick thinker. Because..." Paige leaned forward, lightly brushing her lips over his. "I need your assistance with something very important, Special Agent Warren."

"Assistance?" Mike asked, grinning. "Do you need a hand with something, Special Agent Arkin?"

"Or two."

"Just so happens that I'm free for the evening. Bello doesn't need me tonight."

"I thought you were hungry."

Mike shrugged, "I am." He pressed his lips against hers, "For you." Mike hopped up and reached for her hand, ignoring the snickers from their roommates as he pulled Paige to her feet.

"Early night?" Charlie asked.

Paige mischievously smiled at the playful look in Mike's eyes, "Something like that."