WARNING - Rating Cap begins in this chapter. - Bring a fan. Bring two.


With the look of anticipation so clear on Tim's face, Leroy couldn't help but tease him by opening the wrapping very, very slowly. Tim's fidgeting drew a smile from him while he dragged it out. As the wrapping dropped away bit by bit and the small package revealed two small boxes with familiar letters on them, the older man's heart nearly stopped with shock. Oh, Tim!

Knowing Tim was eagerly awaiting his reaction, Leroy forced himself to unwrap it completely before allowing his mouth to run away from his genuine reaction.

The enormity of the gift Tim was giving him, hit him square in the heart, causing it to swell with affection and pride. His eyes rose to meet Tim's across the few feet that separated them where they sat in front of the couch, warmed by the fire. There was no mistaking what he saw there; the hope, desire and hunger, infusing him with similar emotions. Getting to his feet, he helped Tim stand as well, their eyes locked in silent conversation of epic proportions.

Tim! Are you sure?

Absolutely!

C'mere!

At the tenderly silent command in the older man's eyes, Tim stepped closer to Leroy and allowed him to pull him up close and wrap him in an embrace. Leroy gave Tim another one of his rare smiles as he brushed the back of his fingers over his cheek and moved his hand to Tim's neck under his hair and pulled him into a kiss. The younger man relaxed as he relished both the smile and the kiss as the older man wrapped him securely in his arms. Almost in a daze he felt his eyes slide closed as his man gently continued to drink from his kiss in gentle caresses even though his mouth remained strong; a side of Leroy that had Tim trembling.

Leroy nearly shuddered with a wave of raw lust he hadn't felt in years as he felt Tim's trembling and realized just how deeply this was affecting this sweet-natured, honest soul. He tried to rein it in by refocusing on the young man himself. Their lips came apart when they both needed to draw in air. Leroy cupped one hand against Tim's cheek and smiled tenderly as Tim opened his beautiful green eyes to look at him.

"Thank you."

***NCIS***

The beauty of the coming sunset had called to Tim as he'd struggled to put some space between giving Leroy the lubricant and condoms and them pursuing the intimacy his gift had signified for them. The older man had watched Tim stand and walk to the sliding glass doors, his steps quick and unsteady as if he didn't know what to do with himself now that he'd handed Leroy the most precious gift he had left to give him; since he'd already given the man his heart long ago – though neither had admitted that out loud.

Tim was grateful that Leroy had always given him the space he needed when he'd asked for it over these last few months as they'd grown closer, either directly or in his actions. It was especially gratifying that this time had been no different.

He'd gone to the window and looked out, marveling at the beauty being painted out in the skies and coaxed the older man to enjoy it with him, despite the brisk, cold air that awaited them when they stepped outside.

Now settling down in one of the chaise lounges, Leroy beckoned for Tim to settle on the seat in front of him. As soon as the younger man got comfortable, the older man pulled him back and settled the blanket over them, the cozy feel of it all helping to keep them warm. Wrapping his arms around Tim's middle, he kissed him on the temple as reassurance that all was well between them.

"This is nice." Tim murmured as he nestled his head back on the older man's shoulder, so close to the man's neck, he was tempted to nuzzle it. It felt so good to be able to just sit cuddled together like this and enjoy each other's company without worrying about anything or feeling any pressure. Tim felt a wave of gratitude towards Leroy for making that happen; for long ago accepting his request that they wait to take things further than kissing each other and maybe getting wildly passionate with it, but never further than Tim was comfortable with.

***Flashback***

October 20th

Their tongues dueled with each other, mouths fit tightly as they held each other close, passions inflamed by mutual attraction, affection and lust.

Tim broke away first, his breath harsh and unsteady while his eyes were still dark with want and need. His hands clenched at his sides as he turned away; the mental head slap he wanted to give himself almost slipping past his control and manifesting itself in the physical sense. "I'm sorry." He murmured sadly.

"Don't be." Leroy's ragged breath whispered across his ear, as a kiss was pressed to his temple. "Told you, I respect your decision. Doesn't mean this won't happen, Tim. I'd be worried if it didn't."

"But…" He turned to face the older man, self-recrimination written all over himself.

Holding his finger up to Tim's lips to silence him, Leroy leaned in and replaced his finger with his warm, firm mouth, kissing Tim seductively but pulling back shortly thereafter.

"Just because we've agreed to wait; doesn't mean the desire's not there. Neither one of us is made of stone."

"Then you're no…" Tim worried, his words halting as his bottom lip caught in his teeth.

"Not sorry I agreed with you. Not something you have to worry about. We'll get there, Tim. When you're ready, we'll get there." Leroy stepped even closer into his space, took his face in his hands and kissed him more tenderly than ever before. Pulling back, he tousled Tim's hair. "And when we do, it'll be all the better for the both of us."

***End Flashback***

"You with me?" The quietly spoken question was accompanied by a kiss to his temple that brought Tim back from his memory

"Yeah." Tim admitted as he nestled back even more. "Isn't it beautiful?" He asked as he looked up at the majestic sight before them, the brightly rainbow painted sky reflecting off the snow.

"Absolutely." Leroy replied as he ran his fingertips lightly down Tim's arm, sending shivers all through Tim's body. "More so because you're here with me."

The romance of taking in a sunset together on this cold night fused them together without a single word more, as both of them allowed nature's beauty to enthrall them until darkness fell and the chill could no longer be ignored.

As he felt Tim shiver involuntarily for the third time, Leroy prodded the younger man to get up from the chair with a gentle push to his shoulder. "Let's go inside."

***NCIS***

"Want this night to be special." Leroy whispered sensually into Tim's ear just a few minutes later as they stepped into his bedroom together for the very first time ever. "As special as this gift you're givin' me."

Tim swallowed hard around the sudden lump in his throat as he gazed into the older man's eyes, all the emotion he had invested in this moment shining brightly for Leroy to see.

What he saw on his young lover's face nearly took Leroy's breath away, even as he reached out and tenderly caressed his face and connected those beautiful full lips with his own, as their passion met, searchingly, achingly tender and yet promising more. He drank from the kiss and returned it with depth and a hunger long restrained.

Breaking away, the older man began kissing Tim's face, starting at his brow and moving all over his face until once again, catching his mouth tenderly in a soul searing kiss that melted his heart and had his eyes shining extra bright, he steadied his breathing before finally speaking. "Okay?"

Tim nodded, too emotionally tripped up to find the words.

Kissing his temple, Leroy gave the younger man a quick embrace. "Relax for a minute, I'll be right back. Gonna go turn the heat up a little. A little colder in here than I like."

Tim wandered over to the window and gazed out at the neighborhood beyond the yard, getting lost in the haze of intoxicating memories that got his blood pumping just reliving them. Sensing he was no longer alone, he lifted his eyes to meet Leroy's in their reflections staring back at him through the glass. The young man found himself short of breath at the depths of want and need looking back at him in those almost bottomless oceans of blue. Somehow Tim miraculously controlled the small shudder that ran the length of his spine as his body began to resonate with a steady pulse of pure desire.

As their eyes remained locked together, Leroy stopped behind him, strong yet gentle hands grasping Tim's shoulders and gently pulling him back towards the hard body he now leaned back into. This time there was no controlling the shudder running through him as the young man reached back towards the man he could hardly wait to touch, his arms going up around his lover's neck.

Watching him in the window's reflection, with careful scrutiny, Leroy saw the darkening of those beautiful green eyes, heard the increase of his breathing and noticed how those full slightly parted lips now tempted him to throw all his self-control to the wind and drink from them like the starving man he was.

As Leroy ran his hands down Tim's arms with nerve jarring gentleness in the barely-there touch, Tim's breath caught in his throat and he leaned back further, needing the contact. Turning his head to meet Leroy half-way, their mouths melded together hotly; both desperate to drink from each other. One of the older man's hands claimed Tim's hip, bringing the young man back; closer, as they traded taste for taste, nip for nip and stroke for long, lingering stroke that brought moans of pleasure from them both, made even hotter when Leroy's achingly hard and swollen member nestled Tim's rear, pulling a groan of lust from deep within him.

The arms around him moved and Tim found himself gently turned while their tongues continued to dance and duel. With ragged breaths and rapidly beating hearts, they broke their dance apart, but not their eyes. Feeling the heat of his gaze, but still craving more of Leroy's touch, Tim went back for more, this time with his hands.

Soft light from the lamp cast a romantic feel into the room but neither paid attention as Tim sent his hands to Leroy's shirt, taking the hem in hand and raising it slowly, his eyes once more locked on his lover. With smoldering heat and desire being stoked hotter with every passing minute, Leroy remained still, letting Tim follow whatever path his own yearnings dictated and get comfortable doing so.

His breathing now harsh and ragged as Tim's boldness infused him with a flash of lust so deep and strong, he almost couldn't confine it under the reins of his self-control – a self control that he was barely holding onto. The thrumming tension in Leroy's body mounted as his young lover kept up the slow pace as he blazed trails over the older man's torso with his fingers and his palms before stopping to raise the polo shirt up off his chest. Standing straight, he kept going with it, dropping it on the floor as soon as it cleared his lover's raised hands.

Leroy reached out and grasped Tim's head as the he moved to continue undressing him. Before the young man could object, the silver covered head swooped in and their mouths found each other once more for another breath-stealing round of dancing and dueling tongues. This time he wrapped Tim's upper body with one strong arm to hold him still while their lower bodies lined up together and settled snugly together through what remained of their clothes. The resulting shockwave of lust shooting through both their rapidly swelling members, evidenced by their growing girth and lengths, brought out sensual moans that filled the air between them.

Feeling lightheaded and needing to breathe, Tim broke from the kiss and pulled his face back, though his eyes remained drawn to those of his lover's - those oceans of blue now darkened with desire. Trembling with a need that had been steadily climbing for the past few minutes, Tim's hands impatiently returned to taking off Leroy' remaining shirt, this time the tee shirt was all that remained between them and Tim's desire for complete skin-to-skin contact. It was a craving so sharp, he thought he'd surely go crazy if it didn't happen soon.

Leroy found himself smiling softly at Tim's desperation and turned his attention to divesting the younger man of his own shirt, mentally chuckling at the realization that Tim had been so focused on removing Leroy's that he hadn't thought to get rid of his own. In a blur of hazy, lust filled moments, their pants were gone too and finally, there was nothing between them except a mere inch of space and their boxer briefs, both of them for some unknown reason, had dropped their hands down to their sides.

Now Tim had frozen, his eyes bright green oceans of pure unadulterated desire and anticipation and his breathing fractured and rough, as his shaft throbbed while it began to weep even as it remained constrained.

Leroy nearly moaned in raw need as his eyes took in their fill. The young man was gorgeous, trim, fit and so attractive, it stole his breath away at the same time it stoked his inner fires so hot the older man felt like he was being scorched; his own rod so hard and full, it was all he could do to rein in his raging need to bury himself deep inside Tim already. Taking a deep breath, he raggedly let it out and finally managed to speak.

"C'mere."

It might have been the look of raw desire he saw in those cobalt blue eyes or it might have been that tone of voice that sent shivers of unbridled lust through him or maybe it was the hand that drew him closer, hot and comforting, bringing trails of fiery pleasure everywhere it touched.

Something moved him, as without hesitation, Tim stepped into those arms, his body nearly dancing with anticipation.