Justified – Story 1 in the Unbreakable series

Disclaimer: Characters belong to the writers & producers of Hawaii Five-0. My own characters belong to me :-)

Rating: T (for romance)

Pairing: Steve/OC, Steve/Danny (friendship - no slash)

Author's Note: Thanks so much for the feedback - and for the new readers! I'm releasing back-to-back chapters today, including the long-anticipated Ch. 18 where we get our first romantic encounter. Please let me know what works/what doesn't about this scene. I've re-written it more times than I can count. I also went back and rewrote/reposted all of the earlier chapters as I wanted to incorporate more of Steve & Julia's attraction and tension into some of the scenes. I hope you like it as much as I LOVED writing it! Thanks!

They pulled up to a small outcropping overlooking a beautiful valley. Steve rummaged around for something in the truck bed, and came around to open the door for her and take her hand. He guided her to a beautiful old tree with a perfect vista of the setting sun where he proceeded to lay out the blanket he'd retrieved from the back of the truck. He sat on the blanket, reached up for her hand, and gave Julia a goofy grin that gave her stomach a flip. Looking at him, at the view, and his thoughtfulness, she couldn't resist. As much as she wanted to stay tight, controlled, and focused, her exhaustion and frustration coupled with Steve's incessant kindness was winning her over.

She sighed, and sat down next to him, looking at the view. In the distance she could make out a small group of birds take flight. The setting sun was still warm, and she tipped her head back and closed her eyes, feeling the warmth on her face and neck. She exhaled and the stress of the day slowly started to dissipate. She felt Steve's soft hands on her neck, gently kneading the tensions away as she let her head tip forward. She eased into his caresses as her breathing deepened. He had a way of making her forget time and place, leaving everything behind except the deepening desire she had for him. The intensity of her desire frightened her, and reflexively she flinched at the thought. Steve felt her flinch, stopped, and shifted so he was sitting in front of her.

"Are you okay?" he asked, searching her now-open eyes. He didn't mean to make her uncomfortable, he didn't even think before he had instinctively reached to massage her weary neck and shoulders after she had sat down. He wondered if he'd crossed a line, if he had misread the flirtations and smiles between them, if he'd gone perhaps a bit too far.

Julia looked at Steve, his brow furrowed and his intensely blue eyes watching her with concern. This could be complicated, she thought. Complicated and dangerous for both of them. Yet she couldn't help herself as she reached up to gently run the back of her index finger across his stubbly cheek. All of the emotions of the past two days began to catch up to her. She leaned forward, still locked into his gaze, only now her eyes were soft with a jumble of feelings that she couldn't put words to.

Steve's eyes shifted to her soft, full lips. He felt his breath catch. This wasn't his intention. He hadn't brought her up here to kiss her. He had just wanted to help her change her perspective and take a much-needed break. She was tired and worn-out, but she looked so beautiful with the setting sunlight softly reflecting on her face and shoulders. He shouldn't do this. He shouldn't take advantage of this moment, but like Julia, he felt unbearably drawn to her. When her hand touched his cheek and she leaned gently toward him, all he could think about was her lips, and how sweet she would taste, how small and yet strong she would feel in his arms, and how much he wanted her more than he'd ever wanted anyone before. It seemed impossible, illogical, how much he thought about her after having just met her. He felt almost dizzy with emotion, a new and uncomfortable feeling for him, and yet he didn't care. Slowly he leaned forward, lifted her chin gently, and kissed her softly. His lips barely touched hers, sending shockwaves of tension and desire throughout their bodies.

His lips lingered on hers, as her hand moved from his cheek to his hair. He deepened the kiss, hesitantly at first, and then as she opened her mouth to his, his tongue gently and eagerly sought out hers. He gently pulled her close to him, his mouth still on hers, his arms wrapped around her small figure. She felt so right in his arms, fitting perfectly as he held her and kissed her with just a hint of the incredible urgency he felt. Her hands grasped his muscular shoulders, as whatever doubts and worries of relationships and risks left their minds. They became entangled in one other, their mouths crushing against each other, their kisses increasingly passionate and desperate as their hearts raced and their bodies reacted instinctively.

Julia melted in Steve's arms, her fingers softly tangled in his hair as she reveled in his touch, the passion of his kiss sending chills through her body. She moaned softly as his arms drew her in even closer, her breasts aching as she pushed them up against Steve's broad, muscled chest. Their kisses became harder and more intense, his tongue inviting her to follow him deeper and deeper into a lost mess of emotions and passion. She wanted him, wanted all of him, and for once abandoned all logic and thought as she began to give in to her overwhelming desire. As she reached up to pull him even closer, her shirt became untucked, and his hands quickly found the warm small of her back. His touch set off a fire in Julia's belly as the warmth spread irresistibly throughout her body. She rubbed the back of his neck, her fingers slipping under the edge of his shirt, wanting to feel more and more of his soft skin. His mouth was deliciously soft. More than anything at that moment, she wanted to feel every inch of him against her, to know every part of him.

Steve reached up to touch Julia's hair, still pulled back into a loose ponytail. He gently grasped the ponytail holder, releasing her chestnut curls around her face and into his hands. He ran his hands through her silken hair, as he caught once again the sweet scent of lavender. A quiet moan escaped his lips as Steve felt his body respond to Julia's, his stomach flipping while her lips devoured his. As much as he wanted to continue to fall deeply into their mutual passion, he knew he could not. He didn't want to hurt her. She had been through so much, and right now she was vulnerable and raw from the past two days. His body ached to be with her but this time his mind won out, reminding him that she trusted him, that he cared for her, and that he had to rein in their passion for now. He reached up to brush her hair gently away from her face as he forced himself to pull back from their passionate kiss, his heart still racing.

There would be other kisses, other moments. At one point too, he hoped, they would both be able to fully unleash the intense feelings within themselves. Soon. That release would need to come soon, his body reminded his mind. He wanted that intensity and release so badly at this very moment, but for now, they needed to wait. He nuzzled her hair, his cheek gently caressing hers as he closed his eyes for a brief moment. He wanted to remember this feeling, the warmth of her face, her silky chestnut hair, the subtle yet intoxicating scent of lavender, the feel of her lips and the way her body fit in his arms. He inhaled deeply, then, smiling softly, pulled back to look into Julia's beautiful hazel eyes.

Julia looked at Steve, his face reddened with the effects of their incredible kiss. She fought to slow her breath, to let her mind catch up with the overwhelming urges coming from her body. It had been a long time since she had let herself feel the mysterious mix of emotions that had been briefly unleashed. She knew one thing for certain. She cared deeply for this man, deeper than she'd cared for anyone in a very long time. While it made no sense to her, given she'd only known him for such a short time, she knew that she was drawn to him, that she wanted nothing more than to give herself fully and completely to him. Yes, this was dangerous territory, but deep inside, Julia didn't care about the risk.

She reached up and softly kissed him once more, her face lingering as she nuzzled his cheek. His arms wrapped around her again, as she laid her head gently on his shoulder. She gave in and kissed his neck one last time, knowing that there would be another time…that there would be many more times with him. But at this moment, in the beauty of this overlook, they held each other and reveled in the myriad of emotions and sensations they both felt.