Author's Note: What are our favorite agents up to on New Year's Eve…?

Seven Swans-a-swimming

Merri had expected him to smell of some cloying, strong aftershave, since he'd cleaned himself up nice, for once foregoing the three-day-old jeans and a grey Henley for a pair of black slacks and a sapphire blue button-down that did amazing things to his pretty, pretty eyes. But he didn't smell of any fancy cologne or aftershave when he pulled her in close for the slower song that followed the upbeat tune that had him twirling her about the dance floor. She was still a little dizzy from it, so she'd leaned into him maybe a bit more than necessary, and breathed in that familiar ginger and sweat scent of him. After the exertion of the dancing, he definitely smelled like he did after a day at work that included chasing down suspects. And she didn't mind it at all. It was just LaSalle.

Actually, she would've found it odd if he'd doused himself in some artificially musky scent. This, this was nice. She'd worked up a pretty good sweat herself, yet the warmth of his body so close, touching hers in places, it was undeniably alluring.

Her high-heels made her as tall as him, and so she had to lean in a little more, choosing to wrap her arms around his back and place a hand on the nape of his neck as she rested her cheek on his shoulder. It was more intimate than strictly necessary even for a slow dance, but he didn't seem put off by the embrace. Rather, instead of resting his hands at her waist or hips, his own arms encircled her tighter, his hands feeling large and warm caressing her spine and the small of her back. It was much more like a hug as they swayed about to the music. And maybe her breasts were a little uncomfortably crushed against his chest, but she could feel the beating of his heart, thought she could fall blissfully asleep, it was so comfortable, and comforting.

Whichever woman ultimately got to keep the man's heart, they were sure the luckiest person in the world. Chris LaSalle was a ridiculously compassionate soul, and knew how to make a woman feel cherished, even if she was just a friend.

Part of her had still felt leery when he'd asked if she had an extra set of keys to her house he could use for her surprise that day. But it hadn't taken her more than two seconds to decide to give them to him. She trusted him with more than her life. And that wasn't only at work. Honestly, she'd been more than a little nervous about what she'd find when she finally left the office and headed home. But there'd only been a note on her kitchen table and no sign of Chris. He must have had left just after she'd texted him that she was finally done at work. Because the note had instructed her to find her surprise in the bathroom. And the water still had been blissfully hot. He'd drawn her a bath. It had smelled like fresh apples, like her favorite hand lotion. And she discovered he'd found a bath oil in the scent, leaving the remainder for her as well.

She'd laughed when she'd seen the seven little rubber duckies floating in the tub. They were painted white with black on their beaks, like swans.

The note had said he'd pick her up at nine. Which had given her a full hour to soak in the tub and enough time leftover to get ready. That part hadn't been a surprise, since he knew better than to plan her entire night without her consent. They were going to go out to celebrate, since it was New Year's Eve after all. Of course, they'd have to make an appearance at Pride's bar. But, Chris had said there was somewhere else he wanted to take her after, thought she'd like.

It was a nice place, halfway between the clubbing atmosphere she knew was her younger friend's scene and the more refined restaurant-bar venues she preferred. The crowd there was likewise middle-ground. All looking to have a good time but not too rowdy-drunk. And she did like the place, but thought it odd at first, since both she and Chris loved their little team-family of friends, that he would opt to not be with them to ring in the New Year. But as they sat and had a couple drinks, chatting at a high-table in the bar, she realized they wouldn't have had this time to themselves if they'd stayed at Pride's. Maybe he would've been more hesitant to bring her out onto the dance floor before the judgmental eyes of their friends and coworkers. Here, he could let loose. It was just the two of them, able to be the selves they were when they were only with each other. She hoped it was closer to Chris' true self, the person he was when he was alone and completely comfortable without any social pressures whatsoever.

At least, it felt like he was being free with his own thoughts and feelings.

He would've never held her close like he was now, not in front of the others. In a crowded, somewhat noisy room of strangers, however, it felt like they were alone. It was really nice.

Until they both jumped, breaking apart a little as the crowd began the countdown to midnight. They were still standing close, however, his hands sliding to her hips instead. He wasn't counting, just staring into her with those intense eyes that were exceptionally blue that night. She felt like a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming car, but the countdown had started at ten, so she didn't have much time for her heart to race as she read his intent to-

He was kissing her. His lips were warm. And softer than she'd expected, too. Not that she'd ever- oh, yes. He pulled her hips closer, flush to his own as he slid his mouth against hers and she eagerly responded in kind, burying her fingers into the collar of his shirt as she kissed him back, the room exploding in sound and light and color around them.

...

The world exploded with sound and light. And Chris LaSalle wasn't sure that it was because of the festivities filling the crowded restaurant bar. No. It was definitely because of the woman in his arms, gorgeous and electric. The way her whole body seemed to respond to his mouth on hers, her breasts pressing into him, her fingers digging into his shirt and the skin at the nape of his neck as she pulled on him, clung to him as if he she were drowning and he was a life preserver, unabashedly full of desperate need as she kissed him back.

Her lips parted, an invitation he did not even remotely have it in him to resist. His hands moved instinctively to cup her face as he deepened the kiss, tasting the remnants of sweet champagne in her mouth. She whimper-moaned as his tongue caressed hers, and the vulnerable need in the sound made his knees grow weak and he clung more firmly to her.

He never wanted to let her go.

He never wanted to stop kissing her.

But some part of him had come back to his senses, and informed him that people had begun to stare. Chris reluctantly pulled away, with a few parting kisses to her sweet, now pinkly swollen and damp lips. He had only meant to give her a quick, chaste peck when the clock struck 12, as was tradition. It just... It just hadn't ended there.

Hell, it hadn't even begun there. How could he not kiss her more firmly, linger longer pressing the sensitive skin of his lips to her warm soft ones? How could he resist tasting her just a little, and then diving fully in when she responded with equal eagerness?

She blinked at him, and he wasn't going to lie about the ego-boost her slightly pouting look gave him. Merri hadn't wanted the kissing to end, either. That much was apparent even as she began to put her unflappable face back on, the one he'd gotten her to entirely discard several times over the past week. Her face was noticeably flushed however, turning even a deeper shade of pink as her big brown eyes glanced around them, noticing the number of people that had paused in their own revelry to watch the show, giggling, making lewd comments and catcalls at the couple who'd done more than exchange a brief new year's kiss.

He supposed it had been somewhat of a show. But it wa'n't like he grabbed her ass or nothin'. Just a little heated kissin'... with tongue. But still- He gave her a shy smile, rubbing the back of his neck and feeling a little guilty for letting things get out of hand.

"Why you bein' shy now, bro?" A man standing just off to his right asked with a toss of his head indicating the gorgeous woman Chris had entirely pulled himself away to create what he hoped was a respectful distance. If he were honest with himself, backing off wasn't what he wanted, not really. But he couldn't start this sort of thing with Merri Brody. "Judgin' by the way she kissed you back, she already be your woman."

His uninvited coach's group of friends backed him up with loud noises of encouragement, loud enough to be heard over the din in the restaurant. The band was now playing Auld Lang Syne and the crowd sounded extremely exuberant about the year 2016.

And then he found himself stumbling forward, having been shoved by a firm hand in his back. Merri caught him, her slender arms wrapping about his middle -and god, it felt so right.

That's why it was so dangerous. The way he'd begun to feel about his friend... It felt so natural. So real and right. But that was when he was with her. When they were apart, he couldn't help but think that this was the last thing either of them needed to become entangled in. But... What was it King had said to them before?

The heart wants what the heart wants.

And she felt so perfect pressed against him once more, looking at him with her gorgeous dark eyes like she knew every inch of his soul and would never flinch at any of it, that she might even treasure every part of him, the bad as well as the good.

It was a new year. A moment of rebirth and renewal. To put away the troubles and the hardships of the past and look to the future. But Chris knew he hadn't needed the calendar to turn over for that. She'd already been helping him to move on from the guilt, loneliness and pain.

"Happy New Year, Merri Brody," he said, smiling at her. Her hold on him tightened in a hug that filled his entire world with nothing but her; her warmth, the solid weight of her shapely body, the beating of her heart against his chest, and the sweet apple scent of her. Her breath was hot on his neck, tickling his skin a little before she leaned in so closely to whisper to him that her lips brushed the shell of his ear, sending shivers of pleasure down his spine.

"Happy New Year, Chris LaSalle."

A/N: Well, that was a little more than just a friendly New Year's Kiss… What are they going to do about it? ;-)