A/N: I'm really blown away by all the positive reviews and feedback, thank you! And since you've all been so nice who am I to hold back on what everyone seems so eager for ;)...this would be where the Rated M starts to kick in.

Chapter 10

From her place sitting on the sand Abby looked out across the ocean. The sun had started to set behind her, its angle of descent making the water appear like a bed of sparkling diamonds. She had been away from Gibbs all day. Not knowing what to say to him or where they were supposed to go from here she had kept her distance. She'd come down to the beach after leaving the lookout and had been sitting and thinking, not wanting to face him for fear that she would either burst into tears or unleash her anger on him.

Her mind ran over and over the things she could have done differently; words she should have said, or not said. Apart from literally throwing herself at him, Abby was out of ideas. She had told him she was in love with him and she knew her feelings were reciprocated; the only thing keeping them apart was Gibbs. It upset her that something which should've been such a tender and beautiful moment had ended in her walking away from him. Their first kiss had more or less turned into an argument and an ultimatum. Not the best way to start a relationship, if that's what it even was.

Abby was brought out of her thoughts when she saw his shadow approach from behind her, its form stretching out next to hers before he sat down beside her. As the minutes ticked by neither of them said anything, and then Gibbs spoke.

"I'm tired too, Abby," he murmured.

"Then let your mind rest," she pleaded softly and turned to face him. She noticed the sorrow and tension she'd seen in his eyes and in his posture had been replaced with sadness. He was still struggling, but now with a different emotion. "You're trying to resist something that you don't need to."

"I never meant to make you feel like I didn't want you here...I do."

"I know, I just..." She trailed off, taking a moment to gather her thoughts and figure out the best way to say what she felt without pressuring him. "I know there's things from your past that are causing you pain. I want so badly to help you with them, no matter what happens between us...but I need to know Gibbs...do you want us to be together?"

The feel of his roughened hand on hers startled her, as did the resolve in his answer. "Yeah, Abbs, want it more than I can say."

She couldn't hold back the brief smile that tugged at the corner of her lips or the sigh of relief that expelled from deep in her chest. It wasn't exactly the most profound declaration of love she'd heard, but it was a start. "So does that mean no more mixed signals?"

"No more mixed signals," he repeated softly.

"So when I kiss you, you'll kiss me back...like you mean it? And when I tell you that I love you, you'll say it back to me?"

Gibbs nodded. "I will if you give me another chance."

"I couldn't have held on if I didn't think you were worth it." She shifted closer to him, tracing her fingers gently over his forehead and trying to sooth his tension.

He closed his eyes and Abby could see his body start to relax as he spoke. "But you wouldn't have waited much longer, I get that, and...I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you. My feelings for you were never in doubt, I..."

When Gibbs didn't finish his sentence it didn't matter, he was beginning to open up to her and Abby knew it would take time. If he needed to show her how he felt rather than tell her she was more than willing to help him along. Running her thumb over his lips she moistened her own with her tongue hoping what she was about to do would be the right move, and that Gibbs would follow her willingly. It was a big step to take but there was no turning back for them now.

"Come for a swim with me?" She got to her feet and closed her parasol, dropping it into the sand beside Gibbs.

"Didn't bring anything to swim in," Gibbs said looking up at her.

Abby grinned at him and started to walk closer to the water. "Don't need anything," she said teasingly over her shoulder. Standing a few feet from the shoreline she stripped her t-shirt off and turned to see what Gibbs was doing. He had stood up and Abby could tell his eyes were on her naked skin. With each step that he got closer to her, she began to undo and slide her jeans down her legs.

When he reached her, Gibbs took his time in gazing over her creamy skin, his eyes lingering on the tattoos he could see. He focused on the curves of her breasts, their paleness contrasting the black bra that covered her. A surge of desire shot straight to her core when he lowered his attention over her stomach, his tongue sneaking out briefly when his eyes reached her panties.

"You sure the water's not too cold?" His voice was low, its huskiness turning her on even more.

"We don't have to stay in long...it'll help us both relax and release the tension a little."

Abby wanted to start taking his clothes off, to speed things up, but she knew Gibbs had to do it in his own time. If he was ready, and if he really did want her, he'd follow her. Stepping into the clear blue water, she gasped at its coolness. When she was covered up to her waist she glanced over her shoulder to see where Gibbs was.

He had taken his t-shirt off but hadn't moved any closer. She could see the indecision flash across his face, the same look she'd been witnessing for the length of their stay. Abby waited nervously, hoping that he would take his pants off and join her. If he didn't then maybe she was going to have to nudge him a little harder; now that he'd acknowledged his feelings for her though she didn't want to push him away again.

With one simple movement from Gibbs all the doubts she had vanished from her mind. Abby grinned as his hands moved to the front of his pants, his fingers undoing the button and sliding down the zipper. He looked up at her as he pushed them down to his ankles and stepped out of them. Leaving their pile of clothes he waded into the water in only his dark blue boxers. Abby swam a little further out as Gibbs quickly closed the distance between them. Her first thought when he got close enough was how good he looked wet. She'd seen him after a shower and even been in his arms after he'd been out in the rain, but nothing compared to this.

His wet hair was spiked up on top with a few loose strands falling down over his forehead. Drops of water speckled his face, several of the clear beads running down his cheek to slide over his top lip. Abby watched them as they disappeared into his mouth, wanting to follow them with her tongue. His broad shoulders were just visible above the water and she could see his chest rise and fall due to the exertion from swimming. The sight of his bare skin made every part of her start to tingle; she couldn't wait to touch him.

Manoeuvring his body in the water, Gibbs closed the distance between them. Mere inches separated them, their legs touching as they kicked through the water. His heated gaze bore into her and Abby felt like she couldn't drag enough oxygen into her lungs. They hadn't even touched each other yet and she was already light-headed. Suddenly she didn't feel tired anymore, she felt more awake than she had in weeks.

Powerless to stop herself Abby lunged at him, her head tilting to the side slightly as her lips sought out the curve of his jaw. With the first brush of her lips on his skin she tasted the saltiness of the water mixed with the taste of him. But with each successive kiss or swipe of her tongue it was replaced with a flavour that was uniquely Gibbs. One of her hands moved under the water to massage over his stomach, sliding up over his ribs and pectorals.

Not caring whether they floated or sank, Abby hoisted herself up against him, her legs going around his waist and her free hand raking up into the short hair at the back of his neck. Gibbs angled his head giving her better access to his jaw as she nibbled her way from below his ear to his chin. She needed his hands on her but could feel him moving his arms and legs hurriedly to keep them both afloat and move them closer to the shore. Although they weren't that far out and the water wasn't that deep, she knew Gibbs would be reluctant to let her sink.

"Abby...we need to move to shallower water," he grunted under the strain and she smoothed her hands over his strong shoulders and arms, feeling his muscles ripple as he continued to tread water.

She heard him, but his request went unheeded as she covered his lips with her own. Sucking on his bottom lip she grazed her teeth lightly along it as it slipped from her mouth, her heated kiss resuming instantly. All the time she'd spent thinking about kissing him, it all paled in comparison to the feel of him like this. She whimpered, frantic to taste every part of him but not wanting to let go of his lips.

Gibbs' restraint broke and he deepen the kiss, a frustrated moan escaping him and into her mouth. "Abby...I can't..." he groaned, his tongue sliding deliciously slow against hers before he finally wrapped his arms around her.

Immediately they became dead weight, and with their mouths still moving against one another they slipped under the water. Sinking the short distance to the seabed Gibbs dragged Abby down a bit more so he could use the strength in his legs to push them back up. When they broke the surface, their kisses were rushed between gasps for air.

Having to let go of Abby for fear they would sink again, Gibbs took hold of her hand and swam towards the shallow water. When they'd gotten close enough to the shore that Gibbs could stand with the top half of his chest above the water he turned and pulled Abby against him.

Her hands sought out his skin again, skimming through the silver hair that peppered his chest before gliding down around his sides and moving under his arms to curve up and hold onto his shoulders. Gibbs held her face in his hands, his thumbs stroking over her cheeks before he bridged the gap between them and reinitiated their kiss. It was slow and tender, both of them discovering and savouring every touch.

The feel of his soft lips against hers, his wet tongue dipping into her mouth sent a rush of heat between her legs and Abby was thankful of the cool water that surrounded them. She clung to him with each gentle kiss, realizing that with each brush of his lips Gibbs was giving her a piece of himself. That he was letting go of the burden he'd come here to wallow in, and that he was going to give them a chance.

His fingers tangled into her wet hair, claiming her lips again before he drew back to look at her. The setting sun had caused an explosion of colour to light up the bay and his eyes sparkled. Abby's breath caught at the vulnerability she saw, she knew in that moment she could ask Gibbs for anything and he would give it to her. She wanted to give him everything too, wanted him to have all of her.

"We should get out of the water...don't want you to get cold," he said, resting his forehead against hers while his hands moved to her waist.

Abby kissed him again, tightening her arms round him. "You're keeping me warm."

Gibbs walked them slowly back towards the shoreline, pushing through the water as Abby swung her legs around his waist again. His hands cupped onto her backside and Abby gasped at the feel of him so close to her sensitive flesh. As more of their body's started to emerge from beneath the water she swept her lips repeatedly against his in a succession of quick, short kisses.

Just as they were almost out of the water, Abby noticed his boxers had slid down marginally to reveal part of his hips and ass. She let her legs drop lower behind his back and started to circle her hips firmly against his groin. Taken by surprise Gibbs lost his footing and they collapsed with a splash, Abby landing on top of him.

The water level was barely ankle deep, and since they were in no danger of drowning Abby had no intention of getting off Gibbs. She slid her body along him, letting the material of her underwear graze against his stomach. Moving lower she brushed her heat over his growing hardness, making them both groan. The water intensified her caresses and she knew with just several more gyrations of her hips she would be crying out his name.

Gibbs sat up, forcing Abby to part her legs around him. Placing his hands in the centre of her back, he arched her chest back and licked his way between the valley of her breasts and up her neck. When he continued over her chin and reached her lips, the kiss was all-consuming. Hot, wet and urgent Abby couldn't get enough of him, and she wanted him inside her. She could feel his erection cradled against her and that alone was enough to almost send her over the edge.

"We need to go back to the cabin," Gibbs murmured, stopping the kiss. "I don't want to be arrested for public indecency...I'll never hear the end of it."

"You sure we can make it?" She grinned.

"Have to, Abbs."

Gibbs lifted Abby off his lap and got to his feet. This meant Abby was now eye level with the impressive bulge in his boxers. The wet material stuck to his body like a second skin, and she could see perfectly the outline of his full length. All she had to do to get a taste of him was lean forward. Before she had the chance though Gibbs had moved away several steps and held out his hand for her. He pulled her to her feet and without trying to delay things any longer they picked up their clothes and walked quickly back to the cabin.

TBC...