A/N: Thanks for continuing to read and review...a longer chapter this time :-)
Chapter 21
Gibbs found Abby leaning forward against the kitchen counter, her hands resting flat over the surface. She had her back to him, but he could still see the tension radiating from her stiffened posture. Her head was bowed and he took in the rise and fall of her shoulders as she inhaled and exhaled deeply. Walking up to her, Gibbs placed his hand gently on her waist and stood beside her, taking in the uncertainty on her face.
"Abby?" he prompted softly.
Hesitantly he skimmed the fingers of his free hand over hers, trailing them over her knuckles, up the back of her hand and stopping at the inside of her wrist to trace a circular pattern. While they both craved physical contact with each other Gibbs just hoped in this case his touch would sooth rather than aggravate her.
"I'm sorry," Abby apologized and Gibbs instantly felt guilty at the nervousness in her voice. Unconsciously she bit the corner of her bottom lip and lifted her head to return his tentative gaze. "You just took me by surprise...I didn't think you'd be ready for me to move in yet."
"Never meant to ask you this way..." he admitted, averting his eyes.
Although he'd been waiting for the right moment ask her, Gibbs had wanted to make it all about Abby. It was meant to have been a declaration of how much he loved her and didn't want to be separated from her, but also a show faith in the strength of their relationship.
"I wanted you to ask me," Abby smiled, her eyes sparkling when he returned his gaze to hers. "I'm not upset...it was just unexpected," she continued, placing the palm of her hand affectionately over his cheek.
Although he was getting better with verbalizing his feelings, the anxiety that with a few words he could have ruined things had him fighting off the urge to revert back to his old ways to stop him from being hurt. But Gibbs knew he needed to go on and explain himself, he owed Abby that much. "I understand if you're not ready. I know it's sudden...but when I think of our future, it's here. It's the next step for us and I don't see the point in waiting if it's what we both want."
"It is what I want, and I am ready," Abby reassured him. "Why do you think I brought so many clothes with me? I don't want to leave...but I didn't want to pressure you either."
"If it makes you feel better, we can move your stuff over but you can keep your apartment for a few weeks...until you're sure."
While Gibbs wanted nothing more than for Abby to move in, to know that she was his in every way, the last thing he wanted was for her to resent him because she felt like she'd been forced into a decision. If Abby wasn't sure then he would respect her choice and wait until she was ready, but after what he'd just done it was only fair of him to let her know he was giving her a way out if that's what she wanted.
Leaning forward, Abby ever so gently touched her lips to Gibbs' then took his face in her hands, tilting his head so she could kiss above his eyebrow. "I've always been sure about you, Jethro. I don't need to keep my apartment."
She rested the side of her face against the top of his head and for several moments neither of them spoke. Gibbs let his eyes drift closed, his heartbeat beginning to return to its natural rhythm. Abby's scent and the softness of her hips as he curved his hands around them washed over him. The sheer magnetism of her had him completely captivated; only once before in his life had he experienced anything like it.
"So we're okay?" Gibbs finally asked, lifting his head to nuzzle his nose along the side of Abby's. Their mouths were so close that less than an inch separated their lips, warm breath mingling and enticing them to bridge the distance. It seemed like forever since he'd tasted her or felt the pleasurable vibration that rose up from her throat and into his mouth as she gasped with each passing of their lips.
"We're okay," she angled her face up to kiss him gently. "I just wasn't expecting it that's all...I got a bit overwhelmed."
Gibbs nodded and let a soft sigh escape, relieved that she wasn't mad at him. He knew they would talk about it more once they were alone, but for now he was comforted by the fact that she would be moving in with him and that she wasn't going to start giving him the cold shoulder like his exes would've done.
"Didn't get chance to tell you how beautiful you look," Gibbs whispered against her lips.
Grateful for the wall that kept them separated from Ray and Margie he moved his head back from Abby's and pulled her hips closer, sliding one hand to settle over the rise of her backside. With the other he reached up to caress his fingers over her exposed shoulders and down across her collarbone. "Still can't believe your mine, Abbs."
"Feeling pretty lucky myself." She shivered as his fingers ghosted over her skin, coming to rest around the back of her neck, his thumb fanning back and forth over the spider web tattoo.
The brief kiss he pressed to her lips soon took a hold of them both and before Gibbs knew what was happening Abby was nibbling her way along his bottom lip. He held in the groan that threatened to overcome him when she tangled her fingers into the hair on the back of his head, holding him in place when her tongue edged between his lips to swirl around his.
Gibbs didn't hold back either. Trapping her between the kitchen counter and his hard body, his hungry lips moved insistently against Abby's. He sucked on her tongue as she withdrew it from his mouth, chasing it with his own back in between her lips to intensify the kiss even more. All they knew in that moment was the heat, longing and lust that propelled them eagerly into each other's arms. Gibbs was consumed with her; not only her taste but the slickness of her mouth as he plundered his way inside, and the softness of her lips as they melded together over and over again.
When the need for oxygen became too great they broke apart but refused to give up the contact of their lips, satisfied with teasingly delicate caresses amidst hurried gasps for air. Abby ran her hands down over his chest and Gibbs opened his eyes to find her darkened emerald orbs staring back at him, dazed with unbridled love. She smiled shyly with each kiss and Gibbs couldn't help but grin back.
The sound of a beer bottle falling over in the adjacent room startled them out of the moment and they separated hastily, hearing Margie softly admonishing Ray. Abby quickly wiped the smudge of lipstick off Gibbs' lips and tried to straighten up her dress. Had they been alone he would've had her out of her clothes and underneath him in a matter of minutes, but his body's needs would be taken care of soon enough. He knew how important this dinner was to Abby, and it meant a lot to him too.
Gibbs waited until Abby was ready and let her walk ahead of him. Resting his hand lightly above her waist they returned to the table, the reserved nod he gave their guests helping to clear the room of any lingering tension.
"Sorry," Abby apologized to the couple who were watching her and Gibbs closely. "If the offer still stands, we'd be grateful for the use of your truck Ray...and your muscles too, if that's okay with you?"
Margie's warm gaze settled on Abby as she sat down, and the younger woman flashed her with a brief smile to let her know she was alright.
"Of course," Ray answered, nodding his head. "Let me know when and where and I'll be there...do you need me to round up some more help? Seeing how you haven't told all your friends yet."
Momentarily stunned by her husband's eagerness to further put his foot in his mouth, Margie rolled her eyes and shook her head faintly at him. She understood the reasons for Jethro wanting to keep Abby all to himself, after losing Shannon and three failed marriages he wanted to hold the things he cared about close to his chest. Although she didn't know the people they worked with at NCIS, it was sometimes human nature to be judgmental. Margie had seen firsthand Jethro's possessiveness and his need to protect Abby but even he couldn't be with her every minute of every day, as much as he would like to.
Gibbs turned to Abby; he knew she wouldn't like Ray's suggestion. Not because he'd offered to find other people to help, but the idea that they might not involve their friends in something so important would not sit well with her.
"We need to tell them...they're our friends, Jethro"
"If it's what you want," he agreed.
Even though Gibbs had wanted to keep their relationship a secret for as long as they could, he was aware of how close they had come to slipping up at work already. He would rather they did it on their terms than for everyone to find out under less ideal circumstances that could result in a similar awkward situation that had just transpired over dinner.
He didn't know how they all would react, but in the scheme of things it didn't really matter, he and Abby were together and if they had any problems with that he would deal with them as they arose. Gibbs couldn't control how his agents thought, all he could do was remain professional at work and hope the rest sorted itself out. He was prepared for them all to be protective of Abby, just as he was, though not to the same extent. He was ready for the jibes from DiNozzo and the silent knowing glances from Ziva, but what he was unsure of was McGee's reaction. But no matter what happened or what their reactions were, Gibbs had no intentions of giving Abby up.
In what Gibbs assumed was an attempt to return to their earlier, more comfortable, setting Margie began to stack their dishes on the table, her hint to Ray obvious as she slid them in front of him. He wordlessly got to his feet and Gibbs stood at the same time, picking up Margie's wine glass with one hand, while the other one settled on the back of Abby's chair allowing his thumb to graze lightly over the creamy skin at the top of her bare back.
"No more wine for me, Jethro, I'm driving," Margie explained as he held the glass up in a wordless question.
"You want another beer, Abbs, or something else?" He asked turning his attention to Abby and breaking his contact with her skin to gather up the empty beer bottles.
Abby lifted her hand off the table to run along his arm when he picked up the bottle in front of her. He'd removed his jacket after getting home from work, leaving him in his red polo, which Abby had pointed out on several occasions as being one of her favourite, apart from the blue one that she said brought out his eyes. Gibbs was reluctant to have her move her hand away, so repositioned the bottles to the edge of the table which allowed her to continue her gentle stroking up and down his forearm.
"Thank you, another beer would be nice," she grinned mischievously, knowing exactly what she was doing to him. "I'll get us some dessert and coffee in a minute."
"You want me to get it?" Gibbs wanted her to feel like she didn't have to do everything on her own, but he also didn't want to take over. After what had just happened he was willing to let her take control of things and do anything to make her feel more at ease.
"No, it's okay," Abby answered happily, letting her fingers continue to play with the hairs on the back of his arm. "I'll do it once you and Ray have finished taking the dishes in and getting the beers."
Walking into the kitchen and placing the wine glass and all the bottles on the sink Gibbs turned around to open the fridge to get more beer when he was stopped by Ray's apologetic stare.
"I never would've brought it up if I knew you hadn't asked her," he offered, full of remorse. "I thought you were just joking around...you know, as pay back for all the cracks about the hammock I've been throwing at you."
Gibbs shrugged and patted his friend roughly on the shoulder. "Doesn't matter. Abby's okay...we're okay. I'll make it up to her."
At work he tended to make his team sweat on things if they'd made a mistake or made him somehow look bad, but this was a different situation all together. Ray was his oldest friend, and even though Gibbs had thanked him on the phone for his part in helping to bring he and Abby together, it was something he didn't know that he'd ever be able to fully repay. Since they'd first met they'd kept score on who owed who, but Abby was something he was willing to accept defeat for, even if it cost him a lifetime of favors.
Ray exhaled loudly, his relief evident when Gibbs saw his whole body visibly relax. "She's a lot more forgiving than Diane ever was, that's for sure."
Gibbs couldn't help but smirk at that, the two women were complete contrasts. "Abby's much different from Diane...in every way," he admitted. Abby was the least self-centred person he knew and unlike his ex-wife Gibbs knew she wouldn't try and control him. "Gonna do whatever it takes to keep her too, unlike Diane."
Once Gibbs and Ray had rinsed off all the dishes and got another round of beers, they returned to the table and the four of them continued to chat, the earlier events of the night seemingly forgotten. Gibbs found it difficult to look anywhere other than at Abby and on more than one occasion he was caught with his mind elsewhere, his gaze solely focused on her. Apart from the happiness that radiated from her, he was having trouble believing that the beautiful spirited woman sitting next to him would be moving into his house; that it would soon be their home.
Excusing herself from the table a while later Abby got up to put on some coffee and get them some ice-cream for dessert. Placing four cups out on the counter as soon as the coffee was on, she heard Margie's quiet footsteps walk up behind her. While they waited for the coffee, Abby took the tub of chocolate swirl ice cream out of the fridge that she and Gibbs had bought when they went shopping earlier in the week. The flavour had been a compromise between Gibbs wanting vanilla and Abby wanting something a little more exciting.
As odd as it sounded Abby felt like it was a perfect analogy of their relationship. Gibbs was the understated, smooth and reliable vanilla, while Abby was the sweet, bold and exuberant chocolate. Together they were the perfect combination that complemented each other. She also hadn't missed the similarity between the dessert and their hair colors, which was always a fascination for her; Gibbs' silver being reflected in the lightness of the vanilla and Abby's dark tendrils matching that of the chocolate.
"I'm sorry about earlier," Margie said, bringing Abby out of her thoughts.
"No, it's not your fault, or Ray's...it was just a misunderstanding, everything's fine," Abby smiled, getting four bowls out of the cupboard.
Margie got the spoons out and laid them down on the counter. "As long as you and Jethro are both alright..."
One of the things Abby was drawn to most with Margie was the older woman's natural concern for others. She never appeared to have any ulterior motives in wanting something to happen for her own benefit, her only interest being to see others happy. It was one of the reasons Abby never felt like she had anything to hide around her, there was no need to worry that Margie would at some stage use something she'd said in confidence against her.
"We're alright, I know it'll take him time to get used to some things and that he was waiting on the right moment to ask me...and I'm sure he would've soon."
Abby could never see Gibbs as being deliberately deceptive with her. What had happened was more about his inability to talk about what was going on in his head, and while it was something they'd need to work on she didn't see it as a flaw but rather a way that they could grow together.
"He's used to making decisions only for himself," Margie tried to explain. "Even with these last three marriages, in the end he'd gotten to the stage where the decisions he made were for him and not for them as a couple."
Abby nodded sadly, every time she thought of everything that Gibbs had gone through, not only with Shannon and Kelly but in his marriages, it broke her heart. He was a good man who would never intentionally cause anyone pain, unless it was in self defence, and it hurt her knowing that the people he thought cared about him had abandoned him. She was determined that it wouldn't happen again. "As much as he won't admit it, I think he was scared of what my answer might've been when he asked me."
"I think you're bringing up a lot of emotions he hasn't dealt with in a while...hang in there," Margie said gently, pouring the coffee out into the cups. "I can see the real Jethro starting to come through, and it's all because of you."
"Need some help?" Gibbs asked appearing in the doorway and inadvertently interrupting their conversation.
Margie picked up two of the cups of coffee, smiling at Gibbs as she left the two of them alone. Abby returned to her task of scooping the ice cream out and putting a spoon in each of the bowls.
"You don't wanna use up the last of this? There's not much left." Gibbs held up the carton of ice cream, pausing with the lid in his other hand.
Abby sauntered up to him, thankful that they were out of view from the table as she slid her hands over the curve of his ass. She squeezed the firm globes of flesh, dragging him closer so their hips fit snugly together, his groin cradled intimately against hers.
"I was thinking you and I could use that over the weekend," she murmured huskily. She leaned her head closer to his ear, tracing the curve of it with her tongue before whispering, "I kinda had my heart set on indulging in a certain chocolate coated special agent."
"It's got vanilla in it too remember? Does that mean I get a turn as well?"
His attempt to sound like he wasn't being affected by her offer was shot down in flames the instant Abby felt him stir against her. Even though they were going to have to wait before they could really touch each other, knowing how quickly she could rile him up gave her an immense surge of satisfaction. She knew after their earlier upset Gibbs would do anything she wanted, and although she'd never use anything like that against him in a spiteful way a little teasing couldn't hurt if they both got something out of it.
"We better get another tub then, coz I don't intend on leaving any part of you untasted..."
All Abby could think of was ripping his shirt from his pants so she could push it up and smear his chest with ice cream. Letting her eyes temporarily flicker to the hollow at the base of his neck, she imagined the ice cream melting and pooling there, her tongue repeatedly delving into it as she tasted his skin mixed with the sweetness of the chocolate and vanilla.
Explicit images flashed through her mind of him lying underneath her, his chest heaving as she licked the cold creamy substance around his nipples and over the contours of his pecs. She could visualize herself taking her time to tantalize every inch of him as she worked her way down over the muscles of his stomach and lower to take him in her mouth. A shiver ran through her at the thought of her cool lips being wrapped around the hot hard length of him.
Gibbs' lustful gaze told her he was thinking along the same lines, but Abby knew they needed to stop now before they got too carried away. "Later," she promised, kissing him quickly on the lips and moving away. The last thing she wanted was another uncomfortable situation if Margie walked back into the kitchen.
After putting the ice cream safely back in the freezer, Gibbs took his and Abby's coffee out into the living room then returned a few moments later to help her carry out their dessert.
Still sitting at the table Abby had pulled her chair a bit closer to Gibbs' so her leg now sat alongside his. Grateful that their earlier misunderstanding hadn't ruined their evening, Abby found herself craving more physical contact with him like they'd had in the kitchen.
As if sensing her thoughts Gibbs stretched out in his chair once he'd finished his ice cream, his arm draping across the back of her chair. Abby shifted closer, her hand dropping to rest on his thigh under the table. She took pleasure in the feel of the taut muscle under her fingertips; solid, lean and powerful...she had plans for those thighs. The thought of what their first full weekend together would bring made every part of her yearn for him, she didn't intend on letting him out of her sight for the next two days.
As the night wore on, Abby found it more and more difficult to suppress her yawns; with all the excitement leading up to the meal and Gibbs' proposal to move in she found weariness was creeping up on her. Snuggling closer into Gibbs' side she let him enfold her tighter, feeling his warmth penetrate through his shirt.
"We should get going," Margie said, looking at Abby and grinning affectionately. "You've both had a big day...and Ray needs to get some sleep so he can finish all the jobs I've thought up for him in the last several hours."
Abby chuckled though she did feel slightly guilty that Ray was going to have to pay for a mistake that hadn't really been his fault. As the couple collected their things, Abby and Gibbs followed them to the door.
"Thank you for the company and a wonderful dinner, Abby," Margie said as the two women hugged. "You'll have to come to our place next time, perhaps after you're moved in and are settled?"
Abby pulled back, her eyes now wide open and fully awake. She looked at Gibbs, who inclined his head forward slightly; his way of saying the decision was up to her.
"We'd love to," she answered enthusiastically, before hugging Margie again quickly and moving on to Ray.
As she threw her arms around his broad shoulders, she felt his big hands clasp onto her waist lightly. "I'm sorry...about earlier, sometimes I run my mouth off without thinking," he grinned at her sheepishly.
Abby tightened her grip on him. "You've nothing to be sorry for."
Beside them, Margie didn't wait for Gibbs to approach her, closing the gap and pressing a brief kiss to his cheek. "Look after her, Jethro...if she can keep you from retreating down into that basement before dessert then she's doing something right. You two were made for each other."
Gibbs blushed at her honesty and embraced her with a gentle hug. "Never be able to thank you enough for what you've done," he said softly.
"No need, this is thanks enough," she said pulling back from him and holding onto his and Abby's hands.
Joining their hands and removing hers, Margie took a step back and linked her arm through Ray's. "Let us know when you'll be moving Abby's things over and we'll be here to help, both of us."
With a final goodnight Abby watched as they walked down the front path, keeping her hand held within Gibbs'. She leaned into him, feeling his fingers lace between hers and squeezing gently as she rested her head on his shoulder.
As Ray and Margie drove off down the street, Abby waved at them until the lights from the car disappeared out of sight. Closing and locking the door behind them, Gibbs released Abby's hand and pulled her into his arms, completely enveloping her within his strong hold. Abby settled her weight against his chest, nuzzling her face into the side of his neck. She pressed her lips to his skin, kissing him in between words as she spoke. "I like them a lot, Gibbs."
"Something tells me the feeling's mutual." Gibbs kissed the top of her head, his hands beginning a slow exploration up her sides and arms.
Abby let out a soft whimper as he lifted her chin and broke her contact with his neck. Brushing his lips over Abby's, Gibbs met her gaze and rested his forehead against hers. "Whatever shall we do now?" She teased.
Gibbs let his arms fall from around her. Linking their fingers together again he pulled her along with him, smirking as they walked past the stairs that led up to the bedroom. "I've got a surprise for you."
TBC...