A/N: Dedicating this chapter to soon-to-be birthday girl, Gosgirl...you are one in million, my friend. There's a little something special in here for you ;) Happy Birthday! *big hugs*

Chapter 22

Making his way towards the basement Gibbs turned and walked backwards, taking Abby's other hand so he had both firmly clasped within his as he took the last several steps to the doorway.

"What are you up to?" Abby asked, her eyebrow lifting when they stopped at the top of the stairs leading down to the basement.

The corner of Gibbs' lips curved up into a subtle grin and he used their joined hands to bring her closer before kissing the end of her nose. "Got something to show you."

"Down in the basement? That sounds promising."

Gibbs didn't miss the seductive undertones in her response. He was only just able to keep himself from pinning her to the wall and taking her before he even got a chance to show her what was in the basement, but he knew Abby's reaction would intensify the already palpable heat between them. It had been on a slow burn all night, their brief touches and kisses enough to hold them over but also making them want more.

"Close your eyes," he said huskily next to her ear, seeing her shiver as his hot breath caressed her skin.

"Jethro?" Her voice trembled and for a moment Gibbs wondered whether she was worried that this surprise would unsettle her like his first one of the evening did.

"Do you trust me?" He asked, rubbing his cheek gently against hers.

The soft, barely there touch made every one of Gibbs' nerve endings stand to attention, the tenderness of it making his breath catch. As much as he craved the close and hungry contact with her entire body, to be joined with her in every way, it was the subtle caresses that Gibbs found himself aching for just as much. It gave them a sense of unguarded intimacy in which he felt he could completely open himself up to her. It was in moments like these that Gibbs felt he could tell her his deepest, darkest fears and regrets and she would take them all away, if only just for a little while. With Abby's arms around him all that existed was the two of them; everything else was just a distant noise in the background.

"Of course...with all that I am." Abby leaned into him, sighing as more of their body's came into contact when she let go of his hands and lifted her arms to encircle his neck.

"I'd never hurt you, Abby...close your eyes," he whispered, kissing her lips as her eyes drifted shut.

The kiss was brief and when it ended Gibbs rested his forehead against hers, taking in the serene beauty of everything about her as she stayed quiet. He loved seeing her so full of life and playful but when she was like this, completely relaxed and at peace in his arms, she looked angelic.

Moving his hands to her waist, Gibbs dug his fingers in gently to urge Abby forward. Descending the steps backwards he stayed one below her, wanting to keep a close hold on her, not only so she wouldn't fall, but just because he needed to touch her. He was eye level with the roundness of her breasts, the slight swell of exposed skin as it extended from under the black material of her dress making him stop halfway down the stairs so he could have a taste.

He held her still, leaning forward to tease the soft creamy curves that he'd fought to keep himself from all evening with his lips. Abby gasped at the unexpected sensation and Gibbs felt her heartbeat speed up under his lips as he worked his way down one side of the small dip in the front of her dress before moving back up and over the swell of the other breast.

"Is this my surprise?" She asked throatily, her fingers pushing through Gibbs' hair when his tongue sneaked under the edge of the fabric concealing her from him. "Are we gonna christen the stairs?"

Gibbs chuckled against her skin before pulling back. "You've got a one track mind, Abbs."

"Me?" she giggled. "Your hands and mouth seem pretty intent on only one pathway at the moment."

"They're not the only part of me that wants to head down that path," he mumbled, still unable to keep his gaze off the sight in front of him.

Keeping her eyes closed and using her hands to gently map out the features of his face, the second Abby's fingers ran over his lips she covered them with her own. Holding his head in place she leaned down to kiss him and Gibbs stretched his neck up to draw out the embrace. They'd shared several heated kisses that night but knowing they could make it last as long as they wanted; that there was no-one waiting for them and no need to hurry up and get their fill before they had to separate made Gibbs want to take his time.

As long as their oxygen supply would allow them to continue they remained standing in the middle of the staircase, Abby's lithe form standing above Gibbs as he wrapped his arms around her waist, accepting everything she was offering. One kiss melded into the next as they kept them tender and slow; their lips teasing, tongues exploring and teeth nipping. Gibbs groaned as she pushed her hips into his stomach, his hands sliding lower to cover her ass.

When they were forced to break apart, gasping for air, Gibbs opened his eyes and smiled to see Abby still had hers closed. Remembering the reason they'd come down into the basement instead of heading straight up to bed he returned his focus to her surprise.

"Guess we better keep going then...or else we will end up christening the stairs," Gibbs smirked, patting her backside and shuffling them the rest of the way down the steps.

Once they reached the floor of the basement Gibbs carefully guided her around the large table in the center of the room. Coming to a standstill on the other side of it, he took hold of one of Abby's hands and moved to stand behind her. He shifted her footing so she was facing the far corner where her surprise awaited.

Resting his lips against her bare shoulder he carefully kissed his way across the soft skin and smoothed his hands over her stomach, enjoying the feel of the silky material over the flatness underneath. "Open your eyes," he breathed next to her ear.

Abby shivered at his closeness, her eyelids gradually opening to reveal her surprise. Hanging directly in front of her was the hammock from the cabin, the length of it spread out across the corner of the basement. The loud squeal of excitement that followed barely seconds later echoed off the walls and Gibbs grunted as she threw all her weight behind her enthusiastic hug. He staggered backwards, grabbing onto her hips and managing to keep them from falling when he backed up against his workbench.

"When did you do this?" She asked, gripping onto his shoulders.

Gibbs couldn't help but laugh at her excitement. "I didn't...Ray did it yesterday while we were at work."

Abby's bottom jaw dropped and she stared back at him. "You asked Ray to do it?...you'd put up with more of his jokes, for me?"

Gibbs shrugged and lightly kissed her nose. "You're worth it, and Ray's never gonna let it go anyway so I might as well get something in return for all his wisecracks."

"You put it down here so we can use it without the neighbors seeing...that's very kinky of you, Gibbs." She turned away from him and walked back over to stand next to the hammock.

Gibbs rolled his eyes. "I put it down here so you could sit with me while I work...coulda got you a chair or a couch even, but I know you got...attached, to that hammock. Thought it would be more comfy for ya."

After Ray's initial bombardment of jokes when Gibbs had asked him if he would do it, his Marine buddy had admitted it was a nice idea that Gibbs wanted Abby to spend time in a part of the house that he usually only kept for himself. So he'd agreed to go and get the hammock and come and install it. The amount of time it had taken Ray to drive and collect it and then hang it in the basement, Gibbs knew he was going to owe his friend an enormous favor but it was worth it for the look of happiness on Abby's face.

"It's more than just comfort, Jethro, there's some pretty amazing memories attached to this thing...our first time together. It's where you told me you loved me..." she lowered her voice slightly and Gibbs walked up behind her, bringing her into his arms once more. "Does that sound silly?" She asked.

"'Course not, only gotta look at it to be reminded of that night and everything that happened."

Abby sighed and melted back against him. "I know it's only a material thing, but it was when we were in that hammock together that I started to feel like you were mine."

"Always will be," Gibbs admitted without hesitation. He started to kiss the side of her neck then worked his way up to the bottom of her ear to suck on the fleshy tip, grinning in satisfaction when he felt the moan that rose in her vibrate through his chest.

Taking a small step back from her, Gibbs kept his hands on her hips as he took in the sight of the top half of her naked back. He knew concealed just below was the cross tattoo that had escaped his scrutinizing gaze for too long. Reaching up he pulled Abby's hair free from where it sat on top of her head, drawing the raven tresses down and combing his fingers through the silkiness. As it fell to her shoulders, Gibbs slowly swept it to the side so he could undo the small clasp that kept her dress in place.

"Wanna see you," he murmured, leaning forward and kissing the sensitive spot under her ear.

Gradually he lowered the top of Abby's dress before unhooking her petite black strapless bra. Pressing his chest into her back he looked over her shoulder and down at the soft supple skin of her breasts. Gibbs loved every inch of her gorgeous body, but those perfectly shaped plump globes made just for his hands and mouth were enough to make him hard in an instant.

Leaning his head forward, he brushed his lips across her shoulder and towards her neck. When his hand began to smooth up and down her arms, Gibbs felt the rise of tiny goose bumps under his fingertips. Abby moaned in frustration as he took another step back from her to look at the full extent of her cross tattoo.

Until now he hadn't taken the opportunity to look at it so closely. He caressed the intricate detail with his eyes, imprinting every finely crafted line and swirl into his mind. The dark ink against her pale skin made him ache to touch her, she was beautiful in so many ways, and she was his. Only his. Inching his thumbs under the dress as it gathered at her waist he eased it down further, stopping when he could see the slight curve at the top of her ass.

Crouching down, Gibbs trailed his lips along the lines of the tattoo. As his tongue slowly licked along her spine, one of his hands spread out over her bare stomach while the other came to rest on her still covered hip. He could hear Abby's breathing deepen with his touches, her groan of arousal unmistakeable as his hand glided up from her stomach to hold one of her breasts in his palm. He toyed with her nipple, his index finger lightly circling and teasing the submissive bud into a peak, his tongue mimicking a similar pattern over the curve of her back as he moved lower.

Abby's hands covered both of Gibbs', her fingers sliding between his. One pair of joined hands alternated between her breasts and together they massaged her responsive flesh. The movements of her body as she undulated against him sent a rush of blood racing between his legs and Gibbs knew as much as he wanted to prolong things they weren't going to last long.

Working his mouth higher again, Gibbs kissed his way up to the back of her neck and straightened up so his body was full height against hers. Feeling the bulge held within his pants firmly against her ass, Abby started to grind back against him. Gibbs couldn't deny himself the pleasure that her backside created and thrust his hips forward, the friction making him swell even more.

Wanting to tease her just as much, he slowly started to edge his other hand from her hip, to curve down the inside of her thigh. Abby's breath caught as their joined hands moved under her dress to caress her through the thin lace of her underwear. Gibbs could feel her heat through the soaked material, the gentle back and forth motions of his fingers increasing the moisture with each passing over her sensitive folds.

Abby gyrated down on his fingers and used the hand that was covering his to increase the pressure while at the same time pushing her ass against his hardness. Gibbs knew she was getting close and while he didn't want to make her wait, more than anything he wanted her first release of the night to be while he was embedded deep inside her. He moved his hand away from between her legs but continued to massage her breasts as he pulled her upright to rest flush against him.

"Jethro..." she whimpered, her head falling back onto his shoulder.

"Patience, Abbs...wanna be inside you." Gibbs kissed her temple before turning her around and moving them towards the bench on the other side of the room. He felt a certain amount of pleasure at how turned on she looked, her green eyes dark and hazy, her cheeks red and her breathing already labored. From her waist up she was naked; her dress bunched up on her hips and now giving Gibbs the frontal view of her creamy thighs and the wetness between.

Lifting the red polo over his head, Gibbs threw it onto the workbench before removing his white t-shirt just as quickly. He took a hold of Abby's hands and drew her closer to him, spinning her in the process so her back was against the bench. Slipping his flattened hands under the gathered material of her dress Gibbs pushed it down painstaking slow over her hips, taking her panties with it, his fingers sliding all the way down the outside of her smooth legs.

With Gibbs kneeling down in front of her, Abby leaned on his shoulder to step out of her dress and underwear. Gibbs' face was so close to her, the smell of her arousal inflaming his nostrils. He wanted to lean in and taste her but he knew once he started he wouldn't be able to stop. Moistening his lips with his tongue, he looked up at Abby and reached his hands out to spread them over her backside. He knew as Abby gazed down on him that they would have all weekend to take their time and he could explore all of her hidden pleasure points, this time he just needed to feel her wrapped around him.

Forcing himself to stand up fully, his hands moved to his belt but Abby quickly pushed them aside. Gibbs used his feet to slip off his shoes and socks while she undid his belt and pants, pushing them and his boxers to the floor so he was as naked as she was. Encircling his arms around her middle, Gibbs reached behind her to straighten out his shirts on the bench. He felt her link her fingers behind his neck when she nuzzled her face into his chest, kissing a trail over the broad expanse and inhaling him.

Gibbs could feel one of her hands moving down over his back and curving around over his ribs, her intended target obvious as she neared his stomach. But before she could reach her goal Gibbs had lifted her in one swift motion off the ground and up onto the workbench. Standing in between Abby's legs, he ran his hands up her thighs, his thumbs wandering dangerously close to her aching core.

"Turn around," Abby instructed and Gibbs looked at her questioningly.

He was beyond ready to move past the foreplay that had been turned on and off all night and to be joined with her, and every signal Abby's body was giving off, from her hurried breathing to the moistness between her legs told him she was ready too. "It'll just take a minute," she said, her eyes pleading with him to do as she asked.

She gripped hold of his shoulders, encouraging him to turn around, which he did with a grin. "Sometimes a minute can feel like a lifetime," he grumbled light-heartedly, looking down at his straining erection.

Abby snorted at him and shimmied her backside closer to the edge of the bench when he had his back completely to her. With feather light touches her fingers began to map out the rise and fall of every muscle on his long back; from his broad solid shoulders she travelled south over his prominent shoulder blades, across the curvature of his spine, down to the hollow of his back and the small dimples that she had become so obsessed with.

With her knees resting either side of his waist, she wove her legs around the front of his strong thighs, letting her heels skim over the inner muscles. Shifting even closer, Gibbs felt her wet heat nestle against his lower back and groaned. At feeling her sensitive flesh touching the equally sensitive area just above his ass Gibbs clenched his eyes shut and grit his teeth. All she had to do was start wriggling against him and he wouldn't be able to stop himself from either using his own hand or seeking out Abby's to bring him the relief he needed.

"We usually do the spooning afterwards," he teased, his voice rough with arousal.

Wrapping her arms around his chest Abby let her fingers explore him blindly, her lips soon joining in her intimate admiration of his back. "I know, I just want you to know I appreciate you...all of you."

Gibbs reopened his eyes at her words; how could he think otherwise. Every time she looked at him, every time she touched him, Abby made him feel like he was the only person on the planet with her; she had that much of a hold over him.

"I love you," she whispered against his back, brushing the side of her face against the short silver hair on the back of his neck.

Unable to keep himself from her any longer he turned around to face her, both of them gasping as Gibbs nestled himself snugly between her thighs. "Love you too, Abbs." He pushed several errant tendrils of hair behind her ear and returned her heated gaze. "So much..."

Gibbs kissed her, trying to convey just how much he loved her. His lips united with Abby's in a teasing dance, licking his way along her bottom lip and taunting her to flick her tongue out and catch his. Quickly becoming more demanding he pushed into her mouth to deepen the kiss, his lips crushing into hers. Abby gasped against him, returning his open mouthed kisses, allowing Gibbs greater access inside as their tongues collided.

Lifting her knees up Gibbs raised her long legs around his back, his hardness hovering near her entrance. When Abby finally guided him inside, he couldn't stop the moan that rose up from deep in his chest. Holding her hips in his large hands, inch by inch he slid into her waiting warmth.

Gibbs watched her passion laden eyes struggle to stay open as he sheathed himself within her, holding his breath until he was completely buried. He could feel Abby pulsing around him and stilled his movements, his breathing coming in sharp pants as he tried to regain some control so things didn't come to an end the second he started moving.

Abby clung to him, her legs locked around his waist and her arms around his neck. She drew back to kiss him, not hesitating before her tongue was snaking into his mouth and coercing him into a duel. Withdrawing out of her slightly Gibbs relished the feel of her slick heat as he thrust back in, Abby's noisy moans making him increase his strokes as she pushed against him and pleaded with him to move faster.

It didn't take long before he was increasing his long powerful plunges, his lower body using every muscle in an attempt to give him the perfect angle and amount of force as he strove to heighten her pleasure. He dug his fingers into her hips, pounding into her as the jars and various woodwork tools started to rattle on the bench. The noisier Abby got the deeper and faster Gibbs drove into her, grunting as they both neared their climax.

Gibbs knew it was a matter of seconds rather than minutes that he could hold on. Reaching down between them he sought out her clit and with barely a caress of his finger Abby was screaming out his name, her internal muscles clamping down on him like a vice as her body trembled around him. It was enough for Gibbs to let go of the release he felt like he'd been holding onto all night, and with two strong and deep thrusts he heard his polo shirt rip underneath Abby as he spilled inside her.

Letting go of her, Gibbs placed his hands on either side of her hips so the bench was taking the majority of his weight and fell forward, tremors continuing to pulse through their bodies long after their movements stopped. Abby's arms and legs fell limp around him but still maintained the contact of their bodies, while Gibbs rested his forehead on her shoulder, sucking in deep breaths. Every part of his body ached, but in a euphoric way. He could only imagine what the weekend would bring, but if what they'd just done was anything to go by he seriously doubted his ability to be able to walk normally when Monday morning dawned.

"Guess you won't be able to wear either of those shirts again," Abby smiled, nuzzling her face into his neck, her teeth biting at him playfully.

"Think we can add 'em to the growing list of casualties, along with your underwear that got ripped the other night," Gibbs smirked, his breath starting to gradually slow.

While they had made love slowly and tenderly numerous times, on the occasions where it had been a fast and desperate release they had been unconcerned about the items of clothing or anything else that had acted as a barrier in keeping them from one another. If it was in the way it was disposed of in the quickest and easiest way possible.

Using his hands to push himself up Gibbs slipped out of her, enjoying the steady strokes of her nails raking up and down his back and her soothing voice as she spoke. "I was gonna suggest we get comfy in the hammock, but I think a shower and bed are sounding better...we've got all weekend to revisit our hammock adventures."

"Shower and bed sounds great, Abbs...I could use a lie down and some sleep," he teased.

Helping her off the bench Gibbs took her hand and led her towards the stairs, leaving the mess and discarded clothes there to clean up later.

"You can lie down but there won't be much sleeping," she told him flatly.

"Gonna need to go back to work for a rest," Gibbs joked as he walked up the stairs behind her, his hands continuing to roam over her naked hips and ass.

"Better get used to it if I'm moving in...and you thought you didn't sleep much before we were together..." Abby grinned over her shoulder.

Gibbs almost tripped up the last step, his heart pounding in anticipation as he began to wonder just what he'd gotten himself into. With Abby one thing was certain, she never did anything in half measures and he had a feeling he was about to experience all the benefits that had to offer.

TBC...