apologies for being incredibly slow at updating... haven't given up on either version of this story, I promise!

52.

GIBBS

It took a while for Gibbs to wake properly. He was comfortable, he'd had vague but good dreams, and he felt no desire whatsoever to face whatever the world would throw at him today.

There was a comforting weight against his chest, and he smiled when his mind connected the dots. Kate. Still half asleep, he ran a hand over her hair, then down her back.

He was pulled into wakefulness when his fingers encountered warm, smooth flesh, not worn flannel. He opened one eye, squinting down, and saw Kate's naked shoulder, the soft expanse of skin. Wow. Memories came flooding back, and his eyes closed again as he savoured them. "You're one lucky bastard," he told himself, then laughed.

"Mmmm."

Kate's sleepy moan and the feel of her nuzzling closer... He was grateful that, this morning, he had the right to drop a kiss on her temple, ruffle her hair, gently squeeze her butt. Her laughter mirrored his own as she propped herself up with one hand, trailing the other over his chest to make him gasp, and then tugging on his chin till his lips met hers.

The kiss was sleepy but intense. Kate took charge again, in a way that he wouldn't have expected from her before last night, and he surrendered gratefully to her insistent mouth, his hands tangling in her hair. When she pulled away, he was left still wanting. He couldn't imagine ever getting tired of the taste and feel of her. He tensed to sit up, but she pushed at his shoulder.

"Don't move."

He chuckled, and she frowned playfully down at him, then grabbed his wrists and pinned them either side of his head.

They both instinctively knew his subservience was a game, that she could dominate because he allowed her to, but there was something undeniably seductive about it. Maybe being owned wasn't such a bad thing after all.

"What's so funny, Gibbs?"

"Never expected you to be so bossy in bed."

"We can take turns."

He stared at her for a moment in surprise then guffawed.

She just raised an eyebrow. "There have to be some benefits to working in law enforcement," she said with a shrug. "Handcuffs can be used for all kinds of things..."

He felt his eyes widen. "Oh, really?"

She grinned. "Really."

Laughing, he flipped them over so he was on top. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes were deep liquid pools he could happily drown in, yet she bit her lip nervously, a little of her inherent modesty asserting itself. She held his gaze for a few seconds then looked away.

"When do we have to leave?"

Gibbs grinned to herself, amused by her sudden shyness, but humoured her. He glanced at the clock. "We should probably get up soon," he conceded.

Her eyes met his again. Her teeth still worried at her bottom lip, and he dropped the softest of kisses there. "Kate... There's nothing to worry about." He hoped she'd understand his full meaning. He'd never been great with words, wasn't likely to start now, but she should know him well enough by now to catch what he was trying to say.

She stared at him, searched his expression, then a smile bloomed. Whatever reassurance she'd been looking for, she'd found it. She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and they kissed once more.

He had to remind himself that they had things to do - and that they had a whole work free weekend ahead of them - before he was able to break away.

"OK," she whispered.

"OK?"

"OK."

He leaned down once more and took one last taste and smell of the skin of her neck (he noticed her whimper and small shiver of pleasure with satisfaction), then reluctantly disengaged, turning away from her so he could think straight, rubbing the last of the sleep from his eyes as he sat on the edge of the bed.

He felt the mattress shift as she moved to her side and got up, then he looked over to admire the view as she walked away, all long, toned limbs and silky skin, a sway of her hips that he was certain was entirely deliberate. Not all that shy then, Miss Todd. She glanced over her shoulder at him, her grin wicked. He was glad there was a fold of fabric over his lap.

"You showerin' first then, I guess?" Playing it cool was hardly an option at this point, but he should at least try not to act like a teenaged boy.

She cocked her head to one side, then continued to sashay. "Who said we had to take turns?" she shot back, as she disappeared towards the bathroom.

Gibbs blinked. Huh. The things he was discovering about his Katie...

"You coming?"

He heard the water start to flow, and shook himself back into action. "Y-Yeah."

So much for not behavin' like a teenager.

Somehow, as he pushed the bathroom door open and she reached out to pull him close, he found he didn't care very much about that after all.