"Abby?"

"Hummmm" Abby contentedly purred as she felt Tim's hands wash her all over with the large soft soapy sponge. They had been in the shower together for what felt like an eternity and were probably dangerously close to running out of hot water but Abby didn't care. Tim had placed kisses all down her neck and shoulders and had adoringly shampooed and rinsed her long tresses clean. Now he was patiently trying to remove the glorious black ink he had worked all over her body during the night.

"Abby? It's not coming off. The ink I mean. Some of its smearing a little but it doesn't seem to want to come off. I think it might have been a permanent marker"

Tim sounded anxious and Abby just smiled and turned to kiss him warm, soapy and naked in his arms.

((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((99

"Oh Abby I'm so sorry." Tim looked sorrowfully down at Abby stretched out face down on the bed still gloriously naked and still covered in his poetry.

Abby turned her head and smiled up at him with both her full mouth and her dancing green eyes. "There is nothing to be sorry for Timmy! I love that I'm a living canvas. I'm unique. A Timothy McGee original. I could pose nude in the Louvre on black velvet and thousands would praise you as an artist."

Tim smirked "More like thousands would come to see you naked."

Abby fluttered her eyelashes "Timothy you always know just what to say to a girl"

Tim smiled back at her. In the cold light of the morning complete with rather savage hangover he had been rather alarmed at the results of his actions. What had seemed romantic and impassioned the previous night seemed a little creepy to him this morning.

Not that he didn't love the results. Abby had opened herself up to him like a rose bud seeking the morning light and he couldn't resist pinching himself when they had talked and held and worshipped each other for hours after she had drawn him back to her bed.

Tim didn't know whether to be embarrassed of his actions or proud of his daring. He had really marked her all over. In what turned out to be black Permanent Marker.

But then again. This was Abby. This was a woman who had been nearly run over in a living room by an ex on her own Harley Davidson. A woman who picked up men in cemeteries, dressed in leather and lace, played with voodoo dolls and talked to machines.

"Still, Abby…" Tim chewed his lip as he considered just how much ink needed to come off before they both returned to work tomorrow.

"Timmy" Abby sat up and placed a warning finger on his lips halting his apology.

"Don't you go turning all McGee on me now, not when you have me wrapped around your little finger" Then she smiled at him softening her gaze before she flopped back face down on the bed.

"Ok so do it. Where should we start?"

Tim picked up the bottle of nail polish remover and carefully tipped some out onto a soft cotton wool ball.

"I don't know Abby. This stuff is pretty strong." Tim wrinkled his nose at the astringent smell.

Abby reassured him again "It will be fine Tim. It's just a form of alcohol. Besides we have already tried everything else."

Tim looked down at her long pale legs and slowly, gently ran his hand down the back of her smooth thigh as Abby shivered under his touch.

"Your skin is so delicate though. I mean sunlight is too harsh for it. It would be like brushing the fresh morning dew from a velvety new rose petal and pouring Draino over it instead." Tim sighed and then was startled as Abby sat up again and swept him into her arms and kissed him soundly.

Tim pulled back breathless "What was that for?"

Abby threw back her head and laughed delighted at his honest confusion "You really are clueless and gorgeous and wonderful all at the same time. Do you know that?"

Tim smiled goofily back at her. Abby kissed him again on the nose before returning once again to her position on the bed

"We really should get started you know. At this rate it's going to take us the rest of the day. Okay so first I want you to read to me what you wrote before you wipe it away. "

Tim squirmed a bit embarrassed "You want me to read it to you first?"

Abby smiled into her pillow "Of course I do. I want to make sure your gift to me is duly appreciated first before it is erased."

"Ahh ok." Tim honestly didn't remember all of what he wrote and considered that it probably wasn't very good. High on emotion and low on technique.

"Alright well I will start at your neck and work my way down."

Abby sighed "Yes start with the poem about the kisses. I couldn't read it all, I had to twist around too much to see it"

"Right then well" Tim cleared his throat and blushed but continued bravely on.

"I could sleep and dream on your mouth,

Sing and die there, again and again

That mouth, deep harbor

For a night's lodging after a long journey, reaching it,

Yet still longing to reach it……

They're battles – our kisses

Heavy, slow, hurtful

Where blood, voice and memory all take part

Oh how jealous I am of the Caf pow you drink

And of the words you speak

Of your deep sighs…

Jealous of those unjust partings-

Of our mouths

Longing am I for your sweet kiss…."

Abby sighed and wriggled, stretching down to her very toes like a cat arching under a beloved hand.

"Oh Timothy, that was beautiful. It must stay. You couldn't possibly wipe that off"

Tim battled between smiling that she liked his poem so much and frowning that he couldn't remove it.

"Abby, it runs all the way down your back. I have to take at least some of it off?"

"No Timothy. It stays. Besides it's my back. No one but you will see it and it will simply wear off eventually anyway. No you can take off something else instead."

Tim peered at what he had written in a rolling curving hand in black across the gentle curve of her pale rump.

"What about….. I'm like a harp –quiet, until you come and draw your hand across my strings. Then the music of my heart sings out. I am dazed by my love for you?

Abby shook her head firmly into the pillow "No it stays. It makes me think of the look you get when I run my hand down your chest. All sort of dizzy and.."

"But Abby?"

"Stays"

Tim frowned "Alright, roll over and let's see what else I can take off"

Abby rolled over and saucily winked at Tim as his gaze fell on her soft breasts and he blushed again.

Tim prepared his cotton wool again as the alcohol had already evaporated. He smiled to himself as he read his declaration he had written between her curved breasts

I will love you till I too turn to dust and join the stars.

"Ok I will take this bit off then."

Abby suddenly sat up aghast "Oh No Timmy not that bit. That's one of the best bits."

Tim frowned at Abby again. This could seriously take all day. Tim considered and chewed on his full bottom lip thoughtfully.

"Alright what about this then? I will leave the chemical equation bit to remind you of what was there and I will wipe away the rest. AND….. I will give you a kiss when I'm done."

Abby fought to keep the smile from her face "Are you negotiating with me Timmy?"

Tim smiled that little slightly lop sided smile that made her stomach turn over.

"Well yes I suppose I am"

Abby smiled cheekily back "Will it be an I have joined the stars sort of a kiss?"

Tim tried to smoother his smile and tried to look optimistically hopeful instead "Well I can try?"

Abby pursed her lips and closed her eyes waiting for him to kiss her. Instead she gasped as he quickly swiped the alcohol soaked cotton between her breasts, the rapid evaporation chilling her skin. She opened her eyes and true to his word he had left the equation and had uncovered more of her pale skin. Tim leaned down and gently kissed the chill skin revealed with his warm soft lips.

Abby moaned quietly to herself at the sensation before Tim caught her mouth with his, laid her back against the pillows and kissed her as if she truly was his safe harbor.

After a lifetime Abby fluttered open her eyes and smiled at Tim as he leaned over her, smiling a little at her response.

"Umm Timmy, I think I'm going to enjoy this."

(

(Thank you to all those that reviewed the first chapter and helped encourage this follow up. I hope you enjoy this too. Credit on most of the peom goes to Michelle Lovric and her book How to write Love Letters. The rest is mine)