Title: It Was A Kiss
Author: Mara
Pairing: Warrick/Brass
Rating: R
Summary: Warrick and Jim find out the line between love and hate are truly blurred.
Category: Angst, romance, pre-slash
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters.
Author's Note: This takes place right after the pilot, shortly after Holly Gribbs death.

It was soft, it was a little unsure. It was pleasantly wet and startlingly wonderful, and it tasted of pure lust. It was everything that a first kiss should've been, but was it *really*?

Warrick had never kissed another man. He had never even *wanted* to kiss another man. He had been perfectly happy with his heterosexual relationships in the past, and had never given a thought to walking on the other side of the line, not even a little. But then, *he* had come along.

Jim Brass

The detective with a warped sense of humor. The man that could reduce him to rage with just a look. Brass was still angry with him for causing Holly's death and he never let Warrick forget it. Warrick thought that one day it might even come to blows and the thought of getting physical with Jim was somewhat appealing. This was the man that Warrick wanted in spite of himself and in spite of the fact that they weren't friends. He didn't know why. There had just been a spark since the first time they had laid eyes on each other, and Warrick had wanted him. He still did.

They had crossed paths at a club that night, of all places. Yes, Warrick did get out of the house now and again--away from the crime lab and the violence. He did not just go to casinos to gamble his hard earned money away, contrary to popular belief. Jim had been there with three other men, which was strange, because Warrick had never really considered Brass much of a club person, but he had been there nonetheless. Jim had seen Warrick before he had seen him, sitting by himself not far away, because he'd pulled a particularly nasty case and had needed some liquid comfort, he cradled in his hands a drink he hadn't really wanted to buy.

Jim had excused himself from his friends to confront the young man during one of the times his guard was down. He was just like any other normal guy, out for the night after a hard day's work. Warrick quickly found that he didn't like dealing with Jim when he was just a normal person. He still felt the guilt over Holly's death and Brass never helped the situation. Suddenly, it was like the club seemed to close in on him and the air had gotten much thicker. Jim looming over him - giving him a death glare, certainly didn't help matters.

Not surprisingly, Jim had told Warrick once again that Holly's death was all his fault and that coupled with his gambling addiction, should have warranted suspension. Warrick was in no mood to hear this again for the hundredth time.

He had snapped something back and grabbed his coat to leave, but Jim had followed him out to the lonely, dark alley behind the club, intent on finishing what he thought had already been started.

So they had quarreled. The mutual cleverness and wit had passed back and forth between them, fast and furious and not subsiding. Both of them had grown angrier with each passing minute, until they were nose to nose and arguing for all they were worth.

In the end, it had been something Warrick had said.

Jim had fallen silent, and those bottomless blue eyes had met Warrick's brilliant green ones, but for an instant only. And then, Jim had kissed him.

And it was a *kiss*.

It was a kiss that hadn't stopped yet, and it was growing more passionate, just like their dispute had. But unlike their argument, Warrick didn't want it to end.

It was a different type of battle, but it was no less fiery than any of their other fights had been. When Warrick felt Jim's tongue gently parting his lips, he willingly yielded and opened his mouth against the older man's, and the fight became hotter than all the others. Their tongues met and Warrick inhaled sharply, uncontrollably.

Then, it was a touch.

Jim's hand came up and hesitantly wove through Warrick's brown hair, drawing him closer, as his other hand fell upon Warrick's strong bicep, covered by the material of the black v-neck sweater he was wearing. Warrick's own hand wrapped around the back of Jim's neck, the other sliding a little beneath the hem of Jim's suit coat, and it was final. They weren't going to be turning their backs on this like it had never happened. So much for enemies.

Their tongues slowly slid against each other, tangling together erotically and the kiss deepened. Their teeth clashed and their mouths never parted, never stopped moving. It was pure sensation.

Warrick was pressed back up against a wall, and Jim reluctantly pulled away, eyes sparking. Warrick licked his pink, well-kissed lips, and sucked in a breath of air, because he was more breathless than he had ever been in his entire life. All because of a kiss -- a kiss unlike anything Warrick had ever experienced. It was astonishing.

But now that Warrick knew what it was, was it still what he wanted?

Jim was watching him silently, trying to read his expression, and Warrick let out a quiet sigh, letting his eyes fall shut as he leaned his head back against the brick wall behind him.

After a moment, he looked at the older man again, and whispered his name. "Jim."

The detective smiled just slightly, and leaned closer to capture Warrick's lips in another passionate kiss.

Warrick smiled as well, his earlier question echoing in his mind over and over. Was it still what he wanted?

Yeah, it was.

End