It was a study of things unseen, he'd decided, as she sashayed across the room, every curve dripping in silk and shimmer, every strand of hair in place, and a smile for the ages of a fortnight.
It was a study of things indescribable, he'd continued, as she threw her head back in laughter, all of her perfect teeth displayed behind apple stained lips.
"Horatio?" Eric's voice pierced his reverie with milky clarity, jarring him to the point of a physical start. Sighing as his eyes left his goddess, Horatio smiled shortly before twisting in his seat to face Eric.
"Yes sir," he said, timbred low and gravely.
"You're gonna break her if you stare any harder," Eric grumbled, leaning into his friend. Horatio laughed shortly, his face tinging with embarrassment. "She looks amazing tonight, right?"
"Eric..."
"I'm just saying..."
"She looks nice, yes."
"She looks nice! Horatio, she could stop a world war right this very second just by shimming her hips!"
"Eric..."
"Okay, H, I get it," Eric said, raising his hands in defeat, "she looks nice. I'll talk to you later."
Watching Eric cross the room, his shoulders set with tension, Horatio fell back into waxen rhapsody, his eyes skirting back to Calleigh. Furrowing his brow as his gaze fell on empty space, Horatio scanned the room desperately, until he finally found her again... two feet from in front of his face.
"Hey," she chirped, placing a hand on his forearm, "you look nice!"
"Thank you," Horatio responded after a second, his mind suddenly blank. "You, uh, look nice too." Cursing himself silently as she giggled girlishly, Horatio had almost regained blood flow to his head when she spoke again.
"Would you like to dance?" she asked, extending her hand. Smiling, Horatio took her lithe fingers in his palm and followed her to the floor. Settling into his shadow, Calleigh tucked her hand into his and pressed her chest flush.
"Who won?"
Calleigh smiled, her eyes twinkling. "Technically Ryan, but that depends on what adjective you used with Eric." Horatio snorted softly.
"I said 'nice.'"
"Then it was Ryan."
Dancing in silence for a long moment, Horatio pulled his stare from the wall and settled it on Calleigh. "I would have danced without a bet."
"Who said the bet was to get you to dance with me?" Calleigh responded quickly, grinning. Returning the smile, Horatio subconsciously tightened his grip on Calleigh's waist, his thumb tracing small circles on the exposed inch of skin on her lower back. "Horatio?"
"Calleigh?" he smirked, pulling her closer, if that was possible.
"If we weren't here, and this wasn't what it was and I wasn't wearing liquid latex and you weren't male and..."
"And?"
"I don't know," she sighed, resting her head against his shoulder. Placing a whisper light kiss against the crown of her head, Horatio continued their Murray-esque spin until the music faded out. Parting, the two shared a long gaze, before Calleigh blushed and walked away, head down. Shoving his hands in his pockets, Horatio watched her hurry out onto the balcony of La Saielle, the tiniest smile dimpling his cheeks.
Horatio skimmed the room, briefly making eye contact with both Ryan and Eric, before following Calleigh's path out.
It was a study in things unseen.
