Disclaimer: I do not own CSI:MIAMI, not any of its affiliates. Nor am I making any money off this fiction.
AN: Speedle is still alive in this story, however, Ryan Wolfe also becomes part of the team. This is set roughly in Season Three. This is a revamp of a story I wrote in 2007—back then I had no idea of what a forensic scientist did for a job, and now that I'm just about to graduate in Forensics with Honors, I thought to add some realism to my story, once called "A Chance to be Happy".
Names have been changed, to any reader who had read the previous story, and hopefully you all enjoy the fleshed out new version.
So please, enjoy and review.
Chapter one:
As a Forensic Artist, Jenna Rowe saw more than her fair share of gruesome body parts. First, out, the sights were bone chilling and nausea inducing; however, as the years went by, desensitising made her job that much easier. Her hometown had little enough of the sites, her career mainly focusing on trying to create a face from eyewitness accounts, but since her move to Miami, things turned a might different.
There was not that much murder in Stanton County, Kansas, mainly house hold robberies and such. Her career was stagnant and her home life was enough to call for a transfer. Miami, despite its increased crime rate, was a good place for her daughter, Samantha, to grow up in, not to mention the range of schools available for her smart little girl.
The two redheads found Miami a perfect new home.
{Line}
Girl's night was always gossip night, a chance to let loose and get rid of lingering tension. Harmless fun, with a few drinks, was always at one of their homes, this particular night at the Ballistics expert, Calleigh Duquesne. The blonde bombshell had been the most welcoming of her new team, and only had competition with Alexx, the Medical Examiner.
Giggles were the theme of the night, as well as romance, at the very least, office romance. Wine glasses, partially filled with wine, dotted the surface of the coffee table while in the kitchen a dishwasher whirred to life.
Music, an easy listening track CD, crooned in the background with the waves of the ocean a short walk from the house. Curled up on a butter-soft couch, Jenna let out a soft laugh, enjoying the retelling of an incident earlier in the day.
Calleigh giggled next to her, before starting a new round of fresh gossip. "So, Jenna," she began in her soft, southern drawl, "Eric has been giving you a few appreciative glances lately. Anything you want to say in response?" The woman was determined to find romantic happiness for the single mother of one.
Jenna looked at her askance, "Are you sure? Because I'm pretty sure I overheard him telling that Ryan Wolfe that you were pretty easy on the eyes." Her easy answer sent the other women into a frenzy of teasing.
"Now, I don't know about you two sugars, but that baby boy is pretty enough to have the both of you," Alexx said. "If I weren't married…" she let the sentence trail off, knowing the implication was there. Grinning, Jenna tugged at her long auburn braid.
"You may think that Eric likes her, Calleigh, but I can tell you, it's Horatio that's got the keen eye," Yelina replied. "And we all know how much Eric knows how good looking he is." The women paused and looked at the Brazilian stunner. Yelina shrugged at the stares. "It's true, all you need to do is watch him when they're in a room together. The heat is intense."
"Well, he is a bit of a lion," Valera agreed, "And he does spend a lot of time around you, Jen."
Her blue eyes blinking, Jenna sat up straighter. "You do all know that he is our boss, right? IAB would have a field day with that."
"Yeah, honey, like that means anything," Alexx, said plainly. "To be fair, you're more like on contract and spend more time with the police than you do at the lab." Valera and Yelina both nodded as Calleigh looked at her with considering eyes.
One thing that Jenna learned almost immediately was that with Calleigh, Horatio was a man she would protect with every fibre of her being. If she didn't pass Calleigh's test, she wouldn't have a hope in hell with Horatio—if she wanted to be with him, that is.
"He uses any excuse to see you, you know?" Valera put in. "When you help out in the lab, he intercepts the reports you ask for, so that he can give them to you." Valera seemed to really cling to the idea, her brown eyes bright and considering.
Jenna shook her head with a humourless smile. While she did have a crush on her red-haired boss, she wanted to be taken seriously with her career. If she was with him, if there was a promotion, there might be whispers of favouritism, not exactly something she wanted to get involved with. Besides, Samantha, her daughter, had to give any man an A-OK before Jenna allowed herself to get involved with anything.
Nevertheless…if— only if— he made the first move… and if he managed to put a convincing argument…
"We have a code of conduct at work," Jenna sighed, "He hasn't met Samantha, and what do you think Stetler would do once he hears about a 'supposed' relationship?"
Her words seemed to lower the mood slightly. Horatio was a man who worked incredibly hard, and was well loved for his passion towards his work. There was no one else that anyone at the lab would rather work for. His integrity and loyalty was something unmatched.
Suddenly, Alexx smirked at Yelina. "You notice how Baby Girl doesn't say anything about not liking him?" The women let out a heartening laugh, lifting the mood. "Horatio is a man who needs a good woman to love and care for him, and gives him something to come home to." Yelina agreed cheerfully, wanting happiness for her brother-in-law.
"Let me guess," Jenna said wryly, "All arguments are invalid?"
"Got it in one, sugar," Calleigh replied with a bright twinkle in her eye. With a teasing look, Jenna leaned over towards her blonde friend.
"So what's happening between you and Tim?"
Calleigh choked on her wine, staring at Jenna with wide eyes. "Uh, wow! If I'm going to answer anything like that, I think I might need something a little stronger."
{line}
The saying was—what can go wrong, will go wrong.
How valid it was for her right at that moment. Hung-over, and dealing with the aftermath of a headache inducing temper tantrum from her daughter, Jenna collapsed at her desk with a world-weary sigh. Her daughter didn't want to go to school with her carer, but in fact wanted her mother to drop her off, then suddenly, she hated her lunch, hated her school work, hated her friends—it was a vicious morning that was leading towards a not so nice day.
"Big night?" Came a voice from the doorway.
Glancing up, Jenna bestowed a tired smile upon Horatio. "Yeah, and it lead to a terrible morning so far." He walked further into the room, allowing her to subtly admire his form in the black suit.
"Anything I can, um, do to make it better?" Blushing slightly at the implication, Jenna cleared her throat.
"Unless you can change my daughter's personality into something a little more pleasant, and get rid of a massive headache, I highly doubt it," she said gently, grinning at him.
With a soft smile in return, he nodded and glanced out through the glass walls, taking in the depth of the lab. "So, uh, what's your daughter's name?" he asked with his hushed voice curiosity filled.
"Samantha," Jenna replied with love coating her voice. "She might have been a pain in the ass this morning, but she's my moon and stars. Samantha managed to get into the Advanced Academic programs around here, and she says she loves it."
"Somehow, that does not surprise," he replied, sitting down on one of the spare chairs. "And her father?"
Jenna's demeanour turned defensive as the smile fell off her expression. "Uh, he's not around, and doesn't really care about her all that much."
Her words sparked his curiosity. "Do you mind me asking for more information?"
Sighing, she shook her head and leaned back into her chair, not overly concerned with getting her green silk shirt creased. "It was a high school romance that fell into the bad category. Isaac, when in high school, had everything coming to him, football scholarships, good looks, and a well-to-do father. We ended up in the same college; he was doing some business degree, while I was going for the science and art route. I wanted to be just like my father," she smiled fondly. "He's a cop, but wanted me to get into forensic science. Long story short, during college I fell pregnant and he felt like his future was ruined. His whole demeanour changed from nice college man to a surly boy overnight."
"He made you feel like it was your entire fault," he surmised.
Jenna nodded. "Something like that. The thing was, he wasn't overly fussed on condoms, said it ruined the experience, and, like a foolish teenager, I accepted it, but went on the shots. Everyone knows those aren't exactly fool proof. I left college for a year, went back home. Dad helped me out with Samantha, giving me a chance to finish everything online. He didn't want my life defined by that one moment."
"To Miami's benefit," Horatio complimented, presenting her with one of his most piercing stares. Unlike when it was pointed to criminals, this one was full of warmth and unspoken words. Feeling heat pool in her cheeks, Jenna ducked her head.
"He signed away his parental rights, so I don't really worry about him all that much anymore. It's just Samantha and me."
"Your father must be some man," he replied.
"The best," she laughed. "I should introduce you two sometime, but somehow, I think you're not exactly into biker bars and road trips."
Horatio gave her a rueful smile. "Still, one day, I wouldn't mind meeting him. Tell me about your night."
Jenna, trying to avoid a blush staining her cheeks, hurried her answer. "Just girl stuff…Your team are sure like dogs with a bone, they're relentless for information."
"That's how I trained them, sweetheart," he replied with pride. "I take it you were the topic of the night?"
Jenna gulped, but then remembered the night. If what the girls had said was true, then Horatio felt similar to the way she felt. She just had to gather her courage and speak. "Well, um, it was about you—well, more specifically what they think is going on between us." Avoiding looking at him, she kept her head down. She had no clue on how he was going to take her words and she didn't want to see any rejection. While embarrassed, she didn't take her words back though, still wanting answers. It was the decisive moment. Did he truly feel something for her like the girls talked about? Was their attraction mutual and worth the risk?
His fingers slipped under her chin and brought her gaze back to him. "What did you say in return?" Shocked at the lack of censure, a tingle of hope flared, though she squashed it quickly. Just because he didn't outwardly reject her, didn't mean that he wasn't going to do so.
"It doesn't matter, Horatio, IAB would have something to say about whatever I said, if they heard."
His blue eyes seemed to sharpen. "IAB would only have something to say if we were on the same team and if we announced a relationship loudly to the world, sweetheart, and you already know this, which suggests to me that feelings are already there."
"Nothing gets past you," she said lightly, trying to make a joke of it. Suddenly, there was no true desire to see his response.
He was watching her, she knew it, and it was long enough to make her squirm. "Well, uh—"he began.
"You know what?" she interrupted quickly, "we don't have to talk about this. I'm sure that you've got a lot of work to do—"His thumb on her lips forestalled any more words tumbling from her lips.
"I was going to say," he started once more, his blue eyes bright with a tender smile, "I'd have to meet your daughter to ask her if it was ok to date her mother."
Eyes wide, she began to stammer, "Oh! Uh—um, tonight! Tonight if you'd like, you two can talk—I'm making lasagne."
"Sounds real nice, sweetheart," Horatio replied. "Seven alright?"
Jenna nodded, "Gives me time to sort out homework and get dinner started. Any kind of wine you like?"
"How about you leave that to me?"
{line}
Five severed heads.
The stench was so foul, so sharp; it felt as if the very fires of hell had been set ablaze in her nostrils, infecting her lungs and throat. It was so thick, and cloying, that it seemed to permeate her clothing, her skin itself. Grimacing, Jenna tried to breathe shallowly, and stepped away from the source. Her body heaved as she fought not to gag.
Eyes watering, she grabbed a mask and hurriedly put it over her mouth. It wouldn't take away the scent, but she hoped it would lessen it to a degree.
Picking her camera up, she took a few reference pictures, the light illuminating the morgue.
"You certainly know how to treat a girl," she said hoarsely to Alexx, the ME. The two shared a brief laugh.
"Eric thought you might enjoy it. These poor babies though, taken away from their bodies—how could someone disturb them like that?"
One thing Jenna respected the most was the way Alexx treated those who ended up on her table. It restored her faith in humanity more than once.
"Well, my job is to give them their features back and get on the road to identify them. If I can give them a face, we can find out who they are and follow their tracks. Hopefully the team will find them soon enough and we can give them a chance at peace."
"Don't you say the nicest things?" Alexx replied before lifting up one of her tools. "Let me strip away the rotten flesh so you can do your magic." Quickly, she placed the heads in a series of boilers before setting a timer. "Horatio seems to be in a brighter mood than yesterday—anything I can attribute to you, honey?"
Jenna flushed, "well, uh, he's coming over to dinner tonight. He wants to ask Samantha's permission to date me." She fiddled with the strap of her camera. "Did you get a chance to send DNA samples up to the lab? I'll need a cross reference with what I can come up with and what the database shows me."
"Yes, I did get a chance, but no more changing the subject," Alexx said in response. "Although I'm really glad that things are moving forward. Guess all you needed was a push."
Rolling her eyes, Jenna leant against the spare table. "He was the one who made the moves and ferreted out the information."
"That man is a genius—I take it he saw you a little vulnerable and worked his talent for the tools he needed to make a move."
"I'm a little nervous," Jenna confessed to her friend. "I haven't dated at all since I feel pregnant. It's always been about Samantha and I'm concerned how she'll react if I bring a man home."
"Oh honey," Alexx looked at her sympathetically. "Mixed families are really common nowadays. I bet many of her friends at school have single parents and new partners. You're a beautiful woman, a sexy woman, who shouldn't be lonely. Be yourself and allow yourself to have some fun and see if it goes further."
With her fingers tracing patterns on the cool steel, Jenna nodded. "It's good that he's trying to involve Samantha," she said slowly.
"Horatio's always been good with kids, Honey; you know that as well as the rest of us. So what's really going on?"
"Sammy's been acting up," she said, taking a deep breath. "I mean really acting up. She wants to shave her legs, wear makeup and been rolling her school skirt up to make it shorter. Just last week she wanted a 'My Little Pony' and this week she wanted Maybelline products, the expensive stuff too. She even stole some of my lipsticks and mascaras and took it to school. I got a call from the principal asking if she had been shoplifting at the mall."
Alexx looked at her incredulously. "Wow, it's getting younger and younger! And the biggest issue is the fact that she's leggy, like you and there are a lot of sick men in the world."
Rubbing her temple, Jenna nodded. "Yeah, you and I know that well. I don't want her to grow up too quickly, and the wrong way."
"I hear you, Jenna," Alexx said, grabbing a spray bottle and cloth to wipe down her table. "You're a good Mom, and I know that things will settle down. Have you looked into peer pressure at all?"
"That was what I was planning on doing over the weekend. I figure, I could buy her some glittery lip glosses, maybe a small amount of eye shimmer, and show her how to apply it properly—negotiate the terms of her using it for special occasions until she's thirteen."
The dark skinned woman nodded. "Sounds fair. If you have any trouble, or need some advice handling anything, you give me a call. I've got moody kids aplenty."
Smiling, Jenna nodded. "Will do. Give me a buzz when the skulls are ready? I've got some paper work that I need to finish before the end of the day."
"Won't be ready until tomorrow, sweet pea, you go home and get ready for your big date tonight!"
{line}
Working for the County paid quite well for the single mother. Jenna was able to afford a lovely condominium on the oceanfront in a very secure building. Two large bedrooms were on the second floor of the home, with the bathroom between them; the kitchen, dining, and lounge room were on the first floor. However, the large window walls lead to the balcony and beach view that had Jenna falling in love.
The two, Samantha and Jenna, enjoyed decorating their home, trying to capture the beach as much as they could. Blue and crème were the favoured colours, with shells everywhere as decoration. Their dining table was one of their favourite pieces of furniture; made with driftwood and a glass circular table top, it was something they had found in a little thrift store that had been restored lovingly.
With a flick of her wrists, a lace tablecloth covered the glass protectively. Glancing at her daughter in the lounge room, Jenna took a moment to study her daughter lovingly as the girl tried to finish her homework. They were both very similar, tall, slim and auburn haired. Samantha, however, had a slightly large nose, her father's and his brown eyes while Jenna had blue.
Still dressed in her school uniform, Samantha was the picture of frustration as her math homework started to get the better of her. "You need any help, honey?" Jenna called out to her as she moved towards the side board and pulled out a few wooden placemats.
"Nah, I've got it mom, thanks," Samantha said, jotting down the answer. Getting up from the coffee table, she walked over to her mother and counted the places. "Are we having a guest over?"
Jenna nodded and smiled, smoothing down her daughter's long braid before kissing the crown of her head. "Yep, his name is Horatio Caine and I work with him at the Crime Lab."
Samantha nodded her head and went into the kitchen for cutlery. "Is he your boyfriend?"
Her mother spluttered for a moment. "Uh, not really."
Fixing her with a suspicious look, Samantha stated her observations. "Mom, you've got the good tablecloth on the table, you're wearing a silky skirt and there is desert in the fridge, homemade desert."
Glancing down at her blue patterned sari-skirt with confusion, Jenna tugged at her slightly too short black tank top. "Do you think I should change?"
Rolling her eyes in the way any eleven- year old child would, Samantha shook her head. "No, Mom, you look really good. But if it were me, I'd wear my hair up." Nodding nervously, Jenna grabbed a large hair clip from the breakfast bench and pulled her hair up in a twist.
"How's that?" she asked her daughter.
"Looks great! So, if this Horatio guy isn't your boyfriend, what's the occasion?"
Jenna sat down on one of the chairs and pulled her daughter onto her lap. "When I said that he wasn't my boyfriend, it means that we haven't gotten to that step yet. He's coming over to meet you and ask you if its ok that he and I date," Jenna explained patiently. "He knows that we come in the same package, so if he wants me, he gets you as well. I guess this is his way of making sure that you're included in all the important steps."
Samantha cuddled into her mother. "If he's nice to me, you can date him, but if I don't like him…?"
"Then things won't go any further than what they are now," Jenna stated determinedly.
Samantha nodded. "Alright. So what are we having for dinner?"
"Lasagne, with some salad and pecan pie for desert, sound alright?"
"Does the lasagne have meat in it?" the young girl asked seriously.
"Meat Free, honey—I can put some in your lunch box for tomorrow as well, if you want?"
The girl nodded again and Jenna let her go. For a moment, she slumped her shoulders. One hurdle conquered and a lot more on the night's horizon. If her daughter said no, would she be truly able to let Horatio go?
Sighing, she walked back into the kitchen. Checking the oven, Jenna's eyes took in the bubbling cheese topping before moving away. She wanted a salad made before Horatio arrived. Nervous, her heart thundered in her chest. Was she truly ready for a relationship?
Swallowing thickly, she pushed her doubts away and prepared the salad, placing wrap around it and putting it in the fridge. Taking a deep breath, Jenna walked over to the side board, opening a draw at the end. Was it too much, to set out candles, and put on some music? Was it cliché or too over done?
Silently, Jenna cursed her innocence. Isaac was her love when she was a teen, and none of his 'dates' prepared her for a more adult excursion into dating. Glancing down at the dark blue tea candles in her hands, her eyes hardened slightly in resolve. She wanted Horatio to know that she was interested, and ready to start something.
After placing a few around the room and lighting them, Jenna wandered out into the balcony. There was no more preparation to do other than to choose a cd to play. It was just dark outside, and the lights of Miami were sparkling. In the distance, she could hear the surf pounding at the beach, and further out she could see several lights from luxury boats on the water.
This was what she loved about Miami, the sheer magic of the place. A sea breeze blew up from the water, sending her dress dancing around her legs. Trying to hide a shiver, Jenna went back into the condo, closing the heavy glass door behind her.
She checked her watch, noting that Horatio was due very soon. "Sam? Are you nearly ready?" Jenna called out. Picking up her iPod from the coffee table, she scrolled through her lists and picked a rather romantic singer to play before placing it in the speakers. The stairs thundered as her daughter rushed into the room with her hair brush.
With a smile, Jenna took in her daughter, mentally approving the long white shorts and green t-shirt. "Mom, can you braid my hair, please?" Samantha asked, crinkling her nose at the music. "What's this?"
Jenna laughed as she sat down on the couch. Samantha sat between her legs, giving her mother the brush and a hair tie. "It's called mood music, you put it on during a dinner or a get together as something that plays in the back ground."
Gently, she ran the brush through her daughter's thick hair before separating the dark auburn locks with swift, sure fingers.
"It's different, I don't hear this stuff on TV during the weekends. Is it something you normally hear in those high-end restaurants?"
"Usually," Jenna replied, quickly braiding her daughter's hair and tying the end. "Do you have your school uniform ready for tomorrow?"
"Yep, and I'm going to need some washed soon, I've only got enough for tomorrow and Friday." Samantha got up from the floor and took in the candles. "Wow, you really must want to impress this guy. Candles?"
Jenna flushed. "It's just something people use to set up a room nicely," she explained weakly. Samantha smirked in reply.
"You really must want him as a boyfriend."
Wanting the earth to open beneath her feet, Jenna was saved from a reply as the doorbell rang. "He's here!"
Glaring at her daughter's giggles playfully, she rushed towards the door. Palms slightly clammy, Jenna smoothed down her skirt and opened her door. There, in front of her, stood Horatio, two bunches of flowers in hand and crisply dressed in a black suit and white shirt.
"Hi," she said shyly, opening the door a little wider in invitation.
"Hello, sweetheart," he said just as huskily, leaning over to kiss her cheek. "These are for you." Horatio offered her a beautiful bunch of chrysanthemums and lavender. Stunning in their simplicity, Jenna brought them to her nose and inhaled their heady aroma.
"Thank you, they're stunning," she said, a pale pink flush danced across her cheeks. Horatio ducked his head slightly as he entered her home, slipping an arm around her waist as she closed the front door.
"I brought a red wine, since you said Lasagne," he said somewhat awkwardly. Jenna found it oddly endearing.
"I hope you don't mind vegetarian, Samantha doesn't eat meat at the moment," she said in reply, walking into the kitchen, his palm hot against the small of her back. "Samantha? I want you to meet Horatio Caine."
Her daughter perked up from the couch and walked to the breakfast bench that devided the kitchen from the dining area. "Hello sir," she said as she sat in one of the chairs. "It's nice to meet you." Jenna almost held her breath as Samantha studied Horatio intently.
Horatio smiled at the young girl, before offering the other bunch of flowers, pink daisies and baby's breath. A flattered smile darted across Samantha's face as she eagerly grabbed the blooms, taking in each flower petal and colour. "Hello Samantha, its lovely to meet you as well."
Gifting him a toothy grin, Samantha turned to her mother. "Can I put these in my room, please?"
Nodding, Jenna went to a cupboard and pulled out two vases. Placing them on the bench beside the sink, she seized both bunches and started to arrange them, sorting out Samantha's first and filling her daughter's vase with water first. "Be careful as you climb the stairs," she warned before placing her own flowers in the glass and positioning it on the bench.
Samantha nodded and went up the stairs with her gift. Large hands held her waist as Horatio's warm body pressed lightly on her back. "You—you look enchanting." Glancing at him, Jenna smiled.
"Right back at you," she replied as the buzzer on the oven sounded. "Looks like dinner's ready," Jenna said softly, reluctantly moving out of his embrace.
"Anything I can do to help?"
"There's a salad in the fridge," she smiled, "If you could put it on the table for me, please?"
"You got it."
As Jenna pulled out plates, she subtly watched as he moved around in her home. Calm and confident, he found serving tongs and tossed the salad a little on the bench before taking it over to the table. He caught her gaze once or twice; both sharing a tender smile before continuing.
Samantha raced back into the room, her cheeks flushed and smile bright. "Thank you so much, Mr Caine! Mom, they're on my desk next to the lamp, is that ok?"
Nodding as she pulled out the lasagne, Jenna put her heavy load onto a chopping block and pulled out a knife. "That's a good place, Sammy. How big did you want your serving?"
Moving over to the breakfast bench from the table, Horatio leaned on his forearms and studied the two. "Your mom tells me that you've just got into the Advanced Academic project, Samantha, you must be pleased with your progress." Once more Samantha lit up with joy. Jenna couldn't help but commend Horatio on his line of topic. One thing Samantha wasn't was modest. When an achievement was made, even the doorman heard about it.
"A really big piece, mom, thanks," Samantha said in response to her mother's question before sitting down at the table. "Yeah, Mr Caine, we just got the results a few weeks ago and I'm really enjoying it. I actually have a challenge now. Although, I do miss most of my friends in class though, they've put me in class with kids a few years older than me."
Horatio nodded, glancing down before throwing her a quick smile. "That's great to hear. A challenge is always good for a person."
"That's what I thought as well," Jenna said. "How big a piece would you like?"
"Same as you, if you don't mind, thank you."
Nodding, she quickly divided the portions and placed them on the plates. "Did you wash your hands, Samantha?" Jenna asked as she brought over her daughter's meal first before returning for Horatio and hers. He followed her and pulled out her chair as she set the plates down, not taking his seat until he had pushed in hers.
"Yep," Samantha replied, "Do I have to have salad?"
Glancing at the portion, Jenna nodded and gave her a small amount of salad before passing the tongs to Horatio. "Finish that much salad, please, and I'll be happy."
{line}
The candles fluttered in a slight draft, sending shadows dancing along the walls, the only light in the room, apart from a dim lamp in the lounge room. Standing by the window Horatio waited for Jenna to put her daughter in bed, the music and whirring of the dishwasher the only company in that moment.
Soft footsteps heralded Jenna's return, and her reflection in the window brought her close to him. Turning to face her, Horatio caught her hand and pulled her close to him, his arms wrapping around her waist securely.
"Thank you for dinner," he murmured into her hair as she held him just as tightly.
"It was my pleasure," she replied, smiling against his chest. "Samantha seems taken with you, and would like me to tell you that you have her permission."
His chuckles vibrated in her ear. "Good to know-good to know."
"Did you want a refill?" she asked as she pulled away gently, tucking a tendril of hair behind her ear.
Samantha had been a good buffer between the two all night. Now, Jenna was nervous. She wasn't sure what was the right thing to do. Flushing a little, she walked back over to the kitchen and refilled her own glass, knowing that Horatio was right behind her.
Holding up the dark bottle in silent offering, she poured him a little as well. Gentle fingers smoothed back any stray hands from her neck, the movement stilling her. Light kisses were peppered on her skin as she let out a shaky breath. Placing down the wine bottle, Jenna arched her neck, her fingers delicately caressing the hand that had wound itself around her waist.
"Horatio," she breathed, leaning back into the embrace. His fingers tightened slightly in response, his lips dragging teasingly down the arch of her neck. Squirming lightly as the fluttering in her stomach worsened, she turned in his embrace to face him, her arms wrapping around his neck. "I don't want a one nighter," she said seriously, her eyes dark from his kisses.
"That's a good thing," he replied huskily, "neither…am I."
"And you don't mind that I have a daughter?" She swallowed thickly, needing to ask the questions quickly.
"Not at all, Jenna, not at all," he lowered his head for a moment, before looking back at her, just as serious.
"Can you handle the age difference?" Jenna nodded surely. That was something she knew she could handle without arguments.
"Yes."
"Good," he groaned out before kissing her ardently.
The kiss was better than she dreamed or hoped for—it was just so much more than she could imagine. Her fingers buried themselves into his hair as she kissed him back with the same enthusiasm. Horatio's lips were warm, consuming, and giving. They were pressed together in almost every possible point.
With a whimper, she broke the kiss, her eyes still closed. Only a breath apart, Jenna felt, more than heard, him murmur her name.
Slowly, she opened her eyes. Horatio stared at her intently, one of his hands coming up to stroke her cheek softly. Jenna swallowed thickly, her eyes still caught in his gaze. She didn't want to leave his arms at all.
"You're so beautiful, Jenna," he whispered before pressing butterfly kisses along her cheeks and lips. Trying to swallow the lump in her throat his words caused, she leaned up and kissed him back gently then backed away as much as she could.
"I want to continue this, Horatio, believe me," she said pleadingly. "Samantha's just upstairs—"
Horatio looked at her seriously, before taking a step back. "I understand, Jenna, I do," he replied, his hands running up and down her shoulders. "It's too soon to take that step."
Leaning forward, she rested her head against his shoulder, sighing as his arms wrapped around her again. "Thank you," she said thickly, knowing he understood her hesitation. Sex was a big issue for her. She wanted their relationship to be more than just sex, she wanted to take her time and explore their feelings. Not to mention, she wanted Samantha to get used to the idea of having a man in their lives.
