CSI:LV, M, Romance, Sara Sidle/Sofia Curtis

Disclaimer: CSI, its characters, places, and situations are the property of Jerry Bruckheimer Television, Alliance Atlantis, and CBS Productions. This story was written for entertainment not monetary purposes. Original characters, and this story, are intellectual property of the author. Any similarities to existing characters, fictional or real, living or dead, are coincidental and no harm is intended.

Notes: It took me some time to decide whether this was a wise decision or not. But then the thought wouldn't get out of my head anymore. So here we go.

This is a continuation of 'Whatever people say about falling in love'. I know I should be working on 'Objects', but I have a lot of things to work through to get the next chapter(s) finished and I should work on that little R&I fic, but that's biting my ass, too. And those are not the only stories I'm juggling here right now. I'm practically bursting with ideas. So I'm using this to distract but ground me, like I did with its prequel while I wrote 'Mistakes'.

I tried to maintain the slow pace I set and not let things get as explicit as I usually would. Still this is rated M for adult themes and sexual situations. But overall it's going to stay fairly tame. I save the naughty bits for revisiting Eli and Sara some time soon. And again this is Sara's POV. Practically nothing's changed and surprisingly, we pick up exactly where we left off.

Don't expect me to update every few days. Because I won't. It takes as long as it takes and I'm gonna take great care with this sequel because I like the initial story so much.

Underway

A continuation of 'Whatever people say about falling in love'

1.

"You taste so much better when you're not angry." Sofia swoons over me, yes, she swoons, and leans a bit back, breathing in deeply with her eyes still shut tightly.

"Come again?" I grin.

And then it falls like scales from my eyes. All the things I still hadn't allowed myself to see in her, not even during those past three weeks, when I had at least finally admitted my attraction to Sofia. No, when I had admitted to falling in love with her.

I stand stock still and stare at her while she licks her lips and tries to explain herself.

"Behind the PD, we'd both been so angry. It was unexpected and hasty and rough, all need and anger. And the kiss was more of a battle, and it was as if I could taste that it wasn't how it was supposed to be. I- I was out of control. Mind you, so were you. And you can be wild. I don't know if it's safe to say that but that was hot. Okay, it was more than just hot. It was breathtaking and exhilarating and I already know if we'll ever be having make-up sex, I'd want you to still be a bit angry, at least in the beginning. And you tasted angry. Now you just taste sweet and relaxed and tangy and of coffee and-"

"Sofia."

Her eyes fly open and she looks at me a bit embarrassed.

"Stop rambling."

Her cheeks redden and she realises she's been babbling.

"Too much? Too soon?"

She's adorable when she's insecure. A minute or so ago she gave me the smuggest smile at finally having me where she wanted me for so long and now she's not even sure of what she might be allowed to say yet or rather not.

I just smile.

"Let's not talk about hot angry make-up sex just now. Though right back at ya, you know, the hot when angry part. But for now, just sit with me a little longer. I want to look at you. Just really look at you. Because I only just realised how much I like watching you."

The smirk is right back in place.

"I-"

But I shush her with two fingers to her lips.

"No smug remarks now. And stop fidgeting. Why do I have the feeling that I'm suddenly the calm one?"

Her expression grows serious and open.

"Because you are. I- I'm a mess right now, Sara. I've wanted for this moment to happen for so damn long and now that it's finally here, on the one hand I want it all at once, I just want to kiss you, hold you, take your hand and drag you home and- you know- and on the other hand I don't know what to do at all. I want to savour this moment, follow your lead, go with the pace you set, be careful with you, steeling myself not to look disappointed if you tell me to sleep at my own place tonight, I want to make you feel save and not pressured. I'm out of my depth. Because I really care."

I lean in and softly kiss her again.

"I know. Shall I take the lead? I think I can do that. Astonishingly. Would you feel more comfortable if I told you along which lines I was thinking?"

She exhales and beams at me relieved.

"Very much so. Tell me, what happens now?"

"Now, we drink up, pay our tabs and give Marty a big fat hug, because he's just the best and he bore with me all this time though he knew the outcome long before I did. Then we'll walk to our cars and if you'll like that, I'd want you to come to my place. And then I'm gonna get you something to sleep in, we'll both go through our routines and then we're going to go to bed. And you can hold me or I will hold you, the only thing I know for sure is that I want you close tonight and that is all I need from you right now. I want to know it's real. I want to know how you feel, how you look when you fall asleep, if you snore or move in your sleep. And tomorrow, we'll find out where to go from here. Okay?"

"Sara?"

The look in Sofia's eyes is almost indescribable and I get lost in it. Those eyes are telling me so much this very moment. She's content, but exited, nervous, but also so very compliant. For a second a look of pure desire darkens the icy blue and I'm not so sure if I just imagined it or if it was really there. I so want it to be there. I laid out the plan, but if she looks at me like that again, I'm very likely to not take it as slow as planned. Of course we're both adults and we could simply stumble into bed and give in to our needs, but that'd be neglecting all the insecurities that are still there. I don't want an affair, I'm not in it just for the sex though I'm definitely looking forward to that part, but I think I know now that I want all of Sofia and I want it one thing at a time. To savour it, to make the anticipation grow, to ease us into this new realm. Suddenly I notice that I haven't been reacting, side-tracked by my thoughts.

"Huh?" I utter eloquently.

"I think that sounds quite perfect to me."

So that's what we did. We pay and say bye to Marty and put our jackets on to leave, on the way to the door Sofia reaches for my hand, interlacing our fingers, squeezing a bit and smiling at me.

I grin back, looking at our comfortably joined hands.

She pulls me to a halt just outside the bar.

"Could you pinch me? It kinda hasn't sunken in yet, despite everything in there."

I give her my best astonished expression.

"Who are you, woman, and what have you done to Sofia Curtis, bad-ass, smug and very forward Detective?"

She pouts, I think I've never seen that look on her face before, pushes her lower lip forward and looks at me accusingly, but humorous.

"What? I don't get to be insecure at times? Because I am and you know it. You even said it, I'm just as afraid as you are, though for different reasons. I have my attitude and it works like a charm most of the time, even when sometimes I use it to convince myself of my strength just as much as others, but that's by far not all I am. So pinch me, please?"

And once again I know I've made the right decision.

"I know something much better than pinching. Something way more convincing. Trust me?"

"Yes."

There's no hesitation, not for a milisecond.

"Feel that?"

I take her hand that was wrapped around mine and press it against my chest, right over my heart and leave my own hand on hers. Just with the slight touch, its beat increases.

"Mh-hm."

As much as I want to keep on staring into her ocean blue eyes that are fixed at my own, I ask her to close them and she does.

There's no one in the bar's parking lot but us, Marty is closing up behind us. It's 3:30AM on a Tuesday morning, there's a soft breeze and the only sound is the flapping of the banner-ad of the 7/11 across the street.

Slowly I lift my free hand to her face and let just the very tip of my fingers ghost over her cheek.

I didn't lie when I said I just want to watch her. And right now she is breathtakingly beautiful as her lips part a bit and she starts breathing through her mouth. I flatten my palm to the side of her face and she leans into the touch, just the fraction of an inch. A strain of blonde hair flitters into her face and I brush it back behind her ear, then run my fingers over the shell. When I see and feel her tremble and suck in some air, I'm mesmerized by the amount of vulnerability she lets me see. With her eyes closed, every emotion is written on her face so clearly. Trust and anticipation, a little bit of fear and surprise, but also contentment and need. Much like her eyes before, her face is an equally open book for me now. My finger tips run down her jaw line and then I brush my thumb across her lower lip that feels a bit chapped, dry. I lean in and let the air that escapes my lips at my following words warm her while my hand goes to the side of her neck.

"I am here and I'm in this, completely. You've done it, you've won me over."

And then I kiss her again, softly, slowly, reverently, tasting her lips, nibbling, playfully licking the dryness away, trying to coax her into parting her lips more and when she does and our tongues meet, she moans into my mouth, gripping the shirt at my back tightly, bunching the fabric in her clenching fingers as she pulls me closer.

That's Sofia to me now. A different person, a private person. The same woman but in a completely new light. Womanly, tactile, shy, so receptive, warm as she presses closer, one hand still on my heart, the other between my shoulder blades now as she deepens the kiss, but never tries to take the control over it from me, she still lets me set the pace. When our lips part to give us a chance to breathe again, she lets her forehead rest against mine.

"So much better than a pinch."

I snicker and wrap my arms around her waist, underneath her coat.

"Oh yes."

Finally we look at each other. Her pupils are dilated and her cheeks glow.

"You're so beautiful when you're lowering that guard." I whisper.

She grins and her glance flickers to the floor before she meets my eyes again.

"Bed?" I suggest with a wink of my eyes.

She lifts one brow and a bit of the familiar humorous cockiness creeps back into her features.

"I thought you'd never ask."

Sequels can be tricky, I'm aware of that. So let me know what you think. Thanks for reading!