A/N: This story is now Rated M for violence, sexual situations and language. Please be advised...
Chapter Three
The incessant yet dull thud of the baseline of the music served nothing but to annoy him, his visage a mask of anger and irritation. Still ruminating over how they parted ways, Horatio had attempted to distance himself from the unfolding of events that would most certainly thrust him right into the gathering maelstrom. He knew exactly what had gone down at his warehouse; that thought along with the thoughts of Calleigh had placed him on this razor sharp edge he now found himself on. He was never one for running with his tail between his legs but he needed a buffer, which is why he chose to come to the club instead of looking for trouble. As it was, he only needed to be slightly provoked into action and he found himself stirring for a fight. He needed something to take his mind off of cyclone that was threatening to engulf him and while he'd enjoyed women, they were not an option. Since his relationship with Calleigh had turned a corner, he couldn't fathom having another. No one could top her and he wasn't the least bit interested in breaking her heart more than he had to. With no other option, he'd taken to ordering drinks, hoping to drown the rage that coursed through him now.
Staring out into the club, he watched the sea of bodies as they intertwined as if lured by the promise of debauchery. The rhythmic movement gave the atmosphere an erotic charge and he suddenly wished Calleigh was here with him. It was at this very club they met five years ago and since then, his life had never been the same. Before her, he had no qualms about whom or what he was and how he dealt with his business. Now with her in the picture, he had to take certain precautions to survive. Once it got out that he was dating a cop the target would not only be on him but also on her and that wouldn't do. Even now as he thought about the inherent danger of her involvement, Horatio felt a murderous rage mix with the fury he already held and growled. If anyone sought to harm her he would take great pleasure in exacting his revenge in the bloodiest, most painful way possible and disregard it as if he were watching paint dry. There were very few things that he loved in this world and Calleigh was one of them. Someone would have to be seriously damaged to even harbor the thought.
Taking a sip of his drink, Horatio glanced to see the door to the VIP room opening slowly and frowned. Before ascending the stairs to the room, he remembered specifically that he asked for the room to remain off limits. Doing this would ensure that no one would get hurt, considering the dangerous mood he was in. Rising to his feet slowly, he placed the drink down and pulled the Sig Saur effortlessly from the holster situated on his back, and aimed it directly at his intruder.
Rolling his head on his shoulders he thought angrily, Now this is what happens when people choose not to listen…
His finger caressed the trigger and he took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. Silence filtered into the room as the music stopped and Horatio tightened his grip on the gun, determined to teach yet another lesson. Just before he squeezed the trigger the sight of the familiar mane of gold came into view and he lowered his weapon in disbelief. As she turned to him, the anger instantly dissipated and he actually smiled as he approached her, despite noticing the hardened expression on her face.
Eyeing his approach, Calleigh absently placed her hand on her service weapon, catching a glimpse of confusion in his eyes. He wouldn't be expecting her but she knew exactly where he was would be and as this was extremely important, she wasted no time with him.
Arching her brow, she sighed, "I guess this answers my question tenfold. You only drink when you're bothered."A slither of compassion surged through her at the sight of him and approached slowly, gesturing toward the gun, "Put it away, Horatio. We have to talk."
Regarding the weapon absently, he blinked and then frowned, his voice soft, "Am I going to need a lawyer, Lieutenant?"
"It all depends on what you say to me in the next two minutes." Even though her heart went out to him it didn't take away the sense of duty that she held to find a murderer. Her stone demeanor chipped when he lifted his eyes to her and smiled warmly, giving her no other option than to return the smile. The complexity of their relationship kept her in constant turmoil; while she needed justice, she also needed him. She could tell that he was troubled and the more she stared at him, the more she wanted to take him into her arms and hold him.
In the silence that descended between them, Horatio understood her role here and gestured to the couch as he slipped his weapon back into its hiding place. When she sat he noticed keenly that she positioned herself turned away from him, something she only did when she was in full fledge cop mode.
Running a hand through his hair, he chuckled, "You're here about the warehouse."
Determined to keep her emotions out of this she nodded, hoping that her voice wouldn't betray her intentions, "Horatio, the body that was found there…Did you know this person?" She knew she was toeing a dangerous line by even questioning him but in the interest of saving them both, she needed to be prepared.
"Calleigh…don't ask questions …"
Anger filled her completely at his early attempt to derail her and she exploded, standing to hover over him, "Don't give me that bullshit line, Horatio! Was this someone who was easily disposed of, thrown away when he didn't meet your expectations?"
His silence and dull expression furthered her rage and she bent over him, her voice full of rancor, "You smug bastard. You killed this man. You fucking killed this man and now you act as if you couldn't be bothered! What is it going to take to get you to wake the fuck up, Caine?" The thought of the consequences coursed through her like an acid river, eating at her resolve, yet she spoke passionately "Don't you realize that you can…you will be tried, convicted, and sentenced to death, Horatio? Don't you care?"
The intensity shook Horatio to his very core and he looked to her, feeling the familiar stirrings. Her passion had superseded the fear and anger she had when she arrived, leaving her now vulnerable. A wicked thought surfaced and he grinned up at her, no doubt testing the thin ice he was about to skate out on. Still the same he maintained the indifferent attitude as he stood up, squaring his sights with her.
"I didn't kill anyone, Calleigh." Stepping closer, he got a good look at the fire in her eyes and fought to contain his glee knowing that he stood at a precipice. Even though she was pissed at him, he'd been with her long enough to know the signals. This confrontation was eating at her stern will power and as he reached to caress her cheek, he saw the all too familiar glint in her eyes. She may have come on official business, but it was about to take a back seat.
Calleigh could feel the tension building between them and knew she was powerless to stop it. One look into his arresting blue eyes and she was lost completely. She needed a resolution to the current crisis but as he approached her more, she hesitantly realized that her needs were more important at this very moment. The sexual charge between them was palpable, undeniable, and more powerful than she'd ever imagined.
Still yet, she attempted reasoning even as her body began to respond to his proximity, "They're going to have a warrant in hand and ready to execute in less than an hour, Horatio." Glaring at him, she spat, "Take something seriously, Horatio. Take this seriously!"
Horatio's touch drifted from her cheek to her chest, smiling as he placed his palm on the exposed skin. The heat wafting from her was enough to burn right through him but as his eyes met hers in a knowing glance, he knew that the only thing awaiting him was pleasure. He unbuttoned her silk shirt swiftly and exposed her to him completely. The music began to thump again, the wild bass line fueling his actions and his desires.
The slight hint of color drew his eyes away from her and he smirked as he palmed her luscious breasts, thumbing her rapidly hardening nipples, "I take this seriously, Calleigh. Us…" Stepping closer to her, he slipped his hand into the cup of the bra, his rough, calloused skin making contact with the soft and supple skin of her breasts. Caressing her pebbling tip gently, he leaned to whisper in her ear, "We're going to take care of these problems in order, Calleigh. From greatest to least."
His touch sent sparks of electricity through her and the warm flush of her arousal pooled in between her legs as her breath hitched in her throat. The next steps were easily understood and she followed them willingly, her defiant glare morphing into a more sensual smirk. It was no surprise to her when he took her lips almost violently, the passion exploding between them. In her head, she counted the steps in their all too familiar dance as he followed through with action.
Before she knew it, she was planted against the wall of the VIP room, her breasts spilling out over her bra as he worked her trousers down. The heat of the moment was upon them and all sensibility went out the window. The lust warred with her patience and she writhed under his skillful touch wanting him to touch her deeper.
"Horatio…now!" she panted just as he slipped a cool digit between her folds. His deft manipulation of her sex calmed her ire only to fire her lust and she bucked against his hand, aching for more friction. She hated that sometimes he could be such a tease.
Witnessing her unraveling under his guided touch, he grinned and added a finger, thrusting into her hard, "Temper temper, Calleigh. Don't you know that good things come to those who wait?"
His teasing tone bit at her and she groused, "You're gonna make me beg for it, aren't you, Caine?"
Slowing his rhythm, he extracted his fingers only to feed himself into her, mounting her with ease. At their joining, a small cry of ecstasy left her lips as he thrust hard into her, setting a slow pace. Her nails bit at his back, even through the material of his suit coat as he maintained the slow tempo, knowing it would prick at her sensual need.
"Let's give it the old college try, shall we?" he asked as he sped up minutely. With each skillful stroke into her body, he could feel it respond to him, her sex pulsating greedily. She needed this more than he thought and since he was unable to deny her anything, he was going to give her the best yet.
Powering through her, Horatio could feel his own release clawing for the surface being egged along by her coaxing inner walls. She was so wet with need that he slipped in and out of her in smooth, uninterrupted strokes. He felt as if he couldn't get any deeper inside of her, burying himself completely within her heat. The way she met his thrusts enticed him to rock into her even harder, bringing a sensual cry to her lips. They were on a crescendo, the relative motion building until they both reached their peak.
In an explosion of both sounds and bodies, they came together, the air filled with their expressions of love. As they slowed to a merely gliding pace, Horatio reached to move her hair out of her face and smiled, lovingly, "I'll go with you, Calleigh on one condition."
Lost in the afterglow of their spontaneous sex, Calleigh nodded absently, "Anything, Horatio."
Horatio chuckled deviously and warned, "You probably shouldn't have said that. My condition is that you be in there with me."
Time stood still for a moment and Calleigh's brow knit at his request. There was no way she could be in there with him, especially after a round of phenomenal sex. She was essentially opening herself up to failure if she accompanied him into the questioning.
"Horatio, I can't. I'll be putting everything on the line," Calleigh exasperated. She looked to him, pleading for understanding, "I walk in there now, with you, and they're going to peg me. They're going to know."
"You assume that you're working with rocket scientists, Cal. Those two bumbling idiots aren't that perceptive." With some of his erection remaining, he stroked into her wet heat with ease and whispered, "Come…with me, Calleigh."
Calleigh's eyes closed at the utter bliss he was about to give her once more and conceded willingly, "I'll…come, Horatio."
Starting a frenetic pace, Horatio grinned victoriously as he bit out, "Good. Then you're going to accompany me to the police department. As for right now, we're going to finish the business at hand."
TBC…
