A/N - Warning - this chapter is MATURE! In a good way, though, if you know what I mean.

I am so, so grateful for the reviews, thank you much! I'll post the next chapter tomorrow 'cause I have a feeling y'all are going to want a little more after this one. Keep in mind this chapter is rated MATURE. Thanks for reading!


As Sara walked with Grissom through the lobby, she acknowledged a few facts in her head. The first thing she realized was that there was no turning back now. From her brain to her heart, she knew she was rolling the dice. If this thing with Grissom wasn't what she thought it was going to be; if he wanted nothing more than to share hot chocolate and then send her away, if she never saw him again AND effectively ruined her chances with Doug forever, well, that was the gamble she was making.

In the elevator, Grissom was all smiles. He looked blissfully unaware of any complicated feelings or thoughts that permeated the atmosphere. It was unnerving.

A young couple got on the elevator with Grissom and Sara, and for the 45 seconds it took to go up 3 floors, they made out passionately the whole time. They didn't even stop when the doors opened, they just kept moving, lips stuck together in a passionate dance. Sara knew where they were going and what they were going to do. Grissom watched as well. Sara wondered if they were thinking about the same thing.

What Sara wanted to do at that moment was stop the elevator. She wanted to barricade the door until he told her why he was so distant most of this week, and other times, so possessive. More than anything, she wanted answers to those questions. Why was that so hard? Instead, she kept her hands to herself, and the feelings trapped inside her deep entangled mind.

Finally, they made it to Grissom's hotel room. He unlocked the door and started making himself at home, while Sara stood in the doorway, watching him put his briefcase and coat down on the desk. He finally looked up and said, "Why are you hovering? Come in."

"I just wanted to make sure I was invited," she said, testing the waters.

He looked at her closely, his blue eyes saying more than his mouth possibly could. For a brief moment, she saw something in those eyes; it was a reflection of what he thought of her; how he truly felt. What he wanted. And just for a moment, she knew it was all worth it.

"Come in," he said. "I'll make the hot chocolate. Have a seat."

Sara sat down on the sofa by the bed and watched as he made hot chocolate with steaming water from the tap in the bathroom. It wasn't her ideal beverage of choice, but if Grissom was offering it, she was going to take it. In the back of her mind, she pictured Doug somewhere in this same hotel, wondering where she was, wondering if he was ever going to see her again. It couldn't be a wonderful feeling. She felt terrible, but then again, Grissom was making her hot chocolate.

He brought over 2 cups of hot chocolate and, sitting down next to her, handed her one. She drank it gratefully. It was a damn good cup of hot chocolate.

"I'm glad the week is over," Grissom said, attempting small talk. She appreciated the gesture.

"Don't get me wrong; I always enjoy these lectures. But the best part is when I go home."

"I know what you mean, I'm looking forward to heading back tomorrow, as well. But you did a great job. I thought I knew all about digital forensics, but you showed me a lot of new things. It really opened my eyes."

"Well, that's why I'm here," Grissom said. "I love to teach people new things."

"Really? Why aren't you a teacher?"

"I thought about it for a while, and maybe someday I'll pursue that. But my real passion is finding answers. It's speaking for the ones who can no longer speak for themselves."

Like my father, Sara automatically thought to herself, and then tried to get that out of her head as fast as it came in. That was not something she wanted to be thinking about at that moment.

"I happen to think that's noble," she said, smiling at him peacefully. They enjoyed a few more minutes of pleasurable silence. Well, to Sara it was excruciating, but she was always an impatient person.

"That song you were singing earlier, in your car? What song was that? I know I've heard it somewhere before."

Sara chuckled. "Um, it's called Paradise City, by Guns N' Roses. They're not my favorite band or anything, but that's a song that meant a lot to me at one point in my life. I tend to sing it or hum it when I get nervous."

Grissom raised his eyebrows. "Really? Well, it was adorable. You should sing more often, it really becomes you. What were you nervous about, exactly?"

Sara couldn't think of an acceptable answer to that question, so she simply didn't answer.

"Okay, I see, sticky subject. Well, why don't you tell me—"

Grissom's cell phone rang. He looked at the number on the caller ID and put the phone back in his pocket.

"Aren't you going to answer that?" Sara asked curiously.

"No, it's not important right now."

"Well, I just thought it could be…Carrie. And maybe you'd want to talk to her."

Grissom considered this for a moment. It was an uncomfortable moment. Finally, he laughed. Sara wasn't sure what was going through his head, so she waited it out.

"Sara, Carrie is the daughter of one of my dearest friends. She showed an interest in criminology, and not only that, she wants to be an entomologist. She got her first ant farm at age five. I gave it to her, in fact. I've spent a lot of time with her this week giving her the basic information on various entomology programs. I'm not sure what impression you got from her, but I can assure you, I am not interested in her romantically."

"Oh." What a relief. "It's just that...it just seems like..."

"I know what it seems like, believe me. But Carrie and I are on the same page. She has a boyfriend, actually. But I do enjoy spending time with her and teaching her the basics."

"That's good to know.

"I see people from time to time, but no, at the moment, I do not have a girlfriend."

"Okay," Sara said, secretly delighted. "Well, that's good to know."

"Speaking of such things, how long have you been with this Doug character?" He looked somewhat concerned, which was rather amusing to Sara.

"Look, Griss, that wasn't really what it looked like. He lives here, and we used to date, and we were hanging out. It was never serious. But it's over now. Well, I ended it. So...that's what's happening."

Maybe that wasn't the whole truth, but it felt right in her head. Someday she'd have to apologize to Doug, but probably not any time soon.

"Well, that's interesting," Grissom said. "But I can tell you something for absolute certain. It may have not been serious to you, but it was to him. I could see it in that young man's eyes. And to tell you the truth, I can't blame him. If I was younger and I had the chance to court you, I wouldn't let anything get in the way."

Sara had to laugh, if only because he used the word "court." Was this the moment they were finally going to be honest with each other? Somehow, she didn't think an outpouring of emotion was in character for Gil Grissom. And if her hunch was right, soon no words would be needed at all. The way he was looking at her in the short skirt she never changed for more appropriate, warmer clothing told her that things were about to get interesting all on their own.

"Well, even if that were the case, I have moved on."

"So what you're telling me is that neither of us are seeing anyone at this time?"

"That appears to be the case," Sara said, her heart pounding.

"Fascinating. Don't you think that's fascinating?"

"It's fascinating, indeed."

They shared a mischievous grin, and drank the rest of the hot chocolate.

"It looks like the snow is falling harder now. We aren't going anywhere. Why don't I swap that hot chocolate for some wine, and we can watch a movie and order in?"

"Sounds perfect," Sara said, grinning mischievously.

An hour later, they were sitting as close together as possible without being in each other's laps. Sara had practically gorged herself on cheese enchiladas while Grissom ate his well-done steak like it was his last meal. And both of them were just a bit tipsy from the wine. On the TV, some movie from the sixties was on as background noise. They were both watching, but neither of them were paying attention.

At some point Sara felt Grissom take her hand, but she didn't want to make a big deal out of it, lest she spook him and he took it away. Plus, he was massaging it gently and it felt incredible.

"Sara," he said finally, and she looked up at him. He kissed her. A lot. And it wasn't a perfect kiss, but then again, how could it be? In her head, they'd had this first kiss over and over again, and nothing could live up to that. Plus, it was an introductory kiss; meant to test the waters for future making out. But it was nice, and it was hot, and she wanted more-preferably as soon as possible.

Soon, he put his hand on her naked thigh and caressed. She moaned, which he seemed to appreciate. As their tongues tumbled together and their lips made electricity, his hand traveled further up her thigh. When it reached its destination, she gave a little shiver of pleasure. Without further notification, she felt his fingers in her wetness, and it was amazing and good and worth it.

"Do we need to talk about this?" Grissom said in her ear, and then licked it forcefully. "I'm sure we need to talk about this."

"Later," Sara said. "We're adults. I'm sure we know the consequences of our actions. But I know what I want...if you do."

"Oh, I know," he whispered. "I've known for a long time." That's when she felt his fingers inside her, and she lost her mind. I knew I wore this skirt for a reason today.

Eventually they found themselves on what they both had an eye on since the moment Sara arrived-the bed. Grissom wanted to focus on her; he whispered in her ear, "I want to do things that you've only read about." She whispered, "Me first," and then took his pants off. He was majorly hard, and it was impressive. He moaned loudly as she took his hardness in her mouth, and when he was on the brink, he returned the favor with much exhilaration. And the two of them existed in a rhythm for almost an hour before he'd had enough of the foreplay.

"Are you ready?" He asked her in a sweet but naughty voice.

"Yes," she said. There was so much more she wanted to say, but at the moment, she only wanted him inside her. And then he was, and again it wasn't perfect, but it felt good and right and special. After she came on the bottom, he entered her from behind and she had to grab the sheet and bite her lip to keep from screaming her pleasure for the whole world to know.

It ended in a cacophony of moans, and both of them fell back on the bed, satiated and happy. But Sara knew that, like the blizzard outside, it couldn't last forever. At some point they'd have to talk; real life would have to be dealt with. But for now, all she wanted to do was feel the heat of him next to her.

"Hey," he whispered, and gave her a sweet kiss in the afterglow. "No matter what happens, we'll always have tonight."

She smiled at him and agreed, even though she wanted more than tonight, and always would.