Chapter Ten:

She felt his body press into hers and while the injuries to her back reminded her of the beating she arched into him, giving herself fully to him and he took her.

She adjusted to the feel of him inside her as his thrusts became rhythmic and she followed each move.

An explosion of emotions and colors rushed through her mind as she climaxed.

He followed but continued to hold himself inside her.

His body stiffened and her eyes shot open to see the fear in his eyes.

"Griss?" she whispered.

"What have I done?" he asked.

Reality slammed into the moment of bliss and the pain of her injuries screamed for attention.

"I uhm…"

His hands pinned her wrists to the bed.

She glanced from side to side.

"You knocked over the lamp trying to get away. The rope…was double knotted…to the bed posts."

A single tear dropped onto her bare skin.

It belonged to him.

"I'm right…aren't I?" he choked.

She shook her head.

"I can ask Brass….he found you."

"You wouldn't hurt me," she insisted.

His head dropped beside hers and he released her hands.

She immediately held him ignoring the excruciating pain from her back.

Suddenly he jerked away from her.

"Your back," he whispered. "I forgot…I didn't even think…"

"Gil, stop," she said.

She pulled his head down and kissed him fully on the lips.

She curled her body up next to his and he held her tight.

"Does that hurt?" he asked.

"No," she lied as she let him hold her as they fell asleep.

The dreams did not come as the hours passed.

It was when she rolled that she felt the full extent of her soreness as she moaned softly.

Grissom sat up as she rolled once again resting her head in his lap.

His hand gently stroked her hair.

He waited until she was fully asleep once more before his hand observed the marks on her back.

He grimaced at the swollen lacerations.

Dried blood was smeared across her back.

He leaned back, closing his eyes not noticing she was now awake.

"Grissom?"

"I'm sorry. Did I wake you?" he asked.

She rose gingerly as she sat beside him.

"How do you feel?" she asked.

"I should ask you. Your back is worse," he said.

"I haven't been using the salve…I don't like anyone to see it," she said.

"I'll do it," he offered.

She smiled.

"Sara, do you trust me?" he whispered.

"Yes."

"There's something I need to do. Will you help me?" he asked.

Her reply came quickly and without hesitation.

He kissed the palm of her hand.

"I should….go. You still have a few hours before shift," she said as she moved to the edge of the bed. "When do you want to…"

He silenced her with a kiss.

He stepped out of the bed and she followed.

She was not prepared to be pulled into the bathroom. "Shower. The warm water will help."

She glanced into the shower and noticed her shampoo and conditioner were already sitting in the stall.

She did not know when he had placed them there but she turned on the water and stepped in.

She stood there letting the water pour down her back.

She glanced back and he had disappeared.

She leaned forward as she closed her eyes.

The water felt good on her back as she stretched trying to ease the soreness.

She wondered what Grissom needed her for but she didn't care.

He had finally let her in.

The thought that he had only done it out of guilt nagged at her.

She knew it was not his fault that they had fallen prey to Conner's accomplice.

Images of the shooting flashed before her.

She never thought she could kill another human being but she had not hesitated that night when Grissom's life was at stake.

Slowly, the shower door opened and she turned to find him standing there.

"Sorry, I had to make a few phone calls," he whispered.

He picked up the sponge and began washing her. "Do your ribs hurt?"

She shook her head.

He knew it was a lie.

His hand kneaded her breast and she gasped.

"Pain or…"

"Feels good," she moaned.

"Pain with pleasure can be…dangerous," he whispered. "I don't want to hurt you, Sara."

"You won't," she urged as his hand slid down her midsection.

He caressed the bruised area as his lips tasted hers.

Her hand nudged him closer.

His eyes were sparkling as he kissed her shoulder blade.

Her hand drifted down and he gasped from the feel of her hand.

He lifted her leg and positioned himself.

"You can say stop," he whispered.

"Don't…stop," she moaned and he entered her slowly, letting her body adjust to the new position.

She stepped back, leaning against the shower wall but he pulled her back.

"Your back," he warned.

"It's fine," she pleaded.

He thrust once or twice, taking note of her pain and withdrew.

She groaned from the rejection.

He turned off the water and stepped out of the shower.

Before she could react, he grabbed her hand and pulled her back to the bed.

He lay down but she did not give him time to be the aggressor.

Her hands forced him completely on his back.

She straddled his midsection, enclosing herself around him immediately, causing both to moan.

She eased herself from his erection and he slammed her back down with force.

She felt him sink deep inside her as she continued until both climaxed.

She collapsed onto his chest and he held her, being mindful of her back.

"Better?" he whispered.

"Yes."

He made love to her more slowly as he learned every inch of her body.

Her hands glided up and down his body and he rewarded every touch with a kiss.

Later they showered, this time each taking a turn.

He carefully placed the salve on the cuts and bandaged one or two places.

They snacked on sandwiches as she observed his every action.

"I'm better," he noted.

"You're quiet," she said.

"I called in for both of us," he said. "They won't expect us in tonight."

"But…I don't mind," she said.

"Why do you think it is Conner?" he asked.

"He stayed one step ahead of us. He terrorized his victims…with their fears," she breathed.

"Why haven't we found his accomplice?" he asked.

"Maybe…the accomplice was really the mastermind…while Conner was the accomplice…the fall guy in case they got caught."

"Why would someone willingly be caught…take the fall?" he asked rubbing his temple.

"Maybe Conner idolized him," she whispered.

"Why not a woman?" he asked.

"I don't think it's a woman," she said.

"Just a hunch?"

"Our bodies…were moved…not sure a woman could accomplish that," she said.

"There's still the evidence…that leads to me," he said.

"It wasn't you."

"How do you know?" he asked, locking blue eyes with brown.

"You wouldn't do that," she stated.

"I could."

"I don't believe that."

"I was right about the…details."

"You talked with Brass?"

"I didn't have to. Your eyes gave you away."

She looked away but replied, "You could have been fed that information in a hypnotic state."

"I could have…beaten you in a hypnotic state."

"What else do you think you remember?" she asked barely above a whisper.

"You refused to say the safety word."

Her fingers grasped the chair as she sat across from him at the table.

"What do you remember?" he asked.

"What was the safety word?" she asked ignoring his question.

"Sara…" he didn't finish.

He winced from the pain in his head.

"You should lie down," she said.

"Do you trust me?" he asked.

"Yes."

"We need to go."

He reached for the keys.

"Maybe I should drive," she offered.

"You don't know where we're going," he replied.

He slid behind the wheel as she took the passenger side.

"Conner was very meticulous…but I think he had someone giving him orders," explained Grissom.

"Do you know who that person might be?" she asked quickly.

"No."

Silence ensued.

"This person likes to control…hide things. Perhaps he hid something that we could find," said Grissom as he drove.

"Are we going back to one of the murder locations?" she asked.

"I'm going to some place that might give us some light into what we are dealing with."

"You know someone else who studies psychopaths?" she asked.

"I know someone who deals in control as well as possessive and passive behavior."

"Have you discussed this…with Brass or the others?" she asked trying to control the shaking in her voice.

"I discussed it…with you. This whole thing revolves around us."

"I killed Conner."

"In order to protect me."

"You think they wanted to punish us by framing the others and then…why not just go after us?"

"He wanted to play with us."

Grissom pulled into the driveway of the mansion.

Sara eyed the entrance.

"Grissom…"

He was already stepping out of the vehicle and soon he was opening her door.

"Grissom, this is…Lady Heather's…"

"She's expecting us," he said as he took her hand and guided her around to the side of the mansion.

He tapped lightly on the veranda door and Heather opened it.

"Grissom," smiled Heather as she purposely embraced him fully in front of Sara.

"This must be…Sara," she purred.

They stepped into the room and Sara watched as Heather shut the door.

"We have a lot to do," she said. "They are few here in the dominion tonight. I chose a more secluded area to work anyway."

"Work?" asked Sara.

Grissom's fingers caressed her hand.

Heather grinned. "You know the room anyway. Just go through the door and to the left."

Grissom led Sara into another part of the house.

Once inside, Sara flipped on a light switch which barely lit up the darkened room.

Sara trembled when she heard Heather shut the door and then lock it.

Sara glanced at Grissom.

"That's my…bed."

"Not exactly," said Heather. I took the liberty of obtaining the same bedding…along with the lamp. The ropes…we'll have to compromise. May I see?"

Sara looked confused.

"Show her your wrists," instructed Grissom.

"Griss…""

She felt his hands displaying her wrists.

"Probably a nylon rope," she said. "Correct?"

"Correct," he said.

She smiled. "I have some."

Heather walked over to the dresser and pulled out the nylon rope.

She handed it to Grissom.

"May I see your back?" she asked.

Grissom lifted Sara's back before she could respond.

"Leather belt…nice quality…one inch in diameter…the belt you often wear with your suit?"

"I have two…yes."

"This was done out of anger…punishing strokes," observed Heather.

Sara stepped away from her.

"I have some salve…that is less likely to prevent scarring," she said.

"There is a shoe print," Grissom said as he collected Sara once more for observation.

"This isn't necessary," Sara breathed.

"It is if you want to recreate the events," Heather explained. "The shoeprint…dress shoes?"

"Yes," said Grissom.

Heather lifted Sara's blouse despite Sara's objections.

"This…was caused when…" Heather stopped as she turned Sara around to observe her back once more. "See these two bruises near her shoulder? The punisher stomped on her chest causing her shoulders to hit the solid floor underneath her."

"The bedroom has carpet," said Grissom.

"She probably bruises easily."

Sara bit down on her lower lip as she refused to say anything further.

"Are you ready to begin?" asked Heather.

"Yes," replied Grissom despite the shaking of Sara's head.

"If Sara will change into this," instructed Heather.

Heather turned and Sara stared at a replica of her gown.

"I'm not putting this on," Sara said as she bolted for the door but her hand remained in his.

"Sara…you said you trusted me."

"We don't need to do this," she said.

"You can change in the bathroom," he said as he opened the adjoining door.

Heather kept her back to them as she busied herself with one of the monitors that displayed the other rooms in the dominion.

"I'll wait for you," said Grissom as he ushered her inside.

She shut the bath room door and leaned against it.

"This isn't happening," she whispered.

"She's frightened," whispered Heather. "That will help."

"Safety word," breathed Grissom.

"Of course," purred Heather. "How did you ever get her to agree to come here?"

Grissom did not reply as he tapped on the bath room door.

"Sara?"

She stepped out of the bathroom and stood there in the night gown.

"Good. Let's get started," said Heather.

"Grissom, you may tie her to the bed," instructed Heather.

"Wait…."

Grissom gently placed the ropes around her wrist.

"Don't resist…Sara. It will hurt if you resist," he whispered as his lips kissed her on the forehead.

He turned her so that she faced the bed.

"Lie down," he whispered.

"Grissom, I don't want…"

His body molded to hers as his arms enveloped her.

She leaned back feeling the warmth of his body.

His lips softly kissed her on the cheek as he whispered into her ear. "You just have to say the safety word."

"Safety word?" she asked.

In one swift movement, he nudged the back of her knees and she fell down on the bed.

He quickly tied each hand to the bed.

"Grissom, I don't know the safety word," Sara pleaded.

"Why were you angry with her?" asked Heather.

"She didn't follow my instructions," replied Grissom. "She didn't leave the house."

"I didn't listen to Catherine," corrected Sara.

Heather opened the closet as Sara tilted her head in order to see.

She gulped when Lady Heather pulled out a belt.

"You may proceed. Try to keep to the script…as well as the actions."

Grissom took the belt.

Sara jumped as he made it crack.

"She's always been high spirited," he whispered as he leaned forward letting the belt glide down her back.

"You've always wanted her…haven't you?" purred Heather.

"Yes, I have."

"You can take her now. She'll have to submit to you."

"Grissom, stop. I want this to stop," Sara pleaded.

"That is not the safety word, Sara," whispered Grissom as he lifted the belt and aimed it at her back.