Disclaimer: Not mine
Yep, this one's on the M side, too. There's a little plot in this one, though.
Eleven
Calleigh lay in the dark in the early morning, still ensconced in him, still unable to wrap her mind around the events that had brought her here, to wake up today in his arms. She watched him sleep, unable to keep her hands off of him even now, running her fingers lightly through his hair, across his face, down his chest. He was everything to her, had been for so long, and she couldn't stop his words from replaying themselves in her mind over and over again. Just know that if I get a vote, I want to sleep with you in my arms every night. What had he meant by that? Because after three nights now in his arms, she knew with absolute certainty that she never wanted to leave.
Realistically, she knew that she had been alone a long time. Hell, all of her adult life, really. She had never been able to make a relationship stick. Never gotten to the point of moving in with someone, never lived with a man. She had never wanted to. Never found someone she wanted to be with so badly that it overshadowed her need for independence, for her own space, for her own autonomy and identity. Until now. But then, she knew this man, knew his heart and soul and how they worked. She knew he wouldn't overpower her, overshadow her, take from her until there was nothing left of herself. Knew that he'd die before he let anyone hurt her, or hurt her himself. And that was the relationship that they'd had for so many years as friends. This new road they'd embarked upon somehow didn't fill her with fear, because this was her best friend, the other half of herself, the one who finished her sentences and her thoughts. The one who made her whole. Always she had rebelled against such an idea, the very principle of it, and now she felt the rightness of it to her core. She trusted this man with her life. It was only fitting that she trust him with her heart as well. She knew implicitly that he would guard it for all of his days.
They needed to talk. Because right now, her vote was cast with his. She never wanted to be without this man, not ever again. The only regret she had now was that she had been so blind as to have missed this, as to have missed the possibility that he could feel the same, that they had wasted so much time. She continued to caress him as he slept, soft touches of her fingers on his skin, still marveling at the effect her touch had on him even in his sleep, as his muscles bunched and jumped under her touch. He seemed to crave her touch.
She traced his face, so relaxed and peaceful in sleep, the lines forged by so many years of pain and guilt fading as she wished the pain and guilt themselves would fade, though she knew they never would. They were a part of him, a part he could no more relinquish than the red of his hair or the blue of his eyes. They made him who he was. She traced the dark red stubble across his face and down his neck, following the red of his chest hair to where it narrowed to a line trailing down his flat abdomen, leading into the silk boxers he slept in. She smiled. They were so sexy on him. She knew he didn't see it, couldn't understand his own appeal, and that made him even more attractive to her. She ran her hand over his hip, down the inside of his thigh and across his muscular thigh and leg, then back up again. He must still work out; he had the body of a much younger man, with lots to admire. She stood behind her earlier statement; her lieutenant was one very prime male specimen.
She noted the physiological response, even in his sleep, to the way she had been playing with his body, and smiled at the rather obvious tent in his shorts. Licking her lips, she looked into his face to find him still asleep, and didn't that give her the most delicious of ideas…
Calleigh moved down the bed, starting with the sole of his foot and working her way up slowly, immeasurably slowly, licking and nipping and drawing patterns on his skin with her tongue and her open mouth. When she reached his hip, she went to the other foot and started all over again, smiling broadly as she finally made it to his right hip and encountered the result of all that teasing. He was hard, and was he ever huge, she thought with a purely female chuckle. She was a lucky, lucky woman.
She mouthed him through his shorts, which made him moan and she knew he was on the verge of waking completely. Moving aside the wide leg of his boxers, she began licking his inner thigh once again, not stopping this time, running the tip of her tongue from his base, up his hard thick length to the head, already weeping for her, and then she took the whole of him into her mouth. Okay, she had just found a new favorite pastime, loving the feeling of being totally in control of his powerful body as his muscles twitched under her fingertips and his fingers slid into her hair, as he awoke with a long, low moan of pleasure, her name on his lips. She really liked the way it sounded when it came out of his mouth just that way.
"Calleigh… God, Calleigh, that feels… amazing…" His low gravelly voice combined with the feel of his big hard body at her mercy to make her instantly hot for him again, which was pretty amazing in itself, given the way they'd spent last night. God, she felt nineteen again with this man. As he raised his head to stare at her in awe, spellbound, she smiled and kept doing what she was doing, which just made him groan and drop his head back down again.
Horatio had no words to describe being woken up in ecstasy by this incredible woman. Seventy-two hours ago he had awoke alone, as usual, without the sense that he had slept at all. And now he was unbelievably, undeniably, unequivocally happy. And not just because of the state of euphoria his woman had him in right now. His woman. It was the whole thing. Going to sleep with her. Waking up with her. And, oh, God, he needed to slow this down. Before it was over much too quickly. Moaning loudly, every errant thought cleared suddenly from his mind, Horatio stiffened as his only concern became keeping his hands gentle, wrapped as they were in her beautiful hair as he exploded without warning. "Calleigh, Calleigh, Oh God, Calleigh," he chanted mindlessly, wishing he'd been able to stop her sooner, just so he could bury himself deep inside her. Still panting, still shaking with that momentous release, Horatio was barely able to open his eyes as Calleigh slid up over him, a beautiful siren's smile on her face, making herself comfortable on his chest and kissing him lightly. "Good morning," she purred, as he could only smile back and hope his heart returned to normal. Some day.
"It certainly is," he rasped back, his voice full of more gravel than usual, his eyes soft on hers. His arms wrapped around her waist and he rested his forehead against hers, closing his eyes and then nuzzling into her neck. "That was the best way I've woken up since…" He tried to remember and smiled to himself. "Yesterday."
Calleigh smiled at that. "Oh come on, Horatio, the way you woke up today has to be better than the way you woke up yesterday."
When his eyes met hers they were earnest. "Any day I wake up with you is perfect." His tone and his expression left no room for doubt. He melted her absolutely. "I feel the same way, handsome," she answered shakily, her voice thick with emotion.
"I know we haven't really discussed it, but I was serious about what I said on the phone," he said quietly. "I don't want to be away from you, Calleigh. I love you. Forever."
She had no words for the feelings this man inspired in her. "I feel the same way, Horatio. Forever."
His eyes were still steady on hers. He had no idea of how to say this without coming off as possessive and demanding. He didn't want her out of his sight. Ever. But even he knew it was crazy after two days. "I want you to move in with me," he blurted, wanting to slap himself as soon as the words left his mouth. Calleigh only smiled down at him, taking his words in the spirit she imagined he meant them, knowing him as she did. He wouldn't force her into anything she didn't want, as she knew only too well. Sliding her arms around his neck and settling herself more comfortably into him, she relaxed against him. "I'd like that very much. But I'd like some time to get to enjoy you first, before we have to start worrying about logistics." She shifted and looked back into his eyes, enjoying the contentment she saw there. "What are we going to do about work, Horatio? Should we tell the team?"
Horatio considered that. He didn't want it to be a secret. He didn't want to do that to her, and as bowled over as he was by her, he didn't think it would be long before he gave it away himself. He thought of Eric and sighed, knowing he had to tell his brother-in-law before he found out from another source. The man was like a brother to him, and he had no idea how he would react to this turn of events. He hoped that once Eric saw that the two of them were serious—and happy—that he would be okay with it. Calleigh looked into his eyes, sensing his sudden disquiet. "He'll be okay, Horatio. Would you like me to tell him?"
Horatio smiled. Of course she'd know what he was thinking. She usually did.
"You don't have to do that, sweetheart. We should probably tell him together."
She smiled, thinking of the reaction of their friends, their family, really. "You know, there are several others that will have our heads if we keep it from them for long," she said with a smirk and he laughed.
"Very true. What do you propose we do about it?"
Calleigh grinned up at him. "I say we invite them all out for drinks, and make sure Alexx comes as well. And then, well, we just spring it on them, all at once." Horatio grinned at the thought of that and then stilled, caressing her face, mesmerized by that beautiful, glowing smile, for a long moment with the pads of his fingers. "Calleigh, are you sure about this?"
Immediately she sensed his anxiety rising, and it wasn't all about their coming out with the team, although that was probably a part of it. She looked at him steadily, never taking her eyes from his. "Completely." He didn't answer. He couldn't voice his fears to her, but he felt so dishonest, and it seemed unfair to let her make such a monumental decision without full disclosure. There was so much she didn't know, and he knew she needed to know it all. He trusted her. He just didn't know where to start.
"Hey," she said, taking his face in her hands. "I want to be with you. That's all. Nothing else matters to me." She didn't care about work, about the obstacles, about what their friends would say. Only him. Only that he was going to be okay. He closed his eyes and rested his forehead against hers, soaking in her soft touch. Calleigh had always had that effect on him. She had always grounded him, anchored him, made him feel safe. Slowly, carefully, he wrapped his arms around her, bringing her closer still.
"I want to be with you, too, but..." But she deserved so much better than him. He couldn't say the words, didn't want to say the words. He wanted to be what she needed, wanted to be deserving of her light. Gently she covered his mouth with her soft fingers, even as she pulled back to look into his eyes.
"All of those things will work themselves out. One day at a time works both ways, remember?"
He smiled at the memory. "I can't believe you remember that."
She ran her fingers through his hair lovingly. "How could I not? It was good advice given to me by a very good friend. I say we take it now. We won't worry about work or anyone else right now. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Together. One day at a time."
"Sounds like good advice."
She smiled at him again. "I thought so." The moment had passed. She understood; she had felt it many times. Not now, however. She was completely clear, for the first time in her life. She drew back and took his hand, leading him to the shower without another word. Taking her hand, feeling himself suddenly overwhelmed with love for this woman, he smiled.
