Disclaimer: Not mine
Twelve
Just as she'd thought, they were quickly swept back to reality as soon as they walked into the lab on Monday morning. It was back to business as usual, and Calleigh was glad they'd decided to spend the nights at his house. They wouldn't see much of each other otherwise. He had more space than she did, and they both enjoyed his pool and hot tub that until now had been rarely used.
Most of her clothes had somehow found their way into his closet, and her favorite workout equipment had migrated to one of his guest rooms that they had converted into an exercise room. He had never bothered with anything that formal before, mostly taking his early-morning runs on the beach, but he was starting to enjoy having the convenience of the machines there when the urge struck. He hadn't gotten tired of her. She hadn't gotten tired of him. If anything, the sheer perfection that was their professional partnership carried over seamlessly into their personal life, and Horatio was already thinking of making it official. He had no doubts. He was happy, and enjoying every minute of it.
They settled into an easy routine. Calleigh liked to get up early to get a workout in before the day began, and Horatio joined her. They rose before sunrise and went for a run on the beach, following with weights for Horatio and yoga or pilates for Calleigh. They had breakfast together and went to work where they went their separate ways, although Calleigh often went out into the field with him these days.
He had admitted to her that he had detached from her professionally as much as possible after the whole green light thing, for her safety. He had become increasingly paranoid about her safety in those days, having lost faith in his ability to keep those around him safe. "It wasn't that I didn't trust you, Calleigh," he had told her one night. "I cared too much for you to let anything happen to you because of me. I couldn't stand it if…"
"Hey," she'd told him. "I have nine lives. You know that. And you know I don't miss. I understand your fears, and I respect your honesty. We're not going to have any more of that thinking now, are we?"
Horatio's smile had been genuine. "No, ma'am, we're not."
"Good." And that had been the end of that. She wasn't with him on every case, but she knew that she was his partner, truly, once again.
It was Friday night, and she sought him out, finding him, as usual, in his office, knee-deep in paperwork. They both had the weekend off, and now she just wanted to get home before anything came up to stop them. She had big plans for tonight.
Horatio looked up when Calleigh knocked and then walked through the door. It struck him that it was just last Friday that he had fallen asleep at his desk and his life had changed irrevocably. He smiled, thinking of just how much he had enjoyed having her with him all week. And now it was the weekend, and they were going to spend it together. "Hey, beautiful."
She smiled. "Hey, handsome, you almost done here?"
"Yeah, almost. Should be less than an hour. You want to go out for dinner?" They had cooked at home together every night this week, but he thought he'd take her out tonight.
"Actually, I was thinking I would stop by my place for a couple things on the way home. Do you mind taking the Hummer home so I can take your car?"
"Not at all. Should I bring takeout?"
"Sounds good. Surprise me. I'll see you at home."
"Okay, sweetheart. I'll see you at home. I won't be long."
She paused at the door with the sultry look he had come to know and love immensely. "You had better not. I'll be waiting."
He really liked the sound of that.
H/C
Calleigh felt totally at home in Horatio's house. She could see herself living there with him forever, growing old with him there. Downstairs he had a spacious office that he had invited her to use anytime. There was an enormous spare room downstairs as well, that they had chosen for the exercise room. She smiled thinking of it. They worked out most mornings after their run, and she enjoyed watching him lift weights and do sit ups and push ups while she put her body through its paces. Just yesterday morning it had proven too much temptation to resist. The sight of him shirtless and sweaty, muscles straining, was an incredible turn-on for her, and she had risen from her yoga mat, crossed to him without a word, and taken his mouth. In turn, he had taken her against the wall of the exercise room, followed by a delightful shower together which had very nearly made them late for work.
Horatio was sentimental. She knew that shouldn't surprise her, but it did. He had a baby grand piano in the great room, but she had never heard him play. He had pictures on his walls—Raymond, Yelina and Ray Jr., several of him with the team on various occasions they had celebrated together, and several childhood portraits that had surprised her. There was one of him and Ray as children, smiling with teeth missing, that made her smile. There was another with the two of them and a smiling woman behind them, which she knew was their mother, and another one of their mother alone. She loved the soft loving look in his eyes on the rare occasions he spoke of his mother, and although Calleigh knew she was deceased, he had given no details. There were no pictures of his father, and she'd wondered about that, but wouldn't ask. It would be up to him to bring it up. He never talked about his father, and she suspected abuse, and had no way to know if it was founded or if she automatically jumped to that conclusion because of what she saw every day on the job. Like her, he had a sixth sense for abuse cases, and he was extraordinarily gentle with the troubled kids he saw in their line of work.
She wouldn't bring it up, but she had her suspicions, and they had only been confirmed in the last week. Horatio was an ardent lover, but he was also an extremely cautious one, and with the exception of their first time, he was all about the slow and sweet, very, very careful not to lose control. While she enjoyed that immensely, she wanted all of him, wanted him to feel free to be himself with her, to let himself go with her, and she was hoping to get that point across tonight.
H/C
The house was noticeably quiet when Horatio let himself in the front door. His car was out front so he knew she was here. "Calleigh?" he called, setting the bags down on the table.
"Up here," was her muted response and he grinned, very much hoping she was soaking in a hot bath and covered with bubbles right now. The stresses of the week melted away as he climbed the stairs, feeling far younger than his years with the prospect of spending the weekend with Calleigh, just Calleigh. He had stopped by the cemetery to talk to Marisol, to thank her, and he finally felt free, and ready to move on with his life, with Calleigh in it. Whether that was truly due to Marisol's intervention or the work of his own subconscious mind, he honestly could care less. He'd take it either way.
The sight that greeted him when he walked into the bedroom stunned him into silence. Dear Lord. Calleigh, his Calleigh, was handcuffed to his bed—their bed—wearing nothing but a very lacy black bra and the black thong he had admired so very briefly on Sunday night. Lust sprang up inside him, dark and delighted, before he ruthlessly pushed it back. "Hello, handsome," she drawled, with a wicked grin.
"Cal?" he asked hesitantly, barely finding his voice. "What the hell?"
"I'm yours, Horatio. I need you. Now. I want you to take me." Her lust-glazed eyes burned into his. Her smoky sensual tone wrapped around him and held him fast. He felt like she had put him into a trance. He wanted exactly what she wanted. "However you like, handsome."
