A/N Thank you to all who visit and read this story, and thank you to all who also review. You are all much appreciated.

WARNING...This next chapter is the reason this story was given an M rating.

Chapter 14

Thursday evening, Horatio looking smart in light grey slacks, white shirt, open at the neck, and black jacket called for Aileen at 7:30 pm, and when she opened the door he gasped, "WOW" you look stunning Aileen." She was wearing a wine colored body hugging sleeveless midi dress, with a soft v-neckline adorned with an asymmetric frill flattering the fitted dress, and had a single off the shoulder sleeve, left side of dress. And to go with this she was wearing black dainty high heel ankle strap sandals. Horatio was spell bound for a minute as his eyes continued to take in her appearance; this woman he had fallen in love with was simply looking drop dead gorgeous.

Aileen smiled inwardly with satisfaction as she watched him, she had been wondering if she had chosen well for tonight and going by the look on his face she knew she had, and was happy, she so wanted this evening to go well. This might be the last night they saw each other; tomorrow evening was the eve of Sharon's wedding and she guessed the men would have a boy's night out. Then it was the wedding on Saturday so they would all be busy and not much time for each other and then he would be off. Seeing him standing there right in front of her looking so handsome and with his head tilted as he smiled at her so sweetly she knew without any shadow of doubt, that she loved this man who had suddenly come into her life from out of the blue. She had never believed in love at first sight, now she did, and was dreading him going home on Sunday.

Coming away from her thoughts she found her voice, "Thank you Horatio and you look pretty good yourself, and so handsome."

Horatio with a twinkle in his eyes said, "Thank you Ma'am."

Then looking at her bare shoulders he asked, "Shame as it would be to cover those beautiful shoulders of yours Aileen, but do you have a wrap of some sort as we are going down by the river waterfront and we will be dining outside?"

"Yes, I have a matching cashmere wrap. I'll be with you in a minute. But come in Horatio."

He stepped inside and made his way to the lounge, and within seconds she returned with her wrap and purse. Taking the wrap from her he draped it around her shoulders unable to resist kissing her on both shoulders first, which sent shivers down her back. He could feel what happened and smiled as he said, "This wrap is perfect...and so are your shoulders. In fact, let me do that again," and lifting her wrap he promptly kissed them again, making her smile and raise her shoulders with pleasure.

Then he asked, "Did Tommy go to your friends with no problems."

"Yes, I took him over there at 6:00 pm. He was happy, and I left him telling Maeve all about the lovely trips out you have given us the last few days."

Then they left for the restaurant. Horatio had booked a table at an Italian Restaurant on the river waterfront earlier in the day, and having been asked whether he wanted to sit inside or outside on the upper deck, with a view over the waterfront, he chose the latter.

On arrival, the waiter escorted them to their table which was nice as it was in a secluded corner and Aileen was enchanted, and glancing across the waterfront said, "This is such a beautiful spot Horatio, such a romantic setting." He smiled, happy that she was happy, and pleased he had chosen this one He was out of touch with all the smaller restaurants these days, but Jerry of all people had come up trumps for him. He had heard about the popularity of this one.

Horatio ordered the wine, Aileen leaving it to him to choose, and when the waiter returned with the wine he also had a red rose with him, and passed it to Horatio saying, "For the beautiful lady Senor." Horatio took it and with a smile handed it to Aileen who shyly muttered," I'm sorry you got caught with that Horatio."

"But I didn't Aileen, I organised it with the waiter to bring you a rose...a rose for a very, very beautiful lady."

"Thank you, it was a lovely thing to do." He responded by lifting her right hand to his mouth, and kissing it said, "My pleasure sweetheart."

They ordered their meals next, both wanting the steak with trimmings and spent the next two hours enjoying their meals, sipping their wine, and enjoying the surroundings.

Then as they sat there with coffees, Horatio took both of Aileen's hands in his and looking into her eyes said, "You know I don't only think I have fallen in love with as I said last night, I definitely am in love with you. I don't know how it has happened so quick, we have only known each other a few days, but I know I love you Aileen."

"Horatio, I love you too, very much."

He leaned across the table and gave her the softest, sweetest kiss on the lips, and then noticing some couples were now dancing slowly to the soft background music that had been playing for a while, Horatio stood up; held a hand out to Aileen, "Care to dance now," he asked. Aileen, leaving her wrap behind, took his hand and Horatio drew her up and into his arms and they started dancing, slowly to the romantic music being relayed from inside the restaurant to the outside deck.

Responding to the romantic atmosphere Horatio drew her in close to his body thinking how good she felt against him. He kissed her on her left shoulder and whispered in her ear, "You are one sexy lady Aileen Casey, and you are intoxicating me." He nuzzled her neck, and his hands started wandering down her back, as he started to think he wanted to take her to bed tonight, but then he suddenly pulled away from her, as from nowhere Marisol invaded his brain, as she did sometimes. "But why now?" he wondered when he had started to be happy. It ruined the evening he felt vulnerable and he was instantly worried that what was going on with Aileen was all happening too quick and it wasn't fair of him to lead her along while he believed this relationship, much as he would like it to, could not work. He knew he loved her, but had to return to Miami on Sunday, no doubt about that, so best to cool it now, before it became even harder to do so. It was already going to be hard enough. This all went through his mind in seconds and he was stunned, and shook his head wondering what the hell had just happened.

Aileen surprised and hurt that Horatio had pulled away from her as if in distaste asked with moisture glistening in her eyes, "Did I do something wrong Horatio?"

Horatio moving her into a corner, away from the lights, took her face in his hands, "Aileen, I think it is impossible for you to do anything wrong. It's me sweetheart." But rather than tell her about Marisol's intrusion into his brain he said, "I love you, but this has all taken my breath away and I'm sorry I'm not ready for the speed this is happening. It's going too fast, and I have to go back to Miami on Sunday and long distance relationships never seem to work. I should never have let this happen; it hasn't been fair to you."

"But what you did was so sudden Horatio...I thought we were having a good time. What happened to make you suddenly decide all this?"

Frowning now and looking at her with compassion, he simply answered. "I don't know...I was feeling so good and then realised how close to Sunday we are and realisation hit me." He just couldn't tell her another woman invaded his brain while he was holding her so close; no woman would understand that.

"Okay Horatio, I understand," said Aileen, utterly dejected. She didn't really understand - all the signs tonight had been so good, but she muttered, "We can still be good friends can't we?"

Horatio embraced her and holding her really tight whispered, "Friends for life, sweetheart."

"I think we had better get you home now." Aileen nodded her head in agreement not trying to make any protest about what he said, he had clearly meant what he said and right now she was hurting. They returned to their table where Aileen picked her wrap up, while Horatio settled the bill.

As Horatio drove Aileen home she was silent all the way and looked so sad, and he started to feel really bad at the way he had handled this. She hadn't deserved any of this and she had looked so beautiful for him tonight, and right now he was feeling a real shit. Deep in his heart he wanted this relationship. He had to make this up to her somehow...they had John and Sharon's wedding to get through. And then for the first time ever he felt angry with Marisol and in anguish he mentally said to himself, "Why oh why did you come through to me tonight Marisol, why? And just when I was feeling happier than I have felt for a long time now. My guilt for your death is never going to leave me is it? I can't take this into a new relationship it isn't fair on the person I now love."

Reaching her apartment and seeing her safely to the door, Aileen asked, "Will you come in for a coffee Horatio – as a friend?" He hadn't the heart to refuse, so followed her in.

While Aileen was making the coffee Horatio made a bee line for the sofa and sat down, having first taken his jacket off as he was hot. He glanced around and saw some of Tommy's toys in a corner and smiled. This was a part of life that he had missed out on with Kyle, and sighed, as he thought he would miss her boy as well...Tommy had stolen his heart.

"That was a big sigh Horatio," said Aileen as she came into the lounge and placed the coffees on the coffee table.

"Come here sweetheart," and grabbing her hand Horatio pulled her down on the sofa next to him. He placed an arm round her shoulders and drawing her close to him said, "We have been getting on so well this week, and I meant it when I said I love you. I'm am so sorry for being a jerk and spoiling the evening. But tell me about your husband Aileen. Can you let him go and move on?"

Aileen went silent for a minute, and Horatio berated himself for asking such a question.

"Nice one Caine," he muttered to himself."You are doing everything just right tonight."

But Aileen started talking. "Horatio, I loved Jack with all my heart, and of course he will always be a part of me. We were married for 12 years, and Tommy came along six years after we were married. Jack was so proud of his little boy; it had taken a long time for me to get pregnant and we never managed it again. This last two years I have missed him so much, but sometimes I have been angry with him as well. I never wanted him to go to Afghanistan, although he had no choice; it was heart breaking having to tell Tommy that his daddy was never coming home again, and although he has been a naturally good boy it has been hard work bringing him up on my own. He is such an inquisitive boy it is hard to keep up with him sometimes, although in a way it helped me as I had to stay strong for him, and we got through the tough times together. But I have often felt lonely even though I have Tommy, and good friends like Sharon, John, Michael and Jerry.

Horatio caressed her face, saying, "It's the loneliness that can be unbearable."

Aileen frowning and looking him straight in the eyes, continued. "I have never looked at or cared about another man since Jack's death, but you coming into our lives Horatio has shown that I can love again. You have made me feel so happy and cared for in this short week and I know I could move forward if it was with you."

Then she shrugged and asked. "Tell me your story Horatio; it's obvious you have a troubled mind. What has hurt you so much that you cannot seem or want to move forward?"

In response and for the first time ever in his life Horatio poured his heart out apart from details of his childhood; he told her about his brother Raymond, Yelina, and Ray Junior. About his marriage and love for Marisol; her cancer; her wanting a baby and her murder, which he blamed himself for, and how guilty he still felt about that. He told her about Julia, and finding out he had a son from their relationship and how much he had missed out on Kyle's early years as he didn't know about him until the boy was sixteen, and that it wasn't easy for Kyle to accept him at first. But with time they had bonded, and they loved one another. He finished by telling her that Kyle had been serving in Afghanistan, but just today he had learned he was home for a month's break.

Aileen now recalling Jerry's comments a couple of days earlier, understood what he had been trying to tell her. She actually understood more than Horatio knew, she guessed that Marisol was at the root of what had happened tonight. He clearly carried an overwhelming guilt about that. She sat up, and turning her face to Horatio, kissed him lovingly on the mouth, and said, "I love you so much Horatio, can't we work this out somehow?"

Horatio moved her closer and holding her face in his hands kissed her on the forehead, and a moment later they were locked in each other's arms kissing each other passionately. They drew apart for a second both a bit dazed by the ferocity of what had just happened. Then Horatio enfolded Aileen in his arms again and could feel her heart thudding as his was, and he knew she was as aroused as he was. He leaned in and kissed her neck, her ear lobes, and then running his fingers through her hair as he looked deep into her brown eyes looking at him so seductively he said, "You know I want you don't you? Although after my behaviour tonight I don't deserve you."

His right hand nevertheless traveled over her left breast, then her hip, creeping under the hem of her dress, up along her left thigh, and then Aileen brushing his hand away stood up and gave him her hand. "Come with me Horatio, I want you to make love to me," she said leading him to her bedroom.

"I don't have any protection sweetheart. Because of the way I was feeling I meant to go to the gent's room at the restaurant before I became an idiot..." Aileen interrupted him and said, "Don't worry Horatio timing is good."

She sat down on the bed and undid the straps of her sandals and then standing up Horatio helped her out of her dress and panties catching his breath at her beauty. He started to undo his shirt, and Aileen said, "Let me Horatio." She unbuttoned his shirt for him, undid his trouser belt and unzipped him. And the next minute they were lying on her bed side by side. Horatio pushed himself up on one elbow; caressed Aileen's face with his right hand, kissed her and pulled her in tight to his body, overwhelmed at the intensity of his feelings for her. He then kissed her again and again, gently at first and then firmer as his passion was rising. Then he broke away and started caressing her body, first her breasts; her hips, moving down her long legs and back again. She had such silky skin and he loved the feel of it under his fingertips. Aileen responded to his exploration of her body and caressed him with equal passion. After a few minutes, Aileen's ardent response aroused Horatio to a point where he could not keep control of himself any longer and she gasped when he took possession of her, and whispered huskily in her ear, "This is where I want to be sweetheart."

A few minutes later, fully sated, they lay on their backs, both of them lost with their own thoughts.

Then coming away from his thoughts Horatio sat up, put his legs over the side of the bed and with a croak in his voice said, "Forgive me Aileen, I should never have allowed that to happen. I took advantage of you when we were both emotional."

Aileen sat up and knelt behind him placing her arms round his neck saying, "It's alright Horatio. I'm not asking anything of you that you can't give; we were just two people who needed to be loved tonight."

"But it was wonderful wasn't it?"

"Something for us to remember," she added as she lay down again.

Horatio groaning lay back on the bed, and turning on his side; pulled her into his arms saying, "It was perfect." Then caressing her cheek gently he felt dampness on her face." Oh Aileen, please don't cry sweetheart. The last thing in the world I wanted was to hurt you."

"It's alright Horatio; I just feel sad right now, thinking of what could have been."

"I'm also too old for you Aileen."

"Don't be silly Horatio, what is 12 years difference when in love."

Then with a quiver in her voice she asked, "Could you please just stay for the rest of the night."

Horatio running his fingers through her hair replied, "If that's what you want?"

She nestled in against him and before long he whispered, "I want to make love to you again. Is that okay?" Her answer was to snuggle in even closer and they made love once more before falling asleep in each other's arms.

TBC