Thank you to Marlou for her wonderful beta work, and to everyone who has reviewed.
Chapter Twenty-eight
Soft moonlight filtered through the partially open blinds to bathe the couple in the bed in streaks of radiance. They had retired to bed as soon as they came in from the restaurant, their beautiful night marred by the fact that they would soon bear the pain of being apart once again.
Sara sighed heavily as she wrapped her arm around his torso, pulling her body closer to him. Moving her head onto his chest she listened to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, content to wrap herself in his warmth for as long as she could.
"You awake?" he asked softly as he looked down towards the top of her head.
Sara's lips upturned into a warm smile and she shifted slightly, lifting her head to look up into his eyes. "I can't sleep."
"Me neither," he sighed, pulling her closer to him as he spoke. Her warmth seeped through his skin to caress his body and fill him with an enormous sense of peace. His fingers danced over her skin, gliding up her shoulders until he reached the silken strands of her hair, absentmindedly combing his fingertips through, all the while dreading the moment when he had to leave.
Sara let a contented sigh escape her lips and snuggled in closer to his chest. "Did the others know you were coming to see me?"
His hands stilled in her hair, her question sparking off the impending sadness that reached up to claim his soul. Lifting his shoulders slightly Grissom leaned in slowly to kiss her hair. "Only Nick."
"Really?" a knowing smile lit her face as she looked up at him only to return her head to his chest and wrap her arms around him, hugging him tighter briefly before she relaxed her arms. "I bet that was a great conversation."
"Oh it was," he smiled at the memory, Nicks warning still very much in his mind. "He misses you." Moving his other arm to her shoulders, he surrounded her with warmth to cocoon her in his strong embrace only to bury his lips in her hair. "They all do."
Sara closed her eyes tightly fighting against the burning tears that had suddenly gathered there. "I bet Catherine would disagree with you. She was more than happy to let me know her feelings."
"Sara," he sighed softly before moving a finger beneath her chin to lift her face. When their eyes met in the darkness he could see the sparkling sheen of tears inside her eyes, and still the power of her emotions managed to break his heart. Leaning down, he pressed a soft kiss on her lips hoping that the gentle touch would banish the tiny ebbs of fear away from her, his lips providing the reassurance where his words could not. Feeling her relax beside him, he encompassed her in his embrace letting her seek refuge in his warmth. He hoped she understood by now that everything he had to give was hers for the taking, and nothing would change that.
Sara's hand slid along his upper body, her fingers scraping enticingly through the hairs covering his chest. Sara still marveled at how much she craved him and not for the first time she found herself wishing that tomorrow wouldn't arrive. Moving off of him slightly, she adjusted her weight and pressed an arm into the soft mattress to lift herself up.
She could feel the burning heat rising up inside her body, and she realized in a heartbeat that she desperately needed to see his eyes. She drank in the sight of him, her eyes memorizing every inch of his bare torso, her hands joining in the worship of his body, all the way up until she reached his face. She lifted herself up higher, putting all weight on her elbow so that she should gaze down at him.
His eyes met hers and in that one precious moment everything was understood, and she knew that memories from the past could no longer hurt her.
Wordlessly, they came together, their lips drifting closer as the magnetic pull between them fusing them as one. The gentleness of their kiss slowly became more demanding and the embers of passions only recently released began to flare into smoldering flames once more. Hopelessness and pure need fueled them further, along with the deep set longing that had kept them pining for each other for over a decade
Grissom groaned into her mouth when she increased the pressure of her lips, her kisses becoming more demanding in her bid to show him how much she needed this. Her body shivered slightly when his hands roamed her back, and groaned with desire as his fingers snaked across her skin. With skillful touches he set her on fire only to soothe the flames with his lips. The relief was short lived when Sara responded to him in every way, her hands partaking a journey of their own. When she raked her fingernails across his skin to elicit a soft whimper from his throat, he had no doubts that she knew exactly what she was doing to him.
When her lips left his to begin a tender trek down his throat, he used her distraction to gain the advantage and hooked her legs to lift her above him so that she was straddling his thighs. Pulling away from his lips, Sara found herself drawn in to his gaze and felt the burning love he held for her in every caress he bestowed upon her. Their eyes locked and so many words that had remained unsaid were finally spoken in silent communications. She had loved this man for an eternity and now she finally understood that he had loved her all along.
Unable to fight the pull of his lips anymore she sank down into his body and sealed them together in a kiss that poured out every ounce of passion. His hands left her shoulders to tangle in her hair as he pulled her in closer to their kiss, his burning need to be with her fueling the desire that flared between them. Unable to withstand her heavenly torture any longer, he flipped them over and smiled into her lips when she gasped with surprise.
"Make love to me," she whispered when their lips parted briefly only to seal together just as quickly, the delicate touch becoming more demanding with every passing second.
"Sara," he hummed as his body started to move within her. She urged him on, gently coaxing him in the soft whimpers that overcame her when he showered her with everything she had ever wanted. The whimpers became gasps, and the gentle movements became more erratic as they both strove for a release that no other lover could ever provide.
Lifting her legs, she pulled him in deeper, taking everything he offered. Their lovemaking brought them both to an emotional pique to go beyond the physical binds that held them together.
Throwing her head back against the pillows she groaned his name when he burst within her, pulling her over the edge along with him to float them both back down together. He collapsed against her, his shaking body sending wave after wave of love through her heart. Lifting her arms, she stroked his slick back and moved her neck to allow his seeking lips to take solace in the heat of her skin.
Sara clung to him desperately as she tried to forget that in only a few hours he would be taken from her life again and she would return to the lonely existence that had kept them apart. Lifting her hands to his face, she pulled his head up so that she could look into his eyes and confirm for herself that he felt their connection just as much as she did. When she met his eyes she found herself biting back her own flood of emotion when she caught sight of his tear filled eyes. He felt it too and that was something that would live with her forever.
Lifting himself from her body, Grissom moved to her side and pulled her closer towards him so he could hold her in his arms. He too didn't want to think of the coming months without her and even though it was only another three months, it might as well have been three years; the separation would be just as painful either way. Sniffing back the sadness welling in his eyes he peppered her face with kisses in a bid to keep her with him always.
"I can't let you to go," she whispered softly as she buried her face into his chest. She had vowed to be strong and not make their parting any more difficult that it already would be, but she couldn't help it. Tears flooded her eyes before she could stop them to consume her in quiet sobs that shook her body.
"I know, I know," he whispered softly while he pulled her in closer to him. "We'll get through this honey, I know we will."
"I'm being so stupid," she cried as she sniffed back the remaining tears that threatened to tumble from her eyes along with the rest. Lifting her head slightly she angled her chin so that she could look up into his eyes and was only slightly shocked to see his own sadness mirrored back at her. Her fingers shook as she stroked the single tear from his cheek and offered him what she hoped was a reassuring smile.
Grissom was a man who had always kept his emotions hidden from everyone but Sara had always seemed to slip through his defenses to see right through him. Now though, after everything they had shared he was finding it increasingly difficult to hide behind those same defenses that kept him concealed. Reaching up to her face, he slid his fingers across her skin and matched her smile. They would get through the distance just like they always had, but this time they both knew that love existed between them, they'd both witnessed the powerful bind that tied them together and simple distance wouldn't be able to keep them apart again.
Lulling each other into silence, Grissom finally lost the battle to stay awake, his eyelids closing in defiance. Beside him, Sara lie silently, content to watch him sleep. Her eyes skimmed his face to memorize every feature, each new discovery bringing a fresh sheen of tears to her eyes. She had to be strong for him she knew that, but here in the dark wrapped up in his arms, she allowed herself to grieve.
Some time in the night, sleep had overcome her and she had fallen into a deep cleansing slumber. Drawing in a deep breath she moved slightly to reach her hand across the mattress in search of the warm body beside her but was met with an empty bed.
Pulling herself awake, she sat up quickly and looked around the room. Grissom's case had gone and sudden fear gripped at her heart.
"Grissom…" she called quickly as she scrambled out of bed in search of her robe.
"Hey, where are you going?" His voice came from the doorway and she looked up to see him carrying a tray into the room.
"Oh God," she gasped, her eyes flooding with tears as she watched him place the tray of food onto the bed. Letting out a soft whimper, she moved towards him to throw her arms around his neck, the urgency in her embrace causing him to pull her in tighter. "I thought…" she whimpered, "you'd gone."
"Oh honey, I'd never do that to you." His words echoed in her ears, his whispered promise causing her eyes to clench tightly closed to stop the tears from falling.
"What time is it?" she asked softly, her voice lost in his chest.
"We have two hours," he whispered sadly, knowing the ache in his heart wouldn't die away. Feeling her pull away from him slightly, she lifted her eyes up to his and sniffed back the emotion in her eyes.
"You made me breakfast?" she asked quietly in a bid to add some humour to their situation, but neither laughed at the emptiness. Instead, Grissom slipped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her in close to him, unwilling to waste what remainder of time they had left together.
Sara breathed in the scent of his skin and wrapped her arms around him to hold him close to her. Neither spoke a word, no words could express the charged atmosphere that lingered around them, and as the food on the tray turned cold, they held each other until the time to leave came to pass.
TBC
