000

Chapter 22

000

Horatio took Calleigh's hand and made her sit with him on the bed. He sat behind her and traced two fingers down her back edging to the claps that secured her gown. Unfastening them, he kissed from one shoulder to the other while caressing the warm skin he'd just uncovered. Calleigh's head lulled back finding his shoulder for support. He reached behind her head and removed her hairpins, one by one, until her blond hair fell freely onto her shoulders. He removed her necklace and gently made it fall to the floor. Reaching down, he removed her sandals, taking the opportunity to remove his shoes and socks as well. She stood and divested him of his jacket then slipped out of her gown.

He eased her onto the white linen and held himself over her. He took his time to please her and that drew her over the edge; she launched herself at him, making him tumble so she was on top, kissing him fervently.
He hummed appreciatively at her gentle weight on him and his velvety voice titillated her. Horatio pushed the sconces and apples off the down pillows, incapable of smoldering the lust. He nibbled her earlobe as thrills generously rode up his body. She moved away, kissing down his chest with every button of his white dress shirt undone.

Horatio asked, taking her hands, "Calleigh, do you want to try again?"

It took her an instant to process what he meant, but she understood.

"I thought," she said unevenly, breath catching in her throat, "I thought you didn't want a baby."

"I do now." He gazed at her steadily. "If you want it, too."

"Are you sure?"

"As sure as I'll ever be, sweetheart," he said, eyes sincere.

Clothes discarded, their evening ignited into passionate lovemaking. One torrid kiss after the other, as the golden sun set and the sky turned bright orange.

000

"Should we have dinner on the terrace or by the poolside?" Calleigh asked Horatio lying behind her in bed.

"No, you know what - let's rough it," Horatio replied from behind her ear. He didn't want to move.

"What do you have in mind?" she turned in his embrace, teasingly letting the sheets slide down her shoulder.

"Two words," Horatio answered, and Calleigh smiled at his expression, "room service," he finished.

The next day, Calleigh was busy, down at the poolside, reading a magazine and sunbathing in one of the hotel's chaise longue. Horatio had said he was going to meet with her downstairs after his shower.

She felt him touch her shoulder as he went around her chair and she put her magazine down to welcome his kiss.

"You want something to drink?" he asked and she moved her legs so he could sit down with her. He looked great in his swim trunks. Barely even three years ago, she remembered wondering if he was as firm as she thought under those buttoned down shirts and black slacks. Often, she undressed him with her eyes, and now she didn't have to. He was hers.

She smiled.

"No, I'm fine. And I've got money on me, you know. Do you want anything? I can buy."

"Calleigh," his cobalt eyes held her gaze, "there's no way I'm letting you pay for anything while on our honeymoon - "

"You're insatiable," Calleigh said with an easy smile.

"In more ways than one, I'm afraid," he said in a throaty voice, leaning to kiss her again.

She shifted to get up and he stood with her.

"Where do you think you're going?" he asked with the strength of his leader's personality.

"I'm going to lounge around in the pool," she put her reading back in the bag beside her chair.

He waited for her to look him in the eye and he asked, lifting his brow, "Permission to join you?"

She smiled brightly, teeth glistening between her red lips, lifting her sunglasses off her eyes to wink at him and replied, "Granted."

She replaced her shades over her eyes and Horatio took her hand. They stepped into the shallow water together and Horatio suddenly stilled and gave Calleigh a sideways glance. Holding back a grin, he bent over and splashed her.

Her jaw dropped.

"Oh, is that how it's gonna be?" she smiled mischievously, taking a few steps back to not give him the satisfaction of another win and threw him water.

They continued their water fight for a little while until Horatio caught her and held onto her, trying not to move his lips as he spoke, looking at the staff staring at them, "I think fun time is over."

Calleigh giggled, hiding her mouth with her hand, muttering playfully, "I think our play time is frowned upon here and we don't want to get kicked out."

She laughed and he kissed her forehead.

She moved around him, surrounding him from behind with her arms, saying, "I love you like this." She prized knowing how different he was outside of CSI.
No longer did that spot between his shoulder blades taunt for her touch. She loved to stand behind him and rest her head at that spot, like she did now. Horatio reached back and looped his arms around her. Life couldn't get any better.

Walking through the crowd on the Old Bridge, or Ponte Vecchio as they say in Italian, Calleigh was window-shopping for jewelry with Horatio. He had been told, by a friend, that it was the best place to buy jewelry in Florence and he wouldn't let an opportunity to please Calleigh pass so easily.

"You already bought me an Italian leather purse," she protested, but he shook his head. He loved how her eyes lit up when she saw something she liked.

It was wonderful enough to be spending a week in Italy... Calleigh kept looking up at the beautiful architecture and kept squeezing Horatio's arm, her husband's arm, making sure this wasn't all a dream.

They stayed at Hotel Rivoli, an authentic Franciscan convent built in the 1400 and they went out every night for dinner. Horatio indulged himself in delicious Italian cuisine consisting of various kinds of pasta and thin crust pizzas.
They visited Pisa and different art museums, took long walks and enjoyed their time alone together.
Soon enough, it was time to fly back home with their suitcases filled with presents and souvenirs.

They arrived a day later in the afternoon and Horatio exhaled, as the airport escalator lowered them to the first floor.

Calleigh pointed to the door where Eric was waiting to drive them home, "Look, there's Eric."

They got off the escalator and Calleigh rushed to hug Eric, "It's so good to see you again," she kissed his cheek and Eric wrapped an arm around her waist. "How's everything back at the lab?" she asked eagerly.

"We'll all be glad to have our little Bullet Girl back," Eric smiled giving her another squeeze.

"Hey, how was your trip?" Eric took his approaching boss' hand. Horatio looked exhausted.

"I'm getting too old for this," Horatio grumbled.

Eric chuckled, "For what? Twelve-hour-plus flights or honeymoons?"

"Eric," Calleigh swatted his arm and gave Horatio a look, saying, "It better be the long flight."

She left Eric's grasp to go hug Horatio, "I did not marry an old man, that's for sure!"

Calleigh turned to Eric, suddenly wanting to ask, "How's Ella?"

"Alexx said she was fine. With Janie and Bryan around, I'm sure the cat will be happy to go back to a calmer environment with you guys." Eric looked at Calleigh then at Horatio, "We all missed you. Did you have a good time?"

This lighted Horatio's spirit, "Oh yeah." He grinned and Calleigh smiled, looking up at him from where she stood at his side. "It's good to be home, though," Horatio pat Eric on the back and they walked towards the parking lot.

A week passed and everything was back to normal. No longer jet-lagged, no longer lost in their workload, Calleigh and Horatio were back to their old selves at work. They were closer now, and barely needed to mutter a word, understanding what the other thought immediately.

Calleigh went to get him at the end of the day, as always, and suggested they go out for dinner.

"So, where do you wanna eat?" Horatio asked, getting into the Hummer.

"Somewhere in South Miami," she replied easily with a twinkle in her eye.

"Is this your way of making me choose?" he shut the car door, keeping a straight face.

"Yep," she said, buckling up. She knew he'd go take the McArthur Causeway and she wanted him to go in that direction.

Just before taking the causeway, she insisted on turning right and going down Flagler Street.

Horatio looked at her curiously, wondering what in the world was on Flagler that couldn't wait. He knew she loved shopping, but this wasn't like her.

"Park here," she instructed him and insisted on walking down the street.

Horatio was growing more and more flummoxed. "Where exactly are we going?" he unbuckled his seatbelt, following her lead.

"I just have to go somewhere and I want you to come with me."

"Okay," he went along with this, but wondered why she hadn't said anything sooner.

She took her hand in his and made them stop when she reached the store, pointing at the shop, saying, "Horatio, that's where I need to go."

He stopped dead in his tracks, eyes roaming over the type of clothing. Baby clothes. His eyes searched hers and she studied his face.

"Calleigh?" his eyes glimmered, "Are you - ?"

She nodded, tears welling up, and a smile blossomed from his lips as he lightly picked her up off the ground.

"We're having a baby," Horatio exclaimed, keenly kissing her. "You couldn't have made me happier," he whispered against her neck.

TBC...