Rating: R

Chapter Two

Horatio sat, for what seemed an age in the dimly lit lab, where was she? Surely, she would come back? She couldn't be that scared of him? Could she? He thought about it, if the shoe was on the other foot, what would he be doing? Oh yeah hiding in his office! This was pathetic they were both adults for Gods sake. Where the Hell was she? He was about to get up and stalk around the building again, when he saw the door tentatively open and a blonde head poke round it. He got the 'startled deer in headlights' look! Her eyes, wide as saucers, as she spotted him sat by the workbench. She looked to all intents and purposes like she was about to bolt and he jumped up. Managing to grab an arm, he spun her through the doorway. Closing the door firmly with his foot, he pulled her close. Too close, he realised after the fact. His subconscious had taken over, and all he could see where her words, spilling across his mind, almost pleading and imploring for him to touch her, to hold her. He heard her sharp intake of breath as he pulled her into his personal space. Saw the blush creep steadily up her cheeks; saw the sudden shyness at being found out in her eyes. This was going to be very awkward he realised as he stood only inches from her. He felt her tremble as he stood looking down at her, tipping his head, he lowered it to meet her eyes.

She was barely inches from him and he wasn't too sure whether; she was entirely comfortable with being this close, and he couldn't really tell. He was too busy concentrating, on not leaping on her, as she'd wished in her email. God why had he read that email, he fought back the overwhelming compulsion to just kiss her, which was what she wanted apparently, she wanted him to kiss her, wanted him to make the first move. Wanted him to lie her down across the lab bench... God he didn't know where to put himself. Why? Had he read that email, now everything was upside down and turned around. He felt like his entire existence now balanced finely on what happened next. On whether he forced the issue and took a chance or backed off and gave her space to come back to him. He tried to concentrate on what he wanted to say, but his mind wasn't working. Reasoning had gone out of the window, when he, had made the decision to stop her leaving again. He was facing a battle, between professionalism and something a whole hell of a lot more personal. She opened her mouth to speak and he silenced her with a finger rested gently against her lips. He knew now that words were not going to solve this, she had poured her heart into the words in her email and he realised how stupid he'd been not to see it before now. How stupid he'd been, not to realise how he felt about her, until it had jumped up and slapped him into next week. Pulling gently he guided her across the lab, away from the windows, into, the relative privacy of a darkened corner. He felt his back connect with the lab wall and pulled her in closer, until he could feel her just barely on the outer limits of his senses.

Calleigh's, mind by this point had lost the plot entirely, her heart was hammering against her rib cage, her skin trembled under his touch, goose bumps raised on her bare arms. His presence so close, was sending shivers down her spine and she felt her knees weaken as he drew her body towards him. Every nerve jangled, as the anticipation of what he was going to do next grew and she went weak. Her mind screamed that she had to explain, but her mouth wouldn't form the words. She couldn't break his gaze and felt herself being drawn into his stare. Into those blue eyes, that crinkled with amusement at her obvious reactions. Those eyes now darkened with something else, something she'd never seen there, before and she sighed against his finger still gently resting against her lips, silencing her. She fought the urge to break the contact, fought with every sinew in her body to stop herself collapsing into his arms and surrendering to whatever was to come. Her mind raced, she couldn't think straight, hell she didn't want to think straight, she wanted to get lost in another world, another universe where nothing resided, but the two of them. She wanted to collapse in his arms and let the world evaporate around them. All this, because of a stupid email, she began to wish she'd written it months ago!

Her reactions were not lost on him now, as they stood mere centimetres apart he could feel the heat from her body through his clothes. The slight tremor that passed through her arm muscles as he'd led her into the seclusion of the corner. He heard her breathing change as he pulled her even closer. Felt her lips move ever so slightly, felt her breathe expelled in a contented sigh, the lightest movement that had registered in his brain as an invitation. An invitation to find out more, and slowly he pulled her too him. Moving her between his legs, pulling her body into full contact with his own, his arm snaked around her back, holding her firmly drawing her in. His breathing ragged as he tried desperately to retain an ounce of decorum. He still couldn't break the touch he had on her lips; he didn't want too, not yet. If he did he'd be lost; he needed to keep the contact the feel of soft delicate skin under his fingertip. If he moved his hand now he'd have to replace the contact and he didn't want to just yet. He needed to know for sure that this was truly what she wanted, but not here, now. He couldn't do this here, the world was watching and he made a decision.