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Chapter 8: Embrace

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After having stayed in the parked Hummer for numerous minutes, Horatio unbuckled and used the steering wheel to pull himself up as he prepared to step out of the vehicle. He had gone home to change his clothes from this morning embedded with sweat from the work and sticky weather. He took the opportunity to eat something, not at all hungry, but knowing very well that his body needed substance to keep going. The case was over now.

Walking in the direction of the dimly lit building on this cool Miami evening, tonight was going to be about Calleigh, about his heart, about their love for one another.

He ambled slowly to the clear glass door and entered. Looking over the residents' names, he found hers and the number to her condo.

He had never been in her home and it was making him slightly anxious, mostly because she wasn't expecting him.

He lifted his arm, finger closing in on the button, but held back another minute wondering what he was going to say.

Abruptly, the image of her in a hospital bed and of a gun drawn on her shocked him into reality and pushed him to go on. It had never been mere concern and the fear of not being there for her, of losing her, was bigger than the one he felt now as he determinedly set off to do what was best for both of them.

Having finally pushed the button, he waited quite impatiently for her voice.

It came riddled with sorrow, "Yeah - who is it?"
He instantly missed her lively drawling accent.

"Calleigh, it's me." Horatio waited for a reaction, but there was none. "Listen, I'm not here as your colleague." It somewhat stunned her that he thought of them as being coworkers and not employer and employee. Though, you never knew what to expect with Horatio, she thought, he certainly was one of a kind.

He moved closer and lowered his voice, which caused her to listen more intently – as if she wasn't already completely enthralled by his voice. "I know why you've been acting this way... I'll apologize right here, over this talking device, if I have to." Although, deep inside, he'd much rather apologize face to face. He wasn't an over-the-phone type of person - no matter what the subject was. "I know I've been hurting you and, even though never meaning to is not an excuse, I'm sorry."

His voice was breaking, raw with emotion. "I'm so sorry, Calleigh."

There was a brief silence then the buzz resonated inviting him up. He felt as though he'd never heard a better sound.

He had difficulty fighting against the strength of his heart and resorted in taking long strides, climbing the stairs two steps at a time. He could have taken the elevator, but it seemed more like him to freely make the steps himself. Hand lightly holding onto the banister, he reached her floor and slowly slid forward, letting go. Hand grasping the doorknob, he crossed another barrier without looking back.

He made his way down the hallway and stopped in front of her door. There was no doubling back now; she was most likely waiting for him. If he could have seen through her door, he'd seen her leaning against it, looking into the peephole.

He lifted his arm, hand in a fist ready to knock, but Calleigh pulled the door open before he had the chance to.

He dropped his arm to his side as she backed up with the door, half hiding behind it as she held it open, offering to share her entire personal space with him.

Her hair shrouding her face, hands holding the door, Horatio waited for her eyes to meet his. In an instant, she used a hand to smooth her hair back over her shoulder and, slowly, met his gaze.
He'd never seen such sadness in her bright ordinarily cheerful green eyes.

Horatio breathed in, then sighed heavily releasing his breath, shoulders slouching in the process.

Head hung, but eyes securely locked with hers, he murmured, "I'm yours."

Calleigh frowned, moving aside, revealing herself to him, but kept hold of the door for some sort of support.

Looking effortlessly striking, wearing thin grey cotton pants and a snug white tee shirt, she was baffled. "What?"

Head faintly shaking with emotion, eyes leaving hers briefly, he muttered, "You win."

"What are you talking about?" she asked, weighing every word.

"I love you and the only way for us to be happy is if I set myself free." His voice went throaty, "I'm willing to do that for you."

She shook her head, in disbelief. "Horatio Caine, I don't want you to let me have my way!" He smiled inwardly; the southern twang was back.

She brought her hand up to her forehead and covered her face, saying, "This is ridiculous..."

"You do have feelings for me." It sounded like a statement in need of confirmation.

She shook her head, realizing he was still out in the hallway. "Come inside." She tugged at his sleeve, pulling him in, then closed the door and faced him, "Yes, I do have feelings for you, but - "

"Then, what do you want?" He interrupted. He'd do anything. Anything to be where they were before.

She gave him a smile that could move heaven and earth. "You really wanna know what I want?"

"Tell me." He was almost begging. Something she had never seen or heard him do before.

"I want you," she put emphasis on the last word, "to have your way with me. I want you to show me that you love me, that you desire me... I want you to - " Calleigh's sentence was cut short by Horatio pinning her against the side wall. Hard enough for it to please her, soft enough so not to hurt her. It was the perfect most engaging move he'd ever made.

She was delighted and couldn't contain the joy from bubbling up from the pit of her stomach, embracing her heart, and throbbing to her throat causing her to gasp. What a way to take hold of her!

His mouth dangerously close to hers, she shivered helplessly, melting like chocolate on a hot stovetop.

She let her edgy side out, asking silkily, "Well now, what are you planning on doing now that you have me at your mercy?"

"Mmm... plenty," he replied in a husky voice.

She blushed with expectancy, "You're certainly - "

She was cut off by Horatio's finger, "Shhh, don't say a word." His finger slid off her bottom lip. "I just need to know one thing, Calleigh..." he said suavely, breaking away from her voluptuous lips and make eye contact with her once more.

"And what's that?" she asked, prompting him to continue, feeling his hands move down her body.

He smiled, eyes soaking in her every reaction, "When you said you didn't care... it wasn't just to distract Shawn, was it?"

"Him and... you."

Horatio grinned. "It worked."

She blinked and realized he had closed the space between their expectant lips.

Arms around each other, they backed up into Calleigh's living room and Horatio caught sight of the bottle of liquor. He stopped, pulling back slightly, and looked at her, not with accusing eyes, but she shamefully hid her face anyway.

He didn't hesitate and drew her close, holding her tightly to his body, knowing that she needed that and rested his chin atop her head as he caressed her blond locks.

Encircled, Calleigh couldn't flee and, when Horatio glanced down, lifting her chin, beckoning her to look at him, she gave explanation, "A moment of weakness..." Calleigh knew it wasn't the right way to contemplate things. "I swear I didn't take any. I've been meaning to get rid of all those bottles..."

"I believe you," he whispered and he honestly did. Not because he didn't smell alcohol on her breath or taste any, but because he trusted her to do the right thing. "We'll do that together."

One hand held her side; the other was pressed against her back. She felt his fingers, making small circles like a barely detectable massage, sending a hair-raising current through her body.

He took her hands, holding them as he spoke. "I don't want to be anywhere else, Calleigh, and I'm sorry it took so long for me to realize it. Whatever you're feeling right now, whatever made you want to drown your sorrow, I'm here for you... I'm not going anywhere. And, if you feel like talking, I'm here to listen."

Calleigh left his hands and instantly surrendered to an amorous hug, nuzzling his neck, fitting harmoniously against his warm body.

She looked up at him with tender eyes, "You saved me. Again and again..." She pressed her chin to his chest, eyes full of love.

"I could say the same thing about you, sweetheart."

His eyes shone with adoration, as he fondly brushed her cheek with light fingers. "So, do we agree - no more tears, no more loneliness, no more games?"

"Deal. Except for the game part..." she smiled mischievously, deliberately making her voice go deep and sexy, thickening her accent, "Now, where were we?"

Horatio's eyes shone with delight, "I believe..." he scooped Calleigh up, "we were here."

Horatio carried her over his shoulder and Calleigh laughed, "What are you doing?" She tapped his back, then grabbed his shirt, "Where are you taking me?"

"I'm going to show you that I love you," he paused before finishing his line, wanting it to have the full impact he intended. "Again and again and again..."

THE END