As promised, Chapter 4 is up! Thanks again for your awesome reviews, they are most inspirational! I promise I haven't forgotten about this story and The Rest of Our Lives... but the updates might be a little more sporadic from here in. I'll try my best XD. Please R&R!
Disclaimer: I'm not even gonna go there. See the last three chapters. (runs away crying) XD.
12:50 PM
Nick heard the screen door of the front entrance creek open five minutes later. She's never late for anything, is she?
"Hey baby."
Sara dropped her bags and the case of beer on the bench by the entrance upon hearing Nick's voice, remembering her reflection in the mirror before she left. Assuming her pose as she leant back on the closed door, she answered him.
"Hey, cowboy." Nick came walking toward the door to greet her, stopping when his eyes caught sight of her posing so seductively in his cowboy hat. Sara looked smug at her effect on him, lowering the hat by it's rim a little more to hide the smile that crossed her lips. Nick chuckled for a second before stepping down the three steps to the mudroom where she stood.
"You look really hot in that…" He tilted the hat back on her head so he could see her face, which looked up at him expectantly. Nick grinned mischievously as he ducked in for a kiss, wrapping his arms around her waist. Sara rested her palms on his built chest, tracing his muscles with a gentle finger as she responded, pushing her tongue at his lips in a silent beg for entrance. He gladly complied, allowing her to explore his mouth as his tongue dueled fiercely with hers. Sara lifted a hand from his chest to remove the hat from her head, placing it instead on his. Her fingers ran through his hair at the back of his neck, toying with it as he loved to do with hers.
"My cowboy." Sara's forehead rested on his; she spoke as their eyes locked in an enchanting gaze. Her words brought a gratified smile to Nick's lips, his heart rate still raised by their passionate kiss. He pulled her closer to him in a warm embrace, whispering in her ear as he planted kisses all the way up her neck, causing her to shiver.
"I love you, Sidle."
"Nick, we know you're completely head over heels for her, but I never thought I'd see you in the middle of a PDA…" Warrick's voice caused both Sara and Nick to jump, their eyes leaving each other and instead staring at the open door where he stood alongside Catherine and Lindsay.
"PDA?" Sara asked, a faint blush crossing her cheeks as she pulled away from Nick. Catherine grinned at her embarrassment.
"Public Display of Affection."
"It's not public; we're in our own house for God's sake." Nick insisted, taking his hat off and sticking it on Sara's head affectionately.
"It is now." Greg poked his head in the door from behind Catherine, winking at Sara.
"Hi, Greg." Sara smiled sheepishly at the crowd that was forming at their door.
"Come on in, everyone. Don't mind the boxes…" Nick trailed off, staring at the few boxes still sitting around the family room, waiting to be unpacked. He'd have to get to them later.
Catherine, Warrick, Lindsay, Greg and his girlfriend followed Nick up the stairs of the mudroom and into the spacious house, carrying with them several gifts and platters of food. Before continuing, Greg's girlfriend introduced herself to Sara.
"Hi, I'm Lydia. I don't think we've met before… Your house is beautiful. Congratulations," the eye-catching woman, presumably of about 28 smiled at her, exposing perfectly straight, white teeth. She had bright blue eyes and a fair complexion, complimented by long, slightly wavy blonde hair. Wow… Sara thought to herself, Greggo's found himself quite a catch…
"Thank you very much. It's great to meet you, Greg's just been raving for weeks. I'm Sara Sidle, as I'm sure you know."
"Yes, Greg told me. He seems to enjoy raving about you." Lydia laughed, still smiling as the pair made their way into the kitchen where everyone else was.
"Wow, Nick. Nice place you've got here." Warrick observed the kitchen and attached living room with an approving nod.
"Yeah, it's beautiful." Catherine agreed, walking out to the deck to get a look at the spacious backyard.
Nick smiled. "Thanks." Sara walked into the kitchen alongside Lydia.
"Hey Nick? I'm just going to go change real quick."
"Alright honey."
"Oooh… look who's calling Sara Sidle honey, and getting away with it?" Sara could hear Greg teasing Nick as she headed upstairs. Rolling her eyes and smirking to herself, she ran a hand through the shiny curls of her dark hair. It was getting long, now just reaching past her shoulder. She'd never been the type to keep long hair; it usually got in the way, but she knew Nick liked it, so she let it grow.
Back downstairs, Greg was bugging Nick for answers about Sara.
"What kind of shampoo does she use?" He looked utterly serious. Nick cocked an eyebrow.
"You're kidding me, right? You want to know what kind of shampoo she uses?"
"Of course! Oh, have you got to wash her underwear yet? Is she a bikini type or a thong type? Please don't tell me she wears that lacy grandma underwear…" Nick shook his head and held up a hand, turning away to open some of the food everyone brought.
"I'm not answering that, Greggo." A smile couldn't help but cross his lips.
"He has way too much respect for me. Right, Nicky?" Sara was back downstairs, wearing a new black blouse with halter straps tying around her neck. It's sleeves flared slightly, reaching only halfway down her arms. There was a slit in the neck, exposing enough cleavage to increase Nick's heart rate. "Would you mind tying this back part for me, baby?" Sara pouted at her boyfriend seductively; he walked over like clockwork. Greg just stood there alone, watching with his mouth hanging open.
"Sure, darlin'." Nick took the ties from her hands, tying up the corset-style lower back of her top. It hugged her in all the right places, exposing a little skin on her back as well. "Wow…" Nick whispered, his hands on her shoulders as his eyes took her in from the front. "You look amazing, Sar. New top?" He ducked down to her lips for a quick kiss.
"Of course. I thought you might like it…" She glowed at him, pulling him into a quick hug before giving Greg a look that said 'You really are an idiot'.
"Mmm… so what do we have here?" Sara mused, finishing opening up everyone's offerings of food.
"I made that one." Greg told her quickly, pointing at the cake she was looking at.
"Very nice, Greg. I didn't know you could cook."
"Surprise, surprise. I thought we could make an activity out of icing it." He held up a sizable container of cake frosting.
"Aaah. Chocolate icing…" Sara peered at the container, reading its label. "Well, at least there'll be another dessert besides Nick's tiramisu. My rice pudding… errr…."
Greg grinned. "Nick told me. I hear it was like cement."
"Shut up, Greg." Sara gave him a quick slap on the shoulder before walking past him to the other side of the counter, where she continued looking at what else was brought.
"I'm gonna go talk with Cath and 'Rick. Uh, Greggo, what's your girlfriend's name?"
"Lydia. I'll introduce you." Greg followed Nick out the door to the deck, where Catherine, Warrick, Lindsay and Lydia stood, still admiring the beautiful backyard. Sara looked round, noticing someone was missing.
"Hey Greg, where's Grissom?"
Greg looked back at her, looking thoughtful for a moment.
"He's coming; said he had to speak at a conference then make a stop at the lab. I talked to him an hour ago." He patted his cell phone with a hand.
"Ok, thanks, Greggo." Sara looked at her watch. It was 1:30, Nick's parents would be there in a half hour. She had just enought time to tell everyone that they were coming- and make sure they knew not to let it slip that she was Nick's girlfriend. Closing the lid on a large bowl of Mararoni Salad that Nick had made earlier, Sara made her way onto the deck where everyone was standing.
Chapter 5 is still being written... (sighh) being balanced with three other projects. It's on my priority list, though, so keep checking! Hope you enjoyed... drop me a review to let me know! I'm off to update another Snickers story. XD. Ta Ta!
-Sahariah