Calleigh woke up the next morning with a full belly and an arm wrapped around it. Her clock read 5:30 and Calleigh knew her alarm would go off in fifteen minutes. Eric pressed his face into her hair and breathed out slowly.

The sun did not shine that morning but a heavy downpour from the grey sky. While many in the city were going to bed after a night of clubbing, the police officers and business men and women were getting up to start their days. Calleigh groaned and pressed her face into her pillow, hoping to sleep an extra fifteen minutes.

Eric pulled her body to his, his hands roaming over the T-shirt she stole from him last night after they made love in her living room. Eric's hand moved up to fondle her breast and she turned over in the bed to face him.

"Hi," he whispered.

"Hi back," she whispered, burying her head under his chin. "I'm calling in sick today."

Eric pulled her shirt up her back and slipped his hand under the waistband of her underwear. "Are you sick?" he asked as he cupped her backside.

Calleigh shook her head. "No."

Eric laughed. "Why do you want to call in sick?"

"I mean, I wouldn't mind taking a sick day..." Calleigh slid his boxers down and pressed herself against his morning arousal.

"Oh, well I understand..."

Eric took her shirt off all the way and rolled her onto her back. Eric watched her pull off her underwear and wrapped her legs around his waist. Eric pushed into her slowly and she gasped as he slid inside her.

They made love slowly at first, Eric kissed her neck gingerly as he held her in his arms, neither of them thinking beyond the moment they were in together. It was enough for Eric to be with her in the morning, to hold her and lie next to her. Watching her underneath him was driving him toward the edge, and he felt close to climaxing.

Looking up at him, his eyes were open wide, watching her intently. His face was wrought with pleasure but he kept his eyes open, looking over her body under his. His muscles were taught on his stomach and shoulders, his dark skin warm against her cool white.

Calleigh was normally the one to stop them in the morning; she would get out of bed, use the washroom, brush her teeth and come back to bed with protection ready. Calleigh hadn't moved this morning from his arms and she hadn't stopped him to get protection.

"Calleigh," Eric started, his voice strained. A morning arousal didn't usually last long but Eric could feel himself close to orgasm. "I'm going to -"

Calleigh's orgasm took over and Eric followed behind, leaning on his elbow for support. Calleigh kissed him, passionately, holding him inside her with her legs. Eric kissed her back, his body still tired from their lovemaking but responding to her as she tightened her muscles around him.

Eric kissed her neck as his hand moved down to massaged her breast. In response, Calleigh gasped and arched her back into his touch. Feeling more aggressive, she grabbed his shoulders and rolled Eric onto his back, straddling him.

Eric sat up to meet her lips and kissed her as she moved herself up and down, still in control of their movements. The only sound in the room was their sighs and moans as they made love.

Calleigh put her hands on his shoulders and moaned. "Faster."

Eric grabbed her hips as she rode him faster and harder. Her jaw dropped and she came hard. Eric sat up and held her to his chest as her toes tingled and her heart raced. She opened her green eyes slowly, smiling at him mischievously.

"Eric," she started and blushed.

Eric touched her chin and kissed her cheek. "Tell me."

Calleigh's face was flushed, with embarrassment and from her recent orgasm. "I want you again."

Eric's jaw dropped and he tried to hide a smile. "Are southern women always this insatiable?"

Calleigh shrugged and buried her face in his shoulder. "I don't know what's wrong with me. I've never been this way before."

"Don't be sorry, I'm not complaining. I'm just surprised." Eric laughed nervously. "I mean, I'm definitely in love with you and everything about you. But I'm telling you this is a side I'm more than crazy about."

Calleigh pulled back from Eric's embrace and looked at him in the eye. "What?"

Eric's face showed only fear and uncertainty. "I mean..."

"You're in love with me?" Calleigh asked softly.

Eric worried if he told the truth it would be too much and she would change her mind about them. He knew she didn't like too much pressure in relationships, it was one of the reasons it didn't work with her and Hagen. After enough conversations with Speedle and Alexx, Eric learned it was the reason she broke up with a lot of her boyfriends.

He didn't want her to kick him out but he couldn't lie.

"I... Yes. I love you. I'm in love with you."

Calleigh studied his face as though she was unsure if he had misspoken or if she would be able to admit it herself.

"I love you too," she replied.

Making love to her was addicting. Eric pushed her onto her back, kissing her as he laid her down. He pushed into her fast, feeling more excited than he ever had before. The look she gave him was one he only wanted for himself. From something deep inside came the feeling of complete joy, just to know she was here with him.

"I've wanted you for so long," he whispered as he moved inside her. "I can't believe we're finally together. I love you so much."

Calleigh's voice caught in her throat and a tear ran down her cheek to the bedspread. Eric kissed her hair, her cheeks and her lips finally. Her excitement grew and Eric reached between them, helping her to climax with him.

Eric kissed her neck and licked the sweat that dripped down. "Mmm. You taste good."

Calleigh giggled. "I taste like sweat."

Eric touched his tongue to her neck and inhaled deeply. "You taste like you smell, sweet. Like a peach."

She smacked his arm lightly and pushed on his chest. "Eric..."

Eric looked at her genuinely. "I'm not trying to pad your ego, Calleigh. You taste so good, almost like a peach."

Calleigh smiled. "Oh yeah?"

"Yeah."

She adjusted herself underneath him and leaned forward to lick his neck. "You don't taste like peaches. You taste like you smell."

Eric grinned at her. It was a grin she had seen when women hit on him - he was flattered but unsure. "What's that?"

"I don't know, masculine. Salty but sweet. Not too sweet though," she replied, her voice low. "It's intoxicating."

"You always gotta upstage me." Eric whispered as he leaned down and kissed her neck, biting her softly. Calleigh let out a small moan and Eric kissed her shoulders. "I want to introduce you to my family."

"Eric..."

Eric ran his hand down her abdomen, massaging her hip. "I want to take you over to my parents house to meet my parents. I want you to meet my sisters and their families."

Calleigh understood the seriousness of his words but his tone was seductive. "Are you sure?"

Eric nodded and continued kissing her. "Yes, I want to tell them about us. I want to tell everyone about us but especially my family."

"Eric, I'm a white Southerner from Louisiana," she stated as though that explained everything.

"So?" he asked, slipping his thumb between the folds of her legs.

Calleigh arched her back. Making a case as he moved his thumb in circles would prove to be a difficult feat. "I... I... I'm not what they want... oh God..." Calleigh moaned. "For you."

"They want me to be happy," he said as he licked her nipple. "You make me happy. Don't you want to introduce me to your family?"

Calleigh pulled away from Eric and said warningly, "Eric."

"I would be proud to walk into my house and tell my family I was in love and happy," he replied seriously. Looking over her naked body, he smiled at her. "Don't you want to introduce me to your family?"

"Yes," she replied immediately.

"Cuban guy in your house, that wouldn't upset anything?" he asked.

Calleigh got off the bed and pulled on her robe, covering her body. "Yes, I do. I want you to meet my brothers and my mom."

Eric sighed. Their morning together was over and that was the red flag. He pulled on his boxers. "And you'd introduce me to your dad?"

Calleigh nodded "As my boyfriend."

Eric raised his eyebrows. "Boyfriend?"

"Does that term bother you?" she asked with a smile.

"Not at all," he said, smiling back at her. "Just as long as it doesn't bother you."

Calleigh pulled out her clothes from her dresser. "When was your last serious relationship, Eric?"

"Serious like I'm only seeing one girl or serious like us?" he asked as he pulled out the clothes he had hung up the night before from her closet.

Calleigh began making the bed and Eric moved to the other side to help her. "Serious like us."

Eric shook his head. "I told my girlfriend in college I loved her but I'm not sure I meant it. In all honesty, I never felt like this about someone. Have you?"

Calleigh looked at Eric across the bed. "Was I in love with John, you mean?"

Eric wasn't sure if he wanted to know the answer but knowing was better than always wondering. As he closed his eyes he asked, "Were you?"

"No," she replied softly. "It's been a while since I've felt this way."

Eric opened his eyes and nodded. "Okay."

"Would it have mattered?" she asked.

Eric shook his head. "No. No, not at all. I'm sorry for prying."

Calleigh climbed on top of the bed and crawled toward him. "Eric..."

He shook his head and rubbed his face with his hands. "No that was invasive."

Taking his hands in hers, she stood on her knees face to face with Eric. "I would have been just as curious," she admitted.

"Is there anything you need to ask me?" he asked.

Calleigh shook her head as she pulled him toward her. "Not right now."

Eric kissed her softly. "Later?"

Calleigh nodded and he kissed her forehead. "Later."