Chapter 6
Grissom and Sara looked at what seemed like a hundred houses before making an offer on the very first one. It wasn't the biggest or the most beautiful but it now held a special place in each of their hearts. Sara had been more than a little concerned about their ability to afford it. Grissom had explained that with money that he had saved, money that she had saved and the sale of his town house they would be fine. Once an offer was made and accepted, both Grissom and Sara seemed to relax. However, the closer they got to moving day the more unsettled Sara became.
Grissom intended to give Sara a ring on the first night they spent in the new house. He had snuck in a few hours shopping but finally admitted that he was in over his head and called in reinforcements. Catherine agreed to meet him at a local jeweler's during her lunch hour the following day. He worked until eleven o'clock then called Catherine to make sure she was ready to go. When Grissom parked in front of the small shop, Catherine was waiting on the sidewalk. She smiled as she watched him approach. "Hey, Gil, let's go find that woman a ring."
Grissom shook his head at her enthusiasm and said, "Hey. Do you have to be so loud?"
Catherine just laughed at his embarrassment. "This is a good thing. Does she know? That you're going to ask?"
"I've…uh…I've…" Grissom couldn't find the words.
Catherine studied his face before demanding, "You've already asked and you guys didn't say anything? My God, Gil, how can you be so secretive and not explode?" Her expression was torn between hurt and excitement.
"It was a spur of the moment thing." At Catherine's dubious expression, he continued, "We were looking at a house and were having a little disagreement. It just sort of happened."
"A house," Catherine spluttered. "You guys are buying a house?"
Grissom dropped his head and said quietly, "Bought. We've bought a house."
"You know, Gil, I'm starting to feel like you don't need me anymore." Catherine smiled a little sadly. "Come on, time's a wasting."
Grissom held the door for Catherine and followed her into the store. He was completely out of his element here. Catherine on the other hand, was right at home. She walked over and began scanning the display cases. Spotting the trays of diamond rings she motioned Grissom over. After a moment, they were approached by a sales person.
"Hello, my name is Edward. How may I help you today?" the man asked in a well-modulated, if somewhat snooty, voice.
Catherine looked up and said, "We are looking for an engagement ring."
"Congratulations," he replied. "I'm sure that we will be able to help you find something truly special."
"Oh, it's not for me. I am merely here to give advice." Catherine smiled flirtatiously.
"Oh my, well I do apologize. I just assumed that a woman as beautiful as you…" his voice trailed off and he shrugged elegantly.
"Edward," Catherine said, "you are sucking up to the wrong one here. I'm not buying. He," she gestured over her shoulder, "is the one you need to impress. Now, let's look at some diamonds."
"Sir," Edward said, "I need to ask you a few questions to help me get an idea of what you are looking for."
Grissom stepped forward and held out his hand. "Gil Grissom."
"Mr. Grissom, can you tell me a little about the lady that will be wearing the ring? What does she like, dislike? How does she dress? What kind of work does she do?"
"Well, she is a Crime Scene Investigator for LVPD. She wears jeans and t-shirts to work except when she goes to court. She is young, beautiful and earthy. She isn't the least bit flashy. She is incredibly intelligent, funny, sexy and warm hearted." He stopped for a moment and caught a glimpse of Catherine out of the corner of his eye. She was staring at him as if she had never seen him before. If Grissom didn't know better he would have sworn there were tears in her eyes. "What?" he asked.
"I didn't know you could string that many words together," Catherine said giving him a goofy grin. Grissom ignored her and turned back to the salesman. "I need something simple and elegant, not gaudy."
"I think I have some things that you will like," Edward replied. He flipped open a velvet lined pad and began lifting rings from the display case. He brought out a round cut solitaire, a marquis with baguettes in a sunburst around it and a princess cut surrounded by pave' diamonds.
Catherine took one look at the princess cut ring and said, "That's it Gil. That ring has Sara written all over it."
It was beautiful. The band was platinum and had incredibly delicate scrollwork engraved all around it. The two carat center stone, which was set up from the band, caught the light, sending prisms dancing around the room. The overall effect was timelessness. Grissom's hand shook as he reached to pick it up. His hands seemed too large to hold such a delicate piece of jewelry. He held it out and asked Catherine to try it on.
"I'll take it," Grissom said. His voice was rough and he looked a little pale as he continued to stare at the ring encircling Catherine's finger.
"Are you sure sir? This is a very expensive ring. I have others you can see before making a final decision," Edward offered in order to appear less elated. This was the largest sale he had made in a month. His commission was looking good and he hadn't even done anything.
"I don't need to see anything else. I'll take this one." Grissom met the man's gaze with a steady one of his own.
"Yes sir," Edward said with a smile. He took the ring from Catherine's outstretched hand and said, "I'll write this up for you. Do you know a size?" At Grissom's negative reply, he said, "Not to worry, she can always have it sized later."
Catherine reached out and laid a hand on Grissom's arm. "I'm going to go back to work now. It's beautiful Gil. Sara is going to love it."
"Thanks, Cath. I know I don't need to tell you to keep this between us. I wouldn't want her to find out before I can give it to her." Grissom smiled.
"I know the deal, Gil, mums the word." Catherine returned his smile and walked through the door into the sunlight.
Grissom arrived home to an empty house. Sara had decided to spend some time packing at her place. She was supposed to be back by one o'clock so they could get some rest before work. That only gave him a few minutes to find a place to hide the ring. He was in the shower when he heard a door close. Knowing that Sara would find him, he began to hurry to get finished. He was rinsing off when the shower door opened and a very naked Sara Sidle stepped in behind him and pressed her body against his back.
"I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to leave. I have a girlfriend who would be very angry if she found you here." Grissom's voice held a hint of the smile that was on his face.
Sara chuckled but played along. Sliding her hands around his middle she slid one down over his stomach and wrapped it around his penis. "I don't really care what she thinks. I want to stay. What do you want?" She began licking the water from his skin.
Grissom was moving his hips, thrusting against Sara's hand, as he stiffened under her ministrations. "I don't think you are playing fair. I only want to have sex with the woman I intend to marry." He felt Sara smile against his back. Reaching down he wrapped his hand around hers andslowed the rhythmof her strokes. "Okay," he said in a husky voice, "I'll let you have your way with me if you promise not to tell Sara."
"It's a deal," she growled.
Pulling her hand from his erection, Grissom turned around and said, "Oh, it's you." He smiled at her laughter and then kissed her. He pulled his lips from hers and said, "I missed you. I don't like it when I come home to an empty house." Then he captured her lips again. Their hands roamed over wet skin. Sara's movements held a hint of desperation that Grissom failed to recognize. The water ran in rivulets down their bodies. Grissom trailed kisses down to Sara's throat where he began licking and nibbling the soft skin. She tilted her head to give him better access and used her hands to pull him closer. Sara felt his erection pressing against her belly and pushed forward causing Grissom to moan. She tangled her fingers in his hair and drew his mouth back to hers.
Breaking the kiss, Sara whispered urgently against his lips, "Now. I need you now."
Grissom reached down and lifted her up until he could feel her opening. With Sara guiding him, he slowly lowered her onto his body. She felt like a warm glove. She wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck, allowing Grissom to place his hands against the wall. When he had braced himself he began to rock his hips. Each slight movement elicited a moan from deep in Sara's throat. Soon she began to use her legs to lift and lower herself in perfect counterpoint to his thrusts. She set a fast and furious pace. Driving her body into his ferociously.
"I can't wait much longer," Grissom gasped as he worked one hand between their bodies and, using his thumb, began to rub in little circles.
This kicked Sara's pleasure up a notch and she began to roll her hips against him. "Oh, Gris," she hissed, "almost there. Wait for me." Suddenly, he felt her clench around him and he let his own pleasure take him over the edge.
They stood there, locked together, until Grissom noticed the water beginning to cool. "We had better get out before we freeze," he said. He slowly lowered Sara to her feet and turned off the water. Keeping her pinned against the wall for another moment he ravaged her mouth. "Hello, Ms. Sidle," he said with a smile.
A little while later, after they had eaten, Grissom and Sara were snuggled together between the sheets. Her head was resting on his shoulder and he was trailing a finger lazily up and down her bare arm. She was absently stroking his chest and listening to his heart beat. They had been talking about which furniture they were keeping and what they would need. "Do you ever get nervous?" Sara asked.
"No. What's to be nervous about?" Grissom said quietly.
"I don't know. I'm just a little scared about giving up my independence. It's a hard won thing for a woman, you know." Sara's voice was so low that Grissom had to strain to hear.
"It's a little late to be having second thoughts now. We close on the house next week. Besides, you practically live here now. What is going to be so different?" Grissom's voice was reasonable but a knot had formed in his stomach.
Sara hesitated for a minute, trying to find the words to explain her feelings. Finally she said, "There's no real difference. I think it's knowing that if something were to go wrong I wouldn't have anything to fall back on." She felt Grissom stiffen beside her and knew that he didn't understand her feelings.
"What is going to go wrong?" Grissom asked. His voice was dangerously soft.
Sara rose up on an elbow and looked down into his eyes. "Gris, please don't be mad. I'm just a little freaked out about giving up my apartment. You, of all people, should understand how hard it is to give up something you've worked for." The words seemed to hang in the air between them. "I'm sorry. That wasn't fair." Sara's eyes glistened with unshed tears and she tried to shift out of Grissom's embrace. He pulled her back to his side.
"Sara, you asked me to take a chance and I did. I have never been happier or more content in my life. All I'm asking is that you take a chance on me. Is that so hard to do?" Grissom said. He placed a tender kiss on her forehead and, wrapping both arms around her, hugged her to his chest. "I love you, Sara, and will not leave until you run me off."
"I love you too, Gris. I'll be fine. I just didn't think I was so attached to my own space. This is just a very strange time for me. I'm not backing out, just trying to keep my head straight." Sara smiled and then yawned. "Hold me while I sleep?" she asked.
"I'll be right here. Forever," Grissom replied. He lay awake long after Sara had drifted off with fear gnawing a hole in his gut.
