Grissom looked sideways. Sara's head was resting on his shoulder, her eyes closed, a peaceful smile playing about her lips. The smile was reflected on his mouth, and he bent his neck, playing a gentle kiss on her mouth. God, she was beautiful. She was precious, and loving and vulnerable, and his heart ached for her. And here she was, placing her trust in him so completely. With great tenderness and yearning, he shook her shoulder. "Sara, sweetheart, we'll be landing in five minutes. Wake up."

Her eyelids fluttered, and she slowly came to, the first thing she saw being those gorgeous blue orbs gazing into hers. "Hmm," she hummed. "That you, honey?"

Without thinking, he kissed her again, chastely, tenderly, but leaving an erotic charge on her mouth, where his lips had been. "Sure is," he replied softly, smiling at her.

"Where are we going after we've landed?" she asked, forcing herself to swallow, trying so damned hard not to betray her sense of anxiety.

He took her hand and applied the lightest amount of pressure, rubbing it with his thumb. "Where would you like to go? You're more than welcome to stay at mine. If you wanted, we could go to yours. Or," he added, grimacing, "you might want to be on your own. It's up to you. I'll go along with you, even if you choose the third option."

"Mine. Then at least you can leave any tim you want. If we're at yours, there's nowhere for you to run."

"Maybe I don't want to run. Maybe we should go to mine."

"I'd like that."

"So would I. I love you." Christ, she must have really been hurt by everything that had happened to her in the past. Why else would she be afraid that he was going to up and leave? The ache in his chest expanded.

Grissom wouldn't let her carry her bags this time. He didn't care how much she protested, he needed to show her how dedicated he was. He put them in the trunk of the car, which they'd left in long-term parking, and opened the passenger door for her. All the while he drove, he kept one hand on her knee, caressing it softly.

"Here we are," he said, pulling the car into the drive by the townhouse. He watched Sara take in her surroundings, a tad uncomfortable with the prospect of staying with her boss, here, in Vegas. It hadn't bothered her so much in California, because they were on neutral ground, but here ...

"Are you sure?" she asked uncertainly, the twinkle she had from LA slowly being tarnished by the desert air.

"How about we go inside, and I'll show you how sure I am," he murmured, dragging the luggage from the trunk.

As soon as they got inside, he dropped their bags on the floor, and scooped Sara into his arms, kissing her passionately. "God, you have no idea how long I've waited to do that," he gasped against her neck, his breathing ragged.

Sara couldn't say anything - he had virtually stolen her breath away. The kiss was arousing and loving at the same time, and she craved more. She pulled away, tiling his head from her shoulder. She returned his gesture, and soon they were all over each other, hands pulling at clothes. running through hair, holding bodies close.

"Bedroom ... now," Grissom just managed to utter, his hands slipping under Sara's thighs, pulling her up. She wrapped her legs around his waist and he carried her to the bedroom. He lay her down on the bed gently and peeled off her already-unbuttoned shirt. Perhaps in anticipation of what might happen, Sara had chosen lingerie instead of normal underwear, and seeing her in a light green lace bra sent his hormones into overdirve.

"My God, you're simply stunning." He traced his fingers over each cup, feeling her nipples harden under the fabric. He drew back, stripping off his shirt and trousers, his thick erection obvious through his boxers. He freed Sara's slacks from her legs, on his hands and knees at the end of the bed. Casting a gaze to her face, he looked away and kissed his way up each leg, mouth swapping from thigh to thigh, kissing, suckling, biting ever so gently. Sara moaned above him, tears threatening to spill down her cheeks. Hands on her hips, he kissed his way up, placing his lips on the light green filmy triangle between her legs, trailing his mouth up her stomach, past her navel, between her breasts, nibbling her neck, sucking her bottom lip.

"Oh, Gil, oh, God, this is, oh," she gasped in between kisses. Her hands slid down his chest, drawing an appreciate murmur from his lips, and nestled themselves in his boxers. She took him in her hands, stroking him gently, torturously, earning an aroused growl.

"Fuck," he groaned. "Do you have any protection?" he asked, almost breaking the spell.

"No."

"There's a condom in the draw on the right-hand side, reach over and get it."

One hand withdrew, and she stretched out her arm in that sexy feline manner she possessed. He was about take the foil package from her, but she shook her head. "Allow me," she whispered huskily.

His eyes closed as she sheathed him, a sigh escaping his lips. "God, honey, I love you," he whispered. "I want you so much."

Sara shifted her hips, tilting to give him enough access. "Here I am, baby," she told him.

He stroked into her powerfully, and they both groaned out loud. They established a rhythm, hips grinding, hands holding, lips kissing. She held on to him for dear life, never imagining that he could be so ... experienced, knowing exactly what to do, which buttons to press. He had never before struck her as being romantically adept, in any way, but her she was, being lovingly impaled by him. Her thighs tightened, as did her legs, and they squeezed involuntarily on his waist. "Harder," she begged. "Harder."

"I'm, ugh, oh, GOD, I'm trying," he yelled, feeling wonderful spasms shooting through their joined bodies. She reached her climax first, heels digging in tight to his back, and he shuddered shortly after her, causing her to orgasm a second time.

"Oh, dear God," she whimpered, tears spilling across her face.

"Honey, don't cry," he pleaded, blue eyes enlarging in panic and concern. He touched her cheek and brushed away the tears with his thumb, kissing her eyelids.

"You'd, uh, you'd better," she gasped, nodding down between them. Gently, he withdrew, rolling the prophylactic off and twisting a know in it. He dropped it in the bin at the side of his bed, and sat up, pulling the sheets back.

"You getting in?" he asked, touching her shoulder. This time his eyes comforted her, and she knew she was safe, that he would never leave. Sitting there naked, looking after her, he was as vulnerable as she was. She nodded gratefully, climbing under the duvet. He followed her and pulled her to him, kissing her forehead. "I love you."

"I love you too," she whisered, holding on to him tightly.

"Get some sleep, honey," he said, words muffled by her hair.