Chapter 9: Second Night


Sara lay in bed, her fingers playing over her smiling lips. Her mind replayed the images of that day, the smoldering looks, the longing, and finally the feel of being in his arms, his lips moving over hers. The lights were still on and a novel lay, open and forgotten, on the sheets next to her.


Though it was almost two in the morning, she yearned to be back in his arms; dancing, talking, kissing. The ethereal quality the night held had yet to wear off. Even after brushing out her hair, taking off her dress and washing her face, her body still held a tingle of energy. The promise of five more uninterrupted days with him was too much to pass up; too good to be true.


But for all her day dreaming, her body was still on night shift time. Restless, she was starting to give up on the idea of sleep when there was a light knock at her door. Jumping out of bed, she ran her fingers through her hair and ran to the door, taking only a second to look through the peep hole. Seeing who it was she opened the door wide, a smile on her face.


Grissom began to speak, but his mouth hung open and Sara could see that he was fighting to keep his eyes on her face. She looked down and with a horrified look, jumped behind the door so that only her face was showing, and gave Grissom an embarrassed smile. "One minute!" She breathed out before shutting the door again.


She was wearing the same thin cotton shorts as she was last night, but this time a thin pink lace and cotton camisole was all that kept her from being indecent. Grissom closed his eyes and leaned against the doorframe. That picture of her: barely covered, slightly rumpled, and wide-eyed with contentment was an image he didn't think he'd ever be able to erase from his mind. He took a few deep breaths to slow down his pulse, and slowly the flush of excitement that had over taken him retreated.


The door opened once again and Sara was now sporting the large sweatshirt she'd worn the other night, the cotton shorts still peaking out at the bottom. She pushed herself out towards him, but still held onto the door frame, creating a seductive pose.


"Hey," she breathed, a smile spreading across her face.


"Hey." He added back. "I, uh, couldn't sleep, again, and was wondering if maybe you'd want to take a walk."


"Yeah, definitely. Let me get my shoes..." But she didn't move from her pose at the door, she only stared deep into his eyes. After a few seconds she slipped in the open door, and only a quiet rustling could be heard. In a moment she was back out, shoes on and key in her hand.


Their leisurely stroll took them through all of the open decks, simple and comfortable silence pervading the night. Every once in a while they'd stop to look in the windows of the shops or at the many amenities the ship had, but they quietly ended up, hand in hand, at the rear of the ship again.


The sky was clear, the night quiet, and the air was brusque. Sara started to head towards the rail, but Grissom stopped her, instead pulling her to sit on a lone deck chair. He scooted to lean against its back, and then pulled her down between his legs, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her back to his chest.


With a content sigh, Sara leaned back and nuzzled her face into his neck, breathing in deeply.


"Yeah," Grissom agreed as he leaned down, dropping tiny kisses anywhere he could reach.


They sat there, alternately gazing at the endless night and reveling in each other through kisses and caresses. The world was empty and theirs, time morphing, stopping and staying endless as they sat there. Hours, however, did pass. It was when Grissom saw the first warm hues playing over the water and brightening the inky sky that he realized they should return to their cabins.


Grissom leaned down and placed a kiss on Sara's forehead, "C'mon. We should go back." But she didn't move. He tilted his head to see her face, and saw that she was sound asleep. "Sara," he whispered a little louder. He began to rub her arm, but the only reaction was her burying herself deeper in his embrace. He rubbed her arm a little more vigorously, and she moaned, shifted, and opened her eyes.


"Sleeping Beauty awakens," Grissom whispered as he watched her eyes flutter open and the cloud of sleep clear from them. "C'mon, back to your room with you." He couldn't move with her between his legs, so he just pushed at her side, trying to coax her up.


"Aww, you're no fun," Sara slurred as she began to stand, pulling him up with her. He stood and pulled her into his arms, smoothing down her hair as it whipped around her face.


"We're going to be pulling into port tomorrow. I can't have you all tired now, can I?" He said with a devilish smile.


"Well, I guess not then."


~~~~~~~~~~

"Griss, hurry up!" Sara said, pounding on his door.


"What?" He asked as he opened the door, his shirt still undone and a towel around his neck that his hand was rubbing over his wet curls.


"You can't see it out your window! C'mon!" Sara proclaimed excitedly, bounding into his room and shutting the door behind her.


"You're chipper this morning," he said, a smile spreading across his face as she leaned over his bed to look out the window. He moved behind her and leaned over her shoulder, placing his hands on her hips for leverage. "What are we looking at?"


"Nothing!" Sara said as she straightened up, pressing her body into his. He wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her to him before she could bound away again. "At least not over here! Hurry up!" The smile on her face was contagious as she wiggled around in his arms. Her jean shorts and white tank top covered her tan lines, leaving only gorgeous bronze skin for his eyes to feast on. Her jubilant exuberance excited him.


Holding her tightly to stop any escape, he turned her in his arms and quickly molded his lips over hers. The kiss was intense, yet short, and Sara moaned as Grissom pulled away. A slow smile spread across her face, her eyes still closed as he brought a hand up to caress her cheek.


"Try this again. What am I supposed to be seeing?" He whispered to her as she looked up at him.


"Nothing... absolutely nothing..." She mumbled dreamily as she wrapped her arms around him, leaning up to capture another kiss. Grissom ducked out of her arms and moved away, a smirk on his lips.


"Oh no," He said as he threw the towel around his shoulders aside and began buttoning his short sleeved shirt, "You were excited about something. Spill it."


Sara moved over to him, her hands undoing the buttons as fast as he could button them. "It's not important," she laughed out, a gleam in her eyes as she fought with him over his state of dress. His hands followed hers, buttoning as soon as she released one, and matched her pace so that neither was getting anywhere with their task.


Their hands bumping, they quickly dissolved into fits of laughter as he gently slapped her hands away.


"Oh, you're no fun!" Sara playfully pouted as she moved to lean against the wall to allow him to finish getting dressed. "Now hurry up!"


Grissom turned, fully dressed, and held his hands out to the side. "Let's go."


Smiling, Sara grabbed his hand and led him out of the cabin. Holding hands, she led him to the top deck where, just on the horizon, a tiny strip of green and white was emerging. Grissom wrapped his arms around her as they stood and watched with the other passengers as the tiny strip slowly became a tropical paradise.


(Tbc...)