19
The first day of their cruise was just like a dream. Dinner, even though they were allowed semi casual dress, was served as if they were royalty. They had an itinerary for the night, which included several forms of entertainment, but they chose, instead, to dance to their own music underneath the starlight on the upper deck of the ship. He hummed a tune as he spun her around in his arms. When his song ended, he gathered her tighter in his arms and they walked to the rail to watch the water below them.
"Grissom, this is absolutely perfect."
"I feel the same way." He started kissing the back of her neck. When she shivered, "Cold?"
"Chills."
"Good." He twisted her in his arms and cupped her face in his hands, "Would you mind if we, uh, retired for the night early?"
"Tired?"
With a devilish grin, "No."
"Good."
Around midnight, Sara woke when she felt Grissom jerk. He was sitting up when she opened her eyes. "Grissom? You okay?" When he didn't reply, she sat up and put her hand on his back. He was drenched with sweat. "Grissom! What's wrong?"
"I'm sorry. Nothing. I'm fine."
"Grissom! You're drenched with sweat. And you never wake up in the middle of the night. Don't lie to me. What's wrong?"
He turned toward her, "I'm sorry. I just had a nightmare, that's all."
"Tell me."
"I had a dream the you fell overboard. I reached out to grab you, but I couldn't get to you. I jumped over to save you, but you were gone. I lost you."
"I'm fine. And you haven't lost me. I'm right here."
He gathered her in his arms, "God, Sara. It was the worst dream…"
"Hey. Calm down. I'll make a deal with you. The only time I'll go near a railing is if you're there to hold on to me, okay?" After a few minutes, she pulled back and looked into his eyes, "Okay?"
"Okay."
"Good. I'm hungry."
"With a ravishing look in his eyes, he agreed, "Me too."
"No, I meant for real food."
"Oh. Room service?"
"Or the midnight buffet."
"We'd have to shower first."
"Race ya!"
Without even putting forth a lot of effort, he captured her in his arms. He carried her to the small bathroom, "Tie."
"Fine."
They got to the buffet about a half hour later. He was shocked, "I didn't realize there were so many people that ate at midnight."
"Yeah, well, maybe they all worked up an appetite."
"Hmm. Like us?"
"That's what I had in mind."
"So you think that all these people here just finished making love?"
"It is a cruise, Grissom. People come on these things for romance. But no, I'd say, maybe half."
"I'm going to find us a seat."
"I'll be right there."
Grissom walked away to find a table. He sat down at a nearby table and was shocked when he felt a hand on his shoulder. "Excuse me."
He turned to find an older couple, the woman with her hand on his shoulder. "Yes?"
"My husband and I just wanted to stop and tell you that you and your wife are a lovely couple. We, uh, saw you earlier dancing on the deck. It was very romantic. You reminded us of ourselves when we were younger."
"Well, thank you."
Sara walked up just as the couple was walking away, "Who were they?"
"I didn't get their names, but they just stop to let me know that my wife and I are a 'lovely couple.'"
"Really? Do we need to talk? Because, you just made love to me, so your wife might get really mad about that." After she smiled, they both laughed. "Did you bother to tell her we weren't married, yet?"
"Nope."
"It'll come back to bite you. It did me. Remember the hospital?"
"Yep. That was actually cute."
"Yeah!"