The Long Road
Chapter 12
A/N: Thank you Cropper for keeping me straight. Lord knows I need it.
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Nick put money on the table and hurried after Warrick. Catching up to him at the car, Nick paused to catch his breath.
"Rick, man, are you sure that's the smart thing to do?"
"Why the hell not? I need to see Cath." Warrick's fists were clenched and his jaw thrust out in a belligerent manner.
Nick held up both hands and said in a soothing voice, "Hey, be cool. I know you want to see her but I don't think going to the lab is the way to get that done." Warrick took a step closer, looming over the smaller man but Nick held his ground, his eyes boring into Warrick's until the other man stepped back. "Man, you've been drinking. The lab is probably not the best place for you right now. Besides, it's Sunday."
Hanging his head in embarrassment, Warrick rubbed the back of his neck and said, "Okay. Will you take me to her house?"
Relieved to have avoided a nasty scene, Nick agreed. They drove the twenty minutes to Catherine's house with Warrick berating himself for his stupidity.
With a grateful sigh, Nick pulled into the driveway and said, "Are you going to be okay?"
Warrick simply nodded and said, "Thanks." Then he was out of the truck and unlocking the front door. When he was safely inside the house Nick drove away.
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Catherine made it through the night by swallowing a sleeping pill and curling up on the couch. She spent the first few hours after he left staring at the phone. She alternated between wishing he would call and praying that he would not. By two o'clock in the morning she was physically exhausted and knew she needed to sleep. Now, eight hours later, she was vaguely aware of a warm hand stroking her cheek. In her sleep-addled mind she wanted it to be Warrick's hand on her, Warrick's warmth soothing her. But she knew that something was wrong. As she began to shake off the last vestiges of slumber she remembered.
Sitting up with a shriek, she gaped at the man in front of her. "What are you doing here?" she asked, her hand on her chest in an effort to slow her pounding heart.
"I'm sorry, Cath. So sorry." Warrick fought the tears in his eyes. "I'm an idiot. I shouldn't have run out of here last night. I should have let you explain."
Seeing his distress, Catherine wrapped her arms around him and said, "Shhhhh. It's okay baby. It's okay."
Warrick wrapped his arms around her waist and wiggled them both around until she was sitting across his lap. Holding her close, he began scattering kisses along her neck and cheeks, whispering with every touch, "I love you. I love you so much."
Catherine pushed against his chest until he relaxed his hold on her. Cradling his face in her hands, she asked, "Have you been drinking?" When he nodded, she said, "How did you get here?"
"Nick dropped me off. I had a couple of drinks and, I think, he was afraid I'd drive myself if he refused to bring me." He paused long enough to lean forward and press his mouth to hers in a tender kiss. Lifting his lips from hers, he said, "Did I say I was sorry?"
Shaking her head in amusement, Catherine said, "Once or twice." When he chuckled, she said, "Did I tell you that I love you?"
A slow smile spread over his face. He kissed her again with more passion than before. Pulling back, he whispered, "Say it again."
"I love you," she replied. When he would have kissed her again, she placed her fingers over his mouth. "We need to talk about last night."
Placing a kiss on her fingers, he pulled her hand away and said, "We can talk later. Right now I need you." Working his arm under her knees, he wrapped the other firmly around her back and stood, laughing at her shriek of surprise. Placing another quick kiss on her lips, Warrick carried her down the hall and into the bedroom. He caught the door with his heel and pushed it shut.
Warrick let her feet slide to the floor then wrapped his arms around her slender waist, holding her tight against his body. "I need to feel your skin on mine," he whispered against her ear, his warm breath tickling her.
She nodded and stepped back when his arms loosened. They undressed quickly before lying down on the bed. Turning on his side so that he was facing Catherine, he pulled her into his arms. His hand gently tucked her hair behind her ear before trailing across her cheek and down to curve around the slender column of her neck. For countless moments he simply looked at her, drinking in her beauty, her light.
"You're beautiful," he breathed. When she would have demurred, he repeated insistently, "You are beautiful. I think you are the most beautiful woman in the world. And that you would want to be with me…," he trailed off, his voice breaking just a little.
With tears in her eyes, Catherine smiled at him before snuggling into his body and kissing him. Slowly, her lips moved over his, her hand resting against his chest, seeking out the steady beat of his heart. Sliding her lips from his, she used her teeth to nip at the sensitive spot just under his chin. Warrick groaned in response and thrust his hips against hers.
Through the haze of arousal, Catherine heard him ask, "When will Linds be home?"
"She's going to call me to come pick her up." Her reply was made against the smooth skin of his throat.
He mumbled a reply that could have been 'good' but it was covered up by a moan when her fingers found a flat nipple and teased it into a tight nub before gliding away. Catherine kept her eyes on his face, watching his responses. She was fascinated by the way his eyes grew heavy and his dark skin flushed, by the glint of his white teeth and the way his tongue darted out to wet his lips, by the fire in his gaze when he looked at her. She ran her hands in long, smooth strokes over his chest and rippled abdomen, relishing the warmth of his smooth skin. She dragged her foot up the length of his calf bringing her knee to rest on his thigh and her hot wetness to press against his erection.
Warrick's hands were caressing her skin, igniting little fires all over her body. His eyes were locked on hers, gauging her pleasure as his fingers sought out the places that aroused. He memorized the way her eyes darkened when his thumb grazed a nipple. Using his left hand, he caught her right leg behind the knee and dragged it further up until his tip rested at the top of her cleft. His brain tucked away the image of her, lips parted and moaning, when he slowly rubbed his aching cock, slick from her juices, against her clit. Snaking both arms around her waist, Warrick rolled until he was on his back with Catherine sprawled against his chest.
Smiling, Catherine brought her legs up until she was straddling his hips. Warrick threaded his fingers through her hair and pulled her down into a hot kiss. Her breasts brushed his chest, hard nipples dragging across his heated skin. Her thighs clenched against his hips, knees digging into his sides. She pulled her lips from his and sat up slowly. Never taking her eyes from his face, she lifted her hips and used a hand to guide him to her opening. She lowered herself onto him, taking him in inch by inch until his balls were nestled against her ass.
Warrick's eyes slid closed as soon as he felt Catherine's body begin to stretch around him. He held still, afraid that any movement would be too much. His fingers dug into her thighs. His breath came in harsh pants. "Don't move," he ground out between clenched teeth. "Please…."
Catherine stilled her movements, sitting flat against his hips with her fingers clutching at the muscles of his chest. She was barely breathing, doing everything in her power to do as he asked. Watching his face, she saw him relax before his lids fluttered open. When she could see the fire in his green eyes, she asked quietly, "Okay?"
Warrick nodded and Catherine began to move, slowly at first, hips rocking gently against him. When his hands slid up her sides and cupped her breasts she made a low, humming sound in her throat and increased her pace. Keeping her hands braced against his chest she slid up and down, concentrating on the feel of his hardness moving in and out of her body. Warrick's hands slid down to settle at her waist. Holding her against him, he levered his body up until his mouth could reach her breasts. He sucked a nipple between his teeth, biting gently before dragging his tongue over the stiff peak. Alternating between her sweet mounds of flesh, he sought to push her over the edge.
Catherine wrapped her arms around his shoulders, pulling him to her. With a groan of delight, she began to rock her hips. Every movement caused delicious friction, sending a tingling heat spreading from the nub between her thighs up through her belly and into her chest. Her movements quickly became frantic; the need for release so great that she was whimpering. When Warrick slid one hand up to roll a stiff nipple between his fingers while he increased the suction on the other breast her body shattered, pieces flying off in a thousand directions before slowly reassembling. All movement ceased as the orgasm wracked her body. Her muscles were rippling, milking his cock. She could feel each pulse as he throbbed within her. Her eyes were clenched and her mouth opened in a silent scream. When the shudders in her body ceased, Warrick held her to his chest and slowly lay back against the pillows. She shifted and raised her head and he gave her a smile, placing a kiss on her lips.
Catherine gave him a soft smile and said, "I love you," before snuggling back down against him.
He placed gentle kisses against her hair, stroking his hand down the length of her spine over and over in a soothing manner. "I love you too."
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After a shower, Warrick crawled into bed and slept. Lack of sleep from the day before coupled with the emotional and physical release made it impossible for him to stay awake. Catherine spent the time alone turning his proposal over in her mind. She had no doubt that he meant it, at the time. But he had probably meant it when he proposed to Tina. How was she supposed to feel? If she married again it was going to be for all the right reasons. Not because he was afraid of dying. By the time Lindsay called, Catherine had her mind made up. Now all she had to do was tell Warrick.
