Chapter 22: Halloweenies

"There are certain things that say to the world, I have a boyfriend and he's not made up. matching costumes, hickeys, and sex tapes. Pick one." - Amy Farrah Fowler

"Are you sure you don't want to come?" Penny asked through her phone, trying to talk and keep her officer hat on her head. She sighed. "All right, well we will miss you, sweetie. Okay, bye."

Carly walked out of her bedroom, wearing a white long-sleeved, belted dress that hugged the little curves that she had. She borrowed knee-high white boots from Penny that accentuated her legs, especially with the rather large slit that went up to her right mid-thigh. She had shown more skin at the pool, however, this costume had to have been the most revealing... although Sheldon had wanted accuracy for the costume, it seemed like this was the only one he'd been able to procure for her shy of getting one custom made off Etsy.

"Bernadette's still not coming?"

Penny sighed again, putting her phone down. "No, I guess not. She's been pretty depressed since Howard left-" she broke off as she looked up at Carly, seeing her in the costume for the first time. "Holy crap, I didn't think a Star Wars outfit would be so sexy. Damn, Carly. Sheldon's going to have a heart attack."

Carly blushed at Penny's enthusiasm. "I don't think he realized how far up this slit goes," she expressed, trying to make sure that nothing personal was showing in the gap.

Penny snorted with a smirk. "If he did, he's more sly than I thought."

Carly bit her lip and looked up at her blond friend dressed as a sexy cop. "Does Leonard know you're going to arrest him for sexual harassment tonight?"

Penny laughed at her joke. "Not yet, but as soon as he makes an Albert Einstein impression- the cuffs are going on."

Carly snickered and grabbed her brush from the table where pins and makeup were laid out. "Can you do my hair? Sheldon said he and Leonard would be down at six."

Penny grinned and rubbed her hands together eagerly. "Of course. I've always wanted to do these iconic buns!"

Carly smiled and sat down at the table, handing Penny the brush so she could get to work. After doing her best, Penny conceded to just watching a YouTube video tutorial. The outcome ended up being great and Carly couldn't believe how much she did look like Carrie Fisher's character.

They did their make-up and were just getting finished when Sheldon's repetitive knocks alerted them to the men's arrival.

Carly felt giddy for the night, but nervous with Sheldon seeing her like this. Would he like it? Had she done it justice? She was just glad she wasn't sick anymore. Her nose ran from time to time, reminding her that she had been sick, but it wasn't anything serious and she wasn't contagious anymore as it had been over two days.

"I'll get it," Penny told her with red lips and walked over to snatch the door open. "Heya boys!"

Leonard walked in first, dressed as Albert Einstein, eyeing Penny amorously. He was so smitten.

Then Sheldon came in. Carly's mouth went dry and she froze by the table, staring at him as he caught sight of her. His eyes widened and his mouth parted in shock.

Sheldon was wearing the typical Han Solo garb, complete with the white v neck, revealing just a hint of chest hair, the dark vest over the top, dark jeans belted at the waist, and an intricate holster around his legs and hip. He wore knee-length black boots and a shaggy, slightly blond wig on his head.

Carly gulped, unable to tear her eyes away. Perhaps she was smitten too.

"Hello, Carly," he greeted lowly, eyes glancing down her body and pausing at her thighs before leveling on her own. "You look... "

"Really sexy, right?" Penny filled in for him, smirking widely at the two shyly wordlessly gazing at one another. "Good going, Sheldon. Way to make your girlfriend look hot!"

Carly winced at the words "sexy" and "hot". Sheldon had never used those words to describe her and she felt self-conscious over the fact that it was being declared.

She grabbed her lip with her teeth and looked away as Sheldon tore his eyes off of her, looking to Penny.

"Are you being sarcastic?" Sheldon asked, raising an eyebrow at the blond.

Penny rolled her eyes with a disbelieving smile. "Never mind, you're still as oblivious as ever."

Sheldon was confused and looked to Carly for an explanation but she was busy grabbing the white purse she wore on their date and slinging it over her shoulder. Sheldon couldn't help but glance down at her posterior that was accentuated nicely in the white, form-fitting dress. He gulped. Perhaps he should have continued to convince her to wear the Chewbacca costume.

Leonard cleared his throat to grab their attention from the doorway. "We should get going."

They all left the apartment and followed each other out to Leonard's car. Carly and Sheldon climbed into the back seat.

She looked over at him, looking so sexy in his vneck. "You didn't wear an undershirt?" She asked him suddenly.

He glanced down at himself then back at her, giving her an odd look. "Well I would have but Han Solo doesn't wear one. I wouldn't have been accurate if I had worn one, now would I?"

Carly smiled appreciatively, eyes trailing back down to the hint of chest hair that was exposed. "I like it."

Sheldon saw how she was staring at him and it made his insides tingle. He licked his bottom lip and glanced up at Penny and Leonard in the front as the car moved along, making sure they weren't paying attention before leaning over to her.

"Keep your sexy eyes to yourself tonight, young lady. We have a costume contest to win," he told her seriously, low in her ear.

She gulped, his hot breath giving her goosebumps. "Sexy eyes?" She whispered dumbly, feeling a little lightheaded.

"Yes, you know what I'm talking about- and stop that!" he scolded in a hushed tone, pointing at her mouth that was currently chewing at her bottom lip anxiously.

Carly grinned despite herself. So she was affecting him, hunh? That gave her a little pep in her step, so to speak.

Sheldon narrowed his eyes down at her proud smile, his heart racing in his chest at how much he wanted to pull her over into his lap and kiss that grin right off of her face.

"What are you two rebels whispering so much about back there?" Penny asked them suddenly and Sheldon jumped, moving away from Carly and straightening in his seat.

"Nothing that concerns you," Sheldon told her stiffly and looked out the window, ending the conversation before it began.

At least he had hoped. Penny gave him a weird look before glancing back at Carly. "Everything okay?"

Carly grinned at her, feeling lighter than air. "Perfect actually."

Sheldon looked back over at her then, bewildered by her answer and Penny snickered. "Mmmhmm," she teased with suspicion and settled back into her seat.

Carly bit her lip despite what Sheldon had said, glanced over at his narrowed eyes, and then focused on the window away from him. A playful smile tugged at her mouth.

oO0Oo

When Sheldon had thought about taking Carly to the comic book store for the party, he hadn't been expecting every man with eyes to stare at his girlfriend. Most, in particular, her legs. As soon as they had arrived he'd had to stand directly in front of her, keeping her out of their line of sight and giving them a venomous glare.

Carly hadn't noticed and held his arm, letting him lead her through the throngs of costumed people after Penny and Leonard, unable to keep her eyes off of her boyfriend. He was so attractive in his costume. She was elated that he had agreed to go as Han Solo.

They met up with Raj and Stuart who had planned the party, making it a true blast for everyone. Raj was dressed as Indiana Jones or as he called himself "Indian Jones", while Stuart was Willy Wonka.

"Wow, nice costumes!" Raj told Sheldon and Carly, his eyes lingering a little too long on Carly for Sheldon's taste.

Carly hadn't seen Stuart since that first time she'd gone to the comic book store and she starkly remembered how she'd let him down. She glanced at him, trying not to notice how he kept eyeing her when he thought no one was looking.

"Hey, Stuart- get your dopey eyes off of my girlfriend," Sheldon snapped suddenly, alerting to everyone around that he had noticed Stuart gawking.

"S-Sorry, just... I gotta go," he stammered under the furious gaze of Sheldon and then disappeared into the crowd of people.

Penny smirked behind a hand, impressed with how Sheldon was so possessive over Carly and gave her a wink when she caught her friends' eyes.

Carly grinned despite herself and glanced down bashfully.

"I can't believe how many people came," Penny mused, eyes going around the room, impressed.

"I know right? When they all showed up I had to hurry and get more food out," Raj told them with a pleased grin.

"Well, you did great Raj. It's fun," Leonard told him.

Sheldon shifted in Carly's grasp and looked to Raj sharply. "When's the costume contest?"

"Towards the end," Raj told him. "For now, just have fun - and try some of my halloweenies!"

At the suggestion of having fun, Penny grabbed Leonard. "Hey, let's go dance."

Leonard didn't need to be told twice, as he enjoyed having a rather sexy blond cop on his arm.

Sheldon and Carly were left with Raj, but shortly after, he left, noticing Stuart trying to take credit for the party that he had done the most work for.

Carly checked Sheldon, seeing the way his eyes were darting around in paranoia and his lips were in a tight line. She frowned at it.

"Sheldon, are you okay?" She asked over the music and Sheldon started slightly, then looked down at her, blinking.

"What? Yeah, I'm fine. Why do you ask?" His tone was on edge and his eyes wouldn't stay on her.

"You're acting odd," she confessed, placing a hand on his arm. "You're not getting sick are you?"

Sheldon shook himself a little, changing his expression to regard her. "No, I'm fine. I took a round of antibiotics and gargled with hydrogen peroxide after taking care of you. I'm well."

Carly's eyes widened. He'd done all of that? Impressive. "Then what's wrong?"

Sheldon crossed his arms indignantly. "I already told you, nothing wrong with me."

Carly pulled her lip into her mouth in worry, knowing he wasn't speaking the truth. "All right... Um, I'll go get us something to drink-"

"No wait," he called, taking her hand to stop her from leaving. "I'll do it. Just stay here... by the wall. Don't move."

Carly rose her eyebrows at his bossy commands but didn't argue with him. She had nowhere else to be. "All right."

Sheldon nodded to himself and then hesitantly left her. Carly took the moment to look around, watching people dance and have a good time. She hadn't ever been to a Halloween party before and she had to admit, the music and atmosphere had her feeling like she was in a dream.

The costume helped too. She had momentarily forgotten to be self-conscious, her insecurities leaving once Sheldon had confirmed in the car that he was affected by her looks. She couldn't help but tease him, loving the way he seemed to become unglued.

Be that as it may, he didn't seem to be having a good time at all. He'd even snapped at his friend. Sheldon had been so excited about the party that his behavior confused her.

oO0Oo

Sheldon was returning to his girlfriend with two cups of blue punch in each hand, when he stopped, fear gripping him.

There his perfect girlfriend was, still in the exact spot he'd left her in, with some bafoon wearing a Captain America costume chatting her up. Sheldon gulped, standing still and not noticing the way people had to move around him.

He looked to Carly and saw the uncomfortable expression on her face, and a sudden strong urge to protect her overcame him. It was like the creep at the pool all over again.

Gritting his teeth, he stomped over and got between them. "Can I help you?" He demanded, his eyes sending daggers in the man's direction.

"Sheldon!" Carly gasped in surprise by his unexpected appearance.

Captain America put his hands up as if to surrender, looking embarrassed. "Sorry, I didn't realize she was with someone," he muttered, before turning and disappearing into the crowd.

"Yeah well, next time keep it in your own movie-verse!" He shouted after him, seething. His heart was racing from the confrontation and he almost didn't notice Carly moving to stand in front of him anxiously.

"Sheldon? Hey, are you all right?"

Sheldon's eyes dropped down to hers briefly before he closed them, trying to calm himself. He loathed feeling this way, but he hated when other people tried to enjoy or take things that belonged to him.

When he opened his eyes, he saw her worried face and he took a deep breath. "Everyone's staring at you," he admitted, upset with himself for getting so angry over it. Of course, everyone was staring, she looked amazing.

Carly frowned and peered around them nervously before gazing back up at him. "No ones looking at me."

Sheldon blinked when she said that, uncertain if he'd heard her right. Hadn't she noticed the attention she was getting that night? Even Raj had lowered his eyes to her bare thigh with desire.

Even so, he gave a glance around the room, and sure enough, everyone's attention was on other things or other people. Feeling out of sorts, he looked back down at her and she slid a hand up his chest. It sent a pleasurable jolt down his body at the touch.

"Even if they were staring Sheldon, I'm not interested in anyone's attention except for yours," she assured him, giving him a half-smile in hopes he would feel better.

Her words did move him deeply and he couldn't help but feel like a fool for focusing on everyone else when he should have been focusing on his girlfriend. His girlfriend. No one else's.

His girlfriend who was dressed as every teenage boy's dream girl, looking the part to a T, and she was on his arm.

He swallowed and licked his lips nervously, hoping he hadn't ruined the night. "You're right. Here..." he handed her the cup of punch and then took a sip of his, the fruity drink sliding down his throat smoothly.

Carly sipped at hers, never removing her eyes from him. After a while, they watched the others dance and have a good time. Carly wanted to ask if he'd like to dance with her, but she knew he didn't prefer to dance so she kept quiet.

As the evening progressed, Sheldon relaxed and allowed himself to enjoy the night. Leonard and Penny returned from dancing and they shared laughs and chatted, eating silly named foods.

Raj was only allowed to come back if he promised he wouldn't stare at his girlfriend, something Sheldon made sure of before Raj had come over.

Near the end, they had their costume contest, and unfortunately, a couple dressed as Black Widow and Iron Man won. His suit even lit up, much to Sheldon's disappointment.

When they returned to the apartment, feeling the effects of the loud music, sugar, and the results of the contest, Carly held a sulking Sheldon back.

Leonard and Penny said goodnight and left up the stairs.

"Sheldon, do you want to come in for tea?" Carly asked him hopefully, not wanting to give up the night just yet.

Sheldon nodded gloomily. "A hot beverage would be nice."

Carly bit her lip and led him into her apartment, setting her purse down and going to the kitchen to make tea for them. Sheldon sighed loudly after closing the door, taking his holster off, and setting it on the coffee table, before sitting down in his spot on her couch.

Carly glanced up at him from the stove. "Are you still upset about the contest?"

Sheldon sighed again. "No. Well, yes. It's just..." he fidgeted on the couch and then faced her. "This was your first Halloween party with me and I was hoping we'd win. Now the whole night's ruined."

Carly tilted her head thoughtfully. "I wouldn't say the whole night's ruined, Sheldon. I had a really nice time, and that's saying something because I'm really not one for dressing up."

Sheldon considered her words and looked down. "Well, it's ruined for me. Between everyone staring at you like you're the hottest thing since the sun, and some flashy Iron Man winning the contest, I just feel down."

Carly felt bad for him. He had put too much pressure on himself and was let down by it not going his way. She let him mope on her couch as she undid the pins in her hair, needing to feel relief while the water heated up. She placed the pins on the counter next to her and shook out her hair, running a hand through it.

When the kettle whistled, she made them some chamomile tea and brought it over to him. He took it gratefully without really looking at her and stared down at the floor.

"Sheldon, I know that the contest meant a lot to you tonight but I hope you know that just being there with you, dressed in couples costumes made me happy. Ecstatic, actually."

And she meant it.

Finally, he looked up at her and caught sight of her hair down and around her shoulders, his eyes flitting around her face. "Aw, you took your hair down," he whined softly in dismay and she smiled.

"Did you like it?" She asked, having a suspicion but still wanting to hear it from him.

Sheldon shifted uneasily in his seat and took a drink, eyes ahead of him. "Yes."

Carly melted at the word, it sending her into an excited frenzy all over again. "Good! I'm glad I looked to your liking... because your opinion was what mattered," she explained, emphasizing on him. "Besides, you're the expert."

Sheldon tore his eyes away from the middle distance to observe her, giving her a relaxed smile. "You're trying to cheer me up," he realized.

She grinned. "Is it working?"

Sheldon titled his head once and glanced down at the mug of tea. "Either you or the chamomile tea, but I'm okay with either."

Carly laughed lightly at his tease. "Oh, I see. Now I have to contend with tea. It seems like it's a losing battle since it's so warm and inviting," she joked, taking her mug with both hands and holding it close to her face, looking at him from above.

"Oh I don't know about that, you can be quite warm when you want to be," he shrugged, trying to feign casualty.

Carly grinned and dropped her mug down on the coffee table. "Yeah well, we'll see about that. If I remember correctly, it's usually you that's warming me," she told him, remembering how he had covered her with his jacket and wrapped her up with a blanket.

Sheldon looked away then, focusing again on the floor. Her smile faltered and she surveyed the knit of his eyebrows. What was he thinking about?

She took the moment to slide the zipper down her boots and removed them, wishing to not feel so constricted.

Sheldon glanced at her as she did so, watching her slip the boots from her tiny feet and set them neatly by the couch. He swallowed. Why did he think that everything she did was so sensual?

It was as if some sort of switch had been turned on inside of him since he'd gotten closer to her and now all he was able to do is think about how he'd love to run his hands up her legs, feel that sweet derrière and pull her flush up against him-

Geez, he needed to stop before he got ahead of himself.

It was just that seeing her wear that outfit, teasing him, reminding him of how he'd touched her- it just sent him reeling. She had no idea just how warm she made him.

"I suppose the tea won then?" Her voice was joking but it was a little breathless.

He looked up at her sweet smile and he couldn't help but feel the desire for her burn up inside of him all over again. God, he needed to kiss her. Needed her on him again. He craved it like a madman. If she was going to turn him into one, he'd take her with him into the black hole of pure craziness.

Sheldon sat his tea down. "You're still in the running," he replied, trying to keep his voice light and hiding behind the running joke they had going.

He turned his body in her direction and Carly swallowed, her eyes trailing down his chest and then back up, finding him so sexy in his costume. Everything except for the wig... she missed his dark hair.

Was he trying to get her to make moves on him? She wasn't sure... but with the way his eyes were traveling down her legs and to her feet curled up under her, it made her think that he did.

There was only one way to find out, but she was nervous. They hadn't done anything since his freak out and she didn't want to do anything that would set him off again.

"Are you sure?" She whispered, unable to make her voice any louder as anxiety and desire both gripped her tightly.

Sheldon's eyes lowered to her mouth where she pulled her lip in, biting at it. "Indubitably," was his simple answer, it low and gravelly with desire.

Carly sat there shocked for a minute, uncertain if what she was hearing was true. She licked her dry lips and gave him another once over, wondering if she was about to make a mistake.

Inhaling, she moved closer to him, hearing his breath hitch. She looked up at him as she did so, watching his eyes follow her movements. He allowed her to cozy up to him, her legs pressed against one of his long legs.

Carly rose her hands and removed the wig from his head, needing it to be just Sheldon in front of her. He caught her eyes as she slid her fingers through his messy hair, finding it sexy with it looking like that. It was always combed so neat.

His hands moved of their own accord and took her waist, unbuckling the belt and sending it to the floor so he could slide his hands up her sides, needing to feel her.

Carly gulped, her heart beating wildly in her chest as his hands roamed her body. She slid hers down his neck and moved one to the V on his shirt, running her fingers through the light chest hair as she had been fantasizing about doing all night.

Sheldon's breathing picked up and he couldn't take it anymore, not with how she drew lazy shapes on his chest and how she kept looking at him. Eyes dilated, and wanton.

He picked her up easily and put her on his lap, her legs straddling him as the dress bunched around them. He groaned low in his throat with how she felt against him and he lay his head back, his eyes rolling as his hands grabbed her thighs.

A possessive feeling came over him as he caressed them, drawing out a quiet whimper from Carly. Every man who had wanted to do this to her couldn't because she belonged to him.

Needing to claim her, he lifted his head and took her waiting, open mouth. A hand went to her hair, tangling it in the strands and holding her head to him, devouring her lips and mouth.

She made a small noise when he kissed her, making him grow bold. He dropped his hands from her hair, running his hands over anywhere he could touch, loving how she arched into him.

Their tongues met simultaneously and he groaned, missing her taste. The idea of swapping saliva with anyone had always disgusted him but he was surprised by how doing it with her seemed to not affect him too much. In fact, it wasn't even on his mind.

All he could think of was that he loved feeling her. Loved the way she sounded. How she felt. How he affected her. He could draw out a reaction with just one touch.

To prove his point, he reached down and grabbed her lovely derrière and gently squeezed it, making her gasp into his mouth as her hands went to his hair. Their kiss got even more heated, their noses pressing against each other and their breaths mingling in between kisses.

Even though it had only been a few days since they'd last kissed, Carly felt like it had been months, years even. It was like a dam had burst through, sending her down a rapid waterfall of arousal. She clung to him, kissing him senseless. Her fingers threaded through his short hair, pressing herself closer to him as he caressed her.

He groaned, rocking his hips into hers hotly and it made her lose her mind. She felt him under her and she wished to touch him again but she was terrified to do so.

So she held onto him, panting heavily when he released her mouth to kiss a trail down her jaw. She tilted her head, allowing him access to press warm kisses over her throat, giving her goosebumps.

He'd become an expert in no time, she thought. He knew exactly what he was doing.

Not wanting to leave him out in any way, she slid her hands down to his chest and dipped her fingers inside of his shirt, feeling the wiry hairs there.

He breathed heavily at her touch, his warm breath coming out in a huff behind her ear. She shivered in his arms while his hands roamed her body.

Suddenly, he was moving her and she opened her eyes as she realized he had laid her down effortlessly on her couch. He hovered over her, pressing his whole body against her. He slid a hand down her leg, his eyes dark and heavy as he took in her parted lips and harsh breathing.

He hooked his hand around her knee and pulled her leg up, wrapping it around his hip as he pressed deliciously against her. A small whimper left her at the feel of his hardened manhood straining in his pants and prodding her.

She gulped with a dry mouth, unable to remove her eyes from him. What was he planning on doing?

He'd never taken this initiative while sober before. Leonard had mentioned before that Sheldon was an alpha male, and she couldn't help but feel like she would soon realize what exactly that meant.

He leaned down and kissed her softly, his hand caressing her thigh over and over again. He broke apart and pressed his forehead against hers. "You don't understand what you do to me, Carly," he whispered, his eyes in awe over what he saw in hers, and her breath caught at the weight of the sight.

He raked his eyes down her, taking in everything about her. When he met hers once more, she just about came off the couch. The blue irises she loved so much were dark and hazy, telling her all sorts of things that his mouth wouldn't.

"Show me," she breathed shakily, needing to know just how he felt.

He drew in a sharp intake of breath at her words and his hand stilled. She felt his hesitation before she saw it on his face, and she realized that they were going to stop again. He was conflicted, uncertain if he would be able to 'show her' as she had asked.

Disappointment gripped her but she held herself back, watching him begrudgingly release her and sit on his heels. He looked away, almost embarrassed by his behavior.

Her body felt tingly, still zinged from his touches, but she sat up and eyed him. Was this how it would always be? Teetering around what they both wanted, but abruptly stopping when it became too much for him? Too close?

Carly took a deep breath, willing herself to remain levelheaded. Sheldon would get upset if she became emotional about it. She needed to be patient with him. She just knew it would be worth the wait.

That he was worth the wait.

She let him get his thoughts straight so he could come to her and when he finally looked over at her, his eyes hard and his cheeks flushed, she knew he was going to leave for the night.

"I'm sorry, I lost control momentarily," he apologized unnecessarily and she shook her head.

"It's fine, Sheldon. We both got carried away," she told him, scared he would run away from her again.

Sheldon stood and fixed his rumpled clothes, grabbing his holster from the table and his wig from the back of the couch. "I should get going, it's late."

Carly nodded, already foreseeing this happening. She got to her feet and followed him to the door and opened it for him.

He turned in the doorway and she held her breath, not sure what he'd say. When he didn't say anything, she tilted her head a little as if to ask him, 'what'?

He didn't answer and instead leaned down, taking her face into his hand and pressing a long, drawn-out, and thorough kiss to her shocked lips. Her world spun when he released her and she held onto the doorway with a hand to steady her.

"Goodnight Carly," he told her, his voice cracking with some sort of emotion and she blinked hazily, lightheaded and unable to form a coherent thought.

"Goodnight Sheldon."

She watched him leave dreamily and walk up the stairs. He sure was a mystery.

Worth the wait, for sure.