...And then it struck me
The title of this chapter is from Stendhal and Roland's 'Stages of Love'
I hope you all find this interesting- please review let me know what you think and whether you'd like some more...
Disclaimer: I own zilch.
Paramour
(Admiration)
Sara took a deep breath as she undid her seat belt; the sound of the music from the club caused the ground to shake on the surface, the bright lights of the sign glowing against the darkness. A part of her wondered if she had made a mistake coming her- perhaps she should have gone home and comforted herself with the fact that she had someone who she loved and no matter how complicated it was he loved her too. But as she caught a glance of herself in the rear-view mirror she decided against turning around and walking away.
What would be harm in going once?
Running her fingers through her hair she climbed out of the car and headed towards the club she had once thought slightly ridiculous. The music was most certainly not something that she would have listened to of her own accord but as it filled her ears, vibrated through her body she let it settle into her system.
She made the short walk down the hall way, peering into the rooms she passed. Sara wondered if she should have gone home first; changed into something more appealing than the slacks and t-shirt combo she was currently wearing. She acknowledged that had she gone home she never would have made it here.
"Are you here to arrest another one of my top hosts?" A man approached her with a small knowing smile but the bite in his voice was undeniable.
"No..." Sara shook her head not knowing how to reveal herself as a customer. She pursed her lips, tucking her hands into her pockets glancing around quickly before she turned back to face the clear blue eyes that were studying her. "I'm not here in a professional capacity..."
"Oh..." Darren, she assumed, looked slightly shocked but he couldn't hide the smile that had tugged at his lips. "Well then...come right this way..."
He led her to a small office; the walls were a deep purple, the furniture looked as if it had been stolen from an old Victorian Manor, the lighting was dim and Sara guessed that was on purpose. She sat herself down at the desk opposite him and waited for whatever process that was required to start.
"I'm Darren...I'm the 'head host' here..." He introduced himself.
"Sara...Sidle."She nodded not knowing how to introduce herself- so many of her interactions were simply a side effect of work it felt bizarre to not have to mention where she worked alongside her name. The Crime Lab was a part of her identity- it made up most of her identity if she was honest. It was where she felt safe and comfortable. It was the place she had friends and people she loved.
"So what type of host are you looking for Ms Sidle?" He asked leaning back in his chair, tapping the pen in his hand against the table.
"I'm not really sure..." Her body mimicked his and she leant back in her chair. "If I'm honest I'm not really sure why I'm here..."
"Ah I see..." Darren smiled sweetly at her, placing his pen down. "There is someone I'd like to introduce you to..."
He stood up and straightened out suit jacket before he offered Sara his hand. She took it with some hesitation letting him lead her to whomever it was that he intended to be her host.
"Sara I would like you to meet Reuben." Darren indicated to the man seated at the bar.
The first time about him that struck her were his hazel eyes; they seemed to be dancing with the dim lighting gleaming at her. He smiled slightly before turning fully to face them but still not getting up from his seat. Sara offered him her hand and after a small pause he shook it.
"I'll leave you two to introduce yourself...But I have a feeling you'll get on..." Darren assured, he touched Sara's shoulder before he disappeared.
Sara remained standing, awkwardly fidgeting with her hands not knowing what to do with herself. After a few moments Reuben indicated for her to take the seat beside him. With a small smile she did, waiting for him to start speaking.
"So Sara...What is it that brings you here?" He gave her a chipped tooth smile that made her shiver slightly.
"I...Don't really know how to explain..." She pursed her lips realising that she didn't know how to explain the problems she'd been having with Grissom, or generally with love. Sara took a few moments to study the man in front of her; his hair fell into his eyes in dark brown curls, the dimples in his cheeks seemed to add an air of childishness about him. He was handsome. There was no denying that, Sara noted, but she had never been one to see beauty as skin deep.
"That's okay...We can get there...Would you like a drink?" He asked, attempting to put her at ease indicating towards the bar.
"Double bourbon, neat, thank you." Sara smiled back as she tried to become comfortable in his company.
"Why don't we take this somewhere quieter?" Reuben muttered to her once their drinks were placed down on the bar. Not knowing what else to say Sara simply just nodded following him to a small room- there seemed to be minimal furniture and like the rest of the place dim lighting. Sara sat down on the narrow sofa that seemed to be the centre piece of the room her eyes focused on the drink in her hand as Reuben sat down with his body facing her.
"Tell me about yourself...What do you do?" He asked attempting to get her to speak to him before he approached her reasoning for being there.
"I'm a criminalist I work at the Las Vegas Crime Lab..." She replied with a small smile.
"Law Enforcement...Just what I thought..." He gave a low gravely laugh.
"How could you tell?" Sara laughed leaning back in her seat, surveying him.
"I cheated...I saw you here the other day..." He explained. "Where are you from originally?"
"San Francisco" Sara replied.
"From the City by the Bay to Sin City- what made you move?" He continued with his questioning keeping the conversation going.
"The job..." Sara shrugged not wanting admit that the real reason she had moved to Las Vegas had been Gil Grissom- the very man that had been her reason for being in this club in the first place.
"There's more to it than that..." Reuben noted with a secretive smile.
"There is..." Sara nodded taking a sip of the drink in her hand.
"You could tell me...Or I'll just try and guess..." He offered her an incentive to open up but for some reason Sara refused to take the bait. She just gave a laugh and shook her head keeping her eyes focused on the glass of whiskey in her hand.
"You're a raging gambling addict?" He mocked her.
"No...That I'm not..." Sara laughed.
"You wanted to make it as a stripper?" Rueben continued knowing that his suggestions were ridiculous.
"That's exactly it..." She replied sarcastically.
"Was it love?" He asked in a low voice suddenly becoming serious. Sara's eyes shot up meeting his, the look they shared saying everything that he needed to know.
"Yes." She muttered, turning back to her drink taking another sip.
"The things we do for love eh?" He smiled knowingly at her.
"So, how about you? What made you want to be a host?" Sara asked attempting to understand what it was that made someone selling themselves. She recognised that what he did wasn't like prostitution but still there was something about the occupation she couldn't quiet her head around.
"I'm a writer..." He shrugged with a small smile. "It's not the best paid job...doing this I have enough time to keep working on my book and support myself..."
"That's interesting..." Sara smiled.
"You don't have to lie..." Reuben laughed.
"No...Sorry...I didn't mean to sound so...disinterested..." She leant towards him, placing her hand on his arm. "What type of book are you writing?"
Reuben glanced up at her, their eyes meeting again and Sara could feel another shiver run down her spine as he leant towards her to whisper in her ear as if they were somewhere crowded as opposed to an empty room by themselves.
"It's a love story..." He murmured, his breath feeling hot against her cheek, a few of the thin curls stirring.
"Oh..." Sara found that she was lost for words again not really knowing how to respond. A part of her wanted him that romance seemed to be a lost cause but from the clarity in his eyes she could tell he still had hope- a sense of hope that perhaps she still should have had.
"About two people who shouldn't have fallen in love...the tragic tale of star-crossed lovers..." He explained with a sparkle in his eye that was impossible to deny. Sara pursed her lips, keeping her ideas to herself taking another mouthful of burning whiskey letting it slide down her throat.
"So what do you do to escape?" Reuben asked with a smirk recognising her hesitations about eternal love.
"I...don't really do anything..." Sara shrugged recalling a conversation she'd had with Grissom some time ago where he had challenged her to tell him what it was she did in her spare time.
"Well...I'm glad you're here..." She didn't have to turn around- she could feel him smiling.
"Talking about being here...it's getting late...I should go..." She informed him finishing off the rest of the bitter tasting liquid in the glass before placing it down. "So...how does this work? How do I pay for your time?"
"The first time's on the house...and if you come back...we can sort payments out then..." He laughed sensing her cynicism.
"I see...well it was nice meeting you Reuben." Sara offered her his hand once more; to her surprise he used it to pull her towards him kissing her delicately on the cheek.
"Let me walk you to your car..." He offered standing up.
"You really don't need to...Its fine..." Sara followed suit, tugging at her jacket.
"I'd like to..." Reuben walked beside her, his hand on her lower back as he lead her through the crowds the parking lot towards her car.
"I hope you come back...I'd like to see you again..." He whispered into her ear, pulling back with a contagious chipped tooth grin.
"I bet you say that to all the girls..." Sara winked before pulling herself away from him climbing into the driver's seat.
As Sara drove through the busy roads of Las Vegas, the neon blinding her, she attempted to work out whether she wanted to see Reuben again...