"Curry's up," Cal said as he put two plates down on the table.
"This looks delicious," remarked Gillian. "I could get used to having a man around the kitchen."
"And what do I get in return?"
"Hmm... You'll have to wait and see," she joked and took a bite.
"I'll be looking forward to it," he replied in a low voice as he gave her a once over. He didn't miss the color rising on Gillian's cheeks. But instead of taking the opportunity to fluster her further, Cal picked up his spoon and joined her.
"This is wonderful, Cal!"
"I'm glad you like it, love." He studied the expressions she made as she ate. The way her eyebrows always perked up at the first couple of bites she took when she was really savoring the taste of something she enjoyed. He could also see a hint of relief in her general manner, although he knew there were things she'd left unsaid.
"How are we going to do this?" Gillian questioned, as if she could read his mind.
"Do what?" Cal snapped out of his trance.
"This is going to be a big change for the two of us... and Emily."
"I wouldn't worry about Emily, love. She's a big girl. In fact, she's probably been anticipating this... us," he motioned with his hand.
"Oh?" Gillian sounded as if she was shocked, but her body language told him otherwise.
"She asked me some time ago whether I loved you, and I couldn't lie to her. She kept pestering me to tell you sooner." He spoke about it casually.
Gillian was a little taken aback. Real surprise, he thought. "So why didn't you?"
"In your state after Claire had just passed away... I didn't think it was a good time."
Gillian raised an eyebrow as she lead him on. "That may have factored into it, but that wasn't the only reason was it..?"
Cal pretended to ignore her, but he didn't have to elaborate; she already knew.
"Listen." Gillian began again. "We should probably take it slow. I don't want everyone to know just yet. I mean, besides Emily."
Cal listened, but said nothing.
"At work I think we should still keep the line so nobody gets suspicious. We're not in the red like before, but I want everyone focused on our incoming cases instead of on what's happening between us."
He knew that Gillian was more worried about setting preliminary boundaries for her own sake than for business's sake, but he agreed that any gossip about them would only get in the way and nodded in agreement. "So no playing handsies while on the job, then?"
Cal didn't need hear her response judging by the look she shot him. "Alright love, we play by your rules."
"Thank you." She walked over to him and planted a kiss on his forehead. And as she did so, Cal grabbed Gillian by the waist and bought her to him. They looked into each others eyes and he brought his lips to hers. This time Gillian met his lips with equal emotion.
Cal almost didn't want to admit how happy he was in that moment. He couldn't remember the last time he'd felt this way and it made him uneasy. Like the instant he put words to his state of contentment, everything would slip through his fingers like sand.
Gillian could feel his body tense. "I won't break, Cal..." she said in a breathy whisper before lowering her lips to his again. For both of them, the world stood still and she lost count of how many kisses they shared between them.
But the warmth between their bodies was getting to be too much for her this soon, and she pulled back. "Let me help you with these," said Gillian, as she stood up a little awkwardly. She focused on tidying up the remains of their meal, while Cal recovered from his daze and observed her movements with interest.
When finished, she went back to his side and went in for another peck. "I should really get going. Thanks so much for lunch, Cal. Call me later, OK?"
"Not at all, love. The pleasure was all mine," he returned, and got up to walk her to the door. He knew this was going to take some time for the both of them to get used to.
Cal would be the first to admit he wasn't much of a wine and dine kind of guy. Generally speaking he held little faith in the standard dating conventions set by society. There was something extraordinary with Gillian, though. He wanted to earn her love, convince her of it, and keep his promise... He couldn't pinpoint whether it was caused by the pangs of hope that had built up in his heart since that day they'd both confronted their feelings, or whether it was simply Gillian's own love of romance and his desire to please her that motivated him to try harder.
Gillian began coming over to Cal's for dinner with him and Emily more than a few nights a week. Although she had been a part of their lives for as long as she could remember, she now felt like she was a part of a family- their family. This filled her being a kind of warmth and sense of belonging she had missed since Sophie had disappeared from her life and her marriage with Alec had gone downhill.
Emily had been overjoyed and excited to hear the news, and of course willing to play along. She had always taken to Gillian, but Cal was glad to see how fast and strong their bond was forming. He believed it did Emily a world of good to have a female figure there during the times she wasn't with Zoe. Very soon Emily would be off on her own without Cal there to protect her, but as the time drew nearer he was finding himself able to let go with less of a struggle than before. He knew this was partly Gillian's doing; she always knew how to find middle ground between them and offer up reassurance. She was far better with words than he was and offered Emily a balance between a mother's love and friendship, without coming across as trying to replace Zoe.
During the times they wanted more privacy, Cal would drive over to Gillian's where they would talk or exchange touches and kisses over movies, takeout, wine, dessert, or a combination of either. He didn't particularly find pleasure in the romance comedies Gillian adored, but he learned not to be as vocally critical. Rather than focus on the trite plots and dialogue he turned his attention to the rainbow of expressions that appeared on her face as they watched. Her laughter was infectious and nothing could outshine the sparkle in her eyes. In return, though Gillian noticed how he read her, but she was learning it was okay to carefully let her her guard down and let him in. She secretly liked being the focus of his attention and how special he made her feel. Still, they had yet to consummate their relationship fully.
It went without saying that Cal had no reservations when it came to sex, although Gillian wasn't exactly a prude in the bedroom herself. Only this time for her things were different. Cal was different. She couldn't overcome her second thoughts about giving in to him completely. She felt grateful that he never pushed too hard and appeared to be letting her set the pace; it was definitely a role reversal. As for Cal, there were times when his impatience almost killed him, but not being able to have her immediately only made her that much more desirable.
Things ran as usual at the Lightman Group. Sometimes Cal would go off on his own and Gillian would be left cleaning up the mess he left in his wake. There was no lack of back and forth banter between the two, but at the end of the day they were always able to kiss and make-up after everyone else had gone home. For this to work, they needed to continue and accept the way they were and the roles they defined. Their new found closeness added another level to their existing friendship rather than a complete change.
In this respect, besides Torres, Loker, and a few other employees picking up on the spark that surrounded their recent interactions and Gillian's person in general, nothing was amiss. Cal got into everyone's face as usual, and his demeanor remained almost unchanged.
When finally cornered by Torres and asked, Gillian admitted to having a new man in her life, but left it at that. Torres and Loker could find no indication of lying and besides a few comments to themselves, left the subject alone.
A little over a month out, Cal and Gillian were cleaning up after a nice dinner at Gillian's place. Having cleared the table, Cal went to relax in the den while Gillian rinsed off the dishes and loaded the dishwasher to run later. She dried her hands when finished, and walked over to where he sat. There was nothing particularly notable about what they had eaten or talked about, but Gillian felt like the moment was right. She straddled his lap, and took his lips with hers. "I'm ready," she almost purred. Cal's ears perked up and he met her words with a low growl. Further talk was deemed unnecessary as he supported her like that to her bedroom, their kisses growing more needy along the way. Cal had managed to remove most of Gillian's clothing within seconds upon reaching their destination and gently pushed her onto the bed.
"Bloody hell, Gillian," Cal breathed in as he took in her nude figure before him for the first time. He had never felt such a mixture of love and lust quite like what stirred within him now.
"Are you going to just sit there and stare?" Gillian playfully chided, before stretching herself into an inviting position. A blush rose to her cheeks, and Cal had never been so mesmerized.
"Don't worry, love. I don't need to be asked twice," he replied back, his breath heavy.
Gillian's soft moans filled his ears like sweet honey as he kissed and caressed her, taking the time to explore every inch fully. The way her eyelashes fluttered for him drove him mad.
She was fully aware of how her body rose and crumbled under his pleasures. There would be no line tonight, she thought. Through half-lidded eyes she observed how Cal was taking in her reaction. She no longer had to worry, she smiled to herself. From this point on he she knew he'd take control in his ability to read her body's secrets, but in return she'd have control over the effect they induced on him and his heart. A fair enough trade in love, all things considered, she mused. She brought herself up and gently pushed him down before taking the position on top.
"Gillian..." was the only thing that escaped his lips.
"Mmm... It's not fair I'm the only one without clothes on. Let's remedy that," was her sultry reply.
Gillian took her time with each button and let her fingers trace his exposed skin. Cal's hardness was swelling beneath her, but she didn't hasten her movements.
Removing his shirt, she applied kisses from his navel and traveled upwards to below his neck. Her fingers traced a nipple while she brought her other hand downwards and cupped his bulge. Cal bucked slightly at her touch and let out a groan. She looked straight at him and displayed the most beautiful smile he'd ever witnessed.
"I never took you for such a little minx," Cal panted.
"There are a lot of sides of me you've never seen."
"I'm eager to learn," he raised her.
"Good. I hope you're taking notes." Another smile crept over her face to compliment the playfulness in her eyes.
She turned her attention downwards and undid his jeans. She used one hand to push down each pant leg, while running the other up the base of his length. She released him from the confines of his briefs and dipped her head in order to take him inside her mouth.
"Christ!" was all Cal could manage. His hand involuntarily circled around her head and his fingers entwined with strands of her hair in pleasure as Gillian continued to perform on him.
As she continued, Cal's hands tried to make their way down to touch her in any way he could, and Gillian felt him getting closer to the edge. She gave one last suckle and kissed the tip before bringing her head up to face him.
Cal couldn't wait any longer. He flipped her over onto her back and positioned himself at her opening. He gave one last look at Gillian for approval, and she gave her consent by raising her hips to embrace him. Their rhythm began slowly, but the growing heat between them soon fueled them faster. Cal's hands brushed her breasts and traveled over the rest of her body, sending tremors of sensation all over her. She clung to him, enraptured; her cries prompted him on. His member throbbed for release, and with one last push he pulled out letting his stickiness spill between them. They collapsed together, out of breath. Their bodies glistened under the moonlight that filtrated through her window, and Cal pulled her close as they tried to both hold on to the dispersing magic of what had just passed between them. He reached over to clean her off first, then himself.
"I would have never taken you for a snuggler," Gillian giggled.
"Funny, I would have never taken you for..." he stopped short. Cal didn't need to finish. He took in the surreality of the moment, the smell of her hair.
After staying that way sometime, Gillian addressed the last comment he'd made. "You still haven't seen everything yet," she teased. She broke their embrace and stood up to leave towards the bathroom. She could feel his eyes following her footsteps, and she turned again to peek her head around the door at him for a second before disappearing again.
"Game's on, love," he called out. The sound of water filling the tub was the only response that came, but he was certain Gillian had heard him and Cal imagined her smiling in the same way as she had before.