Here's the second chapter! Thanks for reading! :)

-C

CHAPTER 2: Wanting More

Her confession left him stunned. He wasn't expecting all that from her just yet, especially based on the track record she'd had of confessing her deepest desires to anyone (none at all), he was at a loss for words.

She sat up straight waiting for him to speak, "Please say something." She pleaded, praying that she hadn't lost her chance. Even though he had, in the past, told her what he felt, she wasn't totally sure if he still felt it. She was so unsure with him, because he would say things like that to get her to love him again and then they'd have sex and he'd be mellowed after and wait for her to call the shots- which often led to them breaking it off. He never called the shots, but little did she know, he only did that because he didn't want to force her into anything she wasn't ready for.

With Calleigh's heart on her sleeve, they just stared into each other's eyes for a bit. And then he spoke, "Calleigh, you know I love you. Always have, always will. I will never give up on you, or force you into anything you aren't ready for. Why do you think I waited so long for you? I love you. I need you in my life because I can't imagine a life without you in it."

Now she just couldn't help herself. The tears came flowing down her face, and he was there to catch every single one. "What's wrong, querida?" He grew worried at the sight of her crying in his arms. She just sat there, not knowing what to say, but knowing that she needed to be as close to him as possible.

She snuggled her way back into his arms. She felt safe with him. She answered, "I just feel like we're losing us. We're losing our friendship, and our relationship. And I don't wanna lose you." She looked serious. He saw her eyes turn a new shade of green. A shade he'd never seen before. He was so accustomed to seeing the dark lustful, forest green, or the light playful, emerald green, or that beautiful sea foam green he saw when she was investigating a case. But this was a new shade, something he was slightly surprised by, but after all these years she still managed to surprise him.

He knew what she needed more than she did herself. He lifted her chin with his hand and gently pulled her lips to his in a soft, loving kiss. Eric had no intention of things going further at that particular time, but Calleigh needed more. She deepened the kiss, hungry for him in every way. She sat on his lap, straddling him, instinctively his hands moved to her hips to steady her. He loved how natural it felt for her to be on top of him. But he knew that she wouldn't appreciate being taken advantage of in a vulnerable state either, even if she was the one who started it.

"Cal" he started, pulling away from her. "I can't do this to you, not now, you're very vulnerable and I care about you too much to go through with this right now. I'm sorry." He stated.

"Eric, you're not taking advantage of me. I want this." She reasoned.

"No, babe. You may want this now but I don't want you to regret it later." Eric was always a gentleman like that. He always put her needs before his own. He always took into consideration his actions, before doing anything with her; which isn't how he used to be, considering his 'playboy' past. But he knew he had to do these things with Calleigh, because she was different. He cared about her.

"Okay, well can you at least stay the night? It would at least make sleeping a bit easier." She asked.

"Okay, whatever you need." He said, meaning every word. As they got off the couch and started walking into her bedroom, she turned around and asked

"Can I ask you a question though?"

"Anything, Cal"

"Why did you come here, to be with me, and then turn me down?"

"Because, I really do want you. But not like this. I want you to be happy and to be in a place where you can look me in the eyes and be ready for the real thing, a real relationship. Not just casual sex. I need to know that we want the same thing. Okay?" He reasoned.

"Okay." She stated, dejectedly.

Seeing the saddened look in her eyes as she turned around, he pulled her back to him knowing she needed to be kept close. After the hug broke, he followed her into her bedroom. As badly as he wanted to take her up on her offer, he knew he had to wait for her. He would wait forever for her, if he had to. He adored her with every fiber of his being. Her beautiful long blonde hair, her tiny frame, her intoxicating scent, her perfectly painted nails and toes, her adorable little button nose. That thing she did with her hands when she was nervous. The way she looked at him when she needed an answer that she didn't have. The smile she reserved only for him. He couldn't get enough of her.

Calleigh wasn't in the mood to be told no, especially after such a rough day, so she was a little frustrated at the thought of not being with Eric tonight. But the idea of him sleeping over wasn't a bad consolation prize. And he did show up to her house, so he started this. Regardless of the fact that they both knew what they wanted, neither were ready to say it fully. Eric needed to ensure that she was ready in order to give all of himself to her, and Calleigh needed to make up her mind and stop being so damn stubborn. But neither of them were ready. So, they walked over to the bed, Eric stripped down to his boxers, and Calleigh snuggled into him, irritated that he was torturing her with his sculpted muscles, his smooth chest, and arms that encapsulated her like the safest blanket in all of Miami. She wanted him bad, but knew that he was right. However, Calleigh wasn't ready to give up quite yet.

She started moving quite a bit under the blanket, and Eric, in his naturally curious state, wondered why. He looked under the covers to see a fully nude Calleigh Duquesne, now snuggling her way into his arms. His eyes widened at the sight of her, she was so beautiful. His mind went blank and he couldn't make out the words that she was saying to him if his life depended on it.

"Eric, is it okay if I sleep like this? It's kind of warm in here, and this is much more comfortable." She stated in her sweetest southern drawl knowing what she was doing to him.

"Uh, sure Cal, whatever makes you happy." He managed to get out a sentence. This was good. 'Keep it together, Delko', he thought to himself. She was torturing him and he knew it. He also knew that she thought she could get him to do what she wanted by using her 'sweet voice' as he called it. He loved it and secretly wanted to just take her right then and there. But he knew he had to wait.

Torturously, she worked her way into a spooning position with him, and made each movement more strategic than the last, to make sure that he was squirming by the end of this tease-fest she'd put on. He refused to give in, though. Calleigh was not the type to take 'no' for an answer, and for some reason, that attribute was amplified when it came to Eric. She was too vulnerable and desperate for him, and she hated that it took over her like this.

She moved her butt up against his groin and could feel the effect that she was having on him. She loved it. Eric was trying so hard to keep her and his mind at bay, but it was a hard task considering there was an additional 'hard' task down below the blankets, urging him to do what she wanted.

He rolled her over to look at her, and kissed her forehead, hoping the sweet kiss would calm her down and send the message that he was serious. It did. She looked up at him dejectedly once again and asked "Eric, what's wrong? Am I not good enough anymore? Do you not want me? Because these tricks, a month ago, would have had you inside me by now."

He chuckled a bit at her reference. The air changed, she was angrier, and more impatient. He saw that. But he knew exactly what she needed, he just needed to hear her say the words so that he had the green light.

"No Calleigh. You're everything. You're perfect, and I love you. But I don't want this to be another cheap shot at a relationship because we're into it at the moment. I want something real with you. Something for the long haul. And…" Before he could get out the next sentence she cut him off.

"Eric, don't you think I want all that? Don't you think that you are my everything? I dream about you at night, and daydream about you during the day, at work. I think about you all the time, and have no idea why I keep pushing you away. Before you came here tonight, I felt so empty. I knew what was missing but I avoided the thought and pretended I didn't know. But I did. You were missing, Eric, and I wanted you to call or something but you did me one better. You came to me and told me you loved me. I really needed that and I didn't know how to react. And I'm sorry. Look, all I know for sure right now is that I need you in my life and that I want what you want. I need you, all of you. I want what we said we'd have early on. I promise I will work on not pushing you away and isolating myself every time there is a minor inconvenience. I promise you, Eric. I will not let us go again."

He could cry right now. Did the woman that he loved more than anyone or anything in the world just admit to him that she truly loves him? He felt as though his whole world had just come together and he finally was complete. He had his Calleigh. He had the love of his life, telling him that she loved him too. It was epic. Not knowing what else to do, he grabbed both sides of her tiny face and cupped it in his hands.

"You're so beautiful, Calleigh." he stated before bringing her into one of the most, passionate kisses that she had ever had in her life. He was completely infatuated with her. Enamored. He was whole when he was with her. She broke the kiss, and looked into his eyes. She loved his big brown puppy dog eyes. They always won her over. She calmed down a lot, and realized that sex was not the way, tonight. At that point, she was just happy to be in his arms. She nuzzled her way into the crook of his neck, and stayed like that, he eventually heard soft snoring, and noticed that her breathing had evened out.

He loved watching her sleep. She was so graceful and peaceful. So perfect. He eventually grew tired and fell asleep, himself. Cuddled up next to the love of his life, keeping her safe and warm. She was always his top priority, and she always would be.

Chapter 3 is coming soon! Stay tuned! :)

-C