Chapter 9
"Questions don't need to be answered, sweetheart." Horatio said warmly as he rested his head back and closed his eyes for a moment to hide his curiosity from her. He exhaled steadily with a placid expression and felt her place her chin on the top of his chest. He knew she was still looking at him and probably biting her lip.
"I know you want to ask them though, I can probably answer most of your questions, I don't mind handsome." Zoë said softly and he nodded as he wrapped his arms around her tighter and felt her breasts press into his lower chest. He opened his eyes and looked down at her when he felt her run her tongue up the centre of his chest and he knew she'd done it to gain his attention, which worked perfectly. "I can see the curiosity in your eyes, I'll start you off." She said softly. 'She actually doesn't mind telling me, I guess she's feeling very comfortable with me about this sort of thing then.' Horatio thought to himself when he saw her thinking to herself, thinking of how she was going to word her answers.
"You're probably wondering why I've never done that, aren't you?" She asked and he nodded, silently. He loosened his grip on her and began to caress her back affectionately when he saw that little slither of fear and worry in her eyes.
"I was always and am kind of still scared. The sexual abuse I got of my father had scared me, because he hurt me, what he did hurt a lot. He also used to say that if I ever touched myself there whether he was alive or dead he'd come back for me and he'd do it all again as punishment and would then kill me. I was scared of his threat and believed it, I only managed to do that just now because I had you with me. Obviously, as a teen, I was curious and I did look at myself, but I couldn't bring myself to touch myself down there. I think he did it just to scar me for life again, I think that was his main aim in life. I think he wanted to observe how that sort of thing affected you when you grew up. He was always trying his horrible theories out. That's what I was – a lab rat." She said softly and Horatio swallowed and nodded with a mild frown. 'I knew it was something to do with her father.' Horatio thought to himself.
"What about hormones and sexual feelings? You never once tried anything?" Horatio questioned curiously and she shook her head before she placed her head down on his chest.
"I used to play with my breasts when I began to experience those sexual feelings, and that was only rarely, usually just before my period. I wished I could touch myself, but I couldn't. I didn't even know if I was normal down there. In my teens I began to think 'what if he did something to me and now I'm not normal down there?'… You're not going to believe this but I asked Joe to look when we were older teenagers but he refused. He had already had sex and things by then so I knew he knew what a normal one looked like and I trusted him, he was my best friend. He refused every time I asked, even though he knew my reasons for asking him. I was just self-conscious that I wasn't normal. He assured me that I was normal. Turns out he was actually the first one to see me down there anyway." She said softly and Horatio nodded once again as he lightly traced her spine with his fingers.
"You know that when you get aroused, you become wet, why did you ask?" He questioned as he took a deep breath and placed his hands flat against her back.
"I knew I got wet, I know that's normal, but what I felt seemed really wet. I wasn't sure if it was normal to get that wet." She said as she placed her hand over his chest as she lifted her head again to look at him sweetly. Horatio then nodded in understanding as he began to rub her back again.
"That's perfectly normal, the wetter… the better." He grinned boyishly as he looked into her eyes. He then saw her grin broaden before she began to laugh loudly. He could feel her chuckling as she placed her forehead against his chest when she became unable to look him in the eye because she would laugh more. He chuckled a little more because of her infectious giggle.
She raised her head and looked him in the eye with a brilliant grin.
"That is definitely not something I ever thought you would say." She giggled more as she bit her lip lightly and then listened to his light chuckle as he beamed at her, amused with himself and by her laughter.
"It just tells me that you were really turned on. It's not the wettest you've ever been." He said softly as he flicked his eyebrows up and gave her his boyish grin.
"Well, you looked severely turned on and I think that turned me on more." She said softly and he smiled and nodded. He knew he had been exceptionally turned on.
"Would you try pleasuring yourself again?" Horatio questioned curiously as he gazed into her eyes.
"If you were with me, then yeah." She said quietly and softly as she looked down to his chest. He removed one of his hands from her back and placed his fingers under her chin to bring her head back up so he could make some eye contact with her.
"He's not going to hurt you ever again, sweetheart." Horatio said softly as her eyes met his. She took a deep breath and then swallowed and took hold of his hand that was under her chin and lightly kissed one of his knuckles before she looked back at him.
"I know, but it's still an instinctive fear that I have, I can't help it. You know, you tell a child something that'll scare them shitless, they'll avoid it throughout life because it's been drilled into them at a young age." She said softly and he nodded and then kissed her forehead as he removed his hand from hers and placed it around the back of her head. She gave him a gentle smile as she placed her chin back down on his chest to maintain eye contact.
"You have experienced being fingered before me, haven't you?" Horatio asked curiously.
"Yeah, Joe was the first obviously, he very slowly built me up to having sex. But he could only use one finger… that was until he ripped through my hymen. He tried it with more than one finger but it hurt before we actually had sex. He could use two after that." She said softly. "Mike didn't finger me as much, I didn't really like it when he did it, you've definitely fingered me more than either of them put together." She said softly.
"A little more information than I needed, but thank you." He said and she giggled as she bit her lip again.
"Sorry, but you asked, I'll tell. If I do go into too much detail about anything then just stop me, I don't mind." She said softly and he nodded with a chuckle.
"Has anyone else pleasured you that way apart from Joe and Mike? I know you've not had sex with anyone else, but you must've done other things?" Horatio questioned curiously.
"No, just them and you. The furthest I got with anyone else was tongues when kissing. Even then I was apprehensive." Zoë said softly and he nodded.
"No-one has felt your breasts either?" He questioned and she shook her head as she looked at him with soft eyes.
"Except for Wolfe, but I don't count that as there wasn't any consent or anything." She said softly and he nodded. "You're the only one to kiss me below the belly button too, you're the only one to make love to me anywhere but the bed or the sofa, you're the only one that has taken me from behind and kissed my back, you're the only one who has done a lot of things. You're the first I put in my mouth." She said softly but quietened down with her last sentence as she glanced down to his chest.
"You never gave a blow job before me?" He questioned shocked as he lifted his head. She lifted hers and looked at him with gentle eyes as she blinked a few times and then nodded.
"No, well… I tried with both Joe and Mike, but I could never put either one in my mouth. The best they got was kisses down there. That's why I was so inexperienced with oral sex and why I needed your guidance the first couple of times we did it." She said shyly as she began to fiddle with his hair with her right hand.
"I thought that was just because different people prefer it done different ways and you wanted my opinion?" He asked and she shook her head as she took a deep breath and pressed her lips into a hard line.
"No, I thought you'd guessed that I hadn't given head to anyone before?" She chuckled quietly as she furrowed her eyebrows and looked at him sweetly.
"Well, you were definitely exceptionally good for that being your first time then." Horatio said softly and she gave him a shy smile. "Why just the bed and sofa?" Horatio questioned, she could see his curiosity burning hot, but she didn't mind.
"Sex wasn't something high on my priorities, in fact, I still got shy and sometimes even hesitant with Mike. If he sensed my hesitance he stopped straight away, don't worry he didn't force me into anything. He knew of my upbringing, but he didn't understand it but he knew if he pushed me too far then it would upset me, there were a few times where he'd pushed me too far and even had some accidents with him going off in my hand or something. When we did have sex, it was either in bed where it was dark so he couldn't see my scars. He knew I had them, but I didn't like him looking at them and on the sofa it was just when we were both feeling up for it, usually when there was a rom-com on or something." Zoë said softly and Horatio nodded.
"So it's higher on your priority list now?" Horatio questioned with a boyish smile.
"Yeah, well I really enjoy sex with you, you make me feel so special and comfortable. Sometimes all I got from sex with Mike was the good feeling. With you it really means something each and every time. I finally really understand that sex is really a way of showing your love for one another." She said softly and he saw the love in her eyes as well as the passion in her voice.
"What was it before me then?" Horatio questioned, curiously.
"It was something that everyone bragged about, it was something that everyone had gone through and it didn't seem to have any meaning or feeling to it. When Joe and I slept together, it was special, I'll admit that, but it wasn't true love, it was more of the fact that I loved him, I trusted him and he meant a lot to me, I was slightly confused and I'd fooled myself into believing that it was true love. He never made me feel the way you make me feel. He'd done the same though, but we realised it wasn't true love. He saw the sex as something special too, he saw it as a way of expressing love and I agree to an extent, but it's so different with you. The feelings, the pure emotion and it's so special, Horatio. I think it's because you really are the one, you really are the love of my life. I have stronger feelings for you than I did for Mike, perhaps that's because we didn't rush things, we didn't rush into marriage, we've been through life and death situations together and you've been with me every step of the way since day 1 and never left my side, I know you love me every single minute of the day, with Mike, I wasn't so sure every now and then." She said softly and he nodded feeling his heart warm.
"I'm glad you know that, beautiful because it's true." He said softly and she nodded with a dreamy smile as she moved her hand from his hair to his cheek where she lightly ran her fingers over his cheekbone and down to his jaw where she traced it to his chin with her eyes following her fingers
"May I ask you something really personal?" she asked quietly as she looked back up into his eyes and he nodded. "Do you still love Marisol?" She questioned and Horatio exhaled through his nose as he pressed his lips together.
"She'll always have a place in my heart Zoë, but I don't want you to take that the wrong way." Horatio said softly and she nodded as she gave him a small smile.
"You don't think of her when we're together, though, do you?" She asked quietly as she looked down to his chest as she took a deep breath.
"No, never. Don't you ever think that Zoë. She has a place in my heart, but I love and will always be madly in love with you." He assured her but he could see her uncertainty as her eyes remained on his chest as she swallowed. "Zoë, I never think of Mari when I'm with you, sure there's times that she crosses my mind, but never when you're with me. Only ever split seconds too, you're the main thing that is always on my mind. You must understand where I'm coming from? Do you still love Mike?" Horatio said softly as he ran his hand through her hair, just wishing that he hadn't upset her.
"He has a place in my heart." She said softly as she looked up at him and lightly bit her lip.
"Do you think of him when I'm with you?" He asked and she shook her head.
"No" she said quietly, knowing he was making his point as she looked deeply into his eyes.
"Exactly" Horatio said softly as he lifted his head and placed a loving kiss on her forehead. She pulled her head away and took a deep breath, causing him to move his hand from her hair back to her back. He knew the situation was far from over.
"Yeah, but I hate to say this… you're a better man than Mike. Marisol was probably a better woman than me. I saw a picture of her once Horatio, she was so pretty." Zoë said quietly as she looked back down to his chest with a mild frown.
Horatio removed his hand from her back again and delicately lifted her head to gain some eye contact with her. "Don't do that to yourself, Zoë. You're perfect in every single way, you're beautiful." Horatio said sincerely.
"But she was so much prettier than me, you're just settling for less." Zoë said quietly as she rolled onto her back and looked up at the ceiling as she pressed her lips together and held the tears back.
Horatio rolled onto his side and looked at her. 'She seriously thinks that?' He asked himself as he looked at her and could see that she was upsetting herself. "I'm certainly not settling for less, Zoë. You can't ask me to compare you both though. She was not prettier than you; you're both beautiful in my eyes. She wasn't perfect Zoë." Horatio said quietly and Zoë looked over to him with a mild frown. "What I had with Marisol was different to us, perhaps that's because I didn't have much time with her, perhaps it was because we were both so serious all the time, I can relax completely with you, I feel entirely at ease with you, that's what I need, that's what I want. You know that I have had my doubt about how genuine she was, I think that perhaps her cancer also made me–" Horatio said warmly but was cut off by Zoë.
"Don't do that to yourself, you'll upset yourself if you say the next thing, because it's not true." Zoë said firmly.
"Zoë, you're the most precious thing in my life, I've never had these feelings for anyone else, certainly not with such intensity. Stop comparing yourself to others, Zo. You're perfect in my eyes and always will be." He said softly as he ran his hand over her stomach and furrowed his eyebrows as she studied his facial expression.
"What about when we have children though? Won't you wish that you had them with her instead?" Zoë questioned as her bottom lip quivered slightly. He could still see the waiting tears in her eyes.
"Would you rather have children with Mike?" Horatio questioned back.
"You can't replace my question with a question of your own and no, I wouldn't. I didn't want children with Mike; I never wanted children with him, I know that sounds horrible of me, but I didn't. You're the only one who I've ever wanted a baby with." Zoë said quietly as she bit her lip and swallowed.
"I've told you before, I want to have a baby with you more than anyone else, ever." Horatio said softly as he sighed lightly.
"You'd rather have children with me, than Marisol?" Zoë questioned and Horatio exhaled and then nodded as he looked up and into her intense brown eyes.
"I've told you before, Zoë, she wanted a baby, you want a baby with me. There's a big difference." Horatio said softly and she looked down to the doors of the cabin. He watched her sit up and look over to the doors.
"Are you okay beautiful?" Horatio questioned softly as he sat up and rubbed her back. He leant forwards to get some eye contact with her, wondering if she'd just heard something but he saw her vacant, unreadable expression.
- The doors opened and Zoë felt a gust of wind blow past her as bright light flooded the cabin. She pulled the duvet up and covered herself as she frowned at the doors and blinked rapidly.
She glanced over to where Horatio was laying, but he was no longer there, the bed was empty apart from her. "Horatio, where are you?" She asked as she reached over to his side of the bed.
"I'm here beautiful, you're okay." She heard him reply but she couldn't see him. She looked back to the doors as a woman walked in wearing a white dress with curled black hair.
"Marisol?" Zoë questioned as she looked up at the doors with a mild frown, studying the woman walking towards her from the intense light that shone through the doors.
"Hi Zoë" she said warmly as she slowly walked over to the bed. Zoë flinched and moved back up the bed, away from her as she sat on the edge. "You don't need to be scared of me." Marisol explained softly and warmly when she saw Zoë's fear and confusion.
"Zoë, you're okay beautiful, take some deep breaths for me." Horatio said loudly but she still couldn't see him, but she could feel his hands on the sides of her face, cupping her cheeks.
"Wh-why are you here? What's happening? Where's Horatio?" Zoë questioned as she lowered her eyebrows further at Marisol while she crossed her legs and sat elegantly while she looked at Zoë with a very gentle expression.
"I heard what you were talking about–" Marisol started as she tilted her head at Zoë.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I had to make sure though, I'm weird, I'm so insecure and I needed to ask. I'm sorry. I'm sure you would have been the same, if it were the other way around, you would have made sure that he wasn't thinking of me instead of you." Zoë said as tears fell from her eyes while she begged Marisol.
"Zoë, who are you talking with?" Horatio's voice echoed and she looked around with a frightened frown, she looked completely confused.
"Where's Horatio?" Zoë questioned as she looked back to Marisol. "You've not taken him, have you?" Zoë questioned Marisol and she shook her head with a gentle expression.
"Zoë, I don't blame you for asking. I've watched you both and you're so good for him. He's so good for you and I wouldn't split you both up for one second. I'm happy he found someone else. I wanted to wish you the best and I hope you don't meet the same fate as I did. I would have given anything to still be with him, but now I've seen what you two have, I'm glad what happened, happened. I wouldn't change it now because you make him happier than I ever could. I know you don't believe you do at times, but you do. You make him really happy." Marisol said softly, her voice was so soft.
"Why are you telling me this?" Zoë questioned as she hugged the blanket to herself.
"Because you need me to tell you that he hasn't replaced you for me, he loves you and he loves you dearly. I did just want a baby and he was willing to give one to me to make me happy. Now he wants children with you and you with him. I know you're insecure, I know you need reassurance and I'm here to say that you shouldn't feel like I'm better than you, we all have our strengths and weaknesses, our good points and our bad points. But you're perfect for him and he's perfect for you. Don't let your insecurities ruin that, please. I want to watch him grow old, happy, with you. You've both been through so much, and I know you'll be together until the end. I should let you get back, he's panicking." Marisol said softly.
"Get back where?" Zoë questioned with a frown, she was clearly very confused.
"To him, to your honeymoon." Marisol said warmly.
"Can I ask one thing?" She asked and Marisol nodded. "How's Maya? Is she okay? Do you know anything about her?" Zoë questioned and Marisol nodded with her gentle smile returning, giving Zoë a warm feeling.
"She's right here." Marisol said as a man entered with a baby in his arms, swaddled in a white blanket. Zoë looked at the man and frowned at him after she studied the baby who was just falling to sleep. But Zoë got to look into her eyes before they fully closed.
"Mike?" Zoë questioned as she looked up at him and he nodded at her with a gentle smile.
"Zoë!? Fight it Zoë, please!" Horatio's panicked voice sounded loudly.
"We're taking care of her, Zoë. You'll have your chance to meet her properly, but it's not your time yet." Marisol said warmly.
"Can I touch her?" Zoë asked as Mike held the baby to show her.
"I'm sorry, Zoë but you can't." Mike replied smoothly as he looked at her with a sympatric, gentle expression.
"Mike, I'm sorry." She said as she looked up at him and pressed her lips together.
"Don't be, I'm happy you've found Horatio. What you've said about me is true and I only wish we could start over so I could be a better man and husband." He said softly and she swallowed.
"I'm so sorry Mike, but I'll always be Horatio's, even when it's my time." She said softly and he nodded and moved closer to Marisol. He placed his hand on her shoulder while he cradled the baby in his other arm.
"I know, and I'll be Mari's. We work so much better together, and you and Horatio work so much better together. We had the wrong partners all this time. I learned vital lessons with you; you made me a better man, now Mari and I are together and working so well." Mike said softly and Zoë nodded with a small smile.
"You need to go back, Horatio needs you." Marisol said warmly.
"Take care of her please." Zoë begged as she looked back to the sleeping baby and they nodded at her.
"She's the one taking care of you, Zoë. Your mother is so proud of you." Mike said softly and Zoë burst into tears. Marisol quickly reached over and placed her hand over Zoë's chest.
"She's beautiful, Zoë." Marisol said softly and Zoë cried more as she watched them stand up and walk out.
"Zoë? Zoë come on sweetheart, you're okay." Horatio's voice echoed again. -
The cabin was plunged into a dim light as the doors closed again and she looked at Horatio who was on his knees in front of her with his hands either side of her face. He was pale with fright and hyperventilating himself.
"Zoë, you're okay." Horatio said loudly as he wiped each falling tear with his thumbs. He looked into her eyes and saw her confusion and upset.
"Horatio?" She asked as she dropped the blanket and took hold of his wrists and he nodded at her.
"What's going on?" He asked and she looked up at him and then threw her arms around him. She exhaled violently as she buried her head against the side of his neck. "You were talking…" Horatio said as he rubbed her back tentatively.
"I need the loo." She said as she quickly pulled away from him and rushed into the bathroom. She washed her hands and then looked at herself in the mirror. She took a few deep breaths and then rubbed her face to try and make sense of what had happened. She composed herself and fully stopped the tears from falling and began to see the situation as a gift. She walked back out and looked over to the door as Horatio pulled his boxers up. He looked up at her, gravely concerned.
"I saw them, Horatio. I saw Marisol, Mike and Maya." Zoë said as she broke down into tears again and he quickly walked over to her and wrapped his strong arms around her. He threaded his fingers into her hair and lightly rubbed her back as she wrapped her arms around his waist.
"Your pulse was incredibly fast again, sweetheart." Horatio said softly.
"She said that she had to talk to me, that's why she brought me into their world." Zoë said as she hugged him tightly. He felt her heavy exhale across his chest. "She said she's happy for us, so did Mike. She said that she wants to watch us grow old together. She's so sweet, Horatio. Maya, she's so beautiful, so beautiful. Horatio, Marisol's the sweetest person I've ever met." Zoë cried into his chest. "She and Mike are looking after Maya, they're together Horatio. They said that we found the wrong partners. They said that it should have always been them and us, not Mike and me and you and Marisol. Perhaps that's why they were taken from us?" Zoë questioned as she shook her head. "Horatio, Maya is so beautiful, she had your eyes and your hair colour. I wish I could show her to you." She said softly and Horatio rubbed her back as he lightly kissed her hair. He could feel his emotions beginning to stir as she was talking about Maya. "I believe you now, I know you love me and I know you don't think of her when you're with me." She said softly as she pulled back slightly and looked up at him with red eyes.
"Come on sweetheart, you need some sleep." Horatio said softly as he raised a hand and wiped her tears from her cheeks whilst she looked into his eyes and nodded feeling exhausted.
"You do believe me though, don't you?" Zoë questioned and Horatio nodded as he began to play with her hair again.
"Yes, sweetheart, I do. I'm just worried that your pacemaker didn't stop it." Horatio said softly and honestly as he sighed.
"It did. She stopped it working for a moment, she then started it again. She wanted to speak with me. I'm fine." Zoë said softly as she sat down and Horatio nodded as she pulled him down onto the bed with a sweet expression.
"Okay sweetheart, try and calm down for me." Horatio said softly and she nodded and then laid down as Horatio laid next to her and pulled the duvet up and over them as he turned onto his side to look at her.
"I'm sorry Horatio, I didn't mean to spoil the evening." She said softly as she looked over to him and then turned onto her side too.
"You didn't spoil it sweetheart, believe me. It's all okay." Horatio said softly as he wrapped his arm around her and pulled her closer.
"I'm scared Horatio." She whispered as she hugged him tightly and closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"Scared of what sweetheart?" Horatio asked softly as he pulled her closer and wrapped both arms around her tightly to give her a sense of security.
"If Marisol and Mike can come and see me just like that, then he can too, surely? He can come and take me." Zoë said as she rubbed her nose against his cheek as she got as close to him as she could. She pressed her lips into a line as she focused on his gentle breathing and tender touch.
"No Zoë, he can't; he's locked down in hell. He will never get out and he will never hurt you. I promise you that. Only those who are in heaven have the power to do things like that." Horatio said softly as he rubbed his nose lightly against her cheek as he gave her a few light kisses.
"Are you sure?" She asked and Horatio nodded.
"Yes, I'm sure, Zoë." Horatio said confidently as he exhaled a deep breath and then began to nuzzle her more as he closed his eyes once he saw her facial expression ease and calm. There was silence for a few moments while Horatio tentatively rubbed her back and nuzzled her while she nuzzled him and let her fingers draw little circles into his lower back, causing his skin to tingle.
"I'm sorry for talking about Marisol. This honeymoon is about us and no-one else." Zoë said softly while she broke the silence and building charge between them.
"That's okay sweetheart, you may ask me anything you wish, but don't ever think that you're someone I've just settled for or think that anyone else is better than you. No-one could ever be more perfect than you. Perhaps we did fall for the wrong people, perhaps they were supposed to find each other and we were supposed to find one another. But the important thing is that we're here now, together on our honeymoon and I would not change this for anything." Horatio said softly and Zoë nodded with a small smile.
"I think we should get some sleep now." She said softly and he nodded. She opened her eyes and pulled her head away from his slightly. He opened his eyes and gave her a gentle tired smile as he felt one of her hands move down to his boxers. "I'm sleeping naked, aren't you?" She grinned at him and he chuckled with his boyish smile returning.
"I can if you want me to?" He asked and she nodded as she bit her lip. "I need the loo first." He said softly and she nodded and released him. He walked back in, fully naked and she smiled. He climbed back into bed and pulled her close. They settled down as they felt the very gentle rocking of the boat.
"Have you ever given anyone anal?" She questioned out of the blue and he let out a small shocked laugh as he tightened his arms around her and smiled into her hair before she turned her head and looked at him with a straight, sweet facial expression.
"No sweetheart." Horatio said softly and smiled brightly, amused at her. "Why? Is that something you're interested in?" He questioned as his eyes connected with hers.
He watched the look of shock cross her face as she lowered her eyebrows. "No, oh my gosh no. I was just wondering if you've ever tried it." She said softly and he nodded with a gentle smile and chuckled lightly before he placed a kiss on her forehead.
"Do these questions just pop out from no-where?" Horatio asked curiously and she nodded as she bit her lip and raised her eyebrows innocently at him.
"If you could ever see what goes on in my head, it would turn you insane, I think." She smiled as he chuckled with a nod.
"I don't doubt that." Horatio grinned as he began to nuzzle her nose while she lightly giggled. "I would like to see what runs through your head one day though, I think it would be quite fascinating." Horatio said softly and slowly as he tried to imagine what sort of crazy things went on in her mind.
"I often think that about you too. You'd hate it inside my head, so many things go on in there, it is enough to make anyone insane I think." She said softly as she looked into his gentle, calming eyes.
"I could probably handle it for an hour or so." Horatio said softly and she nodded.
"I agree, but no more than an hour." She said softly with a light giggle and Horatio chuckled as he nodded and then flicked the lamp off.
"Now go to sleep. I love you beautiful, goodnight." Horatio said softly as he ran his fingertips down the length of her spine.
"I love you too, goodnight handsome." She said softly and then found his lips with hers and gave him a loving kiss.
She woke that morning around 3.30am and felt Horatio sleeping peacefully behind her with an arm wrapped around her. She could feel his chest rising and falling against her back with every steady breath he took. She placed her hand over his and then lifted his hand and began to make circles on her stomach using his fingertips. She closed her eyes again and concentrated on feeling his fingertips on her skin.
"Enjoying yourself?" Horatio asked when he woke a few minutes later. Startled, she dropped his hand as he pulled her closer. He began to make circles on her stomach as he nuzzled at the back of her head. A wide smile appeared on her face as she bit her lip before she began to lightly giggle.
"Yeah" she said smoothly as she placed her hand over his forearm and began to lightly stroke his skin with her fingertips.
"Everything okay?" He asked softly as he pushed his nose into her hair and closed his eyes to fully take in her fresh fragrance.
"Yeah, I just woke. I had a confusing dream, although I've forgotten most of it now." She said softly and Horatio nodded, he could hear the confused tone in her voice but knew there was no point in asking as she did admit that she'd forgot most of it.
"Did Calleigh and Eric have a relationship?" Zoë questioned softly.
"I think so, at some point anyway." Horatio replied tiredly as he nuzzled the back of her neck.
"Was it sexual?" She questioned curiously.
"I don't know Zo, they kept themselves to themselves." Horatio said softly and she nodded as she pressed her lips together briefly.
"Sorry." She said quietly.
"No need to apologise." Horatio said softly and she turned and faced him. He couldn't help but smile when he felt her breasts against his warm chest. "Another of those random questions?" Horatio asked and she nodded with her nose moving against his. He felt her exhale steadily and knew she was smiling even though he couldn't see a thing.
"I can make your boat rock." She said softly and he began to laugh.
"Is that a hint?" He questioned as he ran his hand down to her ass.
"Maybe." She grinned and he flicked the lamp on and then laid back down again.
"Are you being cheeky?" He asked with a boyish grin as he felt her wrap her leg over his.
"When am I ever cheeky?" She asked as she bit her lip and raised her eyebrows.
"Hmm, let me think." He said as he took hold of her thighs and pulled her over and onto him as she giggled. She looked down at him with her eyes alight with excitement and mischievousness. "Almost everything that you say has a hint of cheekiness to it." He grinned up at her and she giggled as she bit his lip and then listened to the low hum escape his throat as she shifted her hips on his and became aware of something.
"Wow, you're already hard and waiting for it." She grinned as she sat up and moved down to sit on his thighs while she took hold of his length and stroked him with the devilish look in her eyes. They silenced as Horatio's eyes settled on hers while hers watched her hands around him. His breathing accelerated as he gazed at her eyes as her jaw slacked a little, giving her an even more sexy look.
"Zoë, stop please." He asked a couple of minutes later when he could feel himself on the edge of something good. "Zoë, stop." Horatio said a little louder as he sat up but she didn't seem to even hear him. "Zoë" he said as he took hold of her hands and pulled them away from him as he tensed. He took a deep breath and began to relax himself as he continued to take deep breaths. "Zoë, that was very nearly disastrous. You need to listen to me when I warn you sweetheart." Horatio said softly and she looked up at him with a sweet facial expression.
"Sorry." She said softly and he nodded as he released her hands.
"Are you okay beautiful?" Horatio asked and she nodded as she bit her lip with a sweet, cheeky smile as she pushed him back.
"Make love to me please?" She asked as she crawled back up and sat on his stomach as she placed her hands on his chest.
"If I'm to do that, you have to get off my stomach." He smiled up at her and she giggled and then rolled off him and onto her back on the other side of the bed. "You got to play your game earlier, how about I suggest something?" Horatio questioned and she grinned and nodded as he sat up. "Tell me if you're not too keen on it though." He said softly and she nodded, curiously awaiting his suggestion. He then pulled an eye-mask from the draw beside the bed.
"You want to wear a blind-fold?" She asked smoothly as she looked to the plain black eye-mask before looking back up to him as he shook his head.
"I want you to wear it, when your sight is taken away, it can heighten other senses." Horatio said softly and she swallowed as she looked up at him and blinked a few times. "If you're not 100% comfortable, we don't have to give it a go, I don't mind sweetheart." Horatio said softly as he lightly placed his hand on her thigh.
"I'll give it ago." She said softly as she took it from him and checked it out.
"Are you sure?" He asked and she nodded before she pulled it on. Everything went black as she closed her eyes and looked in his direction. "Okay, I need you to trust me, Zoë." Horatio said softly and she nodded and felt him shift on the bed.
"I fully trust you." She said confidently and felt a wave of contentment move through him to know that she trusted him that much. He then gently laid her down and ran a hand over her stomach as he admired her. He admired her courage to try something knew but he also admired her beauty and perfection. "You're not going to tie me to anything though, are you?" She questioned with a whisper as she mildly frowned. He could hear the fear in her voice and questioned whether she honestly wanted to try it.
"No, I'd never bound you, Zo. That's too kinky and weird for my liking. I also wouldn't like to be bound myself so I'm guessing that being bound would be over the mark for you too." He said softly and she nodded as her expression softened as she placed her hands down by her sides.
"Yeah, it's way over the mark." She said softly and then felt Horatio lean over her before he placed a light kiss on her lips. She couldn't help but smile when she felt his soft, warm lips make contact with her. All she felt was him kissing her on the lips, no other bodily contact was made and it already had her reeling for more. She could feel her heart rate picking up and her desire increasing. She felt him lightly exhale before he kissed her again causing the muscles deep inside to tighten.
"Tell me if you don't like something, and remember that you can take that blind-fold off at any time." He said softly. She lightly bit her lip and knew that his talented hands were either side of her body, she wanted to feel them on her, but the intensity of knowing that he was above her was exhilarating.
"I really want to look into your eyes, but this feels quite good actually." She smiled softly and he smiled when he saw her smile. He lightly hummed as he kissed at the corner of her mouth and then cupped her left breast with his right hand. She felt a charge of excitement and pleasure rush through her as his hand made contact.
"Oh gosh" she said as she exhaled when she felt him slowly massaging her breast. She felt his mouth move away from hers and then felt him consume her right breasts and her hips were already bucking.
"Mmm!" She groaned as her right hand found his hair while he continued to passionately ravage her breasts sending pulses of pleasure to roll out from under his tongue and lips. "Oh gosh, Horatio." She groaned inwardly.
"Okay?" he asked as he lifted his head and looked up at her, just hoping that her groans were groans of pleasure and nothing negative. One of her hands found his floppy hair as she lightly bit her lip and nodded wildly, begging for more.
"Yeah! This is intense!" She grinned as her fingers ran through his soft hair.
"If it gets too intense just take the blindfold off." He said softly and she nodded. She felt his finger lightly flick over her other nipple while his tongue continued to sweetly torture her right nipple. She took a light grip of his hair and opened her mouth to take a deep breath as she arched her back off the bed to push her breasts at him more, craving for more.
"Ahh" she moaned as her legs began to flail around when he felt his tongue torture her nipple fast.
"Try and keep still sweetheart." Horatio said softly as his mouth moved over to her other breast where he began the same routine as he moved his hand to her stomach. His fingertip began to circle her belly button, causing the sensations to amplify.
"You try staying still when you have this much pleasure running through you! Fuck this is good. I think I've already orgasmed!" She groaned as she pushed her head into the pillow and then raised her hands above her head and took hold of the top of the headboard. She arched her back off the bed even more to try and push her chest towards him more so. She took in his scent and it made her melt even more. His sizzling touch combined with his crisp scent and low moans pushed her higher and higher, causing the muscles in her core to tighten.
"You smell so good, even your scent is turning me on a lot." She groaned and he chuckled against her breast. He moved back up and kissed her, becoming more passionate and intense when she did. She removed one of her hands from the head board and placed her hand around the back of her head to pull his head in closer, kissing him a little more roughly and a lot deeper. "Please make the boat rock." She grinned when he pulled his mouth away from hers and he chuckled. She took another grip of the head board and awaited his next touch, knowing it was going to push her higher and drive her wild.
"That is my intention." He grinned before he began to kiss her neck as one of his hands rolled one of her nipples between his fingers. She groaned as she let go of the head board and ran her hands through his hair. She then felt his hand move from her breast, down her stomach to her entrance and she gasped as she bit her lip and opened her legs with the feeling of anticipation combined with blissful pleasure nearly destroying her.
"Breathe, sweetheart." Horatio reminded softly when she held her breath. She exhaled forcefully while she nodded and he carried on with his slow torture. She moved her hips with his hand as he kissed her passionately again.
"Please" she begged him once he'd moved his lips from hers but he carried on. He stopped moving his fingers when he felt her muscles beginning to pulsate around them. He then kissed both of her breasts and carried on with the slow movements of his hand once she'd relaxed.
"Should I get you to orgasm like this?" Horatio questioned and she shook her head frantically, nearly taking the blindfold off to show him her desire-ridden, pleading eyes.
"Make love to me, please, I want to feel you inside me." She begged him and he smiled as he looked up at her with a boyish grin.
"I want to be inside you." Horatio said quietly and huskily and she groaned, his voice had pushed her closer to orgasm and he quickly pulled his fingers from her. He wiped his fingers with a baby wipe and then massaged her breasts. "What do you want me to do?" Horatio asked, smiling; he knew that she loved it; he could see the increase in her responses which had turned him on even more.
"I want you to make love to me, I want you to bury yourself deep inside me and I want you to come." She gasped and he very nearly released there and then just hearing her sentence. 'She just said come.' He thought to himself as he quickly moved to sit between her legs as he lifted her knees.
"Did that turn you on?" She questioned breathlessly.
"Yes, a lot." Horatio groaned as he placed his hands on her stomach and stroked her skin. She grinned and then felt his hands move down to her thighs. He lifted her legs higher and pushed her legs a part before he leant over her and then placed another kiss on her lips while he lowered himself onto her. She felt him put some weight on her and she kissed him again, she could feel her core burn hot. She stopped kissing him when she felt him enter her deliciously slowly and felt herself expanding to accommodate him. She bit her lip as she took a deep breath and then groaned before she kissed him again and ran her hands through his hair. He pushed into her over and over, feeling the pleasure surge through his bloodstream. She could feel the boat gently rocking, but wasn't sure if it was because of the small waves or because he was making hard love to her, causing her to nearly scream. She managed to hold on for as long as she could, but finally felt her climax a fair few minutes later which caused him to reach his when he heard and saw the intense pleasure race through her body. He released into her and then kissed her delicately as the driving of his hips stopped.
"You were definitely making the boat rock." She grinned at him and he chuckled and then pulled out of her and rolled onto his back and took her with him. She quickly took the eye-mask off and looked into his eyes. He wrapped his arms around her waist and lower back as she placed her forehead against his and wrapped her hands and arms around his head. She grinned at him and then kissed him again.
"You are amazing." He grinned up at her and began to rub his nose against hers.
"You are too." She grinned back and then rubbed her nose against his too. "I'm getting better about not washing after making love. I don't feel the need to right now." She grinned and he smiled back as his hands travelled down to her ass and gave it a quick squeeze.
"That's really good because I'm not getting out of bed now for a shower." He smiled and she chuckled. She quietened down when she felt his hands running up and down her back, they quietened down and just let the presence of the other take them away as they closed their eyes.
"This is the best time of my life Horatio, and that's all down to you." She said quietly a few moments later.
"The same right back at you." Horatio said softly and she chuckled quietly as she raised one of her hands to his chest and began to run her fingers through his chest hair.
"I love laying like this with you." She said quietly.
"I do too." He said softly and then felt her relax a few minutes later. He lifted his head and saw that she'd fallen asleep. He reached over to the lamp and turned it off and then carried on stroking her back. He quickly fell asleep after her and was woken the next morning by Zoë lightly kissing his chest. He lifted his head and looked down at her and saw that she was in her own world. He watched her run her hand lightly over his chest and felt her fingertips draw circles in his skin.
"I love you so much." She whispered as she placed her head back down on his chest.
"I love you too." Horatio smiled and she quickly lifted her head and looked up at him, shocked. He saw a shy expression cross her face as she bit her lip and furrowed her eyebrows.
"That's nothing to be embarrassed about, that's one of the best ways I've been woken up." Horatio said softly and a small smile tugged at her lips as she glanced down at his chest.
"I'm sorry for waking you." She said softly.
"Don't be, that was lovely to hear and to feel." He said softly and she looked back up at him with gentle eyes and a small smile.
"How long have you been awake for? How much did you hear?" She asked softly as she lightly bit her lip and reached up to push his hair from his forehead as her eyes studied his floppy fiery red-hair.
"Only a few moments, I heard you say that you love me." Horatio said softly and she smiled shyly as her eyes connected with his again. "There was more?" He asked and she smiled shyly but remained silent. "Care to share?" He asked and she shook her head.
"That's between me and your sleeping form." She grinned as she lifted her head more as her eyes brightened up.
"Is it good, or bad?" Horatio questioned as he placed both of his hands on her lower back.
"It's good, I'd never say anything bad." She said softly and he nodded with a boyish, curious smile.
"Then why won't you tell me?" Horatio asked softly.
"Because it's embarrassing." She said softly as her grin widened but remained shy.
"There's no need to be embarrassed in front of me, sweetheart." Horatio said softly as he ran one of his hands up the length of her spine again.
"I know, but it's just extra soppy because you were sleeping. I've said the same thing plenty of times to you before. It's just when I think out loud to myself, like what I would I actually do without you? I still can't answer that question. I think you're the most beautiful man I've ever met, on the inside an outside. I think you're the most remarkable man to walk this Earth ever. The thought of having a baby with you really makes me so happy already, I cannot imagine how it would feel to actually have your baby in my arms. I can't wait to have your baby in my tummy." She said as she began to softly sob as she looked down to his chest and began to wipe her tears away. "Happy tears." She said softly before he could worry as she looked back up at him. "I've said all of this before, but I just like to tell you again when you sleep." She said softly as she looked up at him and he smiled at her. He then wiped her tears and pulled her up and placed a loving kiss on his lips.
"I do the exact same thing sweetheart and it makes me that happy too." He said softly and she looked up at him and he nodded to confirm her unanswered question. "I quite often talk to you while you sleep actually." He said softly and she giggled as she looked down to his chest as she tried to twirl his chest hair around one of her fingers.
"You're cute." She grinned as looked back up at him and then lightly bit the tip of her tongue.
"You are too, and the fact that you cry when you're that happy makes you even cuter." He grinned and she giggled and looked down at his chest as she bit her lip before kissing his sternum lightly.
She then looked up at him and he saw the mischievous look in her eyes return as she sat up. "Come on." She said as she pulled him up as she stood up.
"Where are we going?" Horatio questioned as she dragged him out of the cabin and up to the back of the boat. She then pulled him closer and placed a passionate kiss on his lips before stepping back and smiling at him in the sun.
"Kissing, naked, on a boat in the middle of the sea just after sunrise… another ticked off." She grinned as she smiled up at him and wrapped her arms around him. He placed his hands on her ass and pulled her closer with a boyish smile.
"There's something else I want to tick off too…" She grinned up at him with a very devilish look in her eyes.
"What's that?" Horatio asked as his lips brushed against hers. She took hold of his hands as he looked at her curiously while she stepped back and smiled wickedly as she tilted her head.