Chapter Twenty Seven:

Wolf in Lamb's Clothing

"Gracen?"

"May I come in?" he asked.

She flung herself into his arms as he grinned wickedly. "I take that as a yes?"

"Yes," she breathed, still reeling from his presence.

He pulled her into his arms whispering softly. "I've come for you."

Her body stiffened.

"I don't understand," she managed to get out.

"I gave you to Grissom with the promise he wouldn't hurt you. He has. No more."

He closed the door behind them allowing her the chance to step out of his arms.

"I don't understand. Grissom said you're dead…you died."

"I'm an angel…death has no hold on me," he said with a smile.

"Where have you been? I…Grissom…and I…"

He chuckled at her loss for words.

"You gave me to Grissom," she finally stated.

"Yes, I did and what does he do? He runs straight to Heather Kessler when he should have been with you."

He pulled her over to the couch. "I had to save you so I made Grissom take my place. Now, I intend to take his."

She looked shocked. "I don't understand…any of this."

"He broke his promise. He vowed he would stay away from Lady Heather. He's been with her trying to find a way to break the ritual."

"He went there to get information so he can better protect us. Gracen, I believed him when he said he is only trying to get information from Heather…nothing more."

"Did he tell you that she gave him the information?"

"No."

"Sara, I'm not going to leave you bound to him. He is not worthy of you."

"But…you said…the ritual cannot be broken."

"It can."

She looked confused.

He pulled her into his arms and she felt her stomach lurch.

She struggled out of his arms.

"Sara…you belong to me. I intend to have you."

"But…"

"Come here," he ordered.

She shook her head.

He stepped toward her pressing her body against the wall.

"Grissom is just a human…with angelic blood flowing through him…he is not like us. Wait until you have me..." his lips devoured hers as his hands pinned her arms against the wall.

She struggled to get free but he was too strong.

He released one hand and yanked her blouse, sending buttons flying in the air as his hand cupped her breast pinching it hard as his mouth dipped down.

She cried out in pain as he bit into her shoulder.

"Stop it Gracen! Please!"

He laughed viciously as he licked the blood from his lips.

"You taste angelic, Sara. It's a pity Grissom took you first."

She tried to shove him away but it was futile.

His mouth came down hard over the bite mark, deepening the puncture wounds. She felt a slight rush as he sucked on the open wound.

She gasped from the pain in her shoulder when he withdrew his mouth.

Her stomach lurched at the sight of blood on his mouth.

Her eyes shot open as the realization struck her.

"You're not Gracen!"

He chuckled. "No, I'm not."

"Who are you?"

"My name is Darius."

Her eyes widened in fear but then anger took over.

"You killed Gracen!"

"Maybe...maybe not."

She tried to slap him but he shoved her against the wall.

"I like a girl who likes it rough," he said cruelly as he yanked her legs apart. "Now, let's find out what Gracen saw in you."

He tried to kiss her but she jerked away.

He forcibly held her in place.

She gagged at his assault.

He pulled back smirking and she spit in his face.

He glared at her for a second and then bit down hard once more on her shoulder.

She cried out in pain.

"Pain turns me on, Sara."

"Let go of me," she warned.

"You can't hurt me," he chuckled. "You are just a…"

She thrust her arms back, mustering enough strength to shove him away.

"I'm getting tired of looking like Gracen….here let's try this," he said as he transformed himself to look like Grissom.

She tried to run to the door but he caught her shoving her to the floor.

She hit the floor rather hard.

He flipped her over and then sat down on her, pinning her hands above her head.

Sara shut her eyes not wishing to see Grissom's face.

"What's the matter Sara?"

"Show me your real face, you bastard," she spat.

"My, my, you are a spitfire. No," he growled. He ripped at her clothing as she tried to buck him off.

She screamed and he clamped his hand down over her mouth.

"I'll kill anyone who comes to your rescue. Do you want that?"

He yanked off the rest of her clothes, feasting on her body.

He leaned down and bit into her thigh as she cried out in pain.

She tried to scoot away but he yanked her back, spreading her legs as he knelt there in front of her.

His hands grabbed her waist, his nails digging into her delicate skin.

His mouth descended to her sex but he halted immediately.

"You bitch," he scowled as he leaned back.

As soon as he released her, she scrambled away but not before his hand grabbed her by the hair on her head.

"This isn't over, Sara," he whispered as he tongued her cheek and then forcibly shoved her against the wall, her head connecting hard.

She slipped to the floor, letting the darkness overtake her.

She woke later to the sound of her cell phone.

Cautiously she sat up, her head still fuzzy from the hit.

She reached back feeling a sticky substance on the back of her head.

The phone stopped but then started again.

Fear engulfed her as she remembered the attack, quickly checking to ensure the door was locked before grabbing her phone.

Her voice croaked out her name.

"I've been trying to reach you," barked Grissom.

"Griss?"

"I'll be there in five minutes," he said.

"No! No…you can't," she said trembling, still trying to assess her injuries.

"Sara…punishing me…by withholding…only punishes yourself."

"What?" she mumbled, not sure if the head injury was more than what she initially assessed.

"I'm pulling into your parking lot," he said.

"Oh God…no, you can't," she whispered.

"Sara? I can't hear you," he grumbled.

The phone clicked.

"Grissom? Grissom?" she yelled.

She grabbed the torn clothing lying on the floor.

She tried to wrap the robe around her again but it had been ripped.

Quickly she tossed the things into the hamper.

"Stop, Sara," she said out loud. "Tell him what happened."

She covered her mouth to stifle the sob. "I can't. He'll go after Darius…Darius will kill him."

She looked down at her battered body.

"Trace…everywhere," she murmured. "They can't…do anything…he's…a fallen angel."

She forced herself to take a deep breath. "Get control, Sara. He didn't rape you. You've been beaten before…this is nothing. This is nothing," she repeated.

Her body was black and blue but she hoped it would heal quickly.

She just needed to hide the marks from Grissom.

Quickly she locked the bathroom door and turned on the shower.

She viciously scrubbed her skin, needing to get the stench of him off her body.

The bite marks were swollen and already they appeared to be infected.

She heard the sound of footsteps and then someone's attempt to open the bathroom door.

Her initial instinct was panic, not sure if Darius would have been able to get back into the apartment.

I invited Darius in…

"Sara, let me in," Grissom ordered.

"Just a minute," she called.

She stepped out placing a bandage on the two bite marks then grabbed another robe wrapping it around her before opening the door.

He grabbed her, pressing her against the wall.

She stiffened immediately.

He attempted to kiss her but she turned her head.

"It wasn't Grissom…it was Darius," she mentally told herself.

He stepped back, his breathing ragged.

"What's wrong? I don't understand. You…don't seem…you should need me…by now," he accused.

"I do…I…" she swallowed.

"What's this?" he asked eyeing the bandage on her shoulder.

"Accident…park," she lied.

He stepped back further and then gasped at the bruises on her body.

"What happened?"

"I…fell," she stuttered through the lie telling him she had gone out jogging and had fallen, praying he wouldn't examine the injuries too closely.

"All of this…from a fall?" he questioned.

"Down…an embankment," she quivered.

He took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, honey," he soothed as he stepped toward her.

She forced herself to remain still, closing her eyes as he kissed her.

This time she opened her mouth, accepting his warmth.

He guided her to the bed, being mindful of the injuries when he pressed his body into hers.

Within minutes, he was struggling to maintain control, needing release.

"Sara…you have to come…now," he panted. She couldn't. She had forced her body to allow him to make love to her but she was far from reaching an orgasm. "Sara!"

She forced her body to mimic his, gasping out when he plunged deeply, not from pleasure but from pain as he rubbed against the bite mark on her thigh.

She was relieved when she felt his orgasm but then gritted her teeth when she felt him moving inside her again, knowing that she would have to endure another bout of lovemaking.

Minutes later, he rolled over to his side, still gasping for breath.

She lay on her side, pulling the covers up to hide the marks.

He propped himself up as he looked at her.

"Maybe…Doc should examine you," he said as he reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

She closed her eyes, fearful he would see the horror she'd endured reflected in them.

His hand cupped her head, pulling her tight against his body.

"I thought…you weren't coming…or answering your phone because you were still angry," he admitted.

"Angry?"

"About Heather," he said as he tried to look down at her but then froze at the sight of blood on his hand.

"What?" she asked.

"My God Sara what did you do to yourself?" he grieved as he scrambled to sit up.

She flinched when he examined the cut on her head.

"That needs stitches," he breathed.

"It's fine," she choked. "It will heal quickly."

"Let me examine you…"

"Gil…don't," she choked.

"Sara...this needs medical attention," he urged as he caressed her cheek.

"We're different…remember," she sniffled. "It will be better…after I rest," she said wincing as she turned on her side, not able to lie on the other side because of the bite mark.

Grissom slipped out from the bed covers. "I'll let you sleep," he offered as he reached for his shirt.

She rose immediately, "You're going to leave?"

"You said…you wanted…space."

"Stay!" she almost begged.

"Sara, are you alright?"

"Stay," she pleaded.

He returned to the bed, easing his way beside her.

Her arms clung to his neck as he rubbed her back.

"Are you sure nothing else is wrong?"

She trembled. "No," she moaned as she tried to find a comfortable position.

He was still concerned when she argued about working that night.

"Your shoulder seems to be hurting quite a bit. Let me take a look at…"

"It's fine," she bit out.

He stiffened. "I'm just concerned."

The last thing she needed was for him to see the infected bite marks.

They were definitely human and she didn't know how he would react to her lies.

The topical antibiotic crème had little effect on the infection but she didn't want to go to Doc and ask for anything stronger.

There would be questions that she was not prepared to answer.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you," she said.

He returned to his side of the bed, still trying to honor the "space" request but she pressed her body tight to his.

When he woke she was no longer in the bed but he heard movement in the bathroom.

She just about bit his head off when he attempted to enter it.

"We've shared a bathroom before," he griped through the door.

"You can have your turn in a minute," she gritted as she examined the bite marks. Both were quite infected and burned immensely.

"Maybe you should stay home," he offered after he'd dressed and saw a tinge of pain in her eyes.

She adamantly refused but then refused to let him examine her injuries only frustrating him further.

"I've seen your body plenty of times, Sara. There is no need for modesty," he barked.

The bruises were still quite visible and if he was given a full view she was sure he would know the truth.

He'd been too needful when he saw her nude body briefly in the bathroom and she was not about to let him find out.

She would do anything to protect him from Darius, knowing that no human was a match for a fallen angel.

"I still haven't forgotten about Heather," she finally said needing some way to distract him.

It did the trick, sending him into his own tirade at her inability to trust which only ended up in a further tirade from her.

"I need to trust you, Grissom! I don't feel..." she stopped not liking the way she felt at the moment.

The memory of what Darius almost did made her stomach lurch.

"Safe?" Grissom finished. He stepped forward linking his hand into hers. "You're right. You have a right to be angry."

He offered her a solo that night but surprisingly she asked to work with him, needing to be near him.

He didn't know what to think of her odd behavior.

They took the more difficult case, having it drag over into the next shift by a few hours.

He met her in the locker room, having used the lab's showers.

She rubbed her shoulder but then stopped when he appeared beside her locker.

"You want to get something to eat before we go to your place?" he offered.

"My place?"

"You seem to prefer your place…over mine," he reasoned.

"No…your place," she said shutting her locker. She stood slowly. "Griss…could we get some of my things…first?"

"Yes…of course."

They took separate cars to her apartment. He let her go ahead while he spoke with Brass about the case.

It gave her some time to collect a few items placing them in a bag before he arrived.

He picked up the bag, noticing it was rather heavy.

He said nothing as he carried it to his car.

She slid into the passenger seat, leaning back.

She didn't realize she'd dozed off until he gently nudged her.

"Sara…we're here finally," he said as he stared at her.

"I'm sorry. I must have dozed," she said as she started to open her door.

He said nothing as he unlocked the door, letting her in first.

He had squirmed in his seat most of the way home, already needing to be with her.

He hurried through his food while she seemed to pick at hers.

"Sara…hurry up," he urged as he unbuttoned his shirt.

"Why?" she asked irritably.

"I need you," he said as he pulled her from her seat, his lips covering hers.

He pawed at her blouse as she went through the motions, not sure what to make of her lack of desire.

Once he climaxed he remained inside her, stroking her hair as he kissed her.

He thrust upward, feeling his desire return and she grimaced as he began the process again.

She was relieved that he fell instantly asleep and she was able to slip into the bathroom.

She examined the bite marks, cringing at the oozing infection.

She knew she would have to see Doc and no doubt Grissom would find out.

At shift, she started toward the morgue to see Doc, needing relief from the pain.

Her phone rang and was surprised when she did not recognize the caller I.D.

"Sidle."

"How are the bite marks?" asked Heather.

She recognized Heather's voice immediately.

"How did you know?" she spat.

"Darius likes to gloat. I've seen how destructive fallen angel's can be. I can help you."

"Why do you want to help me?" she asked.

"Fine. Help yourself. What did Grissom think about your little tryst with Darius?"

"It wasn't a tryst," she seethed.

"Imagine my surprise when I overheard Darius talking about how sweet you tasted. It's just as well. Sooner or later, Grissom would have broken the ritual."

"It can't be broken."

"Come come Sara. We both know how noble Grissom is but he never really wanted you. He was willing to try to settle for you but then he never was quite finished with me. Now that he knows how to break the ritual it is a matter of time before he does that. Oh, he said it was for both of you but since he didn't share it with you, I imagine he's going to try it himself."

Sara leaned against the wall.

There was a long pregnant pause. "Okay, Sara since you're too proud to ask, I'll tell you. There are two ways to break the urge to mate…one is by withholding- very painful since it's like going through detox or…having sex with someone else."

Sara swallowed. "Having sex with someone else?"

"That's right. You no longer have the urge….say Sara, do you still have that urge or did Darius take the edge off?"

Darius did not rape me…

I would know…

"So….are both of you jumping each other like two rabid rabbits?" Heather purred.

"What about the bite marks?"

Heather clucked her tongue. "I'm sorry. I'm all out of information today. I guess you'll have to wait."

"Heather…don't mess with me," warned Sara.

"Is it getting painful? Good…next time be nice and I might tell you."

The phone clicked.

She was startled when the door swung open and Doc stood there.

"Oh…Sara. I thought I heard a voice. What can I do for you?" he asked.

"Doc…I need your help," she whispered.

Doc examined the wounds. "These are human bite marks."

"I know."

He gritted his teeth. "Human saliva can be filled with germs but…this…did Grissom…"

"No! Grissom would never…," she licked her lips. "And you can't tell him about this."

"Sara, what happened?"

"Doc…please," she begged.

She winced when he inserted the needle into her shoulder. "I'll need to monitor this…but then you probably already know this," he griped.

"The shoulder is worse than the thigh," she gritted.

"Any other injuries?" he asked.

"My head…is better and the bruises are almost gone."

He cleared his throat and stepped closer. "Why didn't you report the assault?"

"I couldn't," she mumbled.

"Sara…were you raped?"

"No…No," she said as she got out of the chair adjusting her clothing.

"Sit back down," he ordered.

"I have to get back to work," she explained nervously.

"Just as soon as I draw some blood," he stated.

She turned her head, tired of the sight of blood.

"I'll let you know what I find out," he said softly.

"Thanks Doc."

She started to leave when he called her back.

"Letting someone get away with this only allows him to do it again," he warned. "And next time it could be worse."

Note from author:

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas...I did but I am so stuffed and sleepy. LOL