A/N: Righto, as I received lots of cracking reviews on my last chapter I will live up to my promise of another quick post :) Thank you very much for your thoughts, please, please keep them coming!

I'm won't go on as I'm sure you're keen to get back to the wedding night but PLEASE NOTE: ***RATING CHANGE ON THIS CHAPTER FROM 'T' TO 'M' FOR SEXUAL CONTENT AND LANGUAGE***

I'd rather play it safe so please read responsibly. And…did I just give something away? Maybe…maybe not :P And, I'm not all that confident in my smut writing abilities so I hope you like it.

All my thanks to calim for your support and yet another amazing beta.

Enjoy the strawberries! Hahahaahah :D

Chapter 142

Sara tried her best to control her breathing as she watched him remove his jacket. His eyes never left hers, and there was something rather erotic in the way he slowly took off the garment. Although, she shouldn't have been surprised.

He stepped around her, her eyes working in a nervous circle until they came to rest upon a large suitcase near the kitchen door.

"Are those…my things?" she asked, her breath catching in her throat as she felt his hand glide down her back.

Dropping his chin on her shoulder he looked in the direction she was, kissing her on the cheek before answering. "Yes. Everything you packed."

Giving a quick nod, she felt his fingers find the top button on her dress, her eyes closing as he popped it open and his lips found her skin again, working around the nape of her neck.

"Gil…" she squeaked and felt him grinning into her.

"Can't help myself…" he mumbled, pulling back to work on the other buttons until the top half of her dress was free enough for her to be able to get out of it.

"Can you…do the corset as well?" she asked on a heavy swallow. Hearing him hum happily, she trembled under his touch as his hand once again slid down her back.

"With pleasure," he whispered, immediately going to work on untying the strings on the undergarment.

Sara felt her legs becoming a little wobbly as her clothing got looser but the question he asked suddenly took her mind off his hands.

"Sara?"

"Hmmm?"

"Why didn't you wear your veil today?"

She blinked, not really expecting that at this point in time. In fact, she'd almost forgotten about it and thought he had also. "You don't know?" she questioned rather than answered.

He paused for a moment, dropping another kiss onto her neck, noticing as the tiny hairs there stood on end. "I have…a theory, but I don't like presuming."

Realizing her corset was probably now loose enough even though he hadn't quite finished, she wrapped her right arm around herself to stop the dress falling off and turned to face him. "Tell me your theory," she requested.

His eyes fell towards her breasts, now only just covered by the falling dress. He just couldn't help the urge. "Um…" He swallowed, distracted.

"Gil…" she probed now.

Shooting his eyes back to hers, he sighed. "Do we really have to talk about this now?"

"I want to know," she argued. "You started it."

He sighed again. "You're right, I did." And he was now kicking himself for it. "But I was the one who asked the question to start with."

"But now I'm asking you," she shot back quickly. "And my every wish is your command, right?"

His right eyebrow soared. "This…wasn't exactly what I had in mind for that but…" He held out his arms, "…fine." He conceded to her requested, really not wanting this to spoil their evening and he could sense the air was getting a little thicker than he wanted it to. "I presumed you didn't wear it because of what it stood for."

"Virginity?" Her question came thick and fast and she sounded bitter.

"No, Sara," he said firmly, pulling the flower from his hair and stepping close to her again making her swallow. "It's so much more than that. It's about your right to choose and proving you are a strong woman, an honest woman. And no matter what people may think…of you or us, it means you are proud enough to say that you love me regardless of who you are…who I am or what you've been through. And that you have the courage to stand up and face whatever shame people feel you may deserve because truly, you don't deserve any of it. And it proves to me that you are not prepared to hide anymore. From anything…"

She blinked hard, her mouth hanging half open. She was speechless.

He waited for her to say something but nothing seemed to come. "Am I close?" he dared ask.

Without a word, she slipped her free hand around the back of his neck and pulled his head to hers, giving him a kiss so passionate, he felt a wave of dizziness hit him that he just couldn't stop. And when she moaned into him, her wet tongue gliding over his, he was sure he growled although he could hear nothing but the sloppy slurping of their necking.

Eventually she pulled back and when she did, his mouth hung open and he just gawped at her, completely lost for words. She smiled bashfully, licking her lips. His mouth closed…opened…closed. God, he was aroused.

"I…erm…" Sara pointed over her shoulder, "…I'm going to change, okay?"

Now that snapped him from his daze and he noticed she was pointing at the kitchen. His heart dropped and his head gave a single shake not quite understanding. "You're going in there to change? I don't…"

Silencing him with a quick finger over his lips, she looked deep into his eyes. "Let me do this my way. Please?"

Although she'd just given him a knockout kiss, it only sparked her confidence briefly and she knew if they went too fast she'd end up running away. Kissing was one thing, getting naked was another. And, by the blazing look in his eyes, she knew if she managed to take off her clothes right now in front of him, he wouldn't be able to stop himself and that might ruin everything.

The sizzle in his eyes suddenly extinguished and he gave a slow nod. Yes, she did feel bad but this was the way she had to do it if they were going to think about getting anywhere near being sexually intimate. He promised to do it at her pace. They had to go slow or it just wasn't going to happen.

"I won't be long," she finished before turning and heading towards the kitchen.

He watched as she crouched down by her suitcase, popped it open and took out several items before heading through the door. Not once did she turn around to look at him and the second she was out of sight, his shoulders slumped dejectedly. While he understood her reasons and yes, he'd agreed to take it slowly, it still didn't help the massive throb in his pants.

Rubbing over the bulge in an attempt to alleviate some of the pressure didn't work very well. At this rate he saw himself out on the porch applying a little hand work to satisfy himself. Shaking his head, he couldn't quite believe he'd just had that thought. Having to please himself on his own wedding night? That was not an option he wanted to take.

Cursing under his breath, he reached for his cravat and literally ripped it from his neck, not bothering to untie it properly and the knot he left, he knew, would be a nightmare to get out. He didn't care and threw it across the room.

When the morning began, he'd been reasonably confident that Sara would gain confidence through the day so that when the evening came, he'd be able to make sweet love to his wife. His wife. Now, he wasn't so sure.

If she couldn't even undress in front of him how was she going to be able to give herself to him?

He was so uptight now he knew he had to calm himself otherwise this was not going to work out. Dropping onto a chair, he removed his boots and pushed them to the side, stuffing his socks inside them. Standing, he unbuttoned his vest, then his shirt, dropping them onto a chair by the bed. Last of all came his pants and, as soon as he pushed them down, his throbbing erection shot out and he grimaced at the sight.

Not much use for that right now.

Sighing a deep, disgruntled breath, he kicked the pants off and willed himself to think unsexy thoughts in an attempt to rid him of the excitement between his thighs. It was all he could do to try and keep some sanity.

Looking toward the kitchen, he took a step towards it but stopped himself, closing his eyes. All he could think about was Sara undressing and not what he really needed to think about.

"Damn it…" he grumbled, changing direction and approaching the bed. He stared at it for a moment and then caught his reflection in the wall mirror. Hot, naked, flushed and horny. Just perfect.

Rubbing a heavy hand over his beard he approached the closet realizing Sara probably wouldn't appreciate it if she returned to find him completely in the buff and as stiff as a dead horse. And, even though he didn't want to, he reached for his cotton pajamas and slipped them on.

Taking one more look towards the kitchen, he pulled back the bed sheet and sat back against the headboard, puffing up the pillows behind him. What else could he do but wait?

Entwining his fingers over his chest, he glanced up at the ceiling, noting a cobweb directly above and made a mental note to get rid of it in the morning. He sniggered. Wedding night bliss, huh? You're thinking about cobwebs. Joy.

Sighing again, he began twiddling his fingers, and watched the mantel clock. Tick, tock, tick, tock…

Five minutes later he'd grown more than impatient. What was taking her so long? She was about to get into bed with her husband, the man she professed to love, for more than sleeping … but…the last time she'd been taken to bed, she'd been forced and defiled.

He hated himself at that point. His mind was just in so many knots. One minute he was trying to understand, the next he was just dying to be inside her. It was so hard.

Swallowing hard he told his brain to calm down and just stop thinking. Just wait. Be patient. She will come. Relax.

Pulling open the bedside drawer, he withdrew the book inside. He needed something to take his mind off things, off the clock, or he'd truly lose it. Hopefully, it would also help alleviate the ache in his pajama bottoms.

Keeping his eyes fixed on the book, he'd gotten through about three pages when he heard it… A throat being cleared and he looked to his left to see Sara standing there.

"Hi…" she said so quietly, he barely heard her.

Lowering his book, he looked her up and down, swallowing hard because she wasn't wearing exactly what he'd expected.

Considering her shyness, he presumed she'd be covered. A full on nightgown with a robe or something similar, but no. Sara stood there in nothing but a short, light pink cotton chemise, slightly transparent that dropped just mid-way below her hips.

And there goes his erection. Again.

Blinking dumbfounded and with mouth agape, his eyes found hers but no words fell from his mouth as she slowly stepped closer.

"Sorry I took so long," she began, her fingers nervously playing together in front of her. "I…had to gather the courage to…well…" Her arms widened, "…you can see…"

"Yes, I can…" he managed to answer.

"Do you like it?"

Dropping the book onto the cabinet, he shifted to face her better, turning onto his side. "You…" his eyes worked over her again and once more, words were failing him, "…so beautiful," he sighed.

Finally, she managed a smile, even if an anxious one and Grissom watched her every move as she knelt on the bed and lay down, facing him. "I bought it…especially for you," she told him, reaching a hand to his cheek to rub her thumb over his beard.

Taking her hand, he brought it to his mouth. "I'm so glad," he mumbled, kissing each knuckle, one after the other.

She watched him closely and every kiss he gave sent a spark to her tummy and when he dropped her hand, looking at her with a smile, she smiled back.

"Tell me what you want, Sara," he whispered gently. "Tell me what you want me to do."

She placed her hand back on his cheek without a word and kissed him. The kiss was affectionate and lengthy but he let her take the lead and have full control, simply sliding his hands up her back to hold her close. And, when her tongue passed into his mouth he had to fight the urge to flip her onto her back, smother her with his body and just…take her with all he could.

Because that's exactly what he wanted to do. His body was demanding it.

After a good minute of enjoying his mouth, she pulled back and grinned at him because his eyes were still closed and his lips still puckering despite the lack of contact.

He was…lost. Or at least he seemed to be.

Dazedly, his eyes opened, his tongue drawing slowly over his bottom lip. "Wow…" he whispered. "You…have gotten me all excited again," he admitted on a swallow, his hands softly rubbing up and down her back.

"But…you can…control it, right?"

Clearing his throat, he gave a slow nod. "I'm trying to…" he squeaked.

Her eyes fell towards their treats. "How about some champagne?" she asked, fiddling with the center button of his pajama jacket.

"Is that what you want?"

She thought for a second then nodded. "Yes."

"Then, that is what you shall have."

Grissom pushed himself up, groaning when his re-spawned erection rubbed against his bottoms. He looked down as he walked across the room and rolled his eyes, trying to find those unsexy thoughts again.

"You're walking a little funny," Sara said, noticing, and he looked over his shoulder with a mock smile.

"Yes…" he hissed, "…sadly, I can't help that." She frowned but he didn't elaborate. She'd see it soon enough because his pajamas weren't exactly a coat of armor. They wouldn't be hiding anything."

He reached for one of the champagne bottles, wiping it dry before popping out the cork and he was half tempted to pop it against his lap to cool himself down a bit. Shaking off that thought he poured two glasses and headed back towards the bed. Hopefully, this would help Sara to loosen up a bit more.

When he reached the bed he noticed she was glaring right below his waistline before she slowly looked up at him.

"I…um…" she stuttered but it only ended in a frown.

"Its fine," Grissom sighed, holding out a glass. "I'm trying to get used to it and it seems no matter how hard I try, it's just here to stay…."

Reaching out she took the glass from him. "It won't go down?"

She asked the question just as he took a sip of champagne and he almost choked. "Ummm…," he coughed, wiping his mouth on his sleeve, "…no. There is only one thing that will make it go down."

Knowing exactly what he meant by that she took a huge glug from her glass and he sighed. Just looking at her was now enough to keep that bulge…big."

And Sara could feel his frustration as well as see it. It was in every word he spoke, every expression he gave and she knew expecting him to wait much longer probably wasn't the best idea. All she could do was try and get things moving...

Quickly finishing the champagne, she held out the glass.

"More?" he asked not even halfway down his own glass and he was surprised when she gave a very quick nod. He actually expected her to say no.

"Please," she answered and he took the glass, placing his on the bedside cabinet before moving back to the table to get a refill.

"Do you want to bring the strawberries with you?" she asked and he turned to face her. His eyes narrowed as she gave him a sultry smile. "Call it curiosity," she added and now his eyes widened remembering their previous conversation.

He'd never poured a glass of champagne so quickly in his life, snatching up the bowl of strawberries before rushing back to her this time.

"Eager?" she laughed, reaching for her drink.

"I've come to discover that I love strawberries," he said back, kneeling on the bed and placing the bowl between them.

Snorting into her glass, his eyes fixed to her fingers as she reached into the bowl plucking out the plumpest strawberry she could see. Placing the glass down, she held the fruit up and looked right into his eyes.

"Want to share?" she asked seductively.

"I would like that. I would like that very much," he said like an excited schoolboy.

Holding up a finger, she gave him a grin. "But there's a condition."

Now he frowned. "And what might that be?" he asked with a mixture of dread, excitement and curiosity.

"You have to take your half without using your hands," she challenged. His right eyebrow went skyward as her lips puckered. "Do you accept?"

Oh, the throbbing got worse as his eyes found those delicious, plump lips again. "Maybe…" he said coyly and now she looked surprised.

"Maybe?"

"I have a condition of my own," he informed her, shifting to get off his knees and sit, trying to reposition the prod in his bottoms to a more comfortable position.

"Okay…. And that is?"

"I…get to pick what happens to the next strawberry." Oh, that got her attention and as her eyes narrowed, her hand shook a little. They sat in silence for a minute and the air certainly grew a little thicker. "So?" he finally asked.

"All right," she agreed even if timidly.

He smiled but that smile quickly faltered when she popped the strawberry into her mouth but not just half of it, the entire thing.

What?

How was he supposed…ohhhhhhhhh…he got it pretty quickly and especially when she began chewing and crooked her finger at him. Challenge very much accepted.

Scootching closer, his hand found her knee and their eyes never parted as his mouth edged towards hers. It was only when his lips covered hers, gently parting them and his tongue entered in search of his prize that her eyes closed and she moaned. And that sound was like sweet music to his ears as the strawberry was sweetness to his taste buds. But the fruit, mixed with the flavor of champagne that still lingered on her tongue, was the most amazing thing he had ever tasted. Plus the hint of Sara made it all the more poignant.

This was probably the most erotic moment of his life. Well, so far. And while his tongue explored hers, dueling for his half of the fruit, he fought his own battle for self-control. A growl escaped him when her hand found his upper thigh, stroking a little higher than was better for his sanity.

And she caught his erection.

He couldn't help it. He had to pull back, the fingers on his right hand hand was touching a little too close for comfort and his chest rose and fell quickly. He caught her smirking at him, chewing what was left of the strawberry before swallowing and licking her lips.

"Nice," she cooed. "Juicy…"

Working his jaw, he looked down at her hand which was still stroking over his thigh and he swallowed. "Easy for…you to say," he choked, taking a stiff breath.

Blinking at his comment, she glanced down to where he was looking and her eyes went wide. She hadn't even realized what she'd been doing. Her eyes flickered back to his face, her mouth popped open at the strain she saw there and she quickly withdrew her hand and placed it in her lap.

Her face made an 'oh dear' gesture and she gave him a weak smile. "Sorry…"

Letting out a long breath, he shook his head. "Not your fault," he squeaked. "And not unpleasant just…" He took another long breath unable to finish that thought.

"Maybe we should stop playing with the fruit?" she suggested.

Managing to bring himself under control, he leaned back towards her. "When it's my turn to play? Not a chance…"

*** - He bent over the golden head, and put the rosy lips to his, and folded her in his arms. If one forlorn wanderer then pacing the dark streets, could have heard her innocent disclosure, and could have seen the drops of pity kissed away by her husband from the soft blue eyes so loving of that husband, he might have cried to the night- and the words would not have parted from his lips for the first time - ***

*** - Extract taken from A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

A/N: Am I teasing? :P Will it go further or will Sara run and hide? Evil hat is not happy. Lol. Please let me know your thoughts :D