A/N: Here we go with another chapter guys :) And another quick post just because i love ya :P I couldn't leave you hanging too long, not after where I left the last chapter. So, lets just get on with the show and see whether or not Sara can go through with the matrominial ritchual.

Thanks to Calim, as always for your amazing additons and suggestions on this chapter and thank you to all you readers for your thoughts. Please keep them coming.

*** NOTE – RATING WARNING – THS CHAPTER IS "M" FOR SEXUAL CONTENT AND LANGUAGE. Please read responsibliy.

Chapter 144

Sara was shivering under his caress, her mind forcing away the feeling that the last time a man lay completely on top of her was when she was taken against her will. She couldn't go there. She couldn't let that vileness invade her thoughts. This man, right here, loved her, needed her, wanted her more than she'd ever known anyone could desire a person. He was truly her savior although there was still that overwhelming step they needed to take to confirm their unity.

Slowly, her hand raised and her fingers delicately ran over his lips. He waited, allowing her to touch him at her will, simply staring into her eyes as she stared back.

"Take me…" she finally whispered.

Swallowing hard he looked deep into her eyes as if questioning her words. Taking her hand, he concentrated upon it, kissing each knuckle in turn before gazing back into her eyes.

"Sara…" he begun softly, "…are you sure?"

"Yes. Show me what love is, Gil. Kiss me, touch me. Make me truly yours forever."

Shifting her hand to the back of his neck, she pulled his lips back to hers before he even had any time to doubt her answer or question his desire and she whispered, "I love you," just before their lips joined.

She knew the time for talking and comforting was over and once he got started there would be no stopping him. This was it. It was time to let the demons go.

Their kiss quickly grew powerful and needy and the more Grissom got of the sweet taste of his Sara, the more he wanted. But even though he craved to be inside her so very much, he knew just giving her a little more love and a little more satisfaction would make their bonding that much easier.

Drawing his lips from hers, he kissed along her jaw line, nipping at her throat as he slid lower. She moaned, her hands clasping onto his upper arms as he found his way to her breasts. Looking up at her closed eyes, he gave her right nipple a quick flick with his tongue before sucking up the swelling bud into his mouth earning a groan from Sara along with a tightened grip on his arms.

"Gil…" she whispered, her feet pushing deep into the mattress raising her body to him.

Whether she meant to or not it only spurred him on and his tongue snaked over to her left nipple giving it an equal amount of attention before shifting and beginning to descend down her stomach, his legs slipping from the bed to hang off the edge. God, her skin was addictive. Smooth, hot and slightly slick with perspiration.

As he reached her belly button, he looked up again. Her eyes opened and she raised herself up on her elbows to watch him. She still seemed anxious but there was a yearning there, a longing to be set free.

He gave her tummy a gentle kiss, the sight of her tousled hair and cheeks tainted a lovely shade of rose intoxicating him further. Kissing her stomach again, he moved a little lower, another kiss and lower again, his attention never straying from her face as her eyes grew drowsier and darker.

She could feel the heat of his breath seeping through her. The scrape of his beard along her skin inflamed the burn between her thighs making her tremble under his touch.

And then he paused.

"Yes or no, sweetheart?" he began tenderly, gently running his hand over her thigh. "Do you want me to continue? No regrets either way."

Biting down hard on her lip, Sara inhaled a deep breath before offering a nod.

Nodding, he continued his journey, his mouth returning to her body, tongue sliding over every inch of skin he came across before the strong smell of her arousal made him shudder. Slipping between her thighs he gazed at the most intimate part of the woman he loved and it was a glorious sight.

Sara's breathing quickened as she watched him and when his hand raised to her core, his thumb gliding over her delicate bud, her head fell back to the pillow and her eyes closed on a gasp.

"So wet, honey," he sighed with an amazing feeling of fulfillment and with no sense of hesitation, he brought his tongue to her folds.

"Oh, God," Sara moaned, both her hands making a grab for the bedsheet, scrunching it tightly in her hold.

After several gentle licks, he glanced up to make sure she was okay, bringing his right hand to rest upon her stomach as she bucked her hips slightly. He could never get enough of the taste of her and as he continued to please her, one of her hands shot to his hair, almost yanking it from the root.

"Giiiiil…" she pleaded, tugging. "Can't…take…much…more…" she panted.

Neither could he. The throbbing fire in his groin needed her, begged for her, burned for her.

Like a lion on its prey, he shot up her body, smothering her, and her eyes shot open just as his mouth engulfed hers, hard, fierce and uncontrollable. It was wild, he was wild. His inner beast had been released and only one thing would tame it now.

Ripping his lips away he panted over her, a blaze in his eyes like no other she had ever seen, his hard and heavy erection hot and powerful digging into her thigh.

"Tell me now if you want me to stop, Sara," he said huskily but so surprisingly loving and thoughtful that Sara whimpered. "This is the point of no return, honey, for once I'm inside you my world will be spinning and I don't know if I'll be able to stop."

Her trembling hand rose to his cheek and his eyes closed as her thumb ran over his skin, her warmth radiating through him like butter melting on a sweet potato.

"Don't stop," she whispered. "Don't… ever… stop."

Slowly, his eyes opened and he swallowed. "I love you."

Blinking drowsily, her hand slid to the back of his neck and she pulled. "I know…"

And they kissed passionately, lips moving in synchronization, tongues dueling as if they were one.

Feeling his hand glide down her ribs, Sara did tense but moaned into him all at the same time. She knew this was it and a feeling like no other swept over her. Love, desire, fear, alarm all rolled into one.

His hand brushed over her heat before he gripped himself, shifting so he was in line with her entrance, his thighs searing through hers as he parted them just a little more. Then he broke the kiss, looking deep within her molten coffee gaze taking a deep breath.

"Ready?" he whispered as he nudged his hardness to her opening.

Wrapping her arms around his broad shoulders she swallowed hard then gave a single nod. No words would seem to come.

Slowly, and with as much care as he could manage, he slipped inside her on a groan and she gasped, her eyes tightly closing. Immediately, he could feel her shaking and while this was what he wanted and hopefully what she wanted, her reaction tore at his heart.

So he paused, gritting his teeth, fitting so hard not to thrust and breach her completely. "Sara…," he pleaded, "…open your eyes…" Stifling back a sob, her eyes slowly opened and she met nothing but a look of love. "Keep your eyes open and on me, okay?" he begged. "It's me. Me and you, honey. US. No one else." Her breath quickened as she nodded.

Pushing his hips forward, he watched her eyes roll back as he totally penetrated her and her arms tightened around him.

A huge gasp fell from her lips as he pulled back and rocked forwards again, her eyes managing to focus and settle back on his, but as much as he was trying to take this slowly, he wouldn't be able to keep this pace for long. The feeling of being at one with her had just sent his entire body into overdrive.

He began a gentle rhythm, rocking his hips to hers, keeping focused on her with every single thrust he took.

"Kiss me…" she whimpered, her legs sliding up the back of his thighs as a trickle of sweat ran down his cheek.

And he did. His mouth met hers and he ate her cries as the speed and power of his thrusting increased. He could no longer hold back.

One of her hands shifted to the back of his head as their lips parted, fingernails digging into his scalp as his mouth moved to the side of her neck and he sucked upon her moist, delicious skin.

"Gil…" she moaned as his body now ground into her, hot and slick and she shuddered deeply feeling his tongue running the whole length of her throat to her ear.

"Feel…so…good," he grunted between thrusts and she clung on harder, her eyes now closing again. She couldn't help it.

And that's when it all changed. The image of Hank that flashed before her eyes made her heart bleed and she clenched her eyes even tighter, attempting to keep the distressed sob deep down in her throat.

She felt him raise his head but she couldn't open her eyes, she couldn't ask him to stop. That wasn't an option. Not for him. Not for her. This bridge had to be burned no matter how hard it was or there would be no marriage.

"Sara…?" he questioned, hips still rocking, chest heaving but he saw she was in distress and his eyes worked nervously over her face.

Her head shook. "Don't stop," she ordered, locking her ankles behind his hips and raising herself just a little to meet him. "Whatever happens…don't stop. Make me yours…I need to be yours…" she finished on a growl, blindly grabbing onto his cheeks to yank his mouth back to her own where she consumed every heavy breath that fell from his lips.

And then Grissom felt it, that surge deep inside that would only lead to that point of inevitability. His pace suddenly grew frantic and the bed creaked over and over in time with their movement. Then suddenly, his lips ripped from hers.

"Sara…Jesus…Sara…" he groaned, his eyes closing, clenching tighter and tighter, "…honey…can't…hold on…" She clung tighter to him but offered no words back. "Gah…!" he cried, his neck arching upwards as his orgasm took hold, "…Sara…"

Collapsing on top of her, he lay there, panting, sweating, feeling her arms still holding him. As his breath slowly returned and his brain began to function again, he knew she hadn't found her own climax. It saddened him that she hadn't been able to let go, that he hadn't been able to give her the ultimate pleasure he'd found for himself.

Slowly, his head rose from the crook of her neck to find her eyes closed, a tear slipping from her eye. His pulse raced at a maddening speed. "Sara…" he pleaded softly, shifting…

"No…" she mumbled as he moved to get off her, her arms gripping tighter around him, pulling his body back down, holding his head against her chest. "Please…just…stay like this…just for a little while…and…don't say anything…"

An uncertain and heavy sigh slipped from his lips, his breath ghosting over her perspiring skin. Although he'd rather try and comfort her, he understood her request and did as she asked.

Now, they both lay in silence, still as one, her hands gently running through his hair, her eyes still closed.

Five minutes passed before she finally spoke. "I'm sorry," she whispered.

He pushed himself up, this time holding his weight on the palms of his hands. "Why?" he asked tenderly.

Her eyes opened now and found his. "Because…I didn't…I just…couldn't…" Another tear fell and she sniffed.

Now he moved off her body, groaning as he did so, to lie closely by her side. Reaching up, his thumb gently brushed her tear away. "Sara…" His eyes closed for a brief second, he needed to be sure he got this right, "…please don't apologize. After everything…the first time we tried was always going to be difficult."

She shook her head, sucking in a sob as her eyes closed again. "I tried…" she cried. "But I…I'm sorry…"

"Honey, stop," Grissom pleaded, shifting to place his arm over her and her eyes popped open to see him hovering above. "You have nothing to be sorry for. We tried. You tried. That's more than I can ever ask and it won't just come in an instant no matter how much we want it to. But, we've made the biggest breakthrough possible. Sara, we had to start somewhere and we have our entire lives to get where we need to be, okay? If it doesn't happen overnight then we can try again tomorrow and the next day and the next…" Now she laughed and it surprised him. "What?" he questioned with a frown.

"I hope you've got lots of stamina," she replied and the smile she managed made his chest swell.

He smiled back, leaning closer. "I do. But only for you."

Laughing again, her arms coiled back around him, pulling him down to her so they could be close…as close as they could possibly be.

CSICSICSICSICSICSICSI

Sara lay on her side, watching him sleep. His right hand slipped snuggly under the pillow beneath his head while his left lay by his side. Feeling a chill run down her spine, she spotted her husband's shirt on the floor and reached for it, slipping it on before focusing back on him. He truly was every woman's dream and she resisted the urge to pinch herself just to check that she wasn't hallucinating and that she actually was in his bed. That she was…his wife…

She wanted more than anything to be able to completely let go. To totally feel all the pleasure she knew he could give her. He'd done it before…

God damn Hank had to come along and spoil it. She was doing okay until he popped into her head. Then she had no control over the way she felt.

Suddenly, she blinked. Control. Was it that simple? Is that what she needed to have? After thinking for a moment her lips pursed. Only one way to find out.

Extending her hand, she slid her finger down the dimple in his chin, working lower down his body to where her palm flattened against his muscular chest. His lips parted and a tiny moan passed through them as she continued, down his chest to the bullet scar on his stomach.

His eyes fluttered open, his head tilting in her direction and their gazes immediately collided. He saw a sparkle in her eye that was missing before but he didn't have the opportunity to say anything. She leaned over him and her lips quickly descended upon his, her mouth totally consuming him to a point he felt his toes curl. They moaned together as her tongue found his but then she pulled back, leaving him rather breathless and, in all honestly, a bit confused. But his confusion was soon forgotten when her lips found his cheek, softly kissing all the way along his jawline to his ear and then back down his neck.

Grissom's chest heaved when she sucked on his pulse point, a groan escaping his lungs as she continued downwards, her lips following her hands as she shimmied more on top of him.

"Sara…" he gasped when she sucked his left nipple into her mouth and gave it a healthy bite.

She looked up at him, popping the now harden bud from her mouth. Raising a hand, she slipped a finger over his lips and he blinked, his now glazed eyes not really knowing what to make of the situation. The only thing he did know, he was aroused as hell and the erection now weighing heavily against his stomach proved that.

"Shush…"

That was all she said and he frowned as she removed her finger, before taking his right nipple into her mouth to give it the same ruthless attention.

Trying to process this sudden change, Grissom swallowed hard. This was the last thing he'd expected after just a few hours' sleep but the sensations were amazing so he kept his questions to himself.

Pulling back, she kissed his chest before continuing her journey south, feathering gentle kisses all the way down until she reached his bullet scar. Tenderly running her fingers over the aftermath of his near death experience she got lost for a moment. This mark brought to mind so much for her. He'd saved her life yet it could have so easily taken him from her. She shuddered at the thought. Dropping a gentle kiss upon it she glanced up at him and smiled at the look of adoration on his face. Kinking her head to look at his arousal, her lips pursed as she glided a hand over it.

His eyes fluttered and he swallowed down the hefty lump that had formed in his throat as she lifted him in her hand and began stroking.

"Sara…" came his strained whisper, his hips rising a touch from the bed under her teasing caress.

Her smile grew but she didn't stop. In fact, she was mesmerized by his shaft. The heat, how the color would change so quickly when she played with him and the swiftness at which he could become hard just because of her. It was all for her. And that, made her feel good.

"I think you're a little bit excited," she giggled, pumping a little harder.

Gritting his teeth he glared at her. Did she have to tease him? "I'd…," he began, swallowing again, "…agree with that. Your fault…" he trailed off as she squeezed and he groaned.

Her free hand reached to glide over his chest as she looked into his eyes for a second before totally focusing back upon his excitement. Biting down on her lip she shimmed a little further down the bed until she was where she needed to be and blew a gentle breath over his heat.

With his chest heaving, he took a deep breath as she leaned down and edged her mouth over him.

"Honey…" he strained, "…you don't have to do that."

"Want to…" she whispered and his fingers clenched the sheets the second she took him into her mouth. "Oh…lord…"

*** - "After grasping his hand, as he stood victorious and proud; who came panting in breathless from his struggle; after kissing her, then lifted up to clasp her arms round his neck; and after embracing; he took his wife in his arms, and carried her."

*** - Extract taken from A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens (Paragraph modified)

A/N: Oh, I did it again didn't I? :P

So, what did you think? Can Sara 'let go' completly? Would you like more? Let me know :D