A/N: To all those working and waiting! Here's a new chapter-all GSR! Enjoy!

What's More Fun Than A Kiss Under the Mistletoe

Chapter 3

The door of the lab shut firmly behind him and Gil Grissom headed to his vehicle in quick steps. In twelve hours, he'd return on the holiday schedule but in the meantime, he had plans to celebrate. Even after hours on the scene of double murders, he felt surprisingly refreshed.

He grinned at the way sunlight was coming into the parking garage. His smile widened as he touched his jacket pocket for the small box. And in moments he was driving along familiar streets to a destination, eager to arrive. As he drove, he reflected on the previous months, of the slow progress from flirting at work—Sara had insisted he'd been flirting for years—to the physical act of sex. By the time they had finally tumbled into bed together, he was as besotted as a teenage boy in the pangs of first love.

A chuckle came as he turned right on a red traffic light and remembered her insistence of keeping their developing relationship a complete secret. She was determined they would work together and be professionals. As for him, he was in total agreement—they could continue to work side-by-side as he had already learned, he enjoyed working with Sara Sidle more than anyone else. After he had finally admitted he loved her, working together compounded their love and commitment.

In short order, he parked in a space between a van and a SUV making the work vehicle he drove as inconspicuous as possible. The apartment complex was huge with so many people coming and going that no one would notice another ordinary vehicle in a parking deck of hundreds of other uninteresting vehicles.

A few minutes later, he was using his key to open the door of a new apartment; Sara had moved two weeks ago from a small efficiency to a more spacious one-bedroom place. And she'd spent the time decorating the place, refusing his help, keeping him away until she'd finished the project.

This morning was the 'unveiling'—they had made plans for days to celebrate Christmas—actually the day before Christmas Eve—in her new place.

Quietly, he pushed the door open, hearing music playing. He noticed the soft lights, the arrangement of furniture, a table with four chairs, a small tree with lights and shiny ornaments; the kitchen was tucked behind a wall. It looked like all her belongings from the previous apartment had made it to the new one. He took several steps and found Sara asleep on her new sofa, wearing his old robe.

Toeing off his shoes and removing his jacket, he leaned over her sleeping form, watched her sleep for several minutes before he kissed her forehead. His hand caressed her shoulder until she softly groaned; her eyelids fluttered then opened wide. He helped her as she sat up.

"I meant to stay awake!" Her arms pulled him into a hug. "I wanted to show you everything as you came in!"

Laughing, Grissom closed his eyes and said, "I kept my eyes shut so I haven't seen a thing." He moved around the sofa and sat beside her. "It took a while to leave—but we have twelve hours." Waving his hand, he said, "Show me everything—I like the sofa—a good size." He lifted his eyebrows several times, playfully flirting with her.

She started kissing him and they forgot about everything but exploring the other's body for long moments. Sara was unbuttoning his shirt when he broke away.

"I need to shower, dear!" He tugged gently on his robe wrapped around Sara. "And I like your robe."

Pulling the robe tightly around her, she kissed him again, quickly, before saying, "Take a shower. I'm keeping the robe—I have a surprise for you," she teased before jumping up. "But you haven't seen the bedroom! That's another surprise." Taking both of his hands, she said, "Close your eyes!"

Grissom did as told and she guide-walked him toward the bedroom door.

"Open your eyes!"

He had helped her moved; he knew the bedroom was the largest part of the new apartment. He had not seen the new bed or its furnishings and as he looked around, he was amazed at the transformation from an empty room to—he could only describe it as romantic—and a bed wide enough for both of them. A feminine room, he thought, but one any man would happily share with the woman he loved.

"Oh, Sara, it's beautiful," he whispered.

Sara hugged him, saying, "You like it? It's not too—too girly? I wanted it to be—restful for us." Pointing to one of the closets, she said, "That one is yours."

Grissom knew she had spent time and money, refusing his help with both, to get the place looking like this. "It is perfect."

She led him to the bathroom, showing him where everything he could possibly need was neatly arranged in cabinets.

"You've made it beautiful—maybe you should work on my bedroom next?"

Then they were kissing again; Sara managed to remove his shirt and push him toward the shower.

"Together?" He asked.

Shaking her head, she said, "I'll wait for you" and pointed toward the bedroom.

After a hot shower, drying off with a new towel, and wrapping another around his waist, he paused before entering the softly lighted bedroom and let his eyes go to the beautiful woman in the bed.

Sara was sitting up in bed with her back against several pastel pillows. Her bare legs lay on top of the folded back coverlet; the plaid robe had disappeared. She was wearing a coffee colored top with a lacy edge that dipped low between her breasts, almost translucent. Strikingly beautiful, she handed him a stemmed flute; he was speechless.

He managed to breathe as he took the glass, sipped a taste, and sat next to her, saying, "You are a marvel, Sara. A beautiful sight." His fingers touched one of the thin straps.

She downed the remaining champagne in her glass and grinned. He did the same.

Grissom placed the flute on the bedside table, took the one she held and put it on the table. Then he leaned to her, kissing her warmly that met a parting of lips followed by an eager pursuit of hands in removing his towel and the silky top she wore.

Stroking soft skin, caressing kisses, and ever rushing anticipation quickened and evoked sounds of pleasure. Grissom's lips reached the lacy edge of her panties; his thumbs grazed across her abdomen as he pushed the delicate fabric to her ankles. A kick sent the underpants flying. His mouth continued downward as Sara's fingers threaded through his hair, desire billowing as arousal heightened.

Suddenly, his tongue and lips stopped and he lifted his head; his blue eyes met two sparkling brown ones as he pushed upward.

Softly, he said, "And what is this?" His fingers traced her pubis area.

Sara's mouth was fixed in a straight line, lips pressed together, smothering her laughter. "Your Christmas gift, Gilbert—what could be more fun than a kiss under the mistletoe?"

His eyes glistened like sparkling sapphires, taking a few seconds to respond. "Finding my gift underneath the Christmas tree." His fingertips touched her again, outlining the soft pubic curls trimmed in the shape of a tree. A grin spread across his face as he stroked the folds hidden by this special 'tree'. "Yes, definitely better than a kiss under the mistletoe." Soft laughter came as his fingers continued their gentle massage.

Both dissolved into laughter as he moved over her so their bodies fit together; their lips met with the zeal of lust as his rigid penis probed the moistness of her. Penetration came with a swift thrust, a hushed gasp, and a deep kiss. The ritual of lovers, mesmerizing movements that became a matching rhythm; her limbs twined around his thighs and hips bringing him close as her fingernails dug into his back urging him to meet her arousal. She moved to meet the surging strokes of his body. In moments, almost together, an increasing crescendo of passion lifted them on soaring wings to pure bliss and then they floated like soft feathers back to the bed.

After a moment, Grissom whispered, "Dear Sara—best gift I've ever received. You have exceeded all expectations."

Sara wrapped her arms around his neck, enjoying the pressure of his body on her own. She said, "If we stay like this, I think we can," she laughed, "enjoy this gift again."

Grissom made a satisfying sound, adding, "Can we wait a few minutes—I have something for you I left in my jacket."

"A gift? I have nothing for you! We agreed—no gifts!"

"How can you say that? You've given me something I—I—no one has ever given me, Sara." He kissed her with enough passion to cause a groan when he pulled away. "Stay right here." He rolled off the bed, striding to the door in naked grandeur, returning with a small gold colored square box.

As he crawled back onto the bed, Sara was amazed and curiously captivated, not for the first time, by his uninhibited nakedness around her.

Settling himself between her legs, he extended the box to her with a smile, saying, "Merry Christmas, dear."

A/N: Let us know if you are reading this one! (Fanfic statistics no longer report number of readers!)

Thank you in advance-thank you for keeping GSR alive and well in fanfiction!

Happy Holiday/Merry Eve & Day to all who celebrate!

Another chapter to close this short story!