Sources

Chapter 27

Grissom wasn't sure how exactly they'd gotten back to the B&B. He didn't remember crossing any streets, and certainly didn't remember looking both ways. He did, however, remember the taste of her neck as he devoured it, the feel of Sara's teeth on his earlobe as they stumbled down the sidewalk away from the gallery.

But when he caught sight of the big blue house, his conscience prickled. Tearing himself away from Sara's roaming hands, he met her eyes. "I don't think we should do this."

She leaned back into him, surprised when he held her firmly at arm's length. "Griss, what are you talking about?"

Fighting to get his breathing under control, he pressed his forehead against hers. "Believe me, honey, I want you. I just don't think this is the place."

"Grissom, look at me." He obliged, staring into the determined face of Sara Sidle. "This is the place where my dad taught me how to ride a bike. Where I tried using a chemistry set on a whim and discovered my passion for science. And where you and I spent our first night together, after I told you I loved you for the first time." She kissed him lightly. "This is the place."

She pulled him up the steps and onto the porch. Spontaneously, he swept her off her feet, carrying her through the doorway and up the stairs.

She giggled in embarrassment. "Carrying me over the threshold, Grissom? Trying to tell me something?"

"All in due time," he muttered, making her heart leap.

Grissom carried her to her door, holding her patiently while she fished in her purse for her key. "You sure you don't want to use your room?" she asked, turning the key in the lock.

He nuzzled her neck. "No, let's use our room." She grinned in delight.

Kicking the door closed behind him, Grissom set her on her feet next to the bed. She slid her hands under his jacket, pulling it from his shoulders.

"You are so beautiful," he whispered in her ear, unclipping her hair so that it fell in waves across her shoulders. "I love this dip in your collarbone, the little hollow it makes." She moaned as he kissed it languorously.

"Grissom. I want to feel you."

His heart rate doubled as he pulled back to look at her. "Sara," he whispered, "choose a safe word."

Her brows furrowed. "What?"

"Choose a word or phrase that you can say at any time to make us stop. If you get to the point where you find you're not comfortable, you say the safe word."

"Okay," Sara whispered, kissing the underside of his chin. "My phrase is. 'I want you inside me.' Think you'll remember that?"

Her words unleashed a growl from his throat. They fumbled through buttons and zippers and snaps, giggling at how long it could take for two people to get undressed with four hands between them.

Finally they tumbled onto the bed, gasping at the feel of skin on skin. Grissom pulled Sara on top of him. "You're sure you want to do this?" he breathed heavily.

She leaned down to kiss him, stroking his tongue gently. "I'm sure."

When she tried to flip them over, he held her steady on top of him. "Griss?"

His eyes were an impossibly light blue. "Honey, if we're going to do this. here. you're going to control it every step of the way."

Sara blinked away tears, realizing for the first time that he really did love her. "I, uh."

He kissed her nose. "I uh you too."

They were fast asleep, tightly wrapped in each other's arms, when Sara's cell phone rang. She opened bleary eyes and reached for it, snapping it open before Grissom awoke. "Hello?" she whispered.

"Hey there, stranger!"

She closed her eyes, smiling. "Hey, Warrick."

"We miss you out here," he said. "When are you coming home?"

Home, Sara thought. Where is home, anyway? "Why, is there a pool going?"

He was silent for a moment. "Uh. maybe."

She laughed softly. "I'm coming back to work tomorrow night. Give me a cut of your earnings, will you?"

"Hey, I'll give it all to you, as long as you're coming back," he said warmly.

Grissom started to awaken, groaning as he stretched.

"Whoa, Sara, who was that?" Warrick asked.

Her mind raced. "Oh, that was. uh. Ross."

"Ross?"

"Yeah, Ross. Ross Liggim. We're. uh. dating."

"Oh," Warrick said, obviously amused. "Well, I'll let you go, then."

"Okay, see you tomorrow night."

"Yup. Say hi to Grissom for me."

"Sure thi-" Sara froze. "What?"

He chuckled. "Can't slip an anagram by me, Ms. Sidle. Don't worry. Your secret is safe." His tone turned serious. "I'm happy for you both, Sar. You deserve it."

She smiled softly. "I think you're right. Thanks, Warrick. You're the best."

"That's what they say."

Sara placed the phone back on her night stand.

"Ross Liggim? That was the best you could come up with?" She turned to see Grissom smirking sleepily at her.

"Well, I didn't want to make someone up completely," she said indignantly. "What happens when we eventually decide to tell people, and Warrick asks about my boyfriend Steve? At least with Ross Liggim we could tell him that he missed a clue."

Grissom chuckled, pulling her into a tight embrace. "Honey, Warrick is the Boggle king. An anagram would have gone right over Nicky's head, but not Warrick's."

She sighed.

"Although I have to admit," he continued. "It feels kind of good that someone else knows. Someone other than our mothers."

"It does, doesn't it," she smiled. She closed her eyes and drifted to sleep. This, she thought, this is home.