In the Breakdown, Part Two. EC, Prompt #72 - Fixed
Title: In the Breakdown
By: Jessica
Fandom: CSI: Miami
Pairing: Eric Delko/Calleigh Duquesne
Prompt: #72 - Fixed
Word Count: 9337 (Total word count = 15,454)
Rating: NC-17
Spoilers: There are references to several many episodes, so really, anything is fair game, including Ambush and All In (6x15, 6x16), for which this is a post-episode fic. Posted here as two separate parts due to the length.
The entire story as one part can be read here: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4203368/1/
Part One here on LJ can be found here: http://bytheoceantide.livejournal.com/21499.html
"I was so afraid of losing you today," Eric murmured quietly, and it was all Calleigh could do to keep from shuddering at his tone. "When I saw you walk through that doorway, that bastard with a gun at your back, it was all I could do not to shoot him right there. And then…when he threatened to shoot you…" Eric trailed off, his eyes clearly demonstrating the fierce anger that had coursed through his veins earlier. "I could've killed those guys with my bare hands," he continued in a whisper, almost a growl. "I would've killed anyone with my bare hands for you."
They were the same bare hands that currently held onto hers so gently, with such compassion. Releasing her hands, Eric gently traced his fingers over her covered sides, feeling his own emotions run away with him. He had almost lost her. He'd let her slip away from him, and then he'd almost lost her for good. Letting either of those happen again was not an option to him. "Calleigh…" he murmured, the fire in his eyes undeniable.
Calleigh couldn't speak. Her own need was blinding her to everything but the man in front of her and his lips, his strong arms, his eyes, his arousal…there was nothing else she could do. Unwaveringly returning his fiery gaze, Calleigh flicked her tongue over her lips before reaching out and clutching the collar of his shirt, harshly pulling him closer as her lips crashed against his. She'd gotten her answer. She needed this. They needed this.
Eric couldn't help but grin into the kiss as she tugged him closer, her fingers clutching his collar so tightly that he thought the fabric might leave a mark at the back of his neck, but he didn't care about that. At this point, there was very little he did care about; nothing existed but himself and Calleigh in this moment.
His hands at her hips, Eric tentatively allowed his thumbs to slip beneath the fabric of her camisole, just barely brushing over her smooth skin. It was only the pad of his thumb, but Eric would swear right then and there that no other woman he'd been with had smoother, softer skin than Calleigh. So slowly, he allowed just a bit more of his palm rest against her soft skin, using every bit of his strength to hold himself back, at least for now.
It was all he could do to keep from tugging her camisole over her head, but he had to let her set that pace. There was a nonverbal sign that he was waiting on, a sign she hadn't given yet, and even if it killed him, he knew he had to wait for that. For the moment, though, he appeased himself by trailing kisses down her neck, ignoring the protests made by his back over their obvious difference in height. With gentle fingers, he slid the strap of her camisole to the side, latching his mouth onto the creamy skin of her shoulder. Calleigh gave a soft sigh, his name on her lips spurring him on as he kissed, suckled, and nipped lightly at her shoulder before following the path of her collarbone back to her neck.
Suddenly, the height difference became a little too much for Eric's back. Knowing exactly how he could rectify that, he traced his hands down her back and over her backside, eliciting a surprised gasp from Calleigh as he lifted her up, momentarily pressing her completely against the wall. Instinctively Calleigh's legs wrapped around his waist, and Eric almost lost it as he felt her heat come in contact with his arousal, even through the two layers of fabric that both of them still wore. As if that weren't enough, she ground her hips into his, craving the contact against her sensitive core. Eric groaned deeply against her skin, pressing her even harder against the wall as he struggled to maintain his own balance. Having Calleigh in his arms, her legs wrapped around him was already enough to make him lose his mind; he didn't need the added sensation of her grinding her hips against his.
Didn't need it, but oh dear God how he wanted it.
Closing his lips over her throat, Eric suckled a little more forcefully at her pulse point. Calleigh moaned softly, tilting her neck to grant him better access. At the same time her fingers slipped between their bodies, beginning to work the buttons of his shirt with precision. She wanted to feel his bare skin against hers.
As her fingers closed around the fourth button down, she felt Eric's teeth nip lightly at her throat, momentarily destroying her concentration. Her eyes closed and she let out a soft whimper, trembling when Eric laved his tongue over the spot before kissing a trail of fire further downward toward her collarbone. Supporting her against the wall, Eric sneaked a hand between them, gently brushing over her covered breast, groaning lightly as he realized she lacked a bra beneath her top. He couldn't help but grin against her skin as he cupped her breast, his thumb teasing gently over a hardened nipple. Calleigh whimpered, squirming against him as he teased it to full hardness, the soft fabric between her nipple and his thumb creating even more sensation.
Despite her momentary distraction, Calleigh managed to undo the last of the buttons on Eric's shirt, exposing to her his extremely toned chest. She pushed the offending fabric out of the way, Eric lending her the little bit of help she needed to get it off of his body. Carelessly, Calleigh tossed the black button-down somewhere over Eric's shoulder, not caring at all where it landed. And finally, her hands were roving over his chest, feeling as his muscles rippled beneath her fingertips. Calleigh couldn't help but moan at the thought that flashed before her eyes - the feel of the softness of her bed beneath her, and the hardness of those muscles as Eric moved above her…the thought had her shuddering in his arms and pressing her hips even harder against his.
Her hands on his skin was the sign he'd been waiting for - he knew he couldn't touch her so intimately until she made it okay. Now that she had, Eric brought his hands to the hem of her top as he kissed his way back to her lips, allowing his tongue to tease hers before balling the fabric in his fists and tugging upward. Calleigh lifted her arms, breaking away from his lips long enough to let him pull it over her head, her cheeks flushing lightly as she realized just how exposed to Eric she now was.
It was a tint that brightened as Eric's eyes stared unabashedly, from her tousled hair, to her pink cheeks, then to her uncovered breasts. "You are beautiful," he whispered, lifting a hand to gently cup a breast. Calleigh bit at her lip as he rolled the nipple between his fingers, whimpering out loud as he leaned in and rained kisses over her other breast, studiously avoiding where he knew she wanted his lips the most. She squirmed against him, the double-assault from his lips and fingers driving her crazy.
It was mind-blowing, the feel of too much sensation over one breast, but not enough on the other. One nipple receiving the undivided attention of his skillful fingers, the other nipple completely neglected. Well, not completely neglected; Calleigh could feel his breath against it as he kissed his way around it, teasing her to the point of insanity. Her squirms intensified as she grew ever more impatient, ever more needy. "Eric…" she whined, trying to direct his head herself.
Eric enjoyed the playful torment; more than that, he enjoyed the way her beautiful lips whimpered his name, unabashedly showing him her need. He toyed with her only a moment longer, then finally he gave into her pleas. He smirked, closing his lips around her sensitive nipple, flicking his tongue at it, his own arousal growing as the sound of her momentarily relieved moan reached his ears.
Calleigh shuddered as he suckled at her aroused nipple, occasionally adding his teeth to the mix. He nibbled gently, feeling Calleigh's nails dig into his shoulders as he did so. Panting slightly, she couldn't believe that both of them remained halfway dressed. Eric already had her worked up to near bursting. She wasn't sure how much more of this exquisite torture she could take, but at the same time, she wanted it never to end.
She wanted it never to end, but Calleigh wasn't sure how much more she could take up against this wall. The muscles in her back had finally begun to cramp, protesting its hardness. Squirming against Eric, Calleigh couldn't help but give a dissatisfied groan. "Eric," she mumbled, wincing as he responded by pushing her harder against the wall. "Eric…bed…"
While he hadn't picked up on her displeasure, Eric had no complaints about that request. Tightening his hold on her, he slowly began moving them away from the wall. Calleigh clung to him as he carried her, the light grinding of her hips against his very nearly driving him out of his mind. As if that wasn't enough, Eric was afraid he might drop her when she leaned forward, closing her lips over his earlobe. Her gentle sucking motion, combined with the occasional nibble, was enough to send the rest of the blood in his upper body soaring southward. "Cal…" he growled, nearly swaying on his feet when she bit him softly in response. She smirked slightly, releasing his earlobe and choosing instead to plant featherlight kisses to the skin below it, slowly working her way back to his lips. Once there, he met her eagerly, knowing he could never get enough of her taste, her kisses.
Forcing himself to break away from her, Eric somehow managed to ignore her whimper of protest, though he so desperately wanted to give in and kiss her again. Ever gently, he lay her down on the bed, taking a moment to simply take in the vision of her lying there, only half-clothed, waiting for him to join her. She shifted slightly, raising herself onto her elbows as she gazed up at him, sheer need in her emerald eyes. "Eric…"
That was all the encouragement he needed to join her. Lowering himself to the bed, Eric moved over her, feeling as though his entire body was on fire. Wasting no time, he brought their lips back together, kissing her deeply, fully, their tongues mingling, exploring, tasting each other. Eric shuddered, moaning lightly as Calleigh's arms circled him, her hands moving sensuously over his back as she pulled him down to her, laying back fully on the bed. With a slight whimper, Calleigh squirmed beneath him, feeling his arousal pressing against her covered core, making her need even more contact.
As if reading her mind, Eric's fingers found the drawstring of her pants, roughly pulling it untied. Calleigh shivered, feeling his touch so close to her apex, yet still so far away. Suddenly, Eric chuckled against her lips, and Calleigh realized that she'd bucked her hips toward him. She was completely out of control of her need, her response to that need, and it felt…liberating. She'd never felt so free before; she wanted Eric to take control; she wanted to let go.
And then, suddenly, she was thrown right back to the very span of time she so desperately needed to forget. Without warning, Eric's fingers brushed over the bruised patch of skin along her abdomen, and Calleigh couldn't stop the whimper of pain that escaped her lips. Immediately, Eric broke away from her lips, his eyes flying open, the dark brown orbs filled with such worry that Calleigh felt guilty for being the cause of it. To her dismay, he moved off of her, his eyes instantly flitting to the purplish splotch at her stomach. So gently, his fingers traced the outline, the worry and concern mixing with anger in his eyes - there was only one place she could've gotten that bruise. "What happened?" he breathed.
Calleigh closed her eyes; why did he have to bring that up? How she'd gotten that bruise was the last thing she wanted to think about right now. "It's nothing," she lied, opening her eyes and staring blankly up at the ceiling. She wished Eric would believe her; that he would go back to his exquisite exploration of her body, but she knew he wouldn't until he got the truth.
Just as she'd expected, Eric saw straight through her lie. "Calleigh, that's not true," he chided softly, pressing a gentle kiss to the bruise. Calleigh however, remained silent, and Eric for the first time realized his greatest fear was a reality. "They hurt you, didn't they?"
Calleigh refused to look at him; to her surprise, the sting of tears was pricking slightly at her eyes. "He kicked me," she answered quietly, breathing deeply. "I…I made a mistake, and he threw me to the ground, face-first, and then kicked me over…"
The look of sheer anger that flashed through Eric's eyes momentarily frightened Calleigh, though that fear was soon overcome by the realization that he was angry for her. Never had she seen him so deeply affected; it blew her away to think that he could possibly feel that deeply for her. "Eric…"
The quiet whisper of his name brought him back to her, and despite the fact that his pants still felt as though they'd shrunk monumentally, Eric suddenly couldn't shake the guilt that he'd actually let this get this far. His conscience was berating him; Calleigh had just gone through a traumatic experience, and here he was, getting her out of her clothes. "Calleigh, he murmured, ducking his head. "I'm sorry…"
Blinking her eyes, Calleigh felt confusion wash over her. He was sorry? For what? With a slight groan, she pulled herself to a sitting position, waiting for Eric to look back into her eyes before speaking. "What?"
Eric sighed, feeling his apprehension fade somewhat as he gazed into her eyes. "I don't want…to push you," he struggled with his words, much like he often did around Calleigh. "I don't want you to do something if you're not ready. I don't want to hurt you," he murmured, clasping the fingers of one hand with hers.
If ever the sincerity in his voice had melted her completely, it was right there in that moment. She'd felt him against her; she knew he needed her just as badly as she needed him. And yet, still his main concern was hurting her. "Eric, please," she whispered, tugging at his hand to emphasize her point. Despite the momentary distraction, she was still on fire for him. "I need…you." Her eyes never leaving his, she pressed a soft kiss to his shoulder, letting her lips linger before she lay back once more, trying to tug Eric with her. "Please."
Wordlessly, Eric gave a slow nod, ignoring the pulling at his hand. Instead, he positioned himself over her abdomen, and, ever gently, he showered kisses over the forming bruise, wishing more than anything that he could actually kiss it better. Her abdomen fluttered slightly with every touch of his lips, and briefly he wondered whether the slight contact was hurting her. Calleigh quickly put that suspicion to rest though; she released his hand, hers finding its way to the back of Eric's head, gently scratching his neck with her nails.
She whined softly, finding herself driven crazy by the slow pace Eric was maintaining. With his soft lips caressing her skin like that, she thought she would go crazy before Eric ever returned to the task he'd originally begun before laying eyes on her bruise. Eventually though his hands found their way back to her now loosened pants, and as he grasped the material with his fingers, he slipped them down and away from her slim legs, with a little help from Calleigh who was more than eager to get the stifling material away from her body, leaving her before him in nothing more than her panties.
But before Eric had time to admire her beauty, Calleigh was tugging at him again, trying to coax him back to her lips. He obliged; after all, by his plans he would have plenty of time to ravish her body. As soon as his mouth closed over hers, he felt her tiny hands stroke down his chest, easily finding and skillfully undoing his belt. But that was where her skillfulness ended; at that moment, Eric broke the kiss, dropping one more quick one to the corner of her mouth before kissing a trail of fire once more to her neck, suckling at the junction of her neck throat and shoulder as she struggled to rid him of his pants. It was hard to concentrate; she fumbled with the button and the zipper as he suckled at her skin, but Eric was similarly affected. Her lack of concentration caused her fingers to brush over his covered arousal, emptying his mind of everything but her hands and their current position. He groaned as she pushed at the offending material, and once the fabric bunched around his knees, Eric pulled back and pulled them the rest of the way off himself, leaving his confining boxers the only material left covering him.
It hit him then, as he straddled her; they were really going to do this. He and Calleigh. The woman who'd visited him in his wildest dreams; the woman he'd grown to know, respect, love more than any other woman in his life. It was almost surreal; he couldn't believe this. He couldn't believe she was beneath him, just as vulnerable, unguarded as he was. It took his breath away. Catching the questioning glance in Calleigh's eyes, he leaned down, pressing a quick, reverent kiss upon her lips.
He seemed to be lost in thought over something, but what, Calleigh didn't know. Using that to her advantage, she gripped at his shoulders, feeling the muscles tense beneath her fingers. Summoning up all of her strength, Calleigh pushed at his body, rolling them over and planting herself right on top of him. She couldn't help but grin smugly down at him upon witnessing the surprise in his eyes. "Hi there," she murmured seductively, before leaning over him, her mouth quickly seeking out his.
Her hair fell around them in a curtain of vanilla blonde as they kissed languidly, deeply. Calleigh shuddered, feeling Eric trail his hands down the length of her body, stopping briefly to flick his thumbs over both of her nipples, loving the way Calleigh whimpered quietly into the kiss. Continuing their trek downward, he ran his fingers over her taut abdomen, taking extreme care not to irritate her bruise, then around to her back before coming to rest at her hips, pulling her down against him as she began to grind her hips slowly against his.
Eric gave a hiss of pleasure as he felt her heat against him, and even through the layers that remained, the sensation was enough for his mind to go completely blank. Unable to stop himself, he bucked his hips up against hers, and Calleigh drew in a deep breath, trembling above him. "God, Eric," she moaned quietly, arching her back. Entranced by the sight, Eric slowly drew his fingers up her sides, from her hips to her breasts. Calleigh bit her lip as he cupped her breasts in his palms. She whimpered softly, but it quickly became a cry as Eric again lifted his hips into hers, grinding against her center.
Overcome by the sensation, Calleigh once more fell forward, her hands on Eric's chest as she kissed him almost frantically, her need now soaring above what she even thought possible. Her tongue dueled for control with his, and Eric gladly let her think she was winning that battle, for he had other plans. Gripping tightly to her hips, he gave a deep groan as he pulled her fully against him, hesitating only for a second before flipping them back to their original position; Calleigh on her back beneath him. "Hi there to you too," he smirked, mocking her earlier words.
"Not fair," she pouted, her eyes sparkling as Eric smirked above her.
"Next time," he murmured in response, dropping a soft kiss to the valley between her breasts. "Maybe, that is." Before Calleigh could protest, Eric closed his lips around a hardened nipple, nibbling lightly at the swollen nub. Calleigh cried out for the first time, the sound music to Eric's ears. Alternating gentle nips with soft swipes of his tongue, Eric had her arching her back beneath him in no time as her own hands began to reach between them, reaching for him. Eric let out a hiss as her fingers brushed against him through his boxers. Lifting his lips from her breast, he smirked down at her as he reached between them, capturing her hands in one of his before she could grasp onto him. Calleigh whined, an adorable pout at her lips, but Eric didn't let that deter him. He knew he was already too far gone; just the right stroke of Calleigh's fingers could push him over the edge far too soon.
Calleigh struggled to free her hands, but Eric refused to relent until he'd moved too far out of her reach. He pressed a gentle kiss to the underside of her breast, noting the way she squirmed beneath him. She was getting restless, he could tell. But in no way did that knowledge stop Eric from taking his own sweet time as he slowly made his way downward, leaving no patch of skin unkissed.
As his lips made the slow trek downward, exploring fingers crept their way down Calleigh's smooth, silky sides, feeling as her stomach fluttered beneath his touch. Slipping lower, Eric soon found what he was looking for without ever breaking the contact between their lips. A thin, lacy barrier was all that separated him from her, and it was enough to steal Eric's breath from him. He'd only ever dreamed of being this close to her, and he was growing more and more sure that he was going to wake up at any second.
He dipped his tongue in her navel, loving the sinuous way her body arched at the sensation. She was panting lightly now, and Eric couldn't help but grin against her skin - she was already out of breath, and he was just getting started. Calleigh wanted to forget what had happened to her, and at this point, Eric's ego wanted nothing more than to make her forget everything but his name.
Tilting his head so he could look up into her face, Eric finally allowed his fingertips to brush ever so lightly over her covered apex, finding himself momentarily awestruck at the way Calleigh trembled at his touch. Tightly closed were her eyes, and her teeth gently worried her bottom lip, as obviously she struggled not to fall headfirst into the realm of sensation Eric was causing in her.
But that was exactly what Eric wanted: he wanted her to fall. He wanted her to let go and concentrate solely on the feelings he stirred within her, both physical and emotional. With a devilish grin, he pressed the palm of his hand against her, placing just enough pressure to drive her wild, but not enough to grant her any kind of release. It was still too soon for that. For that reason, Eric had to try extra hard to ignore the way his boxers continued to shrink around him with each whimper that left Calleigh's lips. Every sound and move she made drove him farther and farther toward the edge, and when she whined out his name, Eric had to pause and take in a deep, steadying breath of his own.
As he continued to kiss his way slowly downward, Eric hooked his thumbs in the sides of her black, lacy panties before tugging them downward, a grin touching his lips at Calleigh's eagerness to get them away from her body. Calleigh giggled softly as Eric sat up and carelessly tossed the fabric over his shoulder, having no clue where it might have landed. With the softest touch possible, he brushed his fingertips along her thigh, only merely flitting over the most inside part. "God," he murmured, his awe plain in his voice. "You're beautiful."
Her entire body flushed at his compliment, shivering as she felt his touch grow closer and closer to her center. "You've said that already," she pointed out quietly, a sparkle in her eyes.
Eric smiled, leaning over her and gently pressing a kiss to her hip. "And I'll say it a million more times," he replied, and Calleigh felt her heart completely melt. She felt as though her entire body could melt into the bedsheets as Eric nipped gently at her hip, easily discovering yet another of her most sensitive spots. It soon became more than she could handle, and with a sharp tug, she pulled Eric back up her body, shuddering as he snuck a quick nip at her breast in the process.
Lifting her head from the pillow, Calleigh met his lips with such intensity that Eric couldn't help but groan lightly into her mouth. For the first time, she felt his arousal pressing against her bare skin. Instinctively her legs parted for him, and Eric pushed his hips against hers, making her squirm and whimper beneath him. He did it again, and this time Calleigh lifted her own hips, catching him off guard, leaving him wanting to whimper aloud.
Before Calleigh could do it again, Eric had broken away from her lips and begun kissing his way downward, first over her neck, over her collarbone, her breasts and stomach, this time allowing his lips to move lower than Calleigh had let him before. Calleigh closed her eyes tightly, knowing exactly what was coming, that knowledge causing a fresh rush of moisture to emerge between her legs. She felt Eric's hands as he caressed her thighs, moving from the outsides to the insides, his fingers never quite making it to where Calleigh suddenly needed them to be. Instinctively she parted her legs even more for him, unable to hold in a cry as he just barely brushed over her apex. She'd feared he might stop to ask if she was okay again, but to her relief, her soft cry had the opposite effect.
Extremely slowly, Eric deepened his exploration, little by little increasing the pressure of his fingers. Languidly he stroked her entrance, momentarily blown away by the moisture he found. He'd made her like this. He'd been the one to make her react like this. It was his name that left her lips on breathy cries, soft pleas. He was the one who had her gripping at his wrist as she squirmed beneath him, set aflame by even the lightest touches.
If the lightest of touches could do this to her, then what would happen if Eric touched her just a little more boldly? Just thinking about the possibilities made him groan. He watched her face closely, loving the way she bit her lip as he dipped a finger inside her. He couldn't help but let out a low growl as he felt just how wet she really was. He was further blown away by the way Calleigh whimpered at the intrusion, her back arching as her body searched for more contact.
Eric couldn't help but oblige her; he himself was too far gone to withstand much teasing now. His eyes never leaving her face, he slipped a second finger inside, hesitating only for a moment before letting his thumb brush over her swollen nub, just barely. Calleigh gasped, tensing visibly, and immediately she brought a hand down, fingers closing almost painfully over his wrist, as though that might help her regain the control that Eric was so intent on destroying. He smirked, using his free hand to pry her hand away from his wrist. "I don't think so…"
"Eric -" her protest quickly faded into a shuddering moan as Eric curled his fingers inside of her, making her forget why she'd tried to protest in the first place. His lips were back at her thighs again, raining soft kisses over her skin as he pumped his fingers, occasionally letting his thumb brush where he knew she wanted it the most. Her hips bucked against him, and Eric gave a playful smirk, reaching out with his free hand to hold her down.
Watching her lose her control like this was so exhilarating to Eric. He'd never seen her when she wasn't so immaculately put together. Even the few times when he'd seen her cry, there had been a definite control about her tears. She never sobbed openly, at least not in front of anybody. Even when she raised her voice to someone, she never let her emotions spin out of control. And now, she was letting go. For him.
To be trusted by her that intimately took Eric's breath away.
He felt her thighs quiver as he continued kissing his way inward, nibbling gently at the inside of her thigh. Settling between her legs, Eric glanced quickly up to her face, the lustful look in her eyes sending sparks of electricity straight to his own arousal. At that point, he just couldn't take it anymore, and with his free hand he managed to quickly shove the confining material off and away from his body, without missing a beat. With a devilish grin, he pursed his lips, blowing a light stream of air over her core, taking pride in the knowledge that that tiny action already had Calleigh gripping at the sheets.
As soon as he touched his tongue to her swollen nub, Calleigh's head fell back, unable to hold herself up any longer. This was just too much for her; her entire body felt as though it might catch flame at any moment.
His fingers pumping steadily inside her, Eric gently flicked the swollen nub back and forth with his tongue, moving faster and faster as her whimpers began coming more and more often, growing steadily louder. He felt her walls clench around her fingers, and Eric knew just how close she was. With a grin, he closed his lips over her clit, and though he only suckled gently at it at first, it was enough to drive Calleigh wild. Suddenly, Eric felt her nails digging at his scalp, and whether she was trying to bring him closer or push him away, he couldn't tell.
Increasing the pressure and the tempo of his fingers, Eric sucked hard at the swollen nub, feeling as Calleigh's body suddenly went rigid. She dug her nails into his flesh almost painfully, but Eric couldn't care less about that, because suddenly his name was falling from her lips in quiet murmurs, and he knew that had to be the sweetest song he'd ever heard. Refusing to remove his mouth just yet, he glanced up toward her, watching in awe as her entire body shuddered with the force of her climax, and all Eric wanted to do was keep her shaking, keep her murmuring his name like a prayer.
He slowed the pace of both his fingers and his lips as she slowly began to come down from her climax, loving the continuous shudder that seemed to consume her. He could feel her panting; he could see the rise and fall of her chest as she caught her breath. After a moment he began increasing the pressure again little by little, and almost immediately Eric felt her hands pushing at his head, the sensitivity becoming too much for her to handle. Eric obliged her, slipping his fingers out and allowing her to tug him up by the shoulders, though he did pause to lave a few soft kisses over her abdomen. Calleigh whimpered though, and with a smirk Eric left her taut stomach behind, eventually coming to rest as his face hovered mere inches above hers.
"God, Eric," she drawled softly, the disoriented look in her beautiful green eyes making his lips curl into a smug grin. Calleigh chuckled slightly, wishing she had the energy to roll her eyes. "You certainly seem satisfied with yourself," she teased.
Eric snorted. "Like you were complaining," he retorted. He dropped a quick kiss to her lips. "Come to think about it, I'm the one who should be complaining. Maybe I wasn't finished when you started pulling me back up here."
Calleigh gave a spent chuckle, and Eric found himself entranced by the sound. "But you were having too much fun teasin' me," she murmured playfully, still unable to catch her breath completely. "I had to stop you sometime…"
Eric lowered his head, gently nipping at Calleigh's bottom lip before allowing their mouths to meet fully. Calleigh sighed beneath him, her nails gently scratching at the back of his neck. Lips and tongues mingled almost lazily, separating only long enough to breathe in, a mix of the needed oxygen and the dizzying scents of each other replenishing them.
When at long last they finally parted, Eric gazed down at the beauty beneath him, once more in awe over her. Her eyes were closed as she nibbled tantalizingly at her lip. She took deep breaths, panting slightly as she struggled to catch her breath. With a quirk of her lips, she allowed her eyes to flutter open, losing herself in Eric's dark brown eyes. Lifting a hand, she gently traced her fingers over his cheek, feeling his stubble beneath them. That touch, coupled with the look in her eyes, was too much for Eric, and he couldn't help but kiss her again.
"I want you," she murmured between kisses, her lips brushing against his as she spoke. Her hands sought him out, and Eric shuddered above her as her fingers stroked him. She kept careful eyes on his expression, enthralled by the way he responded to her touch.
As his eyes came open once more, Calleigh felt her fingers falter as such a delicious shiver ran throughout her body, making her squirm impatiently beneath him. She wanted him so badly; she'd wanted him for years. He made no effort to move, though, and Calleigh couldn't help but whine his name. "Eric…"
Eric lowered his head, pressing the softest of kisses along her jaw. "Are we…" he swallowed hard, the very idea that he was actually about to do this with Calleigh nearly blowing him away.
Calleigh gave a soft nod. "We're protected," she whispered, her body jumping slightly as she felt him against her for the first time. The sensation was so overpowering, and Calleigh had to close her eyes for a moment. When she opened them again, Eric was watching her so carefully, obviously needing her now, but somehow finding the restraint to wait for her okay. With a grin, she lifted her hips, reveling in the expression that flitted over Eric's face. "Please, Eric," she murmured, lifting her head to press a kiss to the corner of his lips. "I need you…"
Eric didn't need any more encouragement. His eyes never leaving hers, he shifted his hips and began to push inside of her, moving almost agonizingly slowly. On his part, though, the agony was worth it - there was nothing better than watching Calleigh's face as they became one in the most intimate way.
He'd felt it with his fingers, but that was nothing compared to feeling her warmth, her slick wetness around his hardness. Once more he was astounded, his ego taking a major boost at the knowledge that she was like this, for him. Only for him.
It was with that thought that he pushed in the rest of the way, burying himself to the hilt. The sudden movement was harsh compared to the slow movement with which he'd begun, drawing a shuddering cry from Calleigh's lips.
Lowering his head, Eric captured her soft lips with his as he gave her a moment to adjust to him. The feeling was nothing less than exquisite; feeling her warmth surrounding him, knowing they were joined in the most intimate way, feeling Calleigh's hands as they stroked over his shoulders, his back, his buttocks. He felt her shift against him, and Eric broke the kiss with a groan, feeling her walls tighten slightly around him.
Regaining his control, he gazed down into Calleigh's face, waiting for her to open her eyes to him. "You okay?" he asked quietly, gently stroking her cheek with his thumb. Despite his own need, his heart was still with Calleigh; he still worried about her after the ordeal she had gone through.
She pulled in a deep breath, nodding slowly as she breathed out. "Yeah…" she replied, softly lifting her hips into his, trying to coax him to move.
With one more kiss to her lips, Eric gazed directly into her eyes as he began a slow thrust, pulling out almost completely before pushing back in. Calleigh gave a quiet moan, her eyelids fluttering as shivers raced the length of her spine.
The fit was exquisite; their bodies moved together oh so perfectly, so sinuously. Losing himself completely in the rhythm their bodies picked up of their own accord, Eric lowered his head, gently suckling at Calleigh's earlobe as he thrust almost lazily, never wanting this moment to end. He could hear Calleigh's ragged breathing as she too lost herself, her nails scratching their way down his back, her body writhing beneath him with every thrust.
The sighs and whimpers that escaped her lips were nearly his undoing, and he couldn't help but thrust a little harder, a little deeper with the next stroke. The muffled "oh!" that left her lips was another sound he mentally cataloged as one of his favorites.
Her nails raked over his back as he drove her toward the edge, and the way she squirmed beneath him nearly drove him out of his mind. He couldn't help it as his thrusts took on a more frantic pace, but Calleigh didn't seem to miss the slowness at all. Lowering his head, Eric gave a low grunt, kissing every patch of skin within reach of his lips as Calleigh's hands trailed further down his back, trying to pull him closer, deeper. Her hips lifted against his as he thrust in, sending him that much deeper. Calleigh's back arched and she whimpered his name, her eyes shut tightly in concentration.
He wanted so badly to watch her as she surrendered herself, but the wave of extreme pleasure beginning to overtake his body, not to mention his entire being, was just far, far too intense. His own eyes fell closed, his hips taking on an even more desperate rhythm, a rhythm which Calleigh's body quickly picked up.
"Eric," she murmured breathily, her lips seeking his as her body trembled. "God, Eric."
Her name escaped his lips in a rough whisper when he felt her begin to flutter around him; close, so close, but not quite there yet. A deft hand he reached quickly between them, quickly seeking out her swollen nub. Calleigh cried out as his fingers rubbed over it, first gently, then increasing the speed by fractions as she gasped softly beneath him, never fully able to catch her breath.
Determined to bring her over the edge, Eric gave a low growl and thrust hard, once, twice, and again before Calleigh cried out his name, her body shuddering, her nails digging into his skin, her walls contracting so tightly around him as her climax hit her, hard.
As he felt her tighten around him, all it took was the sound of his name leaving her lips, laced with such pleasure, ecstasy. With just a few more deep thrusts, Eric followed her over the edge, her name on his lips as his body trembled above her with the force of his climax. He buried his face in the crook of her neck, breathing her in as the spasms began to trail off, leaving him spent, satisfied.
For a moment he lingered, brushing the lightest of kisses over her neck as he struggled to catch his breath. Lifting his head, he pressed a quick kiss to her lips before beginning to move.
She gave the softest of whimpers as he pulled out; she didn't want him to leave her. As he rolled onto his back with a groan, he pulled Calleigh with him, and immediately Calleigh snuggled into his embrace, still feeling so deeply the need to be close to him, much to Eric's delight. She pressed a gentle kiss to his chest before laying her head atop it, her hand resting just above his beating heart. His arms wrapped around her, holding her closely as though she belonged nowhere else but there.
There was no awkwardness between them, like she'd been afraid of in the past. Right now, Calleigh couldn't care less that they were co-workers, that they were friends who stood to lose that friendship if this didn't work out. Every fear she'd ever possessed about being with him had dissipated, just because this felt so completely right. This was how things were supposed to be.
Except for one thing. The dark cloud of her abduction was still hanging over her, just waiting for a chance to open up and rain down upon her once more.
As her lingering shivers eventually subsided, Calleigh couldn't help but fall back into her thoughts. She'd been able to block it out before, but now they were back with a vengeance. And now, it was even worse. The depth of the emotion she'd poured into their lovemaking had left her emotionally raw, completely open to attack from everything she'd tried to hide from earlier. It hit her in unavoidable waves as she snuggled against Eric, wishing that simply being in his arms could protect her from all of it.
Despite fighting, the feelings crashed into her, drowning her in waves of emotion that still felt so real, almost as though she were living through it again.
The apprehension she'd felt upon driving up to the "crime scene."
She had known something wasn't right; she'd had a gut feeling. A gut feeling she had ignored in favor of following procedure, sticking to protocol. She had resisted the urge to call for back-up; she was Calleigh Duquesne, she didn't need that for a simple scene.
After she'd gotten out of the Hummer, her memory became blurry. Anything she remembered was triggered by the accompanying emotion, which Calleigh would've rather forgotten than the actual events. Events were simple to deal with; emotions, not so much.
The sheer fear that had gripped her as the sweet-smelling cloth was pressed over her face.
Though she'd been stunned, she'd fought with all her might, ignoring the screaming in her head that told her it was useless; it was chloroform, and it would knock her out whether she fought or not. But adrenaline and fear pushed her, and Calleigh couldn't help but struggle. She was strong in her own right, but even she couldn't outpower the men's rough grasp and the potency of the chloroform. She'd tried, but it hadn't been enough. Next thing she knew, she was waking up in the abandoned warehouse.
The determination that set in as she first opened her eyes, her captor before her. The desperate need to assess the situation and take control of it, any way she could. The need to leave behind a message, any message, for anybody. She couldn't deny it now; she needed help.
She wasn't sure what pushed her to do it, especially since by then she was certain that these guys had covered their tracks. And besides, they were smart. Before anybody ever made it to this warehouse, they would be long gone anyway. Still, Calleigh left what little breadcrumbs she could, knowing that though slim, there was always a possibility.
The growing hopelessness as the dreaded realization set in; the realization that she might not make it out of this alive.
And that was the one that got to her. Never before had Calleigh felt so hopeless, so lost. She'd always prided herself on being able to take care of herself without relying on others, but now that had been taken from her. She couldn't get away. She couldn't stop them.
She was going to die.
Before Calleigh could realize it, her eyes were stinging, her vision blurring. Stubbornly she tried to blink the moisture away, but the memories just kept pressing at her. Her heart pounded; her breathing quickened. Despite her current bodily state of satisfaction and comfort, such an intense feeling of panic broke through those barriers, crashing over her in waves. It was as though she'd lost herself in a nightmare…only Calleigh was more awake right now than she would ever be.
Uncontrollably her lip began to quiver, and Calleigh was unable to stop it even though she bit it to the point of pain. Moisture continued to fill her eyes, but Calleigh could no longer allow herself to blink, knowing that slight motion would not clear them away, but cause them to fall from her eyes.
And, even through her fighting, a few tears just would not be held back.
Eric was nearly lost to the realm of sweetest dreams when he was pulled sharply back from that ledge, the strangest of sensations against his chest. It wasn't the soft vanilla of her hair brushing over his skin. It wasn't the steady warmth of her breath either. This was wet, warm, and it alarmed Eric before he fully realized what it was.
Gently he brought a hand to the back of her head, his fingers gently threading through her locks of blonde. "Calleigh?" he whispered, his heartbeat quickening within his chest. She tensed in his arms, making Eric that much more worried. He couldn't see her eyes; he had no idea what was going through her mind right now. "Are you okay?" he asked tentatively, almost afraid of the answer. What if she chose now to close herself away from him?
Calleigh hesitated for a moment, feeling her cheeks tint in embarrassment. Discreetly she brought a hand up, wiping at the moisture that had formed in her eyes. "I'm fine," she murmured, despite knowing immediately that Eric would see right through her lie. She wasn't okay; she was fighting back demons that were too strong for her to fight alone.
There was no way that Eric was going to believe that. He'd felt the tear, he'd felt her tense up, and his heart just broke for her. There was a tiny bit of fear at the back of his mind - did Calleigh regret this? Was this too soon for them? But that fear was far eclipsed by his fear for her. Whatever she was struggling with, she was trying to struggle with it alone. "You can talk to me, baby," he said softly, the endearment slipping from his lips as though it were the most natural thing he'd ever said.
It was the sincerity in his voice that got to her, breaking down her carefully constructed stronghold. Just being safe in his arms made her want to let go; it made her want to trust him even more than she already did. She wanted to trust him with the deepest of her emotions.
And snuggled tightly against his warm body, with one arm around her while the other hand played in her hair, Calleigh found she couldn't not let go. She fought it; oh how she fought it - it was what she'd trained herself to do for years and years, fighting her emotions, refusing to let anyone see the woman who existed beneath her sunny exterior. But now, the wave was just too much; she wasn't strong enough. Instinctively her fingers clutched into fists as her body tried to compensate for this rush of emotion. Squeezing her eyes tightly, she fought against the growing sting of tears, though she knew it was an undefeatable task. She pulled in a shaky breath and lifted her hand, shielding herself as her face crumpled. "Oh God, Eric," she whispered, her tears pushing through the barrier of her eyelids.
As her body began to tremble in his arms, Eric's heart came to a complete standstill. As she buried her face in the crook of his neck, Eric gently kissed the top of her head, whispering quietly to her. Instead of questioning her, he merely held her close, somehow knowing that was exactly what Calleigh needed. She didn't sob; she didn't bawl, neither of which Eric ever expected from Calleigh. Her tears came quietly, falling gently upon his shoulder, only the occasional sniffle or whimper coming from her.
Just as he'd known she would, Calleigh quickly pulled herself back together, feeling embarrassed and just as emotionally raw as she had before. Avoiding his eyes, she shifted back to her original spot, her head resting atop his chest. "I'm sorry, Eric," she murmured, almost inaudibly. With her fingers she traced random patterns over his chest, lingering over where she felt his heartbeat. "That wasn't…about this. Us."
Honestly, that had been the farthest thing from his mind. "I know," he replied quietly. Reaching out, he gently caught her hand as she traced over his heart, clasping his fingers with hers.
Calleigh let out a deep breath, letting herself be comforted by their connected hands. "Do you?" she asked, part of her wanting to sit up and draw the covers around herself, but the rest of her was far too content to stay where she was. "Because I really don't want you to think that I regret this, or that I think it's a mistake, because…" she swallowed hard, feeling so exposed. "Because I don't."
"I know," Eric repeated, punctuating his words with a kiss to her hair. "You've had a rough couple of days; I'd be amazed if you weren't shaken."
It was then that Calleigh did pull away from him, much to Eric's disappointment. It wasn't that being so near to him, so open with him had grown uncomfortable. She did want to talk to him. There was just something about him that was so inviting, and Calleigh possessed not the will to deny that. But she did need a bit of space between them for the moment.
For the first time, Eric got a glimpse of her eyes; her reddened, moist eyes. He knew those eyes, though only seeing them like that a few times - as he'd woken up in the hospital, and when he'd sat with Calleigh in the back of the ambulance not too many weeks ago. He wanted to respect her need for space, but Eric couldn't help but rise to a sitting position himself, the covers pooling at his waist. Gently he reached out, brushing a lock of tousled blonde behind her ear. "Cal…"
"They - they were going to kill me, Eric," she whispered, his name almost a whimper. Taking a deep breath, Calleigh steadied herself, hesitating until she was ready. "They were going to use me to cover up the murder, and then they were just…going to get rid of me. I never thought I would make it out of there alive. I was going to be…" she swallowed hard, staring down at the comforter, "one of the bodies on Alexx's autopsy table. I was going to be one of the victims, one of the casefiles."
There was nothing Eric wanted to do more than pull her into his arms, but still he allowed himself only the gentlest touch at her cheek. "There's no way I would've let that happen to you," he whispered, his own voice shaky. "No way in hell."
The seriousness of his words struck a chord deep within Calleigh. Somehow, she knew his words were true, and that knowledge was enough to silence so many of the nagging voices that remained in her mind. She had to duck her eyes for just a moment though, the feeling of letting Eric see so deeply into her soul still felt a bit foreign to her. "You know, when I saw you, sitting there at that poker table…" she trailed off, the tiniest of smiles touching her lips. There was no possible way she could describe the rush of emotions that had consumed her upon seeing him. Relief, joy, need, lingering fear…she'd felt a mix of everything possible. "That was when I knew I was okay."
Her admission floored him. Everything about her being so open with him left him in awe. He'd thought he was falling in love with her before, but this was ten times that, now that he was truly and completely seeing her. Nothing hidden, nothing held back. Unable to help himself, he leaned forward, capturing her lips in the sweetest, the softest of kisses.
I don't know what I would've done if something would've happened to you.
The truth of his earlier words resonated through his mind and his heart as their lips mingled lazily. With the lightest of touches, he cupped her face, gently stroking his thumb over her cheek, treasuring this moment, this night as deeply as he could. He'd almost lost her today; he wasn't going to take any of this for granted.
The quietest of whimpers escaped her lips as he pulled away from her, and with a sigh Eric lay back once more, opening his arms to her. "Come here," he coaxed softly, an inviting smile at his lips. Calleigh couldn't help but oblige him; the fit of perfection that she had discovered before upon being in his arms was just something she could never deny, ever again. It was just…right.
As Eric traced hypnotic circles over her back, Calleigh felt herself quickly grow drowsy. The last of her adrenaline had finally left her, leaving her feeling limp, weak in Eric's arms. That, coupled with the bubbly sense of contentment that spread through her entire being was enough to make her eyelids heavy.
It wasn't much later that the urge to close her eyes became undeniable, and with a soft yawn, Calleigh nestled herself further into Eric's strong arms, the gentle rise and fall of his chest luring her once and for all toward the realm of dreams.
She knew that eventually the nightmares would come. Maybe not tonight, maybe not tomorrow night. Maybe not even for a week or two. Maybe not until a particularly grueling case reduced her to her weakest, lowest, most vulnerable point.
She didn't know when they would come, but she knew that when they did, Eric would be there to wake her. Eric would be there beside her. Eric would be there for her, even when she insisted she was okay.
He was always there.
Who had been the first person to cross her mind when she thought she was going to die? The thought of not getting to say goodbye to whom brought the first tears to her eyes? Who had been the only person she'd really seen sitting at that poker table?
Eric.
Eric was all she'd seen.
Calleigh had spent way too many years fighting away her affection for him, trying to ignore that affection as it steadily grew into something more, something far deeper than she'd ever felt before. She had even managed to convince herself that what she felt every time he smiled at her was nothing, that it would pass in time.
She'd spent so long being fearful of the consequences - what if their relationship was forever changed for the worse? What if their working relationship suffered? What if she lost the truest friend she'd ever known? But just this year, they'd both nearly lost each other.
It had taken a steady breakdown of every last stronghold, every last reason to be apart. And when every last excuse crumbled to the ground in a pile of rubble, all Calleigh could see was Eric. It had taken a complete and total breaking down of her strongest barriers, but through that breakdown, she'd come to realize that everything she'd been so afraid of before never really mattered at all.
In the breakdown, Calleigh could no longer deny the truth that her heart most likely had known all along. Him, her; together.
This was the way it was meant to be.
By: Jessica
Fandom: CSI: Miami
Pairing: Eric Delko/Calleigh Duquesne
Prompt: #72 - Fixed
Word Count: 9337 (Total word count = 15,454)
Rating: NC-17
Spoilers: There are references to several many episodes, so really, anything is fair game, including Ambush and All In (6x15, 6x16), for which this is a post-episode fic. Posted here as two separate parts due to the length.
The entire story as one part can be read here: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4203368/1/
Part One here on LJ can be found here: http://bytheoceantide.livejournal.com/21499.html
"I was so afraid of losing you today," Eric murmured quietly, and it was all Calleigh could do to keep from shuddering at his tone. "When I saw you walk through that doorway, that bastard with a gun at your back, it was all I could do not to shoot him right there. And then…when he threatened to shoot you…" Eric trailed off, his eyes clearly demonstrating the fierce anger that had coursed through his veins earlier. "I could've killed those guys with my bare hands," he continued in a whisper, almost a growl. "I would've killed anyone with my bare hands for you."
They were the same bare hands that currently held onto hers so gently, with such compassion. Releasing her hands, Eric gently traced his fingers over her covered sides, feeling his own emotions run away with him. He had almost lost her. He'd let her slip away from him, and then he'd almost lost her for good. Letting either of those happen again was not an option to him. "Calleigh…" he murmured, the fire in his eyes undeniable.
Calleigh couldn't speak. Her own need was blinding her to everything but the man in front of her and his lips, his strong arms, his eyes, his arousal…there was nothing else she could do. Unwaveringly returning his fiery gaze, Calleigh flicked her tongue over her lips before reaching out and clutching the collar of his shirt, harshly pulling him closer as her lips crashed against his. She'd gotten her answer. She needed this. They needed this.
Eric couldn't help but grin into the kiss as she tugged him closer, her fingers clutching his collar so tightly that he thought the fabric might leave a mark at the back of his neck, but he didn't care about that. At this point, there was very little he did care about; nothing existed but himself and Calleigh in this moment.
His hands at her hips, Eric tentatively allowed his thumbs to slip beneath the fabric of her camisole, just barely brushing over her smooth skin. It was only the pad of his thumb, but Eric would swear right then and there that no other woman he'd been with had smoother, softer skin than Calleigh. So slowly, he allowed just a bit more of his palm rest against her soft skin, using every bit of his strength to hold himself back, at least for now.
It was all he could do to keep from tugging her camisole over her head, but he had to let her set that pace. There was a nonverbal sign that he was waiting on, a sign she hadn't given yet, and even if it killed him, he knew he had to wait for that. For the moment, though, he appeased himself by trailing kisses down her neck, ignoring the protests made by his back over their obvious difference in height. With gentle fingers, he slid the strap of her camisole to the side, latching his mouth onto the creamy skin of her shoulder. Calleigh gave a soft sigh, his name on her lips spurring him on as he kissed, suckled, and nipped lightly at her shoulder before following the path of her collarbone back to her neck.
Suddenly, the height difference became a little too much for Eric's back. Knowing exactly how he could rectify that, he traced his hands down her back and over her backside, eliciting a surprised gasp from Calleigh as he lifted her up, momentarily pressing her completely against the wall. Instinctively Calleigh's legs wrapped around his waist, and Eric almost lost it as he felt her heat come in contact with his arousal, even through the two layers of fabric that both of them still wore. As if that weren't enough, she ground her hips into his, craving the contact against her sensitive core. Eric groaned deeply against her skin, pressing her even harder against the wall as he struggled to maintain his own balance. Having Calleigh in his arms, her legs wrapped around him was already enough to make him lose his mind; he didn't need the added sensation of her grinding her hips against his.
Didn't need it, but oh dear God how he wanted it.
Closing his lips over her throat, Eric suckled a little more forcefully at her pulse point. Calleigh moaned softly, tilting her neck to grant him better access. At the same time her fingers slipped between their bodies, beginning to work the buttons of his shirt with precision. She wanted to feel his bare skin against hers.
As her fingers closed around the fourth button down, she felt Eric's teeth nip lightly at her throat, momentarily destroying her concentration. Her eyes closed and she let out a soft whimper, trembling when Eric laved his tongue over the spot before kissing a trail of fire further downward toward her collarbone. Supporting her against the wall, Eric sneaked a hand between them, gently brushing over her covered breast, groaning lightly as he realized she lacked a bra beneath her top. He couldn't help but grin against her skin as he cupped her breast, his thumb teasing gently over a hardened nipple. Calleigh whimpered, squirming against him as he teased it to full hardness, the soft fabric between her nipple and his thumb creating even more sensation.
Despite her momentary distraction, Calleigh managed to undo the last of the buttons on Eric's shirt, exposing to her his extremely toned chest. She pushed the offending fabric out of the way, Eric lending her the little bit of help she needed to get it off of his body. Carelessly, Calleigh tossed the black button-down somewhere over Eric's shoulder, not caring at all where it landed. And finally, her hands were roving over his chest, feeling as his muscles rippled beneath her fingertips. Calleigh couldn't help but moan at the thought that flashed before her eyes - the feel of the softness of her bed beneath her, and the hardness of those muscles as Eric moved above her…the thought had her shuddering in his arms and pressing her hips even harder against his.
Her hands on his skin was the sign he'd been waiting for - he knew he couldn't touch her so intimately until she made it okay. Now that she had, Eric brought his hands to the hem of her top as he kissed his way back to her lips, allowing his tongue to tease hers before balling the fabric in his fists and tugging upward. Calleigh lifted her arms, breaking away from his lips long enough to let him pull it over her head, her cheeks flushing lightly as she realized just how exposed to Eric she now was.
It was a tint that brightened as Eric's eyes stared unabashedly, from her tousled hair, to her pink cheeks, then to her uncovered breasts. "You are beautiful," he whispered, lifting a hand to gently cup a breast. Calleigh bit at her lip as he rolled the nipple between his fingers, whimpering out loud as he leaned in and rained kisses over her other breast, studiously avoiding where he knew she wanted his lips the most. She squirmed against him, the double-assault from his lips and fingers driving her crazy.
It was mind-blowing, the feel of too much sensation over one breast, but not enough on the other. One nipple receiving the undivided attention of his skillful fingers, the other nipple completely neglected. Well, not completely neglected; Calleigh could feel his breath against it as he kissed his way around it, teasing her to the point of insanity. Her squirms intensified as she grew ever more impatient, ever more needy. "Eric…" she whined, trying to direct his head herself.
Eric enjoyed the playful torment; more than that, he enjoyed the way her beautiful lips whimpered his name, unabashedly showing him her need. He toyed with her only a moment longer, then finally he gave into her pleas. He smirked, closing his lips around her sensitive nipple, flicking his tongue at it, his own arousal growing as the sound of her momentarily relieved moan reached his ears.
Calleigh shuddered as he suckled at her aroused nipple, occasionally adding his teeth to the mix. He nibbled gently, feeling Calleigh's nails dig into his shoulders as he did so. Panting slightly, she couldn't believe that both of them remained halfway dressed. Eric already had her worked up to near bursting. She wasn't sure how much more of this exquisite torture she could take, but at the same time, she wanted it never to end.
She wanted it never to end, but Calleigh wasn't sure how much more she could take up against this wall. The muscles in her back had finally begun to cramp, protesting its hardness. Squirming against Eric, Calleigh couldn't help but give a dissatisfied groan. "Eric," she mumbled, wincing as he responded by pushing her harder against the wall. "Eric…bed…"
While he hadn't picked up on her displeasure, Eric had no complaints about that request. Tightening his hold on her, he slowly began moving them away from the wall. Calleigh clung to him as he carried her, the light grinding of her hips against his very nearly driving him out of his mind. As if that wasn't enough, Eric was afraid he might drop her when she leaned forward, closing her lips over his earlobe. Her gentle sucking motion, combined with the occasional nibble, was enough to send the rest of the blood in his upper body soaring southward. "Cal…" he growled, nearly swaying on his feet when she bit him softly in response. She smirked slightly, releasing his earlobe and choosing instead to plant featherlight kisses to the skin below it, slowly working her way back to his lips. Once there, he met her eagerly, knowing he could never get enough of her taste, her kisses.
Forcing himself to break away from her, Eric somehow managed to ignore her whimper of protest, though he so desperately wanted to give in and kiss her again. Ever gently, he lay her down on the bed, taking a moment to simply take in the vision of her lying there, only half-clothed, waiting for him to join her. She shifted slightly, raising herself onto her elbows as she gazed up at him, sheer need in her emerald eyes. "Eric…"
That was all the encouragement he needed to join her. Lowering himself to the bed, Eric moved over her, feeling as though his entire body was on fire. Wasting no time, he brought their lips back together, kissing her deeply, fully, their tongues mingling, exploring, tasting each other. Eric shuddered, moaning lightly as Calleigh's arms circled him, her hands moving sensuously over his back as she pulled him down to her, laying back fully on the bed. With a slight whimper, Calleigh squirmed beneath him, feeling his arousal pressing against her covered core, making her need even more contact.
As if reading her mind, Eric's fingers found the drawstring of her pants, roughly pulling it untied. Calleigh shivered, feeling his touch so close to her apex, yet still so far away. Suddenly, Eric chuckled against her lips, and Calleigh realized that she'd bucked her hips toward him. She was completely out of control of her need, her response to that need, and it felt…liberating. She'd never felt so free before; she wanted Eric to take control; she wanted to let go.
And then, suddenly, she was thrown right back to the very span of time she so desperately needed to forget. Without warning, Eric's fingers brushed over the bruised patch of skin along her abdomen, and Calleigh couldn't stop the whimper of pain that escaped her lips. Immediately, Eric broke away from her lips, his eyes flying open, the dark brown orbs filled with such worry that Calleigh felt guilty for being the cause of it. To her dismay, he moved off of her, his eyes instantly flitting to the purplish splotch at her stomach. So gently, his fingers traced the outline, the worry and concern mixing with anger in his eyes - there was only one place she could've gotten that bruise. "What happened?" he breathed.
Calleigh closed her eyes; why did he have to bring that up? How she'd gotten that bruise was the last thing she wanted to think about right now. "It's nothing," she lied, opening her eyes and staring blankly up at the ceiling. She wished Eric would believe her; that he would go back to his exquisite exploration of her body, but she knew he wouldn't until he got the truth.
Just as she'd expected, Eric saw straight through her lie. "Calleigh, that's not true," he chided softly, pressing a gentle kiss to the bruise. Calleigh however, remained silent, and Eric for the first time realized his greatest fear was a reality. "They hurt you, didn't they?"
Calleigh refused to look at him; to her surprise, the sting of tears was pricking slightly at her eyes. "He kicked me," she answered quietly, breathing deeply. "I…I made a mistake, and he threw me to the ground, face-first, and then kicked me over…"
The look of sheer anger that flashed through Eric's eyes momentarily frightened Calleigh, though that fear was soon overcome by the realization that he was angry for her. Never had she seen him so deeply affected; it blew her away to think that he could possibly feel that deeply for her. "Eric…"
The quiet whisper of his name brought him back to her, and despite the fact that his pants still felt as though they'd shrunk monumentally, Eric suddenly couldn't shake the guilt that he'd actually let this get this far. His conscience was berating him; Calleigh had just gone through a traumatic experience, and here he was, getting her out of her clothes. "Calleigh, he murmured, ducking his head. "I'm sorry…"
Blinking her eyes, Calleigh felt confusion wash over her. He was sorry? For what? With a slight groan, she pulled herself to a sitting position, waiting for Eric to look back into her eyes before speaking. "What?"
Eric sighed, feeling his apprehension fade somewhat as he gazed into her eyes. "I don't want…to push you," he struggled with his words, much like he often did around Calleigh. "I don't want you to do something if you're not ready. I don't want to hurt you," he murmured, clasping the fingers of one hand with hers.
If ever the sincerity in his voice had melted her completely, it was right there in that moment. She'd felt him against her; she knew he needed her just as badly as she needed him. And yet, still his main concern was hurting her. "Eric, please," she whispered, tugging at his hand to emphasize her point. Despite the momentary distraction, she was still on fire for him. "I need…you." Her eyes never leaving his, she pressed a soft kiss to his shoulder, letting her lips linger before she lay back once more, trying to tug Eric with her. "Please."
Wordlessly, Eric gave a slow nod, ignoring the pulling at his hand. Instead, he positioned himself over her abdomen, and, ever gently, he showered kisses over the forming bruise, wishing more than anything that he could actually kiss it better. Her abdomen fluttered slightly with every touch of his lips, and briefly he wondered whether the slight contact was hurting her. Calleigh quickly put that suspicion to rest though; she released his hand, hers finding its way to the back of Eric's head, gently scratching his neck with her nails.
She whined softly, finding herself driven crazy by the slow pace Eric was maintaining. With his soft lips caressing her skin like that, she thought she would go crazy before Eric ever returned to the task he'd originally begun before laying eyes on her bruise. Eventually though his hands found their way back to her now loosened pants, and as he grasped the material with his fingers, he slipped them down and away from her slim legs, with a little help from Calleigh who was more than eager to get the stifling material away from her body, leaving her before him in nothing more than her panties.
But before Eric had time to admire her beauty, Calleigh was tugging at him again, trying to coax him back to her lips. He obliged; after all, by his plans he would have plenty of time to ravish her body. As soon as his mouth closed over hers, he felt her tiny hands stroke down his chest, easily finding and skillfully undoing his belt. But that was where her skillfulness ended; at that moment, Eric broke the kiss, dropping one more quick one to the corner of her mouth before kissing a trail of fire once more to her neck, suckling at the junction of her neck throat and shoulder as she struggled to rid him of his pants. It was hard to concentrate; she fumbled with the button and the zipper as he suckled at her skin, but Eric was similarly affected. Her lack of concentration caused her fingers to brush over his covered arousal, emptying his mind of everything but her hands and their current position. He groaned as she pushed at the offending material, and once the fabric bunched around his knees, Eric pulled back and pulled them the rest of the way off himself, leaving his confining boxers the only material left covering him.
It hit him then, as he straddled her; they were really going to do this. He and Calleigh. The woman who'd visited him in his wildest dreams; the woman he'd grown to know, respect, love more than any other woman in his life. It was almost surreal; he couldn't believe this. He couldn't believe she was beneath him, just as vulnerable, unguarded as he was. It took his breath away. Catching the questioning glance in Calleigh's eyes, he leaned down, pressing a quick, reverent kiss upon her lips.
He seemed to be lost in thought over something, but what, Calleigh didn't know. Using that to her advantage, she gripped at his shoulders, feeling the muscles tense beneath her fingers. Summoning up all of her strength, Calleigh pushed at his body, rolling them over and planting herself right on top of him. She couldn't help but grin smugly down at him upon witnessing the surprise in his eyes. "Hi there," she murmured seductively, before leaning over him, her mouth quickly seeking out his.
Her hair fell around them in a curtain of vanilla blonde as they kissed languidly, deeply. Calleigh shuddered, feeling Eric trail his hands down the length of her body, stopping briefly to flick his thumbs over both of her nipples, loving the way Calleigh whimpered quietly into the kiss. Continuing their trek downward, he ran his fingers over her taut abdomen, taking extreme care not to irritate her bruise, then around to her back before coming to rest at her hips, pulling her down against him as she began to grind her hips slowly against his.
Eric gave a hiss of pleasure as he felt her heat against him, and even through the layers that remained, the sensation was enough for his mind to go completely blank. Unable to stop himself, he bucked his hips up against hers, and Calleigh drew in a deep breath, trembling above him. "God, Eric," she moaned quietly, arching her back. Entranced by the sight, Eric slowly drew his fingers up her sides, from her hips to her breasts. Calleigh bit her lip as he cupped her breasts in his palms. She whimpered softly, but it quickly became a cry as Eric again lifted his hips into hers, grinding against her center.
Overcome by the sensation, Calleigh once more fell forward, her hands on Eric's chest as she kissed him almost frantically, her need now soaring above what she even thought possible. Her tongue dueled for control with his, and Eric gladly let her think she was winning that battle, for he had other plans. Gripping tightly to her hips, he gave a deep groan as he pulled her fully against him, hesitating only for a second before flipping them back to their original position; Calleigh on her back beneath him. "Hi there to you too," he smirked, mocking her earlier words.
"Not fair," she pouted, her eyes sparkling as Eric smirked above her.
"Next time," he murmured in response, dropping a soft kiss to the valley between her breasts. "Maybe, that is." Before Calleigh could protest, Eric closed his lips around a hardened nipple, nibbling lightly at the swollen nub. Calleigh cried out for the first time, the sound music to Eric's ears. Alternating gentle nips with soft swipes of his tongue, Eric had her arching her back beneath him in no time as her own hands began to reach between them, reaching for him. Eric let out a hiss as her fingers brushed against him through his boxers. Lifting his lips from her breast, he smirked down at her as he reached between them, capturing her hands in one of his before she could grasp onto him. Calleigh whined, an adorable pout at her lips, but Eric didn't let that deter him. He knew he was already too far gone; just the right stroke of Calleigh's fingers could push him over the edge far too soon.
Calleigh struggled to free her hands, but Eric refused to relent until he'd moved too far out of her reach. He pressed a gentle kiss to the underside of her breast, noting the way she squirmed beneath him. She was getting restless, he could tell. But in no way did that knowledge stop Eric from taking his own sweet time as he slowly made his way downward, leaving no patch of skin unkissed.
As his lips made the slow trek downward, exploring fingers crept their way down Calleigh's smooth, silky sides, feeling as her stomach fluttered beneath his touch. Slipping lower, Eric soon found what he was looking for without ever breaking the contact between their lips. A thin, lacy barrier was all that separated him from her, and it was enough to steal Eric's breath from him. He'd only ever dreamed of being this close to her, and he was growing more and more sure that he was going to wake up at any second.
He dipped his tongue in her navel, loving the sinuous way her body arched at the sensation. She was panting lightly now, and Eric couldn't help but grin against her skin - she was already out of breath, and he was just getting started. Calleigh wanted to forget what had happened to her, and at this point, Eric's ego wanted nothing more than to make her forget everything but his name.
Tilting his head so he could look up into her face, Eric finally allowed his fingertips to brush ever so lightly over her covered apex, finding himself momentarily awestruck at the way Calleigh trembled at his touch. Tightly closed were her eyes, and her teeth gently worried her bottom lip, as obviously she struggled not to fall headfirst into the realm of sensation Eric was causing in her.
But that was exactly what Eric wanted: he wanted her to fall. He wanted her to let go and concentrate solely on the feelings he stirred within her, both physical and emotional. With a devilish grin, he pressed the palm of his hand against her, placing just enough pressure to drive her wild, but not enough to grant her any kind of release. It was still too soon for that. For that reason, Eric had to try extra hard to ignore the way his boxers continued to shrink around him with each whimper that left Calleigh's lips. Every sound and move she made drove him farther and farther toward the edge, and when she whined out his name, Eric had to pause and take in a deep, steadying breath of his own.
As he continued to kiss his way slowly downward, Eric hooked his thumbs in the sides of her black, lacy panties before tugging them downward, a grin touching his lips at Calleigh's eagerness to get them away from her body. Calleigh giggled softly as Eric sat up and carelessly tossed the fabric over his shoulder, having no clue where it might have landed. With the softest touch possible, he brushed his fingertips along her thigh, only merely flitting over the most inside part. "God," he murmured, his awe plain in his voice. "You're beautiful."
Her entire body flushed at his compliment, shivering as she felt his touch grow closer and closer to her center. "You've said that already," she pointed out quietly, a sparkle in her eyes.
Eric smiled, leaning over her and gently pressing a kiss to her hip. "And I'll say it a million more times," he replied, and Calleigh felt her heart completely melt. She felt as though her entire body could melt into the bedsheets as Eric nipped gently at her hip, easily discovering yet another of her most sensitive spots. It soon became more than she could handle, and with a sharp tug, she pulled Eric back up her body, shuddering as he snuck a quick nip at her breast in the process.
Lifting her head from the pillow, Calleigh met his lips with such intensity that Eric couldn't help but groan lightly into her mouth. For the first time, she felt his arousal pressing against her bare skin. Instinctively her legs parted for him, and Eric pushed his hips against hers, making her squirm and whimper beneath him. He did it again, and this time Calleigh lifted her own hips, catching him off guard, leaving him wanting to whimper aloud.
Before Calleigh could do it again, Eric had broken away from her lips and begun kissing his way downward, first over her neck, over her collarbone, her breasts and stomach, this time allowing his lips to move lower than Calleigh had let him before. Calleigh closed her eyes tightly, knowing exactly what was coming, that knowledge causing a fresh rush of moisture to emerge between her legs. She felt Eric's hands as he caressed her thighs, moving from the outsides to the insides, his fingers never quite making it to where Calleigh suddenly needed them to be. Instinctively she parted her legs even more for him, unable to hold in a cry as he just barely brushed over her apex. She'd feared he might stop to ask if she was okay again, but to her relief, her soft cry had the opposite effect.
Extremely slowly, Eric deepened his exploration, little by little increasing the pressure of his fingers. Languidly he stroked her entrance, momentarily blown away by the moisture he found. He'd made her like this. He'd been the one to make her react like this. It was his name that left her lips on breathy cries, soft pleas. He was the one who had her gripping at his wrist as she squirmed beneath him, set aflame by even the lightest touches.
If the lightest of touches could do this to her, then what would happen if Eric touched her just a little more boldly? Just thinking about the possibilities made him groan. He watched her face closely, loving the way she bit her lip as he dipped a finger inside her. He couldn't help but let out a low growl as he felt just how wet she really was. He was further blown away by the way Calleigh whimpered at the intrusion, her back arching as her body searched for more contact.
Eric couldn't help but oblige her; he himself was too far gone to withstand much teasing now. His eyes never leaving her face, he slipped a second finger inside, hesitating only for a moment before letting his thumb brush over her swollen nub, just barely. Calleigh gasped, tensing visibly, and immediately she brought a hand down, fingers closing almost painfully over his wrist, as though that might help her regain the control that Eric was so intent on destroying. He smirked, using his free hand to pry her hand away from his wrist. "I don't think so…"
"Eric -" her protest quickly faded into a shuddering moan as Eric curled his fingers inside of her, making her forget why she'd tried to protest in the first place. His lips were back at her thighs again, raining soft kisses over her skin as he pumped his fingers, occasionally letting his thumb brush where he knew she wanted it the most. Her hips bucked against him, and Eric gave a playful smirk, reaching out with his free hand to hold her down.
Watching her lose her control like this was so exhilarating to Eric. He'd never seen her when she wasn't so immaculately put together. Even the few times when he'd seen her cry, there had been a definite control about her tears. She never sobbed openly, at least not in front of anybody. Even when she raised her voice to someone, she never let her emotions spin out of control. And now, she was letting go. For him.
To be trusted by her that intimately took Eric's breath away.
He felt her thighs quiver as he continued kissing his way inward, nibbling gently at the inside of her thigh. Settling between her legs, Eric glanced quickly up to her face, the lustful look in her eyes sending sparks of electricity straight to his own arousal. At that point, he just couldn't take it anymore, and with his free hand he managed to quickly shove the confining material off and away from his body, without missing a beat. With a devilish grin, he pursed his lips, blowing a light stream of air over her core, taking pride in the knowledge that that tiny action already had Calleigh gripping at the sheets.
As soon as he touched his tongue to her swollen nub, Calleigh's head fell back, unable to hold herself up any longer. This was just too much for her; her entire body felt as though it might catch flame at any moment.
His fingers pumping steadily inside her, Eric gently flicked the swollen nub back and forth with his tongue, moving faster and faster as her whimpers began coming more and more often, growing steadily louder. He felt her walls clench around her fingers, and Eric knew just how close she was. With a grin, he closed his lips over her clit, and though he only suckled gently at it at first, it was enough to drive Calleigh wild. Suddenly, Eric felt her nails digging at his scalp, and whether she was trying to bring him closer or push him away, he couldn't tell.
Increasing the pressure and the tempo of his fingers, Eric sucked hard at the swollen nub, feeling as Calleigh's body suddenly went rigid. She dug her nails into his flesh almost painfully, but Eric couldn't care less about that, because suddenly his name was falling from her lips in quiet murmurs, and he knew that had to be the sweetest song he'd ever heard. Refusing to remove his mouth just yet, he glanced up toward her, watching in awe as her entire body shuddered with the force of her climax, and all Eric wanted to do was keep her shaking, keep her murmuring his name like a prayer.
He slowed the pace of both his fingers and his lips as she slowly began to come down from her climax, loving the continuous shudder that seemed to consume her. He could feel her panting; he could see the rise and fall of her chest as she caught her breath. After a moment he began increasing the pressure again little by little, and almost immediately Eric felt her hands pushing at his head, the sensitivity becoming too much for her to handle. Eric obliged her, slipping his fingers out and allowing her to tug him up by the shoulders, though he did pause to lave a few soft kisses over her abdomen. Calleigh whimpered though, and with a smirk Eric left her taut stomach behind, eventually coming to rest as his face hovered mere inches above hers.
"God, Eric," she drawled softly, the disoriented look in her beautiful green eyes making his lips curl into a smug grin. Calleigh chuckled slightly, wishing she had the energy to roll her eyes. "You certainly seem satisfied with yourself," she teased.
Eric snorted. "Like you were complaining," he retorted. He dropped a quick kiss to her lips. "Come to think about it, I'm the one who should be complaining. Maybe I wasn't finished when you started pulling me back up here."
Calleigh gave a spent chuckle, and Eric found himself entranced by the sound. "But you were having too much fun teasin' me," she murmured playfully, still unable to catch her breath completely. "I had to stop you sometime…"
Eric lowered his head, gently nipping at Calleigh's bottom lip before allowing their mouths to meet fully. Calleigh sighed beneath him, her nails gently scratching at the back of his neck. Lips and tongues mingled almost lazily, separating only long enough to breathe in, a mix of the needed oxygen and the dizzying scents of each other replenishing them.
When at long last they finally parted, Eric gazed down at the beauty beneath him, once more in awe over her. Her eyes were closed as she nibbled tantalizingly at her lip. She took deep breaths, panting slightly as she struggled to catch her breath. With a quirk of her lips, she allowed her eyes to flutter open, losing herself in Eric's dark brown eyes. Lifting a hand, she gently traced her fingers over his cheek, feeling his stubble beneath them. That touch, coupled with the look in her eyes, was too much for Eric, and he couldn't help but kiss her again.
"I want you," she murmured between kisses, her lips brushing against his as she spoke. Her hands sought him out, and Eric shuddered above her as her fingers stroked him. She kept careful eyes on his expression, enthralled by the way he responded to her touch.
As his eyes came open once more, Calleigh felt her fingers falter as such a delicious shiver ran throughout her body, making her squirm impatiently beneath him. She wanted him so badly; she'd wanted him for years. He made no effort to move, though, and Calleigh couldn't help but whine his name. "Eric…"
Eric lowered his head, pressing the softest of kisses along her jaw. "Are we…" he swallowed hard, the very idea that he was actually about to do this with Calleigh nearly blowing him away.
Calleigh gave a soft nod. "We're protected," she whispered, her body jumping slightly as she felt him against her for the first time. The sensation was so overpowering, and Calleigh had to close her eyes for a moment. When she opened them again, Eric was watching her so carefully, obviously needing her now, but somehow finding the restraint to wait for her okay. With a grin, she lifted her hips, reveling in the expression that flitted over Eric's face. "Please, Eric," she murmured, lifting her head to press a kiss to the corner of his lips. "I need you…"
Eric didn't need any more encouragement. His eyes never leaving hers, he shifted his hips and began to push inside of her, moving almost agonizingly slowly. On his part, though, the agony was worth it - there was nothing better than watching Calleigh's face as they became one in the most intimate way.
He'd felt it with his fingers, but that was nothing compared to feeling her warmth, her slick wetness around his hardness. Once more he was astounded, his ego taking a major boost at the knowledge that she was like this, for him. Only for him.
It was with that thought that he pushed in the rest of the way, burying himself to the hilt. The sudden movement was harsh compared to the slow movement with which he'd begun, drawing a shuddering cry from Calleigh's lips.
Lowering his head, Eric captured her soft lips with his as he gave her a moment to adjust to him. The feeling was nothing less than exquisite; feeling her warmth surrounding him, knowing they were joined in the most intimate way, feeling Calleigh's hands as they stroked over his shoulders, his back, his buttocks. He felt her shift against him, and Eric broke the kiss with a groan, feeling her walls tighten slightly around him.
Regaining his control, he gazed down into Calleigh's face, waiting for her to open her eyes to him. "You okay?" he asked quietly, gently stroking her cheek with his thumb. Despite his own need, his heart was still with Calleigh; he still worried about her after the ordeal she had gone through.
She pulled in a deep breath, nodding slowly as she breathed out. "Yeah…" she replied, softly lifting her hips into his, trying to coax him to move.
With one more kiss to her lips, Eric gazed directly into her eyes as he began a slow thrust, pulling out almost completely before pushing back in. Calleigh gave a quiet moan, her eyelids fluttering as shivers raced the length of her spine.
The fit was exquisite; their bodies moved together oh so perfectly, so sinuously. Losing himself completely in the rhythm their bodies picked up of their own accord, Eric lowered his head, gently suckling at Calleigh's earlobe as he thrust almost lazily, never wanting this moment to end. He could hear Calleigh's ragged breathing as she too lost herself, her nails scratching their way down his back, her body writhing beneath him with every thrust.
The sighs and whimpers that escaped her lips were nearly his undoing, and he couldn't help but thrust a little harder, a little deeper with the next stroke. The muffled "oh!" that left her lips was another sound he mentally cataloged as one of his favorites.
Her nails raked over his back as he drove her toward the edge, and the way she squirmed beneath him nearly drove him out of his mind. He couldn't help it as his thrusts took on a more frantic pace, but Calleigh didn't seem to miss the slowness at all. Lowering his head, Eric gave a low grunt, kissing every patch of skin within reach of his lips as Calleigh's hands trailed further down his back, trying to pull him closer, deeper. Her hips lifted against his as he thrust in, sending him that much deeper. Calleigh's back arched and she whimpered his name, her eyes shut tightly in concentration.
He wanted so badly to watch her as she surrendered herself, but the wave of extreme pleasure beginning to overtake his body, not to mention his entire being, was just far, far too intense. His own eyes fell closed, his hips taking on an even more desperate rhythm, a rhythm which Calleigh's body quickly picked up.
"Eric," she murmured breathily, her lips seeking his as her body trembled. "God, Eric."
Her name escaped his lips in a rough whisper when he felt her begin to flutter around him; close, so close, but not quite there yet. A deft hand he reached quickly between them, quickly seeking out her swollen nub. Calleigh cried out as his fingers rubbed over it, first gently, then increasing the speed by fractions as she gasped softly beneath him, never fully able to catch her breath.
Determined to bring her over the edge, Eric gave a low growl and thrust hard, once, twice, and again before Calleigh cried out his name, her body shuddering, her nails digging into his skin, her walls contracting so tightly around him as her climax hit her, hard.
As he felt her tighten around him, all it took was the sound of his name leaving her lips, laced with such pleasure, ecstasy. With just a few more deep thrusts, Eric followed her over the edge, her name on his lips as his body trembled above her with the force of his climax. He buried his face in the crook of her neck, breathing her in as the spasms began to trail off, leaving him spent, satisfied.
For a moment he lingered, brushing the lightest of kisses over her neck as he struggled to catch his breath. Lifting his head, he pressed a quick kiss to her lips before beginning to move.
She gave the softest of whimpers as he pulled out; she didn't want him to leave her. As he rolled onto his back with a groan, he pulled Calleigh with him, and immediately Calleigh snuggled into his embrace, still feeling so deeply the need to be close to him, much to Eric's delight. She pressed a gentle kiss to his chest before laying her head atop it, her hand resting just above his beating heart. His arms wrapped around her, holding her closely as though she belonged nowhere else but there.
There was no awkwardness between them, like she'd been afraid of in the past. Right now, Calleigh couldn't care less that they were co-workers, that they were friends who stood to lose that friendship if this didn't work out. Every fear she'd ever possessed about being with him had dissipated, just because this felt so completely right. This was how things were supposed to be.
Except for one thing. The dark cloud of her abduction was still hanging over her, just waiting for a chance to open up and rain down upon her once more.
As her lingering shivers eventually subsided, Calleigh couldn't help but fall back into her thoughts. She'd been able to block it out before, but now they were back with a vengeance. And now, it was even worse. The depth of the emotion she'd poured into their lovemaking had left her emotionally raw, completely open to attack from everything she'd tried to hide from earlier. It hit her in unavoidable waves as she snuggled against Eric, wishing that simply being in his arms could protect her from all of it.
Despite fighting, the feelings crashed into her, drowning her in waves of emotion that still felt so real, almost as though she were living through it again.
The apprehension she'd felt upon driving up to the "crime scene."
She had known something wasn't right; she'd had a gut feeling. A gut feeling she had ignored in favor of following procedure, sticking to protocol. She had resisted the urge to call for back-up; she was Calleigh Duquesne, she didn't need that for a simple scene.
After she'd gotten out of the Hummer, her memory became blurry. Anything she remembered was triggered by the accompanying emotion, which Calleigh would've rather forgotten than the actual events. Events were simple to deal with; emotions, not so much.
The sheer fear that had gripped her as the sweet-smelling cloth was pressed over her face.
Though she'd been stunned, she'd fought with all her might, ignoring the screaming in her head that told her it was useless; it was chloroform, and it would knock her out whether she fought or not. But adrenaline and fear pushed her, and Calleigh couldn't help but struggle. She was strong in her own right, but even she couldn't outpower the men's rough grasp and the potency of the chloroform. She'd tried, but it hadn't been enough. Next thing she knew, she was waking up in the abandoned warehouse.
The determination that set in as she first opened her eyes, her captor before her. The desperate need to assess the situation and take control of it, any way she could. The need to leave behind a message, any message, for anybody. She couldn't deny it now; she needed help.
She wasn't sure what pushed her to do it, especially since by then she was certain that these guys had covered their tracks. And besides, they were smart. Before anybody ever made it to this warehouse, they would be long gone anyway. Still, Calleigh left what little breadcrumbs she could, knowing that though slim, there was always a possibility.
The growing hopelessness as the dreaded realization set in; the realization that she might not make it out of this alive.
And that was the one that got to her. Never before had Calleigh felt so hopeless, so lost. She'd always prided herself on being able to take care of herself without relying on others, but now that had been taken from her. She couldn't get away. She couldn't stop them.
She was going to die.
Before Calleigh could realize it, her eyes were stinging, her vision blurring. Stubbornly she tried to blink the moisture away, but the memories just kept pressing at her. Her heart pounded; her breathing quickened. Despite her current bodily state of satisfaction and comfort, such an intense feeling of panic broke through those barriers, crashing over her in waves. It was as though she'd lost herself in a nightmare…only Calleigh was more awake right now than she would ever be.
Uncontrollably her lip began to quiver, and Calleigh was unable to stop it even though she bit it to the point of pain. Moisture continued to fill her eyes, but Calleigh could no longer allow herself to blink, knowing that slight motion would not clear them away, but cause them to fall from her eyes.
And, even through her fighting, a few tears just would not be held back.
Eric was nearly lost to the realm of sweetest dreams when he was pulled sharply back from that ledge, the strangest of sensations against his chest. It wasn't the soft vanilla of her hair brushing over his skin. It wasn't the steady warmth of her breath either. This was wet, warm, and it alarmed Eric before he fully realized what it was.
Gently he brought a hand to the back of her head, his fingers gently threading through her locks of blonde. "Calleigh?" he whispered, his heartbeat quickening within his chest. She tensed in his arms, making Eric that much more worried. He couldn't see her eyes; he had no idea what was going through her mind right now. "Are you okay?" he asked tentatively, almost afraid of the answer. What if she chose now to close herself away from him?
Calleigh hesitated for a moment, feeling her cheeks tint in embarrassment. Discreetly she brought a hand up, wiping at the moisture that had formed in her eyes. "I'm fine," she murmured, despite knowing immediately that Eric would see right through her lie. She wasn't okay; she was fighting back demons that were too strong for her to fight alone.
There was no way that Eric was going to believe that. He'd felt the tear, he'd felt her tense up, and his heart just broke for her. There was a tiny bit of fear at the back of his mind - did Calleigh regret this? Was this too soon for them? But that fear was far eclipsed by his fear for her. Whatever she was struggling with, she was trying to struggle with it alone. "You can talk to me, baby," he said softly, the endearment slipping from his lips as though it were the most natural thing he'd ever said.
It was the sincerity in his voice that got to her, breaking down her carefully constructed stronghold. Just being safe in his arms made her want to let go; it made her want to trust him even more than she already did. She wanted to trust him with the deepest of her emotions.
And snuggled tightly against his warm body, with one arm around her while the other hand played in her hair, Calleigh found she couldn't not let go. She fought it; oh how she fought it - it was what she'd trained herself to do for years and years, fighting her emotions, refusing to let anyone see the woman who existed beneath her sunny exterior. But now, the wave was just too much; she wasn't strong enough. Instinctively her fingers clutched into fists as her body tried to compensate for this rush of emotion. Squeezing her eyes tightly, she fought against the growing sting of tears, though she knew it was an undefeatable task. She pulled in a shaky breath and lifted her hand, shielding herself as her face crumpled. "Oh God, Eric," she whispered, her tears pushing through the barrier of her eyelids.
As her body began to tremble in his arms, Eric's heart came to a complete standstill. As she buried her face in the crook of his neck, Eric gently kissed the top of her head, whispering quietly to her. Instead of questioning her, he merely held her close, somehow knowing that was exactly what Calleigh needed. She didn't sob; she didn't bawl, neither of which Eric ever expected from Calleigh. Her tears came quietly, falling gently upon his shoulder, only the occasional sniffle or whimper coming from her.
Just as he'd known she would, Calleigh quickly pulled herself back together, feeling embarrassed and just as emotionally raw as she had before. Avoiding his eyes, she shifted back to her original spot, her head resting atop his chest. "I'm sorry, Eric," she murmured, almost inaudibly. With her fingers she traced random patterns over his chest, lingering over where she felt his heartbeat. "That wasn't…about this. Us."
Honestly, that had been the farthest thing from his mind. "I know," he replied quietly. Reaching out, he gently caught her hand as she traced over his heart, clasping his fingers with hers.
Calleigh let out a deep breath, letting herself be comforted by their connected hands. "Do you?" she asked, part of her wanting to sit up and draw the covers around herself, but the rest of her was far too content to stay where she was. "Because I really don't want you to think that I regret this, or that I think it's a mistake, because…" she swallowed hard, feeling so exposed. "Because I don't."
"I know," Eric repeated, punctuating his words with a kiss to her hair. "You've had a rough couple of days; I'd be amazed if you weren't shaken."
It was then that Calleigh did pull away from him, much to Eric's disappointment. It wasn't that being so near to him, so open with him had grown uncomfortable. She did want to talk to him. There was just something about him that was so inviting, and Calleigh possessed not the will to deny that. But she did need a bit of space between them for the moment.
For the first time, Eric got a glimpse of her eyes; her reddened, moist eyes. He knew those eyes, though only seeing them like that a few times - as he'd woken up in the hospital, and when he'd sat with Calleigh in the back of the ambulance not too many weeks ago. He wanted to respect her need for space, but Eric couldn't help but rise to a sitting position himself, the covers pooling at his waist. Gently he reached out, brushing a lock of tousled blonde behind her ear. "Cal…"
"They - they were going to kill me, Eric," she whispered, his name almost a whimper. Taking a deep breath, Calleigh steadied herself, hesitating until she was ready. "They were going to use me to cover up the murder, and then they were just…going to get rid of me. I never thought I would make it out of there alive. I was going to be…" she swallowed hard, staring down at the comforter, "one of the bodies on Alexx's autopsy table. I was going to be one of the victims, one of the casefiles."
There was nothing Eric wanted to do more than pull her into his arms, but still he allowed himself only the gentlest touch at her cheek. "There's no way I would've let that happen to you," he whispered, his own voice shaky. "No way in hell."
The seriousness of his words struck a chord deep within Calleigh. Somehow, she knew his words were true, and that knowledge was enough to silence so many of the nagging voices that remained in her mind. She had to duck her eyes for just a moment though, the feeling of letting Eric see so deeply into her soul still felt a bit foreign to her. "You know, when I saw you, sitting there at that poker table…" she trailed off, the tiniest of smiles touching her lips. There was no possible way she could describe the rush of emotions that had consumed her upon seeing him. Relief, joy, need, lingering fear…she'd felt a mix of everything possible. "That was when I knew I was okay."
Her admission floored him. Everything about her being so open with him left him in awe. He'd thought he was falling in love with her before, but this was ten times that, now that he was truly and completely seeing her. Nothing hidden, nothing held back. Unable to help himself, he leaned forward, capturing her lips in the sweetest, the softest of kisses.
I don't know what I would've done if something would've happened to you.
The truth of his earlier words resonated through his mind and his heart as their lips mingled lazily. With the lightest of touches, he cupped her face, gently stroking his thumb over her cheek, treasuring this moment, this night as deeply as he could. He'd almost lost her today; he wasn't going to take any of this for granted.
The quietest of whimpers escaped her lips as he pulled away from her, and with a sigh Eric lay back once more, opening his arms to her. "Come here," he coaxed softly, an inviting smile at his lips. Calleigh couldn't help but oblige him; the fit of perfection that she had discovered before upon being in his arms was just something she could never deny, ever again. It was just…right.
As Eric traced hypnotic circles over her back, Calleigh felt herself quickly grow drowsy. The last of her adrenaline had finally left her, leaving her feeling limp, weak in Eric's arms. That, coupled with the bubbly sense of contentment that spread through her entire being was enough to make her eyelids heavy.
It wasn't much later that the urge to close her eyes became undeniable, and with a soft yawn, Calleigh nestled herself further into Eric's strong arms, the gentle rise and fall of his chest luring her once and for all toward the realm of dreams.
She knew that eventually the nightmares would come. Maybe not tonight, maybe not tomorrow night. Maybe not even for a week or two. Maybe not until a particularly grueling case reduced her to her weakest, lowest, most vulnerable point.
She didn't know when they would come, but she knew that when they did, Eric would be there to wake her. Eric would be there beside her. Eric would be there for her, even when she insisted she was okay.
He was always there.
Who had been the first person to cross her mind when she thought she was going to die? The thought of not getting to say goodbye to whom brought the first tears to her eyes? Who had been the only person she'd really seen sitting at that poker table?
Eric.
Eric was all she'd seen.
Calleigh had spent way too many years fighting away her affection for him, trying to ignore that affection as it steadily grew into something more, something far deeper than she'd ever felt before. She had even managed to convince herself that what she felt every time he smiled at her was nothing, that it would pass in time.
She'd spent so long being fearful of the consequences - what if their relationship was forever changed for the worse? What if their working relationship suffered? What if she lost the truest friend she'd ever known? But just this year, they'd both nearly lost each other.
It had taken a steady breakdown of every last stronghold, every last reason to be apart. And when every last excuse crumbled to the ground in a pile of rubble, all Calleigh could see was Eric. It had taken a complete and total breaking down of her strongest barriers, but through that breakdown, she'd come to realize that everything she'd been so afraid of before never really mattered at all.
In the breakdown, Calleigh could no longer deny the truth that her heart most likely had known all along. Him, her; together.
This was the way it was meant to be.