The kiss was soft and warm, their mouths moving against each other slowly, tentatively. Gil shifted again and rolled Catherine onto her side. His hand brushed over her arm, tickling the skin beneath the silky material of her pajamas, and slid it around to her back. Catherine felt his fingers twisting tightly into her top and she sighed into Gil's mouth as he pulled her against him. He rolled to his back, taking her along with him. Her body pressed down on him and she felt his erection growing solid against her middle. His hands wound their way up her back and neck, fingers braiding into her hair, and he pulled her in. Catherine opened her mouth to deepen their kiss ­ sliding her tongue between his parted lips. She felt him shudder in response.

Catherine broke their kiss and opened her eyes. Gil's eyes were closed, his lips curled into a soft smile.

"Gil?" She pushed herself upwards and sat so she was straddling his hips.

"Yes?" His eyes opened slowly. They were glazed over and unfocused.

"I want you to make love to me."

"I...uh...I don't understand, Catherine. Earlier you said that you didn't...that it would be a mistake right now...that it could..."

"Gil, shut up." Catherine chuckled quietly and untangled herself from him. Standing, she smiled down at him. "Are you sure the doctor said that you're going deaf?" He nodded, confusion clouding his blue eyes. She reached down to him and pinched his cheek lightly. "Well, I don't know that I'd worry about that just yet. I think what you really need to start working on is that selective hearing problem you already have."

Gil's lips curled into a smile that matched hers. He laughed softly.

"Yeah. I guess that's true enough. Sorry."

"I'm so beyond used to it, it's sick. Anyway, what I said before was basically that I didn't want our first time to consist of fucking against my living room wall ­ you in a drunken stupor and me going along with it just because you're feeling bad." Gil's eyes widened in shock and she laughed. "Ok, maybe I didn't say it in those *exact* words. But it's what I meant. I want our first time to be ­ special. The way it should be. And right here, right now, in this bed ­ it is special."

Gil nodded and swallowed roughly.

"So?"

"So."

"Will you? Make love to me, Gil?"

"I can't think of anything else I'd rather do."

Catherine began to undress. Gil rolled to his side, his eyes gliding over her delicate hands as she unbuttoned her pajama top. Working slowly, she moved her fingers over each button, pushing them through the holes as carefully as she could. His gaze burned along her skin as she slid the pale silk over her shoulders.

The moment was broken when Gil gasped in self-disgust. His hand flew to his mouth when he saw the small, reddening circles on each of her shoulders.

Catherine had known there would be bruises. She'd been on the receiving end of many slaps, punches, and kicks over the years ­ not to mention the fact that she saw bruises on a daily basis at work. If there was an expert in this area, Catherine Willows was it. When he saw them, Gil would have some kind of reaction ­ Catherine had known he would. He had seen her skin colored with purple, blue and black before. Been witness to her face covered in cuts and scrapes. But those bruises, those cuts, had come courtesy of Ed.

This was very different. The marks on her body had been made by him ­ by Gil's own fingers.

"God, Catherine, I..." Gil sat up quickly and stood. His fingertips brushed over the still-developing bruises. He pressed his lips gently to each one. "I'm so sorry."

"It's ok."

"But...I..."

She pressed her finger to his lips and then replaced it with her mouth. Her lips moved skillfully over Gil's, eliciting soft moans from him. His arms came around her and she wrapped her own around Gil's body. The soft cotton of his shirt rubbed over her exposed breasts and her nipples became taut. Catherine's hands dropped to his waist and she grasped the edge of his t-shirt. She ran her hands over his chest, pulling the shirt up as she went. Their kiss broke momentarily as Catherine slid it over Gil's head. Their lips reconnected immediately. When their naked skin made contact, she gasped into his mouth. Gil slipped his arms around her and pulled her close. His fingertips played along her spine like a piano and her legs began to shake.

Gil ended their kiss and looked into her eyes. His hands dropped to her waist and slid under the waistband of her pajama bottoms. Catherine sighed heavily as he dotted her face with tender kisses. Pausing at her throat, Gil grazed the spot lightly with his teeth and tongue. He moved lower down her torso, kissing and nibbling her skin, stopping between her breasts. Shudders passed through her as his lips brushed over the skin of each tender globe of skin.

Inhaling deeply, Gil continued his descent. Gentle kisses dotted her body, his lips pressing against every inch of exposed skin. He dropped to his knees and pushed her pajamas over hips. The silky material fell to the floor and pooled at her feet. Catherine's skin prickled with goosebumps when the cool air made contact with her nude body.

Catherine heard Gil's breath catch and her eyes snapped open. She looked down to see him staring at her ­ eyes open wide, an expression of what she could only describe as pleasure covering his face. It was then that she realized she was standing in front of him ­ completely naked. Catherine felt oddly exposed. That confused her a little given the fact that she had been a stripper for so long. Nudity had been her career, why was she feeling exposed now?

Again, she knew this was different. When she stripped, it had been for strangers. People she couldn't care less about. The only thing she had wanted from them was their money. Catherine cared deeply about the man kneeling in front of her. He was her co-worker ­ he was her friend. He wasn't some stranger in a club. There were actual feelings between them. Catherine began to shift on her feet nervously.

Gil's eyes finally lifted to hers. A soft smile curled the corners of his lips and her uneasiness disappeared. He stood and gathered her against him. Strong arms lifted Catherine from her feet and placed her gently on the bed. Gil's gaze travelled over her once more. When his eyes returned to hers, he removed his own shorts. Reaching down, he picked up Catherine's pajamas and placed both of their clothing over the bed's footrail.

Catherine watched him for a moment ­ how tenderly he folded her pajamas in half and placed them on top of his. It was so *Gil* of him. When his eyes turned to her, she smiled and reached out for him.

"Gil." Her voice was a whisper.

"No. Not yet." Gil climbed onto the foot of the bed. "I've been waiting a long time to do this. I don't want to miss anything."

Starting with the tip of her toes, Gil kissed each inch of her skin. His lips slid over her ankles and calves. Catherine buzzed with electricity as he passed over each thigh. When his lips brushed over her center, she almost screamed. Her body tensed, back arching into him. Resisting the urge to grab his hair and hold him there until she climaxed, Catherine inhaled deeply and forced her body to relax. Gil continued his ascent ­ his lips, teeth and tongue testing and tasting everywhere they could. Over her flat stomach, pausing at each breast, and finally arriving at Catherine's throat.

Pulse racing, Catherine slipped her hands into Gil's hair and pulled him gently away from her neck. When she spoke, her voice was breathy and hoarse ­ her words choppy.

"I can't...handle...anymore. I want...you...to..."

Before another word left her lips, he shifted slightly and entered her.

Catherine lay cradled against Gil. His strong arms encircled her, his warm breath brushing over the back of her neck. She had never felt so comfortable in her entire life. So ­ complete. It was in that moment that she knew exactly how she felt about Gil Grissom.

"Gil, I need to tell you something."

"Ok." His voice was soft and sleepy as he nuzzled into her hair.

"And I want you to know that I'm not just saying this to make you feel better about what the doctor told you. Or because of what just happened between us." She rolled onto her other side so they were laying face to face. "But I need to say it."

"Catherine, you've never held back on me before. You know you can say anything to me." He brushed the backs of his fingers across her face. "Go ahead."

"No interrupting?"

"Scout's honor."

"I'm falling in love with you, Mr. Grissom."

Gil stared at her for a second, his eyes burning a path all the way through her. She felt electricity speeding through her ­ from the top of her head to the tips of her toes.

"God, Cath." He reached out and placed his palm on her cheek. "Can't you see? I've already fallen."

~ end ~