Beginnings

Chapter One:

Gil was so tired, but he did not want to go back to his empty hotel room. The conference was almost over, only one more day. Today he lectured to a group of young FBI agents about gathering data on a crime scene where insects were involved. Talking about bugs was his favorite subject and he enjoyed it, but for some reason, he just was not into it today. He was beat and feeling out of sorts. Maybe a drink would help him relax enough to face the empty bed.

The hotel's bar was large and dark. Gil stood in the doorway for a few seconds to observe his surroundings. About a dozen or more men and women were sitting at the tables around the small dance floor and at the bar.   Gil walked in and took a seat at the bar. The bartender, a large, bald man, came over and asked him what he wanted to drink.

"Scotch." Said Gil.

The bartender sat a shot glass in front of Gil and reached behind him to pull a bottle of Glenfiddich off the shelf.

As he poured he asked, "Do you want to run a tab?".

"Sure, go ahead."

Gil picked up the shot glass and looked intently into the amber colored liquid. He slowly took a sip and leaned back. The television above the bar was set on CNN and Gil watched the news while he nursed this drink. He sat the empty glass on the bar and the attentive bartender filled it again.

"I hate drinking alone," said a voice behind Gil, "do you mind if I sit with you?"

Gil turned to see a thirty-something man standing next to him. He was tanned and buff looking with dark hair. Gil motioned towards the stool next to him.

"Make yourself at home." Said Gil.

The man sat down and held out his hand. "Tim Abrams."

"Gil Grissom."

"I know, I'm a fan." said Tim.

Gil looked at him questioningly, "A fan?"

"I was in your lecture this morning. I found it fascinating."

"Are you with the FBI?" Gil asked.

"I'm with a private consulting firm in Los Angeles and there were some lectures that I really wanted to attend. I'm heading out in the morning." Said Tim.

Gil took another sip of his drink and asked, "Is there a call for that in the private sector?"

Tim grinned at him. "No, but I've always been fascinated by creepy crawlies."

Gil smiled back. He really was a nice looking guy, thought Gil.

Gil and Tim talked for the next thirty minutes about current events, baseball and their jobs. Gil felt very relaxed and at ease with Tim.

Gil started to feel a bit light-headed and mentally counted how many drinks he had drank. Was it three, four or maybe five? He could not be sure.

"Look, Tim, I think I've had a bit too much to drink. I'm going up to my room now and try to get some sleep." Gil stood up and swayed a bit.

Tim stood also. "Are you okay?"

Gil gave a short laugh, "Yeah, just drunk."

Gil gave Tim a small wave and headed towards the door. He had crossed the lobby and was waiting at the elevator when Tim appeared by his side.

"Hey, I thought I might just walk up with you. Is that okay?" Tim asked and gave Gil a boyish grin.

Gil was drunk so it took his mind a few moments before he realized that Tim was implying that he wanted to go to Gil's room. It had been a very long time since Gil had been with anyone in the sexual sense. Every since that horrible time last year when Nick was buried alive, Gil had been having feelings that he shouldn't have and he had avoided all social and sexual contact. He had pretty much become a hermit. Work, overtime, sleep and more work.

"I really don't know if I'll be good company."

The elevator doors slid open. Gil felt his resistance let go. Maybe he needed this to get Nick out of his system.

Tim looked at him expectantly, "Hey, I just thought that we could hang out, nothing has to happen if you don't want it to, okay?"

"Okay." Gil held his hand up to keep the elevator doors open while they both walked in. He hit the button for his floor. They were both silent as the doors slid closed and the car began to move upward. Gil kept his eyes on the lighted numbers. When the 12 lit up, the doors opened and nervously, Gil stepped into the hallway. He reached in his pocket and pulled out his keycard. After he inserted it and the green light came on, he hesitated and looked over at Tim.

"I really don't do this. I haven't been with anyone in a long time. I really not sure if I can, you know..." Gil realized that he was rambling, so he just stood there silently and then pushed the door open. He slowly walked into the room and stared at the bed, like he had never seen one before. Tim came up behind him and put his arms around him, so that his hands rested on his chest.

"You're trembling." Tim said as he moved his hands down Gil's chest to rest on his hips. Gil just stood there, suddenly not knowing what to do with his hands. Tim turned Gil around to face him and began unbuttoning Gil's shirt.

"You have a nice chest, Gil." Tim said as he moved his hands over Gil's smooth chest. He took one of Gil's nipples between his thumb and forefinger and gave it a squeeze. Gil moaned and felt his knees begin to buckle. Tim just looked at him and smiled.

Before Gil knew it, he was naked on his back while Tim stood beside the bed gazing down at him. Slowly, and very seductively, Tim pulled his polo shirt over his head and Gil's already hard cock pulsed. Tim made short work of his shoes and pants and he crawled onto the bed beside Gil. His hands seemed to be everywhere on Gil's body, and pleasure coursed through him. He let his eyes close as Tim used his mouth to cover all the places that his hands had touched. When Gil felt his mouth on the head of his cock, his back arched and his breathing became labored.

Tim licked all around the head of Gil's cock before taking the whole length in his mouth. Gil cried out, "Oh God, please. That feels so good."

Tim moved his body around so that his dick was within Gil's reach. Gil reached up and cupped his fingers around Tim's balls and gave them a gentle squeeze and then slowly moved his hand up to wrap around Tim's hard cock. He stroked it slowly, rubbing his thumb over the head to get his fingers wet with Tim's pre-cum. Tim moved his hips back and forth, pumping himself in Gil's hand without once missing a stroke of his mouth on Gil's cock.

Gil became aware of Tim's hand reaching off the bed and fumbling with the clothing on the floor. He wondered for a split second what Tim was searching for and it came to him. A condom, of course. Once Tim had the small foil packet in his hand, his mouth came off of Gil's cock and he sat up on his knees.

"Do you have anything that we could use as lubricant?" Asked Tim.

Gil felt suddenly scared. He hadn't been a bottom since college. He was a control freak and couldn't handle giving up even an iota of control during sex. But Tim was so hot, and Gil was so turned on. Before he could think himself out of this situation, he said, "There's some lotion in the bathroom."

Tim bounded off the bed and disappeared into the bathroom. Gil absently stroked his aching cock, not wanting to loose the intense feeling. Tim returned a few seconds later and crawled on the bed between Gil's slightly spread legs.

"Which way is better for you? On your back or on all fours?" Tim asked as he was rolling the condom down his shaft.

Gil couldn't think. He could not take his eyes away from Tim's hand caressing his balls as he waited for Gil's answer.

"I don't know. Either way is fine. Whatever you like." Gil said. He wondered what it was about this guy to make him lose his sense of control.

"Roll over and get up on your knees."

Gil did exactly what he was told. Once he was on his knees and elbows, he felt Tim's hands rubbing his ass. Slowly, up and down his ass and upper thighs. After a few moments, he relaxed and Tim's fingers brushed down the cleft of his ass. He tensed, but slowly Tim's fingers caressing his puckered hole made him relax again. Tim's finger slowly pushed in and Gil moaned.

"So tight, so very tight. God, I can't wait to get my cock inside you." Tim panted behind him. Gil began pushing back onto Tim's finger and that was all the encouragement that that Tim needed.   A second finger was pushed into Gil and he felt the pressure against his prostate.

"God, so good. Please." Gil's was panting heavily and his hips began moving on their own accord. Gil groaned loudly when Tim removed his fingers. Gil then felt the head of Tim's cock pushing slowly against him.

"Relax, baby. I'm going to fuck you until you scream." Tim said at the same time he pushed the head of his cock into Gil's waiting hole. Gil gasped and moved forward on the bed, but Tim's hands gripped his hips and held him steady.

"Hurts...stop....please." Panted Gil.

"It's okay, baby. Relax." Tim gasped out. "I can't stop now."

Tim pushed in a bit more and Gil realized that it did not hurt as much now. His body was loosening up and the pleasure was beginning to outweigh the pain. His hips began to move in time to Tim's thrusting. Soon Tim's cock was all the way inside of Gil and Gil felt Tim's balls brushing against his. The sensation was amazing. It had been way to long. His hand came up to grasp his own dick as Tim's continued to pump into him.

"So tight, I won't be able to last much longer. Are you going to come for me, Gil?"

"Yes, yes. Fuck me, fuck me faster." Gasped out Gil.

Tim did not need to be told twice. His pace picked up until his balls were wetly slapping against Gil's. Gil felt himself losing control. He was going to come. His throat felt dry from all the heavy mouth breathing.

"I'm coming. God, yes, yes." Tim's thrusting became frenzied.

Gil screamed out as he came all over his hand and the bed. "Nick, yes. Nick."

Chapter Two:

When Gil awoke, the sun was streaming in the hotel window. He turned his eyes away from its brightness and his eyes focused on the man sitting in the chair by the bed. Memories of the previous night came flooding back. Embarrassment rolled over Gil in waves. What to do? What to say?

Tim smiled at him. "Don't worry. I'm not going to hang around and make small talk. I just fell asleep afterwards and only woke a few minutes ago. He stood and moved towards the door. Gil did have enough social skills to feel like he should say something.

"You don't have to rush. I could call down for breakfast." Gil said, silently praying that Tim would say no. His prayer was answered.

"No, thanks anyway. I have a flight in a few hours and I still have to pack." Tim gave him another boyish smile and turned to open the door. He hesitated and then turned back. "Hey, if you are ever in L.A., look me up. I left my card on the dresser. Oh, by the way, Nick is a very lucky man."

Tim stepped out in the hall and let the door ease shut.

Gil sat in the bed for several minutes, replaying the previous evening in his head. The bed smelled of sex and Gil felt the stirring of arousal. He blamed in on "morning erection" and ignored it as he got up to start his day. He had about 20 minutes to shower and get downstairs to the ballroom, where his morning lecture was going to be.

The morning lecture was only an hour, so Gil had plenty of time to pack, eat some lunch and call a cab to the airport. Check-in was tedious; but pretty soon, Gil was in his aisle seat. The flight attendant did her safety speech and the plane taxied down the runway.

Once they were in the air and the seatbelt light went off, Gil opened up his laptop and tried to catch up on some reports for work, but he kept slipping into daydreams.

He had been embarrassed to scream out Nick's name while he was with another man. Nick seemed to always be in his thoughts. It really had to stop, he was going to say or do something stupid one day.

Gil's plane touched down in Las Vegas at 8:30 that same night. He had asked Catherine to pick him up to avoid leaving his car at the airport parking lot. He stepped off the concourse and headed toward the baggage carousel. He had called Catherine on his lunch break and told her to just meet him there to avoid the crowds of departures and arrivals.

He stood in front of the conveyor and watched all the luggage go slowly by. His laptop had been his only carryon bag and he was intent on locating his two checked bags when a familiar voice startled him.

"Hey, Griss. Nice flight?" Nick Stokes stood next to him. What was he doing here, Gil wondered. He really didn't think he could handle seeing Nick tonight. He was prepared to see him at the lab tomorrow, when he would have had time to put on his façade of total control.

"Nick. What are you doing here? Gil asked, turning back to watch the conveyor.

"Catherine asked me to pick you up. Lindsay had volunteered Catherine to chaperone a dance at the school. Boy, was Catherine pissed." Nick said easily, totally unaware of Gil's discomfort.

"Oh, well, you know how kids are?" How inane, Gil thought. Nick was a single guy, like he would really know how kids are. Shit, even he did not know how kids were.

"Hum, er, there's my bags." Gil said as he reached out to snag the first of his bags. Nick reached out and grabbed his garment bag. "You don't have to do that, I can get both."

"It's okay. Come on, let's get outta this place. All these crowds give me the heebie-jeebies." Nick began walking towards the exit with Gil on his heels. They did not speak again until the automatic door of the airport terminal shut behind them. The wave of dry, hot air hit Gil and he longed for the coolness that he just left in Chicago.

"I did not miss the heat." Gil said, just to make idle conversation. At the lab and on crime scenes, Gil had no problem talking to Nick, but any social situation and he felt like a geeky teenager.

Nick turned to him and grinned. "Come on, you wouldn't give up Sin City for the Windy City, now would you?"

Gil returned his smile. "No, I guess not."

Nick stopped at the back of his Tahoe and hit the automatic locks. He opened the back and tossed Gil's bag in. Gil put his bag inside among the various crime scene kits, gym bags, fast food bags and wadded up laundry.

"Nick, don't you ever clean this thing out?"

Nick laughed out loud. "Damn, Griss, if I cleaned it out, I wouldn't be able to find anything."

Gil just looked at him and shook his head. Once they were both in the vehicle, Nick started the ignition and laid his arm across the seat to look behind him. His fingertips grazed Gil's hair and Gil felt an electric shock shoot through his body.

Nick backed out of the lot and before long they were in traffic headed east. The conversation in the car focused on cases that were in process when Gil left and the new ones that had come in the last few days. Gil was back in his comfort zone, as long as the talk remained on work he could get through being in Nick's close proximity.

It only took about 20 minutes to get from the airport to Gil's townhouse, and soon Nick was pulling into the parking space next to Gil's Denali.

"Home, sweet home." Nick said as he turned off the engine.

Both men got out of the SUV and walked to the back. Nick got there first and opened the hatch. He reached in and grabbed the garment bag and handed it to Gil, then reached back in and picked up the bigger bag. Gil was too tired to argue with him about carrying his luggage, so he just turned and headed up the brick walk to his front door. Nick was right behind him and his closeness made Gil fumble with the keys. Eventually, after trying for the third time, the door swung open.

Gil turned on the light in the foyer and moved into the living room. He swung his laptop on the couch and laid the garment bag over the back of it.

"You can just sit that anywhere." Gil said, pointing to the large bag in Nick's hand. Nick took that literally and dropped it in the middle of the floor. It took all of Gil's control not to pick it up and move it, but he knew that it would be rude and the last thing he wanted was to upset Nick.

"Do you want a drink?" Gil asked, and then almost kicked himself. Nick's presence flustered him. He needed to get Nick out of here, before he said or did something stupid. Gil held his breath, hoping Nick would say no.

"Sure, got any beer?"   Nick asked as he sank down onto Gil's couch.

"Of course." Gil said over his shoulder as he went into the kitchen. He opened the refrigerator and grabbed two bottles of Tecate. He snapped the caps off and tossed them into the trashcan and walked back out into the living room.

He handed Nick his beer and went over to the thermostat on the wall. He slid the lever over to drop the temperature in the house.

"It's musty in here. Let's go out on the patio." Nick rose and followed Gil to the French doors that lead out to his patio. Nick had been in Gil's house before, but never out back. He was impressed.

"Wow, Griss. I'll bet women go nuts when they see this. I want to housesit for you next time you go out of town." Nick said as he took in the hot tub and all the tropical plants.

"Do you really need stuff like this to get women, Nick?" Gil asked.

Nick had the grace to blush. "Well, I guess I really don't have problems getting women, it's the keeping them that I have the problem with." Nick said ruefully.

"Maybe you are trying to hard. The best one will come along when you aren't looking." Gil said, as he picked up the hose and began watering the wilting plants.

"Is that experience talking?" Nick sat down in one of the chaise lounges and stretched out. Gil breath caught as he watched Nick tip his head back and drink his beer. He had a beautiful neck and Gil was actually turned on by watching Nick's Adam's apple move slowly up and down with each swallow.

Nick brought the bottle down and looked at Gil expectantly. Gil knew Nick had asked him a question but for the life of him he could not remember what it was.

"Sorry?" Gil looked abashed. "I didn't hear you over the hose."

Nick's eyebrows came together. "Hey, are your ears bothering you again?"

It took a moment for Gil to realize that Nick thought his hearing was giving him problems. "No, no. My hearing is fine, it's just the water running, you know."

Nick did not look convinced. "Okay, if you say so. "

"So, what was the question?" Gil asked.

"Forget that question and answer this one, what do you find attractive in a woman?" Nick asked quizzically.

"Well, I really haven't thought about it in a long time.   I'm not good at relationships, so I try not to dwell on that kind of stuff." Gil lied. The last thing he wanted to talk about with Nick was who and what he found attractive.

Nick looked pensive and wouldn't let the subject drop. "Come on, Griss, you can tell me. Blonds? Brunettes? Redheads?"

Gil looked away again and mumbled, "brunettes".

"Athletic? Robust? Skinny?"

Again, Gil mumbled, "athletic". Nick heard him, but just barely.

"Griss?" Nick waited a few seconds and then moved his chair closer to where Gil had sat down at the patio table.

"What?"

Nick realized that this was a subject that should probably remain closed for now, so he changed tactics. "Can I get in your hot tub?"

Gil looked up with surprise. "Sure Nick. I think I have some shorts that will fit you."

Nick just laughed. "It's just us guys, who needs shorts?" And before Gil could come back with an answer to that question, Nick had pulled his black polo shirt over this head and his hands were on the button of his jeans. Gil's mouth went dry at the sight of Nick's washboard abs. He had seen them before on a few occasions in the locker room at the lab, but not in a long time. Not since his attraction to Nick had gotten out of hand. These days, he avoided the locker room when he knew Nick was in there.

"Nick, you're crazy. Just wait a minute and I'll go get you some shorts." Gil stood up on trembling legs.

"Shoot, Griss. I grew up in Texas, we skinny-dip all the time. Didn't you ever skinny dip?" Nick had gotten the zipper down on his jeans and he quickly pulled them down as he was kicking off his tennis shoes.

Gil sat down heavily as he saw that Nick wore navy blue boxer briefs that hugged every inch, every beautiful inch of his body. To save himself the embarrassment of seeing Nick nude, Gil rose again and walked to the patio doors. "I'll just go get you a towel. Do you want another beer?"

Gil did not even turn around to see Nick's thumbs wrap around the waistband of his briefs and slide them down his legs. He tossed them on the chair with the rest of his clothes and said, "Sure, bring a few, so we don't have to keep going inside. Hey, and bring a towel for you too." He called as the French door shut behind Gil.

Nick took the cover off the hot tub and found the on-off switch. He turned the tub on and reached his hand in to feel the temperature. It felt so good.

Meanwhile, Gil had taken the stairs two at a time to reach the hall cabinet where he stored his towels. He only got one; he had no intentions of getting into that hot tub with Nick. Nick's body was perfect and Gil knew that his body wasn't bad, but he sure as hell didn't have six pack abs. He hurried back downstairs and grabbed a large bowl, put in the rest of the six-pack of Tecate and two lone Samuel Adams for good measure. Then he filled the bowl with ice.

By the time he got back outside, Nick was in the hot tub with his hands clasped behind his neck. He looked wonderful. Gil sat the bowl of beer next to the hot tub and placed the folded towel on one of the chairs nearest to Nick.

Nick just grinned at Gil. "Come on in, Griss. Lighten up and relax with me."

Gil tried to act nonchalant, "I'm fine, Nick. You relax and I'll just watch." Fuck, did he just say that. He'll just watch. Fuck, fuck.

Nick looked back at him and noticed the panic in Gil's face. But he could not help but teasing his boss. "So, you like to watch?" Nick slowly rubbed his hands over his bare, wet chest. His right hand passed over his nipple and stopped to rub it slowly before dropping his hands in the water.

Gil could not look away. He could not speak. His eyes were latched onto Nick's wet chest.   His pants were painfully tight and Nick's grin faded to a knowing smile.

"Nick, I'm sorry. I, I need to go...go to bed...get some sleep. Stay as long as you want and lock up when you leave." Gil's breathing was harsh and he turned and almost ran to the door.

Nick called out, "Gil, wait." But the door banged shut. Nick leaped out of the hot tub and grabbed the towel and wrapped it around his waist.

Chapter Three

Gil couldn't believe how he had lost control. It seemed to be happening a lot these days. He ran up the stairs and shut the door of his bedroom. He sank down on the edge of his bed and put his head in his hands. How was he going to face Nick again? How was he going to go to work after this? Nick would tell Warrick and Greg and the rest of the team and everyone would know that Gil was a pathetic, dirty old man that was hung up on Nick. He imagined the names behind his back. Fag, queer and all the other derogatory names that people used.

The door to the bedroom opened and Gil did not look up. "Please Nick, just leave."

"I'm not leaving you like this, Gil." Gil realized that Nick had called him Gil, Nick always called him Griss or Grissom, and he never used his first name.

"Damn it, Nick. I don't want you here." Gil stood up and shouted. All control gone now. He turned so Nick would not see the emotions on his face. Gil knew his career at the Las Vegas crime lab was over. The rumors would start and Gil would have to move on.

"Gil, it's okay." Suddenly Gil felt Nick's body pressed to his back and his hands gripped Gil's upper arms.

"Don't." Gil went rigid and he squeezed his eyes shut.

"Don't what, Gil? Don't touch you? Well, guess what, Gil...." Nick spat out the words. "I wanted you to look at my body. I wanted you to want me. I wanted you to touch me."   Nick let go of Gil's arms and backed away. "I've wanted it for a long, long time." Nick finished with a whisper.

Gil turned and looked at Nick wide-eyed and confused. "What, what are you saying?"

"I'm saying that I want you, Gil. I've wanted you for a long time. But you, you are so unapproachable, so much smarter and so damn smug about it. I wanted to see if you were human, that's why I wanted to spend time with you tonight. I wanted to get you to relax a little and let go. I figured even if you did not do guys, I could at least be friends. And then when I was touching myself, I saw that you were turned on. I thought we might have a chance to see where it goes." Nick just let his tirade stop abruptly. He just stood there, wearing the towel, still dripping and just watched Gil for a reaction, any reaction.

"I never knew. I thought you were...I've seen you with girls...you're straight." Gil said.

"Obviously you don't know me as well as you think you do." Nick said with a shy smile. "Why don't we go back downstairs and finish our beer and get to know each other better. Okay?"

"Okay. But I'm wearing shorts and I wish you would too." Gil said with a rueful grin.

"Cool." Nick replied and waited as Gil rummaged around in his dresser for some shorts. He pulled out two pair and tossed one to Nick. "You can put those on in the bathroom." He said, pointing towards the hallway.

Gil took his pair into the master bathroom and shut the door. He leaned back on the closed door and squeezed his eyes shut.. Nick wanted him. Him, Gil Grissom. Amazing. And with a goofy grin in the mirror, he got out of his clothes and put the shorts on. Then he looked in the mirror again. Damn, when did he get so out of shape? He needed to start doing sit-ups. He took a deep breath and opened the door.

Nick must have already gone downstairs, because the hall bathroom door was open and the light was off. When Gil got downstairs, instead of heading outside, he went into the kitchen and picked up the bottle of scotch on the bar. Being with the object of his desire and not making a fool out of himself was going to take more courage than beer would give him. He grabbed a glass out of the cabinet and filled it with ice and took it and the bottle out to the patio.

Nick was back in the hot tub, so Gil tossed his towel down on a chair. He poured scotch into his glass and stepped down into the hot, bubbling water.

Nick smiled at him and said; "I just didn't see you as a hot tub kinda guy." Nick was taking this real slow and pretending the scene upstairs never happened.

Gil raised his eyebrow and asked, "Why not?"

Nick shrugged his shoulders, "Oh, I don't know, hot tubs just seem like something that swinging singles have and you are definitely not swinging. You are more of a library and cigar kind of guy."

Gil chuckled. "Was that a compliment or a statement that I'm old and boring."?

"Definitely not old and definitely not boring." Nick said as he turned up and finished his second beer. He put his empty bottle down and grabbed another.

"Thank you, Nicky. And I got the hot tub last year because I am old and need the hot water to get my joints moving sometimes.

"You're only fourteen years older than me, Gil. I don't consider you old at all. Besides, I really love older men."

Gil looked away and took a gulp of his drink and choked as it burned his throat.

"Isn't scotch made for sipping?" Nick said with a laugh.

"Smart-ass." Gil said wiping the tears from his eyes.

They sat in companionable silence for a while, each with his own thoughts. Nick finished his beer and got another. Gil finished his drink and poured another.

"Gil...."

"Nick..."

Both men stopped and laughed self-consciously. Gil spoke, "You first."

"I just wanted to tell you that everything I said up there in your room was the truth. When I first came to Vegas, I admired you and just thought it was hero worship that I was feeling. But the longer I was around you, I realized that I was attracted to you. Shit, I fantasize about you all the time."

"I fantasize about you too, Nick." Gil said, and then added, "I just wish things could be different. Because as much as I do want you, I just don't think what we want to happen can happen."

Nick sat up straight. "What do you mean? I want you, you want me. What's the problem?"

"Nick, we work together. If it got out that we were lovers..." Gil hesitated over the word; "it could cause problems for both of us.   I'm your supervisor. People would scrutinize every promotion, every evaluation. I won't subject you to that for an affair."

"But Gil, no one would have to know. We could be discreet. Damn it, I want this." Nick moved towards him and laid a hand on Gil's arm.

"No, Nick." Gil moved back making Nick's hand drop in the water. "I think this if for the best."

"Bullshit." Nick shouted. "You're scared of this, aren't you? That's why you're saying all this shit. You're just scared."

Gil shot down the last of his drink and looked at Nick. "Yes, Nick. That is exactly what it is..." With that, Gil rose from the hot tub and stepped out. He grabbed the towel and wrapped it around him. "I need to get some sleep now, Nicky. Remember to lock up when you leave." He turned and walked inside.

Nick smacked his hand down into the water. "Fuck!" He drank down the beer in his hand and grabbed another. He'd be damned if he didn't get himself royally drunk before he left.

Nick thought back to the conversation in Gil's bedroom and how he had snooped in Gil's nightstand while Gil went to put on his shorts. He was only going to look for condoms and lubricant, just in case the night progressed the way he wanted it to, and he found what he was looking for, but he also found about a half dozen pictures of himself. They were all taken at crime scenes, except one and that one was taken by Catherine at the lab's picnic last year. Nick had shorts on and no shirt and he had just finished playing football with the dayshift. Once he saw the pictures, he hurriedly shut the drawer and ran downstairs.

He assumed that Gil masturbated while looking at his picture and it made him crazy.

He sat in the hot water and fumed at Gil's stubbornness while he drank the remaining beer.   The heat and constant motion of the water made the alcohol go to his head a lot quicker than normal and when he stood, he got light-headed and had to hang onto the chairs to walk.

Once he walked inside and the cool air from the air conditioner hit him, he sobered a tiny bit. Enough to walk up the stairs and stand outside of Gil's closed bedroom door. He stood there until he could get his courage up the face his boss again.

On the other side of the door, Gil sat on his bed staring into space. He did not want to face Nick at the lab. He thought having feelings for a straight Nick was bad enough, but to know that Nick returned those feelings. It was just too much.

Suddenly, Gil's bedroom door banged open and Nick stood there. Dripping wet, with Gil's shorts clinging and riding low on his lean hips. He swayed a bit in the doorway and Gil knew he was drunk.

"You could have had me tonight, Gil. The real thing, and then maybe you would need to jack off to my pictures anymore."

Gil jerked as though he had been slapped. How had Nick known?

"You're drunk, Nick." Gil spat out. "You aren't in any shape to drive, so go in the guest room and sleep it off." When Nick did not move, Gil's voice rose an octave, "Get the fuck out of here."

Nick gave him one last angry stare and slammed the bedroom door behind him. He took the few remaining steps across the hall to, what he assumed was the guest room. He quickly took off the wet shorts and tossed them on the floor and threw himself on the bed, not bothering to pull the down the sheets and bedspread. It wasn't long before he slipped into an alcohol-induced slumber.

Chapter four:

Gil woke early. He hated getting back on schedule after being on vacation or at conventions. He had a whole day to lie around before going in for the nightshift. It would take him a few days to regulate his body clock again.

He swung his legs over the bed and that is when the events of last night came flooding back. Nick brought him home. Nick in the hot tub. Nick wanting him and he told Nick no. No. Gil rubbed his face with his hands and stood up. And remembered that Nick was in his guest room. How was he going to face him? Nick was so angry and Gil knew enough about human behavior to know that Nick was feeling rejected. Rejection was not easy on a man.

He went into his bathroom and turned on the shower. Somehow he was going to have to convince Nick that their mutual attraction for each other was not something they could pursue. But how to do that without hurting Nick. It was bad enough that he had to work with Nick, wanting him and knowing that Nick felt the same way. But he was older and he could deal with it. Nick, well Nick was Nick and he was emotional and had been through so much.

Gil stepped into the shower and let the hot water run over him. As he washed, he could not help thinking about the way Nick had looked in the hot tub. Seeing him like that was better than his collection of pictures. His cock was semi-hard as he thought about that hot body. His hand reached down and began stroking himself. Well, at least he wasn't masturbating to pictures. He continued to stroke his shaft with one hand and rub his balls with his other. With the image of Nick in his head, it did not take him long to climax, and he watched his semen run down the drain.

In less than ten minutes, Gil was dressed in jeans and a Chicago Cubs T-shirt. Taking a deep breath, he opened his bedroom door and stepped across the hall. Gil breath rushed out as he gazed at a naked Nick sprawled across his guest bed. He was on his stomach, one arm tucked under this head and legs spread wide. Gil couldn't take his eyes off Nick's beautiful, tight ass. God, what an ass.

Nick was snoring lightly and Gil backed out of the room and left him to sleep it off.

Thirty minutes later, Gil had finished washing up his breakfast dishes and was trying to create a shopping list since his cupboards were bare, when Nick walked in and leaned on the doorframe.

"Morning, Nick." Gil said, with a semblance of normalcy. He glanced up and immediate shifted his eyes back to the list in front of him.   He could not do this. He could not look at a bare-chested, hot, sleepy-eyed Nick and not have the thoughts that he was fighting so hard to deny. Nick was wearing the wet shorts from last night.

"Where are your clothes?" Gil asked, without looking up.

"Left them outside." Nick mumbled. He turned and walked out of the kitchen. Gil heard the French doors open and shut. A few minutes passed and Gil just sat staring at the items on his list, still trying to figure out what to do and what to say.

Nick came back and stood right at the doorway, "I'm leaving now."

"Nick..." Gil started.

"Don't Grissom." Not Gil, not Griss, but Grissom. Nick turned and Gil heard the front door bang shut.

Chapter five:

Gil spent the rest of his day running errands, grocery shopping and doing laundry and trying not to think about Nick.

Nick spent the day mindlessly flipping channels and trying not to think about Grissom.

Gil pulled into the crime lab parking lot about ten minutes before shift change. He sat in his Denali and searched the parking lot for Nick's Tahoe. It wasn't there. Gil went inside and got his coffee and headed to the break room for the mornings briefing. The rest of his team came in one by one, until only Nick was missing. Gil did not acknowledge that Nick wasn't there, but went on with his assignments and pretty soon Warrick was headed out to a B&E, Sara and Greg were off to a DB in the desert and Gil was left wondering where Nick was.

Gil went to his office and has all intentions of getting to the paperwork that had piled up during his time at the conference. But he could not stop watching the clock, as of right now, Nick was thirty minutes late. That was so unlike Nick. Gil hated that fact that he was going to have to play supervisor and say something to Nick about his tardiness. Between watching the minutes tick by on the clock and watching the hallway to see when Nick passed, Gil wasn't getting anything done. When the clock reached forty-five minutes past the hour, Gil stood up and walked into the locker room. It was empty and Gil pulled his cell phone out and called Nick's number.

"Stokes." Nick said in a clipped voice.

Gil hesitated and then said, "Nick, you're forty-five minutes late. I hope you have a good excuse."

There was silence, for a minute, Gil thought he had lost the connection and then he heard Nick's voice.

"I overslept. I'm pulling in the lot now, just take it out of my pay." Gil heard a click and the connection was severed.

Gil sat down on the bench between the lockers and debated just going back to his office before Nick could come in, but he knew that he had to face this and make things right before the whole crime lab got involved. He could not let his working relationship with Nick get screwed up.

Gil heard the locker room door open and swing shut and then Nick stepped around the corner. He hesitated when he saw Gil sitting there, but after a second, he moved to his locker and opened it up.

"Nick...." Gil started.

"Is this the part when you pull rank on me and tell me that being late is not tolerated, the team depends on you, yada, yada, yada.?" Nick said with a sneer.

"Nick, knock it off. Sarcasm is not your style." Gil said as he stood to move closer to Nick. He lowered his voice and said, "Nick, please, we've got to let this go. Nothing good will come of these....feelings that we are having now. You are a smart, strong, good-looking guy. You can have anybody you want...."

Nick spun around and pushed Gil up against the lockers with a loud bang. And his mouth came down hard on Gil's. It was a punishing kiss. Gil reached up to push Nick away and instead, his hand grasped Nick's shoulders and hung on. The kiss went from punishing to wet, hot passion in a split second and Gil felt his knees weaken. He felt Nick's hands at his neck, his waist, on his arms. Suddenly, Nick stepped back and if the bank of lockers weren't behind him, Gil would have sunk to the floor.

"My resignation will be on your desk by the end of shift." Nick said coldly, as he stormed out of the locker room. Leaving Gil to once again, sink to the bench.

Chapter six:

Gil pulled himself together and left the locker room. He needed to talk to someone. Someone who he could trust with his life, since this, at least for him, had become a life and death situation. He walked into his office with his cell phone pressed to his ear.

"Hey, I need you." Gil inclined his head for an instant then continued, "Fine, I'll be there in ten minutes."

In eight minutes, he walked into Jim's office. Jim Brass was probably his best friend. He had only come to realize how much he loved the guy when Jim was almost killed last year. He walked in and shut the door behind him.

Jim took one look at his face and without saying a word, reached into his desk and pulled out a bottle of Gil's favorite scotch and two glasses.

"We are still on duty, Jim." Gil said with a sad smile.

"Hey, who cares" Jim said with a wry smile. "And besides, who's gonna know?"

Gil shrugged his shoulders and sat down across from Jim's desk, as Jim poured the amber liquid into the glasses. He slid one across the desk towards his friend and leaning back in his chair, he took a sip.

"So, spill it." Jim knew how hard it was for Gil to have said the words 'I need you.' And he had prepared himself before Gil's arrival for the worst.

"There's someone...." Gil started.

"Shit, Gil. This is about a woman?" Jim sat up in his chair, slamming the drink on his desk. "Damn it, man, I though you were going to tell me you had a terminal disease or something. "

Gil raised his eyebrows, and said, "Well, perhaps that would have been easier to tell you than what I really have to say."

That really got Jim's attention and he leaned his forearms on this desk and said, "Sorry, I just did not expect you to come to me about affairs of the heart. Go ahead, spill your guts."

Gil looked around the office, at the piles of files on the floor, at the dead plant in the corner, anywhere but at his friend. This was going to be harder than he thought.

Squaring his shoulders, he finally looked Jim in the eye and said, "Jim, I'm bi-sexual and I think I'm in love with one of my team." The words just rushed out, Gil closed his eyes. He had not meant to be so blunt.

Jim laughed. Gil's eyes snapped open and stared open-mouthed at him. Jim continued to laugh and finally between bouts of breathless laughter said, "hey, close your mouth, it makes you look simple." Which got him laughing again.

Gil saw red. He had just confessed a horrible secret to his best friend and he got laughed at. Gil slammed down his glass and stood.

"Fuck you." Gil turned to leave.

Jim stood and rushed around his desk, grabbing Gil's arm. "Wait, wait, buddy. It's not what you think." Gil yanked his arm, but Jim had a strong grip and he pulled Gil around to face him.

"I've known your sexual preferences for years, Gil." Jim said, all laughter gone now. "I shouldn't have laughed, but Gil, you gotta understand. You aren't exactly the poster child for heterosexuality."

"And you don't care?" Gil asked, completely taken aback by the road the conversation had gone.

"Hell, no. I personally couldn't imagine myself sucking face, or anything else with a guy, but I love you. You are my best friend, Gil. You have always accepted me for the way I am, good or bad. Not that this is bad, mind you." Jim said with a concerned look at Gil.

"Come on, let's sit down and you can tell me all about your love life, sparing graphic details." Jim said as he moved over towards his desk.

After both men had sat and collected their drinks, Gil took a long slug and emptied his. It was Jim's turn to raise his eyebrows. Good scotch should be sipped, not shot like cheap tequila. Jim poured another shot into Gil's glass.

Gil cleared his throat and began, "I've been attracted to someone on my team for a long time and until the other night, I assumed it was all one sided. And believe me, I could have dealt with unrequited lust. But he told me that he felt the same way. And, Jim, knowing that almost brought me to my knees, but I was practical and responsible and told him that we could not let anything happen. He didn't take it well and now he wants to turn in his resignation.   Jim, I can't loose him as a CSI, and God help me, I can't loose him...." Gil looked at his friend beseechingly and rested his head in his hands.

"Okay, I'm going to play devil's advocate here. This guy on your team, we'll get to who it is in a moment, feels that same as you do. Both of you want to 'do the nasty', but you won't because...why? No, don't answer yet," Jim said as Gil opened his mouth to speak. "I know you Gil Grissom, you slept with one of the lab rats a few years ago. What's the difference?"

"The difference was that she was a woman and I did not write her evaluations." Gil said hotly.

"So, this is about the supervisor/subordinate issue, or is it about the man/man issue?" Jim asked pointedly.

"Take your pick, Jim. If it got out that I was sleeping with a man and a subordinate, what would that do to my career, or his, for that matter. I could not do anything to jeopardize Nicky's career."

"Nicky? It's Nick?" Jim reached for the bottle and poured another drink for both of them. He stared at Gil and said, "Man, I was really expecting it to be Greg. But Nick, Nick is so, so, well he's such a...Texan."

"That's what I always thought too. But apparently, he swings both ways too." Gil said, and then added, "So, now what do I do? I really can't loose him, Jim."

"Alright, there's gotta be something we can do to rectify this situation." Jim took another sip and leaned back in his chair, a very pensive look on his face. "Let me think about this and I'll talk to you later tonight."

"Gee thanks, Jim. My life is in chaos and you'll get back to me." Gil downed the rest of his drink and stood.

"Hey, look, I need time to process the situation, look at the evidence and come to the right conclusion before I act. Just chill, okay? Things will work out." Jim capped the bottle and returned it to the drawer. "Now both of us better get back to work, before someone notices we've been goofing off for the last thirty minutes."

Gil gave his friend a baleful look as he walked out the door.

As soon as the door closed, Jim took out his cell.

"Nick, yeah, it's Brass. Look, I need to talk to you about that Adams case. ...Yeah, just a loose end....Okay, just swing by my office as soon as you can." Jim smiled smugly to himself as he hung up the phone. It was time to play matchmaker. He laughed out loud.

Chapter seven:

Nick knocked on Brass's door and opened it without waiting for an answer. Jim looked up from the file he was reading.

"Hey, Jim. What's up?" Asked Nick.

"Sit. I want to talk to you about something. Something personal." Said Jim.

"Personal? About the Adams case?" Nick was confused.

"No, not the Adams case. That was just an excuse to get you here."

"What's going on, Jim?" Nick said, and his face became guarded.

"This is about you and Grissom." Jim began, but was interrupted by Nick.

"This is none of your business." Nick said as he stood to leave.

"Sit down, Nick." Jim commanded in a cold voice.

Nick sat and stared belligerently at Jim. Jim waited a few seconds before speaking. "Ah, good, now I have your attention." Jim paused for effect.

"Listen, I just spent the first part of my shift in this office with my best friend, who was acting like a lovesick fool." When Nick tried to interrupt again, Jim snapped, "You need to just shut up and let me say my piece and then you can talk. Got it?"

"Got it." Said Nick and sat back in the chair to wait.

"Gil told me about your little threat to turn in your resignation and let me tell you, Nicky Boy, that pissed me off. You are too old to play the 'if I don't get my way, I'll take my ball and go home' card. Jesus, both of you are grown men, and both of you are acting like teenagers with their first crush. Think back a couple of years ago; didn't you ask the young thing from ballistics out on a date and didn't she say no?"

Nick said, "Yeah, but what does this have to do...."

"It has everything to do with this situation.   When she said no to your attentions, did you get mad? Did you threaten to quit?"

"No. You know I didn't."

"So, why is it that when Gil said 'no', you got your panties all in a wad?" Asked Jim with a raised eyebrow.

Nick mumbled something under his breath.

"What was that, boy, I didn't hear you?" Jim asked as he leaned forward.

"Because I love him and I think he loves me. With her, well, I just wanted to get into her pants." Nick said sheepishly.

"At least you are being honest. So, this is when your old Uncle Jim steps in to help you win Gil's affections." Jim grinned slyly.

Nick's eyebrows shot together and he said, "Huh?"

"Listen carefully, Nicky, and I'll have you getting laid by the weekend."

Chapter eight:

Towards the end of the shift, Jim called Gil on his cell. "Okay, I fixed everything."

"What did you do?" Even over the phone, Jim heard the panic in Gil's voice.

"You asked for my advice and I could not stand by and watch two guys I care about be miserable. So, here's the plan... You go home, shower and slip into something comfortable. Light some candles or something. And then, at around 9:30 or so, Nick is coming over to talk." Jim paused for a second to sip his coffee and then continued, "Then you are going to seduce him." Jim finished with a flourish, making it sound as if he solved world hunger.

"First, I refuse to 'slip into something comfortable'. Second, it is morning, Jim, candles? Get real. I'm not seducing Nick. I just want things the way they were, Jim. Before I knew he was bisexual." Gil said.

"Gil, Gil, listen to yourself. It's obvious that you want him so bad you can taste it, him, whatever. So, what is the problem? You and Nick are consenting adults. You do the nasty for a few weeks, it runs its course and everything goes back to normal."

"Okay, if I go along with this idiotic plan of yours, how am I going to get Nick over to my house? He threatened me with his resignation. Do you really think I can call him and say, 'oh, by the way, wanna fuck?"

"That is so crude, Gil." Jim said dryly. "Just leave everything to me."

Gil hung up and sighed heavily. When did his life get so complicated? He glanced at his watch and realized it was quitting time. He hurried out of the building into the blinding Las Vegas sun and jumped in his Denali. He had a few stops to make.

Chapter Nine

First, Gil drove to the grocery store and grabbed the ingredients for a nice breakfast. Then he sped over to the Target and picked up some new sheets and a new bedspread for good measure. He pulled into his parking spot in front of the townhouse at 8:50. That gave him forty minutes. By the time he had put the groceries away, changed his sheets and showered, it was 9:25 and he was out of breath. Time to relax and calm down.

He looked out the front window and did not see Nick's SUV. What if he didn't come? What if he did turn his resignation in? What would he do without Nick on his team, in his life?

The sun glinted off Nick's windshield as he pulled into a spot next to Gil's. Gil was feeling really out of his element and his hands were beginning to sweat. He wiped them on his jeans and waited for Nick to knock.

When the knock came, he waited a few seconds, not wanting to appear too eager. He took a deep breath and opened the door. The men stood quietly looking at each other, both trying to read the other.

Finally, Gil spoke, "Come in. I'm going to make some breakfast, I hope you are hungry."

"Fine." Nick said shortly.

Gil winced at the tone and realized this was going to be a lot harder than he thought.

"You can sit at the bar while I cook." Gil said brightly, too brightly.

"Sure." Nick said, not quite as cold as before, but not overly warm either.

Gil walked into the kitchen and Nick settled himself on a stool with his elbows propped on the bar. Gil sat a glass of orange juice in front of Nick and began preparations for the meal. He sautéed the link sausage in one pan, while making a perfect omelet in another. English muffins popped out of the toaster and he slathered them with butter. He plated everything and sat one in front of Nick, placing he other at the place right next to him. Gil sat and his arm brushed Nick's. Both men froze. Their eyes met for a split second before turning back to their plates.

The meal was eaten in complete silence. Nick ate heartily, while Gil picked at his food. His nerves were shot and he did not know what his next move should be. Nick's voice startled him out of his thoughts.

"So, how private is your patio?"

"It has a six foot fence." Gil said perplexed at the question.

"What about your neighbors?"

"They work during the day. Why the questions, do you plan on murdering me out there?"

"Last night I would have given it some thought, not so much today." Nick said as he got up to scrap his plate. Gil got up too and loaded the dishes in the dishwasher.

"I'm glad you aren't planning my demise, Nick." Gil turned to face Nick. "I'm sorry I handled things wrong. I won't give you any excuses. Just forgive me, okay? Can we start over?"

"I'd like that." Nick said with a shy smile. Both men just stared at each other until Gil's cell rang and made both of them jump.

"Grissom." Gil snapped into the telephone.

"Just wanted to make sure that Nick made it and you are on your way to some hot, monkey sex." Jim said.

"I'm hanging up now." Gil clicked the phone shut.

"Jim." He said to Nick's questioning look.

"Oh. Well, anyway, since your patio is private, maybe we could sit in the hot tub for awhile and relax."

"Okay, great idea. I'll go get some shorts." Gil turned to head for the stairs.

"Gil, no shorts."

Gil stopped in his tracks. "Well, towels then." He all but ran up the stairs.

Nick chuckled to himself. The great Gil Grissom was as nervous as a deer on the first day of hunting season. He made use of his time waiting by undressing. By the time Gil returned downstairs, Nick was dressed only in a pair of gray boxer briefs and since he was looking out the French doors, his back was to Gil.

"Such a nice ass." Gil said to himself, or so he thought. Nick turned with a grin and said, "Thanks, I like yours too."

Gil was mortified. He didn't mean to speak out loud. He felt the heat on his face and knew he was blushing.

Nick just continued to smile a knowing little smile. He walked towards Gil and held out his hand. Gil looked at it blankly. "Towel?"

"Oh, towel, oh yeah.   Here you go." Gil handed Nick one of the towels he had brought down. Nick turned and walked the few steps back to the French doors; he opened the door and turned, "Coming?"

"Yeah... Yes." Gil slowly followed Nick outside. Nick removed the cover of the hot tub and turned it on while Gil just stood there. If Nick weren't so nervous himself, he would have laughed at Gil's behavior. Nick hooked his thumbs into the waistband of his underwear and slowly, seductively pulled them off. Gil's eyes focused intently on Nick's semi-hard cock. Nick tossed his underwear onto a chair and turned and lowered himself into the hot water.

"The water's great. Come on, Gil." Nick said with a shy smile.

Gil turned away from Nick and removed his shirt. He heard Nick clear his throat and say, "Turn around so I can watch. Please."

Gil slowly turned and tossed his shirt into a chair. He unzipped his jeans and slid them down his legs. He bent over and pulled the jeans off of his legs. They were tossed on top of the shirt. His face was flushed and his eyes were closed as he quickly pulled off his boxers. After he laid them on top of his other clothing he walked over to the hot tub, never making eye contact with Nick. He lowered himself down into the water across from Nick. Only after he was settled, did he look up at Nick.

Gil's breath caught when he saw the desire in Nick's eyes. "You are so incredibly hot." Nick said softly.

"So are you, Nicky." Gil's voice was almost a whisper.

The men sat in companionable silence for a while; the only thing breaking the silence was the sound of the bubbling water. Nick figured at this rate, it would be Christmas before they had sex. He had to make the first move, even if he was scared to death. He quickly slid around so he sat next to Gil. Gil stiffened but did not move away. Nick's arm came up and moved around to rest on the edge of the tub behind Gil's neck. Gil just stared straight ahead. He felt Nick's fingers brush against the back of his neck at his hairline. That small touch was enough to make his cock ache and send chill bumps up and down his spine.

"Gil?" Nick whispered. "You've got to throw me a bone here."

"Huh?" Gil said, and then mentally kicked himself. He sounded dense.

"I need you to meet me halfway. Okay?"

Gil turned to meet Nick's eyes and Nick leaned forward. It seemed natural to lean into Nick and their lips brushed lightly. Nick's hand wrapped around Gil's neck and pulled him even closer and the kiss deepened. Someone moaned, Gil thought it may have been him, but his thoughts were muddled. He could not focus on anything except for the feel of Nick's mouth on his. Nick was the one who finally pulled back.

"Wow." He said breathlessly.

"Wow." Gil echoed and they both laughed.

Gil felt Nick's erection pressing into his thigh, his own was achingly hard. Tentatively, he reached up and ran his fingers across Nick's left nipple. He smiled at Nick's sudden intake of breath.

"I've always wondered if your nipples were sensitive." Gil said softly.

"Now you know." Nick said and leaned in for another kiss. Nick's hand found Gil's cock and wrapped around it. Gil moaned into Nick's mouth.

The two men continued to kiss and touch until both were breathing heavily and aching with need. Finally, Gil leaned back and let out a deep breath.

"Nicky, we either need to stop right now, or move to the bedroom, because between the heat from the hot tub and heat we've generated, I'm close to passing out."

Nick moved away slightly and looked into the other man's blue eyes. "Do you want to stop?"

"No." Gil said simply. "But I'm still concerned about the future."

"Life is uncertain, Gil. That's why sometimes you just have to eat your dessert first."

Gil looked at Nick with pursed lips and knitted eyebrows. "I'm assuming there is logic in that statement, but I'm not seeing it."

"My mother always said that life was uncertain so you should eat your dessert first. She meant that at any time your life or the life of a loved one could end, so do the things you enjoy today, because there might not be a tomorrow. So, once a week, while we were growing up, Mom always let us have dessert first."

Gil smiled and leaned back on his elbows. All the concerns that he had about his relationship with Nick, his subordinate, his co-worker, his friend, another man, were suddenly not important anymore. What was important was that he loved Nick, Nick obviously wanted him, and he decided not to worry about the other things. Didn't alcoholics have a saying 'one day at a time'? Gil leaned over and grasped Nick's hand.

"Let's go upstairs. I think we've waited too long."

Chapter Ten

When they stepped into Gil's bedroom, Nick blinked a few times. The room had changed from the previous evening. The bed was made up nicely with a pretty comforter and the room smelled nice. After glancing around, Nick saw candles sitting on every flat surface. He turned to Gil, who looked embarrassed.

"Jim said I should use candles." Gil mumbled. "But it seems stupid since it's daylight outside."

Nick was touched. "I don't think it's stupid at all. They make the room smell really good and we can pull the shades and it'll be kind of dark in here. Do you have any matches?"

Gil went into the master bathroom and returned a few seconds later with a lighter. Nick took it from him and went around the entire room lighting all the candles, while Gil pulled down the shades.

Gil had to admit that the flickering candles and the nice aroma made the room feel warm and welcoming. Romantic, that's the word he had been searching for. He smiled at the thought.

"What are you thinking about?" Nick asked, catching the smile.

"You." Gil reached up and cupped Nick's cheek with his palm. Nick took a step forward and their arms wrapped around each other. Nick was the first to reach down and remove the towel that Gil had wrapped around his waist.    Then his hands reached around and grasped Gil's tight butt and pulled Gil's erection into his own.

Gil ground his hips against Nick's towel clad body and moaned. Soon Nick's towel was at his feet and they both looked down at their hard cocks pushed together. Gil's hand brought them together and began to slowly stroke them. Nick closed his eyes and whimpered.

"Nick, I want this to be perfect for you. What do you want?"

"You, just you." Nick pulled Gil towards the bed and gently pushed Gil down. Nick crawled on top of Gil so that his knees were on either side of Gil's hips. Their cocks were still rubbing against each other. Nick's lips claimed Gil's once more and Gil was lost in the sensations.

Nick pulled back and looked down at Gil. "Do you...Are you...Which way..." Nick was at a total loss for words suddenly.

Gil knew what Nick was trying to ask and smiled. "I would love to feel you inside me and I'd also love to be inside of you. I'm not into the whole top and bottom thing, Nick. If you are, that's okay, but I'm pleased both ways."

Nick rested his forehead on Gil's and smiled. This was better than he could ever have imagined. Slowly, he kissed Gil again, briefly on the lips and then his jaw. He moved down to Gil's neck and he couldn't contain his chuckle as Gil arched under him and sighed.

Gil's hand came up and tangled in Nick's hair, trying to pull his mouth back up to his, but Nick resisted and latched his mouth onto one of Gil's nipples. Gil gasped.

"So, you're sensitive too." Nick murmured, moving his mouth to the other nipple.

"God, Nicky, that feels so good."

Nick took his time with Gil's nipples, sucking and gently biting them until they were hard and reddened.   When Gil was actually panting under him, Nick pulled away and left a trail of kisses down Gil's belly, stopping to swirl his tongue around Gil's naval.

"Stop, that tickles." Gil tried to push Nick's head away.

Nick looked up and gave Gil an evil, little smile. "Gil Grissom is ticklish?"

Gil growled out Nick's name and Nick laughed out loud. Gil took that opportunity to flip Nick off of him and soon the tables were turned and Gil was straddling Nick.

Gil's teeth on one of his nipples cut off Nick's laugh abruptly. Nick gasped and gripped the sheets with his fists. Gil looked up briefly into Nick's dark, brown eyes and the look in those depths took his breath away. All teasing was gone as Gil took Nick's cock deep into his mouth.

"Gil, oh man, oh God..." Nick arched his back and let his legs part slightly as Gil proceeded to give him the best head he had ever had. Not only was Gil's mouth and very talented tongue driving Nick crazy, Gil's hands were on his balls, rubbing and squeezing. Gil released Nick's cock, only to begin licking up and down the shaft until the entire length was slick with saliva. His hands went to both of Nick's thighs and parted them further.

When Nick felt Gil's tongue on his rim of his entrance, he cried out Gil's name. Gil's tongue swirled around and around, each time dipping deeper into the tight opening. Nick felt his muscles relaxing.

"Gil, please, please....I need you inside me...." Nick whimpered.

Gil's answered was to slip a finger into the spit slicked hole and slowly move it in and out.

Nick grunted at the invasion but was soon moving his hips in time with Gil's finger. Nick hands reached behind him to grip the headboard as Gil's finger moved deeper inside and brush his prostate. Nick's breath was coming in short gasps. Gil's tongue was licking Nick's balls and his nose was buried in the soft curls surrounding Nick's cock. Gil slowly removed his finger and gripped Nick's hips as his mouth, once again, took Nick's cock all the way into his mouth.

Nick was covered in a light film of sweat and his knuckles were white with the strain of holding on to the headboard.

Gil's mouth was slowly driving Nick insane. Nick could feel his orgasm building.   He lifted his hips off the bed and grunted several times as his semen spurted into Gil's waiting throat. Gil moaned with satisfaction and gently sucked and licked until Nick's cock was clean. He let Nick's cock slip from his lips and he sat up.

He looked down at Nick, the slick skin, the rapid breathing, and the slightly parted lips nearly drove Gil over the edge. He did not think he had ever seen anything more beautiful. His own need was forgotten briefly as he moved up to lie beside Nick. He was on his side and his hand reached over to turn Nick's head towards him. His lips met Nick's and he felt Nick's part under his.

Nick tasted his cum in Gil's mouth and he deepened the kiss. His hand snaked down to Gil's cock and he let his fingers trail up and down the length of it a few times before murmuring, "I want you inside me. I want to make you come."

Gil took a deep breath and leaned over Nick to reach into the nightstand. His hand touched on the bottle of lubricant first and he laid it on the bed.   He brought out the box of condoms next and sat up to open the package. He was just about to open the foil packet when Nick plucked it out of his hand.

"I want to put it on you."

In all his 54 years, Gil had never had anyone offer to do this intimate job for him. He laid back and watched as Nick placed the condom on his cock and slowly roll it down.   His eyes widened when Nick picked up the lubricant and squeezed it into his hands. Nick met Gil's eyes as he warmed the slick gel between his palms. One hand went to Gil's cock and slid the lubricant up and down, while the other hand moved between his own thighs and Gil felt faint as he watched Nick slip his wet finger into his own entrance. Nick closed his eyes and finger fucked himself as Gil watched. When Nick opened his eyes again, he saw the blatant lust in Gil's face.

Nick pulled his finger out and straddled Gil. He reached behind him and gripped Gil's cock and pushed the head into his hole. Slowly, he eased back. Gil held his breath as he felt Nick's hot, tight tunnel sliding over his cock.

"God, Nicky. You feel so good."

Nick closed his eyes and rocked back, driving Gil's cock all the way inside of him. He rocked back on his heels and began moving up and down. Gil let his hands roam over Nick's chest and he gradually worked down to Nick's cock. Gil was pleased that Nick was almost hard again and he began to pump his hand up and down Nick's shaft. As his hand increased speed, Nick's hips rocked faster and faster, bringing both men to the brink of orgasm. Gil tightened his grip and brought his other hand up to squeeze Nick's balls. Nick cried out and his semen covered Gil's hand and stomach. Gil's hips thrust up, slamming his cock deep inside Nick's ass. He felt Nick's body spasm around his cock and he felt his body explode.

Nick eased Gil's spent cock from his ass and rolled off so that he was lying beside the other man. Neither of them spoke for some time. The only sound in the room was raspy breathing as both men tried to catch their breath.

"Gil?"

"Uhm?"

"That was better than any of the fantasies I've had about you."

Gil opened his eyes and turned his head to look into Nick's eyes. "Your eyes are the color of milk chocolate."

Nick raised his eyebrows. First the candles, now sweet nothings. He knew he could get used to this really fast.

"When you are excited, they look like dark espresso." Gil continued in a soft voice.

Nick rolled to his side and he placed his hand on Gil's chest. He lowered his head and gently kissed Gil. This kiss held no passion, it was a chaste kiss, but Gil knew in his heart that Nick was giving him his love.

Gil wrapped his arms around Nick and pulled him close, so that Nick's head was nestled on Gil's shoulder.

"I want this to last forever." Nick whispered.

"I hope it does, Nicky. More than anything else in this world." Gil continued to hold Nick until both men drifted off the sleep.

THE END