Title: Just A Smile
By: angstytimelord
Pairing: Greg Sanders/Ryan Wolfe
Fandom: CSI: Vegas/CSI: Miami
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: This is entirely a product of my imagination, and I make no profit from it. I do not own the lovely Greg Sanders or Ryan Wolfe, just borrowing them for a while. Please do not sue.

***

Ryan raised his head to glance at Greg across his desk, smiling to himself as his gaze rested on his boyfriend. He couldn't help but look at Greg's left hand, seeing the promise ring there on his finger. It felt good to know that there was a physical bond between them.

His own ring was on the gold chain under his shirt; they had agreed that it was best for both of them not to wear their rings in plain sight. It might give rise to suspicions, and even though they wee sure that some of their colleagues knew about them, maybe everyone didn't.

Ryan raised a hand to his chest, feeling the outline of the ring under his shirt. It was directly over his heart; he had made sure that the chain was long enough for it to rest exactly where he wanted it to be. It was a strong chain, too; it wouldn't break easily.

As strong as his love for Greg, and his devotion to the man he loved, he told himself. Thinking that he could ever walk out on Greg had been the stupidest thing that had ever come into his mind. He should have known that would be impossible; he belonged right where he was.

In the few days that they'd had these rings, their relationship had somehow seemed solidified in a way that it hadn't been before. It was as though there was now some solid evidence of their togetherness, tangible proof that they were bound to each other.

Not that they needed that, really, Ryan thought -- but it was nice to have that physical evidence of how they felt about each other. Those rings signified so much for them; anyone else might not understand, but that didn't matter. He and Greg knew what those rings meant.

Greg's fears of abandonment seemed to be assuaged; Ryan still felt guilty for ever having made the man he loved feel that way, but he hoped they could move past it. He had almost made a terrible mistake -- and he wasn't ever going to repeat it.

Without Greg, his life would be nothing more than an empty shell. He would spend the rest of his life as a bitter and lonely man, hating himself for what he'd done and wishing that he hadn't been so rash. He was just glad that he had stopped himself in time.

And at least that bitch was leaving Greg alone now, he thought with satisfaction, glancing out of the office window into the hallway. She had tried to flirt with Greg again -- when Ryan was in the lab -- and had been told in no uncertain terms that Greg wasn't available.

She'd also been told that he wasn't interested -- and Greg had held up the hand bearing the promise ring to further illustrate his words. Ever since then, everyone had been trying to discover the identity of what they called his "secret lover," but their attempts had been futile.

Ryan couldn't help but feel smug every time he saw her look at Greg; she might have been used to having conquests in LA, but she wasn't going to make one of his man. Greg had made it clear to Morgan that he had less than zero interest in her.

He had no doubts that his boyfriend didn't want to be with anyone else. He shouldn't have doubted Greg when he'd seen that slut trying to kiss him, Ryan thought, guilt sweeping over him again. But he'd been so angry that he had literally seen red.

That would never happen again, Ryan told himself firmly. All it would take to reassure him of Greg's love and devotion was one look, one smile from his boyfriend. He could never doubt the sincerity behind that smile; he should never have had any doubts in the first place.

He leaned back in his chair, his gaze still on his boyfriend. He'd never known anyone in his life as loyal as Greg was; he had been foolish to think that this man would ever betray him any way. That way of thinking wasn't worthy of Greg, and he was determined to never do it again.

As though Greg could feel Ryan's gaze on him, he looked up from the report he was working on; when he smiled, Ryan was sure that he could feel his heart turning over in his chest and then melting. For several long moments, he was unable to speak, almost unable to breathe.

Would Greg still have this kind of effect on him far into the future, when they'd been together for decades? Ryan had no doubt that he would; there was something about Greg's smile that would always be able to capture his heart, to take his breath away.

"Something wrong?" Greg asked, pulling Ryan out of his thoughts and back down to earth again. "You look like you're out in the ozone somewhere. I don't think you're worried about me, because there's nothing to worry about. So you must be thinking about this new case."

Ryan laughed, shaking his head. "Wrong on both counts," he said, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his desk and gaze at Greg. "I was thinking about how you can take my breath away with just a smile. You did that the first time we met, y'know."

"When I first got a good look at you, I thought my heart was going to stop," Greg said softly, his gaze meeting Ryan's. "The first thing that went through my mind was that I'd never seen such a gorgeous guy in my life. The second thing was that I wanted you more than I've ever wanted anybody."

"I thought pretty much the same thing about you!" Ryan told him, wishing that he could reach across the expanse of their desks and take Greg's hand, but not daring to. Any kind of intimate contact, even such a fleeting touch, would have to wait until they were at home.

He hated that fact, but there was nothing he could do about it. They both knew that it wouldn't be to their advantage to let anyone they worked with know for sure that they were involved; people might guess, but until they had concrete proof, they really couldn't say anything.

And as long as they kept their personal relationship a secret, no one could stop them from working with each other. That was one of their main priorities at the moment, Ryan thought -- to make sure they could still be partners, that their working relationship stayed on an even keel.

He'd have to keep hiding how his heart did flip-flops every time Greg smiled at him when they were at work. He wouldn't be able to let anyone know that he was in love, that he was with the most incredible man he had ever known could exist in this world.

But keeping his relationship with Greg was a small price to pay for knowing that they could continue to work together, that he would have Greg's back. He wouldn't have been able to bear it if he hadn't been able to keep Greg protected, both at home and when they were working.

That amazing smile flashed at him again; Ryan was surprised that he didn't turn into a puddle of goo and melt onto the floor. With just a smile, Greg could reduce him to a mindless mass of need; there was something in that smile that completely captivated him.

Maybe it was just the way Greg's lips curved into a smile; any time they did, Ryan felt the almost uncontrollable urge to seize Greg, to take the other man into his arms and kiss him until he was begging for more, breathless and urgent.

What was it about this man that could manage to make him both weak and hard at the same time? Ryan asked himself, fighting the urge to get up and move around the desk to Greg, to pull his boyfriend into his arms and kiss him, no matter what the consequences.

No, he couldn't do that. He had to sit here and let that beautiful smile wreak havoc with his heart; it was almost painful to do so, but he had to keep his hands off Greg while they were at work. Ah, but when they got home, it would be another story.

"Do you know what I'm planning to do to you once we get home?" he murmured, glancing towards the door. It was closed, but he wanted to be sure that no one was walking by; he knew all too well how much people could take even the slightest whisper out of context.

"I hope you're going to rip my clothes off and kiss me all over, and do all kinds of naughty things to me," Greg told him, putting down his pen and leaning back in his chair. That smile flashed again, making Ryan want to do just what Greg had said he would.

"Now that you mention it --" He laughed, shaking his head. "No, what I was going to say I'd do is close the door behind us and kiss you until you're begging for more. All it takes is just one smile, and all I can think of is kissing you. You've bewitched me, Greg."

"You can kiss me any time you want to -- well, maybe not here," Greg conceded, glancing towards the door. "But as soon as we get home, if you don't kiss me, I'm going to think there's something wrong with you. I'd better get a kiss the second we're behind closed doors."

"Keep flashing that smile at me, and you'll get a lot more than just one kiss," Ryan told him with a soft laugh. "It's nearly time to get out of here and go home. And I can think of a lot of things I want to do besides just kissing you when we get there."

"If that's the case, then I'll be smiling all day!" Greg told him, getting up and heading for the door with his report. Ryan got to his feet, following his boyfriend out of the office, a smile on his own face. He couldn't wait to get home and show Greg exactly what heights that smile could inspire him to.

***