Title: Twenty-two
Author: gothikmaus
Fandom: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Pairing: Nick/Greg
Rating: NC-17
Category: smut, romance
Summary: Greg has a point to make. Nick makes him see things differently.
A/N: Coda to episode 05x05 "Swap Meet". Inspired by Greg's reaction to Mia's comment about his first time.
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and all related characters are property of CBS. I own nothing. No copyright infringement intended.
"I can't believe you told her!"
Greg's eyes were burning with rage, a faint blush staining his cheeks.
"Told who what?"
"Mia! You told her about... that!"
Sara frowned, confused, then she figured out what he was referring to.
"Ooh, that," she said with a smirk.
"How could you!?"
"I didn't realize it was supposed to be a secret."
"Well, it's not exactly something you tell everyone."
"You told me."
"And I wish I hadn't. I'm never getting drunk with you again."
"Come on, Greg, it's not a big deal."
"What's not a big deal?" Nick asked as he entered the break room.
"Nothing!" Greg answered a little too quickly, glaring pointedly at Sara. "Not a word," he mouthed, eyes never leaving her face.
She lifted her hands in surrender and got to her feet.
"My break's over, see you around guys."
Nick's eyes followed her as she left the room, then he turned to Greg.
"Did I miss something?" he asked, looking puzzled.
"No," Greg replied, not looking at him. He walked out, leaving Nick standing in the middle of the break room with a befuddled expression on his face.
***
Greg was still upset by the time they closed the case and could go home. He went so far as to hope Mia would quit: that would mean having to start all over again in his search for a suitable DNA tech replacement, but with her out of the picture, his secret would be safe. Maybe he could play on her germophobia...
He was so deep in thought he almost jumped from the bench when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked up and saw Nick standing right next to him, a small frown creasing his brow.
"Everything okay? You looked a little spaced out."
'Way to go, Sanders.'
Greg mentally kicked himself for getting so worked up he didn't even notice he wasn't alone in the locker room.
"Yeah, sure. Just a little distracted."
Nick didn't look convinced, but didn't comment on it.
"Wanna go back to my place?"
"You know I'm always up for that. Pun totally intended," Greg replied, wiggling his eyebrows.
Nick rolled his eyes, but Greg could see a small smile curving his lips.
"I'll get the car."
***
Nick had barely locked the door and Greg was all over him, kissing him like his life depended on it. He had a point to make, he wanted to prove he wasn't the loser who couldn't get laid until he was almost out of college anymore. He slid his hands under Nick's shirt, letting them roam the expanse of his back, feeling the muscles ripple under his touch. He bit down on Nick's bottom lip and kissed his way along his jaw – fuck, that jaw should be illegal.
"Damn, G, we better move it to the bedroom, or I'm just gonna have you right here against the front door."
Greg smiled. He loved seeing Nick lose control, loved knowing he was the cause of it. By the time they reached the bedroom, they had shed most of their clothes and were down to their underwear. Greg gently pushed Nick down on the bed and reached for his boxers, pulling them down as Nick raised his hips. He quickly got rid of his own briefs and crawled between Nick's legs, shooting him a mischievous grin before taking his dick into his mouth.
Nick groaned, his right hand reflexively grabbing the back of Greg's neck as his hips moved of their own accord. Greg released him and slid his lips down his length, briefly mouthing Nick's balls before licking his way up with long, broad strokes of his tongue. He teased the head with the tip of his tongue and took him fully into his mouth again.
"Fuck, Greg, what's gotten into you today?"
Greg lifted his head from Nick's dick with an obscene wet sound.
"Nothing yet. But I'm hoping I'll get something in me very soon."
Nick groaned again.
"In that case you better stop what you're doing, or things will be over before they even get started."
"Nope, we can't have that."
Greg got on his hands and knees and crawled up Nick's body, straddled his hips and leaned back, rubbing himself against Nick's hard cock.
"Why don't you get me all nice and ready for you?" he asked dropping a tube of lubricant and a condom onto Nick's chest. "I wanna ride you."
Nick swore again and fumbled with the lid. He coated two fingers with the slippery gel and reached around Greg, who shivered at the first touch.
"Come on, Nicky, open me up," Greg said, looking Nick straight in the eye. He moaned and bit down on his lower lip when Nick finally breached him, then closed his eyes and started moving his hips in time with the thrusts of Nick's hand. "Yeah, just like that. You know I love your fingers."
Nick pushed deeper and Greg gasped.
"Yeah, right there."
He tilted his head back and brought a hand to his cock, stroking himself slowly as he rode Nick's fingers.
"I hope you're ready, because I'm about to explode," Nick eventually said, sounding strained.
Greg smiled and knelt up, letting Nick's fingers slip out. Nick put on the condom blindly and moved his hands to Greg's hips, holding onto him as Greg positioned himself and guided him in, sliding down inch by inch. Once Nick was fully inside, Greg leaned forward, placing both hands on Nick's chest for balance as he started to ride him slowly, intending to drag things out as much as possible. He could feel Nick's thighs tremble with the effort of holding back, fingers digging into his hips. He wondered if they'd leave bruises. The thought of Nick leaving marks on him was hotter than it really should be, and he found himself moving faster.
"Greg. Please."
Nick's voice sounded almost desperate, and Greg raked his fingertips down Nick's sides. His nails were too short to break the skin there, but long enough to leave bright red lines.
"Come on, Nick. Don't hold back. Fuck me."
Nick didn't need to be told twice. His grip on Greg's hips grew even tighter as he pushed up into him harder, faster. Greg closed his fist around his own dick and started stroking, eyes fixed on Nick's flushed face.
They didn't last long. Nick groaned and closed his eyes, back arching off the bed and head thrown back against the pillow as he came. Greg's hand moved faster, his orgasm hitting him just as Nick was slipping out. He collapsed on top of Nick, only barely aware of hands gently pushing him until he was lying on his side. He felt a tissue cleaning up his stomach and hand, and a few seconds later Nick's arm was around his waist, pulling him closer.
They lay in silence for a while before Nick spoke.
"So, you wanna talk about it?"
"Talk about what?" Greg asked, running a finger lazily over Nick's chest.
"You know, that thing with Sara in the break room earlier."
Greg immediately tensed.
"There's nothing to talk about."
Nick gently stroked a hand up and down Greg's back.
"Right. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to. But you know you can, right? I'm a good listener."
Greg started to relax again under Nick's soft touch.
"It's just a stupid thing, really."
"Doesn't matter. I'm here for you."
Greg snuggled closer and rubbed his cheek against Nick's shoulder.
"One time we were out drinking, Sara and I. I got a little drunk and told her something. I hadn't really meant to, but it sort of slipped out. And today I found out she told Mia."
"Was it a secret?"
He nodded.
"Something bad?"
"Well, not exactly. More... embarrassing."
"I promise I won't laugh."
Greg thought about it. It had taken him years to finally get into Nick's pants. What would he think of him if he knew Greg hadn't gotten laid until he was almost out of college? Surely he would realize what a pathetic loser Greg really was and he wouldn't want anything to do with him ever again.
"Breathe," Nick said, and planted a kiss on his forehead. "Like I said, you don't have to tell me if it makes you uncomfortable."
Greg took a deep breath.
"It's about my first time."
"Well, first times can be pretty awkward. You're young, inexperienced..."
"No, it's not that. I was..." Greg trailed off, too embarrassed to continue.
Nick's arm suddenly tightened around Greg.
"Was it... non-consensual?"
"What? No. No! Nothing like that!" Greg hurriedly said. He leaned up on an elbow and looked down at Nick, who was studying him with a serious expression on his face. Greg flopped down on his back and draped an arm over his eyes. "This is so stupid."
"Come on, man, I'm getting worried here."
"I was twenty-two, okay?"
Greg held his breath as he waited for Nick to say something. The seconds felt like hours.
"Twenty-two?" Nick eventually asked.
"Yes, twenty-two fucking years old."
"That's it? That's what got you so worked up?"
Greg knew he should have kept his mouth shut.
"Just forget it," he said and rolled onto his side, ready to get out of bed.
Nick reached out and stopped him before he could go any farther.
"Sorry, it's just not what I was expecting."
"And what were you expecting?"
"I... I don't know. But it's not that bad."
Greg snorted.
"You should've seen Mia's expression when she rubbed it into my face."
Nick slid closer and wrapped an arm around Greg's waist, pulling him back against his chest.
"Hey, sex is not a race, everyone should take things at their own pace."
"No, you don't understand. How old were you when you first had sex?"
"What does it have to do with-"
"You were still in high school, weren't you? I bet you were quite popular. God, you were probably a jock. Did you ever date a cheerleader?"
"Greg..."
"I'm sure you already had your million-watt smile even back then. I, on the other hand, was the skinny, geeky kid with the awful braces, the one who couldn't play any sports because mommy wouldn't let him."
Greg stopped to take a breath, but he wasn't done yet.
"I thought things would be different in college. No one knew me there, I could get a fresh start. But I still had to wait until my last year to get some action, while all my friends were having relationships and one-night stands. I took up hobbies, went clubbing, I even started surfing hoping it would make me look more interesting. Didn't really work." He sighed. "But how could you understand all that? You were a frat boy, you probably had a different girlfriend every other week."
Greg hadn't meant to blurt out everything like that, but once he started, he was unable to stop. It was like all the frustration he had bottled up over the years decided it was finally time to break free. There, in Nick Stokes' bed of all places. He closed his eyes and waited.
Nick just lay there in silence, slowly running a hand up and down Greg's arm. When it was clear Greg wasn't going to add anything else, he kissed his shoulder.
"Feeling better now?"
"Not really."
Greg felt embarrassed. Humiliated. He had worked so hard to build his cool image, the brilliant, slightly crazy DNA tech on his way to becoming a CSI, the unrepentant flirt who could charm anyone with a wicked smile and a cutting joke. But, deep inside, he was still the awkward teenager who just wanted to be one of the popular kids.
"You're right, I was still in high school when I had my first time, but that doesn't mean my teenage years were perfect. I had my fair share of unrequited crushes. And yes, I dated a cheerleader, but after two weeks she dumped me for the quarterback. I was so mortified I didn't even look at a girl for the rest of the school year. And, for the record, I was never a jock," Nick pointed out.
Greg smiled despite himself. He could picture it perfectly: a teenage, heartbroken Nick moping around and swearing he would never fall for anyone ever again.
"As for being a frat boy, sure, we threw some wild parties and I had quite a lot of sex, but it was around that time I realized I was attracted to guys too. I had a huge crush on this guy who had his room next to mine and seemed to be walking around shirtless most of the time, I was terrified one day he'd catch me staring and figure it all out."
"You never told him?"
"No, I thought he'd be disgusted. I was afraid he would tell the others and they'd kick me out. Then my parents would find out and..."
Greg rolled over so he could face Nick.
"Do they know you're bi?"
Nick shook his head.
"Does... anyone know?"
"You. And the only other guy I've ever been with."
Greg's breath caught in his throat. He had never really thought of what it meant for someone like Nick to find out he wasn't straight. Greg had figured out pretty soon he wasn't attracted exclusively to girls, and his closest friends knew and accepted him for what he was. He hadn't officially come out to his parents, but he was sure his mom must at least suspect something. Nick, on the other hand... His family, his upbringing, his history... Greg suddenly realized why Nick was always so reserved, so careful when they were in public: sure, he didn't want them to get in trouble with Ecklie, but there was more than that.
He snuggled closer and pressed his face to Nick's chest.
"I'm sorry."
"What for?" Nick asked, burying a hand in Greg's hair.
"For bitching like I'm the only one having issues."
Nick planted a kiss on the top of his head.
"Venting is good, sometimes you just need to get things out of your system. Maybe now you won't feel as bad about it."
"Mmh."
"But please, promise me something."
"What?"
"Never get drunk with Sara again."
-----
May 2022