The book is old enough that Spencer would have handled it carefully and winced at the post it on the cover even if he hadn't been brought up by a woman who'd taught him to revere the written word . It's an old favorite of his, though an earlier edition than the one on his shelf, and the soft, well thumbed pages smell of must and dust and history. He glances up at Hotch, who's standing just inside Spencer's hotel room and looking about as uncomfortable as he's ever seen him-the unflappable man is positively flapped-before following the note's instructions and flipping to the title page. All feeling in his fingers disappears and his eyes go wide, and if it wasn't for Hotch stepping forward to cup his hands under Spencer's, the book would have fallen to the carpet.
"I didn't know what the proper etiquette would be for secret Santa since we missed the office Christmas party, but I didn't think it would hurt to give you your present now," Hotch says, carefully curling Spencer's fingers around the worn, leather binding. There's a strange, gurgling sound, and it takes Spencer a moment to realize that the noise is coming from him. Hotch's Adam's apple bobs as he swallows, and his fingers twitch against the back of Spencer's hands. "If you don't like it, I can get you something else."
"No," Spencer says quickly, his voice coming out as a near croak. He clears his throat and repeats, "No. I love it. I just...how did you get it? How did you even know to get it?"
Hotch blinks-blinks!-and his fingers tighten around Spencer's for a fraction of a second before he snatches them away, as if he's only just realized they were touching. They hover, uncertain, in the air between them, then Hotch shoves one in his pocket and scratches at the back of his neck with the other. "It's not that big of a deal. I know the author's grandson. I helped him pass a couple classes in college, so he owed me a favor. And you mentioned it a while back when we were talking about books on the jet."
Spencer strokes the spine of the book and bites his lips together to keep his thoughts from spilling out between them. Because he remembers that conversation. Because that conversation was months ago, long before they were assigned their secret Santas. Because he's only mentioned the book once in passing, and that's the kind of information that even he doesn't bother to remember about people, yet Hotch knew. Hotch knew because Spencer said it, and that carries an implication that both thrills and terrifies him. He takes a step closer and tentatively touches the tips of his fingers to Hotch's tie, right under the knot, and notes the way the pulse in Hotch's throat quickens almost imperceptibly and his eyes dilate minutely. Hotch watches him, not showing any indication of moving away, while Spencer's eyes flicker between his half lidded eyes and his slightly parted lips, hesitating and torn.
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Written as part of the daily drabble exercise I do over on my LJ. Answers the prompt "Someone totally betrays their previously undetected feelings for Reid with their Secret Santa gift. I kind of prefer H/R."