Secret Lovers

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the ideas.

This is written for emilyhotchnerforever who requested that I wrote an Emily/Hotch story with a happy ending. It was then that I realised it was a pairing I have never tried, so thought I would give it a go. This is set at the end of Season 7, but without Emily leaving or Beth being around.

Thanks to my Beta for the song prompt: Secret Lovers by Atlantic Starr

. . .

The cool breeze of the night air gently kissed Emily's shoulders as she wandered through the opulent gardens of David Rossi's 'modest' mansion. Her fingers gently brushed over the fragrant blooms as she passed them. The slight touch being enough to intensify the nocturnal perfume as she enjoyed her time away from the others, her friends were important to her but sometimes she needed her space.

Em couldn't help but shudder as a chill ran down her spine. The flimsy dress she was wearing offering no protection against the summer night's breeze. She felt foolish for leaving her shawl behind at the table but wasn't ready to return yet to find it; she had plenty to think through right now.

"Are you cold?"

His voice came out of the darkness as he strode towards her. Even though Emily has been expecting him, she was still startled by his arrival. Although she had left alone, Em knew he would find a way to escape and find her.

Quickly shrugging his suit jacket off, he wrapped it around her shoulders in one swift move.

"That feel any better?" he asked obviously concerned for her well-being.

Emily smiled at the gesture giving a slight nod of her head as she pulled his jacket tightly around her body. "I left my shawl at the table. With all the dancing, I hadn't realised how chilly it had got."

Aaron stepped closer to her, wrapping an arm gently around her waist, a wry smile on his lips. "I am more than willing to keep you warm."

Wrinkling her nose, Emily giggled at her lover's comment. "Now that is a Morgan line if ever I heard one! You are just not smooth enough to get away with something corny like that."

Aaron laughed, not sure if he should insulted by his her words or not. Instead, he pulled her closer and brushed a soft kiss across her lips - the slight touch warming them both instantly.

The whispered sigh was all he needed to hear to know he had done the right thing. "Shall we find somewhere a little more secluded than this?" he suggested.

Emily wanted nothing more than to follow him into the dark, but she hesitated. "Do you think this is wise? We have been so careful since I came home. Do we want to risk things with everyone nearby? It won't be long before someone realises we are both missing. What if it's Jack who comes looking and finds us…together?"

Aaron knew she was right with her fears, but with everything they had gone through recently, he had started to learn the lesson of making the most of your time with someone you care for. He didn't want to waste another minute.

"Everyone's eyes are still on JJ - as they should be; I think we are relatively safe until they go."

Emily giggled again as he nuzzled into her neck, she couldn't believe the impact he had on her. She went from confident career woman to high school crush in a matter of seconds.

He loved the sound of her laughter. It was something that he had not heard often enough, in his opinion. Taking his time so as to enjoy the unique scent Emily wore, the lightly spicy scent seemed to represent her perfectly as he nibbled along her freshly exposed collar bone.

She made a vain attempt to escape him; Aaron held her close, trailing kisses up to her jaw until he found her mouth once more. This time as he claimed her lips in a deep kiss as she melted into his embrace Aaron groaned in frustration.

"We are not desperate teenagers," Emily stated, trying hard to be the voice of reason. Though her resolve was faltering as Aaron continued to tease her sensitive skin as he tried to persuade her to join him in the secluded areas of the lush garden.

"I don't know, Emily, with the caseload we have had recently, we have hardly seen each other."

As she snuggled into Aaron's shoulder Emily had to admit he had a point. Being your boss's secret lover was not easy. Balancing working together and keeping the secret hidden from the country's top team of profilers was no mean feat - add to that the pressure of Jack not finding out, and their options soon became very limited. Hence the hiding away at the bottom of David Rossi's garden for a clandestine cuddle was proof to that fact.

"Why don't you stay over one night this week? Jack can sleep at Jessica's like he does when you are away, and we can go for dinner then . . ." Emily gave him a suggestive smile.

Kissing her softly he smiled back, "Do we have to have dinner first?"

"That's it," Emily scolded, slapping him lightly on the shoulder, "you have officially spent too long in the company of Derek Morgan with lines like that."

. . .

David checked himself as he strolled through the garden, taking a rapid step back behind the dividing bush. Glancing at the contents of the fine crystal tumbler he held in his hands he questioned how much he had had to drink this evening. Blinking rapidly he realised that this wasn't some drunken hallucination.

Rooted to the spot, he watched his straight laced friend, Aaron Hotchner, get more than a little personal with Emily Prentiss. He would never have bet on that one. Not that it wasn't obvious…there was an attraction between the two rather that he never believed either would act on it. But they were acting on it alright.

The sly dog, Dave smiled, as he turned and made his way back towards the party.