The case went by quickly for Spencer. The serial kidnapper wasn't the most intelligent of sorts, and he managed to leave a few breadcrumbs. All 5 boys, against all odds, were returned to their families. The team returned to Virginia two days after they left, exhausted but satisfied.
Spencer was excited, as usual, to see Zoe. That evening they were supposed to out to dinner together, although right before he climbed on the plane she'd called him, saying she wanted to cook for him instead. Some authentic Brazilian food, like her mother used to make.
However, Reid felt uneasy for some reason. Nervous, which was something he hadn't yet felt around Zoe, or when thinking about her.
He sat on the small couch in the plane, tapping his foot while thinking.
"Hey, how are you doing, Spence?" JJ asked, sitting across from him.
"I'm good. Better than usual." he gave her a small smile, and she returned it.
"Look, Spencer." she sighed. "I just want you to be careful. None of us want you getting hurt."
He looked down at his knees, fiddling with his fingers. "I appreciate that, but I don't think you have to worry, really."
"That's what I like to hear."
After Reid had showered and changed, he made his way over to Zoe's apartment.
He pressed the buzzer for her number, and she answered a minute later.
"Spencer?" she said.
"Yep. Hi." he replied.
"Hi, come on up and let yourself in."
Bzzzz
A few moments later, she heard the door open.
"Hey, I'm in the kitchen!" she called. The entire apartment smelled like rich food, spicy and sweet and tantalizing. Spencer appeared in the door frame of the kitchen, leaning against it.
Standing at the stove, Zoe was barefoot, but wearing a pretty flowy green dress that hit her just above the knees, and her hair was down and curled.
"Wow," Spencer whispered, and she glanced over her shoulder and smiled.
"What?"
"It just...it smells really good is all." he said. "Do you need any help?"
"No, it's almost done. Vatapá, Brazilian style rice, Pao de Queijo, and then bridgardeiros for dessert." she said. "How'd the case go?" she asked.
"Good. We got all the victims home, safe and sound."
"That's wonderful!" she said.
"How's work been for you?"
"Great. We're working on a state-funded project to estimate the life-span of the eco-systems in some state parks. It's a lot of work, but it's fun, actually." She tapped her foot against her leg as she stirred the bubbling pan of food, and hummed along with the radio in the corner. Spencer watched her for a minute, until she realized he was. "What?" she asked.
"You look really nice."
"Thanks. I tried." she replied. "Wanna grab the plates for me?"
Spencer found two striped plates in the cupboard next to the fridge. "This is a traditional sort of curry-type dish in Brazil, with shrimp and this super good coconut-cashew sauce." she carefully ladled out two servings onto each plate, over rice. "And then this is some cheese bread that actually is usually just a snack or even breakfast, but I like it for dinner too." she held the two plates, walking towards the dining table, smiling at Reid over her shoulder.
The dining room was adorned with candles, and she beamed up at him eagerly. "I know, I got really cliche." she carefully set the plates of food down.
Reid was speechless. He'd never had anyone do something so nice for him, at least, not in a romantic setting. His silence worried Zoe.
"Do you like it?" she asked.
"I do. I love it." he said, laughing slightly. "It's incredible."
"Good. C'mon, try the food."
Sure enough, it was just as good as it smelled. Reid made a noise of satisfaction. "I don't think I've had homemade food in at least a year." he said.
"How's it taste?"
"Better than I imagined. It's great, really." he said, looking at her carefully while he chewed.
"Bom, eu estou contente." she said quickly, and then laughed.
A couple hours later, they sat on the couch, drinking wine and eating away at the mountain of bridgardeiros Zoe had made - little chocolate truffles covered in sprinkles.
"...and every girl wears these tiny little bikinis, and everyone drinks mate tea which I don't really like too much but my mom flipped out over. The people are all really nice and welcoming. Nobody is really in a hurry like everyone is here." She wrinkled her nose. "I miss it."
Spencer took another swallow of wine. "I bet it's incredible. Maybe we should go someday." he suggested, and she giggled.
"Are you maybe a little bit tipsy, doctor?" she laughed.
"No, I'm not. Not at all. I'm another glass away from being tipsy." he grinned back at her. "You're beautiful."
She looked down, shyly. "You're just saying that."
"No you are. You really are." he leaned forward, tucking some of her hair back behind her ear. She bit her lip, looking at his big brown eyes and feeling a rush of electricity through her bones.
Before she knew it, he was on top of her, they were entwined, attached to one another by their lips. She buried her hands in his hair, slid them around his neck and down his chest.
"You okay?" he whispered, his breath slightly labored.
"Fantastic." she gasped back. "Why did you stop?"
"Right." he said. He gently grabbed her hair and moved her head back, kissing down her neck and throat. She shivered.
After a few more minutes, she came up for air again. "Bedroom?" she whispered in a haggard voice. With one swift movement, Spencer was standing, holding onto Zoe. Her legs were wrapped around his middle, and her arms wrapped around his neck. She was always impressed by the strength hidden beneath his lean muscles.
She felt a deep connection in her core drawing her ever closer to Spencer with each kiss they shared. And he felt it too. Their skin warmed up with every touch, and their breathing became increasingly sharp and desperate. He stumbled slightly, and pressed her against the wall next to her bedroom. She made a small noise in the back of her throat, and Spencer couldn't resist smiling in between kisses.
"Still good?" he asked a moment later.
"Mmm...hmmm." she replied.
He moved her again, one hand slipping up her thigh as they fell into the bed.
"Another night, then?" she asked after a while.
"I want a hundred nights, right now, to be perfectly honest."
The night drifted into a tangle of sheets, sweet whispered words and noises, and finally, ended with Zoe clinging onto Spencer, fast asleep, with him wide awake, trying to remember a time when he'd felt so happy.
A/N: I just needed some good fluff, didn't you? Thanks to everyone who followed the story, please please review ~ more Lila drama coming up, so stay tuned!
