A/N: Next Chapter is done, sorry. I haven't felt like working on much. On the last few weeks of school so it is hectic. Please enjoy. Any mistakes I apologize for.
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Chapter Two
"Kiss Reid," it was very simple. Dave cupped both hands together and gave their boss a knowing smile. They would have to think of another way of getting aboard that ship. Going in half-cocked would get someone killed and there was no way Hotch could pull off belonging on a gay tour. Reid had the looks going for him, slender and feminine, but their boss was all testosterone. They would have to pull off being into one another to continue the charade. "And I don't mean like you'd kiss your mother."
That was a horrible idea! Spencer snapped his jaw, it having relocated itself to the floor. That wouldn't prove anything, there was more to being together than being able to share a decent kiss. Why was Hotch backing away from the table? All eyes went to their boss, who was starting to stand. There had to be something he could say to prevent this. It was horrifying that no words came to him to stop the awkward moment coming his way. He should have been more appalled that the others seemed to only find fault with the aspect of Hotch being gay. No one was questioning whether or not he'd be able to pull it off. Was it because they assumed that he might be bi or was it because of how he looked? Not that it mattered, what did was that Hotch wasn't one to back down. It hadn't been stated as a dare, but a stipulation, and Hotch would try to kiss him just to do the job. It would only serve to prove that Rossi was right and his own suspicions. Hotch wasn't attracted to him and it would show in the kiss. "I don't think it's a good idea."
"Hotch," Spencer gawked, partly in fear, but the rest was purely a sense of anxiousness. When he couldn't bring himself to move away from the table, it was JJ that didn't help by helping Hotch rotate his chair around and away from any cover. If he would have been allowed to stand, he may have given into the desire to back away. Large hands landed on armrests to keep him from fleeing and he did something really stupid; he looked up. It was to take in Hotch's expression, to gauge what the man must be thinking. The handsome face showed no emotion and the eyes were lingering on his mouth.
Kiss Reid, he could do that. Aaron's mouth twitched, wanting to smirk seeing the fear plastered over the soft features. The genius was scared but not terrified, it was a different type of fear keeping the other agent planted in the chair. It almost made him falter in his decision to go through with it. Then he caught the telling sign that his actions weren't entirely unwanted. The edge of a pink tongue darted out to trace the plush bottom lip he found very fascinating at the moment. There wasn't another word of protest and the slow descent left plenty of time for one.
This couldn't be happening to him. For a genius, he was being an imbecile by not moving his head to avoid the kiss. Spencer waited, the seconds agonizingly slow as he waited patiently for the dark head to finish the trip closer. Close enough he could feel Hotch's hot breath, and smell the coffee. Those few seconds were for his benefit, he was being given a chance to say no, but he didn't want to. It would be weird and forced, but this was his one chance to feel the man's mouth on his own.
Contact, Aaron felt the sigh more than he heard it. The gentle caress of air on his lips before they connected. Soft and smooth, a woman's mouth, that was the only explanation he could give for the texture pressed into his own. Maybe not the correct choice because not even Haley or Beth had possessed such smooth lips. The only pressure being applied was from his doing at this point. Not to be dissuaded or proven wrong, he tried again.
He was in hell. Spencer closed his eyes in awe the second time the pressure was applied, more demanding than before. This time it wasn't a gentle or timid kiss, it was one mouth testing out another. The urge to open up was strong, but how would Hotch react? He wanted to return it but was he supposed to? This was about whether or not Hotch would be able to kiss him, not so he could plant one on the boss.
It was slight, Aaron noticed it the moment the lips began to part. Be it from Reid wanting to speak or another reason entirely, he took advantage of it. The surface was silk underneath his tongue and opened further as he probed. Another pass and he was granted entry. He never would have guessed that the doctor would taste sweet. The flavor was bold, like after eating candy, and the tongue that tentatively met his own was warm and wet.
Was that noise from him or Hotch? Spencer would have rolled his eyes if they weren't already closed. The only thing awkward was the position he was forced to tilt his head because of being seated. His mouth was being expertly explored and he didn't need to be coaxed into returning the kiss. The tongue playing with his own seemed to know exactly how to send his brain into overload, among other parts of his anatomy. The cotton of his pants was becoming unbearably tight and it wasn't ending.
Hotch heard the whispered 'Wow' from the married woman sitting nearby. She possibly noted his reactions and that instead of pulling away, he tilted his head further to get a better angle. His fingers gripped the chair painfully in order to keep them from going with the urge to dig themselves into the mop of hair and tug. Wasn't it enough that he was trying to climb into Reid's face?
"Wow," JJ blinked, sure that she wasn't the only one in the room shocked. Rossi would have been satisfied with a lover's peck but this wasn't a simple show of being able to kiss another. Not from where she was sitting, and she wasn't the only one still watching. The third male had turned his head the second it became apparent that spit was about to be swapped. She and the hacker continued to be awestruck. The next fluid of motion momentarily exposed Hotch's tongue as he angled his head further to get better access to the open mouth. Her own stomach tingled at another flash of clashing tongues before mouths eagerly met. The plastic beneath the boss' fingers creaked from being squeezed and the chair had begun to dip back due to the good doctor being… well good. What else had the two completely forgetting that they had an audience?
"You can put it on my credit card," Dave muttered to the hacker. The sound of his voice did little to separate the two and one of two had released a whimper. It was disturbing to realize just how little he knew of their Unit Chief. Never would have thought the man capable of participating in such a heated kiss with another male. Finally, the pair pulled apart, leaving the good doctor looking dazed and confused.
"Will do," Penelope made a mental note to do just that, in a moment. That had been unexpectedly hot and she actually envied Spencer. That was a look she had never seen on his face, it must have been good.
"Try to get us as close as possible." Aaron eased up the hold on the chair to back away. If anyone spotted his problem, none were brave enough to mention it when he retook his seat. Along with his knuckles, his cock was aching in the confides of his pants, and he couldn't bring himself to look back over at Reid. Being perceptive, everyone would have noticed his eagerness to keep indulging in the work place. "Preferably away from others to keep our actions less noticeable."
"Right," Penelope graciously accepted the plastic being held out. Within minutes she had up the grid showing which rooms were still available. Both were suites with balconies, king size beds, and the most expensive. "I can only find two suites that are close, they are next door to one another. Should I book them?"
"Yes, and book them under our names since getting fake passports will take time." Hotch gave into the urge to adjust his tie, he felt smothered and hot. "Then give me the information to retrieve the tickets. I'll have Matt speak with the Captain. Reid and I will need vacation clothes and there won't be enough time to fly home and go shopping. Rossi, if you don't mind."
"Not at all, but you owe me." Dave shrugged, he really didn't mind. A few new duds for his team, no big deal. "But may I suggest you allow JJ and the kid to do the shopping?"
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The entire situation was insane, he almost felt like he was going on vacation. Spencer placed the baggy swim trunks on top of the other six pair before zipping up the suitcase. There was barely any room left inside after allowing JJ to be the one to do the shopping. Along with his attire that had been in his go-bag, he was now the owner of twenty more outfits, and three pairs of sandals. His wardrobe had come out larger than Hotch's because he was more appealing in casual wear, or so he had been told twelve times.
After six hours of shopping, Hotch and he had been driven to the appointed hotel after getting their tickets. The booking had been for one night in the hotel before boarding early the next day. After spend a night alone, he had jumped on the first shuttle to pick up the passengers, skipping breakfast. He had time before they departed but he was loath to step out of his room. One could easily remain inside and enjoy the cruise. The lodgings were spacious, clean, and comfy. A king size bed was waiting to be used, along with a gift basket. Somehow, he didn't think that the bottle poking from the plastic was hand lotion. Nope, it confirmed what kind of cruise he had stepped on. A bottle of unscented lube, condoms, candles, and an unopened porn had been set out for his use. A dating service that promoted sex, it should be illegal.
Along with his new attire, a satellite phone was in his belongings, and his own personal tracking device. A small silver band was on his pinky finger for insurance. Hotch had been given a new watch for the same purpose. Spencer's back story was that he was a doctor on vacation and he was here to fall for the older lawyer. The plan was simple, he would get board the ship from the earliest shuttle and Hotch would take the last. So he had hours before being able to catch a glimpse of his neighbor and boss. The first day he was to mingle with others, getting a feel for the other passengers. After a few days, they would 'meet' and then start spending time together. It would be odd pretending that he was looking when he had eyes for someone already.
After that kiss, he had no idea how hard it was going to be to pretend that he was pretending to be falling for Hotch. They couldn't completely shun others for a while, so he would have to speak and talk to other guests. Which meant allowing other men to flirt and try to get to know him. If personal experience had taught him anything, he would be greatly ignored while every man with eyes would be vying for his boss' attention. Would it really be realistic for someone as appealing as Hotch to dismiss others and decide on someone like himself?
He could do this, they only had to pretend when not in their rooms. Or they could be one of those couples that weren't heavily into public displays. A peck here and there, they could make it work. But Gods, he wouldn't complain if Hotch were to try to kiss him again. He was being silly, calculating the chances of it happening again when he should be figuring out how best to complete their assignment. There was an unsub onboard looking for a new victim, he had to get his head in the game.
The best way to do that would be to mingle and start searching for clues. Not many of the guests were aboard but there was nothing wrong with him walking around to meet the crew.
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Not again! The peace he had found on the deck was coming to a crashing halt, once again. The first time Spencer had found himself cornered had been at the pool while soaking his feet. The second had been during lunch, his salad interrupted by a rude asshole with a god complex. The next three times had occurred while pretending to read poolside. The book had been in his hand to explain the reason he wasn't mingling. That hadn't prevented three more men from sitting on the lounge chair next door to strike up a conversation. Profiling was hard when he had someone in his ear asking him personal questions.
The ship had left the dock two hours ago and he had yet to spot his future boyfriend anywhere. Spencer had hoped to catch a brief glance of his boss to put his mind at ease. It would suck if for some reason Hotch hadn't made it aboard, leaving him to do this alone. Weeks of being hit on, he'd jump overboard before he discovered the unsub. The guests weren't wasting any time trying to hook up with others.
Finally hungry, Spencer had opted on the starboard restaurant. It presented a beautiful view of the ocean and the weather was nice. The breeze was cool and dusk was falling around the cruise ship. The tiny candle flickered inside the glass ornament with the next breeze. The scent of aftershave and peppermint reached his nose before his next opponent came into view.
This male was clearly over forty, wearing dress pants, a buttoned-up shirt, and sandals. The watch was a Rolex, the only jewelry the man adorned. Salt and pepper hair was cropped to frame the handsome face. On a normal day, Spencer would classify the approaching man as handsome, in a classic way. The jaw was square, with a dimple in his chin, tanned skin, and chocolate colored eyes. There were no other vacant tables in this corner, and the only chair was at his table. "Do you mind?"
"Not at all." Spencer softly gave his consent to have his space invaded. He had yet to order so he could always make a run for it. His stomach wanted him to stay and try out the fabled cuisine.
"Lovely weather to have dinner outside." The man reached for the other menu but never took his gaze from him.
"It is, I was thinking about trying out the grilled chicken salad with dessert." Food was a safe topic because Spencer mentally checked off this man as being the unsub already. Their unsub's rage came from an unsated need, be it to be accepted, punished, or simply loved, this man didn't have that problem. Not a minute after hearing the stranger speak, Spencer profiled him as being a successful business man. The man spoke, sat, flicked his hand with confidence one couldn't fake. He wasn't the only one that took note of how handsome his company was. This person was out and capable of finding someone willing to love him despite his faults. Also the type of man that would be hard to say no to.
"Sounds delicious, and something light is always best on the stomach during the first few days on the water." A large hand was extended across the table, "Name is Michael."
"Spencer," he lightly took the fingers to initiate the shake. It was the polite thing to do and he couldn't allow his quirks to expose him. The waiter saved him from having to continue the small talk. Both ordered the salad and were left alone once more.
"What brings someone as adorable as you to this place?" Michael inquired, purposely stressing the adorable.
"Same as most of the men here. I figured I owed myself a long vacation and a friend of mine directed me to the website." Spencer almost broke into a wide smile spotting the dark hair stepping into view. Hotch was on board and looking around the deck. It was hard not to openly stare at the arrival but his eyes remained halfway focused on him, while Michael continued to speak. Unable to sit nearby, Hotch was forced to take a seat across the way. He wasn't sure if the man had been able to spot him.
"This is my third time on the cruise, first this year." Michael cocked his head before dragging a bold gaze across his frontal. "That doesn't answer why someone as pretty as you are here alone, or am I occupying someone's seat?"
"No, I'm alone." Spencer shook his head in denial. "Believe it or not, having softer features doesn't make things easier finding compatibility. I go through the same difficulties as anyone else when it comes to finding love."
"I find that hard to believe, more than half the men here are wishing they would have had the nerve to sit down with you. I can point out three right now that are hating on me for doing so."
"Really? Please do," Spencer said so because the man seemed to want to make a point. The point being that he was obviously the only man in the place that had the nerve to step up. It was supposed to earn Michael points. Being an alpha male, the man wanted to be seen as fierce and bold. "I seriously doubt any of them care that you decided to sit with me this evening."
"First one, that bald one three tables over. He's been boldly staring at your mouth since you took a sip of that water." Michael smirked when the bald male blushed and turned away at being caught staring. "The blonde surfer near the door is practically eye fucking you as we speak. He's constantly licking his lips and the food isn't that good, trust me."
"Right," said water lodged in his throat at the mention of being eye fucked. Spencer couldn't resist tilting his head to inspect the surfer who was indeed watching him intently. The ass had the nerve to boldly lick his top lip in invitation at being observed. "That is only two."
"The third will most likely be my only real competition." Michael leaned back in his chair, allowing the waiter to place the ordered food onto the table. Luckily, he had managed to find the sweet-looking addition before the other man. "In the back corner, dark hair, decent build, middle-age, and a penetrating gaze."
"Where?" Spencer looked around but saw only one male fitting that description. Hotch was currently looking at his menu and not paying them any heed. Who else did Michael think was checking him out? He would not think of the competition bit because Michael didn't have a chance no matter how else might be vying for his attention.
"That one, he just looked up from his menu." Michael nodded at the competition, who had glanced up once more from the folded menu to watch them. It had been that man that had alerted him to the presence of little Spencer. He had gone to the bar after getting out of the pool and had tried to strike up a conversation with the dark male. Just small talk, until he had noticed the other man's gaze constantly straying elsewhere. A bulky piece of trash had blocked his view up until that point, but then he had gotten his first look at the treasure that had been brought aboard.
What? Spencer quickly glanced back at Michael, unable to meet Hotch's eyes across the way. Sure, they would eventually make others believe that they had hooked up but why would Michael assume that Hotch was competition already? Or was it that the man was intuitive enough to realize that he and Hotch had a lot in common? "He doesn't seem that interested at the moment."
"Because you are too sweet and naïve to recognize a predator. He's being coy but he is watching us."
Of course he was, Hotch was his boss and most likely worried about how he was handling the situation. Spencer couldn't say that, a shrug was the only way to reply to the implication that Hotch was checking him out. It was safer to eat his dinner.
"May I ask what you are looking for on this vacation, Spencer?"
What was he looking for? Well, he was posing as a lonely doctor looking for love. He replied how he was meant to, "This trip is mostly a stress reliever for me. However, I have the hopes of finding someone special to spend it with."
"Well said, may we both find what we are looking for."
Spencer gave into the toast before taking a long sip of the refreshing water. What he really wanted was to go back to his room and get some sleep. Unable to resist, his gaze darted away from his company. Michael was correct, Hotch was boldly watching them and not hiding the fact. However, the gaze wasn't on him but on Michael. "He's watching you, not me."
"That is so adorable of you to think so," Michael released a faint laugh at the ridiculous comment. "Does that look like the gaze of someone that wants to take me back to his room?"
"Well," he had to think about it. It didn't help that he actually knew Hotch personally. If that was a stranger sitting over there, Spencer would say that Hotch looked to be plotting Michael's demise. That wasn't the face of someone that was admiring another. "Not really, but maybe he always looks like that. I'm still not the one he's staring at."
"Wrong, he was checking you out earlier and now he's thinking on how to get rid of me. I'm very perceptive, I can tell."
"How perceptive?" Spencer poked at his food, still unable to catch Hotch's gaze. What was the reason for the glaring? In a way, it would make sense for one of them to be the bold one. The only way to make it believable would be for one to pursue the other. Since he wasn't the type, that left Hotch to be the one to pursue him. It was a role and the first step would be for Hotch to pretend to spot him and like him.
"You're very intelligent and a fast reader. You don't spend much time outdoors because you have fair skin. I'm willing to bet if I were to get you naked, you wouldn't have any tan lines beneath those clothes. You blush easily; you're a virgin or very unexperienced. I don't think you really understand how you are seen by others, especially other men like myself. You're beautiful, yet you seemed genuinely shocked when you were being hit on earlier. All that into account, you aren't the type to get involved easily, which makes each relationship special to you." Michael leaned forward in the seat. "Whatever man that is lucky enough to garner your attention will be leaving this cruise a very happy man."
How could he not blush at that? Spencer squirmed underneath the leisurely yet coy eye-fucking he was receiving at the moment. Being able to tell that he was inexperienced didn't take a genius. "Now you are eye-fucking me."
"I am, I apologize."
"Accepted," because tossing water in the handsome face would cause a scene. Spencer sighed before looking away, his gaze going back to their watcher. This time his eyes were met. Hotch had been watching him instead of his company. He almost nodded in acknowledgement but it died before the action could be completed. The fierce gaze left his face for a moment to land on Michael, then was back on himself. It made him want to slide under the table and beg not to be fired.
"Told you," Michael was glad that the other male had managed to catch the far one eyeing him. The blush stained deeper the longer Spencer was underneath the inspection. "You're the object of his interest and I'm in the way."
"In the way?" Did that mean how it sounded? Spencer had pegged the guy as bold and daring, but it made him uncomfortable being looked at like that. Michael's eyes left no room for half-assed assumptions.
"Very much so, I don't scare easy, and I don't walk away either." Michael gave a smile to blind children, "We both spotted the one we want to pursue on this thing. You my dear Spencer will find that I don't give up, and I look forward to winning your affections. May the best man win."
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Please comment for me, I may or may not have the next chapter up within the week.