Chapter 4
AN: Ooh, Criminal Minds was good. Lacking Garcia/Morgan flirting, but good. The next episode, 100, looks even better! Go Hotch! Just had to say that! :D
Alright, back to the story
The music from the club was pulsating out onto the parking lot. Derek looked over at her, "You ready, baby girl?"
"Just a little nervous," she said, smiling back at him.
"Don't be," he said, kissing her forehead. "You got me right there. I'm going to be your second skin tonight. It'll work; you'll be free and we get to have a helluva lot of fun tonight."
Derek guided her into the club, his hand protectively placed on the small of her back. He tossed their coats to the coat check, and walked her to a table. He didn't notice the throngs of women that took notice when he walked by. The dance floor was packed with lots of couples, swaying to the music. He did a quick scope and came up negative for Lynch. "No sign," he said. He signaled to a waitress and ordered a couple of drinks for them.
Penelope gratefully accepted the fruity thing with the umbrella that Derek ordered for her. It was nice that he knew her so well. She smiled at him, but it faded when she noticed so many women just staring at them. He was exceptionally beautiful, tight jeans, fitted soft Henley shirt. She couldn't blame the other ladies; she would've looked too. Her confidence faded a bit more; she didn't belong with him.
She was so nervous, her hands were clenched and her lips pursed. He needed to put an end to that, right now. "Nope, baby girl," he said, smiling a sexy half smile at her. "We don't worry, and sure as hell don't over think. We do this thing, and we do it right." He grabbed a couple of shots tubes from a shot girl, handed her one and smiled. "To a night neither of us will ever forget."
"It's all pretend, Derek," she said, shaking her head at him. She downed the fruity drink. "I'm not sure I can convince anyone that you're with me. I'm not that good of an actress."
"You forget who you're acting with, baby girl," he said, downing his and pulling her closer to him. "Come on. Let's dance."
"But I don't know how to dance to this kind of music," she said. She was pouting, and she knew it. She was also avoiding getting too close to him, protecting her heart from being skewered. This was an absolutely horrible idea, she kept thinking.
"Awww," he said with a pout himself, making her smile in spite of herself, as he drew her up to her feet. "Good thing I'm an expert." When they reached the dance floor, he pulled her so she was off balance and practically crashed into his chest. She was absolutely plastered against him, no room to move an inch.
"The only step to perfecting this kind of dance?" he said, smiling down into her eyes, his hands roaming down to hold her rounded bottom. "Move your body so close to mine that it knows what to do before your pretty head does."
Within seconds, it became difficult to think. He was overcoming her, completely taking charge of her mind and her body. It was damn unfair to be so attracted to someone. The man had to be polarized, she felt so charged next to him. It was inevitable, but she tried to fight it. She took a deep breath, and was pulled under anyway.
Maybe it was the warmth of the booze she drank, maybe it was the stesss of the day. She decided to give up fighting and just enjoy what she could. Tomorrow would be another day, and she could face what this did to her friendship.
He was right, it was easy to dance with him. He was all sex on the dance floor, smooth strokes on her body, rhythmic pulsing to the music. He was also right when he said he would touch her everywhere. His thigh worked its way between hers again. She sighed and melted against him, the way her body longed to be. Her pulse was thrumming.
"Did I tell you how beautiful you look tonight?"
Her eyes shot up to his. She expected to see a glint of humor that was so Morgan, but it was completely lacking. His gaze was hot, and very fierce. Her mouth went dry and she looked away. He pulled her even closer, if that was even possible. When she turned to face him again, he captured her lips with his.
The force of his desire hit him like a sledgehammer. Somewhere in the middle of everything, he forgot his objective. He couldn't be that close to her without wanting. There was nothing to prove anymore; he was just done waiting for that earlier kiss to be repeated. There was no Lynch, no worries, just the hot, wet warmth of her mouth and the heavy press of her breasts against his chest. He needed to feel her, to eradicate his thoughts and lose himself in her. His hands came up to cup her face, to take the kiss even deeper. He was never going to get enough of her touch.
The crowd leaving the dance floor bumped into him. The band was taking a break, and they were still standing there. He broke the kiss apart gently. He rested his forehead against hers, their bodies still flush, drawing in air and trying to control himself. Nothing was as natural as holding Penelope, unlike holding any other woman. He gave her another quick kiss and smiled down at her.
She was breathing heavily, looking at him with dark eyes. There was no hiding it how much she wanted him. She was rather mortified, until she felt the pressure of his hips against hers. She let it register, his arousal and her own, and her eyes grew.
"Way to ignore it?" He had a mocking half grin. She laughed, and he kissed her again, because he had to.
She smiled at him, her heart so far gone now there was no chance to retrieve it. He deserved an award for going so far above and beyond in the name of friendship. She needed a minute to gather her thoughts. "I'm going to the bathroom; I'll be back soon."
"I'll get us something to drink."
She weaved her way through the traffic to the bathroom. It was so warm in the club that one of the doors were open. She looked out into the night, enjoying the cool breeze on her overheated skin when a hand reached from the darkness and yanked her outside.
A hand was clamped over her mouth and she felt something touch her in the small of her back; the unmistakable sharpness of the blade of a knife. "You little whore!"