Chapter 7

AN: Thanks for the reviews...On with the story...Love, Kricket

Garcia's POV

I've died.

There's no other reason for it. I know I must've died and went to heaven, because twice in one day, Derek Morgan kissed me...and now he's spouting things that I can't quite fathom.

I watch his lips move, I see that he is talking, but I am so stunned from the magnitiude of what just happened, I can't digest it. Whatever he is saying goes into my usually quicksilver brain-I can beat Reid on a few puzzles, believe it or not!-and it is coming out blah-blah-blah, like Charlie Brown's teachers would talk in the Peanuts cartoons...

Damn it, brain! Think! I order it, and slowly, the fog begins to lift.

"I think it's time we admit what exactly we have been denying one another," my Hot Stuff says, his hands gesticulating to emphasize the words he is trying to say.

I take a moment, looking at his beautiful face...and wonder what the rest of the conversation had been about!

Was he talking about an affair? We could have one smokin' hot affair, considering his kisses worked better than champagne for making me high. Still, I think that would be really disappointing. He seemed better than that; I seem better than that.

Maybe it was about denying that there is chemistry there in the first place? I have said in the past that it was just a tease, all that kind of stuff. Considering my heart is still racing, my lips are zinging, and I need to cross my arms over my chest to cover my nipples before I leave this office...I really can't deny it anymore!

However, that seemed too simple...

"Baby?" he said, with the most earnest, hopeful look on his face, and I knew.

He was talking about love.

My heart leapt into my throat and I knew my eyes were as wide as saucers.

"Are you serious?" I croaked.

My throat was suddenly so dry I couldn't get my heart to slide back into my chest.

I watched as a crestfallen look graced his face, along with disappointment. He looked away quickly. "Never mind."

"Wait!" I announce as he turned away from me.

He looked back at me. "What?"

"I need to know if you're serious about loving me," I asked, holding his melted chocolate eyes with mine. My heart had moved from my throat, and quickly radiated throughout my body. I know I had the look of a woman in love, because I sure felt like it.

"Yeah?" he said, beginning to smile back at me.

I nodded as his words from earlier finally came back to me. He was right. We were being tested...and it was about damn time we passed!

He leaned his long, lean body against the door frame and crossed his right ankle over his left. "Why's that?"

"Because if I am going to give up everything, my new single status, my Wednesday nights in front of the boob tube..." I quirked a brow at him and added, "my personal spa night...I have to know I'm doing it for the best reason...the ultimate prize."

He shook his head with a smile, then took a step towards me and pulled me into his arms. "That's impossible."

"Why is that?" I murmured, as my heart raced again at the heat in his eyes.

"I'm already holding the ultimate prize in my arms."

"I am, too," I said, giving him a squeeze back.

Derek grinned, before he lowered his mouth back to mine. I looped my arms around his neck, before I felt the gentle pressure of his delicious lips against mine, and the tingles and warmth washed over me and made thought impossible again.

"Damn, girl," he whispered as he broke the kiss. He looked as out of breath as I felt.

I giggled. I knew exactly how he felt!

"Should we leave for the day?" he asked, bringing my hand up to his mouth for his kiss. "We're not that busy."

I sighed. "Speak for yourself, my chocolate truffle. I am swamped as usual, but...I can make an exception for this celebration."

Smiling, he reached for my coat. As he helped me put it on, he said, "A celebration, huh?"

"Mmm hmm," I said, looping my arms around his neck again. "I have to celebrate; I'm not usually this good at passing tests..."