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CHAPTER

9

The incessant beeping of the kitchen timer tore JJ from Emily's arms and both women felt the loss of contact acutely. Everything between them was so new, and yet it also had an overriding sense of rightness that made not touching an almost painful experience. Emily watched JJ walk toward the kitchen, taking the time to admire the blonde's delicious curves and the way she filled out her jeans, before she slowly worked her way off of the couch herself.

She tried to go into the kitchen to help JJ with the finishing touches on their meal, but her efforts were instantly rebuffed with a soft kiss and a murmured, "Go sit. I'll bring everything out in a second."

She wanted to argue, but could tell that this was something JJ really wanted to do for her so she obliged and did as she was told, taking her seat at the small dining room table to wait. She reached out to trace the edge of the crimson placemat, letting her nail rake over the small grooves of the fabric as she listened to the quiet clatter of plates on the other side of the bar. She looked over the black granite edge and grinned as she watched the way JJ went about her work with a small, pleased smile on her face.

"Here you go," JJ said as she set a plate down on each of their placemats. "I'll be right back with the silver and the drinks."

"I can get them," Emily offered.

"No, you won't," JJ countered, pressing a soft kiss to the crown of Emily's head.

Emily rolled her eyes and relented, again, thinking that she was in for a world of hurt when it came to Ms. Jennifer Jareau – she really was incapable of telling the woman 'no'. "Okay."

JJ heard the soft sigh that escaped Emily the moment she caved, and knew that it was taking a lot for Emily to sit back and give up control like this – even if it was just over dinner. So, she dipped her head down and claimed the brunette's lips in a soft, slow, lazy kiss of appreciation. "Thank you," she hummed as she pulled away.

Emily laughed. "No. Thank you, Jennifer."

"You are such a dork," JJ chuckled as she backed away.

Emily watched JJ lean over the bar to reach for something – the silverware, she assumed – on the other side. Which, of course, provided her with the perfect view of the younger woman's behind. She licked her lips and grinned lasciviously as she let her eyes caress every delicate curve.

"Stop looking at my ass, Prentiss," JJ chuckled.

Emily's eyes flicked up to find smiling blue eyes looking over a thin shoulder at her. She cleared her throat and grinned. "Sorry."

"No you're not," JJ corrected as she popped back up with her hands full of knives, forks, and napkins.

"No, I'm really not," Emily agreed.

JJ shook her head and laughed as she set the silverware down on the table. "You know, I am really liking this side of you," she confessed.

Emily smiled. "I'm enjoying being able to show it to you, so we're even."

JJ returned Emily's smile with a radiant one of her own as she set two wine glasses filled with what looked like white wine down on the table in front of them.

Emily sighed. "Jen, while I appreciate the romantic gesture, I can't drink alcohol right now."

"I know," JJ assured her as she pulled a small matchbook out of her pocket and lit the three small candles she had found and set out in the middle of the table. "It's sparkling cider. I just wanted to set the mood. Would you prefer a glass of water?"

Emily smiled and shook her head, amazed by the amount of thought and effort that JJ had put in to this meal. "This is wonderful, thank you," she murmured as she reached out with her left hand to pull JJ in close. Once JJ was beside her, she gave JJ's arm a gentle tug and smiled as the blonde leaned down for a kiss.

"I will never get tired of that," JJ whispered as she pulled back with a smile.

"I know what you mean," Emily agreed softly as she watched JJ take her seat. She reached out and took hold of the blonde's hand as she lifted her glass of cider. "To illustrious beginnings," she toasted.

"I like that." JJ smiled as she obligingly chinked her glass against Emily's before they each took a small sip.

Emily set her glass down and picked up her knife and fork, carefully cutting off a small piece of chicken to taste JJ's creation. As the sweetness of the sauce combined on her palate with the smokiness of the bacon, the richness of the mushrooms and onions, and the spiciness of the chicken, she let out a low moan of approval. "Jennifer, this is amazing."

JJ felt her heart skip a beat at the sound of Emily's low moan combined with her name and she could only offer a somewhat strangled, "Thank you," in response.

They dined in silence for some time, each of them content to bask in the simple act of enjoying a meal with another person. It was only when their plates had been pushed away that they fell back into their easy flow of conversation as JJ allowed Emily to help her clear the table. The dishes and silver were rinsed and set in the dishwasher and the pans from the stove were washed and dried as the two women laughed, teased, and stole the occasional quick kiss from the other until everything was put away where it belonged.

The soft, melodious jazz music was still pouring from the speakers and Emily smiled as she turned to gather JJ in her arms. "Dance with me?"

JJ tilted her head and smiled softly as she wrapped her arms around Emily's neck. "What brought this on?" she asked as Emily pulled her in closer, so that their hips were pressed lightly together.

"I missed holding you," Emily said with a small shrug as she began to move slowly to the music.

"Mmm," JJ hummed as she moved in closer and began to sway in time with Emily. "This overwhelming urge to touch is going to pose some serious problems for us at work, you know," she noted softly.

"It is," Emily agreed as she leaned in to kiss JJ.

"What are we going to do?"

"What we've always done. Share furtive glances. Perhaps steal a touch every now and again that lingers just a little too long."

"So nothing changes at work, then?" JJ clarified, watching the brunette carefully as they continued to dance to music that neither of them were hearing anymore.

"I don't see why it needs to." Emily shrugged. "As long as I can do this," she tightened her hold on JJ's waist and kissed her again, "when nobody is looking, it'll be worth it."

JJ smiled. "You certainly are a smooth talker, Agent Prentiss."

Emily shook her head. "I'm just being honest."

"I know I said this earlier, but I really am absolutely mesmerized by this side of you," JJ murmured as she slipped a hand out from behind Emily's neck to cradle the uninjured side of the brunette's jaw in her palm.

Emily relaxed into the younger woman's touch. "What side?"

"The side that doesn't have any walls or compartments," JJ whispered, her breath mingling with Emily's between their parted lips, hanging there for a moment before that final distance separating them was closed and warm lips came together in a soft, slow kiss.

Emily moaned as she felt JJ's lips on her own and tightened her hold on the blonde's waist as the kiss grew deeper to allow tongues to touch, stroke, massage. There was no fight for dominance, no struggle for control, just an easy connection of hearts and mutual desires expressed through the simple lover's language of a kiss.

"I have wanted to do this for so long," Emily breathed when the kiss broke.

"Me too," JJ whispered, her eyes still closed, as she leaned in to claim Emily's lips with her own once more.

Emily moaned in to the kiss and began taking slow, careful steps backwards toward the couch, pulling JJ along with her, step-for-step, until the backs of her legs made contact with the sofa. She pulled away from JJ to sit, a flash of disappoint flaring in her heart at the momentary separation, and she wasted no time pulling the blonde down onto her lap.

JJ smiled as she carefully lowered herself to Emily's lap, her legs angled to the side so that she was able to turn back into the brunette. The warmth of Emily's body spread through her as she settled into the older woman's arms and she held Emily's gaze as she dipped her head down to reclaim parted lips that were lifted toward her own expectantly.

Emily sighed as she felt JJ's lips fit around her own and she wasted no time opening her mouth, inviting the blonde in deeper. Twin moans marked the moment their tongues touched and they quickly became lost in each other, forgetting everything except the feeling of the woman in their arms and the feeling of her lips against their own. After a time their kisses slowed to a series of tender, lingering kisses, as they smiled deeply into each other's eyes.

"Wow," JJ whispered as she settled deeper into Emily's embrace. It had been a while since a simple make-out session had left her feeling so completely aroused and, more than that, desired. Even as she leaned back to look at Emily, she could feel the brunette's lips against her own, could still taste the sweetness of Emily's mouth upon her tongue.

Emily smiled and leaned in to press another quick kiss to JJ's swollen lips. "You were pretty 'wow' yourself, there, Jareau."

JJ blushed and reached down to take Emily's hand in her own, automatically twining their fingers together, as she studied Emily's reaction. The brunette's smile grew warmer, softer, more affectionate the longer she gazed at her and she felt as if the brunette were literally stealing the breath from her lungs. "Emily," she rasped as she drank in the emotions swirling in the older woman's gaze.

"Hmm?" Emily hummed, tilting her head to the side inquisitively.

"You're just…" JJ's voice trailed off as she lifted her free hand to carefully trace the curve of Emily's brow.

Emily smiled a small, embarrassed smile as she sat under the blonde's intense gaze.

"Breathtaking."

Emily chuckled. "You are the breathtaking one, Jennifer. Since the moment I met you, you have taken my breath away."

"Mmm. I wanted you that day," JJ confessed.

"The feeling was mutual, I assure you."

"So why did it take us so long to get here?" JJ asked softly, punctuating her question with a kiss.

"Fear," Emily supplied, getting straight to the heart of the matter. "I should have listened to Derek a long time ago," she added.

JJ grinned. "When did you talk to him about me?"

Emily rolled her good eye and shook her head slowly from side to side. "It started not long after I joined the team," she shared. "He and I were out for drinks, just the two of us, and he was trying to push me into dancing with some guy who wouldn't stop staring at me…" her voice trailed off in a laugh as she felt JJ stiffen in her arms.

"What?"

"You're getting mildly jealous over a story," Emily observed. "It's cute. But you have nothing to worry about. Morgan kept pushing until I snapped at him that the guy wasn't my type. He asked why, and I'd had enough alcohol at that point that I told him that the guy wasn't my type because he wasn't a woman."

JJ laughed. "How'd he take that?"

Emily smiled at the memory. "Quite well, actually. He designated me his 'wingman'," she shook her head at the memory of some of their excursions.

"I probably don't want to hear those stories, do I?" JJ smiled.

Emily shrugged. "He probably wouldn't like me to share, but I was always on my best behavior," she assured the blonde with a soft kiss, "my affections were already otherwise engaged."

"When did you tell him about me, then?"

"I didn't, actually. He caught me watching you with what he called a 'stupid-ooey-gooey-lovesick-grin' one too many times and called me on it. He knows we've talked, by the way, he called this afternoon when you were out."

JJ smiled. "Penelope knows too," she shared.

"Ah," Emily nodded. "Somehow I figured she would. Does she approve?" she asked, almost hesitantly. She knew the quirky technical analyst was JJ's best friend and that her opinion really did matter.

JJ kissed Emily softly and nodded. "She does. She's been pushing me to talk to you for quite a while now too."

"And here we are," Emily murmured.

"Finally," JJ agreed as she leaned in to claim Emily's lips.

Emily moaned as JJ's mouth opened over hers and she reflexively arched forward, into the blonde, as she pushed her tongue into the younger woman's mouth. She shuddered as she swallowed JJ's low moan of approval, answering it with one of her own as she felt the blonde turn into her and meet her thrusting tongue hungrily stroke for stroke. Wanting more control, needing more control, she guided JJ backwards onto the couch and covered the younger woman's supine body with her own.

JJ sighed as Emily's body settled atop her own, the brunette's thigh slipping easily between her own to press tight to her center. God so good, she thought as she rocked herself up onto the limb. All thoughts of Emily's injury and taking things slow went out the window with that first electric touch as she slid her hands up the brunette's toned torso to palm her full, heavy breasts that she had been dreaming about for months. She groaned as she hefted their weight, a spark lighting low in her belly as she felt Emily's nipples pressing into her palms.

"My god, Jen," Emily groaned as she felt JJ's thumbs brush over her nipples, causing her hips to rock forward, driving herself harder against the younger woman.

JJ's eyes rolled back in her head as Emily's leg flexed against her, delivering the perfect amount of pressure. "Emily," she gasped as her head shot up off the cushion to recapture Emily's lips, wanting that connection, needing to feel Emily's mouth against her skin.

"Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck!" Emily yelled as JJ's head came into contact with her injured cheek. She immediately rolled away from the contact, flinging herself off of the blonde and onto the floor beside the couch as her hands reflexively reached up to cradle her injured face.

JJ froze as she heard Emily swear, felt a wave of absolute terror roll through her as the brunette moved away from her. Her mind, now functioning on all cylinders, quickly determined what must have happened and her terror turned to the stomach-churning realization that she had hurt Emily. That she was the reason Emily was curled up in a ball on the floor and cradling her injured face. "Shit."

She jumped up and somehow managed to fit herself between Emily's body and the coffee table, an incessant string of curses falling from her lips as she tried to see exactly how bad Emily was hurt. "Please, baby," she muttered as she wrapped her fingers around Emily's wrists and began to pull gently against them so she could assess the damage. "Lemme see, Em," she cajoled as she pulled with a little more urgency against the brunette's arms.

"Fucking hell," she groaned as Emily fought against her. "Come on Em, let me see," she pleaded.

JJ's panicked voice broke through the cloud of pain surrounding Emily and she managed a rough, "I'm okay."

"Just let me see if we need to take you to the hospital, please," JJ replied as she again pulled against Emily's wrists.

The threat of being taken back to the hospital was enough to motivate Emily to move her hands so JJ could examine her cheek. "I'm fine, Jayj. Just a bump."

JJ frowned and leaned in close to carefully examine Emily's wounded cheek. "It doesn't look any worse," she muttered, almost to herself, as she ran a hovering finger above the bruise being careful not to touch it.

"It's fine," Emily assured JJ and even managed to push herself up to a sitting position.

Emily's movement did more to reassure JJ than the brunette's words, and she let out a sigh of relief as she watched her maneuver herself back up onto the sofa. She stayed where she was on the floor, afraid to get too close and risk hurting her again. "I'm so sorry," she murmured apologetically.

Emily offered the obviously upset blonde a lopsided smile. "I'm fine, Jennifer. Really."

JJ chewed her lower lip thoughtfully, her brow furrowing with her disbelief, as she studied Emily's open expression. "I'm sorry."

"Please, I was the one who laid you down on the couch and climbed on top of you. It was my fault, I just can't control myself around you," Emily argued, trying to put a playful tone to her voice to ease some of the guilt that was painted across JJ's features.

"I think we should probably slow things down until you're feeling better."

"I think that makes sense," Emily agreed, giving the blonde one of her rare, unguarded smiles. "Come give me a kiss to make it all better?"

JJ rolled her eyes and shook her head even as a small, amused smile tweaked her lips. It was hard to stay serious when Emily was looking at her like that. "I don't think that's the best idea, Em," she sighed.

"It's a brilliant idea," Emily countered as she leaned forward toward JJ. "Please?"

JJ sighed and pushed up to her knees so she could lay a soft, quick kiss to Emily's lips, being careful to avoid the brunette's injuries. "I'm sorry."

"I'm fine," Emily repeated, her smile fading as she watched JJ push herself up off the floor and moved to sit on the far end of the sofa. That would just not do. "Please don't avoid me Jennifer," she whispered, holding out a hand toward the blonde. "Come sit with me. We'll just be a little more careful."

JJ's face showed that she was not entirely sold on Emily's idea, but, even still, she obligingly stood to move closer to Emily. "Better?" she asked as she sat down beside the brunette.

Emily reached out and pulled JJ in to her side so that the blonde's body was once again curved comfortingly around her own. "Yes."

JJ wrapped her left arm around Emily's waist as she closed her eyes and laid her head on the brunette's chest. "I'm sorry."

"Jennifer, it's fine," Emily murmured as she pressed her lips to the crown of JJ's head, hoping the touch would reassure the blonde that she really was okay.

"You have no idea how scared I was that I was going to have to call an ambulance to take you to the hospital," JJ muttered against the soft cotton of Emily's sweatshirt.

Emily laughed. "I dunno, it would have been fun to watch Hotch's face as you told him how I reinjured myself."

"Hey!" JJ could not help but laugh. "Yeah, that's just how I want us to come out to the team. 'Hey, guys, yeah. See, me and Emily were making out on the couch…'," she let her voice trail off as Emily's hold around her waist tightened and the brunette's rich, musical laugh filled the air.

"Like I said," Emily chuckled. "It would have been priceless."

JJ rolled her eyes and laughed lightly. "Yeah. Priceless," she repeated drolly.

Emily smiled and lifted JJ's face so she could kiss the blonde softly. "Do you want to tell the team about us?"

JJ shrugged. "Derek and Pen know already, and I have a feeling that Hotch and Rossi do too."

This new piece of information got Emily's attention as she spluttered, "Wait, what? How? When? What?"

JJ smirked. "When you were, um… let's say, confused, Hotch warned me to be gentle with you – that he thought your emotions were such to support your…"

"Delusions," Emily offered with a groan as her words and actions from the hospital the day before flashed through her mind. "Shit."

"They weren't delusions," JJ argued gently.

Emily huffed disbelievingly and refused to answer. It had not been even twelve hours since this whole thing between them started, she was not about to go telling JJ about how she had dreamed so many times of the life she had stupidly rambled on and on about in the hospital.

"He said he saw it before either of us did," JJ offered. "Which means that Rossi probably did too. The only one who probably won't have a clue is Spencer."

"Aw, you don't think Boy Wonder will have caught the signs?"

JJ laughed. "Be nice. He just doesn't think that way. The big problem is going to be…"

"Dragon Lady."

JJ nodded. "Yeah, figuring out what to do about Strauss."

Emily sighed and leaned her head back against the cushions as the reality of their lives threatened to steal the beauty from this oh-so-fragile beginning of a relationship. "Can we have at least have one honest-to-god date before things get complicated?"

JJ smiled. "Of course we can, Em. Is this your way of asking me out?"

"It is now," Emily chuckled softly. "What are you doing next weekend? You know, provided we aren't called out for a case."

Hopefully you, JJ thought. "You tell me, Agent Prentiss."

Emily smiled and took a moment to really think about it. Jennifer deserved something special, something romantic, something… "How about if you let me think on that for a bit and I'll get back to you."

"So, should I pencil you in?" JJ teased.

"Forget the pencil, you can just go ahead use a freaking sharpie," Emily quipped. "I guarantee I will not be cancelling on you, and if you play the work card then I guess I'll just have to follow you to whatever hotel, motel, no-tell you're staying at and pick you up there."

JJ laughed. "Such a romantic."

"Don't worry, Jennifer," Emily assured the blonde, her voice dropping into a smooth gray silk that oozed sex as she ran her fingers up and down JJ's back, "when the time is right I will do my damndest to sweep you off your feet. You deserve that, and so much more. But, for now, you know what sounds really good?"

JJ grinned. "I thought we were going to give you a little time to heal?"

"Mind out of the gutter, Agent Jareau," Emily laughed. "Although that does… sound… so… never mind. Chocolate."

"Hmm?" JJ hummed questioningly as she struggled to tear her mind away from the wonderful mental image she just got of Emily covered in chocolate – as she licked her clean.

Emily heard the shift in JJ's tone and knew that the younger woman was entertaining some probably very good ideas that she could do absolutely nothing about at the moment. "I was going to say that chocolate was sounding good," she said, trying to bring the conversation back from the bedroom. "After the richness of dinner something sweet is sounding really good."

JJ grinned and laid a quick kiss to Emily's chin. "Well, you're in luck. I happened to have gotten some chocolaty goodness when I was at the store earlier too."

"You take such good care of me."

"Oh, honey," JJ drawled as she pushed up off the couch. "You have no idea what I'm capable of."

Emily groaned and shot JJ a pleading look. "Can we please save the innuendo until I can do something about it?"

JJ pursed her lips thoughtfully as she considered the dessert she had waiting for them in the fridge. "No," she shook her head. "I don't think we can," she said as she turned toward the kitchen to gather their dessert.

Emily bit back a groan as she looked at the window to watch JJ's reflection sashay toward the kitchen. She could hear the fridge door opening and then there was a quiet clatter of ceramic plates landing on the granite counter. She smiled as she watched JJ's reflection head back toward the couch, a plate in one hand and a small bowl in the other.

"Whatcha got there?" Emily asked as JJ set the plates down on the table.

"Chocolate covered strawberries and whipped cream," JJ answered, sounding rather pleased with herself.

Emily frowned. "Why the whipped cream?"

Now it was JJ's turn to frown in confusion. "What do you mean? You don't dip your strawberries in cream too?"

Emily shook her head. "Never have before, but it sounds good."

JJ grinned. "Oh it is. The second dip makes the strawberry absolutely sinful."

Emily groaned as her mind jumped straight back to the gutter. There was somewhere else that she would like to dip that big, juicy strawberry JJ was waving in front of her face. "I'm convinced. Hit me with it, Jareau."