Hanging around the break room Penelope had just told her friends the qualifications she had for a perfect man. Her list left Emily and JJ smiling knowingly and claiming that they knew the perfect man for her.
"Who?" Penelope asked interested. After all, any friends of Emily and JJ were probably going to be way more suitable for Penelope than Morgan's friends were turning out to be.
Both women looked at each other, wondering if she was really serious.
"He just walked away," Emily informed Penelope, who looked rather confused at that comment.
"Who?" Penelope asked first, before she realized who they meant. "Morgan? You serious?"
"Yes, we are. I mean… you basically just described Morgan with your little text. I think there is nothing he wouldn't do for you. He even once said it…" JJ explained, looking at Emily and together they finished JJ's sentence. "Anything for his Baby girl," both women giggled, making Penelope wonder where the hell they got that from. When Morgan had said it to her, Penelope was pretty sure they were some of the last people left in the whole building. How did they hear about that?
"He's just my best friend …" Penelope argued.
"Hmmm…" Emily nodded. "The one you share a bed with, flew to Brazil and didn't say anything about after you came back and hang out with every Friday for your movie nights to which no one else is invited than you and him. Hell, last year you even invented your very own holiday. Trust me, that man," Emily started, pointing towards the direction Morgan had walked earlier "is basically sharing your mind. I have never seen anything like you two before. Hell the first day at the BAU I thought for sure that you two were a couple. You practically read each other's minds," Emily finished, wondering what it would take to get these two finally together.
Penelope still didn't look convinced, so JJ decided on stepping in.
"Penelope, we always say you've a lot of chemistry, but actually it comes close to a telepathic connection what you two have going on. It's like … you can sense each other from across the room and have that whole 'one look and I know what's up' thing going on. Sometimes you are rather soaked up with each other. Honestly … trust me, there is no one out there who would fit you more perfectly. You share the same interests, the same humor and the same characteristics. And trust me, with him, I have a feeling, you would be up for a lifelong challenge," the blonde woman laughed at Penelope, realizing that there are rarely any couples out there which were made so badly for each other.
"I … I don't know," Penelope finally said, getting up and leaving JJ and Emily behind. She knew that a lot of people always saw them as more, commented on their chemistry, but really going for it? And was she really describing Morgan earlier? It was just an image in her head she gave these two when they wouldn't stop pushing the issue. But then again … Morgan was on her mind a lot of times, usually her main topic to think about. It didn't mean she never thought about it. Thought about acting on all their talks. But she somehow always backed down. She didn't think Morgan saw her that way, saw anything more in her than a really good friend. And by her age she already given up on that kind of fairy tale thinking anyway.
Morgan was a notorious player, with no desire to settle down anytime soon. His mother could come as often as she wanted with her wish for grandchildren, it's not like it changed anything with Morgan. He might love his mother, but certain things just were not going to happen.
And no matter what JJ and Emily thought, this somehow wasn't going to happen. Ever.
XXXX
Morgan would have another of his parties the upcoming weekend, with Penelope helping him to prepare things and also keeping on meeting some more friends. God, she knew that Morgan was rather popular, but by now she must have met whole DC in Morgan's house. At least it felt to her like that.
Jackson, Morgan's latest idea for a suitable boyfriend, was just telling Penelope how he just got divorced from his third wife, at the age of 32. Red lights for Penelope. Someone who was already married three times at this rather young age still was either having rather unrealistic expectations or just tended to rush things a bit.
Penelope had learned rather quick that most of Morgan's friends might be his age, but certainly didn't behave like it. As the night went on, but neither of the guys seemed to lose any steam or energy they decided on taking things to a local bar just around Morgan's place. And it took just a few moments for Penelope to realize how drunk most of these guys already were. Especially when Marc – or Max, Penelope couldn't really remember and honestly didn't really care at this stage either – suggested some weird game she used to know back from College times.
Twenty minutes, several guys, one goal. Kissing as many willing – or maybe unwilling as well – women they would find and keeping a count.
"Are you for real, guys? I mean … seriously…" Penelope started trying to announce her disapproval, but was unheard. And of course Morgan was like one of the first to join this ridiculous idea. Of course. Everything else would have surprised her.
"Awesome idea," it came from JJ and Emily, who somehow had managed to stick around long enough and hadn't even been noticed much in the last hour by Penelope.
When they had more than enough willing male participants it was about to lay the rules. Which were basically just two.
1. No woman could be kissed more than once by the same guy
2. The guy with the highest score would win. Obviously. JJ, Penelope and Emily would keep the scores.
"I honestly would like to stay out of this if possible," Penelope laughed, feeling rather uncomfortable for a moment. This was certainly not how she imagined this evening to end.
"Ah, come on, Goddess. It will be fun," Morgan argued at which Penelope just rolled her eyes. Of course he would defend this stupid idea. Penelope didn't really get the appeal of watching several way too drunk guys kissing other women? What was so great about that idea anyway? She still remembered that task a few months back, kissing a stranger. She hadn't told Morgan until this day that she bolted. She didn't know why, liked the guy and was determined to go through with it, but the moment she saw Morgan leave … she left as well.
Looking at Morgan now, how he looked so adorable at her, with his deep, dark puppy dog eyes how could she do anything else other than agree? This man knew exactly how to push her buttons to get what he wanted. She ended up counting girls these guys kissed and judging by how they did it, most of these girls didn't even seem to mind much. Maybe she should have consulted some of Morgan's friends before she tried that whole 'kiss a stranger' thing. They seemed to be rather good at this.
It was just a moment left and as far as Penelope knew Morgan and Richie were tight, with no one around either of them seemed to consider would qualify. These two managed to probably kiss every girl in the entire bar and outside, and just when she saw these two stud's sharing the title she saw Morgan approaching her, with a lecherous smile on his lips, bending closer and pressing his lips on hers. Probably the last few seconds before this whole nonsense was over. But Penelope wasn't thinking anymore.
She could just feel. Taste. Enjoy. His lips on hers were not just one of these feather light quick kisses all of them have seemed to give out all night long, but a real, deep, passionate kiss. She could hear whistling around them and clapping, but didn't register more than that. Her mind focused on Morgan's lips, Morgan's tongue exploring her mouth, Morgan holding her slightly bend backwards in his arms stopped her from thinking about anything else.
She had no idea how long this went on, and didn't really care anyway. For her … this could have lasted forever and still it wouldn't have been long enough.
When he let her up again, for air, she needed a few moments to come back to her senses. Never had she experienced anything similar. Never anything as breathtaking, fire lightning and firework sparking like this. This was definitely something new for her.
'Was it always like this?' she found herself wondering. Who knew? She certainly wasn't going to find out, since it was clear to her this was just Morgan going for another 'trophy'. There was no way on earth this would ever happen again. Before she even finished that last thought she felt his lips on hers again. This time a bit more forceful, deepening their kiss within seconds and Penelope had no objections to that.
Her legs were turning to jell-o, at threat of giving in any moment now, but Morgan, who had his arms wrapped tightly around her would probably keep her steady and standing. For now at least.
Another small eternity passed by and Penelope sure as hell wasn't able to explain the second kiss. The first one? That was rather simple. Their stupid little game and Morgan's run for the top spot. But that second one? Was he not sure whether the first one really counted and just wanted to make sure? But the way he kissed her, that didn't feel like he wanted to win anything, or prove anything to anyone but her.
When he let go off her once again he smiled down at her, brushing his thumb over her nose.
"You know… I've been thinking," he started, still a shy smile gracing his features. "Concerning that steady boyfriend? I volunteer for the job. Until we can find you someone else," he laughed, making Penelope laugh as well. No chance on earth was anyone more suitable out there for the job. That was for sure.
