ANote: Well I tried to keep the next scene as mild as possible for all our younger readers. Apologies if I was not successful but perhaps a 'M' rating would not be amiss for this chapter.

Chapter 37- It happened one night part 4

Rating M- for suggestive content

It was the slap of cold tiles on her bare back that brought the young agent to full awareness.

What was she DOING?

Were they really going to do this on the floor of his living room? Her head swam and stomach churned uneasily even though the rest of her was gleefully wrapping itself like a hungry snake around the man's body.

When would she ever learn?

She had done this before. Offering sex as a way to comfort a man, and it went without saying, it NEVER turned out well.

However, her eyes fluttered shut as he pinned her arms over her head so he could begin a slow, sensual path of devastation from the back of her right ear, down her chin, across her collar bone and between the valley of her breasts. She always suspected that the incredible focus he had at the office would spill over into other aspects of his life. Without even realizing it, she had been laying there doing nothing while he turned her body to jelly with his talented mouth.

The dark haired woman shook her head to clear her mind before reaching up to capture his lips again. Of their own accord it would seem her fingers crept up under his shirt and the man lifted his arms to allow her to take off the top. He snatched it from her fingers and tossed it (much to her delight) caveman style over his shoulder.

After that she lost track of time as he cleverly slid her out of her remaining undergarments without breaking the hold he had over her mouth.

She felt cold all of a sudden when she realized he had drawn away from her. Opening her eyes she could see that he had rocked back on his knees and was staring down at her naked body as if trying to commit all to memory.

His utter stillness was too much for her barely functioning mind to cope with and she moved her hands down to cover herself. Quickly he reached out to snag her wrists and with the combination of strength and gentleness that always distracted her at work, he pried her arms apart so that his view would remain unobstructed.

'You're beautiful Emily,' he said simply as he reached up to gently smooth her hair behind her ears and off her forehead.

She thought her heart would stop at the tenderness in his voice.

'Mine?' he asked quietly.

For a moment she wondered what he wanted and then she smiled through her surprise. He was asking her permission, giving her the opportunity to change her mind if she wanted to.

Her one second of hesitation was enough though and without a mumble of protest he draped her discarded gown to cover her body and scooped her into his arms.

'No, I want to be with you!' she said firmly with a determination that would have fooled everyone except perhaps an ace profiler with ten years of experience in reading people, (who also spent his free time stalking her every move when she wasn't looking).

'And I want to be with you,' he tacked on reassuringly as he laid her gently on the same couch they were just sitting on, 'and we will be. No need to rush. I am right here.'

The young agent scrunched up the sofa so that he could sit on the edge of the cushions. Smiling, he took the proffered little seat and rested one hand on either side of her head, as he looked down at her.

'I really want to…we don't have to stop,' she protested half heartedly now, as she could clearly see that his mind had already been made up.

Playfully she pulled at the waist band of his sweats as he bent down to kiss her softly.

'Let's do this another night, one where my mind is not wandering all over the place,' he quarreled gently, trying to persuade her to come around to his way of thinking.

Hotch wasn't sure what was going on with Emily but he knew she wasn't ready for what she thought she was ready for. She couldn't even say she loved him out loud as yet, far less for the emotional commitment that would be forged if they slept together. He knew that and he was pretty sure that she knew it too.

With eyes downcast, she tied the drawstring of his pants into a cute little bow.

'You're not mad?' she muttered quietly.

The senior agent frowned darkly at this question, thinking of the unstated implication behind her words. Was there a man out there who he had to hunt down and kill for putting such a thought in Emily's mind?

'As far as I remember, Agent Prentiss,' he attempted to comment lightly. 'It's always been ladies' choice since the dawn of time.'

She beamed at him even as he pushed his hand through his hair and completely rumpled it in obvious sexual frustration.

'Okay, so I need a couple of cold showers now,' he announced to the ceiling. 'Will you come keep me company?'

The woman tucked her gown a little more securely under her armpits as he held out his hands to pull her up.

'Um...isn't having me around going to defeat the purpose of the cold shower?' she remarked in laughing amusement.

He smiled broadly as he swatted her exposed bottom mischievously.

'Of course it is, that's why you are going to sit OUTSIDE the shower stall and talk to me,' he said with a hint of cheek that she had never seen before. She could really get use to this side of him.

'Whatever happens, don't let me look in the mirror,' he ordered her leading the way towards the bathroom.

Emily took the opportunity to turn around her robe across her shoulders so that she could wear it properly.

'Why?'

She lowered the toilet seat and cover to provide herself with a comfortable makeshift chair.

'I saw Foyet in it earlier,' he admitted turning his back to reactivate the shower settings. 'I've been seeing him all day actually.'

The dark haired woman nodded her head calmly, 'Perfectly understandably given the day and circumstances. Let us know if it continues though.'

The lead agent shook his head in pretend horror, 'you know, another woman would not have said what you just said.'

Emily's face crumpled a bit in confusion not sure if she was being insulted or not but Hotch's quick kiss on her lips settled it for her. The woman eagerly followed his mouth as he drew away and he responded favorably cupping her face to tilt her head for a better angle. With a little groan of pleasure she stood up and wrapped her arms around his neck again and then suddenly her arms were empty as Hotch quickly hopped into the shower.

The shriek he gave as the cold water hit him could rival Reid's and as the woman doubled over in laughter she took great pleasure in letting her usually stoic and unflappable superior know that.

'This is all your fault!' he snapped irritability. 'You better stop laughing now or I will partner you with Reid for a month!'

He smirked as not a sound came from the other side of the shower curtain.

Anote 3: Please sign the Petition to save AJ and Paget!