Slow Burn.

Chapter 1

"Shit, shit, shit," Penelope muttered silently under her breath as she went around picking up her clothes and dressing as she fumbled from his bedroom to the living room. "Damn it!" she cursed as she made her way out of his bedroom. She could not find her panties. "Where's my damn panties?" She contemplated fleeing his apartment without her panties.

She looked down at her dress and supposed it was long enough to be decent to take a Uber home. "Well, I looked decent," she lied as she looked into the mirror. Her neck was peppered with his dominance. He had sucked and kissed the delicate skin to leave marks to claim hers as his. Her bosom was not spared too. He left his love marks everywhere. She cringed as she slapped her cheek. How could she think the marks he left on her body was love?

She just happened to be available when he was consumed by lust, grief and anger. It was supposed to be a simple relaxing drinking session after a terrible case. He blamed himself for not being able to save the little girl, Katy. He watched as Katy coughed out blood and her young life ebbed away. The team left one by one. It was three in the morning when they stumbled out of the bar. "I don't want to be alone. I need someone to hold me tonight. I can't do it." he whispered in her ears. She nodded and her Uber's destination changed from her apartment to his. She could not leave him alone. She knew that Lisa was on a 72 hours shift.

She took advantage of his drunkenness and his grief. She should have stopped when she had the chance. She lost it when his lips were pressed upon hers.

"Stop me," he warned. She shook her head and opened her mouth to allow his tongue access. His eyes turned dark with lust as their tongue touched each other. They pulled away when the need for oxygen overwhelmed them. "I can't stop once I start," he gave her one more chance to walk away. "I need you. I want you, I lo-" she cried and stopping herself from confessing her love. Tears spilt out from her eyes. She could not say she loves him. She had been denying it for so long. All the feelings she kept under wrap spilt out at this moment. She bit his lips.

He growled, pulling her cardigan off and throwing it behind him. He buried his head into her ample cleavage. She let out a moan when he brushed his thumbs across her hardened nubs. He unzipped her dress and let it fell to the floor. He pulled her towards his bedroom. She purposely forget about that was the room both Lisa and he shared now. Lisa texted her excitedly, informing her that she will be moving in with him. It started from a drawer of stuff then it gradually grew. Lisa's stuff took over half of his bathroom vanity. Lisa's throw was strewn across his sofa. Lisa's favourite coffee was stocked in his kitchen. He came into her lair that night to tell her Lisa was moving in.

His eyes were sparkling when hers dulled. She congratulated him on the progress he was making with Lisa. He chuckled, then smirked. "Before Lisa, I did not think of settling down with any of my relationships. I wasn't interested in a long term relationship. Lisa grounded me. She made me think of a house with a patio, marriage, two kids, a boy and a girl and Roxy." Her heart was torn apart but she smiled at him.

"That's good. As much as I don't want to say this, I can imagine you as a great dad." She swirled back to face her screens. "Shoo. I got work to do." She had to chase him out. She could not contain her tears if he continued about the life he was about to start with Lisa.

She took a few days off, telling Emily she had to visit her brothers. He texted her to ask about her wellbeing and he missed her. Kevin, her replacement during her absence, was good but not good enough. He also demanded an explanation of why she did not tell him that Kevin was her ex-boyfriend. He had to find out from Matt.

He called her when she did not reply his texts where were unusual. They always replied each other's text within a few minutes where possible. He left voicemails threatening to overturn San Francisco if she did not reply. He picked up immediately when she finally plucked up the courage to call him.

"What the hell! Penelope! Why didn't you reply my texts? Do you have any idea how worried I am?" He chided. "I was at the cemetery." It was not a lie. She visited her parents' grave. "Oh. Are you okay?" He calmed down and asked her gently. "Yeah. I am returning tomorrow. I am tired. I have an early flight tomorrow." She was drained after a few days of crying. It was a break she needed. She could continue with her facade tomorrow. Tonight, she just needed to cry herself to bed again.

"Penny, do you need me to come over now?" he sensed something was very wrong with Penelope. He could go to the airport and get the first ticket there. "No!" She screamed into the phone. "Penny, we're family. If you need help or comfort, I can be there." He wished that she would not forget that he could be the someone she turned to when she is sad.

"Luke, I have a 6am flight. When you reach, I would be at the airport. See you around at work." She disconnected her call and set her phone to flight mode. Tomorrow when she return to work, she will be bright ray of sunshine of the team. Tonight, she wanted to numb her heart with her tears.

"Penelope. Penny. Take my clothes off," his voice was low and filled with desire. She obeyed and slowly unbuttoned his shirt with her trembling hands. She slid the shirt off his body. "Kiss me." She did. She could not remember how many times she dreamed of kissing those lips. Too many times, she concluded. She hated how he always took the seat beside her during briefing. She could not concentrate when his side profile was so damn handsome.

JJ encouraged her to take a shot but she was afraid to get hurt. When she was finally ready to take the next step, heaven played a trick on her. Phil set Lisa and him up for a blind date. Lisa and him hit it off immediately. Of course, they did. They were so compatible. Lisa is a doctor who worked for Doctors Without Borders and volunteered in Yemen, and South Sudan. She knew she could not compare to such a wonderful woman. Lisa was kind, smart, funny and beautiful. She won the team over with her charms. Rossi gave his approval and Matt wished that he will have sis-in-law soon through Luke. JJ looked at her sadly when the other team members were bonding with Lisa. She looked away and smiled bitterly.

"Luke," she moaned when he pulled down her panties slowly. She was glad that she wore her sexy panties tonight. "Chica, so beautiful," he planted a kiss on her stomach. "I can't stop," he stripped down to his boxer and led her to the bed.

"I need you now," she could not take any more of his foreplay. Her back was arched up, her body shaking with pleasure and excitement. She hissed when they finally joined as one. She met each of his thrust. She fitted him like a glove. "Beautiful, so beautiful," he kissed her eyes, her nose, her lips. "Penelope," he cried out when he emptied himself in her. In the heat of the moment, he forgot about protection. It was readily available in his bedside drawer but he did not bother. He was finally with Penelope. "We'll talk tomorrow." He pressed his lips on her forehead and slid out of her. He draped his arms across her chest protectively.

"Are you leaving?" His voice sounded accusatory. He was leaning against the doorframe watching. Penelope jumped and froze. "Without this?" He held up her panties, twirling it around with his forefinger. She ran over wanting to snatch her panties from him but failed. She was backed into the wall by him. He captured her hands and held them above her head. "We need to talk." He whispered into her ears. She hated the close distance between them. It was too close for her comfort. She would crumble and confess her deepest, darkest secret to him.

"What is there to talk about?" She frowned and refused to look at him. "Everything, Chica." He squeezed her wrists and pressed himself against her. His hard chest touching her soft breasts. He was hard again. He knew she could feel it. She turned her head away when he wanted to kiss her again.

"Let me go, Luke." She pleaded. "Last night was a stupid mistake."

"Stupid mistake?" Luke could not help but scream. She scurried to the corner of the living room and putting a distance between them. "Yes. Thanks for the great sex but I should not have done so. I should have stopped you. I was reacting because it had been ages since I last fucked," she did not want to be crude.

"So... it was just a fuck to you?" Luke looked at her incredulously. He could not believe that it was just a fuck to her. He don't fuck woman. His family brought him up to be a decent gentleman. Though, it was ironic that he made love to her while in a relationship. He loathed the way how she simply treated it as a fuck.

Penelope nodded. "A great one," she added defiantly. "Get out!" She felt her heart shattered beyond repair. She knew that no one could have the ability to piece her heart back again. She walked towards his door dejectedly, knowing that nothing can be done to repair their friendship.

"Stop," he stopped her from opening the door. He threw her panties onto the floor, landing near her feet. She picked it up, "please don't tell Lisa about what happened last night. You and her belong together."

"PENELOPE GRACE GARCIA. GET. OUT." He did not need her to tell him Lisa and him belonged together. He was planning to end his relationship with Lisa. Lisa never filled his mind when he was out of the city for duty. He did not get the jitters in his heart whenever he received Lisa's texts. It was Penelope who filled his mind and sent flutters to his heart when he received her texts. He was jealous when she flirted with Matt and Rossi over the phone. The flirting should only be reserved for him. He hated it when she grinned silly and read JJ and Emily about the texts she received from Derek Morgan, her chocolate thunder. He did not understand why he was so bothered by their affectionate nickname.

JJ told him they were close friends. Penelope was upset when Derek decided to leave BAU. Penelope had a difficult time adapting to changes. Thus, her animosity towards him was her way of protecting herself. She needed to build an amour because she was afraid that once she was friendly towards him and accepted him to her inner circle, he could leave after 'The Crimson King' was caught.

JJ also pointed out that his empty desk, devoid of personal stuff, did not help. He started to fill his desk with some personal items, their team photo, Roxy's ornaments and an elephant potter plant from Penelope and the other half of the anti-stress kitten toy. He bought a pair of the anti-stress kitten toys, one intended for her. However, he kept the kitten toy in his drawer not wanting his co-workers to gossip.

"Luke, I am sorry." Penelope apologised before closing the door behind her. He thought she would stay. He had so much to tell her about last night. It was a splendid night. He could not think of a better way to claim hers as his. He suckled her delicate flesh and leave marks. He wanted to tell her his decision to end his relationship with Lisa. He only started the relationship with Lisa because Lisa was readily available and Phil encouraged him to do so.

Roxy walked towards him, and whimpered sadly. He took the collar out, the one she gifted, and flung it across the hall. It hit the framed wall hanging, then fell and skidded under the sofa. Roxy barked, and ran to the sofa to retrieve her collar. "We're not going to use this anymore. Lisa bought a new one for you. We will use that." Roxy hung her head low and whined.

"Come," he signalled for Roxy to follow him. He went to the bedroom, stripped the bedsheets, ridding whatever good had happened last night. He really thought he had her forever last night. He asked for her consent and never once did she stop him. She almost confessed. He wanted to tell her this morning that he loved her and Lisa was a mistake.

"Luke!" Lisa called for him in the living room. "You changed the sheets," she wrapped her arms around him. "Yeah. It was dirty." Luke shrugged nonchalantly. "Where's the wall hanging from Penelope?" She asked, inviting him to massage her shoulders. "It broke and Roxy bit it. It was in tatter," like his heart, he added silently, "so I threw it away."

"Oh. It did not fit the decor too." She relaxed into his touches. "I want you." He pushed her onto the bed and mounted Lisa. She nodded and reached for protection. He pulled the condom over his erection and spread her legs open and thrust into her roughly. He convinced himself it was Lisa that he needed and wanted. No, Lisa would never be the one he loved but he can make do with Lisa. His heart would never be capable of love anymore.

I don't know if I should end here not. Let me know. This happens in Season 13. It can be seen as an one-shot but I do have some ideas on how it can continue…