After making it home around seven, Morgan fed and walked his German shepherd Clooney, ordered a pizza, then set to work the rest of his evening trying to find the connection between the victims and prove Reid's theory. It wasn't until after eleven did he have any interruption. Feet on the coffee table, he was reading silently while working on his fourth slice. A knock sounded on the front door.
Tossing the half eaten slice back in the open box, he got up to answer it. He wasn't exactly pleased at the idea of a midnight visitor. Neither was his dog, who let out a low growl at the sound. Checking through the viewfinder, Morgan quickly pulled open the door.
"Prentiss," He said, surprised.
"What do you mean it didn't mean anything?" She cried, fuming.
Morgan stood for a moment, unsure what to say. "Are you still worrying about this?"
"Yeah, I am still worrying about it." She cried, not caring about the hour or the neighbors. "I've been worrying about it all day. How little am I worth to you that you can have sex with me and consider it nothing?"
Stunned, it took him a moment to find words. "Get in here."
Emily moved past him into the safety of his home. He swiftly closed the door, leaving it unlocked. She waited, arms folded over her chest, staring at him with such disdain. Both were staring daggers at each other; a silent attempt to fight for dominance.
"You know I didn't mean it like that," He spoke fiercely, like a quiet yell. "We work together in a job where our lives depend on each other. Getting emotional over a one night stand will ruin that. Is that what you want, Prentiss? You want to throw away our careers so we can talk about our feelings?"
"Don't you dare talk to me like that!" Emily yelled. "I am not some bimbo you met at the bar. I'm your friend. And we had sex. And it wasn't like we were drunk or we were bored, we were in pain. And we needed each other. That night meant something to me. How can you possibly act like it was nothing?"
"Emily, you kissed me. I didn't make a pass at you or initiate anything." He stated.
"So if I hadn't done anything, you would have walked away and left?" She asked.
He didn't have an answer for that. Honestly, he didn't know. It was the reason why he was so urgent to get out of there.
"That's what I thought," Emily replied. "You know, I thought we were friends. We've seen some of the most horrifying things in this world, and we were always able to lean on each other before. I thought I meant more to you than this. But I guess even this is just another triumph for you. Or maybe sex with me is just… so awful or repulsive or embarrassing, you want to forget it ever happened. Well, that's not nothing, Morgan. Not to me."
She wouldn't cry in front of him. He wasn't worth that. Emily pushed past him to the door. Her hand turned the knob, about to let herself out.
"Do you think I want to admit how much that night meant to me?" Morgan asked, stopping her in her tracks. He spoke so softly, she almost didn't hear. "Do you think I'm proud of the fact that I took advantage of my best friend? You're my partner, Emily. Our lives depend on each other. You are the most important woman in my life… and I used you. I was upset and you kissed me and I wasn't enough of a man to walk away and deal with my pain on my own. I hate myself because you deserve better than that."
His words paralyzed her. Her hand slowly lost its grip on the handle. Morgan waited in the silence, desperate to know what she was thinking. At last she turned around. Her eyes were glistening as she replied.
"You didn't use me… I felt the same way about you… but the fact is that we both needed each other. Look, we're friends, and we are partners. We flirt and we tease each other and that's all good fun. There's obviously a sexual attraction between us… but it's not like we succumbed to our desires after a night of drinking or something stupid. We thought we lost someone very special to us… and we allowed ourselves to be weak in front of each other. We trusted each other enough to be that vulnerable. I'm not saying what we did was right, but if anything, I think it makes our bond stronger. I don't regret it, Derek. You shouldn't either."
He took a step closer to her. "You're right, Emily, I'm sorry. I was so ashamed of myself and all I wanted was for us to forget it… but I should have known you'd be different. I'm sorry I said it was nothing, because it meant a lot to me that I had you. And if it hadn't been because we were grieving… if we had just been together for a night… I would have thought it was pretty damn amazing."
"Well… I already thought it was pretty damn amazing…" She said with a smirk.
It had to be her imagination. For a brief second, mixed with the pleased grin on his face, Emily thought she saw him blush. "I didn't mean like that, Prentiss. But thank you for the compliment."
Emily giggled. It was the first time she'd laughed with him since they had talked after the funeral. She closed the distance between them and pulled him into a hug. "I'm sorry I acted so stupid. I know you better than to think you were playing me or something.
"What I can't believe is you would think I thought you were repulsive." He said, pulling back to see her face. He kept her in his grasp and Emily was in no hurry to let him go. Two fingers brushed a free piece of raven hair off her cheek. "I mean, look at you, girl. Not only are you gorgeous, but you're an incredible woman. You're fun and warm, you have a great sense of humor and an amazing personality… guys should be lining up around the block to be with you.
"Yeah," She rolled her eyes in disbelief. "Then how come I can't get a second date?"
"Because incredible women are terrifying to my gender." He explained.
She laughed again as they wrapped in another embrace. His warm hand stroked along her back. Emily savored the feel of his touch while Morgan longed to trace his hands over her curves again.
They moved to meet each other's gaze; their eyes locked. One of Emily's hands went to his face, feeling the warmth of his soft cheek.
Neither one allowed their reasoning to get in the way as they moved together, Morgan meeting her in a kiss. It was warm and simple, much sweeter than either remembered. The thumb of the hand on his cheek stroked him. One simple touch sent such a quiver through his body.
Their kiss lasted almost a full minute, but finally ended. They still wouldn't release each other. Emily looked into his powerful eyes, now darkened slightly by his lust. She now realized how he'd managed to get all those girls to leave with him. Those eyes were very persuasive. If he had been a stranger she met in a bar, despite her inhibitions, one look in those eyes would have been able to get her to do anything.
"We can't do this," Morgan muttered, his hands rested in the small of her back, longing to travel further south.
"No, you're right," she agreed as the arm around his neck pulled him to meet her lips again.
The second kiss was much more complex. Passionate and commanding, making both feel weak and inferior to the other. His tongue moved into her mouth without provocation. She accepted it willingly. Morgan enjoyed as the supple hand moved from his cheek to cradle the back of his head. She felt his hands cup her backside and suddenly felt herself lifted slightly into the air. He brought her body almost forcefully against his, releasing a light whimper out of her.
"Morgan," She moaned as their kiss broke for desperate air. "We can't."
"I know," he murmured, pulling her in for a third round. Both arms wrapped around his neck, clinging to him. One hand slid to her thigh, gently lifting it to rest on his hip. The feel of him grind against her made her groan in his mouth.
It was getting to be too much. It wouldn't be long before it would be too late for either of them to stop. Finally, Emily pulled away, slipping from his arms and back onto her trembling legs. "I really should go."
"Yeah," Morgan agreed, thankful she at least had the strength to stop. "See you tomorrow."
Quickly, without a word or any indication she'd heard him, Emily rushed out the door. It closed with a loud snap behind her. Morgan stood a long moment, certain within seconds there would be the knock of her return. But it never came.
Despondent, he walked forward. He considered opening to make sure the porch was empty, to see her car pull away, but he didn't. Good, he was glad she had left. No good could come from where they were heading, however unbelievable it would have been.
Morgan leaned himself against the wood. The collapse on the door gave an odd sound he noticed.
"Prentiss…" he called. "Are you still out there?"
A long pause. "No," she moaned back.
With a grin, Morgan grabbed the handle and pulled the door open. Sure enough, there she stood, still trying to catch her breath.
"You know…" she began slowly as she reentered the house. Her body pressed the door close, resting against it. "…the last time… it's not like we really got to appreciate it."
Morgan liked where this was going. "That's true," He agreed. "When you feel that low, how can you enjoy the experience?"
"Exactly. But…" She gave him a sinful grin. As she stepped closer, her hands slipped onto the planes of his chest, rippling through his t-shirt. "…if we were to come to an understanding… we could give it another chance."
Her soft brown eyes met his, "What's your thinking?" he asked, loving the feel of her hands through the thin cotton.
"One more night," She stated. "Tonight… we spend it together… and tomorrow, it's over. We don't mention it to anyone and we move on. One more night, no strings attached."
Morgan returned with a willing smirk, pulling her to him. Without a word, he leaned down and met her lips. It was enough of a yes for her. His arms reached down and easily lifted her fragile body back into the air. Her legs wrapped around his hips, she was writhing and grinding against his body as her lips went to work on his neck. Morgan carried her down the hall to his bedroom.
Gently, he laid her on his bed, moving his strong, muscular body on hers as he met her lips again. They didn't hurry or rush. They went slowly, wanting to enjoy this. They savored each other, making the most of their one and only night.
…
Just after four, Emily woke up. She was alone in Morgan's bed, the sheets draped over her. The door stood open and light from the living room spilled in. As she slipped out of bed, the cold of the wood floor hitting her bare feet, she spotted Morgan's t-shirt abandoned next to the bed where he had discarded it hours before. She slipped it on and went in search of him.
Morgan sat sideways on the couch. The papers of the case file surrounded him in his research. He sat in black sweatpants with his back to her. Emily snuck up behind him. Her lips kissed his shoulder as her arms wrapped around his bare torso.
He let out a soft chuckle and asked, "Sleep well, Princess?"
"Yeah, like a rock." She met his eyes with a smile. "You wore me out, Agent Morgan."
"You exhausted me pretty well yourself." He said. "You worked me like a race horse."
"You're such a dirty boy," She giggled, her hands running themselves lightly over his chest, kissing his cheek. Her eyes landed on the dog that had trotted over to sit next to them. "Hey, Clooney, remember me?"
She let him sniff her hand first. When it appeared he approved, Emily scratched his head. His tail wagged and his eyes closed, enjoying the attention. "He does remember you." Morgan noted.
"I was only here once before. He must like me." She replied. Clooney gave a sad expression as she pulled her hand away.
Morgan angled his head to meet her eyes, "Well, he's got good taste, just like his master." he replied, leaning in for a real kiss.
Their lips divided, both seeming reluctant for it to end. "I didn't wake you, did I?" he asked.
"No," she replied, resting her chin on his shoulder, her gaze looked over the paper in his hands. "What are you doing?"
"Reid has a theory that each of Harris' victims reminded him of his girlfriend, Sandy Lowell. Something about the day they broke up sticks out on a girl and it sets him off. The only problem is-"
"The MO is never the same." She said.
"Exactly. If the girls were all the same type, we might be able to tell, but each one is different." He agreed.
"Except for the cause of death." Emily took the page from his hand, the better to read it. "All the girls and the deaths in Reid's case were killed the same way. Stabbed in the stomach… hmm…"
"What?" Morgan asked, looking to see her face. The expression was quizzical.
"Could Sandy have been pregnant?" Emily wondered. It was possible. Until proven otherwise, Sandy Lowell was perfectly capable of bearing a child.
Morgan regarded it a moment. "It fits…" He flipped through the crime scene photos of the bodies. "Each of the girls was wearing clothing that exposed their stomachs. He sees the stomach, he thinks of Sandy being pregnant, that's the connection."
"But why would that be upsetting to Nathan? I mean, if he loved her, he would be happy she was having a child. And if he wasn't… there's always abortion." Emily said, doubt in her own theory. "Why kill her?"
"Maybe the baby wasn't his," Morgan said. "And she told Nathan she was leaving him for the father. That sets him off."
Emily gave a small smile. "Tomorrow, you and I are going back toLyndonUniversity. I might be off, but I think we need to question Allan Payne again."