A/N: I don't own any of the Criminal Minds characters, plot, etc. all belong to CBS
"I think that little by little I'll be able to solve my problems and survive." Frida Kahlo
Jade POV
The jet lands in DC after returning us from Tennessee, the team departs quickly for an enjoyable Memorial Day weekend, with Hotch making us promise to not even think about work until Tuesday morning. These orders please me as I head to Dulles airport to pick up a weekend guest from London. Em is heading to The States for a joint investigation between Interpol, ATF and the DOD. She isn't even mentioning what the case is, saying "I'd have to either kill you or arrest you if I say anything more, sorry Princess" any time I ask for a tiny detail, or even how long she thinks she will be in DC. She did say she will be able to stay with me, if I was okay with that arrangement, to which I readily agreed. So I make my way across town to Dulles and spend a few minutes searching for a parking spot before I head inside.
This airport layout will always confuse me and I struggle to find where to go to meet her flight, getting lost twice in my search. Finally, I arrive at the correct terminal just as the plane begins to deboard. As soon as we spot each other Em's face lights up into a bright, broad smile and I feel my face shift into a similar expression. I reach my arm up and wave instinctively, not caring if it looks cheesy. She makes her way through the crowd and puts her carry-on bag down to wrap me in a tight embrace, kissing me softly.
"Hey Em" I say as I end the kiss, smiling again and blushing slightly from the PDA.
"Hello Princess" Em replies, smiling at me and tenderly taking my hand as she grabs her bag with the other.
"How was the flight? Do you need to go to baggage claim? And why on earth were you on a commercial flight rather than some private jet? Money trouble at Interpol?" I ask, not waiting for a reply as we begin walking out of the airport.
"The flight was as good as a commercial flight can be. No baggage. It's hard to blend in if you are being watched walk off a private jet or even a government jet. I can''t be too careful with that sort of thing with the cases I'm working on lately, so to be safe, commercial it is. Let's go, I am exhausted." She answers, quickening her pace and rushing toward the exit.
"How can you remember the way to the exit? I get lost every single time I come here." I ask as I practically jog to keep up with her slightly longer legs.
"I dunno, it just comes naturally. Keep up, I mean it, I am about to collapse from exhaustion. There was a crying infant 3 rows behind me and I was about 2 minutes from smothering it. I didn't get a wink of sleep the entire flight." I cannot tell if she is exaggerating, she has a rather ruthless reputation in the BAU.
"Ugh, crying babies on flights are the worst. I'm sorry you had to deal with that. I guess grabbing dinner is out of the question" I sympathize with her. No one likes a cranky infant on a flight. We go out the door and I lead her to my car. "Sorry it's a mess, I normally don't have any passengers. It's usually just me back and forth to work. I bike or walk most other places, or take the metro." I apologize as I open the trunk for her to stow the bag.
"No worries, Princess, it was last minute." Em replies, shoulders sagging and finally looking as exhausted as she claims.
"Here we are, home sweet home." I say as I unlock the door to my apartment and hold it open for her. We both drop our bags right inside the door. I hang my keys on the hook and take off my blazer, hanging it in the coat closet as Em walks to the bathroom. I head into my bedroom and immediately change from the rest of my work clothes into a tank and boxer shorts that I sleep in. Em leaves the bathroom looking slightly refreshed and smiles as she looks at me, eyes roving up and down slowly and glittering.
"You like my pjs?" I ask softly.
"Yes, looks perfect. Just like the rest of you. God, you're hot." Em replies, taking off her own blazer and tossing it onto the chair.
Smiling and blushing, I head into the bathroom, wash my face and complete my nightly routine quickly, pulling my hair up into a messy bun. When I return to my bedroom, I see Em already asleep on my bed, in a nearly identical outfit, only her boxers are deep burgundy instead of hunter green plaid. She hadn't even pulled the covers back properly. I smile to myself, she is so beautiful, even exhausted and sprawled on top of my bedspread. I pick up the blanket my gran crocheted for me and drape it over her. I turn out the light and crawl into the other side of the bed, sliding underneath the covers.
Garcia was right, I guess, we aren't a rebound. I'm not even upset that we are just actual sleeping together tonight. Em needs her rest. Hopefully we can spend time catching up in the morning before she has to run off to her top secret investigation. "Night Em" I whisper as I close my eyes and drift off as well.
The sound of my shower turning on wakes me just after dawn. I open my eyes and look over to where Em had been spread out to see the bedding smoothed out and the crocheted blanket folded and placed at the foot of the bed. Smiling, I sit up and stretch for a minute before I get up and finish making the bed in the dim early morning light.
Knocking on the bathroom door I loudly say "What, just using me for the free accommodations?" I am answered by a throaty laugh "I'll just be a minute, Princess. I promise."
The eggs and toast I was preparing were almost ready when I hear the shower turn off and hairdryer switch on. Just as I am sliding the eggs onto the plate next to the toast, Em approaches.
"Damn, I didn't know you were a chef too!" Em says as a greeting, walking up to me and placing a kiss on my cheek.
"I'm certainly no chef but I can make eggs and toast." I chuckle before adding "coffee should be about ready too. I have creamer in the fridge and sugar-"
"No sugar is necessary, I like my coffee black with a splash of creamer." Em replies, placing another kiss on my cheek before turning to the coffee pot which is indeed nearly finished brewing.
I pull the creamer out of the fridge and two mugs from my cabinet and hand one to Em. The coffee finishes and Em is already filling her mug by the time the last drop falls. We bring our coffee and food to the small dining table and sit, eating in near silence.
"Princess, you are definitely a good chef, if only for breakfast foods. I could eat this all day long, I mean it." Em says before she places the last corner of her toast into her mouth.
"Thanks. This is just the breakfast my dad would always make us on the weekends. So now its what I make for myself on the weekends." I explain.
"Remind me to thank your dad for being such a good instructor." She states, finishing her coffee and then wiping her mouth.
"Sure thing. So how long are you going to be gone today?" I ask, hoping the answer is not what I know it will be. I stand and clear our plates off the table. "There is still a few cups of coffee in the pot. I have a travel mug if you want to take some with."
"Thanks Princess, that's a great idea. I am going to need to be fully caffeinated today. Jet lag hits me so hard." Em joins me at the sink and I indicate which cabinet the travel mug can be found in. She fills the mug, places it on the counter and then turns to lean against it, watching me as I do the dishes.
"See something you like?" I ask, turning to her with a coy and flirtatious smile on my face.
"Hmmmm, I can't tell, come here and give me a closer look" She replies with a smile of her own, her dark eyelashes lowering slightly.
Tossing the towel next to the sink, I walk over, stopping just short of her reach. She raises a hand, wiggling her index finger to indicate she wants me closer and I obey, stepping directly in front of Em and I look up to her beautiful face. Her left arm wraps around my waist, her hand resting on the small of my back and her right hand goes to my neck and she gently pulls me closer so we are pressed against each other. My breath catches and we make eye contact, her dark eyes bright with admiration and anticipation. After a short moment, her eyes dip to my lips, which makes me realize I was biting my bottom lip and holding my breath. I exhale, parting my lips slightly and go up on my toes to finally kiss Em briefly.
Our soft lips swiftly meet again, tenderly. So softly we kiss, gently meeting each other, careful and enjoying the sensations. I feel the fingers of her right hand thread into my messy hair and her left hand pull me flush, and I am grateful for the contact and support as my knees weaken. I deepen the kiss, parting my lips and using my tongue to trace along her bottom lip. Em responds by parting her lips equally and moaning slightly as my tongue dances along her bottom lip. I wrap both of my arms up around her neck, supporting myself against her, feeling our breathing deepen in equal measure to the intensity of the kiss. My heart races and knees continue to feel like jelly as we kiss like this, tongues exploring and time stands still. Too soon she pulls back, ending the kissing, breathing heavy, eyes bright and cheeks flush.
"Uh oh, you'll need to touch up your lipstick before you go. I wish you didn't have to go." I say, stepping back and clamping my thighs together, a movement Em notices and her gaze lowers.
"Oh? A little hot and bothered, Princess?" Emily purrs, her voice velvety and low.
"Like you aren't" I retort, stepping further back to lean against the sink, legs still pressed tight together, trying to relieve the pressure that quickly built in my core.
Em laughs, deep and throaty as she tosses her raven-dark hair back and smooths her outfit before she says "Well Princess, I must go. I think I'll be back at a decent hour. I'll keep you updated. Maybe we can get dinner tonight? I think I want Mexican. They can't make a proper Enchilada in the entire United Kingdom."
"Sounds like a date. Let me know what time and we can meet there." I reply, turning back to the sink to finish the dishes, breath and heart rate almost back to normal. "Oh, Em. I think I'm going to the gym around noon with Morgan. He is trying to get me into shape before I head to the Academy in August."
"Good luck. He is a tough trainer, but he will most certainly get your ass into shape by August."
"I think I'm already pretty in shape, I've just never had sparring training or had to complete a PT test before. Morgan is great, he certainly provides great motivation." I reply.
"I certainly was not insinuating otherwise. I just wanted to say he is the best possible trainer I know. You're in good hands, Princess." Em pecks my cheek with one last quick kiss as she grabs her bag and heads out the door.
Indeed, at 12:30 Morgan texts me, asking to meet at the gym in a half hour for a training session before "all the picnics and fun this weekend". I change into my gym clothes, a red sports bra, black muscle shirt and red shorts, grab a bottle of Blue Gatorade from my fridge and finally head out to the gym.
"Hey, time out," I pant about an hour later as Morgan and I stand in the sparring ring. I put my hands on my thighs, bent over, trying desperately to catch my breath.
"You okay Little Lady?" Morgan asks, wiping the sweat from his brow with the bottom of his shirt, exposing is abs. His very well defined abs.
"I'm alright, just pondering if I can die of sweating too much." I say, struggling to get my breathing even. I take several deep breaths, "Also, no need to show off those abs, Morgan. Savannah isn't here to see."
"Hey, not showing off. I've worked hard for this rock hard body and it shows itself off." Morgan jokes with a wink. "I'm sure Reid knows the precise numbers, but I'm pretty sure you can't die of sweating in one gym session. Grab a drink, Little Lady, and we will get back to sparring in five."
"Five years?" I ask with as much enthusiasm as I can muster as I grab my towel and wipe my forehead, face and back of my neck which were all dripping with sweat. Then I grab my Gatorade bottle before Morgan responds.
"Minutes, Jade. Five minutes. You need to be in peak fitness if you are getting through that Academy in the fall."
"You say that like this is the hardest fitness test in the world. Can't you take it easy on me, a bit?" I ask, putting the bottle back on the bench and heading back to the ring.
"Not if you want to be the best in your class. Kick all the other agents asses, Jade." Morgan flashes his bright dimpled smile. He might be sweating heavily but he doesn't seem to be fatigued at all. Lucky bastard.
"Everything is not a competition, Morgan. I don't have to be number one. I just have to pass the PT test and be able to spar proficiently."
"Sounds just like Reid. You sure things can't work out with you and Pretty Boy?" Morgan asks carefully.
"I'm sure. I've met someone new and we are extremely happy," I reply, adding "Hey, lets go. I'm ready to beat your ass in the ring."
"Congrats. I'd love to see you try." Morgan and I step back into the center of the ring and assume the stances to begin sparring again.
Upon returning home, I head straight into the shower. The hot, steamy water soothes my already aching and cramping muscles. I stand under the streaming water long after I have washed the sweat away, savoring the hot water on my skin, until the water starts to go cold.
At 7:00 I head to the Mexican restaurant Em texted me and walk inside, looking for her. In the back corner she is seated at a booth, gazing out the window. I walk over, smiling as I sit down without saying a word.
"Oh geez! I didn't see you walk in!" Em exclaims, sitting back in the booth, startled.
"It would be hard to see me come in the front door when you're staring out the back window. Margaritas?" I ask, picking up a menu and looking it over.
"Of course, I already ordered two strawberry margaritas, I hope that is okay."
"Sure, drink whatever you want. Must be a rough day to double-fist liquor" I say with a smile.
"One is for you, Princess." She replies, half a smirk forming on her own mouth.
"I know. I have to tease you a bit, I love seeing the way it lights up your eyes." I reply, smile broadening when I look at Em.
"Good, lets order. I'm starving. Where is that waiter?" Em looks over the restaurant and nods her head to get the waiters attention. I wish I could do that to get my way.
I turn back to the menu and look it over. Fairly typical Mexican fare, nothing unusual, so I decide upon my usual order, a burrito with carne asada.
We enjoy our drinks and converse as we wait for the food. And I keep looking Em over. She is so beautiful, I cannot believe she likes me. I cannot believe she has been single for so long.
"You are so stunning, Em. Even in your work outfit, you look great. How am I so lucky to be on a date with you?" I ask as we lock eyes across the booth.
"Me? Stunning?" Em asks, pausing for a second. Before I can affirm that I find her beautiful, she proceeds "of course I'm stunning. Thanks Princess. But you are absolutely gorgeous too. I love your dress."
I look down and smile. I had pulled out a dress I really loved, hoping she would also like it. Its a coral sundress with tiny white daisies along the hem and cap sleeves. The square neck accents my bust without being too revealing. Having went with a more dressy look, I straightened my hair to keep the look casual enough for the restaurant we are in. The walls of the restaurant are a bright blue with white and bold yellow accents, and it is decorated with various Mexicana. Sombreros, donkeys, maracas...a fun atmosphere. I like the restaurant, and I enjoy my company even more.
"Thanks Em. After working out in the gym and Morgan kicked my ass, I took the longest shower. So I wanted to look good, hopefully to trick myself into not feeling like Morgan just kicked my ass in the sparing ring."
"It worked, you look like a knock out" Em flirts, finishing her margarita.
As if he could tell we needed more drinks, the waiter brought over two more margaritas, a bowl of tortilla chips and some salsa. We thank him before digging into the chips and salsa.
"Mmm, this hits the spot" Em says around a chip.
"Right on. I always forget how good restaurant chips and salsa can be and then, wham, its the best thing ever. How was your day? Investigation going well?"
"You know I can't say anything about that, Princess. It was a long day and I'm glad I have a comfy bed to sleep on. Hotel beds always take a few days to break in before you can get a full nights rest, you know?"
"Yeah, I have a terrible time getting sleep the first night on cases. It doesn't matter how tired I am, I just cannot sleep in a hotel the first night. Not sure if the bed is broken in the second night, or if it is sleep deprivation, but from the second night on I can finally get actual sleep in the hotels."
"I'm glad I'm not the only one." Em confides.
The food arrives as we finish the bowl of chips and salsa and our second margaritas. More hungry than we realized, we both dig into our meals. We continue chatting. I catch her up with everyone on the team, what they are up to and how I told Garcia that I am dating a woman. Em said that was okay, but she isn't comfortable with me telling the team about her, specifically, as she isn't out to them yet. I am fine with that choice. Coming out is a tough and private decision. Especially since they know all about her and Doyle's complex relationship, I will allow her to make the decision on when or if we ever tell the team about us. She hasn't told anyone she is in town for this case, she said she wants to focus on us this trip. Selfishly, I have no problem with her plans, and we pay for the meal and head back to my apartment.
Tonight is very different from last night. We head straight to my bedroom, Em again tosses her blazer on my chair and I change out of my clothes into my pjs. I click on my bedside lamp. That is where the similarities end. I lay on my bed and watch as Em changes out of her clothes into her pjs. Finished, she turns off the overhead light. She slowly walks to the edge of my bed and lays down next to me, facing me. Her hand comes up to my arm and she slowly traces it up, to my shoulder, and she stops when she reaches my neck. We lock eyes and already my heart rate increases in anticipation.
Scooting closer together, I put my hand on her waist and bring my mouth to hers, my eyes fluttering closed. Our kisses are passionate, mouths open, tongues dancing together. My chest heaves against hers as we kiss, our bodies pressed close, legs tangling together. We lay on my mattress, kissing passionately, pulling each other as close together, hands roaming. Her hand reaches my breast, gently grasping it at first. Her careful and knowing fingers dip beneath the neckline of my tank, teasing along my cleavage, causing me to moan into her kiss. I can feel her smile in response, dipping her fingers deeper, teasing almost to my nipple.
I pull back a second, to adjust and allow her better access.
"Are you okay, Princess?" She asks, breathing heavy, concern clear on her eyes.
"No, I'm fantastic, just getting more comfortable." I reply, returning my lips to hers.
Eagerly kissing, Em moans this time, her fingers finding my nipple and her index finger rubs it gently, feeling it perk up under her touch. She pinches my right nipple hard and I moan, the sensation shooting straight to my core, my already fast heart pounding in my chest.
"You like a little pain, Princess?" She asks between kisses, her voice the deep purr that drives me wild.
"Yes, Em, I like a little pain. Don't stop" I reply, my hand moving from her waist lower onto her firm butt, caressing and holding it.
We continue kissing and she keeps pinching my nipple and alternating with light rubbing, to soothe the pain just enough that the next pinch feels even better jolts into my core. After a few minutes of this, she moves, stops entirely and tugs the bottom of my tank. I help her remove my shirt, exposing my chest to her for the first time. Em looks down, desire strong in her eyes and guides me onto my back. We make eye contact and she mutters "God, you're perfect."
She kisses my mouth briefly, then moves to my jaw, then to the pulse point on my neck. Her hand returning to my breast and she resumes the alternating pinches and rubs. Pain and then relief, in perfect balance. She continues kissing that spot on my neck for a few minute or two, then she nips it and I let out a little shout of surprise. "Oh! That was different Em. Keep going."
Keep going she does, kissing lower, to my collarbone, the top of my chest, down to the top of my bust. Her kisses, her soft lips feel amazing on my skin. Each kiss makes me melt some more, and I lace my fingers into her dark hair, needing to touch her, feel her close to me.
Em looks up to me, saying "You are so delicious, Princess" before she kisses a line down my chest, along my breast, in a line to the nipple she had been working. She hesitates briefly, letting the anticipation build before she kisses over my nipple, soft and caring. Then she parts her lips, licking my hard nipple, flicking it slightly. "Princess, do you like nipple play?"
"Yes, yes I do. Please don't stop" I answer her, struggling to focus on answering coherently, lost in the pleasure.
Em continues, licking and flicking my nipple with her tongue. After a few flicks, she grazes my nipple slightly with her teeth, then bites it properly, making me moan. The pain in my nipple evaporates to a flood of pleasure into my core and I spread my legs slightly underneath Em, getting desperate for attention elsewhere.
"Oh, you do like nipple play, don't you?!" Em says with a bit of a laugh. She bites my nipple again, this time pinching the other one at the same time and I moan louder, the sensation like a lightening bolt right through me, my hips bucking up for attention. "Naughty, I like it!" She says before she returns to my nipples once more, returning to the alternating lick and flick, with gentle rubbing on the other nipple.
"Please, Em." I moan as the sensations build and I am getting truly desperate for some release.
I move to bring my right hand into my boxers, but she catches the hand and pulls it up, saying "Not yet. Let me enjoy you more before we get to that" and she pins my hand above my head. I whimper a bit, but don't struggle as she continues to tease, lick and flick my nipple with her tongue and pinch the other with her remaining hand.
After several very long minutes, she releases my hand and pulls back, to help ease my boxers off. Em smiles and kisses down my flat stomach, pausing before she dips too low, again making eye contact.
"Yes, Em, please! I need release" I encourage her, I bring my hands into her hair again and she kisses the top of my mound. Soft, gentle, careful kisses. Then she kisses the top of my left thigh, followed by the right. Her right hand sweeps along my hip and under my left thigh, pulling it apart, spreading my legs to give herself access. She stops, looks over my sex, taking in how wet I already am in anticipation and desperation.
"Jade, do you want me to eat you, Princess?" Em asks, looking back up and making eye contact again.
Breathing heavily, chest heaving, I reply, "Yes, Em, of course. Please eat me."
Grinning, she dips her head and slowly licks up and down my slit. Em continues and not long after, I find release, moaning her name and arching my back into her ministrations.
A few minutes later she kisses up my torso, to my neck, my mouth and I can taste myself on her lips. I kiss her hungrily and attempt to bring her onto her back, to return the pleasure.
"No need, Jade, lets just enjoy this tonight. We can worry about me in the morning."
"But I want to" I reply.
"I know you do, Princess, but I'm 44. I can't take all night romps anymore." She kisses me again, passionately and then ends the kiss, finally laying on her back.
I get up and walk to the bathroom to clean up a bit and do my nightly routine. I grab a clean over-sized tee and toss it on before I walk back into my room. Em then gets up and heads to the bathroom to do the same as I snuggle into bed. By the time she returns and climbs under the covers, I am almost asleep. She cuddles in close, draping an arm across my waist.
"Goodnight, Princess."
"Sweet dreams, Em."
Again I am awoken by the sound of my shower being turned on. I look over at my clock, its nearly 9am. I never sleep this late, I must have been exhausted last night. I get up, make the bed and head into the kitchen to start the coffee and make more eggs and toast. As I am plating the food Em walks up, grabs the mugs from the cabinet and pours us some coffee.
"Morning Jade." Em greets me, her voice soft and velvety.
"Morning Emily. Do you have any particular reason why you rush to the bathroom without waking me up?" I ask bringing the plates to the table.
"You look so peaceful and cute I can't bring myself to wake you." She replies, placing her hand on my cheek before she sits at her place at the table to eat breakfast.
"Next time, wake me." I answer simply.
"Noted, Princess. Any reason why?"
"Maybe if we start the day with my returning the favor and pleasing you, you'd have something pleasant to think about while you're at work all day, whatever you are investigating."
"Jade, Princess, if I cum this early in the morning I'm probably not going to be able to get out of bed, especially if you get to stay in bed all day, that wouldn't be fair."
"I suppose you have a point. I still would like for you to wake me next time."
"You are quite demanding, aren't you?" Em says, smirking and giving me a devilish look.
"I have no idea what you mean by that. I am not at all demanding." I reply as I pause to sip some of my coffee.
"No? Well okay then." Emily gets up from the table and heads to the counter and as she passes, she reaches down and quickly pinches my nipple through my shirt.
"Em!" I laugh, slapping her hand away. I reach up to protectively caress my breast, it was quite sore from all her attention last night.
"Sore, Princess?" Emily asks, followed with her deep throaty laugh.
"Yes, Em, and you know it!" I shout still trying to soothe the ache.
"I hear ice is good at soothing that soreness. Maybe I can help with that" She reaches to open my freezer and pull out the ice tray.
"Please no, not if you don't want me a whimpering puddle all day." I reply, remembering how much I enjoyed the feeling of ice teased along my sensitive areas.
"Oh, I think we are going to have fun later, Princess." Em replies seductively, replacing the ice tray, filling the travel mug and heading for the door.
Throughout the week Em and I barely saw each other, she would work until 11 or later each night, return to my apartment to collapse into bed, and wake at dawn to shower and rush off to work. No more enjoyable flirtatious breakfasts, no more late night makeouts and oral sex.
My own work at the BAU was relatively calm, there were no pressing active cases, so Hotch decided the team needed a week in the office to catch up all our late paperwork. I spend Monday thru Wednesday working on my paperwork and helping Hotch file some of his old paperwork down in the archives in the basement, where they are working on scanning everything online. I thought everything was digitized years ago, but I guess Hotch and some of the other team leaders still have a backlog of old case files and reports that needed to be scanned.
Thursday and Friday I spent most of the day bouncing from desk to desk chatting with my coworkers for a few minutes here and there while they continued their more in depth paperwork and reports. II avoided walking into Rossi's office uninvited, sure he would find some reason to keep me there all day, when I really enjoyed bouncing between my coworkers so I could pull my phone out occasionally and no one would notice me smiling and blushing at the texts Em would occasionally send me.
Spencer and I chatted about a ballet production of Don Quixote at the theater near his place. He invited me for the Saturday afternoon production, or rather, reminded me that we had talked about going, and if I wouldn't be too uncomfortable, he'd still like to go. He really has been trying to maintain a friendship, and I love the story of Don Quixote, so I agreed. Emily informed me her flight back to London leaves at 9:15 Saturday morning, so I won't have any other plans.
Friday evening I prepare a dinner for Emily, roasted chicken, carrots and zucchini and twice baked potatoes, something we could enjoy and spend some time talking before she leaves again. Thankfully she was on time, arriving a few minutes before the meal was ready. I pulled the wine out of the fridge so it had some time to air before we ate.
"Mmmm Princess, you keep cooking delicious smelling meals, are you sure you aren't a world renowned chef?" Emily asks as she walks up and kisses my cheek, her hand grazing along my back.
"I'm certain. Actually, I have been watching a video tutorial on YouTube for the whole meal, so hopefully it turns out alright. It looks right, but I can't tell yet." I turn to kiss her back quickly.
"I think you're a great chef, Jade. Give yourself credit. Ooh is this a 2013 Cabernet from California? You are perfect! That is the best year for California Cabs" Em gushes, pouring herself a large glass.
"Uh, yeah, I think so. Help yourself." I reply as I pull the food from the oven and begin to plate everything for her.
Emily takes a long sip of the wine, fills her large glass nearly to the rim, and heads over to the table, muttering to herself a bit.
"Long day at work, Em?" I ask, concern coloring my voice.
"You have no idea. I'm just so glad the case is wrapped. People are disgusting shit-bags, you know?" Em replies taking another healthy drink from her wine glass.
Before I bring the plates over to her I put the second bottle into the fridge to chill a bit. I bring the plates to the table before I return to the kitchen one last time to get my own glass of wine and bring the opened bottle to the table to save Em a few trips.
We chat a bit about what we could share from our own jobs and enjoy the meal. I must admit, it did turn out very tasty, the marinade I made was perfect, the vegetables were the perfect texture. I am proud of my cooking skill lately.
"Before he and I broke up, Spencer and I had tickets for the Don Quixote ballet tomorrow afternoon. Today he reminded me, and asked if I still wanted to go as friends. I, uh, I agreed to go with him. That's not a big deal, is it?" I ask.
"Jade, if you want to go to every ballet and play in DC with Spencer Reid, go for it. He loves the arts and he needs a good friend to go with him. If you like ballet, and can sit through all of that without falling asleep, there is no issue with you going with Spencer."
"Pretty much my exact thoughts but I wanted to run it past you to be sure we were on the same page. It is a totally platonic event."
"Is it ever anything else with Reid, really?" Em jokes as she finishes her glass of wine and picks up the bottle to refill it.
"No, I guess it isn't. Even when we dated we barely ever got beyond a platonic stage. He is a great guy but doesn't get relationships or physical affection. I'm glad we are still friends." I admit and I finish my own glass of wine.
Em was right, it was a great bottle, the subtle notes of black cherry and pepper balanced perfectly with the acidity. I get up and bring the second bottle over which had ample time to chill to about 55 degrees. We continue to talk as we drink the second bottle of wine. A variety of topics, none all too important.
"Em, what are we?" I ask as I pour the last of the second bottle into my glass.
"We are what most refer to as humans. Reid would probably call us female homo sapiens. Some might even call us women." Emily replies, giving me a look.
"No, I mean, what are we? Girlfriends? Fuck buddies? Casual long distance flirts? Is there an 'us'?" I ask, looking seriously at the most beautiful woman to ever share my bed.
"I have had a terrible time with relationships, I don't like labeling things, that is when things tend to go bad for me. Lets just leave us as us for now? Okay?" Emily replies firmly.
"Yes, that works. I tend to have bad luck too. I'm going to have a hard time letting you get back on that plane in the morning." I say honestly, baring my feelings. "I feel so lucky to have had this week with you, but I don't know if I can let you go back to London, go back to FaceTime and Zoom calls and not seeing you properly again for who knows how long."
"I know how you feel, I was having the same feelings, Princess. Are you sure you can't come with me? I can get you a ticket if you changed your mind."
"No matter if I changed my mind or not, I still have to finish my internship and go through the Academy this fall." I admit, sadly, as we head to my bed for the last time for who knows how long.
"It's all right for a woman to be, above all, human. I am a woman first of all. " Anais Nin
