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A/n thank you all once again for your kind support, and all those who've commented or add this to your favorites. Please enjoy.
Reid awoke to find that he slept in a pool of sunshine. He blinked, sighed and tightened his arms around his new wife. He took in the beautiful sight of her golden hair splayed over his chest. It felt like silk on his skin and she smelled like roses and vanilla. He closed his eyes again and replayed the scene of their wedding. His mother-in-law had brought her wedding dress for JJ to wear and it had been lovely on the bride. She'd reminded him of an old-time princess in a fairy tale with her hair up and her eyes only for him. They'd repeated their vows and promised each other to always love and care for one another and he meant to begin that day.
He slipped carefully away from his bride and pulled on pajama bottoms and an old white tee-shirt. He went to the living area and picked up the phone to order breakfast for them after noticing the time was eight am. He made a second phone call and then the third call to check in on his mother.
"Hey," JJ said as he finished his third call.
He turned to see her looking adorable in the shirt he'd worn for their wedding and nothing else. Her pretty legs were on display and her eyes were sleepy and seductive. "Hey," he said and tugged her forward for a kiss.
"Mmm," she sighed and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Come back to bed, husband."
"I'd love to, but I need to talk to you for a minute."
"Spence," she pouted. "Talk is extremely overrated for us. We're newlyweds and I want to ravish my husband."
"Jennifer," he growled. "You're killing me."
"That's the idea."
He allowed her to lead him back to the bedroom and remove his tee-shirt before a knock sounded at the door, "Room Service," said a female voice.
"Damn it, I forgot," he cursed and reached for his shirt. "Be right back."
"Spence," JJ called, but he hurried to the door, while he tugged his shirt back over his head.
Unfortunately, trying to walk and dress at the same time resulted in him tripping over his feet and nearly taking a header into the hallway wall. He cursed under his breath and righted himself, then realized that he stood in the living area in bare feet with only pajama bottoms and a tee-shirt. He looked back at their room and a second knock sounded at the door with another. "Room Service."
He shrugged and hurried to the door. A young woman wearing black pants, a white shirt and a blue vest with the name of the hotel written in gold across the back smiled at him and pushed in a trolley with delicious smelling food. Reid noticed a silver bucket filled with ice and a bottle of what he supposed to be champagne. "I didn't order the alcohol," he informed the woman, then noticed her name tag said. "Denise."
"Yes sir, it's compliments of the management, along with strawberries and chocolate. Enjoy."
He thought about arguing but figured Denise only did her job. "Thank you," he said and tipped her.
"You're welcome, sir. Please enjoy and call us when you're ready for pickup."
He was about to lift the cover from the food when JJ entered, still wearing only his shirt. He sighed and began to wonder what would win out, his grumbling stomach or his hormones. She smirked at him and he decided he didn't like the knowing gleam in her eyes. "I'm hungry," he said, firmly.
She raised her eyebrows, then shrugged. "Well, it is hot, and it smells fantastic."
"The management sent up strawberries, chocolate, and champagne."
"Oh, then why don't we enjoy them in bed."
"After my eggs and bacon," he said and grinned at her.
"Fine, I guess I should allow you fuel if we're going to continue certain activities. I wouldn't want your stamina to falter."
He sighed and shook his head. "Actually, men in their twenties –"
"No," she sashayed up to him and put a finger to his lips. "Less odd statistics and more eating. Then you can demonstrate your – knowledge."
"Whatever you say."
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Reid grabbed the last strawberry and dipped in more chocolate. "Hey," JJ pouted after a sip of champagne. "I wanted that."
"I know, which is why I'm willing to share if you're nice."
She narrowed her eyes at him, and he laughed. She watched him take a bite that devoured half the chocolate, then he said, "If you want it, come and get it," and lodged the last bite between his teeth.
"Don't think I won't," she warned him. "But we do this my way."
She shoved him to his back and beginning at his navel poured a bit of champagne on his bare chest. He yelped, then sighed as her tongue lapped at his skin in a line to his Adam's apple. "Jennifer," he groaned awkwardly and somewhat incoherently.
She swirled her tongue over his Adam's apple and began placing small kisses up to his chin where she licked strawberry juice from around his lips. "Hm, I like the taste of you and the strawberry," she whispered, then tugged the fruit free from his lips. "That's amazing."
He sat up when she casually left the bed and began to look through the closet. "What's the plan for today, babe. I need to know what to wear."
"Oh no," he leaped to his feet and grabbed her. "You don't get to tease me like that and then casually asked what to wear. We aren't done, wife."
"That's what you get for preferring food to me, husband," she said, but her blue eyes told him that she wanted him, badly.
"Come back to bed," he tugged on her hands. "We'll see if my stamina still holds."
"Well, in the interest of science," she proposed and made him laugh.
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"Where are we going?" JJ asked as Reid led her to the elevator at 11 am.
"We're going to take a tour of Red Rock Canyon. The van picks us up at the hotel and includes the scenic loop and lunch. We'll get to see the petrographs at Calico Hills and Willow Springs. They're amazing."
"I'm glad I put on shorts and have plenty of water."
He took in her outfit, of blue shorts, a white tee shirt, and her hair in a ponytail, under a blue baseball cap. He'd allowed her to talk him into shorts, a light blue tee-shirt and a ball cap over his wavy hair. They both had sunglasses, sunscreen, and bottled water.
The guide for the tour was a tall man with a thin build, black hair, and dark eyes. His skin was so darkly tanned, JJ thought he must spend his entire life outdoors. He gave his name as Harold and advised them to enjoy the ride to their location.
She grinned over at Reid as they took two seats on the left side of the van and waited as three more couples and one family with kids joined them. "This is stupid," said a boy of about ten.
"Shut up or I'll add another day on your no electronics time," said the father.
The boy closed his mouth and pouted for the next thirty minutes. Reid smirked at JJ and whispered. "I'm glad that's not me."
"Me too," she agreed as the van pulled out into the sunshine of the September morning.
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"Jennifer, take a picture of me next to this petrograph."
"Why don't you guys stand over there and I'll take the picture," said one of the men in the group.
"Thanks."
Reid wrapped an arm around his wife and they smiled as the man took their photo. "This carving is so amazing in the red rock," Reid enthused. "It looks like a hunting party."
"Yeah, It's pretty cool," JJ said and snapped a photo of the carving without a human being in the frame. "I think Garcia will love it."
"So will Morgan," Reid said.
"All right," Harold the guide clapped his hands. "Let's get back in the van. It's time for lunch."
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Reid sat with his head leaning against the window of the van. The day was over, and he felt beat despite spending most of the tour in a vehicle. JJ laid her head on his shoulder and one of her hands rested on his chest. He watched the desert with all its harsh mystery and exotic beauty flash past. He'd never felt as content and happy since before Georgia and Tobias Hankel. Perhaps, he was finally beginning to heal in mind and soul.
"What are you thinking?" JJ asked quietly.
"That I'm happier than I've been in three years."
"Me too."
Fifteen minutes later, they'd returned to their hotel and their room. He flopped down on the couch and guzzled another bottle of water. "I'm exhausted."
"So am I."
"You want to go down to a show."
"Nope."
"What do you want to do?"
She tugged on his hand. "Come on, let's take a shower and then we'll change and go to dinner."
He let her pull him to his feet. "I'm too tired for anything but a shower."
"Are you?"
"Yes," he said with finality.
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"Why do you manage to get your way every time," Reid said later as they dressed.
"Because you're a sex maniac, which works for me."
He pretended to throw a sock at her. "You've got a smart mouth."
"Speaking of mouths, you have a talented one, Dr. Reid."
He smirked at her and ducked away when she lunged at him. "Not funny."
"Are we going to argue or are we going to dinner."
"I suppose we go to dinner."
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"I'm so glad to be home," JJ said, twenty-four hours later.
"I agree," Reid dropped his bag and turned back to his wife. "I'm glad to come home a married man, Jennifer. Thank you for making it happen."
"Don't thank me," she said as they strolled to their bedroom. "It was all Garcia."
"Do you ever wonder what we'd do without her?" He wanted to know as he took off his shoes.
"No, and I don't want to find out," she said and tugged off her skirt.
They both crawled into bed ten minutes later, but only to sleep. He sighed as she curled up to him and put her head on his chest. "I love to listen to your heartbeat," she mumbled. "It gives me hope."
"Everything about you gives me hope," he said and closed his eyes.
Six hours later, he was yanked out of sleep by the ringing of JJ's cellphone. He heard her answer it, talk to the person on the other end and then touch his arm. "We have a case, Spence."
"I figured from the change in your voice."
"Well, it's time to pay the piper for our three days off."
"I suppose. Do you know what it's about?"
"Yeah, a man drove his car into a border crossing building, deliberately."
"Why are we on it?"
"Don't know the details, just that Hotch said it was important."
"Then I guess we better get dressed."