The woman who appeared in the doorway carrying Hotch's dinner that evening had short dark hair and an athletic build. "I am one of the people who work in the vegetable gardens," she told him as they sat on the cot talking while he ate. "It gets really hot during the summer, but I enjoy watching things grow. The people here on the farm eat almost everything we raise but sometimes we have excess produce that we send to the other farms."
"So you were responsible for growing the tomatoes I just ate?" Hotch asked as he moved to put the dinner tray on the floor. "They were very good."
"I and the others who work in the garden," was the reply. "And, now that it is summer and they aren't in school, some of the older kids are helping out in the garden as well."
"What about your children?" Hotch asked casually. "Are they old enough to help?"
"My son is currently working with the housekeeping staff," the woman replied. "And my youngest is still in the nursery. She's one of the oldest there at the moment and will be starting school in the fall."
"And you decided you want to have another baby." Hotch wanted to make absolutely certain.
"Yes," the woman told him. "It took me a while to decide but once I made up my mind I spoke with Mistress and she agreed with me. I let her make the decision as to who I would be paired with." She giggled nervously and Hotch noticed that she was uneasily twisting her hands together.
"Relax," he told her as he put his hand over hers. "I don't know what it was like for you in the past, but I promise you that this time is going to be different – Very different."
"Really?" the woman didn't sound like she was convinced.
"I Promise!" Hotch repeated. "Now, why don't you just lay back on the cot and I'll lie down next to you. I'll take things slow and easy and everything will work out just fine."
He gently pushed her onto her back, then lay down beside her and began gently nibbling on her earlobe. He then slowly inserted his wet tongue into her ear.
"What are you - ?" she began. And then, "OH – OH!"
"Everything okay?" Hotch questioned as he moved his hand to rest lightly on her thigh. "Would you like me to stop?" His tongue began to again invade her ear.
"Yes – No – I don't know," the woman gasped. "No – Don't stop!"
"This isn't going to be like last time," Hotch softly assured the woman as he moved his hand down towards the hem of her dress. "I'm going to do my best not to hurt you." His hand was now resting on her bare skin.
"How did you know – Hurt?" the woman managed to gasp.
"I just know," Hotch told her. "And I also know that that's not necessary. So, just relax and trust me."