Chapter 10

AN: Thank you for all the reviews. The fact that you are still reviewing for me when the site is so wonky is a testiment how fantastic you are! Bless your beautiful hides!

Monday at work, Derek was waiting in the doorway of her office. He was leaning his long frame against the door, holding two cups of coffee.

"Morning, princess," he said cheerfully, stepping aside so she could unlock the door.

She turned the key and opened the door, then took her cup of coffee. "I'll show you a good morning, Hot Stuff."

He shut the door behind her, then put down his cup of coffee. He began to approach her like a tiger stalking its prey. "I was hoping you'd say that."

A second later, he had her pressed against the closed door, and he was kissing her, hard and hot and fast. She'd missed him. He was so delicious, she found herself absolutely ravenous for him. She met him, kiss for kiss, touch for touch, gripping his head in her hands, deepening the kiss.

He shot his tongue deep into her mouth, stroking with velvet touches against hers. He tasted of the coffee he'd had and a touch of mint and chocolate. She pressed up, arching her body into his, trying so hard to get closer.

The desire to turn more aggressive, to do more, to get naked and panting, rose to the forefront. She had to drag herself back to the surface to remember she was at work; this was not somewhere she could just make love to Derek. Regretfully, she pressed against his chest, moving him away.

Raising his head with a sigh of defeat, he smiled down at her. "Damn work."

She grinned back. "I only wish I'd put my coffee cup down…. It was hard being one handed."

He snorted. "Imagine how I've felt the last three weeks."

Nodding her agreement, she answered, "True."

They'd kissed for so long and with such intensity, her glasses had fogged. He took them off of her, wiped the lenses, and put them back on her nose.

"Thanks," she murmured. It was moments like that, the shows of gentleness and caring, that stopped her heart. She wondered if he was even aware when he did it. It was so at odds with the player image he'd carefully cultivated. He'd been doing those little things for years, making her fall for him even more.

He brushed a curl off of her cheek and tucked it behind her ear, looking down at her with those same warm, tender eyes.

"One more for the road," he said, cupping her face and kissing her. He stepped back, then opened the door and left, leaving Penelope even more confused than before.

Tuesday, Penelope was out with Emily and JJ. It was a usual thing for them; they headed to Tsang's Chinese and Thai for lunch and a girl's gabfest. Pen had her big bowl of Pad Thai with tofu. It was gloriously good, spicy and tangy.

"So… what's new in your life?" Emily asked, her eyebrow raised just slightly, a smirk on her face.

Penelope almost giggled. Prentiss had expressions that were very similar to the expressions Derek had. Kind of like roommates that start to look alike over the years. She pictured those two on a stakeout: sitting in a car for an evening, mobile eyebrows and smirks on their equally gorgeous faces.

"Nothing much," she answered to the leading question.

"Nothing?" JJ asked, her eyes widening.

"No, nothing."

Both women stared at her.

"What?" she asked, laughing, feeling decidedly uncomfortable. "Sheese, you two!"

Penelope knew she was in trouble the moment she saw them. There was no doubt the women were wondering... they both had that knowing look the moment she saw them. As confident and sure as Pen was about herself, she wasn't when it came to relationships. Especially when it was with someone intensely gorgeous.

Last time she dated someone hot, he shot her.

"Garcie, you are glowing. Positively glowing," JJ said while she dipped her egg roll in sweet and sour sauce. "You radiate happiness, like-"

"Like a person who has been well and truly fucked," Prentiss interrupted.

"Emily!" JJ gasped.

Em turned to look at JJ. "Well, it's true! I want to know who it is, 'cause I know Lynch is out of the picture."

"Thank goodness," JJ said, looking like she was ready to make the sign of the cross on herself.

"Hey, I am here, ladies," Penelope said, realizing a second later that was the wrong thing to do. They both stared at her again.

"Cough it up, PG," Emily cajoled. "Who's the stud?"

Penelope turned scarlet in a heartbeat. She couldn't tell Prentiss, of all people. There were some things that were meant to be private, and she wasn't-

Prentiss frowned. "What are you blushing for?"

Recognition hit JJ first, and she looked over at Emily. "Stop pushing, Em."

"Why?" Emily asked. "It's not like she sleeping with Reid or Morg…oh, shit. You are, aren't you?"

"Not Reid," she muttered under her breath.

"Of course not!" Emily answered quickly, as if the thought was absurd. Everyone knew there wasn't the same kind of chemistry with Garcia and Reid as there was with Garica and Morgan.

"Really, Morgan isn't that surprising," JJ said, patting Penelope's hand comfortingly. "I always sensed something more between you two."

"Well, congratulations, I guess. Is that what you say when a couple starts going at it?" Prentiss grinned first, then looked almost ill and shuddered. "Gah…I called Morgan a stud!"

"I don't think congratulations are in order," Pen added quickly, feeling even more uncomfortable. "I don't want this to be a big deal. We're not a couple. We're just…"

"Scratching an itch?" JJ offered helpfully, with a cringe worthy look on her face, too.

Penelope cringed herself. That seemed to make what they had sound sleazy and dirty. It didn't feel like that to her. It felt right, and good, and perfect. It felt like heaven in his arms, and by his side. It felt comforting, wonderful, warm. In bed, making love, it felt exhilarating, hot, and steamy.

So much more than scratching an itch.

Still she didn't want to cue them in to any deeper feelings, not when she felt so unsure herself. She was something else, and she turned him on, but she wasn't exactly his type. She hated that she lacked confidence when it came to this sort of thing. Guys like Morgan didn't approach her from across a smoky bar. They never did before. It was hard to accept that the one man she always wanted...really wanted her.

So, with less than total enthusiasm, she answered, "Yeah. Scratching an itch."

"Well that's good," Prentiss remarked, picking up a piece of broccoli in her moo goo gai pan.

"Emily," JJ warned again. She was looking at Penelope, who startled when Em spoke.

"Friends with benefits," Prentiss said, with an agreeable nod. "Smart- you guys fill in each other's calendar when it's empty, and stay satisfied."

Penelope's heart crushed in her chest. She thought it the other day, but hearing it out loud was a completely different thing. Her gut and her head ached, and she felt stinging at the back of her eyes and her nose.

"Yes," she said, trying to keep it light. "Although Derek's calendar is more full than mine."

Prentiss snorted, looking at her food and shoveling in rice. "His would be, the big flirt. I can't imagine him ever being serious. Just the other day- hey!"

JJ dumped over a glass of soda onto Emily's lap.

"You better go to the bathroom and clean that up," JJ snapped at Prentiss, her voice sharp.

At that moment, Emily finally looked up and over at Penelope. It took her a moment, before her face clouded over with concern, and then immediate regret. "Oh, PG. I am so sorry. I didn't mean-"

"It's okay, Emily," she said, forcing a smile. "It nothing serious. It is what it is."

"Garcia…"

"Go," JJ said, shoving Emily out of the booth.

Emily walked away, her head hung low. That broke Penelope's heart just as much as the words that were just said. She knew Emily didn't mean to hurt her; she just couldn't stop talking sometimes, especially about relationships. Emily lacked girlfriends growing up, moving all over the place when she was younger; chatting about relationships and sex was all new to her.

"Penelope," JJ said, concern on her face. "Are you okay?"

"I feel bad for Emily."

"Oh hang Prentiss!" JJ snapped. "I'm talking about you."

At the moment, Penelope didn't want to talk about herself, her relationship, anything. She just wanted to go home.

"I'm going to tell you the same thing, JJ," she said, opening her purse. She put a twenty on the table, and then stood. "It is what it is. I am not expecting anything from this. Only a fool would fall in love with Derek Morgan."

As she walked out, she wondered if JJ thought she was looking at a fool.