Author note – the reviews for the last chapter were brilliant, thank you so much for continuing to read. Please let me know what you think.

Second chances – chapter seven

Their lips met in a gentle kiss. Morgan's fingers released his towel, coming to rest on Emily's hips, just above the waistband of her panties; while Emily's arm joined the other around his shoulders, drawing him closer till his knees met the bed, his towel falling away completely. Emily shuffled back to allow Morgan to climb onto the bed. Breaking the kiss, Emily allowed herself to take in the sight before her; her gaze following the path a water drop made travelling down his chest, abdomen, and further. Lifting her eyes to his, she saw his initial anxiety replaced by desire.

Dropping back, Emily brought her legs out from underneath her as Morgan crawled in between them; his hands skimming along her thighs as he leant into her, coming to brace themselves on the duvet either side of her head as he held himself above her. Her eyes drifted down his body again, and his quiet chuckle brought her gaze back up to his.

"You have some catching up to do," Morgan told her as his lips captured hers again. Emily felt his tongue grazing her lip, deepening the kiss.

Breaking away from her lips, Morgan pressed feather light kisses along her jaw, down her neck. Emily lifted her chin to allow him more access, gasping when she felt his teeth nip her collar bone. He continued kissing his way down her body as Emily felt his hand tracing along her spine towards the clasp of her bra, causing her to shiver.

Morgan looked up at her, a small smile playing on his lips as his fingertips retraced her spin causing her to shiver again. "That's an interesting thing to know," he mumbled against her as he placed a kiss on the top curve of her breast; undoing the clasp, pulling the bra away from her. His hands moved to her panties as he helped her remove them as well.

They started to explore each other, something they both had wanted to do for years. Morgan paused when he came across the scars left behind by Ian Doyle's attack. Emily flinched and started to pull away from him. He tightened his hold on her to still her movements. Morgan looked up at her from where he hovered above her stomach. Locking gazes with her tear filled eyes; he moved his hand to touch the scar, lowering his lips to follow the path his fingertips made. Emily allowed the tears to spill over as Morgan kissed his way back up to her chest. Placing a kiss over the scar where he'd seen the now missing four leaf clover brand, Morgan raised his eyebrow in question.

"I had it removed," Emily admitted, trying to subdue the sob that escaped. "I couldn't look at it in the mirror anymore. He branded me with his mark, not just physically," she gestured to her chest and stomach, "but in here as well." She told him tapping one finger to the side her head, openly crying now.

"He's gone, he can't hurt you anymore. He won't take you away from me again," Morgan whispered, lips caressing her cheek.

Turning her head she captured his lips in a deep kiss, both of them tasting her tears on their lips, pulling away she pleaded with him. "Help me forget." Knowing this was what she needed; Morgan leant into her as they came together. Emily gasped as he entered her. Morgan looked down at her in concern.

"It's been a while," she explained, becoming accustomed to him.

Emily's hands moved to his back, nails digging in slightly, holding him close as he moved within her. His pace quickening as their climaxes neared. Morgan swallowed her gasps in a kiss before pulling back to look at her, watching her draw closer to her peak.

Leaning down to place a kiss by her ear, he whispered "Let go, I've got you." She immediately tensed, head thrown back, crying out his name as she went over the edge, with him following close behind.

Disengaging, he rolled them over so she lay on his chest. Stroking her arm, he felt her breathing even out as she drifted off to sleep. Looking down at her, Morgan was grateful that exhaustion had overcome her. The trust Emily had placed in him while exposing her deepest secrets had overwhelmed him; he had been fighting his own tears as he made love to her.

Consummating their relationship confirmed to him what he had always known. There was no way he could go back to being just friends with her. He was pretty sure she felt the same. Feeling Emily's arm tighten around him as she tried to get closer to him, Morgan smiled down at her placing a kiss on her forehead. He silently thanked Reid for providing him with this opportunity. Morgan allowed his own eyes to close, safe in the knowledge that she was in his arms and he could protect her from whatever nightmares came to her in the night.

Sitting in Trafalgar Square at lunch time the following day, Morgan felt Emily wrap an arm around his as they sat on the steps. He wondered what was going on in her head, she had been quiet all day and Morgan hoped she didn't regret the night before.

Glancing around, Morgan started to chuckle, drawing Emily's attention. He point at a little girl, about five years old, throwing a coin into one of fountains, closing her eyes dramatically as she made her wish. Emily smiled as she heard the little girl telling her mother that she wished she could have an ice cream.

Returning to the apartment early that evening, Morgan spotted a chess board set up, mid game, on her desk near her laptop.

"Who are you playing?"

"Spencer, we email each other when we've figured out our next move."

"Who's winning?"

"Spencer," Emily smirked at him. "I may be able to beat him at poker, but he still kicks my ass at chess." She paused before asking him. "Do you play?"

"No, I picked up some of the rules watching Gideon and Reid play but I've never played."

Grabbing another older looking board from her bookcase Emily led him to the sofa, setting the board on the small coffee table she kept there. "Come on, I'll teach you." She told him while setting up the pieces.

Leaning against the back of the sofa, Morgan watched her. She became more animated as she moved pieces around the board, explaining what each piece did.

Emily suddenly paused, recalling disastrous dates where she revealed too much about her nerdy interests, how she referenced Kilgore Trout once, only for her date to look back at her blankly. Looking up she expected to find Morgan smirking at her, ready to tease. Instead, Emily found herself looking at a mix of hunger and adoration. They stared at one another as Emily felt the blush creep up her neck. Wanting to hide it, she ducked her head and continued moving the pieces at a slower pace, and he gave her all the time she needed.

Once she was done, Emily dared to look back up. Morgan was still looking at her. She felt herself caught in his gaze as he reached over to take hold of her hand, the feel of a gentle tug was all it took and she was in his lap. Her free hand landed on the back of the sofa, preventing her from falling on him. Their joined hands coming to rest on his chest as his other reached up to move her hair out of the way. He tilted his head upwards, never breaking eye contact; she leaned down to meet him halfway.

They sighed into each other's mouths as their hands released to draw each other closer as they deepened the kiss; Morgan's arms reaching for Emily's waist, fingertips tracing along the hem of her shirt, while Emily wrapped her arms around his neck.

As Morgan's mouth moved from hers', trailing kisses down her neck, Emily needed more. Moving her hands to buttons of his shirt she leant back to undo them, once done she slipped her hands between his skin and the fabric, caressing him as she pushed it off of his shoulders. Morgan tightened his grip on her shirt, drawing it up over her head.

Emily gave a small shout of surprise when Morgan suddenly tightened his hold on her as he flipped them so she was lying on the padded cushions.

Hovering over her, Morgan took in the sight before him. Emily, breathing heavily, was looking ruffled as she looked back at him with those deep brown eyes. "You're beautiful," he whispered, and she blushed again, averting her gaze. Lifting her chin, he asked; "Tell me you want this."

Her eyes met his. "I want you."