"We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you." 2 Corinthians 6:11
They held on to each other longer than it was needed to comfort her. Their body heat and deep breathing made Emily giddy and she started swaying slightly. Hotch chuckled and swayed gently with her to an unspoken slow tune.
'Maybe we'll dance when we get to the bar.' He said with a smile.
'Why wait for the bar?' She said teasingly
'Because Penelope will hit us with a bar!' He joked, grabbing her upper arms and shaking her for effect.
She laughed and turned on her heels towards the bathroom. Hotch headed back to the couch chair by the window and was surprised to not hear the click of the bathroom door's close. Emily's raised voice amidst the fall of the shower was his answer.
'What do you think I should wear tonight? It's not as cold as London but there is a chill in the air? I don't want the others thinking I'm all British if I go out in a light sweater.'
Hotch wondered if she was asking him what she should wear or what he would like to see her in. His profiler skills obviously wouldn't allow him to hear her question for what it was. Further, he wondered if a life with Emily would be this. Open doors and open hearts were certainly good starting points for a life together.
'A light sweater would be fine.' He responded. He thought of holding her while they danced, wanting as little barrier as possible between them.
'Okay. Great!' He heard the water turn off and held his breath for her entrance.
She sauntered into the room, calm as ever, and headed to her bag.
'Tag.' She joked.
'Unlike you, I will not be leaving the door open.' He teased as he picked up his ready bag.
'And why is that?' She contested, blocking his path to the bathroom.
Looking deeply into her eyes, with a glimmer in his own, he responded 'Because I know you Prentiss. You're a peeker. '
He wanted to jokingly take her by the shoulders once more but she was in her robe, with nothing underneath. This thought alone made him dodge around her and head into the bathroom.
True to his word, he did close the door but he didn't lock it and Emily wondered if that was intentional.
She dressed quickly but pointedly. She chose a teal green sweater and tight fitting jeans, gently brushing her hair to fall delicately around her shoulders.
Hotch exited the bathroom as she finished putting her belongings together.
Disappointingly, he was fully dressed in a brown long sleeve sweater and matching slacks.
'Your expression betrays you.' He said in jest, her disappointment clear in her eyes.
'Well, I was hoping you'd have exited in your towel only.'
'Really. I was hoping the same thing about you.'
'All you had to do was ask.' She jeered.
He stopped mid-way through folding his pants into his bag.
'Okay, I'll ask...Stay?'
'Oh, Hotch, not this again.'
'OK. In the interest of the team, we'll defer this discussion.'
'The answer won't change.'
'And neither will the question.'
With both their bags packed and at a stalemate in their relations, Emily placed her hand on his shoulder to kiss his cheek again. When he looked at her, angling his body in her direction, she knew what he needed and instead placed her lips lovingly against his own.