Chapter 13

AN: Thanks for the reviews, everyone! I think this has a different feel than D & P, what I think is true to Reid and Crystal...

When it came down to it, all of the advice boggled Reid. He was going to try his best to put all of their thoughts together and come up with a reasonable solution to the problem he was having. He believed strongly in the scientific method: take subjective and objective data, compile it, test the theory, and come up with an evaluation of said theory at the end.

However, he felt his subjective data, the things he gathered from his friends, was faulty. What Morgan had said didn't make much sense. A car? He had a feeling if Penelope knew he was comparing her to a car, she'd be rather unhappy. What woman would want to be thought of as a machine? Prentiss was worse. She had said he'd know. He didn't know now, that was why he'd asked! Reid had never had the easiest time following his gut. He was not a fly by the seat of his pants sort of person.

The only one that had made true sense was JJ. He could ask Crystal, but just coming out and saying, Hey, do you feel that this is the opportune moment to have intercourse? seemed crass to say the least.

So, he sat on his couch, his arm around Crystal, watching Twilight (Crystal felt he needed more pop culture), more confused than he was starting. He decided he needed to rely on his objective data much more strongly. For instance, Crystal was leaning against his side, her hand on his thigh, drawing little hearts on the fabric of his slacks. She would turn her face up to his often for a kiss, and the kisses lasted so long, he lost track of the plot of the movie. Her breathing was a little faster, and she felt so warm, so soft pressed to his side.

All of the data he'd collected showed she was into him, and... dear Lord, he was so into her. He could barely breathe or think around her; all of his functions were zoned in and focused on her. Her smell, a maddening scent of apples, pears, and Crystal herself, overwhelmed his senses. He ran his fingers up and down the curve of her arm, over and over, feeling the soft skin bared by her sleeveless blouse. He couldn't stop touching her. He began to trail his fingers up the smooth column of her neck, to her jawline, and back.

"Spencer?" she asked, looking up at him with curious deep blue eyes. Her voice was husky, excited.

Cupping her face in his palm, he leaned over and began to kiss her. The pure electric chemistry that occurred between them exploded into driving need. He thought briefly about Morgan, saying he needed to make the time right. This time, the time felt right. This time, he wasn't going to stop. He didn't think he could stop, he wanted her so badly.

That brought to mind Prentiss, saying, he'd know. Amazingly, he thought, he did seem to know. It was harder to formulate the thinking about it all, but... it began to make a lot more sense.

As he continued to kiss Crystal, and she kissed him back, he felt her hands at his waist. Siting the need to feel her touch him, he leaned back. He broke the kiss to pull his sweater over his head, then went right back to kissing her again, falling back under the spell. God, he could do this for hours, and never stop. She was the most addicting woman he'd ever tasted. Sweet, salty, a dash of spicy from the Paneer Tikka they'd had for dinner; she was unbelievably delicious.

She began to tug his buttoned down shirt out of the waistband of his trousers, and JJ's advice came to mind. Once she got the shirt out of his pants, he leaned forward more and kissed the side of her neck. Enjoying her moan, he worked his way to her ear, and whispered, "Crystal, do you want this?"

"Yes... oh, Spencer," she breathed, running her hands under his shirt, touching his lean ribcage.

Nearly losing complete control, he captured her lips again in a deep kiss. So much for his ability to have legendary prowess! It was much different being with someone he cared about. And he cared so much about Crystal; he was certain he was in love with her.

Despite her moan of protest, he broke the kiss and cupped her face in his hands. "Crystal, sweetheart, I want you. I want this more than anything," he said, staring at her lips, finding it hard to talk.

"I do, too," she whispered. "I'm ready."

Lust surged through him, and he had a hell of a time containing it, regardless of the Middle Eastern breathing exercises that he knew. Still, he needed to tell her. He wanted her to know how special she was to him.

Drawing on all of his strength, he gently caressed her cheek with the back of his knuckles. "I don't do this with just any girl. I don't want that; I don't need that... but I need you." He leaned forward to kiss her lips, softly. "Crystal... I love you."

Her eyes grew wet with moisture, and her smile was brilliant. "I love you, too."

At that moment, all the words of encouragement, all the advice he had from his teammates, his family really, paid off. Especially Prentiss. There was no doubt, the time was right, and he knew it. Wonders never did cease.

Standing, he reached a hand out to Crystal. She stood, and they held hands, no words needing to be said, as they headed down the hall to his bedroom.

Yep. He was indeed a magician.

They made love.

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