Thank you to those who have already sent such nice reviews, followed or favorited the story after just one chapter. It inspired me to keep going, so here is Chapter 2. Enjoy, and thank you so much for reading!

Laying here this way, enveloped in the warmth of the bath water with Erin in his arms, David wondered why he let foolish pride get in the way of feeling like this for so many years. There was always something about Erin Strauss that got to him. She was beautiful, that's for sure, but it went deeper than that. He respected her position of authority, and loved that she challenged him, even though he would never let it show to anyone else. So why had he pretended that he didn't have feelings for her? Why had he acted like he loathed her when deep down, he wanted nothing more than to love her? Was he afraid that it couldn't last? Based on his relationship track record, that fear was justified, he thought to himself.

"David?"

Erin's voice pulled him out of his thoughts and returned him to the present moment, a moment he was more than happy to get back to.

"Hmmm?" David mumbled as he trailed kisses down Erin's wet arm.

"Do we have to go back tomorrow? Even though we came here for work, I feel like I've had a vacation of sorts. Spending every night with you has been amazing."

"What makes you think we can't be this way wherever we are?"

"You and I both know work and other commitments get in the way. We have been seeing each other off and on for over a year now, and I feel like this is the first time we've really connected."

"We'll figure it out, but not now. Enjoy this moment with me."

David took the sponge that was sitting on the edge of the bathtub and began massaging Erin's shoulders, working around her back where he knew she had a lot of tension.
Erin's eyes were closed and she relished the feeling of David's hands on her. She lost track of time as she got lost in David's touch. Suddenly, she felt him pulling her up, wrapping her in a towel.

"You were starting to get cold," he said.

"I bet you know how to warm me up," she replied with a slight smile.

"I bet you're right."

David took Erin's hand and let her to the bed, quickly moving the coats they had discarded there earlier.

Erin let the towel she was wrapped in fall to the floor as she got underneath the covers. It wasn't but a second later David was on top of her, pinning her to the mattress.

"Making love to you is magic, Erin." David covered her mouth with his and he felt her deepen their kiss, inviting him to take the next step.

Slowly, he entered her, joining their bodies together. He watched her face the entire time, making sure he moved in all the right ways. He watched her expression turn from content to ecstasy, relishing the fact that he was the one making her feel that way.
Reaching the height of passion together was an indescribable feeling. Rolling off of her and pulling her close, David pressed his lips to hers again and again.

"I don't want to stop kissing you."

"Then don't," Erin said quietly, and he could tell that she was starting to give in to sleep.

He kissed her once more, and then laid with her in the quiet, holding her, listening to her breath deepen. Once he knew she had fallen asleep, he soundlessly slipped from the room, knowing they both had an early start in the morning.

When she awoke before dawn, Erin could just see the sun starting to come up. She reached over to the other side of the bed, but David was already gone. She felt a wave of sadness wash over her, as she knew they would be returning to the BAU today. She knew that when they got back, she would be lucky to catch David in the hallway as they passed each other on their way to different meetings. She wanted him to still be in bed with her, holding her close. She'd see him on the plane, but knew he would be rehashing the details of the case with the team, getting right back into work mode.

"It was nice while it lasted." Erin said to herself, getting out of bed and pulling on her bathrobe.

Appreciating the quiet of the morning, Erin stepped out onto the balcony and gazed out over New York. As beautiful as the sun looked coming up over the horizon, Erin much preferred spending time in the country. It was a dream of hers to live in a farmhouse with lots of animals, her children and hopefully grandchildren visiting often. Erin got emotional whenever she thought about her children. They were growing up so fast, and she knew that she missed so many important moments with them because of her job. How she wished she could have some of that time back.

"I can't dwell on the past. I need to look forward to the future, but what does that mean for me?" Erin thought to herself.

She walked back into the hotel room and began packing her things. She changed out of her bathrobe and pulled on a comfortable jersey dress for the plane ride home. Taking one more look around the room to make sure she had packed everything, and satisfied she'd left nothing behind, she started to pull her suitcase out the door and head for the lobby. Just then, her phone lit up, letting her know she had a new message.

Wait for me – I'm right behind you.