Title: Au Natural (Part 10)
Author: dustytiger aka Trista Groulx
Rating: T (like the show to be safe)
Disclaimer: I do not on CM. I am still poor. CM still belongs to its creator, network, writers, actors and actresses who bring it to life weekly.
Summary: Prentiss and Reid are getting married, but what brought them to this point?
Notes: All right so no more talk, just a bit of action. This fic is remaining t rated… also they haven't been on a date yet. Just sayin' Reid isn't that kind of guy, even with his best friend lol… Anyway things are really starting to take off from now on… I'm still editing later parts so I don't have an exact chapter count at the moment but there's over thirty… Also I need to figure out my epilogue so yeah… I'll give a chapter count when I've got but there's lots of fic left and lots of daily updates hehe…

Reid pulled up to his apartment complex. He had been relieved when he saw it come into view, he wanted to relax and really talk with Prentiss now that they were out of her mother's house. A part of him worried that she might change her mind now that they were really alone. He knew he could accept that if he didn't do anything to change their friendship. He parked the car next to hers and half expected her to get into her car and leave, but instead she followed him inside his apartment.

"Spencer – Reid was that just for show?" she asked him as she sat down on the couch.

"Of course not, I was going to ask you the same thing," he replied.

"Why?"

"Emily, I'm not exactly good with women, nor have I had much luck when it comes to long term relationships. I've not had many girlfriends in my life. I have been scared since this morning that I might do something to jeopardize our friendship. You're one of my best friends and I can't imagine losing you, again."

"I'm nervous too, and I don't want to lose you either, but I want to see where this goes. We can't ignore this anymore."

"Then it's agreed then, we move forward?"

She nodded. He then leaned in closer to her brushing his lips softly against hers. It took Prentiss a moment to realise that it was really happening. She relaxed into the embrace and ran her fingers through Reid's hair. She had wondered for a long time what it might be like to kiss Reid. She thought it might be awkward or slopping but in reality it was better than anything she'd imagined before. His touch was so soft but still left her no room to question that this was what he wanted from her. Had she known the man could kiss like that she would have made it a point to try it sooner. She moaned softly into his mouth enjoying the taste of coffee that clung to him.

Reid's heart was racing he had never before taken the chance on kissing a woman first, but everything was different with Prentiss. The moment their lips touched he knew she was different from anyone else he'd been with. His mind was focused on her, and on the kiss, no other thoughts were crowding his mind. All he could think about was how good and right it felt to kiss her. They shared the embrace for a long moment before she began to run her fingers up his chest. His heart began to race and pulled away brushing a piece of hair behind her ear. She closed her eyes again and relaxed as he did so and he made a mental note that it seemed to calm her.

"Spencer," she whispered her eyes closing again and resting her forehead against his breathless.

She couldn't believe he'd rendered her almost speechless from just a kiss, but like everything with Reid this was different from anything she'd ever experienced. She then her lips toward his again but he pulled away from her. She looked at him confused. He gently ran his thumb across her cheek, committing the look on her face to memory. If this was the last thing he saw he would die a happy man, she looked truly content.

"Emily, if we keep this up we're going to end up in my bedroom," he told her, his voice thick.

"I don't see a problem with that," she assured him again trying to find his lips again.

"I do. I think it would be best if we took this slowly."

"We've known each other for five years I would hardly call this fast." She ran her fingers up his chest and he took her hand to stop her.

"I suppose, but that being said we haven't been on a date yet. I know we are doing things differently but I do want to take you date before this goes any further."

"I don't need that Spencer," she assured him. "Dates are meant to help you learn about your partner to see if you are compatible if you are going to get along. We already know we are. I know you better than I knew my most serious boyfriends. We both know what we want and I don't see the point in delaying it."

"It's not a matter of not wanting this, Emily. I have had to get rather creative the last few times you've been over to hide just how much I have wanted that. But arousal and release isn't what I want right now." He brushed her hair with his fingers. "I want a connection, something real to show you just how much you mean to me. Rushing into a physical relationship might jeopardize that and I'm not willing to risk losing you."

She gasped shocked to hear his confession. Suddenly everything became very real. Reid had made it very clear he didn't want something short term, and she was excited about that. He was already one of her best friends and she wanted to explore where this would go. She had tried to date friends before and it had never worked out and she wondered if it was because she had never given the friendship to transition into something more. She hoped that Reid's theory was right because she also didn't know what she would do without him in her life.

"All right Spencer, when do we want to go on our first date?" she asked him.

"Tomorrow if we are home?" he suggested. "Otherwise the next night we are home." He leaned in and kissed her cheek softly.

"Okay, so I guess I should get home."

He nodded. "I'll see you tomorrow."

She leaned in and kissed him again, not able to leave without feeling that soft embrace again. He wrapped his arms around her pulling her closer to him. She moaned softly when she felt what he had been hiding from her for so long but instead of doing more he pulled away from her only moments later again, running his fingers through her hair. She nodded and then left the apartment. When she got to her car she sat there for a long moment contemplating going back in and not letting Reid give no as an answer. She had changed a man's mind before, but instead she turned the key, trusting him since her way had clearly not worked in the past. She wasn't sure how she was going to get through her work day thinking about what he might plan. If Reid was unique in everything else he did she wondered just what she might be in store for now that they were dating.

End Part 10

Notes: Well I hope you liked it. I didn't have them just going off and jumping into bed together cause that doesn't fit this fic. Let me know what you think tho… still yay happy fuzzy warmness tho.. right?