Note- This is a follow up to the story right before this one: More Like You

To Take A Chance

Emily and Reid

June 2010

She never could have imagined being as nervous as she was when the doorbell rang that night. After spending all afternoon shopping for a new dress, and lingerie, cleaning her apartment, preparing a meal and picking out music to play while they ate Emily felt like she should be exhausted but she was far from it.

The nervous energy coursing through her made her feel like a live wire.

Even though she saw Reid almost every day she never before had been in even a slightly romantic situation with him. They didn't share smoldering looks across the bullpen or flirt like some of their co-workers did. She barely ever even touched him. Hell, Morgan touched him more affectionately than Emily ever had- and so did Penelope and JJ.

Tonight was entering whole new territory for Reid and Emily but she wanted this. Badly. She wanted it to feel good and natural. Because Reid was one of the only men she had met in years who was truly a good man she could see herself falling for.

Don't screw this up, she told herself as she smoothed out imaginary wrinkles on her dress and then opened the door to find him standing there in black cargo pants and a striped t-shirt. He looked casually delicious and more laid back then he did at work.

"Wow," he said, looking at her dress. "I should have dressed up, huh?"

"Don't worry about it. Get in here."

He walked inside. His eyes seemed to have a mind of their own because they raked over her little black perfect dress in a way Reid had never looked at Emily before. Then he concentrated on her face. "Honestly, you look lovely."

"Thanks," she said, in a dismissive way, because she was nervous. "So...yeah...hope you're hungry because I made a feast." Emily walked into the kitchen, leaving Reid just standing there rocking on his heels for a moment before he followed after her.

By the time he made it to her kitchen she had poured him a glass of wine and she was sipping her own.

He lifted the glass, smelled it, and then correctly named the type it was, babbling on about it for a minute.

She smirked. "You saw the bottle."

He gave her a small smile. "I never insinuated I didn't. After all, as a profiler, I'm sure you noticed me glancing at it so there would be no reason to pretend otherwise."

As Emily leaned against the counter, still holding her wine glass in one hand, their eyes met and held. Simmering heat lingered between them. Something new and different than they had ever known before. She felt it in her belly- a warmth pooling there that went beyond the simple lust she had for him before.

It was as if their mutual curiosity about what it would be like to kiss, to screw, to even hold hands and be intimate in their words and actions was given a life of its own- a presence in the room- and it was there with them. Tempting them to give in and go for this without worrying about the consequences and repercussions. They hadn't come very far yet and already she didn't want to dare turn away from him, from this, from them.

"So," he said, his eyebrows going up and down, as he broke the silent moment of them just gazing at each other "what did you prepare?"

"Turducken. It's a chicken inside of a duck inside of a turkey."

He startled a little. "Oh....interesting choice. That will be a first for me."

Emily chuckled. "Reid, it's a joke. I made coq au vin."

"Sounds good. Thank you for cooking for me."

"Feel special. I never cook for dates."

"Then I do feel special," he said, in a teasing way.

"Since you're in such a good mood then you can set the table. The china is over there in that cabinet."

He didn't move. She gave him a raised eyebrow. He asked "Oh...you're serious?"

"Why would I be joking about that? Should we eat off paper plates?" she teased.

"No, of course not. I just didn't realize you would put your guest to work."

"You're not a guest. You're Reid."

He shook his head at that logic but gave her a small smile then went to work on setting the table, which she helped him do. Working side by side as Reid explained about the reasons that the silverware went where it did was a moment where Emily was vividly aware that Reid was not just a co-worker or a buddy. He was a man. In her home. For a date.

Her body tingled at the thought and she found her breath hitching in her throat. She watched him for a moment longer than normal- concentrating on his lips, his strong jaw, his bobbing Adam's apple- and then forced herself to pull her eyes away.

Emily chuckled nervously. "All right. Lets do this."

She moved around him to go into the kitchen again but Reid asked "Excuse me?" which paused her steps.

"Lets have dinner. What did you think I meant?"

His face gave her a blank look but she had the feeling he was just teasing her. For the longest time she didn't get his sense of humor. It frustrated her to not know when he truly was confused about something and when he was just messing with her or the team. Now she tried to laugh it all because she realized he messed with them a lot more than most of them got. Which was funny in its own twisted way.

She was surprised when his long, lanky fingers wrapped around her waist and pulled her closer to him, but not close enough to press against him.

Reid said "You are a ball of nerves. That's not good for your digestion." His words were spoken in this in charge, sensual way that Emily had never heard Reid sound before. As if he was coaching her, but in a firm way, to let go of her fears and relax.

Good God, she thought, if I knew he could sound that sexy I would have jumped him years ago.

"I'm fine," she said, her voice suddenly hoarse.

"Its just me, Emily," he said, still speaking in that low tone that made shivers shoot through her.

"I know that. Duh. Its just you and me and we're just sharing a meal. No big thing, right?"

"Well I can't agree with that as we are taking our friendship to a completely new place. That could be rather....strange and almost frightening....but it doesn't have to be." Now the Reid she knew best was back in full force and she felt the need to reassure him.

"That's right. Hey, think of it this way, most times on a first date you don't know if you're getting a prize or an unsub. This way we both know what we're getting into with each other."

"Yet there is still so much that we don't know about each other." His fingers circled her wrist, his thumb rubbing lazily over the pulse point and then his hand moved down to brush against her hand and intertwine their fingers briefly before pulling his hand away, as he stepped back.

"Well," she said with a smile, making her voice sound light and breezily, "here is our chance to find out!" Then she went to the kitchen to get the salad that would start off their meal.

During dinner the fact that Reid could talk at great length about almost any subject came in handy because Emily could sit and listen to him for long stretches, then break in with a comment or a joke, but she didn't have to worry about awkward silences. He could happily ramble forever if no one stopped him.

That night she found him fascinating. Especially when he brought up the star puzzle and explained that he had researched the story behind it more and learned more facts and details about it.

He then went on about other romantic myths in different cultures, seeming to have learned one for every major country, and finally Emily stopped him.

She said "I thought you said that stuff like that doesn't make any sense to you. Are you becoming a believer?"

"I never said it made sense. I'm just explaining what these cultures believe. Of course its just folklore with no basis in science. Its not as if any of these stories are true or believing them can make what they promise a reality."

"How very romantic," she teased. "You know, Reid, you are quite the linear thinker. Ever considered seeing the shades of gray?"

He thought about it. "Actually, no."

She laughed and he gave her a small smile. Surprising her again he reached out with one hand and ran a finger over the top of her hand, that rested on the table, as his dark eyes held onto hers, making the temperature in the room feel like it rocketed up thousands of degrees.

"Thank you for having me over, Emily. This is....nice."

"Nice?" she snarked. "Geez, thanks. Can't you think up a better word?"

"What's wrong with nice?"

"Its boring."

"How about..." his finger traced up over her wrist and she shivered a little before he added "enlightening?"

"Snooze."

"How would you describe this night so far then?"

"Smoldering."

Their eyes held for a moment. Emily slowly rose from the table, picked up some dishes and went to the kitchen. While she was in there she heard the music change and then the volume get cranked up.

Emily slowly headed back out to the other room and saw Reid by her stereo system.

"You have Sinatra," Reid said.

"That I do."

He had put on September song. After a long moment of staring at him tenderly Emily walked closer and without talking about it Reid took her into his arms. It was the most romantic, quiet, intimate dance of her life. Their eyes stayed on each other, revealing a want they had never shown before.

She thought about bringing her hand off his shoulder to caress his face, leading him into a kiss, but before she could he was pressing a kiss to her temple, then to her cheek and then his mouth was hovering near hers, making her crave the knowledge of what his lips might feel like against hers.

Suddenly he tipped her backwards and she yelped. Blood rushed to her head and then his lips were very sweetly against hers. He pulled her up, as their lips stayed pressed together, and when he pulled back she felt lightheaded and stunned.

Her eyes went wide. "You, Reid, you....are a revelation."

"What does that mean?"

"It means kiss me again."

His eyes were light with happiness but also dark with hunger at the same time. There was a little boy's enthusiasm mixed with a grown man's desire resting in those dark eyes of his. A quiet confidence about him mixed with an uncertainty that may never fade away.....or maybe she could stamp that out if she could make him see himself as she saw him.

Dr. Spencer Reid was completely unlike anyone else in the world. And that is what Emily found she liked best about him.

THE END