Prologue: Before the Storm
The Chicago skyline was breathtaking at sunset, the sky painted in hues of gold and crimson. From the balcony of Derek Morgan's loft, Emily Prentiss watched the city shift from day to night. She held a glass of red wine in her hand, but her attention wasn't on the view. It was on the man behind her.
Derek stood in the kitchen, shirtless, a pair of low-slung jeans hugging his hips as he chopped vegetables for dinner. The muscles in his back flexed with each movement, and Emily's lips curved into a soft smile.
"You're staring again," Derek teased without looking up.
Emily leaned against the doorframe, her voice playful. "Can you blame me? You're quite the sight, Morgan."
He chuckled, setting the knife down and turning to face her. "I could say the same about you, princess." His gaze traveled over her figure, clad in one of his oversized T-shirts, the hem barely brushing her thighs.
Emily blushed under his scrutiny but didn't look away. There was a comfort in their relationship, an ease that felt rare in her otherwise chaotic life.
Dinner was a casual affair. They sat cross-legged on the couch, sharing bites of pasta and laughter. Emily couldn't remember the last time she had felt this content.
As the evening wore on, their touches grew bolder, the space between them shrinking until Derek pulled her onto his lap.
"You know you're dangerous, right?" he murmured, his lips brushing against her neck.
Emily arched into him, her fingers running at the back nape of his neck. "Funny, I was about to say the same about you."
Their laughter faded into a kiss—slow at first, then deepening with the heat that always simmered between them. Derek's hands slid under the T-shirt she wore, his touch igniting every nerve in her body.
"Bedroom?" she whispered, her breath hitching as his lips moved to her collarbone.
Derek grinned against her skin. "I was thinking right here."
Emily's protest was cut off by a gasp as Derek lifted her effortlessly, guiding her to lie back on the couch. His weight settled over her, his hands and mouth tracing every inch of her with reverence.
"I love you," he said softly, the words catching her off guard.
Emily froze for a moment, her heart pounding. She cupped his face, searching his eyes for any hint of doubt. All she found was sincerity.
"I love you too," she whispered, her voice breaking.
That night, as they lay tangled together on the couch, Emily traced circles on Derek's chest. She wished she could freeze this moment, keep it safe from the secrets she knew she would have to reveal one day.
"I wish I could stay like this forever," she murmured.
Derek kissed her forehead. "Then let's make it happen. Stay with me, Emily. For real."
Her throat tightened, and she nodded, even though she knew her life wouldn't allow it.
It wasn't long after that night that she disappeared.