(4) Date Night
Eventually, you blurt out: "You're hot. I was talking about you when I said that."
"Oh, thank God!" Hotchner yells and steers the car to the side of the road, coming to an abrupt stop. The seat belt saves you from hitting your head. Before you can fully fathom what just happened, Hotchner jumps out of the car and hastily walks around it to yank open the car door on your side.
Baffled, you stare at him. He leans into the car and grabs you face.
Then his lips are on yours.
Your hands fly to his neck and you pull him closer against you. The kiss is forceful, both of you holding your breath. At first, you press your lips together rather than actually kissing. Slowly, he opens his mouth. You let out a sigh and push one of your hands into his hair.
With your other hand, you fumble to open your seatbelt. When he leans back for a second, you take it off and turn in your seat, snaking your legs around his hips. With your heel, you push him against you.
Holding the other's face, you stare at each other. His pupils get wider by the second. His hand wanders to the back of your neck and he pulls you in for another kiss. This time, you both open your lips further. Tilting your head, you gently bite his bottom lips and taste the coffee he had earlier. His cheek is rough under your touch and you feel that he didn't shave this morning.
Breathless, he lets his head sink to lean it against your shoulder.
"Fuck, Aaron." You mumble.
Using his first name, makes his head shoot up and he smiles.
"What? You want me to call you SSA Hotchner while we make out?"
"Hmh." He narrows his eyes and caresses your cheek with his thumb: "I'll allow it."
"Lucky me."
Aaron lets out a little groan and presses another kiss to your lips before letting his mouth wander down the side of your neck. You claw into his suit jacket. He sucks on the skin just below your pulse point before making his way back up.
His hair is a mess by now and you have to try really hard not to moan into his ear. Just when his lips hover over yours, you make a fist in his hair and yank his head backwards, exposing his throat. You lean down to bite the part of his shoulder that got exposed by you grabbing his shirt.
When you bite the side of his neck, you leave a wet spot behind and blow on it. You see how Aaron gets goosebumps. And when your lips connect again, he lets out a quiet moan. It makes you grind your hips into lap. He groans and deepens the kiss.
A truck driving by, honking loudly, reminds you where you are.
"Shit." He breathes out.
You chuckle: "I'm truly glad you picked me up for work."
- - - - - - - - - -
The rest of the drive, you look at each other now and then, either grinning or letting out a chuckle. After Aaron parked the car in the garage under the Hoover Building, you take off your seatbelt to turn around and sort out his hair. His eyes dart over your face as you do it.
"Will you let me take you out for dinner tonight?"
"I believe it's your turn anyways." You smile.
He leans back to look at you for a moment before getting out of the car.
You shoot each other one last rather unprofessional look before exiting the elevator. The bullpen is already busy. Reid is the first one to notice you and furrows his eyebrows. Prentiss turns her chair around and grins at you.
You beat her to it and make a comment first: "Hungover much?"
JJ walks by: "I tried to stop her, but she drank as if her life depended on it."
"Why wasn't I invited?" Morgan asks offended.
Prentiss tells him: "It was an adults-only event."
He lets out a dismissive huff but isn't truly mad at you: "I'm just glad you dragged Hotch along. Look at him! He's glowing."
Hotchner shakes his head and leaves for his office.
Later on, JJ asks Reid something, but he doesn't respond. She tries again, but he lifts his hand to stop her, his eyes fixed on Hotchner in his office.
"What is it?" You lean closer. The others lean in as well, like a class of students ready to hear a rumor about the teacher.
"Something is going on."
"With Hotch?" JJ whispers.
Reid nods: "It usually takes him about nine minutes and twenty seconds to work through one page of a report. Now it takes him over twelve."
"You time how long we-" Prentiss starts but JJ silences her with a look that says: of course he does.
He continues: "First he goes out with you– which he hasn't done in about five years – then he comes in late, and now this."
Your mouth falls open and you hope that you don't blush too brightly when you explain: "Well, he was late because he kindly picked me up at Bethesda since I left my car here."
Everyone turns to you. Maybe you should not have said that. You wanted to make it less suspicious but seems like you made it worse.
Also, sidenote: yesterday was the first time in years that he went out!? Hadn't he made out with you a few hours ago, this were the point at which you were convinced that he's into you.
Morgan chuckles: "He really wants you to stay on the team. Makes sense after what you pulled off last case." He offers you his fist and you bump it.
- - - - - - - - - -
You're nervous beyond believe. What do you wear to a date with your boss? You still haven't answered the question if he actually is your boss. You decide that he's not, but the head of the university is. Since they are paying most of your wages.
Of course, Aaron stayed in the office whilst everyone else went home. You didn't have a chance to ask him when or where you were going. It had only raised more suspicions.
You throw the clothes out of your suitcase, that you finally brought home, into the washing machine and stare at drum spinning for solid ten minutes.
As soon as you left, Aaron texted you that he would pick you up at eight. You gave him your number on the first day as the others gave you theirs. Your address, however, he must have found somewhere in your file. Or he asked Garcia for a favor, making something up about why he needs it.
Whatever – you still need to put on some clothes. You laugh at the thought of opening the door naked. That might be a little too daring; and you actually want to go on a date with him. He hasn't told you where though. You expect a restaurant, but who knows? So, you decide to wear dress pants and derby shoes.
Just when you're done fumbling with your hair, the doorbell rings. Quickly, you put on your coat and grab your keys. You open the door and oh boy…what a sight to behold. Aaron Hotchner in black slacks and a white cotton dress shirt. The sleeves rolled up like he knows what he's doing to you with that.
"Hi." You breathe out.
"Hi." He smiles, almost shy.
You were so worked up about how he looks that you didn't even notice the flowers he has in one hand.
When he holds them towards you, you take them with sparkling eyes. It's a beautiful, small bouquet.
"Wow." You stare at the flowers in your hand.
You look up at him and see how he is observing your face vigilantly. Throwing your arm around his neck, you pull him down for a kiss. He seems surprised, because at first, he just stands there kissing you back lightly. Then he gets over it and his hands grasp your waist.
Letting go off his neck, you fully put your feet back on the ground and smile: "You don't need to profile me – I like them."
"I wasn't –" He starts but shuts up when you raise an eyebrow.
"Just a moment." You tell him and rush to the kitchen to put the flowers in some water.
Aaron is leaning against the doorframe, waiting for you. He fucking knows what he's doing. There is no way he is being this hot unintentionally.
He offers you his arm. You take it and let him walk you to the car.
- - - - - - - - - -
He tells you about the restaurant you're driving to and hands you his phone so that you can take a look at the menu, because, as he informs you, you won't eat there. When you arrive, he once again walks around the car in long strides to open the door for you. It makes you giggle quietly how much Aaron makes sure to show proper first date-etiquette.
While you wait for your food, he keeps asking you questions about your job in Bethesda. At first, it irritates you how detailed his questions are, but you see in his eyes that he is genuinely curious. You're standing close to each other and talk quietly, like you're the only people on the street.
A waiter brings out the bags with your food. Aaron takes it, putting his hand on your side to not break the contact while he is looking at someone else.
"Where are we going?"
"The park."
"What park?"
"Rock Creek."
He answers casually but you can see that he's nervous.
Aaron drives into the park a little further than it is probably legal to. Then he leads you down a pathway to a secluded bench between the trees. The area is barely lit but you can still see his face.
Your eyes are fixed on him but when he gets out the food, he tells you: "Look up."
Confused, you do.
"Oh."
You're far enough away from the city lights that you can actually make out some stars. Silently, you look up as you did the night before. Only now, it's much more beautiful. You know that he chose it on purpose. Because he saw you look up yesterday. Baffled, you shake your head a little: "How do you know this spot?"
"I used to come here after a difficult case."
You turn to him.
"When I was a prosecutor." He adds, handing you your food.
You take it but lean over it to steal a kiss from him. Aaron chuckles lightly.
"Ah, before I forget." You grab your handbag and take out the bottle of wine you brought.
He shakes his head and smiles: "You know, I like you more by the minute."
You start to eat and say: "No, I don't. Tell me about it."
And he does. With every small gesture. Every little touch. Every time your eyes meet, he tells you.
- - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - -
Your head against his shoulder, you lean into Aaron's side. He put his arm around you after you finished your food and you scooted closer to him. Now you are silently handing the wine back and forth. He can't drink too much, since he is designated driver, but he takes a small sip every time you offer him the bottle. You don't want to get drunk either. It's way too nice to miss anything.
He starts to play with your hair, and you let out a sigh. The moment is so calm, and you feel so content, you don't want it to be over.
"Aaron?"
"Yeah?"
You feel his chest vibrate when he answers.
"We will have tomorrow off, won't we?"
He lifts his head to look at you: "If we don't get called on a case, yes."
You swallow hard and have to force yourself to ask: "Do you want to sleep at my place?"
He doesn't say anything.
Turning your head, you find his eyes: "I- sorry if that's weird. I didn't mean to…so fast…sorry." Your heart is pounding, and you feel like crying. Way to be smooth.
Panicking, you miss the look in his eyes and the smile on his face.
Aaron grabs your hand and interrupts your rambling: "Yes."
You let out the breath you were holding, and your chest relaxes.
He kisses your temple and mumbles: "Glad you asked. I didn't dare to."
"You didn't dare to?"
"It took me three beers to muster up the courage to touch your wrist."
That actually makes you laugh. Especially because he said it in his stern SSA-voice.
- - - - - - - - - -
Flicking on the light in the hallway, you slip out of your shoes. You offer Aaron to take his coat and hang it up next to yours.
"Do you want some water?"
He nods and follows you into the kitchen. You silently praise yourself for having cleaned everything before you went on the case, and since you weren't home much since then it's still presentable.
Aaron thankfully takes the water you offer him, his eyes darting around the kitchen and the adjacent living room. He points at the flowers he got you and grins.
"I don't own a vase." You state. Earlier, you filled up your tallest thermo mug you have to substitute for one.
Leaning against the kitchen corner, you drag your eyes over Aaron's body.
He notices and teases: "The FBI thing is really doing it for you, isn't it?"
You choke on your water.
"I honestly was a little disappointed that you didn't pick me up by showing me your badge and gun."
"Oh, really?" His voice noticeably dropped an octave or two.
"Hmh." You nod and put your water down.
He's so close to you by now, that you can make out every line on his face.
With a low voice he tells you: "I promise, I'll bring them next time."
"Good."
Simultaneously, you grab each other. Aaron traps you between him and the kitchen counter, pressing his body against yours. His thighs are like timber, and tense when you run your hand over them, up to his side.
Between two heated kisses, Aaron murmurs: "You know what does it for me?"
You nudge his jaw with your nose and demand: "Tell me."
He grabs your chin and tilts your head up: "Walking into my office unannounced and making me hire you on the spot."
"Really?" You taunt him playfully.
"Or maybe it was when you made Reid crawl on all fours for several hours. I'm not sure at this point."
Smiling widely, you brush his hair out of his face and ask: "You want me to do that to you?"
Your boldness makes his cheeks flush.
"Don't threaten me with a good time." He chuckles.
Pressing a kiss to his lips again, you take his hand: "I'll get back to you on that, but right now I'd really like to fall asleep next to you."
Aaron leans in for another kiss and lightly sucks on your bottom lip before agreeing: "I'm in."