(10) self-evident

"Aaron?"

"In the kitchen!"

You rub your face and sit up. Since you spent almost all of your time together at your house, Aaron and you decided you will stay over at his apartment for a few nights. After Foyet – and Haley for that matter – he sold his suburban house and moved further into the city.

It's nice, but quite sparsely decorated; Two movie posters on the wall in the living room and his degrees over the desk. Getting out of bed, you put on a sweater over the shirt you slept in and trudge into the kitchen. Aaron's eyes light up when you come in and he throws his arms around you to pull you in for a kiss.

You smile at him when he lets go of you. Leaning to the side, you take a look at the kitchen counter. There's a single cup of coffee, next to an open file. You look at Aaron. Guilty, he rubs the back of his neck.

"How long have you been up?"

"Half an hour."

You raise an eyebrow.

"Almost two."

Shaking your head, you press a kiss to his cheek before fixing yourself a cup of coffee as well.

You're sitting on the kitchen counter, Aaron leaning against it, his back facing you. You have your legs snaked around him and he keeps rubbing your shin while reading the file. You drink your coffee and look over his shoulder to read with him. It's a case a friend sent him to get a consultation on.

Even though you're not that attentive, something catches your eye.

"The time of death isn't right."

Aaron's head shoots up: "What?"

You put down your cup and hold out your hand. He gives you the file, turning between your legs to face you, his eyes curious.

You point at the data: "The girl was found buried in the forest. They used the air temperature to calculate the time of death, not the soil temperature."

Aaron's eyes widen and he reads over the page again.

"Fucking hell." He mumbles. When he looks up, he tells you: "You know, I've been reading this shit for solid two hours and you just come in here and find something within five minutes."

"Work smart, not hard." You grin at him.

He takes the file out of your hand and throws it on the kitchen table: "You're insufferable."

"And you should have listened to Reid's talk about forensic countermeasure, especially the part about disguising the time of death."

Aaron grabs your hips, jerkily pulling you to the edge of the kitchen counter. "You know damn well that I had a meeting with the director."

"Cop-out."

He narrows his eyes and you see his shoulders tense. With a swift movement, he pushes you to lay on your back and pulls down your pants. Propping yourself up on your elbows, you observe Aaron. His neck is flushing.

His hands on your knees, he forces your legs apart. Provocatively, you spread them even further, bare before him, your naked ass pressed to the cold kitchen counter. Aaron's hands claw into the soft flesh of your outer thighs. Keeping up the eye-contact, he leans down and licks you up from your entrance to your clit. Then trails kisses from your pubic hair to your sides. You let out a hum and grab his hair: "I'd like to correct what I said: Sometimes you should work hard."

That makes Aaron break the huffish character he put on and he chuckles. He lets go off you and opens the drawer where he keeps the condoms, hastily pulling down his own pants. His hard cock springs free. A shit-eating grin on your face, you tell him: "Just say when you want me to show you up if that's what does it for you."

You see in Aaron's eyes that he's about to lose the little self-control he has left. He glares at you, rolling the condom over his dick. Standing between your legs again, he asks: "Do you ever shut up?"

You lean as close as possible to his face without actually touching it and whisper: "Make me."

- - - - - - - - - -

It sends shivers down Aaron's spine and he violently grabs the back of your neck, pressing a kiss to your lips. You feel him line himself up with your entrance. Without any further warning, he pounds into you. You let out a mixture of a cry and a moan. Aaron inhales sharply, breaking the kiss to look into your eyes. Slack-jawed, you stare back at him as he starts to fuck you. Hard.

You put one hand to the side of his face, the other propped up behind you to hold yourself up. Aaron leans into your touch and slows down his thrusts to lean forwards and kiss you. Rubbing your thumb over his cheekbone you sigh against his lips.

When he leans back up, he starts to alternate between deep, hard thrusts, and rolling his hips quickly. Your thighs clench and you press them to his sides. Aaron smiles when he feels it, pressing his thumb against your lips. Willingly, you open your mouth and suck on it. The sensation causes him to lose his rhythm for a second and he moans.

With a pop, you let go of it and Aaron brings his hand down to your core, starting to rub circles over your clit. It coaxes another moan out of you and the clothes you're still wearing become unbearably hot.

Frantically, you lean closer to Aaron's chest, forcing his dick deeper into you, as you try to take off your sweater. He puts you out of your misery and quickly pulls it over your head. With a sigh, you lean back.

Aaron follows your example and gets rid of his shirt as well. Of course, you notice the scars, but they are not what you see. What you see are the muscles in his abdomen work as he resumes to fucking you rapidly.

He starts to rub your clit more aggressively, causing your eyes to flutter shut, indulging in the sensation. Your walls start to tighten. Aaron moans as he feels it.

"Do you want to cum?" His voice is throaty.

Prying your eyes open, you look at Aaron. His cheeks are flushed, jaw and shoulders tense.

"Yes." You breathe out.

"Yes, what?" Aaron accentuates his words with thrusts.

It difficult for you to not whimper as you answer: "Yes, please."

"Hmh, good girl." He groans and leans closer to kiss you.

Moaning loudly at the praise, you get goosebumps and lock your legs tighter around Aaron's back like you're scared he'll stop. But he doesn't. Mercilessly plowing into you, he keeps up the stimulation on your clit. Meanwhile the other hand wanders to your tits to pinch one nipple after the other. Since both of his hands are occupied, you take your own to put it around your neck. Aaron's eyes widen as you do it: "Good god, that's so hot."

Desperately chasing your orgasm, you cut of the blood circulation by pressing your fingers into the side of your neck. Holding your breath simultaneously, you concentrate on the heat rising, ready to set your entire body aflame.

After tightening your grip one last time, you let go of your neck and collapse on your back as your sight turns white. Aaron catches your head at the last second before it hits the kitchen counter. Your eyes roll back, and your body goes rigid, walls spasming around Aaron's dick.

You hear him curse and moan loudly as he cums as well. He plows into you a few more times before holding still, hunching over to rest his head on your chest. Panting, you lift one hand to run your fingers through his hair. It's damp, and his neck is covered in sweat.

- - - - - - - - - -

After about a minute, Aaron leans back up and slowly pulls out of you. While he gets rid of the used condom, you slide off the counter and lean against it, head hanging down.

"We…can't keep doing this." You breathe out. "My back is seriously taking a toll here."

Aaron's hands wander up your arms. They feel rough but his touch is gentle.

"Show me." He murmurs, his dark voice making you comply immediately. You turn around and he traces the bruises the intermezzo against the wall left you with. They are fading but you're sure what you just did added new ones.

Aaron kisses your shoulders, hugging you from behind.

"You like it, don't you?"

You cough and have to clear your voice.

"Possibly."

He hums and presses more kisses to the side of your neck. His voice is clearer, when he asks: "But you're not in pain, are you?"

You shake your head: "Not seriously, no." Your legs still wobbly, you have to rely on Aaron holding you up as you close your eyes again.

"Your legs must be worse though." You state.

"Fucking you while standing up is a great substitute for a work-out."

"Happy to be of help."

He lowly chuckles before asking: "Should we take a shower?"

"Don't you want to call your friend first to tell him what I found?"

"Shit, I forgot."

"I gathered."

Aaron pinches your thigh, making your yelp.

You collect the scattered clothes while he's on the phone. It makes you grin to see him being all serious and professional on the phone while being completely naked, his eyes still glazed and hair disheveled.

On the way to the shower, he states: "He was surprised I noticed."

"What did you tell him?"

"Of course, I gave you credit; Said I asked my forensic liaison to have a look at it."

You chuckle while turning on the shower: "I like how by now forensic liaison has the same meaning as girlfriend."

Surprisingly, Aaron doesn't say anything. Water hitting your back, you let out a sigh, before you turn around to look at him. He's standing next to the shower, not moving, just his eyes darting over your face.

Furrowing your eyebrows, you turn the water off again.

"What is it?"

"I-" He steps closer and you put your arms around him. Looking down at you, he pushes your hair back and admits: "I would much rather have said my girlfriend instead."

You blink in surprise: "Oh." You haven't really thought about that. For your work in Bethesda, it's not important if someone knows that Aaron's your boyfriend. As your assistant found out recently.

"Do you think I don't want people you work with to know?" You ask.

His hands clasping your face, he tells you: "I honestly don't know:"

"I assumed relationships between colleagues, especially between boss and employee, are not well received at the FBI."

Relieve seems to wash over Aaron because his face relaxed and he asks: "Am I your boss though?"

You laugh out loud: "I have been debating this with myself since you first asked me out."

"What conclusion did you come to?"

"That you're not." You press a kiss to his lips. Turning the water back on, you ask: "But will your boss have the same opinion?"

Aaron tilts his head, closing his eyes for a moment as the warm water hits his shoulders. You take the shampoo and start to lather his hair. His body fully relaxes, and you stand there in silence as you massage his head and rinse his hair, only the water hitting the tiles being audible.

- - - - - - - - - -

Eventually, he opens his eyes and states: "I don't care."

You halt in your movements, hands hanging in the air. Gently, you put them on his arms: "You breathe Fidelity, Bravery, and Integrity. I can't take that from you."

Aaron smiles but his eyes start to water.

"What? No, no, babe." You put your hands on his face and brush your thumbs over his cheeks. "That doesn't mean I don't want people to know, I mean that I don't want you to risk your career."

"I know what you mean." His voice is brittle. Worried, you look at him, waiting for him to elaborate.

"I- You're so supportive."

You furrow your eyebrows in confusion: "Of course I am."

A single tear runs down Aaron's face. You get on your tippy-toes and kiss it away.

"Aaron, what's going on?"

"I don't want to lose you."

"You won't, and you don't need to risk your job to prevent it."

He presses a yearning kiss to your lips.

"But I want to."

"You want to?" You turn off the water again to hear him better. The silence that follows is thick with tension.

"I want everyone to know. And I don't care what…I don't care. Because I love you."

His shaky voice brings tears to your eyes just as much as his confession does. He went from I'm in love with you to I love you with no care for anything else. You press another kiss to his lips. His hands wander up your back, you feel them tremble. "Aaron…" You caress his cheek.

Suddenly, he takes a step to the side, getting out of your reach. "Sorry, I…" He never completes the sentence. Instead, he grabs a towel and briskly makes his way to the bedroom. "No, wait!"

He doesn't answer.

Cursing, you rinse out the residue of shampoo out your hair and step out of the shower. As fast as you can, you dry yourself off and walk to the bedroom as well.

Aaron is already wearing his suit.

You're absolutely stunned by his change in demeanor: "What are you doing?"

"Going to work. You can take my car; I'll get a taxi."

"What?" You're so confused.

"Don't be late."

You want to yell at him at the top of your lungs, but before you get the chance, he's out the door.

- - - - - - - - - -

Parked in the garage under headquarters, you sit in Aaron's car and stare at the steering wheel. You can't even remember how you got here; you were too occupied by your racing thoughts. What did just happen?

"Fuck!" You exclaim the moment you realize. "Fucking hell." You keep cursing while you make your way upstairs.

The bullpen is quite busy, most of the team being there. You throw your bag on your desk, making Prentiss, Morgan and JJ flinch and look up in surprise.

Prentiss asks worried: "You okay?"

"No." You answer brisk.

She wants to ask something else, but you turn around, hearing Aaron talking to Garcia. He's on the other side of the room, walking up the stairs to his office, obviously trying really hard not to look in your direction.

"Hotchner!" You shout.

Everyone turns their head, even Aaron. With long strides, you walk over to him.

"Your office, now." You hiss. Astonished, he does as you say and you follow him inside, closing the blinds.

Aaron is standing in the middle of his office, arms crossed. Eyes showing a mixture of anger and fear, he stares you down. You put your hands on your hips and ask him, much calmer now: "Did you seriously think I was about to rebuff you?"

His arms fall to his side and he lets out a staggered breath. He was thinking that. You step closer and clasp his face with both hands: "Why on earth would you think that?" He puts his hands on yours, his eyes darting over your face. He doesn't answer your question.

"Aaron, I love you. Please never convince yourself that I don't ever again." He inhales sharply, his hands letting go of yours, grabbing your neck instead, thumbs tracing your jawline. He blinks a few times before he finally says: "I love you so much."

It makes you smile brightly and pull him down to kiss his lips with your mouth open. He buries his hands in your hair and holds you close. Tilting his head, he starts to move his lips, the kiss becoming more heated by the second. You press your body against his and make him walk backwards until he's trapped between you and his desk. He leans against it and opens his legs so that you can stand between them.

When he leans back to take a breath, you remember where you are and whisper: "We're at the office."

Aaron lets out a gravelly chuckle: "I know."

You look him in the eyes and circle back to the discussion you head earlier: "Do you want to tell the team?"

"Yes." He tells you without hesitation.

It makes you press another kiss to lips.

"The Hotchner way, I assume?"

"Oh, yeah."

- - - - - - - - - -

A few minutes later, you're all sitting at the round table as Garcia brought in a case. Morgan leans towards you and asks quietly: "What was that about?"

Aaron heard him just as he enters the room: "We had to discuss something." His tone leaves no room for further questioning and Morgan shoots you one last look before turning back to listen to Garcia.

Half an hour later, you're on the jet to Oregon. It will be a long flight and you already feel tired. Aaron does as well. Not only have you been awake longer than the others, but you also solved a case, fucked, showered, almost broke up, and confessed your love – twice in Aaron's case.

After the team discussed the material you already have, everyone goes on to do something to relax. Morgan listens to music, Reid reads something as does Rossi, JJ and Prentiss get a coffee and you're pretty sure they kissed while they were in the kitchen.

You've been sitting on the sofa next to Aaron, keeping a professional distance for now. Then, you get up and ask him: "You want a tea as well?"

Without looking up from the file on his lap, he answers: "Yes, thanks babe."

Everyone turns their head, eyes wide, mouth open in shock. Prentiss kicks Morgan's leg under the table to make him take off his headphones. Pressing your lips together to not laugh, you walk to the kitchen. No one says anything.

With two mugs, you sit back down next to Aaron. He finally looks up, closes the file, and takes the one you offer him. You take a sip of your tea and look at the others like it's the most normal thing. Aaron puts his arm around you as he silently keeps drinking his tea.

Rossi is the first one to speak up: "I believe you all owe me twenty bucks."

- - - - - - - - - -

Groaning, everyone gets out their wallet. You chuckle: "What was the other option?"

"That you're fighting over your salary." Morgan mumbles while handing Rossi the money.

Now Aaron starts to laugh: "There is no fight with Professor Byrne. You just pay her."

Reid is the one who looks the most confused: "So you are…"

"Oh, sweet summer child." JJ says under her breath.

"Dating? Yes." You answer him.

"I'm really happy for you." Rossi smiles.

Aaron turns his head to look you in the eyes.

"Yeah, me too."