***Disclaimer: I still don't own Criminal Minds. 

JJ's back was pressed up against the driver's side mirror of her car, her arms snaked around Reid's neck. She didn't want this night to end. Her keys were perched on the roof of the car, forgotten as the couple shared a passionate moment.

When JJ finally extracted her lips from Reid's, she leaned her forehead against his, catching her breath. Before giving the idea any thought, she felt the words rush out of her.

"Do you want to come over?"

Reid's body stiffened. "Oh. Yeah, absolutely. Um, that'd be great."

She blushed, linking her fingers through his. Reid's eyes were boring into hers, as if he were trying to read her thoughts. He probably was.

"Should I follow you, or ..."

"Oh, yeah, right," JJ giggled, reaching for her keys. "I'll lead." A grin swept over Reid's face as she pecked him on the lips one final time. "Try to keep up."

~

The entire drive home, JJ talked to herself. Not just inside her head, but out loud. Hopefully Spence wasn't searching for her face in the rearview mirror, because he'd probably think she'd gone crazy.

Should she have invited him over so readily? This was only their third date, after all. JJ wasn't usually the type to go home with a guy after only knowing him for such a short time.

But this was Spence. She'd known him for almost half her life. In fact, she couldn't remember what her life had been like before knowing him.

Still, this was too fast. Reid was probably feeling the pressure, and she didn't want to scare him off. So much had transpired to get them to this point. JJ didn't dare risk a single move that might jeopardize everything.

Shifting her car into park, JJ took a few deep breaths before opening her car door. Reid was already there waiting for her, having emerged from his car at rapid speed. He held out a hand for her, and she took it, trying to think back to the last time she'd been helped out of a vehicle so sweetly.

They stared at each other, an awkward silence passing between them. JJ tucked her hair behind her ear, glancing up at the night sky.

"Beautiful night," she said, trying not to shiver as a gust of wind blew right through her.

Reid bit his lip. "Are you sure about this, JJ?"

She blanched, her heart racing. "Sure about what?"

In the light of the moon, she could just make out the reddish tinge on Reid's cheeks as he said, "You know what. Me coming inside. I don't have to, you know."

JJ's eyebrows rose.

"Not that I don't want to," Reid went on hurriedly. "Of course I do. I mean, you're amazing. And my best friend. And I love you. I'd be crazy not to want to. But if you don't want to, I don't want you to think that we have to just because I want to."

A laugh escaped JJ's lips. Reid looked back at her, puzzled.

"Sorry," she said, flipping her hair behind her shoulder, "it's just, you can be such a dork sometimes."

When an injured look passed over Reid's face, JJ reached out to grip his forearms. "I didn't mean that as a bad thing. It's one of the things I love about you."

Reid's lips turned upward into a smile. "I love you too. And I love that we can say that out loud now."

JJ beamed. "I love it too."

They leaned in, capturing each other's lips in a kiss once again. This time, when they parted, JJ took him by the hand and began to head for the door.

"Did you know that humans use as many as 112 postural muscles and 34 facial muscles when they kiss someone?"

"You don't say," JJ smirked, jangling her keys as she wrestled with the doorknob.

"It's true! Also, they say the average person loses 2 to 3 calories per one minute of kissing."

"Well then, we better get to it," JJ joked, then burst into laughter at the flustered look on Reid's face. "Would you like something to drink? Maybe settle your nerves a little?"

"I'm not nervous," Reid defended, sinking his hands into his pockets. "It's exceptionally warm in here. Did you turn the heat on?"

"Mhmm," JJ mused, grabbing two glasses out of the cabinet. "Red or white?"

"Whatever you're having," Reid quickly replied.

After she'd poured the wine, JJ took a seat beside Reid on the couch. She extended her hand, and they clinked their glasses together.

"To us," she said, smiling.

"To us," Reid agreed, a glint in his eyes.

JJ took a hearty sip, her hand trembling a little around the stem of the glass. She hoped Spence wouldn't notice.

"Music?" she said at last, desperate to break the silence.

Reid nodded, but when JJ rose to stand up, he put out a hand to stop her.

"I'll get it," he said, clearing his throat. Reid walked across the room until he located the Bluetooth speaker on the mantle. Plugging his phone in, he swiped through several songs until landing on the one he wished to play.

JJ grinned as the familiar tune of "Lucky" by Colbie Caillat and Jason Mraz echoed through the room.

"Very smooth, Doctor Reid," she grinned, as Reid reached out a hand toward her.

It always surprised JJ how talented Reid was at dancing. He knew just the right amount of force to apply when leading, and he made sure to throw in plenty of spins and dips to keep things interesting.

"This song always reminds me of you," Reid said as they rocked back and forth.

JJ smiled. She rested her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes in contentment.

When the song ended, JJ lifted her eyes toward Spence's. She pulled him close, wrapping her arms around his neck as she backpedaled toward the bedroom. Reid kept one hand on her back, the other held outright to prevent her from bumping into any walls or doors. They moved through the hallway as one.

Once inside the room, JJ pulled away, studying his expression. Reid's eyes were wide, his pupils dilated as he stared at her with longing. She couldn't resist kissing him again.

Reid shuffled out of one shoe, then the other. JJ had already kicked off her flip-flops somewhere en route to the bedroom. When he stood up straight again, JJ placed both hands on either side of his face and kissed him hungrily, her hands grasping for the buttons of his collared shirt.

Reid held back, giving her the satisfaction of lifting away the shirt herself. When his undershirt proved more stubborn, Reid pulled away just long enough to shrug it off, mussing up his hair as he did.

JJ's hands roamed his chest as she kissed him again, and again. He ran his fingers through her hair, moaning as she tugged at the button of his slacks.

Reid shimmied out of his pants, so that he was standing there in just his boxers and socks. JJ sucked on her bottom lip, her hair cascading around her face.

Reid took a step closer to her, gingerly placing his forefinger and thumb on JJ's shoulder. He pinched the strap of her dress, his eyes never leaving hers. "Is this okay?"

JJ nodded, a shy smile on her face. She slipped both arms out from under the straps, then guided his hands as he pulled the dress off her.

Reid inhaled, his expression excited but cautious. "You're so beautiful, Jennifer."

As they returned to kissing, the last of their clothes were discarded. Reid held her close, tracing the line of her spine as she pulled him down on top of her.

~

As the morning sun rose, JJ peeked her eyes open, one and then the other. She felt the whoosh of Reid's breath on the back of her neck, and sighed, a smile on her face.

Reid snuggled closer, still in the throes of deep sleep, when suddenly, the doorbell rang.

JJ bolted upright, accidentally whacking Spencer in the jaw as she rose to attention.

"The boys!" she whispered, her eyes searching the floor for her undergarments. "Shit! I completely forgot to set the alarm!"

Reid's eyes widened as she began hopping about the room, pulling on clothes like a firefighter called in for duty.

"Mom!" Henry shouted, as JJ yanked open her closet.

"Just one minute, hon!" JJ shouted back, wrenching a T-shirt over her head.

Reid was still picking up his clothes when the sound of approaching footsteps sent JJ into a tailspin. She grabbed him, pushing him backward into the closet.

The moment she closed the closet door, Henry walked in, followed closely by his younger brother.

"Hey, guys!" she grinned, bringing them both in for a hug. "How was your time with Daddy?"

"Good!" they both replied, taking a seat on the edge of her bed and beginning to bounce.

"Hey, kids, why don't we play a game this morning?" JJ asked, relieved as the boys cheered in happy unison. "Let's play Hide 'N' Seek. You guys go hide somewhere out there in the house, I'll count to twenty, and then come find you."

"Thirty!" Henry chirped, jumping off the bed. He elbowed his little brother. "That'll give us plenty of time to find a good hiding spot."

"Great, thirty," JJ agreed. "Ready? Go!"

As the boys scampered out the door and down the hall, JJ let out a deep sigh. She turned back toward the closet, slowly sliding the door open. Reid was huddled behind her winter coats, fully dressed, his clothes wrinkled but right-side out.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, her eyebrows drawn in. "I forgot what day it was!"

Reid smiled, pulling her in for a hug. "I had a great time last night," he said, kissing her on the top of the head.

"Me too," she said, pouting. Then, she pulled back. "Okay, you have to go, quickly, before they start wondering why I'm not seeking them yet. Henry counts incredibly fast."

Reid tiptoed behind JJ as she crept down the hall. Glancing left, then right, she determined that the coast was clear.

"Go, go, go!" she whispered, motioning for Reid to make for the door.

Reid opened the front door, wincing at the creaking sound it made, and peered out. After confirming that Will was indeed already gone, he turned back around to blow JJ a kiss.

JJ smiled, blew one back, then began skipping in the opposite direction.

"Ready or not, here I come!"

***Author Note: I know this chapter probably felt like a long time coming, but I hope the wait was worth it! Thank you so much for making my story a part of your day (or night, or whatever time it is there!)

If you enjoy this fanfiction, you'll definitely like my YA series, so please check out my self-published books on Amazon (see link in my profile). For some Jeid videos I've created, check out my YouTube channel (also linked in my profile). Thanks again (and again and again and again) for all the support!