Breaking Barriers - S.R.

36

The last few months had been a whirlwind that ended up being exactly what Spencer and I needed. I adjusted back to a normal schedule and therapy was helping me deal with the trauma of the kidnapping. Spencer had also been in therapy, and the Bureau required that he take a mandatory 30 day leave after so many working days as a part of his recovery. He had been using that time to teach college classes, but we were also taking advantage of it by spending more time together, and we'd never been happier. Needless to say, I had no regrets about my decision to move in together.

It had been almost a month since I told Spencer that I knew I wanted to be with him for the rest of my life. The look on his face was one I'll never forget and he couldn't stop talking about our future after that. I didn't mind though, I was just as overjoyed as he was. However, as much as I didn't want to admit it, I was starting to grow impatient as I waited for an actual proposal. It wasn't a secret. We'd been discussing marriage for weeks now, but I couldn't figure out what was stopping him. I was surprised he didn't get down on one knee the moment I told him I was ready.

We'd had so many romantic date nights lately, even a weekend trip to a secluded cabin, but he still didn't take any of those opportunities to ask me to marry him. Spencer was a smart man, and I was not stupid. I knew he was doing his best to catch me off guard and make his proposal a surprise, but I was about to burst.

"You home, Spence?" I called out, setting my purse on the table as I walked into our quiet apartment.

"In here." I heard his muffled voice call out from the bedroom.

I trailed across the apartment, my high heels clicking lightly on the floor. When I stepped into the bedroom, Spencer was tucking a clean shirt into his slacks. He smiled at me as I approached him.

"Hi." I said softly, running my hands over the clean fabric and kissing him lightly on the lips.

"Hi." He mimicked, kissing me again. "I was just taking a shower. Do you want to go get dinner?"

"Now? But you smell so good." I smirked, pressing myself against him and kissing his neck.

He chuckled lightly but sighed in contentment. "We can save that for later, can't we?"

"If I have to." I pouted in a teasing manner, a grin growing on my face shortly after. "I am pretty hungry though."

"Me too." He replied. "I didn't have time for lunch today."

"Well, let's get you fed then." I smiled. "What did you have in mind?"

"We can just go to the diner down the street." He said casually.

I nodded. "In that case, I'm definitely going to change." I kicked off my heels and reached for the zipper of my dress, pulling it down slowly. I could feel Spencer's eyes on me as I undressed and I smiled mischievously. "Take a picture, why don't you?"

He grinned, stepping forward and wrapping his arms around my bare waist. "Can you blame me? You are a vision."

"And you..." I smiled, wrapping my arms around his neck. "Are very sweet."

Spencer's smile grew wider and he dipped his head down, placing soft kisses on my jaw.

"I thought you were hungry?" I teased.

"I am. You just suddenly became incredibly distracting." He replied.

I laughed as he released his hold on me, and I quickly trailed off to the closet to finish changing. Once I had put on much more comfortable clothing, we walked to the diner hand in hand as I listened to Spencer ramble about random topics on the way. It was nice to finally see him becoming himself again.