Gentle Epiphany // Criminal Minds

Chapter Thirty One - Sunkissing

🧸 Derek 🧸

Daphne's soft laugh encompasses the bullpen, making my entire body warm. I've been in love with this woman for years, never allowing myself to act on my feelings. Until Ohio, something had changed in the way she looked at me. A curiosity was in her gaze, and it sparked a part of my heart that had me chasing after her since that moment. I stopped hiding how I felt, and thank God I did.

Kissing her was like winning the lottery. It was sweet and timid, just like her, but the longer she straddled my lap, the more comfortable she became—just like a flower waiting to bloom under the right touch.

I didn't realize how hard it was going to be coming back to work and not being able to pull her into a kiss. Hell even keeping my gaze off of her was a challenge. She sits on my desk with a hot tea in her hand like she's done countless times before, but it was different.....because now I know what it's like to kiss her, to touch her, for her to be mine. I subtly look around us checking to see if anyone was paying attention before I allow my hand to come up and brush her thigh, a small ornery smirk playing on my lips.

"Der, we are at work." Her cheeks turning a shade of pink, looking around the room with wide eyes. So innocent.

"I love when you blush. It's adorable." My hand climbing up higher before I hear JJ and Reid walking our way in conversation. I quickly drop my hand swiveling my chair to look at them. Reid is picking up a phone and dialing a number, "Hi. Detective Barnes, please."

Gideon notices walking out of his office and towards them. Daphne hops off my desk to stand near them as I get up standing closely behind her. My body barely pressing against hers listening to the way her breath catches in her throat, those soft crystal blue eyes looking up at me. I could get lost in her.

Reid hands Gideon a horrible rendition of a composite sketch. It looked more like something Tim Burton would create. "Need to get that to everyone as soon as possible." I stifle my laughter, Daphne's hand smacking me lightly. I grab it behind her back, our fingers intertwined. I needed to be careful, needed to stop being so obvious that I love this woman.

"Uh, hi. Detective Barnes, this is Special Agent Dr. Spencer Reid at the Behavioral Analysis Unit at Quantico. Have you had any recent murders involving prostitutes, maybe just Jane Does? They would have been stabbed to death, and their hair would've been cut off by the killer." He explains before listening to the person on the other line. My thumb rubs circles on Daphne's palm her body subtly leaning back against me. "When was the most recent victim?" He goes quiet again, his mouth dropping open. "I'll explain when I see you. I'll meet you in a half-hour." He hangs up the phone as we all wait for him to explain what the hell that was all about.

"What's going on?" Gideon questions him.

"D.C. may have a serial killer. I think I just let him get away."

"Ok. Moore you're with Reid and I. Morgan will take Prentiss to the crime scene, and I'll call Hotch and fill him in on our way." We all nod taking off for our desks to grab what we need. I dislike being without Daphne, not for reason you might think. While I do want to be around her all the time, she was ridiculously smart and intuitive when it comes to our cases. The way she studies the world around her, makes her sharp as a whip. Valuable in the field....and I need her by my side.

🪐 Daphne 🪐

I'm standing in the M.E.'s room with Spencer, Gideon, and the lead Detective on this case. The latest Jane Doe in front of us. I wasn't particularly thrilled to hear about Spence's run in with a potential teenage serial killer. He was open and vulnerable, he could have been hurt or worse taken. It didn't sit well with me, worry pooling deep within me.