Author's Note: Well, another story comes to an end. I hope you enjoyed this little journey. Thank you to everyone that took the time to read, review and/or alert this story. We really appreciated it. I hope you'll each let me know what you think of the conclusion. As ever, we don't own Criminal Minds.

A Shadow Cast

Chapter 6

Long minutes later, both hovered on the cusp of paradise, each of their bodies straining for blissful release. Staring down at her beautiful, sweat-glistened body sprawled against his desk as he plunged in and out of her tight slick depths, Dave groaned. "Fuck!" he bit out harshly. "So close, sweetheart!" Using his thumb to work her throbbing nub as her hips lifted to meet each stroke of his body, he watched her face clench and felt her body contract around his swollen manhood.

"Don't stop! God, please don't stop!" JJ chanted, her words coming in gasps as she dug her nails tighter into his skin. Feeling white hot shards of pleasure stinging her, her vision blurred as she found that amazing, sweet release.

Covering her lips as they opened on a scream, her eyes dilated and glowing, Dave groaned, slamming his body into hers as he erupted, his own orgasm overwhelming his senses as he heard her sob.

Collapsing against her, Dave struggled to pull air into his lungs, the very act of breathing requiring more energy than he possessed. Pressing damp kisses to her sweaty neck, he moaned as he carefully disengaged from her sensitive body.

"Don't go. Don't leave me," JJ whispered, tightening her arms around his neck as she felt him pull away, suddenly cold without his heavy warmth.

"Shhh," Dave hushed her, pushing up on his forearms, "I'm too heavy for you," he murmured, sliding his arms around her and pulling her into his lap as he dropped heavily into his office chair.

Snuggling into his arms, JJ turned her face into his neck, closing her eyes and inhaling his woodsy scent. Relaxing slightly as she felt his hands sliding over her leg, she smiled in satisfaction as he whispered anxiously, "I didn't hurt you, did I?"

"Of course not," she denied immediately, her fingers curling around his neck. "Why would you think that?" she asked as she heard the worry in his voice as his hands kept moving over her.

"You were crying," he whispered, almost afraid to raise his voice. "At the end...you sobbed," he whispered, "And I couldn't stop."

"I didn't want you to stop," JJ replied, reaching up to smooth her hand against his cheek, the prickles of his beard grazing her palm. "It wasn't pain, Dave. It was just so...powerful. I've never...it's never been so...profound."

Allowing himself to relax, Dave tightened his arms around her as he settled her deeper against him. "I've never felt anything like what happened between us, Jen. Never in my life."

"Me either," JJ admitted softly, pressing against his warmth. "What do you think that means?" she asked hesitantly, almost afraid to hear his answer.

"I know I don't want to give it up," Dave said hoarsely, burying his nose in her fragrant hair, drawn to that heady mixture of jasmine and Jennifer, uniquely her.

"That's not really an answer, Dave," JJ whispered, rubbing her nose against his throat.

Chuckling ruefully, Dave said, "You're not willing to let me skate on anything tonight, are you?"

"I came here for answers," JJ replied unapologetically, her fingers feathering through the thick hair on his chest as she felt the steady beat of his heart against her cheek.

"And you're determined to get them, huh?" Dave grunted, wincing as she tugged sharply at the mat of hair she played in. Pressing a tender kiss to her warm forehead, he whispered, "I'm in love with you, JJ. But I think you knew that when you walked through my door tonight."

Feeling a sudden elation rising in her chest at his amazing admission, JJ smiled tremulously as she nodded against his chest. "I had hoped. I had hoped that you would feel the same way about me that I feel about you."

Burying his hand in her silky long hair, Dave tilted her face to his, needing to see her eyes once again as he asked, "I take it that means that…"

"I'm in love with you, too, Dave," JJ admitted, shimmying against his muscular chest as she wrapped her arms around his sinewy neck. Shaking her head, she whispered, "I tried to tell myself that it was just appreciation for everything you've done for us, or that I was just imagining things. I really did. But then I found the feelings growing deeper and deeper each day, almost to the point that the intensity of it frightened me."

"And now? Are you still scared?" he asked gently, her poignant confession tugging at the place in his soul he had considered long dead. "You know I'll never hurt you, don't you, Jennifer?"

"I know, Dave," she assured him, leaning forward to press a soft, almost chaste kiss against his lips, the desk lamp casting a warm glow over the left half of his face. "That's what convinced me to take this step, to see if we might have something that could last. I couldn't live in that limbo anymore."

"Neither one of us are going to ever doubt again, babe," he pledged, shifting her slight body in his lap as he leaned them both back in the leather chair, the slight creak of the springs the only sound in the silent room.

Content to rest against him, her cheek pillowed against his shoulder, JJ stroked his whiskered jaw as his fingers drew unique patterns on her bare skin. Shivering under the exquisite touch, she burrowed closer to him, seeking his warmth.

Dropping a hand over the side of the chair, Dave grabbed for her discarded shirt as he tucked the wrinkled fabric around her thin shoulders. Pressing a soft kiss to her forehead, he murmured, "Let me get you home, honey. I think we can find a much more comfortable place to spend the rest of the evening." Tilting his head to the side, he added, ruefully, "You deserved better for our first time than my desk. I'm sorry."

"If you'll take a moment to mentally review, I insisted," JJ chuckled, pressing a kiss to his chest. "But," she sighed, sitting up straight, her muscles stretching, "You're right, I need to get home. My nanny will start wondering where I am," she murmured, climbing out of his lap as she smoothed her skirt over her thighs. "You're coming with me, aren't you?" JJ asked hopefully, turning to look at him, smiling expectantly.

"After tonight, honey, you'll find that I'm never very far behind you and Henry," Dave said softly, tracing the tip of his finger against her lips. "Yeah, Jen," he nodded, "I'll be sleeping in your bed from now on. If you'll have me."

Smiling, JJ's heart clenched. "Of course I'll have you," she whispered, meeting his lips halfway as he bent to her. Jerking away from him as someone dropped something in the hallway outside the door, JJ frowned down at her shirt. "Uhmm...Dave?" she questioned, looking ruefully at the buttons scattered on his floor. "I might have a little problem here."

Smiling, Dave winked at her, dropping his finger down her neck, dipping into that beautiful valley. "Trust me, babe...those breasts...not a problem."

"Great," JJ snorted sarcastically, capturing his fingers before they made any side trips, "I guess you won't mind me showing them to the janitor and parking lot attendant then?"

Eyes narrowing as he grabbed his suit jacket from the back of his desk chair and gently eased her arms into it, he shook his head. "I don't think so, Jen. As of now, I'm definitely the only man with peep show privileges." Tugging her to him by the lapels, he whispered, "You might have wanted to have considered my possessive, jealous nature a little more carefully before you came in here tonight."

"I like your jealous, possessive nature," JJ murmured against his lips, eyes fluttering shut as they slowly exchanged a slow erotic kiss.

"Good," Dave said approvingly, slowly buttoning his jacket on her body, the fabric swallowing her completely. "You'll be seeing a lot of it over the upcoming years."

Thrilled as she heard him speak in the long term, JJ nodded as she said, softly, "Then I think it's time that you took me home, Rossi."

And that's exactly what he did. Every night for the next twenty-nine years.

finis