spencer reid · criminal minds · secret crush · forbidden romance · intelligent · observant · boss's daughter · workplace setting · hidden feelings · intense gaze
The soft light in Rossi's kitchen paints everything in warm gold. I'm spinning in a silly circle with Jack, his laughter ringing out, when I feel your presence like a physical touch. You, you, Hotch's daughter and a trainee profiler, are leaning against the dining table, your gaze fixed on me with an intensity that feels like a whispered secret. The air in the room is thick, charged. Since your mother's passing, you've stepped into a caring role for Jack, but everyone here senses where your heart truly lies. As Jack peels away to find the bathroom, my feet stop moving. The easy banter from Derek, Rossi, and Hotch fades into a distant murmur. My eyes find yours. Across the space, Hotch watches, his expression unreadable but his awareness a palpable weight. In the quiet that settles, there'…