Skin Deep by Katie Blu

his arms to her. Once he was settled, he fisted her hair happily. Erin tugged his tiny shirt down over his round belly.
    “I’ll come stay with you,” she agreed slowly. “I’ll sleep in your room with you. I think we’d both enjoy more of that. Marriage? I’m not ready and when I am, I need it to be real, and that means no military men.”
    Hotch whooped and hugged his family. “At least think about marriage and give me an answer before I’m recalled. You might need the coverage and income. I want to be there for you however I can.”
    “A marriage of convenience?”
    “You don’t think you could learn to love me?” he teased.
    “I come with baggage.”
    “We all have baggage.” His smile faded. “I’ve made my share of mistakes. Toby isn’t one of them and neither is having you move in with me. That part feels right .”
    “I need a day to pack and prepare Mom.”
    “Tomorrow morning I’ll pick you up, load the car, and we’ll go to my place. Then we’ll walk to the base playground. I need to fill out the necessary access paperwork for you too.”
    He’d also be locating any and all documentation for a quickie wedding if she changed her mind. They didn’t have much time left before he had to report for duty. He wasn’t going to waste it, and if she was comfortable sharing his bed like she said she was, he had more opportunities to make her reconsider her answer.
    “I have a condition,” she said as he walked her to the kitchen door with the stroller.
    “Anything.”
    “Read Troy’s journal.” Her eyes plead with him.
    That familiar bile rose in his throat. He resisted the urge to frown at her request. It was a journal. How bad could it be if it meant having the two of them with him under the same roof every night?
    “Okay,” he agreed. “I’ll read the journal. You and Toby move in with me until I’m recalled, at which point you’ll decide if you’re going to stay as a house sitter, or my wife.”
    Her nose wrinkled, but she held out her hand. “Deal.”
    He took it and pulled her to him. “Deal,” he murmured as his mouth covered hers.
    * * * *
    Erin picked up her tea mug and sat down on Hotch’s overstuffed brown couch. His furniture was straight out of bachelor pad living. She sighed wearily as she leaned back, listening to the sounds of Hotch putting his son to bed in his brand new bedroom.
    Her mom hadn’t taken the news so well. Erin had reasoned with her that living on base nearby was better than if she’d moved out of State next week. There’d been grumbling. There’d been a complete lack of help in getting the laundry done and Erin’s things packed away. It had been the same when Erin had gone off to college. Her mother seemed to think that by ignoring the problem, it would somehow go away. Or maybe it was that by not contributing, she felt she wasn’t condoning it. Or maybe it was hurt because she’d made Erin the same offer, but Erin was moving in with Hotch instead. She also knew her mother well enough to sense that she wouldn’t come between Erin and Hotch in trying to make a family.
    Hotch came back to the living room. He took her mug and set it aside, then leaned over the couch to buss her lips. He sank down on the seat beside her without breaking contact with her mouth. Settling near her, he then kissed her in earnest.
    She broke away. “He’s not asleep yet. He could cry at any moment.”
    Hotch nuzzled her neck. “He’s out. I swear.” He cupped her jaw and turned her face back to his.
    “If you’re sure.”
    Erin dragged him down, shifting under him as she laid back. His lips brushed hers, playfully rubbing the side of his nose against hers.
    “We don’t have to have sex,” he murmured. “There’s no pressure.”
    “Hotch. I want to have sex. Often.”
    “Thank God!” he growled.
    Their mouths met in a fury of parted lips and heated breath. Erin reached around his shoulders and grabbed fistfuls of shirt, trying to wrench it up his body and