Chapter Text
Emily smelled like peppermint and trouble, and JJ realized about three minutes into mixing the batter that this was going to be a disaster.
A wonderful, infuriating, impossible-to-focus kind of disaster.
“Emily, stop it,” JJ said, swatting her girlfriend’s hand away from the bowl. “You’re going to eat all the dough before it even hits the tray.”
Emily leaned her hip against the counter, eyes bright, lips already curved in a smirk that said she would absolutely not be stopping. “I’m just checking the quality. These cookies represent the Prentiss-Jareau household. Standards matter.”
JJ pointed her wooden spoon at her. “You have never once cared about cookie standards.”
“Maybe not,” Emily said, dipping a finger into the dough and popping it in her mouth before JJ could stop her. “But I care about this one. Holiday cookies made by my gorgeous girlfriend. I have a reputation to uphold.”
JJ tried; she really tried to look stern. But Emily’s grin was devastating.
“You’re impossible,” she said.
“And yet, somehow, you love me.”
JJ muttered something that might have been “debatable,” but her smile gave her away instantly.
****
The kitchen smelled like cinnamon and butter, fairy lights glowing along the cabinets as faint holiday music drifted from the living room. It should have been peaceful. Domestic. Productive.
It wasn’t.
Emily slid behind JJ, looping her arms around her waist and resting her chin on her shoulder. “You know,” she murmured, voice low and teasing, “there’s nothing in this recipe that says the pastry chef can’t be kissed at regular intervals.”
JJ’s mixing slowed. “There is absolutely something that says that.”
“Prove it.”
“I will write it into the margins myself.”
Emily kissed the curve of JJ’s neck anyway, her lips brushing the spot that always made JJ’s knees feel unreliable. JJ jolted.
“Emily!”
“What?” Emily asked, completely unrepentant. “I’m motivating you.”
“You’re distracting me.”
“Same thing.”
JJ turned to glare at her, but Emily caught her chin and kissed her quick, sure, and confident. JJ’s irritation evaporated. Her chest warmed. Her spine tingled.
“See?” Emily whispered. “You bake better when I adore you.”
“Maybe,” JJ said, but she was already smiling. “Get the cookie cutters before I reconsider letting you stay in here.”
Emily strutted to the drawer like it was a catwalk. JJ shook her head, trying to refocus on the dough even as she watched Emily with a fondness she could never quite hide.
A crash sounded.
“Emily,” JJ said slowly, “what did you do?”
“Nothing,” Emily replied brightly. “Except… the reindeer cutter may have lost a limb.”
JJ approached. Emily hid the evidence behind her back.
“Prentiss.”
With a sigh, Emily produced the wounded cutter. “It’s still usable. If you hold it at an angle. In dim lighting.”
JJ pressed her fingers to her forehead.
Emily tapped a flour-free knuckle under JJ’s chin. “Don’t say it.”
“You’re the reason we can’t have nice things.”
Emily kissed her cheek. “Luckily, you keep me anyway.”
JJ laughed, gave in, and pulled her into a slow kiss. Emily melted into it instantly, hands sliding along JJ’s waist. JJ felt the room shift and felt her heartbeat change tempo. If she wasn’t careful, she’d forget what baking even was.
She pulled back with effort. “No more kissing until the next tray is done.”
“That feels illegal,” Emily muttered.
“Then sue me.”
“I plan to. In the court of affectionate grievances.”
JJ turned back to the dough, rolling and cutting shapes with admirable restraint. Emily, as always, had no such restraint.
JJ placed the shapes on the tray. “Emily, can you—”
Emily’s arms were around her again before the sentence finished, her chest warm against JJ’s back, her lips brushing JJ’s ear in a way that made JJ’s breath catch.
“You’re doing incredible work,” Emily murmured. “I’m genuinely impressed.”
JJ squeezed her eyes shut. “Emily, you’re very clingy today.”
“I missed you.”
“We woke up together.”
“Then you left. My suffering was immense.”
JJ’s heart softened. It always did. “You’re ridiculous.”
“You love it.”
JJ turned to face her, intending to deliver something stern. Instead, Emily kissed her, slow and intent. JJ’s breath stuttered. Emily’s hand slid under the hem of her sweater, fingertips skating up the side of her ribs until her palm cupped JJ’s breast in a way that made JJ’s hips press unconsciously closer.
“Emily,” JJ whispered against her mouth, not the least bit upset.
“Mmm?” Emily kissed her again, and JJ clutched her shoulders, letting the kiss deepen. Emily’s thumb moved in a slow circle, drawing a soft sound from JJ.
JJ leaned back, trying to catch a breath. Emily looked at her like she was a miracle.
“You know what would make this even sweeter?” Emily asked.
“What?”
Emily dipped a fingertip into the bowl of frosting, swiped it lightly across JJ’s lower lip, then kissed it away. JJ’s laugh broke into a gasp halfway through.
“Emily.”
“Yes?”
“That’s cheating.”
“That’s inspiration.”
JJ grabbed a handful of Emily’s shirt and kissed her hard enough to end the argument entirely. Emily responded instantly, mouth opening under hers, hands sliding over her hips and back up to her chest again, more certain this time. JJ felt the heat coil through her stomach.
The counter was behind her. Emily lifted her easily, guiding her onto the cool surface with hands steady enough to make JJ’s breath leave her in a rush.
“Emily,” JJ whispered, legs parting automatically as Emily stepped between them.
“Hi,” Emily whispered back, smiling against her mouth before kissing her again.
JJ’s arms wrapped around her shoulders. Their kisses tumbled into something hungry, lingering, and full of all the affection Emily never bothered to hide. Emily pressed closer, deepening each kiss until JJ felt chilled air hit the damp curve of her mouth every time they broke for breath.
A smudge of frosting ended up on Emily’s cheek. JJ giggled and wiped it off with her thumb. Emily caught her wrist and kissed the inside of it.
“You taste like sugar and trouble,” Emily murmured.
“You started it.”
“And you look so kissable right now, I’m afraid I can’t stop.”
JJ leaned in, kissing her again, long and heated. Emily’s hands framed her waist, thumbs brushing under the hem of her sweater before sliding up to cup her breasts again, slow and reverent.
JJ gasped into Emily’s mouth. Emily swallowed the sound like it was her new favorite thing.
The holiday lights blinked across the kitchen, reflecting off the mixing bowls and spilled flour. JJ felt wrapped in color and warmth and Emily—Emily everywhere, Emily kissing her breathless, Emily touching her like she was something precious.
JJ finally broke away with a shaky laugh. “I think I forgot how to bake.”
“I can remind you later,” Emily whispered, brushing her nose against JJ’s. “After I’m done kissing you everywhere but the cookie sheets.”
JJ tugged her closer by her shirt. “You’re terrible.”
“I know.” Emily kissed her again, laughter caught between their lips. “And you love me anyway.”
JJ let her forehead rest against Emily’s. “Unfortunately.”
Emily kissed her again, long and slow, until frosting, flour, and cookie dough were completely forgotten. Hearts weren’t.
JJ breathed against her lips. “Next year, I’m hiding the cookie dough.”
Emily smiled, brushing more kisses along her jaw. “Then I’ll just find you instead.”