The Bachelor
Disclaimer: I don't own LWD
AN: Enjoy

The Bachelor:
Chapter 4

He was to get married in a month but all he could think about was Casey, naturally. Because she ruined everything. At least that was what he was telling himself. Eventually he concocted a plan to see her, because he simply had to see her. He was a bit curious as to what was going through her head. What she thought about that night. If she felt anything…if it was more than just purely physical. Because that's what he thought. Until he remembered he was engaged to be married. Why the hell did I have to propose? His thoughts were all over the place, all because of her. He almost missed the chaos that she brought into his life when they were cooped up in the same house. But since they no longer were and he had to find it- he had to find her. So naturally in true Derek fashion, he showed up at her place that night, unexpectedly.

Her heart stopped when she saw his reddish brown tousles through the peep hole. She really didn't even need to look at his face. She knew his hair anywhere. It was almost as much of an identifying factor as his smirk. She took a step back from the door and tried to catch her breath. She wasn't aware that she had even lost it. She contemplated not answering it, pretending that she wasn't there. Hide in her room and wait it out. But she couldn't stop thinking about him either.

It seemed like her grand master plan had backfired.

She remembered the best bits of that night. Bits that just made her want more. She figured it was physical but it was much more. She ached when she saw her calendar marked with that dreadful date. His wedding was only a few weeks away. He would be taken for good soon. That wasn't supposed to have any effect on her, but it did. And that realization alone scared her even more. Why oh why did she have to meet Derek Ventrui anyway?

He knocked again. She closed her eyes tight knowing curiosity was getting the best of her. What was he doing there? Before she could change her mind, she opened the door halfway.

"What?" She sighed, not letting him step one foot inside her home. She used her body as a shield keeping him outside, not letting him in. She had enough of him, he wasn't allowed to venture into her domain any deeper. She wouldn't be able to handle it. So, she spoke quickly and went straight to the point. She painted on her best annoyed expression because she refused to let him see how she was really feeling. He wasn't allowed to see the wreck he had created without even trying.

"Can I come in?" He asked. He kept his hands in his pocket with a cool and collective look on his face. As if stopping by in the middle of the day was a normal thing between them. He pushed aside the hissing pain that seeing her seemed to cause him. It almost felt like heartburn, a literal throb in his chest that made him want to cringe. But he was a man damnit, he knew how to smile through broken bones. Another life lesson he had learned on the ice. And they said hockey would teach him nothing!

"Why are you here?" She replied, never answering him. No, he couldn't come in. She wasn't sure what could happen if he did step inside. Sure, she knew she wasn't going to jump him. But the feeling would remain in her bones. Her fingertips would ache to touch him. Even in the most innocent way possible. Distance was always too much when it came to them. They could almost never reach the level of intimacy and closeness that they needed. So no Derek, you can't come in.

"I'm just here to deliver some bad news Princess," he shrugged. It wasn't a lie; he did have news that wasn't going to please her. He wasn't sure if it was really considered to be bad news though. She might actually enjoy it. He, on the other hand, didn't. It was a decision he was completely torn about. It was killing him, but he knew he had to be a bigger man and deal.

She sighed. Of course. Why would he be there for anything else? He didn't miss her; she cursed herself for even thinking that for a second. He wasn't there to try to win her over, to fight for her. Why would she even fathom that idea?

She stepped aside letting him walk into her small humble home. It really wasn't much but it was hers and she loved it. She made it her home, it was the only place she felt complete and comfortable in. The only place where she allowed herself to let down her guard and simply be. However Derek crossing into this safe haven, her domain, and now it was simply chaos. But she knew there wasn't much of an option. She would behave, and obviously he had no problem doing so. It would be fine…right?

He settled himself snugly onto her perfectly white love seat which fit perfectly into her small living room. No, it wasn't his recliner but it did the job. He hadn't been to Casey's apartment often. He often stayed away from one-on-one situations between them. But yet here they were, and he had no one to blame but himself.

"What is it?" She asked from across the room. She wouldn't let herself be near him. She treated him like he was contagious. Honestly, her heart was slamming across her chest and her legs felt like jello. But she was a pretty good actress so she ignored all her symptoms and pretended to be a cold-heart bitch. Yeah, that could work.

Before he could convince himself otherwise he spoke the words he had been contemplating for the last few days. He watched her closely making sure he didn't miss the reaction that his words would have on her. "You're uninvited to the wedding." He spoke easily. As if it was no big deal.

"What?" She yelled, completely thrown off guard.

She hadn't even decided she was even going to be quite honest. She burned the invitation the day it came. Of course that wasn't until after she memorized every last detail engraved onto that small piece of gold trimmed paper. She had the perfect dress for the occasion as well. But she was still debating whether she would actually go. But having him sit there in her living room with a smug look on his face telling her she no longer had an option, that she was uninvited all together…that was just wrong. She was his stepsister after all; part of the family. She was supposed to sit on the groom's side of the church and hate every last second of it. It was almost as if she wanted to torture herself by sitting through the ceremony.

"Don't shoot the messenger." He said holding up his hands in a surrendering pose. Although the stupid smirk on his face said otherwise. He enjoyed doing this to her. He was hoping she'd actually care, just to get a rise out of her. However he wasn't sure it would even affect her in the slightest bit.

"Why?" She asked. What had she done in the last few weeks to get uninvited? Well besides sleep with the groom. But that couldn't be the reason…could it?

"Yeah. I moaned your name in bed. You were DQed on the spot." He shrugged. Nothing out of the ordinary there, right? Of course he was lying though. He had done no such thing. It was just that, well he couldn't have her at the wedding. It was too much of a risk. He wouldn't be able to stop thinking about her when he was supposed to swear his life to another woman. No, it was too dangerous. It had to end right then and there. Which is why he came…to say goodbye, properly.

"YOU WHAT?" She yelled. No. No no no no no. Was he mental? How hard was it to forget? (Not that she was doing a good job at it either, but at least she was single!) Why couldn't he just be a man about it? Now Allie knew. She knew something was up with the pair. Maybe he didn't tell her what actually happened, but if it was enough to get her kicked out of the wedding there were indeed some hard feelings between the two girls. How awkward was that? Stupid Derek. It was all his fault.

"Yeah. She wasn't exactly fond of you before. And after that…well yeah. She doesn't want you around." He lied easily, shaking his head to add to his act. Nothing of the sort actually happened. Sure he may have been thinking about Casey while being with his fiancé, but he was smart enough to keep his mouth shut.

"I can't believe you Derek. What part of nothing happened was so hard for you to understand?" She spoke softly. She wasn't even yelling, and that in itself was a bad sign. It meant that she wasn't freaking out, she was breaking down. She slowly started to pace the living room, shaking her head of its thoughts as she mumbled words to herself. Mostly cursing him to hell.

He watched her closely, trying to hold back his laughter at first. He loved making her lose her cool. He missed it even. It had been a while. Once more for old times' sake couldn't hurt. But then it hit him how bad she was reacting. "I couldn't help it." He added with a smirk. He couldn't tell her he was lying now. He was already in too deep. He had already made the decision. He could only try to sooth her dramatics.

"So I'm not invited?" She asked looking up from the ground with sad droopy eyes. It was the ultimate insult. She couldn't believe it.

"Nope." He said quietly. He really didn't expect it to hurt her. He honestly thought if it bothered her, she'd freak. Full on Casey meltdown. Throwing things and hitting him.

Not this, never this.

"Okay. Well thanks for telling me, I guess. You can go now." She said, taking his hand and pulling him off of her couch. She needed him out. Out of her house. She wasn't sure how long she could hold back the tears. But touching him, even just holding his hand was pushing her to the limit faster and faster. Not her brightest idea, no. But could you blame her? She needed to break down. But breaking down in front of him was not an option. He couldn't see how deeply the situation was affecting her. He wasn't allowed to know that it was more than sexual. It was emotional. Deep rooted feelings that had laid between them since the very beginning. Something she had just started realizing. Clearly she had yet to come to terms with it. He didn't have to know.

Being that he was almost twice her size he didn't move when she pulled him. And lets be honest, Casey wasn't the strongest girl. And being that he's Derek and wasn't aware of where her thoughts were, he pulled on her hand, pulling her down. She did her best to regain composure but failed like the klutz that she would always be. She stumbled and fell into his lap with a huff. "Hey." He breathed out, inches away from her face.

No. Absolutely not. No way in hell.

What had she done to deserve such a fate? He wasn't allowed to do that. But she couldn't move. Her thoughts and emotions were already on a roller coaster. It was hard enough to keep her physical state composed. She closed her eyes tightly but not because she was expecting anything from him. She knew from firsthand experience how much of a tease Derek was. She did it to hold back the tears. She was fighting her body tooth and nail. Begging it to hold on just for a few more minutes. Her thoughts were cut off absurdly when her body was stunned.

He had done it. He had leaned forward, studied her face, her pained expression which nearly broke his heart. He bit his tongue, making sure he didn't speak. There was nothing he could say that would make any of this right or better.

They were fucked really.

Once more he let his instinct take over. He leaned into her and pressed his lips onto hers. Goodbye Princess his thoughts spoke as they stayed there for what felt like forever. Neither making a move to deepen the kiss or to end it. It was a simple kiss obviously but it meant the world to him.

You see he realized he couldn't have her at the wedding. But it was more than that. He couldn't have her in his life. She was just…too much.

Eventually he found it in himself to move. He pulled back but refused to look at her. Because if he did, he'd be entranced by her once more. And it wouldn't stop at a kiss. So with that thought, he picked her up off his lap, gently making sure she was secure in his arm. He got up off the couch and placed her back on it as softly as he could. Her eyes remained closed, she didn't dare open them. She looked like she was sleeping. He smiled at the thought of her being at peace, even though he knew being around him was hell. He turned his back on her and made his way towards the door. Leaving her for what he thought would be the last time.

She didn't open her eyes until he was long gone. She couldn't watch him leave. When she did open her eyes, she only saw the ceiling above her. Her heart was still beating rapidly and her emotions more then frazzled. He should be illegal. The things that man could do with onesimple kiss was truly indescribable. She let out a painful cry before the sob enveloped her. She clung to her body and the tears ran down from her eyes. They fell down the sides of her checks, she didn't bother wiping them away and they would only be replaced with a fresh batch. But they stung her. They burned. Her whole body hurt.

Eventually the sun set, reflecting beautiful colors into her living room from that small window behind her, but she didn't even notice. Soon after that her cries subsided and she found her way to a dreamless sleep. Right there curled up on her pristine white couch, she lay for hours completely broken. And she couldn't understand why.

AN:
So...erm, are you guys still reading? I'm really proud of this one so I would love to hear some feedback.
So please review, it would make me very, very happy =D