Disclaimer: I don't own Grey's Anatomy...I only wish

Author's note: Since I've started this fic a lot of you have added this story to your favourites...I would like to thank you for that! One of you also gave me a good tip about the placing of comments (possibility of placing comments without logging in)...great tip, thanks! This next chapter is about ripping off the band-aid...I mean, they both went through huge traumas; getting shot and losing a baby. Are they ready to make love again? Please read the next chapter and find out ;-)

Greetz, McJinx

Chapter 4

When I wake up, I hear birds chirping outside my window and dim rays of sunlight filter through my curtains. I slowly stretch my arms above my head and snuggle back into the warmth of my bed. Hmm, Sunday…I have the whole day off! Beside me, Derek's body is warm and comforting, his breathing steady.

Yes…he is finally back where he belongs!

I prop on one elbow and look at him, smiling. Such a powerful man when he's awake, yet so much like a little boy when he sleeps. Derek's eyelashes are impossibly long, resting delicately against his skin. His face is half buried in the sheets and one arm is thrown over his head. Unable to resist, I lean over and lightly stroke his cheek. He makes a noise deep in his throat and rolls to his side. Careful, not to wake him, I move closer to him until my body is completely fitted to his, tucking my back carefully against his belly and bending my knees against his legs.

Almost immediately his breathing changes and I sense that he's awake. He shifts slightly and reaches one hand around my waist.

"Good Morning."

"Hey," I whisper softly, "…I'm sorry…I didn't mean to wake you."

"It's OK!" Derek presses a soft kiss to the exposed part of my shoulder where my T-shirt has slipped away and then I turn around to face him.

I love waking up like this.

He stares at me for a long moment and then a determined expression takes possession of his face. He slowly leans in, angling his mouth towards mine and I gasp for air as he claims my tongue. I softly moan as he pulls away after a long, passionate kiss. He sounds breathless as he says, "Did you ask me to marry you yesterday?"

"I did!"

"For a moment…I was afraid I'd been dreaming," Derek's smile becomes a tender, impertinent grin.

"I love you so much…," he whispers.

"I love you too," I murmur before leaning closer and kissing him again.

Derek's breathing really starts to quicken as he whispers, "I really need you, Meredith…you know?"

"Need me?"

He nods gravely, "Need and want you!"

I let out a ragged breath and swallow hard. The mere thought of Derek collapsing on me as we make love puts my stomach into knots but he wants it me and hey…I want him too!

"Crap." I sigh, but then a thought crosses my mind. Cristina. The thought has barely crossed my feverish mind before I quickly roll over and grab my cell from the nightstand. I hear Cristina's phone ring…once…twice…and then…click.

"Cristina?" I call, slightly embarrassed at how breathless my voice sounds.

"Mere…? Are you OK?"

"Yeah…," The line is silent for a few moments when I bite my bottom lip. What am I doing?

"Mere…what's going on?" Cristina demands.

I take a deep breath and then blurt out, "Can Derek and I…Can we have sex? I mean is he ready?"

"What…?" I can hear her snorting through the phone. I guess my question is so absurd it makes her laugh.

I let out a nervous giggle while Derek starts kissing my neck, "Cris…come on, I'm serious…very serious!"

"If you don't go at it as a pair of sex-crazed teenagers…," Cristina chuckles. "No Mere…serious. Derek passed his treadmill test with flying colors…if you're ready…he's ready too!"

"OK…thanks! Bye."

I toss my cell back on the nightstand before taking a deep breath and turning back to Derek, "She says you're ready!"

He smiles and shakes his head at me, "I am…but are you?"

I swallow hard and suddenly I am struck by a very, vivid mental image of myself wrapped in Derek's naked arms. It's making me itch and it's making me hot…and without further thought, I pull my T-shirt over my head. I stand before him without hesitation, my eyes clouded with nothing but the vision of making love.

Derek smiles at me, tenderness and excitement swirling in the depths of our gaze. God, he makes my knees weak.

"Time to rip off the band-aid," Derek whispers in my ear as he grabs my hand and pulls me to him. I inhale sharply and my body trembles involuntarily but I feel no inhibitions as I reach my arms out to touch him. I release one of the black buttons of his pajama shirt before setting to work on another. Derek simply watches me as I slowly unbutton his shirt. One more to go, I think. When I release the last button, Derek shrugs out of his shirt and tosses it to the floor. He stares at me for a moment before lowering his gaze to my only remaining piece of clothing; my panties. He trails one finger to the band of my panties, slipping it underneath the elastic band and pulling them down my thighs. I step out of them and Derek simply kicks them out of the way. I now stand naked before him but still without any hesitation.

"God…you're beautiful," Derek whispers before his hands leave me to get rid of his sweat pants. I watch his hands as he drops and steps out of them. In a blur his boxers are on the ground too and we stand before each other, completely naked.

I take a deep breath before I step forward and wrap my arms around his waist, craning my neck to look up at him, "Are you nervous?" I whisper.

He smiles a tiny smile, "A little."

"Me too…a little," I admit.

He smiles and leans in, slowly using his hand to cup my jawbone while his other hand slowly runs up my back digging into my hair at the base of my neck. His hand that grabs my hair pulls my head back and makes my lips vulnerable. I sigh and wet them and then Derek leans in and presses his lips to mine.

I feel his warm, moist lips and open my mouth automatically in response. Derek sighs as he pulls me closer until our bodies are pressed together.

We kiss. I remember…one night stand kisses, stolen kisses in the hallway…prom night kisses…post-it kisses, hmm…all so familiar.

At first our tongues are a little shy, greeting each other tentatively before his warm tongue slides fully into my mouth. We cling to each other, kisses turning hungrier as we let our fingers roam over naked flesh here and there. My nipples tingle as Derek moves my hair aside to plant his lips on the side of my neck. I run my hands over his chest, over his broad, smooth shoulders. The throbbing between my legs is already unbearable and we're barely beginning. Derek's hands slide around my waist and I can feel his slowly, growing erection. I notice he hasn't closed his eyes because he watches me…every flinch…every gasp…every moan…

I close my eyes as he slides his warm, soft hands up my stomach to cup my breasts and still…our mouths make love. Gently, I push my hands against his chest, pressing him onto our bed and supporting myself to hover over his body. I can smell him and I glance down at his erection; it fascinates me…its length, its straining hardness and my building desire for it. I gaze at Derek and lean over him, letting his hard length slide into my mouth. His fingers tangle deep into my hair as my tongue traces and tastes, every flick making him squirm and whisper my name. I softly flick my tongue against the soft flesh at the base and move my mouth up his shaft, leaving a trail of wetness behind. He's breathing hard now, moaning softly until I finally close my lips over the head of his erection, inciting a low groan.

"Oh God.…Meredith!"

I bob my head up and down for some time while caressing his base tenderly with one hand but then Derek pulls me up, needing my mouth again. In a blink of an eye, I'm lying on my back while he rises over me with a full, languid kiss, his flavor still lingering in my mouth.

If he lets go of me, his eyes are darkened with desire and he whispers against my lips, "My turn!"

My heart jumps in my chest. I was already wet before but now…seriously! Derek begins his quest down my body with his mouth open against my skin. His dark curls tickle my chin as he begins lavishing my already erect nipples with soft kisses, closing his mouth over them. Nudging…kissing, slowly leading a wet trail down my belly button, I remind myself to breathe.

Derek…hmm

Flicking his tongue against me, I moan and bite my lip, catching his head between my hands. He laps at me hungrily and I whimper with each stroke. I feel something pulsing deep inside me and time slows down. My eyes open to see Derek looking up at me as he finds the sweet bundle of nerves aching so badly for him. His tongue flicks over it and my fingers clutch at the sheets. Derek flicks his tongue in circles, sucks and nibbles. As he slowly pushes two of his long, slender fingers inside, I feel myself starting to spasm around them. I come with my back arched, stars exploding behind my eyelids and I can hardly breathe. I have no chance to savor the end of my first orgasm before he drives me into my second.

I won't survive…I just won't. This is too much.

Derek keeps pumping his fingers in and out, curling and reaching, rubbing and nibbling and for the third time, I'm a total goner…

"Derek," I moan desperately. "…Please?"

He slides up next to me and covers my mouth with his. My smell and taste are all over him as I kiss him back…deeply…hungrily…devouring…

"What do you say…shall we give it go?" Derek pants between kisses.

"I think we're ready," I whisper breathlessly into his ear. I push him down onto the bed and straddle his hips. Derek gasps as my hot wetness slips against his rock hard shaft. I smile and tenderly trace his jaw with my fingers. I hover over him and our foreheads meet. His hips shift under me and I know he's restless.

"I want you Derek," I say as I gently lift my hips and settle against his throbbing manhood. Derek slides his hands down my back, closing his eyes and sighing. My lips hover over Derek's and we breathe simultaneously. We both squirm as our flesh slides together. Derek pushes up and I reach down to guide him inside me…a little, and then…a little bit more until he's buried deep inside me.

I'm afraid to move while Derek's hands rest on my waist, gripping tightly as he lets out a slow breath.

I lift my hips up and then slowly grind them down, loving the hearty moans Derek lets out as we connect with each other…

He opens his eyes and looks into mine as we slowly work into a steady rhythm. His hard erection slides through my hot, silken flesh and I can't resist reaching down between us to find that sweet spot, he'd earlier teased so mercilessly. Derek groans as I touch myself and I feel him grow even larger inside me. His sits up and I lock my legs around him. We make love and kiss, our tongues dancing rhythmically as we're fused as one.

I start to come again…uncontrollably. Derek feels me pulling him deeper and groans loudly against my mouth. He pulls me tighter against him and thrusts hard into me as I climax. He kisses my shoulder and hisses my name through gritted teeth.

"Hmm…Meredith. God…oh…I'm…coming!"

Derek comes hard after me. I hug him tightly to me…and watch him as he pants with his eyes closed. As he opens them again, a smile curls his lips and he kisses me; his soft, blue eyes fully relaxed. Outside it starts raining and the wind has picked up. We both smile and gaze into each other's eyes.

"I guess…we did OK," Derek murmurs, pulling sweaty strands of hair back from my face.

"Not OK…excellent!" I nuzzle into his neck.

As much as I hate leaving our warm bed, I slip out to go to the bathroom. I gather my clothes and whisper softly, "I'm going to the bathroom to get cleaned up."

"OK…," Derek murmurs. "I'll shower after you."

I smile and look back at him. Derek's eyes are closed, his breathing deeper. Holding my clothes, I walk into the adjoining bathroom. A stolen glance over my shoulder reveals Derek deeply asleep…such a powerful man when he's awake but so much like a little boy when he's asleep…

To be continued in chapter 5