Chapter 6
AN: Thanks for reading this little story and thanks for the reviews, alerts, and favorites. You are all so tremendously good to me…..
Penelope knew this may be the most important thing she ever had happen in her life. She drew a breath, a massive breath, to fortify herself for the next action she was about to take. She didn't want to screw this up; there was too much at stake between them. It didn't matter if Tamara was there or not, she needed to tell him how she felt. Now.
"Derek, I need you to know something," she began.
"Okay, sweetheart."
He was looking at her, all of his attention focused on her. She looked into his warm, inquisitive eyes and felt strangely calm.
She continued. "I love you. I think I may have loved you forever. I've loved you like a best friend forever, for sure, and you know me better than anyone on this earth. I think I know you better than anyone, too."
"You do."
She looked at him again and her heart started to race again. He was observing her expectantly, with even more curiosity. He smiled at her, gently encouraging.
She gave him a tremulous smile and continued. "I understand you and I love you, for what you are everyday and who you are. I know you, Hot Stuff, more than anyone. And I love what I know and what I see."
"I love you, too, Baby Girl."
"No, not like that." She shook her head. "See, I love you more!" The panic started raising in her voice, trying to say what she meant and fumbling over her words. "I want…. I mean, not like we always said it, but trying for more. I want… I mean, I want to see if it is right, if I…."
He stood closer to her, cupping her face in his hands. His thumbs brushed against her cheeks, gently soothing. "What do you want, baby girl?"
She looked into his warm, dark eyes, and the fear in her heart dissipated. She turned her face and kissed his palm. "I want more, Derek."
He waited just a moment before leaning down to brush her lips with his. It was a soft, gentle peck against her mouth. He did that again and her eyes closed, feeling the smooth warmth of his lips.
He lifted his head and her eyes fluttered open. He looked down at her, smiled, and started to kiss her in earnest.
His lips covered hers and he moved his hands down to her waist, molding her body to his. His lips played with hers, seeking, testing her response. She gave back fully to the heat and teasing of his mouth.
Oh, my stars, she thought. She'd been kissed before, numerous times by many different men, but this, this was a kiss. She started to feel hot, flushed, dizzy. She reached her hands up to his arms and felt the strength in his biceps. It added to the all out devastating appeal of his kiss.
The pressure of his mouth grew more urgent. He wasn't gentle anymore, but he wasn't rough either. The best words to describe his kisses were delicious and arousing. She knew then… no, she knew the moment his lips touched hers, she could kiss him forever.
Her head tipped back and she opened her mouth, encouraging deepening the kiss. She wanted more, so much more. His tongue touched the inside of her lips and she shuddered at the sensation. Her knees felt weak and she tingled. A low throb began in her core and she moaned against his mouth.
She didn't feel so bad about getting so lost in the kiss. He was moaning, too, just as loudly.
Derek held her tighter against his chest; she felt nearly balanced on him. The pressure of his mouth decreased and she let out a sigh of pleasure. He gave gentle little pecks to her mouth, before finally lifting his head.
He smiled down at her, his eyes dark and hot. "Does this sufficiently do for 'more' right now?"
He was teasing, she could tell.
She looked back at him. "Yes. That'll do."
"I tried texting you," he said, his hands cupping her face, his thumb brushing over her bee stung lips. "You didn't answer."
"I was on my way here."
He kissed her again, softly, simply because he had had to. "I was going to head to your place. I needed to end something so I could start fresh."
"The date?" she asked, her heart warm.
He nodded. "I needed to tell her goodbye in person. I knew after Saturday I wanted to try this with all my heart." He gave her a huge grin. "I was going to woo the pants off of you."
"No reason to woo," she grinned back, a twinkle in her eye. "They'll come off easy enough."
"You are so naughty." He laughed, then kissed her one more time. "One of the many reasons I love you."
She smiled. "You wouldn't have me any other way."
"Thank you, baby girl."
She looked curiously at him. "For what?"
"For loving me, exactly the way I love you." He pulled her into his arms and began to kiss her again. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him back, showing him this time exactly where he belonged.