Derek finally propped himself up, smiling softly down at Meredith. She put her fingers to his lips, tracing the outline, as if putting it to memory. His lips - so sinfully sensual, capable of kissing her so passionately or with exquisite tenderness. She wanted to treasure these moments, to remember later. He captured her hand, and kissed her fingers.
"I told Kate I would behave as a perfect gentleman on our ride," he laughed, his wonderful blue eyes dark with passion still. "Do you think I held to my promise?"
"Well, I would have to say you were perfect," she said, hiding her face against his chest. "But I don't think she would agree with me. I fear she would not be pleased to know we are here like this."
"She also said you intrigue me, and that is why I'm interested in you. My sister knows me quite well. You do intrigue me, Meredith. Where did you come from before my mother found you?"
"Oh, here and there, I'm not so fascinating," she said softly.
"I disagree, I think you have many fascinating secrets to share with me…what are your other skills? Do you play piano? Do you sing?"
"M'lord…Derek…truly I have nothing of interest to tell you. I have no family left, my mother is dead and I never knew my father. I have had to survive as best I can." She shrugged lightly, and Derek could see the pain in her expression.
"I'm so sorry, Meredith."
Derek had a sudden urge to protect her from everything – he wanted to be the one she confided her secrets to, the one she ran to for comfort. It was nothing like what he had felt for any other woman before. This tiny woman with her sweet nature mesmerized him. He gathered her closer to him, kissing her eyelids softly, raining little kisses down her cheek and across her lips. "I can't believe that no man has asked for your hand in marriage, sweet girl. Have you never been in love?"
Meredith laughed softly. "I haven't allowed myself that luxury, it only leads to heartache, from what I've seen. Have you allowed yourself to fall in love, Derek? Doesn't your mother want her only son wedded, with babes on the way?"
"I thought I was in love, but she betrayed me. When I think back on it, I do not know anymore what even attracted me to the woman. I believe it was for the best that I discovered her promiscuity before it was too late. "
"Would you allow yourself to fall in love again? Can you believe in someone again?"
Derek took a breath, tightening his arms around her. "How can I not, with someone like you in my arms?"
Meredith's heart jumped at his words, trying to make sense of what he just said. It couldn't be, could it?
"Derek…"
"Hush, love, we have time for talk later. We should enjoy this time we have right now," he murmured, pulling her closer again. Meredith pressed her hands against his shoulders, kissing his throat, and down his chest, tasting the salt of his sweat on his hot skin. He let her ease him onto his back, throwing his arms out with a chuckle. "Have your way with me, my love. I'm all yours," he said suggestively, his erection hard and proud, demanding her attention.
Meredith sat up beside him, and picked up the little pot of melted chocolate, now extremely sticky from the heat, and with a suggestive smile of her own, dipped her fingers into it. First she licked her finger, moaning at the rich taste of the chocolate, as he watched her. "You do quite well at teasing me, Meredith," he growled in frustration.
"Ah, so you think I should be putting the chocolate somewhere else then?" She eyed his cock, and then dabbed some of it on him, stroking him softly, along his shaft, and around the head. "Is this better?"
"Only if you lick it off…" He closed his eyes in anticipation, waiting for her. Then her tongue was on him, swirling around, stroking up and down, as she licked him clean. The taste of his cum mingled with the sweet, satin taste of chocolate, as she bent over him, lapping up the juice from him. She cupped his balls, and squeezed him, as he thrust upwards. He was warm and wide against her tongue, throbbing and pulsing. His whole body quaked with lust, feeling the heat of the sun and the heat of his passion, combined with the sweet erotic pull of her mouth on him.
"Meredith, god…wait…I want to be inside of you again, come here, love…" He pulled her towards him, so that she straddled him, her hair in wild abandon around her face, a smudge of chocolate on her upper lip. In one fluid movement, he thrust himself up into her, gripping her hips, and pumping deeply. She moved with him, seeking their rhythm, matching his thrusts until she started to lose focus, the world spinning away as she cried his name out over and over. She pulsed around his cock, until he cried out with her, losing himself into her.
"Sweet god, Meredith…" He threw his head back, his chest heaving. She sank down onto his chest, resting her cheek against him, hearing his heart pounding reassuringly.
"We should probably go soon," he said finally. "Kate will wonder what I've done with you."
Meredith sighed, knowing they had to go back, but not wanting to move. It had been a perfect afternoon, and she didn't want it to end. The shadows were lengthening as he finally helped her up, and they dressed in silence, packing up the saddlebags. Meredith tugged her hair, trying to pull some of the tangles out it, knowing it was hopeless. As Derek stepped up beside her to help her mount the horse, he wrapped his hands in her hair and lowered his head to kiss her again, a deep, hot kiss, full of promise. "You are very special, sweet girl," he said, rubbing his thumb across her swollen lip. "You truly have bewitched me, you know." With that, he let her go, and helped her up onto Mistral. He swung up onto Satan, and they cantered slowly back to Gracewood Manor in the deepening twilight.
Meredith slipped off of Mistral tiredly, feeling achingly aware of her muscles, both from the ride, and the vigorous sexual activity. She was yawning, as she handed the filly over to John. "Ye must have had a good ride," John commented, with a wink. "It was a good sunny day to be outside, ma'am." Meredith blushed, not sure if he was implying anything, but she decided she was being overly sensitive.
"It was indeed," Derek said, from behind her as he approached with Satan in tow. A stable boy appeared to take Mistral, as John took charge of the stallion. Taking Meredith's arm, Derek guided her out of the stables, and they headed back towards the manor. "You look like you could use a nice, hot bath, my dear," he said softly, as they walked through the courtyard.
"Oh, that does sound like heaven, but I really should sit with the boys while they have dinner. They are far too mischievous to leave alone, and your sister prefers me to stay with them. I will have to bathe later."
"That is unfortunate, love," he said, pulling her into his arms, in the shelter of a huge oak tree. "I was looking forward to washing away any of that chocolate that might be lingering on your skin."
She looked up at him, smiling softly. "I thought you licked every trace of that from me," she teased, smoothing the fabric of his shirt with her fingertips. "As I did from you…."
He brushed his lips across hers, igniting the flame of passion in her again with the brief kiss. "I may have missed a speck here or there," he murmured. His lips moved down her throat, feeling the wild beat of her pulse beneath his lips. His hands rested intimately on her hips, pressing her against him. For a few moments, they kissed slowly and sensuously, lost to everything but the touch of their lips. Reluctantly, they broke apart and walked slowly towards the archway that marked the main entrance, talking softly.
They parted at the foyer, and Meredith hurried up to change her clothes and brush her hair, in order to make it to the children's rooms to have dinner. Derek watched her run lightly up the stairs, waiting until she was out of sight, before heading to his own suite. As he headed briskly down the hall, his boots ringing on the flooring, his thoughts were consumed with Meredith, and he didn't realize his sister was waiting for him in the chair by the window until he was throwing his shirt off. "Kate!" he said in surprise. "What are you doing here? I was going to meet you as soon as I cleaned up. I smell of horses."
She sat with her arms crossed, her small foot tapping on the floor. "Is that all you smell of?" she asked. "You and Miss Grey were gone far too long for a simple ride."
"Kate…."
"I saw the two of you coming back from the stable. You were far too intimate with her. Are you fucking her?"
"Such language, Kate. If our mother heard you, she would not be pleased with you," Derek said lightly.
"Are you?"
"If I am, it's none of your concern, sister dear."
"I don't want you to hurt her. You should be looking for a wife, Derek, now that Addison has proved to be unsuitable, not bedding my governess! She doesn't need you to toss her aside when you are tired of her." Kate got up and paced back and forth.
Derek sat on the bed and tugged his boots off. "You would prefer me to wed some silly young society girl, who doesn't love me? You loved William, didn't you?" He regretted his harsh words when tears filled her eyes at the mention of her dead husband. "I'm sorry, Kate. Meredith has become very special to me, and I do not intend to hurt her. You have my word on that. And if, and when, I marry, it will be for love. That much I can tell you."
"That's very romantic of you, my brother." Kate sighed and walked over to him. "Well, you can explain that to our mother when she arrives. She sent a messenger to let us know she is heading out to stay with us for a while. She wants to talk to you about finding a wife. Does she know why you are not marrying Addison?"
"Good god," Derek sighed, raking his hand through his hair. "No, I could hardly explain that to her."
"Addison always got along well with Mother. She may very well have been spinning a tale of sorrow to gain sympathy. You need to explain the entire situation, or you may find yourself in an unfortunate tangle. You know how stubborn Mother can be." She kissed Derek on the cheek. "Now, clean up and I'll meet you for dinner. You do smell of horses…" She paused, and sniffed delicately. "…and strangely, of chocolate…"