AN: This chapter is dedicated to Dragon Claymore and her speedo idea...Yellow Banana Hammock, FTW! Thanks so much for the reviews!...

Chapter 11

After Penelope disappeared through the doorway of the bathroom, Derek took a seat on the edge of the bed and let out a big breath. Damn, that little girl had it goin' on! He knew she didn't see it, but she embodied most of the characteristics of his dirtiest dreams—in his youth and now. Garcia was working that naughty teacher, old school movie bombshell thing, with luscious curves he wanted to sample and a mind filled with wickedly delicious promises she had yet to fulfill. And with that full, ripe mouth…Well, he was pretty certain phone wasn't the only good thing she gave!

Yet the parts, wonderful in themselves, didn't come close to the wonderful complete package he loved. It was her spirit and her heart that swept him away.

"Done!" she said, bounding through the doorway in a hot little pink number with a bright, matching pink flower in her hair.

Derek was rather shocked; Penelope's legs were bare. She almost always wore some kind of tights or leggings because she wasn't really fond of her legs. He couldn't understand why; they were a mile long in her high heeled sandals, with curvy calves and plump thighs meant for cradling a man.

By the time he got to her face again, she was biting her bottom lip and looked a touch worried. "Too short? I mean, my legs are pale, but I shaved, and-"

"They're perfect," he interrupted, standing up and walking over to her. If there was one thing he was going to cure this vacation, it was Penelope's disbelief in her own charms. "You're perfect…every inch of you."

"Aww, D! You're so good to me," she said happily, giving him a hug. Penelope giggled and wrinkled her nose. "And you're kinda stinky."

He kissed the top of her head and chuckled. "I'm hitting the shower."

She grinned. "Please do!"

Derek shut the door, turned the water on, and stripped naked before climbing into the shower. He closed his eyes and let the water pound on his shoulders and neck, rolling in rivulets down his back. There was a lingering scent of summery pears and a dash of sun kissed peaches in the humid bathroom air, scents that reminded him of his baby girl. He could feel his body stirring as he imagined her in there with him, soaping his back, her hard nipples brushing against his back whenever she stretched to wash his shoulders. He'd do so many things to her in that shower stall—making love against the wall all slippery and hot, sitting together in the tub with her legs wrapped around while he made slow, deep nudges, or fast and hard with her bent over while she held the faucet.

Or all three.

A wave of acute lust rolled over him, so strong it nearly knocked him off his feet. Oh, fuck…he wasn't going to make it. It had been forever since he'd jacked off—he wasn't in his prime anymore, as Penelope had so succinctly pointed out—he didn't need to do it as often. But now…

Quickly, he leaned against the wall and reached for his aching-

"Oh, Hot Stuff?" Penelope called from behind the bathroom door. "We have to go shopping."

Groaning, he let his hand drop to his side. Shopping…That was enough to knock his decadently filthy thoughts out of his head. Penelope and shopping meant hours at a mall, carrying bags like a pack mule and standing against the walls while she hunted through bargain racks for the perfect tutu to go over a pair of leggings.

"We do?" he responded, hoping he didn't sound too disappointed.

"You don't have to sound like you're walking to a guillotine, angelfish! I need to get a swimsuit," she answered.

Derek scrubbed his chest. "Is that all you're going to get?"

She didn't answer immediately. In fact, he had time to wash his abs and his legs.

"Baby Girl," he growled with warning as he soaped his right foot and hopped on the left. "What are you thinking?"

"Maybe a gift or two for Henry?" she said in a singsong voice. "I have to keep my best Godmother status."

"You already are," he answered, beginning to rinse off.

"And a few other gifts, too," she added. "Just a tetch more shopping. An itty bit. Itty."

Derek chuckled to himself as he shut the water off. He could see her holding her fingers up this miniscule amount to prove that she wasn't going to go hog wild. It wouldn't fool him if he saw her and it wasn't fooling her now.

He stepped out and wrapped a towel around his waist. "Okay, momma. "

"Really?" she cried happily.

Derek opened the door. "It's your vacation, too. You should get what you want."

As he'd hoped, Penelope stared at him, the water glistening on his chest, the tight white hotel towel wrapped around his hips. It was time to knock her off her feet a little bit.

He smirked at her when she met his glance again. "Like what you see?"

To his amazement, she waved a hand of dismissal. "Been there, seen that, silly."

He gaped at her.

"Don't just stand there. Get dressed, love muffin," she said with a wink. "I'm going to get a coffee refill for us."

And then she was out the door with a giggle…

Derek stood there for another second, and then he shook his head. He'd just been owned! So she wanted to play like that?

"Game on, Baby Girl," he murmured to himself with a grin. "Game on."

The mall they went to in Southern Miami looked a lot like every mall in Quantico, except more marble and palm trees for décor, but Penelope seemed to think they were original and exciting. She oohed and ahhed at everything in sight, even at the stores she usually frequented.

"But they're different here!" she'd explained. "Like falling in love with an old favorite all over again."

He'd winked at her and then tugged her into his arms. "Hey," he growled softly. "I'm an old favorite… gonna fall in love with me, too?"

For a moment, he felt her catch her breath and her eyes flashed with something, but then she blocked it off and giggled. "But, mon cher, I've always been in love with you."

Enough teasing. "Penelope—"

"Ooh! Sale!" she cried and ran off like a scared rabbit.

The entire time they shopped, Penelope avoided discussing anything serious. She would change the subject, or run off to something else, anything to not speak to him. It was obvious that she was afraid of something…

Was she afraid of loving him…or afraid she was going to have to let him down hard?

Grumbling to himself, Derek made his way with the bags in tow to the rounder she was standing at.

"How about this one?" she asked, taking out a decent looking blue one piece.

He shrugged. "Looks fine."

"Or this?" she asked, holding up a white swimsuit that was kind of boring for Penelope's standards. He told her so, and she put it back on the rack.

As she dug through, he looked, too, and found a hot pink string bikini. "How about this one, sweetness?"

Penelope looked up and blushed immediately. "Derek. That is no more than four triangles and some string."

He arched a definitive brow."Your point being…?"

"Okay…if I wear that, you wear this!" She cackled as she tossed a yellow speedo-style racing bikini at him.

He shrugged. "Okay. Get the suit."

Her eyes widened in panic. "Oh, no. No no no, Hot Stuff! Please…"

"Oh, yes, angel. I, for one, want to see your gorgeous ass in that little bikini," he answered and then shot over his shoulder as he turned away, "You made your bed; you sleep in it."

"How about I try it on just for you?" she pleaded quickly.

That made him halt, and smile. "Deal."

She pointed at the little yellow banana hammock he was holding. "You try the speedo on, too!"

"All right," he answered. "Me first."

With bags in tow, Derek and Penelope made their way to the unisex changing room in the department store. It was meant for families with small kids, but it was getting put to good use this way. Of course, he could think of other good uses for that room, but that was for later.

Within seconds, Derek had stripped, donned the bikini and snorted at himself in the mirror. This was designed for men far smaller than he was; his junk barely fit in the front pouch. It was tight in his ass, too, which made him wonder if he needed to do a few more squats with his next workout.

He opened the door and stepped outward. "Well….what do you think?"

A series of reactions—not all flattering—happened next. Penelope gaped, turned bright red, and then began to giggle uncontrollably.

"Oh, Derek!" she squealed with mirth. "It's so…so…cheesy!"

He frowned, getting ready to go back in, but she stopped him. "Oh, no, sweet cheeks…" she glanced down at his butt and then blushed again "literally and figuratively."

"Garcia—"

"You, my gorgeous love bug, look positively edible, but no one—no one—rocks a neon yellow banana hammock."

"Edible, huh?"

She nodded, looking him over like a starving woman. "I'd eat you up… and then I'd lick my fingers to savor the aftertaste."

He laughed low in his throat. "Stop, woman, or this speedo will no longer fit."

"Get dressed," she answered, and when he turned, she slapped him on his partially bare butt.

A moment later, Penelope was in the dressing room with her raspberry bikini. He heard her rustling around as she was dressing.

A woman entered the room next to Penelope and her spouse came to stand by him. The man sat against the wall the same way Derek was, and he had his bags in front of him, just like Derek, too.

"Hey," he said.

"Hey," Derek replied. He'd been through this multiple times with Penelope and met several other bored husbands/boyfriends.

"Wife's trying on jeans," the man said.

"Swimsuits," Derek replied. He didn't bother to clarify Penelope's status with him; he'd never see this guy again, anyway.

The woman came out in a pair of jeans far too tight for her larger bottom. "How do I look, Tom?"

"Great, Andrea," the man replied with a smile.

His wife beamed and reentered the dressing room.

Tom chuckled and whispered to Derek, "What else am I going to say? Like I'd be fool enough to say her ass looks like Connecticut in those pants?"

Derek found himself not liking Tom quickly after that...

The door to Penelope's dressing room opened and she stepped out and took his breath away for the second time that day.

Covered in the bikini, she was as exquisite as he'd dreamed she'd be. Her breasts were held high by those tiny triangles, revealing sweet, milky white flesh he wanted to dive between and never resurface. Her softly rounded belly led down to her cotton panties, with the strategically placed triangle there.

"Oh, sweetheart," he said hoarsely, and found that he needed to swallow. He was drooling somewhat, and he didn't even care. He stood and stepped closer, wanting to touch her. "You look gorgeous."

"Too much me, too little suit," she said, but blushed from the praise. "So I am not going to get it, but thank you."

He shook his head, reached for her hand and made her piroutte. Giving a low whistle, he said, "I need my camera, if this is the only time I see this."

Still blushing, she giggled and looked away. "Well, mon coeur, do not fret: You will see far more beach bunnies with beach ready bodies on the boat wearing even less."

"What if I told you I don't want to see the beach bunnies?"

For a moment, she looked like a startled doe, her eyes large and bewildered. "What?"

"Hey, nice suit," the wife said, interrupting them. She scoped Penelope up and down with a withering gaze and had a slight sneer on her face.

She and her spouse were a matching pair.

Next to her stood Tom, who looked like the big bad wolf with his tongue nearly hanging out of his mouth. He was oggling Penelope so much, it made Derek rethink the idea of a bikini. Immediately, Derek had stepped in front of Penelope to shield her from view, although it wasn't necessary—Andrea had dragged her letch of a husband away… and Penelope had already disappeared from view.