Hot.
It was hot. Along her back. Almost furnace-like.
Sleepily, Meredith tried to shift but the weight across her waist prevented it.
Huh?
Nose itch.
Straddling the line between slumber and consciousness, Meredith's brain sent her hand a signal to scratch. But the hand wouldn't move. Slowly cracking open an eye, Meredith tried to focus on her hand. It looked different. More fingers. Manly fingers. A man's hand?
"Morning." The word was whispered into her ear.
Meredith smiled. Only one person could send shivers through her with a single word. A single touch.
"Itch."
"Hmmm?" Derek muttered, pulling Meredith closer.
Meredith tried moving her hand to demonstrate. "My nose itches and I can't reach it."
She felt his chuckle before it reached her ear. Derek moved their joined hands toward Meredith's face, and she rubbed them over her nose. Meredith kissed his palm before returning their hands, still joined, to the bed.
"So how did you end up here?"
"Hmmm?"
Meredith tightened her grip on his hand. "How did you end up in my bed?"
Derek smiled. "Well, once upon a time, I was at Joe's wearing my good-looking red shirt..."
Meredith shifted around to face Derek, resting her hands against his chest. She could feel the steady beating of his heart. "I really don't want to think about Joe's right now."
Derek rested his lips against her forehead. "I'm sorry."
"So…?"
Derek yawned. "Izzie pulled me out of a surprisingly sound sleep early this morning to read me the riot act. I was afraid she'd come back, or Alex would be next, so I hoped I could hide out with you."
"Morning breath." Meredith frowned.
"Huh?"
"You have morning breath." She pushed Derek away from her. "Go scrape your teeth."
Groaning, and still wearing his clothing from last night, Derek rolled out of bed and headed toward the bathroom. His hair sticking out in all directions. "Am I coming back?"
His question seemed to have more than one meaning. "Yes, you can come back."
Missing Derek's body heat, Meredith snuggled under the comforter and listened to the sound of running water coming from the bathroom. As surprised as she was to wake up in Derek's arms this morning, it felt so damn good. Yawning and stretching, Meredith closed her eyes.
"I've really missed this." Derek's minty-fresh breath tickled her ear as he settled back into bed, pulling Meredith against him. Tucking her hair behind her ear, Derek rested his head against hers. She absently noted that Derek had shed his clothing, wearing only his boxers as his bare muscular leg found its way between hers.
"Me too," Meredith admitted. The feeling of being enveloped by Derek, nestled in his arms, was indescribable. It was all encompassing but not overwhelming.
"Derek," Meredith signed.
"Hmmm," He nuzzled her hair.
She giggled. That seemed to be Derek's favorite noise this morning.
"I hope you're not expecting any sex right now." Meredith's backside moved gently against his erection.
"That's not helping."
Meredith turned around and pressed a kiss against his stubbled jawline.
"That's not helping either."
"I'm sorry," She giggled again. "I'm trying to use my words with you. I can't help it if my body gets in the way."
"I don't mind if your body gets in the way…" Derek lowered his head, intending to take Meredith's soft pink lips in toe-curling kiss but her hand blocked his path.
"Derek. Just because we talked about last night doesn't mean I'm over what happened. Seeing you, and her, I don't know if you realize how much that upset me." Meredith leaned back a little to look into Derek's blue eyes. "How would you feel if you saw me drunk and making nice with the guy next to me? Leaning? Smiling? Silencing your phone calls?"
Derek looked at Meredith, seeing the pain in her grey-green gaze with a clear mind. What he wouldn't give to undo everything and wipe the anguish from her soul. He knew seeing Meredith with someone would be the equivalent of what she was feeling times a thousand. It would make the agony Derek felt in seeing a wet Meredith at Finn's that night seem like a walk in the park.
"I know saying 'I'm sorry' isn't enough. What else can I do?"
Meredith drew in a slow, deliberate breath and slowly exhaled. "I don't know. I think I just need a little time and space."
Derek frowned sharply at Meredith's use of the word "space."
"Space?"
"I mean sexual space." Meredith slid her hands up Derek's chest to cup his face. "I just can't be intimate with you right now. I keep seeing you and her."
Derek relaxed a little. "So we're still…us?"
"We're still us." Meredith nodded. "And I know we still need to talk but after…"
Derek's growling stomach interrupted Meredith, reminding Derek of how long since it had been since his last meal.
"Sounds like someone needs some food," Meredith giggled.
Derek chuckled. Her giggle drove him to grab Meredith for a quick kiss before he rolled out of bed.
Meredith watched as Derek pulled on his jeans. Seeing him standing next to her bed in his blue jeans, top button undone, and his bare chest had Meredith wondering about taking sexual space. He grinned sheepishly.
"Yeah, I think the last time I had anything was a salad at lunch yesterday. It was a long day."
Meredith pulled back the comforter and got out of bed. Donning a pair of sweatpants with her t-shirt, Meredith grabbed Derek's hand and led him from the room.
"Come on, I think we still have some cold pizza in the fridge."
"That almost sounds appetizing," Derek paused. "I can't believe I just said that."
"Wow, you really must be hungry," Meredith laughed.