Later that evening, after dinner, Meredith was heading towards her room, her skirts rustling in the quiet hallway. Her thoughts wandered to Derek, wondering what he was doing. A small smile tugged at her lips, thinking of their afternoon tryst. She rounded the corner, bumping into someone. "Oh! You startled me," she gasped, as his strong hands steadied her. She looked up into Derek's face, and she relaxed.

He was still dressed from dinner, but his shirt was open at the collar, his sleeves rolled up. "I was looking for you," he said, pulling her closer, and dropping a soft kiss on her lips.

"Derek!" she protested, looking around quickly to make sure no one else was in the hallway with them.

"Come with me," he said, taking her hand and pulling her along with him.

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see," he said, winking at her.

Meredith laughed softly, and let him lead the way, recognizing the route they were taking to his suite. As they entered, one of the maids was just leaving. "All ready, m'lord," she said, bobbing her head and disappearing.

"Excellent. Come, Meredith," he said, as they went through to the dressing room next to his bedroom. She looked around in delight as he put his arms around her, standing behind her. A huge claw foot tub, filled with fragrant hot water, sat by the fireplace, where a small fire blazed. Candles flickered around the room, casting a warm glow. "I couldn't resist – I thought we could use that bath after all." He kissed her neck, and she shivered.

"It looks heavenly," she sighed. Heavenly decadent, she amended to herself, surveying the inviting pile of thick towels warming by the fire.

"We should get in before it cools," he murmured, letting her go. He moved in front of her and started to remove his waistcoat. Meredith watched him, struck again by his beauty – almost unbearably so in the warm light of the fire. He dropped the waistcoat to the wing chair, and started on his shirt. He looked at her, one elegant brow raised. "Do you wish to help me, then?"

She moved closer to him, putting her hands on his and finishing opening the buttons. She tugged it free of his trousers, and smoothed it off his shoulders. Her fingers traced the definition of his chest, the strong pectoral muscles, his shoulders, and down his biceps. He let her set the pace, helping only when she fumbled with the fastenings to his pants. His eyes closed briefly as her fingers feathered across his taut belly, and across his cock. He kicked away the clothing, standing nude, his cock already erect, the firelight playing along his sculpted body.

Derek reached for her then, helping her with the tiny buttons and pushing material out of the way, until she stood in her stockings. He carefully rolled them down her shapely legs, pressing a hot kiss to her knees. When he stood up again, his eyes burned into her, desire raw and urgent in his expression. It reduced them in that moment to just a man and a woman, united in their desire for each other. There was no lord and commoner – just Derek and Meredith.

He scooped her up easily and carried her to the tub. Steam rose invitingly as he lowered her to the water. Meredith welcomed the heated water on her skin as it covered her body. Her hair trailed behind her, as she tipped her head back.

"It's perfect," she said, holding out her hand to him. He stepped in with her, and sat down opposite her. With a soft groan of pleasure, he ran his wet hands over his hair, slicking it off his face. Water droplets clung to the dark curls on his chest invitingly. Waves rose and fell in the tub as he shifted, teasing her nipples into aching peaks. He picked up the soap with a lazy grin.

"Now, for what I have been thinking of all evening – washing every part of your luscious body." He worked up a frothy lather, sliding closer to her. Meredith closed her eyes, as he stroked her shoulders, and around her breasts, his sure fingers massaging her skin. He left no part of her upper body untouched, until she was tingling and aching for more.

"Your turn," she said softly, taking the soap from him. She ran her hands over his chest, feeling his nipples harden under her touch. Water splashed over the edge of the tub as she slid even closer, and he pulled her onto his lap. She trailed soap down his back, admiring the strength of his shoulders, the perfect way his torso tapered down to his waist. Her breasts slid across his chest, and he wrapped his arms around her.

"Ah, but you're a lovely woman, Meredith," he whispered hotly, claiming her lips for a sweet kiss. His cock rose up between them, hard against her belly. "But I'm not finished washing you, love. Stand up for me."

Meredith placed her hands on his shoulders, and rose up out of the water. His soapy hands stroked her legs, her sweet pink lips and across her clit. Water ran down her legs, as he rinsed the soap from her. She moaned in bliss, as he put his mouth to her, seeking her clit. His tongue invaded her, licking and sucking until she felt she would faint from the intense rush of pleasure. His hands gripped her tightly, as she rocked against his mouth. Wordless little sounds spilled from her lips as she climaxed again and again. Her fingers wrapped in his dark hair as her body was wracked with heat and ecstasy. Her legs felt rubbery, and she clung to him, as he let her down into the water carefully. Tiny shocks continued to fire through her, as she recovered, resting against him.

"I believe I am not finished with you, either," she said, still somewhat breathless.

The fire crackled in the grate, and the cozy room was their temporary oasis. Nothing else mattered at that moment, but the two of them. Never in her life had Meredith felt so wantonly blissful, so wrapped up in the heat that surrounded them. Derek had this amazing ability to make her feel wild and free of inhibitions, while at the same time giving her the confidence and protection of his presence. She knew her affection for him was growing with each moment they spent together, her heart falling under his spell. If it was only for a short time, so be it, she thought. She would enjoy it while she could.

Derek slid his hands through her wet hair, tangling in the strands, as she raised her face to him. Her eyes shone with warmth, her smile full of promise. She pressed her lips to his softly, her tongue playing along his lip seductively.

"I must return the favor now," Meredith said, her voice husky, finally breaking the kiss. She picked up the soap. "Will you stand for me, Derek?"

"I will do anything you ask, love," he told her, gripping the edge of the tub and standing up. The water cascaded off his lean body, his cock jutting out hard and swollen. She knelt before him, placing her tiny hands on him, circling him with the soap, tracing the length of him. "Your touch is damnably arousing," he said, his voice rough.

Meredith smiled to herself, keenly aware of her own arousal. The knowledge that she was able to excite him so much only added to her desire to please him. She made sure to draw out the moment, stroking him, and massaging his balls in her fingers. The lather frothed around him, as she traced the veins and ridges on him, playing and teasing him. Then she cupped her hands and dripped water over him to rinse the foamy lather away. Small rivulets trickled along his thighs and dripped off the length of him. His skin gleamed wetly in the firelight, and he felt the relief of cool air against his heated flesh, as the water evaporated from his body.

Peeking up at him through her lashes, Meredith gauged his reaction as she took him into her mouth, swirling her tongue across the engorged head. He tasted of clean water, and a hint of his cum, as she tantalized him. Letting him slide wetly in and out of her lips, until he started to shake. Then she let him slide out completely, grasping him in her hand, and putting her tongue to his thigh, and up to his balls, licking them one by one delicately. "Sweet girl…" he groaned, thrusting against her. She took him in her mouth again, her fingers stroking the taut curve of his rump, feeling his muscles tensing as his cock swelled and throbbed. "I want you…" he gasped, "I want to fuck your sweet pussy, Meredith…now…"

Meredith let him trail out of her lips, his cum already seeping from him, the head of his cock taut. The demanding urgency in his voice sent a hot thrill to her core, as he sank down into the water, pulling her down onto him. The sudden movement sent a tidal wave of water over the edge of the tub, splashing everything around it, snuffing out some of the nearby candles. Derek placed his hands on her ass, as she spread her legs wide, the water still swirling around them wildly. "Take me, Derek…" she cried out, as he drove up into her. His head went back, a guttural growl of pure masculine lust ripping through him.

Meredith let her own head fall back, her breasts arching out towards him, her nipples rosy and hard, water streaming down her chest. The waves still rose and fell around them as he pumped into her, churning the water into even more frenzy. His hands supported her back, as he bent to take one of her nipples between his teeth, tugging at the sensitive nub of flesh until she was boneless with pleasure. His cock throbbed and pounded, and she squeezed around it, her own climax starting to crest. Her hair flew around her face, as she thrashed her head from side to side, bracing herself on his muscular thighs.

He penetrated her as deeply as possible, her velvet walls surrounding him tightly, as he continued to tease and nibble and at her breasts. Each thrust made her wetter, made her wilder. He lifted his eyes to watch her – her eyes filled with a glow of lust and heat and trust. "Harder, Derek…I want you harder…" she moaned, reaching a hand to her clit, rubbing herself into further abandonment.

Derek couldn't stop then, his cock ready to explode, buried as far as he could go, trying to hang onto her as she bucked. His body went tight and rigid, as the orgasm slammed into him, from his balls to his cock and spilling hotly into her. Meredith screamed and dug her nails into his legs, shuddering and crying his name. He closed his eyes and they clung together, almost faint - the water slowly subsiding around them. Her pussy still clenched and tugged at him, making him shudder.

Meredith took a shaky breath, as they stared at each other, sated and dizzy. His hair had fallen back across his forehead, and his eyes were dark and liquid with satisfaction. He flicked his hair out of his eyes, smiling at her, stroking her face softly. "Come, love, we need to get out of here now."

He shifted her off his lap, getting to his feet first, and stepping over the edge, onto the floor. Picking up one of the towels, he wrapped her in it, and picked her up, setting her down in front of the fire. Then he carefully rubbed another towel over her hair, running his hands through it to pull some of the tangles out. "Wait here, let me get a brush for you." Meredith swayed slightly, as he disappeared, her whole body still quivering. Then he was back, another towel tied around his hips, and he sat down in the wing chair, settling her on his lap. With great tenderness, he worked the brush through her hair, easing all the snarls out, until it was smooth and soft around her face. Meredith gave herself up to his touch, his gentle hands soothing her.

"How is it you are so good with a woman's hair?" she asked sleepily, briefly jealous at the thought he may have done this for other women in his past. There was something very intimate about it.

"Do not forget how many sisters I have," he replied, finally putting the brush down and pulling her against his chest. He kissed the top of her head as she snuggled against him. "Let's go to bed, my love. You need sleep."

Meredith didn't protest as he picked her up again, carrying her to his bed. As they snuggled in under the cool bedding, her eyes fluttered shut, and her breathing slowed. Before Derek drifted to sleep himself, his only thought was of cherishing her – she meant more to him in the short time they had been intimate than he dreamed possible. "Sweet dreams, my love," he whispered, brushing his lips across her temple.