"Please, come in, Derek," Erin said softly, smiling at the man. He grinned at her as he entered her house, slipping off his shoes at the door. "We're glad you're here." Her words sounded stilted and forced, and she tried to smile wider, to let him know she really was happy that he had joined them.
"Well, when Penelope told me I'd be getting a home cooked meal, I couldn't resist." He gave her cheek a quick peck before shrugging off his jacket and hanging it up. "Speaking of my Baby Girl, where is she?"
"Most likely in the dining room, setting the table. Follow me." She turned on her heel and began to walk away, only to have him come up to her side. "You wouldn't get lost in my house. It's not large enough."
"You're nervous."
It shouldn't have surprised her that he had been able to pick up on her mood, he was a good profiler, after all, but still, she stiffened. Nodding, she glanced over at him and saw how relaxed he was. Stopping, she turned to look at him. "You're too okay with this. That makes me nervous."
"As long as Penelope is happy, I don't care who she's seeing. Well, I take that back. If you were a serial killer, then I would have problems with her seeing you. But you're not, you're just our boss." He slung his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. The casual affection was disconcerting, but she assumed that was just part of his persona outside work. "And are you happy?"
She thought for a moment as they walked into the dining room. Penelope looked up at them, a wide grin on her face, and she instantly knew her answer. "Yes. Very much so."
He nodded and she stepped away from him to take her seat on Penelope's right side. "Are we all ready to eat?" she asked before placing a quick kiss on Erin's cheek.
"I am starving." He looked at Erin as he took his seat across from her. "Penelope told me that I get to experience your home-cooked meatloaf. I haven't had a good meal like this in a long time." His smile caused her to blush a little and Penelope giggled a little, reaching out for her hand.
Clasping it, she squeezed tightly before letting go and slicing off a few pieces for them. "Would you like the heel or more of the middle?" she asked.
"The heel will be fine," he replied as he held out his plate. Once they all had food, Erin tucked in, taking small bites as her stomach fluttered nervously. Her eyes kept darting between Penelope and Derek, and both of them smiled at her.
Their conversation seemed so halting to her ears and she tried to sound more upbeat. It was so fake, though, and she felt her lip wobble a little. "What's wrong, Erin?"
"I don't want this to be so fake, so forced. I want to be liked and like your friends. And I think I'm failing miserably." She dropped her fork onto the table and swiped at her eyes. "I hate being so overwrought." Pushing away from the table, she rushed out to the living room, wanting some space to pull herself back together.
Thumping down on the sofa, she pulled one of the throw pillows to her chest and cried her heart out. It didn't take long for the sofa to dip on both sides of her, one set of arms tugging her close to a soft body, the other set coming to rest around her shoulders and on her knee. "You don't need to try so hard, pretty lady. I already like and respect you for your strength and determination."
Derek's sweet words lifted a little of the uneasiness from her heart and she smiled against Penelope's chest. "Thank you, Derek."
"Anytime." His large hand tightened around her knee and she felt reassured by the touch. Sitting up, she pushed both their arms off her and sighed contentedly. "That sounds a lot better than before. Now, how did you and Penelope end up together? No matter how much I bugged her today, she wouldn't spill the story."
Erin looked over at her girlfriend and smiled. "We actually came together over our similar baskets of strange fruit. The experience left us…of one mind, you could say." She reached over for Penelope's hand, threading their fingers together. "I find myself a little overwhelmed at how quickly I've fallen under her spell."
"She has that effect on people, Erin." He grinned lazily at them and then stretched. "Well, I am going to leave you two lovely ladies now. Have a good evening." He stood and then leaned down to kiss first Penelope's cheek and then hers.
After he'd left the room, Erin snuggled in close to Penelope, resting her head on her shoulder. "Sorry I freaked out on you tonight. I just want everything to be perfect, I guess. I don't want to disappoint you."
"Hey, I'm going to disappoint you at times, and we're going to get through each of those times. It's not like we're going to be perfect all the time. Though I did do something good today. I found a seamstress who should be able to fix your blouse. It won't be completely as it was, but you can wear it once more."
Quick tears stung Erin's eyes, and she lifted her head to kiss Penelope's jaw. "I love you," she whispered against her skin, making certain her words were too faint for the other woman to hear, not certain if they were ready to exchange such permanent feelings. She wasn't certain if she should be feeling something like that so quickly, especially after Dave had treated her so shabbily.
"I'm falling in love with you, too, Erin." Gasping lightly, she pulled back and looked into her lover's warm brown eyes. "You don't have to keep your feelings bottled up with me. I'm not afraid of strong feelings." Penelope lowered her face and placed a lingering kiss on her lips. Erin moaned into the kiss and let her push her back onto the sofa, relishing the feel of hands on her breasts.
"Let's take this upstairs now, luv," Erin whispered, nipping at Penelope's lower lip as she broke the kiss. Lazily, she nodded and stood, helping Erin up from the sofa. It felt so good to be moving forward with Penelope, to be growing closer to her, and she wanted to show her how okay she was with all of this.
The door to the bedroom opened easily and they stumbled inside, hands tugging at clothes and body parts, trying to get in closer to each other. They landed heavily on the bed and Erin pulled the shirt over her head and threw it to the floor, letting Penelope kiss her way down her neck and to her chest. "Are you ready tonight?"
"I think I am, Penelope," she said a bit breathlessly, helping the woman take her blouse off. "Derek helped so much."
"I'm glad." She dipped in for another kiss as she undid Erin's bra, pulling it off to join their pile. And then she was lapping at her nipple, teasing it into a tight bud, while Erin whimpered and dug her hands into the sheets.
Another low moan tore from her lips as she felt Penelope pull aside her panties and thumb her clit as she sucked and nipped at her breasts. "I, I'm going to come," she panted out, feeling her body stiffen as the orgasm swept over her. As she fell back on the bed, Penelope tugged off their skirts and then snuggled in close to her. "I love you. I don't know why it snuck up on me so fast, but there it is. Can you accept that, even if you don't want to move in with me?"
"Yes." Penelope kissed her sweetly and then wrapped her arms around her waist, holding her tight as she rolled them onto their sides. "And soon. Maybe. If you'll wait for me."
"I could never give up on the one who rescued me," Erin said through a yawn. "Good night, luv."
"Good night." They shared another kiss and then she fell asleep, content and safe in her lover's arms.
