Addiction

Disclaimer: I owned nothing but the ideas

Sorry for such a long delay but I have received some bad news, which has meant that my family have had to be the priority for a while. We aren't out of the woods but I needed to escape for a while. So here goes with another chapter, I hope this makes up for the wait.

. . .

Derek had never felt uncomfortable in Pen's apartment; being around her had always calmed him. Yet as he hovered by the door scanning the brightly coloured abode, Derek was completely on edge.

"Coffee?" Pen squeaked, her persistent shuffling on the spot confirming she was as nervous as he was.

"Sure," he agreed with a shrug, knowing it bought him a little extra time. Turning Derek followed her through to the kitchen. Standing in the doorway he watched as she busied herself prepping the coffee. The automated actions soothing her as she worked in silence. Clearing his throat Derek decided he might as well say what he had come to say before they spend the time dancing around the subject yet again.

"I mean every word I said last night."

He watched as she slowly put down the pot of ground coffee and the spoon. Holding his breath as she took her time to turn to face him. Since last night he had pictured a million and one ways this could go, but now . . . now he still couldn't second-guess her. He studied her, looking for any tiny hint of hope as their eyes met.

"Sorry . . ."

His mind raced, no . . . surely not again?

". . . last night . . . I . . . It all took me by surprise," she continued.

Derek didn't like the way her eyes dropped away from his to study her shuffling feet, which he now noticed had unbelievably bright stripy socks on. How had he not spotted them before? Instantly he smiled. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have blurted it all out like that, but I was . . . nervous," he admitted.

"No! Please Derek, stop. I need you to listen to me, to hear me out." Her eyes pleaded with him as she took a step forward, close enough to touch.

He nodded, comforted by her closeness. She seemed to sense it too as she smiled briefly for the first time, taking another small step towards him. He felt the warmth of her hand in his as she squeezed it gently.

"I am sorry I hurt you. It was unforgivable . . ." instantly she lifted a finger to silence him. "You agreed to listen. I know you have already forgiven me and I appreciate that more than you know. I would have hated to lose you. You're my best, best friend, the one person you knows 'me'! When you told me that you loved me I was . . . overwhelmed. I had dreamed of you saying that but had decided it was best to not think about it. That it would never be . . . that you didn't feel that way about me. I locked it all away to protect myself, to deny that I hadn't fallen in love with you."

Derek was aware that he was grinning like the proverbial Cheshire cat. She said it!

"I . . . I want . . . I love you and I want us to be more than friends," Pen blurted out.

Derek swept her into his arms, one hand snaking up her back to hold her head as she tipped back to look up at him. Without another word he placed a soft kiss on her plump lips. It felt perfect, the lightest pressure, but enough to light the fire. He wanted more, much more. Derek felt her soften in his arms, relaxing into his hold. Instinctively he intensified the kiss. The vibration of Pen's soft moan tingled as her lips parted in response. His hand traced round to her cheek, the other coming up to hold the other side of her face, his thumbs rubbed gently as he claimed her. Letting her know she was his, totally and utterly his. Their tongues explored, greedily, savouring every moment as if it may never happen again.

Eventually Derek sensed Pen pulling back. He rested his forehead against hers, breathless, but unbelievably happy. "I love you Penelope Garcia."

"I love you Derek Morgan," she smiled.

. . .

Penelope was aware that she had the biggest, widest, daftest grin on her face. But she didn't care!

She'd said it! She had openly admitted to Derek that she loved him. She had no idea how long they were standing in her kitchen, forehead against forehead, arms wrapped tightly around each. Enjoying the moment, letting it all sink in.

"So . . ." she finally said, "Where do we go from here?"

Derek giggled, wiggling his eyebrows, "Well, that is up to you. I could think of a few things we could do."

Batting him lightly on his arm, she threw her head back and laughed. Stopping only to change to a deep moan as she felt his lips trail kisses up her neck; until she felt his teeth graze her ear. His breath caressed her as he spoke:

"I love your laugh," another kiss below her ear, "I love the sound," a feather-light kiss, "I love your abandonment," his lips made the slightest contact, "I love it all."

"Don't stop," Pen groaned as his lips moved away. She could feel the smile as he brushed against her neck once more. Willingly Penelope let Derek move her back towards the countertop as his thumb traced down one side of her neck and his lips the other. Her breath hitched as he nipped above her collarbone. "Mmmm," she hummed in delight, her eyes closed as she prayed this wasn't a dream.

. . .

Instinct was to shut his eyes, but Derek had to watch, to see this wasn't yet another dream. How many times he had woken in the middle of the night convinced he had made love to her? Only to roll over and realise he was alone . . . again!

Not tonight.

Tonight he was going to sub-come to his addiction and have the fullest fix possible. He was going to consume every inch of her luscious body, just like he had dreamed he would. Penelope Garcia was finally his . . . all his. Taking her hand in his, Derek led her away from the kitchen. It wasn't how he'd planned it. He didn't ever assume they would end up in bed with her tonight. Derek had imagined some wining and dinning, walks in the park, movie nights – all the things they already did, but officially as a couple.

As if sensing his doubt, when they reached the bedroom doorway, Pen's hand came up to his face. Her fingers traced softly down his jaw.

"I think we have been around the houses enough times, how about we get to the final destination?" she said with a wink as she walked into her room with a saucy sway of her hips.

"Damn Woman . . ." he sighed, following her in with a grin that looked like the cat that'd got the cream. Shrugging his leather jacket off, that he suddenly realised he still had on, and dumping it onto a nearby chair. "I don't want to rush you."

Penelope turned on her heels and faced him, pulling him close with a tug on his grey t-shirt. "Ok, hands up, I admit I am guilty of a small . . . or not so small . . . over reaction to your very chivalrous attempts to woo me. I appreciate fully that you may feel a little apprehensive, but lets just say you . . ." tip-toing up for a kiss, "are . . ." another light peck, "very persuasive tonight."

Laughing out loud Derek swooped her up into his arms, kissing her intently, before placing her onto the bed. Laying down beside her Derek realised all his dreams had just come true.