AN: Thanks so much for the reviews!...You know, I had a PM, asking for Reid and Lisa's story, and I'm kinda tempted to do it...

Chapter 21

It was midnight and yet the party was still going strong. The very young and the very old had gone up to their rooms in the hotel, already retiring for the evening. Grandma Fran had insisted on taking all three of her Quantico grandchildren for the night to free her son and the "Birthday Girl", as she'd called Penelope all night. The kids, who knew how well they would get spoiled by her, had run in glee to be with their Nana.

So finally—FINALLY!—all interruptions were gone, and Penelope got to sway in Derek's arms, rocking back and forth, her cheek pressed into his shoulder. Standing there with him holding her, she easily let the rest of the world disappear. She could hear the steady beat of his heart; it mimicked her own rhythm. It always happened that way, dancing with her husband—they were in perfect synchrony.

"Did you have a great day, baby?" he murmured while he massaged the small of her back with his hands. After three kids, wearing four inch heels all day made her low back ache, and D knew just what to do to make her purr.

"I had wonderful day," she answered, squeezing him tighter around his waist. "It was incredible."

"I'm glad." He tipped her chin with his hand so she would look up at him. "An incredible woman deserves an incredible party."

Penelope's heart began to speed up as he caught her gaze with his, the heated and intense expression in his eyes so readable. She'd seen that look so many times before; he wanted her, alone and naked, like she wanted him. That was one of the many beauties of their relationship: pure and mutual need that wordlessly flowed between them.

"We make a perfect pair." She looped her arms around his neck and rubbed herself against him in a slow, full body caress that was inconspicuous enough not to draw too much attention to what she was doing. "You're pretty incredible yourself, Hot Stuff."

"Let's get the hell out of here," he growled, leaning down to take a slight nip of the side of her neck with his straight, white teeth.

She purred, a shiver of desire rolling through her veins. She gave him a half grin, arching her brows above her glasses. "I'll tell everyone goodbye; you get the minivan from the valet."

"That won't be necessary," he said. "Come with me."

The expression he wore on his face was cryptic, and promised something very, very good. "What have you done, Hot Stuff?"

Before he answered, Derek dragged her to the stage, pulling her up in front of the band, and they stopped playing.

He borrowed a microphone, and then kissed her hand. "Speech, Momma."

Penelope began to blush prettily as she took the microphone. "Friends and family...I cannot express how grateful I am to all of you for being here to show your love and support for me. It is recognized, computed, and graciously accepted by this tech goddess. Thank you, and I love you, too!"

The crowd clapped and cheered, and Derek took the microphone back. "Penelope and I would like to thank everyone for coming and making this night a wonderful success. We are taking our leave from you, so I can give her much deserved birthday spankings... in private."

Derek grinned and wiggled his mobile brows at her while the crowd chuckled and cheered.

Penelope colored a bright red in mortification. "I am so glad your mother wasn't in the room," she hissed under her breath, but it lacked any real venom. Everyone in that room knew how lovey-dovey the two of them were!

He reached for her wrist and lead her off the stage, pausing at the last step, before he arched a questioning brow at her. "Do you really think Momma would be against my plans?"

That caused an even brighter eruption of color. He was right; Fran would've completely condoned his actions.

The band began a rendition of For He's a Jolly Good Fellow, and the crowd sang along, substituting She for He, of course.

"Your carriage awaits," Derek said, and before she could question, he scooped her up in his arms to the whoops and wolf whistles of his gang, not to mention the cheers of the BAU team and their families.

"Oh, God!" she cried, absolutely mortified, but secretly happy.

Well, maybe not so secret...she knew she looked very, very pleased!

He grinned at her, kissed her red cheek, and said, "Enjoy it, baby; you only turn forty once."

She wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his shoulder, but anyone could see her dancing eyes as he left the room with long, ground eating strides.

"Where are we going?" she asked, confused, as Derek turned the opposite direction once they reached the grand hallway. "The valet is the other way."

"One more birthday surprise, angel," he said with a grin, sliding her down his body. "Reach into my pocket."

"Oooh, my pleasure," she teased, looking up at him through her lashes.

As she fished in his pocket, he said, "Before you ask...yes, I'm happy to see you."

Giggling, she slid her hand away from what she'd not-so-innocently bumped, moved more towards the back of his pocket, and then extracted a key card. She gave him a confused look.

"That's for the penthouse suite."

She gasped, knowing those suites—complete with steam room and jacuzzi tub—were very expensive.

"Derek...we can't," she protested mildly.

"Yes, we can...and we get to meet with everyone in the morning for continental breakfast, so you can say proper goodbyes, too."

She was going to protest again, but then she thought about what he said. She did only turn forty once.

Leaning against his side, she smiled and said, "Lead on, my fair prince."

Once they reached the elevator, Derek escorted her inside, only to keep advancing on her, backing her against the wall. She reached the metal hand hold on the back mirrored wall and stood in front of him, her cheeks flushed and her full lips parted in surprise. He loved surprising her; she was sensual and free, showing every emotion to the fullest.

He placed his hand on the wall near her head, leaning in close to her, breathing in her sweet scent, floral and fruity. "Was I remiss, Baby Girl?"

She leaned her head back, smiling seductively at him, his little kitten ready to be stroked. "How so?"

"Did I forget to tell you how fucking hot you were tonight?" He stared at her delicious red lips for a long time before his met her dark blue eyes. "So gorgeous in your red sundress and your high red fuck me heels."

"Tell me more," she replied, looping her arms around his neck.

"Struttin' around, so sassy and perfect," he answered, kissing the side of her neck. "Wiggling that ass...teasing me."

"That was in your imagination," she responded, winking at him.

"Oh, no," he said, bringing his other hand up to touch that luscious mouth of hers. He trailed his thumb over her bottom lip, and felt a flash of heat when she gave him a sweet little lick. "I saw your little winks and wiggles, Baby Girl. I know when I am being played with...and tortured."

She smiled seductively at him, sucking his thumb into her mouth, and then nipping on it playfully before giggling. God, he loved her laugh. It was a siren song he never could resist.

"Silly boy," she said coyly. "If I were torturing you, I would've done this..."

As they were speaking, she'd trailed her hand between their bodies and cupped her hand over his fly. She slid over him—up, down, a perfect little squeeze—and then released.

That was it. He lifted her legs, pressing her against the wall of the elevator so that she was partially seated on the bar in the back, her skirt bunching up between them. She had to wrap her legs around him to stay upright.

"I need you so damn badly, woman," he growled, pressing his hips into hers, "I can't even tell you how much."

"Then show me," she purred huskily, placing her hands on his head and pulling his mouth down to hers.

Falling immediately under the spell of her kiss, Derek drank in the honeyed sweetness of her lips. She clung to him, her tongue testing his mouth, showing her eagerness, too. He took her mouth with his tongue then, angled his head to deepen the kiss, and rocked his hips against her, showing her wordlessly how he wanted her with every breath in his body.

She moaned as he ran his hands up her thighs, under her skirt, cupping her ass to lift her even closer to his body. He had to show her. It was a driving need, he needed her to feel his heat, the insistent throb of his hardness, showing her exactly how much he wanted her.

"Derek," she moaned again as he dived in to kiss her neck, her earlobe, the delicate shell of her ear. He was swamped in her; she surrounded his senses. The sound of her breathlessly desperate moans, the heat of her skin beneath her skirt, her taste and her smell. Nearly eight years after their first kiss, he still couldn't ever imagine having enough of her.

Teasingly, he swirled his tongue around her earlobe, made a soft sucking on the pulse point on her neck. He felt her trembling against him, close to peaking with just kisses and grinding. Penelope was so responsive, so alive to his touch. It was one of the many things he loved about her.

Finally, the elevator landed on their floor. Walking, touching, and kissing, they made their way to their room and nearly stumbled into the room.

And then Derek lost his wife for a moment while she stared at the interior design, her eyes and her mouth wide open.

Penelope had never seen a room like this before. Everything was elegant, romantic, with a massive bed in the center, a huge walkout balcony, and a sitting room to the side with a vase of long-stemmed red roses and chilling champagne. She slipped off her heels and dug her toes into the ultra plush carpet, nearly rolling her eyes at the decadent feel. She made her way to the vase and picked up a perfect rose, inhaling it's delicate fragrance.

Off of the sitting room, the bathroom door was open, revealing just a hint of marble tiling, a true tease in it's own right. She and Derek loved water, loved to frolic and play and make love in and under water. She had to see what was happening in there. She padded over on the carpet, opened the door and flicked on the light.

The huge whirlpool tub was more like a swimming pool meant for two, and there was a domed skylight illuminating the entire bathroom in luxurious moonlight. The floor was heated and warm on her tired tootsies, and thirsty terry robes awaited them. In the corner was a dual head shower with a wonderful bench near the back that had her conjuring all sorts of wicked possibilities for them.

She had to tell Derek about this.

Leaving the bathroom, she ran out through the sitting room into the bedroom to find him. "Hey, D! You should see the..."

She stopped dead in her tracks. "Oh, my..."

Lying in the middle of the huge bed was her husband, completely naked, his mocha skin a decadent contrast with the bright white sheets. His arms were folded behind his head, highlighting his sculpted biceps, his broad chest and tapered waist drawing her fingers, making her ache to touch him. His abs—perfect from years of training—were relaxed, but still showed their definition, and his erection...Oh, God... She had to swallow, her mouth was watering.

She also noticed that his ankles were crossed and his foot was tapping, as if he'd been like that for hours.

"There she is, there's my girl," he said with just the slightest hint of a naughty grin."I've been waiting for you..."