As usual, some sweet moments, and some hot loving, between our favorite couple. But has Addison really given up yet?
Some time later, Meredith stirred in Derek's arms, somewhat disoriented for a moment, awaking in the unfamiliar new bed. Then she remembered, and smiled sleepily, cocooned in his embrace, his lean body tight against hers. His grip tightened as she shifted, and then she felt his lips at her shoulder. "You're awake?" she whispered.
"Yes, love," he murmured softly, as his hand brushed her nipples lazily.
Meredith sighed happily. "I forgot where I was for a moment," she confessed, with a small laugh.
"You are right where you belong, here in my arms," he told her, "and I am never letting you go." His hand traveled down her body, across her belly, where it settled, rubbing her softly. "Do you think we have started our child yet, Meredith?"
Her heart jumped a little at the thought. "It is too soon to tell, Derek. Do you wish for a child so soon?"
"It doesn't matter over much – I love children, of course, but I admit to a selfish desire to have you all to myself for awhile too." His hand dipped lower, seeking her warmth, playing along her skin. For a few moments, they were quiet, reveling in the intimacy they shared, feeling content and happy.
"Derek?" Meredith asked at last, "You never did say what happened with Addison tonight…."
Derek made a sound of disgust. "Do you really wish to know?"
"Yes, Derek. I do not want any secrets between us. Did she…."
Derek sighed heavily, and shifted, sitting up on his elbow, to look at Meredith in the dim light. The fire was glowing embers only, but the moonlight streamed through the window, casting its silver glow everywhere. He traced the curve of her cheek softly. "Lady Addison tried to bribe one of the younger footmen, giving him one of her jeweled hair combs, for the directions to my suite."
Meredith gasped in surprise.
"Yes, but fortunately for me, the lad went straight to Hodges and confessed. So when I left dinner, we went to my suite, and discovered her in my bed, nearly nude, hoping to surprise me."
"Oh, my sweet lord, what did she hope to gain?"
"In her mind, she thinks all she has to do is flaunt her body, and all men will fall into bed with her. Many will, I suppose, but I am no longer one of those men." He looked at Meredith, "You have nothing to fear. I only wish to be with you."
"And I with you," she replied, catching his hand that had strayed to her chest, pressing her lips to his palm. "Where is she now?"
"In her room, with the door guarded. I made it clear to her that she must leave in the morning. I cannot believe she was so blindly foolish, as to disregard anything that Mother said to her, and think she could trick me into bed." He paused, reflecting for a moment. "No, I can believe it. I should have seen it coming to that."
"Well, she will be gone tomorrow, and out of our lives. I do feel a little sorry for her, she seems so desperately unhappy, and angry," Meredith mused. "I am surprised she didn't try to pretend she was with child, to trap you into marriage."
"That would be very difficult. In truth, we had not been together for some time even before I caught her with Marcus. Maybe I partially suspected there were other men in her life. So if there was a babe, it would not be mine." He lowered his head then, and kissed her smooth belly, his breath tickling her. "If there is to be any babes, it will only be with you. Now, enough talk of the witch, I have other things that interest me at the moment." His lips moved sensuously across her quivering belly, dipping along her navel, and lower, sending spasms of ecstasy through her body. Her hips lifted slightly, as he continued the delicious exploration of her warm skin, down her thighs, and behind her knees, and back again. Returning to the spot where she was wet and aching, and he breathed very lightly on her pussy lips. He paused deliberately, intent on taking his time with her.
Poised over her, his dark hair in disarray, his gaze was focused intently on her reaction. "So beautiful," he murmured, stroking her gently with his fingers, kissing her lightly as he inhaled her scent again. Her breath caught, as he kissed and licked her outer lips, spreading her wide with his thumbs, so that she was quivering with anticipation, wet and creamy for him.
"Derek, oh…."
Exquisitely slowly, he touched his tongue to her, smiling at the shudder that ran through her as he did. Her hips lifted even further, and he cupped her ass as he stroked her deeper, wetter, longer. He felt he could have stayed there forever, tasting her sweetness, making her twitch and buck against his mouth, pulling at her clit that was so sensitive to every soft stroke of his tongue. He drew out her pleasure, not stopping when she moaned and climaxed around him. Over and over, he delved into her warmth, until she was riding one wave after another, one ending and the other beginning, leaving her limp and breathless.
Only then, did he let her go, sliding up her body, claiming her mouth. Derek tightened his arm around her hips, and lifted her leg around him, drawing her closer to him, until he was sliding into her tight warmth. Moving as slowly as he could, prolonging the feeling of being encased in her, raining kisses along her lips and her chest. For another long moment he kissed her, feeling her soft, pliant body fused to his, the scent of her on him, as they moved against each other endlessly.
"I could stay here, like this, forever," he murmured against her mouth.
Meredith squeezed him in tighter and deeper, nearly taking him away to the point of no return. He sank further into her, thrusting harder, as he let himself be consumed by the heat and the power surging through him. Then there was only her, and her climax around him, taking him with her, caught up in her soft cries of pleasure. He throbbed hotly inside of her, as her tremors subsided, reluctant to pull away from her. Their mouths met again and again, softer and less urgent kisses, as he rolled to his side, taking her with him. Keeping her tightly against him, as her breathing slowed, and her eyes shut, they drifted into peaceful sleep again.
Addison paced furiously in her bedchamber, muttering under her breath. She felt both humiliated and angry, to have been caught before she could get Derek alone. Damn that footman, she swore, as she made another pass around the bed. The long dressing robe flapped behind her, catching her legs, as she paced. Then she dropped into the chair facing the mirror on the dressing table, picking up the hairbrush and trying to calm herself. She took a deep breath, and stroked the brush through the long tresses, thoughts swirling through her mind.
So, Derek wanted to marry this Meredith girl - what did anyone really know about her? Addison smiled at her reflection. Perhaps she would find out what kind of past this girl really had, and with any luck, there would be some scandal to expose. Then Eleanor and her precious son wouldn't be so quick to bring the girl into the family. She tapped her fingers together, deep in thought. She would speak with Marcus when she returned to London - he had contacts everywhere, he might still be useful for something.
Her green eyes swept the room, noting the scattered bags and clothing. Fine, she would summon the maid and have this cleaned up and ready to go by morning. If they wanted her to leave, she would, but she was still ready for a fight. She wasn't giving this up just yet.