Author's Note: Oh my goodness! You guys are the best! I am so glad I decided to work on this story again. You all are so wonderful and so kind. I get so excited each time I see a new review. You are the best! I've kind of stepped away from the hockey/ballet storyline just for a moment to focus on Casey and Derek, but don't worry - I have plans for that storyline up my sleeve. It was requested that I do another makeout session. Now then, I am pretty upfront in that I do not do smut or lemons. However, I am perfectly fine with writing boarderline smut in a classy way. So be prepared for it in this chapter. Next chapter, we will get back on track with the championship and hockey practice and dance practice. I am having a blast with this story and you guys make it all the more better for me! I love writing, but you are the ones that really push me and keep me going. I am so lucky to have such amazing readers like you! I love you guys!

Chapter Twenty-Five

"How was the movie?" Nora asked as Casey placed the keys on the hook and Derek shut the front door behind them, "You two behave yourselves?"

"Oh Nora, yee of little faith!" Derek shrugged characteristically. His stepmother raised an unamused eyebrow and turned to her daughter.

"It was fun, Mom. We had a really good time, actually. Afterwards we all went out for frozen yogurt. It was nice. But I didn't get much of a chance to look over my History review before the movie so I am going to head upstairs and look over it some before bed. I'll see you in the morning. Good night, Mom. 'Night, Derek."

Nora wished her daughter sweet dreams just before Derek made his exit, "Well...I guess I'll go hit the hay then," Derek shrugged, "Night, Nora."

"Good night, Derek."

As soon as he got upstairs, he made a bee-line towards Casey's room. His hand paused on the door knob for a moment before he swung the door open. Casey was standing at her vanity, unwrapping the scarf from around her neck. Derek closed the door behind him and watched her for a moment as she ran her fingertips along the purple marks. Maybe she was right, maybe he should be more careful. But kissing Casey was so new to him. He'd kissed hundreds - well, maybe not hundreds - of girls in the past and but with Casey it was like he was clueless and new to everything. He wanted so badly to pin her against the wall and kiss her, making her moan again, but he knew better. Patience, young grasshopper, Derek reminded himself, running a hand through his hair as he approached Casey.

"Hello there," she smiled at his reflection in the mirror, "I was just about to put my pajamas on."

"I'm right on time then," Derek grinned mischievously.

"Pig," Casey good-naturedly rolled her eyes at the comment, "Turn around."

"You're kidding, right?" Derek raised an eyebrow, "I've walked in on you changing before. And I've walked in on you in the shower. I've seen everything already, Case."

"That's comforting," Casey rolled her eyes again, "Now then, I said turn around," Casey clutched her pajamas to her chest as she turned and glared at Derek, no-nonsense eyebrow raised.

Derek sighed, "Yes ma'am," he complied and turned around allowing her privacy to change. His heart skipped a beat as he thought of Casey standing less than a few feet away from him, naked. He gulped and hoped she couldn't hear how loudly his heart was banging against his chest. C'mon, Derek, breathe. You've seen Kendra without her shirt on. Sure she still had a bra on but still...this isn't anything too new for you. But it is Casey. But you've already seen Casey naked before. But this is different. Derek wiped at the sweat that had formed on his forehead and prayed she'd finish up quickly. He wasn't sure how much more he could take. Finally, Casey cleared her throat.

"You can turn around now," she informed him. Derek slowly turned, as if unsure, despite her permission, that he was allowed to. Casey had changed into something new that Derek had never seen before. Gone were her usual flannel pajamas. Instead, she was wearing a pink silk nightgown. It was long, to her ankles, but cut deep down the chest revealing more than Derek was expecting. The nightgown had bits of black lace around the neckline, drawing his attention even more to her cleavage. The sheer fabric wasn't concealing much either. Immediately, his hand flew to the back of his neck as he titled his head to the side. That was definitely not what he had been expecting. Where the hell did she get that?

"That's new," Derek somehow managed to get out despite the breath that had snagged in his lungs.

Casey blushed and turned around slowly so he could see the whole effect of the nightgown, "Not really. I've had it for awhile. I just never had an occasion to wear it."

"Occasion?" Derek raised an eyebrow.

"Derek," Casey rolled her eyes, "Not like that. We just got together. Or whatever you'd call this. Consider this me modeling it for you for future reference."

"Future reference?"

"Maybe. Jury's still out but you never know. So did you have a good time tonight?" She turned back to her vanity and began to comb out her curls with the cruelty-free, faux turtle comb Lizzie had given her for Christmas. Derek sat down on the edge of her bed and watched as she meticulously untangled each curl until her chestnut hair fell in super soft curls down her shoulders.

"Yeah. We should definitely do it again. Who knows, maybe Em and Sam will get it together sometime and we can double date. We'd have to find someone for Ralph though..."

"Sam and Emily?" Casey gasped, turning away from her mirror with a look of utter shock on her face, "No way!"

"It could happen," Derek shrugged, "Now then, are you going to stand there and brush your hair all night or come over here?"

Casey's hand stopped mid-comb and she softly set the comb back down on the table of her vanity. She wasn't sure she'd ever get used to the way Derek spoke to her. She tried to swallow the nerves, only exciting the butterflies in her stomach even more. Slowly, she made her way over to her bed. Derek tugged at the metal string on her lamp until the light dimmed. He laid back on her bed and said again, in that voice that caused Casey to suddenly lose all balance in her legs, "Get over here."

She laid down next to him, sure that he could hear the thud of her heart against her chest cavity. It's Derek. Stop being so nervous. It's just Derek. It's Derek...the butterflies picked up the pace of their flapping in her stomach. Derek reached his hand around and held her neck against his palm. He shook his head and said, "I really should be more careful. It'll be suspicious if you wear a scarf every day."

"Hey," Casey bit her lower lip, "One or two can be covered with concealer and foundation. But all of these? Don't necessarily be careful," Casey blushed, "Just...not so many."

"Good to know you aren't asking me to go easy on you, McDonald," Derek grinned, stroking her cheek with his thumb. Casey was certain her cheeks were beet-red, but if they were, Derek didn't let on. He smiled down at her and Casey realized for the first time just how many colors were in his eyes. There was a look in his eyes that she hadn't seen before. It was soft, but burning. She knew he could feel her pulse quicken under his palm.

"You want me to kiss you right now, huh?" Derek smirked as Casey nodded, "Well, all you have to do is say the word, Princess."

"Kiss...me," Casey said in spite of holding her breath. Derek's smirk turned into a grin.

"You don't have to ask me twice."

Casey was caught off-guard. Derek knew just what to do to take her breath away and make her dizzy. She was completely lost in the kiss. Derek didn't go easy on her at all, and kept up his usual pace of soft, sweet kisses mixed with bites and nips here in there. When Casey moaned, he felt his whole world rock. There was something so wonderful about being able to have that effect on her. After a few moments, Derek broke away from the kiss and stared down at the girl in his arms.

"What is it?" Casey asked, self-consciously.

"Nothing," Derek shook his head, bothering his lower lip between his teeth, "Just thinking."

"About?"

"About how this still doesn't feel real. Casey, since you moved in I've been fighting with myself about my feelings towards you. I just can't believe that after all of this time, this is real. I know I've been with other girls and all, but with you it's all different and I want you to know that. I know it's cheesy and stupid but it's like you're the first girl I've kissed and I...I don't want to kiss anyone else after you."

Casey felt her heart pick up its pace a bit once again and she said, "I know, Derek. It's fast but I feel the same. I don't understand this and I'd never move so quickly with anyone else before, but with you you're different."

"Maybe that's because for the past few years, we've been together in one way or another," Derek suggested, "We might not have gotten along much, but I was always there for you."

"Same," Casey nodded, "And maybe that's why this works so well - because we're already so comfortable together. I mean, you've seen me at my best and at my worst. And I've seen you at your best and at your worst. We've been through a lot, Derek. It feels like...we've been together for a long time. And I don't mean that negatively at all. I just mean that..."

"I know what you mean," Derek tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, "I can't wait for this championship to be behind us. Do you know how hard it was to not kiss you tonight?"

"How hard?" Casey smiled mischievously.

"Let's just say it took a lot of will power not to," Derek grinned down at her, "Don't you have a history test to study for?"

"Oh no," Casey winced, "I completely forgot! I don't want you to go though."

"I know," Derek tucked another strand of hair behind her ear, "but if you get anything less than a B plus on this test, you're going to blame me. So I'm outta here."

"But Der-ek," Casey pouted. She knew he was right though. She needed to study and having him stay any later would only further distract her. He needed to go back to his own room and she needed to get started on looking over her review.

"Nope. I'm not going to be the one who gets blamed and thrown in the dog house if you don't do so hot on your test," he gave her one last kiss before pushing himself up off the bed, "Besides, I am overdue to read Marti a bedtime story anyway."

Casey followed him to the door and they paused, "Derek, you're wonderful."

"A compliment?" Derek raised a bemused eyebrow as he ran his finger along the black lace along her neckline, "You're just full of surprises tonight, aren't you, McDonald."