Gazing up into the New York skyline with its beautiful array of colors dancing across the night sky was one of Meredith's favorite pastimes. Given her hectic schedule of late, she rarely had time to indulge and tonight as she stood staring out into the still bustling city below, she was reminded of the solitude she always found comfort in whenever she'd watch the sun make its descent onto the horizon.

The moon, slightly covered by the towering buildings still managed to cast a soft glow on her petite form while she stood on the private balcony, deep in her own thoughts. The evening air was unusually warm and Meredith's breath caught in her throat when a soft breeze blew past, causing the fine silk fabric to brush up against her heated flesh.

Long gone were the signs of a long and weary day, replaced now with a sense of peace and calm. While the road ahead seemed unsure, there was one thing Meredith knew and that was that she wasn't going to fight it anymore.

"Hi."

"Hey." She replied on a breathless sigh when Derek's lips brushed her hair aside to place a soft, lingering kiss on the smooth lines of her neck.

"You're here early." He commented, moving closer so he could wrap his arms around her waist.

"I let myself in." Leaning into his warm embrace so she could relish the feel of his heart beating against her body, Meredith let her head fall back onto his shoulder and closed her eyes as he continued to rain hot kisses along the underside of her ear and neck. "I, uh…." Struggling to speak, she quickly swallowed to alleviate her suddenly dry throat when his hand roamed across her taut midriff, dragging the silk material along her smooth skin as it went. "If you're…if you're not ready for me, I can go wait outside in the hall."

"Not dressed like that, you won't." Derek whispered hotly and seductively against her ear, his teeth capturing her earlobe into his mouth to suckle and nibble gently. "Is this for me?"

Moving back to give their bodies just enough space, he turned her around so his eyes could take in the very sight of her dressed in the silk babydoll and matching floor length robe. Meredith could barely make out the way his eyes had darkened and dilated to desire-filled orbs, but the smile that had spread across his handsome face gave her the confidence she needed to slip the robe off her shoulders so he could appreciate her "surprise" fully.

When she made the impulsive decision to purchase it, she had winced at the exorbitant price for such a small piece of…nothing, but seeing Derek admiring her like this made it all worth it. She had, after all, bought it with him in mind.

"Do you mind?" She asked timidly, her eyes half-hooded so she could chance a peek down at his trousers to see if he minded. Hot liquid juices pooled at her core and a shudder ran up the length of her spine when she noticed his straining erection.

"Mind?" Derek croaked, his voice slightly pained from what she assumed was the result of his erection pressing so tightly against his pants. Stifling a giggle, she looked up and her eyes immediately clashed with the cerulean depths of his assessing gaze. "I feel like I've walked into a…." For the first time in his adulthood, Derek was at a loss for words. Seeing her standing there with her eyes looking at him made him feel all sorts of things, some of which he couldn't explain.

"A nightmare?" Meredith offered, laughing nervously and failing miserably at trying to dispel the thick tension that suddenly overtook the small space between them.

"No, never a nightmare. Although what happened earlier with that guy came damn near close." Derek admitted, his voice gruff as he recalled the kiss and the sharp pangs of jealousy that shot through him.

"Patrick was—"

"Don't. It was bad enough that I had to witness the kiss; I don't think I want to hear you say his name."

"It was fake!" Meredith blurted out when the pain written all over his face became too unbearable for her to see. "The kiss. It was fake. All of it."

Derek didn't know which struck him the strongest – relief or confusion – so he chose to go with one that he hoped would provide an answer. "Fake? But he—"

"He was whispering in my ear the whole time, telling me of your reaction and from the angle, it looked like he was kissing me."

Derek didn't think it possible, but with an answer to one question, his mind became flooded with even more questions. "But why? Why pretend?"

"Your kiss with the model. I didn't like it."

"I already told you she surprised me."

"I didn't like it." Meredith replied, her voice suddenly firm. "Patrick must've seen how upset I was and wanted to help. I realize things went a little far, but I was angry and wanted to get back at you, so I let him do it. I let him help try to make you jealous and it…"

"It worked."

"Yeah…"

"You have to know that I didn't mean to let it get carried away. All I wanted was for you to feel what I felt."

"Well you succeeded."

"Are you angry with me?"

"Meredith…" Derek began, pulling her into his arms and lightly resting his chin on the top of her head. Taking a deep breath and letting the sweet lavender scent of her hair waft up to fill his nostrils, he waited a few seconds to let it wash over him before he spoke. "I may feel a lot of things when it comes to you, but anger is most definitely not one of them. I'll admit that I didn't like seeing you with him, pretend or not, but I'm glad because it brought you here…with me."

The kiss was red-hot and passionate as all the pain and misunderstandings of the night fell to the wayside, leaving two people to enjoy the simple act of just feeling and being able to bask in the glow of wanting and being wanted.

With the heavy burden of her lie no longer weighing her down, Meredith was able to enjoy the kiss and give it her all as she stood up on tip toes to deepen the kiss. Her tongue was demanding as it sought entry into his welcoming mouth, his tongue eagerly awaiting hers for an erotic duel of power. Derek didn't protest when her fingers laced into his hair and pulled him even closer so her hungry lips could seek and devour what it had been longing all night. He went willingly and took advantage of the closeness of their bodies to allow his hand to slip down to cup her pert bottom and press her pelvis up against his thick shaft.

In one effortless move and without breaking the kiss, Derek swept down and scooped her body effortlessly up and into his arms. The soft infectious giggle slipped past her lips and into his mouth as he carried her from the balcony inside to his bedroom.

"It's a dream." Derek said after carefully depositing her at the foot of the bed.

"What's a dream?"

"You." He husked, his voice soft. "I feel like I've walked into a dream and one that I don't ever want to end."

"Me too." As truthfully and as honestly as Meredith was being when she spoke those words, deep down she couldn't help the feeling that their little world; their delicate little glass bubble would burst into a thousand pieces and the shards would pierce her heart.

"You look beautiful tonight." The deep huskiness in Derek's voice caused a ripple of goosebumps to run its course all over Meredith's body, making her shiver in response.

"I...thank you." She croaked, her throat dry and her cheeks turning a deep shade of crimson to match her barely there lingerie. "You, uh…you look beautiful too—I mean, you look handsome…great…good…not beautiful, because that would be silly. Right?" Completely mortified she closed her eyes and prayed the ground would open up and swallow her whole. "Ugh, I've just rambled for no apparent reason and you're…and the midnight thing and…crap! Why can't I stop rambling?"

Stifling a chuckle at how cute she seemed just then, Derek tugged on her shoulders, gently but firmly, and moved her closer until she had no choice but to look up and into his penetrating gaze. "Your tendency to ramble is endearing, and I like it."

"You do?"

"I do." The smile reached his eyes and Meredith found herself lost in its beautiful depths.

"You don't think it's unattractive or makes me sound stupid or…something?" The uncertainty and doubt caused her voice to quiver slightly. She couldn't help the rambling. It was something she did when she was nervous. Her father and Finn were always displeased with her when she did it, saying that it was unattractive and projects an image that she's unintelligent.

"You? Unattractive?" Derek seemed genuinely shocked that she would ask such a question.

Unable to find her voice, she nodded her head tentatively while holding her breath as she waited his answer.

"You're the most beautiful, seductive and captivating woman I've ever met." He spoke honestly. "And before you even think it, it's not because of what you're wearing."

Meredith was completely taken aback at how in tuned with her he really was, for that was her exact thought.

"The surprise is a nice addition, but you don't need anything to make you more desirable than you already are to me." Leaning down, he kissed her deeply and passionately, communicating with his body just how much she meant to him.

"What about my brain?" She teased, breaking their kiss long enough to ask her question before crashing her lips onto his once more in urgent demand.

"Anyone who could negotiate as many accounts away from me as you have in the last few months deserves my respect. And I don't respect that many people in our business."

"Should I be flattered?" She whispered in his ear, her hands roaming across the expanse of his broad chest down to his lean waist to slip inside his sweater.

"No…" He groaned, his voice ladened with heavy desire. "You should be naked. I have to have you and this wait is killing me."

"Me too." She replied brazenly, meeting his fiery kiss as he slowly eased her body down onto the bed and positioned himself between her legs. A raspy moan escaped Meredith's lips when the coarse fabric of his jeans rubbed up against her heated center.