Chapter 35: Sweet Reunion

"Derek! You're home so quickly!" Amelia called out as she met them at the door. She eyed his dusty riding clothes, and windswept hair. "You rode?"

Derek laughed easily, kissing her cheek. "I could not wait to get here," he confessed. "The coach was taking too long, and I wanted to get home to my favorite women." He squeezed Meredith's waist, brushing his lips across her temple. Despite his words, his eyes were only on her, and Amelia smiled softly, seeing the love between the two of them.

"I think you need to rest and clean up before dinner," she said knowingly. She took the little black kitten from Meredith. "I'll take care of this little one. I'm sure you two have much to discuss. I will see later you, Derek."

Derek laced his fingers with Meredith's, and they headed towards her suite. Then he stopped short, and she looked at him, puzzled. He turned towards the footman standing at the foot of the stairs. "Please retrieve my saddlebag from the stable and bring it to Miss Grey's suite. Just leave it outside the door."

"Very good, sir."

He grinned at Meredith. "I have something for you, I did not trust leaving it in the coach with the rest of the baggage. Then in my haste to find you when I arrived, I forgot to retrieve it. All I could think of was finding you, my love. You were in my thoughts every moment," he told her, as he swept her up in his arms, and kissing her softly. She slipped her arms around his neck, meeting his mouth, desire curling through her veins like warm honey.

Ascending the curving staircase, cradling her close to his heart, Derek felt truly happy. This was where he belonged - with the woman he loved, soon to be his wife, having children and growing old with her. Nothing else was important to him any longer.

"You were in my thoughts every moment, as well. I hope all went well for you in London," she murmured, her fingers playing with the stray locks of his hair that curled over the edge of his shirt collar.

"Oh yes, very well," he assured her, as they reached her suite. He pushed the door open and strode quickly inside, slamming it shut with his foot. He set her down gently, tracing her cheek with the palm of his hand. He captured her mouth again, forcefully this time, taking her breath away with the intensity of it. She rose onto her tiptoes, seeking to be even closer to him, their tongues dancing and searching. His hands roamed down her body, igniting little points of heat everywhere. Her heart lurched, as the desire shook her from head to foot. "Forgive me, sweetheart, I do not wish to talk right now," he finally muttered, his voice husky with passion.

Meredith laughed, resting against him, secure in the circle of his strong arms. "Nor do I," she whispered, looking up into his face, seeing the look of love and longing there. Passionate fire burned in his eyes, as they stared at each other. Never releasing her gaze, he tore at the buttons on his shirt, so that they popped off and scattered onto the floor. He wrenched the material away from his body, and took her face in his hands again, kissing her deeply, and moving them slowly backwards.

Meredith whimpered – melting at the feel of his lean body pressed against her breasts and belly, and his tongue like velvet. Frantic need consumed her, as he started to work the buttons on her dress, brushing her skin with his fingers as he tugged the uncooperative little fastenings apart impatiently. With a muttered curse, he ripped the material, desperate to have her soft skin against his. The torn dress fluttered to the floor, and he pushed it out of the way, along with her petticoats, leaving her in her corset and garters and stockings. Meredith clung to him, laughing and moaning. His mouth covered hers again, warm and demanding.

Their clothing in a trail behind them as they moved towards the bed, Derek paused briefly, and pulled his riding boots off, returning to kiss her again, one arm around her hips, caressing the skin. His other hand tore at the waistband of his breeches, while her hands raced over his firm muscular back, their tongues still dueling. Then he picked her up again and carried her the rest of the way, letting her down onto the bed. She fell back against the pillows, her hair spilling around her like gold, her eyes drowsy with desire. She looked delectable, her breasts round and tempting at the edge of the corset, her skin like warm cream against the white sheets.

As Derek watched, she undid the tiny stays and ribbons on the corset, letting the garment fall away from her body. She tossed it to the side, and leaned back again, holding her hand out to him. "Hurry, Derek…" she begged him. Her legs parted, and he could see the deliciously sweet pink lips of her pussy, damp with her moisture.

His grin was sensuous, sinful, as he pushed the breeches down in one fluid motion and kicked them away. Gloriously, magnificently, naked, he fell onto her, and she welcomed him with her mouth, her body, and her soul. He kissed her again, capturing her hands in one of his, raising them over her head. His mouth trailed along her jaw, her throat, and to the hard-rosy nipples that arched towards him. Meredith moaned, wanting to touch him, but he held her hands pinned to the bed, pleasuring her with his mouth. She felt helpless with need, as his tongue and his lips touched her everywhere. Stroking, licking, nipping until she quivered and sighed.

As he moved lower, he released her hands, concentrating on unsnapping the garters from her silk stockings, using his fingers and his mouth to tug them carefully down her legs. Pressing his mouth to her feet, her calves, and whispering along the inside of her thighs. Meredith twisted her fingers in his hair, lost to the sensations that flooded her. Then his tongue touched the soft bud of her core, inflaming her even further, and she arched to meet his mouth. Soft little cries and murmurs tumbled from her lips, while he sucked and licked at her, drawing out the pleasure until it washed through her in hot waves.

The urgency between them rose higher, scorching and intense, as he settled between her legs. He kissed the flat plane of her belly, and the soft curve of her breasts, finally returning to her lips. His cock throbbed between them, as he covered her with the warm weight of his body. "I love you," he breathed, as he slid into her, loving the feel of her surrounding him, squeezing around him.

"I love you," she sighed, and then she was lost, consumed in the exquisite feel of being joined as one - lost, so lost. With each thrust of his hips, she felt more open and more loved – each thrust delved into her, rocking her to her soul. Their hands and lips touched, caressed, and stroked heated flesh, feverish and needy. As the wrenching orgasm took hold of her, his mouth claimed hers again, kissing endlessly, as he took her away into bliss. He held his own release, until she was riding another crest, finally plunging one last time, exploding into white hot pleasure.

Sighing happily, Meredith curled into the curve of Derek's arm, as they lay together, catching their breath. His hands stroked her damp skin, cupping her breast, enjoying the closeness, the feel of her nestled beside him. She shifted slightly to look at him, putting her fingers to his face, and tracing the outline of his bottom lip. "I had such a wonderful dream of you one night," she whispered. "It was so real, as if you were here."

He arched his eyebrow. "What did you dream, my love?"

"I was a virgin, and you were my first lover," she confessed, with a small smile. "You were very patient, and gentle, yet so strong and passionate."

He kissed her fingertips. "I wish I had been your first lover, Meredith. What counts is here…" He touched her chest, feeling her heart pulsing beneath his palm. "in your heart. He took your virginity, but I have your heart."

She covered his hand with her own small one. "Yes, you do. Forever…"

"Forever," he agreed, kissing her sweetly, slowly, drawing her closer to him again, until their limbs were entwined, heart to heart and soul to soul.