Author's Note: Here comes Derek and Casey playing their little game again... geez will those two just get together already? ;-) They're so stubborn! Anyway, thanks for all the reviews, your feedback is what makes me hurry and update! Enjoy the Dasey dance... metaphorically speaking of course...
"Derek…" Casey sighed his name as she felt his lips suddenly move across the side of her neck, pressing warm wet kisses on her flesh. "What are you doing?"
"Kissing you," he replied in a mumble, continuing his attack on her soft skin.
Casey closed her eyes, momentarily losing herself in the feeling. Then quickly she shook herself. Derek had been avoiding her, ignoring her, and pretending nothing had happened the night she gave her virginity to him!
She wasn't going to let him have her that easily!
"I've got a party to go to," Casey said, and it took all her strength to pull away from Derek's embrace and continue down the stairs, leaving him speechless.
I bet no girl's rejected a Derek Venturi kiss before, Casey thought rather smugly, proud that she had been able to tear herself away. As soon as she walked into the living room, the heart of the party, Emily made a beeline over to her.
"Casey, you came!" Emily shouted over the loud music. She looked surprised but happy.
"Just for a little while," Casey nodded, stealing a glance over Emily's shoulder at Derek, who was now talking with some friends. He looked up at his eyes met hers, brown locking with blue, and Casey quickly turned her attention back on Emily.
Meanwhile, Derek continued watching as Casey spoke with her best friend. He couldn't believe that she had actually pushed him away. Did she really not want him the way he wanted her? Maybe she was over him. Over whatever it was that they had. Maybe he had blown it.
"Dammit," Derek cussed out loud, and his friend Brian, who he was talking with, gave him a funny look.
"Huh?" the jock looked confused as ever.
"Never mind," Derek shook his head, running his fingers through his hair. He looked back over at Casey, who was now talking with Sam. She looked… flirty. She was flirting with Sam. His best friend Sam. The guy she had dated off-and-on for awhile but hadn't seen in awhile. Derek had thought they were over for good… especially after that long weekend…
But there Casey and Sam were, talking quietly in a corner, staring intently into each other's eyes. It was enough to make Derek want to puke.
Crossly, Derek made his way through the crowd, over to the chatting pair.
"Hey," he interrupted them, throwing a dirty look his best friend's way.
"Hey," Sam repeated slowly, not exactly sure why his best friend looked pissed at him.
"Derek," Casey said his name calmly, indifferently. Derek hated the impassive tone in her voice.
Sam looked uncomfortable at the way Derek and Casey seemed to glare at each other.
Casey turned away first, looking over at Sam apologetically. "Well, I should get back upstairs. I'm supposed to be minding the kids."
"Do you want me to come along with you?" Sam offered, and Derek almost choked on his own spit.
"No!" Derek exclaimed loudly, causing both Sam and Casey to look over at him in confusion. "No… I, uh…I've got to help put Marti to bed," Derek made up quickly. "She loves when I tuck her in."
Casey raised an eyebrow up at her stepbrother, but didn't say anything. She looked back over at Sam. "I'll see you on Monday then, okay?"
"Sure," Sam gave her a puppy dog look and Derek rolled his eyes to himself. Pathetic.
Casey made her way through the crowd again to get to the staircase, and Derek quickly followed her. He was glad that he was behind her, because he could stare at her ass the whole way up the stairs.
She's so hot, he thought to himself, wanting nothing more than to grab her and take her right there on the stairs, not caring who saw.
But he refrained from it. Because Casey would only push him away like she had earlier. Because either she didn't want him… or she was playing some sort of teasing game with him. One that he wasn't going to let her win.
Casey made her way back over to Lizzie's room, where the four had been playing their cards game. She was surprised to find Marti asleep on the floor cuddled up with one of Lizzie's stuffed animals, and Lizzie and Edwin both tiredly playing a game of Battleship.
Derek quickly scooped up Marti, who mumbled a protest before falling right back to sleep in her brother's arms, and Casey helped Lizzie and Edwin clean up their game.
Derek took Marti into her bedroom and laid her down on her Unicorn-themed bed. He left her in her princess gown, but covered her with a thin sheet because he knew it got drafty in her bedroom sometimes during the night. He placed a simple kiss on her forehead and whispered, "Goodnight, Smarti," before turning off the light and shutting the door.
He turned to see Casey directly in front of him, smiling. She had seen the whole thing and couldn't resist how adorable it was.
"You're a good brother," Casey complimented him.
"You're a hot sister," Derek immediately retorted back, a twinkle in his eyes.
Casey smiled. She liked this. The ball was in her court now. She could make him squirm.
Payback's a bitch.
"Really?" she blinked innocently up at him, reaching up and stroking his chest lightly. She could feel the warmth of his hard muscles underneath the light fabric of his shirt.
Derek nodded, his breath catching at the feel of her touch. "Can't let her win; can't let her win!" his mind screamed as his heartbeat increased.
"God, Case…" he breathed out, ignoring his screaming mind. He ran a hand through her soft hair, letting his fingers get tangled in it. So silky. He leaned in closer to her face. "You turn me on so much," he managed to breathe before capturing her lips with his own.
Casey's whole body froze as Derek's lips moved across hers. And all at once, everything started going into overdrive. Her pulse, her circulation, her mind…
His lips felt so amazing against hers. She had almost forgotten what an incredible kisser Derek was. She felt her body beginning to respond to his touch and quickly pulled away from him before it was too late and she was in too deep to stop.
"No!" she gasped out as she broke the kiss.
Derek stared at her with lust and confusion. "What?" he asked throatily.
Casey licked her lips, trying to rid the taste of him. But it only made it worse. "I…I can't," she said quickly, and, before he had a chance to respond, she ran to her bedroom and slammed the door.
