Chapter 17

AN: Thanks so much for the reviews. I had a half day at work today, so I am posting early! Enjoy...

Derek carried her into the bedroom, and then slid her down his body until she was standing in front of him. His expression was so serious, so intense, it made her do the one thing she really didn't want to do.

She giggled.

He frowned at her, confused. "What?"

That only made it worse. She burst out laughing.

"Oh, Hot Stuff! Please. Don't look like that," she gasped, trying to get air while she had a serious laugh attack.

He chuckled in disbelief and looked at her, shaking his head with a lopsided grin. "I'm not even gonna ask."

"I'm.. I'm sorry," she said, and tried to stop laughing. To tell the truth, she was kind of nervous, too. This would be the first time they'd made love after admitting it to each other, and she always laughed when she was uber nervous. "It's just...you looked so serious, and..."

"Hey," he said, looking down his nose in a matter-of-fact way. "I am serious when it comes to you."

She looked away, blushing a little, that nervous feeling coming back. She kicked herself. They'd had sex so many times, so many ways... What made this so different? Why was she making such a big deal out of it this time?

Her attention was fully on him when he touched her again. His eyes warmed gently as he picked up her hand and placed a kiss in her palm. "I'm serious about your beautiful hands, how they touch my body, my heart, my very soul..."

Her heart began to beat a little stronger and a little faster, as he kissed the inside of her elbow.

"And your arms," he continued, his breath warm against her sensitive skin. "I'm so serious about how they can hold me, taking away the worst part of every day without a second's hesitation, and giving me the best parts in return."

She gasped as his tongue laved the spot. "Th-that's how I feel about yours."

He looked up, smiled at her, and then kissed her forehead. "Oh, of course, there's that brilliant mind I am so crazy serious about. The smartest, sexiest goddess that ever existed."

Sighing, she tilted her chin for his kiss, but he surprised her by lowering himself to his knees. He wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his cheek against her tummy. "I am even serious about your sweet belly, honey," he added, his lips moving against her abdomen, before looking up at her in utter adoration.

"Oh, please," she said, shaking her head in disbelief. There was no way he could be crazy about her anti-washboard abs!

"It's true," he murmured. "The belly laughs we've had together over the years, the softness cushioning me when we make love... and someday, maybe, if I'm so blessed..."

Penelope almost swayed with the magnitude of what he was implicating. What he was talking about...whoa. What he was talking about was forever. She closed her eyes, pictured his baby someday, and felt her heart soar.

"I'm never going to stop loving you, Penelope," he whispered fiercely, running his hands up her calves. "I've tried in the past, when I thought there was no chance for me, and it always comes back to this..."

She looked down and met his soulful eyes, her heart in her throat, unable to respond.

"You're my God given solace, my Baby Girl, my goddess. The only one I need in my life to be complete." His position at her feet, giving himself to her totally, looking up at her with such love, admiration, and passion, added so much sincerity to what he was saying.

"Derek," she breathed, tears streaming down her face. "I love you, too."

They made love.

For More of this chapter, please see my profile!