This chapter is a bit long, but I'm sure you won't mind. This chapter was interesting to write in that here they are knowingly embarking on this affair, each trying to enjoy themselves, and each other, but not altogether being able to forget the outside world. I also wanted to show their connection and how they are good for each other in more than just sexual ways. But there's a bit of that too. But this story is about more than just falling in love. It's about Meredith and Derek finding out just who they are and what they want out of life. Can they figure it out before Sunday? We'll just have to wait and see!
Recommended Soundtrack: Come, sing me a song by Sing-Sing
Meredith is awake with her eyes closed when she hears a tiny click and the sound of the door opening. She rolls over to discover Derek pushing his way into the room, his arms full with a tray containing a pot of espresso, two espresso cups, warm buttery croissants, and various jams and butters.
"You need any help with that?" She calls out as he pushes his way into the room, moving slowly to precariously balance everything on the tray.
"Nope, I got it." He answers with a smile, flashing her a grin, but returning quickly to concentrate on his balancing act.
Meredith realizes she is lying naked underneath the swath of covers. She remembers how she got naked, but she doesn't remember getting under the covers. She looks over to see that all of the food that had been spread out on the other side of the bed is no longer there. In fact, it's nowhere to be seen.
Derek finally places the heavy tray on the night stand next to her, and she scoots over a little bit to let him sit down on the edge of the bed. He readily complies, and she comments, "Someone has been a busy bee this morning."
Derek places the croissants and accoutrements on the bed before them, but says, "Well, it's not technically morning anymore."
Meredith zooms around to look at the clock on the other night stand and gasps when she reads 12:04. "Oh my God, how come you didn't wake me up?" She asks in horror, not being able to believe that she slept so late.
Derek takes a fresh croissant and starts to lather butter all over it. He takes a bite, sighs in appreciation, and then says, "I just couldn't do it. You were just so cute lying there snoring away with pieces of pie filling stuck on your face."
"What?!" Meredith huffs with mock horror, and then chuckles to herself while saying, "Well, who's fault is that?!"
"Mine." Derek answers silkily as he leans over and places a warm buttery kiss on her temple.
Meredith keeps her arms crossed over her chest though and huffs, "You're lucky you brought coffee, or you might be looking for a new place to sleep right now."
"You better be nice to me or I won't give you your presents." Derek teases as he chomps down on his croissant.
"Presents? As in plural?" Meredith questions hopefully, dropping her crossed arms slightly.
"Food first, presents later." He playfully demands, twinkling at her as he stuffs the remaining bit of croissant in his mouth and reaches for another.
"Fine." She reluctantly agrees, twinkling back at him as she reaches for her own buttery morsal.
Derek goes to pour coffee, and she takes her first bite. The croissant is hot and flaky with a hint of soft doughiness in the middle. Wonderful. Just what she needed. She takes a few bites, munching in contented silence, until the entire baguette is gone. She can see that Derek is laughing at her eagerness, but he doesn't say anything, only handing over her cup of coffee when the croissant is gone.
"So what have you been up to, oh so smug-pants?" She asks him after a few sips of her caffeinated brew.
"Oh, a little of this, a little of that." He answers vaguely, as he takes little sips of his own espresso, not able to hide his secretive amused smile from her. She's not even sure he is trying.
"Foods done, present time." She declares regally, knowing she's not done, but wanting to get him back for his vague mien.
"Okay, I guess I'll just have to toss the rest of these to the seagulls then." He says morosely as he goes to pick up the plate and pretends to start rising.
"Huh!" She calls out, reaching out to grab the plate and pull it back down. "Fine, you win, presents later." She answers grumpily as she shoves an entire half of a croissant in her mouth.
Derek can only laugh at her now pronounced chipmuck look. "This is your fault you know!" She tells him accusingly as she attempts to chew the very large amount of croissant now filling her mouth. "You brought all that good food over last night, and then you didn't let me eat any of it!"
"I didn't hear any complaining." Derek responds with a pronounced wiggle of his eyebrows.
"Fine, no complaining from this corner. But tonight you're buying me dinner first!" Meredith laughingly demands.
"Actually, this resort has a fabulous restaurant. Tonight I'm going to wine and dine you my chicadee. I might even take you dancing." He promises with a wink.
"Breakfast in bed? Dancing? Dinner at an Italian resort? You might never get rid of me." Meredith comments flippantly, and then freezes when she realizes what she has just said.
Derek freezes too, the coffee cup that was on the way to his lips pausing in mid-air. He completes the arc after a couple of pained seconds, and chooses to let it go. A little more soberly he comments, "Come on sleepy-head, we've got a full day ahead of us. Well, full afternoon in your case."
Meredith doesn't say anything though, just smiles back at him as she takes another sip of her coffee. The tension dissipates, her comment is pushed aside, but it is not forgotten. Not by either of them.
Recommended Soundtrack: 'Til the End of Time' by Devotchka
They're just words, they ain't worth nothing
Cloud your head and push your buttons
And watch how they just disappear
When we're far away from here
Derek watches Meredith as she walks down the winding concrete staircase. She is wearing a few of his presents: a chocolate brown bikini, white wrap-around skirt, and giant straw hat. He had gotten the resort driver, through heavy bribery and some effortless charm, to take him to town this morning for a quick jaunt to the stores. He had left a note, but crumpled it up when he had returned to find her still sleeping. Well, neither one of them had gotten much sleep the past couple of nights. The only reason he hadn't been snuggled up against her himself was that his mind just wouldn't let him rest. He wanted this little trip to be careless and care-free, but this little voice at the back of his head kept reminding him that he was supposed to be marrying someone else on Sunday. Her little faux pas this morning not being anything he hadn't said to himself all morning. How was he really going to say goodbye? He wouldn't think about that right now. He was just going to enjoy this day with her. They would come to it when they did. And that was that.
Oh who put all the cares inside your head
You can't live your life on your deathbed
And it's been such a lovely day
Let's not let it end this way
He watches her making her way down the eons of steps that traverse the side of the cliff. They lead down from the main town of Sperlonga to the beach. He tries to push all thoughts away except the day that they have ahead of them. He can see that the bikini that he bought her was an extremely good choice, if he does say so himself. And he couldn't resist the giant straw hat and sunglasses that she was just now sporting. With her long hair spread out on her back, a white cover-all wrap-around skirt, and her sandals, she looks very European chic. He himself had picked out some very serviceable dark blue swim trunks. More American surfing shorts rather than European, but there would be no speedos getting anywhere near his person. No way.
"I can't believe you bought me a bathing suit." She tells him, still moving steadily down the stairwell, but turning to address him.
"Well, I would have been happy with you going to the beach naked, but I thought other people might have a problem with that." He teases, swinging the bag of towels and sun screen as he practically skips his way down the stairs.
"I'm sure you would have been." She tells him with a laugh, "But, seriously, I'm going to pay you back."
"Consider it a gift for having to put up with me all week." He laughingly tells her with a beguiling little grin.
"Well, there is that." She starts to say, when they round a corner and suddenly the entire beach is spread out before them on their left. The beach curves around into a half moon, and they can see all the way at the far end the point where they walked last night. Scores of umbrellas and beach chairs line the sandy shore, set up in little perfect rowed squares. "Derek, it's breathtaking!"
Meredith is looking out over the stairwell, so she doesn't notice that he is looking at her when he says, "Yes, it is."
She hears the little catch in his voice, so turns around to look at him inquiringly. She turns her head to look up at him and asks, "What?"
"Nothing." He answers with a secretive smile.
They both stare at the other, mesmerized for a second, but then wordlessly decide to continue down the stairs.
And everybody knows where this is heading
Forgive me for forgetting
Our hearts are irrevocably combined
Star-crossed souls slow dancing
Retreating and advancing
Across the sky until the end of time
They finish their ascent, sandaled feet meeting hot packed sand. They pass through the line of immediate umbrellas to the beach proper, and look around for a place to set up camp.
"What about over there?" Meredith asks as she points to a free spot a little ways down. The beach is crowded but not overly so. People mill about here and there in little groups, some on towels, some under umbrellas, all enjoying the not overly warm May day. Voices of little children screaming in the water, many low conversations, and seagulls crying permeate the air, with the even crooning rhythm of waves crashing with an even tempo in the background.
Derek follows her over to the little designated piece of sand and they start spreading out their towels. They both whip them out into matching rectangles, then toss their sandals aside, him throwing down his bag, and her freeing herself of her wrap, hat, and sunglasses.
They both look at each other happily and Meredith asks, "So what should we do now?"
Derek gets a very evil look on his face.
"What's that look for?" Meredith asks suspiciously, then backs up when Derek moves forward with his hands outstretched. He reaches for her, but she is too quick for him. She takes a few steps back and takes a challenging stance. Derek stands ready himself, with his arms stretched out in front of him in readiness and an irresistible grin on his face. He fake leaps at her, and she goes tearing down the beach laughing. He chases after her, laughing all the way himself, catching up to her and scooping her up in his arms.
"Ah! Derek Shepherd, I am so going to get you for this!" Meredith screams, but she doesn't seem to be trying very hard.
He carries her on into the water anyway, the cool ocean spray springing up to lightly splash them. The water is a might cold. He slowly makes his way further and further out to see, while she just relaxes in his arms and lets him take her where he will. When the water gets deep enough, he gently floats her on the water, them both bobbing up and down as one wave after another comes toward them and passes on.
He takes them out past the breakers, where the sea almost turns into a gentle lake. The waves still come, but they are gentle swells that only turn into tumultuous spray closer to the beach. The voices of the beach-goers on shore are muted by the crashing waves and it is if they are completely alone. Derek still holds Meredith in his arms, gently pushing her to and fro as he reaches the point where he can barely still keep his chest above water. They twirl around together, her hair floating behind her over his arm, a little smile on her lips, totally relaxed and at peace. He is relaxed and at peace. He can't remember the last time he felt this at peace.
"Penny for your thoughts?" Meredith asks, the happy smile replaced by concern for his sudden frown.
"It's nothing." He first answers, not wanting to break the happy spell.
"It's not nothing. Your frown says it's not nothing." She insists, frowning up at him as he can only describe as adorably concerned.
Like sisters and brothers we lean on each other
Like sweethearts carved on a headstone
Oh why even bother, it'll be here tomorrow
It's not worth sleeping alone
He pauses for a second, trying to decide if he should really tell her. He takes one more look at her face and decides to proceed.
"Have you ever been in a moment when you thought you were happy? And then something happens to make you really happy, and you realize what you thought was happiness before was just average? That maybe you just hadn't known what real happiness was until that moment?" He tells her, the honest statement pouring out of him.
She doesn't answer him, just waits for him to continue. "Well, that's how I feel right now." He concludes, watching her for her reaction, but qualifying it with, "What a way to ruin a moment, huh?"
Her eyes tear up, but there is a happy light to them. Her lips try to tilt upward into a smile, but they only manage to wobble. "You didn't ruin it." She tells him softly, and he can see that he hasn't.
For him though the moment is gone though. He no longer feels happy. In fact, he feels miserable.
And look at you and me still here together
There is no one who knows you better
And we've come such a long way
Let's put it off for one more day
Recommended Soundtrack: 'Rebel Rebel' by Seu Jorge
Meredith and Derek lay on their towels, side by side, lying flat on their stomachs as the sun beats down on their bathing-suit clad bodies. They had come out of the water hours ago after playing around out past the breakers: splashing and dunking and grabbing and generally having a great old time. Their little moment the only serious note in a day of fun and laughter.
Meredith lays with her eyes closed and head down on the blanket, arms holding her head off of the blanket. She is in the sun-baked stupor that all good sunbathers are familiar with: the half-awake, half-asleep state where even the smallest movement is torture. And every so often, when the sun feels the hottest on her skin, she turns over and starts the process all over again. Meredith is lying in said state with the extra bonus of knowing that Derek's happiest moment has been being with her today. She sighs for about the millionth time.
She's not going to bring that up right now though. She'll just bask in that knowledge for a little while and conveniently forget about that pesky thing of a fiancé and a stupid wedding waiting for someone the day after tomorrow. A girl lying on a Mediterranean beach with a hunky man sprawled out beside her in very flattering blue trunks can dream, right?
She turns over and she adjusts her sunglasses, but not without taking an assessing look at the man candy buffet spread out before her. He lays on his stomach, also with his hands spread out along his sides, his head facing away from her. She's sure if she looks, he will have his eyes closed too. She smiles a little and then lies down on her back, arms at her sides, and closes her eyes again.
"Derek?"
"Mmmm." He responds while not even moving an eyelash.
"So tell me, what's really wrong about being a Duke?" She asks, politely inquiring in a rambly sort of way. "I mean, your family owns a resort, and probably a lot of other cool places, people will do things for you they wouldn't do for anybody else, and….and, well, you get to be a Duke."
Derek lazily rolls his head over to her side and looks at her with half-awake eyes. "It's not that simple." He replies with a little relaxed smile.
"What's not that simple? Every guy I know would probably give his left nut to walk around saying, "I'm Duke so and so. Yes, that's me. Please get out of my way. Yes, I'm someone important, shove off." Meredith teases, the words just flowing out of her as she stays unmoving with her eyes closed.
"I don't know. It's just not me. I just want to be Derek." He answers simply.
"Why can't you be both? Why can't you be Derek with your friends and stuff and then be Duca when you need to be?" She asks, not really seeing the problem.
He seems to think about this for a second, but then responds, "But I don't even know how to be a Duke."
"Yes, you do. You were Duca when we went into that café on the Fiori Imperiali and you were one last night with the driver."
"What do you mean?" He says, propping himself up on his elbow, suddenly sounding a lot more awake.
"You…you…you just have a certain way you act around certain people in certain situations, that's all." Meredith explains, moving her hand around in emphasis but not really being able to explain what she means.
She still has her eyes closed though, so she doesn't see the puzzled look on his face. "I do?" He asks in surprise.
"Yeah, you just…you're just 'Duca' to them." She answers, for the first time lifting up her sunglasses to look at him. She sees the look on his face, so she says, "Not that it's a bad thing. You're just more in charge or something."
"More in charge?"
Meredith thinks for a moment, and then tries to explain with, "Yeah, like last night. If we had been normal tourists, we would have had to have waited for the city bus or paid for a taxi to take us to the town center. And then we would have had to wait for the resort car. Blah, blah, blah. But instead, when we got here you just called them up and they came straight out. You know what I mean?"
"Kind of." He remarks, still looking quite confused though.
"What about the guy at the Imperiali café?" Meredith asks.
"What about him?"
"How long have you known him?"
"Um…about as long as I've known Richard. So, I'd say about five years."
"Is he your friend?"
"No. He's the hostess at the restaurant."
"And he acts like that to every customer?"
"Like what?"
"Like he respects you. Like he wants to be your friend."
"No."
"Does he treat Richard like that?"
"Noooo."
"Would he have given us the best table if it had only been Richard there?"
"Probably not." He admits reluctantly.
Meredith pauses before she poses the next question, but she has to make her point. "Now the question is did you expect him to give you the best table?"
Derek thinks about it for a second, and then responds, "Maybe?"
And she pauses even longer before she asks her next question. "Now, did you expect that because you are Derek or because you are a Duke?"
Derek seems kind of stunned. He lies there, still propped up on his elbow, but then turns over onto his back to stare up at the sky.
"I'm not saying it's a bad thing. I'm just saying it's a part of who you are." She backtracks a little when she sees his reaction. "I act a certain way when I'm at school versus when I'm at home. You're just a certain person in some situations and a certain person in others. It's no big deal." She says with a shirk of her shoulders.
Derek doesn't respond for a couple of minutes, but then finally says, "I just never thought of it that way."
"What do you mean?"
"I guess I just thought it was either something I was or I wasn't."
"Why can't you be both?" Meredith asks, this time it being her turn to prop herself up on her side.
"I guess…I could." He says as he turns back to prop himself back up, facing her from his side of the blanket.
He smiles at her in a way she can't describe. Almost in gratitude. As if a light bulb has suddenly come on. They are now propped up on adjoining blankets, facing each other, separated only by a small amount of sand. They smile at each other in mutual accord, when suddenly the mood in the air shifts between them. The look in Derek's eyes changes and he takes his free hand and starts curling little caresses on the area a little above her left breast.
"You know in Europe, it is perfectly acceptable to go topless at the beach." He suggests a little naughtily.
"Is that so?" Meredith asks with a disbelieving eyebrow.
"Mmhmm." Derek affirms as his eyes watch the path of his finger trailing along the top of her breast.
Meredith's breath turns shallow, but when she talks it is firm and silky. "So I won't get arrested if I do this?" She asks as she turns to undo the back laces. She knows it's allowed, she's seen other women going topless today. She just wants to tease him.
"I am a Duke, you know. I could bail you out." He promises as the laces drop away and the top lets go a little in the front.
The pupils of his eyes get larger and he watches hungrily as she slides the top off and she tosses off and onto the bag. He unconsciously reaches out to touch her, but she brushes him away and lies down on her blanket. "I'm pretty sure the law does say something about touching." She says dampeningly, as she adjusts her sunglasses with a wicked little grin.
Derek does something unexpected though. He reaches up into their bag, takes out his cell phone, and begins dialing.
"Who are you texting?"
"The driver."
"Why?"
"Because we are going back to the hotel."
Meredith pauses in shock, but then busts out laughing.
"Derek Shepherd, are you trying to suggest that you would like to go back to the hotel right now?" She says teasingly.
"I'm not suggesting. Pack up your stuff and get your ass up those stairs right now." He orders good-naturedly, already up and shaking off his towel.
Meredith can only laugh. She gets up languidly, drawing it out just to mess with him. As soon as she lifts herself off of the blanket though, he has grabbed her towel, shakes it out, and throws everything into the beach bag. She throws her sandals on and is forcefully dragged off the beach. Laughing all the way of course.
Recommended Soundtrack: 'Time is running out' by Muse
Our time is running out
Our time is running out
You can't push it underground
You can't stop it screaming out
I wanted freedom
Bound and restricted
I tried to give you up
But I'm addicted
Now that you know I'm trapped sense of elation
You'd never dream of
Breaking this fixation
Meredith and Derek are in the back of the resort car: one of those plush mini-luxury cars with leather seats and adjustable privacy screens. Which is currently up (thanks to a coolly slid twenty-euro bill into the palm of said driver by himself). The drive to the resort is only fifteen minutes, at tops, but he is going to take advantage of every second that he's got.
When they left the beach, Meredith had wrapped her upper half with the white sarong, but he was currently trying to inch down as much as he can. They sat in the middle of the back seat of the car, having gotten in from both sides, and instantly met together in the middle. As soon as the door closed, Derek having pulled her body directly up against his and dove in for a kiss. She had turned her body instinctively into his, and even thrown her left leg right over both of his thighs.
Did they seriously still have ten minutes left before they got to the hotel? He didn't think he was going to make it. He had been only mildly playing when he had mildly suggested the topless thing. A guy could try, couldn't he? He hadn't actually expected her actually untie those laces and let it all go. He should have known he was in trouble when she had gotten that little Cheshire cat grin on her face. When she had reached around for the laces, he had wholly expected her to fake him out. It would have served him right for suggesting it.
He hadn't expected the gently release of her breasts from the almost infinitesimal piece of fabric that had been holding them in place. The milky orbs falling free at about the same time he noticed a very obvious tent in his pants. Involuntarily leaning forward to touch them when she stretched upward to toss the now forgotten top somewhere above her head. He had no idea where it went, because his vision had been stuck squarely on the puckered nipples begging him to touch them. He'd swear on his life that they had. Boy scouts honor.
Then she had reminded him about that god damned rule about touching, and his brain had very logically turned to getting her somewhere where there could be touching. Like right now. Like five minutes ago right now. He had momentarily regained some of his brain power when she had covered up. But now they were in a private, well semi-private space, that would lead to an even more private place. Who care if there's a driver that can probably hear everything that they are doing.
Her skin is warm from the suns rays; the smell of the sea and lavender mingling to produce a heady aroma that might just drive him mad. He grabs a hand-full of the afore-mentioned hair and pulls her lips even harder against his own. He doesn't know how they could possibly get any closer, the gloriousness of their tongues already entwined with the other. Her free hand grabs onto his chest and squeezes. Is she trying to make him cum or something? He drops his hand from her hair, grabs on to her ass and pulls her up directly against himself. She gasps deep in her throat, but it is his turn to gasp when she justly returns the favor.
"Fuck Meredith." He pants when she pulls herself away to place hungry little kisses along his neck.
"You started it." She counters, as he literally tries to calm himself. So not working.
"Has it been ten minutes?" He asks, the only thing that his brain can get out with Meredith pressed up against him.
"I have no idea, but we seem to be going through the tunnel."
"Thank God." He says with a groan, as she climbs on top of him, leaning in to bring their lips back together. He closes his eyes and rests his head back against the seat, and prays for the steady bump of the car that indicates they've turned down the resort's dirt road.
A few seconds later his prayers are answered, and he opens his eyes to find her silently laughing at him. She very quickly jumps down into her seat, just in time for the car to come to a full stop and the doors to be opened. There's no way in hell no one is going to not know what they've been up to though. Her hair stands out in wild disarray, her lips swollen with kisses, her eyes glowing. He's sure he's not much better. But she's the one getting the door opened for her.
He opens his own door and jumps out before his sorry state can be known to the entire resort staff. He hears her call out a quiet 'thank you' to the driver and it's not long before she joins him on the other side of the car. She very calmly sidles up next to him and smiles at him expectantly.
"Race you!" He cries out before darting toward their room.
He can hear her giggling from behind him, as he runs the short distance to their room and inserts the key in the lock. He throws it open in time for her to catch up with him, and he reaches underneath her and carries her into the bathroom. It's one of those weird European resort showers where the entire floor is the shower drain and the shower head is actually a giant cylindrical dome hanging from the ceiling. They both have on bathing suits, so he just turns on the spray and lets her down as he pushes her against the wall with his body.
The warm water pours down his back as his warm body presses her into the cool tiles of the bathroom. He grabs on to her hair and yanks her head back to nuzzle his entire face into the sensitive recesses of her neck.
The sarong falls with a quick release of its folds and her bikini bottom is pushed down from both hips with impatient fingers. She pushes his shorts down at the same time, and he leans down to pull her up the wall with hands wrapped around her uppermost thighs. He picks her up, only to slide right in as she wraps her legs around him in welcoming entreaty. He moans with the rightness of it. The all consumingness, the perfectness of being surrounded by Meredith. He pushes into her frantically as she wraps herself around him, internally and externally. God this feels fucking good.
"God, Derek, don't ever stop." She tells him as he pumps frantically into it.
Instead of answering though, he takes her mouth into his again and let's her know with his mouth that he doesn't plan on stopping anytime soon. He can feel her tightening around him, and her breath coming in shorter and shorter segments. All tell-tale signs that she's about to orgasm. His body knows it too, pumping harder and faster to send her over that burning crescendo. He is about to burst when she literally explodes in his arms. The guttural cry from her lips sending his body into paroxysms of delight. And before he knows it, he is so deep that he literally loses himself in her. The racking shudder of her body mirrored by his own. God, he loves her.