A/N: Your comments inspired me to continue! Thanks for all the support!

Derek woke up early the next day because they were holding auditions for Great Gatsby. Last night's conversation with Karen weighed heavy on his mind. Of course he wanted to see her, but he knew it would be a risky path. He would be playing with a very hot and dangerous fire, but Derek had always been a risk taker. As he sat at the table aside Tom, Julia, Eileen and some other team members, he attempted to clear his mind for auditions. At the moment, they were casting for the role of Daisy. The first few girls came and went, they were decent but not exactly what they were looking for.

The next name was called out, Karen Cartwright. Everyone exchanged confused glances, why was she auditioning? When she walked in Derek's jaw almost hit the ground. She didn't say anything to him last night about auditioning for Daisy. He hadn't see her in a few months and it took everything in him to not jump over the table and hug her. Thankfully Julia spoke up because he was speechless.

"Karen, so nice to see you! We didn't know you were interested in the part." Julia said excitedly. "You could have skipped the first audition rounds because you would obviously be a front runner for Daisy."

"Thanks Julia, I just wasn't very excited about my other offers so I decided to try for Daisy." Karen said. She smiled over at Derek. He remembered telling her he could picture her as Daisy. He pictured her as every female lead.

"You don't even have to sing Karen, we know how great you are. We'll talk it over and contact your agent if we all agree to cast you." Eileen said.

"Oh wow, ok I definitely wasn't expecting this." Karen said excitedly. "I hope I hear from you guys soon then." She said smiling and giving an appreciative nod before walking out.

"Wow I can't believe we didn't think of using Karen sooner, she would be amazing. What do you guys think?" Julia said looking at her coworkers.

"Yeah I think she would be great actually," Tom said agreeing with Julia. "She has obviously proven herself, she could be a front runner for a Tony in this roll."

"Derek what are your thoughts?" Eileen asked with a bit of concern. She knew they had a history.

After an overly dramatic pause, he looked over at them and simply said, "I couldn't think of anyone better."

"We actually all agree on something?" Julia said sarcastically. "It's a miracle!"

Later that night, Derek was lying in bed after putting Emma to sleep. Ivy was out for the evening enjoying some time with her friends. Since the baby was born, she hadn't been able to go out much so Derek agreed that she deserved a night out. His mind was running a million miles an hour. He might be working with Karen again. It would give him a great excuse to see her. Ivy couldn't be upset cause after all they were just working together, right? He was legitimately considering Karen's offer, which by his understanding meant an affair. Maybe if he finally slept with Karen, he could move on from her and be able to commit to Ivy. Maybe that was all he needed to get her out of his mind. There was only one way to find out. In the midst of his thoughts, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He smiled and felt giddy all of the sudden.

"Well Karen, aren't you just full of surprises?" Derek said answering the phone.

"Sorry I didn't tell you I was going in to audition. I wanted to see the look on your face, which was priceless by the way." Karen said laughing lightly.

"I'm glad you enjoyed my shock and awe. Well, everybody loves you for Daisy, I think you just might have to work with me again. Can you handle it?" Derek asked teasing her.

"Oh I can handle it. Can you?" Karen threw the question back at him.

"I'm not sure, you can be quite a handful sometimes. Although I am looking forward to showing you some more dance moves. You know getting really close to you and moving your body around until it's in the perfect position."

"Those were always my favorite parts of rehearsal." Karen cooed.

"So I've been thinking about your offer from last night. Are you suggesting what I think you're suggesting?" Derek asked with piqued interest.
"If you think what I'm suggesting is secretly sleeping together because you know that's what we both want, than yes. I'm not out to ruin your relationship Derek, but I do want to make you happy. Maybe think of it as friends with secret benefits?" Karen suggested.

"Why do you want this Karen?"

"Oh I don't know because I want to be around you, I miss you and I can't stop thinking about what it would be like to sleep with you even after all this time. You know there is this crazy chemistry between us, I don't want to miss out on it anymore." Karen said confidently.

Well she had clearly made up her mind about it, and he couldn't deny anything she was saying. It was all true.

"I know you have a lot more to lose than me right now so you can call the shots on this one Derek. I can be flexible." She was literally trying to talk him into it, and at the moment he couldn't think of one good reason to say no. "And just to be clear, this is not for any kind of part. This is just me and you equally giving and receiving what we both want," Karen persuaded.

"What if this can't just be sex? I care about you Karen. What if it turns into more?" Derek questioned.

"It is a possibility, but if more is what makes you happy then isn't it worth it? Derek I just know that what we have, whatever it is, does not come along that often. Now might be our only chance to explore it."

"God you are right about that." Derek paused for a moment and thought. Everything in him was screaming yes. Give it chance. Take a risk Derek. "Ok, yes Karen I would be lying if I said I didn't want this. I'm all in."

He knew he would regret it if he didn't take this chance with her. It might change his life, but he had to be with her. At this point, any consequence seemed worth it. He just had to be careful. "You know I live with Ivy, which makes everything a bit more complicated."

"Yeah it does, but we'll work it out. I live in my own apartment now and I don't have a roommate, so that will help. We'll just have to get creative. Even if it means we have to spend a lot of time on the phone. Maybe I could return the favor from last night?" Karen said with a sexy drawl.

"Well Ivy isn't home right now, and I'm all alone laying in my bed. What would you do to me?" Derek asked. Why not start now? He wanted her, he always wanted her.

"Well I would slowly unzip your pants and pull them off along with your boxers. Seeing how fast you get hard would make me so wet." Karen breathed. "Then I would kiss down your stomach and then slowly lick your hard on from bottom to top."

"God Karen, I'm already so hard it hurts." Derek had unzipped his pants and let himself free.

"Touch yourself Derek." Karen said, in almost a demanding tone. He did as he was told. "Close your eyes, move your hand up and down and imagine it was me stroking you."
Derek lost himself in the image of Karen doing everything she was saying. He was breathing heavy and letting out occasional moans of pleasure. In only took a few extra minutes of Karen telling him all the things she would do to him before he was on the edge.

"Karen, I can't take much more."

"Come for me Derek. I want you to come so bad."

And with that he was done. He let himself tip over the edge and pleasure took over. After a minute or so he finally composed himself enough to speak.

"Ok who are you and what have you done with innocent Karen Cartwright from Iowa?" Derek asked teasing her.

She let out an adorable laugh. "I guess Broadway has corrupted me. But don't worry. I'm only like this with you. Something about you just brings out a different side of me."

"When do you think I can see you Karen so I can be with you for real?"

"We'll have to play it by ear. You just have to let me know when you have some free time in your schedule," Karen said. "But I hope it won't be too long."

"Me too, I need you Karen." Derek heard the front door open downstairs signaling Ivy's arrival. "Hey I have to go, but I'll talk to you soon ok? Sweet dreams."

"Ok bye Derek."

He hung up the phone and rushed to the bathroom to clean himself up. He walked back into his room to find a drunk Ivy trying to get ready for bed.

"Hey babe, I had such a good time. Thanks for watching Emma." Ivy said in a drunk slur. "I missed you," she said stumbling over to him. She kissed him and pushed him down on the bed.

Derek was obviously not in the mood. He pushed away from her, "Ivy I'm not feeling very good right now, I just want to get some sleep. Let's just get you to bed ok."

Ivy was too drunk to put up a fight and just mumbled a few words before turning over and basically passing out. Derek didn't know what he was getting himself into but he did know that he needed Karen. He had pushed it down for a long time, but his want for her was always there and it was resurfacing quickly. He hoped he could be alone with her soon.