Chapter 5

AN: Thanks for the reviews and the well-wishes. Still busy as heck, but getting better. Posting early because I won't be home the rest of the day. I promise to answer reviews when I get a chance; so sorry I'll be late!...As for the story, whoo hoo, one of my favorite things...

The curl of excitement rolled through Penelope as Derek drove them down the street to his place. She was quiet as long as she could be, but it was hard, damned hard, not to scream with giddiness.

"A show?" she asked, trying to keep her voice even. He had to be kidding. "What kind of show?"

"Weren't you listening earlier?" He turned from looking out the window and faced her. His smile was slow, sexy and oh, so hot. "I only do private shows."

Her mouth fell open. Best friends don't just strip for each other, regardless of how much they flirted. Oh, dear Lord. He didn't... he wasn't...

"Are you serious?"

Nodding, he said, "You've been a very good girl; you deserve to see your type in action, don't you?"

She squealed girlishly and giggled, against her better judgment. She couldn't help herself. "Oh, hell, yes!"

He laughed and winked at her as he pulled into his driveway.

"But, baby," he began, still giving her his sexy smile. "There is one condition."

She blinked, then gave him a sidelong glance. "What's that?"

"I do expect repayment."

"What kind of repayment?" she asked. The tingles of anticipation rushed over her body, and her nipples hardened so tight, she could cut glass with them. A low, swirling heat began low in her belly, and she could feel herself getting wetter just from imagining what Derek was alluding to.

So, it was safe to say at this point, she was ready to give him anything he asked for!

"This show is going to be mutual." He threw the car in park and leaned over. He reached his hand up, holding her chin, making her look directly at him. "I dance; you dance. I strip; you strip."

Her heart thumped in her chest, and she began to feel a little nervous. She'd danced in her underwear alone, and with her girlfriends in high school, pretending to be sexy. She loved to dance, and she knew she had some sexy moves.

However, this was Derek. He was sculpted God of chocolate thunder, and she... well, she was a realist. She knew she didn't have the kind of body men drooled over, although her Hot Stuff always seemed to like it. In this case, she imagined she'd sit and watch, while Derek slowly peeled off everything he had on. She was still uncertain. Would he-

"Hey," he said, holding her chin a little tighter in his hand, making her meet his eyes again. "You say I'm your type? Well, angel, you are mine. You have always been my type."

A shiver rolled down her spine, this time a very pleasant one, and she smiled. "I understand."

He looked at her for a second more, peering deeply in her eyes, like he was looking for something. A moment later, he shook his head and dropped his hand. He climbed out of the truck.

She wondered what was going on. He looked kind of disappoint-

Opening her side, he interrupted her thoughts, reached up to help her down, and said, "I think you need more convincing."

He slammed the truck door shut. With determination, he advanced on her with a tiger-like prowl. Penelope felt her heart start to race and tingles race up her spine. Derek reached his arms around her back, resting his hands on her hips, and pulled her roughly against him. With the contact of just his hands, electric jolts rushed through her body, and her breathing accelerated.

Pushing her back against the door, he lined his body perfectly against her. His hard chest crushed her breasts, his thighs brushed against hers. Lowering his head, he buried his face in the crook of her neck. She stood stock still as he breathed, his warm breath fanning against her ear. He breathed in slowly, as if he were memorizing her scent, and then he deliberately arched his hips against her. She could feel the warmth and hardness of his erection, every long inch, pressing against her. He was so close, she could even feel the thrumming of his pulse in his length.

"I haven't even kissed you yet, and that's what you do to me," he murmured, his voice husky and gravelly, like he hadn't used it in awhile. "Never, ever, doubt for a moment how much I desire you."

Wasting no more time, he lowered his head and captured her mouth in a hungry, nearly desperate kiss. He raised his hands up to cup her head, burying his hands in her curls, as his mouth took hers. She melted against him, wrapping one arm around his lean waist. She cupped his cheek in her other hand, feeling the softness of his skin and the roughness of stubble.

He emitted a low growl, lowered his hands to cup her bottom, and dragged her up and into his body, melding her even more tightly against him. He pressed her hips closer to his, continuing the teasing strokes against her, and she opened her mouth, allowing entrance for his hot tongue. He wasn't asking for her compliance; he was demanding it.

He didn't have to. She wasn't about to deny him anything. In fact, she had a few demands of her own!

He kissed her like she felt, like it was far too long, and he wasn't going to wait a second longer. Over and over, he kissed her, pouring gasoline on the fire erupting inside her. She looped her leg around his and he reached for it, opening her stance, pressing even more into the bulge between his legs.

"We need to stop," he gritted hoarsely as he tore his mouth from hers. At the same time, his hands were massaging, parting, squeezing her bottom in a promise of things to come.

"We do," she agreed with a whimper.

She lowered her hands slowly, letting them sweep over his body. They stepped apart, both panting and somewhat frustrated. Penelope brought her fingers up to her still tingling lips, and watched as Derek wiped his hand across his face.

They stared at each other as the enormity of what just happened hit them both. They were quiet, and then slowly they began to smile at each other again. Soon, they were laughing.

"I guess we needed to do that for awhile, didn't we?" he said, still laughing.

"Good Lord, yes," she said, giggling. "We practically attacked each other."

"It's been a long, long time coming, Penelope Garcia."

"Too long, Derek Morgan."

The corner of his mouth went up in a wicked grin. "You might say that again later for a different reason…"

Shaking her head, she said, "You have such a one track mind."

"That I do. Speaking of remembering things... come on, woman," he said, reaching for her hand. "It's showtime."