Chapter 14

AN: Thanks for all the reviews! This is a HUGE chapter...but at least now we're havin' fun...

Toot toot!

Derek heard the familiar honking of Esther in his driveway. He'd been waiting for Penelope to pick him up for the party at Prentiss' tonight. He didn't mind driving; in fact, he usually drove whenever they drove anywhere together. It was old school for him—men drove. Tonight, however, Penelope must've thought differently. She'd insisted on picking him up.

"My date, sugar. I asked; I pick you up."

Derek hadn't really considered it a date—it was just another one of her sex toy parties—but he'd gone along with it. P had been so adorable in her insistance, it had warmed his heart.

Deep down, he couldn't help but think she had some sort of ulterior motive, too, and he felt completely in the dark. He didn't care for the feeling; he was usually one step ahead of everyone—especially when it came to sixth sense.

Grabbing his bottle of Patron—Prentiss had said it was open bottle—he headed out the door and over to Esther.

He was surprised to see a very sexily dressed Penelope holding the passenger car door open. She had on a tight little black dress, with a deeply scooped neckline that made Derek long to sneak a peek. With a little hat on, she would've looked like a naughty chaffeur.

"Hi there, gorgeous," she said, the slightest hint of a smile curving her lips. She stepped closer to give him a light embrace.

"P?" he asked, looking confused. "What's going on?"

Her smile increased, lighting up her face. "Showing you some respect. We girls can be chivalrous, too."

"Crazy lady," he said with a chuckle, sliding into the seat.

"Buckle up, baby," she said, before slamming the door shut.

He watched as she crossed in front of the car, watched her short skirt that just tucked over her ass, leading to the expanse of her mile long bare legs, ending in black patent leather stilettos. Despite taking a cold shower—he knew what being at these parties did to his libido—he found himself again uncomfortably hard.

He couldn't win.

As they drove to Prentiss' place, Penelope flirted with him, which didn't help his situation at all. She glanced over at him through her thick lashes, laughed with a throaty, naughty giggle, and even blew him kisses. This was stuff that she normally did, but something was different. There was a slight change in Penelope. She was normally a very sexy, flirty woman, but tonight, she oozed confidence and sensuality. A lesser man would've melted into the floor mats at the amount of heat she generated, but he was made of tougher stock.

Sort of.

There were already five cars in the driveway by the time Penelope pulled up. Prentiss had a large, family dining room in the house she used for dinner parties. It was her mother's place, in a swanky part of town. Derek and Penelope had been there a few times. The ambassador even had a butler.

"We're here," Penelope said, throwing the car in park. She smiled over at Derek, and only then could he tell she was just a touch nervous. "Can you grab the bag from the trunk?"

"Sure thing, sweetheart."

Penelope handed him the keys and rushed up the driveway.

He laughed as he watched her, and then went to open the trunk.

The dinner ended up being a loose and fun affair. They had lots of wine and relaxing conversation. Everyone was having a blast. There were some BAU people there: Rossi was there with his girlfriend, Sabrina—or as Derek called her, Number Four—Seaver showed up with her steady beau, Michael. Even JJ arrived with Will. Jack had strep throat, which had kept Hotch away. Penelope had to admit she was a touch relieved; selling sex toys to her boss would've been a little bit more awkward than everyone else!

Derek was helping set things up for sales, while Penelope chatted with Prentiss.

"Are you ready?" Emily asked, a fine brow raised. Penelepe knew the question had a double meaning; Emily was very astute.

She nodded. "As ready as I'll ever be." She glanced around. "Where's Reid?"

"He had a dissertation to give," Prentiss explained, "but he said he would try to come by later."

"Okay," Penelope replied, and then asked, "Then I suppose I can get started on the party. I'm thinking loose and relaxed, if that's all right by you?"

Prentiss grinned. "Of course. Why don't you have everyone go to the sitting room, and—"

"Emily?" Cory, Em's date for the evening, called from the kitchen. The young hunk—Emily was somewhat of a cougar—was holding up two bottles of wine. "White or red?"

She rolled her eyes at Penelope, and then looked back at the door and answered, "How about both?"

They both giggled, as they stood up and headed into the living room.

The evening ended up more like a party and less like a show. There was drinking, dancing, games…all sorts of fun things. Derek found himself in one area, and Penelope was across the room, talking to people.

Penelope was working the party. She was really in her element, teasing and laughing with everyone, making them comfortable. All of the guests, male and female, asked her questions and advice. It kept her extremely busy, but she didn't look like it bothered her in the least. She glowed with radiance and enthusiasm; Derek couldn't take his eyes off of her.

She looked like she was having the time of her life. She blushed and giggled right along with the guests, which made the crowd trust in her more. For instance, earlier, she was talking with Seaver, Mike, and Reid, who had shown up stag a while ago, and had scored major points.

"So, how do you use this thing?" Seaver asked, her cheeks red as she pointed to something in the book.

She chuckled, and then signaled to him. "Oh, Hot Stuff! C'mere."

He wasn't too far away, but she still crooked a finger at him, her dark purple polish flashing under the light.

Obediently, he went over. "What's up, baby?"

Her mischievous grin should've warned him, but he was too eager to be by her side. She treated everyone like they were her best friend, which left her with not as much time for her real best friend. He had much less to do than he had at those first parties. He simply helped tally receipts like her assistant, while they continued to chat with Penelope.

"Wanna explain how to use this to Ashley?"

She was pointing at the sex sling in the book. Derek shook his head and felt his cheeks heating.

"Are you blushing?" Reid asked, obviously delighted. "You are! You're blushing!"

"You, lady, are a very bad girl," he said, tapping her nose with his long finger.

She held his wrist, and then kissed his finger and gave it a little lick. He felt his heart pound harder and watched the naughty glint in her eyes.

"Excuse me?" a lady said, stepping over, holding a catalog. "Do you have a moment? I'd like to ask about this set..."

"Of course," Penelope answered, shooting him a wistful look, before she released his hand and wandered away from him yet again.

The more he watched, the more he knew it was true. This crowd was falling in love with her. They were as bewitched by her confidence and beauty as he was. He knew it more than anyone, and he was so proud of her.

"She's really something at this, isn't she?" JJ asked, carrying a glass of wine. She'd startled him just a bit.

Derek regained his composure, and then grinned, his heart swelling with pride. "Yeah, she is."

"You know...she's usually with you at this sort of thing. Kind of hard sharing her attention?" she asked, arching her fine blonde brow at him.

"Nah," he replied. "She knows I'm waiting for her at the end of the night…and then I get her all to myself."

Will pulled JJ into his arms. "You're a bigger man than me, Morgan," he drawled. "I know I couldn't share."

JJ laughed and slapped at Will's arm. "Sweetie...It's not like that with Morgan and Garcia…"

Derek didn't seem to be paying attention; he was still looking at Penelope.

Will arched a brow at JJ. "It isn't, huh?"

"What was that?" Derek asked. He pretended he missed JJ's comment, when in actuality, he'd heard. He wasn't sure he was able to face what it said about him… or the truth he was facing tonight.

JJ shared a look with Will and said, "Dance with me, cowboy…"

Derek gave a little laugh as Will dipped JJ low and dramatically, before leading her to the makeshift dance floor, and then he went back to his favorite thing: watching Penelope.

She was holding up a particularly naughty dong, a matching naughty grin on her face. The man she was talking to, one of Prentiss' friends, leaned in closer and whispered something in her ear.

He watched as she smiled back at the man. Something about the man bothered Derek. He was there with another girl, but she was nowhere in sight. Derek swore the man kept trying to look down Penelope's dress.

Penelope gave a throaty laugh as the pervert said another comment to her, and then she shook her head in a negative fashion. Derek worked his way closer to Penelope, just in case she needed him.

That's what he told himself.

"Not that one?" the man asked with an exaggerated pout. "Well, gorgeous, how about something a little bigger? Will that rock her world?"

"It could," she answered honestly. Derek thought he looked about fifteen, with his brown hair and freckles. Not at all her type. "Seriously, tiger, it's all in how you use it."

"Willing to give me a demonstration?" he asked, his leer becoming more pronounced. "A hands on one? You, pretty lady, can rate my technique."

"Like hell she will," Derek muttered under his breath, and took a few steps to stand right by her side. He looped a protective arm around her waist.

"Oh, Derek," she said with a smile. "This is Neil, a friend of Emily's. He's here with his cousin."

Derek nodded at the younger man.

"And I am looking for a new girlfriend. Miss Penelope is giving me some tips," he said with a sickly sweet smile. "I was hoping maybe she might consider…"

"Oh, that's so cute," Penelope began, looking at the kid's pathetic, puppy dog look, "but—"

"Dance with me," Derek said to her suddenly, pulling her into his arms and away from Neil.

She must've been unprepared, because she gasped as she stumbled into his chest. "Derek! Be careful. These are four inch heels."

"I noticed…as did every other man in here," he growled.

She sucked in a breath and looked up at him, hurt in her eyes. "You don't like them?"

"Hell, yes, I do," he said swiftly, his hands on her low back, pressing her even closer. He couldn't be close enough to her. He didn't realize how much he had missed her tonight.

He thought of Will LaMontagne…He'd been wrong when he'd spoken to him earlier. He couldn't share, either.

And Derek knew exactly what that meant.

Satisfied with what he knew was true, he held her eyes, those pools of deep blue he was happy to be lost in, and said, "They're gorgeous…sexy…like you are."

"Awww, Hot Stuff," she said, her grin warm and infectious. "Thank you."

"Baby, you have to know how sexy you are tonight," he whispered huskily, moving his mouth closer to her ear. "That couldn't have been the first proposition you had tonight."

She chuckled. "No…that was number five, actually."

"Did you consider any of them?"

She leaned back to look at him, and then frowned and shook her head. "No, of course not…they were just teasing."

"No, they weren't, sweetheart," he replied honestly. "They were serious."

She shrugged. "Well, even if they were, I wouldn't consider it."

"Good," he said, pressing his cheek to hers. He held her so closely, a credit card would have had a hard time sliding in between them. He simply enjoyed holding her tight, absorbing the feelings rolling over his body, mind, and soul.

After all, it wasn't every night a man realized he was in love.

"But it isn't because I don't want to, Hot Stuff," she said near his ear.

"Don't want to what?" he murmured lazily, almost contentedly. She was a witch, a beautiful sorceress, and he was falling further under her spell, just being in her arms.

"Take up those propositions. I'm so overdue."

"What stopped you, then?" he whispered, vivid pictures flashing in his mind of the past few weeks and how they'd teased. They were a perfect match; he was overdue, too.

"There's only one man I would consider that proposition from," she purred softly, trailing her fingertips up and down his spine.

Derek felt everything that was male in him tighten in anticipation. He closed his eyes, failing to control the shudder that ran through his body.

"Hot Stuff?" she whispered, looking up in his eyes with eyes as dark and sultry as he knew his were.

He answered her in a voice so husky, he barely recognized it. "Let's get the hell out of here."