Chapter 17

AN: Thank you so much for the reviews. I work from home tomorrow, so I have some time to post! Here comes the next chapter of our saga...

For the rest of the night, they made wild and passionate love, soft and sweet love, and exotic and erotic love. They'd broken out some of the fun items that were similar to what they'd already tried: a crazy condom with bumps on it that had looked vicious but felt fantastic, and a tingling lotion that enhanced everything almost to the point of pain. She found that she didn't need too much stimulation with Derek; she was already hypersensitive with arousal. It had been—in a nutshell—the premiere sexual experience of Penelope's life.

She'd told him so, too, in no uncertain terms…

She was curled on his chest after a particularly aerobic session. "This, mister, is the best sex I have ever had."

"Me, too," he answered, kissing the top of her head. "You're addicting. I've never made love like I can't get enough."

She looked up at him with a grin. "I kinda always knew it would be fun knockin' boots with you."

He smiled back at her. "I kinda knew we were meant to make love."

Penelope sighed and curled up against him again, a soft smile on her face. There was something about how he'd talked, always referring to making love, that warmed her heart. She held him close. "I love making love with you."

"That's a natural progression."

She raised on her elbow to look at him again, curious about what he meant.

"You know I love you, right? Now I love making love with you," he answered, like it made all the sense in the world.

She could feel a quirky grin, but only nodded. Maybe it did make sense? Could it be that simple?

She didn't have much time to think about it; he rolled her under him again and gave her a wolfish grin. "For the record, I also like to fuck you. And knock boots with you, and screw, and..."

She giggled as he kissed the side of her neck and proceeded to do much of what he'd just said all night long.

The next morning, Derek was already awake when she woke up. He was stroking and massaging her back gently, and her legs were entwined with his.

"Good morning, baby," he murmured, kissing her forehead.

She stretched and smiled, and then winced a little. Some key areas of her body were a little achy after all the attention they'd gotten last night!

He was very alert, watching her every move, and noticed the flinch. With concern clearly written on his face, he asked, "Sore?"

She nodded, answering, "A little." It had been a long time since she'd done it. Not only that, no other lovers she'd ever had were anywhere near Derek's girth or length. That—pun intended—had been a huge bonus!

"Hold on, honey," he said, standing up and walking with his usual strut to the bathroom. She couldn't help but watch him: his gorgeous naked tush as it disappeared into the doorway, his sculpted, wide back, narrowing to a trim waist.

Most men were not at their best walking naked, with their back hair and odd protrusions flopping around, but not Derek. He was born to be in a nudist colony. Almost statue-like, he had the perfect amount of hair roughening his skin, and there was definitely nothing odd about his protrusions!

He returned to her side, carrying a steaming washcloth in his hand.

"Thanks," she said, reaching for the cloth.

"Let me, honey."

Penelope felt her face heating. Last night, when she was a femme fatale, being bared to his vision didn't seem odd at all. She felt sexy, hot in the dim lighting of the evening. It almost had a film noir quality to it, in her mind's eye. But now, in the bright light of day, the sunlight streaming in, she looked down her body, saw every imperfection, and knew that he could see it, too. Still, it was time to be bold. She hesitated for a second, and then lowered the covers.

He pressed the warm washcloth between her legs. He held it with a firm grip, with gentle, but precise pressure, cleaning and soothing her. He always treated her with the utmost care, like she was fragile and priceless; it was no surprise to her such big hands could be so delicate.

"I got a little carried away last night," he murmured.

"You didn't."

"Yes, I did," he said. "I knew better. Four times was too much. You were so tight, I knew...Why are you blushing?"

She sighed, cursing her fair skin, and rolled her eyes. " Ah...This is kind of a touchy subject, Hot Stuff, don't you think?"

"Not between lovers," he said matter of factly. "Besides, you were damn good. You know your way around a bedroom as well as I do."

She shook her head. "No, I don't."

He laughed. "Yes, you do."

"Derek," she said, knowing it was time to come clean. She wasn't the seductress he thought she was. "I've only had three other partners...You're number four."

He smiled at her, a beaming grin. "Well, then, I consider myself a very fortunate man to be one of the elite."

Her heart absolutely soared. That was probably the best thing he could've said to her.

"Thank you," she answered with a smile of her own.

He removed the washcloth, and then dried her gently with another one. "So...how did you learn those tricks, then?"

She laughed, still blushing. "I have the internet, you know!"

Derek burst out laughing. "Remind me to give thanks to Suzy Spreadit and Lance Dickhard..."

She chuckled, too. "Don't forget my favorite—Debby Suckalot."

"Randall Hunglow?" he commented, crawling back into bed with her.

"Carmen Electra," Penelope said, as matter-of-factly as she could.

"Ooh...touché," he said, pulling her into his arms. "Now tell me...are you sore here?" He began kissing the side of her neck

"No," she said, sighing happily.

"How about here?" he asked, dropping kisses on her jawline.

"That's fine, too."

"And here?" he asked, his eyes darkening to an obsidian shade as he ran his thumb over her lips.

She sucked his thumb into her mouth. "Not at all," she whispered, just before his mouth came down on hers again.

After finally leaving the bed in the early afternoon, they realized they were starving. Penelope didn't have any clothes with her, so they decided to order in. Derek ordered Japanese delivery, and then came back in the room.

Penelope was wearing one of his long t-shirts and boxer shorts, and she was digging through his side table drawer, the one with all the goodies he had purchased. Derek had a lot of things in his drawer that he had bought—assorted creams, lotions, and condoms.

She looked up at him, tilting her head to the side. "There's nothing kinky in here."

He laughed. "What were you expecting?"

She shrugged. "I don't know...there were a lot of things in the catalog, and I thought—"

"Sorry, honey," he said with a shrug. "I was a committed bachelor before you came into my life."

She thought that was sweet.

"I rarely brought women here; we always went to their places," he continued with a smirk. "Women have their own things they like to play with...I just got invited to share their toys."

That wasn't so sweet...

She shrugged the feeling off. She was there to have fun with him, not think about where she was on his list.

"Tell you what," he said, a big grin on his face. "Next weekend, let's head to your place and dig into the collection. We can try whatever you want to."

"Next weekend?" she asked, surprised and pleased. Although she'd hoped for more, she had trailing thought that this might be a one time thing.

"Sure," he answered. "Unless you have plans already?"

The hopeful look on his face made her smile even brighter. "No, I don't."

He grinned. "That's wonderful. I didn't want to just monopolize your schedule, since we are new to this!"

"No, sugar. You are tops on my list."

He leaned over and gave her a kiss. "As you are on mine, Baby Girl... Always."

Something about his look, the warmth in his eyes, made her heart skip a beat again. There was something there, something that—

The doorbell rang, causing her to jump and him to stand.

"Ah, delivery is here. Hang tight."

He left the room, and she sat on the bed, wondering if she really understood anything at all.