I thank you all for your comments and insightful observations to the last chapter.

This chapter brings Meredith and Derek together again, whether or not it's going to help her or make things more difficult will remain to be seen. :o)

Chapter Six
Dangerous Games

Derek slipped into his office at the restaurant and locked the door behind him. He opened the safe and rolled out the painting on his desk. It was a beautiful little canvas, one of Monet's distinctive watercolors, and he took a moment to appreciate the masterpiece. It was worth a small fortune, and he wondered who Gareth had been dealing with that had been willing to pay for it. There were several people he could call, but he really just wanted to return the damn thing, no questions asked.

So deep in thought, when his cell phone rang, he nearly bolted out of his chair. It was Detective Hunt, and Derek frowned. "Yes?" he answered sharply.

"Good afternoon to you too, Mr. Shepherd. Am I getting you at a bad time?"

"No, I'm just dealing with a few things."

"I'm sure you are. I wanted to ask you about the photo of you and your brother that was in yesterday's paper. You looked quite intent. Can you tell me what you were arguing about?"

"It was nothing," Derek said tiredly. "He had some scheme to make money, seemed to think I should go along with it."

"And this was the last time you saw him alive?"

"Yes, I guess it was."

"You didn't tell me about that before, Mr. Shepherd."

"I didn't think it was important."

"The reporter in the paper seems to think it was rather ominous. I don't put a lot of stock in that, of course. But you should have told me. It puts you in a bad light."

"I didn't kill my brother."

"Well, at the moment you have no alibi for that time frame. Not that there's any evidence pointing to you, either. Unless you've thought of anyone else that could have done it since we talked last."

For a moment, Derek flashed on the note left on his car, but he wasn't about to mention that yet. "No, but as I told you, he owed money to a lot of different creditors."

"We've been looking into that, of course. Gareth was in debt, as you say, to some people that demand a lot of interest. You didn't want to help him out?"

"He needed to stand on his own feet, Det. Hunt, but in retrospect, I should have done more. Maybe he would be alive right now."

"Well, I plan to be at his funeral to see if anyone suspicious shows up."

"Really? You believe someone will just pop up wearing a sign that admits his guilt?" Derek asked, but he wondered as well if his blackmailer would show up.

Hunt chuckled a little. "Not quite that simple, but part of my job is being able to recognize some of the criminal element. Give me some credit, Mr. Shepherd."

"Of course. Now, I'm busy so if there's nothing else?"

"Not at the moment. Keep in touch, all right?"

"Sure."

Derek set the phone aside and studied the painting again. There were likely only a couple of people in Seattle that would have had a painting this valuable in their homes, and they weren't likely to report it missing. One of them was a reclusive billionaire who had a small home on Bainbridge Island. He had purchased one or two things from Derek in the past, preferring to stay under the radar and just enjoy the paintings without public scrutiny.

The other man was Derek's mentor, Richard Webber. As a master thief himself, it would be just like him to have a Monet such as this one. "I think I need to get in touch with you," Derek said thoughtfully. "And if you aren't missing this, you might know who is." With that in mind, he carefully returned the painting to the safe and closed it carefully.

"We've been served," Mark said dryly, looking at Meredith across his desk. "I guess we've touched a nerve with that last story."

"What?"

"According to Shepherd's lawyer, we are to cease and desist writing 'inflammatory and derogatory' stories about him." Mark indicated the legal document on his desk. He leaned back in his chair, and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Oh…well, that sounds serious."

"I suppose it does."

"So we stop?"

"For the moment, I suppose. But our lawyers will counter sue, and we can get back at him as soon as possible. The funeral is coming up, I think you should be there, at least to take some notes and see who shows up."

Meredith nodded. "Sure."

"No second thoughts?"

"None. He's just another story." Meredith stated it with certainty, but in fact, she was wavering on that. Ever since sharing that unexpected kiss, she'd been consumed with even more erotic thoughts about Derek that she wasn't about to share with Mark. In her career as a reporter, she'd never gotten personally involved with anyone she wrote about, it didn't make for an unbiased opinion. Still, she'd never met anyone quite like Derek before. There was something about him that piqued her curiosity, and her emotions. She wanted to find out more about the man, and not just to drag his name through the gossip mud.

"Sure. If you say so," Mark grinned. "I think you still want to jump his bones even if he doesn't give you any information. Just be careful, Grey."

"I'm always careful, Mark. In fact, Cristina and I were just talking about that at dinner the other night. She wants to take some self-defense classes and I'm going with her."

"Does that mean you'll be able to throw me down on the floor and take advantage of me?" he asked, with a little gleam in his eye. "Or maybe you and Cristina could...?"

"It's not always about sex, Mark," she smirked, getting up before he could make any further comments. "More likely it means a knee in the crotch."

"Ouch." Mark winced at the thought.

"Exactly. So don't test me!"

Later that evening, as fog rolled in from the bay, shrouding the city, Meredith sat in her car outside of Ravish as the last of the patrons left. If she was going to do this, she had to take advantage of the fact that Derek was likely alone, closing the restaurant. She needed to get close to him, gain his confidence, if she was going to get any kind of inside information about Gareth. Finally, the staff departed as well, laughing amongst themselves, and she stepped out of her car, wrapping her coat around herself. She had dressed carefully for this encounter, choosing a delicate dress that accentuated her curves, even if it was a little too thin for the chilly damp in the air.

Finding the back entrance still unlocked, she slipped inside, discarding the coat before making her way through the kitchen. She paused at the threshold of the bar, taking a moment to watch Derek as he went over the evening's receipts. He sat at the polished oak bar, a large goblet of red wine in front of him, with only a few of the lamps casting light on his paperwork. He had discarded his jacket and tie, and his white shirt was unbuttoned at the throat. While he looked less impeccable than his usual public persona, he was no less sensual. Light and shadows played over his features, sculpting his cheekbones where the dark stubble already grew. The fingers of one hand played along the stem of the goblet, before he lifted it to his lips.

She must have made some sound then, because he glanced in her direction, after taking a swallow of the rich cabernet. A brief smile graced his mouth, and then it was gone as he stood up. "Ms Grey, to what do I owe the honor of your presence?" he inquired, moving towards her, his indigo eyes raking her from head to toe. "We're closed for the evening, you know."

"Yes, of course, I just..." she started to say, and then stopped. What could she say that would make him listen to her?

Derek stopped and waited for her to speak again, leaning one shoulder against the wall, arms crossed over his chest. He could see the pulse beating at her throat, and he caught the nervous tension that she radiated. "Well...? You came to ask more questions about my brother? To dig for more dirt on my family? Maybe ask about my mother's bad habits that caused him to become a criminal? Even though I realize you can fabricate something to suit your perception of my family. But wait…you can't write anything now, can you? I trust your boss got the legal notification from Addison?"

Meredith acknowledged his jibe silently for a moment. "Listen, I get it. You have every right to be angry with me, but I had this urge to see you. After that kiss, you have to admit there's something between us," she said softly, making herself step a little closer to him. It wasn't a lie, she did want to see him, despite it being part of her job.

"Do you think that's a good idea?" he asked, raising one eyebrow. "After all, you think I killed my brother, isn't that right? What could you possibly want to see me about...alone?" His voice was dangerous and somewhat mocking, and she lifted her chin defiantly.

"You're innocent until proven guilty, and I'm only a reporter, not a cop. Maybe I like the bad boy image you like to project to everyone." She was drawn to him like a moth to a flame; even knowing about his reputation, his legendary parties, the powerful motorcycle he drove with reckless abandon, and the women he was romantically linked with. It all fueled the attraction she felt. She lifted her hand, and touched his face, mesmerized by his smoky gaze. Derek caught her hand, and placed a kiss on her wrist, and it sent unbidden heat through her body. It reminded her all too quickly of the effect their last kiss had on her.

"You've taken a chance, coming to see me here like this. I think we both know what you really want with me," he said quietly, suddenly pinning her against the wall, so that his body was intimately close to hers. His fingers played with a tendril of her hair, as he inhaled the scent of her skin. "Are you sure that you want to do this? You can leave right now, and we'll forget this happened. What if someone found out...you would be accused of compromising your ethics, of sleeping with the man you're trying to prove guilty in the media. It's a dangerous game you're playing."

Her body stiffened, and she lifted her face instinctively. Her lips parted, partly in surprise, and partly in invitation, and she held her breath, not moving. His hands moved to cup her face, his thumb tracing the edge of her mouth. Hands that may have done harm to his brother, but at that moment, she realized he would never hurt her. "Don't you like dangerous games?" she laughed softly.

His eyes were unfathomable in the dim light, as he contemplated her words. "Just as long as we're clear about what we're doing then," he said finally. "In this game, I intend to win." Then he slanted his mouth over hers, and she was aware of just how far she had pushed this seduction, that it was headed towards its inevitable conclusion. And she was surrendering to the game, tumbling into the heady rush that consumed her, powerless to stop it.

Her mouth welcomed his, as his tongue invaded, and she met him kiss for kiss. There was an urgent hunger between them, as he buried his fingers in her hair and kept her close. There was no longer any space between them, the heat of his body and the press of his erection gave her no doubt that she was turning him on. As if sensing her thoughts, Derek lifted his head, and gave her a lazy smile. "Oh yes, I want you right now, you aren't getting away from me."

Before she realized his intent, he had her in his arms and carrying her easily towards his office. He kicked the door shut behind him, and strode to the leather couch, where he dropped down onto it. With her straddling his lap, he undid the tie of her lilac silk wrap dress, sliding the material away from her shoulders. The silk slithered from her body, leaving her completely bare to his hungry eyes. He whistled softly. "You really did come ready to seduce me, Ms Grey. I must say I'm a little surprised. Not that I don't admire your foresight."

Meredith burned under his gaze, naked except for the Jimmy Choo sandals on her feet. "I always have a plan, Mr. Shepherd," she replied tartly.

"Under the circumstances, we don't need to be so formal, do we…Meredith?" he laughed softly, before placing his mouth against her breasts. With his hands supporting her back, he licked and sucked and nibbled until she was gasping in pleasure. The way he used his teeth against her nipple, the delicious way his tongue moved to ease the sting, and then the deep sucking all combined to bring her up to her knees, clutching his hair to hold him there.

When he lifted his head to look at her, she kissed him, long and hard, thrusting her tongue into his mouth in a blatant invitation. Derek kissed her back, just as hard, making her tremble from the sensation. His hands moved to her thighs, sliding his fingers between her legs to use his thumb on her clit in a bold, possessive move that made her moan against his mouth. She broke the kiss, falling against his chest, feeling a little wild at how quickly this had escalated.

"Should I trust you?" he asked, his lips at her ear suddenly as he continued to toy with her almost lazily.

"Probably not, but I'm here because I want to see you, nothing else," Meredith replied, arching her hips against him.

"Then we're even, because you shouldn't trust me either. But you aren't getting out of here now, not until we're both completely satisfied," he said quietly. Despite his misgivings, he craved having her, he needed to have her, and he wasn't about to let her go. She was different from the other women he'd been involved with; even if she made him angry, she was like a breath of fresh air that blew away some of his layers of reserve that he usually kept in place with women.

"Then what are you waiting for?"

Derek gave her a wicked grin. "This is just physical, you know that...no romance involved."

"Yes, damnit…" Meredith moaned, feeling the heat of him, the pure masculine strength that overwhelmed her. "Stop teasing me."

That was all the invitation he needed, toppling her onto her back and moving between her legs. He lifted her and put his mouth on her, using the same skill and passion as he had with her breasts. His tongue danced over her clit, probing inside her, and then sucking until she nearly screamed in ecstasy. Her climax rose and fell in intensity as he continued, every nerve in her body quivering from the pleasure. Only when she fell back in a boneless slump did he pull away slowly, getting to his feet.

Meredith watched, her eyes half-closed as he moved to unbuckle his belt, and impatiently push his pants off. He unbuttoned the shirt, tearing it away so that the sleeves turned inside out in his hurry to get back to her. His erection was throbbing, but he waited for a moment, his eyes locked with hers. She almost whistled at him, admiring the lean muscle of his chest and the taut definition of his abs. Then she realized he had a tattoo on his chest, a small stylized dragon; and a curved scar on his abdomen. Both of these hinted at some sort of background that didn't fit with his current persona, but at the moment it wasn't important. If anything, they merely added to the pure masculine appeal had been evident when he was dressed in his tailored suits, but this was all raw power that promised complete satisfaction.

She lifted her hand to him, and he joined her, the heat between them burning intensely. Her body hummed in delicious anticipation as he took his time to roll the condom in place, delaying the moment until she felt completely breathless. When he finally moved forward, she slid her hands around his waist, and welcomed him into her without any hesitation. Derek pushed into her as deeply as he could, so they both gasped at the sensation. It was too damn good to deny, and his eyes closed at how perfect it felt to be enveloped in her hot sheath.

"You feel just perfect, Meredith. You make me forget everything else…" he said softly, trailing kisses along her cheek, the edge of her mouth.

"You too…" she managed to whisper. She knew it would be like this, so intense and so passionate, unlike anything she'd felt before. It might be wrong, but at that moment she didn't care, it was pure physical satisfaction. She was close to the edge of her climax already, her body tingling in pleasure when he suddenly stopped and pulled back. "What…?"

"I want to see you," he muttered, looking at her in the dim light of the room. "I want to see you come and know that it's me doing this, making you fall apart, Meredith. I want to watch your face when I'm inside of you…" He gave her a slow, sensual smile that made her tighten around him.

"This is crazy…" she whispered, matching his smile.

"Completely insane," he agreed, angling his hips against her, supporting her in his arms. "Do you want to stop?"

"Don't you dare." Meredith challenged him to keep going, unable to stop even if she wanted to.

"I never back down from a challenge," he assured her, pressing down against her, as their rhythm picked up speed. With a little cry, she surrendered to the sensations, her inner muscles clutching his cock as she started to climax. Derek felt himself spasm with her, coming so hard and fast he felt light-headed. He finally collapsed against her, gasping for breath, as she buried her face against his shoulder, laughing a little at how overwhelmingly good she felt.

"Oh you're good," she sighed happily.

Taking a few minutes to recover before he sat back, Derek moved Meredith into a more comfortable position on his lap. He brushed a few strands of hair away from her damp forehead, and gave her a slight smile. "I don't usually do this," he murmured, surveying the heap of discarded clothing on the coffee table.

"You don't what?" Meredith giggled, still trying to catch her breath. "The sex part? Seriously?"

"I don't lose control."

"Ah, I see. So what happened with me, then?"

"I'm not really sure," he admitted. "You have a strange effect on me, Ms Grey. I just hope you don't intend to use this in your next newspaper article about me."

"Hmm, I suppose I could be persuaded not to, Mr. Shepherd," she teased him, feeling strangely safe in his arms.

"What would it take to bribe you?" Before she could answer, he sat up quickly, looking towards the door of his office. "Wait, did you hear that?" he asked her quietly, tilting his head to listen.

Mutely, she shook her head, but her heart jumped just from the look on his face. She held her breath, listening intently as well, but she still couldn't hear anything. Derek slowly eased her off his lap, and motioned for her to stay put before he pulled his pants on and slipped his feet into his shoes. Slowly, he made his way towards the door, with a stealth that surprised her.

Derek opened the door, and peered out towards the kitchen. Only a few lights remained on, and nothing looked out of place as he walked through the area. It was only at the back door, where he noticed it was ajar that his steps slowed cautiously. Then he noticed the small envelope lying on the floor, and he stooped to retrieve it, blowing out an exasperated breath. "Damnit…"

"What is it?" Meredith asked from behind him, and he whirled around to glare at her.

"Didn't I tell you to stay in my office?" he demanded, slipping the envelope into his back pocket.

"Not in so many words." Meredith tried to peek around him, to see what he was hiding, but he grabbed her arm and steered her towards the front of the restaurant. "Was someone here, Derek? What's going on?"

"You ask too many questions. I think it's time for you to leave." The last thing he wanted was for her to find out someone was blackmailing him. "The door blew open, it does that sometimes."

"Fine." Meredith retrieved her coat and pulled it on, lifting her hair over the collar as she tried to figure out what he was up to. "But I think there's something you're not telling me."

Derek put his hands on her face and kissed her, long and slow and deep, so that she almost lost track of her thoughts. Letting her go, he gave her a dangerous smile and whispered in her ear. "There are all kinds of things I'm not telling you, honey. And I'm keeping it that way, even if we just had that round of sex, are we clear?"

She leaned a little closer, whispering back to him. "We'll see about that…honey." Then she kissed his lips again quickly, and turned to disappear out the door.

For a moment, Derek stared after her, a bemused smile on his lips. She seemed to enjoy walking away from him, having the last word. Then he turned his attention to the envelope in his pocket. It was the same as before, plain white paper inside, with a simple typed message.

Time's running out, Derek. I want my painting. I'll be at the funeral, keeping an eye on you.