AN: Thanks so much for the reviews! Here comes the next chapter... One of my favorite things... Enjoy!

Chapter 10

For most of the rest of the evening, Penelope was near the love of her life. She danced with other people, but the majority of her dances were with Derek. He swirled her along the dance floor, danced a few line dances, and held her close in other, more intimate dances that made her wish wholeheartedly that she wasn't wearing such a puffy ball gown.

When he wasn't dancing with her, he was watching her, his dark eyes glowing with the same happiness and love that she felt. Any doubts she'd had were washed away, leaving her with the thought that she should've done this far, far earlier. Seven years of wasted time was too long to be apart. Still, she couldn't be sad or think anything negative... She was bubbling over with joy.

Finally, midnight came around, and the full lights of the Upward Youth Center came on, signaling the end of the dance. There were a lot of groans and boos from the party revelers, especially the kids that had put so much work into the party.

The night had been a huge success. They'd made a fortune for the center in admittance fees, and everyone had loved the music, decorations, and food. Penelope was hoping that there would be enough to fund the van that was so needed to cart the boys back and forth, but she wasn't certain there would be quite that much.

Derek was working to make sure the outside lighting was working and that everyone was out the doors safe and sound. Penelope was with the rest of the group, checking for food items and other things that could spoil or damage areas before they left.

"Damn," Alejandro said, his arm looped around Cassie possessively and protectively. "It's over."

"I wish it never had to end," Cassie said, leaning into Al's side.

"Sorry, kids," Penelope said sympathetically. "All good things come to an end."

"Not for you," Vonda remarked. "You still look like Cinderella."

"Trust me," Penelope answered. "This Cindy is about to catch a pumpkin coach so she can catch forty winks."

"Are we cleaning up tonight?" Al asked.

Penelope shook her head. "No. I think you all need a good night's rest. We'll work on that tomorrow."

James frowned. "What about you?"

She smiled. "Fran went home earlier, so I'm just going to stay and put away some of the leftover food."

Fran, ball of energy that she was, was still an older woman. She'd given her all and had looked positively worn out at about ten p.m. Derek and James had sent her home, and they'd had another mom looking out for things in the kitchen after she left.

"Are you sure you don't need help?" Cassie asked helpfully, but her expression was one of exhaustion. The last thing on earth any of these kids needed to do was stay up and help clean.

"I'm fine," she said, putting hands on their backs. "Shoo. I'll work faster alone."

After a bunch of murmured thanks, the crowd dispersed. Penelope kicked her glass slippers off her sore feet and began carrying trays of leftover sandwiches, cookies, and other items. She covered them with plastic wrap to keep them safe and put the perishable items into the large refrigerator in the kitchen.

She had just finished covering the last bowl when a pair of hands settled sweetly and possessively on her satin-covered waist. The scent of woodsy, spicy cologne and the underlying warmth of hard-working male tantalized her as Derek leaned forward and brushed a kiss on the top of her head.

"Still working hard, Cinderella?" he murmured, the low, deep purr of his voice both soothing and arousing. With gentle persuasion, she felt him guide her back into his arms so that she was leaning flush against him.

"Mmm hmm," she answered, melting into the strong presence that was her best friend.

He wrapped his arms around her even tighter and rested his cheek against the pate of her head. "Thank you, baby."

"For what?"

"Where do I begin? For all that you did at the party, for your beautiful presence, for taking care of the kids and me." He paused and kissed the top of her head. "For being you."

She could feel her cheeks heating, blushing with pleasure. "It's what anyone would've done."

He rumbled with a soft burst of laughter. "No, it's not. It's you. You're my angel, my God-given solace."

She turned in his arms to look at him. "It was my pleasure, D."

The spiced mocha of his eyes darkened to a deep espresso. "Watching you, Penelope...I can think of other, far more pleasurable pursuits..."

She was surprised. No, that was too mild. She was shocked shitless. She didn't know why she was so surprised. Derek had always been a lusty man, had always flirted and teased with her in a sexual way, since she first met him. It just seemed so...soon. Her breath caught in her throat, and for a second, she panicked.

"I don—" she began, but then her words were lost in the power of his kiss.

Sweet, sizzling tingles raced down her spine and through her extremities before pooling in her stomach as he held her closer and brushed his lips against hers. It was just the most delicate of touches, again...and then more as he explored her mouth. He nibbled, even did tiny licks with the tip of his tongue, tasting, testing...arousing.

The breath she'd been holding had some how escaped, and she found herself breathing as one with him, in tandem perfection. She was afraid to move, lest he stop what he was doing, but she couldn't help exploring, too. It was like her body didn't want to listen to her silly reservations. As she kissed him back, she noticed his lips were plush yet firm, dry yet supple, and delicious. Her hands, which had been on his biceps—a very nice place to be—had moved to his chest of their own volition.

"Oh, baby...you're so sweet," he whispered huskily against her lips as he continued his intoxicating kisses.

Her eyelids felt heavy, and she was losing the fight to keep them open, even though she wanted to see this historic moment—their first real kiss. A pulse beat later, her eyelids closed, and she swayed forward, deleting the already miniscule space between them entirely.

And then the real kissing started.

A hot, sultry wash of heat flashed over her like the back draft from a fire as he increased the pressure. A decadent, engulfing blackness stole over her, and she saw stars, fiery Catherine wheels of sparks, as he dipped his tongue in her mouth and tasted her. That was sensational in and of itself; she'd heard of people seeing fireworks when they kissed, but she'd never experienced it. She heard a moan—either from herself or him, she wasn't sure—as she opened her mouth and he deepened the kiss.

Penelope felt weak, hot, sinfully loose, and if he hadn't been steadying her in his arms, she would've swayed with the feeling he was arousing in her. Sensations were blazing throughout her body, making her breasts feel fuller, her skin more sensitive, and her appetite for everything increased.

"Mmm... oh, yeah," he growled in a throaty voice, before plunging deeper and farther into the kiss.

Lord, he was tasty. Sweet, salty, delicious man, and she knew she would never get enough. Time seemed to fade away as the kiss went on and on. She craved closeness, craved more of him—all of him. Her body agreed fully with her mind this time as those hands of hers moved from his chest to behind his neck, drawing him closer.

Derek must've been thinking the same thing. He slid his hands down to her ass, trying to grip her through the multiple layers of her skirts but sadly failing.

It was the first time she didn't like her dress.

Soon after his attempts to penetrate the satin and lace, he broke the kiss with a frustrated sigh and rested his forehead against hers. They both drew heavy breaths, like they'd been running a marathon, before he leaned back from her.

"This is not the place to continue this," he said, sounding so forlorn, Penelope couldn't help but smile.

"I know..." she answered, patting his cheek.

He moved his head to kiss her palm, the heat of his mouth scorching her like a brand. She sucked her breath in again at the intensity of it.

"Let's get you home," he murmured, looping his arm around her waist.

She nodded her agreement, and they were off.

AN2: Next chapter will be M rated. If it is not your thing, skip ahead to the epilogue chapter 12.