Okay, this chapter brings Mark & Izzie together again, and Meredith decides to move forward to see where things go with Derek.
Chapter Thirteen - Moving Forward
Mark leaned one hip against the bar in the nightclub, letting his gaze sweep around the crowd of undulating dancers. The club in Paris was jammed, and the techno-rock heavy beat was pulsing right through him. Several women had tried to catch his interest, murmuring seductively in his ear, pressing against him. He had brushed them off, not quite finding anyone who interested him. Then he felt a hand grab his ass, and he turned quickly to find Morgan giving him an oh-so-innocent smile. Next to her, Izzie winked at him, lifting her glass in greeting. His previous disinterested faded, as he looked into her eyes.
"Well, ladies, this is my lucky night, " he observed. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?"
"Promotion for my film," Morgan shrugged, swaying to the beat. "Izzie's here for a fashion show."
Mark grinned at Izzie. "I'm impressed. Paris is the big show, after all."
"And you….?"
He shrugged. "Just a photo shoot, nothing big. But I'm glad I came, now…"
Izzie moved a little closer, as the crowd crushed in around them. "You didn't call me…or was that just a line?"
"I should be shot," he agreed, meeting the warm brown eyes again. "Forgive me?" Mark gave her his best contrite smile, but he really did mean to apologize. "My schedule got crazy…you know how it is…"
"Hmm… I suppose I can think about it," Izzie sighed, tossing her hair over her shoulder. Morgan rolled her eyes at the pair of them.
"I'm going now… not that either of you care, obviously. I hate to be a third wheel – just remember what I told you, Iz." Then she moved into the crowd, finding a willing dance partner immediately.
Mark raised one eyebrow. "What did she tell you?" he asked, tugging on her hand. He was enveloped in her scent, his attention fixed on her mouth again, wondering if her lips were as sweet as they looked. Her hand landed against his thigh, making his muscles jump to attention. Something about this woman piqued his interest in ways that surprised him – in a good way.
"Nothing important," Izzie smiled. Then the crowd jostled them again, and she bumped into him, making his drink splash over her dress. "Damn..." she moaned, trying to dab at the alcohol rapidly sinking into the silk of her dress.
"Hell, that's gonna stain," Mark said, offering her a napkin.
"I need to go back to the hotel and change…"
"Let me take you," he offered immediately, taking her arm. "Please, it's my drink causing the problem."
Izzie was ready to say no, but somehow the words didn't come out that way. This was only going to end up one way, and she felt her pulse jump in anticipation. "All right, I guess that's okay," she murmured, letting him lead the way to the door, and into the cool Paris evening.
Mark stopped outside her hotel room, and she put her hand on the door, ready to step inside. "Izzie, wait…" he said, moving into her space. "I'd like to take you to dinner one night, would that be alright?" The ride to the hotel had been thick with unspoken sensuality, and now that they were standing here, he knew he couldn't just let her go.
Her eyes widened, like she wasn't really expecting that. "Oh…"
"Just say yes." He cupped her cheek, leaning in, giving her time to pull back. But she didn't, and he moved closer, kissing her. His mouth connected with hers, in a smooth, full contact kiss that started a slow burn in his gut. Her rush of breath, her scent assaulted him, and he gripped her neck, sliding his hand up into her thick, silky hair. For a long moment, they explored the feel of each other, the hot press of his mouth on hers. He couldn't resist, slipping his tongue into her, and she responded eagerly, heat exploding between them.
Their heavy breathing filled the air, and they paused, staring at each other. Her cheeks were flushed from arousal, her hair mussed and hanging in her eyes, and Mark wanted her in a way that made all logic disappear. More than ever, he wanted to take her to bed and forget about everything else but her luscious body. She tasted like wine and woman, her mouth open for him, her body eager for him.
"Lord…we need to get inside before someone sees us."
Mark was already heading that way in his mind, but he paused. "Are you sure? I can leave if you want me to." Even though he didn't want to, couldn't think of that possibility.
"Do you want to leave?" she asked him, tongue swiping her damp bottom lip.
Mark stared at her, thinking how he wanted to suck that plump lip into his mouth, while his erection throbbed painfully in his pants. "Hell, no…I don't want to leave…"
With that admission, Izzie surrendered to the intense rush, the pure maleness of Mark. Somehow, they moved into her room, his hands on her, grinding hips together, stumbling around as his tongue did crazy, sexy things to her mouth. His kisses trailed down to her breasts, and back up again, when he couldn't kiss her through her dress. Izzie moaned, lost in the sweet delight he created, more than she expected. Oh, he was talented, he knew how to excite her, but she felt like he was really concentrating on her pleasure.
"Let me know if I'm going too fast," he murmured in her ear, before his tongue dipped inside.
"Not too fast…too slow…it's been a long time," Izzie sighed, trying to pull his shirt open. Her last sexual encounter had been probably over a year ago, due in part to her busy schedule, and the lack of anyone who made her feel special. Mark made her feel special.
"Okay, I'll go faster," he grinned, kissing her so hard she lost track of everything else. "This is all about you, Izzie, nothing else matters."
Then he yanked his shirt away, and tossed it to the floor carelessly, and Izzie stared at him with unabashed pleasure. . His ripped chest and abs were perfect, just as she'd known they would be, but he was here in the flesh, and she reached out to squeeze one bicep, just to feel how firm it was. Hard as a rock. She glanced down at his pant. Hard as his erection.
"Impressive…" she murmured, not sure if she was talking about his arm muscle or the other equally tempting muscle. Then he pulled her into his arms again, and she ran her hands along his chest and back, greedy to touch more of him. His hand snaked around her back, and he found her dress zipper.
"More…?" he asked, pulling the dress away from her shoulders, whisking it away to leave her standing in her bra and panties, and high heels, not waiting for her to reply. "If you've been waiting a long time for this, let's make it worthwhile…" And he popped her bra open before she could blink. His mouth moved over her nipple and sucked at it, and she let out a slow moan, holding his arms to keep upright. No vibrator in the world could replace that sensation, she thought dimly, as the tingling sensation began in her core. The sensation of masculine strength around her, his breath tickling her flesh, made her appreciate it more for not having it for so long.
Her hands moved along his butt, squeezing the taut definition, bringing herself against him hard. He groaned softly, as they moved against each other, and he was amazed at the heat that roared between them. Not that he didn't expect that, but it was more intense and raw than usual for him. "Izzie…" he said in a low voice, undoing his belt with quick, urgent movements.
"Mark…" she murmured in response, "…take me to bed…"
"Absolutely, sweetheart…this isn't going to happen here, like this," he muttered, gaining control of himself for a moment. He scooped her up into his arms, heading for the king size bed that waited for them. He moved quickly, anxious to discover how much more she was going to excite him. It didn't happen often that a woman made him feel so hot and yet protective of her at the same time. This night was promising to be the beginning of a very special relationship…
As the weeks passed, summer faded into fall, and then into early winter. Meredith spent the time recovering, taking the advice of both Alex and Derek, and getting a restraining order against Jack. Once the media picked up wind of the story, there was a flurry of gossip, but business at her salon didn't drop off. To the contrary, she had more support than she realized. Jack fumed over the situation, and left several nasty messages on her answering machine, until she changed her number and had it had unlisted.
Also at Derek's urging, she sold her little house in Venice Beach, and bought one with more security. At work, she felt safe, surrounded by everyone, and they all knew if Jack showed up to call the police. Derek made sure to spend as much time with her as his schedule would allow. He quit at Moonglow, not wanting to be close to his brother any longer. He and Meredith went for coffee, took long walks on the beach, or watched movies on DVD. They spent many long Sunday afternoons scouring antique shops, looking for unique items for her new house. He did his best to make her laugh, and take the pain away from her thoughts. But he kept his promise, and there was no kissing or touching, despite his ever-growing desire for her.
Now it was a Friday afternoon, early in December, and the salon was busy with clients getting ready for a myriad of parties around the city. Meredith was grabbing a coffee when Michelle, the receptionist, hurried up to her.
"Mer...someone sent you flowers..." she murmured, her eyes shining in delight. "They're at the front - they're gorgeous..."
Meredith smiled, following the girl to the front desk. A huge arrangement was waiting there - full of orchids, and lavender roses, and sprays of baby's breath. A small crystal heart was tucked in amongst the greenery, sparkling in the light. "You're right - they are absolutely wonderful." She plucked the envelope up that was pinned beneath the heart, recognizing Derek's scrawl on the outside. A little flutter went through her, and she was touched by his gesture. True to his word, he had been the soul of patience the last few months, letting her recuperate, not pushing for anything more than friendship. However, judging from this bouquet, maybe he was trying to move their relationship into a different direction. She opened the envelope, and pulled the card out.
Meredith,
Ready to have dinner with me?
As always,
Derek
Did she want to take this to the next step? Her body was recovered, and she felt more relaxed around men again. But would she freak out if he tried to get too close? She bit her lip, leaning in to inhale the sweet fragrance of the roses, and fingering the velvety petals.
"Oohhh...someone's getting romantic..." Alex smirked, coming up beside her and peeking over her shoulder at the note before she could hide it. "Go for it, Mer...he's a good guy. You deserve some happiness, girl."
"I know....I just ...." Meredith paused, unwilling to talk too much in front of anyone else.
Alex snagged the bouquet for her, and carried it back to her office. There, it overwhelmed the small space, and she grinned again. It felt good to be happy again. Maybe it was time to move ahead with Derek.
"So...?" Alex asked, giving her a look, eyebrows raised.
"What?"
"Are you gonna go for him?"
"Maybe..." Meredith murmured.
As if on cue, her cell phone chirped, and without looking at it, she knew it was Derek. Only he and Alex had this number. "Hey..." she answered, a little blush creeping over her cheeks. Alex winked at her, and backed away from the desk, exaggerating his stealth, but she ignored him, listening to Derek's voice on the phone.
"You sound happy," he said, his own voice warm and reassuring.
"Thank you for the flowers...they're gorgeous. And the little heart is beautiful..."
"I'm glad you liked it." He paused. "Have you decided on your answer yet?"
In that instant, she did. "Yes..."
"And?"
"I accept."
"You will?" he asked, as if taken by surprise. "Well, great...is tonight too soon?"
"Of course not...where are we going?"
"That, honey, is a surprise. Just be ready, and I'll pick you up at home."
"How do I know what to wear?" she giggled softly.
"You'll look wonderful, no matter what. But it's not too dressy. Just be yourself, Meredith - that's all I want. I want to make this a perfect evening for you."
His voice hinted at seduction, and a shiver feathered her spine. Remembering the kiss in the wine cellar, she was suddenly curious to find out more about being with him. Of finding out what it would be like to take it further than just that kiss, of what his body would feel like, entwined with hers. Her breath caught, and she found it hard to speak for a moment.
"All right," she managed to breathe finally, her voice husky. "I'm looking forward to that."
"Me too, honey," Derek replied. "See you then..."
"Bye..."
She clicked the phone off slowly, wondering what exactly he had in mind for her.
"You look flushed..." Alex whispered from the door.
"Alex! Get back to work!" she giggled, standing up and fussing with her hair for a moment. "Wait...I want you to trim my hair..."
"You got it, babe...I just happen to be free at the moment..." he smirked. "Derek won't know what hit him when he sees you..."
Meredith groaned in mock annoyance, but she felt lighter than she had in weeks, as she followed him out to the sink. "Ass..." she murmured, before sitting down, and closing her eyes. She ran through her closet mentally, trying to decide what to wear. Alex fussed over her hair, trimming and styling, until he proclaimed she looked perfect.
"So where is he taking you? Somewhere nice, after all this, I hope," Alex smirked, helping her out of the chair with a flourish.
"I don't know, he's picking me up." Meredith felt another funny little flutter of nerves, imagining what Derek might be planning. After all this time, after all his patience and gentleness, she doesn't know what to expect. She hugged Alex quickly. "Thanks for the hair, sweetie."
"Just go and have fun." He kissed her cheek. "You deserve it."
"What are you and Eric doing for this weekend?" she asked, before grabbing her purse to leave.
"Oh, Eric has plans…" he smirked, rolling his eyes.
Meredith giggled at that, turning to head out of the salon. Feeling light-hearted, she sailed outside, only to crash to earth finding Jack leaning against her car. Forcing her lips into a grim line, she stop her ground, keys in hand.
"What do you want?" Holding her purse across her chest defensively, ready to bolt. Noting that he still looked as groomed as ever, his polished exterior masking his dark side.
"Meredith, don't be like this. I've had a lot of time to think, and I'm sorry…can you give me another chance?" Jack asked her, so sincere, she could almost believe him. He believed himself, at any rate.
"Just leave, I'm so not interested in your lies. Do I need to remind you of the restraining order?"
Jack pushed away from her car, approaching with a feral smile. "They really can't do much to me, and I'm just here to say I miss you, babe. It's the Christmas season, and I want to make amends. C'mon...you know you still love me..."
"Go to hell, Jack. I'm still not interested - I'd rather die first than have you touch me again. Go tell your lies to some other woman." Meredith edged backwards, hoping that Alex or someone else was leaving the salon soon. "You aren't getting close enough to hurt me again."
"I was an ass… " Jack held his hands out, trying to show his repentance.
"Jackass…" Meredith snorted. "This isn't helping. Derek will be ang-"
"Oh, so it's Derek to the rescue again…" Jack's voice turned cold. "Fucking my brother now are you?" He still stung over the way Derek had decked him.
At that moment, Alex and a couple of the girls came outside, and Jack backed away. "Mer, you okay?" Alex pulled his cell phone out. "I'm calling the cops…"
"No, I'm fine. Jack is just leaving, are you?"
"Sure, babe. But I'll be around, don't forget it." Jack winked at her, before strolling away, chuckling softly.
"Seriously, are you all right?"
Meredith nodded, though her knees were shaking, and she clutched at Alex's arm for a moment. "Why is he doing this?"
"Because he's thick headed and an asshole." Alex opened her car door and waited till she was inside. "Go. Have dinner with Derek – don't think about this. And I want details tomorrow." He winked at her, and she smiled.
"Thanks, Alex. Have fun with Eric." Meredith started the little Mercedes coupe that she bought not long ago. She pulled away, keeping an eye out for anyone behind her. But no one seemed suspicious, and she chided herself for being paranoid. Still, but the time she pulled into her garage, her nerves were taut. Stormy meowed his greeting as she walked into the kitchen, winding around her legs happily. She picked up the little cat, rubbing her face along his soft fur, letting his rumbling purr calm her down a little.