So, this chapter is all MerDer sweetness and light. What can I say, I love the two of them together, and I know you all do too! It's Christmas morning, and time for celebrating being together. Enjoy...

Chapter Twenty-four

Merry Christmas

Meredith stretched languidly, savoring the fact it was Christmas morning, and they didn't have to get up early for anything. Stormy purred softly from his spot at the foot of the bed, curling his tail around his nose again and closing his eyes. Meredith snuggled in under the covers, listening to the rain still pattering against the windows. She wouldn't be anywhere else at this moment; here with the man she loved. A few short months ago, she wouldn't have envisioned that this was possible. It seemed that destiny had found them, and spun their lives around, landing them in love with each other. It was unexpected, but oh so sweet.

Derek was curved around her, his arm at her waist possessively – but it was a good thing, not the same sick way Jack had been with her. She had just been another pawn for him, she realized, thankful yet again that he was out of her life.

Then Derek stirred beside her, peeking at her with one eye. "You're awake…"

"Not entirely," she whispered. "Go back to sleep, it's too early to think about getting up."

"Hmmm…" he murmured, kissing her. "You smell good, all warm and sexy…"

"I smell like sex…after your voracious assault last night," she reminded him, spooning with him, thinking of their lovemaking after everyone left. She loved waking up with him like this, wrapped in his embrace.

"And I love that you smell like sex," he teased her, his mouth at the back of her neck. "And that you're happy, and here with me….waking up with me, listening to the rain, while we're here, warm and safe. I love hearing the rain…"

"Me too."

"I thought the party would never break up last night." The last guest had departed after 2 a.m., tucked into a cab, still warbling 'Jingle Bells', the victim of too much rum and eggnog.

"It was fun, though…"

Derek settled against her a little more intimately, as he thought about the previous evening. "You know, until last night, I wasn't sure if Eric was real, or a figment of Alex's imagination."

She giggled softly. "Oh yeah, they've been together awhile now – it's pretty serious."

"And Eric's a firefighter…didn't expect that one." Eric had been nothing like Derek imagined of Alex's partner – tall, well built, with chiseled good looks that could have graced a magazine cover. He was soft spoken, and laid back, but with an unexpected dirty sense of humor.

"They met when we did the hair for a charity calendar shoot that Eric posed for. Surprised?"

"Not entirely, I've met my share of gay men…some you would never guess…"

"Do not go there – I've told Alex the same thing – too much information," Meredith warned him sleepily.

"Okay, no more talking for now then." Derek's hand roamed lower, parting her legs, finding the damp center and making her moan softly. "Do you want your present now?"

"Oh…" she sighed, helpless to do anything else. His fingers did wicked things to her, sliding against her in a growing erotic dance. "Right now…?"

"Hmmm…well, right now…just come for me…this is all about you…" His other hand cupped her breast then, and his thumb started to lazily caress her nipple, as he kissed her neck and along her shoulder. He cradled her delicate body against his, and continued to fondle her breast with unhurried erotic intention. She felt so perfect in his arms; he never wanted to let her go.

Meredith sighed happily and closed her eyes again, feeling the slow hot throb in her core spread through her body from his touch. He continued to tease and roll her nipple into hard aching need, while he pressed kisses over her skin. For a long while, they lay entwined that way, his hands just playing lazily with her, his breath warm on her. No words were necessary. She let herself float along in the erotic cocoon of his embrace. Little spasms of pleasure began to flutter inside of her, and she rolled her hips against him. She could feel his cock moving against her, and she whimpered.

Between her legs, his fingers made her wetter, smoothing her skin and caressing her gently. More little gasps of pleasure escaped her lips, and he smiled, loving that he was able to make her feel this way. He feathered more kisses along her neck, first his breath tickling her, and then his tongue, down along her arm. She rocked against his hand, her breathing just a little faster, and he stroked a little harder.

"C'mon, baby…just let yourself go…" he whispered in her ear then, as she writhed against him.

"Feels so good…" she sighed.

Derek could feel her body trembling against him then, and he kept up the sensual touches in unexpected places. First her thighs, then her belly, and stroking the place where the little butterfly always tempted him. Then a delicate squeeze of her nipple, before a feather stroke to her clit. She rolled her head from side to side, her hair trailing across his face, as the momentum built inside of her. He could feel her tensing up, and he pushed against her with deliberate desire, rubbing his cock between her legs. Her wetness slid over him, as he nudged her wider apart, seeking her slick heat.

"So wet, Meredith…you're so damn wet…" he muttered, nearly losing himself at that moment as well.

"Inside of me…please…"

"This was all about you, honey," he murmured, even as he worked to find a way into her, without losing the languid rhythm.

"Need you with me…" Her voice was part sleep, part throaty sex, and it turned him on even more.

His body shifted, angling his cock into her, gripping her tightly. Her pussy clenched around him in welcome, as she moaned in happiness. The feel of him, throbbing hotly inside of her was enough to send her over the edge, engulfed in sweet hot waves that rocked her body. She was amazed at how quickly he brought her to this point, with only his touch and his kiss, until this moment.

"Just let go too, Derek…" she urged, quaking again, his fingers at her clit as he moved a little faster. Stroking her into another climax, as his own raged through him. He kissed her shoulder, grazing his teeth against her, as they rocked together, consumed with the torrent of emotions. "Baby…baby…oh god…" she cried out, falling back against him.

For a few minutes, they were unable to move, as they caught their breath, listening to the rain. "How did I live without this…?" she giggled softly then, easing around to face him, kissing his lips. Her hand cupped his cheek, as he held her tightly against him.

"I was wondering the same thing," he murmured, kissing her fingers as she trailed them over his mouth.

"I liked this kind of present," she smirked. "No unwrapping…"

"Then I guess you don't need the ones under the tree then," he laughed, kissing her nose.

"Just try and keep me from opening them…" she giggled, "…later…"

"…much, much later…" he agreed, pressing her down against the pillows and claiming her mouth. Neither of them thought about opening presents for a long while…

Meredith fumbled for the phone, as she glanced at the clock, surprised to see how late it was. They had ended up falling asleep again, after losing track of time completely as they enjoyed the lazy seduction of the morning. Now the sun peeked through the curtains, the rain clouds dispersed, leaving a sparkling blue sky.

"Hello?"

"Well, Merry Christmas sleepy…" Alex's cheerful voice greeted her, and she managed to cover a yawn.

"Hey, Merry Christmas," she replied, trying to evade Derek's hands sneaking along her backside again.

"You two're still in bed, aren't you?"

"Who…us? Mmmm…nope…" Meredith giggled. "We've been up for hours…"

"Sure you have. So what did Santa bring?"

"Um…we haven't exactly got to that yet," she confessed, wiggling away from Derek.

"I knew it!"

"Why did you phone, Alex? Just to give me a hard time?"

"Just wanted to say thanks again for last night – we had a blast. We should make that an annual tradition. And thanks for the introduction to Mark…any chance he's…?"

"Alex! You're happily living with Eric…" Meredith chided him. "How can you be ogling someone else?"

"I can still ogle…and maybe it's a threesome we're looking for…"

Her eyebrows went up, and Derek gave her a strange look. "Seriously?"

"Kidding, Mer…just kidding…" Alex laughed. "Call me later, okay?"

Meredith sighed softly. "Sure…"

"What was that about?"

"Just Alex being Alex…" Meredith laughed, setting the phone aside. "I'm going to feed Stormy. Are you getting up?"

Derek arched one eyebrow at her, the innuendo clear to her, as he tugged her back beside him again. "Can I help it if you make me crazy for you?" he asked softly.

"We can't spend all day in bed, Derek…" she half-protested.

"Is there a rule against that…? Cuz if there is, I'm all about breaking it…"

Before Meredith could say another word, Stormy insinuated his furry little body between them, bunting her on the arm. "Oops…sorry Stormy, blame Derek…"

"Okay, get up then…I'll wait for you," he acquiesced, rubbing the cat's head.

She kissed Derek's cheek. "I'll bring the presents in here…" She eased away from him, as Stormy hopped to floor as well.

"Good, presents and sex…" he laughed, watching her leave.

"Insatiable…that's what you are…" she called out over her shoulder.

"Only with you, honey…" he murmured softly to himself.

Meredith hummed a little Christmas carol as she fixed Stormy's belated meal. "Sorry, sweetie…hope you weren't starving…" she soothed him, setting the bowl down on the floor. Stormy chirped in that Siamese way of his from time to time, before nibbling daintily at the food. Meredith scratched his head gently for a second, before moving to put on a pot of coffee.

Peering into the fridge, she pulled out some fruit, with the cream for the coffee. She added a bowl of sugar to the tray along with the coffee cups, as the coffee gurgled into the pot. Just about to turn to head towards the Christmas tree to get the gifts, when she felt a pair of hands at her shoulders. "Mmm…couldn't wait for me…?" she laughed.

"No…I got lonely. Besides, you can't carry everything, and I would hate to be considered a lazy male slob just waiting for you to come back to bed," he observed, reaching around her to grab a strawberry from the bowl. He offered it to her first, and she took a bite, before he finished the rest of it. Her tongue swiped along her bottom lip, savoring the sweet juice. Derek groaned inwardly, before kissing her temple. "You realize everything you do is sexy, baby…"

"And that's a problem…?"

"I wasn't complaining," he laughed, backing away, giving her a playful tap on her rump. "I'll grab the gifts, honey."

"Hey…!" she giggled, rubbing the spot where he tapped her.

"You can spank me if you want," he smirked, walking away.

Meredith eyed his ass in the low slung jeans as he retreated. "And it's such a cute butt to spank!" she called out. He peeked around the corner at her, his eyes full of mischief, managing to look boyish and seductive at the same time.

"Love me for my body, do you?"

"Oh…damn…you figured me out," she lamented, picking up the tray laden with brunch, nearly overcome with giggles again. He always knew how to make her laugh. She could hear him chuckling ahead of her, and by the time she reached the bedroom again, he was in the middle of the bed waiting for her, with the packages stacked in front of him. He had dropped his jeans on the floor again, and there was a Santa hat angled on his dark curls. He tilted his head to look at her as she came through the door, and her lips twitched, and she burst into a fit of giggles, nearly dropping the tray in surprise.

"Oh my…goodness!" she gasped, "Naked Santa…what more can a girl ask for?"

"You want to come sit in my lap, little girl?" he smirked, holding out his hand to her. "Tell me what you want…?" He gave her a wink as she deposited the tray on the bedside table.

Still giggling, she let him pull her down to him, crawling into his lap. Her legs went around him, as she settled intimately against him. The little silk robe crept higher around her hips, as he pulled her closer. "Hmm…what do I want…?" She arched backwards, his hands supporting her, and enjoyed the way his eyes were devouring her. The sunlight filtering in through the curtains was warm on her skin, as she slowly undid the sash on the robe, letting it fall away from her.

"I know what I want," Derek grinned lazily, lowering his head to her breasts. He took one nipple in his mouth and tugged on it, sending hot desire through her. His teeth nibbled and played with it, while his hands caressed her skin. She moaned softly, caught up in the sheer delight of being with him this way.

"I think we both want the same thing, honey," she murmured, her voice low and breathy. Derek eased her backwards, kneeling between her legs, his eyes now smoky with passion. His fingers made contact with her pussy, where she was already open and wet for him. Her little hiss of pleasure made him smile, as he stroked her soft skin.

"You're right, we do want the same thing…" Derek murmured, his only thought suddenly was how much he needed her, and wanted to be inside of her, possessing her completely. He lowered himself down and held himself over her on his hands and knees, while his mouth ravaged hers, slowly, lovingly. Inhaling her scent, trailing kisses along her chest, her collarbones and the curve of her shoulder. "I could spend all day very easily in bed with you, Meredith…" With a small smile, he reached over to the tray and picked up the bowl of sugar. He dipped his fingers into it, and sprinkled a little dusting over her chest, and down to her navel.

"What are you doing?" she giggled, caught between laughing and moaning, as he set the bowl aside.

"Just having a little sweet taste," he said, feathering soft licks across her delicate skin, making her whimper. Kiss by wet kiss, he made his way down her body, smoothing the sugar against her skin, making her sticky with the residue. Then his tongue delved across her pussy, in soft and silky strokes, where the sugar mingled with her own feminine essence. His tongue warmed her, stroking and teasing, playing with the sensitive bud. "Just come for me again, Mer…"

Her hips lifted against him, wanting him just as desperately, and he lifted her up slightly. Continuing to lick and suck at her, so that she arched her back and slowly ground her hips to his tongue to get more pressure on her clit. She began to convulse as he teased her relentlessly, licking small circles around her clit, while his fingers moved in and out of her, making her nearly boneless with pleasure. Her control snapped and the orgasm hit her in a wave, pulsing over and over, as he kept circling her clit with his tongue. Minute by minute, as the pleasure doubled, her whole being concentrated on the deep, wet strokes along her most sensitive places.

"Don't stop," he urged her, stroking her again, taking her away into more bliss. "You're so damn beautiful like this…" Watching her skin flush, and her eyes close in happiness, as he took her into more bliss. His own body was wracked with need for her as well, and he groaned silently, releasing her. She made a small sound of dismay before he pulled her back into his lap, where they had started. She felt soft and slightly sticky from the sugar, and she wrapped around him, as he held her poised over his cock, letting the tip of it tease her for a moment. A moment that was all he could bear himself. Torturing them both by holding her there, their breathing heavy, their eyes locked.

Meredith steadied herself, her palms on his shoulders, wanting him, needing him, to fill her. Then with excruciating slow movements, he let her sink down over him, so that he was deep within her. Her breath caught, and they shared a look of pure love and mutual satisfaction, as he throbbed and pulsed inside of her. "Just don't move yet, honey, or I'm done…just feel it…" he whispered. His hands on her back, strong and sure, supported her, as a deep involuntary tremor shook her. A soft moan slipped from her lips – how she loved this closeness, this love and desire they shared. She was so lucky to have found him, to know that he was hers.

"God, how I love you Derek," she murmured, feeling him begin to shake as well, his cock quivering in her, as she clenched around him, unable to stop the climax that was building.

"I love you, Meredith," he responded, starting to rock back and forth, their bodies tightly joined. His own body tightened in anticipation, as she spasmed around him. "Now, baby…just take me with you now…"

And her body went taut, her head going back, as he felt her release flood through her, while he thrust hard, riding every squeeze, his own release rocketing through him urgently. Her skin was hot and damp, the scent of sugar and sex surrounding them, as they lost themselves together in the sweet rush of ecstasy.

"Merry Christmas," she giggled, laying her head against his chest, still twined around him, unwilling to move, her brain still hazed by the passion.

"Best Christmas ever," he sighed softly. He snagged the Santa hat that had been lost at some point, and set it over her hair. The little tassel hung over her cheek, the furry ball tickling her. "And we haven't even gotten to the presents yet."

"Do you want something to eat?"

"Coffee for now, the rest is negotiable," he grinned, shifting so that an aftershock of pleasure hit her again. "Tease," he muttered as she squeezed around him.

"You pour, I have to go wash this sugar off me…" Meredith moved away from him reluctantly to wash away the sticky residue that clung to her skin.

"And here I was going to lick it all off of you."

"You did a good job already, honey, just a few spots left. Be right back!"

When she returned, she plucked up a large box and handed it to him, her eyes shining. "Here…open…" With the hat still perched on her head, she looked at him happily, taking the cup of coffee he had poured for her.

Derek shook the package lightly, before pulling the ribbons away, revealing a silver and azure blue box. He lifted his eyes to Meredith, after reading the name of the boutique on the box. "You didn't…? Seriously, Meredith…"

She bit her lip, suddenly a little unsure. "You did say how much you liked that jacket when we were out shopping…"

"I did, didn't I?" he laughed, opening the box and lifting out the supple leather jacket from Versace. Instantly the scent surrounded him, as he held it up. Black, of course, with the detailing that was inherent to Versace, making it appear effortlessly elegant yet masculine. "Thank you, Meredith. Seriously, I did not expect this."

"Put it on, make sure it fits…" she urged, whisking the box out of the way, scattering the paper and ribbons everywhere. He stood, putting it on, not bothering with a shirt, before crossing the room to look in the mirror. As she knelt on the bed, watching him, she admired the perfect way it fit, adding to his sexy appeal. When he turned to look at her again, the smile on his face was enough to make her warm all over. With the jacket open, displaying the firm muscle of his torso, and his curls still in disarray, he just looked like an erotic dream come true. "Oh yeah, you look good…" she told him.

"Thank you, again…" he murmured, coming back to hug her. Reverently, he removed the jacket, folding it carefully into the box again. Then he handed her a small silver bag, trailing with ribbons, anxious to see her reaction.

"Oohh…I like little bags," she smiled, pulling the ribbons away, and peeking inside. There was a small flat velvet box inside, and she lifted it out. Nestled inside of that were two silver bangle bracelets, studded with amethysts and tiny diamonds. "Derek! Are you crazy…?" The label inside was Harry Winston.

He shrugged. "Maybe, but once the house sells, I'll be in good shape financially. I wanted to get you something special."

Meredith fell into his arms, kissing him quickly. "Thank you…it's gorgeous." She slipped them onto her wrist, admiring the way the light caught on them.

"There's something else too," he told her, holding up another little package. It was smaller than the first one, the same wrapping adorning it. For a second, Meredith was thinking it was a ring, but when she opened it, there was a matching pair of earrings inside. Diamond studs with tiny amethysts set beneath them, and she gasped at the sight.

"You've spent way too much money on me."

"I like to see you smile like that, honey."

It was the loving sentiment behind his actions that made her smile, more than the sparkling jewels. It was different than when Jack had showered her with expensive gifts, meant to assuage his guilt, or show off how much money he made. "Thank you then…I love them…"

"There's something else for you too." She held out another package, square and heavier.

"The jacket was more than enough, honey," he protested, taking it from her.

"Oh, just open it."

This time the wrapping revealed a plain black box, no logos emblazoned anywhere to give away the contents. He tugged the lid open, and picked up a small model of a racecar. "What the hell…?" he puzzled, looking at her in confusion. "I love the car – Mazda RX792P, that's a classic." Then he noticed a card at the bottom of the box, and he read it silently for a moment, before breaking into a big grin again.

"Will that be okay?" Meredith asked, touching his hand.

"More than okay…I've always wanted to go there, never had the chance," he assured her. "Tickets for every race at Laguna-Seca next season - that is a dream come true!"

"Well, I know how much you love to watch the races on Speed, and well, you do like to drive fast…" Meredith giggled. "Maybe someday you can actually get a chance to try it yourself!"

Derek pulled her into a hug again. "You are amazing, thank you," he murmured against her mouth. "You already know me so well." They fell backwards against the pillows, pushing the boxes and papers aside, as he cradled her against him. Coasting his hands over her back again, molding her into his body, so that they were touching everywhere. Her hair fell around him, tickling him, as he kissed her long and deep, taking her breath away.

"Derek…"

"Hmm…?" he murmured, intent on making love to her again, wanting to see her beneath him in just her perfect skin and the jewelry he bought her.

"We didn't eat yet…" she giggled.

"Eating is over rated…"