Thanks so much for all the amazing reviews on the last chapter!

Now this one is a little shorter, but it gives some phone sex for our pair during their time apart. Also, Meredith gets some news, resulting in mixed emotions.

Chapter 27

Missing You

Derek leaned along the railing around the balcony of his hotel room in Miami. The weather was warm and humid, the night air was like a thick blanket. He checked his watch, calculating the time difference to L.A., thinking of Meredith and what she might be doing right now. The shoot today had run late, getting some outdoor shots in the last light of evening. Some of the cast had gone for drinks, but he'd begged off. He had lines to go over again for the final day, and didn't want to screw things up by having a hangover. He was having a blast so far, enjoying the process, and the perks of being a guest star.

He wandered back into the room, letting the warm air flutter the open curtains. Picking up the script and his cellphone, he stretched out on the bed for a few minutes. He read over the lines, picturing the scene in his mind, as he liked to do. But his mind wandered, beginning to picture Meredith instead, poised over him in that sweet little negligee that had tantalized him the night before he left. A slow grin spread over his mouth, and he reached for the phone.

Meredith scooped Stormy up, and curled onto the bed. Rain pattered against the windows, but she was cozy here in the bedroom, beneath the down duvet. Except for the fact that Derek wasn't there, sprawled beside her as he like to, studying scripts, or watching some obscure movie or racing show on TV. She had become so accustomed to his warmth, his teasing, his sensual nature, that she couldn't imagine living without him now. Even with the little idiosyncrasies that they were adjusting to – it was a learning process, this living together, she mused. But he enjoyed life, and loved to laugh, and did so much to make her laugh too. She'd needed that, more than she realized.

Stormy purred softly, kneading the blankets for a moment, before finding his comfortable position at her side, his tail over his nose. "Yes, just you and me, Stormy, for a couple more nights," Meredith mused. "Do you miss him too?" She stroked his back, making him purr louder. "Or d'you like the extra room again?"

The bed seemed far too large for her, and she sighed. "Well, I don't like it…" She switched the TV on, idly flipping through channels, skimming over news, talk shows, re-runs, old movies. Then she sat up, catching sight of Derek's familiar head tilt, that mop of hair. She giggled, oh my god…what had he been thinking? It was big and bold, far longer than she'd seen it. He had a small moustache, and even an earring…what was this movie anyway? Something set in college, with a band of oddball students, it seemed. Oh, and the clothes, god help him, she giggled again. But he was good, he played the part well, she realized. Small role as it was, she enjoyed watching him when he was on the screen. And she missed him, like crazy…her hand reached for the phone. It rang just then, starting her.

"Meredith, honey…" Derek said softly, as she answered. "How are you?"

"Derek," she smiled, shifting on the bed. "I'm good, how did your day go?"

"Great, just another day or so, and we're done. I've been enjoying it, but I'll be happy to get home. To you…"

"I miss you, too, Derek," she murmured, muting the TV. "But I have this movie on, with a younger version of you…big hair, sexy earring…ooh…you're even smoking…!"

Derek groaned softly. "That one…"

"Very cute. I like it."

"Honey, turn it off. I made that not long after my divorce from Roxanne was final…not some of my finer moments. I think I went a little crazy then."

Meredith shook her head, but she shut it off. "Okay, it's off. Happy now?"

"Not entirely."

"Why?"

"Because you're there, and I'm here, all alone in this big bed…"

"Oh, well, I can understand that. It's lonely here too…just me, wearing the little pink nightie you liked…thinking of how much you enjoyed taking it off me." She lowered her voice, as she eased against the pillows. Her pulse jumped, and heat pooled in her core, thinking of that last night together.

"You're killing me here, baby, you looked amazing in that. I was thinking of that too – you looked sexy as hell, and kind of sweet too." His own voice was pitched seductively, his body tightening in desire. "You always combine that, no matter what. I love that about you." He paused. "And I would love to be taking it off you, sliding my hands over your breasts, feeling your nipples harden, begging for my tongue. I would kiss you there, tracing my tongue over them, one…by…one…" His breathing quickened, and his closed his eyes.

"Yes, and I love how you do that, and how hard you get for me. All that for me, baby, right?" Meredith moaned softly, an ache building inside of her, as he hand slid beneath the covers.

"Always, only for you."

"What else?"

"Hmm…my mouth on you, everywhere, kissing, licking, finding all those sensitive places that make you shake. And tasting you, oh honey…you have no idea how good you taste to me…I love that, knowing you're so wet, because of me…for me…"

Meredith twisted beneath the sheets, caught up in listening to him. "I want you so much, doing that to me…loving me…"

"Loving you is easy," he said, as he rolled onto his side, his hips flexing, his cock aching for her.

"And I would be touching you too, stroking you, pulling you closer to me. Needing you inside of me…soon…ah, god, baby…" Meredith whimpered, her fingers stroking the damp skin that was hot to the touch.

"I can hear you breathing faster, I can imagine how warm and wet you are," he continued to whisper in her ear, weaving a spell of seduction around her. "Come for me, baby, you know you want to…" His own hand strayed along his cock, as he thought about being inside that tight sheath of hers, and he groaned softly. "Please, honey, for me…I want to hear you come…I want to know you're enjoying yourself…"

"I, oh god, yes…" Meredith breathed, finding just that spot where she pulsed, sliding her fingers deeper. "You make me wild.." Heat flushed her, pleasure raced through her, as she lost her inhibitions, coming with a soft little moan. "Oh my god, Derek…I want you so bad right now…"

"Soon, honey," he muttered, his own release spiking, listening to the sound of Meredith's sweet orgasm. "Love you…always…"

"Love you back" Meredith sighed happily, clutching the phone and hugging his pillow against her. Maybe it was silly, but she still thought his scent clung to it. "I should let you go, I know you have lines to go over. I hope it all goes really well…"

Derek flopped onto his back, his breathing ragged, heart racing, still recovering. "Thanks, Mer, but I can't wait to get home and make love to you properly."

"Yes, I can't wait either."

"Okay, honey, go to sleep now. Sweet dreams."

"Dreams of you. Bye honey.." Meredith whispered, reluctant to let go.

"Night…" Derek paused, listening to her breathing. "Hang up now…"

"You too…"

He laughed softly. "I feel like a horny kid again – unable to let you go."

"Crazy, I know - I feel the same."

"Were you ever a bad girl as a teenager? Talking dirty with a boyfriend?" he asked, even though it made him crazy to imagine that.

"No, I was a good little girl," she confessed. "You make me bad – I bet you made lots of girls go bad."

"Oh, don't be jealous. I wasn't the romantic guy you know now," he grinned, sitting up, and grabbing the script again. "I had the big hair geeky thing going on – picked on by the school bullies. If it hadn't been for drama, I would've gone crazy."

"Aw…and look at you now," she giggled.

"Just wait till I get home," he warned her. "I'll show you just how I make you go bad, all night long…"

"Is that promise?" she asked, breathlessly.

"Oh definitely honey…"

Meredith snagged the phone as she walked into her office at the salon. "Hello? Who? Oh, Mr. Aiden, I thought we agreed that I had no comment on Jack's behalf." She sat down, flipping through a list of new orders for the products she had on sale. Alex poked his head through the open door, eyebrows raised, and she waved him to the chair.

She sat back in her chair, crossing her legs, eying the new shoes she'd bought the day before as she listened to the lawyer – boots actually, Alexander McQueen slouchy leather calf boots. Alex nodded towards them, giving her a thumbs up.

"Ms. Grey, my client wants to see you. To make amends, as it were. Much as it pains me, he wants to plead guilty now, and I fear he may go to jail for a long time."

Meredith rolled her eyes. "I don't believe you. Lawyers always think their clients are innocent."

Alex frowned, listening to her side of the conversation. "What the hell?"

She shook her head at him, listening.

"Ah, of course we do, but he wants to plead guilty, what can I do? I've told him it's insanity, but…"

"What? Since when does he have a conscience? Since when does he care about my feelings?" Meredith demanded. "I don't want to see him, ever again. Are we clear?"

"Crystal, Ms. Grey. I'll convey that to Jack." He paused. "By the way, he's also agreed to sell the restaurant. He wants you to have the proceeds."

"No, that's not necessary," Meredith protested, shocked at this piece of news.

"Well, there will be creditors to satisfy, of course, but anything left over goes to you. He's already signed the document to make it legal. Again, against my advice," he added dryly.

"But I don't want…I don't need…"

"So give it away," Tom sighed. "Look, he's ready to accept responsibility for his actions. I do not know what prompted this, but there it is."

"Tell him, tell him…I said good-bye, nothing more." Meredith hung up the phone, and looked at Alex, her face a study in mixed emotions.

"What is it?"

"Hell has frozen over."

Alex frowned again, crossing his arms over his Dolce & Gabbana button down dress shirt, as she recounted the conversation. "Has he found religion?" he smirked when she was done.

Meredith shrugged. "Who knows? I'm not going to think about it. If I get the money, I'll believe it then." She shuffled the papers on her desk again. "Now, we need to think about this deal with Avon. They want me to collaborate with them on their makeup, refresh the brand…" She smiled happily, thinking of the meeting she'd had with them earlier in the week.

"You got it!"

Meredith nodded. "Yes, more work, and I'll need to be away from the salon more often, but I trust you are up to taking care of things."

"You got it. Anything you need help with besides that?" He grinned at her. "This is a big coup for you…they've never gone outside their own company for a thing like this before."

"I know, it's crazy. They're going to announce it next week."

"Does Derek know?"

"Not yet. They just called me early today. He gets home tonight – I'll tell him then. It's an amazing deal."

"So good for you – you deserve it, babe. Nobody works harder."

"It's like a dream come true – Avon was the only makeup my Mom used, and I want to make other women realize their potential using the same kind of products that the celebrities have access to, only at a price they can afford. Avon recognizes that too. I can't wait to tell Derek – he'll be thrilled."

"He'll be so happy to see you, probably won't make it home, if I know you two," Alex smirked.

"Alex!"

"Truth…admit it, Mer…"

She giggled. "You may be right…"