"Come on, Uncle." Cora grabbed Peter's wrist and pulled him toward the door. "Call us if anything happens!" She shut the door behind them and now, Derek and Claire were all alone.

Perfect.

Thank god his sister knew what was playing in the back of his mind. He'll have to remind himself later to thank her.

Grabbing her legs, Derek pulled her up onto his lap and wrapped her legs around his waist. She had always felt as though there was some part of her that was more animal than human. That was why she could never live in the world her father had tried to fashion for her. Derek made that part of her come alive with a roar and matched it with one of his own. He was her perfect match. Whether he was aware of it or not, his soul recognized hers as its mate. He had changed her world with just his presence because her world hadn't been right until he entered it. And now, death didn't even seem to bother her. So much had changed, so much had happened in her life. Once cold and calculated she was. Now, she felt warm and fuzzy inside. And all because of one person, one man. She couldn't believe it, how this could of happened to her. Keeping her legs wrapped possessively around his waist, Claire pulled her body up, as close to his as she could possibly get, wrapping her arms around his neck. She placed a soft kiss on his cheek, before moving to his jaw line, before stopping at his neck.

"I see that headache is gone.." Derek grinned up at her.

"Well not to sound too teenager-y, but you're the perfect medicine for a headache."

Even just having her in his arms, her legs wrapped around his waist was torture enough, without adding his wicked thoughts to the mix. Contact hurt, might even be fatal if it wasn't tended to., and yet he couldn't stop himself. Obsession or compulsion, he didn't know, but he did know that before this was over, she'd either end up in his bed . . . or one of them would bleed darkest red. He hoped for the bed part. She made him think bad thoughts simply by breathing. Taking her chin in his free hand, Derek had kissed her again - this time it was hard, passionate. Claire moaned against his mouth, her head shouting at her. She pulled away from his kiss for a breath and stared into his eyes. Was it wonder? Love?

She couldn't tell, and God help her she was too afraid to ask. Even she could be only so bold before self-preservation took over. Even she could be only so bold before her mind snapped. Then his lips were on hers again and she lost track of where her mind had been. He tasted her, stroked her tongue with his own. He nipped at her lips, pulling them softly between his teeth and flicked them with his tongue until she was breathless, her hands cupping his face as she gave her mouth willingly to him. She felt the loss of his mouth as he lifted his head, but he soon put those soft, warm lips to work kissing her cheek, nibbling at her earlobe, tracing a burning trail down her neck, his facial hair tickling her neck softly.

Every stroke of his tongue, every powerful pull of his lips sent a ripple of aching want coursing down to between her legs where it blossomed into pure, carnal heat. Her hips arched against his thigh, seeking out the pleasure she knew was waiting for her. She rocked her hips against his own, her mind giddy at the sound of his growl. She was teasing him. And then, in one swift movement, she was pinned beneath him. She had released the beast and now, she was going to pay for it. He removed her tank top and she removed his shirt with ease. He continued his assault on her body, kissing her neck and making his way down her chest until he reached her naval, where the ugly wound that was inflicted on her was still fresh, he tugged on the hem of her jeans, sliding them down her legs and tossing them wherever they landed. When he looked up at her from his place at her hips, the smile he gave her was wistful, just a little lift to his mouth.

He pulled her up, close to his body and she could feel the clasp of her bra giving in to his fingers as they worked to get the contraption off. It slid off with ease, down her off and into the pile that was quickly growing.

"We really shouldn't be doing this..." She whispered as he went back to working her neck. "Derek..."

"I heard you." He mumbled against her skin.

"And you don't care.."

She heard him sigh against her skin, his facial hair tickling her neck. But that was the best part - it told her that she could feel something other than hate. "After everything we've been through, why can't we have this moment?"

"I'm not complaining." She grinned up at him, her eyes ablaze. Desperate to touch him, Claire slid her own hand down to the front of his jeans, releasing the button and zipper with somewhat ease. She fumbled for a few seconds and then succeeded in grabbing the hot, satiny length of him. He was thick and heavy in her hand. Her thumb spread that moisture around the tiny cleft, down to the heavy ridge she ached to wrap her body around.

When his blue eyes lifted to his, everything disappeared. Their bodies dematerialized. The room they were in ceased to exist. Time became nothing. And in the void, in the wormhole, Derek's chest opened up sure as if he'd been shot, a piercing pain licking over his nerve endings. He knew then that there are many ways for a heart to break. Sometimes it's from the compression of responsibility and birthright and burden that just squeezed you until you couldn't breathe anymore. Even though your lungs were working just fine.

And sometimes it's age in the face of youth. Or sickness in the face of health. But sometimes it's just because you're looking into the eyes of your lover, and your gratitude for having them in your life overflows, because you showed them what was on the inside and they didn't run scared or turn away: they accepted you and loved you and held you in the midst of your passion or your fear, or your combination of both. They were damaged, but they always survived - no matter what.

Derek knew she had control of him - she could break him and he would be at her mercy.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: God, I love these two. ajsklfdjaksldf. I love writing these two when they're alone because all the layers of emotion that's hardened them seem to just fall away and they're normal. xD Reviews are welcome, as always! :)