Daybreak was slowly peeking through the windows when Derek woke. He went to move, when something stirred on top of him. Raising an eyebrow, Derek watched as Claire snuggled closer against his bare chest, her hand resting against his stomach. A good look down, and he realized she was bare naked. And so was he. Memories of the night before came flooding back. Their night together had been uninterrupted, and it was the best thing he could have asked for, too.

He couldn't remember a time where nothing else mattered.

He attempted to move, but Claire wasn't having it.

"Trying to sneak out on me?"

"Never." Derek replied, an actual smile touching his lips. He leaned down and placed a kiss in her hair.

"Good." She rested her chin on his chest. "Because if you were, I'd have to hurt you."

"Oh really?"

Claire nodded, a soft smile taking over her lips.

Derek rolled his eyes. She was the center of his world, but she was also as stubborn as a brick wall that refused to move. Claire brought him out of his thoughts by swinging her legs over his waist, pinning him beneath her. She bent down, kissed him every so softly, a gleam in her eye. Derek didn't wonder what was in her head - he already knew.

Her fingers traced his arms all the way down to his wrists, her breasts planted against his chest. It was safe to say Derek had the best seat in the house.

"I have a temptation to just keep you here." She whispered, bringing his hands up to rest on her bare waist. His thumbs traced the softness of her waist. "But then again, I fear that they might be walking in any moment now.. wondering if we're still ali-"

Derek silenced her with his lips.

When he let go, Claire was surprised, her breathing heavy.

"See," he said playfully, and arched his eyebrows. "Admit it." He moved in. His mouth came so close to hers that she could practically feel it moving when he spoke.

"Admit what?" She put a little tease in her own voice, hoping she drove him crazy as he drove her.

"Admit that you like my kisses and yes to going out with me."

"Not that again, Derek." Claire rolled her eyes. He asked that last night after their first sex romp, while she was still recovering from the explosive orgasm that rocked her to the core.

"Come on, one date." Derek all but whined at her and she couldn't help but giggle at him. "After everything, one date isn't going to kill us." Derek leaned up and traced his kisses all over her body - attempting to get her to say yes by the only way he knew how: torture her.

"Derek... Derek, stop that." Claire tried to push him away, but was failing miserably.

Derek continued his onslaught, determined to get her to agree. His lips continued to trace her jaw line, down her neck and collarbone.

"Say yes."

"No,"

"Why not?"

"Because we still have ... one Alpha left." Claire whispered, shivering against him.

"Come on, say yes."

"No." Claire's eyes drifted closed.

Derek had grabbed her waist roughly, bringing her ass up and the next thing she knew, he was entering her again, his hot, satiny length of him filling her to the core. Claire gasped at the intrusion and snapped her eyes open, glaring playfully at Derek. "That's cheating."

Derek moved his hips and saw her fight a groan.

"This was a bad idea." Claire whispered.

"It was probably the smartest idea you've ever had." Derek replied, grinning up at her.

Their whole atmosphere at the moment had insta-love, the bane of their existence. Girl sees boy and falls in love. Immediately. Soul mate, breath stealing, toes curling, love after one conversation. Boy pushes girl away for some paranormal reason or another. Girl still loves boy. Boy finally admits love. And now they were here, wrapping in each other's bodies.

"I promised to keep you safe, and I'm going to keep my promise." Derek whispered against her lips.

Claire smiled and rocked her hips, satisfaction swelling in her at the sound of Derek's soulful moan. The next thing she knew was Derek on top of her, his hips pressing hard into her, his whole length bruising her from the inside out. It was strange how something good can come from something horrible. Claire nearly burst at the seams, her body caving into oblivion. Derek withdrew once, plunged again and her body betrayed her as it clenched around his shaft, Claire fighting the urge to scream. When she opened her eyes again, Derek was leaning over her, his face plastered in a smirk that she wanted to slap off his face.

"Okay." She held her hands up in defense. "Okay."

Derek's lips lifted from a smirk into a grin and she felt like she'd just signed her soul over to the Devil himself. Derek bent down and pressed his lips against hers, claiming her next words. Whatever her next words were going to be, she didn't really know. She forgot them the moment she signed her soul over to him.

"I stand by what I said. I wish I'd have stuck around. I wish I'd…been there for you."

She scoffed. "I'd have chased you away."

"A little something about me you might not know yet or you might have just forgotten after all these years…I don't run that easily. And you don't scare me." Derek grinned, capturing her lips again.

Her mind was blank and her heart and body ruled. And those? They were his property. Just like the rest of her. Oh…Jesus. She'd been kissed before, but never like this. There had been the guy who tried to swab her tonsils and the guy who seemed to be trying to draw blood with his teeth and the guy who did it just right, but didn't make her feel…this.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: The last part of Love's Embrace, yay! Sorry this one is short... haven't had a lot of time to actually write and it's been hectic, so I wanted to get it to you guys regardless. Reviews are welcome and I hope you like it!