"Thank you for putting my children's hearts at ease. I didn't realize how much they care about me, since they have their own lives to worry about, you know?"
He nodded and unlocked their apartment door. "I do. Wait one moment before you head in." Stuffing his keys in his pocket, he opened the door and then crouched, placing one arm against Erin's knees and one around her shoulders, lifting her into his arms. She gasped a little, clasping her arms around his neck as he brought her inside, closing the door with his foot. "A husband has to carry his bride over the threshold, you know, Pretty Lady."
She blushed as she nodded, turning her face and kissing him sweetly. "You have to take Clooney out. He's bound to have to go out."
"Yes, sweetheart." He kissed her once more before setting her down on the couch. Derek could feel her eyes on him as he clipped the leash onto Clooney's collar and ran him out. It didn't take long for the dog to do its business, and then they were heading back up. When he entered the apartment, he found Erin asleep, her hands tucked underneath her head. "She looks so lovely when she sleeps, boy."
Clooney just looked up at him, a goofy dog smile on his face. Shaking his head, Derek sat on the floor, reaching out and resting his hand on Erin's stomach. Slowly, he began to rub her baby bump, and he watched as her eyes fluttered open. "Sorry, Der. It's been a long day. This is going to sound silly, but could we go cuddle on the bed? Please?"
He smiled at her as he nodded. "That sounds wonderful."
"Thank you." Leaning forward, she kissed him deeply. "I need to get changed into the lingerie set that Penelope helped me pick out. Would you unzip my dress?"
"Certainly, Pretty Lady." He helped her to her feet and then turned her around, running the zipper down her back. Her skin was pale and looked so soft that he couldn't stop from pressing a soft kiss to her shoulder blades in turn.
"Umm, that feels nice, Derek." She slipped her arms from the sleeves and let the dress pool around her waist where his hands were resting. "Do you like this bra? I wasn't certain, but, Penny said that you would."
She began to turn and he let go of her, so that she could face him. The dress pooled on the floor and he took a long look at her. "You're gorgeous. This just highlights that fact." Reaching up, he caressed the top of her breasts, watching her eyes close as she leaned into the touch. "Red is the perfect color for you, though. It brings out the blue in your eyes."
"You can still think about my eyes?" she asked, smiling gently at him.
"Yes," he replied simply before kissing her once more. "They're lovely, just like every part of you."
There was a long pause. "Now I know you're kidding me. I'm older, certainly nothing like the women that are usually on your arm." Her eyes welled up and he tugged her flush against his body, his left hand covering her stomach while his right rubbed her back.
"And I am going to say that is your hormones talking. You are beautiful." She nuzzled her face against his shirt and shrugged a little, clearly still having trouble believing him. "Go, get changed into your lingerie and I'll be waiting for you on the bed."
Stepping back from her, he gazed into her eyes until she nodded. "Just keep reminding me of that, please." He nodded before tweaking her nose lightly. She stepped out of the dress, then knelt to pick it up, slinging it over her arm. As she walked away, he found that he couldn't tear his eyes off her ass, the silky fabric of her panties accentuating the perfect curve of her bottom.
Once she was ensconced in the bathroom, he ambled over to the bedroom, quickly stripping off his suit and hanging it in the closet. Her dress was hanging on the door, and he reached out, caressing the material gently. This had really happened, they were really married. Hearing a noise behind him, he turned and saw her standing there. "Damn."
"I take it you like this?" Erin ran her hands down her sides, smoothing the sheer silk fabric tight across her breasts and stomach.
"Yes. You are gorgeous." He stepped forward and closed her in a tight hug. "If you would let me, I would make love to you right now." A soft blush stole across her cheeks, and he noticed the tiniest of nods. "Are you sure?"
"It's our wedding night, Derek." Her simple reply, said softly and warmly, made him smile and he ran his hands down her back, cupping her ass and closing the small gap between them. "I mean, we both woke up wanting this. And you promised to cherish me."
"That I did, Pretty Lady. But I thought you wanted to wait, to not cheapen this relationship."
"I did, I do. But, I want this, too. I want this night to be special, to be something I can keep in my head for the bad times, if they come. I want a precious memory." She started to cry as she rested her head against his chest, and Derek moved a hand up to her back, rubbing gently.
"Don't cry, Erin." He pulled away a little to make her look up at him. Her lashes were spiky from tears and he smiled gently at her before kissing her deeply. "Precious memories are the best ones to have."
"Aren't they?" she whispered before kissing him once more. Derek gently tugged the baby doll up her body, loving the feel of her skin against his. "Derek, are you sure I look okay?"
"Pretty Lady, you look like perfection to me. I adore the feel of your skin, soft and smooth. I like how your breasts fill my palms. I love your eyes, so expressive and beautiful."
"You love something about me already?"
"There are a lot of little things I love about you already." He reached up and caressed her cheek gently before leading her over to the bed. "But first, we cuddle, then we love. Okay?" She nodded a little, the slight hitch in her breath telling him that she was close to tears. Derek sat down on the bed and tugged her down next to him. Together, they laid back on the bed, and Derek spooned his body around Erin's, his hands coming to rest on her stomach. "Are you feeling better now, honey?"
"Yes, Der. I really think it was the nerves that got to me. I couldn't eat anything while we were getting ready. And I didn't make the appointment with my doctor."
He could hear the peevishness in her voice and he began to rub soft circles on her stomach, knowing she would start to relax once he had done that. "Don't worry, we can make the appointment tomorrow, after we talk to the Director. You know, I've never actually met him. I hope he's understanding of our situation."
Erin sighed lightly, covering his hands with hers. "I hope so, too. Especially with the cases you're working right now. I don't like this copycat business. It unsettles me, Der." She flipped over in his arms, her eyes brimming with tears. "Tell me something that will make me happy?"
"Reid has a girlfriend, and none of us can figure out who she is. He only calls her from pay phones."
"Really? You can find those these days?"
Derek tapped his head. "He has the position of every functioning pay phone in his brain. Wherever we go, he finds a map of it and memorizes it. I would say it's really sweet, but I'm bothered by the fact that he can't be open with us."
"You don't think the woman would try to hurt him, or is an Unsub, do you?" It was odd how she put into words exactly what she was feeling, and he shrugged a little.
"I'm not entirely sure." She frowned a little before pressing her lips against his. He groaned a little as she ran her tongue along the seam of his lips, his hands coming to rest on her ass and squeezing gently as the kiss continued on.
"I want you to be sure," she whispered as they broke the kiss. He nodded before resting his forehead against his. "Alan and Dave never really got this part of me, you know. The small, insecure, part of me that wants the man to be certain of everything. I don't like showing it to the world, since I'm supposed to be strong, so strong."
"You can only be so strong alone. We're in this together now, Erin, and I will try to be whatever you need from me." She sighed happily and nuzzled her nose against his. "Were you this sweet with Rossi?"
"Yes. I thought , I knew, I was in love with him. Sweetness comes easy when you love."
"Do you love me, then?" He knew that he was pushing her, but he wanted to know what her reply would be.
"A little. You saved us, after all." He couldn't pull his eyes away from Erin's, watching the way they welled up, and he leaned close, kissing her once more. "And I promised God that I would let my heart be tender to you."
Derek felt his own breath catch in that moment, and he tightened his arms around her waist. "Then I will make that same promise, Pretty Lady." He slipped his hands beneath the lacy band of her panties, starting to tug them down her legs. She strained against his body, trying to get in closer contact with him. "You like being touched."
"I love being touched. I love the feel of your hands on me. Make me yours." She never took her eyes from his as she whispered those words, and he nodded solemnly.
"What do you like?"
"I'm boring, vanilla, really. I tried reading that trilogy last year, since everyone was, but I couldn't get through it. That's not who I am. I love being kissed and caressed. I love being teased with fingers and lips. But if you want me to try and be more adventurous, I will, for you."
He knew that it took a lot for her to say that, and he nodded, letting her skim the boxers from his hips. They both kicked their underwear to the floor and he settled one of his legs between her thighs, feeling a slight dampness there already. "I will take you however you give yourself to me," he murmured before beginning to place butterfly kisses all along her face. She made soft sounds of pleasure as he continued down her neck and chest, pausing to lavish attention on her breasts.
"Derek! Oh, Derek." Her voice was high and strained, and he knew he was doing something right. She tried to grind against his leg, to stimulate herself, and he gently parted her legs, wanting to prolong her pleasure. Continuing his path down her body, he passed by her core, knowing that it would irritate her. "Please?"
The soft question caused him to look up into her eyes, and he noticed that she was tearing up a little. "Please, what, precious?" he asked lowly, letting his hand come to rest on her stomach.
"I don't know, just, please?" Derek knew in that moment that she needed love, sweet and tender, to rebuild her trust and self-worth. Nodding gently, he quickly positioned himself between her legs, smoothly entering her pliant body. Erin felt like heaven around his erection, and he began to thrust in and out of her, trying to be gentle, to not hurt her or the baby.
He came much too soon for his liking, and before she could fully get off. Derek tried to stimulate her, give her the orgasm she deserved, but she pulled his hand away from her core, plastering her body to his. "Pretty Lady, please, let me."
"No, I don't need that."
"Yes, you do." Pulling back a little, he reached up to stroke Erin's face. "You deserve every pleasure that I can give you." Her eyes closed as she began to cry. "Didn't Rossi ever take time to give you orgasms?"
Erin shrugged a little. "When you love someone, it's not always about your pleasure."
"Open your eyes and look at me, Erin Morgan." She complied with his order, her eyes luminous with tears. "When you love someone, it is always about their pleasure. Even in the little things, like bringing you flowers, or remembering your favorite color when buying you a present." He leaned down and kissed her softly. "Now, let me pleasure you."
"Oh, Derek," she sighed as she nodded. Smiling, he kissed her once more before fitting his hand between her thighs, running his thumb over her clit as he gently inserted two fingers into her tight channel. It didn't take long for Erin to begin to breathe heavily once more, her face contorting with pleasure, and he smiled as he drove her on. "Derek!" she wailed as the orgasm swept over her.
He collapsed next to her, smiling as she burrowed close to him, starting to cry. "You are beautiful," he whispered as he closed his arms around her. There would be time enough to clean up later, he knew, as she needed him there, in that moment.
"Thank you, Der." She wrapped her arms around him tightly, nuzzling her face against the smooth planes of his chest. "I, I…"
"Shh, I know. Go to sleep, Pretty Lady." She nodded and yawned, her face relaxing into a soft smile as she fell asleep in his arms. Once she was fully under, he carefully disentangled himself from her and went to their bathroom, cleaning himself up before bringing a warm washcloth back to the bedroom and cleaning her up. "I'm falling in love with you, too," he whispered before tossing the washcloth in the hamper and crawling back in with her, pulling the covers over their bodies as he began to let sleep claim him as well.