Chapter 8: Lunch with Derek

Her steps were unhurried as she walked through the lunch line, grabbing a sandwich and a bottle of water.

Her first day as an intern was what many would've expected out of her. Many, as in her mother. Today she was slowly living up to Ellis' expectations, which in the realm of things wasn't saying much because well… Ellis' had no expectations.

"A surgeon? Meredith be sensible. A surgeon takes dedication, that is something that you just don't have…" shaking her head in disapproval, Ellis frowned. "You always did take after your dad."

Seeing the table of interns nestled into the corner, Meredith paused, not wanting to be involved with the banter that they had settled into. What she really wanted was an escape. To be left alone in peace to dwell on her mistakes—who was she kidding? Meredith had one mistake that was eating away at her, a doctor with wavy hair and bedroom eyes.

Meredith's focus was supposed to be on her career. Yet, her thoughts were about anything but that. The sex with Derek was amazing, but that wasn't what ate away at her. It was the moment after. It was the feeling of his arms wrapped tightly around her with his nose buried in her hair. It was the hidden smiles that lurked behind his eyes when he stared at her promising so much more than sex. Which is exactly what bothered her because she didn't do happily ever after…

Life is not a forever thing. Meredith knew this going into medicine. She applied the same concept to her everyday life. Her relationship with Finn worked. Sex. That was the only reliable thing they had. It worked because she knew that there was no such thing as a happily ever after. As long as she woke every day not expecting him, she never had to worry about feeling disappointed.

"So, are you avoiding them the way you are avoiding me?"

Closing her eyes, she took a second before turning to face the voice that managed to thrill and excite her with every word, "I'm not avoiding you. Why would you think I was avoiding you?"

"Lunch."

"Lunch?"

"Yes Meredith, I asked you to lunch. You skipped out on me when I got paged."

Biting her lower lip, she avoided his gaze as she tried to think quick, but failed when he placed a hand on her arm and tugged her along. "Where are we going?"

"Somewhere private."

"Private?" grimacing, she shook her head. "That's not a good idea."

"Why's that?" The blues in Derek's eyes sparkled in humor and she glared because he knew exactly why not, "We can't seem to be alone."

"On the contrary Mer, we seem to do alone quite well!" The deep tone of his voice seduced and plied her emotions until her body felt like jelly. Before she knew it, they were once again alone as he pulled her into a vacant patient room.

"Dr. Shepherd, did it ever occur to you that this is highly inappropriate?"

"What, having lunch?"

"Don't do that!" she snapped as she sat her tray down on the bedside table.

"Do what?"

"Look at me like you want to see me naked."

"But I have seen you naked, and I want to again."

"Why can't you just let this go?"

Sitting down on the bed, Derek sat in silence with his hands folded on his lap as he stared at her. Trying to read her mind, his eyes bore into hers. Derek found himself unsure of what Meredith wanted. She said she wanted him to leave her alone. She said she wanted a strictly platonic professional relationship.

"You don't want me to."

"What?" laughing nervously, Meredith shifted from foot to foot as she fought the intensity of his stare. Watching as he leaned back on the bed, she fought the urge to straddle him and run her fingers through his hair…"that's absurd."

Reaching out, Derek pulled her forward so that she was standing between his legs. "You don't want me to stop Meredith…" running a hand along her arm. "You want this as much as I do."

"A relationship? That's where you're fooling yourself Dr. Shepherd because I don't do relationships."

"Maybe not…" squinting, he laughed softly "but that doesn't mean you don't enjoy the sex. I know I do. I can't remember the last time something felt so good. Tell me you don't want it again Meredith. I'm willing to bet it's the only thing you've thought about today…I know it is for me."

Shaking her head, she glared at him wide eyed. "You sure are full of yourself."

"No…but I'm sure that whatever this is between us-is just going to grow in intensity if we try to pretend it's not there. So, why not give into it and have a little fun?"

"Fun?"

"Yes Meredith, fun. As in get to know one another, no strings attached… F.U.N."

"So, no couply things like holding hands or sleepovers?"

Leaning in, he cupped the back of Meredith's head as he slowly brought her face closer to his, "no couply things. Just good old-fashioned SEX!" nipping at her lips, he slowly turned the kiss into something a little more demanding before pulling away…grinning as she stood there stunned. Her skin glowing in the blush that had slowly crept into her cheeks. She was amazingly beautiful and the absolute need that filled him to have her was so overwhelming that it was alarming.

Meredith couldn't help but smile because she knew that a huge part of him was mocking her. Yet, the idea of having sex with him again was enough to cause her body to tingle in anticipation. "What about work?"

"What about it?"

"You're my boss…isn't this going to cause problems."

"It shouldn't, not if we don't let it. I'm a surgeon in the OR Mer, nothing comes before that. Not relationships, love, or even amazingly hot sex." Smiling, Derek grabbed her sandwich off her tray. Unwrapping it, he took a bite of the dry turkey only to wince and grab her water.

"Hey what are you doing. That's my lunch."

"Yes, it is, and you should eat some of it!" standing, he held out the other half to her as he leaned into her ear. "Trust me you'll need the energy!" Taking another bite, Derek smiled and walked away leaving Meredith alone to anticipate their next meeting.