Dark Passions

32.

Meredith shooed Derek's manservant away, as they entered Derek's suite. "That's fine, I can take care of him," she assured him. "Just make sure the fire is burning well, before you leave." He nodded, with a small bow, before hurrying away to tend to the fire, then leaving silently.

Meredith turned to Derek, as the door closed, leaving them alone. "Come, sit by the fire," she said, taking his hand. "You look so cold. Are you quite sure you are not injured in some way as well?" She searched his face for any indication of pain.

"Quite sure," he murmured. "I'm just cold, and soaked, and I feel like a total fool for dragging my best friend out in this weather." He sank wearily into the wing chair, as she dropped to her knees in front of him. He ran a hand through his hair, slicking it away from his forehead, with a deep sigh.

"I'm sure he will forgive you - it's not like you purposely set him up to have an accident. Not any longer, now that you two are speaking again," Meredith said, as she tugged at his riding boots. "And Izzie will take good care of him - she's very good at that. Maybe more so than usual - there seemed to be some interest there, don't you think?"

"And you can take care of me..." Derek added, drawing her upwards. "You're very good at that, my love." The fire snapped, casting dancing shadows in the room darkened by the fierce storm that continued to rage outside. "You know, this day is very similar to the day I found you out there in the woods. And all I wanted to do that day was hold you close and take care of you. I could have easily carried you up here to warm you by the fire like this...but I didn't want to scare you away. You seemed so fragile, like a wounded bird." He touched her face, his indigo eyes dark in the firelight.

Meredith started to unbutton his shirt, smiling at the memory. "And I have to confess, Derek, I think I fell in love with you that very day, even though I didn't want to admit it. There you were, appearing out of the rain like some magic knight, rescuing me." She pushed the sodden shirt away from him, letting her hands trace the damp planes of his chest. "Now, just wait here, and I'll fetch some towels, and blankets. You're still chilled."

His eyes never left her, as she hurried away to his dressing room, returning with her arms full. She dropped the blankets down onto the floor, spreading them out in front of the fireplace, before coming to stand in front of him again. "Let me get out of the rest of these wet things, before you get ill from the cold." He stood up again, letting her undress him, until he stood naked in front of her. She picked up the towels and began to slowly rub his skin dry, lingering along his hips, feeling his cock swelling against her hand. "You must be feeling warmer..." she murmured, pressing her lips to his chest. His skin did feel warmer, as he caught her head in his hands, lowering his mouth to capture hers.

"I am, but I think you still need to help me," he breathed, pulling them both down into the cocoon of blankets. Meredith responded to his kiss, falling against him, and minutes melted into each other, as they kissed and fondled each other, the sound of the rain beating against the windows the only sound. Her body heat flowed against him, warming him even more. He reached up to find the pins in her hair, scattering them to the floor, as her hair cascaded around them in a lavender cloud. "You need to take these clothes off, sweetheart," he murmured, lips against her throat. "I need your hot skin next to mine to keep me warm..." His fingers tried to pull at the tiny buttons, and she sat up with a small laugh.

"Let me do this, Derek, or I'll have another ruined dress for Rose to take care of for me."

"Good, I like to watch you undress," he grinned lazily at her, falling back onto his elbow. Ribbons of light danced across his toned body, accentuating the smooth muscle and dark hair that marked the path down to his groin. His cock was standing hard and thick, from the mat of hair, and her breath caught at his masculine beauty. It never ceased to give her shivers that all his virile heat was his gift to her, that he wanted her as badly as she wanted him.