Dark Passions

50.

Derek woke again later, disoriented for a moment in the darkness, before he tried to move, and the knife edge of pain made the events of the evening come rushing back. He could feel the soft weight of Meredith curled in beside him, her hair in loose curls across his chest. At least she was all right, he thought in relief. The moment where he saw the pistol aimed at her had been the worst time in his life - he didn't think, he just reacted, throwing himself in the path. Not such an intelligent move, he realized now, but there was no way he would have let Addison harm her.

Shifting slightly again, he had to bite back a sound of pain, and this time Meredith woke up at the slight noise. "Derek..." she whispered, sitting up slightly. "You're awake..." Her tear stained face looked pale in the dim filtered moonlight coming in the window, as she looked up at him. "I was afraid I'd lost you...there was so much blood..." She shuddered at the memory of him, laying on the floor, blood everywhere.

"Never..." he managed to say, trying to reassure her, but the effort of speaking seemed to tire him, and he closed his eyes again. Meredith pressed her hand against his forehead, her smooth fingers cool against his fevered skin, while her other hand gripped his tightly.

"Shh...I'm here, and I'm fine, you need your strength to recover, my love," she whispered, gathering her tattered nerves. It wouldn't help Derek if she fell apart now. She had to be the strong one for awhile. "I'm not going anywhere, I'll be here when you wake up. I love you."

"Love you..." he murmured, drifting away into blessed sleep again, hanging onto her hand.

⚜️⚜️⚜️

"How the devil did Addison manage to smuggle a pistol into Lady Eleanor's house? Or did she stumble across some weapons somewhere in the manor..." Marcus mused, as he paced the floor of his own bedroom. It was nearly morning, and he still hadn't slept. The sky was already lightening, darkness giving way to grey shadowy light, as he stared out his window. Isobel was tucked into their bed, exhausted from the evening, but he found himself unable to sleep. Perhaps he could have done something to prevent it, noticed the pistol and warned Derek sooner. He just hoped the doctor had been correct in his diagnosis, but the wound had looked clean enough. It still seemed beyond belief that it had happened, he truly had never believed Addison capable of such insanity.

Sighing deeply, he rubbed his hand across his face. It was almost dawn now, and he dropped into the wing chair by the window. He glanced over at the bed, seeing Isobel stirring restlessly before she lifted her head and saw him watching her. "Marcus...what are you doing over there?" she yawned, stretching languidly. The sheet slid down, exposing the lacey nightgown, giving him enticing glimpses of her skin. Before he could reply, she pushed herself out of bed, and padded over to him and crawled into his lap. She wound her arms around his neck, and rested her head against his chest. "Come to bed, darling," she murmured.

Marcus slid his arms around her, inhaling her sweet scent, her soft sleep warmed body fitting against his perfectly. "I keep seeing Derek going down," he admitted gruffly.

"There was nothing you could have done differently, Marcus," she assured him. "I'm sure he knows that. I was worried that you had been injured as well, when Alex came rushing down to summon a doctor. That woman...the lives she has made miserable..."

"I know, it seems incredible," Marcus agreed, lifting her chin to sweep his lips over hers gently. Kissing her softly at first, then with increasing pressure, as she responded. A low groan of desire rose in his throat, as his hands roamed along her body. "Lord, Isobel...I need you so much, sweetheart..." he murmured, intent on touching her skin.

As the sun started to rise, slanting through the window, he picked her up and carried her towards the bed. "I need to lose myself in you, and enjoy every part of you," he said, drawing the nightgown away from her body lovingly. He dropped down beside her, and picked up her foot, pressing his lips along her ankle, feeling her tremble. Isobel sighed, as his mouth moved higher, around the back of her knees, his hand still caressing her foot. Soft little sounds of need escaped Isobel, as he carefully parted her legs, and slid his fingers into her. She arched against his hand, her eyes catching his, as he watched her. Keeping his gaze locked on her, he lowered his mouth to her pussy, his tongue dancing over her engorged clit - each stroke of his tongue in cadence with his fingers, drawing out the sensation. When she came at last, each ripple resonating in her core, he released her slowly, and let his mouth wander slowly up along her body, licking and caressing as he went.