Reunited Who: Penny, Derek What: Making Plans Where: Las Vegas, Their Apartment When: Present Ratings/Warnings: NSFW
Derek had enjoyed a surprisingly dreamless sleep. Maybe it was sheer exhaustion. Still, he kept his eyes closed for an extra minute, pretending everything was normal. Plus, the bedroom was still a refuge away from the reality of their living situation. The vampire had tried to clean up somewhat when they returned home, but it was a disaster area.
He let his eyes drop open and turned to his side.
The dress she had come home in had even stripped away and tossed out. It’d been a favorite of hers, but the stains and tears in the fabric coupled with the mixture of bad memories and regret made the garment unsalvageable. Into the trash it had gone. After a shower to rinse the dried blood out of her hair, Penny settled in with Derek for a while.
Though she was tired she couldn’t sleep. Her mind raced. And so as the sun began to rise she slipped out of their bed and made her way into the living room after putting on clothes appropriate for the task ahead.
Minutes stretched into hours. The apartment flooded with light and little by little she cleaned and sanitized, saving what she could. Windows were opened a bit to allow fresh air and let out the decomposition. That smell was heavy, it latched onto fabric and the carpet.
Her body ached from bending over, straining to cleanse and dispose of the withering carcasses in their apartment. Finally the bodies were gone. The vehicle Derek had rented was piled full and Penny drove them past Searchlight and the river to dump the bags into the water discreetly.
By the time she got back she was exhausted and messy but the apartment was getting back to normal.
At six p.m. she showered again. The clothes she’d cleaned in went into the garbage too. Only the towel she used to dry herself off was allowed to stay in the bathroom. It went to dry on the rack and fresh clothes were pulled on.
Penny crawled back into the bed and sat there, back pressed against the pillows and headboard, waiting for Derek to wake up.
He sat up, too, settling next to her and reaching for her hand. She smelled like cleaning supplies and shampoo. “Have you been up all day?” Derek asked her, squeezing her fingers gently. The vampire could hear the disembodied city sounds of Vegas below them, and a familiar urge ran through him of going out into the night and finding a meal. He mentally tamped it down.
Her hand slid easily into his and she took that opportunity to slide as close to him as possible. “Yeah, I didn’t want to leave all of that out there,” she explained. He would know what she meant. All of that carnage and decay. She didn’t want that in their house and she had no idea where to begin trying to make up for the last few days. Cleaning seemed like a good start, though.
“The bodies are gone.” She was hungry but she didn’t feel like eating or doing much of anything. The gigs lined up while she’d not been herself had fallen by the wayside and if they were going to inevitably get more furniture then she was going to have to work.
“I would have helped you,” he told her, wrapping an arm around her. There was a sadness in her voice, and he wanted to help make her happy again, though he knew it was going to take some time. There was also something he needed to ask her, but didn’t know if it would make things worse. He needed to know, though.
“Penny. Do you...remember? Like, everything that happened?”
“I know,” she said. That was not what she wanted. He’d done so much and this was her mess to clean up. Derek had been cleaning up after her since all of this started. It felt like ages though the span was really only a few days. “But you’ve done so much already.” More than anyone else would’ve done in the same situation.
She nodded. “Everything. I wasn’t really in control, but somehow I was. It doesn’t make a lot of sense. Once that thing was inside of me I wasn’t myself anymore. All of the things I said, to you and anyone, I didn’t mean them.” It was like being a spectator in your own body, helpless to control your actions. That also didn’t make what she did the right thing.
“I’m sorry, Derek. She was — so overwhelming and powerful. I don’t...I don’t feed from supernaturals but the impulse to do that from her was so strong.”
Derek pulled her closer to him, brushing his hand over her hair. “I know it wasn’t you,” he assured her. He wasn’t angry with her, just worried. If something could completely twist and control a person like Penny had been, that was a power that needed to be stopped. But he wouldn’t even begin to know how to stop a being like Elfleda, or if that was even in the realm of possibility.
He kissed the top of her head. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
She didn’t realize it but tears had trickled down the side of her face, moistening the lashes. He was so overwhelmingly good to her. The touch at her hair had her leaning in closer. “Thank you.” It would take time but she would get over this and be herself again.
“What is it?”
The vampire noticed her tears and wondered if he should continue. He didn’t want to keep anything from her, though, and it felt like a good idea to tell her sooner rather than later. “Phanuel agreed to help me get rid of Elfleda’s influence because I promised to never kill anyone again.” Derek paused, then added, “I would have agreed to anything in order to help you.”
Well that was better news than she was expecting although she didn’t know how easy that would be. But she trusted Derek wholly. “You did that for me?” Her free hand lifted and wiped at her eyes. “I love you. I don’t want to kill anyone, either. Not after what happened. Maybe we can think of something.” She had to eat people, and not killing someone would be challenging. But it wasn’t like she had to eat a person every single day.
“Okay. No killing.”
Derek leaned in to kiss her, his lips pressing against hers. He was relieved. He realized he had been worried that she would be upset about him promising something like that. As he pulled back, he said, “I love you, too.” His fingers ran through her soft hair.
His mouth felt good against hers. An arm wrapped around him and she returned the kiss. Being inside of herself without control brought a few things into perspective. They both needed to be careful for a while.
As the connection severed she looked up at him. “I don’t know how I’m ever going to get the blood out of the couch. It’s everywhere. We may need to go get new stuff soon.”
“Honestly, I wouldn’t mind just throwing everything away and replacing it.” Derek winced, remembering that at the height of his own Elfleda obsession, he had impulsively quit his job. “I need to find a new place to work.” They couldn’t live off the casino winnings forever.
“I have, like, no skills. They probably fired that valet at the Bellagio, maybe I can get in there.”
“Maybe we could start fresh. There are plenty of other apartments to live at.” Moving was a big deal, it meant taking the stuff that mattered and leaving the rest behind but if it left them free of the veil Elfleda had cast on them then she would do it.
“That’s a great idea! And I know a lot of people, maybe I can get you a gig in one of the casinos or bar tending.”
Derek rested his head against her shoulder. “We’ll figure something out.” He took her hand in his again, lifting them both in the air to watch the way their fingers fit together. He smiled. “You put your ring back on.”
When he noticed its absence before, the vampire had worried she had lost it, or worse.
She knew they would. Penny trusted Derek to work with her on the larger things to ensure both of their needs were met. Her fingers fell between his and her head moved to lay gently upon his own.
“Yeah, I did. I stashed it.” It had been in a pile of wedding rings she’d taken off of any of the victims she’d killed. Those had also vanished with the bodies into the water.
“We also need to find a way to thank Phanuel and James,” Derek pointed out. “And I don’t think a fruit basket would cut it.” He had been thinking about this earlier. What do you get the Angel and magic practitioner who have everything?
“And I want us to go on a honeymoon. We never did,” he added with a grin.
“Yes, of course. That’s a great idea.” She wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them. Whatever they wanted in return she was willing to give. “We should think of something good. Something worth the trouble.”
The idea of a honeymoon had her perked up. “Really? That sounds wonderful!! Where do you want to go?” They had a lot of options. “Somewhere exotic?”
“Not exactly exotic,” he smiled. “I was thinking...California?” Derek wasn’t intending to go home, per se, but he sometimes found himself missing the state. “That is, if you want to.”
California was a large place with so many things to do. And being close to the beach sounded perfect. “I’d like that. When can we go?” The excitement was beginning to fill the emptier places left behind by Elfleda. “Any place specific?” It was sunny there, not always good for a vampire. “We can go swimming!”
Derek laughed, felt himself get carried along with her excitement. He placed a hand on her cheek. “Whenever you feel like you’re ready. And I figured we would see the water, for you.” He tried not to think about the nightmare in the motel room. That was over, gone. Never happened.
“But really, it doesn’t matter where we go, as long as I’m with you,” he told her earnestly.
“Now? Can we go now?” She laughed, knowing that probably wasn’t possible. Things would still need to be done here before they could just up and leave. Or maybe that was the perk of just vanishing, you could leave things behind for later.
“Why don’t we go this weekend? It’ll give us a few days to finish tidying up and packing.” They would need to find a more suitable vehicle, too. “How much cash do you have left?”
She was amazing, he thought, before engaging in another, deeper kiss. His fingers sank into her hair, his other hand resting on the small of her back to pull her in. Derek was so happy to have her back, he never wanted to let go.
Her eyes closed. Penny leaned in close and tilted her head to deepen the kiss even further, letting herself drown in him. Arm would lift and slip around his neck in an effort to ensure no space was left between them.
He shifted so that he was lying on the bed, letting her come to rest against him, at his side. His hand trailed over her shoulder, down her smooth arm, following the curve of her hip, and finally settling on her thigh. Derek’s tongue danced across hers, teasing at first. He wanted to show Penny exactly how much he had missed her.
Being close to him was so much more empowering than any dark, ethereal woman’s presence. Love was a powerful emotion and Penny was glad to have the experience knowing its true depth. Derek was special, unique, and how anyone could have shunned him or made him feel unwanted was beyond her capacity to understand.
Moving with him, Penny laid her top half upon his frame, never breaking that kiss. Fingers slipped over his shirt. Finally she did pull back, those green eyes shimmering with a playfulness.
“So,” she began, lifting herself up enough to free the fabric of his shirt from between them. Her hands found cool skin and she touched lightly at the flesh at his stomach. “How much did you miss me?”
Derek grinned at those words, enjoying her touch on his bare skin. He looked down at those fingers, then back up at her. Wordlessly, he reached up and tugged her own shirt up and over her head, watching her hair tumble down softly. He ran his fingertips teasingly down the length of her spine, only for them to dip under the hem of her skirt.
“So much,” he answered.
Penny pulled back only long enough to slide out of that shirt. And then her hands found his skin again. Beneath the expanse of sheets and blankets, where the skin was warmer, she trailed. Her eyes stayed on him, though.
“Yeah?” She asked innocently.
Shifting, she slid into his lap and settled on his hips, shaking her hips from side to side in a teasing manner.
“Oh, that’s not fair,” he murmured, watching the way she moved with barely concealed anticipation. He flipped the skirt up so it bunched above her thighs, his hands resting there. Derek wanted to reach up and put his hands all over her, but he resisted. There was something to be said for waiting.
“What’s not fair?” She murmured, fingers dancing across his skin. Every place her fingers went she already knew but she went hunting again regardless.
Slowly the coverings were stripped away, cast aside, so he was revealed to her.
He pulled her down toward him, his mouth going to her neck, kissing over the area between ear and clavicle. His hips lifted to meet hers, before making a split-second decision. Derek rolled Penny over so she was flush against the bed and climbed on top of her.
“Is this okay?” he asked her.
His mouth on her skin had her frame shaking with delight. “Oh Derek.” This was a much better feeling, a much warmer and more sought after feeling. She felt connected in so many ways.
And when he moved she found herself rolling. A smile and she nodded, “More than okay.” She lifted her hand again and resumed the exploration of skin, admiration of the ink spread across limbs.
He let his fingers part her thighs, brushing against the thin material of her underwear. Derek leaned down to kiss her again, and he could hear her pulse quickening. She was overwhelming in the best possible way. “Let’s not ever,” he said, kissing between words, “ever,” he slid the underwear down her hips, “go away from each other again.”
Her legs parted at his prompting. Penny slipped her heels against his thighs on the inside, legs curled around him to secure Derek in place. Her heart was racing and kissing made it speed up again as if she were a rabbit instead of a siren.
“Never ever,” she murmured, speaking into his mouth. She responded in kind to his touch, hips pushing down against the nudging below. It didn’t surprise her at all how wet she was the second he touched her. He always knew how to bring out the most feeling with so little work on his end and that was a trait she adored.
“Derek,” Penny groaned. She shifted to slip out of the panties. Her legs unfolded from him long enough to maneuver out of them and discard them completely. Meanwhile her own hands worked diligently at any fabric he may be wearing that would keep them apart any longer.
He couldn’t wait any longer. He had tried his best, anyway. Her hands tugged down his shorts and then nothing was between them. Derek brushed his thumb over her face with one hand, looking into her eyes, while the other guided himself inside her. He moved his head to nuzzle against her, his lips brushing over her ear, before kissing the spot just below it as his hips started to move in a slow, steady rhythm.
She felt more complete with him inside of her. Penny gasped a breath, her body arched and moved with him. She closed her eyes. “That feels so good,” she murmured, turning to press her mouth against the side of his neck and jaw. He even tasted good.
How she’d ever been tempted away from him she didn’t know but it wouldn’t happen again. Not for anything. Elfleda would have to take her life before she’d give up Derek.
Her words incited him to move quicker, picking up the pace, hands exploring every inch of Penny that he could reach. The way she felt, and the way she felt about him, carried him along like a wave. Derek turned to whisper in her ear. “I love you so much.”
Those words made her smile grow, brighten. “I love you too.” She meant it. He was the world and all she needed to survive. Penny lifted her arms around Derek to pull him closer, wanting no distance between them. Her own frame moved with his, keeping the pace. Her muscles tightened around him.
Lips pressed against his cheek, the corner of his mouth, and then finally she kissed him.
Watching her closely, his hands grabbed her hips and began pulling her with him. The blankets and sheets bunched around them, rustling as he thrusted harder. Derek took in the way Penny looked, blonde hair splayed out over the bed, green eyes shining, lips slightly parted and cheeks reddening. She was beautiful, and desire coursed through him like a drug.
She giggled and then her jaw dropped at the increase in momentum. “Oh Derek,” she moaned, back arching. Her breathing picked up, heart raced. Nobody ever made her feel the way he did in all ways. Legs would lock around him and she made sure to tighten when necessary, to move with him like a ship on the waves.