Rest and Relaxation (Closed for DeliciousMaiden)

[DeliciousMaiden]

"I still don't believe this Maxine..."

Maxine could see that Derek was somewhat overawed, and not by her somewhat over-demonstrative friend.

"...any of it...it just seems...too good to be real ya know?"

She nodded.

"... us being together is the 'too good to be real' bit ... but this place... "

She stood in the middle of the room and gestured around.

" ... this is just 'Jo's holiday pad' ... and we can see as much or as little of her as we want ... "

Despite her smile, Maxine couldn't help a touch of anxiety as she asked;

"I know she can tease, but ... you do like her, don't you Derek?"

 

[LucianDevine]

"... us being together is the 'too good to be real' bit ... but this place ... this is just 'Jo's holiday pad' ... and we can see as much or as little of her as we want ... "

Derek had turned towards Maxine as she spoke and gesture to the lavish room that they were in. He would have let his gaze circle with her gesture once more, but he could see a bit of tension in her posture.

"I know she can tease, but ... you do like her, don't you Derek?"

A small smile came to Derek's lips as he slowly walked towards Maxine once more. He let his hands move to rest on her hips, letting him meet her gaze.

"She is a tease, yes, but at the same time, she invited us here." This time he did let his gaze wander around the two of them, accentuating his point. "Not just you, but us." Derek accented the word that he felt was most important the second time he said it.

"Besides, how could I not like somebody who just wants to see you happy, even if it's not with her?" Derek knew that Maxine was a very private person, but he still couldn't resist the urge to lean a little bit closer. He pressed a tender kiss just behind her eat before whispering teasingly into her eat. "I do have one question though..." He started, letting the statement linger for just a moment before continuing. "...of the two of us, whose lips did you enjoy more when they were between your thighs?"

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Maxine watched as Derek came closer, her eyes locked with his as he answered.

"She is a tease, yes, but at the same time, she invited us here."

Maxine nodded.

"Not just you, but us."

Jo had been very generous with her invitation, though Maxine knew it was for her sake as she did not yet know Derek and had accepted him upon Maxine's recommendation.

"Besides, how could I not like somebody who just wants to see you happy, even if it's not with her?"

His words surprised Maxine. Derek was no fool; he would naturally have seen how close she and Jo were ... and it wasn't as if Jo had been ... subtle ... despite Maxine's requests to the contrary.

"I do have one question though..."

He was bound to ask about there friendship sooner or later, Maxine knew ... all the better if it was sooner, she supposed.

"...of the two of us, whose lips did you enjoy more when they were between your thighs?"

Maxine pulled away sharply.

"Derek!"

She was shocked and shook her head as she considered how to answer.

"What is it you are actually asking me?"

She asked him finally.

" ... are you asking if I had a relationship with Jo? Or if I still am?"

She supposed she should have had this conversation before inviting him out here, but still, she hadn't expected a question such as he had posed.

"... or are you truly asking me to make comparisons ... to share intimate details ... ? "

She sighed.

"To the first ... Jo and I have had a close friendship and yes ... an intimate one, some time ago now. Are we still? If you can even think that ... "

She paused.

"I'd hardly bring you here if that were the case."

She turned and walked towards the patio doors which led out onto their terrace.

"As to the details ... and making comparisons ... that isn't something I'd ever do ... so ... "

She shrugged and walked outside, sitting in a chair upset by how badly the whole conversation about Jo had gone ...

 

[LucianDevine]

Derek realized his mistake the moment Maxine pulled away from him. It was similar to when she'd pulled away when Jo had spoken while the two of them had been kissing by the pool, except he had been the one who caused her to pull away from him. He heard her speak, and could only curse himself in his mind. It had been a stupid question. He should have known that, even if he had intended it to be more of a tease than anything else.

There was nothing Derek could say before Maxine headed towards the patio doors, went out them, and sat in a chair, leaving him in the room by himself. He bowed his head briefly and cursed softly aloud this time. There was no help for it now though. He just had to go out there and try to make things right.

After taking a deep breath, Derek followed Maxine out the doors and moved to crouch beside the chair that she sat in. He didn't say anything for a little bit, and actually didn't even move to touch her. He simply looked in the same direction that she was looking for a little bit before finally speaking, still not turning towards her as he spoke.

"I'm sorry Maxine..." Derek started, knowing how pathetic of an apology it was for what he'd just done. "I know you're a private person, and that I shouldn't have been that forward and stupid, especially since I only meant it as a bit of a tease..."

Derek let his head bow again, not even caring just then whether or not Maxine was looking at him as he tried to apologize to her.

"I didn't mean to suggest that you and Jo were still involved that way, or at all really. That thought hadn't even crossed my mind before Jo brought it up." Derek hesitated before finally lifting his head and speaking once more. "I'm sorry for offending you and hope that you can find a way to forgive me for my stupidity."

With nothing else to say or even truly do, Derek simply shifted positions, sitting down next to Maxine's chair, hoping that she'd at least let him be close, even if she likely didn't want him touching her.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Maxine heard Derek coming out to the terrace, but remained silent, more due to a loss of what to say next, rather than through not wanting to break the unfamiliar tension between them. She bit back a sigh as he came to crouch beside her.

"I'm sorry Maxine..."

His soft words meant a lot to her.

"I know you're a private person, and that I shouldn't have been that forward and stupid, especially since I only meant it as a bit of a tease..."

She turned to look at him, but was unable to catch his eye as he lowered his gaze.

"I didn't mean to suggest that you and Jo were still involved that way, or at all really. That thought hadn't even crossed my mind before Jo brought it up.
I'm sorry for offending you and hope that you can find a way to forgive me for my stupidity."

Maxine reached out a hand and stroked his arm tentatively.

"I know Jo brought it all up."

She told him.

"We should have talked before I passed on Jo's invitation to come here, but ...
I guess I'm so used to how Jo and I are that ... I didn't think it would be an issue or seem ... "

She blushed.

"After Jo's ... performance ... "

Despite her words, Maxine couldn't help but smile at the precociousness of her friend.

"You were bound to wonder ... to ask ... "

She hesitated then was totally honest with him.

"I don't want secrets between us, Derek... I ... just didn't expect you to ask something .. like.. that ... "

 

[LucianDevine]

The light touch of Maxine's hand on his arm gave Derek enough courage to turn his head to meet her gaze. He didn't truly know what to expect, but he knew he had to try. The two of them wouldn't be where they were right now if neither of them truly wanted to try.

"I know Jo brought it all up. We should have talked before I passed on Jo's invitation to come here, but ...I guess I'm so used to how Jo and I are that ... I didn't think it would be an issue or seem ... "

The slight blush that came to Maxine's cheeks brought a smile to Derek's lips, a smile that he didn't think he'd get to have so soon after his stupid question.

"After Jo's ... performance ... "

The smile that followed Maxine's words was actually more reassuring than the words she spoke. As easy as such a small gesture as that was to fake, Derek was pretty good at reading people, especially Maxine at this point. She'd opened up to him like she hadn't to likely anybody else except Jo. So seeing that smile so soon after something that could have destroyed any and all chance the two of them had meant a lot.

"I don't want secrets between us, Derek... I ... just didn't expect you to ask something .. like.. that ... "

"Probably because I should have known better than to ask something like that." Derek said softly, moving his right hand to cover her hand on his arm. "You probably didn't expect me to ask something like that, because I just shouldn't have asked it. That wasn't a question born out of suspicions of some hidden secret. It was just...I don't know...maybe complacency born from the fact that we've got privacy for the first time since we've met..."

When Derek was finally ready to stop making a fool of himself, he lifted his right hand so that he could bow his head and press a soft kiss to the top of her hand that still rested on his arm. He then took a slow and deep breath before letting out in an equally slow exhale, hoping to push out the negative feelings that might have developed in those tense minutes.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

"Probably because I should have known better than to ask something like that."

He agreed with her, his hand upon hers, that contact reassuring, her eyes searched Derek's as he spoke.

"You probably didn't expect me to ask something like that, because I just shouldn't have asked it. That wasn't a question born out of suspicions of some hidden secret. It was just...I don't know...maybe complacency born from the fact that we've got privacy for the first time since we've met..."

She nodded. He obviously had meant it as a joke and felt comfortable enough with her to tease in that way. Her reaction had most likely been because they had yet to talk about Jo and that had caused a misunderstanding ...

His kiss on her hand was tender; she felt him relax slightly beside her.

"We need to talk ... about Jo ... I have no secrets and you can ask what you want ... and after that... if you want, we can go and stay somewhere else ... "

She offered softly, though she really hoped that it wouldn't come to that; not only would that be hurtful to Jo, but it would be hard to find somewhere as idyllic for them at such short notice ...

"I'll get us something to drink ... you choose where we'll be most comfortable, Derek ... "

She offered knowing that there would be a well stocked bar and that Jo had stocked the fridge with Maxine's favourite drinks including a jug of pimms; not too strong and very English ...

 

[LucianDevine]

"We need to talk ... about Jo ... I have no secrets and you can ask what you want ... and after that... if you want, we can go and stay somewhere else ... "

Derek's small lingered on his face as he let his hand similarly linger on her hand. Her offer was a sweet, even though he knew it wasn't what she really wanted to do.

"I'll get us something to drink ... you choose where we'll be most comfortable, Derek ... "

"I don't think there's much else to talk about as far as Jo is concerned." Derek said calmly, still holding Maxine's gaze as he slowly rose to his feet and stepped back, loosing her hand and giving her room to stand up.

"I am not uncomfortable with the fact that the two of you have history together, even if it is that kind of history."

Derek stepped aside, giving Maxine room to step inside and lead the way to the drinks.

"She's your friend, and has been gracious enough to offer us this place, privacy, and as much time as we need to make the decisions that she knows are important to us. I'd be hard-pressed to find any sort of reason to dislike her.

"Derek let his smile widen one more time as he attempted one more small joke. "Besides, it never hurts to have a sugar mama, right?" He jested lightly.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

"I don't think there's much else to talk about as far as Jo is concerned."

Maxine was surprised by Derek's words.

"I am not uncomfortable with the fact that the two of you have history together, even if it is that kind of history."

Maxine blushed and moved inside to get the drinks.

"She's your friend, and has been gracious enough to offer us this place, privacy, and as much time as we need to make the decisions that she knows are important to us. I'd be hard-pressed to find any sort of reason to dislike her."

She was relieved that Derek had accepted Jo for the close friend that she now was. She poured out the sparkling blush coloured liquid into two high glasses and smiled across at him, pleased that Jo hadn't become an issue between them.

"Besides, it never hurts to have a sugar mama, right?"

Maxine laughed and tried to look disapproving.

"You're outrageous Derek, you know that?"

She commented chuckling.

"You're not far wrong though. Jo is generous to a fault ... always has been ... "

She handed him a glass and allowed him to lead to where he preferred to relax.

"As you've already seen, Jo is a somewhat ... energetic force ... "

Maxine told him.

"She's caring, but is definitely a dominant force in any relationship, even friendship to some extent ... "

She wasn't being disloyal, just telling Derek what he had actually already witnessed.

"We'll always be friends, I hope, but ... relationship wise ... I think I'm too independent ... whereas Jo ... "

Again the smile.

" ... Jo just wants to save me before I make a mistake, or get hurt ... always assumes she knows what's best for me ... "

She sipped her glass, settling down beside Derek.

"... which of course, she often does, but ... much as I adore her, I always end up feeling ... smothered ... "

She wondered if Derek understood at all what she was telling him.

" ... I'm not trying to be disloyal, just tell you that as a close friend, Jo can be who she is around me ... but likewise, she now realises that I have my own life to lead ... and that my decisions are my own ... "

Maxine concluded.

" ... easy enough you may think ... but it took a while for us to reach that understanding ... and supporting me in this ... well ... if you but knew it ... it's quite a stamp of approval from Jo ... "

Maxine knew that Jo would not behave as she did if she did not approve of Derek, or of their potential romance.

 

[LucianDevine]

"You're outrageous Derek, you know that?"

Derek chuckled along with Maxine, glad that she'd found his joke humorous this time. He'd followed her to the bar, thankful that they'd been able to put his indiscretion behind them so quickly.

"You're not far wrong though. Jo is generous to a fault ... always has been ... "

Derek accepted the tall glass that Maxine offered him. It seemed it was his turn to lead this time, and he chose someplace simple, the living room. He sat down in one of the corners of the couch, shifted his drink to his left hand and offered Maxine his hand, should she wish to take it and sit beside him.

Once the pair of them were seated comfortably, Derek listened attentively as Maxine spoke. She was confiding in him yes, but some part of him couldn't wonder if she was also venting to him about her friend. There could be no doubt that the two did in fact care for each other deeply, but as she had said, Jo was the dominating force, even in their friendship in some ways. She didn't seem to mind it for the most part, but it was clear to Derek that she was glad that the two of them had reached that understanding.

"I shall have to thank her for that stamp one day, and work hard to make sure I deserve it." Derek started moving his right hand on top of her left one and slowly entwining their fingers. "I may only have known Jo for a day, but I assure you that I can see what you mean about her. I'm glad that she can be who she is around you, but I hope as well that you feel comfortable being who you truly are around me."

Derek paused to take a small sip of his drink before continuing. "No matter where this does or doesn't go Maxine, I just want both of us to be ourselves." Derek gave Maxine's hand a gentle squeeze and took another sip of his drink.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Maxine settled beside Derek on the sofa, somehow finding it much easier to talk to him about Jo than she had expected.

"I shall have to thank her for that stamp one day, and work hard to make sure I deserve it."

She sighed, part weary, part relief as they sat hand in hand as they discussed Jo.

"I may only have known Jo for a day, but I assure you that I can see what you mean about her. I'm glad that she can be who she is around you, but I hope as well that you feel comfortable being who you truly are around me."

Maxine smiled at Derek's comment.

"I'm still discovering just who I truly am around you Derek."

She told him. Such impulsivity wasn't usual for Maxine at all!

"No matter where this does or doesn't go Maxine, I just want both of us to be ourselves."

Maxine nodded and put her drink on the low table beside the sofa.

"I couldn't be any other way with you, Derek."

She agreed softly.

"I don't usually take risks, I've certainly not done anything like this before ... "

She confessed.

"... but like you said ... even if it's just a break for the two of us ... we can enjoy it for what it is ... "

She suggested, not wanting to put any 'pressure' on him now that they were finally alone together for the first time ...

 

[LucianDevine]

"I'm still discovering just who I truly am around you Derek."

Derek let a small sip slip from his lips after Maxine spoke. He took another sip from his drink before moving to set his down beside hers.

"I think it's safe to say that we're both in the same boat there. We've been hiding our true selves for so long, that now it's about all we know how to do..."

Derek let his words trail off as he sat back once more and gave Maxine's hand another gentle squeeze.


"I don't usually take risks, I've certainly not done anything like this before ... but like you said ... even if it's just a break for the two of us ... we can enjoy it for what it is ... "

Though he nodded at Maxine's confession, and the statement that followed it, he couldn't resist the urge to turn towards her a little. "That would be the safest route..." He said softly as he lifted his left hand and let his fingertips brush across her cheek.

"I can't help but wonder though...what would you like this to be Maxine...where would you like this...us...to end up..."

Derek knew his question was a difficult one, but it was also one of the decisions that the pair of them would have to make...eventually. He wouldn't push the issue if she rebuffed his question just then, but he was genuinely curious about what she would say.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

"I think it's safe to say that we're both in the same boat there. We've been hiding our true selves for so long, that now it's about all we know how to do..."

Maxine found herself relaxing as Derek spoke, the small squeeze of her hand all the reassurance she needed.

"That would be the safest route..."

He responded to her comment about enjoying this break for what it was.
She turned as his fingers brushed her cheek, the tender intimacy drawing her gaze to his once more.

"I can't help but wonder though...what would you like this to be Maxine...where would you like this...us...to end up..."

She was surprised by the question, that he seemed to want to know what her 'ideal' would be.

"I've been so careful not to put any pressure on you, Derek."

She responded.

" ... but ... I can't pretend not to know the direction I'd like this to take ... "

She hesitated, giving him chance to change his mind, to say for her not to tell him.

" ... I'd obviously love us to develop our relationship, romantically for as long as that works between us .... "

She knew she was being diplomatic and smiled.

"I'd like that to be as long a time as possible, obviously."

She confessed.

"But, more than that ... "

Honesty compelled her to continue.

" ... I'd love for us to work together in some form. I don't even know myself what line of business I'd want to go into after this, but I'd love if you could be involved ... and in a way that would give you chance to write ... to fulfil some of your ambitions also ... "

She kissed his lips lightly before continuing.

"If we could do all that as lovers, then that would be perfect, but if not, then I really think we could pursue all that as friends and colleagues...
I think we could be good together, in so many ways, Derek."

 

[LucianDevine]

"I've been so careful not to put any pressure on you, Derek."

Derek smiled at Maxine's words and let his fingertips linger on her cheek before moving his and slightly to cup her cheek.

"I've never felt pressured Maxine, not once. I chose to do all of the things that I've done, and if I had to go back in time, I would make all of them again. I would choose to rub your shoulders that first time." Derek said as he leaned forward to kiss her softly and briefly. "I would dare to kiss you that first time." He kissed her again, letting his lips linger a bit longer this time, and even tracing his tongue against her lips. "And I would make love to you that first time. "He kissed her again, a long, deep and passionate kiss as he traced her lips with his tongue once more, but gently probing for entry this time.

Derek let Maxine talk after that, letting her say all the things that she'd clearly been thinking about for a while, and had likely been afraid to tell him until now. Only after she'd kissed him and finished talking did Derek finally start to respond to what she'd said.

"I confess that I too would like us to continue our romantic relationship." Derek started, meeting and holding Maxine's gaze as he spoke. "And when you decide what you'd like to do professionally, I will gladly accompany you if you'd like me too, be it as a consultant of sorts, partner, or just a companion if need be. I will stand beside you for as long as you'll have me."

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

"I've never felt pressured Maxine, not once. I chose to do all of the things that I've done, and if I had to go back in time, I would make all of them again."

Maxine was obviously pleased that he felt that way.

"I would choose to rub your shoulders that first time ... I would dare to kiss you that first time."

His touch, his kiss, his sensually teasing tongue immediately sent sparks of sensation through Maxine's body.

"And I would make love to you that first time."

Maxine eagerly accepted Derek's kiss, parting her lips as his tongue sought entry. It felt so long since they had been able to be together and it was amazing to be together like this without fear of being seen or overheard even. She was breathless when their mouths finally parted.

"I confess that I too would like us to continue our romantic relationship."

Maxine nodded as he confirmed that he was, thankfully, of the same mind as she.

"And when you decide what you'd like to do professionally, I will gladly accompany you if you'd like me too, be as a consultant of sorts, partner, or just a companion if need be. I will stand beside you for as long as you'll have me."

She was touched by his words and could think of nothing better than being with him in a business sense as well as the obviously personal attraction.

"Be very careful what you offer, Derek."

She warned softly.

"I may just get too used to you being around in whatever sense. I think you're going to make a very ... addictive... companion... "

She whispered as she this time gave him a softly sensual kiss on the lips... "[/I]

 

[LucianDevine]

The feeling of Maxine's receptiveness to his kisses only served to push him further. When her lips parted for his tongue, it surged forward, gladly seeking out hers and rolling languidly over it. The pair savored their kiss, and when it finally ended, he was glad to find that both of them were left breathless from it.

"Be very careful what you offer, Derek."

Derek knew from the tone of Maxine's voice that she was joking. So he simply smiled and let her continue.

"I may just get too used to you being around in whatever sense. I think you're going to make a very ... addictive... companion... "

Derek couldn't help but chuckle at Maxine's words. They sounded that much more seductive in the tender volume of a whisper, especially now, where they didn't have to worry about any about being caught. They were truly free now to do as they wished with each other.

"Well, I don't know about you Maxine..." Derek started after her soft and sensual kiss. "But I could think of far worse things to be addicted to."

After he spoke, Derek stayed close, retaining the intimate distance between them as he held Maxine's gaze once more, wanting to let her see the truth of his words in his eyes, as well as how much he cared for, and desired her.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

"Well, I don't know about you Maxine...But I could think of far worse things to be addicted to."

Maxine chuckled at his words.

"... I can't argue with that ... "

She told him with a soft smile, aware as Derek must be, that they were alone at last with no one to hide from.

" ... time will tell if you decide that you can get too much of a good thing... "

She told him lightly, silently reflecting that, perhaps without the taboo and the need for clandestine meetings and hiding their feelings, this relationship would run its course more quickly than they imagined.

"And there's always Jo, if you get bored of my company... "

Maxine quipped with a provocative grin, realising that this too was out in the open with Derek and that for once in her life she was not keeping any barriers up or secrets. It was a first for her and was not without its risks ...

 

[LucianDevine]

"... I can't argue with that ... time will tell if you decide that you can get too much of a good thing... "

Derek was glad that, like he, Maxine retained the intimate distance between them while she spoke. Her words were both pleasant and foreboding, especially as she seemed to quietly think about what she'd said in the moments after her words.

"And there's always Jo, if you get bored of my company... "

Maxine's words pulled a chuckle from Derek this time. He lifted his fingertips up to gently trace over her cheek, glad that they could both find a bit of humor even now, when everything seemed to be on the line.

"Well, as tempting as that may be, I get the feeling that Jo has eyes for somebody else.*

Derek said in the same light tone of voice that Maxine had used, letting the smile linger on his face so that Maxine would hopefully know that his comment was simply in jest, despite it's potential relation to the mistake of a comment that he'd made earlier.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Maxine smiled as Derek laughed. It was she who had introduced the subject of Jo this time and she could not help but wonder what Derek's response might be.

"Well, as tempting as that may be, I get the feeling that Jo has eyes for somebody else.*

The cheeks beneath the light trail of his fingertips pinked at his observation. She considered how to respond and finally stated.

"Yes, perhaps ... but Jo accepts the choices I've made in my life and only wants to see me happy ... "

Her eyes met his.

"Does my friendship with Jo or the fact that we're staying in her home bother you at all? Because if you'd rather go somewhere else, we can do that."

She could only hope that her friendship with Jo wasn't a problem and that she wasn't going to have to be in a position to choose between them...

 

[LucianDevine]

The slight flush that came to Maxine's cheeks after his comment brought another smile to Derek's lips. He let his touch slowly shift from his fingertips to the backs of his fingers as she spoke, glad that the two of them could speak so openly.

"Yes, perhaps ... but Jo accepts the choices I've made in my life and only wants to see me happy ... Does my friendship with Jo or the fact that we're staying in her home bother you at all? Because if you'd rather go somewhere else, we can do that."

Derek shook his head slowly, the smile still on his lips as he let his fingers continue to linger on her cheek.

"I can tell that Jo wants to see you happy, even if it's not with her, and I can't honestly think of a better place for us to say while we make our decisions."

Derek continued to hold Maxine's gaze as he spoke, wanting once more to let her see the truth of his words in his eyes.

"We have a hostess that is more sympathetic to our needs than any other would be. We have as much privacy as we could expect, And to top it all off, we have the time we need to make the decisions. What more could we ask for?

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

"I can tell that Jo wants to see you happy, even if it's not with her, and I can't honestly think of a better place for us to say while we make our decisions."

Derek's words were a relief to Maxine. He seemed to accept the fact of Jo and moreover that Jo truly had her best interests at heart.

"We have a hostess that is more sympathetic to our needs than any other would be. We have as much privacy as we could expect, And to top it all off, we have the time we need to make the decisions. What more could we ask for?"

Maxine smiled and eased forward to press a light kiss to Derek's lips.

"Thank you ..."

She told him simply.

"... this is more than I had hoped I could ask for."

Maxine had never intended to hide the fact of Jo from Derek, but she had asked Jo to be 'subtle', a request, Maxine should have known better than to expect Jo to comply with. Knowing Jo so well, Maxine knew that her behaviour towards Derek actually meant that she approved of him and now it seemed that Derek actually appreciated the close friend that Jo had become to Maxine and seemed unfazed by her. In time, the two might even grow to like each other ...

"Ever since we met, this is all I wanted .. just to have time to be alone ... be ourselves and get to know each other more ... "

Finally, as Derek said, it was just the two of them. Maxine couldn't remember the last time she had taken a true break from her work, much less considered a total change of direction ...

 

[LucianDevine]

"Thank you ... this is more than I had hoped I could ask for."

Maxine's words followed her light kiss, and both of them made Derek smile.

"Ever since we met, this is all I wanted .. just to have time to be alone ... be ourselves and get to know each other more ... "

Derek could tell that his positive opinion of Jo meant a lot to Maxine, and he could literally see her relax that much more as she fully realized it. Hopefully, with that load off her chest, the pair of them would get to enjoy the privacy and time together that they finally had.

"I know what you mean..." Derek started softly, letting his small smile linger on his face. "As much as I enjoyed our private rendezvous, I am glad that we don't have to hide anything any more. For the first time since we met, we can finally think about each other, instead of what might happen if the outside world found out about us..."

Derek let a comfortable silence exist between the two of them for a few brief seconds before speaking once more.

"The only question now is...where do we begin?" Be asked with a wry smile.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

"I know what you mean ... As much as I enjoyed our private rendezvous, I am glad that we don't have to hide anything any more. For the first time since we met, we can finally think about each other, instead of what might happen if the outside world found out about us..."

She nodded; the clandestine meeting had been hot, if frustrating as hell, but to have something like normality would make a refreshing change: At last she could relax!

"The only question now is...where do we begin?"

Maxine laughed at his question.

"Well now, Mr Wright, if you have no idea about how we might get reacquainted, then you're not the man I took you for ... "

She commented.

"We have all these rooms, all these facilities and total privacy ... so you tell me ... now you have me ALL to yourself ... what is it you want Derek?"

 

[LucianDevine]

"Well now, Mr Wright, if you have no idea about how we might get reacquainted, then you're not the man I took you for ... We have all these rooms, all these facilities and total privacy ... so you tell me ... now you have me ALL to yourself ... what is it you want Derek?"

Derek liked to hear Maxine laugh. He suspected that it, like many things, wasn't the kind of thing she felt comfortable enough to do as often as she liked. As much as he liked it though, it was her words, and what they meant that sent a surge through his body.

"Who said anything about me not knowing how to get reacquainted?" Derek asked simply, turning more fully towards her and leaning in to kiss her. The kiss was a brief one, and when it broke, the small smile was on Derek's lips once more. "All those options just left me wondering which one we should start with."

Derek moved his hand to let the backs of his fingertips slide along her cheek once more before rotating his hand to gently cup her cheek. He remained like that for a few seconds, holding Maxine's gaze before moving his hand once more. It didn't retract though, but rather slid behind her head as leaned in to kiss her once again. His hand held her without force to that deeper and more passionate kiss. When the pair finally had to break for air, he let his cheek slide along hers until he could turn her head just so.

"Because lord knows I intend to utilize every option available to us...in time..." Derek whispered against her ear as he hugged her close, giving her time to potentially voice her opinion on the matter before he took things any further.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

"Who said anything about me not knowing how to get reacquainted?"

His kiss was brief but intense and set Maxine's pulses racing.

"All those options just left me wondering which one we should start with."

Though the words sounded light-hearted, joking almost, the touch of Derek's hand on her cheek, the heat of his gaze clearly told her that he had many 'plans' for them for their time together. She eagerly met his kiss, amazed at how Derek could hold her so gently and yet kiss so passionately. Maxine thrilled at the sensation of his lips moving on hers, his tongue dipping into her mouth, the taste of him as her own tongue flicked and dualled and tasted in turn. It was as if all else ceased to exist apart just the two of them.

Finally drawing apart, Maxine struggled for breath.

"Because lord knows I intend to utilize every option available to us...in time..."

The whispered promise made her shiver, the sexy words combined with the reassurance and loving embrace in which she was being held against him making an irresistible combination.

" ... any option ... any time ... "

She confirmed breathlessly.

"... stolen times together were hot, but to be able to always be beside you ... being able to go until we're exhausted and then wake up and go all over again... "

What she had experienced with Derek so far was beyond hot; how much more would it be when there were no time limits put upon them?