Still May 2017
Rachel doesn't know what to expect when she is expecting Derek's arrival.
It never felt like a day they were away from each other even though they were nowhere near each other.
Rachel never bothered to make any special effort to dress up, contouring her face (which she never does), put some lip stain or even spray her favorite Daisy. She knew its going to end up in two ways, either everything on her body will be stripped off or not. Derek won't matter about the presentation, they are way over the superficiality.
No matter how Rachel tries to convince herself that looks doesn't matters anymore, she can't deny the reaction that Derek sends when he is in the circumference of her sight.
He still dress in the way she love, folded sleeves, loosen tie and his Givenchy Homme is striking her vestibular system, she feels like floating in euphoric stage.
'Hi.' She makes it sound like she wasn't affected by him, however, her tone signifies her bashfulness and deliberation of hiding her jubilant.
'I miss you.' He pulled her shoulder blades towards him the moment he reaches her.
If chemical reaction between two person in love do exist, they would be made up of Lithium, Oxygen, Vanadium and Europium, because they stands for L-O-V-E in the periodic table, that's what Derek thought.
His chest is still as firm as she remembers, her head fits the nape of Derek perfectly. She stroke his hair, recalling the softness in her touch, like the patch of freshly lawned grass.
His hand lowered to her waist, palming onto the curves. He rested his cheek onto her fruity scented tresses, memories of them began to unlock with those flavor.
If this was a scene in a movie, it would be time when the director shouts "cut". Joe's presence has been omitted until he shifted his position, the sandy sound of his footstep acts as a salutation to announce his existence.
Rachel blushes, she tucked her hair behind her ear and gave a welcoming smile at Joe. 'Is it a breach of protocol if I give a hug to your bodyguard?' Rachel glanced at Derek to seek his approval.
'Go ahead. He's been tolerating my mood swing since your disappearance, it's about time you make amendments to him.' Derek encourage her.
Rachel move slowly and shyly, the thought about being on friendly term with Joe has never come to her mind, but today is different, her D.C family is in town, she misses them, and Joe is part of them as well.
Joe is stiff as rock, Rachel wasn't going to make him bear the awkwardness for long, a friendly short hug is all she is going to torment him with.
The two lovebirds heads inside the apartment deftly, it was only in close door that they are able to show the deepest affection they have been harboring inside them.
Rachel's face was blushing beetroot, her smile was ever blooming, vibrancy glow in her eyes. She felt her heartbeat races when Derek was just a fabric away from her.
Towering over her, Rachel peers up to meet his eyes. He was genuinely glad to meet her, after months of physical loneliness, he is finally able to feel everything about Rachel on his arms again.
They said nothing, but the eyes conveys message that only both of them understood, that is, nothing changed. Their love remains.
'I never thought you would be here, there's no coffee machine in my house.' She played with the button on his shirt, circling them coquettishly as she speaks.
'Do you think I fly all the way here just to drink coffee?'
'Techno fair, I almost forgot.' Rachel feigned to be ignorance of the main purpose of his trip.
'You are still as impossible as ever, Rachel Woods.' He chuckles.
'How long are you going to be here?' She pops the question she is dying to know.
'Three days.' He presses his forehead against hers, their nose touches. In the past, Rachel would be experiencing a stage whereby her blood pressure will shoot up and she will be spinning. Right now, she felt comfy to the point where Derek is like a luxury down featherbeds to her, swaddling her achy body.
'Minus today, we have only two days left?' She doesn't dare to make her disappointment sound obvious, this has been the unspoken game plan with Derek since forever.
'I've got the whole day for us tomorrow, but you're gonna have to put up with me reading documents and picking up phones.' He told her, brushing her cheeks.
'What about the third day?' She asked again.
'That would be the day I fly back.' He purse his lips in a way of showing his apology.
'Well, I guess I'll have to inform Adeline that I won't be working tomorrow.' Rachel gleams, unknotting his tie.
'You look happier, Rachel.' He glanced at her, the light casted down at Derek, the shadow of his hair makes every feature of him even more prominent. Rachel sometimes wonder if her love for Derek was dominated by his roguishly handsome face or what's hidden beneath those.
But forever is long, she wasn't sure if she was convince of their so-called undying love will make it through. There is always a guy name skeptical whispering those words in her ear. Those thoughts shifted away as soon as Derek plants a soft kiss on her lips.
Her stomach took a vehement flip, blood rushing all over, corrupting the stability of her blood pressure when her body secreted an overdosage of dopamine. Derek heard her breathing heightened, the sound she moaned only made him even more determined to further aroused her. He began to roam his hand down to her waist, every part and inch of her body was begging for his touch. Rachel's body were surging with pressure where even her legs are showing sign of weakening. She held Derek tighter.
'Can I crashes here tonight?' Derek had to break away the kiss. And this time, it was Rachel who initiate the continuation of their fervent activity as she nodded impatiently. Inseparable since the moment they met, she leads him to her room. Carelessly, she once bumped onto the door knob when she tries to shove Derek to the room, but no matter, it didn't discourage them, instead, they manage to laugh it away, Rachel misses those laugh line along Derek's eyes, the ones that she touches every time she woke up beside him.
Their breathing subdued as their laughter took over. Rachel walked backwards, pushing the door shut, Derek turn around and watched her. The room felt smaller as all they see were only themselves.
Her heart was throbbing, everywhere else in her body was simply waiting for Derek, it wasn't moving. Rachel undeniably had this thought where it resembled a girl giving her virginity to the man she love. That is way dramatic, but it sounds about right. She's going through a period of celibacy, so does Derek.
When Derek moves towards her slowly, his hand stroking her cheeks, brushing her lips with his thumb. He wasn't rushing, they've got the whole night. He slowly move down to her neck, she squirmed and shut her eyes briefly to indulged in what it feels like again to be love by him.
He lowers her face, remembered her favorite spot, he suck the skin on her neck, warm breath vaporize as he exhale. There is something oddly comfortable in the air he breath when it touches her skin.
Every cell of her body is aching for him, she surge a deep sigh of breath, looking dreamily at him, stroking his hair while he works his way southwards. Rachel took his shoulder blades, leading him till his leg touches the edge of her bed, Derek sat down, looking up to see what Rachel is initiating next.
She unbuttoned her white blouse, one by one, meticulously with her French manicured nails. Derek has never felt a scene so erotic than what Rachel is doing in front of him. Till she is done, what's reveal beneath her was her beige bra, she unzip her red pencil skirt next, it falls onto her feet. Rachel sat straddle on his lap, she can already feel his readiness on the core of his pants.
Derek undressed her, she needed him to do that, she needed him to make her feel that she belongs to him and to make him feel that she is his to be touch.
When everything above their skin has been exposed, and literally nothing was in between them, she laid down on her bed, Derek came on top of her, kissing every inch starting from her forehead, nibbling her lips, inhaling her skin.
The feeling was so different than those time they had sex. This time, all the kisses, all the touches and sensuality they have given each other was to make up for the time they were separated from each other. Every moan she made, satisfied him.
'Hello breast, I miss you so badly.' Derek commented as he reach the midway of his journey.
Rachel couldn't resist laughing, even when she is heavily intoxicated with Derek's stimulation. 'Shut up, Derek.' She rolled her eyes. He chuckles and continues his performance.
Rachel knows she was ready for him, when Derek sends his finger to reach for her underneath, there is no denial in the sleekiness she proven him.
'I'm going to make you remember every moment of this.' Derek whispered in her eyes, clamp her close to his body with his hand, lifted his knees, spreading Rachel's leg, she felt the tip of his bulge touches her opening. She let out a hard moan as he glided his arousal into her.
It has been too long. She misses his weight on her body, he misses her voice and the sound she made everytime he did this to her. He held their body even closer, his hand holding her shoulder blade to increase his pace.
She lifted her chin as the pleassure builts up, shutting her eyes to indulge what's happening beneath her. Derek was thrusting into her unapologetically, making up for all the time he was craving for her.
Their body were messed up with glittering sweats, but they couldn't give a damned, all they need is to fuck the hell out of each other, searching and puzzling up all the missing pieces they lost through the time.
When Rachel felt her climax is close, she pulled him closer to his face, she reaches for his lips, Derek knew what she wants, he drive into her even harder. Her screamed was muffled in his mouth, when he let go of her lips, what's released by Rachel was the heavy breathing. If this was a scene in Titanic Movie, this would would be the part where Rose place her hand on the steamy window.
Derek found his piercing frenziness after looking at how much he had disorganized her into such beautiful mess.
They snuggle, sticking close. Sex felt different every single they made love, make up sex is even better this time. Rachel sensed her body composed, like bathing in an expensive natural spring water mixed with organic jojoba oil and a dash of 24 carat gold.
'Do you want to laze around for the whole night, cause I'm thinking of cooking some ramen.' Rachel proposed as she felt her hunger peak after the strenuous physical exercise.
'I thought you are never gonna mentioned that, God I miss the ramen you cook, seriously.' Derek nodded appreciatively.
Derek watched her sashaying about in her kitchen as he sat at the counter directly behind her. She had nothing beneath the shirt that she took from Derek.
'You know that's the only shirt I brought with me, just so you know.' Derek was giving a gentle reminder. Rachel force Derek to wear one of her oversized black Star Wars t-shirt, whilst she took his against his will.
'Oh, I can shop more clothes for you right away, I have the contact number of Emernegildo Zegna's manager, she can send a dozen of blouse the next morning.' Rachel proudly mention about how easily she can get the things she want, just like Amazon one-click, only that hers was a more premium level.
'That's a name for a brand, I assumed.' As usual, when it comes to brand, Derek simply have no idea because his apparel has been took care of by his personal image consultant. Rachel once studied his wardrobe and most of his refined outfit came from a local designer called Emil Han. Derek supports local business and he shows in every way possible.
'Have you not look into the fashion industry besides reading charts and reports?' Rachel transfer the noodles onto the giant porcelain bowl she bought from one of the Japanese departmental store in Seattle. Once it's all set with a dash of spring onions, she served it onto the counter table.
'Itadakimas.' She mentions it and passed the chopstick to Derek.
He merely smile and scoop a few strains of noodles and slurp it as loud as possible. 'I could really eat the ramen you cook everyday.'
'Really? Tell me about it. I had instant food almost everyday when I left Brandon, and for three years, I stop touching those until recently, you are a very, very bad influence, Mr. President.' Rachel wrinkled her nose when she described her encounters with those empty calories.
'So how's your work going?'
'I'm trying my best, I swear, and without Adeline, all this would never work.' Rachel shakes her head when she mentioned the last sentence. 'And hopefully, all this are going to help more people.'
Derek absorbed every word she said. He wasn't asking casually as a pick up line shoving into a conversation just to make the room noisier, he was genuinely curious and interested in her new found career. 'Is there anything I can help you with, you have money, I have my own resources.' Derek puts a triumphant smile to Rachel, showing his arrogance of being one of the Forbe's listed most powerful man in the world.
'Well, since you mentioned, I'm trying to expand our organization, and if you could show up in one of our event...' She gave him a hint.
'Say no more, you know I'll do anything for charity.' Derek made a promise to her.
'I thought you would do anything for me?' Rachel put up a hurtful face, pretending she was wounded from his answer.
'Miss Woods, I have always try my best not to uphold to your stereotypes about politicians are the biggest liar, in which you will see in,' he search for the clock in Rachel's house, 'an hour's time.'
'What was that?' She leans in nearer to him, like an excited child begging her mother for answer.
'You'll see.' He decided to keep it a mystery, 'what's a surprise when you reveal the detail.'
'Fair enough.' She pull herself away from him, scooping the last bit of the Ramen. 'So, we mentioned about dishwashing, we should began practicing it, don't you agree?'
'Rachel, you don't have to find any excuses for yourself if you simply don't feel like washing the plates.'
'You're right, you know, we don't have to be pretending in front of each other, plus, I might dirty your only shirt if I accidentally spill the soap onto it.' She shrugged.
He kissed her lips, out of spontaneous move. His kiss was swift and accurate. Rachel blushes and grinned.
'You know, I've seen you in every wine I drink, every man I've seen in the street and in all the coffee I drink, did you not miss me at all?' Together, they sat at Rachel's grey L-shaped sofa, overlooking the large window in Rachel's living room. Her choice phobia has render her to keep her interior design almost the same as the one in D.C. She adore minimalism, cluttered space makes her panic.
'I don't show it, but it doesn't mean I don't miss you, Rachel. You left without telling me and I doesn't know how to deal with it.' Their fingers entwined, leaning against one another's shoulder.
'I don't think I would manage to leave D.C if I told you that I am leaving. I would be staring at the boarding gates all the time, wondering if you would be like the guy in movie, stopping the girl from leaving, and plus, you are the President, you basically have the control over everything, I even thought that the delay in my flights was caused by you, only to find out that it was only technical error.'
'I must have disappoint you, I'm not the romantic kind of guy who would take a big stereo player and show up in front of your window.'
'Liar.' She spatted.
'Care to explain?'
'You took me to stargazing and that alone, is way better than taking the huge stereo, and who uses that stuff anymore?' Rachel mocked.
They chuckles over her jokes.
'Actually, I have been thinking about the baby.' He peered at her briefly, studying her expression. 'I wasn't ready to be a father, a good father to the baby. I messed up, and you were right about us, we wasn't in the right state to have a baby. What if he grows up and learn about us? He will only be upset and it will carry with him throughout his entire life, losing hope in humanity, because a man like me who is suppose to uphold the highest level of integrity, cheated. He would even question my legacy, and we would corrupt his idea of marriage.' Derek stares blankly at the window, what's shown on his face was doldrums. He recalls the time where he learn about Grace's expectant, he was delighted beyond words, and he knew it was appropriate, a man in a happy marriage must be in want of a child. But, this time, it was different, he wasn't able to take responsible for the wrong he does, threatening the position of his career was a threshold he wouldn't cross. He has been thinking a lot, through days and night, about his atonement to Rachel, maybe it's about time.
'I wasn't ready as well, I am scared, Derek, honestly. Maybe everything happens for a reason, maybe our baby know we weren't ready for him.' Rachel shrugged, her heart beating slowly when bitterness surfaced, the wound healed, but occasionally the after effects is still felt here and there.
'You know, recently, I headed back to Boston, visiting my mother, she asked me about the hamburger socks.'
Rachel's attention is immediately paid to what he says, because obviously, that socks was bought by her. 'And...?' She narrowed her eyes.
'I told her about us.'
'No.' Blood were drain out from her face, her eyes widen from the unspeakable horror she heard.
'She wants to meet you. And I told her we are going through a rough patch and you might not want me back.'
Rachel is still skeptical about the idea of meeting his mother. 'I have very little experience with handling moms, I lost both of mine.'
'I know, but I don't know if you want to take anything further at this point of time. My marriage is damaged, of course my mom would empathy my needs to meet another woman, but you, you are perfect, Rachel, if I am the forbidden fruit, you would be the golden apple. Even when Brandon makes mistake himself, he wouldn't want his daughter to meet a man who had the same record as him, it would remind him of his mistake when he saw us.' Derek explains his points eloquently. Every words is going to reflect in Rachel's thought during her alone-time.
'Do you think he can overlook that? Since he is one culprit, he might support you, who knows.' Rachel shrugged.
Derek gave her a peck on her cheek, amused at her gullibility. 'You are cute, sometimes.'
'You mean stupid?' Rachel rolled her eyes.
'I did not say that.' He state firmly, in a joking manner. Derek read his message as soon as he received one. 'Okay, don't close your eyes, you are about to see the best performance.'
'What?' Rachel pushes herself away from the seat rest and watches Derek hurriedly off the light and run back to her, wrapping on his hand on her shoulder.
'Happy birthday, Rachel Woods, remember, don't close your eyes.' He reminded her again.
Rachel set her eyes at the pitch dark floor to ceiling window that fills her entire wall, its so huge that sometimes Rachel wonder if anybody is watching her when she is only wrapped with a towel. She anticipated, like the time when she was five, Brandon brought her to ski in Switzerland.
Her eyes waited for any possible movement in the midst of her observation. There is nothing...yet. In the middle of the darkness, hundreds of dotted lights bursting out on the livid background. Her world starts to move in slow motion, she never thought about seeing such performance close to her proximity, let alone, her own window became the stage.
Just like fireworks, it glitters with bursting colors, painting the sky like a skillful artist.
'You said you wanted your very own Rachel Woods fireworks.' Derek muttered to her ear as he watched her face reflected with the flamboyance of the light it created from the performance outside.
Rachel simply have no idea what sorcery was that, but whatever it is doing, that was simply marvelous. Now, the lights are beginning to change color and realign its shape, transform into hundreds of shooting star flying across the sky.
Rachel stood up from the sofa, moving slowly towards the window, as if she was in the sea world, watching the gigantic whale shark roaming about in the aquarium. She place her hand at the glass, watching as the lights spiraling into the sky only to see it spreads into the map of constellations, the color matches very much to those she saw in the actual documentary.
'Beautiful, aren't they?' Derek stood beside her. She was awed by the beautiful creation in front of her eyes that she couldn't even bear to speak a word, she tries her best to hold as much as possible in her memories.
'The north star...' she whispered to herself whimsically, it doesn't take a degree in astrology for Rachel to know that the brightest light among the constellations is the Polaris, that's what Derek taught her.
'Wanna hear something?' Rachel steps closer to Derek, holding his beautiful ass.
'Can't wait.' He ended it with charismatic smile.
'Cupid just called, he said he is going to send my heart back to you.' Rachel blushes as the words left her mouth. She convey in the most deliberate flirty way she could.
Derek reacted with a chuckle, he love the way she portrays her girly behavior when they were alone, seeking his attention with her adorable nature.
'You did all this for me?' Rachel was asking the obvious, but she couldn't skip this question.
'Technically, it's Intel who does that, and those were hundred of drones floating around.' Derek points at the devices, which are aligned into the shape of fountain, the lights synchronized with the movement that depicts water splurging out of the hose.
'The one that were uses in the super bowl?' Rachel was amazed.
'Technology is an art, Rachel, use it correctly, you can win the heart of any girl.' He smiled triumphantly. 'I promise fireworks for your birthday, and that's for this year.'
'It keep getting better.' She gawked at the glittering objects.
'You sure you still wants fireworks every year? There are better things I can offer with my creativity.'
'I have choice phobia, I can't decide what I want if there is too many choice.'
'Well, then I'll decide for you...' he paused, taking her hands and embrace it with his, 'from now on.'
A/N
13.1K reads! Thank you!
A whooping 4k words for this chapter, this is double the amount that I would usually write for a chapter, and this chapter will be broken into two parts since it's too long.
And some announcements to make: I love this book, its my baby, the more I spent time with him, the bonding and mutual understanding grow deeper. I spend a lot of time in my head to get the sparks I imagined for Rachel and Derek to surface into pseudo-reality. So, I really appreciate originality, that's what every writer deserve.
I try my best to write this book to be as realistic as possible, according to Derek and Rachel's character, I can't decide for them, it's them who would lead me to conclude the ending.
Major edits will be proceeding, again, I'm sorry for any unnecessary notification! Love ya guys!
Thank you , I am dedicating this chapter to elocin-yaku Laufeyson35 LenaBredenhann , thank you for the constant support!