CHAPTER 4

In complete silence, Derek and Shawn went back to the rehearsal studio, but instead of going into the yellow room he led her to the smaller back room where they would usually go to ice their injuries. As soon as the door closed, Shawn turned around to face Derek, fully intending to clear the air.

Whatever thought or words she may have had died on her lips even before she could open them. Derek took one long stride across the room and, as soon as he was near enough, gathered her up in his strong, strong arms and kissed her.

Derek could not remember doing something that had felt even more right than what he was doing at the moment. Holding Shawn in his arms like this – showing her what he felt in this way – was truly the best thing he had ever done or would ever do in his life.

She tasted like vanilla and strawberries and something intoxicating: a drug, a potent drug that knocked away all his senses and sent his mind reeling. He couldn't have enough of her, couldn't have enough …

Shawn's mind simply went blank when Derek began kissing her. All she knew was a feeling of great completeness in her as she returned his gesture with equal passion. It was like finding herself, waking up from a dream, and coming home all at the same time.

Her legs went rubbery; none of her muscles seemed to remember what they were for at that moment. As ever, like he instinctively knew what she needed, Derek scooped her up into his arms, settling her legs to grip his waist, and she held on to him for dear life. She couldn't let go of his lips – she had to have more, more …

Every fiber of his being wanted nothing but to make Shawn his at that very moment, but then a small voice in Derek's mind began to pipe up: stop! Stop! Don't just do this! And joining that voice was the one of Mark, telling him: she needs for you to tell her. She needs for you to explain it to her. She trusts you so much. Be honest with her: she deserves the truth.

With every effort he could muster and a will he never knew he possessed, Derek gently ended the kiss, and her little sigh of disappointment almost proved to be his undoing. To gain some objectivity, he gripped her forearms and moved her away slightly. Her face was flushed, her lips swollen, and her golden eyes were lit by a fire so bright that it burned him. But things needed to be said, and he needed to say them now, now, before he lost all control.

"Shawn," Derek whispered, his voice trembling slightly. "I … I need to talk to you."

Shawn looked up at him, her face going somber. "Are you … are you going to tell me you're sorry?" She slid down from his waist and stood before him. "Was that … just to see if it works?"

Derek gaped at Shawn, horrified. "What? No! What made you think that?"

"Well, when … when we were dancing a while ago, I thought … I felt … we had something. I was so lost … I was ready for … anything, anything to happen. But when Ryan … when Ryan came in, you had this completely horrified look on your face that I thought I did something wrong …"

"Oh, my God, Shawn," Derek said, pulling Shawn backward and down towards the couches, seating her beside him. "No, no, babe. I was horrified at myself. I was afraid that I had crossed a line that you were not ready for, or that you were not willing to cross with me. I mean, we've already broken so many rules this season, I was not sure you'd want to break this one. I guess … I was … just terrified."

Shawn turned sideways to look into his eyes. "Terrified? Of what?"

"Of you." Derek cupped her chin. "Of the trust and the faith you put in me. Of your innocence and your loyalty. Of … how … strongly I feel for you." He stroked her cheek tenderly. "I'm not sure how to handle it. This … this is all new to me."

Shawn looked at Derek from under hooded eyes. "I … I don't know what to say to that." She smiled softly. "But all I know is …the whole time I was with Ryan? I … I wasn't with him, with him. I was with you."

Derek let out a breath, one that he didn't realize he'd been holding all that while, and he gathered Shawn into his arms. He kissed the top of her head. "Baby, you don't know what that just does to me."

"Yeah?" she asked, and Derek could hear a smile in her words.

"Yeah. I mean … you're still officially with him. I didn't want to come between you, if you guys …"

"I know. Mel was really … upset with me for even bringing him. But he'd been a part of my life for so long, you know? Old habits die hard." She twisted around in Derek's arms to look at him again, an impish smile on her face. "But you know me. I love … to learn new things."

Throwing his head back in a laugh, Derek took Shawn's hands in his, threading their twined fingers together – but when he looked at her again, his eyes were serious. "And now you know me. I love … you." He grinned. "You hear that? I love you, Shawn Johnson."

Shawn snuggled back into Derek's arms. "Crazy guy," she sighed, her voice muffled by his shirt, and this time, when she spoke again, Derek could swear she was speaking directly to his heart. "Of course I love you, too, Derek Hough."

THE END

A/N: Hope you guys enjoyed this story. Sorry it took a while to put the final chap up ... thanks for reading, and to everyone who commented. You really made my day! :-)