AN: Thanks for reading my little "Self-indulgence." It was so much fun to write this—P and D as an established couple—that I may have to do it again, soon. Thanks for the reviews and the favorites, and the birthday well wishes. Love, Kricket

Chapter 4-The Epilogue

Early the next morning, in his sleepy fog, Derek noticed he was missing something very important, someone vital to his well-being. He reached for Penelope on the other side of the bed and patted, and came up empty. He opened his eyes, confirmed the fact that she wasn't there, and rolled to his back to sit up.

"Lay back down, silly boy," Penelope said, her voice husky from lack of use as she strolled into the room. "I'm here."

Derek did as he was bid, lying back in his spot on the bed in the still darkened room. The lush, naked goddess he'd cooled down yesterday night had goose bumps on her arms and tightly furled nipples...a one-eighty turn from the boiling hot furnace she'd been last night.

He flipped the comforter down and stretched his arm out for her, patting the bed once.

No words were needed; Penelope dove into the bed and snuggled her freezing body next to his. She put her cold toes on his calf and buried her icy nose into his chest.

He smiled, and was enjoying the feel of her near him...until she put her subzero fingers on his stomach. He gasped "Whoa! Watch it there, sweetness..."

"Sorry, angelfish," she replied sleepily.

Derek pulled the comforter up, tucked it under her chin, and then pulled her closer to his body, before kissing the top of her head. He murmured a nonsensical word that meant he forgave her.

She sighed happily, and murmured, "Soooo much better."

He lay there holding her and thinking, their combined body heat making the bed toasty warm again. Not much different from last night, and the steam they'd produced. Smiling, he teased, "So, Lamborghini—I fixed your coolant; now I'm fixing your heat, too, hmmm?"

She didn't answer; her soft breath was the only other sound in the room.

He chuckled softly. The answer didn't matter: if she needed warm up runs or cool down laps, he'd be there for them in this race—and for everything else in between, too.

Closing his eyes, he fell back asleep, with his soft, satisfied smile in place.