[ Derek chooses to do things the way he does them because he wants to make sure that he isn't going to set himself up for failure or heartbreak...or worse. Claire has been more than patient with him and he can feel her continuing to be just that, when she waits to return the kiss.
He finds himself smiling into it a little, when he deepens their kiss just slightly. The last thing he wants is to go overboard, because he doesn't mean to lead this somewhere he's not really ready for it to go just because they both happen to be pretty damn near naked still, but he can't help kissing her a little more deeply; it's been a long time coming, by now, anyway. ]
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He finds himself smiling into it a little, when he deepens their kiss just slightly. The last thing he wants is to go overboard, because he doesn't mean to lead this somewhere he's not really ready for it to go just because they both happen to be pretty damn near naked still, but he can't help kissing her a little more deeply; it's been a long time coming, by now, anyway. ]