O my god… it has been almost two full years since I updated this story. What happened? I don't even know how I lost this story... I think this is one I lost when my old comp crashed … hmmm…. well dammit, it's summer and I am out of school now. So guess what that means? UPDATES!!!!

Flowers of Evil

Chapter 2: Just you and me

Hermione's visit had been nothing but uncomfortable yet exhilarating. Ashley McCormick was a bold and determined young man. His kisses were downright intoxicating. At first, he would always kiss her by surprise; sometimes he would do it when Crispian's back was turned and other times he would find ways to pull her away. During her short stay, Hermione caught herself kissing back, and her guilt had dwindled. Ron wasn't going to touch her, and here was a young man who wanted to do nothing but touch her. Hermione took a breath as she pulled into her driveway. Ron would be leaving to France for three weeks. Natasha and Arielle, her youngest ones were spending two months visiting their cousins in Japan. For at least three weeks, her home would be empty—and Hermione had invited Ashley to come by whenever he pleased for those three weeks. As her hands touched the door knob of her home, her stomach dropped. She could see a car pulling into her drive way and Ashley stepping out. What was she doing? She could run in the house and lock the door, maybe even put up a few spells. Ashley was a muggle boy—an amazingly beautiful muggle boy. She pushed the door open, leaving it open for Ashley to follow.

At the sound of the door shutting behind him, she knew she had to find a way out of this. This was silly. All she was doing was being vindictive against Ron, and two wrongs wouldn't make a right. "Nervous?" he asked. She stood in the hall, her bags sitting against the staircase. She didn't turn to him. "I don't want to be a mistake for you."

"Perhaps you should leave? I'm sorry." She turned to find him standing only inches from her. His cologne wafted into her nostrils. He smelled delightful and he pulled her close to him. "Ashley…"

"Hm?"

"We shouldn't do this."

"But we can. We both need this." His hand came to caress her face before he lowered his to her. His breath tickled the skin of her lips. "Do you even realize how beautiful you are?" His lips brushed hers before ghosting to her chin then neck. "You smell so good." His large hands made their way to her hips, grinding her against him. They stumbled to the wall, her soft body trapped against his hard one. She had almost forgotten what it felt like to have a warm body against her in this way. A groan escaped her as he sucked at her throat.

"Ashley…"

"Don't say no. Don't tell me to stop."

"We must…"

"What will stopping do?" He pulled away slightly so that his darkened green eyes could stare into hers. "Hermione…I just don't want your body. I want you." Her body tensed against him.

"I'm a married woman…"

"How about for these three weeks…you just be Hermione?" His lopsided grin made her heart skip. His hand gripped her left hand and he pulled her rings off. "You are just Hermione and I'm just Ashley. And for some reason, we are both attracted to each other. How about that?"

"That doesn't change…"

"Shhh…. It's called living. You want to try living for a bit?" His grin widened. Hermione stared up at him. Her eyes darted to the small table in the hall with her rings. She could just be Hermione for these three weeks. Ron wouldn't know. He wouldn't care. Crispian wouldn't know. None of her children could see what horrible deeds she fantasized about committing. She was just a healthy woman who had needs that were not being met but now has someone to meet all of those needs. And he was a healthy virile man who only wanted to meet her needs. Merlin be damned, she was just Hermione and he was just Ashley.

I swear the next chapter will be better. :P

KNH