Just A Wee Bit of a Tease

Chapter 3

Katie awoke with a startled jump as the train whistle blew whole-heartedly. She looked out the window and was glad to see that she would soon be home.

"Oliver." she leant forward and shook his knee gently. "Oliver." He slowly stirred and instinctively put a hand to his neck as he eventually yawned and shifted his body straight.

"Why did you let me fall asleep that way?" he asked rubbing his sore neck as he tried to straighten his back.

"I fell asleep before you did." Katie safeguarded with a robust smile.

"Excuses, excuses." Oliver replied good-humoredly.

Katie rolled her eyes and took out her wand which was resting on the window pane. Standing up and crossing the miniscule row she took the seat next to him.

"Hold still." Katie pointed her rosewood 9 ¾, dragon heartstring wand at his neck, preparing to dissolve his pain.

"Whoa." He exclaimed pushing the wand gently away. "What do you think you're doing?" he asked; his Scottish accent more prominent than usual in crisis.

"I'm going to fix your neck." Katie replied before pointing it at him again. He stopped her by grabbing her wrist gently and holding it midair. Katie's skin tingled at the contact.

"You're going to snap my neck off and give it to Fred and George to bat around."

"Oliver, you can trust me. Remember when I healed your broken nose last year?"

"Yes, but Katie-." He argued.

"It went without a hitch didn't it?"

"Yes, but, Katie! That was my nose, this is my neck." Oliver replied actively.

"Stop being such a baby." she stated simply. Oliver gave her a hesitant look and released her wrist from within his grasp. Katie pointed the wand at his neck and Oliver shut his eyes tight. A bright light emitted from her wand and within moments, she smiled. "Well?"

Oliver felt instant relief in his neck and felt like an ass for doubting Katie. He glanced at her with an embarrassed look and flushed cheeks.

"Don't mention it." She replied modestly giving him a light smile as she put her wand away.

She went to leave his seat, but he pulled her back to him; wrapping an arm around her and pulling her close to him.

"Promise me something." Oliver looked down at the fragile girl in his arms. "Promise me we're going to have the best Christmas holiday ever." His accentdrove her wild to the core.

Katie smiled, unconvinced at how amazingly content she felt in his arms; how easy it was to just be her. No demands, no pressure; it was a warm and welcoming feeling.

"Well you can start by making that wonderful spiked hot chocolate you excel at." Katie answered with a teasing smile as she lifted her legs to her chest on the bench.

"Fine." He had resolve in his tone. "As long as you make Snicker-doodles."

The way he said "Snicker-doodles" made a giddy Katie giggle helplessly inside.

"Snicker-doodles?" she thought it over and knew it wasn't even a question. They were Oliver's favorite cookie of all time. "It's a deal." They shook hands on agreement, but the lingering effect showed on both faces; Katie's small hand in Oliver's rugged and large one was like holding a lit match over a gun-powder covered canon.

Their eyes connected in a serious gaze for a few seconds that felt like years.

The train whistle blew and broke them apart from their abundant fixation much to their dismay.

"We're home." Katie said with a smile. Realizing she was still resting her hand in Oliver's, she released it and stood up.

The retrieval of her hand made him slightly despondent.

On the exit of the compartment, a dawning question finally made its way to vocal recognition.

"Where did our team go?"

XO

The family reunion for both Oliver and Katie was joyous and welcoming. Their parents eager to see them, made a hoopla right there on the platform; embarrassing to both teenagers, but nonetheless tolerable given the circumstances.

"Katie darling, it's so nice to see you again." Oliver's father Colin warmly greeted Katie with a hospitable hug before holding her back by her shoulders to look at her. "Hope our boy isn't working you too hard. We had a talk to him about it last time, and he promised to behave."

She threw a glance at Oliver who returned with an innocent shrug and playboy grin.

"He's-a hardball, but I ignore him most of the time anyway, so it's okay." she replied; a good-humored laugh eluding from her pleased image.

"Be careful, Da-" Oliver said. "Katie smells of sugar and spice, but she's got fire coming out of her arse."

Katie laughed as Oliver put an arm around her and squeezed her tight against him.

"Well, we best be going. Look at how late it is already." Katie's mum said putting a hand on her daughter's shoulder.

"Right." Colin agreed. "Let the Christmas season begin!"

Letting the parents take lead, Oliver and Katie walked together behind them; Katie still firm in Oliver's grasp.

"Three bloody weeks with our parents." Oliver whispered with humor. "I'm doubling the liquor in our drinks."

XOXO

Verbier, Switzerland

Katie had nothing to say as she admired the view of the snow-capped mountains from the luxurious and overly accommodated cabin that they claimed as theirs for the next few weeks.

She walked past the gigantic fireplace; in which they had floo powdered to, into the spacious cozy living room that had an already fully lit and decorated Christmas tree; with mementos and ornaments from both the Bell and Wood family, placed throughout it.

Katie touched one of the ornaments she recalled making during elementary education and smiled. This was what Christmas spirit was; hopeful, warm and inviting.

Sighing, she turned to look at Oliver who had just walked into the room.

"I think it will suffice. What about you?" he asked with a smile.

"It's absolutely perfect." Katie replied. "I mean look at that view!" she squealed like an excited little girl.

"The best way to see it…" Oliver started as he walked over to the giant bay window where she was. "Is to see it from the sky." He pointed a finger up towards the ceiling.

An outraged gasp escaped her lips, but a thrilled aura made her glow.

"You don't mean flying do you?"

"Actually I was thinking from the ski lift, but I like your idea much better!"

Katie rolled her eyes playfully and accepted the fact that she had just planted a seed in Oliver's brain.

"Kids?" Colin walked into the living room and both Katie and Oliver tried not to laugh from the ghastly Christmas sweater his father was wearing. "We're going to the main lobby house down the mountain for a spot of tea if you're interested."

Oliver looked at Katie; leaving his result up to whatever she wanted to do.

"I'm actually kind of tired." she replied kindly.

"Yeah." Oliver agreed. "It's been a long day, Da'. I think we'll just stay here."

"Alright then. Behave yourselves." The look in Colin's eye looked a lot like suspicion. Oliver often got that look from his father when he got asked if he'd done all his chores the muggle way or magic way; or when Oliver ate his dad's leftover pickled pigs feet and pretended somebody else did.

After their parents left, Katie fell face down onto the chase' lounge, which sat in front of the fireplace. She propped herself up on her elbows and looked at Oliver.

"What do we do now?" she asked.

XO

"Oliver! Oliver no!" Katie yelled as the Scotsman ran around the kitchen with her wand. "Give me that right now!" she sounded like his mother and he laughed.

"This is what happens when you threaten to hex my broom on holiday!"

"Somebody could see us!" she replied reaching for her wand. He was too tall, he held it above her head as he cockily leered down at her.

"They won't. We'll go at night."

"Oliver! You're acting like a child…" Katie said. Then she got an idea. Oliver's wand was poking out from his pocket, underneath his jumper and Katie went for it. She got it out without the slightest bit of difficulty and lightly teased him with it as she backed away.

His mouth dropped and he went after her. She squealed and ran from him, but he was too swift. He scooped her up from behind and blocked her in against a corner of counters. She laughed as he huddled over her, trying to grab the wand back.

"No! No!" she yelled as she tried to block him from getting it. She turned frontward, hoping to slip past him and run free, but she was fully blocked in by his superior stance and determined hold.

"Oh no. You're not going anywhere." He solidly met her eye level. Katie nearly melted to the floor right there. Not ever had she been more attracted to Oliver. His machismo and dangerous gaze made him intensely enticing as the walls holding her self-control slowly started to crumble beneath his firm and engaging embrace.

Katie's heart rate tripled in speed as her eyes bore into his dark influential ones and her playful reception turned serious. Oliver's self-possessed smile slowly faded as he tried to figure out what Katie was thinking. He didn't understand what was happening, all he knew what he found his attention being pulled to Katie's lips like a magnetic force.

They looked soft and summoning, like they were begging him to find out if they really were or not. She innocently exaggeratingly bit her lip and he nearly erupted with shameless hunger to taste her. Where this newfound desire came from; he had no idea; nor did he care right now.

"Katie—I need to…talk to you about something…" his words were obsolete to the situation at hand. They had succumbed to his actions.

Katie's lips slightly parted as Oliver brought his right hand up to them and ran his thumb slowly along her bottom lip.

She thought she'd be trembling if anything like this ever happened, but she was completely still. Everything became quiet and tranquil. Her eyes shut slowly as the unbelievable sensation of the movement cast over her.

His fingertips traced a soft defining line from her lips down to her chin, along her jaw line and into the crook of her neck.

Oliver's face was only inches from hers and he breathed her in. He'd always wanted this, he never thought it would be possible…

"The cookies are burning."

Oliver froze dead in his tracks as the statement petrified his dealings.

He was "this" close…to kissing Katie for the very first time and the moment was terminated by the subject matter.

He felt like a fool; a prize git.

He backed away and handed her, her wand. Katie couldn't believe she had just ruined the epic moment in her dreary life. She knew for sure she would die alone with a house full of cats as her only company. She panicked when she felt Oliver's hot breath cascade upon her lips. It scared the bloody hell out of her to come face to face with a dream she thought would never come true.

As heartbroken as Oliver felt, he knew that nothing was worse than an awkward silence after an awkward moment, so he intervened.

"Burnt or not, you're cookies are still the greatest and I declare a pan all to myself."

Katie smiled and that made her feel even guiltier. There was Oliver, the boy who managed to calm her down with a comment, word, look or smile whenever she felt herself spinning out of control. Why did she have to be so daft all the time? Why did she have to be such a coward?

A/N-There are pictures on my fanfic profile to match the locations of this story. Go check em' out!

It's been quite a long time I know, but here it is and I hope you enjoyed. I'll really be trying to update more frequently. Review time? I love reviews! They make me happy.

P.S.—Much more steam to come. Hold on tight.