Chapter 4 – Mending a broken heart
Severus stood outside of Minerva's bed chambers anxiously. Hermione had left him once they reached the stone gargoyles protecting the Headmistress' office from unwanted visitors. Hermione had demanded he mend her mother but muttering the password and encouraging him on the twisting stairs. Severus had given in but now dread filled his chest. He could hear her sobs through the door and it tore at his heart. Sighing, he entered her bedroom and stood still as his eyes adjusted to the darkness.
Once he could see properly in the dimness, he scanned the room for Minerva. He saw her sprawled out on the bed with a sheet clutched to her. The way the sheet was draped around her, he could see she didn't have a stitch of clothing on. Quietly stepping closer to the bed, he noticed the ugly bruises on her shoulders and upper arms. Studying her form more closely, he saw bruises on her hips and upper thighs. He realized he was the source of all of those bruises and felt horrible for it.
Moving out from the shadows, he stepped into her view and whispered her name. She stopped her sobbing and searched the room for him. When she spotted him a smile graced her lips briefly before turning into a frown. "I'm hallucinating," she whispered brokenly before burying her head under her pillow and sobbing even louder than before.
Severus frowned before making his way over to the bed and tugging the sheet away from his lover. Minerva sat up in the bed in shock as Severus dropped the sheet to the floor, leaned down and kissed her tenderly. When she tried to wrap her arms around his neck, he broke the kiss. Hurt and confusion flickered on her face before she quickly masked it. Severus stood up and walked in her private bathroom before reappearing minutes later. He swept her up in his arms and whispered, "How about a nice relaxing bath love."
She nodded her head in response then wrapped her arms around his neck, this time he didn't withdraw from her. He carried her into the bathroom and gently eased her down into the steaming bathwater. She lowered herself further into the bathtub and sighed contently. Severus chuckled at her response before heading towards the door. "Don't leave," she begged.
Severus stopped in his tracks and turned to look at her. He offered her a genuine smile then said, "I'm just going into the other room. I promise you I will be back momentarily."
Minerva watched him exit the room only to return a few minutes later with a vial of healing draught. He handed her the vial and stared at her expectantly. She sighed in defeat before downing the potion and handing the empty vial to him. He watched as the nasty looking bruises magically disappeared leaving her skin flawless once again. "Minerva," he said then asked in a curious tone, "Why did you not take a healing draught."
She dropped her gaze to the water before reluctantly answering, "I was afraid I would convince myself it was all a dream if the bruises were gone."
"I laid some things out on your bed for you. Whenever you get dressed, I will be in the parlor waiting for you," he said as he exited the bathroom.
Minerva stood in front of her full-length mirror scrutinizing her appearance. Severus had laid her out a short green satin negligee with matching panties. She immediately recognized it as the very same one she had wore all of those years ago on their first night together. Smiling at the possibilities of the night, she put her short robe on and headed for the parlor to see Severus.
She spotted Severus sitting on the loveseat in front of the fire and quietly made her way to him. With the grace of a cat, she sat next to her lover and cuddled up against him. He gladly wrapped his arms around her and planted a kiss to her forehead. "How long do we have?" she asked seriously.
"I am not entirely sure. The Dark Lord could summon me at any time," he answered honestly. "Minerva I do not completely understand how you could still love me after everything I have done but I promise you that as long as you want me you have me."
Tears welled in Minerva's eyes and spilled down her cheeks as she gazed at her lover. In an emotional roughened voice she said, "Severus, unlike everyone else, I know that you still remain loyal to the Order. I love you because you are willing to do anything to help those you consider your family and friends. I want you to know that I have always wanted you and will continue to do so until I breathe my last breath."
Severus stood up from the couch and swept Minerva into his arms. He carried her into her bedroom and allowed her to stand on her own two feet when they neared the bed. He tugged on the tie of her robe until it gave way revealing the short lace and satin negligee she wore underneath. His long pale fingers slipped underneath the robe and eased it off her body until it fell unnoticed on the floor. "I have dreamed about you in this nightie," he admitted huskily.
"What did I do in this dream," she asked in a sultry voice. With nimble fingers, she undid the buttons to his shirt and eased it off his shoulders allowing it to fall to the floor with a soft thud. She ran her delicate hands over his muscular chest and shoulders feeling his taunt muscles reveling in closeness of him. With a mischievous glint in her eyes, she brushed her hand against the front of his pants causing him to growl in appreciation.
Severus wrapped his arms around Minerva and walked her backwards until the back of her legs hit the side of the bed. Severus gently pushed Minerva causing her to fall backwards on the bed. He eyed her lustfully before unfastening his pants and removing them. He joined her on the bed then kissed his way up her body until he found her lips and kissed her passionately. "I made you beg for release in my dream," he whispered near her ear before pushing her over on her stomach.
Minerva rested her head on her folded arms while she briefly wondered what he had in mind. Kneeling on the bed, he gently massaged the tense muscles of her back until she was purring with contentment. Just when she thought she was relaxed enough to doze off, he began placing wet kisses on her exposed skin. Minerva sighed loudly as Severus snaked his left arm underneath her to cup her breast. It was in that moment she realized she was completely nude. "I want to hear you scream my name in the throes of passion," he whispered in her ear as he shifted to lie on top of her.
Minerva moaned as his weight pushed her deeper in the mattress. She managed to wiggle her hips a bit eliciting a groan from her very aroused lover. He gently nibbled on her shoulder before he rolled off her onto his side. She whimpered at the loss of warmth his body was providing her with but it didn't last long. Severus gently turned her over and rolled her onto her back. He quickly covered her body with his own and kissed her heatedly. She moaned into his mouth as she snaked her arms around his neck and spread her legs in invitation. He smirked at her boldness before he positioned himself at her entrance and entered her swiftly. Minerva gasped in surprise before tugging him down for a series of breathy kisses.
Severus set a slow pace using long drawn-out strokes instead of the quick, short strokes he had used during their last joining. He had immediately decided he would attempt to make up for the lustful nature of their last session with a very gentle and passionate lovemaking experience. His hands roamed across her body rediscovering all of her secrets as he loved her with his body. He whispered words of desire, need and most importantly of love.
Minerva relished in his passionate lovemaking and hoped to prolong it as much as possible. During their initial affair, their lovemaking had been gentle and tender but now it was so much more passionate. He touched her with such tenderness, such love; it left her a bit breathless. Even after their years of separation and her inability to tell him the truth about their daughter, he still loved her. His actions proved just how much he loved her.
Minerva could not seem to decide what to do with her hands. She ran them down his muscular back and through his slightly greasy hair then back down his back. Finally he made the decision for her, he linked his fingers with hers and pinned her hands to the bed next to her head. "I love you," he muttered against he lips.
"And I you," she admitted before allowing her tears to fall freely down her flushed face.
Severus tenderly kissed her tears away before quickening his pace down below. Minerva was so emotional from his tenderness that she fell off the brink. He immediately stilled his actions to break off his own release. He had decided this night was for her and wanted her to experience a night she would never forget. When her body had calmed, he resumed his movements with slow strokes then gradually increasing speed. Minerva had three more orgasms before he followed her off the edge and collapsed onto of his lover. The last conscious thought for Severus was Minerva did scream out his name in the throes of passion.
Nearly an hour after their passionate lovemaking, Severus had regained control of his oversensitive body and attempted to remove himself from his lover's petite body so she could be more comfortable but she had other ideas. She immediately wrapped her legs around his waist and tightened her arms around his neck, holding him to her. He gave her a questionable stare prompting her to answer, "I want to be as close as possible to you while I can."
He nodded his approval before turning onto his side with Minerva still firmly to him. She nestled her head in the crook of her lover's neck and inhaled his scent. Sighing contently in her lover's protective embrace, she allowed herself to drift off to sleep. Severus watched her sleep for a little while before following her into dreamland.