Chapter IV

He held her close, kissing her eyelids, her cheek, the vulnerable spot behind her ear. His teeth gently worried her earlobe and she quivered with delight. He placed her against the pillows and looked at her with glowing eyes. His hands spread out over her body, the long fingers tracing the line of her collar bone, then sliding down over her breasts, her rib cage, her stomach to her hips, where his two hands came to rest.

He explored the satin skin of her stomach, sending thrills of excited through her heated body and then slowly pushed the crumpled dress over her hips and down her slender legs, his hands trailing sensuously along their length. A pair of lace panties was now her only covering and Hermione's legs twined with Draco's nervously. Draco kissed the soft skin in the back of her knee and when she jerked away from his questing mouth, he placed both hands on her hips and pinned her firmly to the bed.

"Every part of you is beautiful and I want to know every delicious inch." His eyes devoured her and Hermione's lashes fell before the flames in their dark depths.

Draco's mouth claimed hers passionately and with a soft sigh, she wound her arms around his neck, parting her lips as the kiss deepened. His expert caresses brought mounting excitement and he again played and teased her breasts.

His hands explored her more intimately and when he ran a teasing finger between her legs, she gasped. Liquid fire seemed to run through her veins when she finally lay nude in his arms, she could feel that his passion was equal to hers.

He pressed his mouth to hers. Draco shrugged out of his shirt and reached for his belt buckle. She couldn't bear to let him go and her hands spread out over his shoulders and chest, trailing her hand down to his waist, and lower…driving him to feverish haste.

Hermione wondered later how long doorbell was ringing before it penetrated their consciousness.

Draco's startled eyes went to the clock on the night stand. "Two thirty in the morning! Who…? It doesn't matter—to hell with them."

His bent his head to hers but Hermione said, "You'd better get that door. It must be so important to disturb you at this time of night."

At first, she thought he was going to refuse but then with a reluctant groan, he rolled over and started putting on his pants. "I suppose you're right," he started for the door.

"I'm so sorry, Hermione. I'll be back as soon as possible. This is just important. Someone had come and set fire to the main factory."

She closed her eyes when he kissed her and she opened them to watch as he picked up the discarded shirt. Shrugging broad shoulders into it, he left the room with one last longing look towards her.

When the door closed firmly behind him, she wrapped herself in the bedspread, her whole body starting to shake as she just then realized the enormity of her surrender. If the door bell hadn't rung! Or if there wasn't someone who wanted to sabotage the factory. She couldn't beat to think of it. It was all she could do to wait until Draco was gone before jumping out of bed and making her escape.

She sprang up and flung on her clothes in a matter of minutes. It was essential to get away now before the hunter returned, and she was like a small, wild creature fleeing from danger.

Hermione slipped out of the room but not before reading the letter which was on the floor then tiptoed down the hall looking frantically for her purse. She ran back to the library before running the out the door. It was when she got back to her own apartment when realization set it. Walking purposefully into the bedroom, she stropped off the red chiffon dress and stuffed it in the laundry. The rest of her followed suit and she went into the bathroom and turned on the shower.

Standing under the cleansing water, Hermione scrubbed her body until it glowed but nothing seemed to remove the sensuous touch of Draco's hands. In despair, she raised her face to the stinging spray but his image appeared behind her closed eyelids—handsome, dominating, and utterly male.

What the bloody hell had made her submit to him like that? She thought, as she dried herself with a white fluffy towel. She almost had sex with Draco Malfoy! But no…it wasn't just sex, it felt a lot like…making love. Yes, it seemed more appropriate. Looking at her hands, they were trembling. She was playing a dangerous game. Never had she felt such a desire for a man. Not even Ron and her young self was crazily in love with him at that time! The last thing she wanted to have is an affair with some like Draco Malfoy. And why would he want her, she still didn't know.

It was almost sunrise and she hadn't so much of a wink of sleep. The silence was comforting and unnerving at the same time. Draco invaded her thoughts through out the rest of the night. She was thankful that it was Sunday and she had no work until tomorrow. Still staring up at the ceiling, she still wondered why Draco would bother with her.

Whatever it was, he was causing her stress and lack of sleep. She did sleep later though, after a cup of hot chocolate later.

The next day had been quite terrible. Draco kept sending memos to her office. Her co-workers eyed her curiously but chose to ignore it and concentrate on her work done. It was when John walked in her office with a wary expression on his face.

"Hermione I was just talking to Malfoy and I could feel the tension him. He looks like hell and said he needed to talk to you in person. You have to be in the office within an hour."

Hermione's eyes narrowed. "Why? Did he say anything else in particular?"

"No, just meet him. We can't screw this up. You know that, don't you?" John's expression had not changed.

Hermione reluctantly agreed, and John didn't bother to hide his relief. Fifteen minutes later, Hermione found herself standing in front of the main entrance of Malfoy's office. She was once again, trembling.

She met Janis on her way inside.

"Mr. Malfoy needs you in his office and he's furious," Janis said with a small smile. Hermione could tell she was pleased at the false thought that Hermione screwed up with something and Draco decided to end the campaign.

As soon as she foot in his office, she felt his brooding mood. When the door closed quietly behind her, Draco was in a towering rage. He motioned for her to sit at the lounge chair and she sat quietly. Draco paced in front of her. Then he stopped and looked at her with furious eyes. "What the hell did you think leaving just like that?"

"I'm sorry we had some trouble without those three-color layouts you wanted. Nothing serious but I had to—"

"I don't give a damn about those layouts and you know it! I want to know why you ran out on me."

Hermione waited until her heartbeat was steady. Her gaze was cool as it swept over his face. "I didn't run out. I just went home. There is a vast difference."

"I'm not in the mood to split hairs! In fact, I'm not in the mood at all," he said dangerously. "I want an explanation."

"I don't see what there is to explain."

"Will you stop being so childish? I'm sorry I had to leave you! But you know I wouldn't have done it if it wasn't important!"

She couldn't believe her ears. He though she had left in a pique because their lovemaking had been interrupted by business. He had no idea of the enormity of her shame and humiliation. Wasn't that better than having him know the truth?

"I'm sure you'll get the new figures from us, if it's necessary and of course, we'll work with you any way we can," she said crisply.

"Hermione, don't be like this…" His voice softened and he sat down next to her, taking both of her hands in his. "Have dinner with me tonight and let me make it up to you."

Hermione tightened convulsively on his hand. But her voice was controlled as she answered, "I'm sorry, but I'm held up with something this evening."

"And every night this week, I suppose," he commented sarcastically.

"Very possibly."

"Alright, Hermione, I'm not going to beg," he said coldly, releasing her hands and stood up with his back to her. "The only thing that bothers me is how I could have been so wrong about you."

"Well, you win a few, you lose a few," she said with flatness that masked her inner turmoil.

"I suppose so," Draco agreed contemptuously. There was a slight pause. "But just remember—I don't like to lose," he warned softly.

Hermione nodded. "If that is all, I'd like to get back to work." Without bothering to wait for his reply, she walked out of his office, noting the small mischievous smirk on Janis' face, stating the obvious that she had been listening in. Walking back to her own office, she thought, she made a worse enemy out of him and they both knew it.