THE WAY THE COOKIE CRUMBLES
Chapter Eight

James threaded his fingers into her hair cupping her skull. She gasped when he yanked her towards him. His other hands forced her chin up as he dipped his head down to capture her lips. His tongue traced the curve of her bottom lip and she groaned. With the slight opening, his tongue swept inside demanding entrance.

She innocently touched her tongue against his. His hand on her face curled beneath her armpit and curled around her back pressing her body against his. She gasped as she felt the lines of his body against hers. She flushed feeling the need to get closer. She didn't know why, but she needed to get so much closer to him.

She tore her mouth away from his as she roughly shoved him back. She smirked as she watched as he stumbled back on the back on his bed. She moved between the v of his legs and she grabbed his shirt pulling him towards her. She then dove her fingers into his hair as she tempted him with a deep kiss.

"Bloody hell, Lily," he rasped as she drew back. She playfully nipped at his lips, but when his fingers toyed with the hem of her shirt, she shook her head. "You're killing me, Sweetheart."

Lily smiled as she clutched at his shirt and pulled it over his head. Her eyes explored the muscular planes of his chest. Quidditch had been good to his physique, she realized impressed. She was not one to care about such things, but she couldn't help but appreciate the lines of his abs and the toned muscle. She traced her fingertips along his skin and reveled on how smooth his skin actually was.

She once again drew closer as she tentatively explored his body. She loved the quick and sharp intakes of breaths when she touched a sensitive spot. She wanted him, but she didn't quite know what that meant either. Her body burned. The heat was overwhelming her. She became fascinated with how his skin felt against hers. Once again, she pulled back and stepped a few steps backwards causing him to protest for a moment. Her eyes locked unto his as her hands smoothed over body and his mouth dropped on slightly as he watched her.

Having teased him enough, she boldly began to lift her shirt up. She let the material drift upwards feeling the cool air hit her heated skin. She bit her lip against the sensation. When she finally pulled the shirt off, she gently tossed it aside. Her eyes focused on James as her hands touched the top of her sweatpants. She slowly untied the bow and felt the instant looseness of material around her hips. She hooked her fingers on the material of sweatpants and watched him as he watched drag them down the length of her legs.

She traced her fingertips up her bare legs as she straightened up. Here she was standing in only her bra and underwear in front of James. The sound of her racing heartbeat thudded in her ears. She licked her lips as she watched his eyes slowly wandered up her body all the way to her eyes.

He got up from the bed and walked over to her. His eyes met hers. She shivered at the dark desire in them. To see the same craving that tortured her reflected in his eyes caused her breath to hitch. She began to shiver as he swept an arm around her and pulled her against him. The skin on skin contact made her dizzy. She wondered if she was breathing.

"So beautiful," he murmured in her ear before he pressed a kiss below her ear.

She gasped at her sensitive skin prickled. She let out a moan and he chuckled as he kissed his way down to a spot on her neck that caused her to tense up at the swirl of blinding pleasure shot through her. She was shaking when he touched his tongue to her skin. She grabbed unto James dragging her nails down his back as he drew her earlobe in his mouth.

He hoisted her up further up his body. She curled her legs around his waist as he supported her against him. As he walked them over to the bed while drawing her in a battle of tongues, she marveled his strength and skill as he carried her on the bed and held her to him until he placed her comfortably on the bed. There was no fumbling. Just smoothness in their movement.

He continued to kiss her senseless. He made quick work removing the rest of her garments. Then his hands and lips were everywhere – exploring every crevice and every inch of skin. Her eyes rolled back as he continued his mindless pursuit of driving to the painful point of the insanity. She began to shake until she squeezed her eyes shut as she tensed arching her back. She cried out as he pushed her forward and she crashed over the edge. She could feel her body just fall apart in his arms.

When she felt herself begin to fall back towards earth, she opened her eyes to look James straight in his eyes.

"Are you certain?" he whispered placing a tender kiss on her lips. "You can say no if you're not ready, Sweetheart."

She swallowed searching his eyes before she nodded her head giving her consent. He gave her another gentle kiss before he drew back. She stayed still staring up at the ceiling as he took off the remainder of his clothes. He once again returned to her. His eyes looked down at her before her reached for his wand. He whispered an incantation and she watched a yellow glow shimmer over their bodies before he placed it back on the nightstand.

He once again looked into her eyes asking her silently again if it was okay. She nodded her head nervously. He gave her another kiss before he looked down between their bodies as he spread her legs apart. She waited for the moment that she knew was coming and then...


Beep... Beep... Beep... Lily groaned at the sound. What in the world was that? She opened her eyes and immediately wanted to scream. It had all been a dream. There was no way it could be a dream. She blinked as she stared up the ceiling of her bedroom. She shook her head. Why in the world was she dreaming about that?

She sat up quickly as confusion flooded her. Why did she feel that plunging disappointment when she realized it wasn't real? She blushed realizing how much she wanted it to be real. Did that make her wanton? Did that make her worse than Cate wanting James?

She bit her lip. She wasn't ready yet for a physical aspect of their relationship. They hadn't even gotten through a week of being together. They didn't even have their first date yet and she was having sexually charged dreams of him. Although, she had to confess, she had secretly daydreamed what it would have been like to be with him. She had fantasies that it was him that was teaching her the ways of lovemaking, but she never would admit that to him.

Nope, not in a million years! Lily shook her head as she hoped out of bed. She had hardly ever needed to set an alarm, because her body usually knew what time to get up. She was actually late to breakfast compared to the usual early bird time she went. She quickly got up and got dressed. She had thankfully showered the night before as she grabbed her belongings and rushed downstairs.

She stopped short when she came face to face with none other the guy hunting her dreams and the rest of the Marauders. All of them looked at her surprised knowing that she usually was up way before this time.

"My, oh my," Sirius teased. "This is a surprise. What do we owe the pleasure of walking you to breakfast?"

She blushed as she looked into James's dark eyes behind his glasses. Flashbacks of that heated dream caused an ache inside of Lily that made her feel out of control. When his eyes narrowed suspiciously, she quickly looked away. If only he knew what she had been thinking about.

"I-I got caught up," she blurted out. She groaned at her choice of words. "I mean I slept with you." She slapped her forehead as the verbal diarrhea that continued to spew out of her mouth. James's eyes widened. "I-I mean I slept in late. Bloody hell, I don't have time to deal with this right now."

Her entire face felt on fire. All of them were looking at her like she had grown four heads. She quickly turned on her heel not even bothering to wait for the Marauders as she marched out of the common room. She wanted to absolutely die of humiliation. Way to go, Lily, she berated herself as she headed into the Great Hall. She spotted Mariana finishing up her food.

She hurried down the aisle. Mariana noticed her.

"Finally!" she said. "I was wondering-"

"I need to talk to you. Right now."

Mariana's eyes widened at Lily's response. Her best friend just nodded her head as Lily grabbed a couple of scones and pieces of buttered toast. She glanced at the entrance of the Great Hall noticing the Marauders had entered. She tugged on her best friend's arm as she tried to get her up.

"I can't talk to you about her," Lily whispered. "It's really embarrassing."

"Oh, okay."

Mariana got up. Both of them were rushing out of the Great Hall passing the Great Hall. James frowned at Lily when she just blushed and grabbed Mariana's arm ushering her out of the hallway. She heard Sirius ask James what that had been all about, but she didn't have time to care if her boyfriend thought she was crazy.

When they were a little bit away, Mariana jerked her arm away from Lily's grasp. She began to rub her arm.

"Wow, Lily, what's up with you?" she asked.

Lily blushed as she looked at her best friend. She had always shared everything with Mariana. She bit her lip. How was she going to breach this subject without dissolving into a humiliated puddle of mush? She groaned shaking her head as she walked over across the hallway and leaned her head against the wall.

"That bad, huh?"

Lily took a deep breath turning to Mariana. "When you were a virgin, did you ever dream about... not being one?"

"Well, I..." Mariana trailed off. Her entire face lit up. "Oh, Merlin! You had a sexy dream of James, didn't you?"

Lily groaned feeling her entire face heat up again. She eyed her best friend before nodding her head. Mariana chuckled patting her shoulder. In turn, Lily just glared at her realizing she was having too much entertainment at her expense.

"Y'know, this isn't funny!"

"Oh, yes, dear Lily, it's hilarious. Was he any good in your dream?"

Lily just gave Mariana a look but remained silent.

"Oh, c'mon!" Mariana giggled. "He had to be good. From the rumor mill circling around this lovely castle, he's pretty damn good at it."

"I-I didn't want to know that, Mariana."

"I would if I was dating the guy," Mariana told her with a shrug.

"You're not helping."

"Well, wouldn't you want to know if he was good at, well, y'know?"

Lily shook her head glaring at Mariana. Mariana continued to stare at her wide-eyed not getting what the problem was. Lily groaned while she knocked her head against the wall. Mariana quickly grabbed Lily's shoulder and pushed her around to stop her from doing it.

"Seriously, Lil," Mariana told her. "I'd think it's a good thing James is good at it. It sucks when you get a guy that doesn't know what the bloody hell he's doing. It's a pathetic mess when that happens."

"Mariana, I'm a virgin. I don't know what that like," she remained her grimly. Mariana opened her mouth to say something, but she obviously better of it and closed her mouth.

Mariana leaned her back against the wall joining Lily as people began to walk the same hallway. Lily looked down at her feet and noticed Mariana tapping her foot.

"Lil, seriously though, I would think it would be a really good thing that James is good at what he does seeing that you're a virgin. He'll know what to do when he, um, err, well, de-virginizes you?"

"Nicely put," Lily moaned as she placed her hands over her face. "I'm not even close to being ready to do that. But I don't want to suck at it either, Mariana. What if I do suck at it? He's going to be good at it and I'll suck."

"Well, honey, not to sound mean, but you're a virgin. You are going to suck at it."

"Gee, Mariana, you make me feel so much better."

"Don't worry. Y'know what they say, practice makes perfect," she told her wagging her eyebrows at her. "And that's where all the fun is."

"You're absolutely no bloody help at all, y'know that?"

"I know, I know. But you still love me." There was a pause as Mariana waited for a beat. "So you didn't tell me, was he any good in your dream?"

Lily blushed as she swatted at Mariana. Mariana just grinned back at her as both of the girls started walking to their first class. Lily had to rush to eat the food she had grabbed at the Great Hall before she rushed out with Mariana. When they got to their first class of the day, both she and Mariana took their usual seats.

When James and the rest of the Marauders walked in, Lily blushed when James looked directly in her eyes silently asking if she was alright. She gave him a weak smile before bowing her head and looking away. Mariana smirked as she patted her back.

"That good, huh?"

Lily eyed Mariana miserably before nodding her head.


"Are you ready for our first date?" James asked as they patrolled the hallways.

Lily turned to look at her boyfriend. Even though she had managed to put a damper on her desires, she still felt a little breathless when she looked at him. This did not bode well for her. Although, they had a bet going on about her virginity, it wasn't that was brought up. If she actually confessed to James that she indeed had a very vivid dream about him, she was certain he would never let her live it down.

He wouldn't put pressure on her. She was very impressed at how well in control of himself when it came to her. She had heard from other girls how they had been pressured to have sex early on in a relationship. She was pleasantly surprised that even though James had a reputation of being a Sex God that he was above else a gentleman.

"I heard it was going to rain," she muttered offhandedly. "Everyone is excited, because it's the first one."

He nodded as he eyed her closely. She cursed herself, because there had been a slight shift in their dynamic. She knew she acting strangely to him, but she couldn't help it. They continued walking doing their rounds amazing not coming in contact with anyone out of bed.

When they passed an empty classroom, he grabbed her arm and tugged her in. Lily gasped when he shut the door behind him. She swallowed hard looking at James cautiously.

"Okay, what's up?" James asked. "You've began acting really weird the last few days. Did I do something wrong?"

Lily shook her head quickly.

He sighed at her quick response. "You would tell me if I did something stupid, right?"

"Potter, you do realize who you're talking to, right?"

"Just making certain," he said with a shrug. He walked around her to sit on the edge of the professor's desk. "So tell me, what's going on? Why have been acting so... jumpy for lack of a better word lately?"

She worried her bottom lip as she looked at James. Would he think she was so innocent and naïve? Would he laugh at her? These types of matters she wasn't ready to bring up just. She sighed when she recognized true concern reflecting in his eyes. He only wanted to know the truth.

If they were going to be in a relationship, Lily needed to communicate even if it was embarrassing. She walked over and leaned against the table across from the desk. She looked into his eyes before she took the plunge.

"I-I dreamed about you."

"Um, okay?" James said confused which only caused Lily to blush.

"No, James. I dreamed about you."

James frowned as a speculative look crossed his face. He crossed his arms while he continued to look at her. "What do you mean about-"

"Like y'know," she gasped. "We were, y'know. Well, I mean we were about to before-before-"

"Oh! That type of dream!" James responded looking wide-eyed at her. A small smile appeared on his lips, but he quickly smoothed his mouth out to a serious line. "It's normal, Lily, to y'know feel that way."

"I-I know that. It's just I'm not used to feeling like this."

"Feeling like what, Sweetheart?"

"You make me want things, y'know, desire things I've never, well, wanted," she muttered embarrassed. She looked away. She was glad it was dark in the classroom, because she was certain she was blushing. "I don't know how to handle it. It-It scares me."

James sighed as he pushed himself off the desk. He walked straight up to Lily and looked down at her.

"You don't have to be scared of me, Lily. I'm not going to let anything bad happen – not if I can help it."

"I'm not scared of necessarily that," she said as she bowed her head looking at her feet. "It scares me, because of how badly I wanted it. How much I want you sometimes. We haven't even been dating long, y'know? Would you even respect me?"

"Lily, of course I respect you." He sighed as he touched her arm. She dared to look up into his eyes. "Sweetheart, I get it. I'm glad you're attracted to me. I'm attracted to you. We'll take it slow. I promise we won't do anything you'll regret later on, okay? We'll take our time."

"You promise?"

"Yes, I know we made a bet about your virginity. I'm still holding you to it, because I never back down from a bet," he told her honestly. "However, I'm not going to let you regret your first time. Lily, I want this to work out between us. I'm not here to deflower you or whatever. I'm here, because I want to be here."

Lily's heart warmed at that. A smile touched the corners of her mouth. She almost felt like crying for joy, but she managed to keep herself under control. She stepped into his arms and adored the warmth of his embrace when he wrapped his arms around her. He dropped a kiss on top of his head.

"So can we go back to part where it wasn't so awkward now?" he teased.

Lily chuckled nodding her head. She pulled away from him and he checked her eyes to make certain they were on the right page. He nodded his head at the confirmation she was certain was shining in her eyes. He smiled in return as he grabbed her hand and he walked her to the door of the classroom. He opened the door and they continued to walk the rest of their rounds hand in hand.

"So, James," Lily said as a sudden thought came to her mind. "I hear you're pretty good at it."

"At what?"

"Y'know, it."

"Oh, bloody hell," James said shaking his head. "Nevermind. I take it back. Let's go back to being awkward."

"Too late," Lily said smiling.

James sighed rolling his eyes. He looked down at Lily. Lily just continued to smile when he tugged her towards him and gave her a quick kiss before they finished up their rounds for the night.