Chapter 10:
Ginny sat at her desk later the next day staring off into space. She had gotten a late start, and it had been something of a shock not be the first person at the office that morning. She honestly could not remember the last time that had happened.
It had also been surprising to realize that she had woken up, not in the ultra-modern and sparse bedroom that she had found after some exploration, but back in the master bedroom. Back in Draco's bed, and she had had no recollection of how she had gotten there. At least there had been no sign of the man himself besides the head-shaped indent in the pillow beside her.
She had rushed through her morning routine, spending long moments locating her clothing which had been stowed away, it seemed, in Draco's large walk-in closet.
His suits and clothing hung perfectly along one wall, the colours and fabrics inviting her gaze and touch, and Ginny cursed under her breath at the memory of how his very distinctive scent seemed to seep into her very pores.
Ginny pulled her work towards her with a decisive flick of her wrist, determined to let no more of her thoughts stray to Draco Malfoy. It was quite enough that he, for the moment, was such a large part of her life. It would not do to have him possess an equally large part of her mind.
Lunch was a hurried affair as Ginny bustled out of a meeting with Seamus' development team in time for her to apparate with Lavender to a meeting with Wood and his agent.
They arrived five minutes before they were due, and Ginny smoothed a hand over her hair, checking the charms that held it in it's customary chignon at the nape of her neck. Lavender sorted the documents they would need in her briefcase before nodding at her partner.
Together, they stepped into the large office. Though Ginny had been there before, she was still slightly taken aback by the sheer amount of orange that pervaded the space. A large poster of Wood in his Canon uniform took up one wall, and it was easy to see who Miss Evelyn Harper's star client was.
The woman herself, grinning easily at the duo, was seated on the edge of her desk, attired in dark denims, and a silk tunic shirt with the Canon logo discretely pinned to her collar. Oliver Wood was just standing from one of the comfortable chairs, turning to grin at his school-mates, and new business associates.
"Lavender, Gin." His thick Scottish brogue barely managed the syllables as he leaned forward to eagerly give them a squeeze and kiss.
As soon as they were settled, Evelyn, or Evie as she had insisted that they call her, waved her wand, and a tea tray made it's way to the desk.
They talked over the next few months of scheduled events that Wood had signed on for, as well as the photo shoot that had just been planned in a few weeks time.
Evie was a nice woman, but Ginny knew through the negotiations that they had gone through to get Wood as a representative, that there was a reason she was one of the most successful agents in the sporting world. She proved this time and again by countering their request for Wood's presence at a few events, and eventually, Ginny felt she had little choice in the matter.
Sharing a glance with Lavender, Ginny thought furiously about their options. Portions of Wood's contract were not spelled out, but rather on an as-needed-basis, and Evie was taking full advantage. Wood himself, seemed to be almost nodding off. His eyes had glazed over a full ten minutes prior.
As Evie countered a request for Wood to be at the opening celebration of the upcoming Quidditch season, Ginny had a flash of inspiration.
"I'm sorry to hear that Wood will be unavailable," Ginny spoke sweetly enough to draw Lavender's eyes, her face expressionless, but Ginny could sense the under-laying panic that she might be giving in too easily to Evie's demands. Ginny hoped her friend and partner trusted her enough to let her do this.
"Yes, he is very busy. It's a difficult time of year, which I know that you appreciate yourself." Evie laughed, a large grin on her face at odds with what she was saying to Ginny.
Ginny smiled in return. "I definitely do. That's fine, however, I've had an acceptance from someone else to wear one of our kits to the event. I do hope that Oliver will be available at some point in the future, however."
"Someone else?" Wood spoke for the first time since negotiations over his time had begun. "Who?"
"Oliver…" Evie admonished him lightly her smile faltering for a moment before she controlled it and turned back to Ginny. "Surely, you can not be serious. After all, Oliver is under exclusive contract…"
Lavender jumped in as she realized what Ginny was doing, speaking just as sweetly as her partner, "you are correct that Oliver is under an exclusive contract. BFW, however, is not. We are able to use anyone else in our advertising campaign and events as long as Oliver gets his guaranteed rate and promotions."
Evie's face turned grim, and Ginny could practically hear the intelligent agent going over the terms of the contract in her head.
"Is that true, Evie?" Wood now looked incredibly interested in the conversation.
She nodded tightly, her shiny black hair bobbing with the motion. "May I ask who will be representing BFW at the event?"
Feeling Lavender's eyes on her as well, Ginny took a deep breath and confirmed an unwanted relationship to one of the biggest gossips in the Quidditch world. "Draco Malfoy."
As expected, Evie's features turned thoughtful even as Oliver burst out laughing. "The ferret?"
"As I'm sure you will recall," Lavender began, smiling coolly at Evie and ignoring the Quidditch star, "Draco Malfoy is something of a celebrity in the media. I'm sure that the reporters won't mind that the Canon Keeper isn't there if Malfoy makes an appearance."
Evie looked at the two women seated across from her and smothered a sigh. Her hands were effectively tied. "We'll see what we can do about rescheduling Oliver's other events. He will be there."
Lavender took her partner out to Fortesque's on the way back to the office to celebrate.
"Incredible, Gin, incredible. We can have Oliver at what we want from now on." She smiled as she waved her small pink spoon around, pistachio dripping from it as it started to melt.
Ginny grinned smugly and set to demolishing her own double fudge. "I know."
"I can't believe that Draco Malfoy will be at this event… one of the biggest events of the season… wearing BFW," Lavender mused out loud, positively gleeful. "Along with Oliver Wood! We can't lose!"
"What?" Ginny's head shot up. "Now that Oliver is going, we don't need Draco there."
"Are you taking the mickey?" Lavender demanded, setting her empty bowl back on the small table. "We have the opportunity to have two of the most famous men in the world there, both wearing our kits, and you think we don't need Draco there?"
Lavender laughed slightly shrilly, months and months of long hours and stress having taken their toll on her normally calm façade. Ginny sighed. Now was not the time to argue with her partner.
Mentally, Ginny went over how far away the event was. It wasn't until mid-April, which was just under two months away. Plenty of time. She had bigger fish to fry where Draco Malfoy was concerned.
She closed her eyes briefly, thinking again on touching his perfect pale skin... He was perfect. Perfect, until he opened his damned mouth. Keeping that thought first and foremost, Ginny tuned back into the conversation to hear Lavender planning their expected expansion to France. Ginny nodded in all of the appropriate places, but the truth was, was that she really didn't feel like discussing work at that moment.
It was a little shock to realize that something else had gained her attention so completely. Or rather, someone.
Right before leaving her office that evening, she was waylaid by Ron. Grinning widely, she hugged her youngest brother tightly across her desk. Of all of the Weasley boys, Ron seemed to be the one floundering the most since leaving Hogwarts.
He had had an on/off relationship with Parvati Patil for years before she had become pregnant with their son. Out of obligation, and no real love for one another, they had gotten married almost two years prior, separating when Jamie had turned a year old.
Ginny leaned back, steering her much taller brother to the small couch at the side of her office.
"How are things, Ron?" she asked, concerned over just how… hollow he looked. He shook his head, giving her a small smile.
"It's been okay," he spoke without any of humour in his voice that she had always associated with him. Ron was a difficult person by nature, he and Ginny had always found something to fight about, but he had always been so passionate before the whole debacle with Parvati.
"How's Jamie? Did you have him this weekend?" She rested a hand on his arm, watching as he bent his head over his clasped hands that dangled loosely between his knees.
"Yeah," he answered after a long moment. "I actually just dropped him off to Parvati's mum."
"Ron… what's wrong?"
He glanced up at her briefly, his bright blue eyes shining, before looking back down. "Parv's getting married."
"What?" Ginny gasped, unable to help herself. "You've only been apart for a couple of months!"
"It's been going on for awhile," he cleared his throat awkwardly around his words. "She wants me to think about allowing him to adopt Jamie."
"You're kidding!"
"No." His bright head bowed even further over his hands. "She thinks it would be better for Jamie… you know, to have a mum and dad who love each other, and live together…. Not getting shuttled back and forth."
"Bollocks," Ginny cried decisively, outraged on his behalf. "He is your son!"
"Gin, I've barely been around him since he was born," Ron spoke again with that soft voice that sounded so strange coming from his mouth. "I worked all the time when he was born, and now… I get him what, every other weekend?"
"Ron…" feeling helpless, Ginny stalled, not knowing what to say. "Ronald, no one is perfect. But he is still your son. I can't believe you would even think of this…"
"Gin, Parvati's always been the sensible one." Ron smiled tightly. "She knows what's best for Jamie. It's just going to get harder as he gets older."
Ginny left her office later that evening, feeling distinctly unsettled by the conversation she had had with Ron.
She knew that Ron looked upon her as something of a confidant. She was in the family, and yet not an older brother who would mock, or their mother who would coddle. Her views on Ron were a little bit more complex.
Formed during their years at school, where she had resented his presence, and then made to feel guilty for feeling that way by Harry and Hermione, she had long since stopped confiding in him. It was an odd relationship that they had.
Plus, Ginny knew that despite his silence on the subject, Ron still did not understand her breakup with his best mate. Hell, Ginny barely understood it herself, and it had now been years since that had happened.
Ginny sighed. A lot had changed since school, and a lot had not.
Stepping into Malfoy's flat brought this message home for her. She unbuttoned her long winter cloak slowly, toeing off her boots onto the pristine fire grate as she caught and held a familiar mercury gaze.
"Ginny." Draco inclined his head at her, watching her every move, his face utterly expressionless except for his eyes which seemed to glow in the dim light of the room.
"Draco," Ginny mocked lightly, not in the mood for any of his theatrics this evening. She padded into the large kitchen, intent on the idea of food and drink.
As she sliced into the crusty baguette that was laid out on the sleek counter, she could feel his presence enter the room, and instinctively the muscles in her back and shoulders tensed in anticipation of his touch.
He disappointed her, however, moving instead to sit elegantly upon one of the tall bar stools that surrounded the kitchen island. "I need to go to Paris in the morning."
That got her attention. She was half-expecting him to make some kind of remark about their encounter on the very same surface where she was preparing a brie sandwich.
"Paris?"
Draco took a careful note of how her eyes fairly danced at the idea of the French city. "Have you ever been?"
Ginny shook her head. She had done little travelling since leaving school, instead focusing on her career. She had always loved everything to do with Paris….
"Would you like to accompany me?" Draco pointed his wand lazily at the cupboard, carefully filling a glass with cool water before floating it to the counter in front of him. Ginny watched his graceful movements, the sureness of his fingers with her breath in her throat.
It wasn't until she glanced at his face, and realized that he had that faint smirk across his features again that she remembered he had asked a question. "To Paris?"
"That would be the city that we had just been discussing, yes," Draco's smooth drawl mocked her as he took a sip from his glass, his eyes never breaking contact with her own.
"Paris…" Ginny murmured. She frowned as a thought occurred to her, "is this part of our contract? For me to accompany you?"
"You find the idea so repulsive?" A golden eyebrow arched in enquiry even while the rest of his features remained absolutely still. Ginny stared at him, getting the vague sense that she had disappointed him, despite the lack of evidence to support that.
Shaking her head at the thought, she spoke louder than necessary in an effort to distract herself, "just answer the question for once, Draco."
"As you wish." He smiled enigmatically. "No, this would not be a strict contractual agreement. I'm going to sort out a few…. glitches… with one of my companies down there, and I will not be entertaining. You would probably be left on your own to explore the city."
Excitement raced through Ginny at the speed of light, and she started doing furious mental calculations of how she could take time off work, and all of that sensible business. "How long?"
"Two, maybe three days." Draco's lids slightly lowered over his eyes, sending heat shooting to Ginny's centre as he watched her. "And nights."
Ginny licked her suddenly dry lips, wanting so desperately to touch Draco sodding Malfoy, and yet not willing to show him that level of weakness. Her eyes traced the little bit of smooth pale skin that was exposed by the v-neck of his silky black t-shirt, and she shuddered, ever so slightly. The tension was killing her.
"When are you leaving tomorrow?"
Draco took another sip of his drink before answering smoothly. "Eleven o'clock. My assistant has arranged the portkey in my office to trigger at exactly that time."
Ginny shook her head, again amazed by the level of wealth and power that Draco seemed to take for granted. Portkeys, in and of themselves, were very expensive publicly. To have one privately in an office, to go off at such a convenient time… well, it fairly boggled her mind.
It was certainly different than the one time she and her family had gone on holiday to Egypt during the summer between her first and second year at Hogwarts.
"I'll meet you there," Ginny decided, her fear of being alone with the male in front of her outweighed by her desire to see the famous French city. Well… perhaps fear was the wrong word for it. Ginny was not about to explore those feelings too much, however.
Draco simply nodded, his eyes again darkening as he watched her slouch against the counter, eating her sandwich with quick movements of her fingers and hands.
She could feel her hair falling out of her sleek chignon, the curls escaping the charms to flutter around her ears, and with a curse, she set her supper down to tend to it.
"Don't." Ginny jumped at Draco's voice, so low and rough, and yet savagely sensual. She looked up to meet his eyes, her hands suspended in mid-air on either side of her head.
Raising an enquiring eyebrow, she was shocked at the open hunger on his face. It seemed that the one thing he was unable, or unwilling, to hide was his reaction to her. Ginny had to admit, that it gave her an odd sense of power upon realizing that.
"Let it down," he commanded in his soft silky drawl. Ginny shivered, but picked up her wand, her eyes never leaving Draco's. Muttering an incantation, barely knowing what she was doing, she stared at Draco as crimson curls spiraled past her shoulders and down her back.
"Come here." Ginny stepped forward before she even thought about what he was asking, hesitating as the reality of the situation came back to her. She stood awkwardly for a long moment, before Draco's lips curled slightly at the corners, and he crooked a long finger at her.
Falling had never felt so sweet.
Ginny moved until she was beside him, looking down at him uncertainly even as he pushed back from the counter, and smoothly stood in one graceful motion.
Wordlessly, he held out a hand to her, and she slowly touched her fingertips to his own. A sense of unreality settled over her as he tugged her along after him, not hurriedly, but at a confident pace.
She stared at the back of his head as they made their way through the flat. The light seemed to shine off of his silvery hair, clasped though it was in a leather thong at the base of his neck. Her fingers fairly itched to pull it from the silken length, and she felt a rush of heat spread through her, pooling in her loins.
It shocked her when he did stop, and she almost walked into his broad back in her daze. Shaking herself slightly, she barely noticed that they were now in Draco's bedroom. Instead, once again, her eyes seemed to fill with molten silver.
"I've thought about you," Draco spoke softly, seductively, his voice caressing Ginny's senses. She shivered as he lifted a hand to touch a curl that rested on the side of her neck.
Sliding his fingers back and forth across the soft skin on the side of her neck, Draco leaned forward to kiss the spot just above her shirt collar.
Ginny sighed, and tilted her head back, unable to do anything but feel. Thinking seemed to not be getting her anywhere anymore.
"Look at me," Draco commanded, a hard note entering his voice. Ginny's head snapped forward, her eyes opening to settle on his features. Thrusting his fingers into her hair, he cupped the base of her head.
Ginny stared at him for a long moment, before moving closer to brush her lips against his. That seemed to surprise him, and he leaned back slightly to look down at her.
"What?" Ginny found her voice somewhere, mildly uncomfortable at the intensity in Draco's gaze.
This time he was the one to lean forward, capturing her lips in a kiss that started off tender, but turned passionate within seconds. Ginny gasped, and Draco took the opportunity to thoroughly explore the soft skin of her mouth.
Ginny's next moment of consciousness was when she realized that she was sprawled across the huge bed, wearing nothing more than a dazed look and her sensible white pants.
"I need to introduce you to silk…" Draco murmured, running a finger along the elastic band. He propped his head on one hand as he lay on his side to watch her.
"I like my pants just fine," Ginny defended herself without any real conviction, her attention focused almost completely on the movement of his fingers against the skin of her hip.
Draco's lips curled into a smirk as he let his hand wander below the white cotton, feeling the moisture there. Ginny sucked in a breath, her legs spreading involuntarily.
Before she really had a moment to realize what he was about, Draco had maneuvered himself between her thighs. Straining, Ginny pulled her head up to look down over her naked body to see the erotic sight of Draco's pale head looking at her from over the springy red curls that hid her from his view.
"I destroyed your pants," he informed her conversationally, seemingly unaware of the fact that his breath was fanning over her in the most distracting way possible. He leaned over her thigh to place his wand on the bedside table.
"I hate you," she gasped as he touched his tongue to the small pearl that had been previously hidden.
"I know," he murmured against her skin, "but you still want me."
"No…" Ginny arched her back off the bed as he explored her more thoroughly than her last doctor's exam.
"Yes…" he hissed in return, running his teeth along her. "Say it."
Ginny reached down to hold on to Draco's head, holding on for dear life. Draco tightened his grip on her inner thighs, and spread her apart even further.
Crying out, Ginny tightened her grip, feeling Draco's hair pull from it's thong as he introduced his fingers to the mix.
Suddenly, he pulled away, making Ginny cry out as though in pain.
"You're mine." He looked down at her intently. "I want to hear you say it."
"I want you!" Ginny made a mad grab for Draco's head once again, trying desperately to pull him back down to her. "I want you!"
"And you are mine…" A satisfied smile curved Draco's mouth, before he ducked his head back down, and Ginny knew no more.
A/N: I'm so sorry for the delay… a lot of family medical issues in the past couple of weeks. I will be updating again within the next two weeks. I'm simply amazed at the level of notice this story is getting… Thank you to all who reviewed and/or emailed me… I know, too much time has passed between updates, and this is very short comparitvely, but I will make it up, PROMISE!!