Chapter 10

She closed the door behind them as Sal allowed himself to be led by Rose and waited beside the door until she took him by the hand again and led him to his own bed where she sat down and beckoned for him to sit beside her. He couldn't take his eyes off her and was feeling strangely nervous about what they were going to do, it wasn't that he was inexperienced when it came to sex, he was just inexperienced with anyone other than Gloria. "Sal you're shaking," Rose giggled.

"I'm nervous," he replied huskily, "I've never been with anyone else...that I remember," he added looking down in embarrassment.

"I don't think you had any problems before," she whispered knowing there was something she had liked about the memory she had just removed from her head. Then she leaned forwards and began to kiss him tenderly on the lips making all of his worries fly out of the window, she felt so natural and right that his instincts took over and his hands fumbled to find the knot on her dress. When he had unfastened it she stood up and slid her arms from the sleeves as it fell in one swift movement around her ankles, she stepped out of it still wearing the stockings and suspenders and Sal found himself instantly aroused by her. He looked up and down her lithe body and marvelled at how creamy her skin did look, she had replaced the crotchless thong with a pair of simple black mesh pants which he could see through and a matching transparent bra held back her small breasts. As he continued to look at her he saw her shudder and blush so he reached out with his hands to pull her into a sitting position astride him.

Looking into his eyes she slowly unbuttoned the white shirt that he wore as he watched on feeling completely mesmerised by her, his hands rested on her petite waist until she slid the shirt over his shoulders and he moved them so she could pull it off. Then her hands wrapped around his bare back and she softly scraped her nails down it as he moaned and clasped her in his arms. Rose responded to his caress and she groaned softly as his lips moved away from her mouth and began to trail down her neck and along her shoulders before returning to her luscious lips. He felt completely at ease with her now and was excited by the prospect of sharing the ultimate pleasure with another more beautiful and exciting woman.

Rose could feel his desire for her poking through his trousers and between her legs and she smiled shyly as her hands slid down to unbutton them so his longing could be freed from its binding. His head followed her when she moved to stand up and slide the trousers and his underwear away leaving him completely naked before her and his eyes reopened to see what she was doing. However before she had a chance to remove her own remaining lingerie he stood up, lifted her into his arms and then laid her down on the bed where he climbed on beside her. Sliding one hand along her stockinged thigh and up her body he listened to her groan as his other hand reached round her back to release the clasp on her bra which she quickly shrugged away from her breasts. He gazed down at them before slowly lowering his head to kiss and caress one nipple with his tongue while his fingers gently tweaked the other one. Rose threw her head back on the pillow and groaned loudly as she felt herself grow hot and sticky between her legs, hastily removing her pants she gestured for him to move his body above hers but he held back and instead moved the fingers caressing her breast to the soft flesh between her legs. They slid up and down and she moved her body in pleasure, moaning softly as he slowly and sensually brought her to the heights of passion. He held her tight as she shuddered and relaxed and then kissed her shoulders and neck gently while she breathed in and out deeply for a few moments longer.

Her eyes were still closed when Salamander moved his body over hers and she lifted up her legs to show that she was ready and that she wanted him, she could feel him probing her again and she longed for him to be inside of her but he waited until she had opened her eyes and they looked at each other with passion and longing. "Rose, you are amazing," he whispered as he brushed her hair back from her face and kissed her fervently before slowly and gently pushing himself deep inside of her. They both moaned in relief and Sal slowly and gently began to move himself backwards and forwards building up speed as he listened to her cries beneath him. He tried to hold back as long as he could enjoying the feel of Rose and wanting to make this memory last as long as it could. However eventually he could wait no longer and with one last deep push and a long groan echoed by the soft, gentle girl below him he burst inside of her and held himself up on his fisted hands looking deep into her eyes as his body exploded with pleasure.

He stayed in that position brushing her hair from her face and looking down at her as her breathing regulated along with his and was amazed at how comfortable and natural it felt. This was the thing he had been most afraid of when realising that they had been friends for their whole lives, that sleeping together could be too weird, but it wasn't. After a minute or two he rolled away but kept his hands on her hips and turned her to face him before leaned over to kiss her softly once more. She sighed at his touch and returned the kiss lazily as she relaxed and trailed one hand along his side. They stared at each other without speaking for what felt like a blissful eternity, brown eyes blazing into deep grey ones as they softly caressed the others' body. "That's a memory I never want to forget," Salamander eventually whispered and Rose smiled back at him as his hand stroked a stray hair from her face, "this feels so...so comfortable and natural, I wish we could just stay here forever!"

Rose giggled at him and then frowned self consciously when a rumble from her stomach reminded them both that they had skipped dinner to start on dessert. Salamander chuckled at the noise and whispered "Wait here," as he up in the bed and starting to put his trousers back on.

"Where are you going?" she asked pretending to sound hurt about him leaving.

"To stop that noise," he laughed placing his hand on her stomach and smiling cheekily.

She swatted him on the arm and said, "I'll come with you," as she moved to get up.

"No," he said forcefully, "stay here, you're not getting out of my bed that quickly this time!" he chuckled so she laid back down.

"Yes sir!" she answered settling back against the pillows in a sitting position and watching him put his trousers on.

"I'll be back soon," he murmured through half open lips as he kissed her on the forehead and then disappeared out of the room.

When he had gone she gazed around the immaculately tidy bedroom, she was relieved to see that there was no trace that any other girl had ever shared his bed and she put the fact that someone had to the back of her mind. On a shelf on the opposite wall to the bed was a row of trophies for astronomy awards from school and a couple of plaques from the Ministry. Salamander was studying the skies there along with a group of centaurs who read the future in the stars and had discovered new stars that even muggles had not found yet. He was known as one of the top astronomers within the British Ministry and regularly travelled to other countries talking to the wizarding governments and giving talks in their schools. Salamander was regarded as a highly knowledgeable young man who was very high in his field for his age.

Continuing to glance around the room she saw a few moving pictures of his family hung on the pale blue walls and a painting by his mother of he and his sister when they were around eight and ten. She smiled when she saw it and remembered how close a family they were, unlike her and her own brother Hugo, Consuella and Salamander were like best friends as well as siblings and she highly respected that. She and Hugo loved each other as a brother and sister would but they had never been that close, she would still do anything for him and he for her but she had never thought of him as a friend like Sal did of Consuella.

She carefully got up from the bed and began to touch some of the objects on his dresser. There was a vial of cologne and a deodorant spray which she held to her nose to drink in his smell and next to them a heavy silver bracelet which she had never seen him wear at all. The only other item on the neat dresser was an old looking gold watch, it was battered and when she picked it up to inspect it closer she noticed that it no longer worked. Rose turned it over in her hand and ran a finger over a short inscription on the back which read, To Frank, for your coming of age, from Mum and Dad.

"It was my grandfather's," said Salamander from the doorway making her jump and almost drop the item back on the dresser.

"Oh, you scared me," she replied, "I'm...I'm sorry for snooping," she added placing the watch back on the dresser where she had found it and turning to look at Sal who had just put a tray down on the drawers beside the bed.

"Don't worry about it," he replied walking over to her and reaching out for her hand which he tugged on gently until she was in his embrace again, "I don't have anything to hide!"

"It's very worn," she commented looking down on the object again but not picking it up this time.

"He would never take it off," Sal told her picking it up himself. "After he was placed into St Mungos," he continued, "it was the only thing he seemed to know about and whenever anyone tried to touch it he would go mad at them. Dad removed it when he died and kept it until I was seventeen then he gave it to me along with this one," he indicated the shiny gold one which he wore on his left wrist, the usual gift given to a wizard when he came of age at seventeen. "Come on let's eat," he said dropping it carefully back on the dresser and leading Rose back to the bed by placing a hand on her bare bottom and guiding her gently.

"Do you have a shirt I could wear?" she asked shyly as they got back to the bed, "While we eat?" she added looking hungrily at two bowls filled with steaming casserole.

He nodded and walked over to his drawers where he extracted a pristinely ironed black quidditch style shirt, "Try this," he said passing it over and she dragged it quickly over her head before accepting a bowl of meat, potatoes and vegetables from him.

They ate quickly using spoons and slurping gravy as they did so and when they had finished Salamander lifted a bowl which he had placed over a small plate to reveal two slices of chocolate cake which they ate wolfishly. He cleared the plates away swiftly when they had finished and returned to the bed where this time he found Rose fiddling with the stockings and suspenders which she still wore.

"Can I take these off now?" she asked shyly when she saw him come back in, "they might look good to you but they are so uncomfortable!"

"Allow me!" he chuckled pushing her gently backwards on the bed and slowly unclipping each strap until he could roll the stockings down one at a time and slip them over her feet.

"Have you done this before?" she asked noting his speed and accuracy as he then placed her legs together and gently pulled down the suspenders which he discarded neatly on a chair beside the bed with the rolled up stockings.

"No," he chuckled, "Gloria," he coughed at mentioning her name not sure if Rose wanted to be reminded that he had had a previous relationship but when he looked up at her face she was still smiling, "never did anything like...that."

"Well we'll have to do something about that then somewhere down the line!" Rose chuckled raising her eyebrows and making Sal relax as she had not responded to the mention of his ex girlfriend's name.

"I'm so glad we did this," he said reaching across the bed and pulling her closer to him.

"I bet you are!" Rose goaded and he swatted her arm.

"I don't mean that," he replied stressing the final word, "well I do mean that! But I meant us, this, I'm glad we didn't call it a day and stay as friends. I was so nervous all day today and could barely concentrate on anything! When you ran away I was so afraid that I had offended you and scared you off for good and then when you said that we should just forget it all I was gutted. But I just couldn't leave without being absolutely sure," he looked away then and added quietly, "I'm so glad you didn't mean it."

"So am I," she whispered lifting his head with one finger and gazing into his eyes, "I can hardly believe how easy and comfortable this feels," she went on stroking his chin and watching as his head leaned into her cupped hand, "and I'm glad you didn't take no for an answer!" she chuckled. He leaned his head forwards to search out her lips once more and they enjoyed another long and sensual kiss before Rose moved herself around the bed and laid her head on Salamander's stomach. She stared up at him, stroking the thin dark blonde hair on his chest and he placed one hand inside the shirt she wore on her thin waist. They talked about their families, their childhoods and their jobs until eventually the clock in the living room struck midnight. By this point they had curled up together Salamander behind her holding her close to him and stroking her soft skin with his fingers.

They were almost both asleep when the chimes sounded from the other room and Rose sighed heavily as she whispered, "I should go," but didn't make any attempt to move.

"Don't," he murmured in her ear as he gently kissed her neck.

"I have to be up for work in the morning," she groaned not wanting to leave the warm and comfortable position she was in.

"I'll wake you up," he went on, "I promise...stay here...I want to wake up to you."

"Hmmm," she sighed enjoying the feel of his lips on her skin and she allowed herself to drift off to sleep staying exactly where she really wanted to be.