A/N: As always, thanks so much for the reviews. They were wonderful and I love them all. I was once again called a tease, but hey, there is a reason to my madness and it keeps you coming back for more, so it's all good!
I replaced several chapters today, fixing the errors in my little use of French words and phrases, so I want to thank Yoshiyuki Ly for sending me the corrections in her reviews. Hopefully it reads better now.
I guess I should also mention this chapter is not meant to be read at work, in front of young children that might wonder why you're blushing, or if your gf is far away! This is mostly meant to be read when you're alone and can do something about it if need be! *wink! Do I have to say it's very mature in nature?
ONE STEP AT A TIME
CHAPTER 13: TRUST
"We'll be back before you know it, love. Why don't you rest for a bit?"
Fleur sighed. Hermione was planning on going to the market with Marie and kept asking her to stay behind. They had been at it for a good ten minutes already and Fleur could tell her lover was getting frustrated.
"Why are you always sending me to bed as if I was a child?"
Hermione rubbed her forehead with her fingers and took a deep breath. "Because it's important that you rest as much as possible now that you can. Once the pregnancy progresses you won't be able to rest as much or as comfortably. I'm trying to look out for you and our baby, Fleur. Why is that so hard to understand?"
Fleur frowned. She hated upsetting the brunette. "But I wanted to go with you. You're leaving tomorrow morning so forgive me for wanting to spend every moment I can with you!"
"Fleur, the reason I don't want you to go is because I want to do something nice and special for you tonight and you're spoiling it for me!" Hermione finally snapped. "But if you want to come with us, then by all means do so and I'll forget all about it."
Fleur's eyes widened in surprise. "You want to surprise me?"
Hermione rolled hers. "Yes! Why else would I leave you behind?"
Fleur smiled and walked closer to the brunette. She wrapped her arms around her waist and brought their bodies closer.
"I'm sorry, mon amour. I didn't mean to spoil the surprise. I should 'ave known better. You go with Marie and I'll go read some of the baby books Doris sent me."
After dropping a quick kiss on the brunette's mouth, Fleur let her go and walked towards the room they were sharing. Hermione and Marie shared a look and shook their heads.
"Her pregnancy hormones are going to do me in," Hermione commented before grabbing her bag and walking towards the door, a chuckling Marie following her.
"But you adore 'er."
"That I do, Marie, that I do," Hermione admitted softly. "She's everything to me."
"I know. It is written in both of your eyes. Let's go to ze market so you can come back and spend a romantic evening with 'er. I will make sure to leave as soon as we finish with dinner."
"Thank you, Marie. I really appreciate that."
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Fleur walked into the room and grabbed one of the boxes where Hermione was keeping all of her gifts. She had already taught her how to use both the camera and the laptop. Her iPod had been put to good use as well. While she looked for her books, Luna's gift caught her attention and she realized she never got around to opening it. Since Luna had requested the gift not be opened in front of Hermione, Fleur figured now was the perfect opportunity.
Grabbing the box, she sat on the bed and opened it. A gasp of surprise left her mouth when she saw some of the contents inside and her eyebrows rose as high as they could go. No wonder Luna had insisted on keeping Hermione's eyes away from the box. She would have thrown the biggest fit had she known what her blonde friend had done. Fleur chuckled thinking of how mortified Hermione would have been had Fleur opened the box in front of her.
With a mischievous smile a plan started taking form in the blonde's head. Hermione was planning a romantic dinner for their last night together and Fleur would thank her by using the items in the box. She ran her fingers over the silk and delicate fabric of the gown and over the other boxes encased in tissue paper.
Yeah, it was definitely going to be a night to remember.
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When dinner was ready, Marie helped set the table and lit the candles sitting in the middle of it. She lowered the lights and made sure everything was in place before helping Hermione serve dinner. They had made a simple garlic shrimp Alfredo pasta with a mixed greens salad and chocolate mousse for dessert. Once the plates were on the table, Marie bid Hermione farewell and quickly took her leave.
Hermione walked down the hallways and poked her head inside their room. "Hey, pretty girl. Dinner is served."
Fleur looked up from the book she was currently reading and smiled at her. "I can't wait to eat. I'm starving."
"Come on, then, before it gets cold."
Fleur walked over to her and dropped a quick peck on her lips. "Thank you for doing this."
"It's my pleasure, darling."
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Fleur raved about the food the entire time they were eating and even asked if there would be any left for the next day. Hermione assured her they had made enough so she could share it with Juliette once she got there. Fleur thanked her and finally told her she had a surprise for the brunette as well.
Once the dishes had been magically cleaned and put away, Fleur told Hermione she was going to take a quick shower and she'd be back in the room soon. Hermione was reading in bed when Fleur walked in wearing her robe.
"Why are you dressed? It's only us here."
Fleur laughed. "'Ave I turned you into a sex fiend?"
"That would imply us having sex, which we're clearly not having at the moment. But if you take your robe off and come here, we can certainly do that," Hermione suggested, her voice dropping an octave as she did.
"Why don't you go shower and I'll give you what you want when you come back?" Fleur suggested instead.
"Are you saying I stink?"
Fleur rolled her eyes. "No, I'm saying you go shower so I can get you out of the room. Otherwise, you're going to ruin my surprise."
"Oh!"
Hermione wasted no time leaving the room and Fleur wasted no time putting her plan into work.
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Hermione took her time in the shower and when she was done and dried, she spread her favorite lotion all over her body. She fixed her hair, put on her silk robe and walked back towards the room. She noticed the door was left ajar and she pushed it open.
She stopped in her tracks when she saw the room. The lights were out and a multitude of candles adorned every available surface. The scent of vanilla and cinnamon assaulted her senses and she felt herself relax immediately. Peach colored rose petals adorned the bed and the pillows and soft music filled the silence.
Her eyes roamed the room for Fleur's figure and she finally spotted her leaning against the far wall, a single red rose in her hand. Hermione couldn't help her reaction when she saw her. Her jaw dropped at the beautiful and sultry sight. Fleur was wearing a cream colored silk nightie that fell to mid thigh. The simple cut of the gown, from the spaghetti straps that ended on tiny silk bows to the v-neck that hardly showed any cleavage, was perfect. Fleur was a vision of beauty, understated and goddess like at the same time.
Before Hermione could utter a single word, Fleur was in front of her running the tip of the rose over Hermione's lips.
"I need to tell you something," she whispered. "I know you might not be ready to 'ear it, but I can't let you go back to London without saying it."
Hermione swallowed hard and locked her eyes with Fleur's. "What is it, love?"
"Je t'aime, 'Ermione Jane Granger. With all of my 'eart, with every fiber of my being, with my very soul. There is no one else for me and there never will be. You are it for me and if you'll let me, if you trust me, I want to worship you tonight and show you just 'ow much I care."
Tears filled Hermione's eyes at the heart felt words. No one had ever spoken to her like that, no one had ever made her feel on top of her world and in a way she was glad the one person to do so was Fleur.
"I trust you with my very life, Fleur Isabelle. I am yours tonight and for as long as you'll have me. I don't think forever is long enough."
"That's all I needed to 'ear."
She took the brunette's hand and led her to the bed. Once at the edge of it, she untied Hermione's robe and let the silk pool at her feet. Fleur grabbed a red silk scarf from the bed and brought it up in front of Hermione's eyes.
"Trust me?" she asked again.
"I do," Hermione whispered with a small nod and her eyelids dropped to curtain her shimmering chocolate orbs.
"Merci."
Fleur tied the scar so it covered Hermione's eyes without hurting them. She helped the brunette lay on her back in the middle of the big bed and Hermione shivered when her movements crushed the rose petals and their musky scent rose in the air.
She gasped when she felt the tip of the rose Fleur still had in her hand caress her collarbone and circle her throat. She continued to her other collarbone and down her arm. When it reached her fingertips, she felt the brush of silk going around her wrist and then Fleur moved her hand towards the top of the bed and tied it to one of the bed posts.
She couldn't help the shiver that ran down her spine when Fleur whispered in her ear. "Trust me."
The tip of the rose made its way down Hermione's arm, across her chest and down the other arms, which was tied to the other bed post as well. Her breath started coming in little gasps as the tip of that rose circled on breast and then the other, never fully making contact with rosy nipples that were straining for attention. Fleur ignored them completely as the tip of the rose started descending and circled her belly button. Hermione moaned softly as the tip just kept moving down. Right when it was going to touch her intimately, it veered to the right and started moving down her thigh. When it reached her ankle, it was replaced with more silk.
"Fleur," she whispered.
"Trust me," the blonde whispered back.
A moment later, her ankle had been tied to the bed post. The rose tip started moving again and Hermione's body trembled at the silky touch. This time, Fleur ran the tip of the rose down Hermione's slightly exposed center and the brunette moaned and shuddered. Before she could truly enjoy it, the rose was moving again and down her other leg. In short time, Fleur had her at her complete mercy and she took the time to really look at her lover, lying trustingly in front of her and it simply took her breath away.
"Fleur?" Hermione whispered when a good minute had passed and nothing else happened.
"I'm 'ere, mon amour. You're just so beautiful you take my breath away and I was simply enthralled by you."
Hermione visibly swooned at her words.
"Show me then," she pleaded.
"Patience, my love."
Hermione sighed but relaxed her body. She heard some ruffling and wondered what to expect next. She didn't have to wait long. Right around the area of her knees, she felt a feathery touch and her skin shivered at the soft contact. It was almost ticklish and left a powdery feel on her skin as it moved. She felt Fleur's breath on her skin, blowing softly over the powdery substance and it immediately heated up, causing goose bumps to raise on her skin.
Fleur didn't stop there, but continued running the feathery item all over her skin, blowing on it every now and then and making Hermione moan softly or gasp. It was especially torturous when it circled her hardened nipple and then ran over it. Fleur's breath blew over her skin softly and her tongue finally made contact with her skin. Hermione's back arched of the mattress trying to get closer, but Fleur moved back, breaking all contact and Hermione moaned her discontent. Fleur just chuckled and continued on to the next breast.
When Hermione begged for more, Fleur moved the feathery touch down the middle of her chest until it reached her belly button. There, she paused for a moment and dipped the tip of her tongue into the small indentation.
"Please," Hermione pleaded again.
"Patience."
Hermione answer was a small grunt as the feathers moved down again.
Fleur stared in wonder at Hermione's sex, noticing the glistening lips, the engorged nub, and the blushed that seemed to cover her skin. Unable to resist, she dropped the feathers and wrapped her pink lips around the brunette's clitoris, sucking the hard nub into her mouth softly. Hermione moaned deeply and her hips shot off the bed. Fleur raked her teeth softly over the mass of quivering nerve ends before lifting her mouth and moving away.
"No," Hermione lamented.
"Soon," Fleur promised.
Because of the blindfold, Hermione's other senses seemed to come alive like never before and because of that, she was able to tell Fleur was rummaging somewhere again. The next thing she knew, she could smell the divine scent of nutty chocolate. She felt Fleur hover over her again and then she gasped when she felt something warm brush over her nipple.
With the same thoroughness that she had used with the feathers, Fleur painted chocolate lines and circles on Hermione's skin and proceeded to lick or suck the skin clean while Hermione writhed underneath her and begged for mercy, release or any type of relief from the immense arousal she was feeling.
Fleur ignored her pleas and continued pleasuring her slowly, paying special attention to the brunette's nipples. When she started moving down, Hermione moaned before she even felt the brush run softly over her clit and further down.
Fleur's tongue soon replaced the brush and Hermione trembled. No one had ever taken the time to love her like this, to focus entirely on her pleasure without taking anything in return. Her body was a flushed, trembling mass of nerves on the brink of collapsing and she couldn't wait to let it all go.
But Fleur had other ideas.
Just when Hermione had been ready to fall over the precipice, Fleur moved back again and Hermione wanted to weep at the loss of the warm mouth that had been taking her to heaven.
"Fleur, baby, please," she begged once more.
"I'm not done yet."
"Baby," she tried again.
"One more thing."
"Oh, fuck, you're going to kill me."
"Non. I'm simply loving you."
"This is bordering on torture," she pouted.
"You would know," Fleur smirked back.
Before Hermione could reply, she heard what appeared to be a small hum and her breath picked up as her brain came up with possibilities. She didn't have to wait long and moaned deeply when a vibrating tip made contact with her abandoned clitoris.
"Oh, fuck," she gasped.
But because she was desperate for release and Fleur seemed hell bent on not giving it to her just yet, the tip moved north and Hermione was once again tugging at her restraints and wanting to scream in frustration. The buzzing tip kept moving up and circled her nipples, making them harder that they had been already. Then it moved up her throat, over her chin and over her trembling lips.
Boldly, the tip of her tongue came out to meet it and Fleur moaned at the sight. Wanting to pay the blonde back for some of her torment, Hermione opened her mouth wider and her head came off the pillow to take more of the vibrator into her mouth. Fleur's breathing was ragged as she held the electronic device over Hermione's mouth and watched as the brunette's head bobbed up and down slowly. Unable to take it anymore, Fleur moved the vibrator aside and replaced it with her mouth, kissing Hermione deeply as they both whimpered in approval.
They kissed languorously for several minutes before Fleur lifted herself off of the brunette and took off her nightie. She positioned her body over Hermione's looking down towards the foot of the bed. Her knees were on either side of Hermione's torso as she leaned down towards her center and touched the tip of the vibrator to Hermione's entrance and pushed it in lightly.
Hermione, for her part, could smell Fleur's arousal close to her and it was making her dizzy with want and the need to taste her. In focusing on Fleur, she was able to calm herself and breathed deeper, taking in as much of her lover as she could.
Fleur watched in rapture as the tip of the vibrator disappeared inside of Hermione's body and little by little, she pushed it deeper into her. Hermione's hips lifted in harmony with each slow trust and her gasps filled the air with the sounds of love. Fleur lowered her head again and her tongue flicked over the swollen nub.
"Oh, fuck, Fleur."
"You like that?"
"Yes," Hermione hissed as Fleur repeated her actions.
"Do you want me to make you cum?" Fleur asked sultrily.
"Hell, yes, Fleur."
"What if I want to play a little longer?"
"Stop teasing me, woman," Hermione threatened.
"But you're enjoying this," Fleur managed between licks and small sucks of the pink flesh. Never once did she stop moving her other hand in and out, each trust deeper and harder.
"Fuck this," the brunette finally exploded. "Two can play this game."
Before Fleur had a chance to react to those words, she felt a pair of strong hands grasp her hips and pull her back and into Hermione's waiting mouth. There was no telling which of the two moaned louder or deeper.
Fleur had completely forgotten about Hermione's ability to use wandless and silent magic and was taken by complete surprise when she felt the brunette's mouth on her swollen and drenched center.
"Hermione," she gasped when she felt the brunette's tongue enter her and curl.
Knowing if she didn't do something soon she would fall apart in her lover's mouth, she lowered her head and attacked Hermione's clit with renewed fervor, eliciting more moaning that she felt deep within her core.
She wasn't going to last long. Pleasuring her lover had her on edge and she wanted to fall down with her. She knew the brunette was almost there when her body started trembling and her walls tightened around the vibrator in a way that made Fleur work harder at pleasuring her with it.
Hermione could also tell Fleur was close and she concentrated on the brunette's clit while a couple of her fingers entered her softly. It was incredible to pleasure Fleur this way, when every lick or suck she gave the blonde she felt herself. She was moaning hard now, her body shaking uncontrollably as Fleur sucked on her harder and raked her teeth over her very swollen and hard clit.
Before she could stop it, she came undone in her lover's arms, moaning loudly which caused the blonde to come apart as well. It was like music to her ears as Fleur called out her name and collapsed on top of her, both of their bodies shaking, their breathing ragged and their hearts beating out of control.
Several minutes passed as both regained their senses and Fleur finally found the strength to turn around and cradle Hermione in her arms. Hermione laid her head on Fleur's chest and wrapped her arm around the blonde's waist.
"Words fail me at the moment," she whispered as her arm tightened around the blonde.
"None are necessary."
A few more minutes of silence passed in complete harmony before curiosity got the best of the brunette.
"Dare I ask where all of that came from?"
"Well, first, did you like it?"
"It was incredible. You're incredible."
"Then you can thank Luna when you get back to London tomorrow. That was 'er gift!"
Hermione managed to lift her head in surprise and looked towards the corner of the bed where a leather box sat with articles inside. She also remembered her feet were still tied and with just a look they were lose and she moved them closer to the blonde.
"I can't believe her!"
"I 'ave to remember to call 'er and thank 'er for it."
"Yeah, who am I kidding, I'll take her to dinner wherever she chooses just as long as we go buy more of that stuff after!"
Fleur could only laugh and kiss Hermione's forehead lovingly.
"We should probably get some rest. You 'ave a busy week ahead of you," Fleur suggested after a few more soft kisses and cuddles.
"You're right. But just so you know, I don't want tomorrow to ever get here. I'm going to miss you so much. Now more than ever."
Fleur ran the back of her hand over Hermione's cheek. "I know, mon ange, but we'll talk every day and see each other on the laptop. We'll be okay and Friday will be 'ere before you know it."
"I'll have to adopt your optimism."
"I 'ave you now and I'm never letting you go. That thought keeps me going."
Hermione smiled, pecked her lips and settled move comfortably in the blonde's arms.
"I like the way you think."
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A/N: So, in a bit of bad news, I along with a bunch of my coworkers lost our jobs today. Needless to say, I'm upset and my mind is not thinking about stories or writing or anything fun. I am sort of in shock and I can't promise the next few chapters will come to you as regularly as these have been. Just remember I've never abandoned a story before and I won't start doing that now. I just need some time to regroup and relax. Next chapter is done, so hopefully I can get a couple more done in the next couple of weeks. I'll try my best for you guys 'cause you seriously rock.