Author's Note: The last scene is NOT SAFE FOR WORK.
A/N2: It's my birthday, and we're celebrating with an extra chapter. Enjoy!
Chapter Fourteen
Audrey came bounding into the kitchen of Shell Cottage to find Fleur sitting at the butcher's block in an old, blue frock. The blonde witch was bent over the Muggle notebook, parchment and quills spread around her. She didn't even glance up when the door banged shut, nor when Audrey leaned against the butcher block, only to jump back again.
"What is that smell?"
"Never mind zat," Fleur said, pushing a hank of hair behind her ear. She looked up at Audrey with a very serious expression pinching her beautiful face. It reminded Audrey of when her friend had been preparing for the final task of the Tri Wizard Tournament. Fleur had been so intent on proving herself after the debacle in the Black Lake, she wasn't about to leave anything to fate.
"You said there was an emergency?" Audrey asked.
"Oui," Fleur confirmed with one sharp nod of her head. "Percy said that there was a breakout at zee Ministry. A dozen Muggle-borns and we—"
"Wait!" Audrey interrupted. She curled her fingers into her palm. "Percy? Is he—"
"He is unharmed," Fleur said in a kind voice, her eyes softening just for a moment.
Something like relief washed through Audrey. Which was stupid. She liked Percy and they were having a lot of fun, but it was not as if she cared for him.
"Tell me," Audrey said, pushing away all thoughts of tall, bespectacled wizards.
"He has a list of zee names," Fleur continued, resuming her former manner. "He has already sent zem to me, he is trying to find addresses for all of zem. Alicia is ready and awaiting orders. Angelina is having trouble getting away from training. I have not heard from Oliver yet. My parents are preparing to receive zee refugees—"
"Whoa!" Audrey held up her hands. "Take a deep breath, then. Where is Bill?"
"Right here."
Bill walked through the door looking windswept and exhilarated. It was obvious that he was primed for action. His eyes were sparkling with excitement, and his body was tight like a spring ready to pop. He was thrumming with energy. Bill flashed a wolfish grin at Fleur, who was the rankest thing that Audrey had smelled since her brothers learned to do laundry. Fleur did not seem to notice Bill or the smell.
"I found a spot a bit down the coast. There's a thicket of trees to provide cover," Bill reported. "I'll take Audrey there. I'll stay with her to help set Portkeys and provide protection."
Fleur nodded. "D'accord. Bien."
"I'll need objects to use as Portkeys," Audrey said.
Fleur slid off her stool and walked out of the kitchen. Audrey followed her into the sitting room. Her friend conjured a bag, pulled a large wooden box from a drawer in the hutch and proceeded to dump all of the good silver into the bag.
"Here," Fleur said simply, thrusting the bag at Audrey.
oOo
As Junior Assistant to the Minister of Magic, no one thought it strange when Percy demanded the files for the escaped Muggle-borns to be brought to his desk with alacrity. Pouring over them, memorizing names and addresses was not in the least suspicious. Finding the time to escape into the loo or a broom cupboard to relay that information to Fleur, on the other hand, proved difficult.
It was a slow process. Much slower than he would have preferred. He couldn't be seen as leaving his desk more than normal, so he had to cram as much information onto the notepad as possible in one visit to the loo. On the other hand, he couldn't be away from his desk for overly long periods without rousing suspicion. And in the current climate, suspicion was easily aroused.
Meanwhile, he was monitoring the investigation of the break-in and subsequent breakout. He'd nearly snapped his quill in two when he'd learned that Yaxley had followed Harry, Ron and Hermione through the Floo. Yaxley had not reported into the Ministry after that, but Percy was trying very hard not to consider why that was.
The Auror department, in the meantime, were investigating the break-in. Apparently, Runcorn and Mafalda Hopkirk had wandered into the Ministry dazed and confused. Both had been in interrogation for hours. Reg Cattermole, on the other hand, was nowhere to be seen. Percy was almost positive that the Reg Cattermole he had seen in the Ministry earlier in the day was in fact Percy's very own baby brother.
Finally, almost as an afterthought, the Snatchers were being brought in to hunt down the escaped Muggle-borns. The Ministry did not seem in a hurry to track them down. Most likely, as Percy learned through his reports, because most of the Muggle-borns were now wandless. But Percy thought there was a good deal of arrogance in the mix as well. The Ministry were underestimating the Muggle-borns ability to evade capture. Regardless, Percy was thankful for the delay as that gave the Order of Mercy time to mobilize.
oOo
F—
Just saw your message. I've been unceremoniously promoted, but I'll get away from training as soon as possible.
—O
F—
I was nearly hexed by the Cattermoles, but they are secure. The entire family—mother, father and three children—accounted for. I've taken them to the safe house in Wales. Awaiting further instruction.
—AJ
O—
Retrieve Wilber Leatherby. Known address 5 Cranston Dundee, Scotland.
—F
F—
I have Constance Milbury in hand, but she will not leave her residence until her children are collected. The husband is retrieving two of them from a relative, but another is at Hogwarts. Please send instruction.
—AS
AS—
You must make the Milburys see reason. We cannot retrieve a child from Hogwarts, it would put the other refugees at risk, to say nothing of the Order of Mercy. We can retrieve the child at Christmas holiday.
—F
F—
The Cattermoles have just left by Portkey. Everything went smoothly on this end. We are ready for the next family.
—B
F—
Milbury family just moved to Puddlemere safehouse. The mother nearly had a breakdown. She may need a Calming Draught before she can Portkey. I would recommend we move them next.
—AS
B—
I need you to retrieve a potion and help AS move a family from Puddlemere.
—F
F—
Close call retrieving Simon Smith and family. I saw some nasty looking wizards moving in on the house before we Disapparated. They are secure at the coastal safe house awaiting Portkey.
Warn the girls to be watching for Snatchers.
—O
F—
The Milburys have departed. I'm not leaving the evacuation sight again. Night is coming and Audrey needs me to watch her back. How many more are there? We need to wrap this up.
—B
F—
Got the drop on some Snatchers. They were at the Pilsworth residence ahead of me. Only two of them and I stunned both of them before I was seen. Mr. and Mrs. Pilsworth are in Wales awaiting the next stage of travel. We are running out of time.
—AJ
oOo
It was after seven o'clock before the Minister left his offices. Thicknesse and his cronies left in an agitated huff of exhaustion and outrage. Percy couldn't help but think that the next work week was going to be unbearable. With the Minister staying late, the entire office was held hostage at their desks. This meant more than twelve hours at the Ministry for Percy.
But the moment that Thicknesse's cape was out of sight, all of Percy's co-workers gathered up their things and left. Percy lingered at his desk as was his norm, but in truth he wanted to rush out of the Ministry to Shell Cottage. He had not heard any word on the rescue operation and he was anxious to know that the Muggle-borns were being safely moved. He was also worried for the friends and family who were putting their lives at risk to save those Muggle-borns.
Putting his mind to his usual, nightly routine, Percy tidied up his desk. He made sure he had all the files he needed safely tucked into his secret pocket and that nothing incriminating was left on his desk. Just because it had been a long and arduous day that left him exhausted was no reason to be sloppy now.
As Percy prepared to exit the office, an interdepartmental memo whizzed into his office and began ramming into his head. Percy caught the paper aeroplane, noting that it was violently red. His heart lurched into his throat. He tried to swallow as he whipped open the memo. His eyes scanned the contents:
Snatchers foiled four times by unknown persons assisting the fugitives.
Eight other fugitives already missing from their residencse by the time Snatchers arrived.
Interference by rebel groups suspected. Possibly the Order of the Phoenix.
Deadly force will be used on any individuals working to subvert Ministry business.
ALERT: Magical activity detected in Cornwall near St. Ives. Possibly moving fugitives abroad from this location. Need ten men to report to location. Another ten on standby.
Cornwall. St. Ives. Percy shut his eyes, crumpling the memo in his hand. That was quite far from Shell Cottage, but Bill wouldn't have chosen a location near his home for this operation. If this was indeed the location from which the refugees were taking the Portkey, then Audrey would be there. Percy stuck the wrinkled memo in his secret pocket and hurried to the Minister's Apparition Point.
He'd run nearly the entire way, but came to a skidding halt just before the bend. Forcing himself to a sedate pace, he wiped the sweat from his brow with his handkerchief. Please, let him appear normal to the security wizard on duty. Don't allow him to raise suspicion.
Percy approached the kindly wizard. "Hello, Englebert."
"Good evening, Mr. Weasley," the older man replied.
They'd made this exchange a thousand times, but that evening it seemed wrong. This man had worked for the Ministry since Percy was a child. He remembered him from tours with his father. Percy should be honoring the man by calling him "Mr. Smith", not the other way around.
"Sorry to tell you, sir," Englebert Smith said, "but I cannot allow you to Disapparate from here. New decree just today. Only the Minister and his closest advisors may Disapparate in and out of the Ministry."
"Oh."
Dammit. This meant a long walk to the lifts, then a ride for seven levels to the Atrium, only to Floo into that public loo, and he still wouldn't be able to Disapparate until he found a deserted alleyway. Percy gave a sharp nod, turned on his heel and marched away. Once out of site, he broke into a dead run.
Thankfully, very few people were still inside the Ministry of Magic at this time of the night. No one witnessed Percy's mad dash, nor did he have to wait for the lift. It was a straight shot from the first level to the eighth, then a quick paced walk across the Atrium and into the Floo. Appearing in a toilet was always a bit off-putting, but Percy didn't give it much thought in this particular instance. He jumped down from the toilet seat and sprinted into the London street.
The Muggle street was still bustling with people. Mostly overworked government types like Percy himself, only without magic. Percy pushed his way through, scanning the area for a good place to Disapparate and not paying attention to where he was going. He jostled and bumped people as he went, not bothering to apologize and barely noticing the curses thrown at him. Finally, he spotted a likely alley.
Hoping it was not inhabited by ruffians, Percy dodged into the shadows. With barely a look around, he Disapparated into nothingness and reappeared again on the beach near Shell Cottage. The sand slipped under his feet as he awkwardly ran to the house. He burst into the house panting and gasping for breath. Fleur was sitting at the butcher's block, scribbling across a piece of parchment, the Muggle notebook and pen sitting at her elbow.
"Ugh! What is that smell?"
"It is me," Fleur snapped. "Sit down and be quiet."
"Where is Bill?"
"He is wiz Audrey down zee coast. Zey are waiting on zee last refugee and her family."
"Their position has been compromised. The Snatchers are on their way."
Fleur's head snapped up. She grabbed her wand from the work top and bolted off her stool.
"Let us hurry."
oOo
The sun had sunk below the horizon, casting shadows over the thicket of trees that concealed Bill and Audrey. This operation was taking too much time, and Bill didn't like it. He felt on edge, as if every nerve ending in his body was vibrating with Muggle electricity. He'd felt this way before, on the night of the Battle of Little Helga and again before the Battle of the Astronomy Tower. It was as if the very air was alive with violence waiting to ignite.
He glanced at Audrey behind him. She was tapping a teaspoon against her thigh. One more family and the mission was over. Bill pulled the Muggle notebook from his back pocket and wrote in it:
Are the last refugees en route?
Just as he was stuffing the notebook back in his pocket, the crack of Apparition had him spinning about, wand at the ready. Angelina Johnson stood there with an elderly witch and wizard. Bill lowered his wand by a fraction. Audrey was casting the spell to turn the teaspoon into a Portkey. He felt the notebook heat up in his back pocket.
"Let's wrap—"
A Confringo curse blasted Bill off his feet. Audrey screamed, but a quick glance told him that she was just startled. He scrambled to his feet. Angelina had already cast a shield over the refugees and Audrey. Bill threw several Stunners at black figures rushing out of the shadows. A grunt followed by a thud told him that one spell connected.
"Hurry, Audrey!" Bill yelled. "Johnson, stay on Audrey and the refugees. I'll take the incoming wizards."
A Snatcher charged Bill. He tossed a Full Body-Bind curse at him and Stunned the one behind. The one to his left turned into a duck and pecked his ankle.
"You lot are idiots," Angelina screamed. "You need my help more than she does."
BOOM!
oOo
"Holy shite!" Bill yelled.
Not that anyone could hear him. The explosion had effectively deafened everybody in the copse. But it had also knocked a half dozen Snatchers on their arses. Audrey briefly glanced at her handy work before turning her attention to the Portkey. Thirty seconds and the blasted thing should turn blue. Come on….
The elderly couple looked terribly frightened, but Bill and Angelina had the remaining Snatchers in hand. Audrey strengthened the shield charm set around the old couple, who were clutching the teaspoon between them. Fifteen seconds. Come on….
Audrey was only barely keeping it together. She'd turned one of the butter knives into a bomb using a curse she had created just for this purpose. This was her first opportunity to try it. She supposed she was relieved that it had worked so well. Still, a jittery energy was coursing through her, making her tremble all over.
Ten seconds….
A jet of green gouged the ground inches from the shield.
Nine….
Audrey turned to see a second wave of Snatchers come charging through the trees.
Eight….
A quick glance at the elderly couple told Audrey that they were still behind the protection of the shield. They were still clutching the Portkey.
Seven….
Audrey Summoned another utensil from the bag on the ground.
Six….
Come on! Come on!
Five….
An Impediment Jinx hit Audrey in the chest. Her breath left her. She was hurled back, crashing into a tree and crumpling to the ground.
oOo
Through a thicket of Snatchers, Fleur saw Bill. He was Stunning and Blasting wizards out of his way. A shadow next to him was Angelina Johnson, Stunning anyone who came into her path. Percy was at Fleur's side. He was Confunding enemies before Stunning them. They were just four, with a dozen Snatchers caught between them, hardly an advantage.
"Do you see Audrey?" Percy yelled.
"No!"
Fleur aimed a Confringo Maxima at the ground. Dirt, debris, and enemy combatants went flying. She whipped around and Stunned another. She ducked a purple hex, and it struck the Snatcher behind her. He fell to the ground with a gaping, bloody wound across his back.
Tearing her eyes away from the bleeding man, Fleur looked across the battlefield. Bill was dueling two Snatchers. She saw one of them cast a Killing curse. Fleur stopped breathing. A scream was stuck in her chest, trying to claw its way to her throat but unable to because her heart was firmly lodged there. Bill sidestepped, the curse struck the ground. Fleur burst forward with a desperate cry.
Gliding between bodies, Fleur's eyes were on her husband's ginger ponytail as it whipped back and forth. The need to be at his side filled every nerve and blood vessel in her body. A man knocked into her, and Fleur sunk her elbow into his ribs. She used a ramming hex to clear two others from her path. A hand grabbed her, but a severing charm released its hold as several fingers fell to the ground.
Fleur had to get to him, her Bill.
"The Portkey is gone!" screamed Angelina. "The refugees are gone!"
oOo
"Retreat!" Fleur cried.
Just feet from Percy, Angelina Johnson Disapparated. But where was Audrey? Percy tore his eyes away from the wizards in front of him to scan the copse for the little witch. He hadn't seen her since he had Apparated, and there was something in that fact that made his heart race. Looking across the clearing, Percy saw Bill still dueling with Fleur at his side. His elder brother wouldn't retreat until Percy did, but he had to know that Audrey was safe first. A jet of light nearly hit Percy, forcing his attention back to the crisis at hand.
Percy spun to meet his assailant. He hit the unwitting man with a Confundus curse and watched as the man hexed one of his allies. Seeing a path open, Percy wasted no time in casting a shield over himself and dodging between Snatchers. He scanned the ground for Audrey.
There. Her name was on the tip of his tongue, a smile threatening even as more Snatchers closed in. Audrey was alive. She was standing shakily, unnoticed at the moment by the enemy combatants.
A man in a leather cape appeared in front of Percy, wand pointed menacingly at his chest.
"Weasley?" the man cackled.
That moment of relief evaporated. Percy clutched his wand until he could feel the groove of it imprinting in his hand.
"Why am I not surprised?" the man sneered. "Wonder what I'll get paid for bringing in a traitor?"
While the man was still crowing over his good fortune, Percy stunned him. With a shaking wand, Percy performed a memory charm. It was quick, shoddy work. He may well have left the man a doddering idiot. Percy couldn't quite muster up any guilt as he spied Audrey dueling another Snatcher.
Percy surged forward, his heart in his throat. A hex bounced off Audrey's shield, but she faltered. She looked unsteady on her feet as she cast her own curse that went wide of its mark. Another Snatcher rushed at Percy, but he blasted the man out of the way.
With one last desperate burst of speed, Percy made it to Audrey's side. He Stunned the Snatcher she was dueling. He didn't wait to see the man fall. Percy wrapped one long arm around Audrey's waist, spun in place, and Disapparated with a pop.
oOo
The squeezing sensation of Apparition ended. Audrey's lungs expanded along with the panic that gripped her insides. Her legs felt like jelly, hardly equipped to hold her up, the arm around her middle was doing that job. She struggled against her assailant's hold—frantic to get away. She kicked, her heel connecting with shin. He grunted. Audrey reared back, her skull struck collarbone. Pain seared through her head, and she whimpered.
"Audrey…. Hey!" The man pushed her hair back.
She wrenched away, clawing at the arm around her shoulders.
"Audrey, shh. Shh. It's okay," a deep voice soothed. "You're safe."
The timber of that voice broke through Audrey's panic. She knew those deep, careful tones. The relief that washed through Audrey was as sudden as the rise of panic had been, leaving her trembling in the arms of the man behind her. Merlin, she had thought she was done for. Being thrown against that tree knocked the breath out of her and left her with various aching body parts. She'd lain on the ground for what felt like hours, stunned and sore, but she saw that old couple spin out of sight to safety and knew that their mission was a success. She'd used that as motivation to get to her feet, to keep fighting.
But that duel with the Snatcher was more than she could handle. She was a good witch, but not an experienced duelist. To make matters worse, she was weak and shaky from the earlier blast. She thought for sure she was a dead woman when the next thing she knew, she was Disapparating.
Turning in Percy's arms, Audrey fisted his shirtfront in both hands and pressed her mouth against his. Adrenaline was merging with lust and gratitude. The trembling ceased, replaced with a new, more pleasurable tingle all across her skin.
"You saved me," she breathed.
"Yes, well, let's get you inside."
It was dark, but Audrey thought they were in an alley. There was the smell of rubbish perfuming the air, a scrap of light at the end of the lane that revealed cement and the occasional passerby. Looking up at Percy, his glasses glinted a bit in the night.
"Did you bring me back to your place?"
"Hm?" He pushed his glasses up, the other arm still securely around her. "Well…I reckon I did."
Whether by design or not, Audrey couldn't regret Percy's decision. A low hum was vibrating just under her skin. She wanted inside Percy's flat, and inside his pants. He grabbed her hand, pulling her out of the alleyway and up the steps to his building. They thundered up to his floor. Percy made quick work of the wards on his door, and before Audrey knew it, he'd shoved her inside his flat and slammed the door behind him.
Audrey didn't hesitate to wrap her arms around Percy and start kissing him again. That energy that was thrumming under her skin ratcheted up another notch, making her feel reckless and needy. Kissing Percy wasn't going to be enough. She needed something that she couldn't quite understand yet, but she thought shagging Percy would get her there. One of his hands cupped her head, his thumb rubbing circles into base of her skull. Audrey stood on tiptoe so she could press into him more firmly, but Percy pulled away. She grunted in frustration.
"Have to set wards," he panted.
With his wand pointed at the door, Percy cast charms against it. Audrey trailed kisses down his throat. She could see the flush of red flaring up his neck. His skin felt warm under her lips. She found his pulse point and sucked it lightly. He groaned, she could feel his vocal cords vibrating against her mouth. His free hand gripped her hip.
Audrey yanked his tie loose and tossed it on the floor. Percy kept working, but his hold on her hip tightened. Tiny proof that she distracted him, and Audrey liked being a distraction. With both hands, she attacked the button at his throat, but it proved a formidable opponent for her shaky fingers. Finally, Percy undid it himself, revealing another inch of freckled skin. The other buttons proved less challenging, parting to reveal more coppery freckles and the gingery hair that lightly covered his chest. Finally, she undid the last button and yanked his shirttails from his waistband. She skimmed her hands over his abdomen and up his sides. His muscles contracted under her touch, and he groaned again. With a grin, she found his pink nipple and flicked her tongue over it.
"Bloody hell!" Percy yelled. He grabbed a fistful of her hair and pulled her head back. He kissed her quick and hard. "I nearly blew up the door, you saucy wench."
Audrey laughed. "Are you talking dirty to me, Gryffindor?"
Percy's cheeks flared bright red. There was a look in his eyes that was half desire and half frustration, and all hot. Her hands were still on his bare skin, skimming over his flat chest and around to his back. He wasn't musclebound, but he was strong and fit. Audrey admired the contour of his shoulder muscle as her hands trailed over tight back muscles.
"You are going to be the death of me," he growled.
With a final swish of his wand, Percy finished setting the wards. Audrey took a moment to cast a contraceptive charm on herself, she wasn't that reckless. Struggling to get his cuffs undone at the same time that Audrey was pushing his shirt from his shoulders, their combined effort had him half naked. Maybe after they shagged she would admire her handiwork, but now she wanted to be skin to skin. She pulled her top over her head, sucking in a breath as the cotton tore away from the wounds on her back. Later, she would worry about that later. Unhooking her plain white bra, she let it fall to the floor, and pushed herself against Percy again, finally rubbing her naked skin against his.
"Wait," Percy grunted. He pushed her back gently by the shoulders.
"No. No waiting, Percy, I want you."
Since that night in her old bedroom, Percy had been telling Audrey to wait, and she was through with it. She didn't want to slow down, or take her time, or wait. He was looking at her, his dark eyes caressing her pert breasts and raspberry nipples. If she let him, he'd make this meaningful. Taking his face in her hands, she forced him to match her gaze, hoping her determination was reflected there. He looked into her eyes for a moment then he hunched down to press his lips into her throat. They slid down the column of her neck to her collarbone, his tongue traced that delicate wing until he found her shoulder and he nipped her with sharp teeth. Surprise and excitement detonated in Audrey's center. His hands skimmed over her shoulders to her back. Audrey squeaked when his fingers painfully brushed over her injuries.
"What—" Percy pulled back, concern pushing the lust from his eyes. He started to turn her so he could see the wounds on her back.
"No, it's nothing," Audrey insisted.
"Audrey, you're hurt."
She pushed his hands away. "It's nothing. Quit fussing and fuck me already, Percy!"
Percy looked conflicted. All that overwrought Gryffindor nobility was obviously warring with the visible erection in his trousers. Deciding that it was better to take fate into her own hands than see which part of Percy's nature won out, Audrey reached for his belt. She undid his trousers, pushing them down his hips. His eyes were darkening as he watched her work. Her hands were at the waistband of his shorts. He was watching her, his mouth held so tightly that it quivered under the pressure, his chest barely moving with his shallow breaths. Audrey's hand slipped inside his pants and quested over flat, hair-covered skin so heated it nearly burned her fingers. When she wrapped her small hand around his member, his eyes closed, and he groaned.
"Touch me, Percy," she whispered, stroking him slowly.
His hands found her breasts.
"Merlin, just right," he breathed and flicked his thumbs over her erect nipples.
Audrey pushed herself into his hands. He was rolling her nipples between his forefinger and thumb, giving them a slight tug. Audrey moaned, but she knew this wasn't enough. She started pushing his clothes off his hips. Seeing her intent, Percy toed his shoes off. Then he was helping to extract her from the last bits of her clothing.
When they were both naked but for their socks, Percy pulled Audrey against him for a kiss. Nipping her bottom lip. Entering her with his tongue. He lifted her up, Audrey's arms and legs going around him and his hands grasping her bare bottom. Audrey arched against him, reveling in the feel and texture of her soft skin against the hard, hair dusted plains of his.
"Let's…" he panted.
"Yes."
Audrey sucked on his earlobe and kissed his neck as he carried her back to the bedroom.
"Dammit!"
His shin banged against the corner of the ridiculously big coffee table. Percy's hands slipped, his knees buckling under him. Audrey shrieked, her fingers losing their grip on his shoulders. Then they were both on the ground, Audrey sprawled over Percy. She giggled, righting herself, wiggling over him.
"This is not—" he muttered.
"Shut it, Gryffindor."
She silenced him with a kiss. Forget the bedroom, the floor would do, so long as they were shagging and soon. She realized now that it wasn't just lust driving her, it was gratitude. Not just for Percy, but also for the gods who spared her life this night. However, she'd shower the full force of her gratefulness on Percy. Most of all, she wanted to feel alive. Percy's fingers skimmed up the sensitive flesh of her inner thigh with aching gentleness. She shivered under his touch, her bits clenching with anticipation. If she wasn't careful Percy was going to turn this quick, life-affirming shag into something that resembled lovemaking.
Audrey started to pull away, but his arm was around the small of her back, stopping her.
"Percy—"
"Shh." He was sitting up fully now, her knees still planted on either side of his thighs. His hand found her there, and Audrey shuddered.
"You don't…" she whispered, turning her chin away, her hair falling in her face.
"Yes, I do."
Two long fingers slid into her. Audrey clenched around him, biting her lip to suppress a betraying moan, but every other part of her body reacted to his touch. From her blunt nails digging into his freckled shoulders to her nearly non-existent breaths. With his other hand, Percy grasped her chin, holding her still so he could kiss her. His tongue stroked the same slow rhythm as his fingers as they slid in and out of her. Then he was meandering through her folds, finding her clitoris and paying it all due respect. He was building something in her that was hot and tight, but he was also stripping away the urgency with which she had originally attacked him. He was building emotion, laying bare vulnerability. Audrey wasn't going to be vulnerable with Percy.
"Percy," she muttered, pushing against his shoulder. "This isn't…I want…."
Audrey reached down between them and stroked his cock. He gasped.
"Merlin, you minx, your touch…."
Audrey pushed his hand away from her body. "I want you now."
The heat in Percy's eyes when he looked at her, the bite of his fingers on her hips, re-fired Audrey's blood. She was in control of her fate. A smile curled her lips as she positioned the tip of his penis at her entrance. The head brushed her wetness, and she teased him a bit just to watch his pupils dilate. She did it again, and Percy swore. That's when she sank onto him, inch by inch, feeling him fill her up and stretch her.
"You like that?" Audrey whispered in his ear. She began to move her hips, but his grip on her hips tightened.
"Not…not yet. Just…. Oh, Merlin." Percy's trembling hands moved up her waist and ribcage. He pressed his face into her chest, kissing her clumsily.
"I didn't compromise your virtue, did I?" Audrey half-joked. Please say no.
Percy shook his head. "Been awhile…but…." He took a steadying breath. "I don't think virginities grow back."
Surprised laughter bubbled out of Audrey.
Well, there went her orgasm. If the strain in Percy's voice meant anything, this was going to be over fast. A quick shag was what she wanted, right? Probably should have let him finish what he started earlier. Audrey rocked her hips against him, dragging a moan from Percy throat. Slowly at first, they moved against each other, grunting and panting, finding their rhythm. Then Percy grabbed her hips again, he drove into her with more force and Audrey cried out.
"You like that?" he teased and did it again.
She did. She liked Percy in charge more than she cared to admit.
There wasn't a lot of finesse. His thrusts were urgent, powerful, and had Audrey moaning. She pushed back with the same need she could feel building inside of him, clutching him with her inner muscles with each pass, drawing out the pleasure. Maybe if he were the one to lose control….
"Oh, Merlin," he gasped.
With one last, hard thrust, Percy came inside of Audrey. The torrent was over. She wrapped her arms around him, he pressed his face against her chest. They sat on the floor, sticky and sweaty in one another's embrace until finally, Percy pulled back. He looked into her eyes, and pushed her hair from her face.
"Sorry," he muttered, "that was—"
"Great," Audrey assured him.
Percy pushed his glasses up. "You are being generous, I think." He touched her back gently. "Let me fix you up then maybe we can try this again. I'm sure I can do better than that."
"I would say it Exceeded Expectations."
He gave her a quick kiss and smirked. "I'm an overachiever, remember? Only Outstanding will do."
A/N3: With the holidays coming up, I hope all of you find a little extra time to read. If you do, please consider these wonderful stories: Fleur Delacour & the French Connection by PixiePatronus13675. Inspired by OOM, but with her own twist. Not only is it just getting started, but there's an entire chapter featuring one of my favorite couples, Katie and Oliver. Next, if you're wanting a little Christmas cheer, check out Alohamora's Thirteen Days of Christmas, featuring the Next Generation and romance! Please, don't forget to review.