Chapter 36: Affectionate

Hermione stared at the ceiling. The house felt strange, so empty, and quiet. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had gone off with George and Lee to Romania. Ginny was supposed to be home. However, Hermione had found a letter on her bed when she'd gotten back that day.

Hermione,

Gonna go stay with Harry at Grimmauld Place for the week! Mum would kill me if she finds out, so keep it a secret. Ron chewed me out and decided he was coming along to chaperone. Stupid git! Almost makes me want to "forget" to cast silencing charms!

Percy will be home, but he shouldn't bother you too much. Enjoy having a quiet house with your pet snake ;) Don't do anything I wouldn't do!

Love,

Ginny

Hermione grit her teeth slightly. Something had changed the last time he had kissed her. Up until now, she'd enjoyed how much of a reaction she could get from him. He was the one dazed or surprised. Now… now his touch made her melt. Her brain went soft, her body relaxed, and she forgot to breathe. It was somehow gentler, too. She wasn't ready to think about what that meant. It also didn't help that she knew he'd stopped her the other day, because she'd hesitated. She had appreciated that… but she'd almost found the courage to pull her shirt off before he'd stopped her.

Her room was quiet without Ginny… she didn't like it. Hermione sat up huffily, going to get a glass of water. Maybe she needed to turn on a fan or some music. Draco's door was open. She tried to walk by silently so she wouldn't disturb him. On the way back, she paused, peering into his room. Draco lay on his stomach, arms wrapped around a pillow under him, legs stretched out, feet crossed lightly at the ankle. He still wore a thin shirt and pajama bottoms from the Weasley's. Why? He could have his own clothes now. The book was propped open in front of him. A slow smile crossed her features. He was wearing reading glasses!

She snuck into the room and he jumped slightly, tearing the glasses from his face when she sat next to him, placing her drink on the nightstand. "Find anything interesting?" She commented, enjoying his attempt to hide the readers with one arm over the edge of the bed.

"Just wanted to read it again," he muttered quietly. "...we will have to go to Ollivander. There is a note about wands in here, but it doesn't help much." Hermione stretched out on her stomach next to him. He turned to the book, squinting again. Grudgingly the glasses came back to his face. She bit her lip slightly, trying not to smile.

"Not a word." He growled irritably as he turned the page.

She read with him for several long minutes. It felt better to be in here, where it wasn't so empty. Maybe she could sleep in George's bed. She sat up to take a sip of water, then turned to ask if he'd be okay with that, but paused. Draco's hand was on his neck and he was pressing hard into a spot at his shoulder as he read, fingers digging in slightly. With his posture while reading like this, she could understand why it ached.

...maybe she could enjoy getting a reaction out of him again, as long as he wasn't kissing her. Hermione straddled him from behind. His hand went away, palm flat on the bed as he turned to look at her over his shoulder, "Granger, what the hell are y-ohh…" Hermione put her hands against his shoulders and began to squeeze the tight muscles. He broke off with a moan as his entire body wound tight as a spring for a moment, then relaxed. He seemed to melt under her fingers. Draco's hand pulled the glasses away as his head fell down, pressing into the pillow under him. A soft hiss of pleasure followed by, "...sweet son of a Basilisk… yess…"

That was quite a reaction! Hermione froze, surprised that Draco didn't resist her at all.

"Don't stop," he begged, voice barely a whisper against the pillow, "...Hermione, please... don't stop."

That would be in her dreams later. He was capable of begging? A flush of heat flared through her head to toe. He thought she would stop, after that? Her fingers and palms worked at his tense shoulders and neck. Occasionally a moan or sigh would tell her how much he liked what she was doing. Those were sounds she had never heard from his mouth, and she very much enjoyed every single one.

Draco was breathing, slow, deep and relaxed when she slid to his side a long while later. Sound asleep. Hermione smiled slightly. That had been worth it. She sat up, taking the book and his glasses, placing them on the nightstand. For a moment, she looked at him, brushing his hair from his face. She was tempted to kiss him.

Hermione sat up on the edge of the bed, turning her back to him. That wouldn't be right- not while he was asleep. Surprisingly, his arms wrapped around her from behind and pulled her down. Hermione squeaked slightly in surprise, then froze. "...stay." he muttered against her ear, sleepily, unaware. They were both on their sides, his arm wrapped around her stomach. His body was very warm, pressed against her backside. How was he always so warm? Her arm draped along his, lightly pressing into his fingers. Draco lightly kissed the back of her head, pulling her into him more firmly, body spooning her completely.

Maybe this was okay, just for tonight.

She woke to Draco feathering her neck and shoulder with soft kisses. That was a nice way to wake up! Stretching, her arms went above her head, one covering her mouth, body tightening from head to toe as she yawned widely. Draco's hand stroked across her bare stomach, then his fingertips barely traced the skin on the way back. Hermione flinched and laughed softly at the ticklish touch, curling up tight and grabbing his hand quickly.

"Forgot, sorry," he muttered sleepily. He actually did sound like he meant it. Teeth lightly bit her shoulder. She shivered, small bumps of pleasure rising up on her skin. What was he doing? With a start, she realized that there was something hard pressing against her body from behind. She flushed slightly at that. It didn't seem to bother him at all. Draco's tongue soothed the bite and his lips danced up the side of her neck. "That was very nice last night," he muttered against her neck, "Feel free to do that anytime." His teeth found her ear and Hermione sucked in a sharp breath at the strange pain-pleasure.

"What are you doing?" she muttered softly, afraid to ask, not wanting him to stop, not sure what she wanted. He didn't stop. His lips and tongue moved to toy with her neck again. God that felt good!

"Imagine my surprise," Draco murmured into her ear, hand stroking her stomach again lightly, making her flinch slightly as it tickled her. "I fell asleep with a beautiful witch on my back, and I woke up with her in my arms… now, how did that happen?"

Did he just call me beautiful? Hermione flushed, then gasped slightly as he bit her neck playfully. Oh, this was a little too much this early in the morning. He'd never acted… how could she describe it? Affectionate?

Embarrassed, a blush tingling in her cheeks, she said, "...maybe we should start getting ready for St. Mungo's…"

"Nope. You're gonna have to drag me." he chuckled, echoing words she thought he'd forgotten. "Too comfy." His fingertips very lightly brushed inside the hem of her pajama pants, trailing there, back and forth, back and forth, not daring to go any lower, but very clearly asking for permission. "...what do you think?" he pressed the back of his head to hers lightly, "...Time to get up... or…" his fingertips barely tugged at her underwear, the question unvoiced.

Hermione swallowed hard. She was aching for him to touch her. What would happen if he did? Would it go further? No one had ever asked her that. No one had ever touched her there… maybe she was a little too naive? Other girls her age had already had sex- they'd already done things that had made her blush to overhear in the common room. Did he think she'd done all that, too? Were they even close to the same page? Her mind went racing out of control.

He seemed to take her silence as a negative answer and kissed the back of her head softly, beginning to withdraw his hand. She surprised herself when she pressed her hand against his, stopping him, heart in her throat. "Draco… no one's ever… I haven't… I mean… I...I..." What was she saying? What would he think if he knew that she'd never gone further than a kiss? She felt shy, afraid to ask for more, ashamed of her own lack of experience... but she didn't want him to stop.

His whisper made her heart pound. "Just tell me yes or no… do you want more than a kiss, Granger?"

"Yes." Could he see how nervous she was? Could he feel it? What if this went too far? She had to say something, now, before she couldn't think straight. "D-Draco-"

"Clothes stay on… no sex, I promise." He kissed the side of her neck softly, pausing one moment longer until she nodded. "...tell me if you want me to stop." Draco's hand slid past her underwear. The sensation of his fingers so low on her body made her hold her breath. A maddening heartbeat drummed in her chest and against her back. He was just as nervous and excited as she was. That was comforting.

That did it. She felt the fear dissipate and couldn't restrain the moan that escaped her lips when his fingers stroked between her swollen, wet folds and found her clit. She put her palm out on the bed, other hand catching her curls and clenching into a fist near her temple... Almost unable to believe this was happening, body tightening, closing her eyes in pleasure.

He knew what he was doing. Soft, slow circles, pressure increasing and decreasing, speed changing a few times, making her shudder. How did he know? For several thousand heartbeats, his fingertips toyed with her. Eventually she was able to breathe again, twisting her hips against his hand. His fingers felt warm, and firm, and gentle all at the same time. His lips met her neck again and she cried out softly, that combination was too much! She almost stopped him then, but his fingers began to move a little faster in their circle and any thought of ending this went out the window.

This was what she'd wanted from him, and she hadn't known how to ask. Her fingers dug into the sheet under her body. "Yes…" she breathed, the words escaping her lips without permission, "Faster… please…"

His fingertips picked up speed as her breathing shifted. This was too good, and she wanted more. His hot tongue, soft lips and harsh little bites were sending sparks of pleasure through her body, combined with those talented fingers. She shook as a sudden strong wave of pleasure tore through her from head to toe- a sign she was definitely going to orgasm if he kept it up. She gasped, her knees drawing together tightly. His hand slipped away.

"Roll on your back," she couldn't even begin to deny that order. Hermione rolled to her back and his lips met hers, his hand found her clit again and she cried out against his mouth, neck arching back, but he didn't let go of her lips.

Draco pulled back as her hips rocked against his hand slightly. Her eyes fluttered open, catching his gaze. He was flushed in the face, eyes unguarded, somewhat intently watching her face. Watching her writhe against his fingertips! His intense eyes seemed to devour that sight. She flushed deeply, turning her head away from him slightly, feeling suddenly self-conscious. Draco's teeth nipped lightly at her neck and she turned her head back towards him. His lips met hers and she forgot why she was embarrassed, moaning against his lips.

A sweet tightness was winding quickly in her body, heartbeat pulsing wildly out of control. She really was almost there! For one moment, she was almost ashamed- what would he think of her for letting him do this? Then the pleasure of an orgasm ripped through her and her entire body trembled hard, rising up off the bed, hand catching his wrist tightly to stop him. A soundless scream of pleasure caught in her throat.

His lips met hers, softly, as she came down, body relaxing, heartbeat hammering everywhere at once. His hand lay against her now, relaxed and still. He rested his forehead against hers for a moment, a small smile on his lips. "I don't suppose you'd consider giving me one of those amazing back massages every night, in exchange for one of these in the mornings…"

His finger brushed her clit again and she cried out softly, "Too much!" What was he saying? A back massage? In exchange for… that?! Every morning?! She felt herself glowing crimson. How much could he make her blush?

He withdrew his hand with a playful smile, but Merlin those eyes looked serious! "...think about it."