.
CHAPTER 19
Hermione woke with Draco wrapped around her, every inch of him touching her. One arm was wrapped tightly around her waist holding her to him like a vice. The other stretched out beneath her, his bicep pillowing her head, his fingers linked with hers. His face pressed into her neck, his skin so incredibly warm against hers.
And he was hard — ready for her even in his unconscious state.
Hermione let out a tiny groan at the feel of him and he snuggled impossibly closer. Draco Malfoy was a snuggler. The thought made her giggle.
"Something funny?" His voice was thick, still half asleep.
"You're a snuggler." She flexed her torso, pressing her arse tighter against his heavy erection. "You're a clingy, needy snuggler. I know your secret now."
"It's all your fault. You're the perfect little spoon and you smell incredible." He thrust his hips gently, the thick length of him brushing her arse. He released his grip on her waist and lifted her leg over his, touching the soft skin on her inner thigh. His hand dipped lower, but she stopped him.
"It's Monday. We don't have time for that. We have to go to work."
Draco groaned. "Take the day off."
His hand continued its journey, his fingers sliding between her folds in a V shape. Hermione closed her eyes and groaned. She couldn't do this. Couldn't just fob off work for a day in bed with Draco Malfoy.
He kissed her neck and a shiver of pleasure rippled down her spine. Oh, this was… No!
Hermione slapped his hand away and rolled to her stomach. When she turned her head to look at him, he was grinning at her.
"That smile won't work on me, Malfoy." She sat up, glaring at him. "I have a shop to run and you're not going to distract me from that."
He reached out quickly, pulling her to him, and laughing at her indignant yelp.
"Draco! I said no!"
"I know you did. But you're going to lay here just a bit longer." He kissed her and rolled out of bed, and she couldn't stop her eyes from dropping below his waist. He ignored her ogling him and pulled the covers over her. "I'm going to shower, then I'll make you breakfast."
"You can make breakfast?"
"I can find a bowl and fill it with cereal. Maybe some milk." He winked at her and made his way towards the door. He paused, turning to face her, his hand circling his erection. "Unless, that is, you want to join me."
Hermione watched his hand slide along his considerable length, swallowing hard, and picturing another shower with him.
"No," she finally managed, pushing away all the naked, wet images of him. "That's not the most constructive plan when both of us have to go to work."
"You don't trust yourself with me? It's just a shower. What could possibly happen?"
"I'm very trustworthy." Hermione pulled the covers over herself and snuggled into the warmth his body had left behind. "You're the issue."
Draco shrugged one shoulder. "Your loss, Granger."
"Go and shower." She tossed a pillow at him, hitting him on the arse as he turned away, smiling at his chuckle as he retreated down the hallway.
She sighed and buried her face into the pillow. His scent was everywhere, strong and masculine, musky, like he'd spent the night drawing an obscene amount of pleasure from her.
Hermione felt her cheeks heat up at the thought and closed her eyes.
She'd had sex.
Sex.
Sex with Draco Malfoy.
Good sex.
She giggled softly.
The sex wasn't that good.
He'd not even been pissed at her for blurting those words out. Her first experience had not been good, but he'd more than made up for it. He'd been incredible, focused on her pleasure not his. Focused on making it good for her — not exactly treating her with kid gloves, but gentle and caring. Nothing like the wild Alpha sex she'd read about.
And his… well, she was still astounded that he fit inside her.
Maybe my vagina is magical.
The thought came out of nowhere and she snorted a laugh.
My magical vagina that can accommodate an anaconda-sized penis.
None of the books had mentioned Magical vaginas and anaconda-sized penises.
Draco Malfoy and his South American snake. Hermione Granger and her slick Amazonian inlet for it to reside.
She pressed her face into the pillow to stifle her laughter. What was this ridiculousness she had fallen into?
A quiet groan sounded from the hallway and she lifted her head, half expecting him to be standing in the doorway, looking at her like the immature fool she was being. But the doorway was empty.
Another low groan sounded, followed by a grunt of her name. Hermione's hand flew to her mouth.
Was he…?
Her Alpha hearing kicked in and she could hear the shower, the splash of water drops as they made contact with the tiles. His groans and grunts, soft and quiet, caused her to bite her lip and wonder what he looked like as he stood naked under the water.
She slipped quietly out of the bed, picking up his discarded hoodie and shrugging into it as she tiptoed down the hall. Stifling another giggle, she realised why she could hear him so clearly: he'd left the bathroom door open.
Sneaking along the wall, she stopped just outside the doorway, closing her eyes and focusing her attention on the sound of him pleasuring himself. She was well aware that she would be more than welcome to simply join him under the water and watch close up. But this — listening without him knowing — was somehow more erotic.
Short breaths coming out in tight gasps.
The sound of his hand moving in a fast, steady rhythm.
Low grunts, interspersed with quiet groans of her name.
And then he was coming.
A long, deep moan. A quiet curse. A low chuckle.
Chuckle?
"Did you enjoy that, Darling?"
"What—" Hermione choked. "Ah, I mean… how did you know I was here?"
"I can smell you."
Hermione peered around the doorframe to find him grinning at her from behind the clear glass of the shower door.
"Why didn't you just join me, Granger?"
"Because it was more fun listening to you."
Draco ducked his head out of the water and drew in a deep breath through his nose. A smug expression curled his features. "I can scent how much fun it was for you."
She rolled her eyes, but he had a point; it had been fun for her. The undeniable heat between her thighs was making it hard not to take him up on his idea of a day off work spent in bed.
And the way he was staring at her through the glass told her he knew what she was thinking.
Sod it, she thought and stripped off the hoodie before joining him in the shower.
He shifted to one side, allowing the warm water to wash over her, and leaned down to kiss her before she could regret her decision.
"Good morning."
"Apparently it was a very good morning for you." She smiled cheekily and glanced down, gasping in shock to find he was still as hard as steel.
"I'm an Alpha," he reminded her as he palmed himself.
"Yeah, but…"
"But…?"
"Nothing, it's just… it's one more thing I didn't know."
He laughed and kissed her again. "Maybe you need to write your own book. Set the records straight."
"Hmm," Hermione hummed thoughtfully, reaching her hand towards him and wrapping her fingers around him. "Maybe."
"You'd have first-hand knowledge."
She giggled and leaned in, pressing a kiss to his chest, smiling at his quiet growl. Her hand began to move over him, squeezing him gently on the upstroke.
"That's it," he whispered. "Just a little tighter, Darling."
Squeezing him tighter, she kissed her way down his chest, loving the taste of his skin, the feel of him in her hand, the sounds he made. She bent her knees, her lips continuing their descent, until a ridiculous thought wormed its way into her head. Stopping abruptly, she pulled her hand away from him.
"Sorry… I didn't mean… we have to work…" She reached around him grabbing the soap from the dish, but he stopped her, touching her shoulder lightly.
"What just happened?" he asked. "Where'd you go?"
Hermione turned her back to him, "Nowhere. I just didn't want to start anything. We both have to get to work."
"Granger, whatever it is in your head right now, just tell me. I don't care how bad it is, just get it out."
"It's stupid." She closed her eyes and took several deep breaths, focusing on the sound of the water, on his breathing, on the steam rising around them. "I wanted to… I wondered how many other women had put their mouths on you."
There was silence for what seemed like an age, but when he finally spoke it was in a gentle tone. "Granger, turn around and look at me."
Hermione took another deep breath then turned to face him. She slowly lifted her eyes, finally landing on his.
"Ask me again," he said quietly. "Ask me all the things you want to know. Leave nothing out."
"How many women have there been?"
"Not as many as you think." He took the soap from her hand and placed it back in the dish. Taking both her hands in his, he lifted them to his lips, kissing her fingers. "There have been others, I won't deny that — can't deny that since you've seen the evidence. But most of the women I was photographed with rarely made it further than dinner or drinks."
"Most of them?"
Draco nodded. "Most of them. Yes, some of them made it to my bed, or me to theirs. I've had sex with several different women, I don't know the exact number, but it's not the hundreds the press would have you believe." He paused and smiled, her face asking the question her voice wouldn't. "Maybe a dozen. Fifteen at most. I'm not sorry, not for living my life. But I am sorry for the repercussions my actions might now cause."
"I'm not worried about repercussions," Hermione told him. "I mean, it's slightly concerning, but I'm sure I can handle any women who might come near you."
"So, what are you worried about?"
She felt her cheeks heat up, but she shoved the embarrassment away. She was naked in a shower with him, for Circe's sake, and she knew he wouldn't judge her.
"I don't know how to do any of this. You've been with women who know… things. I know nothing."
"Know things?" He frowned. "What things—oh. I don't care about that."
"But I do. You've been with all these women who have so much more experience, and I'm just an idiot who waited. I mean, I wanted to put my mouth on you just now and chickened out because I told myself I'd do it wrong. And last night? You had to tell me how to masturbate… like I've never done it before. I'm sure these women have touched you and kissed you and fucked you in all different ways and I know nothing, Draco. Nothing. And I know that you'll be sorry that you marked me—"
"Granger, take a breath." Draco cupped her face. "I don't care about any of that. Do you think I was a sex god the first time around?" She rolled her eyes and he laughed. "My first performance with you was slow compared to my very first time."
Hermione snorted a laugh. "Seriously? Because that was awfully quick."
"Seriously. It was all over before it really got started." He kissed her forehead. "So you don't have to worry about thinking you don't know anything—"
"But I don't."
"You don't have to worry, because whatever you want to do or try, I'll be a willing participant."
She shoved at his chest. "Of course you will. Can you be serious about this?"
"This is me being serious. Granger. Listen, whatever this is, wherever it's going, I'm all in. I don't care how inexperienced you think you are, last night was the best night of sex I've ever had."
"That's just an Alpha thing." Hermione dropped her gaze and shook her head.
"No, it definitely wasn't. And you're being ridiculous again." He stepped out of the shower and pulled a towel from the rack. He dried himself quickly and wrapped the towel around his waist. "When you're done in there, breakfast will be ready."
He strode down the hallway leaving Hermione to stare after him in his wake.
Hermione paused in her kitchen doorway, biting her lip. The sight before her was one that had not been in her dreams. Nor was it one she had ever imagined. She'd been prepared to come downstairs and rant at him for walking away from her like he did, but all those thoughts left her in a whooshing rush now that he was standing before her.
He was impeccable. Charcoal trousers with a matching double breasted waistcoat, grey shirt — just a few shades lighter than the charcoal — with the sleeves rolled up, and a black tie. He was sipping his tea and slowly perusing the newspaper.
Her entire underwear collection would be ruined if he looked like this every morning.
"I lied," he said without looking up. "I can't cook and you don't have any cereal. I can make tea though."
Hermione crossed the room to stand beside him, pouring her own cup. "Hannah brings me breakfast every morning. She worries that I forget to eat."
He nodded his head, still not looking at her. Hermione turned to face him, leaning her hip on the edge of the counter.
"Do I need to apologise?"
"No." He flipped the page and continued reading.
"Do you need to apologise?"
"Nope."
"Is this going to happen every time I don't know something? You're going to get pissy and storm off?"
He finally looked up at her. "I didn't get pissy, and you do know what's going on."
"Draco, I don't—"
He held his hand up, stopping her. "You tore my shirt off me. You Apparated us upstairs. You said some completely filthy words to me. And you were going to ride me into oblivion. Or have you forgotten that already?"
Hermione's lips moved but no sound came out. He was right; she had done those things.
"You know more than you think." He sipped his tea, peering over the cup as he did so. "But you got all embarrassed and backed off. So, I think maybe you're scared to give in to something you can't learn from a book. Something you can only feel."
"That's not…" she trailed off. Damn him! He was right again.
He placed his cup on the counter and turned to face her. "Are you ready to listen now?" She nodded and he continued, "You said your virginity wasn't a big deal. Well, neither is your inexperience. I see constant glimpses of the confident, intelligent, self-assured girl who bested me at school, but those glimpses are completely overshadowed by the woman who is too scared to act on instinct. You don't have to know everything, you don't have to do things properly or how a book tells you. This is something you have to learn by touching and feeling, tasting, and by doing all those things you want to, but your head is telling you not to."
She tugged on the small chain that joined the top two buttons on his waistcoat, "You're very wise for someone so pretty."
Draco laughed and looped an arm around her waist, pulling her closer. "Granger, please don't feel stupid or inadequate or embarrassed about any of this. And I was serious when I said I will be a willing participant. Anything you want to do or try, please tell me. I may have had some experience, but this dual Alpha thing is all new for me as well."
"Did you expect more from me?" Hermione asked cautiously. "Did you think I'd be more like those women?"
"I'm not sure what I was expecting," Draco replied. "Although I certainly wasn't expecting to be your first."
"And only, most likely."
"Most likely?" Draco raised an eyebrow at her and she saw the muscle in his cheek twitch. "Most likely?"
"Does that scare you?"
"Does it scare me that you will eventually realise how much power you have and walk away from me because I was the world's biggest arsehole to you?"
"Yeah, that." Hermione grinned.
"It terrifies me."
Hermione's grin faltered. "Terrifies you? Why? We were nothing to each other a few months ago."
"I know. But everything has changed. All those things that did terrify me — commitment, one woman, being tied down to a family — are the things I now want. And you disappearing into the sunset with someone else… I don't even want to think about it."
"Draco," Hermione whispered and pressed her palm over his heart. The anguish on his face tore at her heart. While she'd been dealing with a myriad of emotions, so had he and she hadn't even realised. She didn't think anyone had realised. "You don't have to think about it. I'm not going anywhere. I promise."
"Now I'm being ridiculous."
"No you're not," Hermione assured him. "I've been so crazy emotional with all of this I've not thought you might be dealing with the same. So tell me."
He flicked her hair over her shoulder and traced his finger over her scent gland, and she could see the thoughts rolling around in his head.
"I was taught to hate you," he finally said. "My entire life I was told your kind were worthless and should be kept out of the magical community. That all changed with the war, of course, but I never really thought of you as much more than Pansy's new friend."
"Pansy and Harry, and Ron and Daph kind of threw us all together."
"Yeah. And in all honesty, I didn't think I'd see you more than the handful of times that I did." He smiled nervously at her. "I wasn't attracted to you in the slightest. Not sexually, in any case. I loved that you could hold your own with me, and I could at least have a decent conversation with you, but that was it."
"Don't worry," she laughed. "I didn't think much more of you and hoped to see you even less."
"So, is it just the Alpha side that's brought us together? Are we doomed here?"
Hermione shook her head. "I don't think we're doomed, and maybe in the beginning it was the Alpha side, but why should it matter? I've never felt an attraction to anyone else like I do with you."
Draco pressed a gentle kiss to her mouth. "I feel the same way about you."
"You said you're all in, Draco, well so am I."
"Good." He kissed her again. "Tonight we'll meet at mine and we can begin the bonding ritual."
Hermione choked. "Wha… What?"
"Kidding, Granger," Draco laughed. "But you will meet me at mine tonight and I'll take you to dinner. The world wasn't ready for Hermione Granger, Alpha, so they certainly won't be prepared for Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy, Alpha pair."
A quiet knock sounded on her office door. Hermione glanced at the clock, it was just after one and she wasn't expecting anyone. Draco had told her he wouldn't be joining her for lunch; he had a meeting that he couldn't reschedule. And she had told him that she didn't expect him to meet her everyday.
Hannah wasn't prone to knocking. Although, the nervous way in which she'd greeted Hermione that morning may have changed that. Hermione had forgotten that it had been less than twenty-four hours since her hissy fit at brunch, and Hannah was the first of her friends she'd seen since.
Hermione had apologised, but Hannah had waved it away, telling her they had all been at fault for pushing her too far. They'd gone back and forth, finally settling on forgetting about it and moving on. But maybe Hannah was still hesitant.
"Come in," Hermione called and was surprised to see Pansy behind the door.
"Hi."
The single word was another surprise. Pansy sounded nervous, and Pansy was never nervous.
"Is everything okay?"
"Ah, yeah." Pansy winced. "Maybe not."
"Pansy, what's happened?" Hermione stood, a rush of panic hitting her. "Is Harry okay?"
"He's fine." She nodded at the chair in front of Hermione's desk. "Can we talk?"
Hermione sat down, smiling at Pansy who remained standing.
"Pans, will you sit down and tell me what's going on?"
"I wanted to apologise," Pansy began. "Sometimes I don't know when to shut up."
"Sometimes?" Hermione teased and Pansy finally sat down.
"Yeah, sometimes." Pansy sighed, running her fingernail along the arm of the chair. "Granger, can I be honest with you?" Hermione nodded and Pansy bit her lip. "I kind of hate you right now."
"Hate me?" Hermione was taken aback. "Did I do something?"
"No," Pansy assured her. "It's all me."
"Pansy—"
"I don't hate-hate you Granger, I just hate who you are. What you are."
Hermione frowned. "Pansy, I don't understand."
"You're an Alpha." Pansy dropped her eyes. "You're not just Granger anymore. You're Granger."
"Pansy, you're not making any sense."
"You've always been special. You're smart, you're talented. You saved the world. And now you're this."
"I had no control over this. I didn't—"
"I know, but can you please just let me say this?" Pansy held up her hand and Hermione nodded. "Granger, every room you walk into... everyone notices you. They always have. You're the Golden Girl. The Brightest Witch. You're everything everyone wants to be. I'm sure there are young girls at Hogwarts who have deliberately frizzed their hair to be just like yours. Everyone loves you. You never have to justify yourself to anyone."
"Pansy…"
"I'm married to Harry Potter and I still get looked at like I'm the enemy." She shook her head and huffed out a rueful laugh. "But I guess I deserve it. And I guess it's why I'm loud and thoughtless. I give people what they expect and take all the attention away from everyone else. Typical Pansy Parkinson. But now you're the Alpha, and the attention is even more on you than it was before, and…" she dropped her gaze to her lap "...I guess I'm a little bit jealous. Again."
"Jealous? Pansy, no. There's no reason at all for you to be jealous. You know I hate attention and I'm glad you're around to take it away from me. And those people who look at you like that, they don't know you at all." Hermione smiled. "Or they're just jealous that you landed Harry Potter."
Pansy laughed, "Maybe, but I'm sorry I was acting like a child yesterday at brunch. It's not my business what's happening between you and Draco. And I should have been more sensitive with everything you're dealing with. So, I'm sorry."
Hermione twisted her lips thoughtfully; this was a Pansy Parkinson she'd never seen. Never thought she'd see.
"Pans, I had a fit at you not because you were being your usual self. I had a fit because…" Hermione sighed. Hannah hadn't given up her secret and Hermione had no reason to think Pansy would either. "Pansy, the joke you made about Draco and I just talking, well, it wasn't a joke. It was all we'd been doing, and it was all me. I didn't want to rush into anything because… I hadn't rushed into anything before. With anyone. Ever."
Pansy stared at her, and Hermione could see her words slowly registering in Pansy's mind. She held back a laugh as Pansy's eyes grew wide and her jaw dropped open.
"Yeah." Hermione nodded in response to her friend's expression. "Shocking, right?"
"Ah… no. Not at all." Pansy winced at her own words. "I mean, yes. I mean…"
Hermione laughed, "Pansy Parkinson. speechless once more."
"It's just that… you've been out with guys before now, I just assumed…" Pansy shook her head, disgusted at herself. "Here I am being jealous of you now being the Alpha in the group and you've been dealing with more shit than I realised. I'm so sorry, Hermione. I shouldn't have teased you."
"It wasn't anything different than usual, I just let my emotions take over." Hermione shrugged. "It was a sensitive topic, one I didn't want to rush into."
Pansy nodded then grinned. "Was a sensitive subject?"
Hermione bit her lip but her own smile escaped. "Yes. Was."
"So, between your tantrum at brunch and now you've—" she paused. "Sorry. I'm doing it again."
"Actually, it's fine." Hermione assured her. "You might be of… assistance."
Pansy frowned. "Assistance? Was the Alpha sex rubbish?"
"No… yes. The first time…" Hermione began to laugh.
"It was funny?" Pansy was looking at her with an expression of utter disbelief. "What happened?"
"It was… unexpected." Hermione leaned back in her chair and sighed. "It was all going swimmingly, and then Draco discovered I was a virgin and it was all over in about half a minute."
Pansy goggled at her then snorted a laugh. "Sex god Alpha Draco Malfoy lasted half a minute?"
Hermione nodded and joined in the laughter. "It was awful, Pans. For both of us."
"I can imagine. Do you know why it happened?"
"Apparently Alpha males go all… Alpha-y when faced with a virgin. Their instincts take over and all they want is to plant their seed. There was no finesse and certainly no sex god."
"Oh, shit. That sounds awful." Pansy tilted her head to the side and looked sympathetic. "Maybe Draco should be here for some advice as well."
"Oh, no. We, ah… he more than made up for it."
"So what's the problem then?"
"I'm new to all of this and I've no idea what I'm doing. And with no offence meant, you do."
"No offence taken," Pansy laughed. "Granger, guys are easy. You just need to give their dicks some attention and they're happy."
"I don't imagine it's that easy," Hermione said sceptically.
"Oh, it is. And I would imagine it would be even easier for you."
"How so?"
"Alpha males have knots, am I right?" Hermione nodded and Pansy continued. "So I would imagine that would be as sensitive as all hell. Use it to your advantage."
"That's just it, Pansy. I really don't know how."
Pansy leaned forward, resting her elbows on the desk, and grinned. "Well then, Granger, get your quill out. You're about to be schooled in just how easy men are."
A/N:
I'm so sorry about the extra week its taken, but my life - like everyone else's - has been turned upside down. I'll try to keep this to a schedule again, but with things as they are on my side, it might be fortnightly rather than weekly.
Thanks for sticking with me on this. I promise I'm doing my best to keep writing xx
