DISCLAIMER: In no way do I own any of the characters in JK Rowling's Wizarding World. I am but a fan who has run away with her imagination.
MATURE CONTENT IN THIS CHAPTER. Proceed with caution.
Also hello new follower: AngelfofDeath1607. Thank you for wandering through here. I hope you stay.
Chapter 26
The walk back to the London apartment was dismal. Although Dara stuck to Draco's side, she was silent. He kept wanting to ask her how the show went but her solemn face made him think it was unwise. As soon as they had arrived at the hut she kissed him on his cheek before disappearing into her bedroom.
"You can set the flowers in water. The vase is in the kitchen." She called over her shoulder before closing the door. Draco sighed, leaning against the kitchen counters. He felt like he was walking on eggshells. He wasn't sure if she was mad or just giving him the benefit of the doubt. Oh why in Merlin's name did tonight have to go the way it did? Especially when Narcissa's birthday weekend was a day away. They had both agreed that they'd spent one whole day together before they were expected at the manor. How were they supposed to do that now when he had ruined the most important night in her life?
He did as he was told, setting the flowers in a vase and placing it at the center of the coffee table. He had removed his coat and tie and was about to retreat to the bedroom when Dara stepped out, already dressed in an oversized shirt and undies. Her hair was down and relaxed and her face was free of makeup. She always looked beautiful this way, he thought. She glanced at the flowers on the table before passing him on her way to the kitchen.
"Can we please talk, Adara?" He caught her hand in his just as she was about to pass him. He pulled her towards him to try and place her between his legs but she pulled her arm away and proceeded to the fridge.
"What about?" She asked non-committal, bending to look for milk in the fridge. "You've already apologized. What else do you want me to say?"
"I don't know." He sighed, waiting for her to come to him.
"Would you like me to recount every detail of tonight's event for your benefit? Because you weren't there?" She asked after drinking from a glass and placing the milk carton back in the fridge.
"I'd prefer it if you were mad at me. You've just been so silent."
"I choose not to get angry Draco." She said leaning against the back of the couch to face him, her legs crossed in front of her. "I do not want to get angry because I know your reason for missing my show is valid." She sounded irritated but tried her best to hide it.
"Yes but I missed what could be the most important night of your life. I was expecting flying paint and plates or something. Maybe even shouting." Dara scoffed. Now she looked irritated. Had he pressed a button he did not know.
"Oh okay." She challenged. "You want flying plates and shouting?" Her tone had changed significantly. Now he was regretting what he was asking for.
"Yes Draco. You missed the single most important night of my life; my first show. The first art show I've had where everything was sold out! Everyone enjoyed the art and where I actually earned more than I thought would." She was angry now, her lips curling into a snarl. "I spent the whole damn night feeling good about myself for actually achieving something. Finally I have something concrete to be proud of. And every single damn moment I kept wanting to share it with you, wishing you were by my side so that I could see how proud you were of me. But you weren't there." She had stood up now, anger obvious on her face.
"Was it so difficult to send me a message telling me you were going to be late? Huh?"
"My phone died Dara. I was about to…" she scoffed.
"Never mind." She rolled her eyes and placed her hands on her hips. "You even bought me that beautiful dress, the shoes... Everything was perfect." She sounded like she was going to cry.
"Everything was perfect except you weren't there." A tear escaped her left eye and Draco wanted to wipe it off her cheek. "That's all you needed to do Draco: to show up. And you didn't." She shook her head looking away from him, more tears coming down her cheeks. He had stood up to come closer to her but she stepped out of his reach.
"So damn disappointing." She whispered walking away from him and slamming the door behind her. He was going to have to make up for this majorly, he knew it well. He sighed, flopping down on the couch. His head hurt and so did his heart. The way he saw it, there was no right way out of this. What he had done had hurt her. And, although his reason was real and true, it just wasn't right that he wasn't there for her when she needed him.
He'd been looking out onto the beach for about an hour before he ventured into the bedroom Dara shared with him. He had no idea what he was to find but truthfully, he was tired and needed rest. Quietly he entered the room, Dara already curled up on her side, facing away from him. He made quick and silent work of getting ready for bed when he wondered if she truly was asleep and was answered when he heard several sniffles coming from her side. She was crying, he realized. His heart ached for her. He wanted to cradle her, hugging her close to him if only to make her feel how much he loved her.
Unsure, he placed himself behind her, cautiously wrapping an arm around her torso before pulling her to him as he always did. There it was again, coconuts and cream - his favorite scent. His muscles relaxed when she didn't push him away.
"Please forgive me, Dara. I love you." He whispered burying his face in her hair, inhaling her sweet scent. She only answered with more sniffles as she curled up tighter into a ball. At that moment he realized there was nothing he wouldn't do to ensure her happiness. He never wanted to make her cry again, her fault or someone else's. Right now, at that moment, Draco Malfoy silently offered his heart and soul to the woman his heart carried. They eventually fell asleep, Draco hugging her tighter to him.
When Adara woke up the next day, her eyes felt weary - possibly from all that crying, she thought to herself. She languidly stretched on the bed allowing the natural heat from her surroundings to envelope her. When she looked out her window, it was gloomy and looked like a storm was coming. Her hand came upon Draco's side, but he wasn't there. What was he up to? Giving her bones one last stretch, she got up and padded her way to the kitchen where it smelled like someone was busying himself.
Draco Malfoy has never cooked a damn thing in his life. Never. But that didn't mean he did not want to try - or in this case, needed to try to get back into Dara's good graces. For the past hour he had been busy trying to whip up a breakfast he thought Dara would like: sausages, bacon, pancakes and some fresh orange juice. It didn't take him long to figure out that cooking was no small feat and that he was terrible at it.
"You do know this is all burnt right?" Dara had caught him in the middle of flipping a pancake. With his attention divided, he had missed the pancake's landing. Instead he watched it fall all the way to the floor. He looked between the pancake and Dara, panic all over his face.
"Good morning." He put the pan down and inspected his handiwork plated in front of him. Oh did they look dreadful; all burnt and toast to a crisp. "Breakfast?"
Dara looked at him worried. "Draco, what are you doing?"
"Failing at cooking." He nodded realizing the mess he had made. There were utensils everywhere, flour on the counter tops, plates laid out on the counters and not one single edible thing. "I am failing at cooking."
"I can see that." Dara nodded back. "Why don't you put the pan down, and come around over here so that I can take over and cook an actual edible breakfast for you and I?" With one last sigh, he had surrendered, doing as he was told he left Dara to fix his mess. He had taken a seat on the breakfast bar, watching her prepare the exact same meal.
They were still silent over breakfast, the tension still thick. As predicted, Dara had saved breakfast and was able to serve a complete and satisfying meal. They were seated out on the porch. Over on the horizon dark clouds were beginning to form.
"It looks like it's going to rain." Draco pointed out in a desperate attempt to break the silence.
"I can see. It's going to be quite strong when it makes landfall." Dara said without looking at him. He reached for her hand across the table wanting things to go back to normal. She didn't flinch or move away. Instead, she looked at her hand in his for a moment then gave it a squeeze.
"Could you do me a favor and tie the boat out back in case the winds are too strong?" she cast a cleaning charm on the plates out on the table before planting a kiss on top of Draco's head as a sign of tenderness. "I'll start securing the doors and windows." Then she was gone, leaving Draco even more confused.
He knew she was disappointed but she sure had a weird way of showing it. He was used to the more aggressive show of emotion and not this died down and relaxed approach. He had to turn things around today. This was the last day before the birthday weekend and if he wanted the next few days to go swimmingly, he had to fix things with Dara today.
Draco did as he was told and manually affixed the boat to the banister at the back. By the time he was done a slight drizzle had come upon the island and the clouds were a shade darker than they were when he last checked. Walking into the main house, he found Dara closing the main door.
"All done." He reported.
"Thank you." Dara walked past him, placing a hand on his chest. Draco caught her hand again and this time she didn't pull away. He brought her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles one by one. He continued his tender kisses to the palm of her hand, the inner flesh of her arm all the way up to her shoulder. One hand had slinked to her waist pulling her closer to him. Draco was surprised she let him. She sighed when he cradled both of her hands in his.
"Dara." he breathed against her knuckles, pleading. "Please." Please forgive me, he wanted to say but couldn't say it. What was most important now was to ask, to plead in the hopes that she'd finally look at him the way she used to. He kept his forehead against her hands before she removed them from his grasp and laced her arms around his neck, leaning into his front. Their foreheads touched, their arms laced around each other, their breathing calm and steady.
Draco lifted his head to look at her, her eyes that mix of green, blue & brown he loved so much. He could physically feel his heart melt at the sight of her beautiful face. There it was again, that overwhelming feeling of warmth and love for this woman. He took a thumb and rubbed at her bottom lip, wanting nothing but to kiss her like he always did; deep, passionate and with purpose. He cupped her chin in his hand and tentatively leaned in, silently praying to Merlin that she was going to kiss him back.
Their lips met and they both relaxed considerably. They had resumed that rhythmic push and pull of desires, not one was more dominant than the other. Dara laced her fingers into Draco's blonde hair, playing with the ends at his nape while his hands found her hips, her behind and her thighs. He wanted her, no - he needed her. He inhaled leaving her lips and trailing kisses down her neck, his nose filled with coconuts and cream. He nipped at her collar bone when a moan escaped her lips, breathing fire into his now growing erection. He let his hands run up her torso, his thumb meeting the outer rim of her breasts.
"Draco…" Dara's whisper against his lips was all the encouragement he needed. Quickly he hoisted her up onto his torso, as he continued to place kisses on her neck. He led them into the bedroom and brought her down with him as he sat on the edge of the bed. Dara kissed him hard, taking his lower lip between her teeth with a slight tug. His eyes grew dark and then it was a mad scramble to rid each other of clothing.
He moved them, pinning her naked form to the bed, a moan escaping her lips as his hard on is pressed against her inner leg. Draco continued his trail of kisses from her neck to her breasts, catching a waiting nipple in his mouth. Dara was starting to squirm under him, her skin rubbing against his. He took his time playing with one nipple then the next while his hand explored every inch of skin he had access to. She was so, so soft under his touch and so sweet to kiss. His lips had travelled down to her navel, to her hips, to the tops of her thighs. And just when she was about to utter his name in sheer longing she felt him enclose her button into his mouth.
"Dracoooo…" she felt her eyes cross in pure pleasure. He was so good with his mouth. He flicked his tongue against her pearl, electricity coursing through every nerve in her body. Her fingers curled around his hair feeling every sensation he was giving her. With his skillful tongue he was bringing her to a budding release. Her mewls of pleasure were echoing throughout the room, competing with the soft pitter patter of rain outside.
Draco's mouth momentarily left her and he swore he heard a groan of protest. He made his way back up her torso, kissing every inch of skin along the way. He settled for the crook of her neck inhaling her sweet scent as his lower body moved into place. He positioned himself between her legs, kissing her full on the mouth. And in one swift motion he was inside her.
"Nnngggg…" Dara whimpered against his lips. There it was again. That exquisite feeling of being full and of being taken in. Draco started to move, in and out languidly and gingerly. Dara met his thrusts with equal enthusiasm, grinding her hips in perfect timing. She hiked her legs up behind Draco, giving him better access to her quivering core. His hands were by her head, hers on his shoulders for support.
"Please." Dara pleaded whimpering, her brows furrowed in concentration as the. Budding coil inside her was tightening exponentially. Draco's grunts were not far off, as he sped up his assaults, faster and faster reaching that glorious peak.
"Dara." His last grunt was their undoing. She clung to his shoulders, nails digging into flesh, as he felt her clench around him. Her spasms sent shockwaves through him. He took his time emptying himself and her riding the wave of her orgasm in what felt like an exchange of energies. They stayed glued to each other for a while, feeling every nerve ebb and pulsate, their foreheads touching, their breathing heavy, their skin laced with sweat.
The loud pounding of rain coming from the outside brought them back to the present. Draco moved to the side, flopping back down with much force beside Dara. For a while both were just staring at the ceiling still savoring the energy pulsing through them. Dara looked at the blonde wizard beside him, his chest heaving and his eyes still slightly wild. She loved this man for everything he was and wasn't. Draco looked at her, her eyes gazing adoringly at him. They were caught between a silent conversation, their eyes conveying unsaid words and feelings. And they knew. They understood that everything was forgiven.
