Chapter 33

November soon merged with December, and before Storm knew it she found herself getting ready for some sort of Christmas party the Ministry was putting on. Hermione and all of the other employees had been invited to attend with their significant others before a short break for the holidays. The brunette had arranged for Joey to be watched by the Granger's for the first time, something that had made the older woman incredibly nervous. They knew this day would come, and it was unfair to keep the little boy away from his muggle grandparents. They had a handle on his shifts, and Storm herself was not concerned at all. She was in fact just looking forward to being able to unwind with people she really wanted to be around.

She stood in front of the full-length mirror in their bedroom, making sure her dress shirt was tucked in at every angle. Hermione had laid out Storm's clothes before buggering off to take the little boy to her parent's home before heading directly to the ministry under the guise of having to sort a few pieces of paperwork before the holidays. She had a lovely wine-coloured dress on and black heals to boot. The colour had set her dark eyes off impeccably, and Storm had found it difficult to pick her jaw up off the floor as she watched her wife leave with their little boy.

Storm herself had opted for the usual pair of tight black trousers and white shirt combo. Though Hermione had cleverly matched her dicky bow to her own dress before she had gone. A black robe jacket finished off the ensemble and with one last check in the mirror Storm was off. Stuffing her wand into her back pocket as she hightailed it for the fireplace. They would both be incredibly early for the party, but she was looking forward to just sitting quietly in the corner of Hermione's office.

With a woosh of green she was tugged into the floo system only to remerge seconds later to step out and into the Ministry. She knew her way from there and quick strides took her eagerly to her wife. Before she knew it, she was approaching the door to Hermione's office. The Ministry itself was still quiet she guessed it had been because there was still about an hour until the start of the party. Luckily, this meant it had taken very little time to get to where she needed to go.

She was sure the older woman was not expecting her so early, but she honestly had nothing better to do. With their little boy at with his grandparent's and Hermione already at the Ministry looking the way she did… well the answer was obvious.

She smirked to herself as she lifted a fist to tap her knuckles lightly against the wooden door, waiting for an answer. She shifted her ears and focused on the silence of the halls to try and hear if there was any movement at all behind the object. It seemed there was nothing of the sort, and with that outcome she deflated a little bit.

She had no idea where the brunette could be now and guessed she had just gained an entire hour of sweet boring nothing. Her shoulders slouched a little as she moved to lean her forehead against the door as she weighed her options up. She guessed she could just go back home; she was a little hungry and they had a whole cupboard of snack's she had been dying to devour the second they had returned home from the grocery store. In Hermione's absence she was free to do that, but figured that would be incredibly long winded, and she did have her pocket stuffed full of goodies.

Pulling out a jelly slug as if to confirm her own point, she turned intending to sit on the floor outside the older woman's office door and make do with her travel snacks. Footsteps caught her attention, it sounded like the clack of heels on the marble floor. She realised then, her ears were still stuck straight up and rather furry. Though she was perfectly fine with that, she doubted anyone else would really be that welcoming so she shifted back quickly.

When the person rounded the corner, she was delighted to find Hermione staring at her as if she was insane. An eyebrow raised as if a question was just waiting behind smirking lips, though Storm couldn't find it in her to mind. A smug smile tugged it's way across her lips as she once again noted how the older woman looked just then. Hermione was attractive at all times, there was no doubt about that. But when she dressed up she was an absolute sight to behold.

"What are you doing here so early?" Hermione spoke as she got closer, moving to brush soot off the younger witch's front. Noting she had either neglected to tuck her shirt in or it had already come undone.

"Well, I just thought you could use some company while you finish off that work of yours." Storm spoke, a lopsided grin taking her lips as she let herself be patted by the shorter girl. Hermione had the knack of coming out of the floo system absolutely spotless, and Storm… well she tended to look as if someone had tipped an ashtray all over her.

"I've finished that work, I was just coming back here to make sure everything was all locked up before I go and see if they need any help with finishing touches" Hermione spoke again, moving to swing the door of her office open before stepping into the room. It wasn't that big, but it was big enough for her. A few bookcases lined the walls, and her desk was neat and tidy.

"Perfect timing then, as usual" Storm laughed before shutting the door behind her. Shrugging off her robe jacket to hang on one of the coat hooks in the corner of the space. As she turned around Hermione was already on her, wand pointed directly at the shifter's chest as she muttered a few quick cleaning spells. She had become an expert at doing so considering every time they flooed anywhere Storm always stepped out looking entirely unowned.

Hermione just shook her head, she wondered how Storm got by, she was a nightmare sometimes, honestly. With her wand tucked back into her bag she once again rounded on the younger girl, hands finding the shifter's belt buckle to undo it with a jangle.

"Woah woah, Hermione if you wanted to do that you could have just come back home" Storm spoke, her voice teasing and light as she allowed herself to be manhandled by the older witch who hadn't paid her much attention.

Hermione had made quick work of the buckle and was soon onto her button and zip, quickly allowing the shifter's trousers to fall just a little. "Oh hush, someone has to make sure you look like someone loves you" The brunette quipped as she reached round to push the tails of the younger girl's crisp and freshly cleaned white shirt into her waistband. Her ears pricking at the sound of a quick inhale just above her as she got round to the front.

Dark eyes flicked up to make sure she hadn't accidently caught the girl with the stone on her engagement ring or something, only to find the shifter staring down at her, watching what she was doing with an intensity that only ever found it's way into her gaze for one reason. An eyebrow raised in question as the shifter's eyes met her own. The younger witch's irises were totally blown, making her stare even darker than it normally was.

"What?" Hermione quizzed, though she knew exactly what. A triumphant smirk tugged its way across her lips as she dropped her eyes once again to the task at hand. Storm however opted not to answer, instead moving to take the older woman's lips in a forceful kiss. If the brunette was surprised, she hid it well. Hermione had entirely forgotten her task then, hands moving to the back of Storm's neck in order to thread fingers into dark hair.

Storm wasted no time in pressing herself flush against the older woman then, her arms wrapping themselves around Hermione's waist pulling her in as close as possible. A low groan leaving her lips as she broke for air for a brief second. Hermione's nails dragging themselves down the back of her neck so delightfully, just the way she liked.

Large quidditch calloused hands had moved then, roaming their way slowly along the older woman's body. Fingers splaying out against the wine-coloured fabric that was so soft to the touch before finally coming to settle on pert bum cheeks. Skilfully pressing her back and into the desk just a way away before hoisting the older woman with ease onto its surface.

Hermione had pushed her back then, "Wait, wait" She spoke distractedly as she grabbed her bag. Pulling her wand from its depths in order to flick it at the door a few times. It would not do to be interrupted or heard by anyone passing by.

Storm did as she was told… sort of. She had leant down then to find the older woman's pulse point, sucking on it gently before running her tongue over the same spot a moment later. She could feel the brunette tense a little as she focussed hard on the door to finish her spells. She then dropped her wand onto the desk beside her. Her hands soon found their way under the younger girl's shirt, seeking out warm skin just above the waistband of her pants. Her trousers having dropped forgotten around her ankles.

The younger girl's fingers were now ghosting the insides of her thighs, disappearing to push the hem of her dress up as far as it would go. Settling herself between her legs completely. Her hips almost totally flush with the older woman's core.

Hermione's lips found Storm's earlobe then and for a brief moment she took it in-between her lips. The younger girl shuddered, pausing for a split second before pushing questing fingers past the older woman's underwear. Met with a slick wet heat already residing at her core Storm wasted no time in pressing her fingers into the depths of the older witch. Hermione's head dropped down then, her forehead finding the younger witch's shoulder for a moment as a long groan left her lips. There was no time wasted as Storm set the quick pace that they were both so used to.

Their lips met once again in fierce, bruising kisses. Hermione's fingers on one hand digging nails into the shifter's hip holding her closely. Her other hand had ventured down the front of Storm's pants and soon sunk themselves into the younger woman's core. They wouldn't have time to do this slowly and she made quick work of dragging the shifter to the point of being unable to hold a kiss.

Storm had pulled away as a moan dripped from her kiss swollen lips, her own fingers working hard at pulling Hermione over the edge. The pad of her thumb moving to flick over the sensitive bundle of nerves as she tried to beat her to the punch.

It didn't last much longer, and they both toppled over into the mess of quivering nerves and heavy breathing. Storm's eyes clamped shut as it felt like her breath had completely been knocked from her chest. "Bloody hell" she whispered, humming as she felt the older woman's lips find her cheek and her fingers move to run through her hair.

"Well that was unexpected" Hermione quipped through her own breathing. Her voice sounded a little hoarse, though that wasn't surprising.

Storm's eyes flicked open then and she moved back just a little to take in the older woman's appearance. Hermione gasped quietly as her own dark doe eyes met the younger girl's. Storm's eyes seemed to be having a hard time deciding on what form they should take. Flickering back and forth between a multitude of different animals.

"Ah sorry" Storm spoke, she could feel the change. It was making it a little hard to focus on very much at all. She shut her eyes again for a moment, taking deep breaths in through her nose as she composed herself. "My adrenaline is going!" She laughed as her eyes popped open again, this time back to normal.

"They've never done that before" Hermione spoke an eyebrow raised in question, her fingers brushing down the shifter's cheek.

"Well normally I don't feel like we're doing anything… risky" Storm spoke with a smirk, "Except for when we use that thing we got as an early Christmas present" She stated seriously this time, though a little blush made its way up her cheeks. "I think it's just because my adrenaline is all over the place" She reasoned, and it seemed plausible. Something about this encounter had given the older woman a certain rush of excitement that was different.

"We need to hurry up, we'll be late" The older woman spoke quietly, her dark doe eyes flicking over the shifter's body to make sure everything else had stayed as it should. Other than a few angry looking nail marks here and there, and swollen lips she looked fine.

Storm backed up reluctantly then, almost falling over her own trousers before she leant down to tug them up back around her waist. Her shirt being shoved into the waistband as she tried to make herself look presentable once again. Her dark eyes never far from the older woman as she too smoothed her dress out. Her wand pointed at them both in order to sort out the creases they had made.

"So, do I look like I'm loved yet?" Storm quizzed as she shrugged on her robe jacket, a crooked grin tugging at her lips as she waggled her eyebrows.

"Almost" Hermione stated as she moved closer, leaning up to give the younger woman a kiss on the cheek. Reaching up to smooth back a few haywire strands of hair. "That's better" She spoke again, though her voice was barely more than a whisper as Storm leaned down to press a soft kiss to her lips.

"What would I do without you?" She joked, moving to rub the back of her neck as Hermione flicked her wand at the door once again. Undoing all their enchantments.

"Are you ready?" Hermione asked, her fingers lacing themselves through Storm's slightly larger ones.

"I'm ready for snacks!" Storm spoke seriously, using her free hand to rummage in her pocket in order to pull out another jelly slug.

"Honestly, Storm…" Hermione stated with a roll of her eyes, moving to pull the shifter out of her office and towards the atrium where the party was being held.

A/N: Thanks for reading and the comments!

Enjoy.

Kass