Chapter 9

Severus stopped mid step as he heard her called out from her office. He squared his shoulders and turned his head back to her. He watched as she licked her lips and straighten her back.

'I'll let you explain, at lunch.' she said softly and he turned fully to face her. he pondered her for a moment and nodded, watching as she dove back into the office to get her bag and coat. On her return he held his hand out to gesture that she should go first and they walked past the receptionist who had finally looked up from her magazine at the prospect of gossip.

'Merlin Granger, where did you find him….' She muttered and he swore he saw the Gryffindor witch smirk in response.

He followed the witch to a small café, a few streets away from her office building and the pair sat at a little window booth, neither speaking as the purposed the menu.

'You two lovebirds ready to order?' the older, but perky waitress said with a knowing smile that made Severus frown.

'We are not together; this is a business meeting.' He said sharply, annoyed at the woman's assumption. 'I'll have the cheese and ham toastie, with chips, and a black coffee.'

'I'll have the carrot and Coriander soup with, brown bread instead of white please, and a berry tea, please.' Hermione said softly, handing the menu back to the waitress and she went off to get their drinks.

'Is that what you call what we do? Business?' Hermione asked playing with the salt shaker in the middle of the table.

'No, but at the end of my explanation we will decide wither we wish to continue our contract together. That is more business than pleasure is it not?' Severus asked as the waitress came back with their drinks and asked if they would like anything else before their food. They shook their heads and they were left alone again.

Hermione now having a tea pot in front of her, chose to play with the string of her tea bag instead of the salt shaker. 'I suppose, you better start explaining then.' She said her eyes glued to the tag on her end of her tea bag.

Severus frowned at her fidgeting but let it go and he thought on where to begin. 'I pushed you too far too soon. I'll admit I let my temper get the best of me. I know that we had not discussed punishment before last week. In truth I had not expected to need to a mere week into our contract. I perhaps had too high an expectation of you given the fact that you had acted so perfectly in all of our pervious encounters, despite your inexperience to the lifestyle. I was surprised when I was confronted with a brat rather than the perfect submissive, I had been used too.'

'I am most defiantly not a brat.' Hermione butted in frowning at him, her eyes flashing from meek and mild to fiery for a split second.

'Severus held up his hand to silence her. 'You misunderstand me. A brat is a sub who talks back to their dominant.'

Hermione blinked and stared down at her tea pot again, her mind flashing to the times he had warned her against her anger and she had failed to listen. She realised with shock she had called him an over grown bat. 'Sweet morgana, I call you a bat….' She muttered.

Severus closed his eyes in annoyance. 'indeed, and a prick and a bastard, if I recall correctly. As I was saying, I do not enjoy a bratty sub, and I'll admit I was disappointed that you were not as perfect as you first appeared, the name calling also hit a nerve, I let my anger take over and punished you without fully explaining what I was doing, I should have noticed your signs of true distress far sooner than I did and for that I am sorry, but at the same time we were for the intent of our contract in the midst of a scene and as you did not safe word, I continued when I should not have and I am truly sorry I misused your trust in such away. I understand if you no longer wish to train with me.' Severus finished.

Hermione stared at the tea pot still playing with the string much to Severus' annoyance. 'The punishment I can understand, even if I didn't like it, I should have been asked if that was something, I was okay with the day I signed the contract, after all forewarned is forearmed. However, what scared me the most was the fact you could hurt me like that and the second it's done you acted as though nothing had happened, it was a as if a switch had been flipped. I couldn't take it, I was hurt and scared and angrier than I had been before you hit me, and I wanted to sob and fight and you wanted to act as though it had never happened.' Hermione said sullenly.

Severus sighed and wondered if she would understand this, would this be the thing that proved she was a just in the bedroom kind of witch or a lifestyle witch. 'Hermione, you were being punished for a specific misdeed, once the punishment is met out, it's over, all is done and forgotten. This is common in the BDSM Lifestyle. Ask O she'll tell you. I had genuinely lost my anger the moment I had landed the last blow. I didn't realise the fast flip of emotions would scare you.'

Hermione nodded but didn't say anything, she wondered if she'd be okay with it if she was more prepared for the punishment or was it a combination of everything that had caused her to mentally freak out. His explanation made sense. She disobeyed. She took punishment, end of. It seemed like an easier way to deal with things than a long drawn out argument that only serves to drain both parties.

'I still don't feel happy that you humiliated me in front of Harry, Ginny thinks harry and I slept together because she could smell me on her couch!' She said suddenly remembering Harry's letter and his subsequent joke when she'd been at the ministry on Wednesday. He had seen her and came up behind her whispering in her ear his hand on her hips, that their next movie night should be next month when Ginny would be with her mum for the birth. Her face had flamed and she had shoved him away he had burst out laughing and assured her that Ginny was fine and that their marriage was in no worse shape than it had been before Friday night. But he warned her to expect a few jokes at her expense around his wife just to wind her up because the sex after that particular argument had brought them closer together and had actually improved things.

Severus couldn't help but smirk at this and didn't even have the good grace too look ashamed as she scowled at him. 'Despite that, are you trying to tell me you did not enjoy your orgasm?' he asked with a raised eyebrow.

'Well yes of course that was lovely, the not being able to pee because of those damned balls not so much! I had a bottle of wine for merlin's sake!'

He chuckled, he actually chuckled and then burst out laughing. Hermione blink and marvelled at seeing Severus Snape laugh. It was a wonderful sight and soon enough she couldn't help but join in with him.

In truth the harry situation was quite funny now that she wasn't living it and the orgasm, she'd had stepping through into Malfoy manor had been one of the strongest she'd ever had. It was a shame she'd let her embarrassment ruin the night.

Their food arrived and they managed to compose themselves enough to eat, and once the waitress had cleared their plates and brought them fresh tea and coffee, in which Hermione immediately began to play with the string of her tea pot.

'The question remains, do we continue with our contract?' Severus asked, sipping his coffee and his eye twitching as he watched her fidget, desperate to reach over and still her hand, but not daring to touch her until she agreed she was still his submissive.

'Do you want to?' Hermione asked peeking up at him from beneath her lashes.

'Miss Granger,' he said lowly as the waitress passed 'I had expected you to be in my bed, Saturday past and should you wish to continue I expect you to be there tomorrow.' He said seriously.

'Is that all we're doing? Fucking and you teaching me to be a sub?' she asked as her mind flashed to Naill and Ophelia. He clearly wanted more than she did and she didn't want to fall into the trap that the muggle boy had, she had realised over the last week that her old crush on her potions professor had returned with a vengeance and she thought that she might want more from him than sex and dominance.

'Should we be doing something more?' he asked with a raised eyebrow. What was this witch getting at?

'I…..' Hermione began but closed her mouth how did she word this without coming off as desperate. 'I think I took what happened so badly because I like you Severus, and all week I've been comparing you to Ron, and you're a far better man…'

'Not hard to do Miss Granger.' Severus intoned and Hermione tried to fight off a smile.

'And well I think we might get on if we get to know each other outside of the classroom or the bedroom, and well I….I'm not sure what I'm trying to get at…'she said fidgeting more with the string of her tea bag as her nerves grew.

Severus at the end of his tether with her fidgeting, placed his hand on hers. 'Stop that.' He commanded softly and she gasped, and he felt tingles under his fingertips as her magic pulsed beneath her skin as her heart rate rocketed. 'Miss Granger are you trying to ask me out on a date?'

He asked with a smirk and her cheek flushed a pretty pink, and she looked down at the tea pot again.

'Only if you want to, if you want to just keep fucking until you've trained me then….'

'Yes Lioness, I will go on a date with you.' He chuckled and her eyes flew to his, her mouth parted in shock.

'I disliked you being angry at me, Lioness, I do not have feelings about other witches or subs, who get bored or fed up with me, you on the other hand, intrigue me, there is perhaps more than a sexual compatibly here, that I am willing to explore.' He admitted. His own eyes landing on the table, he didn't like baring his feelings but there was something about this witch.

The door to the café opened and Granger's secretary came up to their table. 'Romantic lunch?.' the witch smirked to which Severus let go of Hermione's hand and glared at the other woman. 'Bill's had to leave early he says you've put in enough overtime this week you can head home now if you like. See you on Monday.' She said as she turned and left them too it.

'Overtime? Big case?' Severus asked as he took another sip of his coffee.

Hermione had half expected him to replace his hand on hers it felt cold where skin had met skin. 'No I was, trying not to think about….' She admitted with a deep blush.

'Miss Granger, would you like to make it up to me?' Severus asked as he waved the waitress over to get the bill.

'Yes.' She said breathlessly.

'Good, I don't like being ignored and my palm has been twitching.' He said with a smirk as the waitress came over with the bill and Hermione shivered in anticipation realising that this would be what Narcissa called a 'Funishment.'

'Not lovebirds eh?' the waitress said with a smirk of her own.

'I dislike Nosey people.' Severus said handing her a twenty and a ten-pound note. 'Keep the change.' He said as he stood. 'Come along Miss Granger.' She eagerly followed him the sound of the waitress' chuckles following her out the door.

Soon as they were out of view of any muggles, he crushed her to him and apparated them back to his rooms at Malfoy manner. Once they were steady, he pushed her away from him and began to circle her.

'Now since lack of explanation was the cause of our issues, I will explain very clearly what I am going to do to you.' He said as he ran his hand along the back of her exposed neck. Hermione shivered lightly but forced herself to remain very still. 'How many unread messages did you receive this week little witch?' he all but purred in her ear and she couldn't help the small groan that escaped her lips.

'19, sir' she said softly. He gripped the back of her neck and tsked in her ear. 'Wrong, there were 18 unread letters in that little bag you sent through the fire, but there are also 7 unread notes in your journal too, I say that makes 25 does it not?' he said as he pushed her away from him so that she stumbled slightly, but managed to stay up right.

'Yes Sir. 25 Sir.' Hermione agreed and felt a shock of regret for not at least answering one of them, was he really that upset that she'd been angry? Or was it simply that he had been ignored? He had never really bee one for being ignored.

'I think, that means that you should get 25 strikes of my hand.' He drawled lightly, ogling her ample bottom without her noticing, he had missed those pert little globes.

'As you wish sir.' Hermione said her eyes downcast. She could handle twenty-five slaps with his palm. She figured he was taking it easy on her so as not to scare her away again.

'On both cheeks.' He added coming round to the front of her watching as she reached up to undo the buttons of her shirt. His eyes narrowed and he batted her hands away. 'Did I ask you to strip Miss Granger?'

He said slowly and her eyes went wide. 'Sorry Sir.' She muttered.

'Perhaps you do have a bit of brat in you after all, Lioness?' he said as he stepped forward and deftly undid her buttons, tugging the shirt swiftly from her arms and throwing it across the floor. He manoeuvred her around and unclipped her bra, as it followed the shirt. He viewed her round bottom in the tight work trousers she was wearing. He made a nose of disapproval, at the fact he couldn't just flip up her skirt and palm her mounds, still he reached round her to flick open the button before yanking them down. 'Step out of them, and get over my knee.' He said as he left her in the middle of the room and sat on the chair by the fire.

Hermione looked at him briefly before stepping out of her heals and kicking the trousers into the corner with the rest of her clothing. She walked over to him and came to place herself across his knee.

'Ah, arse to the fire.' He said with a cruel smirk as she winced, knowing that the heat on her spanked behind would only intensify the feeling. She resided herself to her fate and readjusted her position, she had left her underwear on as she had been wearing a thong and figured he had enough access to her bottom without removing it. 'Such skimpy underwear to work Miss Granger, I believe I've told you before if you're going to wear scraps, you'd be better to wear nothing at all.' He sneered as he took a globe in each hand a squeezed.

Hermione let out a groan and shifted in his lap, she could feel his hardness against her stomach. 'This will stop the moment you say your safe word, understood?' he asked her as he palmed her arse.

'Yes Sir.' She said her eyes closed against the sensation she had missed this.

'Your words?' he asked sharply.

'Green, amber and red, Sir' she responded pushing her arse into his palm.

'Good girl, shall be begin?' he asked as he soothed his hands across her bottom and she whispered 'yes sir'. 'Count.' He ordered as he landed swift, sharp blows across her skin that increased with intensity as she moaned out the count. She was just over half way through when he shifted his left knee and she felt her swollen clit rub against the lace of her panties and the wool of his trousers.

'Don't you dare come witch.' He ordered and she sobbed a groan as he continued his assault on her arse, the fire, making the sting and burn of his blows more intense with every hit as she sighed out the word fifty and he rubbed her reddened skin admiring the pinkish read colour blooming there. 'Good girl, I can feel your pleasure on my knee girl.' He said with a quirked lip.

'I can feel your desire against my stomach sir.' She said with a groan as she rubbed herself on his knee.

He swatted her behind again and she let out a yelp. 'I didn't ask you to talk, did I? on the bed on your back.' He ordered allowing her to get up and position herself on the bed, smirking as she winced as the silk sheets caressed her stinging bottom.

He disappeared into the bathroom and returned moment later with a tray filled with various items. She watched with intrigue as he pulled his wand 'incaracrous.' He muttered and suddenly, her calves were bound to her thighs at the knee and her arms were bound around her head to the loop that hung above the headboard, a length of rope pulled her bound thighs up of the way and tied each leg to her wrists.

'Not responding to your mail was not your only mistake Lioness.' Severus drawled as he placed the tray on the bedside table and removed his coat leaving him in a white shirt sleeves and a black waist coat. His wand holder was strapped across his shoulders like a gun holster making Hermione think of a 1930's gangster as he undid his cufflinks and rolled his sleeves up to his arms. 'You punched me, broke my nose in fact. I believe that will earn you ten strikes of the crop. You had the gall to order me from your office, that'll earn you five. You presumed an instruction before I gave it. That'll earn you another five. And because I like to see you squirm, I'll add five for the simple fact that you wore trousers when I believe I advised you against it.' He explained as he finished with his sleeves.

'I didn't plan on seeing you today! How was I to….' Hermione began but he quirked an eyebrow at he, reaching forward to pull the lace of her thong roughly, causing the thin material to rip from her body.

'Talking back miss Granger? My you must really like the crop on your clit, another five it is then.' He said as he picked up a brittle brush and a small sliver bowl. Hermione's eyes went wide as she did a quick bit of mental asthmatic and realised, she had just gained thirty with the crop on her clit. The thought both aroused her and terrified her.

'But first let's make my access a little easier, shall we?' he said as he leaned on the bed and looked at her exposed cunt. Hermione's eyes went wider and she pulled on her ropes slightly. He chuckled and shook his head. 'I like your bush Hermione; I merely plan to make it a little easier to get to your pearl.' He said as he soaped her up and caused her to giggle as the bristles of the brush tickled her sensitive skin. She tried not to flinch as he expertly used a cut throat razor to remove a small strip of hair around her clit and outer lips before using a cloth and washed her clean, spreading a small amount of oil of the freshly shaved skin.

'Done, you can breathe again, not a drop of blood spilt.' He said with an edge of humour to his voice and she glared at him but wisely kept her mouth shut. She knew what was coming next and she had no desire to make it worse for herself. She could still feel her own wetness from her spanking earlier and was growing impatient with the need for him to just fuck her.

'Now I do believe we agreed to 30 with the crop.' He said as he picked up the offending implement.

Hermione opened her mouth to tell him she hadn't actually agreed to anything but his comment about bratty subs came back to her and she wisely said. 'Yes Sir.' As he inspected the black crop.

He moved in front of her pussy again and flicked the leather tip of the crop against her throbbing pussy. She moaned and arched up towards it despite herself.

'You are still not to come.' He said casually as he brought the crop down swiftly causing her to shriek. 'If you do, I'll take my pleasure from your mouth.' He said as he did it again and she shook her head. The pain was intense but there was something about it that made her want more. She knew she shouldn't but she relished the next two hits and thrust her hips towards him. 'You are a desperate little thing, aren't you?' he chuckled whacking her clit three more times.

'Please.' She begged but she couldn't tell if she was begging him to stop or to continue as he caught her clit again and again quick for several hits then slow and teasing for the next few, driving her wild with pain and pleasure, as her thrusting brought stinging pain to her backside and the crop brought the same pain to her clit.

'You're taking this so well little witch, one would almost think you were enjoying it, I can see your juices on the sheets.' He crooned as he continued his assault. 'I should make you lick them clean.'

'Sir, please I'm so close I don't think I can stop it….' She panted as he gave another five quick sharp thwacks to her pussy and she bucked against the ropes holding her in place.

'You can little Lioness, not many to go.' He soothed running the tip across her breasts and giving each nipple a quick sharp flick before returning to the task at hand. He really wanted to be inside her as she came, she had seven strokes of the crop left. Part of him wanted to draw it out and drive her insane with the pleasure and the task of not coming, but he hadn't fucked her in two weeks, he needed it as much as she did and with a quick symphony of strikes to her clit he threw the thing to the floor and pulled his straining cock from his trousers as he pushed into her, well aware that her arse and clit would still be burning from his torture as his pelvic bone ground into her Perl as he slide home and groaned into her neck, she was so wet and swollen he felt like he was in a vice.

He circled his hips and the noise she let out nearly made him come on its own as he growled into her ear. 'Let go little witch, I want to feel you.' He panted as he pushed himself up on his hands and pitoned in and our of her, watching as her eyes lit up with fire and magic as her orgasm took over and he arched his back pushing himself into the hilt as he too fell over the abyss her body pulling him in further than he thought possible as they rode their high together.

Once he had got his breath back, he rolled off of her, tucked himself back into his trousers and wandlessly undid the rope binding his submissive. Since he wasn't sure where he had left his wand. He picked up a small glass vial, of lavender oil and pulled her right leg onto his knee as he massaged the oil into the surely stiff muscles.

She had done well he mused to be in that position for so long without complaining, but then again, he had given her so many different sensations to think about, he supposed the stiffness in her limbs was the least of her concerns.

'Your awfully quite pet, have I fucked that brain of yours to mush?' he said softly as he moved onto her other leg. She blinked at him.

'I feel, light headed.' She mumbled, still seeing lights behind her eyes and watching the room dance.

'Just breath nice and slow pet, you're in sub space that's all.' He murmured as he chose to rub the oil on her arms and chest as well figuring the scent would calm her down. He massaged the oil into her skin and listen to her soft sighs as she fell came back down and snuggled into him as he stretched himself out next to her.

'I feel tired now.' she murmured and he nodded. 'it's okay Lioness, sleep, we have all weekend.' He assured he as she sighed and closed her eyes, her small fist gripping onto the pocket of his waist coat. He smiled to himself and picked his book up off the bedside table. A few hours quite would do him good to think through what she had offered in the café. At least he now knew she still wanted to submit to him. He wondered if she knew what she was offering when she had asked him on a date. Would she be able to handle a relationship with him? Did he want anything more than a submissive to fuck and use as he pleased? What would a relationship between them look like?

He knew he liked the girl, more than liked her if his pinning in the last week was anything to go by. But was he ready to explore what that meant? He now knew the girl had harboured a crush on him for at least ten years, a thought that still baffled him. He shook his head. He would take her out on her vanilla date and see where things led. If anything, Lucius and Narcissa proved that a relationship and a D/s dynamic could work for the right people. He shook his head again he was getting too far ahead of himself. He opened his book and pushed his tumbling thoughts to the side, smiling as Hermione adjusted herself beside him gripping his waistcoat tighter as if she afraid he wouldn't be there when she woke.