Hermione slid onto the bench seat next to Minerva, thrilling when the witch wrapped an arm around her and pulled her tightly against her body for a minute. "I'm glad to see you're alright."
"I missed you too." The young woman's lips grazed Minerva's cheek. "Don't worry, we just talked. It's ok."
The castle's main dining hall was packed with wolves, of which a good half were at least partially naked. They were being stared at but without any malice. It was reassuring for both witches to be in the company of the whole family the first time they did this and it certainly helped soothe their nerves.
Hermione glanced up at the rest of her family who were seated at the table and grinned at them. "So what did I miss?" The kids glanced up to greet their aunt, then went back to their entertainment - Callum was reading a comic book and Evelyn was colouring.
"Well, these two want to watch Jurassic Park after dinner. Minerva unsurprisingly hates soft play, and is currently trying very hard to ignore all of the nudity. I ordered you Hunter's Chicken for tea. That's pretty much it."
"Hate is a strong word." Minerva frowned a little, even as she said it and resisted commenting on the second comment about her. "But apt. How did it go with Dimitri?"
"He thinks that you are going to betray us and is going to keep watching you but that's it, no more provocations." Hermione smiled when Minerva's hand fell onto her thigh and she rested her own atop it, then snuggled the side of her face against Minerva's shoulder. The physical proximity with her mate and the comforting scent relaxed her once again, letting the tension seep from her limbs and Hermione felt herself melt into the contact.
Blake let a few minutes pass and then shoved a hand into his pocket, pulling out a bunch of keys on a ring with a leather fob. "I wondered if the two of you fancied a few days at the lake house? Neither of you have to be anywhere til Monday. You helped me rebuild it, it's yours as much as it is mine. It's quiet, private, there's plenty of prey around and it's close enough that the Council can't really object to taking her out there."
Minerva held out her left hand and took the proffered set of keys, then she turned to Hermione. "Can I drive?" She heard the reference to prey and knew that Blake was suggesting that they perform the mating ritual over the weekend and in relative privacy. The act of driving was still so new and difficult that it would prevent her from getting lost in her own thoughts, regarding that matter.
"Sure, if you want to."
"Are you sure that I should be doing this?"
"You are doing fine Minerva. Just go as slow as you feel you need to." Hermione willed herself to stay relaxed but driving through the dark, in the snow and on mountain roads was a little optimistic for any novice driver.
They could have stayed in the castle until tomorrow morning and left then, but Minerva was so enthused by the idea that they had packed a few things into a car and left straight after dinner.
"In about half a mile on the left is a big oak tree. Just after that is a narrow track you'll want to take. Then you just need to follow it down to the lake."
"How much more acute are your senses than mine?" Minerva had been wondering this for a while and while they were trapped in the warm car, it seemed like as good a time to ask as any.
"My vision is much better than yours overall but my near sight is probably less acute than the average humans. Smell is probably the biggest difference, I can discriminate between and identify a variety of scents, at a considerable distance."
"What did I smell like this afternoon? Once I came out of the bathroom?" Minerva slowed further to take the sharp turn, the tires making an audible noise when they bit through the snow and caught the gravel. "I saw you sniffing."
Hermione smiled again, slowly, feeling the grin warm her body and soul. "A blend of pheromones; mostly maternal, with a massive dose of what my brain identified as need and longing."
"Is it a longing that you share?"
"You really want to do this while you're driving?"
"At five miles per hour."
"Think it's five kph actually."
Minerva chuckled, "Even slower then."
"Yes, I feel the same way. The look on your face when you realised that you wanted… our child. You know that saying about time standing still? It was like that. The light was shining on your hair, you had this incredible expression on your face and you looked really pretty."
"Pretty?"
"Yeah, pretty."
Minerva scoffed, "I can't remember the last time anyone used that particular adjective to describe me."
"Get used to it, pretty girl." Hermione grinned, shaking her head as an incoherent mumble of mild annoyance escaped Minerva's lips. "Just up there on the right, see the porch?"
Minerva brought the car to a slightly skidding halt next to a wooden house with stone foundations that were partly buried in snow. Hermione reached into the backseat and grabbed the wooden box that they had packed their shrunken supplies in. The older witch turned off the car and pulled out the keys.
Minerva stepped up onto the porch and pushed the largest key into the lock. Hermione reached her side and then turned around to face the far side of the lake, sniffing hard with her nose in the air. "What is it Hermione?"
The young witch smiled, putting the box down. She walked over to Minerva, "Look." Hermione lifted her arm and pointed over at the treeline. "See those dark shapes against the trees?"
"What are they?"
"Reindeer." What Hermione didn't say was that her nose had detected the smell of illness and the wolf's greater visual acuity detected the unsteady gait of the eldest deer.
Minerva twisted the key and let them in, tugging off her thick coat and revealed the dark green jumper she wore underneath. When she spoke there was a smile in her voice, "I know that you're a predator but it's almost Christmas. You can't eat reindeer at this time of year."
"That one I could, he'll be dead in a few days anyway." She grabbed the box and followed Minerva into the house. "Do you want the tour?" She popped her burden on a table and lit the fireplace with a wandless charm.
"No."
"No?" To say that Hermione was surprised would have been an understatement.
Minerva sighed a little, "What I really want is to hold you. It's been a very long day."
Surprised, Hermione turned towards her witch only to find herself pulled firmly but gently towards the sofa by a hand that was clutching her jacket. The older witch sat down but continued with the insistent tugging until Hermione was forced to straddle Minerva's lap to avoid tumbling on top of her.
Hermione chuckled and leant in, brushing her nose against the older woman's. Her lips caressed the perfect shape of Minerva's top one, applying gentle pressure and then repeating the caress on a fuller lower lip, sucking ever so lightly. Minerva's hands slid inside the open jacket and grasped the wolf by the hips. Hermione's heart gave a thump when the witch angled her head up for the contact to develop into a proper kiss, a desire that the younger woman was only too happy to oblige her in.
Their lips met fully, the kiss hungry and eager, as they lost themselves to it. Hermione's hands slid softly from Minerva's hair, down to her neck and into the collar of her jumper - caressing the soft skin she found there. The wolf whimpered against swollen lips right before they abandoned hers and blazed a trail down to the hollow of Hermione's throat. When Minerva's devilish tongue flicked out to explore sensitive flesh, Hermione's back arched, canting her hips forward and making both women moan at the increased contact.
The witch moved her hands, pushing Hermione's jacket off of her shoulders, sliding it off and tossing it aside. Minerva pulled back with a grin, looking up into darkened brown eyes and looped her fingers through the young woman's belt, pulling her back in for another kiss. Tongues danced together, duelling playfully as passions rose. Hermione lowered her hands, letting the backs of her fingers graze the sides of Minerva's breasts, and she could feel the older woman squirm underneath her at the soft but still intimate touch.
Hermione let the pads of her thumbs press against the firm but yielding muscle of Minerva's stomach, dragging downwards towards the older woman's waistband. The wolf grasped the bottom of the green jumper and played with the fabric for a moment. When the younger woman tore her lips away, she scarcely recognised her own voice, "Can I?"
Minerva bit her own lip, a white tooth visible gnawing at swollen flesh. "Yesss," she let the second half of the word drag out as she voiced her approval of the idea. Chocolate eyes interrogated the older woman's face, verifying her assent. The wolf tightened her grip on the garment and slowly but surely lifted it over Minerva's head.
The green fabric joined Hermione's black jacket on the floor and the younger witch just stared, unabashedly gawped, at the perfection in front of her. Minerva was wearing a black bra that contrasted vividly with her pale skin, the full lacy cups containing her generous breasts in a way that made the wolf desperate to touch. "Christ, you're gorgeous."
Minerva chuckled breathlessly. "You think so?"
"I know so, but I also think that it's good you don't walk around without clothes, or I would never get anything done."
"Welcome to my world," Minerva muttered. "Now take your shirt off."
It was Hermione's turn to chuckle, then she gave a wicked smile of her own. "I believe that it's your turn, pretty girl."
Minerva rolled her eyes at the ridiculous pet name but brought her hands to Hermione's grey shirt, beginning to unbutton it with sure and steady fingers, revealing completely bare soft skin. Her movements were unhurried and surprisingly sensual for the two witches to watch. Hermione shifted her weight, not wanting to squish her mate. "Mmmmm stay, I rather like having you there."
The wolf gave what could only have been described as a predatory smile in response to Minerva's words, watching intently as darkened green eyes dilated further still at the now familiar sight of her body. The shirt joined the growing pile of clothes and Hermione leaned back in for another kiss, letting her fingers explore the older woman's stomach.
Minerva brushed the calloused pad of her thumb over a hardened nipple, grinning into the kiss when Hermione let out a gasp. She took full advantage of the moment and slipped her tongue into the scintillating warmth of the young woman's mouth. Hermione found her witch's boldness intoxicating and ground against Minerva's lap, feeling a rush of warmth escape her core.
One of the witch's hands slid into the back of Hermione's jeans, cupping a shapely buttock and squeezing firmly. "Minerva… God… Do you know what you're doing to me?"
This time the older woman pinched the erect bud between thumb and finger, in a manner that wasn't particularly gentle but served to ignite Hermione's passion to fever pitch, causing her to rock against Minerva. "I believe that I have a fairly good idea," she paused, "But why don't you tell me…" her voice dropped into a much deeper, feral register, revealing her own arousal, "...Exactly what effect I am having on you."
Hermione moaned darkly in response, her back arching and her entire skin erupting into goosebumps. "I'm so wet… I need… Minerva please."
The elder witch gave a moan of her own, pleased that she had that much control over the wolf and that something as simple as her touch could cause Hermione to come undone in her arms. She slid a hand down the front of the young woman's body; fingers tripping over a belt buckle, then a button, following the path of a seam, down between her legs, until she was cupping Hermione's core through the noticeably heated fabric of her jeans. "Yes you are, aren't you?"
"...For you…" In response to the barely audible words, Minerva began to move her palm in small, firm circles, causing Hermione to grind against her in an attempt to gain more friction where she needed it, the wet denim seam providing a delicious rasp against her most tender flesh with every motion of her hips.
"So impatient…" Teased Minerva, gently digging the nails of her other hand into Hermione's buttocks, pulling her closer and guiding the movement of the younger woman's hips.
Hermione let out a soft growl that was unlike any that Minerva had ever heard, it was something completely uninhibited and more akin to a purr than anything the older woman had ever heard escape a canine. It made every hair on Minerva's body stand on end, her skin goosebumped and she exhaled heavily, feeling her own knickers dampen.
The wolf heard the sudden acceleration of her mate's heartbeat and she could smell the heady scent of arousal increase exponentially. She fumbled with the clasp of Minerva's bra, tugging it open, even as she ached to feel more of the older woman's naked skin against her own. "Hermione." The gasped word caused brown eyes to open and look down into the blown pupils of an emerald gaze. "Does the bite have to be… to be the first time… we..?"
Minerva was struggling to get out a sentence and Hermione couldn't do any better. "Noooo!" The single needy word was half whined, half whimpered.
The witch pulled her left hand from inside the back of Hermione's trousers and reached for her abandoned wand. "Good!" A wordless wave of the slender fir stick, rendered the wolf naked, having banished her final item of clothing. Both women gasped at the sensation of Minerva's hand cupping the hot, swollen and wet flesh of Hermione's core, sliding a little as hips jerked into the intimate contact.
"Fuck," growled Hermione, a hint of amber colouring her eyes before she blinked it away. Minerva smirked naughtily and pulled her hand back slowly, letting the tips of two fingers dip into slippery folds - grazing an erect bud as she moved her hand from between Hermione's legs. The wolf watched fixated as the witch brought her fingers up to her own mouth, both of them moaning loudly when Minerva tasted her arousal for the first time, sucking on her fingers.
After a moment, lidded green eyes opened fully when once again, they searched Hermione's face. Minerva's lips were parted and wet, she leaned forward to thoroughly kiss the woman on top of her, giving her the barest taste of her own arousal mixed with a flavour Hermione could only identify as Minerva. Still damp fingers traced a path from a cute navel and into damp curls, never breaking eye contact.
At the touch of Minerva's exploring fingers moving through her swollen folds, Hermione whimpered, throwing back her head and closing her eyelids. "Open your eyes. I want to watch you struggle to maintain your control." The wolf obediently did what she was asked and leaned backwards, shifting up higher onto her knees - instinctively giving the witch more room and reached out to grip the back of the sofa with her hands.
The first brush of Minerva's thumb against the engorged nub of Hermione's clitoris caused the wolf to yelp. The older witch grinned and then brought two fingers to the young woman's soaking entrance, toying with the moisture she found there. "Please, please..." Then Minerva slipped her fingers into Hermione, ever so slowly sliding between tight, wet walls - until she was buried as deeply as she could be inside the younger woman's body. Words cut off, morphing into an indescribable sound of wordless pleasure.
The thrusting motion that Minerva started began slowly, as she drew out almost to the tips of her fingers and then pushed back in, grinning as Hermione ground down against her hand, desperately trying to increase the speed of the penetration. Minerva's other hand lifted, cupping a full breast and squeezing gently, fingers toying with a stiff peak.
Hermione matched the rhythm of her movements to Minerva's thrusts, hips jerking forward to meet the pace that was driving her crazy. It was the most sensual thing that the older witch had ever seen; watching her slick fingers disappear into wet, welcoming folds as Hermione rode her fingers, the younger woman's dark hair cascading over naked shoulders, eyes drifted closed, hard nipples begging for her touch. "You are so beautiful." Minerva raised her thumb, letting the pad rub against the young woman's clitoris every time that their bodies met, prompting a literal wail from the wolf.
Minerva curled her fingers, hitting a spongy spot in a come hither motion, noting the increased rate of Hermione's breathing in response to the new sensation and the trembling of the thighs that were wrapped around her own. "You like that?" The wolf nodded, too breathless to speak but whined encouragingly as Minerva did it again, angling her digits to hit that special place on every second or third thrust.
Hermione opened her eyes, shocking Minerva with their brightness; her irises almost entirely golden with only a few flecks of amber and a faint ring of brown left. The visual reminder that the young woman straddling her lap wasn't human should have been disconcerting but it wasn't. The witch brought her spare hand up to tangle in chestnut hair, pulling Hermione in for another thorough kiss.
They were both desperate for air when Minerva felt Hermione's muscles begin to flutter around her fingers. The older witch broke the kiss with a nip on a full lower lip and began to apply more direct stimulation with her thumb, mercilessly rubbing across the erect button, matching the frantic pace of her fingers. The hand in Hermione's hair tightened, "Mine!" Growled Minerva, mimicking her words from the hot spring, knowing the effect that it would have on her wolf.
Hermione's core clamped down on the older witch's fingers, spasming around her and a gush of warmth suddenly covered Minerva's hand and dropped onto her still clothed lap. "Yours, yours," the words were practically sobbed out, as Hermione collapsed forward into the waiting embrace, her body still trembling in the intense wake of her orgasm.