Part 26 (part 2)
A/N: Thanks to those who have reviewed! Now, in this second part of the chapter I must say that there will be kissing 'n cuddling (plus much more) between our two consenting adults. If you do not wish to read such things, you are advised to stop here.
Hermione heard a small crunching sound when they reached their destination, and upon looking down she saw that they were both standing on an area covered with white pebbles. Severus released his hold upon her person and when she looked up, Hermione saw that they were both standing in front of a small manor built of grey stone. It might have been her imagination, but she felt that it had a slightly watchful air about it, as if it was considering what type of person she was.
The windows that stared down at her too were forbidding and dark, giving little indication as to what was inside. It also seemed that they were surrounded by a forest because she could see in the distance tall trees encircling the grounds, the faint sounds of birds settling down for the evening reaching her ears. It gave his home a secluded feeling and on the whole it did not seem surprising that Severus came from a family which had appeared to value its privacy.
Looking beyond Severus' home she could make out part of a large hedge - perhaps it was the hedge labyrinth that Severus had mentioned his home had. She would have to ask for a tour tomorrow, feeling delight at the thought of the free time that stretched ahead of her - and him, too.
"Thanks again for inviting me to your home, Severus," Hermione said honestly to him. It might not appear to be the most welcoming place in the world, but nevertheless it was Severus' family home and she would respect that. She saw Severus' shoulders relax slightly and he inclined his head almost formally to her.
"Then come inside and be welcome, Hermione," he murmured, a faint smile appearing on his face when Crookshanks uttered a disgruntled meow from inside his carrier.
"It appears your cat would welcome some food," he said dryly and turning on his heel he swept up to the front door. There was a brass knocker upon the wooden door and instead of a lock in the usual place, Hermione noticed that there was instead a small hole underneath the doorknob. Severus promptly brought out his wand and pushed an inch of it carefully into the hole, murmuring a series of melodic sounding words under his breath.
Hermione heard a distinct 'click' from within the door and after Severus withdrew his wand he then opened the door. After following him into his home and shutting the door behind them she saw in the dim light that they were standing in an austere hallway with doors leading off from it. Hermione was keenly aware that they were both alone together under one roof for the first time, neither student or teacher to the other, or employee or guest as they had been at the retreat…
There were a row of hooks beside the front door with a travelling cloak of Severus' hanging down from one of them. Also by the door was a slightly worn pair of black boots which stood upon its own little mat; possibly for use when Severus went outside, Hermione thought.
"You may use one of the hooks for your cloak, if you wish," Severus said gruffly as he removed his black outer robes and put them on the hook beside his travelling cloak.
"Thank you," Hermione said, trying not to stare too overtly at him. When only dressed in his black frock coat and trousers she thought Severus looked darkly elegant and yet somehow more dangerous. More self-assured, certainly…
And after putting the cat carrier down on the floor, Hermione unfastened her own cloak and carefully hung it up on a spare hook. It was these little things couples would do, Hermione thought with warmth in her eyes for a moment, such as coming home together from an outing and taking off their coats, or cloaks in this case, and hanging them up together...
Hermione then removed her shrunken bag from her pocket and after placing it on the floor she quickly restored it to its proper size. After bending down she then opened it and removed from inside the paper bag that contained the cake she had bought earlier, a stasis spell she had placed on the cake keeping it fresh.
"Here is the cake - I hope you like it," she said to him with a smile after she stood up again.
"Thank you," Severus murmured as he took the paper bag from her. "And what else does your luggage contain… besides cake?" he added, finding himself intrigued by what else might be in there.
"What?" Hermione said in surprise. "Oh, just clothes and things," she said hastily.
"Nightclothes, did you say?" Severus said silkily, deciding to tease her again.
"No," Hermione replied suspiciously as she saw the wicked look in Severus' eyes.
"You mean you did not bring any nightclothes?" Severus said, raising an eyebrow in apparent disbelief.
Hermione laughed despite herself. "No, no, that's not what I said," she said severely, feeling her cheeks start to go pink. "Yes, I do have nightclothes."
"I am glad to hear that," Severus said blandly, an almost-smile upon his face as he then unfastened the paper bag with a quick hand. After peering inside he looked at her almost accusingly.
"What?" Hermione said in surprise.
"It looks as if there is far too much icing upon it," he said in a severe tone.
Hermione thought for a moment.
"Oh well, in that case I'll be happy to eat most of the cake then," Hermione said sincerely.
"You certainly will not!" Severus grumbled. "You may wait for me in that room," he said, pointing to a nearby doorway, "while I shall put this away immediately for later. You may release your cat - if it wishes to go outside, then the grounds are safe enough."
With that, he swept away and opened a door at the far end of the hallway, privately calculating as he went through that like most self-respecting cats, Hermione's cat would wish to go outdoors as soon as it could to seek food for itself after being in a confined space. All the better, he thought, for he certainly had no wish for Hermione to be distracted more than necessary by her pet in their time here together.
Hermione crooned softly as she bent down to open the cat carrier and Crookshanks promptly hissed at her in an aggrieved way as he exited it. After a single disdainful look around he stalked towards the front door and bumped his head imperiously against it.
"Oh, all right then, out you go," Hermione said ruefully to Crookshanks as she went back over to the door. "You probably want to go and find your own food."
Hermione had barely opened the door before Crookshanks promptly slipped through the gap and darted away to explore this new territory of his. She gazed for a moment after her cat with a wry smile as he made his way towards some nearby bushes. After shaking her head she then shut the door.
Picking up both bag and empty cat carrier, she walked through the door that Severus had indicated to find herself in a sitting room lined with bookshelves. There was a faint air of genteel shabbiness and in the dim light Hermione could see that the room was panelled in dark wood, with the carpet that she was standing on coloured a faded green.
The far wall was dominated by a fireplace with two fat beeswax candles in brass candlesticks on the ledge above it. Two wingback chairs were drawn up in front of the fireplace and a nearby doorway that was partly open appeared to have a hallway beyond it. Hermione certainly wasn't surprised to see that there was a table beside one chair with a pile of books upon it. Most things in the room had the feel of being passed down through the years, with nothing replaced unless it was absolutely necessary to spend the money to do so.
After putting down her belongings, Hermione approached the chairs and went to sit down in one of them - after a day in the garden she always appreciated the chance to sit down again. The chair felt quite comfortable and some instinct made her pat the arm of the chair appreciatively. She leaned back and as she did so, she felt a curious sense of acceptance from the house around her. From the hallway she then heard an odd, metallic sound she couldn't quite place.
Hermione stared at the door she had just come through and was debating whether or not to go and investigate, when Severus swept back into the room, summoning light to the antique candelabra that hung from the ceiling with a terse command.
There was a faintly exasperated look upon his face as he approached Hermione and loomed over her, though she sensed there was no ill temper in him. However, that didn't prevent her from feeling for a moment as if she was a student again, with Severus about to imply that she had done something she had no knowledge of doing. She and her friends had been connected to some of the stranger things that had gone on at Hogwarts, to the point that after a few years when anything out of the ordinary happened, Hermione would inevitably feel the suspicious gaze of the Potions master upon her and the others at meal times.
"Is something the matter?" Hermione nevertheless asked Severus in a reasonable sounding tone as she looked up at him.
He paused for a moment as if considering his words, a faint twist to his lips as he eyed her.
"There now appears to be a cat flap in my front door," he said meaningfully.
Hermione blinked, taken aback. Perhaps that explained the odd sound she had heard from the hallway, she thought. All right, it now meant that it was easier for Crookshanks to get in and out, but why had it happened in the first place?
"Oh… that sounds odd," Hermione said honestly. "It had nothing to do with me, though."
"I am aware of that, Hermione," Severus said acerbically, brushing a hank of his black hair away from his face. "This house is old and peculiar in that it sometimes… alters to please the people who dwell within it - though usually not so quickly. But I can only wonder what magic you appear to have cast over my home. I can only think it is surely akin to the kind you have cast over me."
Hermione looked up at him in surprise. "I didn't do a thing - certainly not to you," she said firmly, silently pondering his unusual home. But then, the Weasley home had practically become a living entity after all the various magic cast in it.
"No?" Severus murmured, a glint in his black eyes. "You only have to smile at me and I start plotting how to make you repeat the experience… what is that, if not magic."
Hermione flushed and looked at him ruefully. "You're impossible, did you know that?"
Severus reached down with his hand to lightly touch her cheek in answer before saying in a quieter voice, "I have something for you to take, Hermione."
With that he removed a glass vial from a pocket in his robes, the orange liquid within the vial appearing to glow with an inner fire.
Hermione peered at it.
"What is it?" she questioned Severus.
"This will prevent pregnancy," Severus said gruffly, a spot of colour appearing for a moment in both of his cheeks. "Two drops of this taken before one plans to engage in such… activity as to cause it, will prevent it from occurring."
"Thank you," Hermione said softly as she carefully took the vial from his hand. She knew from a class taken by an excessively brisk Professor McGonagall when the students in Hermione's year were considered 'old enough to know', that there were a variety of potions that could be taken before the act, or afterwards if necessary to prevent pregnancy. Hermione remembered hearing Ron and some others after the class daring each other in whispers to 'go and ask Professor Snape in class how to brew one'.
Hermione had been certainly glad that they hadn't gone through with it, for the Potions Master had had a reputation for being harsher than usual when catching amorous students on his nightly prowls. If she had been told that one day Severus Snape would personally give some to her before they both… well, she would have told them to go to St. Mungos.
But here and now she carefully removed the stopper without hesitation and after turning slightly away from Severus she held the vial up to her mouth until a drop came out of the narrow end. It had a slightly peppery taste upon her tongue and when she had taken a second drop she put the stopper back into the vial.
"If there is a time when you… require some more then please inform me and I will brew it for you," Severus said stiffly with a trace of awkwardness that Hermione heard also underneath his words.
Her heart softening, Hermione turned to look back up at him.
"I will," she said and the Slytherin found himself reassured by the promise in her voice.
"I'll just put this safely away in my bag," Hermione added and after standing up she went over to her bag to stow the vial carefully in one of its inner pockets. She then brought out a sturdy plastic kit and after shrinking both bag and cat carrier she placed them both in the kit. When she was about to stand up, she found Severus at her side, silently holding out a hand to her.
Hermione took his hand and as she stood up she could practically feel the heat radiating from the nearness of his body. As if accepting his hand had kindled something between them now, Hermione felt the energy between them start to intensify with its own dark heat, which both soothed her lingering tension and stirred her inside.
Hermione tilted her chin back up at Severus, the spirited light in her eyes reminding him that as a Gryffindor she was not so easily dominated, least of all by him. Still holding her hand, Severus' black eyes simmered and he bent his head to kiss her… but then paused.
"If I kiss you here," he said with almost grim softness, "then I will not stop. Come."
Severus lit his wand and, with a feeling of anticipation, Hermione followed him through the other door. His command extinguished the light from the candelabra as they departed the room. Hermione saw that there was indeed another hallway beyond with some closed doors on either side, the light from Severus' wand casting an almost eerie light over them as well as the narrow staircase at the far end of the hallway.
After climbing the staircase to the upper floor Hermione saw that there was a landing with three doors leading off it. She paused briefly to catch her breath as Severus approached the door in the middle and opened it.
"After you," Severus said softly to Hermione, the light from his wand giving his face an almost unearthly pallor.
"Thanks," Hermione acknowledged before she carefully opened the door.
However, once she walked into his bedroom she stifled a gasp because she knew she had been here before - in the first 'vision' she had had months ago of being the future wife of Severus Snape. Hermione realised it had been an actual room. Oh, she had believed it true, but it had been only natural nevertheless to have doubts. Now she could see in the light from Severus' wand that it was certainly the same spacious room with cream coloured walls and many bookshelves, the bed having the same bed covers of dark green that she remembered. A sense of peace came over Hermione.
There were some differences though in Severus' bedroom; none of her personal items were here which was only natural, of course. There was only one chair near the small fireplace instead of the two that she remembered, which said that at this point in time Severus was still inclined to regard this room as one for a solitary man. Her mind also took in details that she had failed to really notice the first time… a wardrobe in one corner of the room, a chest of drawers that she saw had a single red rose in a tall silver vase upon it.
"A rose?" she questioned thoughtfully.
Hermione realised that she had said those words aloud when behind her Severus said stiffly, "I thought the sight of one here would please you… I recall you saying to me at one time that roses were good for more than having their petals in potions."
"You remembered me saying that," Hermione said in surprise as she turned back to him, touched as well that this often unsentimental wizard had thought to bring a rose into his bedroom for her. To make her feel that she was welcome here, Hermione thought.
"I recall much that you have said, Hermione."
"It was a lovely thought and it is a beautiful rose," Hermione said truthfully as she put down her kit beside her on the floor. "Thank you."
"You are welcome," Severus said in a softer tone, mollified.
The room was a bit chilly and Hermione found herself shivering slightly.
Severus' eyes narrowed as he noticed her shiver.
"You look cold… I believe a fire is needed," he said and after approaching her he clasped her hand and tugged her gently towards the fireplace.
"I'm not that cold, really," Hermione protested with a smile but did not fight the grip of his hand.
"Hush, woman," Severus said severely as he extinguished the light from his wand and summoned a fire to the fireplace, bringing warmth and light to the room. He squeezed her hand gently. "You are always determined to talk back to me… do allow me the privilege of doing things for you."
"Of course I allow you to," Hermione said scoldingly but her eyes were warm as she went to embrace him. "It's one of the things I love about you," she admitted against his chest.
Hermione then felt Severus' arms steal around her waist to draw her closely against his body.
"One of the things, hmm?" he whispered by her ear. "This implies that there are others, would it not?"
"Perhaps," Hermione allowed with laughter in her voice.
Severus ran a hand gently down the line of her back. "I have grown accustomed to have someone I care for in my life… though I assure you this will not stop me from extracting the list of these other 'things' from you," he murmured.
"You can try," Hermione smiled as she tilted her chin at him, an impish look in her eyes.
"Very well… I am assuming that you are feeling warm now," Severus said softly to her, his arms tightening around her.
"Yes," Hermione acknowledged, feeling a thrill within her on gazing at the soft glitter in his eyes. She realised that everything between them, including the often furious tension between them in her last months at Hogwarts, the tentative and also wonderful courting between them at the retreat, had been leading them both to this time where they were finally just a man and a woman to each other.
"Good. Then I shall endeavour to make you warmer…"
Hermione then felt a hand of his touch her hair and then his fingers were quickly seeking and removing the pins she had used to sweep the mass of it upon her head. With each pin deftly removed she felt locks of her hair falling down over her neck until it had all tumbled down.
"Much better," Severus murmured, taking the opportunity to nuzzle her neck and inhaling her lovely scent.
"You have a different perfume… but it still smells exquisite. Just the scent of you makes me feel like a man possessed," he spoke breathily as Hermione felt a distinctly hard pressure against her stomach.
Hermione felt weak at the knees at that but in return managed to brush her hips gently back against his, both welcoming and inviting more of his attentions. Severus' eyes simmered but then he was promptly put off balance when Hermione leaned up to kiss him sweetly upon his lips, making him groan. How she constantly confounded him, he thought as he kissed her back like a thirsty man having found water.
Hermione welcomed these further kisses and Severus then went to kiss the line of her jaw, his warm breath against her skin feeling like a caress. Hearing his own breath starting to become more ragged, Severus drew back slightly to look down at her, his face flushed. Though he wondered how she would respond to the way he truly looked, part of him craved her touch as well… needed it desperately. He wanted her so much…
As if hearing his unspoken desire, with a trembling hand Hermione reached up to the top of his black buttoned frock coat. Severus did not stop her but became very still as she laid her fingers upon the top most button, his dark head bending forward to closely observe her every action. There was though a slightly shadowed look in his black eyes and Hermione found herself remembering when she had seen scars upon his body in a visit to their shared future. It wasn't hard to visualise a struggle going on his mind at the moment - wanting her on one hand but also feeling apprehensive about revealing himself to a woman's gaze.
Without any fuss, Hermione's hand dropped from the button she had been about to undo and went to run her fingers gently down his chest as if this had been her intention all along. She then heard him grumble and her hand was imperiously taken after a moment back to the top of his frock coat.
Hermione carefully reached for the button again and after unfastening it she then impishly reached up to give him a light kiss afterwards. Severus raised a quirked eyebrow in amusement but as she gave him further kisses after undoing each of his buttons he started accepting them as his rightful due. When Hermione was halfway down his frock coat and had only just laid her hand upon a button, Severus surprised her by promptly swooping down to give her a brief, fierce kiss before drawing back slightly to let her continue. A small, satisfied smile was upon his face and Hermione couldn't help but smile back. When she had finished unbuttoning his black frock coat she was about to remove it from his person when Severus stopped her.
"Surely you have not forgotten these buttons, have you?" he said archly, holding out both of his arms which true to his Victorian sensibilities had a long row of black buttons upon each.
Hermione crossed her arms and eyed Severus in a way that would have sent her classmates at Hogwarts scuttling away. Then she shook her head with a long-suffering expression and went to work upon his arms.
As she nevertheless gave him a kiss for each button undone on first this and then the other arm, she would frequently find Severus bending his head to give her quick kisses of his own in return, his black eyes gleaming in response when a laugh would escape her.
When every single button on his frock coat was undone, only then did Severus allow her to remove his frock coat, his simmering gaze never leaving her face while she then put it carefully on the nearby chair at his nod. The pristine white shirt that had been underneath showed off the contours of his chest and Hermione found herself unable to resist from reaching out to run her hands gently down it.
Hermione had only just laid her fingers upon the buttons of his white shirt when she felt her hands seized by Severus, and as she looked up at him in surprise he leaned forward and kissed her lips again.
"I believe I am owed a turn now," he said hoarsely and then he knelt down in front of her to clasp the hem of her robe.
"I wish to see you - all of you," he continued in a softer tone as he carefully tugged the robe up and over her body, and then over her head, standing back up as he did so.
After her robe was removed, Hermione felt suddenly self-conscious and she fought the urge to cross her arms in front of her, even though she was wearing a camisole over her bra. Words ran through Hermione's brain… her breasts weren't really that big enough… there was too much weight on her hips… she wasn't perfect at all for Severus.
But Severus' gaze practically devoured her as it ran the length of her body from her feet up to her head. Her body was not conventionally beautiful but it was lovely to him.
"I…" Hermione started to say and then stopped, the words choking in her throat.
"… am lovely," Severus finished for her in a severe tone he saw the awkward expression on her face and the sudden tension in her posture.
"Let me show you," he murmured and reaching out he lifted her up easily in his arms, his eyes gleaming at the surprised noise she made.
Severus swept over to his bed and sat down on the edge of it with Hermione sitting across his lap. Cradling her gently he bent his head and kissed her softly while his hand took the opportunity to run lightly up the line of her leg and then almost teasingly along her thigh, smiling to himself as her body quivered for a moment. Hermione put an arm around him and his hand paused for a moment at her hip and then continued upwards - was that a small disappointed sound he heard from her against his mouth? He went to cup one of her breasts, fascinated by the silky feel of her camisole underneath his caressing fingers as he did so.
"Wicked woman," Severus whispered as he then gazed down at the creamy, net-like stockings her legs were encased in. "Should I punish or reward you for daring to wear such things..."
"I wanted to wear something special," Hermione admitted as she went to kiss him, a warm glow spreading inside her at his words.
"I see," Severus murmured as he swiftly returned her kiss. "A punishment is out of the question, then."
Noticing that she was still wearing her shoes, Severus ran his hand gently back down one leg, lingering here and there before managing to pull a shoe off, tossing it aside upon the floor.
"You will not be needing that in bed," he murmured seductively.
"Severus!" Hermione protested, laughing as she nevertheless lifted her other leg slightly so he could reach her other shoe.
"Hush," he said severely. "Or this," he added as he removed her other shoe and tossed it aside as well.
Severus then ran a hand softly over the waistband of her stockings.
"Stand up," he said as he lightly pushed at her.
Feeling unwilling to leave him, nevertheless Hermione got up from his lap and then Severus was reaching out with both of his hands to clasp the waistband of her stockings. With part of him feeling like a child unwrapping an anticipated gift, he gently tugged them down over her legs. Severus felt his breath catch though when the silk of her underwear was revealed to his gaze. Dear gods, he thought almost numbly, it only just qualified as underwear.
It was easier for Hermione herself to remove the stockings when they were down to her ankles and so she did so, secretly enjoying the darkly fascinated way that Severus was gazing at her. However, as soon as that was accomplished, Severus promptly took the stockings from her and tossed them upon the floor. After eyeing her almost possessively, Severus reached out and drew her back down to his lap.
"Come back here," he commanded, but his voice was soft and rich.
Hermione put an arm around his shoulders and kissed Severus tenderly, her other hand taking the opportunity to glide down the buttons of his shirt until she paused at one button and gently undid it. Severus stilled again but did not prevent her as she slipped her hand through and laid her hand gently upon his chest, marvelling at how warm his skin felt to her touch. Severus hissed, a shudder going through his body.
She continued to caress his chest and paused when she came to the feel of a jagged scar underneath her fingers. There was a shuttered look in Severus' eyes for a moment.
"Do not be alarmed… but you will find more of the same if you continue, Hermione," he said quietly with a hint of bitterness in his voice. The Dark Lord had made sure that the reminders of his 'punishments' would never fade.
Hermione went to kiss him softly upon his lips.
"It won't change the way I feel about you, Severus… does it hurt when I touch you here?"
"No," he breathed. It would only hurt if she stopped touching him, he thought harshly, his body craving further attention from her hands.
Hermione kissed him again as her hand continued to caress his chest and he returned her kisses with a fierce hunger, his fingers winding through her hair as she went to unbutton his shirt as best as she could with one hand. When she had finished Severus gently pushed her hand away.
"I will do the rest of them," he said softly.
After kissing Hermione gently, he gathered her up in his arms and then deposited her upon the bed after standing up. He watched as she sat on its edge, her soft gaze upon him and then with a faint twist to his lips Severus methodically removed his white shirt, ignoring the feeling of vulnerability that came from revealing himself to her in this way.
Hermione gazed up at Severus who was only clad now in his black trousers, his hair that brushed his shoulders standing out against the paleness of his skin. His body, though thin, was not that of a weakling and had a wiry strength about it, his stomach flat. However, at the sight of the scars that crisscrossed most of his chest her eyes darkened at the pain and humiliation the proud wizard before her must have gone through. She had already seen them before but the dismay and sorrow she felt inside at the sight of them now was the same. Severus met her gaze almost guardedly as if he was expecting her to shrink away despite what she had said before. At that, Hermione was moved to stand and then embrace him.
"Oh, Severus," she whispered, lifting a hand to gently touch his face. "I don't know what to say."
Gryffindors and their sentimental hearts, part of Severus thought, but in a low, rough voice he nevertheless said, "Say that you still want me…"
"Of course I do," Hermione said almost indignantly, trying to draw him closer to her. Severus put his arms tightly around her in return, wordlessly in search of her comfort now as well as her warmth.
Hermione belatedly realised how close Severus felt to her, with the feel of his bare arms holding her securely against his equally bare chest sending little tingles through her. As for the feeling of his body pressing insistently against her down there… she gulped and felt her breathing quicken.
Severus drew his face back slightly so he could look down into hers, and there was a glint in his black eyes as if he knew full well the effect he was having upon her. Hermione then felt his hands run lingeringly down the side of her body down to her waist, pausing at times to caress the silken feel of her camisole with his long fingers.
"Let me see more of you now," he whispered and with that he clasped the hem of the camisole and started pulling it up and off her with almost tortuous slowness. Although her cheeks were pink, Hermione nevertheless lifted her arms obligingly to help him in his task, hearing his purr of approval at her actions.
With an almost feral look of satisfaction, Severus then promptly tossed aside the camisole, but when he looked down at the bra she was wearing with a vexed look upon his face Hermione tried hard not to giggle.
"Do not ever say I wear too many clothes ever again, Hermione," he grumbled, eyeing her darkly as he saw the mirth in her eyes. Hermione tried to keep a straight face as the mood between them lightened. Severus then swiftly moved his hands around her, his fingers seeking to find… yes, there it was, the place where he could undo the wretched thing. His fingers fumbled for a moment and then he made a satisfied noise when he was able to carry out his task, a gleam in his eyes as he removed the bra from Hermione and dropped it on the floor.
Severus' breathing then hitched for a moment as his heated gaze lingered upon Hermione's breasts… they were not lush but were still sweetly rounded in his sight. Her skin looked soft and the taut, rosy peaks that demanded his attention... exquisite. A hand of his stroked one of her breasts and then his long fingers sought its peak, revelling in her answering moan as he rubbed it gently with a thumb, delighted anew as he felt it become taut.
Hermione avidly sought Severus' lips and he instantly returned her kisses with a hunger that seemed to pour from him. At length they paused to catch their breath, staring at each other wordlessly.
Aware of the growing ache between her legs, Hermione found her gaze drawn down to Severus' black trousers, especially the area where the black wool material was undeniably tented. Filled with the overwhelming need to touch him, a soft, curious look upon her face, Hermione reached down carefully with her hand. Severus' eyes narrowed and then widened as he felt her touch him gently where he was most painfully aroused now. A hiss escaped him and her hand flew quickly back, a look of consternation on her face.
"Did that hurt you? I didn't mean…" Hermione began and then she stopped as Severus took her hand and drew it shakily back down to his body, a look of pleasure that was almost pain on his angular face as he felt her hand upon him again. His knees threatened to give way but he held on… he closed his eyes and then opened them again as he felt Hermione cautiously pat him.
"Not like that," he said huskily, a laugh escaping him as he placed his hand over her smaller one to guide her. "Like this," he said as he encouraged her to caress and stroke him, a rough sound escaping him when she managed to close her fingers firmly around his hard length.
"Wicked woman, to torment me so," he breathed. "How shall I punish you?" He moved his hand and Hermione gasped when she felt him gently stroke her panties between her legs.
"Still so soft," Severus said raggedly and she whimpered.
Feeling unsteady, Hermione nevertheless reached out towards Severus' black trousers to undo them, and saw him suddenly swallow.
"No… I believe you will be the death of me if you undress me so," he said hoarsely and with his attention diverted with some reluctance he bent to remove his black shoes and socks. His fingers then almost fumbled at the buttons of his black trousers before he was able to remove them and then his underwear.
When his pale, long limbed body finally stood naked before her, Hermione blinked and then gazed at him, unable to look away from what rose so… prominently from between his legs.
Severus' eyes glittered at her, excited at the way she was looking at him. He reached out to Hermione with the intent of removing her panties, only for her to almost apologetically bat his hand away.
"I think I better remove these for the same reason," she mumbled, and a mesmerised Severus could only watch as with some unintentional wriggling she removed her panties with shaky hands and put them aside.
When Hermione then looked up at him with some hesitancy in her gaze, Severus could only think of how enticing she looked with her hair tumbled down around her bare shoulders, her sweet curves and secret places awaiting his touch again.
"Come to bed," he said huskily. Hermione swallowed but then with a quiet purpose that came to her she approached the bed and with Severus looking on, she pulled down the dark green covers and then slipped into the bed. The feel of the cool cotton sheets was soothing against her tingling skin and then Severus was there beside her… the mattress dipping slightly underneath the combined weight of their bodies. His hands encouraged her to lie down and then Severus drew the covers up enough to keep them both warm, before lying down beside Hermione and pressing against her. He felt his heart was in his eyes as he looked at Hermione, but for once did not care.
Her heartbeat racing, Hermione moved on to her side to face him, her eyes warm though as she remembered how they had been in a similar, though platonic situation in the forest by the retreat. She saw in his heated gaze that he remembered too as he moved on his side to face her in turn, sliding an arm swiftly around her waist to draw her more closely to him. A moan of pleasure escaped her at the feel of their warm bodies touching each other, of how hard he was and insistent against her thigh…and feeling an answering throb inside her.
"I have dreamed of this so much," Severus said hoarsely as he moved to kiss her lips and face in almost reverent tenderness. He ran a hand over the line of her hip, revelling in the feel of her soft skin. He moved so he could bend his head, and then Hermione felt a whimper escape her as she felt his warm lips at the hollow of her throat, his tongue darting out to taste the skin there.
"I have too," Hermione confessed, silently marvelling at how his warm, male body felt against hers, the way it was different from hers. She could smell a lingering scent of soap as well as cedar as she stroked his chest, her hand then moving to caress his back. Hermione felt his body quiver at her touch and with a gleam in her eyes she pushed a knee gently between his legs and went to kiss his throat where she certainly knew he was sensitive. Severus hissed and she felt him twitch against her.
"Minx!" Severus whispered, and then after kissing her fiercely he moved himself over her body, hearing Hermione sigh in assent as she lay down. He shifted up on to his elbows so that he wouldn't squash her, his body trembling at the sight of her underneath him. Then almost reverentially he lowered his head so that he could kiss one of her breasts, before gently starting to suckle upon one. To his pleasure he heard Hermione gasp underneath him as he did so, her brown eyes startled as she clutched at his shoulders with her hands.
"Does that please you, Hermione?" he whispered, raising his head to gaze directly into her eyes.
Surely she could catch on fire from the burning look in Severus' eyes, Hermione thought, an intense ache having awoken in her breasts which heightened the wonderful ache between her legs. Thank goodness she was already lying down or she would have collapsed into a puddle onto the floor…
"Yes," Hermione said helplessly, yearning evident in every line of her body as she looked up at him, her hands reaching up to draw his dark head down again.
Severus could not deny such an appeal from Hermione and he again went to kiss and suckle her breast, a hand of his moving to stroke and tease her other breast. Her whimpers in response were music to his ears, and even though he was nearly going mad with the torment her squirming body underneath was doing to his body, he was determined to put her through sensual torment.
He turned to kiss her other breast and as he did so he then felt one of her hands wind shakily through his hair, her other arm winding around his neck. Hermione's legs entreatingly parted for him and with a pleased hiss he moved to settle himself properly between her thighs, rewarding her by pressing and rubbing his hardness sensuously against her damp softness.
Hermione gasped underneath him and he then moved slightly so he could slip an exploring hand again between her legs to caress her there, his eyes flaring when he heard her moan in pleasure.
"Please," Hermione whispered as she clutched at his arms, not caring if there was desperation in her voice. She wanted him so much…
"Please, what?" Severus said huskily, his gaze fixed unerringly down upon Hermione's brown eyes.
Hermione swallowed. "Please love me," she whispered.
"Yes…" Severus breathed and then he softly probed her warmth before pushing himself gently into her. He felt her body surround and swallow him but halted when he encountered her barrier. Hermione tensed underneath him and he leaned down to kiss her, his black hair brushing her face.
"It may hurt, but only for a moment," he whispered. Hermione nodded and Severus felt compelled to find one of her hands so he could twine his fingers gently with her smaller ones.
With a swift movement of his hips Severus then thrust into her and heard her cry out underneath him, her fingers clutching almost painfully at his. A feeling of remorse lingered in his heart as he stilled inside her.
"I'm all right," Hermione whispered after a moment and with a feeling of relief Severus kissed her gently until he felt her body relax around him.
Severus then began moving inside her and a wide eyed Hermione lay still underneath him at first, her body accustoming itself to being stretched and filled by him, careful though he was.
Severus' face appeared oddly vulnerable to Hermione as he looked down at her and after a while Hermione began to move experimentally under him, her hips lifting in an effort to meet and answer his thrusts. He groaned in pleasure and his eyes became a simmering black again as Hermione started responding to him, kissing her fervently in response.
"Hermione, my Hermione," he said hoarsely and as she wound her arms around his back their bodies started moving together in a quicker rhythm, the bed creaking at times under their straining bodies as they did so. The pain had eased and Hermione could feel a tingling pressure starting to build up within her. She arched up against her lover, knowing what she wanted as she wrapped her legs firmly around him.
"More," she gasped.
Severus' eyes widened as he found himself even deeper inside her, and on hearing her plea the last remnants of his self-control vanished. He groaned and started moving faster and harder into her, unable to get enough of her.
Hermione was only aware of Severus, the warm weight of his body, the dark passion on his face now as he thrust into her, the faint sheen of perspiration on his forehead.
The sensations she was feeling were almost too much to bear… and then Hermione finally convulsed and cried out his name in pleasure as she felt herself shatter around him.
"Hermione," Severus groaned, not knowing whether to bless or curse her as he felt her release. His body shuddered and almost frantically he thrust harder into her, once, twice, and then a cry came from the depths of his being as he spilled hotly inside Hermione and then collapsed upon her.
They both lay stunned and entwined for seemingly endless moments, not knowing where one ended and the other began before Severus reluctantly withdrew from her. Rolling on to his side he then shakily gathered Hermione into his arms.
"Severus," Hermione sighed, amazement colouring her voice as she snuggled against his chest. She could speak again… it was a good sign.
"Yes?" Severus said in a raw sounding voice.
Hermione blinked and then smiled as she softly kissed his chest, putting her love for him into that simple kiss. His arms briefly tightened around her.
"That was…" Hermione then paused. "I can't think of the right word," she mumbled.
A sound escaped Severus and he realised it was a laugh.
"I do not think words are needed at the moment," he said quietly.
TBC