Chapter 14.1 – The Treatment

Author: Rikka

Disclaimer: I do not own these characters; I'm just playing with them for a short while.  I'll give them back, with a knowing smile on their faces, once I've finished with them.

A/N in the 1st: I realize this is a short chapter.  Yet I thought I would update what I have so far, and thus, I am calling it (in my mind, at least) chapter 14.1 … because the really naughty things are to happen in parts 14.2-14.9.  So I suppose this chapter is not-so-much rated R as it is rated, soon-to-be R.

A/N in the 2nd: I really appreciate reviews.  I'm writing this in my free time, which is, well, to be honest, slim; I'm working two full-time jobs and completing a welding apprenticeship this summer, so let me know what you think.  The good, the bad, the ugly, I'm an equal-opportunity critisizee.  That being said…on with the story!

They had seemed to come to a kind of unspoken mutual agreement; neither actually broached the subject of us, neither breathed a word of their...relationship?  …for fear it might dissolve, break down into its most basic form and blow away, leaving them only with memories to slowly forget.  They had carefully ensconced their feelings within their respective hearts, safely stowed for a day of telling, as they were currently more eager with the showing.

Severus slowly undressed her, showering kisses on every inch he unveiled, occasionally sweet talking a shoulder, a rib, a hip; Hermione allowed him his explorations, languidly resting on his bed, her fingers playing with his hair, occasionally a gentle caress behind his ear.

Once fully undressed again, he stood her up and led her into the bathroom.  At his indication, she stepped into the bathtub, already full of hot water and bubbles.  He shampooed her hair; he washed her body; he cupped his hand over her eyebrows when he rinsed her head to avoid getting soap in her eyes.  He occasionally tweaked her nipples; nipped her shoulders; nuzzled her neck.  Gently he stood her up, led her back down from the tub, before delicately drying her with an overlarge and very soft towel and murmuring a charm at her hair to dry and arrange it into neat curls. 

She had never felt so pampered before, and still he wasn't done.  Taking her back into the bedroom, he began rubbing scented lotion all over her body, cooling her skin, making it…almost tingle…but mainly more aware of what was around her.  As he rubbed, she was almost overloaded with sensations; she could feel the air moving around her, gently brushing against her skin…it was as if, even though she didn't actively have to be actively aware of a certain area of her body, suddenly she was, and it was awareness unlike any she had ever experienced previously.

He flipped her over onto her back, massaging the lotion into her sore muscles.  Somehow he sensed that she didn't want him to go easy on her, and she could tell the amount of pressure he was giving would leave bruises…was, in fact, painful…but so close to that blurred line between pleasure and pain that she moaned beneath him just the same.

Slowly, the shaking nervousness she had felt at Lucius's house began to dissipate.  As much as she hated to admit it, this felt like…home.  Even without his touch, just a look,  a word from him made her want to melt into him, allowing his body to shape hers into that perfect fit, that final resting place of comfort.  For half a moment, she realized there was much she wanted to tell him, much she wanted to ask…but found that as soon as the words reached her, they were gone, distracted by his affections.

His hands moved lower, massaging along her spine, out towards her sides and back again.  With each touch she felt closer to sublime.  With each touch he gifted upon her body, she felt desire welling up; she felt as though she was painted in it, and that if he kept it up it would compound until he too was covered in her longings.  Had she allowed her voice to be heard she would have begged, pleaded with him to relieve her of this tension; instead she allowed it to continue building in her, and as he massaged her lower back and hips, she started to feel it between her legs, tangible though he hadn't touched her there…  Yet his hands moved lower still, kneading into her backside so that before she knew it she was moaning under him.  Never had she given much though to the tension that could build up there, but as his fingers de-kinked and unknotted the stress of many days she finally truly relaxed under his touch, and he could actually feel her melt deeper into the bed with a great sigh.