Disclaimer: JK owns everything except Serena.
Here it is people! The Bath!!! Who's excited? Wee! Please, please review this chapter. Let me know if you like it!!
Chapter Ten
They apparated deep within the Forbidden Forest. Remus stepped back, releasing her reluctantly.
She looked around. "What are we doing here?"
He just grinned, in a way she could only describe as wolfish. "Come on."
As they strolled deeper into the forest, Serena was filled with curiosity. Where was Remus leading her, and why? Putting her hand on his arm she asked him. "Where are we going?"
He turned his head and gave a brief but dazzling smile. "It's a surprise. It's not far."
He led her through some low hanging branches, and took her hand to help her over an enormous pile of boulders. On the other side of the boulders, surrounded by lush ferns, was a small pool.
"Oh!" She let out a sigh. Noticing the steam rising from the water, she smiled. "A hot spring?"
He nodded. "Your bath."
He handed her the satchel. "There is a path, just there." He pointed past her shoulder. "I'll wait here." He sank down on the rock cross-legged, his back to the pool.
Serena hesitated. He was going to stay here. She wasn't entirely sure how she felt about that. She had hoped that he would join her.
He must have noticed her hesitation, because the corner of his mouth tilted up. "I won't look."
She tried to tell herself that she wasn't disappointed. Turning away, she made her way down the path to the pool. At the edge of the water, there was a large flat rock, and she dropped her satchel there. After toeing off her boots, she quickly pulled off the rest of her clothes. Robe and gown landed in a heap on the sun warmed rock. Digging through her satchel she pulled out a prized chunk of soap.
Slipping into the deliciously hot water, she hummed with pleasure. The warmth of the water soaked into her tired aching muscles and soothed them. The bottom of the pool was covered with fine sand and she dug her toes into it. She ducked under the water, wetting her hair. Working the soap into a lather, she rubbed it into her hair, using her fingers to comb through the worst of the tangles. She ducked under the water again, rinsing the soap out. She then set to work scrubbing the grime from the night before off of her skin. The heat of the water and the slickness of the soap on her skin combined to arouse her. She let her hands travel over her body, up her ribs and over her breasts. She shivered at the sensation, wondering what it would be like if it were Remus' hands on her.
Unfortunately, being him, he would be too honorable to oblige her. With disgust, she flung back the wet mass of her hair. The movement was too vehement, for she lost her footing on the soft sand and slipped beneath the water with a yelp. When she resurfaced, Remus was already at the edge of the pool, his robes off and lying beside her discarded clothes. When he saw her resurface, he paused.
"Are you alright?" He asked.
Serena nodded, noticing the way his gaze dipped to where the outline of her body was visible through the water. "I slipped."
"Oh." He reached for his discarded robe.
Taking a few steps backward and leaning back against a rock at the edge of the pool, Serena looked up to where she could see him silhouetted against the rising sun. She didn't doubt that he had kept his word and hadn't peeked up until now. But she wasn't that strong. She wanted to see him. She wanted to see that body bared and slick with water. Maybe her solitary life had left her overly bold, but she wasn't going to let this opportunity go to waste.
"Remus." She whispered his name, causing him to hesitate. "Why don't you come in?"
She thought he would refuse, and then saw the heat flare in his eyes. Deliberately, he let the robe fall, then pulled off his boots. Her breath caught in her throat when he tugged his shirt over his head and tossed it aside. She couldn't tear her eyes from him as he reached for the fastening of his pants and loosened it, pushing the fabric off his lean hips. The he stepped out of them, standing naked on the edge of the pool.
He was magnificent. Lithe muscles rippled under taut pale skin as he slid into the pool. He advanced on her slowly, allowing her plenty of time to move away. She held her ground, watching as he moved closer. The water did nothing to impede his grace, in a matter of seconds; he was directly in front of her.
Keeping his gaze locked on hers, he reached out and cupped her cheek. "Serena."
She smiled, rubbing her cheek against his palm, letting out a sigh as he lowered his mouth to hers. His lips were incredibly soft against hers, a kiss that seduced her with its gentleness.
Reaching up, she slid her fingers into his silky hair, gripping it. She opened her mouth beneath his, inviting him to deepen the kiss. He obliged with a sweep of his tongue delving between her parted lips. With one touch of his tongue against hers, she felt as though a fire had been lit inside her, a desire that was incandescent in its ferocity.
When he gripped her hips and dragged her closer, she went willingly, giving in to his sensual onslaught. He devoured her mouth with an intensity that was dizzying, his hands streaking over her body as if he couldn't touch enough of her.
Words were unnecessary; she could feel the emotions pouring out of him, mirroring her own. There was a desperation in him that was only tempered by the tenderness of his touch.
She was surprised, and felt immediately bereft when he stepped back. Uncharacteristically self-conscious, her hands fell away from him and crept up to cover her nakedness.
"No." He said softly. He held his hand out to her. "Come here." When she put her hand in his, he led her out of the pool, pausing only to spread his robe out on a soft grassy area beside the flat rock. "Lie down." He commanded gently.
She obeyed, hypnotized by the iridescence of his eyes. She reclined, her gaze sweeping over him. He stood tall, proud, with all the beauty of a marble statue. But he was flesh and blood, a fact only emphasized by his rampant arousal.
"Remus…" She called to him quietly.
He lay beside her, his hands moving quickly to caress her. Her skin was slick with water, and his touch moved over her swiftly, sliding over her ribs to cup her breasts. His thumbs brushed over her nipples, easily hardening them. A point of pleasure arrowed through her, heat gathering low in her belly.
She moaned, reaching for him. He eluded her grasp, instead lowering his head to take the peak of her breast into his mouth, suckling lightly. When she was writhing beneath him, he switched to the other breast and his hand started a slow descent along her thigh.
She bucked when his hand slid between her legs to touch her intimately. She was already slick with desire and his nimble fingers easily parted her folds to probe deep.
Serena responded by sliding her hand over his hip to grip his hard length. She reveled in her power over this gorgeous being when she felt him pulsing in her hand.
He growled, brushing his mouth against the side of her neck. She pressed against him, crushing her breasts against his sleek chest.
"I need you, Serena. I need you so much."
He needed her? She felt as though she would die if he stopped touching her. She lifted her hips, trapping his erection between their bellies. His size didn't frighten her, instead it thrilled her. Her nails dug into his shoulders, conveying her yearning. Whispering in her ear incomprehensible words, he slid his hand between them to cup her, testing her readiness.
"Oh, please… Remus." She gasped.
He moved over her, shifting so that he lay between her parted thighs. Lowering his head, he kissed her, entering her slowly.
She sobbed, clinging to him.
Bracing his weight on his arms, he began to move. Thrusting slow and deep, he set a rhythm that tormented them both. But the feel of her under him, around him, was too much for him to hold back.
With a heartfelt groan, he plunged deep, withdrawing almost immediately to do it again. His control almost gone, he drove into her, muffling her harsh cries with his lips. Before long, she stiffened beneath him, her teeth scraping his lower lip as she climaxed. Even as the tremors shook her, he pushed deep one last time, giving a hoarse shout as he came.
Mind blank, his pulse racing, he collapsed on top of her. In response, Serena wrapped her arms and legs around him, trapping him in place.
"Don't move." She murmured.
He could only shake his head. He didn't plan on moving anytime soon. Maybe not for the next century or so. Maybe never.
His breath coming in harsh pants, he dropped his head to rest on her shoulder. He had no idea it could be like that. It made him wonder what they had been waiting for.
"Why did we wait so long?" Serena whispered near his ear.
Remus chuckled. "I was thinking that very same thing." He replied.
Lifting his head, he eased off of her. He withdrew slowly, eliciting a gasp from her that turned into a satisfied hum. Then he lay beside her, drawing her into his arms and nuzzling the side of her neck.
Serena snuggled close. "How did you find this place?"
"When I taught at Hogwart's two years ago, I spent most full moons locked in my office. But one night, I just couldn't stay inside." His voice was soft with self-reproach.
Serena understood how he had felt though. Some night she would transform and just run, trying to outrun her demons perhaps. "You came to the forest."
He nodded. "I thought it would be safer for the students. And as I ran through the forest, I stumbled upon this place."
"It's beautiful." Serena sighed. "I'm glad you brought me here."
He pressed a kiss to her temple. "I'm glad you found me last night."
"What were you thinking, going away like that?" She demanded scoldingly.
"I was thinking, that perhaps you needed protection from your blind faith in me." He said.
Serena pulled back a little with an outraged gasp. "What?"
He tightened his arms around her, pulling her close once again. "I know I was wrong. I realize that now. And I'm delighted."
"So you won't try to hide from me again?" She worried that he would change his mind suddenly.
He smiled. "No. I won't hide from you ever again." He slid his hand over her bare hip, his gaze heating as it followed the movement. He paused to trace the mark he discovered marring the otherwise flawless skin.
"What's this?" He asked her.
Serena glanced down. "A birthmark."
He looked at it closer. "It's shaped like the moon." It was crescent shaped. Just like the waning moon.
She smiled. "It's kind of a symbol of my bloodline."
"Your bloodline?"
"Yes. All the girls in my family have that mark."
"You were marked from birth by the moon?" That must mean something. Maybe it had something to do with how powerful she was.
Serena laid her head on his chest. "See Remus? We were fated to be together."