Author's Note: This chapter is short, but filled to the brim with Draco/Hermione action…in fact, that's most of what it is. It does nothing whatsoever to advance the story; it's just a nice little semi-smut piece. Thanks again, as always, for all your lovely reviews, and keep the feedback coming my way! I really appreciate it; you guys are all wonderful! xxx:Anya:xxx
Chapter Eleven
A Surprising Evening
"I hate having to lie to my friends for you," Hermione admitted to Draco the next night in the Prefects' Bath.
"Your point being…" he said, turning on a water faucet for a hot bath.
"Nothing, I'm just saying, I hate having to lie to them," she mumbled.
"Is it worth it?" Draco asked, turning around to face her.
"What?"
"Me…is keeping our relationship going worth lying to your friends for?" he wondered.
Hermione bit her lip upon realizing he'd just become tense and nervous at the thought of possibly losing her and replied, "Of course you're worth it, that's not what I'm saying at all. I've just never really kept anything from Harry and Ron and it's taking some getting used to."
"Oh. Does this help?" he wondered as he leaned in to kiss her, the bare skin of his torso lightly brushing across her body, making her tingle.
"I'll say," she breathed when they broke apart. "Um, Draco?" she asked, daintily crossing her legs and smoothing out her skirt. "Do you want me to leave when your bath is drawn?"
He glanced at her, eyebrow raised. "Do you want to leave?"
"Well—"
"Because if you don't want to leave," he continued, "You don't have to. This tub is certainly big enough for two, comfortably."
"Are you implying that—"
"Yes."
She bit back a grin. "Alright, then. I accept."
The next thing she knew, Hermione was nervously stepping into Draco's bathtub in only her undergarments. The water was red, lightly bubbling, and quite literally sparkling. It felt warm and milky to the touch, teasing and caressing her bare skin.
"You can't be serious," Draco said. "You can take off your underwear, you know, a) you're beautiful, and b) I've more or less seen you before."
"Thank you, but I'm fine," she said politely. "Are you—?"
He took her hand under the water and led it across his lower body. "This is a bath, after all."
Her eyes widened. "So…how are you doing lately?" she asked awkwardly, fighting down a blush.
Draco laughed and let go of her hand. "Wonderful, now," he murmured. He kissed her gently, and her knees instantly turned to jelly. She melted against his body, throwing her arms around his neck and letting him fully undress her.
He kissed her thoroughly, in every hiding place, every crevasse her body tried to conceal from him. Soft air bubbles from his nose tickled her skin, making her feel like she'd never felt before, as he kissed the parts of her that were underwater until she was nearly blinded by the pleasure of it all.
As he did this, he gently guided her hands where he knew they'd never gone before, followed later by her inquisitive mouth; he was indescribably pleased with the results, and for once neither of them thought about anything; they just were.
Hermione didn't know how she found the strength or willpower to make him stop once they got even closer to what would certainly have followed had she not asked him to.
"Not yet," she whispered roughly, holding his hands in hers lest he try to tempt her again. She knew she wouldn't be able to object a second time.
For the next few minutes, only their mouths touched, which was glorious and beautiful in and of itself, as always. Then, she gave up on trying to hold his hands back, but only after he promised not to put them anywhere he wouldn't if others were present.
"Aren't you glad I asked you to join me?" Draco asked contentedly, softly stroking her shoulder as she lay in his arms.
"Mm," she murmured. "You always have such good ideas."
"Don't I know it," he said playfully. "I'm brilliant. They should make a bank holiday out of my name, give me some sort of title—preferably God, but the King of Everything would do nicely as well."
Despite herself, Hermione laughed. "How about Hermione's Boyfriend?" she asked boldly. "Does that work?"
Before he could answer, however, a morose, whining voice sounded from one of the nearby bathtubs. "You two disgust me," it said. "Can't the carnal behavior go on inside your own homes?"
Hermione looked over in shock. "Moaning Myrtle," she groaned. "What are you doing here?"
"What am I doing here?" she asked dramatically, clearly offended. "What am I doing here? Why, I was killed here in this castle, as a matter of fact, and am now subject to haunt its many toilets forever!"
Draco rolled his eyes, but Hermione clapped a hand over his mouth before he could say anything rude. "I know why you're here, I just want to know…why now, why the Prefect's Bath?"
"I felt like it," Myrtle replied indignantly. Her face broke out into a wild grin as she said, "I can't wait until Harry Potter comes in here! He fancies you, you know, and oh, the look on his face when I tell him you're off cavorting with his worst school enemy will be priceless!"