Thanks for all your reviews, I appreciate them!

This chapter is rated R for language and sexual situations. If you are the least bit sensitive I would just skip it.

This, I think, is my longest chapter ever.

Chapter 12

"You look stunning." Severus said honestly.

"Thank you." Iris blushed. "You like nice too. I like the pinstripes."

"Where are we going?" She asked.

"It's a surprise. Now here, put this over your eyes." He said as he handed her a scarf.

"Oh but Severus, I..."She began.

"Do you trust me?" He interrupted.

Iris met his eyes and smiled at his abrupt question. She maintained her eye contact until she could no longer see him through the fabric of the silky scarf.

She felt him wrap his arms around her in a rib crushing hug and whisper his thanks and she felt puzzled.

"For what?" She asked.

"Trusting me. No one believes in me." He whispered in her ear.

"I believe in you Severus. I'd trust you with my life." She whispered back, stealing Analise's words from yesterday and realizing what that meant. Oh Merlin, I've fallen for Severus Snape.

Severus didn't know what to say to her statement but he felt his chest constrict with that blasted emotion again so he merely told her to hold on as he Apparated them to their destination.

Iris heard melodious music, water and a breeze stirring her hair and tree leaves and felt her curiosity pique.

"Can I take this off now?" She asked, trying to contain the excitement. It smells wonderful out here, she thought as she drank in the fresh air.

"Not yet but almost." He said as she heard him shuffling around. "And no peeking. Don't think I can't see you trying."

Iris had the decency to look ashamed of herself and Severus felt that damned tug again. Maybe I need to make a Healer appointment, he thought.

She heard flames start crackling and had to stop herself from taking the blindfold off. Finally she heard him approach her again and felt his fingers work themselves under the fabric of the scarf to tug it off.

She smiled at him quickly before she whipped her head around to see where they were. And given it was Severus' plan, she was very shocked indeed.

He had taken them to a bluff overlooking the ocean. Tide was in and the waves were swelling and crashing soothingly on the beach below. She turned around and took in the scene behind her. Near the edge of the cliff he had set up a small table, complete with a red checked table cloth and dripping candles.

In a circle around the table were burning tiki torches, which probably weren't necessary since the moon was shining brightly but they were great for warmth and the final but best touch was the soft music playing from nowhere. Iris looked around for the source and found nothing but not really caring.

She felt tears of emotion well up and had to blink them away quickly so Severus wouldn't see them.

"Where are we?" She asked.

"An undiscovered island." He answered mysteriously.

"This is fabulous. I never would have pegged you for a romantic." Iris said.

"I'm a complicated guy." He said trying to shrug off the compliment but finding joy flooding him.

"Yes. I see that." She replied.

"Come on. Sit down." He prodded as he grabbed her hand and led her to a chair. He couldn't help but notice how small her hand felt in his.

Iris smiled her thanks as he pulled out her chair for her. A romantic and a gentlemen? Wow this just keeps getting worse for me, doesn't it. Next thing you know we'll be having chicken parmaigan for dinner, she thought.

"Would you care for some wine?" He asked.

"That would be lovely. Thanks." She answered nervously.

Severus watched as she gulped it down in two swallows before he filled it for her a second time.

"You want to be careful with that. It'll knock you on your ass." He advised.

You've knocked me on my ass, she thought ruefully.

"I will." She said instead.

"Are you hungry?" He asked.

"Famished."

"Good because tonight we're having pollo a la parmigiana." He said as he conjured their dinners in front of them.

Iris wanted to laugh at the irony but satisfied herself for downing the rest her wine glass and refilling it.

"This is wonderful." She raved after the first couple of bites. "Did you make this?"

"Me? Hell no. I ordered it. You may be a good teacher but I only had one cooking lesson." He said with a smile.

They ate in silence for awhile. Iris was lost in thought about caving in on love and Severus was wondering about what she was thinking about. It was obvious something was bothering her. She was silent, on her fourth glass of wine and looking anywhere but at him.

"Are you all right?" He asked with concern. "Is it your head?"

"No, no. I'm fine really." She insisted.

"Do you want to talk about it?" He pressed.

"No." She said.

Severus dropped it because he knew how much he hated when people just kept pushing. So in silence they sat, playing stare tag until they'd finished eating.

Wow, and he understands me, Iris thought with disappointment in herself. Next thing you know he'll ask me to dance.

"Would you care to dance?" He asked when he noticed her swaying to the music.

I've really got to stop thinking, she chided herself.

"You dance?" She asked skeptically.

Severus leaned in and whispered "Don't tell anyone. It would ruin my bastard image. Shall we?"

"Sure." She answered hesitantly as she allowed him to lead her a grassy patch.

Severus tugged her into his arms and tucked her head into the crook of his shoulder. He felt her melt into him and wrap around her arms around him. The emotions from before crashed over him again but this time he was able to identify it. He felt complete and content. Like something he didn't even know he'd been searching for had finally arrived.

He twirled her around skillfully and let his mind adjust to that knowledge. How could that happen, he wondered. I've fallen in love with Iris.

Iris felt like she were drowning in doubts and the emotion was threatening to choke her. What will he say when he finds out, she asked herself fearfully. She wrenched herself out of Severus' embrace and crouched down onto the grass.

For a moment Severus thought she was ill. After all the wine she'd had and then him spinning her around, he wouldn't have been surprised. But that thought vanished the moment he saw tears glistening in her blue eyes. What in the hell, he wondered.

He chucked her under the chin and brought her gaze to meet his concerned deep brown one. She looked positively terrified.

"Iris, please. What is it?" He asked her tenderly as he stroked the tears away with the pad of his thumb.

"Severus, I just want to tell you that this is the sweetest, most romantic, most creative thing that anyone has ever done for me. I truly appreciate it." She said.

"But..." He prompted.

Iris took a deep breath and tried to shift her gaze from his but he forced her to maintain the eye contact.

"But I'm in violation of rule one." She said as she blushed hotly.

"Meaning?" He asked.

"This was so much easier when I hated you." She wailed.

"Iris, I'm in violation of rule one also." He said quietly as he nervously watched her eyes fill with understanding.

"What do you mean?" She tried to ask nonchalantly.

"I think I'm falling in love with you." He admitted.

"Oh." She said dumbly.

"And you?" He cued.

"I think I'm falling in love with you too." She stated.

"There, that wasn't so bad was it?" He said lightly.

But Iris didn't look convinced.

"Iris I want you to know, I've never said that to anyone before." He told her, feeling very vulnerable.

"Don't worry. I'll be careful with it." She said as she cupped his cheek. "So where do we go from here?"

"I don't know. All I know is I have to kiss you." He said.

"Thank Merlin." She replied as she stepped back into his strong arms.

Severus placed a soft kiss on her warm lips and shivered at the sensations traveling up his spine. He angled her head to deepen the kiss and touched her tongue searchingly with his. This kiss was somehow different now that they knew what they did, deeper, better, more connected.

Iris opened her mouth wider as their tongues mated in a searing battle. She felt his hands trail up her rib cage and angled her body to allow him better access as she began her own exploration.

Severus stroked playfully at her nipples through the thin material of her dress and delighted in her pleasured moans and that she wasn't wearing a bra. She tore her lips away and drew in a ragged breath as he slipped the spaghetti straps down her arms and lowered the bodice to bare her breasts to the night air, watching in mute fascination as the breeze kissed over them, making them pebble harder.

He smiled wickedly at her before leaning down to capture a hardened peak in his hot mouth.

"Severus!" She gasped as she wound her fingers in his soft hair and pulled him closer.

He moved his attentions to her other breast and gave it the same treatment. Each of her cooing noises make him harder and harder until he felt as if he might rip through his pants.

Iris reached down and cupped him lightly before lowering his zipper to free his straining erection. She stroked him firmly in her hand until she felt him rip his head from her breast and bat her hand away.

His eyes were burning with an intensity she hadn't seen before but it matched hers. She leaned forward and captured his bottom lip with her teeth, nibbling at it gently and running her tongue along his teeth to signal she wanted entry. She felt his fingers brush against her bare buttocks and watched his eyes flash hotly when he realized that she wasn't wearing any panties. He quickly dipped his fingers into her to stroke her womanhood and see if she was ready for him.

He found her tongue again at the same instant he lifted her so her legs were locked around his hips. He propped her so her back was against a tree and drove into with one sure stroke.

Iris felt the rough bark of the tree on the naked skin of her back pushing her farther into the realm of sensation. She continued kissing him with a fervor as she met his thrusts with her own until she finally peaked and spiraled into another world with him three plunges behind her.

She felt a tear streak down her cheek and knew that she was in love with this man.

Severus had his head buried in her neck as he felt her tremble in his embrace and felt all disbelief of his feelings flee. He was unequivocally in love with Iris Navarro. So now the only question is indeed, now what, he wondered.

Finally! Quick aren't they? Hee hee :)