Malfoy's desires
Chapter fifteen: Too much drink?
All names and places associated to Harry Potter belong to JKRowling and associates. I'm just borrowing its world for fun… no money is to be made from this.
They conversed congenially while going through their meal, Lucius asking her questions about her work at the ministry, as well as more personal ones concerning her family and such. He seemed particularly curious about her father's past work at the ministry, but Katherine gave little relevant details about it. She barely knew the man and wouldn't go into details about anything that could potentially be delicate or embarrassing for her father or his former acquaintances and friends.
By the time they had reached the desert phase of their meal, Katherine felt stuffed and quite light-headed. Lucius didn't believe in leaving a wine goblet empty for very long, insisting to refill it when he noticed that she had drained its contents.
Eyeing the platter of French pastries before her, Katherine only felt nauseous and nothing would pass her lips for a good while. Looking at him across the candle lit tabletop, she gazed at him, loving the way his hair shone while his head nodded and moved while he spoke. She felt a bit detached, listening at his words through an alcohol fogged brain, almost giggling as he sputtered about some uninteresting bit of idiocy he had encountered during his last visit with the minister himself.
Lucius finally stopped speaking and realized that his guest had been quite mute for the last twenty minutes or so. His focus shifted to her overall posture at the moment. Her head was thrown back, cradled in one corner of the wingback chair. Her eyes had a glassy sheen to them, which made him think that he had probably been a bit too generous with tonight's fine wines.
'Katherine?' he finally asked, 'are you feeling well?'
''Me? I'm feeling very...' she giggled a bit, her hand coming up to cover her mouth with a impish look in her eyes. She tried to sit straight, but ended up slouching back in the chair. 'I do believe that I'm slightly ineb... inebrate... ' She spluttered with another giggle. 'I'm sloshed!'
Lucius snorted a half-laugh, trying to keep a straight face on. He had gotten her drunk without notice and now had to deal with her obviously altered state. This might be an excellent way of getting information out of a potential pawn, but this was not what he had in mind for his first date with the lovely lady.
'Juliette!' he called dryly, summoning one of his many servants. After she appeared at his side, he sharply said 'Bring us some strong coffee, right now!' he eyed the creature with little else but barely veiled contempt.
'Yes, Master Malfoy! As you wish, sir' the poor thing backed away with fear in her eyes, suddenly disappearing with a sharp pop.
Lucius got up and came to the other side of the table, summoning his chair with a wave of his hand. He sat close to Katherine, taking in her closed eyes and faintly smiling face. At least she seemed like a happy drunk, he silently thought with a smirk pulling the corners of his mouth. He really did think that he would have a more nefarious time with her, instead of having to help her get back on a more even keel.
'Katherine, are you still awake?' he asked with a raised brow, his hand taking one of hers, rubbing his thumb across its back.
She nodded with a grin, 'I'm awake, Lucius. I'm just resting my eyes.'
'I've asked for some coffee for you since I believe that any more spirits would render you unconscious.' he said clearly and loudly as if she were hard of hearing.
She grimaced at the loud words, wondering why he spoke to her like that. She might be tipsy but not deaf. 'Goodie!' she muttered, 'more stuff to imbibe.' she giggled again for some unknown reason.
He was slightly taken aback, praying that the coffee would cut her giggly mood. If not, he'd ask one of the elves to find some potion to counteract the effects of the alcohol.
With a pop, Juliette reappeared with a silver tray and coffee service. She served her master and his guest and left without another word.
'Come along now, the coffee has arrived and I want you to drink this while it's hot.' He gently pulled on her hand to make her sit straight and pushed the cup and saucer in her other hand.
'Oh!' she whimpered, taking hold of the saucer a bit clumsily and sloshing some of its contents over the rim. 'Thank you, Lucius... much obliged.' She took a tentative sip of the scalding hot liquid, hissing as it burned her upper lip and the tip of her tongue.
He had let her hand go, giving her a chance to drink properly. When he heard her hiss and then blow a breath out through her lips, he had to smirk again. 'This is quite romantic, don't you think?' he said with some amusement.
She turned her face toward him, giving him a very dirty stare. 'Quite...' she said dryly, 'but you can't blame me for this predicament. I do believe that I did mention to stop refilling my goblet some time ago. I do know my limits.'
'Maybe so, but I didn't put the cup to your lips.' he responded as dryly as he could. 'But then, I'm used to having men to drink with and they usually have more tolerance to any alcohol that I serve.'
'Really?' she asked with a point of returning mirth, if not some degree retaliation for his last remark. 'You usually have romantic soirees with men rather than women? That's interesting to know.' She grinned in her cup as she took another tentative sip.
Lucius grasped the meaning of her words a split second later, frowning at her in disbelief. 'Miss Cardiff... that is not what I meant. I do not have romantic or otherwise perverse evenings with men. I meant that I usually drink liberally when meeting with my male counterparts and friends.'
'Uh huh...' taking another sip from her cup, peering at him with an innocent look.
'I do not 'go' for men...' he rallied, 'and I don't appreciate your insinuations.' he huffed with mounting irritation.
'I wasn't insinuating anything, just playing with your words. It was rather leading, you must admit.' she put her cup down and settled her hand on his arm. 'I'm a bit jokester at times, sorry if I've offended you in any way. Forgive me?' she said with puppy eyes and a big grin.
With lips firmly pressed together, he scowled at her. 'I don't even know if I should? I've never had my masculinity challenged by a woman before now.'
'Oh, no! I would never think you were anything but a very masculine man. I was just taking your words out of context and playing with them.' she purred at him, getting up and coming to sit on his lap. Putting her hands on his shoulders, she looked directly into eyes. 'What can I do to be forgiven for my total lack of sensitivity?'
His irritation melted away, leaving the way open to more delightful feelings. 'Well... I might have an idea or two' he drawled evenly. 'Care to come inside the mansion? I might have a more comfortable place to discuss this.'
She eyed him with a smile, adjusting herself over his lap, making him feel her heat more acutely. 'Sounds like a good idea.' She leaned in to give him a chaste kiss on his lips, rubbing his nose with hers rather coyly, eyes locked with his.
Lucius almost groaned, her kittenish display and the feel of her most pleasant bottom moving over his lap was titillating him beyond words.
'Come...' he whispered, making her stand before he got up himself. 'I believe the alcohol's effects has been sufficiently dispelled and we can now get to know each other better.'
He offered his hand and she took it, her eyes dreamily looking up at him. He felt another pulse of pleasure in his crotch as he realized that she was a willing participant for the evening's nocturnal games.
They entered the mansion through the double glass doors and then led her to the long spiraling stairs. Keeping her hand in his, he escorted her to the upper landing and turned to his right.
Katherine couldn't help herself from gawking at everything she saw. The mansion was as huge as it seemed from the outside; beautifully decorated with many paintings, wall hangings of by-gone times and some rather large statues. It was almost a museum! As they went up the stairs, she saw the many portraits of people she assumed were relatives and past owners of the stately home. Among the few smiling faces she saw (mostly females...), the men all stood still with a very familiar type of sneer on their face.
The family resemblances were quite evident, a few did mutter 'good evening, Lucius!' as they passed by. One of the paintings gave her a thorough up and down glance, leering at her as if he understood what would be happening upstairs. She frowned at the painting without saying a word, thinking it wouldn't be acceptable to tell the old bugger off.
They came to the end of the corridor, facing a pair of large oak panel doors. 'Welcome to my suites. I hope that you will appreciate what you see...' Lucius said with a wolfish grin.
'I'm looking forward to discovering what you have in store.' she answered in light tones, feeling the sudden shift of energy between them. She gulped nervously. Dear God, she thought feverishly, isn't he the most handsome devil.
He opened the doors with a well-practiced wave of his hand and then invited her in with a nod of his head. He smirked at the sudden flush of her cheeks, taking her by the elbow as she went in. With another wave of his hand, the doors were closed behind them and a small click heard as the lock was engaged.