Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all his friends (and enemies) are the brain-child of J.K. Rowling. I'm just borrowing them. Exclusive ownership belongs to JKR, Arthur A. Levine Books and Scholastic Inc. Jane Sinclair and all additional characters belong to me. You belong to yourself.
A/N: I intend to go out in a blaze of glory. Look out! Lemons ahead. Marilynn and Quintus, this is for you!
All night long
We made love
All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To You, Heart
Chapter Twenty-Four – In the Still of the Night
…where Severus and Jane celebrate their reunion…
Jane sighed happily and buried her face against his shoulder. "Tell me again."
"I love you."
"Again."
Severus made a warning sound deep in his throat. "Jane…"
"What?" Jane batted her eyelashes innocently at him.
"Enough," he told her mildly.
"Uh-uh." Jane shook her head. "Remember, you have to make up for many missed opportunities."
Severus sighed resignedly and stretched. His eyes wandered towards the window, but it was still dark outside and the morning hours away. They were relaxing in Jane's state bed after a frantic session of love-making. Jane was half-draped over him, her breathing in tune with his, their hearts beating as one. At peace with the world, he tightened his arm around her, and Jane entangled one leg with his.
"Mmm," she murmured against his skin. "I think I should have worn the black dress at the hospital. You would have never sent me away then…"
Severus chuckled. She just couldn't stop reminding him of his foolishness. "Probably not… but I thought we weren't going to talk about it, anymore?"
Jane stretched languidly and rubbed her foot along his leg. "Alright. So, what shall we call this place?"
"What place?"
He admired the way she had changed the subject. She hadn't even missed a beat. However, it became increasingly difficult for Severus to think rationally when Jane was touching him like she did now. She propped herself up and looked at him intently.
"This place," Jane clarified impatiently. "Fenton Hall."
"Why do you want to change the name?"
She began to drum her fingers on his chest. "I haven't been a Fenton in fourteen years. The name is nothing more than a reminder of a past I would rather forget. I have a new life now. This is no longer my parents' house. It's my home – our home – now. I want it to have a new name."
Her tapping began to annoy him, and Severus reached for her hand, stilling it.
"Our home?" he inquired casually.
Beneath her hand, Jane felt his heart rate pick up, and she smiled. His even tone could not hide how he truly felt. She extracted her hand from his and brought it up to caress his face, pushing an errant strand of hair out of the way.
"Yes," she told him. "Our home."
Her generosity touched him deeply, and for a moment, Severus was at a loss for words.
"Our home," he repeated reverently after a long pause.
Jane nudged him. "Well?"
"I… need to think," he said slowly while he was struggling with the new feelings that rushed through him.
"I'm open to any suggestions," she told him readily, purposefully ignoring his emotional state. She knew how much he hated to appear weak and vulnerable. "As long as it's not Boggart Manor…"
Severus raised an eyebrow. "Boggart Manor?" he inquired archly.
Jane nodded. "There were a couple in one of the mansard rooms, and another one in the old schoolroom. But you should have seen the one I found in the library…" She shuddered. "That one was old and experienced. I had a hard time getting rid of him."
Severus sat up and grabbed her shoulders. "You were doing all that by yourself?" he demanded to know.
She shrugged. "Yes…"
His hands dropped away, and he rolled off the bed. Heedless of his nudity, he began to pace in the bedroom, trying to come to terms with what he'd just heard. He had sent Jane away, so she would be safe, out of harm's way. And, yet, she had been in danger in her own home. All his efforts to keep her safe had been in vain. Worry quickly turned to helpless anger. She had been in danger and he hadn't known!
"Unbelievable!" he suddenly muttered.
Jane scooted off the bed and shrugged into her dressing gown. She tied the belt and moved to his side.
"Severus?"
His head whipped around and his dark gaze bored into her. Jane was momentarily taken aback by the furious glint in his eyes.
"What were you thinking?" he hissed. "You could have been hurt… or worse."
For a moment, Jane stared at him, taken aback by his outburst. Then she understood, and her expression softened. He was still concerned for her safety, and it touched her. She cupped his face between her hands and met his eyes determinedly.
"Severus, I knew how to deal with them."
He sighed resignedly, his anger quickly evaporating, but his worry still showed. Jane looked up into his dear drawn face and caressed his cheek.
"Really, I did."
Severus leaned his forehead against hers. "Promise me, you'll be careful in the future. I couldn't bear it if anything ever happened to you."
Jane kissed him tenderly. "I promise."
He nodded and hugged her to him, drawing her close. They stood like this, tightly wrapped in each others' arms, for a long time.
"Out of curiosity," Severus suddenly asked after a while, "what shape did the boggarts take? Not Beadle, or… the Dark Lord?"
She shook her head. "No. Not them."
"Oh, thank God." Severus breathed a sigh of relief.
"It was much worse."
His brows knit together into a dark scowl. "Worse?" he echoed.
Jane nodded. "I saw you – dead."
Severus clutched her tighter, never wanting her to leave the protective circle of his arms again. He began to swallow convulsively as the meaning of what she had said penetrated his brain.
"Jane, my love," he groaned, "I wish you could have been spared that."
She caressed his face again and kissed the line of his jaw. "I know."
"When did you learn the Patronus spell?" Severus finally asked after a long silence. "Who taught you? It certainly wasn't me."
Jane shrugged. "I learned from books, and… well, Remus helped me lot after you went to Azkaban. He taught me some really neat tricks, too. I even used a couple of them when I tried to escape from Voldemort's prison."
"Really?" Severus was intrigued. "Show me."
Her eyes grew wide. "Now?"
He nodded, and she shrugged again. "Alright. Accio wand!"
Her wand flew into her hand, and she weighed it for a moment. She missed her old wand, but the new one – ebony hardened in dragon's fire and containing powdered dragon scales – obeyed her reasonably well. Before returning to Hogwarts, she had visited Diagon Alley and walked its entire length several times. To her consternation, however, she had been unable to find Ollivander's shop, no matter how hard she'd looked…
"Well?" Severus asked her impatiently, interrupting her train of thought.
"Fenestra abscondia!"
Severus showed mild interest in the little spy-hole her spell had created.
"Do another one," he instructed her.
"Porta patens!"
This time, Severus looked duly impressed. "Amazing! Remind me to thank Lupin the next time I see him."
"I can even do them wandless," Jane added proudly.
"Wandless?" he echoed, incredulous at her admission.
She nodded, unaware of the impression her statement had made on him.
"You can do wandless magic?" Severus asked her again.
Jane shrugged. "It takes a lot of effort, but I've been practicing, and… and it's getting easier."
"Incredible!"
She slid her arms around him again and snuggled against him. "So, you see? I'm quite capable and can take care of myself. You don't have to worry about me."
Severus took a deep breath and hugged her to him. "I can't help it," he admitted. "I love you."
"I know." Jane kissed his shoulder. "I love you, too."
He tightened his arms around her, and tugged her head under his chin. A content sigh escaped his lips. Severus still couldn't believe his good fortune. Jane had forgiven him, and now she was back where she belonged – in his arms. He loved the feel of her warm body against his, and he couldn't understand that there ever had been a time when he'd thought he could live without her.
Earlier this evening, her response to him had been as enthusiastic as the first time they had made love so long ago. Just like then, her need had been as fierce as his, and they had come together in a frantic and desperate tangle of limbs. His body had been starved for her touch, and judging by the wild urgency with which she had met him, she had missed him just as much. The memory of their passionate encounter stirred him anew. He let his hands slide down her back to her buttocks and pulled her against his rapidly growing arousal.
Jane's eyes flew open. "Again?" she asked him, surprised at his stamina.
"Why not?" Severus kissed the nape of her neck. He wasn't concerned; he had taken his strengthening potion earlier.
"But… you aren't fully recovered, yet, Severus. You must take it easy."
"I don't care," he growled, pushing against her, removing all doubt about his desire for her.
"Well, I guess, you are the best judge of what you are capable of." Jane giggled delightedly and wriggled against him.
"That's right," Severus said gruffly and reached for the sash of her dressing gown.
Her gaze dropped to his hands, and she watched his nimble fingers quickly undo the knot.
"I love your hands…" Jane sighed. "I want to feel them all over me."
Severus cocked an eyebrow. "Do you, now?" he asked, his dark eyes burning with desire.
Jane nodded slowly, mesmerized by his smoldering gaze. "I do."
He bent down and brushed his lips ever so gently over hers. "What else do you want?" he asked her softly while he pushed the dressing gown off her shoulders.
"Mmm…" She surrendered to his touch.
"Well?" Severus prompted her, nudging her again with his hips.
"Um…" Jane considered the possibilities for a moment, but his caresses made it impossible for her to think straight.
"Maybe this..." He moved his hands from her shoulders to her throat and down to her breasts. Severus kneaded the soft flesh, rolling her rapidly hardening nipples between his long fingers. He had dreamt of her breasts many a night, but reality was eclipsing all fantasy now. "…will give you some ideas…"
The rough calloused skin of his hands sent electric shivers through her body, and Jane leaned into his touch.
"This feels wonderful," she mumbled contently.
"You like that, hmm?"
"I do," she sighed.
"What about this?" Severus buried his face against her neck and dragged his tongue over her soft skin, tasting her. Jane moaned when he reached a particularly sensitive spot, and his lips pulled into smile. He gently bit her throat, which he knew would drive her wild.
Jane felt a familiar wetness build between her legs, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. "I want you, Severus."
"Your wish is my command."
He led her back to the bed, and they fell onto it, their bodies entwined.
---
"Wow…" Jane sighed happily, once her breathing had returned to normal. "That was amazing."
Severus flopped onto his back and tucked one hand under his head. "It was… rather… good," he admitted calmly.
"Good?" Jane queried archly.
Severus caressed her shoulder and hugged her to him. "It was spectacular," he amended with a satisfied smile.
"That's better." Jane giggled and snuggled against him. She rested her head on his shoulder and began to draw lazy circles on his chest, following her finger with her lips, covering his skin with tiny butterfly kisses.
"What about Willowmere?" Severus asked suddenly.
Jane raised her head and looked at him. "Willowmere?" she echoed.
He noticed the confusion in her eyes and cleared his throat.
"Well, earlier, I noticed all the willows by the lake," Severus began to explain, and Jane suddenly grasped his meaning. Her eyes lit up.
"Willowmere!" she exclaimed. "I love it!"
He tightened his arms around her. "I thought you might."
Jane nudged him. "Careful now, Severus. You're becoming a romantic."
Severus raised an eyebrow and regarded her for a moment.
"And longing eyes half veiled by foolish tears like bluest water seen through mists of rain," he suddenly began to quote from memory.
His voice had taken on a low silky timbre, the subtle nuances of which felt like a caress. Jane loved the sound of his voice. Shivers of anticipation shot through her body, tickling the very core of her. Severus could have read from the phone book, and his voice still would have had the same effect on her.
"Pale cheeks whereon no kiss hath left its strain, red under-lip drawn in for fear of Love, and white throat whiter than the breast of dove –"
When he had finished, Jane stared at him, open-mouthed. She had recognized the lines. They were from Wasted Days. "You've read Oscar Wilde?" she asked him incredulously.
"I have."
"B-but," Jane sputtered, frowning in confusion, "I thought you said you didn't read Muggle fiction?"
Severus smiled. "I make an exception in the case of poetry."
"Poetry, eh?" Jane regarded him suspiciously. "You're not getting soft on me now, are you?"
"I don't… get soft."
Jane smiled mischievously. "I know."
She slowly slid her hand down his chest and over his abdomen to his still half-erect arousal. She wrapped her fingers around his warm length and squeezed gently.
Severus groaned. "Jane…"
She noticed the warning tone in his voice and removed her hand. "I was merely proving a point," she pouted.
"Just give me some time to rest," Severus pleaded tiredly. "After all, I am still recuperating."
Jane nudged him again and not too gently. "Oh, now you're the invalid all of a sudden?"
"You've drained me, Jane."
"I have?" She perked up. That almost sounded like praise.
He nodded. "Definitely. I am spent."
"So, earlier… what was all this I-don't-care-about-my-health-talk about?"
"It had been too long, Jane, and I wanted you so badly. I never thought I would hold you in my arms or make love to you again. So, I… well, I may have overdone it a bit."
Jane immediately propped herself up and leaned over him, studying his drawn face. He did look rather tired.
"Are you sure you're alright?" she asked worriedly.
Her concern touched him. Severus slid one hand along her arm. "I'm fine," he assured her. "I just need some sleep. I haven't slept much in the last few weeks."
"Oh, Severus," Jane scolded him half-heartedly, her concern for his health quickly overshadowing her passion. "Why didn't you say anything? We didn't have to make love tonight. We could have just slept."
His hand stilled, and he fixed her gaze. "No. I wouldn't have changed anything about tonight. It was meant to happen."
Jane looked at him uncertainly, and he smiled. "It's alright. I really just need some rest."
"Well, if you say so..." She was still rather doubtful.
Severus shifted slightly and winced.
"Do you need your strengthening potion?" Jane asked anxiously. "Shall I get it? Where is it? Can I…?"
"Come here," he told her gruffly and pulled her down to him.
Jane readily moved into his arms and buried her face against his neck. "I don't want to lose you again," she whispered against his skin, and he had to strain to hear her.
"You won't," he promised her.
---
The early light of dawn fell through the bedroom window, when Jane awoke to the purposeful ministrations of Severus' most capable hands and lips. His hot breath seared her skin where he kissed it, and his arousal lay already hard and demanding against her thigh.
"Severus?" she asked drowsily.
"Yes, my love?" His voice was low and gravelly, and Jane knew that he himself had woken only recently.
He dragged his tongue over her shoulder and along the graceful lines of her neck. Jane sighed happily. She liked being awakened like this.
"Mmm…" She moved against him, yearning for more. "Don't stop."
Severus smiled against her skin. "I wasn't planning to."
He kissed his way along her jaw to the corner of her mouth, before he descended upon her lips for a passionate kiss. He thrust his tongue into her mouth, delving deep inside. Jane's tongue met his and they dueled back and forth in their own special mating dance, until they both ran out of breath.
"Oh God," Jane moaned, gasping for air, before she pulled him to her for another carnal kiss.
A growl rumbled in Severus' throat, and he claimed her mouth once more with a fervor that was explosive. At the same time, he slid his hand up her thigh and between her legs, finding her already hot and ready for him. Her hips bucked against him.
"Severus," she moaned plaintively, "please."
He nudged her thighs apart and rocked against her. Jane quickly draped her legs over his hips, urging him on.
"Yessss," she hissed with pleasure.
Her enthusiasm stoked the fire burning in him even higher. "Are you ready?"
Jane nodded, raking her nails impatiently over his back. "Oh, yes."
Severus kissed her again and pushed into her, filling and stretching her to her limits. Her muscles immediately contracted around him, drawing him further inside. A guttural moan escaped her lips when he pushed even deeper, hitting the base of her womb.
"Yes!" both exclaimed simultaneously.
She squeezed him again and he exhaled sharply.
"That feels good," he groaned.
Jane smiled broadly. "I know."
Severus withdrew slowly, before forcefully plunging back into her, causing her to moan loudly as he hit the very core of her and sent jolts of pleasure through her body. Jane readily surrendered to him, letting him set the pace that accommodated him the best. She would have plenty of opportunities in the future to take the lead. She smiled naughtily. Once he was stronger.
"I'm glad you find this amusing," Severus suddenly observed and stilled, withdrawing slightly.
"Severus," she protested, tightening her legs around his hips, "don't stop now…"
He hovered at her entrance, keeping their contact to a minimum.
"Severus," Jane pleaded and bucked impatiently against him.
"Not until you tell me what's amusing you so," he told her coolly.
"Oh, alright," she grumbled ungraciously, "I was just thinking of how it'll be once you're completely recovered… of all the things I'd like to do to you."
"Pray, tell," Severus invited her, his curiosity sparked.
"Uh-uh. It'll be a surprise."
He leaned forward, his eyes boring into hers. "Oh, but I want to hear of your plans for me."
Jane shook her head, and her refusal surprised him. His eyebrows rose slowly.
"No?" he asked her softly and, without warning, withdrew completely.
"Severus!" Jane yelled in frustration, her entire body throbbing with unfulfilled desire.
"What?" he asked her gruffly. "You're the only one in this relationship, who's allowed to tease?"
His question took her by surprise. This playful Severus was new to her, and she didn't quite know how to deal with him, yet. An adventurous Severus was unpredictable and a far cry from the careful methodical man she knew. Jane's brows knitted together. She wasn't even sure she liked this new Severus. She had fallen in love with an inscrutable tight-lipped man, and it had taken her a very long time, much aggravation, and even more patience to come to terms with all his dark anti-social moods. She had worked hard to get to know the old Severus, and as long as he was dark and brooding, laconic and disdainful, she knew what she was up against. Now, however, she would have to get to know him all over again.
Of course, there was something to be said for this new Severus, Jane mused, deliberately ignoring the naked man still hovering above her. He truly seemed to be intent on making some changes in his life, and she thought his efforts were rather admirable. It was unfortunate, though, that he had no idea how to go about it. Poor dear, she thought, he still had much to learn – about himself, in particular. This realization made her almost forgive the cruel way he had teased her just now. He simply didn't know any better. Jane's eyes lit up. Well, she would just have to teach Severus, show him that when women teased in the bedroom, it was coquettish and sexy; that, for them, it was a part of foreplay, something to be enjoyed by both partners.
He was watching the play of emotion on her face and was completely taken off guard, when Jane suddenly pushed at his shoulders with amazing strength and shoved him off her body and onto his back. Before he could react, she had climbed on top of him, and stretched his arms high above his head. Severus couldn't really be angry with her. This new turn of events was rather… intriguing. Her breasts rubbed over his chest as she leaned over him until her lips were only a fraction of an inch away from his.
"You are in my power now," she informed him huskily.
He felt her hot breath on his skin and lifted his head to kiss her, but Jane quickly leaned back, just out of his reach. He noticed the naughty sparkle in her eyes and realized that she was up to no good. Severus relaxed. No doubt she would punish him for the way he had broken off their love-making just now. He couldn't wait to find out what she had planned for him.
"Incarcero!" she muttered quietly, and silk ties materialized out of thin air, wrapping themselves around Severus' wrists and binding them securely to the bedposts.
This he hadn't expected. Severus strained against his ties, but Jane wagged her finger at him.
"Now we'll do things my way." She leaned over him again and brushed her lips lightly over his. "First, I'm going to make you burn for me," she whispered, "just like you've made me burn for you…"
Jane moved down his body and kissed his chest just over his heart. "What you did, Severus," she told him between kisses, "was not… nice."
She continued to place butterfly kisses across his chest and scraped her nails gently over his nipples. Severus groaned as he felt his erection grow painfully harder, and he bucked against her. Jane's lips pulled into a mischievous smile. Without warning, she brought her mouth down over one nipple and teased the hardening bud with her teeth. Severus exhaled sharply in a long sustained hiss.
"Did you like that?" she asked him, although she already knew the answer.
Like it? A growl rumbled in his throat. Was she joking? He was ready to come off the bed!
Jane moved to his other nipple and repeated her sweet torture.
"Jane," Severus groaned hoarsely, thrusting his hips impatiently against her
Sporting a triumphant grin, she sat back and wriggled her bottom against his rampant erection. Her breasts jiggled enticingly above him, and Severus ached to put his hands on them, to fondle and knead them to his heart's content. He wanted to take control, grab her hips and push into her tight warmth and make love to her until they both sunk into sweet oblivion. He tugged at his restraints again, more forcefully than before.
"Untie me," he demanded, but Jane shook her head.
"I'm not done with you, yet."
She traced her tongue lazily over her lips, drawing his gaze. His eyes darkened with desire as he hungrily watched the pink tip of her tongue move seductively in and out of her mouth.
"Jane, please!"
She grinned triumphantly. "Admit it," she challenged him.
Severus frowned. "Admit what?"
"Admit that I am a better tease than you are!"
Severus stared at her incredulously. "You're not serious!" he barked indignantly, his eyes flashing furiously. Again, he bucked beneath her. "Release me this instant!"
Jane realized that he really meant it this time and, realizing her plan had backfired, slid off him with a sigh.
"Alright. Liberato!"
Turning her back on him, she moved to the edge of the bed, wondering whether she should sleep somewhere else tonight. She never saw Severus lunge for her. He grabbed her from behind and pulled her back onto the bed. Straddling her, he reached for her wrists and imprisoned them in a powerful grip above her head. Jane stared into his fierce eyes as he hovered over her, but knew she had nothing to worry about.
"Now, it's my turn," he announced grimly. His voice was rough with passion and it sent red-hot shivers of anticipation down her spine. She licked her lips. How she lusted after this man.
Severus felt her surrender to him, and some of his anger diffused. Still, Jane had gone too far with her teasing – as pleasurable as it had been in the beginning – and she had to learn that a man could tolerate only so much sexual frustration. He forcibly parted her legs. Severus had no intention of being gentle or going slow. Without warning, he drove into her, burying himself to the hilt. A guttural moan escaped her and she raised her hips to meet his next thrust. He sunk even deeper into her, and his control snapped. He pushed into her again and again. He was rough and ruthless, but Jane didn't seem to care. She clung to him and met his every thrust. Her wild response to him spurred him on, and Severus drove into her even faster and harder. He gritted his teeth and moved his hands to her buttocks. Leaning back, he thrust into her from a different angle, and Jane's moans increased in pitch, until she suddenly reached her overwhelming climax. With his name on her lips, she contracted forcefully around him, pushing him over the edge. His own powerful release hit him mid-stroke. Severus shuddered violently, and, still buried deep inside her, collapsed on top of her with a hoarse shout.
A/N #2: Just a little more to come.
Lost and Found © 2006 by MMHG
