OMG, i'm sry guys, i know this was long in coming but i am done and posting. However although i hope u enjoy the chapter i hope you dont think its too dragged out. i jsut felt that they needed to sort through thier feelings more.
Anyway Thanks to Anna more than half of this chapter was proofed. If however coming to teh last tehpunctuations and stuff were crappy, it was all due to me and my lack of proofing.
Disclaimer: I own nada of these ppl
Thanks to:
Jessiquie, ApplePie, anonymous, xStillxWaitingx, Morgan, Lady Taliesin, sugur-huny-bun, Allie, Lady of Masbolle, wefeedowls, greengrl, Faith Forever in Harry, ChickAlwaysDreamin, BlueJeanMistress, Akt5us, xMidnitexStarx, bananaslugg, LOTRFREAK77, CarbonMonoxide, KMK25, samanthablack899, LilyandJamesLover, Anna
for reviewing, i love you all so very much, wooo!
…
Simply Friends
Chapter 4: The Allure of Passion
…
'I don't know Lily,' James said in response to her question.
Listening to Lily tell him why she had been fidgety all evening had brought home the fact that for the entire time he'd been with her tonight there had been an undeniable pull between them. Whether Lily felt it herself or was just acting out in response to the ideas Erin had filled in her brain remained to be seen.
Should he ask her outright?
He knew instinctively that one of the ways to deal with this situation was for both sides to tell the truth. It will have its effects but they'd deal with them.
'Lily?'
'Yeah?'
'The kiss is something I can't really explain but maybe your response to it can be.'
'What do you mean?'
'Well you said that Erin was convinced that there was something between us but couldn't it be that you're unconsciously reacting to what she said. After all it's been two years and we haven't felt or acted any differently than how normal mates are supposed to act.'
Lily seemed to ponder that for a little while. 'I … suppose but what about your reaction I didn't just imagine that there was more in that kiss than just pretence.'
James didn't quite have an answer for that one after all he had been answering her question in a round about sort of way. Apparently he was unsuccessful in trying to deter any contemplation about his reaction to her.
'I'll admit I did kiss you like that but Lily you are an amazingly beautiful woman and perhaps I may have forgotten that it was you who I was kissing.' James said but he couldn't really believe he had lied like that.
Of course he'd known who she was. There was no possible way he'd ever mistake her for another woman. Her response had startled him and though his instinct said she willingly participated because she affected by the kiss, it riled against his mind who thought the opposite.
'So you'd kiss any one like that if they returned it?" Lily asked, somewhat calmly…too calmly and James knew he was treading on thin ice.
'Uh no, that not really what I meant,' he said backtracking. How could he tell her anything close to what he'd been thinking?
'Then what exactly did you mean?'
James sighed. Women were a fickle species, you could never win. He put his hands on her shoulders and brought her close. He wasn't sure where this was going but feeling the way he was it was difficult to pretend that it never happened.
'Is it wrong to say that I enjoyed kissing you?' James asked as he leaned his forehead to hers.
'Uh, no I guess not.'
'Then is it wrong to say I don't regret it?' he asked tracing a part of her ear.
Lily shivered slightly but only shook her head this time.
'Then I guess it'll be really wrong if I say I'd be more than willing to do it again.'
Startled she looked up at him but before she could answer—before she could formulate one really they were interrupted.
'Are the lovers having a problem?' a laughing voice said from behind them.
Simultaneously, Lily and James stiffened. Having a private conversation was so bloody hard when everyone kept interrupting.
'Acanthi, I mean this is the nicest possible way. Get lost.' Lily said. 'We're having a private conversation and I personally am not in the mood to find answers to your catty remarks.'
The other woman blinked.
'I suggest you go back to your date, whoever the unlucky soul is. Or maybe you don't have one;' Lily said airily 'I suppose all those independent ones nowadays prefer going alone. Oh well to me it still looks sad anyway. '
James chuckled, 'see you around Acanthi.' He said then led Lily back to the dance floor. Once there he pulled her close and laughed again, 'I could kiss you again for that.'
'I didn't mean to be rude,' Lily said as primly as can be.
Glancing down at her he chucked her under her chin, she really was irresistible like this and he said, 'Yes you did.'
Lily couldn't help it she grinned. 'Okay I did but the girl is impossible.' She said and at that James laughed again, her body absorbing the vibrations.
She loved the feel of his laugh.
Then it sunk in. She loved his laugh?
Why? … Why had she noticed something like that? It meant nothing of course but him appreciating her personality—to be ticked off—like that and laughing about it felt nice and she soaked in the feeling.
Suddenly she felt too serious so she forced a smile and looked up. 'That's putting it mildly,' he said and gave her a funny look.
But before she could determine what the look meant the hired orchestra burst into a fast beat and he grinned and swung her around.
Acanthi didn't approach them again but they still seemed to stay close together. Neither wanted to question it but this new closeness felt good, good in ways that hadn't been experienced by either of them before.
They danced, ate, and danced some more and all the while couldn't seem to stop touching the other.
And half way into the evening Lily finally met up with her boss and introduced James as her…well date.
The word friend didn't seem to apply anymore but she'd love to know what she could classify him as. James smiled and shook hands with everyone.
He hated it but she could see how it came instinctively to him, the mingling and the charm. He seemed sexy to her now.
Why?
Why should it change anything …but then she knew. Erin may have replanted the idea in her head but it was her instincts that were leading her to these feelings.
Shaking them off would prove futile but maybe if she kept quiet.
Maybe if she pretended that nothing was serious then no one will know.
She stared at him as he talked to her employers…no one would know … but she thought as he smiled, the thing is I know that I will.
…
James had never heard of Troy Warfield but apparently the man had heard of him.
'It's very rarely I get to see one of the remaining Potters.' The man said laughing heartily. 'How's you uncle? Still helping out those pixies?'
James smiled, he didn't really like the man's tone about his only living relative but he had to admit that his uncle was a character, not that he wasn't serious about certain things but there were many who thought that Paul was eccentric.
'He's moved on to Mackled Malaclaw's,' James said politely. It wasn't really what his uncle did with his time but it was expected by people who didn't know him to think he really would study an unlucky crustacean.
When they excused themselves a few minutes later Lily was looking at him, her face wearing a puzzled appearance.
'A Mackled Malaclaw huh?' Lily asked pointedly as they walked away and James laughed.
'Well it sounded good at the time...' he half heartedly defended himself.
Lily breathed out but had to grin, 'I get the feeling Uncle Paul would have commended that occupation.'
'Yeah he would,' James said smiling at her. She, like the marauders knew his uncle and where he currently was.
'It sucks though, that he can't be praised for the work he's doing. He deserves it,' Lily said wistfully and James knew exactly what she meant. Publicly Paul Potter is known for his "weird and eccentric" exploits but to few he is one hell of an investigator. He uses his wit and humour to get through the toughest ordeals.
'Yeah well you know him; he'd be more at home…at home than getting honorary keys to the cities of England.' He said then cocked his head slightly, stopped and looked at her. Lily knew more about him and his family than any woman he had ever had in his life.
Of course it was because their relationship didn't go beyond the bold line of friendship; however as the hours passed the line was becoming fainter.
'You want to dance again?' he asked suddenly. He had this urge to hold her.
'Sure,' she smiled.
'Okay, let's go then,' he said then spun them around towards the dance floor.
…
Lily laughed and she tried not to question this new found freedom. And that's how it felt…how she felt. She felt freer that she'd ever been.
Should she run and hide or run and reach?
James twirled her around and around and it was fun. Dancing with him was fun… being with him was fun.
He'd been smooth with her bosses, charming to her coworkers who they'd met as well while dancing. It was nearing midnight and all they'd done since they had been at the Gala was dance.
The fast dances were fun and the slow was torture. She had never, ever felt the urge to jump a person's bones and have her way with him before. They'd played and toyed with the sexual chemistry that floated around them.
The only thing was James hadn't attempted to kiss her again and she couldn't help feel disappointed. At the beginning of the evening she didn't even at to consider anything with him—she still didn't but need heating inside her was becoming a blaze of fire.
At the end of the dance she finished with a leg around his as he'd dipped her backwards.
'Whew,' she said as he righted her and both her feet were on the floor. They walked to the lounge area, which was dimly lit and across from where the bar was. More than half of the guests had already left and the area was scarce of people.
'That was fun,' he said grinned and drew her close. 'I especially had a good time with you around me.' He whispered huskily in her ear. What made him say that…only Merlin knew.
Lily shivered in response, her palms touching his chest. She had never had this reaction to anyone before and for that to happen with James was a whole new place for her. It shouldn't be right but it sure as hell felt that way.
She licked her lips nervously as she tilted her head up to look at him. His hazel eyes were looking at her, boring into her, they trapped her. She couldn't look away even if she'd wanted too.
He traced her lower lip with his thumb, lingering at the corner.
'I shouldn't be doing this,' he whispered hoarsely.
'Yeah,' she agreed, 'you shouldn't.'
'But I can't help myself,' he whispered closer now.
'Me too,' Lily replied fairly rising to meet him half way.
'Just once…' he said, 'one more time.' Then he covered her mouth with his. His tongue traced the seam of her lips lightly and on her gasp, used the opening to plunge in. She matched him, stroke for stroke, borrowing closer to him.
To her their surroundings disappeared and her entire focus was zeroed in on kissing James.
Kissing James, how odd that sounded…it sounded odd yet it didn't prevent her from shoving her hands into his hair, bringing his mouth closer to hers.
He caressed her sides, up her back, and then came down again to rest at her waist. What little mind he had left over knew he wasn't going to touch her more than that, for him to touch her anywhere else was a whole new level.
But he ached to do so, it filled him. James wanted very badly to palm his hands over her tight bottom and bring her closer to show her his aroused state…he wanted to make love to her and that thought alone was enough to scare him.
He ended the kiss slowly and caressed her now swollen lip again.
'We shouldn't have let that happen.' She said.
Ah good sense prevailed…to late as always, he thought wryly. Everything has changed but by how much or how little he didn't know.
'Yeah,' he said resting his forehead against hers. 'We shouldn't have.'
'We can't let this happened again,' she said and sighed. Yeah he knew that, still…he couldn't help but dislike it when she said so. He sighed to. This was getting way to serious way to fast.
'I know,' he said in response to her statement. 'Come on then I think its time I take you home.'
'Yeah,' she agreed but James couldn't be sure what she was feeling.
They went to the robe-checkout counter and waited while the little witch went to get their stuff.
He shrugged on his robes, since he got them first and then helped Lily with her wrap. When it was secured he took her hand and held it all the way the building where they had apparated to house before.
They were silent, neither said anything and both were thinking. James wasn't a good person who accepted change readily and this, here, with Lily, was definitely a huge change.
He kissed her, the first time didn't really count but just now he kissed her, with all the pent up longing since he'd first saw her in the Hogwarts corridor nine years ago…it was just…he hadn't realised anything of the sort was pent up.
He was having urges and needs he shouldn't be having. They were friends and although they'd broken unsaid rules they acted as though they were indeed a couple, fooling everyone there.
They reached their destination and still with out a word apparated outside her flat together. And then while he was thinking of what to say to her to make things alright she spoke.
'Would you like to come for some tea?' she asked. It was nothing abnormal about the request. It wasn't polite but it wasn't welcoming wither. From what he gathered from her tone he figured it was a type of resignation fuelled from the fact that they had to talk, things to work out.
If they didn't it would forever be awkward between them and the guys would notice and if they noticed they would ask questions, questions that he wouldn't be able to answer without sounding at least a little wistful for what might have been.
'Sure,' he said then thinking he might as well say it since one of them had to he added, 'we have to talk anyway.' About what though? He seemed to be stuck in the cycle. His mind was going in circles. Sure they had to talk …but how would they start… what would be said and can he honestly say that he wanted to give up on her—this feeling for her… now that he found it again?
They went in and Lily detoured to the kitchen, after dispensing of her wrap, while he took of his robes and put it on the back of the couch.
Lily on the other hand sorted though her different teas. Did he drink tea? In all the years she knew him she didn't know whether he did or not. But if he did drink tea, what flavour did he like? She had fruit flavours and a green tea. Did he mind any? She knew some blokes didn't care for girly teas and they particularly hated green tea but what should she put on?
Maybe coffee was a better thing to make after all it was universal wasn't it? She glanced at her watch; it was after midnight as it is, should she really make something that will cause her to become more agitated?
Lily sighed and breathed in a few times.
She was agitated even without the caffeine, which was a clear sign since she seemed to be babbling to herself. She knew it would be worse if she had talked to James.
Merlin, things weren't clear anymore. She thought and passed a hand through her hair unravelling it. After dragging all her hair past her shoulders and to the side she braided it there. Sighing again and needing to do something other than fiddle with her hair, she put on the pot to heat, but didn't put on the fire.
Suddenly warm hands rest on her shoulders and smoothed down to her upper arms.
'Hey,' James said leaning closer. 'Are you alright?' By the concerned tone in his voice Lily knew she took too long in the kitchen. She wasn't even timing herself. It didn't take long to make tea, she chided herself.
Drat anyway.
'Yeah, I'm fine. Sorry I was taking so long. I had a hard time deciding on what to make.' She told him, which was the truth but it still didn't seem plausible to her, maybe it would to him but she doubted it.
'I'm partial to raspberry tea,' he said and she could hear the smile in his voice.
His hands continued to sooth her bare arms, rubbing them lightly up and down. Then, she didn't know exactly when but the air around them went from light to tense. The air crackled between them and her jerked breathing made her chest rise and fall rapidly.
James cursed himself. He'd only intended to comfort, now he was aroused and aching.
'I don't know what's happening,' Lily said and leaned against him. His arms moved around her of their own accord and he rested his head on the side of hers and breathed in the scent of her.
She rested her hands on his where they were clasped at her middle.
'I know,' he said and they stayed that way, neither moving.
'James?
'Yeah?'
'It's not because of what Erin said is it?'
'No I don't think so.' He said and felt it when she sighed.
'Neither do I,' she said and then moving his head he traced his lips down her neck.
Lily shivered arching herself closer. It was so wrong this thing between them, but it felt so very right. Then, going on instinct alone Lily turned in his arms andshe tiptoed before shekissed him.
Kissed him, like she had wanted to since the last time but then he had initiated the last two kisses. However, this time she was the aggressor as she took the lead in the kiss.
Soon though, he masterfully took over, dragging her closer him. He swept his hands down her butt and lifted her, pressing her closer to his aroused state.
She thrilled in it… this high knowing that he was reacting to her. It was drugging, the power, as she wrapped her arms tighter around his shoulders, holding on for dear life as he pulled her off the floor and braced her against the stove and countertop.
The dress however was hampering his progress to fit in between the Vs of her thighs. Moaning in frustration since she wanted him there Lily lifted her arms from around him and hiked her dress all the way up to her waist freeing herself for him to get closer.
James grinned through the haze and moved in to stand in between her thighs. Lily was quick to latch her legs around his waist pulling him closer.
'James,' she gasped as they made contact. 'Make love to me.' She said and as those words were spoken James froze.
PLease R&R
