As many of you know, I took requests for this chapter. Doing so ended up making the chapter much longer than I intended. Hence, you've all added on a chapter to the fic that was supposed to be eight or nine chapters. And here we are with chapter 15...sigh...

REQUESTS: Doc – "That's HUGE!" Alkari – "Coming back for more?" Mincot – awkward smut SS – smutty smut Durayan – No Morning breath Pel – They almost get caught Gryff – Liam's chest hair gets attention

Saturday, May 16 – 9:41 am

Liam stood in the doorway of his bedroom, silently watching the figure asleep on the bed. She was on her side, curled up around a pillow, hugging it close to her chest. Her hair was a mess of tangles, but it didn't matter. Her face was so calm and peaceful looking that no one would think twice about the state of her hair. She whimpered in her sleep and rolled onto her back. It was the first real movement she had made in the last hour. Her shirt was twisted around her body haphazardly. Liam was amused by the cat-like stretch her arms made and the big yawn that accompanied it. His eyes were immediately drawn to the small amount of skin on her tummy now peeking out from under her shirt. As her eyes slowly fluttered open, Laim took a step into the room.

"Good morning," he said, approaching the bed.

"Hi," she replied, rubbing her eyes. "What time is it?"

"Nearly ten."

Roarke opened her eyes and got her first good look at where she was. "Did I...is this your bed?"

Liam loved how her face blushed at the implications and knew what she must be thinking. "Yes, I thought you would be more comfortable in here."

Roarke's hands nervously pulled the covers up to cover her chest. "Did I fall asleep on the couch again?"

Liam nodded. "That's twice I've supplied room and board for you, Miss Lupin. I'm going to start keeping a tab of your expenses." He sat down on the bed next to her without hesitation.

"So then...you carried me in here?"

"Yes." Liam wondered how long it would take her to ask the inevitable question he was certain was plaguing her mind.

He didn't have to wait too long. "And where...er...did you sleep?"

Liam smiled brightly. "Where do you think I slept?"

Roarke looked down at her hands still pulling at the blankets. She was a total puzzle to Liam when it came to matters like this. One moment she would be forward, behaving like a little vixen. She would flirt without the smallest of a blush. The next moment she would tense up as if they had never even touched each other.

Was she just stringing him along? Was this just a fling for her? Liam had difficulty accepting that. He had been in a fling before, and it didn't feel anything like this. Besides, Roarke didn't seem the type to do such a thing. However, if she wasn't just teasing him, that lead to the only logical conclusion Liam could think of; that she wasn't as experienced in relationships as he once believed. She didn't seem comfortable doing anything much more than kissing. When things grew any heaver than that, she would freeze up and grow suddenly shy. Liam's subtle hint that he might have slept in the same bed as her, and the deep blush that covered her face, nearly confirmed his suspicions.

Liam couldn't stand to see her so nervous any longer. He placed a hand on top of hers and said, "I slept on the couch, Rory. I was just teasing."

Roarke looked at him, her shoulders relaxing. Her hands stopped pulling at the blankets as her fingers laced through his in ease. "I know. I didn't think that you...I mean..."

"Yes you did. Trust me, Rory, if we had slept together, you would have remembered it."

Roarke smiled and shook her head. "Are you always this cocky with your girlfriends?"

"Only the ones I like."

Roarke gave a small laugh, which thrilled Liam. Not only that, but she had just officially declared herself to be his girlfriend, a word that, until now, had not been used. Deciding he had resisted long enough, Liam leaned in close to her for a kiss. Quite abruptly, a hand flew up to push him away. Roarke covered her mouth and looked at him in total horror.

"What?" Liam said in sudden concern.

"Don't kiss me!"

"Why not?"

"Because I just woke up! I haven't brushed my teeth yet."

"So?"

"My breath."

"What about it?"

"Will!" she gasped. "It's...gross!"

Liam didn't understand what all the fuss was about. He just wanted a small kiss, that's all. Yeah...riiiiight! "So, go brush them and get back here so I can do what I've been wanting to do for nearly an hour."

"You've been up for an hour? Why didn't you wake me?"

"Because you were up late last night helping me. I knew you didn't have to work today, so I figured I'd let you sleep in. Good grief, I can't be the only person who likes to sleep in when I can."

Roarke looked at him a bit puzzled. "All right, I'll give you that. But I don't have a tooth brush, so you'll have to wait for me to run home and..."

"Excuse me," Liam said pulling his wand out from the pocket of his trousers. "I would have thought that Hogwarts taught you how to conjure or even transfigure a tooth brush." He picked up a quill lying on the bedside table and transfigured it into a toothbrush.

Roarke took it from him. "Ha ha. You think you're so clever."

"No, I just think I'm a wizard who's a bit more practical than his girlfriend." It's amazing how good it feels to call you that!

A smile tugged at the corners of Roarke's mouth, but she resisted. "I suppose you want me to go use this, now?"

"That would be nice."

Something flashed in Roarke's eyes, a twisted grin on her face. "Why don't I just go back to sleep. I could use a few more hours..." But she didn't have the chance to finish her teasing. Liam pulled her out of the bed, playfully, and escorted her to the loo. "All right! I can take a hint." She closed the door behind her with a "tsk" sound. Liam could have sworn he heard her call him a foul name, but he didn't comment on it. He just went back to the bed to wait for her.

For one brief moment, he actually considered waiting for her in the living room, but opted to see how she would react to him still sitting on the bed. Things were progressing between them in a way Liam had never expected. He genuinely wanted to know her – know everything about her. Past relationships were always based on physical attraction only. It wasn't something Liam was too proud of, but at least he could recognize the difference with Roarke.

It was almost as if things were totally reversed when it came to Roarke. They spent more time talking about life and the trial and sharing humorous anecdotes from their pasts than they did snogging. Roarke spent most of her free time helping him understand wizarding laws on lycanthropy and how those laws might pertain to his testimony. Just yesterday, she accompanied him to his meeting with Mr. Black, much to Liam's surprise. After all, she was still keeping their relationship a secret from her family, and Liam had come to realize that Mr. Black was an extension of her family unit.

That was another indication that things were different with Roarke. It bothered Liam greatly that she wasn't telling her family about him, and that was a shock to his system. He never really cared about parents before. He'd only ever been formally introduced to one set of parents in the past, and that was because his last girlfriend insisted. Why would it trouble him now that Roarke's family knew very little about him? And why did it matter that he made a good impression on them at Easter, even though they didn't know the full story?

In all fairness, that wasn't exactly the truth. Roarke admitted to having told nearly everyone – except her father. That was the real worry. Liam met with Mr. Lupin every so often, and it was only a matter of time before something slipped out. That was why it surprised Liam so much that Roarke went with him to Mr. Black's yesterday. When Liam questioned her about it, she looked him in the eyes and promised to tell her father. It was a comfort to know that there wouldn't be any more secrets, but it was also frightening. Would Mr. Lupin accept it? Liam couldn't even begin to imagine what he would do if he were forbidden to see Roarke. She was his lifeline right now. She was his piece of normalcy. I need her. I want her. I...

Liam squinted his eyes shut and pushed the thought from his mind. He hadn't known her long enough to draw such conclusions. She was his girlfriend and that was all. If luck was on his side, he would be going home soon. He would never have to see England again. Which meant that he would be leaving Roarke. He might never see Roarke again, and he knew he had to maintain enough of a distance from her so that he could leave when he had the chance. It was too great a risk to do anything else.

Liam snapped out of his thoughts when the bathroom door opened and Roarke stepped into sight. She took a few steps closer to the bed, but didn't sit next to him. Liam held out his hand to her, and she took it. "Dragon breath all gone?"

She smiled. "Yes. How about your werewolf breath?"

Liam's jaw dropped. "I can't believe you just said that." She only laughed at him in reply. He pulled her hand quickly so that she lost her balance and flopped down on the bed. Liam immediately assaulted her with tickles. She screamed and tried to reach for her wand. Liam pressed her shoulders to the mattress hard, stopping her from moving. Her breathing was shallow and rapid as his gaze flitted from her eyes to her mouth.

Liam kissed her slowly, gently. Roarke relaxed into the kiss and wrapped her arms around him, pulling him to her. So much for keeping a distance! Liam rested his chest against hers, his hands working their way from her neck to her waist, lightly gliding over her curves. He fought against the urge to fully cover her body with his. He had always been careful about where and how he touched her, but the more moments like this they had together, the less willing his body was to behave.

In fact, it wasn't behaving now.

A little moan escaped from Roarke and Liam deepened the kiss. His fingers played with the hem of her t-shirt, lifting it up so he could touch the warm skin underneath that taunted him earlier. She was so soft that his thoughts were soon lost in the texture of her skin. He kissed her neck and took in the smell of her hair. The fragrance of her shampoo was nearly gone. She smelled like him – his cologne, his soap, his shirt. And it only made Liam want her more.

It was a want Liam had never felt before.

Roarke arched against him, inviting his hand to travel up her stomach. His finger traced a path up her side, causing her to shiver beneath him. Liam nibbled on her ear and daringly ran his thumb along the underside of her breast. He stilled his hand when he heard her gasp, waiting for her to scold him. But it didn't come. Instead, she turned her head and pressed her lips against his in a searing kiss. A jolt of excitement coursed through Liam's body. Her reaction to his touch was a welcome surprise and only encouraged him to go further. Soon, Roarke was reciprocating the ministrations in earnest. Wanting to give her access to whatever she wanted, Liam quickly pulled his shirt off and resumed his course of action.

His mouth met hers in demand, misinterpreting the whimper that was burried in the kiss. His hands were on her hips now, playing with the waistband of her pants. He wanted to touch as much of her as he could. No – it wasn't a want anymore, but rather a need – a need that consumed him. An animalistic need. There was no other description for it. The wolf was in control.

"Will...stop," she murmured against his mouth. The heat of her breath only encouraged him to continue. Conscious thought began to surface when he felt Roarke tightly grip his wrists, her nails digging into his skin. "Don't...Will..." she panted, but he silenced her with another kiss. She pulled her mouth away and forcefully pushed against his chest.

"Please! We have to stop!"

Stop! She said stop!

STOP!

Liam collapsed next to her, his head buried in her shoulder. He couldn't look at her just yet. Never in his life had he ever fought against a woman. Never, in all his relationships, had a woman had to tell him twice to stop. He wasn't like this. He was able to control himself, no matter how much he wanted to continue. He had always been in control. That's what separates man from beasts.

Oh God...

The old man was right!

His eyes were shut tight as he forced his heart – and his body – to calm down. He still couldn't look at her, worried that he might see fear in her eyes. He didn't want her to be afraid of him, but knew he had done just that. Even he was afraid of what might have happened had she not forced him off of her. He wasn't sure what to say to Roarke, but he knew an apology was necessary. But how to say it and not sound artificial? His breathing slowed and he soon felt a gentle hand running up and down his back.

"I'm sorry," she said with all sincerity.

The words pierced Liam's heart. She had apologized to him?

"Don't be. It's my fault."

"No really. It's not you. It's me."

Is she serious?

Liam leaned up to look at her, just as Roarke went to sit up. Their heads collided in a hard crash sending them both back down to the bed in agony. Liam rolled onto his back, massaging the bump on his forehead. Beside him, Roarke's groan turned into a small laugh. "Well, that was positively romantic!"

Liam turned his head to look at her. "Are you all right?"

Roarke rolled onto her side. "I might have a headache later. Anyone ever tell you that you have a head like a Bludger?"

"That's..." Liam closed his eyes, knowing she misunderstood him. "That's not what I meant."

Fingertips danced lightly over his chest, teasing the hair and sending gooseflesh all over his skin. "I'm fine. Really. It was just...too fast."

Liam nodded and looked up into her face. He captured her hand in his, stopping her from tempting him further. "I won't let that happen again. I promise."

Roarke sat all the way up, her legs crossed in front of her. "Now, I didn't say I never wanted it to happen again. I just said it was too fast this time." She smiled and lowered her head to kiss him.

What? Did I hear that correctly?

Roarke sat back up and fidgeted with her hair. "I need a shower. How you can kiss me when I look like this is beyond me."

Ignoring the mental image of Roarke in the shower, and still trying to work out what she meant by her previous statement, Liam stood up and picked up his shirt. It was necessary for him to change the conversation to a topic that had nothing to do with sex. "I haven't been to the store recently, so I'm sorry I can't offer you breakfast."

Roarke got to her feet as well. "Don't bother. I think what I need is to get into some clean clothes."

Again, an image of her naked drove its way into him mind. "Want to borrow another robe?" Liam grabbed up a set of robes and held it out for her to take.

She frowned. "Will, what size do you think I wear? That's HUGE! Or didn't you notice how I tripped over them the last time I wore them."

"I noticed." I notice everything. "So, you're going home then?"

"Yes, but I'll come back later if that's all right? I think we were really on to something last night. The Ministry must not have any proof or they would have just repelled the Werewolf Act of 1934. I think we should explore that some more."

Liam followed her out of the bedroom and over to the couch where her bag sat. She picked it up, stuffed a few stray bits of parchment into it, and slung it over her shoulder.

"I'm meeting again with Mr. Black tonight. Do you want to come?" he asked.

"No," she said with a frightened look on her face. "I'm having dinner with my parents, just the three of us. I thought...it might be a good time to tell them about us."

Us...

"Are you sure?" he asked, looking into her eyes.

"Yes. I feel guilty for not saying anything sooner. It's not fair to you, either. I don't want you to have to lie about this any more."

Liam felt both relieved and worried. Telling her family about him meant so much more to him than he every expected it to. However, he knew Mr. Lupin didn't care for him that much, and would probably oppose the relationship. "Do you want me to be there? I could meet with Black this afternoon instead."

"No, I think it would be better if I did this on my own. But I'll come by afterwards to let you know how everything went."

"I would like that."

There was a stillness in the air as they just looked at one another. This was really going to happen. Everything would be out in the open. Just in time for me to leave.

Roarke kissed his cheek saying good-bye and Disapparated, leaving Liam alone with his thoughts. He stood still for a moment considering how important it was to him that everything went well today. His meeting with Mr. Black would be his last before the trial. Roarke's dinner with her parents would mark the start of them being a real couple. Today could end up making or breaking everything that was important to him right now. Today could provide some real breakthroughs – or heartaches - for his future.

He ran a hand through his messy hair and headed back to the bedroom. He needed a shower. He needed to relax. He needed to get his mind off of the day – and Roarke – for just a few minutes. He turned on the water and felt the stinging coldness of it. A cold shower wasn't exactly a bad idea right now, so he didn't turn the hot water on full. He started to unbutton his pants just as a knock sounded at the front door.

Roarke...

He grinned mischievously. "You know, you could just Apparate in here," he called to her on the other side of the door while he fastened his pants. "I don't have a problem with that. So what's the matter?" he asked, hurrying for the door "Coming back for more?" He opened the door and the smile on his face fell. It wasn't Roarke at all.

It was her father.

"Mr. Lupin!" Liam said, eyes going wide.

"Good morning, Liam. I should have owled before coming over, I know, but I didn't think you would be too busy this time of day."

Liam tried desperately to wipe the look of shock off his face. "It's no problem. I was just about to take a shower. Let me...er...let me...get dressed." Without really inviting Mr. Lupin in, Liam ran back to the bedroom and turned off the shower. He picked up a shirt and started pulling it over his head. Roarke's scent filled his senses and he immediately tugged it back off.

"Shit!" he spat out quietly. He dug to the back of the closet, looking for something Roarke had never touched. She's had her hands on everything...including me! He found an older set of robes and changed into them in a rush. He quickly grabbed up a bottle of strong smelling cologne from the dresser and splashed it all over his face, chest, and arms, hopefully disguising her lingering smell. It was a lost cause, but Liam didn't have any other choice.

"Let's hope this works."