After the dinner party, Draco had gone home and took a long, cold shower. There was something to be said for the old cliche. The iciness, washing over his body, refocused his brain and helped him think clearer. Yes, Hermione Granger looked good in her swimsuit. A lot of witches looked good in swimsuits. His libido would have been equally affected had it been any woman unraveling a towel to reveal that sight to him. He possibly reacted a little stronger to Granger because he knew exactly what was under that suit, but that would be the only reason why.

He slipped on a pair of boxers, cleared up the few breakfast dishes left in the sink, and sunk into the couch with a book. He had contemplated going out to the pub around the corner. It was almost guaranteed that there'd be someone there to take his mind off that blue suit, but he figured it was probably best to just call it a night. Maybe he'd hit the pub up on the weekend. He hated how crowded it got, but he at least knew he wouldn't be leaving on his own.

Draco quickly grew tired of reading. He had just placed the book back on the shelf when someone knocked on his door. He looked through the peephole and his heart skipped a beat. Hermione was on his doorstep. His first instinct was to do nothing, pretend he wasn't home. But then he noticed that she was still in her swimsuit, and her eyes were red and puffy. If he let her leave and roam the streets of London like that, nothing good would come of it. Nothing good could come of letting her in either, but he'd deal with that aftermath later.

As he opened the door, she mumbled an apology, saying she didn't know why she was there. Before she could step away, Draco grabbed her hand and pulled her back. "It's okay. I know why," Draco said, pulling her inside. That was only a half lie. He didn't know exactly why she was there, but he recognized the pained look on her face and knew that, for whatever reason, she couldn't stand the thought of being alone at the moment.

"I just-"

Draco cut her off with a soft kiss, testing his boundaries. He was rewarded with her lips parting and fervently returning the gesture. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close and deepening the kiss.

"I just need to forget," Hermione breathed against his lips.

"I can help with that," Draco murmured, licking her swollen lips.

A small moan escaped Hermione's lips, as she ran her hands up his bare chest and across his shoulders. She dug her nails into his biceps and smashed her lips against his again. Draco hooked his fingers into the tied up sides of her swim bottom, and guided her to the bedroom. As they crossed the threshold, he swiftly untied the barely there garment, and let it drop at Hermione's feet. He then grasped her waist, picked her up, and gently tossed her onto the bed.

"Oh!" Hermione cried in surprise, a hint of a smile flashing across her face.

Draco crawled on the bed and straddled her stomach. He unhooked her top and tossed it over his shoulder.

"Lie back," Draco softly instructed. Hermione obliged without argument, letting her head fall back onto the mattress and her eyes close.

Letting his thumbs stroke gentle circles on either side of her hips, Draco bent low, to Hermione's neck, and began nipping and sucking his way to her collarbone. He slowly worked up to the other side, whispering in her ear, "What do you need to forget about?"

"Why do you ask questions that you already know the answer to?" was her breathy reply.

Her ex-husband's face flitted through his mind as he suckled at a sensitive spot below her ear, and he nipped a little harder than he meant to. The unintended gesture had pleasant results. Hermione's hands grasped his arse and brought his hips crashing down to meet hers. His still clothed erection twitched in anticipation as she thrust against him. Any red haired visions were instantly vanished as her slender fingers slipped between the elastic band and his skin and started working his boxers down his thighs. Draco quickly helped with her quest, working the underwear past his knees and kicking them off. He heard the boxers hit the wall and fall to the floor, causing Hermione to smirk.

Her full lips were irresistible and Draco bent once more to cover them with his own. With one hand back on his arse, and the other on his back, she drew him close; so close he thought he might melt into her. He slipped his arm underneath her and rolled so that they were both on their side. Keeping one hand on the small of her back, Draco let the the other dance up into her soft curls. With tangled fingers, he gently tugged Hermione's head back, breaking the kiss and exposing her slender neck.

Caressing her neck with his lips, his fingers released her hair and traveled down to tease her breast. A sudden gasp punctuated Hermione's pants as Draco gave her nipple a gentle squeeze.

Hermione's fingernails grazed across his arse as her hand came around to the front and gripped his length, giving it a firm, slow stroke. He hummed his pleasure into her neck and she continued to slowly stroke him. Just when he thought he wouldn't be able to hold his composure any longer, her hand stilled and her fingers trickled back to cradle his balls. Draco let out an anguished moan.

He nudged the torturous witch onto her back again and slid his mouth over one of her soft breasts, letting his fingers tease the other. He rapidly flickered his tongue over her aroused bud and purred with satisfaction when he was rewarded with a whimper and a buck of Hermione's hips. When he moved his ministrations to her other breast, her hands grasped onto locks of his hair and her whimpers evolved into cries of ecstasy.

Draco's hand left her breast and traveled down to her swollen center. He brushed his thumb over her engorged nub, before plunging a finger between her dripping folds. After several slow and steady pumps, he added a second finger and began to coax her quivering spot. Just as her walls began to quake and tremble, Draco was thrown back onto the bed. Before his 'what the fuck' could leave his tongue, he was spread eagle and Hermione was hovering above him. Her face was glowing, beads of sweat dotting her cheeks and forehead.

"Enough teasing," Hermione rasped. In one divine, fluid movement, she straddled his hips and slid herself over his rigid and ready prick.

Fearing an early release, Draco glided his hands up her thighs and let them rest on her hips. He wanted to be able to savor the feeling of being engulfed in her warmth and velvet softness. She read his signals and covered his hands with hers while settling her body into a slow and steady grind.

Draco felt almost hypnotized, watching Hermione's body undulate in rhythm with his gyrations. Her eyes were closed and her head lazily swung from side to side. Trickles of sweat left glistening trails along her neck and breasts, pooling at her nipples before splashing against his stomach. Merlin! The witch was an irritating one, but damn could she fuck!

He felt her fire intensify and started to quicken his pace. Her grip on his hands tightened and her pants became heavier.

"I need more," Hermione begged. "Faster!"

Draco multiplied his thrusts.

"Harder!"

Draco rocked his hips up in harsh collision with hers.

"Dammit, Malfoy! I said harder!"

Draco growled with irritation and plucked the demanding witch from his cock. Ignoring her complaints, he pulled her off the bed and bent her over the edge.

"Careful what you ask for Granger," he warned, slipping his cock back into her gushing core. Digging his fingers into her hips, he pounded into her from behind. Hermione's satisfied screams were muffled as she buried her face in the blankets.

Draco continued to slam into her, dropping his fingers to massage her clit and at that point she came undone. She turned her head and let out a strangled cry that startled him and caused him to pause for a split second.

"Don't fucking stop!" she howled.

Draco pounded hard, fast, and relentlessly until he felt her barriers pulse and then crumble around him. Hermione's body convulsed as her orgasm consumed her. Draco groaned as he was drowned in her juices, but he didn't let up. As Hermione rode out her ecstasy, she clenched around his length and he couldn't hold back any longer. Grasping her shoulders, he pulled Hermione back and held her tight against him as he erupted inside her.

When both of their breathing had slowed, Draco wrapped his arms around her stomach and gently supported her as he slipped from her comforting heat. Hermione slowly stood up, her legs wobbling slightly. Draco pulled her close and nuzzled his face in her hair.

"Is that what you were looking for?" he whispered.

"Yes," she breathed, leaning her head back against his shoulder. "Thank you."

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The following morning, Hermione woke before the sun. Draco was sprawled beside her, on his stomach, and fast asleep with one arm draped over her stomach. With feather-like movements, she lifted his arm and rolled off the bed. Draco let out a grunt, but didn't wake. Hermione breathed a sigh of relief and tiptoed around the room, searching for clothing. She found her swim suit, but didn't want to take the time fussing with the ties. She found Draco's discarded boxers from the night before and a rumpled button-up shirt. It would do for apparating back to Harry and Ginny's.

Hermione padded out to the living room, found her wand, and quietly let herself out into the hallway. She let out another relieved breath and rested against the door, trying to gather her thoughts. It was hard to sort through them though when her mind was still muddled from sex and she was bathed in Draco's scent. Without thinking, she pulled the shirt collar to her nose and inhaled deeply. Yep, definitely not helping. With a defeated groan, she quickly spun and apparated to Harry and Ginny's back garden.

As she silently climbed the steps and her bedroom door came into view, Hermione let down her guard. Her friends had plans to go out for the day, finalizing details at the wedding venue, but it seemed like they had yet to get a start to their day. She had just twisted the doorknob, when the bathroom door opened and bathed the hallway in light.

"Hermione?"

Hermione spun around and found Ginny eyeing her skeptically. Heat flooded her cheeks as she searched her brain for a reasonable explanation, without giving away the truth.

"You okay?" Ginny asked.

"Yeah, fine. You?" Hermione cringed at the rushed squeakiness of her own voice.

"I was sick and didn't want to wake Harry up, so I came out to use this bathroom. You have a good night?"

"It was…." Great! Amazing! Unbelievable! "Yeah, it was good," she finally answered.

"Good," Ginny said, her mouth curving with a knowing smirk. "We're going for brunch before we head to the hotel. You want to join us?"

"No, you guys go have a nice day together," Hermione urged. "I know it's a rarity for you guys to get anytime alone together. Go enjoy it. I don't see you guys getting another chance anytime soon."

"All right, Min. Open invitation if you change your mind." Ginny gave her a small wave before retreating to her room.

Hermione let herself into her own room and flopped onto the bed. She indulged in another sniff of Draco's shirt.

What the hell was she doing?! She sat up and quickly shed the shirt, throwing into the laundry basket. She did the same with his boxers and wrapped herself up in her silky blue bathrobe. Rubbing her hands over her face, she sat back on the bed, trying to decide whether she should laugh or cry over her situation.

Why, in a moment when she was seeking comfort, had she turned to Draco Malfoy? Of all the things in the world that made absolutely no sense, that was at the top of the list. Or at least in the top ten. Draco Malfoy was not exactly the person to turn to for warmth and understanding.

The most painful thing of it all was that she knew exactly why she had gone to him, she just didn't want to admit it. She didn't really want warmth and understanding. She had wanted to get away. Away from Ron, away from inevitable questions from her friends, away from her past…..away from reality. And fuck, she needed another good night's sleep! What was it about sharing a bed with that man that relaxed her and kept the night terrors at bay? That answer she didn't have, but she wasn't going to feel guilty about using him to get something she needed. She knew he was doing the exact same thing with her. No feelings, just sex.

So then what was this gnawing feeling in the pit of her stomach that made her smile involuntarily every time she caught a whiff of his lingering sweat and aftershave. She shot a look of irritation at the shirt sleeve hanging over the side of the basket.

The sun had started its climb and outside her room she could hear Harry and Ginny's muffled conversation as they got ready for the day. Hermione pushed Draco's shirt to the bottom of the laundry basket and paced the room until she heard the house fall silent. Then she hurried to the shower so she could reclaim her own scent and sanity.

Wrapped back up in her bathrobe, Hermione let her hair hang in damp ringlets to air dry. She wasn't planning on going anywhere so there was no use trying to tame her curls. She quirked her lips as she examine her reflection in the mirror. She had been debating whether or not she should put a lengthening charm on it for the wedding. A few added inches would give her more styling options for the big day. She'd just have to get it cut again back in New York. She could already hear her stylist gushing over how lucky she was to have such thick hair that grew so fast. If only Marie knew Hermione's cheat…

Down in the kitchen, Hermione rummaged through the cabinets trying to decide on breakfast. She couldn't summon the energy for actual cooking so she opted for oatmeal. As she worked, she started singing a song that had crept into her head earlier.

"Mama mia, here I go again. My my, how can I resist you?" She grabbed blueberries from the icebox and started washing a handful. "Mama mia, does it show again. My my, just how much I missed you."

"How much have you missed me, Granger?" a drawling voice asked.

Hermione froze for a second, wondering just how long he had been standing there this time. Forcing her face into a passive expression, she turned and answered, "It's hard to miss something that doesn't go away."

Draco's eyes narrowed and he took a step forward. "I won't go away? Who's the one that showed up on my doorstep last night?"

"Touche, Malfoy. Oatmeal?"

He looked as though he was about throw out another biting remark, but stopped. "What?"

"I'm making oatmeal. Would you like some?" Hermione asked.

"Sure," he said slowly, a quizzical look in his eyes as he watched her ladle porridge into a bowl.

"Blueberries? Honey?"

"What did you call me?"

Hermione resisted a laugh and answered, "Do you want blueberries or honey for your oatmeal?"

"Yeah, both thanks." He grudgingly accepted the proffered spoon as she slid a bowl across the island to him. He took a few bites before launching into a rant. "You left me again this morning. Why do you keep doing that?"

Hermione snorted. What was his hang up on her leaving in the morning?

"Why does it bother you so much? I didn't peg you for a person that craves post-coital cuddles as we watch the sunrise together."

"I'm not," he replied through gritted teeth.

"So then what is it? You want to turn this into more than just sex?"

"Definitely not!"

"Then what Malfoy? I thought we were giving each other exactly what the other wanted. Why is my sneaking away in the morning such a big deal?"

"Because I—" Draco stopped and let his spoon drop into his half eaten breakfast. "It just isn't what I'm used to."

Hermione leaned back against the counter as she finished a bite of oatmeal. She took a moment to study his expression and suddenly understood. It was so obvious. She couldn't believe she hadn't seen it the first time around. Draco Malfoy, control freak.

"What?" Draco asked, a note of hesitation tingeing his voice.

Hermione smirked and pointed at him with her spoon. "I'm starting to figure you out. You're trying to keep up this gruff, aloof persona, but really you tend to wear your heart on your sleeve. At least to anyone that takes a moment to pay attention."

"Just because you've spent two nights in my bed, don't start to assume you know jack shit about me," Draco growled, pushing his bowl away. Hermione caught it before it could slide off the island. "You can wipe that smug look off your face cause you don't know a damn thing."

"I'm betting I know and understand more than what you think, but whatever you have to tell yourself."

Draco opened his mouth to speak, but then abruptly closed it once more.

"Have I rendered the great Draco Malfoy speechless?"

"Hardly," Draco sneered. "You've known me for barely two weeks. Don't try and pull some muggle psycho-babble bullshit with me."

"Oh please! I've know you a lot longer than two weeks!"

"Things have changed Granger. You know nothing about me."

Hermione bit back a retort. He was right, to a degree. She of course didn't know everything about him, but she knew more than he'd ever admit to. She also knew him well enough to know that no matter what defense she mounted for herself, he'd keep talking the subject around in circles until he had the last word. Much like cooking that morning, she didn't have the energy for that battle.

She sighed and dropped his bowl into the sink. "Are we done here?"

"I don't know. Are we?"

"Well, if you want to keep telling me about how much I don't know, then you'll have to do it upstairs because I'm going to go get dressed." Hermione placed her own bowl in the sink and started for the stairs.

"Have I told you lately how infuriating you are?" Draco called.

"No conversation with you is complete without it," Hermione called back.

Draco growled and stalked off to the fireplace yelling, "You know nothing Granger!"

Just as he was dropping the floo powder, Hermione smiled widely, waved, and said, "See you Tuesday, Malfoy!"

Draco glared at her as he was engulfed by the emerald flames. She knew she was being petty, but fuck it. He wasn't getting the last word this time.