Chapter 2

Seconds after Hermione had wrapped her fingers around her bicep Storm found herself landing on solid ground once again, her dark eyes finding her feet briefly as they landed. She praised her strong stomach as she let it settle before she really let herself take in where they had ended up. Hermione was still holding onto her, taking in her expression with that same curious stare that made Storm feel like she was being assessed for something.

"Make yourself comfortable" she spoke then before letting go of the younger woman's arm finally only to disappear around a corner. Storm took the opportunity to really have a look at where they were. She was stood in the middle of a large living room by the looks of it. There was a large sofa just beside where she was standing, and a coffee table sat empty in front of it. To the far wall was a desk, a lamp and a chair next to a really rather looming bookcase absolutely crammed full.

As she leaned to pull off her black canvas slip ons she noticed there was a small window in the wall that led into where she assumed the kitchen was. She could see the older woman rummaging about in a cupboard, clearly looking for something. Storm briefly wondered if it was the decaff, if Hermione too was afraid of being kept up at all times of the night. She seemed to be just as well put together as she was in school, maybe a little bit less uptight. So, Storm figured that guess was probably accurate.

With that she moved to place her shoes next to the door quietly before making her way back to the sofa, sitting gently down into one of the corners. Normally in any case after a few drinks her knees definitely did not work as they should and tended not to bend. Though it probably wouldn't do very well to put herself through Hermione's sofa butt first. That thought made her chuckle to herself quietly as she patted the arm of sofa beside her.

"What's funny?" Came the older woman's voice almost startling the shifter back out of her seat. She hadn't heard her come back in and when she looked up again to take in the scene before her she was equally as surprised to see the glasses held in the older woman's hands were definitely not coffee cups. A full bottle of fire whiskey pressed firmly between the crook of Hermione's elbow and her side.

"Oh nothing, sorry." Storm spoke sheepishly as she took the glass that was handed to her, never one to really say no to a drink offered to her. Especially in someone's home, that'd just be rude and she was many things but rude was not one of them. "Didn't have any coffee after all huh?" She prodded a little teasingly, though her suspicions had definitely been peaked as the older woman sat beside her rather than on the other side of the couch.

"Did you really think we were going to be drinking coffee?" Hermione spoke a little bit disbelievingly, her own eyebrow raised as she fixed the younger woman with a pointed stare.

"So, is this just another drink or are you trying to seduce me?" Storm laughed then, her tone light and teasing as she moved to pull a sip from the bottom of her glass. Though the whiskey seemed to hit the back of her throat and she forgot how to swallow entirely as she watched the red heat creep up her companion's throat at the mention of it.

"Well, I didn't know exactly what it was I wanted. But you've caught me off guard tonight and I am quite attracted to you. So that ending wouldn't be the worst" Hermione stammered out almost as if she had owed the explanation to the shifter beside her. Her dark eyes wild with uncertainty as they took in Storm spluttering and choking on the whiskey.

"Bloody hell!" Storm rasped as she finally pulled a steady breath into her lungs. She had not expected anything of the sort, let alone such an awkward admission from the normally quite confident woman. She hadn't really seen Hermione falter at all up until this point. Sure, she couldn't deny her own raging attraction for the woman that was now sat beside her, but to even fathom some semblance of attraction being returned... well she had deemed that impossible.

"I mean if you didn't want to that's absolutely fine, you're not obligated or anything." Hermione continued, running a hand through her hair in an effort to do something to occupy herself.

Storm leant forward then, setting her glass down on the coffee table in front of them. Guilt creeping up the back of her neck as she considered her options. She knew Hermione had had quite a bit to drink that night, but then again so had she. Hermione had been the one to initiate this visit, and they were indeed both adults in this situation.

"This is the worst attempt at seduction I have ever been subjected to" Storm teased again, her dark eyes meeting the older woman's own to hold them in a solid gaze. "I mean, is this something you actually want to do? Will you regret it in the morning? Because I've actually quite liked just talking to you, and I'd like to be able to do that again without it being really uncomfortable for us both."

Her tone had turned serious and Hermione's eyes flashed with something she couldn't quite put her finger on. She couldn't quite believe this is how her night had ended up. If she really thought hard about the evening the tone HAD changed slightly when Ginny had left them to their own devices. Hermione had gotten closer, there had been a hand on her knee and her arm was thrown over the back of the bench seat they had occupied. It had been subtle, but if she was hard pressed, she guessed it could have been considered flirting.

A finger lightly tracing down her cheek pulled her from her thoughts of the evening, and how they had gotten here exactly. It was the same cheek that had been scarred during the battle, the pillar she had taken refuge behind sharp as it exploded into the both of them all that time ago. The touch sent a wave of calm down her spine and into the very pit of her stomach, and for the first time she noticed she was the one that had been nervous. Hermione seemed to know exactly what it is she wanted, just like she always had.

The look in her eyes was all Storm needed to understand what was happening here, and she couldn't really find it in her to even try to stop it from going ahead. With one final sigh she leant forward slowly into Hermione's space and pressed her lips to the older women's own gently. It was testing, this was definitely unknown territory.

Hermione's response was instant and as soon as Storm's lips had been gently pressed into her own her eyes fluttered shut and she inhaled deeply through her nose. All her senses had been immediately enveloped by everything that was so unfamiliar, but so familiar at the same time. Her lungs filled with the scent of coffee and butterbeer. Her tongue met with the taste of fire whiskey as she moved to deepen the kiss with haste. Nipping gently at Storm's plump bottom lip only once before she had been allowed to press further.

Her fingers had soon found their way into shaggy dark hair, pulling gently to coax the shifter closer still. The younger woman pulled away ever so slightly, their lips parting for a moment longer than Hermione was happy with. The touch having ignited a hellfire deep within the pit of her belly that licked at the insides of her ribs, she could feel the blaze running through all of her veins as her heart pumped faster than she ever thought possible.

Storm shifted in her seat then, her long fingers moving to the zip of the hoody Hermione was wearing before pulling it down and shoving the offending article off the older woman's shoulders. Their lips connecting again briefly, more hastily than the last time as Storm's hands found the brunette's hips with ease. Her fingertips pressing into the flesh still hidden underneath dark blue denim for only a second before Hermione was entirely wrapped in quidditch toned arms.

She could feel the ripple of muscles beneath fabric as Storm flexed and pulled her from her seat on the sofa and across into her lap. She did nothing to fight it, settling quickly with her knees pressing into the sofa either side of Storm's hips. Her own fingers had dropped from the younger woman's hair, down her shoulders before settling to wrap around the hem of the shifter's dark t-shirt briefly before tugging it up just enough to get both hands underneath.

She was met with soft heated skin and tense taught muscles wherever her hands roamed. The younger girl beneath her sighing softly with every break of their lips. It didn't take long before the fabric frustrated Hermione, simply by just being in the way. Rough fingers tugged it upwards until the woman beneath took over and pulled back to yank it quickly over her head. Her lips reattaching themselves to the hinge of Hermione's jaw as soon as she was free enough from the t-shirt.

A low moan rattled from the older woman's chest as a warm tongue slid itself over her pulse point before Storm's lips moved further downwards. Hands once again tangled in dark shaggy hair for a moment, holding the shifter as close as possible as she attached her lips to the other side of her neck. Her hands moving finally to slide up the brunette's top, pushing it up before pulling it off and breaking contact once again.

Heated skin was pressed quickly against heated skin as Storm moved forward, wrapping the smaller woman up. Her fingers splaying out to snake themselves under a light blue bra strap. She seemed to pause then, flicking her eyes up to meet the lust clouded eyes of the woman above her.

"Are you sure?" Storm voiced her question quietly, running her fingers along the fabric that sat still held together. Tracing it all the way around to the front where it dipped slightly under heaving breasts. Her dark eyes never moving from Hermione's own.

Her heart sank as the older woman moved to get up and off her lap without voicing an answer, instantly berating herself for being so silly to think that this situation could actually happen. She could feel the heat of a blush spread across her cheeks as she too moved to grab her t-shirt from where it had been left discarded next to them, moving to pull it over her head again.

"What are you doing?" Hermione asked then, as Storm paused mid-way through shrugging the fabric on over well worked shoulders.

"What?" The shifter spoke then, confusion laced thickly within her tone as she turned to look at the older woman. Hermione had made to move towards a door she hadn't noticed before, reaching for the handle to push it open and reveal a dark bedroom. She had a rather smug look pulled across her features as Storm's own changed to that of a look of pure realisation.

"Hermione, honestly we need to work on your communication skills" The shifter stated as she pulled the t-shirt back off in order to throw it at the older woman. Making her own way over and past the older girl who still wore a smirk as she watched her go. Dark eyes glued to bare skin of the younger woman's stomach as she got closer, really taking the opportunity to admire how much effort it must take the younger girl to maintain such a defined body.

"I don't seem to be doing so badly, you've come, haven't you?" She quipped somewhat arrogantly as her tone dripped with thinly veiled pride.

Storm surprised her then by reaching out to wrap strong fingers around her wrist, pulling Hermione flush into her body in one motion. She leant in close then and paused just before pressing her lips back into the older woman's. "Not even close" Was whispered coyly and before Hermione could even think about blushing, she was being hoisted into the air, spun around and pressed into her own bed.

Storm's weight so comfortable on top of her as the younger woman's elbows found her mattress either side of her head. Hermione was grateful and somewhat impressed that Storm had managed to avoid leaning on her hair entirely, but didn't have very much time at all to dwell on that fact before hips were being ground down into her own.

She hadn't realised how sticky and warm the apex of her legs had gotten, or how intense the throb had become until there was a swift pressure there. The buckle of Storm's belt digging slightly into her pelvis as she wrapped her legs around the younger woman's hips in an attempt to pull her closer once again. Storm complying happily by grinding herself down again just in the right place, applying a much-needed friction to Hermione's most sensitive parts.

It was enough to send the brunette's mind reeling and her head whipped back and pressed into the mattress beneath her. Her hands quickly finding their way to the back of Storm's neck and her backside in turn. Keeping herself grounded by holding on so very tightly to the younger woman still driving her hips down in just the right place, at a maddeningly slow pace. Her fingers slipping easily across sweat coated skin in order to coax the shifters jaw up, taking her bruised lips in a rough and sloppy kiss.

Storm had snaked one of her own hands down and in-between their bodies, making quick work of the button on Hermione's jeans. It popped open with ease and allowed her the much-anticipated access into the tight denim. Slim fingers worked their way further down, bypassing entirely both sets of fabric in order to plunge into slick wet heat hidden from sight still.

She groaned into their kiss almost at the same time as the woman beneath her did, the feel of pure arousal coating her fingertips sending liquid heat to her own core as if it were nothing but an electric shock. Her chest heaved and fell as she panted into the kiss, the excitement threatening to entirely overwhelm her being. Focussing on the task at hand rather than the hands now clawing at her back, or at the way tight muscles curled around her fingers so nicely as they slipped deep into the older woman's waiting entrance.

At the intrusion Hermione had whimpered and stilled for a moment, digging her nails roughly into tense shoulders that held the younger woman above her. Her lips pulling away from the shifters own before settling to mutter a quick "keep going" into Storm's ear.

A shudder rocked the body pressed so tightly to her own as her heated breath ghosted the side of the shifter's face and she could have sworn Storm muttered words of her own but almost instantly the fingers now gripped tightly within her pulled back and were pressed forward just as quickly. The pace was quick, but not too fast and each press forward was done with just the right amount of force. The knot within her belly already beginning to swell and threaten to come undone.

Though it was most definitely not the time for the thought to cross her mind, she couldn't help being surprised by just how quickly Storm had managed to work her up so tightly. She was sure she had never felt so sated before in her life, even now. Though there wasn't time to linger on that, not when strong hips had begun thrusting once again, meeting the back of Storm's hand in time with every thrust to press strong fingers in harder and deeper.

"Merlin" Was all she could manage to squeak out as her lips pressed to Storm's own parted lips, the younger woman panting through sheer exertion. It was but a few more well-placed thrusts later that it happened, her nerves caught fire and her muscles twitched violently under the intensity of the release that she had finally been afforded.

Her mind blanked as she tensed and dug her fingers into the flesh wherever it was that they had found purchase. Nails carving deep pink lines into sweat slicked skin, something she'll feel guilty for come the light of day. The only sign of pain given was the light grunt that came from Storm's lips as she stilled her movements, but stayed in place.

Hermione's tight muscles proved to have a vice like grip and the younger woman dared not remove them with any haste at all. She knew that would likely be uncomfortable regardless of how slick they had actually become since being buried deep within their very surprising host. A small sense of pride tugged at her chest as the sound of her own erratic heartbeat pounded so loudly within her ringing ears. The room had grown silent save for quiet panting.

She left her fingers in place until the vice like walls had started to relax once again before slipping them out so slowly. Smirking as quiet moans of disapproval met her ears. Her dark eyes finally taking in the woman beneath her, chest still heaving but with a healthy pink glow tinting the skin there and up her neck to spread across her cheeks.

She wavered for a moment before rolling off to land on her back against the mattress below, side by side with the woman she had so unexpectedly ended up in this position with. Her eyes closed as she took the opportunity to catch her breath. Pulling in cool air so desperately into her lungs. It had been a long time since she had worked so hard to please someone.

A tug to her own belt buckle caught her attention, and she was surprised to find the brunette already working to get it open. Though quite quickly her attention was ripped away from her own body as her eyes fell on Hermione's. It seemed during the quick break the older woman had spared no opportunity and had stripped herself bare.

"Oh, bloody hell Hermione" Was all she could get out as another rush of excitement flooded her very core. She quickly moved to sit up, reaching behind her back to pull at her own bra straps and flick the garment off with great haste. Her belt buckle jangling open for a brief second before her jeans and boxers had been grabbed in a tight fist and pulled down her legs. She helped as best she could by kicking them off her ankles all while trying to get as close to the naked woman as possible.

Hermione's skin was simply fire as she pressed into her own body, nothing at all in-between them now. "I swear this is a dream" Storm mumbled as Hermione's lips found her jaw and her hands had dropped to her hips.

"Do you dream of this often?" Hermione quipped, looking up from the task at hand with a very coy grin that did nothing but set the knot in Storm's stomach even tighter.

"Not since we left Hogwarts really." Storm quipped with a wink that sent another flood of blush across the brunette's cheeks. "What, you thought I just liked getting detentions?" She spoke again as if replying to the quietly questioning stare and raised eyebrow.

"Honestly, I just thought you were incapable of behaving like a normal person for any length of time" Hermione stated simply, her tone teasing though the blush that had spread out across her cheeks didn't quite give way.

"That is also very factually correct, but what can you do?" Storm laughed then, shaking her head as she moved to close the gap once again.

Hermione had returned the kiss with renewed vigour, spurred on by the recent revelation. She had been a little unsure of Storm's motives before the brief conversation, but now understood her as a fully willing participant.

The rest of the early morning passed in nothing more than a blur. Their activities continuing on until the morning sun had begun to spill through the blinds that were shut closed to the outside world. Storm had sighed as she lay on her back, arms folded underneath her head. Hermione had curled up sated and exhausted in the curve of her own side, a comfortable pressure present from where she had her head rested on Storm's chest.

"Hermione?" Storm spoke quietly, her voice nothing more than a whisper. She wanted nothing more than to stay just a little while longer but time was definitely against them.

"Hmm?" Was the only response she was afforded, the older woman shifting slightly in order to look up at her. She had been sure the younger woman had fallen asleep.

"I have to get going, Ginny is coming for breakfast with Harry and I have nothing in the house" She spoke honestly as she moved to roll over and face the brunette who's bed she had shared for hours now.

The older woman's brow had furrowed, a look of disappointment clouding her eyes as she moved her gaze to take in dark eyes shadowed in the dim light of the room. Truthfully, she wasn't entirely certain as to why exactly she was disappointed, but never the less the feeling had settled heavily within her belly.

"I mean, I really want to see you again and do this and other things as well." Storm motioned between them awkwardly then trying to ease the disappointment.

"Would you like to come for breakfast as well? I would really like that, and I'm sure Ginny and Harry would as well. You don't have to, I mean if this was a onetime thing that's alright too" She rambled on, her dark eyes having flicked down to watch where her fingers were fidgeting with the sheets.

"I'd love to come for breakfast" Hermione said honestly, moving to rest a hand on Storm's shoulder to try and grab her attention back and ease some of her nerves that had seem to come up with the sun. "I would love to do this and other things again too" She added with a playful roll of her eyes. She had been so comforted by Storm's presence, by her genuine nature and distasteful jokes. It had been refreshing entirely to let go for the night and just enjoy herself. She wouldn't deny the opportunity to do it over again in any capacity.

"Great!" Storm replied with a lopsided grin as she moved to turn and roll from the bed. Looking to collect her clothes from the floor in order to shrug them on. "If you can floo that would be easiest, but if not I'll let Ginny know you're coming and she can come get you and apparate you there too." Storm added as an afterthought. Turning her head to fix the older woman with a toothy grin.

"Brilliant" Hermione added quietly, the thought of being around Storm with others after this recent development weighing on her mind a little. She knew she shouldn't be, but she was terrified of what complications it may bring if word got out.

"Storm, do you think we could keep what happened between ourselves?" She quizzed; her voice quiet as if she was too afraid to speak too loudly. As if speaking any louder would somehow make the question a bit more offensive.

"Whatever makes you happy Hermione" Storm retorted easily, nodding a few times. "I don't kiss and tell" She added. It was none of her business as to why Hermione felt better for keeping what had happened from others, but if that's what she wanted then that's what she'd get.

Hermione moved then to stand from the bed, reaching to grab her dressing gown from a hook not far away from the bed. She wrapped it with ease around her shoulders and tied it shut as Storm stood waiting for her at the bedroom door. She noticed then the angry red marks that had raised from the sensitive flesh of Storm's collarbone and one side of her neck. The younger girl's t-shirt having been stretched out of shape at some point the night before and now hung loosely from one of her shoulders.

"Thank you" She spoke again, moving to press a gentle kiss to the younger woman's cheek. Her fingers holding fast to the shifter's forearm to steady herself.

As she walked Storm to the door and watched her lean to pull on her shoes, she couldn't help the content smile that spread across her lips. It had been an entirely unexpected evening, and she almost couldn't believe it had actually happened. The feeling of utter content and calm that filled her stomach was enough to tell her that it indeed did happen, and that the shifter before her was the reason for it.

"I'll see you a little later on" Storm spoke finally as Hermione pulled the door open for her to step through. Her hands had soon found her pockets and she didn't seem phased at all by the fact she found herself standing in a hallway. She had always assumed Hermione would live somewhere in a city; it seems she had been correct on that judgement. Dark eyes quickly found the way out and with a final nod she made her way towards it in order to find somewhere to apparate home. Hermione watched her go and stop at the end of the hall only to look around twice before disappearing with a quiet pop.