I never imagined Barnaby Lee would become my favourite study partner.
It's not that I'm opposed to it. I love Barnaby. And he's my favourite person to spend time with. But when we try to study, we usually get distracted by talking about something else, or snogging, or just sneaking glances at each other.
Though when I say study partner, I don't always mean that we're studying for our classes...
We've been sneaking into Jacob's old room most nights for the past week or so. Our common rooms were too crowded, and since we're in different Houses, someone always makes a comment about one of us being in the wrong common room. And we couldn't be comfortable together in the Library or hallways. Especially not after curfew. So we started using Jacob's old room. By now, we've 'borrowed' enough cushions, pillows, and blankets from our common rooms and dorm rooms to make a pretty comfy spot for ourselves there. It's quiet, private, and just ours.
Barnaby and I love each other. We're in love with each other. And we're ready to express that love physically. We're ready to make love. But since neither of us have done that before, we don't know where to begin or how to go about it. It became too much pressure — pressure we were putting on ourselves — to go to Jacob's room to make love, even though we wanted to. We didn't know where to begin and we're worried about disappointing the other person.
So I came up with the idea to not think about making love. It will happen for us when it happens. When we meet up, we kiss and cuddle — sometimes it leads to rubbing in intimate places, and sometimes we just fall asleep together. And each time, it's perfect because it's me and Barnaby.
One Friday evening, Barnaby joins me in our space looking a bit frazzled. It's unexpected because 1) Barnaby rarely looks frazzled and 2) he has double Care of Magical Creatures on Fridays, which is the highlight of his week.
"Are you okay?" I asked with a quick kiss in greeting.
I move to step away but he pulls me in closer for a big hug. Barnaby gives the best hugs — they're always warm and cozy and completely perfect. "Bad day in class," he spoke through my hair.
"Which one?" I asked as the hug ends.
"Transfiguration." He says with a sigh.
I shrug. "I agree; that's a really tough class." I hate seeing Barnaby look so sad and un-Barnaby-like. "If you wanted, I could help you study. I'm not the best student, but I can try. If you want—"
Barnaby cuts me off with a quick kiss. "That would be amazing. Thank you!"
I feel myself blushing. "It's really not a problem. I could do with a review anyway. How about we get started tomorrow?"
His eyes light up. "Sounds great!"
I crawl onto the cushions and pillows and snuggle under the blankets. Barnaby uses the washroom next door to change into comfy clothes before joining me. I can smell the mint from his toothpaste as he pulls me closer to him and rests his forehead against mine.
"I love you."
"I love you."
I kiss the tip of his nose before moving down to kiss his lips. I only mean for it to be a quick kiss, since we were going to sleep, but it becomes more. (It often does with Barnaby.) As we kiss, I run my fingers through the hair at the back of his head and he traces his fingertips down my side. When he reaches my hip, he lays his palm flat and adds slight pressure. I turn onto my back and he moves with me.
Normally, when Barnaby and I kiss when lying down, he lays kind of off to the side. But tonight, he places himself on top of me. I can feel all of him: his strong chest, his narrow hips, his legs between mine. And his erection, growing harder. It always drives me wild to know that I could cause a physical reaction in him.
I wrap my arms around him, enjoying the feel of his back muscles. His hand on my hip slips under the hem of my shirt and begins to massage its way up. It pauses just below my breast and Barnaby pauses the kiss. He doesn't have to say the words; I know he's asking for my permission. I nod and he lightly rubs his hand over my breast as he moves to cup it. His thumb brushes over my nipple as he does so and I moan lightly. His hips press more into mine and I gasp, breaking the kiss.
"I love the sounds you make. I love knowing that I'm the one who's making you make those sounds."
I can't formulate a response through the mixture of feelings brought on by his hips and his hand, so I kiss him again and move my hips up into his, hoping to express something to him that way. It creates friction between us that starts to feel quite wonderful.
Barnaby breaks the kiss softly. "We should probably stop," he speaks with reluctance.
"Is everything okay?"
He nods. "It's amazing. It feels too amazing, and I don't want to … finish … in my pants."
"Oh," is all I can think to say. I feel my cheeks reddening.
Barnaby chuckles and kisses my one cheek and then the other. Can he sense my blush, even in the dark?
His hand moves back to my hip, and I turn to lay on my side with my back to him. He moves in close behind me, and I want to wrap myself in his warmth.
"Sorry about my … uh… situation." He chuckles softly and slightly embarrassed. "It'll go away soon."
I didn't know how to tell him that I like feeling his erection pressed against me. I like feeling wanted.
— — — — — — — — — —
I wake up on Saturday morning still surrounded by Barnaby's warmth. While we slept, he had moved onto his back and I somehow wound up being half on top of him. My head is on his chest, my arm is reaching across his torso, and my legs are draped over his, while both his arms are wrapped around me. It can't have been comfortable for him, but he looks as peaceful as he always does while sleeping.
I love moments like this, when I wake before he does. I love the idea that I'm the only one who knows what he looks like when he's comfortable and sleepy like this.
He stirs a bit as he wakes up, bringing me out of my thoughts. I lean down slightly and begin pressing lazy kisses to his neck. His hands roam across my back.
"Morning." His voice is still coated with sleep.
I kiss my way up his neck, across his jawline, and onto his lips. "Morning," I say with a quick peck. Barnaby's hand moves quickly up the nape of my neck, preventing me from pulling back so he can deepen the kiss. Barbany never cares about morning breath.
We take turns getting ready in the washroom next door and then walk to the Great Hall for breakfast. Barnaby's hand brushes by mine as soon as we leave Jacob's old room and he interlocks our fingers. We sit together at the Ravenclaw House Table. We always sit together at meals, alternating between his house's table and mine. We chose Ravenclaw this morning simply because there were more spaces available at that table.
We don't say much as we eat, and I think that's one of my favourite things about spending time with Barnaby. Yes, of course we have conversations, but our silences are never awkward. We don't feel forced to speak just because we're near each other. It's so comfortable.
There's a bit of a commotion and we both look over to see everyone at the Slytherin table getting up to leave at almost the same moment.
I glance over at Barnaby to ask if he knows what that's about when I see a shocked expression on his face. "Oh no," he says as his eyes widen. "I forgot that Professor Snape called a House meeting for this morning."
A House meeting? Professor Flitwick never calls Ravenclaw House Meetings. "What's that about?"
Barnaby gives a half shrug. "He holds them occasionally. Usually to remind us of the proper behaviours for Slytherins."
I scrunch my nose, trying to imagine that. "We can study after. How long do these meetings normally last?"
"I'm not sure. Just too long."
"That's fine," I say with a small laugh, even though I'm sad that Snape is cutting into my time on the weekends with Barnaby. "We can meet up in the Library once you're done."
Barnaby nods and stands. But instead of leaving, he simply steps to the other side of the bench and sits back down, now with his back to the table (and his breakfast plate). He smiles and shifts closer to me. He leans in, cupping my face with one hand, and kisses me. I open my mouth, allowing his tongue to enter and he drops his other hand to my hip, pulling me closer. I sigh, leaning into his touch. His kiss is firm, yet gentle.
Barnaby never cares if anyone can see our affections for each other.
He stands, keeping his hand on my cheek and continuing the kiss. He smiles as he ends the kiss before we get reprimanded by any professors. He tucks my hair behind my ear, letting his fingers trail along my jaw before placing a quick kiss on the tip of my nose, bending to grab his school bag, and heading off to his common room. Just before he walks through the doors and exits the Great Hall, he turns back and gives me one of his brilliant, bright Barnaby smiles. I can't help but smile in return.
I turn back to my food and finish my breakfast, then head for Ravenclaw Tower. I pass quickly through the common room and head up to my dormitory. I do the same thing I do every morning: remove yesterday's clothes from my school bag and add a change of clothes for tomorrow. I know Barnaby does the same thing. We do this every day so that we're prepared to spend the night together.
No one notices that we don't spend the nights in our dorms — without Rowan, no one notices my absence in the Ravenclaw common room or dorm room. Barnaby doesn't say much about his fellow Slytherins, but it doesn't sound like they notice his absences either.
As soon as I arrive at the Library, I find a table that is a bit out of the way and pull my Transfiguration things from my school bag. I can work on Professor McGonagall's latest essay assignment while I wait for Barnaby to arrive.
Quite a bit of time has passed and I've made good progress on my essay when I decide to take a bathroom break. Since I'm still alone at my table in the Library and I don't like leaving my stuff unattended, I pack up and take everything with me. If someone claims the table while I'm gone, I can always find another spot. Or maybe walk around Hogwarts and slowly make my way down to the dungeons.
When I return from the washroom, I'm surprised to find Barnaby in the Library (closer to the entrance than where I was before) completely engrossed in a book. He has another book and some papers scattered in front of him, so I don't think he just arrived.
"Hey," I say softly as I sit down next to him.
"Oh, hi." He shuts his book rather quickly yet quietly, so as not to attract the attention of Madam Pince, and slides it under some of his papers.
His behaviour is not very Barnaby like. "What's going on?"
When he begins to look nervous, I decide not to push it. Barnaby isn't one to keep secrets; he'll tell me when he's ready, if it is something I need to know about. "Want to get started on Transfiguration?"
He nods. "Sure."
I pull my notes out of my bag. "I was reviewing before I noticed that you're here."
"Oh, you didn't just arrive?"
I shake my head no.
"Snape's meeting didn't last too long, so I came right here." His sunny features suddenly morph into sad ones. "I'm sorry that I didn't look harder for you."
"That's okay," I say with a smile that I hope brightens his countenance as I place my hand on his arm. "We're here now."
Together, Barnaby and I review the last month's worth of Transfiguration lessons. As much as I love helping out Barnaby, I realize how much this study session helps me, too. I know the material now better than I ever would have. And I even make notes on ways to improve the essay I was working on earlier.
That's probably one of the reasons why Rowan liked tutoring people. Well, that or just because she was such a great person. My heart still aches with her loss.
Barnaby's hand on mine pulls me from my thoughts. "What's wrong?" He must have noticed a change in my expression.
I begin to say 'nothing' — my usual response when someone catches me thinking about Rowan — but I know Barnaby will see through that. I give a meaningless shrug instead. "Study sessions always make me think of Rowan."
Barnaby gives my hand a quick squeeze before pulling me in for a sideways hug. "It's unfair that of all of us, she's the one who didn't get to finish her education."
I nod. "She would have been an amazing professor here."
"I've never seen someone so passionate about school."
"You're passionate about Care of Magical Creatures class," I point out.
"That's because we learn about magical creatures there! I'd still be passionate about magical creatures, even if I couldn't take that class, which would be very sad for me. But Rowan was passionate about everything at Hogwarts, even the really hard classes. And the confusing ones."
I laugh, remembering Rowan's enthusiasm. Then I hear Barnaby's stomach growl with hunger and I laugh again.
He looks down at his own stomach, as if surprised that it made that noise. "Is it lunchtime?"
I glance out the Library window and notice that the sun is not overhead, as expected. "Oh, I think it might be dinnertime."
"We missed lunch?!" It isn't like Barnaby to miss a meal.
I pack up my school things and stand. "Let's go eat!"
Barnaby gathers his papers and places all his schoolwork into his bag. He grabs the book he was reading when I arrived and shoves it under his arm, rather than in his bag. "I need to re-shelve this before we go."
"Okay, I'll come with you."
He looks like he's about to say something, but changes his mind. "Sure," he whispers. "It's just over here."
He leads me into an aisle that I've never been in before. I look around at the book spines. So he wasn't reading a book about magical creatures? What could have captured Barnaby's attention so thoroughly? Some of the brighter-coloured book spines have titles like Understanding Your Relationship, Magical Pregnancy, The Perils of Pearl Dust, Twelve Fail-Safe Ways to Charm Witches, How to Woo Witches, Be Entranced with Entrancing Enchantments, and Seven Sure-Fire Ways to Wow Your Wizard.
As Barnaby puts the book back in its spot — I didn't catch its title — he turns back to look at me. "I can explain."
I'm not even sure I understand what's happening.
"Since neither of us have done this—" he waves both hands around, gesturing to all the books in the aisle "—before, I thought I'd do some research to make us feel better." He blushes as he says this, and I don't know what surprises me more: what Barnaby has been reading or that he is blushing. "Or to make me feel better at least. To know what to expect..." he trails off and his eyes focus on the floor.
I'm stunned. "You were reading about sex? For me?"
He nods but doesn't lift his gaze.
I step into him quickly and press my lips against his. My hands link around his neck and I lean into him. My thoughts halt and my mind goes blank as I revel in the sensation. His lips are warm and soft.
He quickly recovers from whatever shock he may have felt; his one arm wraps around me, holding me tightly, as he runs his hand down the side of my face and rakes his fingers through my hair. I sigh into his mouth and his tongue slips past my lips, dancing with mine.
The contrast between the strength of his hold and the softness of his kiss makes me melt.
I reach up to run my fingers through the hair at the back of his head. Barnaby's hands begin to wander across my back, his touch sending sparks running down my spine.
I end the kiss before we go further — or worse, get caught by Madam Pince.
"You're amazing, Barnaby. So thoughtful! And how clever — I never would have thought to consult Library books."
Barnaby grabs my hand as he changes the subject. "Let's go eat."
— — — — — — — — — —
I spend the entire meal thinking about Barnaby's extracurricular research. What had he learned? When was he going to tell me? What was he thinking about when he was reading?
I'm not surprised that Barnaby took the initiative to learn more. He's happy to read anything and everything if it is related to something he is passionate about, like magical creatures. I'm touched that I am something he is passionate about.
After we finish eating, I realize I can't contain my questions anymore. "Want to study more or talk about your research?"
"Here?!"
We were still in the Great Hall. "Of course not here!"
"Let's go!"
Back in our place, the door barely shuts before he steps close to me — incredibly close. I can feel the buttons of his shirt through my jumper and his, and I feel his breath against my cheek as he leans down. He braces both hands on the door that is now behind my back.
I reach a hand out and place it against his chest, feeling his muscles contract as he breathes. One of his hands moves down and grazes my cheek lightly. My heart races inside my chest in anticipation of what he might do.
He closes the distance between us and his entire body brushes against mine. He pulls me to him and his arms wrap around me. I return his embrace as best I can, since my hand is still trapped between us. I bury my face in his shoulder and inhale his scent. It calms me and grounds me.
His head bends down to the crook of my neck. I feel his nose push through my hair until it grazes my neck. He places a kiss there and my entire body shivers slightly. He tightens his hold on me and his hands clench into the material of my shirt before he pulls back slightly.
I search his eyes as his fingers trace a light path up and down my neck. He's hesitant. Nervous.
"I don't know how to talk about … what I've read."
I nod. Words don't always come easy to Barnaby.
"What if we continue snogging, as we usually do, and if we do something that is related to what you've read, you can let me know?"
He nods. "Okay."
I move my hand from fisting into the fabric of his shirt up to his shoulder and then to the back of his neck. I pull him down into a kiss as I curl my fingers into the hair at the nape of his neck. My other hand makes its way up his chest before stopping at the side of his neck, gently caressing it.
He moans softly and wraps his arms tightly around my waist until I'm no longer touching the door. His one hand spreads across my back, exploring, while his other hand goes to my hip, holding me firmly in place against him.
His lips move frantically against mine. His tongue delves into my mouth — this kiss is passionate and frantic, yet gentle and soothing at the same time. My heart is racing, beating much faster than it ever has.
He parts his lips from mine and begins to trail a path of fiery kisses down my neck. As he travels further down, he stops at my pulse point to suck gently, before moving to my collarbone.
My fingers dig into his shoulders and he groans lightly.
I am on fire. Everywhere his lips and hands touch leave a scorching path. His lips send delicious tremors through my body. I press myself closer to him, pulling at his hair to bring his face back up to mine. He kisses me again, long and deep. I run my hands over his shoulders, down his chest, and up his back.
Barnaby pauses the kiss with a smile. His hand that was on my hip is suddenly behind my knees, and before I can fully process it, he's carrying me from the doorway to the pile of pillows and cushions. He sets me down gently and resumes the kiss.
His soft lips caress mine as his hand slides up my neck and into my hair. Every thought is wiped from my mind and all I'm left with is feeling. Feeling the way his lips on mine send jolts of electricity through my body. Feeling the way my heart is pounding as his fingers press into my side.
"Oh!" Barnaby shocks me by ending the kiss abruptly. "I learned a new charm that I want to show you."
My head thinks 'Now?!' but my mouth says, "Okay."
Barnaby sits up and removes his wand from his pocket. I sit up, too, so I can watch. He performs an intricate wand movement — a nonverbal spell? — and the lights in the room go out. But at the same time, smaller twinkling lights appear all around the room at a height that is just above our heads. It's like a small-scale version of the Great Hall.
"Wow," I find myself whispering. "It's like being under the night sky. It's so beautiful."
"Like you."
I pull my eyes away from the twinkling lights to find Barnaby staring at me. I lean over and kiss him. "Will you teach that spell to me?"
He nods. "Later." He smiles and brings my face gently closer to his. I close my eyes at the touch of his lips. My hands get lost in his hair, and his tongue seeks permission to enter my mouth by licking my upper lip. I offer no resistance.
His hand returns to my hips for just a moment before slipping under the hem of my shirt. His hand is warm, but still somehow causes goosebumps to form in its proximity. His other hand comes to the hem of my shirt and begins to lift it, slowly, until he can remove the article of clothing completely. I pull him back in close to me and kiss him before I can get too self-conscious about not wearing a shirt anymore.
Barnaby places his hands on my neck as he deepens the kiss. One hand stays there while the other moves to my shoulder, then down my arm, before jumping to my side. I gasp slightly as his hand then cups my breast through my bra.
While he massages my breast, I move my hands down until they can move up under his clothing and lightly touch the skin on his back. Barnaby pulls away from the kiss and pulls both his shirt and his jumper over his head before dropping them to the floor and returning to the kiss.
I can never get over how amazing he looks without clothes on. He looks amazing with clothes on, but this is better. I can feel him smiling into the kiss as he leans forward and removes the distance between us. His tongue traces over my bottom lip as his hands find my back, gently lowering me until I'm lying down again.
My hands roam his torso — I run my nails all the way up his now-naked chest and delight in the fact that I can pull a shudder from him — while he places his hands back on my breasts. I close my eyes, enjoying the tingling sensations in my chest. Butterflies.
I feel his hands move around me as his fingers unclasp my bra. I smile up at him as he removes it; he returns the smile before bringing his hands back to my breasts and massaging them lightly. He places a quick kiss to my lips before kissing a path across my jaw and down my neck. I moan at the wonderful sensation of his lips and his tongue.
He kisses across my collarbone and places a kiss between my breasts before I can feel his warm breath on one breast. He places an open-mouth kiss around my nipple and I moan. He sucks gently, swirling his tongue, and I gasp out harshly. It's a new sensation that I didn't know was possible in this area of my body.
His mouth moves down. He kisses across my stomach and pauses at the top of my trousers. He looks up at me. I nod, giving him permission. He pulls down the zipper on my trousers and slowly pulls them off.
Next, I feel Barnaby's hands at my feet. He massages one slowly as his lips find my ankle bone. His lips begin to move upward, kissing up my calf, by my knee, and along my inner thigh. On my other leg, his hand traces the same path, massaging as it goes.
The closer he gets to the apex of my thighs, the more I can feel my entire body flush with arousal.
His hand moves from my thigh and cups me between my legs, causing me to suck in a sharp breath. His lips move from my inner thigh to the edge of my panties. He kisses me there, then through my panties, before looking up at me. He holds my gaze as he removes the final piece of clothing from my body.
He moves up my body and kisses me again as his hand moves to cup me between my thighs again. I gasp and part my thighs for him. I bite back a moan as his fingers brush over the smoothness of the damp skin there. And I gasp when he eases a single finger inside me.
Oh!
I chew on my lip as he leisurely moves around. His fingers are somehow exploratory and playful and teasing all at the same time. He's altering his angles, his depth, and his speed — he's learning what I like and it's making me impossibly wetter than I already am.
He adds a second finger, quickening his movements, and my breath hitches in pleasure. He licks his lips as he stares down at me, and I find myself mesmerized by that one small action of his. His eyes are full of lust. And love, too. I've never had someone look at me like that before him.
My thoughts unravel as his thumb joins in, finding its way to that centre of pleasure at my apex. He begins to tease it with slow, deliberate strokes. I jerk back against the cushions and arch my back, grinding against his hand in an effort to ride the surge of lust that he is sending through my core. I close my eyes, becoming increasingly aware of the tension that is coiling up in my stomach. I came undone quickly after that; it was freeing — just letting go: no holding back.
When I can breathe properly again, I open my eyes, only to find his eyes roaming my body. I find it wonderfully impossible to feel inadequate in any way when he's looking at me like that.
"You're so beautiful," he whispers and it helps to ease my self-consciousness. "Are you okay? Was that ...okay?"
I almost laugh. "Not okay, Barnaby. That was amazing."
He looks stunned. "Amazing? I made you feel amazing?" Smug isn't an emotion I usually see on Barnaby's face, but I see it now. I force myself to sit up and capture his lips with mine, causing him to move into a seated position, too. He wraps his arms around me. We're skin on skin and it feels amazing. My hand rests on his thigh and I feel his muscles there tense. I end the kiss and look down, seeing the bulge in his trousers.
I'm not really sure how to ask this. "Can I — uh, can I see you?"
Barnaby nods in understanding. He unbuttons his trousers and pulls down the zipper, then reaches in and pulls out his erection. My hand moves before I'm fully aware of it, but I pause before it reaches its destination. "Can I … touch you?"
He nods again and I wrap my hand around him. He groans and shuts his eyes, flinging his head back. I start moving my hand up and down while still grasping him, but I have no idea what I'm doing.
"Is this okay?"
He puffs out a breath. "So much better than okay."
I smile, hoping that he can feel something as incredible as he made me feel earlier with his fingers. His erection is hard and smooth under my hand.
I slowly increase my speed until I feel his fingers wrap around my wrist, stopping me. "Did I do it wrong?"
"No," he shakes his head. "But I don't want to ...finish… like this."
"Oh." I like the idea that I could have brought him to a finish. It makes me feel powerful and sexy.
Barnaby interrupts my mental smugness. "Now's a good stopping point, if you want."
I shake my head no. "I want more, Barnaby."
He sighs in relief and gives me a quick, hard kiss. "Good! Me, too." He stands and removes his trousers and pants. I turn onto my side, reach into my school bag, and retrieve my wand. I perform the wand work for the contraception spell and drop my wand onto the floor.
Barnaby returns to the cushions and crawls over me, but isn't touching. His hands are up beside my head, holding his weight.
"I'm going to try to go slow. From what I read, this will feel amazing for me, but might be uncomfortable for you — at first."
This much I know, and I also know that he is being kind by using the word 'uncomfortable.' But I nod and he kisses me again. I wrap my arms around him, flattening my hands against his back as he slowly eases his weight down onto me. We both gasp as we feel skin on skin everywhere. I kiss him deeply and I can feel his erection against my inner thigh.
He pulls away slightly from the kiss and he asks, "Are you sure?" I can feel his doubt, and I want nothing more than to somehow smooth it away.
I nod. "Yes." It makes me feel respected and safe and even more comfortable with him than I already am when he asks.
"Put your hands on my shoulders." I do. "And let me know if I'm going too fast. Or if it hurts." I nod.
I feel him reach a hand down between the two of us and guide himself into me. He moves slowly and is stretching me more than his fingers did earlier. It's mildly discomforting — an indescribable new feeling — and I wait for it to hurt. Everyone says the first time hurts.
But the pain doesn't come. Just the indescribable newness. I feel Barnaby stop when he's fully inside me. I move around slightly and feel him everywhere. It's like we're no longer two separate people but just one new unit.
Then he moves again, pulling out as slowly as he entered. The feeling causes me to pant slightly.
Suddenly, Barnaby's movements become jerkier. I feel his whole body tense before he moans out my name and shudders against me.
As his movements stop, he ducks his head into my neck. I can feel his breath as he speaks. "It wasn't supposed to happen that quickly." He sighs and lifts his head. "You just feel so much more amazing than I imagined."
"You imagined this?"
He nods, still slightly out of breath. "All the time. But the tightness, the heat, the sensation of being this close to you was so much more and so much better than in my head."
I stretch and lift my head up to kiss Barnaby's lips. My heart jumps into my throat and I feel dizzy as I melt into his kiss. Barnaby is still inside me as his lips move softly against mine. It sends tingles through my entire body, and I shudder slightly from the feeling. One of my hands goes to the back of his head, while the other travels up his arm, and I pull him even closer to me. I open my mouth, desperate for more, and he responds in kind. He kisses me back passionately, bringing one hand down to my hip arm as his other hand moves up into my hair.
I move my hips a bit, to find a more comfortable position, and Barnaby slides further into me. Our pelvises meet and we both gasp from the feeling. I can feel him harden inside me.
"Woah," he says as he looks down. "It's never happened that quickly before."
"Is it … okay?"
"Yeah!" He crashes his lips to mine. My eyes close at the sensation of his mouth on mine as his tongue makes its way into my mouth.
I suddenly feel the need to move. I roll my hips slightly and Barnaby begins moving again. He pulls out of me slowly but slides back in faster than he has before. When he's fully back inside, I hear myself groan.
"Am I hurting you?" I almost want to cry at the concern in his voice.
"No." I shift slightly again. "It's difficult to describe. It's both overwhelming and not enough at the same time."
He nods and slides back in again. I can feel myself stretching still to accommodate him, but it feels less strange this time. When he enters again, the discomfort is gone. He notices, somehow, and picks up the pace.
I can feel the pleasure from before growing again. A knot of tension coils tightly in my stomach, the sense of need building further and further. His thrusts are like his kisses: firm but gentle.
The bliss is slowly building, climbing higher. I can't think of anything except the feelings he is pulling from me. My body responds in ways I didn't know I could react.
He quickens his pace and, at the sounds he lets out, I feel myself climbing towards another high again. He kisses me, passionately, and then lowers his lips to my ear, kissing me once, just beneath it.
I move my hands to his upper back and feel my nails marking him. He groans loudly into my neck and his steady pace falters slightly. My name escapes his lips as he starts moving fast, pumping in and out of me harder. My grip on him tightens.
I can almost see stars; the combination of him moving inside me and feeling him around me is simply overwhelming.
He grabs the sheets next to my face as I lower my hands down his back. His other hand slides under me, pressing my lower back against him, somehow bringing us closer. He grunts, eyes fixed on mine, and although I want to close mine, I find that I can't. I feel my whole body go numb with the intensity of the sensation and I come again. I arch my back as he rolls his hips, hitting places that feel so right. He joins me and a complete feeling of bliss fills me. His head rests against my shoulder as I try to gather myself. I stroke his hair and feel him place soft kisses on my shoulder.
He moves to lie on his back, pulling me in to lay beside him. I snuggle up against him, curling into his side, as he rests his hand around my waist. He leans over and kisses me softly. The kiss grows more passionate and more intense. I start to move my hips against his when I feel him getting hard once again. He rolls us over and buries his head into my neck, kissing it fervently while cupping my breast, as we lose ourselves in each other again.
— — — — — — — — — —
In the morning, I wake up before Barnaby. That's nothing new. But waking up with neither of us wearing clothes is new. And better! He's even warmer when we are skin to skin.
I stretch slightly and feel his erection between my legs. We're lying face to face and I realize that I can't move without waking him or causing friction.
Before I can think too much about the predicament, Barnaby wakes up. He smiles his brightest smile and wraps his hands around my waist, pulling me closer to him. He teases my lips open and I feel his tongue exploring my mouth. I trail my fingers along the side of his neck.
He pulls away slightly, leaving me breathless.
"Good morning," he says as he stretches. The way he moves causes his erection to rub against me and then slip inside.
We both freeze.
"I can't believe that just — I'm so sorry. I'll stop—" Barnaby begins to pull away from me, but I pull him closer.
"Please don't." I roll my hips against his and he's fully inside again. "I want this."
"I want this, too." Barnaby moves and I roll onto my back. Once he's on top of me, he reaches down and grabs my wand. "For the … spell."
"Oh, right." I perform the contraception spell. "Thanks for remembering." I pull his shoulders down to kiss him as he slowly moves inside me. We're moving slower this morning — lazier — and I can't help but hope to wake up like this every morning.
I wrap my legs around Barnaby's lower back, which changes the angle of his thrusts and causes my breath to hitch in the back of my throat. His head drops into the dip of my collarbone and he presses kisses there.
We both last longer than last night because we're taking our time. My fingers explore every inch of him that I can reach, and I can feel his lips doing the same. Every time he moves into me, it feels like he is filling me completely. He speeds up and it causes me to pant. When he comes, it triggers my own orgasm.
My walls are still fluttering involuntarily around him when he speaks. "I love you."
"I love you."
"I wouldn't mind waking up that way every day."
I smile. "You read my mind, Barnaby."
We cuddle for a few extra moments as we catch our breath. Then we get cleaned up and get ready for the day. As we walk to the Great Hall for breakfast, we discuss our plans for the day.
"We should study Transfiguration," I suggest. "Maybe we can both finish the essay today?"
Barnaby nods, but his face holds a sad expression. "I know we should. That's the smart thing to do."
"But…?" I ask. I know he has something else on his mind, instead of Transfiguration homework.
"I haven't completed my, uh, other research, yet."
"You haven't?"
"No!" Barnaby stops walking and takes both my hands in his. "There are other positions we can try. There are variations of what we've already done, too. Plus more with our hands and our mouths."
I feel myself blush slightly as my imagination starts to run wild. "And we can learn all that from Library books? Here?"
He nods enthusiastically. "We're just getting started."
I tug on his hands and pull him closer to me so I can kiss him. I sigh into the kiss and he deepens it, dropping my hands to pull me even closer.
And that's how Barnaby Lee became my favourite study partner.
