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Scorpius glanced around with interested after Lily unlocked her front door and preceded him in. It was a decent little two bedroom place, the second floor walk up in what he assumed used to be a Victorian. "It's not much, but feel free to poke around," she said, then frowned at the mess of photographs and what looked like hacked up bits of paper on the coffee table. "Um, but maybe not so much through these," she said, waving vaguely at the photo album. "I just have to shower and get dressed, I'll be out in a minute."

He watched her disappear behind a not quite closed door with wobbly frosted glass he supposed lead to her bathroom. There was the sound of a shower starting and although Scorpius wanted nothing more than to peek at her long, perfect body getting all hot and wet and soapy, he refrained. That's what perverts and serial killers do. Instead he moved over to the coffee table and photo albums, noticing it appeared to be pictures that had been hacked up.

He smirked a little when he picked up the heavy album, and started to leaf through it. Judging by both Lily and his cousin Daphne's fresh faces and nubile figures, Scorpius assumed the cover photo of them had been taken at some point in high school. As he flipped it was confirmed, because there were pictures of them in groups, then wearing formal dresses for prom, then several pages that looked as though they'd been taken at a nonstop party. He assumed that had been college. She looked damn good in all of the pictures too, he noticed. Even when her expression wasn't always the most favourable for photo taking. And especially the ones on beaches with minimal amounts of clothing.

He kept flipping, smirking at the occasional shot of James or Albus, and then got toward the end. He noticed several pictures missing from their places and even more where a face had been, sometimes poorly, cut out. He assumed that was the ex then.

Scorpius tried to picture the little blonde her ex had been fucking around with, but she hadn't stuck in his mind. Cute, perky, young, blonde. That was it. She was certainly no Lily, of that he could make no mistake. She was memorable in every way and the blond found himself wondering how in the hell a guy spent five years with her to turn around and fuck some ditzy waitress. You don't know the backstory. She could be crazy. He frowned a bit at that, because she probably would be crazy. She was Al's sister. The blond tried to remember her, but she'd been, the few occasions he recalled seeing her after he and Albus became friends, rather quiet and he'd simply not bothered to pay attention to her.

The water shut off as he kept flipping, almost at the end of the album. There was a shot of Lily, his cousin, and another woman, a little shorter, a little plumper, and all womanly curves spilling up and out and over her dress. The face seemed familiar, and the mass of auburn curls.

"Typical man. I tell you not to look at something and what's the first thing you look at?" Lily drawled and Scorpius glanced up from the album. His witty reply caught in his throat and he felt almost lightheaded as all the blood in his body seemed to pool in his groin and the hardest, fastest erection he'd ever had sprang to attention in his dark denims.

Lily was leaning against the bathroom door frame, wearing only a teeny tiny towel around her middle, another wrapped up turban style on her head. And she was still damp and rubbing moisturizer into her arms. As he watched, she turned, grabbing more, and then lifted a leg onto the vanity and applied her lotion. His throat felt tight when he swallowed thickly. Don't say something pervy, don't say something pervy…

"I couldn't resist," he rumbled. He sat back, trying to ignore the urge to get up, rip that silly little towel off, carry her to the nearest horizontal surface, and fuck her until she screamed his name. "Who's that?" he asked, pointing to the photo of her, Daphne and the curvy friend. "She looks familiar."

Lily moved toward him, smelling delicious, and glanced down, then smiled. "That's my cousin Rose. Rose Weasley."

Scorpius recalled, vividly now, Rose Weasley as she'd been in high school. They'd hung out in the same circles, and she'd been curvy even then. "I think she gave me a blowjob in a closet once," he said conversationally and Lily burst out laughing.

"Ew," she said, moving back to the bathroom, applying more moisturizer. "Please tell me it was before that photo was taken."

"It was senior year," he replied. He'd been shitfaced at some house party and definitely recalled a curvy classmate sucking him off in a closet while he held onto a mass of curls. Scorpius couldn't quite recall if was Rose Weasley or not. "Then again, it might not have been her at all."

"Let's hope not," Lily said, moving from the bathroom into another room. "You're awfully patient," she said five minutes later when she came out in frayed, ratty denim cutoffs and a little black tank top that made it as startlingly apparent now as it had been the last time he'd seen her, that she was definitely not wearing a bra. She passed by him and he got a blast of coconut and vanilla scented air in her wake and watched, still hard as a rock, as she slipped on an oversized army green cotton button down with no sleeves that had been tossed over the back of her armchair.

"Lots of practice," he murmured.

"Yeah?" she drawled shaking out her long dark red mane, throwing the towel vaguely toward the bathroom. She twisted it up atop her head then leaned down to dig something out of a massive tote bag by the kitchen counter. "With waiting on women to get dressed or being patient in general?" she teased, securing her very messy bun with two long chopsticks.

"Both," he replied. She put her hands on her hips. "Ready?" he asked, drinking in the sight of her.

"You bet." He arched a brow. "What?" she demanded, taking a smaller handbag from inside the tote and swinging it over one shoulder.

"Your hair looks better down," he rumbled, getting up and withdrawing the chopsticks from her hair. It tumbled down, all damp and coconut scented and making his fingers itch to tangle themselves in it.

She frowned and he noticed a smattering of freckles across the bridge of her nose. "It's easier to brush if I put it up," she retorted, reaching for the chopsticks, lifting them from his grasp.

"But then how am I supposed to do this?" he asked, and unable to resist any longer, he buried both hands in her hair and pulled her close, kissing her. She groaned, mouth moving in tandem with his and he felt her softness melt against him.

"Fair enough," she breathed when he finally pulled back, which he only did so as to avoid the one thing he'd been told by her older brother not to do. Which happened to be the only thing he wanted to do. "But if I break another hairbrush, you're buying me a replacement," she added, smiling a little, then pulled back completely.

"Another?" he drawled, smirking a tiny bit. Somehow it wasn't at all surprising. Her hair probably eats brushes for lunch.

"There's been two casualties this year alone," she said, blushing attractively. Lily readjusted her bag. "So are we going? Or are you going to admit now that your supposed best blueberry pancakes are in fact sub par and that's why you're dawdling?"

He grinned and followed her out, watching her merely lock the door knob lock, shaking his head a little. "You'll see," he said easily. They got into his, thankfully not stolen, graffitied, or otherwise damaged, Lexus and he pulled easily into light traffic on her street.

It wasn't a far drive to his favourite all day breakfast place, and home of the best blueberry pancakes in the city. He saw Lily casting the little place dubious looks as he parked and they got out. "This looks like a dive," she murmured, clearly loyal to her diner around the corner.

He couldn't resist the temptation to slip his arm around her waist and pull her against his side as they went in. "It is. But you're about to get blown away." She rolled her eyes as they grabbed a tiny table with a horribly scratched formica top in the corner. An older version of Kelly appeared to take their orders.

"Short stack of blueberry, and tell Karl to make them good, or I'll come back there and teach him how."

"Make it two," Lily said and Scorpius lifted his brows. "What?"

"If you order pancakes, you better eat them," he said seriously. Not that he had any qualms finishing them for her, but judging by her figure, he doubted she'd have room for three more pancakes.

"Please," she said, tossing her mane. "Have you seen Albus eat?" She put her foot up on the chair again, leaning on her knee. "It's genetic."

Scorpius chuckled. "Now you're just being a showoff with your freaky circus skills," he said, unable to stop remembering seeing both knees bent that much on her. Lily shrugged.

"It's comfortable. And this isn't even close to freaky circus stretching."

His eyes roved over her creamy flesh and he could imagine her little shorts riding up. His erection still hadn't gone down all the way. "So how is it that you look nothing like your brothers?" he asked, trying to distract himself from her. All he could picture were those mile long legs wrapped around him while he- No, off limits!

"Sheer dumb luck," she said and he smirked. "No, I dunno honestly. My dad says I look like his mom, but as we've only got the one picture for reference, I'm not sold yet. And anyway, isn't it a good thing I look nothing like Al and Jamie? Or is there something about you and my brother you're not telling me?"

He found himself grinning, despite the moderate amounts of horror that question invoked. "Definitely not."

Karl came out with their pancakes then, dark haired, jovial, and barrel chested as ever, smiling at Scorpius. "You mizera, scaring the staff."

The blond smirked. "Bullshit. Where's my friend, the hajzle?"

"Milos shouldn't have taught you that," the man said, bushy brows pulling together. Scorpius smirked wider.

"He also taught me how to barter a fair price with a děvka on the streets of Prague." Karl shook his head. "I've come to enlighten a citizen of this fair city who thinks you don't have the best blueberry pancakes in town. You're welcome."

"Wow, so that was blown way out of proportion," Lily said, but held out her hand. "Lily Potter. Delightful to meet you. And for the record, no offence, there's no way yours are better than the ones around the corner from me. Although I'm sure they're great."

Karl put down the plates with flourish and bent over her hand, kissing it softly with a grin. "When you are tasting, krásný, you are seeing." He made her a little bow. "Enjoy." He made to turn away, then paused and smacked Scorpius upside the head. "You don't speak of děvka and the likes around a lady friend, Scor. Milos even knows better."

"How do you know him?" Lily asked drowning her second breakfast in syrup as Karl went back to the kitchen. Scorpius rolled his eyes and stacked his to cut neatly.

"His son, Milos, was in my squad. I'm surprised he hasn't come out to embarrass me." Scorpius finished his cutting and drizzled the heap with syrup, watching as Lily forked the first mouthful in.

Her eyes went wide, then narrowed dangerously. Uh oh. Here comes the crazy. "These are amazing," she whispered, using her fork to cut another bite off. "Oh God, like seriously," she groaned, mouth full.

"Told you," he said smugly, digging into his own stack.

Lily sighed, sitting back in her chair. "I feel like a terrible human being," she breathed, cutting her third bite.

"Why?"

"I'm cheating on Ted's pancakes and it's so worth it." He watched a huge piece disappear into her mouth and chuckled. "I'm not joking, there's some definite emotional upheaval." He snorted because she was talking with her mouth full, but damn if it wasn't a good look for her.

"So I can tell Karl you like them?"

"Is Karl married?"

Scorpius frowned. What? "Yes. For the last thirty five or so years as far as I'm aware."

"Damn. I was going to say, tell him let's get married. I'd take him in a heartbeat if only he'd cook for me. Seriously, if you're not finishing yours, I'm having them. Why are you laughing at me?" she demanded.

"I'm not telling Karl that."

"Scorpius, you smug sonofab- Well, hello." A beefy guy, a tad taller than Lily's height, with massive arms and an easy smile came out. He had dark hair and eyes and distinctly European features.

"Hi," the redhead said shortly, shovelling more pancakes in.

Milos shot Scorpius a look that spoke volumes about his dining companion. "No manners, Scor. Introduce me to your friend."

"Milos, Lily. Lily, Milos. Go away, now, before you ruin my appetite." The guy grinned, punching Scorpius on the arm, then turned back to Lily.

"So you like the pancakes, gorgeous?"

"No," she said. "I love them."

His smile widened. "They taste even better first thing in the morning after waking up next to me," he teased.

Lily smiled, swallowing her bite. "I bet," she said, and laughed a little when Scorpius shot his friend a dark glare. "They'd probably taste like heaven if you delivered them in bed and then left me to eat them in peace."

Milos chuckled. "Ouch, gorgeous."

"He doesn't even make the pancakes," Scorpius said, working on his own plate. "Go away, Milos."

"Doesn't mean I can't," Milos shot back. "Let me know when you'd like that breakfast in bed, gorgeous. I'm always here," he added to Lily, who waved as she ate steadily, and then the dark haired European man left them to eat, giving the blond another punch.

"Was he one of the ones Daphne slept with?" Lily asked curiously between bites.

"No," Scorpius said. "Milos was Special Forces with me. Daphne slept her way through guys from my second tour."

Lily frowned a tiny bit. Scorpius wondered if she was going to ask him if he'd shot people. "How long were you in the army?" she asked. His mouth quirked.

"Nine years."

"How long have you been out?"

The blond smiled now. "You make it sound like prison."

Her cheeks turned a flattering shade of pink. "Sorry." He waved the apology away.

"Don't be. It'll be three years in August."

"Do you miss it?"

Scorpius paused, a mouthful of pancake halfway to his mouth. Only a handful of people had ever asked him that, and he'd lied to all of them. "Yes," he said, giving Lily the truth.

Her brows lifted. "Then why not go back?"

Scorpius shrugged. "My priorities changed." She tilted her head a little, chewing and then swallowed.

"That's not really an answer," she said lightly. She put her last bite away and Scorpius was impressed. "So is your friend Milos a decent guy? He's kind of cute, and if he really can make me those pancakes, I might seriously consider letting him sleep over." His brows lifted, mouth parting, but she grinned cheekily and giggled. "Your face was hilarious. Just kidding. You're cuter."

"You wouldn't like him," Scorpius replied easily, finishing his own pancakes. Lily sat forward, resting her chin on her knee.

"Yeah? Why's that?"

I'd punch him in the fucking face if he tried anything, and he looks like shit with a broken nose. "He might be a bigger slut than even Daphne."

Lily laughed, stretching her leg back out as the waitress came back over and asked if they needed anything else. They declined and Scorpius got up. "Um, you have to wait for the check," she said as though questioning his mental stability.

He grinned. "There's not going to be a check. And if you ask Karl for one, he'll laugh you out of his kitchen." She stared at him for a beat. "Are you good to go?"

"That's not very nice," she said as they headed out.

"What?"

"Telling me I can buy and then taking me somewhere you know they won't make you pay. I can-"

Scorpius pulled her to him as he held the door for her and she made to pass through, and kissed her lightly, both because he couldn't resist and to shut her up. She tasted like blueberries and syrup when his tongue teased the seam of her lips. "This just happens to be the home of the best blueberry pancakes. Besides, you know they were worth it," he added as they went back outside. They moved sedately, both quite full, toward his car.

"I still feel bad for cheating on Ted's pancakes," she sighed. "Even if they were way more than worth it." Lily bit her lip as soon as the words were out and Scorpius smiled a little. Her long hair ruffled in the breeze and she swirled it with her hand to contain it.

"Sometimes it's good to shake things up a bit," he murmured. Especially those tits, preferably all up in my face.

The redhead made a face. "Now you sound like Harvey." His brows pulled together and she grinned. "The ex."

"Maybe he's not wrong. A fucking dumbass, but maybe not wrong there."

Lily shrugged and they got into the car, and he drove her back to her apartment. She clicked the seat belt undone and licked her lips when they pulled up. "I actually had a good time," she said, looking up at him, cheeks a little pink. He smiled back.

"Does that mean I can push my luck for dinner, too?" he asked, trying not think of her yet again in the throes of ecstasy. It was difficult. With her cloud of dark red hair waving around her shoulders and those miles long legs on display, smelling like coconut and vanilla, her luscious mouth smiling, he was thinking about it. Graphically.

"Unfortunately not. I have a standing reservation at my mother's table every Sunday." Lily's gaze darted down to his mouth, and then back up to his eyes and she licked her lips again, making Scorpius painfully aware of how good that mouth would feel on any and every part of his anatomy. "But I might be inclined to meet you afterward for a drink."

Scorpius grinned. "Sure," he said. "I'll even let you buy. For real."

Lily snorted, but then leaned in closer, hazel eyes dropping to his mouth again. "If anything you should buy me a drink for being a jerk."

He found himself leaning in the slightest bit as well. "Then it's settled. I'll buy your drink, you buy mine."

She laughed softly and then her lips ghosted over his. "Deal," she breathed, and he pressed their mouths more firmly together, tangling a hand in her glorious mane again, kissing her, grunting as her tongue pushed into his mouth, one of her own hands grasping the neck of his tee, and then she broke away, pupils dilated, mouth parted, breathing shallow. "And then you can come upstairs and I'll give you dessert. Pick me up at eight."

She kissed him briefly again then slipped out of his Lexus and waved, jogging lightly up to her apartment. Scorpius sat there for a long moment, still tasting her kiss on his tongue, and felt himself grinning foolishly. You're not sixteen, get ahold of yourself. But even as he put the car in drive and pulled away, heading home, he couldn't wipe the smirk off his face. He was really looking forward to dessert.

As he pulled into the parking space for his condo, a startling realization occurred to him. He would be picking her up at her parents' place. Her parents who knew him. Where Al might also be in attendance. Scorpius gulped, pushed a hand through his hair and took the elevator up to his condo. Serves you right, because you still didn't get her fucking number.

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