Authors Note:
Thanks to BoulderGirl1059, ElvesWizardsCentaursOhmy, Mogseltof, Meisterburger, bball0213, , summersrain, twilightaddict323, BrokenFaerie16, Karol Wheezy, zombie8 and (the always faithful) the DA is dressed to the nines, for reviewing chapter 21! I'm glad you guys are enjoying the story (almost) as much as I am :)
This chapter somehow ended up rather long when I don't really feel it has a lot of meaningful content...however it does have a rather long L/J scene that I'm sure many of you will like quite a bit :) But because it doesn't feel as full as most of my other chapters I don't feel as happy with it. This means that I will very likely be trying to make up for that with the next few chapters and lucky for me having a bit more substance come along fits the plotline perfectly! Don't worry though I'll keep you all entertained with lots of Lily and James, some Sirius and Marlene and for those of you who were starting to worry I was neglecting them, a bit of Alice and Frank. I want to add a little about Dorcas and Remus but I'm waiting for the right time...I really do love Remus and I feel kind of bad that he's been taking a bit of a back seat in this fic so far (I will do my best to fix this as well).
Well I'm at 166 reviews and over 25,000 hits to this story so thankyou to everyone who stops by to read it and a huge THANKYOU to those of you who review :) I read them all and love getting your feedback! So keep the reviews coming and...
Enjoy!
CHAPTER 22
Sisterly News, Suspicious Marauding and Another Step Forward
At breakfast a few days after Lily and James' mishap a letter came from none other than Petunia. Lily had been awed by the sight of James' owl, which she now very likely used just as often as he did, with a distinctly pink envelope in its clutches. When he had landed in front of her Lily had grinned at James teasingly as his owl, aptly named Archimedes, had taken to delivering the post to her before him.
"Oh har har." James said rolling his eyes. "Just because Archie has turned traitor doesn't mean you should rub it in Lils."
Lily reached for her letters and then handed over his. She went immediately to the pink envelope knowing it had to be from her sister.
She frowned when another less garishly colored envelope fell out into her lap.
Picking it up and looking at the fancy seal and expensive paper Lily felt her stomach drop. Her brows furrowed in confusion she began to read the first letter.
Lily,
Vernon has asked me to marry him and I have accepted. The wedding is to take place in late January. I know it is short notice but Vernon and I have been discussing it for ages. I've enclosed your invitation and at mother's insistence have agreed you may bring a guest. I would have asked you to be a part of the bridal party but we both know that would only cause a lot of difficulty as you will be away at school and won't be able to attend regular fittings and help out with any of the usual activities.
Though I don't know why I'm bothering to ask I would like it if you would be willing to throw my bridal shower. I have planned it so that it will take place shortly after Christmas while you are still at home on break. I'll understand however if you don't feel up to the commitment.
Fill out the invite and return it please.
Petunia
Lily stared at her sister's letter in shock for a moment before reaching for the cream colored envelope with pale blue ribbons and breaking it open. She read over the invite stunned to see her sister's name next to that of Vernon Dursley as it discussed their wedding arrangements.
Her sister was getting married Saturday, January 21 1978. Lily couldn't believe it. It was all so surreal. Petunia was only a few years older than herself. She hadn't realized just how serious her commitment to Vernon had become.
"Lily are you alright?" Alice asked curiously. "You've been staring at that fancy bit of parchment for almost ten minutes now."
Lily nodded still staring dumbstruck at the invitation.
"My sister is getting married." She managed finally.
"Petunia?" Marlene screeched, snatching the invitation out of Lily's hands. "You can't be serious?"
Lily was still feeling shocked. When had things changed? When had she and Petunia gone from being small and playing in the garden to being old enough to be seriously committed enough to agree to marry someone?
"Are you upset?" James asked her softly his hand finding its way to her lower back.
Lily shook her head. "I'm a bit stunned is all. I hadn't really taken note of how fond she was becoming of him. I knew they had been dating each other for awhile but I hadn't really considered what that would lead to."
"Are you in the wedding?" He asked curiously.
"No. She said it would be too complicated trying to get me through fittings and such. She said I wouldn't be there to participate in all the usual wedding events." Lily explained. "And she's right. I wouldn't be. I couldn't take that much time off of school what with NEWTs this year and with things like that often taking place at the last minute."
James nodded in understanding. "You're still a bit disappointed though."
It was a statement not a question but Lily nodded anyway. "I am. I mean I had always thought we would be in each others ceremonies. I know we haven't been the best of sisters since I started school here and I never would have expected her to make me her maid of honor but…" Lily shrugged and then smiled slightly. "She asked me to throw her bridal shower though."
James quirked an eyebrow at her in question. "Is that meaningful?"
Lily nodded. "Typically it is one of the maid of honor's duties."
"Well it would seem to me that she still wants you to be a part of it then." James said smiling.
Lily couldn't help but smile widely as well. Despite their differences Petunia still wanted her to be included in her wedding. She was more pleased than she would have thought at getting to throw her sister's bridal shower.
"I'm going to go write her back." She said snatching the invite out of her friend's hands and grabbing up her letter before moving off.
"Don't forget to eat something." James shouted after her.
Lily waved at him in acknowledgement and reached around a group of first year boys to snatch up an apple. She held it up to show him before rushing out of the great hall.
James chuckled at her and shook his head in amusement.
J&L J&L J&L J&L J&L
Petunia accepted the letter from her mother feeling more nervous than she had thought she would. It hadn't taken Lily long at all to get back to her. She moved to sit at the breakfast table as she opened the letter and began to read.
Dear Petunia,
I'm so very happy for you. Congratulations! I just can't believe you are getting married.
First off I would love to throw your bridal shower and I'm very honoured that you asked. Write me back and let me know what colours and such you are planning on for the wedding and I'll start planning straight away as the winter holiday is just around the corner. I would also love any input on what you would specifically like me to include in the shower and what sort of setting you were imagining… indoors? Out in the garden? Somewhere else altogether? I would appreciate anything that can help me make the day perfect for you.
Secondly I want to apologize. I know I wasn't always the most supportive when it came to your relationship with Vernon. I'm sorry for that. Though it is no excuse I have to admit I hadn't realized just how serious you were about him. To be honest you being engaged has come as quite a shock to me…weren't we just playing fairies in the garden last year? Time has run away with me and I was stunned to say the least when I got your letter.
I am so very happy for you though Pet. I wish I were there to hug you and fuss over you and tell you just how beautiful a bride I know you are going to be. I suppose I'll just have to wait until I see you to do it…so be prepared!
I love you!
Congratulations again!
Lily
Petunia hadn't realized she'd become teary eyed until her mother asked suddenly, "Petunia dear are you alright?"
She looked up suddenly wiping her eyes and smiling genuinely.
"Lily says she'd be delighted to host the bridal shower." She answered back with as much dignity as she could muster.
Her mother smiled lovingly in understanding.
"Of course she would be. It was very sweet of you to ask her. I'm sure she's just over the moon about you marrying Vernon."
Petunia's grin widened shyly and she said softly, "You know I think she is."
"James this is the third time this term you've had to ask for a replacement on patrol." Lily said her brows knitting together in confusion. "What is going on with your friends that you have to be gone for so long?"
Lily watched as his complexion reddened and he shrugged. "I have Marauder business to attend to."
"James Potter that is a ridiculous excuse and we both know it. Why can't you do your marauding on a different day? On one of your days off for instance. Why do you have to skip Thursday specifically?" Lily pressed.
Running a hand through his hair James shrugged again. "I can't tell you okay. I just have things I have to do with the guys."
Lily frowned in confusion. While James didn't always tell her what he and his friends got up to he had never specifically evaded her questions either.
"Why the eleventh? Why this Thursday? Is there something I should know about?" She continued feeling oddly frustrated with his lack of explanation.
"Lily please. I know that it seems shifty of me to not explain what I'm doing but I honestly can't. It isn't just about me. If it was you know I would come out with it. I don't like keeping things from you."
She sighed. "It's not something that I'm going to be furious with you about is it?"
His flush deepened. "To be honest I'm not sure how you would take it."
Lily let that thought run through her head as they neared their portrait hole and after giving the password she made her way inside and dropped her things on the nearest sofa.
Suddenly it occurred to her. The eleventh, that coming Thursday was the full moon.
"Is this about Remus?" She turned to face him, noting the slightly stunned look on his face.
"Yes. Sort of." He replied honestly his expression worried. "How did you know?"
"The last two times you've had to skip patrol it's been the full moon too." She mused piecing it together. "Do you go wait for him to come back or something?"
James shrugged. "I really can't talk about it Lily."
She nodded aware of what it meant for him to keep his word to his friends. She was still more than a little suspicious as to what he would be doing. Afterall Remus was a werewolf, so it wasn't as if James, Sirius and Peter could go frolicking about with him. Something was tugging at the back of her mind. She couldn't quite place what it was that was bothering her about the whole thing.
"Okay." She said finally. "I'm not saying I like being left out of the loop on this but I understand that there are things you share with your mates that I don't expect you to share with me. Just promise me that whatever it is you are doing that you will be careful."
She still had that nagging feeling in her mind and she knew whatever they were doing was very likely not entirely safe.
"I will be as careful as I can be." James agreed coming to stand before her.
His arms looped about her and he kissed her forehead tenderly.
"Thankyou for being so understanding. I'm sorry I can't tell you all about it. It's just…not entirely my place to do that."
She nodded slightly. "I know. I'm sure this will happen again and like I said I don't expect to know everything that you do with the blokes but I do expect you to be careful no matter what you are doing."
James leaned away from her and smiled widely. "You have to be the best girlfriend in the entire world." He said seriously. "How did I get so lucky?"
"I'm not sure." She mused playfully. "Sometimes I still wonder if I'm under the imperious curse."
"Oh very funny." He chortled.
Lily just grinned and pulled his lips to hers for a kiss.
James groaned at the taste of her and began to back her up toward the wall. As her shoulders connected with the paneling she felt his arms tighten around her pulling her to his chest.
She had never imagined things would be like this. So hot and intense and completely overwhelming all the time. James didn't do anything in half measures and that included kissing. His passionate nature kept him from holding anything back and Lily found that a part of her was constantly ready to accommodate him.
She moaned softly in complaint when his lips left hers.
"I'm sorry." He said genuinely. "I have to get to practice though. If I'm late again the team is never going to let me live it down."
Lily pouted. "So I can't walk you down then?"
"Definitely not." James answered his eyes going dark at the thought of what had happened the last time she'd walked him to practice.
He had still been kissing her when he'd backed up into the locker room. He'd been maneuvering her into a position in his arms where he could lift her up and press her against his groin when Sirius had called out in an amused tone,
"Nice of you to join us captain."
James had broken away from her with a stunned look on his face. He hadn't realized where they were at all. He had flushed crimson and Lily had laughed lightly before pulling his head down to hers and whispering in his ear, "Have a nice practice, I'll be waiting up for you."
He had turned about feeling dazed to watch her walk away.
"For Merlin's sake James just shag the girl already!" Sirius groaned theatrically grabbing the back of his friend's robes and pulling him further into the locker room.
The rest of the team had laughed at the joke and James had grinned from ear to ear.
"That girl is going to be the death of me." He said happily.
"You probably shouldn't look so excited about that." Dorcas told him cheekily.
James had just continued to smile and launched himself into practice doing everything he could to speed things up so that he could get back to her. When he did arrive back she hadn't disappointed him.
"So you are just leaving me to study myself into a stupor?" Lily whined brining him back to the present. "How am I even supposed to concentrate on my work when all I will be thinking about is how sweaty and hot your are going to be out there on the quidditch pitch?"
James grinned loving it when she flirted so openly. "You'll survive. When I get back I'll reward you for being so patient."
Her slight intake of breath gave away just how enticing the offer was to her.
"By all means get going then. I don't like to be kept waiting." She directed, kissing him once more on the lips and shoving him away from her.
James was still grinning like a madman when he got to the locker room.
"Damn Evans must really be treating you well." The fifth year Lewis Blackmore, who had taken the place of seeker now that Gideon was gone, remarked with a wink at Sirius.
"She doesn't even do anything and he gets that look on his face." Sirius said rolling his eyes theatrically for Lewis' benefit. "It's pathetic."
James just sat and began to exchange his trainers for his quidditch boots.
"Seriously Prongs did she even do anything this time?" Sirius questioned as he too began unlacing his trainers.
"Nothing more than usual." James replied through his smile.
"I've got to start limiting the amount of time you are allowed to get off with her." Sirius teased. "I think you need to start cutting yourself off a bit."
James shook his head. "It wouldn't matter. All she has to do is be within ten feet of me and I can't focus."
"I've noticed." Sirius teased.
"So you're pretty serious about her then?" Lewis asked his tone forcibly casual.
"Very." James replied with a nod.
"So you don't care that she's Muggleborn then?" The fifth year asked his brown eyes serious, his tone now slightly nervous.
"No." James said sitting up to look the other boy in the face. "Why would that matter?"
Lewis shrugged running a hand through his dark brown hair. "It doesn't. It shouldn't. It's only that you're a Pureblood and she's a Muggleborn. People have been all over you two since you first started hanging out. I'm just surprised it doesn't bother you more is all."
James shook his head dismissively. "I don't care what people think. I'm completely devoted to Lily and I couldn't be happier that she's my girlfriend."
"I admire that." Lewis said his tone serious. "It's just…how did you get her to agree that being together was worth it?"
Sirius and James shared a look of understanding before turning back to Lewis with identical looks of interest.
"Well it was pretty hard. After everything started up with the Slytherins and with all the pureblood supremacy nonsense going around right now she was pretty worried about it…she still is. I just had to be persistent. I had to keep letting her know I wanted her. Only her. If I gave in even an inch she would have taken it as a sign that it wasn't going to work." James paused thoughtfully. "Eventually I had to make her realize that the important thing was that we had something between us that outweighed all the other bullshit. That in the end the only thing that mattered was that I wanted to be with her and she wanted to be with me."
Lewis nodded and went to tying up his laces, his face thoughtful.
"So…who's the girl?" Sirius questioned slyly.
"Morene Cunningham." Dorcas' voice broke in as she took a seat next to Lewis. "She's really nice. Really pretty too. I've noticed you hanging out with her."
"I've seen her around. Little thing, dark hair, blue eyes." Sirius put in nodding.
Lewis had turned red with embarrassment. "Yeah that's her. Too bad she's dead set on avoiding me these days. I tried to talk to her again today but she won't leave her friends and she keeps coming up with excuses."
"So she's Muggleborn right?" James questioned. At Lewis' nod he said, "I could see if Lily would talk to her for you."
The younger boy looked hopeful. "Do you think it would help?"
"It couldn't hurt." James threw in. "You're a Pureblood right, your brother Ewan was two years ahead of me?"
"Yeah. Ewan married Elise Bell. My parents were thrilled." Lewis said his tone frustrated.
"I take it they aren't too keen on your choice of girlfriend." Sirius stated sympathetically.
"It's not that. They aren't prejudiced or anything. They are just worried. When I told them about Morene they said that maybe her being reluctant about things was for the best. They encouraged me to just let things lie for now and to try and see other girls." Lewis sighed. "The problem is I can't get myself to even think about anyone else. She's…Merlin I think she's it you know?" He laughed harshly. "That's stupid isn't it? I'm not even sixteen yet what the hell do I know."
"James has been in love with Lily since he laid eyes on her." Sirius said chortling as James shoved him in mock irritation.
Lewis' eyes shot to James again. "Do you…what I mean to say is how did you know you loved her? That it wasn't merely some stupid crush or something?"
James sighed and scratched his head, extremely aware that the whole quidditch team was now listening in on their conversation.
"You know that it's the real thing when no matter what you do you can't get her out of your head. When you feel like something inside you is screaming at you to do whatever it takes, make an idiot of yourself, act completely out of character, do things you wouldn't have imagined yourself doing in a million years, anything so long as it gets her attention. When you don't care if she's screaming at you so long as it is you she's focused on, you she's paying attention to. When you hate the idea of any other blokes being with her. When you'll take whatever consequences come your way so long as she knows how you feel about her." He paused and looked the younger boy straight in the eye. "When you realize that you would do anything so long as it makes her happy, then I'd say it's the real thing."
James stood feeling rather awkward after blurting that all out and the rest of the team, still silently processing his words, stood as well and began to file out of the locker room to make their way onto the pitch. James' eyebrows shot up as he heard Sirius, who was the last one to stand, mutter fiercely,
"Oh bloody hell."
When James returned to his and Lily's common room he found her already dressed for bed and curled up with a thick book in one of the big comfy armchairs. He read the title over her shoulder and smiled.
"The Once and Future King. Interesting choice." He stated, causing her to sit up and smile at him.
"How was practice?" She asked moving over so that he could slip onto the chair next to her.
"Alright. If we keep up the intensity we'll be good to go next term." He said unable to avoid the temptation of reaching out to run his fingers through her hair.
"Well you certainly kept me waiting long enough. I even finished that essay Slughorn assigned today."
"Sorry, I had a bit of a talk with Lewis Blackmore both before and after practice. He needed some advice." James explained. "He's been trying to get Morene Cunningham to be his girlfriend but she's really reluctant because he's a Pureblood and she's a Muggleborn."
James watched as Lily's eyes filled with understanding.
"I told him I'd see if you would maybe talk to her a bit. See where she stands with the whole thing. Lewis seems pretty serious about her and it would be a shame for them to not be together simply because of the way the world is right now." James added when she remained silent.
"Sure I know who she is, I'll see what I can do." Lily answered her tone determined.
James grinned at her and kissed her softly. "I'm going to shower and then I'll make good on that reward we talked about."
Lily's eyes flashed hotly as she watched him walk away to grab his things from his room and James had to keep himself from going back to her right then and there.
He emerged from his shower fifteen minutes later to find the common room empty. He made his way to Lily's room and found it was vacant as well.
He called out for her and was startled when he heard her voice answer from his room.
"I'm in here."
When he walked into the room he couldn't help but grin, Lily was apparently going through his bookshelf looking for titles that she had yet to read.
"I'm taking those okay." She said gesturing to the wobbling stack that was on the floor by her feet. "I haven't read them yet and I'm sure I'll have enough time to get through at least a few of them over Christmas and next term."
"Take whatever you want. You're welcome to borrow whatever you feel like." He said moving toward his desk and draping his wet towel over the back of it.
When he turned back around she was just sitting down on his bed. He liked the sight of her there a little too much. It made his blood start pounding in his ears and his chest roar with the need to go to her.
Since they had moved into the Head's common room James and Lily had pretty much steered clear of each other's private space, really only going into each others rooms if they needed the other person. Lily being in his room lounging on his bed was a wholly unfamiliar scene and James was more than a little pleased at the change.
"You know if you keep walking around bare-chested all the time I might embarrass myself and swoon."
He smiled at her words and moved toward her. Positioning his hands on either side of her he covered her mouth with his own. He kissed her softly at first letting her know without words that he'd missed her.
When they broke apart she was smiling.
"Are you hungry?" She asked her eyes connecting with his. "You look hungry."
He nodded. "I am."
"Well do you want to go and get some food from the kitchens I'm sure…"
"I don't want food." He said watching as her eyes widened in understanding.
"Oh," Was all she managed before she swallowed noticeably.
James leaned forward and kissed her deeply, his body reacting to her being in his room and in his bed in a way that bordered on primal.
She belonged there. There was no doubt in his mind that Lily belonged in his room, in his bed, her scent seeping into his things. He wanted her to stay. To become comfortable there. He wanted his space to be her space.
"James," She gasped softly as his hands fisted in her hair and tilted her head to the side to give him better access to her neck.
He continued his path down her throat pushing her back onto the bed as his lips moved further south. He grinned against her skin where he felt her pulse hammering and nipped lightly. She had fisted her hands in the bedspread and he could feel her chest rising and falling as his elbows hit the mattress. He pulled her hair up and out of the way, letting it fan out around her head and continued his way along her shoulders, his lips sliding along skin that felt like satin.
She reached up tentatively to run her hands along his arms, her fingers following the slopes of his biceps up to his shoulders and back down again. Internally he was begging her to keep touching him. To be bold and keep running her hands along his skin. He needed her to take whatever she wanted from him. To feel every inch of the skin that was burning for her.
She moaned when he sucked the skin beneath her ear and James felt his body harden even further. He couldn't keep himself from letting his lower body press down into hers. Her legs were still hanging off the bed and forming an all too inviting frame for him to fit his hips into. When he pressed himself against her she gasped and pulled away from him to look into his eyes.
Her startled expression wasn't fearful merely curious and slightly wary.
"Whenever you want I'll stop," He said reassuringly. "Just say the word and I'll back off."
He waited for her to nod before letting his lips fall onto hers again, this time he was gentle. Letting her lips move with his slowly, softly, until he felt her relax again. He groaned into her mouth when he felt her legs close about him, her knees hugging his hips while her feet rubbed along the backs of his thighs.
Carefully he pressed more firmly into her, his erection sliding against the core of her. Lily moaned into his mouth and James felt her shiver at the contact. He continued the motion back and forth rubbing himself against her, only the thin layers of their pajama bottoms separating them from each other. He couldn't get enough of the feeling.
Reaching down between them he lifted her shirt hem running his hand along her side up to her ribs and back down to her hip again and again.
"Take it off." She breathed breaking away from his lips.
He didn't need telling twice. Leaning up he pulled the soft black tank top up and over her head throwing it down on the floor next to him. She was a vision in her black bra and James couldn't keep himself from reaching out to cup her.
J&L J&L J&L J&L J&L J&L J&L J&L J&L
Lily panted as he moved his lips across the newly exposed skin above her breasts while his hand rubbed her through the material of her bra.
Her hands seemed to have a mind of their own as they roamed across the bare skin of his chest and down his abs. Then up again across the wide expanse of his back and shoulders. She wanted things she wasn't sure of. Her body was screaming for something that was out of her realm of experience. He had stopped rocking his hips against her when she'd asked him to take her shirt off and she found that she missed the motion and was now craving it. The ache in her belly only grew as he ran his hand over her breast and placed hot open mouthed kisses along her exposed skin. When his tongue moved to slowly lick the valley between her breasts she began to instinctively move against him.
As she pressed herself up against the length of him he growled throatily and Lily shivered at the sound.
He reached out and pulled the strap of her bra off her left shoulder and then did the same with the right. He had lifted his head and his eyes stayed on hers the entire time, his pupils big and dark and his gaze hot enough to make her heart beat faster. He continued to tug bit by bit until the cups rested barely above her nipples; the question was there in his eyes as he looked down at her. She wouldn't recall later on making a clear decision about it but she found herself reaching back and undoing the clasp and pulling the fabric free of her body.
The look on James' face was one of complete reverence and wonder. She had kind of expected him to reach out and grab her the first chance he got but he surprised her at first by drinking in the sight of her as if he'd never seen anything like it in his life. Lily had to keep her hands locked firmly at her sides while he stared. She wasn't totally sure of herself by any means and it was the first time anyone had seen her topless since she was little but she allowed him to look his fill hoping that he liked what he saw. He surprised her again when he relaxed his arms and let his upper body come down until the weight of his chest was pressed up against her own.
"You're beautiful." He whispered his eyes locked with hers as he held her to him tightly.
She smiled against his mouth as he began to kiss her tenderly.
He moved gently, worshiping her as his lips moved further south. Shivers raced along her skin every time his lips slid lower.
By the time he reached the center of her sternum she was nearly shaking with need. She needed to know what it felt like to have his mouth closed about her, wanted to know what it was like to have him kiss her there. When he licked the underside of her right breast in a long slow movement she moaned aloud begging him for more. Her skin prickled with awareness, everywhere she was pressed up against him was hot. Her breasts felt heavy and more sensitive than they ever had before in her life and when his mouth finally closed about her nipple she gasped and grabbed the back of his head holding him to her.
She needed him to keep going. To keep licking, kissing, touching, moving. She wasn't aware of when she'd started grinding against him again. Or of when she'd started to move her feet against the back of his thighs in time with the movements of her hips, she was only aware that every so often his lips would stop moving as he made harsh sounds.
As he adored her breasts moving from one to the other and testing out different things, flicking his tongue, sucking lightly, blowing gently, Lily began to feel something building within her. An instinctual need to keep moving, keep pressing herself into him until…
Suddenly James was pulling back and groaning into the crook of her neck and shoulder his whole body shaking as he pushed his hips against hers even more forcefully as if he were trying to pin hers down to keep them still.
"Lily." He growled his breathing harsh. "You've got to…wait, I…"
Before he could get out whatever she wanted to say she felt him shudder and grip her tightly as she kept pushing against him. Somewhere in the middle of it she realized he was finishing. His orgasm ripping over him violently as he held her tightly.
She felt the moment it was over as his form melted into hers, resting on top of her as if all the bones had been removed from his body, even though he was all hardness and angles. They were both breathing hard their chests moving up and down with the force of it.
Lily was still feeling dazed, her body barely starting to relax and her stomach unknot itself when James pushed himself up and rolled off her to lay at her side. She instantly wanted him to come back and continue keeping her warm.
"Damn Lily." He said softly rubbing a hand over his face. "I didn't…"
She rolled onto her side so that she could look at him clearly.
"You didn't what?" She questioned with a smile.
James sighed. "I didn't mean for that to happen that way."
Lily frowned instantly feeling worried. "Did I…was it not what you expected? Did I do something I shouldn't have?"
"No…hell no. You were perfect. Merlin were you perfect." James breathed rolling over so that he could drape an arm over her and place his hand between her shoulder blades. "I just didn't mean to…"
He trailed off his tone shy and Lily finally understood.
"Are you embarrassed because you finished?" She asked knowingly, reaching up to run her fingers along his jaw.
"A bit." He admitted, his eyes still dark and hot boring into hers. "Mostly I'm upset I finished and you didn't."
Lily smiled reassuringly. "I'm glad I made you feel good. I don't think I'll be so nervous anymore. Not now that I know how much you enjoy it." She bit her lip before adding softly. "And there's always next time for me."
James smiled genuinely and sat up grabbing his wand from the bedside table. He reached down and grabbed her shirt off the floor handing it to her as he stood up.
"I'm going to go clean up. Stay here okay. I'll be right back."
Lily nodded and did as she was told holding her shirt to her chest as he disappeared through the doorway. She flopped back onto the bed once he was out of sight and bit her lip to keep from grinning from ear to ear.
Merlin that had been something. She closed her eyes as relived the whole thing in her mind trying to commit it permanently into her to memory.
She had just finished pulling her shirt on and climbing beneath his covers when he walked back in looking shy but totally happy. He climbed in next to her and wrapped his arms about her pulling her back up against his front and tucking her head underneath his chin.
"You're amazing." He said his tone dreamy. "I knew things would be great with you but that was…something else."
Lily smiled and entwined her fingers with his where they rested against her stomach.
"It felt good." She said sighing in contentment.
James chuckled and she liked feeling the vibrations against her back.
"It felt too good. I can't believe I…"
"Hush." Lily admonished turning about so that she was facing him. "I loved it. Don't spoil it."
James smiled and ran his hand through her silky hair.
"You are everything I've ever wanted Lily Evans." He said seriously, the depth of his emotion evident in his eyes.
"You are everything I never knew I needed James Potter." She answered back closing her eyes and snuggling closer to him.
"Thankyou for tonight." James said kissing her forehead tenderly.
When Lily didn't answer James looked down to find she was already sleeping. He smiled as his chest hummed with pleasure.
The thought crossed his mind that he ought to carry her to her own room but he dismissed it nearly as soon as it appeared. He liked her right where she was.
He couldn't keep his eyes off of her as he thought over what he was feeling. She had been absolutely incredible. He felt more relaxed and at ease than he had in a long time. Things were more perfect than he ever could have thought they would be. Lily was here in his arms and in his bed and he had never been happier in his entire life.
He was ridiculously in love with her.
His smiled softened as he let sleep claim him.
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