NOTE: Thank you all so much for coming back to this story, even after the LONG wait. Soon the story will divert somewhat from the original material, but for now, how about some lemony goodness? It's not much, I know, but I like to savor things as much as a certain Potions Master...Enjoy:)

Chapter 16: The Honeymoon (or was it morning?)

Once the door closed out the noise of early morning birdsong, Severus sat his wife on her feet in front of him. The flowers decorating her long, dark hair glowed in the dim of his house. They offered a soft halo of glowing light around her. Paired with the perfect light of her gown, she looked like an angel come to life.

She licked her bottom lip and he was overcome with need. His Calli, his wife. He could have growled in satisfaction, but held back. She was so young, so innocent. Her dark eyes were locked on his.

"Is there a bedroom?" She asked, and he was brought back to their location in the house. The foyer, not precisely where they both wanted to be. He'd been so mesmerized by her, by the reality of her here, in his house. Their house, he corrected.

Chuckling, he lifted her into his arms again. Carrying her slight weight up the stairs, he thought about how no one had been in his bedroom. The room he'd taken over when his mother had died. When the father he'd feared for all his life was no longer an issue. The master bedroom. And, as he kicked the door open wide enough to accept them, he wondered what she'd make of it.

He sat her on her feet once more, this time facing the room and not him. He waited as she looked around, taking stock of her new domain.

Calli looked around her in curiosity. She'd only ever been given access to his office at Hogwarts, and while it was his personal domain, it wasn't truly intimate. This room, the bedroom that he slept in and LIVED in. The dark wood gleamed in the early morning light. His, their, large four poster bed dominated the space. Sheets of black, and an emerald green velvet quilt dressed the bed. Quality, she noted, rivaling even her aunt and uncle's taste. The room held a small fireplace, several chest of drawers, and a large wardrobe. All told the room was roughly the same size of the one she'd left behind, minus the closet.

He still held her, but his arms were wrapped around her from behind. She turned to face him. She was so close he could feel the heat of her body, but she was still too far away. She tilted her head up to see his face. Her tongue flicked her lower lip nervously, sending him an invitation she didn't consciously send. He took it, bringing their lips together, teasing her mouth, creating a slow and tight ball of lust to build.

He moaned when her hands gripped his neck, locking him to her, keeping their kiss going and deepening it with a tilt of her head and opening her mouth. Their tongues danced as her hands slid from his neck to the top button of his robes. She worked steadily, releasing each button from its confinement, exposing his skin to the air. He wanted to mirror her actions, but didn't, letting her explore first.

Once the last button was undone, she drew away from his kiss. Biting her lip, she looked up at him from under heavy lids. His breath caught as her hands slid the robes from his shoulders, and let them pile at his feet. Her hands met skin, sliding over his shoulders, down his arms, touching his chest. He held as still as possible while his breathing became more labored. He yearned to touch her. To taste her skin.

The thought had barely left his mind, and she was leaning forward kissing his chest. "Is it finally time?" She whispered, her breath leaving goosebumps in its wake. "Can we finally truly be together, husband? Severus?" His new title, his name on her lips would thrill him until he took his final breath.

He released a breath he hadn't realized he was holding and let himself touch her. Really touch her. Running his fingertips along the profile of her face, along the sensitive skin of her neck, under her chin to return her eyes back to his. As his thumb traced her bottom lip, he nearly came undone when she flicked her tongue against it. "You are so beautiful, my darling." His voice was quiet, reverent. "But, I suspect," he let his hand slide down her cheek, down her neck to the buttons holding her gown in place. "That you're even more breathtaking without this." A silent spell and her gown joined his robes on the floor. Another spell and her undergarments were gone as well. He inhaled deeply as he stepped back to confirm his expectations. "There isn't a word to describe how lovely you are, so let me show you."

Calli gasped in relief as he swept her off her feet for the third time. He brought her to his bed, their bed and sat her carefully on the edge and lowered himself to kneel before her. He still wore his underwear and shoes, but first, he had to remove her last article of clothes. Tossing each shoe he removed over his shoulder, he revelled in her giggle. Looking up into her shining dark eyes, he issued his first gentle command of their union. "Get comfortable, Calli Snape," he stood before her and magically rid himself of his remaining clothes. "The time has come for me to show you just how much I adore you."

She moved herself to lay down upon the soft velvet of his blanket, her head inclined upon the pile of pillows against the headboard and waited. He crawled slowly onto the bed, reminding her of a predator, but far more gorgeous. His head dipped and he kissed the arch of her foot, her ankle. Sliding his nose along her calf and flicking his tongue against her inner knee. She sighed and bit her lip, causing his eyes to lock onto hers again. He resumed his slow progress north, nibbling her upper thigh, but stopping at between her parted hips.

Dark eyes locked together, he lowered his mouth to kiss her in her most intimate place. Severus felt rewarded as she arched to meet his mouth. His tongue parted her folds and he was gifted with her sweetness. Calli gasped and her hands found his head, fingers gliding helplessly through his silky strands. Then clutching his head, fingernails scraping his scalp as he licked and suckled at her bud. Holding him to her while riding waves of pleasure. She cried out, as he applied more pressure to her bundle of nerves. Rapture crashed into her, over and over again. Severus pulled back, wanting to see her completely undone by him. The flush of pleasure and satisfaction clear on her glowing face. She wasn't afraid of accepting the pleasure he gave her, and she was vocal, he loved it. And he'd only just begun.

"Why, Mrs. Snape, I trust you approve of my morning plans," he asked, watching her bask in his regard, she giggled and nodded. "Then let's continue, shall we?" His eyes kept hers captive as he used her own wetness to coat his middle finger, slowly sliding it up and down her slit, watching as her chest rose and fell with need. Her teeth trapped her lower lip and she fought to keep her eyes open. "Now, now, Mrs. Snape, I'll have to insist that you keep your eyes on me." He commanded, still gentle, as he slowly penetrated her with his slick finger.

She hissed, releasing her breath as his finger became completely embedded. She watched him as his thumb found her sensitive nub, fighting the urge to arch into his hand.

"Don't hold back, Calli," he ordered, noticing her twitch. "Take what I'm offering. Don't keep the pleasure you feel from me."

She moaned and arched. When he began thrusting within her, giving a whole new feeling for her to experience. She held nothing back. Her inarticulate moans grew desperate, so he pressed his thumb tighter against her bud and rubbed in rhythm with his finger's movements. Soon she was again feeling the building of the ecstasy he gave her earlier. Screaming his name as it crashed over her, and clutching the sheets, her inner walls were clenching his finger, holding his hand in place and making him want to experience it with something far more sensitive than a finger.

He pulled his hand from her when the clenching slowed then stopped. Still maintaining eye contact, he licked the taste of her from his finger. Savoring it, he moved so his body was between her legs. Using his own hand to stroke himself, but hoping soon she'd be comfortable enough to take his place. He was so aroused it hurt, but he was concerned he wouldn't be able to hold back once he was inside her. And he wanted to savor her, to make her feel the same passion she'd experienced with his mouth and hand.

"Severus," her sigh a whispered plea. "Please."

Closing his eyes briefly, he steadied himself. Calligenia Snape would be his undoing, but he'd be damned if he'd regret it. Opening his eyes to see her, his wife, lying ready and waiting for him. Thanking Merlin, the moon, the stars, and the universe the the gift of her. He slowly, carefully, reverently made her his.