Chapter 6: The Art Of Flirting

She was back at Hogwarts. And she was in the arms of Blaise Zabini.

It was her eighteenth birthday. He had made it extra special for her and made her sweet fried dumplings, but had made it into a cake. It had been absolutely delectable, but not as good as what was going on here.

She could feel his strong hand cupping her breasts as his chest was on her back. He was kissing her on her back, something that Blaise had said many times was his most favorite part of her body, though he had never said why.

He nibbled at her shoulder as he entered her gently, back and forth. She could feel his heart pounding on her back, in sync with the beating of hers. She gripped the sheets as she tried to hold in her feeling of ecstasy, but the fact that he was now whispering how much he loved he in his ear as he made love to her brought tears to her eyes.

Rashida woke up. She put her hand up to her face, feeling the wetness of a tear that had escaped her eye while she was sleeping. She looked over at Dean, who had spent the night, and sighed.

She got up and sat on the side of her bed, her mind racing. So now she was having sex dreams about him? She hadn't had one of those since a few years back. She couldn't deny that sex with Blaise was wonderful. He paid so much attention to her body, even if it was a quickie. She didn't have too much to compare it to, as the only other sexual partner she had was the man that had taken her virginity.

Dean and her had shared a bed many times. They had cuddled, snogged, and just like last night, simply slept. However, they had never had sex before. It wasn't like Dean looked undesirable. That was far from the case. She had even thought about it many times before, but something inside her would keep her from doing it.

She figured that maybe her own body and mind wanted to wait until after marriage. She had even told Dean that, and while he had said he understood, it wasn't like he still wouldn't try from time to time, as any man would.

It was strange, having a sex dream about her ex-boyfriend while sleeping beside her fiance. And it had felt so real. Every single kiss, every bite, every thrust was felt. She could even feel the ghost of his breath on her ear.

She got up and went to the bathroom to shower. She thought about everything that she had to do today. She had a day off, so she had made plans to go shopping with Hermione and Ginny, who had came home the night before from her and Draco's honeymoon. Then, later that night, Blaise was to come over and cook.

She found herself grinning at the thought of Blaise cooking for her. She remembered the first time he had at his home, when he had made spaghetti. Since then, he had snuck to the kitchens and forced the house elves there to let him cook there sometimes when she would stay the night in his room. Sometimes he cooked things that his mother had taught. Other times he would use the cookbook that she had given him as a Christmas present.

She had told Dean about it. No need for her to lie. She was surprised how cavalier he had been about it. She knew that Dean was a pretty laid back person, but she didn't expect him to be completely okay with her ex coming to her house and cooking dinner for her. Still, she felt that she should at least be honest and let him know.

Rashida stepped out of the shower, dried off, and put on her clothes for the day. She selected a black fitting tank that showed off enough of her back tattoo, and low rise designed by her aunt, which still gave her clothes to advertise in England.

When she came out the bathroom, Dean was already putting on his shoes.

"Leaving early?" she asked. She thought she would have at least breakfast with him.

"Just got owled in." he said, pointing to the piece of parchment on Rashida's bed. "I'm needed at the office. Sucks, I was looking forward to having at least one meal with you today."

Rashida smiled as she slipped her feet into her flats. "Yeah, me too. I was going to fix some bacon, eggs, and pancakes for us."

Dean picked up the parchment, stuck it in his pocket, walked over to Rashida, and wrapped his arms around her. He kissed her sweetly on the forehead. "That sounded like it would have been delicious. Too bad I can't enjoy it."

"Tomorrow perhaps?"

"Maybe. We will see." he said, kissing her quickly on the lips. "See you later, love you."

Rashida smiled as she watched Dean walk out of her bedroom door, shutting it behind him.

"About time. I thought he would never leave." said a voice that made Rashida jump. She turned and seen Blaise leaning against her sliding door to her balcony.

"Blaise? What the hell! What are you doing here?!" said Rashida, hands going to her hips.

"I sent you an owl about thirty minutes ago saying I had to come early rather than tonight. Didn't you get it?"

"Obviously not." said Rashida.

Blaise cocked an eyebrow. "Huh. Weird. I actually sent it when I had apparated in front of your flat. I seen the owl fly out your sliding door and everything."

Rashida was confused. The only owl and parchment that had came that morning was from Dean. He had said so.

Unless...

Rashida watched as Blaise took in her room. It wasn't that exciting, except for the magical mural of the African savanna that was painted on one of her walls. Throughout the day, the sky would change to match the day and night, animals would appear, and the sunsets were even better than the actual ones outside her window. She had spent months on it.

"Your work I gather." said Blaise, admiring the mural, and the sight of an elephant walking into it.

"How do you know?" asked Rashida.

"Has you written all over it. Colorful, peaceful, yet wild." said Blaise with a smirk.

"Clever."

"So, he lives with you?"

Rashida was taken aback by the question. "No, he just stayed the night last night. Nothing happened, of course."

She didn't know why she felt she needed to add that last part.

Blaise shrugged it off and walked over to her bed. "Black sheets huh?"

"Are you here to critique my decor?"

"I'm here to fix you those bacon, eggs, and pancakes you were talking about. Dean could have stuck around you know. I would have made some for him too." smirked Blaise.

Rashida rolled her eyes. "Sure you would. Come on you, follow me." she said opening the door to her room.

Rashida's flat was modest, but pretty roomy, especially for her being the only one living there. There was a spare bedroom, another bathroom, a pretty spacious sitting room/dining room with something very interesting near a corner of the room.

"Is...is that what I think it is?" asked Blaise, walking over to the metal cylinder that was connected to the floor and the ceiling.

Rashida grinned. "It is a pole, yes."

Blaise laughed as he felt the cold but smooth and shiny steel. "Please tell me the story behind this."

"No story really. It was there when I first moved in here. Us girls have a lot of fun with it when they visit. Well, not so much Pansy these days. You should see Hermione. She's a lot better on it than any of us."

Blaise laughed. "I could never picture bookish Hermione on a pole. Can't picture you either."

"Pole dancing isn't always about stripping. It's a form of art. Like all dances." said Rashida. "Come. You can't make me breakfast on a pole."

"You'd be surprised what I can do nowadays, Mosi." joked Blaise as he followed Rashida to a very nice kitchen.

"I just hope you're as good a cook as you were five years ago." said Rashida, sitting on the island counter.

Blaise smiled as he rummaged through her fridge. He got out ingredients and sat them on the other side of the island. "Mind if I take this shirt off? It's Givenchy, and I don't want to mess it up."

Rashida chuckled. "Of course it is. I guess, just throw it on the couch."

Blaise left the kitchen. When he came back, he was shirtless. Rashida hadn't expected it. He usually wore beaters under his shirts, at least, he used to.

She found herself staring unapologetically at his toned body. His chest looked more firm, but she could tell his skin was still as soft as it had always been. He was a couple shades darker than Dean, and the warm chocolate of his skin awakened the butterflies in her stomach. She longed to reach out and touch him like she used to. She could just picture her hands rubbing down his pecs, her fingers feeling every one of his muscles as they made their way down-

"Earth to Shida." said Blaise as he snapped his fingers, bringing her back.

Rashida gave Blaise a shocked expression. She didn't know what to say. She had been busted admiring her ex-boyfriend. With no shame.

She shook her head. She knew what he was doing. And she was never one to back down from a challenge. 'Two can play that game, Zabini.' she thought.

She hopped off the counter. "I'll be right back." she said in a hushed voice as she rushed back to her room.

Blaise chuckled inwardly. He knew that would get her hot and bothered. He remembered the long nights of them talking in bed while she rubbed all over his chest. 'Poor dear.' thought Blaise with a grin. 'Probably had to go and take a cold shower.'

A few minutes later, Rashida came back into the kitchen. She wore a smug expression on her face.

"You good, Shida?" asked Blaise.

"Just fine." said Rashida nonchalantly. "I'm going to make some coffee. Want some?"

"Sure." said Blaise with a shrug as he continue mixing up his pancake batter. He watched as Rashida walked over to her cabinet to get the coffee. He had to stop himself from touching her now visible back from her open back shirt that she had changed into.

He let out a low growl. Rashida's back had always appealed to him. It was unblemished, smooth, and looked like the fresh caramel that the owner of Honeydukes would pour out and cut. He longed to bite it the way he used to, and he felt his hand itch.

"Well played." he said out loud by mistake.

Rashida turned around and looked at Blaise amusingly. "Sorry, you were saying?" she asked.

"Nothing. Nothing at all. Slip of the tongue." he said, licking his lips as he said it.

After Blaise had finished cooking, he put his shirt back on and served both Rashida and himself. Rashida dug her fork into the fluffy stack of buttermilk pancakes, stuck the forkful into her mouth, and moaned. The pancake seemed to melt effortlessly on her tongue. It was everything she had remembered. The rest of her meal was just as good. Blaise put as much passion into making food as he did into having sex, and Rashida could have orgasmed off the food easily, if food was a turn on.

Blaise watched as Rashida enjoyed every morsel of the food he had made her. He loved watching her eat. He got a personal thrill out of her enjoying something he made special for her.

"I see someone enjoyed her breakfast." said Blaise when she was done.

"Oh stop it, you know I've always loved your cooking." said Rashida, finishing up her pancakes. She almost hated taking that last bite.

"Yeah, you did. You used to love a lot of things about me." said Blaise as he took Rashida's plate to the sink.

"And you were doing so well." said Rashida, walking behind him. "I'll wash."

"I'll dry." said Blaise standing beside her, eyes focused on her back as she wiped the dishes off. He almost missed the plate when she passed it to him to dry.

"Something wrong, Blaise?" said Rashida. "You seem distracted."

Blaise let you a few coughs. "No no. I'm good. It's just...well aren't you cold?"

Rashida grinned as she turned her head, resting her chin on her shoulder. "Why do you say that, Zabini? Do you see any goosebumps?"

Blaise took a long look from Rashida's shoulder to where her jeans started. He licked his lips slowly, his tongue longing to taste her skin, even for just a second. He shook his head quickly. He had to snap out of it. He was supposed to be the one playing the temptation game, not her.

"No, I don't see any," said Blaise, recovering and leaning towards Rashida. Oh wait, there's a few right here."

Blaise reached out and gently ran his finger across Rashida's bare back while looking straight into her eyes. Rashida kept her eyes locked onto his, trying desperately not to show how his touch had awakened a volcano within her that had been dormant for so long, and was longing to erupt. Blaise's touch was almost like a revitalization of her body's reaction to him. And she could not have that.

Rashida laughed nervously and moved away from Blaise's hand. "I guess it's a bit chilly in here after all." she said, summoning a thin jacket with her hand and putting it on as quickly as she could.

Blaise couldn't help but smile. 'So, she still likes it when I do that eh? Noted.' he thought.

They finished washing dishes the muggle way and Blaise helped put them up while Rashida washed off where they ate. When they were done, they each sat down awkwardly on the couch. Neither one seemed to know what to say to the other, but each was dying to speak.

Finally, Rashida couldn't take it anymore. "What's going on with us, Blaise?" she asked.

"What do you mean?"

"We are both adults, we should be able to be around and talk to each other like friends."

Blaise shrugged. "We never really started out as friends, Shida. Need I remind you?"

"No, you don't need to remind me that I was a conquest." scoffed Rashida.

Blaise rolled his eyes. "Rashida, we've been through this so many times, haven't we? I thought that I had apologized and you had accepted it."

"I know that Blaise, but it doesn't change the fact that it was how we got together."

"I understand that, and had it not been for you actually believing in me, I wouldn't have changed and made things better, now would I?"

"That's true, but that doesn't answer the question of why things are awkward with us now."

"I think you know the answer to that." said Blaise, running a finger down Rashida's arm.

"I don't know the answer to anything."

"Stop denying it, Shida. I surely don't."

"Stop denying what?"

"Stop denying the fact that you still have feelings for me and maybe we can see what we can do about this!" snapped Blaise, feeling himself getting angry.

"Blaise, even if I did, which I don't, it doesn't make any difference and you know it! I'm getting married in less than three weeks and that's the way it's going to be!"

"Why, Rashida? Why don't you want to even attempt to see if we still have something? Why are you so determined to fight me?"

"BECAUSE I LOVE DEAN!" shouted Rashida. "I love him! And that's not going to change!"

"Give me a fucking break, Rashida, you don't love that man! I can see it, your friends can see it. And I bet if I asked your parents, they would say the same fucking thing!" yelled Blaise, standing up.

"WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU KNOW ABOUT HOW I FEEL ABOUT ANYBODY?!" exclaimed Rashida, standing up as well. "YOU FUCKING RAN OFF TO FUCKING ITALY WITH YOUR MOM AND WROTE NASTY FUCKING LETTERS DEMANDING THAT I GIVE YOU THE TIME OF DAY LIKE YOU'RE SOME FUCKING KING! THEN YOU ICED ME OUT FOR FIVE YEARS-"

"YOU TOLD ME NEVER TO TALK TO YOU AGAIN!"

"AND THEN YOU BRING YOUR ASS BACK THINKING THAT I WAS GOING TO WAIT AROUND LIKE SOME LOVESICK TEENAGER FOR YOU AND PICK UP WHERE WE LEFT OFF IMMEDIATELY AFTER SEEING YOU! I'VE MOVED ON, BLAISE ZABINI! I SUGGEST YOU DO THE SAME!" finished Rashida, breathing in and out as if she had just finished running around Hogwarts twice.

Blaise looked at Rashida with fire in his eyes. He was breathing just as hard as she was. Both of them stared each other down, as if they were daring the other to move.

Rashida sighed. "Look, I'm sorry, okay? I shouldn't have yelled at you like that."

"I'm sorry too." whispered Blaise.

"It's just...I...I don't know. There is so much going on in my mind, and it feel like I can't process it properly."

Blaise was confused. "Explain?"

"I don't know how to explain it, Blaise. At least, not right now."

Blaise put his hands on Rashida's shoulders. "It's fine if you have feelings for me, Shida. There isn't anything wrong with that."

Rashida looked down at the ground. "It is if I'm marrying someone else. That's not fair to Dean. Don't you agree?"

"To be honest, I could give a fuck what's fair to Dean. Dean's a fucking prick."

"BLAISE!"

"It's true! Dean is an asshole and will always be one."

"I thought we were going to have a civil moment, Zabini." said Rashida, crossing her arms.

"I mean even if this wasn't happening, I would still think him an asshole. So don't get sour with me. But as I was saying, I don't give a damn about Dean. I care about you." said Blaise, moving his hand down to her hand and taking it into his.

Rashida felt conflicted. This wasn't supposed to happen. Her and Blaise were supposed to be friends and that's it. She shouldn't feel anything. She had to remind herself how it all happened. She needed to be away from him.

"I need some space right now to think." said Rashida softly. "Thanks for breakfast."

"So you're kicking me out? This early? What will the neighbors say?" joked Blaise.

Rashida cracked a small smile. "You're impossible, you know that?"

"And you're beautiful." said Blaise, pressing his lips onto her cheek.

And with a pop, he was gone, leaving the lingering tingle of his lips on her cheek and the intoxicating smell of sin in her nostrils.