Chapter Four

Monday, a few weeks later was in a word, buggered.

When she entered the office at precisely 7:30 on the dot, she began the ritualistic preparations to make Lucius' life more agreeable and, by extension, her position less expendable. A carafe of hot water was set out with some loose leaf tea packets, and the office elf, was entreated upon to bake his favorite treats. She was busily straightening the filing, when Lucius came breezing in, a laughing Amelia literally draped on his arm. He was smiling indulgently into her face while she described persecuting some poor shop clerk in upscale ladies clothing store on the muggle side of London.

"…the look on her face was priceless! Then I asked if they carried the original Madame Demelza's line of lingerie and she nearly suffered apoplexy!" He chuckled at her playfulness while Olivia fought the urge to gag.

Amelia turned her head and gave a practiced gasp, "Oh! Why, Lucius darling, we have a guest. I'll make tea." She caressed his cheek, and kissed him full on the mouth, a long lush and lingering embrace that was clearly meant to mark her territory, and succeeded in having the result of making Olivia see red.

"Tea is, in fact, nearly ready, Lord Malfoy. Will your," here Olivia allowed her gaze to sweep condescendingly up and down the other woman before continuing, "em … escort … be joining you as well?"

Lucius felt Amelia freeze as she took in the Olivia's meaning, and she narrowed her eyes in fury before stalking over to the shorter woman and treating her to a glare that would have caused Voldemort to cringe.

Lucius smirked and mentally clapped his hands...entertainment at last and at no cost to you, dear boy; genius, pure Slytherin genius. He then settled himself on the arm of the sofa to watch...my money's on my Livvie...he barely noticed that other voice, letting the comment float by unhindered.

"And just who do you think you are, you repulsive little upstart? If you make just one step out of line, I will take great pleasure in reporting your behavior to the Ministry, and having you fired." Amelia's cheeks were a mottled red with rage; it was not at all an attractive sight.

Olivia put on her sweetest smile. "By all means. You do realize, Ms. Belle, that I am Lord Malfoy's Secretary, and therefore I doubt the Ministry would even be interested. You, on the other hand, are nothing more than an ordinary tart." She had barely closed her mouth when a hard, sharp slap caused her to stagger and had her seeing stars for a few moments.

"You will mind your manners with your betters, you pathetic Bitch, do I make myself clear?" Her voice rose shrill and loud and she lifted her hand to strike Olivia once again.

Lucius sat stunned after the first blow to the smaller woman. A red handprint was blossoming on her cheek, and tears were pooling in her fragile eyes. His eyes narrowed with rage. Amelia had been an amusing and easy lay these past weeks, nothing more. He'd made that clear the first time he had proposed they go to his spacious flat near his office, but it had been becoming apparent that she saw herself moving into Malfoy Manor as Lady Malfoy. He'd been about to give her a substantial gift and break it off as she'd been taking liberties and demanding too much in return. As he watched her hand go up a second time, he was up in a heartbeat and by her side.

Amelia was practically beside herself with rage. 'How dare this trollop, this … this cheap, wretched slut back sass her – HER!' She made a move to strike Olivia in the face again, remembering the glorious feeling as her hand connected with flesh. With this thought fresh in her mind, she promptly forgot all her Mind Healer's advice about controlling her anger and raised her hand, intending to experience the rush all over again.

On the back swing, a cruelly tight grip stopped her forward momentum. She turned astonished eyes around and looked straight into the furious scowl of Lucius Malfoy. With scathing words, he physically pushed her toward and out of the door with the promise that if she ever returned, he was not above using the Cruciatus curse.

After slamming the door, Lucius lay his forehead against it, his face hidden by the silken curtain of moonlight hair, his chest heaving as he drew in great shuddering breaths trying to calm his rage, fighting off the siren call to abandon himself, find Amelia, and torture her until she begged him for death.

'You've done it now, old boy. Even an Imperius Curse excuse would not have the effect of holding off the Minister now.' Molly Weasley never had believed his family were merely Tom Riddle's puppets in his war of power. Gradually, his heartrate slowed and he regained his composure enough to face his Olivia without scaring the shit out of her.

"Lord Malfoy, I am so sorry…" Olivia said softly, praying that he wouldn't throw her out as well for instigating the whole scene. "Please…"

In a few strides he stood before her, touching her bruised cheek, and spoke so gently, to her. Then their eyes locked, blue drowning in green, their lips inexorably drew close…closer… and finally his mouth took hold of hers, demanding her acquiescence. Curling his body protectively around her, deepened the kiss, and was stunned by the sheer, innocent, passion he awakened in her.

The knock on the door was perfunctory and brief, and had the effect of an ice-cold shower of water on the two lovers. They'd just sprang apart when door opened on Minister Molly Weasly in all her state and glory.

"Lucius, we must talk…"

'Bloody fucking hell, I knew it.'

Sleep was a precious commodity, to be treasured, cherished, valued above other things. To Olivia, who under the best of circumstances managed only an hour or two of uninterrupted slumber, it was worth more than diamonds from Tiffany's, and the Royal Jewels combined. Since beginning this job, she'd been mentally and emotionally exhausted by dreams that have gotten more erotic each night.

Tonight, the scenes from that morning kept running through her mind. She lightly touched her bruised cheek, and then winced at the dull ache. The action brought back the memories and they insinuated themselves into her mind…

Flashback

After Lucius had prevented Amelia from slapping her again, he had said in his most icy tones, "In all the years that I was held under the Imperious Curse by Thomas Riddle, I never had the urge to strike a woman as urgently as I do at this very moment. You, madam, are a disgrace. Leave my office immediately and if I ever see your face around here again, I'm not above using the Cruciatus." He was practically hissing the last as he yanked her by the wrist toward his door and tossed her out.

He walked slowly up to Olivia and, wincing with regret, gingerly cupped her injured cheek with a gentle hand. "My dear, I apologize for that scene just now. It was uncalled for and beneath any civilized person's dignity. Here, let me see … gods above, you have her handprint on your cheek…" His hand feathered over the mark. Her misty eyes met his and the moment became pregnant with emotion.

Feeling a magnetic pull between them, Lucius felt inexorably drawn to her mouth, and found himself no longer able to fight the desire to discover if her lips were as soft as they appeared. Once Narcissa had done her duty by producing the heir to the Malfoy legacy, she refused to allow him in her bed. She had never loved him; their marriage had been arranged by the Dark Lord. Even after the War, when the Imperius curse was lifted from their family, she would never allow him to touch her and, soon after, she moved out and filed for a wizarding divorce.

Olivia stared into those ice blue eyes as though mesmerized and waited breathlessly to see what he would do. His one hand splayed along the back of her slender neck, and he gave her feather light caresses, enough to send shockwaves through both their systems. Hunger suddenly flared in her, hot, erotic, and … unexpected. He pulled her toward him, and tucked her smaller frame into his larger one for a warm embrace. Olivia felt so right, so secure and safe in his arms. Suddenly, she had to have a taste of him, had to know if he was for real … or if this was just some dark magic he was weaving so effortlessly around her.

Lucius tipped her chin back and gazed deeply into her eyes. What he saw must have satisfied him because he then lowered his mouth to hers in an incredibly tender, intimate kiss. His mouth moved over hers memorizing the feel and shape of her, lingering there because he could not get enough of her taste. When he felt her legs give way, he simply gathered her closer and deepened the embrace. Olivia gave a low, soft moan that touched on some primal place deep within Lucius. Once upon a time, he was one of the most powerful and influential wizards in the magical community; yet, he held this woman protectively, as though shielding her from the world. He kissed her as though she were more precious to him than all of his wealth, all of his assets, all of his power and influence.

Because, unexpectedly, she was.

End Flashback

She punched her pillow …and cursed again. Damn the man! Damn him for awakening desires she thought she'd tamped down successfully. Flopping down into the pillow face first, she groaned when she caught a glimpse of the bedside clock. 3:30 am! God, she was going to be exhausted again tomorrow! Heaving a sigh, she turned over on her back and began counting sheep … again. She didn't realize when reality ended and dream began…

Dream

She could feel the moan rising from some deep well of passion that had laid dormant all these lonely years until he, and he alone, ignited its release. She felt Lucius shudder in response as he caressed the underside of her breast. She couldn't believe that he could make her feel such an immense amount of pleasure by performing such a simple action. Her lips parted as her breath came quicker, and the sight was an irresistible invitation to the invasion of his, and he took full advantage of the situation, boldly thrusting his velvet tongue between her lips, sweeping it around to caress, entice, and devour. Gods above, he wondered at the simple unconditional trust and desire she gave so freely to him.

Olivia's own hands could not stay still and drifted over the fine, soft lawn of his shirt, seeking the hem, then drifting beneath to find heated skin and hard muscle. She marveled at him; he made her feel so daring, so feminine, and so … so ALIVE. Her body was raging for him, aching for him, and she dragged his shirt up and away from his torso. Lucius chuckled painfully. "You, my love, will be the death of me yet…" and wordlessly he banished her blouse from her body. His breath caught in a suddenly constricted throat at the sight of her skin gleaming in the moonlight. Bending over her, he drew a rosy nipple into his mouth and suckled, strong and steady. Her hands clenched in his white blonde locks and she pulled him closer to her, calling out her pleasure. With each pull of his lips on her body, there was an answering gush of hot creamy liquid that pooled in that place that called out to be filled with his heat and strength. Unable to resist her siren's call, Lucius slid his hands down her slender hips and under her derriere to push her jeans and panties down, coming ahead of them. He found her legs to be satin smooth and traced them with adoring fingertips before slipping between and testing her moist heat.

Olivia cried out, a profoundly erotic note that reached inside his heart and closed around it. 'MINE,' the voice whispered, 'she is MINE forever.'

Without thought, her tiny hands worked their magic on the confines of his trousers and in no time, he burst free, hot and demanding, and aching with need. She could feel his hand pushing against her heat, and she rocked her hips, seeking release. Lucius' chuckle sounded forced and anguish marked his features, but her pleasure was most important to him, so he thrust his fingers into her, delving deep and testing her readiness. Hot cream met his caresses and she moaned long and low, and her nails raked his back as her breath came in choppy gasps.

"Merlin … you are so hot, so ready for me, aren't you?" Lucius could barely speak, he was so tuned into her that he could nearly feel what she felt, each time he touched her. Olivia's breath whooshed out on a long sigh as his long lean frame descended on top of hers, skin to skin, and she felt the hard strength in him. His knee nudged her thighs apart and he pressed his sensitive velvet tip to her moist entrance. Waves of urgency swept through both of them and his mouth captured hers as he pressed into her body a little at a time. The very breath was slammed out of him at the first feel of her scalding tightness. Merlin help him, she was fire and velvet and wrapped around his hardness as though she were made only for him.

Olivia moved restlessly against him; more, gods she needed more of him. Mindlessly, she enticed him to go deeper, when all at once there was pain, sharp and piercing. She gasped, trying to pull away from him. With a nearly bruising grip on her hips, he kept her in place, and for a few moments, a silent battle waged until she gave in, tears rolling freely down her cheeks. He crooned reassurance to her until she relaxed into his embrace, then he kissed the place just behind her ear, which elicited a moan of approval, and caressed her until she was panting with desire and pliant as honey in his embrace. Then, with his lips on hers in a fiery kiss that shook the core of her being, he plunged into her quivering channel to the hilt, tearing through her fragile barrier with a guttural cry.

She stiffened against him, panting in agitation, and he kissed her face repeatedly, lying still and allowing her to become accustomed to his fullness. Finally, she softened around him, and he gritted his teeth as he felt her sheath grip him with velvet fingers until … his control broke. Pulling her legs up and spread wide anchoring them with his powerful arms…he plunged.

Spread open like that, and having no defense against the onslaught to her senses, Olivia was thrown into the maelstrom of passion. Each downward stroke touched off sparks as his fullness rubbed against a certain area that nearly drove her mad with erotic pleasure.

"Now, now, love. Come with me now…" She could barely recognize his voice as guttural as it was with desire. Desire for HER. That thought alone was enough to send her hurtling over the precipice, but that thought plus his touch on her clit, rubbing lightly, insistently, marvelously … sent her soaring to worlds unknown, with only him as her anchor.

They collapsed, slightly sweaty and pleasantly exhausted, onto the rumpled bed. He cast a wordless cleaning spell and then pulled her into a warm, infinitely comforting embrace. She glanced up into his intense blue gaze, a question in her own. He smiled down at her. "I believe I may be falling in love with you, m'dear Ms. Woodhouse. Trite I suppose, falling for one's own secretary, but there you have it."

The smile that lit up her face made the breath catch in his throat. "You really are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen…" And he leaned down, placing his lips over hers once more.

Sinking into his embrace, she was startled to find only intense loneliness, an emptiness in her soul, and a chill foreboding in her heart.

***Author's Note: Thanks to all of you who've stopped by to read, please take the time to review, it does my heart good!