Chapter 14:

Hermione awoke strangely refreshed and energized. She let her mind run through its daily mental checklist of compartmentalizing her emotions and memories into their separate areas of her mind. This enabled her to maintain more control over her reactions.

As she floated towards consciousness, she was alarmed to feel a heavy arm over her stomach entwined with one of her hands and a very hairy leg in between her own. Her eyes flew open. What the …

She looked down at the arm to see white blond hairs and pale skin. She almost groaned in relief. The memories of the night before traipsed through her brain. Remembering all of the times she was sick had her cleansing out her mouth once more with a wave of her hand.

She could feel his breath on the back of her neck and enjoyed the pure calm of the situation. She could feel a hum in her body reveling in the peace. Ironic isn't it that the one time we sleep the night in peace together, is the one night we don't shag? Indeed this is almost the first time we've met and not had intimate relations per se.

She waved her free hand slightly and felt him move his arm and leg back to his side of the bed. She then slipped out of bed quickly and walked into the bathroom. After her morning ritual of washing her face and teeth once more, she transfigured her clothing into yoga pants and a sports bra and began doing her morning yoga and tai chi exercises.

After about two hours she had worked up quite a sweat and felt ready for her morning run. She walked over to the full-length window and looked out upon the grassy hills surrounding Malfoy Manor. The sun was just creeping up over the hill and it dazzled on the dewy grass as though it were full of diamonds. This is the best part of waking up at 5am: I get to see the sunrise.

She felt arms go around her waist and stiffened slightly in surprise before relaxing back into the broad chest behind her.

"I didn't realize you were up, I hope I didn't wake you," she murmured.

"You didn't, I'm an early riser as well." He nuzzled her ear and murmured, "I was enjoying the show for a little before I decided to make my conscious presence known."

They stood like that in front of the window for what seemed like an eternity, each dreading turning away, for it meant the beginning of a day in which they were sure no happiness would be found.

As the sun dipped behind its first cloud of the day, Hermione was shaken from her reverie and turned in his arms. She reached up and lightly brushed a kiss on his lips, then slipped out of his arms and pinched his butt as she walked away.

"I'm going for a run," she said as she walked out the door, and then quickly added over her shoulder, "catch me if you can." With that she was off through the manor headed outside for her three mile run.

Draco growled at her as she walked away, still slightly surprised at how much that light of a kiss could arouse him. He quickly changed his clothes into running shorts and shoes, forewent the shirt and headed outside to catch her.

He could see her a little in the distance on one of his favorite paths and decided to take a bit of a shortcut, promising that he would make the extra up later.

Once he was in line with her, he smirked over at her and she rolled her eyes.

They were running at too quick a pace for any real conversation, but the contented feeling from earlier that morning was humming through their bodies. Their muscles strained and their bodies gleamed with sweat as they took on the hills and winding paths. The morning air was filled with the pounding of feet and pants of breath as they took in the newly awakened world.

As the Manor came back into view, Draco looked once at Hermione and took off in a fast sprint. Hermione glared at his back and took off after him, making some spectacular hurtles over bushes and chairs to get to the patio first. As they neared the patio doors, they were both hurtling neck and neck, attempting to edge forward.

Hermione seemed to realize first what the result might be and put the brakes on. Draco realized a moment later and latched onto her in order to slow himself down. The result was a lovely pile of limbs and bare flesh in the morning light on the patio.

They were both sweaty and sticky, but their bodies were humming with a high after working out and both were a bit more sensitive towards each other in their close positions.

As Draco leaned over to her laughing face to give her a deep kiss, she stiffened and flicked her freed bangs back into her ponytail. She rose quickly and helped him up with a look of disdain. Shit, He's watching. I wonder how much he saw…

Draco's eyes opened wide and looked down at her in shock. Did I just hear her thoughts?

She glanced at him quickly and thought back, This is not good, well it's good in a relationship sense for us; but otherwise this is not good. Either way, we need to get back to your room in a hurry with a decent explanation for why we were on the ground and why we'll be in the room until the meeting.

Draco was still a little stunned at hearing someone else's thoughts and hadn't quite processed all of her lecture. She glared at him and said, "I'm going to go wash off the filth of this dirt. You, sir, should watch where you are running and clean off your patio."

She glared at him and stalked off to his room, praying to whatever Gods there were that Voldemort had not seen too much, even though they hadn't done anything that really betrayed a close relationship. It was too close though.

Once she got into the room, she stripped her clothes in frustration and turned on the shower. More like waterfall … Great Merlin these Malfoy's leave nothing to mere abnormality. The one wall of the shower was shaped in the form of a rock face with the water cascading down it and then spraying onto the individual. The other sides had jets that sprayed out to catch and massage various areas of the body. Merde! I feel like I'm in some sort of sensual massage paradise, where are the leis?

A few of the jets stopped spraying onto her and she felt Draco step into the very large shower. "He was watching; we cut that too close Draco."

"I know; we will have to be more careful."

"Agreed."

She lathered up a loofa and began to run it along her chest and shoulders.

Draco's mouth went dry despite the water flying everywhere at the sight of her sensually touching her breasts and the small bubbles clinging to the hard, small rose-colored nipples. Hard … oh you little wench. You aren't trying to seduce me on purpose, by any chance Madame?

She smirked at his thought. So you figured me out, eh? She stepped towards him, sensually bringing the loofa down her body.

He groaned at the sight and drew a loofa out of thin air. He lathered it up himself and began to aid her in her ministrations on her body. I might have. What are we going to do about this? If He senses me in your mind, we're screwed.

She whimpered at the sensation of his hands and the loofa against her wet, aching back. Hah. Like he could get into my mind, I'm more worried about your own. If He notices me in yours, my entire plan is up in flames.

His hand traveled further down her back and smacked her ass lightly. My mind?! I'm practically an auto-Occlumens, even He can't get through my shields. I've told Him that I am one simply to get Him off my back.

She stared at him after that admission. You are? She stopped moving the loofa around her own skin, and brought it up to his.

… No I'm lying and I'm perfectly willing to walk up to Voldemort and say here are my life's secrets. Enjoy! He raised an eyebrow at her sardonically and stifled a groan at the feeling of the loofa on his own sensitive nipples.

She grinned at his attempt to quiet himself and rubbed the loofa lower, stimulating his pelvis while she licked and laved his nipples. Ok, ok no need for sarcasm. I'm just surprised, I never noticed.

He grunted as she nipped one of them lightly. You have a very forceful mind.

Aw thanks! She ran the loofa around to his back, her front pressed against him, his hardness making itself well-known against her hip.

It wasn't a compliment. He ground his hips slightly, loving the slippery feel of her flesh.

She ran her nails over his back lightly, but enough to leave a few scratches. Hey! Well Mr. I'm-practically-an-auto-Occlumens, how would you like to meet a real one?

Oh really? Who? He raised an eyebrow at her rather animalistic response

Me. She stilled and backed slightly away.

Hah, you're cute babe. He reached to bring her back closer, to feel her moist, soft flesh against his own; to see the water droplets cling to her eyelashes as her eyes flashed beneath.

She smacked him with the loofa and stopped her ministrations. Hush you, my father's mother was one. We think it got passed down by her.

Hmm, well that takes care of that, doesn't it? He pulled her to him and grabbed her in a bruising kiss. Her wet tongue darted into his own mouth and massaged his tongue. You know the best thing about this, is that we can talk and make love at the same time.

She backed away startled. "Make love?"

"That's what I said wasn't it?" Be careful, even the walls have ears!

But, but, but …She was gaping at him.

Finally he had rendered her unable to speak! Someone should document this.

Shut up. You really think of it like that?

Obviously or I wouldn't have said it. He was feeling awkward now. What if she just wanted sex? He consciously blocked his lower thoughts, Damn females! Normally I wouldn't even be discussing this! Gods I'm weak.

You are not weak.

Hey! I blocked that out. He glared at her.

I have a forceful mind remember? She smirked.

Bloody female.

Hush, you know you want me. But I do think of it the same way I just didn't want to say anything, because it's all only going to make us hurt more. Won't it? She looked up at him questioningly; they had stopped their movements and were simply watching each other under the spray of the water.

Baby, if you don't tell me, it would hurt more, because I would feel … well like I just did. I hate this. You have me on my knees and powerless against you. Are you happy?! His eyes flashed and he turned away growling.

She touched his shoulder lightly. And you think I can resist you? I could barely keep myself from running and finding you last night when we first arrived. But you know that we can't be together, not yet.

She turned him towards her. We're both going to have to do things that the other can't stand in order to survive. I have to lead on Voldemort. He'll probably set you up with someone else just to ensure that you don't come after me.

She drew his eyes to her own. We'll be on crazy missions and bowing before a maniac. I don't want to get hurt again. First Ron left, then Harry … Draco, I can't handle that again. She had opened up entirely and her broken eyes haunted him.

He couldn't promise her anything, because he had nothing to promise. Their futures were uncertain and they both knew it. He didn't know if he could turn his back on what he had believed for so long. He wasn't even sure if he wanted to. He enjoyed the rush of power that the Dark Arts brought. He enjoyed the power that his family wielded around the world. Hell, he had been raised to be powerful. Can I just give that all up?

She shook her head at him in seeming disagreement and he took the time to look at her. He saw a witch standing in front of him in the shower, who had been broken and destroyed multiple times over, yet who was still stronger than any other female out there.

Love, I can't promise anything, just as you can't. But I know that we were brought together once again for a reason. Whether it be ill or good, neither of us will know until the end. My soul needs yours; they will at least always have each other. I can't ignore you or hurt you, because it would be like hurting myself – which is elementally stupid. He held out his hand to her and caught his breath.

She looked down at his hand as though it held the weight of the world in it. Draco, I don't know where I'll be in the next day, least of all the next part of my life, but if I have another part to live, I think I'd like you to be in it. No matter what we have to do to get there. She placed her hand in his and grasped it tightly.

They stood in the shower, the water sluicing down their bodies and the steam flowing through the room. Neither was willing to say the words they both so desperately felt. Draco pulled her close to him and began rubbing his hands over her back. He felt her nipples tighten against his chest and he too became aroused. She ran her nails lightly over his back and then up into his hair. He claimed her mouth, running his tongue over her lips before slowly licking his way into her mouth.

She whimpered slightly and arched against him, rubbing her nipples against his chest in hopes of relief. She could feel his arousal against her hip and ran a hand down his shoulder and torso to begin playing lightly with his balls. He groaned into her mouth and broke away to begin licking at a spot just under her ear.

He pulled her towards one of the walls that had a bench and sat down, then had her straddle him on the seat. Her breasts were almost even with his mouth and he licked his lips predatorily. Yum …He leaned forward slowly and sucked her nipple into his mouth. He was nipping and suckling the one while running his hand over the other.

She had her head thrown back as his hand and mouth overwhelmed her senses. She didn't even feel his other hand until it suddenly rubbed against her sweet spot and she jumped slightly at the shock of excitement. Oh! … She brought her hand down to his lap and began stroking his hard member, rubbing the tip with her thumb.

He thrust into her hand and resultantly rubbed against her thigh. He groaned at the wet, silken feel of her skin. Looking up he saw her eyes hooded in arousal and she was staring at his own face hungrily. Gods, you're so fucking sexy with your black hair streaming down and your eyes like the ocean in a storm.

She ran her hand up and down his length harder and faster as he began thrusting two of his fingers into her own tight passage. More, more, more, more …She pulled his hand away and looked him directly in the eye. Not losing a moment of eye contact she slowly, achingly lowered herself onto his throbbing cock.

He grunted at the feel of her slowly encasing him inch by inch. Once she was flush against his pelvis he grabbed her hips. He saw her smirk and she then quickly rose up and thrust back down again, making him shudder. Ungh, oh gods baby.

Watching the water play on her skin, he got an idea. He took one hand and moved it to a jet that was nearby. He repositioned three of the jets to train on her nipples and lower abdomen.

Yessssssss, oh my .. Draco you are a god. She moaned loudly at the intense feeling of the water and began riding him in earnest.

I know. He began to meet each of her downward thrusts with his own, the slapping of flesh mingling with the sound of the water flowing around the shower. Listen to that baby, music of our own making. You are my instrument to play and pluck. Draco was groaning at the feel of her walls milking him every time she went up and down; while Hermione was teetering on the brink due to the sensitivity of her skin.

Please, please, more, oh gods more … Dracooooo.

Draco grunted once more as he felt her clench in a small orgasm and stood up quickly. He wrapped her legs around his hips to keep her in place and walked her over to a moss-covered wall. I'm going to make your world spin. You won't be able to forget who you belong with after this babe. He was nibbling on her neck as she went through the pulsations of her climax and he reveled in the feel of her walls around him. He pushed her against the wall and began thrusting into her vigorously.

Oh gods … who.. ngh yea…would … right there … would want to… ahhhh … She whimpered at the new angle of his thrusts and the friction he was causing between their skin. Her body was on fire from her earlier climax and she dug her nails into his back.

Come on baby, come for me. She was arching off the wall into his body, trying to take more and more of him in, never wanting the wonderful feel of completeness to end.

Soon they were both grunting and moaning, staving off their completion; with a final deep thrust Hermione flew over the edge, her muscles convulsing and milking Draco's cock into his own completion. They both slowly slid to the shower floor, lying on the wet tiles with water spattering on their skin.

Hermione groaned at the soreness she knew she would feel later that day. Remind me why we thought it was a good idea to go running?

Because you have to take a shower afterwards.

Oh yea … I do love a good shower.

With that she laid her head back onto the tiles and let herself drift on a cloud with Draco; pushing all thoughts of the later meeting to the back of her head.