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Chapter 6: Sweet taste of Victory
Her bright gaze watered as she took another shot of Firewhiskey, laughing at a friend's joke with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. Her eyes had been solely fixed on him the entire evening. Looking so damn smug and cocky surrounded by his fans. So what if he single-handedly won the game by scoring so many goals it didn't matter when Ravenclaw's Seeker caught the Snitch; winning Gryffindor the Quidditch cup for the fourth year in a row? That's not a good enough reason to worship the bloody ground he walked on, like those slags surrounding him did.
Ignoring the rush of anger and betrayal she felt every time she looked at him, Lily took another shot of Firewhiskey. It was her plan to get properly smashed at the party and not remember any of it. So if James hooked up with a girl or two, or even all of the slags in Hogwarts, she wouldn't remember.
Muttering a foul curse under her breath, she left her circle of friends to make a beeline towards the drinks, breezing past James and his fan club with her head held high. It had been two weeks since the fair. Fourteen fucking days since they shared that amazing kiss, only to be brushed off and ignored. Three hundred and thirty-six hours since her original fears were confirmed and he really was just playing with her.
Angrily sloshing some of the spiked punch into her cup, Lily laughed bitterly at herself for ever believing James' persistence meant something more. Unfortunately, it was too late for her; she had already fallen in love with him. She lifted the cup to drown her sorrows when a cool palm cupped the top of the lid. "Go easy on that stuff, Evans," Sirius chided, taking the cup from her, "you're scaring the piss out of Prongs."
"Oh, so he's noticing me now," she sneered, wrenching the cup away and downing it.
"He's always noticing you, he can't help it," Sirius shrugged, drinking from his own cup with gusto.
James' rich laughter cut across the common room, causing the pair to glance his way. Lily's eyes narrowed when James playfully nudged the twit at his side, scathingly snorting, "I can see I'm the top of his priorities."
"You really are," Sirius comforted, wrapping his arm around her in a friendly hug. "Besides, he's merely following the advice of a friend."
"What idiot told James to ignore me?" she asked incredulously, a frown marring her pink lips.
"Me," Remus sighed, hesitantly pausing at her side.
"Why?" she whirled on him, glaring daggers at who she had previously viewed as the smart one.
"It seemed like he was smothering you. A little space would give you both time to think and realize that you were perfect for each other," he gulped, eying her livid visage with worry.
"The only fault to your theory was I fell in love with James two weeks ago at the fair and every day since then has been torture," Lily admitted, happy to get the burdensome confession off her chest.
The boys gawked at her, slowly blinking in shock. Who would have thought uptight, perfect Lily Evans would spill her secrets to her crush's best mates? "Does James love me?" she whispered, refusing to meet their stares.
"Since the end of fifth year," they replied simultaneously.
A look of guilt swept over her features in realization. These last two weeks had been excruciating for her, and James had felt this way for the past two years. The feeling of guilt soon washed away to a warm, heady sensation. The pain wouldn't last much longer, she would make sure of it.
Smiling absently at one of his fan's comments, James languidly swirled his drink in boredom. He would be lying if he said the rush after the big win meant nothing to him; it was bloody fantastic. It took him hours to wipe the beaming grin from his lips. He was congratulated by his best mates, adored by his worshipping fans, and applauded by all except one. Remus' master plan was killing him and he wasn't too sure of the results. He had been so close at the fair and this "loving ignorance" seemed to be having the opposite effect. Lily had been glaring at him all evening and had knocked back too many drinks. Not that he had a chance on to check on her, every step he took he was swarmed by females too ignorant to realize his disinterest.
His hazel gaze searched for relief from his mate, Sirius, but found to his chagrin that the git had joined Lily on the other side of the room. Scowling, he wished he could swap places with him and nearly chocked on his drink when Remus joined them. Wallowing in his feeling of abandonment, he looked for solace in Wormtail, only to spy his stout figure passed out in the corner.
Racking his brain for the quickest way out of his dull conversational group, he felt someone's stare. Slowly turning to catch the gazer in the act, his bespectacled stare met her steady green gaze. Surprised that Lily was no longer glaring at him, he nervously gulped when a soft, beguiling smile formed on her lips. Her lashed gaze seemed to light with a predatory gleam as she whispered something in Sirius' ear, causing his handsome friend to throw his head back in a throaty laugh. Running an agitated hand through his tousled locks, he clenched his jaw anxiously when Sirius' grey gaze slid to him as Lily nodded towards him. Hell, even Remus looked amused at something… the bastard.
Quicker than he would have expected Lily's bright gaze rested on him once more. He watched her eyes make a slow sweep over his body, winking at him when she connected with his stare. His mouth went dry when she teasingly cocked a finger, beckoning him to come closer.
Wordlessly, James brushed through the crowd of female fans, ignorant of how he had moved until he suddenly reached her side. He gazed at her in silence, afraid if he tried to speak his words would slur together in an unintelligible jumble. "James," her soft voice purred, a tint of Firewhiskey laced through her sweet breath, "ask me a question."
Her lithe form began to slowly circle him, giving James the perfect view of her toned body in tight trousers and a curve-hugging blouse. "Err," he stuttered, his brain too hazy with surprise and alcohol to view this conversation as more than a dream.
Clucking at him with her tongue, she briefly brushed against his arm, murmuring, "Come now, James, ask me the question."
He felt a rush of color flood his face as his mind went blank, he could barely hear his friends chuckling. Awkwardly grinning, he stammered, "Did you see the match today?"
Sirius and Remus groaned in dismay; leave it to James to miss such a golden opportunity. Biting her lip to keep from laughing, she squinted to get a clearer view, realizing that she would never be so bold if not for the Firewhiskey. "Yes, James," she sighed, slurring his name, "you did a magnificent job. But isn't there another type of question you'd like to ask me?"
James raised bewildered eyes to glance at Remus for a clue, but could not make out what he was trying to mouth. "Potter," Lily gritted, tilting his head down to meet her gaze, "what do you want to ask me?"
Gulping at the use of his surname, he knew he was in trouble now. It was amazing how serene 'James' sounded and how harsh 'Potter' grated on his ears. Timidly chuckling, he asked, "How are you?"
Sighing in disbelief, Lily threw her hands up in exasperation. Remus covered his face in shame, while Sirius held a clenched fist to his mouth to prevent from laughing at his friend's poor performance. "I think I feel a headache coming on," Lily muttered, holding a slim hand to her forehead.
James let out a nervous sigh and began chewing the inside of his lip with worry. Ignoring Lily for two straight weeks seemed to have ruined his social skills. He didn't know how to act around her. Should he be funny? Witty? Casual? Loving? What happened to the calm, funny, suave James Potter? He fell in love with a redhead. And followed some bad advice. And was currently standing in front of his love with his mouth agape and stuttering… bugger.
"James, listen carefully," Lily slowly spoke, her sarcasm ruined with a loud hiccup. "What have you been doing to me for the past couple years?"
"Admiring you from afar," he joked, frequently running his hand through his hair.
"This is ridiculous," she hissed, glaring at Remus and Sirius, silently blaming them for the idiocy of their friend, "I'm going to bed."
James slowly blinked as she stalked past, stiffening when he felt her pause just behind him. He barely heard a timid, "Care to walk me back?" and raised wide eyes to his friends who were silently mouthing, "Yes," and energetically motioning to the departing redhead.
"Yes," James murmured, giving his friends a shaky smile before turning and leading Lily out of the room.
"Bloody hell, that was like pulling teeth," Sirius moaned in aggravation, "stupid, dense, prat."
"Do you feel guilty about lying?" Remus asked, his unwavering gaze watching the couple disappear through the portrait hole.
"No," Sirius quipped immediately, "he has been in love with her for that long, he just didn't share that with us."
Nodding in agreement, Remus reached for a drink, downing it and vowing, "Let's never try matchmaking again."
"Why not?" Sirius grinned, "It was fun."
"Who should we help next then? Wormtail?" Remus drawled, reaching for a refill.
"Not bloody likely," Sirius scoffed, "you'd be my next victim, Moony."
"Heaven forbid you actually settle down," Remus dryly responded, taking a slow sip of his drink.
"I'm serious," he smirked, laughing when Remus winced at the horrible pun, "I picture a wild, younger, energetic bird for you."
Snorting into his cup, the sandy-haired youth downed his drink and left his foolishly grinning mate, desperate to get away from his delusional visions.
Lily tried to remember to breathe when he placed his cool palm on the small of back, guiding her to the Headrooms. She let out an involuntary shiver at his touch. "Cold?" James murmured, sweeping his hand up and down her back.
"No," she sighed, stepping closer into his embrace.
Chuckling, he softly asked, "How much did you drink?"
"Enough," she smiled, pressing a soft kiss to his jaw.
Her light touch stopped him in his tracks outside the statue that opened to their rooms. "James," she purred, toying with the buttons on his shirt, "the way I see it, you have two choices. Go back to your fans at the party or turn in with me."
Before she finished her offer, Lily found herself pulled into his arms and soundly kissed. Moaning in approval, she ran her fingers through his hair, teasingly nipping at his lips. "I thought you were mad at me," he murmured against her lips.
"I was," she moaned, her hand reaching back to blindly search for the secret knob that led to their dorms.
"These past two weeks have been awful," he sighed, delving into her mouth, savoring her sweet taste.
Groaning in agreement, she boldly flicked her tongue playfully against his, pulling back with an impish chuckle when he tried to deepen the kiss.
Grunting in protest, James guided her against the phoenix statue at her back, pressing against her. She laughed as she dodged his approaching lips, a challenging glint flashing through her foggy gaze. Jutting out his lower lip in a pout, he faked a snog to his left to swoop in on the right; only she anticipated his move and escaped his lips clutches once more.
"Evans," he growled, cupping her chin and brazenly seizing her lips.
James felt her lean towards him, eagerly opening her mouth for him to explore. Grasping her hair, he tugged her closer, enveloping her lips roughly.
Moaning in appreciation, Lily grabbed his rear, pulling him flush against her trembling form. A shaky groan escaped his lips at the touch of those perfect hands. Pulling back in shock, James couldn't avoid Lily's attempt to seize his lips, which unfortunately knocked his spectacles off.
Grinning at her over eagerness, he murmured, "What do you say, Lily… should we head to our "secret lovers spot"?"
"I am feeling rather randy," she smirked, tapping his nose affectionately.
Laughing, he quickly kissed her before bending down to collect his glasses. From his crouched position, he deftly hooked an arm behind her knees, flipping her over his shoulder as he rose. James ignored her shriek of protest, chuckling, "Isn't this what knights do in those Muggle romances? Carry the princess?"
"Not in this fashion, you dolt," she smiled, swatting him affectionately on the head.
Wisely choosing not to respond, he pressed the secret feather on the statue to open the door and reveal the Headrooms. The statue seemed to be taking longer than usual to open and Lily was getting impatient from her secured position. She began idly toying with the hem of his shirt, tugging and lifting it to spy warm flesh underneath. Lightly smacking her bottom, James playfully ordered, "Behave yourself back there," as he quickly strode through their elaborate common room.
He carefully weaved around the furniture, mindful not to jar his precious cargo. As he stepped into his bedroom, he felt warm palms slink under his shirt to explore the firm skin of his back. Quickening his pace, he kicked dirty clothes out of his path to reach his bed.
With an exaggerated pass, he tossed her playful form onto his mattress before pouncing on top of her. "Now, where were we?" he playfully ribbed, running his hands through her smooth hair in a slow caress.
"Here," Lily eagerly supplied, grabbing him roughly and hungrily attacking his lips.
Chuckling against her mouth, he regretfully pulled back with a teasing glint in his eye. "No, we weren't there yet," he grinned, quickly shedding his shirt, nearly popping the buttons in impatience.
She smiled in realization, lifting her hands to remove her own shirt, her bright, unwavering gaze never leaving the broad expanse of his chest. "Allow me, love," he purred, gently brushing her fair palms aside and bending low to crouch over her excited figure.
James carefully unclasped each button, starting at her navel and pressing hot kisses on every inch of bare skin her opening shirt revealed. Lily moaned against his teasing kisses, arching her back and allowing him to run warm, rough palms over her body. Her head rolled to the side of his pillow as his lips descended under the rise of her breasts. His wayward mouth caused a hot tremor to race down her spine and settle into the pit of her stomach.
James toyed with the last button of her shirt, idly wondering if it was the little pink number he'd glimpsed in the greenhouse. He flicked the button open and gently pushed her shirt to the side, running his palms over her round breasts and letting out a groan of disbelief. "Black satin," he sobbed, burying his head in the valley of her breasts, "so sexy."
Beaming at his words, Lily raised his chin, gazing at him while purring, "Wait till you see my matching knickers."
Letting out a whoop of joy, James raised his lean frame off her body, his eager hands rapidly traveling to the button of her trousers. "Not yet, James," she ordered, rising and pushing him on his back with uncanny strength, "it's my turn."
Grinning foolishly at her, James tried to look nonchalant, folding his arms behind his head and ignoring the rapid pulsing of his heart.
Lily smirked at the cocky look in his eyes, glad to know that despite the many changes he had made for her, the confident youth was still lurking underneath this new, mature James.
Somewhat annoyed that he looked so calm and collected when she was so hot and lightheaded, Lily set her jaw in sudden determination. "Feeling cocky, Potter?" she murmured, running her smooth palms teasingly along the planes of his chest.
Smirking when he twitched with a look of excitement clouding his hazel gaze as she continued, "Then I dare you to keep your hands off me until you positively can't stand it."
"That will be simple enough," he shrugged, sweeping his heated gaze over her barely clad figure, eying the rise and fall of her breasts.
Lily let out a low, breathy chuckle against his lobe, nipping it before teasingly flicking her tongue against the shell of his ear. "I don't think so, James," she purred, trailing light kisses down the column of his neck, "I know how much you love to touch your possessions."
"Really," he gulped, his thoughts taking a naughty dive, "like what?"
"Like that Snitch you insist on carrying everywhere," she teased, placing light kisses along his strong shoulders.
James chuckled nervously. That Snitch was currently resting in his pocket, inches from her teasing hands.
"And your hair that you insist on keeping messy because you believe it looks sexy," she smiled, lightly scratching his nipples, while flicking her tongue against his lips as she squeezed her thighs from her straddled position.
James groaned at the feel of her clenched thighs, fisting his hands so they wouldn't run through his locks and ultimately grab her.
"Hmm," she murmured, tapping her chin thoughtfully as she gazed into his lust filled orbs, "I wonder what else you like to touch?"
She leaned in, resting her lips millimeters from his, smirking when he craned his neck to reach her before slyly moving out of his reach, bracing her weight on her forearms as she slowly crawled down his taut body.
James dropped his head back onto the pillow, tightly grasping the soft material in excitement. Her warm breath slowly traveled down the length of his torso to hover by his navel. He jumped when her soft fingers grasped the strap of his belt, brushing the smooth skin of his hips. James was in no way prepared for her to suddenly jerk down his jeans to place a hot kiss below his navel. Gasping in surprise, he met her avid gaze as she smiled, "Do you touch yourself down here?" Her plaint fingers easily unhooking his belt and popping the button of his jeans, murmuring against the firm skin of his stomach, "And think of me?"
"Merlin, yes," he hissed, jerking his hips towards her teasing figure.
Smiling with utter joy at his admittance, she laid on top of him, her soft curves molding to the hard planes of his body, "You know you want to touch me, James," she whispered deliriously into the crook of his neck, suddenly conscious of how the room was spinning, "I've been your unknowing possession for the last two years."
Letting out one last groan, he gave into his heart's desire and body's need, wrapping his arms around her. Moaning her name, he grabbed her hips, hoisting them up to seize her lips in a brazen kiss.
Lily willingly opened her mouth to his demanding tongue, pouring all of her feelings for him into this one kiss. Groaning from the heady sensation of his kiss, her hands frantically grabbed for his jeans, feeling a familiar object bulging from his front pocket. She withdrew the Snitch from his jeans and broke away from the kiss, holding it under his nose triumphantly.
Sheepishly shrugging at her, he grinned, "You know me so well," before hungrily attacking her lips once more.
With determination on Lily's part and James' expert maneuvers, she was able to finally get him out of his jeans.
James pulled her roughly against his eager form, his fuzzy mind ordering him to get Lily out of those trousers.
Lily's head rested heavily on James' shoulder as he seared her neck with kisses. Her drowsy lids opened, allowing her eyes to rest on the bright design of his boxers. She threw back her head in laughter, bumping into James' jaw as he regarded her peculiarly.
"What?" he asked, raising his brow in confusion.
"Your boxers," she choked out, her laughing frame clutched tightly on his shoulders for support.
"Like them, do you?" he smirked, proudly glancing at his dark maroon boxers with bright, sparkling, gold Snitches everywhere.
"I can't say it," she gasped for air, feeling a cramp in her side, "it's too easy."
"Lily Evans not speaking her mind," he mused dryly, "that's odd."
"You carry a Snitch in your pocket, wear them on your boxers… is there a Snitch tattoo I should keep an eye out for?" she teased, lifting the back of his boxers to spy the firm roundness of his bum in mocking inspection.
"No," he smirked, biting her nose playfully, "but what a wonderful idea."
"I'm serious, James," she nudged him, gazing quizzically as she fought the heavy droop of her suddenly sleepy eyes.
"I like the challenge it represents. Like chasing a dream you had little hope of obtaining," he murmured, moving a red, wayward strand of hair off her flushed cheeks.
"It takes a lot of patience… to be a Seeker," she whispered, linking their hands together.
"And persistence," he sighed, resting his forehead on hers, his spectacles sliding to the tip of his nose.
"And the chase is worth it in the end?" she hesitantly asked, her gaze clouded with worry, hope, and a fair amount of liquor.
"Absolutely," he grinned, kissing the corner of her lips, "this is all, of course, what Seekers have told me."
"I always wondered why you weren't a Seeker for Gryffindor," she murmured, slowly pushing his glasses back to their proper place.
"I only had time to chase one golden Snitch," he teased, slowly lowering her onto her back, "two would have driven me mad."
"They do demand one's full attention," she agreed, hooking her legs around his hips to bring his body closer.
"Bloody difficult they are," he smirked, placing soft kisses on the planes of her stomach.
"That's because they're independent, strong-willed, confident, and powerful!" she grinned, wagging her finger at him, "And they won't let just any bloke catch them."
"Merlin, Lily," he chuckled, "it's just a ball. You give it far too much credit."
Lily opened her mouth to angrily retort when he silenced her with a sweet kiss, banishing all arguments from her lips. "Now," he smiled at the dreamy expression in her gaze as he smoothly draped her knees over his shoulders and waggled his eyebrows, "what did you say before about matching knickers?"
Lily gave him a coy look, shrugging in response. She let out a shriek of surprise when he pulled her up by the loops of her trousers, supporting her back with a warm palm as he explored the hot recesses of her mouth.
Her thighs gave an involuntary squeeze from the use of muscles she hadn't used in a very long time. James seemed to sense her discomfort, gently lowering her back down to the soft bed.
His fingers deftly unhooked the button on her trousers, slowly unzipping the material and shrugging her hips out of it. A small scrap of black satin was all that stood between him and a place he only envisioned in his dreams.
James turned his head and kissed the smooth skin of her inner thigh, tasting her sweet essence.
Lily felt her eyes roll back as his warm breath washed over her. The feel of his lips so close to her center sent another hot tremor racing through her already feverish frame. She arched her back to bring those lovely lips of his closer to her body. Her eyes closed in pleasure when his lips made contact again, closer to her core.
She felt so warm and content in his arms. For the first time she felt completely relaxed, almost drowsy. She drifted in this heady sensation in a trance, wrapped tightly with security. She could no longer see James; her mind was so hazy. His hot touch seemed to drift away as she sunk further and further into her cloudy thoughts. It took her a lot of effort to open her eyes, but the frantic urgings of James lurched her out of the darkness.
Lily's eyes snapped open to view James' worried face above her. "Lily? Love, are you alright?" he asked, running a nervous hand through his locks as he gazed at her.
"Perfectly fine," she replied, her eyes wide with uncertainty, "Why did you stop?"
"You passed out," he murmured, lifting her into his lap to peer at her more closely.
The warm darkness she experienced suddenly made sense and Lily's gaze filled with regret. "James, I'm so sorry. Did I miss anything? Damn Firewhisky…" she trailed off, bringing a hand to her head as another fainting spell clouded her vision.
"I should take you to the hospital wing," he bit his lip in a panic.
"Don't be silly," she chided, snuggling closer into his embrace, "I did this once before last year after a disastrous girls' night. I just pass out… it's how my body recuperates."
"You sleep it off?" he muttered incredulously, eyeing her in disbelief, "no vomit?"
"None," she smiled, gently withdrawing from his grasp to rest against the bed, "but could you grab the small sobering potion on my dresser?"
James nodded solemnly and rushed out of the room, frantically returning in record time, asking, "Why did you set out a sobering potion?"
"I planned on getting smashed at the party," she shrugged, taking the vial and downing it.
"Why?" he pressed, his dark gaze shining with hope.
"Because the love of my life was ignoring me," she hiccupped, her eyes widening in shock, "Did I just say that out loud?"
Nodding in affirmation, James nuzzled her nose affectionately. "Love of your life, am I?" he cheekily grinned, scooping her in his arms to position her under the covers of his bed.
"I planned on saying that much more eloquently," Lily slurred, pulling James down to lie next to her.
"No worries, this saves me from undergoing some huge, elaborate ceremony of proving my love for you," he chuckled, trying his hardest to ignore the rampart desire still coursing through his veins.
"Actually, I already knew. Remus and Sirius told me," she murmured, fighting her exhaustion.
"Nosy gits," he sighed as a dawning realization swept over him, "you still would have made me struggle to say it to you, wouldn't you?"
Blushing a guilty shade of red, Lily tried not to laugh at his shocked expression. "You look rather cute when you're embarrassed," she sheepishly admitted, running smooth digits down the muscled contours of his arm.
Scoffing at her answer, he tried to look cross but failed miserably as he teased, "Wicked woman," before settling more comfortably next to her.
"Oh damn," Lily yelped, nearly jumping off the bed, "I left you in a rather unfortunate position."
James eyes went wide as she nervously licked her lips, her eyes darting down to his still evident desire. "Can you manage? Or do you need help?" she hesitantly asked.
He felt his mouth go dry at the suggestion, eyeing her flushed form and drowsy eyes, berating himself for even thinking about taking advantage of her offer. "I've already been waiting two years," he forced a laugh, "what's one more night?"
"James, you're too good to me," Lily murmured, cuddling against his rigid form.
"Sleep tight, love," he whispered, pressing a gentle kiss to her temple as she drifted into unconsciousness.
James let out a slow breath, chewing on his bottom lip in determination. He would wait for a few more minutes to make sure she was asleep before leaving for a much-needed wank and a cold shower.
Lily sighed against his warm skin, shifting to bury her face in the crook of his neck, that delicate pink mouth of hers innocently resting against his pulse point.
Scratch that, his mind ordered, it'd be safer to wank, cold shower, and one more wank for good measure before coming back to bed.
As he made the slow move to leave the bed, Lily unconsciously tightened her hold on him, draping a leg around his hips, the heel of her foot resting dangerously close to his arousal. "Fuck," he gritted, sinking back into his pillow dejectedly, tossing his spectacles unceremoniously on the bedside table.
No amount of wanking would do him any good; it was going to be a long night.
A/N: Poor James... hehe. I loved writing this chapter and hope you all enjoyed it. Leave a review and let me know what you liked and what needs work on!