Sorry, sorry...I know you've probably been waiting for this chapter after my teasing last week, but eurgh...it's been a bitch to edit! I've spent 3 nights going through it all, some scenes have been totally rewritten that I wasn't happy with and a little censoring went on, because...might have been too much for this site :p
Anyways, hope you like it, I'm finally happy with it. As you may have guessed, this chapter will include scenes of an adult nature and a fair bit of cursing!
Disclaimer: Characters belong to JK Rowling...I'm just allowed to play with them.
Chapter Eighteen
It was strange being back at work. Even though I had only been away less than two months and I had tried in the last few weeks to do some work from home, I felt rather lost with everything and didn't have the passion for it I once had. So much had changed within my own life, for the better, whereas nothing much seemed to have changed within my job. Along with the influx of work I was trying to deal with, I had to put up with questions as to where I had been the last few weeks from well meaning colleagues. I tended to just mumble something about a family emergency I'd had to deal with.
After the incident at the Quidditch match, we had decided to keep Ron's return home a secret from the Wizarding world, at least for now. He still needed that time to settle back in before the community started poking their nose in our business, making accusations and just making up crazy stuff. Our life was fragile enough as we picked up the pieces again, without the whole community staring at us.
Although I loved my job, usually finding it rewarding to help people and protect magical creatures, I had always looked forward to the end of the day and returning home to my children. Now, knowing that Ron was waiting at home too, I found myself itching for the day to end. Simply to see him again, to make sure he was real and not just some wishful thinking on my part.
I also hadn't taken into account how much returning to work would tire me out. With a lot to catch up on, I was working more hours than usual a week now and after being back just over a week, I felt exhausted when I stepped from the floo and collapsed onto the sofa. Today I had spent much of the day running back and forth from one department to another, chasing up paperwork I needed, signatures that were required and arranging interviews with victims of crimes against Muggle-borns. I knew I could have done some of it with internal memos, but I found a lot of those went astray – often into the nearest dustbin where the receiver would swear blind they never received anything! It was just simpler and looked more professional to deal with some people face to face anyway.
Tonight, I had wearily made my way home from work and mumbled hellos to my family. I listened patiently as Rose excitedly told me about her day, nodded my head in agreement at Ron's suggestion for dinner and tried to be enthusiastic when Hugo showed me his latest painting. Until finally I was able to stumble upstairs to take a shower, in the hope I might feel more human again.
A waft of steam followed me from the en-suite when I entered my bedroom, feeling now at least fresh and a little less frazzled after the hectic day. I made it as far as towelling myself dry and pulling on a clean pair of knickers, before temptation became too much and I crawled under the sheets, intending to spend half an hour in peace with my book.
I remember opening the book to the saved chapter and reading the first line, and then nothing until a knock at my bedroom door, followed by Ron softly calling my name. The door opened a crack then as he peered around it, calling my name again. I lifted my head from the book I had intended to read, but apparently used as a pillow instead, and blinked blearily at him.
"Are you okay? Do you not feel well?" He entered the room then, allowing the door to close behind him as he sat on the edge of the bed, feeling my forehead for a temperature.
"M'fine," I yawned and knuckled my eyes. "I just thought I'd lie down for a few minutes and read after my shower," I explained. "Must've fallen asleep," I snorted at myself.
"Well, you looked as though you'd had a rough day," he added graciously.
I nodded in the affirmative through another yawn, as I rubbed my eyes and ran my hand over my hair – it had been damp when I'd nodded off and I knew it must be a mass of knotted curls by now. "Did you need something?" I wondered then his reason for looking for me,
"Oh, yeah. The kids were hungry, so I've made a start on dinner. Thought I should let you know."
"Wow, what time is it?" I reached for the clock on my bedside table, groaning when I saw it was almost 7pm. "Damn," I hissed, realising I had nodded off for just over an hour. I'd wanted to get some work done and I'd wasted that time now. And then completely forgetting that I had climbed into bed wearing nothing but a pair of white knickers, I flung the covers back and my feet over the side of the bed.
Ron's eyes widened as he made a strange strangled noise in the back of his throat and sprang away from the bed suddenly. "Hermione!" he shrieked, waving his hand in my general direction with his eyes closed. "Erm, er…" he stumbled over his words, gazing at the ceiling and blushing profusely.
"What? Oh!" I gasped, when I realised and pulled the sheet back to hide my nakedness. "Sorry, I forgot," I muttered.
"Uh huh," he nodded, the back of his neck and ears still red, tilting his head slightly to see if I was covered up now. "Well, I'll just erm," he backed away towards the door, still embarrassed and yet, there was something else in his eyes. Had I really seen regret etched on his face that I had covered myself? A touch of desire at seeing my naked body perhaps? "I'll let you, erm...get dressed and..." he continued to back away, tripping over my shoes I had kicked off earlier. He stumbled, blushed further and grabbed the door handle, yanking it open.
"Sorry," I repeated before he closed it firmly behind him.
I lay back down after he was gone and flung my arm over my head, chuckling to myself over his reaction and embarrassment. But then I remembered that spark I thought I'd seen in his eyes, a spark that made me believe somewhere deep down he might still want me after all.
It had taken some persuasion to get Ron to agree to this weekend away. He wasn't exactly against it, but he was confused about it – asking why we didn't take the kids with us and all get away. I didn't think 'well, Ronald…they'd rather put a dampener on me trying to charm you out of your clothes,' would go down very well. Instead I just said that I thought he and I needed a little time alone, as a couple. He looked nervous by the very prospect of that. Did he just not want to be around me, or was it simply us being alone that made him anxious? I never could tell these days.
I used to be able to read him like an open book. Especially after we'd both confessed our feelings for one another and began this new, more intimate, chapter in our relationship. I had known when he was hungry by the way he'd pat his belly. His embarrassment or anger were evident for everyone to see in the reddening of his ears and neck. When worried, he'd chew on his bottom lip and had a tendency to pace. His love had once shone for me in his brilliant blue eyes and the way I'd often catch him just gazing at me doing totally boring things. And then there was that secret, special smirk he had given me when he wanted to make love, when he was feeling frisky and he'd whisk me off to the bedroom. Or sometimes the couch, or the bathroom, the garden or even the kitchen table – usually wherever was closest. Mind you, much of those activities were before our children had arrived.
After a guilt ridden farewell with the children at Molly and Arthur's on Friday afternoon, we left for our weekend. I felt bad about leaving them yet again, even if this was for the greater good – getting their Mum and Dad back on the same page. But, perhaps we would have to plan a family holiday soon – somewhere near the sea – Rose and Hugo would love that.
I entered our lavish hotel room first, Ron following behind gallantly carrying our luggage. He set the bags down and then gazed around the room, finally focusing on the bed. "Erm…there, there's only one bed," he remarked.
"Hmm?" I asked, not having heard him as I turned away from the view at the large French windows.
"There's just the one bed," he repeated, glaring at the piece of furniture as though it had done him a personal injustice.
"Oh. Yes. Well, it's a double room." I explained flippantly. I wasn't about to tell him that was intentional. Could hardly go about rekindling our marriage with separate beds, or heaven forbid, separate rooms.
"But where am I supposed to sleep?" he muttered sulkily as he shoved his hands into his pockets. This seemed to be a new habit of his when he was uncomfortable with something.
"It's a big bed," I shrugged.
His eyes widened at what I was insinuating and then he looked flustered as he looked away from it and considered other options. "I... I can just sleep on the floor, or something. There's loads of pillows, and…"
"Ron. Don't be silly. We can share a bed." I said finally. "We're married, we can sleep in the same bed for goodness sake!"
"But..." he yelped and his ears began to turn red.
"It's a big bed, we'll be fine." I cut him off. "Besides," I checked my watch, "there's hours before we'll need the bed, so how about we go for a walk? The view looks amazing out this window, and they have some walking trails here. Reminds me of being at Hogwarts a bit," I mused, rummaging in a bag to find a jacket. Up here in the Scottish highlands, it was just that little bit chillier. I'd chosen this area on purpose, to remind him of our time at school, the place where any romantic notions between us were first awakened.
Our walk down misty trails through the forest certainly worked up an appetite before we returned to the hotel's restaurant for dinner. It was nice to eat together again without the children falling out, telling Rose to set her book aside or having to encourage Hugo to stop chattering long enough to fill his mouth with some food. There were no knocked over glasses of juice, no mad dashes to the toilet and no protests of not wanting to eat certain foods that were apparently yucky today. Just a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere in a romantic setting over some delicious food.
After we'd eaten, I began to lead us back to our room, oblivious at first to Ron's discomfort about that. However, when he began to shuffle slowly behind me and pointed out that one of the hotels bars was still serving drinks and asking whether I wanted one, I began to realise he was up for anything to put off sharing that one bed. He paused by the bars doorway, scratching the back of his neck and rocking on his heals as he nodded his head towards the bar.
"Honestly, I just want to relax. Maybe take a bath and get an early night," I proposed. "It's been a long day."
"Yeah, I suppose." He shoved his hands into his pockets and began to sullenly follow me to the lifts.
"You can stay and have a drink if you want to?" I suggested.
"Nah, I'll just watch some TV or something," he mumbled, not being able to look at me or anything.
We arrived back in our room, I kicked off my shoes and headed for the bathroom, taking my bag with me. "I'm going to take a bath," I told him, allowing myself the luxury without kids knocking on the door, screaming or just waltzing in on me.
He merely nodded, picked up the remote for the TV and curled himself into a chair as he toed his own shoes off. I'd forgotten that he'd lived as a Muggle for a couple of years, so he was familiar with things like TV's now. I suddenly wondered whether he missed it. We didn't have one at home.
I emerged almost an hour later, ready for bed. Ron was slumped in the chair, eyes closed and the TV blaring out the Muggle news I had no interest, nor knowledge of these days. He startled awake when I reached across him for the remote to turn it off and then rubbed his eyes as I set it down and moved around the bed, pulling the cushions off and the sheets back.
"What's that?" He suddenly gasped.
"What?" I looked around the room for something wrong.
"That…that thing you're wearing." He pointed his finger at me.
"Oh," I looked down at myself and then held my arms out to allow him a better view. "It's a nightdress, Ronald." I rolled my eyes at him. Ginny had insisted on meeting me one afternoon after work this week and more or less forced me into buying the garment, saying I needed all the help I could get. Truth be told I felt a little ridiculous in it. The gown was a light blue satin, lacy at the hem and around the plunging sweetheart neckline with tiny string straps. The whole thing scarcely came to my mid-thigh area.
"Barely," I heard him mutter under his breath. "You're not wearing that, are you?" He swallowed anxiously, trying not to look.
"Why? Would you rather I take it off?" I teased, edging a strap down, feeling suddenly naughty.
"No!" he practically yelled at me as his eyes widened in distress and he began to flush.
I pulled it back up, turned my back on him and finished pulling the sheets back with more force than was necessary before crawling into bed. I grabbed my book then and wrapped the covers around me, settling back onto the pillows. "Good night Ronald," I huffed.
He mumbled something on his way to the bathroom and closed the door firmly behind him as I let out a long, frustrated sigh. I was asleep long before he came to bed.
I awoke in a softly lit, though unfamiliar room. The comfortable bed I was lying in seemed to be in the wrong position and the morning light filtering through the curtains was coming from the wrong side of the room. And there was something else that was different, something unusual, yet I felt completely safe, content even, and very warm. I frowned to myself, puzzling over this little mystery and then I heard a gentle snort behind me and I stiffened.
Ron.
It all rushed back to me – the hotel, the one double bed. I was in bed with Ron. Oh sweet Merlin, just that thought alone thrilled me. He was so close to me I could feel his body heat, so close I could feel his…Oh! I froze, my heart beginning to race as I realised what else I was feeling. He was spooned up behind me, his arm thrown casually across my middle, his palm resting on my ribcage, right under my breast. His warm breath on the back of my neck and, further down, a delicious hardness pressing against the top of my thighs.
His body moulded to fit mine perfectly, as though we had always been made for each other. We lay together like two pieces of a whole, a puzzle finally reunited after being ripped apart. I hardly dare breath, let alone move, reluctant to ruin this tender moment I was convinced he was totally unaware of.
He moaned and shifted slightly amongst the sheets, pulling my body tighter against his, causing that hardness to rub against me. My heart was pounding as an almost forgotten ache developed between my thighs, requesting something that had been missing for far too long. I never wanted this to end, never wanted him to let me go. I was relishing this far more than I should, just being wrapped in his arms, surrounded in his scent and warmth.
The physical act and subsequent conclusion of sex aside, this is what I had truly missed the most. An intimate closeness and tenderness that had once been so familiar within our married life. My body and mind were both rejoicing the return of the once effortless affection we had for one another.
He shifted again and I held my breath as he became rigid behind me, fingertips gently exploring their position. And then, quite abruptly, he snatched his hand away and whirled back from me so sharply it was a wonder he didn't fall out of bed.
"I…erm, sorry," he muttered hurriedly. "I didn't…I. Sorry," he continued to mumble, sitting up and scooting as far from me as possible against the headboard. A blush raged up the back of his neck. "I shouldn't…" he groaned then and shook his head, rubbing a palm over his forehead, not able to meet my eyes.
"Ron," I smiled at him, rolling in the bed to face him. "It's fine, honestly," I held a hand out to him across the bed, hoping he would take it and return to my side. "It was…nice," I shrugged one shoulder.
He lowered his hands and stared at me in silence, as though he hadn't the faintest clue how I could have possibly found that nice. His entire face was bright red in embarrassment now.
"We used to cuddle like that all the time," I pouted, when I realised he was just mortified about this and regretted it happening.
"I just, I shouldn't. I'm sorry," he rambled, standing from the bed and muttering something about the bathroom, slamming the door after him.
I flung myself back down on the bed and thumped the mattress beneath me, growling softly. Did he not have a clue how entirely infuriating this was? Didn't he get that I just wanted to be with him? That I needed him? What did I have to do – throw myself at him and tear all his clothes off before he got the message? Damn him!
He came out of the bathroom a bit later and sat in the chair, as though he was afraid of the bed – that it had some mystical power over him to make him do things he didn't want to. I was starting wish it had! "I am sorry about that," he nodded towards the bed. "I…erm. I didn't realise and I shouldn't," he muttered, cradling his chin in his hand, balancing an elbow on his thigh. Whilst I had gone to bed wearing this ridiculous scrap of material Ginny had convinced me to buy, Ron was completely covered up, wearing long red checked pyjama pants and a white T-shirt. I felt so stupid.
"Stop apologising. It's fine. More than fine," I repeated, sitting up in bed against the headboard and pulling the sheet up over myself to save him further embarrassment. "I…I liked it." I confessed.
He began to blush again. "But, we can't…"
"Why the hell not?" I was losing patience. "We're married Ron. We're both grown adults, we are not 17 year old kids living under our parents' roof any more!"
"Yeah, but…things. Things are different now." he shrugged.
"Fine, just forget it!" I snapped. "The moments ruined anyway. I'll go get dressed and we can find some breakfast or something," I untangled myself from the sheets and stormed off into the bathroom, slamming the door loudly behind me.
Once we were both ready, we left the room. I walked ahead of him, fuming to myself and feeling such a fool. This whole weekend was pointless. The entire notion of us being a couple again was entirely hopeless. It was obvious Ron didn't want me in that way at all any more. The thought almost brought tears to my eyes as we rode the elevator down to the hotel's lobby. Who was I kidding? I couldn't just seduce him into my bed and everything would be fine between us again. It was obvious he didn't find me attractive or sexy or anything like that any more. And that sudden realisation hurt more than him not remembering he loved me.
We barely spoke over breakfast and avoided eye contact. I tried asking him what he wanted to do today, he only shrugged and muttered that he wasn't bothered. The hotel had a pool, but, judging from his reaction to my night wear last night, Ron would probably have a heart attack if I changed into a swimsuit!
In the end, we hit another one of the trails and began walking, not really knowing where we were heading as I rambled on about the names of trees, pointed out varieties of thistles and wildlife we encountered. The scenery was beautiful at least, and it was warmer than it had been last night. A shame about the company that skulked along behind me. I didn't know if it was even possible for us to save our marriage now. Had the long separation and callous amnesia completely stolen all that from us?
"Ron," I began as we took a break, sitting down on a fallen tree log. We had reached a clearing, overlooking rolling hills covered in purple heather and white capped mountains visible in the distance – it was so peaceful here – making you feel like the last people on earth. He handed me a water bottle from the rucksack he carried. The hotel had provided us with a picnic lunch for our hike. "Thanks," I smiled taking it from him and having a drink. "Ron," I began again, screwing the lid back on, giving it more attention than needed. "Are you happy being here?" I wondered.
He shrugged and looked around himself. "Well, it's pretty." He gazed towards a mountain range in the distance. "I have some vague memories of views like this from school."
"I'm not talking about the view." I mumbled, fiddling with the water bottle and beginning to tear the label off. "I mean, being…with me. Are you happy with me? Is this what you want?"
"How do you mean?" he asked, looking up from tying the drawstring on the bag and squinted into the sun.
"Well," I paused, trying to work out what I was asking him. "Being at home, with me and the kids again. The whole family thing. Is that what you want?"
He shrugged. "I love being with the kids," he answered easily.
"How about me?" I asked, quietly. Almost afraid of his answer.
"You? You're my most important link to my past, to the man I was."
"That's all?" I asked, appalled. "I mean, in that case, so is Harry or Ginny. Your parents are probably your best link, they've known you longest. And…" I faded off, I was hurt. That's all I was to him? A link to discovering who he really is?
"I don't mean it like that," he insisted, becoming flustered over his choice of words. "I mean. I don't know what I mean," he shook his head sorrowfully. "You're very important to me. More so than any of them I mean. And, I do love being with you all. I love having a family. It's just…it…"
"Ron, you do know how I feel about you, don't you?"
He shrugged.
"I love you. Sometimes I feel as though I have loved you my entire life. And, I know this isn't easy right now, but I'm not prepared to let you go."
He sat quietly for a few minutes, absorbing what I had said, before asking. "How about you Hermione? Are you happy?" He turned the question around on me.
"You are kidding, right?" I almost laughed.
Again, he shrugged. "I don't know. Sometimes, you seem annoyed with me being here. And sometimes I don't know how to be around you." he confessed.
"Ron,"I sighed, reaching out towards him and then thinking better of it and pulling my hand back. "I could never be annoyed with you. I thought I had lost you forever, the only man I have ever loved. I thought our life was over. How on earth could I be annoyed that I get you back, safe and sound?"
He gave me a sideways glance. "Still, something is annoying you." he insisted.
I took a deep breath before I answered him, rolling the water bottle between my hands. "I wouldn't say annoyed. Frustrated is a better word. I'm frustrated with this whole situation we're in. Frustrated that things aren't the same between us any more – that your memories of me, of us, seem to be gone. And I'm frustrated with myself for ever thinking we could just pick right up where we left off."
"I'm trying you know," he mumbled quietly.
"Oh, I know you are, love." My hand reached over and squeezed his knee before I could second think it. "And you're doing great. Already you've slipped back into being an amazing father to our children. A sibling to Ginny and your brothers and a wonderful friend. It's just," I chewed on my bottom lip a moment. "I want more," I whispered. "I want my husband back."
He looked up, blue eyes full of confusion. "I thought I was your husband," he frowned.
"Legally, yes. But...not so much in other ways." I could see he still didn't understand as I inhaled deeply and sat up straighter, turning my body to face his. "You and I are passionate people Ron, we always have been – whether it's our temper or our stubbornness. Our fierce loyalty or in the way we love. Once we became a couple, we were very affectionate with one another, especially in private. Kissing, hugging, making love," I whispered and then smiled to myself. "We were always holding hands..."
"I bet that got a bit tricky," he smirked at me.
I stared at him, baffled.
"If we were always holding hands. How did we get anything else done?" he grinned, impishly.
I grinned too and nudged him with my elbow playfully. "Haha!" I chuckled lightly. "But. You see...I miss that. I miss it so much, just being affectionate with you. And I know it's not your fault, I know it's a bit weird for you or something. Like how embarrassed you got this morning in bed – I loved that because I crave your touch so much. I'm sorry I didn't try to understand your feelings about it and got upset with you."
Ron looked down at the floor, plucked a few blades of grass and tossed them into the wind. "I just…I don't know how," he shrugged. "I know you're my wife and that we have history together, that we had a good relationship. Even now I can sense the connection we have. But I can't remember us being that way yet. It just feels a bit weird, like I'm taking advantage or something."
I shook my head. "Idiot," I muttered. "I'm never going to be upset with you for holding me or showing affection. It's what I want, what I need from you. Because, I love you Ronald Bilius Weasley. I love you so much, it's never lessened in all the years I've known you. And, I just keep hoping that somewhere in that head of yours you're going to remember that you love me too."
"I'm working on it," he promised. "I mean, I remember those feelings from when we were kids and I was first noticing you, as more than a friend I mean. And I know we got married and had kids, so there's got to be something bloody strong between us. I can sense the connection we have and I do care for you, a lot. And I mean as more than a friend." He smiled up at me.
"Then, I guess that will have to do, for now." I returned his grin as he reached out and held my hand, squeezing it in his.
"I will bloody remember you somehow," he vowed. "I reckon I'd have to be bloody crazy to let someone as amazing as you slip through my fingers."
And with that, we got up with smiles on our faces and continued our walk, walking side by side now and no longer in silence. The air had been cleared and hopefully he understood a bit more about how I felt and what I longed for.
We enjoyed a delicious three course meal that night in the hotel, complete with a glass of wine each. By the time we'd licked the last of the chocolate cheesecake from our spoons, we decided to join other patrons in the bar for a night cap. I had no intention of rushing us back to our room for more awkwardness between us.
Except, since our chat this lunchtime, things had been easier between us, almost a comfortable companionship – so long as neither of us brought up ideas of being intimate. Eventually, after I'd yawned a couple of times, Ron suggested maybe we should think about going to bed – the long walk had tired us both. So, we headed for our room with satisfied appetites and a relaxed atmosphere from the couple of drinks we'd indulged in. Neither one of us was close to being what I'd consider drunk – it would take much more than a glass of wine and a shot of liquor. But perhaps we were just a little more liberated than had been of late.
Ron closed the door behind us, fiddling with the lock and groping for the light switch whilst I began unbuttoning my cardigan, turning to ask if he minded if I used the bathroom first, when I caught him staring at me. "What's wrong?" I asked, running my hands through my hair – had it become that dishevelled?
He smiled then and shrugged one shoulder. "Just, thank you for tonight...for this weekend."
I returned his smile. This weekend might not have gone the way I'd hoped, but I thought we'd at least made some progress. "Yes, it's been nice," I agreed, fumbling with my buttons again. And then he completely took me by surprise when he leant in and planted a soft kiss on my cheek.
I gasped in surprise as my head jerked up to look at him, my hand smoothing the spot he'd kissed on my cheek in stunned silence. He was still right beside me, a shy look on his face as he gave me a brief little, playful smile before his eyes flashed upwards and met mine. There was a heat there I hadn't seen in so long. An intense gaze that warmed my soul.
I felt my breathing hitch again as quite abruptly the atmosphere inside the room change – something seemed to crackle between us with a spark and in less than a second we'd crashed against one another, kissing fiercely.
My body rejoiced in glee as he stooped lower, myself on tiptoes, to return the kiss with as much enthusiasm. One of his hands cupped my cheek, the other slid around my shoulder, became tangled in my hair and pulled me flush against him. My own arms curled around his neck as the kiss became softer, but still full of passion, longing and lust. Appreciative moans tumbled from our lips and hands frantically grasped one another. My body was humming, my mind exploding as all the pent up longing was finally exposed by the both of us.
Slowly, he began moving me backwards, further into the room. I kicked my shoes off and struggled to free my arms from the cardigan, allowing it to drop to the floor behind me as we tripped and stumbled towards the bed, until the back of my knees hit the mattress and I fell backwards on it. I landed with a little grunt of surprise before looking up at him leaning over me. Before he could hesitate, before he could change his mind, I grasped the belt of his trousers and yanked him towards me, causing him to fall onto the bed beside me.
There we resumed the kissing, the holding and slowly, adventurous hands began searching one another. When his hand grazed the side of my breast, I hissed and my body jolted from the mere touch. At first he'd snatched his hand back shyly, he was completely allowing me to instigate this, to set the tone. But somehow I knew he was willing to go as far as I led him, he'd follow me anywhere I wished to take this.
So, when I pulled him to me again, reclaimed his lips in further kisses and ran a hand down his back, giving his backside a gentle squeeze through his trousers, he gave an appreciative soft moan and allowed his hand to run back up my body. Hesitantly, nervously, he gently cupped my breast in his palm, watching me to make sure this was okay, that I didn't mind. I smiled at him and placed my hand over his before my lips found his neck as a million different emotions swept over me – love, lust, joy, a tiny fleeting moment of anxiety over the fact we were actually doing this, but the most prevalent was a feeling of contentment. Finally I was getting what I'd been needing, finally Ron was showing me the kind of attention and intimacy I'd been craving from him.
His hand didn't move, but I could feel the heat of his palm cupping me through my dress, that alone was enough to cause my nipple to harden, for my breathing to hitch up a notch and my heart to race. But as I began to squirm and struggle out from beneath him, he frowned, an expression full of confusion and quite possibly disappointment. At least until I sat back on my heals on the bed, grasped the hem of the dress I was wearing and pulled it over my head, tossing it behind me carelessly, leaving me sat before him in just my bra and knickers.
Then, his eyes widened, gazing up and down my body. The tips of his ear turned pink and his tongue flicked out to moisten his lips. I crushed my body against his again, holding his head as I kissed him, breaking out in tiny goose bumps when his warm hands brushed over my revealed skin. Suddenly I needed to feel his warm skin on mine, for our bodies to touch and I began fumbling with the buttons on his shirt.
The action set off a flurry of removing clothes, until we finished up under the sheets together, both now only wearing our underwear. His attraction and his desire towards me was impossible to deny now – all was evident in the tenting of his boxer shorts. I realised I was a fool to ever think otherwise and yet my heart burst with pride and love for him.
For awhile, even under the covers, we simply kissed and held each other, my now bare breasts pressed deliciously against his chest and a tentative hand occasionally sweeping softly down warm skin as we sighed together, content in our little cocoon beneath the sheets, a place where the outside world, where all our problems and issues no longer existed. As beautiful as the moment was – and it truly was – my body began to yearn for more, I needed his touch, I needed that one act of intimacy I had never shared with anyone but this incredible man in my arms.
"Ron," I whispered, as his lips caressed my neck. I ran my fingers through his soft ginger hair and on down to his pale, freckled shoulders. "Ron…touch me," I whispered again. He lifted his head slightly, his cheeks flushed with passion and perhaps a hint of embarrassment at my request. "Please, I need you." I kissed his lips and gently took his hand, pulling it down towards the junction of my thighs.
Pulling my hand back, I accidentally brushed against his crotch. Ron bit his bottom lip, closed his eyes and moaned gently. Though, that seemed to give him confidence as his fingers ran over my knickers, I think stars burst before my eyes when I felt him touch me beneath the fabric. My own hand purposely reached for him this time and ran over the impressive bulge in his shorts, before delving within and grasping him in my hand as he emitted a soft groan.
There followed an urgency to kick off underwear, just as eager and desperate for each another. Ron rolled between my legs and then paused, bearing his weight on his arms as he hovered over my hips. He gazed into my eyes, searching for something, permission perhaps, approval?
"I love you," I murmured and grasped the back of his neck, pulling him down to kiss him once more. That seemed to be all he'd needed and reaching one hand down to position himself, pushed forwards and our bodies were joined in the most primal way. He paused again, sensations that had been achingly missed washing over both of us and then, taking hold of my hands and holding them above my head, he moved his hips and we both moaned in pleasure.
Our bodies soon fell into a familiar and blissful rhythm. His head might be having problems really remembering me, our relationship and the love we shared, but it seemed his body wasn't suffering any of those effects. We worked well together, falling into a familiarity only those with a bond could share. Movements were met with moans and sighs of approval as occasional tender kisses tumbled from our lips.
I curled my legs up and over his hips with the increased intensity, his thrusts delving deeper, breathing and heart rates picking up. His forehead rested against mine, his fingers locked between my fingers, opening and clasping upon the movements of our hips. Until, with one deep long groan from him and a strangled whimper from me, we exploded together.
"I love you," I told him again when I was able to speak, stroking my hand down his cheek and brushing damp locks from his forehead.
"Love you too," I thought I heard him murmur as he rolled off and beside me. I wasn't sure I had heard correctly, I could have been imagining things. And to be perfectly honest, I was in such a state of bliss, I didn't care right now. My body still thrummed from our passion, tingles and after shocks coursing through me as our heart rate and breathing gradually calmed down.
Ron gathered me into his arms and I lay my head on his chest as he kissed the top of my head. And then, with a content sigh, he snuggled into the mattress, grasped hold of my hand that rested on his belly, and we were soon asleep.
Dawn had just broken when I stirred again, the sky hazy and tinged in grey that cast the room in shadows. I was still wrapped in Ron's arms and the feel of his bare chest beneath my cheek. I grinned to myself, thrilled it hadn't just been yet another erotic dream. We'd made love, Ron and I were sleeping together in the same bed again – finally. I felt giddy and naughty all at the same time. I ran my hand up his chest, over a nipple and heard him suck in his breath above me. Looking up, I realised he was awake too.
"Hey," I smiled at him.
"Hey," he mumbled sleepily, his throat scratchy. I'd even missed the sound of his morning voice.
"We're naked," I added with a little giggle.
"Uh huh," he agreed and chewed on his bottom lip as his cheeks blushed pink.
"Hey, don't you dare." I kissed his cheek and made him look at me, lifting my head from his chest.
"What?" he frowned.
"Don't you go looking all embarrassed and guilty or anything, not now. Do not spoil my good mood!" I warned him with a poke to the ribs.
He squirmed away from my finger with a grimace. "Yeah, but…we, I mean," he sighed, pausing to choose his words. "I took advantage of you!" he finally erupted.
I laughed, burying my head in his chest again, my mass of brown hair splayed all over him. "Right," I nodded, finally looking up again, still finding him amusing. "That's why I feel so damn good right now, so...utterly blissful." I shook my head and then placed my lips against his collar bone. His hand placed lightly on my back contracted against me. "Last night Ron, it was meant to happen. I'm thrilled it happened. Though, it is rather humiliating that I have to ply my husband with a bit of alcohol before he wants to make love to his wife and find me attractive."
"That's not true! I've always found you attractive!" he replied indignantly.
"You have?" I asked timidly, finding a loose thread on the sheets to toy with.
"Yeah," he answered incredulously, finding my doubting him ridiculous. "From the first moment I saw you, I mean, in the pub that night when you were talking to Max. I thought you were the most beautiful women I'd ever seen. I asked Max dozens of questions about you that night, though I kind of assumed you were with Harry," he admitted. "And," he gave a wry little grin, "I had an interesting dream that night. You know, one of those dreams," he blushed fiercely at his confession.
I laughed at him again. "Good to know," I nodded smugly. "So, why didn't you do anything? I mean, even when you found out I was your wife and it was perfectly fine for you to feel that way about me?"
He shrugged. "I don't know. It just somehow didn't feel like I was allowed or that I should. I can't really explain it, but then you know my head is kind of screwed up right now. That's why I'd get all flustered whenever you touched me and stuff, I thought you'd figure out how much I fancied you."
I grinned at those words, never had I been more happy to hear them.
"And in some ways it was like I barely knew you. Even though in other ways I felt like I had known you my entire life, which I suppose is almost true." He looked at me with a shy smile. "So, it just," he sighed, knowing he was repeating himself and possibly not making much sense as he ran his hand over his face. "Well, it didn't feel right, not then anyway."
"And now?" I asked him, a foot running up his calf. "How does it feel now? Does this feel right?" My hand had strayed under the sheets, running over his hip and found his morning erection.
"Mmm," he grunted in reply, his eyes rolling back as I began to slide my hand along his length. "That, that feels good," he whispered hoarsely. "Merlin Hermione!" His hips jolted as I moved my hand again.
"Does this feel all right for us to do now?" I increased the pressure a little and moved faster.
"Uh uh." He nodded, his head arched on the pillow and his eyes closed.
"And this?" I added, having crawled under the sheets and took him completely by surprise as I replaced my fingers with my lips.
"Sweet, fucking Merlin!" he whispered, his hips jolted towards me. "So good..." he moaned.
I played with him a little longer, teasing him and enjoying his body writhing in pleasure as his hand rested upon my head. The murmurs and curses coming from his barely parted lips were strangely exciting – Merlin I had missed that too! "And then, how about this?" I asked, hoarsely.
Ron opened his eyes, widening in surprise to find I had flung the sheets back and was throwing my leg over his hips, straddling his body.
"Will this feel right?" I asked, never taking my eyes off him as I grasped and positioned him before joining our bodies again.
"Bloody fuckerin' hell Hermione," he hissed, grasping hold of my hips. "You're amazing," he added when I lowered my head to kiss him. "Bloody amazing," he added, grasping hold of my face and deepening the kiss as our hips began to move together.
We made love again. Last night had been rather heated – fast and urgent, rushing towards that ultimate goal of climax. Now, we could take our time to explore one another's body's a little more. To share deeper, passionate kisses and just enjoy the revelation of being with one another again, making sweet, tender love. Positions changed a couple of times before we reached completion and after it was over, we cuddled and dozed again in the early morning.
"Ron," I murmured quietly some time later. Sunlight was pouring in through the curtains now, but neither of us had left the bed for more than a moment to visit the bathroom or brush our teeth. "Was there, I mean," I paused, tracing circles on his chest with the tip of my finger. "When we were apart…was there anyone else?" I asked hesitantly. He raised his eyebrows at that question. "I mean, I would understand if there was, you didn't know about me and…it was a long time, maybe you..."
He cut my off, placing a finger over my lips. "No," he replied. "Well…not really," he added vaguely.
"Not really?" I questioned, unsure whether I really wanted an answer. Though I'd told him I would understand, I knew I'd still be jealous and somewhat hurt he'd been with someone else. For our entire lives we'd only really been with one another – 16 year old sloppy snogging with others aside that is.
He sighed and rolled to his back, I propped myself up on my elbow so as I looked down on him. "For the first few months I barely left my bed, let alone the house. It took Mildred awhile to patch me up. I was drifting in and out of consciousness for weeks she said."
I took his hand and kissed the back of it, I hated hearing about how injured he'd been, once again eternally grateful towards Max and Mildred for taking such good care of him for me.
"Once I was up and about, I spent all my time around the farm or sometimes in the village. But, then, probably about three months before you found me, the girl in the corner shop had taken rather a shine to me. She had a bit of crush," he confessed, a light shade of pink flushing his skin. "Max thought I needed to get out more and fixed me up on a date with her. Honestly," he rolled his eyes, "it was a bloody nightmare!" He laughed at the memory.
"What happened?" I wondered curiously, my heart easier now I knew it had come to nothing.
"We went to the pub, not much else to do in the village as you remember. And she spent the whole night chatting to me about some band she loved whom I had never heard of and personally thought sounded weird. Or going on about getting out of this village and becoming a model. I spent the whole night nodding along and smiling politely, pretending I understood, whilst trying to think of ways to leave. Eventually I told her I had to get back as I had to be up early for milking in the morning, even though it was Max's turn."
"Oh dear," I smiled, imagining him going through that. Bored rigid by her and yet not mean enough to hurt her feelings, so he'd put up with it. Although, I was secretly glad it had turned out so bad. It would have been heartbreaking to finally find him alive, only to discover he was in love with someone else.
"How about you?" he suddenly asked me, pushing my hair back behind my ear so he could see my face. "Was there anyone else for you?"
I laughed, even though it wasn't funny at all. "You are kidding right? Ron, it took me everything I had left to simply get out of bed each morning and take care of our kids and pretend I was functioning. I had no energy nor any inclination for dating anyone or even looking at other men. There was only one man I loved, would always love, but he was gone. There would never be anyone else for me." I bit my bottom lip. Even though that anguish was behind me now, the memories of those days still hurt.
A smile grew on Ron's face as he pulled me down and kissed me. "Good to know," he murmured tenderly against my lips and then kissed me again. The kisses started off gentle, but gradually increased in passion, until we were rolling around the bed once again, exploring bodies, rediscovering intimate places and ways to bring one another to climax.
"What was that?" Ron's head shot up from my shoulder, a repeated knocking waking us from another nap.
"I think someone's at the door," I turned my head, following Ron's gaze towards the locked door of our room.
"Who?" he asked me with a frown.
I rolled my eyes. "I'm a lot of things Ron, but I'm not physic! Oh!" I suddenly gasped. "What time is it?" I reached over him, ignoring his grunt of protest and grabbed the clock from the bedside table. "Damn," I hissed, "it's 10.35."
"And?" he raised one eyebrow, not understanding why the time was significant.
"We're supposed to check out of this room by 11am, that's probably house keeping at the door wanting to clean the room."
"You're kidding?" he asked sitting up and pulling the sheet over himself, as though he expected someone to walk right in and catch him naked.
"Unfortunately no. Most hotels kick you out about noon." I'd flung the sheets back and was rummaging around for our clothes and trying to pack things up at the same time, forgetting in my panic that I was a witch and there were much simpler ways of achieving that.
"But, I don't want to leave yet." he pouted from the bed. "I mean, we're having a good time, right?" He winked at me.
"Oh, we are," I paused and turned to smile at him. "These last few hours with you have been incredible. But…" I faded off, an idea coming to me. I didn't want to leave any more than he did. If only for the reason I was afraid if we left this room, all the progress we'd made would be lost and we'd return to our friendly, but distant relationship with one another. I didn't want to lose what we had now, the closeness we'd managed to rekindle.
"Do you want to leave?" he asked, tucking the sheet in around him and glaring at the door as someone knocked again.
"No." I admitted too. "Hang on." I grabbed a robe, pulled it around my body and opened the door a crack. "Hi, sorry…we're probably not going to be checking out today after all." I told the maid, stood impatiently outside with a pile of clean towels. "Thank you," I added before closing the door on her bemused face.
"What we gonna do? Barricade ourselves inside?" Ron laughed, finding the idea both exciting and hilarious.
"No. You're going to write a note to your Mum, asking if she'd mind having the kids another night." I shoved a notepad at him from the hotel stationary.
"This is my mum we're talking about. One thing I remember about her, she thrives on having a house full of kids," he scoffed, using his wand to summon a pen.
"Whilst I call down to reception and see if we can have the room for one more night." I decided, sitting back on the bed and grabbing the phone.
Five minutes later and it was all settled. I managed to get another night added to our stay for this very room, luckily they had vacancy in their bookings. And whilst I was at it, I ordered us some room service, we'd both certainly worked up an appetite. We were too late for breakfast, but I managed to order us a couple of toasted sandwiches.
"All set?" Ron asked me, turning from the window where he'd just sent his note off with an owl. Owls in the Wizarding World were very clever creatures, somehow they always seemed to know when a witch or wizard needed to send a letter. "Mum will be fine, and we'll see the kids tomorrow afternoon," he added, taking a seat beside me on the bed.
"We're all set, we're booked in for another night." I smiled as he took me in his arms. I wasn't quite used to this yet, being close to him again. It all seemed new and incredibly exciting.
"So, we have a whole 24 more hours to kill. However will we spend our time?" Ron quipped, looking down at me where I was curled against his chest and gave me a wink.
"Oh, I wonder…" I replied with a shy giggle.
Reviews make me happy. Until next week...