Chapter 4 Shopping

Rather than leaving on Saturday, as they had planned, Ella and her siblings had opted to stay a few more weeks. Paul had been hesitant to give his approval and had even refused them at first, but after Severus had reminded him of the promise had had made, to keep his hands off of Ellizabeth, Paul had given in. On the other hand, he was more protective on them than he had been before and hadn't been taking them out as much as he had when they had first arrived. Ellizabeth was growing more and more uncomfortable with being constantly cooped up in the flat, and three days into the first week came to the conclusion that, if she wanted out, she would have to make up an excuse. It wasn't the first time she had done it. He fell for it every time.

"Grandpa, my pen is out of ink. I need to go get another one." She tells him as she reaches the bottom of the staircase.

"I have ink pens that you can borrow if you want to use one of those. It's a bit late to go out tonight." He answers, looking away from the television and towards her.

"I don't use just any ink pens. I need another one just like mine." She objects, "I can go by myself. It's not a big deal."

"I don't think you should be out by yourself this late. There are a lot of crazy people on the roads." Paul insists.

"I'll go with her." Severus offers. He had been standing in the kitchen doing the dishes and hadn't been able to resist listening in on the conversation. "She will be safe with me."

"Grandpa, please. I said I wanted to stay a couple more weeks. I didn't say I wanted to stay locked up inside. I need to get out." Ella replies, glancing at Severus and then back to Paul.

"I suppose…but don't be gone long." Paul concedes finally. "You'd better remember what we talked about Severus."

"Of course," Severus agrees curtly, anger flashing into his eyes for a moment before Ella grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the door.

"Why are we stopping here?" Severus questions as she pulls into a night club. It was a single story building with a blue neon sign that read "Club Familiar".

"I'm friends with the owner. He gave me free membership and I'm allowed to bring a guest. Grandpa doesn't know though, so don't mention anything to him about it. As far as he's concerned I'm out shopping." She answers simply.

"And how will you explain how long it took you to buy a new pen?" He frowns.

"I'm at the mall. You won't have to say anything else. He'll just assume I wanted to look around and you had to drag me out." Ella laughs, "He always falls for the mall excuse."

"You do this often?" He asks curiously.

"I come here quite a bit, but I've never brought a friend, let alone…" She breaks off, studying him.

Severus pauses, not quite sure whether he liked the sound of that. "Ellizabeth, there's something you need to know."

What is it?"

"I made a promise to your grandfather…I told him that I wouldn't touch you again, that we would be friends and nothing more." He explains hesitantly.

"You're not going to keep it?" She asks, afraid of the answer.

"I must," He replies, studying her.

A stunned expression appears on her face as she tries to comprehend what he was saying.

"You must…" She repeats him, slowly backing away.

"Ellizabeth, please. You must understand-"

"Understand?" She repeats furiously, getting out of the car. He quickly opens the door and gets out as well; shutting it behind him, "Understand what? One second you're coming on to me and the next you're saying you don't want to be with me because of my grandfather? Of course! How could I not! That's perfectly understandable!"

She turns around and makes her way towards the building, followed closely by Severus.

The club was loud and dim, but full of colorful lights. Severus wasn't sure whether he was comfortable with it, but Ella seemed to move with ease between the people and up to the bar.

"Ella! It's wonderful to see you! I was starting to wonder whether you were going to stop in and see me this time." A tall man with bright blue eyes and curly, dark brown hair greets her, standing up and placing a kiss on her cheek, making Severus feel a sting of jealousy.

"Hi Jaden," She smiles, taking his arm, "You think you could give me something to calm my nerves?"

"Of course. Your friend as well?" Jaden asks, motioning towards Severus.

"My 'friend' is exactly why I need something to calm my nerves. Let him fend for himself. I'm yours until midnight."

"Midnight?" Jaden smirks, motioning for the bartender to fix her a drink. "I can work with that."

Snape had been sitting at the bar for an hour and a half. After greeting her friend she had left him at the bar and made her way out to the dance floor with Jaden. He didn't blame her, of course, for leaving him to fend for himself. However, she was dancing with Jaden in a way that made him think she was trying to make him jealous. It didn't help that it was working. He had a splendid view of her from his chair and couldn't help but notice how beautiful she was. She also seemed to be quite popular here, as many young men had tried to cut in. Jaden chased them away easily enough, barking at them not to bother his personal guests.

Severus growls in frustration as a slow song comes over the blaring speakers and Jaden pulled Ella close.

"Jealous, huh?" Snape mutters to himself. "Two can play this game."

Severus scans over the others sitting at the bar until his gaze falls upon an elegant dark haired woman taking a seat a couple of stools away from him.

"Oh, I know he's not going to ask her to dance…"Jaden mutters, just loud enough for Ella to hear him.

After a couple of drinks he had finally gotten her to tell him exactly what it was that was bothering her and had proceeded to present to her a scheme that was meant to make the man realize what it was that he was giving up. They would make Severus jealous enough to want her back.

"What?" Ellizabeth asks in confusion.

"Do you remember that snotty little wench who threatened to call the police on me for letting you in here?" Jaden asks, his mouth close to her ear as he kept an eye on the bar. "It looks like your friend is going to ask her to dance."

She pulls away in surprise and turns back towards the bar to watch.

"I would guess that he's trying to turn the tables on you and make you jealous as well." Jaden suggests.

"He knows he can," She informs him.

Jaden raises his eyebrows at her but doesn't ask. He leads her to a place where they could listen in on the man without being seen as Severus moves to the seat next to Clairyssa, the dark haired woman.

"If I said you had a beautiful body, would you hold it against me?" Snape asks her seductively, leaning towards her.

"You've got to be joking? Is that your pathetic little way of asking me to dance? You actually think I would be interested in someone like you? Have you looked in a mirror lately?" She laughs, "Let me show you how a real man does it."

She stands up and grabs her boyfriend and moves a few feet away from Severus, giving her room enough to perform a few dirty dancing moves. Severus's face turns a bright shade of red. Obviously he hadn't expected to be turned down, let alone so…insulted. Ella watches Clairyssa dance for a moment before turning her gaze back to Severus. He had gotten up and looked as though he were about to leave.

"Why don't you go show her how it's done, love?" Jaden suggests with a smirk.

"You know what?" Ella answers, her gaze flickering between Jaden and Severus. "I think I will."

Severus stood up and looked around for the exit. The woman's words had hit him harder than he had expected. It was no wonder Ellizabeth would rather be dancing with her host than with him. He had no real reason to stay. He would simply walk back. He starts towards the exit but was immediately grabbed by the arm and pulled back. He started to jerk away but froze when he realized who it was. He frowns,

"Ellizabeth? But where is-"

She cut him off, "If I said you had a beautiful body, would you hold it against me?" She asks hesitantly.

Severus raises and eyebrow.

"I need a dance partner." She murmurs, taking his hand.

He hesitates before nodding and twirling her around. Ellizabeth smirks as she notices Clairyssa had stopped to stare at them.

"What's wrong? Afraid of a little competition?" Ella smirks, pressing back into Severus as a faster song started to play.

"I'm afraid your choice of dance partner rules you out as any form of competition in regards to me, darling." Clairyssa counters starting to move against her boyfriend again.

Ella moves down Severus, twisting her boy like a snake as her arse rubbed against him. Quickly regaining control over himself, he took control and led her in a sensual tango. It didn't take long before a crowd, amused by Clairyssa's attempt to perform any real dance step or even copy the moves Severus and Ellizabeth were doing. After a few moments she settled for simply grinding against her own partner and the crowd began to boo at them. Severus, consumed by the sight of Ella and his sudden arousal, could barely register the noise of the crowd. By the time the song ended Severus was ready to have her for himself, alone, regardless of what he had promised her grandfather. He had to obey Paul, but Paul had asked him to promise not to be intimate with his granddaughter. He never said anything about actually keeping the promise. Clairyssa, on the other hand, had a different idea. She couldn't out dance them, but she was determined to out mouth them.

"You may be able to dance, but you obviously aren't good enough to get a proper boyfriend. Have you looked at your dance partner? Pathetic." Clairyssa taunts before grabbing her boyfriend's arm and trying to pull him away. To her chagrin, he wouldn't budge.

"I don't think so, Clair. This chick is hot as hell." He exclaims, pulling out of her grasp.

Severus held his breath as Clairyssa's boyfriend began playing with a lock of Ella's hair, teasing her.

"What do you say you and I go get a room? I may not be able to out dance him, but I bet I could please you better than he could." The boy suggests, trying to sound seductive. Clairyssa gasps.

Jaden started forward to interfere, but hesitated when Ellizabeth took control of the situation herself, shoving the man away.

"I'll have to decline. You see, you're not really my type. I prefer real men." She replies, mocking Clairyssa. She turns towards the other woman before adding, "Here's a little advice…get a proper boyfriend."

Severus let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding as Clairyssa and the other both stormed away, arguing loudly. Ellizabeth turns back to Severus, hesitant to meet his gaze. He studies her for a moment before taking her hand and pulling her into him.

"Come with me," He murmurs in her ear, his silky voice lighting a fire in her lower stomach. She nods and allows him to pull her across the room and into a bathroom. Severus checked the stalls and locked the door, making sure the room was secure before turning back to her, pressing her back against a sink, pressing his mouth against hers longingly…but hesitantly.

She reluctantly pushes him back. "Your promise?" She points out.

"I never told him I would actually keep the promise he asked me for." He explains, meeting her gaze, "I want you…if you'll have me."

She wraps her arms around his neck and pulls his mouth down on hers, claiming him. He deepens the kiss with a low growl and tangles his fingers in her hair, attempting to keep control of himself. She moans as he pushes his knee between her legs and he loses it, grinding his hips against hers, his erection pressing uncomfortably against the restraints of his pants.

A loud knock coming from the door jerks him mercilessly back to reality. "Damn it." He curses under his breath, burying his face in her neck.

"Ellizabeth!" Jaden calls through the door.

"Tell your friend to go away," Severus demands, unwilling to release her.

He whirls around as the door opens and Jaden pokes his head in, a key in his hand. "Ella, love, as much as I would be honored to have you and your man shagging in my bathroom, it is nearly half an hour after midnight and I haven't the slightest idea as to how you'd explain an extended delay to your grandfather."

"Damn," She mutters softly, flying out of the room and nearly knocking Jaden down. She wraps her arms around him in a tight hug. "Thank you Jaden. I really appreciate it. I owe you one."

"Actually, you owe him one." Jaden smirks, looking past her to where Severus was standing, glaring at him.

"Perhaps, but first we have to make sure grandpa doesn't kill us." She answers sourly. "Bye, Jaden."

He nods and kisses the back of her hand before she turns and makes her way to the exit, expecting Severus to follow her. Before Severus could catch up to her, Jaden moves to stand in front of him, making sure Ella was out of sight before speaking.

"I know your secret, wizard, and hers. Find a way around Paul's foolishness. She will never truly be happy until she knows who she is…" Jaden hesitates before adding, "Oh, and if you hurt her, I'll make the Dark Lord look like a fluffy little rabbit." Jaden smiles. "Good night!"

Before Severus could reply Jaden disappears back into the crowd.

"Let me handle Paul," Severus requests on their way back to the flat.

"I don't think that's wise," She objects, "You're likely to get in more trouble than I would."

He studies her for a moment before replying, "What happened tonight was very irresponsible on my part…I can accept the consequences."

"Do you regret it?" She demands, glancing at him before forcing her gaze back to the road.

"Regret it? Yes. Regret you? I couldn't. Not even if I tried, he answers honestly, going against his instinct that told him lying would make things easier.

She's silent for several minutes before continuing. "Do you want to? Regret me, I mean."

"Do you realize I'm nineteen years older than you? I'm old enough to be your father." He counters.

"I'm legally an adult and can make my own decisions. Age doesn't matter to me." She answers calmly.

"Being with me would be a mistake, Ellizabeth. We're from two different worlds. When you have to go home, I'll have to stay here. Considering that, anything between us would be an extended one night stand…if I recall correctly, you don't participate in such foolishness. Nor do I." He insists.

"One night stands are purely physical interactions. I have feelings for you. Considering that, nothing between us could ever be considered a one night stand. At least, not for me." She replies, flipping on her signal and taking a left turn.

"Would you have?" Severus asks suddenly, a hint of hesitancy in his voice.

"Would I have what?" She questions, glancing at him again.

"Jaden was under the impression that we were about to…shag in his bathroom." He points out, his voice low and slightly deeper than it had been a moment ago. "Would you have?"

"What else would you call it?" She questions, noticing his hesitation to use the term.

"I'm a selfish man. I don't shag, I take." He answers with a smirk.

"And would you have 'taken' me?" She questions, her heart skipping a beat as she noticed the look on his face.

"Would you have let me?"

"Would you have wanted to?"

He sighs irritably.

"In all honesty, Severus, if you really were a selfish man…and you wanted me, my grandpa's objections to us wouldn't bother you so much. You would take me despite them." She points out.

"Your grandfather would kill me and it would only make things more difficult once we were forced to part." He explains.

"Grandpa couldn't do anything about it. I'm an adult. So are you. The law is on our side." She counters, "And, personally, I don't care what he thinks, His over protectiveness is…sweet, at times, but that doesn't mean I'm going to let it stand in my way."

"Then you would have?" He asks again, a smug expression flashing across his face.

"The correct question is, would I have had the chance to?"

He goes silent for the reminder of the journey back to the flat, but once they're out of the car he pulls her aside. "I disagree." He informs her.

"Do you?"

"Yes. I think the correct question is, would you back up what you're claiming should you have the opportunity to prove it?" He pauses before adding, "I am not the man you think I am."

"And I'm not the girl you and my grandfather make me out to be." She counters. She holds his gaze, resisting the urge to press herself against him. "Stick with the shopping excuse, but tell him that I insisted we stop and grab a bite to eat as well. I don't think he will question it."

He nods and starts towards the door, not pausing to wait for her before he enters the house. Ellizabeth grabs her shopping bag out of the car and locks it, leaning back against it and looking up at the nigh sky. Things were getting complicated.