Chapter Eleven: Lead Me Not From Temptation
"The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it."
-Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray
"This is dumb!" Ginny scolded Draco. "You obviously want to! Just swallow your stupid pride and go to Geneva!"
They were sitting at The Savage Vagabond having a beer. It was a balmy night in late summer, and despite the fact Ginny had practice the next day, they were both a little drunk.
"Knock it off," Draco growled softly, taking a sip of his beer. "She betrayed me. I'm not going to reward that with some grand romantic gesture."
"Even though you want to?" Ginny pressed. "C'mon, Drake! Who are you really punishing here? From where I'm sitting, you're the only one suffering."
"I'm fine," Draco bit back.
Ginny touched his arm.
"You don't have to lie to me, you know. It's okay to admit you miss her."
"You're one to talk," Draco said, changing the subject. "You're living just as big a lie as I am."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Ginny said, half-laughing. "I'm not lying about anything."
"Then why are you still dating Carmichael when you're obviously in love with Blaise?" Draco said, raising his eyebrows as he took another sip of his beer.
Ginny flushed, laughing to hide her speechlessness.
"What? I don't—Blaise and I are just—"
"Just—" Draco prompted.
Ginny laughed again.
"Friends. We're just friends, is all. He doesn't even think of me like that anymore."
Draco rolled his eyes.
"Please. That is bollocks and we both know it. I see the googley eyes you give each other when you think I'm not looking."
"We don't—" she flustered. "There are no googley eyes!"
Draco shook his head, draining the last mouthful in his glass before indicating for another.
"Whatever you say," he said at last, smiling a little.
"You really think I fancy Blaise?" she said, blushing again.
"No," he said arrogantly. "I don't think. I know. Everyone knows. Lauren brings it up whenever you're not around. I can't believe your thick-skulled boyfriend hasn't noticed."
"Blaise's mum said something about it? How does she know?"
Draco rolled his eyes.
"Because, Weasley, she has eyes."
Ginny bit her lip, and Draco's eyes glittered as he watched her squirm. Finally he began to laugh.
"I bloody knew it," Draco said triumphantly.
Ginny put her head down on the bar to hide her flaming cheeks.
"Okay," she bit out. "Maybe I—a little."
"Then why are you with Carmichael?" Draco demanded.
She considered this, her face sobering up as she did so.
"For the same reason you aren't on your way to Geneva right now. I'm scared."
His smirk faded, and Ginny touched his arm.
"There's a reason you can't get her out of your head, you know."
"And what's that?" he said somewhat defensively.
"She's meant to be there! Look, I know you're assuming the worst about her, but the truth is that you don't know why she left. Shouldn't you be sure before you spend a lifetime hating her?"
Draco said nothing, only clenched his jaw.
"I'll make you a deal," Ginny said, drawing out her lighter. "Promise me you'll go to Geneva tonight and I will break up with Wes."
"Right now?"
Ginny nodded. Draco considered, bowing his head a second and groaning.
"What if I can't find her? What if she's—"
"No, no excuses," Ginny said firmly. "You can worry about all that shite once you get there."
Draco said nothing again, only surveyed Ginny critically.
"Come on, Drake," she urged. "Take a leap of faith."
Finally, he nodded and Ginny smiled grimly, clicking open her floo and taking a deep breath as she waited for Wes to pick up.
"Hey darling," Wes answered. "I thought you were going out with the sod Malfoy tonight. You done already?"
Draco scowled, and Ginny laughed nervously.
"No, I'm still with him. Are you at home? I want to pop by after."
"Yes. But don't you have practice early tomorrow?"
"Yes, but I—" Ginny paused, eyes flicking nervously to Draco, who raised his eyebrows. "I have something I want to talk to you about. Can I come over when I'm done here?"
Wes laughed.
"Should I be worried? You're not trying to break up with me, are you?"
She laughed as well but said nothing. This must have assuaged Wes, because he spoke again.
"Of course you can come over. How much longer are you planning on staying there?"
Ginny looked at Draco, who was waving for the check.
"I'll be at yours in fifteen minutes."
"Okay," Wes said, and Ginny could hear the smile in his voice. "I can also come to you, if that's easier."
"No," Ginny bit out, watching Draco pay their tab. "It's fine. I'm in already in your neighbourhood."
"Alright darling, see you soon, then."
"See you," she said softly, hanging up and looking at Draco.
"You don't have to do this," he said quietly. "I'm not going make you."
She looked at him seriously.
"No, you're right. I have to do this. Just—don't tell Blaise yet. I should probably do it myself."
Draco grinned.
"My lips are sealed."
Ginny smiled too, though it was clear she was growing nervous. She stood, brushing a soft kiss on Draco's cheek.
"I'm off, then," she said. "What about you?"
Draco glanced down at his half-drunk beer.
"I'm going to finish this, then I'll head to King's Cross."
She nodded.
"Floo me when you get to Geneva so I know you're alright."
He nodded as well.
"Good luck, darling," she said.
He raised his eyebrows.
"You too."
She gave him a reassuring smile and disappeared out the door. When she was gone Draco hung his head, considering the task before him. He took another long draught of his beer before carefully drawing his wand. He looked around to see if anyone was watching him, but no one was.
"Prodio," he whispered quietly, and a small patch of air in front on him began to shudder.
After a second, the nothingness began materializing into a solid form. When it was finished, the object hung suspended in mid-air for a second before falling. Draco caught it before it could hit the bar, running his thumb affectionately over the diamond-encrusted face of Leolin's key. He would never admit it to anyone, but he'd been carrying it with him since she'd left, unable to bear letting it go. It was the last of Leolin he had left.
He considered the necklace for the millionth time, imagining it hanging around Leolin's neck. He still loved her, he admitted bitterly to himself. It had been over a year since the wedding, and he still loved her fiercely. He still wanted to marry her. He looked at the key again. Did she feel the same? He remembered what she'd written in her note: I love you more than I can say, and I always will. Did she mean that? Was she miserable, too? His heart told him she was.
He had to go to her. He stood, the pendant still clutched in his grasp. It was time. He had to find her and bring her back where she belonged. Resolutely, he turned to the door, but as he made to walk through it, another thought struck him.
The picture from the paper. Before he could stop himself, he imagined Leolin lying naked in someone else's arms, moaning in pleasure. He grit his teeth. If she really loved Draco, Leolin wouldn't have moved on so quickly. He closed his eyes. She was probably with that stupid bloke now. Draco was holding the pendant so tightly that he could feel it making an imprint in his skin.
He sat back down, ordering a double of whiskey and throwing it back in several sickening gulps. He slammed the pendant down, driving his hands into his hair instead. He felt an anger that he thought he'd conquered boiling up again. Fuck Geneva, and fuck Leolin. He wasn't going after her. She wasn't worth it. He ordered another shot. He was done pining after her like some pathetic schoolboy. From this moment on, she was dead to him.
Ginny opened the door to her flat fifteen minutes later, her eyes red-rimmed from crying.
"Drake," she said in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
"Are you alright?" he said in response.
She nodded.
"It was the right thing to do," she said. "But I still feel terrible about it."
He nodded too, bowing his head.
"What are you doing here?" Ginny repeated. "Shouldn't you be on your way to Switzerland?"
He said nothing, only extended the pendant, urged her to take it.
"I'm not going," he said coldly. "I'm done."
Dumbstruck, Ginny opened her palm so Draco could deposit the necklace.
"Draco—"
"No," he said, his tone almost menacing. "I never want to hear her name again. Promise me."
Ginny said nothing, bowing her head again as more tears welled up.
"Promise me, Weasley," he demanded. "Promise me we'll never talk about her ever again."
Ginny bit her lip, warring between her love of Leolin and her loyalty to Draco. Finally, she acquiesced by nodding.
"I promise."
Draco's lips were soft and full against Leolin's, and kissing him was like traveling back in time. Suddenly she was sixteen again, admitting she loved him for the first time on the Hogwarts' quidditch pitch. The initial kiss was soft and chaste, and Leolin didn't move, didn't breathe, as his full lips pushed gently to hers.
Leolin heart was still thundering in her chest, and when she felt him beginning to pull away she panicked. She looked up at him fearfully, but his eyes weren't cold and angry like she'd imagined they would be. In fact, they were just the opposite. He was looking at her the way he used to, his eyes were so bright that Leolin once again felt like she was lying under the sun.
She bit her lip and leaned into him again, and he responded at once by wrapping an authoritative hand around the back of her neck and crushing her mouth against his. His tongue tasted like the lime in his drink. She gave a breathy exhale and he deepened the kiss, tangling his fingers in her hair and tugging her head back so he could feast on her neck. She groaned as his flashing teeth grazed her pulse point.
He was urging her backwards into the room now, and she let go as they moved, allowing him to tug his pullover sweater over his head. He cast it down, already eying the skintight crop top she wore. Needing no further prompting, she pulled it off, and his eyes glittered as he drank in her heaving breasts, which were barely contained by her lacy bra.
He advanced, cupping her arse as she worked the buttons of his crisp oxford. When it fluttered to the floor, he greedily unzipped her leather skirt, kneeling as he peeled into down her legs. Still on his knees, he raised her foot, kissing the sole before dragging his lips up her calf and inner thigh. She was already wet with anticipation, and she tugged his hair, urging him to stand and continue undressing.
He shred his trousers gracefully, crushing her against him in his fitted boxer briefs. She could feel the effect she as having on his body, and he rubbed against her to emphasize it. He wrapped a hand around either thigh and hoisted her easily into his arms. She wrapped her legs around his waist, her fingers scraping through the soft hair at his nape. He twirled her easily, pressing her back against the wall as he ravaged her neck. He spun them again so she was positioned over the bed before unclasping her bra. Supporting her back as she leaned to pull into down her arms, his breath quickened as she threw the garment down.
He eased her back to her feet know before authoritatively pushing her backwards. Her breasts bounced as she fell against the soft mattress, and he deftly crawled between her legs, kissing her again as he hitched on thigh around his hip so he could rub against her. He tangled a hand in her hair as he kissed her neck, his lips eventually descending to collarbone then breasts then down her taut and heaving stomach. She sighed and bucked up against his hot touch, ready for what was coming.
It felt like every cell in Leolin's body had begun to sing, and she could barely think for want of him. However, something far more potent than her desire began welling up at that moment, and she knew even as she tried to force it back down that it was about to completely overwhelm her. She knew it was the exactly what she ought not to do in that moment, but she conversely felt she'd die if she didn't.
"I love you," she breathed softly, and immediately he froze, his lips alighting for her skin at once.
He pulled back, a hideous look blooming in his eyes.
"What did you just say?"
She bit her lip, knowing at once she'd made a mistake. She sat up.
"I—"
He recoiled in horror, driving his hands into his hair as he groaned.
"What am I doing?" he said, more to himself than to her. "I'm engaged. I can't believe I was actually considering fucking you."
"Draco—" Leolin repeated, but Draco shook his head, his eyes cold now.
"Don't," he said fiercely. "Don't even start."
He got up at once, staring hatefully down at her before retreating, putting his broad back to her. She bit her lip and stood, breasts still exposed.
"You can't just walk away," Leolin demanded. "Not after that."
He wheeled on her.
"There is nothing to talk about," Draco sneered. "I'm drunk, and that was a mistake. And put your top on. I can't fucking stand to look at you like that right now."
She flushed, she could tell from his briefs that his cock was still semi-hard for her.
"You don't really believe that," she said, trying not to sound desperate. "I know you don't."
"You don't know anything, you stupid little vipress," he spit back.
"You kissed me!" Leolin said. "I didn't ask you to do that!"
"And now I hate myself for it!" Draco roared. "You're fucking poison, Lefevre. I can't believe I fell for your tawdy little act."
"Why is this entirely my fault?" she asked, crushed. "You kissed me. I thought it was what you wanted."
"Don't play coy with me, princess; you know it isn't! I love Gen! And—Merlin! I don't want anything to do with you!"
"Then why am I here?" Leolin asked quietly. "Why did you bring me here, if you hate me so much?"
He gave her a hideously cruel look.
"Why did you say 'I love you'?" He countered. "Stop toying with me, Lefevre. Why did you say that?"
"I—" she began, feeling a familiar guilt welling up. She knew she didn't have to feel this way, but it was still killing her. "You know why," she said softly.
"You're a vile liar," he bit out. "I don't believe you."
"It's true," she repeated meekly.
"You just want to manipulate me," Draco countered. "You don't want me, but you just can't stand to see me with anyone else."
"That's not true!"
She took a step towards him, which he countered by taking several back.
"Don't touch me," he spit, driving his hands into his hair again.
"Please don't do this," Leolin said softly, her eyes large and penitent. "Draco, I'm begging you."
"I don't owe you my pity," he bit out, though some small part of him seemed agonized by her distress . "You betrayed me once. I still haven't forgotten what that felt like."
She bowed her head, feeling sick to her stomach.
"Get dressed," he snapped. "We're going back to South Carolina tonight."
"Now? It's half two in the morning!"
"It's only nine there."
"What about your mum?"
He clenched his jaw.
"I will deal with her tomorrow. I can come back, if I have to. Now get dressed."
"You want me to come with you? Why?"
He gave her a hateful look.
"Because if you don't, Gen will think something happened."
"Something did happen!" Leolin pointed out. "We were this close to having sex tonight. You can't just ignore that."
"Yes I can," Draco said. "In fact, that's exactly what I'm going to do."
She grabbed his wrist, and he seemed momentarily paralyzed by her touch.
"Please don't do this," she said. "Please don't let your pride ruin tonight."
"You think this is about my pride?" Draco sneered, wrenching from her grasp. "Get over yourself. I had a moment of weakness, and now it's done. Even if I had fucked you, it wouldn't have meant anything. You're just a warm cunt."
She hauled off and slapped him as hard as she could across the face. His head snapped to the side, but he seemed to realize what he'd said, because he offered no defense.
"How dare you say that to me," she hissed, crushed. "You were the one with your hand in my knickers. Don't you dare treat me like I'm some kind of cheap whore. You wanted this just as much as I did. Admit it."
He responded to this but storming away, and despite his nastiness, she followed.
"At least talk to me! I think you owe me that much."
Draco stopped, turning on her until they were nose to nose. Despite his demand, she'd yet to put on a shirt, and her rosy nipples brushed his bare skin. His expression was fearsome, and in the moonlight he looked just like Lucius.
"I don't owe you anything," he roared. "And you want to know the truth? I feel nothing for you," he said in a deadly voice. "I loved you once in a different lifetime, and I wouldn't go back there even if I could."
"I don't believe that," she said, trying to keep her voice from quaking. "And I don't think you do, either."
Foolhardy though she knew it was, she ran both hands up his chest, feeling the muscles beneath her hands quiver. He looked down at her, and she could see someone else lingering behind the anger. However, in a flash it was gone. He grabbed her wrists roughly, peeling them away from his body even as his heart thundered in his chest from her touch.
"You have no idea what I want," he snapped. "But let me assure you it's nothing you can offer me."
"Draco—"
"Get dressed," he said coldly, turning away from her. "We're leaving in fifteen."
She shook her head.
"I'm not going," she said bitterly. "I'm not going to participate in your stupid charade. If you want to lie to Gen, that's your business. I'm not going to help you."
"Like hell you aren't," he said, eyes flashing. "If you not downstairs in fifteen minutes, I—"
"You what?" she demanded in a sad voice. "You have nothing to threaten me with, save physical violence."
"You know it only makes you look bad if you don't go," Draco said in an imperious voice. "Gen will forgive me, and you'll be branded the villain. You know you will. The press adores her; they're rooting for you to fail."
She knew he was right. The only person she would really be punishing was herself. She shook her head in disgust.
"You're a coward," she said, turning on her heel towards her room.
"Better a coward than a traitor," he called after her, and she shook her head again, feeling cheap.
When she was alone, she flopped on the bed and screamed into her pillow. She wished she hadn't kissed him. As perfect as it had been, it wasn't worth the guilt he was heaping on her. She currently loved and hated Draco in equal measure, and the effect of their polarity was maddening. She didn't know if she wanted to scream or cry.
She buried her head in her hands for several minutes before standing and dressing like she was told. She threw everything else in her suitcase as she fixed her hair. By the time she was done, her heart felt like it was made of lead.
Grabbing her bag, she headed down the stairs, where Draco was already waiting.
"Ready?" he said, his voice an odd mix of angry and regretful.
"No," she admitted softly, setting her things down.
"Leolin," he said, sounding tired and strained.
"Don't do this," she said in a defeated voice. "I'm begging you."
"You don't get a say," he replied more firmly, looking at her for only a second before turning his head.
"Do you really expect me to believe that meant nothing to you?" she asked of the kiss.
Immediately his keen gaze was on her again.
"I know you think I don't love Gen, but you're wrong. I do love her, and I'm not going to give her up for you."
"Then what about us?"
He clenched his jaw, grabbing her wrist as he prepared to disapparate.
"Get it through your head, Lefevre. There is no 'us'. There never will be."
With this, Leolin fell silent and squeezed her eyes shut, trying not to be sick as they spun away.
It was around ten thirty local time when they arrived back in South Carolina, and Leolin was the first to step through the fireplace into the now-familiar beach house.
Ginny and Blaise were in the kitchen kissing when she arrived, brushing soot off her soft sweater. Upon seeing her, they sprung apart like teenagers, both flushing a little. Radames, who had been lying on the floor, stood up at once and began to bark, though he stopped when he saw it was Leolin.
"Lai!" Ginny cried happily. "You're back! Where's Draco?"
Leolin forced a smile, kneeling down to pet a contented Radames.
"He's right behind me," she said. "Where's Gen?"
Her question was answered a second later, and Genevieve sauntered in from the deck, smiling at her.
"I thought you were at Ashley's," Ginny said tightly.
Gen smiled again, this time wider.
"I just had a floo from Draco saying he was coming home, so I rushed back. Hello, Leolin. I hope the trip was fruitful."
Gen's eyes glittered. Draco must have really laid it on thick in his note. It made Leolin's stomach ache. However, unwilling to give Gen the satisfaction of seeing her pout, she laughed.
"It was," Leolin affirmed. "Though honestly pretty boring at times. I wish he would have made you go instead."
Just then the floo flamed again and Draco emerged, his eyes finding Gen at once. Pained, Leolin casually turned her head away as Gen flew into his arms. Radames was on his feet as well, waiting impatiently for his master's attention.
"Hello, you," Draco murmured against Gen's lips before kissing her passionately. "I missed you."
"I missed you, too," she said softly. "I can't wait to show you how much."
He gave a low laugh.
"How is your mother?"
He nodded.
"She'll be alright."
She kissed him again in response.
"Knock it off," Ginny said in disgust, rolling her eyes. "It's nauseating."
Draco finally let go of Gen to pet Radames and hug Ginny, though she resisted him.
"Don't be jealous, Weasley, I missed you, too," he said as she pried his hands off of her.
"Keep those lips away from me," she said, dodging under his arm and going to hide behind Blaise. "I don't know where they've been."
Here Draco's eyes flitted to Leolin for a second, though it was so quick that only she noticed. She fought not to bow her head at the chill in his gaze.
"What did you find out about your stepdad?" Blaise asked.
Draco looked at Leolin again before his eyes slid to Gen.
"We have a lot to talk about, but not tonight. It's been a long day. Lefevre can fill you in if she wants," Draco said flippantly, wolfishly appraising Gen now.
Blaise nodded, eyes flitting between the two of them. Leolin had a horrible feeling he knew something was up, but she tried to react casually.
"No, I'm shattered," Leolin said. "I'm probably just going to go to bed. I'll fill you two in the morning."
Ginny nodded, picking up on the tension as well.
"Do fancy a quick drink before you turn in?" she said to Leolin.
Her eyes were full of meaning.
Leolin gave a faux smile and shook her head.
"I'm seriously wrecked. Malfoy's right; it was a long day."
Leolin realized her mistake a minute too late. She rarely, if ever, called him Malfoy anymore. Ginny's eyes snapped to her, and Leolin tried and, she suspected, failed to hide the full extent of her grief at the night's goings on. Draco ignored her, his full attention back on Gen again.
"C'mon you," Draco said, lifting Gen easily into his arms again and making her squeal delightedly. "Let's go to bed. Night, you lot. Allons, Radames."
"Night," the trio echoed, and though Leolin tried to avoid his gaze as he turned towards the stairs, he gave her a meaningful look before turning his full attention back to Gen, the dog dutifully on his heels.
When he'd disappeared, Ginny wheeled on Leolin.
"What the hell was that about?" she demanded, and Leolin shrugged.
"What are you talking about? And where is Birdie?"
Leolin was vainly hoping he wouldn't be home so she could sleep in his room instead.
"He's already in bed," Blaise said. "And don't dodge the issue. What's up with you and Drake?"
Leolin frowned.
"Nothing," she lied. "We were just forced to spend far too much time together over the last two days. It was very stressful."
Ginny narrowed her eyes.
"Tell me you didn't sleep with him."
Leolin scowled, looking to Blaise for support.
"It's a valid question, Lai," he pointed out, winding his arm around Ginny.
"Of course I didn't," Leolin said, visibly strained. "He's engaged. Now if you two don't have any more questions, I'm going to bed."
"Sleep tight," Blaise said, exchanging a pointed look with Ginny.
Leolin said nothing, only trudged up the stairs, slamming her door shut and slumping against it. In the five years she'd been gone, she'd never felt as far from Draco as she did tonight. She thought about what he'd said: he had loved her in a different lifetime. For the first time in forever, she began contemplating a life without Draco. Perhaps it was time to give him up. Perhaps her race was truly run.
Just then Leolin could hear Gen's laughter flaring next door and she scowled, imagining Draco kissing Gen the way he'd been kissing her earlier. It made her sick to her stomach to imagine giving up now, especially after the hell she'd been through to get him back. Leolin could hear Draco's groans now, and she knew what Gen was probably on her knees doing.
Leolin bit her lip. What could she do? Slowly, mournfully, she drew her wand, pointing it slowly at herself.
"Surditas," she whispered, and immediately all the sounds around her faded to nothing.
She blinked, feel oddly naked without her sense of sound. Hopefully the house wouldn't catch fire in the middle of the night. In her deaf state, she would surely die if it did.
She numbly crawled onto the bed, lying flat on her back like a corpse and trying bitterly to forget her troubles.
Despite her temporary deafness, Leolin slept very little that night. She woke up exhausted and stiff. At first she thought to work on breaking the gag, but she realized that after yesterday, she didn't have the strength. She was too raw from Draco's venom, and she found she simply couldn't make herself focus.
Doleful, she rose and dressed in running clothes instead, intent on going for a jaunt up the beach. She slipped out of the house unseen, running as if she could outstrip her problems. If only it were that easy, she thought. If only the fight for Draco's affection was real and not metaphorical. At least then she'd be allowed to beat Gen to a bloody pulp.
She arrived back around eight, and thirsty, she went to the kitchen to fetch some water. However, she swung open the door to see Draco nestled between Gen's legs as they kissed heatedly. Gen, who sat on the counter, wore nothing but an unbuttoned oxford of Draco's, while Draco was wearing low-slung khakis and no shirt.
"Merlin!" Leolin squealed, looking away at once.
"Didn't you ever learn to knock?" Draco said mildly as Gen covered up her bare breasts. As she did, Leolin noticed something glittering at her throat.
There, lying just below of Gen's clavicle, was diamond pendant not unlike the key Draco had given Leolin. In fact, for a panicked moment Leolin was afraid it was her pendant, but she realized at last it wasn't a key, but some kind of lily. Still, it still stung.
"Do you like it?" Gen said as she realized what Leolin was staring at. "Draco gave it to me this morning. I said it was too much glitz, but eventually he convinced me. It really is so beautiful; I don't think I'll ever be able to bear taking it off again."
She bent and gave him a loving kiss.
"It's—" she fumbled, meeting Draco's eye and losing what little shred of courage she had. "—lovely. But I should—go."
Leolin turned and found the door, and she gratefully fell through it, letting out a shaky breath once she was safe in the hall again. She closed her eyes, feeling the absurd need to cry. She brushed this feeling off at once. She hadn't cried in five years, and she wasn't going to start now, even considering this new cruelty.
Trying to find her composure, she burst onto the patio, where Ginny and Blaise were already sitting.
"Hello," Ginny said pointedly, watching Leolin slink unhappily to the bar still dressed in her running clothes. "Having a good morning, are we?"
Leolin sank down on the nearest lounger, taking a heady sip of her gin and tonic before rubbing her eyes.
"I just walked in on Draco and Gen in the kitchen," Leolin said, trying to seem merely annoyed. "Have you seen the new pendant he gave her?"
"No," Ginny said. "She usually doesn't wear any jewelry, besides her engagement ring. I suppose she thinks she doesn't need it."
"Well it's lovely," Leolin explained. "This delicate little diamond pendant. It almost looks like a key, but it isn't. It's a lily. Still, you should see how it glitters."
Ginny understood what Leolin was implying and frowned, giving Blaise a stern look as if it was his fault.
"I'm sorry," he said to Leolin at last. "That's a low blow."
"I guess that isn't something Gen would usually have been interested in," Leolin continued. "She's not really one for diamonds. Luckily, Draco was able to convince her to wear it. She swears she's never going to take it off."
"That couldn't have been pleasant," Ginny agreed.
Leolin shook her head to indicate it wasn't, though she felt an odd lump in her throat that disallowed her from speaking.
"What's not pleasant?" Draco asked, traipsing onto the desk. Gen thankfully wasn't with him.
Ginny scowled in response.
"You're foul," she snapped.
"Ginevra," Blaise warned, though he was giving Draco a cool look as well. "Stay out of this."
"What's your problem?" Draco snapped back at her, getting in her face.
Ginny responded by getting up and pushing him in the pool, which set him off.
"Weasley you bitch!" he sneered, and Blaise and Leolin exchanged a look.
"Just like old times," Ieuan said in greeting, watching the scene unfold as he padded over and sat down.
"What is wrong with you?" Ginny demanded. "Why do you always have to be so fucking cruel?"
Draco got out, and Leolin looked away, unwilling to be dragged into this fight. She couldn't take any more venom from Draco this morning.
"You're such a loyal lapdog, Gin," he sneered, and she rolled her eyes. "Always willing to fight Lefevre's battles for her."
"Go to hell, you stupid nob," she said nastily.
"That's enough," Blaise said in a bored tone. "Both of you. We have bigger things to worry about without you two picking at each other."
"Tell that to your wench," Draco spit, pushing his wet hair off his forehead.
"I said knock it off," Blaise replied dangerously. "Or I'll do more than push you in the pool."
"Don't threaten me," Draco said.
"Then don't you dare speak to Ginevra like that," Blaise countered. "I mean it."
Draco would probably never admit it, Blaise was intimidating when riled up, and he was perhaps one of the other people they knew that could take Draco in a fist fight or a duel.
Draco prudently opted to simply sneer at Leolin instead.
"And I bet you think you're terribly clever for stirring up all that, don't you?"
"I—" Leolin began, but the chill in Draco's eyes crippled her, and she simply shook her head. "I'm not involved."
"Like hell you're not," Draco said in a cool voice.
"What's your problem?" Blaise demanded. "You've been awfully shirty since you got back."
Draco glanced at Leolin before his eyes settled on Blaise.
"I don't have one."
"Could have fooled me," Ginny bit out.
"Stay out of this, Weaslby," Draco snapped.
"Drake!" Blaise said, starting to get agitated. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"
"Nothing!" Draco said forcefully. "I just—have a lot on my mind."
"Then sit down and let's talk about it," Blaise said. "What did you find out in London?"
Draco shook his head, eyes ghosting over Leolin before snapping back Blaise.
"I don't have time to chat," he explained. "Gen and I are headed to the coast for the day. We can talk when I get back tonight."
"Now?" Blaise asked, exasperated. "Are you fucking kidding me? All hell's breaking loose! We don't have time for you to take a holiday mid-holiday! We have to talk about Adrian and Thivierge!"
"Hell can wait," Draco replied. "After London, I owe Gen this."
Draco's gaze flitted to Leolin for a second before he looked away. Seeing the brief exchange, Blaise's eyes were skating between Leolin and Draco again, and Leolin could see him putting the pieces together. Leolin, for her part, felt another lump forming in her throat. She was unsure if this new maneuver by Draco was coincidental or designed to punish her, but it stung no less either way.
"Let him go, if that's what he wants," Ginny said at last, clearly still incensed about their fight earlier.
"Fine," Blaise said, eying Leolin's suspiciously quiet form as well before looking back at Draco. "We'll just talk tonight then."
"Have Lefevre fill you in," Draco said, eyes on her again. "If she isn't too busy stripping half-naked and chasing after Kelly Troy, that is."
Leolin abruptly stood. Suddenly she felt the absurd urge to go for another run. Or at the very least, get off the deck. She could feel both Blaise and Ginny watching her, and she fell suffocated. Besides, if she stayed she would likely punch Draco in the face, and though it was an increasingly appealing prospect, she had to admit it was probably inadvisable at the current juncture.
"And there she goes now," Draco sniped. "Give Troy my regards."
"Fuck off," she replied tiredly.
"Oy!" Blaise snapped. "You're leaving, too?"
"No," Leolin clarified. "But I don't have to sit here and take abuse if I don't want. See you two later."
She ignored Draco outright, and he growled in frustration.
"No one is buying you as a damsel in distress, Lefevre. Give it up."
"I never asked for you to," Leolin shot back hotly, whirling on him with mean eyes.
"Is there something the two of you would like to share with the class?" Blaise said with a cool authority.
"No," they snarled in unison.
"What happened in London?" Blaise demanded. "Why are the two of you being so nasty all of a sudden?"
Leolin glanced at Draco, whose dark expression dared her to admit the truth about what had transpired between them. His eyes were sparkling as they skated back and forth across her face, and it felt as if there might be a small part of him that simply yearned for the truth from her. She wanted to reach out and touch that place so badly that her palm had begun to sweat.
"There you are! Ready, sugar?"
Leolin exhaled a stale breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding as Gen appeared, looking smug in a white and china blue patterned sundress. The diamonds at her throat twinkling in the mid-morning sun as she approached Draco for an overly-salacious kiss.
"Oh enough," Ginny growled irritably.
"Is something wrong, Ginbug?" Gen asked, and she did sound genuinely concerned. Leolin knew she wanted nothing more than for Ginny to adore in a manner comparable with the one she clearly felt she deserved.
"Please don't call me that," Ginny grit out as politely as she could, though for the record it wasn't a tone that was likely to win her any awards for civility.
"I'm sorry," Gen said. "I didn't mean to upset you!"
"You didn't," Draco assured her. "She's been in a snit all morning."
"Whatever for?" Gen asked, sitting on Ginny's lounger now. It was as if she hoped to win Ginny over with sheer force of will. "Is it something I've done?"
She touched Ginny's leg, and Ginny stiffened a bit.
"No," Ginny said in a quasi-diplomatic tone, brushing the hand off and standing. "But if I were you, I would ask Drake about that necklace you've got on."
Gen touched it self-consciously and Leolin's throat ached; she knew the gesture well.
"What's she talking about?" Gen said to Draco in a soft voice.
"I don't know," Draco said evenly, giving Ginny a dangerous look. "Are you ready?"
She nodded, standing as well and traipsing back to his arms for a kiss before smiling at Leolin. The glint it her eyes was sharp, like a piece of jagged ice.
"Leolin," she said in her musical voice. "Max is dying to take you out properly. You should owl him today; I know he'd love to here from you."
Leolin, who had been worn positively ragged with the last 48 hours, mere shrugged.
"Good to know, I guess," she remarked. She could feel Draco's gem-like eyes on her back, and it made the muscles between her shoulder blades ache.
Gen, seemingly satisfied at having resurrected the somewhat thorny issue, gave Leolin, Ginny, and Blaise a final smile.
"Excellent. See y'all this evening."
"Enjoy yourselves," Blaise said, sounding a bit like a disapproving father. "We have a lot to discuss when you get back."
"We will. You three behave yourselves now," Gen said, smiling at him before giving Leolin a devilish wink. "Especially you, sugar. Ta-ta."
With a smart crack, the pair had disappeared. Their absence left a stinging presence behind, like a bitter wind, and it burned Leolin's cheeks and throat. She had to go. She had to go before Ginny showered her with a cavalcade of questions she wasn't ready to answer.
"I'll see you two later," she said quickly, and ignoring Ginny's protestations, she was gone as well.
Leolin took a long nap when she'd returned, but as before, she woke tense and un-rested. She'd had another dream about Jean du Bones, except this time he chased her while she chased Draco.
"Draco!" she'd cried in the dream. "Draco, please! Draco, come back!"
She woke with heart pounding, her hand immediately flying to her throat for comfort. However, where the lock would normally have calmed her, today it only reminded her of seeing the lily around Gen's neck, which made her heart ache dully, like someone had punched her in the chest.
She had to get out of the house. She had to get out of the house and stop thinking about Draco. She thought about what Gen had said and bit her lip. After several minutes of tortured deliberation, she sat up and clicked open her floo. It flickered several times before the person on the other end picked up.
"Hello?"
"Max, it's Leolin."
Max's voice brightened.
"Welcome back, sweethaht. How was London?"
Leolin's stomach clenched.
"It was—uneventful," she said at last, and she could feel Draco's lips ghosting across hers.
"Well I have to admit I'm glad you left," Max said. "It means you didn't have to watch Kelly Troy wipe the floor with my team yesterday at the tournament."
Leolin gave a polite laugh, though the thought of Kelly actually just made her stomach ache more.
"He's been known to do that," Leolin said. "But I'm sorry you've been bumped."
"You don't have to be," he charmed. "If you let me take you to dinner tonight instead."
Leolin bit her lip, trying to sound enthusiastic. After all, this was the distraction she was hoping for. Still, she thought about what it felt like to be in Draco's arms and she just wanted to hang up.
"You read my mind," she replied instead, trying to sound flirtatious.
In reality, she felt like she was going to be sick.
"I knew I could win you over eventually," he said with pride. "How about I pick you up at eight?"
"Perfect," Leolin said faintly. "See you then."
"I can't wait," Max affirmed, and with that he hung up.
When he was gone Leolin flopped back on her back, consulting her clock. It was nearly five already. She had literally slept all day.
She got up onto unsteady feet, hoping that she would be gone before Draco arrived back. She didn't know what exactly she was trying to achieve by going out with Max, but despite the horrible way Draco had reacted to the kiss, she wasn't trying to make him suffer.
Gingerly she made her way to the shower, standing under the steam for a long time and trying to forget the past twenty-four hours. Part of Leolin felt what had happened was a manifestation of Draco's enormous bruised ego, and that the violence of his reaction didn't mean he didn't still love her. On the other hand, maybe it was simply that he meant what he said; maybe he truly didn't have feelings for her anymore.
The more Leolin contemplated this, the more it felt true, and though she tried to not to fret, it was difficult. What was she going to do if she couldn't have Draco back? More pressingly, how could she get Lucius off her back if she decided to give up?
Having a thought, she went to her floo and clicked it open.
Fancy a trip Stateside? She wrote cryptically. I have something I want to discuss.
She shut the lighter and went to her closet, thumbing through her dresses. She had no idea what to wear tonight, mainly because she had no idea what message she wanted to send.
She eventually settled on a tasteful knee-length black dress. It was fairly simple, and in truth it was more Gen's style than Leolin's own. That was good; Max's relationship with Gen was strictly platonic, and Leolin wanted to give off a similar vibe. It was sexy but not provocative, which is exactly what she thought she should be going for. She didn't want to give Max the wrong impression; it would only fuel the fire and make him more annoying.
It took her forever to put on her makeup and fix her hair, but finally she looked in the mirror and was satisfied. She looked good, she decided, minus the abject sadness in her eyes, but that she would simply have to cover up.
She looked at the clock again. It was nearly eight. Taking a deep breath, she put on a pair of tall heels, grabbed her clutch, and headed downstairs.
Ginny, Ieuan, and Blaise were sitting on the deck as usual, and Leolin went out to join them for a drink before Max arrived.
"Merlin," Blaise said mildly. "Look at you. Why do you look so spiffed up?"
Leolin gave a fake smile that glittered magnificently.
"Oh," she said, as if not realizing she was dressed up. "I'm popping out for a bit."
Ginny and Blaise exchanged a look.
"With whom?" Ginny asked. "Please tell me it's not Kelly. You'll torture him in that dress."
"How?" Leolin said, exasperated. She was admittedly tired of everyone suggesting her whole wardrobe was somehow wanton.
"I'm sorry, that came out wrong," Ginny said sheepishly, clearly feeling bad. "I just think you could wear a burlap sack and Kelly would still love you."
"Merlin! Just stop already!" Leolin seethed, similarly tired of everyone painting her as the other woman, always waiting to steal other people's husbands. "He's married and happy; stop trying to resurrect ancient history!"
"Right okay, love," Ieuan said gently. "So it's not Kelly."
"No" she snapped. "It's Max. He's on his way to pick me up."
"You are voluntarily going on a date with Brankovitch?" Ieuan laughed. "Did I miss something?"
"Indeed," Ginny said keenly. "Two days ago you refused to give him the time of day, and now you're letting him take you to what I presume will be a romantic dinner. How—" she paused for emphasis. "—curious."
"Goddamnit!" Leolin all but screamed, stamping her foot. "Why am I always fucking on trial?"
"You aren't, darling," Ieuan said kindly. "We're just teasing you. We'll stop."
However, Blaise didn't seem quite ready to do so.
"So just so we're clear," Blaise said. "This has nothing to do with London or Draco and Gen's trip to the coast today?"
"You know what?" Leolin said defensively, allowing herself to be hurt for the first time. "You can go straight to Hell."
Ieuan raised his eyebrows at Blaise.
"I would warn you off that line of questioning, counselor."
Blaise, un-phased by this advice, opened his mouth to continue pushing. However, just then a new voice echoed from the house.
"Anyone home?" Max called.
"We're on the deck," Leolin called back, scowling at Blaise before taking another swallow of her drink.
Now that Max was actually here, she was bitterly regretting the whole endeavour.
"Good evening all," Max said, sweeping outside.
He wore a slim-fitting navy blazer that suited his brawny frame immensely. Underneath was a grey cardigan and a blue gingham shirt, though he wore no tie.
"Leolin," he said, his eyes finding her at once. "You look delicious, as usual."
He came over and pushed some of her black hair back so he could kiss her cheek.
"Thank you, I guess" she flushed, fighting not to wipe the kiss away.
Blaise rolled his eyes in naked irritation.
"She's a person, Brankovitch, not a fucking pastry."
Max's stormy blue eyes twinkled merrily.
"I know," he affirmed. "Shall we?" he said, offering her his arm.
She nodded.
"I won't be out late," she said meekly to the others, and Blaise growled in frustration.
"What about London?" he demanded. "We still need to talk about what's going on! And we have to talk about Adrian."
"He's the last person I want to talk about," Leolin said truthfully. "And have Draco fill you in about London; it's his family, not mine."
Max looked at her quizzically but she just smiled.
"Long story," she explained, and he smiled.
"You can tell me all about it over dinner," he replied.
"Have a good night, you three," Max said, still appraising Leolin hungrily. "I promise to have her back before the stroke of midnight."
"I'm holding you to that," Ginny called back.
Max ushered her over to the floo.
"So where are you taking me?" she asked, trying not to sound nervous. She had to remember not to drink too much this evening.
"It's called Brasserie," Max said. "It's a steakhouse. I hope you like red meat."
Leolin couldn't decide if that was an innuendo or not.
"I do," she affirmed.
"Good," he said, urging her to take a handful of powder. "I"ll be right behind you."
She nodded, throwing the glittering powder into the flames and stepping in. She arrived at a delightfully old building right on the water, and she took in her surrounding. The place was sleek but not lavish, and the man at the maitre'd stand smiled when he saw Leolin step out of the fireplace.
"Welcome to Brasserie," he said in a drawling Southern accent. "name?"
Just then Max emerged, immediately coming forward and putting a hand on Leolin's back. She fought the urge to pull away. It's not that the sensation wasn't pleasant, but it did feel somewhat foreign.
"Mr. Brankovitch," the man said delightedly. "Welcome back. Your usual table?"
"If you would, Grady," he said.
"Of course. If you two could follow me."
Max indicated that Leolin follow, and she obliged, allowing the man to lead them to a table that looked over the water. Leolin thanked Grady as he untucked her chair before looking across the table at Max.
"So," she began. "You come here fairly regularly, I gather."
"I do," Max admitted. "I love this place."
"Usually with female company," she surmised.
"Actually no," he laughed. "You're the first woman besides Genny I've brought with me."
She raised her eyebrows.
"Where's the dung, Brank?"
He laughed merrily.
"What the hell does that mean?"
"If you're trying to trick me into feeling extra-special, I'm just going to leave now. Games like that bore me. Where do you usually take your consorts?"
He had the decency to look sheepish.
"A place on the other side of town. It's more—discreet."
Leolin rolled her eyes.
"I knew it."
"You just had to ask," he said, smiling as he untucked her chair for her.
She rolled her eyes at his caddish admission, though there was little malice in the gesture. There was something undeniably pleasant about him, though Leolin wasn't sure what; by all accounts he was rather a swine.
"Should we start with a glass of white?" he asked, not even bothering to look at the menu.
"Yes," she said, opening hers. "What do you usuall—"
"Albariño?"
He just smiled, though he didn't move a muscle. She gave him a scrutinizing frown.
"Have you been cheating?"
"No," he said, blue eyes glittering. "There's nothing that says research isn't allowed. Knowledge is power, sweethaht."
"Who did you talk to?" Leolin asked, not sure if she was flattered or annoyed.
"Birdie," Max said. "Though he was admittedly very hahd to get information out of him. I went to Kelly first, but he refused to tell me anything about what you liked. It seems like the only person that wants to see this to progress is me."
He laughed.
"Well you were smart to ask," Leolin said as a sommelier arrived.
Max made his selection and the man disappeared then reappeared a moment later with a bottle and two glasses. When the glasses were poured, Max raised his to Leolin.
"To you," he said.
"That's sort of an odd toast," she admitted, raising hers but making no effort to complete the gesture.
"To us, then," he amended, and she smiled resignedly.
"Well-played," she said, finally touching her glass to his.
"I'm just getting warmed up," he admitted. "So, tell me everything about yourself. I want to know it all."
He leaned forward slightly, indicating she had his full attention. She gave him a languid smile.
"What do you want to know?"
"Everything," he repeated. "Start with your parents."
"You sound like my shrink," she said, and he smiled. "Well, my mum is Welsh and my dad is French, which I think you knew. They met on holiday when they were both sixteen and conceived me quite by accident. They never married, and I mostly grew up in London and Wales with my mum. I'm still close with my dad, though."
"Did either of them remarry?" he asked.
"They both did. My dad married my stepmum Amelie about seven years ago, and they have two boys, Maximilien and Henri, and they're having a third in November. My mum just remarried about three years ago to a bloke named James."
"And what about school?" Max asked. "I presume you went to Hogwarts."
"I did," she affirmed.
"And you were a—"
"Slytherin," she provided.
"Of course," he said as if it were obvious. "That makes sense."
"Does it?" she said somewhat defensively. She knew outside the UK Slytherin simply had a reputation for churning out evil.
He smiled.
"I just mean that it makes sense considering your friends. Birdie, Zabini, Malfoy. They are most accepting of their own."
"Blaise is marrying Ginny," Leolin pointed out. "And she wasn't a Slytherin."
"Well, there are exceptions to every rule," he said, still smiling. "What about after school?"
Leolin fought not to flush. She hated thinking about her life pre-Florence. It was too distressing.
"Merlin," she said, still flushing. "I feel like I'm on trial."
Max laughed.
"Not in the slightest," he said. "I'm just so curious about you."
Leolin nodded.
"After school I moved to Paris for a year to work in the Louvre."
"You're an artist?"
"Art historian."
"Which means you—"
"Study the history of art," she said somewhat slowly, as if he were extremely thick.
"Oh!" he laughed in understanding. "Well maybe you can catch that art thief that's been running around Europe. The Genius of Evil, or whatever they call him."
"Maybe," she said coyly.
"So why did you come back from Paris after that year?"
Leolin took a large sip of wine before looking down at the tablecloth. She could feel him looking at her expectantly, but she wasn't quite ready to face his gaze. Finally, though, she looked up at him.
"Because I was getting married."
For the first time he seemed pensive.
"To Malfoy?"
"I've only been engaged once," Leolin said pointedly, and Max nodded.
"Of course," he said. "How long were you two together?"
"You don't want to get into that," she said diplomatically.
"Oh don't worry; I'm not the jealous type," he explained. "And I'm not easily scared off."
Leolin narrowed her eyes.
"Are you doing reconnaissance for Gen, or something? I've told her a million times she doesn't have to torture me; I'm not up to something I shouldn't be."
It felt good to lie again. It made her feel like she was back with Severina making deals.
Max laughed, his eyes warm.
"It's my understanding that Draco has been very transparent with Gen about the two of you. I promise I'm not a spy."
Realizing she was being paranoid, Leolin. sighed.
"Four years," she replied, and Max nodded, taking a sip of wine.
They were silent for a whole minute before Leolin spoke.
"Thank you," she said finally.
"For what?" Max asked.
"For not asking why I left before the wedding."
He gave her a critical look before nodding again, eyes still warm.
"Don't look a gift horse in the mouth, right?"
She frowned in confusion.
"What do you mean?"
He raised his eyebrows.
"Well obviously I'm glad you're not married to anyone, least of all Malfoy. Married women—they aren't really my type."
"That's not what the tabloids say," she said.
He smiled to indicate she wasn't wrong.
"Don't believe everything you read, sweethaht."
"Why did you say least of all Draco?" Leolin asked.
Max considered, as if deciding whether or not to play his hand.
"Look," he began. "I'm happy that he's made Genny happy, but Malfoy is—I find him sort of hard to like."
"Why?"
"I know this probably isn't fair, but every time I look at him I can't help but think about all the horrible things his father did to people like me."
He reached across the table to take her hand, and she didn't immediately pull away.
"You're right to fear Lucius," Leolin said softly, feeling a little breathless as his index fingers gently ghosted across her soft forearm. "But you can trust Draco. I know he doesn't seem like it, but I swear he's a good man."
Max's gaze grew penetrative, and she blushed.
"You would still defend him?" he asked softly.
"Only when necessary," she lied.
Unable to abide their physical contact anymore, she gently extracted her hand and he smiled, allowing her to pull away from him without comment.
"I know he is," Max said. "And I do trust him. He's just—I don't know, he and I just come from completely different worlds. We were never destined to be friends, you know?"
She nodded.
"I think the majority of people feel that way about him. Ask Harry Potter."
He laughed heartily.
"Shall we order?"
The rest of the meal progressed fairly normally. Leolin found out that Max had grown up in middle class Boston with his two Muggle parents, who were both schoolteachers. He told her that his mother had been so surprised to find out that he was a wizard that she'd fainted, and that the hardest part of being a quidditch star was not being able to bring his parents to tournaments.
The wine kept the conversation pliant, and as the meal wound down, Leolin could feel Max itching for more. Once, during dessert, he'd casually taken her hand again and twined their fingers, but she'd only allowed the gesture for a minute or so before carefully pulling away.
"It's okay, you know," he said, smiling at her.
"What is?" she said, taking a sip of her Sambuca. Despite her promise to herself, she was pleasantly drunk.
"You're allowed to like me."
"I know that," she said, blushing at his insinuation.
"Do you?" he asked softly, leaning forward. "We don't have to be saints all the time."
"What are you trying to say?" she asked, a little annoyed and a little intrigued.
"Nothing," he lied, giving her a charming smile. "I just mean that I know how to have a good time."
"Oh Merlin," she growled.
He laughed.
"Should we go for a walk?"
She bit her lip again, Draco still on her mind.
"I should get home," she said softly. "It's getting late."
However, he wasn't to be deterred.
"C'mon," he goaded. "It's a walk, not a marriage proposal."
She looked at his outstretched hand for a minute before finally acquiescing.
"Just a walk, then," she agreed, and he beamed, leading her off the deck and onto the soft sand of the beach beyond. Realizing what futility it would be to walk on sand in heels, Leolin quickly wrenched them off, happy for the opportunity to let go of his hand as she put them in her bag.
He laughed as she shrunk.
"I've never seen you without heels before," he said merrily. "Merlin, you're tiny."
"I am not," she defended, laughing.
"It wasn't an insult," he said, casually taking her hand again. "I think it's sexy."
She flushed, not sure if she was pleased or uncomfortable with the attention. She thought of Draco's venom the night before and she decided to allow the contact. It was oddly comforting.
"It really is beautiful here," she commented, listening as the rolling waves hissed against the sand.
"It has its moments," Max admitted. "This is definitely one of them."
"It's—" Leolin began, but then she broke off, laughing softly.
"Go on," he said, knowing what she meant. "Say it."
"—Romantic," she finished, finally daring to look at him.
"And is it working?" he murmured softly, leaning down a little.
His cologne was cool and fresh.
"I—damnit!"
Leolin let go of his hand to cradle her foot. She must have stepped on something,
"Are you alright?" he asked, worried.
"I think I stepped on glass or a rock of something," she said, wincing.
"Here," he said, picking her up easily before easing her gently down on the sand. "Let me see."
He pulled out his wand and whispered 'lumos' and suddenly she could see a small piece of glass sticking out, blood seeping around it.
"It's not very deep," Max said, examining it. "I can heal it, if you want."
She nodded, and he carefully pulled out the shard before murmuring a healing spell. He didn't immediately let go of her ankle when he was done, gently caressing her silky skin instead. Breathless, she allowed his touch.
"Where did you learn to do that?" she asked, and he smiled, his white teeth glinting in the soft semi-darkness.
"Would it kill the mood if I say I dated a healer for 4.5 years?"
"No," she said, trying to set her own past aside. "I don't care."
"Ouch," he said, tracing the curving muscles in her bare calf now.
She felt a tingle in her fingertips. She imagined Draco watching them and immediately felt guilty. However, when she remembered how hideous he'd been to her over the past twenty-four hours, especially considering what she'd done for him, she didn't care what he thought, she decided savagely. He was determined to hate her either way; what did it matter what she did?
Max, who'd received no response, let his hand drop from her leg. However, she shook her head, glad for the darkness.
"No," she croaked softly. "Don't stop."
His eyes grew hungry as he watched her. He didn't move for a second, but finally he surged forward, covering her lips with his. She froze at first, but she fought to be calm, and eventually she brought a hand to his soft hair, allowing him to deepen the kiss.
He tipped her back onto the sand, carefully settling between her splayed legs and trying not to crush her as the kiss intensified.
"Come home with me," he breathed, kissing her neck.
Leolin felt her stomach clench.
"I—I can't," she stammered. "I have to get back."
He stopped, leaning back a little so he could look her in the eye.
"I know you're still punishing yourself for whatever happened between you and Malfoy. Let me help you stop."
She said nothing to this, her mind racing. She shouldn't do this. She didn't love Max. In fact, she didn't really feel anything for him. And if Draco ever found out—
She looked up at Max, the desire to please shining brightly in his eyes. Draco never considered her feelings when he made decisions. Why should she consider his? She remembered the hatred in his eyes after he kissed her, and suddenly her mind was made up. If she couldn't have Draco's love, she would take Max's.
She answered his plea by leaning up to kiss him again, and he responded enthusiastically, knotting a hand in her hair as he moaned against her lips. After a minute, he hauled her up as if she weighed nothing, holding her in his bruising arms for a second before apparating them away.
They arrived at a beach house not unlike Gen's a few moments later, and the minute they did Max continued his assault. He kissed her passionately even as he urged her up the stairs, his lips trailing from her swollen lips to her jaws to her neck.
When they arrived in the bedroom, she urged he take off his blazer, which he did immediately. It had been a very long time since she'd had sex, and when she felt herself getting aroused she grew nervous. With Draco it had been familiar, but this was new and scary.
She tried not the think of that as she watched Max shed his shirt to reveal his muscular torso. He looked like he'd been carved by Michelangelo, and Leolin bit her lip as she gently reached out a hand to touch him. His skin was warm, and he shuddered contently at her feather-light touch.
Needing less permission now, he turned her in his arms so she was facing away from him as he gently unzipped her dress, dropping a kiss on her bare shoulder as he tugged the dress down her torso. When it finally pooled at her feet, he urged her to turn back around so he could appraise her fully.
"You're fucking gahgeous," he breathed, pulling her into his arms and prompting her to lock her legs around his waist as he carried her to large bed underneath the window.
He carefully deposited her there, and she flushed as she watched him shred his trousers and crawl up to meet her. He kissed her more softly this time, reaching a hand around her back to unhook her lacy bra as his tongue moved against hers.
She felt a small crest of panic as he freed the hook and tugged her straps down her arms before throwing the garment over his shoulders.
"You have a perfect rack," he said in admiration, bringing on two hands up to massage her breasts
She felt a moan building up but she held it back, her pleasure making her feel guilty again. No, fuck that, she decided. She didn't owe Draco anything. She'd never done anything wrong.
"Look at me," he commanded softly, and she did so, relaxing a little when she saw the genuine warmth in his eyes. "We don't have to do this, if you don't want."
She shook her head.
"I want to, it's just—been a while."
"I'll be gentle," he promised, bending to drop kisses across her bare chest.
He slowly worked his way downward, and Leolin tried to relax as he yanked down her knickers. She couldn't hold back a sigh when his tongue touched her. He had two large wings tattooed on his broad shoulders, and she watched them flex as he worked.
She could feel her body coming alive at his expert touch, and when she looked down at him between her thighs, she swore she saw a flash of blonde. Savagely she fought off the hallucination, urging Max to kiss her again instead. As he did, she could feel how turned on he was, and it made her both nervous and excited.
Still a little shy, she prompted him to take off his boxers as he kissed her neck. When they were both naked they stopped a moment and Leolin bit her lip, trying to erase another flash of blonde. Meeting Max's eye, she rolled onto her side, and he took her meaning at once. Sliding up behind her, he kissed her neck before urging her legs apart and sinking in deep. Max was sizably bigger than Cristian had been, and the intrusion made her breath catch.
"Did I hurt you?" he groaned. "You are wicked tight."
"No," she breathed, trying to pretend he hadn't said that. "I think you're just—"
He gave a self-satisfied laugh.
"Say it," he said arrogantly. "I'm fucking hung."
"Don't blow it," she warned him as he began to move.
He nodded, pumping against her fluidly. She could feel a dull swell of pleasure rising in her belly, and she fought not to moan.
"Get on top," he begged. "I want to be able to see your face when I make you come."
Slightly embarrassed she nodded, allowing him to roll onto his back before climbing on top of him.
She closed her eyes as they moved, pushing her hips forward and leaning back so he sunk deeper.
"Are you always this quiet," he said huskily.
"Sorry to disappoint you," she breathed. "But I'm not a screamer."
He pushed up on her downstroke, hitting a good spot. She moaned a little.
"Do that again," he prompted.
"Do tell me what to do," she said without malice.
He laughed, but it quickly faded into a groan.
"Don't stop," he said, grabbing her hips. "Leolin, don't stop."
She didn't, her speed increasing as she felt her orgasm building. She couldn't help it now; she bit her lip and moaned, eyes still closed. His thumb brushed her clit and she moaned again, this time a little louder. He knew what he was doing.
Feeling more at ease now that she was properly turned on, she licked her lips and looked down at him. She almost cried out in surprise. Suddenly it was Draco lying beneath her, his cheeks flushed. She knew he wasn't real, but she closed her eyes, intoxicated by his spectre.
"Don't stop, Callie," he said breathlessly, and even his ghost pushed Leolin to the edge. "I love you," phantom Draco told her as she rode harder, swishing her hips as if she were actually in a saddle.
This was enough, and she cried out as an orgasm washed over her. When she opened her eyes, it was Max beneath her again, and spurred by her pleasure, he spun them so he was on top, slamming into her as he sought his release. Feeling guilty for her hallucination, she closed her eyes again, but he leaned down to kiss her.
"Look at me," he demanded quietly. "I could get off just from that."
Leolin's eyes fluttered open and she willed herself not to cry. After all, none of this was Max's fault. Fuck, this was so terribly confusing.
"Fuck Lefevre," he groaned, hiking her leg around his hip so he could drive deeper.
She gave a soft inhale, gripping his hair and fending off memories of being in bed with Draco. Finally, she felt him shuddering and she knew he was close.
He moaned her name again, and she felt his whole body tense as he came undone. He gently pumped a few more times before kissing her slowly and cradling her protectively in his strong arms.
She listening to his breathing begin to slow and tried not to fidget, forcing herself to relax in his embrace. She'd made this bed; now she had to lie in it.
A/N: PLEASE DON'T HATE ME! What's going to happen next? And I will give you MAJOR props if you can figure out who Leolin sent that cryptic floo message to! Again, see you next Saturday! Please keep reviewing!