Chapter Twelve

I was going to set Rita Skeeter on fire. She skated around being outright insulting every time she spoke to me, and those were the few times she did address me directly. Otherwise, she spoke only to Lucius, and she was flirting relentlessly. Currently she was across the sitting room with her photographer as they tried to decide where to take the photos.

"Calm down." Lucius muttered into my ear, running his hand down my arm. We were sitting on the settee, and I was tucked under his arm.

"If she doesn't stop speaking to me like I'm a child, I am going to set her on fire."

"What is it with you and fire?" Lucius settled his hand on my thigh, his fingers playing with the hem of the dress he'd picked out. It was a dark grey knee length sheathe dress and I was again in three-inch heels and diamonds.

I shrugged. "I like fire. It's beautiful and dangerous and it's like it's alive. If you leave it unattended, it'll take on a life of its own."

Lucius was quiet and I looked up at him to find him staring at me, his head cocked to the side.

"You are a little scary for someone so small and anxious."

"I've been told that before." Then I groaned when Rita Skeeter came skittering back over to us.

"Let's take a few more photos, Lucius! I know we already got some of you two on the settee, but I think the lighting is just wonderful over by this window."

Lucius patted my thigh and whispered, "Up, Olivia. If you behave, we'll go into Muggle London."

I had mentioned wanting a few books as I hurriedly changed from my lunch attire to the dress.

"You're having Chinese takeaway for dinner, and it's going to come in cheap cardboard boxes and you'll eat it with plastic cutlery." I whispered back, and I smiled as he stood up and offered me his hand.

"Deal."

I let him drag me up off the settee and across the room, and then we spent the next thirty minutes being instructed and posed. Rita took every opportunity to touch Lucius and it was starting to grate on my nerves.

"Now Olivia, I'm going to have Lucius sit down and you stand behind him with your hand on his shoulder, the left hand, so we can see that gorgeous ring." Rita said as she dragged a chair over and motioned for Lucius to sit.

I sighed as I stepped behind the chair and placed my hand on his shoulder. He grasped it and pulled it down so that it settled on his chest instead, right at the place where his tie went under his vest.

"Oh, that's perfect! Even better, Lucius." Rita gushed. She stepped forward and reached out a hand. "You have just one hair out of place. Let me just –"

I snatched her wrist and held it tightly. "If you touch him one more time, I will set you on fire." I said through gritted teeth.

"Well, I've never!" she gasped.

Lucius laughed lightly as he grasped my wrist and pulled on it gently, and I let her go with a glare. "She is a bit possessive. We've bonded over the past two weeks, and you know the Ministry's matching process is quite accurate." He used my arm to pull me down until I was leaning over his shoulder, and I met his eyes before he kissed me. There was a flash as the photographer took a photo. "I think we're done for the day, Rita. We have plans for the evening."

"Oh, but Lucius -"

"Done, Rita." Lucius' tone sharpened and a tried to hide my smile. "I'll walk you out."

I watched as Lucius ushered them out and I knew that he was walking them to the front door and lifting the wards momentarily so that they could Apparate directly from the doorstep rather than walking the ten minutes to the front gate. I'd been learning a little bit about the Manor. I slid off my heels and picked them up as I walked into the hallway and met Lucius halfway.

"It is not a good idea to make an enemy of Rita Skeeter, kitten. I had to promise her an exclusive with Draco once his match is announced, which will be this evening, I believe. Draco and Miss Granger are meeting," he paused, glancing at his watch, "at six-thirty, which is in an hour."

"Oh my god, that took three and a half hours?" I groaned. "What a colossal waste of time." I grabbed his hand and started to pull him toward the staircase. "Let's get changed. We'll do the bookstore first and then Chinese."

We were delayed when I asked Lucius to help me unzip my dress, and that led to a breathless quickie that ended with him cumming in me and telling me that he was going to enjoy going out with me filled with his cum. I zipped up my calf-high boots over my jeans and tucked my wand in one before standing up in my closet and staring at the clothes. More of the clothes Lucius ordered had arrived yesterday and I was having a hard time choosing what top to wear. It was easy to settle on the jeans and boots, and I was standing there topless when Lucius walked in.

"You could knock, you know." I said as I glanced over at him and blinked. He was wearing jeans with white t-shirt tucked into them, a black belt cinched around his waist, and a casual navy blazer with the sleeves pushed up. His hair was up in a bun, he was wearing black trainers and he wasn't carrying his cane.

"I am not taking you into Muggle London shirtless." He said as he stepped further into the closet and smiled.

I rolled my eyes and sighed. "I cannot find a shirt I like."

Lucius flipped through the hangers and picked out a navy-blue three-quarter sleeve blouse that cinched a little at the waist. I pulled it on and stepped to the mirror.

"How did you do that?" I demanded. I liked it and it complemented my body. "I've looked at that shirt at least three times so far and hated it every time. Also, did you just want to match with me?"

"It has been my deepest desire to go into Muggle London in matching colors." Lucius deadpanned as he looked through the jewelry box and picked out a watch and earrings and handed them to me before pulling down a black coat and helping me into it. "Let's go before I bend you over the bed and fuck you again."

He stepped up to my back and wrapped his arms around me and then Apparated us to an alleyway. He took my hand, and we walked out onto the sidewalk, making our way down the street. It was nice to blend in, as no one recognized Lucius or me. I paused as we passed a little boutique and made a mental note to come back.

"Do you want to go in?"

"Oh, no, it's okay." I said, continuing up the street, but Lucius pulled me by hand into the store.

I gave him a smile as I walked in, and we browsed for a few minutes. Well, I browsed, and he lingered behind me. I was spinning a small rack of jewelry when I came across a necklace and giggled. It was a silver chain with a simple charm of the silhouette of a cat's head and a small emerald gem on the tip of each ear. I picked it up and showed it to Lucius.

"A kitten." I turned to put it back and he took it from me.

"I am getting it for you. Do you want to keep looking?"

"I don't need it." I laughed. "You've already gotten me plenty of jewelry."

"I have an idea, kitten. Let me get the necklace for you." Lucius murmured quietly.

"Alright."

We walked through the rest of the store and then made our way to the counter to pay. The clerk, a young woman about my age, was watching Lucius intently and fluttering her eyelashes at him. Thankfully for her, she didn't say anything, and Lucius paid and took the small bag in one hand before taking my hand in the other and leading me from the store.

"You're not going to tell me what your idea is?" I asked as we walked.

"We'll talk about it at home."

"But I want to know now." I whined, pouting my lower lip out as I looked up at him.

He chuckled and shook his head.

"Please." I drug out the world as I clutched his arm with my other hand, laying my head on his arm.

"You are lucky you're a good little whore, otherwise I wouldn't find this as endearing as I do."

He said the words a little bit above a whisper, but I was certain a man heard him as he walked past because he looked over at us wide eyed. I buried my face in Lucius' arm and kept walking, my face burning.

"And that is why you should've just waited." Lucius said haughtily, and I pinched his arm.

We arrived at the bookstore a few minutes later and I refocused my attention on books. I went immediately to the section for fantasy and found the second book in the series for us, picking up two paperbacks.

"No, get the hardcover."

"Hardcovers are expensive."

"I could own this bookstore, Olivia. Pick up the hardbacks."

So, I swapped them out for hardbacks and continued browsing. After I'd picked up two more books, Lucius took them from me and carried them.

"Okay, let's find books for you. What do you like?" I said as we browsed.

"The only other Muggle literature I've read have been classics."

"Hmm, boring. Okay, you like fantasy, but what about mysteries or thrillers?" I stopped and looked over a few shelves before bending over in front of him. "Let's try John Grisham."

I felt Lucius step up to me and place his hand on my back, and I smiled as his hips settled against my ass.

"You are incorrigible." He muttered as his hand moved to grip my hip.

I grabbed a book off the shelf and straightened up before turning to look up at him, feigning surprise. "I have no idea what you mean, sir."

He leaned down and kissed me, biting my bottom lip once before pulling away. "Finish picking out books and behave yourself, or we're going home without the Chinese food."

With a grin, I nodded and continued shopping. Eventually we ended up with seven books, all hardcovers, and went to check out.

"Stocking up, yeah?" The clerk asked with a smile. "You do realize that you have two of the same books?"

"Yeah, we're reading it together. We're about to finish the first one, so hopefully the sequel is just as good."

"That's so nice!" I watched as she glanced from me to Lucius and back again. I didn't need to be a Legilimens to know that she was trying to decide whether he was my boyfriend or my father, so I slid my hand under his blazer and tucked my finger through one of the belt loops at his back. "Have you read Eragon? I loved it."

"Really? I saw it back there, but I wasn't sure." I shrugged. "Oh well, I can get it next time. I already got four, including the sequel, and if I read all four while we're on vacation, that'll be an accomplishment."

"I will be back with the book in a moment." Lucius said, and he strode away without giving me a chance to stop him.

"I don't mean to pry, but is he your boyfriend?" The clerk asked quietly, watching Lucius walk away.

"Fiancé, actually." I said, and I held my left hand up.

"Ohmigod, shut up!" she whispered, slapping her hand on the counter. "Congratulations. He is gorgeous."

"Thank you." I said, and I blushed a little, watching him as he returned. She wasn't wrong; Lucius was absolutely gorgeous. "Thank you." I directed the second set of thanks to Lucius as he set the book on top of the stack.

"Anything for you, kitten." Lucius chucked me under the chin before pulling out notes and paying for the books. He tucked the small bag with the necklace in the larger bag with the books before taking my hand and leading me out onto the sidewalk.

The sun had completely set, and it was chilly, so I huddled closer to him and he put his arm around me before pulling us into the corner of a building.

"I'm going to send these back to the Manor." Lucius said as he pulled his wand out of his blazer. "Is anyone watching?"

I glanced around and shook my head, and the bag disappeared. A moment later I also felt a warming charm settle over my shoulders.

"Thank you." I said, but he still took my hand and tucked me into him. "Chinese?"

"If you're going to insist upon it."

And I did insist. Twenty minutes later, we were in a booth in my favorite Chinese restaurant, and I had ordered a smattering of everything. Lucius was currently chewing a bite of a pork egg roll and I was waiting for judgement.

"It is not… bad." He said begrudgingly, dropping the rest of the egg roll on his plate. He wiped his greasy fingers on the paper napkin and picked up his fork.

"I'll take it." I said with a smile before biting a dumpling. "Next time we'll do sushi."

"And what is that?" Lucius asked as he ate some fried rice.

"Mostly raw fish, but there's also cooked fish too."

"Are you trying to poison me?"

"Dick's too good to poison you." I said around a mouthful of lo mien, and he rolled his eyes.

I continued to enjoy seeing little glimpses of 'human' Lucius. The way he relaxed a little more with me every day, and then when he completely gave up with his stilted speech when he was consumed with lust. And I really enjoyed the way that he always had to be touching me. It was comforting. It was also hard to believe that it was two weeks ago today that I had fainted at the idea of marrying Lucius, and now I was living with him, sleeping in his bed, and having sex with him. A lot. And in a week and a day, we'd be married.

"Do I need to do anything to get ready for next weekend?" I took a sip of my Coca-Cola, thankful that the American soda had started to gain popularity in the UK because I missed it. Lucius had one sitting in front of him, but he had stuck to drinking water so far.

"Alma has everything under control. Majority of the guests have responded, and your dress should be finished on Tuesday. I cannot recall if the bathing suits were delivered with this week's batch of clothing – do you?"

"Uh, I don't know that I saw them, but that doesn't mean they aren't there. You may have gone a little overboard."

"Nonsense. I shall verify, but everything else for the season, and the trip, should be here by Thursday of next week."

I sighed happily and he glanced up at me from where he was poking his fork at the deep-fried chicken balls that I'd poured some sauce on.

"What was that sigh for?"

"It's so nice to have someone just," I waved my hand, "take care of everything."

"That's the point, Olivia. You will focus on your Mastery courses and being a good girl and I will take care of everything else." Lucius took a bite of the chicken and nodded in approval. "I like this one."

"Of course you like the sweet and sour sauce. You have a sweet tooth, Lucius Malfoy. Taste the Coke – you'll like it." I encouraged. I had noticed that Lucius put as much sugar in his tea as I did, and he never missed an opportunity for syrup or powdered sugar on his waffles.

He picked up his glass and took a sip of the dark soda, his eyes closing briefly, and I smiled. "I knew it!"

He shook his head a little as he took another sip. "Don't boast, Olivia. It's unattractive."

I snorted and kicked him gently under the table. "I'm adorable and you know it."

Lucius hummed and continued eating, but I noticed that he practically drained his cup and had to wave the waitress over for a refill.

"New rule."

He glanced up at me before opening a packet of hot mustard and squeezing some out onto a piece of chicken. "You don't get to make the rules, Olivia." He stared at the chicken for a moment before spearing it with his fork and biting into it delicately, assessing the flavor, and then finally committing to eating it. "Okay, I have a request then."

"Go on."

I drummed my fingers on the table for a moment, nervous. "Never mind."

"Use your words, kitten."

Gods, I loved it when he said that. It was demeaning, but it made me squirm.

"Can you only call me kitten?" I was looking anywhere but at him.

"You do not want me to call you by your name?"

"I like it more when you call me kitten." I was blushing now.

"Of course you do." Lucius said, and I could hear the smile in his voice. "You know that when you are with me, your given name does not matter. You are simply whatever I want you to be."

He was so right. I'd let him call me whatever he wanted as long as there was some sort of praise accompanied with it.

"Is that a yes?" I asked.

"We'll talk about it once we get home."

I pouted but wasn't going to make the same mistake again by pushing him. We finished eating and Lucius helped me into my coat before we stepped outside.

"Do you want to walk a bit or –"

"Home. I want to go home." I interrupted, bouncing on my feet.

Lucius smiled and squeezed my hand before walking us until he found an alcove and pulled us into it before Disapparating us into the Manor. He pulled my jacket off and shucked his blazer, then he backed me against the wall of his bedroom. He caged me in, his hands on the wall on either side of my head, and I tucked my thumbs into the belt loops by his hips.

"Since you like being my kitten so much, what do you think about wearing a collar for me?" Lucius whispered into my ear, and I shivered.

"What does that mean?"

"It means what we already know, kitten. That I own you." He pulled back and pushed my hair away from my neck, tracing it with a fingertip. "And you want me to own you. You crave it. This will be something you wear every day, but only you and I know what it truly means." He snapped his fingers and the necklace from the boutique appeared in his hand, dangling from his fingers. "You picked this one out. I'll commission another for play just for us."

I flicked the charm with my finger, watching the silhouette sway back and forth on the chain as it dangled from his hand.

"Collar me, please, sir."