Disclaimer: I don't own anything but my bowl of hot soup and whatever else is in this story that doesn't make sense. I was inspired by another romance novel i read and J.K. Rowlings wonderful world. Enjoy!

Author's Note: I've gotten so many responses about chapter 23...lol that I thought I would intervene for later readers. A few of my readers feel the sex between them was too sudden, well he has been holding in his desires for Hermione for sometime. But Draco is just Draco. Would he ever admit he loved Granger? In time sure... He gave in when he saw her crying again, and that was his breaking point. Hermione knew the actions between them at that moment was only lust, and pure sex. But she accepted it, rather than nothing at all. To touch her was what I felt he needed to understand that he loved her. If it seemed a bit rushed then I apologize, but he can be dumb in matters of the heart. And If he needed the road of lust to find the highway of love, then that would be alright. Loads of lovers take that road.

Chapter 24

"Wrapped so Pretty"

"Dreaming of all those tulips you planted?" he said as he entered their living room. He found Hermione deep in thought. There was a book in her hand. However, she held a trance-like stare at the burning logs of the fireplace.

"Just thinking." She said looking up at him and all of her calculation melted into oblivion. She smiled. "As a matter of fact, I was thinking about the studies of a muggle physicists famously known in our world. I was thinking of Einstein, Albert Einstein." she added.

"I've heard of that name," he said dryly. He unfasten several buttons on his dinner shirt just below his neck line, revealing most of his chest and the purity of his ivory pale skin. He rolled up his sleeves and pushed them back. "I thought you modern-day muggles had forgotten all old Albert. We often considered him to more of a wack job with a wand."

Hearing such a phenomenal scientist referred to in this way instantly struck a cord. "A wack with a wand, you must be referring to some other fellow, Draco. With all due respects Albert Einstein was a muggle scientist, not a wizard."

Draco tossed another log onto the fire and gave her a simple kiss, taking a seat beside her on the couch. "No, if my memory serves me well, your muggle scientist, Albert Einstein, was not a muggle at all. In fact I'm sure if we visit Flourish and Blotts tomorrow we should find at least one small book on his magical studies; they were modest at best. He did earn his place in the Order of Merlin, First Class. But the trouble with old Einy was that he fancied the company and opinions of muggle scholars, which I don't have to say, was greatly frowned upon in his day and time. And when ordered to denounce his connection with them, he refused, and attempted to hex the Minister of Magic with an aging spell." Draco laughed "Of course the curse was interjected by one of the Minister's aurors who sent it flying back at him. Afterwards, he was stripped in this world of his great achievements. Most of his work can not be traced or followed here, as it was more than likely awarded to other pureblood wizards.

She sat speechless for a moment. "And next I suppose you'll tell me that Isaac Newton held a column in the Daily Prophet in his day and age." she stated

"Who? No sorry, never heard of Newton."

"Thank Merlin for that one." she smiled she found it a bit sad to think that Einstein was once a wizard banished from the magical world. "I find it all completely disrespectful. If Albert added as much to this world as he did to ours and he was simply erased due to the fact that he did not limit his way of thinking."

"Yes, maybe it was unfair. Times were different then, besides he was a bit of a rebel. But some of the best wizards have always been rebels. Look at Harry for example, or you even."

"I'm not a rebel."

"Your not a saint among witches that's for sure. I doubt you can find a single page of history anywhere that states another witch solely plotted the break in of Gringotts Bank, with a dragon I might add. And then lived to talk about it." he chuckled lowly and gave her another kiss.

Once again she let herself forget how bright he truly was. Which was easy to do with his lean, muscular body sitting so very close to her. She pulled her thoughts back before they could move any further in that direction.

Sex, when he was around, It always seemed to dominant her mind.

"What do you know about Magically Spinning Quarks?" she asked, as he took the book she had been reading from her hand. Closed it, and dropped it onto the floor.

"Not much. They're basically submagical particle for most potions, used in the creation of wands. All matter is made up of them. There are what six types of quarks. Up, down, charm, strange, top, and bottom?"

She was impressed. It was more than most people knew. Fascinated, she gently ran a fingertip across his lip, and he nipped at it.

He had come down to be with her, to talk with her and to pull her from her usual realm of thoughts and theories. She lifted her eyes and looked into his. Even in the dim firelight, she could make out his familiar smile. She immediately knew the direction he wanted to take their evening.

She would always be there, close and caring. Just as a wife should be, there to love him as he needed, just like tonight, just as she had promised. Because she truly loved him. Not the all-time Quidditch superstar, not the overly proud pureblood that he was or any of that crap. No, she loved just him, just Draco. A new emotion swept over her, a sensation that had everything to do with their new life together. How she wanted to cry to him and beg for him to forgive her for what she had done. She wished that they could have come to this moment by some other means. With honesty and truth, not the deception that clouded their past.

She slipped both hands behind his neck, and he pulled her into his lap, she straddled him and began kissing her husband. The kisses became more intense and the touches more intimate.

He cupped her face, and his shirt sleeve inched up a bit more, revealing the dark mark of a Draco she did not know. She kissed it again and again, but it would not vanish from his beautiful arm.

He slipped his hand beneath the maternity blouse that she wore and shivered with pleasure when it made contact with her warm skin.

The smooth, sensuous pressure of his hands eased the anguish between her legs. His fingers took possession of her breast. The feeling was incredible, and she heard herself moan while arching her back to feel more of his touch, more of the rise now in his pants.

With her, he felt loved and wanted.

With him, she felt safe, passionate and equal. This was Malfoy who cared for her. The very Malfoy that she had often fought and rivaled with from the moment she'd become a part of this world. Now, somehow, it was him who was always there when she needed him, who she could count on to do what was best. In the back of her mind, she began to wonder if he would ever stop loving her.

Releasing her throbbing nipple, he slid his fingers down her torso until they reached the spot that was the baby's. He shifted her shirt and began to fumble about it, caressing her tummy. She felt a tiny pull as he did so and smiled softly as he explored her. The pull she wondered, had the baby reacted to her father's touch? Hermione kissed his blonde hair and he gently laid her back against the couch.

Their tongues continued to dance from mouth to mouth, but then he stopped and began to showering trail of kisses downward. She felt his body sag and his hands moving up her waist. He paused, and again let his fingertips caress her stomach and he began to speak. Not to her, not to Hermione. He spoke to his daughter, and said sweet words…and loving things about its mother, and of the world that awaited her. He spoke to her of the magic she would learn and of her grandmother who was so eagerly waiting to see her. His voice was smooth, like a waterfall, flowing over her, burning Hermione with desire. He searched her tummy with gentle circles, as if trying to memorize the baby's shape and size. At last a soft kiss he gave, and slid his hands around the small of her back.

Hermione closed her eyes and…Mmmmmm licked her lips slowly as the fullness of his mouth found its way down….between her legs, licking, kissing, teasing. His tongue was hot when it stroked her deepest core and she loved it.

He licked her like ice cream, savoring every flavor. His plan, was to love her all through the night.