A/N: Please read and leave reviews! Thanks so much for the reviews and alerts notices I've gotten already. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. And keeps me writing.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything but my imagination. I was inspired by another romance novel i read and J.K. Rowlings wonderful world. Enjoy!

Chapter 44

"Wrapped so Pretty"

"Krum is using you." he said. "You know that don't you?"

Those exact words, that precisely stated line slide an ice cold dagger clear down her spine. "That's not true." She warily stated. She turned in time to watch him wrap a thick white towel around his waist, blocking out the glory of his erection still wet, and its matted hairline trimmed into a perfect angle.

She didn't want to sound nervous as a feeling of dread overwhelmed her. But she was afraid that her eyes definitely revealed to him, how much he suddenly reminded her of Ron with those words.

His chest was still wet, "Sure it is. He's only using you to get back at me."

Hermione wasn't sure if she should be touched by his obsessive jealously over her, or upset that he, like Ron didn't believe that another man could find her sexually attractive. What he said to her stung, and well he could have been just another red headed Weasley standing in that shower. "That may be true, but then there's as always been a funny kind of unspoken connection between me and the Krum's."

Draco had just stepped from the shower, and in the process of pulling a hand towel from the rack to dry his hair, but his arm stalled in mid-reach.

"What are you talking about? What sort of unspoken connection?"

"Sit down so I can fix your lip, it's bleeding again sweetie." Now, you didn't like that so well did you!.

Droplets of water flew from his hair as he took an abrupt step forward and grabbed her wrist. "No damn it, I won't sit down! I want to know what did you mean by that."

"Draco let go of me," she could see his anger building. But it served him right, she was sick of men seeing her for something other than an equal witch, something other than a equally, sexual and desirable woman. His eyes narrowed into icy-gray slits and looked her straight in the eye, but he didn't let her go.

"You know he's only interested in you because you're mine. If it wasn't for that, he wouldn't pay any attention to you."

He found her vulnerable spot and pounded it, he could have used a torturing spell on her and it would have hurt less than this.

Her breathing was a little faster, "You don't really believe that! If it comforts you Draco then go ahead, its what ever you say. But you heard that lot today, the whispers, the gossiping between the cameras and the stares. The town saying that she's gone and found herself another Krum fellow, or have you forgotten that Viktor Krum and I were very close. . . And maybe it's not just your humiliation he's after. He hates his brother too you know. And don't talk about him that way, because Petur is one of the brightest quidditch players I've meet for some time now. If I were him, I'd figure it would be a right laugh to see the look of humiliation on both your overly proud faces."

She released his grip on her arm and headed for the bedroom door. His meaningless attempt to threaten her hadn't bothered her, but the fact that he believed she was too geeky and to much of a bookish-bore for another man to find attractive brought back a river of forgotten pain, the sort of pain that only came when she thought of Ron Weasley. And she hadn't thought of that slimebag in ages.

"Does -Petur, does he mean something to you?" He stood there bare-chested holding the hand towel in his other hand. "How the hell could he mean anything to you? You don't even know him! Do you Hermione?" The last part, the question seemed to have gotten lost in his throat. The fact that she could have been hiding some secret love-affair with another man would be more than he could stand. And if this wasn't true then why was she acting this way. He loved her so much, she couldn't do this to him. Could she? "Where are you going." he said to her, hoping she would stay. "I thought you were going to help me, I mean patch me up?"

"I found your Murtlap in your drawer, its on the vanity. Do it yourself."

He followed her into the bedroom, coming to a stop just inside the bathroom door. "Hermione?" She wanted the discussion to be over before it went to far. "Talk to me."

She said nothing. Just stood there gazing out of their bedroom window, wishing he'd go away. "You sound just like him, just as stupid and as pigheaded. He never thought I was much of a looker either. You know he and Harry, I don't think they ever really saw me as a girl. Maybe because of everything we'd been through together. Maybe because I could always out smart them on quizzes, out think them with our plans. Poor Hermione had to be something else, anything other than a girl with feelings. Oh no! she doesn't come with wants, desires or even the dreams of a normal girl."

He came up behind her, and she heard a strange grunginess in his voice. "I hurt your feelings, didn't I?"

She gave a half-shrug, sort-of mixed nod. Dropped her head and started to cry. She didn't want him to simply end up like another Ron and leave her someday because he too thought she was a bore. She couldn't handle another broken-heart. To be simply left behind wondering what she did wrong, that the other woman did so right.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. I just - I guess I don't want to get hurt. It was wrong for me to say those things to you, but I have to know. Does Petur mean anything to you?"

"No Draco. I'd -I'd never do that to you." She turned back to him in time to watch a crooked rivulet of water slide toward the flat of his chest. "I think I've had enough high drama for today. I need to get some rest."

He came closer then, leaned forward and kissed her. When he finally spoke, his voice held a surprising note of tenderness. "But I didn't get to rip you apart yet."

"Maybe some other time."

"Aaw can we at least get to the spanking part."

"I don't think it's a good idea at the moment."

He kissed her again and could taste the saltiness of her tears. "Now why would you say that?"

"Because -because everything has been so complicated with us." She tried to wipe her eyes but lowered her head instead, feeling as if everything would always go wrong with her and men. She was better off alone.

"Right now isn't complicated." He lifted her soppy chin to smile down at her. He brushed the edges of her lips gently against his thumb. "Well not until your nose got all snotty."

She laughed softly and regarded him closely. "I'm sorry too."

He gave her a sulky apologetic look. "You think I don't know how beautiful you are. I'd be crazy not too."

Her head shot up again and his eyes locked with hers. She was filled with tears making him appear like a blur when she blinked. "You're-You're j-just saying that."

What he'd said touched her, and the way he was trying to open up to her touched her even more. Despite his boundless show of self-confidence, it was nice to see this side of him again. The side she knew as her husband.

"You're more than beautiful Hermione." He admitted kissing the corner of her lips, allowing the sweetness that he missed for so long to fill him. He then kissed the side of her neck, pulling her closer to him until the only thing separating them was his towel and their baby. Her heart did a leap forward as he felt the baby move and he looked up at her. She waited, as his hands travel along the dome of her stomach, recording every little moment of his child moving inside of her. Sketching it forever in his memory.

"You're all I've ever wanted. Salzar help me this feels like such a u-turn, but I know you were all I ever needed in my life." he said smiling, not sure if that was a tiny hand, a foot or both that he was feeling. "You're loving, exciting. . .and so sexy. . . ." He continued to kiss her "You drive me insane, but when you're gone. I go insane twice as fast, I feel so incomplete without you here. Both of you."

He was making her so aroused, touching her, kissing her, telling her these things.

"I missed you so much. . . your smile, your voice." He made a deep growl "Your legs."

"My legs" she laughed "a-are they still there, I haven't seen my legs in weeks."

He nodded smiling at her humor, reassuring her that yes sweetie they were still there. "And your breast . . ." his hands came up to find the soft, rounding curve high upon her dress. Her cleavage was rip and full against his mouth. His hands moved smoothly around her back, he didn't break his caress and ravish on her neck with his lips. His tongue slippery and heated against her skin. "I miss your hips, god especially the way-"

"-My hips. But I look like a pear." her voice was heated with passion.

"No, you don't look like a pear."

"Thanks, but if I were to take off this dress right now."

"That would be a wonderful idea my beautiful, erotic, sexy wife." He paused, his eyes roaming her face. How could she be so amazing and not know it. "I want you so much right now." he said...

He was at his most enticing. His gray eyes glinting, that unexpected doorway into his soul, his heart. Funny, warm and so sexy. And she was at her most vulnerable. In a flash an insight nearly knocked her off her feet, she realized that she was dangerously in love with him. Deeply and forever in love Draco. She loved his masculinity, his intelligence, his complicated ways. She loved his sense of humor and his loyalty to his family, as well as that old fashioned moral code of his family that devoted him to his daughter. She watched him lift his arm from her belly and trace the curve of her jaw with his thumb. He then lowered his hand to the tie behind her dress and unfastened it.

"I suppose this will be the spanking I have coming to me now." she teased.

He nodded with a smile and continued to undress her.