Chapter Thirteen

The small party was a merry one as they enjoyed the festive occasion. Severus could scarcely believe that she was his, absolutely his and he was hers. He couldn't stop touching her, a hand on her elbow, rubbing her back, all the while talking and laughing with family and friends, not realizing his touch was driving her wild with need. Unbeknownst to her, she was having the same effect on him. It seemed that after the "I do's" were said the invisible bonds that held Hermione back were severed. She couldn't keep her hands off of him and it was costing him every amount of restraint he could muster to keep from shoving the dishes off the table and ripping her gown off, lying her out like a pagan sacrifice and feasting until she'd climaxed as many times as she could survive. Fortunately, Draco and Luna recognized the warning signs, being newly married themselves, and offered to walk Mr. and Mrs. Granger to their rooms up at the resort hotel before retiring to their own private bungalow. Severus gave Draco a silent "thank you" look, to which he received an impudent wink back.

The staff cleared up the leftover food, tables and chairs quickly and quietly, and they were alone…at last. Severus suggested a walk on the beach, and she agreed, stopping only to remove her sandals, and change into shorts and T-shirt. When she went to join her husband again, she stood transfixed. His shorter hair blew about his face in a sexy and romantic way. He'd unbuttoned his fine lawn shirt and rolled up both his sleeves and his trousers and was barefoot. Sensing her presence, he turned toward her, and she drew in her breath when she saw the love, tenderness and fierce desire for her in his eyes. He simply held out his hand, granting her the power of whether she would join him.

She stepped toward him without hesitance, and placed both her hand and her heart in his. Drawing her out on the beach, he wandlessly conjured the sultry voice of Ella Fitzgerald singing 'At Last, My Love has Come Along' and pulled her close as they danced there in the sand while the surf provided a counter beat to the music. He made her laugh when he spun her out in a circle and spun her back to him, allowing her to collide with his chest as he crushed her lips with his and pulled her up on her toes, settling her aching core against his length. When she groaned, and tried to rub her throbbing center against him, he held her fast, swallowing her whimpers until he could last no longer.

Mouths still fused, he swept her off her feet and strode into their cabana settling her gently on the large bed. Joining her, he began to slowly undress her, and when she shied away he soothed, inflamed and enticed her with his mouth, and his touch. He wanted to bury himself in her warmth and stay there for always, driving into her heat and flooding her with his seed, but he knew she harbored insecurities about her looks, so tonight was for her…for seduction, romance and love. Trapping her hands loosely above her head, he kept making love with her mouth, his tongue plundering, dancing with hers, then withdrawing as he used his lips to sip, suckle and tease. By the time he let her hands go, she was clutching the front of his shirt, trying to rip it off of him.

Hermione scarcely remembered how she'd gotten from dancing on the beach to being laid out on the bed, her hands held over her head as Severus drove her wild with just his mouth. She knew he held her loosely so that she would not fear him as she did Ron. She thought her heart would burst with love for this wonderful, thoughtful and gentle man, who put her above all else, including his own desires and needs. When he finally let her hands go she attacked his shirt, desperate to be skin to skin. She shivered when he gave a deep chuckle, then felt a cold chill when he left.

His heart squeezed when, in sitting up to remove his shirt, she gave a soft cry as though she thought he was leaving her. He bent over her again, kissing her softly and pledging 'I'm not going anywhere love, I am yours and you are mine for all eternity.' He stripped them both before she had the chance to blink, and lay length to length, warmth to warmth and skin to skin at last.

Feeling as though she were in front of a roaring fire after being lost for years in a frozen wasteland, Hermione snuggled into her husband's waiting arms. He ran his big hands over her skin, enjoying its texture and resilience. He swept his touch up and down her small back, tilting her head up so his lips could roam over her neck to tantalize and torment her with his kisses. She gave the most adorably sexy sounds as he drove her relentlessly to the pinnacle. His hand pulled her thigh over his and he pushed his fingers inside her sheath causing her back to arch, putting her mouth-watering breasts in contact with his adoring mouth. He was careful, as he knew they were tender, and timed the thrusts of his fingers with the suction of his mouth, and nearly lost control of himself as he heard her joy-filled cries and felt the timeless dance of her hips. As she surrendered to passion he felt tears gather as she let go, calling his name with joy, wonder, and without one ounce of fear.

He brought her down slowly, gently, cognizant that she still tired easily after the difficult birth of their daughter, and so he took special care to prepare her all over again. She lay sated and boneless, her eyes closing as she floated on the high of the powerful orgasm. Severus' breath bathed her ear as he said 'Oh no you don't…' as he kissed her from her face, down her torso, and delved into her moist, wet heat. She snapped her hips up as her knees fell apart giving him full access to every part of her, yet plunging her hands into his hair to make sure he didn't stray, as if he wanted too. His chuckle caused lovely vibrations against the small nub at the apex of her sex and caused her to groan in delight. Not to derive the love of his life, Severus used his tongue to lick, plunge, manipulate and flick all those wonderful places between her straining thighs until, once again, she plunged into the maelstrom, knowing without a doubt that he'd be there to catch her. As she flew, she felt a wonderful weight lay atop her that she instinctively cradled between her thighs, then she felt Severus testing her for her readiness before he entered her. Using a wandless spell he made sure she'd be comfortable for their first time as man and wife. She pulled his head up to gaze into his eyes and said simply,

"Please…" and smiled, pulling him down to kiss him, thoroughly relaxed until he entered her in one thrust, then held still as she squirmed trying to accommodate his length and size. He simply dove his hands into her curls and kissed her until she finally relaxed, then he moved in gentle thrusts, fighting his instinct to conquer her. He felt her move with him, and soon he was plunging into her as she grabbed his most excellent ass and pulled him deeper in. He heard a soft whimper of pain, however and before she knew it Severus wrapped his arms around her and rolled until she was on top. Her curls were wild around his little Amazon's head, and he laughed, albeit painfully as he was seated to the hilt and he wanted nothing less than too drive into her.

"Take as much as you can, my sweet, for I never wish to hurt you with my loving…" he grated out with his one last coherent thought.

She smiled that special luminous grin that was meant for him alone, then rode him until their screams of ecstasy mingled with the thunder of the surf. After, he cleaned her with such tenderness that she nearly wept with happiness, then he joined her in bed and after pulling her close until she was wound around him like a vine, they fell into a deep and restful sleep.

Miles away, Ron had a visitor in Azkaban…one who had a tad bit of information that she thought he may want to pay for. She was correct, except that it was she who paid…with her life.

***Author's Note: Well, there you have it, the Wedding Night. I hope I didn't disappoint, and don't worry, the honeymoon is still on. ;)

But not all is well...a certain red-headed snake has reared his ugly mug again...