Chapter title/song video from "Closer" by Nine Inch Nails. Sorry if this song's a little much but it just makes me think of Snape. And he's basically married to a goddess, so it just fits.
Explicit sex warning, end of chapter.
The early afternoon sun was beating down on Severus Snape as he sat in a Muggle garden chair on the private beach down the cliff from their home. It was truly a scene he never thought would exist. And he wasn't sure he wanted it to. He wasn't that fond of the feeling of the sun on his skin; it felt unnatural, like he was sweating on the inside. He'd donned a thin white linen shirt and gray drawstring pants, refusing to wear any bathing attire, unlike his roommates who weren't the least bit shy in laying their bodies nearly bare as they frolicked in the waves.
Rhiannon barely wore a stitch of fabric, and out of all of them, she had the best natural tan. The sparkling gold triangles barely covering her beautiful form were the only thing that made this outing worth it, in Severus's mind. She of course had insisted he come along, although he was equally as insistent that he be allowed to bring a book. It had to be a Muggle book, in case there were spies nearby.
Colleen had suggested her copy of Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground from her days studying philosophy at university. The Underground Man was currently lashing out at the prostitute who had paid a visit to his home after their previous encounter at a brothel. The whore had been enthralled with him and his theories on the flaws in their utopian society, and now she was confronted with the harsh reality of his impoverished, dreary existence while visiting his apartment. Embarrassed, the Underground Man lashed out at her even as she held and comforted him, telling her he'd only ever sought to conquer and humiliate her. She was persistent and refused to abandon him in spite of his best efforts to push her away, and he eventually broke down and lamented his own flaws and misery, ending with the sorrowful declaration of, "They—they won't let me—I—I can't be good!"
Snape slapped the book shut. That was well enough of that.
"Hey, there, Severus," Lupin greeted him in a cheerful tone, taking the chair next to him as he grabbed his canteen of water. Even the werewolf had decided to bare his skin that particularly warm summer day, apparently paying no mind to his exorbitant amount of body hair and multitude of scars. His pregnant wife was wearing an embellished black and pink one-piece, her hair now blonde for the occasions of Potter's birthday party and Bill Weasley's wedding—today and tomorrow respectively. She was laughing and chasing Ben and her cousin along the shore.
Rhiannon and Colleen swam playfully with their hands joined, the latter looking like a vintage pinup girl in her navy sailor-striped, high-waisted two-piece and bright red lipstick, her reddish blonde hair pinned in a braided updo with curls framing her face. Black's wife was rather lovely, for a Muggle. Snape could admittedly see why Black and Rhiannon were so enthralled with her. Having escaped the pursuit of his son and his cousin, Black now joined the other two women in the water, his hands smoothing over the generous curve of Mrs. Black's hips. Rhiannon was laughing with her hands placed slightly higher on the Muggle's waist. Black pulled teasingly at the witch's hair and dove underwater, daring her to chase him.
Snape frowned. They really ought to show more restraint in front of the child. And everyone. The three of them practically oozed desire when they were together.
"Hello, Lupin," Snape finally replied. "Looking forward to rolling out the red carpet for Potter's coming-of-age celebration this evening, I presume?"
"As much as I can, I suppose. It's all laden with a bit of guilt, with Sirius not being able to be there. See how he's acting out there? That's what he does. That's how you know it's tearing him up inside. He thinks with his...well, you know...to avoid thinking about the pain."
"Hmph," Snape grunted. "Well, he's clearly not alone. They behave like Hogwarts adolescents as of late. Cohabitating seems to bring out their inner animal."
"It's just harmless fun, I think," Lupin said reassuringly. "The witch loves you a great deal— obviously she chose you and not Sirius. I'm sure any of her fantasies of the others involve you as well." The wolf was digging a tunnel in the sand with his finger, not quite able to look Severus in the eye while discussing such a topic.
"Yes, they do, and that is not much of a comfort," Snape muttered. "Not out of envy but out of pure exhaustion at the thought of keeping her appetites satisfied."
"Well, again, just all in good fun," Lupin continued brightly. "There is a difference between thoughts and what we choose to act on, after all."
"Hmph," Snape said again. It wouldn't be the first time his wife had entertained the notion of bringing another into their bedroom. She'd fantasized about a ménage a trois with him and Black often when her feelings were torn between them, and Snape had consented to allowing her adjunct in to play a few games with them last school year. Severus had honestly been attracted to the young red-haired Slytherin as well, having chosen her for his dance partner for waltzing lessons for the Yule Ball when she'd been a seventh year. The rules and boundaries of the encounter had been clear, and it allowed Rhiannon to indulge her wilder side. If anything, it had only strengthened their bond as a married couple— dominating the young girl, who gladly submitted to their whims. Severus could tell though, that Rhiannon wanted the Muggle woman in a different way. She touched her almost worshipfully — probably an absorption of her ex-fiancé's own feelings for his wife. As intelligent as Severus was, it befuddled him a bit when he tried to wrap his mind around his wife's complex web of desire and emotion.
Lupin changed the subject. "You know, Severus, I never got the chance to thank you for the other night. I realize that curse you threw at the Death Eater, the one that sadly grazed and injured George, was meant to protect me. You likely saved my life, and probably George's too, since I was steering the broom."
"Yes," Severus acknowledged. "We're allies."
Lupin nodded. "And I'm sorry I doubted it. This whole dynamic...it takes some getting used to, after all these years. I've been meaning to ask you, though...that night you...well, the night Dumbledore died..."
Snape sighed. "Yes?"
"Harry said something about a Prophecy. The one that ultimately spurred the Dark Lord to hunt down Harry and kill James and...Lily."
Snape knew exactly where this was going.
"My allegiances at the time were strictly to the Dark Lord," Severus reminded the wolf. "I can apologize all day for divulging that information, but we both know it won't make any difference. To either you or me. We will both continue to hate me equally. I cannot change anything that happened. I can only seek to alter the effects now. And that's what I have done, daily, since the day I discovered Lily was his target." He heard his own voice crack against his will.
Lupin nodded slowly. "It's a lot to forgive. I'm sure you understand that. I haven't told Sirius. I think it's better if we don't. Although I'm sure Harry will, at some point, if they are ever reunited. But for now we need to remain a solid front, and there is no need to rehash the past and put the present at risk."
"Agreed," said Severus. "These times are difficult enough without clouding things with emotion."
Snape gazed out at the games in the water, Ben now on Tonks's shoulders, Colleen on her husband's, the two pairs batting at an inflatable ball with Rhiannon darting back and forth in the middle. It was rather humorous, watching Rhiannon's petite form attempt to capture the ball. Snape knew she could will the ball to fly to her if she truly wanted to, but she appeared to enjoy the Muggle game.
"Putting emotion aside is easier said than done," Lupin said sadly. "I can't believe we lost Dumbledore and Moody both in so short a time. Oh, sorry." Lupin looked sheepish and started backpedaling. "I know Dumbledore would have died anyway, with the curse. But Mad Eye. Murdered by the Dark Lord outright. And Bellatrix...the way she came after Dora right after Sirius took off after Harry the other night. Thank Merlin for Ron's help and for Dora being so strong. I can only hope this child is like her."
Lupin looked pale and his eyes were heavy and tired, even though they were well past the full moon. Pensive sullenness seemed to be his default these days, oddly enough ever since they'd found out they were expecting. Snape supposed he held the same anxiousness as Rhiannon and Colleen about bearing a child in the midst of a war, with the added anxieties of his werewolf affliction.
"Tonks will need to be cautious after tomorrow," Snape warned gravely. "Once the Ministry is taken, her occupation will no longer be safe, unless she is prepared to do whatever the Dark Lord requires of her. The Ministry will be fully compromised."
"She understands. And she will be all right." Lupin sounded more confident than he felt, Snape could tell. It was impossible to be confident anymore. Unless of course you were Sirius Black.
Sporting short, olive green swim shorts, the muscular wizard jogged up to his best friend and Snape, grinning from ear to ear at his frolic with the women. He shook out his wet hair as he grabbed a towel.
"Oh, sorry to get you wet there, Severus. You should have joined us. Water's nice today. Hey, Remus, shouldn't you be getting dressed? Don't you have a party to attend this evening?" His tone turned a bit testy, confirming Lupin's earlier suspicions.
"Yes. I'm sorry, Pads," Lupin quietly replied.
Black brushed off his concern with a shrug. "It's all right. Should be a nice night for stargazing, right, Benji?"
Ben had been spinning the inflatable ball in a tight circle on the sand with his hand hovering above it, his bright blue eyes fixated on its movements. His telekinetic abilities were advanced for his young age, and almost mimicked his adoptive father's gifts for wandless magic. Ben looked up at the sound of his name and ran as fast as he could to jump into Black's arms, as naturally as if they'd known one another from day one.
"Very good," Lupin said quickly, a note of cheerfulness returning to his voice. "It should be a lovely evening to take in the night sky. I'll give you a full account of the festivities at the Burrow, of course."
"Right," Black said dismissively. "Colleen, let's go clean up!" he called to her, and the three of them retreated back up the cliff to the house.
Rhiannon and Tonks drifted up from the water last, Rhiannon wrapping herself in her sarong before slipping her dripping wet body onto Severus's lap and bringing him into a kiss.
"Please swim with us next time," she begged. "It's fun, I promise."
"Probably better amusement than this book," Severus said with a sneer toward Dostoevsky. "I think Mrs. Black was making some insinuations about me with her selection of reading material."
"Hit too close to home?" Rhiannon teased. "She's pretty smart, Severus. And very insightful."
"And funny, and thoughtful, and beautiful, and a magical Muggle, and a good mother, and every other shining attribute under the sun. Yes, I know, Rhiannon. Would you like me to schedule you a romp with her for your birthday present this year? Get it out of your system?"
Lupin and Tonks barely suppressed their snickers.
"Only if you're there, too," Rhiannon replied slyly. "We're a package deal, remember?"
"I have a feeling her husband would have a thing or two to say about that," Snape reminded her with a scowl.
"A thing or two, but probably not the things you're expecting," Tonks interjected with a hearty laugh. "My cousin's wild. Judging by his antics out there in the water, I'm certain he will fully support this adventure. Just give us plenty of warning so Remus and I can take Ben for an overnight at my mum and dad's."
"Gods, I can't believe what I'm hearing," Lupin muttered.
"Ah yes, your virgin ears," Tonks mocked. "So very vanilla, my love. I still say it's bloody wonky, but if it's what tickles their pickle, I say let 'em. Doesn't hurt anyone. Just don't forget to brew the potions first." She pointed two fingers toward her belly, which wasn't showing yet, but she made her point. "Could get a bit screwy if you didn't. Aspenfell-Snape-Black's an awfully long last name to saddle a kid with."
Severus didn't grace any of this with a response, simply rubbing his forehead tiredly. Rhiannon shook her head.
"As much as I would love...and I mean...LOVE for that to happen, Sirius and Severus need to work on their relationship first," she pointed out. "We need to make sure they won't be whipping their wands out on each other before they...well...whip their wands out."
"Ugh," Lupin croaked. "I've officially reached the end of this conversation. And I now feel the crushing desire for someone to Obliviate me."
"I don't know about that, but I know something else I can do to crush some other desires," Tonks said with a wink. "We've got a couple hours left before we leave for the party." And with that the witch and her wolf disappeared, leaving Rhiannon and Severus alone on the secluded beach, save for a few black-backed gulls diving into the waves in search of their late afternoon meal.
"It's time to get you out of these ridiculous clothes," Rhiannon murmured, immediately starting in on his buttons.
"Let me guess, you're inordinately turned on by the prospects this conversation has slipped into your depraved little mind," Severus taunted her, tracing her lips softly with his finger.
"Aren't you?" she returned. "Colleen does have red in her hair."
Snape rolled his eyes.
"What? You have a type, Severus. Nothing wrong with that."
"You're my type," he reminded her. "Every beautiful golden-haired, insatiable, wild, lustful inch of you."
Severus sealed his lips to hers and slid his hand over her dewy, sun-kissed back. Rhiannon returned his kiss earnestly, her gentle tongue sliding into his mouth, her arms wrapping around his neck. She still drove him crazy, just like in those early days where he wanted to curse her to the moon and back because she frustrated him so.
"Severus," she breathed, pulling back, her green eyes locking on his. "You know I don't want her like I do you, right? It's not the same as with you and me. Just like it never was with Sirius. It's so hard to explain...adding them would only add to 'us'...never take away. Never replace. Just make us better...add to our magic...to our pleasure...strengthen us all..."
Snape understood. As much as he hated to admit it. He understood enough about Rhiannon's unique brand of magic, and sexual magic in general, to grasp what she was saying. She truly believed each orgasmic experience was a union of another's divine power with her own, helping it to grow exponentially. And she didn't throw it around willy-nilly; their decision to take Miss Allynne to their bed last year was a mutual one — a game, a power-play, and a way to release tension when things grew dark.
But Rhiannon had made it clear her feelings for the Blacks were different— and special. Between the bond that drove her to rescue Black from the veil, to the bond she'd formed teaching sex magic to his wife; it was still not on the level of their own marriage and soul bond, but more like wings helping the whole bird take flight. It helped to be able to slip into Rhiannon's mind and understand the nuance. It didn't make Severus any happier that one of the "wings" was Black, but it was enough to know she didn't just have some casual wandering eye.
Severus allowed his hand to softly loosen the tie holding the skimpy triangles to her breasts, caressing them with his palm as he continued to hold her close.
"Yes, I understand," he finally answered her. "But do the Blacks? Have you spoken to the object of your desire about this little wish of yours?"
"Not directly, no," Rhiannon answered. "But she knows we have a connection, I think. She would just want Sirius's blessing— to know it wouldn't jeopardize what they have. Because that would always come first, as it should. They are perfect for one another. She would need to understand, like we do, that this doesn't replace what they are to each other — only enhances them."
Severus sighed, his mind reeling with the exploration of this scenario while his hands continued to busy themselves along her breathtaking body. His fingers dipped into the wet fabric of her bikini bottoms. Rhiannon let out a small, gentle mewl and nuzzled into his neck, content on his lap as his fingers pleasured her.
"You have to reign in any expectations you have for me and...him," Snape told her sternly. "I desire no man, and if I did, I can assure you it would never be Black."
Rhiannon's laugh danced into the air. "I know, Severus. Ohhhhh...that's good...ohhhh...right there..." she whispered, throwing her head back and her hips forward in rapture at his touch.
"You just...have to...ohhhh...tolerate each other...enough to share me and Colleen...mmmm...without...oh yes, Severus...killing each other," she gasped.
Snape let out a chuckle. "That's still a rather monumental request."
"This is how I really see it," Rhiannon began excitedly, sitting back up. She stood and pulled Severus with her, casting a quick shield and silencing charm around them once they reached the smooth, sandy bank where the waves were encroaching the shore. She tossed her wand along with the remainder of their clothes, then stretched her body along the sand, beckoning with her finger for him to join her, like a siren surrounded by the salty swell.
"How do you see it?" he dared to ask, granting her wish and covering her body with his own. Severus found her lips once again, his cock hard and needy as it found satisfaction between her legs. He groaned, each time with her feeling no less exquisite than the first, when he had finally made her his after torturing himself for months with desire.
"The three of us, pleasuring Colleen," Rhiannon answered, her legs tangling around him as an incoming wave tickled and swirled beneath them. "Can you imagine, being a Muggle, laying at the mercy of a witch and two wizards? We can make her simply die with pleasure. But a beautiful death— one where she'll wake up empowered like a goddess, to a brand new life, and a brand new power. She'll be positively shaking with the magic, Severus."
Severus studied her face, which was rapt with excitement, and he thrust forward, digging his toes into the wet sand for leverage. Rhiannon's moans married with the crashing waves. He'd never expected to like making love on a beach, just as he'd never expected to enjoy the prospect of a foursome. But when she phrased it like that, it wasn't quite so repulsive; instead of some all-out, anything-goes orgy, his wife envisioned a controlled assault of the senses, concentrated on one person, one purpose. Severus had never fucked a Muggle. Even his experiences with whores had been witch-whores in Knockturn Alley. He still wasn't sure he liked the idea, when he thought about it with labels like that. But when he thought about it with Colleen Black...
"You need to talk to her husband," he told Rhiannon sharply, snapping out of his reverie as he picked up his pace with his hips. "I will not lay a finger on her unless I have his express permission, and wands away. And given his penchant for wandless magic, I may even insist on an Unbreakable Vow promising no retaliation." He smirked at his wife, who returned his look with a sly smile, which Severus promptly vanished with a ravishment of her lips. His arms shifted to grasp her firmly to him as he pummeled her against the wet sand.
"Thank Merlin for Charms," Rhiannon murmured. "Or this sand might be rather uncomfortable later." She shifted her hips to get the friction she craved on her clit, undulating herself against his torso like a siren sprung from the water itself.
"Gods, Rhiannon, I'll never know how you get me to do these ridiculous, nonsensical things and end up actually...tolerating them," Severus muttered.
"Liking them," she corrected him breathlessly. "Loving them."
"All right, 'liking' them," Severus acquiesced. "And loving you." His tongue traced the side of hers before lowering to her neck, drawing her delicate skin into a suction as he drove forward with his final thrusts.
"Mmm, Severus, I love you, too."
She scissored her legs up around him wildly, hungrily seeking the pressure she needed to push over the edge as he spilled into her. Her every move sent a new wave of intensity over his own climax like the waves breaking on the shore.
"Ohhhh...Rhiannon..." Severus groaned, her name like a prayer on his tongue — his goddess, his life. He felt her soft, smooth walls pulsate around his cock in her own sweet release. He lived for these precious final moments of their encounters, where his mind went blissfully blank and his only task was riding out his pleasure.
Tomorrow, they would overtake the Ministry, and chaos would overtake them. But for now, Severus simply pressed a kiss to Rhiannon's forehead and watched the sunset begin to glow upon her beautiful face, the ocean waves dancing through her hair.