CHAPTER 14

"Lucius?"

I almost stumbled when her hand tugged me to a stop. I turned to face her and she was looking over my shoulder at the restaurant door. Her expression was one I'd never seen before.

"Hermione, darling, what's wrong?"

"What if they hate me? What if they think I'm some young gold digger? What if they—"

I touched my fingers to her lips, stopping her. "They won't think any of those things."

"But what if they do?"

"Where's this coming from?" I asked, curling my hands around her hips. "You haven't cared before now."

"I don't know." She pressed her palm to her forehead. "I haven't… this is the first time in a long time that I've met friends of…"

"Friends of someone you're sleeping with?"

"Yeah." She dropped her hand away from her face and her fingers rubbed at the lapel of my jacket. "And they're all probably well-educated and smart and I'm just a dancer."

"We've already talked about this, you're not just a dancer," I scolded gently. "And you have nothing to be nervous about. They will love you. I guarantee it."

"The only way you can guarantee they'll like me is if you told them they have to. And honestly, I'm not certain you haven't."

"I've told them I met someone, that she's a ballet dancer, and she's younger than me. That's it. They can get to know you and make up their own minds, but I know they will like you."

"But what If they don't?"

"Then they will see a lot less of me."

"Lucius…"

"I mean it. I like you, and that's all that matters."

Her lips twisted into a smile. "You like me?"

"You know I do. I tell you all the time."

"You do." She smoothed my tie then yanked it playfully. "Sorry, I don't usually get nervous, but these are important people in your life, and I don't want to disappoint you if I say something stupid."

"You say stupid things to me all the time, and I've not been disappointed yet."

"That's not helping."

I laughed and lifted my hands to cup her face. "Hermione, you have nothing to worry about. I've already explained that the two women you're about to meet are no different from Pansy and Ginny, and Antonin and Corban will be more concerned with ribbing me about not having a heart attack trying to keep up with a younger woman. You'll be their hero."

I kissed her, not caring if we were in public, creating a spectacle. I kissed her to calm her, but also to reassure her that the approval of my friends wasn't important. I valued their opinions on many things, but if they didn't approve of Hermione, I wasn't lying when I told her they would see less of me.

But I already knew they'd seen a difference in me. They'd all mentioned it since I'd met her and were of the opinion that there was no possible way they could dislike her if she could make me smile again..

"Why'd you do that?" she asked a little breathlessly.

"Because you were panicking over nothing and needed to calm down."

"No," she said and swallowed thickly. "Why'd you kiss me like that when we're just about to have dinner? All I'll think about now is you naked on the floor just inside the door of your flat."

"Well, that's an interesting image," I said in a low voice. "Perhaps it's something to look forward to."

"I hope they hate me." She touched the knot on my tie and smiled a sweetly un-innocent smile. "That way we can leave earlier and I can fuck your brains out."

I growled and kissed her again. Hard.

"You are going to regret teasing me, Granger."

"Really, Malfoy?" She dragged her teeth over her bottom lip. "I regret nothing when it comes to you."

"This is a little salacious for a Tuesday evening," a voice spoke from behind us and I laughed.

"Nothing is ever too salacious on a Tuesday evening, Regina," I replied and turned around to find two of my friends grinning madly at us.

"Why can't I meet anyone associated with you normally?" Hermione groaned and ducked her head.

"Oh, there's no better way to meet someone than in an awkward situation," Regina said with a laugh. "Everything else is easy after that. Besides, this isn't really awkward since you've made this man so incredibly happy."

"He might be happy," Hermione said and huffed a laugh. "But I just embarrass myself around everyone in his life."

"Oh, hush," Regina told her. "He tells us he wasn't the suave and dapper gentleman he usually is the first time he met you."

She looked up at me and smiled. "You told them you went mute?"

"I did," I replied then gestured towards my friends. "Regina and Antonin Dolohov, please meet Hermione Granger."

"Quite the pleasure, Ms Granger," Antonin offered his hand and she shook it.

"It's Hermione. Ms Granger sounds like I'm in trouble."

"Hermione," he repeated with a single nod and a cheeky wink, then lifted her hand and kissed her fingers.

"Watch it," I warned him. "My grandson is already in love with her. I don't need to fight off you as well."

Reaching out, Regina hooked arms with Hermione, tugging her towards the door. "Ignore them both. They act like teenagers when they're together. And they'll be worse when Corban joins in."

"Oh really?" Hermione glanced over her shoulder at me, "And here I was thinking you're all proper and posh."

"I am proper and posh," I told her. "Don't believe anything she tells you to the contrary."

I breathed a sigh of relief when she winked at me and turned back to Regina, asking her to tell her all about me when I was younger. All her earlier nerves were forgotten and in a matter of seconds she was friends with my friends.

"Well done," Antonin said and clapped me on the shoulder.

"Well done?" I asked, incredulity creeping into my voice. "She's not a prize."

He held up a hand, "I wasn't implying anything of the sort."

"It certainly sounded like it."

"No, my friend. I just meant you've found someone who compliments you. I can see that already. And your reaction tells me you've also found someone you're not planning on letting go."

"Sorry, I just assumed…"

"You just assumed I'd spend the night ogling her and wonder what the hell you two get up to?"

"Yes," I answered as we followed Hermione and Regina towards the table where Corban and Lana were already seated.

"Contrary to what my wife says, I'm not a teenager and have no interest in knowing any of that, Lucius. The ladies might but I'm just glad you've rid yourself of the chain your ex-wife had wrapped around you and have finally found the woman you were meant to be with."

"I was never meant to be with Narcissa?" I asked with a smirk; I knew his feelings regarding her.

"For the sole reason to produce your son, other than that, no."

"Your insight is delightful, as always," I snarked good-naturedly then reached for Hermione as we approached the table, ignoring the protest from Regina. "If you'll allow me to introduce her?"

"Fine," Regina answered with an eye roll, as if they'd been friends forever, not just having met half a minute prior.

"Corban and Lana Yaxley, this is Hermione Granger."

Corban rose from his seat to greet us, reaching his hand out towards her. "I'm pleased to finally meet the woman who has this bloke's balls firmly in her grasp."

I groaned but Hermione just laughed and held her palms up. "Not right now I haven't. But, maybe later."

A beat of silence surrounded the table followed by a chorus of laughter.

"Oh, I like you already," Corban said as he resumed his seat.

I pulled out her chair and waited for her to sit before doing so myself. She rested her hand on my thigh, squeezing gently and smiling at me. It was a simple gesture but I understood what she was telling me; she liked them.

"Well, it's lovely to finally meet you, Hermione," Lana said. "I think Lucius has been doing his best to hide you from us."

"It depends on what he's told you about me, I think."

"I've told them nothing," I said quickly, squeezing her hand on my thigh. I'd embarrassed her by telling Draco about the wall thumping, I was now incredibly glad I hadn't said a word to anyone else.

"So they don't know the… circumstances… of how we met?"

"No," I assured her. "They know you're a dancer, and that's it."

"We're all intrigued now though." Regina smiled at us both, one eyebrow raised in question.

"Oh, it's nothing really," I began, but Hermione stopped me.

"Lucius became a mute the first time I saw him, which intrigued me until I discovered why." She paused while the waiter took our drinks orders, asking for sparkling water and raising more questioning looks from my friends.

"You don't drink?" Antonin asked.

"Occasionally," she explained. "It's just that I have dance class at eight in the morning so I'll pass tonight."

"And why did Lucius become a mute?" Lana asked, returning us to the pre-interrupted conversation.

"Lucius became a mute because he was so taken with her beauty," I said and Hermione rolled her eyes.

"They're going to hear this story eventually, we may as well lead with it."

"Ooh, I love that you have a story already!" Lana exclaimed. "And if Lucius is trying to hide it, it must be very interesting."

"When he first moved in, I was in Paris for three months, and Lucius was enjoying the peace and quiet. But until I returned home, neither of us knew our flats were mirrored twins of each other. So, imagine his surprise when I got back and he heard me on the other side of his bedroom wall."

They all looked at me and began to laugh.

"And how did your archaic heart take that?" Corban asked, looking beyond amused.

"About as well as you would expect," I said. "I rather hated the man I thought was my neighbour."

"And then when we finally met in the hallway and he realised I was his neighbour, he was a little shocked, I think."

"Oh, this is glorious!" Regina laughed.

"And when she dropped in to welcome me to the building, she realised our flats were mirrored and had a very embarrassed fit."

"Embarrassed might be an understatement," Hermione corrected. "I was mortified."

I leaned over and kissed her temple. "You were adorable."

"No, you two are adorable," Lana said. "And you're a dancer?"

"Wait," Hermione said. "That's it? That's the reaction to me thumping his bedroom wall from my bedroom?"

"He only acts like he's a prude," Antonin told her. "Before he was married to the Evil Queen, he wasn't the put together gentleman sitting beside you."

"Really? Do tell." Hermione glanced sideways at me, a cheeky smirk on her face.

"He was quite vocal with girlfriend number one, and the walls of our cheap share house were quite thin," Corban informed her. "Although, I'm not sure the girlfriend was having as good a time as he was."

"Oh, I'm sure she was," Hermione corrected and smiled at me.

"See, adorable," Lana said again. "Tell us about your dancing."

Hermione launched into the story of her ballet career and I glanced around the table, delighted at the rapt attention they were all giving her.

Stretching my arm across the back of her chair, I stroked the warm skin on her neck with my thumb, watching as she conversed easily with them. They asked questions, as did she, and soon they were all chatting and laughing like old friends.

I couldn't help but marvel once more at how she drew people in. Her natural charm put people instantly at ease and her extensive knowledge of almost everything allowed the conversation to flow freely.

After her sudden burst of nervousness when we arrived, I had planned to ensure she was at ease by steering the conversation to the less embarrassing aspects of how we met, but she was now obviously comfortable and back to her mad self.

And it was also obvious my friends had already fallen under her spell. I wasn't completely certain what they had been expecting when I'd told them I'd met a younger woman, but it appeared her age wasn't a concern. I could see they were all captivated, as well as impressed.

I also didn't miss the knowing glances they shot my way. They were seeing exactly what I did: the gorgeous woman who was older than her years and talented beyond belief.

The waiter returned to take our orders and brought another round of drinks, and Hermione politely excused herself.

"I was so nervous to meet you," she said as she stood. "Plus, it'll give you a few minutes to discuss me."

I squeezed her hip and watched as she headed towards the ladies' room, her graceful poise catching the eyes of several people in the restaurant.

"Well, Lucius, if she isn't the most divine thing I've ever met," Lana gushed. "I do hope you have plans to keep her around."

"That's my intention."

"You're quite taken with her, aren't you?" Regina observed. "More so than anyone previous."

"She is more than I could have ever hoped for. And, I have to admit, I am especially glad she got rid of her wall thumping companion and chose me instead."

"And twenty-five, Lucius, I'm impressed."

"Don't make this sordid and crass, Corban," I snapped. "Her age is irrelevant."

He grinned at me. "Just checking, Lucius."

"Checking what?"

"How in love with her you really are," he stated. "You would never have jumped on me like that with Narcissa. And you haven't stopped touching her since you sat down."

I glanced around the table; their faces all held identical expressions of amusement.

"You're protective of her, Lucius," Regina noted. "I'm sure you thought we would be like vultures, I've never seen you like this."

"I honestly wasn't sure what you'd think," I admitted. "And you are correct in saying she is half my age."

"It doesn't matter," Lana assured me. "She's bright and articulate, and I will definitely be buying ballet tickets. I mean, a principal at twenty-two? She must have a very rare talent."

"She does. I've not seen her in a full performance yet, but have had the privilege of watching her rehearse. And she takes my breath away every time."

"We can see that," Antonin said. "The Evil Queen never held your attention in the way Hermione does. I think Corban was right, she does have your balls firmly in her hand."

"She really does," I said with a chuckle.

"We're so glad you're happy again," Regina said. "We were worried about you."

"I know you were and I'm sure I would have eventually been perfectly fine had I not met her. But..." I smiled as I watched Hermione walking back towards us. "She has improved my life exponentially."

"So, what's the verdict?" Hermione asked as she sat down. "Approved? Disapproved?"

"Oh, darling, you're definitely approved," Lana laughed. "And if the two of you were to go your separate ways, we're keeping you, not him."

"Yours or mine?" Hermione asked when we reached the top of the stairs.

I looked in both directions along the hallway, trying to mask my true feelings. I wasn't sure if she'd noticed, but I had been quite averse at staying at hers on Tuesday nights. I was still preoccupied with thoughts of what I'd heard on those nights before I knew her, and on Tuesdays, I cooked for her in my flat, ensuring that we'd be at my place.

Pretending to think about it for a second or two, I tilted my head and smiled. "Well, you did make an awfully suggestive promise earlier this evening…"

"Oh, really? I don't remember saying anything of the sort." She bit her lip to hide her own smile.

"I'm surprised you don't, it was quite scandalous."

She stepped closer and tugged on my tie. "Perhaps you should remind me."

Leaning down slowly, I rubbed my cheek along hers and whispered close to her ear, "You said you wanted me naked on the floor just inside the door of my flat."

"I would never say that," she answered in a scandalised voice.

"Hmm, perhaps I misheard you." I pushed her back against the rail and kissed her jaw. "Would you, perhaps, do that?"

She slipped her arms beneath my jacket and circled my waist. "Perhaps you should find out."

I nipped playfully at her ear, making her giggle, then I took her hand and all but dragged her down the hallway to my door. When we were inside, I walked her backwards, pinning her hips against the foyer table, lifting her until she was sitting on top of it. Her hands were already at my belt, pulling it free from the loops and dropping it to the floor.

"Eager, darling?" I asked, kissing my way back down her jaw and nuzzling my nose into her neck, inhaling deeply. Her pulse was thumping against my lips as I pressed hot, wet kisses into her skin.

"So eager," she breathed and lowered the zipper on my trousers, her fingers sliding into the waist of my boxers, reaching down to cup my balls in her hand. "I guess your friends were right."

I chuckled into her neck before lifting my head to see her grinning at me. I shoved my pants down my legs, giving her easier access to me.

"I do love your hands on me."

She gave my sac a gentle tug, then raised her hands to wrap around the back of my neck, pulling me to her. Her breath came out in a long sigh as our mouths met. Her lips parted and her tongue touched mine, and the already fragile control I had slipped.

"I fucking want you. Right here," I said against her mouth, biting down gently on her bottom lip.

She pulled back and smiled, lighting up my world, and dropped one of her hands back down to where I was now fully erect and ready.

"I want you right here too."

Reaching behind her, I unzipped her dress, pulling the top down her arms and took in her light pink bra. It was sweet and feminine, and her nipples were visible behind the thin fabric. She gasped, then leaned her hands back on the narrow table, when I dipped down and sucked her through the cup of her bra.

"Lucius," she moaned.

"Yes?" I murmured.

She yanked the cups of her bra down and arched her back, "Don't tease."

Her cry was loud as I gave her what she wanted, sucking hard at her breast and using my tongue to torture her nipple. The sexy little sounds that began to fall from her mouth spurred me on, and she shuddered as I bit into her flesh and sucked her nipple deeper into my mouth.

I pushed the skirt of her dress up her thighs and stepped closer, replacing my mouth with my hand and squeezing her breast in my palm. I ground against the now exposed lace that was masquerading as knickers. The thin strip of satin covered little more than the slit between the lips of her cunt.

But that little strip was soaked.

Her body was ready for me, and I pushed the satin aside and slid a single finger through her centre. She shuddered again and wrapped her legs around me, digging her heels into my arse and pulling me closer still. The head of my cock touched her clenching entrance and I groaned at the wet heat that almost pulled me in.

"Fuck," I cursed — if was her place she'd probably have a condom stashed in the hall table, but I wasn't that prepared — and moved to step back. But, she grabbed my hips and pulled me back to her.

"No. Don't stop."

"Hermione, we don't have… what if….?" I trailed off, seeing a look of such hope in her eyes.

"Lucius, please. The chance is so tiny."

"Are you sure?"

"I am," she whispered, and I touched my forehead to hers and closed my eyes.

This was my dream. To have her with nothing between us, to feel only her. But neither of us was aware of what was happening inside her, and the repercussions could be dire for her. She wouldn't be able to dance, and I wasn't sure if her position as principal would remain if she had to take any extended time off. I had no idea if she became pregnant how it would affect her career.

Her hand came up to my cheek and I lifted my head to look at her.

"Lucius, you'll be the first," she said quietly. "I've never allowed anyone…" She closed her eyes and exhaled slowly.

"You've never allowed anyone to be bare with you?"

"No," she said. "I haven't wanted to."

"Why me?"

She opened her eyes and smiled nervously. "Because I love you."

My heart skipped a beat.

"You love me?"

She nodded. "I do. And I've never told anyone that before either."

Cradling her face, I kissed her with a reverence I had never shown another person. If there were repercussions, would I even care? The answer was no. If I was the one to give her exactly what she wanted, I would be only too pleased to take credit. My concern was the timing — if it did happen, would it be too soon?

"I want you to be sure," I said. "I don't want you to regret anything."

"I already told you, I regret nothing when it comes to you."

I stared at her for the longest time, looking directly into her eyes, searching for even just a hint of a doubt. But I saw none.

I kissed her again, this time slow and deep, while her hand reached between us and guided me closer. We both looked down and watched as I entered her bare for the first time. Moving slowly, I inched in and out, pushing deeper each time until our bodies were flush and I had nothing more to give.

Being bare with a woman wasn't new to me, but the heat of her body, the softness, the wet clench, was not what I'd been prepared for. The thrumming pulse beating all around me, my bare skin touching the fluttering muscles inside her, the content sigh she exhaled as she smiled up at me, was almost too much.

I pulled almost all the way out — groaning quietly at the sight of my wet cock — and slowly pushed back in, wanting to feel every inch of her. And in that one movement I knew I would never have enough of her.

"Lucius." She touched my cock as I moved in and out of her. "This feels… different."

"Yeah?" I questioned, all eloquence leaving me.

"Yeah. It feels real, like this is how we're supposed to be."

I brushed a stray strand of hair from her face and agreed. "I've wanted this since that first day."

"In the hall? When we first met?"

I paused on the upstroke, holding completely inside her once more. "I got myself off in the shower more times than I care to admit. And I imagined this sweet little cunt wrapped around me every time. I wanted it." I began to move again. "I dreamed of it." I touched my thumb to her clit. "I lived for those sounds through the wall." I circled my thumb drawing a gasp from her. "I used your words to imagine coming inside you every time."

Opening my mouth over hers, I sucked the sweet taste of her from her lips and tongue, devouring her breathy words..

Lucius.

Oh!

Hard.

Feels.

Love.

You.

She loved me. She'd spoken the words and not cared that I'd not said them back. Instead, she allowed me this first with her, this moment of trust, this moment of true intimacy that I had craved. I had certainly wanted her, had imagined all kinds of scenarios, but being with her and knowing exactly what this meant, I was suddenly filled with a raft of emotions.

I loved her. Was in love with her. In love with everything about her.

The crazy, random thoughts she shared.

The way everyone gravitated towards her.

Her poise and grace.

Her madness.

Her curiosity.

She was so different from anything I knew, and it was those differences that had made me fall. And fall hard.

Our mouths barely parted as I moved inside her, my pelvis hitting her clit with every thrust. She was building, I could feel the quickening flutter, the sharp inhale, the biting sting of her nails in my hip.

"You're exquisite when you come," I whispered against her lips. "Show me."

I pulled back to watch her as she unravelled, clutching at the front of my shirt, and repeatedly whispering my name like some kind of reverent prayer as her body let go and the long moan I loved to hear wound its way around me. She stilled for a moment then pulled me down to her, kissing me fiercely. And my heart leapt into my throat as one single thought occurred to me; she was mine.

I groaned and shuddered, my entire body jerking as I emptied what felt like my entire being into her. In a nanosecond, I secretly wished that she'd had an unknown release of her own and that my seed would take hold. But the likelihood was so minuscule I didn't allow the thought to grow. The thought I did allow to grow was that without a condom to dispose of, I could stay inside her and luxuriate in the feeling of her in the aftermath.

Wrapping my arms around her shoulders, I held her to me, revelling in the feel of her still pulsing around me, of her warm skin, of her tight thighs pressed against my hips.

"That was so good," she sighed. "I think we should do that at least ten times a day."

I was so in love with this woman.

I kissed her shoulder, her neck, the corner of her mouth.

"Hermione?"

"Hmm?" she murmured her response and her hand drifted to my arse.

It didn't seem appropriate to express exactly how I felt at that moment. My trousers were around my feet, her dress was bunched around her waist, and we'd just fucked on the small foyer table. I was still buried inside her, we were sweaty and rumpled and trembling.

I wasn't sure what was the appropriate situation to say those words, but our relationship had been anything but normal, so perhaps this was the perfect moment.

I kissed her softly and leaned my forehead on hers. "I love you, too."