A/N: Hey! Thanks for the support, kind PMs, encouragement, and a little prodding to get this next chapter out. How time flies! Hope you all are doing well…and I hope you like (mostly) what is in store for Lacey! Xxx

~o0o~

Lacey snuggled closer to Lucius under the layers of silky sheets and the thick duvet in his bed. The dark drapes that usually blocked the large window and balcony were drawn back and both of them watched the rain fall in sheets onto Lucius' Wiltshire property. He was holding her from behind, thankful that she was at least a few inches shorter than him to make the arrangement possible, and his chin rested upon the top of her head against the pillows.

After their intense love making in his office, he had immediately apparated them back to the manor, stripped them both down to only their underwear, lit the fireplace, and they crawled under the covers together and had been watching the rain outside and the cloudy grey sky ever since.

"Tell me…"

Her voice was soft and then faded off, as if she was too sleepy to finish and he gently rolled her over so that she was looking up at him. He was perfectly content lying there with her and not saying a word, but he knew they needed to talk.

"Tell you what, Lacey?" He looked down at her, and his ice blue eyes had a softness to them that they were beginning to only have in her presence. The look he gave her brought a smile to her face, "Everything…"

On her own, she rolled towards his chest, hugging him close and Lucius was momentarily shocked. He couldn't remember the last time he was hugged like that, with such pure tenderness. He rubbed his hands up and down her naked back, enjoying how comfortable she was with her head curled into his chest and her breath warm against his skin. When she pulled away a moment later, he saw her eyes dart down to his left forearm and her fingers moved to trace the slightly faded tattoo there, "Tell me about this first. Do you regret it?"

Her big eyes found his, genuinely curious, and he gave a deep sigh in return. The air exhaled felt like it carried with it a heavy burden, and that was when Lucius realized that he never wanted to hide anything from Lacey from that point forward. She was right-they did need to know each other.

"I regret it every single day and yet not at all. I was and am a product of my upbringing and of my own choices, many of which were blinded by the promise of power…"

Lacey pulled his forearm closer to her and looked at the Dark Mark carefully. It stood for everything she hated, and yet, it was a part of him. And she loved him, "What a diplomatic thing to say," she cracked a smile.

"I wasn't finished," he ran his fingers through her messy hair and even though she wasn't looking, she could tell there was a smile in his voice as well, "If I didn't have this…I wouldn't be so acutely aware of how important my family is. I wouldn't have eventually learned that blood supremacy isn't everything, and I certainly wouldn't be here, loving you."

"You think if you hadn't become a Deatheater all those years ago, that you would be dead?"

"No doubt." His voice seemed full of regret when he spoke that time.

"People would call you a coward for that, you know."

"They can and they always will. I know it to be true. But again, I wouldn't change it. I try my best to atone for my sins everyday…" he watched as Lacey raised his arm even more and brought the skin where the tattoo was to her lips.

"But sometimes you still slip…" she said after one kiss, meeting his eyes once more.

"Yes, sometimes I do…" he was breathless as he watched her plant a line of kisses spanning the mark and then she pulled away.

"I don't love this mark, but it's made you who you are, and I love you, Lucius," Lacey said, her voice barely above a whisper and she watched his face carefully, overjoyed when he couldn't seem to hide his smile.

After he had told her he loved her on the desk at his office, Lacey hadn't said anything, and he had taken them both to the Manor. Having her say it back to him was nearly indescribable, "You. You, Miss Lacey Delaney, love me?"

"How could I not?" she flirted back. She had no idea how much time she had left with him like this, and she didn't want to waste any more of it being fully dishonest. At least he would know she loved him, and how much.

"What did I do to deserve that?" He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her even closer to him and when her hips locked against his, she could feel his erection straining against his boxer briefs. With a wicked smirk, Lacey moved her head to kiss him on the neck, lightly sucking his skin between her teeth and making him moan right into her ear.

"I don't know, in all honestly," she laughed, "But I can tell it's turning you on that I'm yours."

"Well, it is about bloody time you are," he continued to whisper to her, pushing her hair back over the shell of her ear, "So…if you say you love me, and you say you want to be my girlfriend…that you want all of this, does that mean I can show you off to the world?"

Lacey was too far gone to think about the consequences of that statement, and hardly cared. Never had she felt so thoroughly cherished or wanted or lusted after, all at the same time. She felt safe and for the first time after the war…and after her mother died…unapologetically blissful.

"You can show me off wherever you want, or you can keep me to yourself in this very bed forever. I don't care which…"

"Tempting, very tempting," his voice was dark and needy when he started running his strong hands over her nearly naked body and the sensation of his touch, the heat of being next to him, and the slip of the sheets made Lacey squirm pleasantly and push her hips wantonly against his. He caught her earlobe between her teeth and then began kissing down her neck, between her breasts, and across her stomach, spurred on by the soft gasps she was emitting and the wriggling of her hips, "You have a little dark in you too, Miss Delaney, and I think that's why I like you so much. You know, you would have made a great Slytherin…"

"What makes you say that?" Lacey tried to keep her composure as he pulled the sheets off her body and spread her legs gently as he continued kissing down her body. When he got to her panty line he planted a kiss there before looking up at her and gently running his fingers along her inner thighs, "Because you've charmed me, and I honestly can't think of anyone more quintessentially Slytherin than myself. I don't know what you've done to me, but I'd do anything for you."

The words made Lacey's heart fill with happiness, but simultaneously scared her, "That's what I am afraid of," she murmured, the sentence barely audible.

"Hmm?" Lucius questioned absently, obviously not having heard her. His eyes were focused on the place covered by her thin panties.

"I said I guess I may be a little more cunning than the average lion," she followed up smoothly, not being able to stop another smile when he caught her eyes once more before placing his body between her legs, moving to his hands and knees before her, and lying down on his stomach with his hair tickling her inner thighs and his lips right at her lower set. In reaction, she tried to move away, shaking her head. He placed his hands gently on her thighs and pulled her back, looking up at her questioningly.

"Please…don't," Lacey said softly, trying to move again when he pulled her panties down a little bit and gently cupped her sex. She fit into his palm nicely and had to admit his warm hand felt amazing against her, but she tried her best to close her legs. With a soft, but determined hand, Lucius kept her in her place, "Why not darling?"

"You don't have to…I know you guys…I mean, Oliver…" Lacey stammered out, and Lucius perked his head up and focused on her, as it was rare for her to stumble over anything.

"Go on, tell me, I know you've had other lovers…" he urged her on gently and with a deep breath she managed to get it out.

"He never wanted to do it for me…no one has. I guess men don't like it. He said it was disgusting," Lacey told him, blushing a bit. Lucius took his fingers off of her and propped himself back up so he could meet her eyes directly.

"Any man who says that to a woman is nothing but a mere selfish prick of a boy," Lucius began, and his voice was clear and serious. Previously, Lacey had seemed like a fireball of sexual prowess, and as enticing as that was (and still mostly true), he felt distinctly relieved that she was human…and insecure…and for once showing her young age, "There is nothing disgusting about it, but I have to say I am pleased to be the one to show you how good it can feel."

Lacey nodded, knowing he was right and she opened her legs again and let Lucius resume his position. She tried not to feel self-conscious as he pulled her panties all the way down to her knees and looked at her there for a while before taking a finger and running it over her sensitive skin and down her wet slit.

"You have the single most gorgeous pussy I have ever seen and I am never going to let you forget that," he told her, placing a kiss on her mound before looking up at her once more, "Relax, darling, and let me show you."

Lacey let her body go, and her head fell back on the pillow behind her as she tried her best to really enjoy every sensation that was so new to her. She had never had more than a few quick kisses down there and she certainly hadn't expected Lucius to kiss her in earnest, as if he was kissing her upper lips, and running his tongue inside of her. Her eyes fluttered close and she whimpered, clutching onto the bed sheets when he found her clit and rolled the bud into his mouth, sucking gently at first and then harder.

To Lucius, she tasted like nectar and he delighted in every little moan that escaped her and the little jolts of her hips upward. They began to get so violent from the pleasure that he placed one hand on her lower stomach to keep her still as he flattened his tongue and pressed it against her sex, giving her a different sensation with long, slow, tortuous licks.

She reached out blindly for him and he caught her hand in his, squeezing it as he continued on and gently slipped a finger from his other hand inside of her, easing in and out in tandem with his kisses. Her thighs shook next to his head, which made him smirk as he continued his ministrations and finally allowed her two of his fingers and slipped them in her faster as he once again caught her clit in his mouth and swirled his tongue around it.

By this time, Lacey could feel an orgasm building and was thanking Merlin that she would never be deprived of this pleasure again, or at least she hoped. She had no idea he could make it feel that sinful or make her feel so sexy with just his tongue and she was writhing underneath him, alternating between moaning out his name and cursing enough to make anyone blush.

One of Lucius' hands lightly spanked the mound of her pussy over and over again in time with his long licks as the other set of fingers scratched lightly down her inner thighs. He finally returned a few of them to her sopping wet entrance and licked and finger-fucked her until he tasted her release in his mouth and lapped up the sweetness as her body twisted on the bed.

When he had licked her clean with his tongue, Lucius kissed back up her body and found Lacey had the most content look on her pretty face. Her eyes were closed, her lips slightly parted, and a smile played on them. He took his place next to her once more and drew the covers back over both of them, "Have I changed your mind about things now?"

"Fuck yes, you have," she breathed out and he couldn't help but laugh a little as he placed a hand on her toned stomach underneath the duvet and pulled her close to him again.

"You are a beautiful woman, Lacey, don't forget it. And I really hope I don't have to ever worry about you going around with a boy who has his head so far up his own arse that he doesn't know how to properly appreciate you."

"Since when did you become so sentimental and sweet?" Lacey opened her eyes and asked him, still reveling in the aftermath of the amazing orgasm he had given her.

"Oh I can be mean if you like, Lacey, I can be very, very mean…" Lucius lowered his voice and pulled her into a kiss. She tasted herself on him and was immediately lost in the wicked way that only he seemed to know how to kiss. Every time he did it, her addiction to him just grew stronger. After a moment, and to Lacey's severe disappointment, he pulled away.

"You are a tease," she whined and he just smirked infuriatingly.

"I think it is said that it takes one to know one and besides, we aren't done talking, now…about you and I making a public appearance together. I was thinking the upcoming summer ball at Hogwarts. We met at a ball, so it only seems fitting," he suggested and Lacey tried to hide the worry she felt inside. She couldn't believe Spring had flown by, and now they were approaching summer and the annual festivities that came with the anniversary of the ending of the second war.

"Yes, but what about Narcissa?" Lacey stalled.

"What about her?"

"She's your wife still!" Lacey poked him in the ribs, her face serious even if her tone wasn't.

"She won't be much longer. You and I are together and I am going down to the Ministry tomorrow to file for a divorce, and that's that." It was simple to him, as if he had it all worked out already and Lacey panicked. If he went down to the Marriage Department, he would undoubtedly be told there was already a divorce file pending with his wife…and everything would get more complicated.

"But…she's cheating on you…" Lacey said slowly, trying to bide herself more time to think.

"And I am on her…"

"Don't you want to make her angry?" She questioned and while he seemed to be considering it, she realized that going down that route wasn't going to benefit her in the slightest. Quickly changing tactics, she said, "You know what, it doesn't matter if anyone sees us together. It's what we want…and if she sees us together, then so be it. Why rush into a horrible legal mess right now when it is oh so much more comfortable being here in bed with me, right?" Lacey reasoned out, trying to save herself a headache all around. She was already in a hole with Remus, and she certainly didn't need Narcissa getting even more peeved at her-and besides, the more time she could buy herself with Lucius, the more memories she would have to take with her in the end.

"Sometimes you are such a peculiar little witch, but I have to agree. We'll go to the ball in a few weeks together. That's settled. Now, about your birthday," he continued, lightly running his fingers up and down her arm and Lacey groaned. She had nearly forgotten it was her birthday coming up in a few days, and she had no plans. She hated getting older, for one thing, and despite her vivacious personality, she hated the extra attention that birthdays always brought.

"Don't you dare even think about anything. I have a game that afternoon and that is all. No surprises Lucius, please."

"It's like you haven't spent any time at all with me," he chuckled, "We'll see about that…" He hugged her closer and they kissed for a few moments more before Lucius pulled away again, claiming the need for a shower.

"Could you go to my study and get the cognac in the bottom drawer of my desk so we can toast to this relationship properly? And then you can join me in the shower, of course," He swung his legs off the bed, completely naked, and walked to the ensuite, well aware that Lacey was ogling him as he went. When the water turned on, Lacey stretched and crawled out of bed as well, pulling her panties on and slipping on her bra before leaving the room and walking down the hallway to his study.

The door was ajar and the light was on, and she hummed happily to herself as she walked over to the desk and found the bottle of very expensive liquor. But when she stood back up, she noticed something odd about the wall to her left. There was a panel of wood that seemed sunken in, and on closer inspection, she found a doorknob.

Curious, Lacey turned it and found it gave way to a long, narrow hallway, which she followed cautiously, noticing several sconces light her way until she found herself in a small room with a wing-backed chair and a large, empty portrait. Lacey was nearly besides herself that she had stumbled upon one of the many secret passages she had suspected were hidden throughout the manor, but a low, familiar voice startled her from her excitement.

"I do wish you would have chosen to put on more clothes before you decided to go exploring, Miss Delaney. The last thing I wanted to do today was see one of my former student's backsides. As nice as it may be, you never were my type. Loud, obnoxiously curious-obviously, and so bloody optimistic about everything."

Lacey whipped around to see the previously blank portrait now filled with the image of her former Potions Master. Severus Snape looked the same as he always did: eyes glaring down at her, and un-amused expression adorning his face.

"Professor? I thought…"

"Well you thought wrong," he finished for her before she could even get her sentence out. She crossed her arms over her chest but it hardly helped hide any skin, "Lucius had a secret portrait commissioned and I counsel with him frequently. In fact, we've been talking about you as of late."

"About me?"

"Yes, you daft girl. Lucius fancies himself infatuated with you, and I when he told me you were the girl-I couldn't believe it. But I guess the old cliché about opposites might hold water, or it might not…" Snape continued.

"What do you mean it might not?"

"The remarkable thing about you was that you could block your mind in a way I hadn't seen from students in years. If I were alive, I could test my theory. I know for a fact that Lucius' skills aren't strong enough to penetrate your mental walls, but mine could. Unfortunately, I will just have to come out and ask…why are you lying to him?"

"I'm not lying to him about anything," Lacey fired back, but her response was too quick—too rehearsed, and Snape caught on instantly.

"Is it for his fortune or something else?"

"I'm in love with him. That's all you need to know. I'm not here for his money. I didn't plan on falling for him, but I did. I know how it looks. We are completely different, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. It's complicated and I am not about to have a bloody portrait give me any advice on my love life, alright? I know Lucius misses you, and everyone wishes you were here…but you are wrong about this one Professor, so very wrong," Lacey told him before rushing out of the room, making sure to close the final door carefully behind her.

She sniffed back her emotion before grabbing the previously forgotten bottle of cognac and heading back to the bedroom. Even if he was nothing more than a portrait now, Snape was right about her lack of honesty, but she just hoped that her sincerity of feelings could make up for that one fateful conversation with Narcissa that had gotten her so far deep into this hole.

Placing the bottle on the dresser, Lacey stripped down until she was naked once more and walked into the bathroom, hoping her flushed face would be ignored under the steamy water with her lover.

A/N: Would love to hear from you and your thoughts! Love you all! I'm already working on the next chapter and would love to hear your predictions