Chapter Nine*

Severus came to from what had to be the best dream he'd ever had. Considering the type of dreams he typically had, he was in no hurry to fully wake up.

Until he felt a hand inside the pair of sleep pants he'd transfigured since he'd come here with nothing but the clothes he had on his back.

He'd been concerned he'd get handsy when she suggested he could stay the night. Draco had found someone to spend the night with.

No surprise.

It took him a minute, maybe two, to reach for her wrist. He was just a man after all, and her hand felt incredibly good cupping his length as she was doing.

"Hermione," he whispered.

"Shh," she whispered.

Her thumb grazed the tip and he hissed. Her hand closed around his length and he was fairly certain logical thought was seconds from leaving his mind altogether.

Except.

"Hermione," he hissed. He gripped her wrist tighter. "Stop."

"Severus…"

"I cannot."

She released him, which was good. Well, relatively speaking. He didn't want her to, but he knew he had to do the right thing here.

She turned away from him, though, and moved to the other edge of the bed.

That was not good. Even he knew that.

He huffed, staring at the ceiling for a moment, willing parts of him that were very plainly telling him he was a fucking moron for stopping her to calm down. He wasn't sure anyone had ever touched him out of sheer want to do so.

"I am here tonight because my godson believed his father came here to hurt you. Trust me when I tell you, him merely raping you is the least horrific thing I could come up with when Draco told me what he believed his father was up to. If you had come through your room's door instead of us, I don't even want to think of what he might have done to you. Testimony at trials is only a slice of the things he has done. He had nothing personal with most of his victims either. It's very personal for him with you. Your friendship with Draco has left him unsettled, I'm certain of it. You are the face of what he believed in failing. To him, anyway. You and Harry, anyway. I know that you could feel it wasn't a lack of arousal or want on my part."

"It's fine."

"Oh, don't do that, Hermione," he said, moving to his side so that he could touch her hip. "What kind of man would I be if I allowed something to happen between us hours after you were faced with the very real idea that you could have been attacked. Raped. Tortured. By someone associated with your friend. With me. I appreciate and welcome your curiosity very much. When we get home."

Silence and he sighed, hoping she didn't hear him. And if she did, that she didn't believe it was directed at her.

She turned then, facing him. She settled a hand, the same one that had just been touching him in a most enjoyable way elsewhere on his body, along his shoulder.

"Promise?"

"Merlin, Hermione. I'm not a monk. I assure you. I will not have you associating anything that we do with tonight and Lucius Malfoy."

She slid a thumb along his collarbone, leaning in to kiss him. He kissed her back, drawing her further into him.

"You will show me this convention you're here for tomorrow?" They'd gone downstairs tonight, but there were no panels or anything open at that time. So, he hadn't really been able to see her in such an environment.

"Really?" she asked.

"I'm here," he said with a shrug. She chuckled.

"I assumed you'd have to go back."

"It's not … convenient, but I have a witch who I am responsible for ensuring is okay. I don't take that lightly."

"Mm," she said, brushing her cheek against his jaw. "Sure then."

"Do I need to have hexes ready?"

She gave a soft laugh. "No."

"No rabid fans wanting to ravage you?"

"Not the type you need hexes for."

He nodded then and she settled against him.

"So no one trying to hone in on my territory."

"As much as I like hearing you say that. That I'm yours, I mean. I am not your territory."

"I'm aware, and I would never say it if that's how I truly felt."

"I know."

"I want a partner, not something I lay claim to." He truly did. It was one of the reasons he wasn't already married. Until this witch, there hadn't been any he thought he could have a lifetime partnership with.

"I wouldn't have said yes if I thought otherwise."

"I know. How has it been going anyway?"

"Good."

"You do know I need to return in the morning," he said softly. He didn't want to. It would be nice to spend time with her here, but he couldn't justify more time away.

"I do," she said. "I was surprised you are staying the night, honestly. You're busy."

"Minerva will completely understand when I explain why I was away. And of course I'm staying the night. Nothing happening or not, it was still a frightening experience. For all of us, including Draco. I'm just glad that he truly cares for you."

"Me, too," she murmured.

She was incredibly lucky. If it had been a different former death eater, there's no telling what might have happened. Draco was also smart enough to pick up on the fact that the seal had obviously been redone. Some may not have. Who was he kidding, most would not have, Severus wagered, because they dismiss Hermione's particularness. Harry and Ginny Potter, Ronald Weasley, and Draco were the only three he thought would have noticed such a thing.

"You sound tired," he murmured, kissing the top of her head.

"I've never been to one of these things before. You're pretty much on every second the convention is open. I mean, yes, you can take breaks, but obviously if you're away from your table then you don't sell anything."

"Right."

He turned, glancing at the bedside alarm clock.

"And what time do you need to be up?"

"Oh, well, I should be at my table by eleven at the latest."

They'd actually been sleeping longer than he realized.

"Are you going to be able to fall back asleep?"

"Are you," she asked.

He chuckled. "I will be fine. It's not the first time an erection has come at an unwelcome time."

"With a woman in bed with you?"

"No," he said, cautiously. "That is a first. Of course, I've never been in bed with a woman before. Not like this. So, it stands to reason."

"Mm," she said.

"Turn onto your stomach," he said, shifting a bit on the bed.

"Why?"

"Really? Must you question me even in this?"

She snorted, doing as he asked. He pushed the blankets aside and moved to his knees.

"Oh God," she mewled as he settled his hands against her shoulder blades and worked at massaging those areas.

"Relax," he whispered.

She exhaled deeply, shifting her arms a bit to get more comfortable as he worked his hands and fingers over her shoulders and along her spine. His touch was gentle but firm enough to work the small knots he felt as he went.

"I always knew those hands would be good at things."

"Did you?"

"Mm hmm."

"As intriguing as finding out what you thought they might be good at is, the purpose in this is to get you to fall back asleep."

"I know," she whispered. "You've never done this before?"

He scoffed. "No. Why? Am I doing it wrong?"

She gave a soft laugh, turning her head to look at him. "No. I guessed, because if you had, you wouldn't have been single to court me."

"Flattery. Thank you, but stop talking or I'll stop using my hands."

"That would be a sin."

She didn't say another word, and his plan to relax her so she'd sleep until her alarm went off in the morning worked. He was rather proud of himself for that.

And stowed away her seeming … ardor of his hands for a later date and time.

NOTE: Happy Wednesday! A little later than usual, but I was able to sleep in a bit so took advantage of that ability.

I'll be meeting my granddaughter in about an hour! I can't wait!

Have a great rest of your week.