Annie woke up to the feeling of warm kisses all over her cheeks. She groaned and buried her face into the pillow.
A laugh had her stomach stirring. "I know you're awake, little mouse."
"Unfortunately," she muttered into the fabric. Annie took a peek outside only to see that the sun was barely over the horizon. Why was he up so early?
"You're not a morning person?" Elio asked with a laugh as he continued to kiss her face, neck, and shoulders.
"This hardly constitutes as morning... What time is it?"
"Six."
Annie's eyes shot open angrily to reveal Elio leaning over her with a lazy grin. His hair was messed up from either sleep or many rounds of lovemaking before said sleep. But despite it being painfully early, his eyes were so bright. "Six in the morning?" she groaned as she rubbed sleep from her eyes. "Why are we awake? The ball isn't until tonight."
He kissed her gently before pulling back with another smile. "Because I love you and I missed you."
She looked down at their tangled bodies. Elio's arms were around her face and under her head while their legs were wrapped around each other. Annie was sleeping peacefully with her head tucked against his chest. Emphasis on was.
"I'm right here, El. You didn't need to wake me."
He buried his face in her neck and kissed the bare skin there. "But I wanted to see your pretty eyes and hear your beautiful voice."
Annie rolled her eyes but wrapped her arms around his neck anyway. "It's six in the morning. My eyes are most definitely bright red and my voice sounds like I smoke a pack of cigarettes a day."
She felt his grin against her skin. "Yes, but it's your eyes and your voice so they're wonderful."
"You are impossible to be cranky with."
"That's the plan, topolina. I plan to make myself so lovable that you can't possibly ever get mad at me."
Now she was the one who grinned. "Your plan is working."
He looked at her before winking. "That's a Slytherin for you, love. Always planning ahead." She rolled her eyes but before she could say a retort, his face scrunched. "I just realized I don't know what house you were."
"Ravenclaw."
"Ahhh, I knew my girl was smart as hell."
Hearing him call her his girl made an entire horde of butterflies arise in her stomach. He'd said many times last night that she would forever be his but somehow it felt realer when he said it so casually like that. Annie thought that the idea of belonging to someone would be terrifying, like a set of chains would be clamped onto her wrists and she wouldn't be able to fly free. But now, she knew that belonging to someone—belonged to Elio—she realized it was the most freeing thing in the world. It felt like coming home to a warm cottage with the fire crackling and the smell of cookies in the air. Comforting. Soft. Wonderful.
Annie blushed. "My whole family has been in Slytherin for forever. I liked being in Ravenclaw but I always wondered if it disappointed them that I turned out so different." She didn't have to finish elaborating for him to know that she meant she was different in more than just her house.
Elio wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. "My Little Mouse, you could never disappoint anyone. You're the most wonderful woman I've ever met and anyone who knows you would say the same. And, yeah, I knew you were different but that's a great thing because when it's you, I love different. I wouldn't change a thing about you."
He smiled to himself before grabbing her left hand. "Well, I would change the fact that you're not married to me but that'll happen before long."
Annie blushed brightly. "It will?"
"Yup. As soon as you give me the green light, I'm putting a ring on your finger."
Her heart fluttered again just at the idea of calling Elio her husband. Only she wasn't scared. Annie realized that the idea of not calling Elio her husband one day scared her far more. "I won't give you the green light until my parents do. And my brother."
He nodded. "I would want nothing less."
Annie bit her lip at the idea of Elio meeting James and her father. That was bound to go horribly. At least her mother would be more accepting if their conversation the other day was something to go off of. "Will you meet him tonight?"
"Of course, my love."
"And you'll behave?" Because James certainly wouldn't. Perhaps if Elio was charming enough, her brother wouldn't entirely freak out. After all, he loved Lottie so maybe he would understand as long as Elio didn't make crude jokes or something. Then... things could get ugly.
Elio laughed and she realized once again how much she loved that sound. "Yes, Annie. I will be the perfect gentleman. I'm sure he'll love me."
She frowned but nodded. Her thoughts were immediately cut off by the feeling of Elio's lips on her neck, kissing up and down it sensually before he murmured, "Now, what do you say about recreating last night?"
⋆ ⭒ ˚ . ⋆ ⭒ ˚ . ⋆
It was mid-morning by the time Elio finally let Annie leave the bed. He was insatiable—and to be honest, so was she. She couldn't get enough of the way he felt inside of her, the way his mouth sounded as he shuddered her name at the end, the way he felt on top of her, his weight pushing her into the softness of the bed. Annie had never really shown much interest in sex before but now that she knew what lovemaking could be like—passionate and heartstopping and utterly intimate—she never wanted it to end.
"Oh, Annie," he said the final time like her name was a prayer he couldn't stop saying. "Annie, Annie, Annie."
She was on top of him this time, her hips rolling while her back arched into him and he kissed wherever he could reach. She liked it, though not as much as when he was on top and she could feel him on every inch of her skin.
To be honest, she liked every position with Elio. He was so experienced, taking what he wanted with her, showing her what it was like to reach new heights. He took her from behind, on top, below. He took her screaming, moaning, whimpering, gasping for air. And every time, when she came, she saw stars.
When they finally came, both of them seemed to realize that as much as they wanted to continue, they were both tired and hungry.
Annie stood from the bed before finding Elio's discarded white dress shirt and slipping it over her body. She buttoned the shirt, leaving a few undone so he could get a little tease of her cleavage. Elio was fiddling behind her, digging amongst the blankets for his boxers. When they both turned around, he groaned.
"Cara mia, you're killing me," he said as if he was physically pained by looking at her. Elio's arms reached out toward her and grabbed the hem of the shirt, pulling her closer to him. "If you look this good in my clothes, I'm not going to have anything to wear."
She giggled. "Why is that?"
"Because I'm going to insist you keep all of them." His eyes traveled down her body, darkening at the place where the shirt just covered her butt. "Fuck. You are so sexy. No, no. You are divine."
She blushed before running a hand through her messy hair. Somehow, sex with Elio seemed to bring out the crazy waves. She could feel the frizz sticking out from the sides of her hair but the way he was looking at her made her wonder if he liked it that way.
Annie began to walk toward the door before his arm on her wrist pulled her back to his warm chest. He was so chiseled she had to just stop and remember that he was hers. Sometimes, she could hardly believe it. Elio Nott was the most beautiful man she'd ever seen—and based on everyone else's reaction, she wasn't the only one who thought so. The fact that this beautiful man wanted her still didn't fail to stun her sometimes.
"Where are you going, topolina?" he murmured.
"To make tea. Do you want some?"
He shook his head. "I'm part Italian. I'll take some espresso if you have some."
Annie kissed his cheek before running down the stairs. Her body was buzzing with excitement too much to slow down. She heard the shower run upstairs while she waved her wand and prepared the drinks. A few minutes later, they were both sitting on the couch in front of the hearth, their respective drinks in hand. Elio's hair still dripped slightly and he was back in just his boxers, a sight that made Annie's mouth water. He was so tanned, so toned, and so beautiful.
"So," Elio said in a voice that was smooth from the coffee shot he just took. "You're a Ravenclaw. You're twenty. What else should I know?"
Annie thought for a moment before saying, "I'm almost twenty-one, actually. On January 28th. I like tea, rainy days, romance books, cats, symphonies, nights in, warm blankets, fresh bread, autumn, soft piano music, and oatmeal with cinnamon and bananas even though I don't like bananas any other time. My middle name is Adele, after my grandmother, whose name was Adelyn. She died when my mum was young. If I could travel anywhere in the world, I don't know where it would be but I would want it to be so beautiful that I couldn't dream of coming home. I get nervous around people but I like to hug people I love. And I'm realizing that I don't know if I want to be sheltered and babied anymore. I want to feel like a woman."
Elio set down his mug before wrapping a tight arm around her waist and pulling her closer. "I think I somehow just fell more in love with you," he muttered before kissing her cheek. "But I will say that you don't have to want to feel like a woman because you are one. Merlin, I have seen definite proof of your divine feminity."
"What about you? What should I know?
"Well, my middle name is Lorenzo, after my uncle who isn't dead but my mum adores because he really is the nicest bloke you'll ever meet. My twenty-fourth birthday is August 14th. I like coffee, sunny days with pretty sunsets, music that makes you feel alive, my mum's pasta, anything with chocolate, and I definitely don't like bananas. If I could travel anywhere in the world, it would be to my family's home in Italy, which I'm definitely bringing you to. It's set in the prettiest rolling hills near this village that has the best gelato. And you can walk the path to the edge of the property where there's a cliff that overlooks the bluest water you've ever seen and the most serene private beach. You'll love it."
The idea of seeing another part of Elio had her blushing, especially one as beautiful as he described. "I'd really be okay to come there?"
He scoffed. "Topolina, it'll be your home someday soon."
Her cheeks turned even warmer. "Right. I just meant if your parents would be okay with it."
"About that..." Elio winced. "Mum wants you to come over for dinner next week. It's why I was late last night—she wouldn't give up until I said you'd come."
Annie bit her lip. The idea of meeting new people sounded terrifying and she wasn't sure how she'd be able to get out of her own family dinner. But the look on Elio's face said enough: this was important to him so she'd be there. "Alright. Since you're meeting my brother tonight."
"Seems fair. Plus, now I have a reason to see you again."
"I have a feeling you would have found a reason anyway," Annie said with an eye roll.
Elio smiled and kissed her cheek. "Right you are, Little Mouse." Then, his eyes darkened before he muttered, "Now, we don't have much time before you have to leave and get ready for tonight. Want to spend it reenacting this morning?"
And she really, really did.
Next chapter is the one we've really been waiting for. Not going to spoil much but let's say we finally see a certain brother again ;)
Let me know what you think. Luv u all!