Ah! I know this has been a long time coming, so thank you for your patience! This chapter was difficult for several reasons. Real life has unfortunately been a bitch lately, so boo. Also, I wanted to get this chapter perfect, and it took me a while before I thought it was good enough, so hopefully it is.

Side note: Because of the circumstances of this chapter (with neither Ron nor Hermione anticipating they would have sex at the motel) neither of them thought to bring protection with them, hence the unprotected sex that ensues. This is a work of fiction, and with that being said, safe sex is of utmost importance, just saying ;)

oOo

It was pouring down rain when Ron and Hermione ran outside towards the packed parking lot. Feeling pretty sure that the people who'd been chasing them wouldn't dare follow them out into the downpour, Ron squinted as he tried to locate Bill's car, his now-soaked hair falling into his eyes and making it harder to see. Hermione's grip on his hand lessened, and he felt instant guilt once he realized she could hardly walk, her wet heels sliding over the slick pavement as she tried to keep up with him. "Sorry," he apologized as he slowed his pace, but it was difficult to know if she had even heard him due to the rain being so loud.

Luckily, he hadn't parked far, and soon they were back in the car, both of them panting because of the strenuous run. When Ron turned to ask Hermione if she was alright, she was already looking at him, and when they made eye contact, the pair broke out into hysterical laughter. Hermione's hair, which had been meticulous earlier, now resembled a wet rag on the top of her head. The makeup she'd carefully applied that afternoon was no longer on her lashes and instead was a black mess beneath her eyes. Her dress, which had been flattering to begin with, was now clinging to her body, the fabric like a second skin. Ron had to force himself not to openly stare at her heaving chest, even though everything in him wanted to. Laughing, he grabbed a napkin out of the car's console and wiped the makeup from under her eyes.

"I can't believe we just did that!" she squealed, still quite breathless. She turned to look at the building, as if still in disbelief. "I've never done anything like that before!"

Ron held his breath. It hit him then, just how deeply he cared for her. It was like he was melting under the amount of love he felt, the feeling so strong he thought it just might kill him. But then again, what a way to die. Shaking his head, he gave a soft laugh. "I must be a bad influence on the perfect Hermione Granger," he said, his voice raw.

When Hermione looked back at him, the smile she'd been wearing fell from her face. Averting her gaze, she ran her hands over the soaked fabric of her dress and cleared her throat. "Let's get back to the motel," she said. "I want to change out of this dress."

"Okay, let's go," he agreed.

The ride to the motel was silent except for the pounding of the rain against the windshield and roof of the car. Ron wondered if he'd done or said anything wrong because Hermione's entire demeanor had changed and he wasn't sure why. It was possible she'd caught him staring- hell, practically drooling- over her, but at the time he hadn't been able to help it. He'd been caught up in the moment and had shared in the excitement she'd obviously felt. As he drove, he snuck several glances in her direction, but she appeared to be too deep in thought to notice.

When they made it to the motel, Ron parked the car and switched it off. The rain hadn't slowed down at all, and unless they wanted to stay the night where they were, it was clear they would have to take another trip through it. Hermione didn't even seem to notice they'd arrived, her eyes glassy as she stared out her window. Sighing, Ron turned to stare out his own window, trying to map out the shortest distance for them to make it to their motel room, even though they were sure to get soaking wet either way.

"Okay," he said, knowing it was no use, "On the count of three, we are just going to go for it. Just jump out and haul ass, alright?"

When Hermione didn't answer, he turned to ask if she'd heard him, but before he could get the words out, she flew across the front console towards him. Her hands found purchase in the hair at the back of his head, her tug insistent as she pulled his mouth to hers. Letting out a grunt of surprise, Ron's brain turned to mush and he could only act on instinct, eagerly kissing her back.

She was kissing him.

Hermione was kissing him. Fuck.

This was heaven. This was what he'd been craving for so long. Ron allowed himself to get lost in it, to get lost in her. When her tongue pushed past his lips, however, the shock of what was happening caught up to him and he tore himself away. Panting, he stared hard at Hermione, who looked as if she, too, were coming out of some sort of fog.

"Wha-what was that for?" he asked, feeling faint.

As Hermione fixed her intense gaze on him, he could almost visualize the gears turning in her brain as she searched for the right response. "That boy-you punched that boy... because he called me a slut," she uttered, her voice filled with vulnerability.

Still reeling from the kiss, Ron shook his head back and forth. "He-he also grabbed you, Hermione. No fucking way was I just going to do nothing."

To his astonishment, Hermione threw herself at him yet again, and this time, Ron was incapable of resisting her. Their tongues and lips interlocked in a fervent kiss, and amidst their entangled bodies, Ron questioned whether he had entered the realm of bliss, for surely none of this could be real or feel this amazing.

This time, Hermione was the one who broke away from him, and Ron slowly opened his eyes, half-terrified he'd imagined the whole thing. "Okay," he said, his voice shaky, "Well, uhm, you're welcome."

Hermione didn't respond and instead bent down to unstrap her high heels and slip them off her feet. Ron could only watch her, his mind racing. Did she only kiss him in thanks? Was she unaffected by the intensity of what had just happened between them? As far as he was concerned, he was a fucking mess. How could she kiss him like that and expect him to remain composed? He was currently losing it and it was taking all of his willpower not to demand answers, yet he fought to contain his emotions.

"Ready?" Hermione's voice jolted Ron back to reality. Without even glancing in her direction, Ron managed a nod, his jaw clenched tightly to refrain from speaking.

"GO!" At Hermione's command, Ron opened his door and jumped out into the rain. Running around the front of the car, he met Hermione halfway and took her hand in his. Together, they managed to reach the side of the motel, seeking solace from the pouring rain under a modest awning that provided only about a foot of respite from the relentless downpour.

Backs pressed against the brick building, they turned to look at each other, both wide eyed and breathing heavily. Ron searched Hermione's face, hoping…yearning to decipher her true feelings for him. Hermione's gaze was open and unguarded, but there was also something else, something profound. It was a look he had surely cast upon her a million times, one that conveyed he was the center of her universe, that he was the one person who really, truly mattered.

In that moment, something inside Ron shattered, and he couldn't resist the overwhelming urge to act. Closing the distance between them, he pressed Hermione firmly against the brick wall, his lips finding hers in a passionate kiss. Hoping to convey every ounce of love he held within him, he poured it all into that single gesture, finally allowing himself to express the depth of his feelings that he'd kept hidden for years.

Yet again to his bewilderment, Hermione wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him even closer, her heartbeat wild against his chest. He'd been kissed before, but the way she was kissing him… it was like he was her oxygen and she needed her mouth glued to his to live. Ron broke the kiss as loud, excited laughter erupted from his throat. It was as if every weight in the world had fallen from his shoulders, every missing puzzle piece falling into place and it was the best thing he'd ever experienced. At first, Hermione looked bewildered, but after a moment she started to laugh right along with him.

Ron stopped laughing and cupped her face with his hands. "My god," he mumbled, his thumbs sweeping over her bottom lip. Had he really been an idiot all this time? Was it possible that she could feel the same way he did? Every doubt he'd ever worried about regarding her had disappeared. If she wanted him, really wanted him, he was hers, no question.

He forced himself to step back from her, grabbing her hand instead. Shaking his head, he tried to remember where their room was so they could get there as fast as possible. "Come on," he laughed, and they took off again, running on the sidewalk until they made it to their destination.

Ron grabbed the key from his jacket pocket, his hands shaking as he unlocked the door. Once they were in, he quickly locked it from the inside and as soon as he turned back around, Hermione pushed him back against the door and kissed him again. Their laughter resumed, and he kicked off his dress shoes and socks as she gently led him back until they fell to the bed, their limbs intertwined, their bodies pressed close together.

Though they were kissing passionately, neither of them could stop giggling, their laughs going into the other's mouth.

"Why are you laughing?" she finally asked him.

He laughed loud at that, and Hermione lifted her hands to caress the sides of his face. Ron took a calming breath and bent down to rub her nose with his. "Dunno," he said softly, too overwhelmed to fully express in words how he was feeling. "M'just happy I guess."

"Oh," she said, "Me too."

The next kiss was more urgent, their laughs disappearing as the moment grew serious. Ron laced his fingers with Hermione's and gently pulled them up over her head, leaning his body into hers. He knew she could feel his excitement, and as he pressed it against her, her eyes widened.

The room now way too hot, Ron sat up and removed his jacket, flinging it carelessly to the floor. Regretting leaving her for that one second, he returned and kissed his way down her neck, moving his lips over her collarbone and the swell of skin over the top of her breasts. Hermione closed her eyes and sighed, obviously enjoying him worshiping her soft skin.

His hands then went to her shoulders, and he gently tugged the straps of her dress down her arms. Hermione didn't resist, so he sat up and peeled the soft but wet fabric down her torso, focusing on the task at hand. When the dress was bunched up near her belly, she lifted her hips, allowing Ron to fully take it off. Eager to see what he'd been wanting to see for what seemed like forever, he carelessly tossed the dress to the floor where it landed with a small thud.

Stunned and harder than he'd probably ever been, Ron took a moment to study her. She was now in nothing but knickers, and he was definitely the luckiest sod alive. As he reached to cup her small but full breasts, Hermione arched up to meet his eager hands and he smiled.

"Now I know what they look like," he jested, unable to stop himself.

Rolling her nipples experimentally, Ron's smile fell as Hermione let out a loud gasp.

"Fuck," he muttered. Was she trying to kill him? The answer had to be yes, because the next thing he knew, she was reaching up with both her hands to undo the buttons of his shirt.

Shirt discarded, her fingers flew to his belt buckle and she started unfastening it, this time the gasp coming from him as her hand accidentally brushed against his rock hard erection. Belt and trousers undone, Ron fell on top of Hermione, kicking them off and leaving them both only in their underwear, two pieces of fabric separating the lower halves of their bodies from each other.

As they snogged, Ron moved his fingers between her legs, ecstatic to find her soaking wet with want. As much as he wanted her, he didn't want to muck this up so he forced himself to slow down, his fingers lightly caressing instead of ripping her knickers off like he wanted. Hermione had other plans and reached down to pry off his pants but wasn't able to reach far enough to do so.

Surprised, Ron chuckled against her mouth. "Eager, are we?" he teased. Moving forward, he pressed his cock further into her thigh and she let out a moan.

After a moment she lifted her feet, hooking her toes onto the elastic of his pants. With a determined yank, she exerted enough force to pull the back of his pants down past his bum, but the front remained firmly in place, held by the constraints of his current position.

Ron looked down at what she had done before looking back up at her, a devious grin on his face. "Not quite skilled enough at that yet."

Hermione scowled, and his heart did a flip in his chest.

"Just tell me what you want, Hermione," he said in a low voice, his fingers putting more pressure on the outside of her knickers, index finger circling over her clit as she writhed beneath him. "What exactly is it you're asking of me?" he whispered as he placed gentle kisses all over her face.

Ron wasn't sure why he was saying the words, but a primal part of him wanted… needed to hear her say she wanted him. Hermione seemed unable to speak, her mouth parted as she let out a small whimper. 'Fuck it,' he thought, and he pushed the fabric of her knickers to the side. Hermione clung tightly onto his shoulders as he pushed a finger inside of her, her warm, wet walls gripping him and making him feel lightheaded.

Still kissing his way across her face, he stopped when his mouth was next to her ear. "What do you want, Hermione?" he asked again, adding a second finger.

Hermione cried out in pleasure, her hips jolting into the air. This was all too much and Ron let out a groan as he moved his head down between her legs. Wasting no time, he pressed his mouth to her sex, lapping up everything she was giving him as he maneuvered his fingers, hooking them up to stroke her g-spot.

It was impressive how little time it took for her to come undone, Hermione's whole body tensing as her moans echoed in the air. The sensation of her pulsing around his fingers and under his tongue gave Ron an overwhelming sense of accomplishment, and he vowed to repeat it as many times as Hermione would allow.

When she quieted, Ron sat up. Through heavy-lidded eyes, Hermione watched him as he removed his pants, lifting her hips in assistance when he took hold of her knickers to slip them off. Moving over her, he kissed her hard, dizzy with the knowledge of the profound step they were about to take together.

Settling in between her open thighs, Ron ran his hands down Hermione's legs as she wrapped them loosely around his waist. When he made no moves to go any further, Hermione tightened her grip but Ron resisted, backing away.

"I asked you what you wanted, Hermione," he said sternly. "You have yet to answer me." He swallowed, his voice thick. "So I'll ask you again. What do you want?"

Ron could tell it was taking effort on Hermione's part to focus on his words, but after a moment she spoke. "Y-you. I want you, Ron," she said breathlessly.

Looking down at her, Ron saw more than just his best friend or the girl he loved. He saw his past, his present, and most importantly, his future. Waiting no longer, he slammed his hips forward, burying himself completely inside of her. At the same moment he felt intense pleasure and wholeness, Hermione let out a sound of pain, her body stiffening as her face scrunched into a grimace.

Horrified, Ron froze. "Wh- What?" he rasped out, trying to make sense of what had just happened. Hermione'd been with Cormac, she'd…

Still wincing, Hermione shook her head, silently answering his internal question with a clear negative response. Desire flooding through his veins, Ron's lips met Hermione's in a hungry kiss as he started to move inside her. Fearful of causing her any more discomfort, he kept a slow pace, careful to stay attentive to any signs that she might want him to stop. As his mind still reeled that this was really happening, Hermione urged him on by grabbing his sides and pulling him in even closer and lifting her hips up to meet him.

With every thrust, she moaned, the sound igniting Ron's every nerve ending and sending waves of intense sensation through his entire being. Grabbing one of her legs, he hiked it over his shoulder and positioned his body higher over hers, eliciting a loud gasp in response. He could feel her clench around him, and fought to remain in control, wanting her to come before he did.

It didn't take too long before he started to lose his composure and a moan escaped his parted lips. "Are-you-close?" he panted.

"Y-yes."

Ron thrusts grew harder, the bed frame now knocking noisily against the wall. "You're fucking- amazing -Hermione," he groaned. He shut his eyes, the sight of her naked and whimpering underneath him not helping his effort to hold out. Hermione's nails dug into his shoulders and she cried out his name, her release instantly triggering his own.

Ron pulled out and gripped himself in hand. "Fuck!" he yelled as he came all over the top sheet. All his strength gone, he turned and collapsed on the bed.

As they recovered, the only sound in the room was their heavy breathing while the storm remained loud and thunderous outside.

"What was it you said once?" Ron said, breaking the silence. "Probably not even good in bed?" He smirked. "I got you there. Twice ."

Hermione said nothing, and he scooted closer to her, reaching out to tenderly caress her lower belly, just above her pubic hair. "Hermione, I didn't know. I swear I didn't know."

"I know you didn't," she answered, her voice quiet.

Ron licked his lips, still confused. "Why? The things you said made me think that-"

"I'm not sure," she interrupted sheepishly. "I guess I just wanted to seem, I don't know, more experienced than I actually was. So you wouldn't think that I was… pathetic or something."

Looking sideways at her, he pursed his lips in a disapproving manner. "That's barmy, you know? I could never think you were pathetic, Hermione. Ever."

She shrugged. "I never lied about it."

"No, but you inferred."

"It doesn't matter now anyway, Ron."

He sighed. "I know it doesn't. I just would have, you know, been more gentle or something."

She shook her head before sliding out of bed, Ron's gaze roaming over her naked body. "I'm going to shower," she told him, her hands moving to cover her breasts as if embarrassed.

"Mind if I join you?" he asked, not sure how she would respond.

"No," she said after a moment. "But I want to actually shower." She gave a soft laugh.

"I promise not to bother you." He smiled at her as he stood up, making sure to toss the dirty top sheet onto the floor.

Ron could tell she still felt uncomfortable being starkers in front of him, so he led the way to the bathroom, Hermione following closely behind. The shower cubicle was small, and as they cleaned themselves, Ron got an eyeful whenever Hermione wasn't looking. Not that he'd had any doubt, but he found every inch of her perfect and without flaw. As much as he wanted her again, he remained a gentleman and they only touched when their bodies brushed as they swapped to take turns under the showerhead.

Hermione got out of the shower first and Ron remained behind, giving her a few minutes of privacy in case she wanted to get dressed. When he emerged, Hermione was standing next to the bed wrapped in a towel, her eyes cast downward. Ron stepped up behind her, his arms circling her middle. He kissed her shoulder before moving his lips up her neck, Hermione leaning her head to the side to give him better access.

Slowly, he peeled the towel away from her body and dropped it to the floor. Hermione only closed her eyes and leaned her head back, fully relaxing against him. Wrapping one of his arms around her middle to keep her in place, he moved his free hand down, his fingers creeping lower and lower.

"Can I make you feel good again?" he asked, his lips inches from her ear.

Hermione only sighed and opened her legs for him, giving Ron the green light he needed. He used the pads of his fingers, slowly adding more pressure as her breathing got heavier. Hermione's knees buckled as she climaxed, and Ron held her against him, his own breath heavy at the sounds of her pleasure.

After, instead of pulling away like he'd thought she'd do, Hermione pressed her bum into his erection, wordlessly letting him know what she wanted. Ron repositioned her into an optimal stance, guiding her to place her hands on the edge of the bed so she was bent over for him. Aligning himself, he entered her from behind, Hermione moaning as he did so. Gently pushing her torso further down onto the bed, Ron gripped her hips and pulled her to him as he drove into her. Though he was being slow and careful, Hermione let out a whimper and he stopped.

"Is this too much?" he asked, concerned.

She nodded, and he pulled out. Picking her up, he lay her on the bed before laying next to her, wrapping her in his arms. Sharing languid yet heated kisses, it didn't take long before Hermione once again demanded more, her arms guiding him so he was on top of her and inside her. Their bodies were wet as they slid together, their hands intertwined. Hermione gasped and Ron whispered her name as he kissed anywhere he could reach, purposefully tasting her skin with his tongue. He was so intoxicated by her that his orgasm hit before he even had a chance to realize it, his moan loud, his breath heavy on her neck as he stilled.

Rolling to the side, Ron pressed his forehead to Hermione's, his body heavy with exhaustion. "What are you thinking about right now?" he asked, sweeping the hair from her face.

Instead of answering, Hermione leaned forward to give him a light kiss on the lips, her eyes already closed. Ron smiled. It was mere minutes before she was asleep, her breathing rhythmic, her features completely relaxed.

"I love you so fucking much, Hermione Granger," he whispered. "And I can't wait to tell you everything."