Make Like Strangers - Part 1

A/N from H_HrFan: This collaboration has been an incredible experience to this point. I am writing things I’d never be able to write and I am having more fun then I ever thought possible with this type of writing. I’m still learning, but HarrynHermione is so great, wonderful, and patient that I just (I think anyway) keep getting better! In the short time we’ve been working on these stories she has opened my world to a whole new realm of possibilities in the form of writing.

This collaboration was inspired by one of my own challenges (LOL). I looked at HarrynHermione’s bio (had sent a few emails back and forth with her previously during ‘Fairy Tale’) and immediately asked her to collaborate with me! I hadn’t even read anything of hers yet (at least not knowingly). Somehow I just knew it would be great! And it has been fan-bloody-tastic! LOL!

HarrynHermione is a fantastic writer and now that I have caught up on all of her stories I’ve discovered that we write quite a lot alike (although I readily admit that does not make me a fantastic writer) and it’s made this process incredibly smooth.

Make Like Strangers is the “umbrella” name of what will become a series of stories that will take Harry and Hermione to many different locations with many different scenarios that will progressively get steamier as the stories go on. Each story (or part) will be unique, but will tie in with all the others—sometimes in an obvious way, sometimes not.

We don’t know how many parts there will be because the possibilities are endless! Part 1 in the series is entitled Cut! And Action! and is five chapters in length. The subsequent parts will probably be about the same.

Any ideas for what you would like to see as the stories continue are welcome. Perhaps we’ll hear a fantastic idea that we haven’t yet thought of…in fact, if I may, I challenge you all to come up with something that we haven’t. Something unique…

Thank you all for reading and for all your great support! Drop us a note and let us know what you think. Since I gave the option on the story that GreenEyeSparkle16 and I submitted earlier, I thought I’d give it here too. If you need ten words or more you can borrow these (just copy and paste into the remarks)….

You guys are incredible! I can tell already that this story is going to be hot, hot, hot! Totally looking forward to the next chapter! Keep up the great work.

(Again…I’m just kidding…although a quick note would be most excellent!)

HarrynHermione you are WONDERFUL! I am so glad you sent me that first email…I’ve had a blast talking to you about everything and working out these stories! This collaboration is…well…indescribable! YOU ROCK!

Take care,

H_HrFan

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A/N from HarrynHermione: Well, I think my esteemed collogue has pretty much summed up everything I was going to say.

After H_HrFan gave us the gift that was Fairy Tale, I decided to email her on the side to tell her how much I loved her writing and how brilliant I thought (think!) she was (is!) (Yes, you are!) After several back-and-forth emails, she asked if I would like to do a collaboration and this is the outcome! Her imagination is boundless and her grasp of Harry and Hermione’s relationship is truly inspirational. In fact, I was inspired so much by Fairy Tale that I pooled up the courage to post my first story here back in December. And it’s been a blast for me! So here, after only four+ months, I’m collaborating with one of my favorite authors!! YAY ME!! Thanks SO MUCH for the opportunity!! HUGS!!!

I hope that you all enjoy this new baby of ours. It started off as a single idea (for the record, it was H_HrFan’s idea) and after talking (for what—almost four straight days total now??) it has blossomed into something HUGE! Harry and Hermione are probably going to be very cross with us…then again maybe not! (wink wink)

Please review with comments, criticisms, ideas, etc. We’d love to hear from you! And we will do our best to reply to each and every one of you!

Oh! And a brand new Firebolt to anyone who can come up with a scenario that we haven’t! We obviously can’t reveal what’s on our “scenario list” for fear of giving away too much, but we’ll be honest…honest!!

Let’s see…what else. Oh!! 121 more days until Half-Blood Prince!! WOO HOO!!

And by the way, H_HrFan, you have truly humbled me with your kind words! Thanks, sweetie! This collaboration with you has been a great experience! And if you tell me again that you can’t write smut, I’m going to have to hex you! OR…I’ll just get Hermione to do it! (hee hee hee)

Cheers!!
HarrynHermione

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Disclaimer: It all belongs to the goddess of the magic that is Harry Potter, the magnificent JK Rowling. Thanks, Jo, for creating this wonderful world to play in!!

Now, on with our story. Please click “next” to begin your journey…

Cut! And Action!

Harry had no idea what he was doing or how he had gotten himself involved in this…Hermione! That’s how! Damn that woman…

He sauntered into the hotel bar and slowly his eyes scanned the room. He was looking for her—the woman he’d been fantasizing about for the better half of the day. He'd seen her that morning and now he wanted—no, he needed—to see her again…he hoped to find her here now. His eyes swept across the crowd of people talking and laughing, totally oblivious to the guy standing in the door looking for a one-night stand. Then he saw her and as his eyes locked onto her. He unwittingly adjusted his pants and checked himself over. She was sitting at the bar all alone…just waitin' for a guy like him. She was, by far, the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen, and he’d been thinking about her all day, imagining what they’d be doing with the coming of night—when he finally got her alone in his room. Slow and sweet…that’s how he’d give it to her. He’d leave her begging for more….

He straightened the collar of his high-end leather jacket and made sure that enough of his torso could be seen for her to get a full appreciation of what he had to offer. Slowly he approached her, hesitating briefly when he caught sight of the ring she wore on her left hand. The fact that she was married registered only briefly with him; he didn’t care. One way or another, she would be his. He shrugged his shoulders and smiled cockily as he continued to make his way toward her. He paused when she picked up a shot glass and downed her drink. Damn she was sexy…and she looked incredibly lonely. She set the glass on the bar without letting go and stared unseeingly at the small circles she’d begun to make with it. He stood back and watched patiently—slow and sweet, he reminded himself.

Finally she let go of the glass. Time to make my move, he thought as he took his final steps toward her. He grabbed her stool and spun it around until she was facing him then he placed his foot on the footrest, his knee between her legs; she was even more beautiful up close. "Oh!" she cried out in surprise.

“So baby," he said in the smoothest, silkiest voice imaginable, "what brings you here?”

She looked down at where his knee rested between her legs. Her eyes raked slowly up the length of his thigh and rested briefly on the bulge in pants. Her eyebrows rose instinctively and she licked her lips. Her eyes slowly traveled up the rest of his body. His t-shirt was tight and she could see the outline of his muscular torso and the broadness of his chest where his leather jacket opened. Finally her eyes reached his and she raised her eyebrows approvingly. “Excuse me,” she said in a soft, sultry voice, “but do I know you?”

“If you didn’t before, you certainly do now, don’t you?” he asked, smoothly. He reached out to touch her hair and he raised one eyebrow and stared at her with sheer lust. He looked down at her heaving breasts and smiled in the same cocky way he had when he’d seen her ring. Slowly his eyes raked upward, pausing momentarily on her lips. He felt a stirring in his pants when she licked her lips again. Their eyes met at the same time and after a moment’s hesitation he raised one eyebrow again and smirked. “So, you like what you see.”

It was more a statement than a question, and not wanting to give too much of what she was feeling away, she shrugged slightly. “Perhaps,” she said, her breathy voice betraying her, “but you still haven’t answered my question.” Her head was lowered slightly and she looked up at him with one raised eyebrow and wide, shining eyes. “Do I know you?”

“Of course you know me, sweetheart,” he said smoothly, placing his fingers on her chin and raising her head to look deeper into her eyes. “I’m the guy you dream about every night.”

His eyes moved down to her legs as she sat up straighter on the stool and slowly, deliberately uncrossed and re-crossed her legs. She was wearing a micro mini skirt that left very little to the imagination, and he caught the slightest glimpse of what awaited him when he finally got her upstairs…it was only a matter of time. He couldn't resist licking his lips in anticipation.

“And what would you know about my dreams?” she asked sensuously as she slowly moved closer to him. She raised her eyebrows and the come-hither look in her eyes made him want to take her right there on the bar. He placed his hand on her thigh and began to gently massage her silky-smooth skin.

"What does it matter when I can see you want me now?" he replied in a voice heavy with desire.

"What's your name, stranger?" she asked breathlessly.

"What do you want it to be?" he managed to ask as she began to slowly stroke her foot up and down his leg.

Turn for turn they each began to move slowly, seductively closer and closer toward each other. His hand became heavy on her thigh as his desire for her mounted and he massaged her harder and harder. Their eyes were locked in a lustful, wanting stare and their breathing had become labored. The silence in the bar became deafening as more and more the other patrons, unable to avert their eyes, watched the foreplay taking place right in front of them between two apparent strangers. Her eyes drifted from his eyes to his lips and she moistened hers with her tongue once more. They were no longer aware of their surroundings…it was all about them.

One more inch and he would taste her; he licked his lips and tilted his head slightly then slowly began to close his eyes as he prepared for the touch of her lips, the taste of her mouth, the feel of her tongue against his….

“CUT!” The director called from behind them. “You two, that was beautiful. But you,” he said, pointing to the guy sitting closest to them at the bar, “what the hell you doing?”

The guy was taken aback. “Me?” he asked, pointing to himself.

“Yeah, you. What the hell you doing playin’ with yourself when I’m trying to get a shot here?” The director yelled.

The man looked down and to his horror found his hand placed directly on top of the bulge in his pants. “Oh….” he looked at Harry and Hermione. Harry's hand was still massaging her thigh and Hermione could feel the wetness of desire between her legs. She still hadn’t gained control of her breathing and her chest was heaving—she was staring at Harry as though she wanted to eat him alive.

Harry’s breathing was heavy and the rapid rise and fall of his chest made his desire for her blatantly obvious to everyone around them. He couldn’t take his eyes off her and he hadn’t yet backed away. “I…oh, um…I didn’t know….” the man stammered, the color in his face now nearing a sort of purplish-red.

The sound of the man struggling for words brought reality crashing down around them and Harry jumped back from Hermione as though he’d been burned. She felt an instant cold on her thigh where his hand had been and she shivered. “Sorry,” he said to her quickly, unthinkingly. Hermione shook her head as she tried to come back from her dazed state.

The man’s eyes moved quickly to the director and he tried once more to defend himself. “But did you see these two? Did you? I mean…damn. Who wouldn’t…well…you know what I mean. They’re hot…that scene is just too hot.” He looked back at Harry and Hermione who were now turning very red themselves. “Are you sure you ain't done this before ‘cause you guys…you guys are like…whoa!”

“Uh…yeah…we’re um…we’re pretty sure….” Harry stammered, looking for all the world like he wanted to fall through the floor. He looked to Hermione for some much-needed support and saw that she was still flushed and slightly breathless. He stepped back toward her and unwittingly placed his hand back on her thigh and she squirmed slightly as the warmth she’d lost returned just as quickly as it had gone. Harry was staring at her intently, his brilliant green eyes filled with concern. “Are you all right, Hermione?” he asked worriedly.

Hermione tried to swallow in an unsuccessful attempt to moisten her now dry throat. She turned to the bartender and pointed to her shot glass. “Stronger,” she croaked. He poured her a double shot of whiskey and she downed it in one smooth motion, then slammed the glass onto the counter before she turned to face Harry. “I’m fine,” she said huskily. “Just fine.”

“That’s a wrap for tonight,” the director called out to them. He then pointed to the man he’d been yelling at. “You,” he yelled. “You make sure you have yourself under control when we pick this up again tomorrow. I don’t wanna see any more of that touchy-feely stuff when we’re trying to get the shot. You got it?”

“Yes sir,” the guy shouted out in a voice much louder then was necessary as he continued to try and cover his lingering embarrassment.

Harry had turned to listen to the director as he told them what time they needed to be there for the next day’s filming. When everyone started to break up he turned his attention back to Hermione who seemed to have finally recovered. “Are you sure you’re all right? I’ve never seen you act that way before,” he said. “No pun intended,” he added with a chuckle.

Hermione smiled back. “I’m fine, Harry. Just a little nervous I guess. We haven’t really gotten to rehearse much, you know? They expect us to act this out but we haven’t even made it through the scene one time yet.”

Harry nodded. “Yeah, that’s true. It’s too bad they don’t give us rehearsal time. I guess that’s what you get when the movie is low budget though, huh?” he said with a laugh.

“Why don’t we go back to my hotel to rehearse? These people know it’s a movie. Why don’t we go see if we can make the people at my hotel believe it’s for real?” she suggested.

“Are you serious?” he asked in disbelief.

“Yeah Harry, why not? It’ll be fun,” she said, her growing excitement coming through in her voice.

“Hermione,” he said, still somewhat shocked at her proposal, “we have to kiss in this scene.” His voice had dropped so low that Hermione had to listen hard to hear what he was saying. Between what had just happened between them and the prospect of actually going through with the kiss, Hermione was wound up tight. One look at the anxiety on his face and she burst out in nervous laughter.

“What?” he asked anxiously. “What’re you laughing at? Hermione, I’m serious. We have to,” his voice lowered once again, “kiss in this scene. I mean really kiss.”

Still smiling and chuckling softly she rolled her eyes at him. “I know that Harry. We’ll just practice the kiss, walk out of the bar together and then come back to check people’s reactions to see if they bought our act or not. Come on, the thought of kissing me doesn’t scare you that much, does it?” She tried to keep her voice light but the anxiety came through loud and clear…only Harry missed it.

“I don’t know Hermione,” he said shaking his head, “I have a girlfriend. Somehow this just doesn’t seem right.”

“Who cares? I had a boyfriend and they both know we’re doing this movie together and its just rehearsal. What could it hurt?”

Reluctantly Harry agreed. “All right,” he said slowly, carefully weighing his words against the knot he felt in his stomach. “I guess you’re right. It is just rehearsal and they do know we’re doing this.” He looked at her questioningly and asked, “remind me again. Why are we doing this?”

“Oh Harry, come on. We’re wasting time,” she said exasperatedly as she grabbed his arm and pulled him out of the bar and toward the hotel exit. This can’t be good, he thought as he remembered the way she'd made him feel just a short time ago.

This is going to be great, she thought as she turned her head to look at him. He was too preoccupied with his own thoughts to take notice of the perfectly devilish grin she had plastered on her face as she anticipated what was to come. She had to focus all her willpower into not screaming or jumping up and down in her excitement.

She’d always wondered how it would feel to kiss Harry…now she was about to find out and the anticipation was well on its way to killing her.

Chapter 2

If Hermione hadn't been wearing the horrific shoes the costume department wanted her wear, she would have been tempted to run the short distance to her hotel, dragging Harry along behind her if necessary. Unfortunately for her, she was wearing those horrific shoes so she was forced to walk slowly keeping pace with Harry.

“Why are you so quiet?” she asked him after several minutes of unsettling silence.

She could see the apprehension in his eyes when he looked at her. “Harry stop worrying about it so much. I swear it's just a rehearsal. Merlin knows we need at least one,” she said trying hard to hide her growing excitement.

Harry took a deep breath and sighed. “You're right, Hermione. It is just rehearsal and we really do need one. I don't know what it is about it though,” he said pausing to look at her, “something about it just seems … odd.”

“You nervous about having to kiss your best friend, Harry?” she said playfully pushing against his arm.

Harry laughed and threw his arms around her shoulders and playfully pulled her into a semi-headlock and rubbed the top of her head. “Something like that, yeah,” he said laughing.

Hermione was laughing as she pulled back from him a little. She wrapped her arms around his torso and laid her head on his shoulder. “What if I promise I won't bite?” she said only half-jokingly.

He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and laid his head against hers. “Well what would be the fun in that?” he jokingly replied.

Hermione laughed then straightened herself up to kiss him on the cheek before settling back against him. Harry turned to kiss the top of her head and caught the scent of her hair. He felt himself being drawn inexplicably closer. She smells like peach, he thought as he closed his eyes and smelled her hair again. I like peach. He finally kissed her head and they continued their walk in companionable silence with their arms wrapped tightly around each other and Harry's head resting against hers.

“Let's sit out here for a few minutes,” Harry said when they arrived outside Hermione's hotel. He guided her to a bench not far from the reception entrance and waited for her to sit down before he sat down next to her.

“Always the gentleman, aren't you Harry?” Hermione teased affectionately.

“Yeah, well,” he looked at her and raised his eyebrows, “it works.”

Hermione nodded her head wistfully and softly replied, “Yeah, I bet it does.”

Harry watched her for a moment then decided that a quick change of topic was in order. “So,” he started, “about this movie. You never did tell me why we're doing this.”

Hermione chuckled. “Harry,” she said shaking her head and smiling at him, “you know exactly why we're doing this.”

“Remind me,” he said, unable to stop the smile that started with his lips then shined brightly in his eyes.

“We agreed years ago that when Voldemort was defeated we would do something stupid, selfish, and totally against everything that would be ever be expected of us,” she replied. “I'd say a low-budget movie like this qualifies, wouldn't you?”

“Yeah,” Harry said nodding his head and looking as though he absolutely could not fathom the fact that they would even contemplate it, much less star in it, “I'd say it qualifies.”

“It is kind of a bizarre little movie, isn't it?” she said frowning slightly.

“Yeah,” Harry replied, “who writes this stuff anyway?”

“I have no idea,” she said shaking her head.

Harry looked at her in surprise. “Hermione Granger…” he started, “my Hermione Granger,” he paused and stared at her in mock-disbelief, “has not thoroughly researched this movie, the director, the writers, the producers, and everyone else involved in it…right down to the shoe-shine boy, I might add. Unbelievable!”

Hermione looked at him with a strange expression on her face. “Your Hermione,” she said staring at him questioningly and ignoring his attempt at teasing her. “Since when am I your Hermione?”

Harry's cheeks flushed red and he stammered, “Well…not my, my Hermione…you know…my best friend Hermione…my…” He was waving his arms around as he tried to think fast while thoughts of why the hell can't I just answer swarmed through his head. He stopped at the sound of her laughter.

“Never mind, my Harry,” she said waving her arms in the air. “Just forget it. You turn any more red and you're likely to spontaneously combust.”

Harry laughed then visibly relaxed. He leaned close to her ear and said softly, “Well, you know you are my Hermione in a way. You always have been. No one else has been there for me the way you have. I can admit now that I was selfish when it came to you. You were always my Hermione and I never wanted to share. Not even with Ron.”

Hermione cleared her throat and sighed deeply in an attempt to quell the rising pain in her chest. She swallowed hard and tested her voice, “So…” she started, “about this movie.” She moved a couple of inches away from him and looked at her hands folded in her lap before she finally found the nerve to look at him. His words had touched her deeply and she knew that it would be so easy to repeat them back to him, but she wouldn't…she couldn't.

“What about it?” Harry asked his voice sounding unusually gruff.

“Well, we play a married couple who likes to…” she paused and closed her eyes as her cheeks began to flush, “who likes to…” she looked up at him and was surprised to see a smile on his face.

“You know,” he said chuckling softly, “you're cute when you blush like that. How come I never noticed that before?”

Hermione smacked his arm and gave an exaggerated huff. She quickly composed herself then squared her shoulders to look straight at him. “Don't you think it's strange that as a married couple we like to…” she paused again, but this time Harry took pity on her.

“…to pretend to be strangers who've just met for the first time before coming on to each other and then going off to find a place to shag?”

Hermione blushed a deeper shade of red. She made a move to smack his arm at the bluntness of his statement but she ended up grabbing his hand instead. “Well, yeah…” she said hesitantly. “Do you really think we can pull it off?”

Harry shook his head. “Not without looking like total idiots I don't,” he said. “But we've already committed to doing it so it's not like we can back out.” He looked at her with questioning eyes. “You don't want to back out now, do you?”

Hermione laughed. “Ironic, isn't it?” she said. “First I'm trying to tell you that it's going to be fine and now you're reassuring me. I wonder when it'll be my turn next.”

Harry laughed with her. “Very soon, I imagine,” he said thoughtfully, “very soon.”

“Okay,” she said getting into the spirit of things again, “I doubt we have all night to get through this so let's get it over with, all right?”

“Whatever you say dear,” Harry replied. She eyed him momentarily and he shrugged. “We're married remember? I'm just getting into character.”

“Keep it up and you just might make some lucky woman a great husband one day,” she replied. “Just remember to keep saying `whatever you say dear'. That's a good line.”

Harry rolled his eyes and laughed again. “Whatever you say dear,” he repeated once more for good measure.

Hermione rolled her eyes back at him and laughed. “All right,” she said taking a long, deep breath. “I'll go in first and find a place to sit. You know what to do after that. Just give me about a five-minute head start.”

“All right,” Harry sighed in agreement. Suddenly he wasn't so sure he was feeling up to it as all of his anxiety began to return three-fold.

Hermione stood up and, forgetting for the moment what she was wearing, stretched her arms high into the air and leaned forward to stretch her arms, legs, and her back. Her micro-mini skirt rose another inch and the lower part of her bum peeked out from beneath it. Harry began to sweat when he thought she might bend forward far enough to touch the ground. She was wearing a g-string and he felt his eyes grow large and a stirring in his pants as he stared at her. Damn, is it getting hot out here? He wondered as he began to pull off his leather jacket. After what felt like an eternity, she finally lowered her arms and stood up straight before turning around to face him. He was still staring wide eyed at where her arse was just a moment ago and he looked as though he was having trouble breathing.

Hermione lowered herself to a squatting position in front of him and without realizing it exposed the front part of her to him. “Harry, are you all right?” she asked worriedly. “What's wrong?"

Her hand was resting on his knee and her legs were spread apart just enough to tease him. He swallowed hard and shook his head. “Nothing Hermione,” he said, his voice sounding hoarse, “nothing's wrong. Just um…just go on inside…five minutes…I'll give you five minutes.”

“Okay, Harry,” she said though worry still resounded in her voice. “If you're sure you're all right.”

Harry put his hand on her elbow and urged her to stand up before he lost any amount of self control he'd somehow managed to cling to until now. He stood up with her and nodded. “Yeah…I'm fine. Just go, I'll be right behind you.”

Hermione nodded her head then turned to walk into the hotel to find a place to sit in the bar. Harry sat down heavily on the bench. “How the hell am I going to do this?” he muttered. He sat up on the bench and smacked his hands on his knees. “Bloody hell…she's a woman! Merlin! Not a girl…a bloody woman…when the hell did that happen? She's my best friend…she's not supposed to be a woman!”

After a few minutes had passed Harry stood, put his jacket on, and then walked slowly toward the hotel entrance. He took a deep, steadying breath as he opened the door. He walked deliberately across the lobby to the entrance of the bar. This is only a rehearsal…this is only a rehearsal… the thought repeated over and over in his mind until he finally began to relax. Think of Sandra… “She's gonna kill me if she finds out!”

“Excuse me sir? Were you talking to me?”

Harry turned to find an older gentleman staring at him inquisitively. “No sir, sorry,” he mumbled in reply. The man nodded his head and gave him a furtive sort of look before walking away. “Way to go, Potter,” Harry said quietly to himself, “you're gonna have people thinking you're crazy before this is over.”

Sandra…Sandra…Sandra…

Harry took a few more deep breaths and took his first hesitant step forward…all the time wondering what in the bloody hell he'd gotten himself into.

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A/N: SURPRISE!! Because of the great response to this story, we decided to give you a special treat and post this next chapter a day early. However, to get back on schedule, Chapter 4 will not be posted until Wednesday.

And PLEASE review!! It only takes a second, and we really appreciate your feedback!!

Happy reading!!

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Chapter 3

Harry took two tentative steps into the bar and spotted his target immediately. Hermione was sitting at the bar with nearly all of her back to him. Her ankles were crossed and her long, slender calves swung languorously back and forth between the legs of the barstool. Her shirt was snug in all the right places, accentuating her body in a way Harry had never thought possible and the slight flair of her hips was likely to be the most sensuous thing he'd ever seen.

Watching her from where he stood was like seeing the possibility of one of his greatest fantasies coming to light; him…a beautiful, sexy little vixen…champagne…rose petals…moonlight…satin sheets…

But this is Hermione, his conscious mind interrupted.

Harry shook his head and the vision of him and his little vixen was gone in an instant. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath to steady himself before making his move on her.

This is so not smart, he thought even as he took the first step toward her. Something in his mind was screaming at him to stop but for the moment Harry was lost to the fantasy world of movie making. He was back in the other hotel and the cameras were rolling and he had to get his lines right the first time.

He stopped on what should have been his mark and he noticed the wedding ring on her finger. He smiled his cockiest smile yet then continued his approach.

Hermione had intentionally kept from turning her back completely to the door so she could watch him from the corner of her eye. She needed to know when to pick up the shot glass to feed her courage. She'd asked the bartender for a triple-shot. This could be her only chance with Harry and she was hoping to make the most of it…she just needed a little something to build up her nerve. She knew that no amount of alcohol could make her feel more drunk than the amount of desire she'd felt for him had when they were filming. Why'd that bastard have to be jacking off before we got to kiss? She thought bitterly. Second chances… she thought when she saw Harry walk through the door. This time she intended to make the most of it.

She began to make circles on the bar with her shot glass but decided that it was more important to move the scene forward so she stopped abruptly and waited for the inevitable chair spin that would bring her face to face with Harry.

She felt it the moment he laid his hand on the chair and her heart leapt at the thought of what was to come. Harry spun her around and placed his foot on the footrest and his knee between her thighs. She could already see the nervous anticipation and longing in his eyes and her cry of “Oh!” was more real than it'd ever been. Her heart was beating rapidly and she could feel her palms beginning to sweat as she eagerly awaited what was to come.

“So, baby. What brings you here?” Harry said rapidly. All thoughts of being smooth evaded him when he turned her around and the sudden sight of her combined together lethally with his nervous anticipation of what was to come.

She licked her lips then swallowed hard. The rapid rise and fall of her chest seemed to make it difficult for her to breathe as she tried to lower her head to take in the entirety of him. Instead, she placed her hand on his knee and watched her own progress as she slid it excruciatingly slow up his thigh. The muscles in his leg quivered at her touch. Her hand was a little more than halfway up his thigh when she stopped. She stared briefly at the bulge in his pants and licked her lips again before sliding her hand back down his thigh to rest once again on his knee. Her eyes raked slowly up his body…

His hard, firm torso…

His broad chest and wide shoulders…

The strong, masculine set of his jaw combined with the rough 5 o'clock shadow made her shudder as she thought of how good it would feel if he were to rub that anywhere on her body…

His lips were so red and full and so utterly kissable that she bit her lower lip as she stared longingly at them…

His eyes were brilliant green and full of never-before-seen desire as they stared longingly into hers…

His hair, in its usual unruly state topped off the picture of what could quite possibly be the sexiest man she'd ever seen…

“Do I know you?” she asked headily when she remembered why they were there.

“I'm the guy you dream about every night,” he replied heavily.

“You know, I think you are,” she replied softly forgetting all about being in character.

Harry smiled and leaned forward to whisper, “I don't think that's what you're supposed to say.”

Hermione grabbed both sides of his jacket and pulled him down to within an inch of her. “I don't think I care,” she whispered back.

Harry grabbed hold of her hands and pulled them off his jacket so he could straighten himself. “Say the line,” he mouthed to her.

“What do you know about my dreams?” she said in a petulant voice that sounded as though she was demanding an answer from him rather than reading from the script. There was nothing sexy or sensuous in her tone and Harry stared at her questioningly.

“What difference does it make when I can see that you want me now?” he said quickly his eyes never leaving hers as he gauged her reaction and waited for her response.

Hermione took a deep breath and forced herself back into character. She'd damn near exposed her heart to him and that was the last thing she'd intended to do. He needed to fall for her on his own and not out of some inane sense of guilt because she loved him.

“What's your name stranger?” she asked breathlessly; just as she was supposed to do. She began to gently caress his calf with her foot just as was scripted.

He closed his eyes, all of his senses were reeling and the feel of her foot on his leg was almost more than he could stand. “What do you want it to be?” he somehow managed to reply.

“Only what it is,” she said softly.

Neither of them had realized that they'd come once again to within an inch of each other. Their eyes were open and each beseeched the other as they drew ever nearer. Harry tilted his head and moved slowly forward. Their lips barely brushed against each other when they both jumped back slightly as their hearts gave a quick jolt. They smiled at each other and watched as each moistened their lips with their tongue. Hermione bit her lower lip as she watched him.

Harry smiled at her. “Try that again?” he asked softly as he stared into her eyes.

Unable to speak Hermione smiled faintly and nodded.

Harry's smile faded as he closed the short distance between them and claimed her lips. This time neither jumped when they felt the jolt. The kiss deepened as they tilted their heads from one side to the other and passionately, hungrily kissed each other from different angles. After a few moments Hermione's tongue begged entry into his mouth and they both moaned the moment he opened up to her and their tongues clashed for the first time.

The patrons in the bar had been watching the scene from nearly the beginning and by now many were shifting uncomfortably in their seats as they continued to watch…unable to turn away even for a second from the scene that was playing out before them. Their lips would separate briefly when they tilted their heads and everyone in the bar watched as their tongues darted in and out of each other's mouths with reckless abandon.

Hermione's hand was on his thigh and her fingers had turned white from the amount of pressure with which she was kneading him. His hands were on her waist and he pulled her roughly forward onto the edge of the stool until she was almost sitting on his knee. Her tiny skirt was bunched up beneath her and what covered her now barely concealed what lie hidden beneath it. His knee was still between her legs and the moment her hand hit a particularly sensitive spot near his groin, his leg jerked upward and his knee rubbed against her already wet, overly-sensitized soft spot. Her loud, uncontrollable moan brought reality crashing back down on Harry and he reluctantly pulled his lips from hers. “Dear Merlin,” he said breathlessly, his chest heaving. His eyes bored into hers. “That wasn't supposed to happen.”

Hermione was having difficulty catching her breath with all the different sensations coursing through her at once. She'd felt the love already—that had been there for a long time…what she'd never felt was the desire, want, and need she felt now. She knew she had to have more…but first….

“Is that all you have to say?” she said suddenly sounding both breathless and angry. “This `wasn't supposed to happen'?”

Harry looked at her in astonishment. “Wow!” he said questioningly, his mind still reeling from the multitude of sensations that seemed to be chasing each other around throughout every part of him.

“Yeah, that's it, wow,” she said sarcastically.

“What do you want me to say, Hermione?” he said sounding frustrated. “Tell me what you want me to say and I'll say it!”

“I don't want to have to tell you what to say Harry,” she said sounding equally as frustrated, “just forget it.”

“I'm s…”

“DON'T!” she interrupted loudly. He stopped and looked at her wide-eyed. “Don't you dare say you're sorry unless you're planning to apologize for being so daft.”

“Daft? Bloody hell, Hermione,” he said wearily. “What do you want from me?”

“Nothing Harry,” she said softly. “You'd better go.” She slid the rest of the way off the barstool and looked accusatorily at her mini skirt as she attempted to adjust it. “Damn this stupid thing,” she muttered.

Everything around them, from the moment Harry walked into the bar, had disappeared. The world was theirs; no one else mattered until…

“So, you two do know each other?” Harry and Hermione both jumped at the sight and sound of the man standing within a couple feet of them. Neither had noticed him or anyone else in the bar up to that point. They looked at him curiously then together they looked around the bar and saw that all of the other patrons were staring wide-eyed at them. Both their faces turned a deep, dark red and they looked at each other in utter shock. “That was pretty intense,” the man said, “we all thought you was strangers, but you actually know each other?”

Hermione was the first to recover her senses. Staring at Harry with a look of disdain she answered the man, “We used to.” She glanced briefly at the man then turned to the bartender. “Hermione Granger. Put that on my room bill,” she said pointing to the shot glass. The bartender nodded and she turned and walked toward the exit without a backward glance.

It took Harry a moment to realize she'd just walked out on him and he went running after her. “Hermione wait!” he called when he finally got near enough to her.

She stopped walking but refused to turn around. Her head dropped and she waited for whatever was to come next. “What?” she said sounding defeated. “Harry, I'm tired. I just want to go to bed.”

“I am sorry for being so daft,” he said quickly. “But Hermione, you have to listen to me…just give me a minute, please.”

“One minute,” she said, glaring at him with hurt in her eyes.

“Hermione, you're my best friend,” he said as he walked forward to stand next to her. “When we signed on to do that stupid movie I,” he paused, unsure of whether or not to voice his thoughts, “I didn't think kissing you would make me feel like this.” He moved around to stand in front of her and lifted her chin so he could look into her eyes. “Do you realize that until tonight I hadn't even noticed you were a woman?”

“Yeah, great Harry. Thanks for that,” she said irritably, “I feel so much better now.”

“No, Hermione, I didn't mean it like that,” he paused to look at her, his eyes traveling the length of her body; down and back up until his eyes met hers. “You are very much a woman Hermione, anyone could see that. What I mean is I've always thought of you as my best friend, you know? The one I could always count on to keep me straight, keep me alive, to keep me from losing myself in the insanity that was my life. You've always been like that beautiful little 11-year-old girl I met ten years ago. Tonight, after what happened during filming, I was aware for the first time that you were not only my best friend and so much of that 11-year-old girl I've known for ten years, but that you're a woman, too. It just makes you all that much more wonderful, Hermione. So again, I am sorry for being daft.” He reached up to touch her hair and a faint trace of longing reflected briefly in his eyes. “I don't know if I'm apologizing for being daft in the way you want me to, but right now it's the only way I know how.”

Hermione closed her eyes and sighed heavily. She wanted to rest her cheek against his palm and whisper the words she'd been longing to tell him for years. Instead, she reached for his hand and pulled it down with hers. “What are you saying, Harry?”

He squeezed her hand as he shook his head. “I don't know Hermione,” he answered softly, “I really don't. I still have to think about Sandra.”

“Harry, you've been with her for, what? A few weeks? What's there to think about?” she asked wearily. “Is it that serious already?”

Harry looked at her curiously. “Hermione are you…”

She put her hand up to stop him once again. “Forget it, Harry. There's nothing I need, nothing I expect, and nothing that I…nothing that I want.” She took a step toward the elevator. If he follows me I'm not going to let him go…if he follows me I'm going to show him just exactly what kind of stuff Hermione Granger is made of!

“I have to go,” she said with finality. “Will I see you tomorrow at the shoot? Are we still going through with this?”

Harry nodded slightly. “Yeah,” he said reluctantly. “I don't think we have a choice.”

“Great,” she said bitterly, “see you then.”

She strode purposefully toward the elevator and refused to look back at him until she pushed the button to go up. He was walking slowly in the opposite direction. She turned her attention back to the elevator and as soon as the doors opened she stepped in and pressed the button for the 8^th floor. “Thank Merlin no one's here,” she said quietly.

She leaned back against the far wall and intentionally let the back of her head bang against it before she lifted her leg and placed her foot on the wall next to her knee. She nearly fell over with fright when a hand reached through the closing doors and forced them to open. “Hermione, we can't walk away like this. You have to talk to me,” Harry pleaded. “I've never left you like this before and I can't leave you like this now.”

“Are you sure you want to close that door Harry?” she asked as he released the elevator door and they began to close again.

He looked at her curiously, unable to recognize the tone in her voice. “Why?” he asked cautiously.

“I'll give you one more chance Harry,” she said in the same tone as she pressed the button for the 1st floor.

“Hermione, what…”

She put a finger to his lips. “One more chance, Harry,” she warned. “When the doors open you either get off or you stay on. The decision is yours. Either way you accept the consequences.” She leaned back against the wall once more and crossed her arms over her stomach and waited.

Harry watched her in silence as she stood staring at him, waiting for him to decide. Decide what? He wondered. He jumped when the elevator stopped and the doors slid open. He looked from the door to Hermione…she hadn't moved or changed expressions. She simply watched him.

The door began to close and he pressed the button to open them again to buy himself more time…this is Hermione, he thought, what do I have to worry about? Something in her expression, something in her stance told him that this was a big moment for the two of them.

He slowly reached out his hand and pressed the close door button…

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A/N: YAY!! It's Wednesday!! So, as promised, here is the next chapter of Cut! and Action! Let the smut begin! LOL! We hope you enjoy it! AND thank you all SO MUCH for all the wonderful reviews!! It means a lot to us!!

And now…on with our story

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Chapter 4

When the elevator doors closed, Hermione looked at Harry and took a step toward him. “Are you sure about that?” she asked one final time. He looked at the fierce passion in her chocolate brown eyes and his breathing quickened almost instantly. What in the name of Merlin is that? And why is she looking at me that way? He wondered. She took another step closer until he could feel her hot breath against his face, until he could smell her. "Um, Hermione…."

Like a woman possessed, she grabbed his shoulders and pushed him up against the wall…hard. Harry's face had taken on the deer-in-the-headlights look. "Enough games," she whispered feverishly as she pushed his jacket from his shoulders and let it fall unceremoniously to the floor. Her mouth covered his in a kiss so hot, so full of raw passion, that it not only startled him, it literally took his breath away. He couldn't suppress the moan that came from the back of his throat as she pushed her tongue through his lips and into his mouth. He raised his hands to her shoulders and for one brief moment thought to push her away. But the way she was kissing him, with such reckless abandon, was so intense he felt his knees buckling. Merlin, she's a good kisser!

Hermione pushed him into the wall and held him captive with her body. She captured one of his legs between hers and rubbed herself seductively against it. He moaned into her kiss again as he felt himself grow hard. Despite the fact that his brain was screaming, don't do it…think of Sandra, his body seemed to take on a mind of its own.

He wanted to resist…he tried to resist. Oh dear Merlin, Hermione! Don't do that! But he found that his hands, much like his mind, had seemingly taken on a life of their own. They started off losing themselves in her beautiful, long brown hair, but quickly slid south, over the curves of her waist, her hips. On their way back up, he grasped her cute little bum softly, but with enough firmness to make her quiver. Still moving further north, he opened his hands flat and brought them around to her front to slide them lightly over the swell of her breasts. She moaned into his mouth, biting down on his bottom lip roughly. This is wrong…this is so wrong…isn't it wrong? This is Hermione! Hermione Granger! Best friend Hermione! Woman Hermione!

You stupid git! If this is so wrong, then why does it feel so right? Why are you seeing explosions behind your closed eyes? Why are you harder than you've ever been before in your life? In a matter of minutes something amazing happened…a startling realization coursed through him and he pushed her away and held her roughly at arms length so he could look at her. The desire in her eyes—the need, the want, the longing, the desperation—it was all more than he'd ever dreamed he'd find in one woman and he realized in that instant that he wanted her—that he'd probably always wanted her. He wondered if he might even be in love with her. Think about that later, Potter! His inner voice advised.

With what little sense he had left, Harry reached around her and hit a button on the wall, hoping to Merlin it was the stop button. The elevator jerked from the abrupt halt and they both went tumbling to the floor. Her lips were red and swollen from the fierceness with which he'd kissed her. He needed her…wanted her…had to have her. He pulled her roughly to him and attacked her lips with brute force…push for push, kiss for kiss, bite for bite, she kept pace with him. Panting in hard breaths, she pulled out of his embrace to straddle his hips. Resting firmly against his groin, she began clawing feverishly at his clothes like a wild animal that had finally caught its prey.

That was the last straw. He couldn't take it anymore. Any lingering doubts, any I-have-a-girlfriend cares were quickly forgotten. He could no longer deny to himself what he was feeling…what they were feeling. He grabbed her head and pulled her face down to his where he kissed her hard and bit her bottom lip; maintaining very little self-control. Hermione fell against him and moaned loudly. His hands ran up and down her backside, squeezing her arse tightly while pushing his hips up to smash against hers.

Hermione grinned against his lips when she felt his erection pressed against her and she sat up once more. She reached down to pull his shirt out of his trousers and slowly slid her hands up his hard, muscled stomach, her fingers leaving trails of fire over his skin. He closed his eyes and released a shaky, raspy breath through clenched teeth. And to his disgust, his brain tried one more time to butt in…this is wrong. This has to stop.

Oh, sod off! He thought back irritably. And apparently his hands agreed as they reached up seemingly of their own accord and grasped her breasts through her shirt. She moaned and arched her back, pressing them harder into his hands. He was frustrated by the amount of fabric keeping him from touching the silkiness of her skin.

He looked up at her as she began to roll her hips and rub against his groin, riding him slowly, seductively, her head thrown back, her hands pressed heavily against his chest beneath his shirt, and her eyes closed tightly. He had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life. He grabbed her and pulled her down against him and rolled them over. She opened her lust-filled eyes and gasped when she suddenly found herself beneath him, the weight of his body pressing her into the floor of the elevator. His lips found their way to her throat where he covered every inch of her skin in slow, wet kisses, his tongue lazily tasting her.

Closing her eyes against the wild passion she felt building up in her abdomen, she wrapped her legs around him as he grinded against her. But this wasn't how it was supposed to be. She was in charge, right? Bloody right I am. She surprised him by rolling over so she was on top again. She pulled back and stared into his stunning green eyes, eyes that flashed wild with desire. Once again in the position of power, she started to roll her hips against him, harder this time, pushing down with every gyration. She threw her head back and moaned loudly when she again felt his hardness pressed against the highly sensitive spot between her legs; the spot that was burning for his touch…and so much more. Merlin, she wanted him.

Reaching up, Harry slid his hands under her shirt then slipped his fingers under her bra to pinch her nipples hard. She moaned loudly at the feel of his calloused hands against her skin and her breasts. She looked down at him without a word and still looking directly into his eyes, she reached down, grabbed the collar of his shirt, and ripped it open. The few buttons that were on it went flying, bouncing off the elevator walls. The ripping sound echoed briefly throughout the small space. Harry closed his eyes and shuddered. The flash of heat that went through him burned him in places he didn't know existed. His need for her was now well beyond his control.

She slid her hands up his stomach and bare chest, raking her nails against the flat, toned surface. She gently pinched at his nipples, making his back arch. "Oh…dear Merlin," he moaned, his voice barely a whisper. She bent over him and slowly ran her tongue up his chest. She stopped to suck hard on each of his nipples, giving them each an affectionate nip before she moved her lips up to his collarbone.

For reasons he couldn't explain he suddenly went wild. He just knew that he had never reacted this way to a woman kissing him like this. Perhaps they had never done it right, or perhaps it was because it just hadn't been Hermione. Trembling with desire, he wrapped his arms around her back and held on for dear life as she sucked hard on the spot she'd found. A spot that made his entire body quiver and break out in goose bumps.

He could swear he was getting dizzy. "Hermione…Hermione…Mione…." He kept whispering her name over and over. He was concentrating so hard on the sensations she was causing to course through him that he didn't notice she was undoing his trousers beneath her. When she pulled away from his throat, Harry moaned and looked up at her. "No, please…don't…don't stop," he breathed heavily. She only grinned and began crawling backward over him. She settled herself between his legs and when Harry realized what she was going to do, he closed his eyes and took a deep, shuddering breath. You really need to stop this.

I told you to sod off! He yelled angrily in his mind. Hermione gently pulled his trousers and boxers down off his slim hips, being careful not to upset the hard, sensitive column of flesh that now stood between his perfectly sculpted thighs. When she had the last of his clothing off, she sat back and admired him. She stared in awe at the lean hardness of his body; he was beautiful. He was certainly no longer the lanky teenager she'd met, became best friends with, and fallen in love with so many years ago. No. He was now a man, a man she desperately wanted…desperately needed. A man she adored and worshipped. Her eyes roamed the beauty of his body and landed purposefully on her intended target. His erection was definitely impressive. Wow. She thought. Who knew? She listened to him groan in painful pleasure as her thumb ever-so-lightly grazed against the head. He hissed in a breath and balled his hands into fists. Mione, don't do that! She was curious about it…and about seeing him in such a state. She would never have guessed that she could have this kind of power over him.

As she sat admiring him, Harry opened his eyes and looked at her. He was curious as to why she had stopped touching him. Their eyes bore into the each others and they shared a silent thought, although neither one of them would remember it. Or, at least not until much later.

She smiled lasciviously at him, then leaned over and took as much of him into her mouth as was physically possible, slowly running her tongue along the length of it and moaning as she felt it deep within her throat. It was like swallowing his power. When she pulled back, she very gently scraped her teeth along it, making Harry gasp in breathless ecstasy. She had never done this before and certainly didn't want to hurt him, but of course she had read many a book on the subject and had always wondered what his reaction would be.

Delirious with ecstasy, Harry reached down and buried his hands in her hair, not exactly holding her head still, but just needing to be in contact with her somehow as she moved her mouth up and down on him. The noises Harry was making were entrancing. As she worked him, she committed every single sound, every whimper, every moan to memory so she would have it forever, regardless of where they went from here.

She sucked hard on him, then ran her tongue up and down his length and watched his face as she took him back into her mouth. She repeated the actions a few more times before he came in a release so sudden and so intense it surprised them both. Her name was like a chant on his lips. Over and over he repeated it as his hips bucked, pushing himself into her mouth with ferocious intensity. Hermione had to back away slightly as he moved forward, his erection pushing so far into her throat she thought she might gag. Harry pulled at her hair, his hips pumping against her face, the sexual pain rising higher and higher until finally it ebbed and he went limp.

When she felt his hands releasing her hair and fall to the floor, she sat up and smiled down on him. Wiping the corner of her mouth with her fingers and licking from them what remained of his seed, she climbed over him and ran her hands up his chest where she gently took his beautiful, flushed face in her hands and kissed him. "Like that?" she teased.

Harry opened his eyes and looked at her. "Are you trying to kill me?" he asked heavily, his voice trembling. He pulled her head down to his and kissed her fiercely. The taste of himself on her lips made him tingle.

She smiled and stood up as he pulled up his boxers and trousers and got to his feet. He leaned heavily against the wall and closed his eyes as Hermione pushed the start button, the elevator lurching upward again. She handed him his jacket and laid her head against his shoulder.

Harry put his arms around her and hugged her tightly. "So this is your idea of rehearsing?" he asked his breathing still heavy and mildly erratic.

She giggled and kissed that sensitive spot on his collarbone which now had a dark hickey over it. He let out a pathetic whimper and she smiled. "Yes," she said simply.

Harry shook his head slowly, laying his head back against the wall of the elevator. “We should stop this, right now,” he breathed, his voice still quivering.

She looked at him. There was no conviction in his voice. None at all. She reached down and gently grabbed him through his trousers, giving him a light squeeze. “You sure about that? Remember what I said about consequences,” she warned.

He gasped and looked at her. “What's gotten into you?” he asked. He had never seen this side of his best friend before. He had never seen her so uninhibited. It was highly unlike her. But you like it, don't you?

You're bloody right I do! I just didn't think she felt his way about me.

That's why you're daft. And why she had to make the first move. Because she knew you wouldn't.

She looked up at him with eyes like he'd never seen. They were shadowed with lust, that much was obvious…but just beyond that veil was something more; something he thought he'd never see in any woman's eyes but which he'd secretly longed for, for as far back as he could remember. Something that he had hoped would someday be looking at him like it was now. She just smiled at his comment and laid her head down against his shoulder, gripping his arm tightly.

And suddenly, his indecision and the “we have to stop this” attitude were gone. It was all about them now. As perhaps it always was. “Mione?” He called quietly and she looked up at him. He opened his mouth to speak, but suddenly the words were gone. His own eyes were overcome with desire. She had taken him to heights of passion that he had never experienced…and now he wanted to do the same for her.

She looked at him carefully, as if trying to gauge if he really understood the ramifications of what he was thinking. Deciding that he did, she nodded just as the elevator reached her floor. Harry followed her out into the hallway and held her waist from behind, kissing the back of her neck tenderly as she fought with the keycard to get her room unlocked, her hands shaking. "Harry, stop it," she breathed in a voice that didn't sound anything like her own.

"Don't want to," he said as he moved his hands to the front of her shirt and unbuttoned it just enough to pull it down in the back so he could run his tongue along her shoulder blades. "You taste so good." He kissed the side of her neck and again smelled peach in her hair. "You smell so good."

She finally got the door unlocked and they literally stumbled inside. She didn't even have time to turn the lights on. He held her in his arms and kissed her tenderly, tasting her as though he wanted to taste her soul. Maybe he could. He lowered her to the ground, kicking the door closed behind them. In a heartbeat his mouth was on hers; soft, wet, passionate. His tongue explored her mouth as his fingers caressed under her clothes, setting her on fire.

She knew that this was it; she knew that they were going to do what she had dreamed of for so long. Going down on him had been so easy for her. She didn't realize how almost natural it felt to pleasure him. But where they were headed now was beyond that. This would, without a doubt, change everything. Both of their lives would forever be altered. And without conscious thought they were both naked lying on the floor. Hermione felt his flesh pressing hotly against hers. Every inch of her seemed to be covered by a piece of him.

“Harry,” she whispered quietly, desperately as she ran her hands through his hair. His hands were everywhere, touching, caressing, stroking all her most tender places, sending heat waves through her to places that she never knew existed. “Harry,” she whispered again, “make love to me. Please…please….” Her breath was coming in short, desperate gasps as her body ached for the feel of his. His naked body was pressed against hers, his erection pressed against her thigh. There were parts of her that wanted to eat him alive and parts of her that were frightened that she would lose herself in him…even though that's what she wanted most of all.

Harry looked into her eyes as he crawled between her legs. She responded to his attentions as if she were made for him. Showing remarkable restraint, he did not enter her right away. He held himself above her, then kissed and caressed her, slipping his fingers down between her legs to see if she was ready for him. And she was. He wanted her—he was in pain for her. He wanted to sink himself into that velvety wetness and never come back. But he wanted to pleasure her as she had done for him. He needed her to be pleasured. The thought of her coming for him was foremost in his mind. Harry slipped a long, rough finger into her and she gasped, arching her back and moaning from the back of her throat.

With his thumb he began to tease the little bundle of nerves hidden by her soft folds, sending waves of pleasure through her. She responded by pulling his head down to hers and kissing him with an intensity that scared her, as she begged him with her tongue to continue. He kissed down her throat to the valley between her breasts. Lightly nipping across the globes of her breasts, his tongue danced around her erect nipples and they grew harder the more he sucked, licked, and pulled at them. Hermione moaned and held his head in place. It was more pleasure than she had ever known. She knew she had to be in heaven. He began to move his kisses down her belly to that soft, wet place that was being pleasured by his fingers, but Hermione stopped him, grabbing his head and turning him to look up at her. “What?” He looked confused.

“Harry,” she said, her voice coming in short pants, “I want you inside me. Now!” Her words were adamant and final. She knew if she didn't have him inside her very soon she would simply combust from frustration.

Harry crawled back up and held himself above her on his strong arms so he could look down into her lovely face. She wrapped her legs around him and tried to pull him inside her. He claimed her mouth, kissing her with such force that the magnitude of it startled both of them. He hadn't realized it until this moment, but he wanted her more than he'd ever wanted another woman in his life. Not that he had had many lovers, but of the few he did have, his Hermione was like no other. He needed her…it was that simple. He had always needed her, but now, in this most intimate way, it went beyond mere need or lust or desire…it went beyond anything he'd ever felt. She was his everything—she was the air he needed to breath, she was the reason he lived.

“Harry,” she moaned, bringing him sharply back to their reality. Her eyes were closed, her back arched to the point that her hips met his, and he could feel it in her…she was about to lose control, just as he was. Her movements caused the tip of his erection to barely slip into the wetness between her legs and the feeling made him gasp. His self-control reached its peak and with one quick stab, he sunk into her, filling her to his hilt. With a loud, guttural groan, he lay down against her and buried his face against her neck. He was sure he had never felt anything quite as wonderful as being inside her.

She whimpered softly, her arms wrapped tightly around his shoulders. Her hold loosened as he slowly rose up on his elbows to look down at her. “You all right? D…do you want me to stop?” He managed to breathe. But even as he said the words, he wasn't sure his body would cooperate. Even if she said yes, he thought sure his body would betray him yet again. The tight wetness that surrounded him, making him lose all sense of consciousness, was driving him mad. His body wanted to shag her and shag her hard. But his mind and his heart remembered the words…slow and sweet.

“No,” she choked, looking into his concerned eyes, “it's okay Harry, really. I'm all right.”

Harry was quickly losing the control he'd forced himself to maintain. It felt so good, so tight, so wet, so warm. Hermione prodded him on by squeezing his hips with her thighs, then wrapping her legs around him. Taking her hint, he began to move inside of her, slowly at first, while he was still in control.

Hermione reveled in the feeling of having him inside her. She loved the feel of his hot breath against her neck, her breasts pressed against his chest, the little trail of hair from his bellybutton tickling her stomach.

“Hermione…” his voice was strangled. He probably wasn't even aware that he was speaking. Just as she wasn't aware that she was digging her fingers into the skin on his back. It was good, it was perfect, it was magic. Harry was pumping inside her now, slow and sweet, sending wave after wave of pleasure coursing through them both. Their limbs intertwined and their muscles strained as they came together, bodies and souls uniting. The little aftershocks of her orgasm shook her as he spent himself inside her and finally collapsed on top of her, panting hard. She wrapped her arms around him, listening to his labored breaths.

Harry became aware that he was lying with all his weight on her. And although he loved the feel of her pressed so hard against him, her breasts crushed against his chest, and her legs and arms wrapped around him, he didn't want to burden her. He reluctantly pulled out of her and rolled off, lying on his side, pulling her into his arms.

Hermione was totally limp, exhausted with the power of the orgasm he had given her. She snuggled against him, her head coming to rest under his chin. He loved the feeling of her hot breath on his chest he wanted to melt into her, to make her part of his body, part of his heart, part of his soul. For a long time the new lovers laid in each others arms trying to catch their breath.

As she felt sleep claiming her, Hermione knew that this was where she belonged—where she'd always belonged; right here, with him. She looked up at him and touched his face so he opened his eyes. “I love you,” she whispered.

It all seemed so simple to him now…too simple really. But she deserved so much more than a sudden realization brought about by the passion they'd shared. He kissed the tip of her finger and attempted a smile as he looked worriedly into her eyes. “Can I just say that I think I love you, too?”

She looked at him questioningly. "What do you mean?"

"I just mean that this has all been so overwhelming and I never expected to feel this way toward you," he said truthfully. "You know I've always loved you, but I need a little time before I tell you that I'm in love with you. I have to know that it's more than just this," he said waving his hands between their naked bodies. "It's not everyday you wake up and realize you've been a daft git. I think you deserve more than my just saying the words right now. I really do think I'm in love with you, Hermione,” she felt her heart tighten at those words, “but let's try this new aspect of our relationship out for just a little while first. Can we do that?"

She laid her head back down on his shoulder and snuggled as close to him as she could get. "Yes, Harry," she replied, "I'll take what I can get from you for now because I know the truth. You'll see."

"Thanks, Hermione," he said kissing the top of her head.

"And Harry?”

"Yeah?"

“Thanks for being so daft,” she mumbled as sleep began to overtake her, "and for coming to apologize for it."

"Best decision I ever made," he replied wrapping his arms around her tighter. He was silent for a moment, then he grinned. “You don't think there was a camera in that elevator do you?” he asked with a yawn.

“Bloody hell!” she cried as she sat bolt upright and stared wide-eyed and unblinkingly at the hotel room door.

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A/N: As promised, Make Like Strangers is happy to bring you the fifth and final chapter of Cut! And Action!. Sunday we will be posting the first of Part 2 in the series—It Can't Be All About Sex, Can It?, which will follow our favorite couple through the next part of their adventure. Join us for a surprise lunch, a bachelor party, a wedding, and a few surprises a long the way….

The support you've given us has been remarkable. We really appreciate any and all comments and reviews! Comments keep us motivated to bring you hot, erotic, and entertaining chapters as often as we do. Please take a minute to tell how you think we're doing...good or bad! We will continue to post a new chapter every other day for as long as it takes to tell our story.

Hope you enjoy this one!! And now…on with our story.

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Chapter 5

Harry awoke the next morning with a start. The first thing he was aware of was the sun shining directly into his eyes. He raised a hand to block the offending brightness, and as he did, he felt something warm and soft fall from his arm.

Gulping, he suddenly realized the previous night hadn't been a dream; he looked to his right and saw Hermione lying beside him. She was curled up next to him, a smile of contentment on her face. Her hand had slipped off his arm when he raised it. Swallowing back the panic he felt rising within him, Harry carefully slipped off the bed and shivered at the sight of his own naked body. He stood up and ran his hand anxiously through his raven hair as he watched her for a moment while she slept…fully aware of her state of undress beneath the sheet that covered her.

He looked around the small hotel room, remembering the night before when they had made love right in front of the door. Anywhere else would have been too far for them to go in their urgency. Their clothes were thrown everywhere and anywhere. He couldn't even remember how they'd gotten into the bed.

He couldn't believe the turn of events the night before. How could a simple rehearsal turn into the best night of shagging in his life? He couldn't even blame it on having too much to drink because he hadn't had even a drop of anything alcoholic. It's these bloody male hormones, he thought irritably. He looked at her again and added to his thoughts, and the feel of the most beautiful, loving, sexy little vixen…

Enough! This is Hermione...and last night changed everything. EVERYTHING!

Sod off! Harry shot back angrily to that damned little voice in his head. He refused to allow anything to change between them. He wasn't ready for it. She was his best friend; she was never supposed to be his lover.

She said she loves you.

But I never said it back, he thought morosely.

Glancing at his watch, he saw that it was 7:30; they were due at the movie shoot in an hour. Okay, first a shower and then I'll wake her up before I leave. We'll just meet again at the studio. He quickly gathered his clothes and quietly went into the bathroom.

As soon as the bathroom door clicked close, Hermione opened her eyes. She had been watching him from under her eyelashes the entire time. She'd watched him get up, walk around the room, pick up his clothes, and go into the bathroom. She smiled as she swung her legs off the bed and sat there, gathering the sheet around her. Mission accomplished, she thought with a grin. She'd wanted to know what it was like to kiss Harry…and now she knew. She knew that - and so much more.

She picked up her watch from the bedside table and gasped when she saw it was 7:30. “We have to be back at 8:30,” she said, scrambling up from the bed. The sheet trailed behind her as she walked quickly to her suitcase lying on the credenza across the room. Grabbing a pair of clean knickers and matching bra, she went into the bathroom.

Without thinking, almost like it was the most natural thing in the world to her, she pulled back the shower curtain. He looks even better in the morning, she thought. She dropped the sheet and climbed into the shower with him. She ran her hands up Harry's back. “Good morning,” she said softly as she kissed the base of his neck.

Since Harry's eyes were closed while he was standing under the water, her touch shocked him and he let out a yelp of surprise, launching the soap when he threw his hands up in the air. “Hermione…what…?” Not only had she startled him, but to say that he was unnerved by her being naked and wet in the shower with him would be the ultimate understatement.

She looked up at him with sleepy eyes. “What?”

He swallowed nervously, trying not to look anywhere but at her eyes. She wet her hair in the water that splashed from the top of Harry's head then grabbed the shampoo and raised her arms, to work it into her hair. Her breasts were pulled taut and protruded out toward his chest; he could feel his mouth watering. Bad, he thought. This is bad. “Can I get under the water, please?” she asked innocently. Unable to speak he nodded, but didn't move. “Harry?”

“What? Oh, yeah. Sorry.” He stepped aside and let her slide past him in the small space, her pert nipples just barely brushing against his chest. She did that on purpose, he thought as his eyes closed in a moment of unsettling desire. He stood at the back of the tub just watching her lean backwards to rinse the shampoo out of her hair. Her head was back, her eyes were closed, and her arms were above her head, fingers lost in her wet, soapy hair. Harry couldn't keep his eyes from straying as he watched the shampoo slide down her chest, her stomach, and her legs in narrow rivulets before it was washed away. Her breasts were so perfect, her nipples rosy. He reached an uncontrollable, shaky hand forward to touch her…

“Harry, could you hand me the soap, please?” she asked with closed eyes, her voice still sleepy - or is it dreamy?

“Um, sure,” he said shaking his head and recovering quickly. He had to reach around her to the floor of the bathtub to retrieve it from where it'd landed when he sent it flying. He nearly slipped when he tried to stand up and he leveled himself with his hand against the wall behind her. As he slowly pulled his arm back, she leaned her head toward it, letting her cheek drag along it. She opened her eyes and looked at him. “You're wet,” she whispered.

Harry gulped. His already painful morning erection, that he hadn't had time to work out before she had interrupted him, was now throbbing. And there was only one way he could think of to alleviate it…only one way he wanted to alleviate it. No! We can't do that again! We can't! He didn't even know how it had happened, but suddenly Hermione was pressed up against him running her soapy hands up and down his back. “Good?” she asked him, smiling sweetly.

Once again every consciously thinking part of him betrayed him and he could only nod. Her lips were parted, her hair was slicked back, and her beautiful, curvaceous body was slicked with suds. You can't resist her. You've had a taste haven't you? Now you want more?

Didn't I tell you to sod off?

Yeah, but a right lot of good it did you last night!

Harry closed his eyes and swallowed hard, letting out a shuddering breath as he felt her hands slide uninhibitedly down over his bum, reaching between his thighs and gently cupping his balls to give them a little squeeze. A moan escaped him and he silently cursed himself for letting the sound escape. He didn't want her to know that even her slightest touch sent him nearly reeling off into oblivion.

“You like that?” she purred, running her hands up his chest to wrap around his neck, her breasts now fully pressed against him.

Harry looked down at her, hoping to Merlin he would see in her eyes that this was just a game and that she wasn't really trying to seduce him again. His hopes were squelched when she parted her legs and straddled one of his, resting her now throbbing, aching core against his thigh and slowly sliding up and down the length of it. He was aware of every sensation she caused in him…every little touch was magnified a thousand times over. Her pubic hair tickling his thigh caused the muscles in his leg to tighten uncontrollably. The feel of her hard nipples against his chest as she moved with such reckless abandon against his thigh hardened his own nipples. The feel of her hands in his hair made his knees feel weak. The smell of the soap permeated the air and its heady scent filled his nostrils, adding to the light-headed euphoria she'd already created. The soap on their bodies made them incredibly slick and incredibly turned on.

Hermione slowly kissed his throat, all the while running her hands through his hair, which was even more of a turn on to her now that it was wet. “Harry…”

His name on her lips and the burning need for him in her eyes was all it took. His arms went against every protest that was going through his head as they snaked their way around her waist and pulled her flush against him, pressing her sex tighter against his thigh. She hissed as the tiny nub of suddenly overly-sensitized nerves was pushed against the hard muscle of his leg. “Oh, Merlin…” she moaned, rubbing herself against him. “Kiss me.” Harry couldn't tell if it was a demand or a proposition.

Regardless of her intent, he could no longer resist his burning need for her. He brought his mouth down to hers in a kiss that stole the breath from her body. Their bodies went rigid against each other as Harry pushed her up against the cold tile wall. Her mouth dragged along his neck until she came to the spot on his collarbone she had assaulted the night before. The minute her lips touched the bruised spot, Harry let out a yelp of surprise and unmitigated ecstasy.

Unable to hold back any longer, he reached down and wrapped his arms under her bum, lifting her effortlessly. Instinctively, she wrapped her legs around his waist and without another word or lingering doubt, he plunged deep inside her, slamming her relentlessly against the wall over and over. “Ah! Ahh!” she screamed against him as he pulled out and plunged inside her again. Her mouth stayed attached to that erogenous spot on his neck as he pumped in and out of her. Slow and sweet was no longer part of the agenda. Her back continuously pounded against the wall. The water fell over them, continuing to rinse the soap from their slick bodies, but doing nothing to cool the passion between them.

Less than five minutes later, they came together in an explosion of orgasm so intense Hermione actually bit down on his lip as they kissed. Somewhere in the back of Harry's brain, pain registered, but it was so overshadowed by the glorious pain of his release that he was sure he imagined it.

He carefully pulled out of her and set her down on unsteady feet. She stayed against him, not trusting her legs to hold her up. After a minute, Harry kissed the top of her head and pulled away from her. He rinsed off quickly then attempted to smile at her. “I'll let you finish,” he said and without another word got out of the shower. He grabbed a towel and quickly left the bathroom, wanting to get far away from her as fast as he possibly could. The minute the shower curtain closed Hermione dropped breathlessly to the bottom of the tub.

By the time she came out of the bathroom, Harry had magically mended his torn shirt, with the exception of a missing button or two, and was completely dressed. He was standing quietly, staring unseeingly out the window, with his hands clasped behind his back. “We have to hurry,” she commented as she pulled on her skirt. Harry knew better than to turn around. He thought it best to not know the state of dress - or undress - she happened to be in at the moment. He merely nodded. He listened as she rushed around the room behind him, pulling on her outfit from the day before, the micro mini skirt and shirt that, in Harry's current state of agitation, would not be in his best interest to see.

“Ready?” she asked, putting her hand on his shoulder. He flinched.

“Yeah,” he said and without preamble, turned and walked to the door, holding it open for her.

She watched him curiously, wondering what was going on in that wonderful brain of his. He was acting like he regretted all of it. Does he? She wondered. Because I certainly don't! She walked past him through the door and gently touched his cheek before stepping into the hallway. This time the scent of vanilla assaulted his senses and he inhaled deeply and closed his eyes for just a moment as she passed…something deep within him wanted to remember that scent. He followed her out the door and closed it quietly behind him.

He followed her to the elevator and stood in silence beside her, making sure not to stand too close, as she pushed the “down” button. As they stood there, an awkward silence fell between them. In all their years of friendship, their silences were usually comfortable and easy. This was something neither one of them had ever experienced. He does regret it, she thought miserably. But how can he when he said he might be in love with me?

The elevator door opened and he stood still and gestured for her step in first. Hermione stepped in cautiously, casting her eyes fervently about the walls and ceiling of the car. Harry couldn't resist his inward smile when he realized she was looking for the camera he'd mentioned the night before. Apparently satisfied she moved out of the way to stand against the side wall. As the door closed, he felt his body tensing as thoughts of the previous night invaded his mind. Don't think about it. It shouldn't have happened. It was just one night. That's all it was. It didn't mean anything.

Didn't mean anything? What was this morning then?

Bloody right it didn't…or did it?

I don't know. You tell me…

The elevator stopped and the doors opened. The older gentleman Harry had seen the night before entered, carrying a briefcase and an overcoat over his arm. He smiled politely at Harry and Hermione as the doors closed. As the car began to move again, he bent down to retrieve something from the floor. Hermione was busy looking for something in her purse so the man turned to Harry and held out his hand. “Yours?” he asked looking closely at Harry's shirt.

Harry looked down at the button in the man's hand and felt his face flush. “Um, no,” he said, giving the man a nervous smile. The man shrugged and set the button down, balancing it on the railing of the car. Harry's eyes never left the button and without realizing it he reached up and touched one of the few buttons he'd actually been able to find. The elevator made no more stops in its descent to the main floor lobby and when the door opened again the older gentleman gave Harry a cursory glance before he rushed from the car, obviously in a hurry.

Harry let Hermione step out first, and after affording the offensive button one more glance, he followed her out of the hotel and they walked side by side down the street to the hotel where the movie shoot was taking place. The director smiled as they approached and he quickly went over the scene with them again, obviously anxious to get started.

It took Harry a couple of takes to get back into the swing of things. He was feeling anxious about having to kiss Hermione and then walk out of the bar with her as though nothing had happened between them the previous night. Hermione was brilliant. She'd been waiting for so long for something to happen with Harry that she was ecstatic over the events of the previous night and that morning. When Harry finally realized he'd have to keep kissing her over and over if he didn't at least make an attempt to get it right, his focus returned and he nailed his part. This time when the director yelled “Cut!” the onlookers and film crew burst out in thunderous applause. Hermione blushed furiously while Harry, despite being no less than monumentally anxious, looked rather pleased with himself. That wasn't so bad now was it?

Not after you finally pulled your head out of your arse and decided to make the most of it…nope not so bad, then!

For the rest of the day filming went along at a leisurely pace. Although they were the stars of the movie, there was very little they needed to do that afternoon and once they finished, they were dismissed for the day. Harry quickly said goodbye to Hermione, told her that he'd see her in the morning, and then left the studio to head to his own hotel in the opposite direction of hers.

Hermione stood and watched him walk away. Give him time, she told herself. You know the truth, just hang in there a little while longer. He'll figure it out. After a minute she turned and walked in the direction of her own hotel.

When Hermione got back to her hotel she stepped into what she'd come to think of as `their' elevator and pressed the number 8 to go up to her room. Something glittering in the corner of the car caught her eye. Upon closer inspection, she realized that it was a button from Harry's shirt. She picked it up and caressed it between her fingers, smiling fondly at the memories of the previous night with him. As the elevator door opened to her floor she smiled knowingly and put the button into her purse. Harry may be having second thoughts but she certainly wasn't. Every determined woman has a plan and one way or another she'd devise one…

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