Chapter 2
Harry no longer knew what to think, how to feel, or how to act. Hermione had consumed so much of him in the last few days that he couldn't quite fathom any longer how to function without some conscious thought of her invading his mind.
He wanted to be angry with her for what she'd done to him during his lunch with Sandra. He never actually saw her because she was hiding under the invisibility cloak, but his lack of fear at the feel of her touch had been all the confirmation he'd needed. The moment her hands touched him under the table he knew it was her…no one else could burn him the way she could.
He'd tried all week to avoid her. He knew he wasn't ready to give her what she needed or deserved. She wanted-she deserved-all of him and after all these years, he still didn't know how much of him there was left to give. He wanted to talk to her and at the same he didn't. He wanted to hold her and at the same time he didn't. He vacillated back and forth to such great extremes that he literally could no longer tell whether he was coming or going.
He'd been reminded four times in the last two days that tonight was Ron's bachelor party. If Harry wasn't the best man he would've found a way to bow out. He needed seclusion. He needed to think. And damn it - he needed her.
He still didn't know if it was love. It was definitely something…but love? He'd always loved her-that's the one thing he knew for fact, but it'd never been the kind of love a man has for a woman. She'd been his best friend for ten years, and they'd seen damn near everything in all the time they'd been together. He'd never considered what they hadn't seen…it had never seemed a viable option. Until now.
Sex with Hermione had been so far beyond anything he'd ever thought imaginable. If sex could get any better than it'd been the few times he'd had it with Hermione, he'd be envious of the guy having it. But there had to be more to it than just sex. He could see himself getting addicted to it with her and that's what frightened him the most. He already longed to feel himself inside her again…to burn her with his kisses the way she did him…to trail is hands down the sensuous curves of her body…to make her cry out his name in ecstasy…to trace the line of her collarbone with his wet, hot tongue…DAMN IT Potter! It can't be all about the sex!
But sex is a good starting point.
But it's not enough!
Why not? You like it. She likes it. She hasn't asked you for any more than you're willing to give emotionally. Tell me what's wrong with that.
She deserves more.
Why?
Harry froze for a moment as he contemplated the reasons why she deserved more. "There are too many reasons to list," he answered aloud.
Try.
"Because there's never been anyone like her," he said.
Never?
"Never."
What else?
"She's always been there for me; even when I wasn't there for her. She's stood by me through everything. She fought back when I was angry, she never hid in the corner and she never backed down until she knew that I was ready to listen to reason. She's been my rock. She's…" he paused.
Yes?
"…been my everything," he said quietly.
What now?
Harry fell heavily upon the bed and slammed his hands against the mattress. "I don't know," he said shaking his head slowly. "Damn it! What now?"
Do you love her?
"Yes…no…I don't know," he shouted, running his hands feverishly through his hair.
What do you know?
"She's driving me in-bloody-sane," he said sharply, articulating every syllable. "I'm talking to myself. I can't think straight. She haunts my dreams. I can't put two thoughts together without some tiny thing…the smell of her hair…the way she looks while she sleeps…the way her hair tickles my nose when she's lying in my arms…"
You've got it bad.
"Bloody hell," he said as he finally conceded victory to whomever it was that lived inside his head. "I can't even win an argument with myself," he muttered.
Who's arguing?
Just shut it!
Harry glanced at the clock on the bedside table. Ron's party would be starting in just a few hours. He set the alarm for one hour, placed his glasses on the table, and lay down on the bed with his arm across his eyes. It didn't take long for sleep to overcome him.
"Harry, what are you doing?" she asked, her laughter filling the room with the light, airy sound of music.
"I'm dancing," he replied with a serious look of concentration on his face.
"Is that what they're calling it these days?" she teased.
He stopped moving and placed his hands on his hips in mock frustration. "You know, if you don't stop making fun of me, I'm not going to dance for you ever again," he warned.
"Okay, Harry," she replied, trying valiantly to refrain from giggling.
"Okay what, Hermione?" he asked. His eyebrows were raised in question as he stood in all his naked glory, staring at her with his penetrating green eyes. "Okay you'll stop making fun of me or okay that I don't dance ever again?"
"I'm not making fun of you Harry. I love to watch you dance," she said rising from the bed. She stood before him and placed her hands on his hips. "But I love dancing with you even more," she said provocatively as she slowly began to sway her hips back and forth.
Harry's hands were at his sides and he stood stock still as he watched her, mesmerized by the sight of her fluid movements. Her eyes were locked with his as she began to move her arms, forcing his hips to move in time with hers. She rotated their hips in slow, small, languorous circles. She pulled him closer and his hands went automatically to her hips. He exerted little pressure on her as he set her pace…their bodies gently bumping against each other as their hips began to rotate in larger circles. Harry raised one hand to the side of her head. She closed her eyes and nuzzled his hand as their bodies continued the dance without them. He watched her closely. He could see the longing in the lines of her face and in the way her eyes closed as she moved her head slowly against his palm.
Without opening her eyes she licked her lips and turned her head to kiss his palm. The kiss was followed by an affectionate nip with her teeth. Harry felt the affects of it throughout the entire length of his body before it settled in his knees and he stumbled slightly. She opened her eyes and turned slowly to face him, her smile seducing him…making him forget everything but her and the feelings she aroused in him. He waited, briefly, for a sign from her. This was her dance now…he was merely a willing participant.
Once more she pulled him closer until his hips were flush against her torso. He could feel his erection against her lower stomach and the increased intensity of her movements. Swing it left…Swing it right…Circle left…Circle right…
Every now and then her breasts would rub against his ribs causing her nipples to harden further with each contact. Her hands remained on his hips with an occasional detour to squeeze his arse. The hand he had on her hip had moved lower to knead the soft skin between her hip and her arse. Up and down his hand went as he slowly, gently massaged her. The hand he'd placed behind her head was massaging her with a little more intensity. The more she moved her head or licked her lips or breathed heavily of the air around them, which caused her chest to rise higher against him, the more intense the kneading became.
His breathing was becoming shallow and deep breaths had become a thing of the past as he watched her. She was swaying in his arms, her eyes closed and her head back, resting heavily against hand. The arm near her hip gave an involuntary lurch and she stumbled slightly when he pulled her nearer, forcing her instantly back to reality.
She raised her head and opened her eyes, looking longingly at his lips. Without raising her head her eyes traveled upward to meet his, seeking his permission. She licked her lips in anticipation as she stared into his eyes. He nodded nearly imperceptibly and pulled her to him. Just before their lips met, he licked his own. The effect of his wet, hot lips against hers caused her to stumble against him once more. Her knees were weak and she wrapped her arms around him, spreading her palms against arse.
The intensity of the kiss grew exponentially in a matter of seconds until they were leaning against each other for support. He moved his hand from her hip to the middle of her back where he continued his ministrations. The hand on her head pulled her harder against him. Together they opened themselves up to each other. Their tongues caught in the dance their bodies had been in only a moment ago. Hermione released his lips with a loud, gasping sigh and placed her lips against his collarbone. She quickly kissed her way up his collarbone and his neck to the base of his ear where she stopped and briefly suckled his earlobe. "Sweet Merlin that feels good," he breathed heavily. She smiled against his ear and kissed her way along his jaw line until she reached his chin. She pulled her head back and looked into his eyes, heavy with desire. He pulled her head once more and claimed her lips in a desperate, fiery kiss. He grabbed handfuls of her hair and let it cascade from his fingers, occasionally he pulled her tighter against him to deepen the kiss.
He grabbed a handful of her hair and pulled her away from him gently. She was breathing heavily, her eyelids nearly closed from the weight of desire, and her parted lips were red and swollen. Slowly she raised her questioning eyes from his lips until they locked with his. He leaned down to within an inch of her and kissed her cheek on his way to her ear. She could feel his hot breath as it trailed along her cheek and settled in her ear as he whispered, "Are you ready?"
Her body collapsed against his as his words weakened her limbs. "Yes," she replied breathlessly, "take me."
In one swift movement he picked her up and carried her limp body to the bed. He laid her down gently then walked to the end of the bed and stood watching her. Her body was trembling with need for him. Without the warmth of his body she shivered, and as she watched him stand above her a small, soft whimper escaped her.
He looked at her as though he were contemplating where to start. His eyes slowly traveled the length of her body and again she shivered, although this time she remained silent.
Harry knelt down on the floor and grabbed her foot in both his hands. He gently massaged it and planted a kiss on each of her toes before he moved to the next foot and did the same. Hermione's back was arched and she was holding tightly to the blanket as the sensations he was causing traveled up her body. Next he placed his tongue at the top of her foot and slowly slid it upward until he reached her knee, while his hands massaged along the same path up the back of her calf. Her body was his and she was at his mercy. He followed the same pattern with her other leg.
When he finished, he spread her legs and kneeled between them on the bed. Gently he raised one leg and placed a kiss behind her knee. Her sharp intake of breath and the moan that escaped her confirmed for him that he was providing her with the pleasure he'd wanted for her. He lowered her leg and turned slightly to raise the other. He placed a kiss behind her knee and followed it with a light trailing of his fingers down the length of her thigh. She bucked at the feel of his touch on her arse. He lowered her leg and placed a hand on each thigh and slowly, intensely, kneaded his way up until his thumbs met near her throbbing core. Her body trembled uncontrollably and she moaned louder. "Please," she begged breathlessly.
Harry placed his forearms beneath her knees and spread her legs further apart until she lay wide open before him. Her hands still clutched the blanket tightly. She alternated between raising her head to look at him and slamming it back down against the bed as the effort became too much for her to bear. He lowered his head and kissed each of her inner thighs in turn and her legs quivered uncontrollably against his face. She was on the brink of coming and he hadn't yet touched any of her more sensitive places.
His hands were still under her thighs and he raised his arms until her thighs and arse rested heavily atop them; his hands next to her sides. He straightened his legs and lowered his head until his mouth came in contact with her aching, wanting sex. He kissed and licked and suckled her for only a brief moment before she grabbed his hands and held on tightly as wave after wave, pulse after pulse of her orgasm screamed through her. Her body was trembling uncontrollably and Harry licked and suckled her harder and faster as her cries echoed throughout room. At last her hold on his hands loosened and she lay spent against the mattress, the occasional shudder causing the muscles in her thighs to contract.
Harry pulled his arms from beneath her and crawled up her body. He shifted his weight to one side of her and lay down heavily against her so he could watch her. Her face was flush and her breathing. He smiled gently at her and raised his hand to caress her cheek.
He'd never forget the look in her eyes. Pure ecstasy…bliss…contentment…love.
She opened her mouth to speak, "Harry that was…"
BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP
"What?" Harry yelled. "It was what?"
BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP
Harry began to struggle against imaginary bindings as the image of him and Hermione began to fade away. "Wait!" he yelled, trying desperately to cling to whatever piece of it he could. "What the hell is that?" He placed his hands to his ears in an attempt to block out the offending noise. Unable to do so, he flung his arms out and immediately felt the contact with the alarm clock. The sound of it banging against the wall finally brought him out of the dream, and back into the harsh reality of a lonely hotel room.
He lay staring at the ceiling for a moment as the last vestiges of his beautiful dream slipped away from him. Slowly he swung his feet over the side of the bed as he rolled around sideways, his back still against the mattress. He began to sit up slowly when he felt the raging hard-on pressing tightly against pants. He looked down and saw a small, wet stain on his trousers.
"Bloody hell," he muttered, still not fully recovered from his dream haze. He wiped his hands over his trousers in disgust, then stood up and pulled his clothes off on the way to the shower. I need a good, cold shower right about now anyway, he thought as he pulled back the shower curtain and turned the water to freezing.
He needed to hurry if he was going to make it to Ron's bachelor party on time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hermione had had a long tiring day. She'd finally returned to her hotel room where she'd received a desperate message from Luna practically pleading with her to dance at Ron's bachelor party because she didn't want other women 'tempting her man'. Hermione had to laugh at that. Ron was cute, but hey…he was no Harry Potter.
Her heart sank briefly at the thought of Harry as she sat down heavily on the bed. What she'd done the day before may have been a bit extreme, but sometimes desperate times called for desperate measures. She certainly hadn't intended to embarrass him. She'd only wanted to *remind* him…or at least that's what she insisted upon telling herself. Truth be told, after the first time in the elevator, she needed to feel him again. She'd been finding herself longing more and more for the taste of him-any taste. His lips, his skin, his cock…it didn't matter. All of it lingered in her memory and she nearly salivated whenever she thought about it.
She'd been dreaming about him more than she ever had. She'd been in love with him for at least the last four years, and he'd been a part of her dreams long before she'd ever realized she was in love.
At the time, Hermione had reluctantly sent a reply to Luna, accepting the request for her to dance. Now, as she thought about it, she realized it must have been fate intervening with their lives. Luna didn't want strange women tempting her man and neither did Hermione. Oh, Harry may not be her man in the 'let's be together always' sort of way that Ron was Luna's, but she sure as hell wasn't going to just hand him over to some floozy either. She was convinced that Harry was just as in love with her as she was with him, but he was, after all, still a man. After what'd happened with him the day before when she could've been anyone under that table, she wasn't about to take any unnecessary chances. Oh yes, she'd dance…better than she ever had in her life.
Initially the reason she'd said yes was because Luna had told her that Ginny, Lavender, and Parvati had agreed to do it as well. She laughed now because she could clearly picture Luna telling each of the girls that the others had already agreed so that none of them would hesitate to say yes! No worries. She'd be there to watch Harry and for that she owed Luna big time.
The girls were to meet in a few hours in one of the rooms of Malfoy Manor to get ready. Apparently there was a seldom used side entrance where they would be entering unseen by the all the young gentlemen in attendance. Hermione had no idea what kind of costumes they were wearing or anything else. She only knew she had to be there by 7:00 because they were dancing at 9:00. Two hours to get ready? She sighed. What on earth does she have planned for us?
Of the guys, only Draco knew the truth of where the girls were coming from. Ordinarily that would've been left up to Harry since he's the best man; however, with Harry away shooting the movie, the party preparations had been left up to the others. Luna had told her in the message that Draco thought the guys' reactions to discovering who the dancers were would be a 'superb way to get a little light-hearted revenge on those Gryffindor gits'.
Hermione smiled at the thought of having the party at Malfoy Manor. It wasn't long ago that Ron would've rather hexed himself into oblivion then to have anything to do with Draco Malfoy. But something happened with Draco about a year after they'd left Hogwarts. Something none of them had been able to explain or to thoroughly understand. It was right around the time that Ginny completed school. Her final year had done amazing things for her socially and mentally…as well as physically. She was quite stunning and well-liked by many. To the best of everyone's knowledge, none of this went unnoticed by Draco Malfoy. He'd always sought the best and he'd gone after Ginny with a vengeance. When he realized that she wouldn't give a man like him the time of day no matter how much money he had or how luxuriously he could spoil her, he decided to become a different man. His transformation was slow in coming, but somewhere along the way Ginny realized how much he really did love her and she helped him to become the Draco Malfoy they all enjoyed today. He was gracious and unselfish most of the time but most importantly, he took amazing care of Ginny. Realizing that a leopard can't truly change his spots, he wasn't totally trusted by everyone in the Weasley family-or by Harry-but he was well on his way to being.
When he and Ginny became an official couple, Draco began his new quest to marry her. Hermione remembered clearly the day that they were all gathered at The Burrow and Draco had asked yet again. Ginny put her hand in the air with her fingers splayed. "Five years Draco. Five," she'd said with a patient, affectionate air. "I don't want to get married until we've been together five years. I've told you that." Draco smiled and pulled her into his arms and loud enough for all of them to hear he said, "It doesn't mean I'll stop asking."
That was a little over a year ago and Ginny was still holding firm although they did practically live together at Malfoy Manor. It was the reason the bachelor party was being held there. Draco and Ginny both wanted the family to understand, and to see, just how happy they were. Hermione was glad for it since it meant she wouldn't have to dance in any place public. In this more private setting, although surrounded by friends, she could relax a little more and have fun with it.
She jumped up from the bed, suddenly feeling restless and excited. I wonder what Harry would do if I went to see him, she wondered. "I do need to return his cloak."
She had a couple of hours to kill before she had to jump in the cab to The Leaky Cauldron. From there she would apparate to Malfoy Manor. She grabbed Harry's cloak, folded it neatly, then placed it in a bag and proceeded out the door. She wasn't sure when Harry had to leave to make it on time to the party, but she was sincerely hoping he'd be there when she knocked on his door.
Why didn't they just put us up in the same place? She wondered frustratingly as she walked the distance to Harry's hotel. Damn low budget movies anyway! For the most part it didn't take long; the studio where they were filming was placed strategically between the two hotels. Hermione vaguely remembered the director mumbling something about how dangerous it was to have co-stars spending too much time together. He liked to keep his actors apart outside the set as much as possible. The separation builds up sexual tension, or some such nonsense…build that up anymore and that movie set is likely to explode, she thought with a laugh.
She entered his hotel and headed straight for the elevator and the 6th floor. As she was stepping out she caught sight of Harry closing the door to his room and heading toward her. His head was down and he didn't see her standing there. He looked delicious in his snug fitting black jeans and dark gray shirt. The sight of his well-sculpted shoulders, the outline of his chest, and the narrowing of his hips nearly took her breath away as he walked toward her with long, purposeful strides. His messy black hair had seemed to get more unruly through the years and her fingers twitched as she yearned to run them through the luxurious softness.
She shook her head and managed to pull herself out of her Harry-induced stupor. "Hi Harry," she said in as calm a voice as she could manage considering she wanted to jump on him right then and there. Harry stopped dead in his tracks and stared at her, momentarily lost for words. Hermione held up the bag and said, "I wanted to return this." Her face was flush and her head and eyes slightly downcast as she held the bag up to him.
"Oh," he paused to clear his throat, "um…hi…uh thanks," he stammered reaching to take the bag from her. Like hers, his cheeks were flush as memories of the last time that cloak was used flashed through his mind. He started to turn to walk away from her before he realized he should say something else. He turned his head back to look at her standing close to the elevator door with her head down, like a child who'd just been punished. A part of him wanted to go to her but he knew there was no time, so he said, "I'd um…I'd ask you in but…um…" he paused and laughed nervously, "but…uh…I really have to…have to get going. Ron's um…Ron's bachelor party is tonight and if I don't leave soon I'll be late," he hurriedly finished.
Hermione smiled inwardly, oh yes, Harry, she thought, I know all about that bachelor party tonight. She cleared her throat before she replied. "Oh, well um, all right then. No worries. I'll just um," she pointed toward the elevator, "I'll just go back to my hotel then. Have fun, Harry," she added before she pressed the down button on the elevator.
"Well, all right then," he said sounding relieved. "I guess I'll see you later."
Hermione nodded and offered him a half-smile. She turned to face the elevator doors and watched him from the corner of her eye. I'll be seeing you much sooner than you think Harry. You can count on it!