A/N: Okay, I (Terri) have to apologize. It is the intent of the MLS team to post chapters one after another within a couple of day's time. This chapter was not supposed to take as long as it has. I jumped the gun on posting the first chapter, and have suffered the consequences of my actions. Finally, it is here though…and it is long. Hopefully that'll make up a little bit for taking so long to post.
Special thanks goes out to Sara for eagerly accepting the challenge of getting Harry and Hermione through all of the airport scenes…as well as getting Harry to the hotel. Thank you, Miss Sara. You have no idea how much that was/is appreciated.
Additionally, and on a more personal note, I'd like to thank Devin for being my math beta for my final exam. I honestly didn't think I'd missed THAT many! LOL Thanks, Devin.
And finally, my thanks goes out to Cindy…my lovely and patient and wonderful partner in writing. I think it's been slowly killing her that it has taken so long to get this chapter written. BUT…I begged her to let me write this and she patiently waited for me to finish.
Ordinarily I wouldn't say who wrote what, but seeing as how the delay is mine…I want you all to get a heartfelt apology from me. Cindy is in no way responsible for this delay.
And now, on with the chapter - we do both hope that you enjoy it.
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Chapter 2 - It's Only Two Days
The flight was long and uneventful. Harry had tried to close his eyes on numerous occasions to avoid talking to the guy next to him. It worked, for a short time. However, after the in-flight film, the guy felt it necessary to talk about the negative impact the violence in the film would have on society. Harry wanted so badly to whip out his wand and shout "Silencio" at the top of his lungs. It was nearly 40 minutes later, and after countless nods and "mm-hmms," from Harry, that the guy had finally shut up. Harry was grateful well beyond comprehension and he slumped down further in his seat. He was wallowing…and he wanted to do it alone.
The moment the plane landed, Harry grabbed his carry-on and jumped up, ready to de-board. Hermione had bought him a first-class ticket so he didn't have far to go to reach the exit and he took full advantage of his proximity. Seconds after the doors were opened, he was off and running.
He immediately headed for baggage claim to retrieve his bags before he walked out into the balmy afternoon in search of the resort's shuttle. After locating it, he climbed aboard, laid his head back, and closed his eyes as he waited in silence for the other passengers to board. They were all a little too excited for the way he was feeling, and he was relieved when the shuttle finally started moving. At the moment, he was picturing Hermione as he'd seen her just before she boarded her own plane and he released a heavy sigh. He opened his eyes and looked around him at the view. He could already see that the island was spectacular, and the sight of it made him miss her even more. It just wasn't a place he wanted to be, for any length of time, without her.
The couple in front of him- newlyweds it appeared, judging by their lip-lock- were taunting him mercilessly. The scene they were making was quite annoying in his present state of mind. He sat back and looked out the window again. Then, he chuckled to himself when he realized that he and Hermione must have looked much the same way while they were playing `strangers'. He wished she was with him now. His two days without her had only just begun, and he was already going mad.
Harry checked in at the registration desk immediately upon arrival. A bellhop offered to help him with his bags, but he kindly declined the offer and made his way to his room. When he got there, he was greeted with a breathtaking view of the beach from a large bay window that covered nearly one-third of the outer wall. After setting down his bags, he walked over to the window and looked out. It was mid-afternoon and the weather was perfect…the water beautiful. He watched as couples walked hand-in-hand along the shore. He walked away from the window and flopped down on the bed. He was tired, frustrated, and restless. He didn't know if he wanted a nap, a drink, a swim, or a quick little apparate to check up on Hermione. Merlin, he missed her.
After some debate, he decided upon a nice cold shower. He got up and walked to the suitcase to find something to wear. At the top of the pile were some of Hermione's things. A bittersweet smile swept across his face and he sat down heavily on the bed. He picked up the top to his favorite of Hermione's bikinis and let the tiny bit of material fall through his fingers. It was soft and silky and, although he'd only seen her in it the one time she'd modeled it for him, he loved the sight of her in it. He closed his eyes and easily envisioned her lying on the beach, sunning herself in it. "Bloody hell, Harry," he chided himself, then he groaned, "I need a drink."
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
"What? What do you mean it's canceled? Why wasn't I told it was canceled? Do you realize I could be in the Caribbean right now? Instead of here…with, with this!" Hermione was at the peak of her frustration; any more and she'd surely be screaming. "Bloody hell," she muttered in exasperation.
"We're very sorry, Miss Granger," the old witch replied. "We weren't aware that we'd missed contacting anyone. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience. However, we do recommend when you sign up, that you floo in advance to be sure that the conference hasn't been canceled."
Hermione was seething. "So, are you telling me then, that this happens often? That it happens so often that I have to floo you people to find out whether or not it's a go?" Hermione closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and slowly counted to ten. When she felt that she had her temper at a much more controllable level, she opened her eyes and glared at the woman. "Tell me, am I the only one that didn't get notified?" she asked through clenched teeth.
The old witch looked down and fidgeted with some papers that were lying on the table. After a moment she looked back up, clearly embarrassed by what she was about to say. "Actually, Miss Granger, you are not alone. Apparently we missed contacting yourself and at least six others. It was when we received the first message that someone had come to check in that I was dispatched here in the event there were others."
"Brilliant," Hermione muttered. "Flight doesn't leave for two days. I'm stuck here with nothing to do, while he…" she stopped when her thoughts once again drove her to the point of anger. "URGH!"
"Is it possible for you to get an earlier flight home? Or perhaps the…Caribbean, did you say?"
Hermione looked at her, her eyes suddenly gleaming at the prospect of seeing Harry sooner than she'd thought. "Maybe," she said softly.
She gathered her things and walked away without another word. She left the hotel and hailed a cab to take her back to the airport. When she arrived, she practically ran to the ticket counter. "Hello," said a male clerk from behind the counter. "How may I help you?"
"Hi, I need to change the date of my flight, please," Hermione said hurriedly.
"All right," he replied. "That should be easy enough. I'll need your old ticket, and a photo ID, please."
Hermione pulled out her ticket and her identification and handed them to him.
"Thank you...Miss Granger. Oh, the Caribbean!" he said, reading her ticket information. "Sounds fun."
"I'm more than sure it will be," Hermione said, grinning at the thought of surprising Harry two days early. This was definitely going to be fun.
"Alright, what flight can I put you on?" he asked, breaking Hermione out of her reverie. "And will that be coach or first-class?"
"Whatever's available today," she replied quickly. She waited as the man checked the schedules. He was tall and pale with platinum blonde hair. He could nearly have passed for Draco Malfoy.
"Hmm," he said. "Well, we have a flight that leaves in about three hours, first-class. How does that work for you?"
"Perfect," Hermione said, smiling. "That's great!"
"Alright then, I'll arrange that for you now."
"Thank you! You're the best...Andrew," she said, reading his name tag, still smiling.
"Ah, I try," he replied, laughing lightly. A few minutes later, Hermione was all set to go.
"Thank you, Andrew," she said gratefully, taking her ID and newly acquired ticket from him.
"Anytime. Have a nice flight and enjoy your stay in the Caribbean."
"Oh, I will," she replied, grinning mischievously. "Thanks again."
Hermione walked away from the counter to look at her new flight information. She needed to be at gate 207 by 4:30. She looked down at her watch and saw that she had at least two hours to spare. She decided to get a cup of coffee in the food court. After getting her coffee, she sat down at a little table in the corner so she wouldn't be bothered. Well, at least she thought she wouldn't be bothered. Hermione had enjoyed about ten minutes of peace while she read a Muggle newspaper she picked up, when out of the blue a strange man from across the way began making lewd gestures and looking at her as though she was a lollipop. She turned her back and attempted to ignore him as she continued reading her newspaper.
Within seconds, the man began walking toward her. Hermione rolled her eyes, turned the page of her newspaper, and shook it loudly, all the while, pretending not to notice how close the man had gotten.
"Hello luv," he drawled.
Hermione looked up at him with disdain. "Excuse me?" she asked irritably. "Do I know you?"
"Would you like to?" the man asked, sitting down in a nearby empty chair.
"Not really," she replied incredulously. "Do you mind? I'm trying to read here." She turned her back to him and resumed her reading, her senses on high alert.
"Oh, come on luv," the man persisted, placing a hand on her arm. She flinched and pulled away, giving him a derisive look. "Don't play hard to get. Let's say you and I go get a drink at the bar."
"Who the bloody hell are you?" Hermione bellowed, turning around and sneering at him. For the first time she caught a whiff of stale alcohol that seemed to permeate the air. "You stink, you know that?" she said, her nose crinkled in disgust.
"Come on, luv, I'm the man of your dreams. You want me, I can see it in your eyes," he said, picking up Hermione's hand and pulling it toward his lips. Hermione yanked it back quickly before his lips could touch her.
"What you see in my eyes is loathing," she said scathingly. "You're sick, and I am far from interested."
"Oh, come on. You don't even know me yet."
"Bloody hell," she said loudly in exasperation. "I don't have to know you. I just have to smell you to know I'm not interested. I'm only going to say this one more time…leave me alone," she warned.
In his inebriated state, the man moved closer and placed his hand on her thigh.
"GET YOUR HANDS OFF ME!" Hermione shouted, giving him a deadly glare. "You have no idea what I could do to you, do you?" she threatened in a voice just above a whisper.
Suddenly, from out of nowhere, Andrew appeared and hit the man square in the jaw, knocking him backward off the chair. "Are you alright?" he asked, turning to check on Hermione.
"Yes," she said, her voice trembling with anger. Andrew sat on the newly vacated chair and placed his foot on the drunken man's chest until the security guards came and placed him in handcuffs. Hermione was furious with herself for getting so worked up, and furious with the guy on the floor for making her feel that way. She concentrated hard on him as the security guards escorted him away. Suddenly, his pants split straight down the middle and he fell forward, flat on his face. Hermione chuckled to herself and Andrew tapped her on the shoulder.
"Nice," he said, laughing himself.
"What?" Hermione asked, a look of innocence on her face.
"You're pretty good at wandless magic, Miss Granger," he whispered.
Hermione looked at him in shock. "Y…you're a…"
"I'm a squib."
"Oh...so that's why… "
"Why I work in an airport, yeah. I thought I recognized you earlier. Knew for sure, of course, when I saw your name."
"Yeah. Do you mind not telling anyone where I'm going?"
"Don't worry, my lips are sealed."
"Thanks, Andrew," Hermione said gratefully. "For everything. I'm not sure what I would've done to that guy if you hadn't shown up when you did."
"No problem, Miss Granger," he said with a slight bow of his head. "I'd say anytime but, well…" he stopped and rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, I know," Hermione replied, laughing. She looked down at her watch. "Better get to my gate, I think. Probably safer there, anyway." She stood up and took a few steps forward, she paused to look back at Andrew. "Thanks, again. I'll see ya."
Andrew smiled and gave a little wave. He remained in his chair, watching over her, until she was finally out of sight.
When she arrived at the gate she found a seat in the corner where she could lay her head back against the wall and close her eyes. She was picturing Harry's look of surprise when she showed up early, a devilish grin forming on her face. She slowly raised her head and looked around. Spotting the phones, she dug through her purse to locate Harry's credit card and the number to his hotel.
"…how may I help you?"
Hermione had been distracted as the hotel clerk answered the phone and his voice took her by surprise. "Oh, um, Harry Potter's room, please," she said quickly.
"One moment, ma'am," the clerk replied, "I'll connect you."
"Thank you," she said anxiously.
As she waited, she began to chew her thumbnail anxiously. After a moment she yanked her thumb from her mouth and took a couple of deep, cleansing breaths.
"Hello?"
"Hi Harry, it's me," she said excitedly. "How are you?"
"Hermione, what're you doing? I didn't expect you to call until later," Harry exclaimed, excited to hear her voice.
Hermione looked around at the hustle and bustle of the airport and smiled. "Well, nothing's really started yet, so I thought I'd give you a call. I was hoping you'd be in your room. What's your room number, anyway? It'd be easier just to dial the extension next time." Her heart starting beating faster and she hoped that the tremble she heard in her own voice couldn't be heard on his end of the line.
"I'm in 306, there's a beautiful view of the beach from here. I can't wait until you get here. Two days, huh?" he asked, his voice dropping considerably.
"Two days," she confirmed. "It's not long. I'll be there before you know it." Her smile grew wider and she thought she might burst with excitement and ruin everything. She needed to cut their conversation short before she said something she'd regret. "I really just wanted to let you know that I got here safely, and I wanted to make sure that you got there okay. I'll give you a call back tomorrow, okay? We have a welcome dinner that I have to get ready for right now. I love you, Harry."
Harry sighed. "I love you, too, Hermione. I'll talk to you tomorrow, then."
"Tomorrow, Harry," she said softly. "Sweet dreams."
Harry chuckled sardonically. "Yeah, right. Sweet dreams. Have fun."
Hermione hung up the phone and rested her head against the side of the telephone booth. A great part of her felt guilty for her deceit, but she knew it would be worth it in the end.
She stood there for a moment, thinking about her plan. She picked up the phone and dialed again. She began to rummage around in her purse as the phone rang on the other end. She dropped the phone and scrambled to pick it up. "…may I help you?" The voice asked.
"Yes, hi," Hermione breathed heavily in reply. "I'd like to make a reservation, please."
"For what dates?"
"Tonight," she replied anxiously. "Anything you have available. My flight gets in at 1:00 am."
"It appears as though all we have is a honeymoon suite. Will you be traveling alone?"
"At first," she replied, chuckling softly to herself.
"A honeymoon suite might be a bit much for just one person, but it is the only thing we have available. Would you care to reserve it?"
"Yes, it's perfect, thank you," Hermione replied. Over the next few minutes she gave the reservations clerk her credit card number and all the pertinent information he would need to make the reservation for her. "I'll need the hotel shuttle to be at the airport when my flight arrives."
"Yes, ma'am. 1:00 am, you said, correct?"
"Yes, that's right, 1:00 am," she confirmed. She wrote down the directions for where the shuttle would meet her once she left baggage claim and she made her way back to the terminal to anxiously await the flight that would take her to Harry.
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Harry spent the remainder of the afternoon wandering up and down the beach and wading in the water. The weather was beautiful and the water felt warm, but he couldn't find the enjoyment in it that should've been there. He was ready to close his eyes and call it a night. Everywhere he looked he saw something that reminded him of Hermione. Since when am I this pathetic? he wondered more times than he dared to count.
He sauntered over to the hotel bar and ordered a drink. He took it to one of the outside tables and sat back in his chair and closed his eyes.
"You alone?"
Harry blinked his eyes rapidly. The sun was high in the sky now and it was difficult for him to see the woman standing in front of him with the sun behind her. "Yes," he replied unthinkingly.
"Mind if I join you?"
"Yes," he said, sitting up straight in his chair.
"You do mind?" she asked, chuckling softly.
"Hermione?" he asked, shaking his head and then moving it from side to side to try and get a better look at her.
"Excuse me?" the woman asked. "Who's Her…Hermione, did you say?"
Harry stood up and walked around her so his back was to the sun. The woman bore a slight resemblance to his Hermione, but she was in no way the woman he loved. He sighed heavily. "I'm done here," he said abruptly. "You can sit there if you want," he said, pointing to one of the chairs.
The woman looked offended and Harry muttered something to the effect of, "nerve of some people" as he stalked away.
He went straight to his room and closed all the blinds, blocking out any trace of light, and flopped down onto his bed. It was still relatively early, around 8:00 pm, but Harry wanted nothing more than to lose himself in dreams of his woman.
Within minutes Harry was drifting off to sleep as Hermione sat on a plane, carefully outlining her plan.
Miraculously, her plane landed fifteen minutes early and she jumped out of her seat the moment the plane came to a full and complete stop. She had her carryon in her hand and she was ready to go the moment they opened the doors. She exited quickly and followed the path until she saw the signs for baggage claim. Her pace quickened as she went to retrieve her bags. She hoped that the shuttle was where it was supposed to be and that she was the only passenger so they could leave immediately.
When she arrived at the shuttle, she was told that they'd have to wait on two more people who were on another flight scheduled to arrive just minutes after hers. Hermione waited anxiously, tapping her foot and drumming her fingers on her knees. About fifteen minutes later, they were on their way and Hermione's anxiety grew by leaps and bounds.
She arrived at the hotel and checked in quickly. She was exhausted and she wanted nothing more than to crawl into bed. She went to her room, unpacked her bags, and took a quick shower. The water felt wonderful as it pounded against her travel-weary body. She felt slightly refreshed as she made her way out. She was on her way to the bed when she remembered that Harry had her bikini, sarong, and sandals. "Room 306, eh?" she chuckled nervously.
She got dressed quickly, made her way out of the room, and followed the signs until she was standing outside Harry's door. She'd brought her wand with her because she'd needed it for the conference. She smiled now and thanked the fates. "Alohomora," she whispered softly. The lock clicked quietly and she pushed the door open slowly. It was nearly 2:30 am and she could hear his soft snores coming from the bed. "Lumos," she whispered. The tip of her wand lit up just enough for her to see what lie directly in front of her and she looked around the room until she found the suitcases. She opened one, only to discover that it was empty. She smiled in the direction of Harry's sleeping form and walked to the dresser. She carefully opened the top drawer and found both her bikini and sarong lying on top. She took them out and placed them on the corner of the dresser and then went in search of her sandals. Once she located them, she placed them beside the dresser and then walked toward Harry.
She extinguished her wand and stood for a moment, as her eyes adjusted to the overwhelming darkness. A tiny patch of moonlight snaked its way through the blinds, giving her just enough light to see the outline of the bed. She walked carefully toward it and lowered herself until she was level with Harry's sleeping form. "Goodnight, my love," she whispered softly. She leaned forward and placed a tender kiss on his cheek and ran her fingers gently through his hair.
Harry sighed. "…`mione," he mumbled sleepily. "…love you." She listened to him turn over and she waited until he resumed snoring before she quietly stood. She walked to the dresser and picked up her belongings, and headed out the door and to her own room.
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Harry awoke several hours later with the feeling that Hermione had really been there with him. He sat up and looked around the room. To his dismay, it appeared as though nothing had changed.
He dropped back down on the pillow and closed his eyes, dreading yet another day without her. A full day, at that!
He sighed and rolled over, willing himself to fall asleep again…anything to make the time go faster.
Harry awoke again around ten, when his stomach would no longer allow him to sleep without filling it first. He groaned and made his way toward the bathroom and the shower. Within thirty minutes he was in the hotel restaurant awaiting his breakfast.
As he was finishing his food, he looked up and saw a woman that, once again, looked remarkably like Hermione. Her hair was pulled back away from her face and she was wearing dark sunglasses. He stared at her for a moment to see if she would smile or look his way. Although he couldn't tell for sure, he was almost positive that she was watching him just as intently as he was watching her.
He looked her over, checking her hands and her neck for jewelry. Finding none, he concluded that it couldn't be Hermione because she very seldom took off the locket he'd given her a few months prior. He gave the waitress his room number as he watched the woman saunter away. He'd never seen Hermione walk like that either…and truth be told, he'd probably take her right there if she ever did. His face turned red as his conscious mind realized that it was by far the sexiest walk he'd ever seen…and that he had no excuse for watching her the way he did.
Harry got up from the table and checked with the waitress to be sure that everything was all right with his bill. She assured him that it would be added to his room tab and he thanked her as he walked out the door and into the bright sunlight. He put on his sunglasses as he contemplated how he would spend his day. Hermione had said something about him having to think about his future and what he wanted to do with it. Knowing her, she'd ask him about it and he wanted to be able to tell her the truth- that he'd given it some thought…even if it was only five minutes worth and he hadn't come to any solid conclusions. He snatched up one of the chairs that were lined up along the wall for guests to take with them when they went sit on the beach. He set it near the water and flopped down into it.
He leaned back for a while to people watch. Anyone who didn't know any better would've thought he was asleep. But truth be told, he was hoping to see the mysterious woman from the restaurant again. There was something about her that fascinated him and he couldn't put his finger on it. A wave of guilt washed quickly over him as he thought about Hermione sitting at her healer's conference while he kept an eye out for some mystery woman. She'd love that! he thought sarcastically.
She's good with a wand, you know. You'd be wise not to forget that.
"Gee, thanks," Harry muttered softly, hoping the people nearby hadn't heard him talking to himself.
Harry's attention was abruptly drawn from his irrational thoughts when he saw a figure rising up out of the water in front of him. Her head was thrown back and he watched in fascination as the drops fell from her long hair and fingertips back into the water. She walked toward the beach and stopped at the edge of the water to pick up her sarong, tying it around her waist. Harry was unable to take his eyes from her as she sauntered toward him. The way her hips swayed back and forth in that slow, languorous rhythm had Harry's body doing things that, on a more conscious level, he knew were wrong, wrong, wrong. But he was unable to stop or control himself. He wondered for a moment if she was a witch and if she'd somehow managed to cast a spell over the other blokes on the beach. He pulled his eyes away from her to look hastily around. He saw that a fair few of the men were checking her out, but it didn't appear to be an outrageous number so he began to doubt that it was a spell…and guilt took hold of him once more.
She smiled coyly and raised her sunglasses to wink at him as she sauntered past his chair. Surprised by the action, Harry nearly toppled over. Her resemblance to Hermione was uncanny and he sat for a moment, wondering if this was a new game they were about to play.
No wonder why I can't keep my eyes off her, he thought. A feeling of relief flooding through him.
Ooh, making excuses now, are we? His inner voice interceded. What do you plan to tell the real Hermione when she shows up tomorrow? You know that can't really be her, right?
Harry stopped himself short and thought about that. Hermione was at a conference. He watched her get on the plane and he knew the plane's destination. There was no way she could be this close to him.
"Bloody hell," he muttered.
He climbed out of the chair and headed directly toward the bar for a drink. When the bartender handed it to him he once again took it outside, found an empty table, and slumped into one of the chairs. Downing the drink quickly, he slammed the glass on the table and fell against the back of the chair and closed his eyes, letting the burning sensation of the alcohol course through him.
"This is for you."
Harry opened his eyes at the sound of the man's voice. "Excuse me?" he said questioningly, looking into the face of one of the waiters.
"This drink. It's for you."
"But I didn't order…"
"It's been sent by that lady," the waiter said pointing to a table behind, but not far from, Harry.
Harry eyed the drink and scowled. He turned his scowl in the direction the waiter was pointing. "Tell her I don't…" he started to say, pausing when he saw the woman sitting there.
"She's hot, huh?" the waiter said. "Lucky bastard," he muttered, shaking his head and turning to walk away.
Harry watched the retreating form of the waiter for a moment and then turned his attention back to the woman. It was the same woman he'd been fascinated by both in the restaurant that morning and then again on the beach. She raised her glass in salute and downed her drink. Harry moved to pick up his glass but when he turned back around, she was gone.
"Damn it," he muttered. "Who the bloody hell is that?"
He slammed the drink back down on the table and stood up, his Seeker's eyes taking in all that surrounded him. He couldn't find her anywhere and he slumped back in his chair in irritation. He closed his eyes and turned his conscious thoughts toward Hermione. Visions of his woman had the perfect calming effect on him and he smiled as he pictured her...
"You alone?"
"Bloody hell," he said in frustration. "Can't you take a…" He stopped talking when he heard her laughing softly.
"Mind if I join you?" she asked.
Harry sat, staring open-mouthed at the woman standing before him. Unable to speak, he merely nodded as he began eyeing her closely.
"I'm sorry," she said softly. "I don't understand. Do you mean yes, I can sit down, or yes, you mind if I join you?"
"Sit," Harry replied gruffly, pointing to a chair.
The woman sat and raised her sunglasses to rest them on top of her head. Harry's mouth still hung open and the woman laughed again. She raised a finger to his chin and lifted an eyebrow as she licked her lips. "You uh, you might want to close that," she teased, "I'm not sure the flies can resist a temptation like that one."
Harry abruptly closed his mouth and licked his lips as he watched her.
"Are you alone?" she asked silkily. She pulled her chair closer to his and kicked off her sandals so she could rub her foot up and down the length of this calf.
Harry cleared his throat. "Uh…." He tilted his head and looked at her again. The feel of her foot on his leg was beginning to burn his insides and he could feel himself start to sweat and his cock begin to harden.
She reached up and placed her finger just below his ear and traced the outline of his jaw. Her face was mere inches from his and her eyes wandered from his to stare at his lips. "Is that a yes," she said, tracing her finger over his lips, as she licked her own, "or a no?" she asked, pinching his chin and dropping her hand, her face still merely inches away.
Harry licked his lips again as he watched her mouth move. "Where…" he paused to clear his throat, and he raised his eyes to hers as she laughed again.
"Oh, a shy one, huh? Well, I think we can remedy that," she said seductively. She looked from his eyes to his lips again and closed the distance between them. Her lips met his in what began as a chaste kiss. Quickly it escalated, heating them both from the inside out.
They were totally oblivious to the stares from the people around them as the kiss deepened.
After what felt like an eternity, she pulled away. "You're quite the kisser," she said breathily, raising her eyebrows in appreciation. "I don't think I've ever been kissed like that before."
"Where do you come from?" Harry finally managed to ask.
She smiled and laughed a little louder, "So, great kisser, shy, and inexperienced. I could have a lot of fun with you tonight. How `bout it? Up for a few lessons? Join me and I'll tell you all about where I come from," she teased in a soft, sultry voice. "Pun intended," she added with a wicked grin.
She got up from her seat and kissed him one more time, letting her lips linger on his. "Coming?" she whispered against his lips. She backed away and stared at him as though tempted to throw him on the table and take him right there. He wasn't sure he'd object to that.
He shivered at the prospect of what was to come and he nodded his head. She didn't back away as he stood up from his chair and the whole of his body melded against hers. The effect was immediate. He stared at her as though she was a particularly sinful piece of chocolate and placed his hands on her hips, pulling her closer. "What's your name?" he asked, pressing himself harder against her. She closed her eyes and dropped her head back as he ground his erection against her stomach.
"I'll be anyone you want me to be," she replied hoarsely, her eyes now boring into his.
"Mine," he said huskily. "I want you to be mine."
"Yours," she confirmed, her eyes closing once more as he began to nuzzle her neck.
The people around them began to shift uncomfortably in their seats as they watched the scene play out before them. The newlyweds found themselves uncontrollably turned on and many began to explore each other under the tables. Some of the older couples reacted as the younger ones did, while others looked scandalized. No matter how they chose to react, none could resist the urge to stare.
CRASH!
The waiter who'd brought Harry his drink had been particularly interested in the couple and seemed to have forgotten he held a stack of plates in his hands until they all came crashing down around him.
Harry jumped and for the first time since she'd appeared before him, became conscious of his surroundings. The people around them began talk loudly and fidget uncomfortably as they finally came to the realization that they'd been staring. Harry looked around and saw red, heated faces staring at him from every direction.
"Sorry," he muttered apologetically, his own face turning red in the process.
The woman smiled at him coyly and kissed him on the cheek before she turned to walk away…not the slightest trace of embarrassment on her face.
Harry grabbed the drink she'd sent him and downed it in one large gulp before he followed after her. Once he was out of sight of the restaurant he began to run in the direction he'd seen her take. He looked all around and couldn't find her anywhere. He began to run faster. Just as he was about to give up, he caught a glimpse of her on the bridge that led to the waterfalls. She was looking down at him with a smile on her face. He laughed and once again took pursuit.
As he neared the bridge he could hear her laughter echoing all around him. The sound of it urged him forward. It was a sound he knew he'd never grow tired of hearing.
"YOURS!" she shouted out to him. He looked all around, trying to pinpoint where she stood. He looked out across the bridge and just to the right of the path he saw her poke her head around the corner.
"MINE!" he shouted back, and then took off in a full-out run toward her.
He crossed the bridge and took the path to the right, his eyes on constant lookout. As he followed the path the sound of falling water grew louder, as his way grew darker. The trees along the path shielded much of the light from the late afternoon sun, drastically slowing his pace. He walked as quickly as he could toward the sound of rushing water, and the dim light at the end of the path.
The light grew brighter as he emerged from the shadows of the trees. He blinked rapidly and raised his hand to block the sudden brightness. As his eyes adjusted he stopped short, the sight before him stealing his next breath. She was standing on a large rock, the water splashing up and around her. She removed her sarong and let it fall unceremoniously into the water below. The area where she stood was approximately 20 feet above the swimming hole beneath. As Harry walked closer he saw a sign that read, "Dive at your own risk." When he was within about 10 feet of her, she waved at him and jumped. He could hear her scream of excitement over the sound of the water as she fell.
Harry moved to stand on the rock where she'd been only moments ago and he looked down as best he could into the water below. He'd never really cared much for swimming and jumping 20 feet down into a swimming hole didn't sound like anything he was keen to try. Nevertheless, he wanted the woman, and it appeared as though the only way he'd get her would be to jump. He raised his hands in the air and silently prayed that she'd moved out of the way. He felt his stomach lurch as he fell. Thankfully, a 20 foot drop didn't last long and he splashed into the water in a matter of seconds. He took a moment to regain his composure and then kicked around in circles, searching for her.
It took a few moments before his eyes found the figure behind the waterfalls. Through the rippling water it appeared as though she was doing a dance, her body moving in fluid waves with the rhythm of the water. He watched her as she bent forward at the waist and then flipped her hair back, sending beads of water flying all around her. Harry waded in his spot, transfixed by the sight of her as her hair fell against her back in seemingly slow motion.
She extended her arms out to the sides and then reached around behind her back. Harry's breath hitched when she held her bikini top in one hand and let it fall. Her hips swayed back and forth, her image undulating behind the falls, as she slowly lowered the bottom half of her swimsuit. He could see her legs rise, one after the other, as she stepped out of it. The rippling effect of the falls and the sound of crashing water romanticized the image before him, making it that much more exotic. He wasn't sure how much longer he could hold back and he swam toward her and through the falls as quickly as he could.
Beyond the falls was a cave and she was standing at the base of it, watching him. "I've been waiting for you," she said, walking toward him with a seductive sway of her hips. "I thought you'd never come in." He wasn't quite sure how he'd heard her so well over the pounding of the water, but her words were crystal clear…as was her meaning.
Harry stood in awe of her. She was beyond beautiful. "You…you are amazing," he said, staring at her in wonder. "I was…I couldn't take my eyes off you," he stammered, pointing out beyond the falls to indicate where he'd been. He walked toward her, stripping off his shirt and tossing it toward the cave.
"I want you," she said, walking forward to meet him halfway. "I've never wanted anything so badly in my life."
Harry pushed his shorts down and kicked them off as best he could toward the cave, where they landed near his shirt. "I want you," he said headily. He placed his hands on her hips and pulled her abruptly against his throbbing erection. He bent his knees and thrust toward her, the end of his cock rubbing against her clit.
"Ah," she cried out. "No games, no foreplay, just sex," she moaned, her voice ragged and heavy with desire. "I need to feel you inside me. I need to feel you now."
"No more talking," he murmured against her ear. He felt her nod her head and he suckled her earlobe in between his teeth. He nibbled and licked his way down the line of her jaw until his mouth found hers. Their kiss filled with white-hot need.
The cool water that splashed against their skin seemed to sizzle as it hit, sending multitudes of sensations coursing through their bodies. Harry grabbed her and stepped into slightly deeper water where he lifted her with ease. She wrapped her feet around his arse and positioned herself over him. They looked into each other's eyes and together they thrust, her downward, him upward, until he was sheathed completely within her. Their cries of hunger and unbridled passion remained locked within their water cocoon. They were deafened to the sounds of the world as the falling water crashed around them...it set its own special rhythm which Harry fell into quickly as he thrust into her over and over again.
"I could die here, inside you, just like this," Harry moaned against her ear.
"If you do, promise to take me with you."
"Always," he promised, "I'll take you with me everywhere. I love you too much to ever leave you behind."
She tightened the hold she had on his neck and rained kisses on the top of his head. She loosened her grip to kiss every inch of his face that her lips could touch. "I love you," she murmured into his ear. "I love you so much it hurts. It scares me, Harry."
Harry placed his hands on her hips and she loosened the hold she had on him with her legs. He moved her up and down along his shaft with ease. She leaned back and allowed him to have his way with her. Anything he wanted in that moment, he could have. She was his for the taking.
Harry slammed into her, burying himself as deeply inside her as he possibly could. "Oh!" she cried. "Oh…oh…oh…. Harder Harry, faster please," she begged.
Harry raised her up, bringing her forward until their lips crashed together in another fiery kiss. He backed up into shallower water. Holding onto her with one hand, he held the other out behind him as he backed up. When he felt the rock of the cave he stopped. He reluctantly pulled his lips from hers. "Be careful," he warned. "Watch your legs." Harry laid his arse against the rock and she bent her knees until her feet rested flat against it. The rock was angled slightly upward and it felt awkward to have her straddling him at such an odd angle. "Can you do this?" he asked softly.
She planted her feet and raised her arse, slammed back down against him, and then nodded her head. She did it again and Harry tried to suck in air through gritted teeth. "You feel so good. This feels so good. Can you do it faster?"
She raised her arse and slammed against him over and over as the pressure within them built. Her breathing was erratic and between the thrusting and the overwhelming pressure, her legs weakened quickly. "I…I can't…" she rasped.
Harry forced himself to a standing position and turned them around. As gently as he could he laid her against the rock. He closed his eyes and concentrated hard. It suddenly felt as though a cushion had been placed beneath her. "Always the gentleman," she said, smiling gratefully at him.
"Hold that thought," he replied, slamming into her over and over again.
"AHH!" she screamed, her orgasm pulsing throughout her body, causing her to shake uncontrollably beneath him. She clenched hard around him and he cried out her name as his release followed immediately behind hers.
"Ladies, first," he said, breathing heavily against her. She felt him smile against her neck.
She began to laugh beneath him. "Always the gentleman," she repeated breathily.
He carefully positioned himself so he was resting on his elbows, his now nearly-soft cock still surrounded by the warmth of her.
"So tell me," he said grinning widely. "Where did you come from? And this time, no puns."
Hermione laughed and snaked her arms around his neck. "Were you surprised?"
"That's…well," he raised his eyebrows and rocked his head back and forth as though seriously contemplating her question. "Yeah…that's a…that's pretty much an understatement, is what it is."
Hermione laughed. "Well, I went to the conference, but it turned out it was canceled so…" She paused and squirmed beneath him. "You're getting a little heavy now. Budge over," she said, laughing at his forlorn expression as he rolled off her. "Oh, honey, you'll be all right," she said in a soft little baby voice, as though speaking to a three-year-old.
Harry laughed and propped his head on his hand. "All right, enough with the baby talk. Tell me what happened."
Hermione stood and reached for the pieces of her swimsuit. "Come on…"
Harry looked closely at the suit and smacked himself in the head. He looked up and stared at her curiously. "Nice suit, by the way. Where'd you get it?"
Hermione turned and smiled at him, her eyebrows raised mischievously. "Found it," she said vaguely.
"So you were in my room. I thought that was a dream."
She leaned down and kissed his cheek. "I was there. And you, my love, were a very, very good boy. When I kissed you, you managed to mumble the right name. I'm very proud of you."
Harry rose to stand next to her. He placed his hands on her hips and drew her close. "So, what's my reward?"
"You'll see," she replied, reaching for his clothes and handing them to him.
Harry put them on and then followed her out through the waterfalls and into the swimming hole. She swam easily over to the other side and walked out. Harry hung back so he could watch her rise up and out of the water. If he thought the sight was spectacular from the front…it was even more so from behind. "You have got to cover that up," he said, grabbing her arse from behind. "You're gonna have all the blokes around here going crazy."
Hermione stopped walking and Harry walked into her. She leaned her head back on his shoulder and placed her hand on his cock. "If you promise to rub that against me, you can wrap your arms around me and I won't need to cover up."
"You got it," Harry replied, chuckling softly as he put his arms around her and pulled her against him. "Let's go back to my room," he murmured.
Hermione stopped walking and Harry nearly toppled over her. She turned around to face him and grinned widely. "Oh, that's right," she said, snaking her arms around his neck once again. "I haven't told you the best part yet, have I?"
"The best part?" he said incredulously. "You mean there's something better than having your conference cancelled and you joining me early?"
"I got my own room," she said excitedly. "You should see it. It's spectacular."
"What?" he exclaimed, pushing her out away from him. "What'd you do that for? We don't need two rooms. I thought you planned to share when you got here."
Hermione stuck out her bottom lip and pretended to pout. "But honey," she said, whimpering. "It's the honeymoon suite."
Harry looked at her, dumbstruck and he swallowed hard. "The…the honeymoon suite?" he stammered.
Hermione laughed at his expression. "It doesn't mean we're getting married, silly," she said in mock exasperation, "it was the only room they had."
Harry pulled her close. "I'd marry you anytime, you know," he whispered into her ear.
She shivered and felt herself melt against him. "I um…I had this plan, you know, a new game. But I had, um, I had to get a room of my own to, um…Harry, what are you doing?" she said, her breaths becoming shallow.
"Didn't want anyone to know we were together, huh?" he questioned calmly.
Hermione's breathing was becoming more and more erratic and she had no idea what he was doing to her. His hands were in plain sight, rubbing up and down her arms. "Yeah," she mumbled, nearly incoherently, "not…not together."
"I see," he said, his face a mask of calm innocence. "So now we're in the honeymoon suite, huh?"
Hermione fell against him and bit down on his shoulder to stifle her scream of ecstasy. Her body shook uncontrollably. Harry pulled her close and began to sway back and forth making it appear as though they were dancing. Hermione's breaths were coming in short, desperate gasps. Her orgasm came fast and hard, and she shivered as she felt it running down her leg. She buried her face deeper and Harry continued to sway them both back and forth until he felt her breathing begin to return to normal. "You all right, love?" he asked gently.
Hermione took a few more gulps of air and looked at him incredulously. "What else have you been practicing?"
"A little at a time, love," he said, a mischievous gleam in his eyes.
"Come on, let's go," she said, grabbing him by the hand and walking quickly toward the hotel. "You have got to see our room."
She again stopped walking, only this time Harry was ready for her. He immediately scooped her up into his arms and smiled down at her. "What is it this time, love?" he asked, smiling down at her patiently.
Her eyes lit up and she threw her arms around his neck. "Just wait until you see the things the bed can do," she said excitedly.
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