Growing Up
Two days after Ginny's birthday party, Marissa and Brian had their first argument and they both learned even more about the other person, just from the way the argument took place. August 13th was the first time they were able to get away from their families, Jennifer having begged off of tagging with Marissa. She was having fun at Malfoy Estate learning Quidditch from Devon, the triplets and even Draco weighing in every so often. After making sure Jennifer wasn't upset she was going to be gone for a few hours, and making sure her parents didn't mind, Marissa floo'd to Brian's home. As soon as she stumbled out of the fireplace, Brian was waiting for her with a big hug and a kiss on her cheek, his hands brushing along her shoulders chasing away invisible soot. Taryn, Laura and Kirstin were huddled on the sofa perusing the latest girl magazine and barely acknowledged Marissa's presence.
"Let's go for a walk," Brian suggested taking her hand and leading her out the front door. "Jennifer stayed home?"
"Yep. She is having the most fun with Devon…maybe something will start between those two; talk about a long distance relationship!"
"She's my age, right? Sixteen?"
"Yes, she just turned sixteen at the end of July." Marissa followed Brian down a path into a small wooded area next to his house smelling the scent of freshly mowed grass and hearing the birds twittering deep within the trees.
"Where are we going?" Marissa asked lightly, hopping over a stone, happy she wore her new trainers. Happy to just be with Brian and not having to write or count the days til she saw him. He was HERE…with HER.
"Just for a walk. I know we'll both be busy getting ready for school and stuff. This way we can get away from everyone and talk…or whatever," Brian explained, turning off the path and leading her back a ways through some low growing trees. She saw a flat rock in the middle of a small clearing and noticed how quiet it was around her. She couldn't hear the sound of cars out on the street or even a plane flying overhead. Settling down on the rock she thought of telling Brian how Arnold kissed her, trying to make light of it.
"So, how close are you to finding the cure?" Brian asked pulling her down with him as he reclined against the rock. She stared up at the lattice work of tree branches against the sky, settling her head into his shoulder.
"I am still going through the notes I made from the Herbology book you loaned me, but I have a feeling I'm pretty close," Marissa answered going into detail about her experiment with Professor Snape.
"That's great you got that far! I'll go through some of the textbooks I have and see if I can find something that would help bond to the cells. I'm excited for you," Brian gushed happily squeezing her to him for a second.
"Thanks. There was another development too," Marissa broached feeling his arm relax around her. Along the perimeter of the clearning, bird flew from one tree to another and disappeared into the leafy branches above before she had time to figure out what kind of bird it was.
"You told me about Arnold apologizing. Nutters, that one," Brian murmured, his hand making patterns on her upper arm.
"Besides that, yes, I'm talking about something else. But it's about him. It's actually funny though." Marissa raised herself up on one elbow and peered down at him. He turned his head shielding his eyes from the hazy sunlight that was drifting down. "The day I was leaving, he came to say goodbye and kissed me," she said in a rush watching his eyes freeze on hers.
"Like…on the cheek?" Brian asked slowly, pulling himself up to a sitting position tense as a cat ready to pounce on its prey. Marissa immediately sensed the change in him; his guard was up and he narrowed his eyes a bit waiting for her response. She wondered if he knew that he did that movement with his eyes or if it was habit when he was thinking deeply about something.
"Uh, no. He bent down really fast and kissed me on the lips." Brian shot up off the rock and Marissa stood up with him, touching his arm. "It was so fast Brian, I hardly knew it happened. He said it was the last time he'd be a pain in the arse."
"You believed that and you let him kiss you?" Brian asked incredulously, staring down at Marissa almost drilling holes into her with his dark glare. The only sound that could be heard was a deep cleansing breath that Brian eased in and out of his lungs, awaiting her response. Marissa immediately bristled, not thinking he would get this defensive so quickly. Standing up a bit straighter she took a deep breath and let it out slowly trying not to get angry.
"Brian, it was NOTHING! I wiped my hand across my mouth after he left. It was his way of ending the whole arse thing, and probably letting me know he still fancied me. I didn't return it you know."
"I'm sure you didn't. But he DID it! That's what pisses me off."
"I wanted to tell you because we are being honest in this relationship; I'm not trying to get you angry. It's over and done with!" Marissa could see her reasoning was failing which wasn't helping the temper she could feel rising up inside her. It was like an elevator slowly making its way from the pit of her stomach to her head…and eventually erupt out of her mouth.
"Marissa, you don't understand-." Brian's voice adapted a sharp edge to it as he rubbed his hand across his face, obviously upset.
"I'm trying to! But you're making a huge deal out of it! I'm trying to tell you it wasn't a big deal but you won't believe me!" Marissa said loudly without intending that statement to have such force behind it.
"For four weeks I knew he was there with you and that he fancies you. He's the type to do what he wants, regardless of his apologies," Brian said angrily, his voice low as he looked right at her; she was standing next to the rock only a few feet away but could feel the anger radiating off of him in waves. "I KNEW something like this would happen."
"Brian! It was a peck, nothing more! You'd have every right to be angry if it was all out French kissing that went on, but it wasn't. I would never let that happen with anyone but you!" Marissa placed her hands on her hips trying to push down the rising tide of anger in her belly.
"How could you not know he was going to kiss you? I keep thinking you could've walked away, pushed him away…something!" Brian fumed his jaw set and his hands making motions with his words.
"I DIDN'T KNOW!" Marissa yelled her temper full force now. "All he said was something about being a pain one last time and I questioned what it would be, not thinking he'd KISS me, Brian! Come on. If I had known he'd do that, it never would've happened! I WOULD'VE turned away!"
"How could you not know? I knew when Melissa was going to kiss me and attempted to step away but there was a wall behind me!" Brian shot back at her just as loudly.
And without knowing what possessed her to perform such an action, she ran towards Brian-him having no choice but to
catch her-and planted her mouth over his. At the same time her hand snaked down his back and rested on his bum,
squeezing it forcefully. As soon as she felt his lips open under hers she pulled away watching him open his eyes…his
mouth slightly open as well. He had a typical surprised expression painted on his face.
"Did you plan on me doing that?" she asked a touch of anger still in her voice. Realization dawned over his face and he sighed, keeping his hands on her hips.
"No," he said his voice suddenly quiet, like the wind. "I wasn't." He dipped his head slightly acknowledging he was wrong in accusing her of knowing the kiss was coming.
She stared at him, wanting him to admit he shouldn't have said what he had before she had kissed him. Marissa was a true believer in admitting when you were wrong, no matter how hard it was and she hoped he felt the same way. Gently, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her to him cradling her head in his hand.
Marissa rested her cheek against his shoulder, holding him tightly; a bit dazed at how their first fight ended.
"I'm sorry…I shouldn't have put the blame on you," he whispered against her ear tightening his arms even more as if afraid she would turn and run.
"Thanks," Marissa whispered into his shoulder, giving a sigh of relief. She never thought Brian would react so quickly to the news of Arnold kissing her, and not even a real kiss at that.
"I just…I was relieved when I didn't hear from you that he had done anything like that when I finally saw you at your mum's party. Then, you telling me now…I just wasn't expecting it. I didn't mean to yell at you," Brian apologized holding her at arms length now studying her. "Please don't stop telling me stuff just because I went off about this."
"I won't. I've never seen you that angry and it was bound to happen at some point. I won't stop loving you because we yelled." Marissa told him seriously.
"I think we might have to argue more just so you'll squeeze my arse again," Brian said ducking to the side as she pretended to slap him. He grabbed her face and planted a loud kiss on her lips, intending to pull away but Marissa had other plans. She wrapped her arms around him tightly and flicked her tongue along his mouth smiling when he nipped it.
"Behave, Potter," she whispered feeling him smile in response, as his tongue touched hers, then ran along her teeth, her lips--feeling her soften under his embrace. Then, feeling it was safe to leave the argument behind them he walked her backwards to the flat rock and in a graceful move spun around and pulled her down on top of him; so he would be the one against the hard rock.
"Here," Marissa breathed, pulling out her wand and mumbling a few words. The rock suddenly became softer underneath him and his eyes widened. She was getting scarily good at Transfiguration, but that thought was pushed out of his mind as her tongue danced with his and her hands massaged his shoulders, squeezing and caressing alternately, totally removing their argument from his mind. He rubbed his hands down her back pulling her closer enjoying the way she moved her hips over his and he was slowly getting lost in the delicious sensations when she froze. Her hands stopped their movement under his shirt and her lips pulled away from his neck.
"What?" Brian whispered, his hands now still on her back.
"I heard something."
"Probably animals. We own this property and trust me, my sisters are holed up with a few new magazines, then are off to someones birthday party," Brian reassured her, leaning up and kissing her chin. She moved her eyes from the trees behind his head to his bright brown eyes.
"If I know you, this place is charmed…," Marissa grinned at him snuggling down into him enjoying the quick intake of breath from Brian.
"Oh, it is. Muggles can't see it and even if someone magical came by, they would never see it. I used to come here to study, read, practice moves for Quidditch…my personal spot," Brian assured her,somewhat haltingly as Marissa was trailing kisses from his jaw, past his ear and to the base of his neck.
"Don't we all need one of those," Marissa whispered in his ear, feeling him shiver as she kissed his earlobe then moved to his mouth.
Suddenly as if someone flipped a switch Brian's hands were everywhere and Marissa's not far behind. They touched and teased then drew away as they felt the other one start to give in to the pleasure of each other. His hands tugged up her t-shirt and for a brief moment she broke the kiss allowing her, in one swift move, to gracefully pulled her shirt over her head and let it slide out of her fingers. Her shirt barely hit the ground before she was feeling his hands move across her chest making her throw back her head grinding her hips into his urging him to continue their exploring; then feeling him unsnap her bra and slide it down her arms. Forcing herself forward she covered his lips with hers, unbuttoning his shirt with one set of fingers, meeting his hand at the bottom as if he was waiting for her. Together they awkwardly managed to shed his shirt and when the whispered sound of his shirt hit the rock her lips moved to his shoulder, revealing in the newer more defined muscles that had appeared. He was consuming her. She felt herself responding to his touches, even his thoughts. The buck of his hips and her response drew his hands to her shorts, slowly fingering the waistband waiting for her to stop him. She didn't and was only a tad surprised when her knickers slid down her legs with her shorts.
The ache grew stronger and her hands fumbled with his snap until he rolled them onto their sides and in one amazing move slid his shorts off and pressed against her; the heat of their flesh molding to one another's. She skipped her fingers over his ribs, around his back and softly cupped his rear, pulling him to her, feeling him press hungrily against her. She shifted trying to direct that pleasurable ache towards him, seeking him and he understood her movement in his arms. Sliding on top of her his mouth pressed against hers, soft but hard at the same time. Gently sucking and nibbling his way around her lips before coaxing her tongue to move with his.
Marissa couldn't help but to push against him feeling a muted, pleading noise vibrating in the back of her throat. Wordlessly managing to tell him what she needed, wanted. His hand followed the curve of her breast, the dip of her hip before he lifted himself off of her a fraction of an inch allowing his hand to follow a hot path to her thigh. He tentatively touched her between her legs and she arched against him, making his mouth break its contact. Brian skimmed his lips down her throat and at the same time found that spot and movement with his hand that made her seem to go crazy back in his room.
Her hands gripped his shoulders, digging into the muscle so hard she figured she would leave bruises. She suddenly felt herself shaking, feeling the desire and ache threatening to spill over, causing Brian to wonder if he did something wrong. Moving his hand to her hip he squeezed it gently.
"No," Marissa sighed, not wanting him to stop. "You're fine…," she struggled to get the words out as his mouth claimed hers, but this time he moved and pressed himself against her. The hard ridge of his flesh pressing against the sensitive area where his hand was just moving.
`Oh, my God!' Marissa's hands flew to his hips and pulled him hard against her, feeling him push hard as a moan escaped him, reverberating in her mouth.
`Now' is the only thought in her head as the blood rushes towards the center of her body, pounding all the way. She grabbed his hand from her hair and wedged it between them, pressing it against her stomach, silently telling him to do that charm…NOW. Not even questioning he whispered it against her lips feeling her nod; feeling the telltale warmth flow out of his hand straight into her then fade away. Brian raised himself up and she opened her eyes, staring straight into what desire must look like. The deep brown of his eyes seemed to envelop her, making her want to be one with him. Not meaning to she pushed the thought into his head to not break eye contact. His eyes widened a bit at the intrusion into his thoughts and then he gasped, feeling her hand wrap around him, guiding him to where she wants him to go.
Startled gasps are the only sound in the clearing as he eased into her…pushing until he feels her jerk, hearing the sharp intake of breath. It hurt, briefly. And yet shocked her so much with how good it felt once the twinge receded she arched against him, feeling a minimal amount of pain, now knowing why being pure blooded was the best thing ever.
"Okay?" Brian whispers and she nods noticing the pain left as quickly as it came. Instead of verbally answering him she tentatively pushed her hips towards him, seeing him bow his head; hearing a jagged intake of breath. Slowly they move giving up on eye contact as his lips found hers and his hands cradled her head. Marissa could feel her muscles stretching and involuntarily clenching against him as she moved her hips a bit faster trying to tell him she's fine. Immediately he sensed it and he pushed in deeper absorbing her sigh with his mouth feeling her hands grab his back pulling him closer. Moving her body a bit, Marissa found it more comfortable to hook her leg around his hips.
Brian kissed her mouth working his way to her neck feeling her smooth skin warm under his lips. Moving his lip down the hallow of her throat he kisses her there, then continues his path downward placing a soft kiss on the swell of her breast. She lifted herself up feeling a new, deeper feeling start to grow-- making her move against him faster, loving the way his hand pressed down her side then cupped her bottom pulling her closer.
"Oh," Marissa breathed wrapping her arms around him and tightening her leg around his waist and finally they found a rhythm, slow and unsure but quickly escalating to soft moans. An electrifying feeling pulled Marissa to him making the ache grow stronger, wanting him to move faster to break that ache. She shifted her hips to the side hearing a quick intake of breath in her ear.
"Marissa…I--," he said thickly, lips moving against her ear. She nodded and pulled her other leg up over his waist, frightened at the feelings but feeling wonderful at the same time and pushed against him, feeling something hit her deep inside and she cried out into his shoulder, feeling a tingling race from her head to her feet, then burst out of her skin.
He thrust against her once, twice then went still holding her as she cried out his name, icy hot flames moving over her body, totally lost in the moment as she clung to him; not feeling anything but Brian. She distantly heard him murmur her name then relax against her, their ragged breathing the only sound in the clearing. Her skin was damp, her hair in disarray but yet, she never felt safer, more loved or more wanted than this moment. Her heart was still pounding against his as he lifted his head and stared at her with a mixture of disbelief and undisguised wonderment, only to find her eyes closed.
"Marissa?"
"Yes?" she whispered, just now aware her eyes were closed. Making an effort to open them she found him staring at her in the sweetest way.
"You're…okay?" he asked tentatively, touching her face but not making a move to roll off of her.
"Yes, wonderful" she whispered again, smiling as she tried to gather her wits about her and to take in what just happened. "I just need to gather my thoughts."
Brian smiled and kissed her softly on the lips.
"Me too." He nuzzled her neck and she laughed softly feeling his nose tickle her. "I love you," he said softly into her throat. Reaching up to his head she pressed it to her neck, blinking back tears of happiness and un-named emotions.
"I love you, Brian," she said back to him making an effort to keep her voice steady. He was still for a moment. Both of them memorizing when and where this happened, knowing that they were now on a different plane in the relationship field. Marissa made a small noise of disappointment as he rolled off of her, letting the cooler air brush over their bodies. And after a few minutes of awkward glances, touches and questions they both started laughing realizing that this was not the place they thought they would lose their virginity to each other; but it was still, indeed, a very special moment.
----
An hour later, Marissa and Brian were sitting in his kitchen comparing their Hogwarts letters that had been waiting for them when the finally returned. Brian was still a Prefect but Marissa turned down the offer of Prefect and Quidditch Captain, citing her work on the flu potion as more important.
"Janet can have Prefect," Marissa had said to McGonagall from the Potters fireplace and after confirming that is what Marissa truly wanted, McGonagall went to change the necessary papers. Inwardly Marissa crossed her fingers that her parents would understand her turning down both positions.
"Well," Marissa said with a note of disappointment, knowing that when she left, it would be awhile until she saw Brian again. "I need to go. Jennifer wants a tour of London this evening."
Brian rested his hand on the back of hers at the kitchen table and for a moment they let their gazes run over each other's faces. His father and sisters were at a birthday party and Hermione was in the living room, reading.
"I think we'll be done all of our errands and stuff later tonight, so I'll floo you." Brian raised her hand and kissed it. Marissa suddenly felt shy sitting there with him and thought maybe everything they had done over an hour ago was now written on her face for Hermione to see. But, she had acted as if nothing happened when the two teens came back in through the kitchen holding hands. She hoped her father would be just like Hermione, but she doubted it. He would know SOMETHING was up.
"Okay. I'll be home by then," Marissa squeezed his fingers and then stood up, allowing him to lead her slowly out of the kitchen, and to the family room. Touching her waist he signaled for her to stop her path to the floo powder.
Bending down he brushed a kiss across her lips. "We'll talk more later, okay?"
"Okay," Marissa smiled reaching up and touching his cheek. She caught his gaze and made sure in no uncertain terms that he understood that their time out on the flat rock was definitely worth the wait. Not being as surprised this time with her Legilimens he smiled and gave a small nod.
A minute later she floo'd back to her house and went about trying to find Jennifer; ready to start the tour of her hometown.
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