A/N: Hot? Yeah, I know…bet I can turn you on with a simple kiss. ;)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Zo52T7uKOJU&feature=related
Listen as you read…
**
Chapter II
I drew in a surprised breath, when my eyes landed on Harry. His name died on my lips, as I watched him shoot up on the bed from my unexpected entry; our eyes met in the next second, and his expression turned crimson, as if to say, "This is not what it seems!"
"Harry?" I queried, regaining my composure first, and being more curious than worried. "What are you doing?"
"Me?" he pointed to himself, and shook his head. "Nothing, absolutely nothing," came the hasty dismiss from him.
One aspect of my friendship with Harry was that I could read him as well as a book, even when he tried to conceal a secret from me. In other words, my womanly charms could stand to serve me well right about now…
A daring smile curved my lips, as I approached Harry deliberately slowly. The effect was in plain sight - his eyes were raptly focused on me, and followed my every move.
I sat down on the side of the bed, and fixed him with an intense gaze of my own - it took my entire willpower to not lose my restraint right there and then. "What were you doing, Harry?" the words came forth almost flirtatiously.
His green eyes flickered down towards the sheets for a brief moment, and he exhaled, admitting defeat. "Earlier, when you…" he tried, but stopped midway.
"Yes?" I prompted him patiently, with another knowing smile tugging at the corners of my mouth.
"I heard you call my name," he explained, the red not disappearing from his face. "I - I don't know what came over me, but it was…" he gestured in another effort to communicate what he meant. I understood already, but a part of me enjoyed seeing him struggle…
"Exciting," he finished with conviction. "It was exciting. I can only imagine what you were doing in there…"
"Perhaps," I bit my lower lip, still smiling, "I still want you, Harry," coming right up to his ear, I whispered those words into it.
Maybe he did not realize exactly how little effort it would take to set me off once more upon that journey of unrequited bliss I was after. "Believe me, `Mione, I know," he drew me in by grasping by the upper arms, and made me look right into his eyes as he said this. Oh, those eyes…
Hermione! My mind snapped me, and I was quick to regain my focus.
"You alright?" an ever so slight smile played on his own lips, as he spoke.
"Yes, yes," I reassured him quickly - then it occurred to me I had stared at him for a few seconds longer…enough for him to pick up on what was going on inside of me this very moment…
"You want to go for a walk?" he offered after a minute's silence.
It took me another few seconds to comprehend what he was asking. "I would love to!"
"Excellent," he grinned, just in the way that made me lose my mind, "I'll see you out front in a few minutes."
I nearly tripped over the carpet, as I exited the room walking backwards, "In a few minutes, definitely!"
What was it about him! When had I fallen so…so hard, irreversibly, for Harry?! Only a week ago I thought he and I were nothing more than good friends, albeit one of them having less than innocent thoughts about the other…
Really, all I needed to take were my sunglasses, so my detour wasn't a long one. Still, I was surprised to see Harry when I came outside, standing at the bottom of the stairs, dressed in a pair of Bermudas and a shirt that seemed to be unbuttoned all the way down. His hands were in his pockets, and he looked thoughtfully out at the vastness of the ocean.
"Harry?" I called him, while descending down the stairs.
He turned to me. "'Mione…ready?"
"Mhhm," I nodded, and took his outstretched hand in mine.
"Come on then," and he pulled me from the last step - I jumped and nearly ran into him.
"Harry!"
"Yes?"
"Argh!" I insisted on expressing my frustration, but it only lasted so long…
He didn't release my hand, but squeezed it ever so slightly more. "Hermione?" his voice was slightly uncertain, almost distant.
We walked along the waterline, and my feet sunk in the soft sand; the coming waves washed over them, while the breeze caught my hair and played with it…
"Yeah?" I turned my eyes to him, feeling rather nervous inside. Honestly, Harry had never even held my hand so casually, so…readily before. Half my mind was preoccupied with comprehending that mere fact alone…
"I wanted to ask you," his hand applied a little more pressure to my own, "About us."
The ocean whispered in my ears. Tell him…tell him…tell him…
"What's on your mind?" I tried my best to keep my voice level.
He took a deep breath, and turned his eyes away towards the horizon. "You."
"Me?" I was determined to press him until I knew what was bothering him.
"Look at me," he said suddenly. I could see the determination on his face; it seemed as if this had been welling up within him for a while…
Big mistake, I would tell myself later. Harry's green eyes were my weakness; my very, very serious weakness, just to be a little more clear. He took off his glasses, and slipped them in his pocket.
The salty smell of the air did not help matters the slightest. Coupled with the intoxicating whisper of the ocean, it gripped me quickly and suddenly…
I could feel the powerful connection right there and then…words were useless.
Harry slowly leaned forward. His lids were half closed, and mine began to fall of their own accord as well…
My thoughts were effectively extinguished…for the consecutive time, my heart hastened its pace, and my breath hitched in my throat…my lips parted ever so slightly in anticipation…
His hands had snaked around me, and pulled me closer…I do not know when it happened, but I did not protest…my hands came up and rested on his chest…
The wind also whispered sweet nothings as my lips came closer to his…a second seemed an eternity, before they made contact…
Merlin…the slightest touch sent thunderbolts through me…releasing myself to the pleasure, I let it consume me…my lips moved with his in unison, ever more intensely and passionately…
Slowly, we parted…
He looked at me once again, his expression unreadable…as it happened, I was entirely robbed of the ability of speech…
"'Mione," he rasped at last, not taking those eyes off me… "I love you."
Shivers were travelling through me, making my entire body shake with anticipation. I could barely hold myself on my feet from the unchecked rise of emotion that erupted within, upon hearing those coveted three words…
"Answer me, Hermione," he pleaded quietly, putting a hand on my chin and fixing me even more strongly.
"I - I…" my mouth was trembling uncontrollably.
Damn it, Hermione, say it!
"Merlin, I love you too!" it came out very hurried, but I didn't care, because with a bout of strength that came mysteriously, I jumped, and kissed him once more!
I almost knocked him over…it was fortunate that such an amazing Seeker had a stable footing…
My cheeks were flushed, and I could imagine my eyes shining, when we parted again…why was I feeling so giddy all of the sudden?!
"Harry?" I ventured.
"Hmm?" came the dazed response from him…I was certain he felt as confused as I did right now…were we still friends? Something more perhaps? For once, I'm willing to admit…I don't know!
"You want to go for a swim in my pool?" Hermione, when did you become so flirtatious!
He smiled mischievously, and hugged me tighter. "Why, yes."
**
Harry hadn't needed much to enter the pool - he only took off his shirt, and agreed to wait for me, while I made my `special preparations'…
What did those preparations involve? Well…another bathing suit, that if my parents saw, would also mean my last day alive upon this earth…rather lacy, and not covering much of anything, I might have as well gone in the nude, but after all, the intent was on creating the proper atmosphere…my breasts were plainly visible, for all intents and purposes…I recently found using my hands on them could have very arousing effects…
Banish the thought!
Stupid conscience…this time I effectively ignored it.
In addition to the bathing suit, there was a pair of heeled shoes I thought would compliment my…not much of an outfit…
Ebony black, they had leather straps, and a heel that was quite high, so as to make walking a near insurmountable challenge…nearly, I said, because I had mastered the art a long time ago…
What was I doing? All of this, it was so uncustomary for my character…yet, a part of me loved it, wanted to keep doing it…and I permitted it to…I felt it might change my personality entirely, for the better…nothing to do, but go along with it and see…
I walked out of the patio door. Harry had closed his eyes, and laid against the wall of the pool, his hands outstretched on the side, evidently enjoying the cool evening and the comforting hum of the waves that carried over with the wind…
"Hey," I said to attract his attention, making a show of my special shoes…I was hoping they would make an impression…as it happened, my expectations were not dampened.
Harry opened his eyes lazily, but very quickly, they became far and wide. "Hermione!" The shock caused him to lose his balance, and sent him underwater. A second later, he resurfaced, and rubbing the water away from his face, he goggled at me again, just to ensure I wasn't a mirage…
"Hermione," he mumbled again, at a loss for words.
Purposefully, I only grinned, and dived in the cool water. Seconds later, my body gracefully broke through the top.
"A penny for your thoughts?" I teased Harry - he had managed to turn me speechless on more than one occasion, so now it was time to return the favour…
"Uh…well…" his eyes travelled up and down my figure, and that was proof enough for me that the thoughts Harry had at present, were quite non-existent…
"You know you can have me, Harry," I went on, as casually as I could; he nearly lost his footing again.
"What!" came the surprised exclamation, as his brain registered my words…
I retreated to the other end of the pool. "I mean exactly what I said, Harry."
He remained motionless for a few moments, focusing on me intently. Finally, something clicked in his mind, and the suave expression that defined him earlier, returned with a surprising rapidity. Sometimes I wonder whether he was purposefully acting clueless…
Harry swam over to me in about three strokes. Why was I growing so nervous again?!
Watching the water drip from his hairline, down his nose, and back into the pool…Merlin, what was wrong with me!
The sun had sunk almost entirely beneath the horizon now…only the orange-red fiery paints that graced the beauty of the sunset remained…I distantly made note of the fact that he had effectively cornered me once again…why was I so drawn to Harry's eyes!
Unhesitatingly, his right hand slid up my torso, and cupped my naked breast. I inhaled suddenly, and focused on him raptly…
Oh god…I had imagined this moment only some hours ago this moment…I could feel myself losing control, slowly, but assuredly…
"I want you too, Hermione," he whispered raggedly into my ear, squeezing my breast slightly harder…
"Inside…shower…now…" I barely managed…
Harry pushed himself back, and I pulled myself up, before heading into the house…behind me, I heard another splash of water, as Harry rose out of the pool as well…
Oh, Merlin…
A/N Alright then…final chapter coming up…and I guarantee you, you will be just as…excited as the characters…
-->