Worth the Risk

The morning after is strangely anticlimactic.

Not, of course, that Hermione has expectations to actually ruin. She’s never had a morning after in this particular circumstance for comparison, since she and Ron had been seriously involved by the time they had their first time together. So, she’s created her hypothesis based on other people’s woeful tales or what’s read in books. When she wakes up, it takes her a moment to realize what the heavy, warm shape pressed against her side is, and then she remembers last night. There isn’t any awkwardness, wish to run away, desire to send him on his way without even a cup of coffee, or moment where she’s forgotten his name, which is unsettlingly the most common story she overhears whenever females get together.

Perhaps it’s further evidence that she’s not like most women, but she doesn’t feel any of those reactions at all. Instead, she feels quite happy and relaxed. There’s something comforting about sleeping with someone. Not the sex, which is enjoyable, but the actual sleeping part. Strong arms around her body, the sound of even breathing, and warm skin as a pillow are all a wonderful thing to wake up to in the morning. One of the things she misses most about not being married is waking up in Ron’s arms.

Teddy’s grip is stronger, she notices. He’s holding her against him as if he’s unconsciously making sure she’s still there. She’s reminded of the children when they were younger, snuggling their favorite blanket, in Rose’s case, and stuffed dragon, in Hugo’s. Yet it’s not fair to compare Teddy to the children, so she pushes those thoughts from her mind before she can dwell upon them. His hair is brown when he sleeps, and he snores softly as he rests his head against her shoulder. She can feel a damp patch of skin where she assumes he’s drooled in the night, which makes her carefully check her own mouth.

Last week had been so busy that they’d both fallen asleep after they’d had sex. She remembers snuggling against him and talking quietly until she must have fallen asleep. It’s a relief that there’s no sense of panic or regret, because that’s not something she could predict regardless of how many lists she made. If anything, she feels content, which will probably scare her quite a lot when she’s not caught up in early morning post-sleep bliss. For now, she’s just going to just enjoy the moment.

As she lies there watching him sleep, she begins to debate whether she wants to get up, go to the loo, and then get back into bed, or if she should just go ahead and get up to start the day. There are actually several things she has to do later in the morning, mostly because Hugo will be home tomorrow, and she’ll need to stay around the house since she’s not sure what time he’ll be back. So, her usual Sunday errands are going to be done today to get them out of the way. It isn’t very easy to think about grocery shopping when a handsome young man is plastered against her side with his erection pressed into her hip. Remembering if she needs milk and bread just doesn’t quite compare.

The mattress moves, pulling her thoughts away from milk and erections, though it immediately goes back to the latter when Teddy stretches and rubs his against her. She glances over to find him blinking at her. He slowly smiles, which turns into a yawn, and tightens his grip around her waist. “You’re really here.”

“Where else would I be? We’re in my bed, after all.”

“Bratty even at,” he rolls his head back to look at the clock on the bedside table before facing her again, “6:23 in the morning. Too early for that.”

“I suppose I can wait seven more minutes, since 6:30 isn’t early at all.”

“Maybe not on a work day, but it is on a weekend. There’s a rule somewhere, I’m sure.”

“Maybe you’re just lazy.”

“Possibly. Or maybe I just know it takes me time to wake up and feel prepared to engage in verbal sparring with a worthy opponent such as yourself. Who happens to look quite beautiful in the morning.”

“Now you’re using compliments in an effort to distract me from your sleepy banter.”

“I’m stating the truth. If that happens to prove viable as a distraction, then I won’t complain.”

Before she can say anything else, he leans forward and kisses her. It’s sloppy and wet and the fact that she doesn’t mind is something else she stores away to analyze later. When he pulls back, she tries to glare. “Now you’re using kisses, too, which is very low and sneaky.”

“What can I say? I’m a sneaky bloke.” He grins as he moves his leg over hers and keeps staring at her. He reaches out to brush his fingers through her hair before he says, “I thought maybe last night was just a dream. Except for the part where I came before we actually even had sex, and I wasn‘t at all smooth and experienced.”

“It’s not a dream.” She smiles and reaches over to pinch his hip. “See? If it was a dream, I’d probably be doing something naughty and wanton instead of pinching you.”

“You also don’t talk so much in my dreams,” he tells her. “I mean, I love the talking because, well, it’s really nice to feel that connected with you. But, yeah, my fantasies are definitely the product of a horny twenty year old bloke’s imagination. I like reality better.”

“If I don’t talk much in these fantasies of yours, what is it that I do, exactly?”

“Your mouth is usually otherwise occupied,” he says innocently, moving his hand along her ribs. “Or you’re saying filthy things that you’d never actually say, and urging me to do thing to you.” He coughs and shifts, moving his hips more firmly against her. “And I probably shouldn’t be telling you this, should I?”

“Why not? I find it quite fascinating. So, in your dreams, I basically moan and demand sex a lot?”

“Unless you’re scolding me for being a bad---” He stops and blushes, hair flashing bright red as he ducks his head against her shoulder. “Forget I actually started to answer that, okay?”

She bites her lip to keep from laughing and wonders if he’s going to try to get a leg up or just rut against her. Men are such predictable, yet endearing, creatures. “That’s actually rather amusing, since my fantasies don’t involve a lot of talking, either.”

He raises his head and looks down at her. The red fades to dark purple as he arches a brow. “Your fantasies? You know, as I mentioned before, I’m definitely willing to act upon any that you have in mind. I owe you one after last night, anyway. At the table, with the shirt and, yeah. Definitely owe you.”

“Such a generous offer,” she says. “However, I think that my fantasies will stay private for now. Besides, this isn’t a situation where either of us owes the other anything. We both enjoyed last night, and I’m not opposed to doing it again.”

“You’re not?” He grins and slides his hand higher. “Maybe now?”

She feels his fingers brush against the underside of her breast, and she shifts slightly. She needs to use the toilet, which makes the idea of intercourse not particular appealing despite how easily aroused she seems to become around him. Of course, she could go to the toilet and come back, but once she’s out of bed, she hates to get back in, even for potentially great sex. He’s looking at her eagerly as he squeezes her breast, and she decides what she’ll do.

“Lie back,” she tells him, urging him off his side. She moves over him, running her fingers through his hair, and smiles before she kisses his jaw. “I won’t tell you my fantasies yet, but this is something I’ve been wanting to do for awhile.” She looks at him and sees him staring at her intensely even as he’s holding his breath. She laughs softly. “You can breathe, Teddy.”

“Right,” he murmurs, letting out his breath before he smiles sheepishly. “It’s just, uh, I really kind of like when you’re all in control and teaching me.”

“Oh?” She leans down and brushes her lips against his neck. “I really kind of like teaching you,” she admits before she moves her mouth lower. She flicks her tongue over his nipples, listening to him gasp as she lightly nips at them before continuing lower.

As she pushes the sheet down, she continues to lick and kiss his body, indulging in one of her more tame fantasies. It’s early morning, and he’s aroused from his sleep, which she knows from experience means he won’t last long at all. It’s not worth embarrassing him again by trying to have sex if he’ll come before she’s even halfway there. Fortunately, there are many enjoyable things they can do that don’t involve penetration.

When she reaches his abdomen, she moves her hand lower and grips his erection. He makes a strangled noise above her, which causes her to smirk as she begins to stroke him. She weighs her need to use the toilet against her arousal and desire to come, finally deciding she’s safe for one orgasm. She’s actually quite glad that he has no idea she’s debating whether she needs to use the toilet too much to let herself come, because he’d probably decide she was mental instead of appreciating her practicality.

By the time she's moved down to his cock, he’s rocking against her hand and murmuring incoherently. She looks at his face as she keeps moving her hand, watching it twist with pleasure as he surrenders in a way that she envies. It excites her, in all honestly, and she knows that part of her arousal is definitely caused by giving him pleasure, which she thinks is good. She moves her free hand down her body until she’s able to stroke herself, surprised by how wet she is considering he’s not touched her and she’s been thinking about toilets. God, she thinks too much.

She focuses on Teddy, and leans down to lick the head of his cock. She hears him whine before he arches up into her hand and spills onto her fingers. When he finally stops panting and starts to look embarrassed, she has to resist the urge to tell him that he managed to last longer than Ron usually did in the mornings at the same age. Somehow, she doesn’t think that’s a wise way to make him feel any better.

“I like watching your face when you come,” she tells him bluntly. It’s a bit more direct than she might normally be, but it succeeds in making him forget about coming so soon. This is one time when she’s at least prepared for it, so it’s not a disappointment. If anything, she’s impressed he managed to last as long as he did considering how hard he was and how much teasing she did beforehand.

“Yeah?” He smiles and runs his hand through his hair. “I’m glad, since I seem to do it so easily whenever I’m naked with you.”

“Morning erections rarely last long,” she says simply. She releases his spent cock and moves over his leg, straddling his firm thigh as she leans forward to kiss him. She begins to rub against him as she bites his bottom lip, sucking gently as he moves his arms and rests his hands on her hips. He catches on quick and pulls her more firmly against his leg as he curls his tongue around hers.

When he flips them over, she’s not expecting it. She moans as she finds herself on her back with him over her. He’s using his fingers now, rubbing her clit as he sucks her nipple. It doesn’t take long before she’s gasping as her body shudders. He has three fingers inside her, moving them fast and deep the way she needs, and it’s just too much. She feels him watching her as she comes, but she can’t really think about anything except the way he feels and smells and the pleasure she‘s experiencing. Once she’s calmed down, she blinks at him and smiles lazily, feeling sated even if it is, once again, due to his fingers.

“Mmm…that was nice,” she says, stretching before she kisses him languidly. Unfortunately, her need for the toilet now decides it can’t be ignored any longer, so she pulls back and smiles. “I have to use the toilet. Be right back.”

She rolls out of bed, blushing slightly at the awkward necessities that go hand in hand with taking a lover. Once she’s out of bed, she reaches for the nearest thing she can find to slip on, which happens to be his shirt from the night before. If she bypassed her own shirt because his is larger and smells nice, it’s merely coincidence, she tells herself as she puts it on and rushes across the room to the loo.

When she comes out, Teddy’s charmed the sheets, made the bed, and put on his trousers. His hair is wet, so she realizes he’s gone to the other toilet to wash up. He smiles as he looks at her. “You’re wearing my shirt.”

“Am I?” She attempts to play innocent but his smug smile means she’s been caught. “It’s the first thing I reached.”

“It looks good on you,” he tells her. He stands up and shifts, opening his mouth before closing it again.

After three attempts to say something, she arches a brow and purses her lips. “I think after what we’ve shared, you can speak to me without hesitation, Teddy.”

“Ted.” He smiles wryly. “Well, I was just going to say that you’re probably doubting my claims of stamina after your two recent experiences.”

“Those two examples have extenuating circumstances. Your first time with a woman in several years and morning erection aren’t exactly common. Well, the latter is, but it’s normal to not last that long in the morning, I think. Besides, it’s not as if it took me ages this morning, either.”

“Point. Still, it’s rather embarrassing,” he admits. “I’m surprised you haven’t decided to just forget trying again.”

“I’m not with you solely for sex. Besides, haven’t you ever heard that the third time’s the charm? I think you need to stop being so nervous and worried about impressing me,” she says. “And, yes, I know how amusing it is for me to be telling you not to be so nervous.”

“I’m not, either.” He laughs and shakes his head. “With you just for sex, that is. I mean, the sex is wow, and that’s even after my fumbling, so I can’t imagine what it’ll be like when I’m not giving a good impression of a fifteen year old who’s never seen a naked girl before.”

“It’ll be better than wow?” she suggests with a teasing smile.

“Very funny,” he mutters. “I’m far too happy today to even care about being teased. It’s like Christmas and my birthday all rolled into one delectable, arousing, clever, beautiful package. Except for it sounding like you’re a gift or possession, because I definitely don’t want hexed.”

“Come on. I’ll make coffee and see what I have in the cabinets that’s suitable for breakfast. I have to go grocery shopping later, so there’s not too much, but we can always behave immaturely and steal some of Hugo’s sugary cereal.”

Teddy follows her out of the bedroom, and she has to glare at him twice for fondling her bum during the walk down the stairs. He smiles innocently each time, which isn’t at all innocent when his full lips are curved that way. When they reach the kitchen, she starts coffee, and then deliberately bends over to look in the fridge knowing he’ll have a view that should make her blush.

“Evil woman,” he groans before he moves behind her. He presses against her bum as he peers into the fridge. “See anything good?”

She glances over her shoulder and notices that his hair is burnt orange, which is one mood she hasn’t been able to place yet. There are a few colors whose moods are questionable, while others are more obvious. The burnt orange is one of the former. Of course, that’s only if her theory is actually valid and it’s not just whatever random color he feels like changing his hair to at any given time.

“It looks like there’s eggs, but I’m out of breakfast meats. There’s oatmeal and sugary cereal, or toast and eggs,” she says, wiggling just a little to be wicked before she straightens up.

“Cereal sounds good to me. So, Hugo’s coming home tomorrow?” he asks, going to the pantry to get a box of cereal.

“Yes, sometime in the late morning or early afternoon. Ron didn’t give a specific time, but, knowing him, they’ll not get an early start. He drove them, so they’ll not simply be Apparating.”

“He’s rather proud of that license. I saw it about a half dozen times once he got it.”

“I think nearly everyone at the Ministry has seen it that many times,” she says, laughing as she shakes her head. “Still, it’s good that he was able to pass, because he’s talked about owning an automobile for years, if only to make his father jealous.”

Teddy laughs and gets down two bowls for the cereal. “Since I’ll be losing you to another man tomorrow, will you have dinner with me tonight? I’ll even cook, in an attempt to impress you with my culinary talents.”

“You’re not going to lose me, if you even have me to begin with to lose, which is still debatable. Though, my free time will basically disappear again.” She isn’t sure how to proceed with things between them. She wants to continue seeing him, even with the concerns she still has, but Hugo being home is going to make it even more complicated to see Teddy. She looks at him and smiles. “Dinner tonight sounds lovely. I’ll be there at seven?”

“Seven is perfect. Or earlier. I’ll be home, I’m sure.”

“Maybe six then.”

“Six is even better.”

“I’ll not go lower, Lupin.”

“Six is good. We can talk before we eat. You’ll be tired and cranky after a day of running errands, and I’ll have to do my utmost best to distract you from the crankiness.”

“In this case, you’re insufferably correct because shopping, especially at the supermarket on the weekend, definitely makes me cranky. However, good food and conversation with a handsome man certainly helps improve the mood. Will you be inviting one such man?”

“Just for that, I should invite Ogden and get him started on his latest medical condition. You’ll sit there listening to him talk about his stomach issues until you’ll be begging my forgiveness.”

“Point. Okay, I suppose you can be the handsome man since you’re resorting to blackmail.”

“It’s not blackmail. It’s simply persuasion.”

She pours them each a glass of orange juice and follows him to the table. “It’s blackmail if you’re using threats of Ogden’s indigestion troubles. If you’re using you and promises of an excellent meal, then it’s persuasion.”

“I stand corrected. Forget Ogden, then, and we’ll focus on me,” he says, putting a bowl of cereal down in front of her before he kisses her. When he pulls back, he smiles. “Kisses are a much better bargaining tool than Ogden or cooking, you know?”

“Yes, they are,” she has to agree, watching him sit down and start eating his cereal. His hair is turquoise again, and he keeps looking up at her and smiling, which makes her smile. It might not be a normal ‘morning after’, if there is such a thing, but she certainly has no complaints at all.

End part 9