Adventurous Hearts: The Temple

CHAPTER 10: Touch









Lucius watched her walk into the water with an avid interest in the way her rounded backside shifted as she moved. He hoped the water was cold because the snug bathers he was wearing were certainly not going to hide his erection at all. He watched her sink in to her shoulders and followed her.







The water wasn’t as cool as he had hoped, but it was enough to lower his body temperature. He suspected the incessant heat was deliberate on Morgana’s part; she wanted them to remove clothing. He dove beneath the surface and cut through the water until his lungs protested and forced him back to the surface. He relished the freedom of movement, the pleasure of exercising his body.







“You look like Neptune coming out of the sea.” Hermione chuckled as Lucius pushed his hair back from his face where it was slipping from the plait, his chest heaving as he sucked in much needed air. “You are a bit out of shape.”









“Comes from being locked in a cell almost continuously for ten years, I did what I could but it is difficult to get proper aerobic exercise in such a confined space.” He said defensively.









“I didn’t mean it as an insult.” She said softly, moving through the water so that she was closer to him. “I am appalled by the living conditions of Azkaban; it is no wonder the death toll is so high. I sent a howler to Kingsley before we entered the temple.”









“Do you often chastise the Minister of Magic? Not to mention the fact that you call him by his first name.” Lucius asked.









“I get by with it because he loves me like a daughter or younger sister.” She laughed. “I wouldn’t advise you to try it.”









“I wouldn’t dream of being so forward with the leader of our world, though I am so grateful to be paroled I could kiss him.” Lucius grinned slightly, letting her know he was jesting.









“Well, you certainly have a talent for it.” She said, smirking softly. “I was rather stunned to be honest.”









“Did you believe me to be asexual?” He asked. “My son looks just like me so surely you knew I had engaged in intercourse at least once in my life.”







“No, I always imagined you to be rather….promiscuous to be honest, but I assumed your passions to be colder in nature.” Her cheeks actually flushed slightly and he couldn’t help but smile. “The heat in your kiss surprised me.” She said barely above a whisper.







“Ah, so you thought me free with my affections yet passionless?” He pursed his lips thoughtfully. “To be honest with you, I wasn’t nearly as free with my…attentions…as you might believe. Early in my marriage I was devoutly faithful to my wife, but after Draco was born she no longer wished me in her bed. I had less than a handful of mistresses over the next several years, but I still loved my wife, she however did not feel the same as she abandoned me to my fate as soon as the sentence was read.”









“I’m sorry she turned out to be so fickle, Lucius.” She said, meaning it. She never understood women who didn’t stand by their commitments. She had stood by Ron, despite the fact that she was unhappy because she had made a commitment to him. She had stood by him right up until the moment he accepted that he was homosexual and ultimately that was the reason they just could not make it work. Perhaps that was why she avoided a serious relationship with Severus; she didn’t want to be bound into an unhappy relationship once more.









“I suppose I do not blame her.” He said, somewhat amazed that she had not defended Narcissa’s decision. “Expecting a woman to stay bound to a criminal serving a twenty year sentence is a lot to ask. She deserved a life and I am happy that she has found one.”







“If she wasn’t in it for better or for worse she should never have taken the vows.” Hermione said.









“You would have waited?” He asked curiously.









“Yes. If I stand up and promise myself to a man you can bet I will stand by him, come whatever storm.”









“Sometimes love just isn’t enough, Hermione.” He could see the indignation sparking in her eyes and he was captivated.









“It should be.” She said softly. She met his gaze and a wash of heat moved over her, starting at her head and flowing down to her toes. She was attracted to him, strongly attracted to him and she couldn’t deny it. What is with me and death eaters? she thought. First Severus and now Lucius, perhaps the war damaged her more psychologically than she was aware of.









“Have you ever been in love? Really in love?” Lucius asked, moving closer without realizing it.









“I don’t know.” She said. “I loved Ron…but it wasn’t all consuming like I always imagined it would be.”







“Then perhaps the answer is no.” He said, close enough now that he could see the light dusting of freckles on her nose.







“Perhaps….OH MY GODS!” She screamed suddenly and Lucius found his arms full of wriggling witch. “Snake, Snake in the water!” She exclaimed as she desperately climbed his body.







Lucius was torn between reveling in the lush breasts between which his face was now nestled and shoving the panicking woman away from him.







“Hermione, calm down!” Lucius said, his voice muffled in her cleavage as she wrapped her arms around his head and her thighs around his ribs.







“Lucius, there is a snake in the water I felt it brush against my leg when it swam by. I hate snakes.” She said, her voice trembling. Lucius understood phobias, they weren’t rational and people reacted VERY strongly to their triggers without reason. He grasped the backs of her thighs to move her away before she broke one of his ribs; she was gripping him so tightly he couldn’t breathe. As soon as his fingers brushed over her skin she squealed again and began to move higher until she was able to climb onto his shoulders her hands holding tight to the top of his head.







“Hermione, good gods woman what are you doing?” He grabbed her thighs to hold her steady before she toppled them.







“Just get me out of the water, please, I tried to apparate but I can’t!” She pleaded. Lucius looked into the water, it was fairly clear and he could easily see the small eel undulating beneath the surface.









“Hermione, it isn’t a snake, it’s a baby eel.” He said, trying not to chuckle.









“Eel?” She looked down and saw the small creature moving through the water. “It looks like a snake!” She tightened her hold on his head painfully.







“Alright, I’ll get you out of the water but you need to slide down, I can’t walk with you perched atop my head.” He frowned. He had often carried Draco thusly when he was a small child but had never had a grown woman seated there before.







“I can’t!” She said stiffly. She hated the fear, the way it froze her. She was able to walk into a set of ruins or into a tomb without any fear whatsoever, but as soon as she came into contact with a snake or was forced to fly every bit of courage she had was gone like the wind.







“Yes you can, just slide down so that you are on my back so I can actually maintain my balance.” He said shifting his shoulders so that her thighs slid off and she moved slowly down his back, her legs wrapping tight around his waist. He could feel her face pressed into the back of his neck as he moved back towards the beach, the witch riding piggyback. “Alright, safe and sound on snake free dry land.” Lucius said, pulling her legs free and setting her onto the sand.









“Thank you.” She said breathlessly, her heart still pounding within her chest. “You think I am a lunatic don’t you?”







“No, I think you have a serious phobia and with good reason.” He said watching her struggle to compose herself.







“Thank you for not making light of it.” She said, falling onto the blanket and resting on her back. She heard him settle beside her but did not open her eyes to look at him.







“I wouldn’t dream of it.” He said lightly, a smirk tugging at his lips.









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As the sun went down the temperature in their environment dropped dramatically. Although it was just a spell, the environment was set to adjust according to the normal changes of nature. They transfigured their bathing suits back to normal and then redressed with the exception of their shoes. Lucius started a fire in the pit provided and the pair enjoyed a light meal from the picnic hamper.







They conversed about changes wrought in the last decade, how the war had affected various aspects of wizarding life. They discussed his time in Azkaban, what it was like to live within the filthy, dank walls. As the moon rose high in the sky Lucius found another blanket and spread it out for her on the other side of the fire.







“Lucius.” He had barely begun to drift off when he heard her whispering his name.









“What is it?” He asked wearily.









“Do you think there are snakes in the forest?” She asked. He sighed and rolled onto his back.







“If there are they won’t come near the fire, just go to sleep.” He said.







“I’m freezing and I can’t transfigure another blanket or my shirt, why won’t she let me transfigure something for warmth?” Hermione grouched. “Can I sleep with you?”









“Haven’t we already proven that isn’t a great idea?” He asked, recalling the events of the previous morning when she caught him masturbating beside her.







“Does it matter? From the sounds of it Morgana is going to be pushing us at each other anyhow.” She said, gathering up her blanket and shaking it free of sand. Lucius watched her walk towards him, standing above him looking down.







“You aren’t going to relent are you?” He asked.









“No, I’m cold and you can keep me warm.” She said, lowering herself to the blanket he occupied and covering them with hers. “Goodnight, Lucius.” She said.







“Goodnight.” He growled, rolling over so that his back was to her and wondering if he would make it out of the damned temple with his sanity intact.







~*@*~*@*~*@*~*@*~*@*~*@*~







Hermione shifted and scratched her nose as the sun beat down on her face. She opened her eyes slowly, bringing her hand up to shield them from the light. She was resting against Lucius’s side, his arm serving as her pillow. He had his head turned away from her and was snoring softly. She smiled and pushed the blanket back, the sun making it uncomfortably warm.







She noticed the free standing door at the edge of the beach and blinked. She shook Lucius’s shoulder and he groaned as he sat up, wincing at the pins and needles feeling in the arm she had been sleeping on.







“Well, there’s the door….where is the note?” He pondered aloud. Hermione looked down and noticed a rolled up parchment sticking out of his pocket.







“In your pocket, Lucius.” She said with a laugh. He glanced down and pulled the parchment from his pocket and unrolled it.







Good morning, lovers, the sun is high

And the time to continue your quest is nigh.





Your passion was truly inspiring to see,

A kiss not only of passion but curiosity.





Now it is not only a kiss I require,

But something more to stir desire.





You slept with the witch wrapped in your arms,

She’ll deny it, but she isn’t immune to your charms.





You already have proven she stirs your desire

So why not simply stoke the fire?





Again I do not require much,

Just a little kiss accompanying touch.







Lucius closed his eyes and fell back to the blanket, throwing his arm over his eyes as Hermione read over the note.







“A kiss accompanying touch?” Hermione read. “So she wants us to snog like teenagers with a little groping thrown in?”







“It appears that things will get more personal, her demands more intimate as we go along.” He said. “I think you and I are going to have to have a talk about where this is going, Hermione.”







“I think it is obvious where it is going, Lucius.” She said softly as she lay back down beside him. “We don’t really have a choice in the matter do we? We either comply or we die in this temple.”







“We do not have a choice, we either fulfill her demands or we forfeit our freedom.” He said solemnly.







“At least we aren’t in danger. She could demand the impossible, send us on dangerous missions, our adventure appears to be an erotic one. I can handle it, can you?” She asked.







“Of course I can handle it; I am a grown wizard for Merlin’s sake!” He snapped.







“I just meant because I am a muggleborn witch…I fought against you in the war…and now you will have to become intimate with me…”







“I’ve been in prison, being forced to engage a pretty witch is no hardship, mudblood or not.” He laughed. “Besides, I already told you, my way of thinking has changed dramatically.”







“If you say so, Lucius.” She said, rolling towards him and leaning slightly over him. “We can talk later, right now let’s get through that door.” She reached up and pushed his hair back from his face. He laid there, still and quiet while she looked down at him. “You really are handsome.” She said honestly.







“You really are an interesting witch. How can you hate me, yet compliment me?” He asked, his hand coming up to stroke her shoulder.







“I told you, I am not a liar, especially not to myself. I may like you a little more than I did a few days ago.” She said, smiling slightly.







“That’s good; it makes me feel less like I am sexually assaulting you.” He laughed, tucking a curl behind her ear. He slid his hand to the back of her neck and tugged her head down until their lips met. He kept the contact light, a mere brush of lip against lip, testing her, teasing her. She seemed to be a rather passionate little witch and he was curious to sample a bit of that fervor.







“I’d have to be unwilling for that.” She said a bit mesmerized by his tenderness. His hand slid down the side of her throat to rest on her shoulder while the other settled at the small of her back. She didn’t protest when he shifted and rolled her onto her back and leaned over her.







“Just how willing are you?” He asked his voice rough and pitched low. He couldn’t stop staring at her mouth, the plump, pink lips glistening so invitingly. She swiped her tongue over them, an innocent gesture that wasn’t meant to entice, but it did. With a hoarse growl he lowered his head and opened his lips over hers. She met him eagerly, parting her lips and greeting him with her tongue, welcoming him into the sweet warmth of her mouth.







He partook greedily of her ardor, sucking on her tongue, her lips, nibbling at the succulent flesh until she was gasping and whimpering against his mouth. His fingertips were tracing small, feather light circles over her shoulder, slipping beneath the strap of her tank, tracing the cotton edge to the outer curve of her breast. He cupped her soft flesh in his hand, squeezing gently as he palmed her, the nipple tightening and pressing into the center of his hand.







Gods it had been so long since he had touched a woman, felt her respond to his caress, he had forgotten what an intoxicating feeling it brought. She arched her back, pressing into his touch, her hands sliding slowly down his back to grasp the tight curve of his ass in her hands. She moaned softly and squeezed, loving the feel of the tightly muscled cheeks in her hands.







Hermione always had been a bit partial to finely shaped male posterior and Lucius was in possession of a fine one indeed. He groaned and pulled his lips from hers to slide them down the side of her neck, breathing hotly against her skin before moving to nibble at her ear.







“You make me forget myself….” He whispered before darting his tongue into the shell of her ear. She gave is bum another squeeze and he pressed his erection into her thigh, letting her feel how he was reacting to her. Just as she was about to shift, to open her thighs and let him settle between them the door clicked, letting them know it was unlocked.







Lucius groaned, his face pressed into her shoulder for a moment as he tried to compose himself. She too seemed somewhat disappointed as she brought her hands up to rest in the middle of his back, rubbing gently in slow, comforting circles. He kissed her shoulder and lifted his head to meet her gaze.







“Seems it is time for us to move along.” He said hoarsely.









“Appears so.” She said, reaching up to run her index finger lightly over his bottom lip. She sighed and let her hand fall back to the blanket beside her as Lucius rolled over and sat up, groaning a bit as he adjusted his erection to a less uncomfortable position. Both were frustrated as they pulled on their socks and boots. Had they not been interrupted neither doubted that they would have been well into a rather fantastic bout of passion already.







Hermione tied off her boots and stood, dusting the sand from her backside before hooking her belt around her hips.







“Ready for the next round?” Lucius asked, his hand resting on the knob.







“I’m ready if you are.” She said, smiling flirtatiously.







“I surpassed ready long ago.” He muttered as he jerked open the door and led them through the darkened portal and on to the next leg of their journey.







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In response to inquiries, each section is 20 chapters long, so the entire series is a total of 60 chapters....perhaps 61 if I decide to write an epilogue =)