Adventurous Hearts: The Temple

CHAPTER 17: The Light of Day







They stepped out from the temple into glaring sunlight. Gathered at the base of the steps were several members of her team including the bug eyed Claire. Unfortunately she spotted them first, standing on the top of the steps shielding their eyes from the sun.





“Dr. Granger, Lord Malfoy!” She cried, rushing up to them. She bypassed Hermione completely and began to fawn over Lucius. “Are you injured? Are you unwell? What do you need, sir?”







“I need you to get away from me.” He growled, moving closer to Hermione and away from the annoying little twit that was her assistant.







“Claire, back off.” Hermione snapped. The tiny, bug-eyed blonde glared at her for a moment before turning and returning to the camp. If the girl wasn’t so efficient she would have been replaced long ago.







“What happened, Dr. Granger? Did you set off a trap?” Gilford Simon was a graduate student and had a bright future ahead of him, Hermione actually liked him.







“Sort of, Gilford, only it wasn’t a death eater trap, it was one far older, one of Morgana’s. Lucius opened the deatheater wards; they had only spelled the entrance.” She said, shaking off a dizzy spell. “Touch nothing when you go inside, check in detail before you excavate for magical signatures and if you don’t know how to unravel it, find someone who does.”







“Dr. Granger, are you alright?” Gilford asked.









“I’m tired, I’m hungry and I suspect that I am dehydrated.” She said.









“What happened in there?” He asked, looking between Hermione and Lucius.









“Nothing you need to concern yourself with.” Lucius said staring down at the young man from behind Hermione.









“I’m sorry, I meant no offense.” Gilford backed up a step, more than a little frightened of the former death eater.







“Don’t worry about it, Gilford. Just please oversee the initial team while I go home and get myself together. I will be back on site tomorrow.” She said.







“Yes, Dr. Granger. I assume I will send anything important to your house or will you be staying with Headmaster Snape?” He asked.









“She will be spending the night at Malfoy Manse in Wiltshire.” Lucius said tightly.









“She’s going home with you?” Claire piped up. “Why?” She nearly whined. Lucius narrowed his eyes and placed his hands on Hermione’s shoulder, his stroking fingers drawing the little blonde’s attention to the love-bite just below Hermione’s ear.







“Because I want her to. Now if you will excuse us.” With that Lucius disapparated them to his bedchamber within Malfoy Manor.







“Did you have to do that?” Hermione asked, shoving away from him as soon as they popped into his room.









“What did I do?” He asked, heading towards his bathroom to run a bath. Hermione followed him; standing in the bathroom doorway and watching him fill the sunken tub with hot water and sandalwood scented bubbles.







“You all but told them we had been shagging ourselves sick while locked in that blasted temple!” She said.







“Who cares? Other than that infernally irritating assistant of yours.” He said, undressing and tossing his dirty clothing into the rubbish bin instead of the hamper.







“I do, Lucius, I have an image, I am their teacher, their team leader.” She explained, watching as he lowered his gorgeous, lean body into the bath.







“They were under the assumption that you could possibly be heading to Severus, tell me why that is alright for your image but coming home with me is not?” He was scowling at her and she tilted her head to the side, he looked almost jealous.







“They don’t assume I’m going to Severus for sex, it is well known that he and I are extremely close friends. He is my contact in an emergency person.” She said softly. “In many ways, he is all I have. Harry and Ron have totally different lives now; we aren’t close, not like we once were.”







“He doesn’t have to be all you have.” Lucius said.







“Lucius, we discussed this…you and I…” She was clutching the doorframe in frustration.







“No, you discussed it. I never agreed to anything. I don’t want to discuss it now. I am tired of seeing you in that outfit, take it off and get in the tub.” He said, closing his eyes and leaning back against the padded edge.







“Lucius, I don’t think I have the energy….”







“I don’t want to shag you, Hermione, I’m too tired. You need a bath and some food and then we are going to close the drapes, get into my bed and sleep.” He said, already dreaming of the soft, luxurious feel of his bed.







“It’s a good thing, my bum is still sore.” She groaned, removing her boots and socks. She quickly shucked the tank and trousers then climbed into the tub with Lucius, settling between his thighs and reclining against him.







“The water will soothe you. It will be easier on you next time.” He said, his eyes still closed as he massaged her shoulders.







“So sure that there will be a next time.” She moaned as his fingers began to knead the tight, knotted muscles of her shoulders.









“Trust me, there will be; now be quiet and relax.” He said. She laughed and let him soothe her as they soaked in the hot water until their skin began to prune. He dug through his wardrobe and found her one of his t-shirts, the expensive cotton felt good on her skin and covered her to mid thigh.







They shared a simple meal of cold meats and bread sitting in the middle of his bed and talking about various safe topics. When their hunger was satisfied he vanished their mess and pulled the blankets back, tucking her beneath them as he curled up around her. In no time they were both sleeping soundly.









It was late, nearing midnight when Lucius stirred, the scent of home, clean sheets and soft woman comforting him. He opened his eyes slowly and when his vision adjusted to the darkness he could make out the contours of her face. She had her head resting on his pillow, her nose scarcely an inch from his. One hand was curled into a fist and resting in the center of his chest, the other tucked beneath the pillow. She had a leg draped over his hips, her little foot tucked between his knees.







He brought his hand up and pushed her hair back from her face, she moaned softly and shifted a little. In the darkness he could see the faint smile lifting her lips as she dreamed.







“Mmm…Lucius.” She mumbled, snuggling closer to his warmth and sighing contentedly. He feathered his fingertips over her brow and down the bridge of her nose, over her cheekbones and the thick, dark lashes of her eyes. He was stunned to feel his body stirring with desire; he had thought he was tapped out for at least a month after the sex marathon in the temple. He had come more in previous days than he had in the course of a month, yet he was quickly rising to the occasion once more.







He rubbed his thumb over her lower lip and then replaced his touch with his lips, kissing her gently. She startled, her head jerking slightly and her lips parting on a gasp. Lucius took advantage of the opportunity and slid his tongue inside, coaxing hers to play. She responded slowly, her lips and tongue moving along with his. Her head was telling her to back off, that they were no longer in the temple and she was making a mistake, but she found herself unable to pull away from him.







Lucius shifted, rolling onto her and settling easily between her thighs. She wore no knickers beneath the t-shirt and he had opted to sleep naked so he was immediately treated to the feel of her sex against his arousal. He found her hands with his, twining their fingers and pressing them into the pillow beside her head as he slid into the tight, welcoming heat of her.







“Are you too sore?” He asked when she whimpered at his invasion.







“A little, but it’s a good ache…don’t stop.” She breathed against his lips. He didn’t need to be told twice, he started moving slowly inside her, kissing her all the while. Their orgasm, when it came, wasn’t mind blowing but it was sweet, satisfying and mutual. And it was powerful, binding the two more than either expected.







“I told you it wasn’t over.” He whispered into her ear as he withdrew from her body and rolled off of her, pulling her back into his arms and going back to sleep.







~@*~*@*~*@*~*Morning*~@*~*@*~*@*~*







Hermione stood beside the bed, her boots in her hand and dressed in one of Lucius’s dress shirts she had pilfered from his wardrobe. She had rolled the sleeves up to her elbows and the tails hung to her knees, she had also discovered his sock drawer and swiped a pair of thick gym socks that were now scrunched around her ankles. Her hair hung in wild, tangled spirals down her back and over her shoulder.







She was leaving before he woke; she needed to get away from him before she began feeling things for him that would be of no benefit to either of them. Already she felt more than she should. She didn’t want to leave; she wanted to stay with him, curled into his arms beneath the luxurious comforter in his too comfortable bed. But she knew that path would only lead to heartache, for all his claims of seeing the light and changing his ways she knew she would never measure up, she was not a pureblood and to him would always be inferior.







She leaned in and brushed a kiss against his lips. He was beautiful lying in that bed, sprawled naked with his arms and legs outspread and his hair tangled around his head and shoulders. The morning sun was peaking through the curtains and casting him in a soft, golden pool of light, he really was stunning.







“Goodbye, Lucius.” She said softly as she turned and walked quietly from the room. She followed the scent of coffee down the stairs and found her way to the dining room.







Draco looked up from his breakfast and morning paper to see Hermione entering the room.







“Granger! What in the bloody hell are you doing here?” He asked, his eyes narrowing when he saw her state of dress. He rolled his eyes and snorted in disgust when she leaned over and snatched a muffin from the basket on the table. “You smell like sex.”







“I smell like your father.” She said with a smirk. She took his glass of pumpkin juice and leaned against the table, staring at him while she drank.







“I can’t believe you slept with my dad.” He said with a shake of his head. “First my godfather and now my father, have you no discretion?”









“Awww, what’s wrong Draco, upset that I shagged Daddy instead of you?” She asked with an exaggerated pout. Draco scoffed and scowled at her.







“Hardly. I’m not interested in playing in your twisted little world, Granger.” He said.







“Oh come on now, we both know that isn’t true, Draco. Even now you can’t stop looking at my thighs and trying to see down my shirt.” She taunted as she picked blueberries from the muffin and popped them into her mouth.







“Well what do you expect a man to do when you practically sit in his breakfast half naked? And it’s not really your shirt now is it?” He asked, nodding towards the LAM embroidered over her left breast. “Besides, why would I want a witch still smelling of another?”







“You don’t like Daddy’s scent on me?” She stole a piece of bacon from his plate.







“To be honest, Granger, I could care less who my father screws as long as he is home and healthy and happy. As long as you don’t do anything that forces him back to Azkaban you can do whatever you want with each other.” He said. “You know, you could always sit down and the house elves will bring you your own plate.”







“But it’s more fun to take yours, Draco.” She laughed. “You’ve certainly matured, I am surprised.”







“Time changes everyone, Granger. And circumstances being what they were I had no choice but to grow up.” He said.







“You love your father very much, don’t you?”







“Yes, I do.” He said, smacking her hand when she reached for his toast. “Sit down and I’ll have a plate brought to you.”







“HERMIONE!” Both of them looked up at the sound of her name being bellowed through the house.







“Uh oh, the Dragon is awake and he doesn’t sound happy.” She muttered. Lucius stormed into the dining room wearing only a pair of loose fitting sleep pants, his face flushed in anger. “Good morning, Lucius.”







“Good lord, Father! You look like you’ve been in a fight!” Draco said as he looked over his father’s torso and the various scratches, claw marks, love bites and bruises from aggressive fingers. Draco looked over at Hermione who was trying not to laugh.







“You were leaving, weren’t you?” He asked, coming around the table and following her as she moved away from him.







“Yes, I got sidetracked by Draco’s breakfast.” She said, snatching her boots from the floor as she moved quickly to the other side of the table and away from him.







“You weren’t even going to say goodbye?” He continued to stalk her around the table.







“I did, you were sleeping and missed it.” She said, running back to stand behind Draco.







“Don’t run from me, I told you this wasn’t over and I meant it.” He said, glaring at her.







“Thanks for….well, thanks for a good time, Lucius.” She smiled. “See you later, Draco.” She said, messing up his carefully styled hair before waggling her fingers and popping out of sight.







“Damn that witch!” Lucius shouted, slamming his fist down onto the table.







“That good was she?” Draco asked, stunned to see his father reacting to the mudblood so forcefully. Lucius looked down at his son who was grinning like a loon.







“Why are you smiling like the village idiot?” Lucius asked jerking the chair back from the head of the table and falling into it.







“Thanks for a good time, Lucius.” He mimicked. “You were used for sex.” Draco started laughing. Of course he had no idea what has transpired in the temple, but he was right, Hermione had made it sound as though it were just casual shag.







“Be quiet, Draco.” He scowled. “Where does she live?”









“I don’t know.” Draco said with a shrug. “She’s probably going back to work, meet her there.”







“No, I want her alone and she has this annoying little assistant who I am quite sure has designs on my person.” He frowned.









“Father, don’t take this wrong, but if she wanted to talk to you, she would have stayed…she obviously was only interested in one thing, and now that she’s had it….” Draco was trying desperately not to laugh, it seemed like a conversation one would be having with their daughter. “I mean, why buy the wand when you can use the magic for free.” Laughter was slipping out around every word.









“You are enjoying this aren’t you?” Lucius watched as the house elf placed a plate before him and fixed his tea.









“It’s highly amusing, you have to admit. I mean you just spent years in prison for trying to kill mudbloods, then you get released and get yourself attached to one who only wants you for a sex toy…it’s amusing.” He said, shrugging.









“I can’t begin to tell you how it warms my heart that my distress amuses you so.” He groused.









“Don’t be petulant, Father. There are plenty of witches out there. You are a free man, free of prison; free of marriage…you are free to do whatever you want! Your life is yours again.” Draco said, still not quite believing he had his father back.







“You’re right, Draco.” Lucius said, smiling suddenly. “But I’m afraid other witches do not interest me at the moment, I haven’t quite gotten that one out of my system. But you are right; it is time for me to resume my life.” He said, draping his napkin over his lap. “Let her get comfortable thinking I have let it go, and when the rest is settled, I will find her and purge her once and for all.”







To Be Continued……..









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Alright….so as I stated, this was part 1 of a 3 part series…..look to the next chapter for a preview of the next installment Adventurous Hearts: Nimue’s Island, be prepared for Severus to play a very big role in this one…..thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed it.





And in response to a few emails....its rare for me to read and review an uncompleted fic. I have issues with bein easily distracted and will lose interest quickly if someone is very slow to update,or the worst of all, abandons a fic, which is why I update daily or at least several times a week and complete or mostly complete a fic before I post it. I do check daily to see whats new and read all complete fics when they interest me, then review. It isnt a snub LOL I just know myself well enough to know I will not be able to focus if I cant sit and read it all the way through. I primarily read HG/RL, LM/HG, DM/HG and SS/HG oh and the occaisional LM/SS especially if it also includes HG...(the same pairings I write LOL) but I am always happy to read something in another pairing if asked. =) So again, thank you for reading and I will see you shortly with a new Remus fic, then begin posting Nimue\'s Island....