Mastering Temptation

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE: Master







Hermione danced into her rooms in the family wing of Malfoy Manor with Severus on her heels. She was smiling; still giddy that he had come to the party, for her. She stopped at the foot of the bed and turned around to see him slowly closing the large, ornately carved door to the suite and turning the small brass key in the lock.





“I didn’t think you were coming.” She said softly as she kicked off her shoes and sat on the end of the bed.





“That was obvious, why do you always flirt with the Malfoys so exorbitantly?” He asked, still facing the door. Hermione‘s smile faltered a little as she watched him reach up to pull the silk kerchief covering his hair off and toss it onto a nearby table.





“I wasn’t flirting with them; I was the same as I always am.” She said, pulling her lower lip between her teeth. “You seem angry.”







“I thought I made myself clear when I told you not to be kissing the Malfoys.” He said, his voice low and even, his tone reminding her of times when he was addressing students for their naughty behavior.





“I wasn’t kissing them, they were kissing me.” She answered, flinching when he turned abruptly and stared down at her incredulously.





“You weren’t trying very hard to stop them.” He said, leaning back against the door and staring at her.





“They surprised me, I wasn’t expecting it. I doubt they would have done it if you hadn’t been there.” She fidgeted a bit with the skirt of her dress, his penetrating stare making her uneasy.





“There is no question that their behavior was for my benefit; I have grown used to their digs over the years. What concerns me however is your behavior.” He crossed his arms and his ankles as he leaned casually against the door.





“My behavior? What have I done that has been so inappropriate?” She asked.







“Do you make a habit of sharing Draco’s bed?” He asked. Hermione knew that were his mask not hiding them, she would see his brows arching high as he interrogated her.





“How do you know I was in Draco’s bed?” She asked.





“It doesn’t matter how I found out, what matters to me is that you spent your afternoon in another man’s bed.” He drawled.





“I suspect that you have been peeking into other people’s heads,” Hermione said tightly, growing irritated with this line of questioning. “So, then you must know that I went to him seeking comfort because you didn’t want to spend the New Year with me. You should have also seen that nothing unseemly took place. I can’t believe you would even think to question my fidelity.” She was trying to keep the hurt from her voice, but was unsuccessful.





“I have told you before, a mhuirnin, that I am a very possessive man. I do not share.” He said softly.





“Severus, surely you don’t think for one moment that I would even entertain the thought of becoming sexually involved with Lucius or Draco?” Hermione asked, taken aback somewhat by his jealousy.





“What I think, is that you need to be reminded of a few things.” Severus walked away from the door and made his way across the room to look out the window at the people beginning to filter out of the house as the party began to ebb downstairs. “Remove the gown, Hermione.”





She sat up straight and stared at him in astonishment. He wasn’t looking at her, he appeared to be focused on what was taking place outside though something told her he was very aware of her every breath.





“Pardon?” She squeaked. Severus glanced back over his shoulder at her.



“I said remove the gown. Don’t make me ask you again, I don’t like having to repeat myself.” He returned his attention the window and waited.





She sat there for a moment staring at his broad shoulders silhouetted against the window and bit nervously at her lips. She reached into the sleeve sewn into her skirt for her wand and vanished the wings that she had transfigured between her shoulder blades. She tossed her wand onto the bed and reached behind her back to lower the zipper of her gown and remove it completely, leaving it in a heap on the floor. She reached up to remove the mask covering her eyes, but he stopped her.





“Leave it.” He said abruptly, stepping away from the window and seating himself in a plush armchair illuminated by the moonlight shining in through the windowpanes. The corner of his mouth twitched slightly as he looked at her in appreciation.





She stood there wearing only a pair of white silky knickers and the feathered mask. He was once again moved by the fact that she made no move to hide her body from him. She stood there, arms at her side and waited, though he could tell by the way she shifted her weight from foot to foot that she was growing impatient.





“Come to me, slowly.” He commanded softly, his pulse kicking up as she journeyed the short distance across the room to stand in front of him. “You look incredible.” He whispered.





“Thank you.” She said, her voice quavering a little.





“I want you to bend over my lap, Hermione.” He watched the shock register on her face and he couldn’t help the smug smile that tugged at his mouth.





“You…what? Why?” She stammered her eyes wide and slightly panicked.





“I want you to bend over my lap because I am going to spank you.” He said calmly.





“Is this a joke?” She asked her face heating as she stared down at him in disbelief.





“No, it is not a joke.” Hermione gasped softly as she read the truth in his eyes. She stood there for several long moments and debated on whether or not to run. She was unsure and a little afraid. But the truth was that she loved him, she trusted him and she knew without a shadow of a doubt that he would not do anything to actually hurt her.







There was a large part of her that said fight him, do not give him that sort of power over you, and do not give up your control. But there was also another part of her that was intrigued and aroused by his demanding behavior. It was that voice that she chose to listen to as she stepped to the side and eased her body over his lap, resting her cheek on the arm of the chair and looking into his eyes.





“I trust you.” She whispered softly.





Her words affected him more than he cared to admit, he had seen her warring with herself as she tried to decide whether or not to flee and he had been prepared for a fight. She had never looked quite as stunning as she did in that moment as she surrendered her control and offered him the ultimate gift, her trust.





He slid his hand over her satin clad bottom, admiring the pale glow of her skin in the moonlight. She was watching his face as he focused his attention on her uplifted backside, his hand caressing softly.





“I did not like seeing you with Lucius this evening, Hermione. You seemed to be enjoying his company entirely too much.” Severus said quietly.





“He was being quite funny.” She said, smiling slightly, at least until she received a sound swat from his hand on her backside. She gasped, her eyes widening for a moment.





“Don’t be cheeky.” He said, smoothing his hand over the reddening print. She bit her lip, surprised at the sudden sting. “I told you not to be kissing the Malfoys, or any other wizard for that matter. Yet you allowed not just one, but both of them to kiss you.”





She jolted when his hand came down twice upon her bottom in quick succession. After each stinging swat he would smooth his hand over the spot soothingly.





“You spent your afternoon in bed with my godson…from now on you will not share a bed, regardless of how innocently, with any man but me.” Once more his hand came down with a resounding crack against the springy flesh of her bum. She whimpered softly, amazed that she was not offended by his ministrations. In fact it was just the opposite, while the swats stung as they were landed upon her tender flesh; the residual warm, tingling sensation was incredibly arousing.





“You are mine, a mhuirnin, never forget that.” He said, delivering one final swat that had her moaning out loud when he smoothed his palm over her heated skin. “Sit up.” He helped her up, his hands cupping her shoulders as he guided her into a seated position on his lap. She wriggled against him, pleased to find him just as aroused as she was. “Why didn’t you shove them away?” He asked, cupping the back of her neck with one hand and the other resting on her hip.







“I was stunned; I didn’t know what was happening.” She whispered softly, reaching out with her fingertips to caress his lips. “Please don’t be angry with me, Severus.”





“I’m not angry with you…them perhaps, but not with you, not really.” He said.





“Um…are you going to punish me like this often?” She asked, her voice trembling just slightly. The corner of his mouth lifted as his fingers tugged gently on one of the curls that had escaped the confines of its pins.







“Would you like for me to?” He asked quietly, watching her reaction with interest. Her pupils dilated and her breath hitched slightly as she wriggled in his lap. “You liked it didn’t you, Hermione?” He lowered the tone of his voice, the raspy baritone sending shivers down her spine. “Giving up your control that way aroused you.”







“Yes.” She whispered. “Do you think me depraved now?” She asked, keeping her eyes lowered as her face flushed.







“If enjoying it makes you depraved then I am your companion in depravity, for I enjoyed it also.” He chuckled softly. Hermione lifted her gaze and laid her hand against his cheek, her fingertips brushing over the bottom edge of the black mask still adorning his face.





“You never have a reason to be jealous of any man, Severus. My heart and my body are yours and yours alone.” She whispered. “I love you.”





Severus felt as if someone had punched him in the stomach at her words. Warmth unlike anything he had ever known seemed to settle into every cell of his body as her words washed over him. He pressed his hand against the back of her neck, pulling her head down so that he could kiss her. Her lips parted and he accepted the invitation as his tongue moved into her mouth in search of hers. Slowly the kiss matured into something overwhelming in its intensity and Hermione found herself being lifted into his arms as he crossed the room to her bed and laid her gently in the center.





With one knee resting on the edge of the bed, Severus pulled his lips from hers and began to unbutton his shirt and pull it from the waistband of the form fitting breeches. He liked the way she looked laying against the soft pink bedding in her white knickers and feathered mask, in the back of his mind he imagined a painting done of her looking just like that and wished he were artistically inclined.







Hermione struggled to draw a calm breath as she watched him undress. She hadn’t ever really considered herself much of an adventuress when it came to sex, not once had she ever imagined role playing or anything of that nature. But laying there, clad as she was and staring up at a masked man dressed in black, her imagination began unfolding a tale of the sweet, virginal witch and the dark wizard who longed to possess her body and soul. Her brow furrowed slightly and a slow smile spread over her lips.





“You are putting things into my head aren’t you?” She asked, her fingers biting into the velvet coverlet beneath her as he shrugged out of the black shirt and leaned over her. The images in her head morphed slowly and she could see, the picture so vivid she could swear it was a memory, the woman’s hands tied behind her back, kneeling in the center of the bed, her cheek resting against the counterpane as her dark lover took her from behind. “Severus!” She gasped his name, her hands coming to rest on his shoulders.





He didn’t say anything; he just winked at her before pressing his lips to the underside of her chin and slid them lower over the arch of her throat. Hermione closed her eyes and curled her fingers into his shoulders as he stroked his tongue over her collarbones and then blew gently on the wet trail.





She arched her back and he closed his lips over one nipple, sucking and licking softly before moving to the other and doing the same. He licked a slow path between them, sliding lower over her abdomen, dipping his tongue into her navel and sucking the soft flesh of her belly, marking her. He tucked his fingers into the waistband of her knickers and tugged them slowly off of her, flicking them to the foot of the bed carelessly as he shifted over her, kneeling between her thighs. He wrapped his fingers around her ankles and pushed her legs up so that they were bent and then slid his hands over her legs to clasp the insides of her thighs and pushed them as far apart as he could without causing her discomfort.





She watched him, her breathing ragged in anticipation. She needed him, needed the satiation that she had only found with him. He lowered his head slowly; his lips were warm as he feathered tiny kisses along the inside of her thigh and over her lower belly. She keened softly when his clever tongue swiped over her aroused flesh as he tasted her. She couldn’t remain passive beneath his oral onslaught and rocked her hips into mouth, her cries of pleasure growing more and more demanding as he pushed her closer to orgasm.







She cried out in dismay when he pulled back, leaving her teetering on the edge. He sat up and unbuttoned the front of his breeches, shoving the soft fabric down over his hips and releasing his arousal from confinement.





“Say it again.” He whispered against her lips as he pressed full length against her and entered her slowly.





“I love you…oh!” She arched beneath him when he was fully sheathed inside her, she felt completed in that moment, even if he had not returned her declaration. He opened his mouth over hers, sealing their lips and ravishing her mouth with his tongue as he began to move inside her. Hard and fast he took her, swallowing her shrill cries and rough moans into his mouth.





Hermione wrapped her legs around his. She could feel the cool leather of his high top boots beneath the soles of her bare feet and her nails bit into the slick, damp skin of his back. She felt sexy, sensual and completely out of control as he ravished her with abandon.





Severus pulled back from his assault on her lips, his hands slipping down her back to cup her backside and lift her hips as he thrust harder into her. She cried out sharply, her neck arching and her head thrashing on the pillow as he moved over her, his own low moans becoming more harsh and intense.





“Again, I want to hear you say it again.” He said roughly, his fingers biting hard into the cheeks of her bum. She slid her hands up his back, her fingers tangling into his hair as she met his gaze, whimpering when he continued to thrust fiercely into her.





“I love you, Severus.” She said on a hushed moan just before her release washed over her and her eyes closed as the waves of pleasure crashed into her. He joined her moments later, his face buried in the crook of her neck as he shouted his own release into her softly scented skin.







They were both struggling to catch their breaths. Severus panted into the side of her neck as she smoothed her fingers over his hair. He lifted up slightly and removed his mask, then reached out and pushed hers up and out of his way as he looked into her eyes. He didn’t say a word, couldn’t as he basked in the love he saw reflected there. A slow smile crept across her lips and he found himself returning it before he kissed her softly and moved off of her.





He removed his boots and the remainder of his clothes before pulling back the covers and settling them between the sheets.



“Mmmm…..Happy New Year, Severus.” Hermione mumbled sleepily, a sated smile on her face as she snuggled into his side with her head on his shoulder. “I love you.”





“Happy New Year, a mhuirnin.” He whispered, kissing her brow softly as she drifted off to sleep.











***** ***** ****** ****** ****** ****** *******



Wish I had brought in the New Year with half as much fun as our magical couple. Instead I ate M&Ms and watched Dogma…..and missed hubby.







Red – Thank you, and much love for being so helpful!



Utopia – Thank you as well, I’m sorry that the fireworks ruin your celebration….but at least you got to snuggle with your honey, that is always worth it, isn’t it? I didn’t get a New Years Kiss either….sniff….spent it alone, missing my baby.





Twinsie – thanks for finally reviewing, you made my night, love. I am glad that you enjoy my twisted tales : ) and I hope to entertain you with many more.







And in response to a few emails…..the answer is yes….you can expect another Lucius and another Draco from me in the near future….both of them have stories spinning as we speak within my overactive brain : ) And I can hear the faint howling of Moony in the distance as well.