Show Me How Bad You Can Be

Chapter 4

            By the light of the fire he could see her supple form. He sat in the adjacent chair watching the flickering light dance across her body. He let his eyes be carried by the curve of the sheet carelessly laying over her. The thin fabric splayed out across her chest but fell away on one side, barely exposing her breast. His line of vision was drawn lower by the wrinkles of the sheet to where her legs lay exposed. She dozed peacefully, her tousled hair fanning out around her like a halo.

            He was trapped in his own thoughts. He had thought their first encounter in the restricted section had been amazing. It was nothing compared to what he had just experienced. Everything he thought he knew about Granger had changed so drastically that he had to re-evaluate his entire opinion of her.

            She began to stir. Her back arched in an elegant stretch and her eyes fluttered open, taking in the world around her. She looked surprised to see Draco sitting there. “I thought you had left.” She said pulling the sheet to cover her body for modesty’s sake.

            Draco averted his eyes regretfully when she covered herself. He didn’t say anything. To be honest he didn’t know why he had stayed. He rarely stayed around after being with a girl. He had actually fallen asleep for a few minutes after their little…encounter. When he woke up he had gotten out of bed and started to get dressed when he noticed how peaceful she had looked. He had sat down for a moment and before he knew it he had watched her for the better part of an hour.

            “Why did you stay?” Hermione asked, sitting up.

            “I…I’m not sure.” He said truthfully.

            Not pushing the matter any further, Hermione lay back down and snuggled into the pillows. “Well then why don’t you come back to bed?” She smirked.

            Draco grinned and stood up, climbing onto the bed. She reached up and rubbed her hands across his biceps and chest and smiled up at him. He pulled the sheet down to reveal her body. He let his eyes wander over her form, but his gaze was cut short as she pulled him in for a lusty kiss. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down on top of her. He pressed his body against her listening with satisfaction as the air was pushed from her lungs in a small gasp.

            Suddenly filled with ravenous lust, he caught her lips with his in a furious kiss and pushed her into the pillows. She responded immediately by raking her fingernails across the soft skin at the back of his neck and wrapped one leg around him.

            Hermione’s scenes were clouded. She had never been with anyone as experienced as Draco. His touch seemed to be everywhere and nowhere all at once. His caresses were careful yet reckless, his kisses hard yet tender. His every move made her want him all the more. Ron had never made her feel like this. His touches had been timid and sloppy. Remembering Ron made Hermione cling to Draco more as he continued his assault on her vulnerable body.

            Thoroughly spent, Draco rolled off of Hermione, though he continued to cradle her in his arms. He had been with a lot of girls, but he had never experienced anyone quite like Hermione. Few girls could differentiate sex and romance. Hermione seemed to have no emotional attachment to him whatsoever and yet she committed in bed like no one he had ever bedded. His body trembled and he tried to remember the last time he had felt so utterly satisfied.

            Hermione began to stir and sat up in bed, carelessly letting the sheets fall away from her curves. Draco took the opportunity to run his fingers over her exposed back. She ran a hand through her disheveled curls and then turned and let her legs fall over the side of the bed, finally bringing herself to stand up.

            Draco blinked. Was she really leaving? Not five minutes after the most amazing sex of his entire life? “Is everything alright?” He asked, thinking she might be having second thoughts about the makeshift relationship they were in.

            “Yeah, everything’s great.” She said happily, “thank you. I should just really be going.”

            “Hermione, its 2 in the morning. You can’t just walk around the castle this time of night. You might as well stay the night.” Draco said, hoping he sounded logical and not pleading.

            Hermione stopped gathering her clothes and seemed to consider Draco’s suggestion for a moment. “I shouldn’t.” She said picking up her shirt.

            “Why not?” Draco asked.

            She didn’t have an answer, at least not one that he would want to hear. In reality, she didn’t want to spend the night entangled in Draco’s arms. His touches were too soothing and familiar and she had no explanation for it. His touches made her feel loved and wanted, though she knew he did not and would not ever love her. She was afraid of falling for a man who would never reciprocate her feelings and so she must leave now and guard herself from heartbreak.

            Her silence made him realize, for it was his fear too. Already he could feel the tenderness of their embraces increasing. Soon, their encounters would no longer be mere sport, but a physiological and psychological necessity. He, however, thought that was what she needed; someone to be there for her whenever Weasley was being a git, someone who would listen to her problems and then make her forget all about them. Draco knew he was the man for the job. Love and hate aside, Draco knew he could satisfy her physically and emotionally.

            “So you’re already pushing me out, eh?” Draco said quietly.

            The starkness of his statement startled her. “I thought this was supposed to be a non-committal affair, Draco. I didn’t know I was required to stay the night with you or let you in to my personal life.” She said with some effort. She had stopped gathering her belongings but would not look at him.

            “You and I both know the only reason you’re leaving is because you’re afraid of letting me in.” Draco said forcefully. He paused, letting the truth of his statement sink in. “Hermione,” He said, “You don’t have to worry about me. I know you don’t want commitment and I respect that. You don’t have to run away. There’s nothing to run from. I’m nothing to be afraid of. I’m a substitute, a parenthesis, a vacation from your normal life. That’s it, nothing more.”

            “And you’re okay with being a parenthesis?” She asked quietly.

            “Only if you’re okay with being my parenthesis.” He chuckled.

            Hermione smiled and dropped her clothes, climbing back into bed and giving Draco a little kiss, watching the look of satisfaction wash over him. “Although,” she said with a little smirk, “I’ve never seen such a sexy parenthesis.”