A Maid in the Devil's Manor

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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Chapter 42 ~ Preparations

Severus and Hermione reappeared on the Manor grounds, about one hundred meters from the Manor itself. Severus released Hermione and stood surveying the grounds for a moment. Then he raised his hands and performed an intricate motion. Hermione felt a powerful magical movement stir the surrounding landscape. Severus lowered his hands, and turned to her.

“That should insure our privacy,” he said, his eyes sweeping over the witch in front of him, before taking her arm rather possessively and striding toward the Manor.

“What did you do?” Hermione asked the Potions Master.

“I cast an Impeturbable ward around the Manor,” Severus said, “No one will be able to come within one hundred meters of my domicile. We are secured until such time as I choose to remove it.

He looked at Hermione.

“I imagine I won’t even consider it until well after tomorrow morning,” he said, looking down at her intensely. Hermione felt a melting sensation in her lower belly as she met his gaze. Severus smirked knowingly, then asked her

“How do you feel? Did they mistreat you?” his eyes were hard as he asked this. If she had been mistreated in any way, Mr. Apertiff could expect a very unfriendly visit.

“I need a bath, but otherwise, I’m fine. They weren’t terribly bad to me,” she replied, then her brow furrowed as she looked at him.

“But how do you feel Severus?” she asked, “Malfoy hit you pretty hard that third time. Even I didn’t manage to spin you around.”

“There is nothing wrong with me that a little pepper-up potion can’t help,” he said in a silky tone, his eyes glittering at her. “I am in excellent physical shape, as you will soon find out, Hermione.”

Hermione felt a pulse run through her at his words.

They walked up the portico and entered the Manor. Severus pulled Hermione tight against his side and apparated with her to her study. He released her.

“A bath is drawn for you, Hermione. I want you to wash the memory of today away. I have new memories for you,” he said softly. “Take your time. It is six now. Dinner will be served at eight. I would like you to join me on the veranda at that time.”

He pulled Hermione against him, wrapped his arms around her and kissed her tenderly, capturing her lips in the way she was familiar with, closing his eyes and savoring the taste of her, recapturing her lips several times. He still did not invade her mouth, though it was half-open in invitation. But his reaction to kissing her was different this time. Much different. Hermione could feel his hard, lean body shudder slightly against hers, which in turn caused her to begin to tremble…with desire. They quaked against each other as if about to explode as they kissed, and Hermione could feel Severus starting to harden against her. She let out a gasp against his lips as a throbbing heat rose between her thighs.

With a great effort, Severus pulled back from her, his dark eyes full of lust and desire as he held her back by the shoulders. His touch burned, even through the fabric. Severus looked down at Hermione and swallowed reflexively, his Adam’s apple working up and down. Finally he turned her and pushed her gently toward her bedroom.

“Go to your bath, Hermione, before we ruin a perfectly planned evening,” he said hoarsely.

She looked back at him and hesitated. He motioned for her to go on, and slowly she complied, disappearing into her bedroom. Severus let out a long sigh, looking down at his tented robes, then back toward the bedroom where the witch was undressing. Gods help him make it through dinner. He was aching for her softness, aching to press his lips against her bare skin, aching to taste her thoroughly. She had felt his cock growing hard against her, and her gasp of desire had almost done him in.

Severus stood there several more moments, savoring the desire pulsing through him, tormenting himself as he heard the splash of her entering the tub, naked, willing, wanting him. But all of this was part of the delicious foreplay they had been experiencing for the last two months. Wanting but not having. Touching, but not too much. Relishing the heat between them. Tonight…tonight he would have her, and he meant to have her completely.

Deciding he had teased himself enough with Hermione’s proximity, Severus apparated to the upper floors, to see what Eli had prepared for their meal.

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Hermione left Severus reluctantly. He had been on the very edge, she knew. But he was a calculating man, and had probably taken great pains to make this night special for her. As tempting as it was, he probably didn’t want to take her the first time on her study floor. His restraint had been sorely tested, and Hermione couldn’t wait until he broke loose from the chains that bound him. She walked into her bedroom and undressed, still aware Severus was standing in her study. He hadn’t left. She could feel his heat as if he were standing right in front of her. For a moment she entertained the wicked thought simply scourgifying herself and walking back out to him, nude and inviting, to see what he would do. Then she looked into the bath, and saw that the tub was lined with candles, and roses floated on the surface of the scented steaming water, laced with luxurious foam, calling to her. She slid into the tub, and her skin tingled deliciously. The elves had added something to the water that made her feel invigorated. She sank down into the warm depths, and picked up a rose. It was unscented. She smiled. The elves had placed the roses there for a visual. They knew the Master did not care for the scent. Instead, the bath was scented with jasmine.

Hermione slowly moved her arms and legs through the water, letting it soothe her muscles. But her skin was so sensitive. She was longing for Severus to smooth his palms across every inch of her. His palms, his long, sensuous fingers, his soft, hungry lips. She shuddered as she thought of his mouth on her body, kissing her, sucking her, and especially licking her. The knotted cherry stem floated up from her memories. Oh, she wanted to feel that talented tongue tie her into knots as well. And she longed to run her lips over that rippled belly he evidenced the day she watched him swim…and longed to trace the pattern of his scars with her fingertips, caressing the raised lines of those alabaster stripes, showing him she felt every part of him was beautiful, and that his sacrifices were not in vain. Most of all, she wanted to feel him thrusting wildly inside her, his cool, controlled composure gone, his restraint broken, his mind lost in passion, his cock taking every inch of her. Hermione was a small woman, but a strong and lusty one. She had gone without so long, she wanted it all. And from what she had seen of the Potions Master, he was built to give it to her. She wanted every inch of him.

Hermione ducked herself beneath the water, then rose, feeling the water heavy in her hair. A bottle of shampoo rested on the rim of the tub, she hadn’t noticed it there before. The house elves must be in attendance. She opened the bottle, poured some of the thick liquid in her hand and lathered her hair richly, remembering his hands buried in her locks, massaging her scalp, sending pleasure shooting up and down her body by the simple intimacy of the act. Hermione was suddenly aware of warm water being poured over her head. Hermione turned to see a blue green house elf with beautiful brown eyes, smiling down at her, a bowl in her clawed hand.

“I comes to attend you, Miss,” she said in a low, soothing barely squeaky voice, pouring more water through Hermione’s hair and smoothing it gently with her fingers. She was almost as good as Severus.

“Your hair is beautiful, Miss,” the house elf said, “It will bring the Master much pleasure to touch it tonight.”

Hermione closed her eyes as the elf continued to rinse her hair. She only half-wondered why she allowed the elf to attend her, as she felt the little creature gently urge her forward, and wash her back tenderly, as if preparing her for sacrifice. But it felt right, so she said nothing as the elf ministered to the difficult places to reach on her body. Finally the bathing stopped. Hermione turned to thank the elf, but she was gone, the washcloth and scented soap left neatly on the edge of the tub. Hermione picked these up and continued her bath, lingering over her thighs, and gently running the cloth over her center, quaking a bit at the sensation, visualizing Severus exploring her. She fought the urge to bring herself to climax. She would be cheating herself, when Severus would surely take her where she needed to go. She rose from the tub, feeling beautiful and desirable. Feeling the hunger for the Potions Master pulling at her center.

Hermione dried herself slowly, wrapping the towel around her body and letting the water out of the tub. She then applied a drying charm to her hair and walked into the bedroom. On the bed lay a simple sleeveless dress of green and silver, and a pair of matching panties, rather sheer. There was no bra. But Hermione’s breasts could stand on their own. She slipped the panties on and then the dress. She looked at herself in the mirror. The dress fit her flatteringly, accentuating every curve but not clinging. Hermione felt feminine, but powerful. She looked for the shoes. There were none. She opened the closet. Not a single pair of shoes was in evidence. She smiled. She was supposed to go to him barefoot.

She noticed a green and silver hairclip on the dresser. She was supposed to wear her hair up. She brushed her chestnut locks out until they were softly shining, then inserted the clip. She left two curled strands to hang free on the sides. The smooth curve of her neck looked inviting this way…she could almost feel Severus’ lips locked on her throat, and the ache between her legs returned. She took one more look in the mirror, and smiled sexily. She was sure the Potions Master would approve.

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Severus apparated to the veranda, to find nothing set up. He bellowed for Eli.

The elf immediately winked in and informed him that by the time he showered and dressed, all would be in order. The elf added that it wouldn’t do for the food to sit idle.

“It must be fresh!” Eli exclaimed with quite a stubborn look on his face.

Rather than haggle with the house elf, Severus apparated to his bedroom, brushed his teeth and showered. He dried off, and after consideration, decided not to apply the sandalwood oil. It didn’t taste as good as it smelled, and he didn’t want to inhibit Hermione in any way. The thought of her lips on his body made his cock throb, and he drew in a deep breath to center himself. Despite what he had gone through this afternoon, he didn’t feel tired or out of sorts. He felt strong, ready to consume Hermione from head to toe. But he drank the pepper-up potion anyway, to be sure. He walked into his bedroom and found a white button up shirt, black dress pants, green silk boxers and a belt laid out on the bed. He looked at the clothing, then shrugged and put them on. He looked for socks, but there were none. His black house slippers sat on the floor in front of the bed. He put them on, then brushed his silky hair.

Severus looked at himself in the mirror, adjusting his cuffs and trying to decide whether to put his hair in a ponytail or not. He decided he would. If Hermione wanted his hair out, he would accommodate her. He looked at himself in the mirror, and saw a dark desire reflected back at him. He wanted her so badly, he hoped his ardor would not take him beyond her threshold. He was brutal with women he paid for. What would he be like with Hermione when his great passion for her took him over? Would he have to hold back, or would she accept all of him? He would have to find out before he took her what she wanted, what she could take. He didn’t want to break her. He wanted to please her, to make her want all of him. To make her want to stay with him.

Severus took one more look at himself in the mirror. The clothes the elves chose accentuated his lean, muscular form. He knew Hermione would appreciate what she saw. He left his bedroom and headed for the veranda. It was a quarter to eight.

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A/N: We have officially arrived at the orchard gates. Please keep your heads and arms inside the bus at all times, and just follow my lead. Next we will stop by the lemonade stand to get a little pucker…and after that to the lemons themselves, which will definitely have a bite. Please review.