Love Thy Enemy

CHAPTER 5: An Understanding







Lucius crossed the street quickly and entered the little boutique where he had left his wife. He had been with his jeweler for over two hours selecting pieces for a woman he had no love for. It had been the most difficult shopping experience of his life to date. He would have complained more, but truth was he welcomed the challenge. Trying to select jewelry that would compliment such a plain and fashion challenged woman had required careful thought and patience. He doubted she would appreciate it.





Not that her appreciation mattered. What mattered was that she looked like she belonged beside him in public and despite her soiled bloodline that she was dressed in a manner befitting a Malfoy. Lucius completely ignored the other people in the store as he made his way to the private dressing room he knew his wife would be in. The truth was that Lucius ignored most people unless he needed something from them, or they were in the way of something he wanted. He was a self centered person and he would make no excuses for being so.





He didn’t knock; he simply opened the door and stepped inside. He had never seen such a disgusting display of pink. Pink walls, drapes, carpet and chaise, with a small circular platform backed by a three paneled mirror. Just as he entered he overheard the seamstress tell Hermione she would be right back as she slipped through another door to alter a gown, it was then that he noticed Hermione standing in the center of the room.





Lucius blinked several times, as though he weren’t quite certain that what he was looking at was real. She had her back to him, but he could see her front reflected in the mirror. Her hair had been in a ragged ponytail she had pulled it into that morning, but now it hung loose to her waist in soft, fat curls. She was no longer wearing the jeans and faded school sweatshirt she had worn that morning, but a black, strapless corset-like garment that nipped her waist and plumped her full breasts above the stiff material. A short little slip of black silk reached barely to mid thigh, edged with lace and showing a tiny notched slit on the side.





Lucius felt his arousal stirring and his eyes narrowed unhappily. The little witch was more appealing than he had thought, once she was cleaned up a bit. She was tapping her tiny bare foot in frustration when her glance drifted to the mirror and she caught Lucius’s reflection staring at her.







“You pervert, you could have knocked first!” She said, crossing her arms over her chest and searching wildly about the room for something to cover herself with.







“Why should I knock, I’ve seen women in their knickers before.” He drawled before stepping closer to the platform and walking around her slowly. “I see that someone decided to do something about that mop you call hair.”





“Apparently in order to get the full picture of the gown, Madame Elaine requires hair, makeup and the proper undergarments.” Hermione said, rolling her eyes.







“Well, those are certainly an improvement over what you had previously.” He said, reaching out a gloved hand and flicking the lacy hem of her slip. Hermione slapped his hand away.





“My underwear is none of your business, and it never will be.” She said, glaring at him.







“I’m not so sure we shouldn’t discuss that, after all, according to the terms of this marriage, we are forbidden sexual contact with anyone but each other. Magic folk live very long lives Hermione.” He said, his eyes openly admiring her breasts barely contained in black satin.





“Well then, it’s a good thing you didn’t lose your hands in the war isn’t it?” She said with a smirk.







“I certainly am surprised to see such a delightful gem lay beneath those tacky clothes .” He leered at her as he let his eyes rake slowly over her lush curves. “I might even be able to look beyond your filthy blood and keep us both happy.”





“You disgusting prick….” Hermione squealed as she was yanked across the room and slammed into Lucius’s chest.







“All you had to do was ask. I would have been happy to come to you.” He said, the low rumble of his voice, and the dark, stormy look in his eyes made her shiver. What bothered her most was that she couldn’t decipher if it was from disgust, or desire.





“You disgust me.” She said, curling her lip. Though it wasn’t entirely the truth. She was more affected by the feel of his tall, hard muscled body pressed into her nearly naked form than she cared to admit.







“Now that’s a pity.” He said, looking down into her cleavage and running his fingers gently over the soft swells of her breasts.







“Don’t touch me!” Hermione said through gritted teeth as she slapped his hands away. The corner of Lucius’s mouth lifted slightly as he grabbed her wrists and pinned them behind her, easily clasping them both in one of his as he subdued her.







“Now you don’t mean that, or you would learn to control your thoughts so you weren’t in my arms more often than not.” He smiled, sliding one gloved hand along the curve of her waist and hip.





“I’m sorry; my desire to curse you is just too strong to overcome.” She said, her breathless tone making her blush.





“I don’t think your desire has anything to do with cursing me.” Lucius’s said, his hand sliding back and over her firm backside. He squeezed one soft cheek and pressed her close against him. She gasped when she felt the evidence of his arousal and Lucius arched one silver brow in challenge.





“Do you intend to force me?” She asked, whimpering softly when his hand slid along the back of her thigh and lifted her leg to hook over his hip beneath his robes.





“Force will not be necessary I think.” Hermione wanted to argue the point, but she couldn’t, at the moment her mind was too focused on the feel of his gloved hand clutching the back of her thigh.





“Madame Elaine will be back any minute, let me go Lucius.” Hermione said, tugging against his grasp.





“Admit that you desire me just a little bit…” He taunted, pressing his pelvis into hers.







“No.” She narrowed her eyes and glared at him.





“Don’t lie to me. You know the terms, admit that you desire me or at least my body and with one kiss we can part.” Hermione was fuming inside, but she knew that she had to compromise or be trapped against him indefinitely as he touched her as he willed.





“Fine, I won’t deny an appreciation for your body, but it has nothing to do with you as a person.” She said tightly. Lucius lowered his head and brushed his nose alongside hers.





“Open your mouth.” He whispered.





“Why….” His mouth slanted over hers, his tongue sliding inside to graze her teeth and stroke over her tongue. She moaned in shock as he deepened the kiss, despite the obvious release of the invisible bond holding them together.





“Oh my goodness!” Madame Elaine exclaimed when she walked into the dressing room to find the couple in a heated embrace. Hermione’s eyes opened wide, her lips still being ravished by Lucius who took his sweet time easing off of the kiss, making sure to bite softly into her lower lip before pulling away completely. He released her hands and her thigh, stepping back slowly, a look of warning in his eyes that told her to be careful of her thoughts else she find herself in his arms again.





Lucius made his way to the ugly pink chaise and took a seat while the flustered seamstress hung a pink garment bag on an ivory colored hook and reached for a simple set of black silk brocade robes in a rose pattern.



“You can wear this Mrs. Malfoy; your other clothes have been burned on the orders of your husband.” Hermione sighed in annoyance as she looked at Lucius’s smug smile. Hermione stepped into the slim fitting dress with the long sleeves and rounded neckline, allowing Madame Elaine to zip the back and help her into the flowing robes. “The black boots will look perfect!” The woman ran across the room to a stack of shoe boxes and came back with a pair of knee high dragon hide boots that cost enough to feed a small country. Once she was fully dressed in the most decadent clothing she had ever owned Hermione noticed the look of appreciative surprise on Lucius’s face.





“Madame Elaine, you have certainly outdone yourself.” Lucius said. Hermione did look lovely. Elegant and tasteful, she would compliment him dressed as she was now. To look at her, you would never know she wasn’t a pureblood.





“Thank you, sir. The gown for the theatre is ready; her shoes are in the bag as well. I only stock costume jewelry here in the store and I did not figure you for a man who let his wife wear anything but the finest gems, so I did not add any accessories of that nature to her new wardrobe. Everything will be delivered in the morning sir.” Madame Elaine looked back at Hermione as though she had worked a miracle and not simply dressed a woman who had been too poor to afford such clothing before now.







“You figured correctly, I purchased Madam Malfoy’s jewelry earlier. You may bill my account, and add thirty percent as a bonus for the rush.” Lucius said.





“Aren’t you going to ask how much all this cost?” Hermione asked. She looked across the room at the racks of clothing and piles of shoes, handbags, cloaks, gloves and the like. She figured there was enough in that pile to cover the yearly salary of several people.





Lucius glanced over at the clothing and waved his hand nonchalantly.

“No need, you didn’t get that much.” He said, reaching for his wand and setting the tip against the receipt Madam Elaine held out for him.





“Not that much? And what do you mean you bought me jewelry?” She asked.





“Please have the gown sent to my house Madame Elaine, and thank you again.” Lucius pulled Hermione towards the door and helped her into the woolen cloak that had belonged to his son. “Did you get new outerwear?” He asked.





“Yes, she only put six in the pile though.” Hermione rolled her eyes.





“Let’s get something straight Hermione. You are now a Malfoy, and as much as I detest that fact, I will not let the ministry believe that they have gotten the better of me. I will parade you under their noses in nothing but the finest clothing and gems that my money can buy. I know you could care less about the finer things, but you need to get a grasp on your new station in life.” Lucius said vehemently. Hermione stared at him for a moment, and then she smiled.





“Nothing would baffle them more than if we appeared happy.” She said. “They would wonder if their punishment were a punishment at all.”







“Very good.” Lucius smirked slightly. “I see we are in accord on this subject. Now, come along, we need to see the furrier and get you an evening cloak for formal events. We have theatre tickets tonight and I want everyone to see you shining at my side.”