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CHAPTER 4

"Draco, darling, this is lunch and not the Spanish Inquisition. You could at least pretend to be enjoying yourself."

Draco lifted his gaze from his lunch and gave his mother a half-hearted smile. "Sorry, Mother, my mind is elsewhere. What were you saying?"

Narcissa chuckled. "I was asking how you're doing. But I don't think you need to tell me. Don't let your father do this to you, darling. He no longer has any say in your life."

"It's not him." Draco shook his head, "Well, it's not only him."

"A girl then?"

Draco's cheeks flushed. "No… yes… it's—"

"Do not say it's complicated," Narcissa fixed him with a glare. "Your father is complicated. Whoever this girl is, she's not."

"We're fake dating to piss off Lucius." Draco glared right back at her.

Narcissa's jaw dropped open. "You're what?"

"It is complicated," Draco smiled at his mother's shock. "A few weeks ago, Father had me followed. He had pictures of me with Hermione and assumed the worst. It was a simple business deal and, at the time, nothing more. But when he accused me of disloyalty, I didn't deny that there was something more happening between us."

"Hermione?"

"Granger, the name we're not to mention."

"Oh." Narcissa pressed her fingers to her lips. "It is complicated."

Draco huffed out a laugh. "Like I said."

"So how did the fake dating come about?"

"I went to see her. I thought she should know, especially if Lucius decided to confront her—" he gave his mother a knowing look "—and she was great about it, thought it a brilliant laugh. She's the one who came up with the fake dating idea to get back at him. She's had her own issues with him."

"So she's using you?" Narcissa's tone became firm, that of a concerned mother.

"No, not at all. Hermione's not that person. She's amazing. She's kind and caring, her generosity knows no bounds. She gives away half her profits every year. She's not in the habit of using people to benefit her."

Narcissa's motherly concern turned to glee. "So, I get the feeling that this girl is more than just a fake date then."

Draco sighed, "Yeah, actually, she is."

"And what are you doing about it?"

"I'm not sure what to do. She made it clear to me it's just a business deal, but I know I saw more in her eyes when I kissed her good night."

"If you're kissing her, I think it's definitely more." Narcissa reached across the table and squeezed his hand. "Darling, you need to talk to her, tell her that you want to remove the fake from the dating. If she doesn't want more, then you can walk away. But, if you're seeing more in her than she is actually saying, then she also might want to take the fake out of it."

"Maybe." Draco pushed the food around his plate with the fork. "And I hardly even know her."

"That's how most relationships start, Draco. It's all learning and talking and kissing," she winked, "but unless you actually talk to her, none of the rest can happen."

"Is that how it happened with you and Father?"

"Believe it or not, in the beginning your father was romantic and caring, but—" Narcissa sighed "—his work consumed him. His mistrust and paranoia grew, and everything about him changed."

"But you stuck with him anyway?"

Her mouth twitched as she fought a smile. "I gave the impression of sticking with him."

Draco's fork clattered on his plate. "What?!"

"You quitting wasn't the only surprise your father has had in the last few weeks."

"You're leaving him?"

"No, I've left him."

"How did he take it?"

"As expected." Narcissa rolled her eyes. "He was indifferent. I think he was angrier at you than me."

"He expected this?" Draco's eyebrows raised in surprise.

"I don't think he expected this, but in typical Lucius fashion, he assumed the worst. Only in my case, he wasn't wrong."

Draco gaped at her. "What are you saying?"

"Darling, your father has been too busy watching you to take any notice of me," Narcissa grinned at her son. "The new man in my life is much more attentive."

Draco let out a slow exhale, not sure just what to say to her.

"I've put up with that man for far too long, and it's his loss," Narcissa said. "And this new man, Charlie, he's—" she smiled, her whole face lighting up "—he's younger, he's kind... he's the man I want to kiss good night."

Draco winced, not wanting the picture of his mother kissing anyone in his head. "Younger?"

"Significantly," Narcissa said with a bright smile. "Eighteen years, to be exact." She held up her hand, instantly stopping Draco's response. "I don't want any judgement from my son who is fake dating a girl he is clearly in love with."

"In love? I'm not sure—"

"I can see it in your face." She tilted her head as she spoke in a calming voice. "Draco, if you feel even a shred of what I feel for Charlie Weasley, you need to tell this girl before she decides to fake date someone else."

"So he's not even contacted you?" Hermione was shaking her head, an expression of bewilderment on her face. "Is he that cold?"

"The man is an iceberg."

She laughed and Draco's heart swelled at the sound. It was light and girly, and he wanted to hear it all the time.

But…

It had been three weeks since the auction, two weeks since his mother's bombshell, and he still couldn't tell her how he felt. They'd had lunches and dinners, he'd spent time in her shop, had met both her parents there, and neither had seemed concerned when they learned who he was. In fact, they'd been the opposite of what he had expected, joining him and Hermione for lunch and regaling him with stories of the confident chatterbox who arrived on their doorstep at age eleven and stole their hearts.

He couldn't figure out what to tell her, and it was insane. After only a few weeks, he felt like he knew her better than he knew anyone. She was so open, more so than anyone he had ever known.

Even Blaise, who'd he known his entire life.

But part of his reason was he'd not seen the lust, the desire, in her eyes since the auction. She'd smiled, she'd laughed, but that glimpse he'd been given had disappeared.

And now, it was just one more excruciating dinner with her. A dinner that was once again something he wasn't accustomed to. Dinners and dates were usually formal, somewhere fancy, not in a noisy pub, dressed in jeans and t-shirts.

"Has he ever been pleasant?" Hermione asked.

"Mother says he was when they first got together, but I guess it was all downhill from there."

"Mother?"

"What about her?"

Hermione laughed. "No, I meant you call her Mother, not Mum?"

"It was what I was taught so I never thought it odd. And, it's a hard habit to break."

She nodded, her face thoughtful. "It took me a while to call Penny and Alex Mum and Dad, so I get it."

"And what do they think about this?" Draco asked cautiously. "About me?"

"I've not told them anything." She smiled at his confusion. "They trust my judgement, so they've not asked anything. They will be assuming I'll tell them when… um, if there was something to tell."

Draco's heart stopped for a beat. When? Did that mean…?

"I'm sure they'll think it's hilarious," she laughed, but the pink tinge on her cheeks made him think she was more invested in this than she wanted him to believe. "And this has been fun… and I've liked getting to know the real you."

"The real me?"

"Yeah." She took a bite of a chip and pointed the remainder at him. "I'd read all about you before we met. I assumed you'd be exactly like Lucius, so I wanted to be prepared. Tell me you didn't do the same."

"I didn't," he told her. "Not immediately, anyway."

"Seriously?" She looked surprised, then her eyes narrowed. "Or had your father already painted a picture?"

"Your name was tantamount to Satan but no, I never took any more interest than that." Draco paused at her hurt expression. He hadn't meant it as an insult. "I mean, I knew of you, but didn't let my father's opinion of you cloud my judgement. And clearly he's wrong."

She ducked her head, but he didn't miss the smile his comment had caused.

"I mean, Satan is a stretch… Leviathan, maybe?"

"A powerful enemy?" Hermione grinned. "I'll take that. Do you think he's still following you?"

"I've no idea," Draco held his palms up. "And I don't really care."

"So why are you still hanging out with me?"

"I like hanging out with you," he told her. "I like talking to you. It's refreshing to have dinner with someone and not talk business."

"Good, because you're a good friend. I'd hate to lose that."

Draco smiled and nodded but inside his heart dropped. Friend. That was all he could expect. She clearly wanted nothing more. The lust he'd seen in her eyes was just an act. His disappointment curled inside him, twisting and knotting his stomach, his appetite leaving in an instant.

He continued to smile at her, listening to her ramble on, nodding and laughing at the appropriate times.

He tried not to shut down, but it was almost impossible; he'd been friend-zoned, and there was no coming back from that.

"Are you coming in?"

Draco startled. "Ah, what?"

Hermione touched her hand to his chest. "Draco, this fake dating has been fun, but I know you want more. I saw the disappointment in your face when I called you my friend." She leaned up and whispered in his ear, "And I definitely want you to be more than a friend."

One second she was whispering in his ear, the next his body was against hers and her back was pushed against the door. Her breath caught and Draco stared down at her.

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying—" she stretched her neck and kissed his jaw "—I want you to come inside. I want you to prove to me how much of a friend you aren't."

He bent, groaning deeply, his face pressed into her neck. He breathed her in, the scent of her skin overwhelming his senses.

"Draco..."

"Say it again." His voice was muffled against her throat. "Say it again. Tell me this isn't a dream. Tell me you want more."

"Please..."

It was all he allowed. His lips moved to her jaw, her cheek, and then joined hers in a kiss that was real and raw and urgent. Hermione moaned as his tongue slid inside, the sound vibrating against his lips and pulling his own soft groan to mingle with hers.

She gripped his hair, gently tugging his head back. "Inside... Draco... please, inside."

He took the keys from her hand, his mouth still on her jaw, and reaching behind her he fumbled with the lock. She laughed — the sound pure and clear — and Draco swore, frustrated at his attempts to fit the key in the lock.

"I hope that's not a sign of things to come."

Draco growled, "I'll spank your arse for comments like that."

"Only if you get the door open."

He nipped her bottom lip before stepping back and unlocking the door. He pushed her inside, kicking the door closed, and held her against the closest wall. He bent, sucking the pulse in her neck, kissing her jaw, lifting the hem of her t-shirt to feel the smooth skin beneath.

Draco's mouth returned to hers, sucking her lips, tasting her tongue as it brushed against his. He wanted to taste her everywhere, wanted to press his teeth into her skin and leave marks on her hips, her thighs, her chest.

He stepped back momentarily, pulling her t-shirt over her head and dropping it to the floor. He unfastened her jeans while she kicked off her shoes, shoving the denim down her legs. With a flick of his fingers the clasp of her bra released and she shrugged out of it.

Her hands slid into his hair, her nails scratching his scalp. "Are we doing this here?"

"If you want to," he groaned. "I'll have you… wherever you want."

Hermione kissed him quickly, then stepped out of his arms. Taking his hand she led him up the stairs, biting her lip and smiling coyly over her shoulder.

Her bedroom was neat, sparsely decorated with a dresser and a single armchair by the window. A king-sized bed was positioned in the centre of one wall, large and inviting, and the image of her spread out on top of the covers flashed through his mind.

She moved closer to him, tugging the hem of his t-shirt, pulling it over his head. "Is it what you imagined?"

Glancing down at her chest, up her neck, to her face. "No. You are so much more than anything I could have even dared to dream."

She ran her hand down his chest, his stomach, tickling her fingers through the hair on his navel. She dragged his belt free and tugged the buttons open on his jeans. "Good answer."

Draco laughed and pulled her close, savouring the feel of her bare skin against his for the first time. "It feels like I've been thinking about this forever."

"Really?"

"That first meeting we had… I knew then." He walked her backwards to the bed, lowering her gently.

She inched back, pushing toward the headboard as Draco stood to admire her, stunned. He watched her in the dim light of the moon as it filtered in through the window. The curve of her hips, the tiny dip of her waist, her breasts, her fine collarbones, and long neck. She was perfection, on display just for him.

He shoved his jeans off and crawled over her, running the knuckle of one finger down her stomach and between her thighs, teasing over the baby-blue satin of her underwear.

"You are..." Draco exhaled a shaky breath. "Fuck… I want to taste you."

As if he was terrified that it would all be just a fleeting moment — a single night — he leaned down quickly and swiped his tongue across one taut nipple, then the other. Hermione sighed, her hand sliding through his hair, her back arching slightly at the feel of his mouth as he sucked the tight peak into his mouth.

"Good… so… oh!" She gasped as he bit down, grazing his teeth below the curve of her nipple.

He kissed his way down the length of her body, every inch tight and smooth under his lips. He glanced up and she was watching him, her eyes focused on his mouth as he kissed her skin.

He grinned and pulled at the elastic of her knickers with his teeth. She twitched as he released it, snapping back against her skin. "Blue is definitely your colour."

"Oh," she giggled. "I was about to tell you to take them off, but... if you like them so much..."

Draco sucked the skin on her inner thigh, pulling another gasp from her. "Maybe I'll leave them on." He sat up between her thighs, making a show of dragging his boxers down his legs. "Maybe I'll just make you watch—" he grasped his erection, sliding his hand from base to tip "—maybe I'll come all over your perfect skin."

Her own hand reached beneath the satin covering her sex. "Well, maybe I'll enjoy myself while I watch."

"Fucking hell, I think I'll just watch you."

Hermione laughed and pulled her hand away. "Take them off, Draco."

He did as requested, slowly dragging the satin down her legs, dropping it to the floor. He kicked his boxers off and stared down at her; thighs parted, her most intimate skin wet and waiting for him.

"Are you just going to stare at me?"

"Maybe." He murmured without looking up. She was incredible. Her openness, it appeared, wasn't just her public persona. It extended to everything she did. He wanted to slide inside her welcoming body, bury himself deep, and stay there. But first…

He dipped his head and opened his mouth over her wet slip of skin, groaning at the sweet taste of her, his eyes rolling closed as he sucked gently.

"Jesus… Fuck!" Her voice was a shaky cry and Draco glanced up. Her head dropped back onto the pillow as her hips arched from the bed.

He smiled, his tongue sliding over her, up one side and down the other, circling over and over as he slid two fingers inside her. A gasping cry burst from her and her hand clutched at his hair.

"Shit, Hermione," Draco murmured. "You taste like fucking sin."

He dipped down again, his tongue landing on her clit, pressing down hard as his fingers curled inside her. Tiny sounds of pleasure slipped from her lips and Draco sucked harder, his cheeks hollowing with the intensity. He pushed his fingers deeper, his eyes peering up at her as she cried out his name. Her body contracted around his fingers, and her thighs clamped tightly against his head.

With a sharp cry she came, the sound sweet and urgent, her body tensing and pushing tighter against his mouth.

Draco slowed his fingers, pulling them gently from her body. He touched his lips once more to her wet skin in a gentle kiss as she reached for him, clutching at his shoulders.

"Up here… please…" She was almost frantic in her need.

Draco dragged himself over her, the weight of his body trapping her against the mattress, and kissed her hard. He ached to be inside her, his hips ready to thrust, his body ready to give everything to her.

Her thighs slipped around his hips and she begged him once more to join their bodies. Bracing himself over her, he shifted forward, feeling her heat against the very tip of him, before finally sliding into her.

Good, holy fuck.

Her body was tight and wet and hot, and the feel of her warm thighs against his ribs was almost too much.

"Draco," she breathed, pulling his mouth to hers. Her tongue slid between his lips, mimicking the long slide of him into her body, and her hands gripped his hair.

Draco curled his arms beneath her shoulders, his hands cupping the back of her head. "You feel fucking incredible," he whispered and started moving in slow, measured thrusts.

Their bodies were curled so closely together — closer than he thought possible — but she moved with him, tiny rolls of her hips meeting his own slow thrusts.

It was slow and intimate, more intimate than Draco had imagined. He kissed her, sucked on her tongue, and swallowed each of her sounds, wanting to keep them for himself.

The reality of her, the sweet, raspy sounds, the softness of her body around his, threatened to push him over the edge. He groaned, lifting his head to look down at her.

"You feel fucking perfect," he said between gritted teeth. "You look fucking perfect."

Her response was a breathy gasp of more as her fingernails dragged down his back and dug sharply into his arse.

His body reacted, the slow rhythm stuttering and turning into something wild. He buried his face in her neck and gripped her thighs, fucking into her as hard and fast as he could. He closed his eyes, his body giving into the pure sensation that was the woman beneath him.

Hermione seized up beneath him and Draco felt her orgasm build and release. Her thighs shook, her body tightening, her hot sex clenching rhythmically around him.

Her entire body was shaking, covered in a sheen of sweat. His own skin felt hot, like electricity sparking just beneath the surface. His heart pounded inside his chest, and with a loud shout, Draco's own orgasm burst out of him, his body bucking wildly.

Her arms wrapped around his shoulders and Draco turned his head, bringing her mouth to his, kissing her as the aftershocks rippled through his body.

He rolled to his side, tugging her to his chest, nuzzling her hair. She sighed, her body warm and limp, her eyes drooping shut.

"Okay?" Draco whispered and she nodded against his chest. "Not bad for a fake boyfriend then?"

She smiled and forced her eyes open. "There was nothing fake about that."

"So, we're doing this then?"

They'd been quietly basking in the post-orgasmic afterglow of what they both silently knew was the best sex either had experienced.

"Hmm," Hermione hummed sleepily. "Doing what?"

His hand travelled from her shoulder to her hip, her naked skin smooth and warm.

"Doing the real dating, not the charade?"

Hermione tilted her head to look up at him. "We're really doing this."

"Officially?"

"Officially." She pressed a kiss to his chest. "There'll be proper dates and real public displays of affection. I might even introduce you as my boyfriend."

"I do like the sound of that." He curled his hand around her jaw and she turned into his touch. "Boyfriend."

"Boyfriend." She smiled, wrapping her arm tightly across his chest and burrowing into his side. "And just so you know, it was never fake for me."