Just a Wizard

Chapter Seventeen

The rest of the evening went by in a blur to Hermione. Daphne told her how glad she was that Hermione was now legally part of the family and it put her mind at rest, because she had wondered how the girl would take this news. But Hermione needn't have worried. Remus would never leave anything as important as this half done, and he had already spoken to his stepdaughter before he had even begun the process. Daphne regarded Hermione as a sister anyway, so she had been happy about what he was doing.

Ron wouldn't leave her alone and she found herself sitting on his lap for the majority of the time, the rest of it dancing with him to the slow music. When Carter had tried to interrupt for a dance, Ron had nearly bitten his head off and the other man had just held his hands up, grinning wickedly. The only other people she had been permitted to dance with had been Remus and Harry, and they had both tried to teach her how to do some traditional wizarding dances, something she didn't think she'd ever get the hang of. Still, it had been fun.

When her eyelids started to droop sometime after midnight, Ron scooped her up in his arms and smiled at Remus.

"Seems your new daughter here isn't quite as recovered as she thought," he said, giving her a disgusted look. "And she should have told me she felt tired."

"I'm not that tired," she protested, glancing at him and then Remus, smiling as she looked at the older man. "Thank you for my party, I really loved it."

Remus leaned over and kissed her on the cheek, one hand smoothing her hair. "You're very welcome." He looked at Ron and narrowed his eyes. "I guess I should let you go. Just remember what I said, okay?"

Ron rolled his eyes. "As if I could forget."

"As if I'd let you forget," Remus shot back, smiling. "You just take care of our girl here, okay?"

"You don't have to worry about that," Ron murmured, looking at the way Hermione lay so trustingly in his arms, her big eyes riveted to his. "Say goodnight to everyone, Ninny."

"Goodnight," she called out obediently and instantly got a chorus of the same shouted back at her. Ron didn't give her a chance to walk around and say goodnight individually before he carried her out of the room and up the stairs, a smile relaxing his features whenever he looked at her.

"You look so beautiful tonight," he said as he put her down in her room, holding her in front of him as his eyes went up and down her figure. "If only we were alone."

Hermione smiled up at him. "What would you do?"

"Hmm, what wouldn't I do?" he murmured, pulling her against him and running his hands down her back until he felt the zipper of the dress and started to pull it down. "First I'd undress you," he said deeply, slowly starting to pull the gown from her as he spoke.

Hermione clutched at the front of it, shy with him still, but he grinned and kissed her hands, pulling them away from the material so he could remove it. His eyes followed the descent of the dress and he caught his breath as she was slowly uncovered, the fact that she only wore the sexy lace knickers making his body lurch uncontrollably. "Sweet Merlin," he said reverently as he stared at the perfection of her breasts, his hands spanning her waist and then running upwards so he could touch the underside of the firm flesh. "I'm not sure I can keep my promise to Remus," he admitted, his eyes shooting to hers as he drew in a huge lungful of air. "We have to cover you up... and quickly," he said, turning away and grabbing her robe so he could wrap it around her tempting body.

"What's wrong?" Hermione asked, confused by his actions when she had thought he might make love to her. She was certainly ready for it to happen.

"Hermione, I made a promise to Remus that I wouldn't do anything with you whilst we were under his roof, and I don't take my promises lightly. But Merlin, if I see you naked one more time, I might just break it. I want you like hell on fire, love," he said gruffly, his eyes sparkling with his desire.

"Do you?" she asked, cheekily.

He pulled her flush against him and groaned as he felt his hard flesh press into her belly. "Feel that? Oh, yeah, I want you alright."

"I wouldn't mind," she said, running her hands slowly up his shirt until she reached his bow tie, and she untied it so she could get to his shirt buttons.

He gave a wry smile and closed his arms around her body. "Bloody Hell, Ninny, I'm sure you wouldn't, but a promise is a promise, no matter how hard it is to keep... no pun intended."

Hermione groaned and rested her head on his chest, her fingers still busy slipping buttons from buttonholes. "Why did you have to make such a stupid promise then?"

Ron chuckled as he held her tighter. "Right at this moment, Scarlet, I haven't got the faintest idea. Come on," he said, drawing away slightly and stilling her fingers, "you're tired. We'll get in bed and just hold each other."

"Is that all?" she grumbled, letting him tug her over to the bed. Her eyes lit up as she stared up at him. "Did you promise anything else?"

Ron's eyes narrowed. "Like what? What devious little plan are you thinking up?"

She grinned at his expression and started on his shirt again, tugging the material out of the waistband of his black pants. "You didn't promise we wouldn't fool around did you? You didn't promise you wouldn't kiss me did you?"

He grinned down at her and then started laughing. "You're insatiable, and you don't even know a real experience is yet. I can't wait to find out what you'll be like once you know the ropes, so to speak."

Her teeth caught her lower lip as she concentrated on her task, parting the edges of the shirt so she could gaze with awe at his chest.

"So...you didn't promise anything else?"

"Well, I didn't make any other promises. Why? You want to fool around a little then?" he asked with a lazy grin, the way he looked at her making her toes curl.

"Only if you want to," she replied.

Ron picked her up and laid her carefully on the bed, coming down next to her and lowering his head to hers. "Ask me that in half an hour," he said against her lips, before he claimed them and made her forget what it was she was supposed to ask.

The rest of the week passed by swiftly and before she knew it, Hermione found herself getting a huge hug from Remus as she stood outside with her suitcase waiting to leave and catch a portkey to Chudley with Ron.

"Don't take any rubbish from him, Ninny, and don't do anything you don't want to do, okay?" he said as he squeezed her, his worry for her evident.

"I won't. I'll be fine, Pops," she said. Hermione had briefly considered calling the werewolf Dad, but something inside her wouldn't allow it despite the fact that the man had been like a father to her since she'd lost her own. Remus would never replace her father, but he was surely a wonderful substitute. She didn't know how Remus would feel about it, but she thought giving it a shot wouldn't hurt.

Remus pulled back and stared at her with his mouth hanging open, then a huge grin split his face and he laughed. "That sounds real good," he said in amazement and hugged her again, chuckling. "You just make sure you call me that all the time from now on, okay?"

"Okay," she said, smiling as she felt the warmth from his embrace. She really felt like she had a family now.

"Does that mean I'm Mops?" Emmeline asked from behind her, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "I really wouldn't mind you know."

Hermione turned from Remus and gave Emmeline a hug. "I'd love that," she admitted.

"I can get used to hearing it, if you can get used to saying it," Emmeline told her, placing a kiss on her cheek. "I always wanted another daughter. Shame we didn't have you here years ago then maybe Daffy wouldn't be so spoiled now!"

"I am not spoiled!" Daphne complained, standing next to Neville and trying to look angry.

Hermione laughed and gave her a hug too, smiling up at Neville as she did so. "I'll miss you."

"You too, sis," Daffy said with a wink.

"Well, you don't have to miss her too much," Ron put in. "You can come out and stay for a week or so if you like, when you're free."

"That would be great!" the older girl said and gave Ron a hug as well, beaming. "I'm not free for a couple of weeks, but after that I'd love to come if it's okay? Plus we have some contract work over in Chudley with the Canons soon anyway."

"I just said it was okay, didn't I?" Ron said, pulling Hermione towards him and putting one arm around her possessively. "You can bring someone with you if you like. Anyone at all," he added, looking at Neville and winking.

Daphne gave him an embarrassed glare and then looked away. "Er...no, I'll probably just make my way out there alone."

Ron hid his reaction well, but he couldn't help glancing at Neville, finding the darker man looking at Daphne with surprise, and undeniable interest. Hermione nudged Ron in the ribs and drew his attention away from the other couple. They said some more goodbyes, Harry and Carter promising to come out and see them, then Ron bundled her into her cloak and pulled her against his chest, relaxing back with a sigh as they walked into the portkey office.

"I should smack you for stirring things up for Daphne and Neville!" Hermione told him, elbowing him gently in the ribs.

"What did I do?" he asked in surprise, raising his eyebrows.

"Daphne hasn't let Neville know she likes him yet, although she's tried showing it. He's acting all dense, like you did when we were at school. He likes her but he seems to be the same shy Neville," Hermione said, shaking her head.

"I don't think he's shy, exactly, just not the devilish ladies man that I am," Ron said, flashing her a grin and pulling her onto his lap as they sat to wait for their turn.

"Hmm, devilish is right anyway," she said, giggling when he gave her his full on maniacal glare. "Ooooh, I'm so scared!" she said, laughing harder when he wrapped his arms around her waist, nearly crushing her.

"You damn well should be!" he growled, taking her lips in a kiss that let her know exactly how frustrated he had become whilst under Remus' watchful eye. "You wait until I get you home!"

She leaned away from him and pursed her lips. "You keep saying that, but I think it's going to be a big disappointment. You'll probably just slip on an old robe and sit there with a pipe and slippers reading a newspaper and calling out for tea every half an hour!"

"That isn't true and I can prove it," he growled, pulling her back towards him and nuzzling her neck, making her shiver instantly when he attacked her with his teeth.

"See," he said, his voice muffled, "that isn't boring is it?"

Hermione smiled and snuggled against him, closing her eyes. "You'll have to do better than that," she said, grinning at him when his head shot up and he stared at her.

"You're getting brave, but you better watch your step. You sure you can handle me?"

She bit her lip as she stared at his glittering eyes. "I'm sure I can try."

"Hmm, you'd better be sure, because you aren't getting any choice in the matter anyway. Now move those lips a bit closer," he said, urging her head towards his and flicking his tongue out to touch her bottom lip. "That's better. Show me how much you worship me."

Hermione raised an eyebrow, mimicking him. "Worship? Who said I worship you?"

"Just a lucky guess," he murmured, grinning wickedly at her, his eyes boring into hers. "Come on, we haven't got all day you know."

"Well, if I have to..." she said and pressed her lips to his, initiating a kiss that left them both breathless.

A few hours later they were touching down as their portkey landed them in Chudley and Hermione was surprised to find Ron getting excited about having her on his home turf. He seemed younger.

"How far is it to your house?" she asked him as they disembarked, his big hand wrapped firmly around hers as he led the way out of the portkey office.

"Not far, about fifteen minutes by car, but we'll be able to apparate once you know where you're going. I can't wait to show you my home!" he said, grinning at her, his eyes sparkling.

"I sort of got that idea," she said, laughing as he glared at her with pursed lips.

"Merlin, you've changed," he said suddenly, looking at her intently and smiling.

"I guess I have. It's all down to you and Remus you know," she said, thinking of how timid she had been only a few short weeks ago, and of how much she had blossomed since she had gone to live with her former guardian. Her surrogate father, she corrected in her mind, her smile getting bigger as she thought of that. "I'm really lucky."

"I'm glad you realise it," he said arrogantly, leading her to the SUV he had parked just outside and seeing her safely inside. "Most women would give their souls to be with someone as dynamic and wonderful as me," he added as he slid behind the wheel and smiled at her.

"Funny how I haven't had to fight them all off, isn't it?" she mused, looking out of the windows as if to say 'where are they all'.

"Har har," he said dryly. "Now I'm going to make you wait to get hold of my naked body!"

She plastered a repentant look on her face. "How long will I have to wait?"

"Until I think you worship me enough to have me, then maybe - and only maybe- I'll let you," he murmured, starting the truck and driving away from the Chudley Portkey Office, which, similar to the Leaky Cauldron was hidden from the muggles living in Chudley.

Hermione watched out of the window as they drove, fascinated by the difference between here and London and already trying to imagine what Ron's house would be like. It was warmer here, even though it was only March, but Ron had warned her to pack warm clothes as it could get bitterly cold at night, and the sun was already starting to set.

She listened raptly as Ron started talking about the surrounding area and pointed out different things of interest. She had lived in the area herself at one point, but she hadn't stayed there long and had never really been out to explore her surroundings, so it was all like looking at the area through new eyes.

By the time they entered a wide driveway that seemed to go on for miles, Hermione was feeling a little apprehensive. She had dreamed about being alone with Ron for ages, but now that she actually was, she felt a bit nervous about what was to come. Not that she thought he would hurt her, not if he could help it, but she knew that whatever he started this time, he wouldn't stop. She bit her lip as she looked at him, her eyes going to his muscled physique and imagining it covering hers, and she felt her face heat at the stark images this conjured up.

Ron turned to look at her briefly, and he gave a confused smile. "What's all that colour for?"

"Er...nothing," she said and cleared her throat, looking out of the window to see a beautiful sprawling American ranch style house coming into view. It was made of various misshapen stone blocks and huge timber beams, all built up to form a solid structure that looked like it had been standing for ages. "Oh Ron, it's beautiful," she said in a hushed whisper, her eyes taking in the surrounding fields. She could see thestrals far in the distance, and hippogriffs and what appeared to be a lake of some sort closer to the house. Everywhere she looked there were trees. She had expected it to be a barren landscape, but this was breathtaking. Barns were visible in the distance along with another house, and she pointed to it as Ron parked the car. "What's that house over there?"

"That's where Charlie and his wife live," he explained, getting out of the car and coming around to open her door and get her out too. "You remember I said it was a working magical creatures reserve? Well, I make some money from this operation, but it's only small. Most of the profits go to Charlie and Rebecca because they keep the place going, and I sort of like it like this. I don't know I'd have the patience to run it myself. The animals that live here are in my brother's care but I own pretty much all the land you can see. We can explore it all tomorrow, but for now, let me show you my home."

He took her hand and tugged her along onto the wide porch that ran all the way around the building, opening the big front door and pulling her inside. Hermione looked around her and her eyes widened in amazement. Everything was made of wood by the looks of it. The floors were polished oak, as was the staircase, panelled walls, all the doors and the furniture that was scattered around the enormous hallway. The rooms that led off the large space also had heavy wooden furniture in them. It was very obviously done to a masculine taste, but it wasn't overbearing by any means, and she loved it on sight. She let Ron take her from room to room, her smile turning into a grin when she saw the kitchen and all it's ultra modern magical and muggle accessories. She knew she would love cooking in this room and she was already planning meals that would tempt Ron. There was a study, which was even more overtly masculine than the rest of the house, a sitting room, a television room and a fully fitted gym. A swimming pool led off from the gym, and a fully fitted bathroom was next door to that. The garden that she could spy out of the windows was well kept and full of blooms, obviously warmed enough to survive winter by magic. She couldn't wait to go outside and have a look at the various sorts of flowers and plants, but Ron quickly had her walking up the stairs in front of him so he could show her the bedrooms.

There were several guest rooms, all decorated in keeping with the style of the house and all with small en-suite bathrooms. There was a main bathroom with a massive Jacuzzi in it, something that Ron planned to get Hermione into before her visit was up. The biggest room upstairs was Ron's bedroom, though, and he stood watching her look around, interested in how she would like it. She could sense him waiting for her to say something and she turned to him, smiling shyly.

"It's such a lovely house," she told him, going into his arms as he held them out to her, his eyes closing as he pulled her against him.

"Do you think you'll be happy here?" he asked, kissing the top of her head.

"I think I'm going to love it here," she replied, tilting her head back so she could receive a kiss on the lips when he bent again.

"And you won't mind staying in this room, with me? I've got lots of closet space for your stuff you know, plus there are spare drawers too," he said, raising his eyebrows.

"I wouldn't want to stay in any other room," she said, looking at the huge bed that dominated the room.

"I was worried you wouldn't like it," he admitted, laughing self-consciously. "Most people think my taste is a bit...western, I guess."

"I don't, I love all of it. Especially the kitchen! I can't wait to cook in there!"

"Well, no point in waiting for long, I'm starving and I happen to know that Becky stocked the refrigerator up. Come on witch," he said, pulling her swiftly out of the room and towards the staircase, "feed me!"

Hermione giggled as he pulled her faster than she could walk and then picked her up and threw her over his shoulder, nearly jogging as he went bounding down the stairs.

"Put me down, you big moron!"

He didn't stop until they were in the kitchen, then he dropped her so she was sitting on the counter and put his arms either side of her, leaning in and narrowing his eyes.

"What did you call me?"

"I can't tell you that, you'll just tell me off," she said, still laughing.

"Yeah, I just might at that. Okay, I'll let you off this time, as long as you feed me," he growled, leaning in to bite her neck. "Better hurry or I'll end up eating you!"

"Okay!" she squealed, trying to push him away. "I can't feed you unless you let me down from here!"

He pulled back reluctantly and smiled at her, feeling happier than he had in some time.

"I guess I'll have to let you go then, I have to check things out around here anyway, but I won't be gone long and I'll be wanting my dinner when I get back!" he said light-heartedly so she wouldn't think it was an order.

She saluted him as he lifted her down from the counter and he grinned at her. "Yes, sir! Oh, I can see how it's going to be now...I'm going to be a slave all day in the kitchen and..."

"And be my sex slave at night in the bedroom," he muttered, wiggling his eyebrows at her and making her laugh again. "Right, I'm going down the road and check on Charlie, make sure the reserve is all okay. I won't be long, just make yourself at home."

"Okay," she said, watching him walk out into the hallway. She followed him and tapped him on the back, making him turn around and cock his eyebrow at her. Reaching up on tiptoes, she put her arms around his neck as far as they would go, smiling when he bent down so she could accomplish the task with more ease, and then she placed a soft kiss on his lips.

"Mmm, what did I do to deserve that?" he asked her, his hands holding her small waist and his thumbs caressing her there.

"You're going out, that was your goodbye kiss," she said, feeling shy again.

He grinned suddenly and then laughed. "Merlin, I am really going to enjoy having you here, if this is the way I'll be treated. Give me a proper kiss!" He bent and kissed her deeply, lifting her off the ground and holding her there in the middle of the hallway whilst he ravaged her mouth. When he put her down her legs were so shaky she had to hold onto him for a second and he grinned arrogantly. "Oh yeah, I'll enjoy this a lot!"

Hermione watched him leave the house and then walked back in the kitchen in a daze. She had a feeling the next two months were going to change her life more than she had imagined.

A short while later she had prepared lasagne and was putting it in the oven, looking at the clock on the wall. She had nearly an hour now to look around and unpack, something she should have done when she first got here. Ron had put their bags just inside the front door and she lifted her heavy suitcase and started up the stairs, puffing a bit when she got to the top and finally made it into the bedroom.

Once she had unpacked all her stuff and put it carefully away in the closet, she went back down to get Ron's bags and do the same for him. He had two bags and they were even heavier than hers. There was no way she was carrying those, so she gamely flicked her wand and levitated them up the stairs and unpacked them, laying everything on the bed in individual piles so she could put them away quicker. It seemed very intimate to be folding his clothes up, especially his boxers, and she found herself holding up a pair, just staring at them, a smile on her face. They were black, like most of his things, but they had little red hearts dancing all over them and she wondered where he had gotten them.

"I told you before, if you want to get into my pants you only have to ask," he said from behind her, making her jump and swing around to face him, her cheeks heating as she hurriedly dropped his underpants. "What are you doing with my underwear?"

"I was just putting it away for you," she said, suddenly aware of how much smaller the room seemed with him in it. "Where did you come from?"

"Scared you did I?"

"No," she grumbled, turning back to his clothes and taking a pile of his shirts over to the chest of drawers then locating the right one to put them away in. "I thought you'd be gone longer."

"I've been gone for over an hour, you know," he pointed out, picking up some clothes and helping her put them away. "Thanks for doing this, I hate unpacking."

"That's okay, I needed something to do whilst the Lasagne cooks," she said, shrugging. "Mind you, I seriously thought you had rocks in your bag, it was so heavy!"

Ron frowned as he thought about that. "Yeah, it was heavy, and you carried it upstairs all by yourself didn't you?"

"Well, yes, there isn't anyone else here," she said, looking up in time to catch his frown.

"You shouldn't have done that. You're not strong enough for stuff like that yet, so you ask me next time there's some heavy lifting to be done," he said, folding his arms over his chest.

Hermione looked at him and couldn't help giving a deep bow. "Yes, oh Lord and Master," she intoned deeply, sweeping her arm in front of her. "I used magic, by the way you prat. I wouldn't really haul those ruddy things up the stairs manually!"

Ron laughed at her actions and grabbed her, pulling her against him. "Saucy wench, I shall have to punish you for all of this cheekiness later on, you realise?"

"You wouldn't punish me would you? Not when I've cooked you such a lovely meal?"

Ron grinned down at her and squeezed her. "I suppose I could let it pass, just as long as you don't think I'm a soft touch."

"I don't think that at all. Now carry me downstairs so I can serve you dinner," she said, lifting her arms and waiting until he picked her up.

He did so instantly and stared at her with faint worry. "You haven't been overdoing it have you?"

Hermione laughed and ran her hand along his jaw. "I'm fine, now, Ron, don't worry about me. I'm fully recovered."

"Then why did you want me to carry you?" he asked her, looking confused.

"Because I like it when you carry me," she admitted, shrugging as she rested her head on his shoulder.

She saw him grin. "Well, that's okay then," he murmured, taking her out of the room and down to the kitchen where wonderful smells were coming from the oven. He set her down and sniffed appreciatively.

"Smells good. Is it ready? I'm starving!"

"You're always starving," she returned, bending and opening the oven so she could check the food.

They sat down to eat in the kitchen and Ron made sure he told her how good the food was after every mouthful, something that made her smile. She gave a huge yawn after she had finished her own meal, and Ron stood up, scooping her out of her chair.

"Come on, bed for you, you're tired."

"I'm okay," she protested, suddenly nervous about what might happen once they were in bed together.

Ron noticed her nervousness. "What's wrong?"

She shook her head, biting her lip. "Nothing."

"Mmm-hmm. It isn't nothing, you've had that same look a few times since we left Remus'. Come on, 'fess up."

"I...well...I guess I'm scared," she said quietly, shrugging and looking away from him.

"Scared? What of?" he asked, looking worried as he carried her up the stairs.

"Er....you know," she said, going scarlet.

He frowned and then his eyebrows lifted. "Oh. Well, there's no need to be scared."

"I can't help it," she murmured, feeling as if she was letting him down if she didn't go through with it. In truth she really wanted to sleep with him, but she was just nervous.

"Listen," he said gently as he laid her down on the bed when they reached the bedroom. "We don't have to do anything at all, not until you're more comfortable with the idea, okay? Tonight we just sleep. Merlin knows I'm tired too it's been a long day. After that, we'll just take it day by day."

"But you'll think... you won't think I'm leading you on?" she asked, her voice small and worried as she looked up at him.

Ron smiled reassuringly. "I won't think any such thing. I know you, I know how that mind works now, and that means I know you wouldn't do anything like that to me. Now let's get ready to sleep... just sleep," he said, starting to strip his clothing off.

Hermione followed suit, getting a nightgown out of the drawer and slipping it over her head, aware of Ron watching her every move. She still found it embarrassing, but his eyes told her he liked what he saw every time he looked at her, and it gave her the strength to undress in front of him.

He pulled the covers up over her when she laid down again after a trip to the bathroom, and then he slid in beside her, pulling her into his warm arms and switching the lights off next to the bed.

"Relax, and get some rest."

"Okay," she murmured, turning her face into his shoulder and relishing the feel of his big arm around her.

"Night, Ron. Thank you for bringing me here."

His arms tightened briefly. "You're welcome, Ninny. Night."

The next day he showed her around the reserve and even managed to get her on the back of a winged horse, laughing ruefully at her terrified posture when she saw how high off the ground she was on the animal. Hermione had been on the back of a Hippogriff and a Thestral before, but it still frightened her to fly. To this day she still didn't participate in broom travel but he relaxed her and started allowing the lizard-like horse to fly only a few feet from the ground, getting her used to the feel of it until eventually she started to get the hang of the movement and gained confidence. Her favourite spot was the lake though, and she stood looking at the water for ages, fascinated with the beauty of it.

"It's like something out of a fairytale," she said when Ron moved behind her and pulled her back against him.

"So are you," he whispered, bending to nip playfully at her ear. "Come on, let's go inside and have some lunch."

After they had eaten, Ron sat with her in the television room, holding her on his lap as they watched an old movie. He looked at her, his eyes falling to where she was chewing her lip. He noticed she still did that when she was thinking about something, or was nervous about something, and he reached his hand up to pull her lip out from between her teeth.

"Something on your mind?"

She looked at him and bit her lip again, then shook her head and turned back to the screen, her actions making him smile. She was skittish and he wondered why.

Hermione stared blankly at the screen as she tried to think of a way of saying what she had on her mind. She had been thinking about last night all day, and she knew what she wanted to do. Saying it, though, was something else entirely, and she gave a deep sigh at her own cowardice, her body giving a slight shake.

"Hermione, what's wrong?" he asked softly, feeling the small tremors running through her body where he was holding her to him. She sighed and snuggled deeper into his embrace, not saying a word. "Can't you tell me?" He chuckled when she shook her head, burrowing against him and making his body shudder with unfulfilled needs. "Come on, you little coward, talk to me."

"I can't, it's embarrassing," she whispered, closing her eyes and enjoying his warmth.

"Nothing you say to me should ever embarrass you," he murmured, tracing her spine gently with his fingertips.

"I want..." she began, hesitating then taking a deep breath and continuing before her courage failed her, "I want you to sleep with me. Will you?" she asked, her voice so quiet that he barely heard her. When her words registered he took a shocked breath and she groaned. "See? I've shocked you, I knew it would be embarrassing!"

She felt his chest rumble under her ear as he laughed. "I confess I am a little bit shocked, but only because of the way you worded it. You really think we'll get any sleep?"

"Sleep? Well, no, that wasn't what I had in mind at all," she said, confused.

"That's how you put it though. You want me to sleep with you? Or do you want me to make love to you?"

"Oh! Well, I want you to make love to me but... if you don't want to... I didn't mean to..." she stammered, wondering if she'd made a huge mistake. Ron's mouth cut her off as he bent and kissed her deeply, his tongue shooting past her lips as she opened her mouth on a gasp.

"Don't want to? Why wouldn't I want to? Unless you've forgotten I've been working up to tearing your clothes off for the last few months," he growled deeply as soon as he released her lips. "Yes, I want to!" He stood up with her in his arms, carrying her out of the room and up the staircase, glad that he finally had her here in his home and he could show her how much she meant to him without any interruptions.

She couldn't have imagined anything more romantic than actually being carried up the stairs and she clung to him and gave in to the impulse to nuzzle his neck, feeling his pulse beating beneath her lips as she gently kissed his skin, surprised at how smooth it felt. She felt the pulse beat faster with the caress and so she did it again, flicking her tongue out to taste the saltiness of his skin, his unique spicy taste.

"You keep on doing that and I'll take you out here on the stairs," he growled, moving faster towards his room and kicking the door closed behind him once they were within it's confines.

"You like that?" she asked, honestly curious because she didn't know what was the best way to touch him yet, but she was eager to learn.

"Do it again and we'll see," he murmured, tilting his head to one side so she had free access to his throat.

She smiled at the rapt expression in his eyes and bent her head, using her tongue and lips to touch his pulse point and lick at his skin. He shuddered when she did it and she raised her head to look at him, making sure it was all right. He had a deep flush of colour on his cheekbones, and his ears and she wondered if that was a good sign, deciding it was when he opened the lids he had closed and stared at her with desire heavy eyes. She was still being held closely to his chest and he carried her slowly over to his enormous bed and lowered her onto the comforter, easing himself down next to her and capturing her lips in a kiss so gentle it almost brought tears to her eyes.

She responded with abandon, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing her body against his, needing the closeness. He seemed to sense that and he enclosed her in his embrace, deepening the kiss and running his hands up and down her back.

When he drew back she took a deep, shaky breath and moved her arms down, fiddling with the buttons on his shirt until she could unsnap the soft material and ease it from his chest, her mouth watering at the sight of him. She leaned forward and placed a kiss right in the middle of the vast expanse, and he placed a hand on the back of her head, encouraging her. She didn't need telling twice and she pushed him so he fell on his back and she could feast on him, just the way she had wanted to but had been too shy to ask. Now she was going to live out every single fantasy she had had about him, to the best of her ability.

Ron chuckled at the voracious expression she wore and sat up abruptly, ripping his shirt off and unbuttoning his jeans to ease the press on his aroused flesh. He lay back down and grinned at her, putting his arms above his head and grabbing the headboard.

"I am at your service, madam, you may do whatever you want with me," he said, watching her eyes widen and her tongue come out to moisten her lips.

"Really?"

"Oh yeah, as long as you don't decide to get a stick and beat me with it, or hex me for that matter," he said, frowning. Then his eyes narrowed and glittered. "On the other hand..." he left the sentence unfinished and she had sudden visions of her wielding a whip over this large man, a giggle bursting from her, making him raise an eyebrow. "What?"

"Nothing," she said, shaking her head, then she sobered and stared again at him lying there before her, wondering where to start. She thought back to when she had last had him naked and knew that she would get to that part eventually, although she wanted to be more adventurous this time, and she wanted to taste all of him.

Ron watched as she went through different thought processes and then saw her finally make up her mind and lean down to kiss one small nipple, her mouth opening to let her tongue come out and lick at the small nub until it hardened and she could suckle it softly. He tensed when she did it, surprised that he was so sensitive there when he hadn't really been that way with other women. He tried to think as a jolt of pleasure shot through his body, and decided that no other woman had really bothered with his nipples. That was probably the reason he was surprised. A groan worked it's way out of his throat when she turned her attention to the other one, making it equally as hard and then biting on it gently, feeling his back arch off the bed when she did so.

"Sorry...is it..."

"It's okay, I liked it," he mumbled, closing his eyes to concentrate on the sensations she was causing.

Hermione swallowed and went back to her task, kissing his throat again and working her way around it and down, nipping every now and again as she reached his shoulders. She licked down the centre of his chest, through the fine hair that grew there, relishing his taste and his scent, enjoying the way the large pads of muscle tensed under her questing fingertips and mouth. His ribs received the same regard, and she nibbled along his side, making him tense again and again, partly from being ticklish. His eyes opened and he looked down at her, seeing the small smirk she couldn't hide.

"You little tease!" he accused gruffly, chuckling. "You keep tickling me and I'll have to retaliate!" he warned her, his breath gasping out when she immediately stopped tickling with her teeth and ran her tongue around his belly button.

She delved inside and then took a tuft of hair that grew below it between her teeth and pulled, making him arch towards her again. Placing her hand firmly on his heavily muscled body she attempted to stop him moving, surprised when he instantly settled back. His face wore a look of extreme pleasure and something else, something she couldn't quite define, although it could have been frustration.

She looked down at where she had got to and took a deep breath, grabbing the edge of his jeans nervously and tugging them downwards. He lifted his hips to help her and she eventually got the heavy material down his legs until they tangled around his boots. She wished he was already undressed, but she was also enjoying being the one to actually take his clothing off. His boots came off with some difficulty, followed by his socks and then the jeans. Finally he lay before her clad only in a pair of boxers, the thin material not up to the task of concealing his hugely aroused flesh.

Okay, she thought, this is the point where you chicken out, but she was determined she wouldn't, after all she had seen him naked before and had touched him, brought him extreme pleasure with her hands and her mouth. It wasn't all that new, not anymore, but the fact that this time they would go all the way, made it different and she couldn't help feeling nervous.

It was funny, she decided some time later. She had thought she would find these sorts of things repulsive, but she loved every second of it, enjoying the way his body tensed and loving his unique flavour. It was something she couldn't quite get enough of and she moved her head back a bit to lick at him, her head coming up as she heard him mutter something. Their eyes met and she stared at the change in his face, the rigidity of his jaw and the colour of his cheekbones.

"I'm sorry, what did you say?" she asked softly.

"Don't stop," he groaned, letting go of the headboard and cupping her cheek, his hand running round to her neck when she bent down again and engulfed him.

When Ron finally reached his breaking point, his head was thrown back and his muscles all tensed up, a harsh groan coming from his throat as he gave himself up to the pleasure.

She quickly released him, laying her head on one of his thighs and catching her breath.

A few seconds later she found herself flat on her back with him looming over her, his hands making quick work of getting rid of her clothes even though they were shaking.

"I suppose you think that was clever, huh?" he asked grimly, sounding like he'd just run a marathon, though not looking in the least bit angry. "Making me go weak and mushy like that, well, it's your turn now!" he growled, smiling down at her and looking wicked.