Smear

Chapter Eight

After he was done showing her the manor, they said goodbye to Narcissa and left. He suggested they take a walk before dinner, which Ginny readily agreed to. As they proceeded down a slightly narrow street, she turned to him.

"You're a terrible liar," she said, smirking.

He stopped walking and pushed a hand through his hair. "What did I lie about?" he asked, frowning.

"Your father," she said.

"What about him?"

"He doesn't like me," Ginny said, rolling her eyes. "I'm not stupid. Why would you tell me that he does?"

"He has to get used to the idea," Draco said, wrapping his arms around her waist, and pulling her close.

"What idea?" Ginny murmured.

"Of us being together for a while," he said. Then he frowned as he watched her closely. "You want that, too, don't you?"

"I don't know," Ginny said as she untangled herself from him and leaned against a nearby tree. "We never agreed to be exclusive, remember?"

"Yes," he said, nodding. "I remember. So, this was just your idea of fun, was it?"

"Yours too," Ginny said at his hurt look. "You made the bet."

"You agreed-"

"Right, I didn't have to, but I did. A few dates were a good idea, for me at least, because I hadn't been on one in a while."

"What are you so afraid of?" Draco snapped, narrowing his eyes. He stood in front of her, arms crossed over his chest.

She looked up from concentrating on her feet and said, "What kind of question is that? I'm not afraid of anything."

"I'm sure you're not," he drawled, stepping closer. He reached out and gripped her chin, brushing his nails across her skin.

She shuddered involuntarily and closed her eyes.

"Admit it," he said softly. "I have some sort of effect on you."

"No," she argued. "You don't. I just-"

Draco made some kind of purring noise and his hand left her chin. When they returned to touch her body, Ginny didn't object. She didn't say anything until his lips brushed hers gently. She had meant to open her mouth to tell him to stop, but all that came out was a strangled moan.

He smirked against her mouth, his hands sliding into her hair and tangling in it. He shifted himself slightly, and she squirmed, another noise escaping her lips.

With her arms around his waist, she started to slip her hands underneath the fabric of his shirt. The part of his back that she managed to touch was hot. When he stopped her, she pulled back, disappointment showing on her face.

His smile reassured her. "I don't want people to start staring if I have my way with you on the sidewalk." His eyes lingered on her chest as he spoke, a slow blush building on his already flushed cheeks.

"Bastard," Ginny muttered, watching his gaze. "So we'll go somewhere nice," she suggested.

When she slid her fingers in his hair and pressed her lips against his neck, he muttered, "Anywhere you want to go."

"We still have to go on that date," she reminded him as she sent a shiver down his spine with her tongue against his skin.

"Fuck it," he hissed, unable to take much more. He wrapped his arm around her waist and Apparated from the spot.

***

An hour or so later, they lay in Draco's bed at his flat, sheets twisted and tangled around their naked bodies. Ginny was close to his chest, one arm draped across his stomach. She let out a sigh.

"That was amazing," she mumbled, her breathing still trying to catch up with her. "Why did we wait so long?"

"I didn't want to push you," Draco said, stretching his arms over his head. He grinned at her. "Looks like I wasn't the eager horny one for once."

"Me?" Ginny said, sitting up. Much to Draco's dismay, she had remembered to cover herself. "You made the bet, remember, so it's as much your fault as it is mine."

"It never had to lead to sex, but as long as you admit you had a hand in it," he said lazily, eyeing her.

Ginny stared at him. "I'm hungry."

"Incredible sex will do that to you," Draco said, smirking. He was rewarded with a pillow to the jaw. He grunted and rubbed his chin. "Alright, so what do you want?"

She looked at him, at the way the sweat dripped down his chest, at how the sheet barely covered the part of him she wanted most. Greedily, she reached a hand down to touch him, and he moaned.

She placed her hands on his shoulders as she straddled him, a lustful look in her brown eyes. She leaned her head down to kiss him, and as she pulled away, he yanked her head back down, fiercely claiming her mouth with his.

***

Having his hand on the small of her back as he guided her into the restaurant was making Ginny lightheaded, especially since Draco was running his nails along her skin. Once or twice, she gave a twitch, causing him to chuckle.

When they were seated and their waiter had left, Ginny glanced over at him with a scowl on her face before she said, "That wasn't nice."

"What wasn't?" he muttered, looking at her innocently.

"That...you..." Ginny said.

He smirked. "Close your mouth, darling. People are staring."

A blush rose on Ginny's cheeks, as the waiter came back with the wine list. Draco glanced at it and handed it back.

"I thought you liked wine?"

"I do," said Draco. Then he smiled. "If we're going to have one final shag before I send you home, you might want to be sober for it."

"Draco!" she hissed, glancing around.

"No one cares what you and I are discussing," he assured her. "Do you know what you're getting?"

"No," Ginny said, shaking her head. "There's so much."

"Feel free to get anything you want," he said. "Don't give me that face."

Ginny bit her bottom lip, her eyes drifting over the menu. Suddenly, there was the sound of shattering glass. She glanced up into Draco's face.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

Draco hadn't responded. His eyes were locked on something behind Ginny's shoulder. He watched the figure come toward their table.

"What are you doing with her?"

Daphne Greengrass stared at him, her eyes burning.