Bound by Fate

Chapter 28: A Clash of Jealousy and Desire

Hermione stood outside the entrance to Malfoy Manor, her heart still buzzing from the excitement of her reunion with Harry and Ginny. The evening had been everything she hadn't known she needed—laughter, shared memories, and a warmth she had forgotten existed outside the cold walls of the manor. Harry and Ginny's revelation about the pull had been heavy, but for a few hours, she had been able to push the weight of it aside and simply enjoy being with friends again.

But now, standing in the cool night air with the manor looming in front of her, the reality of what awaited her inside settled heavily on her shoulders once again. She took a deep breath, smoothing down the fabric of her red dress. The dress had drawn plenty of attention at the pub, and even though she had enjoyed the admiring glances from strangers, her mind had always wandered back to Draco.

It was ironic, really. She had dressed up, gone out, and reconnected with her old life, all because she was trying to escape the complicated emotions tied to him. But no matter how far she tried to run, the pull between them always brought her back.

As soon as Hermione stepped inside the manor, she felt it—a shift in the air, a tightening in her chest that told her Draco was near. The pull was stronger than ever, tugging at her like an invisible thread connecting them. Before she could even take a few steps toward her room, she heard the soft thud of footsteps approaching.

Draco.

He appeared at the end of the hallway, his figure barely visible in the dim lighting. His gaze locked onto her immediately, and Hermione felt her breath catch in her throat. There was something different in his eyes tonight—something dark and dangerous that sent a shiver down her spine.

"Where were you?" Draco's voice was low, almost a growl as he closed the distance between them.

Hermione hesitated, her heart pounding. She hadn't expected him to react like this, but now that he was standing in front of her, she could see the storm of emotions brewing beneath his calm exterior. She lifted her chin slightly, her voice steady. "I went out."

Draco's eyes swept over her, lingering on the curve of her hips and the way the red dress clung to her body. The sight of her like this—dressed up, looking beautiful, and clearly having enjoyed herself without him—set something off inside him. Jealousy surged through him, hot and blinding.

"You went out?" he repeated, his voice rough with barely restrained anger. "Looking like that?"

Hermione's eyes narrowed slightly, her own frustration bubbling to the surface. "I wouldn't have needed to go out if you weren't always with Astoria."

The accusation hung in the air between them, and for a moment, Draco said nothing. His jaw clenched, his hands fisting at his sides as the words hit him like a punch to the gut. Hermione's jealousy mirrored his own, and the tension between them reached a boiling point.

Before she could say anything else, Draco moved. He closed the space between them in a heartbeat, his hands gripping her arms as he roughly pushed her back against the wall. Hermione gasped, her body pressed against the cool stone, but the shock of the movement quickly gave way to something else—something hotter, more dangerous.

"Is that what this is about?" Draco's voice was low, his breath hot against her neck as he leaned in, his lips inches from hers. "You're jealous?"

Hermione's breath hitched, her body trembling as the weight of him pressed against her. The heat between them was unbearable, the pull so strong it was like a physical force. She wanted to push him away, to yell at him, but instead, her body betrayed her. She arched into him, her hands gripping his shirt as she met his gaze with a mixture of anger and desire.

"Maybe I am," she whispered, her voice shaky but defiant.

Draco's eyes darkened at her words, the jealousy and lust that had been simmering inside him finally snapping. He didn't wait—he couldn't. With a low growl, he crashed his lips against hers, kissing her hard and rough, his hands sliding down her body, desperate to touch her.

Hermione's mind went blank, all her anger melting away as she kissed him back just as fiercely. Her hands roamed over his chest, her fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt as she pulled him closer. The kiss was messy, desperate, a clash of jealousy and desire that neither of them could control.

Draco's hands moved lower, his fingers trailing down her stomach until they reached the hem of her dress. He slid his hand beneath the fabric, his fingers finding the warm, wet heat between her thighs. Hermione gasped against his mouth, her body jolting at the sensation, but she didn't pull away. Instead, she parted her legs slightly, giving him better access as her own hand slid down his torso, moving toward his waistband.

Their breathing grew ragged, the heat between them suffocating as they touched each other, their bodies moving in sync. Draco's fingers worked her skillfully, sliding over her slick skin in a rhythm that made Hermione's head spin. She moaned into his mouth, her hips rocking against his hand as the pleasure built inside her, threatening to break her apart.

But she wasn't the only one lost in the moment. Hermione's hand slipped beneath Draco's waistband, her fingers wrapping around him as she stroked him with the same rough desperation that he was using on her. Draco groaned, his head falling against her shoulder as he pressed her harder against the wall, his hips bucking slightly into her hand.

The tension between them mounted, the jealousy and lust driving them to the edge faster than either of them expected. Draco's fingers worked faster, circling and stroking her in just the right way, and Hermione's hand tightened around him, her strokes becoming more urgent.

It didn't take long for Hermione to reach her climax. Her body tensed, her breath coming in short, sharp gasps as the pleasure overwhelmed her. She cried out softly, her hands gripping Draco's shoulders as her body trembled with the force of her release.

Draco wasn't far behind. The feeling of her coming apart in his arms, the sight of her flushed and breathless, was enough to push him over the edge. He groaned deeply, his hips jerking as he found his own release, his body shuddering with the intensity of it.

For a moment, they stood there, both of them breathless and shaking, their bodies still pressed together. The jealousy, the anger—it had all dissolved, leaving only the raw, undeniable connection between them.

Draco rested his forehead against Hermione's, his breathing still ragged as he held her close. Neither of them spoke, but the silence wasn't uncomfortable. It was heavy with the weight of what had just happened, with the realization that no matter how hard they tried to fight it, the pull between them was too strong to ignore.

After a few minutes, Draco finally pulled back slightly, his hands still resting on her hips. He looked down at her, his expression softer now, the fire in his eyes dimmed but not extinguished.

"Hermione," he whispered, his voice hoarse.

Hermione met his gaze, her heart still racing, but there was something different now. The jealousy was gone, replaced by something deeper, something neither of them had the words for yet.

They held each other for a few moments longer, both of them trying to process what had just happened. But eventually, they knew they couldn't stay like this forever. With a shared, unspoken understanding, they parted.

Neither of them said anything as they made their way to their separate rooms, but the weight of what had happened hung in the air between them. The pull was stronger than ever now, and neither of them could deny it any longer.

As Hermione slipped into her bed, her body still buzzing with the aftershocks of her climax, she knew one thing for certain.

This was far from over.