The Serpent and the Lioness

Chapter 54

"Now I remember why I don't like going to the beach very often!" Hermione called out from the shower as she ran her hands through her dried-out sun-kissed hair, "Sand everywhere!"

She heard Severus beside their tub putting in oils and other things to help with his sunburnt skin. Even though he'd been mostly in the shade, the pallor man had still managed to burn. He glanced over his shoulder, "You are a witch, aren't you?"

There was a long pause and he felt rather than heard her tell him to be quiet. He snorted softly and turned his head back to the water before scratching harshly at his arm.

"Don't scratch!"

"Silence woman! Finish your shower."

"I'm done."

Hermione cut off the taps shaking out her reconditioned hair before pulling the towel over the lip of the glass door. She wrapped it around her chest before sliding the door aside. Her skin was a nice golden brown in most places but her swimsuit had left nice lines all over her form. She didn't mind them too much, but she did wonder what pattern they'd left behind.

"Stop scratching, and get in the tub. Did you put in what I told you?"

"I know how to follow instructions." The man grumbled pushing himself to his feet. He scrunched his nose at the strong coconut smell wafting up from the warm water of the tub.

Hermione gave him a sympathetic look and came over wrapping her arms around his waist. He'd redressed before they'd made their way home but his rolled shirt sleeves couldn't hide his insistent scratching from her keen eye.

"Mmm, you know what my favorite thing to do is?"

"Raise my blood pressure?" His eyes lowered down as she pulled his belt free from its catch.

"Aside from that." She didn't let his dry humor take away from her fun. A hidden smirk twitching in the corner of her lips. She kept her eyes locked on his face as she slowly pulled his belt free, letting it clatter to the tile behind her.

"I can only assume it has something to do with what your current endeavor."

"You are very clever." She grinned playfully at him looking into his affronted face. She leaned up onto her toes kissing the corner of his frown while her hands slipped into the waistband of his slacks. She took her time pulling the shirt free, watching his sharp gaze grow soft. Taking a small step back she released the tails before dragging her fingers up his buttons. She felt his chest flutter ever just so and took great pleasure in how he reacted to her touch.

"Stop." Hermione's tone was firm as she lightly pushed his foot that was trying to scratch at his calf with her own. Her eyes lowered to her task of removing his buttons from their catch making a point of distracting him with feather soft kisses to the exposed skin. She felt his fingers run through her hair and hummed softly when they massaged the back of her scalp. Her fingers worked quickly enough and she couldn't resist lowering herself down to her knees, to his unhidden surprise.

His hand left her hair as he watched with held breath. Hermione placed the softest of kisses under one of the scars that were near the hem of his slacks letting her nose run over the brim. A heavy sigh and a shiver from him told her that he was sufficiently distracted and she let her hands come under her chin pulling the hidden button loose. Her eyes turned upward in that moment and the hunger brewing in his dark eyes made her tremble softly.