Twisted Realities Fanfiction

50 Ficlets Prompt Table!!!

2010-01-24T07:10:45Z

#01 -Sound	#02 -Sight	#03 -Before	#04 -After	#05 -Rain
#06 - Need	#07 -Want	#08 -Lust	#09 - Spell	#10 -Now
#11 -Limits	#12 -Own	#13 -Search	#14 -Tied	#15 -Papercut
#16 - Wrong	#17 -Right	#18 - Radio	#19 -Storm	#20 -History
#21 -Feel	#22 -Rules	#23 -Confession	#24 -Stripped	#25 -Bed
#26 -Sex	#27 -Date	#28 -Bond	#29 -Wall	#30 -Burn
#31 -Thunder & Lightning	#32 - Heaven & Hell	#33 -Naughty or Nice	#34 - Mix 'n' Match	#35 -Chaos Theory
#36 -Breakfast	#37 -Beginning	#38 -Breathe	#39 -Hunt	#40 -Run
#41 -Hold	#42 -Drive	#43 -Night	#44 -Fingers	#45 -Poker
#46 -Clothes	#47 -Fight	#48 -Whimper	#49 -Animal	#50 -Sleep

I'm so excited to do these! The first ones will be soon!

Matched 2/?

2008-05-05T02:38:56Z

---

Jadea had retreated to the kitchen. She had needed time to think and had left Anakin with the impression that she was hungry. She braced herself against the cool, metal counter trying to clear her mind. She was failing miserably.

If she had let herself admit it, she would have realized that she was terrified. It was him. She had always hated his arrogance, and his self-satisfied smirk that he sometimes wore, the fact that she wasn’t stronger than all the other girls who had dreamt about him. For she had, oftener since suspecting an impending match.

However dreams weren’t reality. She took a sip of the cold water she had poured herself it did nothing to cool her off though. Real life was always much different than a fantasy world. In a fantasy world she wasn’t scared, it didn’t hurt, and she knew what to do. In real life she was scared, it would hurt, and she had no idea, beyond what Zabe liked (information provided by a certain best friend) to guide her. The real life scenario of the growing physical aspect of this new relationship was quickly jangling her nerves.

An unbidden memory popped into her head, it was the youngling’s comment at dinner the night after her in-class fight with Anakin, ‘But he’s so tall!’. It perfectly gave voice to one of her main concerns. She was one of the smallest female padawans in the temple; barely reaching his chest and only slightly over half as broad. This difference in size gave her considerable worry. He would crush her, he wouldn’t fit…

The hiss of the opening door made her jump, and her lightsaber was on and at Anakin’s throat before she realized what she had done. “Oh force… I’m so sorry. You startled me and…” She quickly returned her weapon to its place at her side. ‘I almost killed him!’

“Whoa!” He didn’t even have time to react, before it was dangling from her belt like nothing had happened. Her face told the story of her embarrassment, she was red in the face and her eyes were downcast. “Are you okay?”

She regained her composure and tried not to laugh at her antics as she replied “I’m fine… just a little… jumpy” She broke down into tears of laughter, holding her sides and doubling over, she was mostly relieving all the tension from the past three days. He broke down too, their mixed laughter ringing out throughout the small room.

Quite a few minutes later their amusement had faded and both were wiping at the tears that had streamed down their faces, an occasional snicker or giggle from the pair. Jadea smiled, feeling better than she had in a while. Anakin too was a lot less tense and wore one of his rare true grins. Jadea glanced over at Anakin and upon seeing his smile reached for her water to ease the sudden dryness in her mouth.

It occurred to her that she had never seen him really smile before, sure she had noticed a tug at the corners of his mouth at one of Zabe’s comments, or a smug grin or smirk, but never a soul wrenching, heart-stopping, make-your-knees-weak smile. She gulped her water down like perished woman.

They both looked around noting the sudden tension in the room at the same time. The door had closed behind Anakin and it made the room feel unbearably small. The room couldn’t have been more than 3 meters each way with Anakin taking up an awful lot of room. He was standing at the side of the counter Jadea was leaning on. Finally the reason he was here penetrated the ever-present fog he had around Jadea. He strode to the cooling unit on the opposite wall and started rummaging through it. His voice was muffled as it came from the depths of the unit. “Have you eaten?”

His voice startled Jadea, who had been admiring Anakin from the back, his blonde hair curling around the top of the collar of his robes, the breadth of his shoulders… She shook her head mutely, then, realizing he couldn’t see her said “No.” He rummaged some more and then backed away from the unit, using a booted foot to kick the door closed while his arms were full of food. He turned back around, and walked carefully over to the counter Jadea had been frequenting, dumping his bounty he looked over at her with a mischievous grin.

“Did you know that I hate temple portions, I’m sure they’re all right for you but…” He waved his hand down the front of him to emphasize his point about his size. He turned to get out utensils and things to prepare the food with and found Jadea in front of his every time. Getting rather annoyed at the lack of space he used one arm to clear a place on the counter, and then wrapped his hands around her waist, lifted her, and placed her to sit on the counter. He didn’t even notice the look of shock and anger on her face, so intent on his meal as he was, he did however notice when she rammed her foot into his calf in retribution.

“What was that?” She glared at him angrily. Being a Jedi didn’t mean he was immune to being a typical humanoid male.

“What do you mean” Jadea couldn’t believe her ears.

“Are you serious? You just picked me up and put me on the counter like an inconvenient child! You can’t just pick me up! It’s rude!” He held up his hands in defeat.

“I’m sorry, I was just trying to make a little room.” He couldn’t help himself, “You’re about the size of a child though” Her eyes narrowed dangerously, he gulped suddenly 2 meters felt a lot like 2 centimeters. She placed her hands on the counter next to her, and swung off. He backed away from the fiery woman before him until his back hit the wall.

For a lot of her years between 11 and 16 she had been teased by the other padawans for being small. She had learned to ignore them. When she had turned 16 she had grown into both her body and her powers and the comments stopped once she was able to lift them off the ground with nothing more than a lift of her hand. Hearing him say that wasn’t as bad as it had been back then, but she wanted to make sure that he never said anything like that again. She had him backed against a wall and all but shaking in his boots.

He wasn’t particularly scared, he was just nervous about what she would do, she was the only one in the temple who came close to having the power he had. Jadea felt the thrill of power over the ‘Chosen One’ she advanced on him like a predator stalking prey. Although Anakin towered over her, for once it didn’t bother her, she knew she was intimidating him right now, she was pushing the fact that he knew he had crossed a line, and loved every minute of it. She was just going to put him in his place, he on the other hand needed to get out of the hot-seat and quickly. She looked him strait in the eye, and it was her downfall.

When she looked into his eyes he could see that she was getting pleasure out of having him up against a wall and in the place of power. He had always used his size to his advantage and had lorded it over her more than once; he supposed that it had to be heady for the roles to suddenly be switched in her favor. However he saw her eyes going darker and he suppressed the smirk begging to come out on his face. ‘Use your body to your advantage’ it was high time he followed his friend’s advice.

He took a step forward putting their bodies within centimeters of each other. They could feel the temperature rapidly rising; the heat emanating from the pair was stifling. Jadea’s mind was swimming, both with the headiness of power and from the closeness Anakin had brought them too. Anakin had been in this situation before, and therefore was more in control of his body’s response, but only barely.

She unknowingly moved closer, and he broke. He reached behind her, pulling her up against him and sent his lips crashing down upon her. He couldn’t do much more than a simple kiss, he was nearly bent over double to reach down to her height and it was uncomfortable. He grabbed her waist again and set her back upon the counter, bringing her head to a more comfortable height, all without breaking the contact of their mouths. He was in glorious heaven.

He broke for a minute, getting air into his starved lungs. He eyed Jadea and didn’t think he would ever find a sexier sight. Her eyes were still closed, not coherent enough to know what was going on, he mouth was swollen and slightly open, taking in deep breaths, her hair was framing her face. A little sigh brought him back to reality.

When Jadea finally realized that he had stopped kissing her, her eyes fluttered open. He was standing there staring at her, he looked hungry, almost as if he’d rather devour her than the forgotten food.

Anakin, well aware of the limits of his self-control, knew he had to leave. If he spent even one more minute in here with her he might just take her on the counter in a ship’s kitchen. She just looked so damn sexy, all rumpled, and from his doing. He leaned in, kissed her briefly and then, with a wave of his hand to open the door, strode quickly out the door and didn’t stop until he had reached the cockpit and locked the door.

Jadea just sat there in shock. He had kissed her. She touched a hand to her mouth in wonder. It had been her first kiss.

---

He shouldn’t be doing this. Every lesson in proper use of the force told him not to. Anakin also didn’t have a snowball’s chance on Tatooine of resisting the temptation. She was asleep, her mind shields were down, and the feelings her dream was giving her were sending waves through the force that any being with even a miniscule midichlorian count could have detected.

Here he was, with a midichlorian count off the charts, eighteen years old, and very much in lust with the girl sending off these waves. He was screwed.

Anakin’s eyes drifted shut, as he reached out to Jadea through the force. He felt his world expand to encompass the serenity of her sleep. Calmness drifted over him and he had to fight the urge to let his eyes close. Letting his mind wander he started to imagine what could have happened if he hadn’t stopped, with the mind link in place his musings would seem like a dream to her. It was the perfect way to find out a little more about his aloof counterpart.

He couldn’t help the twitch of his mouth when he recalled the earlier scene in the kitchen. Nor could he stop the twitch from turning into a full-blown smirk at the smile that graced her features as the memory passed into Jadea’s mind. He re-played the entire kiss, reveling in the heat that he felt from her as her body remembered it too.

He paused at the part of the memory where he bolted. Jadea was tense the feelings of confusion and shame that she had felt earlier obviously still fresh. Intent on setting the record strait, even if only in her dreams, He conjured up his own little fantasy of taking her on the counter.

He leaned forward again, his hands finding the pins holding her hair up and releasing them, tangling his hands in the auburn masses. He dragged her head back, attacking he mouth with his lips and teeth, kissing, nipping, and giving her everything in his repertoire. She gave no resistance but moaned at the sensations he dragged from her, overwhelmed by the entire encounter.

Her lips were torn open and he greedily dove into the depths.

His eyes shot open ‘she hadn’t been kissed before’. He had felt the arousal he had instigated inside of her, but had also felt the uncertainty on her part about what to do. This was news to him; he had always assumed that she had chosen someone from among the drooling masses to have the honor of being her first kiss. However he couldn’t help but be slightly cocky at having the opportunity to teach her every part of a physical relationship. The thought had his pants becoming just a little tighter than normal.

He released Jadea from his rutting mind and almost lost his nerve to stop when he felt her frustration over the continued link. With the last of his control he ripped their minds apart leaving Jadea to dream in peace.

Jadea woke ill rested and feeling frustrated she chalked this up to the scene in the kitchen and tried to shake off the negativity. She raised her arms above her head stretching languidly. ‘Jadea, come on we’re entering the system, you really don’t want to miss the view.’ As with all force thoughts it floated across her mind, however unlike all force thoughts the distinctive ‘Anakin-ness’ that came with it set her nerves on edge.

‘Damn it Jadea, it’s a force thought, you’re acting like a lovesick youngling!’ The mental berating of herself didn’t help quell her traitorous bodies’ reaction to his voice. She took a deep breath and let it out on a sigh. Glancing in the mirror she redid her bun and with a wave of her hand walked out in search of a dock.

&&&

Seeing a planet layed out before her in the vastness of space never failed to put things in perspective for Jadea. Whenever her emotions got the better of her she would always take an orbiter up and just circle whatever planet she was on. The sheer size of planets made her feel small and insignificant.

Caladrean had that affect too; it also took her breath away with its beauty. Vibrant blues and lush greens filled the window, the entire planet mostly one big ocean with one continent and islands scattered generously amid the water. The effect was like a child’s marble.

They were rapidly approaching the planet, the circumference of the get-away world long having filled her field of vision. She had expected nothing less, after all Anakin was piloting the craft.

“Buckle up, and please keep all hands and feet inside the vehicle, we are approaching the planet.” Anakin chose to use the comm. system for his little announcement and Jadea could hear him chuckling at his own antics before the system cut off. She shook her head, her mouth quirking at the corners in response to his youngling-like zeal with the ‘toys’ on board.

Her amusement quickly faded as her feelings of rejection returned. Even the swirl of the clouds over Caladrean did nothing to quell them. Her heart pounded in her chest and all she wanted to do was lie in bed with the covers over her and never come out. She hadn’t thought it had been that bad, apparently he did. The dream she had had a few minutes before hand were locked away in her memory.

&&&

“Oh. My. God.” Jadea was awestruck by the view in front of her. She had just gotten halfway down the ramp when her fantasy became reality. The sprawling villa was more than she could have ever hoped for, at least on the outside.

The house was almost deep peach in color, all arches and open spaces. She was actually facing one of the arches, beyond was what appeared to be a lush garden courtyard. Windows were stretched almost floor to ceiling letting those inside breathtaking views. Most houses on the planet were like this, allowing the owners to charge hundreds of thousands of credits for just a few days.

Anakin stood behind her, the view in front of him far more incredible than Jadea’s vantage. She could feel him behind her, his presence pulling her mind away from the gorgeous house. Pulling herself together she tightened the grip on her hover suitcase and started toward the courtyard.

&&&

Her mind was already reeling from her tour of the house, every room seemed more beautiful than the last. Her last room was the bedroom. The sight that met her eyes made both her heart and her breath catch. It wasn’t the blue hues blended in perfect harmony, or the rare Grutun furniture. It wasn’t even the glass doors that opened onto a deck overlooking a private beach with waves crashing over rocks. No, what did catch her eye was Anakin.

He was sprawled out on silken sheets, their rich cream color the perfect compliment to the blue walls. His hair was mussed making it look as though he had run it’s hands through it, or maybe someone else had for him. He had shucked his formal robes and was now clad in only his pants, the golden skin contrasting with the bed deliciously. Jadea’s mouth actually watered. ‘No, stop it!’ Back on the cruiser she had made an oath to make him want her, then shove it in his face. Losing her cool just by watching him sleep wasn’t part of the plan.

“Skywalker!” Anakin’s eyes snapped open.

“What.”

“Let’s go swimming.”

&&&

When Jadea opened her bag a few minutes later she discovered that any clothing that didn’t show copious amounts of skin had been replaced by some that did, instead of the one piece suits she favored there were two bikinis. Holding up the powder blue one she took in the pieces of sting holding three triangles of cloth together. The note she had found along with her new wardrobe didn’t help her sense of humor.

Jadea,

We took some liberties with your clothing. We know Anakin won’t mind (he might even give us a medal!) Don’t worry Master Kwell isn’t there; it’s just you and Anakin. Use this to your advantage (trust us it’ll drive him wild, we conned Zabe into giving us some advice).

For once let your feelings out and throw the rules out the window, life is much more fun that way. We expect full details on your return.

Love always,

Nierda and Grandi

---

‘Time to have some fun.’ Jadea had just finished critiquing her appearance in one of the many full-length mirrors in the bathroom. In her mind she was too curvy, too short, she wished her legs were longer. She threw her inner Jedi robe over the bikini and ran a hand through her hair before exiting the cavernous room. Anakin stood on the balcony, his back to her, braced on it with his hands. When he felt her presence he turned leaning back on the railing with his elbows.

“Took you long enough. Jedi’s aren’t supposed to be vain.” He cocked one eyebrow his mouth curved into a half-smile.

“You’re gonna have to get used to it Skywalker, I’m a woman, we need time to get ready for stuff.” He just outright smiled and beckoned her to follow him as he led to the way down to the speeder.

Anakin glanced over at his passenger. His jaw almost dropped open. The robe had fallen open a little bit leaving a thin line of golden skin exposed from knee to hip. His mouth watered and with his gaze on her the cruiser slipped off course. A loud beeping, signaling that he was off the intended route brought him back. He over adjusted sending them into a sharp left hand turn. Getting a hold on himself he corrected the craft, then turned to see Jadea giving him a ‘What the hell was that?’ look.

“Don’t worry about it.” They continued on in silence until Anakin took the plane down to a clearing in the forest below. As soon as the hood hissed open he jumped out, but he used too much of the force and went 20 feet in the air before landing. Jadea was waiting for him back on the surface clapping her hands and shaking her head, a large smirk gracing her features.

“You don’t have to show off for my benefit Anakin.” She glanced around. “Where’s the water?”

“Have a little faith Jadea.” Anakin smiled, “Catch me if you can.” With this parting remark he took off East through the trees.

She shook her head, did the boy not pay attention? She focused intently reaching out to the forest around her. She headed West laughing to herself.

Around an hour later Jadea was lying in the sun on a large rock next to the lake. She hadn’t even bothered trying to find Anakin. She cracked an eye and looked into Anakin’s furious gaze.

“Hi.”

“Hi, that’s what you have to say to me… Hi”

“That’s about it.”

“I was waiting for you.”

“I though we were going swimming, I’m by water, where we you?”

Anakin decided at this point just to stop or it would turn into another fight. Instead he retreated a few feet and ran at full speed toward her, having already shed down to his swim trunks.

“Don’t even think about it… Anakin!” He came to the surface of the water laughing, and trying not to swallow any water. He felt a little guilty when he saw her glaring at him, her robe soaked. “You’re dead.” At this point he should have started swimming for his life, however Jadea had just undone the clasp of her robe and let it drop. She stood there in nothing but three scraps of fabric held together by nothing but fragile strings.

Jadea dove gracefully into the water her every thought that of revenge. When she saw he hadn’t moved she came up in front of him.

“Anakin,” He was just staring blankly at the spot where she had been standing. “Anakin are you….” She was cut off by rough hands grabbing her and hauling her against him, she managed a squeak of surprise before being devoured by him. His lips crashed down and his arms lifted her to aid his quest. The kiss was hard, and full of the desire that had been building since they both hit puberty.

Her arms came up to wrap around his neck of their own accord, her hands dove into his hair. She forgot to be mad at him about what had happened on the plane. She forgot that she hated his cockiness, and his smirk, and how good he looked in his swim trunks. She even forgot that she was the one who was trying to make him want her. Her entire world had narrowed to her lips, his lips, and how good it felt to kiss him.

It all came rushing back to her when they pulled away to catch their breath. When he went to pull her back to him she knocked his arm away.

“What the sith Anakin!”

“What?” Anakin’s mind was still clouded with feeling, and right now all he was thinking about was the nearest flat surface. His eyes were transfixed on the view of her body in a bikini below the water.

“Look at me!” His eyes snapped up and met her infuriated glare. “First, you attack me on the transport then just leave. Then YOUR best friend helps my best friends trade my wardrobe with things that would make a hardened lower level being blush, and now you kiss me again, I’m not a play toy Anakin.”

He made a mental note to thank Zabe, he also felt guilty she thought he was playing?

“I’m not playing Jadea.”

“Really then what are you doing?”

“I’m trying not to scare you.” As soon as he said it he regretted it.

“Scare me? Anakin I’m a big girl, I can handle it.”

“I just don’t want you to regret anything.”

Jadea swam back to the rock she had been lying on and got out, then turned and sat facing him.

“What do you mean?”

Anakin got to a place where he could stand. He was silent as he took in her appearance.

She was dripping, her bikini top had molded to her breasts making it seem as though all of his imaginings were sorely lacking. It was the most amount of skin he had ever seen her bare. He made a mental note to REALLY thank Zabe.

He shook his head to clear it and looked back up at her. “Every time I look at you I want you. Like as in right-here-right-now kind of want. I don’t want to push you. I’m not playing Jadea, not even close.” He willed her to understand.

“What?” Jadea was thrown. Confusion filled her mind.

“Jadea, when I pulled away on the ship to reign myself in. If you don’t think that I want you, that I don’t like you, than you’re blind. I know that you want me, you wouldn’t react like that when I kiss you if you didn’t”

“There you go again!”

“What are you mad about now?”

“You presume to know how I feel!”

“Well it is how you feel isn’t it?”

“Maybe. Yes. Damn it, I don’t like it but yes. I do want you and I’m scare to death about it. Are you happy now? Is that what you wanted? Well congratulations you won.”

“It’s not a competition Jadea.”

“It’s always a competition with us. It always has been.”

“Has is a past tense word”

“Don’t get technical Skywalker.”

“Don’t get formal.”

“See we can’t go two seconds without fighting!”

“Then maybe we need to stop talking.” He advanced toward her looking too much like a predator for Jadea’s liking, or for her liking she didn’t quite know.

“This conversation isn’t over Anakin.” She resisted the urge to move, staying planted, not sure she could move if she wanted too.

“For now it is.”

“Why do you get to decide?”

“Fine you decide.” Walking over to her rock he braced his hands on either side of her. He lowered his lips down to hers stopping a hair away and just waiting. The close quarters were making Jadea’s head swim. All she wanted was for him to kiss her.

“Conversation’s over” She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him to her. He resisted just enough so that their lips weren’t touching.

“Are you sure…?” He smirked.

“Just shut up and kiss me Anakin” He did just barely touching her wanting her to set the pace, trying to teach her. She slid off the rock, he caught her before their height difference could separate them and wrapped her legs around his waist. Pressing her body as close to the warm heat of Anakin’s body she forced him to intensify the pace. Soon lips, teeth, and tongues were playing out their habitual fights. Anakin was having a hard time keeping his train of thought. Jadea had wrapped herself around him and having most of his fantasies come true was rather heady.

Needless to say there wasn’t much talking for a long while.

“Closer they have grown, no hate do I sense.”

“Master Yoda, you were never able to sense any hate.”

“Truth you speak. Master Kenobi”

“I just can’t believe how much of an impact they are having on the temple. They are thousands of light-years away and still they have turned the temple into hormone driven padawans.”

“Through the force are their feelings conveyed. Strong in the force are they.”

“ I know, but I can’t get any of my classes to pay attention. They are more interested in each other. I levitated all of them and their desks and they didn’t notice for three minutes! I guess I should be glad that Anakin and Jadea aren’t here in the temple.” Obi-wan shook his head. If they were feeling the way that he and Gwendolyn Ray had been feeling when they were matched, he was lucky that the padawans showed up at all.

“Patience you must have. Long repressed has been their love. Perhaps you should visit Hathorn V. Master Ray might be able to help ease your moods.” The small statured Master ambled off toward his chambers. Leaving a stunned Obi-Wan behind. He ws rather embarrassed but decided not to give Yoda time to change his mind. He ran off toward the docking bays.

Zabe and Nierda had been feeling the effects of Anakin and Jadea’s growing closeness too. Right now they were stealing a few minutes of private time to release the growing tension they had been feeling throughout their respective classes.

Kiss. “You realize this is your fault.” Kiss.. pant.

“Why is this my fault. You don’t seem to mind this.” Kiss, kiss.

“Zabe, you’re the one who picked out Jadea’s wardrobe. With Anakin drooling over her she doesn’t’ have a chance of resisting, and with their sexual tension problems being broadcast through the force,” Kiss. “I don’t have a chance of resisting you.”

Zabe grinned broadly. “You can’t resist me anyway.” Kiss, kiss,

“Oh really,” Nierda slipped off the counter of the tool bench they were currently occupying. “Watch me.” She started heading for the door. When she reached the door she found her hand snatched away from the handle. “He…”

Zabe just kissed her again and they both succumbed to the heat between them.

Jadea pulled away from Anakin to catch her breath. “We really should swim, it’s what we came here to do. Anakin didn’t want to do anything but keep her wrapped around him and kissing her.

“This is much more fun.”

“True, but just because we work physically doesn’t mean that you won’t piss me off later.”

“Then why go against what works?” With his arms he forced her to lean back into him so he could have another taste of her bewitching drought. He figure he could just kiss forever and they would never have to even bother with clothes.

She gave in for a minute indulging in her new favorite pastime. Regretfully she pulled away. “Sorry we need to think about what’s going to happen when we get back to the temple and we have to be around other people.”

“I think we should just stay here forever. You and me. Almost naked. Preferably all the way naked.” Jadea threw her head back and laughed, pushing away the voice in her head that panicked at the insinuation of sex. She slid her legs from around his body and took a step back.

She ran her eyes down his form and then took her time coming back up. She could make out eh long toned legs under the clear water. His deep blue swim shorts complimented his coloring and leanness of form perfectly. The water lightly lapped at his defined hip bones. The top of his body had dried during their extensive activities. His golden skin shone in the bright sunlight. She couldn’t help admiring the firmness, the sheer male aura he gave off. All his hard training had paid off, his abs were toned to the point of drooling. His pecs were sharply outlined but weren’t huge. She loved his arms, there was such strength in them. His shoulders were broad, and all in all she thought it should be a law that he shouldn’t be allowed to wear a shirt. EVER.

Her eves traveled over the full lips and defined facial structure to meet the eyes that had first attracted her to him. “I think you give yourself too much credit Anakin.” Her smirk was a challenge he couldn’t refuse.

“Then why do you look like you want to eat me alive?” Her face burned red belittling her calm exterior. “Don’t play with fire Jadea, you’ll get burned.” It was his turn to smirk as her face got heated with embarrassment and anger.

“I’m the one who wants to eat you alive. I wouldn’t be so sure Anakin.” Summoning confidence she didn’t have she climbed back up on the rock. Reaching behind her back she pulled the string that would release the top of her bikini. She reveled in the shocked look on his face. She had some surprises in store for him. She caught the cups of it before they revealed their burden. Keeping her arm in front of her chest she used her other arm to remove the garment and drop it on the rock behind her.

Anakin’s mouth watered at the sight of her. Her hair had dried and now fell down her backing loose curls. Her slim shoulders and long toned arms screamed female. He stared transfixed for a minute and the arm covering the generous globes that he had dreamed about. She was thin down to her hips that flared out and stretched the tiny triangle of cloth that his her secrets from him. Her legs were long for her height and were curved perfectly for his tastes. He returned his eyes to hers, the ones that enchanted him. She looked like a goddess from one of the outer rim planets. Her eyes betrayed her feelings to him, just like they always did. She was terrified of what she was doing. Suddenly they hardened with resolve. She dove back into the warm water. Before he had time to register what had happened she had dragged her bottoms off and was treading water before him completely naked. Anakin’s eyes rolled downward for a moment to admire the now uncovered breasts, instead he was hit by a wave Jadea had created.

“Hey, no using the force!”

“Hey, no peeking at the goods. You got your wish, I’m naked. Now I get mine, I’m going swimming.” She turned and stroked away from him turning back to the still stunned man. “I though you were supposed to be naked too.” That snapped him out of it. He ripped off his trunks and threw them on the rock along with her suit, then started swimming after her.

“Jadea…?” Here he was, naked, and the girl he was currently lusting after was hiding from him. He had followed the wake of her swimming to this tiny inlet. He was almost surrounded by rock walls with niches and crevices marring the surface. “Come on Jadea this isn’t funny.”

“On the contrary, I find this vastly amusing. See, I have a perfect view and you have no idea where I am.” It was true. Her voice rang throughout echoing off the wall so he couldn’t trace her voice. He was almost embarrassed, knowing damn right well that she was probably looking her fill. The water was so clear and untainted, you could see all the way to the bottom. He reached out trying to sense her force signature. “Hey, no using the force.” She said mockingly, repeating his whine from earlier.

Jadea had found herself a tiny cavern almost completely underwater. She had about three feet over her head and about two feet on either side. Rocks that had been warmed from the sun heated the cavern. She had about three inches to see above the top of the water and had a good view of Anakin treading water in the middle of the inlet. She held back laughter seeing that he was struggling with trying to find her.

“All you’re doing by hiding from me is hurting yourself.”

Jadea put her mouth to the opening above the water. “Oh really and how do you figure that?”

“Remember how you felt earlier, you never gave me a chance to make you feel even better… and I can.”

“Such arrogance Anakin. Jedi are supposed to be humble.” Jadea spoke with more resolve than she felt. His words had a profound impact on her. More than she would willingly admit.

“Hard to be humble when you’re as good as I am.” Anakin spoke with a smirk. He knew damn right well what his words would do to her.

“I think you give yourself too much credit Skywalker.”

“Well I’ll have to prove myself then won’t I?” Lust tore through Jadea reducing her to jelly at his words. He did things to her that she couldn’t fight. She didn’t want to either. She knew that if he really wanted to he could reduce her to his willing plaything. She smirked when he started swimming toward her side of the inlet but way to one side until she couldn’t see him anymore. She looked around trying to find a place that he wouldn’t see her if he came along the wall searching for her.

She had her back to the opening when she heard something surface in the cave. She screamed in surprise as strong arms encircled her waist and pulled her back against a hard body. She tried to break free but he was much stronger and held her fast against him, as he stood on a little shelf underwater. “I warned you not to play with fire Jadea… now I’m going to make you scream for another reason.”

Anakin had realized where she was the second time she talked to him from this cave. He had wanted to surprise her so he tricked her into thinking he didn’t know where she was. Now with a soft body in his arms he wasn’t sure how much control he actually had.

To Jadea’s surprise he didn’t immediately kiss her. Instead he just ran his fingertips along her stomach in intricate patterns making her shiver. He lowered his head to her running his lips over the sensitive skin of her neck. Her world narrowed to the points of contact between them and her head rolled back to rest on his chest and giving him better access. She couldn’t stop her sharp gasp as he engulfed her earlobe into his mouth and dragged his teeth over it lightly. By the force where had he learned that?

Sensing her submission to him he allowed one of his hands to leisurely brush against the underside of her breasts. Her reply was to bend back a little bit pushing her chest into his waiting hands. He continued his disarming attack on her neck and shoulders while glancing down to admire the surprising fullness and smoothness of the globes. His hands came up to mold and caress her. The first time he brushed against her stiff nipples with the rough pad of his fingers while nipping at the pulse point on her neck she saw stars. Her knees buckled but Anakin caught her and held her up in his arms.

“Let’s go back” All she could do was nod.

---

Back home it was lucky that classes weren’t in session. Anakin and Jadea’s cave escapades had wreaked havoc on every force-sensitive being in the universe. Those who had not been previously engaged in pleasurable activities now found themselves attacking anyone they found even remotely desirable. Those who were were prone to black out from the climax her’s induced.

Zabe and Nierda were of the latter category. He now rested comfortably across Nierda, not having the strength to move. Nierda just didn’t want him to move. The feelings still singing through her veins.

“Remind me to get on bended knee and thank the two of them for this one, Nierda.”

“Sure just as long as you remind me to get the details on these feelings from Jadea.”

They drifted off to sleep like that, knowing full well that no one would come looking for them for a long time.

Obi-Wan had not been so fortunate. The spark had given him a raging erection and he was still ten stellar minutes from Gwendolyn. It was becoming painful as time went on and he could barely fly the craft such as the blood was pounding through him. His only goal was to find her and sate himself as quickly as possible. His breath came in pants, he was going to kill Anakin for this.

</div>

Matched 1/?

2008-05-05T02:37:48Z

Disclaimer: All bow to the pseudo-genius George Lucas who created and has all rights to Star Wars, Anakin, the idea of the force, etc.

Notes: In my little corner of the Star Wars Universe I tend to veer from reality so for this fic there is this thing called ‘matching’. Matching is when two masters get together, decide their padawans are right for each other, commune with the force to make sure it’s the force’s will, and basically create an arranged marriage.

Summary: Anakin and Jadea don’t like each other, however there is much sexual tension between them. Their master’s decide that they are perfect for each other and decide to match them. They send Anakin and Jadea off to Caladrean a really cool Caribbean like planet to get over their differences.

“Anakin, Jadea, come forward.” Both of them tried not to roll their eyes as their names were called. Lately the two hadn’t been paired with anyone else. Both of them knew that Obi-Wan and Jadea’s master, Kwell, were going to match them, although both were steadfastly avoiding thinking about it.

Jadea highly resented being paired with the ‘Chosen One’. His lightsaber skills far exceeded any of the other padawans his age and she was tired of getting beat time and again. Truthfully she had taken to frequenting the arena during study hours, honing her skills for these matchmaking duels.

She and Anakin bowed to Obi-Wan before facing each other. It was almost comical to see the difference in their heights. He was well over two meters and she was barley clinging to one and a half. ‘Ready for this? Anakin’s deep tenor voice floated across her mind as they drew their weapons. She completely ignored the tingle that shot up her spine, writing it off as a figure of her imagination.

‘Are you?’ she shot back. A slight hum filled the room as they activated their ‘sabers.

‘Do you really think you can beat the Chosen One?’ She gritted her teeth, there it was. That overwhelming arrogance, as though he was the Force's gift to the Jedi. The fact that he was, wasn’t the issue, it was how damn aware of it he was, and how modesty wasn’t his strong suit.

‘Maybe I have a few tricks up my sleeve this time, Skywalker’ their banter was cut off by their instructor.

“Lights!” Obi-Wan called. The lights dimmed until only their outlines and their faces were visible by the glow of their weapons. Anakin’s face was cast in deep relief, the planes and angles of it sharpened in the blue glow his ‘saber cast. God those eyes. She had never been able to stop the sharp bolt of awareness when she looked into his eyes. They were the light blue color of the sky on her home planet of Eriall. She always wanted to get a little closer to him when their eyes met.

In contrast the gold of her weapon seemed to light up her features, accentuating the soft curves of her face. Her flawless skin was a testament to her Eriallian heritage, as was the thinness of her nose and the generous lips. However like she, he was drawn to her eyes. They were the deep cobalt color of the oceans he loved. Growing up on Tatooine had given him a love for any and all water. When he came to the temple the first thing he did was ‘borrow’ some holos of oceans. He could see the fierce determination and spirit that so endeared her to him in them, as well as the mischievous light she hid from the masters.

They locked eyes. Blue clashed against blue, determination against determination, it was a kind of spiritual battle that sent a shockwave through the room. The temperature in the room turned to a stifling heat as a blast of sexual tension went through every member of the room. Only the two emitting it didn’t sense it. The rest of the room however was hanging onto the pair’s every move, caught up in the moment.

The pair themselves was oblivious to it all as they silently started to circle. Not even a Force-thought passed between them, as intent on their prey as they were. Usually the duel really started when Jadea attacked, but today was inherently different. They changed course to bring their circling closer to the middle, within ‘saber striking distance. An intricate dance began between them, each with a swing here or a thrust there, the other always easily blocking the blow. Never did they stop circling. It was almost as if they were testing the boundaries. With no visible clue to what he was about to do, Anakin attacked.

He ducked low, swinging the saber at Jadea’s legs. She flipped easily over him and his blow, coming down behind him and taking a shot at his side. He caught the swing easily, spinning back around to face her again. All motion after that was a blur to the spectators. Anakin and Jadea were locked in battle, blue unceasingly crashing against gold neither gaining the upper hand, just sparring with everything in them.

Then Jadea made her move. She swung low forcing Anakin to jump and only holding her ‘saber with one hand, knowing he would kick it from her. She tucked back, rolling and calling her weapon back to her with the Force. Springing up behind him she swung at his side, stopping inches from cutting him in half. Then she realized she was looking at his chest, which was on the front part of his body. Anakin had realized her ploy, cursing himself for falling for one of his own tricks. He managed to spin himself in time, his ‘saber at her neck, her’s at his side.

“Lights!” Obi-Wan didn’t bother to try to hide the huge smile on his face. I his mind this fight had proven two things: One, that Jadea and Anakin were meant to be matched, two people who can move like that together have something special, not to mention the tension in the room had skyrocketed when their eyes had met. You didn’t have to be a Jedi to sense the shockwave in the Force when that happened. Second, Jadea had proved that she could match Anakin skill for skill, a trait paramount in his mind. She could keep his padawan’s pride and ego in check, something that desperately needed doing.

“You would have joined each other in death.” His comment was drowned out to all but Jadea and Anakin, as the room had exploded with applause when the lights came on. Obi-Wan silenced the room with a wave of his hand. “Padawans, take a lesson from Jadea and Anakin, you too could fight like that. That my friends, is the product of practice, lots of it.” Jadea and Anakin were just retracting their weapons when he turned to them. “Jadea, I shall have to commend Master Kwell on his padawan. That was excellent. I especially liked your ploy at the end. Work on it, one day you might be able to fool even a master with it. Anakin, you’ve been practicing, I’m very proud of you. Of you both.” He dismissed them with a wave.

- - - - - - -

Later at dinner Jadea had found the perfect way to distract herself from her confusion about Anakin. She described the battle to the younglings, whose eyes were wide with wonder. They had placed Anakin on a pedestal for his ‘Chosen One’ status. He hadn’t gotten knocked down, but now she had a pedestal too. “He swung low at my legs, so I flipped over him...”

“Over him? But he’s so tall!” The youngling’s eyes were wide as she envisioned the feat.

“Jadea, may I have a word with you?” Her master’s voice had her snapping to attention. “Teyfey, if you practice, I mean really practice, you’ll be able to do that too.” Master Kwell bestowed a smile upon the girl, before turning to lead his padawan out of the dining hall.

Jadea was getting increasingly worried as her master led her toward the meditation wing. Usually they chatted as they walked, but he was unusually silent. Turning at an open door, he ushered her into his favorite meditation chamber. Out of habit she took to one of the pads, folding her legs under her. After the door hissed shut, he turned slowly, and then suddenly he erupted with laughter.

“Master?” His abrupt change in demeanor had her a little off balance. Gaining control of himself he turned back to her. “Master Obi-Wan showed me a holo of your duel with Anakin. I’m very pleased at your progress. Those extra hours in the arena really paid off, no?”

“How...” Jadea was cut off.

“You are my padawan, when you disappear for two hours I tend to want to know what you are up to.” At her nod he continued. “You proved yourself today, and now I feel it is time that I tell you something…” He paused as though trying to find the words.

“You’re too bright not to have noticed how much you and Anakin have been paired together, or what it means. Master Obi-Wan and I have been meditating on the match of you and Anakin for many months, only recently have we been putting the plan into action. We had a discussion today and we decided for certain that you and Anakin are to be matched.” He paused trying to give her time to adjust to this information. Truth be told Jadea needed it she had been expecting this, even preparing for it, but somehow it hadn’t really sunk in until right then. Her mind raced, thoughts of the ‘matching’ tradition at the temple had been the subject of many whispered secrets and childhood giggling. Matching was a kind of Jedi marriage, you lived with, ate with, slept with… That sent her mind on a completely new tangent; she was going to sleep with Anakin.

He was every female padawan’s and a few of the male padawan’s lust object. Broad shoulders, narrow hips, skin a natural permanent tan from his childhood on Tatooine, long fingered hands that were the base of many a fantasy in the temple, not to mention the muscled arms that made girls swoon. He also trained harder than any other padawan giving that long, lithe body muscle and definition that should have been against the law. She got to sleep with him, as in sex, as in sweaty, panting, moaning, screaming, sex.

Kwell sat across from her watching her face, unguarded at the present time go from curious, to shocked, to something akin to fear. He felt for her, he too had gone through the matching process. She didn’t realize it yet but she would soon come to find that Anakin would make her happy. It was the will of the force.

“Jadea?” he asked gently. Jadea snapped out of her trance, shaking her head to try and rid herself of her musings on naked Anakin, her body seemed to override her mind though and the images stayed firmly planted. Ignoring it for the moment she focused on her master. “One of the things that Master Obi-Wan and I are concerned with is your and Anakin’s…” he paused trying to find the right word for their rivalry, “distaste for one another. We have discussed it with the council and we have decided to send the both of you away.”

“Away? Away where?” Jadea’s utter shock at the situation was radiating off of her. It quickly got replaced with resentment; she struggled to control it, although she was losing the battle. He was just going to ship her off somewhere with Anakin?

“Caladrean.” The simple word was enough to send the resentment scattering to be replaced with utter joy. This too she tried to contain, but managed to lose the battle much more quickly than with that of resentment. Kwell contained a smile at his padawan’s brilliant one. She had always dreamed of going to Caladrean, he had seen her sneak holo brochures of the resort planet when she was a youngling.

He had particularly requested the little known Jedi retreat on the planet for his padawan. The arrangement was sure to upset her so he hoped the planet of her dreams would distract her from her loathing for Anakin, and her resentment for him.

“Caladrean…?” Her voice betrayed the wonder she felt at this given opportunity to experience what one holo had called ‘The galaxy’s most indulgent planet’.

At that exact moment her master’s head snapped up and his face went serious. After silently watching him for a minute, he finally spoke.

“Padawan, I want you to stay here and meditate for a while on this. Let the force guide you down the path it has chosen for you. I must go the council requests my presence. I will talk to you more about this later. You and Anakin are to leave at the end of this week for five days. Meditate padawan, focus, it will do you good.

He rose, the door opening with a wave of his hand. With a swish of his cloak and the hiss of the door closing, she was alone. Three days, she had three days to prepare herself to be alone with Anakin. Three days until she would be in her own paradise. She closed her eyes, clearing her mind and opening to the force. She didn’t mind meditating, in fact she rather enjoyed it. When she closed her eyes the image of a tall blonde padawan came unbidden to her mind. She didn’t bother to try and get rid of it.

Little did she know, that same blonde padawan was in the meditation room next to her, trying desperately to get comfortable on the meditating pad. He hated to meditate. No one would have ever accused him of being patient. How was he supposed to clear his mind when all he could think about was Jadea? Finally giving up on meditation, he found a comfortable position and just thought about her. In three days she would be his, and his alone. Five days together, maybe he could convince her that he wasn’t the bantha fodder she thought he was. Maybe he could control his ego enough to actually get her to like him.

Down the hallway Kwell fell into step with Obi-Wan as they headed toward the council chambers to give their report on the reactions of their padawans.

“How’d she take it?” Obi-Wan had a twinkle in his eye as though dying to know.

“Better after she found out she got to go to Caladrean. She isn’t too happy about Anakin but she’s meditating on it so maybe the force will help her. What about Anakin.”

“He’s happy although he’d never tell me that. He’s always liked her spirit, and I’ve caught him staring at her more than once. I think they should be fine as long as Anakin can learn to control his ego. They are both clearly attracted to each other, the only reason they don’t like each other is because their prides won’t let them.” The two walked amiably down the hallway sharing a laugh.

By the next mid-day the entire temple had learned about the match. Zabe found his best friend brooding at one of the Archive tables. Anakin had seemingly forgotten about the holo in front of him, and was lost in his own thoughts. Zabe came up behind Anakin and managed to get a peek at the holo before it was switched off.

“Caladrean?” Zabe was about to make a remark about what Anakin had been looking at, but thought better of it when he met eyes that were clearly not amused. A burst of giggles came from behind the nearest shelf, as Anakin unfolded himself from the chair and rose to his full 6’2. The rustle of robes signaled the quick exit of the eavesdropping padawans when they caught Anakin’s stony glare. Luckily Zabe didn’t think they had heard his remark to Anakin.

Zabe now laughed at the girls’ spying. It was no secret that Zabe and the ‘Chosen One’ were best friends. Girls often followed the pair, more for scenery than anything. Zabe was the second best-looking padawan in the temple. He was almost Anakin’s opposite in looks. His dark hair and sultry brown eyes made him the lust object of anyone not interested in Anakin. His face forever held a smile compared to his blonde friend who preferred to brood.

“I know I’m not going to get out of this one, but let’s go to my quarters. I’ve been followed by groups of younger padawans all day. As soon as I turn to face them they laugh and run off. I’m getting sick of it.” Anakin scowled when his friend burst into laughter.

“Ah the trials and tribulations of the ladies’ man.” Zabe managed to get this comment out before dissolving into laughter again. Anakin just stood there scowling.

The two didn’t talk as they made their way to the rooms Anakin shared with Obi-Wan while they were at the temple. Both successfully managed to side step would be interrogators and questioning stares.

Anakin palmed the lock and the door hissed open. They entered and turned immediately into the small living area. Anakin stretching out on the couch and Zabe flopping down into a comfortable armchair in a maneuver that was obviously familiar to them.

“All right, spill.” Zabe got directly to the point as curiosity had been eating at him since he had heard about the match at breakfast.

Anakin too a deep breath, “I’m sure you know most of it by this point. The entire temple is flipping out about it.” He paused knowing his friend wanted the story anyway. “Obi-Wan pulled me out of the dining hall during dinner last night. He took me to one of the meditation chambers and basically gave me the official word that I’m going to be matched to her. Jadea.”

“Why the hell do you sound like the world is going to end then?” Zabe was really confused. Jadea was all Anakin ever talked about. “

“She hates me Zabe.”

“That might have to do with you being a pompous ass every time you get near her.”

“I can’t help it. She drives me insane. She’s always defensive around me, which makes me defensive, then we piss each other off, it’s a never ending circle.”

Zabe decided to change the subject. “So why were you looking at a holo for Caladrean?”

Anakin grimaced. “We’resupposedtogothereforafewdaystogetoverourfight” Zabe managed to catch ‘we’re’, ‘few days’ and ‘fight’.

“What?”

“We’re supposed to go there for five days to resolve our fight.” Zabe’s mouth dropped open as he stared at Anakin.

“Very funny Anakin, One day on that planet is like… five thousand credits.”

“Apparently some rich guy donated a house there to the Jedi for saving his life. The council hasn’t used it before now. They decided to send Jadea and I there for a vacation, it’s purpose being to bring us back here getting along.”

Zabe was still back on the whole ‘Caladrean for five days’.

\\\

A few corridors away Jadea lay on her bed while her two best friends sat, leaned up against it grilling her on Anakin.

“I can’t believe it” Grandi squealed into her hands. Her short blonde curs bounced merrily around her round, girlish face. She was a year younger than Jadea and although taller, the sixteen year old still looked twelve. Her green eyes twinkled as she raised her head.

“We know, you’ve said that every five minutes since you heard about it.” Nierda deadpanned. “Speaking of hearing about it, why didn’t you tell us before we got the third degree on it during breakfast? We refused to tell anyone anything but you r our best friend and we knew nothing about the official match being made.”

The raven-haired beauty was always succinct and about a month younger than Jadea. She would turn eighteen in a couple of weeks. Jadea had often thought that Nierda and Anakin would be a good match, the two best-looking padawans in the temple, according to Jadea. Ask anyone else in the temple and they would have told you that Jadea and Anakin were the two best looking.

“ I know, I’m sorry but Kwell had me meditate on it, and time just flew, and I didn’t have time to catch you before breakfast. I didn’t go, because every time I stepped out of my room today, I’ve gotten bombarded either by questions, or hateful glares form other padawans for stealing Anakin.” Jadea took a deep breath after expelling all her reasoning. The two girls seemed to accept this and moved onto new territory.

“What’s this we hear about Anakin looking up stuff on Caladrean?” Jadea groaned and buried her face in her bedcovers.

“Where did you hear that?”

“Jenfir and her friends have been trailing Anakin all day. They say he was sitting in the library, lost in thought when Zabe came up behind him. He said ‘Caladrean?’ and then they had to run out of the library when Anisi giggled and Anakin caught them staring. So again; why is Anakin looking at holos of your fantasy planet?”

“Because we’re going there.” She hid her face again as Grandi squealed again.

“When are you going, How long?” No Way! Oh My Goddess.”

“We leave at the end week, for five days, Anakin is flying us in a cruiser.”

Now it was Nierda’s turn to be excited. “Stuck in fantasy land, all alone, for five days, with Anakin... I’d jump him.”

“Nierda!”

“What? Jadea, open your eyes he’s a perfect specimen. Every time I see him my mouth waters. If I got the chance to have five days alone with him, I wouldn’t let him out of bed. I bet he’s great. Have you seen those hands… and that sexy little smirk…” She trailed off obviously lost in an Anakin fantasy. “Jadea What was that for?”Nierda asked after Jadea smacked her in the head. “Ow.”

“Nierda, he’s my match.”

“So, no one said a little day dreaming was against the rules. Why are you so defensive anyway? You don’t even like him, so you say.”

“I don’t he pisses me off, but he’s mine now, I’m going to have to accept it sooner or later. Besides, you’re about to be matched with his best friend. What would Zabe think if he knew you were pining over Anakin?”

“I’m not pining, besides, I’m happy with Zabe. He’s just as hot as Anakin.” At this point Grandi couldn’t hide the giggles she had been smothering. She burst out with them. Suddenly her giggles stopped. She turned serious.

“Wait a minute, why do you get to go to Caladrean. No one else got to go anywhere when they were matched, well maybe afterwards for two or three days, but not five, and not Caladrean.”

“Yeah, well everyone else gets along with their match. Anakin and I fight, all the time. Some rich merchant donated the house to the Order when he died. We saved his life or something. So we’re getting shipped off there.”

“You are so lucky Jadea.” Grandi was trying desperately to make her friend see that being stuck alone with Anakin for five days wasn’t the worst thing. Not even close.

“Yeah, I’m so lucky to get to spend five days stuck alone with the most arrogant, annoying person I have ever met in my life.”

Meanwhile Zabe had gotten over his shock. “Five days, alone, with Jadea. Oh man.” He held his hands up in a sign of surrender at Anakin’s icy glare. “Hey, I’ve got Nierda, or almost. Jadea is all yours. I’m just saying; if I got five days in paradise with Nierda… let’s just say that I wouldn’t want to waste it. When do you leave anyway?”

“End week.” Anakin wasn’t paying attention to his friend anymore. His mind had gone towards how he wouldn’t waste his time with Jadea, given the chance.

“We need to go… prepare yourself… shopping.”

“Shopping? Why? We don’t even have any credits.”

Zabe cringed hoping his friend was in a forgiving mood. “Obi-Wan gave me some credits.” Anakin, startled, quickly sat up to face Zabe. His penetrating stare turned on full force.

“Why…?”

“He sort of mentioned the that you needed some new civilian clothes. I didn’t know why… until now. He entrusted me with credits and instructions to force you into something with color.”

“Jadea…” Nierda, Grandi, and Jadea were stuck in the archives finishing a paper on the rise of the republic.

“Nierda, you know I hate it when you get that look.”

“What look?”

“ The look that’s usually followed by me getting in trouble.”

“I was thinking that the three of us should go shopping tomorrow.”

“Shopping? We’re Jedi, Jedi don’t shop. We don’t even have credits to go shopping if we wanted to. You know that whole ‘no material objects’ clause that comes with the rank of Jedi?”

“Ummm… Jadea?” Grandi was looking very guilty.

“Uh Oh. What did you guys do?”

“Well, Master Kwell kind of gave us credits. We’re supposed to take you shopping for your trip.” At Grandi’s words Jadea groaned and put her head down into her folded arms. “Come on Jadea. It’ll be fun…”

Jadea was so distracted she didn’t even notice that the arena was occupied. She kept imagining the look on Anakin’s face when he saw her in some of the things Nierda had talked her into buying. Now she was dressed in her work out clothes, and intent on getting some of the excess energy out of her system with some ‘saber work.

She stopped dead when some distinctively male grunts penetrated the fog in her brain. Instantly her focus was on the definitely male occupant of the center arena mat. He was shirtless, clothed only in loose Qierdan cotton pants. Like his observer he was barefoot, which made this encounter somehow intimate.

She felt her mouth water as she stared at his bared skin. His golden skin looked almost lit from within. It was stretched across a finely muscled chest that drew her eyes downward to his abs. It didn’t escape her attention that he had what Nierda would have referred to as a ‘six pack’. Her eyes traveled downward again. She noticed the barely visible line of blonde sneaking down into the pants he wore. Somehow the looseness of the pants seemed to accentuate the trimness of his hips, a definite contrast to the broadness of his shoulders. Her eyes took a lazy trip back up the sculpted perfectness that was her match.

She let herself peruse the arms so begging to be perused. Strong shoulders, biceps that screamed protection, sinewy forearms, and the hands. God Anakin had great hands. Long and strong, fingers the same way. They gripped his weapon, turning and adjusting it with every move. The knowledge those hands possessed sent a pang of awareness through her.

Anakin was so caught up in his imaginary opponents, that he didn’t notice that the source of his frustration was currently eyeing him as though he were the juiciest fruit in the market.

In his haze a flash of blue caught his eye. He stopped mid swing, and stood up, looking over at the distraction. The two padawans locked eyes, it was the first time they had seen each other since the news of the match.

Anakin could have sworn his heart stopped. Jadea couldn’t have told you what happened, her entire world had been focused down to the man in front of her. Heat suffused her body as his burning eyes penetrated hers. They remained like that, for how long neither of them could say with any certainty.

It was Anakin who managed to come to his senses first. He tore his eyes from her, although truth be told it was the last thing he wanted to do, and glanced down to find her lightsaber in her hand. Swallowing the lump that had risen in his throat at the sight of her he managed to get his query out.

“Would you like to spar?” ‘Oh good job Anakin that was brilliant ‘would you like to spar’ be more of a dumb ass’.

She stood there still in shock. The throaty, deep tone his voice had taken did chaos to her nervous system. It was by pure will that her legs didn’t shake, noticeably. His voice also managed to knock some sense into her.

“Okay” Berating herself in her head for the lackluster response she walked toward him, trying to avoid eye contact. This gave Anakin the opportunity to realize what she was wearing.

It was her shirt that had caught his eye; he recognized it as one she had gotten from her master when she turned thirteen. She had matured a lot since then, physically, now the innocent gift was a gift to Anakin. It hugged her chest more than it had a right to, hugged her tiny waist and ended just above her pants giving him an enticing line of flesh when she walked.

Her black pants were made out of the same fabric that his were, but were tighter, unknowingly showing off the trim thighs and tight rear Jedi training had given her. He too noticed the intimacy both of them being barefoot gave the situation. She had arrived before him, seemingly intensely interested in her lightsaber.

“Looks like we had the same idea huh?” Startled after the seemingly forever silence, she lifted her head and caught his eyes again.

“Looks like.” She vaguely noted that this was the longest they had gone in the same room without fighting, with the exception of classes.

The room was getting incredibly uncomfortable. Anakin raised his hand and dimmed the lights; it was just enough to make the area around the mat shadowy. He had never shut his ‘saber off, and it shone brightly in the darkened room. Jadea shook her head to clear her mind and tried to focus on the task at hand. She ignited her weapon, taking comfort in its familiar glow.

Neither knew what to do now, they had spared like this countless times in class, but that was in class, somehow both of them knew that this was different. Jadea and Anakin raised their weapons in synchronization.

The fight started before either really knew it had, neither knew who started it, nor did they care, they were locked in battle. It was the most intense fight either had ever been in. All rational thought was lost as pure adrenaline fueled instinct took over. They were completely even. While Anakin had size and strength, Jadea had speed; both had creativity in their fighting. The two had the abilities needed to beat any other opponent, except the person they were currently fighting, so the fight raged on. The only sound in the room was the two lightsabers constantly crashing together.

Every confusing emotion, every anger or hurt the other had bestowed, every frustration and unbidden emotion they had caused went into the fight. It seemed as though this was the way to let out every feeling about the other without saying a word. The two padawans’ worlds had been narrowed to that 20-meter circle of light.

It ended when they met in the middle, their weapons crossed between them, each putting every last ounce of energy into trying to throw the other off balance. A kind of silent agreement had passed between them, they stepped back simultaneously, powered down their ‘sabers, and left. No words were spoken, no eye contact made, they just left. Neither had ever gained the upper hand in the fight.

Nierda and Zabe just kind of stared at each other. “Talk about intense.” It was the only thing Zabe could manage to say. He was at a loss after what he just saw.

For the first time in her life Nierda was speechless, she just shook her head. It took a long few minutes to regain her voice; Even then all she could get out was “Wow.” She took more than a few deep breaths in an attempt to calm herself, “Aw, screw it. You know, watching our friends duel is going to be the best idea your sex life has ever heard of.” With that declaration she grabbed him.

The last coherent thought he had was: ‘The observation room for the arena is a new one.’

Meanwhile Kwell and Obi-Wan had just witnessed the fight from a different location. They were currently in the security room and had just switched off the live-holo for the arena. They too had to spend a minute regaining composure, lost for words.

---

“Ready?” It was the first words spoken since the fight. Anakin and Jadea were standing on the floor of the large hangar, having already stowed their luggage on board the sleek white cruiser that would take them to Caladrean.

Kwell, Obi-Wan, Nierda, Grandi, and Zabe were all standing in front of them waiting for their good-byes. She nodded her ascent and walked over to Kwell. They shook hands, as was customary between Master and Padawan. What she really wanted to do was Hug him, and beg for him not to make her go. He had become like a father to her throughout the years. However she did neither, instead just bowing her head. “Good-bye Master, I’ll see you soon.”

“So you shall Jadea.” His voice reflected none of the anguish he felt at letting his quasi-daughter go away for five days, with a very interested male no less.

Nearby Obi-Wan and Anakin were doing much the same. Except that for the two, it was more of a brotherly affection than a parental one. “Try not to upset her Anakin, she’d like you if you didn’t constantly stick your foot in your mouth whenever you get near her.”

Anakin smiled roguishly, “I know Master, I will try.” With a firm handshake he turned to Zabe. They eyed each other surreptitiously, and then settled on a pat on the back and a handshake. “Bye Zabe.”

“Try not to screw up Anakin, use your body to your advantage. She digs it.” He held back a laugh as Anakin realized that he had been watching the night before.

Jadea, with what would have been met with disapproval by the council, hugged both Nierda and Grandi tightly. They had never been apart for more than a couple of days before.

Nierda moved in to whisper in Jadea’s ear. “Try to take a holo of him when he gets a load of you in that bathing suit!” Jadea flushed then with a slight grin nodded her compliance.

Throwing a last glance back at her friends she hurried up the ramp and onto the ship. “Come on Anakin.” He nodded at both Obi-Wan and Zabe then turned and entered the vessel himself.

---

Anakin sighed, he had just set the cruiser on manual hyper speed and there wasn’t really anything else to do in the cockpit. Both of the passengers had avoided each other due to the extremely uncomfortable conversation that needed to happen. Now, alone, there was really no point in avoiding each other any longer.

He ducked through the low doorway that led to the passenger lounge. Jadea had been lying on the couch, idly trying to memorize the outlay of Caladrean before they got there. When a looming shadow was cast over her she quickly sat up.

“It’s okay. Lie back down, I’m fine with the recliner.” Cautiously as though he was going to strike she stretched out again, Anakin noting that she didn’t even run the length of the couch. They sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes.

“We seem to like silence.” At Jadea’s observation Anakin laughed, a distinct, deep ring to it that sent tingles of warmth throughout her. She surprised herself by realizing that it was the first time she had heard him laugh. He was usually so serious.

“Yeah, seems like we do.” Anakin relaxed. He activated the recliner, it was an old favorite for him, he liked that the leg support was long enough for him. He stretched out hands behind his head, perfectly comfortable.

“How’s everything in the cockpit captain?”

“It’s on manual hyper speed, there’s nothing for me to do, and we won’t be there for about three hours.” Seeing him stretch like that, combined with the fact that they were alone, in a small cruiser, for three hours, sent her mind reeling with possibilities. She silently cursed Nierda for the detailed ‘talk’ she had given her before she left. Although she still cringed at the mental images of her best friend and Zabe.

This was all new territory for Jadea. As a Jedi, she forced herself to constantly focus on training, so boys hadn’t really been all that prominent in her life until Anakin’s recent debut into her thoughts. Jedi had always taken a scientific approach to all things physical, when a padawan turned fourteen they were taken down to the healers and given a lecture on the mechanics of sex. Jadea had almost been scarred for life by this, as her healer had been about Master Yoda’s age and had diagrams to show her. She had basically yelled at Jadea for an hour on not getting pregnant and sent her on her way. Needless to say Jadea had learned most of what she knew about sex from Nierda once she had started ‘meeting’ Zabe.

On the other hand her fellow passenger hand more than diagrams to help him. He too had been sent to a healer after his fourteenth birthday, his was better. A twenty five year old healer had pictures too, but stressed the actual goings on of the act more than Jadea’s teacher. When he was sixteen he had started ‘meetings’ of his own with a young Jedi who was training to be a negotiator. They hadn’t actually had sex, on the basis of her wanting to be a virgin for her ‘match’, but they had done everything else.

Anakin had let his thoughts run amok for a few minutes before reining them in. He needed to get them talking, about anything. He needed t distract himself from his imagination. He ventured; “So…”

Snapping out of her daze she looked over at him, willing herself not to picture him stretched like that, except naked. She didn’t even know what the lower half of a man looked like, although Nierda had gone into more detail than was necessary in describing it for Jadea, even to the point where Jadea had had to stop her from drawing it for her. Truth was Nierda had enjoyed the embarrassed blush that suffused Jadea whenever she would even imply anything sexual, sex was the only topic Nierda knew more about than her friend, and she relished in using it against Jadea.

She was quickly losing the battle against herself as she felt heat infuse her face. From the smile on Anakin’s face she knew he was noticing. “Are you okay?” Anakin saw the blush, but refused to linger on why it had appeared, or at least what he thought its reason for appearing might be. To test the theory he put his arms above his head and stretched again, when she got even redder he knew his wasn’t the only libido running wild. Zabe’s words floated back to him ‘Try not to screw up Anakin, use your body to your advantage.’ Maybe his friend was right.

‘Oh dear force’ He had stretched his long length again, and her thoughts went strait back to more pleasurable territory. Her face flamed. “I’m fine.” She got this out without sounding too much like she wanted to rip his clothes off. This was going to be a long three hours.

</div>

Incubi 6/?

2008-05-01T03:41:40Z

Outwardly silence reigned supreme. Inside of their heads however heartbeats pounded out unsteady rhythms and thoughts ran rampant. Blaise and Draco stared at Hermione and she stared at them. The males were trying to determine if she was going to bolt for the door. The female was mostly trying to determine what in Merlin’s name had just happened. She couldn’t seem to get that upset about it though a small voice in the back of her head was definitely touting that option. Every time she tried the thoughts just floated away from her.

When the two men determined that she wasn’t going to run they looked away from her and at each other. They knew that Snape wanted them and was expecting them to have left immediately after his summoning. Now the issue of what to do was rising. They needed to leave immediately if they were to avoid Snape’s wrath. At least whatever wrath he would show to his two favorite students. It was Blaise who came up with the plan. Draco was much too involved with talking himself out of telling Snape to go get the stick shagged out of his ass and resume his previous activities to be trying to come up with a plan.

“Hermione love, I think we all need to talk. Draco and I have to go see to what Professor Snape wants and then we’ll be back. Why don’t you stay and look over the books that you were staring at earlier. We’ll be back shortly I assure you.” Leaving no time for argument or discussion he half dragged his counterpart out of their common room leaving the startled witch to her perusal of their library.

The dragged had no idea what happened until he was outside in the hallway. His incubus was screaming at him when it discovered what had happened. They had been so close. Now he was being tugged down the hallway towards Snape’s chambers and farther away from the common room.

When he had Draco sufficiently far away from the common room the Italian stopped and released him. When the darker noticed the flash in the lighter’s eyes and the pulsing aura he knew the situation was precarious. Each of them had been in situations like this before. One of their incubi would override their control and the other would have to talk them down. Appealing to the incubi traits of possessiveness, greed, and/or self-preservation was the only way to do it. Blaise would have to tread carefully however. If he said the wrong thing the other incubi could turn against him.

“She’ll be there when we get back.” Clearly Draco’s incubus wasn’t impressed with this declaration. “Would you rather that Snape come to us? That’s what would have happened had we ignored him.” He could see the wheels start to turn. He was almost there. “He would have come down and kicked her out of the common room, probably have walked her back up to the main castle so that we couldn’t follow her…” The anger that had been directed at him died slowly as the full ramifications hit the other man.

“Fine then.” It came out as more of a snarl than two actual words but Blaise took it. As Draco came back to himself again the apology was written on his face. Neither of them apologized for these lapses anymore after both having dealt with numerous ones from each other but guilt still shone in each other’s eyes in the aftermath of one.

Silently they turned and continued on the way to Snape’s quarters.

“Think she knows she’s stuck in there?” The black haired man mused aloud. He was thinking of their dorm which had the added safeguard that you needed the password and whereabouts to enter but also a different password to exit.

“Not a chance.” answered his companion.

&&&

Hermione stood unmoving for several moments. Draco and Blaise had kissed. Then Draco had kissed her. Then Blaise had kissed her. Then they had sandwiched her between them. Then Draco had almost kissed her again. Then Snape had interrupted. Then they left. The sequence of events ran through her head over and over.

She was alone. In their room. Her first reaction was to bolt for the door and hope that she could remember the route back to the main part of the castle. She almost put that into action then remembered that she wasn’t far from the Slytherin common room that held some of the more unseemly members of the house. Her decision to stay made she turned to survey the bookshelves that had captivated her earlier. There really was no point in barraging herself for what had happened until they got back and they could all talk.

She barely knew where to start. The extensive collection was sorted into categories and from there alphabetically. It seemed as though they, much like her, had kept all of their schoolbooks from previous years. She had seen and admired many of the additional books that they had on each of the school subjects. Potions, DADA, and surprisingly Charms were the biggest categories. Not surprising was the number of quidditch books that rested within easy reach. She let her eyes skim over the titles as she walked the length of the shelves. She came to the end and it was here that she took her time.

‘Various’ was the over-generalized category that she found herself in at the end of the shelves. She realized that this section was actually broken down into sub-sections. Approval swept through her. She glanced at the book titles intending on going back to a charms book that had caught her interest. The Business Practices of Goblins, Making Money the Muggle Way, Necessary Negotiations, Practical Practices for Wizarding Businesses, Magical Meals… Her hand seemed to have a mind of it’s own as it reached out and felt a certain book slide into her hand of it’s own accord. The Hogwarts library used the same spell. Once you narrowed in on the book you wanted it slid out to you. This particular book had caught her interest when it lacked a title on its spine. For Hermione it was the ultimate tease. She just had to know what it was. There wasn’t a title on its cover either. She didn’t feel any spells or protection on the book to ward off readers.

The book looked new enough but the pages were spread slightly from numerous readings. Now her interest was really piqued. What was it that they read so often? She drew the cover open only to stare, stunned, for long moments. There written in a beautiful flowing script were two words. Kama Sutra. She had been sheltered as much as her nature would have allowed her parents to do. She had however heard of the Kama Sutra. Written by a muggle in India as a guide to virtuous living, the only part known by the majority of the world was the second part that detailed various sexual positions. At the bottom of that first page had two more words in smaller writing. Magical Edition. Magical Edition? Sex was something that occurred the same way whether you were magical or muggle. Why would you need a magical edition?

Curiosity got the better of her. As uncomfortable as she might feel snooping through a sex manual she was still curious about the book. Turning the page she didn’t find the table of contents that she had anticipated. Instead laid out before her were two figures, nude, and standing next to each other. As she watched they moved. She stared fascinated as the two figures showed how to get into the classic missionary position and than began to move together to show how the position worked. She assumed that this must be why it was the Magical Edition. The pictures moving seemed like it would be convenient as a reference tool. She went to turn the page but discovered that it would not turn.

The figures gave her the answer as to why. As she watched the figures moved again, this time the male figure had hooked one arm behind the leg closest to Hermione’s view and raised the knee almost to the woman’s chest. The title of the page re-wrote itself to say The Plough. Crossing the room and still absorbed in the book Hermione sat down in the spot vacated by Blaise and continued to absorb the book.

</div>

Incubi 5/?

2008-04-29T04:21:33Z

Walking down a hallway had never been such an event. With every step the tension mounted between the three as they walked side by side down to the boys’ room. Being the Head girl meant that Hermione knew where all of the house dorms were located. When Blaise and Draco turned down an unfamiliar corridor in the dungeons she was confused. As if sensing the pending question the blonde spoke up.

“When two Gryffindors got named the Heads Snape decided to make us the unofficial Heads of Slytherin house. If anyone has any problems they can come to us instead of having to go to him.” He caught the look on her face. “No Hermione, as good a Head girl as you are no Slytherins save for the two of us feel comfortable talking to you both because you are a Gryffindor and as a member of Potter’s trio. Tell me that Gryffindors would line up to see us if Blaise and I were Heads…” She had to concede that point. “Snape gave us our own rooms. They’re just a couple of corridors away if any of the Slytherins ever need to see us.” She was a little put out. She had had to make head girl to get her own rooms.

“But which one of you is Head girl?” She was teasing but she wasn’t expecting the reply that she received. Both of her companions’ minds went strait to the gutter. It really was a situational question. Blaise decided that his line of thinking was dangerous for the tender balance of his control. A glance sideways showed that Draco was obviously thinking along the same lines.

“Well Draco is quite the drama queen…” Draco was snapped out of his reverie involving all of the possible meanings behind ‘Head Boy’ and ‘Head Girl’ in relation to the two people next to him.

“If anyone is the girl here it’s you Zabini. It takes you longer to decide what tie to wear…” He gave Hermione a playful smirk. “Honestly, stripes or solid, green or silver, the Chinese silk or the Moroccan silk, it’s rather ridiculous.”

“I only did that for the Christmas ball that your father hosted last year… Hermione, love, don’t let him fool you… he purposely tousles his hair.” Before she could comprehend the ‘love’ Draco spoke up.

“Well Blaise thickens his accent on purpose when the situation calls for it.” It was startling for her to see these two normally controlled men having such a playful and slightly petty argument.

“Boys! I’m sorry. I was just playing. Why don’t we let me be Head Girl for now and you two can discuss it more in depth later.” The glares between them softened slightly. There was no reason for either to be having a battle in front of Hermione. They weren’t competing for her they were trying to bring her around for both of them. Acting like first years wouldn’t help the situation.

They had arrived at a light on the wall. It looked to be exactly the same as every other light that lit the corridor.

“Entri Nel Fuoco” Blaise’s deep voice was even more lyrical when he spoke in his natural language. The sound floated over her like a caress and sent her heart beating just a little faster. The flames from the light suddenly sprang to life and skittered over the wall. They curved over the stone and outlined an archway. The stone within the flames shimmered and the archway was suddenly a doorway that opened into a common room.

The room was gorgeous and she couldn’t help but look around. This was nicer than the rooms that she shared with Harry, or it could just be that they suited her better. The first thing to catch her eye was a set of large bookcases settled against the wall opposite. She was itching to go over and see what books they had. She was positive that more than a few couldn’t be found in the Hogwarts library or even on a shelf at Flourish and Blotts. The guys smirked at each other at the look on her face and the unintentional couple of steps she took towards the bookcases. They took a few steps as well and it allowed the archway to become whole again.

Hermione tore her eyes away from the plethora of books before she settled in and started reading all of them. Instead she looked around the rest of the room. Comfy looking black couches were set up conversationally in front of a huge stone fireplace. Hermione loved stone fireplaces. This one was carved right out of the thick dungeon walls. A mahogany table sat in the middle and had more books stacked on it neatly. Just past that was the entrance to a kitchenette. That confused her. She and Harry didn’t have a kitchenette in the Head dorms. There wasn’t really a need.

Blaise saw her pondering the kitchen with her gaze. “As fond as I any type of food and the never ending tea resources of Hogwarts I sometimes find that I am in desperate need of coffee or of a good Italian meal.”

“Blaise is an excellent cook and I daresay that he has me addicted to his coffee.” They moved past her Blaise to one of the couches in front of the fireplace and Draco to the kitchenette. A wave of the Italian’s wand had a fire in the grate. She crossed the room and took a seat on the couch opposite him. The intensity of the situation was returning.

“Tea then? Or would you prefer coffee?”

“I’ll stick with tea for now although I may have to have a cup of that coffee at some point”

“Mother’s Tea D. You know how to make it.” She had never heard him refer to the blonde in such a casual way. She assumed it was because they were back in their rooms and had relaxed a bit. Blaise sure looked relaxed with one ankle resting on his knee and one arm stretched across the back of the couch. It had pulled the sweater a little tighter and was showing the lean body off. The sound of the kettle whistling rang through the room. She was trying not to launch herself over the table at the currently silent Slytherin and the loud noise startled her. She took the time to look at the other side of the room. Three doors were set into the wall. Two were side by side. They each had beautifully inscribed lettering on them of DM and BZ. It was obviously the doors to their bedrooms. The other was probably the restroom. The sound of tinkling china brought her to face the man now carrying a tray with three cups on it. He set it down on the table in front of them and took a seat next to Blaise.

“It’s black. That’s how Blaise and I take it. We have cream and sugar as well though.” He loved the way she looked in their room. It would be easy for he and Blaise to release their pheromones again, and Merlin knew their incubi wanted them to, but he found himself wanting her to want them as them, not for their incubi capabilities. He already knew that she valued them for their intellect and they were all now ‘friends’, he just wanted to make sure that she wanted the men before her as men and not as a byproduct of a chemical reaction.

“Black is fine.” She wasn’t making it easy for his stance on taking the high road. She blew across the surface of the tea to cool it and in the process sent their minds spiraling. The action definitely drew attention to her lips that were dark and swollen from her teeth’s worrying of them. The two warlocks watched intently as she lifted the cup to her lips.

Her eyes drifted shut for a moment. The warm liquid seemed to soothe some of the tightness within her. Her mind was calm and clear. She floated on the feeling for a moment before remembering that she wasn’t alone. She opened her eyes to meet two calculating stares.

“With mid-year exams not too far away mother sent us this tea. It’s infused with a calming potion as well as one to clear your head. It’s wonderful after studying or an exam.”

“I would have to agree. This tea is quite useful.” She took another sip and relaxed back into the plush cushions behind her. By now the contrasting pair had also picked up their own cups and drank. For them the calming agent was also working against their rowdy incubi who were calling for them to make use of the comfortable couches. “I don’t understand why, out of all the girls at Hogwarts who would readily kill for either of you to say a word to them, that you would choose to spend two afternoons and an evening with me.”

Blaise and Draco nearly choked on their tea. They would have thought they imagined it if not for what she said next.

“I had a dream about you two. You two and me. I mean there you are all perfect in those sweaters. That table isn’t much of a barrier to be honest. A simple moving spell and it would be out of the way…. I really can’t decide who I like better. You’re both so pretty…” Both of their minds metaphorically exploded. Here was the verbal proof that she did in fact like and want them. And apparently she had a thing for their sweaters.

“Hermione are you feeling all right?”

“Mentally and Health-wise yes. Physically kind of. I feel warm and tingly.”

“What did you put in her tea Draco?” Brown eyes bored into his as though trying to rip the answer out of him.

“I didn’t put anything in her tea, git. I wouldn’t do that.” He knew better than to take offense at that. The situation dictated the question.

“Then what’s going on?” Blaise hissed.

“I have no bloody clue.” The blonde hissed back.

“Merlin you two are sexy when you’re angry. You should really think about getting really angry at each other and then kiss in the middle of the argument. If you record it you could make a lot of money.” Her voice drifted off and her eyes glazed. It was easy to see that she was imaging the situation that she had just created with her words.

Said angry men were startled enough to stop and just goggle at her. They had never imagined her saying anything like that. Ever. They looked back at each other, their heads tilted in confusion. Something was going on. This definitely wasn’t the girl that they knew. Apparently the incubi weren’t inclined to argue over petty things like whether she was in her right mind. The human sides of them were starting to be swayed by the whispered temptations.

“Draco when you’re calm what happens?”

“Blaise… what?” He really wasn’t in the state of mind to be answering questions. Distractions from his tenuous grip on his control wasn’t a good idea at them moment.

“Being relaxed lowers your inhibitions. The tea has an affect that lasts a while. Her inhibitions are practically gone. We never noticed the effect because we’re not exactly uptight around each other.” Made sense to Draco. And now that he knew that it was nothing but lowered inhibitions he had no qualms in taking control of the situation.

“Hermione,” After drawing her attention away from her mental musings and onto himself he continued. “I would like to inform you that your dream could become a reality if you so desired.” He let that sink in for a moment. Then in pure Draco style he resorted to action more than to words. Reaching over he grabbed Blaise and before the darker haired man could protest sealed their lips together. It was quick but enough to prove the heat that resided between them. After he had released his hold he quickly drew his wand and swept his arm moving both the unoccupied couch and the coffee table between them further into the center of the room and unobstructing his path to her.

She didn’t really notice him walking over to her. Her eyes were still glued to the spot where the two warlocks had kissed. It was as though she were still watching it in her mind. Her aura had been steadily increasing since drinking the tea but it had spiked and was now a red that he had previously only seen surrounding himself and Blaise.

Bracing both hands against the cushions on either side of her head he leaned down and kissed her like he had just kissed Blaise. It held all of the heat and intensity as the one that he had just broken except that he held this one longer. It rocked him to the core. Something within him recognized her and whether it was the meeting of two powerful auras or whether it was just chemistry something sparked at the meeting of their lips. Somewhere in his mind he recognized the feeling as the same one he had experienced the night of the dinner party, he had just been too caught up in the moment to really comprehend it. As breathing became an issue again he eased pressure on her until their lips parted. Her eyes were shut now and it didn’t look like she intended to open them anytime soon.

“Hermione?”

“Whoa.”

“He’s an incredible kisser isn’t he?” Neither Draco nor Hermione had been noticing Blaise since the blonde had stalked over to the curly haired witch. Now he was right beside them. Hermione could only nod her assent before looking over at the Italian. Being open to suggestion he interpreted the look as he wanted to. That interpretation meant taking a seat next to her on the couch and turning her towards him. He started off barely touching their lips together. She was finally back into reality and tried to scoot closer to the teasing form beside her. He added slightly more pressure and cheered in his head when she tried to deepen it even more. He loped his arms around her and drew her even closer. Eventually he let the kiss reach the same intensity as the one she had had with Draco. The same electricity the same connection was there with Blaise as well although each varied with imprints of the owners.

At this point her mind had completely shut down. She knew in the back of her mind that something was completely off but she couldn’t seem to hold onto the thought. She couldn’t hold onto any thought. Blaise finally broke the kiss and stood back up taking her hand and tugging her up with him. She found herself pressed between them and once again face to face with Draco. Well not exactly face to face. He had a good number of centimeters on her.

The incubi were going crazy at this point. They could taste the power that surrounded her and their hosts. It was the most potent of drugs. All three of the students were getting high off of the connection that they held with each other. Draco was an instant from once again reaching her mouth and embracing the jolt of another kiss. He could feel the warm breath against his lips. Her amber eyes were cloudy and dark. Her face was flushed…

Then the fire roared in the grate and all three jumped away from each other as though Zeus himself had stuck them with a lightning bolt. The imprint of the face of Severus Snape looked out at them from the flames. He summed up the situation in his usually efficient manner. Knowing that the situation was delicate and not sure of the actual parameters he chose to be careful.

“Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Zabini, I need to see you in my office.” His head popped back out of the grate with another roar of the fire.

</div>

Incubi 4/?

2008-04-29T04:18:27Z

She must have read the same sentence at least 30 times. For the first time in her school career she couldn’t concentrate. She had to keep fighting herself so that she wouldn’t look for them every two minutes. She had ended up getting here half and hour before the appointed time. Restless, jittery, an… no she would not say that. You couldn’t be anxious towards the arrival of two arch-nemeses, even if they were ‘friends’ now. Harry and Ron would completely lose it if they found out anything about this entire situation. They would yell, and rant, and rant, and then lock her in a tower. All of that would only happen because she was talking to them. Imagine if they knew that she was actually attracted to the two despised wizards…. wait… oh, it seemed pointless at this point to deny her attraction to them. They were just so… attractive. However just because she was attracted to them and couldn’t stop dreaming about them didn’t mean that she had to do anything about it. She refused to be just like every other starry-eyed girl mooning over them at every available opportunity. They were intellectual equals and now friends. Nothing more. Yes… right…

Blaise and Draco came around the corner and found Hermione lost in thought. She was worrying her bottom lip with her teeth and staring off into space while twirling a quill in her hand. From her aura they determined that she wasn’t thinking about her Arithmacy homework. They looked at each other with matching raised eyebrows and small smirks. She looked completely shagable in that moment. Curly pieces of her hair were escaping their prison on top of her head and framing her face. A smile tugged at the sides of her mouth that weren’t caught between her teeth. She had draped her robes over the back of her chair and underneath her sweater she had loosened her tie. If they didn’t move soon all of the preparation that they had done for this meeting (in their room, in various closets, in the room right next to the library just a minute ago…) would be a waste.

“Hermione?” She jumped about a mile in the air. Her imaginings of them in her mind were replaced by the live versions in front of her. The live versions were so much better. Her air supply was suddenly incredibly depleted.

“Hi.” She gestured to the chairs in front of her. “Please, sit.” Sit they did. The air they had disturbed with the motion blew softly past her making her skin tingle. She took a deep breath to keep calm but that same air carried their scent on it. Her eyes had to fight to stay open as she inhaled, wanting to close so that she could savor the smell of sandal wood, stone, and something that she couldn’t quite place but that screamed ‘masculine’. The concoction swarmed her and her mouth watered as the thought of how that scent would taste floated through her mind. A blush threatened to break out when she comprehended what that meant. In an effort to distract herself from how they smelled she turned to conversation. “What are we studying?” She expected that they would be working on the Ancient Runes assignment that was due tomorrow, or the potions homework.

“Actually we were thinking that we could go over the postulate that Professor Norad mentioned in class today. It might be good to go over it before Wednesday.” Hermione’s head metaphorically exploded. They wanted to go over something before the teacher even taught it? They must have noticed her jaw drop because Draco spoke up.

“I’m guessing that no one in Gryffindor besides yourself bothers to learn something until the test is the next day…” As dry and slightly derogatory as that was she felt herself nod in agreement even as she turned the book she had been attempting to read around so that they could see that she had already opened to the page on the Prentiss Postulate.

The laughter started out as smiles and then bigger smiles until small chuckles and then full blown laughter escaped. She couldn’t help but laugh as well. It was contagious. When they finally settled they each still wore smiles. Hermione’s was more because she had just realized how absolutely gorgeous they were when they laughed. Warmth infused their eyes and sent sparks down her spine. The two rarely smiled at people other than their select friends and now her. If Hogwarts thought that they were irresistible just standing and scowling then this would surely create mass fainting and random stripping of clothing. It was nearly having that affect on her right now.

“I should be mad at you for offending my house but I can’t deny the accuracy.”

“Not everyone actually gives a damn about the fact that they are in school and therefore should care more about their studies than their appearance.”

“Easy for you two to say. You probably wake up looking perfect.” Heat and color flushed her face as she realized that she just said that out loud. The Italian looked stunned and then a slow grin crossed his face. She didn’t like the look in his eye.

“You could always find out first hand Hermione...” Was he flirting with her? The sexual tension level at the table rose to epic proportions. Draco’s smirk was no less mischievous than his friend’s grin.

“I’d love to find out what you look like when you first wake up Hermione.” His eyebrows raised and lowered quickly. “We should have a sleepover.” Hermione’s eyes went wide and her mouth went dry. This had gotten very serious very quickly. They were doing that devouring thing with their eyes again. Before they could overwhelm her she tried to defuse the situation with humor.

“If you wanted your nails painted that badly Draco all you have to do is ask. No need to add the pretense of a sleepover.” A teasing grin crossed her features as it was his turn for his jaw to drop. Blaise was pressing his lips together in a futile effort not to break out into a smile or into laughter.

“She got you Dray.” He stopped fighting the smile.

“I don’t know whether to be offended at the calling into question of my masculinity, or incredibly impressed with you.” He stared rather incredulously at her for a few moments. Her smile turned into a small pleased one. “That’s almost a Slytherin thing to say.” Her smile dropped.

“You don’t have to insult me.” She leveled him with a look that clearly stated what she thought of being compared with a Slytherin. Somewhere in the back of her mind she was honored that he would betray his house by complimenting her that way.

“That’s the biggest compliment I can bestow.” He threw the gauntlet well aware of how he would react if someone called him a Gryffindor. It would be much the same as her reaction right now. They locked eyes in a Gryffindor vs. Slytherin battle of the wills. Blaise knew that neither was going to back down any time soon.

“Children!” Startled they broke their gazes at the same time and looked at the darkest of the unlikely trio. “Neither of you will win that particular war. Let’s get on with the studying shall we?” They both shot each other another look before dropping it. Blaise dropped his gaze to the book that she had slid towards them. “Gryffindors will never admit when they’re wrong.” His only tribute to his blasé comment was the tugging of the corner of his lips.

Hermione snatched the book away from his and turned it back towards herself with a huff. She didn’t dignify the comment with a response. The Slytherins gave each other triumphant grins before pulling out their own Arithmacy books. Before settling in Draco shrugged off his robes to reveal the deep green sweater he had changed into after his classes of day. Blaise too had changed although his sweater was black. It did however have silver stitching. Glancing up at them Hermione just muttered “Slytherins” and went back to reading.

Three hours later they all sat around intellectually satiated. They had tackled the postulate without difficulty, completed essays for Snape, and mastered the next couple of Transfiguration concepts. Parchment was scattered across the table with various notes on them made with three distinct styles of writing. Hermione’s neat lettering was interrupted by Draco’s stylized scrawl which was notated by the eloquent penmanship of Blaise. It didn’t escape attention of how natural the papers looked on the table between all of them. It was the culmination of three minds coming together. Now if only they could come together in other ways…

Surprisingly the afternoon had been invigorating. Hermione had never been so mentally challenged by anyone in her life. She loved it. The afternoon had pushed her control to the limits though. Those sweaters seemed to be teasingly caressing the two in a way she was desperately wanting to do. She could also see the movement of muscle beneath the cloth as they moved things around or leaned over to reach for something. Blaise and Draco had a matching habit of running their hands through their hair. Blaise did it when he was excited about an idea and was expanding on it. Draco did I when he was frustrated. It messed up their hair in such a way as to make them look like they had been thoroughly and properly snogged.

Their calmness throughout the afternoon was a complete façade. The table almost got knocked out of the way numerous times when her eyes would light up in the spirit of debate or her breathing would get heavier with excitement. All three of them had unknowing channeled their passions into their studies and had had one of their most productive afternoons ever. Now that all of the work that the three could come up with was complete there was nothing to channel it into except each other.

Blaise was trying to come up with something, anything, to prolong their time together. As hard as it was for him to be this close to her after Saturday night he didn’t want to lose her company.

The situation was rapidly deteriorating. After the train ride he had thought that she was something that both of them wanted. That’s what he told himself. Somewhere in his head he had to acknowledge that he knew she would be different for them from the moment they had decided to pursue her. She was just a different kind of girl .She matched them in every way, except for their incubi. Since the first library encounter he knew that she would be more to them. He was rapidly growing to desire all aspects of her and although the stubborn blonde would never admit it he was too.

Draco was about three seconds from diving across the table and kissing her. His incubi was roaring inside of his head. It remembered the power she could exude and was clamoring for more. Flashbacks from Saturday night were coming to mind and weren’t helping his self control. His intellect might be satiated but it was the only part of him that was.

The devouring look was getting to be a habit. She wasn’t sure how comfortable she was with that particular habit. All of the layers required by the school uniform seemed to melt away under their eyes so that they could caress her with their gaze. She was suddenly drowning in them. Her eyes refused to move from the warlocks in front of her.

Had she been in her right mind she might have questioned her perception of them as a package deal. The use of ‘them’ and ‘they’ had never been questioned. As startling and admittedly exciting as her initial dream and subsequent ones had been having two men was not an option. Not that she saw herself dating either or both of them. The very thought was beyond insane. It was just… hormones, combined with the attention she was getting from two very good-looking wizards.

“How about tea?” He had finally voiced his solution. Not that it was a perfect one by any means or what he actually wanted to do but it seemed to be the only thing that he could think of without just propositioning her… or hell just outright seducing her. Merlin knew his incubi was tempting him to do just that.

“Tea?” His companions voiced the question at the same time. Draco’s voice showed his scorn for and incredulousness at Blaise’s suggestion. Sitting down to tea was downright preposterous with all of the tension in the room. Tea was something that he only did at his mother’s request when they had guests over to the manor. It wasn’t something he wanted to do with the two people currently in need of a good and thorough shag from him, at least in his opinion.

Hermione was a little more appreciative of the suggested activity. Her nerves needed to calm down. A warm cup of tea might do just that. The last few moments before Blaise had spoken up had been dangerously heavy.

“Tea sounds wonderful.” Blaise smiled at this. He wasn’t without his motives.

“Great. Draco and I have a special tea in our room that his mother sends to us. It’s incredible.” He started to pack up his belongings and felt more than saw both Draco’s approving grin and Hermione’s startled stare.

She was going to their room…. Merlin help her.

</div>

Incubi 3/?

2008-04-29T04:17:05Z

She had never seen anything like it. They radiated power and seduction and sex. Their eyes almost glowed with intent and intensity. The beauty of the two men was almost blinding. The power of two fully mature, albeit young, incubi was being unleashed upon her. She didn’t stand a chance.

“Come here Hermione.” Each of the incubi reached out a hand to her. Unable to look away from them she somehow found the strength to let go of the balcony and take a step towards them…

All they had needed was that one step. It was the physical incarnation of her acquiescence. In the back of her mind she could hear no-longer-dominating part of her mind ask her what in Merlin’s name she thought she was doing. There was no answer. The power in each of the two men flowed from them and wrapped her in their thrall eliminating any resistance.

The coercion of incubi victims wasn’t physical. Physical coercion bred mental resistance and resentment. Instead the power seduced the mind and spirit coaxing the, in this case, witch, to come to them completely willingly. Later she would think of how the pheromones worked their way into her mind releasing chemicals that overpowered her neurons. Later she would go over her behavior wonder why although even skilled Legilimens found it almost impossible to access her mind, that she simply had no resistance to these two men’s thrall. Later she would think about this way too much.

Now however she wasn’t thinking at all. Her heart didn’t even have time to beat as they seemed to appear instantly beside her. She was turned was being snogged as though their lives depended on it by Draco in the next instant. The experience was beyond anything Hermione could have imagined. His lips were hot and heavy on hers. There was no questioning or hesitation, the kiss as arrogant and demanding as the man. Before she could react to it much less enjoy it she was pulled away.

Blaise had been as patient as was possible given the situation and allowed Draco a few seconds before taking his turn. He didn’t immediately kiss her instead he ran his hands ever so slowly along the line of her chin and up to tangle in her hair at the sides of her head before tilting her head back to receive him. His lips were just as hot as Draco’s but laying out a trap to ensnare her instead of the all out take-no-prisoners attack. Blaise was so skillfully distracting her that she never felt the pressure or heard the pop accompanying side-along apparition.

Somewhere in the back of his mind Draco was blessing the day his parents gave him his own wing… on the other side of the manor. It meant no interruptions or even knowledge of what was about to happen. All three sets of parents would assume that they just got bored and went back to school. In fact the blonde would have gone there to his and Blaise’s private rooms but he couldn’t apparate directly into them and walking from the gates wasn’t an option.

His incubi decided that it didn’t like Draco’s coherency. It pushed him to pull Hermione out of Blaise’s arms. He had to give Blaise credit. He didn’t complain at the interruption and instead made himself useful and divested himself of multiple layers of clothes. Then he worked on Hermione’s. Actually he just got impatient and used his wand to banish her clothes back to her room. With the loss of her robes Hermione found that the room, with cooling spells to facilitate its normal occupant, was chilly and pressed forward to try and steal the heat that was radiating off of him. Blaise saw her shiver and wrapped his arms around her bringing her skin to skin with his chest. His lips were launching an assault on the side of her neck. Not really realizing what she was doing she tugged at Draco’s clothes, in her current state fruitlessly, in order to try and get closer.

He released her to Blaise while he made quick work of his clothes. Blaise took the opportunity to catch her around the waist and walk her backwards toward the room-dominating bed. As he leaned her back onto it he couldn’t help but notice that while the red had certainly looked good on her tonight, she looked even better naked and surrounded by green. His preference for the color certainly had no effect on that judgment.

Almost immediately she was joined on the bed by Draco. Blaise had to take a minute to remind himself of what breathing actually required. The two of them together on the bed in front of him was arresting at best. Snapping out of his trance he got his arse into bed with them. Draco was on her neck. Blaise started at the bottom.

Hermione was convinced that this couldn’t possibly be happening. It had to be a dream. The only problem was that she wouldn’t have thought of this in order to dream about it. The mouths, one on her collar bone, and one on her ankle seemed to be trying to convince her that this was indeed real. They were doing an outstanding job. For someone who was too buried in books to even look at boys the sudden physicality of the situation was severely heightened. Along the way Blaise kept a close eye on her face. When he nibbled the inside of her thigh just above her knee he smirked in triumph. He had made her look like she had during the mousse.

The Italian left her legs when he saw Draco nearing her breasts. He skimmed his lips over her as he went sending shivers down her spine at the barely-there contact. He managed to time his arrival at the same time as the blonde. Hermione’s eyes flew open as they attacked in sync. Two completely different techniques left her gasping and her mind sparking. Draco nibbled and licked while Blaise countered it with the softer movements of just lips and occasionally tracing patterns with his tongue. When they both sucked at the same time she arched at the feeling with a soft moan.

The pushing of their demons made the two men relentless and merciless. She might not be ready for the heady sensations but they gave them anyway. Combined with the pheromones it was putting her mind into overdrive. She ran her hands over their backs and dove them into their hair. She was desperate for something… she just didn’t know what. Blaise left his place and traveled up to fixate again on her mouth. She met him in intensity. Draco left his place too but traveled downwards instead. Hermione was preoccupied with the mouth on hers and didn’t notice that Draco had moved until she felt him part her thighs and fix his mouth between them. Her hips bucked but were held in place by his strong hands. She whimpered around Blaise’s lips. When the blonde’s lips caught her most sensitive spot between them she thrashed in his hands.

Between her newness and Draco’s expertise it wasn’t long before she was constantly whimpering and desperately clinging to Blaise who still had her mouth ensnared with his while running a hand across her breasts. She ripped her head away from his. “No… I can’t… I can’t…too much…” A tongue twist from Draco proved her wrong and tore a keening cry from her as her world exploded. Then the world went dark.

The two incubi trembled as the force of it washed over them in waves. The energy was overwhelming. More so than either had felt before. It knocked them for a loop and it took them a lot longer than usual to recover. After they had settled their incubi, fully satisfied with the energy that Hermione had released, retreated leaving Draco and Blaise to be themselves again. They were always calmest after the incubi had been… ‘fed’ seemed to be the most appropriate word.

They locked eyes each slightly panicked about what just happened. They hadn’t intended this and weren’t sure how Hermione would act. Turning and expecting to meet a furious or just scared girl they instead were met with closed eyes and great view. Deep even breathing alerted them to the fact that she might not be okay.

“I think she passed out…” Blaise met Draco’s gaze. Now that the raven haired warlock had begun to think clearly the reality of the situation was hitting him at full force. “She’s going to lose it when she wakes up. She’s barely kissed let alone what we did tonight. She’ll blame herself… after all to her it was a hormone reaction. With two… Merlin, Draco.”

“Somnius” Draco had summoned his wand and it was now pointed at the deliciously naked brunette behind him. The spell would keep her asleep until he released her from it. “Calm down Blaise. Panicking won’t help anyone. Least of all her.” At this point he wasn’t in the best mood. A certain body part was letting itself be known… painfully.

Blaise had sat up and now dropped his head into his hands. He dragged his hands over his face and looked back at Hermione. She was beautiful and innocent as she slept. There was nothing he could have done to prevent this, as much as he hated to admit it. Things had just moved a lot faster than any of them had predicted. It wasn’t as if she hated them… but she never would have done this without the pheromone intervention.

The incubi were fighting with them about him stopping. They could have her right now, just release her from the spell. If she hadn’t passed out… Before he could stop it a smirk graced Draco’s features. He had Blaise had managed to make her pass out from an orgasm…

“Draco, stop. We have to figure this out.” Blaise grit his teeth as the Draco’s lusty thoughts washed over him again. He shook with the effort to keep a clear mind. It killed him when the solution popped into his mind. “She can’t remember.”

Incubi 2/?

2008-04-29T04:14:23Z

For all useful and pertinent information please see chapter 1. Disclaimer applies to the entire story.

&&&

“Hermione are you still up here? The guests are starting to arrive.”

“I’ll be down in a minute, Mother.” Her voice betrayed none of the nerves currently jangling through her body. The past few days had seen her tied up in knots. As always Blaise and Draco strode through the halls confident with their place in them. The only difference was the seemingly genuine smiles that Hermione received from them whenever she wasn’t with Ron and or Harry. Every time her world tilted on its axis and left her spinning. She hadn’t talked to them directly since the library and now the prospect of doing so left her short of breath. There wasn’t even Ron and Harry to be a distraction tonight.

She felt silly. Men had never gotten to her like this before. She usually could just dismiss them and go back to studying. After all there was plenty of time for that sort of thing after she finished with school. The two men downstairs were proving impossible to dismiss. Now she was, to be honest, hiding from them and their effect. She studied herself in the mirror once again. She had been ready a while ago really. She had just spent the last hour pinning miniscule hairs and placing unneeded finishing touches on her makeup.

“This is ridiculous.” Not allowing herself any time to hesitate she walked to her bedroom door and out of it. The soft clinking of glasses from the cocktail hour and the murmur of voices floated to her ears. She made her way down the hall and to the stairs. As her hand touched the banister her heart started racing and her stomach felt off. Tramping down the urge to run back to her room she took the stairs one at a time. Every step seemed to constrict her more. Just as she was turning to go back, her mother appeared.

“There you are. Hermione you look fantastic. I told you that was the dress to get. It looks like it was made for you. Just wait until everyone sees you.” With that she was lead down the hall. The most prominent witches and wizards in Britain and some from farther were gathered in the sitting room. They were clustered in groups all talking politely about business or the ministry or who they ran into in Diagon Alley. The conversations petered out as the Granger women walked in. Ryla was beautiful tonight but it was Hermione that stunned everyone to silence.

The red dress robes were just tight enough to show off her now developed figure but not tight enough to cause controversy. The neckline was wide and fell off of her shoulders leaving her neck and shoulders bare. It skimmed ending just high enough to show off the matching red heels. Her hair had been left down and ran in a river of curls to just past the middle of her back. The makeup was light accentuating the delicate features and wide eyes but hardly noticeable. The affect was a definite change from her usual attire and not something she would have ever worn normally but her mother had insisted.

“Hermione, you’re seventeen now. It’s high time you started looking like it. After all, you did inherit all of the good genes. When I was seventeen your father…” Ryla Granger had kept on like this for a while before Hermione had finally consented just to get her to stop talking.

Then the chattering started again. The men went back to their business and the women back to their societal news but the wheels were turning. Society had been waiting for years for the only Granger heir to finally blossom. If this was any example Hermione had finally arrived. For those who had sons of the appropriate age one eye was kept on the young heiress to see if they could some how match them together.

The moments of silence before conversation had been resumed had been some of the scariest of her life. She had almost stopped breathing when every eye in the room had turned to her. Now she allowed her lungs to get oxygen. Her eyes wandered over the crowd. She knew every person in it and smiled if they caught her eye.

“You look lovely my dear,” Mr. Granger had appeared out of the crowd. Brushing a kiss over her cheek he whispered to her. “Far too lovely to be my little girl. I’m afraid my wand will have to remain in my hand so I can hex away all of your suitors.” Hermione laughed. Straitening he said, “Come with me. There are some ministry officials here who would like to meet you. They’re positively drooling over your school marks.”

Twenty minutes later found her laughing along with said Ministry officials as she listened to stories from the wilder cases they had experienced. The stories had started off as a way to entice her to come work for them and had ended up a competition between the men to see whose cases were funnier and more outrageous. The back of her neck prickled as she felt eyes on her.

“Gentlemen your stories are truly entertaining but I feel as though I’m ignoring the rest of the guests…”Complaints were voiced but Hermione managed to escape with a plea that they save some stories for later in the evening when she would return to hear them. Heat crept up her spine as she scanned the room looking for her watcher.

“You look ravishing Hermione.” The heat turned around and pooled in her abdomen. Draco’s words rang though her and sent her senses tumbling. She whirled around to see them standing side by side just far enough away to be polite but close enough to feel the full impact of their presence. Her mouth went completely dry.

They made a stunning picture. Both were wearing standard formal black but Draco and Blaise far outshined the other men in the room. The black seemed to suit both the light and darker complexions equally and highlighted the shared height, broad shoulders and lean hips.

Hermione found her senses reeling again as Blaise claimed her hand to brush his lips against it purposely skimming over the spot where her quill had scratched her. Before being released the hand was passed to Draco who mimicked Blaise’s actions.

“Thank You Draco, You two look dashing as well.” Only her years of grace and poise in any situation kept her voice from wavering. ‘Dashing’ was an understatement. ‘The embodiment of sex’ was more like it. Covert glances were shot across the room at them. Minds wandered and small pangs of jealousy were felt. None watched more closely that Narcissa Malfoy, Maria Zabini, and Ryla Granger. Of all of the young wizards of this generation it was perhaps the three now making their way over to the refreshments that were poised to take the wizarding world by storm.

Not only were all three epitomes of intelligence, wit, and beauty, they were also the products of unions of six of the oldest and purest lines in the world. Being heirs to massive fortunes didn’t hurt either as both Hermione and Draco were only children, and Blaise’s share of his family’s wealth rivaled theirs.

Hermione was currently having a hard time putting one foot in front of the other. Walking between Blaise and Draco was doing serious damage to her ability to even stand. Blaise and Draco were smiling at each other over her head. They had seen the abrupt shift in her aura after she had heard Draco’s voice and then watched it deepen as she had taken them in. As she waked next to them it slowly kept deepening in color. That combined with how she looked tonight was doing serious damage to their controls. To avoid acting on his baser impulses Blaise spoke.

“Are you looking forward to the Halloween Ball Hermione?” She was so absorbed in not falling that the question didn’t penetrate for a moment.

“Oh, yes I am. It’s hard to believe that Dumbledore got The Duelers to perform. I’ve been hearing their new songs on the Wireless.” Draco glanced at Blaise again this time with a genuine smile. He knew how to get firmly into her good graces now.

“I never took you for one to listen to the wireless.”

“I love music. I just never have time to listen to it at school. To be honest it’s my way to unwind a bit during my breaks away from school.”

“Jackson Jay is their lead singer right?” Hermione nodded absently. “I could introduce you if you would like me to…” She stopped dead in her path and turned on heel to face him.

“You know Jackson Jay?”

“Jackson Jay is a stage name. His real name is William Varnum.” He saw the realization dawn upon her face.

“He’s your cousin?” Draco just nodded. “I had no idea.”

Her face was lit up with excitement and her smile was radiant. Only the thought that they were surrounded, and that part of the crowd consisted of all three of their sets of parents kept Draco from kissing her. He caught Blaise’s eye. Blaise was feeling it too. The expression ‘saved by the bell’ had never been more apt. The dinner chime echoed through the lounge and tiny golden birds appeared in front of each guest waiting to show them to their seats.

The two boys beside her laughed then followed the trail of tiny stars that trailed in the bird’s wake. Hermione was already aware that her seat was directly between Blaise’s and Draco’s. The surprise for them was both a pleasure and a problem. They were already worked up and having her right next to them for what was sure to be a few hours was going to be torture. Blaise beat Draco to Hermione’s seat pulling it out for her. She smiled and graciously accepted the action.

As each of them took their seats the golden birds landed in front of them and became inanimate once more. Everyone else was delighted as the birds turned into souvenirs but Blaise’s and Draco’s weren’t done yet. The gold seemed to melt off of them revealing a deep green. Instead of the red writing on the other’s birds the script that spelled their names was brilliant silver. Hermione’s lips twitched up in pride and amusement. They both turned to her in astonishment.

“I knew you wouldn’t keep them if they were gold and red.” It was a plain stated fact.

“I thought that the birds were your touch. Now the thought is confirmed.” Blaise was suitably impressed. The birds were a great touch and would serve as a remembrance of the night. She smiled at the compliment.

Much like at Hogwarts food appeared in front of each diner. The three students ate their fill glad for the break from school food. There was nothing wrong with the school food… it was just… boring. The salad of tender greens and exotic vegetables, the sesame encrusted tuna with soy, and the braised beef was definitely not boring. Had Blaise been freer about the comparison he would have called the food orgasmic.

He couldn’t help himself when the chocolate mouse appeared. Not only was it succulent. It had also been flavored with a hint of, if he wasn’t mistaken, Zabini merlot. Chocolate and wine were two of his favorite things and the combination almost made his eyes roll back into his head at the first taste.

Glancing next to him at Hermione and Draco’s reactions was a mistake. They were obviously of the same opinion and it showed on their faces. Hermione’s eyes were closed and the corners of her mouth were turned up in a sumptuous smile. If he tried hard enough he could almost hear the purr she was suppressing.

It was Draco’s expression that really had his incubi blood singing. He and the blonde had been lovers for so long that Blaise knew all of the expressions and what provoked them. The one he was currently wearing had previously only been brought about when Blaise worked that spot behind his left ear. It left Blaise wondering what could make Hermione wear that expression for him.

I had been hard enough to focus on engaging in conversation while being in this proximity to the two. Now he could feel the control slipping from his grasp. The water he drank seemed to evaporate in his mouth. Under the table he slipped his wand from his pocket and cast a charm over everyone so they didn’t notice him slip from the room. The only ones not affected by it were Draco and Hermione. Both watched his departure with a mix of concern and admiration for the view.

“Excuse me love.” He followed Blaise out of the room. Hermione was worried but also relieved. She hadn’t been able to breathe all night. She keenly felt it every time she bumped hands with one of them or they had touched her to emphasize their point of view on something. Considering the opinionated nature of all three this had happened a lot. She had had the slight feeling of drowning in their presence since they had sought her out earlier. Taking the deep calming breaths she had been needing, she focused on her mousse and on not thinking about the two empty seats next to her who still seemed to carry the presence of their occupants.

Blaise was leaning over the marbled sink splashing himself with cool water when Draco found him. Neither said anything. They didn’t need to. It was obvious what was wrong with Blaise. At least it was obvious to Draco. The blonde leaned against the wall waiting for the darker boy to calm down.

“Scopata.” Fuck

“As I recall you were the one who shot down that plan in favor of a proper seduction. One that takes time.” Draco remained casual leaving his amusement out of it.

“Perchè ascoltate me.”Why do you listen to me? Draco’s mouth quirked at Blaise’s use of Italian in place of English. It was something he only did when he was exceptionally angry… or exceptionally turned on. Most of the time he didn’t even know he did it.

“Non conosco il mio amico.”I don’t know my friend. Draco had learned Italian long ago just by being at the Zabini villa so much. Blaise managed a laugh. He often asked Draco why the blonde listened to him. He always answered that he didn’t know why. In truth Blaise’s plans were usually more ethical and took longer but he often voiced that life would be easier if he followed Draco’s more direct methods.

The moment distracted him enough for him to get his control back. He still wanted to snog the smirking Slytherin into the wall but could at least resist the impulse. He straitened, cast a drying spell on his face, and started towards the door. Pausing he glanced at Draco. The blonde was still smirking about his temporary language amnesia. A heartbeat later the smirk was being snogged off of his face by cause of it. The kiss was all fire. As suddenly as it started it was over and Blaise was out the door leaving a disheveled Draco to pull himself together while cursing his best friend.

Hermione was so deeply lost in her musings that she didn’t notice him re-enter the room until he slid back into his seat. She jumped and almost knocked over her wine glass in her surprise. Blaise’s fingers wrapped around hers on the stem of the glass to help her steady it. Neither retracted their hands until long after the appropriate time table both caught up in the feeling of the other’s hand beside theirs. A slight breeze was felt as Draco swept back into his chair with slightly more force than was really necessary. It had the desired effect though as both Hermione and Blaise withdrew their hands from the glass and from each other.

Dinner had passed with laughter all around. Everyone thought the food was superb as was the conversation. The guests lingered at the table until the call of wine, tea, and firewiskey became too much and everyone went back into the lounge. Still having Blaise and Draco attached to her sides Hermione headed for the balcony for some air. With a flick of Draco’s wand glasses of wine flew into each of their hands.

In contrast to the warmth inside the balcony was cool with a slight breeze. Draco, already having been beaten once, was quick to shrug his jacket off and drape it lightly across Hermione’s shoulders throwing a smug smirk at Blaise as he did so. Ever the Slytherin the blonde also took the opportunity to cast a spell over the room they had just exited to discourage those inside to follow them out. Before he put his wand away he also whispered ‘Obscurus’ thus ensuring that those inside could not watch them through the glass French doors. He turned his attention back to the two now having an animated discussion on the merits of Italian wine vs. French wine.

“Give up love, this is an argument you’ll never win.” Draco studied the now exasperated brunette. He rather liked seeing her in his coat. It made him think of her in just the coat… or in just his shirt with her hair wild after a night with him and Blaise…

Sensing the shift in Draco Blaise tried to cover for him. “Draco’s right Hermione. Wine is meant to come from Italy.” Only a lifetime of dominating over his emotions and a few years’ practice of reining in his incubi kept Draco in control. Even still he didn’t manage to completely contain his pheromones. He realized this as he heard Hermione’s heart quicken and felt he skin heat even from his proximity of a few feet. Blaise was closer and Draco could see the muscle in his jaw tense as he fought his own incubi. Some of his pheromones were escaping and mixing with Draco’s.

For Hermione the mixture was lethal. A shaky hand reached for the balcony in an effort to keep herself on her feet. The inky night was broken only by the diamond shine of billions of starts over the valley.

Her head was swimming and she was incredibly aware of the two men that were with her on the balcony. Alone. The proximity of the party was in no way deterring her sudden desperate desire for them. Electricity shot through her as she felt a hand on her arm. She whipped around. Behind her the cool stone of the balcony pressed into her. She was more likely to go through it than to go through the two men who now stood side by side in front of her. The hand had retreated back to its owner.

“Come here Hermione.” Each of the incubi reached out a hand to her. Unable to look away from them she somehow found the strength to let go of the balcony and take a step towards them…

Incubi 1/? NC-17

2008-04-29T04:10:11Z

Disclaimer: Two words: I WISH

Rating: NC-17

Pairing: Draco/Hermione/Blaise F/M/M (I told you now...)

Summary: When Draco and Blaise are younger they accidently absorb Incubi blood. When the two set their sights on Hermione Granger what will happen? How will she react? Why are they so drawn to her?

Comments much appreciated!

&&&

Seven years ago…

At 10 years old Blaise and Draco were already proving why they were going to be in the top three of their Hogwarts class, which is why they were allowed down into Signor Zabini’s potions workroom. It was a first. Blaise’s father was a Potion’s master and while a great deal of his wealth was inherited, it also came from the creation of new potions. The older Zabini had gone upstairs for a moment to answer an urgent call from the Potion Regulation department at the Italian Ministry. He would only be gone a minute but had told the boys to watch the potion for him to make sure it didn’t boil over.

This one was deep red color that emitted a faintly wine like smell. The Signor hadn’t explained what the potion was, and skillfully dodged any of the questions they asked about effects or uses. They only knew that it was going to make a lot of money. The lack of explanation had the boys curious. They went through the ingredients looking for something dangerous or cool.

Draco had been the one to pick up the vial. The other boy was looking at the last of the ingredients and failed to find anything interesting. “Whoa… Blaise… This is incubus blood!”

“You don’t even know what an incubus is Draco.”

“So, it’s still blood.” Blaise grabbed the vial out of Draco’s hand and held it up to the light. The blood was warm in the vial and under the light it looked darker than any other blood he had ever seen his father buy. That explained the color of the potion. Carefully he set the vial back onto the table but it slipped and fell to the floor with a tinkle of breaking glass. The boys looked at each other with wide eyes. Hurriedly they bent down to try to clean it up, acquiring cuts on their hands as they worked.

Incubus blood is tricky. Given the opportunity, like the one the boys presented, it will absorb into you much faster than any other know liquid . By the time the boys had picked up all the pieces of the vial, the blood had been absorbed into their cuts, but they were too worried about Signor Zabini to notice. A few drops were all the Potions Master had put into the potion. As a single drop of incubus blood carries magical properties. The vial had contained a lot more than one drop.

The Signor was too distracted by what had happened upstairs to notice the missing ingredient. He simply put the cauldron and its contents to simmer for a few days and banished the ingredients back into his storage room with a flick of his wand. Motioning for the boys to follow him, he led the way upstairs.

***

Draco and Blaise had been prepared for puberty. That wasn’t anything weird. They weathered those changes: the hair, the voice changing, the sudden growth spurts. Then there were the weird changes. There were days that they couldn’t seem to cool off, or they thought they saw something glowing around someone. Both Draco and Blaise dismissed them as… well… anything they could think of at the time. The change that was harder to ignore was emotional.

There were days when being surrounded the students was unbearable. They had no idea why, just that the tension was so tight that they couldn’t breathe. Embarrassingly, they also had to start casting impediment charms on themselves due to almost round the clock erections.

Then they began to be hot all the time and to see the glowing around everyone, and it didn’t go away. Finally, they broke down and went to the library. Every book that had a reference to an incubus was brought out. The blood was the only logical explanation. Otherwise they were two healthy boys. The blood was also the only thing they had in common.

It only took them minutes to realize what had happened. It made them feel better that they weren’t the only ones who had ever been infected by incubi blood. Even if there were only four other reported cases. The only problem was that three of them had been infected with too much of it and had died, all in search of the secret to incubi irresistibility. The fourth had only been very slightly infected and the results were minimal. The only effect was partial empathy.

The two sat in silence for what could have been hours. Only the giggling of curious First Years disturbed them. Finally they looked at each other. Standing in synchronization they walked right out of the library, down the steps, and right to Snape’s office door. They studied the heavy wood both contemplating what they needed to say. They didn’t have much time. The door swung open.

“Malfoy. Zabini. What do you want?” When he took a closer look at them he realized it was something major. The two had brought pride to Slytherine for three years and it was well known that he favored them. He ushered the contrasting pair in and to seats in front of his desk.

They didn’t’ speak for a long time. Then Draco said ‘We’re incubi.” Snape’s persona of detachment and aloofness that he perpetually carried stayed for a minute as his brain processed what he had said. Then his mouth fell open. He had known that something strange was going on with the two of them, but this wasn’t even a fleeting thought. For any other student he would have considered this a prank. However this was Draco and Blaise. The polar opposite best friends may have played pranks on Potter and his gang but not on professors. This and the changes he had seen in the boys over the past few months pushed him to believe them. The only question was ‘How?”

Snape leaned back in his chair and crossed his fingers. Blaise was looking strait ahead, his brown gaze focused on something unseen to anyone else. Draco was looking to him. “Incubi can’t have children and I assure you that both of your sets of parents are biological.”

“It was an accident. I dropped the vial… the blood spilled, we cut ourselves…” Blaise, always either emotional or stoic was strangely distanced. Snape looked to Draco who just nodded.

Severus thought quickly. He had heard of rare occurrences like this, most of them didn’t end well. It all depended on how much they had absorbed. If the last year or so was any indication it would seem that any effects from the blood were taking their cues from the boys’ puberties. “When?”

“Three years ago.” The quiet admission came from the blonde.

“Makes sense that it would happen now, as your coming into your sexual maturities…” Snape was muttering to himself. “How much do you know about incubi?”

“Enough to be sure. I… I don’t think we’re full incubi but we’ve got most of their traits while maintaining our human ones. We’ve got the higher body temperature, we see auras, we can feel others’ sexual tension, and we’re almost… what do the muggles call it… nymphomaniacs?” The Potions Master was scribbling notes on a piece of parchment as the blonde boy spoke. His mouth twitched at the last comment in uncharacteristic humor.

“Why are you being so calm? Doesn’t this freak you out a bit?” Blaise’s voice was so quiet that the scratching of the quill almost drown it out.

Severus put his quill down slowly. He looked at Blaise for a few minutes then at Draco, the back to Blaise. He couldn’t imagine what they were feeling, to learn that they were something other than normal, and incubi at that. One mistake. They would have to deal with it for the rest of their lives.

A wave of his wand had a book flying through the air to land on the desk in front of him. The outside title proclaimed it to be: Gideon’s Guide to Not-So-Mythical-Creatures. He flipped through it until he found what he was looking for.

Incubi (Sex Demon)

Incubi are sexual creatures that feed off of the sexual energy of humans. While most incubi are male, they can be female, but female incubi are called ‘Succubi’.

Incubi are unnatural beautiful, a trait that aids them in seducing women (most incubi are bisexual and will not turn down the opportunity if a man were to be prime prey) for food. Not much is known about how ‘food’ is obtained through sexual energy as Incubi are reluctant to reveal themselves. They also have high body temperatures and are warm to the touch. When aroused this body temperature increases and the incubus becomes almost scorching.

Incubi are well known for their ability to feel other being’s sexual arousal, as well as ‘read’ their aura, both of which allow for easier choices in sources of energy. These abilities can also be detrimental to the social lives of Incubi as large concentrations of sexual tension can cause harm to or even kill them. Along with this Incubi emit a constant, almost pheromone-type signal which hinders their ability to go out in public as its purpose, to lure prey, works almost too well.

Incubus blood is found in many desire and impotence potions in trace amounts, but large amounts and the direct blood are not used. Unlike most other bloods Incubi blood maintains it’s magical qualities in minute doses. This is a curiosity based on the fact that Blood is obtained through their volunteering it, which makes it an extremely scarce commodity. Most Potions Masters will either forego the use of it in favor of more available sources, or will establish contact with an incubus as a source for it. Many muggles back in the 1500-1600’s claimed to be impregnated by incubi but was controversial as many incubi claim to be sterile.

As far as we know no one has ever been hurt by an incubus. Both the act itself and the taking of the energy cause no adverse effects other than extreme drowsiness.

Being the way they were had its drawback’s. Part of their allure came from the blatant sexuality they exuded. Unfortunately part of the reason they exuded it was because they always needed it. That kind of raw need wasn’t good to carry around with you, and as they found out it was detrimental to leading normal lives. So, around halfway through Third year they turned to a source of release that seemed endless. Each other.

One night, on their way back to the dorm, they had been as close to calm as they came when they passed by a classroom. Obviously the occupants had been busy as they got hit with the biggest dose of sexual energy they had ever felt. It was lucky that Snape had managed to wrangle them a separate room, the rumor mill had decided that their families had arranged it and paid the school generously for the privilege, going through a common room might have resulted in an attack. They had sprinted the entire way back. Once the door was safely sealed behind them they had paced back and forth.

“Blaise, I…” The black haired boy just nodded. The clothes they had worn that night would be later found un-wearable. There was nothing slow, nothing romantic, some might not even have called that first encounter human. Mouths, hands, limbs, and cocks were tangled for hours. It was literally hours. It was the culmination of months of the tension felt from every student and staff member of Hogwarts, all of their own tension, and basically the release of everything they felt about being incubi. That required time.

After that it became a way to release when it all got to be too much. Neither would classify it as love. They both slept with other people, there wasn’t even any jealousy about it. This caught the overflow, what normal humans couldn’t keep up with. They simply had too many needs, and surprisingly, it wasn’t awkward at all. It simply became another part of being incubi. It was also a way to keep suspicion about themselves down. There was ‘teenage horny’ and then there was ‘something’s wrong with them’ levels of activity. This kept that level at ‘teenage very horny’.

It wasn’t hard to understand the attraction. Long, black, slightly curly hair fell over sculpted features and reminded everyone of the statues that his ancestors carved back in the golden days of the muggle Roman Empire. Every girl taking muggle studies who paid attention during the lectures over the ancient civilization imagined him in a toga posing just for them. The white cloth would offset the tan skin and dark, burning eyes. He would have made a great statue, worthy even of the gods. It didn’t hurt that while he didn’t play quidditch he did do exercise enough to have the body of one.

Her attraction to the other man wasn’t a stretch either. Girls, boys, and Professors alike dreamed of just one night with him. Rumors periodically went around school that some of the most affluent of wizarding society had offered him wealth beyond measure for his company. It was something in the way he was. Pale skin and even paler hair combined with a smile that had brought many almost to their knees wasn’t enough. Neither was the body that he did get from quidditch, long, lean, and powerful. No, there was something else too, a kind of oozing sinfulness.

Yes, Blaise Zabini and Draco Malfoy were deliciously opposite. Blaise invited imaginings of being worshipped for hours on end, being torturously kept on slow burn for as long he pleased. Draco on the other hand was more the type to have you screaming within seconds and not stop until you couldn’t walk, or talk, for a week. Both were equally alluring. Together, well… Hermione didn’t stand a chance in hell of resisting them if they didn’t want her to, especially when she found out just why they were so irresistible.

For them it started on Platform 9¾ at the beginning of seventh year. A group of the Slytherin seventh years were talking quietly about the coming year. Blaise was the first to see her. She had just popped through the entrance tugging her luggage behind her. Having never seen her in anything but her uniform, the casual muggle jeans and baby doll t-shirt were a bit of a shock. She even had her hair down. The abundant curls reached almost half way down her back. The term ‘bushy’ never even entered his mind.

Draco, noticing Blaise’s distraction, followed his gaze. A pretty girl was standing near the entrance to the platform. He should… whoa, it was Hermione. It was Hermione in an outfit that while not provocative, but was a major step up from the Hogwarts uniform. Appreciation for how she looked flooded through him. The wheels in his head began to turn. He had never considered the female member of the trio to be anything but the person keeping Potter and Weasley from themselves. Now, well, the summer had obviously been good to her. A touch on his arm brought him back into the conversation. Hermione wasn’t forgotten, just tucked into the back of his mind.

Blaise’s mind wasn’t too far behind. After the initial surprise wore off he too began to think. He had always wondered why Hermione had chosen to be friends with the Hero and the Red One. It never made any sense. She had the family, the means, and the intelligence to match even himself and Draco. With the recent realization that she was gorgeous, that confusion was just increased. It was true that he and Draco never lacked for companionship but Blaise found himself immensely drawn to a person he hadn’t looked at twice. Something about ‘late bloomers’ drifted through his mind before he shrugged and rejoined the talk now centered on the coming quidditch season.

Later the boys were heading back to the compartment after visiting Snape when Hermione came towards them in a rush. Her hair was still down and falling around her face as she tried to get the last buttons on her shirt buttoned as she muttered to herself. She managed before she reached them and with a quick wave of her wand the tie was tied around her neck. She fastened her robe and then with another wave sent her hair up on top of her head. Apparently satisfied she smiled to herself and ducked into a nearby compartment. A subtle glance through the window while passing by told them that it was the Head meeting.

Though neither showed any outward signs both were caught up in the unwitting show she had just put on. It was easy to imagine her trying to right herself and look presentable at the Head meeting because she had just come from a secret tryst. Those thoughts kept them occupied and mostly unaware of the stares that followed them down the hallway as students pressed against the windows of their compartments to watch them walk away.

Once they settled into their compartment, drawn the shade on the door to deter prying eyes, and cast silencing charms for the eavesdroppers, they got down to the real situation. “Any ideas?” Avoiding issues was one of the things that the two didn’t do. Avoiding got you no where so why bother. Besides, they knew when the other one was upset anyway from reading the others’ aura. They wanted Hermione. Now how to get her?

This situation wasn’t uncommon. They had shared witches before. Not inside of Hogwarts, but there were more than a few over the past three years at summer houses and at societal dinners. Sharing wasn’t the issue at all. Hermione was. They weren’t stupid. Hermione wasn’t the top of the class and Head Girl because she lied down and took things. She was one of the most determined, stubborn, and ambitious people either had ever met. She wasn’t a girl to just fall to the floor in front of them when they smiled at her. It was extremely unfortunate at the moment. It would have made things easier.

“None that deal with actually getting her into our bed,,,, but plenty for after that point.” Draco stretched out along the compartment bench, putting his hands behind his head, and contemplating those ideas.

“I think the first thing we need to do is get her to not hate you.” The raven-haired boy said.

“She doesn’t hate me. She just doesn’t like me because I don’t get along with The-Boy-Who-Wanked and Weasel. I’ve never done anything to her.”

“Maybe you should tone down the fights with them.”

“They start it. I can’t help it if I’m getting shagged on a regular basis and they’re jealous.”

“We probably want to start talking to her too. Long exposure to us will help break down her defenses, and it’ll get her used to us.”

“We’re not bloody marrying her! I say we seduce her like the sexy incubi we are and deal with the consequences later. She’s stubborn but she’s still human. It won’t take long.”

“Draco…”

“Fine, I’ll stop helping them start fights with me.” Blaise raised an eyebrow. Draco gave an exasperated sigh. “And I won’t use my incubus wiles on her yet. But if I’m waiting, you’re going to damn well help me wait.”

Blaise smirked and sauntered over to his best friend. “What, Book Worm make you hot?”

“Fuck you Zabini.” Onee one pale hand grabbed the back of a dark head and the trip to Hogwarts had never been faster.

For her it had started, appropriately, in the library. Seeing Hermione spread out at a table, stacks of books by topic all over the place, and piles of notes on top of those was a normal occurrence. True, as head girl she had an entire room set aside for her and Harry to study in, but with quidditch season approaching Harry had turned it into a war room full of charts, tactics, and late-night team meetings.

Besides this had been her study table for six years. She wasn’t about to abandon it. Absorbed in the effects of the Luminancy Potion on vampires she didn’t notice him until he already pulled out a seat and sat. She jumped, scratching her hand with her quill in the process. The ink repelling charm she had put on her hands earlier was still working, but already blood was welling up from the cut.

Taking her hand gently, he inspected the damage. With a wave of his wand and a few muttered words the cut disappeared. He brushed his lips over the place where it had been. Their imprint while invisible was also indelible, her skin almost burned from where his lips had just been.

When she found her voice again she managed “Blaise.”

“Hermione.” It came out like honey; she almost felt it against her skin. He accompanied it with a slow smile. She cursed herself as her body reacted as if she were a silly first year, just like he knew it would. It was a smooth move. He had charm, looks, and money to spare. Her mother would have drooled over him, and probably printed wedding invitations had she known they were speaking at all. It was exactly the kind of man she wanted to avoid. At least… that’s what her head said. The rest of her body wasn’t agreeing with that decision.

“Did you need something?” Her voice was cool and cautious. He couldn’t blame her. They had never interacted with each other outside of the occasional class together. Other than that they only saw each other across the invisible divide that separated Harry’s camp from Draco’s during arguments. More often now, especially since the start of this school year, there had been less of them due to Draco having stopped most of his share of the instigating.

He let his gaze travel over neatly pinned hair and the uniform that she never seemed to take off, and he had been paying attention since school started. He found himself fighting the urge to rumple her up like he had seen her on the train, or even just a little more relaxed like on the platform. Not that the prim and proper look wasn’t giving him ideas as well. “I just saw you, wanted to say hello.”

“Blaise, you don’t ‘just say hello’, at least as far as I know.”

“I do when the mood strikes me.” She had a feeling that he applied that to almost everything he did. From all accounts he embodied the ‘passionate Italian’, leading with his heart more than his mind. It was far too easy for her to picture him when a ‘mood struck’ and just how impossible it would be for most women to deny him, or anyone, of either gender, for that matter. His eyes would darken and..

She pushed her dirty thoughts out of her mind firmly. She prided herself on being what seemed like the only girl in the castle that wouldn’t rip her clothes off in the middle of dinner for him or Draco if they looked at her twice. She was intensely glad that they didn’t offer Legilimency at Hogwarts. Unfortunately for her, being who he was, Blaise picked up on the sexual feelings. He might not be able to actually read her thoughts but he sure as hell knew what the general gist of them was. Her aura had changed from the cool blue of concentration to a fiery red that could rival his and Draco’s. Yet on the outside she was just the same studious Hermione. The contrast was making his blood boil as fire raced though his veins.

Draco always did have amazing timing. He proved himself once again by coming around the corner of the bookshelf. It took all of his limited control after taking in the scene not to just drag them back to the room he and Blaise shared and screw patience by screwing them. It didn’t help that Blaise looked like he was about to pounce over the table at Hermione anyway. Talking himself out of that he sauntered over to them, both of their attentions were focused on him. He took the chair next to Blaise and focused his gaze onto the witch opposite him.

“Hermione.” Much like Blaise he managed to scatter her wits just by saying her name. Not that she was going to let him know that.

“Draco.” If possible, faced with both of them her voice was even cooler. It was stunning when compared with how much her aura was screaming the exact opposite. Neither Blaise nor Draco could figure out how she could ignore the inferno sure to be cooking inside of her, she was outwardly cool and calm but every wave she gave off was undermining that impression.

Hermione was beginning to get extremely nervous. Blaise Zabini talking to her was shocking enough. He was after all best friends with her best friends’ sworn enemy, but to have that sworn enemy come join in was just unnerving. She was on edge waiting for the attack, or at least a snide comment.

Draco was just stunned that she had used his first name. It rolled off of her tongue like she had been calling him by it forever. He found that he liked it. The blonde knew that he had to be careful. She was clearly suspicious of them.

“So, did you just come over to say hello too?” Blaise’s lips twitched in amusement. Her tongue had always been sharp. It only took Draco a moment to catch up to the comment.

“Yes, but I thought I would get creative and throw a ‘How are you?’ in there too.” One thing she could credit them with was being able to keep up with her. For them it was vice-versa. God help her Draco was smirking, and Blaise was smiling. The metaphorical firm ground beneath her feet was crumbling.

“Why do you care?” She shot.

“Call me curious.”

“I’m fine.” Draco and Blaise had a hard time not cringing. ‘I’m fine’ was a man’s worst nightmare. Blaise was more than content to sit back and let Draco handle this one.

“How are the preparations for your parents’ dinner party coming?” He and Blaise had thought about and talked about little else since both receiving owls from their respective mother’s about it. It had been made clear that both were expected to attend. Not that they were complaining. It was time with Hermione away from school and her friends. Time that was going to be spent wholly in her company as they were the only three young people on the guest list.

“Good. Everything is ready. The only thing left to do is wait. Although mother keeps owling about the color of the table cloths, mostly because I won’t let her change the menu again.” Blaise and Draco laughed. They too had been through the planning by their parents of a major social event, and felt the exact same way about it. “I take it you two will be in attendance?”

“As long as our invitations still stand.” That smooth line was delivered by Blaise. They started talking about the various guests who would be there next Saturday and how ridiculous some of the events they had been to had been.

The three stayed that way all afternoon. The essay was forgotten in favor of talking with the boys. There were pauses in the conversation but they were never awkward. Instead they were comfortable until one of them mused about something starting them off again. When it came time for dinner all three were astonished. They had been there for almost four hours. Blaise and Draco put some of the books away while Hermione packed up.

Just before exiting the library they stopped. None of them were particularly keen to go back to how it was before. While the boys had been looking forward to this shift in their relationship with her, Hermione had been railroaded by it.

“So I guess I’ll be seeing you on Saturday.”

“Yes, you will.” Blaise’s voice left no room for questioning, and it hinted at something… more intimate. He leaned down and placed a soft lingering kiss on her cheek. The nearness and the feel of his lips on her skin was doing major damage to her ability to stand. When Draco mimicked Blaise on the other side she thought she might collapse. Both men had infused the kisses with a little bit of incubi pheromones. It insured that she would think about them long after they were gone. Blaise opened the door and swept his arm to usher her out.

“Good night Hermione.” With that and the swish of their robes they were gone and headed back to their rooms in the dungeon. When she had regained her sense of balance she headed down the stairs to dinner. Whether she would admit it or not she had loved talking to them. They were interesting and smart, and far better conversationalists than most of the people at Hogwarts. They were also troubling. Why had they come talked to her? She had let down her guard this afternoon and had fun with them. What if they were using her? She tried not to think about it. She told herself that it had just been an interesting conversation with two peers. Nothing more. Even if she couldn’t stop remembering how yummy they had looked sitting across from her, or the way her cheeks still burned where their lips had touched, or how quickly and forcefully her body had responded to a kiss on the cheek.