Chapter 9

When Hermione awoke next, it was midmorning. She'd dozed off for a few hours, her body requiring time to recuperate, but now her mind needed time to adapt as well.

She didn't regret the passion she'd shared with Remus, not at all. She'd never seen that side of him, that animal half that had taken over. He had been everything she didn't know she wanted in a lover, and Hermione could say beyond a shadow of a doubt he was the best lover she'd ever had.

When he'd bitten her, Hermione had been terrified. It had hurt, certainly, but it was more than that. She wasn't pleased that he had done something like that without warning her first; not that she would have been agreeable if he had. But it all felt so permanent. Here she was, only weeks out of a long-term relationship, basically engaged to another man. But she didn't know if Remus did want to actually marry her, and she wasn't sure how she herself felt on the subject.

Remus was a good man. He was one of the few men who she could count on for anything, who would never let her down. He always put other people before himself, and he cared about the wellbeing of his friends. Hermione would be lucky to call a man like that her own.

But he was a werewolf. This was not something Hermione had ever had a problem with when they were only friends. But she'd also never seen him act like a wolf on any day other than the full moon. But now, she'd heard him snarl, growl, howl... he was more an animal than she'd known. And it scared her a little. She doubted his compassionate nature was a facade, but then what was it about her that brought out his feral side?

Her brain was working so hard she was afraid it could be heard outside her head. Maybe the best way to handle this would be to just see how it went. Remus was sexy, funny, sweet, charming, brilliant, an amazing wizard... he would be a good match for her. And she believed she could be good for him as well. They would balance one another, and Hermione needed an equal after so many years with Ron; they had both acted like she was his superior, but she needed more than that now.

It was always easier to sleep when a decision had been made. Hermione snuggled up to Remus, cradling her head in the crook of his shoulder and draping an arm and leg over his resting body. Remus shifted slightly in his sleep, a small smile on his lips. He turned his head toward her and inhaled deeply. She kissed him lightly on the neck and promptly fell back asleep.

*

After Hermione cuddled into him, Remus had remained awake. Her sweet kiss on his neck had awoken him...in more ways than one...and now he was simply holding her lightly in his arms, marvelling over the peace and gratitude he felt.

Any other woman would have been terrified by his animalistic actions. For Merlin's sake, he had bitten her! What woman would put up with that? She'd seen him at his worst and still accepted him. He sighed in contentment. Maybe it's finally my turn to be happy. Remus decided there and then he would deserve her trust and acceptance.

Smiling into her wild hair, Remus ran his hands over her silken body. He'd never felt anything like her skin. It was unadulterated temptation. She murmured in her sleep and pressed her body closer to his. Remus' eyes rolled back a little when her thigh slipped between his legs and gently nudged his erection.

His resolve was no match for her naked body.

Remus gently pushed Hermione onto her back, and she tossed her arms above her head, her face falling to one side. Her breasts were high and pert, her nipples firm from being exposed to the air. Remus propped himself up on one elbow beside her. At first he only looked, but before long he had to touch.

He smoothed his hand over her flat belly, up her sides and back down over her rounded hips. The sheet maintained her modesty, but only just. He let it be for now. Turning his attention to her breasts, Remus questioned the intelligence of molesting his new mate in her sleep. But she'd been so amenable to his passion for her the night before, so he decided she would enjoy the wake-up he had in mind.

Wetting his fingertips with his tongue, Remus grazed her tight nipples. He blew on them gently, watching her squirm slightly without waking. Growing bolder, he leaned down and took one into his mouth, flicking it lightly with his tongue and rolling it gently with his lips. When this garnered no response, he gave the opposite nipple a sharp nip before soothing it with soft kisses. All the while his hand was drawing intricate circles over her belly, moving lower and lower until his fingertips slipped just barely beneath the sheet. He could feel the slightest hint of her curls before he drew his hand back.

"Are you going to tease me all morning, or is your bite just as good as your bark?"

Remus smiled and covered her smirking lips with his own, prying her lips open to plunder. She returned the kiss with abandon, apparently quite affected by his ministrations. He leaned the length of his body into hers and her thighs parted. He slipped one leg between hers, trapping her in the sheet. He reached a hand down beneath the sheet and unceremoniously plunged a finger into her waiting wetness. She gasped into his mouth and he smiled, gently thrusting into her body. Her hips met his movements as she accepted the brutality of his mouth.

He couldn't stop his hips from rutting lightly against her thigh, and she lowered a hand to his desperate cock. He gave an approving growl as her cool fingers tightened around his length and stroked him. When her thumb slipped over the head of his cock, spreading his pre-come, Remus finally broke the kiss. With her lips swollen and nearly bruised, her eyes darkened with lust and her hair like a halo on the pillow, she was the picture of a debauched angel. Mine.

Hermione kicked the sheet to the bottom of the bed. "Remus..." she whispered against his lips. She tried to push him onto his back but he froze, baring his teeth at her for a mortifying moment before regaining control of himself.

Her hand didn't stop in its sure movements on his cock, and she looked at his chest when she asked, "Remus, will you lay on your back? I want to ride you."

The wolf was immensely pleased, but Remus was horrified. He immediately did as she asked, and if her hand hadn't been continually moving on him, he would have wilted from self-castigation. Hermione kissed him gently, showing him he was still in control despite his position.

"It's okay, Remus, I don't mind. I know it's a part of you, and I...I like all of you."

She didn't seem sure of the right thing to say, but there was a force behind her words that made him believe she was telling the truth. His eyes flickered over the bloody, bruised mark on her neck, and he nodded. She smiled brilliantly and he melted.

She quickly straddled his hips, leaning down to kiss him quickly while lining his straining erection up to her molten core. He grabbed the back of her head and made her hold the kiss. When she began to sink onto him, Remus thrust into her from below, holding himself deep within her as she adapted to the intrusion.

Hermione gasped, her eyes moving heavenward and her mouth falling open. He watched ecstasy flit across her face and knew, yet again, she was the perfect match for him. Tonks had never let him take control like this during sex... and that would be the last time he ever thought that name while balls deep in Hermione.

She began to move over his cock, rotating her hips expertly while kissing and sucking on his neck. He knew what she was doing, could feel his blood rising to the surface to bruise, but he allowed her to mark him. The wolf didn't like being claimed by a submissive, but Remus loved it. His hips met her thrusts halfway, and Hermione straightened up to admire her handiwork. Grinning like a Cheshire cat, she met his smiling eyes. Her grin faltered slightly, but grew wider when she saw he didn't mind. Her eyes had darkened to a rich chocolate, and Remus knew he wanted to keep them that colour as often as possible.

Now riding him with purpose, Hermione leaned back and braced herself on his thighs. Instead of thrusting, she moved in deliberate circles on his cock. His hand centred on her clit and rubbed her with singular intent. He was rewarded with gentle keening noises as she began to ride him harder and faster. One of her hands trailed from his thigh to his balls, the position thrusting her breasts out deliciously. When her nails trailed over his sensitive sac, Remus groaned and thrust even deeper into her velvet sheath.

They came together with matching cries; Hermione's clenching drawing every drop from his throbbing cock. She fell forward onto his chest as she panted, her body damp from exertion. Remus wrapped her tightly in his grasp, not minding the sweat in the least.

"Remus... you are an untapped resource," Hermione moaned, licking the love bite she'd left on him.

"Oh, I don't know. I think you're trying your damnedest."

*

The next day, Remus admitted he had not taken the Wolfsbane that month. He wouldn't tell Hermione why, but she suspected it was because of the way Tonks had left. She didn't know the details behind the break-up, and she wouldn't push him to find out more.

They were sitting at the kitchen table enjoying their afternoon tea, chatting like nothing had changed between them. Both had to work that evening, Hermione at the Ministry and Remus at the wizarding bookstore where he was needed for inventory that week. They would have to leave in about an hour and wanted to enjoy the peace together.

Of course, all that was bound to be disturbed by the knock on the front door. Remus went to answer it while Hermione bolted upstairs to get dressed. She'd been wearing only an oxford shirt that she'd stolen from Remus. He, on the other hand, had no qualms about opening the front door in nothing but black slacks. He at least buttoned the top clasp...he was no cretin, after all.

Swinging the door wide open, Remus looked past Harry and Ginny and directly at Ron. A growl escaped his lips and Ron immediately paled, stepping down a couple steps on the stoop. Remus was only somewhat mollified by his retreat and stared hard at him.

"I thought I said you were no longer welcome here," he snarled. Harry stepped forward to placate Remus, but when the snarl was turned on him, he stopped and raised his hands in surrender.

"I...I'm sorry, Mr. Lupin. We only wanted to make sure Hermione was all right after what Tonks did. I'll wait out here," Ron stuttered.

Remus shook his head. "No, you will not. Get off this stoop and go home. I don't want to smell your presence for another second."

Harry protested, "Remus, this is still my house. Ron should at least be able to wait outside."

Remus turned to him. He loved Harry, but the boy was threatening his dominance. In his house, his word was final. "Harry, if you want him to stay, I will be leaving and Hermione will be coming with me."

Harry's mouth dropped. Ron unwisely questioned, "Why would Hermione go anywhere with you?"

Ginny tried to wave Ron back, but Remus was on him in an instant. One step above Ron, he grabbed the youth's robes by the front and pulled him onto the tips of his toes. "Hermione is my mate. She goes where I go. You will no longer have anything to do with her, do you understand?" Remus' voice was gravelly and forceful. Ron nodded quickly, looking like he wanted to fight back but found himself unable.

"Good. Now leave! "

Hermione came to the door just in time to see Ron run down the road to the public Apparition point and disappear. She smiled a little confusedly at Harry and Ginny, hugging them in turn. Remus walked back into Grimmauld Place, and Hermione graciously asked her friends to come in.

Remus was sitting in the parlour in an armchair. His legs were spread and his arms were crossed against his chest somewhat petulantly. Hermione wasn't sure what had happened in the brief minutes during which she'd dressed, but she doubted it was good. Harry and Ginny looked shaken, and Remus looked murderous.

"Please, sit! I'll get the tea. Remus and I both have to work soon, but we have time for a quick visit. Right, Remus?" She gifted him with her gentlest smile, and he looked suitably reproached.

"Of course. It's good to see you, Harry, Ginny."

They responded in kind, but Hermione thought it sounded forced. She prepared the tea quickly, bringing the service into the parlous and setting it on the coffee table. Ginny offered to pour and Hermione went to pass Remus' chair to the loveseat beside it.

She didn't quite make it there because Remus reached out and pulled her into his lap. He wrapped both his arms around her waist and declined to loosen his grip.

Ginny gasped and Harry looked even more confounded.

She smiled patiently at her friends, while glancing behind her with a glare for Remus. Really, how childish. Staking his claim, again!

"Hermione..." Ginny began, looking from the perfectly attired, though bushy-haired, young administrative assistant to the dishevelled, half-naked werewolf.

"You heard what I told Ron. Hermione is my mate," Remus told them without preamble.

Hermione gaped. "What happened out there? You told them already?"

Remus shrugged. "I had to. Ron wouldn't leave." To him, it was as simple as that.

Harry finally rallied. "What do you mean, she's your mate? I thought Tonks was..." He trailed off when Remus' face darkened at the name.

"Tonks was my girlfriend. Now, she's not. Hermione's my mate. I claimed her." He went to pull at her collar to show them, but Hermione fended him off. That was not something she felt Harry was capable of digesting at that moment. She was still dealing with it herself.

She whispered to her lover, "That's private, Remus." He smiled wolfishly at her and she knew he approved. They were definitely going to have to talk about this excessive dominance. It was one thing in the bedroom (it was very, very welcomed there), but it was quite another for him to announce to the world he'd claimed her and act as though he owned her. This wasn't the Remus she knew from only a week ago. She squirmed a little in his lap, and his hands tightened on her hips. She stopped when she realised what he was warning her about...a growing hardness in his slacks. Heat flooded her despite the fact that she'd been thoroughly satisfied only hours ago. Something about this man set her aflame.

Hermione met Harry's disbelieving stare. "It's true, Harry. Remus and I are together. He was there for me when I needed someone, and it... evolved into something special."

Harry scoffed. "When did it have time to evolve? You can't be over Ron already! His bed probably still smells like you!"

Remus roared, "Harry, that's enough!" Harry started, and Remus lowered his voice immediately. His words were no less firm for their reasonable volume. "I won't tolerate talk like that against Hermione. She's been through enough and needs your support, not condemnation. I'm not going to hurt her, Harry. That's the last thing I would ever do."

"Harry, you of all people know Remus is a good, loving, and stable man. He is good for me. I know it's a lot to absorb, but I hope you can be happy for us." Hermione's voice was slightly chiding, and Harry's cheeks glowed from her admonition.

Ginny piped in, "I'm happy for you! I know my brother's a dolt. He tries, but you weren't right for each other. You and Remus seem like a good fit! And I bet he's bril in the sa..."

"Ginny!" Harry sounded exasperated and Hermione smiled, knowing he had to deal with her inappropriate comments on a regular basis.

"Well, it's true! Look at how he's holding her hips! Whew!" Her voice was a stage whisper. Remus chuckled against Hermione's back, and she felt her cheeks flame.

Deciding it was time for an intervention, Hermione announced they needed to get going. Harry and Ginny rose immediately, Harry looking relieved and Ginny looking decidedly envious as Hermione and Remus rose and he put his hands on her shoulders from behind.

"Remus, I'm sorry for being a jerk. I do think you make a good couple. I just need time to... adjust."

Remus nodded understandingly. "We didn't mean to make our relationship public so early, but I'm glad you know. I'm sorry about the thing with Ron, but he really can't come back here."

Harry agreed. "I know. I'll tell him. He won't like it, but..." Harry trailed off. Remus shrugged. He didn't care if Ron liked it or not. He had hurt Hermione and would never be forgiven.

The visiting couple let themselves out with a promise to come by again soon.

Hermione was still standing with Remus' hand on her shoulders. They slid down her arms and she felt a thrill run through her. His hands were coarse and scratched her skin lightly.

"Hermione..." His voice was low and close to her ear. Her eyelids fluttered closed, and she tilted her head back to rest on his chest. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have let myself lose control. And that show in the parlour... I understand if you..."

She turned in his arms. Despite his possessive attitude, she still wanted him desperately. They would work through this strange development together. "Remus, we'll talk about that later. Now, we have fifteen minutes before we have to leave for work. Why don't I..." She bit her lip and flicked open the button of his trousers. "...Relieve some tension?"

She backed him against the wall, kissing him fiercely and making a show of her own dominance. He didn't seem to mind, moaning as she unzipped his pants and let them fall to the ground. She smirked, raising an eyebrow at him when she saw he wore nothing beneath them. He shrugged one shoulder, and she dropped to her knees smoothly.

Wasting no time, as there was none to waste, Hermione took his half-hard cock deep into her mouth. He stiffened almost immediately, and she danced her tongue over his member, alternating between sucking and licking, never relenting. One hand stroked the section of his shaft that she could not fit in her mouth, and she brought the other to tease his balls and press into his perineum. He groaned at the assault and she bore on.

She finally felt his cock grow impossibly harder, and she flicked the mushroom head rapidly with her tongue. "Hermione..." he warned, but she didn't move. He shouted as he came, flooding her mouth. She swallowed as much as she could around his cock, but a trickle escaped the corner of her mouth. Once she'd emptied him, she swallowed and rose quickly to her feet and pressed her lips harshly against his, making him taste himself.

Remus growled and immediately spun her against the wall. He ravished her mouth, licking up the trail on her chin. Her head fell back against the wall. How could I ever have thought he was passionless?

But the Grandfather clock caught her attention just as Remus' hand cupped her sex. She regretfully pulled his hand away.

"I have to go to work, Remus," she mourned.

"Skip it," he demanded.

She sighed. She had to learn to resist this irresistible man sometime, and there was no better time than the present.

"I can't. I need the money. And when I get back tonight, we're talking about what happened with Ron, okay?" He might be the Alpha in their little pack, but she could boss with the best of them.

They left for work together five minutes later with only seconds to spare.