Iris Sanguinea, The Blood Iris

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Narcissa! She could've caught us... What is Lucius thinking? This is insanity! Astoria's heart was thumping hard in her chest, and she could only slump against the cool manor walls for several seconds, collecting her thoughts.

Shaken and confused more than ever by Lucius, Astoria slowly made her way to the nursery conservatory.

The late morning sunlight was weak and grey, faintly penetrating through the greenhouse section. Astoria threw herself into her work, attempting to immerse and distract herself fully from thinking about Lucius. Unsuccessfully.

As she attempted to methodically snip and tweak, catalogue and test purities with a clear mind, thoughts of what had just transpired on the stairway flitted to and fro, and she shuddered at the membrance of Lucius fiercely shaking her and threatening, You don't think you can be replaced? She teared up as she recalled his severe warning, You will lose everything!

It had been a while since she had witnessed Lucius and his unique menacing air, which he reserved especially for 'final warnings'. Throughout her life, she had seen him enact it on Draco, on various members of the inner family circle as well as the inner Death Eaters who had inevitably been intertwined in various gatherings, esoteric and otherwise.

But this was the first time she had so closely experienced it – herself the target. The promised underlying violent energy he could exude raked her nerves unbearably.

And then, there was the passion. The uncontrollable, volatile chemistry between them.

He wants to be in control of my pleasure? I don't want him to be in... I don't want him to... I don't... I... The simultaneous confusion and need he caused in her was overwhelming and frightening.

So she frantically plucked various leaf and petal samples, forcing herself to test each one's sap density and continue cataloguing them. After half an hour or so, finally lost in classifications, she was oblivious to the fact that Lucius had returned and entered the nursery.

Watching her absorbed figure, the elder Malfoy stealthily approached her workplace nook.

Suddenly, Astoria felt another presence. His presence. She turned and looked over, seeing her father-in-law. By his intense stare, she recognised that he was both miffed and aroused.

As Lucius walked stiffly and slowly towards her, a heaviness filled the air. He stopped a few feet away from his daughter-in-law, giving her a look up and down. "My meeting finished early." And I still have unfinished business here...

Appreciating her dressed still in a morning robe, Lucius then spied a plush settee in front of them near her work table.

Crossing and looking shrewdly around in the open space in front of her workplace, he commented in a lazy drawl, "Quite a renovation... A potions laboratory? Herbology greenhouse?" His heavy-lidded eyes slowly lingered on her. He referred to an object of interest near her. "A settee? A very interesting addition." He smiled coyly. "How convenient. How quaint. Like you, my dear."

"When I tire, I can take rest, or..." Her voice faltered as Lucius slowly approached even closer, now standing mere inches away from her. She started to move away. However, her L-shaped work table and shelved plants and bottled samples, enclosed snugly around and behind her, didn't allow for much distance. Avoiding his piercing, grey eyes, she only had an instinct to keep speaking to keep him at bay. "The annexation – it was for blending my two favourite disciplines: Potions and Herbology. They're very complementary of each other, very intertwined studies and properties..."

"Yes, I'm sure they are," drawled Lucius in a bored tone; his forced smile didn't reach his eyes. "I'm sure you were one of Snape's prize students..."

"He was a brilliant professor..."

"Snape was many things," cut off Lucius in a strained voice. "An accomplished wizard, and as a man, he was..." The blond wizard's voice trailed off.

With an unusual air of duplicity surrounding him, Lucius gazed slowly around at the myriad of plants filling the space. The deep purple of the nearest flower potted on a lower shelf of her immediate work table unexpectedly caught his eye.

"Lovely... so lovely," he murmurred and reached out, feather-lightly touching one petal.

Taken aback by his gentle gesture, hesitantly, Astoria offered, "An iris."

Blinking, as if remembering a long ago memory, he uttered, "A 'Blood Iris'. Iris sanguinea, precisely, yes?" Lucius snapped his head to her, catching her startled look at his knowledge. Lucius smirked. "Subgenera: Scorpiris..." Pleased her full lips had opened in surprise, he stepped closer, intent on touching her. Intent on embracing her.

"So contrary, and you accuse me of contrariness, my dear Astoria? Or is it that you enjoy being pursued by me? Hmmn?"

"I've never accused you of..."

"No, but you think it, don't you, my dear, in that lovely, scheming brain of yours..."

She opened her mouth to protest against his comment, but quickly shut it, knowing there was more than a grain of truth regarding her being capable of 'scheming'. Nonetheless, Astoria was irked by his reminding her of any commonality between them in that way.

Lucius reached out to touch her, and she flinched, unsure of what exactly he would do next. Unsure of herself.

With very light fingertips, Lucius caressed her cheek and spoke in a low voice, "My little Slytherin schemer doesn't want my touch? But you quite opened up to me in the Ministry yesterday, and just this morning... Your lovely sex, just like this beautiful iris' petals, a lovely deep purple, Astoria..."

He stepped closer to her, leaning forward to nuzzle in her hair and nip the soft flesh of her earlobe. "Have you decided to lose everything?" he asked softly. His contradictory gentleness in tone made his horrid implication, disguising his ultimatum, devastating.

"To lose everything?" gasped Astoria, horrified at his continued cruel implications. Was she willing to risk who-knew-what all to defy Lucius on any level? But how dare he imply that I would commit adultery with anyone besides... besides... Her thoughts faltered. She had committed adultery with her husband's father, so she was capable of scheming and possibly much more than she ever knew. The situation frightened her. She frightened herself. Lucius was quickly leading her down a path of licentiousness which she'd never known she was capable of.

But this is different... This is to save... Draco..., she desperately told herself. Who knew what Draco would do in the stillness of the night if Lucius revealed their indiscretion? If the Malfoy patriarch demanded that Astoria be 'replaced'? In a lone moment of darkness, in desperation, or branded humiliation, what would be the options?

For Draco, the means would never justify the end...Astoria knew this for certain about him. If he knew his father was fucking his wife, whether to conceive an heir for the larger scheme of things or not, either violence or death would prevail, leaving nothing and no one left unscarred. The possibilities were too devastating to consider.

In the midst of all these maddening possibilities, Astoria knew that she could not live without Draco; he was a part of her, and therefore, she could not live without things remaining 'as is'. And things could not remain 'as is' without Lucius' full cooperation and participation. Astoria trembled in resignation, knowing she was in far too deep with Lucius.

As Astoria realised that her deception had already plummeted her over the edge to a point of no return, she gave a pitiful cry. She had failed. She had failed Draco. Failed their marriage. Failed everything she had been striving for with their life together. Failed herself. And now, she was left dependent on Lucius' good will.

Lucius watched as she cracked in front of him. As the brutal threat and reality of him ready and capable of using all of his power against her sunk in and broke her down, piece by piece, realization by realization. His mind-fucking was working. His steel-grey eyes gleamed as the tears rolled down her face. I have her just where I want her...

As Astoria felt Lucius gently touch her, slowly gathering her in his arms, she began to weep in earnest. Whatever he wants... whatever Lucius wants... She made her final, irreversible decision, saying to herself like a mantra: I don't want anything to change... I don't want to lose Draco ever... I'll do whatever I must to keep things the same... Our lives must stay the same – even if it's a façade on the surface... everything must stay as is!

She gave a cry of defeat.

"Shhh... Shhh," her father-in-law hushed softly. "Astoria... Astoria... My delicate, exquisite flower."

Lucius smiled to himself. He had broken her. And now, he would remold her to fit him. To fit his needs. She will be mine utterly... She is mine...

First, to sire an heir.

So, he changed his strategy.

Unlike in her office at the Ministry, his rough and disconcerting forcefulness, Lucius gently cupped her face between his hands and began ever-so-gently kissing her salty, wet cheeks. His lips moved upwards, and as if she were a child, he kissed her forehead.

Astoria then felt the feather-light brushes of his kisses on each of her closed eyelids. Uncontrollably, she trembled as the pressure of his lips continued lower, more intensely, as he trailed back to her mouth. Lunging, he kissed her feverishly, opening her mouth, and his sharp tongue entered decisively, deep and needy.

Lucius heard her muffled moans and felt her energy shift from passively resisting to intensely focusing on him, on their mouths exploring each other. Then, it clicked. She reciprocated fully the pressure, the plunging, the need. Raw need. Hmm... now I have her... Now it begins...

But the Malfoy patriarch had still not decided how slowly or fast he would take her. From his viewpoint, he considered that he'd never forced himself on her in any way...he'd never needed to...she came to him first. She started it all... But, she needs to be reminded who is in charge now. Make the witch beg... Make her truly believe it is indeed her idea... So Lucius broke away from her mouth, allowing his lips to explore the silky flesh leading to her cleavage and full breasts. Persuade her – yes. Coax her – yes. Seduce her – I've already succeeded in ensnaring her... Her sweet blow job and other ministrations yesterday have proven that – now only to claim her, to mark her completely as mine, and then... She'll be a lovely vessel to service my needs...

A further thought of amusement occurred to him, remembering how she hadn't understood him clearly regarding being in charge of her sexual pleasure. Mmmn, she must be taught... His facial muscles tensed in shrewdness, and he reflected further, Yes, first, she must willingly give herself to me. She will submit to me; she will beg me to take her...

Smugly, he raised his head from a nipple he had just begun to suckle, and he observed her waiting and watching him with bated breath. He reached to her side, abruptly giving his attention to the flower again and touching it.

I'll just be claiming what's already been offered... Intensely aware of Astoria watching his every move, he savoured every shallow, panting breath she took, her dilated pupils beckoning him back. Lucius stroked the iris' petals, gently caressing them as he pointed out, "So lovely. The inflorescence is fan-shaped, six-lobed, unlike the human two-lobed petals..."

Her needy touch on his arm caused him to swoop back, and his lips caught hers again. A soft gasp escaped her lips as she felt his fingers slowly gathering her skirt up, the tell-tale signal of further irretraceable foreplay beginning.

Lucius paused, waiting for her to possibly protest, waiting for any remonstrations, verbally or physically. For this time, once he began, there would be no interruptions, no going back.

Receiving none, he continued to languidly touch her. Now, I can enjoy her at my leisure.

"The sepals are recurved." His fingers had found the soft, curvaceous flesh of her upper thighs and hips, and he gently made circular patterns to between her legs. Finding and strumming her outer labia folds, he whispered, "They droop downwards, outwards, preparing for and awaiting pollination."

Astoria felt one hand knead and cup the fullness of her buttocks while the tingling sensation of his other hand probed and strummed around her silky mound, finding and spreading her nethermost lips. She jerked and pushed against his chest, only to tremble uncontrollably as he inserted first one finger, then another.

"Mmnn... your tuft and stigmati lips are quite moist already, aren't they, Astoria?" His fingers massaged and explored her. He inhaled sharply as her soft, plump wetness gushed forth from her Venus mound's slickened slit. He rhythmically stroked, circularly pressed and fingered her; his member strained in his trousers, so hardened and aching.

By now Astoria was no longer pushing against him but clinging for dear life on his chest. Her body had betrayed her. Her mind had betrayed her. And nothing was left but need responding to need. Her thighs spread wider and wider, inviting him to explore her deeper and deeper.

With a sharp inhalation, in one movement, he lifted and placed her on the table's edge, tilting her torso backward, cradling her undulating, squirming body with one muscular arm while he opened her legs, pressing his hips between them. He continued to finger her at a perfect angle, harder and faster, her spread legs dangling and trembling around him. He paused for the briefest second and then pressed his thumb on her swollen clitoris, relishing her reaction.

She gasped and mewled, her eyes shut tight in abandoned pleasure.

Impulsively, his lips found the softness of her neck: he nipped and sucked at the silky skin, threatening to bite into it, while lowering and pressing her fully down on the table. "Now for the pollinator's taste of your nectar, again." He huskily confessed, "I've had a craving for your flavour ever since I first tasted you." His head lunged down, taking the place of his apt fingers. His burning mouth licked and lapped her juices. Holding her thighs spread firmly apart, her muscles pulsating in his iron grip, he rubbed the protruding delicate nub of her clitoris with his nose's tip, breathing in her essence, and swooped his lips upwards, latching on and sucking. Excruciatingly slow, he steadily increased the pressure, swirling his pointed tongue deeper into her, maneuvering her quivering, slippery sex, until he heard her moaning in wanton abandonment, climaxing, shattering utterly in his mouth and hands. He pulled back; his cum-covered mouth kissed her inner thigh, and he breathed heavily on her slick cunt, resting his head on her burning sex. She's so wet...

Then, still keeping his steely hands pressed down on her trembling thighs, he slowly rose and gazed down on Astoria, still in the throes of post-orgasm. He smiled smugly and leaned forward, untying her robe, and in one quick movement he ripped her thin, laced nightdress open.

Astoria hazily watched him from under her half-closed eyelids, heavy with desire. She felt him leisurely caress and then firmly pinch her hardened, pointed nipples, smarting in aching pain to be sucked and touched more. "Yes," she moaned in abandoned relief, grateful, as he came to her body's need. "Oh, yes!" Briskly, his burning hot mouth and searing tongue twirled and sucked each one, his long hair falling on and around her sensitized skin, tickling, causing her to writhe in a wild frenzy of arousal. She groaned, biting her lower lip in heated pleasure. Her eyes closed tight as he continued to administer pressure methodically and orally from her breast down to the sensitive flesh on her sides and rounded hips.

Lower he sucked and nipped. Lower he licked and lingered on her lower abdomen's silken skin. His hot, hungry mouth seared her inner core as his fingers spread her buttocks, massaging them deeply and firmly around and around, his fingertips grazing and teasing over and around her anus. Then, abruptly, he stopped.

Lucius raised up to his full height, breathing deep and hard.

Astoria's lips were formed in a sensual 'O' as her vaginal muscles contracted frantically in anticipation, stimulated and tense with need, waiting for him to enter her.

Lucius noted her swollen lips, her eyes full of desire, her body undulating, beckoning him to claim her. So very ready. Ready for me to fuck her, however I like...

Luxuriating in a dreamy state of arousal from his expert stimulation, she opened her eyes wider to see Lucius slowly unbuttoning his trousers, leaving her to wait in anticipatory frustration. She watched with shallow breaths of expectation at how calmly and deliberately he pushed them, along with his underpants, slowly down, stepping out of them. Very controlled, he fastidiously finished undressing and placed his clothing on the back of her work chair. As he turned back to her, she saw he was hard and so very erect. Her most intimate muscles spasmed wildly in unbridled, raw desire.

Lucius crossed back to her and stood looking down on her suppliant form, his steel-grey eyes gleaming secretively. "You're so wet, Astoria... Why are you so wet, my sweet? Hmmn?"

She couldn't think, let alone form words; she was shamelessly aching to have him inside her. Her need making her mute with yearning, she delicately reached out and touched his firm muscular hip, unable not to stare at his hard-rock cock fully erect with glistening pre-cum coating the tip.

Seeing her attention drawn keenly to his painful hard-on, Lucius took hold of the end of it and whispered, "Not so fast, my love. Not so fast..." He began rubbing her vaginal opening up and down with his cock's end, lubricating it as well as teasing her cunt's opening.

"You don't know why you are so lusciously wet, Astoria? Well, then, I'll probe your perianth for your deepest nectar, my dear, while you think about it." Firmly, Lucius pulled her down a few inches more and raised one leg and then the other up around his head, positioning his erection firmly in front of her pussy's entrance. "I'm going to probe you deep and hard, until I've emptied my seed in your nethermost core.

"But you have to say 'please' first."

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A/N: Forever thankful to the one and only star_girl for everything, especially for making the awesome banner for me on top of everything else to keep my Muse and Lucius happy! She's expanded my universe as only a Ravenclaw could!