Chapter 17 - Cleansing

Severus was enjoying the most realistic dream. His lips were pressed into the back of his mistress's neck, and vanilla filled the air. Her skin was warm and supple. He relished its texture on his tongue.

He could hear her sounds in the distance. It was almost as if she were attempting to coax him from a decandent dream.

"MMmmmmmm," Hermione purred. She shifted in his arms and opened her sleep-shut eyes to gaze upon the wizard lying next to her. A soft kiss to the tip of his nose awoke her sleeping prince.

Hermione giggled as she stroked his cheek, willing him to fully awaken. "You must be hungry. I was beginning to fear you would make a snack out of my neck."

"What time is it?" he growled.

"Early. It's only six in the morning. Shall I make you some breakfast?"

"Only if you're on the menu. And I like my meat prepared rare."

Her smile lit the room. "Let me throw on a dressing gown. Give me fifteen minutes, and I'll have coffee, eggs and bangers ready for you."

As she threw her legs to the side of the bed and sat up, Severus grabbed her around the waist and pulled her back to him. She giggled like a Hufflepuff.

"Let me feast on you, Hermione. I can't imagine anything you prepare for breakfast will taste as good as this toe does." He sat up and grabbed her right ankle. He brought her foot to his mouth and gently began suckling upon her big toe. She responded by placing her left foot upon his shoulder and giving him a nice little shove.

"Seriously, Severus, I haven't eaten since the Quidditch match. I'm famished!" And with that she sauntered to the kitchen while Severus was left to ponder upon the most pleasing situation he had been in for quite some time.

~~SSHG~~

She fed him the most delicious meal of eggs, sausages, toast and rich coffee he could remember. As she set the dishes to washing, he stepped behind her. He drew his arms possessively around her waist and pulled her back to his chest.

Severus nuzzled Hermione's head. His lips brushed the shell of her ear as he whispered, "Thank you. I'm finding myself a changed man this morning, Hermione. I'm even thinking this may be a good thing."

Hermione twisted in his grasp and brought her arms around his neck. "Thank you, Severus. I'm finding myself somewhat changed as well. It feels... frightening, but good."

As Severus looked down into her eyes, he felt his cock twitching to life. "Hermione, even if I never find the courage to make a change outside of these walls, I do want to embrace this change in our private homes." His hands moved to her waist, and he lifted her from her feet, placing her to sit upon the counter behind her.

Hermione was now face-to-face with her dark wizard. As she took his head in her hands, she opened her thighs so he could stand between them. Hermione leaned into him and initiated their kiss, gently suckling his lower lip as she scratched the nape of his neck.

Severus pulled away. "Enough. You and I have enjoyed enough of this nonsense. We should attend to other matters before the morning ends."

Hermione pulled back and looked at him quizzically. Had she misunderstood anything that had transpired?

With a flick of his wand, Hermione felt a sense of weightlessness fall upon her. Severus again took her by the waist and easily lifted her from the counter. He tossed her over a shoulder and turned towards her stairs.

"Put me down! What are you doing?" Hermione's giggles and demands were only met by his gruff "Hrummph."

"Calm yourself, Hermione. I will not have you concuss your head with your squirming. I need you aware and cognizant if I am to enjoy your company."

Hermione relaxed and smirked as she watched the kitchen and sitting room disappear. As Severus began to ascend the stairs, she took the opportunity to reach down and grasp his left buttock.

Severus was quick to respond with a nibble to her thigh and a chuckle from his lips.

Severus Snape chuckled.

"Watch your head, love." Severus warned her as he stepped into the loo. He brought her to her feet and released his spell.

"You and I are going to freshen up. We have much to do today."

"Severus, I have nothing on our agenda today. Let's just stay here and relax."

"As I said, silly girl, we have much to do today." He reached to the Muggle bathtub and turned on the faucets.

Hermione smiled as she understood his intention. "Severus, I left my wand in the kitchen. Will you enlarge the tub? I want to share it with you."

"I most certainly will not. We will be sharing our bath, but I see no reason I would want to enlarge the tub. You will be allowed no room to move away from me."

They both disrobed. Severus held out his hand and took Hermione's as she gingerly stepped into the tub. Severus joined her, his back to the faucet and knobs. "I'll sit first, then you can join me".

Once he was settled, Hermione bent her knees. "I can't do this," she giggled. "I'm going to slip. There isn't enough room!"

Severus grabbed her arms and pulled her down. Her knees came down upon his thighs as water splashed out onto the floor.

Hermione reached behind Severus and turned the water off. "Dear Merlin!" she smiled. "Help me!"

Severus held her arms and steadied her, helping her lean to the back of the tub and settle herself into the water. He leaned back as best he could into the side of the tub, stretching his legs to either side of her body, making the most of their limited space.

He passed her a flannel. "Get to work, Hermione. I want to make certain you are especially clean." His smirk alerted her to what he actually hoped for.

Hermione's intuitive mind knew just what he meant. She soaped the rag, then carefully washed her face. After splashing the soap off, she resumed her ministrations in a more languid method. She reached high with one arm, and with the other hand, dragged her soapy flannel slowly from her fingers to her neck, squeezing the rag at the right moment to drip water and suds down her chest.

Severus drew a deep breath. He couldn't tear his eyes from the wet pattern glistening on her torso. As the witch continued her wanton display of cleanliness, he reached below the water's surface and grasped his now erect cock. His upward stroke brought the head above the water.

Hermione pounced.

"Let me take care of that for you, big guy."

She dropped the cloth, and with hands slick with soap, leant forward and reached for his penis.

Severus facilitated her efforts by lifting his left leg from the water, resting it upon the side of the tub. Hermione worked her grasp from tip to base, then cradled his scrotum in her hands, imprinting his weight and girth on her mind through her tactile explorations.

Severus tossed his head back and bucked forward into her grasp. "Gods, witch. Touch me again."

Hermione reached to the floor and grasped his wand, quickly transfiguring the tub to twice its size. She was pleased that the wand worked so compatibly with her magic.

Severus could now shift away from the plumbing and leaned back against the wall. Hermione crawled between his bent knees and pressed against his chest. As she nuzzled his collarbone, she turned to her side and reached for the cock that bobbed against her hip.

"Yesss," he chanted.

As she stroked him, he brought his hand to envelope her fist, guiding her motions and teaching her which touches aroused him most.

Hermione twisted so she could suckle his collarbone, rock her hip against his groin and press his cock to her belly as she worked him.

Severus reached around her, pulling her as close to him as possible. He bent his face into the curls upon her head and grunted deeply as he spilled his seed upon her belly.

The two new lovers laid languidly in the tepid bath for a minute before they stirred from their positions.

"Well, we can't say we aren't clean." Hermione smiled as she sat up and looked at the handsome, dark man sharing her space.

"No." He smiled back. "But we can remedy that situation as well if we put our minds to it."

AN: This story is being placed on a short hiatus while life takes place. Another chapter and epilogue are in the works. Many thanks to my marvelous beta, Dreamy_Dragon, and congratulations to Dreamy for being highlighted by The Petulant Poetess as part of their ten year anniversary!