Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5

Her office was rather small, but Hermione enjoyed spending time in it. While her bedroom held bad memories of the nightmares she had several times a week, her office only reminded her that she had her dream job. It wasn't exactly her dream life, but she could think of nothing more satisfying than immersing herself in knowledge and the education of young minds.

The grandfather clock in the corner chimed the hour, telling her that dinner was being served in the Great Hall. She hadn't planned on attending dinner because she was avoiding Severus Snape, and he was sure to be there at the staff table, towering over the chattering students. After shoving her manuscript into his private rooms the evening before, she hadn't seen him. The chapters were harmless, only containing a few longing looks between Sebastian and Haley; however, Hermione was worried Snape would think the male lead was modeled after him. Sebastian was, but Hermione certainly didn't want to tell Snape that.

Just as she finished marking the last essay on her desk, she heard someone knock at her door. "Come in," Hermione called, placing the parchments in her desk drawer.

The door opened to reveal the one person she had spent the day avoiding: Severus Snape. Hermione wanted to sink into her chair and crawl under her oversized desk. She almost did when she saw the white envelope in his hand. Giving him the manuscript had been a bad idea; she had no idea why she had done it.

Snape tossed the envelope on her desk and stood behind the visitor's chair. "I've marked my corrections, though I found it to be rather dull, seeing as how the crux of a romance novel is that it should be lascivious in nature."

Hermione had to fight to keep her mouth from hanging open. He was absolutely serious and obviously had no idea he had been the inspiration for Sebastian. If he had even suspected, she had no doubt he would have been in her office demanding to know why she was poking fun at him.

"I can't just throw two characters together and have them... well, you know," she said when she finally regained her wits.

Snape snorted, all but rolling his eyes at her. "Please, Granger, that's what romance novels do. They throw two characters together and, in one way or another, force them into having sexual relations. They certainly don't have lofty notions of actual plot."

"This coming from the person who claims he knows nothing about romance novels," she said, glaring at the insufferable man standing in front of her desk.

He smirked, an evil gleam dancing in his dark eyes. "Oh, my apologies, Granger. I imagine you need to brush up on the sexual aspect of things before you begin writing it. Yes?"

Hermione felt like her entire body flushed red, but she wasn't sure if it was from embarrassment or rage. She nearly threw him out of her office, telling him never to infer anything about her private life. Only the smug look on his face stopped her. Getting angry would only give him what he wanted. Instead, she inhaled a deep, calming breath. "Are you offering to help, then?"

For a brief, glorious moment, Snape was absolutely speechless. Hermione wanted to throw her hands in the air and declare victory. When his customary sneer returned, he replied, "Do you think me that magnanimous, Miss Granger?"

"I don't know, Professor. Your overly kind attitude these last two weeks has been rather out of character for you. Have you been under Imperio or have you simply lost your mind?" Hermione replied, folding her hands on her desktop.

Apparently, he had lost his mind because Snape only laughed and exited her office. The door clicked shut behind him, and Hermione began to question her own sanity. Surely that encounter had never happened. Surely she had never written the beginnings of a romance novel and let Snape proofread it for her just before she, in a round about way, propositioned him for sex. And surely he wasn't actually flirting with her.

Hermione smiled to herself. Not that she would be opposed to his flirting with her.

She looked at the seemingly innocent white envelope on her desk. Her fantasies of Snape taking her against an innocuous dungeon wall came crashing back, giving her an idea for the next chapter. If he wanted something a bit more risqué, that's what she'd give him.

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He found the envelope after his last class of the day. It had been tucked away in his desk drawer, which had annoyed him greatly at first. That she had the gall to enter his private office and rummage through his drawers was enough to make his blood boil. The anger quickly dissipated when he saw her tidy handwriting on the envelope.

You asked for it...

Severus shifted in his seat, already anticipating what she had written after their conversation the day before about the lack of sex in her first two chapters. He certainly hoped she made up for it in this one. Hermione had always been a conscientious student who took her professor's criticisms into account in her next essay. He didn't think he had ever found that aspect of her personality useful until today.

Unable to wait until he returned to his private quarters, Severus ripped the envelope open and scanned the first page. Nothing of interest was written there, just more discussion of Haley Garten and her explorations of Sebastian's estate while everyone was asleep. The girl was hoping to find the art thief while roaming the empty halls of the large house.

Severus moved on to the next page and smiled when Haley turned the corner and collided with none other but Sebastian Sandor.

Haley felt Sebastian's strong hands latch onto her upper arms, helping her regain her balance after she had crashed into his chest. He smelled faintly of cedarwood and vanilla, and just the touch of his capable hands sent Haley's heart into arrhythmia.

It wasn't much longer before she felt a spasm shake his body and a hot burst of his semen fill her mouth. Haley pulled away and swallowed on instinct. She had performed oral sex on a previous boyfriend, but he had never finished in her mouth. She found it wasn't too distasteful, especially considering who had just spilled himself on her tongue.

There were two more pages left, but he couldn't finish them. Severus stood from his desk and paced his office, looking at the jars filled with disgusting ingredients and other items to scare the children who happened to wander inside. His cock pressed insistently against the front of his trousers, not subsiding or allowing him to ignore his needs.

Reading the chapter in his office was a mistake. He couldn't simply jerk off at the same desk where he met with students. Then again, he also couldn't walk down the hall to his rooms with a raging erection. He could barely think straight as it was.

Severus compromised by standing behind his high-backed desk chair with the fingers of his left hand curled tightly over the top while his right hand quickly pumped his cock. All he could think about was Hermione's pretty little lips replacing his hand. He stared at the pieces of parchment scattered on his desk, seeing nothing but her prim handwriting forming such deliciously devious words and phrases.

He pretended she had thought of him when she wrote the scene between Sebastian and Haley. He thought of slamming her against the far wall and fucking her into oblivion.

With a strangled groan, Severus came all over the back of his leather chair. Shaking with release, he rested his forehead on the top of the chair back and sighed. This sort of intense desire was a bit much to deal with. He had lusted after women before, of course. However, nothing had been like this. He felt like Hermione was consuming his thoughts, his very mind.

Severus desperately wanted her, but he had no idea how to get her, or even if she would care to reciprocate his feelings of desire. There was also the matter of Minerva. He was familiar with the rules that governed the school, and there were none that would forbid a relationship between professors. However, he didn't think Minerva would look too kindly on his lustful thoughts for her former prize student and newest staff member.

Pulling himself together, Severus banished the mess from the back of his chair, tucked himself back inside his trousers, and sat down at the desk again. While he was sated, he would have to pull out his quill and read the chapter again for errors and suggestions as he had promised to do. However, he had a feeling that his cock wouldn't stay flaccid for long, especially when he found himself reading the detailed oral sex scene near the end of the chapter.

Before delving into the story again, he pulled out a blank scrap of parchment to write her a short note while his wits were still about him. Severus desperately wanted to write her something dirty, telling her that he had jerked off to her delicious little tale. He didn't dare, though. Instead, he wrote, As with all things, you've excelled. I have no doubt you'll find an interested publisher, provided that you continue to allow me to improve upon your writing."

After a moment's hesitation, Severus signed the note with his given name.

Author's Note: A huge thank you to moonrevel and JenF for their beta assistance and time. Also, I want to thank everyone who has been reviewing and commenting. I appreciate you all so much. :-)