“Explain to me again, Darling, what about this is fun,” Draco asked as he and Colin struggled to haul a sofa to their new flat on the second floor.
Ginny smiled, “It’s the experience, Draco. Trying new things, expanding our knowledge of the world…”
Breathing heavily, the young men set the sofa down at the top of the stairs. Colin contemplated how it would best fit through the door, “I think we’ll have to tilt it up on end to make the corner.”
Draco shot a look of distaste at Ginny before hoisting the piece of furniture off the ground once more. After a few minutes of careful maneuvering, the sofa was placed in the living room. “You know, Ginny, not every experience is one worth having,” Draco huffed as he collapsed on a nearby loveseat. “I’m exhausted.”
Ginny took the box she was carrying into the kitchen and placed it on the counter. Looking around at all the boxes, she knew there was still a lot of work to do. Draco had convinced them to let him supply most of the furniture and household items from his estate, except for some muggle appliances and electronics Colin was providing and a dinette set that Ginny’s parents had given her. When she and Colin had arrived with the lorry, it was immediately clear that Draco had over-estimated the space available in the apartment. Even after sorting out a lot of unnecessary items, Ginny wondered where they were going to put everything they had brought.
“Right then,” Colin called from the other room, “I’m off to return the lorry. I’ll probably be back late, I’m having dinner with my parents.”
“Okay, Colin. Tell your parents we said thank you for renting the lorry for us. Draco and I will get busy putting things away.” The handsome blond let out a groan at the last comment but managed a small wave and said, “See you later, Creevey. Thanks.”
Colin left and Ginny opened up the box she’d carried in a few minutes ago. She carefully unwrapped the items and placed them in the cabinets and drawers. Draco came in carrying a large, boxy item with a cord, “What did Creevey say this was?”
“It’s called a microwave, I think,” Ginny replied, “He says you use it for cooking and heating things up.”
Pushing a button labeled ‘Open’, Draco’s brow furrowed as he looked inside. “There’s nothing in there. No fire, nothing. How’s it supposed to cook anything,” he asked skeptically. Ginny shrugged and moved on to the next box of kitchen items.
Draco watched the petite young woman as she worked. Her red hair pulled back in a loose ponytail, she moved purposefully around the small kitchen putting each item in its place. He grinned at the way her tongue peeked out from between her lips when she stretched to reach the top shelf of the cabinet. Walking up behind her, he took the dish from her hand and placed it on the shelf for her. Afterwards he leaned down and softly kissed her neck and rested his hands on her hips. “Wouldn’t you like to take a little break, Darling,” he asked between kisses.
Ginny leaned against him and pulled his arms around her waist. “I’d love to take a break for this,” she said, “but we have so much to do. The sooner we get things put away, the more time we’ll have for more pleasant things.” She tilted her head to give him greater access to her neck and ear, which Draco promptly began nibbling. Giggling softly, Ginny slowly pulled away.
Draco gave a sigh of resignation and reluctantly released her. “I suppose I’ll go set up the bedroom then. At least that way I’ll have somewhere soft to land when I collapse.”
A couple hours later the little flat was looking more like a home than a storage facility and Ginny was satisfied enough with her efforts to call it a day. She had gotten the kitchen items all put away and the dinette set was set up in the breakfast nook. She’d unpacked most of the items for the living room and arranged the sofa and the loveseat around the thing Colin called an ‘entertainment center’. Ginny left the electronic equipment in boxes for Colin to go through and put up properly.
She hadn’t heard much from Draco since he’d set off for the bedroom. She’d seen him popping in and out of the room to get a box or search for something now and again but he’d seemed very preoccupied with his task and they hadn’t spoken much.
“Draco,” she called. “Shall we take that break now?”
“I’ll be there in a minute,” he hollered back. Moments later he came out into the living room and grasped her hand. “Come take a look,” he said nervously as he pulled her gently toward the bedroom.
Ginny followed him back into their sleeping quarters. As she passed through the doorway, she let out a little gasp. All the bedroom furniture had been covered when they moved it so this was the first time she had seen the items Draco had selected to bring to the flat. Separated by a beautiful paneled oriental screen were identical four-poster twin beds. Each bed was outfitted in crisp white sheets and a silk brocade duvet; gold with an embroidered dragon and phoenix pattern in green, red and blue. Beside each bed was a matching nightstand. Covering nearly the entire floor was a lovely burgundy Oriental rug with a design in colors similar to those in the duvet.
One side of the room had a triple dresser with a mirror. This was obviously meant for Ginny because the framed family photos she had brought were already placed on top of it. Colin had taken the still photos at graduation so Ginny could have pictures on display at the apartment, all her others were the moving photos typical of the magical community. Strategically placed in the middle of the pictures was a stunningly sexy shot of Draco that Ginny had never seen before. He was dressed in blue jeans and a gray Henley shirt that matched the color of his eyes. His long hair was loose and slightly windblown and Ginny felt as though the smoldering look on his face was actually fixed on her.
On Draco’s side of the room was a chest of drawers that was decorated only with a picture of Ginny and himself, grinning adoringly at each other while sitting under a tree at school. Ginny knew that Colin had taken that picture at Draco’s request shortly before he graduated; he had wanted a picture of them together to keep in case the year apart proved to be more than the relationship could bear.
“It’s wonderful, Draco!” Ginny gushed. “It’s just so opulent. I can’t believe I’ll be sleeping in that bed, under that duvet, near you every night.” She reached up to touch his cheek and lifted herself on her toes to kiss him.
“You’ll spoil me, you know,” she whispered in his ear.
“Not possible, love, but I’ll try my best. So, you really like it then? You don’t want to change anything? It’s okay if you do,” he said with almost unnoticable anxiety.
“I love it, although I may have to put that picture of you away,” Ginny said seriously.
“Oh? Creevey said he thought it had turned out really well, but if you don’t like it…” Draco let the sentence trail off.
“It’s not that,” she answered in a sultry voice. “I just don’t know how I’ll be able to stay on my side of the screen at night with that picture there reminding me what a gorgeous male specimen is laying just a few feet away.”
Draco smirked and pulled her into a deep kiss. He felt her mouth open and he let his tongue venture forward tentatively to find and caress hers. Her arms circled his waist and she moaned softly. Reaching up, he pulled her hair loose from its band and ran his fingers through it. Ginny lowered her hands to his backside. Pressing closer, she began to rock against him. Draco’s hands slid down her back and gripped her hips, stopping her. Ginny looked up at him questioningly, her eyes a bit glazed.
“Maybe you should put that picture away,” Draco said, looking flushed, “because I don’t think I’ll have the willpower to turn you away if you keep that up.”
Ginny was sheepish, “Sorry. Sometimes I lose my head around you.”
“Well, you’d better behave yourself or you’ll end up losing more than that,” he scolded, but the smirk on his face told Ginny that he wasn’t all that upset at the effect he had on her. “Now come on, I still have a little more to show you,” he said as he led her towards the washroom.
He had been busy. All the linens and toiletries were put away. (And OH! the towels were so soft and fluffy!) Then he took her over to Colin’s room.
“I didn’t think Creevey would want me going through his things so I didn’t unpack anything for him but I did set up his bed since he mentioned he’d be getting back late. I figure it’s the least I could do since he really organized the whole move. Do you think he’ll mind?”
Ginny gazed up at the man beside her and couldn’t help but smile. A few years ago she wouldn’t have believed Draco Malfoy was capable of being so thoughtful. Now here he was, unsure if his efforts were acceptable. This was why she loved him; he let her see sides of him that he hid from the rest of the world. He had such goodness inside him; she knew he wasn’t entirely comfortable with it. It just made him all the more irresistible to her.
“I think Colin will appreciate it very much.” Glancing at her watch, Ginny realized how late it was and that they hadn’t eaten anything since breakfast. “Oh dear, we’d better get some dinner. Mum packed a few things for us, sandwiches and the like. Tomorrow we’ll need to go to the market.”
“That sounds great, I’m starving,” Draco’s stomach gave a low rumble as if to illustrate the point. Grimacing, he asked, “You don’t suppose your mum would try to poison me, do you? Your family’s never been terribly keen on our relationship.” He looked suspiciously at the sandwiches Ginny was pulling out of a bag.
She laughed, “Mum would never do anything that might damage her reputation as a cook. She’s very serious about her culinary skills.” With a warning look, she joked, “You should never accept anything from Fred and George or from Ron though. Ron probably would try to poison you and eating anything made by Fred and George is just asking for trouble. Ooo, Mum packed us some butterbeer!”
Gathering up the food and drinks, they walked over to the small dining table and sat down. They ate in silence and Draco’s gaze wandered around the little flat. It was definitely going to be a change from what he was used to. The whole apartment was not much larger than the master suite at Malfoy Manor. It really consisted of just the two bedrooms, two washrooms, the kitchen, living room and breakfast nook. There was a little balcony just off the living room. It would take some getting used to.
Still, he was going to be with Ginny every day. He looked up at his lovely flame-haired girlfriend and smiled. She would be the last person he saw every night and the first one he saw every morning. No more months of waiting for the next Hogsmeade visit. He could hold her and kiss her whenever the urge struck him. He would have loved to share her bed but he wouldn’t push. She had strong feelings about that sort of thing and he would be content just to be near her until she was ready to share herself with him that way.
Ginny got up from the table and gathered up the sandwich wrappers and butterbeer bottles. Tossing them in the trash can, she said, “Well, I think I’m going to take a quick shower and get ready for bed.” His mouth full, Draco nodded and then swallowed and teased, “Alright then, just call if you need any assistance.” She leaned down and gave Draco a gentle kiss and set off towards the bedroom.
Draco moved over to the sofa and kicked off his shoes. Stretching out across the comfortable cushions he yawned and closed his eyes. His muscles ached from all the heavy lifting he had done and now that his stomach was full his eyelids were getting heavy. However, he wanted to take a shower himself so he figured he could hold out just a little longer.
Just then the door opened and Colin came walking in. “Making yourself right at home are you, mate,” he teased when he saw Draco sprawled on the sofa. Colin had changed clothes since he left. Probably got cleaned up for dinner at his parents’ house, Draco thought.
He pulled himself into a seated position and gave Colin a smirk. “Well, Creevey, I reckon that was the idea. I mean I do live here, right?”
“You do indeed. I didn’t think you’d go through with it, Malfoy. It’s not an easy thing to imagine you acting like a common Muggle but it’ll be fun to watch you try. You two seem to have gotten quite a bit done around here, how did it go,” Colin asked jovially.
Draco shrugged, “My entire body is sore but I guess it went alright. Ginny gets the credit for the common areas; I concentrated on the bedroom and bathroom. She’s getting cleaned up now, I’ll follow suit when she comes out. I feel filthy.”
Colin looked over at the entertainment center and the boxes of equipment in front of it. “I guess I’ll get started putting this together. You want to give me a hand?”
“I don’t know what any of that crap is, but tell me what to do and I’ll give it a shot,” Draco said as he got up off the couch.
By the time Ginny made her way into the living room the boys had managed to connect the television and stereo systems and they were watching some sort of sport on the telly. Colin was trying to explain it to an incredulous Draco.
“Right, so only the keepers can touch the ball with their hands. Everyone else can only use their feet, body or head.”
“So they all just kick the ball around the pitch and try to get it in goal? Seems pretty tame to me. No bludgers to dodge, no snitch to catch. They’re on the ground so it’s not like they have to worry about falling. People think this football game is exciting?” The blond young man shook his head skeptically.
Ginny piped up, “Well, it’s not Quidditch but I can see why folks would like it. They’re very physical, aren’t they?” She had just watched two players collide in a particularly vicious fashion.
Both boys looked up, surprised. They hadn’t heard her come in the room. Draco’s eyes widened as he looked at her. Ginny’s damp hair fell down onto her shoulders, leaving wet spots on the navy blue tank top she was wearing. The cool air caused her nipples to strain against the thin material. She also had on a very worn pair of black watch plaid men’s flannel boxer shorts that hung low on her hips, a hand-me-down from one of her brothers no doubt. Draco looked over at Colin and saw that the other young man had one eyebrow raised and was playfully leering at Ginny. Feeling suddenly possessive, Draco got up and crossed the room to the petite girl, intentionally impeding Colin’s view.
“Gin,” he said quietly, “you look, uh, a little cold. Would you like to borrow my robe? I could get it for you.”
She reached up and touched his cheek, smiling sweetly. “I’m fine, Draco, but if you’d feel more comfortable then I’ll be happy to go put on a robe. I just thought, you know, we’re all living here. We’re likely to see each other in our bed clothes from time to time.”
Draco looked at Colin again and then back at Ginny and frowned. Creevey seemed to be enjoying his discomfort a little too much. He would prefer that Ginny didn’t walk around in front of other men looking so, well, sexy. H e could barely restrain himself from carrying her into the bedroom to see what wonders lurked beneath those baggy boxers. It was killing him that Creevey might be fighting the same urge – how could he not be? She was breathtaking. At the same time, Draco didn’t want to come across as controlling and jealous.
Finally, he gave her a small grin and said, “If you’re comfortable wearing your bed clothes in front of us, then it’s fine with me. Just don’t be surprised if I have trouble focusing on anything else.” Ginny blushed and he leaned down to kiss her pink cheek. “I think I’ll go get washed up myself now,” he said though he had to force himself to leave her alone with Colin as he headed to the shower.
Once Draco was safely out of earshot, Colin doubled over with laughter. Ginny shot him a half-hearted glare, “Really, Colin, what is so funny?” Colin managed to get himself under control and said, “Ginny-girl, you are going to be the death of that man. I only hope he doesn’t kill me first.”
“Honestly, I’m only wearing my pajamas. What’s the big deal,” she asked indignantly.
“You come out here in that skimpy little get-up not only in front of your very frustrated boyfriend but in front of me as well. Not that I mind, you’re quite easy on the eyes, Gin,” he let his eyes travel over her from top to bottom, “However, I get the distinct impression that your long-suffering love would prefer that this view be reserved just for him. I also suspect that my health will be in danger if I don’t turn my attention to the telly whenever you’re prancing about dressed like you are.”
“I think you’re making more of this than there is, Colin. Draco just said he was fine with it. And really, frustrated and long-suffering? You make it sound like I’ve been torturing him.” She sat on the sofa and pulled her knees to her chest, her lips forming a pretty pout.
Colin sighed, “Alright, Gin, I’m sorry. I don’t mean to make it sound like that. Seriously though, I know Malfoy’s willing to wait for you but that doesn’t mean it’s easy for him. Give the poor guy a break and be careful what you go flaunting in front of him. You’re dangling a carrot in front of him that he knows he can’t eat. It’s got to be killing him, Malfoy’s not exactly known for denying himself what he wants.”
She looked down at her hands guiltily. “Am I really making it that difficult for him, you think?”
“Gin, he was looking at you like you were Little Red Riding Hood and he was the Big Bad Wolf ready to eat you, get it?” Colin couldn’t help but chuckle at her naiveté.
Her face beet red, Ginny muttered, “I guess I’ll go put on some sweatpants then,” and hurried back to the bedroom.
“I’m going to go on to bed, Ginny,” Colin called after her, “Tell lover boy I said good night.” He got up and flipped off the television and the lights and headed towards his bedroom.
“’Night, Col,” called the voice in the other room.
Draco opened the bathroom door and found Ginny, now wearing a pair of sweats over her boxers, sitting on her bed waiting for him. He watched as her cheeks flushed when she realized he was only wearing a pair of silk boxer shorts. She gaped at his well-defined chest and stomach, the way the silk draped gracefully over his hips and thighs then slowly raised her eyes to his. Her innocence was remarkably alluring.
“My night clothes,” Draco said in a low voice, “I generally just sleep in my underwear.”
Ginny just nodded and continued to stare at the god in front of her. She understood what Colin had meant earlier. It was just cruel to parade something so enticing and yet forbidden in front of a person.
“I am so sorry, Draco,” she breathed.
He looked at her quizzically for a moment and then sat down beside her.
Taking her hand, he asked, “Sorry for what, love?”
“I get it now,” she looked him in the eye seriously, “I get how hard it is to be so close, to want it so much but to have to wait. I didn’t really understand before, but I do now.”
The look of confusion was still on his face so she continued, “I’ve really been quite a tease, haven’t I? It wasn’t intentional. I just love the way you look at me, the way you touch me. It never dawned on me how difficult it must be for you to hold back all the time. I know you’re,” she stared down at the floor, “experienced. It must be very frustrating to go back to just snogging after having had more…intimate relationships, especially with me walking around half naked. I’m sorry for making it more difficult.”
Draco struggled not to laugh. She was being so earnest and sweet. He wondered where this declaration came from. He’d always tried not to do anything that would make her feel guilty about wanting to wait.
“Darling, I appreciate your sincerity but honestly, I don’t mind waiting. I love your sexy little pajamas, although I’ll admit I’d rather Creevey didn’t get the privilege of seeing them. Those are minor things though, Ginny. There are times that what I want more than anything is to make love to you. Sometimes it is hard to hold back but it’s not because I’ve shagged a couple other girls and I miss getting laid. Those relationships weren’t intimate, they were cheap and shallow. What I want with you is so much more than that. When we make love I want it to be a complete sharing of ourselves. You aren’t ready for that, so even if you were to lay down naked in front of me right now I would resist. I don’t want to shag you; I want to be a part of you. Until that can happen, I’ll just enjoy the snogging.”
With that he pulled her onto his lap and lightly kissed her lips. Ginny wrapped her arms around him and hugged him fiercely. They cuddled and kissed there for quite a while. Eventually, Draco picked her up and lay her down on the bed. Tucking her in, he kissed her on the forehead and slipped around to his own bed.
“Dray,” she whispered.
“Yes.”
“Goodnight.”
“Goodnight, love.”
Ginny smiled, “It’s the experience, Draco. Trying new things, expanding our knowledge of the world…”
Breathing heavily, the young men set the sofa down at the top of the stairs. Colin contemplated how it would best fit through the door, “I think we’ll have to tilt it up on end to make the corner.”
Draco shot a look of distaste at Ginny before hoisting the piece of furniture off the ground once more. After a few minutes of careful maneuvering, the sofa was placed in the living room. “You know, Ginny, not every experience is one worth having,” Draco huffed as he collapsed on a nearby loveseat. “I’m exhausted.”
Ginny took the box she was carrying into the kitchen and placed it on the counter. Looking around at all the boxes, she knew there was still a lot of work to do. Draco had convinced them to let him supply most of the furniture and household items from his estate, except for some muggle appliances and electronics Colin was providing and a dinette set that Ginny’s parents had given her. When she and Colin had arrived with the lorry, it was immediately clear that Draco had over-estimated the space available in the apartment. Even after sorting out a lot of unnecessary items, Ginny wondered where they were going to put everything they had brought.
“Right then,” Colin called from the other room, “I’m off to return the lorry. I’ll probably be back late, I’m having dinner with my parents.”
“Okay, Colin. Tell your parents we said thank you for renting the lorry for us. Draco and I will get busy putting things away.” The handsome blond let out a groan at the last comment but managed a small wave and said, “See you later, Creevey. Thanks.”
Colin left and Ginny opened up the box she’d carried in a few minutes ago. She carefully unwrapped the items and placed them in the cabinets and drawers. Draco came in carrying a large, boxy item with a cord, “What did Creevey say this was?”
“It’s called a microwave, I think,” Ginny replied, “He says you use it for cooking and heating things up.”
Pushing a button labeled ‘Open’, Draco’s brow furrowed as he looked inside. “There’s nothing in there. No fire, nothing. How’s it supposed to cook anything,” he asked skeptically. Ginny shrugged and moved on to the next box of kitchen items.
Draco watched the petite young woman as she worked. Her red hair pulled back in a loose ponytail, she moved purposefully around the small kitchen putting each item in its place. He grinned at the way her tongue peeked out from between her lips when she stretched to reach the top shelf of the cabinet. Walking up behind her, he took the dish from her hand and placed it on the shelf for her. Afterwards he leaned down and softly kissed her neck and rested his hands on her hips. “Wouldn’t you like to take a little break, Darling,” he asked between kisses.
Ginny leaned against him and pulled his arms around her waist. “I’d love to take a break for this,” she said, “but we have so much to do. The sooner we get things put away, the more time we’ll have for more pleasant things.” She tilted her head to give him greater access to her neck and ear, which Draco promptly began nibbling. Giggling softly, Ginny slowly pulled away.
Draco gave a sigh of resignation and reluctantly released her. “I suppose I’ll go set up the bedroom then. At least that way I’ll have somewhere soft to land when I collapse.”
A couple hours later the little flat was looking more like a home than a storage facility and Ginny was satisfied enough with her efforts to call it a day. She had gotten the kitchen items all put away and the dinette set was set up in the breakfast nook. She’d unpacked most of the items for the living room and arranged the sofa and the loveseat around the thing Colin called an ‘entertainment center’. Ginny left the electronic equipment in boxes for Colin to go through and put up properly.
She hadn’t heard much from Draco since he’d set off for the bedroom. She’d seen him popping in and out of the room to get a box or search for something now and again but he’d seemed very preoccupied with his task and they hadn’t spoken much.
“Draco,” she called. “Shall we take that break now?”
“I’ll be there in a minute,” he hollered back. Moments later he came out into the living room and grasped her hand. “Come take a look,” he said nervously as he pulled her gently toward the bedroom.
Ginny followed him back into their sleeping quarters. As she passed through the doorway, she let out a little gasp. All the bedroom furniture had been covered when they moved it so this was the first time she had seen the items Draco had selected to bring to the flat. Separated by a beautiful paneled oriental screen were identical four-poster twin beds. Each bed was outfitted in crisp white sheets and a silk brocade duvet; gold with an embroidered dragon and phoenix pattern in green, red and blue. Beside each bed was a matching nightstand. Covering nearly the entire floor was a lovely burgundy Oriental rug with a design in colors similar to those in the duvet.
One side of the room had a triple dresser with a mirror. This was obviously meant for Ginny because the framed family photos she had brought were already placed on top of it. Colin had taken the still photos at graduation so Ginny could have pictures on display at the apartment, all her others were the moving photos typical of the magical community. Strategically placed in the middle of the pictures was a stunningly sexy shot of Draco that Ginny had never seen before. He was dressed in blue jeans and a gray Henley shirt that matched the color of his eyes. His long hair was loose and slightly windblown and Ginny felt as though the smoldering look on his face was actually fixed on her.
On Draco’s side of the room was a chest of drawers that was decorated only with a picture of Ginny and himself, grinning adoringly at each other while sitting under a tree at school. Ginny knew that Colin had taken that picture at Draco’s request shortly before he graduated; he had wanted a picture of them together to keep in case the year apart proved to be more than the relationship could bear.
“It’s wonderful, Draco!” Ginny gushed. “It’s just so opulent. I can’t believe I’ll be sleeping in that bed, under that duvet, near you every night.” She reached up to touch his cheek and lifted herself on her toes to kiss him.
“You’ll spoil me, you know,” she whispered in his ear.
“Not possible, love, but I’ll try my best. So, you really like it then? You don’t want to change anything? It’s okay if you do,” he said with almost unnoticable anxiety.
“I love it, although I may have to put that picture of you away,” Ginny said seriously.
“Oh? Creevey said he thought it had turned out really well, but if you don’t like it…” Draco let the sentence trail off.
“It’s not that,” she answered in a sultry voice. “I just don’t know how I’ll be able to stay on my side of the screen at night with that picture there reminding me what a gorgeous male specimen is laying just a few feet away.”
Draco smirked and pulled her into a deep kiss. He felt her mouth open and he let his tongue venture forward tentatively to find and caress hers. Her arms circled his waist and she moaned softly. Reaching up, he pulled her hair loose from its band and ran his fingers through it. Ginny lowered her hands to his backside. Pressing closer, she began to rock against him. Draco’s hands slid down her back and gripped her hips, stopping her. Ginny looked up at him questioningly, her eyes a bit glazed.
“Maybe you should put that picture away,” Draco said, looking flushed, “because I don’t think I’ll have the willpower to turn you away if you keep that up.”
Ginny was sheepish, “Sorry. Sometimes I lose my head around you.”
“Well, you’d better behave yourself or you’ll end up losing more than that,” he scolded, but the smirk on his face told Ginny that he wasn’t all that upset at the effect he had on her. “Now come on, I still have a little more to show you,” he said as he led her towards the washroom.
He had been busy. All the linens and toiletries were put away. (And OH! the towels were so soft and fluffy!) Then he took her over to Colin’s room.
“I didn’t think Creevey would want me going through his things so I didn’t unpack anything for him but I did set up his bed since he mentioned he’d be getting back late. I figure it’s the least I could do since he really organized the whole move. Do you think he’ll mind?”
Ginny gazed up at the man beside her and couldn’t help but smile. A few years ago she wouldn’t have believed Draco Malfoy was capable of being so thoughtful. Now here he was, unsure if his efforts were acceptable. This was why she loved him; he let her see sides of him that he hid from the rest of the world. He had such goodness inside him; she knew he wasn’t entirely comfortable with it. It just made him all the more irresistible to her.
“I think Colin will appreciate it very much.” Glancing at her watch, Ginny realized how late it was and that they hadn’t eaten anything since breakfast. “Oh dear, we’d better get some dinner. Mum packed a few things for us, sandwiches and the like. Tomorrow we’ll need to go to the market.”
“That sounds great, I’m starving,” Draco’s stomach gave a low rumble as if to illustrate the point. Grimacing, he asked, “You don’t suppose your mum would try to poison me, do you? Your family’s never been terribly keen on our relationship.” He looked suspiciously at the sandwiches Ginny was pulling out of a bag.
She laughed, “Mum would never do anything that might damage her reputation as a cook. She’s very serious about her culinary skills.” With a warning look, she joked, “You should never accept anything from Fred and George or from Ron though. Ron probably would try to poison you and eating anything made by Fred and George is just asking for trouble. Ooo, Mum packed us some butterbeer!”
Gathering up the food and drinks, they walked over to the small dining table and sat down. They ate in silence and Draco’s gaze wandered around the little flat. It was definitely going to be a change from what he was used to. The whole apartment was not much larger than the master suite at Malfoy Manor. It really consisted of just the two bedrooms, two washrooms, the kitchen, living room and breakfast nook. There was a little balcony just off the living room. It would take some getting used to.
Still, he was going to be with Ginny every day. He looked up at his lovely flame-haired girlfriend and smiled. She would be the last person he saw every night and the first one he saw every morning. No more months of waiting for the next Hogsmeade visit. He could hold her and kiss her whenever the urge struck him. He would have loved to share her bed but he wouldn’t push. She had strong feelings about that sort of thing and he would be content just to be near her until she was ready to share herself with him that way.
Ginny got up from the table and gathered up the sandwich wrappers and butterbeer bottles. Tossing them in the trash can, she said, “Well, I think I’m going to take a quick shower and get ready for bed.” His mouth full, Draco nodded and then swallowed and teased, “Alright then, just call if you need any assistance.” She leaned down and gave Draco a gentle kiss and set off towards the bedroom.
Draco moved over to the sofa and kicked off his shoes. Stretching out across the comfortable cushions he yawned and closed his eyes. His muscles ached from all the heavy lifting he had done and now that his stomach was full his eyelids were getting heavy. However, he wanted to take a shower himself so he figured he could hold out just a little longer.
Just then the door opened and Colin came walking in. “Making yourself right at home are you, mate,” he teased when he saw Draco sprawled on the sofa. Colin had changed clothes since he left. Probably got cleaned up for dinner at his parents’ house, Draco thought.
He pulled himself into a seated position and gave Colin a smirk. “Well, Creevey, I reckon that was the idea. I mean I do live here, right?”
“You do indeed. I didn’t think you’d go through with it, Malfoy. It’s not an easy thing to imagine you acting like a common Muggle but it’ll be fun to watch you try. You two seem to have gotten quite a bit done around here, how did it go,” Colin asked jovially.
Draco shrugged, “My entire body is sore but I guess it went alright. Ginny gets the credit for the common areas; I concentrated on the bedroom and bathroom. She’s getting cleaned up now, I’ll follow suit when she comes out. I feel filthy.”
Colin looked over at the entertainment center and the boxes of equipment in front of it. “I guess I’ll get started putting this together. You want to give me a hand?”
“I don’t know what any of that crap is, but tell me what to do and I’ll give it a shot,” Draco said as he got up off the couch.
By the time Ginny made her way into the living room the boys had managed to connect the television and stereo systems and they were watching some sort of sport on the telly. Colin was trying to explain it to an incredulous Draco.
“Right, so only the keepers can touch the ball with their hands. Everyone else can only use their feet, body or head.”
“So they all just kick the ball around the pitch and try to get it in goal? Seems pretty tame to me. No bludgers to dodge, no snitch to catch. They’re on the ground so it’s not like they have to worry about falling. People think this football game is exciting?” The blond young man shook his head skeptically.
Ginny piped up, “Well, it’s not Quidditch but I can see why folks would like it. They’re very physical, aren’t they?” She had just watched two players collide in a particularly vicious fashion.
Both boys looked up, surprised. They hadn’t heard her come in the room. Draco’s eyes widened as he looked at her. Ginny’s damp hair fell down onto her shoulders, leaving wet spots on the navy blue tank top she was wearing. The cool air caused her nipples to strain against the thin material. She also had on a very worn pair of black watch plaid men’s flannel boxer shorts that hung low on her hips, a hand-me-down from one of her brothers no doubt. Draco looked over at Colin and saw that the other young man had one eyebrow raised and was playfully leering at Ginny. Feeling suddenly possessive, Draco got up and crossed the room to the petite girl, intentionally impeding Colin’s view.
“Gin,” he said quietly, “you look, uh, a little cold. Would you like to borrow my robe? I could get it for you.”
She reached up and touched his cheek, smiling sweetly. “I’m fine, Draco, but if you’d feel more comfortable then I’ll be happy to go put on a robe. I just thought, you know, we’re all living here. We’re likely to see each other in our bed clothes from time to time.”
Draco looked at Colin again and then back at Ginny and frowned. Creevey seemed to be enjoying his discomfort a little too much. He would prefer that Ginny didn’t walk around in front of other men looking so, well, sexy. H e could barely restrain himself from carrying her into the bedroom to see what wonders lurked beneath those baggy boxers. It was killing him that Creevey might be fighting the same urge – how could he not be? She was breathtaking. At the same time, Draco didn’t want to come across as controlling and jealous.
Finally, he gave her a small grin and said, “If you’re comfortable wearing your bed clothes in front of us, then it’s fine with me. Just don’t be surprised if I have trouble focusing on anything else.” Ginny blushed and he leaned down to kiss her pink cheek. “I think I’ll go get washed up myself now,” he said though he had to force himself to leave her alone with Colin as he headed to the shower.
Once Draco was safely out of earshot, Colin doubled over with laughter. Ginny shot him a half-hearted glare, “Really, Colin, what is so funny?” Colin managed to get himself under control and said, “Ginny-girl, you are going to be the death of that man. I only hope he doesn’t kill me first.”
“Honestly, I’m only wearing my pajamas. What’s the big deal,” she asked indignantly.
“You come out here in that skimpy little get-up not only in front of your very frustrated boyfriend but in front of me as well. Not that I mind, you’re quite easy on the eyes, Gin,” he let his eyes travel over her from top to bottom, “However, I get the distinct impression that your long-suffering love would prefer that this view be reserved just for him. I also suspect that my health will be in danger if I don’t turn my attention to the telly whenever you’re prancing about dressed like you are.”
“I think you’re making more of this than there is, Colin. Draco just said he was fine with it. And really, frustrated and long-suffering? You make it sound like I’ve been torturing him.” She sat on the sofa and pulled her knees to her chest, her lips forming a pretty pout.
Colin sighed, “Alright, Gin, I’m sorry. I don’t mean to make it sound like that. Seriously though, I know Malfoy’s willing to wait for you but that doesn’t mean it’s easy for him. Give the poor guy a break and be careful what you go flaunting in front of him. You’re dangling a carrot in front of him that he knows he can’t eat. It’s got to be killing him, Malfoy’s not exactly known for denying himself what he wants.”
She looked down at her hands guiltily. “Am I really making it that difficult for him, you think?”
“Gin, he was looking at you like you were Little Red Riding Hood and he was the Big Bad Wolf ready to eat you, get it?” Colin couldn’t help but chuckle at her naiveté.
Her face beet red, Ginny muttered, “I guess I’ll go put on some sweatpants then,” and hurried back to the bedroom.
“I’m going to go on to bed, Ginny,” Colin called after her, “Tell lover boy I said good night.” He got up and flipped off the television and the lights and headed towards his bedroom.
“’Night, Col,” called the voice in the other room.
Draco opened the bathroom door and found Ginny, now wearing a pair of sweats over her boxers, sitting on her bed waiting for him. He watched as her cheeks flushed when she realized he was only wearing a pair of silk boxer shorts. She gaped at his well-defined chest and stomach, the way the silk draped gracefully over his hips and thighs then slowly raised her eyes to his. Her innocence was remarkably alluring.
“My night clothes,” Draco said in a low voice, “I generally just sleep in my underwear.”
Ginny just nodded and continued to stare at the god in front of her. She understood what Colin had meant earlier. It was just cruel to parade something so enticing and yet forbidden in front of a person.
“I am so sorry, Draco,” she breathed.
He looked at her quizzically for a moment and then sat down beside her.
Taking her hand, he asked, “Sorry for what, love?”
“I get it now,” she looked him in the eye seriously, “I get how hard it is to be so close, to want it so much but to have to wait. I didn’t really understand before, but I do now.”
The look of confusion was still on his face so she continued, “I’ve really been quite a tease, haven’t I? It wasn’t intentional. I just love the way you look at me, the way you touch me. It never dawned on me how difficult it must be for you to hold back all the time. I know you’re,” she stared down at the floor, “experienced. It must be very frustrating to go back to just snogging after having had more…intimate relationships, especially with me walking around half naked. I’m sorry for making it more difficult.”
Draco struggled not to laugh. She was being so earnest and sweet. He wondered where this declaration came from. He’d always tried not to do anything that would make her feel guilty about wanting to wait.
“Darling, I appreciate your sincerity but honestly, I don’t mind waiting. I love your sexy little pajamas, although I’ll admit I’d rather Creevey didn’t get the privilege of seeing them. Those are minor things though, Ginny. There are times that what I want more than anything is to make love to you. Sometimes it is hard to hold back but it’s not because I’ve shagged a couple other girls and I miss getting laid. Those relationships weren’t intimate, they were cheap and shallow. What I want with you is so much more than that. When we make love I want it to be a complete sharing of ourselves. You aren’t ready for that, so even if you were to lay down naked in front of me right now I would resist. I don’t want to shag you; I want to be a part of you. Until that can happen, I’ll just enjoy the snogging.”
With that he pulled her onto his lap and lightly kissed her lips. Ginny wrapped her arms around him and hugged him fiercely. They cuddled and kissed there for quite a while. Eventually, Draco picked her up and lay her down on the bed. Tucking her in, he kissed her on the forehead and slipped around to his own bed.
“Dray,” she whispered.
“Yes.”
“Goodnight.”
“Goodnight, love.”
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