They took their tea and torte into the parlor where the fire crackling in the fireplace was once again at its peak. They shirked the chairs that were their customary place to sit and settled onto the couch instead, a tense energy radiating between them.

Neither spoke nor touched their dessert and drink for several minutes, Hermione being content enough to draw her legs onto the couch and gaze into the fire, and Severus's eyes firmly planted on his (still bare) feet. She cleared her throat and twisted around to look at him, "I really enjoyed dinner Severus, thank you."

He made a noncommittal noise deep in his throat. Hermione sighed and tried again, "I'm looking forward to the tea, it was delicious the last time I tasted it. I'm thrilled I get a cup all to myself so I don't have to share."

Severus glanced at her finally, eyes barely containing the feral edge lurking beneath, "Thank you. I hope it met your expectations."

"I'm sure it will surpass it. Many things have tonight." She said seriously covering one of his hands with hers.

His eyes darkened as he glanced down at their hands and then up to her eyes, noticing how her throat bobbed as she swallowed, "Hermione," he began hesitantly and intertwined his fingers with hers, "I-I apologize for any uneasiness I may have caused you this evening. If my advances are coming at an inopportune time I understand. If my feelings are simply that, mine alone, then we can forget this ever happened. We will call this an evening dinner as friends and never mention it again. I only hope you will not feel less of me."

The way in which Hermione was looking at him now made him more aware of being alive. Her brown eyes were narrow and scrutinizing. He somehow felt a lecture was coming on. But it never did.

Hermione removed her hand from his and retrieved her plate of torte and the dessert fork that lay beside it. The fork cut through the dessert easily, the chocolate cake soft and raspberry filling oozing slightly onto the white china plate. She brought it to her lips and took a bite, her eyes never leaving Severus's. She then cut another piece and held it out to him, waiting. Unsure, he glanced from the torte back to her eyes. Saying nothing she simply brought it closer to his lips. Severus opened his mouth and allowed her to feed him, the chocolate cake melting on his tongue and raspberry contrasting in a tangy note making him crave more. His eyes fell closed and unexpected groan of pleasure escaped him, and then another taste was upon his lips:

Strawberries.

The cake, fork, and torte all clanged to the ground as Hermione's arms came to wrap around Severus's neck, her lips moving on his.

Severus dragged her up on his lap, hands winding into her hair and pelvis grinding against her hot core. She was making noises, beautiful, poetic noises in-between kisses that he had never heard from any woman in his presence. He triumphed inwardly, allowing his hands to wander from her hair, down her back to cup her bottom squeezing lightly and pulling her even closer to him.

His mind was swimming, his breath was coming quicker, if he didn't come up for air he might drown. When he did finally pull back it was with a husky growl and Hermione made a small noise of protest. He raised his hands to cup her hot cheeks and brought her forehead to rest against his, their panting breaths mingling between them, "Why?" he asked and didn't recognize his own voice. It was soft, vulnerable, pleading, "Please Hermione,"

"Because I love you," Was her breathy reply, "Simple as cake."

Something inside Severus changed at that moment. Never before had he thought about his future, simply resigning himself to life alone. Images of good morning kisses, children with his ebony hair and Hermione's nose playing in a backyard filled with green grass and sweet smells, of eating chocolate torte and drinking tea forever by her side filled him to the brim and before he knew it hot tears were coming down his high cheekbones in small rivers. Hermione brushed them away with her delicate hands and began kissing his face, "Severus, what's wrong? What have I done? I'm so sorry,"

Too often had he been lonely. Too often had he been told he was ugly. And too often had he not gone after what he wanted for fear of rejection. This beautiful, smart, witty and sometimes infuriating woman was what he wanted. She was here, she was real. Her hands were in his hair and her lips were on his face and he didn't wish for a single thing else in the world.

"Hermione," he breathed, taking her hands in his own, "You have done everything." And he swept her up and off the couch, her shoes falling off and following the fate of the torte. "You have come into my dreary little home and brought the sun, you have seduced me with you intellect, and have left me wanting your body at night since you knocked that first time on my front door."

Hermione was only vaguely aware of the creaking of his footsteps on the stairs, concentrating instead on the bass his voice was sending through her body, "Why haven't you said anything?" she whispered.

He knocked open a door with his foot and Hermione was met with his room. There was another smaller fireplace, alive and warm. The rest of the room was unlit, the shadows of the firelight the only thing illuminating the large four poster bed at the opposing corner of his bedchambers. His bed linens were a warm cream, the comforter surprisingly plush and a warm chocolate brown. She glanced up at him questioningly and he smirked, "Dearest, I look atrocious in green. Were you expecting Slytherin green? To tell the truth, I've always despised my former houses colors." He carried her to the bed and laid her down upon it, stealing a long kiss once she was stretched out, "In answer to you other question," he spoke between kisses, "I was afraid you'd think me some old pedophile," he moved his kisses to her throat, encouraged when she groaned, "I was afraid your gaggle of testosterone laden dolts would convince you to be with them instead."

"Harry and Ron?" she managed to breathe, "Oh heavens no."

He chuckled against her collar bone, "It was an honest fear."

She managed something that sounded like, "no competition," before moaning as Severus traced his finger up her leg.

Suddenly he pulled up and hovered over her, uncertainty creeping into his eyes. She touched his face wistfully, "What's wrong?"

He sighed heavily, "I… have something to confess. I'm not very skilled at… being, well, intimate."

Hermione's eyes lit up with understanding, "Oh thank heavens, I thought I was doing something wrong."

Severus scowled, "That's not giving me a vote of confidence."

Laughing airily, she pulled him back down to lay beside her, intertwining her legs between his, "Silly man,' she grinned, "I'm inexperienced too. That's nothing to be ashamed of. I'd say if what you've already shown me is a prelude of what's to come, I might as well just surrender to you now."

He looked at her through his lashes, "You've never…" he said quietly trailing off.

"Nope," she responded, kissing his nose, "And you?"

"Never." He whispered.

Her smile lit every dark place in his heart, "Looks like we were both waiting for the right piece to complete our puzzle."

Releasing a groan, he captured her mouth in an intense kiss. Tongues caressed, fingers were roaming under clothing and sweet promises were spoken in hushed tones. Before long, Hermione began to edge up the bottom of Severus's jumper and he stopped her hand, "Hermione," he pleaded, "If you do that, I can't guarantee I'll be able to stop. We both have never done this before and-"

With a purse of her lips and a good natured scowl, Hermione continued lifting up the article of clothing over his surprising broad shoulders. Finally giving in, he allowed her to pull it over his head and down his long arms.

"Lie back," she whispered and he obliged. Being half naked under her gaze was one of the most terrifying moments of Severus's life. He shut his eyes tightly until she kissed his lips, "Severus you're beautiful. Please look at me."

He did, and she smiled. Severus knew he wasn't exactly a specimen of 'all that is man.' His torso was a tad too thin despite his love of sweets. His skin was mottled with scars and while he didn't usually mind them, he was suddenly self-conscious under the eyes of the young woman above him. His dark mark stood out on his forearm, an ink blot on his pale skin and he wondered if she even remembered he had it. "I wish I had more to offer…" he murmured, but she silenced him with a finger on his lips which he kissed.

"Would you like to know what I see?" she waggled her eyebrows in such a way that Severus couldn't help but smirk. She picked up his left hand and splayed his fingers, "I see your hands. They're big, strong hands. One might never guess that you handle potions for a living. They're the hands of a man who has worked, and clawed and fought to survive. And I love them" she kissed each finger, adding a lick to his index finger which earned her a hip buck and groan from him. Empowered, she moved to his forearm, to his dark mark. He made a move to stop her but her knowing glance caused him to pause. "When I see your mark," she continued "I see a man in conflict. One who has been hurt and confused. You longed to fit in, like any young man. It's a remembrance of your past, and who you are now. And I love it too." Here she brought her lips to it, and gave it a lingering kiss. Now she straddled his hips, his erection pressing against her heat through her jeans, causing them to both groan. "Your scars," she breathed, running her fingers along the length of the silvery, near fatal wound on his neck, "Tell me that you are a survivor. Not even a poisonous Horcrux tearing into your throat could do you in. I was so afraid," her voice dropped to a whisper, "When we found you bleeding. I didn't want to leave you. I knew it was going to be the last time," and here her voice broke.

Hermione sniffed, and Severus brought his hand to her face to catch the tears that began to fall, "But I didn't." he murmured. "It hurt quite badly. I thought that I may finally find some peace in death. That all the pain I've encountered in my life would finally be at an end. But somehow, I knew it wasn't my time. I fell into unconsciousness and when I awoke I was in St. Mungos, and I was being called 'a miracle in magic.' Because I had survived. At first I was angry, I had wanted to die. The idea of living just seemed unfair. I knew I didn't want to teach anymore, I wanted to create. I wanted to brew again. So, I set up shop out of my home. The orders became too overwhelming and I knew I needed an assistant, so I placed an ad in The Daily Prophet," here he paused and ran his hands up her sides, causing her to rock pleasantly against him, " and here waltzed in this beautiful brunette," he purred, "coming in to tempt me, A former, insufferable little know-it-all ex-student nonetheless. You have driven me mad with desire since I hired you."

She flashed him a large smile, "And now that you have me…?"

Severus's face became quite serious then, his fingers lightly brushing down her throat "I have no intention of letting you leave. Unless this proves to be too much," his fingers caressed over her breasts and stopped, making her shiver, "I am at your mercy, for as long as you want me." He whispered. Hermione's heart fluttered under his fingertips and he smiled an honest to goodness smile, "I feel that this pleases you. Your heart told me so." And he drew her lips back to his and began to devour her mouth.

Hermione groaned as Severus flipped her onto her back, giggling as his long hair tickled her nose. "May I touch you?" he rumbled.

Hermione smiled under his lips, "I'm yours Severus."

With a moan he pulled away, hands coming to the waistband of her jeans, pulling what little of her shirt was tucked in free. "I'm going to touch your stomach," he murmured, pushing the fabric under her breasts. His mouth dropped open as he took in the expanse of her milky skin. While not fit, she was slender like a ballerina, her stomach taut and soft all at the same time. His long fingers touched her abdomen and watched in fascination as it contracted with his caress, "Did I hurt you?" he asked quietly.

"Heavens no," she gave a breathy laugh, "more."

Severus smiled and brought his lips to her skin, laying a soft kiss right under her belly button. Her small hands fisted in the comforter, and encouraged he continued. He slowly kissed around her stomach, taking an occasional nip and then lavishing it with his tongue. He made his way to her hipbone, and bit down gently. Hermione was panting now, her legs making small jerking movements. "Patience darling," he whispered huskily, "I want this to be extravagant for you. And for me"

He brought his hands again to her shirt and began to gently tug it off. Hermione lifted her arms obediently, a very Snape-like smirk tickling her lips. "What has you in such a good mood?" Severus teased, flinging the garment over his shoulder.

"Hm, well I have a sexy man removing my clothing for one," she responded cheekily.

"Ah, well that is a good reason." He affirmed, eyes fixated on her perky breasts.

Hermione laughed and taking his hands in hers, brought them up to cover her soft mounds "They're yours to touch."

Severus groaned and squeezed, delighting in how it made the woman beneath him arch off the bed, "You didn't wear a bra tonight you wicked thing."

She raised both eyebrows in mock innocence, "I didn't? How improper of me."

"I believe you did It on purpose," he chuffed accusingly, hands still massaging her soft flesh "to torture a poor old man and give him a heart attack."

She whimpered in pleasure and giggled, "You're hardly old Severus."

"Debatable." He said sourly, leaning over to kiss the top of each breast. Hermione moaned and arched into his chest, their bare flesh meeting and causing Severus to sigh contentedly. He brought his nose down and began to trace the curve of her right breast, tracing down to her erect pink nipple. Glancing up at her, he flicked his tongue and felt a sudden rush of lust as she mewled and twitched beneath him. He began to lavish her then with his tongue, suckling one breast and then the other greedily.

Severus's hand trailed down her chest, past her abdomen and into the soft patch of hair covering her womanhood. He moaned as his fingers traced along the moist folds and rubbed along the sensitive bundle of nerves there, Hermione's soft noises becoming louder by the moment before he felt her tense beneath him and release a shuddering breath of pleasure before melting back into the bed.

He glanced shyly up at her only to meet her lazy smile. Hermione wound her hands back into his hair and brought his mouth to hers. In between long kisses he managed to remove his trousers and position himself between her legs. Clutching one another, he moved forward and melted into her, their moans echoing in the small warm house, his soft "I love you's," being breathed into her ear.

The wall that greeted him inside of her was gently broken, and for a long minute they were content to just be one. As Hermione adjusted to him finally, she gave her hips a roll that nearly shattered Severus's composure then and there. Groaning, he pulled back and pushed back into her again. After several long thrusts, a tension began to grow in his loins until finally Hermione's walls shuddered around him in climax and he followed quickly after, their cries harmonizing together as he collapsed against her.

After what seemed like an immeasurable silence, Severus removed himself from her and gathered her in his arms placing a kiss on her brow. Hermione sighed contentedly and whispered, "So, what happens now?"

A very serious question had reared its head, and Severus was pleased to realize the answer to it was the easiest one he'd ever made. He pulled back to look at her, his infamous scowl pulling across his features although his voice was gentle as he said, "You will stay her tonight. Tomorrow, you will begin the process of moving all your possessions and the clod of hair you call Crookshanks from your apartment and bring them here. You will live here, with me, and we will begin the process of becoming emotionally and legally bound to one another. The matter of a ceremonial band will take place soon after."

Hermione's eyes lit with understanding and she smiled, "That was the most romantic proposal I've ever heard."

Severus smirked, "I'm glad you think so. I'd be lying if I said I haven't been considering it since the moment you walked in my door tonight."

"Then yes." She murmured, pulling him to her in a passionate kiss.

After a heated exchange of lips and tongue he growled and pulled away before moving down her body, "You mouth tastes so sweet, I wonder if you taste as sweet in other places…"

The tea on the coffee table was forgotten until the next morning.

The End