Workplace Romance: [Draco/Hermione]
December in London usually wasn't particularly cold. It was rainy and dreary but always above freezing -- not this year. The streets whipped with a fierce wind and snow blew, blanketing the busy city in a white powder. Normally, Hermione was glad that she didn't drive but that evening was not one of those days. Clutching her trench coat to her body, she ducked her head down and hurried to the sports bar her company had rented out for the night for a christmas party. Making it there, she quickly pulled open the door and let herself in. She was one of the first to arrive, it seemed, seeing as there weren't too many people there just yet.
Draco was in the main tv room of the sports bar, trying to get the people they had hired to set up the decorations /right/. Of course they couldn't. They were buffoons. Looking up at the gust of wind, he smiled. "Hermione! Finally someone who can do something right. Maybe you can explain what I want in a way these people can understand." He walked over to her and gave her a hug and a pat on the back before putting an arm around her shoulder and drawing her further into the room. "See I want the garlands to hang from the walls just so... The way they have it is all wrong. You see that, right?"
Hermione had only just taken off her coat when Draco called out to her. Looking up, she smiled and folded it over her arm. "Draco." she said easily. Letting him lead her around, her free hand worked at the scarf wrapped around her neck, loosening it and slowly pulling it off. She was wearing a little black dress that ended right at her knees and showed a little more clevage than she usually did. Normally she was pretty buttoned up, but it was Christmas, what the hell, right? Eyeing the garland, she cocked her head to the side. They seemed fine to her but sometimes that wasn't the point. "Take them all down." she said to the men that were hanging decorations. Put them up a little lower and to the left." It wasn't needed but she had a feeling that Draco would be appeased so long as they seemed to be doing /something/.
"That's my girl," he said, gesturing to the men to get to work as he lead Hermione away again. "How about a drink? We got an open bar. Get whatever you like." He smiled and leaned against the bar. "You like that Christmas bonus? Sales are up 33% from the projections. Keep doing work like this and we'll all be rolling in it." He tapped the bar. "Bartender, scotch."
Pleased with herself, she followed him to the bar and slid up onto a stool. "A drink sounds nice." she hummed. Setting her coat down in her lap, she tugged off her gloves and tucked them into a pocket. "Yes, it was very genorous. The new project manager is really working out." Smiling, she looked up at the bartender. "Martini, two olives, please."
The bartender nodded and poured Draco's drink first before going to make hers. "Of course he is. He's the best in the field. At least that's what he told me. And I only take the best. But I don't have to tell you that, right?" He chuckled and sipped his drink. "You got any plans for the holiday?"
Looking back at Draco, she just smiled at him and good naturedly rolled her eyes. "Yes, I know." She hummed. When the bartender set down her martini, she nodded her thanks. "No plans. Normally I'd go to France with my parents, we have family there but... not this year. I thought I might go do some skii'ing, I don't know." she shrugged. She didn't really have anyone to drag along with her, though, so perhaps not. All of her friends were busy. "What about you?" Lifting her drink, she took a small sip.
[ | Edited 12:21:23 AM] "Have you ever gone skiing before?" he asked, raising an interested brow. He had already known about the family in France from her interview. "I frequent a lodge up north a bit. Though I prefer snowboarding myself." At her question he shrugged. "No plans... Probably just work."
"Yes. I have. Frequently, actually. Before university I went every year." she chuckled. "Can't say I've snowboarded, though." Taking another sip, she sighed and dragged a finger around the lip of her glass. "That's terribly drull, you should do something fun." Not that she was one to speak -- at all.
He shrugged. "Maybe if I had someone to go do something with I would make plans." He shrugged and took a sip of his drink. "Snowboarding is fun though." He looked up as more people began to arrive and the music got a little louder.
[ | Edited 12:27:07 AM] "That I can commiserate with." She chuckled almost humorlessly. "It seems as though all of my friends are busy this Christmas. It's a pitty." Looking up at him, she held up her drink. "To... Christmas's alone with our work?" she chuckled.
"And alcohol," he added, bringing his glass to hers. He smiled and knocked back the last of his scotch. "I have to go work at this ruddy speech. You go on and go mingle. Enjoy the party. I'll find you again later." He smiled.
Tipping back the last reminants of her martini, she set the glass on the counter and leaned back in her seat. "Of course. Good luck, Draco." Smiling back, she turned her attention to the party that was finally starting up. After a second, she slid off the stool to go find someone to talk to -- a few of the secretaries from the executives offices that she knew stood out, so she made her way to them.
It was about an hour later when Draco went up to address the amassed crowd with a few words on the close of the year and the start of a new one. After that he had reiterated the free drinks and announced that everyone at the party would be getting a door prize in the form of a new phone. The new iPhone 6. Personalized with an engraving from him. Congrats everyone.
The round of applause was hearty, as was the next round of drinks. Hermione was good and tipsy as she finally made her way back to the bar. She'd only just slipped away from the girls to grab another drink -- some bright looking coctail that tasted like cherries. At this point she was starting to consider heading home, but it was cold out there, and the prospect of heading back into it was daunting.
Draco had happened to make it to the bar at the same time as her and smiled. "Hey Hermione. Fancy running into you here again. Are you enjoying your night?"
"Oh, Draco." She swayed just slightly before she leaned back, letting the bar support her weight. "Yes, it's been a great night. Thank you." she laughed a bit, not entirely sure what she was laughing at. "Yourself? That was a wonderful speech."
He made a face and shook his head. "That? That was shit. Pure and utter bull shit. But it was fun. And short. People like short. Let's them get back to drinking faster." He smiled and sipped his fresh drink.
Chuckling, she shrugged. "Well... I guess it wasn't great, but it was good." When the bartender appeared behind her, she turned and smiled a bit wider, accepting the drink. "Thank you." she hummed happily. Lifting it to her lips she hummed and took a sip.
"So where are you headed? Am I interrupting you getting back to a conversation?" he asked, looking around for any groups that may be looking for her company.
She shook her head no and set her drink down. "No, no where. The girls I was talking to are leaving but I wasn't entirely ready for that. Thought maybe one more drink and... I don't know." she shrugged.
He nodded and looked back at her. "Yeah. I know what you mean. It's a nightmare out there. I miss the states sometimes. Hey. You wanna brave it together? I should be getting home. I have golf in the morning."
Glancing to the door, she nodded. "Alright. May as well. Did you drive?" she asked, glancing back up at him. Setting down her drink, she gave Draco her full attention. Unconciously, her eyes drifted down his body, unable to help but look -- he was an attractive man. Sue her.
He shook his head. "Nah. It would be stupid to drive to something like this. You just have to get a cab back anyways." He stood up and offered her his arm, smiling as she took it and leading her to the door. They paused to get his things and then were out, getting one of the taxis that were waiting on the curb. Draco gave his address first and then glanced at her. "Where you headed?"
It was bitterly cold outside and Hermione at once regretted the dress she'd worn. Her arms and legs felt like icesicles and snow got in her hair -- but the bitting cold brought a pink hue to her skin which looked nice in contrast to how pale she was. In the warmth of the taxi, she sighed and rattled off her address, she was a bit further out of the way than Draco was.
The driver nodded and then they were off. When they had gotten in the car, Draco had settled almost inappropriately close to Hermione and now that they were moving he couldn't be bothered to actually scoot over, especially since she didn't seem to be protesting.
Hermione could feel the warmth radiating off of Draco and like a moth to the flame she was instantly attracted to it. She found herself leaning in closer until finally her bare arm was pressed against his suit.
Looking down at her, Draco paused for a moment. Without thinking, he leaned in and pressed his lips to hers for a quick kiss. Almost instantly his brain kicked in and he pulled away. "Sorry. I apologize. That was. That was inappropriate..." He scooted a little further over on the seat.
Hermione blinked, stunned into inactivity. Maybe she'd had a little bit more to drink than she remembered because the next thing she knew, she was scooting back in against him. Reaching up, she cupped his cheek and pulled him down for a kiss. He had started this, she reminded herself when her mind tried to nag at her to stop.
It didn't take more than half a second for Draco to respond. All barriers dropped he started full on snogging her. He had definitely had more to drink than he had thought or intended. When they finally broke the kiss she was practically in his lap and her lips were red from their kissing and his teeth nipping at them.
Panting hard, she pressed her forehead against his, eyes half lidded and staring at his lips. She shifted before leaning in and kissing him again, soft and fleeting, then again and again.
Draco groaned and melted against her, his arms wrapping around her. Next time he opened his eyes, the taxi was stopped in front of his townhouse. Handing the driver his card, he got out, looking at the house and then at Hermione. He wasn't ready to say good night yet. "You want to come inside for another drink?" he asked, leaning into the car.
Feeling him shift, Hermione nearly whined when Draco carefully slid out from under her. Looking up at him as he leaned into the car to peer down at her, she considered her options briefly -- there was only one good answer, though. Nodding, she grabbed her things and carefully slid out of the car, back in the cold night.
He smiled and tipped the driver before hurrying up to his door and letting them both into the house and closing the door behind them. For a moment he paused in the entryway before he took off his jacket and then offered to take hers.
[ | Edited 1:09:02 AM] "Thanks." she hummed softly, handing the coat over to him. Her hands smoothed over her dress as the nerves suddenly hit her hard. "So... what do you have to drink?" she asked, glancing around his town house. "You have a nice place..."
He smiled. "Thank you. And I have anything you want. Name your drink, I'll make it for you." He smiled and led her into the study which had practically a full bar tucked away in the corner, complete with a counter.
"Hmmm... Should I be nice and pick something simple, or go hard and test your bartending skills?" Smiling widely, she followed him up to the elaborate bar he had set up. Sliding onto one of the stools in front of it, she folded her arms on the counter and leaned forward, unaware of how it accenstuated her bust.
[ | Edited 1:12:56 AM] He smiled and his eyes drifted down before coming back up. "Why don't you go hard?" he asked, lips quirking up. "I'm in the mood for a challenge."
Her lips twisted up in a smirk, mind instantly drifting. What the hell was she thinking. "Alright... how about... a... sex on the beach?" She requested, a brow raising.
He smiled and leaned against the bar. "Sure. What beach?" It was way over the line and a lot corny and he never would had said it sober, but there it was.
Spluttering a laugh, she bit down on her bottom lip and she looked up at him through her lashes. "A warm one." she said cheekily, unable to help herself. She'd definitely had too much to drink.
"Mmm... So no where here... The Bahamas, maybe?" He smiled. "Well if we ever run into each other on a warm beach, I will take you up on that offer. Now for your drink." He winked and moved to the side, pulling out some bottles and the mixer.
"You're the one that made the offer." she chuckled. Leaning back, she watched him work, head cocked to the side as he mixed up the different liquors and juices.
He slid the drink in front of her with a smile a minute later. "There you go. Sex on the beach in the Bahamas." He leaned against the bar, his silver eyes shining as he looked at her, eyes darting down to her cleavage every few moments.
She caught sight of his gaze and glanced down. Licking her lips, she pressed a bit more forward, giving him a better view of her clevage as she picked up the drink. Humming softly, she took a sip. "It's good."
"Yeah it is," he hummed, not talking about the drink. He blinked after a moment, looking up at her. "Oh. I mean, thank you. I try." He smiled sheepishly.
Her eyebrows raised at that and she set the drink down. "Yeah what?" she pressed lightly, wanting to hear him say it even if she had an idea what it was.
"Huh? Oh. Nothing. I... Nothing." He smiled and straightened, wiping up the bar, at least that's what he tried to do. Instead he over corrected pushing himself up an ended up falling back on his ass, knocking over several bottles in the process.
Hermione laughed. She couldn't help it. The sound just spilled over her lips. Climbing up out of her seat, she stumbled around to the other side of the bar and dropped down to her knees next to him. Thankfully none of the bottles had broken. "Are you alright?"
"Mmm... Maybe. Let's check," he groaned, sitting up a little and working his arms this way and that. Looking up at her, he found that him sitting up had but them right on eye level again, inches apart. "Hi..." he murmured. "I think... I'm alright."
One of her hands pushed out, lightly grabbing his shoulder. "You sure?" she asked. Lips twitching up, she giggled lightly. "Sorry. Sorry. This isn't funny. Not at all."
Draco chuckled faintly and shook his head. "No no it's not. Your laughter is so uncalled for." He shifted forward again to sit up more, putting his lips closer to hers. A moment later he closed the gap and kissed her again, pressing their lips together sweetly.
The kiss was unexpected and for a moment she didn't react but then she melted into him. The hand on his shoulder slid back to his neck, fingers lightly pushing into the soft hair at the nape.
Draco hummed and sat back again, pushing the bottles away and pulling her with him. "Mmm..." His hands reached around to splay across her back gently.
She climbed up into his lap, her legs straddling him. Arms looped over his shoulders and she leaned in against him. "Mmm." she hummed right back as she pressed their lips together in a soft kiss.
"Did I already give you your drink?" He asked. His brain was a little muddled. He looked around at the bottles. "If not. I can make you another one. Or something."
"Don't want a drink." Hermione muttered. Her forehead pressed against his temple as she leaned in. Lips trailed down his cheek to his jaw, down to his neck.
"Oh..." He licked his lips and looked down at her, or tried to but found it a bit difficult in the position. "What do you want?" he asked.
Her lips parted and she sucked gently at his neck. Her teeth scraped against the soft skin and after a second she pulled back to look at him. "You." she breathed. "You want that too, don't you?" The alcohol in her system made everything hazy, caused her to do things she normally wouldn't have.
Draco swallowed lightly and nodded. "Oh yeah, that is what I've been thinking about ever since we kissed the first time..." He bit at her lip lightly. "You wanna go up to my room?" he asked.
Nipping back at his lip, she broke away. Reaching up, she grabbed the counter behind her and pulled herself up onto shaky legs. "Mmm, lets go." she hummed, smiling down at him.
He scrambled to his feet and attempted to straighten is suit before grabbing her by the hand and taking her up he stairs to his bedroom.
She laced their fingers together and followed him up the steps easily. When they made it to his bedroom, she let go of him and stopped. Reaching up, she grabbed the elastic band that held her hair in a bun and tugged it out, letting it fall down around her shoulders in ringlets.