Dec. 22 '77: Green Eyes, Red Handed: Lily

[James Potter]

▶︎ you've got me wrapped around your finger,
you know just good as i do…

After spending the last few nights sleeping in Lily's sister's old room, James had figured he'd plop down onto his own bed and knock out easily tonight. He was home, all the right smells and sights were there; it was familiar as anything could be, in stark contrast to the abandoned bedroom of the muggle woman determined to despise him. He didn't miss that space, Merlin no - Petunia was a tidy sort, and he'd never been so surrounded by various shades of beige - and even though he'd only been home since breakfast, and even though he knew it was pathetic, he missed Lily. Spending the time with her and her family - yes, even the sister and soon-to-be brother-in-law - was important, and mostly enjoyable, and while he loved his own family, he hadn't been ready to come home without his girlfriend. And sure, she'd be by for the Christmas party and stay a bit, and that was in only a few days...

James reached out to his nightstand to grab his wand and lit it, pointing at the ticking little clock to find it was nearly midnight. It was late, the house was quiet, Lily's had to be too, she was probably sleeping...

But what if she's not?

    Send an owl?

Even as he thought of the logical means of checking up on her, once he'd thought of a more tempting one, it was impossible to get out of his mind. And she won't mind, right? The Evans house was full of wedding planning for Petunia and Vernon, and it wasn't the most comfortable thing for Lily or himself. Her, mainly - that her own sister didn't want her involved at all in the day was something that even his optimistic self had had difficulty spinning into something positive, so he'd done what he could to take Lily's mind off of it, ensure she enjoyed her holiday too, that it wasn't all about Petunia. Surely she'd survived the day, but he'd caught himself thinking of how she was faring without him, hoping she wasn't letting her sister's unforgivable behavior petulance get the better of her. 

And, really, the best way to see how the day had gone was to ask her, wasn't it? 

Feeling like he was back in school, in his younger years, preparing to sneak out of the Tower and plant a prank for the morning, James quietly swung his legs over the edge of his bed and stepped out of it, reenergized as could be. He dressed quickly, a Gryffindor pullover and Quidditch sweats, worn-in sneakers, and crept from his room, past Sirius', down the stairs, to the fireplace in the sitting room. In only a few moments, there was an emerald fire in the hearth - its green was pale in comparison to her eyes - and he ducked into it, speaking her household's name as clearly as he could in a low tone. He held his limbs in as well as he could, bumping through the Network until he stumbled out of the Evans's fireplace with a bit of a strangled cough. With a silent spell, James cleaned himself and the carpet of soot and nearly tip-toed through the sleeping house, careful to avoid the one creaking stair, until he was at her door. He looked over his shoulder towards her parents' room, but seeing nothing stirring in the darkness, gave her door a light rap with his knuckles.

"Right, I know it's stupid," he whispered with half a laugh, the idiocy of the late night idea coming into full view as she did, "I just - wanted to say goodnight properly. I missed you today. Can I come in?"

[Lily Potter]

Gasping, Lily sat straight up in bed, her breathing labored. Her mind, which in any normal circumstance would be sharp, was addled now and it took her a moment to piece together her surroundings and the distinct feeling of danger that coursed through her body. With a shaky hand, she reached out and flicked on the lamp by her bedside, listening with all of her might as she snatched up her wand, gripping it tightly. There it was again, a noise. Lily was out of the bed in a split second, nearly standing on tiptoe in her anticipation, her wand trained on her bedroom door as she inched closer. Her mind catching up with her warned her that the first sound that had woken her from her light sleep, having been up past eleven missing James' steady presence and crying over her sister, was the sound of the floo activating. Therefore, whoever was in the house was also holding a wand. Her grip tightened.

She reached for the knob, worried for her parents when a soft knock nearly made her scream. Her free hand flew to her mouth and she took a step back. But her hand was soon holding a laugh instead of a scream of terror. "James." she breathed out, the threat she had felt disappearing like ice in boiling water. Lily wavered, the adrenaline from the last few minutes was still pulsing through her. and it made her hand tremble. She took a deep breath to calm herself and went for the knob again, only to pull back for a second time. "Shoot!" she whispered under her breath, scurrying over on light feet to her closet and tossing James' present, still in a brown paper purchase bag, into a dark corner. She had just gotten it earlier in the day- she had met up with Dorcas by total happenstance and the other girl had really helped her out with getting something for her Head Boy- and hadn't had time to wrap it.

"Did you seriously floo over and scare me half to death just to say goodnight?" she asked in a hissed whisper only a few seconds later as she opened her bedroom door to admit her boyfriend. The redhead poked her head out to make sure no-one was stirring before locking them both safely inside. She turned to James, she had been missing him since he had left and she was happy to see him now, even if her heart still pumped hard at the fright. It had felt somehow wrong when he had gone back home, even though she knew that they would be seeing each other on Christmas and for a number of days after that when she would be having her turn to stay at his place. She still hadn't liked it, and that had scared her a little, but that feeling was gone now as she looked on him. He looked cozy in his sweats and still handsome as ever. Lily shifted, feeling oddly exposed in just her nightgown. To cover that feeling she closed the distance between them and wrapped her arms around his neck, snuggling into his warmth. "What am I going to do with you, James Potter?"

[James Potter]

James hardly breathed as he waited for her to get the door.

You're such a bleedin' idiot - didn't even stop to nab the Cloak? What's wrong with you?

He almost laughed at the realization, nearly ruining the whole thing. His head certainly wasn't on straight tonight, but the nervous energy at the risk was good for him. How many times had he felt this way when out with the boys? Acting like fools, scrambling around the Forest, staying up all hours just to ensure a point was made to an arse who'd said something rude to a friend. And to have spent the months since becoming Head Boy actively avoiding the actions that led to that feeling, to have it back now - he'd be proper giddy from it if she made him wait much longer.

He could hear Lily scrambling around inside, and he just had to stay quiet to not blow his cover to her parents - would undo all the good work and proper rule-abiding he'd done these last days - and what was she doing that was taking her so long anyway? Granted, you did surprise her with this. And she was probably knackered from the day. And maybe she wasn't dressed - Thankfully this line of musing was cut short and he wasn't told off and sent away when she opened up, although he did feel quite terribly about having scared her, that wasn't the plan (however little of a plan there was). James silently scooted inside with the yes, I know this was too much, but I know you like me for it grin that usually got him off the hook and into her good graces if he went overboard with an idea, and gave a theatrical exhale once the door was shut. 

And...locked? Not taking any risks we're interrupted - caught - are you Evans? He winked as Lily came to him with that look, her eyes keen and happy despite the hour and the shock, opening his arms to her for her to tuck into. James's grin widened at her words and he let a soft laugh go, giving her a squeeze. What're you going to do with me? Aw hell, Lily - all you can do is keep me, I'm not going anywhere. 

"I'm sorry babe, really, didn't mean to cause a fright," he whispered, catching her eye with his guilty but undeniably still excited one. "Didn't think that far into it at all, actually. I couldn't sleep, and I thought on it, and it didn't strike me as right to let the day go without popping by to see you again. Once the idea was there, well - I can't control all of my impulses." The last came off with a bit more cheek than intended, but it stood, and he didn't let himself laugh it off, even if it was a slip. Because this woman in his arms, cuddled in against the winter's chill, barefoot in a nightdress, red hair sleep-mussed with strays backlit by the bedside lamp and freckles standing out more perfectly in the absence of any makeup - she was well on her way to being his everything, to sharing moments and experiences with he'd never had with anyone else. And as the moments passed, he realized that there were quite a few holes he could fall in with this stunt. There was being caught by her parents, of course - they'd allowed him into their home but set parameters that he was currently breaking by being in her bedroom with the door closed. And he supposed it really didn't look all that innocent, showing up at her door so late, however honest his original intent was. And he did still want to know the successes and pitfalls of her day, to make sure she felt wanted by him when the puffiness around her eyes showed she wasn't feeling that from her sister - or so he surmised, maybe something else had set her off, but Petunia had a way of twisting a corkscrew through Lily's heart that he figured rivaled only the hurt done by Snape - but would it be the worst if they happened to have a bit of a snog too?

No, no, that wouldn't be bad at all.

He leaned in to kiss her and to him, perhaps it was being here or recent thoughts of impulses or simply the delusions that came with the late hour - it all felt more. More intimate and serious and right, despite the impropriety, and...more like something he didn't want to think of spending another night without, or something he wanted to stop.

You're mad, Potter.

    Yes. And reveling in it. 

"...goodnight, then." Hands caught in the back of her dress and hair, whisper hoarse and eyes dark, the statement being taken as right, so, leaving now could hardly happen. What was that about impulse control? James cleared his throat and gave a small smile, stepping back with her hands in his until he'd run into the bed. He sat on the rumpled spread and looked up at her, wanting but doing what he could to push that back. Only been together a few weeks. Haven't told her you love her. Her parents are down the hall. Not how you want to cross that bridge. "Successful escape to Diagon Alley?" he asked, hushed, look shifting into the one he took on when working out a puzzle. "Nothing for me to find anywhere in here, is there?"

[Lily Potter]

"I'm glad you came by." she admitted, tilting her head up to see him properly. "Though maybe next time, a warning would be nice." Sure, he had given her quite the startle and that was frustrating but she found she couldn't stay mad at him for very long. Not like she used to. Now she could only agree, he felt right that they were seeing each other now. Wrapped in his arms she felt so much better and the irritated feeling in her eyes from crying didn't irritate her quite so much. She sighed and closed her eyes for a moment. Today had been fun with Doe but it was nice to get to see him at the end of the day, to listen to the rumble of his voice through the muscles of his chest. She smiled at his words, looking up at him. "Impulses mhm?"

Then he was kissing her and she felt the almost familiar wash of bliss flood her body. She felt whole and complete in herself, until he touched her and then she remembered what she was missing and before long they were entangled in each other. With only a cloth barrier in the chill of the room, Lily felt the heat of it all acutely, and when she pulled away she was breathing in great gulps. Her boyfriends hand was tangled in her hair and her gown and her own hands were gripping his shoulders with near desperation. James recovered first, pulling away and tugging her along until he was sitting on her bed -he looked good there.

Grabbing his face in both of her hands she turned his eyes to hers. "Of course not." she said innocently, gently pushing him back with her body until he was forced to lay back on her bed and in a flash she was next to him, planting a saucy kiss on his lips. "What's for you is right here." she teased, wrapping her arms around his neck and giving him a coy smile. Lily thought, if she did say so herself, that she was a suitable distraction to the closet containing James' gift, and that he would likely not ask about it again. Especially when she leaned in for another kiss. Sure, this probably wasn't the best idea, it was temptation at it's finest but she needed this. Every second spend in James' company was like a balm to her frayed emotions. And she was quickly becoming addicted.

[James Potter]

"Next time?" James quoted in smiling shock, tightening his arms around her ever so slightly to bring them closer. While the surprise of the night was a big part of the fun of this, he'd do just about anything to ease his girlfriend's nerves. And they could still have fun with it, have some more secrets of their own, couldn't they? "You've got it - next time, a warning. We'll come up with a code or something, eh?"

It wasn't long before their embrace turned into something more, and James had the feeling he'd be tempted to give a preemptive warning for the next night before this one was over. Because while he'd had a few girlfriends, never had he felt the connection that he did with Lily.  Love. You can think it, even if you're too chicken-sh*t to tell her yet. But after years of wondering, hoping, self-bettering - it was a damn good relief that it seemed she was well on her way to falling for him too. That being a surprise at her door was a good thing, that she wanted this kind of time with him as much as he wanted it with her. That she not only matched but pushed the passion of the kisses they shared, that she clung to him as if realizing a want to do away with impulse controls of her own -

Slow it down. You should slow this down, right? Getting carried away?

While James could almost hear the collective groan of his friends, he nevertheless pulled away - only to have his efforts at redirection negated almost instantly. Oh, as if you're all that bothered. How could he be bothered when Lily was all but pushing him to her bed, focusing all of his intent on her with hands and words that got his blood pumping. What d'you mean, you're what's here for me? While the lad felt he knew it was a ploy to distract him from inquiring further about his gift, that didn't mean he could shake the hungry look in his eye. In returning her kiss James pressed her into the bed, conscious of each and every sound that could make its way from this room to the next but not capable of mustering worry enough to stop.

"I know what you're doing, Evans." Breaking his lips from hers to whisper in her ear, a breathless chuckle followed as kisses ran down her neck, as his hand gripped her thigh through the fabric of her nightdress. "Not embarrassed it's working so well." James rose to look her in the eye, giving a short-lived grin of challenge before returning to her. "Still gonna find what you got me."

[Lily Potter]

It was with great effort that Lily pulled herself away when James did, though her body screamed obscenities at her for doing it, she pushed at his chest gently until there was a suitable distance between them as their lips were no longer locked in barley contained passion. Somehow his hand had found her leg and her leg had found his hip and... Her breath came in great heaves and her body was thrumming with the thrill of being entangled with James, but a voice deep within her knew it needed to be halted before it went too far. His whisper in her ear had her gasping and if he carried on like that she was done for. So,  Lily eased herself from beneath him and lay next to him instead, very much aware of how thin her nightgown felt against the heat of James even now that he wasn't enveloping her with his body and his scent... She tried to ignore it, tried to focus on their words and not their actions but it was hard after the kiss they had just shared. Lily's body remembered the way it felt to be this near a boy, nearer in fact, and it wondered what it would be like to be closer to James. It was definitely something she wanted. Taking a deep breath, she leaned back, one hand on her boyfriend's chest and one hand running through her long red locks as she momentarily rolled onto her back.

'Focus.' Lily told herself. If she didn't calm herself - and James- then they would maybe do something they would later regret. There were things that just shouldn't be done down the hall from one's parents. And it just...did not feel like the time. As much as it did feel like the time -her body moaned that now was as good a time as any- it just wasn't. Luckily, he redirected the conversation back into motion, and she rested her head on James' shoulder, looking him directly in his sparkling brown eyes as she spoke.  "You don't know anything Potter," she informed him bluntly, with a sly smile, tracing a light line down the muscle on his arm. "And even if there was something in this room for you, you would never find it." She gave him a challenging smile that matched his own. She would defend that gift from his prying eyes with her wand and she was pretty sure he knew it. It was still fun to tease...and to touch...

The Head Girl pulled her hand away, which hand wandered down her boyfriend's fit tummy in her teasing, letting out a sigh she ran a hand over her face. It was hard but she managed to control herself and stop touching him!  She was sure James could tell it was a struggle for her and that  just wouldn't do. She was supposed to be the chaste one, right? So much for that. When she was settled again she reached a hand out to caress his cheek, feeling calmer now but still very much excited to be this near him without any eyes watching them. "I am really glad you came by," she said after a moment, feeling as if it needed to be said. "It was a long day," she admitted then, but not really wanting to go into detail she rushed on. "About that signal. We really should come up with an easier way of communicating, in and outside of the castle. Something clever, that no one would think of. What do you think?" 

[James Potter]

Snogging until the morning came and he had to sneak out was, evidenced by Lily's fingers on his chest pushing instead of pulling him to her, not in the picture for them tonight. It was for the best. It was. Wasn't it? While sometimes it felt like they'd always been this way, they'd only been together for a short matter of weeks, true friends for a short matter of months. There was no need to rush anything, they had all the time in the world to progress their relationship in all sorts of ways, or so James's mind attempted to reassure the rest of him which wanted to tear that nightdress clean off. At least Lily was similarly struggling, so he figured by the way her heavy breaths were in time with his, which made him beam a sh*t-eating grin to the ceiling as he fell back beside her, tugging one of her pillows under his head. That, and the fact that she couldn't totally keep herself from him, one hand laying over his yet-rapidly beating heart even as she lay beside him. He was no less subtle about wanting the closeness, moving an arm around her and nuzzling into her as soon as she'd placed her head to his shoulder.

His girl teased him about his Christmas gift, more so with her wandering hands distracting him again from what she was saying. James muffled a laugh into his arm as Lily tore her hand from his stomach to cover her face, seemingly only realizing what her extremities were up to in the late moment, and shook the pair of them with laughter as quiet as he could make it. "Hands to yourself, Evans," he joked, lightly trailing one of his down her side. He paused as she turned to him, hand softly to his cheek, and drew her closer as he settled more into her bed, eyes to hers. His lips quirked into a grin at her happiness at him being there, and while he wanted to know what had made her day so long, he knew that if she wanted him to know, she'd let on. You can tell me anything, Lily. When you're ready. Glad that his instincts and impatience had brought him here, his smile softened as she spoke of the signal they very much needed.

"Something clever, you and me. You're talking to one of the minds behind the map, beautiful, we'll get this done," he assured through quiet chuckles, "...once I can think straight again. Can't proper focus on technical magic, here and now. Don't think you can either." James popped a quick, cheeky kiss to her nose and closed his eyes with a self-satisfied smile. Surrounded by the girl and pieces of Lily, from the memories on her walls to the precarious stacks of books he'd love to read beside her, to the flowers that he was pretty sure she'd charmed to keep their summertime glow in the dead of winter, he felt himself start to relax properly, even letting out a yawn as he started playing with her long hair. "Alright you, spin me a tale out of one of those books or we can play twenty questions so you figure out your gift, what d'you think?"

[Lily Potter]

“I still can hardly believe that you lot made that thing. It’s the most brilliant bit of magic I think I’ve witnessed.” There was a time that admitted that would have eaten at her pride but now she was nothing but proud of her man. He was intelligent beyond ways that could be measured and she saw what their Headmaster must have seen in him when he had appointed him Head Boy. Then it had appeared the most nonsensical thing, she understood now however that James was not only intelligent but also kind and brave and pretty damn good leader. She was no laze about either and she was sure together they would come up with some marvelous. 

Lily found her mind wandering, ruminating on the many attributes of her boyfriend as they lay together, and acknowledged that she was getting sleepy. She smiled as James admitted to as much as well and then placed a kiss on her nose. She liked how sweet he was with her and wondered how she had ever thought him too 'rough'. “I can barely keep a train of thought too.” she said rising up to look down at him with a silly little smile playing on her lips. Affectionately she ran a finger down the bridge of his nose, dipping down to place a kiss on his jaw...

She just couldn’t help herself, she reached down and kissed his neck trailing her nose along with the pulse point. It was so hard to refrain when they were this close and no one was here to stop them, not really. It would be easy even...her hand trailed up and over his chest, her nails dragging over the skin, it would be so easy. She wanted to and she was pretty sure he wanted to...James’ yawn spurred one of her own and it broke through her tired thoughts, making her laugh. Lily glanced down at her books and shook her head. “I can’t think right to retell a tale well enough to  be worthy. Maybe Lord of the Rings but that's too long, we'll fall asleep for sure. And I don’t want to know my gift, mind you, I rather like to be surprised with presents. Why don’t you tell me something? Tell me about being an animagi.”

[James Potter]

James's sleepy smile stretched and his heart warmed at the compliment, and he found himself wondering just how different things would have been between them if she'd known what he and the lads were up to all along. The map, his and Sirius's mirrors, the cloak, their werewolf and his companions, all of their adventures - they'd been brilliant together forever, the lot of them, for reasons ranging from raising a little hell to ensuring one of their own wasn't alone, to the idea of rising to a challenge, to seeing if they could even if no one else ever had. Surely Lily's opinion of him would've been higher if she'd known how capable and steadfast he was, even if she would've perhaps worried more at their admitted recklessness, and he'd be lying if that wasn't a motivator for letting her in on the secrets a little at a time. He wanted to impress her, to show that he was more than what she'd known before, to not hold back. This relationship was new, and he knew that, but all the same - his romantic ties always ended up falling flat, and if this was going to be different, he had to open up to her, be honest with her and with himself, more than he ever had before...

Those moments would come, perhaps a few of them tonight, but not now. Not when he was so comfortable that his eyes had already fluttered to a close, even when he felt her moving around and over him, his lips quirking at the unexpected touch to his nose. Her soft lips landed on his jaw, his neck, which stretched to the side on automatic as an offering. Gooseflesh rose at the touch of her nails and the young man swallowed, blood pumping anew with more fervor as his tired mind tried to make sense of which way this night was going - until he yawned. Yawned.

Idiot! The guys are never letting you live that down.

Thankfully Lily wasn't far behind the sentiment, as he peeked through his lashes in embarrassment to see her yawn herself and laugh, and he reached around until he caught a blanket. He pulled it over the pair of them and rested his hands on the small of her back, all in the name of continued coziness of course, and took the given note with happy surprise. "No clues for your gifts, I can do that," James promised, hands starting to move in slow circles over her back, chuffed as she went on and wanted to hear more about Prongs. It wasn't something they'd spoken too much about after it'd come out, although he'd let her in on some of the how's on their Hogsmeade date, keeping mum about Sirius and Peter's involvement and their own abilities.

"Honestly, it's - it's the most unreal experience. Prongs is just as much my body as this one, but you pick up on so many things that you miss when you're on two legs." He paused to think on his words, unsure how to properly explain. Remus and Sirius and Peter got it, having had their own time in other forms, and trying to help someone else understand the feeling... "It can be overstimulating, like - I can smell everything, and pinpoint where anybody is if I hear them, dodge through the brush like I never could if it was me like this," he went on. "It's amazing, almost - intoxicating? So much so that I can get pulled in by it too much if I'm not careful. Not that I've ever wanted to fully live as him or anything," James said with a breath of a laugh before growing more somber, "but there's a reason I did it, and I haven't always been the best at remembering that."

[Lily Potter]

This, James being here, them together, wrapped up in each other, this was the balm her heart and her nerves needed. Her sister, the state of the world, their duties as Head Students, it all fell away as she lay upon his chest, listening to the baritone of his voice, feeling his laugh beneath her skin. He had scared her half to death arriving here in the dark of night, but he had saved her too. From a restless, worrisome night alone. She squeezed him tighter, smiling into his shirt. She did want to know what he had gotten her, she was excited to find out, but she was patient enough to wait for the right moment. She wasn’t so confident he could refrain from enticing her, however, James took her as the eager sort, for some odd reason.

“I can imagine. Two legged people are so lame.” she teased by way of encouragement as her boyfriend paused in his response. She could imagine what it must be like to become an aminal, a buck to be exact, as that was James’ animagus form and she had spent hours thinking about him in it and what it must be like for him. Lily had even gone so far as approaching her Head of House with her questions about the experience in her desire to know what her counterpart did, to try envisioning the senses and perception of the majestic cervidae. He found his voice again soon and Lily found herself humming at the vibration of it against her. Combined with his hands on her back, rubbing, and her hands which were...wandering -under the hem of his shirt, around his sides, up the length of his bicep- she was in a state of such relaxation she could have been floating, when she closed her eyes she sort of felt like she was. 

Only, James was holding her here to the bed, his voice grounding her. He was describing exactly what she had thought it would be like to transform into a wild animal, but when he said it, it sounded so much more real because he had actually lived it. She huffed out a chuckled at his use of the word intoxicating, it was amusing that he should use the word that described how she felt right now: intoxicated. His last words though, cleared her thoughts a little and she looked down at him -when had she sat up in his lap?- reaching for his hand. “Remus.” she said, kissing the warm skin of his palm. Their beloved friend, her best friend and his brother in everything but blood, James had done it for Remus and his unfortunate condition. He had put in all the hard work and dedication to ensure that the other was never alone on the full moon. It was dangerous and brave and showed an incredible talent and her heart swelled with emotion for him. “It’s okay to enjoy it, you know. You’ll never forget why you do it, not really, it’s just not in you.” she assured him. No, her man was too good to ever forget his purpose or abandon his kind heart.

[James Potter]

It had only been a few weeks of this, and James wasn't accustomed to any of it. He more than liked it, but to say he was used to sharing secrets, or Lily tucking into him, or the feel of her hands on his body, or how eager she seemed to explore him in the first place, would be a ruddy lie. It was a thrilling change, to say the least, and he found himself rather wishing they were as alone in the house as they were in her bed. Because while he attempted to speak, Lily moved over him until she sat on his hips, all soft laughter and understanding eyes, and he rather lost whatever grip he had had on his thoughts. The more serious ones were replaced by embarrassed ones as his body told his thoughts before he had the nerve for the words. The inner want to pull her back to him, to kiss her again, as she said the sweetest things and pressed her soft lips to his palm couldn't be fought - and he caught himself in the thought with a bit of a start. Why're you fighting it anyway? She wants to be with you, James. She really does. You need to stop worrying over every little thing.

Concerns about being too much - with his overabundance of energy coupled with the high hopes he'd held so long for them, he knew he couldn't exactly be the easiest person to date - and being turned away had haunted the back of his mind this fall as closeness between them grew. But it was all in his head, it really was, the voice that told him to rein himself in, that said he wanted her more than she wanted him. Since their first date, Lily had only shown belief in him and joy in their newfound togetherness, and while her words had been about his ability, they struck another chord within him. Relax. It's okay to enjoy this.

"Hmm? Er - sorry love, I couldn't quite catch all that," he admitted with the quirk of a grin. James rose up to bring himself closer to her again and their eyes locked, and he playfully trapped her beautiful face between his hands as he teased, "All your fault, saying nice things right where you are and expecting me to focus. I'm not strong enough for that, c'mon now." He brought her with him as he laid back down, still grinning when he caught her lips.

[Lily Potter]

Lily smiled, secretly pleased he seemed unable to concentrate either, and teased him right back. “Pay attention Potter.” Even if I can’t. The quiet laugh that escaped her, the way her body responded as James sat up, closing the distance between them, it was all testament to how much things had changed between them. It seemed forever ago and yet only yesterday that they were barely friends, now, she straddled his lap, in her bed, at night, mostly alone, and she liked it. No, she loved it. She wanted it. And when her boyfriend gently captured her face and then her lips, Lily was all but gone from the world and the past, she existed only in the moment. She followed him down as she wrapped her own hands around the taut sinew of his neck, sinking into him until they were pressed together in every way possible but the most intimate way and kissed him like she was running out of time. One hand traveled south, to run along his hips in featherlight touches, the other ran north, up his shirt, again, but it wasn’t enough, she wanted to be closer.

Sitting up she tugged on his shirt until it came free from its trap between their bodies. She pulled it up and over his head, tossing it aside carelessly, as now her fingers were on his bare chest. Lily took a moment to appreciate the tone of his body before laying flat against it, lightly pecking at James’s lips as she gazed at him through tired, desire filled eyes. She dipped her head to place a kiss on his shoulder, subtly adjusting her position - the feel of how much he was enjoying this too was too much for her to ignore, and if she let herself, she would succumb to it. So, she adjusted, though her hands and her mouth never did. “Are you strong enough for this?” she asked in a breathy whisper between kisses. Merlin knows I’m not. She thought to herself, suddenly surprised at how she just couldn’t keep her hands to herself! She had had her few dalliances, all of them had held a connection of sorts and all would live fondly in her memories, but what she felt for James was so much more than anything she had experienced to date. Possibly more that she would experience ever again. Emotionally and physically, she wanted him more than she had ever wanted anyone.

When she was so worked up she felt near bursting, she pulled away to lay her head on his chest again, her hands still walking their way up his sides. Lily breathed in deep uneven breathes until she could speak again, but even then, when she did manage words,  they sounded strained. She looked up at James with clear adoration. "How many days until my visit to your place again?"

[James Potter]

"Oi, doing my best," James laughed with her before becoming thoroughly lost to the moment with his girl. Well - as thoroughly lost as he could be while avoiding making a ruckus, he didn't want to be kicked out of the house and uninvited to the wedding and all other future endeavors with the Evans family. Caught in an ever-increasingly compromising position with their daughter? After having had some choice words exchanged already with the delightful bride and groom? The risk of getting caught was worth it though, so worth it. Lily could rile him up, to say the least, and their time together finally didn't have an end point, not really. Stolen minutes between courses or rounds, flitting into an alley to snog while out-and-about in Cokeworth or Hogsmeade - they'd all been finite respites, brief moments of a kiss...or two, or three. But here with relative privacy and so many hours left until morning, it was too easy to imagine things between them progressing farther than he'd ever taken them. Especially as she ripped away his shirt and pressed against him, almost skin-to-skin...

"Let's find out." He breathed out a laugh as she made time to tease him with words as only Lily could, challenging him at a time like this, and his emboldened hands glided up her legs and under her nightdress. Quickly exploring her legs, her hips, her back, strong with skin so smooth he that he grew conscious of his Quidditch-calloused hands and the scars usually kept hidden except in the locker room or on a lake day. But with her, with Lily, wasn't she teaching him that he didn't have to hide? Doesn't mean you should blurt out an "I love you" tonight. Soon though. Soon.

She was his match in every way he knew of, tonight only pushing the feeling home even more, and he held her to him as the kisses were put to a pause. For good reason - breathless and wanting more as he was and knowing that this was not the time, it seemed like his partner was in the same space. His eyes darted down to her even though she was mainly hidden from his viewpoint by a glorious mess of red hair. Their breaths chased each other's down, slowing as the room cooled, as he felt her heart steady against his chest. Smiling, he dared to dream, to promise that nights like these would be theirs before too long... "Oh, that's easy," James grinned as she looked up at him, brows raising. "Tomorrow. Today, whatever it is. Not leaving here without you, that's for damn sure."

[Lily Potter]

Her giggle broke free around their lips, locked together as they had been nearly since his arrival in her room unannounced. “Same.” she admitted quickly, before committing herself to the task of kissing him senseless. To exploring as much of his body as was currently allowed. Oh and what a body it was! It was the cause for her lack of focus and yet, intense concentration. Only her concentration was on James alone and had nothing to do with the lame attempts at keeping up conversation. Once his shirt was off, he was all she could look at, all she could touch, he took up every piece of her thoughts and she didn’t mind one bit. She abandoned the kiss in favor of mapping the plains of his body, teasing him as well as herself, with her hands and with her words. Because really she should have been asking herself that. Was she strong enough to resist? Maybe, maybe not. Time would be the judge of that. And the fact that they had loads of it had her stomach clenching in anticipation. Usually, they were more responsible, stealing away when they could, but ultimately refraining from extended bouts of intimacy. Tonight, thank the heavens, that had gone out the window.

So she touched and she looked to her hearts content, confident that she could handle this much…or perhaps not. When James joined her in exploration, his rough capable hands gliding up her legs, under her nightdress, her head dipped back of its own accord and she thought she would come undone. As it was, she was battling the urge to take the damn thing off altogether so he could have his fill. But she knew there would be no coming back from that. She kissed him again, and again until the world tilted and she could barely breathe until she thought for sure she would give in before laying her head against his chest. Their heavy breath mingled and the rapid beat of his heart matched her own and she found comfort in that. She wasn’t the only one on the edge.

They relaxed into one another, Lily for her part, settling into a sense of contentment and…safety. Yes, that was right, she felt safe and…loved, and even though they were in her home, he felt more like home than this place ever had. She didn’t want to leave him, not for anything, and at his affirmation of her thoughts exactly her head popped up to smile at him. “That seems perfect to me.” she sighed, placing a kiss along his jaw before snuggling back into his arms and closing her eyes.

[James Potter]

For having been pulled here by his gut and having no plan in place, James felt this had gone exceedingly well.

And whether it was a lapse in judgement from the lateness of the hour or the pleasantly heavy love-drunk feeling weighing him down into her bed, he was in no rush to leave. Lily was all snuggled into him, her wild red hair all he saw if he opened his eyes, and after some maneuvering they'd gotten more comfortable - he didn't think his arm would fall asleep as it was wrapped under her waist, at least - and he'd pulled her blankets up to cocoon them inside. And while they kept quietly chatting for a time - "Merlin's beard, d'you keep this many pillows with you at school?...No, love, they're nice. Just finding one to fit my head - oh don't you start...No, swear it, I'm just resting my eyes...Stay with me, Lily..." - a silence eventually settled over them.

His worrying thoughts of wondering whose parents would be most upset, his at finding him missing or hers at finding them together, were hazy and overshadowed by...Lily. Maybe they'd pull this off and no one would be the wiser. You leave now and that's far more likely... But if they were found out? He'd take the blame, and it was worth whatever came to spend this time with her. He'd never had a girl fall asleep beside him like this, and hadn't anticipated the feelings it was stirring deep within him because it was her. What he could recognize as love but try to find the words to express the honor at her trust in him, a mingling sense of protectiveness and security, a quiet elation at how far they'd each come alone and together, a yearning to live within this moment of peace - and James just hoped he wouldn't lose it all to the failings of almost-sleeping-memories. He felt her relax into sleep while he held her, no reservations or worries keeping her up. Lily's breaths came slow and steady, exhales rhythmically tickling his hand, and he let go, drifting off...