July '78: Eternal Game of Tug & War: Husband

[Narcissa Malfoy]

{Immediately following: Black Widow's Web}

Why do you keep doing this?

    Because I need to get his attention.

But you hate being drunk.

    But the best stories come out of it.

But you hate being out late alone.

    Isn't that why I'm doing it?

Not that she had been alone from the time she'd entered the Wyvern until her departure, but she just wanted to be out with her husband, and did not think that was too ludicrous a thing to want. But what she currently wanted just as much as her husband was to get out of her heels, take a restorative potion, and sleep this headache of a night off. And so the young Narcissa Malfoy walked back into the estate, trying to commit a few things from the night to memory to tell Lucius whenever he returned from his mission. {Because his missions were more important than spending time with her, and she knew he was vital to the Dark Lord's plans, but he was vital to her life and she did not want to lose him on one of these escapades and she just wanted this whole war to be over and done with so they could just be! And as irritated as he always was with her when she did this, if he was around she wouldn't have to!}

She was just - she was just so frustrated with her marriage. For as much as she loved Lucius, at times she felt they didn't want the same things, and it scared her half to death. Because they had joined together, they had bound themselves to each other, and what they were doing in terms of the war was undeniably dangerous. And so she - she needed to trust him, trust he would come back to her, trust that once the war was through they could live the life she had envisioned for them. To seek that end, she'd been trying to get pregnant since shortly after their wedding, but it wasn't working, and it wasn't as if she could seek help or advice about it! It would be an utter disgrace to both her family and the Malfoys if she couldn't produce an heir for Lucius, and it didn't even seem that he cared!

And that is why you drink.

Once she was inside, Dobby was on her tail, and she sent him away to fetch a potion for her. She eased her aching feet out of their traps, holding the shining heels loosely in her fingers as she dimmed the lights with her wand on her way to their room. Bella was there, and then Fabian, and then Aaron, and then Walden... Narcissa yawned, halfheartedly covering it with her arm, as she grimaced. The night had and had not gone as anticipated. She'd been flirted with - a given - but she'd had to endure Bella and Aaron's sickening looks and banter, and refuse an invitation from him {her great uncle!} to go home with them. "No thank you," she mumbled, entering the lavish master bedroom. Thankfully she'd been able to catch up with Walden at that point, an old crush of hers and a servant of the Lord, so that combined with the Prewett should serve her well...

In her state, it took Narcissa a few moments to realize that she wasn't alone. A few of the lamps were lit lowly, and as she dropped her shoes she saw a pair of his by the door...

"Lucius - you're back early." A wide smile spread across her face as she saw him, and she climbed onto their bed to join him, ridding herself of her jacket as she did. Remind him what he misses out on when he's gone... She smirked, straddling him, and leaned over with the pretense of brushing back his hair to give him more of a show. "You're not hurt, are you?"

[Lucius Malfoy]

When had arrived home to the manor after being out late due to a mission, Lucius only really wanted a few things. He wanted his ridiculous house elf to not ask so many questions of him. All Dobby had to do was take the items Lucius handed him, and put them away. There was no need for such useless chatter. "Dobby, fetch me a drink..."

The house elf ran off, and Lucius gave a sigh as he headed to the bedroom he shared with his wife. While had never figured marriage would be his thing, he had to admit coming home to Narcissa had grown on him. She was the perfect wife, his equal match, and the world they lived in would be worshiping them once the Dark Lord finished his job.

Entering his bedroom, his eyes narrowed in annoyance. Because out of the few things he wanted, it was his wife to be up waiting for him when he got here. Dobby was at suddenly at his side, handing up a glass and Lucius took it angrily. "Dobby, where is my wife?"

"The mistress went out for the evening."

Sighing, he kicked his shoes off and moved them to their place by the door, using his wand to lower the lights to a more acceptable level. Using his foot, he moved Dobby out of the door and then dismissed him with a wave of his hand, before moving to the bed and setting the glass down on the nightstand.

Settling down, he leaned back against the array of pillows -(really though, why did they have so many?) - and closed his eyes. Within a few minutes, or what he presumed to be, suddenly he was opening his eyes to the sound of his wife's voice. He looked over to see her, an appreciative smile creeping onto his face as she removed her jacket and climbed into bed with him.

He had to admit that having her straddle him was nice, and he couldn't complain about the view, but as she got close to him he realized that she had been drinking. "Narcissa, where have you been? It was disappointing not to come home to you."

[Narcissa Malfoy]

Oh, but did she know her husband or what? For as peeved as he would be to find out about her evening - he insisted her actions were embarrassing, she always argued back that she wouldn't have to go find ways to entertain herself if he was around - she was doing a great job of easing that peevishness. Lucius' eyes were slowly and appreciatively wandering over her as she smoothed his hair, and she sat back on him with a much satisfied look on her beautiful face. "Yes, it would be disappointing, wouldn't it?" Narcissa said, feeling like she was quite making her point. He'd been gone nearly a week, leaving her with no one to come home to but their blasted elf.

It got dull fast. And he was complaining after not even one full night!

"I met up with Bella and some others at the Wyvern," she continued, slipping off her jewelry, leaning over him again to lay her things on their nightstand. "Aaron was there, invited me back to his," she said with a dull scoff to show what she thought about that, "and do you remember the Prewetts? One of the twins insisted on buying, but he couldn't keep up with us. Desperate boy." She laughed lightly, tossing her long hair back as she smirked at her husband. "I missed you, but I didn't think you'd be home tonight, so..." The young wife shrugged her bare shoulders in a well-what-else-would-you-expect-me-to-do sort of way. She wasn't going to waste her life waiting for him in the mansion - she had been raised Narcissa Black, and theirs was not a family of waiters. They were doers, and they got what they wanted. "But I'm glad you are." She leaned down to kiss him deeply, her genuine affection for him outweighing her annoyance and what he "had" to do for the war. As much as she wanted to teach him more of a lesson here, he was distracting her just as much as she'd planned to distract him, and it was difficult to keep herself on track when she'd been drinking. "But everything went well for you? None the wiser?" she asked after a time, blinking as she tried to get his face fully into focus. It would be the worst if anyone out of the fold found out about their loyalties - Lucius had done so well in maintaining this secret work on the side while assisting his family with their apothecary, and she'd accompanied him to many an event as his dutiful wife, staying out of suspicion herself. They were the perfect old-money pureblooded couple, and filled a need in the wizarding world - no matter how many witches and wizards seemed to think it was their duty to dilute the bloodlines.

[Lucius Malfoy]

Narcissa was everything he could have asked for in a wife - other than her constant worry about being unable to get pregnant - but sometimes he did have to wonder if he had made the best choice. She was pureblood, beautiful, and wonderful at her assigned role in life. Except in these moments, the moments she came home late from drinking. He couldn't be here at every second of the day to dote on her like she wished. He would lavish her with gifts often, she had everything she ever needed.

He had a duty to the Dark Lord, as well as making sure his families business continued to do well. He couldn't spend every moment of his day making sure that she was being given attention. Still, he kept his mouth shut as she told him about her evening, enjoying the view as she continued to lean over him. He raised his eyebrow as she mentioned that Aaron had invited his wife back to his place, making a mental note to have a talk with the cousin about keeping his filthy hands to himself.

But what was even more concerning that was one of the Prewett twins had been at the Wyvern, and particularly because the blood traitor had bought his wife and her sister a drink. Didn't anyone know their place anymore? He wanted to say more, but before he could respond his wife was kissing him deeply and he responded in turn, moving a hand to run it through her hair.

"Of course no one was the wiser, my love. Who could ever suspect the Malfoy's of anything?" He questioned, running his hands through her hair, before moving down to caress her bare shoulders. "But enough of that, this dress looks amazing on you but I'd rather see it on the floor. It's been far too long since I've been here with you. And tomorrow I will deal with the Prewett boy and Aaron, don't fret it."

[Narcissa Malfoy]

As she gave her husband snippets of her evening, Narcissa watched the cool gray eyes she loved carefully. He wouldn't be unbothered by any of this, she was certain, but what she was still wondering was what would be the thing to set him off. She supposed this likely wasn't the most encouraged of marital acts, or one common of one happily wed and in love - forcing one's husband into anger and jealousy - but what was she to do? There were large chunks of Lucius' life, of their lives if she was being honest, that were out of her control. The tides of the war could turn, the man they supported could fall, and while they had done well to maintain ties on the other side, they could still be found out. And whenever he was away, everything was out of her hands - what if he was bested on one of these missions? Not that she would ever admit to thinking the forbidden thought, but it was a possibility that she had thought through on one of many nights alone...

So, really, how could the young woman not try to tempt him into craving a domestic life with her as much as she wanted one with him? He could do less work for the Dark Lord, or at least less dangerous work, once he more saw the values of being home. If we're lucky, we'll conceive tonight... Because finally there had been a flicker in those dark eyes of his, a flicker of irritation brought on by someone else wanting her, and Narcissa pounced upon the moment to capitalize on it; his fingers firmly in her hair as they kissed reassured her that the night was, at long last, going somewhere they could both enjoy.

And so it wasn't difficult to smile at his shrewdness - they did well to cover their tracks, after all - or his possessive touch. Her benign smile turned into a wicked smirk as Lucius continued, and she moved teasingly on his hips, wanting to rile him up some more now that they were on the right track. Was it really so much for her to want her husband to fight for her? Or to be so attracted to him when he spoke like this?

"You'll deal with them?"

Narcissa kissed him again, his neck, his lips, before whispering against them. "What will you do to show them that you are the only one who gets to be here with me?" She met his eye in challenge before sitting up and undoing the zipper at the back of the dress enough to slowly pull it off over her head, dropping it to the floor as he'd wanted. Because it was a privilege to share her bed - she wasn't daft enough to think that all marriages were as monogamous as theirs (she would have to be both deaf and blind to think so, what with the example her eldest sister gave), and while she had no real intention of allowing anyone else to become intimate with her...there was no harm in making him a little more defensive. In him making her feel a little more wanted. And so she shook back her long hair and playfully kept his hands at bay as she waited for his answer, not about to undress any more without hearing his ideas.

[Lucius Malfoy]

It was clear where this night was going to go, and he made a mental note to remind Dobby to mix the potion in with her breakfast in the morning. The woman craved a child, which was ridiculous. It seemed like all she thought about was making him jealous or having a baby. Both were irritating for different reasons. Yes, he would need an heir eventually. But he wasn't ready for that, and his father wasn't pushing on him about it yet. His mother did want a grand child, but her insistence meant nothing to him. He had already settled down for the sake of the family, he'd produced a heir when he was good and ready. Or when his father insisted that it was time, whichever came first.

But it seemed the woman nothing more than to drive him insane tonight, as she moved against his hips. He closed his eyes, enjoying the sensation for a few moments before she stopped. He opened them to look at her, a smirk playing across his lips as she questioned him. He ran his hand up her spine as he returned his kiss, letting himself thoroughly enjoy her touch. He let himself chuckle, watching with great pleasure as she pulled her dress off over her head. He sat up, wrapping his arms around her as he looked into her eyes. "Well the blood traitor will be easy enough to deal with, he's gotten too comfortable at the Ministry. And Aaron?" He stopped to run his hands through her hair, fingers trailing down her back until they reached the clasp.

"Aaron will keep his hands to himself if he wishes to keep said hands," he murmured, opening the clasp. "And if things go well tonight, the whole world will know you are mine. They'll see it as our child grows inside of you." A lie, of course. No child would be conceived in this bed anytime soon. But it would do well encourage her dreams, make her think that they were on the same page in this relationship. Just one of the things he had to do to keep his wife happy. Happy wife, happy life. But he was tired of hearing her evening, tired of waiting for her to undress. Because he did love her - that much was true. But he loved sharing this bed with her more, and it was about time they got around to that.

[Narcissa Malfoy]

Oh, but she was getting to him! It was with a drunken satisfaction that she hoped she'd recall in the morning that Narcissa felt her husband start to become effected by her, and soon she was enveloped in his toned arms, still waiting for an answer. You'll make them pay, won't you? her hazy blue eyes asked him, and she was well pleased with his answers. The foolish Prewett was no match for her Lucius, and her great uncle had come on to her for the last time. She let Lucius finish undressing her, ripe with want for him at the threat to the others. She'd just needed to feel wanted, after all, and was ready to forgive him for now for being away - but then Lucius went on. He knew the next thing she wanted was a child - their child would be marvelous, unstoppable, beautiful and brilliant - and was he finally ready?

Narcissa wasn't about to waste the moment asking.

Full of feeling for him, for their future, she leapt into their next fervent kiss, praying that tonight they would make the next Malfoy. Together the couple did one of the things they did best - he was her only, after all, and he was fantastic, so she'd learned from the best and had blocked out whatever embarrassing advice she'd received from Bella over the years. As she laid with him after, regaining her breath, the young woman let out a laugh. "Well - you can't say it's not fun trying." She kissed him where she could reach without moving much, his chest, and settled in for the night, unwilling to let him have his own space to sleep. She missed having him here with her, as was hopefully extremely evident to him now. As she drifted off, eyes closed, she let out a quiet murmur. "Don't leave again..."

[Lucius Malfoy]

She may have sparked his jealously, as it was unfit for another man to have anything that was his, but she certainly did more to him when she moved against him like she did. It had been difficult from the very beginning to resist her, he'd wanted her since the day they had formally begun courting. He couldn't help that he was drawn to attractive women - or that they were drawn to him. Narcissa was, by far, his favorite. She was the perfect match for him, in more ways that just one. And he knew the buttons to push to give her the pleasure she deserved, and to get himself the pleasure he desired. He took his time with her, making sure she has just as much fun as he did. The same could not always be said for the others, especially if he was just using them to pass the time.

And while he thoroughly enjoyed her teasing, tonight he just wanted her. And so appealing to her hopes and dreams? A simple enough task for him. He knew she had no idea why they hadn't been able to have a child yet, which meant the ruse could continue for a little while longer. She wasn't one to question his actions - she was smart like that. And so he enjoyed himself thoroughly, glad to have distracted her for a moment. He ran his hand down her back as she curled into him after, giving a laugh to her words. "I would say it's the most fun trying, perhaps we should practice more often, hmm?" If she thought he wanted a child, that could work to his advantage.

He closed his eyes as she snuggled close, brushing his fingers against her back gently as she dozed off. "I will try, my love."