Alicia had gotten Fred's owl and been perplexed. "Pretty and comfortable? What in Merlin's name does he mean by that?" She had asked no one in particular, frustrated that he hadn't given her some clue as to where they would be going. So Wednesday night rolled around, and she had stood in front of her closet for a good half hour before finally settling on just wearing a pair of dark jeans and a cute halter top. Grabbing her favorite cardigan, she twirled at her mirror.

This will be great. Fred is a great guy to hang out with. Even if we did get off to a rocky start last time, he's still one of the people I feel most comfortable around. Much more than Cormac... She shook her head. There would be no thoughts of Cormac McLaggen tonight. Tonight she was collecting on a bet, and she was going to enjoy it... As well as do everything in her power to ensure Fred would enjoy it too.

Mildly surprised that there'd been no Howler demanding an actual named location for their evening from Alicia, Fred armed the wards on his flat and Apparated to the side street he remembered as running behind Alicia's flat. The walk to her door gave him the opportunity to shake himself into a properly friendly mood, having spent part of the afternoon arguing with suppliers for the Wheezes. He tugged the cuff of his shirt as he reached her flat, settling his wand into place in his sleeve, and rapped lightly at the door. He wondered what her interpretation of 'pretty and comfortable' would be; he had options no matter what, but her choice would dictate some of their areas of entertainment for the evening.


Hearing the knock on her door, Alicia's heart jumped a little. Breathing deeply, she opened the door to see Fred standing there. "Hey!" She stood there for a second, and then shook herself. "Sorry, I was having a moment. Just let me set the wards." She discreetly set her wards, and shrugged on her cardigan. As she was closing the door, she paused. "Is this alright, or should I change?" She looked at Fred, who looked very nice indeed in his black trousers and blue button down shirt. Gods he fills that shirt nicely. I'm guessing it's a good thing this is a dressy halter top.

"You look lovely, and you're fine; I'm not planning anything quite as athletic as Friday night was," Fred revealed with a wink. She did look nice, and he hadn't forgotten her parting shot about making it clear when she wanted to snuggle; it wasn't something he'd really considered with Alicia, or no more so than he would have with any pretty girl during his Hogwarts years, but she'd managed to distract him the other night, and that wasn't nothing. He glanced around the landing before pulling his wand from his sleeve and offering his arm to Alicia. "Shall we? I imagine you're dying to know where we're going," he teased, having left it a mystery on purpose.

"Yes, I'm ready to go. And when you say not quite as athletic, does that mean I'll still get a chance to show off some of my 'mad skillz'?" She exaggerated the last bit of a muggle phrase she'd heard being bantered between two teenaged boys loitering around the Yoga Studio. "That was a cruel trick, by the way," she said, taking his arm, and inhaling his scent. "You know how much I hate secrets."

Chuckling, Fred agreed, "I know. You'll like this one, though. Or I think you will." Not giving her a chance to reply or second-guess, he Disapparated them, keeping careful hold of Alicia's arm. They reappeared on a fairly narrow ledge of white chalk above the sea, just down the path from a small inn overhanging the crashing water. "Anyone who keeps up at racing the bull has to eat here at least once," he informed Alicia, nodding at the building up the path. It was just wide enough for them to walk comfortably side by side without fear of tumbling off the edge. "And unless you've got some bizarre fantasy of cliff diving, I'd recommend keeping this part of the evening a bit more stationary than that was."

"My bizarre fantasies don't include cliff diving, no need to worry," she shot him a cheeky grin. Looking around, she sighed. "This is beautiful, Fred. I'm glad I won already," she leaned her head on his shoulder slightly, giving his arm a hug, and then standing straight to walk beside him again. They walked into the inn and were seated at a quiet little table right near a window overlooking the sea. They glanced at menus for a while, and then ordered their drinks in companionable silence. When their drinks were placed in front of them, Alicia grinned. "So, this is a really lovely spot, Weasley. Almost the type of place Cor... Some guys might take a girl they were trying to seduce." She stopped herself and frowned, taking a drink in a vain attempt to hide her slip.

Arching an eyebrow at Alicia's sudden change of word choice, Fred followed her motions, finally querying, "Cor...?" when she didn't seem likely to elaborate. He shrugged after a moment, not opposed to that avenue of options, but not angling for it either. "I thought you'd like it, and since I owe you, it might as well be something nice. The path keeps going for a good ways along the cliffs, if you want to watch the sea a while after dinner." He'd come often, that first year without George, laying across a disused section of the walkway to look over the edge, down at the sea as it leaped and roared against the rocks.

"Cormac McLaggen," she said, "but that's really not important. I'm just on a pity party, and there is to be none of that on my night of gloating. And I do like it, very much. You know me well. It was even worth not being told where we were going... And you know that's saying something. I'd love to watch the sea after dinner." She looked up as the waiter brought their food to the table. "This," she pointed to her meal as she put her napkin on her lap, "looks fantastic." She didn't wait for him to reply but tucked into her chicken, nearly moaning with the first bite. "Tastes even better. I am so glad I won that race."

After a bit she looked at Fred, and smiled, "So... Weasley. Tell me all about the state that your love life is in? I seem to recall you had no shortage of partners throughout school... And if rumors hold true, not much has changed." She knew that Fred had never been one to kiss and tell, but she'd always enjoyed asking. When she'd first questioned him about such things at Hogwarts, he had very nearly blushed, and she had decided that any topic of conversation that nearly made him blush could be construed as a good topic. "Or, if that embarrasses you, what is the latest news about the shop?"

Fred snickered over Alicia's hedonistic enjoyment of her dinner, quite pleased with the steak and kidney pie that he'd ordered. "I'd have brought you sometime even if I'd won, I imagine. I just happened to have the brilliant idea of using for your victory supper. Nevermind that you won because I was gallantly saving you from being gored by an angry bull." The last was added under his breath, though he fully expected Alicia to hear it. "And what's this about McLaggen trying to seduce you? That's much more pertinent than my love life, which is, as you already knew, much the same as it's been for the last seven years." He smirked at the out she offered, shaking his head. "You're going to have to try a lot harder if you plan to embarrass me, and the shop is fine, though I may be looking for some new suppliers in the near future."

"New suppliers, that's interesting..." She laughed. She should have known he wouldn't let her get away with her slip of the tongue. Like it or not, Fred had always managed to get her to tell him anything... Which was part of the reason she so hated it when he kept pertinent secrets from her and taunted her with them. Surprise Party for the twins? Alicia was the one who would let it slip if Fred got a chance to question her. "Cormac McLaggen has most certainly tried... But I don't know what to think." She took another bite, and then all of the pent up feelings and thoughts poured out before she could stop them. "He owled after I made starter. Which should have put me on alert right there, especially with the rumors that fly about him being a womanizer. But I figured, free booze, right? Well... We ended up going to my flat and snogging, but I cut it off, because I have early mornings," she shrugged. "He made a comment about my mouth saying no, but my body saying yes... And I kicked him out..." She looked at her plate and chased the bit of food around in circles, embarrassed about the whole thing. "He sent a really nice apology owl, and flowers... So I had him come over for Yoga and biscuits. It went really well that night... But then Saturday night, I saw him and Angie kissing. I'm just being stupid, I know. I haven't even asked either of them about it. But I just don't want to get hurt, and if I get over-involved with a guy like Cormac..." She laughed bitterly. "There. I just told you the whole sodding story that sounds like some trashy romance novel where he'll end up changing just for me. Honestly. I'm gonna chalk it all up to 'I need to get laid,' and leave it at that." She grinned, feeling lighter for having shared the whole story with someone. Well, except for the part about you snogging his brother last night, the little voice in her head quipped.

Pausing for a long moment at the end of Alicia's explanation to allow all of it to process, Fred blinked slowly and then shook his head. "I can't say I've ever been fond of the guy, Ali. I know Katie decided he needed a friend, but he's stuffy and not a bit of fun, from what I've noticed, and apparently also doesn't know how to treat a girl." Shrugging, he added, "and Angie mentioned it. Believe me when I tell you you'd have nothing to worry about." He frowned as her mention of getting hurt circled back around in his brain. "You be careful. I've no worries over roughing him up a bit, but I'd rather it not come to that. You deserve better, even if you have decided you're only after a shag."

Alicia laughed. "Of all people you should know that I would not choose a Cormac McLaggen type for a random shag; random sex should be with fun people that you enjoy. I don't know. I suppose I got swept up in the idea of a grandiose romance. Tall, dark, handsome stranger and all. Reality has struck, my friend. And I have learned well to keep my feet firmly on the ground. Unless I'm on my Inferno." Her eyes lit up, "Did you hear about the game? It was so good. I couldn't have ordered a better first game as starter."

More than a bit relieved that Alicia had apparently already written the experience off as a bad job, Fred allowed her to change the subject. "I had it on the Wireless while I was in the lab... very impressive, I'll admit. I imagine it doesn't hurt that their beaters are scrawny and have no aim," he taunted, "but the Arrows' keeper is highly rated. Congratulations, by the way." He raised his glass in salute. "To your first victory as a starting chaser!"

Alicia grinned, raising her own glass, and drank. Then, with mirth in her eyes, she made another toast, "To friends without whom we would have need of actual enemies. By that I mean, you, Fred Weasley." She smiled and was glad that she'd been able to get all of that ridiculousness out of her system early in the evening. It was much more enjoyable to be around Fred when they were both able to just... be. "So, Weasley. Do we get dessert? We never discussed that in the terms of the bet."

"Face it, Spinnet, without me, your life would not be nearly as interesting," Fred quipped, sticking his tongue out at her over the comment about enemies. "Besides, the most heinous thing I've ever done to you is turn you into a very fetching giant canary. Surely you've suffered worse fates in your life." He smirked at her question, spreading his hands in invitation. "Whatever you like. I know better than to stand between any woman and sugar."

"I'll have you know that dark chocolate is very good for you... They say it can release the same hormones as an orgasm." She wiggled her eyebrows at him, "Unless you'd rather be a cheap date and go for the real thing?" She smirked at him, before speaking again. "And a 'fetching' giant canary? I didn't know that's what did it for you, Weasley. Note to self. If wanting to shag Weasley, eat a Canary Cream."

"I think I'm just going to stop paying you compliments," Fred sighed, rolling his eyes. "It never ends well." Smiling in the sweet, totally fake way that always made his mother threaten his safety, he added, "You're welcome to both, if you like. Though I'm hiding all the Canary Creams... that's just frightening."

"You're going to hide my secret seduction tool?" She pretended to pout, but her smile broke through. "I'll keep that in mind. That if I want a shag, all I must do is ask. It's like... Owl-order sex, or something." Her eyes widened in mock horror, "You're not going to shag me and then send me a bill are you? I don't think my ego could handle that... It's practically non-existent as it is."

Pretending deep offense, Fred clapped a hand over his heart. "I beg your pardon, I am not for sale. I resent the very implication." He wrinkled his nose and shrugged. "Was that really such a big secret? You're a very pretty girl and we get along... why would I complain about you sharing my bed?" He was fully aware that most girls had bizarre rules and rituals for this sort of thing, but thought that Alicia, at least, might appreciate him being honest. Perhaps he was just prejudiced by the easy acceptance and steady desire he'd felt from Greg the afternoon before. Blokes made so much more sense sometimes...

Alicia smiled, "Well, when you put it that way... You really know how to charm the knickers off a girl, don't you?" She laughed, a warm, genuine laugh. "I thought guys preferred to do a bit of chasing first... It's not much of a 'conquest' if you both just agree to shag for the hell of it. But then, I have probably just been hanging out with entirely the wrong sort of men." She grinned, "I'm glad you're not for sale, Weasley. You'd be far too expensive for me if you were, what with all your experience in the field." She laughed again, taking another drink, and eating some of the cheesecake that had been placed in front of her. She looked up at Fred, "Well, then again, there is somewhat to be said for a man with experience. I, personally, prefer it."

With another shrug, Fred leaned back to wait for Alicia to finish her cheesecake; he was too full from his dinner to consider it, but it always amused him to watch his female friends eat dessert. It seemed like they enjoyed it so much more than most people did. He was all for his mum's biscuits, or really anything she baked, but he didn't get the out-of-body-experience that, say, Katie did. His entirely-too-vivid imagination chose that moment to supply him with ideas of other ways to put that look on Katie's face, and he shook his head sharply to regain control of his thoughts. "You still up for a walk?" he asked as he took care of the cheque.

"Yeah. I just ate a huge piece of chocolate cheesecake. I need to work that off now, or I'll be too heavy for my Inferno at practice tomorrow. Curse you for bringing me to a place that has such wonderful food!" She grinned, and took his arm as they walked. "This is beautiful," she said, sweeping a hand at the sea, "and if you hadbrought me here to seduce me, it would have worked very very well." She rested her head on his shoulder and looked at the stars as they came out, one by one. "This is all sorts of nice, but, to be honest, I wish I had my yoga mat or my broom. I feel like I should be active." She eyed Fred, looking at his ginger hair, his blue eyes. Gods, does he have any idea how nice his arse looks in those trousers? And that shirt... She moistened her lips and waited for him to speak, forcing herself to be content to just be with an old friend, especially since said old friend was delightful company and easy on the eyes. There was something to be said for his honesty though, for since he had mentioned that she was welcome to both dessert and sex, she had been unable to stop thinking about it.

Leading Alicia down the path along the chalk cliffs, keeping the side she'd wrapped herself around away from the crumbly edge of the stone, Fred chuckled at her mention of seduction. "If I'd brought you here to seduce you, it would've been planned rather differently, but I'm glad you approve. As for activity, I can't say I recommend a race along the cliffs, though there's a neat shelf a ways up that takes a bit of climbing to get to; it's a decent place to watch the stars."

Alicia smiled, "All right. That sounds great. Makes me glad I wore jeans though." She inhaled deeply, allowing the crisp air of being by the sea to flow through her. I should come to the seaside more often... It's so relaxing, and I coulduse relaxing. Following Fred, she made it up the climb, with him helping her along here and there, without asking or being asked. When they reached the shelf he'd spoken of, she turned to look around her and couldn't help the sharp intake of breath. It was phenomenal. "Fred," she said, her voice shaking slightly, "this is possibly the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my entire life." She turned to look at him, all her cares from earlier in the evening gone. She felt so small and insignificant, but there was hope, and beauty and friendship, and as long as those existed, all would be well. "Thank you."

"Welcome," Fred returned, smiling at Alicia from where he was lounging in the rock shelf, head tipped back to take in the sky. "I haven't been here in a while, though I came all the time a few years ago," he admitted, figuring she could guess by the time frame that he was referring to right after George had been killed. He'd discovered the convenient ledge while wandering aimlessly around the cliffs, trying to find some sort of distraction from the aching emptiness that had seemed ready to consume him at the time. He couldn't count the hours he'd spent hurling bits of chalk at the craggy wall, watching them shatter and rain dust and fragments, or flicking pieces off the edge of the path to see them plummet into the sea.

"It seems like a place one could find healing." She said the words softly, and moved to join him. "I'm sorry, you know. That I wasn't there. I didn't know what to say, what to do. I was never very good at comfort. The days became weeks, and then months... and then years. But, I'm really glad we're back now. And I'm really, really glad that you shared this with me." She looked at him, this man who had an arm loosely across her shoulders, and impulsively gave him a hug. I can't fill five years of absence with a hug, but I can try, she thought, burying her face in his chest, and breathing in the scent that was... Fred.

Fred squeezed Alicia to him in return, holding her close for a moment before releasing her. "I didn't want anyone there, at the time. It's probably just as well you weren't around, right after... Gin and Katie were about the only people who could stand me, and I'm not sure how they did." He swallowed the knot of pain that had started building at the thought, returning his gaze to the heavens and looking for patterns of stars that he recognized.

Alicia wasn't so thick when it came to people that she couldn't read when a friend was hurting. Not knowing what to do to ease it, she joined him in gazing at the stars, her arms still wrapped around him. "Fred. It's not that people couldn't stand you. Ah, I suck at comforting. See?" She smiled, and squeezed him a little tighter, and then, reaching a hand up, she stroked his cheek. "You don't have to be who you were. We all grow and change... Your growth was just a lot more painful than many of us will ever know. But you've grown into a very great guy... I'm very happy I can say I know you. And you'd better not start blaming yourself for bringing me down on our evening... If you'll recall, I started an angst-fest, all on my own." She laughed, and then gently pulled his face down to hers and kissed him on the cheek, barely brushing the corner of his mouth, which sent tingles all through her. This is Fred... One of your oldest friends. Get a grip, woman!

"Thanks, Ali," Fred murmured, pressing a kiss to her temple. He wondered what he'd have done without the girls in his life, the past few years. He hadn't seen Alicia, granted, but Katie and Angie seemed to take it in turns to roust him from his moodiness, and Ginny was a precious constant, turning up when he least expected and most needed her to remind him that there was so much more he could have lost that was still with him. Alicia's presence was another reminder, that despite what they'd won, lost, or found during the war, some things didn't have to change overly, even years later. He let his hand rest lightly on her arm, having decided after their last meeting that anything further than friendly would be on her move.

"Fred," she said, looking at him, hoping he wouldn't laugh at her question. "D'ya think, that maybe I could stay with you tonight... Or maybe you could come stay with me? I'd like to share a bed with you tonight. And I don't necessarily mean sex, although that'd be alright too, if we both wanted it, and not just me." She looked to the ground, unsure why she felt so nervous asking this... It wasn't the sex part, for it wasn't so hard to say "I'd like to shag you," after all. No, it was the idea of sharing a bed with him the whole night, feeling safe and loved in someone's arms. She wasn't supposed to need that, but need it she did, even if it was just the comfort of a friend. She thought, maybe, just maybe, he could use that security tonight too. She kicked some pieces of chalk off the edge of the shelf, wanting him to speak, but wanting him not to all at once.

Shifting enough that he could look down at Alicia's face, tipping her chin up from where she was hiding against his shoulder, Fred smiled and answered, "I suppose you wouldn't know, since it's been forever since school, but you've hardly to ask, Ali. You're welcome to stay with me if you like, or we can go to your flat." He never admitted it, but he didn't sleep well alone, listening constantly for signs of George if he didn't have something else to distract him. He could never fathom, either, why girls like Alicia worried about whether a bloke was into them or not; if someone were moronic enough to turn her down, he didn't doubt there were at least a few like himself who would be happy to show her a lovely evening. Of course, he'd met plenty of very stupid men, so perhaps she had too. "Anything else is up to you, but don't think that I'd turn away the chance to make your night more pleasant."

Alicia smiled, glad that he hadn't laughed at her. "Your place then," she smiled, and looked at him, his hair blowing around in the wind. "And Weasley?" She grinned, "Go ahead. Make my night." She laughed a bit at her silliness, and then brought his lips to hers, giving over to the desire she'd felt building for this man since she'd run into him the previous week. She pulled back from the kiss, slightly and blinked at him, "Just so we're clear... This will be okay with... everything going on in your life, right? I mean, it's one night, but I'd hate to have some jealous female after my head."

With a quiet chuckle as his hands strayed to Alicia's waist, Fred assured her, "There are no claims on me, female or otherwise, and nothing for you to worry about." He turned enough to lift her onto his lap, taking care of their height difference with the motion and putting her in a much better position for snogging. His hands smoothed over her back, trailing up her spine and over her shoulders until he could cup her face, watching her for a long moment before drawing her lips back to his own.

Alicia sighed into his kiss, grateful that he'd assured her no one would come after her for just enjoying this night. She hadn't come right out and said that a 'random shag' should be with someone like Fred, but he had been who she'd pictured. She tangled her hands in his hair, and sucked slightly on his lower lip, nipping it slightly with her teeth. Merlin, but he's a good kisser. Her thoughts were broken as she bent her head to trail her tongue from his collarbone to the sensitive flesh behind his ear.

Fred curled his fingers into Alicia's hair as her lips left his, tightening in the soft strands when she toyed with his neck. He pulled her away from his skin with a quiet laugh, admonishing, "Ah-ah, I get to make your night, remember? Enjoy it." He tipped her head back with his thumbs, cradling the back of her neck, and kissed along her throat, capturing the rhythm of her pulse lightly between his teeth and flicking his tongue over the skin.

Alicia moaned as Fred moved his mouth along her throat, wrapping his hair around the fingers of one hand and slightly tugging as her other traced patterns across his back. So, this is why Angie has kept up their friends with benefits status, dear Merlin, he's talented. My knickers are damp already. She groaned slightly, pushing his head back and bringing her mouth to his. "I love what you're doing, but I'm pretty sure it takes two to make a night successfully," she whispered, her lips brushing against his as she spoke, and her voice slightly husky. Not waiting for a response, she snuggled herself in a bit closer on his lap, in a vain attempt to escape the chill that was starting to attack her, and kissed him again on the lips. She had never felt such want from mere kissing before, but since she was being given this night, she was going to take advantage of it to its greatest extent. Despite her desire warming her, she couldn't fight off the chill, and shivered involuntarily, lips still on Fred's.

Catching Alicia's shiver, Fred ran his hands down her arms and leaned back a bit to look at her, breaking the contact of their lips. "Time to move somewhere warmer?" he offered, hands continuing their path from shoulder to elbow. He certainly wasn't shy about making use of the ledge and the lovely view, but it wouldn't be any fun if she was cold the whole time, and that was rather the idea.

She sighed, "Or I can just interrupt to cast a warming charm, I suppose." She grinned, and did just that. "Now," she tapped her chin and grinned cheekily, "where were we?" She kissed him softly, and then looked at him again, and started on his shirt buttons. "You know, you fill this shirt out incredibly well, and I like it a lot... But I'd like to see you without it." Finishing the buttons off, she ran her hands up inside his shirt, across his chest and to push the blue fabric out of the way. Smiling, she leaned down and, tossing her hair to one side, she caught a nipple in her teeth. "You look even better without it, Weasley," she said in a husky voice, then, resuming where she'd left off in teasing him, she began trailing one hand up and down his chest.

The momentary ability to tolerate Alicia getting rid of his shirt faded as her mouth touched his skin, and Fred caught both her wrists in one hand as she leaned down again, holding her away from him. His jaw clenched briefly as he fought the urge to give her a little shake, knowing it would scare her, but he wasn't willing to tangle with her over power for every touch of the night. Only one woman got to lead that dance, and she was not the one perched on his lap. He waited until Alicia met his eyes and regarded her silently, a question in his gaze.

Alicia was confused at first, but then relaxed, meeting his gaze for a moment, and then looking down demurely. She was unused to giving over control, but if that's what he wanted, it would be worth it. Who knows? Might even end up being for the best. She softened even more, meeting his gaze again, and biting her bottom lip, hoping he'd understand her answer.

"Thank you," Fred acknowledged softly, releasing Alicia's wrists, bringing each to his lips in turn to kiss away the bruise he'd likely caused. He guided her hands to rest at his shoulders, for the moment, and grasped her chin gently, holding her eyes with his own. "Stop trying to win and just enjoy yourself," he directed, knowing how fiercely competitive she was. "You're allowed to have pleasure without fighting for it... let me make you feel good."

She laughed softly, and smiled, Yes this was a good decision. She waited to see what he would do next, her nerves tingling from the kisses he'd bestowed upon her wrists. Who knew having one's wrists kissed could make someone react like this? She pressed her lips together, and nodded, wanting to let him, and allowing herself to be carried away in the moment. This is one time you can let your guard down, and stop being so driven, was her last thought before she surrendered herself wholly to the night, and the way it felt to be with him now.

Tugging Alicia's lips back to his own, covering the smirk he'd felt forming, Fred teased at the edge of her mouth, coaxing her to open to him. It would do her some good to give in to her body for a while; she was too focused by half, and it distracted her from finding the pleasure in life. He slid his fingertips under the edge of her cardigan and shirt, pushing them up enough to give him access to her skin, stroking his thumbs along the strip he'd bared.

Alicia moaned softly, allowing his tongue to enter her mouth. The heat that followed his thumbs across her midriff coursed through her, and she squirmed a bit in his lap. Her nails scraped and brushed his shoulders as her fingers flexed. Meeting his tongue with her own she allowed him to deepen the kiss. Gods, but he's good at this. Her inner voice piped up again, only to be quashed on the sensations Fred's hands were sending through her as they roamed. One hand entwined itself loosely in his hair, and she gave a tiny jerk as he brushed over a particularly sensitive part of her hip.

Much better, Fred thought to himself, pulling his mouth from Alicia's to drop kisses along her cheek to her ear. He traced the shell with the tip of his tongue, nipping lightly at her earlobe as he reached it. Her quick gasp added a beat to his pulse, warming his skin as he swept his hands lightly up her sides, taking her top and cardigan along until he could help her wiggle out of them. Drawing a finger along the scalloped edge of her bra, he smiled at the wave of gooseflesh that followed, glad on her behalf that she'd thought to put up a warming charm.

Allowing Fred to take off her shirt was quite possibly the most sensual thing that had ever happened to her. Sure she'd been with a bloke in India with whom she'd contorted into all sorts of fun shapes, but this was different, and a good sort of new. A groan escaped her as his fingers played with her. The Kama Sutra couldn't have taught him better than this, she thought, lazily tracing a finger around one of his nipples and then the other. She looked up at the stars and sighed, It also couldn't have been a better night or place to rediscover the joys of a good shag. "Fred," she whispered, nothing more, just his name, hoping that her desire was speaking for itself. She stroked a palm over the planes of his chest, resting it over his heart for a moment, enjoying the feel of it beating against her open hand.

Distracted for a moment by Alicia calling his name, Fred blinked at her and then smirked, his hands gliding up over her ribs to cup her breasts through the silky fabric of her bra. He teased a moment, thumbs flicking over her nipples through the slightly too-thick material, then followed the band around behind her back, deftly opening the catch and letting the wispy black garment fall away from her skin, adding it to the pile of discarded things. Her skin was soft under his hands and he explored her slowly, light strokes and teasing pinches until she started to wriggle in frustration. Splaying his hands against her back, he pulled her closer, lowering his mouth to circle a nipple with his tongue.

She couldn't help it, her back arched and a moan escaped her, her breath visible in the night air. Her thumbs moved in circles, massaging his temples. "Merlin, Fred, that feels so good," she said, her voice thick. She ran her fingers through his hair, enjoying the sensation and pausing the movement to put pressure on his scalp now and then. Her breath caught in her throat and she swallowed deeply, wanting to to do something for him, but not wanting to end the delightful waxing and waning of sensations coursing through her. She decided to remain still, and moaned again, trailing her nails up along his chest.

Twitching slightly as Alicia's nails scraped his skin, Fred pulled his mouth away and lifted her with him, waving a cushioning charm at the chalk shelf before turning to lay her along the now-softer ledge. "Feeling good is the idea, pet," he chuckled, shrugging out of his shirt. He braced himself above Alicia, dipping his head to kiss and lick a path from her neck to her navel, flicking his tongue into the small dent in her skin until she started to squirm under his mouth, hands busy at the task of divesting her of her jeans and knickers.

Alicia couldn't keep still, as the sensations were rippling from her navel outwards. He succeeded in removing the rest of her clothes, and she couldn't help but gasp as the cool air touched her skin, heightening her senses. She shivered has his hands trailed back up her legs. Unsure of what to do with her hands, she cupped his face and looked at him, tentatively guiding his lips back to hers. Just for a moment, she needed to feel his lips on hers.

Obliging Alicia's desire for a kiss, Fred crawled his way back up her body, settling with one thigh between hers as he bent to recapture her lips. Doubting she would retain the patience for a much longer tease, he rocked his hips once, slowly, as he deepened their kiss, pressing deliberately at the apex of her thighs, feeling her hands tense at the sides of his face in reaction. He repeated the motion, equally as slowly, willing to draw the teasing out as long as she would allow.

Alicia moaned against his lips. She was being teased and tortured with his movements, and she loved it, and hated it, all at once. Her hands moved to his back, and she arched her back in an attempt to convey just how much his teasing was affecting her. Merlin, but I want him. "I want..." was all that escaped her in another moan against his lips. Her hands strayed to the top of his trousers and she traced her fingers along them.

"I know what you want," Fred acknowledged, pushing Alicia's hands away and moving aside to shed his remaining clothing. He dragged his fingertips up her legs, a smirk curling his lips as she shivered. "No patience," he sighed, moving to hover over her once more, bracing himself on one elbow so that he could smooth a hand down her belly, cupping her sex a moment before slipping two fingers between her folds, slicking her wetness over the petal-soft flesh.

She whimpered as he touched her. Dear Merlin it has been too long. Her voice was shaky, as she spoke again, "I'm trying to be patient, but you are just too damned good..." Her words trailed off as his fingers flicked along her. She looked at him, arching her back slightly, and tracing a hand down his chest to his stomach, there she began trailing her hand back and forth across his midsection, slowly working her way lower until her fingertips were brushing back and forth between his hips. Suddenly, her mouth seemed dry, so she licked her lips and swallowed, hard. Fred Weasley had obviously made this into an art form, because even her last lover, who had been studying tantra and sex, had not teased her for this long. "Dear Gods, Fred," her voice came again, and she had been unaware of speaking.

"Suppose I ought to give in if you're invoking the gods," Fred teased, fingers rubbing in quick little circles as he positioned himself above Alicia, biting his lip as the tip of his erection pressed ever so lightly against her entrance. Body taut with tension, he waited until she reached for him to rock his hips forward, eyes falling closed for a moment as her heat enveloped him.

"Oh!" The cry escaped her, and was one of relief. She arched up to meet him, all thoughts gone from her mind. Her arms went around his back, and she couldn't help but gasp and rake her nails across it as he moved within her. She could feel pressure rising, and tried to fight it. Recalling Fred's words about not having to fight, however, she relaxed a bit and threw her head back. She whimpered again, as he continued moving. Even in this he was teasing, and while the pressure was rising, she knew it wouldn't break for a bit longer. She mumbled his name again, unable to help it as he stroked in and out of her.

Growling as Alicia scored his back, Fred lowered his mouth to her neck, nipping lightly as they moved in unison. As her arches and the bite of her nails in his skin became more insistent, he shifted his hips, bringing their bodies together at a different angle, groaning against her throat as she clenched around him. He fought the urge to increase his pace, maintaining the rhythm he'd set until he knew Alicia was close.

"Merlin, Fred," she said, voice husky, and her body tensing. It felt so good, and she was so close. She arched more, trying to increase the speed a bit, and to have him in her harder. Moving her arms to circle him, her legs wrapped themselves around his hips. She bit her lip again as her head fell back once more, caught up in the movement and heat that surrounded and went through them. She finally could hold back no longer and the world went bright for a moment, as she whispered his name once more, unknowingly.

Alicia's climax pulled a gasp from Fred, triggering his own release as her body tightened around him; heat and sensation flooding him for an instant as he slid to Alicia's side, draping his arm around her. They lay quietly a while, regaining their breath and ability to think, resting until the chill air began to creep in around the warming charm Alicia had cast. "Now I think it is time for somewhere warmer, pet," he murmured. With not a few sighs and shivers, they made it back to his flat, slipping gratefully under the covers.

"Well, Weasley," Alicia smiled, snuggled up to his chest and blinking blearily at him, "I think you won the game tonight. Pity we didn't wager another dinner on it. Thank you." And then, for the first time in a long time, she fell asleep snuggled into a warm man with whom she felt safe.


{Summary: Fred pays for losing a bet. Maybe he should lose them more often.}