Notes: Little silly. A lot sexy. :) All the moves in Ron and Hermione's game are real moves, tried and tested. I played a game against myself with my Harry Potter wizard chess set and assigned a side to Hermione and one to Ron. I decided that whatever happened, happened and I'd write my fic around the game I played. It's a pain in the butt to write down every move you make in detail, but worth it in the long run. Plus it just worked out like...well...magic.



****



"Hey...stop staring at the Queen and get a move on," Ron said with a growl. The comment was directed at one of his pawns, which gave a comical little jump and then moved forward one pace. "Your turn."



He looked up wearily and met the soft brown gaze of Hermione Granger, who was sitting on her knees across from him on the floor. She nodded and looked back down at the board between them, as he got comfortable, stretching out on his side, his weight on one elbow.



Hermione peered down at the board with a closed expression on her face. He knew before she directed the move what she was going to do. Her first move was always the same.



"You there, budge up two squares!" she said, reaching forward to prod her black pawn on the helmet with one ink-stained fingertip. The pawn shot her an exasperated look and moved forward two spaces. Her pawn stared directly at his white pawn. There was one square between them.



"You always match me the first move," Ron said, stifling a yawn as he reached a lazy hand out to move the pawn in front of his queen's side rook forward two spaces. "So predictable."



"Well maybe I'll surprise you this time. Maybe I'll win," Hermione suggested, wriggling her fingers before prodding the pawn in front of her king's side rook forward one space. Ron snorted.



"Right," he said. "I may be half asleep but I could still beat you at chess any day, Hermione. You're good at a lot of things, but strategy isn't one of them."



"Oh really?" Hermione said, crossing her arms over her chest and glaring at him. "Want to make a bet?"



"You don't bet," Ron said, gesturing his queen's side rook forward three spaces. The castle moved out behind the pawn, shield raised in a gesture of defense. "Besides, you're as broke as me."



Hermione couldn't argue with that. They were both living hand to mouth these days and any money they had went to living expenses. Such was the sacrifice they paid for being Aurors-in-training with the Ministry of Magic. It was a hard job and fairly thankless, but worth it in the long run. At least Ron hoped it was. He'd hate to have to live on an Auror-in-training's salary for the rest of his life. At least Tonks had assured him that the salary increased when they made full Auror, but the end of training was a whole year off and as it was, Ron was broke for the rest of the week. So were Hermione and Harry, who was taking his turn at the new wizard prison tonight. The M.L.E and Auror trainees were always given the night shift due to seniority. It was hell down there, but at least there were no dementors. Ron was thankful his wasn't the name up for that particular duty and besides, with Harry gone for the night, Ron had his and Harry's flat to himself.



Well, himself and Hermione. He looked up at her and felt heat flush his face and that familiar stirring in his gut that got tighter and circled lower and lower the more he looked at her. She had her lip tucked between her teeth and was looking down at the board, studying the pieces. A lock of extremely curly hair, having escaped the haphazard knot atop her head, spilled across her throat. He couldn't tear his eyes away from it.



"Well we don't have to make a monetary bet, you know," she said, looking up at him coyly. He lifted one eyebrow.



"What else would we bet on?" he retorted as she pushed her right side rook forward another space. "Unless you're willing to be my slave for a week and I doubt that."



Hermione shot him a humorless glare and then took a deep breath. "I'm definitely not doing that. We could make it more...interesting, at least."



Ron yawned again, though he kept his gaze on her as he did so. "As sleepy as I am, the only way to make this interesting is if you were starkers."



Had he really just said that? He'd definitely been thinking it, but...oh boy.



Hermione was staring at him, her lips pursed. He waited for the rant to come spilling out of her. Instead, she nearly made him upend the chessboard.



"Fine."



"WHAT?" Ron shouted as he jumped, his knees flying over the chessboard so that the pieces had to duck. He ignored their shouts of protest and the very rude gesture Hermione's black knight was waving at him. "Hermione--"



"What? You said you wanted it to be interesting..." Hermione said, blinking innocently, though her cheeks were becoming slightly pink.



"But I was joking!"



"Well I'm not. Actually..." she said, pursing her lips again and looking back down at the board. "How about we play strip chess?"



"What in bloody hell is that?" Ron croaked, feeling himself go pale.



"Okay, let's say if you capture an opposing player's pawn you have to..." She searched for a moment and then grinned like a cat over a bowl of cream as she said in a clear voice, "Undo a button on your shirt or trousers?"



Ron glanced down at his white button-down shirt and then up at her blouse. There were as many buttons as there were pawns on the chessboard. He gulped.



"Are you serious?"



But Hermione was already moving on. "And the back row--all the major pieces--is worth one whole article of clothing. Shirts, trousers...underwear..."



Ron's eyes bugged. There was no small amount of awe in his voice when he said, "You're serious aren't you?"



"What? I thought you wanted it to be interesting?" Hermione blinked at him over the board. "But if you're too chicken..."



"I'm not chicken!" he protested.



"Of course you're not, but I can understand if you're...embarrassed or something. I mean, when I win and you're sitting over there naked and humiliated..."



"You are not going to win! When do you ever win?" Ron said, sitting up and glaring at her. "And I'm NOT embarrassed!"



"Then prove it! It's your turn," Hermione said, gesturing toward the board, where the pieces were watching them in silence, and casting amused glances toward each other.



Ron hesitated for a moment, looking from the board to Hermione and back again. Finally the white king turned around in place to face him.



"Well, what are you waiting for? She's not going to take her clothes off by herself and I'm tired of waiting to see her brea--" his king shouted at him, but was cut off when the white queen whacked him with her scepter.



Ron couldn't help laugh as he looked up at Hermione. There was a large, saucy grin on her face, an expression that made the blood in his veins pump hotter and faster.



"Fine," Ron said bravely. "But don't get mad at me when you're sitting there in your all together."



"Just make your move, Ronald," Hermione said blandly.



"Oy! Queen's side rook...four spaces to the left, please," Ron said, letting a grin slide across his flushed face. It was suddenly very warm in the living room. He felt a fine sheet of sweat break out under his arms as he watched Hermione look down at the board. A look of deep concentration was on her face.



She moved the pawn in front of her king's side rook out two spaces and looked up at him calmly. Ron quickly moved his queen's side rook forward two spaces. She followed that by moving her king's side rook two spaces as well. Ron looked over the board for a moment and then grinned.



He moved his rook one square forward and captured one of her pawns. The pawn was knocked from the board and suddenly all the pieces were looking up at Hermione expectantly.



"One button," Hermione said, meeting his gaze steadily.



"One button," he echoed, his gaze sliding down to watch as she lifted her hands to her blouse. She slipped the top button from its hole and the shirt gaped just enough so he could see the smooth skin of her chest and the hint of her cleavage below. A hint wasn't nearly enough though. He was going to have to get rid of more. "Your turn," he said through an oddly dry mouth.



Hermione leaned forward and studied the board a moment before moving her king's side rook sideways four spaces. Ron grinned again and immediately prodded his queen's side rook. It gleefully slid five spaces sideways, bashing into another of Hermione's pawns. It flew from the board and Ron's gaze went back to Hermione.



Neither of them said anything as she lifted her hands to undo another button on her blouse. Her shirt gaped open right at the crease of her cleavage and he saw the crisp white of her bra peaking beneath. With much difficulty he tore his gaze away and looked her in the face.



"King's side knight...if you would be so kind..." Hermione said, not looking down at the board as she tapped the square she wanted him in. She had a look of challenge on her face.



"Anything to defend your honor, Lady!" the excited knight exclaimed and moved immediately to obey.



Ron smirked and looked down at the board, his gaze moving to his queen's side rook, which seemed to be doing all the work so far. It was definitely earning its keep and he felt regret that it was about to go on a suicide mission. He told it to move three spaces forward, putting it into Hermione's back row.



Hermione sighed, but really there was nothing to be done. She moved the pawn in front of her queen's side knight out one space and then screwed up her face to wait for the blow.



Ron merely had to gesture to his rook. It barreled forward two spaces and plowed into Hermione's queen's side bishop, knocking him off the board with a muffled yell of triumph.



All the pieces were looking eagerly up at Hermione again, even her own.



"Suppose you think you're clever?" Hermione said composedly.



"The cleverest," Ron responded, waggling his eyebrows. "Regrets?"



"'Course not. You haven't won yet," Hermione said, her eyes flashing.



"Stop delaying, Hermione and show me some skin," Ron said cheekily.



"Yeah! Take it off!" Hermione's knight yelled. Clearly defending her honor only went so far, especially when there was nudity involved.



"You heard the man," Ron chuckled. Hermione shrugged and reached for her blouse. Ron sat up straighter, but his face fell when she moved down to one of her feet, grasped her sock by its toe and pulled it off her foot. "Hey! No fair!"



"Major pieces are worth major articles of clothing. Socks count," Hermione said, tossing her sock aside.



"No way--"



"Socks. Count." Hermione was glaring at him in a very familiar way. They were about to have a row if he wasn't careful. He held up his hands to stop her.



"Okay, okay. Socks count, got it," he said. "It's your turn."



"I know," Hermione snapped.



"Cute toes by the way," Ron said in a singsong voice, looking back down at the board.



"Shut up," Hermione snapped again, her face going red. She looked the board over and then tilted her head at it. "Queen, if you would please get that troublesome git off the board?"



The black queen bowed and then lifted her scepter and swung it into Ron's white rook. The castle fell from the board and Hermione heaved a contented sigh as she looked back up at Ron expectantly.



"I'm still ahead," Ron said petulantly as he unfolded his legs and grasped one of his socks in his hand. He pulled it off and wiggled his toes at her. Hermione wrinkled her nose.



"Do you ever wash those things?" she said, sticking out her tongue as he tossed his sock aside.



"'Course not! Where would all the fungus live?" Ron said in scandalized voice. Hermione giggled and rolled her eyes. All the blood seemed to rush downward in Ron's body at the sound of her laughter and he was unable to shut his mouth. "You look cute when you do that."



Hermione's cheeks went bright red and she brushed her hair off her forehead, not meeting his gaze. Ron was still feeling warm all over and getting that reaction out of her was definitely worth the choking feeling in his chest.



"Um...it's your turn," Hermione said rather breathlessly. Ron tore his gaze away from Hermione's flushed face and looked down at the chessboard.



"King's side knight..." Ron said, tapping a square with one finger. The knight saluted and moved forward three squares and left one in an L-shaped pattern. Still blushing, Hermione followed that by moving her rook two spaces sideways. Ron then moved the pawn in front of his queen's side knight forward one pace. His mind was only half on the game, really. He was watching Hermione's face. She was chewing on her lower lip again.



She moved her queen's side knight forward three spaces and toward the right and looked up at him expectantly. He looked at her for a moment and then jabbed his queen's side bishop in the back of the head.



"Three spaces diagonally, mate," he said as it moved across the white squares. Hermione dithered for a full three minutes before she moved her knight to the right once more. She looked nervous.



Ron's hand wavered on the board. He looked down at one of his pawns and then shoved it forward. It shot him a dirty look but he didn't care. It was just one pawn after all.



"Get him," Hermione murmured, her tongue darting out along her bottom lip. Her pawn attacked Ron's diagonally, bashing it across the head. Hermione let out a breath and looked up at him.



He shrugged and reached for the buttons on his shirt. The first three were already undone, so he reached for the fourth one and slipped it from its hole.



"Mmm...one sock and one button," he said cockily. "You're really beating the stuffing out of me, Hermione."



"Shut up and move, Weasley," Hermione said, some of her confidence back. Ron did as he was told and moved a pawn forward one square. They each made several moves and she threatened his bishop with her rook twice so that he had to move it out of danger quickly. He moved the bishop all the way across the board on the white squares and out of danger completely and then waited for her to make a move.



She did, moving her rook forward two squares and bashing one of his pawns, which was standing alone in the middle of the board, in the head. It limped off the board and she grinned widely.



He undid another button, feeling air swirling over the dip in the center of his chest. His shirt gaped open and he watched as she slid her gaze over the small portion of his freckled, flushed chest that showed.



"Are you done gawking?" he said lazily, making her start and color again. He chuckled and moved his bishop sideways one square. She immediately threatened it with her rook again. He moved it another square out of the way and then she moved her rook sideways six squares. She kept looking back at his chest, an odd glimmer in her eyes.



Well if she wanted to look, he'd give her something to look at...



Ron moved one of his pawn's forward, right into harm's way. Hermione immediately nudged her rook forward, sending the poor thing off the board to join its fellows on the sidelines. She arched one eyebrow at Ron, who sighed dramatically and undid another button, making his shirt pooch open across his chest, brown nipples puckering. Cool air swirled over his flushed, heated skin like a kiss and she nodded her head in satisfaction.



With Hermione's eyes on him, he looked back down at the board and before Hermione could even blink, he'd commanded his Queen to move diagonally across the board and whack her bishop on the head with her scepter. Hermione's smile faltered and she drew in a sharp breath.



"Well good...I felt funny with only one sock on anyway," she sniffed and then pulled her other sock off, tossing it toward the other one she'd lost.



"Pretty toes...pretty toes..." Ron teased in his singsong voice again, making her curl her toes in response. She did have cute toes. They were short, but not fat. He watched them as Hermione leaned forward and commanded her knight to move. Dragging his gaze away from her nude feet, he moved his own knight and then watched as she moved hers again. He moved his knight once more to threaten hers; all the while watching for an opportunity that Hermione didn't see.



She did exactly what he wanted and only moved her rook forward one space. He immediately gave his queen a poke on the shoulder and pointed to Hermione's knight, which she had moved into the perfect position for him to attack. The queen moved five spaces diagonally and captured Hermione's black knight.



The sound of the pieces hitting seemed to echo. Hermione's mouth was open slightly and Ron took a deep breath, looking up at her as her knight limped off the board.



"No socks left, Hermione," he said lightly. Hermione obviously realized this too. She closed her eyes and then took a steady breath.



"I'll get you for this, Weasley," she said through stiff lips. He grinned and sat up straighter.



"Threaten all you like, but take that shirt off while you do it," he said in a rasping voice. His mouth was dry again. "Unless you're chicken..."



Hermione's eyes flashed open and she glared at him. Then very swiftly she popped the rest of the buttons on her blouse open and ripped the soft, white material off her shoulders and then her arms. She tossed it aside and looked at him expectantly.



Ron's eyes were trained on her mid-section. Her skin looked soft and inviting in the light from the candles and the fireplace. Her breasts were round and firm beneath the barrier of her lacy white bra and he could see the raised pucker of her nipples through the thin material. All the air seemed to whoosh out of him. He swallowed audibly.



"I think I like this game," Ron said rather breathlessly. Hermione cleared her throat and snapped her fingers to get his attention. He tore his gaze away from her breasts.



"Now that you've had a good peek at the girls, why don't we get on with it?" she said lightly, though the corners of her lips were twitching as if she was fighting laughter.



He looked down at the board and blinked in confusion. Oh yes. They were playing weren't they? He watched as Hermione moved a pawn forward. He wasn't paying much attention to the movements though. His gaze kept flickering upward to Hermione's chest. Whenever she breathed he could see the soft, flat plane of her stomach contract and expand. She cleared her throat to call his attention back to the game and he absent-mindedly moved his bishop one black square. Hermione moved her knight again and he saw his queen was in danger so he moved her back one square out of the way.



"Get his bishop," Hermione said to her queen, who immediately flew diagonally across the board and captured his bishop around the neck. The black queen manhandled him off the board and then turned to look at Ron, who was blinking stupidly at her.



"Sock number two, coming right up," he mumbled, embarrassed that he'd let her get him distracted. It was just a sock, but he didn't want to lose any more ground to her. He tossed the sock aside and folded his legs under. He then moved his rook three squares sideways and bit down on his lip. Hermione was in a perfect position to take another of his pawns with her queen if she wanted. He hoped she didn't notice it though.



She did. Immediately she told her queen to take a step sideways and blinker his poor pawn, who saw it coming and cowered on its square.



"Not doing too bad, am I?"



"It's just a button, don't get your knickers in a twist," he said, undoing another button on his shirt so that his stomach was exposed. "Besides, you'll be giving me a good view of them soon enough and I don't think you want them all...twisted."



"You wish," Hermione said acidly, though she was biting down on her lower lip as she said it. He knew exactly why she was looking that way. She'd obviously missed the fact that his bishop was in perfect position to run down and beat the pulp out of her rook and now she was powerless to stop it.



"Uh-oh!" Ron said as he motioned his bishop forward the four spaces toward her rook. She winced when it was thrown off the board and he looked up at her with a salacious grin on his face. "I believe that's a major piece and your shirt is already gone..."





"Don't gloat," she said, her eyes flashing again.



"Why would I gloat? Just because I'm winning and about to see your knickers and I'm still wearing everything but my socks..." he laughed as she tossed one of her socks at him. He dodged it easily and looked at her with raised eyebrows. "Well? I'm not getting any younger."



Hermione stood and, with as much dignity as she could muster, she unzipped her skirt and let it fall to the floor where it pooled around her ankles. Ron had to take a deep calming breath. Things were happening for him down below and he fought to keep it under control. There was absolutely no way though.



Hermione had lovely round thighs and her hips were slender. He'd always known that, of course, but...now he was really seeing it. Her knickers were simple and white like her bra, but he liked them. They suited her somehow. His gaze lingered on the joint of her thighs for a moment before she sat back down again, her skirt kicked to the side.



Her eyes were narrowed and fierce. "Queen, get his knight for me. And rough him up a bit, please!"



Hermione's queen did just that.



Ron winced as his poor knight cried for mercy. "Ouch...careful Hermione! Someone might think you're getting nervous."



"I'm not nervous. Now take off your shirt," she nearly growled, reaching up to tear her hair out of its haphazard knot. Her bushy hair tumbled down to her shoulders and he found himself smiling at it. "I think I'd like to see if those freckles really are all over."



"They're everywhere you can imagine, Granger," Ron said as he pulled his shirt over his head, not even bothering to undo the rest of the buttons. Cool air swirled across his skin again with the absence of the shirt and he tossed it aside with relief. "Getting a bit hot in here anyway."



"Yes, it is," Hermione said through her teeth, leaning forward as if she was looking at the board, though her gaze was on his chest. He looked down at himself and then smirked. He stretched then, lifting his arms high in the air so she could get a good look at what Quidditch and Auror training had done for him.



She bit down on her lip and he relaxed onto his side, looking back down at the board again. He'd have to be careful from now on. All he had left were his trousers and boxers. He definitely didn't want to lose them.



He tried to concentrate as best he could, though his gaze kept flicking back to Hermione clad only in her knickers and bra. He moved his rook forward two squares. She moved her Queen diagonally four squares. He moved his bishop, intending to get behind her queen somehow and take the troublesome thing off the board once and for all.



She moved her queen diagonally across the black squares so that it was threatening his queen's side knight. Well...he wasn't going to lose his trousers over that! He moved his knight out of the way quickly and then winced.



Hermione's queen moved backward one square--and checkmated his king.



"Check," Hermione growled. He looked up at her and saw that her chest was flushed, mouth parted, eyes glistening. His blood pumped faster at the sight of her so into the game.



"Not for long," Ron said. "Move up one or she's going to get us both."



His king did as he was told. It was now nestled between two pawns and right behind his remaining rook, safe for the time being. He let out a breath and looked up at Hermione. She was obviously annoyed that he'd managed to get away from her.



"Get that pawn," she said viciously to her queen, who moved forward out of his back row four spaces to knock one of his pawns out of the way. She was breathing hard now and a triumphant look was on her face. "Only one button left..."



Ron shifted uncomfortably. He'd managed to keep his obvious excitement hidden by sitting cross-legged and trusting to the folds of his trousers. Now he'd have to move out of that position to pop the only button on the waist of his trousers and she'd definitely see what he was hiding.



"Well?" she prompted, her cheeks still aflame. Ron took a deep breath and then shifted, feeling pressure on his erection from his trousers. He quickly popped the button and sat back down, hoping she hadn't noticed anything...unusual. Her eyes were suddenly wide though.



"What?" he asked cautiously.



"Um...nothing," she said, her eyes shining. "It's your turn."



"Right," he said, looking down at the board. He knew she'd seen. Oh well...if he was going to be uncomfortable, so was she! "You there, get off your arse and get her pawn there."



His knight made the move and after the walloping had stopped, he looked up at Hermione and saw she was looking at him oddly.



"I don't have any buttons left," she said dismissively.



"And how is that thing staying on? Magic?" he said, gesturing to her bra. She looked down as if startled.



"What? That's...it has hook and eye clasps. Those aren't buttons--"



"How many are there?"



"On this one? Two, I think," she said in confusion.



"Undo one of them," he said in a low voice.



"They're not--"



"They're performing a button-like function. Undo one of them," he said again, his gaze on hers.



"A button-like function? Ron I don't think--"



"Undo it or I will," Ron said, leaning forward and placing both hands on either side of the chessboard. Hermione let out a small puff of air, her eyes on his. Slowly her arms came up and she folded them behind her back. Her shoulders rolled a little and then she withdrew them. Her eyes sparkled.



"Happy now?" she said softly, her gaze flicking down to his crotch.



"Almost," he responded, sitting back on his haunches.



"Me too," she responded lightning fast and seconds later, he was aware of why she was suddenly smiling. At her insistence, her queen moved diagonally across the white squares, knocking his knight off the board. "I want to see some leg, Weasley. Among other things."



"You're evil," he said, shaking his head. Hermione wolf-grinned at him and nodded.



"Just take them off," she said in a husky voice. Ron couldn't delay the inevitable. He stood and slid the zipper down, then pulled them down his hips and thighs. He kicked them off and sank back down to the floor. Her smile grew, as she looked him over.



"Not one word," he said as he clasped both hands over his crotch.



"You're blushing," she said with another giggle. Why did she have to do that? He stirred uncomfortably in his seat and looked down at the board. Things looked bleak for him, but he was sure if he could just...concentrate...



One of her bra straps had fallen off her shoulder, revealing the swell of her breast and the crease it made with her underarm. His gaze ran hungrily over that suddenly exposed area and he prodding one of his pawns forward a square, ignoring the sound of impatience it made.



Hermione met his gaze for a moment and then told her queen to move sideways three squares to threaten his bishop, who was a sitting duck where he was. Ron tore his gaze away from hers and told him to move five squares out of the way.



He immediately went back to staring at Hermione. He could feel sweat forming on his upper lip. He wanted to get this over with and...and what? He didn't know what he wanted. Well that wasn't true. Not at all. He knew exactly what he wanted to do.



If Hermione only...



"I won."



Ron's attention snapped back to the game and he blinked stupidly up at Hermione. "What?"



"I won," she said simply, her breath heaving in her chest, the corners of her lips curled upward slightly, as if fighting a full grin. "I won!"



"WHAT? How?" He sat up and gazed down at the board in disbelief.



Hermione touched the black queen's head and immediately she started forward, moving diagonally across the black squares. Ron watched in horror as his king was knocked clean off the board.



"Checkmate. And that's the game," Hermione said softly. He looked back up at her, his eyes wide.



"No way. How did you--" he stammered. "I always win! How did you beat me?"



"Fair and square, Ron," she said, crossing her arms across her chest, making her breasts press together and her cleavage deepen. "Plus, you were too busy watching me to notice what was going on in the game."



"I was not!"



"You were too!" she exclaimed, letting her arms fall down. "See! You're still looking!"



"I can't help it! There's...I...impending breasts!" Ron said, gesturing wildly toward her chest.



"What?" Hermione said with a laugh. "Impending breasts?"



"Yes. They're..." He couldn't quite say it. He glared at her. "You did it on purpose!"



"Did what?"



"Got all naked just so you could win!"



Hermione looked at him and slowly a grin spread across her face. "And here I thought you said I wasn't good at strategy? Obviously I'm not that bad."



Ron swallowed hard. "Fine, your strategy worked. Happy?"



"No," Hermione said blandly.



"Why not?" Ron snapped at her.



"I took your king, Ron. He's a major piece and he's worth a major article of clothing," she said calmly, looking pointedly down at his dark blue boxer shorts. Ron's blood ran cold and he glanced down at them quickly and then back up at her. "Take them off."



"The game is over," he said stiffly, panicking.



"It will be as soon as you're starkers," she said just as calmly, though he could see the amusement sparkling in her eyes. "I won and I want my prize."



"No way!" Ron said, shaking his head.



Hermione's eyebrow arched. "Take them off...or I will."



"You could try," Ron scoffed, expecting her to get huffy and give up.



He was totally unprepared for her to launch herself across the chessboard at him, scattering the pieces in all directions. She landed on him and he went sprawling backward with her weight on his chest.



She laughed and he felt her hands on the elastic waistband of his boxers.



"HERMIONE!" he yelped, attempting to wriggle away from her, but she held on, attempting to get her hand beneath the waistband and pull his boxers down. Time to use some unfair tactics. Ron grabbed her around the waist and rolled, trapping her under his weight. The chess pieces scattered in all directions attempting to get away from them.



Hermione struggled, still laughing, one hand now having worked beneath the elastic waistband and resting on his hip.



"Come on, Ron...play nice!" she said, arching her back upward toward him, her breasts pushing against his chest.



"No way!" he gasped, grabbing one of her wrists in his hand and forcing it up over her head where he pinned her there in place and made sure she stayed by slinging one of his legs across her hips. "Nope, I'm afraid I'm going to have to do the most vile, evil thing imaginable..."



"You wouldn't!" Hermione gasped, her hair wild around her face.



But it was too late. Ron's free hand was already on her ribs, moving lightly across her skin. Hermione squealed and bucked upward, peals of laughter bubbling up from her throat. She pulled the hand she'd worked under the elastic of his boxers out and attempted to grab his hand to stop him from tickling her, but he caught that wrist in his hand and pinned it over her head as well.



"Give up?"



"Never!" she gasped, even as she stopped struggling. Things went suddenly still.



Ron's weight settled on hers. Hermione's laughter died out and she looked up at him with her flushed face and bit lip. His gaze went her to her mouth and he looked back up at her eyes, where he saw a spark of something he couldn't name, but understood perfectly.



Ron lowered his face to hers and she lifted her chin to meet his kiss. Her mouth was soft and warm and he sank against her at the feel and taste of it. He drew back for one aching moment, only to press forward again, slanting his mouth over hers. She made a small moan in the back of her throat and shifted beneath him, surging upward into him.



He let go of her wrists and let his hands slide down her arms to her shoulders and then down across the top swells of her breasts. He couldn't reach the parts he wanted though, so he shifted off of her, all of his weight on one shoulder. Hermione's mouth followed him and she lifted one arm, tangling her fingers in his sweaty, flyaway hair, keeping his mouth on hers. Her other hand caressed the hand that was now running up her ribs, not tickling but touching and savoring every muscle he could feel under his callused fingertips.



She urged his hand upward and they both moaned when his palm closed over the globe of her left breast. He could feel her nipple beneath the thin lace and he rolled it beneath his palm and then brushed his thumb over it. Hermione's tongue darted into his mouth and he welcomed it, suckling it deep into his mouth and chasing it back to hers a moment later.



Hermione suddenly broke off from his mouth, another peal of laughter escaping her.



"Ron! Stop tickling me!" she gasped.



Ron looked at her in confusion. "I'm not!"



"Well then--" Hermione lifted her head and looked down at her stomach, brow furrowed in confusion. "Hey!"



Ron followed her gaze. One of the white bishops was walking across Hermione's naked stomach.



"What in bloody hell do you think you're doing?" Ron exclaimed, sitting up on his elbow. The bishop squeaked and Ron brushed him off of Hermione's stomach onto the floor. The bishop shot Ron a dirty gesture as he stood back up, making Ron's mouth fall open. "You're a holy man!"



"Cheeky fellow," Hermione said, sitting up on her elbows to watch the bishop walk back toward the board, cursing Ron under his breath.



"I'm keeping my eye on him from now on," Ron said, glaring at the chess piece in distrust.



"If you can ever get your eyes off of me," Hermione said teasingly. Ron turned his attention back on her, suddenly remembering what they had been doing and of course his very persistent reaction to her body nestled against his. "Now where were we?"



"Er...Hermione," he started, feeling uncomfortable suddenly. Didn't girls like to talk about this stuff? And this was Hermione. He'd been kissing Hermione, the only woman he'd ever wanted and not had. There had to be something he could or should say...



"Don't talk," Hermione snapped, lying back down. "We've been talking for years, Ron. It's about time we started doing, don't you think? So shut up."



"Shut up?"



"Yes, shut up and kiss me," Hermione said with a smile. "To start with..."



"But--"



"What did I say?" Her eyes flashed.



"Er...right..." Ron leaned down and kissed her full on the mouth. He broke away a second later and looked down at her, his gaze soft. He smiled slightly. "You did play a good game--even though you cheated."



"That reminds me--" Hermione suddenly said. "These nifty blue boxers of yours--"


Hermione laughed as Ron yelped and tried to wriggle away from her fingers, which were trying to get beneath the elastic waistband once more. In the midst of the struggle their mouths met again and this time Ron didn't pull away.


As his hands spread up Hermione's naked side and dipped beneath the lace of her bra, he realized he definitely, definitely liked strip chess.



It was the only game, he thought, where losing was a good thing.



(end)



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