Will that be a problem?
It wasn’t as if he lacked self control. Draco Malfoy just happened to know what he wanted at almost all times and had the means to obtain those desires. When Firebolt announced its new model series he immediately arranged top priority for the first shipment. When Hermione missed out on Taylor Swift’s latest tour, Draco miraculously presented her with VIP tickets and backstage passes. When Flourish & Blotts threatened to close, he swooped in to purchase the bookstore so she’d always have her favorite stop in Diagon Alley. When his favorite chef returned to Japan to further her training, Draco became the proud owner of a vacation home in one of Tokyo’s few reclusive neighborhoods so they’d never miss out on New Year’s soba.
But this? Hermione’s request that he refrain from touching her for the entire week leading up to his birthday was pure insanity. Inconsiderate. Who did she think she was? Other than his wife, of course.
”If you can hold yourself back for the entire duration, you will be rewarded.”
”Why wait when I can be rewarded multiple times every day?” Draco responded, aghast at the obvious injustice.
”What sounds more desirable? Multiple little rewards, or one mind-blowing first experience after a period of patience?”
“…this better not be like that time you gifted me a first edition book that you really just wanted for yourself. Or the other time where you brought home a kneazle—”
“Half kneazle.”
“—half kneazle because I mentioned growing our family.”
“If you aren’t fully satisfied afterward, I promise we’ll try that little thing you mentioned last week.”
That certainly caught his attention. Draco bit his lip hard before shaking himself from his fantasy. “No reneging. No guilting me if I’m not as enthralled as expected. A week of not touching you is tantamount to torture, you know.”
”Second-hand touching is encouraged. As are other…shows…of affection.” She was a damn Cheshire Cat; the curling of her lips and sparkle to her eyes promised agony for the next seven days. “Will that be a problem, Draco? Can you control yourself?”
He was already imagining the charms and potions he could brew that would allow him to circumvent her rules. “You’re on, wife. We’ll see who’s begging for release come this next Saturday.”