Untie me
He strained against the ropes carefully, testing their strength and give. No use. Of course they’d be perfect. With an annoyed huff, he shifted in the chair and considered another idea. Clenching his core, he jerked his legs as far as they’d go. He moved a couple of inches across the hardwood floor. Yes! Now if I can only make it over to my wand…
Several successful attempts later and a couple feet closer to the sideboard where his wand rested, the chair caught a dip in a floorboard, sending Draco tumbling in a loud crash onto his side. He cursed inwardly in a mixture of English and French at the sharp pain lancing through the arm that cushioned his fall.
“Draco? Is everything alright…oh!”
His eyes darted up from her delicate ankles to her bent over frame. Hermione wheezed unladylike in her laughter, gripping her side as it cramped.
“You. Look. Ridiculous! And this serves you right!” Standing upright, she appraised his positioning, limbs still lashed in place, muffled breathing around the gag tied against his mouth, platinum strands loose and hanging into his sparking, mercurial eyes.
Wand in hand, Hermione floated his chair back into place before taking a seat in the armchair across from him. She contemplated him a moment longer. “Are you ready to talk now?”
The skin around his eyes tightened and his brows furrowed inward. He waited one minute, then two, before giving a single, sharp nod.
Hermione leaned forward and tugged the cloth from his lips, then gestured for him to speak.
“I’m sorry you were offended by—“ He yanked his head back as she reached for the gag.
“—I mean, I’m sorry for almost ruining your surprise. I shouldn’t have tried to peek while you were wrapping your gifts.” He gritted the words out and hoped she believed his dubious sincerity. “Please untie me. I won’t do it again.”
“Hmm…” Standing and sauntering around him out of view, Hermione tapped at the knots without removing them.
He jerked when he felt fingertips whispering across his jaw to grip the base of his chin. His head tilted upward at the pressure, lips parting as she angled her head and leaned close.
Rather than bringing her mouth to his, she drifted across his cheekbones and around the curve of his ear, nipping the lobe and exhaling a warm breath, sending an immediate pang of longing down to his groin.
“Apology accepted…but I think I’ll leave you like this a little longer.”
“Granger…”
At his frustrated growl, she finally captured his lips with her own, inhaling his protests and snogging him into a dizzy stupor. She was all heat and silk, her mane of curls blanketing them and making him forget, for just a moment, his predicament. Whining as she pulled away, he was rudely reminded of his ties when he tried to follow and recapture her in another kiss.
“You look delicious helpless for me like this. The gag will go but I want you to watch me arrange the gifts under the tree.” She grasped the hairs at the nape of his neck and angled his face to look up at her. “If you can be good boy and stay quiet, then I’ll untie my present and you can demonstrate your remorse to me in your lap in that chair.”
She chuckled at the look that twisted across his face. Giving him one final stroke across his jawline, she flitted back out of the room. Never mind the fact she knew of Draco’s wandless magic and that without his gag he could easily charm off his restraints. This was another test of his self-control and the promise of a mutual reward. This time, Draco would exercise patience.