InsaneJournal

Sitting up with his back against Bina's headboard, Will looked disheveled but relaxed as he leaned over to nab the bottle sitting on her bedside table. "Top up, Miss Bulstrode?" He grinned at her with a bit of impish charm as he held the bottle tilted slightly while he waited for her to hold out her glass before he filled his again. "Now will you laugh if my little black book is partially in an actual little black notebook?"

"Always," Bina replied, holding her glass out as she shifted against the soft down pillows. For all her hard edges and exterior, Cambina liked a comfortable bed. Which mean featherbeds and lush pillows that made it seem like one was sinking into a cloud. She propped her bare feet into William's lap with an impish smile of her own.

"Only a little, but I do find it adorable. Mine's all in my head. Best not to have incriminating evidence about."

Will snorted and shook his head at her. "It's a book of contacts and addresses, most from my time at the Prophet. A couple fall into black book category," he explained as he filled her glass and returned the bottle to the bedside before settling into the pillow behind his back some more. "Keep a mental log, do you?" Will winked and shifted her feet in his lap, not minding this habit of hers she seemed to enjoy, even if he was usually wearing a bit more when she did so.

"Sleeping your way through the Prophet, Rosier?" Bina teased with a smirk as she took a sip of her scotch. "Of course, I mean, I don't have names for everyone, but anyone worth remembering I can tell you about. Do we want to ignore our time at Hogwarts as old history?"

"More like once in a while there'd be an attractive source it'd be fun to take out for a night, made for better interviews and leads," Will teased back, leaning over to kiss her bare shoulder while being careful not to spill his scotch. "I'd say as a general rule that anyone worth a name is worth mentioning, and if one of the nameless ones makes an appearance we'll just nudge the other person or indicate in some way that this stranger falls on the list."

Will did stop and sip his scotch thoughtfully at her Hogwarts question. Hogwarts was longer ago for her than it was for him, but that wasn't a fact he cared to remind her of at any time. "Hm, for Hogwarts I'd say if we're likely to run into them at any time then it's worth a mention, otherwise it doesn't matter. Even if your first experiences were with some bloke who's a nobody now, I wouldn't count him worth a mention unless he runs in our circles." Will turned his head to see if she agreed with the proposal there.

Bina was once more glad that although she'd had a crush on will's stepfather that nothing has ever happened because that would have been an awkward thing to bring up. "No, that makes sense. And most of mine have been casual and I don't imagine they'll matter other than some comments about you managing to tame the beast."

Bina took a slow sip of scotch. "For me it's easier to start with the most recent - ongoing or not. The thing with Gwenog Jones is over, but you knew about her. You also know about Lucien and Lyra. Lyra I expect to be ongoing. And then there's Corner."

"I will do my utmost not to roll my eyes at any and all taming comments," Will chuckled. He nodded along to the start of her list, already well aware of who she was talking about until she got to the last name. "Corner who?" It was asked lightly because he really had heard of no Corners before now, perhaps a colleague or someone that wouldn't have come up with him. Who knew, but if it was a work friend he'd rather know now than at a party or going through Ministry hallways.

"Michael Corner, he's younger..." Bina explained, not giving the full story. She would if Will asked, but she wasn't sure how he would react to her sleeping with someone his sister's age. "But he and I have had something discrete going for a few months." Which was a bit of an understatement.

Another sip of scotch and Bina thought that they would go through much of the bottle tonight. "And I've slept with some folks at the ministry, but nothing current or longterm."

Will tilted his head, curious. Her only elaboration was to add the man's, quite common, first name. Was the full name supposed to mean something to him? Will was genuinely wracking his brains to see if he knew any Corners. He was entirely sure that there had been none who crossed his path at the Prophet, and reasonably sure the same was true for the ministry. Perhaps from his school days? But he had good memory and there'd been no Michaels, let alone Corners. "I'm younger, Bina," Will snorted and shook his head. "Am I supposed to recognize the name? Because I really don't I'm afraid. Who is he?"

One thing at a time, he'd get to the ministry part of the list after. It was easier to ask about this mysterious Corner now rather than have to look it up himself without much of a lead.

"I doubt you would. You don't really run in the same circles and he's younger than you even. Ravenclaw, just finished this year, Gringotts trainee now, I think," Bina said with a shrug as if it were no big deal. Because it shouldn't be.

Will seemed to freeze mid sip of his scotch, his eyes stuck on her for a long moment before he turned them away to look at some corner of the room. Merlin, why oh why did she have to make such poor decisions when it came to the company she kept most of the time? Just graduated and she'd been seeing him for months? This would be more problematic if things had started before the kid had finished school. For all he knew the boy might be one of those lovesick puppy types or one who'd get jealous easily, this had the potential to cause problems. He'd have to use Gwennie to see what she knew about this guy, how much of a nuisance or a danger he could be.

"I see," was all Will said for a moment as he took another sip of scotch and turned back to look at her. "Before or after he graduated?"

"He was of age," was all she said in reply.

Will took a deep breath and nodded, taking that as a yes this had been before he graduated. Lovely. Which just meant that this Michael Corner had potential leverage to use against him or Bina in the future and that one day he might have to be dealt with. Something to consider for the future.

"So these ministry folks, which departments and just point them out to me at the party and I'll do the same for mine. Easier to have a visual than a name there I'd think," he continued, moving past the topic of the boy side piece.

Bina could see Corner was going to be a problem. Well, hopefully Will would forget about him, and it wasn't like she was going to be bringing his name up with Will or inviting him for a threesome (not that she hadn't fantasised about that). She studied William a bit longer before answering.

"DMLE, naturally, though some have left already. A few obliviators over the years, few folks in sports - but usually quidditchers, and then a few from International Cooperation." It wasn't Bina's favourite activity, doing something like this because it made it seem so… strange and sterile. And she liked her lifestyle - or well, her former lifestyle.

No, Will was certainly not going to be forgetting about a person who had information like that that could be used against them. He'd keep Corner's name in the back of his mind, use his sister to see what kind of boy they were dealing with, and think of what might have to be done if Corner decided to make a move. He wasn't in a position just yet to discourage Bina from seeing the kid, and he wouldn't until he had a better idea of what sort of person he was and how he felt about Bina, but it was something to consider doing down the line.

Will took a much larger swig of his scotch and put the glass back on the bedside table. "Well now that I know that about oblivators...introducing you to colleagues should be quite fun," Will grinned as he leaned over to kiss the side of her neck. "I wonder if any will flounder awkwardly."
Bina gave him a smile and tilted her head to the side to give him better access. "I should hope not. "Haven't felt the need to shag after a case with any of them recently. Or did you not notice me dropping in on you at all hours of the night within the last years. Most of that was just mutual stress relief, never anything serious. And the quidditchers aren't really worth mentioning."

She turned her head and brushed her lips against his. "So, now that I've made myself sound like a complete and utter hussy, your turn."

"I like how you say 'never anything serious' as if you have a significant list of serious things," Will teased as he worked his way up to her jawline. The Corner issue had been acknowledged but now he was going to push that aside to focus elsewhere. "But yes, there is a chance I've noticed your odd schedule at least once. A small chance."

"My turn to sound like a hussy?" Will pulled back to lean on one elbow while on his side and consider his own list. "Hmm only one or two at the Prophet, one that was in fact-checking at the time and another in ads. Various ones I met through articles, usually they were organizing something, owned a small business or knew someone who did. The specific list for that I'd need to dig out the aforementioned black notebook. Smattering of ones that don't fall into that category but mostly involve the odd bartender, quidditcher, or just someone at a club." He stopped and propped himself up so he could kiss her and hover over. "I think I managed to make myself sound worse while covering most of my list. Oh, yes, ministry. I'm afraid that's a quite short one, just two secretaries. And an auror of course," Will winked and lowered himself to kiss her more thoroughly.

"Well, I'd call you and Lyra significant. Though I'm not sure she counts at serious, but definitely significant," Bina said, pulling back enough to take a sip of her scotch before setting it on the nightstand now that Will seemed to be moving in a different direction. Gwenog would have been significant, but Bina didn't want to talk about that.

"Well, at least it's only one Auror," she teased. "Imagine if you'd shagged my boss - and no, I haven't slept with any of your bosses."

That was interesting, he hadn't realized things were that significant with Lyra, but it was something that was good to be aware of. "I'd worry if I didn't count as significant now," he teased and ignored the teasing about only one auror. Bina had always been an odd exception in that department, and he shuddered to think of even the idea of having to tolerate some of the other women in her department he'd seen. Mudbloods, bloodtraitors, there were just too many of them to be avoided. "Well considering your boss is Scrimegour...no. Though I will take comfort in the fact that none of my bosses are on your list. If they were, well they could just be higher up on the list of people I'll eventually usurp to move up."

"Well, you've no need to worry then, Mister Rosier. You are quite significant," she said, tugging him down for a kiss. "Honestly, I doubt anyone will say anything out of sorts, more likely to just be some looks. After all, you're succeeding where other men have failed."

"Saying it like that makes it sound like I've tamed the untameable and you had no hand in it," Will shook his head with a smile, it was a ridiculous idea that he'd have managed anything of the sort without Bina deciding she wanted to go along with it. He kissed her back, more than happy to be pulled down for it. "Some of them will just be aware on what they're missing out on is all."

"There were proposals that were turned down back in the day, but those men are now happily married with children so I don't think it'll be an issue. Besides, there were never any courtships, just boys with grandiose delusions that I would be their kept women for some reason," she said shaking her head dismissively.

"Skipped straight to the proposal in the hopes that they would have you all to themselves? Ambitious, I'll give them that, but very delusional, you're right." Though Will knew they'd have to give the public impression (and to her family too no doubt) that Bina had actually settled down more than was actually true.

"They wanted the pretty stay at home proper society wife and somehow thought I would be that. Thank Salazar my father had enough sense not to accept any of the offers," Bina said with a shudder as she tangled her hand through his hair and kissed him again. "I think I'm h- I think this worked out much better."

Will of course saw nothing wrong with the society wife that didn't work, it was the classic role of any wellbred pureblood woman and his mother had fallen into that category before the end of the war had ruined everything. But times were changing, and witches wanted work and power of their own, which he could appreciate. He'd still like it if he was in a position where any wife of his didn't need to work but only did it because she wanted to, but he wasn't there yet. And it was more beneficial right now to have one with power of her own, especially in a department that hated his family. "He's a sensible man, and anyone can see that arrangement would've turned out a disaster." Will kissed her back and lowered himself onto her slowly. What had she meant to say? Happy? Was she...happy with this, with him? That didn't seem quite right in his head. "Good, I'm glad for that."

"Well, a few of my aunts might not agree. One, he married and divorced my mother and two he didn't have me married and producing heirs before I was twenty or twenty-five," Bina said with a shrug as she ruffled his hair. Any of her former suitors would have been a good match for the family, but Bina had been adamant about not marrying and had leveled quite a few threats at each of her parents. And her mother had been on her side back then.
"But that's all water under the bridge. So, any skeletons in your closet I need to know about? Or girls we've shared without knowing?"

Will opted not to voice any opinions he had on the subject of her family, it was safer not to, though he found he couldn't really entirely disagree with her aunts on some of the points. Instead he ducked his head down to lazily kiss along her collarbone while she spoke, effectively giving her easier access to play with his hair. She seemed to like it and he really didn't mind the affectionate gesture behind it. Her question had him glance back up though, an amused raised eyebrow aimed at her. "I think my list covers my skeletons quite well, as for girls we've shared unknowingly...well there's always the risk one of the one night stands falling into that category, maybe if the odd quidditcher I've had swings both ways and I was unaware...but hard to say. It'd be easier if we did have overlap."

"Well, how many of the Harpies have you done?" Bina asked with a smug smile. "Although I think there's a high chance of overlap with the girls. Most are either or and there's not exactly a surplus of girls in our age range interested in casual shags."

"Not many, two but one got traded to a different team. And true enough, though still more than the elder generations would like to admit to it seems," Will smirked back.

Cambina laughed at that and brushed her lips against his. "What they don't know helps us, especially in terms of finding a third for our bed," she teased. "No bastard children or ex-fiancees of yours I need to know about? Or girls you've left thoroughly broken hearted?"

That got a snort out of him. "As if I'm so careless, Miss Bulstrode. Bastard children are good for nobody and I've been rather buying time on the marriage issue before now."

"And broken hearted girls?" she quipped, running her thumb over his lower lip. "I could see a trail of those in your wake."

"Flattery is it? That will get you many places," Will smirked, his tongue darting out briefly to the thumb running across his lip. "But thoroughly broken hearted? I wouldn't say so. Not how I prefer to leave things."

There were follow up questions she could ask, but this didn't seem to be the serious conversation sort of night. "One of the many weapons in my arsenal," Bina teased with her normal impish smirk. "Because I do plan on getting many places with you."

"Powerful weapon indeed. If you've used it enough and have particularly jealous lads I need to be concerned about, give me a heads up when they come knocking," Will grinned, mostly at that impish smirk that he thoroughly enjoyed. As far as Will was concerned, he'd gotten most of what he'd intended out of this. An idea of what her past flings were, the potential issue that was Corner, and at least the promise that she'd point out the relevant people if they ran into them just so he wasn't caught unawares. "Where would you like to go, Miss Bulstrode? Anywhere I can help with?"

"I don't tend to sleep with the jealous type and if they try, there's a good chance I might hex them so they get the picture," Bina said, giving him a look. She tugged him towards her for a slow, tender kiss. "If you ever have a problem or concern about any of my dalliances, I need you to tell me, clear? I don't want you sulking about. You and I come first. Us versus the world. That's the priority."

Will paused and pulled back just slightly to give her a long searching look. "Even if it means cutting things off with said dalliance?"

"No dalliance is worth ruining this," Bina said seriously. "And if it seems like it is, then we have a different problem."

"Good," Will smiled slightly before his eyes turned more serious. "If I'm suggesting you cut something off, it's not me trying to dictate what you do. I want that clear. You know me, if I'm saying it then there's a practical reason for it."

"But we're allowed to ask for reasons," Bina said. "Are we agreed that we can both abide by this?" Lyra was the caveat here for Bina, the one that she would argue to keep. She just needed to find something she could leverage over Will.

"Of course," Will reassured her, his tone still serious. "If we can't give reasons then we need to reconsider what we're asking." She'd have difficulty finding anyone he really wanted to keep on, truth was he didn't care about most people.

"Standard courtesy rules, let the other know if we're bringing someone home - be it one of the flats or the manor or whatnot. Discretion, no making a scene, the usual," Cambina said, kissing a trail along his neck.

Will nodded in agreement, deciding he'd bring up cutting Corner out later on. In his eyes it was something that needed to be done, preferably before any official engagement. If that still happened, he still wasn't sure why she wasn't pulling back from this now that Noir was caught. "Deal. But what manor do you mean? Planning on bringing side pieces back to your father's?"

"Well, depending on when it passes to me. Although there's been some talk of grandfather remodeling one for me," Bina said with a shrug. "I'm just covering all the bases - home is a general term."

"Remodelling some property for you? That's good of him." Will kissed her and silently filed the information away. "We'll assume home applies to any and all properties between us."

"He spoils me," Bina said with a bit of a smug smile. "But I'll show you the possible plans when we get to that point. Don't want something you'd hate."

Bina traced her fingertips down his sides. "So, any other matters we need to take care of? How are we introducing each other at this Ministry party? Girlfriend/boyfriend?"

"I'm fine with that." Will paused now, not sure if he should bring this up but she mentioned other matters. "And what other matters are you thinking of?"

"Alright. Hold off on any more serious terms until after things are official?" she asked, rubbing small circles into his hip. "I don't have anything else, but I didn't know if you did."

"I think that'd be best," Will agreed and gave her a slow kiss, not quite pulling away once he was done. "One thing. I'm not sure if you'll answer though."

Bina raised an eyebrow. "We did agree to be honest, so I'll do my best."

There was a long pause and look, like he was still deciding whether to ask or not. Would it ruin things or his plan to ask? Asking would only make her aware he knew what she'd wanted to use him for...but what did she want to use him for now? "Bina...why are you still doing this?"

Bina gave him a strange look. "I'm not sure I understand what you're asking." She wasn't trying to dodge the question, she just wasn't following Will's train of thought. "Do you want out of this? I thought you were okay with it." They had had their 'us versus the world' conversation. Bina thought that meant things were settled.

Will bit his lip and thought of how to elaborate. "That's not what I'm saying. I mean..." Just straight up asking would make it harder for her to think she could use him if she knew he was aware the reason, and that was the only reason he decided to go for it. "You have Lady Noir. Does that change nothing for your reasons for doing this?"

Bina raised an eyebrow and pulled back. Well. This was certainly an interesting development. "Lady Noir was never the reason for my agreeing to get married - to you or anyone else. I can promise you that." The look she gave him was open and honest - she had no reason to lie about that. "It's more about making things right with the Bulstrodes than anything else." Another truth, at least the way she viewed the situation. If she made things right with her father's family, then there was the potential to gain access to more of her father's contacts. "You know how frustrated I've been at my job and I don't think I'll stay an Auror forever. It's a lot easier to move up in the world when you have your father's encouragement and blessing instead of his disapproval."

Something crept into her tone at the end, a bit of emotion she couldn't quite keep out of her voice when in this vulnerable setting with William. Despite always giving the impression of not caring, Crispin's disapproval and dismissal did hurt and Cambina still nursed those wounds. She may still be father's princess at times, but there had been enough arguments in the Bulstrode manor to leave their mark on her spirit.

Despite her look of seeming honesty, Will didn't really believe Lady Noir hadn't been a factor and reason. But if she was sticking to the tale that Nott's capture had never been a goal, well he didn't expect anything to change now. The question would still be why had she decided to do this now, what had changed for her in the last year. It was easier to focus on the rest of what she was saying right now though. "And what do you want to be instead of an auror?"

The change of topic was somewhat surprising, but she was beginning to learn that both of them tended to drop a line of questioning rather than get into an argument. Which meant this topic wasn't over, just postponed. But this question she could answer just as easily. "I want a job that challenges me physically and mentally, that gives me the adrenaline rush I crave, and where I don't get bored. Unfortunately, that seems like rather too much to ask of a career path. I'd add where I don't have to work with idiots, but I think that's too much to ask for."

Bina settled back into the pillows and sipped her scotch. "So, in the meantime, I'll just find outside ways to get out my frustrations."

"You do certainly ask a lot of a job," Will responded with a wry smile. Jobs were mostly a means to an end for him, they brought power, money, and connections but he never expected it to be a fulfilling or particularly enjoyable job. It just had to be useful to him. "So the job doesn't need to have authority or power, place to move up, as long as it's stimulating?" It wasn't a judgemental question, he just wanted to know what he was getting into here. If she decided to quit being an auror right after, well what was her likely next step? And would it be bearable for at least a few years?

"Unfortunately, the two rarely go hand in hand," she admitted, sipping the scotch. "I'm coming to realise that what I want isn't feasible." Yet another chapter in the 'Bina wants what she can't have' story, she thought to herself.

"It's not just about what I want now. It's about the future. What's best for me down the line in terms of moving up and what's best for us." There was a wry smile. "And I'll just have to find other ways to get my rush."

Will just smiled back, amused in a way that she was just coming to these realizations. He had always wanted a lot of things he couldn't have, or just couldn't have yet. One day. "Some people never come to that way of thinking unfortunately. That's what holds them back." Who knew if she believed in what she was saying, but at least she knew the right things to say. Too many people didn't focus on the end goal, getting caught up in the means or what they wanted.

Will took the glass from her, taking a sip of her scotch and putting on a smirk. "Colour me interested in the other ways."

"Currently involves having the head of Magical Games set up an obstacle course for me with continuous bludgers while I fly through it as fast as I can.." she admitted, not sure how Will would react. After all, most pureblood men probably wouldn't want to risk their future wives being hit with bludgers.

"Aren't you well connected," Will teased, but kept it in mind. "Not my kind of fun, but I see how it'll get you your adrenaline rush. Don't get yourself killed, death by bludger seems an embarrassing way to go."

"I'm friends with his sister and we've worked together when I've done security for them. Plus he hired Gwenog and lets me steal their coffee - which is actually good coffee," Bina explained before taking her scotch back from him and stealing a kiss. "Don't worry, no death by bludger. I'm a better flyer than that. Have some faith in my skills. You shagging me into oblivion also qualifies."

As did the times she locked herself in her training room and pummelled things, but that wasn't really something she talked about much and it certainly wasn't ladylike.

Will nodded along and did a quick update in his head. So she was going with Lady Noir never having been a factor, just her father. Which only meant he had to assume getting into purist good graces was part of whatever plan she still had and just wasn't going to admit to, though that hardly surprised him. She didn't expect to remain an auror, problematic if she went into one of the other jobs she'd been considering lately (he shuddered at the idea of being stuck with a cursebreaker or dragonkeeper). But at least for now she planned on staying there since it was still beneficial for them. As far as Will was concerned, once an auror always an auror, but while she was officially one his family had a connection and some protection within that department, which was important.

"I assure you, shagging you into oblivion will always be on the table," Will grinned and kissed her, it seemed silly to expect Bina to ever embrace a more 'ladylike' demeanor so he had long ago took the idea of her dodging bludgers and beating things up in training in stride.

Bina couldn't help but smile. "Well, I'm glad some things never change. And what of you? Am I still useful to achieving your goals?"

"Nothing has changed for you, so nothing's changed on my end," Will smiled back, even if that wasn't necessarily true. There were small things that were worrying, her interest before in entirely useless and unsuitable jobs (he hated aurors but at least that was a useful connection), the potential Malfoy issue (which seemed to be smoothing over slowly), and even Corner was worrying but if he could convince her to drop the boy that'd be fine. Nothing big enough to have him seriously consider backing out, but he wondered what the next problematic thing to crop up would be. The worry was that there'd be enough minor things or that one of the minor ones would turn big and the negatives would outweigh any benefit going through with this would give him.

"You know...I didn't care if you were using me to get closer to people who might lead you to Lady Noir."

Bina raised an eyebrow. "But how? I asked Narcissa to set me up? To do that probably is a long term thing - the engagement alone not counting marriage. And Lady Noir was an immediate threat. I'm not sure how that would help catch her. Hell, it was really only by chance that we did catch her."

Which was probably more than she should admit. "So what do you care about? How am I allowed or not allowed to use you?"

Will raised an eyebrow back. "An immediate threat that was running around for a full year and making your department look incompetent, with no real leads until right before her capture. Besides, nothing to stop you from cutting off an engagement and preventing anything long term. How was it by chance though? I never heard the full story." She'd been too angry really.

Her question got a chuckle, oddly enough, and had Will sit up so he could take one of her hands, intertwine their fingers, and kiss the back. It was becoming an affectionate gesture for him. "Bina, if you were using me for something I wouldn't want you to...I'd hardly expect that you'd tell me about it."

"Some other time, it'll put me in a foul mood if I have to recount it right now," Bina said. It was more the incompetence that had led to the chance that infuriated her but even thinking about it had her tensing up.

The kiss on her hand caused her cheeks to flush at the intimacy of the gesture. "Is it too much for you to believe that I wasn't using you to get close to Lady Noir? Hell, if I was trying to go that route, I'd have better luck with others. And not leaving it all up to Narcissa."

"Another time, I'd like to hear it," Will smiled and let it drop. But it always surprised him what got Bina to blush. Naked in bed did nothing, but a kiss to the hand got a flush that he doubted most people got to see. To be honest, that was part of the reason he did these gestures. "You said I was a surprise, so clearly I wasn't part of the plans. Someone old and widowed perhaps?" Will shrugged. "Granted, using me to get a lead on her wasn't going to lead anywhere as you can now tell. I certainly don't know Nott, and I had no reason to really care or worry if you were using me that way."

She gave a half smile. "Old and widowed is what I was expecting, instead I got young and handsome."

"You were willing to marry old and widowed to fix things with your father's side?" He seemed amused or like he was teasing her more than anything.

Bina gave him a look. "I'm thirty, unmarried, tattooed, and outspoken. I'd be willing to do almost anything to fix things with my father's side of the family. I figured Narcissa would set me up with someone awful, but I play the dutiful fiancee and then either find a reason to break things off during a long engagement or just hope he'd die soon after we married. All the while keeping you and all my other dalliances going on. Figured it'd just be an act and I've done that for years already, so I could manage. And then Narcissa decided you would be the best match and.. well, it took me completely by surprise."

She cupped his cheek, thumb stroking his skin. And it's not an act anymore and that scares me, she thought to herself. "Not only young and good looking, but someone I'm actually fond of." She took a sip of her scotch. "I can't get ahead on my last name and my mother's family alone. I need the support of my father's family. And I think you and I can go even further together."

"Recently thirty, unmarried is what they look for in marriage prospects, tattoos can be covered, and you're better at knowing when to hold back than you give yourself credit for," Will shot back almost casually as he took her glass of scotch again and sipped as he listened to her. She hadn't done this while she'd been young and her prospects had been better, that was part of why he always had to assume there was more to it. He still doubted there wasn't more to this, and even if her plan had fallen through and she was still going through with it...it was safer to assume she had ulterior motives. Nearly everyone did.

He couldn't help the chuckle into his glass. "You were either aiming for very old or becoming a black widow of sorts if the hope was that he'd die soon. And what was your plan if or when he found out about your...side interests?" Depending on who her husband was, Will wasn't sure he would've kept things going, but there was no need to say that now. The tender gesture surprised him slightly though he took care not to show that too much. Will simply turned his head to give the hand cupping his cheek a kiss. "Was I really that much of a surprise, or you just had low expectations? But of course, you and I are only going up Bina."

"You weren't even on my list of possibilities," Bina admitted. "But then, it's not like I asked my father or Narcissa for a list of potentials. I gave Narcissa carte blanche."

She brushed her thumb over Will's lips. She was growing to like these little gestures of theirs and that worried her. Because if this didn't work out.. she pushed that thought out of her head and pulled him in for a tender kiss. "I suppose I'd deal with him finding out if it ever happened. I'd be discrete and then, well, I have certain skills at my disposal."

"Ah, very free reign then. I was surprised when she brought it up myself but..." Will shrugged. "Who knows how she decides these things." Will let her pull him in, at the back of his mind wondering just how much of a hold he had on her. Clearly it was more than he had originally thought but he'd have to figure out how much, maybe slowly test it somehow. It was odd, he hadn't expected it, but it was a positive thing and it certainly made life easier.

"Don't keep it from me alright? Do what you want, but keeping it secret...well cheating rather defeats the point of an open marriage doesn't it?" He seemed sincere about that, and while he knew she could certainly hide things for a time, he didn't want to be blindsided or betrayed like that.

It was an odd point to be serious on, but Cambina supposed it made sense given the two of them and their relationships. "No cheating. Whatever we do, whoever we do, we tell each other." She shifted to lean into him more, draining the scotch in her glass before holding it out for a refill. "So, what's our timeline look like now? You've met my parents, and most of the Bulstrode clan, so now it's time for me to meet the Rosiers?" There was a part of her that thought Will would back out of this or drag out the engagement. And she was worried that a broken engagement (even if never publicly announced) would hurt her more than actually getting married. Things had certainly shifted in the last few years.

Will smiled and rolled his eyes at her before shifting over to go nab the bottle from his side of the bed and returning to hers. "There-" Aren't many to meet. But he didn't want to finish that sentence so just focused on filling her glass for a moment. "I'll organize something with my mother. Gwennie you've run into a few times, so we probably don't need anything as official as with Iz. I'll bring her by during the Ministry party before I let her loose, easiest way to do that, she's a hard one to pin down schedule-wise usually."

She nodded. "Wouldn't be bad to do lunch or tea with Gwen though at some point, so it's not just us crossing paths at WICCA meetings. Although if you're alright with it, I could just invite her to tea on my own so she can have a chance to interrogate me." Two more social engagements, then, and probably another month or two of public courtship. After all, neither of them was seventeen and naive, so it was as though they needed to court for a year before an engagement was announced. (At least Bina hoped.) So there was a chance however small, of being engaged before the New Year, but given how slowly 'proper' things seemed to go, she certainly wouldn't be holding her breath.

Will smiled and shook his head. "She's not going to interrogate you." Because he wouldn't let her actually do so, and because it was better they were just polite and charming. The issue was that he wasn't sure how Gwen would act on her own, he'd prefer to be there if any teas happened. "If you want to contact her that's fine, just tell me when you organize tea so I can be there. Probably better once her school schedule is figured out."

She found it a little odd that Will wasn't willing to let her have tea with Gwen on her own, but that just meant any brain picking of Gwen would have to happen at WICCA. "I can certainly wait, but I imagine we should be able to find some time in the next month or two. And my schedule should be more open now." Of course, she'd still be begging to pick up extra shifts or stay late to work on her own research, but that was beside the point.

"Good," Will said simply and smiled, considering this topic closed as he placed the bottle on her bedside table this time before taking her glass again, having essentially forgone all pretense of having his own. "Anything else, Miss Bulstrode?"

She didn't ask the question she wanted answered - when are we actually going to move forward with the engagement. Instead, she ran her fingers over his thigh. "Well, Mister Rosier, I think we've done more than our fair share of talking tonight," she explained. "Unless there's anything else you feel we need to address."

Will took a larger swig of scotch from her glass before putting it aside and leaning down to kiss her. "Yes, but I think those things can be addressed without words. What about you?"

"Other than the fact that you keep stealing my scotch?" Bina teased, nipping at his lower lip with her teeth. "I'm sure I can get my point across."

"I dont know what you're talking about, Miss Bulstrode," Will said with both a tone and look of such innocent confusion that it would've seemed entirely sincere and believable had he not been sipping from her glass just a moment before. "But you are very convincing...I'm sure you can manage to clear this up for me."

Bina had the sweetest smile on her face before pinning Will to the mattress and straddling his hips. "Oh, having some problems understanding the concept? Mutual ownership doesn't take effect until after the wedding. Then all my scotch becomes yours. Until then, maybe I should make you pay for stealing my glass so often.."

Will only laughed as she pinned him down. Whatever the position, he never gave the impression that he given up control, just that he was allowing someone else to seem to have it for the moment. From his position he looked Bina up and down with a grin. "Maybe I couldn't help myself and had to have a taste before I got the full thing," Will winked.

Bina's hands caught his wrists and pressed them into the mattress. "Then maybe we need to work on your self control, Rosier," she teased.

Will smirked up at her, incorrigible as ever. "And however will you do that?"

It was hard not to lean down and kiss that smirk off his face, but Bina managed to resist. Instead, she rolled her hips. "See how long you can resist touching me?"

"Seems a no win game for me, what do I get for lasting any length of time?" Will winked and her and wiggled his wrists underneath her grip.

"I suppose that depends on what you want as a reward?" She teased, leaning down to leave a trail of kisses along his jawline.

"Oh I can make my terms now?" He teased back, his voice having gone to more of an enticing whisper, and tilted his head towards her kisses to try and catch her lips for a moment. "And what if I want you tied down like this?"

She pulled back just out of reach with a devilish smirk, blond curls falling around her face. A momentary something passed over her features but was gone in the blink of an eye. "Perhaps if you can refrain from touching me for … shall we say… fifteen minutes? Half an hour? What do you think you can manage?"

The very brief change in expression had him curious, perhaps he'd stumbled onto something accidentally. Interesting. "Well I can't very well tell you what I can manage and still expect to have a chance at winning, can I? You could always just raise the time limit. Pick one and I'll get to see what you think of my self control when it comes to you."

"Half an hour then," Bina said, sitting back and releasing his hands. "Your hands stay on the bed and don't touch me for half an hour and I'll let you get your reward."

"Flattering," Will smirked up at her, all confidence despite the fact that he didn't actually think he could or even wanted to keep his hands off her for that long. Still, he moved them to rest behind his head. "Touching myself off the table too?"

Bina nodded. "Don't worry, I promise to take care of you." She gave him a feral grin as she rolled her hips against his, her own arousal already evident. "Perhaps just not in the way you imagine."

If this was someone else or the stakes were more serious he'd maybe start thinking of other things, but he liked these games with Bina, as torturously teasing as they could be. "Now that's just mean, I'm left wondering in what way you mean. My imagination is quite good you see, certainly when it comes to you," Will grinned back in his usual shark-like way to match her feral grins.

"I can be ruthlessly cruel when I choose," Bina said, leaning down to suck a spot on Will's neck using a hint of teeth. She intended to make him lose this round because she enjoyed winning, especially in bedroom games. Although she would have fun whether he won or lost, she reckoned, so she might as well tease him mercilessly for the next half hour.

"My my whatever did I do to you Miss Bulstrode?" Will smirked but did tilt his head away so she'd have an easier time with his neck. It was easier to tease and banter with her to keep his mind occupied. Not being able to touch Bina was a cruel punishment itself, even without the merciless teasing.

The next twenty-some minutes were spent in tantalizing torture for William. Bina did her best to work him up into a state where he was desperate and wanting before finally sinking down on him and riding him in a slow, leisurely pace while she left hickeys along his collarbone (just beneath where the edge of his robes would fall. She was panting slightly as she squeezed around him, a smirk on her lips and her eyes half-lidded with lust. "How you holding up, Rosier?"

It wasn't hard to get him to that state, they were too familiar with each other in this way and Bina knew what she was doing. Frankly, Will was almost surprised he'd lasted even this long. He hands gripped the edge of her mattress he could reach while the other fisted her sheets as he desperately tried to keep them occupied and off her. But it was becoming too hard to keep up now, and his mind was already reasoning that it wasn't worth it to not touch her at all through this. Hell, she pulled back every time he tried to kiss her. She was really giving him no distractions to work with here. "Well I think you'd be aware that I'm definitely still up..." Even Will couldn't hide the breathlessness and strained desperation creeping into his voice.

The corner of her mouth quirked up as she leaned in to kiss him briefly, breasts pressing against his chest as her hips rocked against his. "Oh, I've no doubt of that. But then I'm well aware of your stamina, especially when you're trying to win a bet."

William leaned up, trying to keep the kiss going even as she pulled away before falling back down to the mattress. "If we'd put it at fifteen minutes I would've already won by now," he shot back, biting down on his lip and thinking how very much he'd just like to run his hands over those legs, or at least kiss down that body. But no, she wasn't giving on kissing not counting as touching in even if he very much wished she would.

She braced her hands on his chest as she set an irregular rhythm, faster this time. She wasn't planning on letting him get off anytime soon, but that didn't mean she couldn't. She slid one hand between them as she rode him. It didn't take much to bring on the orgasm, causing her body to shudder and tense around him as he squirmed under him. She kept her eyes open and focused on him as much as possible, though.

Now that was cruel and merciless. And he had to say part of him loved that.

Will gritted his teeth to try and silence the loud groan that made its way out anyway as he clenched his eyes shut and let his head fall back. She kept doing this, bringing him so close and then letting him fall back, then repeating. Salazar, he really couldn't take this.

When he opened his eyes and looked back at her, there was a determined glint there. With no other warning, Will pushed her hands off his chest and suddenly sat up, one hand going to the small of her back to prevent Bina from falling back while the other almost desperately slid up her body, pressing in deep and letting his nails leave a slight trail. He kissed her hard and pulled back only for a moment to give her a serious look. "Screw it, have the win," Will decided before kissing her again.

Bina's head fell back with husky laughter as she rode out the orgasm before returning the kiss hard. "Is that a forfeit, husband?" she asked, the look in her eyes mischevious enough to make anyone worry what she had planned.

Will was past the point of worrying, he was just happy to have his hands all over her. "Take it and gloat, it doesn't happen often," he growled against her lips as he rocked his hips into her, hand still firmly on her back and pulling her towards him.

There was no point in laughing anymore, but her lips twitched against his as she felt another orgasm building, meeting his thrusts in time. "Oh.. I intend to…" She kissed him hard. The bet was over, she had won, which meant now she intended to bring him off as best she could.

Will was already pretty close, that much teasing plus having her orgasm atop him meant there wasn't much more needed to get him off. His hand moved lower to cup her ass and take control of the pace, clearly she'd set him off to the point where he'd been desperate. "Minx," was all Will managed to get out as his other hand tweaked a nipple. She could gloat, he really didn't care at this point.

At this point, she was willing to let him seemingly have control and set the pace. Her hand gripped his shoulder to steady herself, nails digging into the flesh she'd marked up a bit earlier.
"You wouldn't have me any other way."

"True," Will admitted as he kissed down her neck, moving towards her chest. "You wouldn't be the same." Her nails, which he always relished in the feel of, caused his own to dig into her while he shook his head slightly at her. She couldn't see his expression but he was trying to signal that if she wanted this to last any longer, it probably wasn't happening.

She understood the signal well enough and just dug her nails in harder. "Whatever you need, love," she panted, her own second climax rapidly approaching. She raked her nails over Will's back. "No need to hold back.."

Will lifted his head to kiss her instead of answering with words, though it seemed that was enough to send him over the edge, his whole body spasming as his orgasm hit him hard. Panting, Will pressed his forehead against hers though he continued moving his hips against hers, wanting to get her off still.

Her orgasm followed shortly after his, causing her to shudder against him as she clung to him tightly before her body turned into limp spaghetti against him, two orgasms in close succession taking their toll. She kissed him as she worked on catching her breath. "I suppose twenty three minutes isn't horrible self-control."

Will wrapped his arms around her waist and held her against him. "Acceptable I suppose," he admitted with a smile. "In fairness, it was resisting you, which is notoriously difficult."

Bina chuckled hoarsely, resting her head on his shoulder as her breathing evened out. "Still, I think your self-control can use improvement. We'll work on that…"

Will kept a hold on her, like now that he was finally allowed to touch her he was reluctant to stop. "Well I suppose that's the penalty for forfeiting..."

"Don't worry," she mumbled, content to just rest in his embrace and occasionally nuzzle his neck. "I promise to at least make the lessons enjoyable."

"For you or for me?" Will teased lightly as he finally laid back, pulling out and disentangling their limbs some in the process but keeping his arms around her as he settled back into the pillows.

"Hmm.. definitely me. Hopefully both of us." Bina whimpered in disappointment at the loss of him inside her but readjusted herself against his chest once he was settled and pulled the sheet over them. Yes, they should shower and clean up, but right now she had no desire to be anywhere else but in William's arms. And this was the problem, it felt too comfortable to be in this position. "Besides, Chloe said you were a good student. I expect nothing but top marks from you, Mister Rosier."

Will had closed his eyes, not really interested in getting up or moving from where he was right now, but opened one with a wry smile at her comment. "Would you like to see my NEWT records to double check, Miss Bulstrode? If I have something to back claims up I always like to show it. Wouldn't want you relying on word of mouth."

"I believe you," she said sleepily, her hand tracing patterns on his chest as she lay half atop him, the meaning of her words not really processing. Because she did believe him and he would be her downfall if he chose to abuse that. She was content for the moment, and wanted nothing more than to stay that way as long as possible.

Will did wonder how much of what he said she believed. A lot of the things he said were half-truths or just what the other person wanted to hear, honesty didn't truly matter when it came to other people. "I'll prove it right regardless," he responded quietly and tilted his head to kiss her briefly.