Hermione's face flushed even more from the intense exercise and the eye contact she was making.
She turned her head away, refusing to look at the teeth mark, and instead muttered with a deep sense of grievance and reproach:
"Who told you... who told you to... treat me like that just now..."
She was too embarrassed to continue.
Draco rubbed his aching shoulder, then couldn't help but laugh, before reaching out to pull her into his arms.
"So... Miss Granger, whose bites are really painful, will you still dare to spar with me again in the future?"
Hermione, nestled in his arms, stiffened again upon hearing the question, then abruptly raised her head, her eyes rekindling with a fierce fighting spirit and unyielding determination, and answered resolutely:
"Practice! Of course we need to practice!"
But then, blushing, she quickly added,
"But! If you dare to use two wands to cheat and sneak up on me again! If you dare to punish me in that... that despicable way again! I, I will really fight you to the death! I mean it!"
She tried to make her voice sound fierce.
"It's no fun if you don't do something exciting."
"I'm only willing to go all out to play with you every time if there's a punishment system that appeals to me. Otherwise, why would I work myself to death fighting with you and risk getting bitten?"
He glanced meaningfully at the teeth marks on his shoulder.
Hermione's cheeks flushed again, and she quickly averted her gaze, knowing he was hinting at those lewd rewards again.
She gritted her teeth and conceded. "Except... except for those outrageous things! Everything else... make any request! As long as it's reasonable and I can do it!"
Hermione specifically emphasized two conditions in an attempt to nip those improper thoughts in Draco's mind in the bud.
Draco pretended to think seriously for a moment, then put on a troubled expression. "Let me think..."
"Hmm... aside from that excessive one... it seems like I can't think of any other particularly 'exciting' reward for the time being."
"Let me kiss you? That doesn't seem like a reward."
"You want me to make breakfast for you for a month?"
"It seems like I've been neglecting my stomach again..."
"Sigh, after thinking it over, the punishment mechanism from before is still the best; it can also promote... well, emotional exchange between us."
With each item he mentioned, Hermione's face darkened further, and when she heard the last one, "promote emotional exchange," she almost laughed in exasperation.
What a scoundrel!
He's just playing her for a fool!
"Then don't mention it!" Hermione finally couldn't take it anymore, broke free from his embrace, and put her hands on her hips.
Although this posture made her look less imposing, she still tried her best to project the authority of the head of the household.
Hermione blushed and announced,
"I'm the boss in this house! If I say you have to train with me, you have to train with me obediently! No bargaining! And don't even think about those random rewards! Otherwise, I'll bite you!"
She couldn't think of a more powerful threat, so she resorted to biting again, even though she knew it might not hurt Draco much, and he might even enjoy it?
Sure enough, Draco was thoroughly amused by her domineering yet harmless declaration of sovereignty and threat.
"Okay, okay," he nodded with a smile, reached out and pulled her back into his arms, hugging her tightly, and coaxed her like a child:
"I'll do whatever you say, my little housekeeper! You say we'll practice, you say how we'll practice, and we'll practice however you say we'll practice. No conditions, no rewards, okay? Are you satisfied now?"
Hermione was pulled back into his warm and reassuring embrace, and as she listened to his indulgent concession, her nerves, which had been tense from shame, indignation, and struggle, instantly relaxed.
A warm feeling and sweetness replaced all the unpleasantness.
She nestled in his arms, proudly raising her chin.
Like a kitten that has finally been stroked and feels comfortable.
That's more like it.
Hermione contentedly reached out and wrapped her arms around his waist, burying her face deeper into his warm chest.
Hermione leaned against him, her emotions gradually calming down, but her gaze involuntarily fell on Draco's shoulder.
There, the fabric of her shirt was slightly wrinkled from her bite, and a faint red mark could be seen.
The initial thrill of revenge faded, replaced by guilt and heartache. She had been truly enraged, which was why she had bitten him so hard... She didn't even know if she had bitten him properly.
She hesitated for a moment, then lifted her head from Draco's embrace and gently touched the spot on his shoulder where the teeth mark was. Through the thin fabric of his shirt, she could feel the slight warmth of his skin and the barely noticeable bump.
She asked in a slightly hesitant voice:
"Does it hurt?"
Draco, who was enjoying the rare tenderness and dependence of the person in his arms, paused when he heard her small question.
He looked down at Hermione, who was looking up at him with concern.
Seeing her guilty expression, Draco's already insignificant complaints vanished instantly.
However, he still deliberately put on a thoughtful expression, as if he was carefully feeling the injury in his shoulder.
He even deliberately hissed and inhaled a breath of cool air, his shoulders hunching slightly in response.
Seeing this, Hermione's heart tightened, and she immediately withdrew her fingers as if burned, her eyes filled with even more worry.
Her voice grew more urgent. "Does it... it hurt a lot? I... I didn't mean to... it's your fault for just now..."
Before she could finish speaking, Draco suddenly burst into laughter.
"Now you know how to feel sorry for someone?" He reached out and pinched Hermione's slightly wrinkled nose, which was showing signs of worry.
"When it bit me just now, wasn't it pretty fierce? Like a little wildcat that's been provoked, baring its teeth and claws."
Hermione felt a tickle as he pinched her nose, and hearing him bring up what had just happened, her cheeks began to burn again. She whispered in protest, "Who... who told you to... do that first..."
"Okay, okay, it's my fault, it's all my fault." Draco admitted his mistake as usual, but there was little sincerity in his tone.
He took the opportunity to grab Hermione's hand as she pulled back, and placed it back on the spot where the teeth mark was on his shoulder, letting her palm feel the warmth and contours of that area.
"Does it hurt...? A little." He told the truth, after all, Hermione hadn't held back just now.
"However..." He changed the subject, his tone becoming somewhat ambiguous, "More than pain... I prefer you asking me with concern, like you are now, if I'm in pain."
"Moreover, this little injury is insignificant compared to some of the other 'marks' Miss Granger has left on me at times, and I am perfectly content with it."
Hermione's face turned bright red again!
She instantly understood the damn implication in his words!
This guy is a scoundrel! A rogue!
They can't stop talking about anything inappropriate in three sentences!
"What nonsense are you spouting!" She tried to pull her hand back, but he held it firmly. "Who... who left marks on you! Don't make false accusations!"
"No?" Draco feigned surprise, then nodded as if he had just remembered something. "Oh, right, maybe I'm mistaken. Perhaps... in a dream?"
" Draco Malfoy!" Hermione exclaimed, filled with a mixture of shame and indignation.