Prince

Severus gazed around at his quarters, focusing intently on the space on his desk where his journal now lay. He was still debating on whether or not to bring it with him. Then again, he didn't know why he was hesitating. Every secret he had would now be open to his Dominant's perusal. He sighed and left the journal by his trunk, striding over to his closet for perhaps the fifth time.

In that closet resided a small chest, about as big as a shoebox, filled with objects he had gathered over the years. His submissive nature yearned for a mate to take care of him, to use him, to punish him, to love him. Without a mate, however, he had turned to other things to fulfill his need.

Time passed quickly as he stared at the box. Harry had promised to take care of him. Promised to not reject him.

Still, he wavered. This chest was not a case for a random dildo or otherwise somewhat embarrassing but not unusual items. It was more than that.

He felt more than heard Harry enter the room, followed steadily by a strong arm folding itself about his waist.

"My Severus," Harry spoke lowly, his voice a calm rumble. "If you are uncertain, I am not without patience."

Severus shook his head, staring blankly at the box. He knew that he wanted to move in with Harry and be close to him. He had craved that closeness for years and was very happy to have it within his grasp with a man that he not only deeply respected, but enjoyed the company of immensely.

"I am not uncertain about living with you, Dominant."

Harry pressed a light kiss to his temple before moving slowly forward, taking the chest in his hands.

"May I?"

Severus bit his lip harshly, his eyes fogging.

Harry rushed forward, the chest remaining in his arm even as he brought the other one around to bring his submissive close to him.

"My love, what has you so upset? You must know that I would never react badly to something precious to you."

Severus still remained silent, confusing Harry further. He decided to just open the chest so that he could reassure his submissive, withholding a gasp of surprise when he saw the contents. Inside this chest was a couple pairs of lacy knickers and a leather whip, not longer than his arm.

"This is what has you so worried?" Harry questioned incredulously.

Severus immediately stiffened, hurt shining clearly in his eyes.

"If you could refrain from—"

"Darling, hush. You know that's not what I meant!" Harry snapped, closing the box securely and placing it in his lover's trunk. "You have no reason to be ashamed of anything, especially not this. Don't hide this from me, little one. I am surprised, certainly, but not unpleasantly so. You could get off on dressing like a gorilla for all I care. Don't you understand? I want you, Severus. No matter what, I will want you."

Severus sniffed, snapping the trunk closed and crossing his arms.

"You have the contract ready, I take it?"

Harry frowned at his changing of the subject, leaning forward to take his mate in a demanding kiss, pressing him against the wall. He could feel the older man whine into his mouth, opening it in offering and spreading his legs so that Harry could settle comfortably in between them. Harry gentled his assault, massaging his lover's tongue as he rubbed calming circles onto his bum.

He pulled back once Severus had run out of breath, coaxing the man to lean into his shoulder and rest a moment as he continued his motions on his globes.

"What do you like about the panties, Severus? Tell me?"

His submissive whined and Harry held him tighter.

"No. No shame. Just tell me."

"I feel softer."

Harry frowned in confusion.

"What do you mean?"

His mate uttered a strangled sigh and Harry rocked them from side to side, using wandless magic to shrink his submissive's trunk to make it easier to carry.

"I am… a bit overbearing. Before I adapted, I looked very much like a dominant, and my face is cruel. The—It makes me feel softer. More delicate."

"Makes you feel more of a desirable submissive?"

Severus nodded slightly.

"My little Severus, you are most endearing," Harry crooned, tucking the man into him. "You are smaller now, but even before your form was very thin and slight. Your face is not cruel; you are beautiful. You look elegant, move gracefully, and are very desirable to me, my own."

Severus frowned, confusing Harry further.

"I've never had anyone so much as want to have me for a quick fuck, Harry," he said bitterly. "I know that I could not have; I would not want to become a slave, but it would have been nice for someone to actually want to," he paused and took a shallow breath. "I am not desirable, and we both know that. You made a mistake in marking me as yours as you will soon realize that."

Harry drew the other man to him harshly, slamming their bodies together and bringing Severus' chin up so that he had no choice but to look at him.

"You deserve much more than a quick fuck, my own," he spoke sternly, his voice tight. "I desire you and have desired you for more than a moment, Severus Snape. My desire for you will not wane, and someday you will realize that."

Severus opened his mouth to argue, but Harry gave his bum a quick slap that was more than kind, eliciting a squeak from the man.

"You will not argue with me on this further tonight, Severus. We will discuss it more later if you continue to feel this way, alright? Right now, I want you to read over the contract I've drawn up for us and then rest."

Severus felt his body betraying him, unused to actually caring what someone thinks and therefore unaccustomed to caring about their disappointment. His head fell slightly forward in an immediate reaction, his eyes fogging. Even more unexpected was the soft mewl that left his lips before he sealed them shut.

Harry however, heard the slight sound and immediately reacted, wrapping Severus up into his embrace and setting them down on his bed.

"Hush, pet," he soothed, running his fingers along his spine even as the older man molded closer to him. "I am not angry with you. You have done nothing wrong. Calm."

Severus shook from an invisible cold, and Harry sighed, realizing that his little mate was clearly a lot more fragile than he seemed. He was determined to coax his mate to confidence, but he knew that that would take time and much effort. For now, he could only hold him.

Once Severus settled, though he seemed content to stay in Harry's lap, he looked over the contract that Harry had brought him. He felt his emotions build again at the simple care that his Dominant offered through the contract, but his body was too tired to even muster more than an instinctual whimper.

He signed the bottom of the parchment, surprised when Harry held him closer afterwards instead of standing him up.

"Those little noises," he said softly, "from you are so beautiful. I quite adore them. It's like an entire speech in every sound, though you don't always understand what you yourself are trying to say."

Severus buried his head in Harry's chest, letting the warmth flow over him.

"Rest, little one," Harry whispered, pressing a kiss to his forehead. "I'll take care of you."