Fifty Six

Things returned to the way they had been between Severus and Harry almost too easily. Their nightly visits resumed, and if conversation between them was now rather stilted, Harry reassured himself that it was to be expected, given everything that had occurred.

To Harry's surprise, sex between them was even better than it had been before. Severus had always been a thorough and considerate lover, but now, Harry suspected he was going out of his way to ensure that Harry found intense pleasure in their couplings. A part of Harry felt guilty, as Severus gave and gave, asking nothing in return, but another part, the more vindictive side of him, allowed him to simply enjoy.

"You look stressed," Severus commented to Harry, one night in late January, as Harry entered his rooms much later than was the norm.

"That's probably because I am," Harry bit back, more harshly than was necessary.

To his surprise, Severus did not take offense, instead, pouring him a sizable drink and enquiring if he'd like to discuss what was bothering him.

Harry in fact, did not want to speak about his problems, choosing instead to knock back his drink in a single gulp and allow the burn of Severus's fine cognac to deal with his issues in the short term.

"Come to bed with me Harry," Severus invited. "There's better ways to forget than alcohol."

Harry needed no further inducement. Stripping his clothes as he went, he was down to his y-fronts only by the time he reached the bedroom. There, he removed them, and, after being indicated to do so by Severus, lay flat upon his stomach on the comfortable bed he had gotten to know so well.

To his surprise, Severus did not immediately follow him onto the bed. Instead, Harry heard the whispered Accio and the sound of a small object flying through the air to lay next to him on the bed. Determined not to look, unwilling to spoil the anticipation, Harry groaned in delight as a cool, thick liquid was squirted liberally on to his back. And as Severus's hands began to massage and probe, removing the stress from Harry's body with every sure, slick movement, Harry felt himself drifting towards unconsciousness.

Lulled into the peaceful state between wakefulness and sleep, Harry slowly came back to consciousness as he felt Severus's tongue join his hands in their trek across his body. The incredible sensation of Severus's tongue tracing patterns on his lower back, all the while his hands kneaded and probed brought a keening moan spilling from Harry's throat as he was suddenly rock solid and jutting into the mattress. Severus's tongue slipped lower then, joined by his hands, as they slowly but surely caressed the cheeks of his arse, spreading them apart, to allow Severus's tongue to flick at Harry's puckered hole.

Harry almost came at the very first touch of Severus's tongue on his sensitive flesh. This was his favorite thing, but also the same thing that he so rarely received, never having asked for it except when in a relationship, and those had been few and far between in recent years. In the past he'd always felt guilty, ashamed of asking. He had never intended to ask Severus to perform this most intimate act upon him. That Severus would do so without being asked... Harry's heart hurt to think of it.

Ever so gently, Severus prodded and probed, licking with the flat of his tongue, jabbing with the point and nibbling ever so gently with his teeth. Harry keened and cried, begged and pleaded for more, and almost wept in relief when Severus finally positioned himself and sunk into Harry's willing body.

Neither lasted long, both were too on edge, Harry from receiving, Severus from giving, to last much longer than a few minutes. When they came it was together and Severus collapsed beside Harry, the both of them panting and gasping for air.

Reality returned to Harry slowly. He had been so close to sleep, to that blissful oblivion where Severus wanted him for more than just sex. As he slowly came back to himself, Harry smothered a sigh. The last thing he wanted to do was move, to rise, to dress, to leave. But that was exactly what he had to do.

Slowly, he rose from the bed.

"Harry," Severus murmured sleepily. "You don't have to go, you can stay if you wish."

Harry regarded Severus sadly, wishing he could believe that Severus wanted that as badly as he did.

"We both know that's not true," Harry replied lowly, summoning his clothes he made for the fireplace, very determinedly not looking back.


I've been thinking lately that when work settles a little, I might begin a blog. Generally, I have so much to say that my AN's end up nearly as long as the chapter itself before I end up truncating them to the most basic message possible. Also, I'd love to get to know some of my readers better. What do you all think? Would you read it? And is there a hosting site any prefer/can recommend?

Thank you for reading! Your kind words never fail to make me smile.