A/N: Greetings, earthlings! I have missed all your lovely faces :) Welcome to chapter seven! The only warning I can really think of to start us off is one for all the delicious angst you are about to consume. Get ready for it. I hope everyone has now been sufficiently warned :) Let's do this thing.

(I GOT YOU) UNDER MY WHEELS

CHAPTER SEVEN

"So," Harry said as he entered the sitting room, watching Draco fiddle with his phone. He wondered who he was texting. "I have a sort of plan for us today." It was the third day of Draco staying with him, and while Harry loved the time they spent together, the longer it went on, the more anxious he was becoming about their time coming to an end.

"A plan?" Draco wondered, glancing up at him. Harry wasn't really surprised he was surprised. For the most part, their plans over the last two days had consisted mainly of staying in to watch movies, snuggling in blankets, wearing very little clothing, and getting their hands on one another. Harry loved every second of it. He had always been more of a homebody than the other blokes in the club, who enjoyed raucous parties and getting wild a bit more than Harry ever would, so finding someone like Draco, who enjoyed staying in with just him for company, was a relief. Harry's last boyfriend had wanted a crazy, wild biker, constantly doing crazy, wild biker things, and had instead gotten Harry the introvert.

"Yep," Harry grinned. "A plan, so get dressed. We're going out."

Draco stared at him for several seconds. "Out?" The single word was edged with caution, and Harry wanted to sigh. One of the other reasons they had been locking themselves up in Harry's house was Draco's deep-seated fear of venturing anywhere too public. He seemed terrified of going anywhere that anybody could possibly recognize him, even if the clubhouse he lived in was over an hour's drive away.

"Somewhere private," Harry promised. "It'll only be the two of us." No matter how much Harry longed to take Draco out on a proper date, he was committed to respecting Draco's wishes, and Draco was clearly not comfortable with public outings.

"Okay," Draco said hesitantly, tucking his phone away and climbing to his feet. Before he could walk away, however, Harry reached out and caught him around the waist, tugging him close to plant several kisses along the back of his bare shoulder. Harry didn't think he would ever get over the way Draco's skin felt beneath his lips.

Draco smiled, relaxing back in the warm embrace. "I thought you wanted to go out."

"I did but then you distracted me," Harry murmured, nipping Draco's neck.

Draco's smile widened. "And how did I distract you? All I did was stand up."

"Exactly," Harry agreed. "With no shirt on. You can't expect to do something like that and just get away with it, can you?"

"Can't I?" Draco teased. "Why ever not, Seek?"

Harry growled playfully, biting down on his exposed nape. "You know exactly why not, Draco. You know exactly what you're doing. I'd even go so far as to say you're doing this all on purpose."

"What? Me?" Draco turned in his arms, looking at Harry with a wide-eyed, faux-innocent expression that made Harry want to laugh and kiss him at the same time. "Would I really do such a thing?"

The laughter finally won out, and Harry buried his face in Draco's neck with a snigger. "You are ridiculous."

"And yet you're the one so terribly fond of a ridiculous person."

Harry lifted his head, smile slowly vanishing as he gazed at Draco with serious eyes. "Yeah. I am."

Draco's expression softened as he pressed a kiss to Harry's mouth. "I'll go get changed."

"Okay," Harry said hoarsely, watching Draco stride away. "Meet me out front when you're done, yeah?"

Without waiting for a reply, he turned and hurried back to the kitchen, snatching at the clean blanket he had placed on the table and the picnic basket he had just finished packing with food only minutes earlier. He had run to the shops the previous night while Draco took a bath and had picked the basket up on a whim, unsure if it would be put to use or not, but Harry was now glad that he had purchased it. Draco still seemed so surprised by every kind gesture that Harry made, and Harry wanted to impress him with something romantic, something that he was certain nobody had ever done for Draco. He wanted to do everything he could to make it impossible for Draco to even think about leaving him to go back to his wanker boyfriend, even if that first step was something as simple as a picnic.

Grabbing up his leather jacket slung over the back of one of the kitchen chairs, Harry hurried outside with the blanket and the basket, setting the items down so he could open his small garage and wheel his bike out. He then quickly strapped both items to the luggage rack before slinging his jacket on and raking his hands through his hair as he waited for Draco. His heart was pounding furiously, blood thundering through his veins, and he wanted to laugh at himself for being so nervous about their date.

But the thought made his heart pound even harder as a smile crossed his face.

He had a date with Draco.

oOo

The sea breeze felt cool on Harry's skin as he wheeled his bike behind an outcropping of jagged black rocks near the road, tucking the basket and blanket under his arms and smiling at Draco before leading them down a small grassy hillock toward the beach.

"I didn't think I'd ever come back here with you, you know," Draco said casually, glancing up at the cawing birds circling overhead. The sand was soft beneath Harry's feet, the clean smell of salt hanging in the air. They found a nice spot in the sun to set up the blanket, and Draco shot a warm look at Harry as he took a seat.

"I wanted to bring you back," Harry said, trying to make his voice as light as possible. He wasn't sure how much longer he had left until Draco went back to that damned clubhouse they both hated so much, and he wanted another memory of the two of them at the seaside. It was a special place for Harry, and he wanted to share that with Draco.

"I like it here," Draco smiled. "I've never been on a picnic before."

Harry returned the smile. "I haven't either. But they always seemed so nice. This is our first real date, you know."

Draco's smile softened and became somewhat wistful as he gazed out at the rolling waves. "Our first date…"

"And hopefully not the last," Harry added quietly, watching Draco watch the sea.

Draco's smile stretched a fraction, but he said nothing as he looked to the sky.

Remaining just as silent, Harry reached out to take his hand, squeezing it gently and feeling relieved when Draco squeezed back. They sat that way for several moments, both lost in quiet thought as they stared out at the steely blue water stretched before them.

But then Harry finally pulled his hand back and began to unpack the picnic basket, gesturing for Draco to pick what he would like.

"Did you make all of this?" Draco wondered, looking down at the spread of food. There was a variety of sandwiches to choose from, as well as an array of small pies, fresh fruit, crisps, and a large tin of chocolate biscuits.

"Yes, absolutely," Harry grinned, shaking his head a moment later. "Okay fine, I only sliced the fruit and made the biscuits. But I worked really hard on them! I had to tiptoe around the kitchen last night and be all sneaky while you were sleeping. It was very hard work."

Draco laughed, eyes sparkling as he took a bite of a roast chicken sandwich. "You went to Gregg's for the rest, didn't you?"

Harry chuckled as he chose a bacon sandwich for himself. "Hey, I could've gone somewhere classier than Greggs, you don't know."

Draco smirked at him.

"Fine," Harry admitted, shaking his head with a laugh. "I stopped at Greggs this morning and picked this all up after checking in at the clubhouse. But I really would have gone somewhere classier if I had more time, but I just wanted to get back home to you and Greggs is quick. I promise to blow your mind with class for our next date, all right?"

A warm chuckle slipped from Draco's throat. "It's fine, Seek, really. I'm just amazed that you even went to the trouble of bothering, to be honest."

"Well," Harry shrugged, popping a large grape in his mouth, "you're worth all the trouble. Even the trouble of having to ninja-sneak around my own kitchen at two in the morning so I could surprise you with homemade biscuits."

If possible, Draco's gaze became even softer. They ate in silence for several minutes before he finally spoke. "Sometimes I really don't know how to respond to you, you know."

Harry frowned. "What do you mean?"

Draco glanced down at the food, taking a large bite of his sandwich and chewing slowly as he thought. "No one's ever treated me like you. No man I've ever been with, at least. It's…terribly disconcerting at times, to be honest."

"Disconcerting?"

Draco sighed. "Just—I don't know, difficult to understand. I feel like I'm just waiting for the other shoe to finally drop."

"These are all the shoes I have, Draco," Harry said quietly, spreading his arms wide.

"I know," Draco said in a voice softer than a whisper, the two words carried away on the ocean breeze. "That's what's so unsettling. You're the most genuine person I think I've ever met, Seek."

Harry smiled cautiously. "Is that a good thing or a bad thing? Because the way you say it makes it sound like it's maybe not such a good thing after all."

"I don't know what it is," Draco confessed, frowning down at the strawberry in his hands. "I really don't. On one hand, it's good. It's definitely, definitely good. And on the other…"

"What?" Harry whispered, scared to hear the answer.

"On the other…" Draco spoke in a voice so quiet Harry had to lean forward to catch the words, "it's terrifying. Because I know you mean everything you say.

"I've never seen the point in playing games with people," Harry shrugged.

"I know. And that's why the whole thing is so confusing to me. Because I feel as though I should be looking for angles and hidden meanings and ulterior agendas in everything you say and do, but I know you're not like that, and part of me just can't wrap my head around the fact that I don't need to be so on my guard around you."

"I'll always tell you what I'm really thinking, Draco."

"And what are you really thinking then?"

The question was asked hesitantly, almost shyly, and it made Harry smile. "I'm thinking that I thought I was hungry for food, but I think I might actually be hungrier for something else."

Draco blushed, cheeks pinkening as a coy smirk slid across his face. "Is that right? You're sure you don't want the rest of the food going to waste? You did buy an awful lot of sandwiches."

Harry shook his head. "Leave it for the seagulls," he said in a low voice, tossing the remaining food and trash aside in a haphazard mess that he promised himself he'd clean up later. Draco sat there watching him, eyes glittering as he looked Harry up and down.

"I suppose they're hungry too," he murmured, breath catching as Harry reached out to him. He slowly pushed Draco back on the blanket, helping him shift and adjust until he was lying in the very center of the large, thick quilt. His hair was loose, spread over the dark fabric in a sleek puddle, and Harry reached out to comb his fingers through it.

"You are so fucking beautiful, Draco," he said, keeping his voice soft. Waves crashed and broke nearby, accompanied by the cawing of birds overhead and the rustle of wind through the long grass peppering the large hill leading back up to the road. But Harry had not seen a single soul on the beach, and they were tucked away in a neat, secluded little spot he had happened to stumble upon by accident several months ago. The sun was peeking out past a fluffy cloud, falling on Draco and making his hair glitter and gleam like pale gold.

"Seek," Draco whispered, tracing Harry's jaw with trembling fingers. He tilted his head up a fraction, inviting Harry close enough to kiss him.

Harry felt as though he could spend the rest of his life kissing Draco. Draco's lips were so soft, tasted so sweet, fit so perfectly with Harry's own. Harry couldn't remember the last time he had connected so quickly and so intensely with another person. He honestly wasn't sure if he ever had before.

One of Draco's arms wrapped around his back as the other hand clutched at Harry's hair. The kiss deepened and Harry sighed, allowing himself to get lost in the warm embrace. At that moment, he was with Draco, and nothing else mattered. He refused to think about the future or worry about what might happen. The only thing he needed to think about was the feeling of Draco beneath him; nothing else was important. Nothing but Draco was important; he was the only thing at that moment worth thinking about. The future was murky and uncertain, and so Harry would simply choose to ignore it. He would ignore it for as long as he could until the second Draco would inevitably slip from his embrace and the entire world would come crashing back down on Harry's head.

Harry was brought back into the moment by the feeling of a warm hand slipping beneath his shirt and tracing over the bare skin of his back. He groaned approvingly, responding by sliding a hand down Draco's side until it had crept under Draco's shirt. Draco sucked in a sharp breath and Harry felt the man's stomach muscles tense as Harry's fingers trailed over them.

"I never even knew someone like you could exist before I met you," Harry murmured, sliding his hand higher to brush his thumb over one of Draco's nipples.

"Seek," Draco panted, gasping when Harry reached down to cup him through his jeans. He squirmed as Harry squeezed the bulge in his hand, the two of them staring at one another before Harry leaned down to capture his mouth in a kiss, balancing himself on his knees and using both hands to undo the fastenings to Draco's trousers.

"I want you inside me," Draco whispered, staring up at Harry without blinking.

Harry nodded as he stole another kiss, knowing there was no part of him that would ever resist Draco saying those words. He leaned back far enough to fumble around in his pockets, grateful he had thought ahead to bring supplies. Draco glanced at them with a smile as Harry threw the items down to the blanket.

"Were you really eating lunch," he asked, sounding amused, "with condoms and lube in your pocket?"

Harry grinned. "Points for being prepared?"

A laugh was the only response Draco had time to make before pulling Harry back down over him and sealing their mouths together. They kissed to the sound of waves crashing as Harry wrapped himself around Draco, sliding one leg between Draco's and using it to press against him in a way that earned a groan from the blond.

"Turn around," Harry whispered huskily.

Draco's breath caught as he nodded, staring at Harry as though in a daze. Harry helped coax him over onto his stomach, sliding down and pulling his shirt up high enough to begin spreading kisses across his lower back. A moan escaped Draco as Harry moved lower, pulling down the man's jeans and pants to his knees in one slow, smooth slide. He reached out two hands to touch the pale skin he had just uncovered, following his hands with a trail of kisses.

Groaning in frustration, Draco squirmed, kicking his legs in an attempt to widen them. The desperation of his movements made Harry smile as he sat back far enough to pull one of Draco's shoes off, dropping it past the edge of the blanket in the sand before tugging his denims free from that leg, allowing Draco to spread his thighs with a sigh of relief. He laid his cheek down on the blanket, back tensing as Harry went right back to the trail of kisses he had been spreading, kissing around the bits of the dragon tattoo that he could reach.

Using both hands, he spread Draco open, breaths growing heavy as Draco moaned in anticipation.

"Seek," he whispered, burying his face in the blanket as his lower body twitched upwards in a silent plea.

A million different responses flashed through Harry's mind, some romantic, some sappy, some ridiculous, some questionable, but Harry decided on none of them, choosing to respond by leaning forward to lick lightly over Draco's clenching hole, earning a gasp and a shiver from the man. He repeated the motion, keeping every touch of his tongue light and teasing until Draco was squirming beneath him. He dragged his tongue up, pressing it flat to Draco's body before returning to light, teasing flicks.

"Seek," Draco begged, clenching his fists in the blanket. "Please."

Harry smiled, allowing himself several more seconds of teasing before giving in, unable to resist a direct request from Draco. He adjusted his hold on Draco before wriggling his tongue inside, slipping it in and out until Draco's body was completely loose, even as he gasped wildly for breath.

"Fuck, Seek!" he moaned, rocking his hips in time with Harry's tongue. "I thought you were going to fuck me!"

"I could make you come like this," Harry whispered, blowing cool air over the wet trails he could see on Draco's skin and earning a shiver and a groan in response.

Pulling back, Harry wiped his mouth and chin with the back of one hand before groping around for the silver flash of foil near his knee. He hastily unbuckled his belt and jeans, pulling them down just far enough to free himself. Draco's moans and pleas had kept him hard throughout, and it was with a sigh of relief that he finally pulled himself free and slipped the condom on, adding a quick layer of lube before tossing aside the bottle.

Positioning himself over Draco, he balanced on his knees as best he could, using one hand to guide himself into Draco's body while the other held him open.

The moment Harry sank into Draco's body, he had to grit his teeth to control himself through the wave of pleasure that washed over him, somehow seeming in perfect time with the steady crashing of the waves against the shore.

He molded himself to Draco's back, pressing a kiss to his neck as he began to rock his hips, keeping his movements just as steady as the rush of waves nearby, matching his tempo to the tempo set by the ocean. Harry had never shagged anyone on a beach before, but it might just be his new favorite thing in the world. The sun was warm against his skin, the air smelt of salt and tasted fresh and sharp, and the sounds of the ocean and the birds cawing overheard were oddly relaxing. It all made Harry feel as though he could sit out there all day, making love to Draco until the darkness came and the ocean took them away.

He wasn't sure how long they stayed like that, moving and shifting and gasping together, clinging to one another as Harry rocked into Draco's body again and again, too many times to keep count. It felt like an eternity of bliss and yet nowhere near long enough. Beneath him, he could feel Draco's body tightening, his muscles clenching, and Harry knew he was close.

Holding Draco closer, he clutched the man to himself as he deepened his movements, groaning softly into Draco's ear. He heard a muffled cry from Draco a moment before Harry's body stiffened. With a sigh, he collapsed onto Draco's back, the two of them struggling to catch their breath.

"Fuck," Harry groaned, forcing himself to pull away enough to slip the condom off and toss it away somewhere before falling onto his side and pulling Draco into his arms.

"Good lord, Seek," Draco said drowsily, voice thick with contentment, "you never do things by halves, do you?"

Harry smiled smugly to himself. "Good then, I take it?"

A laugh of disbelief escaped Draco. "I honestly don't know if I can even handle your best if 'good' was all that that was. I mean, fuck. I don't think I've ever finished untouched like that before, just from being fucked."

"Sounds like a challenge," Harry hummed. "Stick with me, Draco, and you'll finish in ways you've never even imagined."

Draco fell silent, saying nothing as he scooted back, pulling Harry's arms tighter around himself and burrowing deeper into Harry's embrace.

Harry held him tightly to the sounds of crashing waves.

oOo

"I suppose we really should go then, huh?" Draco said forlornly, glancing at the falling sun in regret.

"It's starting to get cold," Harry pointed out, feeling just as regretful to leave their temporary paradise. They had gotten dressed and laid together for hours, talking quietly and drifting off to the relaxing sounds of the ocean. But the sun was starting to set and they were both starting to shiver.

Sighing, they sat up and gazed around. Harry made sure everything was packed away while Draco folded up the blanket, coyly reminding Harry that he would need to wash it when they got back to the house. Harry grinned and took it out of Draco's hands, tossing it to the sand along with the picnic basket before wrapping his arms around Draco's waist and pulling him up against his body for a deep kiss, the two of them bathed in the honey-lavender light of the fading coastal sunset, and Harry knew he would never again be able to step onto a beach without thinking of the man in his arms.

"Seek," Draco whispered, and Harry kissed him again.

"Harry," he corrected quietly, and Draco pulled back to stare at him for a moment before a soft smile lit up his face.

"Harry," he repeated, mumbling the word against Harry's lips, and Harry knew—nothing in his life had ever been more perfect.

oOo

The call came later that night.

They were sitting together on the couch, Draco curled up into Harry so much he was practically sitting on his lap, the two of them warm beneath a thick blanket as they watched telly and laughed together.

And then Draco's phone rang.

Harry felt the man stiffen at the sound, body tensing as he froze for several seconds before scrambling to answer it. One glance at the screen and his face went white.

"Hello?" he answered breathlessly, glancing at Harry with worried eyes before struggling to free himself from the tangled blanket.

"Draco," a deep voice responded, and Harry stilled, trying his hardest to hear the words, "where the hell are you? What's taking you so long? You should have been back by now."

"Sorry, Fen," Draco gasped, sounding nearly panicked. The blanket finally dropped to the floor as he rose, nearly tripping over it in his haste to escape the room. "I'm sorry, this whole thing is taking so much longer than I expected, it's a bloody nightmare."

The voice responded but Draco was now too far for Harry to hear the words.

"Yes, you're right, you're absolutely right, it shouldn't, I'm sorry," Draco babbled, his voice fading as he fled down the corridor and into the guest room.

Harry gritted his teeth, jaw clenched as he fought down the desire to storm into the room and snatch the phone from Draco's hands. He had a few dozen things he wanted to say to "Fen".

But Harry forced himself to stay on that couch, knowing that anything he did or said could potentially put Draco in danger. But, fuck, Harry could not stand knowing that Draco belonged to someone else. He could not stand knowing that Draco was in his house, talking on the phone to another man.

Harry raked his hands through his hair, closing his eyes and forcing himself to take several deep breaths. He would not react angrily; he would not give Draco any reason to be frightened of him. He would stay calm and understanding and show Draco just how different he was from the bastard the blond was used to dealing with.

But god, Harry wanted to know who Fen was. He wanted to find the man, he wanted to make him pay for every trace of fear and unease that had crossed Draco's face every time the subject of his old man came up. Harry wanted to know more than anything, but he did not want to push Draco into revealing things he would later resent Harry for. He wanted to respect the boundaries Draco had put up, but doing so was so much harder than Harry had first imagined it would be.

Harry gripped the edges of the sofa, forcing himself not to march into the next room and hang up Draco's phone for him. Would Draco ever be willing to leave his old man? Would there ever come a day when Draco was able and brave enough to choose Harry? If Harry knew the answer to that question, it would be so much easier to bite his tongue and bear it in silence until that day finally arrived. But what if it never arrived? What if Draco would never choose Harry? What would Harry do then?

He didn't even realize he was biting his lip until he tasted the blood.

Startled, he ran his tongue over his bottom lip, tasting copper and feeling a small sting where his teeth had broken skin.

The soft click of a nearby door closing snapped Harry's attention away from himself and onto the entrance to the sitting room, where Draco was standing, silent and pale.

And Harry knew what that meant.

"You're leaving, aren't you?" he said in a dull, flat voice, wondering if there was anything he could do or say that would make Draco want to stay with him.

Draco stared at his feet. "I tried to put it off until morning, but…"

"But he ordered you back," Harry finished for him, feeling his frustration grow.

Draco flinched. "I'm sorry, Seek."

Harry stared at him for nearly a minute before crossing the room in a flash and enfolding Draco in a tight embrace. "Don't go, Draco," he whispered. "Please. Just stay here. He doesn't know where you are, you don't have to leave!" He pulled back to look Draco in the eye. "Stay with me."

An anguished look crossed Draco's face. "I can't," he whispered back, sounding tormented. "I can't, Seek."

The sting of rejection hurt more than Harry had been prepared for. He pulled away, turning away from the one man he wanted more than anything. Did Draco really care more about his awful, abusive boyfriend than he did about Harry? Did Harry really mean so little to him that he couldn't even consider staying with the brunet?

Pale fingers caught Harry's arm, tugging on it in an effort to get him to turn back around. "Please, Seek," Draco pleaded.

"Please what?" Harry said harshly, much more harshly than he meant to. "Please shut up and smile and kiss you goodbye before watching you drive off back to your fucking boyfriend?"

The hand released him, and Harry immediately missed the touch.

Draco said nothing, and Harry finally glanced over his shoulder to see the man biting his lip, eyes appearing glassy and bright.

"Draco…" Harry said in a pained voice. "I'm sorry, I just—I—"

"It's okay," Draco interrupted, speaking down to the floor. "It's fine. I get it. I'm sorry as well. I'll just go."

"Why do you always go back to him?" Harry asked, his words freezing Draco in place. "Is it just 'cause you're scared of him? Why, Draco? Why do you keep going back to that bastard if you know how horrible he is?"

Draco said nothing, folding in on himself in a way that broke Harry's heart. "I don't know," he confessed, squeezing his eyes shut tight. "I don't know, Seek."

"Will you ever know?" Would Draco ever be certain enough of his feelings for Harry to choose the brunet? "Is this the last time I'm ever going to see you?"

"I don't want it to be," Draco choked out, shaking his head as though attempting to throw off the emotions strangling him.

"But it will be," Harry said quietly. "If you leave, it will be. I mean, I don't even know what excuse you came up with to escape for a few days, but are you really going to be able to keep coming up with different excuses? And then what? I become some bit on the side for you? Your dirty secret?" Harry laughed hollowly, feeling his insides shrivel up at his own words. None of that was what Harry had ever wanted—it was the exact opposite. He wanted Draco all to himself, damn it. He didn't want to share him with anyone, especially a disgusting Death Eater. Maybe Harry should confess his real feelings and growing love to Draco—but would that make a difference? Perhaps Draco would not change his mind no matter what and confessing to such a thing would only end up humiliating Harry. Maybe he didn't feel the same way about Harry that Harry did about him. Fuck, Harry had no idea.

Draco looked away, biting his lip. "I don't know," he said so softly Harry barely heard the words. "I wish I did, Seek. I wish I had even one answer for anything. But I don't. I'm sorry."

Harry exhaled sharply. "So that's it then. You made your choice." Just like Harry had made his. He wouldn't force Draco to stay, wouldn't force him to do anything, but Harry would not just let him go so easily. He would kill every Death Eater he came across until the tether entrapping Draco to that awful clubhouse was cut forever. He couldn't live with himself knowing that Draco had gone back to someone so horrible and abusive, someone Draco didn't even like, as far as Harry could tell. Draco could leave, but he would come back, Harry knew he would. What they had between them, however unnamed and unexpected it was, was stronger than the fear Draco had for whatever undeserving patch he was with. Harry had to believe that, otherwise he might just break.

Soon enough, Draco would come back, Harry knew he would. And when he did, Harry would be right there, waiting for him.

No matter how much he knew it would hurt to watch him leave.

oOo

Draco didn't want to leave. More than anything else, he wanted to stay in that house, with Seek. But he could still hear Fenrir's voice echoing in his head, demanding he come home. Draco had tried to put it off until morning, claiming to be tired, but Greyback had all but commanded him back to the clubhouse. And so there he was, packing his things and fighting the heavy wave of misery that had settled over him.

Seek was seated on the nearby bed, silently watching Draco, and Draco could feel that gaze burn into his flesh like fire, like the lightning bolts etched across Seek's back. Was Seek angry at him for leaving? Did he resent Draco for being so weak?

"What are you thinking?" he wondered quietly, berating himself in the very next second for breaking the silence. But Draco desperately needed to know what was running through Seek's mind, what Seek now thought of him.

Seek's expression darkened. "I really don't think you want to know," he responded, in a voice just as quiet.

The words nearly made Draco cringe. "Right," he sighed, closing his knapsack and climbing to his feet. "Well, that's fair. I don't blame you for hating me now or anything."

Seek's mouth tightened. "Of course I don't hate you, Draco," he said, breathing heavily. "I couldn't hate you even if I tried! I—" he clamped his mouth shut, swallowing whatever else he had been about to say, and curiosity twisted Draco's insides. "I don't hate you," Seek finished, words barely above a whisper. "I don't want you to leave."

Draco said nothing, wondering if Seek knew just how much Draco didn't want to leave either. But he did not want to anger Fen, and he still wasn't ready to make any decisions that would uproot his life so completely. He at least wanted the chance to pack his things and say goodbye to Pansy and Tracey first.

"We'll see each other again," Draco said softly, wondering if they really would. Maybe Seek had been right when he said that it most likely wouldn't happen if Draco left. But Draco had to hope that he was wrong. He just needed more time to think things through—it felt as though everything had happened so quickly and his head was still spinning from the force of it. But he would not stop hoping that they would see each other again, hopefully soon.

"I won't stop thinking about you until you come back to me," Seek whispered, stepping closer, and Draco was unable to stop himself from swaying toward the man.

Draco wanted to argue, wanted to tell Seek to forget him and move on, for both their sakes, but he couldn't bring himself to say such a thing. Even if it was selfish, he wanted Seek to remember him, because he sure as hell would never be able to forget Seek.

"You have no idea what these last few days have meant to me," Draco confessed, speaking down to the carpet. He couldn't look Seek in the eye whilst admitting to such things. "Like a dream or something. You're so different from every other man I've ever met."

Seek said nothing, responding by stepping close enough to wrap Draco in an embrace so tight Draco imagined he could hear his ribs creaking from the force.

"Come back to me," Seek whispered, clutching him even closer. "I don't agree with what you're doing, but I won't stop you if you feel you have to go back. Go back and do whatever you need to do, take care of whatever business needs handling, say goodbye to your friends. But then come back. Bring all your things with you this time, and come back."

Draco swallowed a sob, burying his face in Seek's neck. He said nothing, unable to promise such a thing, but lord, how he wanted to. He wanted to promise Seek everything if only Draco wasn't aware of how unable he was to keep those unspoken promises.

"If he hurts you," Seek said softly, combing his fingers through Draco's loose hair, "or frightens you in any way, I'll fucking kill him." He fell silent, as though holding back from saying anything more, and Draco wondered if Seek really would be able to kill Fenrir. He had always thought of Fenrir as invincible, a dangerous wall of muscle that could smash through any obstacle in its path. But Seek had already faced Wolf and emerged from the confrontation victorious. Fen had been injured when Seek had not—he hadn't even really been able to lay a single hit on Seek. Obviously, the man could take care of himself.

A dark part of Draco longed to ask Seek for such a thing, to take care of Greyback once and for all so he was permanently removed from Draco's life and no longer a threat to him and Seek.

But Draco couldn't do that, he couldn't ask such a thing. Could he? Could he really betray the man he was with? The man who had taken care of him while he had been grieving his father? The man who had looked out for him and protected him, even if that protection had not extended to Fenrir himself? But he was also the man who shouted and screamed and scared the blond, the man who was convinced he owned Draco—was it really so wrong of Draco to desire such a man gone?

Draco wasn't sure if he could really ask such a thing of Seek, but a part of him did want it.

"Will it make it better or worse to tell you I'll miss you?" Draco wondered, still hiding his face in Seek's throat.

"I don't know," Seek admitted. "A bit of both, to be honest. Better on one hand, because I want you to think of me and I want you to miss me, but worse on the other because I'll always know that it still wasn't enough for you to stay."

Dragging in heavy breaths, Draco forced down another sob threatening to break free. Seek was right. Draco did want to stay with him, so why wasn't he? Why was he preparing to leave? Why wasn't it enough? Was it only because of the fear of what Fenrir might do? The fear of the future? Of the unknown? The fear of standing on a cliff's edge and staring down into a bottomless drop that could very well end with Draco being smashed to pieces against jagged rocks?

Maybe the fear he felt about the situation didn't come from his fear of Fenrir—maybe the simple truth was that he didn't trust Seek to catch him if he really did jump off that cliff. Maybe Draco just didn't trust him. What if he took the risk, and Seek only turned out to be another Greyback? After all, Fen had been kind too when they had first gotten together. Nowhere near as sweet and unexpectedly romantic as Seek, but certainly kind in his own way.

Fuck. Draco had no idea, and he knew that he was unlikely to ever really find any of the answers he so desperately needed to the barrage of questions flooding his mind and weighing him down. It was as though a storm had blown through Draco's mind, bringing confusion down like rainwater and filling his skull until he felt drowned beneath the never-ending deluge of mixed emotions. And his fear was the anchor holding him under, keeping him trapped under the filthy water until his lungs were screaming for air, but what was the point in screaming if nobody could hear? Water filled his mouth every time he tried, and he was no longer certain he could ever fight his way free.

"I should go," Draco whispered, like the coward he was, the one who fled from every tough decision he ever came face-to-face with.

"Not yet," Seek pleaded, holding him even tighter. "Just a bit longer."

"Seek…"

Instead of replying, Seek tilted Draco's head up and kissed him. "He won't be expecting you for at least a little while, right? Don't leave yet. Please."

"Okay," Draco agreed mindlessly, unable to resist when Seek spoke to him in that tone or kissed him in such a way.

"I don't think I'll ever get enough of you," Seek mumbled into the kiss, and Draco nodded, eyes clenched shut to keep the stormwater from leaking out.

Tugging on Seek's shirt, Draco began backing up, until he felt the mattress bump up against the backs of his knees. He fell back without thought, pulling Seek down on top of him. Seek landed with a sharp exhale, pulling back to trace Draco's jaw with the fingers of one hand, a sad smile on his face as he stared down at the blond.

But Draco didn't want to see the sadness in his eyes—he wasn't ready to face either the sight or the knowledge that it was him who was putting that sorrow there, nor was he ready to face the heavy slew of emotions it triggered within him.

So instead, he kissed the man, wrapping himself around him and allowing himself, for that one moment, even if it was their final moment together, to get lost within the feeling of Seek's mouth on his. Seek pressed him into the soft mattress, pinning him down with his weight, something Draco was still surprised to find comforting. Lately, whenever Fenrir did such a thing, Draco only felt trapped and panicked, as though he was unable to breathe. But when Seek did the same thing, it made him feel oddly safe.

Draco wasn't quite sure what that meant and did not want unwanted introspections pulling his mind from the present feel of Seek's lips on his. He yanked at Seek's shirt, desperate to feel their bare chests pressed together. Seek complied immediately, not hesitating to rip the shirt over his head and fling it somewhere behind him. He pulled Draco's up much more slowly, taking his time revealing Draco's torso. As he dragged the shirt up Draco's stomach, Seek began trailing kisses along the bare skin that slowly grew inch by inch. He licked along the ridges of Draco's ribcage, biting gently at his chest before pulling the shirt up enough to reveal Draco's collarbones. He kissed the hollow between them, pausing to finally pull the shirt over Draco's head before continuing to trail kisses along Draco's throat. Warm hands ghosted over Draco's sides, making him shiver.

The touch traveled higher, sliding over Draco's chest and throat, exploring the bare skin of his arms before Seek enclosed both of Draco's hands in his own, squeezing lightly before lifting Draco's arms, folding them behind his head and keeping them trapped there as they traded kisses. Seek's fingers were so warm against his own, and he couldn't help the breathless moan that escaped when Seek rolled his hips against Draco's, the movement somewhat impeded by the fabric still bunched between them.

Seek pulled back, slipping his hands from Draco's. With quick, nimble movements, he undid the fastenings to both their trousers, helping Draco wriggle free from the clothing before yanking his own off and tossing it to the floor.

The second they were both naked, he was back on Draco like a flash, and Draco released a sharp inhalation of surprise, the gasp turning into a groan at the feel of Seek's cock sliding against his own. Seek moved so slowly as he rocked against him, taking his time with every movement, and Draco knew it was an attempt to draw out their time together.

Emotion pricked at his closed eyelids as he wrapped both legs around Seek's waist, willing the man to touch him everywhere and take him away from his confusing and painful thoughts. He wanted to put off every difficult decision; he wanted to forget the entire world, even if only for just a few moments. He wanted to disappear with Seek into the opaque waves of their own passion; he wanted to drown in Seek's warmth.

Seek rolled his hips, moving against him so slowly, and Draco could tell the man was trying to draw out every last second they had together. Strong hands touched him all over, sliding over his chest, his arms, across his stomach and through his hair, and the tenderness of the touch made Draco clutch Seek even tighter. Nobody had ever treated him so gently. Nobody had ever made him feel so safe.

Seek pulled back, reaching out to the bedside table, and Draco watched him snatch up a bottle of lube and a single condom from the open drawer. Draco nodded breathlessly, needing to feel Seek inside him once more, even if it really was their last time together.

Especially if it was their last time together.

Frowning, Draco tried his hardest to push the thought from his head. It wouldn't be their last time together. Draco just needed more time to sort everything out in his mind. More than anything, he needed Pansy and Tracey. He needed his friends; they were the only two he could discuss everything with and trust them to give him an honest opinion.

"Is this okay?" Seek wondered, most likely misinterpreting the frown on Draco's face.

He instantly smoothed the expression away, forcing himself to stay in the moment. "Yes," he whispered, pulling Seek back on atop him. "It's fine. I want this. Do it." One last time.

Seek nodded, offering him a somewhat troubled smile before kissing him softly. His heavy body settled over Draco's as they shared slow kisses, rocking against one another, their hands refusing to stay still. They both sank deeper into the warm caresses, wrapping around one another and becoming so ensnared that Draco didn't think it was possible for them to pick themselves apart—there would always be pieces of them tangled together, no matter the distance.

"Seek," Draco panted, and Seek groaned as he pulled back.

Reaching out with trembling fingers, he snatched the condom up off the bed and tore it open, glancing at Draco before rolling it on. One quick coating of lube later and he was back, leaning over Draco with a gaze like fire. He coaxed Draco's legs over his shoulders before reaching one hand down to help guide himself into Draco, and Draco heard his breath catch at the feel of a stiff prick prodding at his entrance. Seek shifted, adjusting his position before pushing forward, and Draco inhaled sharply at the feeling of being slowly filled. His body was still loose from their earlier shagging on the beach, but Seek took his time, rocking into him so gradually, almost as though he was afraid of breaking Draco. He pressed deeper, pushing closer into the blond, and Draco gasped, the sound swallowed by a kiss.

Everything seemed to move in slow motion, the entire world somehow seeming to pause as Draco stared into Seek's eyes. There were so many things he wanted to say, so many confessions he longed to spout, but he swallowed them all back before sealing his mouth to Seek's, who did not hesitate to return the kiss. It was not the time for sticky, half-understood admissions. Draco did not want to be the type of person to promise someone the moon in a moment of passion only to then break that promise once the moment was over.

Until he was certain of everything, he could promise the man nothing.

Seek pulled back slowly, pausing for several seconds before rocking forward once more, repeating the movement as he kissed Draco breathless. Draco moaned, feeling his limbs tremble as Seek rolled his hips forward once more, burying himself inside Draco and pausing.

"Seek," Draco whispered, staring up at the man stretched over him, feeling so many different emotions he was unable to name a single one of them.

Seek hushed him, pressing their mouths together before blindly feeling along Draco's forearms until he found his hands, their fingers locking together just as Seek slotted himself inside Draco's body once more. But this time he didn't pull back, remaining locked inside Draco, their bodies tangled and tethered in a way that Draco hoped was irreversible. He kissed Draco harder, circling his hips and making tiny rocking motions that made Draco's breath catch. A shaky moan was swallowed by the brunet, who gripped Draco's hands tighter as he shifted his body higher, giving him more leverage to rock even deeper into Draco, touching him in places, in ways that Draco was certain he had never been touched before.

One leg slipped off Seek's shoulder as Draco's knees shook, his entire body feeling molten and tingling as Seek finally pulled out only to drive back in immediately, sending sharp stabs of pleasure radiating throughout Draco's core. He repeated the motion, pulling back to look Draco in the eye as he slid in and out, over and over, a fierce look on his face as he stared at Draco with dark eyes.

"S-Seek," Draco gasped, back arching at the feel of Seek filling him once more.

"My Draco," Seek murmured, spreading kisses along Draco's jaw and down his throat. "So beautiful."

Draco shivered, the words adding to the heat spreading through him like liquid fire, freezing him and burning him and melting him in place until all he could do was cling to Seek and hope the pleasure didn't break him.

Oh, god.

"Draco," Seek groaned, resting his forehead on Draco's shoulder as he drove into him again and again, panting warm breaths across Draco's neck.

Draco inhaled sharply, unable to respond. His body was tensing, the fire in his limbs growing hotter, until it felt as though the very blood in his veins was boiling; until every breath was a gasp and every part of him was trembling. Seek thrust forward again, his breaths gone heavy and his movements becoming jerky, an air of desperation now cloaking the two of them.

One warm hand wrapped around Draco's cock, stroking him in time with the rocking of Seek's hips, and Draco's entire body tightened, a sharp moan tearing from his throat a second before he felt himself tip over the edge, engulfed in a white-hot pleasure so sharp he couldn't move. Seek was still moving, thrusting into him, before suddenly burying himself deep in Draco and pausing, his body quivering for several seconds before collapsing on Draco, the two of them melting into the mattress together.

"Fuck," Seek murmured, trailing the fingers of one hand lightly over Draco's chest.

"Already?" Draco murmured back, holding Seek against him in a loose embrace. "I don't think I could go again so soon after."

Seek lifted his head, staring down at Draco with a thousand different emotions swimming through his intense gaze. "Then stay," he whispered, tracing patterns over Draco's collarbone and up his throat. "Stay until you can. Stay the rest of the night. Just…stay, Draco. Stay with me."

The words instantly made Draco freeze in place, feeling as though a bucket of ice water had been thrown over him as reality came rushing back in.

"I can't," he said, voice anguished as he began attempting to squirm his way free from the weight that suddenly felt as though it was suffocating him. Seek held him still for several heartbeats before finally rolling off him with a sigh.

"No," he said hollowly, staring away from Draco. "I don't suppose you can."

"Seek," Draco said hesitantly, falling silent as he realized he had no idea what to follow the single word with. He had no idea what to say; no idea what to do. He had no idea who he was or what he wanted anymore.

With a heavy sigh, he began to collect his clothing from the floor. "Can I take a shower before I go?"

Slowly, Seek turned to face him, a frown marring his face as he stared at him with an unreadable expression.

"Or not," Draco said quietly, speaking down to the floor. "It's fine if you'd rather I just leave."

An empty laugh escaped Seek as he sat up, running both hands roughly through his hair. "If I'd rather you just leave…" he murmured quietly to himself, a sharp edge to his words.

Draco flinched internally, sighing again as he nodded. "Right. Well, I'll just…you know…"

"Of course you can take a shower, Draco," Seek interrupted, looking up at him with a frown. "I just wish that…"

"I know," Draco whispered, fighting the urge to either rip his hair out or sink down to the floor and cry. Goddamn it, he didn't know what to do! Every option he was faced with felt wrong; every choice ahead of him was shaded with fear and uncertainty, and he had no idea which path would be best to take. He had no idea which outcome would bring the least amount of pain. Nothing about the situation was simple; everything was tangled together so treacherously, bound together so tightly, that Draco could feel it cutting off his circulation, his oxygen, his eyesight, the very air he was breathing. He felt as if he was slowly being swallowed by his own fear and doubt, consumed by his own indecision.

Without a word, Seek climbed from the bed and wrapped Draco in a tight embrace, the solidness somehow allowing Draco to breathe again.

"I'm sorry," Seek whispered, stroking Draco's hair. "I don't mean to pressure you or make you feel bad, Draco, I really don't. I just…I just wish that—"

"I know," Draco repeated, burying his face in Seek's chest. "I know, Seek. But…right now…I just—I can't—"

"It's okay," Seek interrupted, pulling back to study Draco. "It's okay. It's tough, I get it. Let's just…take a shower. All right?"

"All right," Draco nodded, allowing Seek to lead them to the bathroom. They showered in silence, speaking instead through touch and lingering looks.

By the time they were both cleaned and dressed, Draco felt as though a weight had settled over his chest, constricting his breathing. His eyes felt hot as he bent down to buckle his knapsack closed, slinging it over one shoulder with a quiet sigh.

Glancing up, he noticed Seek watching him silently.

"Seek, I—"

But everything else he was about to say was cut off as Seek stepped forward, grasping Draco's collar and tugging him forward into a kiss. It was completely unexpected, and Draco could not help but melt into it, clutching at Seek's shirt and matching every ounce of intensity the other man poured into the kiss.

"Come back to me, Draco," Seek whispered, resting his forehead against Draco's. "Go back and pack your things, make your peace, say goodbye to your friends…and then come back to me."

"Seek…"

"You don't have to promise me anything," Seek continued in a soft, unguarded voice. "You don't even have to promise yourself. But I know this isn't a goodbye. I know that whatever you have with Fen," he sneered the name, "doesn't compare to what we have. And if you need some more time to realize it, that's fine."

Draco stared at him, dumbfounded. How did he respond to such a thing? What should he say?

"…Seek…"

"It's okay, Draco," Seek murmured, pressing a kiss to Draco's mouth. "I won't make you feel worse about the situation. If you feel you need to go back, then I won't stop you. But I also won't say goodbye either. I won't stop waiting for you to come back to me."

Draco swallowed, closing his eyes against the burning wetness he could feel building. God, how did Seek seem to always know exactly what to say to make him feel shattered in the best way possible? Seek had a way of making him feel so whole in spite of his brokenness and doubt. Fen had a way of shattering him as well, but slowly, piece by piece, splinter by splinter, until all Draco felt was fractured and empty.

"I don't want to leave…" Draco whispered, attempting to swallow down every scrap of emotion he felt, "but…I just…"

"You just need more time," Seek finished softly, kissing Draco's temple. "It's fine, Draco, I get it. Take your time. Think it all through. And then come back."

Hesitantly, Draco nodded, unsure what he was agreeing to. Seek kissed him once more, a lingering, heart-stopping kiss, before stepping back. He lifted the strap on Draco's shoulder, settling it into a better spot before wrapping one arm around Draco's waist and leading him from the room. He walked Draco out to his car, pulling him back into one more kiss, one final embrace, before reluctantly pulling away.

Insides numb, Draco clambered into his car, feeling clumsy and strange. Seek stared at him with a sad look on his face, both hands jammed into the pockets of his jeans as he shivered in the cool night breeze. Draco rolled down his window, unsure what to say. Did he say goodbye? But Seek didn't want any goodbyes. Did he say 'see you later?' But he wasn't sure if he really would see Seek later. Did he dare confess just how much Seek meant to him? But would that only hurt worse if the two of them ended up never seeing one another again?

Draco wanted to smash his head against the steering wheel—he had made a right fuck up of his life, and he was at a complete loss for the best course of action to now take.

Seek bent down, leaning forward to steal a kiss through the open window. "I'll be waiting," he said, voice low, and Draco swallowed back another sob.

"I'll see you later," he said in a shaky voice, wondering if that was a promise he could keep, "…Harry."

At the sound of his name, Seek's expression somehow sharpened and softened simultaneously, and he reached through the window to tangle his hands in Draco's hair, pulling him in for a final scorching kiss, one that seemed to last for mere seconds and somehow centuries, until Draco's head was spinning and his breaths were coming in gasps.

The kiss softened, Seek ending it gently as he pulled back and stared into Draco's eyes for several moments before stepping back. He stood there, staring at Draco, until Draco was finally able to unfreeze his limbs and turn the key with shaky fingers. He backed out of the driveway without looking back, unable to remove his gaze from the man standing so still.

The last thing Draco saw in his rearview mirror was Seek staring after him.

Aaaand back to the Death Eaters' clubhouse he goes! Thus ends Harry and Draco's fun secret sleepovers of secrecy and love.

...For now, at least :)