Warning: Male on male snogging!
Dedication: For all the fans, and everyone who believes in true love!
Author's Note: Another day, another update. Sitting here, watching Survivor, and hacking out the next part in this series. I can't seem to write anything other then Severus/Remus stuff lately. I have a few Peter ideas, but they just aren't coming. :-( But I like this story.
A Personal Affair
Chapter Five
Severus Snape raised an eyebrow, surveying his bedroom with a critical eye. He had had to rearrange a few things, to allow for another person to live there. Drawers were cleared, closet space provided, and room on desk and bureau tops made. Considering the fact that he felt he knew Lupin rather well, Severus had no intentions of slowly building a relationship. In his mind, everything had been decided. There was a spare room for Black, as far away from the master bedchamber as possible.
//I cannot believe I am allowing that damn man into my home.// Severus folded his arms, glaring at nothing. //And for what? Lupin. I certainly never saw myself with *him*.// But life was funny that way, and Severus had long ago stopped being picky. There was little time now, and he had no desire to die alone.
//I believe I can love him.// That was enough. There was certainly an affection there already. And a physical attraction. Lupin was quite desirable. He had a certain wild and rugged look to him, in the way his hair fell in casual waves, and the way his eyes changed from light amber to dark gold depending on his moods. And of course his slightly weathered skin, his strong chin...//And he certainly looked to be in rather good form.//
//I can put up with slight prima donna tendencies. If he still retains those. And I know exaclt what buttons to push to raise his anger. He keeps it rather pent in, but he'll have to release it somewhere. In bed is as good a place as any...//
That was another point. Severus had every intention of taking Lupin to bed that night. He had no idea what the other mans sexual experience had been, but he didn't quite care. If his experimentations had been tame, they would not remain so. //What is the point of life, if not to experience it? Whatever Lupin may think of me, he is in for quite a surprise.//
Black was the only thing standing in the way of Severus actually looking forward to Lupin's arrival. He hated the man, for more reasons then simply the incident where he tried to kill him. Black had been a thorn in his side since his first year of school. Tripping him, destroying his schoolwork, hexing him...the list went on and on. And now he would have to share his home with him.
//As long as he stays out of my way...// Severus sighed, and rubbed the bridge of his nose. He could feel a headache coming on. What a horrible mess this had turned into. //My own fault, for placing that ridiculous ad. That's what I get for drinking two bottles of gin...// He shook his head, and smoothed his sweater. He wasn't *nervous* per say, he was simply...waiting. With nothing to do.
//What is taking him so long?// Had Black made things that difficult? And would Lupin listen to his friend, if an argument were posed? Perhaps Black would help Lupin to 'see mor clearly'. //I shall kill him thrice over, if he does.//
Despite problems in the past, Severus had grown increasingly fond of the werewolf. Through letters, and over dinner, a certain bond had been formed. //He is on the shy side. But he kisses rather well. And I believe we would compliment each other nicely.// He made his way through he large house-about twenty rooms in all-and to the parlor. He sat back in his favorite chair, and waited.
***
"Just behave yourself." Remus reminded Sirius, who just grumbled and shrugged his shoulders. Remus frowned, dropping his bag by his feet. He took a deep breath and knocked on the door. It took a few moments, but Severus opened it and inclined his head to Remus.
"Lupin." He said, eyes traveling up and down Remus' form again.
"Severus." Remus smiled warmly, and was rewarded by the slightest curving of Severus' lips. He retrieved his bag, and Severus stepped back to allow them inside. He seemed to be ignoring Sirius, which was fine. They could ignore each other all they wanted.
"You have a beautiful home." Remus breathed. Even from the outside, he could tell. It was an old home, stone and wood and ivy. The inside did not disappoint! Severus seemed to have taken decorating tips from the early renaissance period.
"Damn gaudy, if you ask me." Sirius muttered under his breath, and Remus elbowed him discreetly.
"Thank you." Severus led them up a large double staircase, and pointed down the hall. "*You* will be staying down there." He snapped, eyes flicking momentarily to Sirius. "Remus..." He turned towards the other end of the house. Remus gave Sirius an encouraging little smile and followed after Severus.
"He's promised to behave." Remus said, as soon as Sirius was out of ear shot.
"I honestly don't care." Severus said. "Here." He opened a door, and Remus gasped. The master bedroom-that was what it had to be!-was beautiful. The bed was a heavy mahogany canopy bed, green satin drapes hanging down to the floor, half obscuring black satin sheets. The rug was thick and looked amazingly soft, and was colored a dark green. All the furniture was all mahogany, large and intricately carved.
"Impressed?" A note of humor in Severus' voice.
"I just came from a two room cabin." Remus said, turning to meet Severus' eyes. "I am *very* impressed."
"Good." Severus smiled slightly, and placed his hands on Remus' waist. Remus felt a sudden rush inside of himself. He closed his eyes, and leaned in for a long and leisurely kiss. He leaned into Severus, enjoying the feel of his lips. He aligned his body against Severus', all sense of time leaving him completely.
"Hold me." Remus breathed, as Severus pulled away. He didn't think he could stand.
"You've been alone a long time, haven't you?"
"You know I have been." Remus rested his head on Severus' shoulder. A part of him was detached, and could not believe the situation. The rest of him felt this was *right*. "But it doesn't matter now."
"Mmmm." Severus said nothing, but held Remus lightly in his embrace.
"Still not much for sentiments."
"No." Severus kissed Remus on the top of his head. "Now...down to business. Your drawers are here." Severus opened two drawers. "Put your personal affects where you wish. You may hang your robes in the closet."
"Thank you." Remus smiled, and forced himself to move. He had little in the way of personal things, and it took him hardly twenty minutes to put them away.
"Settled?" Severus asked. He had watched Remus in silence the entire time. It had been a bit uncomfortable, but Remus ignored it. He would have to get used to this, if he was going to be living with Severus.
"Yes, thank you." Remus turned, tucking an errant bit of hair back in place. Severus was simply sitting in a chair, legs crossed, watching him. //Why does it always feel like he's looking *through* me?// It had always been that way.
"Good." Severus raised an eyebrow, hands folded in his lap. //What is he waiting for?// Which raised a very interesting question. What was going to happen when it was time to go to bed? Would they simply go to sleep or...? It was getting a bit late, and Remus had had a long day...
"It's getting time to turn in, isn't it?" Remus said, with a bit of a nervous hitch to his voice. It was starting to sink in, the whole gravity of the situation.
"For you, maybe." Severus shrugged. "I tend to stay up late."
"Ah." Remus nodded. "I turn in early."
"We will adjust." Severus said.
"I'm going to get ready for bed, if that's all right...?"
"Remus, you have no need to ask my permission." Severus snapped. "The bathroom is next door."
"I'll be back in a bit then." Remus said, still nervous. He grabbed a nightshirt, and forced himself to walk to the bathroom, rather then run. //Damn.// He washed his face repeatedly in the sink, splashing cold water on his face. //What now?// It had been a *very* long time since Remus was physically intimate with anyone.
//You can handle this. It's not like you're a virgin.// Remus changed into his nightshirt, and stood up. //This is no big deal. And...if you really don't want to, no one's going to make you.// He ran a hand through his hair, brushed his teeth, and headed back to the bedroom...
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