A HUGE thank you to my beta: XaveriiJade. This is for MoonyPadfootJr who emailed me and asked me for an update. So I'm not doing my grading that I should be doing, just for you. :-) Thanks also to Assur for your review of Chapter 15. And now...a LONG update to make it worth your while.
Chapter 16 – Valentines and A Question
Jack looked down at his star chart and then back up at the sky. Corbin was laying on his back next to him, one of Jack's crossed legs was resting on his thigh. Jack put one hand on Corbin's stomach as he pointed with the other.
"There's Pegasus."
"Uh huh." Corbin agreed.
"Also known as the Square of Pegasus." Jack said, his fingers slipping under Corbin's sweater to stroke over the dark trail of hair just below Corbin's navel that led down to his groin.
"Correct, Mr. Bartleby." Corbin said, in a fair imitation of their old Astronomy professor.
"So, um….it's Valentine's Day tomorrow."
"Yeah."
"Would you want to go out to dinner?"
"Jack," Corbin sat up abruptly, "Could I give you my present now?"
"What?"
"I just…I'm nervous about tomorrow, I know you always make a big deal of it and I-"
"You don't need to be nervous," Jack said soothingly. "It's just a day."
"It's your fourth favorite day of the year." Corbin pointed out dryly.
"Right. Well." Jack tried to think of something else to say.
"So, could I give it to you now?"
"All right." Jack answered and watched Corbin get up and walk quickly into the house. He debated about going home to get his present but didn't want to be gone when Corbin came back.
A few minutes later, Corbin walked out of the house, his guitar in his hand.
"You're not to say anything until I'm done." Corbin said firmly, as he sat back down.
"All right."
Corbin strummed the guitar softly, making some tuning adjustments.
"Did you write me a song?" Jack asked, suddenly feeling heat bloom in his chest.
"You're not supposed to talk."
"Sorry." Jack fidgeted for a moment as Corbin continued to fiddle with the tuning. "You wrote me a song?"
"Jack."
"Sorry."
Corbin began to sing. Jack felt tears start to prick at his eyes as he listened to the beautiful tune with words that were all about him. He waited until the last chord was done, the echo still ringing softly.
"You wrote me a song."
"Yeah." Corbin shrugged.
"It was beautiful."
"You liked it?"
"I loved it. Thank you. No one's ever written a song about me."
I've written you loads of songs, Jack."
"I want to hear them all." Jack moved to kiss Corbin swiftly before standing up.
"Where are you going?"
"To get my present for you." Jack Disapparated.
A moment later, Jack was back, holding a small box in his hands.
"It's…um," Jack shook his head, "Just open it."
"All right." Corbin set his guitar down and reached for the box. He was happy and relieved that Jack had liked the song. He ripped open the wrapping paper and opened the box. Inside was something that looked like a muggle snow globe. It was cloudy, like a crystal ball, except the inside was a pretty blue with glittery lights inside it. Corbin had no idea what it was. "What is it?"
"All right, it's really silly, but," Jack squirmed uncomfortably. "It's….my love for you. A bit of it anyway. Because, I wanted you to be able to see it. Because, I remember what you said a few months agoabout Owen's love being tangible, and I wanted my love to be tangible too and I thought blue was a lovely color, it's like your eyes and…well…Anyway, there it is."
Corbin felt a large lump growing in his throat as he looked at the object in his hand, turning it and watching the lights move around. He swallowed hard, trying to find something to say.
"Yeah. I mean, yeah." Jack bit his lip.
Corbin clenched the globe tightly in his hand and then set it down. He crawled towards Jack who was now babbling nervously about the other things he'd thought of buying instead.
"Thank you." Corbin whispered brokenly, slipping his hand around Jack's neck.
"You like it?"
Corbin nodded.
"I love you so much." Jack threw his arms around Corbin's waist and tackled him to the ground. His next words were almost lost against Corbin's skin as Jack's fingers tugged and pulled at Corbin's clothing. "You're my everything."
"Happy anniversary." Jack said between kisses.
"What anniversary is it today?" Corbin asked with a grin. Jack celebrated all sorts of anniversaries. Just last month had been the 20th anniversary of the first time they'd had detention together, although Corbin suspected Jack had made that up.
"The one year anniversary of our first date."
"Really?"
"Come outside."
"Why?"
"Because."
"Jack, it's late March in Scotland. It's not warm outside." Corbin protested as he was dragged out into the yard.
"They're called warming charms and I'm not afraid to use them." Jack waved his wand and performed several on Corbin.
"What if I get too hot now?"
"Take your shirt off." Jack smiled, flashing his dimples. "Close your eyes."
"How would that help?"
"No, not if you get too hot – do it now - close your eyes."
"Fine." Corbin sighed and closed his eyes.
Jack waved his wand and a blanket with a picnic basket appeared. There was a bottle of champagne in the basket along with assorted finger foods. Jack had, with close supervision by Tabby, prepared everything himself.
"This better not be a prank." Corbin muttered.
"Shush you." Jack got down on one knee in front of Corbin. "All right, now, open your eyes."
"What are you doing?"
Jack reached out and took Corbin's hand. "Corbin Angus Hill, will you marry me?"
"What?" Corbin gazed at him, astonishment clear in the blue eyes.
"In case you don't remember, in the wizarding world, we can get legally married. And I want to marry you, to spend the rest of my life with you. I'd like to have children with you, but some time with just us together first would be lovely too. So, please, marry me."
"Where's the ring?"
"What?"
"Well, if we're going to be engaged…do I get an engagement ring? I bought Janna an engagement ring." Corbin crossed his arms and looked expectantly at Jack.
"Um…it's…not usual…an engagement ring."
"It's not?"
"No, I mean, a lot of people nowadays are doing engagement rings, because of the muggle influence, but we never used to use them."
"That's interesting." Corbin said thoughtfully.
"Would you really want one?" Jack asked, as he wracked his brain for something he could use as a ring.
"Um. Yeah. Since apparently I'm the girl in the relationship, I want a ring."
"You're not the girl." Jack said, as he summoned a fork from the basket and transfigured it into a ring. "All right, here's a ring. Happy?"
"Ask me again." Corbin sank down to his knees in front of Jack.
"Are you happy?" Jack repeated, wondering how his proposal had gotten so off track.
"No, the other thing."
"Will you marry me?"
"I just say yes? Or is there some weird wizard thing I have to say?"
"You say bugger me."
"Really?" Corbin held his hand out. "Then bugger me." Jack quickly slid the ring onto Corbin's finger, he'd made the spell so the ring stretched to fit. He pulled Corbin closer. One hand pressed against the top of Jack's thigh as he still knelt on one knee. The other, the one with the new ring, slid under Jack's shirt. Jack could feel the cool metal of the ring warming against their skin.
"I love you." Corbin said against Jack's mouth. Jack grinned and kissed Corbin breathless. "So, are you going to?"
"Going to what?" Jack asked with confusion.
"Fuck me." Corbin whispered as he looked at his hand.
It took Jack several seconds before he could speak, the idea of making love with Corbin for the first time had rendered him speechless. "Yes."
"Your warming charms really are quite good." Corbin stood and pulled his t-shirt over his head. He took a couple steps backwards. Jack got to his feet and followed Corbin slowly. "But it will be easier on your knees if we do it in bed." Corbin took off towards the house at a sprint.
Jack ran after him, climbing the stairs inside two at a time. He caught Corbin just inside the bedroom doorway and they tumbled to the bed together. Clothes were yanked off hastily, several of Jack's buttons were sacrificed to the gods of speed.
"Tell me if I go too fast." Jack murmured as he kissed Corbin's nose, stroking his body. A swift nod answered before Corbin pulled Jack in for a deep kiss, his blunt nails digging into Jack's skin.
"Please…can't." Corbin buried his face against Jack's neck. "Please."
"Please what?" Jack asked, confused as Corbin's hands pushed at his shoulders at the same time as his fingers tightened their grip.
"Please." Corbin whispered. "Don't stop." Corbin's hand curled around him. Jack could feel Corbin's face heating up where it was pressed against his skin. "I've dreamed of you in me for so long. Please."
"Oh, Merlin." Jack swallowed hard, trying not to come right then. "Slow down," he pleaded, "Corbin, I won't make it if you don't slow down." Corbin's hands gentled, allowing Jack to pull back slightly. He gazed down at Corbin, the candlelight flickering on his skin. "You're so beautiful. I love you," Jack said softly, trailing fingers across Corbin's flat stomach. He reached over into the bedside table drawer, retrieving a tube of lubrication. Jack slid his hand down between Corbin's open legs and started a slow, gentle stroking inside. Corbin's eyes flew shut as Jack prepared him. Jack wanted to savor this, the first time Corbin was letting him in, lowering his defenses, both physically and emotionally. Jack watched as a smile slowly quirked at his mouth. Blue eyes opened to gaze up at him.
"What?" Jack asked.
"You're talking a mile a minute."
Jack flushed, realizing he'd been babbling words of love the entire time. "Well…you always tell me I never stop talking."
"You – oh, God!" Corbin jerked as Jack's fingers touched deep inside him. Corbin's hands pulled at Jack. "Please."
Jack slid in slowly and started a smooth, gentle rhythm in and out of Corbin's tight heat. Corbin started shaking his head.
"What's wrong?" Jack stilled. "Am I hurting you?"
"No. Harder, please, Jack." Corbin then said something into Jack's ear that sent shocks of arousal through his body. Jack followed Corbin's request, pushing harder and deeper into the other man. Corbin was alternately protesting and begging, pulling at Jack to get closer, biting sharply at his shoulder. Jack looked down at Corbin as he changed his angle. Corbin's cheeks were flushed and he was breathing hard, swallowing air in big gulps. He looked beautiful. Jack lowered his head, kissing and sucking at Corbin's neck. Corbin thrust up hard against him, his hands tugging at Jack's hair, pressing his mouth closer. Jack bit down and felt Corbin shudder. He bit harder, enjoying the feel of the skin giving slightly under his teeth. Corbin gave a sharp cry.
"Sorry!" Jack pulled away quickly. "I didn't mean –"
"Again." Corbin's whisper caused a shiver of arousal to skate over Jack's skin. "Again, please." Jack lowered his head and bit the other side of Corbin's neck drawing out a low moan. Corbin pulled him into a messy, wet kiss, slamming his hips up as his hands tangled in Jack's hair. As they were both approaching their climax, Jack felt soft, almost tentative, kisses on his neck amidst several whispered "I love you"s.
Warmth flooded through his body. "Oh, Corbin." He lifted his head, kissing him roughly, "I love you so much."
A short time later, Jack rolled over, separating from Corbin reluctantly. His eyes took in the angry red bite marks on Corbin's tanned skin as Corbin settled against Jack's side with a murmur of contentment. His own shoulder was sore from Corbin's sharp teeth. After a moment, he couldn't stand it any longer and reached for his wand.
"What're you doing?" Corbin asked languidly, his arms pulling Jack back towards him.
"I'm going to heal-"
"They're fine."
"Really?" Jack asked skeptically, feeling horrible for hurting Corbin. "Are you sure?"
"Mmm." Corbin nuzzled happily against Jack's neck.
"I've never-"
"Never?" Corbin jolted up and stared at Jack. Jack could see fear swirling in the blue eyes. He'd been about to say he'd never been so rough with someone before and wanted to confirm Corbin had enjoyed it. He'd seemed to, but Jack liked to made sure. He opened his mouth to reassure Corbin but the other man was already trying to untangle himself from the twisted blankets. Jack tackled Corbin before he could leave the bed.
"Calm down." Jack tried to hold the flailing limbs still, he was more solidly built but Corbin was strong.
"You think I'm a freak now, and -"
"No! I don't." Jack said firmly.
"Let me up." Corbin struggled. "Let go!"
"I'm not letting you go. Corbin, I love you. We just made love for the first–"
"You fucked me, it doesn't mean anything." Corbin ground out angrily, still trying to shove Jack away.
"Damn it, it does mean something! It means a lot to me. You still think because you're a bit kinky, " Corbin flinched as if he'd been slapped, "that I'm going to hate you?" Jack tightened his arms around Corbin. "You must have noticed I enjoyed myself."
Corbin was silent and Jack could feel the coiled tension in his body.
"We did make love, whatever else you might want to call it." Jack kissed Corbin gently. "I told you I would never hate you. Please trust me. I've never lied to you. I love you." Jack said emphatically.
Corbin didn't answer.
"I am going to marry you and spend every night in this bed with you. We need to be honest about what we want. I'll tell you what I like and you tell me what you like. What do you like?"
Corbin shrugged. Jack rolled over cautiously, hoping that Corbin wouldn't bolt out of the room. Corbin immediately sat up and drew his knees to his chest, looking younger than his thirty-three years. Jack sat up too, moving slowly to sit next to Corbin.
"You don't have to tell me tonight. But I'm not going anywhere. You're stuck with me, so you'll have to tell me eventually."
"I." Corbin started and stopped abruptly.
"Yes?" Jack asked as the silence lengthened.
"Wait here." Corbin started to get out of the bed. "I'll be right back."
Corbin left the room and Jack heard him walk down the hall towards the library. He was back a moment later and climbed into the bed. He handed Jack a rolled up scroll. "What's this?"
Corbin was blushing furiously. "You'll see."
Jack unrolled the scroll. It was filled with slanting handwriting. Jack didn't recognize the writing.
"What's this?"
"It's a list of stuff that I'm supposed to tell you. Stevens wrote it up."
"How'd he get the information?"
"He asked me."
"Really? So, if this hadn't been written up, would you have told me?"
"Probably not tonight. Well, maybe some. He put Veritaserum in my drink a few weeks ago." Corbin mumbled. "Said it was for a good cause."
"I thought about doing that. How'd he get it?"
"Malfoy can make it….illegally." Corbin said. "Stevens took some too so I finally found out what happened with Elspeth…remember when he was dating her and he would never say why they broke up?"
"Yes." Jack said vaguely, he was looking down at the scroll. It was a detailed summary of Corbin's likes and dislikes with different positions, body parts and accompanying facts written neatly on it. "What was the reason?"
"She wanted to use polyjuice to be Malfoy and have sex with him. Stevens thought it'd be too weird so she dumped him."
"I agree." Jack said, as he reached over and brushed the inside of Corbin's thigh and felt the shudder the scroll stated would happen. "So you like to be dominated?" Jack asked softly. Corbin looked over at Jack and then down at the scroll. He nodded slowly. "Tied or held down, then taken roughly?" Jack read aloud, feeling arousal start to swirl inside at the idea of being given so much trust.
A slight nod and a considerable blush answered him.
"I've never dated a Ravenclaw before. Is this sort of thing standard?"
"Um…well, at school everyone had a list of what they liked. And there are all sorts of books in the library at Hogwarts about sex. They're not in the Restricted Section, it's just that you have to ask Madam Pince for them so not a lot of people want to do that. But they had all sorts of information and moving pictures and diagrams with numbered instructions. And – what?"
"Nothing." Jack smiled. "You're just so cute when you get excited about books."
"I am no-oh." Corbin's eyes closed as Jack stroked down his spine. He counted four ribs up and found one of Corbin's five ticklish spots. Corbin squirmed as he laughed, trying to bat Jack's hand away.
"I like this guide. I'll have to thank Stevens the next time I see him." Jack stopped tickling and kissed Corbin's cheek.
"Stevens said it would facilitate communication about our sex life because you could tell me what you like in comparison."
"Absolutely." Jack agreed. "Is there anything else I should know…anything not written here?"
Corbin hesitated. "I used to go to The Manticore. That man we saw on Diagon Alley, that's where I knew him from."
"Oh." Jack desperately wished he could think of something else to say. The Manticore was a sex club on Knockturn Alley that he had heard of, but never been to. One of Jack's boyfriend's had gone there and had told Jack about it. The rooms manifested your deepest sexual desires. The only protective wards were to keep people from dying, not from getting hurt because some people liked to be hurt. Names and identities were left outside. Nothing existed there except pleasure and pain and flesh. And Corbin had gone there, Jack hoped he didn't look too shocked.
"And…I don't know how many men I've had sex with. I mean...some of them would seem familiar, but I don't know..." Corbin trailed off.
"I'm glad you told me." Jack bumped Corbin's cheek with his nose before pressing a kiss to his cheek. "And look, I'm still naked and in bed with you."
"Yeah."
"Which means?"
"You're slow to react?"
"Funny." Jack pulled Corbin close. "Do I love you?"
"Yes."
Jack read more of the scroll, then set it down on the bedside table.
"Lie back." Jack ordered and Corbin immediately complied. Jack laid on his side, propping his head on his hand so he could watch Corbin's face. He slid his other hand across Corbin's chest to play with the nipple ring. "I'll spend this weekend memorizing all that information." He smiled as Corbin blushed. "So…You can come from ear licking alone?"
"I was sixteen."
"It happened again when you were 24." He tugged on the ring, drawing out a sharp gasp from Corbin.
"I was drunk."
"Mmm." Jack lowered his head to nip Corbin's earlobe. "I already know your ears are sensitive, I think we should see if it can happen at 33." Corbin's body jerked and his hand clenched on Jack's thigh. Shifting to make sure only his tongue and a hand (to hold Corbin's head in place) were touching Corbin, Jack swirled his tongue around the shell of Corbin's ear and…approximately seven minutes later, Jack was making a note on the scroll.
"'Ear licking still effective way to get subject to orgasm.'" Jack spoke aloud as he wrote in the margin. "Starting tomorrow, I'll work my way through the rest of the guide. We'll have to get more lube because apparently fisting requires a lot of it."
He looked up to find Corbin staring at him with wide-eyes and flushed cheeks.
"What? Do you want to try something else first? I thought…that's one of your favorites, so I need to learn how to do it well and I might as well get started as soon as possible."
Corbin nodded, swallowing hard. "It's just," Corbin lowered his gaze. It took a few moments before he spoke again. "You're taking this all rather well."
"That's the same thing I hope to say to you tomorrow night." Jack leered, reaching over to tweak Corbin's nipple.
"Jack!" Corbin exclaimed and Jack couldn't keep from laughing. "You're really not upset? I was terrified you'd hate me when you read all that."
Jack gathered Corbin into his arms. "I love you."
Corbin tilted his head back to look at Jack. "I love you too." Corbin kissed him.
"Oh! I almost forgot." Jack sat up quickly and grabbed his wand.
"What?"
"I made dinner."
"You made dinner?"
"I'll ignore that shocked expression. Because I'll have you know I did a wonderful job."
"Oh. Of course." Corbin nodded quickly.
Jack waved his wand and summoned the basket. He set it down on the bed and opened it.
"You really made this?" Corbin reached in, pulling out several dishes.
"Yes. The muggle way, too, " he added proudly.
"All by yourself?"
"I am appalled by the lack of confidence in my cooking ability."
"You still have trouble remembering how to turn on the stove."
"I had supervision." Jack admitted reluctantly.
"A-ha!" Corbin said triumphantly.
"But I did it all myself. All the chopping and mixing and everything."
Corbin took a bite. "Wow."
"Good?"
"Yeah." Corbin pulled more dishes out of the basket. Jack thought he would burst with pride at how well everything had turned out. Corbin reached over and kissed Jack. "It's really good. I'm sorry I doubted you."
"Never doubt me." Jack pulled Corbin in for another kiss.
"I won't ever again." Corbin answered solemnly, caressing Jack's knee with a slender hand.
"Good." Jack grinned, kissing Corbin again. "I was thinking a small wedding. We can have it here. Next Spring? Or would you like it in the Fall better?"
"Spring." Corbin said, around a bite of food. "Can we have it one year from today? I don't think I can remember another anniversary."
"That's a wonderful idea." Jack grinned. "I'd like to have it outside. I'll have to start planning. I'll do the guest list and you can approve it. I'll take care of everything. Maybe Remus or Clara will help. They did a great job for Moody's wedding. I remember you weren't really into the wedding planning when you and Janna got married and that's okay, I'll handle it all. And we need to name the house."
"What?"
"Houses are cozier when they have names."
"Whatever you say." Corbin reached for the bowl of chocolate mousse.
"So?" Jack asked. "What do you think should we name the house?"
"I don't care." Corbin said, dipping a finger in the mousse and licking it off.
"Do you really not care? Or are you just saying you don't care?"
"I really don't care." Corbin was looking at his chest thoughtfully. Jack didn't have time to answer as a cool swath of chocolate mousse covered his breastbone for a moment before Corbin's tongue followed.