Lucius was watching him. He was not sure he liked that. He felt like he was being eyed up like meat. If he wanted money for his bruised goods he knew where Ron was. He would not get much from Ron though. He would likely get some satisfaction from it. He had never liked the Weasleys. Maybe he would sue the family. Harry could only imagine the press then. Lord Malfoy sues Weasley clan for vandalism of property.
Lucius watched him for a moment. "If he touches you again I want you to tell someone. He is not to get away with hurting you."
Harry tried to draw away from him. "Fine. I will tell you next time so you can examine your bruised goods. Now can I go to bed or what?"
He moved to go past his husband but Lucius stopped him. He was quite gentle and made sure to take Harry by his uninjured arm. He directed Harry to the couch. Harry did not have the energy to protest. It had been too long of a day. The quidditch game and the party had been amazing. Taking to Severus had been tiring. He was not in the mood for another talk. But he assumed the sooner he let his husband have his little I am master lecture, the sooner he could go to bed.
Lucius sat down. "Harry you are my husband, not a possession. And I am worried. Do you really think I like seeing you in pain like that?"
Harry was a bit surprised. "Physical maybe not. But you don't seem to care about my emotional. But I forget I am a mindless little animal to you."
Lucius cut him off. He needed Harry to understand. He was trying. He didn't know what was expected. He had watched his parents' marriage. He had watched most old blood marriages. There were a few exceptions. Carlos and Maria were genuinely in love and had a true partnership. Blaise's mom was a healer. Lucius was taught this. He was taught what was expected of his spouse. They were to be hostess and mother, or host and carrier in this case. Their husbands were their lives. Narcissa had known her place. Well that and Death Eater. He was waiting on a baby. Harry could have a career. He was in school. He didn't understand what he was doing wrong.
Lucius took his hand. "I am trying here. I am trying. I am trying to make you more comfortable with me. To give you some freedom. Why can't you see that?"
Harry tried to take his hand back. "You just want to rape me. Just like my Uncle. You don't care. You don't care any more then he did. You don't care I am....."
Scared Lucius finished for him in his head. He was scared. Harry would never in a hundred years admit it. Especially not to him. But he saw it in Harry's eyes. He was trying to be gentle. He was not forcing Harry. Harry was getting another six months. Narcissa had been presented to his bed on their wedding night. Harry had not. He thought Harry would not see him as such a monster and would not be so uncomfortable with the prospect if he waited. Narcissa had hated Draco and tried to kill him before and after she gave birth. Lucius had agreed to wait on the baby because he was hoping this time around for a happy pregnancy and a loved baby by both.
He knew what Harry had suffered. Not because Harry had told him. George had to tell him. George had told him of how Harry had lost his virginity. He had told him of the abuse. He could understand the fear in Harry. He needed Harry to know that.
Lucius sighed. "Harry I know what you have suffered. And I don't want to be associated with your Uncle. I am trying here. I know I screw up. But I am trying."
Harry left his hand in place. "You don't get it. You don't. Do you know what if feels like being groped by you? With all of your constant talk about sex as well."
How to make the man see what he was doing? He could barely sleep many nights. He hated the feel of the man's hand on his cock. Or waking up every morning to his teeth sinking into the back of his neck in some kind of a possessive kiss. His husband joining him for every bath and shower, touching him and washing him. As much as the thought of sex scared and sickened him, he almost wished it would just happen now. He didn't think it could ever become easier for him to handle. He did not love Lucius. And as kind as the man was pretending to be right now, Lucius could never love him as anything more then something to possess and control.
Lucius took his other hand. "I do care. I am trying to make this right for you. I will not rape you."
Harry shook his head. "You are going to make me have sex on our proper honeymoon as you call it. I don't want it. I don't want to be touched by you."
Lucius sighed. He wanted to take Harry. He would have taken him to bed right now. He cared about Harry a lot. But he was also very attracted to him. His body responded every time Harry was close to him. It took every ounce of restraint in him not to fuck his husband. It was his right. But he had sworn that he wouldn't. He tried to e a man of his word. And Severus was right. If things were ever to get better with Harry he had to keep to his word. No matter how hard it was for him. He reminded himself the six months were half over already but he had made little ground with his beautiful husband.
Lucius traced Harry's rings. "We will be going on our trip. And I am going to do everything I can before then to convince you to join me in bed of your own will."
Harry tried to hide a laugh. "And if you don't succeed? For I doubt you will."
Lucius kissed him. "If you give me a chance to show I care and you still don't, we will not have sex on our honeymoon. We will wait a bit longer."
Harry was going to say something back. He was sure the man was not telling the truth. But his words were cut off. For the first time he looked up at his husband. He looked straight into his eyes. He could see the concern and truth in the man's eyes that he had not seen before. He could never see him even caring about Lucius but the man did seem genuinely convinced he cared enough about Harry to prove that he cared about his husband.
Lucius knew he needed to do this. But Harry had to work with him. Harry had to do his part as well. Harry needed to give him a chance. The arm thing bothered him. Harry had been willing to go to Severus and not to him. He would not win with his husband if Harry did not give him half a chance.
He explained. "I will not fondle you in bed any more. And I will try to be less controlling. But you need to try. I don't see you as a possession. I am trying here."
Harry shook his head. "Fine. I will give this a chance. I don't think you have any chance in hell but I will. But if I am not a possession, I am also not your prisoner."
Lucius knew that Harry was talking about his friendship with Blaise. Lucius knew that Harry my have a point. He had demanded his husband be a snake. And had wanted him to make friends. Harry was on the quidditch team. And he had made other friends. He was becoming closer to Draco. But he assumed that he could not continue to tell his husband who he could be friends with. It would push Harry closer to Blaise if anything. He assured Harry there were no limits on how often he could or long in Slytherin. He did not want Harry to think he did not trust him.
Harry was relieved to hear that and he added. "You know I'm not flirting. I might not want to be married to you but I am not one to cheat on my vows either."
Lucius heard the honesty in Harry's voice. "I will try and trust you. Like I said you can spend more time in Slytherin. But could you stop hanging all over him?"
Harry would not call it that but he agreed. Lucius assumed he had been a bit harsh. Narcissa had cheated on him from day one. And in his bed at times. He was used to believing his spouse would cheat on him given the chance. As he took Harry to bed he promised himself to see Harry would not cheat on him as she had. He knew Harry was too pure for that. He kept his word and while Harry lay in him in a spooning position but his hand remained on his husband's hip and not his cock.