The Space Between Failing and Falling • Snarry •

Chapter 13: Craving and Consolidation

Staring at a tiny mole on Harry's cheek, he unclenches his jaw in preparation for an answer he doesn't have.

"Don't tell me it's 'cos you're forty. I'll be so pissed off if you say that."

"First of all, I'm forty-one—"

"That's not an answer."

"Secondly..." Severus lifts his hips and admires the answering heat in Harry's gaze. "I do, very much, desire you." He runs his thumbs over Harry's eyebrows, and whilst he is thinking of what to disclose next—

"Has it got anything to do with my mum? Or dad?"

"For God's sake, no. Do not mention your parents whilst we are in bed, I forbid it." Running his fingers through messy black hair, he can't put it off any longer. "Harry." He could tell he had the man's full attention. "I am...old-fashioned. I always imagined that if I ever met my soulmate, I would love them," Harry's eyes are wide, "marry them, then cherish them." Severus swallows. "So, you see... I would prefer to...I have been waiting for so long—"

"Oh." Harry's eyes widen even more. "All right."

Severus stares. "Is that all you have to say?"

"Er. Would you like me to say more?" Severus moves to sit next to him. "I suppose I'm famous, so it's quite a lot to put up with. And I've had a lot longer to get used to it than you, whilst you were doing your complete denial thing." It's absurd that Harry believes this will be some kind of obstacle between them. "And there's Teddy, of course," Harry adds.

"I am nothing if not adaptable, Mr Potter." He pulls Harry's back against his chest. "How much do you know about soulmate bonding?"

"It can't be broken, it's forever. Um, it has to be consummated. And it's illegal to force soulmates apart. Should we, er, get married then?" Harry twists round, and his fingers explore the planes of Severus's chest through his robes. It is so unfair for Harry to be landed with someone like him. "I want to see you. So much—"

Severus grinds his teeth together. "I assume you want to see what you're getting, before you commit." He gets up and pulls off his robe in one movement, erection forgotten. "This is not to be trifled with." He grasps Harry by the chin, who looks at him with defiance blazing in his eyes, kneeling before him on the mattress. "I can scarcely take my eyes off you as it is. You will not know the meaning of the word 'possessive' until you are mine and I am yours."

He doesn't know what has made him so ruffled—perhaps it is Harry, simply not caring that his soulmate is ugly, scarred, skinny—

Harry's lips find his chest, gentle hands stroke across his biceps, and it is pure shock when Harry rests his ear to Severus's heart.

This is the first time anyone has touched him like this.

"Forever is a long time," Severus adds.

Harry slides down to nuzzle his face into Severus's stomach. "I died. Normal rules don't apply to me," Harry says, fingers stroking Severus's sides. "There's nothing you can do or say to persuade me. And I know when you're a dick, it's all an act, I see right through you."

Harry discovers a ticklish spot under an arm, so Severus has to wriggle away. "Don't you dare," Severus says.

"You're funny," Harry says. "I'd like to keep you."

"There is no bigger commitment," Severus warns. "Whilst we may be compatible on many fronts, it won't be easy. I am not easy."

"Okay. I'm sure we'll manage."

"It's not a good idea. You should marry Nina," Severus suggests, though everything inside him screams 'NO'.

"Don't want Nina. Want you."

"You are mad—"

"Quite mad," Harry agrees, teeth dragging over Severus's nipple, eyes darkening. "You make me that way."

Harry tugs him onto the mattress so they lie facing each other, and Harry pulls a thigh between his legs. Now that their legs are skin to skin, it's electrifying, staggering. He cradles Harry's face against his heart and draws Harry's knuckles against his lips and lets out a sigh. He drops his forehead to rest against Harry's.

"I have ascertained that you are not in fact a dream," Severus mutters.

"If I am, I'm a good one, right?" Harry says.

It's ridiculous that he can read uncertainty on Harry's face. "Silly man. You are a wet dream on legs."

Severus's cock completely agrees, especially since their limbs are tangled together, and it shouldn't come as a surprise that Harry is so responsive to deep kisses, fingers pressing on his spine, a grip on his thigh, as responsive as Severus himself is. It's another way in which they were made for each other.

Just as it seems that neither can stop kissing the other, Severus locates some self-control, and tears away, panting. "We ought to think about...us...another time, when we are not scantily clad, and when I am not thinking with my cock."

It is too perfect to be real, last, or be his.

"So you want me then?" Harry asks.

"God, yes," he growls, "very much."

Before he can come, simply by friction, he gets up and dresses. Once he's ready and shielded from temptation, he rubs a hand over his face, and stares at Harry for a while, contemplating his next move. "Remove your underwear," he commands.

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