Chapter: 13/?
Author's Note for this chapter: Draco gives in – finally! Well...sort of.

- - -

Chapter 13


Draco awoke slowly, snuggling into the warm body behind him. He moaned softly when he felt an answering hardness pressing into his cleft.

"Mmm...Harry." he whispered, still on that plateau between waking and sleeping.

"You keep wiggling like that and I won't be held accountable for what happens next." a husky voice whispered into his ear. Draco froze in shock, not daring to hope, believe that Harry was there with him.

"Harry?" he asked, his voice shaking.

"That's me, last I checked." There was a rumble against his back as Harry chuckled. Draco rolled over so quickly, he almost didn't notice he was no longer on top of the bed covers, but underneath them. He threw himself at the man beside him, who grunted in slight pain as his still mending ribs were touched.

"Oh, Goddess! You're alive!" Draco whispered.

"I told you that you can't get rid of me that easily." Harry smiled as Draco eased back from him, wincing noticeably as the pressure eased up on his ribs.

"Oh!" Draco exclaimed, "I'm sorry."

"Only hurts when I sneeze." Harry joked. Draco flopped onto his back.

"Please don't joke, Harry. You almost died." he pleaded. Harry leaned over him, brushing the hair off of Draco's forehead.

"I'm sorry. My mouth has a tendency to say stupid things when I'm nervous."

"You nervous? Now you are joking." Draco scoffed. Harry's face grew serious as he stared down at Draco.

"When it comes to you, I'm nervous as all hell." he admitted softly. Draco's heart began to pound so hard, he could feel it against his ribcage.

"Why?" he whispered.

"Because for the first time in my life, there's something that I want for myself and I don't know if I'm worthy of it."

Draco stared at him for the longest moment.

"Of course you're worthy. Why would you think something like that?" Draco asked.

"Because most of my life, I've had people around me practically hand me things, not because they think I'm worthy of them, but because of who I am. This is only the second time in my life that I've wanted something this badly."

Draco reached up to wrap a hand around the back of Harry's neck, stroking the skin beneath his hairline. Harry closed his eyes and repressed a moan.

"What was the first?" he wondered.

"The day my parents allowed me to go to the Flight Academy instead of taking up duties in the Royal Palace." Harry answered.

"Your parents work for the King?"

"Mmm." Harry answered, kicking himself for revealing that much. He opened his eyes and gazed down at Draco. If there was a moment, now was it.

"What?" Draco asked, seeing the look in his eyes.

"I want to kiss you." Harry stated. Draco felt his heart stop for a slight moment before speeding back up, threating to beat itself out through his chest. He couldn't answer him, choosing instead to pull at the back of Harry's head until Harry's lips were inches from his own. He was therefore surprised that instead of taking what was offered, Harry ghosted his lips across Draco's. Draco felt the little puffs of air against his face as Harry's breathing escalated with his own. Harry's cheek, lightly covered with stubble, rasped across his lips and Draco moaned, his eyes slipping closed. A wetness against his lips startled him and his eyes snapped open in time to see Harry's tongue retreat back into his mouth.

"Harry." Draco whispered, almost begging."

"Do you want me, Draco?" Harry asked, lips pressed against his cheek in a light caress.

"Harry, what ar-"

"Do you want me, Draco?" Harry repeated, much more forcefully, arching into the body below him.

"Yes!" Draco gasped as the feel of Harry's erection against his own sent his senses spiraling out of control.

"Do you want me enough that you would give me yourself even though you are betrothed to someone else?" Draco's whole body froze as if he had been doused in ice water. How could he have forgotten? Did he even care?

"Harry, please don't ask that of me." Draco whispered.

"I love you, Draco." Harry whispered, stunning the blond Prince even more, just before Harry claimed his lips in a blaze of passion. Draco moaned and wrapped his arms and legs around the man above him, giving his all to the kiss that curled his toes and made him see stars. When Harry drew away from him and left the bed, Draco was a pile of mush. Harry stared down at him, love and regret shining in his eyes.

"I love you, Draco." Harry repeated, grabbing some clothes and quickly leaving the room. Draco was stunned to feel tears gathering in the corner of his eyes.

"Damn you, Father!" Draco whispered, curling around the pillow beside him, inhaling Harry's smell. "Damn you to hell!" And for the first time he could remember, Draco cried.

- - -

It was a throughly miserable Prince who wandered into breakfast a few hours later. Remus saw the red, puffy eyes and wisely kept his silence. Draco sat beside him, giving him a wan smile. Remus patted his arm and served him some food. Harry popped into the room a few minutes later, looking worse than Draco and Remus wondered what had happened between the two. Aware of the tension between the two, no one said anything and breakfast was a silent and strained affair.

When Harry got up to leave, Remus stood as well.

"Could I have a word, Captain Evans?" Harry paused in the door, looking directly at Draco.

"I've got work to do." Harry replied. He gave Draco one last look and left the room. Draco felt like banging his head against the table. Remus looked at him, knowing exactly what he was thinking.

"Remus, next time I see my father, remind me to kill him."

"I don't think your mother would appreciate it, but all right." Remus chuckled, sitting down next to him. "What happened, Draco."

"He said he loved me." Draco sighed.

"That's wonderful! So why do you both look like your pet Kneazle died?"

"He reminded me of my 'obligations'."

"Ah. That would put a damper on things."

"What am I supposed to do, Remus? I feel like I'm going to lose, either way I choose."

"You're asking the wrong person."

"You're supposed to be my advisor. Advise me!"

"The only advice I can give you is to follow your heart."

"I did and look where it got me!" Draco shouted. Remus placed a calming hand on his shoulder.

"Draco, this is something that only you can work out."

"Thanks, Remus. You've been so very helpful." Draco snorted.

"That's why your father pays me so well." Remus laughed.

- - -

"Want to talk about it?" came a voice from behind him.

"No." Harry replied.

"I think you should."

"Fuck off, Ron. I don't need advice from you of all people."

"And what the hell is that supposed to mean?" Ron scowled, grabbing Harry around to face him. Harry sighed and sat down on the crate he had been inventorying.

"I'm sorry, Ron. I didn't mean to snap at you."

"What's wrong, Your Highness?" Ron asked, sitting beside him.

"Uh oh. This must be my advisor speaking to me and not my best mate." Harry chuckled.

"I'm speaking as your advisor and best mate. You should tell him the truth."

"About what?" Harry asked, already knowing the answer.

"Who you are. The longer you keep this from him, the more dangerous it is going to be."

"What if he hates me afterwards."

"Then you get over it and move on, but there would be no more lies between you." Ron's blue eyes stared at him hard.

"I hate it when you're right. You're worse than Hermione when she gloats."

"Ah, but there's the difference. She gloats where you can't see her. I'll do it in your face." Ron grinned. That got a laugh out of Harry as he clapped his best friend's shoulder. He got to his feet and headed for the door of the cargo bay.

"Where are you going?" Ron called out.

"To snag me a snake!" Harry called back, laughing. Ron only shook his head and chuckled.

- - -

Draco was sitting on his bed when there was a knock on his door.

"Enter." he called out. The door slid open to reveal Harry and Draco jumped to his feet. "What do you want?"

"To talk." Harry stepped into the room and the door closed.

"I think you did enough talking already." Draco scowled.

"Please, Draco." Harry begged. That made Draco pause.

"I'm listening."

"There are so many things I've been meaning to tell you, and I was scared to because I only wanted you to like me for me and not because of something else."

"You're not making any sense at the moment." Draco told him, trying to wrap his mind around those confusing words.

Harry started to pace the room, running his hands through his perpetually messy hair, "To start with...I lied to you about something, something about me."

There was a pregnant pause.

"And what might that be?" Draco asked, all kinds of scenarios running through his mind.

"Well...uh..."

"RED ALERT!! All crew to the bridge, Emergency Level is Red! I repeat, all crew to the bridge, Emergency Level is Red!" Blaise's voice shouted over the intercom a moment before the ship shuddered.

"Dammit! What now!" Harry groused, turning and darting out the door, Draco hot on his heels. He really wanted to know what Harry was going to tell him...



TBC...

Whew!