A/N: Many thanks to the lovely and multi-talented blpaintchartfor the quick beta and brit pick!!
Remus had shed his shirt hours before, allowing the sweat to roll freely down his tan, lightly freckled back. He'd been at this for more than a week, and the garden beds were finally beginning to resemble just that, garden beds. Of course, he could have used magic or even hired a Muggle machine to turn it all under, but there were many saleable plants hidden amongst the weeds. He pushed himself up from the ground, taking a rake with him and leaning on it as he surveyed his progress.
The second war had been over for a year, however, werewolf employment laws had been slow to change. He bought this cottage with money from Sirius and the Ministry; apparently there was something to be said for being a war hero. Remus considered hero an exaggeration, the real hero besides Harry had been Severus, Severus who was now lost to him forever. Remus gave himself a shake, he didn't have time for the 'what might have beens', he needed to plant his warm weather vegetables and get his asparagus and strawberry plants in the ground along with some raspberry canes that would all start producing next year.
Gingerly, he knelt back into the tangle of weeds in yet another bed. His strong, work-worn hands twined in a mass of vines, he'd been so involved that he hadn't even heard the man approach. Severus stood ten feet from him. Ten feet. Remus was immediately upright on his knees, gripping the weeds for support.
Remus opened his mouth and nothing came out. Severus raised a finger to his lips, in the age-old gesture of silence. Remus didn't hear the whispered spell, but felt it. Severus had slipped into his mind, and he was powerless and completely unwilling to stop him. Remus thought he heard a plaintive ‘why’, but it floated away as Severus touched a couple of memories in the way a butterfly lands on a flower. It was difficult to remain still, to not attempt to discover what Severus was looking at or for. After what seemed like an eternity Severus stopped moving about.
He heard it quite clearly ‘you did not’; Remus didn’t have to think, the question had been answered. Remus had his own questions, but it just seemed to distract Severus but not deter him. At last Severus settled in one place and revealed it to Remus. Remus wanted to close his eyes to and be lost in the memory that the vision was touching, but he feared losing the connection with Severus’ very vivid apparition.
Remus' lips tingled as he felt the brush of lips against his own; however, no one was touching him. He knew what came next because he knew this memory so well, his head was pulled back and his throat exposed to a long lick. Strangely, Severus was a licker, and the wolf loved every second of it, reveling in the primal sensation.
Invisible fingers plucked at Remus’ nipples, and he gasped as the proxy fingers ran down his chest. His breathing quickened as the hands dipped lower; when they reached his belly he thrust his hips forward. He ached for Severus’ touch and what came next. The traveling fingers closed around his cock, and he thrust into them. Remus was having a difficult time maintaining his balance and his eyes threatened to close. The sight of Severus working the bulge in the front of his trousers was more than enough of a show to keep Remus’ eyes open and glued to Severus.
Remus tried to stop thinking and just feel, but it was his mind was really feeling not his body. It was so convoluted and esoteric. He didn’t need any two-galleon words to let him know he was going to come in his pants like a teenager. Remus bit his lower lip, as the sensations built. Severus had always been a master of hand jobs, blowjobs, and all types of sex for that matter. His brilliant, passionate brain set Remus on fire, of course, it didn’t hurt that the man had an arse to die for. Remus’ brain was dragged back to the present. Severus threw his head back and groaned, Remus echoed the sound as he cock pulsed and spilled in his pants.
Remus, finally, let go of his handful of weeds and said softly “Severus?”
Severus remained silent, but nodded.
Remus let loose a low growl and launched himself at Severus. They landed in a heap with Remus on top, Severus’ hands above his head and their hips pressed tightly together despite their sodden trousers.
Remus didn’t know which words would tumble out first. “Thank, Merlin!…How did you?…..Where have you?.. Are you?…”Remus babbled and Severus raised one eyebrow.
The stream of babbling stopped.
“What do you really want to know?”
Severus voice was achingly familiar, but slightly rough. Remus wondered if it was due to injury or emotion. What did he want to know? He asked the most important question he could think of.
“Are you all right?”
Severus nodded. Remus stared down at the man. Apparently, he should ask another question, this time a very significant, terrifying question.
Remus took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Will you be staying?” He waited for an answer as Severus’ eyes searched his.
“Do you have enough room?” Severus asked the question, obviously layered with meanings.
Remus could hear all the questions, enough room in your home, in your life and in your heart?
It was Remus’ turn to nod solemnly before letting a mischievous smile escape him. “I have to warn you I still shed.”
“I am afraid I shed as well.” Severus said gravely.
Remus released Severus’ hands and threaded his fingers through the tangle of long dark locks amongst the weeds. He bent down slowly to kiss Severus. They only things they would shed right now were their clothes.