A little spoiling, a little talk
Characters: Severus, Remus Summary: Remus plans a surprise for Severus, then Severus gives him an even bigger one
Humming softly under his breath, Remus made his way downstairs, carrying a basket full of fresh rose petals and several small folded pieces of parchment. He entered the parlor and crossed to the fireplace, where he proceeded to scatter thick handfuls over the rug, making a trail back to the doorway. Then he placed the first of the pieces of parchment on the trail, two paces off the hearthstone where Severus couldn't fail to see it.
Giving a nod of satisfaction, he made his way into the corridor, where he proceeded to scatter a soft, fragrant trail toward the staircase. Here he placed another piece of the parchment before heading up the stairs, repeating the exercise and leaving another folded paper at the top. As he made his way toward the master suite, he used the last of the petals, and the final note was left just outside the door.
He'd already prepared the bedroom with dozens of candles placed on every surface casting a soft, warm glow over the room. He'd placed silk satin sheets of Slytherin green on the bed and left the coverlet pulled back invitingly, even though things might progress quickly enough that they didn't get the chance to use them until quite a bit later. It was all good, though, and he smiled as he removed his robe, hanging it in the wardrobe before heading naked into the en suite, and then through the door into the special room that held Severus' bathing pool.
More candles lit this room as well, floating weightlessly around the edge of the water. Rose petals in abundance floated on the surface, scenting the air with their delicate perfume. Remus didn't get in the water, however; instead he made his way to the back of the room, where soft long cushion was laid out on the tiles, a warming charm taking any chill off the area. Close at hand were large, fluffy towels, several bottles of different Alchemy & Ecstasy products, two glasses and a bottle of champagne chilling in a silver bucket. There was also a tray where a variety of fruit was temptingly arrayed, along with cubes of cheese, diced vegetables and large, pink shrimp resting on a bed of ice.
Sinking to his knees beside the mat, Remus removed the tie from his hair and let it float around his shoulders, before bowing his head submissively and waiting for Severus to arrive.
Severus arrived home in a mellow frame of mind, pleased with how the day had gone. The renovations at the shop were going well, and working with both of his brothers was pleasant, even if one of them had been mostly absent of late. But for all of that, he was still ready to return to his family and enjoy a quiet evening at home. Well, as quiet as their house could ever be, at any rate.
He dusted off his robes once he stepped out of the fireplace, and he glanced around, surprised to find the parlor empty and quiet. The whole house was quiet, he noted, and he wondered if he ought to be worried yet. Then he noticed the rose petals on the floor and a piece of folded parchment a short distance away.
He moved away from the hearth and bent to pick up the note, unfolding it and reading it swiftly: Bare thy feet, for ones as delicate as thine should only trod upon sweet clouds and scented petals. He let out a snort and rolled his eyes. That explained why all was quiet and still! Remus must have arranged for an evening alone, and he had obviously decided to go all out for the occasion.
It was soppy nonsense, of course, and just the sort of sentimental mush Severus expected from Remus, but it wouldn't do to disappoint him after such careful planning, and so Severus stripped off his shoes and socks and left them by the sofa.
The trail of petals led him to the staircase, where another note awaited. He picked it up and opened it, wondering what Remus would instruct him to do next.
Remove thy shirt, for we are alone, and ascend to where heaven awaits.
Smirking, Severus pocketed the note and unbuttoned his jacket and shirt, leaving both hanging over the banister at the foot of the steps. He'd been right: they had the house to themselves, a rare and precious event these days. He followed the trail of petals to the top of the stairs, and he wasn't surprised to find another note there.
Unbind thy hair, the better that I may run my fingers through it to give you delight.
Those instructions elicited another snort, but he didn't hesitate to remove the hair tie holding his long ponytail in place, and he shook his head, letting his hair fall in a dark, glossy curtain around his shoulders. If Remus wanted to play with his hair, Severus certainly wasn't going to refuse him.
Unsurprisingly, the trail continued to their bedroom, where a note awaited outside their door: Enter here wearing only thy affection for me, and follow to where I await to give you all the joy and pleasure you deserve.
"Voyeuristic wolf," he murmured, even as he began stripped off the rest of his clothes as instructed. His heart was already beating faster in anticipation of whatever awaited him beyond the bedroom door, and he opened the door quickly, glancing around for any sign of Remus. All he saw, however, was an empty room, although their bed made with green silk sheets certainly looked inviting. But he obviously wasn't meant to tarry here, which meant there was only one place Remus could be.
Severus made his way to the bathing pool room, and he stopped in the doorway, taking in the sight of the candles, the petals on the water, the food - and Remus, kneeling on the other side of the room, waiting for him.
"I have come as instructed," he said, his voice already growing husky with desire. "What should I do now to get all that joy and pleasure you mentioned?"
Remus lifted his head at the sound of Severus' voice, his golden eyes alight with arousal as his gaze traveled up Severus' body, lingering on Severus' long legs, then moving upward appreciatively until he looked directly into Severus' eyes across the length of the room. "Come to me, and let me touch you and worship your body as it deserves." His own voice was deep with need.
Remus' words and the tone of his voice made Severus' toes curl, and he didn't waste any time hurrying over to where Remus knelt. "Gladly," he murmured as he knelt beside Remus on the cushion. Cupping Remus' cheek in his palm, he leaned close and brushed a light but lingering kiss against Remus' lips. "This is a pleasant surprise. What inspired you?"
A soft moan escaped Remus as Severus kissed him, and he leaned his face into Severus' touch, closing his eyes and breathing deeply of Severus' scent. When he opened them again, he smiled. "You inspire me, as always. Gaius provided the opportunity, however; he showed up and said that he 'owed you' for some reason or other and proceeded to take our cherubs off for a sleepover at the cottage. As I am an opportunistic sort of fellow, I gave Stella and Lurch the night off, tossed Winslow into the kitchen with a big bone, and proceeded to make arrangements to spoil you as you deserve. It's a special day, after all... the anniversary of the day I decided to woo you and make you mine, regardless of your thoughts on the matter."
"Is it really?" Severus raised one eyebrow, surprised that Remus remembered; he was also amused, given the subject of how Remus had pursued him had come up recently. "Then we do have cause for celebration, it seems." He leaned in again and nuzzled his cheek against Remus'. "Gaius owes me for disrupting lunch. I will have to let him know his debt is paid." He paused, a faint smile curving his lips. "Gaius asked how you won me over recently. I told him you persisted in chasing me until I finally stopped minding. I suppose at this point, I've grown used to you, so I will have to keep you."
"I'm glad you're going to keep me, because without you, I'd die," Remus replied, returning the nuzzling. He hummed happily, lifting his hands to caress them through the long, silken tendrils of Severus' hair, the warmth and nearness of his mate making his desire flare higher. "And I'm glad I found the confidence at last to be persistent, even in the face of Snapean stubbornness. I found my place in the world at last - by your side, forever."
"I suppose the lesson here is that persistence pays off," Severus murmured, a pleasurable shiver rippling down his spine as Remus finger-combed his hair. He slid his arms around Remus' waist and caressed Remus' bare back, letting his hands come to rest on Remus' hips. "This is where we both belong," he added, brushing a kiss beneath Remus' ear.
Remus shivered at the brush of Severus' hands, and a soft gasp broke past his lips as Severus unerringly found the sensitive spot beneath his ear. "It is indeed," he replied rather breathlessly. "So tonight I want to pamper and spoil you rotten, in appreciation of you giving in to my persistence. I have your favorite massage oils, and grapes to peel for you, and shrimp to whet your appetite for even more delicacies." He smoothed his hands down Severus' back. "What do you say, my darling one? Will you let me take care of you, so that I can show you how much I adore you?"
Severus didn't need pampering to know how much Remus cared, but he certainly wasn't going to turn it down either. An evening of indulgence sounded good to him, and he pulled back enough to look at Remus as he nodded. "Yes, I will let you, if it pleases you to do so," he murmured huskily.
"It does." Remus smiled wolfishly. "It pleases me very much to turn you into a boneless, purring pile of goo." He caressed his hands over Severus' back again, stopping at his arse and squeezing. "Now if you will be so kind, lie down on the mat, and I shall feed you a few tidbits before the massage. Would you care for some champagne? And would you rather have shrimp or grapes peeled by your adoring wolf?"
Disengaging from the embrace, Severus reclined on the cushion in a languid pose, one knee bent as he arched his back slightly and put himself on display. "Like this?" he asked with faux innocence. "I would like the shrimp," he said, reaching out to rest one hand on Remus' thigh for the simple pleasure of keeping in contact. "Champagne would be acceptable as well."
"Your wish is my command, O Diva," Remus replied, watching with avid interest as Severus blatantly displayed himself. His desire rose at the sight, as it always did; no matter how long they had been together or how many times they made love, he never stopped loving the sight of Severus' body or failed to feel a rising surge of anticipation of being joined with him. He let his eyes linger appreciatively for several moments, and then he turned to open the bottle of champagne, pouring two glasses full and placing several of the plump shrimp on a plate.
He moved to kneel beside Severus, placing the shrimp close at hand and passing one of the glasses to him. "A toast to the most beautiful man in the world - my Severus, " he murmured, touching his glass to Severus'.
Severus rolled his eyes at the flattery, but he smiled a little too, knowing Remus was biased but grateful that Remus found him so attractive and desirable. "To the most biased but generous man in the world - my Remus," he said, touching his glass to Remus' in return.
"Hey, I'm not biased. Snapes are hot!" Remus said playfully, taking a sip of the bubbling liquid, his eyes dancing with amusement. "As for generous... I've not yet begun to spoil you." He picked up a tempting shrimp, raising it to Severus' lips. "Besides, you need the nourishment to fuel the exertions I plan to put you through later. After reducing you to goo and then washing your hair."
Severus took a sip of champagne, rolling his eyes at Remus' nonsense. "Certainly we have a fan club in you and Tybalt, and if Gaius has his way, we will add Regulus to your number," he said before parting his lips to accept the shrimp.
"Regulus?" Remus' eyes widened at that, and he tilted his head to one side. "Don't tell me he's fallen for someone already? And Sirius' brother, at that... I hope he knows what he's doing, since last I knew, Regulus was still hung up on my favorite Snape."
Severus reached for another shrimp and offered it to Remus in return. "Regulus has made it clear he is no longer carrying a torch for me, but he has all the awareness of a turnip when it comes to the torch Gaius is carrying for him. And it appears to be a considerable torch indeed," he said, giving a little snort. "Gaius has indeed fallen and fallen hard, but he has an uphill battle to fight, I'm afraid."
Remus accepted the shrimp, listening intently to what Severus said, frowning a bit in concern. "It's probably best that Regulus doesn't realize, at least right now, because it's been such a short time since Sirius died." His lips curved in a wry smile. "Perhaps Gaius is attracted to Blacks in the same way some of us are attracted to Snapes. I've definitely mellowed toward Regulus, ever since he brought Cymbeline home. I feel rather sorry for him, since I can understand how I would feel if you'd wound up with him rather than me, and I've seen that he's a different man now than he was before. I think they'd be a good match for each other, if Gaius can eventually wear Regulus down. Regulus is almost as reserved as you are, I've noticed. I suppose having to hide your identity for a couple of decades and then having your cousin try to turn you into an Inferi can lead to that." He offered Severus another shrimp with a smile. "As it is, though, I am just very, very grateful that I'm the one who gets to pamper and spoil you instead of him."
Severus accepted the shrimp and took another sip of champagne, already feeling more relaxed, and he regarded Remus with half-lidded eyes. "As am I. Things worked out for the best, at least for the two of us. Gaius will have to fend for himself, although Serenus and I are attempting to help. We advised him to work on trust issues first. But we shall see what happens. For now, I am content to let you spoil me," he added with a little quirk of his lips.
"Good. Let's table issues of brothers and their love lives and concentrate on us." Remus couldn't resist it when Severus looked at him with such desire, and he leaned forward to claim a swift kiss. "I love spoiling you, by the way. It makes me happy to make you happy."
He topped off Severus' glass of champagne, added a few more shrimp to the plate, then reached for the massage oil. "I'll start with your feet, while you continue to eat," he said, slipping down to the foot of the mat. He poured the warming oil into his hands, then pulled Severus' foot into his lap, stroking it gently to spread the oil before beginning to press into the sole with his thumbs. "How does that feel?"
A soft purr escaped Severus' throat, and his smile widened slightly in pleasure at the attention. "It feels incredible," he said, his voice deepened with growing arousal. "If I ever wonder why I keep you, this is always an excellent reminder."
"Yes, I am quite useful in some ways, aren't I?" Remus chuckled, pleased with the effect he was having on Severus. He continued with the massage, concentrating on the arch of Severus' foot, then giving attention to each toe. "Think of all those years you spent in front of the cauldron without an adoring wolf waiting to rub your feet and everything else. It's a form of insurance - to give you so much pleasure and spoil you so thoroughly that you can't possibly live without me. Very Slytherin of me in a way, isn't it?"
Severus released a soft sigh and sank deeper into the cushion. "Very," he murmured, idly caressing Remus' leg. "Also very effective. I should have had an adoring wolf all along, but I suppose I will have to make up for it now. I don't fancy living without regular foot rubs."
Finishing with the first foot, Remus gently moved it to the cushion, then took Severus' other foot in his lap. He enjoyed the touch of Severus' hand, knowing that Severus adored him every bit as much as he adored Severus, even though his mate was less soppy and vocal about it.
"I don't fancy you living without anything that makes you happy," he said, stroking Severus' foot with deft, sure strokes. "Oh, and you know we have another anniversary coming up in the not too distant future, and I wanted to discuss that with you as well. I had a thought about renting a cottage in the Transylvanian mountains. I know Serenus and Tybalt wouldn't mind taking the children for a long weekend or perhaps even a week. If you can stand being alone with me, a huge fireplace, a sheepskin rug, and the vampires for that long."
"Hmm..." Severus pretended to ponder the question for a moment. "I suppose I might be able to tolerate it for a week or so." A heated gleam appeared in his dark eyes, and he slid his hand higher on Remus' thigh. "I have fond memories of Transylvania. Very fond."
Remus' body tightened in response to the movement of Severus' hand, and he wriggled slightly, trying to hold himself back from the desire to pounce his wicked mate then and there. "Oh, yes, I have fond memories of that trip, too, which is why I figured a repeat was in order - sans infants, this time. I promise I'll make it worth your while... especially since sucking things seems to be a national specialty."
"Indeed it does. I expect both of us will have a great deal of practice at that in order to perfect our skills," Severus purred, caressing Remus' leg with slow, sensual movements of his hand. "We wouldn't want to be shown up by the locals, after all."
"No, indeed. We have to prove we can hold our own," Remus drawled, his eyes darkening at Severus' continued teasing and the delicious tone of his voice. He finished Severus' second foot, then placed it on the mat before filling his hands with oil again. He turned his attention to Severus' legs, massaging firmly up Severus' calf. "Especially as no Transylvanian could possibly be as delicious or tempting as you are. I'll have to make sure to lock the doors and windows tight and hang plenty of garlic and crucifixes about the cabin to make sure no one tries to carry you off. Fortunately vampires don't tend to like werewolves."
"Fortunately, I do," Severus drawled, feeling more and more relaxed and lazy. The massage was turning him into a puddle of goo, and the languid tone of his voice mirrored his increasing contentment. "I like werewolves very much, particularly when they are touching me and feeding me shrimp and peeled grapes."
"Your opinion is the only one that counts, anyway," Remus replied, smirking a bit in satisfaction at his effect on Severus. He moved on to Severus' other leg, giving it the same attention he'd given the other. "And of course after our anniversary, we have a very busy season of celebrations. Lysander's birthday, Hallowe'en, Christmas, your birthday... I think you're in for several more months of spoiling, love. Perhaps we'll even cap off the season and your birthday by taking another trip with Serenus and Tybalt, if you'd like. Anywhere you'd like to go."
"We could," Severus said, inclining his head slightly in acknowledgment. "But we'll need to check with them about their plans. Serenus said he and Tybalt plan to start trying to conceive after the holidays, so they might not want to go anywhere. It will definitely put a crimp in the sharing if they do go with us, I imagine."
"Ah, all right," Remus said easily. His hands strayed up from Severus' calf to his thigh. "I won't complain at all about having you all to myself, you know." He continued higher up Severus' leg, teasing as well as massaging. "I can never get enough of you, anyway. Lucky me, I get you anytime I want you."
He began to work on one thigh with each hand, then moved his hands to Severus' hips and bent down to lick teasingly up Severus' hard length. "Are you still hungry, love?"
"Not for food," Severus growled, gazing at Remus with hunger gleaming in his eyes. "I want something that satisfies me in an entirely different way. What do you intend to do about it?"
Remus' smile turned wicked. "Well, that depends on whether you'd prefer to be ravisher or ravishee," he said, giving Severus another lick because he loved the sound of Severus growling with need. "But first, a change of venue, I think."
Moving from between Severus' legs, he crawled to Severus' side once more, then crouched and slid one arm under Severus' legs, placing the other beneath his shoulders. Lifting easily, he stood up and turned toward the pool, carrying Severus down the steps and into the warm, fragrant water. "I promised to wash your hair, didn't I?" he asked, moving to the bench on the side of the pool and laying Severus upon it. Severus' body was below the water, but his head was elevated up. "Comfortable?"
The warm water felt good, relaxing Severus even further, and he settled on the bench as comfortably as he had on the cushion. "Yes," he replied, glancing sidelong at Remus. "Although I'll feel even better once you're touching me again."
"Of course!" Remus reached for the bottle of shampoo, doling out a bit and drizzling it through Severus' hair as it fanned out in the water. He combed his fingers through the long, dark strands, working up a lather, then began to massage Severus' head. "Too hard? Of course, I know you like it hard... Oh, we're talking about shampooing, right?"
"Of course we are," Severus said dryly, closing his eyes. The scalp massage made him purr softly again, and he wriggled with pleasure at the firm pressure. "I like it very hard indeed. A bit rough, even."
"Oh, yes. I like it rough, too," Remus said, his voice lowering to a husky growl in response. "Whether I'm giving or taking, I love it when you're passionate and eager, even desperate. I love to see your skin flushing with need, to see your eyes full of hunger. To hear you moan and gasp in pleasure because of me." He continued to wash Severus' hair, but he leaned closer so that he could press his lips to Severus' jaw, then nibbled lightly at the skin there. "You're delicious, love. I could devour you right now."
Shivering, Severus tilted his chin to accommodate the nibbling, and he could feel his body tightening in response to Remus' words, a heated flush of arousal rising in his face and neck. "Why don't you, then?" he whispered huskily, reaching up and back to sink his fingers in Remus' hair. "I want you to devour me."
That was not a plea Remus could resist, and he grinned as he cradled Severus' head, moving his lips up from Severus' jaw to his lips. "Your wish is my command," he murmured against Severus' mouth, before capturing Severus' lips in a slow, drugging kiss, slipping his tongue between Severus' lips to explore his mouth with possessive hunger. Severus' taste was familiar and delectable, and Remus began to growl low in his chest, the wolf rising up at the behest of its mate to join in.
Moaning into the kiss, Severus parted his lips eagerly and sucked Remus' tongue with greedy hunger; the growl made him shiver, and he wanted nothing more than to answer the wolf in kind and offer up whatever it wanted. The wolf was his and his alone to call, and in turn, he was willing to surrender to it completely.
Remus felt Severus' desire and his submission, and so did the wolf; both of them were eager to take what Severus was so generously offering. He continued the kiss, long and slow and deep, his heartbeat speeding up as desire built, a slow, delicious burn within him. He concentrated on kissing Severus just as Severus liked to be kissed, as though Severus were the only thing in the world.
He continued to growl, and when the need to breathe forced him to lift his head, he looked down at Severus with the wolf in his eyes. "Mine," he said roughly. He scooped handfuls of water over Severus' hair, rinsing out the shampoo quickly, then moved up onto the wide bench, kneeling between Severus' legs. "I'm going to take you and give you so much pleasure, you scream."
"Yes, yes, yes," Severus groaned, more than ready for Remus to match word to deed. He wound his arms around Remus' shoulders and wrapped his legs around Remus' hips, urging him closer. "I'm yours alone. All yours."
The wolf felt smug satisfaction at Severus' surrender, and he wasted no time giving Severus exactly what he wanted. He leaned forward, murmuring the preparatory spells against Severus' lips, before pushing forward to claim Severus' body in one slow, smooth thrust. He moaned as Severus' familiar, welcoming body engulfed him. "Perfect," he whispered. "My perfect mate."
Moaning, Severus arched up to receive Remus, feeling a sense of completeness click into place as he always did when they were joined; he clung to Remus and rocked his hips up, wanting to send Remus even deeper. "Perfect," he murmured, gazing into Remus' eyes, which had turned to molten gold. "As always."
The movement of Severus' body was arousing, enticing, and Remus began to growl again, setting the wolf free. He began to move, slow, deep thrusts, staking his claim on Severus. He couldn't continue to be slow for long, however, for the wolf was demanding more, and he knew Severus did enjoy it rough. He began to move faster, one hand resting on Severus' hip to give him better purchase in the sloshing water, while he wrapped the other around Severus' length. "Mine!" he growled, before leaning forward again and devouring Severus' lips, wanting to taste Severus' moans of pleasure as he drove Severus over the edge.
Letting go completely, Severus moaned and whimpering into the kiss as Remus stroked him, each thrust sending sparks along his nerve endings; he could feel his body growing taut, his arousal spiraling higher and higher, and he let it go, surrendering, and the moans escalated to sharp cries as he came undone in Remus' arms.
Severus' abandonment was all Remus could have asked for, and his continued to stroke Severus until he was completely spent. Then he lifted his head, golden eyes eager drinking in the sight of Severus' flushed face and rosy lips, his dark eyes slumberous with release. "Yes, oh, yes," he growled, the vision of Severus' satisfaction making his own need more immediate.
Moving faster, he surged into Severus' body, the water rocking with them in waves that ebbed and flowed between them. It didn't take long before he, too, was shattering in rapture, shouting Severus' name in a keening cry. He went still, looking down at Severus with eyes full of love. "Perfect," he said again. "Every time."
"Soppy idiot," Severus murmured, but there was no heat in his voice, and he reached up to cup Remus' cheek in his palm, stroking it with his thumb. "It was rather nice, though," he added, craning up to press a lingering kiss to Remus' lips. "And I do feel quite relaxed."
"Nice," Remus repeated, then laughed and returned the kiss. "I'm glad you're relaxed, but I suppose I won't be getting your endorsement as the hottest thing since the Big Bang?"
"Well..." Severus gazed up at Remus archly and smoothed his hands down the length of Remus' damp back. "Perhaps you are in the top five hottest things. I believe I would require move evidence before I could move you up to the top spot."
"Dear Merlin, much more evidence and I'll expire!" Remus chuckled, pulling back and slipping off the bench. "Not that I'm not willing to die for your pleasure, but I'd rather be in the bed where I won't drown, if you don't mind." He stood beside the bench and lifted Severus, pulling him into his arms and turning to leave the pool the same way he'd entered. "Besides, I'd not want your fair skin to wrinkle like a prune. We're clean now, and we can adjourn to the bed to eventually get dirty and sticky, then back here to clean up again. As many times as you like, or until the children get home."
"Thank Merlin for werewolf stamina," Severus said, a faint smile curving his mouth. He wound his arms around Remus' shoulders, content to be carried, and he nuzzled Remus' temple affectionately. "I would very much like to make good use of our time since we rarely get uninterrupted privacy like this."
Remus grinned, pausing beside the mat to set Severus on his feet just long enough to retrieve one of the thick, warmed bathsheets to wrap Severus in. Then he swept Severus up once more and started toward the bedroom, knowing he would be dry enough by the time he reached the bed. "We should most definitely take advantage of the night," he said, slipping through the en suite and crossing the bedroom.
Reaching the big four-poster, Remus slipped the towel from around Severus and lowered him on to the silk sheets, straightening and gazing down in admiration of the sight of Severus' flushed, naked body against the deep, shimmering green of the sheets, his dark, damp hair spread out against the pillow. "Mmmm... you look good. Sated and utterly delectable."
Severus stretched languidly and lounged against the pillows, feeling as relaxed and self-satisfied as any spoiled cat; he held out his arms to Remus, drawing him close. "I may look good, but I imagine I feel even better," he said.
"And you're totally irresistible, too," Remus said, willingly slipping into the bed and pulling Severus close. He tangled their legs and pressed his nose against Severus' ear, nuzzling it tenderly. "Oh, yes, you feel better. You feel the best. There isn't a better cuddle toy in the universe than you."
Severus gave a loud snort at that, but he didn't protest being cuddled; on the contrary, he nestled closer and leaned his head on Remus' shoulder, tracing idle patterns on Remus' breastbone with his fingertips. The room was quiet and still, the warm light of the candles adding to the intimacy of the moment, and Severus breathed out slowly, relaxing even more. He let his thoughts roam, and he thought about the discussion he'd had with Serenus and Tybalt recently; it seemed as good a time as any to share the conclusion he had reached in the aftermath of that conversation.
"I've been thinking," he said slowly, choosing his words with care. "I've given a great deal of thought to the idea of having another baby since it came up the other day."
Surprised at the sudden change of subject, Remus went still for a moment before his hands resumed their slow caresses of Severus' back. "Have you, now?" he asked softly, his heart speeding up from its previous slow rhythm. "And what have you been thinking?"
"I thought quite a lot about your suggestion of having another baby once Cymbeline goes to Hogwarts," Severus replied, flattening his palm so that his hand was splayed over Remus' heart. "I had almost decided that might be what I want to do, but I have since realized some things, and tonight has helped solidify my decision."
He fell silent for a moment as he tried to figure out how best to say what he meant without sounding stupid, since talking about feelings wasn't his forte. "We never really had much time as a couple," he said at last. "You got pregnant with Cymbeline only two or three months after we began our relationship, and then you were kidnapped by Lucius, and you spent so much time without your memories, so it wasn't as if we had those months to enjoy our privacy before a new baby came along. Ever since then, our lives have revolved around the children, and while I enjoy being pregnant and being a parent, I think..."
He paused and propped himself up on one elbow so he could look at Remus, his hand still splayed on Remus' chest. "I would enjoy being alone with you more than I would enjoy starting over with another baby once the children are old enough to go to school. I want to travel with you, cook dinner with you, and do all the simple, mundane things we rarely get to do alone as a couple. Your company - your friendship - is what I enjoy above all others, and I want more time to savor it."
Remus' eyes widened, and his heart thudded so loudly he thought that it might burst from his chest. Severus so rarely spoke of his feelings that Remus knew Severus meant every word with all his heart, and that he must have thought very long and hard indeed about this to be willing to bring it up of his own accord. Moreover, the sentiment turned Remus into a boneless mass of goo, speaking as it did of Severus' love and regard for him, always present but voiced rarely enough that Remus stored up every memory like diamonds.
"Oh, Severus," he said huskily, wrapping his arms around Severus again and pulling him into a fierce embrace. "I love you so much. That would be wonderful, perfect, to have you all to myself. I love the children too - I adore them, I'd die for them - but you are the love of my life, my pearl beyond price. I'll do anything you want, anything that will make you happy, whether it's cooking or traveling or sitting in the garden and watching the sun set."
That Remus was gushing offered reassurance to Severus that he hadn't made a complete fool of himself, and he returned the embrace, letting Remus squeeze the breath out of him.
"I want time for us, that's all, since we never got much of it," he said, and then he glanced at Remus archly. "I want more nights like this one."
Remus pressed his lips to Severus' in a hard kiss, then rolled over so that he could straddle Severus, gazing down at him tenderly. "More spoiling for the Diva, you mean?" he asked, his eyes sparkling with happiness. "I want more, too. I want to be able to indulge your every whim whenever you like. To be sitting by you in the parlor reading, and be able to rip your clothes off if the mood takes me. To spend time talking to you or being silent with you. Evenings such as this are wonderful, but it is definitely enticing to think of the day when we can do this without planning, just because."
"Exactly so," Severus agreed with a firm nod, sliding his hands down Remus' sides and letting them rest on Remus' hips. "Thus I am satisfied to keep our brood limited to three and let Serenus be responsible for adding more branches to the family tree. I will have no regrets about it, especially not when the day comes that they have all gone off to school, and we can have sex in every room in the house," he added, squeezing Remus' hips.
"I seem to remember us christening every room in this house, once upon a time," Remus said, giving Severus a heated look. Then he leaned down to kiss Severus gently. "I'm glad you would have no regrets. We have a wonderful family, but I don't want you to feel deprived if we don't have another baby. I'm quite content as we are, and now I'm looking forward to the time when I'll have you all to myself."
"As am I," Severus replied, returning the kiss with equal affection. "And I am quite certain if I ever experience a moment of feeling deprived, I will think of some way for you to make it up to me. Naturally, it will involve nudity. I can overcome any number of disappointments with the help of naked solace."
"Naked cuddles can solve almost any problem," Remus agreed. He moved to his side again, pulling Severus into his arms once more, wanting to feel him in just such a position. "I shall do my best to make certain you never feel deprived for any reason. I am willing to give you solace any time you need it and practice in between times." He paused to give Severus a nuzzle out of sheer affection. "Whatever you want, whatever you need to make you happy, I will give it. My happiness is to make you happy."
Severus shifted closer and tangled his legs with Remus'. "I am happy," he said quietly, wrapping his arms around Remus in return. "You needn't try to make me happy. You simply need to be here."
Remus couldn't help but tingle with joy at Severus' admission, and he chuckled, pulling Severus even closer. "I'm here, my mate. Always and forever. And you can be absolutely sure there is no place in the universe I'd rather be."
"Right, so... now we have that settled, that's enough soppy nonsense for one evening," Severus muttered gruffly, burying his nose against Remus' throat. "That will have to last you a while."
The snark only made Remus' smile widen, but Severus couldn't see it. "Oh, it will," he murmured, sighing with perfect contentment. "It will."