Regulus Black (mummys_boy) wrote in snark_n_bark, @ 2008-10-19 10:24:00 |
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Entry tags: | complete, gaius, regulus |
Pussycat, Pussycat, you're so thrilling...
Characters: Gaius, Regulus
Summary: You're delicious / And if my wishes / Can all come true / I'll soon be kissing your sweet little pussycat lips!
It hadn't been difficult for Regulus to decide what he wanted to do - or rather, how he wanted to seduce Gaius Snape. The first step had been to contact Gaius and invite him to dinner, making it a late dinner since he needed time to prepare. Fortunately, Gaius had accepted, and then Regulus had flung himself into the preparations, working like a madman to get everything ready in time.
Vesuvius had provided inspiration, and he had plenty of space with which to work in his flat, which was emptier now that he had moved into Azoth House. He raided the stockroom of his shop for much of what he needed, and he Transfigured the rest, creating a luxurious dining area that encompassed his entire living room.
The walls were covered with expensive tapestries and plush drapes, and the floors were covered with thick rugs with cushions of various sizes scattered liberally everywhere. There was a small table set with fine bone china and delicate silverware, and Regulus had ordered the food itself from Vesuvius, paying an exorbitant fee for their catering services, but he considered it entirely worth it. Near the fireplace was smaller, low table on which he had set up an array of oils and creams, and soft music reminiscent of their night in the desert.
Countless white candles scented lightly with jasmine provided the only light, some set in sconces, some in candle holders, and some floating near the ceiling, and by the time Regulus was finished, the atmosphere of the room was intimate and elegant, appealing to all the senses, the perfect place to seduce a hedonist.
After the room was ready and the food was laid out and protected by warming charms, Regulus went to prepare himself. After a hot shower, he rubbed his skin with warm cinnamon oil he'd bought at Alchemy & Ecstasy and donned a toga made of fine, sheer white silk, and he dusted a light coating of gold honey powder on his skin where it was left bare by the garment. He left his hair down and fluffed out his curls, and he applied just a little kohl around his eyes as a final touch.
Once that was done, he was ready, and all he had left to do was pace barefoot back and forth across the living room while he waited for Gaius to arrive.
Gaius had been existing in a state between hope and fear ever since Regulus had invited him to dinner. The fact that Regulus had contacted him was wonderful, of course, and Gaius wanted to have dinner with Regulus more than he wanted to breathe, but at the same time, he was terrified that Regulus was going to say something like "I know you're in love with me, but I just want to be friends." Or worse, that Regulus might kick him out of his life completely.
He clung to Severus' assurances that he hadn't seemed to do anything wrong on the trip to Egypt and to Severus' seeming certainty that Regulus hadn't seemed to catch on to Gaius' feelings. Perhaps this would just be a friendly dinner, one where Regulus would tell him that his mood in Egypt had been due to something totally unrelated to Gaius; that was the best that Gaius could hope for at the moment.
Still, he'd dressed carefully for the dinner, using some of the cologne Severus had given him after he'd showered and opting for deep blue robes made of fine velvet rather than Muggle clothes. He added the cuff Regulus had given him, his fingers lingering on the metal as though it were a good luck charm; at the moment, he needed all the help he could get.
It was a cool evening, and he elected to walk the short distance to Regulus' flat, rather surprised that Regulus had chosen that location rather than a restaurant. He tried not to dwell to much on the possible implications, and instead, he tried to school himself to serenity, reminding himself that he should make certain he let Regulus know that he was there, as a friend, if Regulus needed him.
In a relatively short time, he was climbing the steps to Regulus' flat, and he drew in a deep breath, brushing back his hair and pinning a smile on his face before lifting his hand and knocking lightly on the door.
Startled by the knock, Regulus jumped, then drew in a deep breath to steady his nerves, and went to answer the door; it was unusual for him to be in such a state of anxiety over a seduction, especially since he had never had any trouble with his past conquests. Then again, he had never had so much riding on a seduction before, not even when he had seduced Severus because he had known he was going away, and they might not ever see each again afterward.
He opened the door and smiled, taking in Gaius' appearance with an admiring gaze. "You're right on time," he said, standing aside so Gaius could enter. "Please, come in and make yourself comfortable." His smiled widened and turned a little mischievous. "As you can see, I have special plans for this evening."
The door opened, and Gaius' eyes widened as he caught sight of Regulus. His heart seemed to stop as he took in the toga which seemed to have been woven by stingy spiders and the golden glow of Regulus' skin. Was that actually kohl around Regulus' eyes, enhancing the silvery gleam? Of all the things Gaius had expected, this certainly hadn't been one of them, and when his heart began to beat again, it threatened to pound right out of his chest.
"Hello," he said somewhat faintly, stepping across the threshold and blinking again at the rush of impressions that met his gaze. Regulus' flat was nothing like he remembered it. Instead of the pleasant decor of a well-traveled single man, the room was now a positively decadent sight, worthy of any of the palaces they'd seen in Egypt. The floating candles cast a particularly romantic light over the scene, and Gaius wondered wildly what he had done to deserve any of this, when Regulus had been so withdrawn when they'd left Egypt that Gaius had wondered if Regulus even wanted to ever see him again.
"This is... fantastic." Gaius turned to look at Regulus, his curiosity and confusion mirrored in his gaze along with his pleasure at the surprise. "I don't know what I did to deserve it but... I'm glad I did it. You'll just have to tell me what it was so I can do it again."
Reaching out, Regulus caught one of Gaius' hands between both his own and caressed the back of it gently. "You do deserve this for putting up with me when I was such a terrible companion on the last couple of days of our trip. It was inexcusable, and this," he said, nodding to the rest of the room, "is my way of making it up to you, if you will let me."
Gaius' breath caught as the sensation of Regulus' hands engulfing and stroking his own making him giddy. Not only that, but Regulus seemed to be admitting that his mood at the end of their trip hadn't been Gaius' fault, and Gaius' knees almost gave out in relief. Apparently he'd not buggered up his chances with Regulus, and he wanted to shout with joy.
"Yes, I will let you," he said, squeezing Regulus' hand and smiling in a way he was afraid was absolutely soppy. "I was so afraid I'd done something to make you angry with me, but I couldn't think of what it could have been. I was working up my courage to ask you tonight what I'd done and to beg your forgiveness."
"Nonsense." Regulus smiled warmly and lifted Gaius' hand to his lips, brushing a light kiss across his knuckles. "You have not done anything, and it is I who must beg your forgiveness. But perhaps I should wait to beg until after you are well fed and tended," he added in a lighter, more playful tone. "That way, you may be more favorably inclined to grant my request."
Regulus kissed his hand.
Regulus kissed his hand.
Gaius' brain was somewhere north of the moon for a moment, and he could only gaze back at Regulus in surprise. But it was only a friendly gesture... wasn't it? Not even as intimate of a kiss as he'd given Severus or Serenus before they'd become more intimate. Telling himself that he must resist the urge to read too much into anything, Gaius managed a somewhat dazed smile. Regulus wanted to atone for doing something he'd thought had made Gaius unhappy, and in a way, it had; if it made Regulus happy to do this, Gaius would go along with anything Regulus had planned. Even if it meant he might have to go home and stand under an ice cold shower for the rest of the night.
"You're forgiven," Gaius managed to get out. "But I am more than willing to go along with your latest adventure; the last one was fantastic. But I want you to enjoy it, too, not feel as though you must appease me."
"Oh, I intend to enjoy it," Regulus replied, his voice a low purr. Clasping Gaius' hand and twining their fingers, he led Gaius over to a soft mound of pillows near the fireplace. "But you have made it far too easy for me. I expected to work for your forgiveness, and I had plans about how I might best soften you up and win you over." He glanced sidelong at Gaius, a wicked glint in his eyes. "Perhaps I should pretend you are still cross with me so I may enact my plans anyway."
The tone of Regulus' voice made Gaius' toes curl in his shoes, and he held on to Regulus' hand, following along as one in a trance as Regulus pulled him over toward the decadent display in front of the hearth. "I'd hate to wreck your plans," he said, smiling faintly and sinking down on the pillows, telling himself that he was doing this as much to make Regulus happy as to indulge himself. "So I consent to allowing you to soften me up and win me over." The words were said lightly, although Gaius knew he was in far too much danger of hardening rather than softening at the rate Regulus was going.
"Very good," Regulus replied, pleased that Gaius was willing to go along with his plans. He felt faint nervous flutters in his stomach, but he reminded himself that this was Gaius, his friend, and even if things didn't turn out the way he hoped, Gaius wouldn't turn his back on him. "Just relax and put yourself in my hands, then."
He knelt in front of Gaius, pausing to consider what to do first; the more cautious part of him thought it best to start off slowly and build up, but ever since he had witnessed Gaius' private moment in Luxor, he had been eager to fling caution to the wind. Tybalt had encouraged him not to hold back, and so he decided to leap headlong into the deep end.
"The food will keep," he said, his voice soft and deep. "First, I think we must relax you and get you in the proper mindset to enjoy the rest of the evening. Thus, we will begin with a massage." He reached out and unfastened the buttons of Gaius' robes at his throat. "I will soothe your skin with scented oils until you are so relaxed that you can barely move of your own accord. Would that please you?"
Gaius watched, holding his breath, as Regulus knelt before him. The images which filled his mind at the sight of Regulus there caused him to flush, heat rising in his face. The blush increased as Regulus spoke, and Gaius felt a light sweat break out on his skin as Regulus' fingers moved to the buttons of his robes.
This was... more than friendly, wasn't it? Or was he simply reading more into Regulus' actions than was really there because of his own burning desire? He longed to ask Regulus exactly what he was thinking, but he didn't dare; after the anxiety he'd felt over Regulus' withdrawal in Egypt, Gaius couldn't risk Regulus backing away from him again, no matter what the reason.
"It would," he murmured, rather more breathlessly than he might have liked. "If that is what you wish to do."
"It is indeed." Regulus unfastened each button one by one until he could slip his hands beneath the folds and slide the garment down and off Gaius' arms, letting the fabric pool around Gaius' waist; he let his gaze roam where his hands could not yet, remembering the sight of Gaius stroking his own chest. As much as he longed to re-enact what Gaius had done that night, he couldn't rush that much.
Instead, he moved away long enough to fetch a bottle of lightly scented oil, and when he returned to Gaius, he knelt behind him this time, bracketing Gaius between his knees. He poured a little oil into his palm and heated it with a murmured charm, and then he rubbed his hands together before reaching out and - lightly, almost hesitantly - touching Gaius at last.
Gaius' skin was warm beneath his palms, and it seemed as if his hands had been made to fit perfectly against the curve of Gaius' shoulders and neck, to the angles of Gaius' shoulder blades.
"Your shoulders feel a little tense," he murmured as he massaged Gaius' shoulders and neck with a strong, sure touch. "But there should be no tension here between us. Only peace and sweet release of all stress."
Tense? Regulus' hands were all over his body, caressing his skin and threatening to wrest moans of delight from his lips, and he thought Gaius was tense? How could he relax when all he wanted was for Regulus' hands to wander lower, to caress him intimately and make him scream?
"No, no tension between us," Gaius said, closing his eyes and willing himself to relax. He'd been massaged before in a non-sexual way, and he tried to think of it as not being Regulus' hands on his body, but as relaxing with Regulus happening to be in the room. Of course, he failed miserably. "I'll try to let go of the stress, too."
"Good. Very good," Regulus replied as he moved lower on Gaius' back, working out the knots he found along the way. At some point, however, he grew distracted by the clean lines of Gaius' body, more interested in exploring than continuing the pretense of a 'relaxing massage'. He trailed his fingertips along the length of Gaius' spine and bent to breathe deeply of Gaius' scent, catching a hint of an intoxicating cologne mingled with the warm, natural scent rising from Gaius' skin.
Suddenly, the thought of pretending was no longer appealing; all he wanted was to hold Gaius - to have the right to pull Gaius close, to touch him not as a friend but as a lover, to kiss him and know that his kisses were welcome and would not make Gaius look unhappy.
Shifting closer, he pressed against Gaius' back and slid one arm around Gaius' waist, pulling him close, and he swept Gaius' hair aside so he could brush light kisses along the side of Gaius' neck. "I know you think you are in love with that other man," he murmured, trailing his fingertips up and down along the length of Gaius' bare arm. "But I can tell he is not right for you, and I think... no, I know he will not make you happy. Anyone who does not see how attractive you are, inside and out, is not worth your time. He does not deserve you, and I wish... I beg that you would give me a chance to make you as happy as you deserve to be instead."
Gaius' eyes flew wide as he felt Regulus' lips against his neck, his entire body tightening with almost unbearable arousal. He could barely hear Regulus' words through the rush of his own blood and the pounding of his heart, and he swallowed hard, wondering if he'd somehow fallen asleep and was dreaming Regulus saying the words he'd longed to hear. Regulus wanted him and was begging him for a chance... surely that could only be the most wonderful of dreams!
Yet he knew he was awake, and he could feel the warmth of Regulus' arm around him, the press of Regulus' chest against his back making him want to swoon. Turning his head, he looked back over his shoulder at Regulus, his eyes wide. He knew that Regulus was 'the other man', but it was obvious Regulus didn't, and he didn't want to be 'rescued', not if Regulus didn't want him for himself. "Do you want that to make me happy? Would it make you happy, too? You don't have to be my knight in shining armor, Regulus... not if you're suggesting this because you think I'm making a mistake, rather than because you think I could make you happy in return. Because you... want me."
"I do think you are making a mistake," Regulus said, still stroking Gaius' arm gently. "However, if I am a knight, it is in tarnished armor, and I am not noble or self-sacrificing enough to seduce you away from That Man for purely altruistic reasons. If I did not want you, I would speak as your friend and offer you whatever warnings or advice I could, nothing more, but I am greedy and selfish, and I do want you all for myself, and so I am using other tactics instead." He splayed his hand on Gaius' stomach and bent to kiss Gaius' neck again, lingering this time. "Are they working?" he asked, murmuring the words against Gaius' skin.
Gaius gave a soft gasp as Regulus' hand moved against him, and Regulus' lips seemed to instinctively find the perfect spot on his neck. Regulus did want him; he wasn't just trying to save him from someone he thought unsuitable, and Gaius was ready to melt into a puddle of happiness.
In retrospect, he could see now that their little "adventure" in the desert had probably been the seduction it had seemed, which Gaius had been unwilling to let himself believe. He still didn't know why Regulus had withdrawn, however, and he was leery of making a mistake again. Regulus had obviously decided to be bolder with his advances tonight, and Gaius was more than willing to go along; if Regulus wanted to seduce him, then Gaius was ecstatic to let him do exactly that, and any reluctance on his part was purely to give Regulus the pleasure of seeming to win him away from his rival. He knew enough about Slytherins to understand their need to win, and he was quite happy to indulge them both in the little game; later, perhaps, he'd explain the whole thing, and they would laugh about it together.
"I've always found you attractive," Gaius admitted slowly. "It would be a lie for me to say I hadn't thought of you as a potential lover, all the way back to when we first met. Yet... you know what I'm looking for now. Not a casual affair. Are you offering more than that?"
Regulus felt a surge of triumph at Gaius' admission, and it did much to reassure him that he did indeed have a chance to win Gaius away from That Man. He trailed his fingertips along Gaius' arm and rested his hand atop Gaius', twining their fingers again, and he nuzzled Gaius' shoulder gently. "I am offering a chance to find out if we can forge something lasting," he said softly. "Because of you, I have felt desire again. I have also felt possessiveness and jealousy over the mere thought of anyone else touching you, especially one who is unworthy of you. You know my days of casual affairs are over; I want something more, and I believe we can find it together."
Gaius squeezed Regulus' hand, the surge of happiness he felt at Regulus' words making him want to wriggle in pleasure. It was everything he could have wanted; he knew Regulus couldn't promise him forever, not yet, but it sounded as though he was willing to try. And not only that, Regulus' dormant libido was obviously alive and well again, and it was because of him. The possessiveness and jealousy were just the icing on the cake.
"That's a very, very tempting offer," he said slowly, running the fingers of his free hand over the back of Regulus' hand in a light caress. It was more than tempting; it was irresistible, but he had one final question. "So you think him unworthy of me? May I ask why? You don't even know who he is."
"I don't need to know who he is," Regulus replied, his tone turning derisive when he thought of That Man. "Everything you have said about him tells me that he is not suited for you. The mere fact that he failed to notice and appreciate your beauty, your spirit, and your warm nature is reason enough. If he was not a complete idiot, he would have seen what a treasure you are right away and whisked you off to bed before you had time to think twice about it. You said he does not smile, which does not bode well either. I cannot see you with someone who does not enjoy life and all the wonders and pleasures it has to offer."
He felt silent for a moment, returning his hands to Gaius' shoulders and rubbing them gently. "I realize you believe yourself to be in love with him," he said softly, "but I want the chance to prove he is not the best choice. You need someone different. Better. You need someone who will truly see you, understand you, and appreciate you without forcing you to vie for his attention. He should be vying for yours! You say you thought of me as a potential lover, and you know how much we enjoy one another's company. Is that not enough to prove I should have a chance to win your heart? If he has not given you any reason to think he desires it and values it as much as he should, then give it to me instead," he said passionately, enfolding Gaius in a tight embrace. "I will treasure it as it deserves."
Even if Gaius had been made of stone, he could not have refused that plea; as it was, he was already in love with Regulus, and so he lost any desire for more pretense, wanting Regulus now, with a hunger that threatened to consume him. "You understand me better than anyone else does," he said, turning in the circle of Regulus' arms and kneeling before him. Reaching out, he cradled Regulus' cheek in his palm. "How could I refuse you anything? I do not even wish to try. If you want me, beautiful one, then I willingly place myself in your hands, and if our hearts meet, and we are destined to be together, then I suspect we shall both know it without doubt."
Regulus didn't know whether to whoop for joy or collapse in relief when Gaius accepted his offer. There was no guarantee that Gaius could or would transfer his affections from That Man to Regulus, but at least he was willing to try, and Regulus was certain he could win over Gaius' heart in the end.
"I do want you," he said, pulling Gaius close against him and relishing the feel of Gaius' body pressed against his. "And I am willing to find out what destiny has in store for us both."
Bending his head, he brushed his lips against Gaius' in a soft, questioning kiss, waiting to see how Gaius responded before pressing for more and deeper.
Gaius wrapped his arms around Regulus' shoulders, unable to suppress a small hum of pleasure as he relaxed bonelessly, meeting Regulus' lips, content to make their exploration leisurely if that was what Regulus wanted. His eyes slid closed, and he parted his lips on on soft exhalation of wonder, inviting Regulus to explore as he threaded his fingers in Regulus' hair.
The invitation was unmistakable, and Regulus accepted, eager for this first taste of his new lover; he explored Gaius' mouth slowly but thoroughly, savoring the newness and the sweetness of the kiss. Gaius was relaxed and pliant in his arms, apparently giving himself over without hesitation now that the decision had been made, and Regulus was relieved that it was so easy between them, the transition from friends to lovers happening with surprising smoothness.
He let his hands roam up and down the length of Gaius' bare back and raked his nails lightly along Gaius' skin as the kiss continued, slow and deep, and he held Gaius close, not wanting to release him in case this somehow turned out to be a dream or worse, Gaius changed his mind. If he held on, then surely this perfect moment could never end.
The kiss was exquisite, and Gaius felt his senses overwhelmed with it, with the taste and touch of Regulus, with the utter perfection of this first step toward the culmination he so desperately wanted. But there was no rush, not after Regulus' declaration, and Gaius savored it, committing Regulus' taste to memory, meeting the slide of Regulus' tongue with his own, wanting to give back as much pleasure as Regulus was giving him. He felt giddy, drunk as though he'd had too much wine, but the heady sensation was caused by Regulus alone, and Gaius felt his heart swell with love and desire in equal measure. If he'd harbored any doubt about his feelings for Regulus or about the potential between them, this kiss wiped away all trace.
The scrape of Regulus' nails was like a jolt of pure electricity down his spine, and Gaius arched up, moaning deep in his throat at the sensation. His hands tightened in the silk of Regulus' hair, and he shivered as need rose up, the kiss taking on the edge of his hunger.
Regulus could feel the tension building in Gaius' body, and he felt no little amount of smug satisfaction, knowing he was giving Gaius pleasure and making him burn with need. There would be no misery on Gaius' face after this kiss! He would see to it that Gaius was left limp, drained, and purring with utter satiation or he would die in the attempt.
Breaking away at last, he trailed kisses along Gaius' jaw and throat, alternating with gentle nips and licks. He wanted to know how Gaius tasted everywhere; he wanted to map all the places that gave Gaius the most pleasure, and he intended to be thorough in his investigation.
"Beautiful," he murmured against Gaius' skin as he nuzzled Gaius' ear. "And delicious too."
Gaius opened his heavy-lidded eyes, his lips curved into a sultry smile. Tilting his head back to accommodate Regulus' exploration, he purred, stretching like a cat being stroked. "You're beautiful," he replied, sliding his hands down Regulus' shoulders, then around to his back, his own nails scoring lightly through the soft, sheer silk. "And wickedly talented." He gasped as Regulus brushed his ear. "Oh, yes... there, Schones..."
It was Regulus' turn to arch, a little hiss of pleasure escaping him at the feel of Gaius' nails, and he felt his own need flaring hotter; it had been a long time since he had felt like this... although perhaps it was closer to the truth to say he had never felt like this, because he had never felt so strongly about his partners before. Even with Severus during the one and only time they had been together before Regulus "died", it had been different; although Regulus had loved Severus with all his heart, he had known his affections and desire weren't returned. Severus had merely been indulging his request, and it was much different being with a partner who cared for and desired him, even if it wasn't quite love yet.
He nibbled Gaius' earlobe as he began caressing Gaius with long, smooth strokes of his hands everywhere he could reach; Gaius purred and stretched like a cat, and Regulus knew that meant he liked being stroked in his human form as much as he did in his cat form, which Regulus was happy to indulge.
Gaius' toes curled as Regulus' teeth nipped lightly at his earlobe, his eyes rolling back in his head as he gave a little incoherent moan of pleasure. Regulus seemed to instinctively know just how he liked to be touched, and every slide of Regulus' hands over his skin drove him wild, making his arousal spiral higher. His own hands wandered over Regulus' shoulders and back, then moved around so that he could touch Regulus' chest, seeking out Regulus' nipples through the silk and teasing them with his thumbs. Even as Regulus was driving him wild, Gaius was determined to give back, to let Regulus know just how much he was desired. It was humbling, in a way, to know that Regulus had broken out of his shell of repression because he wanted Gaius, and Gaius wanted to make sure Regulus enjoyed every moment of it.
"So good," he murmured, then repeated the words in German as he shivered in delight. "Oh, Regulus...." he added, the name ending in a breathless hiss of pleasure.
"Gaius..." Regulus murmured against Gaius' throat, tightening his arms around Gaius, unable to hold back a low moan as Gaius teased him, stoking the newly rekindled flames of his desire even higher. Arching against Gaius' hands, he returned to Gaius' lips and claimed them in a deep, demanding kiss, plundering Gaius's mouth possessively.
Gaius felt a surge of gleeful satisfaction as he made Regulus moan and arch, but he soon forgot that, losing himself in the demanding onslaught of Regulus' kiss. He gave himself over to the possessive demand eagerly, surrendering with a deep moan. He wrapped his arms around Regulus, pressing against him, moving his hips restlessly as he sought to bring them even closer. He wanted to feel Regulus over him, pressing him down into the cushions, to know that Regulus considered him his.
Sensing Gaius' restlessness, Regulus thought perhaps that meant Gaius was ready for more than snogging and groping, and as pleasurable as that was, so was he. He lowered Gaius to the cushions carefully and settled atop him, seeking the hem of Gaius' robes and hiking it up so he could caress Gaius' bare leg even as he continued the kiss, determined to claim Gaius in every way possible.
Regulus could read him perfectly, and Gaius reveled in the knowledge, melting back into the cushions as Regulus gave him what he wanted. He pulled Regulus down eagerly, kissing him back with rising hunger, then groaning as Regulus' clever hand trailed over his calf and up his thigh. Gaius' body tightened with need, and he managed to wriggle enough to free his legs, which he wrapped around Regulus' hips. He scraped his nails down Regulus' back again, then lower, curving his palms over the delectable swell of Regulus' arse, which he had seen in his cat form but never been able to touch. He touched now, squeezing and caressing, even as he pressed up and unashamedly let Regulus feel exactly how hard and aroused he was, how wild Regulus was driving him with every touch and kiss.
The feel of Gaius' arousal gave Regulus fierce satisfaction, and he lifted his head and gazed down at Gaius, his pale eyes ablaze with intense heat. Gaius' skin was flushed, and his hair was fanned out on the cushions; he looked delectable and debauched, and Regulus intended to debauch him even more. Within a month, he silently vowed, Gaius wouldn't even remember That Man's name, if he had anything to say about it.
He reached for his wand even as he wriggled beneath Gaius' groping hand, and he swiftly banished the remains of their clothing. "Are you ready for more?" he asked huskily, rocking against Gaius provocatively. "Are you ready to be mine?"
Gaius' breath caught, a blaze of pure joy coursing through him at Regulus' words. He wanted to be Regulus' desperately, and he didn't care how pathetic he and needy he might seem. He took a moment to enjoy the press of Regulus' warm, naked skin against his, nearly swooning in anticipation of what was about to happen, but then he smiled at Regulus, not holding back any of his feelings, not his desire, his need, or his love. He raised his hands, letting them fall back onto the cushions above his head with his wrists crossed, his posture one of perfect, eager submission.
"Take me, and make me yours," he purred, arching up against Regulus wantonly. "Fill me so completely that I don't know where you end and I begin."
"Gladly," Regulus growled. It took mere seconds to cast the preparation charms, and then he tossed his wand aside and positioned himself, easing into Gaius slowly, pushing deep until they were joined completely. Bracing himself, he paused, gazing at Gaius, surprised by the ease and depth of Gaius' response to him, but pleased as well; despite whatever feelings he thought he had for the other man, it was clear Gaius was giving Regulus a real chance, not hesitating to give freely of himself. That Gaius' desire was so quick to kindle and so engulfing gave Regulus hope that the other man would soon be a distant memory. "You are mine now," he murmured, swooping down to claim a swift, hard kiss. "I refuse to share you with anyone else. Mine and mine alone," he whispered against Gaius' lips as he began to move, claiming Gaius' welcoming body with deep, possessive thrusts.
The sensation of Regulus sliding into him, of being filled his hard heat was exquisite, and Gaius moaned, his hands moving to clutch Regulus' shoulders as he gave himself over completely to their joining. It was complete perfection, as wonderful as Gaius had dreamed it would be, and Regulus' words only made it better, threatening to drive him over the edge just from the sheer joy he felt at knowing how much Regulus wanted him.
Gaius returned the kiss, staring up into Regulus' eyes, feeling fulfilled and humbled all at once. "Yours," he confirmed, his voice breathless with desire, and he began to move with Regulus' thrusts, giving himself over with total abandon. "Take me, my beautiful one, my Regulus... love me till we both shatter!"
It would have taken inhuman will to resist that exhortation, and Regulus was merely human and spurred on by his own desperate need to boot. "Yes... whatever you want... whatever you need... you will have it," he murmured raggedly.
Sliding his hand between their bodies, he curled his fingers around Gaius' arousal, stroking him with the rhythm of their bodies as he continued to move, wanting to wring every bit of pleasure he could from Gaius' body, wanting to leave him depleted and sated and utterly addicted to Regulus' touch, eager for more.
"Yes!" The sensation of Regulus' hand around him, stroking him, was almost enough to drive him mad, and Gaius clung to Regulus' shoulders, anchoring himself to the only solid thing in a world that suddenly flew away as he rode a rising tide of molten pleasure. He threw his head back, chanting Regulus' name like a litany as the coil of pleasure within him tightened almost unbearably, then it snapped, and Gaius cried out as ecstasy overwhelmed him, bursting over him in wave after wave of the most incredible pleasure he could ever remember.
Regulus watched avidly, drinking in the sight of Gaius lost in ecstasy; he couldn't remember a more beautiful sight, and he wanted nothing more than to see it again and again, to be the one who caused Gaius to abandon himself to pleasure so completely. Bracing himself, he began to thrust faster and harder, caught up in his own urgent need, and he let himself go, losing himself in the tight, welcoming heat of Gaius' body until he too shattered, crying out Gaius' name.
Panting, he eased out and away from Gaius, rolling to one side and collapsing beside Gaius; reaching out, he gathered Gaius into his arms, clinging to him tightly and burying his nose in Gaius' hair, his heart pounding not just from exertion but from the startling intensity of his emotional reaction to their joining as well.
Gaius watched eagerly as Regulus found his own release, memorizing the sight of Regulus lost in the throes of ecstasy. It was one of the most beautiful things he had ever seen, and his heart swelled as Regulus cried out his name at the height of his passion.
He moved eagerly into Regulus' arms, purring softly and rubbing his cheek against Regulus' shoulder. He could smell the sweet scent of satiation on Regulus' skin, and it gave him a warm feeling of joy to know he had been responsible for Regulus letting go and finding completion after so long. Gaius stroked Regulus' damp back in slow, lazy circles, listening to the beating of Regulus' heart as his own breathing slowed and his limbs became heavy and boneless.
"That was... perfect," he murmured, pressing his lips to the side of Regulus' neck, ready to stay like this for the next hundred years. "I don't think I will be able to move for a week."
Regulus chuckled quietly and stroked Gaius' back gently. "Then don't. Stay here, recline on these cushions, and let me take care of you while the rest of the world takes care of itself."
Gaius smiled, wriggling against Regulus' hand happily. "I don't think I would take much convincing at all." He moved his head so that he could look into Regulus' face, his eyes warm and full of tenderness. "I don't know what I did to deserve that, to deserve all that you have given me, but I'm incredibly glad it happened." He lifted a hand to stroke a strand of damp hair back from Regulus' face. "You are a fantastic lover, Regulus, and I'm honored that I am the one you've chosen to share yourself with."
Regulus leaned into the touch of Gaius' hand, a smile curving his lips. "I am glad I pleased you," he murmured, leaning in to brush a light kiss against Gaius' lips. "You were brilliant as well, and I cannot think of a better way to have ended my unfortunate period of celibacy."
Licking his lips to catch the taste of Regulus upon them, Gaius wondered if it would be too soon to make a declaration. He desperately wanted to do so, but he didn't want Regulus to think him fickle, either. Yet the other option was for Regulus to believe he was shagging him while being in love with another man, and that wasn't acceptable.
"So..." he said softly, running a finger over Regulus' lower lip. "Do you still feel the same now? Do you still feel as though we could find something together? A destiny?"
Regulus nipped playfully at Gaius' finger, an amused light in his eyes. "You want me to answer that after such incredible shagging? I could not possibly answer in any way but the affirmative." He paused, considering the question seriously. "I believe we have proven our sexual compatibility," he said at last. "We have a close, comfortable friendship to build upon. I believe we could build something good and lasting. Whether that is destiny or not, I cannot say, but I would like to see what could happen between us." He gazed at Gaius questioningly, with a hint of uncertainty. "Is that enough for you? Are you willing to take a chance on what I offer over the uncertainty of what you might have with that other man?"
Gaius pretended to consider the question for a brief moment, but then he smiled, his eyes warm. "It is enough," he said quietly, leaning for to press a brief, soft kiss to Regulus' lips. "I believe we could build something good and lasting, too. There is nothing that anyone has that I would rather have than what you have offered me. I promise you that, Regulus. I go into this whole-heartedly, and I never want you to feel as though I am measuring you against someone else, or that I am thinking about putting you aside for some dream I consider unfulfilled. I already have more with you than I have with anyone except my brothers, and I believe it will only grow and deepen, given our obvious compatibility."
It wasn't the words of love he wished to utter, but he didn't want Regulus to wonder what was going on. Not yet. There was time to explain when they'd been together for a while and Regulus was secure that Gaius wanted him for himself alone and always would.
Gaius' words eased the apprehension Regulus felt, and he relaxed, feeling more secure about where Gaius stood when it came to him and That Man. It seemed Regulus had offered a sure thing that was more appealing than the uncertainty of the situation with That Man, and for that, he was pleased and grateful.
"Good," he said softly, reaching out to smooth Gaius' hair back from his face. "Because I meant what I said. I refuse to share you with anyone else. I want all or nothing, because my possessiveness runs deep. Now that I have claimed you, it has become that much harder to think of letting you go."
Gaius smiled, leaning into the caress of Regulus' hand. "All," he said, without any hesitation. "You won't have to share, because I have no desire to stray. I said I was yours, and I mean it. Unless you ever decide you no longer want me, you are stuck with me. But the same goes for you." Gaius lifted his chin, his expression becoming as haughty as any Snape. "You are mine now, Regulus Black, and I'm a very jealous, possessive cat myself. I shall claw out the eyes of anyone who tries to come between us. Then I'll get nasty."
Regulus laughed and reached out to pull Gaius close again, nuzzling him affectionately. "No one will come between us," he said. "My wandering days are over, and I am ready to settle down and establish ties with one person. One man," he amended. A thought suddenly occurred to him, and he gave Gaius a questioning look. "Where do we go from here?" he asked.
Gaius nuzzled back, his heart feeling close to bursting with happiness; he had what he really wanted - who he really wanted - and it was as fantastic as he had dreamed. It was just a matter of a short amount of time for them to settle in together, and he could confess his true feelings and make sure that Regulus never harbored any doubts about precisely who Gaius loved more than life itself. "No more wandering for either of us," he affirmed.
He paused to consider Regulus' question, then chuckled softly. "You know, I hadn't thought a moment beyond this, but I suppose we do need to figure that out, don't we?" He tilted his head to one side. "You've settled in quite comfortably at Azoth House. How would you feel about leaving it? If it was to find another house - a home - with me?"
Regulus considered the question, finding himself unexpectedly torn. "I would like to live with you," he said slowly. "But I confess I will feel some guilt about leaving Azoth House." He smiled wryly. "I promised the twins, Etienne in particular, that I would live there with them a very long time, which was a compromise from forever. I have grown quite attached to them, and I dislike the idea of upsetting or disappointing them."
"I don't want to make you feel bad or guilty," Gaius replied, shaking his head. "If you prefer to wait, then stay there, by all means. It doesn't mean we can't see each other every day, after all." He suppressed his unexpected jealousy of his nephews as being unworthy; Regulus might want him, but he'd also developed other ties, and it wasn't his intention to ask Regulus to change them if he didn't want to.
"Thank you." Regulus kissed Gaius again, lingering this time. "It will be easier for them, I think, if we let them get accustomed to our relationship and realize Uncle Regulus and Uncle Gaius want to live together slowly rather than springing it on them out of the blue."
"That makes sense." Gaius sighed, cuddling close to Regulus, circling his fingers through the hair on Regulus' chest. "I wonder if Serenus would consider another house-guest? If you can stand having me in close proximity, that is."
"Would Serenus consider having another addition to the household?" Regulus smiled and pretended to mull over the question. "Are you asking that question seriously, knowing your brother as you do? I suspect it will simply be a matter of telling him of the change in our relationship and him asking when you intend to move in."
Gaius snorted. "Yes, you're probably right there," he admitted, then lifted his head to look at Regulus. "But that doesn't answer the question as to whether you would like that. If it's too fast, I don't want to push you. Sharing a house with a family isn't the same thing as sharing your bed with me on a permanent basis. If you would like to ease into it..."
In a swift and sudden move, Regulus rolled Gaius beneath him and gazed down at him with a wicked grin. "Propositioning me again already?" he asked playfully. "I accept," he said with a little growl, snugging his hips against Gaius'. "I would very much like to ease into it, and after that, I would like you to share my bed on a permanent basis."
Gaius' breath caught and his eyes widened as he found himself pinned with a wickedly smiling Regulus atop him. The growl in Regulus' voice sent a shiver down his spine, but he didn't hesitated to wrap his arms around Regulus, returning the thrust of Regulus' hips with one of his own, happiness at Regulus' words threatening to overwhelm him. "I'm more than happy to proposition you, my beautiful lover," he purred, stroking his hands down Regulus' back. "And even happier to share any part of your life you'll allow."
"Good." Regulus settled in and captured Gaius' lips in a deep, leisurely kiss. "Then we have an agreement. Tonight, more easing in. Tomorrow, we will speak with your brother and begin rearranging our lives to accommodate permanency." He rolled away from Gaius with reluctance and gestured to the table where the food from Vesuvius awaited. "Perhaps some fortification in the meantime? I ordered a small feast from Vesuvius for us with all your favorites included."
Gaius returned the kiss with a moan of pleasure, then made a little protest of disappointment as Regulus moved away. Reaching out, he stroked Regulus' back, considering the suggestion. "Well, I suppose food will help us keep up our strength," he admitted. "And perhaps we could try out the 'food as seduction' idea we discussed not so long ago. I suspect that anything from Vesuvius would taste even better eaten from your skin, or sampled from your lips."
Regulus glanced at Gaius, his smile turning slyly seductive. "What an excellent suggestion," he purred. "Let's find out, shall we?"
Gaius returned the smile. "Yes, let's."