gaius (ex_gaius583) wrote in snark_n_bark, @ 2008-11-07 18:39:00 |
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Entry tags: | complete, gaius, regulus |
A Jug of Wine, a Loaf of Bread...
Characters: Regulus, Gaius
Summary: Gaius takes Regulus on a picnic, and some surprising secrets are revealed.
Humming quietly to himself, Gaius made his way along Diagon Alley from Alchemy & Ecstasy toward Dreams of Egypt. The day was cool here in London, but in Hogsmeade, they were enjoying a more pleasant weather for once, and so Gaius had made plans to enjoy it with Regulus, giving his lover what he hoped would be a pleasant surprise. Regulus had given him so many wonderful adventures while they were in Egypt, and Gaius thought it high time that Regulus was repaid for his efforts with a bit of enjoyment of his own.
It hadn't taken long to set things up, not with Serenus' help and advice, and he'd stopped by the shop when he was finished to kiss Serenus and thank him for his assistance. All that was needed now was the guest of honor, and Gaius hoped that Regulus had had a pleasant day so that he would be in the mood for surprises.
Entering the shop, Gaius stooped to stroke Sekhmet, who strolled up to meet him with a mew of greeting. "Greetings, my lady," he said, smiling at her haughty acceptance of the petting. "Where's himself? I have a surprise for him."
"Himself is right here," Regulus replied, stepped from around a shelf and walking along the aisle between shelves to greet Gaius, reaching out to clasp Gaius' hands and leaning in to kiss him lightly. "You mentioned a surprise?" he asked, one eyebrow raised questioningly.
Smiling, Gaius returned the kiss with affection. Regulus was more reserved than he was, or at least he seemed more reserved since they'd returned home from Egypt, and Gaius thought that perhaps it was reality setting in after the romance of the desert and the thrill of seduction. He could understand that, but he hoped Regulus would begin to relax as he realized that Gaius wasn't going anywhere, and that no one frowned on their relationship - or at least no one that Gaius knew of. He squeezed Regulus' hands, his dark eyes gleaming with anticipation.
"Yes, a surprise. You gave me so many wonderful surprises in Egypt, I felt it was high time I returned the favor. Now that things have settled down a bit, if you're up to it, I've arranged a little adventure. Not as exotic as dining under a desert moon, perhaps, but hopefully, you'll find it enjoyable."
"I am definitely up to it," Regulus said, smiling warmly. "You didn't have to go to any trouble. I enjoyed arranging surprises for you in Egypt; I didn't expect recompense, but," he added lightly, "I will not turn it down either. I can leave the shop in Barty's hands for the rest of the afternoon."
"Excellent!" Gaius grinned, pleased at Regulus' agreement. He leaned forward to kiss Regulus' smiling lips again. "I enjoyed arranging this, and I'm very glad you're willing to go along. Sekhmet is invited, too, of course, if she'd like to come. We can leave just as soon as you're ready!"
"Let me have a word with Barty, and then we can leave," Regulus replied. It took less than five minutes for him to inform Barty that he was leaving and give instructions about what needed to be done before closing up, and then he scooped up Sekhmet and cradled her against his chest as he rejoined Gaius. "There. Everything is settled, and I am ready to go. Unless I need to change clothes?" he asked, the thought belatedly occurring to him.
"You're perfect - in every way," Gaius replied, linking his arm through Regulus'. "Alas, no magic carpet to be had, but we can Apparate. Ready?" At Regulus' agreement, Gaius drew his wand, and they disappeared from the shop, reappearing in a sheltered grove that was ablaze with autumn color, the leaves stirred by a balmy breeze.
The spot Gaius had picked was deep in the Forbidden Forest, but it was safe enough in this area since the unicorns often frequented it, and they were far from the acromantulas. On the still-green grass, Gaius had arranged a large, thick rug to shelter them from the ground and piled several thick cushions in a circle. To one side sat an enormous picnic hamper, and in the middle of the cushions was a white tablecloth, set with china plates and sparkling crystal glasses. "I thought the weather was appropriate for a picnic," Gaius said, then made an expansive gesture at the glorious gold, orange, and red foliage around them. "And the scenery speaks for itself, doesn't it? No decorator could ever match this, not with all the money in the world."
"Indeed not," Regulus agreed as he looked around and took in the view with an admiring gaze. "Not even a decorator as clever and talented as you are. Our mimicry pales in comparison to the original."
Pleased, Gaius urged Regulus toward the rug. "Sekhmet can hunt, if she'd like, or I've fresh fish and cold milk in the basket for her," he said. "For us... well, we've a fancier repast in store. A picnic can be decadent, too. And there won't be an ant in sight, I assure you; I'm not inclined to share either my food or my lover with creepy crawlies."
"Good. I am not fond of uninvited guests either." Lowering Sekhmet to the ground carefully, Regulus released her and stepped back, letting her decide whether she wanted to remain or to hunt; she circled the picnic area slowly, sniffing everything with a fastidious air, and then she leaped onto one of the cushions and curled up, purring. "Well, I suppose we have our answer," Regulus said, amusement in his voice, and he claimed a cushion for himself near her.
Chuckling, Gaius took another cushion, close by Regulus' side, then drew his wand again and waved it at the lid of the basket. It opened obediently, and Gaius began to levitate covered dishes out. They were magically charmed to remain hot or cold depending on the contents, and he arranged them on the tablecloth with meticulous care.
"Stuffed grape leaves and cous-cous... Chicken Marsala with vegetables in demi-glace... Fried shrimp... You have Tybalt to thank for that inclusion, if you like it, since he swears these are the best in the world," Gaius said, pointing at the various dishes. "There's also cheese and salad, and I have wine, brandy, and pumpkin juice, whichever you'd like. And dessert for later, of course." He smiled wickedly. "There's a choice there, too, if you're imaginative."
Regulus perused the various dishes with interest; he had eaten lightly that day, and faced with such an array of food, he found his appetite roused by the sight and scent of it all. "You went all out," he said, glancing at Gaius with appreciation, and he chuckled at Gaius' last remark. "I assume that means there is Snape on the dessert menu."
"There could be, if you'd like," Gaius replied, leaning toward Regulus so that he could nuzzle his cheek. "I enjoy satisfying all your appetites, my beautiful lover. I always hunger for you, and I never grow tired of making love with you. Whatever you desire, I shall do my best to provide."
"You have satisfied me perfectly so far," Regulus replied softly, reaching out to touch Gaius' cheek. "Believe me, I have no complaints."
Turning his head, Gaius brushed his lips over Regulus' fingers. "That's good to know," he said, then smiled and pulled back. "Now what would you like to drink? Go ahead and serve up whatever you'd like to eat, and I'll pour."
"Wine, I think," Regulus said as he picked up a plate and began serving little samples of each dish; he wanted to try everything rather than stick to the safe and familiar dishes he knew. "Thank you for doing this," he added, smiling at Gaius. "It was a very good idea."
"I'm glad you think so," Gaius replied, reaching toward the basket and summoning the perfectly chilled bottle of wine. He opened it carefully, then filled both their glasses before placing it within easy reach. Then he served up some food for himself, stretching out his legs and settling back against the cushions with a sigh. "Bon appetit!"
Regulus lifted his glass in response and took a sip of wine. "Have any of you heard from your father?" he asked. "I assume you have not since you have not mentioned it, but I have been wondering if he would attempt to contact Severus again."
Tobias Snape wasn't exactly a subject Gaius wanted to discuss on what was supposed to be a romantic outing, but he shook his head and sighed, although this time, it wasn't a contented sound. "No, he hasn't, but that doesn't mean he won't," he replied, taking a sip of his own wine and staring down into his glass. "We can always hope, however. It would be much better if he just pretended we don't exist, the way we've been pretending he doesn't exist."
"Indeed it would." Regulus grimaced and shook his head as he began to eat. "Severus never liked to talk about his family or his home life when we were at Hogwarts, but what little he did say was enough to let me know what an awful situation it was for him. I am the last man to say someone is incapable of change, but if I were to say it about anyone, it would be Tobias Snape. You are better of without him," he said grimly.
"I agree." Gaius continued to look into his glass for a moment, debating whether he really wanted to ask the question that had been on his mind for the last few days. He was almost afraid of the answer, but he knew that if he didn't do it now, it would prey on his mind, and they were discussing serious topics anyway. Lifting his gaze to Regulus, he looked at him somberly. "Regulus... perhaps it's just me, but... you've seemed rather withdrawn lately. I know you're a naturally more reserved person than I am, but I'm also used to dealing with Severus, so I've sort of learned to read the signs. Is there something wrong? Are you having second thoughts about... us?"
"What?" Regulus stared at him, momentarily stunned into silence, and then he shook his head and put his glass and plate aside in favor of moving closer to Gaius. "No," he said firmly. "No, I am not having second thoughts. It's just..." He sighed and raked one hand through his hair as he tried to figure out how to express how he felt. "There are two aspects of it, I think. Part of it is that I have harbored the... concern that you might have second thoughts. I have carried an unrequited affection for a Snape before, and it is not an experience I care to repeat."
Regulus' denial of having second thoughts made Gaius sag with relief. He'd not realized how much he had tensed up, preparing himself for the worst, until it suddenly drained away. He put down his glass and plate as well, moving so that he could settle against Regulus' side. "I've not had any second thoughts, only the worry that you were," he said, reaching up to brush a lock of Regulus' long, curly hair back from his face. "I have exactly what I want, which is you." He paused for a moment, biting his lip, then decided he should come clean. "You should know, my love, that there never was another man I wanted to be with. There was only you. When I told you about having fallen in love, I was trying to determine if you had any feelings for me, since I already did for you. I was afraid if you knew I was talking about you, it would scare you away from me completely. You can ask Serenus, if you'd like. He's known for a long time how I felt about you."
For the second time in less than five minutes, Regulus was stunned into silence, and his jaw dropped at the unexpected revelation. "There was no other man?" he asked faintly. "Then who was kissing you in the shop?"
"Kissing me in the shop?" It was Gaius' turn to be surprised, as he tried to figure out what Regulus was talking about. "The only person who's ever kissed me in the shop is Severus or Serenus. When was this?"
"Shortly before I... ah... made my grand gesture," Regulus said. "I stopped by the shop after work to see if you would have dinner with me, and I saw you kissing someone through the window. You looked miserable afterward, though. I assume it was the other man, and when I talked to Tybalt about it, he said it was a sign that That Man couldn't make you happy and that I ought to make my move."
"Tybalt did?" Gaius blinked, feeling as though he were losing track of the conversation, and so he forced himself to focus on the incident Regulus was describing, and realization dawned. "Oh... that was Severus! Just after we got back from Egypt, I was confused because you had been so... attentive, then you withdrew, and I was afraid I'd done something that had scared you off." He flushed and dropped his eyes. "I asked Severus to use Legilimency on me to see if he could find anything that I'd done wrong, so that I could try to make amends to you. He couldn't find anything, and I was miserable, and he kissed me to offer comfort."
Regulus' eyes widened slightly as he digested this bit of information. "Severus kisses you like that? It did not look like a very fraternal kiss to me."
Gaius bit his lip, then decided he'd best tell Regulus the whole of it. Hopefully Regulus wouldn't be upset, since it was before Gaius even knew he was in love. "The Snape brothers haven't always been... exactly fraternal," he said, giving a wry smile. "It's mostly Severus and Serenus, but... right after I brought you Sekhmet, I was feeling very depressed. I felt as though I had wrecked your life and messed up our friendship, and I was already dealing with the realization that my feelings for you were more complex than I'd thought. Severus and Serenus, um, comforted me. They apparently told Tybalt and Remus what they planned to do and got permission, too. So... Severus doesn't feel any need to kiss me in a brotherly fashion."
"Ah..." Regulus nodded, surprised by the information but not disgusted or appalled. He could hardly condemn the Snapes when his own family tree had some closely entwined branches, and while he knew he ought to be horrified by the thought of incest, the truth was, he was not. In-breeding was a way of life among wizarding Pureblood families, and he had grown up expecting to be married off to one of his cousins. "Well, that explains what I saw, then." He paused, remembering what Gaius had said, and he smiled wryly. "I apologize for giving you cause for worry in Egypt. My conflict had nothing to do with anything you did... Well, not directly. You see, I happened to walk past your room while we were in Luxor, and the walls were not solid. I... er... I saw you... indulging yourself, and I was so confused, I could barely look you in the eye the next day."
It seemed that they were in a cycle of confession and surprised reaction, and Gaius chuckled, shaking his head, pleased that Regulus wasn't upset about his intimacy with his brothers. "I didn't know you were there, or I would have invited you to join me," he said, his voice low and husky. He placed a hand on Regulus' leg. "I hope you liked what you saw, love."
"I did," Regulus admitted, smiling sheepishly. "A little too much, or so I thought at the time. I was confused and torn because I thought you were thinking about another man while you were... indulging, and I had been attempting to get your attention during the entire trip. I wasn't certain whether to give it up as a lost cause, but at the same time, what I had seen made me desire you all the more."
"The only man I was thinking about at that moment was you," Gaius replied, squeezing Regulus' leg. "I already desired you beyond all reason, and I'd spent that entire day in a state of almost constant arousal, being so close to you on that carpet and unable to touch you as I wished. If I hadn't indulged, I would have probably exploded; you drive me wild, you know. I'm glad you desire me, because I want you so much that sometimes I almost can't breathe from the desire."
Regulus rested his hand atop Gaius' as he tried to sort through his roiling thoughts and make sense of everything he had learned in the last few minutes, although his ego was certainly given a boost by Gaius' words. "So there really is no other man," he said at last, shaking his head with self-deprecating amusement. "Dear Merlin, I can only imagine what will power it took for Tybalt to keep a straight face." He glanced at Gaius, realizing he hadn't explained how large a part Tybalt had played in his perusal of Gaius. "Tybalt was my Agony Aunt," he said. "I confided in him, and he was the one who encouraged me to pursue you and try to 'steal' you away from That Man, knowing all along there was no rival," he said dryly. "Likely he had a good laugh over listening to me insult and castigate myself!"
"No doubt." Gaius laughed quietly, boggling at the complex way their relationship had come about and the various machinations which had gone on behind their backs. Still, it had worked out for the best, or at least he hoped it had, given that Regulus didn't seem unduly upset by anything he'd heard, and Gaius, for his part, was relieved. He kissed Regulus' cheek softly. "I'm glad that everything seems to have fallen into place, despite the convolutions. And now, at last, I can say it freely." Looking Regulus directly in the eye, Gaius smiled. "I love you, Regulus Black. You're the only one I want, and there is no one but you in my heart."
The knowledge that there had been no other man lifted a burden from Regulus' shoulders; despite Gaius' reassurances, he had been worried that Gaius was in love with that 'other man' and would eventually realize he didn't want to settle for second best. Regulus supposed that had contributed to his emotional reserve, a means of protecting himself from potential hurt in case Gaius decided the 'other man' was a better choice after all. But there was no other man; Regulus himself was the one Gaius loved, and knowing that was a tremendous relief. But there was still one other issue they needed to address.
"What about Sirius?" he asked quietly, meeting Gaius' gaze. "You fell in love with me so quickly after he died. Even now, it has not been six months. Does the fact that I am his brother have anything to do with the speed with which your feelings developed? As much as I want to be with you, I do not want to be a substitute for what you lost or the second-best brother."
This was an issue Gaius had been expecting to come up eventually, but he thought - hoped! - he could address it to Regulus' satisfaction, easing Regulus of any fear in that regard. "There are a few things that have to do with Sirius and my feelings for him that I hope you can understand," he began, holding Regulus' gaze unflinchingly. "First of all, you aren't, and never could be, the second best brother, nor are you a substitute for what I lost. Losing Sirius hurt more than anything I've ever felt, but as I've told you before, I always knew in my heart that Sirius wouldn't be with me forever. I certainly didn't expect him to do what he did, but I expected him to leave someday. I loved him unreservedly despite that, which is odd, I suppose, but.. there you have it."
Gaius squeezed Regulus' leg again. "You are very different from Sirius, which I'm sure you already knew. Yet I did feel an... attraction to you, as well, even from the first time we met. Not because you were his brother, but because you are you. I think, in a large part, that's why when I was in my cat form and you happened across me, I found it so appealing to go with you, to be near you. Believe me, at that point, I wanted nothing to do with anything that was a reminder of Sirius, and strangely enough, you weren't. To me, you have always been simply Regulus, your own person, distinct and separate from Sirius, and you have always been my friend, even though we got off to a rocky start. The time I spent with you, and in my feline form, did help me heal. I believe I've told you before that time is very different when you're an animal. Longer, in a way, but also less intense. To you, it's been only six months, but to me... it's almost a lifetime ago. A different life, in a way. It will always hurt, and I will always miss him, but it's a bittersweet pain, not the anguish it was at first." Gaius drew in a deep breath. "Does that make any sense? Or do I sound like I'm babbling? I hope not, because it's all the unvarnished and rather muddled truth."
"It does make sense," Regulus replied. He had listened intently to everything Gaius said and took a moment to process it before saying anything more. It was reassuring to hear that his connection to Sirius was not part of his allure; he wanted to be accepted for himself, not for whom he was related to. It made sense, he supposed, that Gaius saw him as being separate since he and Sirius had not been close; they had begun at odds with each other, and even after they had mended the rift between them, they had not forged a close fraternal bond before Sirius died. It was more difficult to understand the concept of time as Gaius explained it, but he was willing to take Gaius' word for it; animals had no perception of time as humans did, and he supposed it wasn't far-fetched to believe Animagi were influenced by their animal forms in that way.
The bottom line, he thought, was that he was not going to end up pining unrequitedly for a Snape again when Gaius ran off with the 'other man', and he was not a substitute Black. His two greatest concerns had been dissolved, and he felt overwhelming relief at the burden being lifted. He felt so much lighter, in fact, that he couldn't repress the urge to capture Gaius' face between his hands and draw him into a kiss, deepening it immediately.
Gaius felt a tremendous sense of relief as well, since Regulus obviously didn't think he was daft and understood how Gaius felt. The kiss said more than words could, and Gaius wrapped his arms around Regulus, parting his lips eagerly and returning the kiss with love and desire. It felt wonderful knowing that everything was right between them now, and he hoped they could go forward together without any shade of the past hanging between them. He splayed his hands on Regulus' back, pressing against him, wanting to be as close as possible, so close that he could feel like they would never be parted again.
Winding his arms around Gaius, Regulus eased him down onto the cushions and entangled their limbs as he held Gaius close. "Tell me again," he murmured against Gaius' lips. "Tell me how much you love me."
Smiling widely, Gaius arched up against Regulus wantonly. "I do love you, my Regulus. My beautiful, sexy, passionate lover. I love you so much that I want to be with you for the rest of my life. I want to wake up beside you every morning and go to sleep beside you every night. I want no other to touch me, and I want to be the only one to touch you. I love you madly, beyond all reason, and if you ever left me, I'd die." It felt wonderful to say the words that had been in his heart for weeks and to know that Regulus wanted to hear them.
A shudder wracked Regulus' entire body, and he released a shaky breath. "No one has ever said anything like that to me before," he murmured, tightening his arms around Gaius. He thought back to the comment Harry had made about how he had been alone 'forever' and how true it was, more true than he consciously realized or cared to admit. He had loved, but he hadn't been loved, and there had always been limits on how close he could allow himself to be, sometimes imposed by him, but mostly imposed by the other person. Severus, his parents, Sirius. Gaius was the first person to love him unreservedly - just him, divorced from his name and his past. "No one has ever loved me just as I am before," he added, clinging to Gaius even more tightly.
"That's sad, because you very much deserve to be loved." Gaius stroked his hands soothingly over Regulus' back. "You deserve to be cherished and cared for and spoiled and pampered and adored, and I promise I'm going to do all that and more. I'm yours, and you are mine, my love. Let me show you how much I love you. Let me please you and care for you. I love you, Regulus Black, and I promise I always will."
"I want that," Regulus murmured as he trailed fervent kisses along Gaius' jaw to his throat, whispering the words against his skin. "I want that more than anything. I want you."
Purring in pleasure, Gaius gave a breathless moan. "You have me, and can have me in any way you'd like," he replied. The brush of Regulus' lips over the sensitive skin of his neck sent flames of pleasure sizzling along his spine, and he pressed upward, leaving Regulus in no doubt of the depth of his arousal. "Love me, Regulus... show me how much you want me."
"Yes... yes... I will..." Regulus rocked against Gaius in return, revealing his own arousal had flared swift and hot. It took only a moment for him to fumble for his wand and banish their clothing, but it was still an eternity as far as he was concerned before he finally felt the press of Gaius' warm bare skin against his own. He slid sinuously against Gaius as he cast the preparatory charms, and he wasted no time in positioning himself and burying himself deep in Gaius' welcoming body, a choked cry of relief escaping him as he sank into the tight heat and was joined with Gaius fully.
"Yes!" Gaius cried out as Regulus took him, deep and hard, filling him fully and completely. It was perfect, exquisite, and he wrapped his legs around Regulus' thighs, trying to pull him even closer. Every inch of his skin was on fire, burning with need, and he moved restlessly. "More, please, more, love," he panted, then pressed his lips against Regulus' throat, nipping lightly at Regulus' skin.
The light nips sent shivers down Regulus' spine as he pressed Gaius against the cushions and began to move, thrusting slowly at first as he sought to make the pleasure build to even greater heights for them both. He wanted to savor this moment, this joining and all the revelations that came with it, and he wanted Gaius to feel each deep thrust to the fullest and know he had been utterly claimed.
Regulus' desperation fueled Gaius' own need, making him ravenous for fulfillment. It was a divine torture, the way that Regulus moved so slowly, teasing him and threatening to drive him mad. Gaius caught the rhythm, meeting every thrust, chanting Regulus' name and begging him for more. He ran his hands up the warm, damp skin of Regulus' back, then raked his nails downward before grasping Regulus' arse with his hands, squeezing and pulling him even deeper.
It was perfect, the way Regulus claimed him with such ferocity, and Gaius abandoned himself completely to it, throwing his head back and letting Regulus have anything and everything he wanted. He wanted Regulus more than he could ever remember wanting anything in his life, and he moaned wantonly, letting Regulus see how he felt, holding nothing of himself back from their joining.
Bracing himself on one hand, Regulus insinuated the other between their bodies and curled his fingers around Gaius' hard length, stroking him, watching him avidly, wanting to see the pleasure and need in his face as Regulus drove him over the edge.
The sensation of Regulus stroking him was more pleasure than Gaius could bear, and he cried out as ecstasy seemed to burst over him, shattering in its intensity. He arched backward, Regulus' name torn from his lips as he lost all control, his body inundated by wave after wave of pure bliss. He could hardly breathe, but he forced his gaze back to Regulus' face, smiling with fierce joy. "Let me see you," he murmured, tightening his hands on Regulus' hips. "Let me see how much you want me."
It took no more encouragement than that to convince Regulus to let go. It was safe; Gaius loved him and him alone, and he had no reason to be cautious, not anymore. With a cry, he surrendered to the passion and need rising within him, and he held nothing back, giving back as much as Gaius had given him. In a matter of moments, he cried out Gaius' name as he too shattered, losing himself completely in Gaius' arms.
His breathing was rapid and shallow as he moved away and collapsed beside Gaius, reaching out with leaden limbs to draw Gaius closer; he nuzzled Gaius' damp cheek as he relaxed, his heartbeat slowly returning to normal.
With a little sigh of contentment, Gaius snuggled into Regulus' embrace, placing one hand on the warm, damp skin of Regulus' chest just above his heart, enjoying the feeling of it beating beneath his palm. "That was wonderful," he purred, stretching lazily, feeling sated and completely exhausted. He rubbed his cheek against Regulus' shoulder, smiling wickedly. "If that's how inspired you are when I tell you that I love you, I'm going to have to say it often."
Regulus chuckled quietly and pressed a kiss to the top of Gaius' head. "I doubt it will happen every time, alas. I think this time, I was... overwhelmed by certain realizations. This is rather new to me, and it marks the end of my isolation. It was quite a powerful realization."
"No, no more isolation for you, my darling," Gaius said, leaning in to kiss Regulus' neck. "Not just me, but you're part of the Snape clan now, and that means you never have to be alone again. Not that I have any intention of ever allowing you to be lonely. Even if every time isn't as intense as this one was, I love making love with you, and I plan to wear you out and inspire you as often as possible."
"I have no doubt about that!" Regulus tightened his arms around Gaius and stroked his back gently. "You are insatiable, I can already tell. I will have to ask Severus to keep me supplied with revitalizing potions so I can keep up with you."
Gaius laughed softly, snuggling even closer to Regulus with a happy wriggle. "I doubt you'll need potions, beautiful one. I'm happy with you just the way you are. I'm just happy, I think... I hope that you are, too. I want for you to have more than just simple contentment in your life for once."
"Knowing that I have no need to be cautious makes me happy," Regulus replied, giving Gaius a gentle squeeze. "I have never had such freedom before."
"Well, if there is anything else you need, you'll have to let me know." Gaius stroked Regulus' chest. "I may not always get it right, and I will probably drive you mad from time to time, but just remember that you can always tell me anything, and I'll do my very best to give you whatever it is you desire." He raised up so that he could look down in Regulus' eyes, reaching out with his hand to stroke Regulus' hair. "That includes space, if you need it. I know I said it before, but I just want to make certain you never feel crowded or strangled, not by me or by the family."
"I don't feel crowded," Regulus said, reaching up to cup Gaius' cheek in his palm. "I've had space all my life - too much of it at times. Right now, I have no objections to a little crowding." He craned up and kissed Gaius lightly but lingering, and then he summoned his wand and conjured a thick blanket to pull over them both. "I can think of nothing else I need to tell you at the moment, although I am glad we had this discussion."
"So am I." Gaius cuddled down willingly, glancing up at the leaves above them, feeling drowsy and content. "I think this could become one of my favorite spots, too. The place where we finally admitted our feelings. It's beautiful, isn't it? For many different reasons."
"It is indeed," Regulus agreed, drawing Gaius close. "Just like you: beautiful for many different reasons."
Gaius wanted to melt, touched by the sentiment Regulus expressed. "So are you, my love... we're so beautiful that everyone will be jealous," he replied, humming with pleasure. "Let me rest for a bit, and I'll show you just how much I appreciate your beauty."
"That sounds like an excellent plan." Regulus released a slow, contented sigh and closed his eyes. "A little rest, and then a little appreciation, perhaps with a little food somewhere in there as well."
"Brilliant," Gaius agreed, yawning widely and then settling in, relaxing bonelessly against Regulus. They had all night, after all, to enjoy each other. In fact, they had the rest of their lives - and that was the best thought of all.