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Harry cradled his mug of cocoa, stretched his feet towards the crackling fire, and sighed in contentment.
"You seem quite cheerful and relaxed for someone who's snowed in at the moment."
Harry's lips curved in a smile, and he turned his head to look at his partner. "Being snowed in means we can take it easy for a day or two," he said. "We both needed a break, admit it."
Rather than responding verbally, Malfoy plopped onto the other end of the sofa. He slumped back and assumed Harry's lazy posture.
Harry found it delightful. The Malfoy he remembered from Hogwarts would have never slouched. It amused Harry to think he'd been a bad influence on his partner. Malfoy demonstrated that bad influence when he abruptly leaned closer, snagged the mug of cocoa from Harry's lax grip, and took a drink.
Harry looked at his empty hand and blinked. It wasn't like him to be caught off guard like that. He blamed the fact that he'd been enchanted by the heat from Malfoy's body and the subtle scent of his hair.
"Mm, that hits the spot," said Malfoy. He shot Harry a sly grin.
Harry huffed out a breath and levered himself upright. He trudged to the kitchen area of the small cabin and set about heating milk to make more cocoa. Harry stared out the window as he waited. It continued to snow and blow, and it wasn't expected to abate for another 24-48 hours. He and Malfoy had come to this isolated cabin in Scotland to meet with an informant. They'd made it ahead of the storm; the informant hadn't.
Harry and Malfoy were now stranded here, as it was deemed too dangerous to Apparate in such inclement weather. Too many witches and wizards had Splinched themselves attempting it over the years. Harry wasn't upset at the situation at all. He and his partner had been working some brutal hours, and a day or two of down time would do them both good.
Once he'd fixed himself a replacement mug of cocoa, Harry topped it with some marshmallows he found languishing in the back of the cupboard and returned to the lounge area. He settled on the end of the sofa opposite Malfoy and took a sip. Harry hummed in delight. He should retire from the Aurors and spend all day lazing around and drinking cocoa.
"You have marshmallows."
Harry turned his head. "Well spotted, Malfoy."
"I would like some marshmallows."
"They're in the kitchen, go help yourself."
Malfoy scowled. "Prat." Nevertheless, he got up from the sofa and went to the kitchen in search of marshmallows.
Harry hid a smirk behind his mug when Malfoy returned. They sat silently together, sipping their marshmallow-laden cocoa, and watching the blizzard through the windows.
"Have you ever had sex in front of a roaring fireplace?"
Harry was grateful he didn't have any cocoa in his mouth; he reckoned that snorting it out his nose would be painful. He slanted a glance at Malfoy before responding. "No, I can't say as that I have."
"Hm."
Harry tried to let the subject go, he truly did, but ultimately he failed. "Dare I ask what brought about such a question?"
"Idle curiosity."
"Have you?" Harry asked after a long moment.
"Have I what?"
"Had sex in front of a roaring fireplace?"
Both of Malfoy's brows rose. "That's a rather cheeky question, isn't it?"
Harry's mouth fell open. "I didn't...it was...you asked me first!"
Malfoy had the gall to laugh in the face of Harry's sputtering. "You need to relinquish your prudish ways, Potter."
"I'm not a prude," Harry protested.
"Perhaps not," Malfoy mused, "but you are repressed."
"Living under such close scrutiny from the public does not lend itself to exhibitionism," grumbled Harry.
"Meaning?"
"Meaning my sex life is wild and varied, but I'm discreet about it," Harry replied. He happened to be looking at Malfoy when he said it, which is why he noticed Malfoy's pupils expand.
Malfoy took a hasty sip of his cocoa. The silence between them lengthened. Harry had to work at his indolent posture; all he wanted to do was press the heel of his hand against the pressure in his trousers, but he didn't want to suffer whatever comment that would garner him from his snarky partner.
"How wild?"
Harry turned his head to look at Malfoy. "Sorry?"
"How wild is your love life?"
Harry sighed and let his head fall back. "This topic of conversation needs to end," he said, with no small amount of regret. "I'm in danger of getting a stiffie."
"Stiffies aren't dangerous," scoffed Malfoy.
Harry couldn't help but notice his partner squirm a little at his end of the sofa. "They can be," Harry said gravely. "What if a troll burst into the cabin and I couldn't think straight because my blood supply had been redirected from my brain?"
"You have a brain?"
A reluctant grin quirked Harry's lips up. "Berk."
"Never fear, Potter," said Malfoy. He stretched to the side and set his mug on the table next to him. "If your dick cocks up your thinking, I am fully capable of saving you from the nasty troll."
Harry flung the back of one hand against his forehead dramatically. "My hero," he simpered. "If I weren't already sitting, I would swoon."
"Now who's being a berk?"
"Still you, Malfoy."
Their eyes met, dancing with mirth and intent with something more. Harry looked away first. They were partners, they depended on one another as Aurors, and the last thing they needed to do was bollocks that relationship up by exploring the heat that fairly shimmered between them.
Malfoy didn't get the memo. He scooted closer to Harry on the sofa, placed his hand casually on Harry's thigh, and said, "Potter...Harry--"
"No."
"No to what, exactly?"
Harry did his best to ignore the heat of Malfoy's hand on his leg. "No, we are not going to have sex in front of the fireplace."
"I was going to ask if you would get me more cocoa and marshmallows, but that was an interesting answer."
Harry flushed with embarrassment and turned to gape at his partner. Malfoy's eyes were still alight with humor, which only irritated Harry further. He flung Malfoy's hand away and snapped, "Get your own bloody cocoa."
Rather than be put off by Harry's display of temper, Malfoy leaned close and whispered in Harry's ear, "I'd rather have sex by the fire."
Harry gulped. "We...we can't."
Malfoy's hand returned, this time boldly settling over Harry's groin. "Oh, I do believe you can, Potter."
"Partners!" Harry squeaked. "We're partners. That's...it would be crossing a line of...of no return."
Malfoy's lips were now touching Harry's ear. "I'm not interested in a one-off," he murmured before licking Harry's earlobe.
"I find you repulsive," Harry blurted. He winced as the words tumbled forth. It was a blatant lie, but he was desperate.
Malfoy leaned back and frowned. "Liar," he said decisively. "You need a better excuse than 'we're partners' or 'I find you repulsive', which was just rude, by the way."
"S-sorry," stammered Harry. He reached out to set his mug on the table beside the sofa, lest he spill it all over his lap. He was already in danger of spilling in his pants if Malfoy kept up his nibbling and fondling.
"Well?" Malfoy breathed in his ear.
"I...uh...I'm saving myself for marriage?"
Malfoy dropped his forehead to Harry's shoulder, his own shoulders shaking with laughter. He raised his head and grinned. "That was pathetic. Now, do stop delaying the inevitable. You must admit we've been heading for bed, or in this case, a fireplace, for...well, forever it seems."
"I don't want you to break my heart."
Malfoy's grin faded to a tender smile. "Ah, there it is. I knew you had a legitimate reason for holding back."
Harry removed his glasses, set them next to his mug, and rubbed his eyes. "I'm sorry."
"This does present a problem," said Malfoy. His hand had slid back down to rest on Harry's thigh, and Harry told himself he was relieved. "You see," Malfoy continued, "I am already quite fond of you, and if you spurn my amorous advances, it will break my heart."
Harry opened his mouth, but he found himself at a loss for words.
Malfoy had no such issues. "To sum up our quandary, you don't want to shag for fear I'll break your heart, but if we don't shag, mine will certainly break. What would your average hero do in this situation?"
"He'd conquer his fears and save the damsel in distress," Harry replied automatically. He didn't need his glasses to see the radiant smile Malfoy bestowed on him.
"Are you going to man up and be my hero?"
Harry chewed the inside of his lip a moment before making an attempt at humor. "Are you going to be my damsel?"
Malfoy's nose wrinkled before he replied, "We can take turns; I enjoy switching."
For Harry, that was the last straw. As Malfoy had said, sex between them was inevitable. However, he felt compelled to make a final, feeble, futile protest.
"This may be a huge mistake."
"A hugely enjoyable one," quipped Malfoy. He removed the knitted lap robe from the back of the sofa, transfigured it into a plush, luxurious blanket, and tossed it on the floor in front of the fireplace. He toed off his shoes, stood up and tugged off his pale gray jumper.
Harry sat and watched him, eyes fixed on Malfoy's leanly muscled chest and delightfully peaked nipples.
Malfoy paused with a hand over his belt buckle. "I'm not going to break your heart, Harry. I've waited too long for you to wake up and smell the cocoa to throw it all away after one night of brilliant sex."
Harry felt the last of the tension leave his shoulders. He stood and removed his royal blue jumper, tossing it to land on the sofa. "We'll need to be discreet," he cautioned.
"I can be discreet," said Malfoy. "Are we also going to engage in wild and varied sex, often and with great enthusiasm?"
Harry's answering grin was almost predatory. "I wouldn't want it any other way."