Second Place - Action/Adventure

"I really think we need more coverage on the�" Beck Striker stopped talking abruptly as he turned and looked down to the floor. His jaw hung loosely at the sight of a black haired angel dancing alone. "Who the fuck is that?" Striker blurted, causing Severus to turn and see just who had captured Striker's attention.

Severus found it hard to keep his own jaw from dropping. Harry had clearly taken to heart the directive to get himself noticed. He'd looked good the night before, but tonight . . . fuck, he looked incredible. He was wearing black leather trousers that hung so low on his hips, Severus wondered if magic kept them in place. His midnight blue shirt left little to the imagination the way it clung to every angle and curve. He looked positively regal as he whirled and writhed among the lesser beings. Heat pooled in the pit of Severus's stomach. Lower, as well. He was sure Harry felt it too, because at that same moment he looked up and stared straight at Striker, his eyes flitting briefly over to Severus in the process. Harry's bottle-green eyes sparkled with mirth before he closed them and threw his head back, baring the length of his neck in the process.

Striker gulped. "What do we know?" he ground out hoarsely, his eyes following the hypnotic sway of Harry's lean, sinewy body.

Lost in tracking the sinful ways in which Harry's body moved, Severus almost didn't hear Striker's question. He quickly got hold of himself. "He's new. Brand new. Just started coming around yesterday. Not from here. Much like the blonde, he's from Britain. Shall I find out more?"

"Yes," Striker said as he continued to watch. Out of the corner of his eye, Striker saw Chestnut enter the club and hit the floor.

Severus watched as Striker battled over whether to continue watching Harry or to turn to Chestnut.

"Severus," Striker said, his eyes finally settling on Harry, "I've got a lot of work to do. Please let my little Chestnut know that I won't be having drinks with him tonight."

Severus nodded, stone-faced as ever, while inside feeling triumphant. "Good work, Potter. You got his attention. Now you need to keep it," Severus said through the amulet link so that Draco could hear as well.

Harry looked up and winked at him. "Don't worry. You haven't seen anything yet." Harry smiled slyly before getting lost in the music once more.

"What do you think he means by that?" Draco asked Severus as he sat at the bar and pretended to be inordinately interested in the man next to him.

"I don't know. With him, you never know. Draco, I think that you should get to know young Mr. Metts. We don't know how long either you or Potter will hold Striker's attention, and I'd like to keep Metts as protected as we can."

Draco nodded, and made it seem as though he was simply following the beat. When Metts made his way over to the bar, Draco subtly made his way over to Metts.

Several hours later, Harry was still dancing and was now glistening like a dark-haired Adonis. Severus was still on the catwalk, watching everything, feeling the odd jolt of magic whenever Harry would look his way with half-lidded eyes. Severus heard the ice shaking in Striker's glass as he walked along the catwalk and drained the last of his whiskey double.

"Still dancing, huh?" Striker asked as he started crunching ice obnoxiously.

Severus felt a flash of irritation at the sound of Striker's crunching. "Yes," he said tersely.

"Christ almighty. He slithers around like a little snake, doesn't he?"

Severus stiffened at the imagery that suddenly came to mind, again irritated by Striker. Though, it wasn't about the crunching ice this time. "He does seem rather flexible," he hissed as he watched Harry look up again. It was hard to tell, but Severus thought he saw a smirk ghost across Harry's face.

The music changed to something earthy and sultry. A lazy beat amplified its thick, dreamy quality. Harry's hips began to writhe in slow, controlled loops as his hands moved purposefully across his hips, his stomach . . . his chest. He looked up at Severus and the man he recognized as the squib�Menhop's ring was unmistakable as it glittered poisonously in the strobe. With a wicked smirk, Harry tugged at the bottom hem of his shirt and began a long, slow strip tease. As his shirt cleared his dusky, pierced nipples, Striker started panting. Finally, the shirt was off. Harry had his arms raised high above his head with one arm clasped by the other. He tossed his shirt and rested his head against one of his arms as he arched his back and kept his hips moving in slow circles. As he turned and bared his backside to Severus and the squib, he felt an odd fluttery feeling in his stomach�care of Severus. Harry smiled to himself, knowing what had caused that reaction.

"Is that," Striker began, nearly choking at what he saw.

"Yes," Severus said at Striker's hesitation, "it's a snake." Loosely coiled at the bottom of Harry's spine was a black, green and silver snake tattoo that seemed to writhe in the light just like its master. Severus's sudden arousal was excruciating.

"And, its tail. Is it really�"

Again, Severus filled in the words at Striker's hesitation. "Yes, its tail is in his ass," he said as both his voice and his prick strained to stay in control.

"Holy mother of god," Striker said as he licked his lips and continued to watch the erotic dance. "Find out about Angel for me, Severus," he said as he slowly walked away, his eyes never leaving Harry's half naked form.

Severus started at the name. Angel. He'd expected something along the lines of �Raven.' This was a new development.

When the music changed again, Harry opened his eyes and found himself surrounded by would-be paramours. Paying no attention, he made his way over to the bar.

"Anything he wants is on the house," Harry heard someone say from behind him. He turned to find out who was speaking and found himself staring at the squib. He watched the squib's eyes roam over him voraciously. Harry looked him up and down, as if sizing him up.

"Sure thing, boss," Harry heard the bartender say.

Harry cocked his head to the side and allowed a bemused smile to play across his face. "Thanks, mate. It's always good form to know the bloke who gets you the free drinks," Harry said, deliberately playing up his accent. He heard Draco's snort and felt Severus's irritation.

"An accent. Nice. Not from around here, then?" Beck said as he stepped closer to Harry and leaned an elbow on the bar.

"No, I'm not," Harry responded, trying desperately to avoid stepping back. The squib was getting awfully close. "I like it here, though. A lot different than home."

Beck nodded as if he was supremely interested in what Harry had to say, the whole time staring at Harry as if he was deciding where to bite first.

Harry stared back and only broke contact when he felt a glass at his back. He quickly turned, grabbed his drink, muttered a quick "Thanks" to the bartender, and turned back to the squib who seemed to be even closer. He took a long draw, hoping to cover his sudden nervous. His eyes never left the squib's face. He set the drink down and stared challengingly at the squib, who flashed a brilliant smile before jerking his head towards the dance floor.

"You caused quite a stir out there. Moving like that. Taking your shirt off." Beck said as his eyes traveled to Harry's nipples.

Harry quickly adopted a sheepish expression, hoping it covered the shiver he felt. The way the squib was staring at him made his skin crawl. "Oh, sorry about that. Sometimes I just get so lost in the music, that I forget everything else, you know? I'm�I'm sure my shirt is here some where."

"Don't worry about it. In fact, I insist that you leave it off. It's good for business," Beck said with a conspiratorial wink.

Harry smiled and took another drink. He was dismayed to see that his hand was shaking slightly. He was purposefully playing the part of the wide-eyed doe, full of bravado, but the squib was truly unnerving him.

Beck noticed the slight trembling in Harry's hand and chuckled to himself. "What's your name, angel?" he asked as he moved closer. Entirely too close.

Instead of moving away from him, Harry marshaled his courage and intentionally leaned in a bit. He hesitated before answering. "I go by a lot of names and answer to even more," he said coyly.

Beck chuckled. "Mind if I call you Angel, then?" he said as his fingers ghosted over one of Harry's flushed cheeks.

Harry intentionally let a small, shuddering breath escape�it was unavoidable and worked to his advantage. Let the squib think that it was a shudder of desire rather than disgust. "Does it get me all of the free drinks I want?" Harry asked with a quirked eyebrow.

Beck smiled. "Sure thing. Angel."

Harry smiled brightly. "Right. Angel it is, then. Though, I'm sure you'll find it's not a terribly accurate description Mr.�I'm sorry, you've not told me your name."

"Beck. It's Beck. And, there are all kinds of angels," he murmured.

Harry looked down and pretended to blush while he cringed inside. Having to listen to and participate in this dime novel schlock was killing him.

"Dance with me?" Beck asked.

Harry finished his drink and pushed away from the bar. Time to play hard to get. "Sorry, can't. I was just getting a drink for the road. I'm afraid I have a previous engagement."

Beck was thrown and not a little irritated. He'd fully expected Angel to flutter those ridiculously long lashes and say "Sure." Angel was . . . intriguing, but Beck wouldn't stand for such insolence. For long, anyway. "No problem," Beck said with false cheeriness.

Harry nodded. "Thanks for the drink, Beck. See you around?"

Beck nodded. "See you around, Angel," he said while brushing his fingers across Harry's nipples.

Harry couldn't hide the involuntary shiver and he felt the flush of shame creep across his skin at Beck's knowing chuckle. He thought he was ready for this. He thought he could handle it. He was beginning to think he was wrong. *Calm down. You're almost done for the night,* wafted through his head in a calming wave. Harry nodded absently at Severus's words as he pulled away and shakily made his way out of the club.

Beck watched him leave. So, the kid thought he was a player? That was all right. It only made the pursuit a bit more fun. Though, Beck did like them a bit more experienced. A bit more sullied. There was something off about Angel, but, at the same time, something altogether right. He made his way back to Severus, who continued to watch the crowd impassively.

"Find out everything you can about him. Everything," Beck said.

Severus nodded.

Beck shot a sideways glance at him. "You can even make a little snack of him if you think it might get you more. But just a snack!"

Severus nodded again, while inside, his mind was racing. Beck never showed so much interest so fast. He was acting completely out of character with Harry. Perhaps this was just the break they'd been hoping for. "And the other two?" Severus said with a bored, efficient tone.

Beck hesitated. "Stay on them as well. It never hurts to have options," he said with a leer. His expression immediately sobered, though, as he spotted someone in the club. "Holy Christ. Why is he here?"

Severus could feel the waves of apprehension rolling from Striker. Who had gotten him so worked up? He turned his head to see where Beck was looking. Therac. Severus should have known.

"I hope he didn't bring friends," Beck said nervously. Then, as if trying to cover, he said "I know L.A. is full of vamps, but damn it, I, uh . . . I don't want this club turning into some all-night buffet," Beck said with false irritation. Beck shot a sideways glance to Severus who was staring impassively at the crowd below. "Uh, no offense Sevvie."

Severus slowly turned to face Beck fully, his fangs completely extended and bared. Beck nearly jumped away as he emitted a high-pitched "Eeep!" The squib was pushing his luck tonight, Severus thought. First, the way he'd leered at and touched Harry, then the business about vampires, and now that ridiculous name. "It's Severus," he said with a ferocious smile.

Beck licked his lips nervously, shooting glances between Severus and Therac, obviously trying to decide whether to stay or flee. "I've got some business to attend to, uh, Severus. Let me know if anything important comes up," Beck said as he hastily made his way down to the floor and away from both Severus Therac.

"Interesting. Very interesting," Severus said to himself as he chuckled. He wondered, though, just what in the hell was going on. Severus looked around the club. Harry was gone, Draco was dancing and Metts looked to be leaving as well. With everyone accounted for, Severus decided now was the perfect time to find out why Therac was at the club and why Beck seemed so spooked by his visit.

Therac looked around the seedy little club�it was quite pitiful. Did anyone actually think that vampires lived like this? Pathetic. But, what did he really expect from someone like Beck Striker.

"See anything you like?"

Therac turned, instantly recognizing the low, dulcet tones of his clansman, Severus Snape. "Not particularly, no," he said with amusement playing at the corners of his mouth. "I cannot think for the life of me why you wanted my recommendation for a place like this. It is beneath you, Severus. Truly. You know you don't need to work with these wizards," said Therac, spitting out the word �wizard' like Lucius Malfoy used to spit out �mudblood.'

"Well, considering I am one, it only makes sense that I would, as you say, work with them," Severus said with an arched brow.

Therac sniffed. "You are a vampire first and by only some unfortunate accident or affliction a wizard."

Severus wished to avoid this oft-trod territory. Therac, as well as the rest of the members in his clan, had no interest in wizards or the wizarding world. They found it all rather sordid and beneath them. Similarly, they cared little for the tribulations of the magical world. They like most of their vampiric brethren, had purposefully ignored the war with Voldemort. They were quite possibly the only magical beings in existence with no idea of whom Harry Potter or Voldemort were.

However, that was not to say that Therac turned away a profitable venture just because wizards, or squibs or Muggles were involved. Therac had entered many such deals with Striker�none of which were remotely legal under any law or code. But, all of them were immensely profitable. When Severus learned who owned The Lair, he knew he would need Therac's recommendation. He'd come through, even though he'd grumbled about it. "What brings you here, Therac? I thought you had no use for wizards or Muggles?"

"Everyone has their uses, Severus," Therac said as he scanned the crowd, "and as far as why I'm here, Striker owes me quite a bit of money that he seems to have forgotten to pay. He buys �sealed' containers from the Continent and I am the one who supplies them. It's like a surprise grab bag for the very rich. Sometimes there are some truly amazing things in there. In fact, I think he's been wearing one of his most recent acquisitions."

"You? You sent him Menhop's ring?"

"Noticed it did you? Frankly, I thought it would kill him�the power transfer is supposed to be too much for anyone with wizarding blood. Guess he's more of a Muggle than a squib after all. Oh well�can't always get what we want, now can we. He owes me for the shipment though, and I've decided to stay until I get it."

As Severus and Therac continued to discuss Striker, Harry was making his way back to the club. He'd been so rattled when he'd left, he'd forgotten his shirt. It was one thing to put on a show in the club while on duty, but it was something altogether different to walk around dressed like a rent-boy in areas populated by legitimate ones. He nodded to the bouncer as he walked up to the door and was allowed in without a fuss. He slipped into the shadows and made his way around the perimeter of the club to where he thought his shirt might be. "Thank you fucking Merlin," he muttered, as he spied it crumpled on the floor behind one of the club's stone support pillars. Grabbing the shirt, he looked up and happened to see Draco simultaneously dancing and fending off a would-be suitor. The look of disgust on Draco's face made Harry's eyes sparkle with amusement.

"Need a little help there?" Harry asked Draco through the amulet link.

Draco looked around wildly until he spotted Harry almost directly behind him. He narrowed his eyes, shook his head imperceptibly and went back to work.

Harry snorted and watched Draco for a few seconds more.

"�And I never said I had no use for wizards, just very few," Therac was saying as he continued scanning the club to see if anything interesting caught his eye. He found the white-haired wizard fending off a repugnant hanger-on mildly amusing, but something just beyond him caught his attention instead. Eyes. A pair of sparkling, unearthly green eyes. Sparkling with power; with pain. Therac's entire body tensed and thrummed with arousal. "My, my, my." Therac whispered.

Too caught up in watching Draco, Harry had no idea he'd been spotted. He shook his head and turned into the shadow of the pillar to put on his shirt, thus shielding him from view.

Severus, who was looking in the opposite direction at the moment trying to decide whether an escalating argument between two very drunk young men warranted his presence, whipped his head around at the sound of Therac's lust-laden voice and the scent of his arousal. He followed Therac's line of sight and saw what he thought he was looking at�Draco.

�Bollocks!' Severus thought to himself.

"I don't need any trouble, Therac," Severus growled.

"No, trouble. Believe me, Severus. It won't be any trouble at all," he said, his gaze fixed on Harry.

Severus couldn't see Harry who was turned away from him and hidden by the shadows. Severus focused on Draco and his Muggle dance partner. Maybe it was the Muggle? Maybe it wasn't Draco at all? Severus shook his head. He knew Therac's tastes. As much as Therac claimed to despise wizards, he found them exceedingly tasty and often drained not only their blood but their magic as well. He would not turn them�no, he wanted to consume them. Severus desperately hoped he was wrong about who had captured his attention.

"This is a mixed club, Therac. You know that. That Muggle--"

"What gave you the idea I wanted a worthless Muggle? No. I want that delectable little wizard. Imagine, Severus, what it would be like to sink your fangs into that column of creamy, pale flesh."

Both vampires shivered. For the same reasons. Before Severus could say anything, though, Therac turned to him.

"Do you know who he is? Does he come here often?" Therac asked.

Severus occluded immediately in the face of Therac's piercing gaze. He made a show of turning and staring at Draco in a calculating way while he wrestled with the best way to handle the situation. "I don't think I've seen him before. More than likely he's just come for the evening. I wouldn't waste your time on him, Therac. Let me help you find someone more suitable," Severus said as he attempted to lead Therac away.

"No!" Therac thundered. "I want that little wizard and I shall have him. It's meant to be. I'm sure of it. I know the city. I have contacts everywhere. I'll find him, even if he doesn't come back. Though, my instincts tell me he'll be a frequent visitor to this pathetic little club."

Severus was alarmed. "You don't even know him. He's not worth it," Severus pressed.

Therac turned and bared his fangs menacingly. Severus was immediately on the defensive. "Forgive me, Therac. I just don't understand how one wizard whom you don't even know has captured your attention so quickly."

Therac retracted his fangs. "The eyes, Severus, I know everything I need to just by looking into those exquisite eyes." Therac made a keening sound in the back of his throat as he returned his gaze to where Draco was dancing.

Severus turned as well. So focused on Draco, he didn't see Harry standing behind him, watching Draco dance and, therefore, indirectly looking in Severus's and Therac's direction.

"So much pain, Severus. I can see it in him. I have to have him."

Severus sighed. Therac liked the wounded ones, and Draco certainly qualified�even if he refused to show it. There would be no dissuading Therac. "Of course, old friend. Please, just be discreet."

Therac chuckled. "I know the rules."

Severus nodded. Therac took his time with his playthings. He was exceedingly patient. Severus's only hope was that Therac would lose interest. He was notoriously fickle. If he didn't have anything to chase or if his plaything ceased being interesting, then he would simply move on. Of course, that meant that Draco had to be at the club, but had to be unobtrusive and bland. Hopefully they could keep the ruse going long enough that there would be enough time to finish the assignment and get the hell out of there.

"My friend, I believe this will be a most enjoyable stay. Tell me, is there somewhere in this godforsaken hovel that I can sit and observe without being seen?" Therac asked.

"Of course," Severus said neutrally, "second floor, far right corner should be to your liking." At least, then, Severus would know where he was�he could protect Draco better knowing where Therac was.

Therac smiled, his dazzling white fangs glinting in the lights dancing through the room. "Wonderful. Oh and please tell Striker that he had better come and see me tomorrow night, or he might not like the consequences."

Severus nodded solemnly and watched Therac glide away. "Debriefing in two hours," he barked through the amulet link. This was a complication that needed to be addressed right away.

A little over two hours later, Severus swooped into his flat only to find Harry and Draco on his couch in a seemingly deep conversation about Harry's nipple rings while they played with each other like naughty schoolboys. A flood of arousal hit him as Draco murmured something before leaning in and squeezing and rolling Harry's nipples. Severus's world almost upended as he watched Harry arch his back and moan.

"Stop that, you fucking prick," he heard Harry rasp out.

Draco seemed fascinated with making Harry gyrate and gasp. "I can't! They're begging to be touched. Tell me, how does this feel?" Severus heard Draco say as he twisted Harry's nipples in opposite directions.

Harry arched and moaned again. "I'm going to fucking kill you!" Harry said as he panted from either the exquisite pain, or pleasure, . . . or both. That was too much for Severus.

"What are you two doing?" Severus roared as he stalked into the room. "You're like children! We have a job to do and it does not involve your adolescent hormones."

"Sorry Sev," Draco said as he let go and scooted into his corner of the couch, "You're absolutely right." Draco drawled with a smirk, "We absolutely should have waited for you to join us."

Harry burst out laughing as he pulled his shirt down and flopped into his corner of the couch.

"Stop this!" Severus seethed. "This is not a game. We do not have time for this foolishness!"

Harry abruptly stopped laughing. He and Draco exchanged worried glances as Severus paced around the small living room. "What's happened?" Harry asked.

Severus sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. Inhaling deeply, he looked at Draco and Harry in turn. So young. They were both so young and this assignment was becoming far too dangerous. Far too complicated. First, Striker had taken inordinate interest in Harry and Harry had not handled it well. Striker's interest was different somehow. It left Severus feeling uneasy. Then Therac had shown up, out of the blue, and had taken an unhealthy interest in Draco. On top of all of that, the Metts kid was going to die if they couldn't get to Striker fast enough. One false move, and the whole fucking assignment would unravel.

"Therac, the vampire who secured my position at the club, came in tonight looking for Striker. Instead, he found Draco," Severus began.

"What! What the fuck does that mean?" Draco blurted, his face turning impossibly pale.

"It means that he's taken with you. He saw you dancing with the Muggle. When Therac is taken with someone, especially a wizard, it's because he's interested in two things: your blood and your magic. I believe he intends to drain you of both, if given the chance. He will not leave until he has you or loses interest. We must take extra precautions."

Draco nodded.

Harry moved closer to Draco, in a sign of comfort, one for which Draco seemed supremely grateful. "Why can't we just send him away?" Harry asked, pointing his chin in Draco's direction.

Severus shook his head. "No. Therac is relentless when he finds something he wants. Draco's disappearance would only serve to pique his interest. We must maintain the status quo until Therac's interest withers."

Harry and Draco exchanged worried glances, before turning to Severus and nodding in understanding.

"This actually works with something I've been thinking about anyway. Draco, I want you to get close to the Metts boy. Stay on him. Worry less about being seen by Striker and more about keeping Metts alive."

Draco nodded again.

"Potter, you've gotten Striker's attention. I need you to push through on this�we've got to get him to commit soon. That's the only way any of us is going to be safe. Can you do that?"

Harry knew what Severus was asking. He knew he'd seen Harry almost lose it with the squib earlier. Harry looked down in shame, but nodded. He took a deep breath, looked up and said with a clear voice, "Yes."

Severus stared intently at him for several long moments before murmuring, "Good." To both Draco and Harry he said, "You will not see Therac�he will be hidden in the shadows on the second floor. I don't want either of you venturing up there for any reason. Under no circumstances are you to go anywhere alone, Draco. You must be on your guard at all times, is that clear?"

"Yeah. Perfectly," Draco said softly. Severus never got this unnerved unless there was a reason to be. It scared the shit out of Draco.

"Good. From here on out, Apparate somewhere else before heading to the club or to your flat. I don't want Therac to figure out where you live."

Draco nodded and stood a little shakily. "I think I'll leave now, take a long bath, and drink several vials of dreamless sleep. Night all," he said softly before Apparating back to his own flat.

Without Draco there, Harry suddenly felt very nervous. He could feel the weight of Severus's stare. "Does this bollocks things up?"

Severus made a dismissive wave. "Yes. No. I don't know. I can't think about Therac right now."

Harry nodded.

The silence stretched as Severus continued to stare. "What happened tonight Potter?" Severus murmured.

Harry sighed and raked his hands through his hair. He struggled with what to say. "I don't know," he said in the end�truly meaning it. "He just . . . I didn't like him touching me," he said softly.

Severus nodded and pursed his lips. He didn't like Striker touching Harry either, but he imagined his reasons weren't the same as Harry's. "He's going to have to touch you a whole lot more. Are you certain you can do this?" he asked carefully.

Harry's hands dropped to his lap. "Yes. I can and I will do this. He just took me by surprise. It's not the same Severus. It's not like . . . like before."

Severus's hands clenched at the thought of �before.' "It is very much like before," he said softly, thinking back to when he'd found Harry, lying on his side, naked, hurt, sobbing uncontrollably. He'd just defeated Voldemort, but the glory of the moment had been cruelly taken from him. Within seconds of sending Voldemort to hell, Harry had been captured by several remaining Death Eaters. Gryffindors, the lot of them. They'd been Harry's friends. They'd known what a true innocent he was and had taken great pleasure in painfully ripping that from him.

Harry shrugged. "It was just sex," he said softly.

Severus looked up sharply and grabbed Harry by the shoulders. "No. No, it wasn't. And neither is this. I saw you tonight, Harry. I felt you. Striker is a predator and you must be prepared to play the part of his prey. If you cannot do this, tell me now and we will make alternate arrangements."

Harry pulled away angrily. "I can fucking do this, okay? Don't ever doubt my ability to fucking do this, Snape," Harry snarled. "He's just really creepy, is all. There's just something about him. And what's with all of this angel business? I thought he picked names based on hair color?"

Severus sighed. Harry was done talking about this, just like all of the other times before. Fine, then. What was more night of avoidance in the face of more than five years of it? After what happened, Harry had started fucking everything in sight. Severus assumed it was a defense mechanism. If he were Harry, he would not, he WOULD not be caught unaware again, made to feel that way again. He would not let sex be used as a weapon against him again�not unless he could wield it as well. Harry felt the same way, Severus was sure.

Severus knew Harry wanted him. Frankly, Severus wanted Harry. And, he was a man with questionable moral fiber�at least when it came to beautiful, fuckable boys who wanted him. In Severus's mind, there was nothing more beautiful than Harry. There he was sitting there with that wild hair, that creamy skin, those full, pouty, inherently kissable lips. Fuckable lips. Severus looked at Harry carefully and noticed the tension in his shoulders. He let his eyes trail down further. Harry shifted and the fabric of his obscenely tight shirt caught on one of his nipple rings. Severus felt his near constant state of arousal flare once again. He stood abruptly and poured both himself and Harry a drink. "Here," he said as he held out the double whiskey, neat, "You look like you could use this."

Harry eyed the glass and hesitated before taking it. He knocked it back in one go and grimaced as it burned down his throat. "Thanks," he said with a slight rasp.

"Anytime," Severus said as he sipped his drink and regarded Harry coolly.

The whiskey warmed Harry's stomach, willing him to relax. He fell back into the couch cushions and let go a tired sigh.

"That was quite a show tonight, Potter," Severus murmured, his control bleeding away with the rise and fall of Harry's chest.

Harry chuckled. "I got the sense you rather enjoyed it. You like the snake? That was just for you, you know."

"I wondered�subtly was never your strong suit."

"It's temporary�just a charm. Though, I'm not adverse to making it permanent," Harry said as his eyes fluttered closed.

When next he opened them, he was surprised to see Severus sitting next to him, his eyes smoldering. Harry found himself staring back, transfixed. With his eyes, he followed Severus's hand as it reached out and softly brushed against one of his nipples. It felt so good. So right. "Did it hurt?" Severus asked in a quiet whisper as his fingers continued to lightly brush against Harry's perennially hard nipples.

Harry moaned. "Like a mother fucker, but it was worth it as long as you don't fucking stop doing that."

Severus snatched his hand back, as if burned.

"What do you want," Harry panted, hoping that Severus would say that he wanted him.

Severus reached out and brushed against the nipple again, relishing the way it made Harry moan. He couldn't help himself. He just couldn't. What did he want? Nothing. Everything. "Something that I can't have," he whispered before leaning in close and lightly brushing his lips across Harry's. He couldn't stop. He couldn't. Fuck, how he wanted to stop. But, Harry was there, with his beautiful, fuckable lips. He couldn't stop.

"Why? Why not? You can have me. I swear to fucking god, you can have me," Harry panted as Severus continued to ghost his fingers over Harry's overly heated skin, to tease him with feather-light kisses.

Harry arched and let out a strangled cry. "Want you," he cried.

Severus sat back abruptly. The spell was broken with that keening cry. His thoughts returning to �before.' He wouldn't�couldn't�take advantage of Harry. He was obviously still feeling off-balance from what had happened at the club. "We can't do this. Not right now," he said in response to Harry's questioning eyes.

Harry sat up, his mouth open and poised to ask questions worthy of Pandora. At the look on Severus's face, though, Harry closed his mouth and nodded soberly. "I should go," he murmured as he stood and staggered towards the door. With a quick look back at Severus, disappointment shining in his eyes, he Apparated back to his flat.



Artificial Life - Chapter 5

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