Draco Malfoy tiptoed around the shadowed bedroom, quietly picking up his scattered clothes so he wouldn't wake up the man sprawled on the huge bed dominating the masculine room. Slytherin green sheets were tangled in his long, muscular legs, and by sheer luck managed to drape over his hip just enough to cover him modestly. But the rest of his body was bare... Gloriously, magnificently bare.

Looking away from that distracting chest and lean belly, he concentrated on his search. In his three months of dating Harry Potter he had seen him naked plenty, but the sight of him never failed to arouse all his male instincts. One touch, even a simple, chaste caress, had the ability to melt his heart and body. The scoundrel knew it, too, and used that knowledge to his advantage.

Harry stirred and Draco glanced in his direction. He stretched like a lazy lion. Muscles rippling with movement. The sheet dropping low as he reached for the side of the bed Draco slept in when he spent the night. His hand grappled with air, Draco's vacant pillow, then fell slack. His sable lashes drifted open and their eyes met. Draco stilled.
He had the most fascinating eyes. Like emeralds with the finest gold. Seductive, warm and altogether too sexy. No-one could explain why he got the gold after defeating old moldy voldie, It just happened. He remembered in 5th year that he had bedroom eyes, the kind of eyes that had the ability to undress a person in a single, sweeping glance, or make a person shed his or her inhibitions and undress him. He'd managed to do both to Draco.

A familiar honeyed warmth flowed through him, and he resisted the urge to do exactly what those incredible eyes were asking: take off the shirt he wore and slide back into bed. The silk boxers he held slithered through his fingers like quicksilver and pooled on the rest of his garments. "Hi," he said
"Hi, yourself." His voice was a sleepy rumble, his smile pure, unadulterated sin. "What're doin?"
"Picking up my clothes" Draco replied, finally spotting his sock on the top of the closet.
Rolling on to his side Harry leaned on his elbow and propped his head on his palm, watching as he bent over. "The view is great, honey, but three hours after the fact isn't the time to start worrying about your clothes getting wrinkled."
"I know that." He shot him an exasperated look, tempered with a soft smile. "I need to go."

Harry picked up his wand and whispered "Tempus" then glanced back at Draco "It's passed midnight. Stay the night" "I can't." Draco disappeared into the bathroom for a moment and returned with a brush he kept in a draw Harry had given him for his things. Harry frowned. "Why not?" Draco softly said "lumos" illuminating the room in a soft glow. Pulling the brush through his shoulder length hair, he met Harry's gaze in a mirror. "I don't have a change of clothes and I have an early appointment with a very important client." Harry sat up and said "let Ginny handle the account"
At the mention of Draco's interior design partner and best friend, he shook his head. "He specifically asked for me." Separating his hair into three parts he began braiding the blonde strands. "besides he is a very conservative businessman who wants to redecorate his office. I'm afraid Ginny's splashy, offbeat visions would scare him away"
Harry chuckled "You've got a point there. Her clientele does tend to run towards the eccentric." "That's why we work so well together." Finding a ribbon on Harry's dresser Draco tied his braid and flipped It over his shoulder. "We each have our own style, which gives our clients more variety"
Harry crooked his finger at him "C'mere and I'll show you variety", "I've got to go Harry" regret tinged his voice. "Really." Harry sighed heavily : "I hate it when you sneak out on me, you know that, don't you?"
Draco rolled his eyes at his exaggeration "I never sneak out on you" opening one of Harry's drawers, he rummaged through the contents until he found a pair of tracksuit pants. "Now what are you doing?", "Borrowing a pair of pants so I don't have to wear my suit home." Draco approached the bed, one brow lifted. "Do you mind?"
"Yeah I mind" quick as a seeker, he manacled his wrist and tumbled him onto the bed. Quicker, he pinned Draco beneath the heat and strength of his body. Draco gasped and stared into green eyes dark with purpose. The pants fell from his fingers and slid to the floor.
"Do you know," Harry said in a slow, deliberate drawl, "that you look great in my shirt?"
The meltdown began, liquefying his bones. When Harry wielded that seductive charm of his, he couldn't resist him. Didn't want to. It amazed Draco how gentle and tender Harry could be when they were alone, the ruthless, Arrogant façade he presented to the rest of the world gone. "Yeah?" he prompted huskily.
"Umm." Harry nuzzled his neck while unbuttoning the shirt in question, his fingers brushing Draco's chest. "You look even better wearing nothing at all." Draco closed his eyes and automatically arched his neck up to Harry's mouth. A shiver of anticipation cascaded down his spine. He had to stop this madness.

"Harry..." his name escaped on a wispy catch of breath. Harry lifted his head to stare into Draco's eyes "You fit into my life perfectly" Harry murmured.
Draco's heart skipped a beat. Harry's words were the most intimate declaration he'd ever given him. He'd often wondered about fitting into Harry's life, considering the unconventional way their relationship had evolved---- quickly, and with a fiery passion that had both terrified and thrilled him. Harry was like no other man he'd ever known.
Harry pursued Draco with a single-mindedness, an I-want-you-in-My-bed kind of single-mindedness. Still, knowing his intentions, he'd fallen hard for Harry and his seduction of flowers, dinners and drugging kisses. Then came that fateful night in his office when a kiss became a touch, a touch into a caress, shed clothing and wicked promises. When Harry gently pressed him onto the desk and followed him down, he lost his heart. Although Harry made him none of the promises he longed to hear, he'd been willing to make love to him.
Much to Draco's own surprise Harry didn't dump him for another conquest, like his reputation stated. He didn't know what made him different from all his other brief affairs, but It never matter to him. They were good together and very compatible in bed... especially in bed, he thought with a smile...though he occasionally felt Harry kept a part of himself distanced from him. Harry pushed the shirt of his shoulder kissing a trail to his nipple and bringing Draco back to the present. "I hate It when you leave in the middle of the night."
He loved Harry's boyish pout. Smiling, he pressed his hands lightly on Harry's chest, reveling in the feel of his firm muscles "I can't help It."
Harry dragged his gaze back to Draco's. His expression serious "I want to wake up with you every day." Draco searched his face, seeing a vulnerability that touched a tender chord in him and sped up his pulse. "What Are you saying Harry?" He pulled in a deep breath. "You know I Will Be moving into My new house next week?" "Yes" his "new" house was a breathtaking five thousand square foot custom built home that sat on a hill overlooking Byron Bay. He'd spent the past six months consulting with Harry over tiles, carpet and paint along with selecting all the furnishings for each room. "The decorating was finished two days ago and the furniture should be delivered on Friday. I'd be more than happy to help you pack and move it----"
Harry pressed two fingers against Draco's lips to stop him babbling "Draco, there's something very important I want to ask you."
Draco's stomach flip-flopped, then a batch of butterflies hatched. Harry looked nervous, more nervous than he had ever seen him be. Merlin he loved him, had known after 7th year that he was the man he wanted to spend his life and have a family with. Had Harry finally realized that he loved him, too? That marriage was the only logical step in their relationship? Maybe It sounded a bit corny but ever since he was a child he thought of some man asking him to marry him and having his children. In all his fantasies he'd never thought Harry would propose this way but then Harry was always doing things different to how Draco imagined. Draco dampened his bottom lip with his tongue. "What Is It?" he whispered.
"We've been dating for 3 months now" he stated, his tone rough.
Draco smiled, trying to lighten the moment for him and put him at ease. "Longer than you've been with anyone ever, I do recall you once telling me"
"True" Harry agreed, skimming a hand along the curve of Draco's waist to his hip "I don't want anyone but you. You're everything I've every wanted. You're smart beautiful and sexy as hell" Draco twined his arms around Harry's neck "I'm glad you still feel that way", excitement and anticipation mingled "what was it you wanted to ask me?"
Harry cleared his throat, hesitated, then "Will you... I mean I think we should... aw hell" he muttered in frustration. Seeing how difficult It was for him to propose, Draco decided to make It easy for him. He placed a hand on his cheek certain the love he felt for him shone in his eyes. "Yes, Harry" he whispered. "I'll marry you"
Harry blanched and jerked away from him, a horrified expression on his face "Marry?" the one word choked out of him. "Yes" Draco frowned. Had he misunderstood his intentions? More cautiously, he continued "That was what you were trying to ask me, wasn't it?"
Shaking his head wildly, Harry moved off the bed faster than a deatheater apperating "NO!"
Confused Draco sat up pulling the edge of the shirt around his body "Then what were you going to ask me?"
Harry paced the floor, his mouth stretched into a grim line. "Harry?"
Abruptly he stopped a few feet away from his side of the bed " I ... I want you to move into my new house with me" Draco's stomach took a dive a dive of a cliff, taking his heart with it. "move in with you?", he echoed, praying somehow he'd heard him incorrectly.

Harry pushed his fingers through his messy black hair. "It's a practical arrangement, considering how we virtually live together as it is. Most of the time you stay here, but I'm tired of ping-ponging between our units. And with you living with Ginny, we rarely have any privacy at your place."
Draco stared at the man he loved, trying to claw his way out of the numbing shock and disappointment fogging his mind "You want to live together?"
Harry breathed a sigh of relief and smiled "Yes" Draco couldn't live on empty promises. Not again. No matter how much he loved him "No." Harry looked taken back by his reply. "No?" "No!" his strength returned on a wave of determination. " I can't live with you Harry" "Why not? You know all my bad habits," he said, then with a shrug he added "not that I have many." Draco lifted a brow at his arrogant assumption.
"Ok, I have a few habits that are less than desirable" he admitted "but I hardly call squeezing the toothpaste from the middle of the tube a crime. And I know you hate it when I leave my underwear or wet towels lying around, but I eventually pick them up"
"This isn't about toothpaste or underwear Harry. It's about commitment" "But I am committed to you" Harry said looking offended.
Draco swallowed the knot in his throat "Not in the way it matters" "Three months is longer than I've ever been with anyone. Doesn't that matter?" Harry said with a clenched jaw.
Draco smoothed his hands over the cool sheets, unable to lie to him 'Yes it matters", but he wanted and needed more. Harry sat on the edge of the bed searching his face for answers "If it matters, then why won't you move in with me?"
"Because the day I move in with someone is the day I'm wearing a wedding ring. That's the kind of commitment I'm talking about. A forever kind of commitment, shared by two people in love" Harry rubbed his scar his expression reflecting his misery "You knew I wasn't looking for marriage when we got involved, that I don't intend to get married. Ever." "Yes you did say that but I kept hoping your feelings would change."
"My feelings have changed" Harry stated "I care for you more than I have ever cared for anyone in my life" "I'm touched. Truly I am." Draco said, aching deep inside for something he knew he would never be "but It's not enough, not anymore."
"It was enough a month ago, a week ago even an hour ago" Harry pointed out, his voice raising in frustration. "I love you Harry" it wasn't the first time he had said those words to him, yet the sudden terror in his eyes was as fresh as the first time he had declared his emotions to him. Harry blinked away the panic and regained his composure. Grasping his hand he brought it to his lips and held it gently "I know you do, sweetheart..." "Do you Love me?" Draco whispered. Harry's face paled, and the fingers stroking his palm stilled. "I've never asked another person to move in with me" Draco managed a Little laugh "I guess I should consider it an honor, but that's not what I asked you"
"I don't know if what I feel for you Is 'Love'" he said "Merlin Draco I don't think I even believe in love", that knowledge hurt and saddened him. Draco wondered how he could have missed the cynical side to Harry. "People grow to care for each other and I care for you deeply" Harry went on "Love is just an illusion, a pretty word for something that does not exist." "That's not true," Draco argued "my parents are in Love and they have been happily married for thirty five years"
Harry shot him a skeptical look "Your parents are in the minority. Mione claims to have been in Love four, no five times since we left Hogwarts and divorced as many times." He shook his head in disgust. "if that Is what Love and marriage is all about then I don't want it."

Harry picked his briefs off the floor and dropped them in the washing basket in the bathroom. "Why is marriage so important to you all of a sudden Draco?" "It has always been important to me" heavyhearted he slid off the bed, knowing that it would be the last time he would ever be in it. How could they be together when they wanted different things.
Harry blocked his way to his clothes , his dark scowl making him appear imposing "Marriage wasn't important when you move in with Blaise Zabini."
Draco cringed at the reminder of his previous relationship. "That's why I won't make the same mistake again. And we have known each other long enough to know whether or not marriage would work" he attempted to step around Harry but he blocked the path again his gaze captured Draco's. "Did you Love him?" he asked abruptly. Draco didn't need to ask who he was talking about "Yes" "Did he Love you?"
"Yes at least for a while Blaise loved me" , "The guy fooled around with women behind your back!" he grabbed Draco's arms, his grip firm but gentle "Doesn't that make you think, even for a moment, that Love isn't all it's cracked up to be?" "That experience has made me cautious about the men I date, but not totally against a life long commitment. I want that Harry and I want that with you, not the convenience of living with someone then deciding you want something better." Draco replied. Harry dropped his hands back to his sides, feeling more defeated than he had in his whole life. Draco was asking for something he didn't have in him to give. He could tell him exactly what he wanted to hear, but if anything, their relationship had been based on honesty and he refused to taint it with lies. And there was no way he'd let him believe he had any intentions of getting married. To anyone. Ever
" I ... I can't. Draco." He whispered
tears welled up in his eyes, but he held his chin high. "Then I think we should start seeing other people." Draco skirted past him
Harry turned just in time to see Draco swipe a tear from his cheek. He never wanted to hurt him. He couldn't give him what he wanted, but he didn't want to lose him either, no matter how selfish it seemed.
"I don't want to see anyone else Draco" he said as if that might change his mind. "Neither do I, but I want a husband Harry and children. Do you want children?" Draco's question caught him off guard. They had never discussed kids before. But then why would he, he knew that they were never going to be a part of his future.
"That's what I thought" weary resignation laced Draco's voice. He stepped into his suit pants and shimmied them up those long slender legs Harry had found so enticing when they had met up again. Once they had slept together, those limbs had become an endless source of fascination for him. "You don't want children do you?" Draco asked, an odd catch in his voice.
Harry dragged a hand over his jaw, despising the old, painful childhood memories creeping up on him. Memories he wanted to remain dead and buried "I'm too young to be a father" Draco's gaze captured his. He was skirting the truth, and the shrewd look in his eyes told Draco he knew it too. "Too young or too scared?
" What's that supposed to mean?" he automatically responded . Draco gave a one shouldered shrug and slipped on his shoes "Being a parent is a scary proposition"
Caustic laughter escaped him "Yeah well I'm afraid I didn't have a great roll model growing up therefore parenthood holds little appeal for me."
"I understand" Draco said softly as he gathered the underwear he didn't put back on. He turned to him, his eyes a misty gray. "I think It's best if we just end things now."
Harry didn't move, though his hands balled into tight fists at his side. "Just like that, It's over?"
"We want different things from a relationship. That's obvious now. There's no sense in going any further." he took a shaky breath" goodbye Harry."
Harry watched Draco walk out of his room and his life, listening to the front door click shut behind him. He sank on the bed, an empty, bleak feeling consuming him. He had spent a majority of his life alone, but he'd never felt so alone until that very moment.