The Ruby Ruse

Title: The Ruby Ruse
Author& Notes: never_tempt aka cameowitch
Email: never_tempt@yahoo.com
Status/Part: Chapter 3/?
Rating: FRAO /NC-17
Pairing: HP/DM
Date: Oct. 2005
Key words: M/M Slash, Sexual Content (later chapters), Language, Mpreg?

Summary: Draco has hunted Harry down to pay up on outstanding bills. What happens
when they figure out who really ran up the bills and what happens between
them?

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoat Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Test reader:
Beta: Beta’d by a Fiend (that’s a friend without the “r”). Thanks Fiend


Chapter 3

Both men were pondering ideas as the weekend drew closer. Friday morning dawned and both were eager for the evening. Harry packed his clothes for the weekend and shrunk the small trunk to fit in a pocket. Harry lazed around the house wondering if the offender would try to sneak in for one more time, since Harry’s schedule said he wasn’t due in until tomorrow. He moved cautiously around his own house, half hoping the perpetrator would make an appearance, and hoping they wouldn’t show up before he could leave with Draco. Figuring that may be easier on his nerves, Harry went to the fireplace and first called DRAB. Draco apparently had taken the day off.

The former Gryffindor next fire-called Draco’s home. Finally, reaching the blond, Harry began explaining his reasoning for wanting to meet earlier. He grinned wide as Draco nodded and told him to step through when ready. If he wasn’t right there, a house-elf would see to Harry’s needs until he was back. Harry moved from the fire, grabbed his trunk and a light robe, a handful of Floo powder, and stepped through.

Harry was caught in the surprisingly muscled arms of the blond. As Draco righted Harry and began dusting the soot off, they moved closer to each other. Harry tried to find his voice; their lips moved closer on their own volition. “Thank you” came out lighter than a butterfly’s wings as their lips touched for the first time. It was slow. It was gentle. It was shattering. It was moving as their powers coalesced around them. Finally lifting lips from each other, they looked into the other’s eyes. Draco was the first to move forward this time.

The former Slytherin let his hand slide up the chest he had fantasized about all week. It felt even better in person. His hands found the clasp and undid it; careful not to let it hit his floor. His lips sought out the smooth nature of the raven-haired man’s lips. Pressure soon turned into something stronger. Draco’s lips and tongue beseeched entry into the warm mouth mated to his. His request was granted as Harry bewailed acceptance and teased the blond’s tongue into his mouth. The kiss moved them more than either would have thought possible. As they untangled from each other and stepped back, it was evident both men were shaken from the experience. Harry was the first to step back.

“Draco,” was sighed as he let his tongue taste the blond on his lips. Harry’s emerald eyes were sparkling like the highest polished stones ever seen by man, woman, wizard or witch. Harry stood there, letting the feelings run through him. It had been a while since he and his last ex-lover had been together and his arousal was growing by leaps and bounds. He was determined not to let a runaway hormone train ruin this weekend, or the plans he wanted to make. Stepping back again, he shook his head at Draco. Looking the man in the eyes, he inhaled deeply and recognized the scent of pine and patchouli. Swallowing hard, Harry let his hands come rest at his sides. “Draco, not yet. It’s seductive, it’s tempting, and it’s possible, but not just yet. We were enemies for too long, then we ignored each other, then it was polite strangers, polite acquaintances, to you hounding me for your job. Gives us time. It will be worth it.”

The blond was dumbstruck. Here he was, standing in his living room harder than the marble on Harry’s floor and the man was telling him to wait, and it would be worth it. With a tremendous effort, the former Slytherin pulled himself together. As he started to speak, to acquiesce, he noticed he wasn’t alone in that condition. He cleared his throat and nodded to Harry. He didn’t think his voice could stand the strain to work. They still clasped hands, but moved further apart. When either could speak again, it was a conversation that was a little strained, both of them not exactly sure what to say or do. Both men looked away in embarrassed confusion as the house-elf popped in.

“Master Draco, happy will I be to settle Mr. Potter into the guest room if he will give me his things. Also, in the parlor is a small tea. Please tell me what else I can do to make you happy?”

Draco looked at his house-elf. It was a lot different than in his father’s day. His house-elves liked him, pampered him and his guests, there was no fear keeping them cowed in his home. A smile lit Draco’s face as he turned to his guest. “Harry, Jordan here would like to help settle you in. Please make him happy and give him something to do.” Harry was startled to say the least. He would never have expected this treatment from the old Draco. He pulled his case from a pocket and handed it over to Jordan.

The house-elf looked at the one little trunk. “Mr. Potter, sir. I is not being disrespectful, but is this all you brought?” The little house-elf was stunned when Harry just nodded. With a small whimper, the house-elf Apparated to the guestroom and enlarged everything, setting Harry’s room up. In the meantime, Draco turned, still holding Harry’s hand, and led him to the parlor as indicated. He seated Harry and then sat at the small round table across from him.

The conversation was halting at first, and then eased into more of the mundane things occurring in their lives. They finally broached the subject they had put off. Both eased back in their chairs and relaxed. Harry finally took the initiative and spoke to Draco about the ideas plaguing his mind.

“Draco, are there any other suits against me out there? Is this the first time it’s happened to me? I should tell you I have plans set up already in my house in case “someone” comes back in today and tries to use the same tactics. We will have our guilty party dead to rights. Then the payback can begin. But first, show me the house, then we’ll go to dinner and who knows what’s after that.” Draco smirked and began the tour. He couldn’t wait for dinner to be over and have them firmly ensconced back in his house.

Draco led Harry room by room. It wasn’t ostentatious, as Malfoy Manor had been. Draco wanted something for himself that spoke of his tastes, so he kept it simple yet elegant. Many people thought he was fussy and arrogant. Well, partly he was, partly was the attitude that was cultivated by his parents, but most of it was his desire to be himself.

They finished the tour with Draco leading Harry to his bedroom. He showed him in and watched as the raven-haired man inspected the room. “This is very nice, Draco. Who did the designing? I think I might like them to do some of my place.” Harry turned around in time to see Draco blush and hang his head. “Draco? What is it?”

The blond lifted his head, the blush still tingling on his cheeks. “Well, I did it myself. I’ve always wanted to design, but my father had a fit so I kept it all hidden until he couldn’t bother me. Mother consulted with me often, especially for guestrooms and the parties at the Manor. I miss those now.” He had stopped speaking and looked at Harry. The other man stood looking at him, confusion written on his face.

“Draco, it’s beautiful in here. Your whole house is beautiful. Let me get to know it, and you, over the weekend. We have a lot of unpleasant history to get around, and I want to build a new relationship with you. I’ve seen you in your work mode, I’ve seen you here with the house-elves, now let me see the rest of you too. I also want you to help me with just a little revenge but disguised as pranks. You were outstanding in that area in Hogwarts. Let’s see what we can cook up now. First though, I want to get ready for dinner. I would suggest you wear something you wouldn’t mind getting ruined. I have a wonderful spot for you to “let your hair down” and relax.”

Draco was startled at this and it showed. He had never had that kind of offer to dinner before and could only wonder what the former Gryffindor had in mind for him. His eyes began twinkling with anticipation and he wondered which clothes he would not mind ruining. He did ask himself if it was possible to ruin clothes with food. Moving over to the door he looked back at Harry, who had begun removing his clothes in favor of his expendable ones. Draco saw the naked back ripple as Harry shifted, reaching and moving. Draco didn’t trust himself, so he speedily and quietly slipped into his own room.

Twenty minutes later Draco went to find Harry. Instead he found a surprise waiting for him. Harry had dressed and made his way back down to the parlor to wait for Draco. The blond stopped and hoped he wasn’t drooling at the visage before him. Harry stood with his back to Draco, his arms above his head with his right hand holding his left wrist and moving to get the kinks out of his back. Draco looked carefully again. This time he was sure he saw the conditioned muscles flexing and moving, the rest of his muscles rippling down his back. Shaking himself, the blond cleared his throat to get Harry’s attention. The former Gryffindor turned around and smiled at the sight before him.

Draco had dressed in a red silk shirt with long sleeves and was wearing black trousers. Granted, it wasn’t what Harry had in mind. He stood there in a snap down front shirt with both sleeves missing and the top three snaps undone, letting a slight peek of skin escape. The tight trousers clung to him in all the right places and the strategic “holes and rips” in them just accentuated the well-wrapped package. Draco felt definitely overdressed seeing his “date”. Harry feasted on the vision in front of him before he spoke. “Draco, come to my room. I have some clothes you can use; those won’t survive the appetizers where we’re going, and I don’t like the idea of you going bare-chested in front of strangers.” A blond eyebrow arched high and he stepped closer to Harry.

“Why don’t we just stay here then, and you would be the only one to see me bare?” Draco was standing as close as possible. Harry breathed in his scent and felt his erection threaten the threadbare closing of his trousers. The raven-haired man placed one hand around the slim waist and the other wrapped in the blond locks, pulling them together.

“Draco, I have two huge appetites tonight. One is for this dinner; the other is another feast with you spread on the bed. It would be best if we take care of dinner first. Then when that is satisfied, we’ll talk about the other.” Harry leaned in the rest of the distance and placed a fleeting kiss across the lips. He removed his arm from around the waist and stepped back. Keeping their hands clasped, he pulled the blond back to his bedroom suite and began looking for the right combination of clothes.

Harry draped the clothes over Draco’s shoulder. “Change” was the imperial order. Without blinking an eye, Draco handed them back to Harry and began taking his clothes off in front of him without any shyness. He eased his silk shirt over his shoulder, letting it slide down his arms. He realized then he had not undone the cuffs, so raising his arms over his head, he watched as Harry’s eyes widened then narrowed, and his nostrils flared. He had his attention all right, no questions there.

Draco wanted to see if he could tempt Harry into staying in for the night. The emerald eyes gleamed in appreciation for the taught muscles rippling before him and Harry could feel the first dew of perspiration begin forming on his upper lip. Draco undid the cuffs and lowered his arms, letting the shirt hit the floor. Harry gulped as the blond began undoing his trousers and sliding them down and over his boots. Harry’s eyes followed the hands back up the bare thighs and froze. Draco had gone commando and Harry was getting his appetite whetted. Clearing his throat, he tore his eyes away from the sight of the luscious member that was his for the asking, and traveled over the sculpted chest to look into the heat-fired topaz eyes. Topaz is a gold/amber colored stone. Silver?

Draco couldn’t help teasing a little more as he raised an eyebrow at the man in front of him. “What’s for dinner, Harry?”

Harry broke out in a complete sweat. He was trying to retain control, but it was difficult. The blond was being offered on a platter that he wanted to consume. Closing his eyes, he held out the shirt to Draco. “Please Draco, don’t tempt me any further, just get dressed so we can have dinner.”

Harry was still “cursed” with the Gryffindor tendencies and Draco was determined to see if there was truth to the rumour that he should have been in Slytherin. The blond smirked and let their hands touch as he took the shirt and put it on. Starting at the bottom, he carefully snapped each closure until it was up mid-chest. He held out his hand for the trousers. Before Harry handed them over, he had one more suggestion for Draco.

“Why don’t you take your boots off first, then fasten them over the legs of the trousers Draco?” The Slytherin looked at him, turned around and walked over to a chair. Draco propped one foot up on the chair and bent over, beginning to undo the laces. Harry was nearly panting at the site of the smooth spheres presented to him. Draco made quick work of one before shifting and beginning on the other one. He turned and walked back to Harry holding out his hands for the ‘holey’ trousers. Draco frowned at first, before putting them on and evocatively pulling them up while keeping an eye on the brunet’s reactions. Harry was nearly panting now and Draco was sure he’d get his way tonight.