Paradise by the Sea

Dislaimer: Belongs to the Harry potter fandom. I make no money with my stories.

Paradise by the Sea Chapter 7


Harry gently guided Severus under the shower. Taking his time, Harry meticulously washed Severus’s hair and body, making sure that Severus felt secure. Harry wanted Severus to feel as if he were being cherished, not assaulted. Harry understood that the issue with Severus was trust, and if he wanted a lifetime with the older man, he would have to earn that trust.

After Harry washed Severus, he dried him off with a fluffy transfigured towel. Harry set Severus on the lid of the toilet and made sure he was comfortable before Harry started to brush the tangles out of Severus’s hair. Severus remained silent. Once done, Harry took Severus's hand and led him back into the bedroom. He laid Severus down on clean white sheets and tucked him in.

Sitting down next to Severus, Harry pulled the older man close and stroked his damp hair as he whispered caring words. He was worried that there was little response from his ex-teacher, but there was such a peaceful look on Severus’s face. The age lines were softened, and the permanent snarl that Severus wore was gone. Harry liked this look, and smiled as he gently traced Severus’s face.

~*~

Severus knew that Harry was touching him, but he didn’t care. In fact, he was feeling rather pleasant at the moment. The anxiety that filled him since he was a child had faded away. He knew somehow that Harry would take care of any worries that he had. He was as certain of that as he was about his next breath. All he had to do was lie there and allow Harry to take care of him, something that appealed to him more and more as time went on.

All too soon, Harry fingers were gone and the weight on the bed shifted. Severus sighed at the loss of the warm body next to him.

Harry heard Severus sigh as he rolled out of bed. He smiled down at him. Harry was quickly falling in love with Severus.. Most of the time, Severus was a proud, self-sufficient, stubborn individual, but at the moment all his defenses were shattered, laying bare Severus's true self. Needing someone was not a crime, and the fact that Severus needed him, Harry Potter, made what was developing between them all that more important.

Not wanting disturb Severus from his relaxed state of mind, Harry leaned over Severus and whispered softly into his ear. “Stay put. I promise I’ll be back in a little while to take care of you.”

The boy was still an idiot, Severus thought, if Harry thought he was going anywhere. Nothing that felt this good had ever lasted, and not being a fool, he was planning on enjoying every moment of it. Too soon, the real world would crash about him and this repose would be shattered. He gave the slightest of nods, not wanting to move, which seemed to satisfy the Gryffindor.

Harry leaned over and placed a kiss on Severus’s temple before leaving. He wouldn’t go far, he would never leave anyone in such a vulnerable position.
True to his words, Harry was back with a tray of fruit and cheeses for Severus’s lunch. Harry nudged Severus’s shoulder to bring him out of his slumber.

“Go away,” Severus mumbled.

He hadn’t slept so well in years and was not about to be interrupted by Harry, but Harry had other plans for him. He felt hands pull him up to a sitting position and hold his head as a pillow was placed behind it.

“You need to eat,” Harry explained as he placed a tray of food on Severus’s lap. Harry sat cross-legged on the bed to observe Severus eat. Severus stared at the food, his face scrunched up, looking perplexed.

“Is there anything wrong with the food?” Harry finally asked.

“No. Everything looks delicious.” Severus was reluctant to continue.

“What seems to be the problem then?” Harry asked confused.

“It seems that for some unknown reason that my arms refuse to function,” Severus said. Seeing the look of puzzlement on Harry’s face Severus continued irritably. “I am unable to lift my arms. My bones and muscles have turned to gelatin and I find that at the moment they are useless.”

“Oh,” Harry said, his serious look turning into a smile. “No problem, I’ll feed you.”

“You most certainly will not!” Severus bellowed.

“I most certainly will,” Harry corrected as he lifted a ripe strawberry to Severus’s lips. Severus refused to eat, pressing his lips tightly together.

“Need an incentive?” Harry asked. He placed the strawberry between his lips and leaned forward until the tip of the strawberry was touching Severus’s lips.

Severus was dumbfounded. He looked at Harry with wide eyes. When he opened his mouth to tell Harry exactly what he thought, he felt the strawberry slip into his mouth and Harry’s lips pressed against his. Severus didn’t know which was sweeter; the strawberry or…the kiss.

“Mmmmm,” Harry moaned, “Sweet.”

“Yes, the strawberry was delightful,” Severus said, not knowing how to reply.

“I wasn’t talking about the strawberry,” Harry beamed.

The smile on Harry’s face, Severus decided, was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. The next time Harry offered Severus a piece of fruit, Severus took a bite willingly and deliberately licked the tips of Harry’s fingers when he was done. His face turned bright red. He had never in his life done anything that would be considered as ‘flirting’ so he was embarrassed by his actions. And letting Harry take control of his life? That was not something he would have ever contemplated.

Severus stopped mid-chew. There was a flash of anger. That exactly what the ‘Boy Who Survived Again’ did, come in and take over his life. How dare he presume to tell him where to sit, to eat, to…everything. He was an adult, not a child to be taken care of, but…he was enjoying the attention. Who was he kidding? He ‘loved’ the attention that Harry was pouring on him.

“Severus,” Harry said, bringing him back to reality, “stop thinking so hard, it will only give you a headache and more than likely, heartache.” Harry offered a small piece of apple.

Severus knew that if he took that bite that he would have given himself to the ‘boy wonder‘. If he refused, which his mind was telling him to do, he would once again be alone. Severus could not decided which one he wanted: to be cherished or alone? It didn’t seem like much of a choice, but for Severus it was the biggest decision he had ever made. More important than the day he left Voldemort and begged Albus for forgiveness. He looked at the piece of fruit and the graceful fingers that was holding it.
“I will not take that bite, Potter,” Severus said in an even tone.

He could see the crushed look on the boy's face and the way his shoulders rounded in defeat. Severus was surprised at how deeply Harry’s dejection affected him. He felt as if someone was trying to pull out his heart with his bare hands.

Harry quickly rose to leave, not daring to turn around. His eyes were filled with tears that he wasn’t willing to share with Snape.

“Idiot!” Severus barked.

“What?” Harry couldn’t believe that Severus had the nerve to call him an idiot. “I’m the idiot? I’m offering you something I think could be beautiful, and you’re rejecting it out of hand.”

Severus harrumphed, “All I did was refused a bite of food. I never said I was rejecting what you were offering. What, Mr. Potter are you offering? A one-off? A holiday liaison until Albus comes and collects us? An affair until someone younger, more attractive comes along and you decide to leave? Just what are you offering me?”
“I’m offering…” Harry stopped to think and be sure what he was offering Severus. He wanted Severus that was for sure. “I’m offering to take care of you for today,” he stepped a foot closer to Severus, “For tomorrow,” he took another predatory step forward, “and every other day until death and beyond.” Harry leaped onto the bed until his weight laid across Severus and their lips were pressed together in a smoldering kiss.

Harry took charge of the kiss, his tongue snaking into Severus’s opened mouth. Hearing Severus moan in need sent a chill down Harry’s spine and into his groin. He pushed his mind through the cloud of passion that had enveloped him and pulled him back to reality. Harry could see the want and need in Severus smoldering black eyes but their ‘need’ had to wait. Reluctantly Harry pulled away from Severus not before placing a small kiss on Severus’s swollen lips.

“That’s part of what I’m offering,” Harry said, brushing Severus’s cheek with the back of his hand. Severus closed his eyes and leaned into Harry’s gently touch, relishing the feeling of being wanted.

“I’m not a young man, Harry,” Severus, overcome with emotions, choked out. “I know what I want, and I want you.”

Harry gave a slight kiss to Severus before answering. “And I want you obviously, but not now…not yet.”

“For Merlin’s sake why not? We're consenting adults and it's obvious,” Severus motioned to their very hard pricks, “that we both have ‘needs’.”

“Because afterwards you’ll blame me…”

“I will do no such thing…”Severus interrupted.

“Yes you will,” Harry insisted. “After the lust is sated, your mind will clear and you will accuse me of molesting you, of taking advantage of you while you were ‘not’ yourself. Even though I would love nothing more than to take you right now, I will not until you are ready.”

“And who is to say when I’m ready if not me?” Severus grumped.

“Me!” Harry stated. Taking a deep breath he continued. “It’s not only your physical needs I plan on taking care of but your emotional needs as well. I take those needs very seriously. I’m sure I’ll foul up and make mistakes, but I will never deliberately hurt you. In all good conscious, if we consummate our relationship now, you would never forgive me.”

Severus started to object. Harry lifted his hand and Severus kept quiet. “Don’t argue…trust me on this. You would try to say we both are adults and it was your choice as well as mine, but deep down inside you will blame me and I will not have that. When we finally take that step and make love to one another, it will be when neither one of us is vulnerable. I love you Severus Snape. It’s easy for me to say. Is it as easy for you to say those words to me?”

Severus shook his head sadly. He may want Harry, he even wanted Harry to take care of him, but neither one of those thing had anything to do with love. He was a notoriously good liar, but not even he could say those words and make Potter believe them. He didn’t hate the Gryffindor and maybe one day he could even love him, but for the moment he merely liked the boy, maybe cared for him. Wasn't that enough for now? Severus looked into Harry’s eyes and knew that it wasn’t. Harry wanted it all. He sighed and threw his head back against the pillow.

“When did you grow up?” Severus groused.

“The day I fell in love,” Harry said, giving Severus a sweet, loving kiss.



Please take the time to review my story. I want to sincerely thank everyone who have reviewed it.