Cherished Chemistry

Mar 23, 2024 20:34

Title: Cherished Chemistry
Author: enchanted_jae
Characters: Draco, Harry
Rating: PG13
Warning(s): Flangst
Word count: 1045
Disclaimer: Characters are the property of JK Rowling, et al. This fic/drabble was written for fun, not for profit.
Written for: Birthday gift for ldydark1 who requested more of Club Coquette
Summary: Dinner conversation is far from light.



Draco had two days...two long days to agonize over his impetuous decision to accept Potter's invitation to dinner. He spent the time second guessing himself, dithering over what to wear, and contemplating escaping to the Forest of Dean where he would live out the remainder of his days as a hermit. A celibate hermit.

Draco also spent an inordinate amount of time wanking. He told himself it wasn't in anticipation, but rather an effort to ensure he could remain immune to Potter's charms once they were in close proximity while having dinner together.

Potter owled Draco with the details, and of course he'd chosen an elegant, expensive, exclusive restaurant with a reputation for being both intimate and discreet. Draco's opinion on the venue waffled between elation and horror. He'd dined there only a few times and enjoyed the experience, but he wasn't sure he trusted Potter in that setting. Or if he could trust himself.

The night of the dinner engagement (Draco refused to think of it as a date), he dressed in a gray suit with a matching vest over a pale pink shirt. His silk tie was silver with subtle pink stripes. When he realized he was fussing too much with his hair, Draco scowled at himself in the mirror and turned away. He checked the time, took a deep breath, and went downstairs to use the Floo.

Draco drew up short when he saw his mum waiting for him in the parlor.

She smiled and approached, reaching out to smooth his lapels. "You look quite dashing this evening, Draco. Enjoy your evening, and give Mr Potter my regards."

Draco mustered a smile for his mother, but inside it felt as though a flock of flutterbyes was taking flight. He squared his shoulders and stepped into the enlarged fireplace.

"Paradis!"

~*~

The maître d' personally escorted Draco directly to the table where Potter was already seated. Potter rose at his approach, but he made no attempt to pull Draco's chair out for him.

"Potter," Draco greeted once he was seated.

Potter sat back down. "Draco," he all but purred.

Draco's cock reacted, and he had to clench his jaw to keep the reaction from showing on his face. "Mum sends her regards," he said, vowing to keep the conversation to neutral topics.

The sommelier brought over the wine list, which he handed to Potter. Once the man took his leave, Potter perused the list. He glanced up and said, "I'm thinking of the Chateau Lafite Rothschild. Do you recommend a particular vintage?"

Pleased to be consulted, Draco retrieved the list and indicated which vintage he preferred. Once they had glasses of wine and their meals were ordered, they sat in awkward silence for a few moments.

Potter smiled. "It's nice to have dinner with you when I can see your face."

"As compared to my legs?" scoffed Draco. He wished the words back as soon as he'd said them. The goal this evening was to carry on as if Club Coquette had never existed.

"Mm, your legs are certainly worth admiring," said Potter. "They're what drew me to you the first time you visited the club."

Draco felt his face flush. He had to resist the urge to tug at his tie.

"Is it over?"

Draco's eyes widened. "Wh-what?"

"Between you and Todd," Potter clarified. "Is it officially over? No more having to dodge the Troll?"

"I believe so, yes," Draco replied. He could feel the tension leaving his shoulders. "At least my mother now realizes I never intended to pursue a relationship with him. I should have been more firm in my rejection, I reckon. I suppose now he thinks I'd been leading him on."

Potter waited until their drinks had been delivered before he waved off Draco's comment. "I got the impression Todd was using your family name to elevate his social status."

Draco couldn't disagree; he settled for taking a sip of his wine. "What about you?" he finally asked.

"I have no intention of elevating Todd's social status." Potter's expression was grave, but his eyes danced with merriment behind his specs.

"Berk. I meant..."

"You want to know why I'm interested in you?" asked Potter, all humor fled from him.

Draco could only nod.

Potter sat back and appeared to be giving the matter serious consideration. "It should be obvious I find you attractive," he said. "That's been true since we were teens. But more than that, I admire your keen intellect, your wit, your sense of humor, your oral skills, your--"

"What?"

Potter had the nerve to laugh. "I was checking to be sure you were paying attention."

Draco scowled and resisted the urge to squirm on his chair.

"What about you?" asked Potter, repeating Draco's question back to him. "What drew you to...to Zee?"

This was not a game Draco wanted to play, but in all fairness, he owed Potter an answer. Draco took a sip of wine to stall before he replied. "His sexy voice. His obvious desire for me. Me, not my reputation. His...his playfulness and reckless daring. The way he made me feel..."

Draco's voice trailed off before he could utter the word cherished.

"Cherished?"

Draco's head snapped up and his eyes narrowed. "Are you a Legilimens?"

"No, Draco, I'm not," said Potter. "When you stopped speaking, I filled in the word that best describes how I felt, how I feel about you."

Flustered, Draco raised his glass to his lips, but his throat was so tight he didn't dare try to drink.

"Zee and me, we're the same person, you know," Potter said.

Draco was granted a reprieve when their meals were delivered to the table. Once the waiter left, Potter picked up where he'd left off.

"What we had--have--was begun in secret, but I'd like to think we were building something special between us," he said. "I don't want to lose it. I don't want to give up on us. Now that there are no more secrets between us, I'd like to continue seeing you."

Draco squelched the flutter of excitement he felt in his center, and he met Potter's earnest gaze with a challenge in his own eyes. "Do you mean in public, or at the Club?"

Illicit Intimacies

content: ust, verse: club coquette, gift: birthday, rating: pg13, content: flangst

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