"Merlin it is hot out here!", Draco exclaimed.

"Normally I'd make a joke and say it's just me, but it really is. It doesn't get this hot in England."

"Suddenly I'm missing the rain."

"Shhhh don't say that. This state also gets weird weather. We can be pelted with hail at any minute."

"How absolutely lovely", Draco replied with a roll of his eyes as we walked to the table he had set up.

"Don't worry my Prince, I'll protect you. Starting with protection from the sun. You brought out the sunscreen?"

"I did."

"Do you want me to get your arms then? You can wear that shirt in the ocean, I don't care."

"I was gonna take it off if that's alright?", Draco asked quietly, avoiding contact.

"If that's what you want and you're comfortable."

"Can you just turn around and do my back first? I'll go lay on the towel under the umbrella and call you when I'm ready."

"Okay."

Respectfully, Harry turned around and took some deep breaths. It was then that he realized he would actually have to touch Draco. He did not need Draco hearing all of his thoughts in that manner.

"Alright Scarhead."

Harry turned around and sucked in a breath at the sight of Draco laying on his stomach, head resting on his arms, and looking up at Harry.

"Merlin you're so beautiful", he whispered breathlessly, forgetting his place.

"Thank you", Draco replied quietly, refusing to break eye contact.

Kneeling beside him, Harry cleared his throat as he grabbed the sunscreen. He dropped some onto Draco, and as he rubbed it in he was humming a song.

"Potter, stop filling my head with showtunes!"

"It's better than filling it with other things."

"Is it?"

"I would say so."

Harry did not need his mind to wander and expose him.

"This feels nice", Draco thought to himself.

When Harry didn't comment, he asked if he heard what he said.

"You said something?", he asked, confusion lacing his voice.

"I thought something. You didn't hear it?"

"No I didn't."

"Huh. Thinking to myself worked. I said, well I thought, that this feels nice."

"Your skin is so unbelievably soft Prince."

"And now it's going to be dry and greasy from the sunscreen."

"I'll apply some normal lotion or moisturizer or whatever you use after you shower."

"Now I know why you liked me rubbing your shoulders so much."

"I'm sure it was a more pleasant experience for you though. My hands are a lot more rough."

"I like it rough", Draco responded mentally, before he could redirect his thoughts.

At Harry's snicker he blushed.

"You didn't hear that. We're never going to speak of it."

With a smirk, Harry applied more pressure to Draco's back, who grunted in response.

"Potter, you need to stop. I still have to apply sunscreen to you. So whatever you do to me will be 10 times worse for you."

"Is that a promise?", he whispered huskily in Draco's ear, removing his hands before he could hear Draco's response.

"It's your turn for torture now. Switch places with me."

"With pleasure."

It was genuinely really nice to be this close to Harry. He just exuded the feeling of being safe. Draco felt like nothing could hurt him when he was with Harry.

"You make me feel the same way love", Harry replied quietly.

"This potion is a curse", Draco muttered.

"I dunno. It's nice to have such an open connection with someone. I don't care that you know what I'm thinking, at least 95% of the time."

"And what is the other 5%?"

"When I'm walking behind you and you sway your hips a little extra because you know I'm there."

"So I need to hold your hand when I'm walking up the stairs now. And who says I do that for your benefit? Maybe that's just how I walk."

"Nice try Malfoy, but I've been watching you walk out of rooms since we were 11. I know how you walk and it's certainly not like that."

"I always knew you watched me", Draco replied with a smirk, attributing the burning in his face to the sun.

"What can I say? You were one of the only people to catch my interest."

"Considering the life you've lived, that's a big compliment", Draco retorted with a snort.

"That just means you're worth the challenge."

"If your way of flirting is by calling me difficult it's not working. You were doing better earlier."

"Wanna rub sunscreen on my chest then?", Harry asked with a grin.

"You always have to cause trouble don't you Potter? Besides, I believe it's my turn for more sunscreen."

"You're sure you're comfortable with this?"

"It's hot. I'm not wearing a shirt and boiling because I have a few scars. I'm comfortable with you, which should be very evident by now. So, you have my permission to turn around."

When Harry turned around, he was greeted with the sight of Draco leaning back on his hands, staring up at him. He swallowed heavily, and Draco felt completely naked as Harry's eyes slowly traveled over his body.

So many thoughts were going through Harry's head that he knew he couldn't touch Draco right now.

"Umm. Wow", Harry exhaled.

Draco felt like he was going to pass out under Harry's attention. His skin was searing hot, and he couldn't blame it on the sun.

"Are you going to put on sunscreen for me or not?", Draco asked heavily.

"This potion is a curse", Harry muttered, slowly walking forward to meet Draco.

He knelt in front of Draco, slowly tracing each faded scar. All Draco could hear in his head was Harry's repeated monologue of "I'm so sorry."

Draco gently grabbed Harry's wrists, stopping his tracing fingertips.

"Look at me Harry", he implored softly.

When he didn't move to meet Draco's eyes, Draco released one of Harry's hands, and tilted his chin to face him.

"Hi."

"Draco I-I don't even know what to say."

"I'm going to let you go so you can collect your thoughts privately, but I want you to look at me when you speak okay? Can you do that for me?"

"I know you don't want me to apologize anymore but I'm so sorry. I wish I had never found that stupid book. I used Expelliarmus on all of these people who did much worse things than you. That was the last spell on my mind and I should not have used it without having the knowledge of what it did."

"It's okay darling. I know that you didn't use it on purpose. I tried to Crucio you for Merlin's sake. They're just a permanent reminder of how far we've grown. I would've rather used an unforgivable on myself than flirt with you, but here we are. We haven't hurt each other yet, and I don't think we will. I trust you with everything in me."

"I don't think you would've been able to do it. You have to mean it, and even then I don't think that you did. I promise that I'll take care of you from now on Draco."

"I know you will. Now that that's taken care of, can we get a move on with this? It has to sit for 15 minutes before we can go into the sun and I would like to get some color on me."

"I didn't know Malfoy's could get color", Harry teased.

The weird spell they had been under was broken, and as promised, Harry made sure Draco was properly covered. Draco was leaning into Harry's touch, never having been touched so tenderly before. It was very hard to think towards himself.

"You're absolutely stunning, you know that?"

"I do know", Draco replied with a teasing smile. "But it's nice hearing it from you, so feel free to keep telling me."

Placing a kiss on Draco's dark mark, he then finished rubbing the sunscreen into Draco's skin.

"There you go sweetheart. Although, the sunscreen will not protect you from my shining personality."

"Is that what we're calling it nowadays?"

"I hate you, you prat."

"The kiss to my forearm tells me otherwise. Good attempt though. 3/10 at best."

Harry huffed and grabbed the sunscreen to apply it to his own chest.

"And what do you think you're doing?", Draco asked, stealing the bottle from his hand.

"Finishing applying my sunscreen because you're mean to me."

"Oh no you're not. Get over here Potter."

"You just want to feel my muscles", Harry teased.

"No I do not!"

Draco's mind chose that time to betray him.

"I'll even flex for you if you'd like. You just have to ask."

"I suppose it would be beneficial for your sunscreen application."

"Do you forget I can hear what you're thinking?", Harry asked with a laugh. "You don't have to be modest Draco, I've been checking you out this whole time."

"I know, you weren't very discreet about it."

"Should I try to be?"

Draco bit his lip as he got to Harry's bicep.

"Definitely not."

"Salazar he's ripped."

"I hope you appreciate it. I don't take my shirt off for just anyone you know", Harry teased, eyes sparkling in the sunshine.

"I would hope not. The Prophet would have a field day and the photos would be on everybody's wall."

"I'll let you take one for your wall."

"That's too good of an opportunity to pass up. Are you gonna pose for me?"

Harry couldn't help but pose and smile very suggestively.

"If I see these anywhere I'll have to break my promise", Harry threatened.

"Oh no, these are solely for my... entertainment."

"Oh Merlin I don't even want to know what that means."

Draco blushed when he realized what Harry was talking about.

"That's not-I- shut up Potter!"

Harry just laughed because a flustered Draco was his favorite Draco. The way the tips of his ears always turned a light shade of red made Harry smile.

"I'll be as entertaining as you want me to be."

With a cheeky grin, Harry flexed for Draco.

"You can't be serious can you?"

"I'll do my impression of you."

With all of the composure he could muster, he cleared his face of all emotions, pouting his lips slightly. It was what he referred to as "Malfoy's modeling mood".

Mouth dry, Draco wished Harry was being goofy again.

"I think it's been 15 minutes now."

"Getting flustered are we Malfoy? It hasn't been 15 yet. Come take some pictures with me instead of just of me."

"Where's the fun in that?"

"You can sit on my lap", Harry replied, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.

"And what if I wanted you on my lap?"

"Oh believe me sweetheart, I'm very versatile."

Gulping, Draco wondered just what he had gotten himself into.