Ariel couldn't get enough. He couldn't get enough of it. Of his kisses. Of him. Regulus was an addiction he couldn't let go of. His heart and body craved him. No matter how hard he tried to force himself to cut ties with him, to believe they had no future together and that he should stop whatever was going on between them, he knew it was a lie. Everything was a lie. He was lying to himself. He couldn't go back anymore. The way Regulus was holding him so tightly, with so much possessiveness proved him that he, himself, wouldn't let go of Ariel too.

"Say it again," sighed Regulus against Ariel's lips.

"You're mine..." he told him just as softly with a smile.

"All yours..." added the boy, smiling as well. The thought itself felt unreal it was driving him crazy. With so much lust in his voice, he repeated again, "I'm yours."

Regulus felt intoxicated, even corrupted by Ariel. And the blond boy knew it. Sometimes he regretted bringing him in such a complexed situation and sometimes he thought it was fate's magic. Like they were bound to be together that night, or any other night they spent in each other's embrace. And every time they were together. And he knew he couldn't fight against fate and that all he had to do was to flow with it. In that moment, this was what he did. Regulus had been wanting him and Ariel too. He let his feelings rule him. If he wanted to praise Regulus, he would. If he wanted to kiss him, he would. If he wanted to make him happy he would, too.

He agreed to his every request, never refused anything, and a great satisfaction took over him the moment he saw this familiar look of bliss cover Regulus' face.

"You're so handsome my little baby," he chuckled against his cheek as his lips brush a kiss against it.

"Don't say such things Ariel..." he muttered but his expression wouldn't flatter. Except when his cheeks turned a darker shade of red, that Ariel couldn't see in the darkness but could surely feel by how hot he was.

"But I just like saying it. Don't you like it too?"

By now, the poor boy felt so shy that he had to cover his face with his hands because he didn't like the older boy witnessing him in such state.

"Don't hide, you're so adorable," whined Ariel.

"Stop teasing me..." he groaned.

"No, I know you like it as much as I do..." he whispered while his lips went to brush the skin of his neck.

His skin formed goosebumps at the sensation and he let out an audible sigh that made the blond boy smile happily. He continued his kisses farther down.

Everything his heart felt but his mouth couldn't say was expressed through his actions. It was the same for Regulus. Except when it felt too strong and he couldn't hold it.

"Again..." he murmured while his grey stormy eyes looked at Ariel. A hood of lust covering them.

"What? You want me to say that you're mine again?" chuckled the older boy.

Just by these words and this faint chuckle, Regulus' heart quickened its pace.

"Make me yours again..." his voice whispered.

"Oh, that's what you want again," whispered back the boy's smoky voice.

He couldn't say no to him. Even if he wanted to. Regulus had that power over him. He just offered him his everything and Regulus embraced him with all his affection. It was the only way they felt complete. When they felt like one.

Still early in the morning, when the sun was rising, Ariel's blue eyes would be set on Regulus' sleeping form. They ended up sleeping cuddled up against each other but the heat of the night made them lay on different sides. And it was probably what made Ariel wake up, having to move in the bed. But he was happy to be able to admire this sight. His sleeping face looked so calm and relaxed, an expression he would rarely see on him. He looked innocent and adorable, and Ariel felt very privileged to witness this. The more they would spend time together, the more Regulus would show his true self. He thought about the first times they slept in the same bed and how he wasn't as at ease as now. He wasn't afraid to show himself to Ariel anymore, in every aspect. Even though, he had never really admitted it to himself - and to Regulus - Ariel knew it, he was in love with the boy. He could spend a whole night staring at him, his feelings would only grow stronger.

Some moments later, Regulus stirred awake and the blond boy was still fixing him. He squinted his eyes open and met a pair of light blue orbs that surprised him.

"Don't stare at me like that, it scared me..." murmured the boy as his face went to hide in his pillow.

Ariel chuckled and murmured back, "I can't help, you're so cute."

"Hm, I knew you'd say something like that..." he answered, turning around so his back was now facing the blond boy who started moving as well.

Not being able to prevent himself, he went to cuddle against Regulus' body and let sweet kisses drop to his shoulder and arm.

"I still want to sleep," groaned the sleepy boy.

"Sleep then..." replied softly Ariel as he put some distance between them so he could feel more comfortable.

However, the boy followed him in his movements and turned around to lay against him. He snuggled to his chest, breathed in the familiar scent and let his lips brush against the skin.

"You look like a kitten..." laughed Ariel.

Regulus ended up laying his face on his torso and whispered sleepily, "Can you brush my hair please..."

The boy's hand went right away to lose itself in his mass of messy raven curls. He could hear the youngest hum in appreciation and it made him smile in satisfaction. His fingers ran through his strands of hair, slowly and softly. His actions were gentle and lulled Regulus back to sleep. Ariel really loved taking care of him, more than anything. He continued watching his sleeping face with a fond look and continued his caresses until he too fell asleep. He slept more peacefully than ever whenever he was by Regulus' side. This boy could bring him so much joy with the merest things.

Going home was like going back to reality. Being with Regulus felt like Heaven, being back home was being back on Earth. Except that now, it felt like Hell. It was unexpected. The night before, he hadn't realized it would be one of his last nights with Regulus.

His father announced him the apparently great news in the morning.

"It's set up son. I found you a spouse," told him Abraxas when he saw him. Nothing more, just this simple sentence that crushed every emotion in the boy.

He stared at his father with wide eyes, filled with pure shock. He gulped down with difficulty before giving an answer. "A spouse? How? You didn't tell me anything."

"I know. I had been thinking of a girl for a while and after having a discussion with Lucius yesterday I took actions. Her parents, your mother and myself had had already plenty of discussions about you and their daughter. She was my preference, though your mother seemed to think you were getting along quite well with the Flint girl. And so we visited them after Lucius left and we settled this together. There was no need for you to be there. Daisy wasn't there neither," finished the man with his snobbish tone, regarding his son with seriousness in his faded blue eyes.

Ariel was simply speechless. He couldn't believe any of these words. He was barely out of school, he hadn't expected to grow up so quickly. This couldn't be happening right now. His mind was a mess that he barely processed the name he had just heard.

"Daisy you say?" he asked, confusion visible on his features, and clearly audible in his voice as well.

"Daisy Parkison. I thought she used to be one of your housemates," he answered, regarding him suspiciously now.

"Yeah, Daisy..." he said, finding back some sense.

"The engagement party is organized for the end of August. Just the time to send the invitations. It's time for you to take your responsibilities and to grow into a man, Ariel."

"Yes... Father..." quietly answered the boy before retiring in his room.

author's note: i already spoiled in the introduction that daisy parkinson would become a somehow main character but was it guessable in the story? like while reading, could you get the hint that she would become more important or did it stay blurry?

btw this will turn darker and i'll destroy the little joy we had so far in the story