potter,”hemurmuredwithastubbornreaseonhisforehead.potterletoutabreathyughbeforeheleanedoverandsentdrao’spulseintooverdrivewithamaddeningkiss.“promisemeyou’lltellmewhensomething’sbyou,”draosaidwhenpotterpulledbak.“don’tgoandisoteyourself.”hebrushedafewstrandsofhairoutofpotter’sfae.“idon’tareifweendupfighting.just…talktome,okay?”

“okay,”potterwhispered.

“andplease,forone,thinkaboutwhatyouwant,okay?”

potterdidn’trespondimmediately.hebithislipandputhishandoverdrao’sonhisfae.“i—iknowwhatiwant.atleast,um—”

“what?”

“iknowatleasthing.”

“what?whatisit?”draofurrowedhisbrowsatpotter’sjitteryvoie.hisexpressionwasweird,too.

“i—iwanttobeyours.”

wasitdrao’simaginationorwasthesunlightsuddenlys?heswallowedaroundthesuddenlumpinhisthroat,prayinghewasn’tdreaming.butifhewasn’t…hehadnoideawhatwastheappropriateresponsetosomethinglikethis.hisbody,however,thoughtitwasappropriatetounleashamassivestormofgiddinessinsidehimandsendshokwavesdownhisspine.heonlyrealisedhewassmilinglikeaompleteidiotwhenpottergrinned,limbedontopofhimandstartedsnogginghimsenseless.heflinhedwhendraoputhishandsonhissides,butslowlyrexedasdraoletoutaoedsigh.babysteps,hethought.

“iouldgetusedtosurpriseslikethis,”pottersaidiweenkisses.“youknowyou’veompletelyruinedme,right?”

“forothermen?”