𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐒𝐄 𝐕𝐈𝐎𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐃𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

Chapter 6

Edward sat tending the fire all night, at war with himself whether he should wake Draco or let him sleep. While his initial impulse was to rouse him, since he'd indicated his nocturnal sojourns had already attracted attention from school authorities, Edward remembered the circles under Draco's eyes and his confession he hadn't been sleeping. Yet here he was. Knowing better than to read anything into it, yet ultimately unable to stop himself from wondering if it might have something—just a little something—to do with him, Edward remained indecisive as the hours passed.

At about quarter past five, the boy on the bed stirred.

"Bloody hell, what time is it?"

Edward turned in the direction of Draco's voice, unable to keep from smiling when he noted the wizard's uncharacteristically disheveled appearance. Blond hair that normally swept to the side in a smooth wave was tousled in some places, plastered flat in others.

"It's after five," Edward replied.

"Merlin's bollocks!"

Draco sprang from the bed and glanced around to locate his jacket, grabbing it with one hand while he smoothed his hair with the other. Edward watched bemusedly, trying not to smile.

"Will you get in trouble?"

"Probably," Draco muttered, fiddling with his collar. Then he murmured something under his breath that he obviously didn't intend Edward to hear. "It'll be a wet dream for Potter."

Edward didn't understand the reference. Who was Potter?

"You should have woken me," Draco said, casting his eyes to the ground. Edward stood a couple of paces away, folding his arms as he watched the wizard attempt to tame his matted hair.

"And miss this morning panic? Not on your life." He didn't tell Draco how he'd enjoyed watching him sleep, how he'd hoped to allow him some much-needed rest. Such sentiments would probably go unappreciated.

Draco snorted. "Git."

Edward took the insult good-naturedly, knowing it was just Draco's way. There wasn't any fire behind the word. He glanced at the smooth bit of skin exposed just at the base of Draco's throat and longed to press his lips to the hollow there. Of course, such a gesture would be too intimate—certainly for the morning. He forced himself to remain still.

The blond's eyes latched onto his again, a brief flicker of something that Edward couldn't name emerging from their grey depths. "Thank you . . . for not waking me. I . . ." He huffed and brushed the lapels of his coat. "I'd better go."

The faintest glimmer of light had already begun to filter in through the curtains.

"Will you be back?" He couldn't stop himself from asking the question, even as a warning voice sounded at the back of his mind not to push the issue.

Draco stepped toward him and the tension that filled the room made every second an eternity of wanting. Edward forced his eyes away from Draco's lips, trying not to remember them swollen from use after they'd sucked his cock. So warm, so wet. He wanted to lean in and press his own lips against them, but restrained himself. They hadn't yet kissed and Edward didn't know if they ever would, if Draco wanted to. He had absolutely no idea where he stood with the wizard.

Draco cleared his throat.

"I'll try and pop by again soon," he said softly, avoiding Edward's eyes.

"Okay."

Edward felt entirely at a loss as Draco slipped out of the cabin and into the early morning light. After his late night vigil, he hardly knew what to do with himself. Now that he'd read all of the books and Draco had gone, he returned to the strange limbo he'd inhabited ever since he'd left his family. With Draco, it was easy to pretend the last five months hadn't happened. But alone again . . . he'd never felt so alone. It was almost easy to forget how much he deserved it.