Author's Notes: This story is a WIP, but chapters should be submitted regularly. Feedback is always appreciated in any form. Email me with suggestions, pleas, or criticism! The basic beginning premise of the story was vaguely borrowed, with permission, from the lovely Lady Feylene's story "Beautiful Stranger."

Taming the Beast

Part 10

By Lady Grey

       

Charlie surveyed Remus’ gloomy expression. “Remus, he will be back,” he assured the werewolf gently.

“I know,” Remus sighed. “I’m just worried.”

“Come on.” The redhead grabbed Remus’ hand and pulled him closer. “Let’s go to bed.”

Remus arched an eyebrow, playful mischief stealing into his eyes. “But I spent all day in bed,” he complained innocently.

“Oh?” Charlie said, glad to see Remus beginning the banter. “Well then, I suppose we could go to bed anyway, and…snuggle.”

“Snuggle, hmm?” Remus appeared to consider the prospect. “Well, I suppose that might be an acceptable way to pass the evening.”

“Only acceptable?” Charlie flicked a grin his way as he led the werewolf to the bedroom.

“Possibly more than that,” Remus acceded. “We’ll just have to see, won’t we?”

“I suppose so,” Charlie murmured as he pushed Remus lightly onto the bed and climbed on top of him, prowling predatorily on all fours. He leaned down to nuzzle Remus’ neck, eliciting a sigh of contentment from his victim. Soon the lovers were engaged in an all-out snogging session.

“I haven’t acted so much like a teenager in years,” Charlie confessed with a panting breath.

Remus laughed softly. “Hey, it’s been even longer for me,” he laughed. “How do you think I feel?”

“Mmm, I know how I feel…”

Further snogging ensued. Remus participated eagerly, throwing clothing onto the floor energetically, until his conscience worried him to a halt.

“Charlie?”

“Hmm…?”

Remus pushed the redhead up and off of him a bit. “Charlie, wait.”

“What?” Charlie settled at Remus side and pushed his long hair back. “Are you okay? Are you still weak? Should you be resting? Am I being too demanding? I’m sorry…”

“Stop, no, nothing like that,” Remus tried to stem the outpouring of concern. “Not at all, I just…” He took a deep breath. “Are you sure?”

Unexpectedly, Charlie laughed. “You idiot, stop that. Yes, I’m sure, yes, I want to be with you. I love you. Now shut up and kiss me.”

“Mmm,” Remus murmured against the ardent lips pressed against his own. “I’m sorry I keep asking, I just don’t understand why…”

“Why I want to be with you?” Charlie finished when Remus trailed off. Remus nodded a little shamefully, planting an apologetic kiss on the underside of his lover’s jaw.

The redhead sighed and stretched out on his back, gathering Remus up on his chest. “Remus. Listen to me.” He began seriously, wrapping arms around his lover and pressing his lips fervently to the sandy-blonde hair. “You ask why I want to be with you. How could I not? You’re smart, witty, handsome, and despite life’s hardships you find a joy in life that inspires me to do the same. When you’re near me I feel like the rest of the world doesn’t exist, like I could never see the outside world ever again and I wouldn’t mind. When I’m with you I could happily drown in your essence and not regret it.” He hesitated. “When I see the wolf, I’m jealous that I can’t be near you, like Sirius, and play with Moony. You are so intoxicating, my love, that I want to be with you at your best, at your worst, at all times. I feel like every relationship I’ve had before this has been some pathetic attempt to imitate what we have. You ask why I want to be with you, but I wonder how I could be any way else.”

Silence.

“Remus?” Charlie whispered, unsure of how his speech had been received. He craned his neck to look at Remus’ face. Amber-brown eyes were shuttered behind delicate eyelids, bottom lip caught between white teeth. “Love?”

The eyes opened. “Charlie,” he breathed. He smiled. “All right.”

Charlie blinked. “All right?”

Remus chuckled. “All right, I think I understand.” He blushed shyly. “If only because I feel the same way.”

Charlie’s face relaxed into a grin. “Good, I wasn’t sure I was being articulate.” His tone softened. “I love you, Remus. I’m glad you can believe me.”

Remus sighed happily. “Make love to me, Charlie.”

The redhead kissed him gently and fluttered a hand down to Remus’ stomach. “Are you sure? I don’t want to wear you out; maybe you should rest.”

“Charlie,” Remus protested with a groan, arching into the pleasure. “I’m not going to break. Please!”

“Far be it from me to refuse such a request,” Charlie acceded with a smile, turning Remus on his side and melting behind him. The werewolf’s scrambling hand found the tube on the nightstand, thrusting it hastily toward Charlie.

The redhead spread the gel hurriedly onto a few fingers before thoughtlessly tossing the tube, uncapped, in the general direction of the nightstand.

“Charlie,” Remus chided teasingly, “We’ll never find that next time we need it now.”

The younger man didn’t answer, just slid a slippery finger inside his lover, wrenching a gasp from the unsuspecting man.

“Okay?” Charlie asked, ever considerate.

“Of course,” Remus said, voice roughened by lust. “Please. More.”

Charlie wiggled in a second finger, stretching until he could work in a third. By then Remus was panting, body language begging for more. Removing the fingers, the redhead pressed his cock against the ring of muscle, which gave way graciously to the intrusion. When he was fully buried, he nuzzled the nape of Remus’ neck. “Love you,” he murmured, before burying himself fully.

Charlie moved carefully, pulling out a few inches before easing back in. Remus shivered, reaching to weave his fingers with Charlie’s. They moved slowly, a soothing rhythm that sent them both spiraling into shared pleasure. After quite a bit of these ministrations, Remus came, murmuring Charlie’s name mindlessly as he trembled from the orgasm. The werewolf relaxed, letting the aftershocks travel his system as Charlie edged closer and closer to a finale. The redhead leaned down to capture his lover’s lips in a desperate kiss as he shuddered and released himself in his lover.

He collapsed on the warm body beneath him, pulling out reluctantly. Shifting his weight to the side, he cuddled closer to Remus. Neither said anything; nothing was necessary. Eventually, Remus dropped off to sleep, his breathing becoming slow and rhythmic.

Charlie stayed awake a while longer, listening to the soft sounds of sleep and feeling the comforting rise and fall of Remus’ chest before he, too, was pulled into the world of dreams.

~*~

“Don’t you dare.”

Remus froze, midway through his attempt to ease his way out of bed without disturbing his lover.

“Don’t you dare leave,” Charlie reiterated, voice languid with sleep.

“I’m not leaving, I was going to make coffee,” Remus reasoned with him.

“Nope,” Charlie yawned, “still counts as leaving.” With that pronouncement, he pulled the lycanthrope back into bed and rolled on top of him, effectively pinning him in place.

The corners of Remus’ mouth threatened a smile. “You know, I could still throw you across the room right now,” he asserted mildly, without rancor.

“I thought werewolves were supposed to be weak after the Change,” Charlie grumbled into Remus’ shoulder.

“We are, relatively speaking,” Remus explained playfully, toying with Charlie’s hair, “but that doesn’t mean we aren’t much stronger than ordinary humans.”

“No one tells me anything,” Charlie complained.

“Oh, aren’t we a martyr this morning,” Remus teased back.

“Nngggrrrrrmmmm,” Charlie mumbled, resorting to meaningless grumbling.

“All right,” Remus said softly, stroking the long red hair that fanned over both of them.

A loud pop made the both jump.

“Charlie?” a voice called from the corner fireplace.

“Bill!” Charlie bounced up and snagged his wand and a pair of carelessly discarded underwear from the floor. He struggled into the boxers before plopping down cross-legged in front of the fireplace. “Conflagreo,” he said with a wave of his wand at the fireplace, in which a small but strong fire appeared. Within a few moments, Bill’s floating head shimmered into view.

“You’re alive!” was the first thing Charlie’s older brother said to him. “Dammit, Charlie, I hadn’t heard from you in weeks, I was convinced you had been eaten by one of your pets.”

“Sorry,” Charlie looked repentant. “I’ve been, er, busy.”

Bill arched an eyebrow. “Busy, huh?”
Charlie blushed slightly. “Um, yeah.” He changed the subject. “How are things in your corner of the world?”

“Going well, actually, just wrapping up the last bits of another new find. I’m on my lunch break now, but I thought I’d check up on you. Even mum was worried when I talked to her a few days ago; she hasn’t heard a peep from you in almost a month.”

“Damn,” Charlie swore. “I kept meaning to send her an owl, but…”

“Yeah, yeah. Well, you know mum, I’d expect a frantic owl any day now,” Bill smiled.

Charlie sighed. “I’m surprised she’s waited this long.”

“So,” Bill steered the conversation back to its earlier topic, “want to explain exactly what you’ve been busy with for the last two weeks? Or should I ask who you’ve been busy with?”

“How…?” Charlie looked surprised.

“You’ve never owned a pair of plaid boxers in your life, Charlie.”

Charlie looked down. He was, in fact, wearing Remus’ boxers, which were a tasteful plaid. “Oh, heh, well…um, can you hold on a minute?”

Bill nodded with a small smirk and Charlie untangled himself to return to the bed.

“Remus?”

Remus looked up at his red-haired lover. He had been sitting very, very still in the bed, trying not to make any movement to draw attention, but he had heard everything.

“Love, do you want to…I mean, should we…well, what I’m trying to ask is whether or not you’d like to…” Charlie looked adorably nervous as he ran a hand through his long hair.

The lycanthrope took pity on him and interrupted. “Charlie, beloved, it’s your family and it’s up to you, but I’d love to meet your brother.”

Charlie broke into a grin. “C’mon then,” he said as he captured one of Remus’ hands in his own.

“Hey, underwear?” Remus protested, wrapping a sheet around his waist.

Charlie scanned the room. “Can’t find mine, and I’m wearing yours. Sorry, by the way, but you do look fetching in that sheet.”

Remus looked upset. “Charlie, the scars!” he hissed.

Charlie bit his lip. “He won’t care…” he whispered back.

“But I do,” Remus replied in the same undertone.

“Oh…c’mere.” Charlie, still clutching his wand, muttered something under his breath. A glow emanated from the tip of his wand, shooting out to surround Remus. Magically, his skin tone evened out so the scars were undetectable. “There, that should work for an hour or so.”

Remus looked grateful. “Thanks Charlie,” he whispered, then in a normal voice: “Underwear?”

“Oh, it’s just Bill, he won’t care,” Charlie claimed and hauled his lover unceremoniously to the fireplace. “Besides, you look positively edible wrapped up the way you are.” The redhead dropped down, pulling Remus after him. Bill appeared to be trying not to laugh, having heard the last bit of the debate clearly.

“Bill,” Charlie said excitedly, still clutched his lover’s hand, “this is Remus Lupin. Remus, my brother Bill.”

Bill’s eyebrows shot up. “Nice to meet you,” he said warmly, tone shaded with surprise.

“Likewise,” Remus smiled shyly.

“Forgive my forwardness,” Bill said cautiously, “but are you the, er, former DADA professor?”

Remus’ eyes immediately darkened, but it was Charlie who spoke. “What? You know? How?” he demanded sharply.

Bill looked uncomfortable. “Well, mum flipped out a bit over the entire thing. I’m sure you’ll hear about it in her next letter but…” he paused awkwardly. “Let’s say she was less than thrilled to learn that her children spent so much time around a dark creature. No offense,” he added hastily to Remus.

Remus was frowning, lost in his own thoughts, and didn’t respond.

“Remus?” Charlie turned to him, concerned. “Remus, look at me.” He lifted a hand to Remus cheek and caressed it, turning his face toward him. “Remus,” he said plainly, ignoring his brother shifting awkwardly in the fire, “I don’t care what anyone thinks, even my family. Forget it, please, Remus. It doesn’t matter.”

Remus looked him in the eye, pain evident in his own golden gaze. “It does, Charlie. They’re your family. You have to deal with it sometime.”

“We’ll have to deal with it, yes,” Charlie said firmly. “But that’s a we; we’ll be dealing with it together.”

Remus offered a weak smile, which Charlie kissed gratefully before turning back to his brother. “Bill?”

Bill was looking terribly embarrassed. “I’m sorry,” he apologized, “I shouldn’t have just dropped that on you. Remus…” he hesitated. “It’s okay, you know, with me. I trust Charlie to have made a good decision, so I trust you.”

Remus’ head snapped up in surprise. “Thank you,” he said gently, not sure of how to reply. “Really, you don’t know what that means to me.”

Bill smiled, and Remus offered one tentatively in return. Charlie grinned.

“So,” Charlie began, “will you come visit us sometime? Floo in for dinner at least?”

Bill nodded. “I’d love too, if I’m welcome.” He looked at Remus, who looked vaguely startled.

“Of course,” the werewolf acquiesced, thrown off balance by the question. “I’d love to meet you,” he amended.

“I might not be able to get over for a week or two,” Bill was now addressing Charlie, “but I’ll let you know when I have some free time.”

“Excellent!” Charlie was thrilled.

“Now, promise you’ll owl more regularly!” Bill insisted.
”I will, I’m sorry,” Charlie promised.

“All right then,” Bill said, smiling. “Remus, it was terribly nice to meet you, do take good care of my brother, will you? He’s a troublemaker.”

Remus laughed lightly. “I will,” he answered. “Lovely to meet you as well.”

“I’m off then, my lunch is almost over. Goodbye, gentlemen.”

“Goodbye,” Remus and Charlie echoed. The fire shimmered a bit and Bill disappeared, leaving a normal flame dancing in his wake. Charlie extinguished the conflagration with his wand and turned to look at Remus, who was looking back at him.

“That was entirely too much excitement for first thing in the morning,” Charlie remarked.

Remus smiled back. “Bill seemed awfully nice. I was surprised that he…” he paused unsurely. “That he was so accepting.”

Charlie shrugged. “Bill’s a good guy. And with his job, he’s gotten to be pretty open to just about anything. Like he said, he trusts my judgment, dubious as it is sometimes.”

Remus kissed his lover’s nose affectionately. “You’re very lucky to have him,” he said softly.

“I know.” Charlie started to say something else, but was interrupted by a flash of brown shooting through the window into the room. The creature landed on Charlie’s shoulder, a heavy-looking scroll attached to its leg.

“Oh no,” Charlie looked nervous. “Mum.” He untied the scroll and directed the bird to the kitchen with instructions to “help himself.” Looking uncertainly at Remus, who had a blank look plastered on his face, he unrolled the letter and began to read.

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