new discoveries
James didn't sleep alone that night. He had Regulus curled up against him, the warmth of his body making him sweat.
The curve of his back against James' chest was relaxing as his fingers danced up the soft arch of the boy's spine. The sweet smell of his hair filled his nostrils, and he ran his hands through it, each strand like precious silk.
James gives an experimental tug on a section that's wrapped around his finger, and Regulus whines. Actually whines.
The sound sends a jolt through his body. Oh. This was going to be fun.
James presses his lips against Regulus' collarbone, working his way up his neck, finally resting just below the younger boy's ear. "So," he murmurs, the smirk evident in his voice, "You like your hair pulled, huh Reggie?"
Regulus' skin burns under his fingers, and he groans, burying his face in the pillow.
"Oh shut up!" James raises an eyebrow, running his hands through Regulus' hair again, chuckling to himself.
"Jamie, if you dare to try and pull my hair again, I'm gonna-" he cuts himself off with a gasp, as James tugs tightly on the roots. When a pair of hands start swatting at his head, James laughs loudly, before grabbing Regulus' wrists and locking them behind his back, flipping him over so he's laying on his stomach.
"Can't hit me now, can you love?" James muses, his eyes lingering on the jet black hair splayed on the pillow, like a halo crowning Regulus' head.
Maybe he really was an angel.
James' hands explore each dip and curve of Regulus' body: he runs his finger along each and every part of the boy's stretched frame. When he ducks his head down to kiss along his shoulders, he smiles into the warm skin. Regulus cranes his neck up to look over at James, and he smiles back.
An actual, warm smile. James could have melted right there. Instead, he ghosts his fingers along Regulus' spine, with a whispered "I love you".
He freezes. Oh shit. He didn't mean to say that. Regulus tenses beneath his hands. He heard it too, of course he did. James steps back, letting the boy beneath him sit up, with widened eyes.
"You love me?" He sounded shocked. James nods slowly, and Regulus pounces onto him, knocking him backwards onto the bed.
Okay, this is good. Lips trailing down his neck, hands pulling at his shirt, trying to drag it over his head. Oh, this is really good. James buries a hand in Regulus' curls, holding on tightly.
Suddenly, there's a loud knock at his bedroom door. The two boys lock eyes with eachother, trying not to laugh: the person on the other side of the heavy wooden door couldn't have knocked at a worse time.
Pressing his palm to Regulus' mouth, James shouts, "Yeah? Do you need something?" There's no reply, but the door slowly begins to swing open, revealing a confused-looking Remus.
To be fair, Remus often looks confused, this isn't too out of the ordinary.
However, confusion quickly turns to shock, which, in turn, switches to raucous laughter.
"Oh you two fucking idiots!" Remus eyes them carefully, "Oh! Literally two fucking idiots. Imagine if Sirius had walked in! Oh God, you two would have been in such deep shit... You already know he would have never shut up about being right. Anyways, I was sent to find Regulus, but it appears you got there first James! Have fun you two lovebirds"
He winks, before walking out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
James grips onto Regulus' shoulders, shaking with laughter.
"Oh my god! That was so embarrassing!"
Regulus didnt respond, his face flushed a deep shade of red.
Remus wouldn't tell Sirius. No, he'd keep their little secret in exchange for being allowed to be there when James eventually tells him.
He knew Sirius had to find out, but he most definitely wasn't going to be happy about it. His best friend and his little brother? Not a chance would he support that.
As long as James had known him, Sirius had been extremely protective of their group of friends - getting into fights for them, trying his hardest to solve all their problems. It was sweet, really. However, a few months ago it all changed.
Sirius' focus switched from the whole group, narrowed down to one member in particular. Remus. Everything Sirius talked about was the freckled boy, constantly gushing over his every move. James was subject to many 'Remus chats' that only ever consisted of each interaction they had and how good his hair looked.
At the time, James thought it was quite pathetic. How can you be so infatuated with a person that they're all you can talk about? However, as soon as Regulus stepped into his living room, soaked from the rain and cheeks flushed, it all made sense.
This is what it was like to be in love.
Obviously James had liked people before, but never like this. Alright, he had previously had a crush on the same girl for several consecutive years, and alright, it had hurt him when he found out she was lesbian, but that was nothing like this.
No, James knew instantly that he wanted Regulus to be his. He needed him to be his, desperate for him to be the only person those grey eyes gazed upon.
James hadn't believed he could ever love again after the disaster that was his last crush, but he was wrong. And he was so glad he was.