[Bonus chapter] What Are You Two Doing?

Draco found Riley sitting on the sofa when he came home. 

The boy was so lost in thought and did not notice Draco approaching. It was only after the sofa had sagged from Draco's weight that Riley finally came out from his stupor.

"Your home. When did you arrive?" Riley asked, looking sideways at Draco.

"Just now… What were you thinking, Little Riley? If I had not sat beside you, you would not have noticed I was here," Draco calmly inquired.

"You," blurted out Riley. When he realized the words he spoke, Riley immediately amended. "I mean… I was… waiting for you to arrive…" he said, ever so slowly as to get his words right.

"Alright. If you say so…" Draco hid his smile. Little Riley sucks at lying. It was pretty obvious. So, that meant the boy was thinking of him. Draco was pleased. For whatever reason it was, he did not really care as long as he had occupied the boy's mind.

If Draco thought he did a good job hiding his smirk, he was wrong. Riley saw the spark of amusement in the man's eyes. It was no use lying. He was not good at it.

"Fine, I lied just now," Riley admitted, his eyes downcast. "I was only thinking… how good you are to me. I felt so blessed to receive your kindness." Then shifting his body to face Draco, the boy added, "Thank you, Draco. Thank you for everything."

Riley's sincerity struck Draco in the heart. Their close proximity made matters even worst as Draco received the full blow of the intense emotions reflected in the boy's eyes.

As if time slowed and made a full stop, everything stilled. The surroundings blurred, and for an instant, Riley was the only thing Draco could see, nothing else. The boy's every minuscule movement is highlighted. The fluttering of his lids. The stretch of his mouth and the crinkle of his eyes. Draco was enchanted.

Then as if a distant echo, he heard Riley's voice. "Draco, have I ever told you that no one had been this good to me? Even my own family. Only you. Only you had treated me like someone precious." Afterward, a beautiful shy smile blossomed on the boy's face.

Riley was indeed feeling shy after saying those words. Nevertheless, he thought Draco should know how he felt. Overcome with shyness, Riley bowed his head to avoid Draco's gaze.

Hearing the boy's honest words, Draco could not hold back anymore. He wanted to take a leap and just tell Riley of his feelings.

A moment later, steady fingers held Riley's chin, raising it up. Then voice gruff with emotions, Draco remarked, "So, you do realize how good I am to you, Little Riley… Then do you understand why?"

Unable to avoid the spellbinding grey eyes, Riley stared straight at Draco. He gulped, and his adam's apple rolled as Riley whispered, "Because… you're a good person."

Inching closer, Draco's thumb touched Riley's lower lip. 

"I'm glad to hear you say that… But do you really believe that's the only reason, Little Riley? Haven't you noticed I treat you differently? Far better and preciously than others?"

Riley quivered from the touch, his mind going blank. He cannot comprehend what Draco is trying to say. In addition, the man's thumb continued to linger and brush against his lips. It invoked something from within Riley, making him restless.

Confused, Riley bit his lower lip wetting Draco's finger in the process. Draco's pupils immediately dilated. His gaze focused on the pair of red plums begging to be ravished. Slowly, he began to close the gap between his and Riley's faces.

A few inches more, and the two's lips would have touched when a youthful yell broke the spell.

"Uncle Draco!" Leo yelled, followed by loud steps down the stairs.

Draco shut his eyes in consternation. He forgot they were in the living room. Riley had so captivated him that it did not occur to him that anyone could barge in at any moment. 

Draco groaned. Just a second, just one more second, and he would have kissed Riley, confessed his feelings and heard the response.

But his nephew had to appear at that exact moment and ruin it all! Damn, Draco could throttle the bratty kid for his bad timing.

Very much frustrated, Draco reluctantly released Riley's chin. The boy's face was so red Draco was not sure if it was due to embarrassment or the same with him, anger.

Releasing a sigh heavy with disappointment, Draco rubbed Riley's head. "This conversation is nowhere near done. We will talk again, Little Riley," he declared.

As if he lost the ability to speak, Riley just nodded. He did not understand what just happened. A while ago, Draco was moving closer to him. Like he wanted to... kiss him? But that can't be right. He must have thought too much.

Shaking himself mentally, Riley watched as Leo walked towards them.

"Uncle, what are you two doing?" The youth asked, looking curiously between Draco and Riley.

Draco shot Leo with a murderous gaze. He was so annoyed with the teen right now. He was not sure he could give a calm reply. Thus, he remained silent and let his emotions show through his eyes.

If eyes could kill, Leo would be no more. 

Leo instantly cowered from his uncle's fierce stare. "Er, did I… interrupt something?" He inquired cautiously.

Ignoring the teen's query, Draco waited for his anger to subside and started to ask his own questions. 

"When did you arrive? Grandfather knows?"

"This afternoon… and yeah, I called gramps," Leo replied, already used to his uncle's abrupt nature. Then to Riley, he asked, "What happened to you? Why is your face beet red?"

"Uhm… I don't know." Riley replied, quickly covering his face. Then he hurriedly stood up and informed Draco, "I'll go back to my room first."

Riley dashed up the stairs to his bedroom, going straight to the bathroom.

Downstairs, Draco, still irritated with his nephew for interrupting, dropped all pretenses. 

"Grandfather sent you here to spy on me? Have you seen enough? When are you leaving?"

Disgruntled, Leo replied, "Uncle, I just arrived, and you are already asking me to leave?"

Indifferent to the youth's grumbling, Draco left the sofa and headed to his room.

Leo watched his uncle leave. Smirking, he grabbed the remote and sat bouncing on the sofa.