The morning sun seeped into my eyelids and I instinctively rolled to bury my face in a pillow, but found myself bumping into the body of a man laying beside me. Severus.

He lay on his back, both hands tucked neatly under his head. I leaned on my elbow to get a better look, and saw the top half of his chest was exposed. He was stronger than I imagined and I was able to see his muscles, but they were only slightly defined under a soft coating. But even so, he looked like he was carved out of marble.

Asleep, the tension had faded from his face, but not after forming creases around his mouth and eyebrows, showing the years of anger and bitterness had caught up with him. Still, his face had an innocent look about it, peaceful even. I could see his youth shining through.

But he wasn't young, he wasn't a student. He was my professor, and I just slept with him. I collapse in the bed, feeling euphoric as I replayed what happened yesterday.

I laugh escapes my lips, not because it's funny but because it's so surreal, and before I can suppress it, Sev rolls over to face me. Without opening his eyes, he wraps his arms around my hips, making me suddenly aware of my nudity. But before I can panic, his chin rests against my shoulder, and I am able to relax.

"Good morning," he says, his voice croaking, deeper than usual.

I say it back though I feel I'm being drawn back into sleep.

"I want to... explain myself"

I look towards him now, surprised, confused. But I don't say anything, just give him my full attention. What could he possibly have to explain right now?

"I love you," he said anxiously, before carrying on, "you don't need to say it back, don't feel pressured. I'm not telling you because I have expectations, I'm telling you because I want you to know."

I do love him, last night wouldn't have happened otherwise, but this isn't the right time to say it. It needs to be passionate, not obligatory.

Fortunately, he didn't wait for me to respond. "As you know, the other woman I loved chose another man. A better man, really. I never told her I loved her, and I can only regret that now. I know it wouldn't have changed her feelings for me, or him for that matter, but I had loved her since I set my eyes on her." He shook his head, "it's a shame I never found the courage to tell her."

I press my lips against his collarbone, comforting his without interrupting. I can tell he's been wanting to get this off his chest. Not just with me, but likely since it happened. Has he ever confided in someone? Did he even have anyone to confide in? To hold in all of that pain, it's no wonder he grew sour.

He ran his fingers through my hair, "but I'm a different man. If I didn't wish I was more honest before, I do now. I almost died and it has awoken in me this confidence. I realize, I need to be honest with myself, and the woman I love. So, that's what I'm doing. I'm telling you how I feel."

I couldn't express my thoughts as well as he did, but I knew I wanted to kiss him, so that's what I did. I brought his head down to mine and kissed him, long and deep. When it ended, I leaned my  forehead against his and breathed, "I love you too, Severus."

"I hoped as much," he said, closing his eyes. "I want to do this right. I am over Lily, I moved on, which I never thought I would. And I have you to thank for it."

I pressed my lips to his forehead, and he said, like it was a plea rather than a confession of love, "I can't lose this, I can't lose you."

"You won't lose me," I say, caressing his face. "I'm here for you. Always."

He kisses me again, and we stay like that for the duration of the morning. Our bodies entangled, our hands exploring, and are lips expressing the love our words cannot.