A Priceless Gift

Prologue

"This is an important function, Harry," Draco Malfoy told his long-term boyfriend as they pulled up to the doorway of an extravagant hotel where the valet parking staff were waiting. "The principle partners of the firm only throw them when they are looking to promote staff. You have to be on your best behaviour."

"I heard you the first time you told me," Harry Potter sniped and wriggled uncomfortably in his midnight blue suit.

"Harry, one does not wiggle in a Prada suit! Stop it!" Draco scolded.

"It's itchy and hot!" Harry argued. "Give me a break. I'm not used to wearing it."

"Then look like you are!" Draco sighed impatiently.

"Give me some credit, Draco," Harry said in a huff. "I'm not a complete idiot. I only look it in this stupid suit."

Draco grabbed hold of the car door as if he was about to pass out. "Oh my god! You did not just say your designer suit was stupid! How the hell are you my boyfriend?!"

Harry snorted. "Your dramatics don't work on me, Draco darling," he intoned. Draco gave him the finger over the top of the car before handing his keys to one of the valets with firm threats that his 'skinny, pimply arse would be hauled through court if there was so much as dust particle left on the car'. The valet simply looked like he'd heard it all before.

Once they were in the foyer, Draco started adjusting Harry's suit and brushing him off as though he was covered in dust. Harry shook his head and rolled his eyes. "You are not to drink more than two alcoholic beverages tonight," Draco warned.

"Are you implying I'm a boozer?" Harry frowned.

"No, I'm implying you are a lightweight and two will be enough to make you feel comfortably pleasant and 'not dancing on the tabletops with your undies on your head' pleasant," Draco replied with a smirk.

"I do not dance on tabletops!" Harry scoffed and Draco raised an eyebrow at it. "That was one time!" Harry protested.

"If you tell me my arse tastes nice in front of any of my colleagues, there will be no fucking for an extended period of time," Draco said seriously.

"I don't even remember saying that," Harry mumbled.

"I rest my case," Draco said with a smirk. "Two only, babe."

"Have I ever been anything but the perfect, token boyfriend at your functions?" Harry asked pointedly.

"No, and we won't be changing the record tonight, will we?" Draco tossed back. "Please placate me and tell me that suit is neither itchy nor hot. I won't enjoy myself tonight if I think you are delusional."

"The suit is neither hot nor itchy, baby," Harry said obediently.

"And no pet names tonight," Draco added. Harry glared at him.

"Why don't I just stand in the corner with a pot plant on my head and call myself part of the décor? That way you won't have to bother yourself with me at all!" Harry snapped and crossed his arms.

"Impossible. We discuss the décor during small talk," Draco replied flippantly. Harry growled and spun around to storm off but Draco caught his arm. "I'm sorry, babe. Tonight is just important for me. I want to make a good impression," Draco apologised and looking imploringly at Harry.

"Then try and have a little faith in me!" Harry cried. "I know how important this is to you, but you know you're a shoo-in for the promotion. It's not like you haven't worked hard enough for it."

"I'm just worried something might happen to jeopardise it," Draco admitted.

"What could possibly happen? You work your arse off. Some nights you don't even get home until after eleven PM. Nothing is going to change between now and when they announce the promotion, after which you will just continue working your arse off and I'll get reacquainted with the television remote and my right hand," Harry joked.

"Are you bothered by the amount of work I do?" Draco said in concern.

"Right at this moment? No, I'm unbelievably proud of you. But sometimes when I'm sitting at home alone at nights and have hardly seen you in days, I miss you. Curling up on the couch and watching a sappy movie isn't the same unless you're there groping me under the blanket." Harry smirked.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because you're brilliant at what you do! You're still young, yet you are one of the most in-demand lawyers in London. You're about to be promoted to a partner of the firm. I mean, you have your own personal assistant for fuck's sake! And it's all because of all the hard work you've done to get there!" Harry said with passion. "I miss you a lot of the time, but I would never ask you to put your work aside for me."

"You should," Draco insisted. "You're the most important thing to me and I didn't even realise you might be missing me when I'm away. I miss you all the time when I'm at the office, but there are things to distract me there... you don't really wank without me, do you?"

Harry laughed. "I have no need to," he assured his boyfriend. "Even after your longest, hardest day at work, you still manage to come home and fuck. It's one of your hidden talents. Stamina is what got you where you are."

"You know I would give it all up for you, Harry. For us," Draco said honestly and pulled Harry into a hug. "You'd only need to ask."

"I know, baby."