Interlude [h.s]

twenty-eight

Alouette opens her eyes, the light coming in from the window so strong that for a moment all she can see is white.

She's lying over the blankets and can't remember when she fell asleep. Something is digging painfully into her back and she takes it, sighing when she discovers it's an empty glass. She can just hope its contents weren't spilled all over the blanket in the middle of the night.

What even happened last night? She can only remember bits and pieces. She was woken up by a knock, and then Harry—

Harry.

That's when realisation strikes.

She turns her head and almost falls off the bed when she sees Harry right beside her. She brings her hand to her mouth in shock, staring at him as if he's a sleeping lion, ready to pounce if she takes her eyes off him.

After some moments she understands he isn't about to wake up and allows herself to relax a little and take in the situation, using the clues scattered around the room to remember what happened.

She's wearing her bra and trousers and can see her shirt on the floor, close to Harry's black jacket. His tie is oddly placed at the foot of the bed and his shoes on the way from the door to the sleeping area. She closes her eyes, immediately feeling like an idiot. How could she let it get to that point? Is it even about the plan at this point, or is she following her own desires?

"I believe you offered me a drink."

Alouette hides her face in her hands as a memory flashes back to her mind.

She smiles, sitting up again and looking down at him. His red lips are parted, she almost believed she can see his hot breath rising in the air. "I did, didn't I?" She lets go of one of his wrists and grazes his jaw, giving him a mischievous look.

He touches her thigh, and she slaps his hand away.

"Didn't you just say you'd do as I say for tonight?" She asks him, looking into his deep green eyes. "I don't think I told you you can touch me." She gets off the bed and takes his glass from where she left it on the floor, pouring more wine into it and taking a sip before crawling back on the bed. "Here."

Harry gives her a burning gaze and takes the glass she's offering him, sipping the red wine before putting it on the nightstand. It must be cheaper than what he's used to drinking, but he doesn't comment on it. He wraps his arm around her waist and pulls her closer to him. "So what are you planning on doing with me?" He whispers into her ear. "I'll be yours for a few hours."

Alouette smiles and continues unbuttoning his dress shirt, uncovering his collarbones and the dark shadows of designs on his body she can't make out in the dim light of the room.

"Why don't you raise your arms?" He murmurs, chuckling when she glares at him. "What can I say, Lark? I'm a visual man."

She gives in and does as he asked, and he slides her shirt off her body before pulling her into him and kissing her throat.

"Just like that."

Alouette's face is on fire as the memory fades away. How could she let herself be carried away like that? Who even knows what Harry thinks of her, now.

And yet...

She shoves him back onto the pillow. "Why are you so reluctant to give up control? Are you afraid I might steal your soul as well?"

"Bold of you to assume I have one."

"Of course you do, Mr. President."

He lets out a breathy laugh and she brings her mouth to his, resting her cold fingers on his jawline. Her entire body is on fire and she feels like she might burst into a thousand stars at any second. His hands trace a line down her sides, from the fabric of her bra to the band of her sweatpants, and then leave her body altogether.