Illusion

Chapter 20

Avery's POV

Mint consumes my senses.

My mind feels hazy, my eyes still glued shut from sleep.

I slowly move my hand, feeling it collide with a hard surface. My eyes blink open, dull light filtering around me. My tired sight is met with a lean, muscular torso, a butterfly intricately illustrated on the smooth surface.

Harry.

It takes me a second to remember where I am. My body stays immobilised as my eyes flick around the room, seeing the light trailing in through a thin crack in the curtains.

I stay frozen, feeling a heavy weight encircling my waist, another resting under my head and wrapped around my back, keeping me pulled extremely tight against his hard chest. My arms are pushed together, wedged between our bodies, as our legs are entangled wildly, no space left remotely between us.

I take a deep breath, feeling his chest move slowly up and down, a soft exhale blowing on my forehead every other second.

My body feels sticky, but not from his body heat. My face contorts into a wince as I remember my nightmare. Why did I have to have one here? With Harry of all people being there to witness it. And to make matters worse, I left my pills at home, my stupid self not thinking I'd need them. I groan internally. Of course this would happen to me.

I take a deep breath, trying to calm myself, and breathe in another deep scent of mint and musk, my mind suddenly clearing. I feel my body unintentionally mold itself against Harry, my mind submissively following.

My eyes drift back closed, my body still too immersed in sleep to properly realise what I'm doing. My terrifing memories of my nightmare dissipate as I allow my body to relax, feeling myself drift back into sleep.

I'm woken back up by Harry's arm tensing over my waist.

He's awake.

I stay still, partially because I'm still too tired, and partially because I don't know if I want to move. I allow my breaths to remain calm and steady, feigning sleep.

His hand moves very slowly against my back, his elbow still joining at my hip, his touch sending chills down my spine.

I feel his thumb begin to trace small circles against my skin, gently moving to my side, before trailing down to my hip. His touch leaves goosebumps wherever it goes, but when he reaches my shoulder, my skin is no longer just chilled, it's electrified.

His careful movements linger up my neck, tenderly moving to my jaw as he begins tracing my profile.

I feel my breath lodge itself in my throat, my blood lighting on fire. But I focus on remaining still, allowing the moment to play out, the early morning to do what it wants.

His gentle caresses continue, before I feel him shift slightly against the mattress. His heavy exhales getting closer.

My skin tingles as I feel his soft lips rest against my neck, just below my ear. He stays still for a moment, his lips hesitating over my hypersensitive skin.

A chill runs down my spine as his warm breath washes over my neck, causing my hairs to stand on end.

I feel his lips pucker ever so slightly, my skin running hot under his cherry coloured touch. Right when I think he's going to kiss me, his breath becomes distant, pulling away from me.

I keep my eyes tightly closed, my breath remaining choked in my throat.

The mattress dips under his weight and I feel him leave the bed, a sudden gust of cold air hitting me as the duvet is pulled back.