Devil's Due [h.s.]

Chapter 67

***THIS IS A TRIPLE UPDATE - 66, 67 AND 68!***

Chapter 67

HARRY'S P.O.V.:

Sometimes I felt like it was hard to think properly when I was around Riv.

Not in a bad way. In a really, really fucking good way actually. But in a way that made me confused, sometimes a little on edge. I could have an entire thought lined up, a multitude of things I wanted to say, but as soon as she looked over at me, it'd all be gone.

It was how I felt now. Nervous out of my fucking mind, worried about her reaction to the place I'd rented for the weekend and wondering how to just shove all of these feelings away. How to get my brain to go back to normal. Because I hated being this stupid, incoherent, blubbering mess around her, yet here I was. Anxiously awaiting her response about the villa I'd walked her into, knowing I'd only be soothed if her reaction was positive.

"Harry..." she breathed, the sound alone enough to get my heart pumping into overdrive. She took a few steps into the foyer and dropping her bag at her feet. "It's..."

"If you hate it," I said quickly, rubbing at the back of my neck, "we can find a new place. Can have the guys bring our bags somewhere else–"

"Would you shut up?" Riv spun around, putting her hands on her hips. I had to chew on my cheek to stop from grinning at the sight. "You never let me finish. I was going to say that it's beautiful." She took a step forward, blowing out a long breath. "Insane. One of the most amazing places I've ever been in."

I'd rented a villa overlooking the water on the Amalfi Coast. It was an older, Mediterranean-style building with high ceilings, beamed archways and a garden-filled courtyard full of greenery and bright flowers. The first time I'd been here actually was with Morgan, Zayn and Niall. Morgan had adored the place, hinted that she'd even choose here to go on a honeymoon, and raved to the owner that she'd be back every weekend.

When I'd mentioned that I was bringing River back to Italy, she refused to let me book any other place. Truthfully, I'd had it in mind the whole time anyway. Something about the pink flowers and white stone held a type of beauty that I could only really properly associate with the girl in front of me to begin with.

I hadn't realized that I was stood, frozen in place by the front entrance, until River stepped forward and reached up to cup my face. "What the fuck?" she whispered with a small laugh. "You're crazy. This place is beautiful."

"Yeah?" I looked her face up and down. "You like it?"

"I love it," lifting onto her toes, she leaned forward to kiss me – or so I thought until she pulled away at the last second and scrambled out of my arms to –

"Holy shit," I laughed, watching her tuck her face into her elbow and sneeze three times in succession, holding out her free hand to keep me back. "Bless you."

She looked embarrassed as she turned back toward me, face a little flush. "Oh God," she muttered, glancing around. "I must be allergic to the plants or something." It was as if her assumption had summoned the actual cause for her sudden bout of allergies because almost instantly her eyes were widening, a grin overtaking her expression, and she was rushing past me. "Or this!" she exclaimed, and I whirled around to see her eyes locked on the fluffy, plump cat that had now sauntered its way into the door.

"Oh, no, you don't!" I said quickly and reached to grab her by the waist, hauling her back before she had the opportunity to approach the animal.

She whined. Like actually whined. And I found myself not entirely hating it. "Harry–"