The Mogul (Mature Niall Horan) | Reposted

Chapter 26

I had somehow fallen back asleep, after staring at her for some time. I couldn't move. Phoenix was on her stomach, her forehead trapping my extended forearm. She was very warm, our torsos touching rather innocently for me. She was breathing steadily, one of her legs over mine, tangled completely. I used my free hand to check emails, waiting and waiting for her. I didn't know what to do. I didn't know if I was supposed to wake her up, if I was supposed to just leave and wait for her, it was confusing. Finally I felt her yawn, and she... nuzzled into my arm, I could feel her eyelashes against me. She moved closer. She turned her head to the side, and stared up at me.

"Morning," she mumbled.

"Morning, this is different..."

"Um, yeah, sorry... it's a really comfy bed." I smiled a bit. "Did you sleep well at all?"

"I did, but," I gently tugged on my arm, needing out. "I have to work."

"Ah, well, I will just... shower up and drive home?"

"Feel free to use the guest bath, I have to shower up in mine or I'd... let you use it."

"All right, thanks."

I walked to my bath and showered, scrubbing my skin so I could get her off it. This was a lot for me, I gripped the glass walls, wondering why I was doing this, why was I so... invested? Or protective? Why did I think of her constantly and how unique she was to me? I kept showering and stepped out, knotting my towel low on my hips. I was heading to my closet when she came in. She looked lovely in a quarter sleeve sweater like dress that played up her figure.

"Hey, do you own a blow dry-" her eyes were bigger than usual, clearly staring at my torso, her lips parted.

"Yes?" I suppressed a smile, shaking out my hair.

"Um, d-do you have a blow dryer?"

"Blow dryer?" I thought. I walked into bathroom. "Yes, you can use it in here." She took a deep breath, taking it from me. "That dress looks lovely on you by the way." I walked back to the closet, dressing for the day in a charcoal suit and blue dress shirt, with a matching tie and pocket square of different shades. I slid into my dress shoes and walked out, adjusting my tie. "Thank you for the dress Niall."

"You're very welcome, it's no trouble."

"Did I just annoy you last night?"

"Annoy is a strong word. It was just different."

"You don't have your girls spend the night?"

"Not typically if I'm being truthful. Usually any... explorations happen in the guest room. I've never even slept with a woman in my own bed."

"Ah, don't like people in your space?"

"Not by any means."

"So controlling."

"Exactly, we'll have breakfast then we will go." She nodded and we sat at the kitchen island, Alejandro was making breakfast. We had cinnamon oat meal, mixed fruit and fresh orange juice, I was reading the paper, but bouncing to my phone as well.

"I slept so long; I have about three hundred emails. I normally answer those right away."

"Three hundred?" She gaped. "Holy fuck Niall."

I laughed and just kept typing. I thanked Alejandro and then we walked down to the elevator. "It was nice to have you Phoenix."

"Oh? I thought I just pissed you off."

"You did but in a good way." She smiled, and I resumed my typing. I walked her to her car, not willing to leave just yet. "I'll see you very soon, and will give you a proper date."

"Nothing about this feels proper in all honesty, it feels very odd."

"It does, doesn't it?" I frowned and put my phone in my chest pocket. It felt so odd to me because this was so... different. I had no idea it was odd for her. I just lied, not in the mood to have any sort of real conversation. "I don't know why I feel the same."

"Maybe because you're holding back on me. You won't tell me things you won't officially date me or you try then run out on me right when things get good."

"Do you mean sexually or in general?"

"I suppose both."

"Ah."

"It's not just that..."

"What?" I stared at her. "What else?"

"You... that emotional detachment thing. Sometimes I think you might like me but that freaks you out, so you step back. Then... I don't know," she shook her head. She took a breath. "I had a nice time. I'll see you soon." I nodded.

But I had no idea when I'd see her. I hooked my hand on the back of her neck and brought her up with ease, meeting her halfway. Her lips tasted sweet like strawberries and mint. I couldn't get enough. I moved stronger over her mouth, pushing her against the door of the car. I took my other hand laced it around her lower back. She was holding onto my arms that held her, her lips pushing back just as strong. I pressed even harder against her body, tipping more of her neck back so I could deepen the kiss. I was about to rip her dress off, when I heard him.

"Mr. Horan," he cleared his throat. We both broke apart, she gasped a touch. "If we don't leave now, you'll be behind schedule."

"Thank you Parker, one moment." Parker climbed into the front seat of my car. I looked back to her, and brushed her hair out of her face, I ran my thumb across her pink lower lip. "It was nice to see you Phoenix."

"I'll see you soon, have a nice day at work." she buttoned up my suit jacket and smoothed it out. "Don't you know, become some tighten of industry... jackass."

I smiled. "I'll try not to." I kissed her again, but softer. "Have a very good day." I opened the driver's side door and she slid in, buckling up. I shut it carefully. "Bye Phoenix."

I walked to the car and Parker drove without a word. I sat in the back, trying to answer mail but struggled to focus. I... I didn't know why I enjoyed the gentle kiss as much as I enjoyed the physical one. If intimacy got in there, my mind just might explode.

Was it possible that this girl could be everything, truly everything, rolled into one?