Need You

Chapter 27

Pinned to a wall by the scary huge guy I shared the cell with, my body kept receiving the blows he threw my way. "Ah!" I cried. Why he had decided to view me as a punching bag, I didn't know but it seems my cries only made him more angry as his fist connected more heavily with my stomach.

"Harry." I heard a faint voice call, but with all the pain my body was being subjected to, I didn't pay attention to it.

"Ah! Ah! Ah!..."

"Harry! Harry!" I felt my body being shaken vigorously as the voice called my name loudly.

I immediately sat up on the bed, my chest heaving as I tried to catch my breath.

'Harry." I slowly became aware of my surroundings and realized it was Amanda speaking. "Are you okay?" She asked softly.

Still trying to catch my breath, I was unable to respond. Amanda put her hand on mine and almost immediately my entire body calmed.

"Are you okay?" She asked again.

"Yeah; I'm fine."

"Are you sure?" Worry was clear on her face and in her voice, making me curious.

"I am. Why wouldn't I be?"

"You were grunting and moving frantically in your sleep."

"Oh?" I paused. "It was just a bad dream. Nothing to worry about. I'm fine."

"Okay." She stared at me worriedly for a while before adding that she was almost done making our lunch.

"Okay, I'll be out in a second."

"Alright." She said as she squeezed my hand gently and then got up to leave.

As I watched her get out of the bedroom, I was curious as to what exactly she made of the said grunting and frantic movements.

Amanda had come over to help with some work and after studying spreadsheets for over two hours, I decided to take a nap. I had no idea that my body physically reacted to those dreams. Hopefully she believed that it was just a bad dream and wouldn't have any questions.

I went into the kitchen and happily complimented the spaghetti and meatballs she had dished out onto the plates. I thought my claim to be fine would be more believable if I expressed some cheer.

I carried the plates to the small dining table against one of the walls and when we sat down to eat I could feel her gaze on me.

I tried to avoid it and just focus on finishing the food.

"Harry."

"Mm?"

"Look at me." She instructed softly. I turned to her and she asked, "Are you really okay?"

"I am." I replied quickly. "The spaghetti is amazing." I attempted changing the topic but it failed.

She asked again, "Are you sure?"

"Amanda, I am fine. If this is about the dream, like I mentioned, it was just a bad one."

"You looked like you were in real pain and honestly, I didn't like it. I can't help the feeling I have that there's something bothering you and that bothers me."

"Amanda..." I sighed.

"Fine. If it was just a bad dream, fine." She responded.

Thinking that that was over, I got back to eating but a few moments later she asked, "So what was the dream about?"

I looked at her surprised.

"I've been looking for inspiration for my new story. I want something frightening." She said.

I couldn't help the smile that formed on my face.

"It was a regular bad dream. I don't even remember it."

Her expression slightly changed from amused to serious. She held my hand on the table and looking straight into my eyes said, "Harry, I know something is wrong and it bothers me. When I saw you in that state earlier, it hurt and in that moment I just wanted to do anything I could to make you feel better. I have this feeling that this bad dream isn't something new and I really want to help you with whatever it is."

Her voice was so sincere that I started considering telling her. Maybe she could help.

"Whatever you want to say, I want to hear." She stated.

Sighing, I began, "In the dream, I was being beaten up by the huge guy I shared a cell with. Why? I don't know, but everytime felt like it, he would grab me, pin me to a wall and just..." I shut my eyes and took in a deep breath. Talking about it just took me back.

I tried to hold myself back from getting emotional and continued, "It was the worst time of my life. I had to deal with such abuse for three years. When I came out, I thought I was going to return to my old life and just forget about all of that but almost every time I fall asleep, I find myself experiencing all of that again."

I breathed, and after a few seconds of meaningful silence had passed, she looked right at my face and said, "I'm so sorry. I can't even imagine what that has been like for you."

I squeezed her hand and when our eyes met in that unguarded moment, I felt our connection had grown stronger. Without even realising it, I found myself moving closer to her and she was doing same.

Slowly, without a break in our eye contact, she reached out to touch my face and I knew right there that I wanted to kiss her.

Leaning in slowly, her soft lips met mine in a gentle kiss. I could feel the warmth of her lips against mine and I knew that she was feeling it too.

I knew there was something more than a friendship starting between us when we got into building the consultancy agency. We enjoyed each other's company and whenever I acknowledged the person I was becoming because of her, all I wanted to do was reach out and show her just how much I appreciated it and was willing to do anything I could for her.

The intensity of our kiss grew and it was just a pure moment of bliss as we were lost in each other.

Pulling away from each other, I could see in her eyes, what I only hoped she could in my eyes; love and tenderness.

Grinning, she said, "Let's get back to finishing our lunch and then we can focus on other things."

"Like?" I asked amused.

"Let's finish and find out." She grinned.

We knew we had crossed a line and that things would never be the same again.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hello! Thank you so much for reading this chapter. This is probably my favourite chapter so far. Tell me what you think about Harry and Amanda together. There are more chapters on the way. Please do VOTE and if you're enjoying the story, please do SHARE.  Thank you.