Frowned Upon [H.S. AU]

TWENTY

"This scene feels like what I once saw on a screen,

I searched 'aurora borealis green.'

I've never seen someone lit from within."

✿ ✿ ✿

IRIS MONROE

December 10th, 2021

My hand grabs ahold of Harry's tightly as he helps me step out of the passenger door of his car. His lips immediately attach to the top of my palm as soon as my heels touch the ground.

The skin across my cheeks heats against the chilled breeze as his eyes rake up and down my body. As he shuts the door behind me, and the valet soon drives away to place the car in its parking spot for the night, his arm wraps around my waist and pulls me into his chest.

His hand begins to creep dangerously down my side against the shimmery, floor-length, subtle champagne dress hugging my body. I send him a look as if to tell him to keep his hands to himself for now, and he grins before kissing my lips chastely.

"You look fucking ethereal," he mumbles against my mouth.

It turns out that Harry's company Christmas party is a much more formal event than he initially led. When I finally asked him about the dress code, I wasn't expecting to hear him mention formal attire. The panic began when he finally told me...two days before.

Harry told me not to worry, and that he had it covered. As much as I didn't enjoy the thought of him handling it, I barely had the time to protest before he had a selection of dresses delivered to my apartment for me to try on. All of which were not what I had in mind to wear. Nor the ability to pay for any of them on short notice.

He insisted it was a gift from him to me, and I didn't take it with ease. If our communication skills weren't decent, it would've been a much bigger ordeal. After a while, his pleas to allow him to do something nice for me broke my hard exterior and consistent need to be self-reliant.

This version of formal is one that I haven't experienced, and now that I am, I'm not sure if I'm prepared.

"How did I get so lucky, hm?" He asks. He pulls back with a certain glimmer in his eyes, "M'Gonna have to keep you close tonight...don't want anyone trying to steal you away."

You'd think he had a few drinks with how overly affectionate he's been since I arrived at his house to get ready, but he's completely sober. I find myself falling in love with the amount of physical affection he shows, and how he makes me feel. He pulls out this confidence in me and our relationship. He is far from shy when it comes to showing how he feels, even more so when it comes to voicing it to me personally.

My lips curl into a smile, and my chest overflows with joy.

"No one stands a chance against you," I assure him, pecking his lips sweetly, "And I don't want anyone else...I'm happy and fortunate enough to be here with you."

His eyes shift between mine, and his mouth opens to speak before it quickly shuts less than a second later. He swallows harshly with a small crease forming between his brows. The sight makes me worry, but the concerning look on his face doesn't last long enough for me to question it. I still take note of it in case it returns.

"And I am so...so happy you're with me," he says with deep emotion in his voice and takes my hand in his. Our fingers intertwine perfectly, and he nods his head toward the front entrance of the tall building. We slowly walk toward the doors, and he glances down at me, "This is the first time I'm going to have fun at this party."