In Exchange [H.S.]

VI

Blinking my eyes open, I stare at the popcorn ceiling of the motel room above me. I'm not sure how long I've been asleep, and as I turn my head to look at the clock on the nightstand, I jump for a moment. Harry is laying next to me - sound asleep with one hand on his bare stomach and his other arm above his head. I forgot that I told him I wanted him to sleep in the bed with me. It would be silly to have him continuing to sleep on the floor after what happened between us last night.

It felt so good to finally knock that wall between us down, and to give into the attraction we both clearly felt towards each other. I know that we don't have all the answers to what it will mean when this is all over, but for now, I'm choosing just to embrace it all. I haven't allowed myself to indulge in something so spontaneous in a long time, and fuck, if it didn't feel good to do it with someone who was incredibly good in bed.

I push up onto my elbow to see the clock past him, and it's only a little past six in the morning.

With a sigh, I lower myself back down into the bed, and I close my eyes once again. I know that I need more sleep because I'm not sure what today is going to hold for us. If we really did find the warehouse where that gang meets, there's a very high possibility that Mira and Micah could be there.

I also worry about what could potentially happen to Harry or myself if we do end up going there today. I know that we're putting ourselves at risk for showing up on enemy territory with just the two of us, but we really don't have any other choice. I have to tell myself that everything will work itself out.

It has to.

»»——— • ———««

Jolting awake, I'm instantly met with arms around me as I collide with Harry's torso. My chest heaves up and down, and I can feel the sweat on my forehead as I try to remember exactly what I was dreaming to get me so worked up, but I come up short.

"Another bad dream?" Harry whispers as he presses a kiss to the top of my head.

I nod as I now move to wrap my arms around him - the feeling of his bare skin bringing me comfort. "I can't remember what it was though. That's probably a good thing."

Harry's fingers run through the back of my hair as I start to feel myself calming down, and I close my eyes to just treasure the feeling of being in his embrace.

"I think I'm just a little worked up about what today could end up looking like," I confess. "There's just so many things that can go wrong, or what if we come up short?"

"That's understandable," Harry tells me as I turn my head to press a kiss to his collarbone. "I'm nervous too. There's so many possibilities to think about."

Tilting my head up, Harry's eyes wander over my face before he leans down, his lips meeting mine. We engage in a slow kiss, and soon I'm rolling over onto my back to pull him on top of me. His hand slides underneath my shirt to glide over my stomach while I cup the back of his neck in one of my palms.