Reckless {HS}

twenty-nine

Delilah's Pov

I had no idea what to expect when Harry pulled me aside this morning, his expression serious as ever. The boys had been busying themselves with plans, maps, and hushed conversations in the living room, but Harry seemed to have other ideas for me.

"You need to learn some self-defense," he said, crossing his arms as he looked down at me.

I blinked, a little thrown off by the sudden change in topic. "Self-defense?"

"Yeah." He tilted his head slightly, studying me. "You got yourself into this mess. I don't want to have to worry about you if something goes wrong again."

I scoffed, folding my arms defensively. "I can take care of myself."

Harry just raised an eyebrow, giving me that familiar, unreadable stare that always made me feel like I was being measured. He didn't say anything, just turned and walked toward the open space in the hallway, motioning for me to follow.

Reluctantly, I did.

We stood in the center of the room, and Harry began showing me some basic moves—how to throw a punch properly, how to block. I tried to focus, but every time I swung my arm, he caught my wrist mid-air like it was nothing.

"Your stance is wrong," he murmured, stepping behind me. His hands lightly touched my waist, adjusting my hips, making my stomach flip unexpectedly.

I tried to ignore the way my heart raced. It was stupid, I was being stupid. This was serious—he was trying to teach me something important, and all I could think about was how close he was.

"Focus," Harry said, his voice low, almost amused.

I took a breath and tried again. This time, when I swung, it was stronger. He nodded in approval.

"That's better," he said. "Now, let's see if you can take someone down."

I blinked. "Take someone down? Like... physically?"

He smirked, nodding. "Yeah. Don't worry, you won't hurt me."

I rolled my eyes, trying to ignore the flutter in my stomach. "We'll see about that."

Harry showed me how to move, guiding me through the steps as we slowly circled each other. His eyes were focused, but there was something else there too, something I couldn't quite place. It was like he was trying to size me up in a way that was more than just a physical assessment.

"Go for it," he said, his voice low.

I hesitated for a moment, then lunged forward, mimicking the moves he'd taught me. To my surprise, I managed to knock him off balance, and before I knew it, we were both on the floor, me straddling his waist, my hands pressed against his chest for leverage.

For a moment, neither of us moved.

I could feel his chest rising and falling beneath my hands, the steady rhythm of his breathing. His green eyes locked with mine, and suddenly, the air between us felt heavier, thicker. The tension in the room was palpable, buzzing like static electricity.

I didn't know how long we stayed like that, just staring at each other. His eyes were dark, intense, and I felt like I was being pulled into them, like I couldn't look away even if I tried.

He was right beneath me, so close. Too close.

My heart pounded in my chest as his gaze flickered down to my lips, then back up to my eyes. It was subtle, but I saw it. And I felt something stir inside me that I didn't know how to handle.

But then, the moment shattered.

"Ahem."

I jerked back, startled, and turned to see Niall standing in the doorway, his arms crossed, a knowing smirk playing at the corner of his lips.

"Sorry to interrupt," he said, his tone anything but apologetic.

Harry sat up quickly, clearing his throat as he ran a hand through his hair. He stood and brushed off his clothes as if nothing had happened, but I could see the tension in his jaw, the way his hands clenched into fists.

I stood up too, feeling my cheeks flush. "We were just... training."

Niall raised an eyebrow. "Sure you were."

I glanced at Harry, who gave Niall a sharp look before turning to me. "We'll be staying here for a few days," he said, his tone now all business again. "Laying low until the police lose interest."

I nodded, trying to shake off the lingering feeling of that moment on the floor. "Okay."

Niall grinned, still leaning against the doorframe. "Hope you like the quiet life, Delilah. It's gonna be real cozy with all of us crammed in here."

I forced a smile, but my mind was still racing, replaying the moment between Harry and me. The way he had looked at me. The way I had felt.

I didn't know what it meant, but I knew one thing: staying here with him, with all of them, was going to be a lot harder than I thought.