Fall'n For The New Guy | | Harrison Reid

Chapter 136

After dinner, I did keep to my word—on my knees, the playful tension from earlier still hanging in the air as I moved closer to him, my hands slowly unzipping his jeans. The teasing glint in his eyes made it clear he wasn't expecting anything less, and I knew exactly how to make good on the promise I'd made.

Later, we found ourselves in bed, the room quiet except for the soft rustling of sheets as I curled up beside him. The warmth of his body against mine was comforting, the intimacy of the moment wrapping around us like a blanket. Harrison's hand rested on my back, his fingers tracing lazy patterns as we settled into the quiet afterglow.

I lifted my head slightly, glancing up at him with a playful smile. "So, are you satisfied?" I asked, my voice soft but teasing, knowing exactly what kind of answer I was hoping for.

Harrison grinned, his lips brushing against my forehead. "More than I could ever ask for," he replied, his tone thick with affection as he pulled me closer.

I smiled, feeling a rush of warmth at his words. His arms tightened around me, pulling me closer as if he never wanted to let go. The soft hum of the ocean outside the window and the distant sounds of the night created a peaceful backdrop to the stillness between us.

I let my eyes flutter closed, my body relaxing against his, the weight of the day finally catching up with me, more like the baby weight.

"Goodnight, love," he murmured, his voice barely more than a whisper.

"Goodnight," I replied, my voice a soft sigh, as sleep slowly pulled me under.

I melted into him, the rhythm of his breathing lulling me further into the quiet comfort of his arms. Before long, I was asleep, the last thing I felt being the warmth of his embrace, holding me together as I drifted off completely.

~

The soft light of the morning filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. I stirred slowly, the peaceful haze of sleep still clinging to me. Harrison was still wrapped around me, now spooning me, his steady breathing against my back a comforting rhythm. I shifted a little, feeling the cool morning air, and realized that the quiet was broken only by the sound of the clock ticking.

I groaned, glancing at the clock on the nightstand. We had a flight to catch, but this was it..the end of our time here.

I sighed softly, turning over to face him. Harrison stirred, blinking up at me with sleepy eyes. "Five more minutes?" he murmured, his voice thick with sleep.

I smiled, brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead. "We've got a flight to catch, babe. Time to leave this paradise."

Harrison let out a groan but pulled me closer for a brief moment, as if he wasn't quite ready to let go of the dream. "I don't want to leave."

I chuckled softly, leaning in to kiss him on the cheek. "I don't want to either, but we've gotta start up work when we get back."

We started to gather our things.

~

I grip the armrest of the plane seat as we begin our descent. The cabin shakes, and my stomach does somersaults. I take a deep breath, trying not to throw up.

This feels way too familiar. Takeoff was just as bad...I spent the first twenty minutes of the flight clutching Harrison's hand in a death grip, my stomach rebelling against every bit of movement. Now, as we drop altitude, it's happening all over again.

Harrison's warm fingers brush against mine, prying my grip from the armrest. "Hey, love," he murmurs, his voice soft despite the hum of the engines. "Breathe. I've got you."

I force my eyes open and meet his gaze. His hazel green eyes are steady, filled with quiet reassurance, and for a moment, I forget about the awful lurch of the plane.

"I am breathing," I mutter, though my grip on his hand tightens.

His lips twitch in a small smile. "Barely." He lifts our joined hands and presses a kiss to my knuckles. "Almost home, Tess."

The plane jolts again, and I squeeze my eyes shut. "I swear, if you make another joke—"

"Wouldn't dream of it," he says, though I can hear the amusement in his voice. But then, softer, "You're all right. Just a few more minutes."

Somehow, with his fingers laced through mine, I believe him.

When the wheels finally touch down, I let out a shaky breath, my body sagging with relief. Harrison grins. "See? Told you you'd survive."

I nudge him with my elbow, but before I can reply, he leans in and presses a kiss to my temple. "Proud of you, love."

The warmth of his words lingers as we step off the plane and into the narrow jet bridge. While we walk the air is stale, carrying the faint scent of fuel and recycled oxygen a stark contrast to the fresh, salty breeze of Fiji. But my stomach doesn't care about the difference. The motion sickness I barely held at bay on the plane comes roaring back with a vengeance.

"Oh no," I whisper, covering my mouth.

Harrison barely has time to react before I bolt toward the nearest bin and...well, there goes whatever was left of my dignity and the airplane snacks.

He's behind me in an instant, pulling my hair back and rubbing soothing circles on my back. "You poor thing," he murmurs, sympathy replacing the teasing.

I groan, resting my forehead against my arm. "I hate flying."

"I gathered," he says, pressing a light kiss to the side of my head. "But you still did it. And now you're home."

I take a shaky breath and nod, leaning into his touch. The nausea is awful, but having him here..a steady, warm, endlessly patient makes it a little more bearable.

Harrison tugs me gently toward him, wrapping an arm around my waist. "Come on, love. Let's get you home."

Home. That sounds nice.

"Yeah," I mumble, resting my head against his shoulder. "Let's go home."