Trace of Innocence (No Control Book 3)

Chapter 44 - part i

(No Control - 44. Loved You First)

I am almost permanently hard.

I can't even rub suncream on Jess's back without getting turned on.

We're at the beach the following morning, and she has made the mistake of asking me to do her back, and now I have a raging boner. The fact that her skin broke out in goosebumps the minute I touched her didn't help, to be honest.

"I've got a party going on in my shorts right now," I tell her, handing her the bottle.

"Harry!" she squeals, and I grin at her innocence. If only she could read my mind... she'd probably have taken out a restraining order by now.

It gets worse as she runs her hands over my back, rubbing sunlotion into my skin, and I close my eyes, enjoying her touch. She hands me the bottle back and leans close to my face.

"Seems you're not the only one," she whispers, and my eyes widen as I look up at her, but she gives me a cocky smile and lays down on her towel.

Oh my God - is she wet? I don't think I can handle that thought right now.

"You can't say stuff like that," I stress, rolling on to my front to hide the bulge in my pants.

"Sorry, I'm just a bit busy," she says breezily, and shoves ear buds in her ears.

"What are you listening to?" I ask, but I have a feeling I know the answer.

"You really have to ask?" she jokes, and I roll my eyes.

As if she's listening to One Direction when she's got the real thing here in the flesh.

Oh my God, did I seriously just have that thought? I'm an arrogant prick sometimes.

I lay down and rest my head on my arms, watching her. Her eyes are closed and she's tapping her fingers against her leg. I can't hear the music but I recognise the beat she's tapping as Ready To Run. Has she got it on shuffle or something?

I watch her until the next song comes on and I immediately recognise Where Do Broken Hearts Go, again from the beat she's tapping on her thigh. She gets more into this one, tapping her fingers harder.

She obviously likes this song. I had guessed as much already, as it's her ringtone for Facetime, but I can't help smiling. I wrote this. I'm chuffed she likes it.

I wonder why she skipped Steal My Girl though? Doesn't she like that one?

I watch her, like some sort of obsessive weirdo.

I want to ask her to be my girlfriend, but the thought terrifies me. What if she says no? What if she laughs? What if she doesn't want to?

My phone beeps with a text and I reach for it. Taylor Swift? What the hell does she want?

Hey ;) how are you? Not like you to be pictured with the same girl twice. Is she your girlfriend? x

Delete.

I lay back down on my front for about an hour, enjoying the peace and quiet, but eventually I get fed up and lean over to poke Jess with my finger.

"I'm booored. Take your earphones out and talk to me," I whine, and she pulls one out and smiles at me.

"I can't believe no one has noticed you yet," she says softly.

"It's nice isn't it," I observe. "It's very relaxing."

"I wish I could kiss you," she sighs, and my stomach flutters.

"Me too," I murmur, rolling onto my side and propping my head up on my elbow.