Prince and the Pauper

Chapter Fifteen

The chilly air cocooned around my body as we exited Bash's apartment complex. In the horizon you could see the first of the morning  light peeking through the early morning darkness. Harry swiftly opened the door to his Maserati car, the same one I rode in when I first met him, and I cracked a smile.
"Deja vu. You ushering me away in your sports car in a blinding hurry."  Harry grinned at me as I eased into the car, and then jogged around the front of the car and climbed in beside me.
"And you thought I wasn't sentimental."  Harry winked, making me roll my eyes. The truth was I didn't know what had become of Harry and I, and I had no clue where to go to from here. Now that Harry's hands weren't roaming my body and the heat had left, guilt was now swarming inside me. I knew Harry and I couldn't work, we were fire and ice. He was rich in wealth and looks, and the only thing I was bountiful in was sass and snide remarks. Where Harry was gentle, I was blunt. Contrasting to his sweet side, he was an extremely jealous and protective lover, and I was the expert at avoiding love and romance like it was the plague. Then there were our brothers. Dante may not be anything like Harry, and yes DNA was the only thing they shared, even half-so given his mothers infidelity, but family is part of the package deal in any relationship, and Dante would never on God's green earth be my family. I wouldn't accept it, and neither would Geordie. Kissing Harry had been like having a cigarette for the first time. Toxic and dangerous, yet the curiosity caught me, and now that I had experienced a taste, I was addicted.
"Penny for your thoughts?" He murmured softly, gliding the car away from the curb.
"Now you're deliberately doing it." I said.
"I do enjoy winding you up." Harry mused, his smile stitched with mischief. "Perhaps I should try winding you down?" My eyes widened at the innuendo and in shock shuffled closer to the window, an action Harry noticed.
"Hmm?" He hummed when I didn't respond, making me remember he had asked me a question. His hand landed on my thigh, but the gentle smile gracing his pink lips told me it had been a gesture of comfort rather than promiscuity.
"I was thinking," I dared a peek at his handsome face, "this-" I gestured between us, "I mean, I don't even understand what's just happened. Or what's going to happen with us..." Harry nodded once, and patiently remained silent, awaiting my full opinion. "It's like we're speeding down a dead-end street, Harry. It's wild and fun now, but it has to end, and it's going to happen abruptly." He didn't respond for a moment, but he appeared in deep thought.  I had given up hope on him speaking up, and I glanced out the window to see we were driving down a street that I didn't recognize, but knew was definitely uptown Adlington. The cars and mansions said enough to clue me in I was in the priciest area too.
"Who says this has to end? Who says I'm going to allow that to happen?" His voice was strong, honest, and he looked at me with fierce determination.
"Harry." I softened my voice like  I was talking to a child, and Harry frowned at it. "Your brother put mine in a coma. How could anything like a...hell what even are we?" I shrugged, more than lost on how to feel. "How can whatever this is, end well given what Dante has done?" By the time I was finished Harry pulled up on a curb to a dauntingly high and intimidating building. Harry removed his keys from the ignition and turned his body to face mine.
"Is wasn't Dante who had you up against a wall and kissed you so passionately you couldn't catch your breath." Harry argued, his tone had taken on a hardened edge, and I didn't know how to tackle the situation.
"No, it wasn't. It was his brother. And you can't sit there and say that whatever this could turn into, wouldn't bring Dante into my life. Relationships are more than two people. It's the friends, the families. "
"Relationships?" Harry pounced onto the word instantly. "Is that what you think this is?" I felt my heart deflate at that comment. So Harry didn't care for me? It was pure lust? Primal? The thought crushed me more than it should  have, and I hated myself for it. Instead I forced a cold demeanour and spoke in as much false confidence as I could muster.
"I don't hook up, Harry." I spat. "I don't do anything usually. I have my brother and that's all, but the minute you entered my damn life usual and I have become perfect strangers. Which is fine, because I don't want you, but don't you dare kiss me, call me 'baby' or 'angel' and  think I will drop my standards and panties for you. Because that's not me."
"I meant this is more than a petty relationship, Devonne." Harry's gravelly voice uttered. I opened my mouth to reply, but we were cut off by somebody opening my passenger door, and I shrieked in fright.
"Oh, excuse miss." A voice squeaked nervously. "Mr Styles, would you like our chauffer to park your car in your usual spot?" I glanced quizzically at Harry, and he looked a little disgruntled at us being interrupted, but forced a polite smile.
"Yes, thank you, Chandler."  I frowned, but when I saw Harry get out the car, I did the same, and watched as Harry handed his keys over the Chandler. I was beyond confused on what was going on, and where we were, when I heard Harry mumble something into the smartly dressed mans ear.
"When the chauffer has parked the car, bring the keys to my suite, but place them on the table near the entrance. I don't want any interruptions." My eyes widened, but before I could shut down this situation Harry had a tight grip on my arm, and was practically dragging us through the revolving doors, and into  a room that had all oxygen leave my lungs in one loud whoosh. A giant crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, reflecting sparkling dots onto the marble beige walls, and matching floor. The reception desk was made of genuine mahogany, and paintings that were created by artists whom I couldn't possibly pronounce were displayed on the wall behind it. A Glass pane which had sophisticated looking writing printed onto it was nailed to the front of the desk which read "Styles Hotel." It occurred to me we were at Harry's family hotel, where his penthouse was. It was with horror I realised when Harry had mention his suite he hadn't meant an office. He meant his top-rate apartment. Harry had taken me to his place.
"Nonononono." I gushed and tried to pull back, but Harry simply spun me around in mild irritation and gripped me by my shoulders.
"Relax." He cooed, stroking my hair delicately, his voice velvet smooth.
"I told you I don't do meaningless sex." I whispered harshly.
"And I told you I see us as much more than a relationship. What he have is a lot more than what a quickie could deal with."
"Then why bring me here?"
"Because," Harry smiled, "I need to show you something." My eyes narrowed suspiciously at him, and Harry's dimple poked through in amusement. "Not that." He assured me, linking his arm in mine and leading us swiftly into the elevator. Harry reached into his pocket and removed a swipe key, and held it to a scanner on the wall. A small beep registered, and then the lift was automatically rising upwards. I remained in tense silence as we rose to the top level, and pretended to be oblivious to Harry's staring. When the doors slid open and I took in my surroundings a small scream dissolved in the back of my throat, only the whisper of  squeak managed to spill out.
"Welcome to my humble abode." Harry smirked, having to tug on my hand to pull me out the elevator before the doors slid closed again. I had been expecting the top level, but with the other flash suites as well. But no, the entire top level of the building was Harry's suite. My mouth opened, and then closed again, much like a fish out of water, and Harry observed my reaction with a bright smile. The back wall to his mansion-like suite was all glass. The view was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen, since we were so high above all the other buildings, all that you could see was the black night sky, and twinkling stars, along with the full moon. Harry's window was like looking into a microscope up at space. Along the parallel wall to the right another long window lay, only with a balcony. A large fireplace with a black marble mantle took up most of the wall ahead of the window with the gorgeous view. A large white rug spread out along the floor, with a table that was larger than my fold-out bed, and red couches which matched the ones in his library in his downtown office framed the sitting area.
"You have the same furniture as the ones in your library." I smiled fondly at Harry, knowing it had sentimental value.
"My grandfather had great taste. His mother was in interior designer." Harry smiled back, taking my hand in his large one and leading me around a large wooden beam, and then we were standing in his kitchen.
"I'm going to pretend you've never seen my flat." I gasped at the sight. It was just a kitchen, and yet my knees felt weak. His black granite bench would have cost more than all-years rent for my flat. A large square shaped bench sat in the middle of the granite counter. The stainless steel fridge was ridiculously large considering he lived alone. Cabinets with glass doors lay either side of the fridge, showing his neatly organised culinary supplies. A large dining table lay ahead of the kitchen, white chairs surrounding it, with more tall glass windows, and ceiling-to-floor black drapes met together from either side forming and upside-down V shape in the corner.
"Concluding thoughts?" Harry grinned, running his hand down his mouth to hide his laughter.
"You make Christian Grey look like...me." I blurted, and Harry threw his head back and laughed, his long curls tickling his shoulders. I thought he was handsome ordinarily, but laughing and being so relaxed he looked more than handsome. He was beautiful. I knew it was a strange word to call a male, but handsome didn't seem to do him justice. The crinkles in the corner of his eyes whilst he laughed made him appear much younger, closer to my age. His smile lit up his entire face, and his skin was without a flaw.
"If you keep standing there staring at me like that then I'm going to find it impossible to fight the urge to widen the tour to my bedroom." I struggled to hide a smile at his comment, knowing it would only egg him on. Instead I quirked a brow and feigned disappointment.
"I don't get to see your bedroom?" I pouted, and Harry made a deep sound that I couldn't quite decipher.
"There will always be an open invitation to my bedroom for you, Devonne." I lost the battle at hiding a smirk, and I shook my head to show indifference. I knew I said I didn't do meaningless sex, and that was true, but that didn't mean he didn't temp me.
"I thought you said this was more than what a quickie could fix?" I countered.
"Oh, there would be nothing quick about it, Angel." My eyes nearly bugged out of my head, and Harry chuckled, moving closer, until he was inches from me, yet still achingly too far for me to like.
"You didn't deny it."  Harry murmured softly, taking my hands in his and lifting them up and around his neck, where my fingers naturally locked together behind his neck, whilst his did the same around my waist.
"When I said this couldn't work I didn't say I didn't want it to." I admitted, leaning my forehead against his, a gesture Harry approved of, pressing his lips to mine gently.
"So the only thing stopping you is Geordie." Harry stated, it had meant to be a question, but we  both knew it was fact. If Geordie hadn't been attacked, there would be nothing holding me back from being with Harry. In fact, I knew I would have accepted his invitation to  his bedroom. My stomach fluttered at the thought.  
"And Dante." I sighed, his eyes boring into mine.
"I'd never let him hurt you, Dev." Harry hotly whispered, his hold around me tightening.
"I know you wouldn't." I smiled shyly.
"Then trust me.  Trust this. Trust in us." Harry pleaded, pulling my hips into his.
"I don't know how to trust." I confessed, my head weakly collapsing onto his shoulder. Harry pressed a kiss to the top of my head, and I sighed in pleasure at the comfort the simple gesture provided me.
"I'll show you." Harry mumbled into my hair. "I even have the perfect chance to show you that you can trust me." My head rose back up to look up at him.
"What?"
"The reason I went looking for you." Harry grinned, taking my hand again and leading me back through the living room and through a wooden door. I heard Harry switch on the light, and then I saw that Harry had extended the tour to his bedroom after all.
"Ruby red your favourite colour, huh?" I teased, noticing the walls were painted in the rich colour. The floors were wooden, with a black woollen rug giving the room a cosy vibe. His bed was huge, and I know understood why he found mine so pitiful. Black seemed to be the main theme to his poster bed, with a black duvet, matching pillows, and  spectacular silk curtains framing all sides with a slit at the foot of the bed.
"Your eyes haven't moved from the bed." Harry teased, and I smiled wickedly up at him.
"I thought only Kings had beds like this." I joked, and Harry let me to it, my steps light and hesitant.
"Trust me." Harry whispered again, and just like that I dropped my defences. Harry pushed the curtains back, and pushed down on my shoulders, until I sat perched on the edge of the bed.
"Stay there." Harry said, before disappearing into an alcove to the side which I assumed to be his walk-in closet, given the door to my left was the bathroom. I sat cautiously, running my hand over the soft duvet, the act seeming so foreign to me, given I had never had a bed of my own. Harry cleared his throat theatrically, and I looked up to see him holding up the most incredible dress I had ever seen.
"Not really your colour." I teased, making him roll his eyes.
"No, but it is yours." Harry retaliated, strolling forward.
"You bought me a dress?" I asked horrified. Just looking at it told me it must have cost a fortune. The thought sickened me.
"You lost the bet, remember?" Harry quirked a brow, making me wince at the realisation.
"So I just put it on, and we  forget it ever happened?" I asked, far too optimistically. Harry laughed,  and shut down that thought swiftly.
"No, you're wearing it tomorrow night. At the Styles Ball. As my date." I snorted a laugh, and Harry smirked as he saw my defiant side flare up again.
"That was never part of the deal." I crossed my arms over my chest.
"No it wasn't, but compromise it part of all relationships." Harry reasoned.
"You said we weren't in a relationship.  We were above that apparently." Harry shook his head playfully, and I smirked up at him.
"I said we have more than a relationship, given teens seem to think a snog in the backseat of a car seems to constitute as one." Harry scoffed. "But make no mistake, you are my lover."
"Lover?" I quipped.
"Mhmm." Harry hummed, using the hanger the white gown rested on, to hang it over one of the rails framing his bed. Harry then moved in between my legs, and locked his fingers in between mine. "You're mine, baby." Harry growled playfully, using our intertwined hands to push me back until my back lay on his bed, my legs dangling over the edge, and Harry shuffled on to straddle my hips.
"I-can't-not-"
"Shh," Harry hushed gently. "I'm not going to try anything." He assured me, making me draw in a deep breath and relax. He stretched his body out over me, and lowered his head, trailing kisses up my navel, occasionally nipping at my skin making me giggle, and I felt him smile against my skin. His kisses moved up higher, and my breathing grew more erratic as he left kisses over my curves, up my neck. My eyes fluttered closed, and I hummed in approval as his lips took their torturous time until they finally meet my lips. I instantly responded, eagerly and  hungrily, our lips moved against each other. Heat spread throughout my body, and when we pulled back for a breath, my eyes remained closed.
"You're staying with me tonight, Angel." Harry whispered, his hands stroking my cheek, the gesture making it hard to stay awake, yet had me fighting to just so I could lie there and thrive in his sweet words and addicting caressing. The effect his touch had on me was something indescribable, and I knew it was a one-of-a-kind. I embarrassingly whimpered at the loss of his body as he withdrew, but he sweetly pecked my lips again.
"Keep your eyes closed." His mumbled against my lips. "I'll get you a shirt to wear." I obeyed, my eyelids growing heavy as I heard him shuffling about, before the bed dipped again. His warm hands skimmed down my arms and all the way down to my fingers before they lifted my arms up above my head. I grew slightly nervous as his hand scooped under my back and I arched so he could swiftly lift my shirt up over my head. I refused to look at him, knowing how vulnerable I was, but he hummed before kissing my navel again and instantly soothed away the anxiety, and then a soft fabric was being pulled over my head again. I didn't have to open my eyes to know I was wearing one of his shirts, the fabric reaching mid thigh. He gently pulled my skirt down my long legs, and then I was scooped up into his chest. I was so close to sleep I felt like I was floating as the duvet rustled as he pulled it back, and then tucked me in. I sighed dreamily, the sensation of a soft bed below me was new to me, but I now understood why Harry was startled to know I didn't own one. I was cocooned in warmth and softness, his heavenly scent invaded my senses.  I felt Harry's body climb in beside me, and was faintly aware of him pulling me into him, before I drifted off into deep and peaceful slumber.