Prince and the Pauper

Chapter Sixteen

Strong, warm arms were cradling me around my torso, and my legs were intertwined with another longer pair of legs as I woke up. Hands trailed delicately down my side, over my hip and stayed there, the warm fuzzy feeling lulling me out of my sleeping state. I hummed enjoying the security and comfort I felt, and slowly my eyes fluttered open. Harry smiled down at me and the sight was breath-taking. His hair was slightly frizzy and dishevelled, and it was like seeing a younger version of Harry.
"Morning, beautiful."
"Good morning." I smiled shyly.
"How'd you sleep?" He asked, brushing a stray lock of hair away from my face.
"I understand the buzz with beds now." I laughed lightly, and Harry laughed too.
"Then you'll have to keep coming back to mine." His words adopted a mischievous edge, and I bit my lip to hide a smile the thought brought me. As strong as my standards were, I wasn't sure I could trust myself if I spent another night in his bed.
"What time is it?" I asked, propping myself up on one elbow, leaning my body into Harry's.
"Ten-thirty." Harry shrugged, and my eyes bugged out of my head.
"What?" I gasped. "What about work?"
"Consider it a work bonus," Harry suggested with a smirk, "only instead of money you woke up in my arms."
"Sounds like your kind of bonus." I teased, and he made a deep sound of agreement.
"Now that you've committed to me, and you slept the night here, how would you feel about a promotion?" He winked, and my head fell back with carefree laughter at the suggested innuendo. I couldn't remember the last time I had felt so happy, and at ease. My life had been destroyed by Geordie's attack, but Harry was quickly bringing back light into my life, and it felt wonderful.
"So it's just a lazy day?" I enquired.
"We can make it a very productive day if you'd like." Harry kissed my forehead and I lightly smacked him in the chest, my hand lingering as he wore no shirt. His body was perfection, hard and muscular beneath my fingertips.
"Stop." I giggled, Harry's smile grew at the sound. The intensity behind his stare had always captivated me, but the way he was looking at me now was different. It was a look that appeared to be pure awe, but laced with a trace of confusion.
"What?" I asked, noticing how we seemed to be in deep thought.
"You seem different." Harry mused. "Happier." His dimple deepened at his comment, and I bit my lip and nodded meekly.
"I am happier." I admitted, surprising myself by reaching out and grabbing his hand. His fingers instantly locked with mine, and he raised our connected hands to his mouth and kissed my hand gently.
"Because of me?" He asked hopefully, and I grinned, using my other hand to stroke along his sharp jawline. His eyes closed at my touch, and my smile grew knowing he was also feeling the sparks beyond a physical sense when we touched.
"You've given me a reason to smile again." I confessed. Harry's eyes opened again at that comment, and he looked like a child on Christmas morning.
"You're my reason to smile." Harry whispered, leaning forward, pressing his warm lips to mine, and I happily kissed him back. It wasn't hard and demanding like the first time, but gentle, and sweet. Innocent. Such a simple act provided me with such bliss, that I knew if we took it to the next level I would fall into the abyss of passion and he would ruin me for all other men.
"C'mon," Harry removed the duvet from our tangled bodies, and pushed the curtains surrounding his bed back, "breakfast is calling." We walked out of his room hand in hand, as he lead me into his kitchen. I was still wearing a large white shirt of Harry's, and he wore only black cotton pants that hung dangerously low on his hips.
"I'll start with the pancakes, and you can make the coffee." Harry smiled wickedly, knowing the joke we shared would anger me. I crinkled my nose and laughed despite it, knowing he had said it just to tease me.
"Ha-ha, you're hilarious." I sneered, brushing past him and reaching on my tip-toes to grab two mugs from the cabinet. I spun only to see Harry was leaning back against the bench, arms folded over his chest, and trouble dancing in his eyes.
"What are you staring at?" I asked sceptically, slowly walking up to him and placing the mugs on the bench beside him.
"When you reached up on your toes the shirt rode up." I felt my cheeks flush as realisation dawned on me, and punched him in the arm, his loud laughter covering up the choice name I called him.
"Pervert." I grumbled, trying to find the coffee to distract myself from the embarrassment.
"I prefer the term admirer." Harry chided, and I scowled at him, his trouble-promising smile making my narrowed gaze lose its edge. Harry slowly stalked towards me, and I turned my back on him, too mortified to look him in the eyes. Long arms snaked around my waist from behind, and pulled me into his chest. Curls tickled my neck as his head bowed and he playfully growled in my ear.
"Don't be embarrassed, darling." Harry cooed, making me roll my eyes, but I was still giggling away as he tightened his hold on me. "I thought the heart design panties were cute." I groaned, and Harry chuckled deeply in my ear.
"Hurry up with the pancakes." I grumbled, Harry clearly enjoying mocking me, and he spun me around, his smirk turning into a smile as he studied my reddened face.
"Adorable." Harry kissed the tip of my nose, before getting to work on our breakfast.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I stared at the white gown on the hanger, anxiety eating away at me. I had dreaded this all day, and procrastinated getting ready as long as possible, but now the dreaded moment had arrived. I had even tried telling Harry I needed to go get make-up if I was going to attend the Styles Ball, but Harry had seen right through the plan. He said he knew if he let me go pick it up, I would run off into hiding and ditch the ball. So he had sent off one of his disposable workers to go buy some, and I had cursed him for seeing through me so well. I was now showered and had taken ample time to apply my make-up, the black Smokey eye look was new to me, but Harry had insisted it looked good. My hair had been pulled back into a tight low ponytail, a few small, lose strands framing my face, the style meant to accentuate the make-up look.
"Devonne." Harry knocked on the bathroom door that connected to his master bedroom. "Stop stalling and get into the dress."
"I don't belong in something as beautiful and expensive as this." I called back, grimacing as I returned my gaze to the dress. The dress was long and white, tight around the top half and clung to my curves like a second skin. There was also a deep plunging V-line just like Harry had suggested when the bet was made. The lower was slightly loser, with a large slit up one thigh area.
"You'll look stunning." Harry urged through the wooden door. "Now either you put it on, or I barge in there and force you into it." He had said it playfully, but we both knew he would be tempted to do so. The small thrill that the thought provided me with also told me I was half-tempted to see him try. Instead out I let out a heavy sigh, and carefully pulled the dress on. I stared at my reflection and stuck my tongue out. I wasn't used to dressing up, and it didn't suit me. Jeans and baggy shirts was my typical look, and the Devonne before me was definitely not the same girl.
"Deeeeev." Harry moaned through the door, and I rolled my eyes as I reluctantly opened the door and stepped into his room. My eyes landed on Harry, and my breath caught in my throat. He wore a black tux, with a matching black silk tie. The long black pants made a point of his long legs, and he wore smart, black, leather shoes. He looked tall dark and handsome. Sinfully so, and I smirked up at him. His eyes roamed my body, lingering where the plunge line revealed more of me than I would like, before he finally let his sparkling eyes meet mine.
"You look..." he slowly shook his head and closed in the distance between us, "heavenly." He finished, his hands rested on my hips and pulled me into his chest. His strong minty cologne invaded my senses, and I closed my eyes and allowed myself to drown in the scent. My arms snaked up around his neck and I tilted my neck to look up at him.
"You look beyond handsome." I complimented, his smile stealing my breath.
"I have to try hard to keep up with my lover." His words made my stomach flutter, his head lowered and his plump lips met mine, slowly, before eventually pulling back. Smiling, he grabbed my hand and lead us out to what I was certain would be my dreaded doom.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I had gotten into the sleek, black limousine practically kicking and screaming. Harry had rolled his eyes at my horror, and even cracked a joke about if I had any input, we would have arrived on a skateboard or bus. I had not so politely raised a certain finger, before begrudgingly climbing into the limo. We were now pulling up to a beautiful looking hall, that appeared more like a palace than anything.
"This is a bad idea, Harry." I panicked, shuffling back into the leather seats, wishing they would swallow me up.
"Relax." Harry placed his hand on mine. "I promise I won't leave your side. How could I with you looking like you do." He cracked a smile, and I drew in a shaky breath.
"I'm not ready to see Dante again." I shook my head, fear setting in as I saw the press waiting out by a long red carpet.
"He has already been warned by both myself and our mother than he is to go nowhere near you." Harry sympathetically placed his other hand on my back, pushing me forwards into him. The car slowed to a stop, and flashes from cameras showed through the tinted windows.
"Why is the paparazzi here?" My voice trembled, and Harry ran his hand down my cheek as if trying to soothe away my fear.
"My family is behind every achievement in all of Ruddington." Harry explained hesitantly and carefully. "Adlington was founded by my family generations ago, and I know you won't like to hear this, but before Adlington was built and downtown Wentworth was the top Ruddington, we were hardly on the map. Most people outside of London had never heard of us. Now we're the centre of some of London's most successful companies." I muffed my moan through my hands, and Harry gently pried them away from my face.
"They'll know who I am, Harry." I fought off the panic attack I could feel coming on. "The press wouldn't leave me alone for months after I dragged Dante through the mud. They see me as the bad guy." I shook my head. "Do you have any idea how they'll react when they see me with you?"
"They'll see two people who are crazy about each other." Harry reasoned, kissing the crown of my head. "They will see a beautiful woman on the arm of one of the sons of the Styles family, and when they see us together they will realise how foolish they were to think you were anything but incredible." He gathered my face in his hands, and kissed me passionately.
"If I die my blood is on your hands." I groaned, and Harry triumphantly grinned.
"I accept that." He winked, before tapping on the window, and the driver opened the door. He gracefully stepped out, and extended his hand out for me. I made a quick silent prayer, before grasping onto his hand, and swung my left leg out before slowly exiting the car. Harry's hand found it's way around my waist, and lead us up the red carpet. Camera's flashed and the crowd roared after they registered who I was.
"Miss Abel!" A woman cried.
"Devonne Abel, is it true you fabricated a case against Dante Styles?" A round man shouted.
"Harry! What is the meaning of you arriving with your families enemy?"
"Does this mean Devonne has dropped the case?"
"Are you two dating? Is this a cover up?" An onslaught of questions and insults were thrown at the pair of us, and I kept my head down, wanting to vanish into thin air.
"Ignore them." Harry whispered in my ear. "They don't understand what we have, they have no idea what they're saying." I remained silent, and had nearly made it up the carpet when one question threw me off guard.
"Is it true your brother Geordie faked being in a coma just to claim money from the Styles family?" My eyes turned to slits, and Harry looked at me warily. It was a look that was torn between hauling me off inside before I started a brawl, or sitting back and allowing me to throw the first punch. I spun around and daggered a glare at the man that had said it. The same tubby, bald man that had asked me about fabricating the case.
"My brother is in a coma. It's hard to file a lawsuit whilst being unable to so much as blink an eye." I hissed. More cameras flashed, but they remained silent, allowing me to speak, no doubt memorising every word I said so they could print it out on tomorrows papers. Best make it memorable then. "But enough about me," I sweetened my voice, "how about you? A big camera like that must cost a lot, you must be quite important." I raised my brows daring him to speak, but he didn't. "So let's ask you a question. Is it true that your own life is so pathetic that you fabricate BS theories about other people and dig into other's personal lives because nobody else gives a damn about your own?" Besides the clicks and flashes of camera's, all was silent. I painted on a sweet smile before turning around to face Harry. He was running a hand down his mouth to hide his laughter, but his chest rumbled with a joyful sound anyway, and I smirked as he grabbed my hand and we entered the building, the large doors swinging shut behind us and leaving us alone in a large majestic ballroom. Deep laughter resonated around the room, and Harry gripped me by the shoulders, his smile making it impossible not to grin back.
"That," Harry shook his head, "was bloody amazing." I shrugged carelessly trying to hide my proud smile, and Harry kissed my cheek, before he gestured to the side room where people were buzzing, sipping on champagne, and dancing to the orchestra.
"C'mon then, trouble." Harry chuckled "Let's go dance."