Prince and the Pauper

Chapter Eighteen

My feet were aching by the time the elevator doors to Harry's penthouse slid open. We had danced until I felt like my feet were going to fall off, and I was beyond exhausted. Harry started to head straight for the bedroom, only to stop when he noticed I wasn't following. I wanted to fall into bed as much as he did, but I found myself sitting down on one of the red couches in front of the fire place.
"Dev?" Harry tilted his head to observe my nervous state.
"This feels strange." I confessed, my hands gesturing to his suite. "Coming home to your swanky penthouse. I mean, we've only known each other for five days, and this is the second time I have stayed the night at your place." I sighed, looking up at Harry, expecting to see him frowning, but instead a soft smile was spread across his lips. He slowly stalked back towards me, until he sat down on the couch with me, our legs brushing.
"I knew this would happen." He angled his body towards mine, and his hands swallowed mine, locking our fingers together. "You're afraid this is all happening too fast, and something bad is going to ruin it like Dante, or us moving to quickly and having sex, and you'd have to quit working for me, and then you won't be able to afford moving uptown to stay with Geordie." I focussed my stare on the floor, and nodded. I tried to ignore the flash of heat that licked up my skin at Harry mentioning sex, and bit my cheek in contemplation.  
"Well doesn't it bother you?" I asked. "That this is happening so fast?"
"All my life I have waited for the right lover. Not the fairy-tale kind, where they come into your life and fix every problem that you have. Because that's not realistic." Harry's hand brushed my cheek, and I leaned my face into his palm, enjoying the comfort his touch provided me with. "Love will bring havoc, and fights, and turn your life upside down, but it the most beautiful kind of way. You'll fight because somebody you passed on the street winked at you, and the other partner will get angry and jealous. But you both know it's because they care, and they're invested in you, and  only you. You'll argue over which person moves in, but it's okay because you both know it's because you're taking the commitment so seriously." Harry pulled me into his chest, and I happily obliged. The thought of moving in had me flustered. "You'll hesitate when things start to move too quickly, but that's simply because you don't want to ruin the passion you share." I braved a look up at him, and I smiled coyly.
"Love is complicated, but I couldn't think of anybody else I'd want to decode the puzzle with." Harry's lips devoured mine, and a whisper of a sigh mixed with a moan dissolved in our mouths. When he pulled away my head collapsed onto his shoulder, and Harry happily ran his fingers through my hair.
"Hmm?" Harry tried coaxing the next words out of my mouth. I had never felt so vulnerable before, not even standing in court. Not able to find to courage to look him in the eyes, I kept my head rested on his shoulder, and gushed the words out quickly, much like ripping of a Band-Aid.
"You said a certain serious word before, a word that start with L." I felt Harry's chest vibrate with laughter, and his hands ran down my back slowly, trying to seduce me enough to lift my head.
"Does that scare you?" Harry whispered, and I shook my head.
"It should." I muttered. "But it doesn't." Harry gently pulled back so he could gather my face in his.
"Devonne I lo-" I covered his mouth with my hand, and his eyes widened in surprise.
"I feel like you beat me at everything, Harry." I admitted. "Brains, looks, wealth, kindness," I listed, "so I want to beat you at one thing. I want to be the first to say this, and I want to make sure you never forget it." I slowly removed my hand from his mouth, and it revealed a beautiful smile. I took a deep breath, and swallowed my fear and pride.
"I love you, Harry." Harry's face lit up with happiness, and he pulled me into his lap, and pressed our forehead together.
"Devonne," Harry's warm breath fanned across my face, "I am truly, madly, deeply, almost slightly crazily, in love with you." I smiled so much my cheeks hurt, and his lips covered mine again, but not as softly and sweetly like earlier. Much faster, and slightly frantic. His teeth gently nibbled on my lower lip, and I hummed against his mouth. My body was pressed against him, legs either side of his long, lean torso, and in one quick motion Harry stood from the couch. I shrieked in surprise, my legs wrapping around him, my feet locking just above his behind, and my arms snaked around his neck. I giggled as he carried us effortlessly across the room and into his bedroom, without breaking our kissing. Harry covered the space from the door to his large bed in a few swift strides, and gently lay me down.
"As much as I love you, and as badly as I may need you, I want to wait until there isn't a drop of alcohol in your body." Harry kissed me again, his body on top of mine. "I don't do meaningless sex either, and when we do make love, it will be when you're one hundred percent sober, ready, and not worrying about Geordie." His words of sincerity made my stomach flutter, and I smiled as he slowly rolled onto his side, pulling me into his side, and secured me against him.
"Thank you." I whispered, pecking Harry on the lips again. Harry's eyes closed at my touch, and when they opened again he smiled warmly at me.
"That being said, I do make-out with my lover." I grinned as he winked, and covered my mouth with his again. I smiled against him, and all fatigue vanished from my body as I lay there with Harry, feeling so contempt I could have stayed there for eternity.