Receiving Her (h.s. au)

XVIII

Harry's fingertips brush my arm, waking me up in the morning. My hand is encased in his, his fingers folding through mine. His strong arms are wrapped around me and I feel his lips touching my bare shoulder. After almost an hour of reassurance, we were stripped to our underwear and he never let me focus anywhere but him. I still have doubts and worries, but most of them faded with his help last night.

I start to move my fingers and we play with each other's, my eyes hooded and still filled with sleep. I could stay right here and bask in his heat all day.

"Good morning beautiful," he whispers, kissing my shoulder and making my body move closer to him.

"Good morning," I blush, his lips touching my neck.

He left a mark on my neck, making me gasp in shock last night. The two of us were standing in my bathroom, his shirt on my body considering I wasn't in the mood to wander around in my underwear. My self-consciousness would eat me alive if I were to do such a thing. But when I went to brush my teeth, Harry's arms around me from behind, I nearly had a heart attack when I saw the massive purple bruise now residing at the base of my neck.

When we got back into my room, he had slowly taken off his shirt on my body and brought me into his arms. It still shocks me how easily I can be lifted into his arms and pulled close to him and feel safe. Harry makes me feel that way.

"I have to get to practice, baby," he whispers, my body turning so I can face him.

"I wish you could stay," I whisper, looking up at him. His green eyes are bright and he grabs my cheek, setting a small kiss to my lips.

"Trust me, I do too. But NFL comes in to watch today. I'm nervous and I have to secure this. For us," he says, my heart racing. The unbelievable fact that he wants me in his future makes me so happy and excited. He wants me; needs me. Just as I need and want him.

"You can do it. I believe in you," I say, his arms wrapping around me tightly.

"Then I want you to come over and relax with me. I'm going to need some more Emma time," he grins, making me smile up at him. I nod and he kisses my cheek, letting me out of his arms as he gets up. Unashamed, he collects his clothes in his boxers and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't looking at his bottom. His muscles contract as he gets dressed and I bravely pull the covers off me, Harry stopping to watch me move to my dresser.

"Stop looking," I flush, moving a tee over my head.

"Why should I stop when you have the most beautiful body I've ever seen?" he compliments, making my stomach fill with butterflies. I lift leggings onto my legs after and he walks towards me, kissing my cheek. His hands grab my waist and his shirtless torso still radiates heat, his thumbs lifting the edge of my shirt so he circles his thumbs on my bare skin.

"I hope we'll be able to do this tonight," he says, my eyes closing as I rest my head on his chest.

"Your belly button is the cutest thing," he whispers in my ear, making me laugh. He has a tendency to make me laugh at compliments that aren't usual, such as saying my belly button is cute.

"Seriously, Emma," he smiles, kneeling in front of me and lifting my shirt. A small kiss is placed on my belly button and I push him away as I laugh, his body getting up to bring me into his arms.

"Such a beautiful girl," he grins, my arms moving around his shoulders.

Harry brings his hands to my waist and he leans his head down, our foreheads touching. He kisses me and I close my eyes, letting his touch move to the small of my back. My fingers wind into his hair and one of his hands move to my bottom, pulling me even closer as we kiss. I trust him enough to let him touch me in such a way; last night proving he'd never pressure me into anything.