Endlessly // h.s.

XII

Evie took her sweet time in the huge shower, letting the hot jets wash away all of the grime and grossness that had built up over the past three days. She shampooed and conditioned twice, and used all three of the expensive body washes that were available to her. It was by far the longest and nicest shower of her life, and she didn't want it to end, but maybe that was because she knew Harry would be waiting for her once she left the bathroom.

Only once her fingers started to turn pruney and she could hardly see for the steam that had built up in the room did she turn off the water and step out of the shower, grabbing a towel and drying herself down shortly after.

She reluctantly pulled on the black shirt and boxers, having to wear the same undergarments she'd had on before, feeling a bit uncomfortable at wearing her kidnapper's clothes, but she really didn't have any other option unless she wanted to wear the dirty and worn pajamas from three days ago.

The shirt was huge on her and hung down past her mid-thigh, so she tucked it into the black Calvin Klein boxers, which were also a bit large for her size. Evie sighed as she tried to adjust the shirt, because no matter what she did it always found a way to fall off her shoulder, revealing the strap of her purple sports bra. Oh well, she thought. There was nothing she could do.

With her hair still wet and clinging to the back of her neck and the sides of her face, she took a deep breath and opened the door, taking small steps back into the room that she hadn't left for three days.

Harry was on the bed, leaning casually against the headboard with his long legs stretched out in front of him. He had a black cell phone held to his ear, and he was irritatedly speaking to the person on the other line. Upon seeing Evie, a small smile grew on his face and he hung up the phone without so much as a goodbye.

"Why do you have a cell phone?" Evie inquired, standing awkwardly a few yards away from the bed with her arms wrapped around her body.

His eyebrows drew closer together at her question. "Why wouldn't I?" he asked amusedly, as if she was being silly.

Evie bit at the corner of her lip before answering him. "I mean, you have wings, you say that you've been immortal ever since you died in 1477, and apparently there's a warlock here too. I wouldn't think you'd use something so mundane as a cell phone."

Harry just stared, a small smile pulling at the corners of his lips. His eyes revealed a peculiar mixture of adoration and amusement as he gazed deeply at her.  Evie grew uncomfortable and averted her eyes, wrapping her arms tighter around her torso.

"God, you're adorable," he muttered softly, almost to himself.

They stayed like that for a few moments, with him just looking at her and Evie fidgeting, feeling like she was under a microscope. He still hadn't answered her question, and Evie felt like she needed to say something to snap him out of his stare.

"Um, when can I go back to my mother?" Evie asked unsurely. She was actually genuinely curious if she would be able to leave and see her mother again. Throughout her entire life, it had always been her and her mom against the world, and now that Evie had been taken, she found herself missing the woman who had raised her.

"Never," Harry said nonchalantly. His phone lit up with a text or a notification of some sort and he glanced down at it. His attitude was one of complete casualness, and it angered Evie. This was her life. He was going to keep her here against her will, away from her mother, and he was completely calm about it.

"Never?" Evie repeated him.

He didn't even look up from his phone, just tapping away at it. "That's what I said, angel."

Evie couldn't contain her irritation, and all of a sudden she snapped. "You can't just keep me here forever. You're fucking sick," she spat.

That made him look up. A flash of hurt in his eyes was quickly buried by fury and his green-eyed gaze turned into an apoplectic glare.

He stood up swiftly and started stalking towards Evie as she backed up until her back hit the wall. Harry kept coming towards her until his body was pressing up against hers and she could feel his breath fan across her face.

The irritation that Evie had felt just seconds previous was largely overshadowed by that warm feeling that seemed to culminate whenever Harry was near. As she looked up at him with wide eyes, she saw his tense stance soften a bit as he felt that same warmth throughout his own body.

The warmth was hard to describe, it was like relief and happiness and serenity all bundled up into one feeling that made Evie just want to be closer to Harry.

"Do you feel that?" Harry asked softly, eyes peering into hers. He moved both of his hands up to stroke her cheeks and Evie almost melted under his touch. "Evie, love? Do you feel it?" he questioned when she didn't answer the first time.

Even though Evie didn't want to admit the effect he had on her, she nodded slowly.

Harry's eyes lit up as one side of his mouth quirked up into a small smirk. "That's called solatium, little one." He continued to softly trace meaningless designs on her cheeks with his fingers. "It's the feeling that dimidiums get when they're close to each other, touching each other. It's what we're feeling right now."

Evie tore her gaze from his face, looking down and off to the side. She didn't want to be feeling this... solatium, or whatever Harry had called it. But she was, and that fact unsettled her.

Harry's left hand moved down to grip her chin and he pulled her gaze back to his. Their faces were just inches apart, tips of their noses almost brushing.

"Once dimidiums are united, it's hard to break them apart because of the solatium. They can't be away from each other for more than a few days, or there'll be...painful consequences." His grip tightened a bit as he tilted her face up more towards his. "So, you see, that's why I'll never let you go. I know what'll happen when we're apart." He was whispering at that point, as if it was a secret that only they could know.

Evie didn't say anything back to him, too entranced by his eyes and his presence to even make an effort to speak.

Neither of them moved from their positions for a little bit, Evie standing with her back against the wall and her arms by her sides, Harry with his chest flush against hers and his hands cupping her face.

When one of them did finally move, it was very slight. Harry's green eyes only flicked down to her lips and he focused his stare there.

Evie wasn't stupid, she'd had her fair share of kisses and she knew what he wanted to do. Did she want it to happen, though? The rational part of her mind said no, but the rest of her screamed yes.

When Harry leaned even closer to her so that their lips were softly brushing, her mind was still fighting with her body. But when his eyes fluttered closed and his lips pushed roughly against hers, she decided to give in and let it happen.

Helloooooo I'm sorry it's been a little while since I last updated but shit happens, y'know? Hope you liked the chapter!!