Unpredictable Love

Chapter 37

Chapter 37

Harry's POV

Karleigh took the initiative to lock the apartment door for me, that's amusing. Aloud ringing is coming from Karleigh's back pocket and she sighs, looking apologetically at me.

"It's my Aunt, I'll be right up." I nod, and head up the stairs to my bedroom.

From a distance I can hear Karleigh telling Jocelyn that she's staying with me and what not. Absentmindedly, I turn on the television and lay across my bed awaiting for Karleigh to return.

My bedroom door creaks open and Karleigh peeks in at me, I smile at her childlike actions. The way she's peering at me through the small crack of the door is adorable. I gesture for her to come to me, but she stubbornly shakes her head no. I chuckle and wink at her waving for her to come to me again. Karleigh sticks her tongue out at me and disappears from my doorway.

A wide smile grows across my face and I climb off of my bed slowly, and creep out of my bedroom. My eyes scan my surroundings for the girl that's been driving my insane lately. "Karleigh. Kaaaaarleeeeigh." I hum.

A slight creak sounds from downstairs and I tip-toe down they stairs to find her. Slowly, I creep towards the small storage closet trying to contain my smug smirk that's growing.

My hand reaches for the doorknob of the closet and I prepare to capture Karleigh. In a swift movement I twist the knob and jerk the door open.

"BOO!!" I shout, then freeze. She isn't in the closet. "What the hell." I grumble. Then out of nowhere an unexpected weight presses against my back and Karleigh explodes into giggles. "Boo!" She squeals, mocking me as she hangs from my back. I chuckle and grip her thighs tightly around my waist, spinning around to make her dizzy. She screams loudly, and I toss her lightly onto the couch. Her laughter is contagious and I love her being this way, she rarely ever exposes her emotions or happiness for that matter.

No doubt, she's probably being this playful to distract me from fucking Todd. I climb on top of her on the couch, our chests pressing together. Both of us are breathing deeply from our burst of energy, and our laughing comes to a halt.

Right now, she's staring into my eyes. Her deep sea blue orbs have me paralyzed, and I feel as if she's reading into my soul. So slow, that I almost don't notice, she tilts her chin up towards me. The tip of her nose brushes against mine, and she leans in closer. I'm careful not to make any sudden movements, allowing her to handle this.

Her lashes tickle my cheeks, just as her lips tease mine. The feeling of her lips hesitantly touching mine is torture. My eyes flutter closed and her lips press against mine fully, and my heart picks up.

Her arms slowly wrap around my neck, and our kiss is growing with a burning passion. We separate and Karleigh's eyes slowly open, they stare at me again and she tugs on her bottom lip with her perfectly in tact teeth.

I lean down to kiss her again, her lips beckoning me like a drug I cannot refuse. Just as I'm about satisfy my need for her lips, an earsplitting ringing echoes throughout the loft. Karleigh groans and yanks her phone from her back pocket, and answers it, her eyes never leave mine.

"What." She barks into the phone.

I cannot make out the voice of the person on the other end of the line. Karleigh's face pales, and she rushes to stand up from the couch.

"You do not run my life, fuck you. Don't call me again." She growls fiercely and ends the call without another word. I study her stiff movements after she hangs up the phone.

"Everything okay?" I pry and her eyes dart to mine, as she sets back down onto the couch.

"That was Michael..." She tells me. My thoughts erupt into theories. Who is Michael again? The name sounds familiar, but it isn't ringing any bells.

"My ex." She confirms one of my many theories. The hair on my arms rise and I study her face. Her fingers lace through her hair, tugging at her scalp viscously.

I lean towards her, untangling her hands from her hair gently. Her eyes are fixed on me as I soothingly brush my fingers along her skin.

"Why were you so upset about Todd...h-hitting me?" Her voice is fragile, and I take my hands away from her. They begin to tremble slightly at the image of Todd hitting her, causing those deep bruises along her body.

I clear my throat before talking, "Men don't hit women, Karleigh." I vaguely explain. This response doesn't seem to satisfy Karleigh. She purses her lips and stares at me.

"You seemed so angry, so defensive... I don't...I just..well no one's ever been protective like that over me." She stutters to explain.

Confusion is clear on my face, and my eyebrows are raised high. "Your ex, Michael? He never defended you?" I ask. She doesn't seem offended by my question, she seems thoughtful.

"That's not the first time this has happened. Guys used to, hit me. Michael, well he always said I was instigating it." Her voice is low, her eyes avoiding mine as she recalls horrendous memories.

Her face twists in hatred and I'm glad I can't see the things she's remembering. If I knew the people who had harmed her, I'd... I would. Shit, my anger is growing.

"He called me an ignorant bitch, because I've been ignoring his calls. We aren't together anymore, clearly, but he won't back the hell off. He keeps threatening, and yelling at me. It's annoying as fuck, I don't have to deal with him." She tells me, annoyance clear in her voice, and a hint of something else. Fear.

Without thought, I lean down and scoop her up from the couch. A small squeak falls from her mouth and I chuckle as I carry her up the stair to my bedroom. With my foot, I kick my door open, and set Karleigh down onto my bed, laying beside her.

As we both lay on our sides observing each other, Karleigh opens her mouth to speak.

"This is terrifying.." She confesses.

"What is?"

"The way I feel when I'm with you."

My breath hitches in my throat, and I watch her lips as she talks. "I don't want to hurt you." I promise her, and she nods slowly, heartbreak fresh in her eyes.

"Then don't." Her lips whisper.