Check, Please?

Chapter 18

I would be lying if I said that the next morning wasn’t at least a little bit awkward between us – but it was that kind of excited awkward that you feel at the beginning of a new relationship.  I tried my best to push last night out of my head as far as the fight went and just enjoy the little touches or playful kisses that Harry showered me with any time we passed each other in the hallway or bathroom or kitchen as we got ready for work.  My cheeks were sore from smiling before we even left the apartment. 

I wasn’t paying attention to the time that morning.  Harry and I arrived 30 minutes early to the studio.  Not even Anna was there yet.  I shrugged my coat off of my shoulders and looked around for something to straighten up or mess with until at least the other models showed up.

“So what are we shooting today?” Harry asked, sitting on the black velvet couch in one corner of the studio.  My skin tingled as I thought about what happened the last time we sat together on the couch.

“It’s a new line called Christoph and Company.  I think the designer is from Austria or someplace just trying to expand his work to America.”

Harry nodded. “What did the clothes look like?”

“A lot of black; that’s really all I can remember.” I laughed as Harry frowned and looked down at his attire: black jeans with his black boots, a black v-neck, and of course, his black beanie.  Harry was the king of black.

Harry grinned as he watched me step gawkily around the studio.  I pulled at the maroon backdrop tried to look at where it was hooked, just triple-checking that it was still hooked in okay.  I pulled my phone from my pocket and looked at the time.  We still had at least ten minutes before anyone arrived.

“Maybe I should go get my camera set up,” I suggested, sticking my phone back in the pocket of my dark jeans and picking at a loose thread on my teal silk blouse.  I watched the loose fabric as it waved gently in the breeze that blew through the studio as the air came on.

“Just relax a few minutes.  The camera takes like, two seconds to set up,” Harry persuaded me.  I looked across the studio at him.  His eyes burned into my skin as rubbed his chin and gazed at me.  Shivers went down my back as he stood up slowly, extending his long body and not taking his eyes off of me. “Scotlan…” He called me, his voice low and raspy. 

I couldn’t control myself anymore.  I sprinted at him and threw my body into his, hoisting myself up and locking my arms and legs around his neck and waist.  He squeezed me tightly between his arms and allowed himself to fall back onto the couch, laying down and brushing my hair back out of my face while we parted our lips and began to play with each other’s tongues.  He ran his hands up my back, pulling my shirt up higher around my torso.  I nearly bit Harry’s lip off when I heard someone on the other side of the studio cough.

I stood up quickly and straightened my shirt. “Golly, you scared me shitless, Payne-o.”

Liam’s eyes were wide as he looked from me to Harry. “I’m so sorry-” he blurted.  Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Harry’s rigid body stand up straight and tall.

“Can we help you?”

Liam tried to regain his composure but I could tell he was still thrown off by what he just saw.  Who wouldn’t be?  “I just- Scotlan… I- I mean, we- Mr. Kyrie and I talked about me quitting and coming here.”

“What?” Harry asked, his voice just on the verge of sounding irritated.

I ignored Harry's annoyance but took his hand to make sure he didn’t think I was ignoring him completely since Liam was here. “That’s great, Liam,” I said, smiling politely.