within the meadow √ h.s.

n i n e t e e n

between her legs, delilah felt a warmth of need growing as harry drove and she saw his side profile and his hand rested on her thigh, squeezing every so often.

yes, her books that she had waiting for her were in the backseat with words screaming for her to open them. but the desire of harry's touch was louder, creating a deafening repercussion sending waves throughout her body. the slight buzz she felt from the minimal alcohol rushing to her head could have played a part in the craving delilah felt, but at that moment she didn't care about anything else and felt at ease.

she wished the drive could have been over because the timer was ticking and her body was on fire. grabbing harry's hand from her thigh and kissing his knuckles, she held it tight and he caressed her cheek and looked over at delilah. harry saw the need in her eyes and felt it too.

when they finally reached the house and locked the door behind them, harry lifted delilah up by the back of her thighs and brought her to the bedroom as their lips melted together and she trailed hers down his neck.

he placed her on the bed and continued to kiss her with passionate lips. he pulled back for a moment and began to slip the strap of delilah's dress down her soft shoulder. he placed kisses on the skin that was now bare as the dress continued to be removed at an achingly slow pace.

"so beautiful," harry mumbled against her skin. delilah wanted harry, but he was making sure his love for her was also clear and not just his lust.

delilah was then left in only her panties. harry admired her body and smiled at her before crashing his lips back to hers and creeping his hand to her core. he was gentle and indulging himself in the moment so full of love and passion. her breathing picked up and moans escaped her lips.

harry's head was soon between her legs and delilah's fingers were tangled in his hair. he dragged his tongue over her most sensitive spot and listened to her moans fill the room like a melody. she began raising her hips, but harry held them down and continued to pleasure her now using his fingers as well.

his name rolled off of her tongue repeatedly and he smirked at how delilah was putty in his hands. she felt that sensation within her and soon released that pleasure onto harry's tongue.

when she sat up, her fingers fumbled with harry's belt buckle while he undid his shirt buttons. delilah yanked his pants down to be met with the bulge being constricted by his boxers. he knew he would soon be putty in her hands as soon as her lips were wrapped around his length and she looked at him through her eyelashes.

throaty groans were in the air, and before harry could finish he stopped delilah and had her lay back down. he looked into her eyes and saw the same desire and adoration he felt for her.

i love you. i love you. i love you.

harry needed to say it, but instead wrapped his length in a barrier and placed his lips on hers and pushed himself into delilah to feel her walls around him. filling the room was a medley of their moans and breathing with the ticking in the background.

love, love, love.

it was there in the touches and in the atmosphere, undeniably obvious. so, why could he not say it?

it was a harmonious zenith to end the night, and as harry's head rested on delilah's chest he heard her heartbeat. her fingers ran through his hair and he kissed her skin gently.

i love you. i love you. i love you.

harry should have said it. he should have relinquished it into the air as the rhythm of her heartbeat played in his ear and all was well.

"i love you, harry," delilah's voice was quiet, almost inaudible. but when harry heard those words, he also heard her heartbeat quicken and felt his too. "thank you for everything."

he lifted his head and saw her tired eyes fluttering open, but a faint smile was visible in the moonlight coming through the window.

the timer ticked, but for that very moment it stopped. time itself had been paused. nothing else mattered to harry, just the beauty in front of him and the words sweetly residing in his heart.

"i love you, delilah."

harry said it, and maybe it wasn't the way he wanted to admit his feelings because there was so much more to the love he felt, but it was right. there couldn't have been a better moment.

"i love you. i love you. i love you," he kissed her lips and smiled so brightly.

their hearts were full and souls complete, but then there was a timer.

when the sun came up and through the window, harry didn't want to lift his head from her chest and he didn't want her arms wrapped around him to drop.

when he realized delilah was waking up, he slithered out of her hold and embraced her as her eyes opened and stomach fluttered.

"good morning, sunshine," harry kissed her head as she nuzzled into his embrace.

"morning," she yawned. "it's early, why are we up?"

"no idea. it's madness. love must do that to us," harry's tired voice mumbled. "what do you want to do today, my love?"

"sleep," delilah said without hesitation.

"come on, sunshine. let's go crazy these last few days," he laughed lightly. "you are my sunshine, my only sunshine. you make me happy when skies are gray. you'll never know dear, how much I love you. please don't take my sunshine away."

"i love you, you goof. you should sing for me more," she hummed.

"if that's what you'd like, i'll do anything you ask."

"can we go back to sleep?" she smiled, hopeful she would be able to convince harry.

"nice try," harry chuckled and pulled her close to his chest and lifted her off of the bed and carried her to the bathroom. she squealed at the cold morning air, but didn't try and fight it.

harry placed her on the counter as he turned the shower on. "hey harry?"

"hm?" he muttered, adjusting the water temperature.

"i love you."

he turned his head and smiled at her like it was the first time hearing the words flow from her mouth. the smile they both wore was loud. it screamed their emotions and radiated their happiness at that moment.

"c'mere, love. let's freshen up," harry stepped into the shower. delilah made her way over and eased her way into the soothing warm water.

the shower took longer than necessary because of the kisses harry snuck in and the cheeky interactions he managed to distract delilah with.

they went down to the beach, delilah with a book and harry with a pencil and sketchbook as well as his camera. she was lost in the words that absorbed all of her attention, and she loved the sound of the waves crashing in the background. delilah didn't mind the words of her books suffocating her, but the words of her heart that she had bottled up were smothering her soul, and now that they were released into the universe she could finally breathe.

all was well, but that timer ticked.