Written

Chapter 36

My legs wrap around Harry’s waist despite the voice in the back of my head screaming at me to stop. I don’t want to stop, I don’t know if I could even if I tried. Harry is laying on top of me, supporting his weight on his hands on either said of my body. Every sound that falls from his lips is glorious. Our kiss holds a fever and passion at a level that I didn’t know could exist. We are a tangle of limbs and fire as our bodies move together on the mattress.

   Somewhere an alarm bell goes off inside my head. I ignore it, reaching behind Harry’s back and pulling his shirt up over his head, exposing his tattooed chest. I never cared much for tattoos, but in the dim light of the hotel room, nothing has ever seemed more beautiful to me. The scorching fire recedes into a slow burn as my fingers run over the ink on Harry’s chest.

   “Hayley,” he breathes, bringing my mouth back to his. His hands pull me up and peel my shirt off, leaving me in only a bra and panties. Harry pulls me to his chest and I straddle his waist, my arms locking around his neck. I have never in my life needed or wanted someone more.

   “We shouldn’t do this,” Harry says, kissing my neck.

   “Shh,” I shush him. I have no patience for chivalry right now.

   “Hayley,” he murmurs against my lips.

   “Shh,” I groan. Harry slowly lifts me off of him.

   “I don’t want you to regret this,” he says softly. “To regret me.”

   “Harry,” my voice comes out as a whine. He just shakes his head, and I fall back on the pillows with a huff. Without another glance at Harry, I pull the covers up and over my head. I hear him chuckling as he removes my makeshift barrier and pulls my body up so I’m lying on the bed normally. He reaches around me and pulls the comforter up before sliding in next to me and wrapping his arms around my torso. He pulls me against him, my back to his front. And I have to give him credit, because in this position, I can easily feel how difficult it was for him to stop me. I sigh again and settle into his arms, conceding my fight. Harry presses his lips to the back of my neck and starts humming a song I don’t recognize. I don’t even think he realizes that he’s doing it, but I am struck with an overwhelming sense of comfort. I drift off to sleep in Harry’s arms, feeling more at home than I ever have.

HARRY

   Hayley’s head is on my stomach when I wake up the next morning. Memories from last night come flooding back to me; I hadn’t intended it to go the way it went, but I’m glad it did. I remember the way my heart leapt when she confessed that she’d been on her way to see me, the way that it took every ounce of self-control for me not to touch her when we sat on her bed, talking like friends. When she came over to kiss my face when she thought I was asleep, well then I was a goner. I couldn’t take it anymore. We ended up making out on her bed and fuck if I hadn’t wanted to take it farther. She did too, she got pissed at me for stopping her, just like last time. But I know that she appreciates it, too. Especially when she’s mad at me and we are half broken up.

   My hand runs along her back and her eyelids flutter. She props her hand on her chin and looks up at me. She has this thing that she does that just drives me crazy; she stares into my eyes without any particular expression on her face. She just looks at me, and every time she does it I feel like she can see my soul. She probably can, I only bear it to her anyway.

   “Good morning,” I whisper. She just lays her head back down and squeezes my hips. Shortly after I hear her sharp intake of breath. “Are you crying?” I ask, alarmed. I shift her body up and see that she indeed has tears in her eyes. “Why are you crying, baby?” I ask, sitting her up and pulling her to my chest. My arms wrap around her, holding her tightly.