We Still Exist [h.s.]

Chapter 9

FRANKIE'S POV

I woke up first the next morning. Harry and I had moved around throughout the night. He was laying down now and I was laying opposite to him. Our legs were tangled together and each of our heads laid on either armrest. I delicately moved his legs and put a blanket over him. He looked so damn cute. I got up and started to make us a little breakfast. I had the end of a baguette left over from spaghetti the other night. I made some eggs along with some sausage and set them on a plate. I toasted the baguette and buttered it. I turned around to bring Harry his plate and he was sat up already awake. He was sipping his water watching me cook.

His hair was adorable. A little messy from sleeping on the couch. I could feel the desire in is stare. The rings on his fingers remained as they had been. He gave me a 'come here' signal with his finger. I brought the food with me and I handed him the plate as I stood in front of him. He set the plate on the side table and took my hand instead. He gently pulled me down onto his lap so I was straddling him. He rested his hands on my thighs. "Is this okay?"

His hands gently moved up and down my legs. I was surely red in the face. I hadn't expected him to be so strait forward. "Yes... I like this."

He moved one hand to my neck and stroked my jawline with his thumb. "Good, me too."

He slid his hand behind my neck and slowly pulled me into him. His lips were still soft even though he was probably dehydrated. I obliged, but I wanted him to eat the breakfast I made. I pulled back and kissed his cheek, then his neck. I looked at him and he was subtly biting his lip. "I slaved over that stove to make you a good breakfast. You better eat it before it gets cold."

We both smiled. He helped me get off his lap and we ate our food together. After breakfast, I told Harry I was going to shower and I let him know he was welcome to shower as well. "Together?" 

He sounded excited and stood strait up. I giggled through my smile. "Separately. But I love your enthusiasm."

He huffed like a child who just got told 'no.' I thought of this as the perfect opportunity to give him a bit of a show. I stood in the doorway of the bathroom and took my hair out of the loose pony tail I did while cooking this morning. His gaze never left mine. I shook my head a little bit to settle the hair. I turned around and faced the open bathroom while remaining in the doorway. I took my shirt off leaving me in just my bottoms. I could feel his eyes penetrating through the layers of my skin. I walked into the bathroom and shut the door without turning around. I let out a breath of satisfaction. That felt amazing.

 I don't know where this confidence came from, but there's no going back now.

After we had both showered and gotten cleaned up, I gave him some of my oversized sweat pants and a shirt that would fit him. Harry touched up the still healing cuts on my face. He put new bandages on them and gave each one a small peck. Like a stamp of approval. I thanked him. He sat on the couch while I sat on the ground in between his legs, facing away from him. He brushed my hair and helped me put products in it. He gently palmed my shoulder to ask me a question. "Do you want to go do something today?"

I instinctively jumped when he touched me. I loved when he touched me. I hope he didn't think I was scared of him. It was just an impulse. 

HARRY'S POV

I don't think I've ever had a more perfect morning. I'm genuinely probably the luckiest man in the world. Frankie has been acting as if the chemistry between us is just second nature. Which leads me to believe she has always felt this way. Either that or she is just actually this perfect. I'm leading towards both. 

After her little show before she hopped into the shower, I felt feral. If she had said yes to me in any way, we wouldn't leave this dorm today. But I had to distract myself from her while she was showering. I looked up some things to do with her. Like a proper date. She deserves everything good all the time, but all I want to do is be there for her and take care of her. After our shower I got dressed in some clothes that were too big for her to wear. I put new dressings on her cuts. I had her sit between my legs on the floor while I brushed her hair. 

This. 

I could get used to this forever. I broke the comfortable silence after finishing her hair to ask her if she wanted to go do something today. I felt her heart skip and her body shudder when I touched her. My heart couldn't help but sink. Not because she was scared of me, I don't think she is. But because she should never have to develop those reflexes. No woman should. That jump was undoubtedly stemmed from past experiences. That automatic body movement is caused by her not being able to trust herself around anyone. That's when this moment became even bigger for me. Not only were we having some amazing bonding and quality time, but she was allowing herself to be comfortable around me. I couldn't be more grateful for her. 

I moved the hair on her left side out of the way. I leaned down and left gentle kisses where I had previously touched her. I trailed the pecks from her shoulder up to her neck to her ear. I stopped at her ear and pulled her into an embrace while she still faced away from me. "Where would you like to go?"

I gently whispered into her ear. She seemed to drastically relax as I marked her with my lips. I felt her release the breath she was holding when I spoke. "Can I take you to lunch and then maybe we can go to the arcade?" 

"That sounds like fun!"

She sounded so excited. I couldn't help but chuckle. I stood up and walked in front of her to help her up. As soon as she had her feet under her, I picked her up into a hug. If she wasn't still healing I would've crushed her because I simply treasure her.

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