Running Around Royal (Prince Harry #4)

Chapter Ninety-One

Having landed in the Bahamas the previous night, Meredith and Harry had been sleeping since then. The morning sunshine bled through the white curtains, and the couple was curled up in it. White blankets laid across their tired bodies. It was their day off, and it was going to be spent doing whatever they wanted-- and that included sleeping in. It had been hours past when they normally woke up, and it didn't feel like enough.

Harry was the first to stir, even though he expected his wife to be awake. When he opened his eyes and felt his wife beside him, he was surprised; he wholly expected her to be in the ocean. It was her natural state. However, there she was. He had to blink to make sure. Her blonde hair was golden in the sunlight.

She half laid on her side with her hair going wild. She was relaxed too, even though he didn't see her face. She was spread out, taking up most of the bed like she did. Per usual, she was also half under the blankets and not: one leg escaped the covers that were pulled up to her chin.

Carefully, Harry reached out and pulled back some to reveal her face. She didn't move an inch. Whatever dream she was off in, it was good. Harry really wanted to know, but he didn't want to wake her. Resting his head on his arm, he watched her sleep. If Meredith was awake, then he knew what words were going to come out of her mouth. "You creep," she joked-- that was that. He wasn't able to help it, though.

God, she was gorgeous. It was impossible not to look.

It wasn't just now that he found her gorgeous. He remembered when they first met. She was stubborn but upset. He was willing to save her, but she was so determined to save herself. In that bathroom, he thought she was stunning, which was hard to admit then because she infuriated him. It was another natural state for her.

Now, she was even more lovely. He knew she didn't want to hear it, but he thought it-- all the time. Inside, their child was growing. He hoped it was a girl. But he thought that was selfish because he was supposed to hope that the child was healthy. Still, he hoped it was a girl. He believed Meredith wanted it to be a girl too.

Harry's blue eyes trailed down her chest and to her stomach. There was no change since they found it. It was way too early: too early to see, too early to tell, too early... too early... too early. That didn't mean his eyes didn't trick his mind for a second. That didn't mean his heart didn't feel it.

"Knock it off," Meredith groaned, "you creep." Rolling over, she flipped her hair back. A smile was spread on her face. "How long have you been doing that?"

"Not long."

Meredith didn't believe him.

Taking the opportunity, Harry moved closer, letting his fingers slide through her hair. Meredith allowed that, but she never blinked. She had that same smile that she had yesterday, and Harry had said something about today being a day off and then.... Well, he was happy to comply.

Dipping his head forward, Harry kissed his wife. She let out a husky chuckle and then pulled back. "That was nice." Meredith got up from the bed.

"But you said--"

"Yesterday," she reminded him. "I did warn you." Meredith pointed down on him and then walked into the restroom. Water began to run.

Harry hissed and leaned back in bed. Mornings were hard sometimes, especially with his wife.

The water turned off, and the door swung open. Meredith stood in the doorway. "Just kidding!" She jumped onto the bed.

Some time later, after breakfast was eaten, Meredith stood on the beach in her swimsuit. The waves crashed against the shore, and the blue went on fore miles. The sun beat down, and Meredith had been layered up in sunscreen. White foam curled along the edges of the white sand. A turtle made its way toward the cool water. She watched it dive in.

"I'm surprised you didn't beat it to the water." Harry came to stand next to her.

"Are you calling me slower than a turtle?"

"No." He shook his head quickly. Harry knew much better than to say that. "I'm just saying--" He realized she was joking with him. For the years that they had been together, sometimes her northern sarcasm got lost on him. "I'll race you."

"Hmm." Meredith patted her stomach.

Immediately, his attention turned. "Are you feeling okay? Is it--"

"I'm fine. It's good. I'm just taking it all in." Meredith ran a finger over her stomach before letting it drop. "A few more days on the beach, and then we move in land. Then northern--"

"And then a holiday, and then home," he listed, happy with himself and how this had gone. Looking toward his wife, he was so proud of her. Never did Harry doubt that wasn't able to do it, but that didn't stop her from impressing everyone.

"Ugh!" Meredith backed away. "Stop giving me that look!"

Harry acted innocent. "What look?"

"That look." She pointed. "You know the look. You use it all the time."

"I don't know what you're going on about." Harry made his way to the ocean, and Meredith was quick to follow. He waded into the ocean, and the water sent a chill through them. Meredith, who was knee deep, didn't look bothered.

"You have to jump in," she said.

"What are you doing?" he called.

"Waiting for you, slow poke."

Harry's laugh filled the air, but still, he hesitated. Goosebumps rose on his pasty skin. He knew he was supposed to take his wife's advice and just jump in. The coldness wasn't going to bother her. However, this was too much--

He was knocked into the water, swallowing some water as he went down. Harry knew he was supposed to see it coming. It was such a Meredith thing to do. Yet, as he came to the surface, water-drenched, Harry still felt it.

Finding his wife laughing, Harry started to come at her. It was time for his revenge, but Meredith placed a hand over her stomach and shook her head. Harry refused to hurt the child, even if it dipping his wife into the water wasn't going to hurt them. He backed off, and then he decided better. Harry went after her, but before he was within two feet of her, Meredith dove into the water, swimming faster than he was ever going to be able. She was away from his grasp within five seconds.

Surfacing again, Meredith flipped back her blonde hair and let out a howl of laughter. "What did I say?" she yelled over the waves. "Slow poke."

"Watch out for the sharks."

Meredith started to hum the "Jaws" theme song, and then she dove under the surface again. She propelled through the waves. Harry guessed that Meredith was part mermaid. Perhaps the child was also going to be a lover of the water. When Harry blinked, suddenly Meredith was in front, splashing water at him. Water made the young and wild part of Meredith come out, and he liked those parts of her.

As quick as she was there, she was gone, falling back into the waves and taking off along the sea bottom. He watched her go and then come back. She was up to take a breath and then down below again-- up and down, up and down, up and down. Meredith was in front of him again, and she splashed him.

"Are you just going to watch all day?" Meredith asked. "Or are you going to come play?"

Harry licked the salt water off his lips and went in after her.

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Congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on their baby!

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Also, did this chapter make you wish for the old chapters, when they weren't touring? Me too. I have done a lot of research, and I just want to go back to the basics. We're almost there, and I will try to keep it up.