Oscillation | [H.S]

Chapter 33

"You're still shaking." Harry whispered against my hair, wrapping his arms tighter around me. We were still on the sun-bed, near the barbecue and we had been there for the past hour. The sky had turned dark, revealing a starry sky. 

Harry had made sure to get me some warm clothes, which Liam had retrieved from the house. It had become clear that this house was his. He apologised four times while handing me the sweater, the sweatpants and a pair of warm socks. I had put them on over my damp underwear and Harry had actually cuddled me to get me to warm up. And to stop the shaking. 

However the shaking didn't stop because my underwear was still slightly damp and the cooling air wasn't helping either. Harry had lit a fire again in the barbecue though, which was releasing enough warmth, as was his body. We could have gone inside too, Harry had even proposed it, but it didn't feel right to end this good day already.

Everything had been so good and felt so nice. One mistake shouldn't have to ruin it. And I was almost afraid to say it, but I was comfortable in the strong and warm arms of Harry and watching the stars twinkle against the dark sky. It was the comfort I had been looking for and for once I didn't feel guilty about getting it from Harry. It was my birthday after all. 

"The fire is helping though. It's lessening" I answered Harry, burying myself deeper into the large sweater I was wearing. It smelled different than what I was used to. I could feel him shrug behind me. 

"Did you know that you warm up quicker when you put bare skin against each other." Harry whispered a while later, warm breath fanning over my neck. A snort left my body at the cliché remark. 

"Really?" I asked pointedly, making him sniff. Almost a laugh, I thought to myself. My eyes scanned the sky again, looking for all the constellations I could recognise. The Ursa Major was easy, as was the smaller version. The North star was pretty quick to find too as was Orion. It calmed me to watch the night sky. I sighed, a tad too deep, my sore throat making me cough.

"I'm going to kill Liam." Harry spoke softly again, sounding bitter. The small smile that was plastered on my face fell.

"He was just trying to have fun, Harry." I answered him, trying to calm him down. Although thinking about the scenario was still making my stomach turn, Liam couldn't have known that I wasn't able to swim. Almost everybody could nowadays. That was the reason why I never told people about it. I was ashamed. 

"I don't understand why you are so forgiving." He uttered, making me fall silent. I had never thought about it. Actually, I found myself to be rather stuck on my own opinions. There was a long list of people I had never forgiven, too. The person who hit my parents with their car, for example. The family I stayed with, with the loose hands. Mr. Acker. Compared to Harry however, he seemed like the type that would never forgive and forget. 

"I like that about you." He followed up his previous statement, making a blush creep up my cheeks. A shiver went over my body from the unusual feeling his compliments gave me. 

"I know another way to warm you up..." Harry whispered against my skin as reaction to my shiver, his face burying in my neck. His nose followed the curve of my neck through my hair, pressing his lips to the skin, making me shiver. He let his teeth scrape the skin briefly, coaching a small sound from my lips. 

"Harry.." I spoke, unsure if it was to stop him or to encourage him. 

"Don't worry." He mumbles, turning me around in his arms in a fluid movement. Once I was facing him, he pressed his lips to mine gently. I melted into the warmth, letting myself go and kiss him back. My hands went up to his hair almost automatically, twisting his curls around my fingers. His teeth caught my bottom lip for a moment, biting it softly, surprising me. I pulled his curls gently, coaching a moan from his mouth. I was taken aback for a moment, breaking the kiss.