Echo Of Us • Zarry

G 5

Harry isn't the type to actively seek out relationships. With his professional, it's hard even finding potential people who he could date because clout chasers are unfortunately a pandemic. He keeps his friend circle relatively tight, being close mostly to people he's known for years. Sometimes, there are additions to that group but rarely does he find someone he wants to be romantically involved with.

So Harry really wasn't looking for anyone when one Charles Beaumont crossed Harry's path in life. One extra glass of some fancy whiskey at an industry event led to another and somehow, Harry found himself with a boyfriend just months after Lucrecia had flown across the big pond and left Harry in London with his heart in tatters.

Charles isn't necessarily Harry's type. Well, to be fair, he would've been twenty-year-old Harry's type. He's in his early forties, not yet a silver fox but a few years and a box of hair dye shy from it. He works in the music industry and is too rich for his own good. Despite that, he's devastatingly handsome and generally a pleasure to be around. He made Harry laugh so hard his ribs hurt, on the night they met at the industry event and that's quite rare for men like him. Charles is quite a dominant man, which Harry doesn't mind, he likes to be roughed up from time to time. When Harry found that Charles is able to effortlessly straddle that line between being a classic handsome arsehole who will fuck you without waiting for you to come and a man who will make you feel like you're the only person in the world, it seemed like a match made in heaven.

While Harry was mostly okay with Charles being an extended rebound only, as he finds himself spending New Year's Eve with him in the Alps in a beautiful cabin that's the size of a small mansion, he doesn't feel pressed to run from Charles. It's a different relationship, certainly, because they're both just enjoying their lives, each day as it comes. There aren't expectations and deadlines and pressure.

Harry whistles to himself as he puts together a cheese board in the kitchen. Earlier today, Charles had lots of food delivered even though it's only the two of them tonight. He's wearing only his underwear because it's not really worth it to get dressed when he's inside holed up with Charles. Oh yeah, not the most important thing but Charles is insane in bed. Harry feels like Charles would be able to keep up with his own sexual habits when he was around nineteen which he normally turns a blind eye to.

"Darling," Charles suddenly croons into Harry's ear, his hand on his hip. "Don't tempt me again. Get some clothes on." With a kiss underneath Harry's ear, he leaves to go to the fridge.

"I'm not doing anything," Harry grins. "Why bother, right?" Only then does Harry notice that Charles is fully dressed in a suit with his hair all in place and not completely dishevelled like Harry's fingers left it about an hour ago. "What, are you going somewhere?"

Charles finishes drinking and returns the Voss water bottle into the fridge. "We're both going somewhere, love. I don't mean to rush you, and as ravishing as you look just in your pants, I have the strongest feeling not many besides myself would enjoy you like this tonight. Besides, it is cold outside."

"You said we'd be staying in," Harry frowns. "I'm making food."

Charles chuckles and comes up to Harry, putting his hands on his hips. "Placing cheese and crackers on a platter is hardly making food, darling. It's just a small gathering my good friend from university is having. I couldn't not accept, we'd known each other forever and he knows very well we're here. I don't want to offend him," Charles' hands slide over to Harry's arse, making themselves comfortable there. "We'll be back by midnight, I promise," he punctuates the sentence with a quick kiss that could turn heated at any moment considering Harry's state of undress.

Harry rolls his eyes, gently slapping his hands over Charles' shoulders. "Fine. I'll go with you. But we are back by midnight, no matter what."

"Of course," Charles promises before he kisses Harry's temple. "I want to enter the new year with you and you only. Preferably entering you as well."