Chapter 21: Chapter 21
I woke up thoroughly sated. The night had been a good one and I was sore in places I didn't even know I could be sore. I tried to sit up but I swear Harry's hands were steel.
Instead of letting me go, he tightened his hold on me. Not enough to hurt me. But just enough to make me lay there. I looked at him petulantly and I felt rather than heard him chuckle.
After we left Harry's friends, Harry took us to his apartment. There was no argument on where I was going to spend the night. It was obvious.
I sighed and instead if trying to get out of bed, I turned towards Harry. He was looking at me already and I blushed. It wasn't that I was shy. No. Okay I kind of was but the look in his eyes was different.
It wasn't any of his usual passionate looks. No. He was looking at me with some kind of tenderness in his eyes, with so much feeling. It was like he was trying to tell me something. But I couldn't understand. Or maybe I didn't want to.
"Good morning," I managed to squeak out, lowering my eyes. I wasn't being demure. I was freaking out.
Don't ask me why. I knew I was dumb. I had been waiting for some kind of clue before. After last night, and then this morning, I was reassured. But that didn't mean my heart was not going 170 kmph.
I took in a deep breath then looked up at him. He was smiling. "Good morning love," he said and I felt like slapping him.
It wasn't that he had done anything to offend me of course not. But damn him for being this delectable and getting my feelings all up in a mess.
"Can I get out of bed now?" I asked, blushing. I couldn't meet his eyes! We were naked under the covers but this felt so much more personal. It felt like he was perusing my soul.
"Not yet," Harry said. His voice was muffled, because the big baby had gone and put his head on my boobs.
I rolled my eyes. "Harry, my boobs are not a pillow. There's a pillow right behind you that you paid money for. Use it."
I was complaining but I wasn't pissed. To be quite honest, I enjoyed the feeling of him on my chest, in a completely nonsexual way.
He opened one eye and stared at me, then promptly closed it again. " 'S more comfortable," he said and I held in the urge to laugh.
I didn't say anything more in protest though, just let him lay there. Soon enough, both of us were sleeping.
***
I woke up a while later and instead of being in Harry's arms, I was cuddling a pillow. I stared at it petulantly then shot it away from me.
I stepped down from the bed and stretched languorously. Then I walked to a drawer, took out Harry's boxers and a clean t-shirt and put them on.
As I was walking towards the door, Harry opened it. I frowned a little; he looked stressed. Harry looked serious at times, actually most times, but he never let anything stress him.
But he was standing here with stress lines visible. As soon as he saw me though, his expression changed. I had seen that look plenty times. I knew what it meant. It was Harry's fuck me look.
"Have I ever told you how sexy you look in my clothes?" he asked and I rolled my eyes.
I didn't answer his question though, just walked to him and placed a hand on his chest. Then I looked up at him with a worried expression on my face. "What's wrong babe?"
Babe. It had slipped out. I had never, not even in my wildest dreams, planned on calling Harry babe.
An amused smirk came on his face and I groaned. I knew he was not going to let me live it down.
"Babe huh?" he asked, with that stupid smirk still on his face. I hid my own blushing face in his chest.
"It slipped out," I mumbled. He lifted my head and placed a soft kiss on my nose.
"I like it," he said simply and I beamed.
"Aha, as I was saying, what's wrong babe?" I used it quite deliberately this time and Harry laughed.
I loved seeing this man smile, laugh. Even if it was at my own expense.
"I– just work stress," he started, then led us to the bed. He sat me down, put my legs up. Then he sat himself as well, then lifted me up and placed my entire body on his. All this without an effort.
"There's this contract I need signed. But dammit, the man's balking. My team is working on a proposal. I really don't want this to fall through," Harry explained and I got quiet.
It was the first time he was telling me something like this. And it was the first time I felt so utterly useless in my life. I wished I could help him. I wished I could be that super smart girlfriend they always talked about in the books.
Not that I was his girlfriend or anything but you get the gist.
Not knowing what to say, I just put my hands around his neck and kissed his forehead. Harry let out a sigh. Then I moved my hands to his shoulders and massaged them slowly. I smiled when I felt the tension seep out and his body started relaxing.
We stayed there for a while, me trying to soothe his stress by massaging every part of his body I could get my hands on.
"You're the best, flower," he said, then kissed my forehead in an appreciative way. I smiled and leaned into him.
Then the doubts came again. I loved us. I loved the fact that we could be so free and affectionate with each other. I loved the fact that he was understanding, patient and kind but I also loved the fact that he could turn into Zaddy in a matter of seconds.
But the doubts were still there.
"What are we Harry?" I asked for the second time since we had started seeing each other
I looked up at him earnestly. I swallowed as he opened his eyes and looked at me. His lips stretched into a smile slowly.
"After all that happened last night, you still have to ask princess?" Harry asked and I blushed.
"Humor me," I said simply.
Harry's expression turned serious. "You're my woman Iris. I own you. You own me. And you best believe that it's going to stay like that for a long while," he said and before I had the time to process whatever he had said, his mouth descended on mine.
I took in a deep breath, savoring his scent. I opened my mouth and let him take the lead. I was letting him know in my own way that yes, we belonged to each other.
He let me go then asked with a smirk, "Satisfied now?"
I blushed and nodded. Then I smiled. I was his. He was mine.