Appetency
Okay so we've got a bit of a long one. Kinda enemies to lovers if you blink, fuckboyrry turned softrry, dedication galore, hesitant Y/N and confident H, you're gonna love it. This is the first half- the other half is already up on Patreon and will be here later on đ
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Warnings- slight angst, mentions of anxiety, alcohol, cocky h turned into a loverboy... nothing too crazy in this part.
WC- 8.5k
âWhy are you every-fucking-where.â Y/N stopped short, glaring at the man across from her. The entire party, she had been trying to avoid him- but he wasnât letting that be at all possible.
Harry grinned widely at that, the most obnoxious and infuriatingly pretty smile with those stupid dimples. Leaning against the wall as he studied her for a good moment, there was no hiding the not so casual enjoyment he got out of flustering her.Â
Finally, he broke the silence, standing up from his casually cool stance on the wall. She knew he was going to say something that annoyed her and it was proven as he opened his mouth. "Câmon, donât be like that. Perhaps you just can't keep me off your mind, baby girl. Canât stop thinking about me, seeing me everywhereâŠ"
âEw. Do not call me that.â She wrinkled her nose in disgust for the nickname, walking past him. He followed, of course, because he always did. âJust because we have a few similar friends doesnât mean you need to be at every social event. Iâd love a break from your smug face.â
"You can't possibly be getting tired of this handsome face alreadyâŠ" He protested as he followed behind, his words purposely trying to rile her up. Getting a rise out of her seemed to make his whole day, and usually she would laugh it off but this time⊠things were different. Finding a spot in the kitchen, he watched as she puttered around trying not to look at him.Â
His eyes danced with amusement as he added in some more. "Or are you just mad that I always seem to steal the show, love? Not my fault that I'm effortlessly charming and captivating, darling."
âHumble, too.â She snorted, grabbing a drink from the cooler. Buzzballs were not the thing sheâd want to choose when she was thinking about the next morning, but they were exactly what she needed when it came to trying to mentally escape right now. âYouâre insufferable. Really.â His eyes were on her as she used her nail to pop open the cap.Â
âSo are you going to leave me alone, or follow me around all night?â
Harry chuckled in amusement at her sarcasm, enjoying the way she rolled your eyes at him. "Leave you alone when you look this lovely? Not a chance in hell, darling." He hummed, tapping his own bottle against the counter. He paid no mind to the new people who entered the space, eyes glued on the girl he was talking to. "But as much as I'd love to keep annoying you, I have a much better way we could spend time. Don't you remember, love?" He purred. âI certainly do. Itâs hard to forget the way it feels when you moan-â The interruption was instant, her hand gripping onto him.Â
âHarryâŠâ she hissed, tugging his arm further down the dark hallway and into a bedroom. Whoâs? She didnât know. All she knew was that she had seen where this was going, and she didnât want him to say it too loudly. Everyone was so god damn nosy and respectfully, she didnât want to deal with any of that. Not after all she had said.
âListen.â Putting her hands on her hips, she tilted her head up at him as he stood a little too close. âWe hooked up, it was a mistake. You know it.â Though it didnât seem like he thought so considering how he trailed her ever since. âWe⊠we were a little drunk and I was lonely and you were there.âÂ
Y/N knew she was slightly lying, but she was trying to fool herself. If she said it enough times, maybe sheâd believe it. Theyâd always had chemistry. It was intensity that burned between them, her disdain and his addiction to getting a rise out of her. It was only a matter of time that theyâd give into some sort of blow out- but she hadnât expected it to be as good as it was. It couldnât happen again.Â
Harry had that knowing smirk on his face as she tried to deny it all, knowing exactly where this was headed. The thrill of chasing her, of getting under her skin was intoxicating, addicting. He loved making her growl and huff and glare at him, because it meant getting her undivided attention.
"Was it really a mistake?" He asked as he leaned against the door, finally giving her some breathing room. "Or have you just been avoiding me because you couldn't stop thinking about it?"
The truth was that he had been thinking about that night ever since. Multiple times. Before he went to sleep, when he was in the shower.. It was hard not to.Â
Her jaw clenched, placing her bottle down and crossing her arms. âLook. Youâre hot, Harry. You donât need me to tell you that. Youâve got plenty big of an ego. But Iâve been avoiding you because it can not happen again.âÂ
Y/N knew that Nina was into Harry and she really didnât want to start any drama. Not that he even seemed remotely into her, but because she acted like he was someone she had dibs on. As gross as it was, she tended to start shit with anyone Harry pursued and she just wasnât in the season for drama. There were other things to worry about other than start a feud over a man.Â
He had known about Nina's crush on him, but he didn't care about her. He never had, and he never would. As fucked up as it was, what they had, in his mind, was just a harmless flirtation, nothing more. Y/N knew that, but Nina didnât. He couldn't have been more clear he had no interest in her, but some people took delusion to heart.Â
It didnât matter how good Harry gave it to her last time, how hard her legs shook, how sore she was in the best way. Didnât matter if his tongue was hot and through and how heâd cleaned her up with it. It couldnât be repeated.
Harry's smirk only widened as she openly admitted he was attractive, his ego inflating even more. But when she mentioned avoiding him, his smile faltered slightly.
"Why can't it happen again?" He asked, moving closer to her, his eyes darkened. Too close, making her take a deep breath. If there was one thing he would give him, his presence was commanding. Felt. Her body was very familiar with his now, wanting to lean into him, but she fought it.
âBecause.â She sighed tiredly. âI really canât deal with any drama. Iâm exhausted, and the last thing I need is that she-devil going after me because she thinks Iâm âstealing her man.â â
The man let out a laugh, amused by the comment. Yeah, he knew exactly who she was referring to and found it funny. He knew she could be a drama queen, and he definitely didn't care for her possessive tendencies, but he had told her that they had nothing going on between them and never would.
He stepped closer to her, his greedy hands reaching out to touch her hips, his touch firm. "You're not stealing me, love. She never had me, and she's delusional if she thinks she does." His eyes gleamed with desire as he looked at her, his touch becoming a bit more possessive in his own way. "And I want you, not her."
âHarry, you donât actually want me.â She groaned in frustration, trying to ignore how her tummy dropped as he pulled her into him, his other hand curling around her jaw. Stupid body, stupid hormones, stupid muscle memory. Â âYou think you do because you like a chase. You donât actually like me or anything, you like how I fuck.â She said bluntly, glancing up at him.
Harry's smug expression faltered as she protested. He could feel the annoyance, but he also noticed the way her body responded to his touch. There was no denying that. "Is that what you really think?" He asked, his grip on her jaw tightening slightly as he looked down at her. "That I'm just chasing you only for the thrill of the chase, for the sex?"
His eyes darkened, his other hand moving lower on her hip, pulling her flush against him. He could feel her body against his, the softness, the warmth, and he wanted it all back. There had been no way she could tell him that she hadnât enjoyed it, considering heâd made her cum 3 times, made her gush all over his cock. Sheâd clung to him, held onto him, whimpered his name. But heâd taken care of her, he had gotten her some pomegranate juice and a snack, helped her tie her hair up, driven her home. When the contact had been nonexistent, he was hoping she was just making him work for it- but that wasnât all this was to him.
âYeah.â She furrowed her brows. âIs it not?â Harry wasnât the relationship type, not usually. Everyone knew that. Y/N had constantly reminded herself that when theyâd first met and she had a bit of a crush on him, only to see that he liked to fuck emâ and leave âem. It lost the appeal and she had resented him a bit for it.Â
Was it fair? No. She knew that. But their dynamic had been built on that resentment.Â
Harry's jaw clenched at her response, frustration and something else flickering in his face. He loosened his grip on her slightly, his gaze searching her eyes, trying to convey something she obviously wasnât picking up on.
"And what if I told you that you were wrong?" He asked, his voice low. "What if I told you that there's more to me than just chase and sex?" He tilted his face closer to hers, his hand on her hip keeping her snug. He hadn't realized it himself just how touch deprived for her he actually was. Did she really think it was all just⊠a game? Had he not proven himself to her that night? Granted, he had maybe fucked up in how he communicated after but⊠the ball had been put in her court.Â
He could tell that she was skeptical, but he was determined to make her believe him.
"I want you." He said firmly, his hand on her jaw moving to wrap around the back of her neck, his fingers tangling in her hair. "I want everything. Your body, your mind, your heart." His hand on her hip moved lower, his touch a little needy. "And the fact that I can't have you is driving me insane. Want you to believe me."
âBut why?â She sputtered. âAll we do is argue. All I do is blow you off and all you do is follow me around to piss me off.âÂ
She had no idea he had his own fascination with her. How heâd silently watched her, observed, saw how she was with other people and wanted that chance to feel that. To have one of those smiles for himself.
Harry shook his head with a light laugh, his grip on her flexing slightly as he stared down at the girl he had been playing cat and mouse with. "Because I'll take the arguing, the blowoffs, all of it, just to be near you. I don't know when it truly started, but you've gotten under my skin, love." He pushed her back against the door, his body pressed against hers, trapping the girl. Looking down at her, his eyes were dark with desire, with honesty. It was a little unsettling.
âHarry.â She swallowed, eyes fluttering as his fingers stroked over her jaw and down over her throat, tenderness tinging the touches. âItâs not funny if this is a joke. Itâs not.â
Harry's let out a tired breath, his touch gentle as he stroked her delicate skin, taking advantage of every touch. He could see that vulnerability in her eyes, and it only made him more determined to prove himself. "Mânot joking. " He said firmly. "This is serious, I want you, and mânot giving up until I have you."
âThen youâre gonna have to work for it.â She exhaled sharply, pushing out of his hold and escaping back towards the party.
Y/N was almost fooled into giving in again- but she could give in without a real, true idea of what he was dedicated to. Maybe it was cruel of her to try and write him off as a bit of a slut trying his luck, but sheâd never been awarded the chance to get to know him outside of their usual dynamic.Â
That was why, the next day, seeing him on her front porch had her gasping in surprise. âShit!â She yelped, keys falling to the wood below her.Â
He looked good. The night of sleep seemed to refresh him, heâd showered, and he was bright eyed this morning. Determined. Why? She didnât know. But this was not at all what she had expected when opening her front door. â You scared the fuck out of me. What are you doing here?â
"Good morning, love." He greeted her. âNice to see you this morninâ. You look gorgeous.â That cheeky fucking grin, as usual, tilted on his mouth.Â
She crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow in question. "You didn't answer my question. What are you doing here?"
Harry flashed her a grin, completely unfazed by her skepticism. "I'm here to see you, of course." He said, as if it was obvious. âSilly thing.â
âWhy?â She didnât want to get too huffy with him but he was nearly speaking in riddles and she didnât have the patience for that. âAre you alright?â
Of course he was amused at how frustrated she looked, finding her impatience obviously endearing. Maybe it was just her, though. Y/N was a bit of a weakness of his, he found. Pushing himself up the final step, he grabbed her keys and handed them back to her, making no effort to pull his hands away from her own.Â
"I'm fine, love." He hummed casually. "I just wanted to see you." Holding her hands in his, his thumbs rubbing soft circles on the skin. Casual intimacy that slightly caught her off guard.
The girl merely looked at him in confusion. The plan for today had been to go to the grocery shop and do stuff around the house, not entertain the man who had admitted to wanting her last night- but she knew if he was here, it meant he was determined to get his way.
Aka, spending time with her.Â
âOkay.. So now you saw me.â She said lowly. âDo you want to go home now?â
The sight of her looking so flustered and on edge fueling his determination, he shook his head. "Not yet." He said, his voice low and firm. "Mânot leaving until I get some of your time."
Y/N closed her eyes, taking a deep inhale through her nose and exhaling through her mouth. Meditative breathing did wonders, it seemed. Usually. She knew Harry well enough to know that he wasnât going to let this go. He was going to keep prodding until he understood that he probably had no actual intention of being around her long term. He was looking at her with metaphorical sex goggles on. Yeah, she was good in bed, but that was only a tiny portion of her.Â
Heâd learn eventually.
âWell, I have to go to the store. SoâŠâ
Harry watched you closely as she opened her eyes from the attempting to calm herself. It was a little unnerving to know she needed to calm down from such a simple interaction but then again, he had been coming on a little strong. It was his nature, but he tried to relax his stance a bit. No way was he going to let an opportunity to spend time with her be wasted. He was dedicated now, wanting to win her over. "You're going to the store?" He leaned in closer. âLooks like I'll just have to come with you, then."
Y/N sputtered as he took her handbag and totes from her, tucking them under his arm as the other held her hand.Â
âCâmon.â He said smugly, pulling her towards his car. She followed, confused at how he had just agreed to go grocery shopping with her. Willingly. It wasnât something he liked doing and she knew that- she somehow had found out one night that he had his delivered- but he seemed eager to do this with her.Â
The last thing she expected was for him to open the passenger door and help her inside, but he did. Like it was second nature, opening it up and taking her hand to aid her into sitting sound, placing her bags on her lap.
Harry's smirk widened as he scooped up her handbag and totes, his grip on your hand firm as he guided her towards his car. He snickered under her breath at her sputtered protest, enjoying her disbelief that he was actually willing to go grocery shopping with her. Like it was some sort of hardship.
Once he had settled her in, he leaned in closer, the smell of cinnamon gum filling her senses. Keeping his stance, his eyes locked on her, his gaze intense. He could see the confusion in her eyes, and it only fueled his determination to make it second nature to her, to expect this sort of thing from him. .Â
"You look cute this morning." He said, his voice low and smooth. "Did you get much sleep last night?" He reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, his touch gentle.
Her cheeks felt hot as he tenderly touched her, the softness of it all surprising her. âUm⊠I did.â The compliment had flustered her too. It wasnât something she was used to from him. Their usual dynamic was tense on her end and being a pain in the ass with a stupid smirk on his. This sort of treatment was new to her.Â
âThanks. You lookâŠ.â It felt unnatural to compliment him, but she meant it. Strangely enough. All of this was so new to her. âNice.â
Harry chuckled at the slight hesitation in her words, enjoying the way she was thrown off by his tenderness. One day she was going to accept it. He smiled at her attempt at a compliment, narrowing his gaze at her. "Just nice?" He teased, raising an eyebrow. He placed a light hand on her knee, his thumb stroking her skin in small circles, his touch gentle and comforting.
âWell, handsome? I dunno.â She grumbled. âJust so you know, youâre carrying all the grocery bags. If you insist on coming along you need to be useful.â
"Oh, I can be very useful, love. You jusâ need to find out what else I can off sâall." He said, his hand continuing its caressing on her knee, his touch sending a little jolt through her body "And donât worry, Iâll carry all the bags. You just worry about picking out what you need."
Harry could see the doubt in her eyes as he reassured her about carrying the bags, and he knew he had to prove it. Not just that, but the whole thing. He hadnât won her over quite yet, but he would.Â
Removing his hand from her knee, he ignored how much he missed the touch and stood up straight, standing tall and strong next to the car.Â
"You donât believe me?" He asked, raising an eyebrow. "Just watch, sweetheart. Gonna shock the shit out of you."
ââ-
Y/N was suspicious.Â
Harry was⊠behaving. More than, actually. He was being sweet and polite, borderline charming. Standing beside her as she pushed the cart, grabbing the items at the top shelves, not rushing her at all. He was flirty, sure, but nothing insane that truly made her roll her eyes at him. His voice was soft spoken and held only a tiny bit of the arrogance it usually did⊠and she liked it.
Who the fuck was this? And what had they done with the normal Harry?Â
âYouâre freaking me out a little.â She mumbled, checking off another thing on her list. âLike, youâre being pleasant. Thatâs not normal for you.â
"What, I can't be pleasant sometimes?" He teased, giving her a look.Â
He couldn't help but grin as he watched her check off another item on the grocery list, his eyes roaming freely over her focused expression. He was enjoying this, he realized, enjoying the chance to be close to her more than he would have ever expected. "Maybe Iâm just in a good mood today." He said, leaning against the cart.
âItâs just suspicious.â She glanced at him from the side of her eye. âYouâre always following me around and trying to get me to snap at you. So excuse me for being a little confused when youâre acting so normal and nice.â
Harry liked working her up and getting reactions out of her, but he liked her. Y/N gave him the tummy butterflies, the excitement, the hot cheeks, all of it. She just didnât know that- or was heavily in denial. It was his fault, he knew, from never expressing how serious the desires were and expecting her to read between the lines. But fuck, could she blame him? Y/N was a spitfire.
âCan you- fuck.â She groaned. âThis can not get any worse.âÂ
Across the aisle, she saw her. Nina. Glaring at the scene of Harry standing a little too close to Y/N, doing a domestic activity like shopping together⊠It looked like they were way more than friends. This wasnât something he liked doing and of course, the other girl would know that⊠So the situation didnât look too good.
Harry could feel the shift in her mood as she spotted Nina across the aisle, and he tensed up slightly, ready for the inevitable confrontation. Fuck, and theyâd been doing so good. Of course, someone had to throw him a curveball.Â
Good thing he was willing to work for this.Â
"Relax." He said quietly, his hand squeezing her shoulder reassuringly, thumbing over the fabric. "I'll handle it."
Harry could feel the tension in her body as he held onto her, knowing that she was on edge. He knew Nina could be a handful, and he didn't want her to add to the stress of the situation. Especially after Y/N was seemingly warming up to him.
He took a deep breath and turned to her, his expression neutral but firm.Â
"Nina." He said, his voice calm and steady- almost bored. "Why are you glaring at us like that?â
Ninaâs eyes flicked between the pair, her expression hardening as she spoke. âWhat are you two doing?â She asked, her voice dripping with disdain.Â
Harry kept his expression neutral, his hand on Y/N unmoving as he spoke to her. âWeâre shopping. Is that a crime?â He replied, his tone cool.
Ninaâs lip curled up in a sneer, her eyes narrowing. "Shopping? Is that all?" She asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm. âAwfully domestic, isnât it?â
Harry chuckled, unruffled by her attitude. "Yes, Nina. Weâre just picking up some groceries. Is that so hard to believe?" he challenged, letting her try and intimidate him. It wasnât going to work.Â
The girlâs jaw clenched as Harry responded to her, clearly annoyed at the lack of reaction she was getting from him.Â
She took a step closer, sizing Y/N up with an unpleasant expression. She really needed to not make that face- it was unflattering. âIs this a date or something?â She snapped, her eyes flickering over to Harry.
Harry chuckled at Ninaâs question, finding her assumption humorous.Â
He looked over at the girl he wished would say yes, his eyes filled with amusement. "What do you think, love?â He taunted. Maybe it wasnât the nicest thing to do, but he didnât particularly care.Â
Y/N rolled her eyes. This wasnât what she wanted out of this interaction. Hell- she never wanted his interaction at all. âWeâre shopping.â She said lowly. âAnd we have to go.â
Nina pursed her lips as her response, clearly unsatisfied with the answer she was given. She never could leave well enough alone. Harry could see her gearing up for another snarky comment, so he quickly interjected.Â
"Sheâs right." He said, his tone firm. âWe do have to go. Bye."Â There was no hint of remorse on his face as he motioned for her to get out of the way.Â
With that, he guided Y/N forward, steering both her and the cart towards the checkout area.
âChrist.â Y/N rubbed her temples. âSheâs gonna try and burn my house down. I know it.â She sulked.
Harry chuckled at the outburst. He continued steering the cart towards the checkout area as she went back over the list, a small smile on his lips.Â
"Don't be so overdramatic." He teased. "She's not gonna burn down your house. She's just jealous."
âHarry, sheâs scared like, 4 women away from hanging out anywhere near you completely.â Y/N sighed. âI know you donât see it as much, but sheâs tenacious. I donât know whatâs going to get her to stop, but you need to actually have a conversation with her to tell her youâre not interested. Or whoever ends up being your girlfriend is going to have to deal with her crawling around.â
Harryâs smile faded slightly as she mentioned Ninaâs past behavior. He knew she could be intense and possessive, but he didnât realize the extent of her actions. Considering he hadnât even slept with her, it seemed like a massive overreaction. Of course there had been natural curiosity over some of the women in their friend circle had gone, but now that question had been answered.Â
He bit his lip, mulling over the words as he helped her load the groceries onto the checkout belt. "Youâre right." He said finally, his voice serious as it broke up the beeping of the items being scanned. "I guess I didnât realize it was that serious. Mâsorry. I don't particularly want to have that conversation, but it needs to be had. Iâll talk to her."
Harry continued helping you with the groceries, lost in thought for a moment before speaking again. "Iâll talk to her soon, make sure she knows for sure me and her are never going to be a thing and if she wants to try and scare off anyone I talk to, she wonât be invited to anything else." He said firmly, his eyes serious.Â
"But first," he added, breaking the tense air as his tone turned playful again, "We have to get these groceries home. Iâm starving."
â
It was safe to say that she was even more confused than she had started off being.Â
Harry helped her bring the groceries into her place. He helped her unpack. He even fed her cat while she washed the fruit so she could put it away. Helping himself to her house like he had a right to be there, a comfortability that had her a little spooked.Â
It was hard to accept the thought of Harry actually liking her. First, she hadnât ever seen him with a serious girlfriend. All she had been exposed to was seeing him fucking around with different people. Secondly, he was always so playful and unserious that internally, the most insecure part of her felt like maybe it was a trick, and it made her more apprehensive of him.Â
It wasnât fair of her to be so judgmental when she was not a virgin mary herself; she knew that she wasnât giving him a proper shot, but it was scary. He was scary, in a way. Maybe it was the idea of how far feelings could go if she gave in, but it felt hard to stop those original emotions she had towards him from coming back.Â
âThank you.â She said awkwardly as Harry sat at her breakfast bar. âUm, for helping put away the stuff and bringing it inside. That was really nice of you.â
Harry, who was lounging in a chair at the breakfast bar, chuckled at the awkward gratitude. "Sâno big deal." He said, his tone casual. "Iâm happy to help."Â
He leaned back in the chair, his eyes roaming over her face, his favorite thing to do. Watching her was the best part of being around her. He could see the tension in her shoulders and the uncertainty in her expression, and it made him wonder what was going on in that head of hers. Why she was so apprehensive. Yeah, he knew he had a weird dynamic with her before, but no one thought of him as a bad guy.
The longer he looked, the longer Harry could tell that there was something bothering her, and he wanted to find out what. Call it morbid curiosity, but it was needed. He leaned forward a bit, his eyes locked on her pretty face.
"You seem a little tense." He said, his voice soft. "Is everything okay? You've been quiet since we got back."
She hadnât expected him to call her out on it, but she should have. Harry was as blunt as they came, and she could have laughed at it if she didnât feel a little anxious.Â
âIâm okay.â She wrapped her arms around herself, looking at her feet for a moment the soft green ladybug socks he had given her a laugh over. âIâm a little anxious, I guess. This new dynamic kind of⊠put me off kilter.â The confession hung in the air before she continued. âIâm used to you being annoying and⊠I dunno. Itâs unfair of me, but I keep getting nervous that this is some joke to you and youâre gonna go back to being obnoxious once I let my guard down.â She winced. âAnd Iâm sorry. That isnât fair to you when I know I havenât been the nicest to you either. But I guess you intimidate me a little.â
Harry listened intently as she spoke, his expression softening as she revealed the source of the troubled look on her face. He knew that he had been a bit of an arse in the past too, and he could understand why his sudden change in behavior had thrown her off.Â
He leaned forward on his hands, his gaze still fixed on the girlâs tense stance, lips rolled into her mouth. "I get it." He said quietly. "And Iâm sorry if I intimidated you or made you uncomfortable. Thatâs the last thing I wanted to do."Â He ran a hand through his hair, sighing softly. "And as for this being a joke... itâs not. Not in the slightest. Trust me."
âI guess Iâm a little confused too.â She admitted. âWhere all of this is coming from. I know we hooked up a few weeks ago, but you didnât call me or anything after. I wasnât expecting you to, donât get me wrong, but then I felt awkward seeing you at all the events and stuff and you were acting normal. I never let you get alone with me on purpose because I didnât want to hear you tease me for giving into you.â
Harryâs expression soured a bit as she brought up the hook-up. He knew he hadnât done anything to dispel her doubts about his intentions, and he felt a pang of regret. He paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts. How could he explain it without sounding as stupid as he felt? âI know I didnât call you after, and I should have. I was an idiot⊠I just⊠I thought maybe you wanted me to chase a bit, that the ball had been left in your court after I dropped you off at home and⊠and I didnât think, honestly.â He ran a hand through his hair, a frustrated sigh escaping his lips.Â
âYou have to understand why Iâm a little uneasy.â With arms wrapped around herself, she let herself look back up at him. There was no trace of joking on his features and it did make her feel a tad bit better. âItâs not that I didnât like⊠what we did.â It was the best sheâd ever had. âBut I think Iâm not cut out for just hooking up. I donât regret it, even if I acted like I did.â She decided to give him a tiny bit of her vulnerability to see what he did with it. âI just know that hooking up, for me, never ends well. And I donât know you really well, Harry.â She fiddled with the hem of her shirt, nerves shot. The last thing she wanted to do was seem desperate about locking him down or something, but she couldnât lie to him or herself.
âIâm not trying to make you feel any sort of pressure to want to date me or anything. Iâm just trying to lay down a boundary that for me, I think Iâm one of those people that really needs an intimate connection and trust with someone. For some reason I trusted you that night, and I know you wouldnât harm me in that way, but sobered up and standing in front of you, I feel a little apprehensive. Like, I donât want you to feel any sort of pressure from me, but in order to have me in the way you said you want⊠it has to have some level of commitment is basically what Iâm trying to say.â
Harry listened intently as she laid down the boundaries, his expression thoughtful. He could see the vulnerability in her eyes and in the way she fidgeted with her shirt, and it tugged at his heart in a way he hasn't felt before. The last thing he wanted was for her to feel any sort of regret and he was glad she hadnât so far, but he had to appreciate her laying out the law here. It gave him direction on where to go. When she finished speaking, he took a moment to process the words before responding. He can feel the seriousness of the conversation, and it's clear that she wasnât making demands lightly.
He took a deep breath, his own vulnerability on display in his honest gaze. It was imperative to him that she understood how much he got it. How dedicated he would be to it if given the chance. "I understand." He said quietly, licking over his bottom lip. "I understand that you need a committed relationship, darling. I also understand that you need trust and intimacy in order to get there." he added, his voice soft.Â
He took a moment to organize his thoughts, then continued speaking. It should be laid out in front of her. âYou know, Iâve been thinking about this a lot lately⊠about us, I mean.â
âWhat do you mean?â She asked quietly, taking the moment to look him in the eye. It was the most serious she had ever seen him. Usually he had that smirk on his face, so smug or teasing, heâd be poking and prodding at her to get a reaction- but nothing about this interaction was insincere. It was almost off putting to see him this way.
Harry's gaze met hers, his eyes intense. "I mean that I've been thinking about us in a more serious way." he admitted. He took a deep breath, his expression tentative. "I know I've been kind of hot and cold with you⊠and I know that I've played games in the past. But after we hooked up⊠I really couldnât stop thinking about you. How different we were like that⊠How good it felt. So I want you to know that... I donât want to play games with you. I want tâbe serious about this."
Y/N hadnât expected that answer. In all honesty she thought heâd reject her, say he wasnât into it and keep it moving. That was what she was prepared for- not this. That sort of confession had her realizing that maybe she really didnât know him at all. She knew some parts, sure, but seeing him like this was brand new. This man in front of her was a familiar stranger, at least this new side.
âIâd have to get to know you better.â She brushed her hair behind her ear, giving him a tentative look. âAnd it would be a little slow. I think I could give you a chance, though. Iâve been unfair to you, I think. I feel like we⊠kind of got off on the wrong foot.â
Harry lets out a small sigh of relief, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. âIâm okay with slow.â he says, his voice sincere. âIâm willing to work for it.â
He leaned back a bit, giving her a little more space as a hint of his usual playfulness returned to his features.. âAnd I think youâre right⊠we got off on the wrong foot. But Iâm glad weâre taking the time to get to know each other now.â
ââ-
ââÂ
Harry was coming over again.Â
It was strange. Since theyâd agreed to explore something romantic, seriously, he had changed. Not completely, not to the point where she wondered who he was before, but enough to make her soften up. Hints of him being a pain in the ass weâre still there. But he was⊠sweet. Genuine. A little silly in a cute way that she hadnât allowed herself to enjoy before.Â
One of the biggest shocks of all, was the fact that he was so gentle with her. He handled her with care, even if he was a little overly touchy. She was getting used to it because she found herself liking it, but he was the first guy to really be a bit of a clinger.Â
That was the last thing she had ever expected from him.
His touches were soft and sweet and he looked at her with this little twinkle in his eye that she knew he couldnât genuinely fake it. He liked her- liked her , liked her.Â
She was still a bit shy with him, but it was slowly melting away each time they saw each other. Now the nerves were barely there, being overtaken by anticipation and excitement. It wasnât something sheâd ever thought would happen- being excited and antsy to see Harry, wanting him back in her house.Â
He was coming over tonight and she had been prepping for a bit, primping and priming herself even though she wanted to look casual. There was never once so far that he hadnât told her she looked gorgeous, and it had started becoming part of her daily routine. She wanted to impress him, make him say it again and mean it.
Her tummy twisted as she heard his car door slam shut, smiling to herself as she adjusted her cropped top and went towards the door.Â
He was beautiful. Really, gorgeous as she opened the door to reveal him in the early evening light. He looked a little tired from work,slight bags under his eyes, but his smile melted her a little as he walked right into the house, dropping his bag in the foyer with little care for its well-being and picked her up in a big hug. Her feet dangled as she squealed, strong arms wrapped around her waist as he lifted her effortlessly.Â
âHi.â She beamed shyly, feeling him set her down on the floor.
Harry couldnât help but grin as he placed her down, his strong arms wrapping around her waist lazily.. He loved how delicate she felt in his arms, and he loved the way she squealed with surprise as he lifted her up a bit. Really, he loved most things that had to do with her. Taking a moment to admire her cozy appearance, his gaze lingered on her cropped top. âHi.â He replied, his voice soft and warm. âYou look beautiful.â
Like clockwork.
Before she could respond, Harry was pulling her back into a hug, burying his face in her shoulder as he held her, rocking slightly. A prime example of how touchy he was, unable to stop himself. He nuzzled her neck, letting his cool nose brush against the hot skin. âI missed you.â he mumbled, his voice muffled against her, leaving a little shiver in itâs wake..
When he said things like that it made her want to giggle madly, but also melt into a puddle. He truly meant it, was the thing, and she had a hard time understanding how this had happened. How he had gone from her little enemy to the person she looked toward to seeing the most.Â
âI missed you too.â She admitted, fingers tracing down his back. It was an attempt to get more open about her feelings. Harry was being candid about his own, so she felt like she could extend him the same grace. Even if it was slightly terrifying, she had no reason to hold back anymore.
Harry pulled back slightly to look at her, a soft smile on his lips at her shy admission. "I like it when you say that." he teased, his voice low. He brought his hands up to rest on her hips, his thumbs tracing small circles on the bare skin. He loved the way the cropped top revealed just enough to make him want more, and he found himself struggling to focus on anything but the feel of her body under his hands.
Harry wanted her, and there was obvious desire for her there. In all honesty, there was a lot of desire for her in general that he had done his best to keep under wraps Heâd been so good, trying so hard to prove himself- but that didnât mean he was a saint. He was beyond attracted to her in every sense of the word, and it was hard to ignore that..
âExcuse me.â She let her smile grow, her tone playful. âMy eyes are up here.âÂ
Y/N knew Harry wanted her in all of the ways, and heâd been exceedingly patient. He knew she was trying to build their connection before getting intimate with him again, and she appreciated it- but that didnât mean she didnât enjoy knowing he desired her.Â
Or that she didnât have those same urges.
Harry's gaze flicked back up to meet hers, a cheeky grin on his face. "I know where your eyes are. I look at them plenty, do I not?" He replied smoothly, his hands still resting on her waist, giving a gentle squeeze. He couldn't help but let out a small laugh as she shot him a look, his eyes sparkling with mirth. "But you can't expect me to ignore the rest of you when you're wearing something as distracting as that." Testing the waters, he was seeing how far his flirtation could go.
âItâs loungewear, you freak.â She scoffed, a hint of a smile turning up her lips. Leggings and a cropped top were a bit of a reward for him, though. She figured if he had been so patient with her then he could at least get to look at her. âBut Iâm glad you like it.âÂ
Taking his hand in her smaller one, she led him towards the kitchen to show him the pizza boxes and salad she had made to pair with it, feeling weirdly shy about it. That was the theme of today, considering she had come to a conclusion in her head- but he didnât need to know about it quite yet. âI knew youâd be hungry when you got off work, so I ordered ahead.â
Harry's eyes lit up as he saw the food, warmth spreading through him. No one had been thoughtful like that to him before, but of course she would be. This sort of thing was why he had liked her. Heâd seen it time and time again with their other friends and secretly wished for some of it for himself, that sort of care⊠and now that he got it, he felt that yearning for her get a little bit stronger. He let out a low whistle. "You knew exactly what I needed." he murmured, a grateful smile on his lips.Â
Pulling her into him, his arms wrapping around her waist from behind. He nuzzled her neck again, his breath warm on her skin. "You're too good to me." he murmured, his voice showing just how grateful he was.
Y/N shivered slightly as he spoke against her skin, large arms wrapping around her and making her feel that same brand of delicacy that only Harry had been able to accomplish. His arms were just⊠beautiful. Built and muscular, covered in those tattoos, she loved every single thing about them. Looking at them, feeling them, how he used them⊠she couldnât admit it out loud yet, but being in his arms was one of her new favorite places.Â
âYou texted and said you didnât sleep well and you had a rougher day at work and⊠I dunno. I thought maybe youâd like something ready when you came over. I would have cooked myself but I had a workshop.â She rambled on a little bit, feeling the need to overexplain herself.
Harry squeezed her tighter, his chin resting on her shoulder. He inhaled her scent, his nose buried in hair as she spoke.Â
"Mmm. " He hummed, his voice low and gravelly. He ran his nose over her throat, lips brushing against the sensitive skin. "You didn't have to do all this, you know." He moved his hands down over her hips, his thumbs tracing soft circles on the exposed skin there. "But I'm really grateful you did."Â He was quiet for a moment before speaking again, his grip on her tightening slightly. "Can I ask you somethinâ?"
âHm?â She replied. It was hard to focus. Sure, it would be awkward if anyone else say them just standing in her kitchen with the large man wrapped around her body, but no one else was there to judge her for indulging both herself and him in this sort of cuddle.Â
Harry's body was pressed against her, a small smile on his lips. He really did enjoy this moment of quiet intimacy just as much as he enjoyed the more energetic moments where theyâd go out or heâd help her take care of her garden.
"Can I stay over tonight?"
It should have been a scarier question to her, all things considered, but the answer came out of her mouth naturally.Â
âSure.â She nodded. There was no second guessing it either. âIs that what that bag was?â She realized he had brought in a bigger duffle than his usual work one, but she had thought it was maybe just to change from his work clothes.
Harry's smile grew as she agreed so easily. "Mhmm." he hummed, his voice low. His hands moved up her sides, tracing the curve of her waist. "I wanted to be prepared just in case you said yes." Presumptuous? Heâd prefer the terms hopeful, even confident. Theyâd been doing so well, he had to at least ask.
He pulled back slightly, looking down at her with a hint of a smirk on his face. "So... where can I sleep?"
He turned her in his grip, letting her look up at his face now with narrowed eyes. Her heartbeat quickened though she tried to calm it down. He was teasing her a little bit, but he did genuinely want to know.Â
âIf you promise no extreme funny business⊠you can sleep in my bed.â She placed her hand on his bicep, squeezing a little. It was her own reward. âBut remember, Harry. No sex. Okay?â Gliding her other hand up to cuff over the back of his neck, she decided it was finally time to tease him back a bit. âHowever⊠If youâre really, really nice to me⊠I may let you kiss me again.â
Harry's smile widened, his eyes sparkling with a hint of challenge. He leaned down, bringing his face closer to the girlâs. "You're being bold, darling." he teased, his voice low and playful. "Are you trying to tempt me?"
âA little.â She hummed. âI like when youâre sweet to me. So if you keep it up, Iâll let you kiss me as long as youâd like tonight. I know Iâve been holding all of that intimacy hostageâŠâÂ
It had been driving him wild. Near kisses and her letting him brush his hand over the curve of her ass a few times before putting them back up to her hips, heâd tested the waters but got rejected. Now, she was loosening up a bit.Â
âSo.â She blinked up at him. âAre you gonna be nice to me tonight so you can kiss me?â
Harry's eyes glinted with a mixture of desire and playful mischief. He loved it when she teased him just as much as he loved it when she got all shy and flustered. Which one he likes more, he couldnât tell. "Oh, I'll be so nice to you tonight you won't be able to stand it." he purred, his voice low and husky.Â
He wrapped his arms around her waist, drawing her closer until their bodies were flush against each other. "But I have one condition, little miss."
âWhat is that?â She questioned, unsure what it could be. With him, it could be anything.
"You have to promise me that if I'm being too... forward, you'll tell me to back off. I don't want to overstep. Even though I want to kiss you until you can't think straight. So promise me you'll speak up if I get too much."Â
Her smile widened, nodding in agreement. Heâd just earned himself quite a few points. Never had she expected him to be as respectful as he was, but she utterly adored it. âI will. I promise, Iâll tell you.â She agreed, leaning up to kiss the curve of his jaw. âBut itâs time for you to eat. I can feel your tummy grumbling.â
Harry let out a low chuckle, his eyes flickering over her pretty face. He loved the way her smile widened, and the feeling of her plump lips against his jaw send a shiver down his spine. More. He wanted more, and more, until their mouths were tingling and numb. Until she looked drunk on the kisses, clinging to him like he could only hope.
"Mmm. Okay, fine." he grumbled. "I'll eat. But only if you feed me, since you were so kind as to order ahead for me."Â He gave her a puppy-dog look, his lower lip jutted out in a mock-pout. It was good, sheâs give him that- but not good enough.
âAbsolutely not.â She snorted. âNice try.â
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(not) my girl - rafe cameron
summary: if rafe cameron is so sure he doesn't need to be seen with you at midsummers, you are more than happy to oblige (or) the time you drove rafe insane with jealousy.
word count: 3.4k
a/n: inspired by this post by the sweet @writingsbychlo âĄ
You were curled up on Rafeâs lap, head resting on his shoulder with his arms circled around you and his fingers mindlessly tracing patterns on your thigh as he talked with his friends around the firepit in his backyard.
You had been hooking up for a few months and recently you felt like you were right on the cusp of him asking you to make things official, exclusive. You were spending nearly every night together and every time he asked to talk or wanted to hang out you got your hopes up that this would be the time he brought it up, only to be crushed over and over again.
Deep down, you knew how Rafe felt. People who were âjust hooking upâ didnât beg you to stay every morning, didnât make room in their dresser for you, didnât wake you up with featherlight kisses to your cheeks, your forehead, your nose, face breaking into a ridiculous smile when your eyes fluttered open to find his drinking you in, they didnât call you during a panic attack after fighting with their dad, pleading to hear your voice as the only thing that would calm them down. No, you were pretty sure you knew exactly how this boy felt, but you wanted him to acknowledge it. You ached to hear him say with pride âthatâs my girlâ, to mark you as his own.
Your eyes flitted across the fire to your best friend Olivia who wiggled her eyebrows at the sight of you and Rafe together, all too aware of the situationship you were in and how badly you wanted him. You blushed and rolled your eyes back at her, just trying to enjoy this small moment where he showed his affection for you in front of other people. She winked at you before interrupting the conversation.
âSooo, who is everyone taking to Midsummers?â
You shot her a look that screamed what the hell are you doing!? You were still holding out hope that Rafe was going to ask you, even though it was less than a week away. Maybe he had an elaborate, last-minute surprise planned?
âFeel pretty good about my dateâ Kelce murmured, pressing a kiss to Oliviaâs cheek as she giggled. âWhat about you Top, still intent on macking on Rafeâs sister?â he asked. Topper threw an empty beer can at him as everyone laughed.
âI donât know why we even bother with datesâ Rafe said. âWeâre just gonna dick around together all night anyway, thereâs no point.â He took a swig of his beer without meeting your gaze. You felt your cheeks warm in embarrassment and a painful ache in your throat as you tried to hold back the tears that threatened to spring forward. You met Oliviaâs gaze again and she nodded encouragingly towards Rafe.
âW-what about me, Cameron?â you asked, trying to mask your feelings, to sound chill as you poked him in the side.
He looked at you sweetly, âCâmon and say what when my dad asks about you? âHey dad, hereâs the girl Iâve been sneaking through the back door every night and smashing while you and Rose are three doors down? Hard pass.â He laughed, focusing back on his beer and his friends as you felt his hand slide off your leg.
You allowed yourself to be genuinely upset for three days.
You didnât sleep at Tanneyhill for the first time in months, you didnât even answer his texts which grew increasingly more insistent the more you ignored them. You stayed home, you cried, and you contemplated what the fuck you were doing with your life. Was that really all you were to him â just someone he was sneaking around with? Did you somehow become that girl, too naĂŻve and too stupid to see that she wasnât and would never be anything more than a hookup?
You thought about the way Rafe reached for you and held you in his sleep, the way his hands ghosted over your body, the things heâd whisper in your ear, the times youâd ridden shotgun in his truck or heâd taken you to his favorite spot on the beach⊠Your heart was so sure about him, but your head throbbed with the echo of his words.
You and Olivia talked incessantly about it, dissecting everything heâd said. âMaybe he just needs a little push, a little⊠motivation?â she suggested, and the more you talked about it, the more you realized she was right.
If Rafe Cameron was so sure he didnât need to be seen with you at Midsummers, you were more than happy to oblige.
The last of the hot summer sun was settling over the ocean as you climbed the front steps of the Island Club in daring three-inch heels; the added height gave your figure a perfect sway that simply begged people to watch you as you walked by. Your dress had a thigh-high slit, open back, and was the perfect color for your skin tone, illuminating you; the neckline was devilishly tantalizing, giving the desired effect of drawing all eyes to the dazzling diamond pendant that reflected the setting sun.
Rafe heard you before he saw you; rather, he heard a sea of murmurs rippling through the crowd which drew his attention to the doors just as you walked through by yourself, essentially announcing to the island that you were alone for the night.
âGeezusâ he heard Topper mutter under his breath as he took you in. Normally, he would have known better and normally Rafe would have put his head through a wall for glaring at you the way he was, but even though his fists clenched in response and he wanted to turn and say something to him, he simply couldnât take his eyes off of you; âGeezusâ didnât even begin to cover it.
You were always undeniably beautiful to Rafe: when you wore his oversized sweatshirt around the fire pit, when you were makeup-less in your wet bikini at the beach, and especially when you were wearing next to nothing tangled up in his limbs and his soft sheets, but the dress you had on, the way your hair shone in the last rays of the sun, the way you were positively radiating had his pulse throbbing in his neck, his adamâs apple bobbing and his palms sweating. Fuck, I am so happy sheâs mine he thought to himself, smiling and moving to walk towards you as your eyes met his across the crowd.
You were glowing at him and sent him a discreet smile as you greeted people and made your way in his direction. He couldnât wait to get his hands on you, to have you at his side so everyone knew you were his. You approached your friends, dropping a kiss on Topper and Kelceâs cheeks before doing the same to Rafe. You made to move past him quickly, intent on talking to Olivia when he grabbed your hand.
âHey, hold up you-you lookâŠâ he started to say, trying and struggling to find the words to capture the way his heart was pounding in his chest.
Your wide eyes met his expectantly and just when he opened his mouth to speak, they flitted over his shoulder.
âOh! Sorry, Rafey! Just saw someone I want to catch up with, Iâll see you laterâ and without another word you walked away, leaving Rafe Cameron, the King of Kildare staring and stuttering after you.
You were walking away from him? he thought. You had seemed so adamant about this whole Midsummers thing, dropping hints about going together and now here he was, practically ready to get down on one knee at the sight of you, and you were walking away from him? He was speechless. He turned to watch you go⊠right into the arms of another man. He looked to be about your age, the same height and a similar build as Rafe, because of course Rafe was sizing him up, how could he not? This guy had his paws all over his girl. And then, after a momentâs realization, he thought darkly, sheâs not your girlâŠ
You had greeted this guy with a huge hug, and heâd nearly lifted you off the ground, now he had your full attention and you were laughing at something he said, the most sweet and perfect sound that Rafe wanted only for himself.
As everyone took their seat for dinner, you intentionally positioned yourself across the table from Rafe. The slight of not sitting next to him where he could run his fingers up your thigh or tangle them in your own left him fidgeting instead, buttoning and unbuttoning his jacket and swirling his drink. What the fuck did I used to do with my hands? he thought angrily.
You paid him no mind, instead, leaning forward on your elbows and toying with the diamond pendant around your neck, fingering it, twirling it and sliding it back and forth on its chain.
âHoly DIAMOND, girl!â Olivia said as she took note of your necklace and leaned over to get a closer look. âIs it new, where is it from?â her eyes shot from you to Rafe and back again.
He glared at you both over the rim of his glass as he took a deep gulp, trying to act unphased but also extremely curious to hear your answer knowing damn well it wasnât from him.
Your eyes flitted to Rafe briefly before you leaned towards Olivia, lowering your voice, but not so low that he couldnât hear you. âIt was⊠a gift from⊠someone specialâ you said winking conspiratorially at her.
Rafe choked on his drink just as someone was standing up at the front of the crowd to make a speech, shifting everyoneâs attention and interrupting the slew of words that nearly poured out of his mouth.
Who the fuck on Kildare fucking Island was buying his girl jewelry? he thought. And then, again, he reminded himself, sheâs not your girl⊠the thought making his whole body tense, rigid and taught in anger and frustration.
For the next 20 minutes, all he could do was stare at you as you twiddled that ridiculous necklace in your fingers, imagining what it would be like to rip it off of you and replace it with something twice as nice. He was mentally calculating how much he would spend and how quickly he could get it when JJ Maybank passed by their table. Rafe had a snarky comment on the tip of his tongue until he watched JJ do a double take at you and stop in his tracks.
Donât do it, Maybank, Rafe thought. Donât you dare do it.
He watched JJ eye you and the distance between you and Rafe and, deeming it safe, peddled back, pulling a glass of champagne off his tray and handing it to you with a flourish. He knelt down next to your seat and when you turned to talk to him, it left JJ perfectly eye level with your cleavage. He was whispering something to you and you rested your hand on his bicep as you leaned forward to hear him. Rafe could see you blushing, and he watched Maybank take in every greedy eyeful of you. Rafe stood up so abruptly, it knocked his chair over and rattled the plates on the table. Everyone looked up at him, including you, and for the first time that night he had your full attention as your eyes widened at his reaction.
âYN, inside, letâs goâ he said simply, walking to your side of the table.
You raised an eyebrow at him and his demanding tone.
âAnd Maybank if you donât stop staring at her tits, I will put your face through this table.â
JJ quickly stood up and backed away with his hands raised in surrender as Rafe approached you.
âRafe we were justââ you started.
ââ Inside. Nowâ he said, taking you forcefully by the arm and leading you inside and into the locker room.
âRafe! Come on! Stop it! I want to spend the night with my friends, I donât know what you possibly have to be mad atâ you said in resistance.
And that was the very last straw for him.
âWHAT I HAVE TO BE MAD AT?!â he said, incredulous, nearly shouting. âWhere do I even begin with you!? You blow me off all week, then you waltz in here looking like an absolute bombshell, wearing next to nothing â I swear to God, Iâve seen you in bikinis with more material - every guy here is leering at you. Then youâre talking to that jackass who had his hands all over youâŠâ he said, exasperated.
At this point he was pacing, his voice continuing to rise in anger and frustration. ââŠAnd then Maybank?! Maybank of all people?! He was flirting with you right in front of me. Was it to make me jealous? Is that what this is all about? Because Iâm about to lose my fucking mind YNâ he said running his hands through his hair, giving you sick pleasure knowing it took him probably an hour to style it. A surprised if not amused look rested on your face as you continued to twirl your necklace in your fingers.
âAnd who the fuck gave you thatâ he pointed accusingly at the diamond in your hand, not giving you a single second to respond, âNo. Absolutely not. Take it off. Right nowâ he said, walking briskly towards you in an effort to do it himself.
You held out a hand to stop him.
âI donât know what the big deal is Rafeâ you said innocently. âWhat difference does it make? Iâm just the girl youâre sneaking through your back door every night to smashâ you shrugged, your eyes burning at him.
His eyes widened as he heard his own words on your lips.
âNo, thatâs â thatâs not â I didnât meanâ he stuttered.
You gave him a vicious look as you watched the gears turn in his head and he tried to string a sentence together.
âLook, I didnât mean it like that â I shouldnât have â what I meant was â ahh, fuck itâ he said, taking a step forward and closing the distance between you in an instant, one hand holding your face firmly as he pushed you against the lockers and the other coming to rest on the wall beside you, caging you in against him as he pressed his lips bruisingly to yours, devouring you, just like heâd wanted to do all night.
You wanted to stay strong, to argue, to tell him he wasnât going to win you over like this. But he was. He so so was as he deepened the kiss almost instantly and the pad of his thumb ran across your cheek sending a shiver through your body. When he finally felt you relent and kiss him back, winding your arms around his neck and pulling yourself flush to him he let out a small groan that almost made you forget the whole point of tonight. Almost.
You pulled back, leaving not even an inch between you. The feeling of you kissing him had calmed him down significantly. His breathing had slowed but his cheeks were still flushed and his hair was mussed. He lingered there, his nose brushing yours as he stroked your cheek.
âYouâre my girlâ he whispered finally.
âAre you asking or telling?â you whispered back.
âDo I really need to ask, princess?â he said, meeting your gaze with his own.
You raised an eyebrow at him threateningly.
He rolled his eyes and said in a sigh, âBe mine?â
You bit your bottom lip and pretended to think about it. âGosh, I donât knowâ you said, pressing a slow kiss to his lips âMâmight have to think about itâ you said, pressing another kiss there, lingering longer âMmâmight need some convincingâ you said, kissing him again and running your hands up his chest.
His voice was low but steady, âI will take you home right now and convince you as many times as you need me toâ he said, kissing you back through a smile.
âDealâ you replied sweetly.
You moved to leave but he didnât let you go and when you met his gaze, his brow was furrowed, his eyes searching yours. âI am serious though, about this, about youâ he said. âIâm sorry I fucked up.â He looked uncharacteristically bashful, unsure even. âReally, are you mine?â he whispered.
âYes, Rafe,â you said as your heart fluttered in your chest âAll yours.â
He smiled stupidly, so far gone for you as he kissed you again. You were completely lost in the moment until he muttered against you, âThen please for the love of God will you take that necklace off and tell me who in the hell thought they could buy you something like that?â
You met his eyes strongly, the last embers of your pain crackling there.
âNoâ you said simply, continuing quickly when he tried to interrupt you. âIâm going to keep it and wear it whenever I damn well please to remind you of what you have and what you sure as hell want donât want to lose.â
He looked genuinely shocked to hear you challenge him like that and you could see a tic in his jaw as he worked it back and forth in anger.
âI⊠hate thatâ he growled. âWhat if I buy you something nicer?â
You shrugged noncommittally and he shook his head at you. âFine, letâs get out of here, that dress is killing me and I have a lot of convincing I want to do to you right now.â You giggled as he grabbed your hand and led you back outside, pressing a kiss to the side of your head.
When you rejoined the party there were a few murmurs and glances as you hung off his arm. Were you imagining it, or was he taking the long way back to your table, intentionally parading you around the patio and staring daggers at anyone whose gaze lingered too long? Being seen together at Midsummers was basically shouting from the rooftops that you were official. You were glowing, he was too. You said goodbye to your friends and within minutes you were in his truck headed back to Tanneyhill, his hand rubbing circles higher and higher on your thigh, your fingers in his hair.
He threw the car in park and scooped you over his shoulder, carrying you all the way upstairs like that, which had you shrieking in delight. He didnât set you down until you were in his room and he kissed you feverishly, his hands cupping your face, before his fingers traced your neck, nearing your necklace.
âRafeâ you muttered against his lips, a warning.
âJust tell me whoâ he muttered back, unable to let it go and kissing you deeper in the hopes of convincing you. âIâm already gonna to buy you a new one, youâll never wear this again, but I need to know. Canât stop thinking about someone else with their hands on youâ he said as he guided you backwards towards his bed, pushing you gently onto his comforter and crawling on top of you.
âI donât like it. I do not fucking like itâ he growled against your lips. Under his anger, you detected a hint of vulnerability and you broke your kiss just long enough to look into his eyes, which gazed longingly at you as they searched your face. Perhaps you had tortured this poor boy enough.
You sighed, relenting.
âOliviaâ you said.
He looked at you, completely confused for only a moment before the realization dawned on his face and he hung his head.
âThere isnât anyone elseâ he said in equal parts relief, frustration and embarrassment.
You shook your head at him.
âGod Iâm so fucking stupidâ he said.
You giggled before reaching behind your neck to unclasp the necklace and toss it on his bedside table.
He looked at you with heat and tenderness, âIâm sorry thatâs what it took for me to get my shit together. I wish it all happened differently, but I donât regret it. Youâre it for me, YN, no one else.â
He placed a kiss beneath your ear, to your throat, to your bare collarbone. âMy girlâ he whispered against your skin, enjoying how it felt on his tongue and the sound of your sweet laughter in response.
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