Pregnant Pause [H.S]

Chapter 16

Her eyes were blazing with fury though her cheeks burned with embarrassment. And for once, she genuinely had nothing to say.

"Anyway," Niall said, standing up straight and rudely snapping his fingers at Finley, "we've gotta go."

"What?" she said with a frown.

He held up his mobile as he shoved his wallet in his pocket. "Heard from the manager at Punchbowl. Loves the video. He wants to meet with you. I think we can negotiate. Let's push for a Friday night slot."

"What?!" she repeated, though her frown morphed into wide-eyed surprise and excitement.

"Tell you on the way. Let's go." Niall turned back to Fitz and I on the couch. "See you lot later," he said, and with a click of his tongue and a wink, he added to me, "Harry, take care of her, will you? Jesus."

Fitz looked ready to maul, but before she could curse him out, Finley jumped in.

"Bye guys! Have fun!" She was quick to gather her bag from the kitchen, throwing it over her shoulder as she skirted out of the flat with Niall trailing behind.

The door slammed.

When Fitz's stare travelled back to me, I was staring straight ahead with a close lipped smile.

She released a gravelly sigh, infinitely annoyed. "Stop it," she said.

I couldn't.

"I'm serious, Harry. Cut it out."

My smile broadened.

With an exasperated scoff, she flopped back onto the couch. "Ugh. We're fighting."

Still smiling, I turned my head to watch her with my shit-eating grin.

"What?!" she snapped.

Unperturbed, I raised my brows suggestively. "Do you want to?"

"No! I'm not giving Niall exactly what he wants!"

I snorted. "If this is exactly what Niall wants, then I'm uncomfortable."

Irritated, she refused to respond.

"Come on," I coaxed her, "I know you were thinking about me."

She rolled her eyes. "You are so..."

"Sexy?"

"Arrogant."

I remained confident that I could change her mind, so I peeled myself off the couch and closed the gap between us.

"You were thinking of me," I chanted in her ear in a singsong voice. Setting her hair behind her shoulder, I added, "But what were we doing in your imagination?"

She shut her eyes and tilted her head to give me access to her neck, and with the utmost satisfaction, I kissed the exposed skin, knowing I'd won.

"But I'm hot," she whined.

"Yeah, that's why I want to shag you."

She placed a hand flat on my chest to keep me at a distance, her eyes sharp with a glare.

I flashed her a cheeky smile. "Also because I love you."

I snuck my arms around her and kissed whatever bare skin I could find.

"All right," she finally consented, wriggling in my arms. "But not on the couch. It's sticky."

"Fine," I agreed, a grin spreading across my face.

Before I could say or do anything else, she stood up and walked to my bedroom. Bewildered, I watched her go until I realized she meant for me to follow.