Savior

The Boy I Let In

"If anything, I want you even more now, I've fallen for you even harder after hearing how brave you are, how incredible you are for suffering such great tragedy and pain and still manage to be this positive, brave. You... You inspire me, Layla... Back out? Change my mind? Never. Not with you. I'll be here until you decide you're tired of me. And probably even after."

My cheeks flame from his words, my heart expanding in my chest like a balloon from how amazing this man is. How unbelievable it is that I pushed him away for so long, that I didn't see what was right in front of me.

I'm speechless for a while, just letting his words burrow into my skin, wishing I could tattoo them there. Thinking about how much my life has changed in the past few months. About how so much of that has to do with him.

"Thank you, Harry."

"For what?"

"Just... For being the light at the end of the tunnel."

The edge of his lips tug up at that and we pause as there's is a clambering downstairs and I wonder how long I have been asleep and why Eliza didn't wake me up. Though I suspect that part has to do with Harry showing up.

I glance back at Harry, our faces merely inches away, suddenly nervous.

I've been in one relationship my entire life and we both know how that ended up. Suddenly the idea of being with Harry makes me both anxious and excited.

There is just enough light in the window to highlight the left side of his face and cast the right in shadows. His eyes trace my face like a soft caress, lingering on my eyes, then my lips, mine follow suit.

The air in the small room seems to sizzle between us, my heart thumping hard and fast in my chest.

For the first time, I am not afraid of another man's touch, I crave it.

"Can I kiss you?" Harry whispers, voice low and eyes fixated on the plump flesh of my lips.

I swallow hard, suddenly nervous. We had kissed before -a few times, but the wall that was always up between us -first Jaime, and then my lingering fear had been knocked down after last night.

We're together now. Actually together.

And I'm grateful, so grateful how easy the transition from friends into something more is. It makes me wonder if we were ever just friends to begin with –if this current has always been here, lingering, just waiting to be let out.

And when his breath fans across my face and I can feel the warmth of his body I move closer, leaning into him until my chest is almost pressing against his own.

My hand smooths up his arm and then across his chest, reveling in the quick succession of his heartbeat, before sliding up his neck and tangling itself into his hair.

Slowly, ever so slowly, I bring his face to my own, his eyes sliding closed just as my lips brush against his.

It's soft, yet demanding. Consuming, yet gentle. Passionate and careful.

His lips close around my bottom one, slightly chapped and deliciously full. The touch of them sends a shockwave down my body, revving my heart like an engine. I tilt my head away from his, nipping on his bottom lip and reveling in the low grumble of his chest.

He slides a hand up my waist, the other holding my cheek as his tongue travels across my mouth. Every touch sparking against my skin like a match, his lips the kerosene.

I don't shake, I don't panic, I'm not afraid.

All I feel is Harry, all I taste is Harry, all I want is Harry.

But, I don't want to overwhelm myself.

With one light peck I pull away, my breaths hard, cheeks warm, and heart full.

Harry sighs, stroking my cheek gently and gazing into my eyes as if searching for and finding something, "I can't believe this is real... You've no idea how long I've wanted this. Wanted you."

"I think that sketchbook you gave me kind of gave it away."

A deep flush travels from his neck to the very top of his ears and I have to bite back a laugh at his bashfulness. He turns away from me, face turning sour.

The mood instantly shifts away from the electrically charged one and straight into a more playful and light-heated mood.

"Are you embarrassed?" I laugh, to which he scowls at me and I reach out again to grab his cheeks between my fingers, "Don't be! It was so cute! And only mildly creepy!"

He scoffs, slapping my hands away, lips pouting, "Don't tease me... I knew I shouldn't have given you journal... Should've given you a book on manners instead." He grumbles the last part to himself, arms crossed and lips jutted out and he looks just like a child.

I laugh then, so loudly that it makes his head snap up in surprise and a grin stretch up his cheeks, replacing his frown.

"Don't you laugh at me," He reaches out, fingers tickling my sides and I shove him away in protest, high pitched chuckles falling from my lips, "It took a lot of courage to give you that okay, don't mock me."

He follows me as I scoot away from him, his fingers moving faster against my ribs and causing me to laugh hysterically, cringing away from him to no avail.

I shoot up from the beanbag, Harry quick to follow me as I run to get away from him.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry okay!" I laugh, breathless, as I run down the staircase, Harry's quick steps just behind me.

My laughter dies down quickly as I make it to the last step, a few guests at the cafe head's snapping up at the sudden noise and both Niall and Eliza raising their eyebrows at our boisterous entrance.

Harry fumbles down the stairs, almost running right into me, his cheeks just as red as mine when he notices our audience. He awkwardly clears his throat and follows me up to the counter.

"Hey guys." Both Eliza and Niall drag out at the same time, eyeing the both of us suspiciously.

Eliza avoids my glare. She obviously told Niall she caught me sneaking out this morning, the traitor.

I speak first so as to avoid any intrusive questions, "How long have I been asleep exactly?"

"A little over an hour, but I didn't want to wake you... Looks like you had a long night." The insinuation in her voice is clear and I shift away from Harry awkwardly, my cheeks flaming.

Niall chuckles under his breath, looking up to Harry, "Hate to break up the party, but our shift starts in twenty."

Silently, I squeeze Harry's hand underneath the counter in a silent plea not to leave me with a very inquisitive Eliza, but he pries his fingers from mine, chuckling lowly and rounding the counter.

"I'll text you later, okay?"

And then he does something, almost unconsciously, that has all four of us freezing instantly.

He leans in and leaves a small peck on my unsuspecting lips.

Then he turns and begins to lead the way out the door before halting slightly in his steps, seeming to understand what he just did and whom he did it in front of.

He hesitates at the door, as if deciding whether or not to turn around, but Niall claps him on his back and opens the door, leaving Harry to look over his shoulder, eye the look Eliza is sending me and mouth a quick, "I'm sorry."

My only response is my finger sliding across my throat threateningly.

When the door closesand I see the boys walking away, I jerkily turn towards Eliza who has her handson her hips and her eyebrows raised like a mother about to scold her child.

"You have some serious explaining to do."

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THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING SO PATIENT ON THIS UPDATE! I don't know how often I will be able to write with school starting up and me moving into a dorm but I will try my best.

Thoughts on the aftermath? The kiss? The playfulness? Predictions?

Next chapter is dinner with Harry's family so that'll be interesting.

VOTE AND COMMENT AND ILY xx