VALERIE

Chapter 26.5: Under the Sheets

“I’ll be quiet. I promise.” She whispers slyly and smirks. What? I can’t believe I’m hearing her say this. “Come on, Harry.” She wobbles my shoulders still begging for me. If we were on our flat, I wouldn’t deny her this. I also want the same thing, but we really can’t do it at such a place. How could something desirable happen at the wrong place?

“No, Val… I would really love to fuck you right now. But we can’t really do it in here.” I whisper to her as I slowly get up from the couch and she widens her eyes appalled at my action. “I’ll just go back to the room to grab a pillow and a blanket. Stay here.” I tell her once I finally stood on the floor and the frown on her face is replaced with a thrift smile.

“Fine.” She sighs in a way that says ‘as if she has a choice’ before I start walking to the boys’ bedroom. I laugh a little and shake my head still not believing what just happened earlier. I can’t believe the fact that she wanted to have sex with me. The most unbelievable thing is the fact that I just dropped that opportunity. What is she thinking? What are we thinking, really?

At the back of my head, I’m thinking maybe she’s just making up to me, and that maybe she thinks she can resolve things with me through such a thing. But I know she isn’t really ready to do that, especially with me. I saw the fear in her eyes the last time I attempted that. I haven’t seen the same look on her face this time, but I know… I just know that she isn’t ready yet.

Sneaking in and out of the boys’ room is easy since my mates are heavy sleepers. They wouldn’t even move an inch even if I tickle their feet. I must say, I’m one of them too, except when someone removes my blanket. So I quickly grab the pillow and blanket from my bed and begin stepping out of the room again.

When I go back to the lounge, Valerie is already sleeping. I just crouch down by her side for a little while, admiring her face up close. I smile as quiet snores escape from her pink fleshy lips that I’m so fond of kissing. I take notice and memorize her long eyelashes, flushed cheeks, her eyebrows that she loved too much to raise at me whenever I say something that she finds stupid or disagreeable for her. I laugh a little because when she is asleep, she looks so peaceful and innocent—very contrary to when she is cracked into awareness because she turns into a fierce lioness. I remember how she looked so infuriated after hearing Taylor’s acceptance speech. She turned even redder when the camera focused on me after that speech. She’s really obvious when she’s smitten or angry because her pale white skin turns enflamed almost instantly. I knew she was going to blow if I hadn’t waked her up from her trance by gently holding her hand then. I could only guess there are a lot of violent thoughts reeling around her head that time.

I haven’t even realized how long I was looking at her until I almost drop my head out of drowsiness. Before I lie next to her, I replace the cushion she was laying her head at with the softer pillow I got from my room, lifting her head as carefully as possible in the process so she won’t be disturbed in her sleep. I cover her slender body with the blanket and slide in next to her after. I wrap my arm around her waist and place a slight peck in her temple, closing my eyes for unconsciousness to take over me.

*****

I stir at the several gentle pokes on my cheek and when I flutter my eyes open, I see Valerie smiling next to me. She’s propped up on her elbow on the pillow while continuously poking my cheek.

“Good morning, Harry. How was your sleep?” She whispers softly as she sways the stray hair from my fringe back to the side of my head.

“Good. You?” I grin at her and she gently rubs my nose line with her forefinger. She then strokes my cheek with her thumb and looks at me like I am the most precious thing in the world, if I could convince myself that.