Criminal

Chapter Fourteen

                                                                                   **Claire's P.O.V.**

I clung tightly to my seatbelt and stared out of the window of the Range, sighing occasionally because we were stuck in New York traffic. Harry's apartment wasn't very far from the club, but it was taking a very long time to get there. 

I glanced at Harry out of the corner of my eye every once in a while, because I was scared to look at him fully. I wasn't drunk--not even close because I'd been passing Eleanor my drinks all night after a few sips--but it was easier to act that way rather than admit how nervous I was. 

I kept thinking out what he'd said in the kitchen about 'later'. I'd told Eleanor while we were dancing, because it was the heat of the moment, but after that, it was all I could think about. And when we were in the car, it seemed more real and I was anxious. 

Harry was staring straight forward, his brow furrowed and his eyes narrowed at the cars in front of us. It was stop and go, so we'd only roll forward a few feet before stopping, and I could tell he was agitated. Every so often his face would be cast in the light and I could see that he was clenching his jaw tightly, and I'd have to look away. 

"Fucking traffic," He mumbled, his voice low enough that I could barely hear it over the soft hum of the radio. I looked over at him, and he at me, and his anger turned to confusion. 

"Why do you look like you're about to piss yourself, Claire?" He asked, and I looked forward, because I should have expected he'd notice. 

"Hm?"  I asked, but even though I didn't speak, it was shaky. I could feel his eyes on me still, but I was blushing too hard to look at him. "Hey, look at me," He said softly. 

I swallowed and turned to him, and he was glancing between me and the fender of the car in front of us. "You're not even wasted are you?" He asked, and I pressed my lips together and shook my head no. 

"Then why were you acting drunk?" He said, amused even though I didn't find this funny. Now it was just embarrassing. I shrugged, but then his hand was off the shifter and on my thigh. "What's wrong, Love?" 

The petname made me talk. "Uhmm...well, I sort of, well, I told Eleanor about the kitchen thing," I said softly, looking down at my lap, trying to avoid his hand on my leg, his thumb moving back and forth, "Like, what you said about, um, later." 

He was quiet for a moment, and I snuck a glance to see him looking quite amused and trying not to laugh. I furrowed my brow this time, "What's so funny?" 

He snorted, and tilted his head back, one hand perched on the steering wheel as he smiled at me, green eyes bright. "You're nervous because of a light promise?" I glared and looked forward, away from him because now he was agitating me. 

"Well, yeah, it's not like I'm just ready. I haven't been with anyone in almost a year, I'm not going to shove my hand down your pants and not be nervous," I said sharply, jerking my leg out of his reach. He made a noise of protest, but I turned away. 

"You haven't been with anyone?" He asked, and I looked at him again to see that he was staring forward as we rolled with the rest of the traffic. 

"No! I was with Cole and he wasn't exactly in it for the love!" I wanted to move on from this, because it was getting harder and harder to talk about as I started developing feelings for Harry. It felt odd divulging more and more information about a past realtionship. 

"But, you're not a virgin?" He asked, and I tossed my head back, because this was ridiculous. 

"Christ, Harry, are you fourteen? No, I'm not a virgin, but that's not the point," I spat. I was embarrassed, and he knew it.