This story was inspired by the song by Maddie & Tae. Word Count: 7800. Contains smut (18+ only please)
"Gabs..." I faintly heard in the distance as thick strands of sleep threatened to pull from my heavy eyelids. I thought I was still dreaming, so I rolled over, hoping to continue the fantastic scenario I was already starting to forget.
"Gabby," I heard again, much clearer this time, and I knew I was no longer on the red carpet next to my new BFFs Lizzo and Alexa Chung.
A hand tapped me on my shoulder, and with a groan, I lifted my comforter over my head, hoping to return to flashing lights and high heels, but for which event I was unsure.
"GABRIELLA!" the determined voice shouted, pulling the covers from my grip and forcing me to blink several times.
"What the fuck?" I pouted, finally realizing the light was not from cameras but from my roommate's cell phone.
"God, you sleep like the dead!" exclaimed Angie. "I can't believe you can't hear your phone."
"I have it on vibrate," I muttered sleepily, my eyes still mere slits as I tried to reach for my cell on my nightstand.
"So, I can hear it from the bathroom!" my roommate continued. "It's been going off for like the last fucking hour! Somebody's obviously trying to get a hold of you."
"You've been in the bathroom for an hour?" I asked smugly, knowing she had been exaggerating in typical Angie fashion. I didn't need to look at her to know she was rolling her eyes.
"Oh!" I sounded when I inspected the screen. "It's Harry!"
With a huff, Angie crossed her arms. "Doesn't he know some people sleep at night?"
"He's in London," I told her. "It's already morning there."
"Even worse," she spat. "He's famous but still doesn't know about time differences."
"Shh," I waved her off as I tried to listen to the voicemail Harry had left. With another look of disgust, Angie turned for the bathroom that separated our rooms.
"G'night, Gabs. Tell your boyfriend to get a watch," I heard her say before shutting the door behind her.
Shaking my head, I caught the tail end of Harry's message, then played it back once more.
"Gabs, it's me!" he greeted, sounding chipper. I sometimes hated him for his effortless ability to be pleasant before 10AM. "I just...wanted to talk to you. You're probably asleep, sorry. Sometimes I forget. Give me a ring if you're still awake though. 'Bye."
Though that was the only voicemail he'd left, I had three missed calls from him, and two texts.
Hey! Are you there?
Call me when you get this.
Eager to hear what news Harry had to tell me, I pressed the screen to call his number. He answered after the first ring.
"There you are!" he announced.
"Here I am," I giggled, sitting up in bed. I wasn't sure why, but I always seemed to sit up when talking to Harry, like it was an important meeting. I suppose in a way, it was. Conversations with him, though usually light-hearted were some of my favorites, and I liked to give them my full attention.
"Did I wake you?" he asked.
"No, Angie did," I jabbed. "To tell me my phone was ringing."
"Oh, shit," Harry groaned. "Sorry, love."
I laughed. "No worries. What's up?"
"Not much. 'm leaving for the airport soon."
"Oh!" I sounded. "I thought you were flying to LA tomorrow."
"Nope, today."
"Wait..." I shook my head. "It is tomorrow there."
I heard Harry's low chuckle as I mentally cursed my stupidity. Angie would be happy to know Harry was not the only one who had a lack of time zone knowledge.
"So what else?" I inquired. "Anything exciting?"
"No, not really."
"No?" I furrowed my brows in confusion. "Why'd you call?"
"I dunno..." Harry paused. "Just felt like saying hi."
"Oh," I felt my heart jump in my chest.
"I just missed you."
"Oh," I said just above a whisper. "I miss you too."
I heard Harry hum softly which only managed to send butterflies to my stomach.
Harry and I had been friends for a while. When I had only been living in LA for a little over a year, I had lucked out on getting invited to my first celebrity party through a friend of an acquaintance. Though I'd spent most of the evening ducking behind plants and drinking more than my share of vodka, I had managed to meet a handful of people, including Harry Styles and his One Direction bandmates. Through the years Harry and I had managed to stay in touch and form a long-lasting friendship for which I had a large fondness. I never told him I used to have a massive crush on him, however, as I didn't want to lose what we had.
"I have work to do when I get to LA," Harry said, "but then I have two days off. We should...hang out, yeah?"
"Yeah," I breathed, then cleared my throat. "Yeah, that sounds good."
"Great." I could literally hear his smile through the phone, as if that's possible. "I'll let you get back to sleep. I'll call you when I get in, okay?"
"Okay."
"Sweet dreams, Gabby."
"Goodnight, Harry."
Disconnecting the call, I returned my phone to the nightstand and crawled back under the covers. I laid awake for Lord knows how long, wondering why Harry had decided to call me in the middle of the night just to say hi. Even if he had forgotten about the time zones, he had never done that before. More than likely he would have waited until he was in LA, and it would have been a quick text to ask if I wanted to meet him somewhere for coffee or drinks. We were only friends, after all, not...together.
Somehow, the heavy cloud of sleep finally fell over me again and I was taken back to dreamland. This time, however, I didn't dream about a red carpet event or my wishful buddies Alexa and Lizzo. This time...I dreamt of green eyes and brown curls, soft lips curled up to meet dimples and inked skin on arms that held me close. And I only wished I wouldn't wake up.
"Gaaaabbyyyy!" Harry shouted into the phone. "How are you, love?"
I laughed, recognizing my friend's drunken voice. One thing I loved about Harry, he was a happy drunk.
"I'm okay, Harry, where are you?"
"I dunno," he said matter of factly. "Some party. I forget who it's for."
"Jeez, must be nice," I quipped.
"Honestly, I wish you were here with me. It would be more fun."
I chuckled again. "I doubt that."
"I don't. Why aren't you here?" he asked with a slight pout in his tone.
"I wasn't invited."
"Oh yeah. Sorry. I should have invited you. You could have been my date."
While his words made my stomach flip, I knew he didn't mean them literally.
Since Harry had been back in LA, we'd hung out together almost every free chance he'd gotten. We'd had lunch and dinner together a couple of days in a row, went shopping to a string of vintage shops that were his favorites, and he even let me check out a studio where he was putting some finishing touches on a song he was working on. When he'd leisurely mentioned going to a party this weekend, I had only let the possibility that he'd ask me to go flitter through my mind briefly before dismissing it. He was a busy musician and celebrity, and certainly under no obligation to bring me as a tag along to such an event. I hadn't even bothered to ask him for whom it was, or if it was entertainment or charity related.
Just then I heard another male voice greeting Harry, and Harry saying "Hey, man!" They exchanged a few more words until Harry returned with a cordial and unnecessary apology.
"Well, it sounds like you're having fun," I commented.
"Eh, party's starting to die down," said Harry. "Think I might leave soon. Can I come by yours?"
"Mine?" I gulped. "Um...what for?"
"Mmm...so I can see you?"
"Well...I mean..." I stumbled, my eyes darting around my room and landing on the unmade bed and pile of clothes in the chair, the collection of empty water bottles on my nightstand and dresser. I hadn't bothered to put a stitch of make-up on that day, and I was wearing an old sweatshirt and shorts, my hair up in a loose bun.
"I wasn't really prepared for company," I continued. "And you just saw me the other day..."
I heard Harry giggle and for a second I thought he might be pulling my leg.
"Never mind. That was a dumb idea. It's late," he said.
"Yeah, it is." I sighed, not a hundred percent sure if it was relief or disappointment.
"Are you going to bed soon?"
"Probably."
"Then I'll say goodnight," Harry offered softly.
"Okay."
"Call you tomorrow?"
"Of course," I grinned, unable to stop it if I tried. "Please don't drive, okay?"
Harry giggled again. "Wouldn't dream of it."
"Good," I said.
"I have a driver. But I like that you care about me, Gabs."
I bit my lip, grateful he couldn't see my face. "Goodnight, Harry. Enjoy the rest of your evening."
"Goodnight, Gabby. I love- I mean, talk to you tomorrow."
My hand shook as I disconnected the call. Was he about to say...? Nah. My friend had had a few too many and was feeling good. That's all it was. Right?
"So, what do you think?" Harry asked me.
He'd brought me to the studio again after a late breakfast where he'd told me the song he'd been working on was finally finished and he wanted me to hear it. I sat on the leather sofa behind him while he sat at the soundboard. I'd listened to almost the entire song with my eyes closed, letting the music surround me and fill my senses. When the song ended, I wanted to pop my eyes open and scream to him how amazing and wonderfully talented he was, but instead I bit my tongue and decided on a different approach.
"Not bad," I commented, straight faced.
Taken aback, Harry frowned. I watched his nose twitch before he scratched it, then looked away from me and back again.
"Not bad?"
"Yeah, it's a pretty good song." This time, I couldn't look him in the eye, so I brought my foot up to my other leg and pretended to inspect my shoelace. "I like it."
"You're shitting me, right?" he asked, using a phrase he'd heard me use far too often.
Unable to contain my composure any longer, I burst out laughing, throwing my hands up.
"Of course I am, Harry! Are you fucking kidding? It's incredible! You're incredible!"
I saw Harry's chest fall as he let out a breath.
"God, you had me for a second," he chuckled, shaking his head.
"Okay, okay, let's be real," I offered, waving my hands in front of me. "You're like off the charts good, alright? That's a given."
"Pppfff" Harry sounded, rolling his eyes.
"No, no, it's true. And you know it. Pretty much anything you put out is going to be great. But..."
When I didn't continue, Harry lifted a brow. "But what?"
"But this..." I raised my shoulders and held out my hands, "I don't know, it's like you just keep getting better. You can't lose. Everything you reach for, you achieve it. And I'm so fucking proud of you."
I could feel myself starting to get a little choked up at my own words, knowing they were absolutely true. Harry rose from his chair then and sat next to me on the sofa. He looked me in the eye as the most gorgeous smile spread across his face and he held out his arms. With no other words spoken, I turned and leaned into him, letting him pull me into a warm hug.
"Thanks, baby," he murmured against my hair.
At least, I thought he said baby. He might have said Gabby, and I've been known to get the two confused before. I didn't think I heard the Gab part though, and I might have just been hearing what I wanted to. Regardless, my insides were a mess when he pulled back and kissed my cheek. His gaze was mesmerizing as he continued to look me in the eye, and for a moment I hoped he would inch just a bit closer so our lips would touch.
I caught the corners of his mouth moving as he lifted a hand from my back to brush away a strand of hair from my face. My own hands were still at his waist from the hug that seemed to linger between us until I heard a noise and I jumped. The door to the soundbooth opened and I looked up to see Tyler.
"Oh, hey there Gabby, didn't know you were coming today."
"Just wanted her opinion on the track we finished," Harry explained for me as I tried to gather myself.
"Oh yeah? What'd ya think?" asked Tyler.
"Phenomenal, of course," I replied, catching Harry's smirk out of the corner of my eye. I was glad he didn't mention my teasing.
"Well, consider yourself lucky," said Tyler. "You're the first person to hear it."
"I am?" I asked incredulously. Then I looked at Harry. "You didn't tell me that!"
Harry shrugged, his smirk turning into a grin.
"And here I thought I was being sly and cheeky."
Harry laughed then, took my hand and rose from the couch, pulling me with him. We both exchanged goodbyes with Tyler, Harry stating he'd be back later that evening. It wasn't until we got outside to his car that I noticed he was still holding my hand.
"What was that?" I inquired.
"Wha'?" he glared at me innocently.
"You let me hear your finished song before anyone else?"
"Yeah. Thought you'd like it."
"Well, of course I did, but that's beside the point," I argued.
Stepping closer to me so that I was trapped between him and the car, Harry reached in his pocket with his free hand and pulled out his keys, his eyes locked with mine the entire time.
"And what's the point, Gabs?" he asked low, pressing the key fob.
"Nothing. Just that it's...special."
A grin grew on Harry's handsome face again, hitting a nerve I hadn't felt before.
"Exactly," he agreed, finally releasing my hand to reach around and open the car door for me.
Staring at him for a moment, I reluctantly climbed inside, locking my seatbelt when he shut the door and walked around to his side.
We drove in silence for what felt like an eternity until I broke the tension and said something.
"Thank you, Harry."
"You're welcome," he said.
"You're right, it was very special. I just wasn't expecting to be the first. Not even your mom or sister, or any of your other friends have heard it yet?"
"Nope. Only Jeffrey and Tyler and the band."
"Oh," I mouthed, feeling the butterflies again.
"I only just put it on my phone. But I wanted you to hear it in the studio since you were with me when we were finishing it. So actually, you got to hear it even before it was complete."
"Yeah, but that was just a snippet," I remarked. I wasn't sure where I was going with this. I wasn't trying to argue with him. I just couldn't fathom being the first person he wanted to hear his new music.
"Anyway," I added. "It was very nice of you to share it with me. I feel special."
With another grin, Harry reached across the console and patted my leg. I nearly came unglued when his fingers lingered a little longer and brushed my upper thigh. Electricity shot up my spine and I had to bite my lip to keep from gasping for air.
I must have been gazing out the window when Harry decided to disturb the silence and turn on the radio. I hummed along to a familiar song until I noticed Harry was getting off the freeway, a couple of exits before mine.
"Are we going somewhere else?" I asked, looking at him for the first time since he'd touched me.
"No," he shook his head. "Just thought I'd go this way."
"But...we'll hit way more lights," I said.
Harry chuckled. "You have somewhere to be?"
"No," I furrowed my brow. "It's just...longer."
"Sometimes longer is better."
I stared at his profile for a moment before I started laughing, which soon turned into a cackle. I had to cover my mouth so keep from sounding like a goofy hyena. As I was leaning over, I felt a hand on my back.
"Take it easy, love, it wasn't that funny," conveyed Harry, although I could hear the humor in his voice.
"I know, but I can't stop laughing," I croaked.
"Breathe, babe!"
Harry rubbed my back as I tried to catch my breath, but his babe remark wasn't helping.
"Need me to pull over?"
"No..." I gasped, sitting up. "No, I'm fine now."
Pushing my hair from my face, I tried my best to keep the giggles at bay. Then I took a deep breath and let it out.
"Sorry, Gabs," said Harry. "Didn't mean to get you going there. I just meant sometimes it's nice to take the long way home."
"Oh. Oh! Duh!" I blushed.
Harry smiled, turning up the radio. We sang along to an old Van Morrison song that just seemed to fit the mood for the day. When the next song started, Harry turned the radio down again and cleared his throat.
"So I have another party to attend this weekend," he stated.
"Oh yeah? Are you planning on drunk calling me again?" I jabbed.
"No," Harry laughed, turning down my block. "I was hoping you'd come with me."
"Oh. Really?" Taken off guard, I had no idea what else to say.
"Yeah. Will you?"
"Um...is it...like super fancy? Do I need a new dress...?"
"No, no, it's really casual. It's on the beach, actually. In Malibu. And um...it's overnight."
"Oh!" Damn. I wasn't sure I was prepared for a beach party. A rich, celebrity beach party. A formal event I could manage, maybe. I could fake my way through smiles and photo-ops, small talk and mingling. But casual celebrity parties made me uneasy. And overnight? With Harry?
"You don't...you don't think I'll be...out of place?" I asked.
"What? No. Gabs, you're the friendliest person I know, are you shitting me?"
I couldn't help but laugh at his use of my phrase again. Sometimes he was so fucking cute, and I wanted to kick myself for not allowing myself to notice it earlier. But at the same time I wanted to kick myself for noticing it now.
We pulled up to a red light, and Harry turned to look at me. "Please say yes. I'd love it if you went with me."
If the light hadn't changed, I wouldn't have gotten lost in his pleading eyes right then. Instead, as he shifted gears and accelerated, I sighed and gave in to his request.
"Okay. I'll go."
"Yay!" Harry exclaimed, reaching for my hand and giving it a squeeze. "We'll have a great time."
When we arrived at my place, Harry walked me up to my door while giving me more details about the Malibu party. Angie was in the kitchen making some of her famous oatmeal raisin cookies, of which Harry could not resist. I finally sent him off with four more to take home with him and a reassurance I would go to the party.
"Just making sure," he grinned against the door frame, playing with his keys. "I have to give them a plus one, and I just think I'd have more fun with you than Jeffrey."
"Jeff's not going?" I teased, dismissing the first part of his comment.
"Eh..." Harry tilted his head. "He'll probably manage snagging himself an invite."
I pursed my lips before giving in to his humor. "Bye, Harry."
"Okay girl," I heard Angie say from the kitchen after I shut the door. "Spill it."
"Spill what?" I asked, grabbing my second cookie from the plate.
"The tea. You sure have been spending a lot of time with Harry lately."
"He's fun to hang out with," I said with a mouthful of cookie.
"Oh c'mon. I know I tease you about him and call him your boyfriend. But is there something going on between you for real?"
"No!" I replied a little too hastily, swallowing hard. "You know we're just friends."
"Well I thought you were," she said. "And you say you are, but does he know that?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Gabby. Friends don't walk you up to your apartment and stick around for another twenty minutes and keep making excuses not to leave."
"You had cookies," I remarked.
"Gabs! Don't be blind! I heard him saying something about a party."
"Yeah...he invited me to one this weekend."
"His party?"
"No. I'm not sure whose it is. I just know it's in Malibu at some enormous beach house where there's rooms for all of us to sleep over."
Her jaw dropping, Angie wiped her hands on a dishtowel and dropped it on the counter. "Uh huh."
"It doesn't mean anything," I rolled my eyes.
"Okie doke. If you say so."
My roommate gave me the side eye as I walked down the hall to my room. Shutting the door, I leaned against it, wondering if she was right. Had my instincts been correct? Was this more than friendship? Or was I overthinking it and setting myself up to be heartbroken?
I stood outside on the porch beside the wooden railing, overlooking the beach. It was really beautiful this time of day. While a warm breeze still whipped my hair around me, the sun was beginning to announce its descending on the horizon.
The party had turned out to be even more than I'd imagined. While just the house I was standing in was probably the biggest beach house I'd ever been to, the two on either side were also members of the party's location, each complete with their own bar on the veranda. I'd never been to anything so fancy in my life, and in my simple white sundress I felt a little out of place. I'd mentioned my concern to Harry shortly after we'd arrived, but he assured me it was fine, and I looked beautiful. I'd gotten chills when he told me that, and not from the breeze, but when he'd noticed me shivering, he offered to get a sweater from my suitcase to which I declined.
"There you are," I heard behind me.
I turned my neck to see Harry approaching, the look of delight on his face.
"Was wondering where you'd gone," he said, offering me the drink in his hand.
I shook my head. "I'm sticking with beer tonight, and I'm taking a break for now."
"Alright," his smile faltered. "You okay?"
"Mmm, I'm fine," I nodded. "Just, sometimes sunshine and alcohol don't mix well with me, so I'm taking it easy."
"I understand. Speaking of the sun..." he gestured toward the sky that was starting to turn a bright orange just above the waves.
"So pretty, isn't it?" I commented.
"Beautiful," I heard him say, although from my peripheral view, it didn't seem like he was looking at the beach. When I looked up at him, he grinned like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
"I mean, yeah," he said, stirring the tiny straw in his drink. "This is my favorite time of the day."
We stood side by side as the sun became a golden half orb behind the ocean and the beach became all aglow with strings of lights from the houses.
"Wanna take a walk before it gets too dark?" Harry asked, holding out his hand.
I took it hesitantly, following him down the steps and onto the sand. When we reached the damp shore, I removed my sandals so they wouldn't get muddy, holding them by the strap with my finger. My dress, though not long enough to reach my ankles, still came past my knees, so I had to lift it with my other hand, giving me no free hand to hold Harry's.
"Here, Gabs," he said, offering to hold my shoes.
With a smile, I accepted, taking his other hand once again. We strolled down the beach leisurely, our arms swinging between us. I teased him a couple of times, threatening to kick water on him, but when he lifted me up and spun me around, I knew my tricks had come to an end.
"Okay, okay, Uncle!" I screamed.
When he finally set me back down, I gave him a playful punch in the arm.
"Meanie," I said, picking up the hem of my dress that had almost gotten soiled.
"You might as well let that down, babe, you know you're gonna get wet," Harry laughed.
"Only if you plan on pushing me into the ocean!" I protested.
"Is that a dare?" He grinned his Cheshire cat smile, and I ran for it.
I was almost to the house when he caught up with me, but I suspected he had given me a head start. I squealed when his arms trapped me and he spun me around again, aiming for the water.
"Harry Edward Styles, let me down!" I shouted.
I never felt so relieved to feel warm sand beneath my feet than I did in that moment. Breathing heavily, I glared up at him, his eyes dancing with laughter.
"You're an ass," I remarked with disdain.
"Aw Gabs. I wouldn't have actually done it. You know me."
I narrowed my eyes. "I thought I did."
I started to head for the house, but Harry stopped me, standing in front of me. "Gabriella. C'mon, I was joking. I thought I was just going along with your game. I'm sorry."
I took a deep breath. "Okay."
Stepping closer to me, he brushed his hand against my bare arm. "I would never do anything to deliberately hurt you, or embarrass you. You mean too much to me. I was just having fun. That's why we're here, right?"
My face softened and I nodded.
"Forgive me, love?"
"'kay," I said softly.
"Alright," he beamed, handing me my shoes. "Let's go have a drink."
Harry and I sat at the bar outside of the main house. We had a great time chatting with each other, reminiscing, talking to some of Harry's friends. About an hour into it, however, although the alcohol was keeping my blood warm, the chill of the breeze was starting to get to me, so Harry left to retrieve my sweater. When he returned, he surprised me by having one of his own, nearly the same color as mine. I giggled when I saw him, but I also felt touched. I wasn't exactly sure if he did it on purpose so I wouldn't feel out of place, or if he was chilly too and didn't mind that we matched. Either way, I found it adorable and I couldn't help but notice the gentle way he held my sweater open so I could slip my arms through before he rubbed my shoulders with his hands.
"Thanks," I whispered.
"Any time," he leaned into my ear and whispered back.
The stool next to me ended up occupied while he was away, but being the generous guy he was, Harry didn't ask for it back and in fact insisted that the other woman sit there. So instead, he just stood next to me.
Something was apparent. I was completely confused. I had started to...feel things. More than friendship feelings. I was dizzy and not just because of the beer. I was seeing Harry in a different light, more than just the silly crush I'd had before. And I couldn't help but think he might feel the same. The problem was, I wasn't a hundred percent certain, and I didn't want to look like a fool if I just came out and asked. So I decided to take a different approach.
"So...confession time," I swallowed, setting my empty beer glass on the counter and swinging my legs underneath the bar to face him.
"Confession?" he teased with a smirk, his eyebrow raised in question.
"Yep," I nodded a little too eagerly.
"Alright," he grinned wider, leaning against the bar.
I had to contain my composure as he looked absolutely gorgeous, his hair windswept, his lips full and inviting, and I knew that one more sip of alcohol might possibly have caused me to leap from my barstool and give him more than the confession I had in mind.
"Remember when we met?" I asked.
"I do," Harry nodded.
"You had the long hair then," I commented, making hand gestures next to my face to imply long, cascading curls.
Harry chuckled, his shoulders shaking as I caught a glimpse of his cross necklace dancing in the middle of his chest. "Yeah."
"I used to have such a major crush on you," I blurted.
With a tilt of his head, Harry looked at me. I considered for a second that I'd made a horrible mistake by telling him. Surely he was confused that I'd made such a confession. We were friends in his eyes and always had been, nothing more. He was probably trying his best to think of a nice way to let me down, to tell me he'd never had similar feelings about me, or worse, that I shouldn't have such feelings for him, like a young schoolgirl with a crush on her older brother's friend. I suddenly wanted to take back my words, to pretend I hadn't said them, but Harry surprised me with his next question.
"Used to?" he asked.
"Well, yeah," I laughed nervously.
"Oh." Harry shifted on his feet and began to finger the napkin underneath his glass. "Why didn't you tell me?"
I made a sound and I shrugged. "You were...well, you were hot, and I couldn't believe you actually wanted to talk to me. But then we became close friends so..."
My words trailed off, but I figured Harry knew what I meant. Inspecting the contents of his glass, he swirled it around before lifting it to his lips and setting it back down. I watched him as my stomach flipped and he ran his free hand through his hair.
"I'm really glad we became so close," he said.
"Me too," I smiled.
"I like being your friend, Gabs," Harry added, turning to face me again, his grin mimicking mine for a second before it faltered and he shook his head. "I reckon I have a confession to make, too."
"You do?" I raised a brow, shifting on my stool.
"I've had a massive crush on you as well," he stated.
I gasped, nearly choking. "You did?"
His eyes blinking slowly, Harry stepped closer to me. Or at least, it seemed like he did, even though there was little space between us at it was.
"Did...still do," he confessed, his voice so low it was barely audible.
"What?"
My one word came out like my last breath, and I quickly felt like I needed oxygen. Harry was looking at me intently, standing so close, he was practically between my legs. The noise and chatter surrounding us was blatant, but time seemed to freeze as we stared at each other, Harry's confession whirling around us like clouds of smoke.
"I wasn't quite sure how to tell you," he finally said.
My eyes still wide, I glared at him incredulously. "For...how long?"
Harry shrugged just as the bartender returned with our drink refills. Suddenly realizing how thirsty I was, I eagerly picked up my glass and took a long chug of beer. I didn't miss the tiny smirk on Harry's face before he lifted his own glass and I wiped my apparent beer foam mustache from my lips with the back of my hand.
"Since...since we met?" I asked, urging Harry to continue as I set the glass back down.
"Oh, I dunno, Gabs," he shrugged again. "I mean, I fancied you then, definitely. But not in the way..."
"In the way...what?"
"In the...feelings kind of way," said Harry.
"There's a difference?" I asked, only half teasing.
"Well, of course," he grinned, his dimples reappearing on his cheeks. "I hadn't gotten to know you yet."
"Oh."
"Probably in the same way you fancied me," he added.
"Oh."
"Anyway, I..." he looked down, scratching his nose. "I kinda thought you knew. At least, at one time."
"When?" I asked, flabbergasted. Here I had been nervous about confessing my feelings for him, and I'd never even considered he'd had feelings for me all along, not just recently.
"Last year. Your birthday. And then New Year's."
My jaw dropped as I easily recalled both of those occasions, but had no memory of him giving me any idea he'd liked me as more than a friend. Sure, he'd given me an expensive gift, and we'd gotten pretty wasted on New Year's Eve and I'd let him crash at my place...
"I had no idea!" I exclaimed.
"Well..." Harry smirked, lifting his glass again. "I reckon I'm not very good at giving hints then. But it's...out in the open now."
"Harry..." I mouthed.
With another smile, he threw back the rest of his cocktail and set the empty glass on the bar.
"Kinda wish now I'd told you sooner," he said. "Seeing as you used to have a thing for me, too."
"Not used to," I admitted.
"Wha'?"
"I still do, too," I said. "Still have a thing for you, I mean. Or a crush, or whatever. No, not a crush, that seems so juvenile. Oh my God, Harry, I'm so stupid!"
Harry chuckled, his eyes squinting the way I liked that made him look so handsome and childlike at the same time.
"Slow down, love," he offered, placing his hand on my arm.
"I'm so dumb, Harry," I groaned. I could feel the effects from the alcohol now, but I knew my feelings were honest and not beer induced. "I've been making excuses. I was wondering why you were doing certain things, like calling me in the middle of the night or standing close to me. Playing me your song and inviting me to this party. I worried I was overthinking it all. Like there was no way you liked me in that way. We're just good friends. But now..."
"Now?" His eyes studied my face, waiting for my response as both of his hands took mine, bringing them to his chest.
"Now I know you do."
"Yes I do, Gabriella."
I wanted to grab him and kiss him right then and there, and I would have if the woman behind him hadn't bumped into him and reminded me where we were.
"C'mere," I urged, rising from my stool and taking his hand.
I pulled him to the steps that led to the beach and we walked until I found a dark enough spot where I knew we were out of earshot. Then I turned around and wrapped my arms around him. Without a word, Harry leaned down and kissed me softly, making the butterflies in my stomach flutter and my insides light up like dynamite. Then he deepened the kiss, our tongues dancing in rhythm with my heartbeat.
"Baby..." Harry groaned after our long kiss, his forehead pressed against mine.
"I...I heard you call me that earlier," I said as I traced his mouth with my fingertip. "I thought I was lying to myself."
"Not a lie, baby," he assured me. "I guess some of my hints did get through."
I smiled up at him and licked my lips.
"Kiss me again, Harry," I begged, "so I know I'm not dreaming."
"You're certainly not," Harry said low before pressing his lips to mine again.
We kissed like that on the beach for a long time, the noise of the party worlds away, the crash of the waves in the distance.
"Harry..." I whispered when we came up for air. "I know we're at a party and everything...but...I'd really like to be alone with you right now."
"I think that can be arranged," he agreed.
Not bothering to say goodnight to his friends at the main house, he took my hand and led me to the smaller house on the left, the one in which we were staying. With a quick wave to a handful of people on the porch, we made our way through the back doors and up the stairs. Stopping in the hallway, Harry grinned at me.
"Yours or mine?" he asked cheekily.
"Shut up and get in there," I quipped, pushing him towards our room.
When he opened the door, I eyed the two beds.
"Seems like such a waste," I commented as I followed him to the bed he chose, kicking off my shoes.
"Could have been worse," said Harry as he sat on the bed. "I could have asked for separate rooms."
"Oh, so you were expecting to get some tonight?" I teased as I sensually unbuttoned my cardigan and dropped it.
"No baby," he replied, pulling me to stand between his knees, his green eyes sincere. "Just hoping."
With a gentle smile, I leaned forward and took his face in my hands. I looked at him for a few moments, studying his gorgeous face before kissing his soft, warm lips. It was as though a fire had ignited within me, and I couldn't get enough. I felt his hands on my hips then, trying to pull up the sides of my dress. I heard a pout sound from his throat as I separated our mouths, but his face lit up when he realized what I was doing. Grabbing the hem of my dress, I pulled it up and over my head, letting it fall to the floor. Another sound vibrated from Harry's chest before he slid his hands up my sides and rose from the bed.
In one swift motion, he pulled both his sweater and shirt over his head, not bothering to separate the two. I had seen him shirtless before, but somehow this time was different. I wanted to trace every tattoo, kiss the little patch of hair on his chest and lick a long trail down his belly. My mouth began to water knowing I had the opportunity. I watched him unbutton his pants next, causing my heart to beat faster. I must have been biting my lip in anticipation because Harry chuckled low then, lifting his finger to pry my lip from my teeth.
"You're so sexy," he declared.
"Me?"
"Yeah," he nodded, his eyebrows raised in confirmation. "I've wanted to suck on that bottom lip for a long time."
"God, you're gonna drive me crazy, aren't you?"
Harry laughed harder. "That's the plan."
Unable to control myself, I crashed into his lips again, tangling my fingers in his hair. He moaned against my mouth while his hands found the clasp of my bra, letting the straps fall down my shoulders. I released my grip on his hair so that the bra could drop to the floor and within seconds, my naked breasts were covered by his hands.
This time it was my turn to moan. One thing about Harry that I was perfectly aware of, other than his talent and cheekiness, was that he had amazing hands. When we'd first gotten to know each other, I would sometimes stare at them. And after I started thinking of him in a new way recently, it was not uncommon for me to fantasize about them. Feeling them touch my tender, bare skin was like nothing I'd ever dreamed. I could already feel the wetness between my thighs, and I felt light-headed.
"Harry..." I heard the sound come from my lips before I opened my eyes to see his staring back at me.
"Let's go to the bed, love," he announced.
In my...somewhat mediocre...experience, I was never sure of the protocol for turning down the bed for sex. I was pleasantly surprised, however, when I saw Harry grab the quilt and pull it down to the foot of the bed.
"C'mere, baby," he beckoned as he laid down.
A tiny spark of nerves shivered down my spine as I slowly crawled onto the bed beside him. He reached for me, pulling me against his body and kissing me passionately.
"I don't want this to be awkward," he whispered. "So you let me know if it doesn't feel right and you wanna stop."
"No," I shook my head. "No, it's not awkward at all. I'm just a little nervous, I guess."
"Let me help you relax then," he said. "Tell me how I can help."
His hand slid down my hip as I stared into his eyes. His fingers slipped underneath the lace side of my panties and I shut my eyes, taking a deep breath.
"How's that feel?" I heard him ask, his calloused fingertips lightly stroking the skin across my hip.
"Very nice," I breathed.
His hand moved slightly underneath the lace and I suddenly felt his fingers approach the area I needed him most. Another breath hitched in my throat as he began to touch me. With each moan of response I gave him, he continued, moving in circles with his fingertip.
"How's that, baby?"
"Mmmnnn...yes..." was all I could manage to say before he chuckled again. Shifting onto my back, I opened my legs wider so he had better access. Harry, however, had other ideas. Pulling his hand from my panties, he crawled up on his knees, his face inches from mine.
"I wanna taste you, Gabriella," he declared.
I threw my head back and whispered to the headboard as Harry pulled down my lace underwear. "Fuck, yes."
While my insides were still shaking, I no longer felt nervous. I already knew what his hands could do in just a few minutes. Now I was eager to feel his mouth on me.
Harry was one to take his time, never in a rush for anything, and this was no exception. He left soft kisses on my stomach and pubic bone, then lifting my thighs, he left kisses there as well. I was nearly ready to explode by the time I finally felt his tongue on me, and even then, he took his time.
Harry seemed to catch my clues as well, knowing when to speed up or slow down, learning my body and how much I could take. As I could feel myself reaching my climax, he lifted my hips with his hands, and as I came, I slowed gently before lowering me back down and kissing my thighs once again. My body trembled slightly as he laid his head on my thigh and hummed, waiting patiently for me to come down.
"God, you're beautiful," I heard him murmur as he crawled up my body again, his hands on my breasts.
I tasted myself on his tongue as he kissed me before he shimmied down and took my nipples into his mouth. I moaned again at the sensation, unable to control my urge to feel him inside me.
"Still nervous?" he asked me with a smirk.
I laughed out loud. "Not at all."
"Good," he chuckled. "'Cause I wanna fuck you so bad."
I laughed again, throwing my arm over my eyes.
"Too much?" I heard him ask as I felt the bed shift.
"No," I replied, lowering my arm as I saw him remove his underwear and reach in his bag for a condom. "I have a feeling there's no such thing as too much with you."
He laughed then, returning to the bed. "I guess we'll find out."
I bit my lip at both his cheeky remark and the anticipation. Lifting my knees, I watched him scoot between them. The initial pressure and sting was immediately replaced with immense pleasure as he filled me and began to thrust. Perhaps the aftershock of his oral treatment hadn't completely worn off, because it didn't take long before I was moaning and gasping underneath him. And I certainly was not alone because Harry's moans soon began to mimic mine, and he whined my name.
"Holy shit, you feel so good," I cried.
"Yeah, baby, fuck," he growled. "I'm close already."
I'd always thought the concept of coming together ridiculous, if not impossible. But with Harry, I wanted it. I even begged for it.
"Come with me, Harry," I called out, my legs wrapped around his waist and my hands holding onto his back for dear life.
"Fuck, yes."
And with one more thrust, it happened.
Fireworks, bottle rockets, shooting stars...all the silly cliches I'd read in books...they weren't fiction. Mind-blowing sex is real.
We laid in bed staring at the ceiling while our breaths evened out, then took turns in the bathroom. When I returned, I was surprised to see Harry with the sheet and quilt pulled up to his butterfly tattoo, two votive candles lit on the nightstand.
"Oh nice," I commented. "Where'd the candles come from?"
"They were here," he answered, his voice lower than usual. "In the table. It had been my plan to light them when...I mean if...we came up here. But I forgot."
"God Harry..." I mused as I crawled into bed beside him.
"What?"
"You just..."
With a wide grin, he chuckled, his adorable dimples dipping in his cheeks as he pulled me to him once again. "What, baby?"
"We're not friends anymore," I remarked.
"We're not?"
"No. Friends don't...do this," I said, brushing my fingers through his curls. "And definitely not what we just did."
"We're still friends, Gabs," Harry replied. "Just...a different kind."
"A better kind...I hope."
"Definitely."
"Hmm," I nodded. "Just do me a favor and don't break my heart."
"That's not part of the plan," he shook his head.
"Good. 'Cause I already kinda love you."
Lifting himself up on his elbow, Harry raised a brow. "Just kinda?"
"Well...you know...because we were already so close..."
With a glorious smile, Harry lowered his head to kiss my nose, then my lips.
"I love you too, baby," he said.
A/N: I really hope you enjoyed this story. I haven't written smut in a while, so I'm a little rusty lol. I'm trying to get back into writing regularly again. Wild Horses should be updated soon (hopefully lol).