Hiii besties! Okay, so super sorry for the late update. My mental health wasn't exactly at its best lately, and I didn't want to post something I wasn't proud of. So if you're still sticking around despite my lateness, I adore you. 

I hope you enjoy this one as much as I enjoyed writing it. There's also quite a bit of visuals in this one. I'll link the song at the end, take a listen, because it is a beautiful composition. Love you, my rosy tulips 🌷

Also, follow me on Twitter. Snippets and sneak peeks on there. Same @ as one here!

♬ ✥*

Serenity.

Today was the day of my studio grand re-opening.

I was so nervous, and yet, I couldn't contain my excitement.

So, after I washed up in the morning, I jumped on Harry to wake him up — he wasn't pleased. However, I did give him something he seemed to enjoy immensely.

Let's just say he was in a much better mood after that.

We've been intimate several times throughout the week, and I've been so proud of him each time. He's mentioned to me before that he was rarely dominant in the past, but when I'm with him, it almost felt like he was lying. 

That man was a tiger in between the sheets — or the shower. 

But there was one thing that Harry's been pissing me off with — he was a damn edger. And obviously, that man was having so much fun with it. He was playing me like a game, teasing me every moment he got.

I couldn't complain, though, because he was the best I ever had, and each time was better than the last.

One night, we talked about certain things that he wanted to try with me and things he wouldn't ever consider doing. I'd nervously asked what she had done to him, and he told me. My heart ached for him with every word that he talked about being abused both emotionally and physically. Harry felt ashamed, even though it wasn't his fault — and he knew that.

Nonetheless, it was hard for him to open up about that specific part of his past. Harry even mentioned the things he hated, he wouldn't dare try on me, unless if I wanted to. He also told me that whenever he felt ready and comfortable to switch roles, he'd let me know. I assured him that I'd never treat him the way she did. We always gave consent, and that was the healthiest part of our intimate life. At the end, we were on the same page with regards to the dos and don'ts.

I loved Harry, even if he didn't know it yet. I showed it through my actions, and it wasn't just in bed but all the time.

With little good morning and 'I miss you' texts. Kisses I always gave him before we parted at the beginning and at end of the days. The way I took him in an embrace whenever I saw him because I knew hugs were something he quickly grew to love. Even with the way I would brew his coffee in the morning, even though I was no connoisseur. I asked him to show me how he liked it, so it would be ready when he was dressed for work. He said that the fancy machine had a timer and was already preset to automatically prepare it. However, to my luck, that function stopped working, so I had the honour of doing it myself. 

It was ironic to see that Harry was learning the bare minimum of moving around in the kitchen, but knew how to prepare all sorts of coffees, and gave me a sly grin as he showcased his skills. It was adorable. 

Mr Urban Corp. was still busy all week, but he wasn't as stressed. We could sit in the mornings to have our drinks and sometimes breakfast — or stay longer while I stretched. I could tell that he definitely tried to be late whenever I did my daily routine. He claimed that it was entertaining to watch me be "all flexible and such," but we both knew that it was more than that for him.

The past Sunday, we went to his place, and I got him to cook something for dinner. He managed to burn the vegetables and made the steaks close to charred. Only one thing ate them — the trash can.

At least, he didn't nip any of his fingers or attempt to burn down the kitchen this time. There was minor progress. We decided on sticking to simple breakfast dishes for now.

However, it might've been my fault because I apparently distracted him. I'm not going to lie and say that I did since I might have, but I'd never tell him that.

I was so elated on Wednesday when the Forbes magazine was released, and his beautiful self was on the cover. He claimed that he hated the photoshoot, but I disregarded what he said because it was far from true. Based on the picture chosen, many would argue that he was soft and didn't know how to handle stressful situations, which was an obvious lie. The fact that he made it on face of such a well-known publication was beyond incredible.

His achievements just kept going and I loved that for him.

There was no doubt that I sent him how proud I was when I sent him a teasing photo of me reading it. I made Amara take it, and she snickered the entire time, claiming that Harry would 'lose it' — and that was true. He sent me a text saying that he was thankful to have just gotten out of a meeting when he saw my message. My poor tiger was all frustrated.

I made it up to him when he came home, though.

Harry also got the word around about my studio to people in his company who had children in dance programs and schools — or even adults who might be interested. Some of them said they'd stop by, so it made me excited to know that I could have more potential dancers.

In the morning, he was gone early, texting me that he had meetings all day, and he'd meet me here in the evening, hoping he wouldn't be late. 

I was already busy at the studio, finalizing the tiny details. We did the final rehearsal yesterday, so jittery nerves were all around. Anxiety filled me, though, and I tried not showing it for the sake of everyone else.

My parents, Milo, Destiny, Amara, and Riv, were here amongst the mingling crowd. They'd already seen the studio in the daytime, but this was an evening event, and the mood of the place was completely different. I loved it — and they did too. Those who were here to observe were on one half, and the other, I could see a few dancing on their own.

We were going to send Charlie pictures and videos, and he'd already promised to check in with us over the weekend.

"So, you nervous?"

"Is the sky blue?" I deadpanned, and River let out a chuckle. "Of course, I am."

"You shouldn't be. Everything looks great, and I've already seen the performance, remember? Perfection, Rennie. I might say you're almost better than me with choreography," he said with a teasing grin. I playfully shoved him at his words, mouthing "Yeah, right."

"So, when's Mr Millionaire showing up?" Mars asked me, just after taking a flute of champagne off one of the side tables.

"He should be here soon. Last I talked to him, he was running a little late, but said he'd be here," I replied, taking my bottom lip between my teeth. "I mean, there's still time."

"If he misses the performance, I'll personally claw him for you," she spoke with a smile, then she leaned in so she could whisper in my ear. "By the way, nicely done with touching up those marks on your neck and chest. Let's hope the makeup doesn't fade off after you perform."

"Bug off, Mars." I laughed. "You're not so innocent either."

"Yeah, sure, switch things up because—"

"Do I really need to hear this conversation?" Riv questioned, looking at us with a raised brow. A soft blush was on his cheeks, and I smiled. He was one to be shy at times, especially with anything that dealt with relationships. He sometimes asked me for advice, and he was always bashful when we'd talk about it.

"No one told you to stay here, sweetheart. So, go away. Mingle," his girlfriend answered with a smirk, and I chuckled.

"I can see I'm not wanted 'ere. Fine," River scoffed, brushing off his hair before walking away.

"He can be such a drama queen," she said with a laugh.

"That's why he and Charlie have become best friends," I replied, "You know, I should be offended that I seem to have lost that title. It's quite rude if I'm honest."

"Ah, well, if it makes you feel any better, he still talks about some great times you two had together back in school."

"In that case, I feel special." I grinned happily.

I turned around and started to glance towards the front doors, eagerly waiting for Harry to show up. It was getting later, and I was getting antsy. There was something that I started to love was when he watched me dance. I didn't know what it was, but it made me happy.

Maybe it was the fact that I was doing something I loved near the person I loved — it was the only thing that made sense to me.

Letting out a deep breath, I started to walk around, trying to distract myself from thinking about how my favourite man was missing. There was about a half-hour left until I had to change, so there was still time.

Deciding on socialising with crowd, I met some strangers, spoke to others familiar; most asked about the studio, types of dances Starlight offered, and schedules. I told them to leave their information on the front desk. I opted out on the signup sheet quick after people arrived as the number increased.

Now, standing in the middle of the studio, I placed my hand on my elbow, holding onto something while I began to worry. I wanted Harry here.

"Did you really think I'd miss your performance?" His familiar deep voice spoke from behind me in a tone that made my skin tingle.

A small smile formed on my lips as I closed my eyes, turning around. When they fluttered open, I saw the man that stole my heart many months ago.

But with the way Harry looked, I swore that my knees went weak at his appearance.

Black and white; it was the ultimate contrast against his sun-kissed skin. Choosing not to shave, his stubble dusted his cheeks and down to a jawline that could cut glass. Emerald eyes still sparkled under the dimmed light. His suit was tailored to perfection, fitting his body and hugging his muscles in just the right way. Coal toned loafers were shiny and impeccable — as they always were. Flawlessly styled was his pretty brunette hair. A few buttons were undone from the top of his shirt, showcasing his chiselled chest with scattered sparse hairs.

I couldn't keep my eyes off it, and just wished I could smooth my palm all over it.

When I met his eyes, I noticed a not-so-subtle smirk on his face.

I cleared my throat before speaking, "I was hoping that you wouldn't."

Slowly, he took a couple steps towards me, and I could feel my heart pounding in my ears. His gaze on me was devious, hard, and couldn't decide where to land his focus on. Intimidating green gems shamefully trailed all over my body, taking in every detail, showing an ounce of adoration with them.

Adorning my body was a ruby red sleeveless dress, a high slit reaching the top of my left thigh. Lace edged the sides of my breasts, accenting the deep-V down my chest perfectly. Silver pumps added to my height, just enough to almost match my sapphire gems to his. 

Red wasn't my favourite colour, but I knew it was beautiful one me — but it was someone's dearest hues. A bold lip stood out contrasting my softer makeup, and my hair cascaded in soft waves past my shoulders. 

Eventually, after some time lingering on one another, our eyes finally met.

When he reached out to grab hold of my hand, pulling me close to him. "I told you I had a meeting that ran later than expected. They wanted to continue, but I told them I had a prior engagement, and we'd finish it on Monday. You should've seen the looks on their faces, Essie. They thought I was crazy because I've never done that before."

"Why did you this time?" I asked, tugging lightly on the lapels of his suit jacket.

"You forgot already, darling? Prior engagement. So, I told them to fuck off and have a good evening — kindly, of course." He smirked.

He was very blunt tonight.

"I'm glad you were kind."

"I was then, but not sure about now," he spoke, sucking in his lips.

"What about now?"

He leaned slightly closer and whispered just loud enough for me to hear him, "Turn around for me. I wanna get a proper look at my girl."

I only grinned. "You can watch me do that when I dance later."

His brow raised, clearly surprised with my defiance.

"Now, Serenity," he firmly demanded.

Harry was also getting bolder — and I loved every second of it.

Light on my feet, I spun, feeling my dress flow gently along with me. When I met his gaze again, his bottom lip was taken between his teeth, and I could see desire evident in his stunning emerald gems.

"How do I look?"

"Absolutely stunning," he whispered, "Magnificent, exquisite, and so fucking radiant. My beautiful lady in red."

"You're not too bad yourself, handsome."

"I wasn't done," he continued, moving to place a sweet kiss on my cheek. But then whispered in my ear, "And I can't wait to take it off of you later."

"Mr Styles! Behave yourself," I exclaimed, and watched as his sultry expression turned into an innocent grin as he realised others were walking by.

But once they passed, he neared me again, whispering into my ear, "What if I don't want to?"

"You already know the answer to that."

"I know you're being a tease tonight, darling. You know very well red is my favourite colour."

I bit my lip, holding the smile, trying to break free. "Who said I wore this for you?"

"You can wear whatever you want for whoever you want, love," he spoke thickly.

My eyes squinted at him, trying to read him. "You're trying to get on my good side, aren't you?"

He hummed, pulling me a little closer. "Every side of you is beautiful. Shouldn't matter."

I squinted my eyes at him. "Damn. You're good."

Leaning in, I went to give Harry a kiss, but I was forced to stop.

"Harry, my boy! It's good to see you again," my dad suddenly interrupted, and I parted quickly away from him.

Thank goodness. I was beginning to forget we were in public.

"You as well, Julian," Harry replied with a smile — comfortably, I might add.

They shook hands, and I watched the two converse briefly before my mom joined us.

"Nice to see you again," she gushed with a wide smile. "So what were you two talking about? And why does Harry here have to behave?"

And I choked on my breath.

"I was teasing her with the few décor mistakes, Gennie. Nothing else," Harry said to my mom.

"Mhm, right. I'm sure."

Harry tried to cover it, but my mom knew. I swear she had super hearing powers.

"Well, I have to go change. I'll just, um — bye," I spoke, and I rushed away from them. All I heard was Harry's boisterous laugh, and that put a smile on my face.

♬ ✥*

The routine that my little dancers and I were an absolute success. The music I chose for it was a composition perfect to use for various styles so that I could showcase their strengths with every move they made. Blends of power and softness complemented each other flawlessly, enough for a little ballet, contemporary, and a dash of modern. There might have been a dash of a few others here and there. I had just under a dozen fairies, but the performance made it seem that we were more than enough to fill the studio. 

They've grown accustomed to me calling them that. Each dancer has magic with how they move and their own unique techniques — even if they're taught the same way. Just as a famous chef is known for their way of cooking, dance was no different. Different flavours and spices, different styles and flair, all call for something extraordinary and beautiful in the end.

And I loved that.

We received exuberant clapping from everyone. My eyes flickered all over the crowd of people, landing on the people I loved. My parents were beaming with joy while Riv and Amara were cheering us on, and Milo and Destiny were grinning in happiness. But my view settled on Harry, who had his fingers in his mouth, whistling loudly. His enthusiasm made my heart incredibly soft. He's seen me dance on multiple occasions, but this was the first time he saw an actual performance, and his expression meant the absolute world to me.

With heavy breaths, my star pupils and I held hands, then bowed to the audience. They pulled me into a big embrace, and I could see the smiles on their faces. I told them how proud of them I was for doing so well. They'd improved so much over the months that I'd instructed them, and I couldn't wait to keep sharing my knowledge and experience with them.

Before I got a chance to change, I felt a hand tug on my wrist, pulling me to crash into his chest. It was a very familiar touch, so firm yet gentle.

"I'm proud of you, my sugarplum fairy," he whispered in my ear. "It was beautiful."

A blush formed on my cheeks as I turned to look up at him, a sweet smile tugging on his lips.

"Thank you, pretty," I replied softly.

With all the people I loved beside me here, it was definitely a night that I would never forget.

As the rest of the night went on, I changed back into my dress, seeing Harry's eyes light up again when he saw it on me once more. I could never get enough of the way he looked at me. I wasn't insecure about myself, and it was something I taught myself to do. Sure, I might have done several reckless things in my life, such as break into Urban Corp. to get the investment, but I would never regret it.

The things I do in my life are things forever worth remembering and cherishing.

Confidence was something I had to have with passion and profession. Having grace, poise, and believing in myself was a blessing; I carried them with me every day, and I was proud of it.

There was a difference between being insecure and vulnerable. Harry was struggling to separate the two. It was more than okay to be vulnerable because we're human, but feeling insecure about certain things in our lives or ourselves is what makes us us.

People had so many things that could make them feel either way. Stretch marks and cellulite over stomachs and thighs. A face full of freckles. The day five candles were on your sixth birthday because your parents couldn't afford a pack of ten. A past filled with struggles and hurt. Anything and everything could be both to some people but separate to others. Some find things that make them feel special, while others may believe it makes them feel sad.

We're allowed to feel emotions of all