Chapter 44

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The first time she woke the next morning, Maddie's eyes fluttered open to see that it was barely morning; the sun only beginning to peek out over the horizon. Harry, spooned up behind her, his arm loose around her waist, was breathing the deep, steady breath of slumber into her ear. It was as if their bodies knew, after the strain of the day before, that they needed this closeness; this contact—even in sleep. She wasn't ready to wake yet, she wanted more of this before the day and all of its realities returned. Reveling in the warmth he provided, she sighed and willed herself back to sleep. Just as her eyes grew heavy and began to close, she felt him stir. His arm tightened around her waist, pulling her closer.

"You awake?" He muttered sleepily in her ear; his breath tickling her neck.

"Mmmm..." She nodded slightly and then took a breath as he moved, only slightly, to press a warm kiss into the hollow of her neck. "Oh..."

"Good morning," his voice was rough as his hand let go of hers and moved achingly slow up her side; pushing under the t-shirt he had leant her for the improv sleep over. Something about the way they had moved through the stress of the day before, something about how they had made it to the morning still entangled in each other drew out an overwhelming want for her.

"I could get used to waking up like this," her laughter was low and ceased when his hands reached her breasts, moving over them with a teasing warmth that instantly aroused her attention.

"Good to know..." He licked up the side of her neck, nipped at her earlobe. Tightening his hold on her, he pulled her so that her body was flush with his and she felt him. Hard. Warm. Ready.

His mouth remained close to her head; sucking at her shoulder, her neck. His hand ran over the length of her body, lightly over the mole that he had committed to his memory, and pushed into the small speck of fabric that was her panties, her body arched towards his fingers; aching at his touch.

"Harry..." She breathed heavily. She was barely awake, barely able to think a coherent thought, but at the same time she was completely in tune with him with this moment. The night before had been full of negative feelings and exhaustion but after getting away, getting much needed sleep, she couldn't help but respond to him.

His right arm went underneath her head, moving around her in a warm, strong hold. His left gently drew her top leg up, resting it on his; giving him greater access to where his hand truly longed to be. He moved his hand back to her center, stroking with firm, steady fingers. There were no words, only shallow breaths and soft moans as Harry slowly and steadily roused her body awake.

Maddie took a deep breath, her hands clutching at the arm wrapped around her; her hips pushing against the hand that teased her. He pressed his body closer to hers. He was mind-numbingly hard; aching to be inside of her—needing to make love to her. Turning only her head, Maddie's lips sought his—her hand pulled his face towards hers and their mouths met in a long, slow, deep kiss. Maddie felt her breath suck right out of her and pour into him.

When he pulled his lips away from hers, she missed them instantly. And when they began to kiss down her neck again, she wanted to be closer; always closer. With hooded eyes and a sultry voice, Maddie pleaded. "Harry..." And he knew what she wanted. Moving only to rid them both of their underwear and find protection, Harry settled back against her and drew her to him; his hands returning appreciatively to her body.

Harry lowered his head to suck at her shoulder and then, with a strangled groan, he clutched at her thigh and slipped into her from behind. Maddie moaned and gasped at the sensation she felt when he plunged into her. With one hand planted on her hip to hold her in place, he began moving within her. Maddie's hand reached back, tangling in his hair and holding his lips in her neck; aching for more. He was holding her so close, she felt like she could melt into him.

Trusting she would keep up the rhythm they established, he moved his hand from her waist; lower, to stroke at her center as he continued to push into her. Maddie smiled sleepily; wanting him to hold her closer and closer still. As she pressed back into him, moaning and gasping at every thrust, the friction was almost unbearable. Harry took long, deep breaths, struggling to maintain control. Burying his face in her neck, he kissed and sucked and licked; he moaned in encouragement and groaned in restraint. He watched as Maddie fought to control her breathing, fought to be closer to him. He watched as her breathing began to come quicker, less restrained. He grinned when she sucked her lip between her teeth and her head rolled back onto his shoulder; that was her tell—she was close.

Maddie's hand moved down her own body; stopping to rest on his; still stroking her. Sucking in a breath, she pressed his hand closer. A wave of electricity ran through him as he watched her take control of her own pleasure; pushing them both closer to the edge. And then, as she began to clench around him, her hand holding his in place; the groan that came from deep within her was all it took to send Harry over the edge. His mouth rest close to her ear, where she could hear every ragged breath that came from his lips; he thrust faster, harder, holding her tighter and closer to him. And then, in that hazy way that comes right before the explosion, Maddie uttered his name. Just as her words fell from her mouth she was exploding against him. Harry groaned into her ear; so, so close. Her eyes were heavy, her body slick, her breath coming out in gasps. Amidst her falling apart, her eyes opened, met his and she smiled; warm, welcoming, satisfied. And then, with a great intensity, he pushed into her; his lips meeting hers and he followed—blissfully—over the edge.

As their breathing subsided and their hearts calmed, Harry pressed a kiss to her shoulder and moved to brush her hair from her forehead and sweep it away from her face. There was so much to say, so many feelings he wanted to convey; about the day before, about how much it meant that she was still there, about how his confessions had been the truest thing he could have said to her. But the connection they had just made was so much more powerful than anything he would be able to articulate in that moment; so he let the words fade. Maddie brought his hand to her lips for a kiss and sighed; settling back against him. As they adjusted in the bed, Harry held her close—though not as tight—and with one final, loving kiss, they drifted back to sleep; satisfied and tired.

The second time she woke up, Maddie sensed two things. She was alone in Harry's bed and, from the warm aroma wafting into the room, he was eating breakfast somewhere. Luring her from the coziness of the bed, she stretched her arms over her head and moved to find him. Glancing at the clock, she knew he would be leaving for work soon. Knowing there were people around, she pulled on a pair of his sweat pants; laughing at how loose they were and his big fluffy robe before she left his room. Stepping into the dining room Harry sat at the table, a phone pressed to his ear; his hair wet from a shower. She took a few steps closer and watched him; loving how normal this looked.

Clearing her throat, she made her presence known. He looked up to her with a smug smile and shining eyes. He held his finger up as he finished his conversation. Standing, he tossed his phone to the table and made his way over to her. Cupping her face in his hand he leaned in to kiss her,

"Good morning," his voice was low and intoxicating.

"It really was," she held his hand to her face for a moment; leaning into it before she released it; tipping up on her toes to kiss him again. "Hello."

"Hello."

"Working?" She raised her eyebrows as he led her to the table with a chuckle.

"I just got off of the phone with Thomas."

"This early?" She arched an eyebrow as she settled into her chair and reached for a cup of tea.

"He's in the office already," Harry smiled at her concern. "I had to check my calendar with him and...I'm clear to leave the Thursday before your birthday. You can stay as long as you like, but I have to head back on Monday. But, I'll be with you for your birthday on Saturday. Of course the security team would want to talk with your mother and..."

"Wait," Maddie sat her cup back on the table. "You were serious? About Colorado and..."

"I was serious," his eyes met hers with no hint of a joke or sarcasm. "You thought I wasn't?"

"I thought there was a chance," she laughed nervously. "Harry, yesterday was a stressful day and last night you said a lot of things..."

"I did," he cut her off; his shoulders square, head held high. His lips twitched into a grin. "And you said it didn't scare you."

"It doesn't." Her reply was quick as her heart thudded.

"Oh-kay," he chuckled; not completely believing her. "I wish you could see the look on your face right now."

"It's just..." She fidgeted with her napkin. "You've only known me a year..."

"Fifteen months."

"And we've only been together...God I don't even know how long we've..."

"It depends on when you start counting," he answered; taking a bite of fruit. "I met you fifteen months ago and I could argue that we had our first date when I came back a month later..."

"When you brought the candy?" She smiled at the memory.

"Yes," he nodded with a matching nostalgic grin. "You gave me your number and I would have kissed you then if you would have stopped avoiding me for one damn..."

"I wasn't avoiding you," she countered with a laugh.

"Sure," he nodded. "We went on that hike and...you didn't know then?" He moved so that he was facing her; pulling her hands into his. "I knew then. So you could say we've been...something for about fourteen months...but for arguments' sake, I'll give you those few months over the phone...bringing us to nine months ago. We started nine months ago. I was just about six months in when I got out of my head and followed my heart..."

"You flew all the way to Bendal to kiss me," her cheeks were warm as she remembered.

"I did," he nodded. "And then you went right ahead and stomped all over my moment..."

"You said it was fine!" She nudged him.

"It was fine. It was more than fine...God...Khenda could read me like a book." He shook his head. "I knew I loved you then—before then, but definitely that night. I knew that night."

"And then..." Maddie took a breath. "And then I was shot." Harry swallowed.

"Standing in front of me," she opened up her mouth in protest and he continued before she could talk. "Let's call it what it was Maddie. I don't bring it up now because I know it makes you uncomfortable but...you saved my life that night."

"I..."

"Saved my life that night." He let the weight of it sit in the room before he tightened his hold on her hands; pressing kisses to the tops of them. "Two weeks later, despite your best judgment and my warnings, you jumped in head first. And now...you've been living in London for three months? Four?"

"Almost five," she corrected; her smile timid, shy almost.

"Yes, it's been a short amount of time but you have to admit, we've been through more than a year's share of trials, no?"

"No, you're right..."

"And though you continue to be firm in standing next to me, assuring me that none of the bullshit that comes along with me is going to push you away—refusing to be budged by any of it...the moment I give you the same kind of assurances, the moment I tell you that I'm not going anywhere, you get nervous..."

"I'm not nervous," she moved closer; her hands resting on his thighs as she slipped her knees between his. "Look at me Harry. I'm not nervous. I just don't want you to say something that you don't mean or that you'll want to take back or..."

"Neither of those things is going to happen," he held her face in his hands.

"No?" Her voice was small; hopeful.

"No," he shook his head; tearing his eyes from hers with a chuckle. "But, you said we can't talk about it until I meet your mother. So..." He shrugged and turned back to his seat.

"I did say that," she sighed into a laugh and relaxed into her chair, reaching for her tea. "You would think I would learn to keep my mouth shut."

"God I hope not," he winked at her and, in the sort of ease that was so much a part of who they were together, returned to his breakfast.



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