Best friends. A fake relationship. One weekend in Edinburgh—and maybe a shot at something real.
Author's note: This is a repost of the original story I first shared on Patreon. I’ve done a bit of light editing throughout—tightening up the prose, tweaking a few lines, and adding in some original text that was previously only on Patreon (including a few extended moments I really loved). Thank you so much for reading (or re-reading!)—your support means the world. I hope you enjoy this version just as much, if not more. 🤍
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The soft hum of the evening surrounded them as they sat on Harry’s plush couch, nestled in the heart of his spacious home. The minimalist decor of his living room reflected the careful balance between his hectic life in the spotlight and his need for peace. His house, though large, was warm, with low lighting that gave it a cozy, intimate feel. The air was thick with the scent of the coffee table candles he’d lit earlier—notes of sandalwood and something sweet.
Harry sat next to Y/N, his body half-turned toward her as he read a book, legs tucked beneath him like a cat seeking comfort. There was a distinct softness about him when he was in his own space, away from the flashing cameras and curious eyes of the public. His hair, dark and messy, tumbled over his forehead, catching in the dim light, giving him a boyish charm that contrasted sharply with his usual confident and polished public persona.
He wore a simple white t-shirt, the fabric clinging loosely to his lean frame. His broad shoulders spoke of strength, but his posture, slightly hunched as he leaned into his book, gave off an air of vulnerability. His long fingers traced the edges of the pages absentmindedly, and now and then, his green eyes flicked up from the book, studying Y/N with a kind of quiet amusement, like he was aware of the unspoken understanding that lay between them.
Harry had always been attentive, almost in a way that felt second nature, as though he knew more about her moods than she did. There was something undeniably magnetic about him—his laugh was a little softer here, his voice a touch lower. His fame could never overshadow the gentle heart he showed her when they were alone.
Y/N’s eyes hovered over the same paragraph for what felt like the hundredth time. The words blurred together, the meaning lost as her mind wandered to the man sitting beside her. She was supposed to be reading a novel on leadership—something meant to inspire her as she navigated her demanding corporate job—but her thoughts kept drifting back to him. It was ironic, really. The book talked about control and decisiveness, yet here she was, lost in the one thing she couldn’t control: her feelings for Harry.
She had always found him attractive. No—more than attractive. Beautiful in the kind of way that felt effortless. His messy hair, the way his lips quirked into a half-smile, those green eyes that seemed to see straight through her… It all added up to someone she could never quite believe was real. He’d always been larger than life to her, even before the fame. Back when they were younger, when they were just two young adults with dreams and no idea where life would take them.
But then, his life had soared into stardom, and hers had stayed grounded in the corporate world. He became Harry Styles—the Harry Styles—and she remained his best friend, hidden away from the glamour of his world. She had watched as women swooned over him, throwing themselves at his feet, and she had silently swallowed her feelings. She knew she could never compete. He was out of her league, in every possible way.
And yet, sitting here next to him, as close as they were, it was impossible not to be reminded of just how deep her feelings for him ran. His presence had always had this effect on her, an electric undercurrent that made her skin tingle and her heart pound just a little harder. She stole a glance at him over the top of her book. He was engrossed in whatever he was reading, completely unaware of the thoughts swirling in her mind.
That’s what made it all so painful—he would never see her that way. She was just Y/N, his best mate, his confidant. The one person who was always there, but never the one he looked at with desire. She felt a knot tighten in her chest as she allowed herself, for just a moment, to imagine what it would be like if things were different. If she were someone else. If he saw her the way she saw him.
As if sensing her gaze, Harry suddenly looked up, catching her in the act. His lips twitched into a small, knowing smile, and he set his book down on the coffee table.
“What’s going on in that head of yours?” he asked, his voice low, breaking the silence between them. His eyes locked onto hers, and the way he studied her made her feel exposed, as though he could read her thoughts without her saying a word. “You’ve been staring at that same page for ages.”
Y/N quickly dropped her gaze, closing the book to avoid his probing eyes. “It’s nothing,” she mumbled, though the heat rising to her cheeks gave her away.
He tilted his head, not buying it for a second. “Come on,” he coaxed, a teasing edge to his voice. “Spill it. I know you. You’ve got that look.”
She shifted uncomfortably, trying to laugh it off. “What look?”
“The one where you’re overthinking everything,” he said, leaning back against the couch, still watching her closely. His gaze softened. “Talk to me, Y/N. What’s going on?”
Y/N’s breath hitched in her throat as Harry’s green eyes bore into hers, his expression filled with gentle concern. She had always struggled to lie to him. Whenever he looked at her like that, like he truly cared, she felt like he could see right through her. The panic rose quickly, threatening to bubble over, and she knew she had to say something—anything—to steer the conversation away from the thoughts that were tangled up in her mind.
She blurted out the first thing that came to her. “My cousin’s getting married.”
Harry raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback by the abrupt change of subject. “Which cousin?”
Y/N let out a long sigh, glad for the distraction, though the topic she’d chosen wasn’t much better. “The worst one. Out of the three, I mean. You know, the one who’s always got something to say about everything. Perfect life, perfect fiancé, perfect job… perfect everything.”
Harry’s expression softened into one of amused sympathy. He knew exactly the kind of family pressure Y/N was talking about. He stretched out his legs, making himself more comfortable, as if settling in for a story. “Ah, her. That sounds like fun,” he teased, his voice laced with sarcasm.
Y/N rolled her eyes, tucking her legs beneath her as she faced him. “It’s not just her. It’s the whole family. They’re all so excited, and for some reason, they’re all hell-bent on me bringing a date.” She threw her hands up in frustration. “I don’t even have a boyfriend, but everyone keeps asking if I’m bringing someone. They’re already assuming I’m going to show up with a ‘plus one,’ and I just… I don’t want to deal with the humiliation of telling them I’m still single. Again.”
Harry’s brow furrowed slightly as he listened, a small frown tugging at his lips. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he looked at her thoughtfully. “Y/N, you don’t owe anyone an explanation. If you don’t want to bring someone, then don’t. Your family’s expectations shouldn’t dictate your happiness.”
Y/N smiled weakly, appreciating the sentiment, but her heart was still heavy with the weight of the situation. “I know, but it’s just… hard. It’s like they see me as incomplete because I don’t have someone.” She let out a bitter laugh. “They don’t understand that I’m happy with my life. But at a wedding, it’s like a flashing neon sign that I’m alone.”
Y/N smiled weakly, appreciating the sentiment, but her heart was still heavy with the weight of the situation. “I know, but it’s just… hard. It’s like they see me as incomplete because I don’t have someone.” She let out a bitter laugh. “They don’t understand that I’m happy with my life. But at a wedding, it’s like a flashing neon sign that I’m alone.”
The room fell silent for a moment as Harry absorbed her words, his gaze softening even further. He opened his mouth, about to say something, but then paused, seemingly deep in thought.
Y/N bit her lip, realizing she was rambling, but it was easier to talk about this than the real issue she was trying to avoid. And with Harry sitting so close, his concern for her so palpable, it made her feel even more off-balance. Every time he cared, every time he listened so intently, it reminded her of how much she longed for something more than just friendship.
But that wasn’t an option. Not with him. So, she buried it all under the wedding invitation and the pressures from her family, hoping it would be enough to keep him from asking more.
Harry studied her for a long moment, eyes searching her face like he could sense there was something more she wasn’t saying. He tilted his head slightly, lips pressing together in that way he always did when he was thinking hard.
“Is that really why you’re freaking out?” he asked gently, his voice laced with quiet skepticism.
Y/N felt her stomach twist, the question catching her off guard. She hated how easily he could see through her, but she wasn’t about to crack. Not when it came to her deeper feelings. So, she nodded quickly, clutching onto the family wedding excuse like a lifeline. “Yes, it is. It’s a big issue, Harry. Every time I visit my family, it just… it tears me down a little more. They make me feel like I’m somehow falling behind because I don’t have someone. It’s exhausting.”
He sighed softly, his eyes softening with sympathy, though there was still a trace of doubt in his gaze. Without saying anything more, he leaned back against the couch and picked up his book again, his fingers absently running along the spine.
For a few minutes, silence fell between them, the crackling of the fire and the soft rustle of turning pages the only sounds filling the room. Y/N watched him out of the corner of her eye, heart still racing from the close call. She didn’t know what she’d do if he pushed further—if he managed to pry open the lid she’d been keeping on her feelings. She shifted in her seat, trying to focus on her book, but the words refused to make sense.
Then, just as she was beginning to lose herself in her own anxious thoughts, Harry broke the silence.
“I’ve got an easy solution,” he said suddenly, his voice calm and casual, like he hadn’t just spent several minutes in contemplative silence. He didn’t even look up from his book. “I’ll go with you.”
Y/N blinked, his words not quite registering at first. “What?”
He glanced over at her, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “I’ll be your date. To the wedding,” he clarified, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Problem solved.”
Her heart skipped a beat, her mind racing to catch up. “You… you’re serious?” She could hardly believe what she was hearing. Harry Styles, her best friend—and secret crush—offering to be her date to her cousin’s wedding?
“Of course,” he said, shrugging as if it were no big deal. “If it’ll make things easier for you, I’m in. I’ll go, smile for the family, and be the perfect distraction. You won’t have to deal with any awkward questions about being single.”
Y/N stared at him, stunned. He made it sound so simple, like it was no trouble at all. But for her, it was anything but simple. Having him at her side, pretending to be her date, while she tried to keep her feelings under control… It sounded like both a dream and a nightmare all at once.
She swallowed hard, trying to find her voice. “Harry, you don’t have to—”
“I want to,” he interrupted, closing his book and turning his full attention to her now. His gaze was steady, sincere. “You’re my best friend, Y/N. If this is stressing you out, let me help. I’d be happy to go with you.”
Her heart swelled at his words, warmth spreading through her chest at the thought of him being there, by her side, at a time when she felt most vulnerable. But at the same time, the reality of pretending—of standing next to him, feeling things she shouldn’t, knowing it was all just for show—made her feel dizzy.
“Are you sure?” she asked, her voice quieter now, almost unsure.
Harry’s smile widened into that familiar, mischievous grin. “Positive. And besides, who wouldn’t want to show off a date like me?” he teased, his tone light, but his eyes still holding that warm, comforting sincerity.
Y/N couldn’t help but laugh, her anxiety easing just a little. Maybe, just maybe, having Harry with her wouldn’t be so bad. It might even be the perfect distraction—from her family, and from her feelings. If she could keep them in check, that is.
“He’s going with you?!” Maddie’s voice echoed through the apartment, loud and full of disbelief.
Y/N, sitting cross-legged on the floor in her bedroom, groaned and yelled back, “I know!”
Maddie appeared in the doorway a second later, her eyes wide with shock and excitement. “Harry Styles—your best friend and international superstar—is going to a wedding with you. As your date. This is… this is insane!”
Y/N let out a half-laugh, half-sigh as she flopped back onto her bed, staring up at the ceiling. “Trust me, I’m still trying to process it.”
Maddie crossed her arms, leaning against the doorframe. “Okay, let’s go over the logistics because this is a lot to unpack. First of all, the wedding is a whole weekend, right?”
“Yeah,” Y/N muttered, sitting up and running a hand through her hair. “It’s in Edinburgh, so we’re going up on Friday, staying until Sunday. Two full days of family, dinners, receptions, and a ton of small talk.”
“And Harry knows this?” Maddie asked, raising an eyebrow skeptically.
Y/N bit her lip, her voice dropping to a quiet murmur. “No, not exactly.”
Maddie’s eyes widened even further. “Wait, so you haven’t told him it’s a whole weekend thing? What if he backs out when he realizes it’s not just a one-night event?”
Y/N sat up straighter, her anxiety returning in full force. “I mean, I hope he won’t. He offered so casually, but I didn’t get into all the details.” She winced, feeling a bit guilty for not being completely upfront. “It’s just... he said yes so easily, and I didn’t want to overwhelm him with everything all at once.”
Maddie shook her head, pacing the room in thought. “Okay, well, you’ve got to tell him. He’s going to need to know what he’s signing up for. The last thing you want is him backing out last minute.”
“I know,” Y/N agreed, sighing. “I’ll tell him tomorrow. I just… I really hope he doesn’t change his mind. It’s already going to be awkward enough dealing with my family, and having Harry there is the only thing keeping me sane.”
Maddie stopped pacing and turned to her with a mischievous smile. “Well, there’s something else we need to focus on.”
“What’s that?” Y/N asked, dreading the answer.
“Your outfits!” Maddie exclaimed, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “This is a wedding weekend in Edinburgh with Harry as your date. You need to look absolutely perfect every single day.”
Y/N groaned, burying her face in her hands. “Maddie, please don’t make this into a fashion show. I’m already freaking out as it is.”
Her roommate crossed the room and sat down on the bed beside her, nudging her playfully. “Listen, if you want your family to shut up about you being single, you’ve got to show up looking like the best version of yourself. And besides…” She shot her a knowing look. “It wouldn’t hurt for Harry to see you in a new light.”
Y/N peeked up at her through her fingers. “What do you mean?”
Maddie grinned. “Come on, Y/N. You’ve had a crush on him for as long as I’ve known you. Maybe this is the chance to finally turn his head, you know? If he’s going to be by your side all weekend, you might as well look stunning while you’re at it.”
Y/N’s heart fluttered at the thought, but she quickly shook her head. “Harry doesn’t see me that way, Mads. He’s going because he’s a good friend. That’s it.”
“Maybe. But maybe not,” Maddie said with a wink. “Either way, we’re going to make sure you look incredible. Now, where’s that suitcase of yours? We’ve got some planning to do.”
The next day, Y/N stood outside Harry’s house, a small bouquet of flowers in her hand. She smiled as she reached for the familiar key in her pocket, the one Harry had given her ages ago. She slipped it into the lock, the click of the door unlocking bringing a sense of comfort. Harry’s house had always felt like a second home to her—sometimes more of a home than her own apartment, if she was honest.
Walking inside, the familiar scent fresh linen greeted her, making her feel instantly at ease. She made her way into the kitchen, glancing around at the cozy space before setting the flowers down on the counter. After a quick search for a vase, she arranged them carefully, letting out a satisfied sigh once they were settled. The bright colors of the flowers added a little warmth to the room, something she liked doing whenever she visited.
“Harry?” she called out, already heading towards the back of the house and into the familiar hallway that led to his bedroom.
“Closet!” his voice echoed, slightly muffled, from somewhere in the bedroom.
She stepped inside, smiling to herself. His bedroom looked like it always did—neatly chaotic, with a mix of designer clothes and random bits of his life scattered about. But one thing caught her eye immediately: his Gucci suitcase, already lying open on the floor, ready to be packed.
He’s really going through with it, she thought, a mixture of excitement and nerves bubbling up inside her.
As she approached the closet, Harry emerged, fresh out of the shower, a towel slung low around his hips. His damp curls clung to his forehead, and water still glistened on his skin. He caught her eye and grinned.
“Didn’t hear you come in,” he said, toweling off his hair as he glanced down at the suitcase. “I figured I’d start getting things ready for this weekend. here we come.”
Y/N chuckled, leaning against the doorway of his closet. “You’re already ahead of me. I haven’t even started packing yet.”
Harry shot her a playful look. “Don’t worry, I’ll help you choose your outfits. You know I have opinions.”
Y/N rolled her eyes, her heart lightened by his teasing. But as she looked at him—standing there so casually, like this whole wedding weekend was no big deal—a knot formed in her chest. It was all starting to feel very real, and the idea of spending an entire weekend with him, pretending he was her date, was starting to feel overwhelming. Still, she couldn’t deny how good it felt to be in his presence, the one place where everything seemed a little less complicated.
Y/N lingered by the doorway of Harry’s closet, watching as he continued to dry his hair, the smell of his cologne mixing with the steam from his shower. She glanced again at the Gucci suitcase on the floor, neatly positioned and ready to be packed. A wave of guilt hit her. She hadn’t told him everything yet—about the wedding being an entire weekend event.
Clearing her throat, she shifted her weight. “So, uh, Harry… there’s something I need to mention about the wedding.”
Harry raised an eyebrow, still toweling his hair, his grin never faltering. “What’s that? Do I need to brush up on my dance moves?”
She let out a small laugh, then bit her lip. “It’s not just the wedding ceremony, you know. It’s kind of… a whole weekend thing.”
He stopped drying his hair, the towel resting on his shoulders as he turned to face her fully. “A whole weekend?”
Y/N nodded, her heart picking up its pace. “Yeah. It’s in Edinburgh, and there’s a dinner on Friday, the ceremony and reception on Saturday, and a brunch on Sunday. It’s like… a three-day event.”
For a moment, Harry just stared at her, blinking. His eyes searched her face, processing what she’d just said.
“Wait, so it’s a full-on wedding extravaganza?” he asked, his voice tinged with amusement.
Y/N nodded again, suddenly feeling sheepish. “Yeah, I should’ve mentioned that before. But I didn’t want to scare you off.”
Harry let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. “Scare me off? Y/N, I’m already committed to this. You’re not getting rid of me that easily.” He tossed the towel aside and crossed the room, leaning casually against the wall beside her. “A weekend in Edinburgh with you? Honestly, that sounds like a good time.”
Y/N’s eyes flickered with relief, though a part of her was still nervous. “You sure? I mean, it’s a lot—my family, the pressure… all of it.”
Harry shrugged, giving her a reassuring smile. “I’ve done crazier things. Plus, I’m kind of looking forward to charming your family.” His grin widened, eyes sparkling. “So, when do we leave?”
Y/N smiled, her chest filling with warmth. He really wasn’t backing out. He was in this with her, and somehow, the weekend ahead didn’t seem so daunting anymore.
Y/N and Harry sat cross-legged on the floor of his living room, plates of Indian takeout spread across the coffee table. The comforting aroma of curry and naan filled the room as they half-watched How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days playing on the TV. They had seen it a million times, but it never got old—Harry always laughed at the same parts, and Y/N always teased him for knowing the lines better than she did.
As Y/N scooped up a bite of butter chicken with a piece of naan, she noticed Harry glancing at her with a mischievous look in his eyes. She raised an eyebrow, already suspicious. “What’s that look for?”
Harry grinned, leaning back against the couch, plate balanced on his lap. “I was just thinking about the wedding.”
“Please don’t remind me,” Y/N groaned, shaking her head. “I’m still processing the fact that you’re actually going.”
“Don’t worry, I’m still all in,” Harry assured her, nudging her playfully. “But I had a thought… Why don’t we drive to Edinburgh?”
Y/N blinked, lowering her fork. “Drive? Like, from here to Edinburgh? That’s over eight hours, H.”
“Exactly!” he said, his eyes lighting up like it was the best idea he’d ever had. “Think about it—if we drive, we have complete control. If things get weird at the wedding, we’ll have a getaway car. No waiting around for flights or relying on anyone. We can just leave whenever we want.”
Y/N gave him a skeptical look. “You’re planning our escape before we’ve even arrived?”
He shrugged, popping a piece of naan into his mouth. “I like to be prepared. And besides, it’s not just about the escape plan. We’d get a proper road trip! Snacks, music, random stops at those little roadside places—remember the last time we did a long drive?”
Y/N couldn’t help but smile at the memory. “Yeah, and you made us stop at every service station just to try the food.”
Harry’s grin widened. “Exactly! Imagine all the snacks we could pack—crisps, chocolate, samosas. And the music—oh, the music! I’ll make the ultimate road trip playlist. We’ll sing along the whole way, windows down, no stress.”
Y/N snorted, shaking her head. “You just want an excuse to sing loudly and off-key, don’t you?”
“Hey, I have excellent taste in road trip tunes,” he said, pointing a fork at her in mock offense. “Besides, don’t you think it’d be fun? Eight hours in the car, just us, no rush.”
She tilted her head, contemplating the idea for a moment. As much as she loved the thought of a carefree road trip with Harry, she was more focused on practicality. “Look, I get it. But it’s just… flying is so much quicker. We’ll be there in less than two hours, and we won’t be exhausted by the time we get there. We need our energy for my family and the whole wedding thing.”
Harry leaned back against the couch, pouting playfully. “Where’s your sense of adventure?”
She looked over at Harry, who was now munching on a piece of naan with an expectant grin on his face. He seemed to sense her change of heart and glanced up, eyebrows raised in question.
“You know,” Y/N said, breaking the comfortable silence, “Let’s do it!”.
Harry’s eyes widened in surprise and delight. “Really? Are you serious?”
Y/N nodded, a smile tugging at her lips. “Yeah, why not? It could be fun. And I guess having the car would be good for flexibility. If we need a quick escape or just want to explore a bit…”
she can’t seem to ignore him and he’s rather observant of her..
(part 5)
masterlist / ivy series
word count: 11.4k
warnings/tags: harry x fem oc, angst, alcohol use, enemies to lovers
[a/n: hi before you begin I just want to say I hope this isn’t repetitive, a good portion of the content of this series will happen at the same few locations, so just be patient with me lol, slow burn is coming to an end soon I promise! enjoy xx]
..Sometimes I just want to scream and scream until my lungs explode. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him! He has been nothing but an ass to me, even when I try to thank him for helping me he acts like he hates me. What did I ever do to him? Am I losing my mind? Was there something that happened that I can't recall? And my stupid heart won’t stop gushing over him. What is wrong with me! Am I literally losing control of my mind? And to think that I went out of my way to be nice to him.. just to have it thrown back in my face? I’m willing to bet that nobody hates anyone as much as he hates me..
A frustrated huff flew past Ivy’s lips as she finished writing the final line of her diary entry for the day. She always tried her best to write her feelings and thoughts down so that her brain would be less congested. Today’s session lasted about twenty minutes as she quickly jotted down her conflicting thoughts regarding a certain person - a person she hadn’t seen in a couple of weeks who just so happened to take up every available space in her mind. She slammed the journal shut and shoved it back into the drawer, not wanting it to be left out in the open. She never thought Emma would go through her things, it was just a personal preference she had - keep it hidden.
Ivy quickly got dressed after checking the time. It was Friday evening and she had something big planned for the night. She wasn’t going out on a date or going to dinner with Emma, she was doing something for herself and by herself. She checked her reflection, smiling as she thought she looked rather happy - despite being so angry as she scribbled words into the diary just minutes ago. Before long, she was out of the house and in her car, headed for the destination she was excited to arrive at.
There was a bit of nervousness building in her stomach as she gripped the wheel and anticipated what was going to happen. She tried to remain calm and remind herself this wasn’t the first time she’s doing this. She had a little bit of experience with the process, and she already knew the end results were well worth the anxiety. The music softly buzzed in the car as she drove to the tattoo shop. She didn’t want to overwhelm her mind with loud noise, she had to save all her energy for sitting through the tattoo.
Emma was excited that she was getting a new one, but she was unable to accompany her tonight since she had made plans with Niall. Ivy wasn’t bothered by having to go alone, she actually preferred it that way. With her previous tattoos, she just sat in silence as the artist did their job with precision and focus. She thought that talking would be too distracting.
A bright smile grew on her lips as she walked up to the door of the shop, the bright green open sign nearly blinding her. The bell jingled above the door, making her glance up for just a second. Zayn had just walked into the lobby when she came in, so he greeted her with a quick hug.
“How’ve you been?” He hadn’t seen her since their trip ended.
“I’ve been pretty good. And you?” She asked as he sat down at the desk to verify her appointment details.
“Decent, decent. Been having a lot of practices this week for the show tomorrow, so m’a bit tired.”
She laughed gently. “Not too tired, I hope.”
“Oh, of course not! I could tattoo in my sleep. It’s everything else that I’m being lazy about this week.” He grinned back as he confirmed her appearance for the appointment in his computer system and stood back up, gesturing her to follow him to the back.
When they went through the main tattoo room, she noticed there was a man she didn’t see last time who was working on a client. He didn’t look up at them though, he seemed to be very preoccupied. The door to Zayn’s private room was already opened, so she trailed in behind him.
“Don’t mind the company. He owes me a favor so he’s doing the job I don’t like doing.” Zayn said with a chuckle as he shut the door behind them.
Ivy was about to open her mouth to speak when she looked to the corner of the room. In the chair she sat in when she was in Emma sat a person she knew all too well. Her chest started to feel tight all of a sudden, and it worsened when a set of eyes shot up to look at who came in.
Harry was surprised to see her standing there, but he didn’t express it on his face whatsoever. Ivy, on the other hand, made it clear that she was shocked to see him sitting there. He noticed the small part between her lips, almost as if her jaw went slack, and the look of utter fear in her eyes. A bit dramatic, if someone were to ask him.
“Have a seat, I’ve got your design printed out in a few different sizes.” Zayn said as he went to the counter, collecting the papers he wanted to give her.
She sat down, swallowing harshly as she tried to ignore the fact Harry was in the room with her. She hadn’t seen him since Niall dropped her and Emma off back home after the trip. He didn’t talk to her, or to anyone, the entire ride home. The last thing he said to her wasn’t very pleasant, which seemed to be a trend for them, so she still had a bitter taste in her mouth. She wanted to tell him how rude and hateful he was, despite all the rather nice things he had done for her during that trip, but of course she was too afraid to even look at him let alone speak.
Zayn handed her the print outs and she looked over them quickly, picking the size she thought was appropriate. “What do you think?”
He nodded, glancing at the back of her arm. “I think that’s the best size, yeah.”
“Alright. We’ll do that one then.”
He took the paper back and turned away from her. “I’ll get the stencil ready and when I get back I’ll lay the chair down for you.”
“Okay.”
To her surprise, Zayn walked to the door and left the room. He went to the shared space where the other artists work to prepare the stencil. Knowing that she was alone in a room with Harry was making Ivy’s heart start to race and her stomach churn. She felt uncomfortable being this close to him, even if he was on the other side of the room. But thankfully, he was busy doing something and his eyes weren’t on her anymore.
She took the opportunity to look his way since he was distracted. Her brows furrowed slightly as she realized what he was doing. Zayn had given him the task of rearranging new designs and templates in the book his clients often flipped through. She had looked at it when she was here with Emma, so she knew it was already packed full. There were a few loose pages sitting on the floor, maybe those were ones they were replacing?
It took all her strength to tear her eyes from him. She didn’t want to get caught up in her thoughts again, she had already done that once today. Her journal received absolute hell about Harry. She wrote until her hand was sore. There was no point in reliving those thoughts right now.
Zayn was only gone for a few minutes. He told her to stand up so he could adjust the chair before applying the stencil to her skin. Ivy took a deep breath as she watched him lay the chair down. She’d have to lay on her stomach for this one, which was the most comfortable option.
“Alright, turn around.” He said, the stencil gripped in between his fingers. “You want it closer to your elbow, right?”
“Yeah.. keep it low.” She mumbled back, holding her hair over her shoulder so it wouldn’t be in his way.
Zayn placed the stencil on her arm and slowly peeled the paper back. He stared at it for a moment, pretty certain about the placement. But it wasn’t up to him, he had to get her approval.
“Check it for me.”
Ivy turned in the mirror, looking at her arm the best she could. She nodded lightly, pleased with where the stencil had been placed. Seeing the design on her skin, even though it wasn’t permanent yet, made her heart swell. It was a special thing she was getting inked into her skin, and it made all the anxiety worth it.
“It looks perfect.”
“Alright, get comfortable then.” He smiled before starting to prepare his materials.
Ivy laid down on the chair, careful not to disturb the stencil on the back of her arm. She gulped lightly and folded her other arm beneath her head for more cushion. Of course, because why would it work out in her favor, she was facing the corner where Harry was sitting. She kept her eyes closed for now, not wanting to see him at all.
It didn’t take Zayn long to set up, and before she knew it, he was telling her to take a deep breath. “Ready?”
“Mhm.”
The buzzing of the tattoo gun rang in her ear as Zayn pulled her skin taut and started inking the stencil. She sighed softly, the feeling of being tattooed wasn’t foreign to her but it had been a while since her last one. The flower design Zayn put together for her was just lineworm and very gentle shading. She didn’t want it too realistic or too bold.
After a couple of minutes, he decided to talk with her. He didn’t mind chatting with his clients, it made the time go by quicker for both parties. He was very precise and focused, but could easily multitask.
“So.. do these flowers have any significance to you?”
Although he talked with her and designed the tattoo, Ivy hadn’t told him why she wanted them. He didn’t feel the need to ask his clients for the purpose of their tattoos, he just drew up whatever they wanted and tried his best to perfect the designs.
Ivy chewed on her cheek for a moment before answering. “Yeah.. they’re my mom and brother’s birth month flowers. They, um, both passed.”
“Which is which?”
She hesitated at first, the fear of tears creeping into her eyes was taking over. She could easily break down at the mention of either of them, but especially her brother. Ivy opted to stay strong and smile to herself as she thought about them. They would live forever in her mind, the memories she made with each of them were on the top of her list of most important things. She loved and missed them dearly.
“My mom’s is the rose.. the daffodil is my brothers.” She told him in a gentle voice, not realizing she was speaking so softly.
Zayn wasn’t quite sure what to say, so he didn’t respond. He figured she wouldn’t want to discuss them anymore. His assumption was right. The room was silent for a few minutes, aside from the music playing at a low volume. She didn’t know the song that was currently on, though, but Zayn was humming along to it. The feeling of the needle stabbing into her skin was the only thing preventing her from falling asleep. She was tired after a long day working, she just wanted to get home and go to bed. A smile crept to her lips as she heard the start of the next song, one she was very familiar with. It was Joan Jett’s version of “Crimson & Clover,” one of her favorite songs ever and one of her top karaoke picks.
“Oh, I love this song.”
“You prefer this version I assume?” Zayn said with a light laugh.
“Yes, absolutely.”
Zayn pulled the gun away to wipe at her skin, clearing off some of the excess ink. “We used to play this one live.. haven’t done it in probably a year or so.”
“I suggest adding it back to the set.” Ivy tried not to laugh too loudly, she didn’t want to move her body in any way that would ruin Zayn’s lines.
“We have one more practice before the show, maybe we could squeeze it in.” He pushed the needle back into her skin, picking up where he left off. “Are you coming to the show tomorrow?”
“Yes, I am. I’m excited.. I haven’t been out since the trip.”
Zayn made a quick glance over his shoulder towards Harry, but he wasn’t paying them any attention. “Well, I hope your experience is much better than others were.”
Ivy hummed at his words. “Yeah, hope so.”
They went quiet again, the song filling the void. She started thinking about the show and what she was going to wear. The weather might not allow her to dress the way she would prefer, there was a cold spell coming in tonight that would stick around for a few days. Emma would probably get her to help pick out an outfit in the morning, so perhaps Ivy could make her do the same.
Her mind started wondering off to little random things, nothing particularly capturing her attention as she laid there. Zayn was focused on the tattoo and he didn’t want to risk messing up, so he stayed quiet. He’d answer if she wanted to ask him something, but she appeared to be fine with the silence.
Zayn finished the rose and wiped her skin clean, avoiding the stencil lines for the other flower. He was pleased with the work he did, so he moved on to the next one. Ivy sighed out as he mumbled a quick warning to her before starting again. It was fine for a couple of minutes, until she suddenly felt a shift in the atmosphere around them. She heard footsteps, then could actually feel a presence come towards her. She opened her eyes and immediately felt her throat close up. The sight of Harry’s legs wasn’t something she thought she’d see this close. She had hoped that he would stay in the corner the entire time, but he didn’t.
“How’s it look?” Zayn asked him.
Harry was standing with his arms crossed on his chest, his eyes staring down at the spot Zayn was tattooing. The small flowers were positioned on the back of Ivy’s arm, just above her elbow. They weren’t very big at all and leaned more towards a delicate touch than a bold tattoo. If he hadn’t heard what she said about its significance, he would think that it was a weak tattoo - something girls got just to say they had a tattoo. But since he knew the reason, he was a bit more understanding. He wouldn’t say that to her, obviously, but he at least respected the decision.
“Looks nice. Pretty clean.” He mumbled back, his words low and deep.
“Did you get done with the book?”
Harry cleared his throat and took a step back, but his eyes remained on her skin. “Yeah.”
Zayn leaned back to get a better look at the lines as he took a quick break. “Are you riding with me tomorrow to the bar?”
Harry thought about it for a minute, then shrugged. “No, I’ll just go with Cory and Michelle.”
Ivy felt a bit of relief knowing that he wasn’t going to be in Niall’s car. Unlike last time, Niall told her and Emma they could ride with him to the bar. He would have to be there a little early, but they were fine with waiting longer for the show to start. Niall promised Emma he wouldn’t drink tomorrow night, which allowed her to since he’d be driving them back.
“M’gonna head out.” Harry said through a sigh, walking towards the door.
Zayn gave him a quick goodbye and said he’d see him tomorrow afternoon when they meet up for one final quick practice and recap for their show. Ivy was confused as to why she felt sort of upset that Harry had left. She should be jumping with joy and celebrating, finally free of his overbearing presence. No matter how hard she tried to focus on the tattoo needle, she couldn’t distract herself enough. Harry had filled her mind up again..
—•—
Emma grinned when Ivy emptied the shot into her mouth. They had been at the bar for about half an hour, waiting on the show to begin. Niall had to leave them behind to go get things sorted with the owner and set up the stage. They decided it would be best to spend their time preparing for the night, and that meant throwing back shots and ordering a few drinks. Niall was their chauffeur for the night, they were going to cut loose.
“Niall’s not gonna know what to do with you tonight.” Ivy teased as Emma chugged the rest of the beer she had ordered.
“Too hot to handle.” Emma laughed back, dramatically flipping her hair over her shoulder.
When Ivy picked up her cup from the bar, she grunted from the scratching of her denim jacket against her freshly inked tattoo. She thought the long sleeve shirt she had on would stop it, but she could feel the thick fabric anyway. Emma gave her a funny look and a shake of her head.
“I told you that would hurt tonight.”
She shrugged back, it wasn’t her first time dealing with a healing tattoo. “I’ll be alright. Just don’t grab on to me later.”
“I’ll try to remember.”
Ivy didn’t consider how painful it would be to have someone grab onto her arm until now, and the thought of it alone was making her cringe. Emma wouldn’t intentionally hurt her, but she might forget later when they’re dancing and both drunk out of their minds. It would be something to deal with then, and not fret over now.
“Niall told me they added a few songs to the set. Switched out some other ones.” Emma said after calling the bartender over to get another beer.
“Oh really? I’m excited for tonight. I might request something.” Ivy looked down at the ice swirling in her cup, the memory of the night she was harassed while eating the ice cubes flashed in her mind. She blinked it away, trying not to let anything ruin this night for her. “Are they going to the back room after like last time?”
“Yeah, as far as I know.” Emma said back, her hand now occupied with her knew drink. “I hope it goes well this time. I swear we say that every time we do something that involves Harry.” Her snicker didn’t make the topic easier to deal with though.
Ivy sucked on her cheek for a moment, all those harsh memories she shared with him circled her mind. It was like a revolving door they could never escape. It was constant and never ending. Torture would be the word she’d use for it, though that seemed a bit drastic. A huff pushed out of her nose, her eyes cutting back to Emma.
“He was at the shop yesterday when I got the tattoo.”
Emma lifted her brows. “Really? Did he say anything?”
She shook her head. “No, not to me. He said some stuff to Zayn.”
“I really, honestly don’t know why he.. he acts like he doesn’t like you.”
Ivy scoffed. “Acts? It’s definitely not an act. He.. he practically hates me. I don’t know why. I’ve never done anything to him.”
Emma gave her a frown, she didn’t really know what to say about it either. It made no sense that he was so hostile towards her. Was her vibe just something he couldn’t connect with? She must not be friendly in his eyes, or maybe she makes the group feel different and he didn’t like that. Nobody seemed to know the reason..
“He’s just a guy. Rude and.. selfish.” Emma took a drink of her beer. “But.. I was told something interesting.”
Ivy could tell by the way she cocked her brow and let her eyes fall from their locked stare that it was something she wanted to hear. The corner of Emma’s mouth lifted as she thought about it in her head, debating on telling Ivy the information. It wasn't anything crazy, but she thought it was interesting at least.
“What is it?” Ivy asked, nudging Emma’s knee with her own.
Emma twisted the bar stool a little, trying to be all nonchalant about it. “I’m not supposed to say.. but Niall doesn't have to know.”
The mention of Niall made Ivy even more curious. If Niall said this to her, then that means it probably relates to Harry in some way. Emma had no idea, at least to Ivy’s knowledge, that Ivy was so affected by Harry. She didn’t know that she’s spent hours and hours writing about him in her diary, thinking about him while pulling at her own hair and mumbling nonsense to herself, replaying their interactions in her mind imagining them playing out in different ways.. But clearly, Emma knew that telling her something about Harry would pique her interest.
“I’m not going to say anything.” Ivy mumbled back, but of course Emma knew that already.
“Basically.. Niall’s mentioned that Harry’s been different lately. Like at their place or during practice.. even when he’s working shifts at the store.”
Ivy leaned her arm on the bar, her eyes staring holes through Emma’s face. She didn’t say anything yet, just watched as her friend hesitated to finish the story. Emma threw her head back, staring at the ceiling so she wouldn’t have to look at Ivy.
“Niall said it’s like he’s constantly distracted.. and then he’ll get pissed off for no reason, like they could be in literal silence and Harry would get mad. He storms off to his room.. plays his guitar and slams the doors all night.”
Ivy rolled her eyes. “Hard to believe that’s not normal for him.”
“I don’t know.. I guess he’s got some stuff going on in his personal life. Maybe that’s why he’s so.. rude to you. Maybe he can’t handle a new person right now, or whatever.”
Emma didn’t appear to connect any dots between Harry and Ivy, which Ivy was thankful for. She didn’t want to admit how often she thought about Harry or how far her spirals would go. She didn’t want Emma to know any of that. It made sense that some other external factors could be contributing to Harry’s behavior. What if there really was something going on before Ivy came along, and her being around just didn’t mix well with Harry’s issues? Was it all too much for him? It made sense, yet at the same time it didn’t. How could her being around affect him that drastically?
She just shrugged her shoulders again. “Whatever it is.. he needs to get over it.”
Emma looked back to her. “Yeah. Ready for another shot?”
Just like last time, the girls made their way to the front of the crowd about ten minutes before the show was going to begin. Ivy was on her third drink, on top of a few shots they took, and it was already going straight to her head. She hoped that sipping slowly on this one would do her some good and make her feel better, not crash her out too soon.
“Shouldn’t be much longer.” Emma said as she checked her phone for the time.
Ivy felt a jolt of energy shoot through her. She was excited to dance and sing, let go of all the worries she faced throughout the week and just have fun. Although she had all intentions of enjoying herself tonight, she knew there was a big possibility that Harry could interfere with that. Even if he didn’t do anything to her directly, his presence alone could jeopardize her sanity. Obviously, she couldn’t escape him - in a few short minutes, he’ll be standing on the stage in front of her singing for the next two hours. She was confident in the idea of being able to ignore him. She’s been partially successful at it before.
There were the diary entries to take into consideration - she had spent so many hours pouring out her thoughts and feelings about him. Maybe releasing all of it from her mind would make it easier to ignore him. There was life before he came around, she sometimes forgets that she hadn’t known him forever. She was perfectly capable of controlling her thoughts before he waltzed his way into her mind. Perhaps she was just aiming for something unachievable.. she’d never be able to just forget him, even if she never saw him again.
Ivy’s distraction was pushed to the side when the band finally walked onto the stage. People were cheering loud, ready for the night’s entertainment. Emma squealed, throwing her hand up to wave at Niall. He was chuckling at her, amused to see how excited she was to see him. Ivy’s eyes roamed over the others. Zayn was taking his seat at the drum set while Cory and Michelle quickly discussed something about one of the new songs they were going to play. Of course she couldn’t look at everyone and avoid Harry. Her brows dropped low as she realized he looked different tonight.
That long, perfectly sculpted hair was still flowing onto his shoulders. His tight black tshirt exposed his muscled arms, tattoos inked deep into his tanned skin. His dark jeans were the same as she’s seen him in before. Tonight, he made a decision that was shocking to his band mates, and even more of a surprise to Ivy.
Niall and Cory began the first song, simultaneously singing the opening lyrics to “You Give Love A Bad Name.” Harry’s fingers began playing the guitar he had strapped around his body, his eyes glancing down at the strings to make sure he was on the right track. It sounded perfect, though. She remembered them talking about Harry playing live at dinner weeks ago, but she didn’t think she would witness it solely based on how they reacted to the idea. If he were so insecure about it, what changed his mind? She was genuinely impressed. He was still positioned at the front, the microphone resting in a stand angled towards him. He was singing as confidently as the first time she saw them perform.
It didn’t take very long for Emma to grab Ivy’s hand and pull her closer, the two of them dancing together like it was their last night. As much as she wanted to watch Harry play the guitar, Ivy had no choice but to focus on Emma. She wasn’t going to be rude to her friend for the sake of looking at a person she didn’t even like. She could tell when Niall would play the same chords as him, but he did cut back some and let Harry take over. She wondered if Niall did that to ensure the song wasn’t thrown off track or if that was just how they preferred to do it.
The song changed, and Emma took a quick rest to guzzle a bit of her drink. Ivy let out a laugh as she spilled some, it trickled down her chin and onto her outfit. She groaned, wiping at her face.
“Slow down!” Ivy yelled over the music, making Emma grin back.
They picked up the dancing after her short break. Like she had hoped, it wasn’t that hard for Ivy to forget Harry was so close to her. Maybe it was because this was a different situation. She wasn’t trapped in a car next to him or standing beside him in a crowd, he was doing a job and he was focused entirely on that. She didn’t care what the reason was, she was simply glad she was able to be carefree.
Twenty minutes passed by before Emma decided she’d get another drink. She asked Ivy if she wanted anything, but she declined. They also made a promise that she’d be safe and come straight back, since Ivy’s incident at that other club still lurked fresh in their minds. This place was different, though. Emma was very familiar with the layout and it was nowhere near the size of the other one. Ivy stayed put, right in front of Niall where Emma wanted to be so she could see him.
Niall actually took notice of Emma leaving, but he wasn’t too worried about her. He knew she was comfortable with some of the workers and if she needed anything she’d be able to get help quickly. The strobing lights made it hard for him to see her in the crowd, but there was not any concern.
Ivy kept dancing by herself, but not as passionately. She was swaying from side to side, her head matching her body’s movements. She sipped her drink and sang along to the music, her eyes settled on Niall and Michelle, since they were on the side of the stage they were in front of. She did start to wonder where Emma was after a couple of minutes, but she tried to stay calm. She knew it could take a bit longer to get a drink sometimes, and the walk from the bar might be a harder squeeze. People were less likely to let her just slip through if she were trying to get to the front.
Thankfully, she didn’t come into any trouble. Emma returned with a drink in her hand and a grin on her lips. They were playing one of her favorite songs they do live and she got back just in time. Ivy knew the dancing would immediately start back, Emma couldn’t resist the song. And just like that, they spent another fifteen minutes belting out song lyrics and dancing around like teenage girls.
Eventually, due to their instinct to jump around instead of dance most of the time, they managed to shift from their original spot. They ended up directly in the middle, Harry standing right in front of them. Emma was still able to see Niall, so she didn’t care that much. Ivy, on the other hand, cared more than she wanted to admit. Being that close to him, so perfectly aligned, was making her heart start to skip beats every few seconds. She stared up at him as he sang, his hand gripping the microphone stand as he took a break from playing the guitar. He hadn’t touched it during this song, so maybe he didn’t like playing this one, or perhaps he was resting his hands. His eyes were settled on something random out in the crowd, not towards her. It was a relief.
The song came to an end and she took a minute to take some deep breaths, trying to recover quickly. Her eyes curiously shifted up to Harry just as he wrapped his hand around the neck of the guitar. Ivy absentmindedly chewed on her cheek as she stared up at him like he was an angel, something so magnificent and beautiful.
“Ivy!” Emma suddenly screamed her name as loud as she could.
Her jaw went slack as she heard the beginning of a song she adored more than anything else in the world. Emma had no idea this song was going to be added, Niall didn’t tell her what they put on the set. She was just as excited. Ivy thought back to just yesterday at the tattoo shop, and how this song came up in conversation with Zayn. Was it just a coincidence that “Crimson and Clover” was being played tonight? Surely Zayn would have mentioned it if they had been practicing it, right? She didn’t care to know the answer right now, the urge to dance and sing to one of her favorite songs was stronger than her desire to know.
“Over and over!” She sang at the top of her lungs, her hand gripping Emma’s as they moved their hips to the beat, singing like nobody else was in the room.
Unknownst to Ivy, she had an admirer of her own tonight. She was too busy focused on Emma to notice that Harry had laid his eyes on her. He could hardly hold back an amused smile as he sang, watching her soak up every single word of the song. He thought it was entertaining how she so easily and so comfortably expressed herself. She didn’t care who was watching, or who was singing, she loved the song and she was going to enjoy every second of it.
Unfortunately, it was a short song. And when the final chords were being played, she let Emma go and turned back towards the stage. Harry’s eyes were still locked on her and she immediately felt her stomach seize up. Was it purposeful or did his eyes happen to land on her? She didn’t know and honestly she didn’t have time to think about it. She was slowly starting to drift deep in her thoughts. She noticed every detail about him all of a sudden, as if she had never seen him before. From the sweat beads on his forehead to the delicate way his fingers strummed the strings on his guitar, hitting every chord perfectly.
He stepped back from the microphone stand, pulling his gaze away from her. She felt her throat dry up when he turned away. Something about the way he was looking at her made her heart flutter and she hated that it had to end so quickly. She kept her eyes on him though as he moved on the stage. He placed his guitar on a stand and grabbed a stool.
Cory leaned into the microphone placed in front of him and let everyone know what was going on. “Slowing it down for you for a bit.”
Just like last time she saw them perform, they all took a quick minute long break. Harry snatched a bottle of water off the floor at the back of the stage then walked back to his microphone stand where the stool was waiting for him. She held her breath as she watched him take a seat, then remove the cap of the bottle. He pressed his lips and tilted his head back, water spilling into his mouth. She couldn't help but notice how pink his lips looked. Was it the lighting or were they swollen from all the singing and the constant hitting against the microphone? She didn’t know why, but they looked better than they ever had.
A small gasp left her mouth as Harry’s eyes dropped down to look at her. This time she knew it was on purpose. The way he looked directly at her, nothing else distracted him. They shared a stare for a long minute, neither of them wanting to break it. Even when he took another drink of his water, he kept his eyes frozen on her. Water dripped out the corner of his mouth, and he just wiped it away with the back of his hand. Her mind was screaming at her, telling her to stop being so dumb and giddy about him, but her heart was somewhere else. She didn’t want to look away, didn’t want it to ever end.
“I’m going to the bathroom!” Emma called out, interrupting the moment she wasn’t even sure was real.
She looked over at her and smiled. “Alright.”
Ivy wholeheartedly expected to not see his intense stare when she tilted her head back, and she was surprised to meet his eyes again. He had no intention of looking away from her yet, even when Niall started the next song. Harry gripped the microphone and pulled the stand closer to him. To Ivy’s dismay, it was another one of her favorite songs. She knew for a fact she never said anything about this song to Zayn at the shop the other day, or in any other setting that Harry had shared with her. “Something In The Way” was the same song that made her extremely dizzy and out of it the last time she attended their show. It was a regular song on the set, unfortunately for her, but it felt different this time.
Harry’s eyes were fixated on her, and magically this made it easier for her to listen to the song. Usually, when it played on the radio or she put it on herself, she cried and thought about how much her brother loved the song. Right now, she was just enjoying the way it sounded being sung in Harry’s voice. Every instrument on the stage was being perfectly executed - every note, every chord, every single thing was perfect. They did the song a great justice. She was mentally hitting herself for running out of the crowd to seek refuge in the restroom the last time they played this song. They really did it so perfectly..
A tingle ripped down her spine as she flicked her eyes away from his. She wasn’t confident enough to keep the contact locked anymore. It was starting to be too overwhelming for her. Harry didn’t let up, though, he kept his eyes trained on her. Ivy wasn’t sure why he was so focused on her, but it was making her stomach ache. She reached up and gently started to rub her fingers over the small pendant of her necklace, her eyes slowly lifting up to look at him.
For the rest of the song, and into the start of the next one, Harry stared down at her. He was intrigued by her change of behavior. Sure, they were now playing slower songs instead of the more upbeat ones, but he could tell she was feeling a different way than before. She was reclusive, her eyes nervously darting away from him every couple moments just to sneak their way back. He found it rather interesting how she could go from having so much energy to appearing to be so shy.
Ivy was deep in her thoughts as she stood quietly by herself, Harry’s attention causing chaos in her head. She fought between being infatuated with him and wanting to scream at him. She tried to bring those rude comments to the forefront of her mind, but the memory of his hand catching her on the sidewalk and his arm protecting her from that stranger shoved their way through. Maybe he wasn't so bad after all..
A frown shaped to her lips when he suddenly looked away from her, his eyes scoping out the crowd now. She immediately started to wonder if she had did something wrong. Was he even looking at her that long or did she imagine it? No, there was no way she could make up the intense feelings she had experienced. It was real, no doubt in her mind. She didn’t ponder it long, though, as she realized Emma was next to her again. Did he look away because he didn’t want to be caught staring at her?
“Sorry, took longer than I thought. There was a line.” She said loudly, leaning into Ivy’s shoulder.
She turned slightly to face her, presenting a fake smile. “You’re fine.”
“Did I miss anything?” She asked, her eyes peering up at the stage.
Ivy pushed out a breathy laugh. “No, nothing.”
The rest of the show was just as enjoyable as the first half, and even though Ivy didn't get much of Harry’s attention, he spared her a few quick looks every now and then. She was confused about the sudden interest he showed in her, or at least the curiosity. She didn’t want to refer to it as interest, in case it wasn’t that in any way at all. Presuming would only hurt her if she ended up being wrong.
Once the band had ended their show, they were gathering their things on the stage. Harry adjusted the microphone stand down to its default height before taking the guitar off his body. He had grabbed it and kept playing after the slower portion of the show was over. Emma was talking to Niall as he kneeled down on the stage, leaning close so he could hear her over the noise. The regular music had already started to play through the speakers in the ceiling. Ivy waited patiently for her, just standing nearby. She didn’t want to be too close in case Niall was trying to have a private conversation.
Something caught her attention all of a sudden. Harry gripped the neck of the guitar with one hand, the other pushing through his hair. When he took the first step to leave the stage, something fell onto the ground. It was his guitar pick, the light just so happened to hit it right so that Ivy was able to make out what it was. She furrowed her brows and stood on her tiptoes to look onto the stage. She saw the thick piece of green plastic sitting there. Harry had used it for some of the songs, but she did notice he didn’t have it in his fingers the entire show.
She glanced over at Niall and Emma, neither of them were paying her any attention. She used her heels as an advantage to push herself up more, reaching onto the stage to grab the pick. It was almost too far away, she barely was able to get a hold of it. When she brought it in front of her, grunting as she fell flat on her heels, she noticed that it had a darker green marbling look to it. She flipped it over, the opposite side was sporting two letters in black permanent marker ink. HS.
Not long after they started packing away the stage equipment, Ivy and Emma went back through the door with the curtain of stringed beads, going straight to the back table that was reserved for the band. Michelle, Zayn, and Cory were the firsts to join them. Ivy greeted everyone with a bright smile and a quick hug, congratulating them on a great show. She asked Zayn why Alyssa didn’t make it and he told her that their child wasn’t feeling the best, plus he added that she wasn’t a big fan of the bar scene.
“I saw you rocking out. Glad you enjoyed it.” Cory said to Ivy as he sat down next to her.
She smiled back. “You guys were great.”
She was slightly uncomfortable with how close he chose to sit next to her, so she casually slid over towards Michelle, acting as if she was going to start talking to her. She was distracted, though, so Ivy just swallowed gently and tried to ignore it. Maybe Cory meant nothing by it, most likely he didn’t, and she was just being cautious. The last time a man approached her, things did not end very well. She knew Cory wouldn’t do something like that, but there was still that underlying fear of it happening again.
They waited for a few minutes, everyone was talking amongst themselves. Ivy kept to herself, though. She looked inside her small purse, the guitar pick she rescued from the stage was sitting at the bottom. Her cheek got caught between her teeth as a thought crept into her mind. She wanted to return it to him. She wondered where he was and if he would join them. He liked to go off on his own, she had noticed that before, so she feared she might not get the chance to give it back to him tonight. If he did come to where they all were, would she get the opportunity to be alone with him? She didn’t feel as though she would muster up enough courage to give it to him in front of everyone. What if they thought it was weird?
The thoughts vanished from her mind as she suddenly heard his voice. She looked up, smiling gently as she saw that he and Niall had arrived with a round of drinks. She pushed down the lump that appeared in her throat, the thought of the first time she met everyone returned to her mind. Emma had offered her drink up that night because one wasn’t ordered for her.. She didn’t belong then, did she belong now?
“The owners got us two rounds tonight.” Niall said as he handed a cup of beer to Emma, then one to Michelle.
Harry had the other tray in his hand and he actually gave them out instead of placing it on the table. He gave one to Zayn, then to Cory. Ivy felt a ton of bricks land on her shoulders - there were two cups left on the tray. To her utter surprise, Harry grabbed one of them and extended his hand out to her. His eyes weren’t on her, though. She took the cup and mumbled a ‘thank you’ that he didn’t catch. Nobody else seemed to care about the gesture the way she did, no reactions happened. She thought she was just being silly, just a bit dramatic..
“Move over.” Harry said to Cory, expecting him to move to the right.
However, Cory didn’t do that. He slid to the left, opening up a spot right next to Ivy. It made her lips roll into her mouth, would he actually sit down next to her? She nearly froze as Harry sat down. He didn’t care where he sat, he just wanted to finally get off his feet for a while.
“Any drinking contests tonight?” Michelle teased with a laugh, scooting closer to be next to Ivy.
From the corner of her eye, she could see Harry was looking her way. She nervously laughed and shook her head. “No, not tonight.”
“Oh, come on. Just one?”
“No, no.. I drank too much the last time I was out.. I don’t want to overdo it.” She explained, trying to keep a smile on her face.
“Alright, fine. Next time.. I’m challenging you.” Michelle gave her a quick wink and a nudge of her knee.
Despite not feeling tired, Ivy was mentally drained. Her emotions had swirled so quickly earlier that her brain was exhausted. She couldn’t decide whether she was angry at Harry, embarrassed by everything that’s happened, or glad that he was giving her some sort of attention. She might ever know the meaning behind his stares tonight, but at least she knew they weren’t angry glares like she was used to.
She leaned her back against the comfortable material of the benched seating. She wished she was in her bed, but she wanted to stick it out and have fun the rest of the night. It was hard to keep track of everyone’s conversations, so she just listened to Michelle’s voice since she was closest. She didn’t participate in anything either. Nobody bothered her for a while, she figured they either didn’t want to intrude or didn’t notice her behavior. She wasn’t aware, but there was at least one person in the group that noticed.
Harry couldn’t help himself, she was too close to him. He gave her a quick glance every now and then, wondering if she was feeling sick or if she was sleepy. She had been active most of the night, jumping and dancing around having a good time - now, it was much different. He didn’t speak to her, though.
After a while, Niall and Emma left to go dance. Zayn said something about going to the bar, so Cory offered to join him. Ivy was perfectly content with where she was, sitting in between Harry and Michelle. A few minutes ticked by before Michelle stood up to stretch. She looked down at Ivy and smiled.
“Do you need to go to the restroom?”
She shook her head. “No, I’m okay.”
“Alright. I’ll be right back.” She disappeared into the small crowd, leaving Harry alone with Ivy.
It was obviously noticed by both of them. Harry tensed up, his elbows resting on his knees as he stared at the purple light in the center of the table. The glow shined beautiful on his skin, Ivy thought it was ethereal. She wondered what he was in such deep thought about, if anything at all - with the way he was staring at the light, not even blinking as the seconds went by.
She looked around the space, ensuring herself that everyone was gone. Now was her chance to speak to him. If she didn’t do it now, she wouldn’t do it at all and she would have a heap of regret. Quietly, she reached into her purse and took out the pick. She sucked in a deep breath and turned her head towards him.
“Harry.” She said his name carefully, almost too afraid to say it too loud, but she wanted him to hear her over the music.
He thought he was hearing things at first, but when he shifted his head and caught her eyes, he knew she had said his name. He lifted his brows, silently asking her what she wanted. He was surprised she had said anything to him, but he wasn’t disappointed.
“Um.. you dropped this earlier.” She moved her hand so he could see it.
“What?” His brows furrowed, his eyes cutting down to her hand. “Oh. You didn’t have to save it. They’re pretty cheap.” His tone was normal, but there was no laugh or smile laced in his words.
Ivy felt a twist in her stomach as she dropped it in his opened palm. He decided he had to get away from her, so he stood up and adjusted his shirt, about to walk away. Her soft voice caught his attention, any ounce of courage she had moments ago was gone.
“I just thought you’d.. you’d need it.”
When he looked down at her, she had already dropped her head and nervously folded her hands on her lap. He pushed out a sigh and licked his lips, knowing that he needed to be more polite to the girl. It wasn’t like she said anything outlandish. She was being kind to him.. something he wasn’t familiar with reciprocating to her.
“Ivy.”
The sound of his voice speaking her name had the same effect now as it did weeks ago. Her heart started to flutter uncontrollably and her stomach swormed with something much larger than butterflies. She lifted her head, her eyes finding his already staring down at her.
“Yeah?”
He just stared at her for a long moment, debating on how far to take his response. He wasn’t sure what she wanted or how she would take what he said to her. There had to be some resentment she had towards him, it would be impossible to not feel that way. He had done so much to her that was hateful and mean, how could she appreciate any ounce of kindness he gave to her? He stopped overthinking it and just spoke.
“Thanks anyway.”
Once Michelle came back from the restroom, she rejoined Ivy and they started talking about random things. It felt nice to have someone to talk to in the midst of all the intense feelings she was having. It was like she was able to shut it all off and focus on something else for once. Michelle never let the conversations die down, there was always something to talk about with her.
Nobody returned to the table while they were chatting, everyone was enjoying their night in their own ways. Ivy did take a second to wonder where Emma was, but she remembered Niall was with her so the concern wasn’t necessary. She wanted to think about Harry, but she kept her attention on Michelle instead. It was a relief to have a good distraction.
When Michelle started talking about her music preferences and favorite songs, Ivy couldn’t help but to think about the song they performed tonight. She wondered if it was a mutual decision or if someone, Harry or Zayn specifically, decided to play the song. Once Michelle finished her sentence, she decided to bring it up. She felt comfortable changing the topic.
“Hey, random question.” Ivy started with a laugh. “Do you guys switch the set up a lot or is it the same for a while?”
“I think we’re far past random.” Michelle grinned back. “Well, we usually keep it the same for a few months, depends on how many shows we do. We changed a few songs, but at the last minute Harry wanted to add one.”
Ivy raised her brows. “Oh, really?”
“Yeah.. like he told us this morning. Luckily we all knew the song already.” She rolled her eyes playfully before sipping her beer.
“Which song was it?” Ivy already felt as though she knew the answer, but she wanted it to be confirmed.
“Crimson and Clover.” Michelle said, adjusting her position on the bench.
Ivy’s heart picked up it’s speed for a few seconds, of course that was the answer she was waiting on. She knew there had to be a reason he added the song and she hoped that it was because of her. Before she had time to fully process the information, Michelle checked her phone and let out a sigh.
“Emma wants us to come dance with her. Niall’s tiring out.”
Ivy looked down at her phone as it vibrated, the same text Michelle got popped onto her screen. “She’s desperate.”
They both laughed and stood up at the same time. Michelle finished off her beer and discarded the cup on the table, Ivy had some left so she just brought it along with her. They slipped into the crowd, thankful that it wasn’t as big as the one in the main part of the building. Michelle spotted Emma and they quickly headed towards her.
“You’re free, Niall.” Michelle said as they approached them.
Niall let out a dramatic sigh. “Thank god.”
Emma gave him a playful shove and told him to go away. Ivy wasn’t particularly thrilled to start dancing again, so she opted for gentle swaying and soft singing, instead of the usual performances she gave. Michelle was more active and hyper, though, so she was able to keep up with Emma.
The girls enjoyed themselves for a short while, the music choices were nice for the most part. Ivy was doing fine until she felt someone’s eyes on her. She thought maybe she was imagining things and was just being paranoid, but after a few more minutes of the intense feeling, she decided to look around. At first, she didn’t see anybody giving her any sort of attention. She started to believe she was losing her mind. That is, until she landed her wandering eyes on a familiar face.
Not far from them was Harry and Cory, and those green eyes she had come to admire so much were staring right at her. Cory was talking and Harry seemed to be listening, or at least pretending to. She felt as though he was back at playing that game of his, making her feel intimidated and nervous. She got the idea to play along with him. Her thick lips shaped to a smile and he knew it was aimed for him and him only. He shook his head lightly and moved his eyes off of her. A proud feeling grew inside of her, she smirked to herself. She was just as good at playing his stupid game.
She was somewhat glad to know that Harry was close by. As much as she hated what happened to her at that club, she was thankful that he was there. If she hadn't found him, there would be no telling what could’ve happened to her. Everything was going well, even though Harry wasn’t looking her way anymore. She thought nothing else of it and just enjoyed the song that was currently on. Emma was forcing her to dance a little more than she wanted, but she couldn’t help but cave in and laugh. Michelle was glad to see she was more energetic now.
Ivy thought that maybe this night would actually be one hundred percent drama free. She didn’t consider the quick conversation she had with Harry as anything bad or hurtful, it was in fact rather calm and normal. But as always, there was something thrown in to ruin the night.
A guy was walking near them when he suddenly got caught up on his own feet and stumbled, his body shooting forward. The girls let out a combined shriek as beer splashed all over them, more so on Ivy than on Michelle. Emma wasn’t close enough for the spill to hit her. Ivy gasped as she touched her shirt the second the liquid soaked through to her skin. Michelle’s mouth was hung open, her hands in the air as she looked down at her legs - that’s where the liquid landed on her.
Harry looked over towards them as soon as they screamed, it was very audible even over the music, he didn’t catch the entire interaction. All he saw was a guy holding an empty plastic cup and the two of them standing there dripping with beer. He could see the stains on their clothes, and a few strands of Ivy’s long hair that soaked up some of the beer.
“Oh my god!” The guy immediately apologized to them, sincerity in his voice. “I’m so sorry!”
“It’s alright.” Michelle said with a nervous laugh, she was shocked that this happened so quickly.
“Is there anything I can do for you? I’m so sorry.”
Ivy was about to say something when a tall, broad figure appeared next to her. Harry pushed his way between the girls and the stranger, accidentally pushing Ivy backwards. She didn’t lose her footing though. She shot her eyes to Michelle, who was instantly worried.
“The fuck is your problem?” Harry yelled out, his height towering over the man’s.
Cory quickly ran up to them, too, his brows furrowed as he looked over their beer soiled clothes. He was going to ask what happened, but Harry’s loud voice was taking over.
“I said, what’s your fucking problem?”
“I-I didn’t-“ The poor guy was nervous and stammering, Harry’s demeanor was extremely intimidating.
Michelle grabbed Harry’s shoulder and tried to pull him back, but he didn’t move. “Harry, stop!”
“Are you fucking stupid, huh? What the fuck are you doing?” He kept on, yelling in the guy’s face like he had committed a heinous crime.
“He didn’t do it on purpose, Harry!” Emma tried her best to intervene, but she was slightly afraid of what could happen.
The loud screaming had caused quite the commotion, and everyone turned towards them to watch what was unfolding. Niall quickly made his way to where the crowd seemed to gather, he just had a feeling something was going on. He made it back to them just in time to see Harry push his hand into the guy’s chest, sending him back a couple of steps.
“Harry!” Cory called out his name, but it didn’t matter, he wasn’t going to listen to anyone.
Niall ran up to them, grabbing onto Emma’s elbow to pull her away. He asked her what happened and she quickly told him. He sighed and tried to walk in front of the guy, but Harry didn’t allow it. He shoved Niall back, not wanting him to get involved.
“Let it go, Harry.” He still tried his best to end it.
“This motherfucker threw fucking beer on them.” Harry shouted, his eyes locked on the stranger’s instead of on Niall. He wasn’t upset with his friends for trying to stop him, he was furious about the spilled beer that he believed was purposeful.
Ivy took a deep breath and stepped out from behind him. Cory gave her a shake of his head and tried to stop her, but she ignored him. She gasped as Harry pushed him again, shouting the same question over and over.
“He didn’t throw it on us!” She raised her voice, her small hand reaching up to touch Harry’s bicep in an attempt to get her attention.
He felt her touch and immediately looked over, not expecting to see her standing so close. Anger was swept over his face, and it was more terrifying than she thought it would be. He looked like he was about to rip someone’s head off their shoulders. Her hand started to shake so much that it fell from his arm. She stepped back, fear consuming her.
“I fucking watched him do it!” Harry yelled back at her, his words harsh and cold.
She didn’t like the way he screamed so easily towards her, how his anger was taking over him entirely. She licked her lips and tried to keep her composure. Harry’s eyes were glued to her now, he wasn’t even concerned with the guy still gripping the empty cup.
“He tripped, Harry. He didn’t do it on purpose.” Michelle cut in quickly, trying to de-escalate the situation.
Harry shot his eyes back to the guy as he tried to apologize again. He interrupted him with a threatening yell. Everyone in the room had their eyes on them, and the embarrassment was building among the small group. Ivy felt like her heart was going to pound out of her chest.
“Stop it, Harry. You’re the one acting stupid. Calm down, please!” She pleaded with him, trying her absolute best to end this.
Harry turned towards her, making her jump back. Cory grabbed her elbow and forced her back a few more steps, afraid that something might happen. Harry wouldn’t purposely hurt her, but he didn’t want her to get too close in case someone else got hurt. She shook off Cory’s hand, not wanting to be touched.
“Don’t tell me to calm down.” He spat out, not even considering how mean his voice sounded. Right now all he wanted to do was pound his fists into that guy’s face.
His attention wasn’t on her very long. He returned to the stranger, who Niall was apologizing to. Things were getting heated again as the man tried to explain what had happened, despite everyone else already doing that. Harry wasn’t having any of it. He demanded that the man apologize to the girls before he kicked his ass. It was all very dramatic and intense.
Cory gestured for Michelle to get closer to him and she quickly did. He went to grab Ivy’s arm again, this time more forcibly. He pulled her back towards him, but she didn’t like the way he took control over her. No matter what kind of situation she was in, she didn’t want to be grabbed that way.
“Stop it, Cory!” She let her frustration over Harry’s actions come out, her voice louder than usual.
He let her go, but not before Harry could whip his body around to them, the sound of her voice distracting him from the guy. Niall took the opportunity to guide the man away from them so he could apologize again. Harry had seen Cory’s hand on Ivy’s arm and he felt an immense amount of jealousy and anger, more than he had ever before. It reminded him of the night at the restaurant when Cory so confidently spoke to Ivy and tried to get to know her. It made his skin crawl.
“Don’t fucking touch her.” He screamed out, his face flushed bright red and his eyes full of anger.
Cory was confused more than anything. “Woah, relax!”
“What did you do to her?” He asked, trying to close the space between them but Ivy got in the way.
She slid in front of him, her hand hitting against his abdomen accidentally, but she didn’t move it. Her hand flattened against his body. “Harry, stop, please.”
“Why are you freaking out?” Michelle was starting to get scared, she wasn’t sure why Harry was suddenly turning on everyone.
He looked down at Ivy, ignoring everyone else around him. “What did he do to you?”
She shook her head. “Nothing.”
“Then why did you tell him to stop?”
“He just.. tried to pull me out of the way.” Ivy explained, hoping it worked this time. While she wasn’t pleased with how Cory touched her, she didn’t want to make a big deal out of it. It wasn’t worth it.
“I don’t believe that.”
“You’re scaring me.” She blurted out, her eyes squeezing shut as she turned her head, not wanting to see his anger ridden features. He looked like he could tear a building out of the ground.
Harry backed up, his eyes trained on her. She felt his presence shifting, her eyes open to see where he was going. She felt a lump forming in her throat as he shoved his hand through his hair and tugged at his roots. She feared he’d explode if someone said one more word to him.
“I have to get out of here.”
That was the last thing he said before he stormed out of the building, leaving everyone more confused than anything. Ivy was speechless. She didn’t know what to think or how to feel. She had never seen someone so angry before. Even when that guy was following her and Harry got involved, he didn’t act that way. Tonight he was outraged. She actually feared him. Maybe he wasn’t worth all the hassle. He seemed to be more of a problem than she first imagined. Now matter how nice his eyes made her feel earlier.. she didn’t want to see them ever again.
—•—
That next morning was more awkward than anything. Niall had stayed over with Emma and together they prepared breakfast. Ivy was confused when she woke up to the smell of food cooking, and when she strolled into the kitchen in her pajamas, she saw them finishing up. They both greeted her with warm smiles.
“What are you guys doing?” She said through a gentle laugh, looking around at the mess that was made in the kitchen.
“Just making an apology meal for you.” Niall said with a smile, although it wasn’t very funny.
“An apology meal?” She furrowed her brows. “For what?”
He sighed. “For Harry’s behavior, of course.. isn’t that always the case?”
Ivy lifted her brows at his reply, not sure what to say in response. Everyone was very on edge after Harry disappeared last night, and they all left a short time afterwards. When she got home she took a shower immediately, the smell of beer had seeped into her skin and clothes.
“You don’t have to apologize.”
Emma grunted. “Yes we do.”
“It was all a misunderstanding.” She mumbled back, taking a seat at the table.
“And it shouldn’t have been.” Niall said. “He embarrasses me every time we go out with you and it drives me crazy.”
“It’s not your fault, though. I.. I understand he was.. drunk and not willing to listen. It’s fine.”
Emma shook her head. “It’s not fine. And we have to make it up to you, again.”
“Maybe one day.. I won’t have to give you so many apologies.” Niall didn’t sound hopeful about that.
“That would be nice.” She tried to have a little humor, not wanting to focus entirely on the situation.
“I just can’t believe he acted that way.” Emma frowned. “Over a spilled drink?”
Once everything was finished cooking, they each got what they wanted and sat down at the table. Ivy stayed quiet as they ate, hoping that no more talk about last night’s events would come up. Niall and Emma were embarrassed and she understood why, she just didn’t want them to focus on it forever. The situation was over, there was no need in pouring fuel into the fire. The person that owed her the biggest apology would never give her one anyway.
[a/n: ok ok ok im super excited for part 6!!! it’s definitely a big turning point for them (an unexpected event forces them to spend time together) it’s going to be worth the wait! hope u enjoy this, reblog like all that nice stuff! see u soon]
[santa came early tonight. Also thank you to @xoxoloverb for the fic idea tonight. I appreciate you a lot💓 @bohogothic I got your angst coming soon.]
Harry was a cocky little shit. The smug smirk on his face made your blood boil. There he sat, back against the headboard, arms behind his head, and red tipped cock lying hard against his lower stomach.
“Don’t pout lovie, if you want it, you gotta do the work. Got a show tonight, can’t overwork myself.” He proclaims. After Harry’s show last night, he was too tired to give you what you want. You were spoiled and Harry loved to egg you on just so that bratty side could come out. It made for great sex.
“Don’t patronize me Harry.” You arms were crossed over your bare chest, nipples peaking over the top of your arms.
“Cmon baby, come for a ride. Know you want it.” His hand wrapped around his cock, tugging the skin upward. The sight made you want to drool. His toned legs spread wide on the bed as he pleasured himself to the sight of your nude body.
You huffed at him before slowly crawling over to straddle his lap. His cock sat inches away from your dripping heat.
“I want you to fuck me.” You whine, your breathe fanned over his cheek. He could feel your hard nipples against his toned chest.
He lowered his head to yours, forehead resting on your own. “No.”
“Fine.” Your hand reaches between your bodies gripping the tip of his cock. His eyelids lowered at the feeling. Siting up on your haunches, your breasts eye level with Harry’s face, you align yourself over Harry and begin to sink down.
It was a slow process of fully taken Harry in. His large cock feeling even bigger in this position. His hands glided up your legs to your backside, gripping hard. Overwhelmed with feeling you let out a loud moan, eyebrows pinched with pleasure.
You found a pace that felt comfortable after fully sinking down into Harry. Your hips rolled and gyrated on top of his. Though your thighs burned you couldn’t help but keep up your pace. The way that Harry’s head fell back In and a silent ‘fuck’ came out of his mouth made your ego skyrocket.
“You just wanted me to be in top, to be the one to work you over.” You tease from above him. It was hard to keep your composure when you could feel every ridge, vein, and the tip of his cock pushing and prodding into your g-spot. The tips of your noses rubbed together, it compelled you to take his lips into yours. Tongues entangled and mouths moving synchronously it was hard for the both of you not te reach a peak.
Before you could cum, Harry gripped your plush hips with his large hands and flipped you underneath him. His arms wound around the back of your knees as he ruts into you at a fast pace. Your mouth opens, no sound coming out of you from the immense please.
“Let’s get one thing clear.” He says mid thrust. “I work you over. Can get you crying for my cock in seconds like a little whiny baby.”
It was true, tears were streaming down your face now as he pleasured you beyond your means.
“Please Harry, please.” You were blubbering nonsense. He smirked above you bringing one hand down to touch your clit. He massaged the sensitive button slowly but to you it added so much. “I’m gonna cum, Bubby cum with me please.”
“Right behind you baby.” You clenched around him, your impending orgasm finally taking its course through your body. Just like your fiancé said, he came inside you in long streams. His pace slowed down but he continued to fuck deep into you until his orgasm subsided.
His full weight relaxed on you as he came down from his high. Your arms wrapped around him keeping him tight against you. He hadn’t pulled out of you even though his cock was softening.
“Mmm.” You moan below him. You felt so good finally getting what you wanted after all those hours. Harry’s face was tucked into your neck, kisses were left along your jaw and jugular.
Rolling over, he never let go of you, one arm resting on you stop. He moves his arm back to rest his hand on your stomach. Your eyes were closed but you could sense him staring at you.
“Think I put a baby in there?” He asks. Slowly a smile makes its way to your face. You open your eyes to look at him, he had a soft smile playing at his lips. The air changed around you both. It was comforting and warm. The ring on your finger weighed it down with the many possibilities of the future.
“You want a baby?”
“Of course. A little you or me running around sounds like a dream.” He sighs. His hand unconsciously started rubbing your stomach.
“Well tour ends in November, I wouldn’t mind starting to try?” Harry was quick to sit up and look at you.
“Really?” Tears welled in his eyes at the thought of you carrying their child. You nodded wiping the tears off his face.
“I’ll give you all of my babies Harry. Know you’d be a great daddy to our kids.”
You need Harry’s attention while out with friends, and he makes sure you get it..
masterlist // join the taglist
(temporary a/n : I’m changing the layout from “parts” to “#” since these are not exactly continuations of each other)
word count: 3.6k
warnings/tags: domrry, harry x reader, daddy kink, praise kink, oral(f receiving), semi-public sex, alcohol consumption, dom!harry, smut, fingering
You felt a little out of place surrounded by Harry’s longtime friends. You knew each of them, knew them well - but you didn’t necessarily talk to any of them. Your arms were wrapped around his left arm, keeping close as he spoke and laughed with the people sitting around the big semi circle table. The club was more fancier than most, but you were familiar with the space. It didn’t help ease your nerves, though.
“Fuckin’ hell.” Harry groaned as he almost knocked over the glass in front of him. He grabbed it and brought it to his lips.
You watched closely as his pink lips brushed the glass as he took a long sip. You licked your own lips and reverted your eyes to your lap. He felt your quick stare and decided to pay you some attention for a while.
“Wanna try it?” He rested his wrist on your leg as he held the glass.
You sighed gently, but took it anyways. When you smelled it, you nearly choked. It was very strong - you didn’t drink very much so anything easily wasn’t appealing to you.
“Try it, babe.” He chuckled as he watched you.
You sipped the drink but instantly shook your head as it slid down your throat. You sat the glass on the table and grabbed your water instead. You took a long guzzle, clearing your mouth of the nasty taste.
“You’re cute.” He leaned into you, smiling sweetly as he kissed your temple.
“You’re cuter.” You giggled back, reaching up to scratch the side of his chin. His facial hair was growing out a bit.
“I-“
“Harry! Take a shot.” Niall’s cheerful voice broke the comfortable quietness between you two.
You frowned, but he kissed your lips gently and gave you an apologetic look. He leaned away from you and back towards the rest of the table. You sighed as you had to tighten your grip on his arm to keep hold of it. Your eyes were glued to the table cloth, it was gently blowing from the cool breeze in the room. The temperature was nice, you were comfortable.
Harry slid the shot glass back onto the table, but before he could turn to you, Niall insisted they do another. Harry didn’t protest. Your nails were digging through the thing fabric of his sleeves. He grunted and took a moment to look at you when Niall and someone else began to talk.
You smiled when his eyes met yours again. But what he said didn’t make you feel any better.
“Baby, hold my hand instead, yeah? You’re making it a little hard to move.” His smile wasn’t convincing. He wasn’t being mean, but you were still annoyed.
“I like holding on to you.” You pouted, eyebrows dropping.
He licked his lips. “Please, lovey? Don’t be difficult.”
“You’re being difficult. I’ve been doing this all night.” The whining that left your mouth wasn’t something he wanted to hear. He didn’t intend to upset you.
“Baby love, be nice for me, okay?”
You pulled your arm away from him and crossed it over your chest with the other one. Your eyes were staring at nothing - avoiding him. He noticed how hostile you were and he sighed, his hand rubbing your thigh in an attempt to calm you.
“Baby, I’m sorry. Don’t be mad at me.”
His hand slid to the inside of your thigh, your dress riding up as he did so. You grabbed the loose fabric and shoved it back down, his hand under it. He leaned against you, his lips close to your temple as he spoke.
“I’ll make it up to you tonight, I promise.”
You rolled your eyes. “I don’t want to do anything.”
“Then tomorrow.. or whenever you want.” He tried to compromise.
Your silence was bothering him. He huffed and snatched his hand away from your thigh. He turned to face you, hiding you from everyone’s sight. You bit your cheek, eyes moving to his. You expected him to be angry but he wasn’t. He was concerned, a softness filled his pretty eyes.
“We should’ve stayed at home. You hate.. being here. M’sorry.”
You gulped. “It’s fine I.. I just.. want to be close to you.”
“Are..” he paused to glance over his shoulder, checking to see if anyone was looking but nobody was paying you any attention. He looked back, eyebrows furrowed as he studied your face. “Are you feeling little?”
You shrugged. “Not.. not yet.”
“Let me know.. if you do, okay? You know I’ll always take care of you.” His hand moved to your jaw and he held you gently, thumb rubbing your skin.
Your fingers wrapped around his wrist, forcing his touch onto your skin. “We didn’t do anything all day.. didn’t even kiss.. or cuddle.. you woke up and left me in bed.. you worked then we ate and showered then we got ready and.. and nothing. We didn’t do anything.”
He knew what you were referring to. He frowned. “I know. M’sorry. I was busy and I didn’t make time for you.. I should’ve.”
Your eyes dropped to his chest. The top couple of buttons of his shirt aren’t closed, his skin exposed. You swallowed, trying to ignore what you wanted to think about but it was too hard. He tapped your jaw with his thumb to get your attention. You lifted your gaze and felt your cheeks flushing.
“Do you.. do you need something, baby?”
“You.”
He smiled gently. “What do you need?”
You sighed heavily, but leaned in closer to him. Your hands grabbed either side of his waist and you fisted the material of his shirt. He hummed when your lips brushed his, but a kiss didn’t bloom.
“Can you.. at least rub me?” Your voice was in a soft whisper, your eyes closing as you hid your face in the crook of his neck.
His arms slid around your waist and pulled you closer, chuckling in your ear. “Want my fingers, baby doll? What about my tongue, hm? Need that, too?”
You whimpered, nodding gently against him. He smirked, hands squeezing your body possessively. He knew you were needy, you always were. But especially now, after a long day of being deprived from him. Harry wanted to make it up to you, wanted to give you anything and everything.
He hummed as you moved your lips to his ear, warm breath fanning his skin. “Wan’ your cock, too.”
“Mm, I can make that happen, baby. All of it.”
“Wan’ you now.” You groaned, hoping he would oblige.
“Can take you to the bathroom.. You hate doing it in the bathrooms, though.” His laugh made you smile.
He was right, you hated public bathrooms. They weren’t the cleanest, even in a fancy place like this. You would rather fuck on the table in front of everyone. Harry didn’t drive his car here, so you couldn’t go back there. You thought about the suggestion. You thought about the rewards.. how good it would feel to finally have him..
“I want to. Please.”
He nodded. “Okay.. let’s go then.”
Your smile made his heart beat faster - you were happy. He motioned for you to slide out of the big booth. You were thankful he had you on the very outside. He knew you didn’t like sitting next to people. Harry excused himself from the table, getting a few questions from his friends but ultimately ignoring them. You couldn’t hide the grin on your face as Harry guided you to the bathroom. You were in front of him, but he was directly behind you - hands gripping your waist as you walked.
When you entered the women’s restroom, Harry took you down to the biggest stall. As soon as he locked the stall, you spun around and threw both arms around his neck. You were giggling and gasping as he grabbed you and kissed all over your face. His teeth nipped at your cheek as he squeezed your hips. Moans were spilling from your throat, his mouth sucking spots on your neck. He didn’t want you to be pressed against the not so clean wall, so he gladly put his own back against it. You broke away from him and went to fall on your knees. He grabbed your arms and pulled you back up. You were confused, but didn’t say anything.
“I said I want to make things up to you.. so let me.”
You sighed. “I want you.”
“Let me take care of you the best I can right now.”
You nodded softly, taking a step back as he motioned you to. He grabbed your hips and quickly kissed you. Before you even realized it, he was sinking to his knees. You gasped when he shoved your dress up and attacked your covered mound with his mouth.
“Harry..” you breathed out, eyes closing as you realized he was about to give you the services of his mouth.
He rarely did it like this, only because it was rarely needed. Usually, things were in your favor and you had access to a car or a bed or a private surface - but a bathroom really isn’t that ideal.
He pulled your panties down your legs and held them so they wouldn’t touch the floor. You stepped out of them and he gladly shoved them into his back pocket. His big hands separated your legs and he tilted his head back, tongue instantly swiping through your wet folds.
“Fuck.” You groaned, not afraid to be loud in a space that wasn’t private at all.
He kept licking and spitting until he knew you were soaked. His mouth closed around your clit and he sucked hard. Your fingers curled into his scalp, pulling at his hair and forcing his face into your cunt. He didn’t mind, he was happy as could be between your legs.
“Harry, Harry, Harry!” Your head fell back, mouth open as moans came out.
His tongue was flicking against your clit, sliding through your folds just to poke into you for a moment. The process was repeated again and again. You couldn’t control the sensations, it was all so good. The fact you were in a public bathroom left your mind and you let it all out.
“Harry! Fuck me, please.” You begged, head dropping to watch him.
His eyes were shut and his focus was on your cunt. His strong hands held onto your thighs, keeping you in place while he ate you out.
“Please, please, please.” You groaned. “Fingers.. please.”
He chuckled, the vibrations making your spine tingle. He brought his index finger to your hole. He rubbed it around to get it wet, then slid it inside like you wanted. A heavy moan fell from your lips as you clenched around the digit. He soon added another once you were relaxed and used to him.
You threw your leg over his shoulder, providing more access. He took advantage of that and started sucking your clit harder, shoving his fingers further into you with no hesitation.
“Fuck!” You yelled as soon as you heard the door open.
Harry chuckled against your nub and let his tongue destroy it as someone went into a stall to handle their business. You were groaning like crazy, pulling his hair and throwing your head back. Your spine was tingling as an orgasm crept closer to you.
“M’gonna cum!” You announced it loud and very proud to Harry and the random woman in the bathroom.
You gasped again and again until finally it washed through you and your eyes rolled back. Harry hummed against your pussy as you spilled into his mouth and literally dripped down his fingers. You whined as the feelings ceased and you finally caught your breath. Harry slapped your thigh before standing up.
“Tastes so good, yeah.” He licked his lips clean of your juices. “Fuckin’ peach.”
You smirked and reached for his waist. You pulled him close and smeared your lips over his. His chin was still wet from your pussy, so you quickly swiped your tongue over his skin to grab a taste. He winked gently before grabbing your hips and turning you around.
“Put your hands on the wall. I’ll hold you tight.” He said as his hand pushed against the small of your back.
You bent over, hands splayed on the cold wall like he said. He shoved your dress up, exposing your ass to him. You heard him messing with his pants, and before long you felt the weight of his cock slap down on your ass cheek.
“Fuck me, please.”
“Yeah?” His voice went deep as he pressed his tip against your begging hole. “Want my cock deep in you, baby?”
“Yes, please! Fill me up.” You sighed as you felt him slip into you.
Harry groaned as soon as your walls swallowed him whole. He knew you weren’t interested in any soft, loving actions - so he immediately began to pound into you. His hips slapped into yours, the sound echoing in the bathroom. You were moaning like crazy, squeezing your breast through your dress and looking back at him. He caught your eye and smirked, slamming his cock deep into your pussy.
“Harry! Faster.”
He did as you wished, going as hard as he could without absolutely destroying your cunt. He wanted you to actually walk afterwards. Harry’s fingers dug into your hips as he buried his cock inside of you. His name flew from your mouth over and over again, the sound bouncing off the walls. The door shut, so you assumed whoever was in here finally left. It didn’t matter, you were clearly unconcerned with their presence anyways.
“Oh, fuck, baby.” Harry grunted as he let his nails sink into your skin. They weren’t too sharp. “Fuckin’ tight pussy.”
Needless to say, you and Harry got a well deserved, well needed fuck in tonight.
__
Harry led you back to the table. You were kind of wobbly but he kept a tight hold of your waist to steady you. When you returned, his friends started smirking and cheering for him. The few women gave you grins and shook their heads. You felt your face heat up instantly.
“Harry just got him some pussy.” Niall, who was sloppy drunk, yelled happily, clapping as Harry slid into the booth.
You followed him, holding your breath out of nervousness. Harry rolled his eyes, but smirked proudly as he moved closer to you, his arm going over your shoulders and draping down your front. You reached up and grabbed his hand to lace your fingers together. You let your other palm sit on his warm thigh.
“Cut it out.” He chuckled, knowing that you didn’t like that sort of attention. You didn’t like any attention from anyone but him.
“Got a bit of something on your face, mate.” One of his friends said, touching his own cheek to indicate where.
A bold wave washed through you. You grabbed his chin and turned his head your way. You saw the smeared tinted lipgloss on his mouth and his cheeks. You bit your cheek as you licked your thumb and started to wipe it off. Harry watched your eyes as you focused on his skin. He was smiling gently, admiring your beauty. The after sex glow always made your eyes sparkle. He loved that.
“All better.” You gave him a sweet smile.
“Should’ve left it.” He winked before pecking your forehead.
You were okay with him looking back at his friends. You felt like you had gotten plenty of attention now, so he could chat with his friends without having to worry about you.
“Bathroom or the alley?” Niall grinned.
“The bathroom.” Harry scoffed. “Why the fuck would I take such a hot thing like her in the alley? Bit trashy, Horan.”
“Ma girl would’ve let me hit it here in front of all you fuckers.” Niall laughed, which made them all chuckle along with him, even Harry.
“Where’d she run off to?” Harry said, noticing Niall’s wife wasn’t there.
“Dunno. Went to get ‘nother bottle.” He replied.
One of their other friends chimed in, bringing the conversation back to you and Harry. “Surprised we couldn’t hear ya from here.”
Your chest was tightening as you heard him talking about what happened, and hearing the laughter he caused made you nervous. Surely he wouldn’t give details, he never did that. You squeezed his fingers tight and lowered your eyes to your legs. You could still see that your skin was flushed all over.
“Did ya wrap it?” Niall smirked.
“C’mon, man. Don’t be a prick.” Harry shook his head at Niall’s question.
You felt relieved, knowing Harry would never betray you like that. Sure, he’s hinted at things before to his friends like tonight for instance, but he’s never given them details. You were his, and he didn’t want anyone else to know anything about you or your body. He was selfish and jealous and you loved it.
Suddenly, your eyes went wide as you realized something. Harry never slid your panties back up your legs. You rubbed your thighs together maybe thinking you just forgot. You could still feel the wetness and the warmth of his cum, but you knew you had no panties on. You huffed and tried to get his attention. You tapped his thigh, but he was sipping his drink and listening to his friend talk about something. He wasn’t paying attention to you. You groaned and grabbed his thigh harder, shaking it.
He sat his glass down and looked over at you, eyebrows lifted high in question. You gave him a stern look and he frowned. He was afraid he had made you upset, he just didn’t know why.
“What’s wrong, baby?” He asked softly, leaning closer to ignore everyone else.
Your eyes shot across the table but nobody was looking. You grabbed his hand from his lap and guided it under your dress. He sighed and tried to stop you. You grunted and tugged on his fingers.
“Baby, we just-“
“Shh.” You cut him off with an eye roll.
He didn’t say anything, and let you take control again. You took his hand under your dress and pushed his fingers against your slit. He rubbed you for a second, thinking that’s what you wanted. You shuddered at the feeling, but sunk your nails in his forearm to stop him.
“Baby.. what’s wrong?”
“Feel.”
He moved his fingers through your slit, the hot cum coating his fingertips. He rubbed it around your clit to get it off his fingers.
“What?”
You groaned and huffed at him. “My panties.”
He was staring at you, trying to understand what you meant. Then, as he wiggled his fingers against your small folds he realized there was no barrier. His eyes widened and he slowly pulled his hand out from under you. You watched as he wiped his fingers on his pants leg. You wished he could’ve let you taste it, but it was too obvious. He reached behind him and you knew what he was looking for. And of course there your panties were in his back pocket.
“Fuck.” He muttered, unsure of what to do. “Just.. go without them, yeah? We won’t be here much longer.”
You whined. “Harry. What if they see?”
He shook his head. “They won’t.”
“Ah there she is.” Niall suddenly spoke as his wife approached the table.
A few people got out to let her back in. When she sat down, she kissed Niall’s lips gently and moved close to him, his arm wrapping around her. Niall was a prick at times, and a bit obnoxious, but he actually loved that woman. You weren’t her biggest fan, nor Niall’s, but they were Harry’s friends.. so you were kind to them.
“Yeah I went to the bathroom before I went to the bar..” A smirk covered her lips as her eyes trailed directly to yours.
You knew immediately what was going on because you two never spoke to one another, she never spared a glance your way. Your nails dug into Harry’s leg through his pants. He grunted, looking over at you with furrowed brows. He was curious to know what was wrong now. The whole underwear thing was still fresh on his mind, he was trying to be cautious and make sure you didn’t get up without him behind you so he could block you - just in case.
“I heard some interesting things.. someone was getting plowed.”
Harry’s own eyes went wide as well. He shot a glance to Niall before snatching up his drink and taking a sip. The wine slid down his throat slowly, a conversation sparking up at the table.
“Ah.. what a coincidence.” Niall’s grin didn’t go unnoticed. “Someone just fucked their girl in the bathroom.”
She gave Niall a wink. “Wonder who..”
“Funny, funny.” Harry sighed, rolling his eyes at the two and the others who were snickering. “Don’t be jealous.”
“Jealous?” Niall’s wife was very confident in herself, despite knowing her own personal sex life was nothing like yours.
It was a thing they all knew - Harry loved to fuck you.
“She must’ve liked what she heard.. she stayed in there a while.”
Everyone’s eyes, including Harry’s, shot your way as you spoke loudly. You never did that sort of thing, you didn’t even like most of the people at the table. Niall laughed, nudging his wife’s arm with his elbow.
“Got busted, babe.”
Harry smirked gently at you before licking his lips. He was sort of proud of you for speaking up and taking control. It wasn’t like you two were the only people who fuck in the bathrooms. It was quite common, especially at clubs. If you need it then you need it, no matter where you are.
“Should’ve stayed.” Harry chuckled. “I filled her up.”
(a/n: I’m sorry if this was bad 😭 this was not the one I had planned to go up next because I’m still working on it, so I hope this is enough. I felt so bad for prolonging the update 😭 anyways love u)
Harry was willing to wait as long as necessary, but you always felt so guilty when you had to leave him.
masterlist
word count: 6.3k
warnings/tags: harry x reader, implied smut, fluff, mature situations, cheating/affairs, short series
As he laid on top of you, his lips peppering kisses across your face, you felt weightless and relaxed. The intense bubbling you felt moments ago in your stomach was fizzing out. Your legs finally released their tension and you let them fall against the mattress. Your hands had stopped shaking, now they were resting on his shoulder blades. You felt complete with his release deep inside of you, filling you up.
“I love you.” He whispered softly in your ear, kissing your skin.
“I love you.” You slid a hand down to the small of his back, his skin covered in a thin layer of sweat.
“Mm, are you stayin’ tonight?”
“Yeah.. Gonna stay a few days.” You pressed your lips to his jaw as he moved his head.
“Good. I’ll be out of town next week.. so I wanna spend as much time with you as possible.”
You grabbed his face gently with one hand and guided his head so you could see his face. He gave you a faint smirk before dropping his forehead against yours.
“How long?”
He hummed for a moment. “Just three days.”
“Three.” You whined.
“It was going to be a whole week.. but I decided I couldn’t go that long without seeing you.” He moved his lips onto yours, just softly pecking your mouth.
“Don’t forget.. the week after next.. he’ll be gone all week.”
He licked his lips. “I haven’t forgot. You’re spending every second with me.”
You grinned. “I better.”
“You definitely better.”
Your hand fell down from his face and you let out a deep sigh. “Cuddle me.”
He knew exactly what you wanted, so he fell down on the mattress beside you and grabbed your waist. He pulled you over onto your side and draped his arm over your body, his other sliding under your neck so he could play with your hair. There was a small space between you, but he knew you needed just a little distance. You liked to be able to catch your breath and cool off before you curled up next to him to sleep.
The sheet was the only thing covering you both. It was pulled up to your hips, hardly shielding your body. He never looked away from your face. He always admired how blissful and perfect you looked after he filled you. He kept thinking about your body and your touch, your skin against his. He bit the inside of his cheek as he remembered just minutes ago how you sunk your nails into his back and pulled your hands all the way down to his butt - marking him as yours.
You didn’t realize your eyes were closed until he mumbled something.
“Don’t go to sleep on me, baby.”
You smiled, laughing softly. “M’not.”
“Babe..”
“Hmm?” You looked into his eyes, noticing how soft his expression was. He just looked comfortable and content like you were.
“Does.. does he still make love to you?” His voice was deep as he muttered the words out, partially afraid to know the answer.
You gulped as the thought filled your mind. Harry usually didn’t ask you specific details about your husband, only because he knew everything he needed to know. Your husband was a piece of shit when it came to being a husband. All he does is work. He doesn’t take you out, doesn’t buy you nice things, doesn’t spend time with you, doesn’t acknowledge you half the time.. Harry knew your sex life was limited with your husband, but even after all these months, he’s not really brought it up before.
“You.. you mean like..” You paused, not certain on how to say it.
“Like we do.. Do you have that kind of sex with him?”
“No.. not at all.” You mumbled. “I’ve told you that before.”
He bit down on his lip for a second. “He just fucks you, yeah?”
You let a small laugh slip out. “He doesn’t even do that.”
When Harry’s brows furrowed, you figured you’d explain. All you had ever really told him was that you don’t get taken care of in bed.
“He.. doesn’t, like, do any kind of.. foreplay.. or.. really touch me with his hands.”
“Does he go down on you?”
You shook your head. “No.. he doesn’t even look at me.. makes me sit on my hands and knees.. He told me once that.. he doesn’t like looking at me while he gets rid of his hard on.”
Harry tensed up at your words. He knew who your husband was. He’s unfortunately had to speak to him at formal events because they worked in the same field. Your husband had money, but Harry had more. That wasn’t why you were with either of them. Harry spent time talking to you one night at an event and one thing led to another in a storage room.. You’ve been unable to cut ties with him since, and had no desire to let him go. He gave you everything you wanted and needed - everything your husband didn’t do.
“I’ve told you.. you’re the only person who’s ever.. done any of that stuff to me.. He doesn’t care about how I feel.. he just wants to get off. We haven’t even done anything in, like two months, so.”
“He’s fucking stupid.” Harry smacked his lips. “If you were mine, I’d never stop fuckin’ touchin’ you.”
You sat your hand on his elbow. “I am yours, baby.”
He sighed. “You know what I mean…” He looked down at your hand that just so happened to be the one with the ring on it. You usually take it off, but you must’ve forgot.
You huffed. “I only love you, you know that.”
“I never said you didn’t, baby.” He gave you a frown. “M’just saying that.. if I were him.. I’d never stop loving on you.”
“You’re not him.. you’re my bubby.” You mumbled, scooting closer to him to hide your face against his chest.
He chuckled, arms wrapping around you. “You’re my peach, yeah? My pretty little kitten.”
You blushed heavily, certain pet names always made you tingle. “M’yours.”
“I know, you’re my baby.”
-
It was your last morning with Harry and you felt extremely sad. The days you spend with him were always filled with so much happiness and fun and love. Real, pure love. You hated going back home. You hated the nights when you slept basically alone. Your husband didn’t hold you the way Harry did. He didn’t cuddle you and whisper sweet nothings until you fell asleep. He didn’t do anything Harry did.
Your chest was aching as you laid on the bed, the cool air in the room nipping at your bare skin. Harry went to make you some coffee. He had been gone about ten minutes, so you expected him to return soon.
You sat up on the big bed and stretched your arms high. When your feet hit the hardwood floor you shuddered. You yawned, feeling very tired after your morning session. You gently pressed your hand against the big window.
Harry had sold his former home and was currently looking at other places in the area. For now, he was staying at an extremely nice condo. You didn’t care where he stayed as long as you could be with him. It worked out better this way, though. Whenever you were with him you would tell your husband that you were with your sister. She lived near this area.
You could hear footsteps behind you, but you didn’t move away from the window. You were admiring the view and the morning sky. Harry sat the coffee down on the nightstand and walked over to you.
His big, warm hands slid onto your waist, one continuing until he splayed it across your tummy. You were always a little hesitant about your stomach, but unlike your husband, Harry never made you feel worthless or hideous.
“Come lay down with me.” He whispered, kissing behind your ear.
“I will.” You place your hand over his, the feeling of his skin against yours caused sparks in your heart. “I.. I don’t wanna leave.”
“You don’t have to.”
You sighed heavily. “You know I have to go to that stupid thing.”
“At least we get to see each other tonight.” He licked his lips, but refrained from latching his mouth onto your skin.
He had already marked you up plenty of times since you got here, and he knew he shouldn’t put anymore. You’ll have to cover them with makeup tonight since you know your husband will want you in a dress so other people can believe you’re being treated properly - which, by your husbands definition, would be by buying expensive clothes only to wear out.
“But we can’t.. actually talk.”
He grunted. “We can talk.”
“I don’t wanna talk about this right now.” You gently whined.
“Okay, m’sorry, baby.”
You pushed his hands down and walked away from him and the window. You were extremely upset, more now than before he came back, and you wanted to cry. But you held yourself together and decided to just avoid the conversation altogether.
As you got under the thick devut, Harry grabbed a pair of underwear out of his drawer. You both went to bed naked last night, for obvious reasons, and never got dressed this morning. When he laid down behind you, you didn’t reject him as he put both arms around you, guiding you back against him.
“Are you mad at me?”
“No.” You quickly answered.
“Promise?”
A huff came out of you and Harry instantly regretted saying anything. “Harry.”
He didn’t say anything, just started pecking your shoulder to make up for it. You also didn’t say anything else. You wanted to appreciate every moment you had left with him. You would soon be going home to your husband and preparing for a banquet. Harry would be attending it as well, but you couldn’t engage with him at all. You knew that if any suspicions came about you would be screwed.
Harry wants you to leave your husband, and you want to leave him. But things are tricky. The legal battle would be extremely exhausting and you were unsure of what you would be able to leave with, if anything. You were afraid of upsetting your husband because he can be violent at times. It’s always just yelling and him throwing things but you fear that he would hurt you. Harry knew the dangers and risks of leaving your husband, so he’s understanding of why you’re being hesitant. You were going to eventually but it would take time. Harry already assured you he’d wait forever if he had to.
“What time do you have to go?” He asked in a soft voice.
“Around 12.” You mumbled. “He told me.. the nail tech will be there at 1. He wants to make sure I look.. rich.”
Harry grunted. “M’ready to get you a fuckin’ lawyer.. m’tired of him taking you away from me.”
You smiled gently at his words, knowing that he’d do it in a heartbeat if you approved. Harry was breathing hard behind you now, annoyed at just the mention of your husband’s existence.
“If only he’d cheat on me.. I could file with no problems.”
“You can file now… I told you money isn’t the issue, baby. I can have everything covered.”
You huffed again, Harry was pressing on your buttons. “Harry, if I do.. he’ll take everything.”
“You don’t need anything from him. I’ve already got you closets full of clothes here. I can replace anything he takes.”
“I don’t want to talk about this right now.” You felt tears brimming in your eyes, so you wanted to avoid breaking down.
“Okay, okay.” He started to massage your hip, just trying to comfort you instead of annoying you.
The conversation was over now. You both hated to argument with each other and you knew that if you kept on, a fight would break out. Fighting with Harry was your least favorite thing ever. You feared that a fight would result in you losing him forever. He could easily leave and never have a thing to do with you again. He would never do that, but the possibility scared the hell out of you.
—
The banquet was quite boring for you to be at. This sort of thing wasn’t your cup of tea. Your husband knew that, but you were forced to come along anyways. He couldn’t attend these things without his wife on his arm, even if you literally weren’t even holding his hand. He didn’t like public displays of affection, or even private ones. As long as people saw that his wife was there to support him, then that’s all he cared about.
You were standing with a small crowd, he was talking to some men about something business related. You were technically standing behind him, not really involved with the group of people or the conversation at all. Your eyes were roaming around the large ballroom, just curiously looking at all the people.
After a few minutes of being bored out of your mind, you decided to pull out your phone and send a certain someone a text. Your husband was not aware of the phone you were using. He assumed it was just the one he bought you, but in fact it isn’t. It’s the one Harry got you so that you could talk to him without your husband finding out. He can’t legally check any phone records since he doesn’t pay the bills for the phone, so you always made sure to use this one when you went out in case you wanted to talk to Harry.
To Harry: are you here? I haven’t seen you :(
Once you sent the text, you looked up from the screen and just set your eyes on your husband’s shoulder. He was still talking on and on about the stupid investment he wanted to go in on with his colleague.
You were distracted by the faint pattern on his blazer. You didn’t even realize that a few other people had come up to your husband’s small group. You cleared your throat casually and looked down at your phone, hoping to see something from Harry. Thankfully, you did.
From Harry: I’m here darling. I see you ;)
From Harry: you look absolutely stunning baby
Immediately a heavy blush rose to your cheeks. You bit the inside of your cheek, a tingling sensation began forming in your stomach. You had just spent three entire days with him, but you still missed him so, so much. It was extremely hard to control your emotions right now, but you kept yourself content in case your husband noticed.
“I wouldn’t advise going all in on that investment, David.”
Your head shot up as an all too familiar voice filled the space. There he was, standing across from your husband in the circle of people. You were staring at him now, waiting for him to look at you. He was focused on the man beside him now, listening to his reply in the conversation.
“I appreciate your advice, gentlemen, but i know what I’m doing.” The moment your husband began to talk, everyone looked his way - including Harry.
He glanced at you, but knew he couldn’t stare at you. It would be too obvious. He looked so good in his black blazer and trousers, a soft purple colored shirt, and his curls falling perfectly on his head. He looked perfect. Your husband began talking directly to the man beside him, allowing you the opportunity to fully stare at Harry. Nobody was paying you any mind. You carefully stepped over, revealing yourself entirely to his gaze.
Harry winked at you, then let his eyes fall down your body slowly, rising up in the same pace. You felt your face flushing again. You didn’t even care if anyone saw how red you were.
“Styles, what would you say? Is fifteen percent enough equity or should I shoot for more?” When your husband directly spoke to Harry your stomach fell and twisted into knots.
They knew each other, but they didn’t work together or spend any leisure time together. They just knew of each other and spoke whenever they were in public. There was no sort of friendship or anything like that. It made you weak in the knees to hear him talk to Harry so friendly, and then to hear Harry reply just as politely was making you dizzy.
You instinctively grabbed onto his elbow, just trying to keep your balance. He looked over at you and furrowed his brows, not actually concerned about your well being. When you didn’t say anything, he looked back to Harry and the other men. Harry was talking about whatever the conversation was about, but you ignored the actual words that he was saying and just watched his face.
Once he was finished, he pulled his phone out and stepped back to silently type on the screen. You gulped gently as you witnessed him typing up what seemed to be a paragraph. Within seconds, your phone began to vibrate in your hand. You clutched it tight and held your breath, knowing you needed to wait a few minutes before checking it just in case anyone was paying you any mind. Harry rejoined the conversation.
You let go of David’s arm and decided to slip away from the crowd. A waiter was standing close by with a tray of champagne so you gladly took one and guzzled half of the glass in one sip. You finished it off in a second drink and sat the empty cup back on the tray. Finally, you felt that it was a good time to check your phone.
From Harry: are you alright darling? You looked like you were going to faint.
From Harry: I want to be with you so bad right now. Just miss your little hands all over me.
From Harry: i know a damn good divorce lawyer, doll. ;)
A smile was planted on your lips as you began to type back to his texts. Part of you wanted to speak to him in person, but it would be too odd to do so. Harry only ever spoke to you in these settings if he knew your husband was no where to be found, or if he greeted you while speaking to your husband. But, those two options weren’t available right now.
To Harry: I didn’t see you walk up.. made me nervous when i heard you
To Harry: and I miss you more, trust me.. I’m so bored. I just want to disappear.
You saw an empty table and decided to take advantage of it. A sigh of relief came from you as you sat down, pressure finally taken off your feet. They were currently trapped in tight heels.
From Harry: we can disappear, baby doll. The second floor has plenty of storage closets.
From Harry: i hate that I’m leaving in a few days. I know i can’t see you before then.. I’m going to miss you so much xx
You were well aware that your husband didn’t care what you did while you were here, as long as you were here. So, you decided to stand up from the table and walk towards the elevator. You just wanted to get away for a little while. You were already on the second floor when you took your phone out again and decided to call Harry instead of texting him.
You walked down the familiar hallway. This place was somewhere you came to often for these sorts of gatherings. You also knew that Harry co-owned the building with some other wealthy investor. That meant that you didn’t have to worry about any security camera footage ever being used against you. Harry made sure to always get rid of any evidence that happened in this building.
“Hello?”
“Hi.”
“Where’d you run off to?”
You sighed. “You aren’t still by him.. are you?”
He chuckled into the phone. “Silly girl. I left as soon as you did.. I figured you needed me.”
“I do. I just.. want to see you.” You closed your eyes and leaned against the wall. Your eyes were staring down at the patterned rug over the hard wood floor. “Don’t even have to kiss me.. just wanna see you.”
“Oh, I’ll kiss you, baby doll.” He said, the smirk evident in his voice. “Where are you, baby?”
“I’m by the room.” You mumbled out, knowing he’d understand what that referred to.
“Hm, okay.” He breathed out. “I’m on my way.”
It only took about two minutes for Harry to finally get to you. He immediately opened the door to the usual room you always end up being with him in and pulled you inside. You grunted when he pushed you against the door and started kissing you like he’d been gone for months. Your hands got lost in his hair and you were scratching at his scalp, trying to keep him as close as you could.
His big hands slid around your body to grasp your thick ass. He groaned as his hands kneaded your flesh through the fabric of your dress. There wasn’t any previous talk of hooking up, but you realized soon that you couldn’t resist him if it went that far.
“Baby, slow down.” You breathed out as you broke away from his lips.
You were both breathing heavily, sweat beading on his forehead. His body always got so warm when he was horny, and he easily broke out in a sweat. You sat your hand on his cheek, rubbing your thumb over his not red, swollen bottom lip.
“Fuck, I just.. miss you.” He huffed, still trying to catch his breath.
Your finger slipped between his lips, gently skimming across his front teeth. “Calm down.. m’not going anywhere.”
“Yeah, not yet.”
“Shhh, relax.”
He shook his head. “No, I.. I can’t hold back anymore. I.. i almost snatched you away from him down there.”
You smiled as he furrowed his brows, his eyes still squeezed shut as if it would all vanish if he opened them. You didn’t want to stress him out or anything, you just wanted to relax him. You pressed both hands against his chest, letting one slip up to his neck. Having you touch him there was one of his favorite things. You curled your fingers around his nape.
“We can’t be too rough with each other.. I can’t wrinkle my dress or mess up my hair.”
He grunted at you. “Fuck.”
“Just relax with me, okay? Take a minute and just breathe.. m’right here, baby.”
“I know, baby. I.. I know you’re here. That’s how i want it.. always want you with me.” He was being very sweet and you knew that he was having one of his clingy moments. You dind’t mind. “Love you so much.”
“I’m all yours while we’re in this room, Harry. Don’t worry.”
A groan came from his mouth. “I want you to always be mine, babe.”
“Please, don’t ruin this for me.. don’t.. don’t talk about this right now.” You found yourself whining back, not wanting this night to be any worse than it already had been.
“I.. I want you to go with me.. when i look at houses next weekend.” His eyes opened and met yours instantly.
“Why?” You lifted a brow.
He licked his lips, his head falling forward so his face could get lost in your curls. He was careful not to mess them up, he just wanted to smell your shampoo and feel your warmth.
“Because.. I want you to like the place I get. I want you to.. to have your own space and.. and any accommodations that you desire. I want you to love it.. because you’re going to be there a lot, and you need to enjoy it.” He explained, both hands tightly squeezing your waist.
“You.. you do?” You gently laughed, sort of surprised about that.
He smiled. “Of course, babe.”
“Okay. I can go.. next weekend.. after you come back?”
“Mhm. Saturday.”
You could feel his skin getting hotter by the second, even through the fabric of his shirt. You let a sigh and gently grabbed the lapels of his blazer, silently insisting he take it off by sight by pulling them back.
“Take this off before you sweat through your shirt.” You furrowed your brows as you looked down at his chest.
He knew just as well as you did that he always got so hot when he was horny. He didn’t need to look soaking wet when he returned to the ballroom. He grunted, but let you go so he could shake the coat off. You watched as he draped it over a random box and walked back to you, hands held out to grab you again.
You slipped your hand up his waist and under his arm, feeling the slightly damp fabric. “Relax, okay, baby?”
“M’trying.” He grumbled out, rolling his lips in as he leaned further into you, one hand falling down to squeeze your butt.
“I just don’t want you to look absolutely wrecked.” The small giggle you let out didn’t make him smile, which concerned you.
“You just look.. so fuckin’ hot in this dress.. and I want it off of you.”
“We can’t.. not this soon.”
He huffed. “After dinner? Before you go?”
When his eyes met yours, you couldn’t help but notice how blown his pupils were. He was definitely horny. The bulge in his pants you could feel against your body further proved that.
“Yeah, we can do that.” You rubbed your hand down his chest, then back up to sooth him.
He shook his head. “I.. I can’t make it three days without you.”
You curled your lips. “Baby, we’ve been apart for longer before.”
“I know but.. it’s different now. We always spend so many days at a time together.” He let out a deep breath. “I don’t wanna leave you.”
Your heart was aching as you heard the disappointment in his tone. “It’ll be okay, baby.”
“I’ll miss you so much, angel.”
You pressed a kiss to the corner of his mouth. “I’ll miss you more, pumpkin.”
“Don’t call me that.. makes me wanna kiss every inch of you.” He grunted. “You’re such a sweet thing.”
“Patience, Harry.” You mumbled back, pecking over his dimple. “Let’s just talk for now.”
He gulped loud enough for you to hear, but you didn’t think you should be worried about anything. “I.. okay. About what?”
“I love this color on you. Makes your eyes sparkle.” You said, touching his chest.
“No.. they jsut do that when I’m with you.” His lips turned to a smile.
“You’re cute, hm.” You giggled. “You do look handsome.”
“I don’t look as good as you do.” He leaned back just so he could look down your body. “Blue always looks so damn good on you.”
“I know you like it.. that’s why I wore this color.” You licked your lips when his eyes darted back to yours.
“Yeah? Tryna be a little tease, hm?”
A blush rose to your cheeks. “Maybe.”
“I can’t wait til we get that whole week together.” Harry sighed heavily, trying to keep his composure. “I swear to god I’m never taking my hands off you.”
“Baby, um.. I have a question.” You sucked on your cheek for a moment.
“What is it?”
You grabbed his wrist and moved his hand further up your waist. He decided to drag you closer by sliding his arm around your back, pushing your chest against him. His face dropped to your neck and he started kissing under your ear.
“I.. I have two..” You said hesitantly. “Um.. while he’s gone.. can we do more things like.. out?”
Harry hummed for a second. “You mean like.. eating out, shopping?”
“Mhm.. just wanna.. do normal things with you.” You let out a shaky breath, already nervous about the possibility of being in public with Harry. “I love every moment with you and everything we do.. but it would be nice to not.. hide for once.”
Harry’s hand was being very possessive with your butt, which wasn’t helping his horny mood. He was listening though, despite his distraction.
“Of course. We can do whatever you want.” He held his lips against your ear lobe for a long moment. “Anything at all.”
“Okay.. good.” You felt relieved on that part.
You loved Harry, truly did, and spending time with him was always a very special and important thing for you. The time you got was limited and he always made sure you both made the best of it. So, doing different things with like eating out for dinner or going on a shopping trip, or even a walk to a coffee shop.. those were going to be extremely special to you both. He knew it was hard for you to cope with the secretary because you simply wanted to love him and let everyone know he was yours. But, things were complicated.
“What’s the other question?”
Suddenly, almost as if you lost all courage you had while thinking of the question, you became silent. Harry was letting you take a few seconds to get your words ready, but he didn’t expect you to take that long. When a minute passed, he let his other hand fall to the small of your back where he pressed hard against your body, knowing that comforted you.
“Baby doll.” He whispered against your skin, still covering it with soft kisses. He didn’t want to leave any marks or obvious red skin, just in case your husband decided to pay attention to you.
You let out a little grunt. Part of you was ready to ask and just get it over with, while the other half was clamming up - not wanting to say a peep. It was definitely something you and Harry hadn’t discussed before. Or anything you’ve talked about with anyone before. It was regarding sex. You had only ever had basic, barely worthy of being called sex, sex with your husband. You had a few hookups before then, but nothing serious. Harry was the first and only person that had ever shown you how good sex could be, how intense and passionate and romantic it could be. You were afraid of jeparodizing that by asking your question. What if it offended him? What if he didn’t want to do what you wanted to, what if it turned him off? The only way you’d know was if you asked.
“Baby.. m’not trying to rush you.. but we don’t have forever in this room. We eventually have to return downstairs.” Harry kept his face buried in your hair, but his lips were just brushing your skin now as he waited.
“I.. It’s just.. awkward.” You finally spoke.
“Nothing is awkward between us, lovey. Just ask me whatever’s on your pretty mind.”
You knew Harry would be considerate of anything you had to ask him, but that didn’t help you become any less anxious. You feared being made fun of or being ridiculed for asking such a thing. It was sometimes hard for you to realize that Harry was absolutely nothing like your husband - he wouldn’t shame you, brush you off, or mock you for anything you said or wanted to do.
You trusted him more than any other human. There was no reason to be afraid, no reason to fear because you knew nothing would actually go wrong. If anything, he’d just disagree and you could move on from it as if it never happened. So, with courage finally bubbling in your stomach again, you spoke.
“I.. I was.. wondering if.. not all the time, but like.. maybe.. sometimes.. we can.. try.. different things.”
Your eyes immediately bolted shut and you felt Harry lean up, his eyes on your blush covered face. He was slightly unsure of what you meant exactly, but he didn’t say anything rude to you. He saw how tight you were squeezing your eyes, and he knew that you were nervous.
“What do you mean by that, angel?”
You swallowed harshly, your hands shaking against his chest and hip. “I.. like..”
He reached down to his own hip and gently picked up your hand. He gave it a squeeze and held onto it, hoping to calm you down some because you were obviously upset. He figured that if you were this nervous it had to be something serious, or something that made you slightly uncomfortable. So, he used his common sense and what he knew about you and how you felt about certain things.. and finally finished your sentence for you.
“In bed?”
A nervous breath slipped past your lips and you nodded extremely softly. You let your forehead fall against his shoulder, your eyes never opening. You were trying to hold back tears and if you looked at him, you would definitely get overwhelmed and cry.
“Hey, it’s alright, sugar.” He whispered, his hand still holding onto yours. “We can try whatever you want, whenever you want.”
“Don’t be nervous about anything. If you want to try something we can.” He assured you again, moving your hand back onto his hip so he could grip your waist again.
You snaked both arms around his torso, wishing you could just fade into him and disappear. “What if.. you think it’s weird?”
He licked his lips, refraining from pushing his hand into your hair. “I won’t think anything is weird, honey. If you’re genuinely curious about something.. then I’m not going to make fun of you or think it’s weird. And.. you can tell me, baby. Tell me what you wanna try.”
It was hard for you to keep calm, but as the seconds passed, you were starting to feel less embarrassed. Harry was always up for anything you wanted to do outside of the bedroom. He lets you paint his nails when you’re bored, he’ll read books to you when you’re too tired to do it yourself, he’ll try any weird foods you want to cook, anything. He’s the most considerate, understanding, and supportive person you’ve ever met.
“Just.. like.. maybe.. r-rougher sometimes.. Just.. not-“ You paused, unable to express what you wanted to say.
Harry thankfully took over for you. “So.. want me to go faster? Maybe.. harder sometimes?”
You nodded instantly, glad that he was speaking and you weren’t. He bit his cheek fo a moment, but decided he had to show you he was open to anything, so he kept throwing out ideas.
“We can do whatever. I can.. be a little more mean.. or.. talk dirtier. Is that what you’re wanting to do?”
“Mhm.. and.. maybe just.. maybe.. um.. not hurt me, but.. just put your hand on my throat.. and.. just.. like you said.. dirtier.”
He was slightly taken back by how absolutely nervous you were. Sometimes you stammer over your words, but never like this. He felt really bad for you, because it was evident someone had shamed you before - or made you feel like your desires weren’t valid or serious. He felt like he owed you everything everyone else never gave you - because he loved you.
“Darling, I don’t want you to ever feel like you can’t tell me something, especially like this. If you want to do new things, then we definitely can.” He wanted to be sure you knew he was okay with it.
“I love you.”
“I love you more.” He hugged you tight, feeling like he could’ve said more to you, but he didn’t want to overwhelm you with the conversation. “How long do you think we can stay in here?”
You pulled back to reach into his pocket, knowing his phone was there. You checked the time and let out a deep sigh. He didn’t like the sound of that. When your eyes met his, you both frowned.
“We should probably go back.. they’re serving dinner in twenty minutes.”
He grunted. “Do you think he’ll stay after dinner, so we can.. come back?”
You nodded. “He already told me he’s staying ‘til nine. That gives us an hour.”
“Okay. I’ll wait a bit before I go back down.” He carefully pressed his hand on your jaw, not wanting to mess up your makeup. “I love you, baby.”
His lips feel against yours and they stayed in sync for a few moments. It felt so short, but yet so long. You whined when he tore his mouth away. His hands fell from your body and he stepped back to get his blazer.
“I love you.” You sighed out, grabbing the door knob. “Do I look okay?”
He looked you up and down yet again tonight. “You look perfect. Not a hair out of place.”
You smiled sweetly, deciding not to say anything back as you opened the door and stepped into the hall. It broke your heart to leave him in that room - to leave him at all. You knew it had to be this way until you could legally solve everything. Harry was willing to wait as long as necessary, but you always felt so guilty when you had to leave him.
He treated you like a queen, like you hung the moon and stars. He was everything anyone would want in a man, in a lover - in a soulmate. You adored him, loved him. It hurt you terribly to be away from him. It hurt even more to know he was in the same building as you, but you could hardly see him.
a/n: there wasn’t a good place to stop, so I basically included 2 parts. Anyways, let me know what you think! Sorry there’s no smut, there will be in future updates! (Also, I had a oc-name in this but I removed it, ignore it if I accidentally missed it!)
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