A/N: Thank you for your lovely comments! I so appreciate them, I wish I could reply directly :) I just realised I should be uploading the text via .txt file, all my formatting had dropped out, but that should be fixed from this chapter onwards. Enjoy!
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4. Discovery
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Charley awoke feeling like she'd had the best sleep of her life. She reached her arms above her head then stretched her entire body from top to bottom like a cat, feeling sore muscles protest. In her still-sleepy state, she couldn't remember why for a second. Then she felt the long, delicious burn from between her legs as she came further awake and she grinned. The drought was well and truly over. She didn't want to open her eyes just yet and she flung her arms out next to her, seeking another warm body.
She frowned. The sheets next to her were empty. She opened her eyes and squinted against the bright light that was streaming in through the big, glass windows. Light blue sheets were all around her, but Harry wasn't under them. Brow creasing in confusion, she sat up, the sheet falling down to her waist and she remembered she was naked. Clutching the sheet back up to her chest for a moment she realised that was ridiculous and dropped it again, scoffing at herself inwardly. Harry had seen plenty last night. The thought made her insides squirm and her smile broadened, swinging her legs out of the bed, taking a moment to orient herself then heading for the bathroom.
Peeking in, she looked around, but it was empty. She shrugged and used the toilet then quickly helped herself to another short shower to freshen up. This time she kept an eye on the doorway not wanting to be taken by surprise again lest she slipped and broke an arm. The thought amused her and she laughed. Hearing herself laugh out loud, Charley realised she was in a fabulous mood -- and all thanks to one Mr. Harry Styles.
Humming, she hopped out the shower and towelled dry, then dropped it over the empty heated towel rack and walked casually naked through his bedroom to the huge closet she'd discovered last night while trying to find the bathroom. Entering slowly, she blew out a breath of awe as she looked around. Everything was so nicely coordinated. There was a dresser in the centre with drawers that looked like they were filled with accessories. This is the kind of thing rich folk on TV had. Even Caroline didn't have a closet like this, and she was a famous model. Absentmindedly she dragged a hand over a row of hanging shirts, then fingered a pile of black and dark blue jeans. A series of perfectly pressed dress shirts and suits in navy, black, charcoal -- she even spied a salmon pink one. They looked expensive.
She turned back to the more casual side of his wardrobe and finally selected one of his button up shirts with rolled up sleeves, and pulled it on, pleased to note it fell midway down her thighs. Very respectable. She'd have to fish out her clothes from the pool, Charley thought with another muffled laugh.
Really
, she scolded herself.
Get control of yourself
. But she couldn't. The satisfaction was real and she practically pranced out the room to find Harry. He'd be here somewhere.
She was halfway down the stairs when she heard a crash and then the sound of Harry swearing. She ducked her head down to look under the railings and saw him kneeling at the bottom of the stairs beneath her, trying to pick up what appeared to be pancakes from the ground. A tray was set on the ground next to him and her mood increased. Was he bringing her breakfast? He wasn't wearing a shirt. Just grey sweatpants.
Yummy
, she thought, and not about the food.
Charley danced down the stairs and knelt next to him, trying to help, noting he'd also spilled a glass of juice, the glass broken into two pieces. He looked up at her wryly as her hazel eyes sparkled into his green ones.
Charley raised an eyebrow playfully at him and smiled. "Did you trip?"
Harry, who was cursing his luck, couldn't take his eyes from hers now that they'd connected. Hell she looked gorgeous this morning. His eyes traced over her face, clear of all makeup she was more stunning than ever. Then his gaze drifted down her neck at the open neckline, taking in the hint of cleavage under his shirt she'd chosen to wear. It's why he'd dropped the tray.
"I was about to come up and saw you coming down the stairs, dressed like...that," he said, waving a hand toward her, closing his eyes in embarrassment and groaning. "You're not wearing any underwear again."
Charley slapped her hands on her thighs in glee and laughed out loud, her good humour this morning turning into downright elation and Harry stared at her in wonder. This had never happened before with a girl, this carefree humour and naturalness. She was completely unfiltered. It was sexy as hell, he found.
"The underwear thing is really getting to you, Styles," she winked at him and gave him a broad smile, eyes sparkling more than ever as she stood up. "I'll make sure to get some nice ones for you." She gave her hips a sway for good measure as she headed into the kitchen and turned back to see him watching her, frozen kneeling on the floor. She laughed again then opened the cupboard beneath the sink and blatantly bent over to find a cleaning cloth.
"Absolutely not, Pearce!" Harry protested using her last name in retaliation as the shirt rode up over her backside, and in a second was behind her, spinning her and pulling her up into his arms, laughingly kissing her. "Behave!" He admonished her, then kissed her more deeply, and when the laughter quieted and her hands were tightening on his neck, he pulled slowly away, looking down at her with a warm smile.
"Good morning," he murmured, his hands pressed to the small of her back, keeping her firmly against him. He kissed her softly again and she smiled into it.
"Indeed," she breathed into his mouth and for a moment they stood staring at each other with broad smiles on their faces, like happy fools in a bubble, her hands still locked around his neck.
"I made you breakfast," he said a little shyly, and Charley melted at his little boy cuteness. It seemed at odds with his usual flirty, sexy vibe. This was a new side to him, and she liked it.
"I saw. Thank you," she said shyly in return. "It looked good. Is there any more?" She played with the longer hair at the nape of his neck, drinking in his beautiful face, noting the darker stubble now around his jawline. It was sexy as hell. Without thinking, she drew a hand to his chin and traced his jaw with her index finger before pressing it to his full bottom lip. He bit gently down onto it, then sucked it into his mouth for a second. Charley's nostrils flared and her pupils dilated as she watched her finger be lathed by his tongue before he released it.
Harry's grip tightened on her, but he forced himself to relax it. She would be sore this morning and besides, he didn't want her to think he only wanted her for sex. He wasn't usually so sexually aggressive -- he wanted to show her he was a gentleman. He loved cuddling and talking with her, too. His chest constricted a little as he looked at her.
She was such a sweet creature.
He stared deeply into her eyes, searching the hazel depths, amazed that she was here with him.
Charley breathed deeply and trailed her finger it back down to his chin, then pressed on it, tilting her mouth up to him and he acquiesced to the kiss immediately, closing his mouth down over hers. It was gentle and full of surprising tenderness. The tightness in her chest returned as she tasted the sweetness in his kiss.
Finally, he released her, letting out his own deep breath. He looked to his right and then back at her, tilting his head in that direction and quirked a smile at her. "There's more pancakes on the breakfast bar," he said wryly. The smile she returned made his heart stutter and he let her go as she walked over to the bar and climbed onto one of the stools, crossing her long, sinuous bare legs and reaching for a pancake.
Charley realised she was starving. She tore off a piece with her fingers, took a bite and closed her eyes. These were fluffy and golden and tasted like vanilla. She heard Harry cleaning up the broken glass and spilt juice, then he rustled in the fridge and saw him bring out more orange juice and two new glasses from the cabinet behind him. He also retrieved a bottle of maple syrup from under the stairs she hadn't noticed and she tried to hide a grin behind her hand.
Harry shot her a dirty look, not missing a thing, and sat up on the stool next to her. "It's all your fault," he scolded her, trying to hide his own smile. "I'm going to buy a whole drawer of knickers to keep here."
Charley laughed lightly at that and took the maple syrup he offered without saying a word. Harry leaned an elbow on the counter and rested his face in it, watching her eat for a moment. She was very expressive. He watched her pop a piece of syrup-coated pancake in her mouth and close her eyes and moan a little. His mouth went dry and he had to work hard to snap himself out of it.
"Harry, these are so good," Charley said, swallowing. She glanced around, noting a dirty frypan and bowl in the sink, traces of flour on the bench. "Did you make these yourself?"
Harry was indignant. "Who else would make them?" He reached for the juice and poured out two glasses. "I'll have you know I'm an excellent cook."
Charley grinned again as she popped another piece in her mouth and swallowed before replying. "Well, you live like you should have a private chef or something. Not to mention a personal stylist from the looks of your closet. What's with that anyway? Trust fund baby?"
Her tone was casual and teasing, and he knew she didn't really care, but Harry tensed and wasn't sure how to answer. She hadn't clicked on to who he was yet. It had happened before, but not with someone he'd been dating.
Dating? You've only been on two dates, Styles
, he reminded himself. He tried to formulate a response as he watched her take a sip of juice and then dive back into her pancakes. It made him smile to see her eat so enthusiastically. He'd wondered if it would be awkward this morning, but seemed there was no such thing with Charley. It pleased him more than he could say.
Harry cleared his throat. "Ah, no. No trust fund. You know I told you I was in music, right?" He paused but she just nodded and looked at him questioningly. "Well, I was in a band and we did quite well for a few years."
