7. Recording
—— Harry woke to the sound of his phone alarm. He blinked and yawned, turning the alarm off. A slow, dimpled smile lighting up his face as he saw Charley sprawled out next to him on her stomach, her head resting on her arms, facing away from him. The sheets were at her waist, revealing the beautiful, honey-coloured expanse of her bare back. He reached over and gently ran his hand up and down it, marvelling at how soft her skin was. Slowly, she came awake at his touch, humming as she twisted her head to him, her drowsy hazel eyes struggling to focus on him.
When she smiled a slow, sleepy smile at him, his breath caught at her beauty and he immediately leant over and placed a gentle kiss on her pillowy lips. "Good morning beautiful," he murmured into her mouth before pulling back.
Charley smiled and shut her eyes briefly to savour his touch. "'Morning," she said, finally pushing herself up on her elbows and looking at him. "What's the time?"
"It's 8am London time," Harry told her, eyes flicking over her face and messy bed-hair. He loved waking up to her next to him, she always looked so sexy. "You look beautiful."
Charley pulled a face at him. "Yeah, I'm sure," she crossed her eyes and poked her tongue out.
"Well,
now
you don't," he laughed, joking because she still looked beautiful. "But it is time to get up if I'm going to get to the studio on time, even though I'd quite like to do a couple naughty things to you..." Harry trailed off as she raised an eyebrow at him and sat up, revealing her bare breasts. Maybe they did have time. He could be quick.
Charley looked at his speculative gaze and laughed, removing herself from the bed. She knew that look. "Harry! I will not be responsible for you being late. I'm sure your manager already hates me," she laughed, withdrawing to the bathroom and shutting the door just as a pillow sailed through the air and hit it.
"No fair!" Harry moaned and tried to think about other things to dissipate his morning hardness. He got up and went to the second bathroom to use the toilet, deciding to have a quick shower there as well, knowing if he had one with Charley, things would end up back in the bed. He grinned at the thought as he stepped under the warm water.
Harry came back into the bedroom, freshly washed to see Charley through the open door of the ensuite. She was already dressed and applying some makeup.
Wow, that was quick,
Harry thought, not saying anything out loud. The other girls he'd spent time with had taken forever. As he rummaged through his suitcase for a pair of navy slim fit pants and a white t-shirt, he watched her. She was oblivious to his gaze, and he took his time as he pulled on boxer briefs and then the trousers. He found his brown Italian loafers, pulling them on without socks and rolling up the bottom of his pants to just above his ankles. Men's fashion was just something he'd always enjoyed, especially the quirky on occasion. Today was a casual day. He glanced up to see Charley finishing up in the bathroom.
She was wearing black skinny jeans, a tight, black singlet top that showed off her perfect cleavage, brown suede ankle boots and a thin, brown leather belt that looked worn from use. He watched her apply some mascara as he pulled his white shirt over his head and ran a hand through his curls. And then she was packing up her small makeup bag and leaving the bathroom. He smiled as her eyes met his and a corner of her mouth lilted shyly in return. His breath caught at the light flush appearing in her cheeks. That would never get old.
"You look perfect," Harry said, taking her in. She looked like a model or an actress from a James Bond movie. The black clothing and her black hair set off her honey coloured skin to perfection. When she picked up a black leather jacket and shrugged it on along with fixing her gold-rimmed sunglasses on top of her head, her transformation into a fully-fledged movie star was complete and his breath caught at her beauty.
"You do too," Charley murmured as she pulled her hair out from the collar of her jacket, meaning every word. He was effortlessly stylish, the white t-shirt accentuating his tan skin and lean frame. She could see the outlines of his ink through it, the silver cross necklace hanging in its usual place. Harry was the sexiest man she had ever met. She didn't have to look too far up into his eyes with her heels on, but she was still half a head shorter. They just smiled at each other for a moment, both trying to read the other's expression, until Harry dropped his mouth to hers and gave her a slow kiss that left her breathless.
"Come on, management is waiting downstairs," Harry said reluctantly as he finally pulled away, dropping one last peck on her soft lips. Charley nodded her agreement and, mind whirling from the kiss, flung her brown leather purse over her shoulder as they left the bedroom and exited the suite. Harry kept a tight hold on her hand as they entered the lobby and suddenly Charley could hear the throb of screams from outside. Her skin prickled with...
anticipation? Fear?
She wasn't sure. Whatever it was, she knew this was something she'd have to get used to happening wherever she went with Harry. The thought didn't sit well with her so she pushed it away.
Harry conversed with his team for a moment, before turning to Charley and smiling reassuringly at her. "Are you ready? The car is right out front." Charley smiled at him and nodded.
Harry hesitated. "We could go round the back, but management want the publicity for the recording today..." He trailed off hoping she'd understand.
Charley squeezed his hand. "Harry, it's fine. I've done this sort of thing a couple times before," she chided him gently, and winked so he would see she truly wasn't worried. She felt warm inside as she saw genuine amusement spark in his eyes, so she laughed and gave him a playful shove. "Let's go!"
"All right, you heard her," he grinned at the security team around them, pointing at the doors dramatically with his free arm. "Release the beast!" The team chuckled and headed forwards.
Charley took a surreptitious breath as she and Harry both pulled their sunglasses down over their eyes. Harry's hand wrapped around hers again as the security team of six that flanked them strode deliberately towards the doors. As their forms became more visible behind the glass, the bedlam outside was unreal. At least a hundred or more people were out there - and not just press - fans, too. She could see the signs being held up. She could even see a couple that made her heart warm, despite her nervousness.
We love Harley! - Treat people with kindness! - All the love! - We support you and Charley! S
omehow, they'd all gotten wind of where Harry was staying.
The first two security members opened the doors and stepped outside, and Harry and Charley, followed closely by two more bodyguards stepped out behind them. The moment that everyone caught sight of Charley, and realised who she was, was obvious. An even louder roar erupted and everyone went mental.
"
HARLEY!"
The crowd screamed in a hundred voices.
"Charley's here!"
It spread like wildfire. It was very apparent that no one had known she would be here with him in London. Time slowed down for Charley as everyone screamed her name as the security team cleared a path for them.
The girls piled behind the media were crying and screaming and holding their signs as high as they could. Charley took it all in in the ten steps it took them to reach the open door of the SUV. Harry's warm hand in hers was all that kept her grounded as questions were shouted at her,
her;
it was usually Caroline that was being shouted at. She noted Harry's casual smile and waves to the crowd somewhere in the back of her mind. He looked cool as a cucumber - and she tried to smile at the fans, waving too, taking her lead from Harry. Screams doubled.
And then she noticed something alarming. As Charley's eyes dropped once more to prepare to get into the open vehicle, her attention was caught by a flash of red in amongst the media. A girl had fallen and no one had noticed. "Harry!" Charley called in alarm, wrenching her hand away from his.
She was going to be trampled!
Her voice was lost in the noise, and she saw Harry turn to her in surprise as she bolted toward the crowd.
At first Harry didn't understand what Charley was doing, and panic flashed through him as she dodged away from him, right towards the cameras. What was she doing? Then his eyes narrowed in on where Charley was focused, and he shouted in alarm.
"Back up!" He yelled, running to aid Charley where she was yelling and shoving at the cameramen who were overjoyed she was so close, and not realising the danger. Immediately the security team were there. And finally, everyone began to realise what was happening. The crowd parted, the cameras aimed down now at the fallen girl in a red coat who lay dazed in a heap, surely not more than fifteen years old.
Charley crouched down next to her, pushing her sunglasses up onto her head so she could look the girl in her eyes. She looked terrified and in shock. "Are you okay, sweetie?" she asked, adrenalin coursing through her body, a ringing in her ears. This was nuts. The girl looked up at her with wide eyes and hesitantly nodded, tears leaking out her eyes in shock. Charley looked up at the media surrounding them. "Can you back up a little please? Give her some space?" She took pains to make sure she was as polite as possible, though she felt like screaming at these vultures, who even now were going to make sure this was the next big story. However, they weren't all bad, and most of them backed up a few steps, a couple guys being vocal and forcing the less-polite back as well.
And then Harry was there, crouching next to her, holding a hand out to the girl, and the girl's bewildered eyes switched from Charley to him, and she started to cry. "Oh my God, Harry," she wailed, and dissolved into sobs at meeting her hero.
"It's okay, it's okay," Harry said gently. "Can you stand?" The girl nodded and he gently gripped her hand to help her stand, Charley putting an arm around the girl's waist to steady her.
"Who are you here with?"Charley asked the hysterical girl, who clung to Harry's arm and repeated her thanks to them both.
