Thanks to Nia for the Beta!
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The last chapter- Hope you approve!
"Could I borrow something to sleep in?" she asked with slight embarrassment.
"Ah, yes, of course." He turned to a set of dark wooded doors and, opening his wardrobe, he revealed a selection of neatly-hung, starched shirts. "Ermm..." he mused, desperately trying to think where else he might have something more suitable for her to sleep in.
"A shirt's fine. I mean, if that's ok with you?"
His stomach flipped in surprise. "Of course; you take your pick." Turning to face her, his face aglow, he purred sweetly, "Goodnight then."
"Night Harry." The colour rose to her cheeks.
Wetting his lips he stepped closer, and tilting and lowering his head to hers, he placed a cautious kiss on her lips. The irrational fear of rejection thumping through his heart was discarded and replaced with relief as her lips returned his touch.
Pulling away he viewed her coy smile. "Sweet dreams," he winked and, letting his hand slide down her arm, he collected up some night clothes of his own and, leaving her alone to change, he left the room.
Watching him leave, the taste of his lips still on hers, she turned to inspect the contents of Harry's wardrobe. With a secret joy she selected one she'd seen him wear a few times before, unable to hold back her delight in the prospect of wearing something of his. Something that still carried his wonderful scent.
Her clothes neatly laid over a chair, she had only half buttoned the shirt when she caught a glimpse of herself in the full length mirror that donned the wall. Her back lace underwear was partially visible through the thick white cotton, and her dark locks tousled over her shoulders. For a woman who was more than humble in issuing self praise, even she had to admit that right now, she did look and feel rather sexy. It was however a silver sparkle glistening round her neck that made her step closer and study her reflection. Running the warm metal through her fingers she gazed at it in close study. It wasn't bold in its beauty - in fact, from a distance, it looked almost plain - and only with closer inspection could you actually appreciate the delicacy of workmanship, and the skill in its craftsmanship. It echoed her character so well, and she pondered as to what she might one day place inside the locket. Quick to not let her imagination run away with her, she turned her head to her shoulder, inhaling the crisp smell of him that lined the cotton, and made her way over to the empty bed. Pulling back the heavy covers, she slid her silky bare legs beneath the duvet, and with a discontented sigh, let her head fall into the pillows.
She was in Harry's bed, in Harry's shirt, and Harry - mere meters away in the other room - meant she was no longer sleepy. Far from it; instead she was now in some sort of hellish torment where she simply ached to be back in his arms.
As she flicked the switch off on the bedroom lamp, the room was plunged into darkness. The flat seemed quiet, and no slither of light seeped through from under the doorway; Harry must have switched the lights out for himself too. Her mind eventually drifted through the last six months, and her thoughts turned to the time before she left, about her time in Cyprus and of course the turn of events this evening. A surprise feeling of relief spread through her; she reckoned she'd learnt more about want she wanted with Harry in one night than she had in six years. Having crossed that invisible line that splits friends from lovers - and holding no regrets, just modest excitement - she resigned herself to the fact that she would now have to wait until tomorrow to speak with him again, and that tonight, sooner or later, she would have to sleep.
Gentle tapping woke her from a slumber, and a quite squeak sounded as the bedroom door creaked open. Propping herself up onto her elbows, the lights still off, she could just make out Harry's figure by the moon light that shined through the windows.
"Sorry, I left my phone in here," he whispered. "Is it alright if I get it?"
Her heart immediately beat faster in his presence. "Of course." The darkness masked her inquisitive frown as she briefly wondered why he'd have any need for his phone in the middle of the night.
Pacing over to the cabinet on the far side of the room, his silhouette suggested he was wearing a T-shirt and what seemed to be just boxer shorts, and Ruth was left unable to resist filling in the missing detail with her imagination.
"Thanks," he whispered back to her and, phone in tow, went to return along the route he'd entered.
"H-Harry?" she called.
"Yes?"
"C-come over here a second."
There was a pause, and she pictured the expression on his face. His figure moved smoothly towards the bed, halting just at its edge. "Are you ok?" he whispered.
She began to babble. "Yes I am, I just... tonight and this, between us, I'm glad ...you-er, you know? ... And-erm... I still think that slow is good, I think it's important-"
Harry sat himself on the edge of the bed. Giving her his full attention, he squeezed her hand. "I know, I think so too." The moon light catching the side of his face, she could see the sincerity in his expression.
"G-good."
"Good," he softly repeated and, getting his bearings, he felt for her cheek before leaning in and kissing her sweetly on the lips, murmuring his satisfaction as they parted.
His weight began to rise off the bed. As it did, and as she realised she'd once again be left without him this evening, she lost all control over what she would allow herself to say, and couldn't help but blurt, "I feel bad though, m-making you sleep on the couch..."
Still on the edge of the bed, Harry paused. What would you suggest,was what he wanted to ask, but an inner caution ensured his silence.
She was thankful it was dark and he couldn't see the colour of her burning cheeks. "You could stay, here, w-with me, tonight?"
His voice was low and rasped in his throat. "I'd-er like that, if you're sure?"
She smile. "I'm sure," she said, and shuffling over, she gave Harry space to climb in.
Harry lay to her side, but she could sense the silent tension; he lay rigid, uncertain in their newly expanded relationship of what boundaries he could and couldn't cross.
Harry was perched precariously on the far edge of the bed. Still with a smile, she rolled her eyes. "Harry, what are you doing?"
"I-er, don't want you to feel uncomfortable."
She started to chuckle. "I don't, but youcertainly look it."
"Yes... Well ok, I am a bit," he admitted, and in a flashback to his early teens, he remembered having felt the same feeling of nervous stupidity.
Ruth reached across to his far wrist. Gripping lightly, she surprised him by pulling gently, rolling him over to face her and, finishing the move, she tucked his hand neatly around her waist. Immediately she felt his body relax and sink into hers, but she missed the smile on his face as her head nuzzled to his chest.
He resettled himself, more than willing to be her pillow for the night, and held her at his chest. His fingers were free to lazily trail up and down over the cotton that covered her back and, comforted by her occasional pawing at his chest, his body found a sense of heavenly rest.
Neither yet asleep, he heard her mummer, "Harry?"
"Hmm?"
Voice still muffled by his chest, her tone was light. "Y-know, you could have thought of a better excuse."
"Pardon?" he replied in genuine bewilderment.
"Your phone," she replied dryly.
He smiled, amusement in his voice. "Ah, right, that. What gave me away?"
"Well, you'd managed the whole day without it."
Silence, he had no defence to give.
"So did you know that I'd ask you to stay... if you came back?" she asked, on the brink of sleep and not really caring how forward the question might be.
He smirked as she lay cuddled in his arms. He was a man lost to infatuation, and his fingers found the edges of her hair. He brushed some stray locks from her face and rushed them through his fingers. "Actually, I thought I might just get another kiss," he uttered quietly to her ear, his head moving closer. "But as turns out, this is much better."
In reply, she squeezed herself closer to him and lifting her head, managed to greet his waiting lips with a kiss before sinking back to his chest. The steady rise and fall of his chest plus a heady mix of aftershave and cigar smoke that still clung to his skin began to lull her to sleep. A deep satisfaction filled him as they both happily fell quiet and as he stretched himself out, his legs brushing up against her silk smooth skin, he hoped morning might never come. Placing a final kiss in her hair, his eyes fell shut and together they surrendered to sleep.
As his brain powered down, one final blissful thought echoed quietly through his mind. The specific words may still lay unsaid but 'it' was now more wonderful that had ever dreamed.
'It' was finally a reality.
-End-
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