As soon as the words left her mouth Nikki instantly regretted the retort. She hadn't meant it as a jibe or a slight on Harry's masculinity and she did for a micro second register the hurt that seemed to flicker in his eyes.
"Sorry about that…" he murmured, avoiding her gaze before taking her hands in his "I promise for the rest of my life, for as long as I live, I will make you come first…see…I'm not exactly the male slut you accuse me of being….well…maybe I am a little. I know this will sound clichéd but you have to believe me Nikki that has never ever happened to me with anyone else before. Id love to blame the medication and the booze but it was all you. Ive wanted you for so so long that I couldn't believe that you had led me into the bathroom and undressed me".
Nikki grasped his face tightly between her hands and forced him to look her in the eye.
"I'm so sorry Harry. I didn't mean it as an insult. I was flattered and awed and taken aback. You made me feel so wanted. No one. No one has ever made me feel a quarter of what you made me feel. That moment was the most sensual experience of my life. Trust me. I shouldn't have made little of it by well…making little of you".
Both of them chuckled and the tension dissipated. They stared at each other in easy silence for a few moments before Harry put his mouth to her ear.
"I really meant it you know. I love you. I'm in love with you. Always have been. Always. Never doubt it. I'm never going to be able to let you go…marry me".
"Harry!" Nikki implored pulling his head back by his hair so she could look him in the face "Don't you dare! I said no more jokes!".
Harry slid to his knees and gripped her hips gently. He gazed up at her and while still holding his hair she drew her other hand to her mouth.
"How many carets? Or is it cabbages? I can't remember…Its been so long since I proposed….in any case I want you to have a ring with the highest vegetable rating there is. Oh and I'm not taking no for an answer. You're mine now that's it. My woman. You will take the Cunningham name and you will bear me at least four miniature Nikkis' and they will all have your eyes and hair and beautiful nature. They will be called Nikki Junior, Little Niks, Harriot and Leona. I will have sexual favours provided by you on demand. Alright? In return you can use me as your sexual slave and…although it pains me….you can officially have my desk".
Nikki stared down at him, her face solemn. The hand holding the hair was shaking. When she didn't speak for several long moments panic began to surge through Harry's veins.
"How could I cock it up in less than an hour?" he thought, still holding her gaze. Her solemn expression hadn't changed. Her face was frozen. Finally she spoke. She whispered one word.
"No"
Harry's face fell and he moved to rise from his knees but she held him in place on the floor.
"I demand…..at least one Harry junior…or else….no deal….and breakfast in bed on Sunday" she whispered as tears splashed onto Harry's face. His heart was ready to explode out of his ribcage. Harry's grip tightened on her hips "I was joking".
Nikki's breath stopped in her lungs and she was struck with momentary horror until he continued "I know its carats".
A huge grin then split his face as he rose and almost knocked her off her feet with a kiss.
"Bastard" she mumbled against his lips and tongue, still gripping his hair. They kissed passionately for several minutes until Harry's stomach interrupted proceedings by growling loudly. Nikki giggled.
"I am pretty sure I'm going to faint if I don't eat " Harry whined.
Nikki grinned at him and palmed his face "since I am now your woman I suppose I must feed you" then turned and made her way towards the oven.
"Ten lashes if its terrible" Harry warned and slapped her bottom as she turned away from him. She glared at him and he smirked "I'll make sure you enjoy them though…from across my knee".
Said casserole was slightly more 'crispy' on top than she would have liked but she was sure it would be edible at worst. As they sat side by side at the breakfast bar enjoying their food they both marvelled at how apart from the obvious physical aspect to their relationship, nothing had changed.
Nikki lifted her wine glass "To sleepovers with mates and midnight feasts". Harry clinked her glass. "You were never my 'mate' I'm afraid" he said gravely "I think part of me always knew you were my missus in waiting". Nikki smiled contently and placed a chaste kiss on his lips. Now that Harry's appetite was sated….in every way she noticed the elation was disappearing from his mood. Nikki placed her hand over his, like she had done on countless occasions before. "I'll come with you tomorrow" she whispered, reading his mind. Harry nodded and sighed deeply.
"What a truly extraordinary day. The best day of my life and one of the worst". "I will be here every step of the way Harry…I know….I know what your going though…I will do whatever I can to help you".
Harry stared at her and another wave of guilt washed over him as he observed her. He wondered how someone with such tragedy and loneliness in her life could be so good, so kind. She had no family left. Himself and Leo were the closest thing to any semblance of family she had.
"We will be a family Nikki. I already consider you so. Have done for so long. So does Leo. Even if he can be a cranky old crank".
Nikki smiled and hugged his arm. "You weren't kidding about the Cunningham brood you expect me to produce then?".
"Nope. But you should truly reconsider a Harry junior. Just imagine me. Aged 2. You think I pout and whinge now at 40? Just imagine the havoc a Harry junior could wreak on our lives".
"Well unless you have a diploma in genetics that I don't know about Harry I don't think you can pick and choose like that" she laughed then stood quickly grabbing his hand.
"Oh please Harry show me a photo! Please!".
"No"
"Harry"
"They are awful"
"Please Harry!"
"Alright but no tormenting me afterwards"
"Why would I torment you?"
"Promise?"
"Ok I promise!"
Harry left the warmth of the kitchen and returned moments later with a dusty photo album which he reluctantly handed over to Nikki.
She gleefully took it from him and began thumbing through photos.
"Oh I love the seventies fashion!" she declared. Her eyes then narrowed and Harry groaned.
"Is that you Harry? Are….they? Are they?….are they elves shoes?…my word…you…you were rather portly weren't you…".
"That's it!" Harry shouted jumping off his chair and grabbing the album from her hands.
"You broke your promise about the torment".
"But I'm not tormenting you!" she implored "I think you're absolutely adorable. Look its normal for babies to be chubby. Its cute!".
"In my defence it was Christmas…..who begins weaning a baby at Christmas….with all the pudding…and…turkey…and Cadburys selection boxes….I promise you by Easter I was the epitome of toddler trimness".
"I don't think so Haribo" Nikki teased holding up a photo of an overweight 2 year old Harry wearing a yellow wool jumper with a rabbit embroidered on it….April 8th Nineteen Seventy-"
"That's it I said! You promised…..I never could have imagined you'd be so cruel Nicola…my opinion of you is changing…we are definitely not having a Harry junior….poor boy would be horrible scarred by his cruel tease of a mother".
Nikki stood and leaned in towards Harry's mouth. Moving as if to kiss him she lingered on the edge of his lips and pulled the belt on her dressing gown, allowing it to fall open slightly. With her other hand she reached under Harry's towel and cupped him gently.
"I. will. Have. My. Little. Boy" she whispered as she felt him harden in her hand. She watched for the moment Harry's eyes closed slightly before she yanked the photo album from his slacking grip. Running down the hallway with him hot on her heels she ran into his bedroom and threw herself on the bed. Harry was out of breath and holding and failing to hold onto his towel. He towered over her and discarded the towel "why am I wearing this bloody thing anyway?" he muttered before lowering himself down on the bed beside Nikki.
Nikki was right. His room was exactly how it was when he was a teenager. Seventeen though. Not fifteen. Seventeen when he left for college and the visits home became less and less. He pulled the duvet over himself and Nikki. It was so so strange being here with her. But he was beyond thankful that she was here. He pulled her flush against him and began peeling the dressing gown away from her body until she was naked. She rested her chin on his chest and looked into his eyes.
"Does it feel strange?" she asked him as if reading his mind "to have me in your childhood bed?".
He stroked her soft hair between his fingers "yes it does".
Nikki smiled and kissed him softly.
"I love you" he told her solemnly.
"Ditto" she replied and moved herself on top of him. They made love slowly, silently, tenderly. Harry held her hip and gently palmed her breasts as she moved slowly, torturously, on top of him. They never broke eye contact as she moved and Harry lifted his hips to meet every movement she made. Nikki rested her hands on Harry's chest and allowed emotion overwhelm her again. It was less rushed this time. Less urgent. It was incredible. Harry fell into the most fitful sleep he had had in months. He held Nikki closely to him, his chest flush against her back, her head over his chin, his hand resting on her hip, his fingers brushing her navel.
The clear night skies had made way for frost which lay crisply on the short grass and trees outside. The buzzing woke Nikki and it took several confused moments before she remembered where she was. It was Leo.
"Nikki….ive been trying to reach Harry". Nikki still half asleep shook her bedfellow "Harry Harry sweetheart wake up…its Leo".
Harry blinked rapidly and took the phone.
"Morning Leo" he said between coughs.
Leo's tone indicated he'd been awake for several hours but that he was also somewhat confused. "Morning Harry, or is it Sweetheart?".
Nikki hid under the duvet as Harry's face contorted in horror as he realised that Leo now knew.