Secrets / Black & White / Playing for Keeps

“Harry’s here?” Lara’s eyes widened nervously. “Why is he here?”

“Because I told him to come.” Louis said flatly, pressing the buzzer to allow Harry in.

“Why did you have to do that for?” Lara cried.

“Maybe I’m sick of always being put in the middle. Maybe it’s time you both sorted things out.”

“I thought you weren’t really talking anymore.”

“We’re not.” Louis said dully. “But like I said, you guys need to sort your shit out because he’s going downhill without you.”

Lara opened her mouth to protest but was interrupted by a knock on the door.

“Well, he got here in a hurry, didn’t he?” Louis said as he eyed Lara pointedly. “It looks like someone is eager to see you.”

Instead he opened the door to reveal a stony faced Harry who stalked in, shooting Louis a suspicious look before settling his gaze on Lara who suddenly felt very uncomfortable on the couch. The memories came to her in flashes as she remembered sitting on that very couch more than a year ago with Harry and Louis on either side of her.

Harry had placed his hand on the back of Lara’s head and his other hand behind Louis’ head, bringing them both close together.

They paused for a moment and all Lara could see was Louis’ nervous eyes and the way he bit his bottom lip in anticipation. Lara felt Harry’s hand lightly press on the back of her head and she saw Louis’ lips part before she closed her eyes. Harry must have pushed Louis’ head too because they bumped lips before his lips found hers again and they kissed.

It was a strange threesome that had been fuelled by alcohol and had ended with Harry abruptly leaving before the deed was consummated. Despite being the instigator, he had regretted the entire experience and it sparked a jealousy within him, despite Lara not having any romantic interest in Louis.

Lara took a deep breath as her eyes wondered to Louis’ bedroom door where they had ended up that night.

Louis had taken her by the arms, making her sit on the edge of the bed and spreading her legs open with his hands. He stood between them and lowered his finger onto her lips, sliding it down her neck and onto her chest until it reached her underwear. Louis looked up at her and Lara could only stare back, nervously swallowing as he gently trailed his fingers down her inner thigh. “Does this feel good?” He asked and she nodded, not trusting herself to speak. Louis’ expression remained intense as he kept his steady gaze on Lara. He took in one long breath before moving his finger to the tops of her breasts and disappeared beneath her bra.

Louis followed her gaze as if he understood where her mind had wandered and cleared his throat as he sat down on a nearby armchair. Harry and Lara looked at him expectantly only for him to raise his eyebrows at them.

“So you’re both always bitching about each other to me… why don’t you actually talk to each other for once?”

“Are you fucking serious… this is why you asked me to come here?” Harry asked.

“Don’t pretend you didn’t drop everything you were doing just to be here. You hung up before I even said goodbye.”

Lara tried to hide a smile despite Harry’s glare.

“You wanna explain what you’re doing here?” Harry asked her.

“What can I say? I had a bad day… needed to talk to someone about it.”

“Really now?” Harry said, averting his eyes to focus on Louis disapprovingly. “Not much has changed, huh? You always ran to Louis…”

Louis rolled his eyes at Harry’s swipe but did not respond as he settled back in his chair with his tea.

“Has Julian said anything about my job… what I do? Especially lately?” Lara suddenly asked. Harry frowned in response and shook his head.

“No, why?”

“I don’t know.” Lara said, trying to gather her thoughts. “I feel like things are falling apart… I have one or two leads but they haven’t been answering my calls… a couple of people have cancelled on me in the last week. They’re all in the industry…”

“So you think Julian might have something to do with it?” Harry asked thoughtfully.

“I don’t know.” Lara shrugged. “I’m just trying to figure it all out…”

“Go on and tell Harry what that bitch said about you.” Louis suddenly demanded.

“Louis.” Lara hissed.

“Who said what?” Harry asked curiously.

Louis quickly filled him in as Lara felt her cheeks turn pink with embarrassment.

“It upset Lara a lot.” Louis said gesturing toward her. Harry turned to see Lara sitting with her shoulders slumped over, her eyes bright with tears.

“If she thinks that way about me… how many other people feel the same?” She said in a small voice.

“Fuck ‘em.” Harry said roughly.

“That’s what I said.” Louis chimed in.

“Easier said than done.” Lara responded.

“Welcome to our world baby.” Louis exclaimed with a winning smile.

Lara threw a cushion at Louis in response, causing him to throw it back at her. They grinned at each other and probably would have continued, if it was not for the murderous look that Harry shot at them. Harry’s phone rang at that moment and he quickly fished it out of his pocket to have a look, only to promptly switch it off.

“Who was it?” Louis asked, amused by the annoyed expression on Harry’s face.

“Skye.” He said flatly.

“New flavour of the month huh?” Louis teased.

“Fuck off.”

Harry heaved a sigh and then stood up.

“Where are you going?” Louis asked. “You guys have more to sort out.”

“I’m not sorting out anything in front of you. Go get your thrills somewhere else Tommo.” Harry told him as he nudged Lara’s arm. “Come on, let’s go.”

“Where?” Lara asked nervously.

“No need to get nervous… I’m just gonna take you home."

Lara gave Louis a reluctant look only for him to nod at her.

“Get outta here then. You’re both more trouble than you’re worth.”

“That’s what Julian told us.” Harry smirked. He placed his hand on Lara’s arm and pulled her up to her feet but as they headed to the door, Louis called out Lara’s name.

“It was nice to see you again.” He smiled. “Don’t be a stranger now.”

Lara returned the smile before Harry gently pushed her through the door.

“It’s okay.” Lara said once they were outside. “I don’t need you to drive me anywhere.”

“Just get into the car.” Harry said firmly. He opened her door and waited for her to climb inside. Once he had settled in the driver’s seat and switched on the ignition, he turned to her.

“So where do you live?”

Lara could not help but make a face in response to his seemingly innocent question.

“What’s that look for?” Harry asked.

“I think you already know where I live.” Lara said.

“Uh no, I actually don’t.” He said.

“Are you sure about that?”

Harry paused for a moment to consider her tone of voice and then shook his head.

“Why would I know where you live?” He asked. “You think I’m stalking you or something?”

“Well someone is.” Lara said. “Someone has been calling me and following me in their car… it happened at the last place I lived in and it’s happening now.”

“Well it’s isn’t me.” Harry said. “So let me know where you live, so I can drive you home.”

The highly impatient look on Harry’s face convinced her to give him her new address and he grunted in response as he flicked on his indicator.

Lara felt relieved when he pulled into the traffic and then did not speak for the entire time he drove, the low hum of the radio being the only sound to accompany them. They arrived at their destination not long after where Harry miraculously found a parking spot. He switched off the engine and turned to Lara just as she unclipped her seatbelt.

“Did you really think it was me following you?”

“It started right after we broke up.” Lara shrugged. “I was getting all these phone calls… and then a car would sometimes follow me. Tinted windows so I could never see inside… so I didn’t know what to think.”

She shifted uncomfortably in her seat as Harry shook his head.

“You’re really something, you know that?” He murmured. “Don’t you know by now that I’m not the shy type?”

The car, which had seemed so big before, suddenly felt like it was closing in and all she could focus on was his full lips and piercing green eyes. Lara held her breath as Harry edged closer.

“Does this remind you of anything?” He asked with smile that turned into a sly smirk.
Her memory flickered to the day she and Harry sat in his car and he had pulled her onto his lap.

“Lift up your skirt.” He whispered, and she lifted herself off Harry to allow him to tug at her underwear. He urged her to lift up higher while he quickly unzipped his jeans. “I want you to fuck me right here.”

“No.” Lara replied.

“Are you sure?” Harry asked teasingly.

“I want you… right here… right now.” Harry’s voice and the rain crashing down on the car roof were the only sounds that could be heard as Lara moved deeper into him. “Just like that…” He hummed his approval as he rested his hands on her waist. “See how much you turn me on…”

“Yes.” Lara said, unable to meet his eyes.

“I bet you do remember.”

Lara glanced up at the apartment block and tried to steady her voice.

“Harry, I have to go.” She said only for him to smile back at her, his fingers slowly trailing over her collarbone. “Can you please stop, someone might see us.”

“So?”

“Tony might-“

“Who cares? I’m not scared to go after what I want.” Harry said lowly.

His hand travelled up her neck and onto her cheek where he caressed it before tilting her chin up toward him.

“I really liked kissing you the other day.” He told her.

“Harry…” Lara trailed off, not knowing what to say.

“You make me feel good Lara… you’ve always made me feel good.”

“Where is this coming from?” She asked uncomfortably.

“I don’t know… maybe this is what happens every time we get into a car together.”

She could not help but laugh before noticing Harry’s serious face.

“Don’t laugh at me…” He said.

Her smile disappeared when she saw him edge closer again, his hand reaching up to pull at her high ponytail.

“I like you with your hair down.” He said only for Lara to automatically place her hand over his.

“That’s not up to you.” She said and he laughed at the determined look on her face.

“I’m just making an observation.” He said pulling on her hair for effect. It slightly hurt and Lara tilted her head to soften the pain.

“You’re not laughing now, are you?” Harry said with a smile, his eyes focussing on her exposed neck. Before Lara realised it, his lips were pressed upon her skin where they simply lingered. She took in a sharp intake of breath at the intimate gesture, her hand reaching up to his chest.

“Are you trying to fight it Lara?” He said at her feeble attempt to push him away. He took the opportunity to pull her hair out of its now loose ponytail, allowing it to tumble down over her shoulders.

“Harry, I can’t.” She murmured.

“Why not?” He whispered. “Why can’t you… why can’t we just…”

His whispers were muffled as he somehow managed to manoeuvre himself even closer to her, clutching at her hair, making her bend to him, despite her attempts to pull away.

He held her close, his lips finding her neck again and then moving to just below her ear. She melted slightly at the sensation, her breath slowing down, her lips slightly parted and her eyes closed. Lara felt a familiar and natural feeling engulf her, so heady that she felt as if she were floating on air. But the safe feeling was crushed at the sensation of Harry suddenly forcing himself upon her, his mouth descending on to hers, his tongue invading her mouth as he brazenly kissed her. She roughly pushed him away as she gasped for air.

“Harry what are you doing?” She could not help but scream in his ear, startling him so much that he jerked back, loosening his grip on her.

“I thought-“He began.

“You thought what?” She said. “You know we can’t do this.”

Harry leaned back in his car seat and they sat there for a few moments in silence.

“I’m sorry.” He finally said.

Lara did not reply as she lightly touched her swollen lips. She could still feel the burn of his kiss, so filled with desperation and intent.

“Listen.” He said after another loaded silence. “If you want me to sound out Julian I can. I know he’s not happy with how things are going, but I don’t think he’d go after you like that.”

“I don’t know…” Lara murmured half to herself. “Maybe I should ask Ben… maybe he would know.”

“Are you fucking serious?” Harry cried incredulously. “The guy has been an absolute prick to you from day one and you’re going to run to him for advice?”

“I know he’ll tell me if I ask him!” Lara insisted.

“Yeah and what is he gonna want in return?” Harry shot back. Lara stared at him open mouthed, her shock giving way to embarrassment.

“You know what has pissed me off the most about everything we went through?” He did not wait for a response as he strained forward, his voice rising until he was on the verge of yelling. “What pissed me off is that Ben got you hooked on all that shit you took… turned you into a junkie just like him… you probably even fucked him for it. Did you?” He grabbed her shoulder, willing her to look at him.

Lara reached for the door handle only to find it was locked.

“Let me out.” She seethed.

“No, I want to know. We never talked about this before and I swear to God Lara, it’s been eating away at me… did you ever fuck him when we were together?”

“Have we ever really been together Harry?” Lara suddenly exploded. “Except for the last six months we were together, I never knew where I stood with you.”

“I never fucked around when I was with you Lara.” Harry said his voice eerily calm.

“Well neither did I.” Lara said. “Did I fool around with Ben? Yeah I did. Did it mean anything? No. I was so high I didn’t even know what I was doing. But not after we started seeing each other again. I swear to you. We never did anything after that…”

Harry listened quietly before unlocking the doors, allowing Lara to quickly scramble out of the car. She did not look back as she ran up the steps to her apartment.

Lara entered the empty apartment, only to find a hastily scrawled note on the kitchen counter.

Just gone out to grab some takeaway
I’ll be home soon and I hope you’re hungry
Tony xx

Lara tried to return to the unfinished job of sorting through her clothes, but her mind kept wandering to Harry. She took a deep breath to try and shake the thoughts away, but they persisted. She walked into the bathroom and mechanically turned on the shower in the hope that it would distract her, but the thoughts kept creeping back.

She closed her eyes as she slowly massaged the shampoo into her hair, pausing to run her fingers through and as she did, she unconsciously tugged at it. It felt strangely pleasurable, the image of Harry with his fingers tangled in her hair flashing in her mind. A feeling of arousal briefly washed over her body, only for her to disregard it.

God, he’s like one of my old addictions, Lara thought to herself, one touch and I can’t get it out of my mind. She was used to Harry being rough with her, but she hated how he assumed that she wanted it.

Tony had still not returned when she emerged from the shower and put on her pyjamas. Feeling slightly relieved to be alone, she decided to grab the opportunity to take out her phone and curl up on the couch. She dialled the number with a sense of trepidation that she valiantly ignored. The phone rang a couple of times before he answered.

“Hello Ben? It’s me… Lara.”

Notes

Thank you to everyone who has been leaving comments... hope you enjoyed this chapter :)