What Makes You Beautiful
But she kissed me like she meant it
Maybe it's the way she walked
Straight into my heart and stole it
Through the doors and passed the guards
Just like she already owned it
‘Best Song Ever’ – One Direction
Bella's POV
Three days had passed since Bella told Harry she would stay with him for two more days after Thursday. It was Tuesday and the pictures of him and Bella leaving the café had spread all over the Internet like wildfire. There were fans who were apprehensive, who Bella ignored as best as she could, but there were others who were happy for Harry. Ashley was one of them.
I cannot believe he kissed you!
It was 9 o’clock in the morning and Bella was on the phone to her little sister. The soft leather of the couch was gentle against her back, her feet tucked underneath her thighs. The humungous flatscreen TV was on, showing reruns of a 1990s show Bella didn’t know the name of.
“Believe me, Ash, I couldn’t believe it either.” She laughed.
What do his lips taste like?
“A 12-year-old should never ask that question!”
Well, I am asking it!
“And I’m not answering it.”
Why not?
“Because you are too young to hear my answer. And one day, you’ll understand that kissing someone is a private matter.”
His lips must taste really good then.
“Ashley, one more word out of you about Harry and I kissing, I will no longer tell you anything about what’s happening here.” That should stop her.
Fine. Where is Harry now? Is he with you?
Bella knew exactly where Harry was. In the shower. But there was no way she was going to tell Ashley that. Instead, she told her yes.
Can I talk to him?
Obviously, Bella didn’t want to barge in when Harry was showering. So she told her sister that maybe tomorrow morning was a better time. Ashley sounded disappointed but Bella gave her sister her word that she would let Harry speak to her. They said goodbye and Bella threw her phone down next to her. She hated saying no to her sister but it was the right thing to do.
Bella looked at the TV and got settled into watching the 90s show. She threw her hair back into a ponytail with a black elastic that had been on her wrist. The luxury of the house still hadn’t fully sunken in yet. But it wasn’t the house that made Bella stay. It was the young English heartthrob who lived in it.
Suddenly, her vision went black. Someone’s hands were over her eyes, blocking her sense of sight. Bella gasped but knew exactly who it was.
“Guess who?”
His voice was as sweet as honey, from the slowness of the way he talked. She wrapped her fingers around his wrists and pried his hands off her eyes.
“Are you always this childish, Harry?”
She looked over her shoulder to see him standing behind her, his hair a little damp. He had a casual pale blue dress shirt on, many of the buttons undone to reveal bits of his tattoos on his chest, the sleeves loosely rolled up over his forearms.
“Do you have a problem with it?” Harry smiled, walking around the edge of the couch to take a seat next to her. He was wearing different jeans today. Still the same pure black but with holes where his knees were.
“No.” Bella said as his arm circled her shoulders. To think that only a little over two months ago, she was in the audience at the first concert of the On The Road Again tour. And now, she was sitting in Harry’s house, on one of his many couches, with his arm around her in a romantic gesture. I am a lucky girl. She smiled to herself.
“That was a long shower.”
“Are you timing me now?” Harry chuckled.
“No, of course not! You said you’d be gone for ten minutes. You’ve been gone longer than that.”
“You honestly want to know what I was doing?” He smiled at her. Bella was suddenly very curious and nodded. His arm tightened around her shoulders, pulling her closer to him. She could feel the heat radiating off his body, the wings of his swallow tattoos peeking through his shirt.
“I was writing a song about you.”
“What?!”
Bella was completely shocked. Stunned beyond belief. Never had she received such a romantic act. What she didn’t understand was what good of an inspiration she was for a song. I’m so ordinary. But apparently to Harry, I’m not. She stared at him, her eyes popping out of their sockets. She felt her ears turn red, the blood hot.
“You seem…surprised.” Harry chuckled.
“Of course I am, Harry! How long have you writing a song about me?”
“Ever since the night you arrived here in my home.”
That’s five days ago. He’s spent five days writing a song about me? Me?! The most romantic thing Jacob ever did for her was take her on a boat across Sydney Harbour at midnight, all by themselves with a bottle of champagne and a comfy seat. But a simple song Harry wrote for her beat that by a 1,000 miles. And she hadn’t even heard it or read the lyrics yet. Then, that got her thinking.
“Can I…hear it?”
“The song?” Harry said. Bella nodded. She wasn’t sure if he was ready to show it to her. She was more nervous to hear it than Harry was to show it to her. Harry smiled at her, slithering his arm off her and taking her hand in his.
“Come with me, love.”
Harry stood up and pulled Bella to her feet. She let him lead her into a room she hadn’t seen before. It was smaller than the living areas but was still large in comparison to any standard spare room. There was a wooden stand on the left wall, its shape fit perfectly from the floor to the ceiling. CDs and records sat in neat piles on the shelves of the stand. There was a table by the window, the curtains open, sunlight streaming inside. Pieces of paper, pens and pencils were scattered over the wooden surface. Finally, a black grand piano was positioned in the centre of the room, music sheets strewn across it.
“I didn’t know you could play the piano.” Bella said with a surprised tone.
“I got lessons a couple of years back. I’m not the best player but my friends and family seem to like it.” Harry stated. He walked over to the piano, Bella’s hand still in his. He sat down on the long seat and Bella sat beside him. His hand fell away from hers and he adjusted the music sheets on the stand in front of him. He cleared his throat, his fingers hovering over the piano keys. Bella looked at the music sheets and saw the title printed in Harry’s handwriting.
If I Could Fly
Bella’s attention returned to Harry as the sound of the piano started, his long fingers pressing down on the keys. He then opened his mouth to sing.
“If I could fly, I'd be coming right back home to you.
I think I might give up everything, just ask me to.”
She couldn’t take her eyes off him. She admired the side-view profile of his face. His jawline perfectly curved, his cheekbone following the same path. The way his hair fell over his shoulders, curls freshly washed and shining a light brown in the sun. The way his lips moved as he sang. And his voice… Bella didn’t know where to begin. It was like hearing an angel serenade her. Her eyes quickly darted to his fingers, moving along the keys, remembering the touch of them in her hair and on her skin. The chorus came and Bella returned her gaze to his face.
“For your eyes only, I show you my heart
For when you're lonely and forget who you are
I'm missing half of me when we're apart.
Now you know me, for your eyes only
For your eyes only.”
Tears formed in her eyes. Bella couldn’t control the emotions she felt in that moment. A handsome man, who happened to be a member of the biggest boy band in the world, was sitting next to her, playing the piano, singing a song that was inspired by her. Since when did I deserve this much affection? Especially from Harry? Her fingers gripped each other tightly in her lap, her eyes glued to the Englishman’s face. The lyrics made a route straight to her heart. Harry was showing her his heart and to her, that was the sweetest thing.
Harry played the last note on the piano as his voice faded out. His fingers fell away from the keys, resting on his thighs. He looked ahead at the plain wall but Bella still stared at him. Her lips quivered as a tear rolled down her cheek. The song was beautiful. It showed Bella how much he truly cared for her. How much she meant to him. She couldn’t believe a man had wanted her as much as Harry wanted her. The room was quiet and no words were spoken. Bella didn’t have any words. She could only stare at him. Then, without thinking, she raised her hand and placed it behind Harry’s head. She leaned in, moving her face to his, and kissed him.
0*0
Harry's POV
Mint. That was what her breath smelt like. Her lips were soft and warm, pressed against his. Harry didn’t predict her reaction to be like this at all. He was overcome with desire and returned her kiss, closing his eyes and wrapped an arm around her back, pulling her closer to him. Bella raised her other arm and looped it around his neck, keeping her lips to his. The kiss was so emotional. It felt so precious. Harry meant no offence to the girls he had kissed over the course of his life so far but Bella’s kisses were the best.
She broke her lips away from his and rested her forehead against his, their noses brushing one another. Bella’s hands moved down to grasp his neck. He heard her breathing. It was a little shaky. Harry opened his eyes and saw that her eyes were still closed but her lips were trembling and her cheeks were stained with a couple of tear streaks. She’s crying.
Harry pulled back and pressed his free hand to her cheek, peering at her curiously. Bella’s hazel eyes slowly opened. They were shining with fresh tears, her irises turning a light green. She looked beautiful when she cried but Harry didn’t want her to cry.
“Bella…?”
Her eyes locked to his and the corners of her shaking lips turned up. Her smile widened as she choked out a tearful laugh.
“Harry…that was so beautiful. You wrote that about me?”
He breathed a sigh of relief in his head. He moved his hand up and down her spine while he caressed the apple of her cheek with his other thumb. Harry nodded his head and smiled at her, his dimples deep in his cheeks. He could almost feel his heart and Bella’s beat in sync as they sat there together, alone with nothing but the company of the sun. Bella smiled again and pulled Harry in for another kiss.
He expected it this time and took his time with her, smiling as their lips moved together wonderfully. It was another memory Harry would remember forever. Every second Harry spent with Bella, the more he fell for her. The more he wanted her to stay. He wished it could be forever. But both of them had their own lives. They had jobs. They had families. So for now, Harry would treasure the time he had with Bella.
The kiss ended and both of them fell into each other’s eyes, hazel and green pools of deepening fondness. Bella had one hand on his shoulder and the other was on his chest while Harry had his left hand pressed against her cheek and his right hand was on the small of her back, keeping her as close to him as possible. Bella pulled back to look at him, a gentle smirk appearing on her pink lips.
“You’re making it insanely hard for me to leave, you know that?”
A smirk that mirrored Bella’s crept on Harry’s lips, his green eyes full of happiness.
“You say that as if it’s a bad thing.” He said.
“It’s not. It’s just…all of this, it’s going to be very hard for me to leave.” Bella sighed.
“You don’t have to leave if you don’t want to, love.”
“I have to, Harry. I want to see my family and my friends, and I don’t want to lose my job either. But when I leave, you’ll always be here.” Bella murmured, placing her hand over her heart. That action made Harry’s own heart lift and swell with gladness. She removed her hand from his shoulder and looked at the sheets of music sitting on the piano stand.
“So, are you going to put that song on the album?” Bella asked, her hands clasped together in her lap. Harry’s eyes darted from the music sheets to Bella. He still had his right hand on her back, keeping it there as a comfort.
“The song’s not finished yet. But seeing as you are the inspiration, I can’t even record it without your permission.”
“Seriously?” Bella raised her eyebrows over her surprised eyes.
“Yes. If you don’t want it on the album, you can easily say no.”
“But…it’s your album, not mine.”
“I wouldn’t want to put the song on the album without asking you first.” Harry said.
“Well, that’s very kind of you, Harry. You have my permission then. If you believe it should be on the album, then it should be.” Bella smiled at him. Harry smiled back. Song writing was a funny thing. Sometimes, it took weeks to write a song. But sometimes, one song could take a couple of days. It just depended on inspiration. And the moment Bella had stepped into his house, Harry didn’t want her to step out. If Bella was in Australia and if Harry could fly, he would fly over and see her. There was no doubt in his mind that he would.
Harry closed the lid over the piano keys and rested his elbow on it, his fist pressed against his temple. He looked at Bella, marvelling at the way her hazel eyes sparkled and the way her hair shone in the soft sunlight.
“I’m going to take you out this evening.”
She turned to look at him, a surprised expression on her face.
“Where?”
“We’re going out to dinner in the main city. I am going to treat you to a wonderful night in London.” Harry declared.
“What about…paparazzi?” Bella asked nervously.
“I’ll keep you safe, Bella. Just stay by my side.” He moved his hand up her spine, his fingers pulling at her hair gently. He could see from the look in her eyes that she trusted him. Harry sat up and Bella tucked her head in the crook of his neck. His arm went around her shoulders as he kissed her head, inhaling her floral scent.
0*0
Bella's POV
The sky was a velvet charcoal black. The city of London was alive. Big Ben was shrouded in a golden light, the hands on the large clock ticking over to show the time of 7:30pm. Bella and Harry stood on one side of Westminster Bridge, the London Eye alight in front of them, the bright lights reflecting in The Thames. It was a gorgeous sight, definitely rivalling the beauty of Sydney Harbour. Bella had changed her clothes for an appropriate night out with Harry. Her dress was a dark purple and on her feet were a pair of 5cm black heels. They were only pair of date-night shoes she had bought with her because frankly, Bella hadn’t expected to be going on a date with Harry. Who could expect something like that to happen? Her black coat moved in the breeze, her hair still tied back in a wavy ponytail.
“It’s beautiful.” She breathed, her eyes full of wonder at the London monuments around her. Harry bent over and rested his forearms on the railing, his eyes locked to Bella.
“Not half as beautiful as you, love.”
Bella tore her eyes away from the London Eye, her gaze falling upon Harry. He had changed his pants, wearing his hole-less black jeans, and over his dress shirt was a black suit jacket he’d left unbuttoned. His cross necklace dangled over his chest, his rings shining silver, his curly hair gathered around his shoulders. He looked good. Bella couldn’t deny it. And he wanted her, and no-one else.
“Stop flattering me, Harry.”
“I want to. And it’s the truth. I’m going to keep calling you “beautiful” until you believe you are.”
Her cheeks flushed and she returned her eyes to the London Eye. The paparazzi had been better than Bella had thought. Harry and her had been photographed when they left the restaurant. Bella had followed Harry’s advice and kept her mouth shut, her hand encased in his as cameras flashed in their faces. But after they evaded them, the rest of their date had been perfect. People passed them on the bridge without a second glance. Bella snapped at least two dozen pictures on her iPhone to show everyone when she returned to Newtown. Her stomach was full and her heart was satisfied. But the night was young and so was she.
“Would you like to go on the London Eye?” Bella heard Harry ask. A large smile burst across her face and she nodded enthusiastically. Harry pushed himself off the railing and interlocked his fingers with hers.
“Thank God I booked the two of us tickets.” He smiled as they set off to their final stop of the night.
The view of the city from the very top of the London Eye was breathtaking. It literally took Bella’s breath away. It was only her and Harry in the passenger capsule. The light inside was a dim blue. The Thames was motionless many hundreds of feet below them, only a few boats were out on the water. Cars drove across the bridge, the lights of London glowing like gold stars. Bella stood right by the glass, the biggest smile on her face as she stared at the city and the dark night sky.
“You can’t say I’m more beautiful than this view.” She stated, turning her body to the side to face Harry who was seated on the bench in the middle of the capsule. His smile shone in the minimal light and she could see the sparkle in his eyes.
“Well, I know you are.”
“Harry, how can you compare me to the city of London? This is the heart of beauty. I’ve never seen anything like it. Makes Sydney look a little tame, it pains me to say that.” Bella sighed, looking back down at the glittering lights of London. She was sure what she heard Harry say next was a part of her imagination.
“You are my heart, Bella.”
Wait, did he really say that? She looked back at Harry to see him walking towards her. She was frozen still as he pressed his palm to her exposed neck. The contact made her shiver. Even with her heels, she still had to look up at him but she didn’t care at all. Bella was mesmerised by his face, shrouded in light and shadow.
“You’ve only known me for just over two months. And we haven’t even spent a week together. That’s no time at all.”
“Time means nothing when your heart makes a decision.” Harry whispered. He didn’t let her respond, covering her mouth with his. It didn’t take Bella a second to return his kiss, locking her arms around his neck. She breathed deep as her fingers carded through his loose hair, tugging at it to pull his face down to hers, deepening the kiss. They shared the same feelings, letting them out under the stars and above the city of London. It was a glorious moment. As Harry’s lips moved with hers, Bella had one single thought.
If I’m his heart, then he is my heart.
It was a clash of lips and tongues when Harry and Bella got home. Harry had practically kicked the door shut before proceeding to rip her coat off of her body. Her dress was sleeveless, letting Harry move his fingers over her bare arms. Her skin shivered as he touched her, his kiss the fiercest as it had ever been. Her heart pounded against her ribcage, increasing with each kiss and stroke. Bella’s hands wandered into his hair and over his shoulders, pulling on the lapels of his suit jacket, yanking him close, their chests almost touching.
Her back made contact with the wall as Harry’s lips continued to smother hers. They only broke free to gasp in some air. Harry was eager. She could feel it in his kisses and the way he touched her, a small growl emanating from the back of his throat. Bella had never heard such an arousing sound in her life. She kicked off her small heels, settling her bare feet on the floor, titling her neck up to reach his lips. It had been many months since Bella had made out with someone. She had done it with Jacob quite a few times but the last time they did, it was just before Bella found out he was two-timing her. But Jacob’s kisses were nothing like Harry’s. The way Jacob had touched her didn’t give her the same feeling that Harry did. The bliss her heart felt, it was wonderful. Bella didn’t want it to stop.
She grew confident in Harry’s feelings for her. She knew that for some reason, he wanted her. And she wanted him. But not in that way. Not sex. Not tonight. It was too early. But that didn’t mean they could take a step further from simple kissing. Her lips still pressed against Harry’s, Bella gripped his suit jacket and pushed it off his shoulders. Harry knew where she was going and took his hands off her momentarily to remove his arms from the sleeves, the jacket falling to the floor, lying forgotten just like Bella’s coat. But that wasn’t enough. She smiled as she sealed her lips with his in another kiss, her shaking fingers undoing the buttons of his blue dress shirt. She touched his skin as she went, his lean muscle hard underneath her hands.
“Bella…” He murmured against her lips, kissing along her cheek and down to her neck. That was her sensitive spot. She locked an arm around his neck as his mouth moved against the skin of her neck, leaving a trail of soft kisses, her other hand resting on his shoulder. Blood boiled, burning through her body as she savoured the feeling of Harry’s lips on her neck, the sound of his low breathing, his hands on her body. It was pleasure. It was perfection. Bella lost track of time. She didn’t know how long she and Harry had been kissing. She only came back to reality when he pulled back, his green eyes boring into her hazel ones in a way they had never done before.
“I’m going to release a statement tomorrow.” Harry declared.
“What statement?” Bella asked.
“That we’re dating.”
Straight into my heart and stole it
Through the doors and passed the guards
Just like she already owned it
‘Best Song Ever’ – One Direction
Bella's POV
Three days had passed since Bella told Harry she would stay with him for two more days after Thursday. It was Tuesday and the pictures of him and Bella leaving the café had spread all over the Internet like wildfire. There were fans who were apprehensive, who Bella ignored as best as she could, but there were others who were happy for Harry. Ashley was one of them.
I cannot believe he kissed you!
It was 9 o’clock in the morning and Bella was on the phone to her little sister. The soft leather of the couch was gentle against her back, her feet tucked underneath her thighs. The humungous flatscreen TV was on, showing reruns of a 1990s show Bella didn’t know the name of.
“Believe me, Ash, I couldn’t believe it either.” She laughed.
What do his lips taste like?
“A 12-year-old should never ask that question!”
Well, I am asking it!
“And I’m not answering it.”
Why not?
“Because you are too young to hear my answer. And one day, you’ll understand that kissing someone is a private matter.”
His lips must taste really good then.
“Ashley, one more word out of you about Harry and I kissing, I will no longer tell you anything about what’s happening here.” That should stop her.
Fine. Where is Harry now? Is he with you?
Bella knew exactly where Harry was. In the shower. But there was no way she was going to tell Ashley that. Instead, she told her yes.
Can I talk to him?
Obviously, Bella didn’t want to barge in when Harry was showering. So she told her sister that maybe tomorrow morning was a better time. Ashley sounded disappointed but Bella gave her sister her word that she would let Harry speak to her. They said goodbye and Bella threw her phone down next to her. She hated saying no to her sister but it was the right thing to do.
Bella looked at the TV and got settled into watching the 90s show. She threw her hair back into a ponytail with a black elastic that had been on her wrist. The luxury of the house still hadn’t fully sunken in yet. But it wasn’t the house that made Bella stay. It was the young English heartthrob who lived in it.
Suddenly, her vision went black. Someone’s hands were over her eyes, blocking her sense of sight. Bella gasped but knew exactly who it was.
“Guess who?”
His voice was as sweet as honey, from the slowness of the way he talked. She wrapped her fingers around his wrists and pried his hands off her eyes.
“Are you always this childish, Harry?”
She looked over her shoulder to see him standing behind her, his hair a little damp. He had a casual pale blue dress shirt on, many of the buttons undone to reveal bits of his tattoos on his chest, the sleeves loosely rolled up over his forearms.
“Do you have a problem with it?” Harry smiled, walking around the edge of the couch to take a seat next to her. He was wearing different jeans today. Still the same pure black but with holes where his knees were.
“No.” Bella said as his arm circled her shoulders. To think that only a little over two months ago, she was in the audience at the first concert of the On The Road Again tour. And now, she was sitting in Harry’s house, on one of his many couches, with his arm around her in a romantic gesture. I am a lucky girl. She smiled to herself.
“That was a long shower.”
“Are you timing me now?” Harry chuckled.
“No, of course not! You said you’d be gone for ten minutes. You’ve been gone longer than that.”
“You honestly want to know what I was doing?” He smiled at her. Bella was suddenly very curious and nodded. His arm tightened around her shoulders, pulling her closer to him. She could feel the heat radiating off his body, the wings of his swallow tattoos peeking through his shirt.
“I was writing a song about you.”
“What?!”
Bella was completely shocked. Stunned beyond belief. Never had she received such a romantic act. What she didn’t understand was what good of an inspiration she was for a song. I’m so ordinary. But apparently to Harry, I’m not. She stared at him, her eyes popping out of their sockets. She felt her ears turn red, the blood hot.
“You seem…surprised.” Harry chuckled.
“Of course I am, Harry! How long have you writing a song about me?”
“Ever since the night you arrived here in my home.”
That’s five days ago. He’s spent five days writing a song about me? Me?! The most romantic thing Jacob ever did for her was take her on a boat across Sydney Harbour at midnight, all by themselves with a bottle of champagne and a comfy seat. But a simple song Harry wrote for her beat that by a 1,000 miles. And she hadn’t even heard it or read the lyrics yet. Then, that got her thinking.
“Can I…hear it?”
“The song?” Harry said. Bella nodded. She wasn’t sure if he was ready to show it to her. She was more nervous to hear it than Harry was to show it to her. Harry smiled at her, slithering his arm off her and taking her hand in his.
“Come with me, love.”
Harry stood up and pulled Bella to her feet. She let him lead her into a room she hadn’t seen before. It was smaller than the living areas but was still large in comparison to any standard spare room. There was a wooden stand on the left wall, its shape fit perfectly from the floor to the ceiling. CDs and records sat in neat piles on the shelves of the stand. There was a table by the window, the curtains open, sunlight streaming inside. Pieces of paper, pens and pencils were scattered over the wooden surface. Finally, a black grand piano was positioned in the centre of the room, music sheets strewn across it.
“I didn’t know you could play the piano.” Bella said with a surprised tone.
“I got lessons a couple of years back. I’m not the best player but my friends and family seem to like it.” Harry stated. He walked over to the piano, Bella’s hand still in his. He sat down on the long seat and Bella sat beside him. His hand fell away from hers and he adjusted the music sheets on the stand in front of him. He cleared his throat, his fingers hovering over the piano keys. Bella looked at the music sheets and saw the title printed in Harry’s handwriting.
If I Could Fly
Bella’s attention returned to Harry as the sound of the piano started, his long fingers pressing down on the keys. He then opened his mouth to sing.
“If I could fly, I'd be coming right back home to you.
I think I might give up everything, just ask me to.”
She couldn’t take her eyes off him. She admired the side-view profile of his face. His jawline perfectly curved, his cheekbone following the same path. The way his hair fell over his shoulders, curls freshly washed and shining a light brown in the sun. The way his lips moved as he sang. And his voice… Bella didn’t know where to begin. It was like hearing an angel serenade her. Her eyes quickly darted to his fingers, moving along the keys, remembering the touch of them in her hair and on her skin. The chorus came and Bella returned her gaze to his face.
“For your eyes only, I show you my heart
For when you're lonely and forget who you are
I'm missing half of me when we're apart.
Now you know me, for your eyes only
For your eyes only.”
Tears formed in her eyes. Bella couldn’t control the emotions she felt in that moment. A handsome man, who happened to be a member of the biggest boy band in the world, was sitting next to her, playing the piano, singing a song that was inspired by her. Since when did I deserve this much affection? Especially from Harry? Her fingers gripped each other tightly in her lap, her eyes glued to the Englishman’s face. The lyrics made a route straight to her heart. Harry was showing her his heart and to her, that was the sweetest thing.
Harry played the last note on the piano as his voice faded out. His fingers fell away from the keys, resting on his thighs. He looked ahead at the plain wall but Bella still stared at him. Her lips quivered as a tear rolled down her cheek. The song was beautiful. It showed Bella how much he truly cared for her. How much she meant to him. She couldn’t believe a man had wanted her as much as Harry wanted her. The room was quiet and no words were spoken. Bella didn’t have any words. She could only stare at him. Then, without thinking, she raised her hand and placed it behind Harry’s head. She leaned in, moving her face to his, and kissed him.
0*0
Harry's POV
Mint. That was what her breath smelt like. Her lips were soft and warm, pressed against his. Harry didn’t predict her reaction to be like this at all. He was overcome with desire and returned her kiss, closing his eyes and wrapped an arm around her back, pulling her closer to him. Bella raised her other arm and looped it around his neck, keeping her lips to his. The kiss was so emotional. It felt so precious. Harry meant no offence to the girls he had kissed over the course of his life so far but Bella’s kisses were the best.
She broke her lips away from his and rested her forehead against his, their noses brushing one another. Bella’s hands moved down to grasp his neck. He heard her breathing. It was a little shaky. Harry opened his eyes and saw that her eyes were still closed but her lips were trembling and her cheeks were stained with a couple of tear streaks. She’s crying.
Harry pulled back and pressed his free hand to her cheek, peering at her curiously. Bella’s hazel eyes slowly opened. They were shining with fresh tears, her irises turning a light green. She looked beautiful when she cried but Harry didn’t want her to cry.
“Bella…?”
Her eyes locked to his and the corners of her shaking lips turned up. Her smile widened as she choked out a tearful laugh.
“Harry…that was so beautiful. You wrote that about me?”
He breathed a sigh of relief in his head. He moved his hand up and down her spine while he caressed the apple of her cheek with his other thumb. Harry nodded his head and smiled at her, his dimples deep in his cheeks. He could almost feel his heart and Bella’s beat in sync as they sat there together, alone with nothing but the company of the sun. Bella smiled again and pulled Harry in for another kiss.
He expected it this time and took his time with her, smiling as their lips moved together wonderfully. It was another memory Harry would remember forever. Every second Harry spent with Bella, the more he fell for her. The more he wanted her to stay. He wished it could be forever. But both of them had their own lives. They had jobs. They had families. So for now, Harry would treasure the time he had with Bella.
The kiss ended and both of them fell into each other’s eyes, hazel and green pools of deepening fondness. Bella had one hand on his shoulder and the other was on his chest while Harry had his left hand pressed against her cheek and his right hand was on the small of her back, keeping her as close to him as possible. Bella pulled back to look at him, a gentle smirk appearing on her pink lips.
“You’re making it insanely hard for me to leave, you know that?”
A smirk that mirrored Bella’s crept on Harry’s lips, his green eyes full of happiness.
“You say that as if it’s a bad thing.” He said.
“It’s not. It’s just…all of this, it’s going to be very hard for me to leave.” Bella sighed.
“You don’t have to leave if you don’t want to, love.”
“I have to, Harry. I want to see my family and my friends, and I don’t want to lose my job either. But when I leave, you’ll always be here.” Bella murmured, placing her hand over her heart. That action made Harry’s own heart lift and swell with gladness. She removed her hand from his shoulder and looked at the sheets of music sitting on the piano stand.
“So, are you going to put that song on the album?” Bella asked, her hands clasped together in her lap. Harry’s eyes darted from the music sheets to Bella. He still had his right hand on her back, keeping it there as a comfort.
“The song’s not finished yet. But seeing as you are the inspiration, I can’t even record it without your permission.”
“Seriously?” Bella raised her eyebrows over her surprised eyes.
“Yes. If you don’t want it on the album, you can easily say no.”
“But…it’s your album, not mine.”
“I wouldn’t want to put the song on the album without asking you first.” Harry said.
“Well, that’s very kind of you, Harry. You have my permission then. If you believe it should be on the album, then it should be.” Bella smiled at him. Harry smiled back. Song writing was a funny thing. Sometimes, it took weeks to write a song. But sometimes, one song could take a couple of days. It just depended on inspiration. And the moment Bella had stepped into his house, Harry didn’t want her to step out. If Bella was in Australia and if Harry could fly, he would fly over and see her. There was no doubt in his mind that he would.
Harry closed the lid over the piano keys and rested his elbow on it, his fist pressed against his temple. He looked at Bella, marvelling at the way her hazel eyes sparkled and the way her hair shone in the soft sunlight.
“I’m going to take you out this evening.”
She turned to look at him, a surprised expression on her face.
“Where?”
“We’re going out to dinner in the main city. I am going to treat you to a wonderful night in London.” Harry declared.
“What about…paparazzi?” Bella asked nervously.
“I’ll keep you safe, Bella. Just stay by my side.” He moved his hand up her spine, his fingers pulling at her hair gently. He could see from the look in her eyes that she trusted him. Harry sat up and Bella tucked her head in the crook of his neck. His arm went around her shoulders as he kissed her head, inhaling her floral scent.
0*0
Bella's POV
The sky was a velvet charcoal black. The city of London was alive. Big Ben was shrouded in a golden light, the hands on the large clock ticking over to show the time of 7:30pm. Bella and Harry stood on one side of Westminster Bridge, the London Eye alight in front of them, the bright lights reflecting in The Thames. It was a gorgeous sight, definitely rivalling the beauty of Sydney Harbour. Bella had changed her clothes for an appropriate night out with Harry. Her dress was a dark purple and on her feet were a pair of 5cm black heels. They were only pair of date-night shoes she had bought with her because frankly, Bella hadn’t expected to be going on a date with Harry. Who could expect something like that to happen? Her black coat moved in the breeze, her hair still tied back in a wavy ponytail.
“It’s beautiful.” She breathed, her eyes full of wonder at the London monuments around her. Harry bent over and rested his forearms on the railing, his eyes locked to Bella.
“Not half as beautiful as you, love.”
Bella tore her eyes away from the London Eye, her gaze falling upon Harry. He had changed his pants, wearing his hole-less black jeans, and over his dress shirt was a black suit jacket he’d left unbuttoned. His cross necklace dangled over his chest, his rings shining silver, his curly hair gathered around his shoulders. He looked good. Bella couldn’t deny it. And he wanted her, and no-one else.
“Stop flattering me, Harry.”
“I want to. And it’s the truth. I’m going to keep calling you “beautiful” until you believe you are.”
Her cheeks flushed and she returned her eyes to the London Eye. The paparazzi had been better than Bella had thought. Harry and her had been photographed when they left the restaurant. Bella had followed Harry’s advice and kept her mouth shut, her hand encased in his as cameras flashed in their faces. But after they evaded them, the rest of their date had been perfect. People passed them on the bridge without a second glance. Bella snapped at least two dozen pictures on her iPhone to show everyone when she returned to Newtown. Her stomach was full and her heart was satisfied. But the night was young and so was she.
“Would you like to go on the London Eye?” Bella heard Harry ask. A large smile burst across her face and she nodded enthusiastically. Harry pushed himself off the railing and interlocked his fingers with hers.
“Thank God I booked the two of us tickets.” He smiled as they set off to their final stop of the night.
The view of the city from the very top of the London Eye was breathtaking. It literally took Bella’s breath away. It was only her and Harry in the passenger capsule. The light inside was a dim blue. The Thames was motionless many hundreds of feet below them, only a few boats were out on the water. Cars drove across the bridge, the lights of London glowing like gold stars. Bella stood right by the glass, the biggest smile on her face as she stared at the city and the dark night sky.
“You can’t say I’m more beautiful than this view.” She stated, turning her body to the side to face Harry who was seated on the bench in the middle of the capsule. His smile shone in the minimal light and she could see the sparkle in his eyes.
“Well, I know you are.”
“Harry, how can you compare me to the city of London? This is the heart of beauty. I’ve never seen anything like it. Makes Sydney look a little tame, it pains me to say that.” Bella sighed, looking back down at the glittering lights of London. She was sure what she heard Harry say next was a part of her imagination.
“You are my heart, Bella.”
Wait, did he really say that? She looked back at Harry to see him walking towards her. She was frozen still as he pressed his palm to her exposed neck. The contact made her shiver. Even with her heels, she still had to look up at him but she didn’t care at all. Bella was mesmerised by his face, shrouded in light and shadow.
“You’ve only known me for just over two months. And we haven’t even spent a week together. That’s no time at all.”
“Time means nothing when your heart makes a decision.” Harry whispered. He didn’t let her respond, covering her mouth with his. It didn’t take Bella a second to return his kiss, locking her arms around his neck. She breathed deep as her fingers carded through his loose hair, tugging at it to pull his face down to hers, deepening the kiss. They shared the same feelings, letting them out under the stars and above the city of London. It was a glorious moment. As Harry’s lips moved with hers, Bella had one single thought.
If I’m his heart, then he is my heart.
It was a clash of lips and tongues when Harry and Bella got home. Harry had practically kicked the door shut before proceeding to rip her coat off of her body. Her dress was sleeveless, letting Harry move his fingers over her bare arms. Her skin shivered as he touched her, his kiss the fiercest as it had ever been. Her heart pounded against her ribcage, increasing with each kiss and stroke. Bella’s hands wandered into his hair and over his shoulders, pulling on the lapels of his suit jacket, yanking him close, their chests almost touching.
Her back made contact with the wall as Harry’s lips continued to smother hers. They only broke free to gasp in some air. Harry was eager. She could feel it in his kisses and the way he touched her, a small growl emanating from the back of his throat. Bella had never heard such an arousing sound in her life. She kicked off her small heels, settling her bare feet on the floor, titling her neck up to reach his lips. It had been many months since Bella had made out with someone. She had done it with Jacob quite a few times but the last time they did, it was just before Bella found out he was two-timing her. But Jacob’s kisses were nothing like Harry’s. The way Jacob had touched her didn’t give her the same feeling that Harry did. The bliss her heart felt, it was wonderful. Bella didn’t want it to stop.
She grew confident in Harry’s feelings for her. She knew that for some reason, he wanted her. And she wanted him. But not in that way. Not sex. Not tonight. It was too early. But that didn’t mean they could take a step further from simple kissing. Her lips still pressed against Harry’s, Bella gripped his suit jacket and pushed it off his shoulders. Harry knew where she was going and took his hands off her momentarily to remove his arms from the sleeves, the jacket falling to the floor, lying forgotten just like Bella’s coat. But that wasn’t enough. She smiled as she sealed her lips with his in another kiss, her shaking fingers undoing the buttons of his blue dress shirt. She touched his skin as she went, his lean muscle hard underneath her hands.
“Bella…” He murmured against her lips, kissing along her cheek and down to her neck. That was her sensitive spot. She locked an arm around his neck as his mouth moved against the skin of her neck, leaving a trail of soft kisses, her other hand resting on his shoulder. Blood boiled, burning through her body as she savoured the feeling of Harry’s lips on her neck, the sound of his low breathing, his hands on her body. It was pleasure. It was perfection. Bella lost track of time. She didn’t know how long she and Harry had been kissing. She only came back to reality when he pulled back, his green eyes boring into her hazel ones in a way they had never done before.
“I’m going to release a statement tomorrow.” Harry declared.
“What statement?” Bella asked.
“That we’re dating.”
Notes
Firstly, earlier update because PianoWriter struck a deal with me. If I updated, she would. So I updated (because I want to know what happens next in her story XD).
Secondly, please bear in mind that this is fiction. I don’t know the real inspiration behind If I Could Fly. All I know is Harry was one of the writers on the song. Ever since I started planning this story out, I wanted to have Harry write a song about Bella but I’m not a songwriter and I didn’t want to make up a crap song so I placed an imaginary inspiration behind If I Could Fly. I find it appropriate for Bella and Harry’s relationship because when they’re apart, they’re a great deal far away from each other. So don’t give me hate on this please. Positive feedback is what fuels a writer so if I get that, it makes me smile :) I’ll upload Chapter 10 on Tuesday so I hope you have a wonderful couple of days!
blankspace1 xx
@Kammy
Good on you! Keep up the great work! xx
12/6/16