Chapter 47: I Will Stay With You

~“It’s you; it’s always you. If I’m ever gonna fall in love I know it’s gon’ be you. It’s you; it’s always you. Met a lot of people, but nobody feels like you.” —Ali Gatie.~

Chapter Theme Song: “It’s You” by Ali Gatie.

HARMONY

Before I know it, the bathroom door swings open and Blaze steps out, dressed in gray shorts and a white tank top with wide armholes.

He looks good even in sleepwear, and my eyes can’t help but drop to the front of his shorts. The bulge has lessened, but when I look back up at his face, I see he’s grinning knowingly.

~Oh God. He saw me.~

I quickly turn my attention back to the TV screen, flustered. “Uh, I-I couldn’t decide on a movie. I know you like horror, so I was just—”

“Hey, it’s okay,” he interrupts, moving towards me. “You can pick a romance.”

“Oh, okay. Are you sure, because last time—”

I can’t finish my sentence because he’s settling onto the bed behind me.

He positions his legs on either side of mine, so I’m sitting between them. It’s similar to how that girl was sitting at the bonfire night.

My cheeks flush as he scoots closer, pressing my back against his chest.

With wide eyes, I try to control my breathing as I stare stiffly at the screen ahead.

“Just pick any romance,” he says casually, as if our position doesn’t affect him at all. I guess I’m the only one here on the verge of a heart attack.

“Okay,” I reply, aiming the remote at the screen. My hands are sweaty, and instead of scrolling through the options, I keep hitting the volume button like a fool.

Blaze chuckles behind me, his chest vibrating against my back. “What are you doing, Harmony? Here, let me.” He takes the remote from me and starts flipping through a long list of romance movies.

“Mm...how about ~The Fault in Our Stars~?” he suggests after a moment.

“Yeah, yeah, that sounds good.”

He selects it, and the movie starts loading while he sets the remote down on the bed next to us.

Suddenly, I feel his strong, warm arms wrap around me from behind, pulling me closer to his chest, and I almost forget to breathe.

His biceps rest casually over my heart, and I worry he can feel my rapid, irregular heartbeat.

~Focus on the screen, Harmony. The screen.~

The movie finally starts. It’s about two cancer patients who meet at a support group and fall in love.

I don’t know if Blaze is watching, but I am. It’s the only thing keeping me from turning into a blushing mess in his arms.

As the movie plays, he remains silent and still behind me. I sneak a quick glance to the side and see that he’s staring straight ahead, presumably watching the movie.

His arms stay wrapped around me, and I slowly start to feel more comfortable with them there.

That is, until a sex scene starts playing on the screen. The two main characters are in a room, kissing and undressing each other.

This is incredibly awkward to watch with Blaze right behind me. Watching people get hacked to pieces with a chainsaw would be less uncomfortable.

I swallow hard, the sound of my own saliva going down my throat deafening. I try to keep a straight face while Blaze watches the scene with ease. He really is a different breed.

Everyone has a nervous habit, and mine is shaking my legs when I’m anxious. I just hope this part ends soon.

Blaze leans down to my ear, tightening his hold on me and pulling me closer into his arms. “You okay?” he whispers.

I nod. “Mm.”

“Sure?”

His breath tickles my neck as he speaks, and I shiver.

“Yeah...”

Then I feel his lips on my neck. They’re cool and wet as he sucks my skin into his mouth, his teeth gently grazing it.

My heart rate quickens, and I struggle to keep my eyes open, but they only manage to squint as the movie becomes nothing more than a white blur.

The intimate scene ends, and Blaze’s sexual teasing stops as well. He plants a soft kiss on my now-bruised neck and continues watching the movie as if nothing happened.

My heart is pounding like a drum as I try to regain my composure, focusing on the movie in front of me, but not really taking in anything that’s happening.

I relax my thighs, not realizing I’d been clenching them tightly together.

Soon, the movie ends with the tragic death of the male lead from cancer.

Aside from learning that watching romantic movies with Blaze might lead to a sexual response, I’ve learned a few other things from this film.

Sometimes people meet the perfect person when they’re not ready, and they can lose them too when they’re not ready. Love comes when you least expect it, and it can also leave when you least expect it.

As the credits roll, a tear slips down my face, followed by a soft sob.

Blaze looks down at me, clearly surprised. “Are you crying?”

“Yeah...it’s just so sad,” I mumble, heartbroken.

He looks amazed and awestruck, probably never having seen someone cry over a movie before. I understand his confusion; he’s not an empath.

“I just think...life is so unfair.” I wipe my eyes with my knuckle. “They met just to be torn apart like that.”

Blaze stares at me, unsure of what to say. I know he’s not used to comforting people, so I don’t expect a response. He’s not familiar with all of this, and that’s okay.

He pulls me closer and hugs me tighter. “It’s okay. I’m sure they’ll meet in the afterlife or something.

“He’s going to be a hotshot CEO, and she’s a supermodel. They cross paths because she’s job hunting and he’s got an opening.”

“She sends in her resume, and he’s drawn to her. They’ve got this past-life connection thing going on.”

I can’t help but smile at his words, my eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Sounds like a blockbuster movie.”

“I know, right?” He grins back at me.

“But if she’s a supermodel, why does she need a job?”

“Extra cash, obviously. She doesn’t want to flaunt her body forever. And hey, it’s just a movie. Don’t overthink it.”

We both burst into laughter.

“What happened to ‘the guy’s just going to screw some random chick, and she’s going to cheat with a fake-ass dude?’” I remind him of his previous rant about why he despises romance movies.

He chuckles. “Well...I guess not all romance movies are terrible.”

I can’t help but smile at him. I see so much potential in him. He won’t always be this way, this sociopath. I’m going to help him overcome it.

He stifles a yawn and flops back onto his bed, letting out a weary sigh. “I’m beat.”

“Oh. I should probably head back to my dorm then…”

As I start to rise, he grabs my arm, pulling me down onto his chest. His arms wrap around me, his thigh lifting to draw me closer.

I blush, our eyes locking. “What if James—”

“James won’t be back at Homewood until tomorrow morning. He’s at his parents’.”

“Oh...but April—”

“Stay with me, Harmony,” he cuts me off. “Don’t leave me tonight.”

I look away, unable to meet his gaze. The love I feel for him is too evident in my eyes.

“I won’t try anything,” he whispers. “We can just sleep here, together, until morning.”

That’s what I want too. I’ve always wanted to wake up next to him. The thought of sleeping through the night with him, and waking up to find him still there, fills me with joy.

I look back at him, nodding and smiling. “Okay. I’ll stay with you.”

His lips curve into a satisfied smile as he pulls me closer into his warm embrace.