Chapter 69: Let’s Do What Lovers Do

~“I think of you whenever I’m alone, so please don’t go.” —Joel Adams.~

Chapter Theme Song: “Please Don’t Go” by Joel Adams.

HARMONY

Blaze is scrolling through Netflix on my laptop. “So, what movie do you want to watch?” he asks.

I pull a leg under me and pass him the bag of chips. I grab a cupcake from the carton. “Anything’s fine,” I say with a smile.

“Anything?” He raises an eyebrow, a playful grin on his face. I laugh.

“Except horror...or anything with a potential sex scene.” I say the last part under my breath, but he hears it and starts laughing.

“Yeah, I remember that time you nearly shook us off my dorm bed.” He chuckles.

I point at the recently remade ~The Lion King~ on the screen. “We can watch that.”

Blaze frowns but clicks on it anyway. “A cartoon? Really?”

“No, it’s not a cartoon. The graphics are more realistic. This is the new one.”

“Okay, anything for you,” he says, and I smile.

He places the laptop at the top of the bed. We both lie on our stomachs, watching the movie and eating. Blaze is more interested in the Doritos than the movie.

I’ve already eaten two cupcakes. When the bag of chips is finally empty, he shifts and rests his head on my back, quietly watching the movie.

My heart rate speeds up, but I try to stay calm. His head is right on my spine, and his ear is close enough to hear my irregular heartbeat. I try to distract myself by focusing on the movie.

“How can you watch a bunch of animals trying to act like humans?” he asks. His voice vibrates against my back, sending a strange thrill through me.

“Well, sometimes fiction is better than reality, isn’t it?” I reply.

He’s quiet for a moment, probably thinking about what I said. Then he nods slightly. “Yeah...that makes sense.”

He reaches forward and hits the space bar, pausing the movie. I frown at him. “Hey, why’d you do that?”

“You want to know why?” He sits up and pulls me down with him. Now he’s lying on his back and I’m on top of him.

I’m trapped between his thighs, my chest flat against his. My eyes widen at our position, and he smiles up at me.

“I’d rather watch ~you~...that’s why,” he says softly.

I blink at him. He raises his eyebrows playfully, his eyes locked on mine. His intense gaze makes me nervous and self-conscious. I just stare back at him, unsure of what to do.

We stare at each other for a few minutes before I look away. “What are you doing?”

“Watching you,” he says with a chuckle. “Why’d you stop looking at me? It was comforting.”

“Blaze, staring into each other’s eyes isn’t comforting...it’s...nerve-wracking.”

He laughs. “How so? It feels good to me.”

I look at him again and see that strange, beautiful emotion in his eyes. The last time I asked him about it, he said I was beautiful. Is that what he’s thinking now?

I wish I had put on some of April’s makeup. I had thought about it, but Maddie distracted me.

He reaches up and brushes a strand of hair from my face. “Have you looked at the music sheet yet?”

“Not yet,” I say, my voice shaky.

“Okay… We can practice it together, whenever you’re ready.”

“Okay,” I say with a smile. “That sounds good.”

He smirks. “Is this position uncomfortable?”

“Um, no, n-not at all.”

“Oh. I just don’t want you to shake us off the bed again.” He laughs.

I blush but join in his laughter. Blaze is very observant and has a good memory.

I didn’t realize he had noticed how nervous I was the last time we watched a sex scene together.

My phone beeps, signaling a new text. We both look at the iPhone on my bedside table.

“Probably my mom...or Callum,” I say. The mention of Callum makes Blaze’s face change, but he quickly hides it. I wish I could hide my emotions that quickly.

I reach over and grab my phone. My lower body is still trapped between his thighs, but my upper body is off him as I unlock the screen.

Blaze watches curiously as he traces small circles on my back with his finger.

Kite

I miss you❤ Where are you now?

Blaze hisses behind me, and I turn to look at him, annoyed.

I get nervous when Kite contacts me while I’m with Blaze. I know how short-tempered Blaze can get when it comes to Kite, especially after the misunderstanding at the pool party.

“I won’t answer,” I assure him. But he grips my waist and moves me off him as he sits up. His face is hard, and I wish my phone hadn’t beeped.

We were enjoying each other’s company so much.

“I won’t answer, Blaze.”

“Why the hell is he still texting you, Harmony?”

His voice is stern, and I’m scared. I hate this side of Blaze. Just one glare from him can make me cry.

“I don’t know,” I sigh. “I really don’t know...”

“Just tell the jerk you’re into someone else. You are, aren’t you?”

I nod, biting my lower lip.

“Then let him know, so he’ll back off.”

“I’ve tried...but he won’t quit. He just won’t let go,” I whisper.

Blaze sighs heavily, rolling his eyes, and I inch closer to him. “I don’t want him, okay? It’s you... You’re the one I want.”

He lets out another sigh. “Yeah. I’m heading back to my dorm; he’s ruined the whole vibe.”

He stands, running his fingers through his hair, and I feel a pang in my heart.

He’s leaving. I don’t want him to, but I’ve learned the hard way that clinging to him when he’s upset only leads to more heartache for me. He doesn’t react well to it.

I sigh and drop my gaze to my sheets. It’s pointless and humiliating to chase after him like a needy, lost puppy.

Tears well up in my eyes as he heads for the door, but then he halts, and I watch as he lets out a heavy sigh. He rubs a hand over his face, then turns around and walks back to me.

The bed shifts as he sits next to me, and I lift my gaze to him, my tear-filled green eyes probably looking pitiful right now.

“I’m sorry,” he murmurs. “I’m not going anywhere. I just got upset.”

I nod and wipe my eyes.

He pulls me into a tight embrace, and I breathe in his familiar scent as I close my eyes.

“Don’t cry. I’m not leaving, okay? Not this time. Kite won the last round, but he’s not winning this one... You’re mine.”

He pulls back and looks me in the eyes. We’re locked in a gaze for the second time tonight, but this time it doesn’t unsettle me like the first.

Slowly, he leans in, closing the gap between us, resting his forehead against mine. He brushes his lips against mine before finally pressing them together.

I kiss him back and feel a satisfied moan escape from him into my mouth.