Chapter 29

- Moving in, Harry softly pressed his lips over mine.

He kissed me slowly but surely, and made me tremble as he parted my lips with a simple brush of his thumb. He looked up into my eyes again, pinning me with his irises, before moving in once again and claiming my lips.

The air was knocked from my lungs with an invisible force as his tongue swept against mine, tasting me, exploring me gently, like a gentleman asking for entrance.

His hands that held me perfectly in his embrace pulled me closer and made me cling to his shoulders as our lips intertwined passionately.

I arched my back submissively when his hand then traveled up my space, resting between my shoulder blades as I grew more desperate against his lips. I whimpered softly when he as usual took his time appreciating every inch of me.

I realized then I was only impatient for him to explore more.

Taking his hand, I brought it down to my ass and felt as he delicately clenched me, pulling me closer. It was then my own hands moved to the hem of my top, letting the blanket around my shoulders slide down around my hips as I pulled my top and bra off in one tug.

The cold nipped at my skin, but the minute my exposed skin was freed, I felt Harry lift the blanket to my shoulders again – but he didn't cover my front.

Keeping the covers shielded around me, mostly for warmth, but also just in case any of his staff members were out on an evening walk, he slowly kissed me down my neck and left a hot trail to warm me until I felt like I was burning up. His mouth lingered on my cleavage, before one warm hand suddenly came to my right breast.

I gasped softly as I felt his thumb caress my nipple. Then, the feel of his lips suddenly pressed against it, kissing it tenderly, as if he was kissing something fragile, but beautiful.

And he made me feel beautiful with every kiss of his lips.

Feeling his hands then slowly travel up my sides, he held onto me softly, but firmly as my hands buried in his hair, clinging to him. His lips roved across my chest, leaving no skin untouched and unappreciated.

I leaned in to his touch, already feeling that special kind of drunk I'd only ever experienced with him. My nipples were stiff from the cold, but aching as his lips softly closed around each of them, kissing and sucking them until they grew warm again.

His hands palmed my breasts, making sure not one inch of me felt the summer night's gentle breeze, but only his hot breath as he exhaled against my chest, panting lightly.

I scrunched my fingers in his hair and arched again as he paused over my sternum, kissing me softly. Right over my heart.

So intimate.

So dangerous.

"Don't stop," I whispered when he seemed to rest against my chest, simply kissing me softly, caressing my skin with his thumbs.

I leaned down and nibbled on his ear, dragging my fingers through his bottom wisps, down to his neck.

"Don't stop," I repeated.

Dangerous words.

Instead of pulling back, I was surprised when I felt him suddenly shift and lift me as well. My whole world tilted, and I gasped as I felt myself being laid down on the same bench we were sitting on, the one running along the railing of the pavilion.

I gripped on to the edge and then looked up when Harry climbed in over me,

cupping my face.

Our eyes met.

His eyes were so dark and so deep with emotion that I didn't have the complexity to understand what he was currently feeling or thinking. He looked at me as if I was a treasure... as if I was something so rare and beautiful that was only to be appreciated and worshipped by the most gentle and most caring of hands.

And yet, when I wasn't like this, he never gave me a second glance.

Bringing my hand up to his hair again, I grabbed the locks that had fallen onto his forehead as he leaned in over me, inches from my chest. I swept them back and made him cast a glance up at me as his lips hovered above my breasts, heaving with need.

I didn't want him to stop.

Never.

But I also couldn't take this whiplash much longer.

Gripping the back of his head, I guided him to where I wanted him, and the second his lips closed around my nipple and sucked, I cried out softly and arched out.

I was going to drive myself crazy before the end of the summer.

I hauled my ass into work over the next two or three days.

I was working on assignment number six, and I was almost done with it. It just needed a little fine-tuning and an extra glance. I didn't know how I had done it in shorter time than the last one, but in any case, I was this close to reaching the seventh and final assignment.

And just in time as summer was coming to an end.

The weather had grown chiller over the past few weeks – some days still had a bit of warm sun to give, but I think the night in the lighthouse had been the last full summer day we would see this year. And although that saddened me, it was kind of a blessing when I now no longer had any excuses for not focusing on my work.

No more sun to tan in and no more lovely days to spend outside in the fresh air.

Just studying long days inside with my head aching with numbers.

Yay.

It was around lunch time when I came down the stairs, intent on going to the kitchen to grab a bite to eat, when I saw Giselle coming out of the kitchen with a tray of food. I recognized the menu; A pot of tea and a plate of some delicious sandwiches with a small salad on the side.

This was Harry's lunch.

"Hey," I called out.

Giselle halted in her way and spotted me on the stairs. She shot me a bright smile.

"Are you going to Harry with that?"

"Yes," She replied as I came down and joined her.

"I was going to bring you a plate right after."

"Well, I'm going to see Harry right now. Do you want me to take it in for you?" I offered and gestured towards the tray.

"I was going to see if he wanted to have lunch with me."

"Oh," Giselle's brows shot up.

"You want me to bring your tray in to his office, then?"

"Please," I smiled, taking the tray when she gave a nod at my request.

"If you don't mind."

"Not at all," She seemed almost thrilled at the idea.

"Mr. Devon never eats with others, unless he's with a colleague. I'm glad you're trying to get him more out of that office."

I smiled kind of awkwardly, maybe because that hadn't exactly been my intentions. I wouldn't say I had succeeded in bringing him more out of his office, but maybe I had forced him to be more social this summer?

I didn't know.

"Well... I ‘Il do my best," I said, seeing Giselle smile, before retreating back to the kitchen to fetch my tray.

I sighed myself, but then turned towards Harry's office and carefully opened the door, balancing the tray.

Walking in, I found Harry where he always was; sitting behind his desk, staring up at his blackboard with what I knew was a pensive face. I smiled a little, but then came closer.

"Hey," I voiced, walking up to his desk.

"Busy?"

He sighed deeply, but then slowly spun his chair around.

"No."

Turning towards me, I was met by his usual handsome appearance and combed hair. Today he wore a gray button-up shirt with dark green pants. His tie matched his pants, a deep green with a few thin, black stripes on.

Setting the tray of food down on his desk, I smiled when he raised his brow at me, obviously not used to seeing me delivering his food.

"I was hoping you would have lunch with me."

"Do I have a choice?" He questioned redundantly.

l opened my mouth, but that same second, Giselle knocked on the door and came in with my lunch tray.

"Not really," I mused and sat down on the side of his desk, watching Giselle give me a quick smile before silently setting my tray down beside his.

I thanked her and then watched her leave as quietly as she came.

Harry followed her with his gaze, pursing his lips a little as she closed the door behind herself and left us alone in his office.

"Do I need to have a talk with my staff and remind them of whom they're working for?"

"Oh, relax. It's just lunch," I rolled my eyes and reached for my sandwich. I didn't care what anyone said; sandwiches were eaten with hands, not forks and knives.

"If it's too social for you, you can just be quiet and listen to me talk."

His lips twitched a little, but he then reached for the napkin on his tray after a moment and placed it in his lap.

"As opposed to the usual change of pace, you mean."

I was going to ignore that snide comment.

"So, I'm almost done with assignment number six. I hope you're ready to hand over assignment number seven."

"I can hardly wait."

"I don't know, but somehow I think this one was easier? I mean, I solved it faster. So, either I'm getting better or you're slacking off," I teased him, seeing him pick up his cutlery.

He started with the salad.

"Oh?"

"Yeah. Or maybe I'm just getting better than you," I licked a bit of curry dressing off my thumb and smirked when Harry shot me a dry glance.

"Don't feel bad. It happens with old age."

"Did you come in here just to insult my intelligence and my age?"

"No, but it's fun," I grinned and took a bite of my sandwich.

He shook his head a little, but then started eating his salad as well.

"So, how's your thingy coming along?" I finally said and nodded towards his blackboard.

He chewed off a bite of his sandwich without looking up.

"Fine."

"Really? Because I haven't seen you work on in for a couple of days."

"And that means I'm having trouble?"

"Well... aren't you?" I questioned, swallowing a bite and raising a brow at him.

If he was having trouble with his equation or problem or whatever he was working it, there was no shame in admitting it. But maybe he wasn't too keen on saying aloud anyway. Either way, I knew he hadn't touched that blackboard in

days.

Harry chewed for a moment, then laid down his cutlery and dabbed his mouth with his napkin. Then, leaning back and folding his hands in his lap, he pursed his lips a little.

"Actually, I do have a problem I've been working on for days."

"Anything I can help you with?" I offered, almost with a humorous tone, because we both knew it was unlikely, I could be of actual help here if it was about his math.

"I'm still good with moral support."

He gave me a dry glance, but I saw the way his eyes still twinkled with bemusement. Then, he looked down at his folded hands.

"I haven't worked on the problem on the board for days because there's nothing left to work on."

Say what?

"You mean..."

"I solved it."