Chapter 1: On Key
Chapter Text
Booking a non-refundable trip with her boyfriend of six months was perhaps not Ginny’s finest idea, but it was only two months out so she figured that it would be just fine. It was an exceptional promotion and why should she not take it?
No one could have predicted things would go downhill so quickly between her and Dean. It was him refusing to let her pay on dates even once, at first she didn’t mind but now that they were a proper ‘item’, she just didn’t get it. Then with the frustration came jealousy—from his side. When he tried to prove her it was perfectly reasonable behaviour, things got worse. He became rather upset she wasn’t jealous and to him that surely meant she wasn’t as committed as he was and he was right to be jealous. She had enough of the mind games and they broke it off three weeks before their vacation. Their fancy non-refundable cruise.
He hadn’t paid his part yet, and she didn’t feel like bugging him about it another time. Every interaction after their break-up led to Dean asking to give it another try and she didn’t think it was worth it. She wasn’t going to waste it either, she was going to enjoy the bloody hell out of her vacation.
Boarding took place in Civitavecchia, the nearest port to Rome. She got a day of admiring the city while eating gelato before she travelled to the port.
When she stepped out of the taxi by the cruise terminal, she honestly gaped at the ship as the taxi driver took her suitcase out. She had known the ship was big but the sheer size of it still baffled her. It was like a small floating city. It loomed over the dock in all its bright white glory.
“Just over there, miss,” the cab driver said in a thick Italian accent as he handed over her suitcase and got back in his car.
She didn’t think it needed clarifying. Not only was in the only ship in port at this very moment, the name of the ship ‘Emerald Flame’ was printed clearly on the bow. She pulled along her luggage. She handed over her suitcase to a steward and then joined the queue for check-in.
She walked onto the ship wide-eyed after check-in. She entered in the atrium and looked up, admiring everything from the glass banisters to the shiny stairs and soft carpeted floors.
Staff were greeting guests coming and guided them towards the lifts. She followed the stream of people. She went up her room—or down to her room—she wasn’t entirely sure what floor she had entered the ship on.
She dropped her bag off in her stateroom and then went exploring. She walked down the promenade of the ship, a long walkway in the middle of the ship lined with shops on either side as if it were a street and the second floor featuring restaurants and bars with balconies overlooking the promenade below. The shops were closed for now but bars at either end were open and serving people drinks. At the end of the promenade was a theatre to host the ship’s daily shows.
She went up to the upper floors and found the buffet. The food smelled good but she was still full from all the gelato and it would be dinner soon enough so she decided to hold off. Instead she walked along the top deck. She got a virgin strawberry daiquiri and walked along the pool for a bit. She looked out over the sea, enjoying the breeze and sun on her face and seeing nothing but water as far as she could look. Not having Dean’s nagging next to her felt like a blessing now.
She sipped her drink and walked on, finding a tennis court, a climbing wall she definitely wanted to try out and the kids’ pool. It was amazing how many things they could fit onto one ship and she felt like she hadn’t even seen half of it.
She tried to remember which was port and starboard side but if she wasn’t directly in view of the front of the ship, she found it rather difficult to remember. She explored further and found several more bars, an arcade, the casino, indoor mini golf, the spa, a library, an escape room and the main dining room.
She went back to the top deck to watch the ship leave the port with many people doing the same. Then she returned to her room and was happy to find her suitcase had arrived. She pulled it inside and unpacked, trying to fit everything in the tiny closet. She decided what she was going to wear for dinner—you can never go wrong with a little black dress—and hopped in a refreshing shower.
She dried her hair, enjoying that no one was going to complain about ‘being smothered at night’ by it and left her waist-length hair down. With just a bit of make-up she was ready to go for dinner. She was still half an hour early but she didn’t feel like being cooped up in her room so she decided to have a drink at a bar.
The bar outside the dining room felt very luxurious. There was a large piano to one side. The chairs were covered in a lush velvet fabric and the tables and bar top looked to be mahogany or similar—Ginny wasn’t really well-versed in fancy wood choices.
By the time she had received a glass of champagne, a pianist had arrived and sat down on the stool in front of the piano. The screen behind him announced that he was taking request. She paused for a moment as she watched him get ready, putting a glass of water aside before he started a slow song.
He was neatly dressed up with a button-down shirt and a vest on top of it. He had black hair that was somewhat swept back but at least half his fringe was at risk of escaping. He wore thin-framed glasses and his eye-lashes appeared long as he looked down at the keys.
Drawn to him, she walked near the piano before she took a seat there. As he started playing, he looked up, the muscle memory doing the work for him. He spotted her and greeted her with a small nod and a little smile. They locked eyes for just a moment. His eyes were so beautifully emerald green she would have believed it if he told her the ship was named after him.
She smiled back and took a sip from her champagne and set the glass down. From her seat she could see his fingers work. They were precise and quick, flitting over the keys like it was a dance. Strong but elegant hands that easily produced a soft tune.
He played two songs before he paused for a moment. He took a sip of water and eyed her with an intrigued look. “Got any requests?”
She moved one seat to the right that was so close to the piano she could touch it if she reached out. “That was amazing.”
“Thank you,” he told her with an honest smile.
Ginny returned it. “How many times do people request Piano Man?”
His set his glass down as he thought. “About four times a night if I had to guess.” He paused, looking just a smidge betrayed. “You’re going to request it, aren’t you?”
“No,” she told him innocently. “Not tonight.”
“It’s either that or Rush E, depending on age.”
She nodded in understanding. “Can you do it?”
His eyebrows rose. “You offend me.” He turned back to his piano. “You know it’s meant to be unplayable right?”
“Right. I’m sorry.” She held her hands up. “How about Alla Turca?”
He looked pleased and nodded. “That’s a solid choice—I can do that.”
She watched as he began to play. It was a bit more upbeat that the previous two and people seemed to take more notice of him. Someone else came and requested a song before he was finished.
She watched him play that too and then it was time for dinner. She finished her glass of champagne and stood up as he finished his song.
“I’ll be off to dinner. Thank you.”
He smiled at her. “Enjoy! I’ll see you around.”
She walked off and he hadn’t began to play again, but she had the feeling there were eyes resting on her back.
She had a deliciously three-course meal and considered how her brothers would absolutely devour everything in sight—not that she thought going on cruise with such a rambunctious bunch was a good idea. Her family could likely clear the buffet on their own.
On her first full day on the cruise—a full day at sea—she went sunbathing early and swam for a little. She had an early lunch and then wisely retreated back inside, hoping to avoid a sunburn for at least a little while.
Not all activities were fun to do alone and some she simply couldn’t do alone. She didn’t feel like signing up for tennis and having to play against a sweaty middle-aged man one hearty meal away from a heart attack. She picked out bingo instead. It was indoors in a bar—drinks!—and it was something Dean would’ve never tried.
According to the info, it was in a bar by the casino. She walked inside and spotted a small group of people that was already there and ready to start. She looked for a staff member to buy her bingo card.
She wasn’t sure, but it did look like the guy at the piano was currently selling bingo cards. She walked closer, he looked up and a jolt of recognition ran through her. It was him.
She walked towards him and when he met her eyes and recognised her, she couldn’t help but smile.
“Why, good afternoon,” he told her with a smile. “What a lovely face to see at bingo.”
She couldn’t help but blush, even though she was sure it was his job to be nice to the guests. “I thought you were the piano guy.”
“Well. There are only so many hours in a day you can play piano.” He grinned at her. “One card?”
She nodded. “I think that’ll be plenty to start with.”
“Great. You can just tap your cruise card whenever you’re ready.” He pointed at the little terminal on the table beside him.
Ginny smiled and tapped her card. “Is someone ever not ready?”
“You’d be surprised,” he told her, watching the screen. “Miss Weasley.” He offered her a card.
“Ginny,” she said. She looked for his name on his badge. “Harry…?”
He nodded at her. “Just Harry.” He cocked his head. “Travelling alone?”
“Yes,” she admitted. “I wasn’t meant to but my boyfriend and I—well, my ex now—broke it off. Cruise was non-refundable. I figured I’d make the best of it.”
“As you should.” He met eyes with her. “His loss, I bet. Glad to have you on board.”
Someone else had come up behind her to buy a bingo card so she smiled in reply and went to find a spot. She had to remind herself he was being nice because it was his job and he probably just wanted a nice tip.
Bingo as it turned out was profoundly dull. The one time she had joined was with her grandma and they had chatted in the meantime. The only redemptive quality of it was that the numbers were called by the handsome pianist. Harry. Who was just being nice because he has to be nice to everyone.
She ordered a drink and sipped it while she dotted her numbers on the card.
She did not win, but it was just as well. When the winner up front claimed to have a bingo, she was promptly accused of cheating. As she slipped out of the seats, Harry shot her a tired look and then turned to the rowdy front row, trying to get the winning bingo card in his hands before it was destroyed.
Did she pick her dress to go for dinner, hoping Harry would be at the piano again tonight? Not at all. She just liked curve-hugging cute dresses all by herself. If only Dean knew.
She ordered another cocktail at the bar and then turned around. There he was, setting up. His gaze fell on her almost as soon as she turned and his gaze slipped down her dress to her bare legs and back up appreciatively. Maybe that’s what she would think about tonight when she got back to her room.
She boldly decided to take the seat she had yesterday.
Harry started his first song. “That looks amazing on you.”
She set her drink down. “Thank you.”
“Any requests tonight, Miss Weasley?”
“Ginny,” she corrected him again.
“Ginny,” he told her in a slight whisper. “So?”
She nodded. “Something by Yiruma, dealer’s choice.” She felt like asking for River Flows In You was too obvious, even if was a good song.
Harry pursed his lips for a moment. “Is ‘May be’ alright?”
“Yes,” she replied.
He smiled at her. “Give me another one.”
“My heart will go on?” she tried with a grin.
He snorted. “Only if you sing.”
She shook her head once. “Not likely.”
He shrugged, gaze returning to the piano keys for a moment. “Your loss.”
“Alright, how about ‘Too Sweet’ by Hozier?”
“Love it. Don’t go anywhere before I play it,” he told her with a wink before he looked at the piano again, his cheeks looking a bit flushed as he played.
“Of course not.”
As he started playing ‘May be’, his attention turned back to her. “So, did he break up with you or you with him? Because if he broke up with you, he’s an idiot.” She didn’t miss that cheeky smile as he said it.
“I broke up with him,” she told Harry. “He was too jealous.”
“Can you blame him?”
She frowned at him. “I would never cheat on someone.”
He nodded for her to go on.
“He was jealous even after repeated reassurance and then he got mad I wasn’t insecure enough to be constantly jealous about the women in his life. He ‘tested’ me.”
Harry appeared so surprised he missed a note and swiftly fixed it. “Tested if you were going to be jealous?”
She nodded adamantly. “Yeah and then was offended I didn’t bite.”
“Interesting approach on his part,” Harry commented. “It sounds tiring.”
She listened while he played and watched his hands. Sometimes he would mumble commentary to her. She was disappointed when it was time to go to dinner.
She was late for dinner the following day. Of course the excursion she took—to look at a damned cathedral—came back late. The ship started to get ready to leave as soon as their group was on board. It was a ‘formal’ night on the ship too, so she wanted to dress up a little nice.
She had the choice to dress to the nines or throw on whatever she had and still have a few minutes to admire her—correction, the—pianist. She reminded herself that he was just doing his job and decided that she could dress up nicely. There would be other nights to admire the pianist.
She put on her long turquoise dress she had never had an opportunity to wear before. She put her hair half-up and created soft waves in the rest of it; with some mascara, blush and lip gloss, she was ready for dinner.
With less than a minute to go until her time slot for dinner, she strode to the door of the restaurant with determination, but not before she caught Harry’s eye.
She blushed furiously as his jaw went the slightest bit slack. His fingers were still on the keys but his head turned to follow her. She smiled at him and he mouthed ‘wow’ to her, which only heated her cheeks further. She was quite giddy when she sat down for dinner.
Another delicious dinner down, she exited the restaurant once again. Usually she headed straight for the lifts to go to the upper deck for a stroll or a drink but a photographer was beckoning her, taking pictures of guests dressed up nicely. The one time she wore this dress, she may as well have a photo in it.
She posed for a few pictures, feeling a bit awkward. “I think this looks better with two people.”
The guy behind the camera chuckled and looked around as if looking for a second. He eyed the piano bar and Ginny realised Harry was still there. She could have gone back after dinner? It hadn’t occurred to her that he played for the whole evening.
“Harry. We need that handsome head of yours to accompany this gorgeous lady for a few pictures.”
Harry had been taking a break. He gazed at the time and pushed off his seat. “You know how I hate getting my picture taken, Colin. Just this once.”
“Hi,” Ginny greeted him, feeling nervous.
He grinned at her. “It would be a shame not to get a picture in that dress.” He took his place beside her.
“I thought so too,” she said cheekily.
Colin posed them. Next to each other, her hand on Harry’s arm, both of them looking off to the side with him just behind her. Colin snapped a few pictures.
“Alright, Harry. Put your arms around her waist.”
He stepped a little closer to her. He bent over towards her. “Is that okay?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
Harry cautiously brought his arms around her. Colin walked up and posed him and then guided her hands to rest on top of hers.
“The height difference is going to look great on camera!” Colin said excitedly as he walked back to his spot and took more pictures. “Alright, all done! Thank you, Harry. You can go back to your station.”
“Thank you,” she said.
He squeezed her arm. “You’re welcome.”
She thanked Colin and then she walked to the bar too, picking a drink up from the bar and then taking what she could now call her usual spot.
“Hi again,” she told him.
“You look like a princess,” he told her.
She only smiled. “I didn’t know you played this late.”
“Yes. Still two hours to go,” he informed her. “I don’t mind it.”
She watched him play those next two hours, keeping him provided with requests whenever he asked. The staff gave her frequent refills. The bar gradually emptied as it became later—with people going to bed or on to more exciting bars or one of the shows in the theatre. By the time Harry’s shift was done, only two groups of people remained at the far end that didn’t seem to care if there was live piano music or not.
He emptied his own drink—a soda—and turned to her. “Do you want to see something cool?”
Always. “Yes.”
“Come on then.” He stood up and waved goodnight to the barmen.
They started walking towards the front of the ship together. By the lifts on the other end he took a right until they reached a door that said ‘staff only’.
“Don’t tell anyone,” he told her as he pushed the door open and let her through. They walked through two more corridors and then he pushed open a door that opened to the outside.
They stepped onto a platform near the front of the ship, but unlike the decks open to passengers, this one was completely vacant aside from them.
“I love to come here after my shift and look out over the sea or look at the stars if it’s cloudless,” he told her. “This time of the night there is hardly anyone here.”
She gaped at the view. The bow of the ship was in front of them, a few floors below. The bridge of the ship almost above them, just tucked in a little further, a floor higher.
She walked to the edge immediately and looked out, enjoying the evening breeze on her face. Harry came to stand beside her. He had rolled up his sleeves up to his elbows and leaned them on the railing. For a moment they just looked on as the ship glided through the waves steadily. They could hear the constant white noise of the waves breaking against the ship. Faraway voices floated down from the upper decks. The platform they stood on was only dimly lit and it felt like it was just the two of them right there for a moment.
“This is lovely,” she whispered after a long while, as if she was scared to interrupt the tranquillity of the moment.
Harry nodded quietly. “It’s my favourite spot on the ship, I think.”
“I get that,” she said. “Have you been doing this long?”
He shook his head. “Seven months. I am on for two months and then I have two weeks off. It’s a nice way to travel, I suppose. I usually have time off when we are in a port so I can choose to go out if I like.”
“I guess so,” she agreed. She glanced at his forearms again, shaped by hours of piano playing. “Two months on is quite a bit.”
He nodded quietly. “A lot of the staff do far longer stints. They consider me a bit of an outlier—somewhere between the performance staff and the entertainment staff.” He frowned a little. “I just signed up for one year. Then I’ll be on to the next thing. Closer to home preferably—my parents would much prefer it.”
“Mama’s boy?” she teased.
He chuckled and glanced at her. “Why yes, I am.” He licked his lips. “I got a degree last year… but piano is more of a passion. I suppose I have options. I just wanted to get the opportunity to see a bit of the world while not being entirely unemployed and this seemed like a good option. What about you?”
“I’m combining a degree in journalistics with my career as athlete.”
His eyes grew wide. “No wonder you look so bloody fit in those dresses. What type of athlete?”
“I specialise in the heptathlon,” she said proudly.
“Wow.” He blew air out of his mouth. “So you have to be good at loads of things?”
She nodded. “I like the challenge of all the different skills. I dream of the Olympics. I need to qualify next spring or I can forget it. Career over.” Something she stressed over regularly but right now, standing here with just Harry, cruising over the Mediterranean Sea, the stress didn’t weigh on her so much.
“Can I get tickets if you go?” he asked.
She laughed. “Oh for sure. I’m inviting everyone if I go.”
“Good. I’ll play you some motivational piano,” he told her with a chuckle. His gaze shifted to something more thoughtful. “I hope you manage.”
“Thanks.” Her phone pinged and she grabbed it. “Oh. Our photos are online.”
She opened it and he shifted a little closer to look. She scrolled through them. In most of those photos they managed to look like an actual couple. It made her stomach tumble.
“Send them to your ex,” he told her.
She scoffed lightly. “And give him the impression he was right? No, thank you.” She tucked her phone away again and he didn’t create more space between them again. “I’ll send them to my mum and tell her I’m having a lovely time.”
“I think I’ll actually ask Colin to crop one of those to send to my mum,” he mused out loud. “She hates how I dodge pictures most of the time.”
She winced. “And now you had to suffer through it. I’m sorry.”
“I don’t mind so much… you know how it is with mums. They start trying to fix your hair and then your tie isn’t straight and you weren’t looking happy even though she just almost strangled you with said tie.”
Ginny laughed lightly.
“I do better when I can just be me.”
“I saw the pictures, I’d have to say you photograph quite fine.” She turned slightly towards him and he did too. “Perfectly fine. Actually in the area of my mum asking if I am bringing the handsome man home.”
Harry laughed, the corners of his eyes wrinkling slightly. “Thanks, I guess.” His gaze lingered on her and for a moment time stood still as their eyes locked, soft smiles exchanging and the sound of the sea their only background.
It was without thinking. She stepped forward, her hand teasing his where it rested on the railing. She angled her head up and kissed him. She pressed her lips firmly against his and he froze.
It dawned on her what she was doing. The poor piano man was just trying to show her a nice view and making sure she had a good time and she kissed him. She mentally cursed herself and stepped back.
“I am so sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.” She swallowed hard. “I overstepped. You’re just trying to be nice to me and I go and I ruin your evening.”
In a moment his hand rested over hers on the railing, his grip firm. His other hand fitted under her chin gently, his finger guiding her lips back up and he kissed her.
Her thundering heart slowed down but skipped several beats as their lips slipped together. His lips were soft but purposeful. The hand covering hers softened. She almost reached out with her free hand but lost her nerve—it balled in a fist in mid-air before she brought it back down.
He barely separated from her. He locked eyes with her. “How’s that for just being nice, huh?”
For once in her life, she was speechless.
“How could you possibly ruin my evening, looking like you walked straight out of a fantasy book?” He grinned at her, terribly cocky. “One of those saucy ones.”
She let out an unattractive snort and she didn’t even care. “I’m very capable if I try to.”
“Sure,” he agreed easily.
“Though this time I wasn’t,” she agreed.
They leaned back in at the same time. The hand that had been by her chin slipped to the back and dove into her hair. As he kissed her deeper, she took a step forward and eliminated the space between them. She cupped his face with her two hands, eager to keep his lips glued to hers.
His free hand came to the small of her back, just barely touching the curve of her ass, teasing but reserved, though there was nothing reserved about his tongue. It was so perfectly easy to kiss him, a stranger she knew. Someone she was familiar with yet knew next to nothing about him. All she knew was that he was kind, talented, handsome, and one hell of a kisser.
He leaned away from her just a little bit. “What’s the cocktail you drink every night?”
“Oh.” She smiled lightly. “The Emerald Cherry Special. I couldn’t tell you what’s in it,” she told him. “Came recommended.”
“I bet there was cherry in it,” he told her.
She tilted her head to the side. “What gave it away?”
“The taste of your lips,” he told her with a grin.
She could feel herself blush. “Aren’t you going to get into trouble for this?”
He pointedly looked around. “Who’s going to know?”
“I am pretty sure they have cameras up here,” she pointed out.
He smiled knowingly. “Sure, they do but this time of night there are too many people fucking on balconies for them to focus here.”
“What?!” she let out, then winced at how loud it was. “They have cameras up there?”
He nodded, chuckling at her reaction. “Yes, they need to know if someone topples over the side.”
“Oh no!” She tried to recall if she had been out of her balcony less than dressed. “I didn’t know.”
“Loads of people don’t seem to know.” He kissed her softly. “And I think you’re worth the risk.” His lips trailed along her jawline.
His phone rang.
He cursed lightly and fished it from his pocket and brought it up to his ear. “Yeah?”
Ginny stepped away and turned to the railing, waiting for him. He mumbled a few humming replies.
When his phone call was finished, he appeared next to her. “The karaoke machine broke. I’m the back-up.”
“For the karaoke machine?” she asked in confusion.
He looked at her with regret in his eyes. “The music at least. I have to go play.”
“Right.” Of course she understood that he had to go.
He glanced at the door and back to her as if it was a great dilemma. After another moment of silence, he turned back to her. “You could join, if you’d like?”
She smiled widely, agreeing immediately. He guided her out of the staff’s quarters easily and then they went down several floors to the karaoke room.
The group inside cheered when Harry showed up. Ginny felt like an intruder but then the group pulled her along drunkenly and paired her up with one of them to sing ‘The Winner Takes It All’.
Harry played the songs easily, cheering on the people on the small stage up front. He slowed down on quick parts when people were struggling or skipped over parts they didn’t seem to know. It all seemed so effortless. It was an hour later when the bar shut down for the night and started cleaning up. The group finished up with one final song before they took their leave and the bar men cleared out too.
Harry eyed her from the piano. He loosened the bow tie he had been wearing for the formal night and let it hang loosely around his neck. He picked up the microphone from the piano and held it out for her. “How about it, Ginny?”
“Will you play ‘My Heart Will Go On’, please?” She took the microphone from him.
He sighed lightly. “Because you asked so nicely.” He played the intro and then looked up at her to start singing and he followed right in with the correct notes.
She started off slowly but gained confidence, singing to an imaginary audience in her long dress, swishing her hair over her shoulder and singing so off the music even Harry couldn’t save it.
She ended up sitting beside him on the piano bench, pointing the microphone to him so they could sing the last few lines together. When he stopped playing, she switched off the microphone and put it back on the piano. His shoulder brushed against hers. Their thighs were basically touching.
“Any last requests for tonight, Miss Weasley?” He gestured towards the piano.
He was radiating heat. She could lean into him just like that. “We don’t talk about Bruno?”
“We don’t?” he quipped before his hands returned to the keys. He played just a section of the song before his fingers shifted. “This is for your ex.” He started playing ‘When I Was Your Man’.
“I think you’re overestimating his insightfulness about being wrong,” she told him.
Harry’s fingers slipped off the keys. A silence fell. He opened his mouth. “I—”
The full ceiling lights switched on, leaving them to blink at the brightness and the moment was gone with it.
“That’ll be the cleaning crew,” he said. “We should go.”
She nodded, pushing off the bench. “I saw you’re not playing tomorrow? Do you have the day off?” Maybe they could go on shore together. Something. It was worth a shot.
“No, I’m part of the show tomorrow. Right after bingo, I’ll have to head to rehearsals,” he told her. He stood up too, closing the key lid. “It’s a good show.”
“Then I’ll have to come and watch.” She knew they had run out of time for the day. The cleaning crew would walk in at any moment. “Goodnight, Harry. I had a great evening.”
He feigned a nonchalant air. “Well, you know me. Just trying to be nice.”
She chuckled lightly and walked out ahead of him. She walked to the lifts. She looked over her shoulder right before she stepped inside on and saw him step out of the karaoke room. He caught her eye.
She turned around when she was in the lift and didn’t take her gaze off him until the doors closed.
Chapter 2: Ivory
Notes:
I may not have proofread this thoroughly so let me know if there are any wonky words remaining.
Chapter Text
When they arrived in the next city, she got off the ship and wandered around the charming port. She walked along the beach and had lunch at a lovely restaurant right by the sea. It was great and she enjoyed it, but during the quiet times her mind was on Harry. She wondered if there was more in the cards for them than stolen kisses after midnight.
There were still a few days to her cruise, so she still had some time to figure that out. She hadn’t set out on this vacation planning to pine over a man, but there wasn’t a better place to do so than on a cruise ship, sipping on a cocktail and soaking in the sun. Did the man in her romantasy book she read by the pool suddenly have raven-black hair, green eyes and quick fingers? Maybe. She couldn’t exactly find fault in it either.
Getting dressed for dinner she picked out a lovely dress that hugged her curves just right and showed off a fair bit of leg. He may not be at the bar tonight, she was still hopeful to catch him elsewhere. After dinner she went to watch the show. There was a small orchestra, including him, guiding the singers and dancers and acrobats. It was an entertaining show where you didn’t know where to look first.
She applauded and cheered with the other guests at the end. While everyone got up and streamed out of the theatre, she lingered. She knew realistically he couldn’t just walk up to her and they’d go somewhere, but she couldn’t think of a better way to run into him.
When she was nearly the last one—bar a gentleman that had fallen asleep in his seat and was snoring softly—she started making her way out too. Maybe she was out of luck today.
She walked onto the outer deck of the floor, exiting through the door on the side. It was windy tonight and the sun had nearly set. She stood there for a moment, eyes closed and the wind in her face.
“Hey.”
A jolt of excitement ran up her spine and she turned to him. He was holding a sweater. He walked up to her and came to stand beside her.
“So this is definitely not your sweater, right?” he told her. “Thought I’d check.”
She gazed at him, then it dawned on her. “Oh my god. Did you actually steal a poor lady’s sweater to have an excuse?”
His cheeks flushed pink immediately. “No, happy accident. Good excuse.” He stared out over the water, the setting sun lighting up his eyes. “Do you always assume the worst in people?”
“It’s nicer to be pleasantly surprised later than thoroughly disappointed,” she told him.
“Interesting.” He looked her up and down unapologetically. “That dress is breath-taking.”
She bit her lip. “I was hoping you would see me in it.”
“I am honoured.” He leaned towards her. “You seem to know very well what you look good in.”
“Though I think I look better out of it.” Nerves flushed to the surface but she didn’t look away.
Harry’s breath got stuck in his throat. “I’ll be the judge of that.” His eyebrow quirked up a tiny bit.
“Oh, will you?” she teased.
His fingers teased against hers. “I know you want to find out what else my fingers can do.” He talked in a low voice, but it was all she could hear.
Her cheeks felt hot and more heat went south too. “Maybe,” she confessed with a smile.
“Do you want to go…?”
She nodded. “My room?—We’ll keep clear of the balcony.”
He chuckled lightly. “I’d love to.” His gaze drifted longingly over her body.
It felt good to be unapologetically admired. “7725,” she told him. “I’ll meet you there in fifteen minutes?”
“Sound good,” he said. “I’ll take the sweater to lost and found.” He nearly stepped away but then turned to her again. “Don’t take that dress off yet. I want to do that.”
“You got it,” she assured him. “Uh—Harry. Are you bringing condoms? I’d be happy to pick some up if needed but I’d need to know your size and I’d rather be…” She tried not to smile. “…pleasantly surprised.”
“I hope so,” he mumbled. “I’ll bring some. I’ll be there as quick as I can.” His hand covered hers for a moment on the railing and then he returned inside.
Knowing he’d be longer than her, she picked up water from one of the bars—two bottles—before she took the lift to the seventh floor and walked to her room. She closed the curtains and checked herself in the mirror. It almost felt too easy—she didn’t have enough to drink to be considered drunk and Harry was presumably stone-cold sober. This wasn’t a drunken choice, it was a deliberate one.
She sat down and took off her shoes. There was a knock on the door. She glanced through the peephole and when she verified it was him, she opened the door, dragged him inside and closed it again. “Did you bring—?”
“Did you think I would forget?” he asked, both of them standing sideways in the tight corridor.
Their bodies were almost touching, she had to tilt her chin up to meet his eye.
“Not accidentally no,” she commented. On purpose, pretending to? She had that one before and there was a hard line there. “Which pocket?”
“Back pocket.” He shook his head in amusement. “You have a firm hand.”
She planted both her hands on his back pockets and felt it was in the left one.
“Exactly,” he breathed out.
Her hand went into the pocket teasingly now and fished out the condoms. She inspected them briefly before she tossed them onto the desk across from the bed. “Good. Then you can stay.”
“Thanks?” he let out.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I just need to be sure—”
“No, I get it—I’m joking—mostly.”
She locked her gaze with his. “It’s just that I know once I start on this”—she pointed at all of him—“then I won’t want to stop.”
“Me neither.” He kissed her cheek. “Do you want to get out of that dress, Ginny?” He kissed her other cheek as her eyes closed.
“Yeah,” she sighed—she trusted him. “Please.”
He kissed her and she answered fervently. Their lips moved together almost feverishly. She pulled him closer to her by grabbing onto his hips but he didn’t just stop when their bodies met. He pushed her up against the wall, his head tilting just a little more.
Fuck, he was not wasting time at all and she loved it.
With the little space between them, she tried to get to the buttons on his shirt. She got about halfway down when Harry forced her hand away and pulled it over his head instead before his mouth reconnected to hers.
She explored all the new skin that was revealed to her. Her hand traced over the muscles of his shoulder and followed it up to where it connected to his neck. Her hand went into his hair and scraped her nails across his scalp.
She could feel he was getting hard and pressed her hips forward to meet his but he was far too tall. “Bed,” she ordered.
It took him another few seconds to disentangle from her, as if he didn’t want to let go of her for even a moment. The moment she stepped away from him, his arm swept around her waist and kept her there. His fingers from his free hand expertly pulled down the zipper of her dress and opened the finicky button at the top with no effort whatsoever.
He let go of her and gently pulled the dress off her. She stepped out of it and let him pass by her. He got onto the bed.
“Lie down,” she ordered.
He got onto his back and eyed her. “That’s matching. Ambitious, were we?”
The thong and cute bra were not a happy accident, more like a bold fantasy she now got to live. “I like to be prepared for every possibility, no matter how slim the chances.” She stepped onto the bed and straddled him.
He looked up at her. “You considered them slim?”
She ignored his question. “How bad is your eyesight exactly?”
“Horrible,” he told her, his fingers fitting around her thigh as he pulled her a little closer.
She brought her face above his. “Hm. Then you can leave them on for now.”
“Appreciate it,” he told her. “This is a gorgeous sight—I’d hate to miss it.”
She chuckled and kissed him again. His hands explored her, tracing over her skin, cupping her ass and drinking her in. He mouthed her breast through the bra, looking so very eager to have it in his mouth without any fabric between her skin and his lips.
One of his large hands swept up her back and found the closure. He unclipped it with one hand. His mouth separated from her just enough to pull the bra away and then his hot mouth was on her again, licking and sucking.
She ground her hips into his and he moaned. His lips changed spots, his hands explored her body. It was like he was reinventing worship with every shift of his mouth, touch of his hands and his longing gaze.
He twisted their positions and as he got on top of her she reached out to his trousers. The sooner those were off the better. She made quick work of the belt and zipper and then pushed it off his hips together with his pants. Her hand wrapped around his cock and locked eyes with him.
She stroked it up and down slowly. “That’s going to feel so perfect.”
Harry swallowed hard. He moved out of her grip and took both his trousers and his underwear off, swiftly returning to her. He kissed her again.
She pulled on his hair. “You’re so fucking hot.”
His hand slipped between her legs until he found a wet patch on her underwear. He pressed lightly. “Fucking hell, Ginny.”
“I need you.”
Harry tucked his fingers into the band on the sides and pulled her thong down. He returned to his position, locked his lips with hers and let his hand travel down. His fingers slid over her opening before he dipped one finger inside. A moment later he added a second finger. Then his fingers curled.
Her breath hitched and Harry leaned back just a little bit.
“Alright?” he asked casually.
Her fingers carded through his hair. “Oh hell yes.”
He curled them again and her eyes closed, making Harry go faster. Then he added his thumb to her clit. To say she had never been touched like that before was an understatement. The curl of his fingers was precise and thorough, his thumb making smooth circles over her clit all the while.
The only reason she asked him to stop was that she wanted to cum on his cock—it looked rather promising too. He inspected the wetness on his fingers for a moment before he took his fingers into his mouth and sucked them clean as if they were coated with honey.
She retrieved the condom and straddled his legs, opening the packet.
“I don’t think I’ve ever met someone with so many freckles.”
She glanced up at him. “You should see the rest of my family—although I’m not sure if you have any desire to see my brothers naked.”
He took it out of her hand. “Not really.” He pulled the condom on. “You’re gorgeous with them.”
“Thanks.” She kissed him again and then positioned herself over him.
As soon as he was inside her, he pulled her close. Everything about it was slow and sensual. His hands were firm but gentle against her skin, guiding her and teasing her. His hips met easily with her own in a breathless rhythm.
After a few minutes he took charge and twisted them around so he was back on top. Her hands explored all the muscles of his back and found a nice firm butt cheek to squeeze. He seemed to like that too.
She came hard, wrapped around him just seconds after he did. He locked eyes with her and her stomach swooped pleasantly.
He sat up and removed the condom and discarded it before lying down beside her.
“You were right about the piano fingers,” she told him.
He pulled her closer and lifted her hand up, fitting his much larger hand against hers. “One of the perks, I suppose. Don’t mind using it.”
“Me neither,” she said with a chuckle. “What about that butt? Shaped by the piano bench?”
He blushed. “I’m not sure. I have never thought about it.”
“Well, I’ll be thinking about it.” She considered asking if he had any time off tomorrow, but she wondered if that was overstepping a boundary—and yesterday the answer was no.
“I am curious—your ex—was it just the jealousy?”
She winced at the mention of Dean, who had not been on her mind at all in the last day or so. “No. It wasn’t just that. He wasn’t… he wasn’t terrible, just overbearing. He treated me like I was made of porcelain all the time.”
Harry hummed. “I’m more familiar with ivory myself.” He hitched her leg up and squeezed her thigh. “And that can certainly take a pounding.”
She snorted in amusement. “Sure does.”
He kissed her lips and then started a path down from her jaw.
“You were right—it’s a good show. I enjoyed it and not just because you were in it,” she clarified.
He shrugged dismissively. “I mean—I know I’m not super interesting to look at when I’m playing.”
He couldn’t have been more wrong. She smiled at him.
His head lifted to look at her. “What?”
“I think you’re incredibly interesting to look at.” Her hand danced down his chest. “Mainly because I kept imaging what was under that shirt.”
“Oh no,” he let out, sounding not distressed at all. “Whatever will you occupy your mind with now?”
She grinned, because the answer was so bloody obvious. “Thinking about what’s under that shirt still… and the pants.”
He groaned lightly. “Are you trying to get me hard again?”
“Am I that obvious?” She batted her eyelashes at him.
He raised an eyebrow. “Transparent.”
She sat up and got back on top of him, straddling his waist as he twisted onto his back. “How about it, Harry?”
“Don’t ask me like it’s a dilemma—because it isn’t,” he told her with a grin.
Ginny tucked into his side after another round. “Do you need to go back to your own… quarters?” she asked for a lack of better words.
He chuckled lightly. “Not exactly quarters. I have a different schedule than most. Don’t think they’d care to notice.”
“Do you share a room?” she asked.
“No, but I do share a bathroom with someone else—it’s in between our rooms and we each have a door.”
“Feel free to shower here, now or in the morning,” she offered.
He turned his head towards her. “You don’t want me to go?”
She shook her head slowly. “I want to enjoy the view a little longer.”
Harry made an embarrassed noise as a blush rushed to his cheeks. “Right.”
Ginny woke up as Harry got out of bed in the early morning. He went into the bathroom and a minute later she could hear the shower turn on. She couldn’t be arsed to get up yet and slumbered for a bit longer.
“Ginny,” he said from the end of the bed when he exited the bathroom. “Are you awake?”
“Yes,” she told him. She turned around to look at him.
His gaze dragged over her naked shoulder. “Would you mind helping me sneak out of your room?”
“Yeah, of course.” She sat up completely only to find Harry had gone back into the bathroom.
He had retrieved a bathrobe for her. He held it out for her so she just needed to stick her arms in the sleeves. She pulled it closed as he released it and tied it as she turned around to him.
“For the record, Ginny—I wasn’t just doing this because I’m being nice.” His eyes twinkled. “And for the love of God…don’t tip me.”
She grimaced. “I was just worried I had misread you then.”
“Just want to be clear it was entirely voluntary—no ulterior motives.” He looked down her body. “Obviously not entirely unselfish.”
“Alright, you’ve made your point.” She patted his chest, before she shifted past him to the door. She opened it and looked outside to make sure it was clear of the room attendant. “They’re down the right side so if you go left you should be fine.”
“Thanks.” He brushed past her with a smile. “I’ll see you around.”
She nodded in confirmation and then closed the door. She got back onto the bed and switched on the TV. They were at sea the whole day so she watched the ship’s weather forecast and what activities were taking place before getting ready.
She decided that another morning by the swimming pool would be a nice, slow start of her day. She showered, went to breakfast and then put her bikini on and went to the top deck. She chose out a chair and settled on it.
She never made it into the pool. She drifted right off into sleep, dreaming about the black hair, glasses and that easy smile as if they had a secret between them—which she supposed they now did—and while she did apply sunscreen before she left the room, she did not get a chance to reapply.
She didn’t realise immediately she got sunburned until she looked at herself in the mirror when she got back to her room. She was about two shades shy of a lobster.
That’s why she found herself in the store right after lunch, looking for any cream that would alleviate the pain that was surely going to appear soon. She figured she may as well pick up extra condoms—she wasn’t quite done with Harry if it was up to her.
She walked to the check-out and placed the items on the till. As a staff member checked her items out, a door behind him opened and Harry appeared.
“Hey, Steve. Do you know if—?” His gaze landed on her items and then he locked eyes with her.
She looked at him steadily.
“Nevermind,” Harry said and then he was gone.
Steve smiled at her. “Sorry about that. You can tap your cruise card when you’re ready.”
She paid and walked out with her after-sun lotion with aloe-vera, promising instant relief and the condoms and dropped them off at her room before she went to bingo.
“You really are everywhere,” she told Harry at the front, though he had not looked up yet.
His gaze snapped up and he smiled. “I could say the same about you. Nice colour.” He pointed at her shoulders. “Not an allergy, is it?”
“It is,” she said. “I’m a ginger, hence I’m allergic to the sun.”
He smiled wider and his voice dropped. “It’d be terrible if you’re allergic to me.”
She snorted. “Now that would be a real tragedy. Give me two cards.”
“Alright.” He grabbed two cards. “Tap your card when—”
“—I’m ready?” She grinned at him. “I am.” She tapped her card. “Thank you.”
“Good luck.”
She found a spot and settled down. Bingo still wasn’t terribly exciting but she was going to hide from the sun for the rest of the day and the view was pretty good, especially now she knew what he was hiding under those clothes.
When bingo wrapped up, she strolled past the shops but didn’t buy anything—a lot of it was out of her budget after the cost of the cruise—and then went upstairs on time to shower, apply the after-sun lotion to her angry-red shoulders and get ready for dinner.
She was timely as ever when she arrived at the bar and saw Harry had already sat down by the piano. Instead of the polite nod and smile acknowledging her, his whole face brightened and he beamed as soon as he spotted her. She ordered her drink and then walked to her usual spot.
“Evening,” he told her. “You look gorgeous as usual.”
She smiled softly. “I’m running out of dresses to show you.”
“No way!” He shook his head. “I can tell you which ones I want to see again?” he offered.
She raised an eyebrow.
“Request?” he asked as a waiter set down her drink in front of her.
“All my Love by Coldplay,” she suggested.
He frowned for a moment, his fingers brushing over the keys as he thought and then nodded. “I think I remember that.”
After three songs she went for dinner as usual and then she returned to the bar after.
“Surely you have better things to do?” he asked her when he finished his song.
She nodded. “Sure, later,” she told him with a pointed look at him.
His eyes widened slightly and then he shook his head with the hint of a smile. “I’ll reward you for your patience.”
As soon as his shift was over, he took her back to the staff-only platform, which was once again vacant.
She leaned against the railing and watched him. “Do your hands ever get tired?”
He looked at his hands as though he had to think about it. “Sometimes, on tricky pieces but on the whole it’s okay.” He glanced up at her. “You were talking about piano, right?”
She chuckled lightly. “Yes, I was.”
He stopped in front of her. “The answer would be the same, I guess.”
She reached out to his tie and pulled on it softly. He followed her lead and kissed her. His hands came to her waist. After a moment his lips left hers and he twisted her around to face the bow of the ship.
“Go on, hold out your hands,” he egged her on. “I know you want to have your Titanic moment.”
She laughed lightly.
“Come on,” he teased. He fitted her hands into his own and lifted them up. “Close your eyes.”
She closed her eyes. “This is stupid.”
“You love it,” he murmured against her ear.
She leaned into him, his grip on her hands eased and a moment later his arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her securely into his chest. He kissed the spot under her ear.
She twisted around in his arms and kissed him. She found his waist and squeezed lightly.
His hand brushed through her hair.
“Shall we go back to my room?” she asked.
His thumb traced her lower lip. “Well, you went through the trouble of buying more condoms so it’d be rude not to.” His eyes twinkled.
“Wasn’t that what you were also doing in the store?” she asked.
He hesitated before he gave a non-committal nod. “Maybe.”
“Let’s go then, handsome.”
They made their way to her room taking calmer corridors and sneaking to the 7th floor through the stairs that were only supposed to be used during an emergency.
She opened the door with her card and let him in first. She closed the door and kicked off her shoes. Harry did the same and loosened his tie, pulling it out of the collar and tossing it aside.
He looked at her expectantly.
“Sit down,” she ordered.
He sat down on the edge of the bed. She kissed him slowly, unbuttoning his shirt. Then she opened his belt and unzipped his trousers.
She got down on her knees in front of him. “Do you ever think about someone sucking your cock under the piano?”
He licked his lips, his eyes dark. “… No.”
“Well, you will now.” She moved his underwear down and took hold of his cock. “Would you let me?”
“Fucking hell, Ginny,” he breathed. “You know this is going to torture me for days—perhaps weeks.”
She grinned at him and wrapped her lips around his cock.
It was about an hour later when they paused their activities to catch their breath.
“I’m impressed you got sunburned on both sides,” he told her.
She grimaced. “I fell asleep and I toss and turn like a rotisserie chicken.”
He chuckled lightly and he pushed off the bed. Ginny assumed he was going to the bathroom when cold liquid landed on her back and she shrieked.
“Harry!”
“What?” he asked innocently. “I’m treating your sunburn.”
She let her head drop back on the pillow. “A little warning would have been nice!”
Harry massaged the lotion in, focusing on her upper back and shoulders and hard-to-reach spots. “Does that feel nice?”
Her answers was an appreciative moan.
“Turn around, I’ll do the front.”
“You know I can reach it myself.” She turned onto her back. “But I’ll let you.”
He picks up the bottle of lotion again, ready to squirt it onto her stomach.
“Harry.”
He smiled innocently and lifted his hand up, putting it on his hand instead. He set the bottle down and rubbed the lotion between his hands for a moment. He started on her stomach and worked his way down to her legs before he returned, spreading the lotion up her rib-cage. He massaged her breasts.
“You know those were covered, right?”
“Didn’t want them to feel left out,” he mumbled as he moved further up.
“I’m starting to think you may have had ulterior motives,” she pointed out as he made his way down her arms.
His fingers threaded through hers and he brought her hands above her head. “What gave you that idea?” His lips ghosted over hers.
She woke up, her cheek sticking to warm skin and an arm around her. She lifted her head just enough to turn it and looked at the person under her. Harry was sound asleep.
She slipped from under his arm carefully and sat up. She reached for the TV remote and switched it on to see the forecast. She took a quick shower, keeping her hair dry and got dressed in a simple red shirt and jeans shorts.
Harry had woken up by the time she exited the bathroom.
“I’m guessing you have the morning off?” she asked because he seemed in no particular hurry.
He stretched out far, grunting before he sat up. “Yes. I usually do. Going off the ship?”
“It’s the last port—I better enjoy it.”
“Very true.” He got up and walked into the bathroom.
She checked her phone for messages and replied to a few people before she turned to the vanity across the bed. She brushed out her hair and tied it up.
Harry came out of the bathroom, only in underwear and halted behind her, locking eyes with her in the mirror. “You know I could show you around the historic part of the city if you like.”
“Personal guide?” she asked. “I won’t say no to that.”
He pulled his arms around her waist. “I’ll get you some nice pictures for your insta too.”
She turned her head towards him. “Now you’re being suspiciously nice.”
“You could show your ex you were having a splendid time on your own.” He kissed her neck.
She leaned further into him. “Not exactly alone, but I like it.”
He smiled against her skin. He kissed her again.
She pushed her ass into his front. “We have time, right?”
“A bit,” he murmured.
She picked up the phone and dialled room service. “Hi, can I have a 2-person breakfast? Room 7725. No—just me. Thanks.”
“You know I get breakfast for free,” he pointed out, still not releasing her.
She nodded. “You show me around and I get you breakfast.”
“Fine,” he let out. “What shall we do until it arrives?”
She chuckled because the answer was obvious to them both. She led a hand to her breast over her clothes. Harry squeezed it softly. She ground her ass into him again.
He opened her shorts and his hand dove inside. He teased her through her underwear. His gaze locked with hers in the mirror.
“More?” he asked.
“Yes.”
His hand went into her underwear and rubbed her clit. She cursed lowly as he drew circles. She closed her eyes, focusing on the sensation. His hard cock was pressed against her, but he kept it all about her, ever so patient.
“Harry…” She reached back and attempted to pull his underwear down. “I need you.”
He hummed lightly. “Where?” He bit on her lobe gently.
“I need you inside of me.” Her eyes opened again and met with his.
He breathed heavily. “Take your shorts off.”
He released her and she pulled her shorts and underwear down, stepping out of it and kicking it aside while Harry grabbed a condom, kicked off his underwear and rolled it down his cock.
He got back behind her. She leaned forward, placing her hands on the vanity. She watched as he positioned himself, cheeks flushed and breath shallow as he pushed in.
She didn’t take her eyes off him as he started fucking her in slow strokes.
“Stop looking at me like that,” he whispered.
“Why?”
He closed his eyes for a moment. “You’re going to make me come too soon.”
“Don’t you dare,” she teased.
He huffed. “Trying.”
She shook her head and moved forward, letting him slip out. He whined.
She got onto bed and lay on her back. Harry followed, he positioned himself but paused, glancing over his shoulder to the cruise’s infomercial.
“Can we switch that off? I feel like my employer is staring down my butthole.”
She laughed and turned around, reaching for the remote on her night stand. She switched the TV off. As soon as she had done so, Harry grabbed her legs and pulled her back down to him.
She opened her legs for him and as when he was back inside, she wrapped them around his waist. His lips crashed onto hers. She moaned into his mouth as their hips met in an eager rhythm.
“Ginny,” he moaned.
Both of them came quickly, Ginny begged for more until the last wave of pleasure had ebbed away. Harry gazed into her eyes.
“I can’t decide if the sun-kissed look is cuter, or the flush you get after you’ve cum.”
“Oh my god,” she said, promptly hiding her cheeks with her hands, fairly certain she was turning even redder. “I hate how quickly I blush.”
He offered her a lopsided grin. “It’s gorgeous.”
There was a knock at the door.
Both of them moved in a jumble of limbs. Harry got up and took off the condom.
She searched for her shorts, grateful her underwear was still in it and pulled both of them on at lightning speed. “Coming!” she announced as she checked for a second in the mirror if she looked decent and earned an amused snort from Harry for her choice of words.
She shushed him. He got out of view of the door and she opened it, taking their breakfast and swiftly closing the door again. “Breakfast is served.”
Harry buttoned his trousers as he surveyed the food. “That smells delicious.”
They had breakfast and then split up because they could not get off the ship together. He waited for her about two streets down and then they continued to the historical centre together. As promised, he told her about the history of the town while taking pictures of her, taking his sweet time to get the perfect angle and lighting.
It took a bit of convincing for her to take a picture of him that he could send to his mum, but he did cave in the end.
He had to be back on the ship around noon so they split up after he recommended her a spot to eat and she could take time to eat and slowly head back to the ship.
In the evening they had the same little routine. She watched him play the piano and when his shift was over, she took him to her room.
This time he couldn’t stay overnight. Both of them had to be up early in the morning. He got up too soon after and started getting dressed. She pulled her bathrobe on and stood up. She knew this was goodbye and she did not like it.
“I had a great time with you,” she told him.
He turned to her as he buttoned his shirt. “Me too.” He stepped towards her. “Don’t settle for less than you deserve.”
She squinted at him. “Are you talking about men or…?”
“Yes.” He gestured towards her. “You’re gorgeous, smart and funny—and obviously fit as hell. Don’t waste your time on people who don’t treat you right.”
She nodded, feeling a bit breathless somehow. “Okay. I hope you find something you like when your contract runs out. Don’t forget to tell them about your experience with bingo—I’m sure that’s a sought-after skill.”
Harry snorted lightly. “Sure.” He cupped her cheeks. “Take care.”
“You too.”
He kissed her softly. She lingered purposefully, holding him close for a moment longer. Then he stepped away.
“Goodbye,” she told him.
He paused by the door. “Bye.”
She ignored the painful squeeze of her heart as the door closed behind him and she turned back to her room, doing another sweep of her items to make sure she had not forgotten to pack anything.
Chapter 3: When in Rome
Summary:
So they meet again
Notes:
This was supposed to be a twoshot and then it wasn't. A quick fic I could write over the weekend. Haha. So wrong
Anyway, here it is. Bon appetit and good night
Chapter Text
Ginny boarded the plane and settled down in her window seat, checking her phone before she put it on airplane mode.
“Excuse me,” someone said, trying to get through the corridor.
She looked up to see if this person was going to be her neighbour for the coming three hours when she locked eyes with none other than Harry. There he stood in all his glory, but for the first time not in a neat button-down but in a casual shirt that hung on his frame just right and his hair natural and messy.
He smiled somewhat awkwardly and Ginny watched as he put his bag in the overhead bin before taking the seat beside her.
“What are the chances?” she mumbled.
He nodded. “What are the chances indeed.”
She looked at her phone for a moment longer but his arm was practically brushing against hers and there was tension in the air. “You were going home and you didn’t say, knowing full well I’d be on this flight. Is it awkward for you?”
His gaze snapped towards her. “Not at all—unless you want me to move?” He pressed his lips together for a moment, nodding to himself. “I am not an idiot. Just because we had a great time on your vacation, doesn’t mean you want that to follow you when you go back to real life. I didn’t want to put that pressure on you.”
The little flame of annoyance that had flared up a moment ago was immediately doused by his words. “Oh. No, I just figured—well you’d be on the ship and… I don’t know. It felt inevitable we’d have to split at the end of it.”
“It’s my two weeks off,” Harry told her. “I wasn’t sure if you’d want to see me again and I didn’t want to impose myself.”
“Right.” She shook her head. “For the record, I don’t mind at all.”
His expression brightened. “Duly noted.”
They kept conversation light as the plane began to taxi and took off.
“I like your hair more like this,” she pointed out.
He ruffled it with his hands. “Me too, but the ship has rules and my hair didn’t fit the pianist look, I suppose.”
“I think it balances the sharpness of your jawline,” she told him with a chuckle. “Compliments the excellent bone structure.”
“Thanks.” He bumped her elbow with his. “Sounds like you are trying to get into my pants again.”
She eyed him for a moment. The casual look really was doing it for her, and his arms were out—so scandalous—and there would be no sneaking. “Would you?”
“Get in your pants again?” he asked.
She nodded, biting her lip teasingly.
“What? Here?”
She rolled her eyes. “Ew, no. I’m not that desperate. I can go 24 hours without—but you could come home with me for a little bit. I am 30 minutes away from the airport by train.”
“You take the train home?” he asked her.
She nodded. “It’s the easiest—you don’t?”
“No, I put my car in long-term parking.” He leaned closer to her. “I suppose I could drive you home.”
She nodded. “And obviously then I’d have to thank you with dinner.”
“Indeed.” His pinkie teased against hers on the arm rest. “And if I’m already there…”
“When in Rome, right?”
He glanced at the window pointedly. “I think we just left Rome actually.”
They chatted through the lunch service and Harry allowed her to take a nap on his shoulder.
“Do you miss it?” Ginny asked after they landed, waiting for the other people to clear out.
“England?” he asked. He shrugged. “More so the people in it. It always managed to rain too when I come back.”
She peered outside. “The sun’s out, Harry.”
“You must have brought it with you,” he replied.
They walked off the plane together and picked up their suitcases. Harry took the lead, guiding her to his car. She paused for a moment when her gaze landed on it. It was a nice car. She was surprised he dared to leave that in an airport parking lot for months at a time.
“That looks expensive,” she said as Harry took her suitcase and put it with his in the boot of the car.
He shrugged and closed it. “It’s one of my parents’. I’ll get my own once I’m back home permanently.”
“Right.”
She gave her address and Harry drove off, switching the music on.
“I made a playlist of your requested songs while you napped.”
She looked at him for a long moment. “That’s adorable. Did you remember them all?”
“I think so?” he answered. “I may have missed one or two.”
Ginny took her suitcase out of the car as Harry took a change of clothes and clean underwear and put it in his backpack. Thankfully she took the leftover condoms home with her.
They went up to the second floor with the lift and she opened the door to let him through.
“Here we are,” she said, flipping on the light.
He looked around. “Not bad.”
“It’s not much, but I’m glad to have my own place.” She rolled her suitcase into the bedroom to deal with later. “I suppose we should order food because I don’t think I have much in my fridge.”
He stood by the couch, holding his phone and paused to look at her. He smiled broadly. “Sounds good.”
They ordered food and Ginny walked into her kitchen to get drinks when she found fresh bread on the table. When she opened the fridge, she discovered it was stocked up pretty well. “I’ll be damned. I do have food.”
Harry popped his head into the kitchen. “You have an overbearing mother too? I mean I love her and all but…”
She grinned. “They’re intense. Yes, I will assume this is my mother. Soda? Beer? Wine?”
“I don’t drink much on the ship, so I’ll do a beer.”
She took two out and walked back into the living room. “It’s different to see you out of your working attire.”
He winced. “Good or bad?”
“Good,” she said affirmatively. She settled down on the couch beside him. “So…” she said, tilting her head enticingly.
His hand fitted against her cheek and he kissed her. She smiled against his lips.
“Or do you want to take it slower?” he asked with almost no space between them.
She shook her head slowly. “This works for me.”
They didn’t quite get to taking their clothes off before their dinner arrived, but it did set the tone for the evening.
When she cleaned up after dinner, she walked into her bedroom to see if it was decent. When she deemed it acceptable, she turned around and found Harry standing right behind her, leaning against the door frame.
“I knew you were luring me in here—so I decided to make it easy for you.”
She brought her arms around his neck. “That’s very nice of you.”
“I am very nice.”
She chuckled and pulled on his shirt. He pushed her back just a little and took it off, keeping that bit of space between them that kept her longing. He threw it aside and then started opening his belt with a cocky grin.
“Let me.”
“No.”
She grumbled and turned around, getting onto the bed and settling against the pillows. If she couldn’t touch, she may as well be comfortable when she watched.
He opened his trousers and took them off, leaving him in his underwear. He moved to get on the bed and she stopped him.
She got off it at the far end and then told him to get on. He followed her orders and got on it.
She took her clothes off slowly. First her shirt, then her trousers. When she reached for her bra, she could have sworn she heard him mumble that’s my job. She took it off herself anyway.
“Come here,” he told her. “Please.”
This time she obliged and crawled onto the bed. He pulled her to him immediately and kissed him while his hands explored her body.
He made her feel more gorgeous than she had felt in ages just by the way his eyes tracked over her body whenever his lips were not connected to hers. She easily returned the eagerness, kissing him wherever her lips could reach.
“Off,” he ordered.
She got back off the bed and turned with her back towards him. She slipped it off her hips and pushed it down her legs terribly slow. She stood back up and shifted her hair so it cascaded down her back.
When she turned back around, his hand was softly stroking his cock, admiring her. She tutted softly, shaking her head. She pulled a condom from her suitcase and returned to the bed.
“That off, this on,” she told him with a kiss.
“You don’t have to tell me twice.” He kissed her again before he followed up on her order.
She lost track of time after that. It was just her and Harry chasing after pleasure together and he made her feel so good in more ways than one.
The sun had gone down and Harry was trailing a path down her spine lazily when she heard a knock on her door.
Her head whipped up. She did not expect anyone at this hour. She listened intently.
The person knocked again. “Ginny. I know you’re there, your light is on! Open the door!”
She felt the blood leave her face. Harry paused beside her, both of them perfectly quiet.
“I just want to talk! Don’t act like you’re not home, I’m not an idiot!”
“That’s the ex?” Harry asked.
She turned her head and nodded quietly.
He knocked again. “Please, Ginevra. This silent treatment is not really nice after everything. Just come to the door so I can see you.”
Ginny winced. “I don’t want to talk to him, but I don’t think he’s going away.”
“I’ll deal with him,” Harry said promptly.
“Don’t do anything stupid.”
“Not at all,” he told her. He pressed a kiss against her temple and then picked up his underwear and put it on. “Don’t get dressed—I’m not finished with you.”
He grinned at her and closed the door to the bedroom. Ginny turned onto her back and listened intently.
“Hey mate, what’s going on here?” Harry said.
Silence. Then, “Who are you?”
“Oh. I’m Harry. I’m house sitting for Ginny and I’m trying to sleep,” he said with every ounce of innocence in his voice.
Dean was quiet for a moment. “She isn’t home?”
“Well, you would think I’d know if she was home,” Harry pointed out. “Defeats the purpose of house sitting if she’s home.”
“Right, right. I thought she’d be home. So you’re not her…?”
Ginny held her breath.
“Nope,” Harry said casually. “She said she’d be home tomorrow—that’s all I know. She asked me to house sit because she was worried about her ex showing up when she’s off and I needed a place to stay while preparing for my best friend’s wedding.”
She wondered if Dean was going to reveal he was said ex.
“Can you imagine if her ex just showed up willy-nilly? From what I gather he should realise they’re not a match… respect her peace, you know? I think she needs that right now but you know how some guys are,” Harry continued. He paused. “Did you need something from her? I can let her know when she’s back.”
“No,” Dean snapped. “That’s fine. I’ll text her.”
Ginny thought he had turned to leave when he spoke again.
“I’m surprised I’ve never met you if she lets you house sit,” Dean told Harry.
“Why? Are you two close?”
The silence was charged.
“I work together with her brother,” Harry said.
“Which one?”
Ginny bit her lip and wondered if she had ever mentioned a brother—and if he said Ron, she was toast.
“The short one?” Harry tried.
“Charlie?” Dean let out in confusion. “Are you Romanian?”
“No?” Harry sounded impatient. “Look, I’m sorry you came out here for nothing, but I really need my sleep. If Ginny deemed me good enough to stay here, I don’t see why it’s any of your business.”
“Right,” Dean clipped. “Sorry. Good night.”
“Yeah, good night.”
Ginny heard the door close and she listened for Dean’s footsteps down the stairs before she dared to breathe out.
Harry opened the door. “How many brothers do you have?”
“Six.”
He shook his head. “I thought I was toast.”
“Me too,” she said with a grin. “Well done.”
Harry crawled back onto bed. “I’ll take my reward now.” He wedged her legs apart and eyed the price before he put his mouth on her clit.
She moaned softly. “I’m going to have you keep you around at this rate.”
Harry’s response was a playful lick down her opening before he returned to her clit.
Ginny’s nose brushed against skin as she woke up. She blinked slowly and adjusted her position, resting her head on his chest. She picked up on his steady heartbeat.
A hand brushed through her hair. “Morning.”
Her arm squeezed around his waist. “Hi.”
“With your hair fanned out you look like a mermaid,” he noted.
She chuckled. “Spent too much of your time at sea.”
“Maybe.”
She listened to his heartbeat as her mind woke up further. She yawned lightly. She pushed up on her elbows against the mattress and looked at him. She had forgotten how cute the curls were on him.
“I’m going to shower in a minute,” she told him. “There is space for one more…” She tilted her head to the side and quirked an eyebrow.
He grinned at her. “Well, I am always in favour of saving water.”
“Considerate of the environment and everything,” she joked along. “Come on then.”
After a shower too long to be considered good for the environment, Harry escaped the bathroom first and she finished getting dressed.
When she walked out, Harry’s phone lit up; he grabbed it and brought it to his ear. “Harry Potter.”
That was the first time she heard his last name and it hit her like a ton of bricks. He was not just some guy who took a pianist job to earn money as he travelled. This man came from a rich family who owned one of the largest companies in the UK and likely never would never have to work a day in his life if he wanted to.
If he got fired because of her, would it have even mattered to him? She watched as he walked around her apartment while he talked on the phone. When he ended the call, she crossed her arms. His gaze rested on her.
“So,” she said. “Harry Potter.”
“Yeah.”
She shook her head. “I thought we came from similar backgrounds at first but now I’ve realised you don’t need the cruise job at all.”
“Define ‘need’?” He put his phone on the table.
She shook her head and walked into the kitchen. “You won’t go hungry or homeless if you get fired!” She opened her fridge. “What do you want for breakfast?”
He followed her. “Does it matter?” He leaned against the door frame. “Is it not risky enough for you? Do you feel like I need to prove I think you’re worth it?”
She closed the fridge. “That’s not what I said.”
“Why else would it matter?” He walked up to her. “I didn’t say my name because I try to make my way in the world without the help of my parents. Prove to myself I’m something outside of my family name.”
She breathed out and locked eyes with him. “I just thought we had more in common—you made it seem that way.” She shrugged. “It’s not your fault you were born into a wealthy family.”
He stared blankly at her. “You’re the first person I’ve met that’s upset I’m well off.”
“I’m making you eggs,” she informed him. She opened the fridge again and took out the egg carton. “It’s fine.”
“That’s a relief to hear?” he told her warily.
She put a pan on the stove and switched it on. He asked where the plates and cutlery were, set the table and made them tea. She placed the eggs, bread and butter on the table and sat down across from him.
“So did you have a private tutor for the piano or did you go to class like the normal folk?”
Harry shook his head. “Neither.” He set down his fork. “My godfather taught me how to play the piano and we practised how to play by ear a lot—which ended up being really convenient.”
Ginny took a sip from her tea.
“When he died…” He breathed out, his eyes dropping to his plate. “I played a lot of piano then. It was the thing that connected us. I got really good. I’d play anything I heard on the radio.” He looked back up at her. “Now that I got my degree and I finally had time to do whatever I wanted it just felt perfect to be a pianist for a little while and travel around for a bit before I settle into a job closer to home. I think he would have liked that.”
She regretted her assumption.
He buttered a piece of bread. “You can understand why I’m not bringing that up when I’m trying to flirt with someone, really kills the mood.” He smiled softly at her.
“I’m sorry…” Her cheeks felt hot. “I shouldn’t have pried.”
“I know I have it easier in some regards than other people, but that doesn’t mean I don’t experience any hardships or that I don’t work for what I got,” Harry continued. “My parents may support me or help me, but they have no interest in giving me hand-outs—and I wouldn’t want it anyway.”
“I suppose you didn’t owe me an explanation anyway,” she told her. “This has been pretty casual.”
His toast paused in front of his mouth. “Has been?”
“Is,” she insisted. “Sorry.”
His eyes twinkled. “You’re quite red.”
“Well.” She cleared her throat. “I just meant that we both expected this to stop on the ship, and now you’re here.”
“And now I’m here.” He bit into his toast and kept his gaze on her.
She stood up and got herself a glass to have some reprieve from his gaze. She filled it at the tap.
“I wouldn’t mind seeing you again.”
Her gaze snapped to him and a moment later her glass overflowed. She closed the tap and grabbed a towel, quickly drying off the glass before she returned to the table.
“We could do that,” she asked her. “I’m on your route to the airport after all.”
He nodded. “I could come back one or two days early before I fly out.”
Excitement flared up in her stomach. “Good. And then you’re off for two months…”
“We do go to Southampton about a month in.” He looked at her, eyes eager. “If you’d feel like two months is too long, you could come see me.”
She couldn’t help but smile. “A little port date.”
“Yes.” He blushed lightly. “I mean… if you want that? We could also book a room—”
“Harry.”
“—keep it casual. I know there is no point in asking you to be exclusive. I know I have no grip on it when I’m off for weeks and I’m not setting myself up for disappointment in that regard.”
She would have done it if he asked but she had to put a stop to the rambling. “Harry. I’ll see you in two weeks and if you’re not sick of me after that, we meet in Southampton. The rest we’ll see. Sounds good?”
He took a deep breath and smiled. “Sounds good.”
So that’s what they settled on. He’d return earlier and they were keeping things casual. He left shortly after breakfast and she cleaned up before looking at her pictures to choose what she was going to post. She found herself staring at the picture Colin took of her and Harry. They did make a cute pair.
She ended up texting and calling Harry a lot during the two weeks he was home. Getting to know him better happened naturally as they chatted. They even video called a few evenings when Harry couldn’t get to sleep.
She was so eager to see him again. He kissed her hungrily and she let her fingers slip over his skin. She all but dragged him to her bedroom. They had one full day between their two nights together and Ginny took him sightseeing around town. They held hands and shared a milkshake and took silly pictures together in the photo booth of the mall.
“I want to be exclusive,” she said on the morning of his flight. “Or at least, I’ll be. I know there are many pretty ladies on that ship but I have no interest pursuing someone else while you’re gone. I’d love a Southampton date, if you’ll have me.”
Harry finished zipping his suitcase and turned to her. “Oh thank fuck, that’s such a relief.” He walked up to her and put his arms around her waist. “I get jealous as hell—I wouldn’t do well with you seeing other men, even if I said you could.”
She smiled at him. “Then why did you say so?”
“It’s better than nothing,” he said. “I’ll see you in Southampton.” He kissed her softly. “Does that mean we’re together?”
“Define ‘together’.” She chuckled lightly. “I suppose, yes.” She pulled him closer. “That suits me just fine.” She kissed him. “I get jealous too. Those fingers are for pianos only when I’m not there.”
He nodded, his nose brushing against hers. “You got it.”
“Those lips…” They slipped over his. “Mine.”
He pulled her closer. “You’re going to make me late for my flight.”
“You could let go of me,” she suggested, brushing her fingers through his hair.
He sighed and nodded. “I could.” He kissed her again, gently and locked eyes with her. “I will. Soon. Not yet.”
Chapter 4: Southampton
Notes:
Happy holidays :)
Chapter Text
Ginny could see the ship in the port as the train arrived in Southampton. Harry had texted her minutes ago to tell her he was almost at the train station. Before the train even came to a stop, she was off her seat and arrived at the door just as it pulled in.
She pushed the button for the door as soon as it came to a stop and leapt out of it when it opened. She walked into the hall, heart beating in anticipation. The time they had spent together had been so limited but Harry had grasped her heart like no one else had before. The messages, short voice and video calls had not been enough.
Her eyes swept across the hall and saw him walking in through the doors. His gaze fell on her and he beamed at her. She took a running start and launched herself into his arms. He easily caught her as she kissed him soundly.
“I missed you,” she said when he placed her on the ground but neither of them let go.
“I couldn’t tell,” he said with a chuckle. He caressed her face. “I missed you too.”
“Pictures don’t do you justice,” she told him, watching him blush. “How are you?”
“Good,” Harry replied, taking her hand and pulling her out of the station and started walking towards Palmerston Park. “My contract is over in one month. I have been thinking about that a lot.”
She nodded and glanced up at him. “Sounds like a good time to spend more time with me,” she offered with a grin.
“Obviously,” he told her. “I told you I was going to cook for you.” He licked his lips nervously. “My parents want to meet you.”
“Why?” she asked bluntly.
He scratched behind his ear with his free hand. “Because you’re my girlfriend?”
“That’s a broad concept.”
He snorted lightly. “I know.” His cheeks grew redder. “I talk about you… a lot. They want to know who I’m gushing about.”
“Right.” It wasn’t daunting in the least, except that it very much was. “Your parents who live in a giant mansion?”
“Well, yes. I don’t have any other ones so you’d have to meet those.” He grinned at her. “They’re going to be great, I promise.”
“Alright. In a month or three then?” she tried.
“No!” he objected with a laugh. “In a month or so. I’ll answer any question you like in the meantime so you feel prepared. They’re really chill.”
They settled in the park. Ginny had prepared a pick-nick and carefully set it all out on a blanket. She had neatly packaged sandwiches, some fruits, cheese and other things to nibble on.
“That’s adorable,” he said, inspecting the mini-sandwiches she had prepared. “Tell me, do you regret going exclusive?”
Her gaze snapped up to his face. “No.” She frowned at him. “Do you?”
“No!” he said quickly. “I just… I wouldn’t blame you for having to think it over.”
“I would never make that promise if I didn’t intend to keep it.” She picked up a cheese cracker. “And no I did not feel any temptation. Not with your cute, messy-haired morning selfies.” She leaned closer to him. “Every good night text.” She pecked his lips. “All I could think about was seeing you again. So stop asking me stupid questions and kiss me.”
He obliged, bringing his hand to the back of her head to keep her close. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean anything by it. I just want to have a heads up if you plan on breaking my heart.”
She let out a soft sigh. “Never in a million years, okay? Give it to me and I’ll keep it safe.”
“Promise?” he asked as his fingers massaged the back of her head.
“I promise,” she whispered.
He pulled her down to kiss her, bringing his arms around her. She shifted closer to him and let her hand track over his frame, re-familiarising herself with the slant of his shoulders and shape of his bicep. Harry’s hands were occupied with a similar determination.
They chatted and nibbled on food for hours and Ginny was never far out of Harry’s arms. They could chat and text when he was away, it were the touches she had missed. At the time she had turned down his suggestion to get a room for the day—mind you he had proposed that in the spirit of keeping it casual—but now that his hands were on her, she missed it even more.
Too soon it was time to pack up and for Harry to head back to the ship. They cleaned up and folded the blanket together and Ginny returned it to her bag. She walked him back to the ship, trying to steal any minute she could.
“I had a great time today, thank you for travelling here for me,” he told her, holding her hands in his.
She smiled at him. “You couldn’t have kept me away if you tried.” She squeezed his hands. “I have so many plans with you when you come back.”
Harry swallowed hard. “I’ll be counting down the days.”
“Me too.” She stood on her tip-toes to kiss him. “Enjoy your last month as a pianist.”
“I will. This has been nice,” Harry said with a nod. “Ready to go home too.”
She cupped his jaw. “Just thirty more nights.”
“Be good,” he told her.
She shook her head. “Never,” she teased.
He kissed her again and then it was time to get back on board of the ship. He offered her a final wave before he walked on. She walked back to the station and got on the next train in the direction of London.
It was dreadfully quiet as the train pulled out of the station. Not many people were on it. She was surprised when she felt a tear drop down her cheek.
Her phone rang and she quickly wiped at the tear before answering the video call from Harry.
“I just wanted to say I had the most perfect day with you—are you crying? Are you okay? Did something happen?”
Ginny could see him rise from his bed and she quickly shook her head. “It’s fine,” she said with a watery chuckle. “I miss you and I was being pathetic about it.”
Harry sank back down on the bed and wore a sad smile. “I miss you too.”
“I’m sorry—I didn’t mean to do that and ruin a perfectly good day.” She wiped at her eyes again. “I don’t want you to be sad.”
“Hey, I am sad too. Just putting on a brave face,” he told her. “Will you text me when you get home safe?”
“Yeah,” she said. “You got on the ship alright?”
He nodded and showed his cabin. “All settled. I’ll go for dinner soon but it won’t taste as good as those mini-sandwiches.”
She chuckled. “It’s made with love, it just doesn’t hit the same.”
“With love,” he repeated with a grin.
Her cheeks burned. “You know what I mean. Making food and—”
Harry’s eyebrow rose higher as she tried to explain what she meant.
“Oh, shush,” she said. “Be good.”
“Always.” He pressed a kiss against his fingers and then pushed them up against the camera. “Don’t be too sad. You’re going to get so sick of me once I’m permanently in the country.”
“Then stop blinking tears away,” she pointed out in a deadpan tone. “That’s not going to happen. I’ll text you soon.”
“Yeah. Bye, Gin.”
She waved at him. “Bye.” She ended the call. A few more tears dropped down her cheeks after she put her phone down but she was alone so she didn’t care to wipe them away.
She had just finished a long shower—Harry was back tomorrow—and had texted him about it when she heard someone knocking.
She was still clad in her towel so she walked up to the door but didn’t open it. “Who is it?”
“Guess!”
Electricity running through her veins, she pulled the door open and laid her eyes on her boyfriend. “Harry?!”
He grinned at her and she jumped right into her arms, almost losing her towel in the process. Harry held onto her and kissed her hard. “Surprise.”
“Oh my god!” she said as he stepped inside and closed the door behind him. “You’re early!”
“Not exactly,” he said. “I lied to surprise you and so I, very selfishly, get another 24 hours with you before you meet my parents because I won’t be able to keep my hands off you otherwise and that would leave a terrible impression.”
He put her down on the floor and she readjusted her towel. He observed her unapologetically, pupils darkening.
“Do you want to actually hold a conversation? I can put more clothes on,” she asked as she swayed temptingly, wishing he’d say no.
He shook his head. “This works fine for me.”
Clutching her towel with one hand she took his with her other and walked straight to the bedroom with him. “Not that that I don’t want to talk…”
Harry only chuckled and turned her around as soon as they were inside the bedroom, kicking the door closed. “Can I?” he asked, bringing his hands to where she was holding her towel closed.
She nodded and he took the corners of the towel and opened it, his eyes raking eagerly over her body and—he snapped the towel closed again.
“Ginny,” he said, stepping closer to her. “Did you shave an anchor there?”
She grinned at him. “I figured I’d help you transition back to life on land slowly.”
He licked his lips, grinning too. “Did you free-hand that?”
“No, I bought a template online,” she quipped.
She could tell he wasn’t sure if she was kidding or not about that. He placed another kiss on her lips and opened her towel again. She pulled it out of his grip and tossed it aside, getting onto the bed.
He kicked off his shoes and followed her on. He wrapped himself around her and she began pulling at his clothes, tossing his shirt away and making quick work of his trousers until she could only feel skin under her fingertips. She let her hand glide down his back and squeezed his butt teasingly. His lips hardly ever disconnected from hers.
His hands dove between them and followed the small shaven line down to her core. He teased her clit and let his fingers explore between her folds. She knew exactly what those fingers could do and she was planning to put them to work soon but first she wanted his comforting weight on top of her, pushing deep inside of her.
“Nightstand,” she muttered.
His gaze turned up to her face. “Hm?”
“Nightstand. Condoms,” she breathed.
His eyes twinkled. “I think you lost a few words there, Weasley.”
She pushed into his hand involuntarily. “Don’t play, because I just know you’re aching and I can make it really difficult for you.”
“We wouldn’t want that,” he said though he made no move for the condoms. Instead, he plunged his finger deep inside of her, his gaze on how she took his finger and then added another finger a moment later. “It’s been a while, I want to make sure you’re ready.”
She glared at him. “I’m ready.”
He sighed softly, smiling all the while. “See, the video connection doesn’t do your glare any justice. It’s so much more powerful in person. I’ve missed it.” He kissed her and withdrew his fingers from her. He teasingly licked them clean before he reached for the condoms.
“Top drawer.”
Harry took the box out and pulled a wrapper out. While he put it on, she planted her feet on the mattress and let her knees drop open. He was on her a second later. He lined up and then softly pushed in. “Fucking hell, Ginny. Stop looking at me like that.”
“But I’ve been thinking about this view for two months,” she murmured. “Let me enjoy it.”
He brought her lips closer to his, his whole weight on top of her and she couldn’t help to let her hands explore.
“I’ve found it’s better to commit things to memory by doing it again and again rather than lingering,” he told her.
She squeezed him between her thighs. “Why not both?”
“Because I really really need this right now.” He kissed her lips.
She fixed him with a longing look. “Me too.” She relented the pressure of her thighs as he pulled his hips back a little.
As soon as he started moving, she let her head drop back and moaned loudly.
“You’re such a pretty sight,” he whispered.
She did not reply, she was too focused on the pleasure, his adoring gaze and the weight of his body on top of her. His rhythm was steady but urgent.
“I’m close,” she announced when she started to feel the edges of her orgasm tensing her core.
“Yes?” he asked, sounding surprised. “Do you want to cum together?”
She nodded. “Count down from five.”
“That close?” he breathed. “Five…four…three…two.”
She was barely holding on.
“One.”
It hit her intensely, toe-curling good. They rode out their orgasm together. He collapsed on top of her and she wrapped herself around him, placing kisses against his cheek and temple. He settled beside her, discarding the condom and she pulled him into her arms.
“Good surprise?” he asked.
She nodded. “I’ve missed you.” She let her fingers follow the outline of his lips.
“I’ve missed you too,” he murmured right back, pulling down her hand so that he could kiss her again.
“Where are your suitcases?” she asked, remembering he came in with no bag.
He smiled at her. “In my car. I knew I’d have my hands full. I’ll go take them later.” He reached back out to the night stand.
She watched him with intrigue.
“Did I see correctly you got one of those suction toys?” he asked.
She gave a kind of non-committal nod, allowing him to find out for himself. He opened the drawer and felt around in it until his hand fit around the rose-shaped toy.
“Aha!” He lifted it to his face to look at it. “Is it charged?”
“What do you think?”
He made a circling motion with his free hand, looking rather excited. “Turn around.”
She twisted onto her other side and he made himself the big spoon. His arms swooped around her waist and he kissed the back of her neck.
“What’s your favourite setting?” he asked.
She shrugged. “Two, or three.”
“We’ll start with two,” he concluded and twisted it around in his hand in search of the on-button.
After a moment of seeing him struggle, she moved his thumb a little lower on the toy. He switched it on and then clicked it another time to get it to the second setting. He kissed her skin again and his free hand played with her breast.
“Relax,” he said, before he brought the toy to her clit.
It was easier said than done when the rather intense soul-sucking device was determined to work far quicker and more efficient than anyone ought to have an orgasm. She used it mostly when she was in desperate need of release or winding down.
Though having Harry’s naked body plastered against her back while he massaged her boobs was certainly an added value. She brought one of her hands up to play with his hair. The other clutched his arm to tear the toy away when it got too intense.
“Hm, good,” she moaned.
Harry bit into her shoulder playfully. She tapped his head teasingly, telling him off. She tried to push her ass into him but he wouldn’t let her.
“Fuck.”
“Don’t forget to breathe,” he teased.
She squeezed his arm harder. “If you want me to breathe, turn it off.”
“No,” he said with a chuckle. He turned it up to three.
“Oh my god.”
Her orgasm followed seconds later, she was pretty sure she accidentally kicked Harry in the process and her nails dug into the skin. He finally relented and switched the toy off and tossed it aside in favour of wrapping both his arms her.
“This could be every night from now on,” he told her.
“Except for tomorrow,” she pointed out, when they’d be meeting his parents and then sleeping at their house.
“Doesn’t have to be,” Harry said. “Their room is like all the way on the other side.”
She twisted her upper-body to look at him. “All the way? How big is it?”
Harry retrieved his phone and scrolled for a moment before handing it over to her.
“Well hello, Mr Darcy,” she muttered as she looked at the stately home.
“He’s actually our next-door neighbour,” he joked.
She snorted and scrolled to the next picture, showing a different angle. “These are nice pictures, what was it for?”
“Oh, they used the exterior for some kind of period drama.”
“Fuck off,” she mumbled in disbelief, handing his phone back.
He chuckled and drew her back into his chest. “What were you dinner plans before I interrupted?”
“I was going to cook some pasta,” she said.
He hummed. “I’ll cook that for you then, to make up for lying about when I was arriving.”
Though that was unnecessary, she agreed. She wouldn’t mind watching him cook. She kissed him softly, remaining in his arms.
“What are you thinking about?” he asked after a moment of silence.
She smiled softly. “How perfect this is.”
“Agreed,” he said, letting his lips slip over hers again. “Gin?”
She locked eyes with him. “Yeah?”
“I love you.”
She swallowed hard. Her cheeks burned. Why did it have to feel so violent to be in love? She cupped his cheek and kissed his lips. “I love you too.”
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