Harlow
Waking up,my heart beated rapidly out of my chest, and I hoped to God that last night was just vivid thoughts of my imagination. As I looked around the room, I realised that the lights were still on, even with the cracked slither of light starting to hit the curtains. He had left my door partly ajar, letting the light flood the room from the hallway. It sank in that it wasn’t a dream at all and very much reality.
Elijah must have heard my almost whispered high-pitched,‘no,’as I saw him when he reached out for the light switch last night. Embarrassment shot into my veins; I now knew that Elijah may have seen the hidden truth to the depths of my embarrassing past. Having let him in my room and experienced the night terrors that had led to my upset.
Had I let him into a part of me that I’ve never let anyone else before?
This wasn’t like Johnny, he hadn’t chosen to help, he felt obliged, but to have allowed someone else to have seen an inner secret, that was different. I needn’t have worried though, not a word was mentioned by the man about last night. It was as if it had been wiped from his memory and never happened, including my stressed reaction to finding out he was going to be my housemate. It meant Johnny and I hadn’t finished with this conversation yet waiting until I’d spoken to him later on. I would’ve made sure he’d understood my opinion on the subject, but for now, I dealt with what was in front of me.
I couldn’t have blamed him for the lights last night, after all, I told him to lock up. How was he to have known about my dreaded fears, without me having revealed my secrets to him? It wasn’t anything sinister, it was more just nightmares that went wrong, but it wasn’t something that I enjoyed talking about. Therefore, Johnny had been the only person to have experienced my night terrors, whenever it related to the darkness. He had wanted to tell Elijah, I remembered when we were younger, just in case I needed someone, but he promised not to tell another soul as I was just too uncomfortable.
Having a shower just before Elijah arrived last night, made sure that I didn’t need one this morning. Stretching my muscles, I got out of bed and attempted fixing my hair, the bird’s nest hairstyle wouldn’t go down a storm, I was sure. Looking through the closet, I was particularly cautious on what clothing combinations to have picked and put together. I wanted to ensure I looked respectable just in case Elijah was up and had slipped down the stairs already.
The least of my worries was contending with any wardrobe misdemeanours, with a hot guy around especially with the connections he had to me.
Shit, where did that thought come from again?
I knew I needed time alone. I couldn’t understand the switch between us, or even pinpoint when it happened. Keeping those thoughts at bay was proving a tough task, as I struggled to comprehend why I was so attracted to him. Grabbing my high, waisted trousers, and a fitted blouse which I tucked in at the front, I gave myself a once over in the mirror and nodded at myself, then made my way towards the stairs. I needn’t have worried about being quiet, as he was certainly awake. I had alerted myself to his presence, when I heard the music playing from the radio down below.
Elijah was in the kitchen making himself useful, it was a sight to behold as I felt wetness pool between my legs, I knew issues would lie ahead. I couldn’t help noticing he was e stood with his back to me having not heard my entrance, I had the chance admiring him from afar with my mouth watering at the vision. His shoulder muscles rippled, protruding as they glistened with a light sheen, and the smell of freshly cooked bacon wafted in the air.
“Mmm,” I said involuntarily, giving the game away. Elijah snapped his neck around.
“Good morning,” he said as he crossed his arms over his chest and looked straight at me.
I was trying to keep my mouth from gaping and gawking at each of the defined ripples across his chest. As well as his messy bed hair, that I wanted to run my fingertips through and delve deeper. I wanted to see his reaction too and it took all my strength to reply.
“It sure is,” I said as I tried exuding the words without being forced.
“Extra breakfast over there,” he said, as he continued making his sandwich.
Pulling a face, I felt the frown tugging my eyebrow inward. I bet he was wondering what the matter was, he stated that he had just made too much, and just for himself. I mean, what guy said there’s too much food on offer, hmm?
Cautiously, I grabbed some fresh tiger bread and cut two doorstep pieces, placed them on a plate and put the bottle of red sauce at the side. Elijah’s reaction always made me giggle, it seemed that one thing remained the same, as he scrunched his nose up at me.
“Still not a ketchup guy?” I said bating him with the temptation too much to resist. He took a bite out of his breakfast shaking his head from side to side as he swallowed, and I tried to hide my desired hunger travelling through my body whilst watching him.
I had averted my gaze when he swiped his lip with his tongue, when the runny egg dribbled.
“Brown sauce, you should know that. Always a sore spot in this house though when Johnny hides it on purpose.”
Reaching the bottom cupboard, I pulled out the hidden bottle.
“He’s never changed that hiding spot since we were little, don’t be revealing all my secrets.” I joked as his grin widened; it was infectious as he placed a good amount on the remaining parts of his sandwich.
“Thanks, Harlow,” he said deeply with a rough edge.
I thought my ears were mishearing but as I glanced over, I tried avoiding looking but my stomach clenched with wanton desire. Elijah’s normal brown chocolate orbs had morphed to a pitch-black entrancing state. I was hypnotised and I hadn’t even realised he had cast a spell in front of me. He had started becoming a friend, someone to have relied on but now things felt different. Very different. Now though, I was being pulled in a direction I hadn’t seen coming. My planned focus on my career over the next few weeks had to wait. Somehow, I now needed to navigate two weeks together, where a friendship was being gained but an infatuation was being unravelled.
Could I manage how my feelings were starting to thrive and grow with us both being together? I wasn’t sure, to be honest.
Twenty-Six
Elijah
This morning I woke early.I hadn’t managed a good sleep as my body moved around and I rolled from side to side, worried in case Harlow woke again in the night. The desire to know if she was alright remained stuck at the front of my mind. When I had enough of the restless state of my body, I hoped a workout would’ve helped. A focus for my mind. It meant I could’ve kept an ear out at the same time if I was truthful.
After I pushed myself to the maximum for the last hour, I was ravenous by the end and my body screamed out for sustenance. I knew my body was a machine, it would have allowed me to eat everything in sight if I had wanted to. Control was important though, or my muscles would soon have dispersed. Then all that hard work would have gone to waste. I prided myself on my body, it took lots of effort and I worked hard for it.