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HAILEY

T urns out, curating the perfect date night outfit was far easier than I’d anticipated since I woke up this morning to a box from my favorite brand. Their dresses are always stunning, and this time, they sent me three to pick from and promote on my socials. I love collabs like this, where I genuinely love the items being sent to me. It makes it so easy to do my job well.

I filmed myself opening the box this morning, did a small unboxing video, and now I’m filming a ‘style it with me for date night’ piece as I pair accessories and makeup with the buttery yellow silk dress I chose. I decide on yellow gold earrings and a necklace I made by taking apart old thrift store jewelry and turning it into something new, adding my own touch to the outfit.

“I think I’m going to go with a messy up-do to finish the look off,” I comment, switching the camera view to the full-length mirror and holding my hair up with my other hand to give an idea of what I mean. A quick transition later, which looks like a second on film but in reality takes me about twenty minutes, I’ve pinned my hair up in the perfect just-been-messed-up hairstyle. I love the playfulness of it, like Harvey’s already been running his hands through the strands. God, I hope he messes it up even more later.

I have to force myself to stop thinking about that in order to focus on finishing the video. I already know I’m going to get comments from people asking about the date and who the guy is, and I can’t help the way it makes excitement flutter through me. I know it’s early to even hint at dating someone on my socials, but there’s something so different about Harvey and how I feel for him. I haven’t even bothered going on a date since college, and I’ve certainly never felt this excited about the idea of a date. I just have this deep-rooted feeling that there’s something more between us than just a fling or a date. Like we’re meant to be or something.

“This is the finished look,” I say into the camera, giving a slow twirl to show off the dress. “Let me know what you think and how you’d style this stunning dress in the comments!”

I save the video to edit tomorrow, just as the last person I want to hear from texts me. I sigh, staring for a second at the notification from Lucas before I brave opening it. Ever since he got weirdly annoyed at me having a man in my house yesterday, I’ve been avoiding him as much as I can while still working.

I open the text reluctantly, seeing that he’s sent me yet another string of messages asking me to just call him and hear him out and reminding me that I should be focusing on work opportunities and not random men. There are a few actual work-related messages in between, but they’re far outweighed by his inappropriate overstepping. As my manager, there’s absolutely no need for him to be poking his nose into my personal life or asking about Harvey, and yet here we are.

Refusing to let him ruin my evening, I do something I haven’t done since I started influencing as a career. I turn my phone off, smiling as I do, and shove it into my clutch, feeling buoyed by the idea of not being bothered by him anymore for the rest of the night.

Harvey kept his word and texted me the link to the restaurant he’s taking me to tonight, so I know I’ve hit the right vibes with my outfit. The place is a new, modern restaurant downtown, the perfect mix of relaxed vibes and high-quality food. I couldn’t have picked better myself, and I have to admit I’m really damn excited after scrolling through their menu online.

I slip on my low, strappy heels and grab a light jacket just as a knock comes at my door. Butterflies erupt in my stomach as I rush to answer it, giddy like I'm a teenager again.

“Harvey,” I say as I open the door, his name falling off my tongue before my brain even realizes what I’m saying.

God, he looks good. Hell, he looked amazing yesterday in his roughed-up work gear, but cleaned up and in a shirt and suit pants? God save me, how am I supposed to get through dinner without jumping on him? The white shirt clings to his muscles, and I practically drool as I stare at him.

“Fucking hell, you look incredible,” Harvey says, and I blink, realizing he’s been staring at me just like I’ve been staring at him. My cheeks heat as I smile, shrugging a little like I didn’t spend ages making sure I felt amazing in my outfit.

“Thanks, I just got sent this dress and thought, what better way to try it out?” I say, grinning. “You look … well, so good my brain’s fried if I’m honest.”

Harvey chuckles, but I catch sight of a hint of red on his cheeks, which only makes me smile more. I grab my keys off the side table and slip outside, locking the door behind me before Harvey leads me to his car. It’s not the work truck he had yesterday. Instead, he’s driving a blue Range Rover that absolutely fits his personality. He opens the door for me and helps me climb inside.

The drive to the restaurant is short but filled with conversation. As we get seated at our table, Harvey admits with a shy sort of smile, “I looked you up. Couldn’t help it after finding out about your job. It’s damn impressive, the following you’ve built.”

I smile, pleasantly surprised by his reaction. A lot of people completely dismiss my job or assume no real work goes into it, but Harvey’s right. I’ve worked hard to build my career, and it is impressive. “Thanks,” I say, “It took a lot of trial and error, but then my fashion content just sort of took off, and I’ve never looked back.”

“Well, you’ve clearly got a talent for it,” he praises, and I can’t help but find myself preening a little.

“I might be good at that, but you should see me try to put together IKEA furniture,” I joke, grinning.

Harvey’s eyes shine with unspoken implications as he says, “Good thing you’ve got me for that now.”

My heart pounds in my chest at the way he says it, like we are truly meant to be together, like he feels the same way I do.

The waiter comes to take our order, and not long after, the food arrives. We chat about work and family and all the get-to-know-you things we skipped before he had me screaming his name for the first time. I discover that his favorite color is yellow, he has two younger brothers, and he’s an adrenaline junkie who has jumped out of a plane. That’s my worst nightmare, but he’s grinning so widely when he tells me about the experience that I almost want to try it for myself—almost.

The food is amazing, but the company is even better, and even though I’ve only had one glass of wine, I feel light and bubbly, like I’ve drunk a whole bottle—affected so much by the man across from me. I want him so badly that, for perhaps the first time in my entire life, I consider skipping dessert just so we can get out of here sooner. But then Harvey suggests splitting the fudge brownie I’m eyeing up on the menu, and that sounds too perfect to pass up.

Harvey doesn’t even give me a chance to offer to split the cost, and I’m beginning to see the gentlemanly side of him underneath the rugged, flirty exterior. Learning all these new aspects about him just makes me want to get to know him even better, to discover every little quirk he has, every scar on his body, and inside jokes.

He takes my hand as we exit the restaurant, holding onto me tightly in a way that makes me think maybe he doesn’t want the night to end just as much as I don’t. He helps me into his car again, but for a long moment, we don’t drive away.

“I’m not ready for this night to end,” I say, throwing caution to the wind. Then again, given what happened between us yesterday, I feel pretty safe saying what’s on my mind with Harvey. I want to make him fall apart like he did for me, and I cannot stop thinking about it.

“Me neither,” Harvey says. “Though, if I’m being honest, I don’t think I’ll ever be ready for what’s between us to end, even for the night.”

I feel myself blush yet again, a response I can’t ever seem to control around Harvey. “If I’m being honest,” I say, echoing him, “I feel the same way.”

Harvey grins. “Thank fuck for that because I have no plans of letting you go now. You’re mine, gorgeous,” he says, the possessive tone of his voice making me shiver. “So, my place?”

I nod immediately, not even caring how eager it makes me look. The car rumbles to life, and Harvey pulls away, leaning over a little to take my hand in his as he drives. Our fingers twine together as one of my favorite songs comes on the radio, and I catch Harvey singing along to the words. Laughing, I join in, loving that this man has no qualms about singing the lyrics to a pop song about falling for a bad boy. Between his humor, his good looks, and the way he’s already shown he wants to take care of me, Harvey is a dream.

One I don’t have any desire to wake up from.

Thankfully, it isn’t a long drive to Harvey’s place. His apartment is in a new, well-kept block, and we pass a few of his neighbors on the way up to his place, though I can’t remember any of their faces because I’m too full of anticipation.

Harvey’s apartment is exactly like I pictured it would be. Utilitarian gray and black furnishings but with a few photos on the wall that make it clear he’s tried to make it homey.

“It’s nowhere near as pretty as yours, but I’m at work most of the time and haven’t had the time to do anything else to it,” Harvey says a little sheepishly. It’s cute, honestly.

Besides, it’s not his home decor I’m here for, anyway. Harvey locks the door behind us then comes to take my coat, his hands skimming down my arms as he slides it off my shoulders, leaving goosebumps in his wake. I kick off my heels and place them by the door, getting butterflies over the way our things look side by side, imagining a future where my heels and his work boots sit next to each other every day.

“You’re so fucking gorgeous,” Harvey murmurs as he wraps his arms around me, pulling me to him. My hands go to his chest on instinct, feeling the ridges of muscle beneath my fingers. “The whole time we were eating dinner, all I could think about was how much better you’d taste.”

“I couldn’t stop imagining how you’d feel inside me,” I whisper. I’ve never dirty-talked before, but something about Harvey makes it impossible for me to keep my thoughts to myself. From the way he growls and tightens his hold on me, my words hit their mark.

Neither of us can wait a second longer. I don’t know who moves first or if we move at the same time, but we crash together with all the pent-up tension of the evening and the last day between us.

The kiss consumes me, scrambling my brain and lighting every nerve ending of my body on fire. I feel my panties dampen and need coils low in my stomach, my body begging for more. I whimper against Harvey’s lips as he lifts me, walking us through his apartment. I’m too caught up in kissing him to pay attention to where we’re going until my stomach swoops as he lays me down. I bounce a little on the mattress, squealing with disorientation and then laughter, realizing he’s obviously taken us into the bedroom.

I get a brief look before I get distracted again, pleasantly surprised by the softness of the blue sheets beneath me and the variety of books and small collection of trinkets on the shelves in the corner. Any other time, I’d take the chance to be nosy and snoop a little, but then Harvey unbuttons his shirt, and I lose the ability to focus on literally anything else but his abs.

I knew Harvey was ripped from what I’ve seen and felt beneath his clothes, but the low light in here casts shadows over every ridge of his stomach and chest, making my mouth water with desire. My gaze trails lower to the sizable bulge pushing at his suit trousers, and my thighs squeeze together in anticipation.

I expect Harvey to lean over and kiss me again, but instead, he kneels down and trails his hands up my thighs, gathering the silky material of my dress as he goes. He pushes the skirt higher and higher until it’s bunched around my waist, and my white lace thong is on show. I slide the zipper at the side of the bodice down and sit up, pulling the dress off completely as Harvey watches with utter lust, turning his blue eyes a shade darker. It’s not the kind of dress I need a bra with, and Harvey curses softly under his breath as the fabric falls away and leaves me bare but for the thong.

“Are you trying to kill me, Hailey?” he jokes, his voice raspy with want. “Because fucking hell, I don’t think my brain can handle this much beauty all at once.”

I giggle, leaning forward on the bed to wrap my arms around his neck and tug him onto the mattress with me. “Stop thinking and just kiss me,” I tease, trailing one hand down his chest and stomach to his pants. I unbutton them and tug them down, and he helps me by kicking off the remnants of his clothes. A quick glance tells me my guess was a hundred percent right—Harvey is big. I have a brief moment of worry that he won’t fit, but then again, I’ve always loved a challenge, and I’m sure as hell willing to try.

This time, when Harvey kisses me, there’s nothing between our bodies, nothing preventing us from exploring and discovering each other’s bodies. My hands roam his chest, nails scraping over his abs and making him shudder, his cock pressed hard against my lower stomach as his hands trail up my sides. I gasp against him as he cups my breast, rolling my peaked nipple between his thumb and forefinger, sending sparks of pleasure through me straight to my clit. My back arches as his other hand grabs my hip, his thumb tracing the crease at the edge of my panties, the skin sensitive and desperate for more. Just when I think I might explode with desire, he bunches the side of my panties in his fist and yanks. The lace audibly rips, and he tears them away from me, making me gasp out loud.

Harvey trails kisses down my neck, murmuring, “I’ll buy you a new pair,” against my skin. Truthfully, I’d sacrifice every nice pair of panties I own to him, the show of possession and need of him ripping them off me such a turn-on.

His fingers press against my center, and I know he can feel just how wet I am for him. I’ve never been this turned on in my life, but there’s not a single part of me that feels embarrassed, not when I can feel how much I’m affecting him, too.

“I can’t wait any longer,” I whine as he slowly teases me with his fingers. “Please, Harvey. I need your cock. I need you to fuck me.”

“God, your mouth is going to be the death of me,” he groans, sounding pretty happy about that fact. “I don’t want to hurt you, baby. Let me stretch you out a little first.”

I shake my head, unwilling to wait a second longer. “You won’t hurt me. I don’t care, Harvey. Let me feel you. Every single inch, please,” I beg, squirming beneath him.

“Fuck, how the hell am I ever supposed to say no to you?” he asks, kissing my shoulder.

I grin. “Easy,” I pant, wrapping my hand around his thick cock and guiding him to where I want him. “You don’t.”

Harvey must agree because he kisses me, bracing his weight on one arm so he doesn’t crush me and fisting my hair in the other hand as he begins to press inside me.

I feel the stretch of him immediately, but I regret nothing. The tiniest bit of pain as my body adjusts to him only makes the bliss feel even better, and I lose the ability to breathe as he fills me.

“All of you,” I manage to pant, nails digging into his back. “I need all of you.”

Harvey groans, face buried in my neck as he kisses and sucks at the sensitive skin, thrusting into me until he fills me completely. I cry out, overwhelmed in the best way, unable to think with the pleasure consuming me.

“You feel so fucking good, baby,” Harvey praises, and I whimper out my agreement as he begins to move, fucking me in long, slow strokes.

We lose ourselves in each other, moving together, in sync and intertwined. I can feel our connection thrumming between us, going beyond the physical connection we share. Higher and higher, my pleasure spirals until I’m chanting Harvey’s name mindlessly and scratching his back.

When he slides one hand between us to circle my clit with his thumb, I can’t fight the wave that overwhelms me.

“Fuck, baby,” Harvey groans as my orgasm triggers his, thrusting deep as he comes.

For a long few minutes, we stay wrapped in each other to catch our breath. When I can open my eyes again, Harvey kisses me softly and scoops me up, taking us both to the shower. He washes me reverently, taking care of me in a way that makes my heart soar.

Harvey really is the full package, and I can’t help but want nights like tonight for the rest of my life with him.