"I was originally planning to buy you something from here for Christmas since I know you like these things," Harry began, the both of us looking up at the big Victoria's Secret letters as the scent of fruity perfumes and discount sales enticed me to come in.

"But everytime I went in by myself I didn't know what I was doing and everyone kept staring." He grumbled, crossing his tattooed arms over his broad chest in annoyance, glaring at the lingerie store while I admired it with wide, eager eyes.

"Ah! Let's go in!" I couldn't hold in my excitement any longer, grabbing Harry's wrist and dragging him inside like a child with their mother at a candy shop as he reluctantly followed me in.

The second he stepped foot inside the store every head in the room turned, the women gasping and idly gawking at Harry -which I didn't blame them for.

Not only was it rare to see a guy wander in Victoria's Secret but Harry had to be one of the most attractive males on the planet period, coupled with his brooding expression, well built frame, pierced lips and brows, and tattooed skin, the sight of him gingerly holding up a baby pink bra was almost a comedic sight to see.

"Ohhh that's super cute! And look at this, I really like the bow on this one but the lace lining on this one is sooo pretty." I cooed with delight, shaking the fancy bras in both of my hands as Harry's heavy gaze shifted between the two in my grasp with a slightly confused expression.

"I don't care." He simply responded with an uninterested expression, trying to hide a thong behind his back when he saw that my attention was on him.

I lowered the undergarments in my hands win thought before I blinked and began to slowly nod in understanding.

"You're so right," I said in determination before approaching him.

"We need to get something that really says power and control!" I exclaimed in realization, looking around searching for the perfect pair of lingerie as Harry closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Need any help miss?" A woman in all black offered, her brown hair pulled back into a messy bun as she smiled at me before she brought her gaze to Harry, her dark eyes widening in recognition as he stiffened by my side.

"Oh my! You're that handsome Italian man who came in here a week ago." She gasped when she saw Harry as I turned to look at him while he kept his menacing green eyes on her.

"No. I'm not." He grit out in obvious irritation.

"You are! I'd remember your devilishly good looking face anywhere, you were looking at a matching pair of black lace bra and panties right? Then you asked for my help." She continued to remind him as Harry glared at her.

"No."

"Remember, you asked me what kind of undergarments would look good on your girlfriend who was more on the cute side but could pull of the sexy look as well-"

"I did not call her my girlfriend I said she was a friend, cazzo. And it wasn't me!" Harry snapped at her with impatience, his booming voice quieting the entire store as everyone turned to stare at us while he narrowed his eyes at the shocked worker.

I watched him with a thoughtful expression, finding it cute thay he went through all this trouble for me as I placed a supportive hand over his toned arm.

"We're not together," I began with a light laugh, knowing it bothered Harry when people assumed we were in a relationship as the customers nearby began to whisper with hopes of catching his attention now that they knew he was single as the worker nodded with a smile.

"Oh, so you must be the special friend then." The woman grinned in acknowledgement, looking over at me as my eyes widened at the name she had given me.

I quickly turned my head back to Harry, giving him a look before I cupped the side of my mouth with my hand.

"Am I your special friend?" I asked him in a whisper, still uncertain as he blinked at me with a straight face.

"What do you think neonata?" He deadpanned, resting his elbow on one of the mannequin's shoulders as I thought about it.

"Yes, yes I am, I am." I decided with a confident smile, nodding to myself before looking back at the employee with a grin.

"Wonderful, so you'll need help yes? What kind of lingerie are you looking for?" She politely asked with a patient look as I blinked up at the ceiling in thought before turning back to Harry who was already walking away towards the exit.

"What do you think Harry?" I asked, wanting to know his input since he was the one treating me.

"Don't care. I'll be waiting outside." He waved me off, not even looking back as I contemplated between rose gold colored underwear or black thongs.

Ah, black thongs....

"Guess I should rephrase the question. For who are you wearing your lingerie for hm? No need to be shy if you have a special someone." The worker laughed into her hand as I stared at her before I suddenly felt a gust of wind near my side, making me turn to find Harry right next to me, peering down at me over my shoulder with a serious expression as his chest rose and fell heavily from running back to me at lightning speed.

"Hey there, thought you were going to wait." I greeted, genuinely surprised but happy as I smiled up at him making a muscle in his sharp jaw twitch.

"Don't stall. Answer her question." He retorted with a sudden edge to his usual careless tone as he nudged his chin towards the lady while he kept his intense green eyes set on me.

"Oh, well I wear it for myself." I replied, surprising the worker as her red lips formed the shape of an 'O' momentarily while Harry relaxed besides me.

Something about wearing really nice fancy underwear and bras just really put a skip to my step, even if no one else knew or saw it.

"Leaving now." Harry suddenly said, walking away before the worker caught my attention again.

"Alright, how about we focus on something on the more scandalous side then shall we? We've just got these new underwears with cute little openings in the back for better access." The woman wiggled her arched brows suggestively as she stretched out a stringy, skimpy looking underwear, making my eyes widen as I let out an interested "ooohhhh" at the pretty red color, reaching out for it before Harry practically rushed in and threw himself between me and the lingerie, grabbing it before I could even touch it.

Steam was practically coming out of his nostrils like a raging bull as he gripped the underwear and glared at the worker.

"l'inferno si intende (the hell you mean) better access!? These are just a couple of strings!" He berated her, making the woman lean back with a nervous smile, her hands up in surrender as I blinked at him in surprise.

"Well you know, easier access for-"

The rest of her sentence was blocked out when Harry quickly clamped his large hands over my ears in alarm, looking like he was cursing her in Italian, his face flushed with anger while the worker gave him a questioning look.

"She's a child for God's sake. I should sue you for even trying to give her this." Harry growled, lifting his palms away from my ears but continuing to hold me in a protective manner as the worker tilted her head to the side and observed us.

"Oh so she was the 'child' you were talking about when you first got here, and may I ask how old are you?" She questioned, turning her attention to me after air quoting the word child.

"Twenty five." I informed with a small smile.

"And you?" She then looked over at Harry with a raise of her brow.

"Twenty three. What's your point." He retorted in a cynical tone, narrowing his eyes at her as she pursed her lips with a knowing look.

"Ah so she's older, how about a leather spiked bra and thon-"

"No!" Harry exclaimed with a flushed face as I brought my gaze down to his arms.

"Harry you have goosebumps again." I noted in a small whisper, running my fingers over his tatted skin.

"How about transparent-"

"No. Jesus don't you have something not so, so-" Harry swallowed, seeming flustered as he bit his lip while I looked around.

"Do you guys have a heater in here? He gets cold easily." I informed from the side as the Victoria's Secret worker and Harry continued to bicker back and forth.

I kind of drifted away and strayed from the two when I noticed a silky soft, rose gold night gown that stopped mid thigh, an elegant lace lining the bottom and the sweetheart neckline with a matching bra and thong.

Pretty...

Drawn to the beautiful lingerie I quickly got the matching set and immediatly made a bee line to the dressing room passed an irritated Harry and worker.

"What she needs is something that covers her stomach and her breasts, definitely her breasts." Harry informed with a stern voice.

"Sir for the last time that's called a shirt." The woman said as I rushed into the nearby vacant dressing room.

I quickly flung off my clothes with excitement, fumbling around with a smile as I quickly put the soft material over my body.

The bra had a pretty bow, the thong had a nice lace, and the nightgown over the whole thing made me feel really good.

I started to do a little happy dance, holding onto the ends of the gown and jumping around with joy.

This was definitely the one-

"Neonata. Neonata where are you." I suddenly heard Harry's voice call out to me from outside, hearing heavy footsteps enter the dressing room as I stayed in my stall.

I opened my mouth, gathering my old clothes to let him know I was okay before a new voice joined him.

"Harry? Is that you?" A sultry female tone hung in the air before I heard the swoosh of a curtain besides my stall, making me move the black drape that was covering my room a bit to peek through to find Leah -the woman who had given Harry a little 'goodbye' before we left for Reno- all dressed in red, see through lingerie with black strap stockings.

"Leah." He acknowledged with an uninterested look as he continued to search the place for me, stopping when Leah approached him with a teasing loop of her arms over his neck, pulling his body closer to hers, her nipples practically piercing through the thin fabric of her transparent bra against his chest.

I don't know why, but I was very unhappy about this.

"You naughty boy, what are you doing here? I didn't even know you were back, did you miss me?" She batted her lashes up at him, giving him a small pout and practically rubbing herself on him as he grabbed her wrists, prying her sensous body away from his.

"I'm looking for Malu." Harry retorted with impatience, glaring at her face and only her face despite her almost naked body displayed in front of him.

"Oh, so you two are finally together now huh." Leah acknowledged, lowering her arms and taking a step back as she observed Harry who immediatly straightened at her claim.

I decided to close the curtain and quickly but quietly change back into my regular clothes, feeling somewhat down that Harry always reacted this way whenever someone assumed we were involved with eachother in that way.

"What do you mean finally together? We're not together." Harry's harsh angered voice carried throughout the entire room while I readjusted my shirt.

"No wonder you're not even hard. Ugh well it's no fun messing around with a guy who's already whipped." I heard Leah sigh in defeat.

"I am not whipped. Why would I ever be attracted to Malu? She's an impudent little child who I always have to worry and care about and that's how I'll always see her-"

My grip on the curtain tightened considerably before I practically ripped it to the side, moving it and revealing myself in one swift, adrupt motion surprising both Harry and Leah who slowly turned their heads to me in shock.

For once, there wasn't a smile on my face.

Instead it was replaced with a straight, unmoving expression, one similar to Harry's as I blinked at the two with blank eyes while Harry seemed to be at a loss for words at the moment, looking guilty and shocked all at once.

"Hi Leah, you look cute." I smiled at her as she laughed and thanked me before passing Harry who watched me with wide worried green eyes, quickly following behind my tail like a scolded child.

"Neonata, where were you-" He began but stopped when I started to hum to myself, his jaw clenching in annoyance when he noticed I wasn't listening to him as he followed me to the cashier.

"What, you're just gonna ignore me now." Harry snapped at the front counter, hovering over me in a restless manner as I calmly paid for the new lingerie, catching his attention.

"I told you I'm paying for it." He pestered, grabbing my wrist that was holding my credit card making me glance up to meet his gaze for the first time since I exited the dressing room, my pissed off glare completely freezing him on the spot in shock as he immediatly dropped his grasp from me.

Harry's expression was similar to that of a child that recieved "the look" from their mother in public as he gawked at me with wide eyes, his lips parted in a mixture of surprise and fear before I raised my chin high and looked back at the cashier, thanking her with my usual friendly smile before taking my Victoria's Secret bag.

"Gee I sure am hungry." I noted to myself, casually walking passed a rigid, uncertain Harry with a carefree smile on my face as he cautiously followed me from behind, this time creating a greater distance between us.

"If you're trying to make me guilty for I said back there I'm not, you already knew so don't give me any of this." Harry quickened his steps to walk by my side, peering down at me with an aggravated expression as if it was my fault for being there as I thought about what Harry and I could eat for our next meal.

"Okay." I simply said, still smiling and looking ahead of me.

For some reason, this only irritated Harry more.

"Okay," He repeated with a vexed scoff, moving in front of me, deliberately blocking my way.

"What do you mean okay. Why don't you wipe that smile off your face bambina, I know you're bothered just admit. And what even is okay supposed to mean-" He ranted, his sentence cutting off short when I reached out and grabbed a fistful of his black shirt, quickly dragging him down until his brown pushed up waves of hair was touching my bangs as my eyes pierced his.

"It means... okay." I said in a low, chillingly emotionless voice, causing Harry to blink at me with his jaw practically on the floor before I let him go and plastered on my smile again, humming with a skip to my step leaving him there.

The second we got home I washed my new lingerie, sat myself down, and ate.

Harry was watching me from across the table with narrowed eyes, impatiently drumming his fingers over the wood as I cracked the walnuts with one of my Christmas nutcrackers I bought as I popped the little nuts into my mouth, happily chewing with full cheeks.

"I was supposed to take care of buying you your Victoria's Secret shit." He muttered under his breath, causing me to pause with my eating to stare at him as his previous words from before at the store echoed around my skull.

Why would I ever be attracted to Malu? She's an impudent little child who I always have to worry and care about...

This bothered me more than it should have.

And despite my best efforts, it was showing.

"You're not eating your nuts." I noted, nodding at the pile of walnuts I had given Harry that was still sitting idly in front of him as he stared back at me.

"Do you want me to-" I pulled the lever behind my nut cracker, snapping the shell of the walnut in its mouth in two with a loud crack that echoed through the air making Harry eye me with an uncertain expression.

"Crack your nuts for you?" I smiled at him only for him to immediatly shoot up from his chair.

"You are mad at me." He claimed, slamming his palms on the table as I sent him a light hearted look.

"It was just an offer." I beamed up at him, trying to maintain my usual cheery persona despite the edge in my behavior before I heard the drier down the hall finish with my load.

My new lingerie was officially clean.

A surge of anticipation went through my entire body as I quickly got up out of my chair and fast walked to my drier with excitement.

Something I always did whenever I bought new bras and underwear was wash and dry them until they were all nice and warm against my skin, then strut around wearing it in my empty flat.

It was kind of like a sacred ritual for me.

A sacred ritual that involved a lot of laughing and backflipping through my hallway with my new lingerie on.

"It smells like peaches!" I happily exclaimed, continuing to prance around my place with my new night gown on, the matching bra and thong on me as well as I twirled and spun vigorously until I probably looked like a rose gold colored tornado thrashing through the entire flat.

I continued to spin until I crashed into something hard, momentarily believing it was the wall until a large warm hand shot out to stable me and keep me from falling back as I rubbed at my forehead, opening my eyes to find Harry peering down at me with a slightly puzzled look.

"What are you wearing..." He grit out, letting me go and quickly stepping away from me as if I had burned his skin while I just stood there in confusion.

"Oh, this? Yeah this is what I got at Victoria's Secret! It's pretty right?" I smiled, running my fingers over the lace hemming before Harry balled his hands into tight fists at his sides.

"Cover up."

I blinked in surprise at Harry's hostile demand, wondering why he looked so angered as I brought my gaze up to him.

"What. Do I have to say it in Italian too? Coprire, I said cover up. Now." He ordered in a harsh tone as I stared back at him, straightening my spine and keeping my gaze on his darkened green eyes.

"No."

Harry's jaw locked as he raised a brow at my firm voice.

"No?" He echoed out in a deep rumble, taking a menacing step towards me.

"You heard me," I huffed, crossing my arms over my chest.

"I am not a child I am a full grown woman and this is my home. I will do whatever I want whenever I want." I claimed in a solid voice as he glowered down at me.

"Why does it bother you anyways? Like you said, I'm just a child and that's all you'll ever see me as right?" The words came out of my mouth before I could stop him as Harry's eyes widened at my statement.

"So why do you get all flustered then when you see me like this huh?" I continued in annoyance, taking a few steps forward making him back away as I pointed at his broad chest.

"Malu.." He grit out with a warning look, calling me by my first name as I continued to near him with a determined expression.

"I'm just a little girl, an under developed fetus, a child to you. I shouldn't affect you in any way." I had backed Harry into the doorframe, a dark, frustrated look on his face and an annoyed one on mine as I looked up at him with furrowed brows.

"I am not a child, I am a full grown woman and you should treat me like one." I fumed, having enough of hearing him always looking down at me like some pesky little sister as something shifted in his emerald gaze.

"You want me treat you like a woman." Harry repeated in a low chuckle, his voice deeper and huskier this time and before I could respond he grabbed my wrists with his large tattooed hands, quickly turning us around in one quick pull leaving me momentarily shocked when I realized I was now the one pinned against the doorframe as he held me there.

I gasped with wide eyes, not expecting him to do that as I gaped up at him, my skin suddenly prickling and feeling hot under his gaze as he pressed his warm body against mine causing my face to warm at the contact.

"Then I'll treat you like a woman." Was the last thing Harry said before he lowered his face down and pressed his lips against mine in a firm, desperate kiss.

AN: I like waiting until the character development, relationship, and tension develops until you're at the point where you'd sell your first new born for the main characters to finally kiss lmao. (happened to me so many times when I read books and I loved when my otp would finally kiss after so long because satisfying as hell).

Plus everyone be sexually frustrated af in the comments and I can tell and it makes me laugh so much.

Btw yes, underwear with openings in the back do exist thanks to the last time I visited Victoria's Secret.