Chapter 25
Tony lived by a strict code, and he only had three rules … always order top-shelf, never apologize, and, above all else, flaunt your money with the subtlety of a sledgehammer. By the time Harry found him in the dealership, Tony had charmed the receptionist into agreeing to go out with him and browbeat a nervous junior salesman into surrendering his personal stash of breath mints. The luxury car lot was quiet, but Tony's voice carried like a fart in church.
Harry strolled in wearing ripped jeans and a t-shirt, looking like every other average earner. Tony hooked an arm around his shoulders and said, "You look like you're about to smoke a dooby, not buy a Ferrari."
Harry shrugged, not really caring how he presented himself to the snooty car dealers. "You said this was a casual meeting. I took you at your word."
Tony snorted. "There's 'casual' and then there's 'broke bum.' When you're a success, you gotta dress like you matter."
They cut through a maze of million-dollar vehicles. The place had a strange vibe. The place was too sterile, and the air was heavy with the scent of leather and expensive cologne. A suited man intercepted them, his eyes alight with the excitement of receiving a huge commission. He gave Tony a fake, practiced smile. "Mr. Stark," he said. "I believe you said that you were considering the F430."
Tony's face split into a wolfish grin. "I did indeed. You guys have it in red, I assume?"
"Yes, sir," said the salesman. He had a name badge, but Harry refused to learn it.
Harry sidled up to the car, and Tony circled it, practically drooling. "This is what you buy when expensive paintings just aren't cutting it anymore," Tony said. He gestured at the lines, the curves, and the prancing horse badge. "It's like the Mona Lisa, only with better tits."
The salesman nodded, showing off his blinding white teeth. "Do you want to sit inside and get a feel for the wheel?"
Tony ignored him, already halfway in. Harry eased into the passenger seat. The interior was full of carbon fiber and hand-stitched leather. Tony fired the ignition. The engine bellowed to life, loud enough to rattle the showroom glass. The salesman winced but kept his smile. "Do you want to take her for a spin?" he asked. It was a question for form's sake only. He already knew the answer.
Tony nodded. "Let's do it. Are you riding with us?" Tony asked. "You can probably fit in the middle if you don't mind being rectally probed by a gear stick." The salesman blanched and shook his head.
As soon as the salesman finished shaking his head, Tony jabbed the gas. The car revved loudly, and Tony whooped, grinning at Harry. "You drive," he said. "You need to learn how it feels to be alive."
Harry raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure?"
"Of course. Besides, maybe you could buy one too. We can take them to the track and race," he excitedly said.
They switched seats, and Harry eased the Ferrari out of the lot. The car shuddered and leapt with every touch of the throttle. It was the kind of machine that rewarded recklessness with a trip to the ER. Harry merged into traffic and immediately cut off a Bentley. The driver flipped Harry the bird. Tony made a tsking sound. "You drive like a grandmother with cataracts."
Harry raised an eyebrow and hit the gas harder. The Ferrari screamed, and Tony's head snapped back. "Much better," Tony said, nodding in approval.
They took Sunset at seventy, ducked and weaved through clusters of commuters, and Tony played with the climate control, the stereo, and even the windows, just to mess with Harry's focus. Tony gave a running commentary on the merits of Italian design and the potential sexual prowess of every sexy woman he saw. "I bet she can go all night long," Tony said as he craned his neck to get a better look at a statuesque blonde walking down the sidewalk.
Harry ignored him. He was starting to enjoy the car. It was the most excessive thing he'd ever touched, and he'd once had an entire bank vault full of gold, so that was really saying something. At a red light, Tony reached over to the steering wheel and pressed the button for Race Mode. "Let's see what this thing can really do."
The light turned green, and Harry punched it. The Ferrari jerked forward, hurling both of them into their seats. Behind them, horns blared. Up ahead, the street narrowed, and a black SUV cut them off, then slowed to a crawl. Harry swore and let off the gas.
Tony sighed theatrically. "This city's full of bad drivers."
They rolled up to the next stoplight, where the SUV was idling in the left lane. The tinted window was open about an inch, and cigarette smoke billowed out. The light turned green, and the SUV lurched into the intersection, then screeched to a halt diagonally, blocking traffic. In the blink of an eye, three guys in black masks spilled out. The first aimed a pistol straight at them. The second yelled, "Out of the car! Now!" The third produced a machine gun and pointed it at Tony's head.
Harry's hand twitched toward the gearshift. The men advanced with their guns pointed. The smallest one jabbed the muzzle at the window. "Tony Stark, you're coming with us!" Tony instantly knew this was yet another attempted kidnapping. The thought of tens of millions of dollars worth of ransom money was apparently too good to pass up.
Tony gave them the finger. "Get a better script, you losers." Tony then looked at Harry. "Step on it!" he demanded.
Harry gunned the Ferrari. The car shot forward, skidding out of the line of fire. Bullets shattered the rear glass, forcing Tony to duck. The force of the acceleration pinned Harry to the seat, but he managed to swerve around the SUV, jumping the curb and tearing through a landscaping display. The sickening grinding sound from underneath the car told Harry that their getaway car had likely taken some damage. Supercars weren't designed to go off-roading.
"Nice!" Tony said, grinning. He seemed way too excited, given the circumstances.
However, Harry was too busy trying not to die to care about his level of excitement. He zigged and zagged, and the engine roared as the SUV peeled after them. The streets blurred by, and a second round of gunfire ripped through the back end. Tony ducked and laughed.
"Remind me to fire my security team," Tony said. "They're supposed to be on the lookout for idiots like this. Take the next right, then gun it."
Harry barely made the turn. The Ferrari scraped something, but the power kept it moving. He slammed through an alley, clipping trash cans and sending plastic bags into the air. Tony was clearly enjoying himself. The sad thing was, Harry was kind of enjoying it as well.
At the end of the alley, they burst out onto a busy street. The Ferrari cut across two lanes and over a median. A taco truck careened out of the way, and Harry heard the driver call him a Cabron. The SUV was close behind, tearing up the same alley. The gunmen fired wildly, missing everything but a few parked cars and a mail truck.
Harry gritted his teeth and pushed the car harder. The F430 was barely in control, and the tires skidded as it rounded corners and shot down straightaways. "Where exactly are we going?" he asked while Tony was messing with his phone.
"I've texted my security. So we just need to buy them some time to get their lazy asses over here. Remind me to design us some portable Iron Man suits," Tony said, and cranked up the stereo. Queen blared as they careened down the boulevard, chased by maniacs. "I had a feeling today would be a good one. If we survive this, it'll get even better. There's free wings at the strip club tonight," Tony said, slapping Harry on the back.
Harry chuckled, and the car jumped the curb again. They were outpacing the SUV, but not by much. There was simply too much traffic to make use of the car's insane speed. Every time they thought they'd lost it, the black beast would rear up in the rearview.
"Jesus," Harry said. "Why do these guys have such a hard-on for you? Did you sleep with their sisters or something?"
Tony smirked. "It's a very real possibility."
The chase roared through another intersection. Pedestrians dove for cover. Harry jerked the wheel, and the car nearly took out a minivan.
The first gunman leaned out the window and opened fire. The back of the car was peppered, and a round whizzed past Harry's head and punched a hole straight through the windshield. Tony reclined his seat to avoid catching a stray shot.
Harry floored it, and the car bounded forward, its engine wailing. He zigzagged down another alley, nearly clipping a dumpster. The SUV gave chase, crunching over loose garbage and flattening a row of blue recycling bins. At the next intersection, Harry pulled a hard right. The Ferrari fishtailed but gripped the asphalt.
Tony peeked over the dashboard. "The police response in this part of town is usually pretty fast. We just have to stay alive until then."
"I'm open to suggestions," Harry said, his hands welded to the wheel.
"Just keep driving like a lunatic and don't get stuck behind traffic," Tony said. "And try not to get shot," he added, scooching down a bit lower.
"Excellent advice, as always," Harry sarcastically stated.
The chase shot down two more city blocks, weaving through traffic. The SUV's driver was either a former stuntman or completely deranged. Every so often, bullets would ping off the Ferrari's battered panels. Harry caught sight of a red light and braced himself. He punched the gas and shot through, barely missing a tourist-packed bus.
"Nice," Tony said. "I give that a nine out of ten."
The next volley of gunfire was more precise. The rear tire blew, and the Ferrari bucked and shuddered. Harry compensated and kept it straight, but the steering was shot. The SUV drew up beside them with its windows down, and the business end of a machine gun poked through. Tony rolled his own window down and flipped the attackers off.
"Subtle," Harry said.
"When am I anything but?" Tony smirked and rolled the window back up.
The SUV jerked closer until metal scraped metal. Harry let off the gas, then hammered the brakes. The Ferrari lurched, and the SUV overshot them. Harry swerved, sideswiped a parked BMW, then spun the wheel hard to the left.
The F430 caught the SUV's bumper and nudged it. At ninety miles an hour, this was enough to send both cars into a death spiral. Their world went sideways, then upside down. Harry caught a flash of Tony's grin before the car rolled three times, then miraculously landed upright. The engine coughed and died.
The SUV was less lucky. It careened into a telephone pole, crumpling the front end. The gunmen staggered out, dazed and bleeding. Their weapons were still in hand.
Harry kicked open his door. His leg buckled, and he stumbled, blinking away the daze. His mouth tasted like blood, and his shoulder ached. Tony groaned, climbed out the other side, and pointed at the would-be kidnappers. "Do you want to handle this, or should I?"
"And what are you going to do to them … blab them to death?" Harry snorted. Tony rolled his eyes and pointed.
"Just do it, dumbass," he said.
Harry lazily flicked his wand and sent three red jets in quick succession. The first gunman went down like a sack of potatoes. The second tried to duck behind the SUV, but the stunner caught him right in the face. The third managed two steps before collapsing face-first onto the sidewalk.
Tony surveyed the carnage. "That was one hell of a move you pulled. It really saved our bacon." Harry nodded his head, wiped blood from his eyebrow, and limped over to the car. Sirens howled in the distance. Tony dusted the glass off his jacket and whistled. "I give that a ten."
The cops arrived with a flash of guns and a lot of shouting. They had the good sense to recognize Tony and Harry on sight. Within minutes, the entire situation was reduced to paperwork, blurry cell phone videos, and a couple of ruined vehicles. The gunmen were loaded onto stretchers.
One cop came up, pad in hand, and asked, "You want to explain what happened?" Tony and Harry looked at each other and chuckled.
After more than an hour of giving statements, Tony and Harry limped back to the Ferrari, which was technically still drivable. The hood was gone, the front bumper hung on by a thread, and every panel had at least one bullet hole. Tony asked, "You still want to buy it? I'll get you a good deal."
Harry chuckled and shook his head. "I think I'll pass."
They drove it back to the dealership, or at least what was left of it. The parking lot was full of employees craning their necks, waiting for the test drive to return. It had been nearly two hours, and they were ready to call the cops and report it stolen. The only thing stopping them was the fact that it was their best customer who had taken it. When the Ferrari finally rolled up, scraping the asphalt and dragging sparks, the sales manager looked ready to faint. The engine cut off with a sputter, and steam billowed from the cracked radiator.
Harry untangled himself from the deployed airbag, climbed out, and tossed the keys to the nearest guy. "It was like this when I got it," Harry stated.
Tony added, "And we don't want to hear anything about no dang optional upgrade packages."
The two of them walked away, laughing, and they didn't even notice when the poor sales manager actually did faint.
Metal and Magic
Harry hissed through his teeth as the sting of rubbing alcohol found the open cut above his eyebrow. Natasha had him half-reclined on her living room couch with one hand cradling the back of his skull and the other expertly dabbing at the wound. The living room smelled strongly of the antiseptic, though Natasha herself seemed immune to the chemical smell, as though tending to injured men was a daily occurrence. Considering her job, Harry wouldn't have been surprised if that was a regular thing.
She was dressed in a pair of shorts so small that the bottoms of her luscious butt cheeks hung out. Her chest was covered in a camisole that clung to her body like a second skin. The neckline was quite low, and she put on one hell of a show as she leaned forward to clean his cuts. Her dangling tits produced an incredible valley of cock-hardening flesh. Her bare legs were draped over Harry's lap, pinning him more effectively than any medical restraint. Harry could feel the heat of her thigh beneath the bruised meat of his own, but he wisely kept still as she wielded the cotton ball like a medical expert.
"I can't believe they made me pay for it," Harry said, his voice thick with indignation. The stinging at his brow was almost a welcome distraction from the mounting embarrassment.
Natasha snorted. "You mean the very expensive car you completely totaled?" She looked down at him, her eyes dancing with mirth.
"Yeah," Harry groaned as she continued to clean his scrapes and cuts. "They said their insurance doesn't cover acts of idiocy," he told her.
Natasha chuckled and smirked. "Well, if you wanted to move fast and wreck something, you could have just taken me to bed," she teased.
He grinned, despite the pain, and in retaliation, he let his fingers drift up her outer thigh. He curled his hand around to the back of her knee and tickled gently. Natasha shivered and let out a pleasured gasp. Harry knew that behind her knee was one of her favorite spots. She always got super wet when he played with the delicate skin there. She smacked his hand away with a warning glare. "Not until I'm finished," she told him. Then she set the bottle down on the coffee table, adjusted her position so she was practically straddling Harry, and peered closely at his battered face.
"Let's see the rest," she said, and her hands went to the hem of his shirt. She peeled the fabric up to expose his ribs, where purple and red bruising was already starting to bloom. Natasha whistled. "You are going to look like a Jackson Pollock painting tomorrow."
Harry shrugged, which hurt. "It's worth it if it means I got you playing nurse."
Natasha grinned, leaned in, and kissed him. Her lips were soft and warm against his. Harry let his hands wander again. This time, his hands slid down her slender sides and over her curvy hips. Harry squeezed her possessively.
They were halfway to starting something when Maria walked through the door. The front door swung open, and Harry felt Natasha tense. Her whole body was instantly alert, but she calmed when she saw it was only Maria.
Maria surveyed the scene and raised a brow in a way that made Harry suddenly feel as though he had done something wrong. She wore a conservative black blouse, half-unbuttoned and untucked, and her hair was a bit messy. She had clearly been working hard over at the bottling plant. She carried a briefcase in one hand and a six-pack of beer in the other.
"Oh good," Maria said in a dry voice. "The patient is not only conscious, but also getting to second base."
Natasha rolled her eyes and slid off Harry's lap, sitting next to him instead. "He's a terrible patient," she explained. "Zero pain tolerance."
"You'd wince too if Nurse Butcher here poured alcohol straight into your gaping wounds," Harry grumbled, attempting his best stoic face.
Maria set down the beer and briefcase, then sat on Harry's other side. She glanced at the cut above his eyebrow and frowned. "This isn't superficial. You should get stitches."
Harry shook his head and objected. "Don't worry about it. I've got some stuff at home that'll clear it right up. I would have gone straight there and patched myself up, but Natasha called, and I was already close by," he explained. "It'll take care of it when I get back."
"How about some vodka then? That cures just about everything," Maria joked. Harry chuckled and told her to bring the bottle. Maria asked Natasha to go grab it out of the freezer.
Natasha nodded, but not before blowing Harry a little kiss and smirking as she sauntered away. Harry watched her wide ass bounce from side to side while her exposed booty cheeks jiggled erotically. Maria ignored the display, already focused on dabbing more alcohol onto his cuts.
Harry tried to speak, but Maria cut him off with a raised finger. "I can't believe you let yourself get caught up in a gunfight."
"Technically, it was a kidnapping attempt, not an assassination," Harry told her. "And it was Tony's fault." That was a valid excuse for practically everything.
Maria leveled a glare at him that could have cauterized his wounds. "Even so, you need to be more prepared for situations like that."
He decided it was best not to argue with her. Instead, he just nodded and gently kissed her on the lips. Maria's cheeks heated up, and she leaned in for another. Harry's hands had just begun exploring her thighs when Natasha came back from the kitchen holding three shot glasses and a chilled bottle. "Doctor's orders," she said, pouring a triple round. She handed Harry a glass, then Maria, and took the last for herself. Harry downed his, coughing at the burn in his throat.
The three of them sat around for a few minutes while Harry explained to Maria exactly what had happened. Once Maria was satisfied with his answers, she stood up. "I'll go change," she said, and without another word, she retreated into the bedroom, shutting the door behind her.
Natasha looked at Harry. "For real, though," she said. "You need to be more careful out there. There are some very crazy people in this world."
"No kidding. But you're right. I'll do my best to take the proper precautions," he assured her.
Natasha smiled a little more softly now. She reached up to run her fingers through his hair, finding the least tender spot. "You're a mess, Harry," she said, but there was warmth in her voice. She leaned in, straddled his lap again, and kissed him. The kiss lingered far longer than the last one. Harry let his hands slide up her back again, and she pressed herself against him. Her body heat and lovely scent overwhelmed the smell of antiseptic.
They only broke apart when Maria returned. She was dressed in a sports bra and the smallest pair of panties Harry had ever seen on her. For a brief moment, Harry was stunned by the sight. Maria wasn't shy about her body, but she also wasn't known for casual displays of skin. The way half of her mound and all of her ass were showing was anything but casual.
"I bought these just for you. Do you like them?" she teasingly asked, wiggling her hips slightly, which made her wide, jutting ass jiggle. Harry smiled and nodded.
Natasha slid off Harry and made room as Maria approached. Maria knelt beside him, and her hands were gentle as she inspected his shoulder and then his ribs. She kissed him deeply while Natasha massaged his neck and shoulders. Harry's hand found her inner thigh, and Maria moaned into his mouth. Natashe turned his head and captured his lips in an open-mouthed kiss. The two women took turns sharing his lips, and Harry was very eager to see how this night would end.
Chapter 26
Harry took a deep breath and let the cold garage air fill his lungs. It was a good night to be alive. The cavernous garage beneath Tony's Malibu mansion was lit up brightly, and the new Ferrari F430 sat in the center, its red paint reflecting off the polished concrete floor. Harry ran his hand along the fender, caressing the smoothness of it. It had been delivered that morning, right on schedule. It was a replacement for the Ferrari he and Tony had ruined during the last impromptu kidnapping attempt.
"One car for the price of two," Harry said, admiring the badge. He still had the faintest headache from trying to deal with those idiots at the dealership, but the scent of wax, motor oil, and leather seats was the perfect cure. He wondered if Pepper would approve of him pouring another round of vodka, but then he remembered that she and Tony had gone to Europe for a business trip. They wouldn't be back for several days. Harry had the place to himself.
He circled the car, dragging his fingertips over the glass and carbon fiber. The seat still had that rich, leathery new car smell. He popped the door and dropped into the driver's seat. He closed his eyes and listened to the ticking sounds of the cooling engine.
After a minute, he called out, "Hey, Jarvis."
His response was instant and just a bit smug. "Good evening, Harry. I trust the new Ferrari meets with your approval?"
"Only if it can survive another hit squad. If I crash this one, Tony will probably make me drive a Prius as punishment."
"Noted. Would you like me to install additional security measures? Smoke dispensers, bulletproof glass, or perhaps a short-range missile system?"
Harry snorted. "As fun as that sounds, no. I want you to scan all my books for any references to the Knight Bus. Every single mention." Harry had scanned every single textbook, notebook, and piece of parchment that he had taken from Voldemort. It was all stored in Jarvis's servers.
There was a pause, as if Jarvis had to suppress the urge to scoff. "I have found one hundred and forty-three references to the term 'Knight Bus'. Is there something in particular you are looking for?"
"Enchantment details. I want to know how the bus works. I want to know about the runes, the spells, and everything else. The bus used to squeeze between London traffic, and nobody seemed to notice it. I want to copy that shit for my own use."
"Very well," Jarvis replied. "Please hold while I process the relevant files."
Harry rested his head back and enjoyed the silence. Outside, the Pacific Ocean crashed against the bluffs, and every so often, a distant helicopter thudded by. He could get used to this.
A minute later, Jarvis pinged him. "I have located an entire manual regarding the construction and maintenance of the Knight Bus. Would you like it in PDF or hard copy?"
Harry grinned. "Send the highlights to the screen …" Harry said, pointing at the giant flat screen TV on the garage wall. "... and get the engraver ready to handle the rune clusters. Also, pull up any relevant safety notes."
"Done. I've also sent the files to your phone," he told Harry, and sure enough, a second later, his phone beeped.
"Perfect." Harry rolled out of the car, grabbing his phone as he went. Sure enough, a PDF and a folder of photos waited in his inbox. He scrolled through the annotated runes, reading the messy handwriting with increasing delight. There were diagrams for shock absorption, multi-phase anti-collision arrays, and a section called "Unstoppable Momentum."
"Jarvis, you can handle the laser engraver, and I'll take care of the rune activation and the enchantments."
"Of course, sir. Should I notify Tony that you are beginning experimental modifications?"
"No. I'd rather surprise the git," Harry said. "Just keep this between us."
"Acknowledged," Jarvis replied, his voice neutral but with an undertone of amusement.
As Jarvis began telling him the optimal places for each rune cluster, Harry grabbed a notebook and began taking notes. He grinned, feeling a surge of excitement. "Run a diagnostic on the car," he told Jarvis. "And begin disassembling it."
Jarvis responded instantly. "All systems nominal. I am detecting a slight misalignment localized to the suspension mount. Would you like me to analyze further?"
"Log it for now," Harry said. "We're just getting started."
He crouched beside the car and looked over the PDF. It was a meditative process. He kept the garage music on low. Tony's playlist was heavy on Queen and AC/DC, but Harry didn't mind. He liked the steady beat as he worked. He lost track of time as he flipped through them, making notes.
He called up to Jarvis. "Scan the anti-collision arrays and build me a virtual model. I want to see how the runes will affect the car's frame."
"Modeling complete," Jarvis replied after a moment. "Preliminary analysis suggests that, if successful, the car will be able to warp the space while moving at speed."
Harry pumped his fist. "Just like the Knight Bus."
"There is a significant risk of phasing the occupants into a solid object as well," Jarvis added. "The manual suggests that the original Knight Bus had three fatalities before they perfected the spell."
Harry smirked. "That's what safety notes are for. I'll start with a test run on Tony's lawnmower."
"Should I prepare emergency services in advance?" Jarvis asked.
"Only if you can't fix what I've broken," Harry shot back.
He spent the next hour prepping the garage for his experiment. He rolled the Ferrari onto a hydraulic lift and removed the wheels. Jarvis controlled the team of rolling mechanical arms to start disassembling the car with Harry's help. Harry would load parts onto the laser engraver, and Jarvis would upload the necessary files to engrave the rune sets. Harry noticed that the mechanical arms could load and unload the parts faster, so Harry just stood aside and let them do their work. Every once in a while, there was a bolt or screw that could only be reached by a human hand, and Harry would step in. Jarvis would offer a helpful suggestion when needed. Harry appreciated the company.
When he didn't have much to do, Harry went to work on the tires. He enchanted all four to be heat and fire-resistant, and he made them much more durable. He didn't want them exploding when he inevitably jumped a curb.
By two in the morning, they had most of the car stripped down. He stepped back, wiped the sweat from his brow, and admired his handiwork. There were several huge piles of parts. The largest pile was stacked by the engraver. The arms would continue loading them onto the engraver, where Jarvis would add the required runes.
"Jarvis," he said. "Make sure to engrave the panels and frame with strengthening runes. Also, add anti-vibration and fire suppressant runes if they won't mess with the overall array. I'll test it tomorrow."
"Understood. Good night, Harry."
"Good night, Jarvis … and thanks for the help," Harry replied and headed upstairs while Jarvis and the arms continued to work through the night. He couldn't wait to test the car when it was finished.
Metal and Magic
The next morning, Harry was back in the garage by sunrise, fueled by coffee and excitement. He wore Tony's spare overalls, which were too short, too tight, and bore the faded Stark Industries logo. The F430 sat on the lift, stripped to the frame. The wheels, seats, and most of the panels lay scattered across the workspace. The engine lay in hundreds of pieces. It looked less like a garage and more like a chop shop.
Harry sighed. There was so much that needed to be done. All he could do was carry on, knowing the end result would be well worth it. Harry started with the engine. Each part had been laser-engraved with various runic patterns. All Harry needed to do was activate each one. On Jarvis's orders, he activated the one he needed to. Some would only be activated once the entire engine had been reassembled. He trusted Jarvis to know what he was talking about, because Harry surely didn't. It took hours to get the engine back together.
"The next step is to power up the runic core," Harry said.
"Caution, Harry," Jarvis replied. "This will void your warranty."
"I'm surprised they even gave me one after what happened."
"Technically, they did not. I leveraged Mr. Stark's reputation to secure the dealer's best promotional coverage. The manager sounded less than pleased."
Harry snickered and shook his head. "It sucks to be him. Let's get this thing humming."
He levitated the engine block onto the bench, read the instructions that Jarvis had provided, and started enchanting. There was a subtle resistance in the air as the magic took hold. A shimmer passed over the metal, and the runes pulsed faintly. Harry muttered a quick binding spell and felt the car's essence bend and lock into place.
"Not bad," Harry said. He ran his hands over the engine and felt the enchantments vibrating with power. Meanwhile, Jarvis was testing the new laser engraver Harry had ordered. It had been delivered while he was still sleeping. The engraver was set into the end of a mechanical arm, and it could be rolled into place using a remote. Jarvis had overridden the signal, and he was now controlling it directly. The arm wasn't nearly as big as the ones used to take the car apart, but it didn't need to be.
Jarvis brought the new laser over to the next component, which was a set of custom shock absorbers Tony had ordered for his Ferrari. Harry, of course, had no problem helping himself to them. "I am calibrating the alignment based on the original specs," Jarvis announced. "The car will continue to sit low."
Harry thought it over. "That's fine. The anti-collision runes should take care of any unnecessary bumps."
"Understood. I have also identified several weaknesses in the frame that may interfere with the enchantment. Shall I flag them for later?"
"Yeah, do it."
The engraver went to work, etching runes into the steel. The smell of burned metal quickly filled the garage. A second later, Jarvis activated the hood fans to suck up all the nasty smoke and fumes. Harry liked the way it all came together. It was a strange blend of wizardry and mechanical genius. He wondered if Tony would ever understand the thrill of mixing magic and science. Probably not, but Harry didn't really care.
Jarvis finished the shocks and moved on to the drive shaft. "We will need a secondary button panel to activate the enchantments you desire, Harry," Jarvis said. "I have scoured the internet and found a suitable replacement. I have already ordered it and paid the premium for overnight shipping. It is scheduled to arrive later today."
Harry stopped what he was doing and turned to the ceiling, looking directly at Jarvis's camera. "Did you charge it to Tony's account?"
"Of course, sir."
Harry grinned. "Excellent."
He went back to work, humming to himself. The day passed in a blur. At one point, he accidentally zapped himself with a miscast spell, and the screwdriver in his hand fused to a wrench. It took him ten minutes to separate the tools. Jarvis was no help at all, except to suggest that he try hitting them together at a specific angle.
By noon, Harry had most of the runes installed. The engine, suspension, and chassis were all marked and enchanted. He reassembled the car with Jarvis's and the arms' help. Jarvis coordinated the pneumatic tools, torque settings, and the sequencing of bolts, making the whole process weirdly satisfying.
As they finished up, Jarvis said, "The button panel will arrive before six p.m. Would you like to schedule a test drive for tonight?"
"Absolutely," Harry said.
"In that case, I shall run the necessary diagnostics and make sure the car is in perfect working order."
He stepped back to admire the F430. It looked almost normal, but if you looked closely, you would see that the seams and panels were lined with faintly shimmering runes. Harry pressed the ignition. The engine caught with a throaty growl, then settled into a low, menacing idle.
"Systems check," Jarvis said. "All readings are green. The runic arrays are harmonized and ready for activation."
Harry couldn't stop grinning. "Load the Knight Bus protocols." Jarvis had had to write custom firmware for the Ferrari's computer system to keep it from going haywire.
"Protocol loaded," Jarvis said. "Awaiting input."
Harry placed his hand on the wheel. "This is going to be fun."
He turned off the ignition and went upstairs to shower and eat. He had skipped lunch, and his stomach was already growling.
When he came back down, there was a box waiting for him. Inside was the secondary button panel. It was sleek, aluminum, and loaded with switches. Jarvis had even printed labels for each one. There was PHASE, INVISIBLE, FLIGHT, and EMERGENCY.
He installed the panel in the dash, wiring it in with only a small amount of swearing. The car was ready. He stared at the panel for a minute, then pressed the "PHASE" button. Nothing happened, but he had a feeling it would work.
"Jarvis," he said, "Are you ready to go for a spin?" Harry had installed a dashcam with a connected satellite modem and antenna so Jarvis could stay connected to the car.
"Indeed, I am, Harry."
He couldn't wait to see what kind of trouble he'd get into.
Metal and Magic
Two days later, the sun shone brightly, and the Pacific wind blew in strong enough to knock over Harry's bucket of soapy water three times. He didn't care. He was too busy buffing the Ferrari's hood, turning slow circles with a chamois, and admiring the way the red paint glowed in the sunlight. Harry's jeans were splotched with water droplets, and he didn't even notice the cold. He was grinning like a lunatic.
He finished with the hood and moved on to the windshield, spraying it with a citrus cleaner and then wiping it down with another clean rag. The car was perfect. He'd washed it all by hand. He even used Tony's toothbrush to get the brake dust out of the wheel spokes.
Harry heard the crunch of gravel behind him. He turned to see a black Mercedes creeping up the driveway. The Mercedes rolled to a stop, and Tony got out of the back, still wearing a sharp blazer and sunglasses. His hair was a disaster. He had a bag slung over one shoulder and the look of a man who hadn't slept since he left.
The driver popped the trunk and pulled out three bags, all of them Louis Vuitton and all of them full to bursting. Tony ignored the luggage and walked straight up to Harry.
"Look at you," Tony said, squinting at the car. "You've gone full dad-mode. Pretty soon, you'll be yelling at kids to get off your lawn."
Harry buffed a final streak from the roof and straightened up. "Welcome home. How was Europe?"
"Boring. Pepper dragged me to seventeen meetings, and I had to eat escargot at two in the morning. The French are insane. Also, the girls in Paris? Wild. They do stuff the British girls only dream about."
Harry grinned. "Did you learn anything?"
"Yeah. Don't say 'anything goes' while you're bent over." Tony circled the car, running his hand along the roof. He stopped at the rear, crouched down to inspect the exhaust, and then flicked the spoiler with his finger. "She's a beauty. I'm glad to see you took my advice, and you're finally living above your means."
Harry leaned on the roof, arms crossed. "You want to go for a ride and test her out?"
"Does a French girl stick her finger in places where it definitely doesn't belong?" Tony smirked and dropped his bag. He walked around to the passenger side.
Harry opened the driver's door and dropped into the seat. He ran his hands over the wheel, then poked at the button panel. Tony whistled when he saw the new switches. "You've been busy, haven't you?"
Harry shrugged. "I had to fill the time somehow."
Tony grinned, and Harry started the engine. It roared to life before settling into a rumbling purr. "Hurry up! Let's take her for a spin," Tony said. Harry smirked, checked the mirrors, and backed the Ferrari out onto the road.
Metal and Magic
The first few minutes of the drive were pretty standard. Harry showed off, gunning the engine and taking corners at terrifying speeds. Tony watched him with a lazy grin, happy to be home. They tore down the Pacific Coast Highway, weaving between SUVs and delivery vans. Harry handled the car like he'd been born with a steering wheel in his hand.
They hit the city limits, and the traffic thickened. The Ferrari snarled through the gears, jumping from lane to lane. Harry enjoyed the sense of danger, but he was waiting for the moment when he could really show off.
"Watch this," Harry said, stomping the gas.
The car surged forward, pinning both of them to the seats. The speedometer soared. Up ahead, the road narrowed, and the sea of brake lights grew dense. Cars were bumper-to-bumper as far as the eye could see.
"You may want to slow down," Tony said, glancing at Harry.
Harry smirked. "Why would I do that?"
The Ferrari barreled toward the traffic at ninety miles per hour. Tony's eyes went wide. "Jesus, Harry, there's nowhere to go!"
Harry didn't even flinch. "It's fine. Just hold on."
Tony raised both hands in surrender, then grabbed the dash as the wall of traffic approached. At the last possible second, Harry mashed a button on the secondary panel. The runes in the dash glowed blue. " Tony squealed like a frightened girl.
The world blurred. The traffic didn't part so much as stretch, the cars on either side of them compressing into cartoonishly narrow shapes. The Ferrari slipped between two delivery trucks with just millimeters to spare … only the "spare" didn't really exist. It was as if the universe briefly squished the car, and then let it spring back to normal on the other side.
Tony let out a cry of relief. "Holy shit!"
Harry chuckled, and the car zipped between a concrete divider and a school bus, squeezing in a gap so tight it should have peeled off both mirrors. The bus driver never even looked up.
Tony watched in complete wonder. "This is insane. Do you realize what you've made here?"
Harry grinned, his hands loose on the wheel. "It gets better. Try the 'INVISIBLE' button."
Tony pressed the switch. The world outside seemed to lose a bit of its saturation, and the Ferrari's own reflection vanished from every nearby window. The only thing visible was the faint outline of the windshield and the ghostly shimmer of the runes. Every other driver on the road carried on, oblivious.
"They can't see us?" Tony asked, incredulous.
"Nope," Harry said. "To them, we're just air."
Tony giggled like a schoolboy. "I want three. No, four."
Harry laughed and shook his head. "You're like an annoying brat on Christmas day."
Tony grinned. "What does 'EMERGENCY' do?" Without waiting for an answer, Tony jammed on the button. He flinched hard when a sonic boom cracked through the air. Out of the rear view mirror, Tony saw flames shooting out of the back of the car. The car suddenly began picking up an insane amount of speed. Within seconds, Tony's head was being jammed into the headrest, and when he saw his reflection in the mirror, he yelped. His skin was being pulled back by the force of the acceleration. His lips were stretched aside, exposing his gums, and his eyelids were pulled down so far that he could see the pink underneath his eyeballs. Thankfully, Harry turned off the switch and laughed.
"That's for a quick getaway," Harry explained the obvious.
"No shit," Tony answered, breathing heavily.
Harry pressed the final button. There was a deep, vibrating hum, and the car began to rise off the ground. Tony blinked, then looked down at the ground through his window. It was quickly pulling away from them.
"You've got to be shitting me," Tony said, but he was delighted.
Harry had obviously taken inspiration from Arthur Weasley's old Ford Anglia. He hit the gas, and the car floated above the road, skipping over the lanes while rising as gently as a feather in the breeze. Tony rolled down the window and stuck his hand out, feeling for invisible wires or something. He looked at Harry and started to laugh hysterically.
"You absolute madman," Tony said. "If the DMV ever figures out what you did to this car, they'll lock us up for life."
"I don't plan on informing them," Harry chuckled. He spun the wheel, and the Ferrari floated up and over a cluster of semi-trucks.
For the next half hour, they zipped around Los Angeles in a car that bent the laws of physics. Harry flew between skyscrapers and even hovered right above a moving police car. The best part was that no one noticed. The city carried on, completely oblivious to what was going on above them.
Metal and Magic
They landed the Ferrari in front of the mansion just as the sun started to dip. Harry felt a weird sense of pride as he killed the ignition.
Tony got out first, slammed the door, and spun around with arms wide. "That was incredible! I need a whole fleet of these. We'll start a dealership. Stark and Potter's Flying Sports Cars." He kept laughing as he paced the driveway. He looked at the car, and then back at Harry. "You're a genius. I mean it."
Harry got out, rolled his shoulders, and stretched his sore legs. The Ferrari's interior wasn't exactly spacious. He was already making plans to fix that oversight. "It took Jarvis and me three days to get those runes right. I don't think I have the energy to make a whole fleet of these things."
Tony waved him off. "I'll settle for one. Also, I'm buying a McLaren. You'll have it by Monday."
Harry groaned. "Why do you even need a McLaren if we already have this?"
Tony grinned. "It's not about need, it's about want. You get that, right?"
Harry shook his head but smiled anyway. He followed Tony inside, and they crashed in the living room, beers in hand and feet up on the coffee table.
"Do you think we'll be spotted if we fly over Area 51?" Tony suddenly asked.
Harry rolled his eyes but smiled regardless. "We can try, but you're driving. Just so you know, I'm apparating away and leaving you behind the moment the missiles start flying."
Tony laughed. "I wouldn't have it any other way."
As the sun set, the two of them sat there, plotting the next big thing. The world had no idea what was coming.
Chapter 27
Harry practically knew Natasha and Maria's living room better than his own. He spent more time there than he did at the mansion. He had slumped onto the couch cushions that were already molded by his ass, and the glow of the TV flickered over everything in the small living room. Maria sat pressed against his right with a pillow tucked neatly behind her back, and her bare legs were draped over his thighs. Her shorts were so short and tight that they were nearly swallowed by her pussy, and her camisole was so thin that Harry could see the stiff tips of her nipples. Natasha was on his left with her arms crossed behind her head, practically melting into the couch. Her tank top barely covered the top curve of her breasts, and the crotch of her black thong did nothing to hide the shape of her plump pussy lips.
They were supposed to be watching a show about criminals, lawyers, and double-crossings, but he was distracted by the two sexy bodies on either side of him. Harry's hands were caressing their inner thighs, and neither woman did anything to stop him. He drew lazy circles on the inside of Maria's left thigh, inching higher each time. Maria's lips parted, and she let out a slow, shaky breath. She shifted her weight so his finger nestled against the edge of her shorts.
On his other side, Natasha watched with a lazy smirk as if she knew what would happen and was happy to let it play out. Harry's left palm grazed her knee, and she didn't move. Harry slid his hand up to the crease of her leg, and Natasha let her knees fall open.
He thought Maria might protest, but instead she squirmed closer. He slipped his hand higher, his fingers brushing the hemline of Maria's shorts. She sucked in a sharp breath and pressed her wrist against her mouth, her eyes darting from Harry's face to Natasha's, like she was embarrassed to be in this position. Natasha, with much more confidence, uncrossed her arms and flicked the TV off with the remote. The sudden silence snapped the tension in the room. Maria exhaled and let her head drop against Harry's shoulder. Natasha reached for Harry's left hand and casually guided it higher up her thigh, all while keeping her gaze pointedly fixed on Maria.
Harry's hand was halfway underneath Maria's shorts, and the tips of his fingers grazed the smooth skin of her mound. Maria twisted away at the last second, trapping his arm between her thighs.
"Not in front of Natasha," she said, but her eyes were glassy, and she made no move to extricate his hand.
Natasha smirked teasingly. "I don't mind," she said. "Unless you're scared."
As if to take a jab at Maria, Natasha grabbed Harry's wrist and pulled his hand up between her thighs. She then shoved his fingers down the front of her black thong. Her mound was warm and soft, and Harry could feel the way her lips yielded to his fingers. Natasha bucked her hips, grinding herself lazily against his hand. Her eyes rolled back as she tried to force his fingers deeper inside her panties. She reached down and palmed her own breast without breaking eye contact with Maria, who stared back in open-mouthed disbelief. Natasha pinched her nipple through her thin tank top and moaned quietly. Harry's fingertips slid along the length of her slit, and he teased her entrance until she started to tremble and gasp.
Maria watched all of this in stunned silence at first, but her expression shifted quickly from embarrassment to irritation, like she was tired of always being the one to act like an adult. She elbowed Harry, hard enough that he yanked his hand back from Natasha's pussy, but Natasha only laughed and let her legs fall open wider. Maria straightened her spine and jerked her own shorts higher up her thighs, as if daring him to touch her too.
Harry got the message. He reached over and cupped Maria's bare knee, then stroked up her leg until his hand disappeared under the hem of her shorts. Maria's skin was very soft and sensitive. The first brush of his fingers against her lips made her gasp, but this time she didn't pull away or hide her face. Instead, she hooked her ankle around his and shifted her hips to give him more access. Harry could feel the heat coming off her. Her pussy was fever-hot and sticky, and he could tell how horny she was by the way she squeezed her thighs around his arm.
Natasha smirked and watched the whole thing unfold. "You want him to touch you, don't you?" she said, her voice throaty as she pressed her own hand harder against her panty-covered pussy. "Just let it happen, Maria. It's better that way."
Maria shot her a glare and opened her mouth as if to argue, but then Harry's finger slid along the length of her slit, and her protest melted into a ragged gasp. He explored the gentle curve of her lips, then pressed in until he found the source of the slippery dampness. Maria shuddered and dug her fingers into the couch.
Natasha scooted closer, draping her leg over Harry's knee and planting her heel on the edge of the coffee table. She leaned into his shoulder and whispered, "Go ahead, Harry. Make the bitch moan." Then she licked his earlobe and palmed the bulge in his crotch.
Maria tried to act unfazed, but her whole body was tense, and her thighs quivered every time Harry's fingers made contact. He hooked his thumb over the waistband of her shorts and tugged it lower, just enough to see her puffy, hairless mound and the pink, needy lips beneath.
Natasha turned her attention to Maria, her voice soft and teasing. "You always pretend you're so innocent, but you're soaking wet," she said. "Why don't you show him what you really want?"
Maria hesitated, but then she reached down and peeled her shorts down to mid-thigh. Her pussy glistened with arousal, and Harry could see how much she wanted this. Harry grabbed her shorts and pulled them all the way down. He pulled them from her bare feet and tossed them across the room. She wouldn't be needing them tonight. He slid his hand back between her legs, this time using two fingers to spread her open and stroke her clit. Maria made a sound somewhere between a whimper and a laugh.
Harry folded his arms under Maria's knees and lifted her legs. He then eased her back until she was lying flat along the length of the couch. He tucked her calves over his thighs to keep them open. Maria let out a nervous laugh and twisted her body, but every movement only brought more attention to her pussy, which was sticky and shiny with her own wetness.
Natasha climbed behind Harry and hugged his waist, and her breasts pressed against his back. She rested her chin on his shoulder and looked down between Maria's legs, her eyes hungry and calculating. She wrapped one hand around Harry's chest like she was trying to keep him for herself, and her other arm snaked down along his bicep until her fingers grazed Maria's inner thigh.
Maria instinctively tried to cover herself, and she clapped both hands over her mound. But Harry gently pried her hands away and pinned her wrists back against the cushion. "C'mon, let her see," he teased, glancing over his shoulder at Natasha. Maria blushed a deep red and squeezed her lips together, but she didn't fight him. Instead, she turned her face into the pillow and let him spread her legs wider.
Natasha grinned and ran her nails over the soft skin just above Maria's slit. "You're such a tease, Maria," she said. "Always pretending you don't want attention." Her fingers drew slow patterns along Maria's thighs, never quite touching her pussy but always coming close. Harry watched them both, and his pulse raced as the two women stared each other down. Maria squirmed, and her hips jerked involuntarily every time Natasha's nails got close to her clit.
"Stop looking at me like that," Maria mumbled into the cushion, but her voice was weak.
Natasha laughed and moved her gaze to Harry. "She's pretending she hates it, but I'm pretty sure she likes it." She let her hand drift higher, and she pushed her thigh aside even more. Maria's pussy was completely exposed. Her pink labia were puffed and glistening, and her pink, swollen clit stood stiff and proud.
"She's so sexy, isn't she?" Harry said. He reached out and cupped her pussy in his palm, rubbing two fingers along the length of her slit. Maria moaned into the pillow and arched her back until her ass lifted off the couch.
Natasha snuck her hand past Harry's and pressed her fingers against Maria's mound. She spread Maria open with two fingers, framing her clit, then bent down to inspect her handiwork. "You look so good like this," Natasha whispered, soft enough that only Harry and Maria could hear. She rolled Maria's clit between her thumb and knuckle, and Maria whimpered. Her whole body shivered, and she writhed on the couch in embarrassment and pleasure.
Harry pulled Maria's wrists higher above her head, stretching her body out so every inch of her was visible. Natasha turned his face and kissed him on the mouth, then reached down and slid one finger into Maria's pussy. Maria gasped and clenched her legs together, but Harry gently pushed her legs back open as Natasha kept fingering her slowly.
Maria's face was flushed, and her breath came in quick, ragged bursts. "Harry?" she begged, but she was already bucking her hips against Natasha's hand.
Natasha smirked. "You like it, don't you?" She curled her finger, then added a second, pressing deeper inside. Maria's pussy clenched around her fingers, and Natasha teased her clit with her thumb while Harry watched, mesmerized by the erotic sight.
Natasha shifted and propped herself up on one knee. Her black thong stretched tight across her pussy as she leaned further over Maria's body. She started fingering Maria faster, and her hand moved in smooth, expert motions. Maria's moans grew louder, and she twisted against the couch, her whole body tense as she tried to ride out the pleasurable sensation.
The scene was something Harry would never forget. Maria's embarrassment had melted into lust, and Natasha was loving every second of her control. Harry just watched as the two women played out their complicated game.
Maria's cries started low and uncertain, but then built until her voice was a high, desperate squeal. Her back arched off the couch, pushing her pussy up toward Natasha's hand, and her whole body trembled with the effort of holding back the orgasm that threatened to tear through her. Harry watched as Natasha's fingers worked in and out of Maria's slick entrance. Her fingers were buried to the third knuckle and moving in a rhythm so fast that Maria could hardly catch her breath between moans.
"Ah … I'm gonna … Oh!" Maria started, but the words came out slurred, and her thighs locked tight around Natasha's wrist.
But Natasha wasn't interested in mercy. She kept up her relentless fingering, curling her fingers up inside Maria while her thumb worked rapid circles over Maria's clit. The sound of Maria's pussy was wet, obscene, and needy, and it filled the room, louder than any of their voices. Maria's face screwed up in desperation, and she looked up at Harry as if he would save her from Natasha's relentless onslaught, but he only grinned and gently rubbed Natasha's shoulder to encourage her.
Maria finally broke. Her cry rose to a shriek, and her whole body bucked against Natasha's hand. However, just as she reached the point of no return, Natasha abruptly pulled her fingers out, leaving Maria teetering on the edge of orgasm with nothing to push her over. Maria's hips stuttered as she tried to reach her orgasm, but Natasha just wiped her hand on Maria's thigh and stood up, a sly smile on her full, pink lips.
"What the fuck?" Maria gasped breathlessly, her face red and her hair stuck to her forehead. "You can't just leave me on the edge and …"
Natasha cut her off. She stretched her arms overhead, got to her feet, and stalked toward the hallway, the motion making her breasts bounce under the white tank top. She paused at the threshold, then peeled the top over her head with one smooth motion, flipping her hair as she bared her chest to both of them. Her nipples were stiff and pink, and her pale skin seemed to shimmer in the light. She let the shirt fall to the floor, then hooked her thumbs in her panties and shimmied them down her thighs, never breaking eye contact with Maria.
"You both are welcome to join me in my bedroom." She stepped out of her panties, flicked them into the living room with her foot, then disappeared into the darker hallway.
Maria lay panting on the couch, her pussy aching and sticky. Her body was still shaking from the orgasm that had almost, but not quite, happened. She glared at Harry, but there was no real malice in it. "Are you going to help me, or just stand there like an idiot?" she demanded.
Harry didn't answer. He leaned over and kissed Maria on the mouth, tasting her sweet lips, and he slid his hand between her legs to stroke her. Maria shivered against his palm and grabbed his wrist to force him deeper. Harry fingered her slowly, circling her clit with his thumb. He watched her beautiful face as her hips began to rock again, chasing the climax that Natasha had denied her.
Maria startled herself by letting out a shaky giggle. "This is so fucked up," she said, but she didn't tell him to stop.
"Isn't it what you wanted?" Harry asked, grinning. "You and Natasha did want to work on me together, if I remember correctly."
"Oh my god, shut up," Maria muttered, and grabbed at his shirt, trying to pull him closer. He helped her by twisting out of his T-shirt and then yanking it off over his head. Maria's fingers fumbled with the button of his jeans, but her hands shook enough that Harry had to do it himself. Once his jeans hit the floor, Maria reached for his boxers, but Harry caught her by the wrist and held her hand still.
He searched her face, looking for some sign that she wanted to slow down. Maria only looked back, her eyes glassy and determined. She bit her lip, squirmed beneath him, and then rolled over and pushed herself up on her elbows. She started to kneel, but Harry grabbed her waist and guided her up. He scooped her into his arms with a suddenness that made her yelp. He hoisted her up and slung her across his shoulder, her bare ass in full view, and Maria squealed in shock.
"We're not actually doing this caveman shit, are we?" Maria protested, but she was giggling even as she kicked her feet in fake protest.
"Harry want snu snu," he said in his best caveman voice, and he smacked her on the ass, making it jiggle. The sharp sound echoed in the apartment, and Maria gasped, then started giggling harder.
He carried her down the short hallway, her legs kicking weakly, and shouldered open the door to Natasha's bedroom. The room was lit only by a soft lamp on the nightstand, giving the walls a soft glow. Natasha was already sprawled on the bed, one leg crossed over the other, her arms folded under her head. She watched them with that same sly smile, and her breasts rose and fell with quick, excited breaths. She was totally naked and completely unself-conscious, and her long hair spread out on the pillow like a fan.
Harry set Maria down on the edge of the bed and let her legs dangle for a moment. He grabbed the hem of her camisole and pulled it up and over her head, leaving her chest bare for them to see. He gently pushed her backward, so she landed on the mattress. Maria immediately pulled her arms over her chest, as if she was only now realizing how exposed she was. She sat up awkwardly and crossed her legs, hiding her wet pussy from view. She glanced around the room, taking in the details. The black sheets on the bed were rumpled, the nightstand was cluttered, and the faint scent of perfume clung to everything. The room was smaller and more intimate than the living room, and the way Natasha stretched herself across the bed made it clear whose territory this was.
Natasha teased them by spreading her legs and patting the space beside her. "Come on, Maria. Don't be shy," she purred. "You're already halfway there."
Maria stayed near the edge of the bed, her arms folded across her bare chest and her knees drawn up almost protectively. She watched Natasha reclining in the center of the mattress, stretched out with the assurance of a queen in her own domain. Harry hovered at the threshold, caught between the two, his eyes darting between Natasha's open invitation and Maria's hunched indecision. The room was filled with silence, each of them waiting for someone else to make the next move.
Maria's thoughts were all over the place. She barely knew Natasha, and she definitely didn't consider her a friend. Natasha was bold in ways Maria could never manage, and Maria was painfully aware of her own hesitance. The safe move would be to grab her shirt, mumble an apology, and retreat to the living room. But that would mean leaving Harry alone with Natasha, and the thought felt like swallowing a mouthful of sour milk. Maria knew Natasha would waste no time, and Harry wouldn't exactly resist.
She could feel Harry behind her, close enough that his breath stirred the fine hairs at the nape of her neck. Maria shivered and shifted, not sure what to do with her hands. Natasha's sly smile only grew wider, and she patted the empty spot on the bed again, this time with an edge of impatience. "It'll be more fun if you join us, Maria. Unless you're too much of a prude?"
That last part stung. Maria considered her options with a cold, logical clarity. If she left, she'd regret it. If she stayed, she'd be in direct competition with Natasha. She weighed her pride against her curiosity, her jealousy against her horniness, and came up even. She inhaled slowly and exhaled deeply. She then let her arms fall to her sides and crawled slowly over the rumpled sheets.
Natasha caught Maria's wrist and tugged her closer, until their faces were only inches apart. Maria could smell the perfume on Natasha's skin. Natasha let go and tucked a stray lock of hair behind Maria's ear, her fingers trailing down Maria's jaw. "See? That wasn't so hard," she teased, and ran her palm down Maria's bare shoulder, past the soft slope of her breast.
Harry watched the two women with wide, hungry eyes. Maria tried not to notice his stare, but she could feel it like a sunbeam against her skin. She looked down at the sheets, her cheeks burning, but Natasha didn't give her time to get embarrassed. Natasha leaned in and kissed Maria. Her tongue slipped past Maria's lips with casual expertise. Maria froze for a second before opening her mouth, her body loosening under Natasha's touch.
Harry shifted his weight, and Maria glanced over to see him stroking his cock, his gaze fixed on their kiss. It seemed like he couldn't believe what he was seeing. Natasha broke the kiss and shot him a look. "Are you just going to watch?" she teased in an aroused voice.
Harry grinned and scooted closer. He reached for Maria's hand and squeezed it, then moved to Natasha's thigh, stroking up and down the length of it. Natasha guided Maria's hand to Harry's erection, and Maria didn't resist. She curled her fingers around him, feeling the heat and weight of it. Harry's breath hitched, and Maria found herself grinning despite her slight panic.
Natasha slid her hand between Maria's thighs and stroked her pussy while Maria stroked Harry's cock in time. Maria's heartbeat thudded in her ears, but the awkwardness quickly faded. Natasha kissed her again, then kissed Harry.
It became a blur of hands and mouths. Maria let herself get pulled under, losing herself to the pleasure while letting Natasha direct the action. Her legs were spread by a pair of strong hands, and Maria looked down only to see Harry's face disappearing between her thighs. After the first lick, Maria felt her self-consciousness burning away, replaced by the raw fire of desire.