[ASTRID REESE]
London, England

★ ★ ★

Hot water cascaded down the back of Astrid's hands. The same hands that covered her face, the grin that seemed to find a permanent spot there. Blood heated her cheeks until her skin felt like it physically prickled. The longer she stood beneath the wide shower head, the wetter her hair got but she didn't mind it.

Water filled her ears as she turned her head and brushed her fingers through the knots in her hair. Knots that Harry's fingers wove in there from the tight grip he kept there. To pull her backwards and keep her steady as his knee nudged between her legs and spread them wider. Just as he eased himself closer to her, teasing up her heated sex until she physically couldn't take it so she pushed herself back onto him. That's when his hand flexed into a fist, hair tightened between the crevices.

Astrid shuddered at the recent memory. Both of her knees remained weak and were about to give in. The tingle between her thighs, the soreness that burned so deliciously, made it hard to clear her head. At some point, she thought her heart would burst out of its cave because it felt impossible to not think of the way Harry owned her body not even ten minutes ago.

The glass shower door ripped open, a sudden gust of chilliness washing over Reese's overheated body. Given that it had only been two of them in the house, it didn't surprise her when Harry pressed himself flush against her, fitting like a puzzle piece. It left Astrid breathless, her jaw dropping slightly as her body melted into him. Those strong arms that held her up for the past two hours were now cradling her like she could break at any moment.

Soft trails of kisses led him closer to her ear, feather-like touches ghosting over her soft stomach. If his gentleness aimed to relax her, it did all but that. The blood scorching in her veins needed the environment to erupt, not be tamed. Not after the most amazing sex of her life.

Perhaps it was that thought encouraging her to move his touch elsewhere—closer to the part of her body that needed him. Astrid's head fell back onto his shoulder, her eyes closed as the water sprayed on her front. Her touch on Harry's wrist was comfortable yet still in control as she hovered his palm over her skin as if to tease herself and he allowed it. He allowed it as she touched herself with his hand, slowly but deliberately.

The ragged breath coming from Harry's throat made Astrid's heart skip a beat, and shudder. Goosebumps rose on every part of her skin while she parted her legs more, careful not to slip. Dizziness kept her on lockdown, stars sparkling before her dark lids. The soft pads of his fingers brushed through her wet core with ease, with familiarity, with confidence, and she melted into nothing as a satisfied moan trinkled out of her throat, her hips bucking against his hand.

"That's it, honey," he rasped.

"Harry," she exhaled, chest tight with anticipation. Burning sensation warmed her lower belly, building and consistent. "Fuck..." she whimpered as the arm she held onto moved up over her skin, slowly, sensually, with desperate need to squeeze the air from her lungs until that warm hand of his engulfed one of her soft, tender breasts. "Harry," she sighed his name once more, sounding through the warm bathroom. Harry rolled her erect nipple between his fingers and Astrid gasped for air, quietly, before he applied pressure to the sensitive bud and her knees began to wobble.

Through barely open eyelids, Astrid caught sight of the dark grey shower tiles bubbling with water. One moment she stood, the next moment her heated skin connected with the cool seat of the shower. A gasp filtered through the sound of water hitting the unoccupied area as Harry lowered to his knees before her.

"What..." she started out, chest heaving. Softly, her eyes widened when his strong hands grasped her ankles and lifted one of her legs. Harry looked right at her, gaze filled with lust and longing, and his lips trailed up from her ankle to the inside of her knee. Every breath Astrid wanted to take felt like breathing down fire. While she rested on her hands, she felt the need to lower to her elbows, the sensation of his lips inching closer and closer to the apex of her thighs but never quite landing, making her all the weaker.

"Eyes on me," he said—rumbled. The sound ebbed from his chest like it was sandpaper. Every single inch of her skin shivered, goosebumps covering her in an instant. The command so clear and easy yet difficult to keep to when his lips felt otherworldly.

Torturous kisses hovered across her lower abdomen but never farther. It made Astrid's head spin until she let it fall backwards. Chest heaving. Body shivering. Every breath he exhaled matched the fire building inside of her, and—

"What did I say?" he asked—demanded. He demanded. Such authority in that hoarse voice of his that Astrid could've come on the spot. "Eyes on me, beautiful."

Through half-lidded eyes, she watched him. Careful, open-mouthed kisses trailed down her inner thighs towards her heat before they disappeared. He continuously teased her like that. Biting, kissing her skin. The water sprinkled around them as it bounced off of his strong, muscled back, and the high temperature surrounding them made it all the more inviting.

A human turned to animal; Harry pulled Astrid farther down on the shower seat so far that she felt his nose touch her pussy. A shriek left her lungs before the sound turned grittier, then her lungs decided to want to give in altogether.

Harry continued his torturing as he slid his tongue from her heat to her clit in one long stripe. The feel of his flattened muscle sent a shiver down Astrid's spine, the very same part of her body that practically laid flat on the tiled surface by now. Ass hanging in the nothingness until one of his hands held onto her firmly, tilting her hips upward.

Every one of his kisses, licks, sucks, were meant to make her head spin. And it did spin. Between his eager mouth, and both of their hands on her body, exploring her soft stomach, the round, tender breasts that ended in perched nubs, it left Astrid as nothing more than a puddle.

Flicking his tongue back and forth over her clit until she could feel herself growing wetter. Harry stopped, his mouth over her pulsing sex, only long enough to run his fingers between her soaked folds, parting them for her and his own pleasure, before burying his face in there once more. Moans bubbled from the back of her throat at the intense feeling, at the sight of saliva running down his chin when he'd come up for a breath, kiss his way over her skin.

The feeling built low in her stomach. Blinding. Sharp. It caused her to hiss in surprise and shudder against his face. Astrid's hips buckled upwards while he deliciously fucked her with his tongue, and his fingers deepened into the soft flesh of her ass, gripping her in the process. Her hips rolled against his every lick and suck, thighs flexing around his neck.

No longer could she keep her eyes on him. Everything she felt, everything that built in her body, neared the tipping point. Astrid squirmed under him as she fisted his hair and rode against his tongue, panting, and begged.

"Please... please, let me come," she cried, almost—almost there.

Harry busied with his tongue deep in her soaking cunt and his fingers gripping her ass, her thighs, her hips—anywhere he could latch on to, he gave no response. Nothing verbal. None was needed when he devoured her until her body started to spasm and lock up and—

Sobbing through her release, her body twitched against his face. Both of her legs wrapped behind his neck, tightening him close to her and he continued to lick her through her orgasm, long and slow, exploring.

Astrid's heart didn't want to calm down. It thundered in her chest, desperate to make its way out of there. Unable to control her breathing, or her body's sensitivity, Harry gently peeled her off of himself. Careful not to slip in the shower, he sat beside her and was about to put his arm around her shoulder to pull her closer when Astrid surprised him and sat on his lap. She faced him and the water sprayed her back.

Harry's soft chuckle brushed her ear as she leaned her forehead on his shoulder. His hands rested on her lower back, one of them slowly trailing up her spine. The touch felt warm compared to her cold skin, having been pressed against the very seat they now sat on.

She couldn't help it when her hips started moving. Slowly at first, unaware almost, then more deliberate. Her kisses were soft against the column of his throat, down the gorgeous length of his neck. Harry cleared his throat and his fingers pushed into her waist as if to stop her.

"Are you not in the mood?" in response, Harry only moved against her, very obviously showing he was more than in the mood. He fit against her perfectly—just like he did fit inside her perfectly, and she craved him. It had only been twenty minutes, if not half an hour, since the last time she felt him but she realised she couldn't go long without him.

In a broken voice, she asked, "What, then?"

"Honey," he said, his voice just above a whisper as he pushed her face back, his hands holding her cheeks. The look in his eyes screamed how much he felt for her, how much that sound breaking from her throat affected him. Astrid had no idea why she'd become so emotional at the risk of him not wanting her.

The slight touch of embarrassment rosied her cheeks. Astrid made to stand but Harry weighed her down.

"Don't," he pleaded, and raised a hand to smoothen the hair from her chest behind her shoulder. "I want you. But I don't trust myself enough in here."

What was he—Astrid's lips curled upwards. "Are you scared we'll fall?"

Harry rolled his lips into his mouth. A firm nod followed. "It happens more than you'd think."

"Really?"

"Really," he said with a pointed look. His eyebrows furrowed and she reached forward to brush them apart with her pointer finger. One brow at a time. In this position, Harry had to tilt his head back slightly to look up at her, and the sight mesmerised her. Those green eyes of his had a sparkle to them, the lashes surrounding his eyes long and slightly stuck together from the water. "So, while I'd love you on top of me," he began as his hands trailed a path to dangerous spots, making Astrid gasp. His knowing smile made her tighten her hold on the base of his throat, their eyes still locked. "I won't risk your well-being."

Those delicate fingers of his roamed up her arm until they clasped around her wrist. Harry pushed on her hand so it flattened against his throat, covering most of it, curling around the side of his neck, over his jaw, then his cheek. He turned his head and kissed the heel of her palm, eyes ever so careful not to slip from her own. The intimacy between them went far deeper than either of them expected.

Breathless, Astrid allowed him to take her face in his hands and kiss her. There was no room for the rough kisses he shared with her before, the possessiveness ever so present in the bedroom. No. These kisses were exploring, curious, tender. Harry kissed her once then pulled back, turned his head, and kissed her again like he craved to taste her from a different angle.

Astrid felt her blood heat. Every touch of their tongues sent her squirming, melting in his hold. Harry seemed to find a rhythm, a pace that satisfied them both, and then he stopped. It struck Astrid, and she frowned. Her eyes peeled open gradually, only to find him peering up at her, smugness shadowing his face.

"What?" she growled, sinking her fingers between the wet strands of his hair. Using only the smallest force, she tugged his head further back, exposing his strong throat. A sound erupted from deep within Harry's chest and rumbled through him when Astrid leaned in and kissed along the line of his jaw, her tongue tracing the spot where his ear met his neck.

"You're everything," he rumbled, looking back and up at her like before. The movement of his head caused her fingers to slip from his hair and hang behind him. Astrid slid forward slightly, her core rubbing along him. The motion made them both gasp for air, quiet and gone before either realised. It made Harry kiss her again, and she felt his tongue along her bottom lip.

Astrid moved again. Then a third time so as to test the waters.

"Safety," she said and stopped. Harry's eyes popped open. The fire burned behind those green eyes, the blush on his cheeks deepened. His fingers curled into her flesh and he grounded his teeth in torture as she said, "Safety first, right?"

"You have me by the throat, you know that, don't you?" he questioned, shaking his head like he didn't believe those words left his mouth.

They didn't process in Astrid's mind right away. The hot temperature of the shower, the raw feel of his cock beneath her, the thundering of her heart. They all took control of her ability to think rationally.

Once they were out of the shower, both of them looking fresh and ripe as a tomato, kiss-swollen lips, and sparkling eyes, the thought seeped in.

You have me by the throat.

The ultimate goal: achieved.

Astrid set out to fool this man into being so tongue-tied over her that he couldn't find his way with words anymore. Not even two months later, he admitted to being just that way. All the things she wanted, she got, so why the hell did she feel tight-chested? Why did it feel like she couldn't breathe?

"Are you coming to bed?"

Harry's voice sounded much closer than she anticipated. It brought a smile to her face to hear him, and when he placed his arms around her body, his front pressed to her back, she sighed in content. Whatever had shifted between them tonight felt right.

"We will have to wake up extra early, you know," she said as she turned her head and kissed his jaw. His skin warm and soft. Harry hummed and pecked her lips before stepping away from her. "I mean it. I cannot be late."

"Would one more day off truly be that horrible?"

Astrid chuckled and turned away from him. The mirror remained as fogged up as ever, and she could barely see herself as she reached over to brush her teeth.

"Yes," she said and exhaled while she put some toothpaste on the extra toothbrush Harry dug up from a dusty corner of his cabinet. "I have people relying on me, you know," she informed him with the toothbrush hanging from her mouth. In the misty mirror, she caught Harry still behind her with his arms crossed.

"Yes, I do know," he answered. "But is it so bad that I want to be selfish with you?"

Toothpaste trickled down Astrid's chin as she stared at Harry through the mirror. With a lot more force than she anticipated, she wiped the streak of white bubbles away then rinsed her fingers beneath the running water.

Unable to find an appropriate response, she finished brushing her teeth then popped the blue toothbrush in the holder, sliding to knock against his.

Harry wasted no time. One moment, his arms were crossed, the next they were around Astrid's body, lifting her in the air. Surprised, she let out a squeal while he walked them into his bedroom, and gently threw her on the bed.

Gently, because he held the back of her head so she didn't get a fucking whiplash.

The only source of light in the room came from the built-in system of bright blue spotlights, hidden behind the head of the bed. It cast a soft glow over them, the very thing that got Astrid naked and panting within two seconds when they got in from the gala.

"Thank you for coming with me tonight," he said suddenly, draping the duvet over her body as he tucked her in. Hovered over her, his necklace dangled in Astrid's face like it did almost an hour ago—though they were in a very different position then.

She hooked her index finger into the chain and it made Harry look down at her. Without missing a beat, he leaned down and pecked her lips quickly. His warmth left her much too soon for her liking so she drew him closer with her arms locked behind his neck.

"You have hot doctor friends, so it was worth it," she told him, knowing what the statement would bring out of him. To force the words back down his throat, she pulled him down to her and kissed him like before. Harry's eyes remained fixated on her face, and she caught the glint of amusement swirling in his gaze. "Robert could pass as Chris Hemsworth's twin."

A laugh erupted from him as his arms gave out and Harry rolled on his side. "Are we thinking of the same Robbie? Really?"

Offended, Astrid rolled onto her stomach and pushed her upper body higher. "You don't agree?" she asked in complete disbelief. "His eyes were so blue I felt myself blush every time he looked at me."

"Are you trying to make me jealous?"

Astrid rolled her eyes. "Never. But you have to admit—he's one handsome fella."

"Trust me," he sighed while Astrid traced the human heart tattoo on his bicep. "I know."

"Oh?" she pulled her eyebrows high at the tone of his voice, finger now steady on his arm. It indicated he had quite the stack of stories to share about his dear friend. "He giving you trouble?"

Harry chuckled and kissed Astrid's nose. "Something like that."

"Tell me!"

"I thought you needed to go to sleep?" he looked at her teasingly.

"One story can't hurt, right?"

As though the request deemed to be too much effort for him, Harry exhaled. The pure dramatics of this made Astrid all the more excited.

"He used to pull all my one-night stands," he admitted, and while Reese gasped, she wasn't surprised. Not to insinuate that one man was better looking than the other. Quite the opposite, actually. Both Harry and Robert were incredibly attractive.

"Like... after you or before you?"

Harry chuckled. "Before me."

"Stop it!" she gasped. Harry only nodded. "No way, Harry. You let him?"

"It wasn't so much as me letting him. It was more like, uh," he itched the length of his neck, looking for the right way to phrase it. Astrid could only watch him with surprise painted on her face, mouth still slightly open. "Well, once they saw him, I guess it wasn't really up for debate, you know?"

"Uh—no. I don't know," she laughed, confused. In all honesty, while Robert looked like a dream, Astrid felt nothing for the man. Standing by Harry put Robert to shame. "Enlighten me. How could they pick him over you? You're hot."

"I'm hot?" he asked back like his ego needed to be fed. Astrid rolled her eyes but he didn't say anything else.

"I let you touch me again after you didn't make me come the first time," she said. "I find myself stupidly gawking at you at random times, in case you didn't clock on yet. Of course, I find you attractive."

Harry hummed, and his lips began to curl upwards until they spread into a smug grin.

"Something you may not know is that I used to have long hair," he shared, and the admission surprised her. Thinking back to her early Instagram stalking days, she didn't see any photos of him with long hair.

Then again, the question of why answered itself almost immediately.

"And?" she raised her brows, then laughed at the confusion pulling at his features. "Show me! I want to see. Were you like a brunette Thor?"

"Jesus—what's your fixation with Chris Hemsworth and his characters?" he laughed. Obviously, he wanted to change the subject. The why wasn't clear this time. It surely couldn't have had anything to do with him still feeling insecure.

Right?

"Please... tell me the story," she pouted and leaned closer to kiss his forearm. Their eyes locked and Harry licked his lips. "You used to have long hair and it made your flings change their minds about sleeping with you? Is that it?"

He cleared his throat then fell on his back. "When you say it like that, it sounds stupid."

Astrid moved to sit up, and she crossed her legs under the duvet, her front facing him. Due to her lack of preparation, she had to borrow his pyjama set made up of a navy pair of cotton shorts and a bright blue cotton shirt that he promised to be a set. It was comfortable, and smelled like him, fresh, so she didn't mind.

"But at the time, it put me down," he continued to say. "It never pushed me enough to do anything about it—at least not until I graduated. I think I wanted to prove to myself that I could still pull, you know?"

"Did you?"

"Yes, but—"

"So quit moaning," she rolled her eyes playfully. "When me and Sofia were at uni and went out together, she'd always be the one taking someone home. And I wasn't jealous or anything but sometimes, I did feel a little bit in her shadow. It wasn't until I realised that partying and clubs and all that wasn't for me," she shrugged and pulled Harry's arm over into her lap. Her finger continued its path around the tattoos on his skin. "I—" she exhaled deeply, then laughed at how ridiculous she was going to sound, all while Harry kept his curious gaze on her. She never glanced up, eyes focused on his arm, the goosebumps covering his skin. "I prefer to sleep with people I see myself staying with because I desire a deeper connection than something that comes and dips."

Truths mixed with lies. The only way to get by, Astrid learned early on. In this case, whether that lie was for Harry, or herself, she couldn't decipher. Because even though she still had ulterior motives, she couldn't help but take her feelings into consideration.

How much will this hurt her? Will she allow the outcome to hurt her?

Is there going to be a reason for her to be hurt? Afterall, no one truly knows her intention—including herself at this point.

This plan had gone out of control. It quite literally slipped between her fingers like sand, the wind blowing it all over the place, and now it was impossible to collect the little parts.

"Anyway, I think my point is, that we all have different preferences, so it makes perfect sense that some people will pass on us. That has absolutely nothing to do with you or the way you look," she said and stole a single glance from him.

That had been a mistake.

Because in those eyes, swirling somewhere around the pure exhaustion and thrill, was something Astrid couldn't place. Perhaps she refused to do so because the implications of such act would ruin her even more.

And so, she smiled at him, then got under the duvet once more. She was about to turn away to face towards the bedroom door when the bed shifted with Harry's weight. It took a couple of seconds for Astrid's brain to register what was happening before she sighed into the soft kiss he placed on her lips.

An unexpected chuckle bubbled up Astrid's chest as she flattened her hands on the nape of his neck, slowly dragging it down until she cupped his cheeks. That damn cross necklace dangled in her face again, and she tried to ignore it and the recent memories flashing in her mind as she asked, "What the hell was that for?"

Harry didn't say anything. He pecked her lips again, laid back on his pillow and turned the lights off. 

★ ★ ★

[A.N.]

[They are so hot. Like. I actually can't deal with them LOL. Eyes on me? Oh, Sir, definitely. Of course. Anything you wish for. I'm a sucker for him.] 

[And I know I skipped the gala. I regret it a little bit, but the technicalities of it drove me up the wall. I was quite literally picking at the cracked paint in the corner trying to come up with a substantial plot to make it worth an update, and I failed. So, I resorted to an easy win, and brought you shower sex. You're welcome.] 

[It is now June, which means Harry is going back on tour soon, and I'm literally seeing him the week after next. That's way too surreal for my small brain to comprehend, and I'm certain I won't be able to process it until weeks have passed after my shows.] 

[Are you guys seeing Harry any time soon? Let me know!] 

[With love, B.]