We had just turned off the motorway at the junction for Holmes Chapel when the dashboard lit up with a phone call from Karen. Harry raised his eyebrows at me briefly, and then answered it.

"There's a rumour flying around Twitter," she began, without any pleasantries.

"No way!" Harry gasped immediately. "About me? Well, this has never happened before."

There was a stony silence. I covered my mouth with my hands to contain my giggles, and Harry grinned at me and opened his mouth in a silent squeal.

"Sarcasm doesn't suit you, Harry," Karen said dryly. "Am I to interpret from your tone that you know what the rumour may be?"

"Hmm," he said, thoughtfully, stroking his chin with one hand and raising one eyebrow, even though there was only me in the car. "I don't suppose... I bought some petrol at a garage! I bought some chewing gum! Wait - I've got a new jacket!"

"You've got a new girlfriend and you're taking her home to meet your family," Karen supplied in a monotone.

My stomach dropped. Harry frowned.

"What?" he asked, confused.

"You have apparently been spotted at a service station on the M6 Northbound with a girl. Holding hands."

Harry and I exchanged looks.

"Shit, really?" he said uncomfortably, rubbing the back of his neck with his hand. "I didn't think we'd been seen. "

"So you were at a service station with a girl - Jess, I presume?"

"Yeah, we're on our way to my mum's," he replied.

"Well, the good news is there are no pictures to confirm it," she said briskly. "It's just a series of hysterical tweets from a couple of accounts so far. It hasn't really got off the ground and is unlikely to without photographic evidence. You know how sceptical your fans are of hoaxes."

My heart was pounding sickeningly and I wiped my palms on my leggings. Karen clearly wasn't impressed by this, and the last thing I wanted to do was get on the wrong side of her. Again. I wasn't sure if she'd forgiven me for ruining her suit that day in her office. Now didn't seem like a good time to ask.

"You don't seem particularly bothered," she said, in a tone that could have been mistaken for accusatory.

"Well, we have been talking about going public," Harry explained cautiously. "The service area was quiet, and we didn't think anyone was around."

"You didn't think anyone was around," Karen echoed slowly, her voice dripping with disbelief.

"Alright," Harry moaned exasperatedly. "We'll be more careful in future."

"I just don't want you to rush into this before you're both ready," she said, a little more kindly, and Harry and I exchanged another look. "And I would also appreciate being kept in the loop," she added, back to business again.

"Yeah, sorry," Harry said, looking a little abashed. "Duly noted."

"Good. Now what's this about buying petrol?" she asked as I opened up Twitter and searched for the aforementioned hysterical tweets. "Or a new jacket, or something?"

Harry quickly filled her in on the pap at the petrol station and then rung off.

"She didn't sound too pleased, did she?" I said, looking over at him.

"I think it was more because she didn't know we'd already talked about it, and she thought we'd be upset at being seen. And then she was annoyed because she was the last to know. She hates being out of the loop," he explained.

"These fans are being trolled by non-believers," I informed him. "No one's buying it because they didn't take any pictures."

"I wonder why not," he mused.

"Probably because they were reduced to incapacitated trembling wrecks," I answered, and then closed my eyes in embarrassment.

"And why would they be reduced to incapacitated trembling wrecks?" he asked delightedly. I could tell from the way his voice sounded that he was looking at me and grinning widely.

I sighed. "Because any fan would be, catching sight of you at a service station without warning," I said wearily. "Go on, laugh at my inner fangirl."

"You're so cute," he teased, reaching over to touch my face, and then he laughed when I pushed his hand away in mock annoyance.

We pulled into Anne's driveway and a thought struck me.

"Karen mentioned that people thought you were taking your girlfriend home to meet the family," I said. "I only saw one tweet speculating that, but what if people realise that's where we're headed?"

"Yeah, I had the same thought," he admitted. "We can just keep a low profile this weekend. It'll be dark by the time the bonfire and fireworks start tomorrow anyway. I'll just wear a beanie or something."

"Yes, because that will be inconspicuous," I said sarcastically, and he grinned.

"Well do you have any better ideas?"

"No," I conceded, and he leaned over and kissed me before opening his door and getting out. "Thought not," he said, leaning back down into the car to give me a satisfied smile. He shut the door and stood upright again and was still smirking infuriatingly when I climbed out of the car and retrieved my bag from the back seat.

I pushed him with my right hand just as Anne opened the front door of the house, and he stumbled a little harder than necessary and then gave her a reproachful look. "See that, Mum?" he called. "She just pushed me. It's borderline abuse."

Anne ignored this and hugged Harry while my face turned a beautiful shade of crimson, and then turned to hug me too. Over her shoulder I could see Harry laughing silently and pointing at me, clearly relishing my obvious embarrassment.

"Come in, love," she said to me, warmly. "Have you eaten? You must be dying for a brew."

"We had a Subway on the motorway," Harry piped up. "Jess kissed me in front of everyone and it went viral on Twitter."

For a moment Anne's face dropped in shock as she turned to look at Harry.

"Harry!" I squeaked. "Don't say it like that!"

"Is that, or is that not, what just happened?" he grinned as he put his bag at the bottom of the stairs and motioned for me to put mine next to it.

"I - no!" I protested. "That is not what just happened!"

Anne's face relaxed; she must have realised by the way Harry was so laid back about it that he wasn't giving her the full story. She gave a slight eye-roll directed at Harry and then looked over at me. "Tea, Jess?" she offered.

"Yes please," I answered gratefully, following her into the kitchen.

"So what did happen?" Anne asked as she took the mugs out of the cupboard and I sat down at the kitchen table.

"Jess pounced on me in front of a crowded restaurant," Harry said, loudly. "She made a big scene, it was so embarrassing."

Anne and I exchanged exasperated looks as Harry began to laugh.

"Will you stop trying to make me look bad in front of your family!" I scolded him, which only made him laugh harder and lean back with his eyes squeezed shut and his arms folded. While Anne put the teabags and milk into the cups, Harry walked over to the table and wrapped his arms around me from behind.

"I'm sorry baby," he murmured into my neck. "I'm only winding you up."

"Hmmm," I muttered, but hugged his arms anyway, because I just couldn't resist him when he was being so damn adorable. He kissed my neck and then sat down next to me, closer than necessary so our legs were touching.

Anne brought our mugs over and sat down at the table with us, and Harry explained the real story of Corley services, without the foot long part, obviously.

"All I would say to you both is, think very carefully about what you want to make public knowledge," she advised once he had finished. "Once it's out there, you can never take it back. What's done cannot be undone. I want more than anything for this to work out for the two of you, but so many relationships fail under the scrutiny of the public. You're both incredibly grounded, but announcing you are a couple will take this to a whole new level. Make sure you're both fully prepared for that before you go jumping in."

Her words made so much sense, and I suddenly felt extremely childish and reckless for allowing myself to get carried away kissing Harry earlier, in full view of anyone who wanted to look. Neither of us had really considered the consequences, not properly.

"I just want this to be a normal relationship," Harry said from next me, jolting me out of my thoughts.

I looked over at him to see he was staring down at his mug of tea, his hands cupped around it, his bottom lip sticking out in the beginning of a pout.

"It is," I said, leaning towards him and putting one arm around his shoulders.

"Sometimes it's just so exhausting having to plan everything in advance just to stay anonymous," he sighed.

"I know," I said softly, resting my head on his shoulder. "But your mum's right: we should take our time with this. I'm excited not to have to hide anymore, but once we share this with the world, we can never make it private again."

Harry stood up suddenly, his chair scraping the floor.

"I'm going to take our stuff upstairs," he muttered without looking at me.

"Um, OK," I said, thrown by the sudden shift in atmosphere. I began to stand up but he stopped me.

"I'll take it," he said firmly. "I won't be a minute."

I sat back down at the table, confused and a little upset at his dismissal. Anne stared down at her cup of tea until he was out of the room and his footsteps could be heard on the stairs, taking them two at a time.

"I'm sorry Jess," she said. "I didn't mean to interfere in your relationship. I really am on your side."

"It's OK," I replied, unsure of what to say.

"Harry is so keen to go public with you," she said softly. "I worry that it's for the wrong reasons."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Jess, he's terrified of losing you again. This whole business with New York... it shook him to the core. I've known him since the day he was born, and I know how he thinks. He's worried you're going to change your mind again, or he's going to mess up accidentally. If you're officially his girlfriend, I think in his mind you're less likely to give up on him."

I gaped at her, my stomach in knots.

"That's not the only reason," she added hastily, catching sight of the look on my face. "He's so proud of you, and he wants to show you off to the world. And what he said just now is true: he wants a normal relationship; one where he doesn't have to hide you away. He's desperate for some normality in his life. He hasn't had that since he was sixteen."

I said nothing. My hands were trembling. I felt sick.

"I just think you'll both find it much easier to make it work if Harry relaxes a bit, and realises he isn't going to lose you. Find your feet together, before you make such a huge leap."

"He isn't going to lose me," I said, and my voice came out all croaky. "If anything, I should be afraid of losing him."

"Aren't you?" Anne asked.

"Well - in as much as the thought of my life without him makes me want to fall apart," I said. "But I've finally realised how much he loves me. The way he fought for me proves that. For months I was insecure and couldn't understand why he would want me when he could have any girl in the world. But then I stopped seeing him as Harry the superstar, and finally started seeing him as just a normal guy. Once I'd taken him down from the pedestal I'd put him on, things became a lot easier."

"Maybe he needs to do the same with you," Anne smiled. "He put you on a pedestal too, I just don't think he realises it."

I finished the last of my tea and set my cup down on the table. "I'm going to see if he's alright," I said, standing up, and Anne stood up too.

"I'll clear up down here, and then I'll be in the lounge if you want to join me," she said. "But I understand if you want an early night."

I smiled my thanks at her, and made my way up the stairs to Harry's room. I knocked softly on the closed door, and then poked my head around it to see him locking his phone and sliding it into his jeans pocket with a sigh, before glancing up at me.

"Hi," he said. He didn't sound happy.

"Hi," I said softly, closing the door behind me and crossing the room to put my arms around him. "I love you," I whispered, as I stood on tiptoes to kiss his cheek.

"I love you too," he murmured.

"I haven't changed my mind," I assured him. "I just think your mum has a really good point. I want this to work. I can't imagine my life without you again - I've been there once before, and I couldn't do it. I want to make sure we get it right this time around. If that means taking this really, really slowly, then I'm fine with that."

"I don't want you to have second thoughts," he mumbled, staring at the ground, and I ducked my head down so I was in his line of vision and he was forced to look at me.

"I'm not going to," I said gently, cupping his face in my hands and kissing him. "I promise."

"You can't promise that," he grumbled, and I kissed him gently again, lingering a bit longer in the softness of his lips.

"I can," I insisted. "I promise you, Harry Styles, that we will go public with this. We've only been back together a week. Let's find our groove first; get comfortable with each other and with our relationship again." I pressed my lips to his softly for the third time, and his arm slipped around my waist, holding me gently against him.

"It seemed like you were getting cold feet," he whispered, and I pulled his face to mine again, trying to kiss away his insecurities, to make him see that there was no way in the world I was going to walk away from him. He kissed me back; his face suddenly serious, the wetness of his mouth warm against mine.

"I'm not, I swear," I whispered back as my hands stroked his neck and then his collarbone. I ran my fingers down his front to his waist, and gently pulled his hips towards me, feeling a familiar ache in the pit of my stomach that was slowly making its way lower as his tongue brushed mine delicately.

"I can't lose you again," he breathed. Our lips touched again with equal pressure and longing.

I lifted the hem of his tshirt and pushed it slowly up his body and over his head, leaving him standing in front of me wearing just his jeans. His lips found mine again and his fingers stroked the skin covering my hipbones for a moment, before pulling my top over my head and dropping it onto the floor. His arms snaked behind me, crushing my body to his chest. The feel of his warm skin yielding to mine sent a delicious shiver up my spine.

"I can't lose you either," I half-pleaded as our mouths pressed together with increased urgency.

"Never," he murmured as his arms slid up my back and he unclipped my bra with one fluid flick. His hands moved to cup my breasts and I fumbled clumsily with the button on his jeans that were, as ever, impossibly awkward and far too tight.

"I'm not in this lightly," I told him, my mouth running away with me for what was probably the millionth time since the day I met him. He kissed me harder, and with a heat that burned from every point we touched, to every extremity.

"I'm not either," he said, and his voice seemed to shake, or was that just my imagination? He slid my leggings down and I pressed my body to his, feeling his erection pushing against me through our underwear. "I love you so much, baby," he breathed into my mouth.

"I love you, too," I promised, and we sank onto his bed, his hands now buried in my hair, mine reaching into his boxers to stroke him gently.

He groaned quietly, a sound which sent another jolt of desire straight between my legs. I pushed him onto his back and broke away from his lips to press soft kisses to his neck, his swallow tattoos, each of his four nipples (which earned a soft chuckle) and down to the ferns decorating the warm skin above his hips.

My hand was still stroking his length, and I glanced up to see he was lying back with his eyes closed, no doubt fully aware of where I was taking this. I leaned down and swiped my tongue slowly across his tip, causing his hips to shudder involuntarily.

"Fucķ," he muttered.

I did the same thing again and then dipped my head lower to slide my tongue fully down his length.

"Mmmmm... Jess...." he breathed.

His enjoyment spurred me on, and I gently flicked my tongue over his head again before sliding him slowly and completely into my mouth.

"Aaahh fųck," he gasped.

I moved up and down, slowly at first and then began to speed up.

"Jess... Jess..." he begged after a minute. "You need to slow down."

I lifted my gaze to look at him as I carried on, and he caught my eye and let out a rush of air.

"Fucķ, don't look at me like that while you're doing... that... fucķ..."

He closed his eyes again and I continued my movement for a few moments before he reached down and gently touched my hair.

"Baby... you're gonna have to stop before I come," he gasped. "Seriously... stop."

I stopped and lifted my head up. "It's fine, Harry," I whispered.

"No... I want to do it to you, too," he whispered back. "Come here... lie down beside me. Put your feet up this end."

I did as he asked and lay next to him, my face level with his hips. He reached over and slid my knickers down, and ran his hand gently up my leg and stroked my inner thigh delicately.

"Put your leg over my shoulder," he murmured. "And scoot closer to me."

He pulled my hips towards his face and a second later I felt his tongue press against me gently. If I hadn't been lying down, my legs would have given way.

I sighed softly, and he took this as permission to continue, and slid his tongue slowly against me again. His hand skated up my stomach and stroked my breast gently, grazing my nipple with his fingertips.

"Harry," I moaned softly. In my hand I felt him twitch, and remembered it turned him on when I moaned his name.

I slipped him into my mouth again and began moving slowly, trying to concentrate on doing it exactly how he liked it, but finding it difficult with the sensation of his warm, soft tongue now flicking against me with increasing pace, taking me closer and closer to my peak.

His fingers pinched my nipples gently and I found myself moving my head faster to mirror the build up of my own pleasure. I gripped him tightly with my hand to create more friction, and his hips jerked a couple of times.

"Don't stop Harry," I begged, feeling my orgasm approaching, and a second later he murmured, "I'm gonna come too."

His hips jerked again and I felt his release hitting the back of my throat. He groaned in pleasure and the vibration from his lips sent me over the edge. He slipped a finger inside me and groaned again as no doubt he could feel me coming, and as he finished and I released him from my mouth and swallowed, his tongue drew out the last few seconds of my high.

I rolled onto my back, my heart hammering and my thighs tingling. Harry turned round on the bed so his feet were on the pillows and came to lie next to me on his stomach, resting his head to one side on his folded arms. He smiled contentedly at me.

"You OK?" he asked softly.

"More than OK," I replied, trying to calm my breathing. "You?"

"Feeling pretty awesome," he grinned, and I smiled back at him and rolled onto my side so our skin was touching. "You're really good at that," he added.

"I'll add it to my list of skills on my CV," I joked, and he laughed, and then gave me a thoughtful look. "What do you want to do, in the future?"

"You mean like career-wise?"

He nodded.

"I still don't know," I admitted. "I'd like to run my own business one day, but I don't know what. I haven't decided."

"Do you want to stay in London?" he asked.

"I don't really know that, either," I sighed. "My whole life is there, but if an amazing opportunity came up somewhere else I would definitely consider moving."

"Like where?"

I shrugged. "I dunno. Somewhere hot and amazing."

"LA?" he asked.

I looked at him. He didn't break his gaze from mine. My stomach flipped.

"Yeah, I'd consider that," I said, casually. "As long as it was a good career move."

He nodded slowly, now staring at the carpet.

"Are you going over to LA next year?" I asked.

"I will be, at some point," he replied. "I need to talk to Irving - Irving Azoff, I mean, Jeff's dad - about his interest in managing me, and Jeff's also set up his own management company and has said he wants me on their books."

"That's great!" I said. "See, I told you everyone would want you! Have you thought any more about doing solo stuff?"

He shifted uncomfortably. "OK, I'm gonna tell you something but you have to promise not to laugh."

Under normal circumstances I would grab an opportunity to take the piss out of Harry with both hands, but he looked so nervous that I nodded seriously, wondering what the hell it could be.

"Of course," I said.

"I'd really like to try my hand at acting," he said, not meeting my eye. "It's crossed my mind before, but I could never do anything about it because the band always came first. But now I'm considering it seriously."

"Wow," I said, completely taken aback.

"Do you think it's stupid?" he sighed.

"No of course I don't!" I exclaimed. "I think you should give it a shot!"

"What if I'm shit though?" he mumbled, burying his face in his arms.

"Then you can fall back on your ridiculously successful singing and songwriting career," I replied. "But you won't be shit. I've seen your episode of iCarly. You were great."

He lifted his head to look at me in disbelief. "You did not just bring that up."

"What?" I giggled, as he let his face fall back into his arms again, his shoulders shaking with resigned laughter. "It was great! I loved it!"

"You loved it because it's me," he accused, lifting his head again and gazing at me pointedly.

"No, I watched it because it was you," I argued. "I loved it because it was brilliant!"

"It was a complete piss-take," he moaned.

"Harry!" I scolded. "I am trying to be supportive!"

He chuckled again and hooked his arm around me, and kissed the top of my head. "I love you," he murmured. "Thank you for just being you."

"I love you too," I said, kissing his neck softly. "Now come on. We should go down and spend an hour with your mum before we go to bed."

"OK. Let me just brush my teeth first," he winked, sliding off the bed and grabbing his boxers. I pinched his bum and he squealed like a girl as he scurried into the ensuite, leaving me wondering what miracles I had performed in a previous life to deserve this level of happiness.

----****----

Surprise! Early update! If you follow me on Twitter you'll know this was ready yesterday but I couldn't decide on a chapter name because I'm an indecisive perfectionist, and even now I'm still not happy with it. How annoying.

I've had a few comments and messages lately asking if this is the end of the book - the answer is no, there is still a bit to come yet. I don't know how many chapters, but I promise I will give you plenty of warning before the end. I reckon we're about two-thirds through now.

Don't forget to hit the star button to vote if you liked this chapter, pleeeeease xxx