Disclaimer: This chapter contains sexual content

HARRY/PAST

It was a shock to all of us when Liam declared that our tour break party would be over at his flat. I don't think he knew what he was getting himself into.

We invited old friends and everyone from management and the label. Earlier that week our first music video went viral and broke every record imaginable. One Direction was the number one trending hashtag in the world followed by "Harry Styles" and "Harry's bum." My phone was blowing up with texts from my mum and dad and the rest of the planet and the only thing I could think about was that I misspelled "tahnks" in my last tweet.

Liam took my advice and had the party catered—he served Spicy Tuna in Wonton Ice Cream Cones, Bermuda Triangle Goat Cheese on Almond Crisps with Ginger Fig Jam, Spicy Spanish Style Grilled Baby Octopus, Heirloom Tomato Toast Rounds with Aioli—but he could have rolled a keg into the room and everyone would have been thrilled.

Zayn was the DJ and I became an unofficial host, greeting guests as they arrived, taking their coats and urging them to use a coaster.

Niall too was helping Liam with a few errands. But in true Niall fashion, he forgot the ice in the cab and accidentally sat on the quiche.

Only Louis managed charm his way out of party duties.

Ever since I saw those photos of me on Louis' phone, I couldn't get him out of my mind. Onstage, backstage, on the bus, in interviews, I was distracted. I tried to pay attention but my gaze would invariably wander over to him—to his tousled hair and cruel eyes. If our relationship was strained before, it was non-existent now.

I soon spotted Kevin and Judith from management at the makeshift bar Liam had set up next to his pool table.

Judith charged at me in six-inch heels. "I'm so happy I could kiss you," she whispered enveloping me in perfume and silk. Her earrings were shimmery topaz and emerald pineapples.

Behind her was Judith's boss, a man I'd only met once. "Oh, you remember Kevin Donaldson."

"Hello, Harry. Wonderful seeing you again. It's been great having Judith here look after you guys while I've been preoccupied, but I'll take it from here."

I thought I saw a twinge of resentment flash across Judith's wide smile but it was quickly replaced by a nod of agreement.

Kevin wore jeans and a t-shirt in a way that looked like he had never worn jeans and a t-shirt in his life. He was prim and polished and even though his clothes bore no logos, you could tell he was rich from the way commanded a room. He gripped Louis' shoulder warmly, and playfully punched Niall under the chin but the lads seemed confused by this gesture of familiarity. There was a lot of excitement and happiness among us but there was also a lot of tension and things left unsaid.

"What I'd really like to do," said Kevin "is set up a proper tour, with a real crew, bigger venues, and have you guys record the album on the road. We can't waste any time. We have to strike while the iron is hot. While you're hot Harry."

I shifted uncomfortably in my chucks. "It's not all about me, it's about the music. They all love Louis' songs."

"Of course, of course," Kevin said with an unconvincing smile. "The important thing is that you have a fanbase now and they're going to want as much of you as they can get and we've got to give it to them before they lose interest and move onto the next big thing."

"Sure," I said. "We'll do whatever it takes."

I kept say "we" but the only thing Kevin wanted to talk about was me.

"Do you have a girlfriend?" he asked.

"Um, I dated a French girl recently. But we broke up."

"Good," he said, making a mental note. "Not good that you broke up, but good that you're single."

I looked longingly at Louis to rescue me from this conversation. But then again I had been looking at him all night. He was wearing tight black skinnies that left virtually nothing to the imagination and a cream scoop neck sweater that showed off the tattoo on his collarbone.

"Is this really necessary," Louis said hotly. "What does any of this have to do with the album or the tour?"

Kevin smiled, though not with eyes--his eyes remained dark, cold. "It's got everything to do with the album and the tour. All those views and downloads are coming from young women and those girls want to think they have a chance with you boys."

Niall turned to Zayn, "Hey, maybe they do." They bumped fists.

"Especially you, Harry," Kevin added.

Especially me. The thought of being chased by a million girls was supposed to excite me. Zayn and Niall could hardly contain themselves, and even Liam who was usually reserved about such matters couldn't help but grin.

I was flattered by the attention, but it didn't really matter much when the person I wanted to impress most refused to acknowledge my existence.

Kevin and Judith left us to get more hors d'oeuvres. I finally had a chance to be alone with the lads. Liam was belting out our single at the top of his lungs while Niall and Zayn polished off the rest of their pints.

Louis still hadn't said a word to me so I walked up to him. "I guess you're stuck with me."

"I guess so."

"Don't sound so thrilled."

He scowled and ran a hand absentmindedly through his feathery mane.

"Haven't I proven myself?"

"Yes, thank you. You've succeeded in making sure nobody ever takes our band seriously. Congratulations."

I hung my head.

The flat was filling up fast. I hardly knew anyone but they all seemed to know me.

Zayn put on Usher and Louis tried to drag him out onto the dance floor. 

"Not happening, mate."

Liam intervened, wrapping his arm around Zayn and placing a protective hand on his chest.

But Louis wouldn't take no for an answer, grinding up against them both as we all cheered on.

The words of encouragement must have worked because Zayn bent over and started twerking much to Louis and Liam's delight.

You could literally hear hundreds of phones snapping pictures at that exact moment.

Kevin turned to Judith and shook his head disapprovingly.

The night rolled on in a blur of drinks, crop-tops and R&B. As the party died down and guests either left or passed out, I gave up trying to talk to Louis and crashed in Liam's guest bedroom.

Staying at Liam's was like being at a hotel—pressed sheets, fresh-cut flowers and even a mint on the pillow. I didn't bother taking my clothes off and just faceplanted on top of the covers.

I heard someone come in and quickly scrambled to my feet.

"Liam said I could take the guest room." It was Louis. He was tipsy but not drunk.

"Sorry," I said sleepily. "I'll go home."

"Nevermind, I'll just crash on the couch."

"You don't have to go."

"I'm not staying in the same bed as you, Harry."

I threw up my hands in exasperation. "This is ridiculous! Are you just going to ignore me forever because..."

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Let's put it behind us then, yeah? Get in." I patted the bed beside me. "Look, you can either sleep in here with me or with half of London downstairs."

Louis groaned, his desire for comfort winning out against his pride. "Fine, but I'm putting this pillow up between us. No homo."

"Is that for your protection or mine?"

"Shut it."

Louis peeled off his sweater and his skinny jeans. I must have seen him get changed a hundred times but I never looked at him, not really. His body was smaller than mine, compact but equally lithe and muscular. He was almost completely smooth except for the thatch of light hair peeking out above his boxer-briefs.

"You're going to sleep in your clothes?" he asked.

"Oh yeah." As I began to take my shirt off I suddenly found myself getting nervous.

"It's okay," Louis said. "I can tell you're uncomfortable. I'll go downstairs and sleep among the unwashed masses."

"It's not that, Lou," I said fumbling with the buttons on my shirt.

"Well, what else could it be? I'm... attracted to you and it makes you uncomfortable."

"That's just it." I sat down on the edge of the bed. "It makes me feel... Good."

"Oh." Louis cleared his throat nonchalantly but I could tell from the way arched his eyebrow that he was exceedingly pleased with himself.

"What do you think that means?"

Louis got under the covers and put his hands behind his head. "Honestly, probably nothing."

"It doesn't feel like nothing," I said quietly.

He laughed. "Harry, I'm no statistician but the odds of me being put in a band with a handsome specimen such as yourself, who likes men, and is attracted to me specifically, is slim to none."

"Can't we just kiss and find out?"

"Negative."

"Why?"

He looked me dead in the eye. "Because if I started kissing you, Harry, I wouldn't be able to stop."

My heart was pounding so hard I had to grip the bed to steady myself.

"What if I kissed you?"

"Don't be daft, Harry. Go to sleep."

I quickly took off my clothes and got under the covers. I couldn't see Louis over the pillow he propped up between us but I could feel his sinewy muscles shift over the mattress. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all. There was no way I was going to fall asleep with a half naked Louis Tomlinson inches away. I pressed my body as close to him as possible without touching and peeped over the pillow. His eyes were wide open and staring at the ceiling.

Without thinking I reached a hand over and placed it on his chest, stroking his smooth tanned skin and ghosting over his belly.

Louis shut his eyes. "Are you trying to kill me Styles?"

I couldn't stop, mesmerized by his hard body and silky skin. My fingers traced his cut abdomen and the waistband of his boxers. He grabbed my wrist. "Stop."

Desperate to regain control Louis, flipped me on my back and pinned my arms at my sides.

"You're just a kid, Harry. You have no idea what you're doing."

"Teach me."

Wolfishly, Louis licked his lips. "Fuck! Do you have any idea how hot it is when you say shit like that?"

"No, but I—I think I want to be hot for you."

"Jesus Christ, Harry. Stop talking."

I bit down on my lip to keep from saying anything childish.

Louis' eyelashes fluttered. He released one of my arms and dragged the curls off my forehead.

"Look, I'm sorry for the way I've been treating you. I don't think you're ruining the band. Not at all. The truth is you're the best thing that ever could have happened to us. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me, alright love?"

I was used to being babied by Liam and Zayn, but not Louis. I could listen to his patient, raspy voice forever.

Louis parted my lips with his thumb. "I'm not angry with you. I'm angry with myself—for not being good enough for the band, for not being good enough for you."

He couldn't have been more wrong. He was amazing, funny, smart, talented, devilishly handsome and athletic, though I couldn't quite articulate all that with him straddling me. "You're good, Lou," was all I could manage.

His breath grazed my neck.

"God, Harry. Why do you have to smell so good?" Louis nuzzled my hair. "Like lilacs and honey, cinnamon, and... you."

I rewarded his kind words with a chaste kiss on the cheek. Louis' breathing quickened. He hovered over me. Our lips nearly touching.

"We can't do this," he said.

"I just want to try it."

"I'm not a flavour of ice cream you sample on a whim."

I tilted my head and licked his bottom lip.

Louis gave me a warning glare.

"I think I like this flavour." I said innocently. 

I was about to lick him again when he'd had enough. Louis kissed me fiercely, his tongue opening me up and filling my mouth while his hands were seemingly everywhere all at once—laced in my hair, groping my thighs, clawing at my pale chest.

This was different than kissing a girl. It was more urgent and I felt both helpless and in control. He was stronger than me, physically and emotionally, but he was a slave to my every movement, shuddering with pleasure when I kissed him back.

"Oh God, Harry. I can't stop."

"So don't."

"You're not ready for the things I want to do to you. Trust me."

I could feel Louis harden through the thin fabric of his boxer-briefs. I slipped my hand between us and gently stroked his throbbing mound.

"Does this feel good?" I asked tentatively.

He released a muffled a groan into the pillow, which I took as a yes.

Louis lifted my hips off the bed to meet his. My own aching hard-on surprised us both.

"Baby," he whispered tenderly and kneeled before it like my cock was a precious object to be worshipped and adored. "You're so beautiful like this." Then he did something I was not expecting at all, something so exquisitely out of character for my surly bandmate I thought I must have been dreaming. He leaned down and he kissed it.

"Lou," I moaned at the top of my lungs, bucking my hips and tugging his hair.

He put his hand over my mouth. "Shhhh," Liam's on the other side of this wall.

Clouded by lust I nipped his hand.

"Ow!"

"Is everything alright in here?" Liam was at the door rubbing his eyes groggily.

Louis rolled off of me like a ninja. "Never better."

Liam looked from me to Louis and smiled. "I'm glad you guys are finally starting to get along."

"Yeah, you know," I said, out of breath. "We've really been working on our... Friendship."

"Uh huh," agreed Louis. "Harry is such a good... Friend."

Liam nodded, impressed by Louis' positive attitude. "Well, good but no more roughhousing. These walls are paper thin."

"Duly noted, Master Payne," said Louis with mock reverence.

When Liam left, Louis and I crumpled into a fit of laughter.

A/N: As always I'd love to hear your thoughts on this chapter! (This turned out a lot smuttier than intended). Please vote if you liked it.