~L~

Florence was nice. Louis loved the renaissance art and architecture of the city. He had been to the city many times before, but this time it was different, special. Maybe because of the man walking beside him.

During the two-hour car ride, he was stuck with Mia and her parents while his parents drove along Harry. Usually, he loved Mia and her chattering but this time he really wished he could be with Harry. The man tend to speak less but his actions sufficed for it. Louis loved the silences they shared, took pleasure in the fact that they could enjoy each other's company even with no words being exchanged.

He gasped lightly and looked up when Harry gently brushed their hands together. The man gave him a small smile and Louis felt a thousand different emotions in that moment, his stomach stooping with happiness. He looked away to hide his blush.

They were standing by the reception. The plan was to rest up in their hotel rooms for a few hours before heading out. A bell boy was waiting with their luggage while they got the keys.

It was Mia who had stated before they began the journey that she wouldn't be sharing a room with Louis. They had grown up and she needed her privacy. Louis had rolled his eyes at that, knew what she was trying to do. He wanted that too, and was grateful for her help but would never thank her.

Eliott, being in a dilemma, had asked Harry if he was comfortable in sharing a room with Louis as they had only booked four of them. And well, it was more than alright.

They headed up after getting their keys, and all of a sudden Louis felt shy, timidly standing beside Harry as they rode the elevator.

Harry shot him a confused glance, clearly not used to Louis being this quiet. "Are you alright?" The man asked in a whisper, subtly brushing his palm over Louis' back.

"'M fine," he murmured under his breath, feeling the blush creep up his neck.

He was grateful when Harry let that go. The group of seven split their ways to head to their rooms after getting their luggage from the bell boy and tipping him.

Louis stood by the entrance and watched Harry placing their suitcases near the cupboard. Harry looked back at him and sighed heavily before walking over.

"What's wrong?" The man cupped his cheeks, tilting his face to connect their eyes, "You are being awfully quiet today, I don't like that."

"I thought you liked when I was quiet, finally giving some peace to your ears."

"Not when you are keeping something from me. Something is worrying you, or at least making you uncomfortable."

"I hate it when you do this," he pouted.

"Do what?" Harry asked with a smile.

"Read me like an open book when I can barely read your thoughts."

Harry leaned down and placed a light kiss to his lips, "What is worrying you?"

"It is not worry per say," Louis finally spoke, blushing at his thoughts, "It's just, we have to share a room."

"Are you not okay with that? I can book another one for myself if--"

"No!" He rushed out, placing his palms on Harry's chest, "I-- We-- umm, it's more romantic," he looked down with a blush, pulse racing as Harry's hands travelled down his sides and rested at his waist, pulling him closer.

"It is, I suppose," Harry spoke lowly into his ear, hot breath fanning his neck. He moaned, eyes rolling back as the man placed wet kisses from the base of his ear and down till his collarbone, pulling aside the fabric of his t-shirt to suck a bruise. "Don't think too much, baby. We should get some rest, long day ahead."

He cursed Harry in his head when he was left with an uncomfortable bulge in his pants. Grumbling under his breath, he pulled out his shorts and opened Harry's suitcase to steal his shirt before heading to the bathroom for a shower. Ignoring the amused smirk on the man's face.

-

It was a long day indeed.

They visited Uffizi Gallery, Palazzo Pitti before making their last stop for the day at Ponte Vecchio. The prior two had Louis in absolute bliss. His love for history, art and literature had been utterly pleased.

Although, he was mesmerized and drowning with the beauty surrounding him, he was also completely aware of the jealousy radiating off of Harry.

"You were jealous of statues and art, Harry. That's ridiculous!" Louis giggled. The two were walking a few steps behind the others on the stone bridge, hands dangling by their sides, itching to hold them.

"I was not jealous."

"Yes, you were. You should have seen your face, glaring like they had personally offended you."

"Whatever you say. I was not jealous."

Louis smiled, pleased at making Harry jealous even if he wouldn't admit it.

"I will give you all the attention you want when we return to the hotel room tonight," he spoke boldly, smirking as Harry fumbled with his steps. He gasped when Harry caught his wrist, brushing the inside of it with his fingers. His breath hitched and he gulped in clear surprise as Harry linked their fingers together, slowing down and creating distance from the group ahead. "Harry...?" He whispered, unsure.

He received a sound of acknowledgment but said nothing and simply looked down at their hands.

They walked the rest of the way in complete silence, letting go of their hands after a few minutes. Louis felt an unnatural cold upon losing skin contact with Harry. He shuffled closer to the man until their arms were brushing and blushed when Harry smiled to himself.

After dining at a restaurant near the bridge, everyone decided to head back to the hotel. Louis was in complete favour of that, he wanted to spend the rest of the night in Harry's arms. The silence and subtle touches were good but he was aching to be held by the man, to be surrounded by him and nothing else.

So, it was only natural that he grew angry when Harry agreed to go to casino with Eliott and Paolo, Mia's father. The rest of them returned back to their rooms. Louis hated how Harry had ignored him, not even chancing him a glance.

Mia looked at him in a worried way but he just shrugged and kissed her cheek, saying goodnight before walking down the hallway to his room.

He changed out of his clothes, wearing simply his pyjamas to the bed. Sleep alluded him, keeping him awake and staring out the open glass window. He should close it, he thought but didn't move, feeling down. The cold air rushed in and made his skin pimple out but he didn't even pull the sheets up.

The clock ticked away in the silence until he heard the door open, some shuffling noises following it. Then another door closed and sound of water running filled the silence.

He might have zoned out, or maybe fell asleep because the next thing he knew was the bed dipping beside him as the person sighed. He sensed filled with the scent of Harry, the scent he had grown to love to no extent. Even now, when he was angry, it made him crave to be in the man's arms.

A hand reached up to his shoulder, warm lips pressing to his cold skin before both the touches were gone again. He watched Harry walking around the bed to close the glass window, shutting the hustling air outside.

Harry sat on the edge of the bed instead of behind him, running long fingers through Louis' short hair.

"Talk to me, Lou," Harry spoke in a low voice, not disrupting the silence around them.

Louis gave into the urge, sitting up and finding himself in Harry's arms, his face pressed into the man's naked chest.

"I'm mad at you," he mumbled into his skin.

Harry nosed through his hair, pulling his chin up to kiss him softly, "I know. And I am sorry."

"You can't just get away with an apology."

"What should I do to earn forgiveness?" Harry asked with a smile, eyes shining as if he was contended that Louis was talking to him.

"Why did you leave with them?"

"I wanted to spend the evening with you as well, baby, but that would have been suspicious?"

"More suspicious than us holding hands?"

"They didn't see that!" Harry laughed, Louis loved that sound. He found himself smiling as well.

Harry's reasoning was correct, if he had denied and went along with Louis, it definitely would have been suspicious.

"You still haven't told me what I should do to make you forgive me."

Louis frowned, "Come up with something yourself, use your brain or it will end up getting decayed, old man."

Harry was never annoyed with his insults, but maybe this time Louis was in trouble. He watched Harry's eyes narrow and a smirk gracing his lips before he was pushed on his back.

Definitely trouble.

Harry crawled up his body, pining his hands beside his head and lowering himself on his body, leaving him immobile with his weight.

"Harry!" He whined when the man started biting playfully at his neck.

"Old, huh? You aren't getting away with that," there was a hint in his voice, an underlying meaning to his words and Louis bit his lip. He parted his legs when Harry rose to his elbows, kissing his lips with great passion.

His legs came up to wind around Harry's waist, pulling him closer, arms wrapping around his broad shoulders.

"How about I take you out on a breakfast date tomorrow, then we can do some sightseeing by ourself, just the two of us? Will you like that, love?"

Louis was about to nod happily, glowing at the prospect of going on a date with Harry when the pet name registered in his brain. Love. Should he read more into it? Was it just an endearment? This was the first time any of them had said that word, even if as an endearment and Louis found himself blushing profusely.

"What?" Harry asked confused when Louis looked away, trying to hide his face but it was of no use as Harry was laying atop him, watching his expression carefully even in the dark.

"I-- I would like that- yes, yes, would like a lot," he fumbled over his words.

Harry sat back up, pulling him along, "What is it, love?"

There it was. Love. Again.

"N-nothing," he ducked his face, pouting when Harry chuckled lightly.

"I love you," Harry breathed close to his lips, making him yearn for a taste of those lips. His heart hammered rapidly in his chest at the man's confession. "Are you surprised, my love?" Harry asked softly, caressing his cheek with a nimble touch, "Is it not obvious how much I love you?"

And... Should it be obvious? Was it obvious? He knew it was, Harry's love had always been known in his actions, in his eyes, always present for Louis to reach out and take it. It was a soft kind of love, what Louis had seen before, but now, now he could tell the roots were deeper. Harry loved him with his whole heart, with his entire existence, and Louis could see this in his eyes. For the first time Louis could read Harry like the man always read him, and it scared him. Not the intensity of emotions the man had for him, no. But rather the thought that Harry would have read his emotions as well, known how much Louis craved him, needed him, loved him.

Louis was not ready, was not prepared to repeat those words even if they were true. He wanted to let Harry know, though. Knew how insecure the man could get and he had vowed to never let that happen. And that, in itself said how much Louis loved him, he never wanted to see Harry down.

"Har-"

"Don't say anything," Harry interrupted him, placing a thumb on Louis' bottom lip, "You don't have to say it if you're not ready."

"But I do, you know," he mumbled, his eyes begging the man to believe him.

"I know, baby, I know," Harry kissed him, starting soft and delicate like he always did. It escalated quickly into something desperate, their mouths devouring the other's.

~

I loved, loved, loved writing this chapter! And it's only part one of it :D the second part will be smut ;) (be warned).

It will be in Louis' pov as well.

Tell me in comments what you think of the chapter.

You can always tell me if there is something specific that you would like to read in the story :) suggestions are always welcome and appreciated.