Beth's POV

Harry pulls me into the bathroom and closes the door behind me.

Under the glare of the heat lights above us, I do feel a bit self-conscious, after all, those lights are hardly forgiving.

I slowly pull my stomach muscles in and internally roll my eyes at myself.

For god's sake woman, Harry just licked a whole heap of chocolate sauce off it!

The motion of Harry pulling me into the now running shower breaks me from my reveries and I look up to Harry to see him regarding me with a curious look.

He doesn't say anything as he closes the door behind us.

I let the warm water wash over me before I feel Harry's hands running through my hair, making sure it's completely wet.

I move aside and let him under and try not to look at the water running down his chest.

I fail dismally.

I watch his nipples harden from the warm water meeting his cool skin, the water running over his toned muscles and tattoos.

I reach out and try to casually grab the sponge and add some body wash lotion to it but instead I drop it on the floor.

Fantastic.

I bend over and pick it up, only to turn around and see Harry grinning at me.

"I...I didn't do that on purpose," I stammer, my face growing red with embarrassment.

God he just saw me bend over and cop an eyeful of my naked ass in his face.

Delightful.

If there wasn't a full moon out tonight there sure as hell is now.

"I'm not complaining love," he smirks as he plucks the sponge out of my hand and begins to quickly soap his own body up.

Okay.

Not that I was going to use it or anything.

Harry closes his eyes and I hear him inhale deeply as he stands under the water again to rinse off.

Again I am forced to watch the water cascade down, no caress, his body.

If I was a bloke I would surely have a hard on by now.

I hold my hand out for the sponge but Harry grins and shakes his head.

Instead he grabs hold of my hand and holds it out, running the sponge along my arm and then over to the other.

"Have I told you that I like these a lot?" he asks.

I shake my head, slightly confused.

"Well I love them the most when they're wrapped around me and you're hugging me."

"Oh," I reply and suddenly find the sponge very interesting to look at.

"And here," he moves behind me and starts to scrub along the back of my neck and shoulders, "because you always give a little shiver when I kiss along here."

Wait.

He's noticed that?

I feel the sponge gently scrub over my back and Harry's mouth is suddenly close to my ear.

"I quite like this too, especially when I'm cuddled up to it and my chest is against your skin," he whispers and I feel myself inhale sharply, as he pulls my back against his chest to accentuate his point.

It suddenly feels quite warm in here.

Warner than it normally does in a shower.

He begins to soap over one of my thighs and then the other.

"These I quite like wrapped around my waist," he grips my hip with his other hand, "or around my head."

I feel his hardness pressing against my lower back and I lean forward, placing my hands on the tiled wall in front of me, bracing myself.

Harry nips gently at my ear as he moves the sponge to wash across my stomach.

"I especially love how soft and curvy you are around here," he starts to leave a trail of kisses down my neck as the sponge starts moving higher in a circular motion.

"I do like these in quite a lot of ways," he says lowly as he runs the sponge over my breasts, his other hand leaving my hip and cupping one, "in my hands...your hands...my mouth..."

Harry drops the sponge and grabs my other breast, now roughly squeezing them as he pinches my nipples.

My head falls back and I let out a low moan as Harry begins to grind his hips behind me.

I turn my head and Harry's mouth is on mine before I can even speak as one of my hands leaves the wall to tangle in his hair but he pushes it back onto it.

"Leave it there," he growls against my mouth.

His hand pulls on my breast again before it trails down my stomach and between my legs.

"Harry..." I moan as his fingers don't hesitate to begin to rub over my clit.

"I really do love the sounds you make and the way your body responds when I touch here," he says in my ear as he pinches my clit, "and how it tastes..."

A gasp comes out of my mouth as my body jolts in surprise.

"Harry!" I breathe out.

I turn around and reach up, grabbing Harry by the back of his neck, pulling him down to push my lips onto his, my other hand reaching to grasp his cock.

Now it's Harry's turn to gasp as he stands there momentarily thrusting into my hand.

Then it's like something snaps and my back is against the wall and his fingers are between my legs again.

Harry rests his forehead on mine as we work each other to climax.

I soon start to feel that familiar heat spread through my body and I'm moaning with every exhale as my hand becomes covered in a hot, silky liquid.

Fuck me.

I'm done.

Harry pushes his body against mine and his hands hold my face before kissing me firmly on the lips.

"Don't ever think you're less than perfect," he says as he smiles at me.

He pulls back and washes any trace of himself off the two of us before tuning the water off.

How did he?

I never even said anything.

I take hold of the towel he's offering me and step out of the shower and dry myself off before I wrap it around my body and quietly slip out to the hallway to grab some clean linen.

I mean, I'm all for chocolate but I don't want to sleep in it.

Harry helps me to strip the bed and place the clean linen onto it and we finally collapse onto it, the covers pulled up to our necks as we snuggle together.

I'm already yawning and my eyes quickly close and the last thing I feel is Harry gently kiss my forehead.

~~~~~~

I stack the breakfast dishes next to the sink in preparation to wash them.

Harry is gone, saying he has some things to take care of and he needs to see his mum as well, which of course is fine, I have no problem with that whatsoever.

It's the fact that he seemed a bit preoccupied, distracted even, and I did ask if something was wrong but he assured me all was well.

I can't help but wonder if it's me though.

Have I done something wrong?

Said the wrong thing?

I mean, everything seemed okay last night.

Well.

More than okay.

But something is off with him this morning and I honestly have no idea what.

I realise my lip is bearing the brunt of my worry and I stop chewing on it.

He did say he'd call me later so maybe whatever it is I've done, or maybe haven't done, isn't so bad.

I guess.

"Mum are you okay?" Nick's voice breaks my silent thoughts.

"Yeah mate," I reply, "I'm just a bit tired."

"Maybe you should try getting more sleep," he grins at me.

My mouth falls open causing Nick to start giggling at me.

I grab a tea towel and start flicking it at him and soon we're engaging in a tea towel war to see who flicks who first.

"Hey mum," Jamie says, causing me to lose focus and earn a flick on my thigh.

"Ow!" I cry as I rub my leg, "you little bugger!"

Nick just laughs at me.

"What is it Jamie?" I ask.

He holds up a small local paper that he's reading.

"There's a lolly shop in town, can we go there today?" he asks, "please?"

We have no other plans so why not?

Besides, I'm not going to sit around all day and wait for Harry.

He's got a phone.

"Sure," I smile at him, "sounds like fun.  Why don't we finish getting ready and we can go?"

I walk past and flick the towel at Nick's bottom earning a shriek from him.

Later, the dishes are done and we're on our way into town.

We start to breathe out extra hard to see who's breath we can see in the cold and both the boys win which proves my theory that they're both full of hot air.

We soon reach the little lolly shop and go inside and immediately we're greeted by a warm, sweet delicious aroma.

The kids are beside themselves and I just decide to let them get what they want, within reason.

"Mum?" Chloe says, "can I pick out some things for Harry?"

"Of course sweetheart," I reply, "I think he'll like that very much."

There are a few other customers walking around the shop but I don't really pay any attention to them.  I pick out a few little bits and pieces, items I've never seen back home so that I can try them.

I start to move when I suddenly bump into a young girl next to me.

"Oh I'm so sorry, I didn't see you there!" I apologise.

I expect her to say something in reply, but she just looks at me strangely.

Okay.

Chloe comes up to me and shows me her basket.

"I've finished shopping for me and Harry," she says proudly.

I see the girl's gaze move from me and down to Chloe and her eyes widen.

Now this is getting awkward.

I decide it's time to go and gather the kids together and pay for the amount of lollies that will last us for the next few weeks.

Possibly months.

I glance back at the girl as we exit but she's busy on her phone with her friend.

I spot the nearby bakery and decide it might be nice to try some of their goods.

"Let's pick up something for afternoon tea, what do you guys think?" I ask.

We walk down and enter it and the first thing I see is a picture of a very young Harry on the wall with some of the staff.

Could his smile be any bigger?

"Ooh, these look good!" Nick says, "can we have these for dinner?"

"Sure, why not?" I reply, thinking I won't have to cook.

Selections are made and we're soon on our way back to our house.

It's mid-afternoon by the time we arrive back with all our goodies and the kids are ready to tuck in.

"Just a couple of lollies guys, let's not go stupid!" I remind them.

"Too late for Jamie!" Nick taunts.

"Shut up Nick!" Jamie glares at him.

I usher Jamie and Chloe to go and sit in the lounge with a few treats.

"Want to watch a dvd mum?" Jamie calls out.

"Sure," I reply, "you go ahead and pick something and I'll start the fire."

I put away our purchases from the bakery and walk over to the fire.

Damn.

Plenty of logs but fresh out of kindling.

"Nick," I call out, "do you want to help me get some kindling please?"

"Not really," he says.

"I'm sorry, what?" I reply.

"I said, of course mum," he says, a grin on his face.

"We're just going to grab some kindling from outside okay?" I tell the other two.

"Sure mum," Jamie replies.

Chloe continues to suck on her lollipop.

Nick and I head back outside and soon we make light work of finding a bunch of sticks, just as a car pulls up near us.

I think that it's Harry but as I turn around, my stomach sinks.

It's James.

"Beth," he says as he exits his car, "lovely to see you again."

"Is it?" I ask dryly.

Like hell it is.

"I was hoping we might be able to catch up again," he says.

I was hoping we might not.

I start to turn away and usher Nick towards the house.

"No Harry today?" he asks as he rushes to catch up to us.

"He'll be here later," I reply just as we reach the door.

"Well then, surely you have time for a cup of tea and a chat?" he smiles at me and my skin instantly crawls.

Uh...no.

"I don't drink tea so I'll have to say no," I reply coolly.

James suddenly grabs me by the arm, spinning me around and causing me to drop the sticks tucked under my arm.

"Is it because of that idiot Styles?" he snaps.

I jerk my arm out of his grasp and turn to Nick.

"Go inside please," I tell him.

"No...mum..." he says.

"What a good idea," James says as he steps closer to me.

But Nick doesn't listen and moves in front of me.

He may only be 13 but he's just taller than me.

"She said no," he says in a low voice, one I've never heard before.

Shit.

"Nick is it?" James says, "I think your mother asked you to do something so you should listen to her and do as she says...now run along."

But he puts his hand on Nick's shoulder and gives him a bit of a push.

THUMP!

Before I even realise it, my fist connects with James' nose and we both scream out in fright.

Or pain.

I'm not sure.

"Fucking bitch!" he swears at me as he staggers back, holding his bleeding nose.

"Don't you ever fucking touch my son again, do you fucking hear me?" I point my good hand at him, "now leave before I call the police."

I don't wait for his response, I grab Nick and go back inside, locking the door behind us.

My hand is throbbing and I feel tears prick at my eyes.

"Nick," I try to calm my breathing, "can you wrap some ice up in a tea towel for me?"

"Sure mum," he says as he goes to the freezer.

Jamie and Chloe come running into the kitchen.

"Mum!" Chloe says.

"Mum what happened?" Jamie asks.

"I...fuck..." I grimace as a tear escapes, "I just hurt it getting wood."

"No she didn't," Nick mutters, "she hit some bloke out there."

"Nick!  Quiet!" I snap, not wanting to worry the younger two and because my hand was really starting to hurt.

I let go of nursing it and see it's red and some of the skin has split and is bleeding.

"Mummy!" Chloe says, clearly distressed.

"Sweetie, it's okay," I tell her, "I'm just going to go and clean it up in my bathroom and then I'll be back to watch the movie."

Nick gives me the tea towel and ice and I go upstairs to my bathroom.

Once I shut the door, I sink to the floor, holding the ice to my hand.

"Fuck!" I cry.

I can't believe how much it hurts.

I take the ice off and look at it.

How on earth and I going to explain this to the kids?

To Harry?

Oh my god!

What about Mrs. Watkins?

She'll probably throw us out because I hit her son!

I lean my head back and stare up at the ceiling.

I've fucked up big time.

I close my eyes and exhale, realising how much my hand is aching.

I'm not sure how long I've been sitting here for until I hear footsteps coming up the stairs.

The door suddenly swings open and any ounce of patience I have goes out with it when it does.

"I said I'd be down..." I start to say.

"Beth!"

My eyes snap open as Harry is immediately on his knees next to me, examining my hand.

"Ow...ow!" I try not to cry.

"Baby girl," he says, "what happened?"

He smooths my hair back from my face and kisses my temple.

"James pushed Nick and I...I just snapped and punched him!" I say.

Harry actually smiles a little before its quickly replaced by a frown.

"Is Nick okay?" he asks.

"I think so, maybe a little shaken up I imagine," I reply.

"Wriggle your fingers love," he instructs me and I do so, hissing in pain when I do.

"I don't think it's broken, let's get it patched up hey?" he says and looks in the cupboards for some bandages.

"Wait, Harry," I reach out to touch his arm, "how did you know?"

"Chloe called me, quite upset actually," he says, "I couldn't get much out of her so I came straight over."

"Oh Harry, I'm so sorry," I feel terrible, "you were probably in the middle of something important."

"I was at mum's," he grins, "she's invited you and the kids over for New Year's Eve."

Oh.

Harry begins cleaning up my wounds and I watch him in silence, wondering if I should ask what was wrong with him again.

"Remind me not to piss you off love," he says as he finally finishes and places a kiss on my bandaged hand.

I let out a sigh and a few more tears along with it.

"Hey, hey," he says as he quickly wraps his arms around me tightly, "it's okay."

"I know," I reply, "I just think it's all sinking in all of a sudden, and the fact that I might get kicked out for punching Mrs. Watkins son..."

He regards me silently for a moment.

"Why don't you just wait and see what happens there?" he says.

I watch as he packs everything up and puts it away in the cupboard before sitting back down next to me.

I decide to ask him again.

"Are you okay now?" I ask, "you were kind of distant this morning..."

He runs his hand through his hair before letting out a nervous laugh.

"Yeah," he says, "look, I'm sorry about this morning.  I was a bit of an ass I admit."

"I just want to know what I've done so I can fix it," I look up at him, only to be met with a look of horror on his face.

Oh fuck.

"Sweetheart, it wasn't you," he says, "absolutely not."

He pulls his phone out of his back pocket.

"Have you been on social media today?  Twitter in particular?" he asks.

"Haven't had a chance, why?" though I think I have some idea.

He hands it to me and I just google his name to save time.

And I almost drop the phone.

I just look at him and give it back to him.

"Look, I know it was really bad..." he starts.

"Why are you photographed leaving Cate's house today?" I ask.