After (Larry Version)

~*Chapter 72*~

His fingers grip the bottom of his shirt, pulling it over his head, and he reaches behind me to turn on the shower.
"We can't just take a shower together! We're at your father's house, and Liam and Niall could be back anytime," I say. The idea of seeing Harry completely naked under the shower makes me squirm but this is too much.
"Well, then I'm going to take a nice hot shower while you stand there and overanalyze." His pants drop to the floor, along with his boxers, and he steps past me and into the water. The bare skin on his back is tight, pulled against the muscles there. He faces me, his eyes moving up and down my covered body, the way mine are on his naked one. The water covers him, making his tattooed skin glisten. I don't realize I'm staring until he closes the curtain abruptly, hiding his perfect figure.
"Don't you just love a hot shower after a long day?" His voice is muffled somewhat by the sound of the water, but I can still catch its smugness."

"I wouldn't know,some rude naked guy stole my shower," I huff and hear him chuckle.
"A sexy rude naked guy?" he teases. "Just come in before the hot water goes away."
"I..." I want to, but taking a shower with someone is just so intimate, too intimate.

"Come on, live a little. It's just a shower," he says and opens the curtain. "Please." He reaches his hand out and my eyes scan his long, inked torso, gleaming from the water sliding down his skin.
"Okay," I whisper and undress while he watches every move I make. "Stop staring," I scold him and he pretends to be wounded, placing his hand over his heart.
"Are you questioning my nobility?" He laughs and I nod slowly, trying to fight my smile. "I am insulted."
He reaches his hand out to help, and I can't believe I'm actually doing this, showering with someone. I try my best to cover myself with my arms as I wait for him to move from under the water."

"Is it weird that I love how you're still shy around me?" he says, unfolding my arms, removing my shield. I stay quiet and he gently tugs my arms to bring me more under the water, which he's blocking with his body. His head dips down, soaking my bare shoulder.
"I think it's so appealing to me because you are so shy and innocent, yet you let me do dirty things to you." His breath feels hotter than the water against my ear. I blink as his hands travel down my arms slowly. "And I know for a fact that you like when I say dirty things to you."

"I gulp and he smiles against my neck. "See how your pulse quickens... I can practically see it under your delicate skin." He taps his index finger over the pulse point in my neck. I have no idea how I am standing,my legs have turned to mush, along with my brain.
His fingers running over my body make me stop worrying about the fact that we aren't alone in the house,they make me want to be reckless and let Harry do whatever he wants to me. When his long fingers wrap around my hips, I involuntarily lean into him.
"I love you, Louis . You believe me, don't you?" he asks."

"I nod, wondering why he is asking me this right now, after we have said it so many times in the last twenty-four hours. "Yes, I believe you." My voice is hoarse and I clear my throat.
"Good. I have never loved anyone before." He goes from playful to seductive to serious so fast, I can barely keep up.
"Ever?" I think I already knew this, but it feels so different actually having him say the words, especially when we are like this. I thought he would have his head between my legs right now, not be expressing his feelings."

"No, never. Not even close," he admits.
I wonder if he has ever had a girlfriend or boyfriend before—no, I don't want to know if he has. He told me he doesn't date, so I'm going to stick with that.
"Oh," is all I can say.
"Do you love me the way you loved Elijah ?" he asks.
A sound between a cough and a gasp comes out of my mouth, and I look away from him. I grab the shampoo off the shelf. I haven't even washed anything yet and we have been in here several minutes already.
"Well?" he presses."

I don't know how to answer that. It's totally different with Harry than it was with Elijah . I loved Elijah , I think. I know I loved him, just not like this. Loving Elijah was comfortable and safe, it was always calm. Harry is raw and exciting, it sparks my every nerve and I can't get enough of him. I never want to be away from him. Even when he drove me crazy, I missed him and had to fight myself to stay away.
"I take that as a no," he says and turns away from me, letting me have full access to the water. I feel cramped in the tiny space and the air is too thin, too clouded with steam from the hot water.