Amour

Finals. Finals. Finals. Oh crap, finals are today. My feet kick off the bed as I struggle against my inner laziness to wake up. The crumple of paper catches my attention, and I see a small sheet of it on the pillow beside me. Disappointment crashing through me as I was hoping to awaken beside a much more animate being, I seize it and unfold it carefully. Its a note that reads:

Had something to deal with. I'll be back by this afternoon promise. Stay safe and come straight home after campus. Good luck for finals, baby.

P.S. Ego sum in amore cum vobis.

- L xx

Enveloped in the sheet is a silver key ring housing a single key. If I were to take a wild guess I'd say this is the key to the building, to his apartment. Holy fuzzball, it feels so heavy as I toss it into the air and catching it before it touches the bedding. I'm not going to be over dramatic and say this is too much to handle, I'm honestly quite excited about this step. It may be drastic but I can't hide from change forever.

His P.S message was a bit baffling but I soon make it out to be Latin - a language I happen to studying currently. If my translation skills are anything to rely on I believe it means 'I'm in love with you'. Holy Fuzzball. Of course he's told me that he loves be but every time it was like the first time, making me all jelly inside. This time is almost a hundred times worse, my face hides itself in the pillow as it turns a tomato red.
I'm reminded - thanks to my sour subby - of his reaction last night in the shower. His eyes carried emotions of both fear and doubt, even hints of anger but most of all there was that pain I always loathed. It may have been hidden deep down in the bowels of his emotions but it was there nonetheless and I was the trigger.

Shoving off those unsavory reminders I push the duvets away and go in search of my duffel bag carrying my clothing. I saunter about the room looking in every nook and cranny but can't seem to find it. Going into the closet I'm both happy and surprised at what I find. My clothes are hung up in the wardrobes, sharing the space with Louis' clothes. I wasn't the doer of this so when did he do it? While I was asleep possibly. Catching a glimpse of the time on my phone, I decide to hurry up and just grab the closest items of clothing before jumping into the shower.

Nana calls me while I'm stumbling around in 'my' office looking for my bag.

"Sam?" She sounds unsure.

"Yes, Nana. What's up?" I laugh at her mockish laugh.

"Oh good. Just calling to wish you luck on your finals. Did you get enough studying in?" I can picture her raising her eyebrow at me suspiciously right now. I really do have the best grandma ever.

"Yes, I did. Getting ready to leave just now."

"Oh well, good luck honey."

"Thanks, Nana."

"Bye, baby girl."

"Bye. Oh! How is Jase getting to school?"

"Don't worry about it, Tommy came by and took him already." She sounds like someone in love when she says his name.

"Lover boy's seems like he doubles as a saint."

"Go write your finals, Sammy."

"Laters, Nana."

"Tata."

I hang up and go on looking for my bag. After finding it buried beneath a pile of now-useless textbooks, I toss any necessities into it before rushing out the door. The symbolic impression that is evident when I use the key Louis has given me to lock the front door does not go unacknowledged.


I settle into my examination seat - we're set in alphabetical order according to our surnames - and push my bag under my chair. There is a great enough distance between the next student and me, so I feel safe enough to look up and not be suspected of cheating. The examiner is someone I've not seen before but I risk a glance around the room looking for Zack and Ella. Ella is seated three rows down and four seats left, I find Zack in my row about six seats to my left.

"Begin." We're instructed and its like releasing the bulls in Spain. Everyone unleashes their pens and pencils as they begin their race against the examination time.

My phalanges are full-on aching when I finish up my last sentence on the answer sheet. According to the clock I have a solid five minutes to go through each question and answer again, this is my last written examination so I'm not taking any chances. Everything seems to be in order so I hand my paper in and note that both Ella and Zack have already handed theirs in because their chairs are empty.
Quietly pushing open and walking through the wooden doors I feel a sense of accomplishment with a dash of feebleness. Ella and Zack are chatting outside the building with him seated on the steps and her leaning against a pillar in the courtyard.

"Thank God! We thought we'd have to come in and get you." Ella shoves off her support structure as I approach them.

"Why didn't you? I was dying in there." I scold them.

"How's about a celebration pie? We'll order a whole one and won't leave until we finish it."

"My stomach just ran back into the exam hall." Zack points at the door.

Louis' request for me to be back immediately after the paper rings bright and loud. "I have my dissitation to prepare for tomorrow."

"So do I." Zack raises his hand.

"Fine. No pie today, but on Monday at my house I will force-feed you both one pie. Each." Ella threatens.

"Monday? I thought we had to come over on Tuesday."

"No, Zacky boy. After the assessments you guys have to come over that afternoon. Clear?"

"Crystal. See you guys tomorrow." I wave at them and jog down the steps to my car.

***

*LOUIS POV*

"Roger! Where are you, man?" I push open the unlocked door and walk into his home.

"Down here." I get a faint reply and follow the voice down to the cave portion of Roger's home.

He is seated at his usual station in the dungeon corner of the basement, giving his unwavering attention to his computer screen.

"Roger. Wake up." I walk up beside him and prop myself up on his desk.

"Louis, finally. I have everything." He looks up at me and rises to go to the printer. Taking whatever's been produced he tucks it into a brown folder before handing it to me.

"What's this?"

"Everything we need to know about our guy."

Flipping through the pages I find several case files, reports from the authorities and a few medical exams but no photos. I frown in disappointment.

"His name is Zefris. A to-hire hitman from VAMPO and one of the most expensive. ones too, he's never missed a target." A disembodied third voice intervenes. The voice is all too familiar and the upon discovering the face that goes with it.

"What's he still doing here?" I frustratedly to Roger.

"Hey! I thought we were mates again." Michael doesn't give Roger aa chance to answer.

"We are, you still get on my nerves though. By the way, thanks for telling Sam about the bloody poison."

"It was my pleasure. Don't get your knickers in a twist over that, she wanted and deserved to know."

"She didn't need to know my mother spiked her drink with a lethal chemical."

"You told her that part. Not me."

"Fuck you."

"You don't deserve her."

"I know."

"Its like..........she's an angel and you're the hopeless pilgrim begging to be loved."

"Must I repeat myself?"

"Go ahead."

"Fuck you."

"Okay! As I was about to say before this circus came to town." Roger steps between us and holds his hands up as if bracing two wrestlers.

Keeping my gaze on Michael I catch him wink and laugh at me. Rolling my eyes at his cheek I hand Roger my attention instead.

"His name is Zefris and he's from VAMPO. Digging into his past you'll find that he used to be an agent for headquarters but went rogue, deadly rogue and people have been hiring him for person hits ever since." He goes on.

"How do we find him?" Michael asks approaching us and perching himself on Roger's examination table next to me.

"He's everywhere but also nowhere. No camera picks him up, even passerbys are oblivious. You could have brushed shoulders with him and never known."

"Impossible." I huff.

"He masks his real scent with that of his previous victim. So its very possible." Roger states.

"How does he do that?" Michael asks the horrifying question for me.

"Don't know. Clothes, perfume-"

"Skin."

I turn to glare at Michael sending him a message to shut the hell up. He isn't funny. This isn't a joke.

"I take it back. I'm sorry." He shrugs it off.

"We need to get rid of him, Roger." I almost plead.

"Louis, we don't even know if he's actually been hired by someone to find Sam. He could just be fooling around." He responds helplessly.

"That doesn't explain him showing up in her dreams."

"Nightmares. And we can prove that someone's hired him." Michael chimes in again.

"How, Einstein?" I turn to him.

"Roger does everything by bending the rules while I go straight ahead and break 'em. I hacked into the VAMPO server and got the name of someone who paid £510 000 into an unknown account off-shore. Tracking the details got me nowhere."

"That's why we need him." Roger comments.

"Who was it?" I ask Michael getting annoyed about this procrastination.

"You're not gonna be happy." He removes a sheet of folded paper from his jacket pocket and hands it to me.

Unfolding it and briefly browsing over the information displayed I finally uncover a single name at the foot of the page.

"Its Hannah T." Michael actually sounds resentful. "Are you sure she's your mommy?"

***

*SAM POV*

When I get - home? - back Louis still isn't there, I decide against texting or calling him so as not to interrupt what he's doing. My stomach growls from the lack of sustenance its been put through so I leave my bag upstairs then hastening back downstairs into the kitchen to rally up a snack. The fridge is practically naked with only the bare necessities - milk, eggs, juice - and nothing else; the shelves have a box of tea bags, sugar and two packets of pasta.

"Ugh." I grumble to myself upon the discovery. Looks like I need to go grocery shopping real soon.

My schedule this week is practically bumper-to-bumper. Maybe I can go after my dissitation tomorrow. Its Sunday and the meeting is scheduled for 8 in the morning, should be out of the way by 10 at the latest so I'm sure I can steal away to the closest mall and be back by lunch time. With the new resolution in mind I abandon my quest for food and return to my books and sticky notes.

My phone rings in my hand just as I close my study room door behind me and I hit the answer button.

"Accept my request." Zack says before hanging up for the second time.

I do as I'm told once I've fired up the mean machine - my laptop in other words as I've come to call it. I turn the screen around to face the center of the room prior to accepting Zack's Skype request.

"Okay. Mr. C gave us a few guidelines about what we might be asked tomorrow. It includes basic and severe injuries, components and functions of bodily systems." He gets right to the point. I write everything down on an empty page.

"Awesome. Do you wanna do an informal run? Because there is nothing we could possibly study from these textbooks."

"Yeah, sure. Okay, how would you handle a bullet wound?"

"Extract the bullet, check for depth, seal the wound."

"If a vital organ was punctured?"

"Instant surgery required. My turn, describe the layout of the spinal cord from nape to pelvis."

We have about three more rounds before we're interrupted by someone knocking on the front door. My first guess - wish rather - is that Louis' returned, but if that was the case he wouldn't knock. Instant fear causes my body temperature to plummet as I head downstairs to answer it. Should I answer it? I put my hand on the handle and am spooked with three more harsh knocks.

"Will you open up please? My legs are paining." The voice is oddly familiar and relief washes over me.

Turning the lever I pull the door open to see a very impatient Harry tapping his foot while leaning against the door frame, in front of a seemingly happy Niall who waves at me despite the boulder of a man before him. Sarah is beside him and here is a fourth person I can't see because of Harry's broad structure.

"Well, look who it is." Harry eyes me from top to bottom and I want to smack him even though I know he's just a cheeky one.

"I could say the same for you." I respond trying to keep some courage in my voice and disguise how intimidated I feel.

"Is Louis in?" Harry steps in bending to kiss my cheek - my uneasiness is through the roof - then going into the living room. Niall follows him mimicking his actions and kisses my other cheek, then Sarah who hugs me awkwardly and the fourth person turns out to be someone I have seen before too. He's the guys who sold me my camera, Zayn I think. You've got to be joking. He just nods, smiles and goes into the living room with the trio.

"No, he isn't."

"Where is he then?"

"Got any food?" Niall asks me already on his way to the kitchen.

"I don't know where he is." I answer Harry first then Niall. "If you find anything you like be my guest, Niall."

He jumps up and goes into the kitchen. I hear the fridge door open multiple times but Niall doesn't return. I stand at the entrance to the living room looking at the three people occupying it.

"Can I know what you guys need? I'm busy right now." I prompt.

"We were told to come here so we did." Sarah speaks up.

"By whom?"

As if on cue someone else knocks on the door and I brace myself to answer it. Turning the handle yanking the door open and find yet another person I have met before but this time on a bitter occasion. Hannah looks at me frowning for just a second then composing herself.

"Sam, I didn't expect to find you here." She walks around me not bothering to hug or kiss me - thank you, God, you won't regret this.

"Sorry to disappoint you." I keep the acidity out of my voice but I catch Harry smirk and wink at me from my post against the wall. I roll my eyes at his reaction.

Niall's finally rejoined them but he's empty handed and I feel terrible that he turned up dry. I am definitely going grocery shopping tomorrow, no matter how much Louis protests and I know he assuredly will.

Hannah makes herself comfortable on the single seater while Zayn, Niall, Harry and Sarah are seated on the L-shaped couch. Now what do I do? I mentally have an exchange of a few sarcastic words with Louis for abandoning me today.

"I have......something to do so -" I start talking but am interrupted when an arm encircles my waist, a palm flattens on my hip and I don't have to guess to know who it is.

"Honey, I'm home." Louis whispers in my ear and I hear the smile in his words before turning his attention to our guests. I don't dare look at them for fear that my face may match the tone of a beetroot.

Shuffling my weight from foot to foot I graciously fall back as Louis moves to stand in front of me with his hand on my waist. The tightness of his hold and tone of his voice tells me he wasn't the one who called this meeting.

"What's going on here?" Louis addresses the rest of the room.

"We've been waiting forever, honey." Hannah stands but doesn't make a move to approach us. She eyes me as if I'm some sort of talisman that prevents her from coming any closer. The audacity of this woman is astonishing.

"Hannah called us all here but wouldn't tell us why." Harry speaks up.

"Well, Hannah?" Louis looks at his mom and I'm not the only one surprised to hear him speak to her using her first name. Her eyes widen and her mouth becomes agape as she recovers from the blow.

"We'd like to have a private conversation with you." She says.

'Private conversation' is my cue to leave. Under normal circumstances I'd possibly be reluctant but what with me being desperate for study time, I won't argue this time. I turn to leave but the grip on my hip only tightens.

"What?" Louis looks at me and so does everyone else.

"Zack's waiting. We have a lot of ground to cover before tomorrow so I better get back." I point with my thumb to the staircase and he follows it before looking back at me.

"Alright. I'll be up in a second." He bends to kiss me and I freeze momentarily as his lips meet mine.

I pull away first and hurry off towards my office so that the private conversation can be continued. I carefully close the door behind me even though everyone downstairs can still hear me breathing.

***

*LOUIS POV*

What the fuck is she doing here? Why did Sam even let her in? Why is everyone here? It has to be ridiculous if Niall's here. I mean I love the guy but he's as serious as a clown.

"Hannah, why are there so many people in my living room?" She hasn't fully come back from me calling her by her first name and this blow almost knocks her off her feet. She hides the anger well and puts on a happy-go-lucky mask.

"We need to talk to you, Louis-" She starts.

"Not us, we don't even know what this is about." Zayn cuts her off.

"I need to talk to you because you obviously haven't listened to me about Sam-"

"Hannah, I don't have time for this shit. Do you anything important to say?"

Her cool struggles to maintain its grip, its slipping. "Yes. Listen to me, I love you-"

"No, you don't because you won't leave me the hell alone! Sam and I have nothing to do with you."

My anger rises and reaches boiling point in less time than estimated. Roger and Michael warned me not to let Hannah know what we know because her reaction could be frantic and hasty. The repercussions weren't worth it so I keep my trap shut.

"This is all too angry for me." I catch Niall whispering to Sarah.

"Go find Sam and play with her." She responds.

He stands and looks at me asking for permission to go, I nod and he takes off in zipping speed. Niall is probably the one other person like me that I'd trust with Sam, he's a real kid at heart with an appetite big enough to feed Asia.

"Why exactly did you bring my friends here?" I ask the active volcano of a woman across the coffee table from me.

"Harry, tell Louis what you think about all this." She turns to face Harry and he sits up alarmed.

"What?" He clears his throat.

"Tell him."

"I don't need any of their opinions. What I do is my business." I put in.

"I like her. She's um......funny and Louis needs to chill out anyway." Harry says anyway.

"Don't you think-" Hannah continues.

"Louis' right. It isn't our business, I don't even get why we're here." Sarah interrupts.

"I've only met Sam once." Zayn says.

I stare at the woman I used to call mom, not surprised but pissed at her audacity.

"We'll be in the driveway." The three peers stand and leave.

Its just Hannah and I emitting palpable anger in the living room with a coffee table between us. I decide to let her have it.

"Hannah, this is my home. You cannot simply walk in here anytime you please and harass my girlfriend the way you just did. This is low even for you, calling my friends and asking them to do that is no less than pathetic. Now I'd appreciate it if you could back off and leave Sam and I alone. I've been to Hell and back in this world but this relationship - Samantha - has made all that worthwhile. Can't you be a normal mom and just visit with brownies every once in a while, or show up with gifts for Christmas? It hurts that you don't trust me."

"Of course I trust you-"

"Then prove it, Hannah. Prove that I'm still your son who deserves personal freedom."

***

*SAM POV*

"What took you so long?" Zack demands when we go back to our previous ideal.

"Sorry. There are guests downstairs. Um....where were we?" I restrain my hair with a band and give my books all my attention.


About half an hour into our session someone knocks on my door. Sighing with relief I excuse myself from Zack's company and go to answer it. When I turn the knob and pull it open I find Niall and not Louis. Ignoring the pang of disappointment I smile and open the door wider.

"Hey, Niall. Do you need something?" I ask.

"Yeah, can I hang out with you for a bit? They chased me because I wasn't paying attention to anything." He shrugs and I laugh but let him in anyway.

"Sure, but I'm studying with a friend so I doubt you'll take an interest."

He walks in and I close the door again. Sitting down on the floor he starts picking at my books and I remember him wanting food earlier.

"There's a chocolate bar in my bag if you want it." I point at the bag on the sofa and he nods appreciatively.

"Who's that?" Zack's voice carries.

"Zack, this is Niall. Niall, Zack." I do introductions speedily and go back to studying.

"Hey." Zack waves at the Indiana Jones going through my bag.

"Sup?" Niall waves two fingers in greeting.

There's another knock on my door about an hour later and Louis walks in. He glances over at Zack and I at the desk with textbooks and charts sprawled all over, covering every flat surface in near proximity to us. Seeing his reflection on the laptop screen I notice a larger-than-life mug in his hand.

"Niall, the guys are waiting for you in the driveway." Louis makes a quick hand gesture for him to leave.
Niall stands and comes over to me holding his hand out as if he wants a high-five. Strange. I do return the action and try not to focus on the stinging in my palm afterwards.

"Thanks for keeping me occupied, Sammy." He departs with that being his finals words.

I just smile and wave with the hand that I'm sure is now bruised from the impact. Note to self: don't high-five Niall ever again. Massaging my hand with the other I turn to Zack.

"Let's get some shut-eye, Zack. See you tomorrow." I say waving.

"Okay, what time is it?" He rubs his eyes.

"Um.....seven. Somewhere around there."

"Delightful. See you tomorrow." He signs off and I close the laptop without shutting down. I'm going to pay for that one day.

"You study too much. Its unhealthy." Louis says to me when I stand up and stretch absentmindedly.

"What's a girl with dreams of a job to do?" I hold my hands up in defense and laugh.

"For one, you could come to bed. Its late." He holds his hand out and I take it eagerly. He spins me around and pulls me against his chest making me giggle.

"Its actually not that late."

"Yeah well, taking into the account the hours of sleep you've been catching the last few days I'd say its very late. Come on."

He kneels down and grabs the backs of my thighs all while holding the mug. Multitasking at its best. He strides out of the room with me hauled over his shoulder, fisting the fabric of his shirt so as to maintain my grip and balance.

"Louis! Put me down!" I shriek in protest but to no avail.

He ignores me and carries on into the bedroom. He stops at the foot of the bed and drops me on my back onto the mattress.

"Was that necessary?" I sit up and pull the duvets back to crawl under them. Louis just climbs onto the bed on top of the covers trapping me beneath them and lays down beside me on his front. He rests his head on his hand that's propped up at the elbow.

"So what exam are you writing tomorrow?" He flattens his palm on my waist, his index finger drawing little circles on the skin.

"Its not exam, I have my medical dissitation tomorrow."

"Ooooh! Fancy."

"Aha." I press my lips swiftly to his and he smiles. "So where did you go this morning?"

The breathtaking smile disintegrates and he resumes a more reluctant stance, but I notice that his eyes are their healthier light blue shade, the tiny green hints in them make it nothing short of remarkable. His expression grows into a guarded one.

"Spent some time with Roger. Had a guys day out." He tugs on my shirt as he fidgets with the hem.

"Michael?"

"He tagged along too. What say you to a bath?"

"I could use one. Alone?"

"There's no fun in being alone."

***

We're sitting in Louis' bathtub with bubbles at our necks threatening to leave white transparent pearl necklaces. Louis is sitting with his neck down covered by water and I've been pulled onto his lap. My head rests on his shoulder while Louis goes through the motions of entwining our fingers and blowing bubbles away.

"Louis." I speak without moving my head.

"Hmm?" He hums kissing each of my fingers.

"Why won't you tell me anything about your past?"

His jaw tightens and encircles my waist with his arm before taking a deep breath. I try to sit up but his hold on me possesses much greater strength.

"What do you want to know?"

"Um....how many girls have you dated before me?"

"None."

That answer was too simple and precise. I decide to rephrase the question. "How many girls have you been with before me?"

He has a sharp intake of breath before answering. "A few."

Well, I won't press on that. "Where were you born?"

"Yorkshire but we moved when I was about thirteen, and never went back. The accent stuck I guess."

"I like the accent. Where did you move to when you were thirteen?"

"We moved out here to London, the adjustment was something I didn't take to immediately. I made a few friends though and everything eventually grew on me. I was out one day and we decided to take a football break, so we were playing ball in the park during our break. My friend kicked the ball too far out and I went to fetch it." I feel his fingertips press into my skin at the hip and he rests his arm on the edge of the bathtub with our fingers still knotted together. "I found the ball but never got to play the second half of that match. I never........knew what happened that day, everything happened so fast that I imagine someone was hunting and made a mistake with me.
My friends never came looking for me, I just lay there writhing in pain and fear as nightfall approached. That's when I met Roger, he found me and carried me to his home where he ensured that I woke up. Whoever it was that attacked me, didn't know what they were doing. I was left with a deep tissue scar, my skin had been in shreds because of their haste. Roger took care of me, he made sure I didn't bleed out and die. I begged him to try and reverse what had happened but there was nothing he could do. He saved me and so I owe him my life."

I'm left with goosebumps trailing down my back, all over my arms and legs. The water has started the process of cooling and I bite my tongue to stop the shiver from arising, Louis' finally opening up and I'd rather go cold right now.
He didn't deserve what he got, his friends were bastards for abandoning him. His story tugs on my emotional traits and a single tear drops.

"Baby, no. Don't cry for me. I don't deserve it." He hugs me closer and his body is instantly warm. This isn't about me, stop crying.

I clear my throat before speaking next. "Go on."

He doesn't answer immediately, rather taking hold of my left leg and hiking it up bending it at the knee. My knee is visible above the surface of the water with tiny soap suds scurrying downward to rejoin the group. He runs his hand down my thigh then back up before going down the other end and back again.

"Besides Roger, Michael was my first friend. He showed me ropes, made me comfortable with my new abilities. Then after his mistake that killed people in the process, he and I went our separate ways. He was made an outcast, a mad scientist is what everyone called him. It was my fault, I spoke to soon and didn't have all the facts yet."

I remember this story, Louis told it to me the first time I met Michael. It was a pretty nasty mistake.

"You wanted to know how old I am. I was twenty-eight when I was attacked and the attack was in the year 1819." He adds sounding very unsure.

Holy fuzzball, that's almost two hundred years ago. One hundred and ninety-four to be exact. I mentally do the math but Louis speaks first.

"Sam, I'm two hundred and twenty-two years old." He looks into my eyes I guess in search of some kind of disgust.

"And I love each year more than the last." I reassure him cupping the side of his face and bringing it closer to me for me to kiss him.

He allows me to sit upright on his lap, my eye catches something emerge on the skin of Louis' neck. It isn't a tattoo, its an injury. The wound is almost hollow with the remnants of tissue that have become white with age. I gasp and he panics immediately removing it from my sight.

"No. I want to see." I encourage and he does bring it back.

Taking my hand back I reach towards it letting my fingertips trace the outline of the scar. I hated seeing his beautiful skin marred like this, but its a part of him and I love every part. He didn't deserve to go through what he did, the pain, the horror, the unimaginable fear.
I lean in to place a kiss on the skin below the mark, using my action as a symbol of love and gentleness. Every time he showed something that was revolting to him I would kiss it to prove that I didn't care and that I still loved him.

He remains still, unmoving as I carry out my next action. Moving my lips a little north I press a soft kiss in the middle of the scar. I feel him relax from my touch, and even release a throaty moan.

"They're all hideous. I never want to show them to you because I'm afraid you'll hate me." He pulls me steadily onto his lap so that I'm straddling him. The water sloshes and splashes but doesn't spill thankfully.

I place my arms on his shoulders, with his resting on my hips.

"Never think that way. I'll love you no matter what you told or showed me, Louis." I tell him gazing into his eyes to express my sincerity.

"No one has ever loved me. You are the first person I've shown these marks to because you're the first girl..........I want to love and would do anything to have love me back."

He sounds like a little boy asking to loved by someone, begging to have the experience and know what it feels like. I didn't want to say anything, for fear of saying the wrong thing. Nothing can be properly put into words and still perfectly represent how much I care for Louis.
I go for the actions-speak-louder-than-words move and use my grip at the edge of his hairline on his neck to drop his head enough for his neck to be in view. I bend a little and plant a kiss on the moist skin of his throat, right on his Adam's Apple.

I lift my head to see he's closed his eyes. I decide to risk a kiss and press my lips to his. They ignite in a gentle ceremony and he lifts his head bringing himself closer to me. He pulls me closer to him by my waist, his arms forming a steel cage around it. The kiss deepens and he runs his tongue along my bottom lip, I follow suit and his sweet taste lingers in my mouth. He releases my mouth destroying the precious contact and powerfully brings my body closer to him. He presses his forehead to my chest just above my breasts. He breathes heavily as if inhaling my scent.

"Hold on." He warns.

Catching me off guard, Louis stands and I attempt to scramble off him but he maintains his hold moving it lower to my thighs though. Stepping out of the water he grabs the largest towel from the rack and wraps it around us. Miraculously the soft fluffy material is capable of clothing both our bodies even in this position. My eyes are wide and panicked. What is he doing? I hold onto his shoulders as he carries me into the bedroom, all the while I'm praying he doesn't drop me.

He lays down on the bed and the restriction in the form of a towel forces me to go down with him.

"Louis-" I'm about to ask about clothes but he interrupts.

"Please." Is the only word he mutters and I stop. He's asking me to just go along with this.

I say nothing and he rolls over so that we're both on our sides. Our skin is still damp from the bath and the towel is more a instrument he's using to keep us together than something used to dry off.

Louis wraps his arms around my waist again to pull me close, his one arm drifts down to my leg and hikes it up to rest on his waist. He reburies himself in my chest as if that is his safe place, where he could hide and forget the world around him. Allowing my damp body to settle into this position I run my fingers through Louis' hair and he hums against my skin appreciatively. Louis hugs me closer and caresses my skin with a kiss.

"Louis?" I whisper his name as if it were a forbidden chant.

"Yes?" He answers in the same monotone.

"Do you really never sleep?"

"We can but its a choice." The feel of his moving lips on my skin is ticklish but I refrain from laughing.

"Will you sleep? If you wanted to."

"Yes, I'll sleep tonight. Goodnight."

He shifts his head and looks up at me, I graciously bring my lips down to his so that they may unite in a swift goodnight kiss. Louis goes back into hiding and I continue to comb through his hair until I eventually fall asleep.

Notes