Chapter Text
Louis' POV
Christmas Eve
“Come on Lou, the Uber is here. Hurry up,” Lottie calls out from the hallway, frustration evident in her voice.
“Alright, alright Lotts, calm your farm, love. I'm just finishing up with my hair,” he calls back through the closed door, getting annoyed with both his unruly hair and his younger sister.
“Oh my god, Louis! Here, let me…,” Lottie says as she opens the door and barges into the bathroom, swatting his hands away from his hair. Snatching the styling cream container off the counter, she scoops out the required amount, rubs it between her palms and fingers, and begins styling his hair.
“Ooof, get off me. I am perfectly capable of doing it myself you know,” Louis says, trying to step away from his meddling sister.
She grabs a good amount of his hair in one hand and glares at him. “Louis William Tomlinson. You've already been in this bathroom for twenty-five minutes messing around with your hair. Enough already.”
“You can't say that to me Lotts,” Louis says, with indignation that his sister would dare speak to him that way on this, the most sacred of days. “It's my birthday, and you have to be nice to me.”
“I have been nice to you, you bonehead,” Lottie says, giving his cheek a flick with the fingers of her other hand. “But I've been waiting for you to be ready for the last fifteen minutes and I'm done. So pull your head out of your arse, settle down and let me fix this so we can go. The boys are already waiting down stairs.”
Pouting, Louis crosses his arms over his chest, very much resembling five-year old Louis when he didn't get his way, but he finally stands still and allows her to fix his hair in what she affectionately refers to as the electrocuted hedgehog. A bit flyaway, a bit on the messy side and a feathering of fringe across his forehead. Apparently it looks amazing with his blue eyes, grey knit jumper and black trousers.
"There,” she says, stepping back and admiring her handiwork before placing a quick kiss to his cheek. “All done. Now, can we pleeease go?”
He rolls his eyes but exits the bathroom, making his way to the living room to collect his phone and keys before they head downstairs to meet up with their friends.
Louis’ best mates from school, Stan and Oli, who share a flat about ten minutes away from the flat Louis shares with his sister on the outskirts of London, are waiting for them in the Uber as they exit their building, ready for the quick ride to the club only a few minutes away.
As they exit the Uber and finally enter the club, Midnight Memories, they find the dance floor packed, but surprisingly manage to grab a table off to the side as a small group are leaving. Lottie and Stan make their way over to the bar to order drinks while Louis and Oli catch up.
“So lad. How does it feel being a whole quarter of a century old, eh?" Oli asks, slapping him on the back. “With all the things we would get up to as kids, who'd have thought we'd make it here?”
Louis looks at his best friend and grins. “I know mate. We were right trouble as kids, always getting a bollocking for one thing or another.” They both have a good laugh remembering some of their youthful antics.
“So, what's the plan for tonight? Is it to get shit faced, hook-up or just throw some shapes on the dance floor?” Oli asks, trying to figure out what his role will be tonight – sober responsible friend, wing man, or chaotic dance enabler.
“Nah mate, just here for some fun. You know, let off a bit of steam after a stressful few weeks at work. And besides, Lottie and I promised mum we'd be home for Christmas lunch tomorrow. We've already got the car packed so we can head off early,” Louis says, as he sees Stan and Lottie leaving the bar with their drinks.
“Yeah man, it was great and all when we were kids that your birthday was Christmas Eve, double presents and all. But as adults, having responsibilities, it's gotta suck?” Oli asks.
“Yeah, it's not too bad though, at least I get a couple of days off for my birthday every year, and get to hang out with you lot and my family as much as I want,” Louis answers just as Stan and Lottie arrive back at their table, Lottie handing out shot glasses as Stan places three beers and one glass of Champagne on the table.
“OK, here's cheers to the Birthday Boy,” Lottie says as she holds up her shot glass to clink with the men surrounding her. “To Lou. The best big brother I could ever hope to have.”
“To Lewis,” Oli cheers, using a nickname for Louis that's almost as old as their friendship.
“To Tommo,” Stan heartily joins in.
They raise their glasses, clinking them with Louis and Lottie before they all throw their drinks back and slam the empty shot glasses down on the table.
“So,” Lottie says, slinging an arm up and around her brother's shoulder and glancing around the club. “Who are we on the prowl for tonight Lou? Tall, short, twink? Hmm?”
“Oh god Lotts, give it a rest will you. I'm just out for a few pints with you lot for my birthday, alright?” Louis says, letting out a deep sigh as his mates begin to laugh. “And besides, I'm not looking to hook up tonight. Have you forgotten we've gotta be home at a decent hour so we can drive home tomorrow?”
“Hey, I'm just trying to help,” Lottie says, flicking her long, platinum blond hair back over her shoulder. “No one said anything about taking someone home, but there's nothing stopping you from having a birthday quickie in the loo, is there.”
Stan and Oli laugh out loud, nearly spitting their beers all over the table in front of them.
“What? I'm just saying,” Lottie looks to her brother's friends and responds with a grin. Having known Stan and Oli practically all of her life - they had spent so much time at the Tomlinson house while she was growing up - they feel more like older brothers than her brothers friends, and she's never felt the need to filter her thoughts in front of them any more than she does in front of her brother - which is never.
“Charlotte Elizabeth Tomlinson,” Oli says, looking between Louis and Lottie, shocked. “What would your mother say?”
Lottie shrugs, and places an innocent grin on her face, batting her eyelids.
Rolling his eyes dramatically at his potty-mouthed, nineteen year old sister, nowhere near as shocked by her mouth as his two friends are, he replies “If I need help from my little sister, I'll ask, alright?”
They all start laughing again as Lottie takes the beer from Louis' hand, placing it on the table. “Come on Birthday Boy,” she says, dragging Louis out onto the dance floor claiming it's her right as the birthday boy's sister to secure the first dance with him.
A few beers later, feeling sweaty and dehydrated, all four of them are back at the table with fresh drinks, chatting about their plans over the coming week, when Louis pauses mid sentence, literally stops speaking, his mouth agape.
“Lou?” Lottie asks, but when she doesn't get a response, she, Stan and Oli all look in the direction Louis's gaze is focused and they see two men who have just entered the club, looking around before heading for the bar. One with short blond hair and a beaming smile, and a taller one with long dark hair and legs that go on for days.
Louis’ heart skips a beat and all the sound in the club fades away. The only thing he can hear is the whoosh of blood in his veins, moving throughout his body. He can't take his eyes off the taller man. With his long dark hair, sheer black button-up shirt with a red print and sleeves rolled up to his elbows, black skinny jeans that look to have been painted on and tan heeled boots - the taller man looks like sex on legs and Louis is speechless.
“....thing you like, hey mate?” Louis comes back to his senses when he receives a slap on the back and catches the end of Oli’s question.
“What?” Louis asks, blinking, still staring at the man.
“I said, did you see something you like, Lewis?” His friend asks again, knowing full well what, or namely who, is holding Louis’ attention.
Louis is still speechless. His brain is glitching and he doesn't know what to do. He hadn't planned on hooking up tonight, but there is no way he can go home tonight without meeting this man.
As Louis is thinking of the best way to approach him, the tall man's friend says something funny and they both throw their heads back and laugh in unison. Louis' table isn't too far from the bar so he gets a good look at the tall man's face as he laughs. It lights up and he can see a dimple appear in his right cheek. Louis keeps watching and he sees the tall man take a sip from the fruity cocktail the barman has just handed him as he turns his head in Louis’ direction to scan the club. They make eye contact.
Fuck!
Louis feels his face go bright red, being caught staring at the gorgeous man like an idiot. The man smiles and holds up his fruity cocktail as a general greeting and gives Louis a small nod and a wink.
Louis’ mouth is now dry and he needs another drink. He reaches out and finishes Stan's beer and offers to go and grab everyone another round.
He can hear his friends behind him call out, but he doesn't really hear, or care what they're saying as his feet propel him towards the bar almost with a mind of their own. As he approaches the two men, the blond, who is closer to Louis and has his back to him, turns around and also makes eye contact, before quickly turning back to his dark haired friend.
Louis, feeling confident due to the three or four drinks he has already had, continues his approach and sees a vacant space next to the blond man, so steps into it and leans against the bar. Sensing his presence, the blond turns to Louis with a grin, holding out his hand.
“Hi mate, I'm Niall, and this is my friend Harry,” he says with an Irish lilt.
Taken by surprise at the forwardness of the Irishman, Louis has to blink once or twice before he introduces himself. “Ahh, hi Niall, hi Harry, nice to meet you both. I'm Louis,” he says, shaking Niall's hand, then reaches around the Irishman to shake hands with the dark haired man who Louis now knows is named Harry.
“Hi Louis,” Harry says softly as he takes Louis’ offered hand. Both men hold the shake a little longer than Louis did with Niall, and they both smile at each other as their grip releases. To buy some time and to settle his racing heart, Louis asks them both what they are drinking and if they'd like refills. They both decline, but Louis hears Harry reply "Perhaps later,” to which Louis replies with a nod and a fond smirk before ordering himself a Vodka Red Bull. He figures a little bit of extra Dutch courage won't go astray.
“So, Louis,” Niall begins, with a knowing grin on his face. "What brings you out to a club on Christmas Eve of all nights? Are you here with friends?”
So this is how he's going to play it, Louis thinks. Niall is already playing the role of wing man… smooth. Louis decides to not mention it’s his birthday, preferring to keep the interaction to a level playing field. He doesn't want a pity hook up tonight, if at all. He's not sure what he wants really, but after laying eyes on the gorgeous man in front of him, perhaps a simple hook up isn't all he’s looking for either.
It's been nearly a year since he's been in a real relationship. His last boyfriend, Luke, broke up with him because he was feeling neglected, felt threatened by the close ties Louis has with his family. He had a few more unsavoury things to say about Louis and the love he has for his family, but that doesn't bear repeating. Not many of his past boyfriends understood his love for or commitment to his family. They were always too interested in clubbing and parties, getting drunk every weekend and never content to hang out with his mates or family. As the eldest child in a family of seven kids, the youngest two still only toddlers, Louis has grown up knowing the responsibilities of family all too well.
His mum was young when she had him, and his biological father didn't hang around, so it was just him and his mum in his early years, well except for his Nan and Grandad who stepped in during that time. They formed such close bonds, it was like he had three parents. Then, when Louis was about five years old, his mum met and married his dad Mark, and just before his seventh birthday, his sister Lottie was born. His parents went on to have three more girls, including a set of twins, then about two years ago a second set of twins arrived, this time a boy and a girl. Getting home to see his parents, grandparents and his siblings as often as he can is important to him, and he has no time for a partner who doesn't understand this.
Seeing his drink being placed down in front of him pulls his attention back to the question Niall asked a few moments ago.
“Um, yeah. I'm here with two mates and my sister,” Louis replies. Wanting to know if he has a shot at least, Louis asks, ”What about you lads? Meeting anyone else here tonight?"
Louis hopes they aren't, and also hopes Harry is single, because he really wants to get to know him a bit better. This time it’s Harry that answers.
“Nope, just the two of us tonight. Hoping to get a little dancing in,” Harry says, raising his eyebrows and leaning back a little to get a better look at Louis, scanning him from head to toe. “What about you Louis? Do you dance?” Harry asks, licking a drop of his cocktail from the corner of his mouth.
Fucking hell! Am I even going to survive this lad?
Louis takes another mouthful of his drink. “I’m ahh… not that good at dancing, but I do alright I guess,” he chuckles, wondering what Harry will throw at him next.
“I bet you do. You look like you know how to move,” Harry says with a cheeky grin.
Louis can feel himself begin to blush.
The flirting continues for a few more minutes. Harry leans forward to talk around Niall a few times and his shirt, only being secured by the lowest couple of buttons, gapes open and Louis is convinced he spots some tattoos on the mans upper chest, and maybe even his upper abdomen. Thinking about the possibility of being able to see and touch them, Louis downs the last of his drink and looks directly at Harry, ready to ask him to dance.
“So, Louis. You ready to show me some of your moves?” Harry asks, taking Louis completely by surprise. Harry stands, makes eye contact with Louis, runs his hand through his curls, turns and starts moving towards the dance floor without even waiting for Louis’ reply. Niall lets out a raucous laugh, and orders himself another Guinness as Harry takes a brief peek over his shoulder with a raised brow, perhaps to ensure he has Louis’ full attention, the confident set of his broad shoulders, and the sway of his hips mesmerising Louis for a brief moment before he takes a breath, blows it out audibly and follows.
What the fuck have I got myself into?
Harry reaches the dance floor before Louis does and starts swaying his hips and shoulders in time with the music while standing in the one spot. Louis notices how fluid and free Harry's movements are, dancing without a care in the world. It's obvious he doesn’t care what anyone else thinks and Louis is a bit lost as he approaches, not feeling anywhere near the confidence he usually does when dancing with someone. Harry has definitely thrown him off his game. Harry must sense it, as he reaches out and gently pulls Louis towards him, leaning in towards his ear to shout, trying to be heard over the music.
“Come closer and dance with me Lou. I don't bite… much,” Harry croons, smirking, already using a nickname for him, and places a chaste kiss to Louis’ cheek as he pulls back. Louis instantly feels his cock jump. He thinks he could get used to this lad calling him Lou. He likes the way it sounds in his slow drawl. He steps closer as Harry raises his arms up in the air and continues swaying both his arms and hips, his head dipping occasionally, seeming to feel the beat move through his body, but somehow completely out of time with the music.
Louis manages to pull himself together, and begins to move along with Harry, not really bothering to take notice of the people around them either, simply enjoying dancing with the beautiful long haired man in front of him. A new, more upbeat song begins and Harry seems to pick his pace up a little, moving quicker now. Louis meets his energy and they start to dance together, rather than in front of each other. They move together well, sharing the occasionally smile and both take time to glance briefly up and down each other's bodies as they dance, Louis paying attention to Harry's lips, the exposed skin of his chest and his long legs, and Harry's eyes lingering on Louis' waist and hips, and often his eyes.
As a song with a heavier bass begins, Harry's hips start to move in time with the beat, more purposefully and he steps even closer, locking eyes with him and Louis smiles in return. Harry take's that as a green light to continue, so moves closer and places the foot and knee of his right leg between Louis’ legs, bending his knees a little so their hips are aligned and continues his hip movements. With Harry basically straddling him, Louis instantly feels the firmness of Harry's cock against his thigh as Harry begins gently grinding, still testing the waters. Louis raises his hands and places them on either side of Harry's hips to keep him there, eager to have his hands on him, feeling the movement of Harry's body on his thigh and through his hands now, his thumbs linked through the belt loops of Harry's jeans.
In an attempt to settle his racing heart and regain some control of the situation, Louis leans in close to Harry's ear and asks, "Having fun?" a cheeky grin appearing as their cheeks graze each other. Being this close to Harry for the first time, he is aware of the gentle fragrance of coconut in Harry's hair, and vanilla on his skin, mixed with the faint heady hint of a masculine scent from their dancing.
Harry then leans in close to his ear and asks in a breathy voice, "This okay?"
The low timbre of Harry's voice, along with his hot breath on his neck sends a shiver down Louis' spine, so he leans back in towards Harry. "Absolutely," Louis replies, "always love having a fit lad grinding on me."
Harry lets out a moan and an involuntary grind as his hips jerk forward. Louis grins, absolutely loving dancing with Harry.
Harry raises his arms and rests them over Louis’ shoulders as they begin to move together, not really paying attention to the beat of the music playing, their hips now moving as one to their own personal beat. Harry shifts his leg slightly and it rubs against Louis' now fully hard cock, then leans back a little and meets Louis' eyes with raised brows and a smirk. Despite the lighting, every now and again Louis can see how blown the pupils of Harry's green eyes are as they continue to move to the same rhythm.
Dragging his eyes away from Harry's, Louis takes the opportunity to look down to where their bodies are joined, practically dry humping each other now. Louis removes his hands from Harry's hips and slowly drags them up over Harry's waist, and continues upwards at his sides until he reaches Harry's shoulders, feeling the muscles through the fabric of his shirt, liking the feel of the strength contained beneath. His hands then move to the front of Harry's torso, continuing until his hands are resting either side of Harry's neck for a moment, then looks up to meet Harry's eyes again, only to find the long haired man looking back at him intensely, eyes filled with lust. If Louis leans in, ever so slightly, they could kiss, but instead, he slowly and sensuously drags his hands back down Harry's chest, letting this thumbs brush gently against the exposed skin of Harry's muscular pecs, his eyes now following the path his hands are taking. Louis spots what he thinks is an inked butterfly inside Harry's ridiculously low buttoned shirt and gently brushes over it with his thumbs as his hands continue moving until they rest back on Harry's hips again.
Harry leans back in and repositions his arms, now shifting lower as he places his hands on Louis’ arse, one of his large hands finding its way into Louis’ back pocket. With Harry's mouth now close to his ear, he can feel the warm breath tickle his skin as Harry says, "Don't know what you mean about just being an alright dancer. Your hips sure know how to move.” At that, Louis' head tips back and he lets out a small groan as Harry grabs his arse and begins to suck on the sensitive spot at the base of his neck just above his collarbone. After finishing the intimate connection with a soothing lick to the now tender skin, Harry pulls back and locks eyes with Louis, resting their foreheads together. Louis can't hold back any longer and leans in to connect their lips.
It's like fireworks going off in his brain. He can feel every hair on his body stand on end, and is unable to focus on anything other than the man in front of him. Harry's lips taste delicious with a heady flavour of cranberry from the fruity cocktail he was drinking earlier. As Harry opens his mouth further, Louis deepens the kiss and they both begin to grind on each other again. Harry's plump lips against his own, their tongues tangled, jockeying for control. Harry releases Louis arse and brings his large hands up to cup either side of his face. Louis leans into the kiss even further as their teeth accidentally clash and he now moves his hands lower on Harry arse and pulls him so close they could be sharing the same clothes. Harry lets out a deep moan and continues to grind as the kiss continues.
A minute later, now feeling a little light headed, Louis breaks the kiss, panting. Harry eventually refocuses his eyes and gives what can only be described as a goofy dimpled grin before he turns around and presses his broad back against Louis’ chest, plants his feet on the floor, raises his arm above his head again and begins to grind his arse against Louis' rock hard cock to the beat of the music.
Louis reaches his hands around to Harry's front, and rests them low on Harry's hips. Harry continues to sway and grind against him as Louis moves one of his hands to the man's lower stomach, holding him firmly, letting his hand move with the fluidity of Harry's hip movements. Harry grabs the hand and slips it up inside his sheer shirt and Louis can feel him shiver as Louis’ hand meets his bare skin, his fingers beginning to caress the patch of skin covered with the hint of hair that leads down below the waistband of Harry's jeans. Harry throws his head back with a moan and rests it on Louis' shoulder, his neck exposed. Louis takes advantage of Harry's exposed neck and sucks a bruise to the skin while his pinkie finger slips ever so slightly below the waistband of Harry's skinny jeans. Harry lets out another low moan and grinds back against Louis cock once more, reaching up with one hand, holding onto the back of Louis' head by tangling his fingers in his hair to keep his lips in place as Louis continues to mark him up.
The beats change and Harry turns back around to face Louis. Their lips connect again and they continue to grind, hands exploring each other for another song before Louis breaks the kiss.
"Hold on love, I need a breather or I'll make a mess of my trousers right here on the dance floor," Louis says, breathing heavily and out of breath. “Do you want to come over and meet my friends and sister? I could do with a drink.”
"I love sisters," Harry replies enthusiastically, grinning wildly as his dimples pop again. Smiling and reassured that Harry's response is genuine, Louis reaches down and takes Harry's hand before placing it on his shoulder, then turns and leads them over to where his friends and sister are. Harry follows behind in their little conga line for two with the occasional shimmy of his hips, neither one caring that they're quite noticeably sporting boners. Thank fuck for dark lighting that creates shadows and conceals dick prints.
As they approach the table, Louis realises he has absolutely no idea how long ago he left his friends to grab drinks as an excuse to talk to Harry, but notices they obviously worked out he was not going to return with drinks, and appear to have taken matters into their own hands and ordered a jug of beer for the table, along with a glass of wine for Lottie.
As they reach the table, Lottie is the first to speak up. “So, who do we have here, dear brother? And what on earth have you done with your hair?”
Feeling a little self conscious after Lottie called out his messed up hair, Louis’ hand flies up in an attempt to tame it as his eyes dart from Harry behind him, to his sister, then to his two best mates, before landing back on Harry. Clearing his throat, he brings Harry from behind him and places a hand on Harry's lower back. “Right, umm. Everyone, this is Harry. Harry, this is everyone,” Louis says, a fond smile on his face that he hopes his sister and friends don't notice.
“Hi Harry. I'm Stan, and this is Oli,” Stan says, reaching out to shake Harry's hand, as does Oli.
"Hi, nice to meet you both," Harry says, shaking their hands and nodding to both Stan and Oli as they introduce themselves.
“And this platinum blond menace who speaks before thinking is my ever so annoying little sister Lottie, who I will leave at home next time,” Louis says, reaching over and placing her in a gentle head lock, before kissing her on the cheek, making her face squish up.
"Oof, get off me," Lottie lets out a laugh and slaps her brother's stomach.
“Hi Harry,” Lottie says, giggling then taking a drink of her wine. “So lovely to meet you.”
“Hi,” Harry says as he waves at Lottie and smiles a little sheepishly.
“What are we drinking lads?” Louis asks, reaching for the only clean glass still sitting on the table. He fills it and hands it to Harry who drinks, but makes a face as the bitterness of the beer hits his tongue. Harry hands the glass back to Louis, who drinks the rest before half filing it again with the remnants left in the jug and downing that as well.
"Here Harry, take my seat. I'll just go and get another round,” Stan says, rising from his stool.
“And now that Lou's back, another champagne for me please Stanley,” Lottie says, looking over to Stan. "And what would you like to drink, love?” she asks Harry, leaning over and placing a gentle hand on his arm.
“Oh, um. Maybe a ahh… Jack and coke for me please,” he says, receiving a nod from Stan as he makes his way to the bar.
"So tell me Harry, what brings you out on Christmas Eve?" Lottie asks, sneaking a peek at her brother and grinning.
"Oh, just here with a mate," Harry replies. "Just having one last night out before all the family commitments for the next week or so."
"Oh, so you spend a lot of time with your family?" Lottie questions.
"Umm, yeah. Family is really important to me," Harry replies, appearing a little embarrassed at the admission. "It was… just my mum and sister and me for a few years after my parents divorced. I see my dad regularly, but I'm really close with my mum and sister. Oh, and now my step-dad. They're almost like best friends I guess. Sorry, that probably sounds a bit weird."
A fondness crosses Louis' face as he smiles at Harry, small crinkles appearing by his eyes as he says, "No, its not, love. Not at all," his arm still around Harry's back, his hand resting on Harry's waist.
"Oh, that's good to hear. Most people think it's weird that I'm so close with my family. It's been a problem in the past with boyfriend's and all that," Harry explains. "They usually hate it."
"Hear that Lou? Imagine," Lottie says quietly, nudging Louis' leg under the table.
"Shut it Lotts," he says in a low voice.
"What?" Harry asks, looking at Louis curiously.
"Nothing, love. Go on, what plans do you have for the coming week?" Louis asks, focusing on the slow drawl of Harry's voice, wanting to listen to him speak forever.
Stan returns with another jug of beer, a Jack and coke for Harry, a champagne for Lottie and five shot glasses.
Oli reaches across to the tray and removes the shot glasses, passing them around, while Stan places the other drinks on the table before placing the tray on the bench off to the side.
Lottie reaches for her shot glass and raises it, before declaring, "It's time for another celebratory toast." But before she can begin her toast, she is eagerly interrupted.
“What are we celebrating?” Harry asks, looking around the table, while Stan, Oli and Lottie all look at each other with various versions of the same expression of surprised curiosity, before all eyes, including Harry's finally land on Louis. Louis cringes, his mouth pinched in a straight line, looking down at the table and wishing Lottie hadn’t just said that.
Confused, Harry asks, “What? What is it Lou?” looking at Louis before he raises his head and looks across the table to Lottie.
“Oh Lou. Didn't you tell the lovely Harry what we're out celebrating tonight?” she asks, making a tisk, tisk, tisk sound with her tongue. She leans over towards Harry and whisper shouts “It's this bonehead's twenty-fifth birthday. Didn't he tell you?”
“What?” Harry almost squeals, surprised, his head snapping between Lottie and Louis in quick succession. “When is it? Is it today?”
Stan, Oli and Lottie all break out in laughter. Louis glares at Lottie before turning to Harry to confirm that, "Yes, love, today is indeed my birthday."
“Oh Lou, why didn't you say something?” Harry asks smiling, bringing one hand up to Louis face, leaning in and placing a kiss to his lips, right in front of his friends and sister. “Happy Birthday,” he says gently, before he leans back with a look of concentration, using the pad of his thumb to wipe gently at the corner of Louis' mouth. He must have some shine on his lips from their make out session while dancing earlier.
Shrugging, Louis replies, “Yeah, it's no big deal.”
“No big deal!" Harry exclaims. "It's your birthday Lou. Birthdays must be celebrated. It's a rule!” Harry finishes with certainty as he reaches for his shot glass and holds it up in the air, looking around the rest of the table.
“To Louis, the best dancer, and fittest Birthday Boy on the dance floor tonight, and probably every night,” Harry says, drawing a chuckle from everyone. "To the Birthday Boy."
"To the Birthday Boy," they all cheer before laughing and downing their shots.
Louis lets out a laugh as well and drinks his shot, then slams the shot glass down on the table along with everyone else.
“This calls for more dancing. Come on, Birthday Boy,” Harry says, rising from the stool, grabbing Louis hand, linking their fingers and dragging him back to the dance floor. “I wanna see you move those hips again.”
Louis can hear the whoops of laughter and cheering from his traitorous friends and sister left sitting at the table behind him as he follows Harry back out to the dance floor.
This time Harry takes them towards a darker part of the club, and nearer a side wall. Because it's a little more packed on this part of the dance floor, they are forced to go for full on body contact as soon as they start dancing, not that Louis really minds of course. They begin moving in time with the music again, Harry moving slightly to the side as he grinds up against Louis' right hip, and begins nuzzling into Louis neck. Louis places his right arm around Harry's waist to hold him close as Harry continues to move and gyrate his hips, pressing his hardening length up against Louis. Feeling the beat move him, Louis does a half spin so that his back is flush with Harry's chest. He can instantly feel Harry's cock against his arse as he begins to grind back into Harry. He moves his hands behind him slightly and grabs Harry's hips, anchoring himself to Harry to give him leverage to grind back harder, his hips moving in a circular motion, round and round, like he has done at home numerous times when mucking around and dancing to the Macarena with Lottie. As he continues to move, he rests his head back onto Harry's chest and breathes out a moan as Harry's head drops to his neck, his hot, plump lips grazing the sensitive skin and his hot breath shooting electric heat straight to Louis’ cock.
Harry reaches around and places his hands over Louis' belly. He runs his hands up Louis’ torso, and over his nipples, giving a quick pinch to the left one before moving that hand back down, settling it in the curve of his waist. Harry's right hand continues upwards, before settling at the base of Louis' throat, his large hand then grasping Louis' chin and angling it so Harry has unfettered access to his neck and jaw. Harry kisses his neck and begins nibbling just under his jaw, placing soothing licks and kisses along his path. Once he finds the spot he's after, he gently bites down and begins sucking while continuing to grind his hips into Louis arse.
Louis turns back around so that he is facing Harry, his whole body on fire. Harry looks just as affected as he feels and he leans in for another deep kiss.
“You are so hot Lou,” Harry breathes out after the kiss, his hands cradling Louis' face once more as he re-positions his mouth to kiss Louis again. “You can't even imagine the things I want to do to you.”
Overcome with visions of what Harry might have in mind, Louis almost growls into Harry's mouth. Opening his eyes, Louis spots the wall close by, and without realising he is doing it, he walks Harry backwards towards it until his back is pressed up against it, a breath of air escaping Harry's lungs at the sudden contact. Louis’ hand reaches down and palms Harry's cock before he tilts his face up and kisses him deeply. His tongue slipping into Harry's mouth, their tongues tangled, lips swollen and both their cocks now straining to be released from the confines of their clothes.
He can feel the hard heat of Harry's cock beneath his hand. Can imagine what it would feel like in his mouth, his lips wrapped around it, the weight of it on his tongue. He then feels Harry's leg rise and begin to wrap around his own, Harry anchoring himself to Louis, pulling him closer with his foot behind Louis’ knee, creating even greater contact with their hips. Louis reaches around to Harry's back and slips his ring and pinkie fingers just below the waist band of Harry's low rise jeans, slipping a finger down to tease the crease of skin at the top of his arse. Harry whines into his mouth at the contact as his hips jolt forward.
“Want to blow you Lou,” Harry says, breathless between kisses. “So badly. You have no idea what you're doing to me.”
“Oh, I think I have a fair idea, love. If your moans and your rock hard cock are anything to go by,” Louis chuckles, pretending to himself that he isn't feeling exactly the same.
Harry gives a throaty chuckle in response and ducks his face down into Louis' shoulder, giving him a little nip with his teeth through Louis’ thin jumper. Raising his head, his blown eyes meet Louis’ once more. “Can we get out of here?” Harry pants, beginning to suck another mark to Louis' exposed neck before whispering, “I really want to give you a birthday blowie.”
“Oh love, look at you," Louis says, endeared with this angel in front of him. "I wish we could, but I have to be up early tomorrow to drive home with Lotts to see our family for Xmas,” Louis replies, wishing this was any other night and he could take this boy home with him.
Harry pouts for just a moment and then his face lights up. “What if we find a dark corner somewhere here,” he asks, removing his leg from around Louis', and standing taller so that he can see the layout of the club better.
Louis isn't keen on getting his dick out in public where anyone could walk past and see him standing there with Harry on his knees in front of him… although… on second thought, it does send a spark of excitement through him at the thought of people seeing Harry on his knees in front of him. He may need to unpack that later.
“I don't know love, it's rather uncivilised,” he says, looking at a pouty Harry again. “Anyone could see us."
“I know,” Harry smirks, then kicks his lips enticingly. “Exciting, isn't it.”
"I'm sorry love," Louis says chuckling, but also shaking his head with regret and perhaps a little admiration for this angel in front of him.
“But Lou, I really really want to get my mouth on you,” Harry pleads, kissing him.
“Wanna taste you,” he says, licking up Louis' neck from his collarbone to his jaw.
“Take you deep into my throat,” he says, moaning as he kisses and grinds again.
“And suck the life out of you,” he finishes, licking into Louis' mouth and finally latching onto his lips, taking control of the kiss and sucking on Louis' bottom lip while his hips do what they do best in an effort to convince Louis to let him get down on his knees and blow him.
“Fuck, Harry. Your mouth is sinful,” Louis says panting, breaking the intense kiss and fighting to maintain some semblance of control.
“You don't know the half of it,” Harry says, his voice dropping, diving in again and kissing Louis deeply.
Louis can do nothing but kiss him back at this point. He has now lost all hope of making it out of the club with his dignity intact. But if he's being honest, he doesn't think he cares either way at this point.
“What about the loo?” Harry suggests, kissing him again. “We could duck in there and still have you tucked away in bed before you turn into a pumpkin?”
Louis thinks quickly. He has always hated hook-ups in the loo at clubs, and has given his friends so much shit about it when they've done it over the years. But he really likes Harry, and doesn't want this crazy thing with him to be over yet. He's never connected with someone so quickly before, never felt so at ease. Never felt so turned on so fucking easily. Harry leans in and presses another kiss to Louis neck, then shifts his attention and dives on his lips again, tongues tangling before Harry begins sucking on Louis tongue.
Fuck it!
"If - if you really want to…" Louis says, breaking the kiss and meeting Harry's eyes, "I guess I can manage," he continues, attempting to sound bored.
Harry simply smiles the widest smile and nods, his eyes glistening.
“Alright Haz, alright. But I don't want my mates and sister knowing that's what we're up to, okay? I've given them so much shit over the years about club hook-ups, and would never live it down if they knew.”
“Yes Lou!” Harry almost shouts, a grin splitting his face from ear to ear, kissing him again with excitement. “Why don't you head in, and claim a cubicle. That way your friends won't know what we're up to. I just need a quick drink of water and to do a check in with Niall, then I'll meet you in there.” Harry gives Louis a long reassuring kiss, one that involves Harry's hands cradling his face and Harry's tongue doing some kind of gymnastics in his mouth. If this is some sort of preview of Harry's abilities with his tongue, Louis is well and truly fucked! Harry finishes with a loud smooching sound and he turns with a cute finger wave and walks towards the bar where Louis can still see the blond mop of hair that belongs to Harry's mate Niall.
Okay, he can do this, Louis tells himself as he makes his way over to the toilets and fortunately finds them relatively empty. He heads directly for the larger, disabled cubicle at the far end and enters, closing the door behind him.
He can't believe his luck. He was not expecting to meet someone tonight, of all nights. He was content to just have a night out with his friends and sister, enjoy a bit of something that reassembles dancing, down a few drinks and head home to bed early. But then this sinful looking lad, with gorgeous long curly hair down past his shoulders, and legs up to his armpits entered the club and he couldn't take his eyes off him. He hopes they can see each other again after tonight. The chemistry between them is scorching, obviously they're well matched in that area, but how would they get on in their day to day lives? Would they be compatible? Would Harry be understanding of his close ties with his family? He probably would based on what he said about being close with his own family. He seemed to get on with Lottie and the lads. Well, at least for the brief amount of time they spent together tonight, which is more than could be said for most of his previous boyfriends. Hang on though... he's getting ahead of himself here.
He takes his phone out of his back pocket and checks the time, realising it is getting close to midnight and that he and Lottie will need to leave soon, and he wonders what is taking Harry so long. Has he been held up, did his mate at the bar need him for something? Surely Harry hasn't forgotten about him, or changed his mind. They had an instant connection the moment they laid eyes on each other and had spent the last nearly two hours draped all over each other, their tongues practically down each other's throats.
What is taking Harry so long?
After about ten minutes, which, if he's being honest, feels like an hour, and after checking his phone about twenty-eight times, he opens the cubicle door and peeks out into the empty space. Sighing, he makes his way over to the sink, and looks at himself in the mirror for a long moment, his hands resting on either side of the sink. What is he doing? He knew this was a bad idea, but where is Harry? He shakes his head in resignation, turns on the tap and splashes some water on his face a couple of times. He lets his hands drag down his face as he raises it back up and looks at himself again. Harry has obviously left him hanging and he is feeling a whole raft of emotions - stupidity, embarrassment and anger, but also disappointment.
He's not sure which emotion is winning out right now. He is deep in thought, trying to decide what to do next when he hears the main door open, letting the music from the main club area spill into the bathroom. His heart skips a beat as he hears footsteps, thinking it might be Harry, but then it sinks as some random guy walks in and stands in front of the urinals.
Fuck it.
He’s had enough of this shit. He schools his face in an attempt to look unbothered, it doesn't work of course, but decides it's the best he can do at this moment in time. He turns and exits the room, pulling on the door a little too forcefully, causing it to swing back and hit the wall as he walks through it, the heavy beat of the music hits him like a suffocating wave as he makes his way down the corridor and back out into the main part of the club.
Without giving it much thought, he makes his way over to the bar. Maybe Harry is there. Maybe he did get caught up with his Irish friend. He knows how easily that happens, it's happened to him plenty of times. Your mates draw you into a conversation, and before you know it ten or fifteen minutes has passed and you forget why you went to the bar in the first place. He takes a look around and can't see Harry or his friend anywhere. Feeling a little defeated, his anger really beginning to bubble to the surface now, he orders a pint and takes the scenic path as he heads back over to their table, scanning the dance floor as he passes. Harry isn't there either.
Fucking wanker!
As he approaches their table, he finds Oli sitting by himself. When Oli spots him he begins to cheer and slaps him on the back as he takes a seat, placing his pint on the table.
“Hey, the Birthday Boy is back, love bites and all,” Oli laughs, pointing to his mates bruised up neck.
“Fuck off Oli,” Louis spits out.
“What's crawled up your arse lad,” Oli asks. "By the looks of you, thought you'd be all mellow after hooking up with Harry."
“Nothing's up my arse, and I said fuck off,” Louis spits back at his best friend, his anger rapidly building.
“Hey, no need to bite my fucking head off,” Oli counters, looking a bit pissed off himself by now. “Where's Harry? Did you have a fight? What happened mate?”
“Nothing fucking happened," Louis says. "I don't want to talk about it.”
“What do you mean nothing happened? Obviously something happened, because you're giving me a death stare and are obviously pissed off about something.”
“Do me a favour?" Louis grits out between his teeth as he turns to look at his best friend. "Just fucking drop it, yeah?”
Oli stops short and simply stares at Louis. This is not like him. He never speaks to Oli like this.
“Come on, lad." Oli says calmly now, lowering his voice in an attempt to take the heat out of the situation. "We've known each other since we were five years old. Tell me what happened? Where's Harry?”
Louis lets out an exhausted sigh. Fortunately for Louis, Oli has seen this type of thing play out many times over the years, and he knows Oli is going to keep at it until he opens up and tells him what happened, because eventually, he always does.
“I don't know where the fuck he is, alright," Louis says, finally giving up the fight. "We were dancing, everything was going really well, we were going to meet up in the loos for, well… you know…” Louis explains when Oli cuts him off.
“What? You were going to shag him in the loo? Mate, the amount of shit you've given us lot over the years about that same thing.” Oli replies, laughing and shaking his head.
Louis glares at him again, a final warning to shut the fuck up if he knows what's good for him. “And then he left me hanging, alright? Is that what you want to hear? Now just shut up about it, I don't wanna discuss it anymore.”
Just then Stan and Lottie arrive back at the table.
“How was it Birthday Boy? Did you get to celebrate with Harry?” Stan asks, grinning and sending an exaggerated wink his way.
“Yeah Boo, did you get your happy ending?” Lottie asks, draping an arm around Louis shoulders, placing an affectionate kiss on his cheek. “And what's this I see," she asks, poking the love bites clearly visible on his neck while giggling next to her brother.
Louis glares at Stan and shrugs Lottie off his shoulders.
“Shut up, the both of you,” he growls, starting to wish he'd simply gone home when he realised Harry had fucked off, but he couldn't do that to Lottie. For all her confidence and bravado, she was still only nineteen years old and still his little sister. While he knows Stan and Oli would have seen her home safely if he'd gone, she's his sister. He will always be protective of her.
“What's happened Lou. Why are you such a grump?" Lottie asks, also used to his demeanour when he is pissed off about something. “I thought you'd be all smiles after your evening with the beautiful Harry. And by the looks of it, he was definitely your type, if your neck is anything to go by,” she says, gently grazing one of the bruises with her finger, bringing his attention back to his marked up neck.
Downing the last of his drink, he stands, slams the empty glass down on the table and announces, “Come on Lotts. We're leaving. It's getting late, we need to be up early tomorrow and I need some fucking sleep.”
Recognising that tone Lottie stands, accepting that Louis isn't taking no for an answer. They say their goodbye's to Stan and Oli who decide to stay for another round of drinks and more dancing, and they exit the club with Louis declaring they will brave the brisk walk home as a way to clear his head. Lottie stays silent for the walk as she knows better than to push her brother when he gets like this.
Christmas Day
They are up bright and early the next morning, despite getting home late. Both sporting a slight hangover and Lottie managing to cover up the hickies on Louis's neck with some make up, they make their way to Louis car where their bags, along with the beautifully wrapped Christmas presents for their family are all tucked securely away in the boot. Lottie had eventually taken pity on Louis in the week leading up to Christmas - after so many failed attempts from him as he was trying to wrap the presents - and had kindly offered to wrap presents for the both of them. Louis’ attention to detail when it came to wrapping gifts was atrocious.
A few minutes later with the heater on and their favourite playlist gently filling the silence, they pull the car into a service station to grab coffee, breakfast and snacks for the trip back home to Doncaster.
By the time they make it on to the M25, they've both had a coffee, a pastry and listened to a few songs from the travel playlist that Lottie created that combines songs they both enjoy listening to.
"So," Lottie begins, glancing over at Louis in the drivers seat. "What's the plan?"
"For what," Louis asks, not even looking at her, being intentionally obtuse.
"For finding your cute dimpled boy from last night," she asks, rolling her eyes. "Whats the plan?"
"What are you talking about Lotts? There is no plan," he says feeling frustrated, knowing he doesn't sound convincing.
"Of course there's a plan. We've got to work out who he is, and how to find him again," Lottie says, also beginning to feel frustrated.
"Lotts, just drop it, please love. It's done, okay?" he replies, knowing that arguing with Lottie is useless, but giving it a shot anyway.
"I most certainly will not," she says, indignation clear in her voice. "I haven't seen you that happy and sparkly in a long time Lou. We need to find Harry so you can have your happily ever after."
Louis groans, then looks over at Lottie, knowing this battle, and every other battle he will have with his sister in this lifetime, was already predestined to be won by her from the moment she was born.
"Tell me everything you can remember," she finally says, looking over at him with no hesitation, convinced she can help him work this out.
Realising he is stuck in this car with his sister for the next few hours, with no escape, he resigns himself to answering her questions. And if at the end of the drive he has the slightest chance of meeting up with the green eyed, curly haired angel he met last night, it's worth taking the humiliation of laying himself bare to his sister.
They make it home by late morning, and as they pull the car into the drive and switch off the engine, they can see the youngest twins, two year old Doris and Ernie still in their pyjamas, standing up on the sofa, peering out through the curtains covering the window of the living room.
Tired from the drive, and still trying to push through his bad mood and hangover from the night before, Louis exits the car, opens the boot and reaches in to remove their bags. The front door opens and the older twins, ten year old Phoebe and Daisy begin running towards Louis, wrapping their arms around him as he struggles to not drop both his and Lottie's bags.
"Alright settle down, loves. Settle down. I know you're both excited to see me, but I can't manage the bags and the two of you at the same time," Louis says, placing the bags down on the ground and wrapping both of his sisters in a huge hug.
"But we've missed you Lou Lou. You moved away and now we don't see you anymore," Daisy whines, but Louis knows she speaks for both herself and Phoebe.
"Its okay Dais, I'm home now. I'll be here for a few days, so we'll have plenty of time to catch up, yeah?" Louis reassures his sister.
"Will you play Bear families with us Lou Lou?" Phoebe now asks, still clinging on to her older brother. "Santa brought us some Build-a-Bears with lots of clothes and shoes and Fizzy won't play because she said that teddies are for babies. But we're not babies Lou Lou, we're nearly eleven," Phoebe explains, all in one very rushed and exasperated breath.
"Of course I will love, but a bit later. Right now we need to get these bags and presents inside, and I have to go say hello to everyone else. Where is your big sister, anyway?" he asks.
"Hey you two, come and help me with these presents before me and Lou decide to leave them in the car and take them back to London with us," Lottie threatens, and with that, both girls immediately focus their attention on their eldest sister.
"Presents!" they both squeal in unison and rush over to Lottie and begin helping her unload the wrapped presents to carry them inside.
Shaking his head, Louis picks the bags back up and makes his way to the front door, where he is met by his youngest siblings.
They both throw themselves at Louis in much the same fashion their older sisters just did, but this time it's his legs that receive the love and attention rather than his waist. Louis again places the bags on the floor as he crouches down to wrap both of the little twins in his arms.
"My goodness Dorry, Ernie, look at how you have both grown," he says giving them both a kiss on the cheek as they grapple for his attention.
"Chooo," they both exclaim in unison. Last time Louis visited them he was playing a game with them pretending to sneeze, and was saying A… A… Achooooo to make them laugh, and the name seems to have stuck.
Then, he hears a comforting voice before he sees its owner. "Ah my love. It's so good to see you home again," his mum, Jay says as she approaches from the kitchen wearing a cooking apron and drying her hands on a hand towel. "Mark," she calls out to get his dads attention. "Can you come and rescue Louis from the babies please. I need to shower my two eldest babies with some love."
She walks over and pries the little ones off Louis as Mark arrives and gives his son a quick hug, before taking them from Jay one at a time.
Louis now stands and wraps his mum in a crushing hug. One of the things he misses the most about living away in London is his mum's hugs. Breaking the hug after a few more moments, she steps back and cradles his face in her hands, placing a gentle kiss on his cheek.
Before he can respond, his mum draws in a breath and calls up the stairs to his seventeen year old sister, "Fizzy, Louis and Lottie are here. Come down and say hello please," then, without missing a beat she pokes her head out the front door and calls a warm greeting to Lottie, who is approaching with the elder twins in tow.
Turning back to Louis, her face softens again. "I've missed you my darling," she says, placing a kiss on his other cheek.
"I've missed you too mum, so much," he says, a hint of emotion creeping into his voice.
"Now, leave the bags there love, I'll ask your dad to grab them in a few minutes. Come in and tell me how your birthday was yesterday and all the fun you got up to with your friends. Lottie mentioned you were both going out to a club with Oli and Stan…"
And just like that, it was as if no time had passed. He was back with his family, in the comfort of his childhood home, and loving every minute of it.