Chapter Twenty Seven

"Louis?" Harry asked, stepping into Niall and Liam's house. He checked his phone quickly.

L: Meet me at N and Li's house at 7 tonight- it's a surprise :))))

He took a steadying breath and called out for Louis again.

"Sorry, sorry, babe!" Louis said, rushing out to the front entrance to meet Harry. "Was in the middle of something." He tipped his head up a little to give Harry a slow kiss and then a hug.

"Is something going on?" Harry asked, looking around a little nervously.

"I heard that you were stressed," Louis said, gently rubbing Harry's back. "I wanted to take care of you for the night."

"I'm fine," Harry mumbled into Louis' shoulder. "Mm not stressed."

"Just let me take care of you, Hazza."

"Okay," Harry whispered, nodding a little, pulling Louis closer and resting his head on his shoulder.

Louis pulled away after a moment, and kissed Harry on the cheek. "I ran you a bath," he smiled, squeezing Harry's hands and leading him to the bathroom. "Lots of bubbles, lots of candles... let me know when you're done and we'll cuddle up and watch a movie okay? Your pick tonight." Louis pushed open the bathroom door, and Harry's eyes widened a little at how cozy Louis had made it look.

Harry looked at the bathtub full of bubbles and the little vanilla scented tea-lights Louis had scattered around the bathroom, and finally to the bathtub full of warm, soapy water. "Can you... can you come in with me?" Harry asked, biting on his lower lip nervously.

"Of course I can," Louis said. "If that's what you want."

"Yeah," Harry nodded. "Yeah I do. Please," he added as an afterthought.

"Okay," Louis said. "You can get in first, I won't look or anything."

"I don't mind," Harry said softly, pulling off his grey knit sweater.

Louis could feel his heart racing, slamming against his rib cage as Harry took off his thin white t-shirt, his black skinny jeans, and finally his little white lace-trimmed pale blue panties.

"Your turn," Harry whispered.

Louis didn't feel as eloquent as Harry as he wriggled out of his too-tight jeans and his old baseball tee but his boyfriend was staring at him with absolute wonder in his eyes. Louis paused a bit before shucking off his grey striped boxer shorts. He honestly felt more self conscious about his stomach being exposed than about taking his boxers off.

"You're so gorgeous," Harry murmured.

"You too, babe," Louis said, trying not to stare where he wanted to, but his eyes kept flickering down... he couldn't help it. Louis quickly stepped into the tub, sinking down into the bubbles.

Harry settled down in front of Louis, between his legs so his back was resting against his chest.

"Mmm... it smells like lavender," Harry said, letting himself relax against Louis' chest, feeling the water surround them.

"I bought special stress relief soap," Louis admitted. "Was hoping it might help."

"That's so sweet of you," Harry said, and he tucked his chin into the curve of Louis' shoulder.

"Even bought a loofah," Louis said, picking it up off the edge of the bathtub.

Harry giggled, and snuggled closer into his boyfriend, loving the feel of their soapy skin pressed together under the warm bath water.

Louis started gently massaging the soap onto Harry's skin with the loofah, and the younger boy gave a delicate little sigh and turned a little to kiss Louis' collarbones.

Louis soaped up Harry's whole upper body, working his way around his boyfriend's smooth, tattooed skin until he was all clean and practically purring as he nuzzled into Louis.

"I love you so much," Harry said as Louis gently finished scrubbing him clean.

"I love you too," Louis replied. "Pass me the showerhead, would you?"

Harry nodded, and passed it over, and Louis got to work wetting Harry's soft curls. He massaged the shampoo into Harry's scalp before rising it out.

"Mmm... gonna fall asleep, Lou..."

"Stay awake, babe, can't have you falling asleep in the tub," Louis replied.

Harry twisted his body a little to give Louis a kiss, deep and lingering. "Love every single part of you," he said when he pulled away.

"Thank you," Louis whispered.

Harry stood up slowly, and Louis pulled the plug on the tub, turning on the showerhead briefly to rinse all the bubbles that were clinging to Harry's legs and his own.

Louis handed Harry a particularly fluffy towel and got himself a towel to dry off too.

"I'm so tired," Harry said, his eyelids already looking heavy.

"I bet," Louis said. "Carrying so much tension, hun. Are you gonna come to bed and let me massage you?"

Harry nodded, and Louis held his hand to guide him over to Liam's room.

"Is this-?" Harry said looking around a little. "Is this okay? Did Liam say we could-?"

"It's fine, kitten," Louis said. "Liam's got a double bed, Niall's got a single... this just makes more sense. He said it's fine, don't worry."

"Where's he going to sleep?"

Louis shrugged and smirked. "Niall's bed?"

Harry giggled a little and gripped his towel a little tighter around himself.

"Got you a nice clean pair of pajamas," Louis said, handing Harry a small stack of folded up clothes.

"Think I'll just put on some boxers for now," Harry said, picking them out of the pile.

"Sorry they're not as pretty as what you had on earlier," Louis said, thinking of how gorgeous the pale blue looked against Harry's creamy ivory skin.

"No, I like them... they're yours," Harry smiled sleepily, tugging them on, and laying on the bed, sprawled out his tummy, his face resting on his arms.

Louis pulled on a pair of boxers for himself, and climbed onto the bed as well, settling in behind the younger boy. He poured a bit of massage oil onto his hands, rubbing his palms together to warm it up before slowly pressing into Harry's tensed up shoulders.

Harry moaned a little into the pillow as Louis slowly worked over some of the tougher knots in his back.

They stayed like that for a while, Louis gently pressing and rubbing all the tension out of Harry as he sunk deeper and deeper into the pillow, moaning occasionally when Louis hit a really nice spot, murmuring "that feels good, Lou" or "Oh my god, Lou, there, please".

When Harry was completely blissed out on the mattress, Louis pulled out his laptop and started playing The Lion King at a really soft volume. Even though he was half asleep, Harry's green eyes still lit up.

"My favourite..." he mumbled before trailing off, seemingly too exhausted to finish his own sentence.

"Your favourite movie as a kid," Louis finished for him. "I remember, you told me once. Thought it might help put you to sleep."

"Little spoon," Harry whispered, so tired, the words barely came out.

"I know, love, you're the little spoon. You're my little spoon," Louis said, and tucked himself in behind Harry, wrapping him up in a gentle hug as the opening credits rolled.

"Love you," Harry whispered, his eyes flickering shut.

"Love you too, H," Louis said, kissing his shoulders before settling back into his spot.

Harry's breathing had slowed down and his arms had gone limp by his sides by the time the second musical number rolled around, fast asleep and peaceful.

Louis was quick to join him, falling asleep easily next to his boyfriend. And even though it wasn't his house, it felt like home.