Lockdown | Harry Styles | AU

Chapter 17

Aubrey slowly made her way down the staircase of Harry's house. Her stomach swirling with anticipation the entire way.

But even though her heart was thundering with nerves, she did feel somewhat more at ease than she had felt 30 minutes ago, when she was blindsided by Harry and all of his sexual magnetism.

Maybe it's because she had cleaned her teeth, ran a brush through her hair and was wearing more clothes than before. Or the fact that she had also made sure to wash her face and put on a little bit of makeup. Not like it mattered. Or that she needed to. But it made her feel more confident.

And that's something she needed right now more than anything.

Her thoughts mentally preparing herself for her upcoming conversation with Harry, which she knew would be an awkward one.

As she reached the bottom of the stairs she could hear the music coming from one of the rooms, as well as the sound of someone panting, heavily. She instantly recognised the rough breaths as Harry's, and the music playing appeared to be an early Rolling Stones track.

Curious and without much hesitation, Aubrey's bare feet then padded across the wooden floor of the large hallway, reaching where the noise was coming from. Her body pausing when she got to the doorway of the living room. Her hand then delicately touching the frame as her head slowly peeked around to look into the room.

Although she really wished she hadn't.

Because as she peered into the big, and rather bright, living room. She felt an instant throb between her legs.

A warm tingle shooting up and down her spine as her stomach exploded with butterflies.

Hot, chaotic butterflies.

Her eyes drinking in an image that was so fucking torturous, it was as though she was being tested by the powers that be themselves. It was cruel. Too cruel. So much so that Aubrey quickly moved back out of the door way and draped herself against the wall of the corridor.

'Holy fucking shit.' She then mouthed silently to herself, her expression dramatic as she scrunched up her face. Her back resting against the wallpaper as she tried to compose herself for the second time already that morning. Her cheeks flushed and her mouth dry. Her lungs dragging in more oxygen than usual making her feel a little light-headed. Her mind already beginning to give her an internal pep-talk.

She had to just suck it up and go in there.

She had to face him.

So after puckering her lips and letting out a small puff of air. Aubrey pushed herself off the wall and turned back into the door way. This time allowing her full body to step through the threshold. Her eyes once again glued to the image that had captivated her a few seconds before.

Which was Harry.

Shirtless.

His strong lean body placed in a planking position on the floor in front of the fireplace. His torso moving up and down as he continued the press ups he was doing, his tanned skin glowing with sweat.

Even though she was enjoying the show, Aubrey managed to clear her throat in order to grab Harry's attention. Her eyes still mesmerised by his godlike figure as he paused his workout. His green gaze connecting with hers from across the room as his damp messy hair stuck to his flushed face and fell across his eyes.

"Oh, hey." He greeted, a little breathless.

"Hi." Aubrey managed to squeak out. Watching as Harry charismatically got to his feet before he began wiping the sweat from his face with a small blue towel.