If You Only Knew

Chapter 15

The first thing that hits me when I wake up is the panic. My eyes shoot open, heart pounding, as I try to make sense of where I am. The soft light filtering through the curtains does little to ground me, and I feel momentarily disoriented. But then, as I breathe in deeply, the familiar scent of Louis' cologne—a mix of musk and something sweet—wraps around me, and I finally start to calm down. The warmth of his body, the gentle pressure of his arms around my waist, and the rhythmic sound of his breathing next to me make everything click into place.

I look around, my vision still blurry from sleep, but I quickly recognize the posters on the walls—Louis' room. My heart rate slows, and I let myself sink back into the comfort of his chest, the soft rise and fall of his body beneath me a gentle anchor to reality. His skin is warm against mine, and the way his arms feel around me—it's as if everything in the world makes sense when I'm in his embrace. The world outside his room feels distant, irrelevant, as I take in every detail of him—the way his chest rises and falls with each breath, the steady pulse of his heartbeat against my cheek. I let myself linger in the moment, savoring the closeness, the safety.

"Good morning, love," Louis murmurs, his voice still thick with sleep as he presses a soft kiss to the back of my neck. The warmth of his lips sends a trail of shivers down my spine, leaving me speechless for a moment.

"Good morning, Lou," I reply, my voice still hoarse from sleep, as I try to sit up. But Louis doesn't let me go. Instead, he pulls me back against him, wrapping his arms tighter around my waist.

"No, don't leave me," he whines, his voice low and full of affection. "Stay and cuddle me all day. You're warm."

I can't help but laugh at how spoiled he sounds, but his words send a flutter through my chest. I smile and glance up at him, feeling the heat in his arms, the weight of his presence anchoring me in place.

"Lou, I have to pee," I giggle, wiggling slightly in his arms to make my point.

Louis whines again, this time louder, his grip tightening as if to keep me from leaving. "Nooo, stay," he protests dramatically, his voice filled with playful desperation. "Don't go, Haz. You're too warm. I need you here."

I chuckle, knowing I can't resist him for much longer. "How about this, Lou? I go pee, make us breakfast, and we stay in bed and watch movies all day. How does that sound?"

Louis perks up at the idea. "I love that plan, Haz," he says, his eyes sparkling with excitement, "but I need to shower first. I'm all sweaty from last night."

I nod, agreeing, "I could use a shower too."

The thought of being under the hot water with him sends a new kind of thrill through me. The possibility of sharing something as simple as a shower, the intimacy of it, makes my heart beat a little faster. My nerves stir with anticipation, unsure whether I should voice the excitement or just let it simmer quietly beneath the surface.

Louis looks at me, a teasing glint in his eyes. "Want to shower together?" he asks, his voice dripping with mischief.

I blink, a little taken aback by the question, my mind momentarily blank. "W-what?" I stammer, not sure if he's serious or just joking.

Louis steps closer, closing the space between us with a smirk. He lowers his voice to a whisper, sending a shiver down my spine. "Shower with me, Haz," he says, his words smooth and sure.

The air between us feels charged, and my heart does a funny little flip in my chest. I look at him, the blush creeping up my neck as I struggle to form words. "O-okay, yeah, I'd like that," I manage to mutter, feeling both embarrassed and thrilled by the prospect.