Defenceless // Larry Stylinson

Chapter 8. Jess

Author's Note: 1 week later here we are with a new chapter! Hope you like it :)

+++

It took a few minutes for the conversation to flow normally again after that, but Louis being Louis, he was able to make everything easy and nice again. We finished our meals and chatted, so by the time the leftovers were packed up and the dishes were in the sink it was around 6:45. Jess came up with the idea of watching a film before Louis and I have to get ready to go, and for the first time, he accepted.

We decided on watching Bohemian Rhapsody as it had just came On Demand and on streaming services.

Jess ended up on her phone for most of it, having already seen the movie in theatres, and she sat in the chair next to the couch. Louis and I ended up on either end of the couch, feet brushing each others curled in the middle of the couch. I tried not to think too much on the feeling it caused in my stomach. Something about Louis is just so comforting, just being around him makes me feel warm and at ease.

When the movie was finished, Louis excused himself to go get dressed and ready for the evening, and I did the same. Jess stayed in the living room to put something on the telly.

I decided on my Saint Laurent Tunisian Collar shirt. It's black with golden paisley-ish flowers and is one of my favorites, and I hardly have an occasion where I get to wear it. I paired it with one of my favorite pairs of black trousers, and my black Gucci leather boots that have a golden dragon adorned on the sides. I hadn't gotten a chance to wear them yet, so it's nice to get a chance to finally.

Once I was dressed, I checked my hair to make sure it stayed where I wanted it to (it did), and then I brushed my teeth again, and applied Jess' pink-tinted strawberry chapstick that I stole the last time. I also decided to go ahead and put on some moisturizer again, already knowing the alcohol from tonight would dry out my skin and make me feel gross tomorrow, and finally I added a few spritzes of my Gucci Memoire d'un Odeur cologne along with my rings.

Once satisfied with how I look, I check the time, 8:47, give myself a nod, and head back downstairs. Right as I reach the bottom, Louis emerges back from the apartment, and the moment my eyes land on him, my mouth goes dry.

He's wearing a white polo shirt that's just sheer enough to give hints to the tanned skin hidden behind the fabric, and he's paired it with a pair of dark blue slim-fit trousers which are rolled a bit at the bottom to show his ankles. His tattoos across his arms on full display and I have the sudden urge to reach out and trace them with my finger. He's also wearing an all-white pair of trainers to compliment the shirt. He looks incredible. My thoughts are interrupted however by Jess' voice cutting through the air-

"Christ, Harry. You look fucking fit tonight. There's no way I'm letting you take that off tonight unless I'm the one taking it off of you." She said the second part more quietly than the first, as if she only intended me to hear it.

She didn't lower her voice enough though, and Louis' face hardens as the words leave her mouth. He looks down to hide it, but not before I could see. I feel guilt seeping through my bones, knowing it's me making him uncomfortable; him knowing the truth and having to be around Jess, around me. I can't imagine how difficult it must be for him to know about me forcing myself to sleep with a women when I don't feel a sexual attraction to her. I wonder if he thinks of himself, how it would be if he were in this position.

"Thanks, Jess. Way to boost my ego." I force out a chuckle, trying to remain light.

Her being like this already makes me feel uneasy, I'd really rather not have to force Louis to see it too. It also only furthers that I need to sleep with her again, and soon. It's been too long and she's getting impatient. I can tell by the way she's raking her eyes up and down my body, mentally undressing me with her eyes. It shouldn't make me as uncomfortable as it does.