Lockdown | Harry Styles | AU

Chapter 41

12 Months Ago...

"So... how was it?" Timothee finally asked, the one question he had been itching to ask ever since they sat down for lunch.

"How was, what?" Harry retorted, his tone almost too casual.

He knew what Tim was referring to, but with the sudden question Harry couldn't help but take the opportunity to act a little evasive. His mouth pursing to the side in order to hide his smirk as he looked down at his coffee, adjusting his elbows on the table.

"C'mon..." Timothee drawled out before he let a grin spread across his face.

"It was... fine." Harry answered after a few beats, shrugging a little sheepishly. A dimple forming in his cheek when he half smiled and finally lifted his head so he could meet Timothee's eyes.

"Fine?"

"Yeah."

"Just, fine?" Timothee pressed, his eyes pinned to Harry's as he looked for some kind of reaction.

"Okay, it was fucking amazing." Harry eventually admitted, his half smile widening before he let his tongue run across his teeth. "It's the first time I've had sex since getting sober—of course it was fucking amazing."

Timothee simply chuckled in response, amusement and delight for his friend very evident across his gentle face as he brought his own cup to his lips in order to drink more of his soy latte.

"Well I'm guessing it was also pretty quick..." He then commented before he dragging his teeth across his bottom lip, his own cheeky joke almost making him want to burst.

"Fuck you." Harry laughed out almost immediately, his face sparkling with humour. "It wasn't that quick actually," he continued, turning matter-of-fact, "just because I've not been having sex doesn't mean I've not... y'know."

"Oh?" Timothee tilted his head to the side while raising his eyebrows, more enjoyment very apparent on his expression. "I thought you're supposed practice self discipline and control when you're working the steps?" He teased.

"Shut up." Harry told him playfully, another laugh tumbling out of him. "I need some pleasures in life now that I can't get high or drink..."

"Well just make sure you don't end up switching to sex addiction." Timothee quipped with a smirk.

"Too late." Harry joked making them both smile.

"No, but seriously..." Tim's tone turned serious, a softness in his voice. "Are you happy?"

Harry pondered the question for a moment, his eyes once again looking down at his half empty coffee cup before they fleeted around the packed out cafe they were situated in. The sounds of the other customers and the busy service staff making it so easy for him to slip from reality, the chaos becoming white noise as his mind drifted.

He thought about Dakota and how incredible last night had been with her.

He thought about how good it felt being with her, how safe it made him feel.

The sex he experienced with Dakota was sensual and slow, she was so erotic and seductive. She was skilled and confident, she held all the power, but in a way that made Harry feel masculine and strong.

It was different... Very different.

Harry had never had sex like that before. Dakota made love like they were two eternal beings that had an eternity to explore and please one another— Like vampires.