PERIPHERY | NH |

THIRTY SIX

Niall

"Babe... Baby."

I can't help but groan, pulling the warm body next to me even closer. "Go back to sleep."

"Niall." My name falls off the lips that I crave, the lips that belong to the kiss I would gladly die in. "You've got to get up."

Opening my eyes, there's nothing I can do but smile as I reach up to push a lock of hair behind her ear. "You sure we can't stretch that out a little longer? Love being in bed with you, bookworm."

"No, we can't." Laughing, she leans forward to press a kiss to my jaw before rolling away from me, taking her warmth with her. "Come on hot stuff, let's get going!"

I'd much rather stay in bed with Hunter, but I guess duty calls. It's been a couple of days since we flew into New York City, the media and the interviews all leading up to one moment.

The Show.

Our first stop on the tour, I was more than excited to get back out there and give the people that have supported me an amazing time. We had more than thirty cities in North America scheduled in all over the next few months. After that we would be headed overseas, starting with the festival in Scotland.

I'd always wanted to play festivals.

There was something about so many different artists from different genres being in the same place, putting on shows for so many people from different walks of life that seemed like it called to me.

When I got the call about whether or not it would be something that would fit with my schedule, I think that I would have done just about anything to make it work.

Thankfully, it fit right in with everything else we had planned.

"Alright, I'm coming." Throwing the blankets off my body, I followed Hunter into the bathroom, my eyes fixed on the way my shirt she had worn to bed barely seemed to cover her ass. "Are you ready for today?"

Reaching into the oversized shower, Hunter turns on the water, letting it run as she turns, taking a step closer to me. "What do you mean, am I ready? You're the one that's getting to finally be in front of a live crowd again. Aren't you excited?"

"Couldn't be more excited." My hands find her hips easily, her auburn hair messy from being in bed with me. Leaning down, my lips brush against hers as she smiles. "Right now though, I'm excited to take a shower. With you."

"Niall." My name is a whisper on her lips, going straight to my heart before traveling south. "We don't—"

"Don't even try and tell me we don't have time." My hands slide under the cotton fabric, pulling it up and over her head as my lips press soft kisses across her jaw. "Because there's not a single thing that could stop me from getting you naked, wet, and moaning for me in that shower right now."

Hunter drops her hands from my biceps, pushing the waistband of my boxers down as we take another step towards the steaming water, laughing when I stumble, kicking them to the side. "You're so fucking clumsy."

A laugh rumbles from deep in my chest as my lips find hers, hungry and searching. "Guess you'll have to keep me steady then, won't you?"

I find her nipples already pebbled, pinching them harshly before letting the pads of my fingers trail across her sternum and down her stomach before finding themselves between her legs, teasing her clit with the pad of my thumb.

"Oh, shit." Hunter tilts her head to the side as I kiss across her delicate skin, pressing a finger into her entrance while lazily stroking across the bundle of nerves. "More. Give me more."