The Champagne Lovers

Four

I closed my eyes and pulled my jacket around me against the slight chill that hung in the air, it was just after 8am and we had a long day of travelling ahead of us

"Hey you" he whispered in my ear from behind, making me jump.

The sound of his voice and the feel of his breath on my skin instantly made my heart race and goose bumps flood my body.  His arm snaked around me offering me a cup of coffee which I gladly took, turning to face him

"Morning, thank you, you must have read my mind" I replied smiling at him

"what can I say, I know you can be a real grumpy pants when you don't get enough caffeine"

"Heeeey" I protested us both giggling, his blue eyes sparkling down at me

We both stood in the early morning sunshine next to the entrance of the parking garage garnering what little heat there was in the air whilst underneath the hotel, the 2 tour busses were being loaded, after getting back to the hotel with Harry, I only got around 2 hours sleep before my alarm was dragging me into consciousness kicking and screaming.  He'd of course walked me back to my room being the gentleman he was and with a kiss on the cheek he'd left.

I was exceptionally thankful that there wasn't a show today and we'd be on the road for a big chunk of the day, I'd hopefully be able to get a few hours sleep in this morning before I'd have to start the prep for the next show in a couple of days.

I stood leaning with my back on the wall behind us, Niall looked back over his shoulder checking if there was anyone that could see us where we stood but everyone was busy loading bags and equipment so he came to lean on the wall next to me, he stood side on, one shoulder against the brick, his legs crossed over easily and his fingers absentmindedly fiddling with the edge of the lid on his coffee cup.  He was close, close enough that I could feel the heat from radiating from him, and could still smell the freshness of his morning shower and the product in his brown hair, and a hint of his cologne, the combination was enough to make the butterflies swirl in my stomach and the adrenaline flare in me. 

"I missed you last night" he said softly, leaning into nuzzle my hair slightly, his accent smooth and rich

I turned my face to look up at him, this close I could really appreciate how beautiful his eyes were, the edges framed by a dark almost navy blue, the colour getting lighter as it moves towards the centre like the ocean washing up on the shore, the hints of yellow flecked around his pupil like the sand visible through the breaking waves.  It was when I saw the corners of his mouth turning upward and the edges of his eyes crinkle in a little smirk that made me realise that I had been staring at him without saying a word for a little longer than was comfortable, I quickly broke his gaze, looking down at the coffee cup in my hands

"I ermm... actually ended up going to visit a couple of local attractions with Harry last night after the show finished" I dont know why but for some reason I felt guilty, and I didn't like it.

I had no reason to feel guilty, Niall and I had been clear about the fact that we weren't dating, and that if either of us wanted to, we were free to date other people, and anyway, it wasn't even a date with Harry last night, it was just 2 friends doing a little exploring like we'd done in a hundred other cities before.

So why couldn't I shake this feeling in the pit of my stomach?

"I know... he mentioned it this morning while we were getting coffee, seems he'd had a pretty late night by the sounds of it" Niall said with a questioning look in his eye, his voice just above a whisper

"He also mentioned that you found something of mine that I'd apparently left in wardrobe"

There was still a slight smirk in his voice, he then took my hand, his fingertips grazing over my palm, softly moving up over my wrist where I could almost feel the trail of blood that was rushing to the surface of my skin under his touch, continuing to slowly move up my arm until they came into contact with the cool metal of his watch