The Assistant

Over the next couple of days, it was like night and day with Harry. If it was just the two of them, he seemed to be cold and distant. But when they were in the company of the rest of the guys, he was pleasant and even a little flirty with Nora. She was certain it was just him putting on a show and it made her loathe him so much more than she already did. She was so boggled down with stress to the point that she became an emotional mess. It was like she was stuck in some twisted, fucked-up film noir.

“Nora, are you alright?” She heard Josh’s concerned voice.

“Oh my god,” she said quickly, wiping at her eyes, embarrassed that she was just caught in an emotional meltdown.

“Hey, hey. What’s the matter?” He asked sweetly, coming over to her, placing his hand on her shoulder.

“I’m fine. I’m fine,” she said, wiping vigorously at her eyes, trying to shield her face away from him.

“Tell me what’s upsetting you,” he insisted.

“I’m fine,” Nora said once again.

“Nora, you’re all alone in a room crying. You’re not fine. Is it Harry?” He asked. She looked up at him, giving him a knowing look.

“Tell me,” he urged.

“It’s just everything. Everything is just so stressful—” She began. He nodded, listening contently to her.

“Harry—we had a fight and he’s mad at me and it’s all just… ugh. I don’t want to deal with it,” she growled.

“Sounds like you need a stiff drink,” he joked, chuckling lightly.

“I need something,” she sighed.

“How about when we get to the hotel tonight, you, me and the guys – excluding your beloved…” Josh smirked at her and she gave him a narrowed, unamused look.

“We’ll go down to the hotel bar and have a few drinks to get your mind off things,” Josh offered.

“I don’t think drinking will help me,” she said, eyeing him.

“Drinking helps everyone drown their sorrows,” he insisted with a chuckle.

She was reluctant, but honestly having an ally in all of this was almost too good to pass up.

Nora found herself sandwiched between Josh and Zayn on a stool in the bar of the Birmingham, Alabama Hilton Hotel. Dan, Jon, Niall and Sandy were also with and they were already two or three shots in as Nora slowly nursed the tall beer sitting in front of her. Being with all of them without Harry looming over her watching her like a shadow, felt freeing. Fake boyfriend or not, he was suffocating.

Zayn, of course, was comical as ever and as soon as he had enough in him, he was once again spewing hilarious pick-up lines at her.

“I know you’re like fucking Harry and shit, but like… I gotta know, if that smug bastard wouldn’t have swooped in, did I have a chance?” Zayn asked, his words slurred and Nora was certain if he even had one more drink he would most likely black-out.

“Shut it, Zayn,” Josh laughed, swatting at him from behind Nora.

“No. I’m serious. I wanna know. Cause fuck, Nora. You’re one hot bird, you know that? You’re like, proper gorgeous. And I know Harry’s the youngest and the favorite of the group, but I gotta know – would you have broken the contract to fuck me?” He asked bluntly, causing Nora to laugh out loud.

“Jesus Christ, Zayn,” Niall laughed, shaking his head.

“No, no. I’m serious,” Zayn said, his dark eyes looking contently at Nora.

“You’re beautiful, Zayn. You really are,” Nora said, her words slurring a bit due to her drunken state.

“But would you have broken your contract to fuck me?” He asked, really pressing for an answer, causing all the other guys to laugh.

Nora stared at him for a few moments. He really was a beautiful man. So, so beautiful.

“I’d fuck ya,” Nora said finally, certain she really didn’t have a real answer for him.

“You would?” He asked, perking up.

“Not now,” Nora giggled, looking at him wide-eyed.

“No, not now. But you would have?” He asked, looking almost relieved.

“Like I said, Zayn, you’re fucking beautiful,” Nora said, bouncing her eyebrows at him.

“You think?” He asked, quirking an eyebrow.

“You are,” she nodded.

“Fuck yeah,” he cheered as he turned to Sandy to boast about what Nora just told him.

“Good God, Nora. Do you know what you just did?” Josh chuckled.

“No,” she giggled.

“Oh, Jesus,” he laughed, drinking the last bit of his beer.

Nora stood up from her bar stool seconds later, having finished her own beer.

“Please walk me back to my room before I actually take him up on one of his many, many offers,” Nora told Josh quietly.

“Please don’t,” Josh snickered, his eyes widening as he shook his head at her.

“I’m going to bed, guys. It’s been lovely,” Nora announced.

“Nora,” Zayn whined, turning his attention back to her.

“What?” She giggled at him.

“Don’t fuck Josh,” he said sternly, eyeing them both.

“I’m not gonna fuck Josh, Zayn. Jesus. Who do you think I am?” Nora laughed.

“Good. Cause Josh has a girlfriend,” Zayn said, giving her a drunk smile.

“And Nora’s boyfriend is my mate,” Josh reminded him.

“Goodnight, Zayn,” Nora said, leaning in to give him a kiss on the cheek, but he was quick enough in his drunken state to turn his head and plant his lips directly on hers.

“Zayn Malik!” Nora laughed, smacking his arm.

“I love yoooou, Nora,” he crooned drunkly and all she could do was roll her eyes and giggle.

“Goodnight, guys,” Nora laughed, waving them off. They all shouted parting goodbye’s as she and Josh walked out of the bar.

Once Nora was back in her hotel room alone, it was hard to keep her mind off of things. The alcohol flowing through her veins only seemed to bring all her problems to the forefront, thinking only of Harry – her number one problem. She’s got 99 problems and Harry Styles was all of them.

They’d been playing their little game for days now – their fake relationship. And it was tormenting because one second he was flirting and the next he was glaring. Nora just wanted things to go back to the way they were when they were sneaking around. And the thought of it made her whole body tense with arousal. It had been days and days since they were, for lack of better words, intimate. Just thinking about Harry was agonizing.

Nora found herself stumbling out of her room, walking down the hallway to Harry’s door. She knew he was sharing a room with one of his band mates – though she didn’t know which one. She also didn’t care. She knocked quickly so she wouldn’t lose her nerve altogether.

The anticipation she felt was rewarded when it was Harry who opened the door, staring at her wide-eyed and shocked.

“Can you come out to play?” Nora smirked devilishly at him, hoping and praying he wouldn’t slam the door in her face. When his lips turned up into a smirk, she knew she had him.

.

.

Harry lay on his bed in the hotel room that night, so incredibly bored. He was mindlessly scrolling through his various social media apps, trying to ignore Louis’ conversation with Eleanor, when there was a knock on their door. He looked over at Louis who shrugged his shoulders at him. He had no idea who’d be needing them at that time of night. Harry slipped swiftly out of his bed and walked to the door, pulling it open, only to find Nora standing there looking at him with hooded eyes. He was completely surprised to say the least. He’d been distant with her on purpose lately. He didn’t like the way she completely disregarded him all the time, like he wasn’t worth her time. And maybe he wasn’t when they started sleeping with each other, but he could feel himself changing to adapt to her world. He had already changed so much and she still didn’t seem to notice. And that was another thing he didn’t necessarily like.

“Can you come out to play?” Nora smirked devilishly at him and his lips quickly turned up into a smile.

“Uh, what?” Harry retorted, leaning against the door jam, smiling widely at her.

“You’re my boyfriend, aren’t you?” She snapped at him, her hand pressed firmly against the wall next to her to keep herself upright.

She was completely hammered, at his door for a booty call and he was so damn tempted.This was like a fantasy he had. One where Nora was the pursuer, where she actually wanted him – even needed him.

Harry looked back into the hotel room, hoping Louis couldn’t hear anything they were saying. Either way, after he sold him out to Paul, he knew he wouldn’t say a thing.

“Yeah, I suppose I am,” Harry smirked deviously at her, entirely amused by her bewildering drunken horniness.

“Then come on,” she said, grasping onto the front of his t-shirt, pulling him out of the hotel room doorway, letting the door shut after him.

“I don’t have my key on me,” Harry told her as she started dragging him toward her room.

“I guess that means we’re having a slumber party,” she said with determination in her voice. Harry chuckled to himself, unable to keep the smile off of his face, seeing Nora in a whole new light.

Once they reached her hotel door, she looked both ways down the hallway, as if making sure no one saw her dragging him into her room with her.

“No one is out here,” he told her.

“Good,” she smiled at him as she pulled out her hotel key card from her bra.

“Convenient,” he quipped, smirking at her.

Harry watched as she very unsuccessful tried to swipe the key into the slot. He couldn’t help but smile. She was very amusing.

“Here,” he said, holding out his hand so she’d give him the key.

“I can do it,” she snapped, sending him a glare.

“Well you know, getting in the hotel room sometime tonight would be good,” he said facetiously, even though he loved the build-up of anticipation. She was literally dragging him to her hotel room to fuck him. This was one time where he didn’t need to convince her to have sex with him.

“Shut up,” she said to him as she successfully got the door to produce the green light.

“Ha!” She said smugly, sending him a look of the same arrogance.

“Bravo,” Harry said dryly as Nora pushed the door open. He followed her in as she flipped on the lights.

“When did you get drunk?” He asked her curiously.

“Just now,” she answered, turning to look at him with a come-hither look.

“With who?” he asked curiously, cocking an eyebrow.

“The band and Zayn and Niall. You’re actually pretty lucky it’s you in here and not Zayn,” she told him, giving him a devious smirk.

“What?” Harry asked incredulously, his stomach turning with her words.

“Mm-hmm. He can be very persuasive,” she said as her lips turned up into a snide smirk.

“Are you being serious right now?” Harry asked, narrowing his eyes at her.

“I am being very serious. He was the last boy to kiss these lips,” she said, tapping her lips with her index finger.

“What?” Harry asked sharply, feeling the jealousy swirling in the pit of his stomach.

“Oh, yeah,” she nodded and giggled, but kept her eyes dark and seductive.

“Are you trying to make me jealous?” He scowled at her.

“Jealous?” She asked, cocking her head at him.

“What is the point of you telling me that?” He snapped at her.

“Hmm. No point, Styles. Just saying,” she said and shrugged her shoulders passively.

“Mm-hmm,” he said, side-eyeing her, trying to push the thought of her kissing Zayn out of his head.

Was it intentional? Was she doing it to make him angry? Because it seemed to be working perfectly.

“I figured it might look bad if someone saw Zayn sneaking out of my hotel room, you being my boyfriend and all,” she said, continuing to twist the knife.

“Shut up,” Harry snapped, not wanting to hear any more. Nora’s eyes widened, still keeping a smirk on her face, looking intrigued by his outburst.

Harry quickly closed the gap between them, invading her personal space.

“Do you want to make this angry sex?” He breathed lowly against her mouth, hearing her breathing hitch from his words.

“I’m all for angry sex, Styles,” she said, scowling at him.

Harry’s hand came up, capturing the back of her neck tightly as he slammed his lips against hers. She whimpered against his mouth, but reciprocated the kiss almost immediately. Their tongues danced menacingly together as his free hand moved smoothly up the side of her body.

“Believe me, Zayn would never be able to please you like I know you like to be pleased,” Harry sneered, giving her a knowing glare.

“Oh,” she breathed, looking stunned – either from his words or the kiss. He wasn’t sure and he didn’t care as long as he was affecting her.

“Lay back,” Harry told her, lightly pushing her toward the mattress.

She fell backwards onto it, her wide eyes still on him with no more sneering words falling from her lips or smug looks on her face. He made his point. Harry quickly discarded her hot pink flip flops and her tight jeans shorts, leaving her in her panties and tank top. She had an amazing body – one he thoroughly enjoyed getting lost in.

“Sit up,” he said firmly and she obeyed immediately, still watching him.

His fingers found the hem of her shirt as he lifted it off her body, discarding it onto the floor next to her sandals and shorts. It was rather enjoyable to him to see she wasn’t wearing a bra. But as much as he wanted to thoroughly appreciate her body, he knew he didn’t have the time – not if he wanted to keep the sex angry. And oh, he did.

He ripped his own shirt over his head before he pressed his hand against her chest, pushing her back against the mattress. She fell back obediently, her eyes still boring into him. But he chose not to dwell on the worshipping quality they held as they stared back at him.

Harry licked his lips as his fingers grasped onto her panties and ripped them down her legs unapologetically.

“Did you like kissing Zayn?” Harry asked, giving her a glaring look, animosity firm in his tone.

“H-he kissed me,” she stammered, her voice slightly shaking.

“Did you like it?” He snapped.

“What’s it to you?” She snapped back, regaining her attitude that seemed to have gone away as he was undressing her.

Harry growled lowly, grasping onto her bare hips as he pulled her straight to the edge of the bed, her legs pressed against his hips. Her stunned look was back on her face as he quickly pushed down his sweatpants and pressed himself against her.

“Mm,” she moaned, throwing her head back against the mattress, even though he hadn’t even gotten to the good stuff yet.

Harry ran his hand up her bare stomach, over her bra-clad chest and then back down again, realizing that with every passing moment, his anger was dissipating. Nora was practically purring below him and he knew she was no longer angry either.

“Did you like it, Nora?” He asked her one last time. Her eyes opened, finding his once again.

“No,” she breathed lowly. And he felt all the anger completely drain from his body. Harry sighed, closing his eyes tightly.

“Harry,” she breathed. He swallowed hard as he opened his eyes, avoiding her gaze.

His hands opened her legs wider as he grabbed onto himself and pushed inside of her. Nora let out a pleasing moan and his whole body felt the pleasure as she enveloped around him.

“Harry,” she said again, but he ignored her and began a fast rhythm inside of her, avoiding looking in her eyes altogether.

His fingers dug into the flesh of her thighs as he rocketed in and out of her. She was breathing so heavy, she was nearly gasping, which was okay with him because it kept her from asking questions.

“Fuck, Harry. Oh my god,” she moaned, gripping onto his wrists, digging her fingernails into the flesh.

“Ah fuck, Nora,” Harry groaned out in pain. She eased up but still held onto him.

He moved faster and faster yet, determined to push her over the edge. He would fuck her into oblivion if he could. He loved watching her come, knowing it was him who was responsible for her unraveling. He felt the clenching of his stomach muscles and the heat pooling inside of him and he knew he was going to lose it soon.

“Come on, Nora,” he growled, still giving it to her steadily.

“Keep going,” she whimpered, dropping her hands from his wrists, only to fist the sheets below her.

With one hand still gripped onto her thigh, he reached the other one up her body, gripping gently onto her breast, working the soft flesh in his hand. She moaned lowly and he knew she was enjoying his hands on her.

“Come on, Nor,” he said more encouraging this time.

“Keep. Going,” she groaned sharply.

Harry’s thumb caressed over her hardened nipple and she moaned again. Rolling the soft bud between his thumb and index finger seemed to be the trigger to her orgasm, because soon enough she was moaning loudly as her body shuddered beneath his, her gasps nearly choking her. And it was so entirely sensual and sexy to watch, that he knew he was sure to lose it right after her. And he did, pressing forward, letting out a low grunt as he came.

His body fell forward, his feet still planted on the floor and the side of his face pressed against her naked stomach, completely spent.

“Fuck, Nora,” Harry groaned breathlessly as he reluctantly got up off of her.

Her eyes were back on him as soon as he looked into them. She wasn’t saying anything, but her eyes spoke volumes and it made him nervous. He looked away from her, running his hands through his long hair, wanting to just escape – to get the fuck out of there, but he knew Louis was probably sleeping by now and he probably wouldn’t wake up to let him back in to their hotel room. He was stuck. He was stuck with a girl looking at him with adoration swirling in her eyes – a girl he never meant to string along like this. It was just supposed to be sex.

Without another glance in her direction, Harry walked toward the bathroom. She didn’t say a word as he slipped inside and closed the door behind him.

“Fuck,” he breathed, running his fingers through his messy hair.

He looked in the mirror, hating himself a little more than he already did for taking advantage of her while she was drunk, even though she was the one to initiate it. He should have had more sense. Every time he was with her he was spiraling. He knew it, yet he kept coming back. He knew the end result was going to be sobering. He knew he should have just stayed away all along. But there he was. There they were. And he saw the same feelings swirling in her eyes and he knew he brought her to the same brink she had him. And he hated himself because he knew somehow he would fuck it all up. He always did.

.

.

When Harry finally came out of the bathroom, Nora was already curled up under the blankets, the lights put out. She felt sick to her stomach because she knew he registered things in her eyes and in her actions that she tried hard to keep from him. She didn’t want to be that girl. She didn’t want to be his girl. It was forced upon her. She knew she couldn’t keep doing this. She just needed to suck it up and let it go – that the only contact they should be having was when they were putting on their charade for everyone around them. But she knew deep inside her that she’d never be happy without it, without him.

Fuck.

Fuck.

Fuck.

“Do you want me to sleep in here… with you?” Nora heard Harry’s wavering voice.

“I thought you were locked out,” she said through the dimness of the room.

“Yeah,” he breathed.

“Yeah,” she said almost inaudibly.

It was a few long moments before Nora felt the mattress shift as Harry slid in next to her, pulling the blankets over himself. They were silent for a little while as she lay with her back to him. But when she turned over in the bed so she could see him, his eyes found hers easily through the dark.

“What?” He breathed softly.

“Did you really mean it when you said you made it nearly impossible for me to say no to you?” Nora asked him, making sure to keep her eyes on his face to see his expression. He sighed, averting his gaze for a moment.

“I, uh…” He stammered.

“I mean, were you really admitting to it, or was it something you just made up to make the lie believable?” She asked him, trying to keep the annoyance out of her tone.

“Nora,” Harry sighed.

“Because really – you did make it nearly impossible. I-I didn’t—” She said, letting her words cut off as she shook her head.

She was drunk and emotional and she knew it probably wasn’t the best time to have a talk with him. But on the other hand, she was probably going to get the most honest answers out of him after having just let him fuck her senseless.

“I’m sorry, Nora,” Harry said softly, his voice barely audible.

He caught her completely off guard and her heart clenched in her chest. She looked up into his eyes, feeling hopeful. Did he just apologize?

“I wanted you,” he admitted, his voice more prominent than before.

“You wanted me?” She questioned.

“Yeah. I mean – gahhh. You’re going to take this all wrong and I don’t want you to,” he said with annoyance in his tone as he shook his head.

“What?” She asked. He had her on her toes with anticipation.

“I don’t do well in relationships, Nora. Don’t think—” He began.

“What?” She choked out incredulously, cutting him off. What the hell was he talking about relationships for? What they had was a non-relationship. A non-relationship.

“No. God. See. Just stop. I didn’t – just… God, Nora,” he grumbled, growling out her name at the end.

“What?” She asked more impatiently this time.

“I am going to admit this to you – just this once. And I don’t want you to get upset with me. I don’t… I mean, we’re different now,” he said, shaking his head, apprehensively looking into her eyes.

“What?” She growled, so annoyed with him.

“When I… when we slept together the first time… okay, the first handful of times, it was all just… it was all to, you know… get some,” he admitted and her entire face flushed with his confession. Her stomach lurched and she could feel the anger balling in her chest.

“Nora, I am admitting this to you because I know we’ve gotten passed that, okay. We’re… we’re friends now. At least I like to think we are,” Harry said cautiously as he noticed the change in her mood.

“Friends?” Nora scoffed lightly.

“Are we not? I mean, I’m pretty sure we are, Nor,” he said, giving her a playful smile to try to cut the tension.

She could do nothing but clench her jaw and shake her head. But as much as Nora wanted to release her anger out on him, she knew he was making huge progress by even just admitting to what he did and talking it out with her.

“Nora, I’m sorry. I’m just trying to be honest,” he told her.

Nora paused for a few moments, really taking in all of his words. Honesty? That was new for him. And she realized he was really trying not to be an asshole like he always was. He was changing right before her very eyes.

“Thank you,” she breathed as her chest tightened even further with feelings for him that she never wanted to have in the first place.

Notes