Warped (The Manipulation Trilogy Book 2)

by Alicia Taylor

Tonight is our joint Stag & Hen Pyjama party. We were going to go to a spa hotel but I’m not feeling it and want lounge day. Being pregnant I really didn’t want to go out clubbing. We rang to cancel the weekend’s plans and our friends wouldn’t let us get out of it. Now we’re having a PJ party at home with food, drinks, and fun. I’ve been excited all day, but now I’m wishing we said eight pm and not seven.

  ****

  I open the door and Spencer is standing, holding a crate of beer. He comes inside and places a kiss on my cheek. I smile at him and I'm about to shut the door when I hear a car driving up the drive. It’s Tom and Lacy.

  I smile and wave, then wait for them to exit the car. I turn and see Spencer walk into the lounge and pour himself a drink. Damon is standing at my side, his hand is linked in mine, clasping me tightly.

  Tom envelops me in a hug when they reach us, and I'm sure I hear Damon growl, making Tom snigger.

  “Ella you look amazing,” Lacy says with a smile. She comes and rubs her hand on my bump while kissing me on the cheek.

  “So do you. Wow, Lacy have you lost weight? There will be nothing left of you. Must be all the exercise you’re getting,” I say winking at Lacy. Tom looks pleased with himself and it makes me giggle. I bury my face in Damon’s chest as I try to rid myself of the vision of Tom and Lacy burning calories together.

  “Well what can I say? When you have had me, everyone else is hard to live up to,” Tom says. Damon chuckles and gives my side a soft squeeze. I know what he’s thinking. I didn’t go back, but there is no reason to be pointing that out.

  “Tom, behave,” Lacy says. Tom takes an embarrassed Lacy by the hand, giving it a gentle kiss, before pulling her into the crook of his arm and placing a gentle kiss on her head. I almost fill with tears seeing them like this. They look so happy together. Tom deserves this.

  Damon wraps his arms around my stomach rests his head on my shoulder, holding me to him.

  “They seem happy together,” he murmurs. “I have to admit seeing Tom in love makes me feel so much better. Now I know he won’t try to get his grubby hands on you again.” I roll my eyes and shake my head at him.

  “Damon, there is no chance anyone will ever have their hands on me again. You have ruined me. I am now, and forever will be, yours.” I turn around and face him, and I don't expect the attack on my lips as he pushes me up against the wall and devours my mouth. Damon’s hands are all over my body causing my temperature to rise. It’s only when I hear a cough and a giggle that I remember where we are and that we have guests.

  I laugh and pull away from Damon’s luscious lips. Turning my head I am greeted by the three smiling faces of Sofia, Wes and another girl. I've not met her before. She’s familiar, but I’m not sure why.

  I push Damon away, and he moves so he’s hidden behind me, hiding his arousal. Wes lets out a bellowing laugh as I feel Damon trying, with not much success, to discreetly adjust himself and giving himself away in the process.

  “Having a problem there Damon? Should we leave and give you guys a few... seconds to finish what you started?” I roll my eyes at Wes before leaning in to give him a kiss on the cheek. He returns my kiss then stops and looks at my stomach for a second, I'm not sure but I'm think I see longing in his eyes as he leans into Sofia and kisses her head. I watch as tears fill her eyes a little before she turns and pulls me into a hug. When I move out of her embrace I hold her at arm’s length.

  “You okay Sofe?” I ask her softly. She nods her head, giving me a small smile that screams I can’t talk about it, and then I remember there is another person standing with them. I turn my attention to the pretty girl next to Sofia. She looks to be about the same age as me, and she is devastatingly stunning.

  Her hair is fire engine red and hangs in ringlets all the way down her back, and she is tiny, really petite. Damon was chatting to her while I was speaking to Wes and Sofia. She looks up at me and catches me staring, and gives me a gentle smile as I move to Damon's side.

  He pulls me into the crook of his arm, and kisses my temple, before turning his attention to Wes. I look at Sofia who is being hugged tightly by Wes. I need to check she is okay later. I saw raw pain in her eyes, and I need to make sure she’s alright.

  “Ella, this is Faith, Sofia's baby sister.” I smile at Faith before saying hello. She smiles awkwardly back, says hello, and then moves to her sister. Damon invites them in. I turn to him as all three make their way into the lounge, and pull him into a deep kiss. After I’ve had my fill I pull away and walk towards the lounge. Damon slaps my arse and growls, making me giggle.

  When Faith reaches the lounge, she freezes. I crane my neck and see Spencer standing at the bar with his glass frozen in mid air, with a stunned expression on his face. All colour has drained out of his skin. It’s as if he has seen a ghost.

  I look at Damon, who just shrugs his shoulders at me, not knowing what is going on any more than I do. I'm going to make it my mission tonight to find out what the story is with Faith and Spencer.

  ****

  Walking into the kitchen, I go to the drawer and grab some takeout menus. When I walk back into the living room it feels as if the atmosphere could be cut with a knife. Spencer is staring anywhere but at Faith, Sofia is sitting on Wes’ lap, and I'm not sure if Tom and Lacy have come up for air since they have arrived. I love those guys but seriously, get a room!

  I place the menus on the table and go and sit on Damon's lap. He gently rubs my stomach but I can’t take the awkward silence anymore. Jumping to my feet I walk to the CD player, staring at it for what feels like forever, before I sigh in frustration. How the hell do I turn the stupid thing on?

  I run my hands all over the thing and I’m just about to throw a mini hissy fit at the thing when Damon picks up a remote and hits the on button. The doors open by themselves and a little Ipod dock comes out. I scroll through the menu, trying to find the right song to pick up the mood, and snigger to myself at some of Damon's song choices. I thought my taste was bad but fuck me, his are atrocious. I find a power ballad album and stop when I find Don’t Stop Believing by Journey, and hit play.

  Messing about, I pick up my bottle of juice and pretend to use it as a microphone. I dance over to Sofia and grab her hand, making her join my karaoke session. She lets out a laugh but stands and joins me in my wiggles.

  Faith jumps to her feet and picks up Spencer’s beer bottle, plucking it straight out of his hand. Lacy moves her mouth from Tom's lips for a second, and for a moment I see her consider what she wants to do more, kiss or dance, but the groove gets the better of her and she jumps off Tom's lap and joins us as we continue to howl out the lyrics.

  The guys are doubled over laughing at us. We must look like lunatics dressed in our pyjamas but I don’t care, it’s so much fun. When the song finishes, Like a Virgin by Madonna comes on and I'm doubled over laughing so sit down on the stool next to Spencer. I love this song, but with my baby bump I can hardly act like the song is about me.

  Faith starts strutting around the room and stops directly in front of Spence. His whole body goes rigid as everyone watches her performance. When it gets to the chorus I'm almost crying with hysterics. Spence tries to not let it show how much Faith is affecting him, but we may as well not even be here. If it wasn’t clear before, it is now. Faith wants him as much as he wants her. I wonder why he has never done anything about it.

  When the song finishes we all stare, speechless at the performance we just witnessed, and Spencer turns bright red and walks out of the room. Damon stands to go after him but I shake my head and follow him to the kitchen myself instead.

  Spencer needs some female advice.

  “Spence, are you okay?” I ask. He nods his head while grabbing a glass of water, but doesn’t turn and look at me, so I pull up a seat.

  “So, what’s the story with Faith?” I question. He turns around and faces me and a sad look crosses his face.

  “There’s no story Ella, we’re just friends,” he says softly.

&
nbsp; “But you want more?” He nods his head. He looks so sad, and I’ve never seen Spencer this vulnerable before. How did I never realise Spencer felt like this about someone?

  “It doesn’t matter though Els, she won’t give me the time of day. At first I stayed away because she was too young and innocent, and I knew I didn’t deserve her. We have been friends for years, and I knew if I went there I would fuck it up and lose her altogether, so I stayed away. That was when I got my reputation as a ladies’ man. Apparently I will fuck anything with a pulse,” he says bitterly.

  “Don’t you?” I ask softly.

  “It’s not true Ella. Half the women I’m seen with don’t even get a kiss, let alone a fuck. There has always been something about her, and she drives me fucking crazy. I can’t breathe when she is near me. You saw what I'm like. I can’t even string two fucking words together.” Shaking my head I can’t believe how wrong Spencer has got this.

  “Spence, that girl in there is crazy about you,” I tell him slowly, hoping he’s actually listening to what I’m saying. “That dance was a statement, Spence. She wants you, and I think she wants you to see she isn’t a sweet innocent girl any more, she is a beautiful woman. If you don’t get your head out your arse, someone else will claim her.” Spencer lets out a growl at my statement, making me smirk.

  “No fucker is going to touch her. She is mine, she belongs with me.” I nod my head in agreement and I’m about to say this when a flash of red catches my eye. I turn my head I see Faith standing in the doorway, watching us. I take that as my cue to leave. I stand and kiss Spencer on the cheek, before I walk out and back into the lounge, giving Faith a warm smile as I pass her.

  ****

  We are still messing around when a knock sounds on the door. Everyone is sitting around playing cards and drinking, so I stand up to answer it. It’s the delivery guy. We all chose Chinese in the end. Grabbing my purse I rifle through it to get the cash, and just as I'm about to hand it over Damon walks out holding out a wad of notes and hands it to the delivery guy. I'm sure he just gave him a huge tip. He takes the bags from me and heads into the living room, as I head to the kitchen to grab plates and cutlery.

  Opening the door I stop in my tracks, and squeal as I cover my eyes. There, going at it on my kitchen counter, are Spencer and Faith. Spencer’s trousers are around his ankles and Faith's legs are wrapped around his waist.

  It only takes a split second for the image of Spencer plunging into Faith on my kitchen counter to be forever imprinted on my brain.

  “Oh my god, Spence. I said talk to her, not fuck her where I prepare and eat food,” I whine. It’s not like that counter hasn’t been used plenty of times for sexual activities before but it was Damon and me, not Damon’s brother. I have to see him a lot more than I do Faith. I’ll never be able to look him in the eyes again. I back out of the kitchen and walk back into the living room, trying to shake that image from my head.

  “Where's the plates Els?” Tom asks as everyone stops and looks at me. I don’t know how to tell them that I just caught Spencer fucking Sofia's sister in the kitchen, and I'm saved when Damon walks through the door holding the plates and cutlery, a grin firmly in place.

  I roll my eyes at him and sit down quietly not saying a word. Who am I to interfere? Amusement shines in Damon’s eyes, making me giggle. Our laughter fills the room, causing the others to wonder what in the world is happening.

  Grabbing the plate of food Damon passes me, I tuck in, trying to rid the image of Spencer's arse from my mind, with a smile still on my face.

  “How did you get everything from the kitchen without interrupting?” I ask Damon when he sits beside me. Leaning forward, he kisses my nose.

  “That’s a secret, beauty.”

  ****

  The night is going great. Every so often I catch glimpses of Spencer and Faith, but I can’t look at them without cringing so I have pretty much avoided all eye contact. I stand to clear up all the dishes, and Faith stands too, picking up the remaining plates and following me into the kitchen.

  “I'm sorry. I didn’t mean for that to happen,” she says quietly, as we reach the kitchen. I shake my head, not really wanting to think about that happening in my kitchen.

  “Really, let’s not talk about what you and my soon-to-be brother-in-law did on my kitchen counter. Okay? It’s like it never happened.” I shudder at the thought and Faith giggles.

  “Thank you for not saying anything to anyone and for what you said to him. I never thought that would ever happen. I’ve wanted him for so long, but he always treated me like the baby of the group, and then when I saw him with all those women, I hated him. Well I wanted to, tried to, and each time was like a slice to my heart. I love him. I’ve loved him for a long time.” I spin to face her, surprised by her words. I hadn’t realised it was as serious as that.

  “I really hope it works out for you both. I like you Faith.” She gives me a warm smile and grabs me for a hug which throws me off a little bit. She really is a sweet girl.

  ****

  It's almost 2am before Damon and I stumble into bed. All the others are staying in the guest bedrooms, and I put Faith in the one that’s furthest away from us. I do not want to be hearing if Spencer makes a little visit during the night, if he’s not there already.

  Damon is drunk. He is actually quite adorable, and right now his head is on my stomach as he kisses the baby goodnight. I run my hand through his hair and realise he has fallen asleep. I push him so he is back on his side of the bed and snuggle into his arms, tucking myself against him. Tonight has been so much fun. The more time I spend with everyone, the more I realise how lucky I am to call them friends.

  The thought plays on my mind leaving a smile on my face as I drift off to sleep.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  SEPTEMBER 8TH 2014

  DAMON

  I sling my arm around the back of Ella’s chair as we wait in the hospital to see baby Hunt. I missed the first scan because I’m a fucking prick, but I won’t be missing anything else. Every doctor’s appointment, hospital appointment, and midwife’s appointment since I’ve been present and will continue to be.

  I won’t let my beauty down like that again.

  I run my finger through her hair whilst she browses through a pregnancy magazine. The silky strands are soft against my hand. Ella turns to look and me and gives me a small smile. I can’t believe she’s mine, can’t believe she’s going to be my wife in just a week.

  My mum is sitting the other side of me, just as engrossed in a magazine as Ella. When we asked mum to come to the twenty week scan with us she cried for an hour straight before she could actually say yes. She was overwhelmed and so grateful.

  “How’s your feet? No doubts?” I suddenly ask Ella. I want her to want this marriage. She has to love me. Ella looks at her shoes before she replies.

  “Achy. I could do with a massage,” she says. I can hear the smile in her voice, but she keeps her gaze trained away from me, not letting me see the grin that I know is gracing her lips.

  “Not what I meant and you know it,” I growl playfully. My beauty has been like this a lot recently, playful, happy, and carefree. I love it. I love when she shows the real Ella.

  “Does that mean you won’t rub my feet when we get home?” She sounds offended and it makes me laugh out loud, which results in a thump to my stomach. Her moods have been erratic but in a funny way, making me recipient of a lot of thumps recently.

  I hear my mother mumbling something about me being brought up better than that, making me groan.

  “I’ll rub your feet all night if you want me to baby,” I say aloud, before bringing my lips to her ear. “But you know as well as I do, you won’t be able to take my hands on just your feet for long. Not without wanting them elsewhere,” I growl. I hear her breath catch and she squirms in her seat, making me grin.

  “Stop it Damon. You know my sex drive is higher than usual. You’re doing it on purpose,” she hisses. I laugh at her a
s she fidgets.

  “I can take care of that for you, beauty,” I say. “You know I can make you feel better baby.” Just as she’s about to reply, a nurse calls her name. We stand and Ella sends me a glare. I love her in a bratty mood. She pouts without realising it, and it makes me want to kiss the shit out of her.

  I send her walking with a slap to her arse and hear her gasp, and her cheeks turn pink as she walks along next to my mum and behind the nurse, with her head held high.

  ****

  I’m glad we have a fucking female nurse. I don’t like anybody else’s hands on my woman, and certainly not on my baby’s bump. Possessiveness grips me and I want to snatch Ella away. I want to growl with each touch, fucking obsessive prick that I am, when it comes to my beauty anyway.

  The technician warns Ella about the cool gel before applying a large dollop on her rounded stomach. She smears it around the bump with a handheld device. I hold my breath as the monitor changes from black to a grainy image, and in the next breath I see it. I see my baby.

  Tears fill like eyes like a pussy, but I can’t fucking help it. I’ve never seen something so amazing before. I can actually see my baby. Right. Fucking. There. I look at my mum and she has tears brimming in her eyes, as she clutches tissues in her small hands.

  I look at Ella and I’m at a loss for words as tears stream down her face. She isn’t looking at the monitor though, she’s looking at me, watching my reaction.

  I swallow hard as I try to form a thought to speak but my mind is blank. I turn to look at the baby again and instantly need to sit. I drop down into the chair against the wall behind me and don’t take my eyes from the screen.

  Holy fucking shit.

  I’ve never seen anything like it. I can really see a baby, our baby. I draw in a lungful of air before a grin splits my face. I can’t fucking believe it. This is so surreal. I can actually see my baby.

  “Everything seems to be looking really good. Baby is growing nicely, and seems to be wanting to know if you’d like to know the sex. Can you see there?” She holds the wand still against Ella’s stomach and points at the monitor. “Legs flailing all over in there. It looks like baby is having a party,” she laughs. “Would you like to know?”