Double Betrayal (Surviving Book 3)

by Frost, Ada

  As I opened the little door and stepped out into the garden, his large hand reached out to help me. I waved it away and ignored the sinking feeling his saddened expression caused.

  “Thank you for this. She loves it; although I think it’s seriously too extravagant a gift.”

  “I’m just happy she liked it.”

  “I will pay you back for it,” I blurted, hoping to sound a little less distressed at the thought of how much it must have cost. Will stepped back as if I had slapped him and frowned at me.

  “Why would you do that?”

  I waved my hand at the small lodge. “Because it’s too much, Will.”

  “Will you be offering to pay Castor and Acis back for their gifts? Or her dad? Or –” His angry stare warned me I had not only offended him, but he would be prepared to fight me on this. He crossed his arms over his massive chest, tightening the shirt around his perfect biceps. I mentally slapped myself and placed my hands on my hips to mirror his hostile stance.

  “That’s different. They are her family and they didn’t buy her a frigging castle.” I motioned behind me with a flippant wave of my hand.

  “I’m useless at buying gifts; I asked at the store what girls obsessed with princesses like. The woman suggested a castle.” He took a step toward me, growling out through clenched teeth.

  “She probably didn’t mean a giant playhouse.” I stepped toward him, refusing to be intimidated by his frame. Although, the closer I got, the more I had to tilt my head back.

  “It made her smile.” The way he growled through his tense jaw made my blood fire and skin tingle, and not in an apprehensive way.

  “I’m paying you back.” I poked my finger at his hard chest. It was like poking stone – perfectly carved, warm stone you wanted to lick and –

  “Don’t push it, Emily.”

  I tore my attention from his chest to stare up, way up into his face. His lips were set in a thin line. His jaw ticked as he clenched and unclenched, but what had my mouth parting on a gasp was the molten heat in his eyes. Incredibly long lashes fanned across his cheek as he blinked. He was breathing hard through his nose and I was incredibly aware of the heat from his body. I was an idiot, a complete and utter fool, because I knew what would happen when I asked, when I spoke the final words.

  “Or else what –”

  His lips smashed against mine, forcing a squeak out of me. Will’s burly hands slid into my hair, anchoring me to him as his tongue attacked my senses. He was insistent and desperate. I closed my eyes tightly and for a few seconds forgot everything except the feel of his tongue, his lips and his hands. I kissed him back; I allowed my cravings to overrule me and I devoured his mouth. He growled deep in his throat and pulled me up firmly against him, tugging almost painfully at the hair at my nape. Will pressed kisses to the corner of my mouth, to my cheeks, and across my jaw before trailing a path down my neck. I clutched my fists in his shirt, pulling tightly against him.

  “God, I’ve missed this, Pix,” he whispered against my skin and like an ice cold bucket of water to a dwindling flame, I was doused. I yelped out a no, and pressed hard against his chest. I hadn’t realised I was above ground and he was holding me, so when he released me and my feet hit the ground, I stumbled. He reached out to catch me, but I held out my hands and shouted no.

  “Don’t touch me.”

  “Pix –”

  “Stop fucking calling me that. It was an endearment while we were lovers. We are not, nor will we ever be, lovers again. You want a quick fuck? Go find someone you haven’t screwed over. Go find someone who you didn’t humiliate. Go fuck someone whose heart –” I covered my mouth as I realised my voice was shaking and tears were building at a rapid rate. “You promised you’d be the one to find me.” I tried to gain some composure and stop letting the pain bleed out of me, but it wouldn’t stop. “I think you destroyed any chance of anyone ever finding me again. Against my better judgement, I let you in. I let you in here, and you fucked another woman. If you want to be our friend, fine. But do not touch me. Ever! We understood?”

  “I didn’t fuck her. I didn’t touch her, period. She tried, God did she try, but I belong to you, Emily. Only you.”

  “We broke up, remember? You’re free to fuck –”

  “I haven’t so much as looked at another woman, Em, nor will I ever want another. You are it for me, Pix. My heart, whether you want it or not, is yours. And I will live an eternity jacking off before I fuck someone else. We may not be together, all I may ever have is friendship, but I will remain faithful to us. Since we – what happened between us, I’ve done nothing but exercise, babysit Alfie, and sulk around at my brother’s place. I'm lost without you.” He stepped into my space. “Em–”

  When I stepped back and sent him an icy glare, he paused.

  “Those are my rules, Will; take them or leave them. Otherwise, we say goodbye. You dumped me; there are no second chances.” I hated that my voice trembled, betraying my strong words. I crumbled inside, but I would not be fooled twice.

  He looked at the ground and bobbed his head. He slid his hands into his pockets with a defeated sigh. I turned on my heel and practically ran into the house. I needed distance from him, and from the dangerous way he made me feel…weak. I had spent many years determined never to feel fragile at the hands of a man again, and Willem Senior was not going to be my kryptonite.

  The evening progressed perfectly. Izzy opened her Christmas presents, even though it was nearly a month late. She squealed in delight as she unwrapped parcel after parcel. She pleaded to go back outside to play in her castle, but it was far too cold and dark for her to stay safe.

  I forced myself not to look at the giant standing quietly with Ryan in the doorway, watching. I could feel his eyes the entire time penetrating through me.

  When Alfie started yawning and whimpering because he was tired, Johan and Lou gathered a disgruntled Ellie and they went home, followed by my step-mum and brothers.

  “Story time and bed I think for you, little miss.” I pressed the tip of my finger against Izzy’s little button nose.

  “I want Will to read me a story.”

  Ryan chuckled.

  I refused to look up at Will; I absolutely refused.

  “Not tonight; what about daddy –”

  “But I want Will to do it, please?”

  “He has to go home.”

  “I don’t mind,” Will said, stepping further into the room and placing his coffee cup on the table. I still wouldn’t look at him. “Em?” He called my name softly, almost pleading with me. I tensed my jaw and willed my body not to react. I turned my attention to him, pleading with my body not to show any response to him.

  “If it’s okay with you, I don’t mind.”

  “Please,” Izzy pleaded. She sat on the sofa and slid her hand into his.

  “Okay, but Daddy gets to tuck you in first.”

  I remained downstairs, tidying toys and collecting dirty cups and dishes from around the living room. Ryan helped silently. He was like a stormycloud; almost like he had a dark shadow following his presence. He wasn’t mean; in fact, I had the distinct impression he had one of the kindest hearts ever known, but he had a deep sorrow about him, a perpetual loneliness.

  “When do you go back… to work? Do you call it work? Service, war –”

  He chuckled softly and shook his head. “I restart my tour in four days. I fly out in two. I want to see Will’s parents Ane and Will before I leave.”

  “Oh, I didn’t realise it was so soon.”

  He lifted his shoulders in a nonchalant shrug.

  “When will you be home?”

  “I never make long term plans.” His abrupt words caused me to halt.

  “It must be terrifying,” I said softly, feeling sick to my stomach at the thought of not seeing him again. I hardly knew him, but I knew how much Will and Johan loved their brother. Blood or not, he was still their big brother. I would hate anything to happen to either of mine.

&nbs
p; “It’s the perfect place to be for someone like me.” He glanced at me, and I saw it. The bleak emptiness in those sky blue eyes was that of a lost lonely man, followed by a cloud of sadness. I reached out instinctively and squeezed the back of his hand. His eyes flashed for a second, but what petrified me was the look of fear shining back at me, that my touch caused. I glanced down at my hand covering his mighty fist and frowned at how my tiny little hand could frighten a hulking giant. A tinkling of laughter pulled our attention and Ryan slid his hand away from mine. I offered him a gentle smile and headed toward the stairs. I could hear Will reading Izzy her story and trying to make different voices. The Witch was hilarious and I had to cover my mouth to muffle my laughter.

  “And that, my little friend, is the end.” I heard the book slap close.

  “Will?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Why is Mummy-Emmy upset with you?” My heart stuttered to a stop at her probing question.

  “Is she?”

  “You don’t kiss her anymore, and she looks sad when I say your name. Do you not like her anymore?” Izzy asked. I slapped my forehead with my palm and stepped toward her door. Will’s softly spoken voice stopped me.

  “I love her more than anything in this world, Isabelle.” He had never said those words to me, never. My heart beat so wildly I was sure they would hear it and come and catch me eavesdropping.

  “More than chocolate?”

  “Yep.”

  “More than ice-cream?”

  “Even cookie dough.”

  “Me, too; so kiss her and make her happy. That’s what kings and queens do.” I smiled at her innocent words; she was adorable.

  “Ah, but the problem is I made her sad, and a king should never make his queen cry. When your prince finds you, Izzy, make sure he treats you like the princess you are, every minute of every day. Because there is nothing more beautiful than making the woman you love smile.”

  Tears stung my eyes, and I had to lean against the wall before I crumpled to the floor and sobbed like the fool I was. My mind was fuddled with everything that had transpired. Were his words empty promises to make Izzy feel better? The problem was, if they weren’t, why would he purposely hurt me? I wiped at my face; I knew my eyes would be rimmed red, but I needed him out of my house so I could finally breathe. I stepped into Izzy’s room with a bright smile I didn’t feel and faced my giant head on. I wouldn’t be controlled by my emotions, not now, not ever. I wanted to be like Ryan, closed off and ready for battle.

  “So, you want to explain why you had your tongue down her throat at the party?” Ryan said as we sat at the bar. He pressed his beer to his lips, covering a shit eating grin. Bastard! He knew what would happen now—

  “You did what?” Johan snapped. I glared at Ryan.

  “Asshole.”

  “I just love when you bitches fight; makes me all tingly inside,” he said, laughing loudly when I punched his shoulder.

  “Will?” Johan’s insistent voice had my hands tightening into fists.

  “I misread the situation. I kissed her, she pushed me away. S’all good.” I shrugged, hoping the little shit wouldn’t continue with this conversation. Em was due into work any minute and I didn’t want her thinking she was part of a guy conversation.

  “Make her cry again, Will, and I have an incredibly sharp pair of scissors to cut your balls off,” Lou said, sliding onto a stool beside me. I glanced at her, then at Jo.

  “I thought this was guys’ night?”

  “It is; guys’ night and Lou,” he said, walking around behind me to slide his arms around his woman. Christ, he was whipped.

  “You should know the law of nature, Will. No matter how you try, you can’t escape your shadow.” Ryan clucked his tongue to the roof of his mouth.

  “This is true; I’ve tried, but he’s impossible to get rid of.” Lou smiled, sending a sassy little wink our way.

  “He kissed Emily,” Johan said, landing me in the shit to take onus from him. What in the hell happened to solidarity?

  “I heard –”

  I zoned her out when I caught sight of the gorgeous pixie from my every dream walk through the club. She had her usual uniform on of tight white shirt and a black short skirt that showcased her magnificent legs and spectacular arse. My body reacted instantly, tightening my pants. Fuck me, she was an absolute vision.

  “She is beautiful,” Lou said, leaning toward me.

  “She’s absolute perfection.”

  “So explain why you threw it away.” Lou’s gently spoken words slapped me across the face like a two by four. I reared back and glared down at her. “Don’t even try that look on me, pretty boy. I’m on your side, strangely. If you love her, as I believe you do, we will win her back. But understand if you break her again, you lose your family. I will not stand by you this time. I’m picking sides.”

  “And you choose her side.”

  “No, I’m choosing team Em and Will, but you cheat, default, or fail, you take yourself out of the game. And lose your supporters.”

  I glanced at Jo. “She’s never been good at sports analogies. Just agree to her terms – oof.” Jo doubled over when Lou’s elbow connected with his gut.

  “I think I’m in love. Marry me, Lou, not this idiot,” Ryan said, leaning around me to take her hand. Jo stood quickly and slapped at his hand.

  “You can be my backup plan.” She winked.

  “You will never need a fucking backup plan, woman,” Johan demanded, spinning her around on the stool to press his lips to hers. Those women were sassy, magical little frigging pixies – all of them. And they drove me insane.

  “Women always want more, wailing and whining when they realise a quick shag isn’t everlasting love,” Acis, my dickhead brother, offered by way of intellectual conversation. Arsehole.

  “Oh, please,” Lou scoffed.

  “You disagree?” Acis asked, leaning toward her. I tugged on his arm before Johan smacked him upside the head.

  “Acis, you poor disillusioned fool.” I patted his leg hand over the bar. “Just because a woman climbs on your dick doesn’t mean she wants happy ever after; it just means her vibrator needs new batteries.”

  Lou and Ryan guffawed in laughter.

  “Let’s face it, the Rampant Rabbit isn’t going to give you bullshit excuses why it’s late home from work,” Lou offered.

  “You won’t find it riding another skank when you get home from a twelve hour shift,” added one of the barmaids.

  “It won’t finish before you’re even wet, roll over, and fall asleep to snore like a bloody bear,” said a woman beside Lou. They high fived as Will, Acis, and Johan glared at us. Ryan sat quietly grinning, sipping on his beer. I loved that guy.

  “Amen to that. The only time a man is better in the sack than a vibrator is on my Kindle,” Isla offered as she pulled a pint. I was surrounded by a crowd of wise women.

  “So you see,” I said, holding out my hands at the women, “don’t delude yourself. You’re replaceable. Batteries come in multi-packs and are ever ready.” I winked at my brother, who had a disgusted snarl to his lip, probably because I mentioned sex and a vibrator – and according to him, it was a topic of discussion I should not venture into with him. Will stared at me silently, a burn in his eyes that set me on edge. I stumbled for something to say before I stepped away from the bar.

  “I – I better get back to work before Phil spanks my arse,” I laughed nervously, not quite disliking the heated jewels staring at me, when I should. My core throbbed to the rhythm of my pulse and I squeezed my thighs together. I was a snared animal in his big bad trap. I spun on my heels and trotted down the bar to the ladies room. Right about then, I could definitely do with a Rampant Rabbit to take the edge off.

  I opened the ‘Staff Only’ door and headed down the corridor. Just as I reached the door to the ladies, the other opened, slamming against the wall, and a very angry looking Will filled the hallway. I whimpered at the determined look in his eyes. Not because
I was afraid of him, but because right about then I wanted to pull my knickers down and ride his face.

  “You’re not supposed to be back here.” God, I wish I didn’t sound like a breathless siren calling her mate right now.

  “One thing, Pix –”

  I opened my mouth to protest his nickname, and quickly closed it when he strode toward me, looking every bit on edge as I felt.

  “You never, and I mean never, put a piece of latex inside that sweet pussy unless it’s covering my dick, got it?”

  “Silicone, actually.”

  “Pix!” he growled like a crazed animal, a deep, rich sound that shuddered through my body like a thousand tiny fingers tickling my senses. I squeaked out an unintelligible sound. I gawped up at him.

  “No sex toy has ever gotten you off the way I can.” His mouth curled in a cocky smirk; he lifted his hand and slid it through my hair to my nape. I squared my shoulders and met his stare with my own resolute glare.

  “You’re right.” His triumphant smile was going to be monumental to bring down. “Because I never needed more than my own fingers to satisfy me more than –” I yelped, really loudly, as I was yanked into the air, my legs wrapping around his waist as he forced us through the door. He heel kicked the poor wood so hard I flinched with the loud bang as it sealed us in the tiny staff toilet. There was simply a small cubicle toilet and a vanity with sink basin. He glanced around the limited space, pondered for less than a second, before he spun us around and pressed me hard against the door.

  “Will.”

  “Point to prove, Pix.” He pressed his mouth against mine in a hard punishing kiss; the heat of his body melted me to the door. Alarm bells were screaming inside my head, warning me this was a horrific idea, but when his tongue slid against mine and his teeth nipped at my lip, any thought of sense or reason flew out of the window. I tightened my hold around his neck and demanded more; I pulled, tugged, and scraped my fingers through his hair.