I’m still feeling sore from the way he took me hard and fast against the door as soon as we entered his flat.
It’s his way of punishment. A game he plays with my body that I don’t ever want to end.
As soon as we graduated, Levi chose to live on his own. He still didn’t touch his trust fund and is living off his overflowing career with Arsenal. It amazes me how he can play and study at the same time. I feel so overwhelmed with the art classes alone.
On paper, I still live with Dad, but in reality, I crash in Levi’s flat more often than not.
We practically live together now.
“Are you going to be petty for long?” I ask, rubbing my arms.
A chill covers my bare limbs and it’s not because of the cold. A part of me is bubbling, itching and almost jumping out of my skin for what he plans to do.
Levi might have grown up, but he’s still the same unpredictable arsehole who’s out to flip my world upside down.
The only difference is that I love it. No, I crave it. Sometimes, I feel like his madness mirrors mine.
And when I wake up in the morning with this face next to mine, I give a silent prayer to always wake up to him.
He might rock my world, but he’s also the only one who’s able to balance it. He’s my rock and my anchor. He has some possessive and controlling issues, but that’s part of who Levi King is.
In fact, after getting to know his uncle and his cousin, I can say Levi is the safest amongst them — shocker I know.
They have something all screwed up in the family’s blood.
They’re all twisted in their own ways and they’re not apologetic about it.
A sound catches behind me. I stop in front of the threshold and glance sideways, my breathing hitching.
“Levi?”
Nothing.
I wait for a few long seconds and then release a breath. I’m going back inside and to hell with Levi’s games.
Something slams into me from behind. I shriek as I recognise his warmth and his unmistakable scent.
“What did I say about putting your guard down, princess?” He speaks against my ear before he nibbles on the lobe. “That’s when I’ll always strike.”
“You’re awful.” I try to control my heartbeat.
“You still love me for it.”
“Maybe I don’t anymore.” I taunt. “Maybe I’m falling for someone else from my class.”
“Do you really want the blood of all your classmates on your hand?”
I gasp in mock reaction. “You wouldn’t.”
“Oh, I very much would.”
Yup. He’s crazy enough to do it.
Before I can say anything, he picks me up in his arms. I gasp as he runs straight out to the rain. I squeal with pure excitement as the water soaks us.
His lips slam to mine as he kisses me until I can only breathe him. It’s desperate and robs my sanity and my entire surroundings.
He still consumes every inch of me with a single touch.
The feeling of being in the rain with him never gets boring. It’s one of my favourite things to do with him.
Instead of spinning me around in his arms, he puts me down on my feet and steps back.
Before I can make out what’s going on, he gets on his knees and fetches a ring with a huge diamond on top.
“You gave my life meaning and I want to spend every single moment of it with you.” He looks up at me with his wet blond hair sticking to his temple and his pale blue eyes shining with intensity. “Would you marry me, princess?”
“Yes! A million times yes, Levi!”
I pull him to his feet and crush my lips to his as he slides the ring on my finger.
“I volunteer to be best man!” Ronan’s voice shouts from behind us.
Levi and I stop kissing, but he’s still holding me in the rain.
The four horsemen — Elites’ current forward line — cheer with a lot of snark thrown in between.
In fact, only Dan, Xander, Ronan, and Cole cheer. Aiden leans against the wall with his ankles crossed and a bored expression written all over his face as he scrolls through his phone.
Last year, I thought Aiden could be mildly psychopathic, but now, I’m almost sure he has clinical antisocial disorder.
Nothing holds any value to him.
The only time I see him lose the bored expression is when he’s around a certain Ice Princess.
“Oh. Shit.” Dan exclaims with astonishment. “Does this make me the maid of honour?”
I laugh, the sound is carefree and happy. “Sure does, bug.”
Dad walks out the front door, wearing a proud smile. Jonathan stands by his side, staring between his son and his nephew.
Sometimes, I think he wants Aiden to be more like Levi. At other times, it seems the exact opposite.
I wouldn’t call Dad and Jonathan friends, but they tolerate each other enough to visit one another’s homes when we invite them.
“I’m happy,” I whisper to Levi. “Thank you for existing, my king.”
He smiles. “Thank you for being mine, princess.”
And then, he’s kissing me again.
Bonus Scene
Right before the wedding
* * *
Astrid
* * *
My body nearly shuts down from exhaustion as I push the flat’s door open.
I’ve spent the entire day with the wedding planner, the flowers’ planner, and all the planners.
Seriously, if I knew a wedding would be this hard, I would’ve opted to have a small ceremony. Levi insisted that he wanted our wedding blasted all over the world so everyone knows I’m his — typical Levi.
Dad also wants a suitable wedding for his only daughter. I couldn’t just say no to that.
It’s too late to turn around now. There’s still only a week until the big day. Let's hope I don’t collapse before then.
Don’t get me wrong, Levi does help. He’s even more enthusiastic about this planning charade than me. However, I’m the one who has to go through endless dress fittings and whatnots. As Mrs Hudson, our planner, keeps saying, ‘the wedding is all about the bride’.
What if this particular bride doesn’t like the spotlight? Well, there’s nothing to do about it.
I’m stuck.
My phone pings. I shuffle my backpack over one shoulder and some groceries and Mrs Hudson’s brochures to retrieve my phone.
A smile breaks on my lips. It’s a text from my best friend.
Daniel: I rock the maid of honour role. Guess who’s going to steal your spotlight, bugger?
He attached the picture we took at the fitting room yesterday. I’m in my wedding dress and he’s in a dashing black tuxedo. He has a smug look all over his face as he fingers his bowtie and wraps his other arm around my shoulder.
God. He’s such a dork.
But seriously, if Dan wasn’t there for me this entire time, I would’ve gone bonkers.
I type with one hand, still shuffling too many stuff.
Astrid: You’re welcome to steal the spotlight any time, bug.
Daniel: You can’t take that back. I’m holding you to it, screenshot and everything.
I’m about to reply when a deep voice cuts through the silence of the house.