I
The Proposal
1
Astrid
Age Twenty
“This isn’t funny.”
My heart almost beats out of my chest even as I try to keep my voice light-hearted.
The sound of the rain beats down all over the King’s mansion, soaking the fountain in the middle of the back garden and the trees in the distance.
I should’ve known he was up to no good.
Levi is always up to no good.
“Levi?” I call in a hesitant voice as my steps falter near the covered hallway of the King’s mansion.
I search around, expecting one of his distasteful pranks where he jumps me from behind.
I’ll probably never admit this to him, but I love that part of him the most. There’s never a dull moment with him.
He makes my days unforgettable and my nights as thrilling as a rollercoaster ride.
Yesterday, he saw me having lunch with a few of my college friends who somehow all ended up being males. Levi decided to be a dick and kiss me in front of all of them until I had to apologise and leave.
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 type 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 say a silent prayer to always wake up next to him.
He might rock my world, but he’s also the only one who’s able to balance it. He’s my anchor and my peace. 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 unapologetic about it.
A sound catches behind me. I stop 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. To hell with Levi’s games.
Something crashes into me from behind. I shriek until I recognise his warmth and his unmistakable scent.
“What did I say about letting 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, and I squeal with pure excitement as the water soaks us.
His lips slam into 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 from his pocket.
“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 temples 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 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.
2
Aiden
Age Eighteen
Negative energy hums under the surface. It mounts and soars with every second. The loud music and drunk people at Astor’s place aren’t helping.
Knight passes me a joint, but I shake my head.
Fuck this shit.
I’m pissed off.
And I know exactly why I’m pissed off.
Tonight was a semi-final game and Elsa came to watch and stayed through the entire thing. Yes, she finally came to one of my games. This time, it was for me and not for some other fucker.
To top it off, she wore my T-shirt. Number eleven, King. I had to stop myself from flying off to the stairs, remove that shirt and fuck her on the spot.
All the annoying people present put a halt to my fantasy.
Instead, I gave it my all during the game. I might have scored two goals to see that spark in her blue eyes.
Unlike common belief, I’m a giver. I just take more than I give.