The One Adored (The One Trilogy Book 3) Read online

  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Quote

  Playlist - The Book

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  by

  ALEXANDRA NORTH

  Published by Alexandra North

  Copyright © 2015 by Alexandra North

  All rights reserved.

  This book is an original publication of Alexandra North.

  This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. It may not be sold or given to other people. If you would like to share this e-book please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and you did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for supporting and respecting the hard work of this author.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locations or persons, living or dead, are entirely coincidental. The author acknowledges the trademark status and trademark owners of various products referenced in the work of fiction.

  Cover Design by McCallum Creative

  For the 130 people and their families, who lost their lives in the Paris attacks 13th November 2015.

  *******

  “If you are not too long I will

  wait here for you all my life.”

  Oscar Wilde

  In no particular order for…

  THE ONE ADORED

  Kygo Feat. Conrad Sewell - Firestone (Bassanova Remix)

  Markus Feehily - Love Is A Drug

  Ed Sheeran - I See Fire (Kygo Mix)

  Ed Sheeran - I’m In Love With The Coco (Hitimpluse Remix)

  Zac Samuel - I’ll Pushing On

  Sia – Elastic Heart

  Martin Solveig & GTA - Intoxicated

  Chase & Status - Wish You Were Mine

  Nina Simone - Don’t Let me be Misunderstood

  Wiz Khalifa - See You Again

  Police - Every Breath You Take

  The Fray - How To Save A Life

  Beyonce – Drunk In Love

  Gotan Project – Santa Maria

  Lionel Ritchie - Hello

  Chris Brown – Five more Hours

  Paloma Faith – Only

  Walk The Moon – Shut Up & Dance With Me

  U2 – One

  Snow Patrol – Chasing Cars

  Snow Patrol – Run

  Lana Del Rey – Young & Beautiful

  John Legend – All Of Me

  Sam Smith - Life Support

  Neon Trees – Sleeping With A Friend

  Etta James – At Last

  Elvis - Can’t Help Falling In Love

  The Wannadies – You & Me Song

  Barry White – The First, The Last, My Everything

  Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s - Somewhere Over The Rainbow

  Coldplay - Sky Full Of Stars

  The Calling - Wherever You Will Go

  Coldplay - A Sky Full Of Stars

  The Weekend – Where You Belong

  Almost five years earlier…

  “Where do you want this box, Lulu?”

  “Each box is marked with the room it needs to be placed in and a corresponding number. Let me see… this one needs to go into the… kitchen.” She cross checks it with the printed list, firmly held in place by her clipboard. “Number 33… utensils… just put it on the counter, thanks, Seb.”

  I smile at my friend, shaking my head at her uber organisational skills; no one did planning better than Lucia. She was the epitome of efficient and had kicked my arse into touch often enough at Uni and in business; if she wasn’t so career driven I’d ask her to come work for me. I honestly didn’t know how she did it or could be bothered half the time - what was wrong with winging it? What was I saying, Lu would never ‘wing it’.

  Since we’d left University she was always so calm and collected, perfectly made up, without a hair out of place - these were just some of reasons for my occasional kinky thoughts about her; occasions such as this. Five minutes under my touch and I’d have her feathers ruffled, hair down her back - make her feel less in control and there’d be little to no time for composing lists - she be flat on her back with my cock buried deep within her, too busy screaming my name from those juicy lips. She needed to abandon her tight grip on order, and become the Lu I used to know - she used to be much more carefree. Niall definitely wasn’t paying her enough attention.

  I snap back to reality and plaster the ‘friend smile’ back across my face. “You’re really good at this, Lu. Remind me to get you in if I ever need to move house.”

  She grins back at me, preening under my compliment. “I know you think I’m uptight but I just like things done a certain way. We all have our talents or crosses to bear dependant upon how you view them. You have many - why’d you think I asked you to help out?”

  “Because I’ve got plenty of experience with handling a box?” Whoa… thought you were trying to keep it away from the sexy play-talk?

  Her full-on belly laugh is infectious and I can’t help my own deep chuckle. She looks good when she smiles, it opens up her whole face. We’d always been able to make one another laugh, something I rarely see her do with Niall of late. She always got my sense of humour and I got hers.

  “Well, yes, you have that of course, you total and utter player - but I was actually going to say you are always positive - you’re great to be around - really motivating and I knew you’d keep me on track today… and you have.”

  “Why thank you kind, lady.”

  “You’re very welcome. Now enough compliments Mr. Silver, and put your experience with boxes to good use and be gentle with this one, it’s special…” She looks at the label and cross checks it with her list. “Yep, just as I thought, my Grannie Annie’s tea set. She’d absolutely kill me if this gets smashed.”

  “I’ll tend to this box, like it’s virginal, stroke it, protect it with my life, lady Lu.”

  Her small pink tongue pokes out at me teasingly and for one long second I’m tempted to drop the sodding tea-set and tend to her tongue with my own. My cock twitches in agreement and I bite my lip and inhale deeply to control my actions.

  Fucking plaits she’s wearing don’t help, cheers for that, Lu - makes you look all cute and sexy, great to have something to pull hard on whilst I… Whoa… down boy! Nope, we are friends and she is with Niall, besides you’re meeting Natalie tonight and she’ll see to that stonking hard-on for you. Yep - Natalie, think about her, blonde, small breasts, tall, long legs…the total opposite to your best friend… brunette, voluptuous breasts, petite… God I’m not helping myself here - think Natalie… yes, Natalie… mmm, we’re back on track - now she has a nice box…

  “I’ll go sort this.” I lift the package and shrug in the direction of the door, the moment between us has passed, as Lucia is lost deep
in her removal schedule.

  “Great, thanks, lovely. Tell Niall to get the kettle on, will you? I’m parched.”

  “Will do.”

  *****

  I weave my way between the cardboard boxes piled high in the hallway, and head down the short flight of stairs into the basement kitchen. This place needed a serious sprinkling of Lu’s interior design magic touch, it was like walking onto the set of The Brady Bunch - olive greens, yellows, oranges and browns adorned the walls in floral and paisley patterns. God, where are my Ray-bans?

  The kitchen was at least white, but hadn’t been touched in decades and as I slide the tea-set box, onto the chipped Formica top and feel an unsteady wobble I make the snap decision to leave it on the floor, tucked away safely in a corner. I’d seen the wrath of Grannie Annie and was not keen to have it directed at me.

  “Good plan, mate. I just made the same mistake and the top nearly collapsed in half.”

  I turn at Niall’s voice, watching him close the fridge and nod in acceptance, as he wiggle’s a beer at me.

  “Removals is a mug’s game - I’m fucked.” Niall pops the tops off both bottles, hands me one and wipes his brow with the back of his hand. “Cheers. Here’s to making enough money so next time I move house I can have someone else do all this for me. ”

  “Cheers. Lu, said to put the kettle on.”

  “I’ll have to find it first. Any ideas?”

  I shake my head. “I’ve not seen that box yet but Lu has the list - I’m sure she’ll know which number it is in.”

  “Humph, that bloody list - bane of my life!” Niall snarls.

  “I thought it was pure genius!” I smile back taking another swig.

  “You did? I mean you do? Well you did always have more patience for Lucia’s eccentricities.”

  Those eccentricities make her who she is, you prick. Why are you irritating me so much?

  “Couldn’t have done this without you and Nathan though - really appreciate it, Seb.”

  “S’cool. I’m happy to help my friends. I’ll let you carry Lu’s shoes up though.”

  Niall frowns. “Not a chance. She chose to have that many pairs, she can lug them up two flights to the spare room.”

  I should laugh at his joke - it’s what it was supposed to be, surely, but I can’t manage a smile. He was kidding right? “I’ll sort it Niall. You crack on with the sofas with Na. Imelda can’t live without her shoes.”

  “Bloody shoes - I only get their worth when she’s wearing heels and nothing else - do-me-shoes - know what I mean?” His cheesy wink is grating beyond belief. Something that has become more and more apparent of late.

  I take a long drag on my beer and scan the room. “Nice place Niall. You and Lu got a bargain here.”

  “Fucking dive, mate but Lu promises me she’ll wave her designer’s wand over it for little to fuck-all money - just hope she doesn’t expect me to start shopping at IKEA. I won’t become one of those guys.”

  “She’ll do a great job; she’s bloody good you know.”

  “Well, she needs practice, so its a win win. To be honest, Seb I’m not sure she gets that her chosen career is not a real job.”

  WTF? I take a deep breath before replying. “Lu will do just fine, Niall. She beat you to a First in her degree didn’t she?” Now that hit him where it hurt.

  “Well, my career is on the up and I need to make sure that she realises that she needs to be 100% on board to support me, so I can make a name for myself. Men get paid more anyway.”

  When did he turn into such a chauvinistic prick? Had he always been like this?

  “Wait… so you want the little lady barefoot and pregnant and cooking at the stove?” I frown. Lu needed more than that, she wanted it all, would never settle for just that - surely he understood that by now?

  “Fuck no! Cooking yes… pregnant not a chance. Well one day of course, I need to keep the grandparents happy after all for the inheritance, but not for some time. No, I want to play the field, work on my career - have late nights out and long lie ins. No room for crying babies and dirty nappies - God forbid.” His shudder is something I understand right now, I’m only 25.

  I’m not sure Lu is aware about this plan of his but it really is none of my business. What does he mean by play the field though? They were moving in together - taking that next step - surely he was committed to her?

  I had my own plans for my business and I needed to concentrate on that now - I could see Silver Construction was going to be huge if this next contract took off and it had to have my complete concentration. Odd though, how looking around that 70’s mess of a kitchen I could see myself bashing it about into something fabulous, with Lu at my side. Now where had that thought come from? If I’m honest with myself, if I was in Niall’s shoes and had Lu in my bed each night, making babies didn’t sound so unappealing either. Jeez, vagina alert!

  “You still with me mate?”

  “Sorry, miles away.” Searching for my manhood. “You were saying?”

  “I can’t wait to christen each and every room in this dive, with bulletproof protection of course - make Lucia know who’s boss.”

  “Well… if you want to start now - that’ll be my cue to leave.” My stomach turns to concrete and throat feels suddenly raw. You need to get out of here, now.

  “Don’t leave on account of his crude talk, Seb.” Lu’s soft fingers brush over my arm and I tense, looking down into her lime green eyes, twinkling happily. Her face is marked with dust and I itch to brush it away with my thumb.

  Shit, you really need to leave - what the fuck has got into you?

  She deserves so much more than Niall, that’s what. This shit just got real - they bought a house together - you’re about to lose her for a second time - do you want this? “Right, guys, I’ll see you in the morning at the wedding.”

  “That you will, mate. Going to be a good do, me thinks. Big day for you though?”

  “Hmmm mmmm. Got my speech all sorted.” I wink at Lu and she leans up on tiptoes to kiss my cheek and we both feel the static that leaps between us, electricity sparking causing me to step backwards suddenly on a sharp breath. Yep, I need to leave and fast before I knock Niall out cold and take my best friend hard and fast on the kitchen tiles.

  Do it then you wet bastard. What’s stopping you? Hmmm?

  I escape out the back door, with a salute thrown over my shoulder and don’t look back, not once - even though I’m desperate to see if she’s watching me. I don’t need to though. I know she is. I feel Lu’s eyes on my retreating form, and I’m positive their gaze will be uncertain, questioning and as thoroughly confused, as my own. Déjà vu strikes again - sly little bastard. Always there, always stirring things up but this time I’m worried I’ve left things too late. This time I need to let her go completely.

  *******

  “I now pronounce you man… and wife… you may kiss the bride.”

  Misty eyed and feeling immensely emotional but with a huge grin, splitting my face from ear to ear I beam at my sister and her handsome new husband, as they promise themselves to one another and indulge in a romantic kiss to seal the deal. I’m a sucker for the kiss. It has to be done just right and obvious to all that are watching that when your lips meet for the first time as a married couple, you are 100% soul-mates.

  At the exact moment Suzie and Gino’s lips connect my eyes lock with the person directly opposite me and I feel goosebumps coat my arms. I wipe a stray tear away with the back of my finger and look back, uncertainly into the eyes of the best man, staring arrogantly and openly back at me, a strange look in his eyes. Licking my lips I swallow. I have the same feelings flooding over me I’d experienced yesterday when he’d helped us move house. Confusing feelings.

  God Sebastian looks good today. My gaze travels from his glistening black eyes, down over his strong straight nose, full lips, across his broad shoulders encased in a black wool jacket with tails, which covered the cream
silk waistcoat and pale pink cravat. I daren’t let my eyes drop lower, I’d already seen his lips twitch at my open appraisal of him and could feel my cheeks beginning to heat. All the groomsmen wore the same suit, including my boyfriend, who was an usher but somehow Sebastian managed to wear it rather than the suit wear him - like Saville Row had tailored it personally for his perfectly sculpted body.

  The bride and groom finally part, recognising that they are not the only two people in the room and the guests cheer and applaud raucously and I’m filled with a strong sense of belonging. I truly hope that I can find THE ONE; the one that kisses me into oblivion and makes me forget my surroundings.

  So you haven’t already then - what about Niall? And if it’s not him what the fuck are you doing buying a house with him?

  FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!

  Like the clanging bells from the tower above, that had rung for ten minutes before the church ceremony, loud and crystal clear, right here and now, as I stare deeply into my best-friend’s eyes, I know in that moment that I’d just moved in with the wrong man. Niall wasn’t the one and he wouldn’t be the one to make me forget my surroundings. Niall wasn’t the one I would be promising to love and honour, in sickness and health, as long as we both shall live. Suddenly that seemed like a life sentence, my pale pink bridesmaid’s dress a straight jacket, constricting my breathing.

  I slip my arm through the dashing best man’s outstretched one, maintaining a fake brilliant white smile, his masculine scent enveloping me, as we’re swept forward on a wedding party wave and we follow Suzie and Gino up the aisle in tandem to the cool sounds of Barry White’s The First, The Last, My Everything. I watch as my sister’s beautiful frothy gown of ice white, bobs back and forth behind her, dragging on the dirty stone church floor as she wiggles her butt to the beat and I hastily grab the 10 foot long train, trying not to bare too much of her legs and sexy wedding undies. At the end of the aisle, we all stop and duly pose for the photographer and Seb and I are clicked in that one moment, forever. Just like the time at our graduation and the day he opened his first offices. There’d been many such special moments.