Cruel Betrayal Excerpt

Elliot

In the morning, I wake up alone. I have a vague memory of Rhett and Wren waking me up in the living room last night. When I made it to my room, I found Oliver sound asleep in my bed, waiting for me. The second I crawled under the covers, he cuddled up to me, and I kept him in my arms for most of the night.

Disappointment winds through my chest as I sit up. Oliver normally wakes before I do, and it’s already later than I typically sleep, so it makes sense that he’s gone. But I wish he was still here.

Groggily, I force myself out of bed and into the bathroom. As I brush my teeth, the rest of last night plays through my head.

Did Wren and Rhett make it back home okay?

Toothbrush still in my mouth, I rush back into my bedroom and grab my phone. Two text messages await me.

Rhett: Made it to Finn’s just fine.

Rhett: Home safe. Gonna try to get some sleep.

Relief floods my system, and I drop my phone on the bed.

After I finish getting ready for the day, I head downstairs. As I do, I can just make out a soothing melody coming from the living room. Oliver must be playing the piano.

Before I join him, I pop into the kitchen. The coffee pot is full, so I fill two mugs and add cream and sugar to Oliver’s. When I enter the living room, his eyes are immediately drawn to me.

A full smile forms on his face. “Hey, handsome.”

“Morning. Coffee?”

“Please.” He wraps his fingers around his mug, but before he takes a sip, he tilts his face up to me.

I kiss him for far longer than I need to. When I pull away, Oliver’s lids are heavy, and he breathes in a deep, happy sigh.

“You were gone when I woke up.” A little of my earlier disappointment seeps into my voice.

“You were gone when I fell asleep,” he counters. “I tried to wait for you this morning, but I got restless.”

“Did you sleep okay otherwise?” I slide onto the piano bench next to him, and he gladly makes room.

“Yeah. You?”

“Fine. I fell asleep on the couch in the living room last night. Woke up before Rhett and Wren left.”

Oliver frowns. “Left?”

“Rhett needed to let out some of his anger, and Wren went with him. They were only at Finn’s.”

“Why didn’t you wake me up and tell me?”

“You wouldn’t’ve been able to get back to sleep, Ol. You know that.”

“Yeah, but—”

I shut him up with another kiss, which he doesn’t seem to mind too much. “They’re home safe now,” I tell him, my lips lingering on his. “You’ve got nothing to worry about.”

With a groan, he drops his forehead to my shoulder. “I wish.”

I snake an arm around his waist. Careful not to jostle him enough that he spills his coffee, I tug him until he’s as close to me as he can get. “Do you need to talk?”

“I’m good.” He gulps down his coffee before setting the mug on a coaster that lives on the piano.

“There’s no way—”

“I’m as fine as I can be. I’m taking my meds, we’re making progress, and at least for now, all four of us are home and safe.”

I frown. “You’re really okay?”

He laughs, but the sound is hollow. “No. None of us are okay. But I’m trying to focus on the good today, and I’m also not going to dump my shit on you when you’re already stressed enough.”

“But—”

“Mm mm, no. You’re always taking care of us, Ell. It’s too much weight for you to carry.”

But someone has to.

“I just want to see you happy,” I tell him.

“Then give yourself a break. Hell, let one of us take care of you for a change.”

“I do,” I say indignantly.

“Not nearly enough.” Oliver turns himself so he’s sitting cross-legged on the bench and facing me. “Something’s gotta give. Both you and Rhett have been burning the candle at both ends, and before you know it, there’s not going to be anything left.”

“I just can’t relax. Yesterday, I tried, but how can I focus on anything but work? I have to. I can’t let anything happen to the boys, or to any of you. There’s so much to do, so much to—”

The rest of my sentence dies as Oliver fits his mouth to mine. I make a startled noise as both his hands hold my head so I can’t pull away. He tastes like coffee and sugar, like happiness and home.

“That’s much better,” he murmurs when he releases me. It takes the words a couple seconds to register, and by then, one of his hands is already drifting down my body.

“What’re you doing?” I ask once my brain starts working again.

“Helping you relax,” he says in between the hungry kisses he’s leaving all over my neck. “And then I’m gonna make you breakfast while I tell you all about the ideas I have for our secret project, and you’re gonna give me your opinions.”

When he nudges my chin up, I let my head fall back. Oliver sucks on my neck hard enough to bruise, but I don’t mind. The thought actually sends a new wave of desire through me, and I relax into it.

My dick hardens under his hand, which has made its way down my chest and stomach. All I manage is a groan.

“Just focus on how it feels,” he says against my skin. “Let me handle the rest.”

. . .

I know, I know. I’m a tease. What else were you expecting?! 😈

Cruel Betrayal comes out on August 22nd. Preorder it here if you haven’t yet. (It’ll be in KU.)

And just a reminder, Blissful Masquerade’s audiobook comes out on July 28th! You can preorder that here.