"I'm glad you came, Krys. I really am. Thanks," I said, smiling as I placed a hand on hers, patting it comfortingly.

I was being honest. I was really glad she came. Even when I first saw her first when I came to, I felt relieved, glad she came, glad she was the one that was staring back at me.

She nodded, smiling brightly as if she hadn't expected me to say that. "You're welcome, Douglas." Her voice was shaky, but sounded relieved.

Her eyes were staring back into mine, and only when I heard her breathing speed up did I realize that we were too close to one another. Her body was pressed against mine, although there was some space otherwise. But the heat radiating from her body burned into my skin as if it wanted, no needed to remind me just how close I was to the girl that had crept under my skin. It needed to remind me just how close I was to the girl I had developed feelings for.

My eyes drifted to stare at her lips before quickly shifting back to meet her gaze. I was reminded of yesterday. Reminded of the moment my eyes had met hers at the party.

Reminded of just how it might have looked good her, me half naked with a girl in my arms. A girl I had just offered to go with me somewhere private.

It didn't matter that I had left as soon as I realized how stupid I had been acting. It didn't matter than the only girl I wanted in the entire goddamn place had walked away with Alex, disappearing before I got up the nerve to tell her just how much I wanted her.

And it didn't even matter that I would've gone after her if I hadn't realized that the next day was mom's anniversary and I didn't want to tell her given my messed up antics on that day.

As soon as I saw the way a flash of hurt had painted her eyes, I knew I was the worst human being in the entire planet.

Before I could even properly digest what I was intending to do and the repercussions it would bring, I found myself leaning in towards Krys. I found myself wanting to close the distance between us as quickly as possible. And I found myself wanting her with a need that couldn't be quenched.

I felt horrible instantly, taking advantage of her, especially when she came here most probably with tricks by my friends. I felt horrible imposing myself on her. But despite all that, I continued to lean into her.

Krystal's eyes were full with confusion, and something else, but I couldn't even process that, especially at that moment.

Just as I'm about to kiss me, she turns her face to the side and my lips press against her cheeks.

I felt embrassed, self-pity all at the same time; but not because she basically rejected me, but because I had wanted to kiss her, especially when it was obvious she was scared.

Before she could push me away in disgust, I did the only thing I concluded I could do to get out of this conundrum with my ego and body intact. I decided to pretend to fall asleep.

"Douglas?" I felt her try to push against me, but I continued my charade. "Douglas?" her voice was pleading this time, yet I continued to pretend to be asleep.

I felt guilty for doing this, but I continued to do it. After a couple of minutes, she finally managed to get me off herself.

Then I heard her dialing someone.

"Will," I heard her say, her voice holding a note of frustration and a hint of anger. "Get to the mansion, right now."

"No, nothing happened. I just need you here, now."

Nothing happened? Didn't she realize how she had basically full out rejected me? I stopped myself from protesting and continued with my charade.

After she finally got my cousin to agree with her, I felt her nudging me around and lifting my legs up. I realized she was trying to pull out the recliner on the lazy boy.

To at least help satiate my guilt, I lifted my legs slightly, making sure it wasn't obvious.

Then I heard her shifting around, cleaning up the place. A rush if guilt hit me again. Then she went and got a bowl of water for Prince.

I couldn't stop a small smile from appearing on my face as she took care of one of my best friends.

After a couple of minutes, minutes that was exhausting as I wanted to get more comfortable buy I couldn't because Krys was sitting beside me the whole time, I heard someone enter the house.

I almost felt like jumping up in gratitude.

I heard Krystal head tmout if the living room. As soon as I knew she was outside, I opened my eyes and stretched, trying to get as comfortable as I could for when Will would walk in. I would naturally wake up, naturally of course.

"Did something happen?" Will's voice carried into the living room.

"You guys are such idiots!" Krystal's voice was filled with fire and a second later I heard a sharp sound that sounded like a slap. "How could you all lie to me like that?"

"Who cares about that? So, did something happen?"

I, myself felt like slapping my cousin. How dense could he be? Why did he have to make it obvious that I wanted something to happen between us.

But at the same time, I was grateful to him. I wanted to hear what Krys would say. I sat up, pulling my legs off the recliner as I turned my head towards where they were, hoping I could hear them more clearly.

"Nothing happened other than him chasing me out."

Instantly, any hope of Krystal wanting me to kiss her vanished.

"Really?" I heard suspicion in my cousin's voice.

"Really," she replied.

Concluding that I'd heard enough, I resumed my position on the recliner, closing my eyes and shutting out any further conversation that had.

It was another couple of minutes before Will walked into the living room.

I heard his heavy, steady steps walk up to me before he sat on one of the other chairs.

I concluded that I should carry out the charade for a couple more minutes before I naturally came out of my 'slumber'.

In those minutes, Will didn't say or do anything. But I could tell he was watching me every now and then.

After a moment or two longer, I heard him stand up and walk towards me again.

He stood just above me and stared again. I could feel him breathing hi in over me. But before I could even tell him off for it, breaking my charade, he broke it for me.

"I can help you, cousin," his voice held a thick dose of amusement and cockiness.

I opened my eyes, having been caught red-handed at my pretense. "How?" I said before I sat up on the recliner, anxious to know his plans.

FROSTED BLURB :

Phillipa Holden has two rules she has lived by.

1. Always be kind and humble, especially to the help.

2. Hate the one guy that took her heart and stomped on it before leaving flying away to London.

But this might just change when she encounters that same guy on her return flight back from Paris.

Jace Frost returns back to sunny Los Angeles, only to then work for Mr Holden as Phillipa's bodyguard.

Will Phillipa be able to look past her broken heart and forgive Jace? Or will she find herself plotting to get him fired and on the first plane back to London?

Sometimes A Fairytale Is Just A Frost's Breath Away!

#3 of the 'Hate at First Flight' Series