#seducemethedemonwar

The kitchen was bustling as Matthew and James hurry to cook snacks for our New Years party! I couldn’t be more excited! I was sitting on top of the island counter -out of the boys’ ways- watching them dash around. I learnt pretty early on living with the boys not to try help them cook, I just get in the way.

Matthew had already made some nachos, some sandwiches and a couple of handmade pizzas and was now cooking some pigs and blankets. James had made some fondue, popcorn, crisps and about every other snack under the sun and was now trying to ice the most delicious cupcakes I’ve ever seen.

“Matthew where did you- the spoon?”

Matthew stuttered as he tried to think. Out of the corner of my eye I spot the spoon. I grab it excitedly. “James! It’s over here!” When James turned to face me, he looked relieved, shooting me a half smile he walks over and takes the spoon. I giggle as I wipe a spot of yellow icing off of James nose. He laughs gently, looking into my eyes and smiling before I look away feeling a deep blush spread over my cheeks.

It was no secret to everyone but James I, that I’ve had a HUGE crush on him ever since the boys started living with me. There was just something about him I couldn't get out my head. He was tall, sophisticated and extremely smart; and in any case, I'm not alone. Apparently loads of women all over the world agree since he was voted the 10th sexiest man.

I'm brought out my chain of thought by Sam stumbling into the kitchen. “WhEreS The ReST oF tHe BeEr?” I watched as he stumbled his way to my side, clutching at the counter. I laughed a little “I thought alcohol doesn't effect demons" I smile at him when he gives me the biggest goofy grin I've ever seen. I lift a hand and ruffle his hair, which spooks him enough to send him crashing to the floor, straight on his ass. “It does when you drink a lot of it” I jump of the counter and start trying to pick Sam up, failing miserably, the lug weighs a metric ton!

James walks around the counter and helps lift Sam up by his arm while I get the other one. James speaks in a much more serious tone while holding his brother up, almost solely on his own. “Yeah. A LOT of alcohol, how much did you have?” We carry him through to the dining room and sit Sam down on a chair at the table. Matthew runs after us with a cup of water.

“All of it...”

“ALL OF IT?!”

James steps back losing his cool and trying to recollect himself. He rubs the side of his temples and pushes his glasses up. “Sam. That was enough to do all of us till the end of January" Matthew looks worried as he turns to James. “Well, we'll need to go get more.”

I stand up and walk to the doorway. “I'll go it's a quick trip to the shop anyways" James shakes his head, walking to the coat rack. “You’re not old enough to buy it. I'll go" I grab my jacket and throw it around my shoulders. “At least let me come then? I could use the walk.”

James turned around to look at me. His eyebrow furrowed slightly but his face quickly softened. “Yeah, come on then Miss”

----

The outside was air was freezing. We hadn’t had a white Christmas this year but the grass was covered in frost. It crunched under our every step. There were spots of ice on the path making me wish I had worn winter shoes, anything that isn’t the slippery pair of trainers I have on now. I gripped the inside of my jacket pockets trying to warm up as I shiver in the icy-cold air, watching my breath freeze in the air.

“Miss?”

I turn slightly to look up at James who’s face is plastered in concern; his eyebrows furrowed and his whiskey-coloured eyes were glazed with worry. I shake my head, and pull my scarf down and away from my mouth. “I’m f-fine. Just cold”

Before I can think I hear James nervously ask “Well if it’s not too forward… I could warm you up Miss?” I stop walking in surprise and James stops just a couple paces ahead of me. He pulls his hand up and rubs the back of his neck and I can see a faint tint of red across his cheeks. He almost looks flustered. I smile and jog up to his side thanking him. He gently puts an arm around my waist to pull me closer to him and I put my arm inside his jacket clinging to his natural body heat and at the same time feeling the toned muscles of his back through his shirt.

Damn James is hot.

----

It doesn’t take us long to get the beer and carry it back to the house. By the time we get back there’s only 15 minutes ‘till the new year. Sam seemed to have sobered up. A bit. Matthew had finished James’s cupcakes and set all the food out in the living room. We had all decided to play a classic game of truth or dare. I had played it with Matthew, Damien and Sam before and the boys had already taken the liberty to explain the rules to Erik and James.

“AlrIgHt wHo GoEs firSt?”

Sam was sitting on the floor COMPLETELY shitfaced. Erik piped up a hint of mischief in his voice. “Alright Sam, truth or dare” Sam waves his hand. “Dare. I ain’t chicken” Erik sniggers whispering under his breath “we’ll see about that. Do a cartwheel” I sit eagerly in anticipation for this monstrosity. Sam stumbled he way to his feet, downing his cup of water shouting “I’m not chicken!” Before leaning to the side and falling over. There’s a silence before we hear a muttered

“I did it!”

 Damion face palms while Matthew and I throw our hands in the air clapping and cheering. James and Erik just laugh. When I turn away from Sam, I make eye contact with James. I smile slightly at him before I’m interrupted.

“Y/N’s TuRn! Y/N kIsS JaMEs!”

I blush furiously as I feel my face burn. I turn around mortified to see Sam perched on the seat behind me with a stupid smug smile. All the boys are speechless as they stare at him, jaws dropped to the floor.

I look at James who’s face is redder than I’ve ever seen and I can’t tell wither it’s in anger or embarrassment. Sam turns to look at Erik and just mouths ‘I’m helping’

“Sam! How dare you put Y/N in a position like-“

“I’ll do it.”

Everyone turns to face me surprised. I hear Sam cheer before there’s a thud and he falls behind the sofa. “I-It’s a new year’s tradition anyways so it’s no big deal.” I rub my hands together as they get sweatier and sweatier and I try to hide them in my lap. Erik stands up grabbing his glass and taking a sip before saying “alright then. We’ll give you two some privacy” Matthew gets up jumping over his couch and on his way out, when he passed me, he leaned down and whispered in my ear “You’ve got this.” Before leaving.

It takes a while for Damien and Erik to get Sam out of the room. They have to pick him up and practically drag him out.

“Let’s go Sam.”

“NooOOooOoo I wanna watch!”

But eventually they do.

And then it’s James and I.

I check my phone. 23:57. I look up to see James, a blushing mess and a looking quite worried. “You know we don’t have to-“ I feel a sudden surge of confidence flow through my veins, maybe it was excitement? Maybe adrenaline? Maybe the fear I’d built up over months of being too scared to do this? What ever the reason I do something I’m sure I’ll regret later.

I walk forwards towards James standing a couple feet Infront of him. “I already said I wanted to do this. James do YOU want to kiss me tonight?” I bite my lip starting to feel a bit of that confidence shake worrying that he didn’t and he didn’t see me like that. I watch as James gulps looking me up and down for a second before nodding silently. That was all I needed.

“Then come and do it.”

That was enough for James to snap out of being all mannered as he took quick long strides to me. He gently cupped my face with his hands before leaning in and kissing me. The kiss was passionate and needy but filled with love. I moved my hands up to his hair grasping at it trying to pull him closer to me as I feel his hands start to move from my face, down to my back as he pulls me closer and closer as if he can’t get enough of me. I feel his tongue press against my lips asking for permission which I gladly give.

The kiss is everything I dreamed it would be and everything I could have hoped for. Eventually we pull apart when we hear the bangs of fireworks outside and the cheers of the brothers in the other room.

I come off my tip toes and rest my head on his chest, smiling. I feel him softly place his head on top of mines. I can’t help but smile like an idiot when I feel my raw lips. I hear James muffledly say through my hair “Happy New Year Y/N…”

I smile, hugging him tighter.

I shivered slightly in my jacket trying to burry myself deeper in it. It had finally been starting to snow in Chicago and I couldn’t have been more excited about it except from right now trying to trudge my way to the maid café for some hot chocolate.

“You cold? Princess?”

I nod my head sighing watching my breath swirl in the air. I’m a bit taken by surprise when Erik puts his arm around my shoulder and pulls me closer to him. I quickly lean into it, feeling my face flush madly while doing so when he leans so close to my ear, I can feel his breath. “Guess you’ll just have to walk next to me.”

I blush more and look up to him -probably grinning like an idiot- to see him looking back at me adoringly making butterflies flutter in my stomach. There are small flakes of snow in his hair which is gently covering his left eye. His eyes breathtakingly beautiful, as they twinkle in all the different coloured Christmas lights across the Chicago winter street. I gently lift my hand up and cup the side of his face -which is as cold as the snow in my boots- and brush part of his hair out his eye. He half smiles at me. “Your gorgeous in the snow Princess” I smile and nod leaning in to him as we start walking again. “I was just thinking the same thing!”

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When we reach the mall, I’m taken back by how beautifully decorated it is; even if they do it every year. When we walk in the main door a wall of warm air smacks me in the face making me stop for a second. There were Christmas lights and tinsel decorating all the shop windows, a small Santa stand for children to go meet Santa with a small gabble of kids crowded around it and of course the HUGE tree in the middle of the mall decorated with tinsel, baubles and a bright shiny gold star on the top.  

Erik looks at me confused before I grab his hand excitedly. “Come on! Lets go make a wish at the fountain!” I drag Erik to the fountain as he laughs lightly at me. When we get there, we walk up to the railing as I get my purse out “Now you get a coin and you throw it in the fountain, make a wish and then Christmas magic will make it come true!” Erik gives me a puzzled look. “Really? And anyone can use this magic? This seems-”

“Shhhhhh just do it.”

I watch as Erik shuts his eyes thinking for a second before he throws his coin into the fountain, the satisfying sound of the plopping of the water as it starts to sink to the bottom. I take my turn holding it close to my chest knowing exactly what to wish for.

Please, please, please let the boys have the best Christmas ever. Please keep them safe and out of trouble, I know better than anyone how hard it is but it’s Christmas and they deserve it.

Over the course of the year and a bit we’d spent together, they had felt more like family than my real family. I love them all but especially… one. Erik had brightened up my life and I don’t even want to think of it without him in it anymore. He made me the happiest I’ve ever been and I never feel more loved than when I’m with him. Maybe not every second with him is bliss, maybe we argue sometimes but that never matters because in the end we always come back, no matter if angels are against us, I’d happily go anywhere with Erik, even if that was in hell for eternity.

Keep him safe and happy. Let him know how much I love him, well maybe not the full extent, He’d think I’m crazy, maybe just a little bit.

I smile to myself and throw my coin into the fountain as Erik turns to me. “So? What did you wish for?” I smirk slightly stepping away from the railing “I can’t tell you or it won’t come true!” Erik groans slightly, reaching out to me grabbing me by my waist and pulling me so close our foreheads touch. “not even me?” I giggle as I shake my head, feeling my face flush.

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As we’re waiting in a small que outside the café waiting to be seated, I spot a small poster stuck up onto the window of the shop next door. It’s bright and Christmassy as the top words across it read

‘FEELING SINGLE?’

Well isn’t that just depressing. I read further down the poster.

‘Well don’t worry so are many others in this festive season and that’s why we’re inviting you to a Christmas get together for couples to get together!’

I shake my head slightly laughing under my breath. The poster reminds me of when I first met the boys. It feels like so long ago they weren’t in my life but they made it so much better. I remember pining over Erik. Obsessing over every complement wondering if I was taking it too close to heart. He made me feel special. Even now he still does. The way he goes out of his way to make sure I’m happy. Like a couple weeks ago when my favourite character died in my favourite TV show and I spent the entire day crying but when he got home from work, he’d bought me my favourite take out and my favourite scented candle and we had a candle lit dinner to cheer me up. I love Erik, and I couldn’t be happier.

I’m brought out my thoughts when Erik leans over to see what I’m looking at before he pouts “Princess are you-” I blush shaking my head franticly. “No, no! I was just looking.” I turn around to face Erik, planting a light kiss on his cheek “no where I’d rather be than here.” He smiles softly, looking at me as if he’s trying to commit it to memory.

“Ahem!” We turn to see Naomi shaking her head and laughing slightly, “Get a room you two” she says as she starts walking off waving her hand for us to follow. We follow her to our usually seats in a comfy booth except it’s decorated with small trees and tinsel along the edge of the table. She smiles as he flips her small notepad open “you two want your usual?” Erik smiles at her dazzlingly “In fact, could we order your Christmas hot chocolate?” Naomi beams clearly excited as she writes it down. “Oh! It really is to DIE for this year” I laugh slightly as she walks away into the kitchen.

“So, how’s that dress coming along, the one you were doing for that girl? For the Quinceanera?” Erik shakes his head taking his jacket off and placing it to the side. “Actually, I had to give up the project… something more important came up” I sigh. That dress design looked really pretty I really wanted to see it when it was done. “What are you working on now?” He looked around and shifted in his seat slightly “I don’t really want to talk about work right now… just spend some time with you.” I nod and smile shifting myself around the booth to sit next to him. “ok.”

When we get home. I put all Erik and I’s stuff on the radiators around the house before making my way into the dining room to find a note from the others:

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Gone out Christmas shopping we’ll be home soon, picking up some stuff for a nice dinner tonight as well so don’t eat too much!

At the bottom its signed James, Matthew and very scribbly and shabbily written Sam and Damion. It’s so sweet though I smile at it. When I hear a crash upstairs. “Erik?” When I hear no response, I hurry up the stairs and burst into Erik’s study to see the most stunning dress on Erik’s half-mannequin stand and a very passed out Erik on the floor.

I kneel down scooping him up in my lap and hugging him close. “Erik? Erik? Can you hear me?!” I shake him gently as he starts to stir, groaning in pain as he does. “Erik! Oh, thank goodness your alright!” Erik sits up slightly as I start to fuss over his head.

“I’m alright just- just-”

“You just might have a concussion let me have a look!”

I check him over a couple of times but everything seems fine. No blood. His eyes look normal. I lean back sighing feeling a bit put at ease as he leans back groaning. “Are you in pain?!” I say franticly but he shakes his head “I guess you’ve seen your dress now…” I look back up at the dress. This was… mine?! I get up and walk over to it and started inspecting it. Erik sighed.

“I was going to give it to you for your parents Christmas party but… I guess it’s spoiled now”

I shake my head franticly beaming at him. “It’s perfect! I Love it Erik!” Erik stares at me dumbfounded. “It’s not even finished yet…” I walk back to Erik and dump myself into his lap. “It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen” Erik shakes his head and looks back at me. “Have you seen a mirror?” I laugh slightly and lean in softly kissing him. His mouth was warm and sweet as I breathe in his soft smell of roses smiling slightly.

I had this wonderful Idea to take my boyfriend Matthew on an ice-skating date. Now I’m realising I have never been ice skating and I’m shitting myself. We’re standing at the counter waiting to be given a locker key and I’m really considering calling Sam and asking him to come and pick me up in his squad car and pretend I’m being arrested for some heinous crime, then I could go home and sulk in my bed eating ice cream.

You know when you have an idea to do something and you're so excited to do it until you get there and suddenly it’s terrifying? Well, that’s what I’m feeling right now.

What if I fall flat on my face skating? What if I embarrass myself and Matthew? What if-

“Come on Y/N let’s go!”

I’m brought back to reality when Matthew calls my name, waiting to head to the lockers. Matthew smiled enthusiastically at me waving out locker key in his hand. He was practically jumping up and down and if he was sitting in a seat, he would have fallen off the edge of it by now. Clearly his confidence hasn’t wavered.

I smile back and walk over to him, taking his hand gently in mine and squeezing it. I loved Matthew; I’d known for quite some time but while we were dating, we hadn’t said the big three words yet and I wasn’t ready to say it out loud yet… or at least be the first one to say it. But I definitely loved him. I loved how cheerful he was, how his perspective on life was so positive even if he is constantly looked down on by everyone for it. I loved how funny he was and insanely sweet and it didn’t help he was incredibly sexy when he wanted to be.

Matthew and I make our way through the lockers scanning for our locker number. When Matthew tugs my hand and pulls me to a locker, sure enough it’s ours.

------

Once we’ve unloaded all our stuff and got our skates on, we head out to the rink. It took Matthew a while to work out how to put the skates on but I thoroughly enjoyed watching him bend over tying the laces, and even worse, I think he knew it.

As we get to the rink, my anxiety gets the best of me as I cling tighter and tighter to Matthew’s arm. Matthew turns to face me, looking worried as he studies my face clearly trying to find out whats wrong. “Second thoughts?” I nod slightly as we shimmy away to the side letting other couples and families pass. He wraps his arms around me stepping closer, so close I can almost feel his warm breath against the cold air. “We don’t have to we can-”

“No. No. I want to… I just”

I lower my voice, turning it to a quiet whisper, hesitantly admitting “…I just don’t want to embarrass you…” Matthew looks shocked and a little upset. He leans in, so his heads touching mine. “You’d never. I don’t care what we’re doing, even if it’s not this. I just… I want to spend time with you. You’ve been so busy studying and I’ve been busy at the company, I’ve been looking forward to just being with you-”

I shut him up with a kiss, all he said was MORE than enough. I wrap my arms around his neck pulling him to me and kissing him, trying not to lose balance on my skates. I kiss him hard and he doesn't disappoint after a second of hesitation he kisses back with just as much enthusiasm, wrapping his arms around me tightly and pulling me closer to him.

It doesn't matter what we're doing as long as we do it together.

I pull away smiling as all the excitement I had, had before rushed back into me. "Let's go skating!"

------

I groan out quietly as I shift in my seat. We had stopped off to get some food at the ice rinks café and the combined combination of my brand-new forming bruises and the uncomfiest wooden chair of all time, it was agony. Matthew had gone up to the counter to order our food.

There was something so sweet about watching him do something so mundane. Watching him stand in a line at a counter with a food tray with our table number card on it. It made me feel fussy inside.

However, my admiring of Matthew is interrupted when someone steps in front of him. I look up to see Noah; my lab partner from last year. He looks very happy to see me, grinning from ear to ear. "What's up Anderson?"

I smile up at him surprised. "Johnston! I've not seen you in so long what happened to you?" He sits down across from me. "Actually, I left school last year, I got that apprenticeship you convinced me to apply for." I clap my hands excitedly. "I told you, you could do it!" He waves his hand looking around smiling brightly but avoiding eye contact with me.

“Ahem.”

I look up to see Matthew smiling brightly as he looked at me but something in his eyes was off. “Who’s… who’s your friend?” His voice cracked and it wasn’t hard -especially for me- to tell he was starting to get jealous. I smile up at him and move over patting the seat next to me. “Honey, meet Noah, I know him from my classes last year.” Matthew gives me a wavering smile before looking to Noah. “Nice to meet you.”

Noah looks confused as he turns to me “Boyfriend?” I nod smiling enthusiastically. “Yes! He’s just amazing. I couldn’t ask for anyone better.” I smile gently at Matthew and I take his hand and squeeze it. He looks back at me and into my eyes staring with adoration and complete love, sending shivers down my spine.

Noah scoffs slightly. “Well baby, what do you say we get out of here? Ditch him?” I turn around surprised feeling a different kind of shivers run down my spine. “um I’m sorry Noah but I think you-”

Matthew stands up, kicking his chair back and causing a loud crash, starting to cause a scene. “What did you just say to say to her?!” I gently touch Matthews arm seeing the light fade of blue appear on his arm. “May I remind you she is taken and is not interested.” I grab onto Matthews arm as we leave the café with everyone’s eyes on us.

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We walk for a little while saying nothing as I lean on Matthews shoulder. By now it’s dark and all that’s left are the bright festive holiday lights and the bitter coldness of the night. “There was nothing like that going on. I’m not interested in him like that.” We stop walking as we stand in the middle of the street. It’s almost deserted since most people are home with their families. Matthew looks at me with doubt in his eyes. “If you ever want out-”

Matthew’s eyes grew wide as he looked at me in shock. I could feel all the muscles in his body tense before he grabbed me and pulled me into him, hugging my deathly tight.

“Matthew, I love you”

“I love you too, Y/N”

I could hear the hint of tears in his shaky voice as I feel his hands start to shake and I’m sure it’s not the cold. I lean in closer to him. “I’m not leaving you for anything”