by J. A. Low
“Sounds horrible, why are we going again?” I joke, hoping to lighten the mood. She gives me a giggle and then a sigh as I keep massaging her breast with my hand.
“I’m just trying to warn you.”
“I’ve watched Downton Abbey. Is it going to be like that?”
Olivia lets out a groan. “Yes, it’s kind of like that.”
Now it’s my turn to laugh because I was kind of joking. I guess I don’t really understand the world she comes from then. Panic starts to bubble beneath the surface; I’m not really up with my etiquette classes. Maybe I will just take my cues from Olivia, watch what she does so I don’t embarrass her.
We turn off from the main street and start down what looks to be a long driveway. I can’t even see a house at the end of it. Finally, we arrive in front of what looks to me like another castle, but apparently this is her parents’ manor house. The house is huge. If this is what they call downgrading, I’d hate to see what a huge home is to them. I’m used to wealth; by most people’s standards I am wealthy, but this old money wealth is something that I think I am going to have to get used to. Olivia’s parents are not waiting for us at the front door.
“Are your parents not home?” I ask, wondering why they are not there.
“Yes, they’re home. They do not greet people at the front entrance, you have to wait to be introduced.”
I wait as the car slows to a stop and a man dressed in a black suit opens the car door.
“Lady Pearce, Mr. Taylor, welcome to Firth Manor,” the butler says with a crisp accent. He helps her out of the car, and the driver is now holding open the door for me. I reach into my pocket and hand him a fifty-pound note, which he declines.
“We don’t tip here.” He smiles at me.
Oh, right. Putting the money back into my pocket, I make a note to myself—do not tip. I join Olivia and hold her hand as the butler leads us through the entrance. We walk into the large foyer which looks like we have stepped into a museum with antiques, tapestries and old paintings lining the walls. We are greeted by a grand gold staircase that leads upstairs to who knows where. We continue down the corridor, past numerous doors that lead to places I have no idea of, because I’m not sure why you need that many rooms.
Finally, we stop. The butler knocks on the door and I hear a male’s voice reply, “Enter.” He opens the door for us and Olivia walks straight through.
“Olivia, my darling.” An elegant woman, dressed like the Queen, kisses Olivia’s cheeks, but I notice she doesn’t hug her.
“Oh my, sweetheart, it is so good to see you.” An elegant gentleman gives her a quick hug.
“Mother, Father, this is Axel,” Olivia introduces me to her parents. I give them my hand and they both take it, giving it a firm shake.
“So this is the young man.” Her father sits down on a brown leather chair while her mother sits on a cream one. There is a tea set between them with fancy cups.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Sir.”
His hazel eyes give me the once over. I can see he’s not sure yet if I am worthy enough for his daughter.
“Excuse me, Sir. May I get anyone anything to drink?” A maid addresses Olivia’s father.
“Oh yes please, Julie. Just some sparkling mineral water for both of us,” Olivia responds and then the maid is dismissed.
“So, Axel, you are a singer?” Olivia’s Mom asks me, sipping on her cup of tea.
“Yes, ma’am, I was.”
She nods in agreement sipping from her china tea cup.
“Was? What do you do now?” her father asks.
“We started Dirty Texas Records. We wanted to mentor young bands coming through the system. We didn’t want them to be taken advantage of like we were at the beginning of our career. We want them to be able to be creative not just commercial.” I give Olivia a small smile, feeling extremely nervous.
“Axel is actually looking at opening up an office down in London,” Olivia adds. “So that we can split our time between here and America.” Olivia’s parents still and the room goes quiet.
“Are you planning on moving to America?” her father asks.
“Of course I am, if I want to be with Axel.”
My stomach sinks, here we go, this is where they decide Olivia isn’t moving anywhere.
“And what do you plan on doing in America?” her father continues calmly.
“I would still be working with the estate. I am looking at hiring a full-time manager to oversee our holdings. I can concentrate on building business avenues in America. Axel lives in Los Angeles, not far from Hollywood. This might be a great opportunity to entice movie producers to use some of our homes in their movies.”
Her father rubs his smooth chin. “There is a lot of money in that, especially as Downton Abbey and Harry Potter were big over there.”
Wow, he might actually be okay with it.
“And where will you be living when you are in America?” her mom asks.
“She would be living with me. I am one hundred percent committed to a long term future with Olivia.”
“How long term?” She looks at me, her eyes narrowing.
“The forever kind,” I reply. Olivia gasps beside me.
“We would have to ask for a prenuptial agreement, Axel. You understand, being the business man that you are.”
“Daddy,” Olivia scolds him.
“Sweetheart, you are the heir to this estate, I just want to protect it for future generations.” Olivia gives her father a glare.
“It’s okay, I most definitely would have asked for one for Olivia. When we get married and if something unforeseeable happens, I do not want a piece of your family’s heritage.” Her father nods, but I can feel Olivia is a little skirmish with the talk of prenuptials and divorce.
“As long as my daughter is taken care of, that is all I want.” And I understand the double meaning of his statement.
“Olivia will always be my number one priority.” Olivia puts her hand in mine and I bring it to my lips and kiss it, making her cheeks turn pink. “I know I may not be the person you wanted for your daughter, but I promise you I am the right person for her. I promise I will make her happy until my dying breath.” Olivia’s eyes are glassy as she looks at me in awe.
Her father clears his throat. “That is all I want for my little girl. I can see she is happy with you and I believe that you will put her first.” I nod in agreement at him. “I have to admit; I am upset that she will be living so far away from us.”
“I can understand that, Sir. Living on two different continents is not how I wanted things, but we will make sure that our time is spent equally in both as I think that is fair. That’s why I want to look at opening a London office, not only is it a good business idea, but it would also mean that Olivia doesn’t have to give up her home for me.”
He nods again in agreement and clears his throat. “Thank you.”
Olivia looks at me in shock, her eyes wide at her father’s reply.
“You will be happy for me, won’t you?” she asks her parents.
Her mother looks to her father for the correct answer. “Yes, sweetheart, we will. I have never traveled to America before. I’m sure your mother would love to go shopping along Rodeo Drive. Wouldn’t you dear?” He turns playfully to his wife.
“Of course, my love. I am a woman after all.” She smiles back, this makes her father burst out laughing.
“Okay then, we shall let you both retire. You must be tired from your long journey,” her father suggests.
“Yes, that would be great. Thank you. What time for dinner?” Olivia asks.
“Seven sharp,” he replies.
Olivia nods and grabs my hand. The butler is waiting for us on the other side of the door.
“Follow me, please.” His crisp accent echoing through the empty halls. We are escorted up the grand stairs and finally I get to see where they lead. I was sorely disappointed when all there was were more and more doors. We follow the butler down th
e hall to the far end where he opens a door for us. Then with a quick nod he disappears again. Olivia falls down dramatically on the bed. “Thank God that’s over,” she giggles. I kick off my shoes and jump on the bed beside her.
“See, told you it would be okay.” Nuzzling into her neck, she lets out a big sigh.
“Yeah, it went pretty well…and thank you for saying all those things to my father. I know you don’t have to defend yourself to them, but thank you,” she says as she lays a kiss on my cheek.
“I needed them to know that I was serious, that we are serious. I’m sure your parents have fears about you living half way across the world. I just wanted them to know it will be okay, that I will look after you.” I look up into her brown eyes.
“I think I got pretty lucky meeting you.” Olivia leans down, her soft lips meeting mine in a gentle kiss.
“Yeah, you did,” I say with a smirk, kissing her lips. This makes her laugh.
“You are so full of yourself.” She gives me a light swat on the arm. I grab her and pull her on top of me.
“I would rather fill you up instead.”
Olivia groans, “That was bad.”
“Yeah it was, but so true.” I rub my palms against her ass.
“We can’t, we are at my parents’ house. It doesn’t feel right.”
I stop. “Babe, we are here for a couple of days…” I let those words hang in the air.
“I know, I know. I promise as soon as we are away from here I will make it up to you.” I groan. I am going to have a serious case of blue balls.
“Not even a blow job?” I ask, hoping and praying that I get something.
She gives me a look. “You seriously think you could stop at a blow job?”
She’s right, because as soon as those soft lips touch me I will probably flip her over and plow into her.
“Can I at least jack off in front of you?” I’m clutching at straws now.
Olivia’s chocolate eyes widen. “I’d love to watch you,” she purrs.
Fuck, yes!
I never thought watching a man jerk off would be hot, but it is. Axel’s large hand wraps tightly around his penis, his strokes much harder than mine. The deep guttural grunts that fall from his lips feed my inner sex goddess and make her purr with delight. It’s such a rush slowly undressing for your man as his whiskey eyes gaze upon you like you are the most beautiful creature he has ever seen. His body appreciates you in an entirely different way. The filthy words falling from his lips turning me on, making me feel empowered.
I let my hands roam over my heated skin, touching myself in ways I had never done before, especially not in front of another human being. I am fully exposed, not just in flesh but with my emotions. I let my fingers fall between my legs, I watch as Axel’s hand increases in speed each time I dip a finger inside of me. Over and over again, my eyes never leaving his. The sexual tension between us anchors each of us in our places. It was an intense experience, one I had with utter faith and trust in my partner. My fingers work in time with his strokes, over and over my sensitive bud until I explode. I swear I see stars. When I finally open my eyes and look at Axel, he is moments away from coming. His grunts and moans increasing with every stroke until he comes on a guttural growl into his hand. Pump after pump after pump until he is sated.
“I know what you are thinking,” Axel whispers against my ear. “It’s written all over your face.” I look up into the mirror and see my cheeks are a perfect rosy color.
“You were just so hot,” I say as I turn and wrap my arms around his neck.
“If I’d known you would get so turned on by my jerking off I would do it more often for you.”
“Please,” I whisper against his lips, which makes him groan.
“How many more days until I can be inside of you?” His large palm squeezes my ass, pressing his semi hard penis into me.
“Not long. I promise, not long.” I rub myself against him.
“If you keep teasing me like that, Olivia, I will not be held responsible for my actions.”
I take a step back and put my hands up. “I promise, no more teasing.”
***
Axel is looking suave dressed up in a suit, his tattoos completely covered. You couldn’t tell he had them underneath all that designer cotton.
“We better go, it’s almost seven, and Daddy doesn’t like to wait.” Grabbing his hand, I pull him out the door.
“Do I look okay?” he asks.
“You are so hot. It is driving me insane,” I confess, which makes him chuckle.
“Lady Pearce and Mr. Taylor,” One of the butlers announces us as we enter the dining room. My parents have gone all out. Our best china dinnerware and crystal glasses are all on show, as well as the gold cutlery. The table is covered in rich red and gold cloths. Axel greets my parents warmly as do I. A server offers me a champagne and Axel a whiskey.
“Who else is joining us?” I look down at the extra two place settings.
“We are.”
Turning around, I see Penny standing there with her arm linked with Eddie’s, they look sun-kissed. Axel stiffens beside me, his whiskey eyes glaring at them both.
“I am so happy to see you both.” My mother embraces each of them. “Isn’t it exciting, the newlyweds are back home from their exotic honeymoon,” my mother announces enthusiastically. A wedding that was supposed to be mine, to a groom that was supposed to marry me, my stomach sinks at that thought. I take another sip of champagne; actually, I end up guzzling it all down. I am going to need it if I have to sit through dinner with these two idiots.
“Olivia, looking gorgeous as always.” Eddie reaches out to greet me, I take a step back and find Axel’s arm tightly wrapped around me. Eddie looks taken aback by my lack of greeting but I don’t care. They are a bunch of dumb-asses as far as I am concerned, and being stuck at dinner with them is the last thing I want to be doing.
“Come, sit down so we can start dinner.” My father interrupts the tension. Axel pulls out a chair for me and takes his seat opposite Penny as mine is opposite Eddie’s seat. My parents have taken a chair at each end of the table. Servers come in and top up our water glasses and then our wine glasses. I watch as Penny takes a sip of red wine.
“Do you think you should be doing that?” I ask. She is pregnant after all and I’m sure having a glass of red wine is not good for the baby.
“Yes, dear. You can’t have that.” Eddie takes her glass away and Penny glares at me.
“Yes, sweetheart, you know alcohol is not good for the baby,” my mother adds.
“So how was the honeymoon?” my father asks, trying to lighten up the mood.
“Oh, the Seychelles are magnificent,” Penny starts. “We stayed in a villa on the beach and we had our own butler who brought us anything we wanted twenty-four hours a day. It was heavenly. I bet you haven’t been anywhere as beautiful as that, have you, Olivia?”
I can see what my sister is doing, trying to rub her marriage to Eddie in my face.
“Actually, Olivia and I caught up in the Caribbean a while ago at this luxurious hotel where it is invitation only. A friend of mine had an exclusive launch of his new hotel and we were both invited to test it out before it opened to the guests. It was stunning,” Axel replies then takes a sip of his whiskey. I can’t hide my smile. “That’s when I knew she was the woman for me.” He reaches for my hand and brings it to his lips, kissing my knuckles in front of the table. Penny’s mouth is wide open with jealousy, and Eddie is too busy texting under the table to care.
“Oh, that sounds wonderful. Do you think we could go there?” my mother asks Axel.
“I could always try, but the waitlist is four years long.” He gives her a blinding smile.
“Put my name down as well, see if you can get our names bumped to the top, seeing as we are family and all,” Eddie adds, his arrogance radiating off him.
“Not a problem, anything for family.” Axel smiles, playing along with the charade. Pretty sure the
re is no way in hell my parents are going to The Paradise Club, and if Eddie ever found out about it he would probably live there. Thankfully, dinner is served, cutting off that line of questions.
“So, Liv,” Penny starts, putting her cutlery down. “How is it going to work with you both living on the opposite sides of the world? I mean, Axel’s a rock star, I’m sure he has women throwing themselves at him all the time. That kind of temptation would make it hard to have a long distance relationship. Don’t you think?” She gives me a sly smile.
Axel’s hand rests on my leg, he can feel the tension running through me. She just can’t help herself. Even after everything she is still trying to get in between Axel and I.
“Actually, Penny, I am looking at opening a London office for our label so that we can be together. I am one hundred percent committed to Olivia. There has never been, and will never be, a woman that takes my breath away like she does. No woman can ever compare to her.” He presses a kiss to my cheek.
Penny’s smile fades as Axel declares his feelings for me.
“I am going to be looking at hiring a manager to run the estate while I’m living in Los Angeles.”
“You’re moving to LA?” Eddie asks.
“Of course she is, she’s moving in with me,” Axel replies.
“Daddy, are you seriously letting Olivia walk out on her job?” Penny questions our father.
He slowly puts down his cutlery and turns to Penny. “Olivia has built our estate back up to a flourishing business. She has given up years and years of her life to make it so. If Olivia believes she can handle splitting her time between the two continents, then I believe she will be able to do it. She has a bright head on her shoulders. Olivia believes she can chase new avenues while she is in America, and I believe her, she has nothing but our best interests at heart.”
Penny’s jaw grows wider by the minute at my father’s comments; even I am a little bit shocked.
“Olivia, I have never given you enough credit for the way you have helped this family out of a bad situation. We would not have the luxuries we have today if it wasn’t for you.” He glares at Penny who refuses to look at anyone. “So I have been thinking, maybe it’s time that Penny starts taking an interest in the family business, especially if she wants to reap the rewards from it.”
