Chapter 2
Certain Revenge
Parker
Listening to Astrid cum made everything better—even while I festered in rage. I couldn’t think about anything but her pleasure when we fell into this place. She was so beautiful in climax. The sounds of her screaming my name didn’t hurt, either. It brought me all too close.
“Astrid, I’m not going to last too much longer,” I apologized.
“Let me cum again,” she pleaded.
I fought my own gratification, biting her ear and kissing her neck. It drove her mad.
“Think about what I am going to do to you later,” I whispered.
“What?” Astrid gasped.
“Fucking you from behind while you play with your new vibrator. And then I’m going to cum on your ass as a punishment for this morally reprehensible behaviour.”
“Oh, God,” Astrid moaned. “Oh, fuck!”
“Cum for me, Astrid.”
“Yes, Parker. Yes!” She screamed, pulsing around me once more.
“You’re so fucking beautiful,” I said. “Good girl.”
And that was all I could do. I gripped her outer thighs as I, too, came. Falling into her neck, I let out a small moan. I kissed her as I pulled back.
“That was… I needed that,” Astrid said. “Now, what are we going to do?”
I chuckled. “You are always back to the practical, aren’t you?”
“Would you expect anything less?”
“I said I would sort it, Asti, and I will. My love, you are in good hands—the best hands.”
I dressed and watched her clean up with the tissues on the desk.
“I’m a mess now, thanks.”
“You’re my mess, baby.” I kissed her. “Look, go on and get a ride in. Stop worrying about me, okay? I will handle it.”
“I love you, but I worry.”
“Stop worrying. I will sort it.” I kissed her forehead, soaking her up before I launched into a tirade. Astrid was the sweetest person deep down. All I wanted was to love and protect her.
I swatted Astrid on the ass as she left and wound up for my next fight. Once my desk looked more in order, I read through an essay that looked absolutely horrendous. It encouraged me to procrastinate further as I stomped down the hall.
“Mother!” I called, entering the peacock blue drawing room.
My mother looked up from her book.
“Yes?” Mother groaned, already bothered. “Are you done with your tryst? You should be mortified. The whole house—”
“It is my house,” I said. “Lest you forget that I allow you to live here rent free.”
“The audacity! It isn’t her house. She should mind—”
“Astrid will be my wife in a few months. It is her house, too, mother. And as such, I’d ask you respect her.”
“I don’t respect anyone who would—”
“Well, I don’t care. If you choose to live here with us, you must put up with this and stay out of it. We’re all adults, right?”
Mother scowled. “So, what is it I’ve done now?”
“Astrid called the venue for the engagement party. They said you cancelled it. What the hell were you thinking? She’s a mess.”
“Yes, certainly. I can tell.” Mother rolled her eyes.
She never understood how Astrid and I worked. Even I sometimes questioned it. I’d never seen myself as particularly chaotic. We were both very organized people. However, we got under each other’s skin in the best way. My mother wouldn’t understand. She never truly loved my father.
“I am fixing it. There will be a party,” I insisted. “No thanks to you for complicating my life on top of my course load and house hunting in London.”
“No one forced you to sell the townhouse.”
“No, but Astrid and I wanted to start fresh. I want to give her that. It’s none of your goddamn business, Mother.”
I sold the townhouse to spite my mother. It was her crown jewel for hosting. But with the way she continued to malign Astrid, I took it away. I wanted to give Astrid everything—including a house she could fall in love with and make her own.
“She has this place. It’s not enough?”
“It’s a time capsule to you and Dad,” I said. “It’s not hers. She can understand that. She grew up in a palace. But she’s giving up our beautiful place in Edinburgh. She’s making a sacrifice for my career.”
“Yes, trading dreary Scotland for London,” Mum rolled her eyes. “Where all her friends live.”
“Our mates,” I said. “It still means giving up her own stables and all the space we had.”
Scotland had been so good to us. We had a love nest, a beautiful life together, and built a solid foundation for what I knew our marriage would be.
A piece of paper wouldn’t change anything, but it would legitimate Astrid.
Besides, she now wanted children desperately.
We couldn’t very well do that until she was my wife. People would talk.
“Well, you can just have it here. It was ridiculous to spend the money—”
“It’s my money,” I insisted. “And we will not be doing that. I am calling in all my outstanding favours. Astrid will get the party of her dreams. You won’t ruin this. You also will be magically sick and unable to attend.”
“I will not be!”
My voice roared. “If you show up, we will turn you away in front of all of London society, Mother. Do not try me or I will reevaluate your allowance!”