Chapter 1
Eldergrove
LANIE
I never got over the excitement of driving up a private lane to a country house.
As an American, pastoral British scenes with houses straight out of Pride and Prejudice thrilled me.
This weekend, I vowed to spend time away on a whim with a cute but sophomoric man I met at a club in Soho.
He took me home to his penthouse, and I stayed two nights.
The next morning, he decided to go to a friend’s shooting weekend and asked me along.
Given that I had nothing better to do and didn’t think he was a murderer, I texted the family group chat I was going away for a four-day weekend with a potential suitor and packed a bag while Chloe and Dora slept.
We drove to a place called Eldergrove in Somerset.
It sounded rather ominous, but I was a sucker for big stone walls and fireplaces big enough to cook an entire sow.
The facade of the place didn’t disappoint.
My escort opened the car door, and I stepped into the cool autumn afternoon air.
Staff waited at the door. A man in a suit took our bags from the trunk.
The housekeeper asked, “Mr. Moynahan, welcome. And who is this you have brought with you?”
“This is Miss Lanie Day,” he said.
I’d given Caleb my stage name, hoping he would have no clue who I was.
I hated bringing up my origin story—especially when I planned to get wild.
My sister had once been a respectable woman in London circles when she was previously married to a now-disgraced Member of Parliament.
Even if people didn’t know Daphne from that notoriety and her subsequent legal battle with him, they’d recognize my surname—Delphine—and its connection to one of the finest department stores in London.
“I am Anna and this is Giles,” the woman said. “We will take care of you this weekend. Please, come in and settle. Several of our guests are out shooting right now.”
“Is Baz about?” Caleb asked.
I died for his posh accent.
“He was tied up with business calls, sir,” Giles, the aptly named butler, responded. “And in a meeting with Mr. Callahan.”
“Very well,” Caleb said.
“Shall we bring you tea while you wait for the others?” Anna asked.
“Not yet. I will check back in if that changes,” Caleb said.
Caleb took my hand and walked me through the halls of the massive house.
“What is your connection to this place?” I asked.
“My father’s uncle owned it. Growing up, we spent summers here. Some friends of ours bought it out—the friend I was asking for—but he usually invites us up for shooting weekends. The lot of us who grew here are all close.”
“That’s nice,” I said. “We have a family farm. It’s nothing like this, but a similar vibe on weekends away.”
It was an understatement. While the farm in Western Michigan differed from our gilded-age family home in Chicago, it wasn’t a small establishment. My mother renovated the place at least once a decade. We had fruit fields, a vineyard, and a bustling artist market.
“Nice,” Caleb said.
We stepped into what I assumed was the library—a cozy, well-appointed room with books and beautiful views of a large pond. I stepped towards the books before Caleb pulled me back towards him with some force. Surprised, I stared at him.
“I am sorry, but I really cannot wait to have you again,” he growled.
Caleb took my face and kissed me definitively as if claiming me.
I pressed my pelvis against him. He was a good kisser and relatively fun in bed.
However, I wasn’t sure if that was because he gave me the first orgasm I’d not given myself in months or if it was due to his actual sexual prowess.
Even if he wasn’t a superb conversationalist, he was well-hung and pushed the right buttons.
Caleb’s hand ran to the hem of my dress and dipped up my thighs. He brushed the waistband of my sweater tights. I wanted more. I wanted to get off and moan into his mouth as I came, but we were in someone else’s house. I didn’t want to be rude.
“Caleb, this isn’t the place. Can you take me to our room, at least?” I gasped.
“Relax. No one is here. The servants will not bat an eye. No one cares. Besides, it makes it hot, right?”
I wouldn’t deny that I had a thing for testing the bounds of propriety. I loved the idea of risking getting caught, but did not enjoy having to explain it if I did.
“I want to taste you,” Caleb punctuated the statement by biting my earlobe.
I melted.
“Fine. I will let you,” I said. “If we get caught, this is on you.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Caleb said, almost gleefully.
I let him toss my shoes and tights to the side as I sat on the couch. He propped my legs on his shoulders and dug in. I longed for this—to be worshipped. I wanted to be taken over the edge by this mostly stranger who appreciated my curves and knew how to make me cum.
BAZ
I wrapped up my last call and looked at my assistant, Jeremy.
I knew not to disrupt his note-taking. He had a process and if I bothered him, I’d hear about it.
Given that I would probably not survive without Jeremy’s organization and planning, I practiced patience.
I missed out on the early afternoon shoot to take a call from a developer in Edinburgh.
I wasted the day, perhaps, but not the entire weekend.
I planned to spend that much with my mates.
“Are we good?” Jeremy asked.
“I’m satisfied with their answers for now,” I sighed. “But to be this annoying about due diligence frustrates the hell out of me. Either provide it or don’t. I don’t like them pissing about with it.”
“Dodgy. But you know how they are,” Jeremy admitted. “If we’re done, I will take a walk.”
“Sure,” I agreed. “I’m going to go walk the house and find the dogs. Rest a bit before supper. Are you coming?”
“We’ll see. Are you having lobster?” Jeremy chuckled.
“Yes,” I said. “That was Caleb’s request.”
“Perhaps,” Jeremy said. “If my date falls through.”
Caleb was a surrogate little brother—the one I wished I had in replacement of my actual little brother.
I invested in his scheme and sometimes reaped major awards.
I suspected his success had more to do with luck, and the ability to fundraise than actual investing talent.
This weekend, he asked to drop in. That meant that he needed money for something.
I wasn’t looking to invest, but I’d give him an audience.
Making my way down the backstairs from my office, I heard people in the library.
There was rustling, then the sound of a woman talking.
I stopped short and listened. Several of our mates were married and one brought his wife this weekend since she also liked to shoot.
However, as I listened, I didn’t know who the woman was.
I walked towards the door to greet them, catching a glimpse of what I least expected.
Caleb and this mystery girl were in the middle of something.
He was on his knees eating her out while she lost herself.
I ducked back out, heart racing. My curiosity was piqued, but I prayed she didn’t think I was up to anything dodgy.
I pressed myself hard into the wall, trying to figure out how I could leave in silence before they knew I was there.
As I did so, she got louder. Though unintelligible, Caleb’s paramour let out delicious little moans—moans she tried to stifle.
Her panting and moaning made me rock hard. I wanted to watch, but knew better.
Then, she gasped, “You were right, Caleb. Of fuck, I’m going to be bad. I don’t care who sees us.”
Was it an invitation? Had she seen me?
“Oh, don’t… god… that’s so good,” she whimpered.
I walked one more step until I stood in the crack of the library door.
I shouldn’t have. In view, I could see only the back of Caleb’s head while his face was buried in her pussy.
She was lost in the pleasure he gave—face flushed and gripping the couch.
She was beautiful—alabaster skin, dark ginger hair, and the prettiest nose.
I marveled at her full thighs and the way her breasts rose and fell.
She was so close. I should have watched myself and stepped away.
Instead, I stayed. I wanted so badly to watch her cum for him—to lose it.
I wanted to hear her scream his name and fall to pieces.
“That feels amazing!” She panted more as Caleb sucked her clit with clear determination.
Lucky bastard.
“Fuck! Oh, don’t… don’t stop, Caleb!”
She was so close and I couldn’t look away.
Keeping her eyes glued to mine in a defiant gaze, she gripped his hair and pressed his face against her.
To know I watched her thrilled her. Her nostrils flared until her head rolled back and she came with a low growl.
I couldn’t believe my luck! All I wanted was to watch it again. I wanted to make her scream my name.