Chapter 23
Nairie
To say I was sore the next day was an understatement.
I don’t know how many orgasms I had since William did indeed fuck me on every surface of his house.
Over a month apart apparently tripled his stamina, and we were at it all night.
We were still wrapped up in bed, William’s fluffy white sheets surrounding us like billowy clouds.
He had a fireplace in his bedroom that warmed up the chilly stone walls and floor, but I was currently burrowed into his large arms and chest like he was my own personal furnace.
I listened to his heartbeat and smiled contentedly.
I liked to stare at his myriad of tattoos like they were a story weaving across his body.
William gently stroked my arms as we savored the morning together in comfortable silence.
William’s voice was deep and husky when he spoke. “When do you start the next mural in Edinburgh?”
“Not for a couple of weeks.”
“So I’ll have time to give you some tours around Inverness?”
“Yes. What should we do first?”
William gently played with the ends of my hair. I looked up into his eyes. They were sated and devoted. This man loved me, and I couldn’t believe my luck.
He pulled me in for a long kiss. “I’ll show you around the inn and introduce you to everyone. Then we can go on a hike with my mum.”
“You’ll have time? I know the inn needs you.”
“I’ll always make time for you.”
He kissed me thoroughly, and I felt warm and tingly again.
I squirmed against him, and he laughed. “You’re insatiable, you know that?”
“Well, don’t kiss me like that if you don’t want to start something!”
William sighed and rubbed his eyes. “You’re killing me. I physically don’t know if I have any cum left in my body.”
I giggled. “Yes, that’s always been my plan. The American succubus using you for your seed.”
We made our way out of bed to the bathroom, and William laughed and slapped my ass after turning on the shower. “Alright, witch, time to get ready.”
I caught William up on everything leading up to my arrival.
His mom picked me up from the airport and made sure nobody saw her stashing me away in his cottage.
Before William got home that day, I took my time exploring his space.
It was masculine, clean, and cozy. The wood beams and white stone made me feel like I was in a different time period.
The windows had cute swirly designs within the glass, giving it a whimsical feel.
He didn’t have many pictures displayed, except one of him and his mom standing in front of the inn and William with a group of men dressed in tactical gear.
A long wooden dining table in the kitchen separated the open space from the living room, and the views of the ocean and mountains from every window were breathtaking.
It had two bedrooms, but it felt spacious with the way he’d arranged everything.
All the furniture fit in place, but there was also something a bit lonely about it.
He had nothing particularly personal to him except his bookcase, which was stacked with his favorite mystery novels.
Once we were dressed in layers and boots, we walked out into the crisp morning air. A light fog rolled around the grounds, and I breathed it all in as William locked up.
“So my mum was in on all of this, huh?”
I smiled and took his hand.
We walked together through the wet grass, and I hugged his forearm against me. “Yup, Elspeth helped me call her and set it all up.”
He grunted. “And what did you two talk about?”
We neared the front of the inn, and I took in its beautiful red shutters, time-worn stonework, and matching red tin roof. It was just a larger version of the individual cottages.
The gravel crunched as we made our way closer to the front door. “It was like she already knew me. I guess Lindsey talked about me a lot. Mostly she was just excited to hear what I’ve been up to.”
William smiled and opened the door, wiping his feet on the mat before entering. I did the same and was hit with a smell of rosemary and honey. The warmth immediately heated our faces from the bite of cold outside. William took my coat and hung it on the rack with the other guests’ jackets.
The ceilings had the same wood beams as in William’s cottage, and the entryway led into the front room, where I saw a front desk made from an old apothecary table.
It gave the room a lived-in feel, as did the art on the wall.
Everything was mismatched but somehow worked together with vintage oil paintings of dogs and black-and-white photos of the locals around town.
We approached the empty front desk, and I swung my gaze around.
To the left was a big sitting room with plush couches, an extra-large fireplace, built-in benches by the windows, and a beautiful antique crystal chandelier.
A spacious dining room was on the right, where a few guests enjoyed their coffee and scones while looking out at the seaside view.
Small individual tables and a larger communal table filled the space in the middle with a plethora of fresh breakfast goodies already set out.
My mouth watered, but William pulled me closer to the front desk.
I turned in time to see a girl behind it.
“Poppy, this is my girlfriend, Nairie.” He motioned between us. “Nairie, this is Poppy, our manager of sorts. She’s also my cousin.”
Poppy’s blue eyes widened in shock. She had a short pixie haircut that made her look like a fairy, a scattering of freckles across her face, and piercings trailing both ears.
“You have a girlfriend?” She scoffed.
“Yes, me,” he said patiently.
I awkwardly waved. “Hi.”
Poppy looked between us and shook her head.
She rushed out from behind the counter and grabbed me in a bone-crunching hug.
“Oh my god. I’m sorry for being so rude.
It’s just William’s never brought a girl home except for .
. . Well, it’s been a while, and he never says anything to anybody, so this is quite the shock, but you’re so beautiful, and I’m so happy you’re here. ”
Everything came out in a rush, and it was hard keeping up with her accent, but I just nodded and smiled. “Are you Elspeth’s cousin too?”
“No, I’m from William’s mother’s side. But I love Elspeth. Is that how you know William?”
“Yes, she and I grew up together. We’re best friends, and William visited us every summer.”
Poppy absorbed every word I said like she was filing it away in a Rolodex in her brain. “Oh, so that’s how you two got together. I was sorry to hear about Elspeth’s mum. How long are you here for?”
“Um, kind of indefinitely. I’m working on an art piece for a retailer out here, and I’m just playing everything by ear. See where the wind takes me.”
William smiled down at me and squeezed my hand.
“Ah, a free-spirited artist?!” She clapped her hands in excitement.
“I’m trying to be.”
“She’s being modest.” William interjected. “She’s an incredible illustrator. You should show Poppy some of your stuff.”
I blushed and pulled out my phone, bringing up a few drawings and my recent mural.
“Oh my god. You are beyond talented.” She slapped William’s arm. “Jesus, Will. You don’t date anyone for years, and then you bring home the perfect girl?”
I was liking Poppy more and more.
“That was the plan.” He smiled down at me.
We talked to Poppy for a few more minutes, and William led me to the dining room to get some breakfast while he went to the office to check up on some things.
I filled my plate with a little bit of everything.
I was curious about the meat pies, and the freshly baked rosemary bread made my mouth water.
I took a seat closest to the window and looked out at the view, taking a sip of tea.
When I looked back, a group of people stood in front of me.
I startled, and the tea I was holding spilled onto my hand.
The man closest to me was older, wearing a tweed hat and a tool belt.
He immediately grabbed a napkin and started blotting my hand. “Apologies, miss. Didn’t mean to frighten you. We just heard the news from Poppy and had to see for ourselves.”
I turned to see if she was nearby. “Poppy? I just met her two minutes ago. You guys already heard?”
The man’s kind green eyes twinkled. “Word travels fast, especially if Poppy is the messenger. I’m Hamish, the handyman.”
He stuck out his hand, and I shook it.
A woman stood to his left. She was short, stocky, and middle-aged with ruddy cheeks and brown hair tucked into a braid. “I’m Winnie, the head housekeeper.”
The man next to her was wearing an apron and had a stoic look on his face. He was bald, tall, and very intimidating. “I’m Phillip, the chef.”
I shook all of their hands and asked them to join me. They sat and surveyed me like I was an animal in a zoo.
I cleared my throat to break the awkwardness. “So, I take it you’re all surprised to see William with a girlfriend.”
Winnie chirped, “Aye, we had to see for ourselves. The man is a mystery. Never talks about his personal life to anyone except Sarah, but that doesn’t count since she’s his mum.”
“Right, well, I’m happy to meet all of you.”
Winnie smiled eagerly. “Yes, we’re happy to meet you too. William deserves a nice lass. He’s been through the wringer with that harpy years ago.”
I winced. I knew William’s ex cheated on him with his brother, but that was the extent of it. I wondered what else that woman did.
“I hope I live up to all your expectations. I love William very much, and I hope to stay here as long as I can.”
Each of them raised their eyebrows, and Winnie spoke first. “Did you say you loved him?”
Hamish coughed. “Aye, she said love.”
Phillip remained silent, assessing me with piqued interest.
I laughed awkwardly. “Yes, I’ve kind of been in love with him since we were kids. But we just recently connected . . .”
William cleared his throat from behind me, and I looked up at him as he scowled at his employees. “Don’t you all have work to do?”