Chapter 24
Birdie, Mel, Dash, and I climbed out of the black SUV onto a small, pebbled drive.
“Holy shit. This is absolutely beautiful,” I breathed.
I looked up at the windmill towering above us. The golden light of the setting sun illuminated rolling hills, and the sound of bleating sheep carried to us from the fields behind the property. Toto, I don’t think we’re in Altborn anymore.
“I know you wanted to keep things low key, so we thought getting you out into the countryside would be best,” Dash said.
“Not what I would have chosen, but this”—he waved his hand toward the towering windmill—“is nice inside, so Birdie and I thought you’d like it. We’re not about to be roughing it.”
“No, this is perfect. I can’t wait to see the inside,” I gushed sincerely.
While many—Birdie and Dash included—would enjoy a more traditional bachelorette party in the city drinking and dancing, this was far more my speed.
A cozy evening with food, drinks, and my best friends was exactly what I wanted.
The only thing that would make it better is if I could share the experience of sleeping in a windmill with Oliver.
We opened the front door and made our way up a staircase that hugged the circular walls of the mill. The first level we hit was much larger than I expected, outfitted with a rustic kitchen, cozy living room, and stand-alone wood stove in the center of the space.
I adored the subtle modern amenities in the kitchen, like the espresso maker on one end of the butcher-block counter, the stainless-steel refrigerator, and a small built-in wine fridge.
But most of all, I loved how the modern touches didn’t take away from the original details of the historic home.
The rough-hewn beams lining the ceiling and exposed brick over the stove reminded me that this building had a rich history.
I made a mental note to ask Dash and Birdie later if the owner had shared any of the background with them when they secured the rental.
In the living room, fairy lights trailed along the ceiling, giving the space a magical feel. In the corner by the stairs, a small bookcase was filled with a variety of board games, books, and movies.
“Here, let me show you to your room,” Birdie said, taking my hand and leading me up the stairs to the next floor, where four doors opened into three bedrooms and a bathroom.
The stairs continued up to a third level, which I assumed housed at least one more bedroom.
She took me into what had to be the master suite.
The room was not large by any means, but it did hold a king bed and an ensuite half bath.
“When I booked this place, the lady assured me there was a bathtub.” Birdie cleared her throat. “Come to find out, it’s…outside.” She dragged out the last word as she pointed out the window, where I spotted a galvanized tub positioned next to an outside shower, both overlooking the fields.
I snorted. “You know what? I think I can go one night without a bath.” No need to give the security team, who I knew were patrolling the property, a show.
My heart warmed at the lengths Birdie had gone to to make this day special for me.
I adored her and looked forward to doing the same for her soon.
Her friendship really was one of the best things I had gained through the last several months.
I heard a bustle downstairs, followed by a male voice that wasn’t Dash’s yelling, “The party is here!”
I shot a look at Birdie, narrowing my eyes. “Who is that?”
A gleeful look overtook her face. “Surprise! Oliver and the guys are early!”
I couldn’t help the excitement that ran through my body. I hadn’t realized how accustomed I had become to falling asleep and waking up with Oliver wrapped around me. I had been a bit sad at the thought of not being with him tonight, so this was an amazing surprise.
“You really did think of everything didn’t you?” I grabbed Birdie’s hand and pulled her into a tight hug, trying to convey my gratitude.
“I tried.” Birdie pulled back, placing a kiss on my cheek. “Now let’s go get our guys.”
“You can’t play another Draw Two card on top of the one that Vince already played!” Chauncey yelled at Tej.
“Yes, I can! And that means you have to draw four cards,” Tej argued.
“No! You can’t stack. The official rules say no stacking. I’m not drawing four. You have to draw two and then I play the color!” Chauncey yelled.
“House rules say you can.”
“Bullshit! Give me the instructions card and I will show you this is not okay.”
“Oh my God, Chauncey,” Mel cut in dramatically, drawing out the “O” in God for emphasis. “Just draw four and keep going. It’s not that big of a deal.”
“Like hell I will!”
“Is he about to flip that little coffee table and cause a scene?” I whispered into Oliver’s ear.
We stood in the kitchen snacking on the pizza the guys had brought while our friends played card games in the living room.
“Honestly, I wouldn’t put it past him.” He laughed as he took another bite of his slice.
“So, what did you guys do today?”
“They took me to a new sporting clay course. It was really nice. Although, unsurprisingly, Chauncey and Vince got into it over the technicalities of the sport.” He rolled his eyes but couldn’t hide the humor on his face.
“Then we went to the Wexstone Distillery and I got to choose the whiskey for the wedding.”
“That sounds very posh,” I said, exaggerating my accent.
Oliver snorted. “Well, I am the king. I can’t be frequenting strip clubs or jumping out of airplanes, can I?”
“We both know you wouldn’t be doing either of those things even if you weren’t the king.”
“True.” He laughed in agreement. “How was your party?”
“It was delightful. We met at St. Jerome Library. In lieu of cards or gifts, everyone gave me their favorite book, so I have more to add to my growing collection.”
Oliver hummed thoughtfully as he put down his pizza and caged me into the wooden countertop. “I hope there are some smutty ones in there so we can try a few more things.”
I wound my arms around his neck and played with the hair at the nape of his neck. The champagne was flowing through my veins and making me feel adventurous and flirty. “There actually is one about a snake prince who has to teach a virgin about sex so she can become queen.”
“Oh, how convenient. I would love to teach you a thing or two about becoming queen of this kingdom,” he said as he ran his nose along my neck before nipping my ear.
I let out a giggle. “That’s so corny.”
He growled softly. “You don’t think I could still show you a thing or two in the bedroom?” He kissed up the other side of my neck.
“I think we’ve done just about everything there is to do. I don’t need any instruction.”
“Oh, Laidie. How wrong you are.”
Before I could react, he bent down and tossed me over his shoulder, then started for the stairs.
“Oliver! Put me down. We are sharing this house with other people. You can’t just manhandle me.”
“He’s the king. He can do whatever he wants,” Vince chimed in from his spot on the floor next to the coffee table.
I looked at him from my upside-down vantage point and flipped him the bird.
“Mind your business, Vincent.” Birdie leaned forward from the U-shaped couch, her wine almost spilling onto the floor, and slapped the back of his head.
“And draw four,” Knox said from Vince’s other side.
I was beginning to get dizzy from the blood rushing to my head, so I closed my eyes as Oliver climbed the stairs two at a time and kicked open the door to our room. The next thing I knew, I was being thrown onto the bed. I heard the door click shut before Oliver began ravishing my mouth.
His tongue slid across the seam, pushing for entry. I welcomed it and then gave his bottom lip a little nip. He let out a moan and brought his hand up to cup my face.
“Take your shirt off while I unbutton your pants.”
My tipsy brain was feeling a little bratty and I couldn’t stifle the urge to provoke him. “Mmm, no. I don’t think I will.”
Oliver pulled back and I observed as he tried to figure out if I was truly objecting or if I was teasing. My cheeky smile gave it away.
“Oh, you want it to be like that, do you?”
Before I could grasp what was happening, my pants and panties were on the floor, my bra was being flung across the room, and I was on my stomach, face down on the mattress.
Oliver ran his hands up and down the back of my thighs and I delighted in the sensation it elicited. Being tipsy brought every nerve ending in my body to attention. It was as if I felt every touch, move, and vibration more deeply.
“Be a good girl and roll over. Put your hands above your head,” he whispered as he trailed kisses down my back to my ass cheek.
“I’m not a good girl. I’m bad, so very bad. I probably should be punished.”
“Oh, Laidie,” he groaned. “You have no idea what you just asked for.”
He laced his hand around my waist and flipped me over onto my back. I watched as he unbuckled his belt, quickly pulling it through the loops. He grabbed my wrists and brought them up above my head, securing the belt around them just tight enough to restrain me, but not so tight that it hurt.
My squeal couldn’t be contained. I loved when Oliver bossed me around the bedroom, but this was different than the times before and I was excited to see where this would lead.
Oliver grabbed my ankles and spread my legs wide open. He ran one finger and then two through my slick wetness, and I thought I might come from that alone. I wiggled side to side, trying to gain more friction.
“Tut, tut.” Oliver waggled his finger in front of my face. “That’s one spanking for trying to move.”
“But I want more, Ollie.”
“Stay still or I’ll bring you to the edge and not finish.”
“You wouldn’t dare.” I wriggled so I could look him in the face, but he pinched my nipple and then rubbed my full breast. They were aching to be played with, and I cried out as he pushed me back onto the bed.