Olivia is really nervous about flying back to the UK. Even though it hasn’t been long since everything went down, it honestly feels like a lifetime ago. I really want to make sure that Olivia is comfortable. I know she is worried about what her parents think of me. I know I am not at all who they saw for her, but I will love her way more than that douche Eddie ever would have, hopefully that’s enough.
“Hey.” I touch her knee, the same one that hasn’t stopped bouncing since we left Los Angeles. “It’s going to be okay,” I try and reassure her as we sit in the town car.
“Maybe we should have stayed in a hotel.” She chews her nails nervously. Olivia’s parents insisted that we stay with them at their home in Edinburgh instead of going to Liv’s cottage on the grounds of the castle which is near the border in England.
“Darlin’, it’s going to be okay and even if it’s not, I’m not going to love you any less,” I try and reassure her. I lean in to give her a quick kiss on the lips hoping to put her at ease, but she is still wound up tight. If we didn’t have a driver, I would be pulling over on the side of the road and fucking the tension from her.
“My parents are not as relaxed as yours.” She lets out a deep breath. “They are set in their ways.” No shit! Forcing their daughter to marry some guy because he came from the right family and had the right connections was kind of a big give away that her parents were not like mine, but I keep that to myself. “They like things a certain way, the way people have done things for hundreds of years.” I know the world Olivia grew up in is completely different to the one I did, but still, it can’t be that bad.
“Liv, it’s okay. I promise not to do anything that might embarrass you.”
“What? No, Axel…I didn’t mean it like that.” Liv looks horrified that she might have offended me, it’s pretty cute. I put my arm around her and pull her close. Feeling her burrow into my side, my lips kiss the top of her head.
“I love you and I will make sure that I am on my best behavior.” I let my hand roam and then cup her boob, giving it a little squeeze. She squirms a little in her seat, especially as my fingers start to twist her nipple. She lets out a sigh.
“This is going to be different to a normal family dinner. My parents have staff; they have people to look after them. Dinner is always formal, so we dress up in gowns and suits et cetera. It isn’t like what we had at Christian and Vanessa’s place, it’s not that laid back. We have crystal, fine bone china, a million forks and spoons and…” She rambles on.
“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 the 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!