by JA Low
“It was just easier.”
“Easier for who?” You can hear the hurt in his voice and the silence in the room.
“It was a shock. It wasn’t planned…I just…”
“Were you ever going to tell us? Or would you have just turned up one day saying, oh by the way, Oscar, here is your niece or nephew?”
“Nephew, it’s a boy.” Isla quickly adds. Oscar looks stunned. You can see the heart ache across his face.
“You’re having a boy?” Isla nods and tears are pouring down her cheeks. “Shit, Issy.” Oscar pulls her against him and she wraps herself as far as she can around the hulking Viking.
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you,” she mumbles into his shirt.
He brushes her hair from her face. “Shh, it’s going to be okay. You’re home and it’s going to be all okay.” Isla stiffens.
“I’m not staying, my life is in Europe, not here.”
“What? Are you seriously going back to Europe when you are about to pop out a child?”
“I’ve just gone five months, Oscar. I am only half way.” Oscar frowns at her.
“Oh shit, it was a wedding baby,” Derrick adds. Isla shoots daggers at him. “Sorry.” Derrick holds up his hands.
“Is this true?” Oscar asks.
Isla waves her hand at him. “I’m not answering that, it doesn’t matter. What matters now is that we are here to celebrate Evan and Sienna, not me and my drama.” She turns and looks at the new parents, walking over and hugging them both. “Sorry about this,” she whispers to them. They both shake their heads at Isla indicating that it is fine.
“Holy shit, Isla’s pregnant,” I yell down the phone to Olivia. The other end remains quiet and I check my phone screen and it’s still connected. “Liv, did you hear what I said?”
“Yeah, I did.”
“Why are you not shocked by this news?” Then it dawns on me. “Seriously, you knew, you knew Isla was pregnant and didn’t tell me?” I don’t know if I should be happy that my fiancée can keep secrets and is loyal to her friends and family or if I should be pissed that she so easily can keep a secret from me.
“Ax, it wasn’t my story to tell.”
“I know, I just feel blindsided again that you’ve kept something from me.”
“But you have to understand why I couldn’t tell you. I’m sorry, I hate keeping secrets from you. I don’t like not being able to tell you everything, but it’s not my fault these truth bombs keep dropping in my lap.”
“I know, babe, I know. I just miss you and hate being apart from you. I’m just shocked that Isla is pregnant. Do you think the father is Finn? She said it was some random hook up.”
Silence fills the end of the phone.
“Okay, seeing as you know she’s pregnant, I’ll talk about it, but you have to promise me, babe, it’s in the fiancée cone of silence, yeah?”
“Of course.”
Silence again as she debates what to say.
“It’s Finn’s.”
“Shit! Oscar is going to be pissed. He is already on the war path trying to find out who the bastard was that knocked up his sister. Derrick kind of worked out that she got knocked up during Chris and Ness’ wedding.”
“Oh shit. He is such a trouble maker.”
“I mean, we all know that Finn and Isla have been a thing on and off for years, just not sure if Oscar knows it. Shit, he is going to lose it when he finds out his best friend knocked up his baby sister.”
“What did Finn do when he saw her?”
“He ran out of the room when she confirmed she was pregnant.”
“Do you think he knows it’s his?” she asks.
“I think the possibility is going through his mind.”
“Poor guy, that must have been a shock.”
“Hell yeah, it would be. Especially when Isla came into the room hand in hand with Sebastien.”
“Oh no she didn’t?” Liv gasps.
“Yeah, she sure did. I’m thinking Finn thinks the baby is Sebastien’s.”
“Oh no.”
“I need to find him, babe.”
“Yeah, I think you better. Love you and good luck. Let me know how you go.”
“Will do. Love you.” I hang up the phone and dial Finn, of course it goes directly to voice mail.
172
Axel
Months later
“Your last night as a bachelor,” my brother hollers as he enters the limousine. I didn’t want a bachelor party but the boys insisted on it. Apparently, it is Olivia approved, I’m hoping that is true and not something they told me to give me a party. We all arrived in Paris yesterday; the Dirty Texas jet completely full. Especially with all the kids; the bags of crap that entails is mind blowing. A ten-hour flight with screaming kids is kind of hellish, even if they are super cute. Sadie and Ruby have grown up so quickly. Almost three months old now and little Levi is two months. I can’t believe how quickly they are growing up. Luckily, both sets of grandparents are traveling with the group for baby duties.
“Please tell me we are not going to the strippers,” I groan.
“Seriously?” Christian questions me.
“Yeah, man, seriously.”
“Um, I kind of remember our birthday and someone was very keen to sample the strippers.”
“Dude, I was single then and you didn’t want a bar of them because of Ness.”
“Okay, you got me there on a technicality, but no we aren’t going to see strippers.” He gives me a smile that tells me otherwise. We just had dinner at the top of the Eiffel Tower just like we did last time we were here, but this time the group looks a little different. We have now begrudgingly split up for the night. The grandparents heading back to the apartment with all the children, letting the grown-ups have a night out. A first for poor Christian and Ness. There’s this app now that lets them dial in and watch the girls sleep. I can totally see my brother being on the phone all night.
“Where are we going?” I ask.
“It’s all good, don't worry.” Christian tries to reassure me.
“And what are the girls doing?”
“Strippers, from what I have heard,” Evan adds and my eyes widen. The bastard bursts out laughing. “You should have seen your face, total classic.” I flip him off. “I’m actually not sure. They all remained tight-lipped.”
“Could be anything with Derrick organizing it.”
“Last time Derrick organized a bachelorette party he organized strippers and Olivia jerked one of them off.” The limousine becomes silent; everyone looks at me. “I’m guessing the girls didn’t tell you that part of the story.” The boys shake their heads.
“I’m sure it will be okay,” Evan says nervously. See fuckers, not so nice when the shoe is on the other foot, I laugh to myself.
“Welcome to the Moulin Rouge.” A small man, with a thick French accent, welcomes us at the VIP area of the famous Moulin Rouge. “Congratulations Monsieur Taylor on your wedding. We hope that you enjoy the show.” He gives me a creepy little wink. The area is decked out in red velvet with gold ornate decorations; everything is over the top opulent. The VIP section is situated high up on a balcony and the boys have hired the whole section just for us. There is one long white table that overlooks the stage. It is set up with bottles of champagne and canapés for us.
“This is your seat.” Christian pulls out the middle chair for me, giving me front and center view of the stage; the others take the seats around me. A waitress, dressed in costume, arrives with two buckets full of beer bottles. She places the buckets onto the table before picking up one champagne bottle to pop the cork and pour us all a glass before she disappears. “I want to raise a toast to my brother. Congratulations on becoming a pussy!” The guys all burst out laughing. I just roll my eyes. I knew he would need to have a go at me about my pussy comment. I just clink his champagne glass.
“Glad to be joining the pussy club.” This makes his smile widen.
“I thi
nk we need to get T-shirts made up saying Pussy Club Member on them.” Christian jokes, making me groan because I can totally see him giving me one for Christmas or our birthday.
We watch as the room fills up with eager tourists. I just hope none of them look up here and notice us. The paparazzi attention has been a little intense since Olivia and I announced our engagement, something that makes her extremely uncomfortable. The lights finally dim and French music blasts through the sound system.
“See, told you no strippers,” Christian whispers to me. But there are most certainly just as many boobs on display. “It’s art.” He elbows me, when more near naked women dance across the stage, making me laugh. It might not be a normal bachelor party that guys might have in Vegas, but my life has been one big bachelor party over the years, I don’t need that anymore. I’m guessing this is a pretty good compromise for the boys. Two hours, and many drinks later, the show is finished.
“Please wait here until everyone else has left, there are photographers outside,” one of the staff advises us. We wait in the darkened theatre chatting to one another, mostly talking animatedly about the women dancing. A little while later music starts again through the speakers and the dark stage is illuminated again. We watch as women dressed in Moulin Rouge outfits return to the stage.
“I may have had one too many drinks, but is that Olivia?” I punch Christian in the arm and point to the stage. He turns and squints his eyes.
“Is that Ness?” Christian questions.
“I think that’s Sienna.” Evan frowns.
“Yeah, that looks like Stacey for sure.” Oscar’s eyes widen.
“Camryn? Ivy?” Nate adds.
“Fuck, that’s not Charlotte?” Blake looks a little pissed.
“Is that Isla and Penny standing in the wings?” My eyes widening.
“And Yvette,” Evan adds.
“What the hell? Is that Derrick in drag?” We all look at the bearded lady. Yep that is definitely Derrick. What the hell is going on? The music for the Can Can starts to play and the group starts kicking their legs up with their skirts covering their faces and showing us their frilly knickers. They are then joined on stage by what looks to be proper dancers. Finally, the song finishes and they end it by showing us their sexy, frilly asses. The boys all stand up and wolf whistle enthusiastically. The girls thank the dancers as they walk off stage. I can see the beaming smile on Olivia’s face.
“How do we get down there?” I ask, looking for the exit.
“Follow me, Monsieur.” The small man guides us from the balcony, down the stairs through the tables on the ground level and to another set of stairs that lead up to the stage. I take them two at a time, making my way directly to Olivia. Her face is bright pink and a light sheen of sweat laces her body. I grab her face and kiss her passionately. This is the hottest thing I could ever have hoped to see on my bachelor party, and she wasn’t even naked.
“I’m guessing you liked it,” she laughs against my mouth.
“I fucking loved it. You are crazy, do you know that?” I press my forehead against hers. “That was seriously the craziest thing.”
“You can thank Derrick for that idea, but if I’m honest, I think that maybe he has always wanted to do it. He really enjoyed it.” She giggles again.
“Fuck, you look hot.” I realize what she is wearing. Her breasts are pushed up to almost spilling out, her bodice tight around her small waist. She looks like a fantasy brought to life, a fantasy I didn’t realize I wanted until seeing her dressed like this. “Liv, is there a chance we can…you know…go somewhere.” Her face lights up.
“I would love to, babe, but I think we are on our way to the next destination.”
“Fine, I can wait. I think. Maybe not, my dick is kind of aching looking at you dressed like this.”
“How about I pack it for the honeymoon and we can revisit this again.” My eyes widen. My naughty little fiancée, I like her thinking. “Let me go get changed, apparently we are off to The Paradise Club after this.”
“Really?” She nods. Olivia gives me a quick kiss on the cheek and disappears with the others to get changed.
“I know it’s supposed to be your bachelor party, bro, but I think we all won tonight.” Christian claps me on the back. “We got lucky with those girls, man. Real lucky.” I totally agree with him.
173
Olivia
“I think the boys liked that.” Derrick smiles, popping another bottle of champagne in our limousine.
“I know Christian certainly did,” Ness giggles. “If I get knocked up again, I’m blaming you, D.” Tonight has been amazing; dinner at the Eiffel Tower then a private shopping experience at Avenue Montaigne where we hit up Yves Saint Laurent, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Chanel et cetera. When you are on a time crunch it’s amazing how much you can buy. Thankfully, our driver took our bags back to the apartment. I’m hoping Axel doesn’t notice them, if he does I will just distract him by getting naked. When Derrick suggested surprising the boys with us doing the Can Can, I wasn’t too sure about it, but it was so much fun in the end. It was such an experience, especially doing it at the world famous Moulin Rouge. I don’t think I will ever forget that moment. We are all now heading off to The Paradise Club to finish the night and have a little more fun. We make our way to the club in separate limousines; I suppose it is still a bachelor and bachelorette party even though we have technically spent most of it together. It’s exactly how I wanted it.
“Cheers to the beautiful bride to be, Olivia. She gets to wake up naked with Axel for the rest of her life.” Derrick salutes me and we all clink glasses.
We finally arrive at Nate’s club and thankfully we have been able to slip past the paparazzi, last thing we want is for them to find out about The Paradise Club. We are ushered quickly through the secret entrance that is reserved for the ultra VIPs, hiding us from curious eyes. The limousine will be taking Penny and Isla back to the apartment, both of them not feeling very well after all that dancing. I know Penny hasn’t been able to relax since arriving in Paris. She’s lucky she can’t just run into the President of France while she’s out shopping like any other ex. It won’t be long before he finds out though as pictures of Penny’s ever expanding stomach are frequently in the gossip magazines. Speculation about the father is making them salivate and names of her ex’s are being thrown around with many coming out publicly declaring they are not the father, which is pretty crass I think. God, I feel for her. She’s gotten herself into such a crazy situation. I have to admit though she has been working hard with Camryn and Kimberly’s team in regards to the events. I would even say that she is happy working, which I never thought would ever happen. Ivy has finished renovating her cottage in the castle’s village and it is gorgeous. The nursery is just beautiful; her little princess is going to feel so loved there.
“There’s my sexy fiancée.” Axel surprises me as I’m lost in my thoughts. His strong, tattooed arms wrap themselves around me tightly. “This brings back memories,” he whispers into my ear, sending shivers over my body. “Almost a year ago we met during a bachelor party in France.”
“Technically, Monaco. It is its own separate country,” I tease. Axel pinches a nipple in retaliation.
“Looks like someone is being purposefully naughty. Does, my fiancée want to be punished?” My legs clench together at the vivid imagery of Axel’s kind of punishments.
“Maybe.” I wiggle my ass against his tight crotch, teasing the beast.
“I think tonight we are going to have a lot of fun, Miss Pearce.” The way he uses my name like that, I know he is feeling very dominant, so I am in for a good time tonight. Axel unwraps himself from me and grabs my hand.
“Enjoy,” he tells the rest of the party.
“Get it girl,” Derrick calls out while the others just cat call and holler as we make our way across the ground floor bar area. This club is different again to the one in Monaco. Each one seems to reflect the city it is in. The Paris club is paying
homage to Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI with the opulence and decadence of the era. I don’t have time to really enjoy its beauty as Axel is on a mission tonight. He pulls me up the stairs, past the glass cube room which is prolific through all The Paradise Clubs from what Axel tells me. He walks down one of the dark corridors, ignoring the gyrating people around us. He enters the room with a green light above it and closes the door behind us. In an instant he launches himself at me, pulling the hem of my dress up to my waist as his fingers find my wet underwear.
“You’re just as turned on as I am,” he hisses as he pushes the small patch of fabric out of the away so he can sink two large fingers into me.
“Yes,” I moan as he fills me.
“Fuck, Liv. That little Can Can dance you did for me got me hard as a rock. If we weren’t in public I would have bent you over one of the tables and fucked you there and then. You made me so hot.” Axel’s fingers slide in and out of my slickness, God, it feels so good. “How did I get so lucky?” he asks before his mouth descends on mine. I am lost in the heady lust of him. He sinks his teeth into my lips, the pain and passion he generates from that action causes me to whimper. He continues with my neck as his skillful fingers glide expertly in me, bringing me closer to the edge with each flick of my clit. “Come, Liv, I need you to come for me. I have so much planned for you tonight.” His teeth sink into the fleshy skin and that sharp bite sends me over the edge, I come around his fingers as he continues to pump his fingers inside of me, riding my orgasm out. I sag against the wooden door, my body quivering like jelly. Axel pulls his fingers from me and licks them clean. “God, I love your taste.” He savors me like a connoisseur and it’s hot.
“So, what do you have planned next? I think it’s your turn to come.” I smile at him.
“Oh, don’t you worry, we have plenty of time for that.” He kisses me again and I can taste myself on his lips. “I need you to take off all your clothes, sweetheart.” I can see the desire behind those whiskey eyes. I slowly pull the zip of my dress down, his eyes never leaving mine; one by one I let the straps of my cocktail dress fall, exposing my designer bra underneath. Axel licks his lips in anticipation of touching me again. I wiggle the dress over my hips, giving him a little appreciative dance in doing so. He kneels down before me, the dress pooling around my high heel covered feet. A warm hand wraps around my ankle and slowly lifts my foot, letting me step out of my dress. He does the same with my other foot and I watch in fascination as he carefully moves my foot out of the way so he can collect my dress. His lips touch my ankle sending sparks up my legs, directly hitting my sensitive core. “You’re so beautiful,” he muses, placing my cocktail dress on the back of one of the chairs. “Now, the underwear, but leave the heels on.” He gives me a wink. I unclasp my bra, letting the straps fall then I throw it to him. He catches it with a smirk on his face. “Cute, Liv, real cute.” I shimmy out of my tiny G-string and do the same, sending it in his direction. He takes it to his nose and smells it briefly before putting it with the other items of my clothing. I think if it were any other man that had done that it wouldn’t have been a turn on but with Axel, everything he does is so sexual, primal, raw, and I love it. “Now, Liv, do you trust me?” he asks.