Chapter 177

They drove through the winding streets of Hillside. Lush trees lined the road. Louis turned on the sirens as they turned sharply onto a narrow road.

“Is this your private road?” Savannah asked.

“Not yet,” Angelique said. “There are still other houses here. But we own the forest.”

“Of course you do,” Maeve said.

Louis turned again.

“Now this is it,” Angelique said. “The road is named after my grandfather.”

“Carlos Bourbon Drive,” Willa said. “I’m not surprised.”

Louis looked ahead. A high, ornate iron gate blocked the road. Two guards in red and yellow uniforms stood on either side of the gate. As they approached, the gate opened.

“Welcome home, Princess Angelique,” one of the guards said, saluting.

Their cars drove through the gate and followed the road through the dense forest. After a few minutes, the road opened up to a clearing. A chateau-style mansion stood in the center of the clearing, surrounded by a well-manicured lawn.

“Last time I visited this house, I was thirteen,” Louis said.

“And Louis stole my pony and tried to ride it with no saddle,” Angelique said. “He fell off and cried.”

“I did not steal,” Louis said, laughing. “I was borrowing.”

“That was his pick-up line in Sacramento.” Angelique laughed. “I think it worked.”

“He’s a smooth talker,” Gladice said from the Bugatti’s comms. “And a good thief.”

“A good thief and a bad rider,” Angelique said.

Louis thought of their first sex in Austin, the way both of them lost control in the scrubland with the horses tethered nearby. His cock twitched at the memory.

“A good rider in other ways.” Gladice laughed. “Isn’t that right, Angel?”

“Shut up, Glads,” Angelique said.

They parked the cars in front of the mansion. The front door opened, a butler and several maids lined up behind him, their backs straight.

“Welcome home, Princess Angelique,” the butler said, bowing. “And welcome, Mr. Collins, and your family.”

“Thank you, Henri,” Angelique said. “It’s good to be back.”

Henri led them into the grand foyer.

“Your luggage will be brought to your rooms,” Henri said. “However, we have a minor issue.”

“What is it?” Angelique asked.

“With so little notice, we have only six guest rooms ready,” Henri said. “Two of them are large suites.”

“It’s alright,” Louis said. “Give the rooms to the ladies. I’ll share with one of them.”

“How would you like us to arrange the rooms, sir?” Henri asked.

Louis looked at the women. “I think we will discuss it later.”

“Of course, sir,” Henri said. “In the meantime, please, feel free to make yourselves comfortable. We will be serving refreshments in the drawing room.”

“Thank you, Henri,” Louis said. “We’ll be there soon.”

The staff bowed and left. Louis looked at the women again.

“So,” he said. “Who do I share with?”

“I think we should play a game to decide,” Gladice said. “Like strip poker. Or naked Twister.”

“How about chess?” Cherish asked.

“How about we just draw lots?” Willa suggested. “It’s the fairest way.”

“Fair is boring,” Gladice said.

“Can we just enjoy the rest of our day before we have to think about that?” Angelique asked. “I want to go back to my room first.”

“Let’s all go,” Louis said. “I want to see your old room too.”

They followed Angelique up the grand staircase. The polished wood creaked slightly under their feet. Portraits of Bourbon ancestors lined the walls.

“Is that you?” Cherish asked, pointing at a painting of a young girl with a crown of flowers on her head.

“No, that was my grandmother, Isabelle,” Angelique said. “She was the queen of Navarre from 1969 to 1998.”

“She’s beautiful,” Cherish said.

“She was,” Angelique said. “I never met her. She died before I was born.”

They reached the second floor and walked down a long hallway. Angelique stopped in front of a door with a silver nameplate: ‘Angelique.’

“Here we are,” she said, opening the door.

The room was large and bright, with a canopy bed, a balcony overlooking the forest, and a bookshelf filled with classics. An Athena desktop sat on a sleek desk.

“I love it,” Donya said, looking around. “It’s so elegant.”

“It’s my sanctuary,” Angelique said, sitting on the bed. “I spent most of my childhood here. Reading, studying, and watching movies.”

She looked at the desktop. “That’s a gift from your father, Louis. He gave it to me for my nineteenth birthday.”

“He has good taste,” Willa said.

“In electronics, yes,” Angelique said.

“So, speaking of our mission,” Willa said. “Do we just wait here for the report from the Dominion Guard?”

“They are efficient,” Angelique said. “We should get something before dinner.”

“I can try to get the data from the servers myself,” Willa said. “If they let me near them.”

“Yeah. But you could leave the heavy lifting to the boys in uniform,” Gladice said. “Enjoy the downtime.”

“I’m not good at downtime,” Willa said.

“No, you are not,” Louis said. “Take a bath with me then.”

Angelique raised an eyebrow at him. “A bath? We just took a shower this morning.”

“I want to help Willa relax,” Louis said. “And I want to try your bathtub.”

Angelique laughed. “Fine. You two go ahead. I’ll give the others a tour of the house. And the horses.”

Willa looked at Louis. “That’s your solution for my anxiety?”

“It’s a start,” Louis said. “Unless you have a better idea.”

Willa sighed. “No. But I’m holding you to it.”

Louis turned to the others. “Everyone is okay with that?”

Gladice shrugged. “Fine by me. I want to ride horses anyway.”

“Me too,” Maeve said.

Cherish blushed. “Are you going to… do it in the bathtub?”

“Yes, Cherry. We are,” Louis said.

Cherish’s blush deepened. “Oh.”

“I’ll be pissed if you are exhausted later,” Savannah said to Louis with a smirk.

“I won’t be,” Louis said.

Donya smiled. “Just enjoy it, Willa. You deserve it.”

“Fine,” Willa said. “Let’s go.”

Louis led Willa to the en-suite bathroom. The room was renovated with white marble and gold fixtures. A large claw-foot tub sat in the center of the room. Louis turned on the water and poured some bath oil into it. The bathroom filled with the scent of lavender.

“It’s beautiful,” Willa said, looking around.

“It is,” Louis said, taking off his clothes. “Not as beautiful as you, but close.”

Willa laughed. “Nice try, Louis.”

“I mean it,” he said, stepping into the tub. He sat down, the hot water covering his chest. He held out his hand. “Join me.”

Willa took off her dress and folded it neatly. She was wearing a pink cotton bra and matching panties. Louis watched as she unhooked her bra. His cock began to stiffen under the water. Willa slipped off her panties.

“Can I sniff it?” he asked, nodding at the panties.

Willa rolled her eyes. “I can see why you liked Peter’s username.”

“I’m just being myself,” he said.

“Fine.” She handed him the panties. He brought them to his face, inhaling deeply. Her scent smelled like laundry soap and sweat. He liked it.

“You smell good.” Louis put them on the stool.

“I know,” she said, getting into the tub.

Willa sat opposite him, her knees pulled up to her chest. The water sloshed as she settled in. He reached for her.

“Come here.”

Willa shifted, moving to sit between his legs, her back against his chest. His cock, now fully erect, nestled against her ass. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer.

“This is nice,” he said.

“Yes,” she said, her voice soft.

Louis kissed her neck. She tilted her head, giving him better access. His hands moved up to her breasts. He cupped them, feeling their weight. Her nipples were hard.

“Your mind is still working,” he said. “I can feel it.”

“I’m thinking about the servers,” she said. “About the data. About who could have done this. It’s a puzzle. And I want to solve it.”

“Let it go, Willa. For now. Just be here. With me.”

“I’m trying,” she said. “It’s not easy for me. I’m always on.”

“I know,” he said, sliding a hand down her stomach. “Let me help you.”

He slipped a finger between her legs, finding her clit beneath the water. Willa let out a soft gasp. He began to rub her in slow circles.

“Just feel,” he said. “Don’t think.”

Willa leaned her head back against his shoulder, her breathing growing heavier. He continued to rub her. Her hips began to move in rhythm with his touch. He could feel her body softening against his. He pressed his cock harder against her ass.

“You’re so beautiful, Willa,” he whispered. “So smart and so sexy.”

Willa turned her head to look at him. Louis leaned in and kissed her. Her lips were soft and eager. He deepened the kiss, his tongue exploring her mouth. She tasted of mimosas. His finger moved faster, and he slid his cock between her legs, rubbing against her folds.

“Louis,” she moaned.

Louis lifted her up slightly, positioning her. He lifted her slightly until her hips were above the water, then guided himself into her. He pushed forward and entered her slowly. She was tight and warm.

“Yes,” she gasped.

Louis held her hips and pulled her down, sinking deeper inside her pussy. She gasped again. He wrapped his arms tightly around her waist and massaged her breasts with both hands. They were soft and round in his palms. He began to thrust, the water sloshing around them. Her breathing grew louder. He closed his eyes and focused on the sensation of her. She was so wet.

“Faster,” she said.

Louis obeyed, thrusting faster and deeper. He felt her tighten around him. Her head fell back, resting on his shoulder. He kissed her neck and shoulder, tasting her damp skin. His hand moved back down to her clit. He rubbed her as he thrust.

“Ahh… Louis,” she moaned, her body shaking.

Louis felt her pussy spasm around him. He thrust one last time and emptied himself, pulsing inside her. He held her until her breathing slowed. He was still inside her. He kissed her cheek.

“Feeling better?” he asked.

“Yes,” she said, her voice still breathless. “Much better.”

“Good,” he said, kissing her shoulder. “I’m glad.”

Louis leaned forward and reached for the soap. He lathered it on a sponge and washed her back. She leaned forward, resting her hands on the edge of the tub. He washed her body, moving slowly over her skin.

“I was thinking of you,” Willa said. “While we were in the truck.”

“In what way?” he asked.

“When you threatened the house with a missile.”

“Is that so?” Louis asked.

“I was scared,” she said.

“You were scared of me?” Louis asked.

“I was scared of how much I liked it.”

He stopped washing. “What?”

“Don’t stop,” she said.

He resumed washing. “Why did you like it?”

“Because it was decisive,” she said. “Uncompromising. And because you were doing it for us. For your family.”

“I am,” he said. “Always.”

“I know,” she said. “Part of me hates it. The part of me that believes in rules and due process. The part of me that hates surveillance and centralized authority.”

“But the other part of you loves it,” he said.

“Yes,” she said. “The part of me that loves you and trusts you. The part of me that wants to feel safe and protected.”

“Good,” he said. “Because I’ll always protect you. Because I love you.”

“And I love you, Louis.” Willa turned her head and looked at him. “Even if I’m sometimes terrified of you.”

“I know,” he said. He kissed her cheek. “I don’t want to terrify you. But I won’t be weak. Not again. Not ever.”

“I understand,” she said. “That’s what I’m trying to accept. That power isn’t always gentle. That it’s sometimes violent and ugly.”

“And necessary,” he said.

“Yes,” she said. “And necessary.”

He rinsed the soap off her body. He kissed her neck.

“Stay with me for a while,” he said. “Just the two of us.”

“Okay,” she said.

He leaned back against the tub, pulling her with him. She rested her head on his chest. The water lapped around them.

“Talk to me about Pax Pacifica,” Willa said. “The layout.”

Louis smiled. “For starters, we will have three floors and an infinity pool.”

“An infinity pool. Of course.” Her fingers traced the outline of his arm. “And where do we sleep?”

“I’m thinking of a massive bedroom with a huge bed and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the ocean, where we can all sleep together. And we will have eight extra bedrooms for private space if we need it. And a balcony with a hot tub.”

“Sounds expensive,” she said.

“It is,” he said. “But we have all the money in the world.”

“And all the power.”

“And all the power,” he echoed.

“I like that,” she said. “I won’t lie. It’s comforting.”

“I know.”

“How about the gym? Our own small business?”

“We can manage it on our own,” Louis said. “You can be our tech support. Gladie and Savvy can be our personal trainers. Angi can be our PR manager. Donya can be our SPA therapist. Maeve can be our mechanic. And Cherry can sit at the front desk and greet customers.”

She laughed. “You’ve thought about this a lot, haven’t you?”

“I have,” he said. “I want to build something. With all of you. Something that’s ours.”

“I like that,” she said. “I really do.”

“And we will have a private studio for you, with military-grade encryption and quantum computers, and no backdoors.”

“Now you’re talking,” she said, her voice warm. “And I will make sure no one can spy on us. Not even your father.”

Louis laughed. “I’m sure he has too many other things to spy on than us.”

“Like what?” she asked.

“Like dissidents, foreign agents, and tax evaders,” Louis said.

“And trolls,” she said.

“Especially trolls,” he said. “He hates trolls.”

“I bet he does,” she said, turning around and kissing him. “Especially the ones who mess with his family.”

“Especially them,” Louis agreed, kissing her back.

She leaned her forehead against his. “You think we’ll ever be normal?”

“We are normal,” Louis said. “For us.”

She laughed. “I mean, like normal university students. Having classes, exams, parties. And worrying about grades, not about missile strikes.”

“Maybe,” Louis said. “But I doubt it. We will not worry about grades. Because no professors would dare to give us a bad grade.”

She laughed again. “That’s true.”

“And our parties will be different,” Louis said.

“More security,” she said. “And more expensive alcohol.”

“And less drama,” he said. “Or maybe more.”

“Definitely more,” she said.

“I can live with that,” he said.

“Me too,” she said.

They stayed in the tub until the water grew cold. Then they got out and dried each other with large towels. Willa wrapped a towel around her hair and looked at herself in the mirror.

“Not bad,” she said. “For a woman who was just fucked in a bathtub by the future dictator of the Pacific.”

“Dictators.” He kissed the nape of her neck. “I’m looking forward to collective leadership with all of you.”

She smiled at him in the mirror. “That’s an unusual form of government.”

“I’m a political innovator.” He slapped her ass. “Get dressed. We have a mansion to explore.”

They put on their clothes and walked out of the bathroom. Louis heard laughter from outside. He stepped onto the balcony. The other women were riding horses in the paddock below. Several grooms walked beside the horses, leading them.

“Looks like they’re having fun,” Willa said.

“They are,” Louis said. “Last time I rode a horse, I ended up naked with Angi in the middle of nowhere.”

“Sounds like you,” Willa said. “Impulsive and dramatic.”

“I prefer to think of it as adventurous,” Louis said. “Gladie found us later. She was very amused.”

“I bet she was,” Willa said. “She likes a good show.”

“She does,” Louis said. “Let’s go down and join them.”

They went down the grand staircase and out the back door. The sun was bright in the clear sky.