Page 33 of Royally Drawn (Resplendent Royals #3)

The Hot Goss

INGRID

A strid and I flew north in Parker’s private plane. While he sat listening to an audiobook in the corner, she and I caught up on gossip. We were headed to Cici’s wedding along with most of the young royals in Europe, and I was much more connected to the scene than Astrid. She was too busy planning her royal wedding while living in the Scottish countryside.

The Norwegians did up their weddings big—not as big as the Brits, but historically excellent. The Norwegians almost always married other royals—at least nobles—much like our fair Neandia. The press saw this as harkening back to a simpler time. Cici’s nuptials garnered similar attention to her parents’ wedding and their swoony royal love story.

I was one of Cici’s six bridesmaids. Crown Prince Edina, the groom’s older sister, remained head bridesmaid. Then there was Betty, two university friends, Leah, and me. Cici saw Betty and me as little sisters and was dying to include us in the fun. I appreciated her welcoming heart even if the idea of being a royal bridesmaid frightened me—not that I hadn’t done it for Alexandra’s wedding and wouldn’t do it again for Astrid’s later this year. Serving abroad challenged me.

“So, what is going on with the man?” Astrid asked .

I sipped champagne and played dumb. “Which man?”

“Don’t be ridiculous! Your prince! What is going on with your prince?”

I groaned.

“Oh, come on, Ingrid! Be honest! I know you two are up to something. I can smell it on you.”

“I’ve long washed him off of me,” I laughed. “So, you can stop.”

“Uh-huh. Yes, I’m sure you just scrubbed him off like you disliked it. God, he’s gorgeous. What is going on?”

“We slept together on the trip,” I said.

She raised her eyebrows. “You… does he know…”

“He had to know!” I giggled. “Oh my God, it was an epic disaster. We did the deed and discovered that, yes… apparently, I still had at least some of my hymen. He stayed to help me clean up the murder scene.”

“That bad? I barely bled.”

“He’s… large,” I admitted. “Not to say anything disparaging about Parker, but I think Keir’s huge. And, if I may, without oversharing?—”

“What are sisters for if not an overshare, sweetheart?”

I laughed and kept my voice low. “It’s… pretty… and not what I expected up close. I suppose I have limited experience.”

“I had none, and don’t apologise. Parker was wonderful—amazing!” Astrid said. “I bled a little. At least he didn’t freak out. Or did he?”

“No, he was like, ‘Use hydrogen peroxide,’ and helped me make the bed. He held me all night.”

“Oh, so sweet,” Astrid swooned. “What a good boy.”

“He’s good in many ways. He knows what to do to me. Like, I had no clue how. He flew me to Wales for the weekend, and all we did was lounge around and fuck. And Duncan was there but was… not an asshole. He left us alone. I think I’m his friend now. The Lyons kids are… too much.”

“They are wild. Oh, but I can’t wait to see Leah and Cici!”

“Same. And Betty. They’ve all been up there, and I’ve been in their house alone.”

“You should have come to Scotland.”

“I would have if I’d have had a pilot available. ”

She snickered. “He’s so fit. I love that for you, although I suspect Rick will act like… well, a prick… and get all offended.”

“I’m not telling anyone besides you and Odette.”

“Alex will want to know. She’ll be happy for you, but it will hurt her if you leave her out.”

I sighed long and looked at Parker, who completed a crossword.

“You realise that man is thirty-two-going-on-ninety, right?” I asked.

“Yeah, well, he’s fabulous in bed and spoils me with attention nearly all the time. I will put up with it. Oh, good lord, what are you going to do? You said there was some love triangle bit?”

“He swears he is talking to his family, so it will be handled . He told me to trust him. So, hopefully, he’s done that. I don’t know how we will hook up, but damn it! I will shag him! He’s so good. I never knew men could do so much with their tongues and fingers. It’s a hundred times better than wanking.”

She snickered. “But have a wank with him, and you’ll enjoy yourself. Try it. Mutual masturbation is one hell of a trip. The visual is a nice treat once in a while.”

“Noted,” I said.

I could talk to Astrid about this. She was the only one. She was open about her sexuality in a way Alexandra never allowed. Alexandra may have confided in Astrid, but never me. I was the baby. We had no reason to discuss it even though it was fucking obvious what she was up to, given their three children and a baby on the way. There was no mistaking her and Rick’s feelings for one another.

Odette and I talked about men, but not as frankly as I did with Astrid. It was primarily crushes and daydreaming. Scarred by emotional abuse and a bad breakup, Odette remained precious. On the first Christmas Parker stayed with us, we’d walked in on Astrid going down on Parker. I’d not be frightened as much as surprised. Odette claimed to be “scarred beyond measure” and cried for a few hours. She found it “degrading” even though Alexandra—painfully—assured her it was fine and normal.

“I should tell her, I guess. But the only advice I will solicit is yours. I would ask Cici these things, but… it’s her cousin.”

Astrid snickered. “Given Cici, I doubt she’d care. She or Leah tell it like it is. They have no boundaries, I swear. But what do you want to know?”

I swigged champagne momentarily, thinking of everything I wanted to know.

“How do you… go… you know… and like… what should I expect?”

“First of all, just say, ‘How do I give a blow job, Astrid?’ And I will bloody well tell you.”

That caught Parker’s attention.

“Oh, you perk up for the words ‘blow job’ and nothing else?” Astrid teased.

“Any man would,” Parker said.

“Go back to your stupid biography. I love you. Leave us alone unless you want tips on giving head.”

“I’m more interested than ever,” Parker admitted.

“The tips are for Ingy, and the object of her lust is the British spare, so… run along. Back to your book.”

He pulled a face and turned back to his puzzle.

“It’s not hard,” Astrid said.

“Oh, I disagree,” I joked. “It’s tough .”

Astrid giggled. “God, I missed you! Yes, it should be—or will be. But pace yourself and alternate with your hand. If he’s more impressive, your jaw is going to get fucking tired. Real tired.”

Jaw sore. Alternate. Pace yourself. I took mental notes.

“Suck and pump his shaft at the same time. Gagging might happen, but that’s fine. They like it.”

“They like it?” None of this made any sense.

“I dunno. I don’t have a dick. Um… oh, balls.”

“Balls?”

“Bullocks. Whatever you want to refer to them as. You can see what he thinks, but you might be surprised if he’s really sensitive or really into it.”

“Surprised?”

“I love how green you are. He might cum sooner than you anticipate—or even sooner than he can predict. He should probably give you a heads-up when he’s close. Spit or swallow. They don’t get to be choosy. Or talk dirty to him and have him cum on your tits or something.”

I gaped. My expression was no barrier to her ongoing wisdom.

“It’s fine. You’ll figure it out. He can teach you. Clearly, he likes that. Parker did.”

I stared in disbelief at her cavalier explanation of lurid acts. Astrid was like a sex oracle. I had many more questions but was almost horrified by all the dirty words she’d just used. Who was this girl? And did she and Parker get up to all of this? I looked at the man in jeans, trainers, and a university rugby that was a size too big. He was up to all of this with her?

“He’s very patient with me. Sometimes, I worry he’d have much more fun with someone else,” I said.

“Darling, he could have anyone he wanted—and probably has. You aren’t doing him a disservice. If he’s still into you—enough to fly you to Wales on a lark—it’s because he enjoys you. And dare I say, probably for more than your tight little arse, yeah?”

I blushed. “We do have fun. I like him. He says my sense of humour and bravery are a turn-on. He thinks I’m mad for what I get up to.”

Astrid smiled. “That is sickeningly sweet, and I’m happy for you. Oh, look at you! Our baby is growing up!”

She hugged me tightly, squealed, and took my face in her hands. “You’re a fully-fledged woman, but I struggle to imagine it. Give Alex and me some time to grasp it.”