Mistletoe’s Kiss

25. Chapter 25

25

Chapter 25

“The body, the cage, is everything of the most respectable… but through the bars, the wild animal looks out.”

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

N olan Moore: Earlier this evening…Nolan hated wearing the fucking penguin suit but Michaels had insisted on it at the interview.

“We’re all about historical authenticity at Ashbourne. The owners make decent money renting the house out to cinematographers for movies and costume dramas, it was even in Downton Abbey a few times,” Michaels said proudly. “Of course, it all goes towards the upkeep of the house, it’s a very important example of 18th-century architecture and must be preserved. Everything has to be just so and they trust me to make sure that it’s all ship shape.”

“The uniform you will be required to put on for events is a replica of what a footman would have worn in the 1920s. The party on Christmas Eve is a book launch, not a TV show or movie so there won’t be any cameras and you won’t be required to act, just serve the plates at dinner.”

Nolan had nodded his head respectfully as the butler waffled on whilst thinking thank fuck there weren’t going to be any cameras. He’d spent the last few months working on his plan and didn’t want to risk getting caught. It took two hours to drive here from London and he was tired, he hadn’t been able to sleep the last few nights with all the excitement. Christmas Eve was the day when he would finally get to see his girl in person and he’d planned the perfect meet cute! That’s what they called it, wasn’t it? ‘A charming or amusing first encounter between romantic love interests’ and that’s exactly what they were, she just didn’t know it yet. He was going to give her an evening she wouldn’t forget.

He tugged on the stiff jacket he was wearing and tuned back into the older gentleman, ‘Michaels’, that was his name.

“As I explained, this party is to celebrate the release of a new book. I’ve been informed that it’s a mystery novel and the publishers have decided that the main part of the night will be a murder mystery game. As requested we need to hide various ‘clues’ around the house before the guests arrive and be prepared to find them wandering about after dinner,” he huffed. “I’ve got another couple of staff members on that but we’ll need all the help we can get in the kitchen with the food and drink. They’ve asked for the means to make cocktails in the parlour to start with but we’ll prepare some in the kitchen in advance to bring out at dinner. Perhaps you could work on that…”

“Of course Mr Michaels,” Nolan said with a boyish grin. “I’d be happy to go make the cocktails, that sounds right up my alley.”

* * *

Nolan could hear the guests in the parlour and although he desperately wanted to take a peak and see his little obsession in her costume, he held back. He needed to stick to the plan, no deviations, no matter how hard his cock was in anticipation of tonight’s date.

It had started to snow a little earlier and he couldn’t believe his luck. Michaels had asked him to monitor the weather on the radio whilst making the drinks in the kitchen but he hadn’t informed the butler that they were advising people to stay home in this part of the county. The gently falling snowflakes he could see through the kitchen window were getting heavier and would turn into a blizzard in the next couple of hours. He needed to keep that information to himself until the right moment, he’d just had an inspired thought on how to play it to his advantage. He obviously hadn’t planned for a freak snowstorm but white Christmases were romantic and he wanted his girl to have all the romance!

It came time to serve dinner and Nolan’s nerves almost got the better of him, this is where the plan had the most potential to go wrong. He collected a plate from the kitchen and followed the other servers towards the dining room. Walking in, he tripped, the fish dish he was holding flew into the air and landed down the front of his very authentic footman’s uniform. He righted himself and turned to face a horrified-looking Michaels who’d been supervising nearby.

“Get yourself back to the kitchen you clumsy fool, I can’t believe you just did that! Get chef to quickly make up another plate and I’ll send Andrew’s here to collect it. Then stay in the kitchen and find something else to do. I can’t have a server covered in fish, what would the guests think!”

Nolan tried his best to look contrite, it wouldn’t do for any of the guests to see him at dinner, that wouldn’t do at all. With a profuse apology to Michaels, he headed back to the kitchen, helped with arranging the plates and then moved on to washing up. He let his mind drift while he did the tedious task, thinking about his baby doll, that’s what he was best at after all, dreaming of the future they were going to have together.

His obsession had started when he was still in the military, serving in the Middle East. He’d been injured and forced to stay at the hospital on the compound, bored out of his mind. They couldn’t get any satellite reception for the television so a nurse had taken pity on him and dumped a pile of books on his bed. He’d always liked mysteries so started with a book called “A Blade So Sharp” by Madeleine Montgomery. Nolan hadn’t realised it was a romance mystery at first but soon found out when he came across the explicit scenes, groaning quietly as he read. He devoured the novel and it was only as he finished the last page that he turned it over and saw Maddy’s author photo. His heart had practically stopped and that was it, he was officially in a relationship with the most beautiful woman in the world. He’d reread the book a few times whilst he recovered, ignoring the other novels and as soon as he left the ward he ordered every other book Maddy had written up until that point. Those books became his comfort reads and got him through some hellish times overseas.

Nolan came from wealth and wasn’t strapped for cash, joining the military had been an ode to a father he hadn’t known and a way to please a mother who quite frankly had never really cared for him. Having seen Maddy’s photo he knew he couldn’t continue, he had to quit life as a soldier so he could be closer to her. When he was discharged he used his wealth to set himself up as a private security consultant. With his military background, experience in hostile environments and some less-than-legal hacking skills leftover from a rebellious teenage phase he believed he was more than qualified for the role.

The new career meant he had the means to find out absolutely everything he could about Maddy. He started with her social media, following her author page where presumably her publicity team posted photos, book news and events. That was pretty good for keeping track of her but didn’t share anything about her personal life so he hacked into her private account to look at her photos and updates, not that she posted much to his frustration. That led to him getting into her emails so he could see what she was up to on any given day and her bank accounts which showed her favourite restaurants and places to shop.

Nolan wanted to learn her inside and out, well mostly inside when he thought about her steamy writing. It got him so worked up, reading the dirty thoughts that seemed to flow straight from her head into his, those filthy little scenes reaching him through the pages of her novels. It was like she had a direct connection to his cock.

He needed to know if there was anyone else, did she have a boyfriend, girlfriend or partner? He flew into a jealous rage at the thought that her books might actually be based on something she was acting out with someone other than him. His possessiveness forced him to take action, he hadn’t seen any dates mentioned in her calendar, emails or messages and the worry ate at him. He decided the only way to find out for definite was to get into her laptop and use her camera to see if she ever had any visitors at her home. Nolan thought he might be able to hear a boyfriend or spot someone walking past the camera. The laptop by a stroke of good fortune happened to be set up on a desk in what appeared to be Maddy’s bedroom. She lived in a tiny one-bed apartment in central London and he guessed she didn’t have room for a home office. He became addicted to watching her through the camera, he loved to see her bite her lip as she looked at the screen whilst writing and sometimes when she forgot to close it he could watch her sleep.

Maddy never had anyone round to visit, male or female and certainly not at night. She spent most of her time either writing or reading in bed. There was no significant other in sight which was lucky as he would have been tempted to track them down and do something dangerous. If there was one thing the military had taught him it was that war meant death and he was prepared to go to war for Maddy.

Nolan started writing the emails because she seemed so alone. He heard her talking on the phone to her mum sometimes or her friend Sara but she never really went out to have fun. She was so beautiful and the more he watched her the more he needed a way to tell her how he felt, that she was his. He wanted a two-way connection, she spoke to him through her books so he would reply through his emails. Emails that he sent from an anonymous account, ‘[email protected]’.

Sending the emails became an obsession in itself, the anticipation would build as his finger hovered over the return key on his keyboard and when he hit send it turned him on, got him so hard. He’d wait until he could see her sitting at the laptop and watch her face in real time as she read them, touching himself at the thought of his filthy words settling into her mind. He’d describe in detail all of the things he wanted to do her or imagined her doing to him. It was like a compulsion, when he read the words in her books he felt like she was talking to him and he just wanted to write back to her, let her know that she drove him so wild sometimes that he couldn’t function.

Sometimes he also liked to send her little snippets about his day, what he did, what he was reading or cooking, he liked to do both and one time he even sent her a picture of his rescue mutt Milton. Maddy was the one he wanted to share these things with, he wanted her to know him and want him as a person.

At first, she looked a little worried and shocked when she received his ‘love letters’ but over time he saw her click into them, faster and faster, then noticed little smiles and blushes when she got a notification. His emails got steadily more and more detailed as his fantasies got out of control. He longed to tie Maddy up and watch her squirm to get away from him as he ate her pussy, he wanted to slap her perfect round ass when she was a brat and call her his good girl when she behaved. Nolan knew she’d love it as much as he did…

About seven months ago, the emails had really started to heat up, he was frustrated and just wanted more of his girl. He’d sat down to watch her open his latest when he noticed she was already looking flushed. He watched in disbelief as she opened the email, read his words and groaned. She got up and moved away from the camera, he heard a draw opening and when she returned she had something in her hand.

Fuck me! It was a huge pink vibrator! Nolan watched, biting his fist as she pulled her panties off and threw them to the floor, sitting back down in her chair. Maddy opened her legs wide and propped her feet up on the desk on either side of the laptop screen. He couldn’t believe it!

He unbuttoned his trousers and slid his hand into his boxers, pulling out his cock as the buzz of the vibrator filled the room. He watched as she pushed the thick gyrating toy into her pussy and he almost came straight away when he heard her moan, “Such a good girl.” She panted and moaned as she fucked herself, reading the words on the screen and inadvertently looking straight at him through the camera. He stroked himself in time with her hand and came far too quickly with a shout when she moaned, “God, I wish you could choke me.” He’d squeezed his eyes closed but they shot open when he heard her breathing pick up and he watched her finally fall apart with a cry.

That was the exact moment he decided he had to meet her, he wouldn’t be satisfied with staying behind a screen anymore and he’d do absolutely anything to make his dreams of being with Maddy a reality.

* * *

That brought him back to his plan for tonight… He shook the soapy suds from his hands as the rest of the servers walked back into the kitchen with the empty plates from dinner, followed by the stern-looking butler.

“Excuse me, Mr. Michaels, I just wanted to apologise for my clumsiness earlier, I really am sorry. Also, I just heard on the local radio that there’s a blizzard heading this way, they’re advising people to get home before it hits if they can.”

“Oh dear! That’s very unfortunate indeed! Tonight of all nights!

“We’d better get a move on then boy. Luckily all of the staff are locals and either walked or cycled from the village. Could you tell them to leave everything where it is and go home? I don’t want anyone missing time with their families on Christmas Day if we get snowed in.”

“Whilst you do that I’m going to go and phone the drivers due to pick up the guests in a couple of hours and ask that they set off early. I can handle drinks and any other requests myself and I have rooms in the house so I don’t need to leave. You need to take yourself off home too Mr Moore, no need to hang about!”

Nolan chuckled to himself, this was playing out very nicely indeed, the weather was single-handedly getting rid of half the potential witnesses in the house. He just needed to keep clear of Michaels and the guests until he’d done what he set out to do tonight.

As Michaels bustled out of the kitchen to find a phone he watched the chef and the other staff gather their things and set off into the snow. He hung back with the excuse that he’d left a bag in the cloakroom and then waited for the guests to head upstairs.

When he was sure the coast was clear he left his hiding spot and walked along the main hallway. As he passed a small room with a door ajar he overheard voices. Checking to make sure nobody was nearby he crept closer to the door and listened. That’s when he heard that vile piece of shit Daniel Scott threatening Maddy. She was upset, her eyes glittering with tears and her hands shaking. He desperately wanted to go in there and comfort her but she wouldn’t have to worry about Scott for long anyway.

Nolan stepped back into the shadows and observed as Scott wobbled out of the room and unsteadily made his way back to the parlour where they’d first had the cocktails. Maddy and her publicist left a few moments later and headed for the kitchen looking pale and anxious. He hated that a man as disgusting as Scott could make her feel that way, she deserved respect and sweetness and he was going to make sure she never had to deal with him again.

Just as he was about to go after Scott he spotted Sara stepping back out of the kitchen. She also disappeared into the parlour after her boss and although he literally pressed his head against the door he couldn’t hear what was going on. She left again about five minutes later, looking furious, went to the toilets opposite the kitchen and then rejoined Maddy.

Scott stumbled out of the room, fumbling with the door. When he spotted Nolan he raised a hand to call him over. To his utter delight, the man was clutching his stomach in obvious pain.

“Hey, where’s the old man? There’s something wrong with me and I need help. I don’t feel right, can’t seem to focus on anything and my stomach feels like it’s trying to crawl out of my mouth!”

“Oh shit! I mean, that’s awful sir,” Nolan said, trying not to smile.“Michaels is busy trying to sort out the transport issues due to the blizzard. Here, let me help you,” he said, grabbing Scott’s arm roughly. “Let’s get you somewhere comfortable for now and I’ll see if we can get you a doctor or something.” He began to lead the sick man who was now quietly moaning and sweating towards the study at the end of the hallway, taking care not to make any extra noise as they passed the kitchen.

When they reached the study he shoved Scott through the door, relishing the wounded grunt he exhaled when he tripped forward.

Griping his arm tightly Nolan led him over to the desk. “Let’s get you seated, right here.”

Scott lowered himself down carefully with a muted “Fuck, this isn’t the most comfortable place to sit.”

As he squirmed around in the chair Nolan stood still for a moment, taking in the sight before him. This was the culmination of all of his hard work. Everything he’d done had led him to this point and he just needed to savour it.

Scott was looking at him in confusion, probably trying to figure out why he was wearing such a manic grin.

“Now that you’re seated we need to talk,” Nolan said as he stalked towards the sorry specimen of a man who had started to look a little worried. “Doesn’t really matter if you’re comfortable or not or at least it won’t for very long. I’ve been watching you for a while, Mr. Scott. Ever since the night of the Bookseller’s Choice Awards, that’s what, six months ago? I heard the way you spoke to Madeleine Montgomery that night and I thought to myself, that man, right there, is on borrowed time.”

Scott shook his head in denial, “I don’t know what you think you heard but it was most definitely consensual, we’ve got a little thing going, Maddy and I, she loves it when I say dirty things to her. You should see what she writes, it’s utter filth.”

He felt his blood boil and then an icy chill settled over him. He calmed himself by stroking the knife he held in his pocket and stepped towards the trembling man who shrivelled at the rage on Nolan’s face.

“I don’t think so, I know Maddy, she’s mine, my girl. You’ve been pestering her, trying to get her to sleep with you. I heard you again tonight and I saw you put your hands on her.”

Before he knew what he was doing he was suddenly right in front of the desk, whipping the razor-sharp knife out of his pocket and slashing across the hands that had touched what belonged to him.

Scott was too addled with the mixture of alcohol and mistletoe poisoning to effectively move anywhere. He just sat there moaning while his hands bled. Nolan stepped back and looked at the mess, he’d never really enjoyed killing when he was in the military but maybe that was because he never killed anyone like Scott before. The blood was so red, he couldn’t take his eyes away as he watched it spread out and soak into the papers lying on the desk.

He hated to rush but he needed to hurry. The door was locked but the guests were wandering about and could start trying to come in at any moment, ‘looking for clues’.

“You deserve what I’m about to do you just for threatening my Maddy but I also know what you did to countless other women over the past twenty years. I’ve seen the photos and the videos. You raped Moira Walsh and she wasn’t the only one. Was she?” Nolan saw the moment Scott realised it was over and it excited him, he looked so scared, just like Maddy had earlier.

“You’re a disgusting…piece…of…filth!” He said, stabbing Dan with the knife at each word. Hot blood hit his face and dripped from the hand holding the knife as Scott raggedly breathed his last. Nolan stepped back from the desk, revelling in the utter carnage before him and quickly wiped his hand, face and the knife against his clothes. He waited a few minutes to be certain that Scott was actually dead before he exited the study and slipped into the nearby bathroom to wash and change his clothes.

Now, for the second part of his plan…