For the Good of the Family

Hungover

I was sitting at the kitchen table in my favorite pink nightgown and white satin robe when I heard crashing from upstairs. "Bonnie? Are you alright?" I set my tea cup down and made my way to the guest room. Finding my fiancé tangled in the sheets on the floor, I had to put a hand over my mouth to hold in my laughter. Finn and Isiah had actually tied him into bed. The corners were crossed in an X shape and tied tight, keeping his arms pinned to his torso. His knees and feet were free but that clearly had not saved him from falling to the floor.

"Olive?" Bonnie stopped struggling against his cotton prison, looking at me with confusion. "What are you doing here?"

"This is my house darling. You should be asking what you are doing here." I knelt down to untie him, making quick work of the knots. "You were drinking with Finn and Isiah last night, they spiked your beer with liquor. Evidently you were already drunk enough to not notice the difference. They brought you here to me when you passed out."

He sighed a quick thanks as I freed him from the sheet. He leaned back on his elbows staring at me. "Do you look this pretty every morning?"

I huffed a laugh at him. "Only Fridays I'm afraid. The rest of the week I'm quite sure I resemble a troll."

Bonnie's eyes were lighter in the morning light, though still some of the darkest eyes I'd ever seen. "I'm sure your version of a troll is prettier than any girls I've met before. You are very beautiful Olive."

I gave him a soft smile as I reached for his hands. "Let's get you up and ready for the day Darling. We are getting married tomorrow and there's still plenty of work to be done today." We stood holding each other's hands, my grip keeping him from swaying too hard. Once standing he leaned down to press his face into my neck.

"My fuckin' head is poundin." He groaned, nuzzling deeper against my pulse for just a moment. As he stood back to his full height he trailed his lips gently against my skin. "I need a bath, I smell like the fair."

I flashed him a crooked grin. "Worse in fact. Luckily for you I've already run a bath downstairs, you'll have to wear some of Arthur's clothes until yours are brought over later." I pulled on his hand, dropping the right but keeping ahold of his left hand I lead him downstairs to the little larder behind the kitchen. "Tommy had it renovated with water pipes, so the bath and toilets in here. The water comes out cold so I heated some up on the stove for you."

"An indoor bath? I don't think I've ever taken a bath inside. Always in the river or next to a campfire in the cold months." Bonnie looked around in curiosity, eyes still squinting from his headache. "Thank you Livy."

I pressed my hand to his lower back slightly pushing him into the room. "Get washed up. There's tea and toast on the table, I've got to be down at the seamstress's shop to pick up my dress. I'll be back some time this evening."

He lifted my right hand that was still in his grasp, gently pressing his lips to the back of it. "I'll see you tomorrow then?"

My eyes were laser focused on his mouth. Heat flushed across my cheeks. I had to swallow before I could speak. "Eager eh?"

"For you? I'm very eager." Blasted boy didn't even have the decency to blush. He shot me a happy grin and moved toward the bath in the center of the room.

I forced my gaze away from his pale back as he began undressing. I rushed to get away from him while I could still keep my hands to myself. I didn't have time to waste, our wedding is tomorrow!