“I don’t mind driving her home, sir,” he said quickly.
“It’s late,” Barry said with a dismissive gesture. “Saves you from going over the bridge only to come back again.”
Jarryd glanced at Marilyn, who was frowning at her dad. She wasn’t happy either, but she was staying quiet.
He felt like saying that he and Marilyn were mature adults who didn’t need their parents chauffeuring them around, but he decided to follow Marilyn’s lead and not argue further.
Was Barry trying to ensure that Jarryd didn’t get any more time with Marilyn tonight? Jarryd hoped he was mistaken in his assumption that Barry didn’t like him. It wasn’t anything Marilyn’s dad had said, but a vibe the man had been exuding.
Barry finished paying for their dinner and they all walked out of the restaurant. The Grants’ Bentley was hard to miss, parked in a spot marked Authorised Vehicles Only. They stopped beside it.
“Well, it was a lovely dinner, wasn’t it?” Alice said.
“It was,” Jarryd answered. “Thank you both for the meal, and for joining us.”
“You’re welcome, Jarryd. We hope to see you again soon.” Alice kissed him goodbye.
Barry shook his hand, but the man had an inscrutable expression. He really couldn’t tell what Barry Grant thought of him.
“I’ll just walk Jarryd to his car,” Marilyn said to her parents.
“Okay, darling,” Alice said, whispering something to her daughter before getting inside their vehicle.
“Do you think your dad likes me?” Jarryd asked Marilyn in a low voice as they strolled a few metres to where they’d parked earlier.
“Yes,” Marilyn said. “Otherwise he would have given you the silent treatment. In fact, I’d say he was impressed with the way you answered all of his questions tonight.”
“Really? But why doesn’t he want me to take you home?”
“Dad’s kind of... overprotective,” Marilyn said with hesitation. “That’s why I’m going home with them, so I can tell him what he wants to know about you. That’ll stop him from...”
He glanced at her. Marilyn was clearly embarrassed. “From what?”
“Googling you or asking other people about you.”
“Really? He’ll do that?”
Marilyn sighed, facing him as they reached his car. “Three years ago, I dated a guy who got a managerial job at one of Grant Ace’s competitors. Dad plays golf with someone who used to be a board member there and he informed Dad that my then-boyfriend had relayed sensitive information about Grant Ace to his bosses. Turned out that the bastard I was going out with had overheard my parents and me talking about this deal. Grant Ace lost out because of what that loser did.”
“You’re kidding,” he said in disbelief.
“Dad was apoplectic and I felt extremely betrayed. After that, I kind of stopped dating seriously. That was why Mum was happy to meet you—because she hated that I’d let that one event affect me so much. As for Dad... well, I just need to convince him what a nice, trustworthy guy you are,” she said with a smile.
Jarryd caressed Marilyn’s cheek. How he wanted to punch the fucker who’d dared hurt her like that!
And he also forcefully pushed away the guilt that pinched him.
He wasn’t like Marilyn’s ex. He had no intention whatsoever of betraying her trust. He just needed to keep a few things from her for the time being—things that had nothing to do with her, her parents or their companies. No need for him to feel guilty, right?
“Hey, I’m okay now,” Marilyn said, circling her arms around his neck. “That was three years ago.”
He smiled and placed his hands on her waist. He would have pulled her flush against him, but he bet her parents were watching. God, he wanted so badly to spend the night with her. “Can I see you tomorrow?”
She shook her head. “I have meetings tomorrow for some charity work. How about Tuesday or Wednesday night? I’m free then.”
“Yes, but I can only meet you for short lunches during the weekdays. I have a project that’s running well behind schedule and my staff and I will be working overtime all week. What about next Saturday?”
“I’ll be at Mum and Dad’s for dinner then. They want to discuss business. Actually, Mum wants me to take you along,” Marilyn said with a laugh. “As if you’d want to spend more time with them so soon after Dad’s incessant questioning tonight.”
Jarryd shrugged. “He couldn’t have many more questions to ask, could he? Especially after you fill him in on your way home?”
Marilyn cocked her head. “Are you saying you want to go with me to my parents’ for dinner on Saturday?”
He stared at Marilyn. They seemed to be careering again like they did before, like they had no idea how to take things slow. But did he really care? If they hadn’t broken up two months ago, they probably would be in this exact situation right now anyway—him meeting her parents. “Would your dad mind if I do go?”
“I don’t think so, especially since he’ll have that time to grill you even more. He’ll definitely think we’re serious.”
“Would you mind if they think we’re serious?”
“We’re going very fast, aren’t we?” she murmured.
“I know, but I can’t help it. I don’t want to scare you off, though, so I’ll back off a bit if you want me to.”
A smile played on Marilyn’s face, then she shook her head. “I’m happy to go with the flow if you are.”
His chest expanded. “Can I kiss you right now? With your parents watching?”
Marilyn laughed and pulled his head down to hers for a quick kiss on the lips. “Why don’t you come to my place for lunch on Saturday?” she murmured. “We can spend all afternoon together before going to my parents’ for dinner.”
“Great idea.” He gave her another peck, then watched her walk back to her parents’ car. He couldn’t wait for next Saturday to come.
*****
Jarryd’s breath left him when Marilyn opened her door. She was wearing a pair of very short denim shorts and a nude-coloured tank top—sans bra. He banged the door shut, pulled her against him and went straight for her mouth.
Marilyn giggled. “Hello to you too.”
“We have lots of catching up to do,” he said, running his hands down her back and resting them on her tush. “Those one-hour lunches and late-night phone calls were nowhere near enough. I couldn’t touch you like this then.”
“I’m right in the middle of preparing our lunch,” Marilyn said breathlessly.
“We don’t need food. We have each other.”
Marilyn laughed out loud as she untangled herself from him and led him towards the kitchen. “We need energy for what you have in mind.”
“What are we having?”
“Hamburgers and salad.” Marilyn went to the kitchen counter and tossed the ingredients that were in a big bowl. “Just about finished with this, then I’ll grill the burgers.”
He snaked his arms around her waist and nuzzled her cheek. “Have I told you I haven’t had much sleep at all this past week? Kept thinking of you.”
“Yes, you’ve told me,” she said with a smile in her voice.
“I couldn’t stop thinking about what would have happened if your parents hadn’t crashed our date last week.”
“You haven’t told me exactly what you thought might have happened if they hadn’t turned up at the restaurant.”
He sucked in a breath. His cock had already been hard in the car on his way here from all the images that kept playing in his head. He pressed himself against her back so she could feel his hard-on.
Marilyn inhaled sharply and stopped what she was doing. Then she turned around and curved her arms around his neck.
Jarryd grinned, pinning her against the benchtop with his body. “If they hadn’t arrived, we would have played footsie while finishing our dinner,” he said, grinding his crotch against hers.
Marilyn half-gasped and half-chuckled.
“We wouldn’t have had d
essert, because we would have been in a hurry to get home. In fact, we would have started making out in the car.”
“Really?” Marilyn asked, rubbing her leg against his.
“Oh, yeah. And I wouldn’t have been able to help doing this while I kissed you.” He thumbed her nipple while he plunged his tongue into her sweet mouth.
Marilyn raked her fingers through his hair, kissing him back with equal fervour.
“And,” he grunted breathlessly after a long moment, “we would have sped home before we totally lost all control in the car park.”
“And once we got here, we would have stumbled out of the car and walked through that door,” Marilyn said against his lips, pointing to the exit to her garage.
“Uh-huh.” He didn’t bother telling her that since they’d driven his car last night, they would have had to enter via her front door. No way he’d spoil their game with trivial facts when Marilyn was enjoying it as much as he was.
“Then we would have ended up right here,” Marilyn continued, undoing his fly. “And we would have stripped each other’s clothes off.”
“Ah, well, that’s not the next step I’d imagined,” he said, hiding his grin by kissing her shoulder.
“It wasn’t?”
“No. See, what I would have done next was this.” He lifted her and sat her on a clean spot on her long countertop. Then, staring at her heatedly, he spread her legs and stood in between them.
“Oh. And then what?” Marilyn asked, her breathing shallow.
He took her tank top off her.
“And?” she mouthed.
He started with her lips, kissing them softly yet insistently before travelling to her neck and throat. Then he left a trail of soft kisses down her chest, enjoying the feel of her heated skin with his lips. Her nipples were already hard and he licked one of them, rolling his tongue around it.
“Jarryd,” Marilyn whispered, arching her back to him.
“I imagined savouring every part of your body first,” he murmured, closing his mouth on the other pebbled peak and suckling.
Marilyn wrapped both her legs around his waist, pulling her to him as she inched her bottom closer to the edge of the counter. Her mound nestled against his erection, making him groan out loud. Now, this was better than he’d imagined. But he wasn’t ready to lose control yet.
“These are sexy,” he said, undoing the button of her shorts. “But they’re sexier on the floor.”
“Yes, take them off,” Marilyn said impatiently, lifting her bum so he could pull her clothing down her legs.
“Can’t wait, baby?” He ran teasing fingers along her inner thigh.
Marilyn grabbed his shirt to pull him close. “Of course I can,” she breathed, kissing him passionately while her groin sought contact with the bulge in his pants. “I’m just thinking of you. I don’t want you to have blue balls.”
He chuckled. “Aw, how sweet of you, honey. There I was thinking you’d like me to pay attention to this first.” He put his hand between their bodies and groaned when he reached her soaked entrance. He wet his finger with her juices before using it to rub her clit.
Marilyn moaned, throwing her head back.
His dick jerked. There was nothing like his Marilyn looking so damned hot and horny to heighten his arousal. Eager to please her further, he bent down and replaced his fingers with his tongue. Ah, he loved pleasuring her like this, loved tasting the part of her that would give him sheer ecstasy very soon.
He felt Marilyn’s hand caressing his head. He looked up and found her looking at him with half-closed eyes, breathing through her mouth.
“I missed you,” she said, giving him a sweet, lustful smile.
That did it. He needed to be inside her. Now.
CHAPTER SIX
Marilyn felt bereft when Jarryd abruptly stood up and got out of his clothes.
Biting back a smile, she jumped down from the counter. She was more than ready for him, but she wanted to drive him a little crazier like he’d done to her.
“Hey, get back up there,” Jarryd said, pulling out a condom from the pocket of his denims.
“You can’t have all the fun.” She grasped his erection as she kissed his neck.
Jarryd inhaled sharply.
Staring into his eyes, she caressed his lips with a finger before she kissed and licked her way down his muscular torso. Oh, how she’d missed this body. Unable to wait any longer, she kneeled and ran her tongue slowly along his engorged length.
“Babe,” Jarryd said in a gasp, which became a grunt when she put him in her mouth. “I love this, but I’m dying to be inside you, sweetheart.”
She smiled, ignoring his half-hearted protest. A few more sucks and tugs should have him begging—
“Baby, now, please,” Jarryd said.
“Please, what?” she asked with a grin.
Jarryd hauled her up onto the counter and hurriedly put on the condom. Then he was back standing between her parted legs.
“This,” he said, stroking her nub with the head of his erection before pushing into her waiting core.
“Ahh,” she gasped, leaning back and propping up her body with her elbows. Oh, he was hitting that spot inside which focused her attention solely on the pleasure evoked by his hardness going in and out of her. It was just as good as she remembered. No one had ever aroused her or given her pleasure like Jarryd could.
Moans bubbled out of her throat, unbidden.
“So good. So fucking good,” Jarryd mumbled through gritted teeth, his breathing laboured. “You have no idea how much I missed this.”
“Yes... more...” Marilyn said mindlessly, tightening her legs around him.
Jarryd hissed, driving into her faster. “You want this too?” He placed his thumb on her clit and rubbed in circles while he tirelessly thrust into her over and over.
She keened, lost to everything but the sensations Jarryd was expertly stimulating. When Jarryd leaned down to suck on her nipple also, she cried out, her body convulsing in an intense orgasm that went on and on.
“Fuck... yes... keep squeezing me...” Jarryd said almost incoherently. His hips pumped harder. Faster. Out of control. Triggering another orgasm that had her gasping for air.
Then Jarryd yelled as he erupted inside her. Loud and long.
It took a few moments before she was able to move and throw her arms around Jarryd’s neck. She rested herself on his frame, feeling like the usual blissful boneless mass she often became after they made love.
“That was incredible,” Jarryd said against her hair, holding her tight.
“And you wonder why I never believed you when you said we had no spark,” she quipped.
Jarryd laughed. “What time do we need to be at your parents’ tonight?”
“Six thirty.”
“Good. Because I need to be shown again and again how wrong I was to have said those words. How about you teach me my lesson in your bedroom and the shower?”
She lifted her head from his shoulder to grin at him. “I need lunch first. I missed breakfast.”
Jarryd kissed her nose. “Then let me grill those burgers right now so we can eat. Then I’m carrying you to your bedroom afterwards.”
“Okay.” She’d love to see Jarryd cook naked. That would definitely whet her appetite for more.
*****
Marilyn stretched in the passenger seat, feeling languid, as Jarryd parked his car outside her parents’ house. She would have loved a nap after hours of passionate lovemaking, but she was also excited about taking Jarryd to her parents’ home. He’d be the first date she’d taken there in three years.
“You’re so beautiful,” Jarryd said as he turned off the engine. “I love that look of sexual afterglow on you.”
She gasped, sitting up straight. “I don’t want to look like that in front of my parents.”
Jarryd grinned. “I don’t know if you can help it.”
While she knew that Jarryd was only teasing, she still brought the sun visor do
wn to check herself on its small mirror. Considering that she’d climaxed a number of times in one afternoon, she wouldn’t be surprised if she did have “sexual afterglow” painted all over her face.
“I’m sure they won’t notice,” Jarryd said with a chuckle as he got out of the car, then came around to open her door for her.
“Are you nervous about tonight? Being on Mum and Dad’s turf?” she asked as she got out.
“Nah. As long as your dad doesn’t point a shotgun at me for putting that I-had-multiple-orgasms-today look on your face, I’ll be fine.”
She pushed him away playfully, and Jarryd wrapped his arms around her, chuckling as he kissed her forehead. Then he retrieved the hazelnut mousse cake from the portable cooler in the boot of the car—bought from her dad’s favourite patisserie.
Sighing in contentment, she took his hand as they made their way to the front door of her parents’ Federation-style mansion.
Funny how she was so relaxed about this dinner. The last guy she’d brought here was that moron who’d betrayed her. But she trusted Jarryd. And she’d been impressed with him at the restaurant last week. He hadn’t fawned over her folks and neither had he acted like someone with a chip on his shoulder who expected her parents to look down on him.
He’d been great. Absolutely wonderful. She wasn’t even worried anymore that there were things he wasn’t ready to share with her. At least he’d been upfront about having to keep certain things to himself.
Marilyn pressed the security intercom and her dad opened the door after a short wait.
“Hi, Dad,” she said, kissing him on the cheek. She hid a smile, surprised at seeing him wearing a colourful apron dotted with different types of flowers. Her father was one of the hardest-working people she knew, but he would rather eat out or bring in a private chef than work in the kitchen. She wondered how her mother had succeeded in getting him to help cook tonight.
“Hello, darling,” Barry said, hugging her before shaking hands with Jarryd.
“Thank you for having me here tonight, sir,” Jarryd said.
“Pleasure,” Barry said in a clipped tone, eyeing the box Jarryd was carrying.
“Yes, it’s your favourite,” Marilyn said, flashing him a please-be-nice-to-Jarryd smile.
The Unknown Billionaire (Captured by Love Book 6) Page 5
