Daddy's Precious Jewel (Claimed By Daddy Book 1)

by Polly Carter

Marcus laughed. “That’s true. I could never understand why both of us could see it, but she never could.” He solemnly placed his hand over his heart. “I have no objection whatsoever, brother. You have my blessing and I wish you every luck.” He paused, took a mouthful of his beer and said as casually as possible. “I have a date for Saturday anyway, a girl I’ve been seeing for a while. Pearl. Mother hasn’t met her yet and I doubt she is going to approve, but while it would obviously make life easier if she does, nothing she can say or do will change my mind.”

  This time, Ray’s eyebrows shot up his forehead as his eyes opened wide. “Do tell, Brother, do tell,” he said, nodding his head. “Pearl, eh? Sounds serious. I can’t wait to meet her. Right, then, let’s drink to Tina and Pearl.”

  Now it was Saturday night and Marcus was dressed and ready. He’d spent the last two days helping his mother organise. No matter how many times he’d told her he was not a party planner and they were rich enough to employ the best, Linda was adamant that the two of them would do the bulk of it. She wouldn’t admit it, but he remained convinced this was all a ploy on her part to keep him close to home and away from Pearl. His personal life was never discussed; it was as though Linda believed that if she ignored it, it wasn’t really happening. But it was, and tonight Linda was going to have to accept that Pearl was part of his life. He planned to speak to his Little girl first and, if she agreed, he would tell his mother that he was leaving the flat and moving in with Pearl. He couldn’t wait. He was sick of spending his nights alone, going days on end without seeing her, having to find opportunities to spend time with her, and of having to pretend at home that she didn’t exist. That was over. It ended tonight.

  Taking out his phone, he sent her a message. How far away are you, baby?

  Dave says 20 mins

  Okay. Can’t wait to see my precious little princess

  Me too. I’m so happy, Daddy. And my dress is so pretty.

  Marcus slipped his phone into his pocket and then slid his hand down his trousers to rearrange himself and ease the discomfort caused by his reaction to his conversation with Pearl. He groaned softly to himself as his hand closed over his partial erection. It had been days since he and Pearl had made love and he had such an ache it was tempting to quickly ease himself, but he resisted. If he didn’t go out soon, someone was bound to come and fetch him. Guests would be arriving, and his mother would expect him to be there to greet them, plus he needed to be able to see Dave’s car pull in so he would be right there to greet Pearl when she arrived.

  With one last look in the mirror, a check of his pockets to see he had all he needed, he let himself out of his door, locked it behind him, and made his way across the grass to join the party in the big house.

  Chapter 23

  Pearl

  Inside the limousine, Pearl could barely sit still. She’d called her mother who had reassured her everyone was doing splendidly; Lisa had set up a bed on the couch for Jack, and the three of them had opened a bottle of wine and were about to settle down to watch a movie. Pearl gathered from the conversation that Mary had taken quite a shine to Lisa and was enjoying having the company of a woman around her age, while her dad was lapping up the attention despite his frustration at being forced to rest. Mary insisted Pearl stop worrying about them, have a lovely time at the party and not hurry back in the morning.

  “All good?” Georgia enquired when Pearl ended the call. “Sounded like it. Lisa is an excellent nurse. She genuinely likes people. I guess that helps if you’re a nurse.” She pulled a wry face and Pearl’s excitement erupted into bubbly giggles.

  “Are you coming to the party, too?”

  “No,” Georgia said, shaking her head. “It’s been a long day. Lots of fun,” she added quickly with a smile, “but all I want to do is go home and put my feet up.”

  “Oh,” Pearl’s face dropped. “I won’t know anyone there. Except Marcus of course. Oh, and I think my boss, Marcie Jones, is going, but I don’t suppose she will want to talk to me.”

  “You’ll be fine.” Georgia patted her hand. “And Marcus will take good care of you.”

  “Yes. He will,” Pearl agreed with an excited but slightly anxious sigh.

  “Here we are, Miss,” Dave said as they passed through a pair of magnificent iron gates.

  “Oh my!” Pearl could scarcely believe her eyes as the brightly lit mansion came into view. Marcus had told her that his family was fabulously wealthy and she had been expecting a big house, but this! It was more like a palace than a house. Other guests were arriving, men in dinner suits or tuxedos, and ladies in fine gowns, high heels, and jewellery Pearl couldn’t take her eyes off and was dying to see up close. Unconsciously, her hand went again to her own bare neck.

  “Have a wonderful time, sweetie,” Georgia said as Dave opened the door and offered Pearl his hand to help her out.

  “Thank you, Georgia. Thank you so much,” Pearl said warmly. She picked up the old but adequate purse her mother had lent her for the night, took Dave’s hand and stepped out of the car carefully so as not to catch her dress. A moment of panic turned to joy as she saw Marcus threading his way through the other guests towards her.

  “Ah, there you are, baby, the belle of the ball. Wow! You look absolutely gorgeous,” he said, reaching her and draping an arm protectively around her shoulders and squeezing gently with his hand. “Thanks, Dave, for getting her here safe and sound.” He shook the driver’s hand, then opened the car door and bent down so he could see Georgia. “Thanks so much, Georgia. You’ve done an amazing job as always.”

  “Thanks, Marcus,” Georgia said with a laugh. “I enjoyed it. It was fun. And you’ve scrubbed up quite spectacularly yourself. Well, don’t just stand there you two. Go and enjoy yourselves. I’m going home.”

  “You are the most beautiful woman here,” Marcus whispered to Pearl after the others had gone and he’d removed all her lipstick with a thorough kissing. “In the country. In the world! Quick come with me before anyone sees us. I want you to myself for a moment. Can you walk on the grass in those heels?”

  Pearl tried and found she could, as he took her hand and led her to his flat.

  “Come in,” he said as he pushed the door open. “Welcome to my cubbyhole.”

  Pearl laughed at his deprecatingly incongruous description of the spacious, luxurious apartment. “It’s huge,” she gasped gazing around at the large living area the front entrance led into. “I thought my flat was big, but I think it’s tiny compared to this one. And you live here by yourself?”

  “Yes,” Marcus replied easily, following her eyes around the familiar room, which had been his home for the past few years. “But that’s not what I want to talk to you about, baby. Oh, come here, my precious girl. You’ve no idea how much I’ve missed you.”

  He pulled her into his arms and crushed her mouth with his. The effect on him was instantaneous, and she could feel his hard erection pressing against her. As his tongue pushed between her lips and invaded her mouth, his hand closed over a breast.

  “Damn!” he exclaimed, pulling away and running his hand over his hair in frustration. “That’s a beautiful dress, but it makes it damn hard to get to you.”

  “Shall I take it off?” Pearl asked simply, driven as much by her desire to serve and please him as by her own erotic arousal.

  “Ah, baby,” he growled, nuzzling into her neck. “I would love you to, but if I get you naked, I will want to keep you that way at least until morning, and Mother will send Ray to round us up if we don’t put in an appearance soon. No, we’d better wait, hard as that is. I’ve missed you so much.” And he kissed her again, groaning with desire.

  “I can kneel in this dress,” she said when he freed her mouth. She gently squeezed the bulge in his pants. “Let me kiss you here. Please, Daddy? I can make you feel better.”

  Marcus ran his hand agitatedly across his hair. “We shouldn’t, but, oh my God, how could any man resist such an offer?” He grinned at her, one finger tender
ly stroking her face. “You’re such a good girl, Pearl. Honestly, that isn’t the reason I brought you in here. I have something for you and something I want to ask you. But as you insist, here, come with me.”

  Taking her hand, he led her into his bedroom. “I have a present for you, my darling. I’ve been waiting for the right time to give it to you. Can you kneel in the dress? Here, I’ll give you a pillow.”

  He put a pillow on the floor, and Pearl pulled her dress up far enough to allow her to kneel comfortably without stretching it. She could feel some of the beads digging in, but it wasn’t too bad, and there was nothing she wouldn’t do for her Daddy. When she was ready, he opened a drawer by his bed and took out a small coloured bag, then squatted down next to her so his eyes were level with hers and gently touched her face.

  “I love you, little girl,” he said and her heart felt like it was about to burst at his first declaration of love.

  “I love you too, Daddy,” she replied without hesitating.

  “I have a special gift for you,” he went on. “If you wear it, it means you are mine, body and soul. You belong to me, forever. Is that what you want, baby? Say you do.”

  “I do, Daddy. I do. I want to be your Little girl and belong to you forever.” Her heart was pounding, her eyes were wide and brimming with tears of love and happiness.

  “Then wear this for me and be Daddy’s precious jewel.” Opening the bag he removed the diamond collar he’d bought from her the day they’d first met.

  “Oh!” Pearl was afraid she might faint, her head was spinning and her mind reeling as it struggled to believe what was happening.

  “The collar… but,” she blurted out, her eyes flicking between his eyes and the gorgeous jewel.

  He grinned at her surprise. “Yes, my darling. I bought it for you. Right from that very first moment, I knew I wanted to make you mine. That’s why I asked you to show me your favourite thing, and you showed me this. It couldn’t have been more perfect. And now I want to put it on you and claim you as my precious Little girl forever. Will you let me do that?”

  She nodded, too ecstatic to speak as he leaned forward and fastened the beautiful thing around her neck.

  “You’re mine now, my darling. All mine,” he said as he stood up, unzipped his trousers and released his throbbing erection.

  Raising her hands, Pearl wrapped them lovingly around it as she opened her mouth and used her tongue to tease the sensitive tip the way he liked before sliding her tongue along its length as she wrapped one hand around the base and squeezed while her other hand gently cupped between his thighs. Overflowing with love, she wanted to give him as much joy as he had given her. She couldn’t give him fancy jewels, but she could give him her heart and her life, and as much pleasure as he could take from her willing mouth. Opening wide, she guided him in as deep as he could thrust, and then as he pulled out she allowed her teeth to gently tease him before opening her mouth fully again as he pushed in. She could feel his urgency, partly desire and partly because he knew they couldn’t linger, so she used her lips, her tongue, her teeth, and her hands to help drive him on relentlessly until he growled deep in his throat, paused and shuddered. She felt him pulsing in her mouth as it filled with his seed and she swallowed hungrily, ignoring the bitterness, prepared to do anything for the man she loved.

  Sated for the moment, he helped her up and fixed his clothing. “You haven’t even seen your collar, yet,” he murmured against her neck as he showered her with tiny kisses. “Come and see.” He led her to a mirror and as she saw her reflection, her fingers automatically reached up to touch the lovely creation.

  “Oh, Daddy. It’s even more beautiful than I remembered.” She stared at the exquisite necklace, the diamonds sparkling against her pale skin, and pictured it in the display cabinet where she’d first admired it. Her eyes refocused on her image in the mirror, and a shadow crossed her face. Marcus saw, and immediately his face clouded with concern.

  “What is it, baby? Don’t you like it? Is it uncomfortable to wear?”

  She shook her head, and turned away from the mirror, the lightness of her heart from moments ago replaced with a dark foreboding. “No. It’s still the most beautiful jewel I’ve ever seen. It’s just… just… It’s just that it cost so much money. I’m not used to wearing expensive jewellery. I guess it feels a bit strange.”

  Marcus smiled at her. “Well, my precious little girl, don’t you worry about the expense; I told you, my family is obscenely wealthy and working hard to become even more so. Stop worrying, and have a glass of champagne with me. There’s something I want to ask you before we join the others, and I’m expecting a knock on the door at any moment.”

  Pearl followed him through to the living room where a bottle of Dom Perignon was chilling in an ice bucket. She watched as he expertly popped the cork and poured her a small glass of the exquisite bubbles. Unlike the sparkles in her glass, however, she was feeling suddenly flat. She forced herself to smile, but her parted lips hid an anxiety she could neither name nor identify the source from which it had sprung. Such a short time ago she’d been so excited about this evening, sure it was going to be the most magical ever, but now she couldn’t suppress a feeling that something somewhere, as yet unnamed and unknown, was wrong, dreadfully wrong. Unaware, Marcus was looking at her seriously as he raised his glass. “To us,” he said.

  “To us,” she murmured, allowing him to clink her glass and then taking a small sip as he raised his own glass to his lips.

  “Precious girl, there’s something I want to talk to you about, to ask you. You can’t have any doubts about how I feel about you…”

  Pearl’s hands grew damp, her heart beat fast and her chest tightened. What was coming next? What was he going to say to her so seriously with champagne and diamonds? And what was wrong with her? She had everything she could ever want. But what could Marcus be going to say that was so important? Did it involve Tina? She didn’t believe he was going to announce his engagement to another woman tonight. Maybe he was going to propose to her. Of course she’d dreamt of his asking her to be his wife, almost from the first moment she’d met him. Why was that thought suddenly filling her with panic? It must be because the day had already been so crazy; she’d barely got used to Dave, Lisa and Georgia arriving so unexpectedly at the farm, transforming her into a high-society party girl, and whisking her off to Marcus’s mother’s mansion. She needed time to gather her thoughts. That was all.

  Cutting him off mid-sentence, she pretended not to have realised what he was trying to do.

  “Mmm, this champagne is yummy,” she cried, faking gaiety, and drinking it in one gulp. She put her glass down, picked up her bag and went to the front door.

  “Come on, Daddy,” she called. “Can’t we talk later? Please? We’re missing the party. I want to see inside your mansion, and meet your family, and see all the ladies dresses and jewellery. And eat. I’m starving. I think I’m going to faint if I don’t eat something right this minute.” She leaned against the door, closed her eyes and draped one hand across them while clutching her belly with the other.

  Marcus laughed. “All right. Let’s get you some food, and we can talk while you eat. I don’t want you fainting on me. Here, let me fix your hair and lipstick. You’re looking delightfully dishevelled and wanton. Here give me your bag. I presume Georgia provided you with a repair kit.”

  Pearl stood still while he pinned a few stray strands of hair up and then posed her mouth for him while he applied her lipstick. Once he was satisfied, she took the hand he held out to her and they set off across the grass to the party. As they approached the house and she could hear the music and laughter, she was very conscious of the weight of diamonds around her neck and the weight of dread in her stomach as she prepared to be exposed as Marcus’s secret girlfriend. A nasty foreboding told her it was not going to go well. She clutched Marcus’s hand tightly and prayed she was wrong.

  Chapter 24

  Marcus

  As he
led Pearl toward his mother’s house, Marcus was absentmindedly chewing his lip. He was frustrated, not sexually for the moment, his precious Pearl had seen to that, but as sexy and luscious as that had been, the rest had not gone to plan. He’d dreamed many times of fastening that diamond collar around her neck, and in his fantasies Pearl had always been naked. That she hadn’t been tonight when he had finally placed it around her neck was a disappointment, but a small one and one he’d decided he could live with. Things aren’t always perfect, after all, and he wanted to mark her as his and get things settled between them before he introduced her to his family.

  It hadn’t felt right to propose marriage tonight, although he would happily marry her tomorrow. He didn’t want a rushed proposal before his mother’s party. When he did propose to his precious Pearl, he intended making it the most romantic night she could imagine, so he’d decided tonight, in the meantime, to put the collar on her and ask her if she would be his Little girl, body and soul, forever instead. And that part had seemed to go exactly as he’d hoped. She’d promised to be his, and he’d seen the emotional tears welling in her eyes and had had to fight to control his own tears of joy.

  And then, his darling Little had sealed her promise by giving him her mouth for his pleasure. And what a pleasure it was! She had practised following his gentle instructions, and knew exactly how to give him the most enjoyment and satisfaction, and how to take it slowly if they had plenty of time, and how to make it faster if, like tonight, they didn’t. He felt a new stirring in his groin, and grunted inaudibly and wryly to himself. There was no denying the physical effect she had on him. He simply could not get enough of her, and if he thought he could get away with it without the possibility of having his door virtually broken down by demands to join the party, he’d whisk her straight to his apartment and take her to bed and stay there. Let the party go hang; it wasn’t really necessary for him to be there. It was, after all, Ray’s party, not his.