by Lila Fox
Darian just nodded and led Larkin to a chair at the small table in the kitchen. He got two glasses of juice. “Do you want coffee?’ he asked as he set her drink down in front of her.
Her face scrunched up in a grimace. “No, thank you. I don’t like the taste.”
Darian grabbed a cup for himself and sat next to her.
She looked toward Ella. “Can I help you with anything?”
“No, hun. But thank you.”
Larkin took a drink of her juice and looked out windows at the bright sunshine. He saw a smile spread across her face. “Is that a lake I see?”
Darian nodded. “Yes. We also have a pool, an orchard, stables, crops…”
“Oh, my. That’s a lot.”
“We have over a thousand acres here.”
Larkin’s mouth dropped open and her eyes widened in shock. “How do you take care of it all?”
“We have a lot of help. I think we have thirty full-time people on staff, don’t we, Ella?”
“Yes, we do, and we need every one of them,” she replied and set two plates down in front of them.
Larkin looked down. “This looks so good.”
“It is,” Darian said. “Eat.”
Larkin rolled her eyes and dug in. She made it through half of her toast and most of her bacon. “That was wonderful. Thank you, Ella.”
Ella grinned at her as she stood at the kitchen sink. “You’re welcome, child.”
Darian stood, grabbed both plates, and took them to the sink. Larkin followed behind him with their glasses.
“The cooler is over by the door,” said Ella.
“Thank you.”
Larkin looked at the medium-sized cooler sitting on a table. “What’s that for?”
“It’s our lunch.”
He grinned when she bounced up on her tiptoes a few times, clapped, and grinned.
“We’re going on a picnic?”
“Yes, we are.”
“I’ve never been to a picnic.”
Darian and Ella shared a look.
“This will be the first of many.”
Larkin wrapped her arms around him. “I love the idea.”
“Well, let’s go. I want to show you around.”
Chapter Ten
Darian set the cooler and blanket he’d grabbed in the back of the small four-wheeled vehicle called a Gator that the employees drove around the large acreage.
He made sure Larkin’s seatbelt was snapped and tightened. He started the small vehicle and drove across his land, smiling at her when she squealed. “Have you ever ridden in one of these before?”
Larkin grinned and shook her head. “No, never. It’s fun.”
“Would you like to drive it?”
She shook her head. “I don’t have a driver’s license.”
“Do you want one?”
Larkin bit her lip and glanced at him. “No, not really. I’m afraid to drive. I get distracted easily.”
He reached for her hand and squeezed. “That’s fine by me. I’d worry about you all the time if you drove, so either me or Hicks will drive you where you need to go.”
“I can take the bus. That’s what I usually do, and I’m getting pretty good at it.”
Darian slowed to a stop and turned to her. The way she said it worried him. “What do you mean, getting?”
“I still get lost, but not like I used to.”
He gritted his teeth. “Never again, sweetheart. You will never ride a bus again.”
“You can’t do that. I have to have a way to work, the store, and my friends.”
Darian’s lips thinned. “We have a lot to talk about. Let’s finish the tour and then we’ll have our picnic down by the lake. There’s a gazebo down there that’s very comfortable.”
He pulled up to the stables and got off the Gator. Then he came around to her side, unsnapped Larkin, and took her hand. “Have you ever petted a horse before?”
She shook her head. “I’ve always lived in the city. The only horses I’ve seen are the policemen’s, and they are so big, they scare me.”
“I’ll introduce you to a sweet mare. I think you two will hit it off.”
“You really think she’ll like me?” Larkin asked.
Darian cupped her face in his hands. “I can’t see anyone not liking you. You’re incredibly sweet.”
“I don’t think a lot of people know what to think about me. I’ve been called weird, a loser, a baby, and retar—”
“Don’t say that word again,” he advised her gruffly. “Not only is it extremely politically incorrect, I really dislike it, and it doesn’t pertain to you at all. You’re a bright, beautiful young woman who will enjoy putting herself into my hands to take care of.”
She looked up at him in shock. “What do you get in return?”
Darian opened his mouth to answer when the stable master interrupted them. “We’ll talk about this later. Come here and meet Chancy. He takes care of the stables and all the horses.”
As they approached, he said, “Chancy, this is Larkin. You’re going to see her around a lot. Is Daisy available to pet?”
Chancy nodded. “Yes, sir. She’s in the paddock.”
“I’ll call her. Thank you, Chancy.”
Chancy nodded and left.
Chapter Eleven
Darian took her around the place, stopping and showing her different parts she showed an interest to the most.
“This is beautiful,” she said, sliding out of the Gator. She scanned the calm surface of the lake, crossed her arms over her midsection, and hugged her waist. She couldn’t remember seeing any place like that before.
He walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. “It’s one of my favorite places. I always came here to think when I was a child. Heck, I still do.”
“It’s so peaceful,” she murmured, afraid to break the moment.
He pressed a kiss to her head. “Let’s eat.”
Larkin followed him to a gazebo. “I could live here,” she commented. The outside of the structure was made of beautiful wood. The majority of the space was closed off with only one large opening and a window across from it. Inside, there was a small table and two chairs, and then some kind of padded, double lounger like you’d see on a beach, but she’d never seen one so big.
She sighed and looked around to see Darian was setting up the picnic on the table.
“I can help.”
He shook his head. “No, baby. Just sit.”
She’d hadn’t thought she was hungry until the delicious-looking food was taken out of the basket. Grapes, crackers, cheese, olives, and for dessert, small little square cakes. Darian pulled out a bottle of wine and poured them a glass.
“I’m not sure about the wine,” she said.
“I know, you’re only having one glass. She put bottled water in the basket, also.”
Larkin picked up the glass and took a sip. “Mmmm, this is really good.”
He sat across from her and started eating.
She started in on the cheese and crackers. “All of it is really good.”
“You have to eat more if you’re going to drink that whole glass.”
“Okay.”
Several minutes went by in silence. When they finished, he packed the leftovers away and grabbed the blanket he’d had in the back of the Gator. He held out his hand to her. “Come here, baby. I want to cuddle with you.”
She stared up at him with wide eyes but took his hand.
He pulled her over to the lounge. “Sit. I’m going to lower the top a bit, so we’re not sitting up so far.”
After he adjusted the back of the seat, he lay down and then pulled her against him until her head was on his shoulder. Then he spread the lightweight blanket over them.
Larkin sighed and laid her hand on his chest. “This is nice.”
He chuckled. “Yeah, it is.”
They were quiet for a few minutes.
“I want to talk to you,” he said.
Larkin
stiffened and looked up at him. “Okay.”
“First, tell me about your dreams or how you see your future.”
A frown puckered her brow. She and Brylee had talked about their futures, but all they wanted to do was be together. They also talked about moving away to a smaller town. She decided to talk about the near future and the plans she’d started to make recently.
“Well, I haven’t thought that far ahead. I was going to talk to Brylee. I have a roommate who hates me for some reason, and so living with her is uncomfortable.”
“Why does she hate you?”
“Monica said she’s jealous, but I’m not sure that’s it. She’s fine with the other two, just not with me.”
“Okay, go on,” he encouraged.
“I was going to ask Brylee if she thought I could get a job as a waitress at the strip joint, and then we’d move in togeth—”
“What?” he barked and tightened his arms when she flinched. “I’m sorry. I just didn’t expect that. I don’t like even the thought of that.”
She looked up at his expression and shivered. If the look on his face was any indication, he hated the thought with a passion. “Listen, it pays good money, and I’d be with Brylee…”
“Larkin, wait.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Okay, I’m just going to come out with it.” He took a breath. “I want you to quit your job and move in with me and let me take care of you.”
“Like a daddy, like what you talked about?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, wow.” Larkin relaxed back against him as her thoughts scattered, leaving her unable to say anything at that moment. “What happens when you get sick of me?” she asked.
“I won’t.”
“You don’t know that.”
He nodded. “Yes, I can. You’re everything I’ve ever wanted. I’ll do anything to make you happy, so you’ll stay.”
“What if I irritate you?”
“I’ll just spank your ass.”
Her body jolted.
He chuckled.
“What about Brylee? Would I be able to see her?”
“As much as you want. She can even have her own room here for when she visits.”
“What about all my stuff?”
“I’d have movers go and pack it up and bring it here.”
“What about the rent? They needed all four of us to afford the place. If I leave without a subletter, they would be mad.”
“How long before your lease is up?”
“Just two months. That’s when I was planning on moving in with Brylee.”
“I can take care of your rent.”
She shook her head. “No, that’s not right…”
“Yes, it is. I’m changing your whole life. I want to make it as easy on you as possible. Besides, I can more than afford it.”
Larkin lay against him, speechless for a moment. “I don’t know what to say.”
He cupped her cheek. “Say yes.”
She studied him, looking for something, but all she could see was a man who cared about her. Something she had never had. “Yes.”
“You won’t regret it, baby. I promise.”
She mewed when he bent and pressed his lips against her. He thrust his tongue in. God, the man could kiss. She could spend hours just doing that. She hoped she’d have many more chances.
“Baby, I’m going to make love to you unless you say no.”
A delicious shiver raced up her spine. “I won’t say no.”
He dipped his head and kissed her for several minutes before he sat up and started taking off her clothes.
She looked around anxiously. “What if someone sees us?”
“They know to stay away when I’m down here. This is one of my favorite places in the world, so they don’t take what little peace I get being here.”
She relaxed a bit. “Okay.”
When she was naked, he stood and took off his clothes. Her gaze flew over his beautiful body. He had the perfect male body, his skin a light tan. He was muscular without looking like a bodybuilder. A patch of hair covered the middle of his chest and another surrounded his cock.
She inhaled when her gaze fell on his penis. It was large. Much larger than she thought she could handle. “I…”
He cupped her face. “Don’t worry. We’ll fit together just fine.”
“Remember, I’m a virgin,” she reminded him.
“I know that, baby. I promise to make this first time good.”
She nodded and let him lay her back down on the cushion. He started kissing her again, but this time with a hunger he hadn’t shown before that made her desire kick up a notch. She clutched his shoulder to steady herself as he ate at her mouth.
Larkin’s tongue dueled with his before she sucked his into her mouth without thinking. The groan that tore from him startled her at first until she realized he liked it, and she did it again.
He lifted his head and started moving down. Licking and kissing at all the parts of her he could reach. Her back arched off the lounger when he sucked vigorously on one of her nipples.
“Oh, God,” she whimpered in pleasure and spread her fingers through his hair to hold him to her.
He chuckled and continued downward. She jolted when he nudged her legs apart to make space for himself between her thighs.
“Wait. What are you doing?” she asked and tried to pull him back up.
Darian lifted his head. “I’m going to taste you.”
“I don’t think I’ll like the … oh!” She screamed when his tongue swiped through her pussy lips and pressed on her clit.
Darian grinned as he licked his lips. “So, you don’t like it?”
She nodded and tried to pull his head back to her cunt. “Yes, daddy. I like it when you lick me.”
Darian speared first one and then two fingers into her, stretching her and taking her passion higher. He did this and ate at her for a few more minutes before he slipped up her body. He snatched the condom lying by her head and rolled it on.
His hand slid between them so he could line up his cock to her opening. She wrapped her hands around his biceps and stared into his eyes. He smoothed the hair from her face. “I’m going to take such good care of you.”
She nodded, unable to say anything.
“This first time will be uncomfortable, but I want you to hold tight to me and be a big girl. After I’m in, I’ll make you feel so good you’ll beg me to fuck you every day.”
Larkin nervously licked her lips and nodded again. Her eyes started to close as he pushed into her. She felt him stop and then with a firm thrust, he broke through her hymen, making her cry out. Tears ran down her temples as she tried to adjust to his invasion.
Darian kissed her forehead and then her lips. “Shh, baby. It’s all over. You won’t ever feel that way again. I promise.”
She exhaled shakily and relaxed under him.
“Is the pain gone?” he asked.
Larkin moved her hips, making him groan. “It’s gone, daddy.”
He kissed her passionately again. “I am so proud of you.”
Larkin smiled.
“Now, let me make you feel good.”
She nodded. “Okay.”
****
Darian started slowly moving in and out of her. Letting her get used to him for a bit. He knew he didn’t have much patience left before he came, so he increased his thrusts, steadily making them harder and faster when he felt her start to shake with an impending orgasm.
She tightened around him painfully.
“I need you to come, baby. Come for daddy.”
A low moan started to build in her throat. It got louder until it turned into a scream.
He rode her through it before he took his own pleasure. His breath billowed in and out of his chest. He sucked in air and willed strength back into his limbs so he could move off her before he crushed her.
Darian pulled out of her, moved to her side, and gathered her in his arms. He listened to her heavy breathing eve
n out and knew she’d fallen asleep.
He kissed her forehead. “I’m never letting you go,” he murmured to himself. He’d finally found the woman who fit him, and he’d move heaven and earth to keep her with him.
Chapter Twelve
Larkin lay on one of the sofas in the media room on Darian’s country estate. “I can’t wait for you to come see me. Darian said you could come next weekend.”
“I’m excited, too,” Brylee said. “I miss you.”
“I miss you, too. How’s work going?”
“It’s the same. I make good money, but I really hate it when the men touch me.”
“Have you looked for another job?”
Brylee sighed. “Yeah, a few, but I haven’t found anything that will make me as much money as I do at the strip joint. I’ve looked into moving to a smaller town where rent isn’t as expensive, but the jobs are scarce, and I’d still need a roommate, and where would I find that?”
That had always been what they talked about doing together. “I’m sorry. I wish I were there. We could figure something out together.”
“I don’t want you to worry about me,” Brylee said. “I’m fine where I’m at. The manager has bouncers walking around the room all night to watch over us, so I’m safe.”
“Just be careful.”
“I always am.” Brylee giggled. “Tell me more about Darian.”
“He’s really handsome and sweet, and he takes really good care of me.”
“It’s like that movie we saw. The one where there’s a knight in shining armor that rescues the maiden and takes her off to his castle.”
Larkin giggled. “It does, in a way. Doesn’t it? He’s certainly my prince.”
“Larkin,” Darian called from the doorway. “The guys will be here in about an hour. You might want to go get ready.”
Larkin grinned and waved at Darian. “Okay, daddy. I’ll say goodbye.”
Darian nodded. “Tell Brylee I’m excited to meet her next weekend.”
“I will.” Larkin watched him turn and walk away. “I’ve got to go, but Darian said he wants to meet you.”
“I want to meet him also. Have fun tonight.”