by Polly Carter
Once the flap was released, Pearl had put her teddy bear on the bed and lain across Marcus’s knee.
“Will you be a good girl for Daddy and not wriggle around too much?”
“Yes, Daddy.”
It hadn’t been easy, though, as Marcus had spanked her harder than the first time. Still nowhere near as hard as he could, but enough to make her squirm and yelp, and he’d held her firmly in place as he’d spanked her bottom until it was a dark rosy pink.
It had been especially lovely when it was over, though. Sitting on Marcus’s knee as he’d kissed and cuddled her, she’d told him how sorry she was and how she promised to be better in the future, and he’d promised her it was all over and forgotten, and then he’d made love to her so tenderly she’d felt their very souls had merged. For the first time, she’d orgasmed while he was thrusting inside her; sweet sensations and luxurious heat had radiated from where their bodies were melded together, and her insides had felt like they’d dissolved into a blissful, warm pool, leaving her so completely languid and peaceful, she’d fallen asleep in his arms certain she was the happiest person who had ever lived.
Their relationship had developed in other ways too. Pearl often thought of the day in Mon Addi when she’d first met him, and how she’d known immediately that if he asked, she would obey. What she hadn’t realised then was how much she would love doing it and how close it would bring them.
She was his little girl, his pet, and she surrendered to him without question. She did anything he wanted, like when he’d decided that she was always to sit on the floor by his feet when they watched television. She’d hugged his leg and he’d stroked her hair and the nape of her neck so tenderly, she thought her heart would burst. And when they were ready for bed, he picked her up and carried her in and made love to her fiercely and passionately until she was drenched, spent and deeper in love than ever.
Tidying up her apartment and making dinner as she waited for him, she was thinking about sex. It was a few days since she’d seen him, and she was desperate for his loving. She ruefully shook her head, remembering how innocent and naive she’d been when they met. She couldn’t believe he could have been attracted to such a mousy country bumpkin, but she thanked her lucky stars every day that he had.
Her natural shyness hadn’t translated into sexual reticence though. Her body had responded to his as though it had been waiting all its life for this man, springing to life under his touch. She had no other lover to compare him with and was glad that he was the only man she’d ever made love with. She wanted to die in his arms, an old woman, and for that to still be true.
As he’d explored her body and found it’s secret hot spots, she’d become impatient to do the same with him. At first she’d hesitated to touch him intimately, but then when she’d been running her hand over his belly and he’d gently taken it and put it on his cock, her inhibitions had given way to curiosity. It was like a new toy she never tired of. She would watch fascinated as it came to life in her hands. She had learned how to torment and pleasure him by running her fingernails lightly along it, gently squeezing it and, after he’d shown her how to wet her hand, slipping it’s length through her fingers. The first time he’d shown her how to grip it firmly as he slid it back and forth until she felt it bulge and then pulsate as he came, she had watched in fascination as it spurted its sticky fluid.
And then she had become hungry to taste it, all of it and, as always, he had been the patient teacher and she his willing pupil. The tip of her tongue slid out and licked her lips as she remembered how they’d been watching television, her sitting by his feet, him playing with her hair, and how as she’d swiveled around to say something, her hand had slipped into his lap and she’d felt how hard he was. Their eyes had met, hers wide, his narrowed with desire, and she’d seen the tension in his body mirrored in the hardness of his cheeks. Swinging fully round, not taking her eyes from his, she knelt and unzipped him as he caressed her hair. He was rock hard and ready for her, and she took him, at first hesitantly, then greedily into her mouth. He was big and it was hard at first not to gag, but his cries as he emptied himself into her mouth and she hungrily swallowed every drop were the most ecstatic she’d heard, and his eyes as he gazed at her afterwards overflowing with love. She’d understood without him having to explain, and happily and willingly knelt before him as she worshipped his manhood.
As the weather had grown warmer, he had gently instigated something else new. Before she sat by his feet in front of the television or to chat, or knelt to take him in her mouth, he would take her into the bedroom and slowly remove each garment, touching and kissing her and telling her over and over how beautiful she was, then lead her to the couch where she would sit naked at his feet. There had been times they hadn’t made it to the couch, times when his kisses had become hard and demanding and he’d pressed her shoulders so she would kneel then and there as he hurriedly opened his bursting trousers.
The one thing he still hadn’t done, though, was introduce her to his mother. When she’d accused him of being ashamed of her, he’d threatened her with a spanking if she talked such nonsense. “I am not ashamed of you, beautiful girl. I couldn’t be prouder to be seen with you. But my family isn’t like yours. I want you all to myself for a bit longer, that’s all. Be patient. You can meet them at Ray’s welcome home party. I’m just worried that when you do meet my mother, you might decide you want nothing further to do with me.” He’d grinned to take some of the seriousness out of his words, and she’d giggled at such a ridiculous notion as her not wanting him.
She heard his key in the door and rushed to greet him as he came in carrying roses.
“Oh, Daddy,” she cried merrily as he handed them to her and bounced her pigtails. “They’re beautiful. Hmm, and they smell divine. Quick. I’ll put them in water. And, look, I’ve made us some dinner and laid the table and everything. There’s salad and fruit and delicious sandwiches. Nothing hot. And I didn’t use any sharp knives.” It wasn’t that she couldn’t use sharp knives, she had many times in the past, but he had forbidden her to unless he was supervising so she wouldn’t hurt herself, and she’d discovered that obeying him gave her a special thrill.
He pulled her into his arms, chuckling with delight, and kissed her until she was breathless.
“What a good girl, you are,” he said at last, letting her go and gently touching the end of her nose with his finger. “And cute as a button.” She blushed with happiness as she carried the plates to the table.
As they ate, she chatted about her work and the diploma course in gemmology she was doing online.
“I’m already starting to be able to tell the difference between the quality of the stones we have in the shop. Some really aren’t that great. I don’t think Marcie has a good eye for stones, but I’d never tell her that of course!”
Marcus grinned. “Probably better at this stage not to, but tell me if she ever gives you a hard time in any way, and I’ll sort her out.”
“I will, Daddy. And I won’t say anything about the jewellery she’s bought; I’d have to be absolutely certain, and I’m not. But it’s such fun, and I’m starting to see the gems quite differently the more I know about them.”
“You’re such a clever girl, aren’t you?” Marcus praised her. “Daddy is so proud of you. Shall we clean up then? I shan’t be staying tonight. Mother is insisting I have breakfast with her in the morning. I guess it’s about Ray. The party is supposed to be next week even though he’s not even here yet.”
Pearl pouted. “But I want you to stay, Daddy. I haven’t seen you all week!”
“I know, precious. So let’s get cleaned up in here as quickly as we can. I’m ready for some big girl games.” He winked at her and she felt her breasts tingling in anticipation and her thighs squeezed together in response to the immediate ache.
Chapter 18
Marcus
The only blot on an otherwise perfect evening had been his having to leave Pearl, but his mother
was adamant he have breakfast with her in the morning. She’d refused to give him a time, and he guessed it was her way of ensuring he had to come home for the night. Damn her! Saturday morning, for crying out loud. But try as he may, he had not been able to dissuade her and he’d eventually decided to give in, make it short and get back to Pearl as quickly as he could.
It was time for him to have that conversation with his mother again, though – the one about it being time she left him alone or he would leave altogether. He was tired of her trying to control him. She could, and would, threaten to cut him off from the family, the business and the money, but maybe it would be a blessing if she did. She didn’t realise, and wouldn’t accept even if it did cross her mind, that he was ready to leave Holding Corporation and the billionaire lifestyle and make a different life for himself.
Linda had organised for breakfast to be served on the patio, and was waiting for him as he crossed the lawn from his apartment.
“Good morning, dear,” she said as he came up the steps, stopping at the buffet table to pour himself a coffee. “Have something to eat?”
“No, thanks. Coffee will do,” he replied, sitting down at the table with her. “I honestly have no idea why you insist on having your cook prepare so much. Who’s going to eat it?”
“Don’t be vulgar. Max is not a cook; he’s a chef. And I invited you to breakfast. It would be rude of me to not have any available. If you want to be disagreeable and not eat it, you can’t blame me for that.”
“Where’s yours then? You only have a coffee.”
“I never eat breakfast, and I have no idea why you are making such a fuss unless you are determined to start an argument.”
“Nope. I definitely don’t want to argue. Forget breakfast. What was so important that I had to join you this morning? It was very inconvenient.”
Linda’s only indication that she had reacted to his complaint was a slight narrowing of her eyes. She sipped her coffee, and made him wait for her answer.
“I’d expected Ray before this but, as I’ve told you, rehab took longer than we’d hoped. Nonetheless, I have no intention of cancelling next Saturday’s party, so he can’t delay any longer. Bob says he appears to be clean and has worked hard, so I’ve told Len he’s coming and to organise a job for him at head office, and we’ll just have to hope Ray doesn’t let us down this time.”
“When’s he coming?”
“Tomorrow evening. You will pick him up from the airport.”
“Is that absolutely necessary? Couldn’t you go, or send a car?”
“Yes, it is necessary. He’s been away a long time, and considering how he spent most of that time he might be unsure of his reception. I don’t want him feeling he’s being fobbed off with a car. He is to be properly met so he feels welcome and that his family is glad he’s home. I can’t meet him, so you will have to.”
“Why can’t you?”
“That’s irrelevant.” Linda dismissed his question. “I’m asking you to go.”
“What time is his plane?”
“I’ll text you the flight details and you can check tomorrow in case there’s a change.”
Marcus rolled his eyes. “I guess I don’t have a choice then as it seems you have it all planned in your usual inimitable way.”
“You don’t seem particularly eager to see your brother. I hope you are not going to be difficult and unpleasant. While it’s wonderful he’s finally coming home, it’s not easy for any of us. But, it’s easier for you than it is for Ray and me, so I have no idea why you’re acting so hard done by.”
Marcus felt the deep irritation his mother managed to engender in him rising up through his chest, and he sighed to release as much tension as he could before he answered.
“Don’t you? Do you seriously not understand why I am tired of being at your beck and call? My time is never my own. Matter of fact, I’m overjoyed Ray is coming. It means you won’t need me so much. Perhaps I can finally start taking control of my life.”
Linda’s shoulders rose and her hand clenched into a fist at Marcus’s words. She looked away, out across the garden, staring at nothing until her shoulders relaxed and her hand slowly unfolded, and when she spoke her voice showed no indications of her reaction.
“You know that’s not true, dear,” she said mildly. “You and I are the only ones who truly know the business now. Ray has been gone too long. Besides, you’re the only person I trust. Ray let us down once; who’s to say he’s not going to this time? He’s going to have to earn our trust, and that will take time. I need you there to keep a close eye on him until we can be certain he’s not going to relapse, or change his mind in five minutes about being here and want to go gallivanting off somewhere else.”
Marcus gritted his teeth and didn’t reply. Linda was right. Until they saw Ray in person, they couldn’t be certain that he had recovered and was serious about starting work again. Maybe he had grown tired of living in poverty and squalor and missed the luxury of the family mansion; saying he wanted to get clean and join the business might simply be a ruse so he’d be allowed home.
“And on that matter,” Linda went on, “have you done anything about organising yourself a wife? Time is running out; I want an announcement next Saturday night.”
“I told you I wasn’t going to.”
“Yes. Yes.” Linda waved her hand as though shooing a fly. “You did, but I told you you were going to. I had a meeting with Len and some people from finance while you were away, and if we don’t get some additional capital soon, it will mean a major restructure that will substantially reduce the size of the company. I have worked too hard – since your father left us in that dreadful mess – to build it up to where it is today to stand by and see it cut into pieces.”
“Isn’t Ray offering to invest his money in the business?”
“That’s what he said. But even if he sinks everything he says he has in, it might not be enough. Besides, we’ve agreed we can’t entrust him with the future of the company at the moment. He simply doesn’t have the knowledge, and we have to be sure he’s reliable before we take any risks. And, of course, until we actually see that money and it’s handed over to the business, it’s only his promise.” She reached across and put her hand on his arm. “We need to be sure. Holding Corporation, and I need you more than ever.” She paused and observed him through lowered lashes.
“Anyway, what are your options? Get a job somewhere else and earn peanuts? Get a mortgage and buy a house in the suburbs? You won’t get a penny from me. I mean that. How long would it take before you were begging to come home? This is the only life you’ve known. You’ve had it easy because I’ve spent my life working to make it easy for you. You’ve led a very sheltered life and I don’t think you fully understand what leaving would entail. Don’t forget what happened to Ray.”
Marcus looked down at his mother’s perfectly manicured hand, the fingers covered in gold and diamond rings, flaunted symbols of his family’s immense wealth. In some ways his mother was right: he had had an easy life, not that he hadn’t worked and worked hard, but he’d had every luxury money could buy. He hadn’t had to fight for a job; an executive position was always waiting for him as soon as he was ready to fill it. He was only nominally answerable to the board; as a Holding, his position in the company would never be under threat. Could he make it on the outside without family protection?
Linda took her hand away, leaned both elbows on the table, clasped her hands together and rested her chin on them. “You know what you must do, Marcus, and I promise it will be the last thing I ask of you.”
He knew what she meant, but he waited for her to say it. He glanced up, then back down at the table.
“You haven’t made a decision so I’ve made it for you. I’ve spoken to Tina Fielding and she has agreed to marry you. You will announce your engagement next Saturday at Ray’s party and marry quickly afterwards. Our lawyers are drawing up contracts to cover the financial side of the union, which includes Tin
a making a large portion of her money available to the business. You will have absolute control of that, and it will be sufficient to solve the company’s immediate financial problems. Then you will assume the position of CEO, and together – I’ll continue as a consultant – we will clear the debris and get the business performing better than ever. Tina has also agreed to have at least two children as soon as possible, and then as many as are needed to produce a son if the first two are girls. And, lastly, the marriage will be permanent; divorce is too messy and expensive.”
Marcus’s face darkened, but his thunderous expression didn’t faze her.
“There’s no need to pull that face,” she admonished him without rancour. “As I said, this is the last thing I will ask of you. Once done, the business and family will be in safe hands and provided for into the future. What you do apart from that, as long as it doesn’t threaten the business or the family, is entirely your own affair. Tina is not a fool. She’s aware you won’t be marrying her for love and she might have to… turn a blind eye at times, shall we say?”
Marcus shook his head, but before he could say anything, Linda continued.
“One last thing, Marcus. If you refuse to do as I’ve asked, I will cut you off without a cent. You will leave here with nothing but the clothes you are wearing, and your name will be taken out of the will. And if I were you, I wouldn’t consider testing me to see if I mean it. I am absolutely serious. I will not see everything I’ve worked for destroyed by selfish and irresponsible sons. Are you hearing me, Marcus?”
Marcus stared through slitted eyes at her. “I hear you, Mother,” he growled.
“Go ahead. Sulk all you want, if it makes you feel better, but Tina needs an engagement ring. I would prefer you go with her and help her choose, but if you refuse, I will give her a company card and she can buy one herself. The announcement of your engagement will be at Ray’s party, and I have nothing further to say on the matter.”