The Escort (28 page)

Max laughed. “I could just imagine Dan challenging my father to a duel to protect my honour.”

“He’s a good man, Max. But like the rest of us, he has faults. Just imagine how boring it would be if he was perfect.”

Max sighed, “But he is so perfect in many, many ways.”

“OK. I don't need to know what’s going through your mind right now. I am going to find my loudest, clothes, I need to reclaim myself.”

“That sounds like a great idea, I had visions of you becoming a grown up. And we can't have that.”

Robin poked her tongue out at Max, and then left the room, leaving Max to turn back to the mirror to finish her make up. A large amount of concealer was needed to hide the dark shadows under her eyes. Although she was looking forward to this evening, she really needed and early night to sleep off all the late nights she had been having while working.

Then the butterflies hit her stomach again. A shiver of excitement coursing through her, the thought of Dan, and the time they were going to spend in the cabin, were the sole focus of her thoughts. All the ways he would make love to her, after their self imposed abstinence this week, there was a whole lot of pent up sexual frustration fighting to grab hold of her and drag him to bed.

Damn, now her face was flushed. She reached for her make-up, and began to tone down her cheeks. By tomorrow evening she was going to be ready to tear his clothes off.

He looked around the table at his happy family, and reached for Max’s hand, squeezing it lightly. She turned and smiled at him, her eyes bright with laughter. Unable to resist, he leaned towards her and kissed her on the cheek.

“Now, now. There are children present,” Robin joked.

Max blushed, and took a sip of her wine to hide her embarrassment.

“Well, I for one think it’s wonderful that Max and Dan are so obviously in love,” Karen piped up.

“Thank you, Mom. If we are as happy as you and Dad have been all these years, we’ll be very fortunate.”

His dad chuckled, and Karen turned to look at him, her face set. “What?” he shrugged. “Come on, the kids need to know it wasn’t all plain sailing. We’ve had to work at it, like anybody does in a relationship.”

“Oh. I thought you’ve always had a great relationship,” Helen said.

“We have since I learned to do as I’m told,” Stuart said, making Karen hit him playfully. “Ouch. See what I mean, hen pecked.”

“Dad, you and Mom have one of the most equal relationships I’ve ever seen. You’re a good team, Dan and I saw that when we were growing up, so don’t play the victim here,” Helen chided.

“I know.” He put an arm around Karen. “I am a very lucky man, I knew it the day I met your mom.”

“Stuart, you are still the biggest tease I’ve ever known,” Karen said, resting her head on her husband’s shoulder.

“So that’s where you get your sense of humour from,” Max said to Dan.

“Guilty as charged.”

“Well, Max, if he follows his father, you’ll have a good man there. I know he’s my son, but I am very proud of him.” Karen looked around the table, a little misty eyed. “I’m proud of all of my family.”

Robin sensed the emotional overload about to make the whole family cry, so she intervened. “Right. A toast.” She got to her feet. “To the sweetest family ever. Long may you stick together, and thank you for inviting the two of us along so we can see what we’ve been missing.”

“Cheers,” They all said, the girls especially excited to carefully bang their glasses together, and then drink their juice with the grown ups.

“Now, I would like to wish Max and Dan good luck. Because tomorrow they’ll need it.”

“Surely they aren’t that bad?” Karen asked, looking concerned. “You seem so well adjusted Max.”

“That would be my input,” said Robin, who was starting to sound a little tipsy.

“Perhaps we should bring you along tomorrow,” Dan said to Robin. “Like a talisman.”

“No fear. Max’s dad has already let me know how unsuitable I am as a friend. You’re better off if you don’t even mention me.”

“Maybe they’ve mellowed,” said Max hopefully.

Robin laughed, and Max frowned.

“OK. Laura, Jess how about dessert?” Helen said, stepping in. “I think we need to celebrate with chocolate cake.”

The conversation lifted, and soon they were all enjoying themselves again. Although Dan certainly felt nervous. After their argument, things had settled down so well between him and Max. The time apart had been a good idea, and he only hoped that meeting her parents didn’t throw their relationship into trouble again.

Yet they had to grow stronger together, he only wished all these tests hadn’t come along at once.

“So are you looking forward to our little vacation?” he asked.

“You mean the cabin? Yes I am. I think we deserve a rest don't you?”

“I am not thinking about resting too much. We have a lot to catch up on.”

“What do you have in mind?”

Under the table he ran his hand along her leg from her knee to her thigh, applying just the right amount of pressure. “Lots.”

She cleared her throat, glancing nervously around the table, but no one was watching them. “I can’t wait to find out.”

“I wish I you were staying over tonight. I have been having trouble sleeping.”

“Oh?” She felt heat rising in her body, his hand stroked the inside of her thigh, not high enough to be obscene, only to turn her on.

“Yes. Every time I close my eyes I picture you.”

“Really?”

“Yes. You're on your knees.”

“Am I?” her voice squeaked.

“Yes. Do you remember that night?”

“Yes,” she said, struggling to focus on her dessert.

“I remember every sweet detail.”

She clamped her hand down on his. “Please Dan. If you keep this up I’ll never get to sleep tonight.”

“That’s the idea. I want you to think of me all night. Instead of worrying about tomorrow.”

“You have some kind of perverse psychology going on there.”

“Very perverse.”

She turned to look at him. “I’ve missed you Dan.”

“The feeling is mutual, Max.”

His ploy worked, she spent a rather long time thinking of what he would be doing to her during their stay in the cabin. Delicious things, that made her tremble with longing. Enjoying the sexual frustration, knowing it would make their love making so much more sweeter.

All she had to do was get through lunch with her parents.

She groaned loudly, pulling the covers back over her head. Why had she phoned them? It was all Dan’s fault, making her think of families, and relationships. However, deep down she was glad this part of her life would stop hanging over her. Either she would be able to work something out with them so she could build a new, adult relationship with them, or she would know once and for all it wasn’t worth the personal heartache.

They had to be willing to compromise as much as her. When she was a child she was expected to do as she was told, but now, even though she respected them, the respect had to work both ways. She had done well for herself, and Dan was a fantastic man, who would look after her and support her. If they weren’t open minded enough to want her to be happy with her choice of man, then tough.

She only wished she could summon the courage to say that to them if the time came. Instead she would probably turn into a timid girl, and show herself up in front of Dan. Well she wouldn’t let that happen.

Swinging her legs out of bed she went to the bathroom, cleaned her teeth, and thought about what she was going to wear. She didn’t want to look too business like, or too casual.

“Robin,” she called. No answer. Max went to Robin’s room and knocked on the door.

“What do you want at this time on a Saturday morning?” Robin asked groggily.

“It’s half past nine. Time to get up and help me choose what to wear for this lunch with my parents.”

“Make me coffee and I’ll get up.”

“OK. Five minutes and I’ll be back.”

She didn’t catch Robin’s answer. It probably wasn’t too polite.

The smell of fresh coffee brought Robin out from her bed. She looked a little worse for wear.

“I didn’t think you had that much to drink last night. I know you were a bit tipsy, but not that bad.”

“Couldn't sleep.” Was the short answer.

“Me neither. Now I’m fretting over what to wear.”

“Two coffees and I’ll be awake. Right now I can’t think straight. How much time do we have?”

“Dan is picking me up about eleven.”

“Plenty of time. I need something to eat.”

“I’ll make you some toast.”

“Thanks, Max.”

***

An hour later Max stood in front of the mirror, satisfied with her appearance. Robin had picked out a cocktail dress, a little dressy in Max’s mind, but she had used accessories to dress it down enough for lunch. It had an empire waistband, which emphasised her waist and made her body look longer, plus it disguised her curvy stomach and thighs, the sheer skirt overlay made it look pretty and feminine.

Max twirled in around, looking at herself in the full length mirror. “You’re sure it’s not too much?”

“Are you kidding? I can only imagine how posh this lunch is going to be. You did warn Dan didn’t you? He’s not going to turn up in jeans and cowboy boots.”

“He doesn’t wear cowboy boots. And anyway, if he did it wouldn't matter. I love him for the way he is.”

“I know, but this is your parents.”

There was a knock at the door. “He’s early,” Max said, looking at her watch. “I guess we’re about to find out what he’s wearing.”

She dashed out to answer the door. Taking a step back when she saw him in his smart pants, which hugged his toned legs in all the right places, coupled with a crisp, light blue shirt. His shoes were polished until they shone, and he looked as handsome as the first day she had met him.

“You look awesome,” she said.

He laughed, leaning suavely against the wall. “I’m Drake, you’re escort for the afternoon. Like what you see? Extras will be included for the right price.”

She giggled. “If things go badly, I’m almost tempted to tell them how we met, they would be appalled.”

He leaned forward and kissed her neck, allowing her to breath in the fresh tangy scent of him. His lips sent shivers down her spine, and she wondered if she might have to put a fresh pair of panties on before they left. “If they’re mean to you, I going to walk you straight out of there and take you to the cabin so I can fuck you until you never think of them again.”

She wobbled on her legs, which seemed to have turned to jelly. “Yes, please. In fact, why don't we go straight there, and I’ll tell my parents something came up.”

“Something has most definitely come up,” he said, placing her hand on his cock.

“Oh, if Robin wasn’t here, it would almost be worth being late for.”

“Almost worth being late for?” He slid his hand inside the cup of her bra, catching her nipple between two fingers and pinching it. She leaned against him, her hand gripping his cock tighter, damn she was hungry for him. And then he broke away from her. “Let’s go. You look incredible, I don't see how anyone cannot see we make the perfect couple. If your dad doesn't approve I’ll tell him he’s a fool.”

Max set her mouth firmly. “You won’t have to. If he doesn’t approve, then I’ll tell him myself.”

“So do you take after your dad?”

“What does that mean?”

“It’s only that you’re so assertive. A sexy thing in a woman, I might add. Whereas from what you’ve said your mom willingly does as she’s told.”

“I wouldn't say willingly. More of the fact that my father holds the purse strings. If she likes her comfortable lifestyle, then she shuts up and does what he says. Or at least that’s the way it always seemed to me. But I think you see things differently as a child. In some respects I’m actually looking forward to seeing them through new eyes. I’ve been independent for a while now, and I think it’s changed me.”

“And you can always blame that on me.” Robin came out of Max’s bedroom, still dressed in her pyjamas. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going back to bed. Max you look beautiful. Dan, you look scrumptious. Call me when you’ve finished being roasted over the coals or whatever else those wonderful parents of yours have planned for you.”

She disappeared into her room, and closed the door, before pulling it back open and saying. “And have a great weekend, of course. Have fun and relax, but don’t tire her out too much Dan.”

“I’ll see you on Monday, Robin.”

“Love you both. Have fun.” She shut the door, leaving Dan and Max looking at each other, open hunger in their eyes. It would be so easy to slip into Max’s room and have quick and dirty sex.

“I want you, Max. But I have it all planned out, and I want to wait.”

“OK.” She tried not to feel disappointed that he wasn’t as desperate as she was. But some things are worth waiting for.

He’d insisted on driving, after all Max’s car would struggle to get them to the cabin afterwards. But now, faced with all the sleek expensive cars outside the hotel, he was beginning to think he had made a mistake. The truck would only emphasise, to Max, the difference between him and the kind of people she had grown up amongst. To her credit, Max didn’t seem to notice.

“There’s a parking space big enough,” she said, pointing out of the window.

He manoeuvred the truck with pinpoint precision into the space, and went around to help Max out.

“Suddenly, I’m very nervous,” he said. That was an understatement, he was terrified, a new feeling for Dan. Completely out of his depth, surrounded by expensive people, with expensive cars, looking at expensive watches. Their clothes made his look like rags, both men and women. None of them took any notice of Max and Dan. Well, that wasn’t quite true, a few of the women eyed him up, a body like his never went completely unnoticed. It made him feel cheap. In a way, he could understand now how Max had felt growing up, not quite good enough. He was something women like this would toy with, play around with, even pay him to be their escort, he smiled sardonically, but then he would be tossed out with the trash. What the hell did Max see in him?