The Billionaire Playboy's Regret (Lark and Max)

Max watched as Lark kept her attention focused between her father and Gracie. She truly was an incredible human being. Observing how she was doing everything she could to ease tensions, keep the conversation flowing and mood casual spoke to her kind heart.

He couldn't stop thinking of her earlier words. She wanted him. He'd been trying to protect her, worried they were moving too fast, but he was done now. She was a grown woman and Doug was now out of her life, paid off like the leech he was.

He noted Heriberto Laredo coming back into the lounge and heading for the bar with two other men and he immediately tensed. It was apparent the man was hot for Lark, but nobody was going to encroach on the relationship he was trying to build with her.

He felt her grip his fingers under the table as Grady made a comment about the chopper going to land right before seven and it would be landing on the top of the hotel. She was nervous about her mother's reaction to Sawyer and Gracie and rightly so.

However, everything he noted so far about Gracie seemed exactly as Sawyer said. She was nice. Almost too nice. After an entire lifetime of bold, confident women who went for what they wanted, her demure, reserved manners were odd to him. He couldn't get a bead on her. He did however note the way Johan was watching her and almost laughed at the way he was avoiding Grady's gaze.

His phone buzzed and he looked at the text and grimaced. He tilted his phone so Lark could see it and she lifted her eyebrows at him.

"What?" Bobbie noted the exchange. "Was that Ollie? Is she okay?"

"She's fine but wondering if dinner is optional."

"You tell her it is not optional and if she isn't at the table at seven it won't be a mob boss she needs fear," Bobbie glared at Max who immediately texted his sister.

"Who is Ollie?" Sawyer asked.

"My eldest daughter." Bobbie smiled tightly.

Max felt gleeful as the message coming back from Ollie was Mr. Laredo was demanding to be introduced to her parents. "Can she bring a guest?"

"It's a family dinner, Max." Bobbie glowered.

"Pretty sure he's family now." Max laughed as Bobbie shook her head.

"Fine but I swear if I see one weapon," Bobbie hissed.

Max's phone rang and he shook his head, "excuse me."

He walked out to the lobby of the hotel and found a quiet spot before answering. "Ollie, Mom's pissed. We're meeting Grady's bio daughter and you're f*****g around."

"It's not my fault Johan threw me in the room."

"Yeah, well she knows who you're with because Grady educated her. Mom says if she sees a weapon at dinner there will be hell to pay."

"There won't be a weapon."

"But?"

"He's intending to tell Dad he's marrying me."

He was stunned. "Do you want to marry him? Jesus Ollie, you just reconnected with him."

"He's kind of hard to refuse. I missed him a lot. He loves me, Max." Ollie's voice was low.

"I have your back, Ollie. I'll follow your lead."

"Thanks Max. How are things down there?"

"Weird. Have you ever met someone who is too nice? Like this girl is too nice."

"Genuinely so or do you think it's an act."

"Nope. I don't think it's an act. If I had to guess, Sawyer raised her to be his polar opposite. She's nearly incapable of looking anyone in the eyes. Grady has her overwhelmed with his strong personality and Lark is playing mediator.'

"How is Lark holding up? I can't imagine finding out we had older siblings."

"She seems to be managing it well but Ollie, she's asking me to spend the night tonight."

"You've slept in her room her the last couple of nights."

"She wants more than sleep," he gave a nervous breath. "I'm scared she'll regret it tomorrow. She said

she's thinking of me as the prize at the end of the night."

"Man, she has a low bar of what a prize is," Ollie snorted at him. "I'd have asked for something far superior to your ugly face."

"Shut up. Your face looks like mine and at least I can keep my pants on longer than you did. Dude probably pulled his pecker from his drawers, and you jumped on it."

"Did you see him?" Ollie asked without any remorse.

"Him and his brother. His brother wants Lark." Max complained.

"Then you better rock her world well and good tonight or she'll be looking for her prize elsewhere." "You don't think it's too soon for her?" Max looked in the direction of the lounge. "I'm terrified, Ollie. I don't want to mess this up I lose her."

"Then don't f**k it up." Ollie shot back. "She loves you Max. It's always been you."

He watched as Lark came out of the lounge and headed towards him. "Look, I need to go but Mom

knows. Dad is going to know the minute the chopper sets down. They're landing here at the hotel on the roof. The chopper is full. If you're bringing Laredo to dinner, you'll be introducing him to the parents, the triplets and Margot and all the Hoffmans, old and new."

"***k. They are all coming?"

He held his arm out and Lark slid under it. "Ollie, say hi to Lark."

"Hi Lark. How's the sister? Should I be down there?"

"Not naked you shouldn't be. Take a shower too. I bet you stink of s*x and man." Lark laughed as Ollie gave a squeal." Sister seems okay. She's pretty quiet but it's to be expected I think."

"I wish I could bail on dinner," Ollie whispered. "Not because I don't want to support you but because I'm terrified of Dad's reaction. Dad is going to freak.

"Be prepared to be hugged a lot and to face loads of questions." Max offered his opinion. He looked down at Lark who wrapped her arms around his middle and rested her forehead on his chest. "We'll let you get ready. You have about thirty-five minutes until we're supposed to be in the restaurant. Don't be late. "Enjoy this chapter for free and stay updated with the latest version on Jo bn ib.com. Don't miss out, visit it now. He hung up on Ollie's protests about time and then hugged Lark tight. "She's insane. No way on earth in her shoes I'd bring him to dinner. They're going to eat her alive." He grinned wickedly suddenly remembering Lark's earlier comments to him, "speaking of eating, I can't wait to taste you later." "Max!" her eyes flashed to his in shock.

He looked around the lobby and then began dragging her through towards one of the office spaces used

for business guests of the hotel. Using his keycard which gave him access to anywhere in the hotel, he pushed her into the room, kicked the door closed and pushed her against it.

"What are you doing?" she gasped at his bold moves.

"Stealing kisses."

"What?"

"Yup. I want you. I don't want you through dinner thinking I'm not excited for you." He grabbed her hand and placed it to the front of his trousers where he was semi hard. "Lark, I'm scared. I'm not going to lie. Terrified tomorrow you'll think I'm a rebound but I'm rethinking my position."

"How so?"

"I'm thinking if you start to consider I'm a rebound, I'll take you back to bed and f**k you until you are unable to leave it. I figure if I end up a rebound, I'll be the rebound for life. I'm going to be the boomerang, baby. You won't ever get rid of me." Her smile brightened the dark room.

He lowered his mouth to seal over hers. She tasted like heaven and hell in a delicious mix. Bourbon and Lark, his favorite mix and his tongue savored every hint of her. She parted her soft lips to his demanding ones, and he was tantalized by how she responded to him. He lifted her up, his hands under her ass and her legs wrapped around his hips. He ground his hips upwards, nestling his ever-growing shaft against her softness.

She whimpered when he tore his lips from hers and began kissing along her jaw and her neck. She shuddered against him, and he realized he was essentially dry humping the girl of his dreams against the door.

"f**k, chère, we need to stop," he heavily panted, his lips still latched to her neck.

She moaned, the most wondrous sound he ever heard. "You started it. Damned if I don't want you to finish it."

"Yeah?" he pulled his head back and stared into her eyes. "Everyone is waiting for us. I can make you come, sweetheart.'

He loved the way her eyes widened as he fell to his knees, resting her feet on the floor. He felt her stomach tremble against his fingers as he unbuttoned her trousers.

"Max, what are you doing?"

"We have a couple of minutes before they come looking for us. I'm going to have dinner before dessert." He pulled her pants down past her thighs and gave a happy groan at the sight of the flimsy lace panties. *******g beautiful."

Her breathy plea of his name when he kissed her right through the lace made him happier than he ever felt. Sliding her panties to the side he swiped his tongue up her middle thrilled with the way her legs trembled, and her hand reached out to grab the doorknob.

"You taste so f*****g good," he muttered as he began eating her in earnest. He'd dreamed of this, Lark Hoffman on his tongue, for too long. The little puffs of air coming from her lips as she gasped his name, her fingers clutching his hair, were now his favorite sound in the world.

His finger curled up inside her and her hips shimmied against his intrusion. She was responding to his touch, and he could feel her walls tightening against his finger as he pumped it steadily inside her. His tongue lapped at her juices and then he flicked it over her sweet bud, and she came apart. He licked his finger off as he rose to his feet and then planted a kiss to her parted lips, laughing lowly at her.

Her eyes closed, her cheek pressed to the door, her hair in disarray from where she rocked her head back and forth against the panel and her cheeks flushed beautifully.

"Max."

"Yes, my love?"

She opened one eye, a hint of a smile on her lips, "it happens so much faster when you're doing it than when I do."

He couldn't help the joy bubbling from his chest at her words. "I promise a lifetime of quick orgasms. We better get back out there."

She was pulling her pants on, and he fixed her hair brushing it down with his fingers.

"Lark," he said quietly as she adjusted her shirt.

"What?"

"Thank you."

She looked up at him, her bright blue eyes confused. "For what?"

"For trusting me. For giving me another chance. I won't let you down."

"I know you won't. My daddy will kick your ass." She patted his cheek with a smirk and then laughed at his surprised expression. "Also, you shouldn't go out there with that," she nodded her head towards his still swollen crotch. “I'd offer to take care of it, but I kind of like knowing you're suffering a bit after leaving me hanging the last couple of nights."

As she slipped out of the room with a naughty giggle under her breath he turned and leaned against the door laughing the wide smile pulling at his cheeks. Lark Hoffman. Proof dreams do come true.