Page 18 of How to Avoid a Billionaire

“Which means your secretary did.” She didn’t answer his question as to whether it mattered. “Tonight, we’re going to my parents’ place for dinner.”

She waited for his protest, but when he didn’t say anything, she glanced at him. His unreadable expression gave nothing away. Rather, he buckled up and started the engine. Maybe he intended to make it up to her for disappearing. She didn’t know the rules on dating a billionaire and whether they often pulled the vanishing act. Their girlfriends or mistresses were supposed to fall in line or be replaced. Then she recalled he said he held himself to the same standard he’d given her. Either way, she wouldn’t play the game. He either wanted her or not. If he didn’t, she knew how to move on, and hurting was a part of life.

She buckled up and gave him directions to her parents’ house. When they drew up to the place, Melanie’s stomach tied in knots as it always did when visiting her father.

When Ryder touched her cheek, she started and faced him. “You’re nervous,” he said. “I can see by how high your shoulders are and the set to your mouth. Don’t you get along with them?”

She made an effort to release the tension, but it didn’t budge. “With my mother, yes, but my dad’s a whole other story. We go through rough patches, and we’re kind of just off of one. I haven’t been to the house in a few months, so who knows how he’s going to react to me. I just wish he wasn’t so hard. He’s been here forever, but he still acts like… Never mind. I don’t mean to burden you with this.”

Ryder’s hand dropped from her cheek to her thigh, and he squeezed. Rather than relaxing her, he ignited a flame in her belly, which was not how she should feel in her parents’ driveway. She glanced up at the small house, so unassuming and simple but still nice. Her father didn’t believe in wasting space, so although they could afford more, he’d chosen a compact structure. Her mother had made it cozy and warm, so she had never needed anything else.

Melanie turned back to Ryder. “Don’t point for any reason. Greet him before my mother. They’ll offer—”

“Hey.”

He slanted his mouth over hers, silencing her. Melanie gave in to his kiss and parted her lips. He snaked his tongue inside and swept the interior, drawing a moan from her. When he moved his hand up her thigh toward her pussy, she stopped him, but he shook her hand off and raised his head.

“Let me relax you.”

Her eyes widened. “Like that, here? Are you insane?”

He kissed her again and whispered against her mouth. “Pull your dress up.”

The street around her parents’ house lay in almost total darkness. A motion sensor light would come on when they approached the front door, but where they sat no one would see into the car. That wasn’t the point, and yet she wanted to give in.

“I feel like they’ll know.”

“Will they?” He touched a fingertip to her clit through the dress and her panties. Arrows of delight shot through her.

“Or my mother might come to the window.”

“And?” He circled the small bud. Her breath hitched in her throat.

She pulled her dress up, exposing her thighs. Ryder eased his hand higher and inched around the leg band of her panties. He kissed her lips as he slid a finger into her heat. She squirmed, moaning and grasped his wrist, but she didn’t want him to stop. Already, her come flowed, and her clit swelled. She arched into his touch as he pushed deeper.

“Mmm, angel, you’re so wet.”

“Ryder.”

His thumb circled over her clit with no barrier now, and her pussy throbbed. An orgasm loomed, and the mere fact that someone could walk up on the car at any second heightened her desire. She rode his fingers, pressing his hand deeper. Her core muscles contracted, and the next instant her orgasm descended. She bit down on a cry of pleasure, humping his fingers until the sensations passed.

When she was done, Ryder pulled out of her and sat back in his seat. “That’s better.”

“How can you tell?”

He grinned. “I can.” He reached into the compartment between them and removed tissue. She used it to clean up, and he wiped his hand. Then they walked together to her parents’ front door.

She tugged on her dress. “Why do I feel like the entire neighborhood knows you just got me off in the car?”

He cast her an innocent expression and rang the doorbell. Melanie felt the stirrings of nerves but much less intense than earlier. Ryder might have no shame, but he’d been helpful. She could deal with the dinner better than if she’d gone straight in. Just before her mother opened the door, Melanie noticed the tent in Ryder’s pants and pointed it out. He had just enough time to tame his erection and straighten when the door opened.

“Melanie,” her mother chirped and dragged her into a hug and kissed her cheek. “Come in. Come in.”

Ryder let Melanie step ahead of him, and they moved into the entryway. From habit, Melanie bent to remove her heels and nabbed a pair of slippers from the shelf by the door. She was about to instruct Ryder to do the same, but he’d already removed his shoes and set them together facing the door. She gaped at him and he winked. Of course he must have met with Chinese businessmen in his line of work. She was an idiot for lecturing him, and he hadn’t complained.

Melanie’s dad stepped into the room, and her mother moved to the side. Her smile remained in place, but she quieted and let him speak. When he did, he spoke in Mandarin rather than English. “Song, you finally remember your parents are not dead?”

She bowed her head briefly to him but spoke in English for Ryder’s benefit. “Bà ba, it’s good to see you. This is my friend, Ryder Neyland.”

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