Max Zeigler was impeccably dressed in a suit that was tailored to fit his slightly rotund body. His face was soft, doughy but there was no mistaking the steel in his dark gray eyes. He shook Jules’ hand very briefly then gestured for him to sit.
Jules smirked, picking up the glass of Lagavulin he’d ordered and draining it. ‘So, how I can I help you, Mr. Zeigler.’
Max’s smile was chilly. ‘Mr. Gachet, I’m not one to mince my words so here it is. You will end each and every claim you think you have to Jessica Wood. You will not contact her at any time in the future. You will continue to honor the commitments you have made to Jessica’s chosen projects.’
Jules was almost speechless then he burst out laughing. ‘Did that actually just happen? Or is this some elaborate joke? What possible business is my relationship with Jessica Wood of yours? I mean, apart from the fact your boss is screwing her. What on earth makes you think you can tell me what to do?’
Max leaned forward and the anger in his face made Jules rock back a little. Max cleared his throat. ‘Because, Mr. Gachet, if you don’t then I will have no option than to ask the police to investigate you. You, Mr. Gachet, are an abuser, a manipulator and I’m pretty certain you’re a pedophile. You have repeatedly assaulted Jessica over God knows how many years. I believe it began when Jessica was twelve years old? Statutory rape would give you twenty-five to life. Attempted murder – sorry, I mean repeated attempted murder, man, you would never see the outside world again.’
Jules stared at the man in front of him, barely believing what was happening. That fucking bitch. He gritted his teeth.
‘Whatever Jessica has told you…’
‘She has told me nothing. Mr. Storm asked me to have you investigated after the last time you tried to kill Jess.’
‘’Jess’ now is it? You screwing that whore too?’
Max went dangerously quiet and Jules noticed his fingers tapping the table. For once in his life, Jules was actually scared. ‘Fine,’ he said, standing. ‘You get your way. She’s pretty much all used up now anyways,’ he added spitefully and was gratified to see Max’s expression of disgust.
He stalked out of the restaurant, snapped at the valet to bring his car around. He’d never felt this kind of smoldering white hot rage before. Of course Jessica had told Storm everything; she clearly had some sort of death wish. I’m going to help you out with that real soon, Jessica…
Whatever. Right now, he wanted to get trashed and laid and forget everything about this afternoon’s humiliation. There would be plenty of time to plan his revenge.
Max needed three showers to get the lunch meeting off of him. He dried himself off, listening to the television from the other room. He’d just grunted at Josh when he got home, his mind still whirling, and now he felt guilty.
His husband was sprawled on the couch and Max bent over and kissed him.
‘Sorry.’
‘Forget about it. I ordered pizza, come sit with me and chill. You look like Frodo at Mount Doom.’
Max snorted with laughter and slumped into the couch. Josh threw his arm across his shoulders and studied him.
‘What’s up?’
Max was silent for a minute then grabbed the t.v. remote, muting the sound. ‘I need to talk this out with someone but I need to know it won’t go any further until I say it can.’
Josh, his usually merry eyes flat and worried, nodded. ‘You have my word, babe, always.’
Max drew in a long breath and told him everything from Theo telling him of the attacks on Jess to the meeting with Jules Gachet this afternoon. Josh listened with obvious horror in his expression. When Max finished, he got up and grabbed a bottle of wine from the fridge, pouring them each a glass. After a moment, Josh looked at Max.
‘You have to tell Theo. Even if you did overstep the mark. Jess could be in serious trouble if this asshole decides to punish her for involving you and Theo.’
Max rubbed his hand over his face. ‘I know, I know, it’s just… crap, Josh, should Theo really be dragged into something for a girl he’s known for so little time? No, don’t answer that. The bottom line is he loves Jess – hell, I love Jess and unless this asshole is removed from her life once and for all, I can’t see them being able to live happily…’
‘Ever after…’ Josh finished but he wasn’t smiling. ‘Look, they’re still away. Let’s give it a few days and see what this jerk does. But, Max, if he’s really as dangerous as you say…’
Max leaned back, staring up at the ceiling and wondered what it was he had started.
As they walked the mile from town to their little island haven, Theo and Jess were laughing so much they had to keep stopping. The night in the sweaty, sensual club, dancing and drinking and kissing had been an incredible turn on. Jess wore a silky gold dress which ended six inches above her knees and showed off her beautiful tawny skin
In the dimly lit club, they’d found an unlocked back room and as soon as they were inside, they were on each other, kissing, biting, clawing at each other. Theo pushed her back against the wall as she freed his diamond-hard cock from his pants and he ripped her panties from her. Jess gasped as he scooped her up and plunged into her, using his entire body to thrust, making her scream. The unlocked door and the thrill of being caught were exhilarating, Theo grinning as Jess entreated him to screw her hard, please. It was a dirty and quick and sweaty white-knuckle fuck and they’d come together and returned to their booth, giggling, kissing.
Theo looked at his love, the pale light of the moon making her flimsy dress almost silver, her skin glow. Jess grinned back at him, pulling him along by the hand, down onto the sand.
‘It would terribly wrong if we didn’t skinny dip at least once.’
She pulled her dress over her head in one quick move and beckoned him on. Theo didn’t hesitate, stripping down and chasing her into the warm waters. Jess shrieked with laughter as he caught her around the waist and spun her around in the waves, splashing the waves. They fooled around, kissing until Jess was shivering. Theo wrapped his shirt around her as they hurried home but barely got in the door before he was sweeping her legs from under her. He laid her on the edge of the bed and lifted her ankles over his shoulders.
‘Tilt your hips up, baby,’ he whispered and she complied, moaning as he slid into her, oh-so-slowly.
‘Christ, you make me so hard when you make that sound, beautiful…’ He thrust deep, rubbing her clit as he did, feeling her damp thighs quiver, her body damp with sweat. So turned on were they both, that they came quickly and collapsed together, dragging great lungfuls of air into their exhausted bodies.
Jess grinned at him. ‘Man, you’re really good at that.’
Theo laughed. ‘I’m only good ‘because you make me good, woman.’
Jess rolled onto her side and looked down at him. ‘I have a confession.’ She tried to keep her voice light but Theo could see something else in her eyes. He reached up to cup her cheek in his palm.
‘You can tell me anything.’
Jess hesitated. ‘I wasn’t a virgin when we met but… I’ve never had sex with a man I loved… before you.’
That floored and horrified him at the same time. She was telling him what Jules had done to her. She was confirming it. His chest began to hurt.
‘I wasn’t sure I would ever want to be physical with someone… until that day at Commencement. As soon as I saw you, I got this rush of feelings I never knew I was capable of.’
He studied her face. ‘Are you okay?’
She nodded. ‘Yeah. I think I am.’
‘Don’t be scared, baby.’
She smiled at him. ‘I’m not. I’m mad. I’m pissed that I was denied this for so long.’
He grinned. ‘Good.’ He moved his body onto her hers. ‘Gotta tell ya, woman, you’re hot when you’re angry. Sorta like the anti-Hulk.’
‘Smooth.’
He laughed and starting kissing her neck. She ran her hands over his arms, down his back, over his buttocks. She t
ightened her arms around him, wrapped her legs around his hips.
‘Theo?’
‘Yeah, darlin’?’
In the moonlight he looked so much younger, his big green eyes on hers, his easy smile. She thought he had never been so handsome as he was this night. She smoothed his cheeks with her thumbs.
‘I love you.’
He kissed her, crushing his mouth against his. ‘I love you too, baby. Just me and you now. For all time.’
She smiled but her eyes were sad. ‘Make the world go away, Theo.’
He pressed his lips to her forehead, kissing away the crease and ran his hand down her stomach. ‘Anything for you, darlin’. Anything.’
He gathered her to him and they made love for the rest of the night.
The girl he’d picked up at the club unzipped his pants and bent over him.
Jules leaned back and relaxed while she worked on him, touched her red hair as her mouth enveloped his cock. He closed his eyes and imagined darker hair, darker skin, a sweeter touch. When he was almost there, he pushed the girl back to the floor and thrust into her, ignoring her little cry of pain. She had Jessica’s face and he was fucking her hard, punishing, a raging hatred and lust inside him. He wanted to kill her for sharing their little secret with that fucker. Scratch that, he just wanted to kill her, period.
But an idea had come to him earlier, as he drank one drink after another, and now he was certain it hadn’t been Jessica who blabbed to Storm or Max Zeigler. It was someone else, someone who he’d thought would never betray him or the memory of his father. Someone who should know better.
Jules had gotten drunker when he realised what he had to do and now, fucking this girl whose name he hadn’t bothered to learn, he forgot about that and instead imagined he was Theo, with Jessica in his arms, and as he imagined her skin against his, he came, grunting and sobbing until he was exhausted.
‘I refuse to go. I say to thee, sir, I refuse.’
Theo started laughing as Jess pouted on as Theo started to pack. It was their last full day before flying back to Seattle at an ungodly hour the next morning. He leaned over and kissed her.
‘Beautiful, nothing would make me happier than to stay here forever with you. However, to pay for this haven, I have to work. We still have tonight to enjoy.’
Jess sighed and dragged her case over to the bed. ‘And I have to look for another job.’
They packed in silence for a while before Theo, with uncharacteristic shyness, spoke.
‘You don’t have to. Work, I mean. I’m not trying to be… but, you know, you could finish your Ph.D., concentrate on that, take some time to figure out what you want to do next. You have a big brain, you could do anything.’
Jess’s face was blank. ‘Theo, I have to pay my way. I love you but unless it is occasional treats like this place, I wouldn’t feel right. It’s my responsibility, not yours.’
Theo felt stung. ‘Jess, I never want you to think I’m trying to run your life for you. I’m not Jules.’
Distress crossed her lovely face and tears sprung to her eyes. She dashed them away impatiently. ‘I know that.’ Her voice was thick and he wanted to reach for her, but her body had tensed and he felt the distance between them.
‘Jess… I’m just saying, take some breathing space. You deserve it.’
‘Can we talk about this later?’
Theo sighed inwardly. God, the damage Jules had done to her that she couldn’t accept any kindness. ‘Sure.’
They packed a little more, in silence, then Jess slipped from the room.
He found her looking out at the ocean. He slid his arms around her, relieved when she leaned into his embrace.
‘I’m sorry,’ she said softly, ‘I’m an idiot. I know you were trying to help and it’s incredibly generous. I just don’t want to be one of ‘those’ women.’
He turned her to him and took her face in his hands. ‘You will never be that kind of woman, you will never be the type of woman who sees men like me as a meal ticket. It’s not in you. I do get it, you know, I really do. Can we talk about this seriously, as a business venture for both of us, when we get back?’
Jess hesitated then nodded.
‘Good.’ He pressed his lips to hers. ‘Now…let’s change the subject.’ He dropped to his knees and pushed her dress up to her waist, bunching the fabric at her hip with one hand, pulling her panties down with the other. He lifted one of her golden brown legs over his shoulder and began to kiss her belly, moving down to her sex. Jess leaned back against the wall and sighed, knotting her fingers in his hair.
He made her come twice before standing, and she reached for him immediately, freeing his cock and dropping gently to her knees. She smiled up at him.
‘My turn…and Theo?’
‘Yes, baby?’
‘I need some dirty talk…’ Theo chuckled at her wicked grin and as she took him into her mouth, the lush velvety softness of her hot mouth, her gentle lips around his cock felt so good that he had no trouble telling her what he wanted.
‘You feel so good baby, your beautiful mouth on me, you make me want to come and come, to fill you with my cock….’
She began to stroke her hands up and down his shaft, pulling gently down on the skin so her tongue could get to all the sensitive points on his cock. Theo’s eyes closed, experiencing every second of pleasure.
‘After I’ve come, beautiful, I’m going to take you into my bed and fuck you for hours and hours until you’re so exhausted, you’ll beg me to stop. I’ll fuck your angel mouth, your heavenly cunt, so juicy and wet for me…’
He could tell by her breathing that she was hot for him, her breasts heaving. ‘God, I want to taste you so bad right now…’
Jess sucked him, her hands on his buttocks, her nails digging into him and he came, shouting his love for her as he pumped into her eager mouth. He scooped her into his arms as he struggled to catch his breath and she kissed him, her eyes wild with arousal.
‘Fuck me against the wall… from behind… hard,’ she ordered and he almost slammed her against the wall, parting her legs with his foot and thrusting into her ready, sodden cunt, pressing her hands above her against the wall.
‘You wanna be fucked all night, pretty girl?’ he murmured in her ear as he screwed her almost violently and she nodded, her skin glowing with sweat. His hand reached around to rub her clit, feeling it harden and pulse against his fingertips. ‘You’re all mine tonight, and I’m going to fuck you mercilessly.’
She came quickly, moaning breathlessly. ‘Fuck me in the ass, Theo, please…’
Pushing into her soft, tight ass, Theo struggled to control his own orgasm. His free hand circled her belly. He knew that drove her wild. God, this woman. They were made for each other, he knew that without a shadow of a doubt. She was his and he was hers…
‘This is forever, Jessie… you and me…’
Shuddering and vibrating with pleasure they made love for the rest of the day into the early hours of the morning, falling asleep sated and delirious with happiness, and with the certainty that nothing, nothing would touch them now.
A week later and Theo was wondering why Max was avoiding him. He tracked his best friend down to the cafeteria of the Stormfront HQ and cornered him just as Max was attacking a salad and looking very morose about it.
Theo grinned, pulling a chair out opposite his friend. ‘Josh put you on another diet?’
Max rolled his eyes. ‘He’s on it too, and making it look easy. He found my stash of Ding-dongs,’ he added with more than a little outrage, ‘and threw them out. Threw them out!’
Theo laughed and took a long sip of his coffee. ‘Where’ve you been? I’ve hardly seen you since Jess and I got back. She wants to double-date and meet Josh, by the way.’
Max nodded. ‘Sure, sounds good.’ There was a pause. ‘How is she?’
Max’s question was obviously loaded and Theo squinted at his friend. ‘She’s good. Why are you asking?’
‘Just w
ondering if she’s had any more trouble with that asshole step-brother?’
‘Not that I know of. Max, what are you hiding?’
Max sighed and shrugged. ‘I wasn’t sure if I should tell you but I met with Gachet.’
Theo’s eyebrows shot up. ‘What? Max…’
‘He’s toxic, Theo, he’s dangerous. I spoke to the housekeeper at the Gachet mansion, the place Jess grew up. She more or less told me that Jules had been molesting Jess from when she was young. Very young. I didn’t want to ruin your holiday or bring up painful memories for Jess so I arrange to meet him.’ The words were flooding out of Max now. ‘Something need to be done, something to try and stop what he’s doing, something to let him know that Jess is protected now.’
‘What happened?’
‘When?’
‘When you met Gachet.’
Max looked Theo dead in the eye, his gaze confident. ‘I threatened him. Told him if he knew what was good for him, he’d renounce all claim on Jess and her rightful inheritance. Told him his manipulation and bullying of her stops now or we would go to the authorities.’
Theo got the feeling Max wasn’t telling him everything but instead of being angry, he was grateful for his friend. Unbelievably moved that his very best friend would go to bat for the woman he loved. Theo nodded, smiled and could see the relief in Max’s eyes.
‘Thank you, buddy,’ Theo said softly, ‘I mean it. Well, we’ll see what his next move is. He won’t get near Jess again, that’s for damn sure.’
‘How is she, really?’
His Sweet Torment: A Bad Boy Billionaire Romance Page 62