Theo moaned at her words and she tightened her arms around him.
‘Okay. You got it.’
She rested her face against his, feeling his stubble graze her skin. ‘You and me now.’ He buried his face in her hair and locked his arms around her.
‘I’ll never let him hurt you again. I’ll never let anyone hurt you.’
Jess wanted to believe him, she knew he meant it with all his heart. But something in her that said that Jules would stop at nothing. Jess knew that at the end of all of this, someone would be dead. One thing was certain, she would never let that person be Theo.
Even if it cost her own life.
Max arrived with the dogs the next day and both Theo and Jess hugged him tightly. Jess was cooking, periodically disappearing into the kitchen from where they sat on the porch. When she had gone to check on the food, Theo looked over at Max. It seemed to him that they had both aged a million years in a few months. The loss, the grief, the horror they had been through had made Theo even more aware of how much Max was a brother to him – even if the guilt of Josh’s murder would never leave him. As much as he tried to reassure Jess, Theo’s own guilt kept him up at night: Because I fell in love, Max lost his own love. Max, knowing Theo’s mind, had constantly reassured him but it didn’t make Theo feel any better.
‘So, Gachet has disappeared.’ Max was the one who was in constant contact with the police whilst Jess recovered and he kept Theo updated with every detail.
Theo nodded. ‘Doesn’t surprise me. Well, we know now why he release Jess’s inheritance. To fund his own escape.’ They’d discovered Jess’s account drained the day after she’d been released from the hospital, although no-one knew exactly how he’d done it. ‘Jesus, how long has he planned to kill her?’
Max shrugged. ‘I really don’t want to think about that. The main thing is she’s safe now.’ He raised an eyebrow at the shadowy figures moving around the perimeter of the property. ‘What’s it like living in Fort Knox?’
Theo gave him a wry smile. ‘Better than not sleeping.’ He sighed and leaned back in his chair. ‘So, we got any leads?’
‘Not on Jules. His driver – or ex-driver is still in the city – why I’m not sure. The son-of-a-bitch may be here to spy for Jules. Pretty sure he knows more than he’s telling the police anyways.’
Theo’s face hardened. ‘Maybe I should speak directly to him.’ His words were heavy with meaning and when Max turned to look at him, he could see his own anger reflected in his friend’s eyes.
‘That might an idea,’ Max said slowly. ‘Then if he won’t talk, then what? The police?’
There was a long silence. ‘Oh, I think it’s gone way past the police, don’t you?’ Theo felt a calm settle over him as he spoke the words and he watched Max nod once, firmly. ‘Yeah, this is all us from now on. He’s not going to know what hit him.’
Jules Gachet sat back in his chair, admired the slim, brown legs of the woman that strolled past him. Paris was as beautiful as it had ever been but, even with the beautiful woman and delicious spring sunshine, he found it hard to concentrate.
She’s alive. It haunted him, the fact that he’d failed. When he’d left her that night, broken and bleeding out, he’d felt sure she couldn’t have possibly had a chance. None.
Jules signaled to the waiter for another pastis. The fake passports Malcolm had procured for him long before his attempt to kill Jessica had more than proven their worth but yes, he was taking a risk coming here, back to the place of his birth. Soon he would go deep into the French countryside, change his name, appearance and lay low until the American police – and Jessica – thought he was gone forever. Malcolm was arranging things back in Seattle and when it was safe, he, Jules, would return and finish what he promised Jess he would. Kill her. Make Storm watch as he took her life, once and for all.
Spring drifted lazily into summer and Jess found herself swept along with the plans for the wedding. Despite her and Theo’s wishes for a quick, small wedding, Theo’s mother had other ideas and Jess couldn’t bear to disappoint her. Amelia’s kindness had no limit, it seemed, and neither did her creativity.
The wedding was set for early September at Amelia’s sprawling estate on the island. Jess and Theo dutifully followed Amelia’s arrangements for their wedding attire, telling each other that if it made Amelia happy, then it was worth it.
But they lived for the times when they were alone. As Jess got healthier, their sex life got back on track and even became a deeper thing, a closeness between them that seemed anchored in complete trust.
Jess, waiting for Theo to return home one Friday night, soaked in a long bath, feeling horny as hell and sexy for the first time in an age. Her scars were fading into pink lines and she traced the path of them. It still didn’t feel real, but she remembered the agony all too well. She pushed that thought aside and got out of the bath, slowly drying herself and massaging lotion into her skin. She padded, nude, to the dressing room and was about to slip into her usual shorts and tee, when she saw it, peeking out of a box on the floor. The leather bondage harness they had only used once, the night before she was stabbed.
Jess started to grin and pulled the harness out. The leather was so buttery soft, the fastenings cool steel. She slipped her robe off her shoulders and stepped into the harness, enjoying the feel of the leather as she strapped it onto her body. The inch-wide straps crisscrossed her breasts, framing them and swept between her legs and around her thighs, leaving her cunt, her buttocks exposed. Even putting it on made her so aroused she could feel herself getting wet, and grabbing her robe, she darted downstairs to prepare Theo’s very special homecoming.
Theo left the office just after eight, and, as had become his habit, flew the chopper back to the island. He hated the commute via car and ferry boat now – when he was done with work, he wanted to get to her now. Hell, all day at work, he thought about nothing but Jess, working from home, the safest place she could be. He called her a dozen times a day and she was always glad to hear his voice. My girl.
There was a storm brewing over the island as he arrived home and the sky was dark, heavy with rain. After landing, he checked in with his head of security and then headed into the house.
Theo opened the front door. The house was dimly lit and as he moved into the house, he saw candles guttering on the tables.
‘Welcome home.’
He turned to see Jess sitting halfway up the stairs and his breath caught in his lungs as he saw the harness crisscrossing her body. Her dark tumbled down to her shoulders and in the candlelight, her skin glowed. She smiled lazily at him and slowly, tantalizingly spread her legs wide. He could see she was already wet, the dark red folds of her sex glistening with her arousal, plump and ripe. His breath hitched and caught at the sight of her.
‘I’ve been thinking about you all day, my love.’
Her smile widened and as he watched, her hand slipped between her legs and she began to masturbate for him. ‘And I, you. Strip for me, Theo.’
He grinned and pulled his clothes off, his cock already thickening and trembling. He fisted the root of it and began to stroke. Jess, moaning softly, nodded to a side table. An open bottle of champagne. Theo snagged it as he made his way up the stairs to her, putting it down by her head then grabbing both of her hands and binding them with his tie. Jess capitulated happily as Theo began to pour the champagne, first into the hollow of her throat then down her body. Jess arched her back as the liquid flowed over her body, down to her navel, snaking into her sex. Theo bent down and ran his tongue from her clit, over her belly. He bit down onto her nipples, teasing them into hard peaks and finally, taking a swig of champagne, covering her mouth with his and kissing her, their tongues caressing, the liquid dribbling down their faces. Jess dissolved into giggles as they both gasped for air and Theo swept her upstairs into their bedroom.
Jess had set up a video camera and a screen, and Theo raised his eyebrows. She kissed him. ‘I want to watch us fuck,’ she murmur
ed, trailing her lips along his jaw, ‘I want to see your cock plunging in and out of me again and again and again…’
He pushed her down onto the bed, his senses frenzied with desire, turned on by her whispers, her obvious lust for him. He hooked one of her ankles of his shoulders and angled the camera down onto her swollen cunt.
‘Christ, Jessie, look how beautiful you are.’ He spread her labia with his long fingers, rubbing her rock-hard clit with his thumb and smiled down at her. ‘Do you want my cock, now, Jessie?’
She nodded, gasping as he placed the head of it against her and pushed in – stopping when he was an inch in. ‘Are you ready, Jessie?’
She moaned with frustration and he laughed. He poured some champagne over his cock then drove himself into her as hard as he could. Jessie screamed and came almost at once and Theo, incredibly turned on, had to slow down to prolong her pleasure. ‘Jessie, I love to fuck you, you know that? Your cunt is always ready for me, always hungry for me and I want to fill you, drive so deep into you. Look at us, my love.’
He turned her head so she could see the screen, the sight of his huge cock plowing into her, slower now, thick and rigid, the shaft pulsing with blood and arousal. They were both entranced by the sight of it, their bodies merging, moving as one. Theo watched her lovely face as she watched them. ‘God, Jessie, how the hell did I exist before you?’ He began to thrust hard and she looked back into his eyes, her legs clamped around his hips.
‘I love you,’ she was breathless as their fucking became almost delirious, overwhelming. She arched her back as she came violently, moaning so beautifully that he came too, shuddering as his cock pumped thick streams of cum deep inside of her. They barely took a breath before Jess, her hands still bound, made her way down his body and took his still ramrod cock in her mouth. She sucked him hard, drawing her mouth over the wide crest of his cock, hollowing her cheeks as she teased the head with her tongue, tracing patterns on the sensitive numb. Theo felt his entire body tense as she drove him towards a shattering climax.
Afterward, they lay naked, limbs tangled, and drank the rest of the champagne straight from the bottle.
‘We’re all class,’ Jess smirked up at him. Theo pressed his lips to hers.
‘You could never be anything else and F.Y.I., being greeted by you in that get-up? Best welcome ever.’
She grinned. ‘I found it today…you know we have a whole box of fun toys we haven’t even used yet?’
Theo shook his head and sighed in mock-regret. ‘What have I turned you into?’
She pulled his lips down for another kiss. ‘Someone who loves and is loved, trusts and is trusted.’
‘Mushy.’
‘You bet your sweet ass. Now, Storm, fuck me again.’
Later, he was about to fall asleep when his phone beeped. Theo stole a look at Jess, sleeping on her stomach, her head on the pillow turned towards him. For a second he watched as she breathed, the silky skin of her back glowing in the dim light of his reading lamp.
His phone beeped again. Max. Call me now. Urgent. Keep it quiet.
Theo eased out of bed and padded down to his study, closing the door behind him. Max answered on the first ring.
‘We need to meet. Now. Tonight. Drive to the ferry terminal. Alan is waiting. ‘
‘What the hell, Max?’
Max took a deep breath in. ‘We’ve got Malcolm.’
He hated, hated, leaving Jess alone in the house, waking up the security guard outside the house to make sure he was alert but this could mean the difference between Jess being safe for the rest of her life – or not. If Malcolm knew where Gachet was…Theo and Max had talked around the subject for so long and now it was within reach. No, they wouldn’t bring the police in. Theo wanted to end it. For good. When Max asked him, point blank, if he would cross that line, Theo had met his gaze evenly.
‘For her? No question.’
Alan was waiting at the ferry terminal in a black-out sedan that he didn’t recognize. He slipped inside.
‘Max says to stay inside until he opens the door. Plausible deniability and all that.’
Shit. Max was taking a lot of the weight of this when maybe he didn’t need to. Now Alan was involved too. Theo’s face must have registered his frustration because Alan turned around in his seat.
‘Boss, whatever you’re thinking, we’re grown men and we’re just as invested. We all love Miss Wood, you know.’
Theo smiled tightly and nodded. ‘You’re a good man, Alan.’
Two hours later, Max opened the car door. As Theo got out, he saw that they were in abandoned junk yard. Max nodded silently to an empty barn and Theo followed him in. Inside, a bare lightbulb lit the vast, echoing space. Malcolm was tied to a chair, his eyes wheeling around in his head, a bloody welt above his eye. Max just shrugged when Theo looked at him questioningly.
Malcolm focused on Theo. ‘Well, look who it is. Mr. Billionaire. How’s the fiancé? Can she still fuck as well after her little accident?’
Theo’s response was purely physical. His fist connected with Malcolm’s jaw so fast the other man’s head snapped back. Spitting blood, Malcolm cursed at him. Theo bent down and got in his face.
‘Where is Julien Gachet?’
Malcolm merely smirked. Theo repeated the question, calmly but with enough menace that the bound man’s eyes became wary.
‘How should I know? I’m not his keeper.’
Theo and Max just looked at each other and Malcolm found his smile again.
‘Wherever he is, he’s probably just working out how he’s going to finish what he started.’
Max’s head dipped just a little then Alan, unseen behind Malcolm, wrapped a chain around Malcolm’s neck and began to squeeze. Shocked, Malcolm choked. ‘Fuck you, fuck you all. That little whore’s not worth jail time.’
Theo stepped towards him. ‘You don’t speak about her again. Do you understand me?’
Malcolm smirked. ‘My pleasure. I don’t waste my time on trashy little cunts like Jessica Wood.’
Theo launched himself at him, raining blows, wild, uncontrolled, frenzied blows. Max and Alan dragged him away. Malcolm’s face was a bloody pulp, his nose, gushing blood, was bent at an impossible angle.
‘You fucker, I’ll kill you, I’ll kill you…’ he raged at Theo, held back now by his friends. Theo spat in the man’s face.
‘Tell me where he is!’ Theo’s voice was a roar, his whole body tensed to spring again. Max narrowed his eyes at Malcolm.
‘Tell us or we’ll let him have you.’
Malcolm started to laugh, his mouth a tangled mess of broken teeth and blood. ‘He’s going to kill her, you know. You can’t stop him.’
Theo suddenly went very still. His friends, taken aback, let him go. Malcolm grinned at him. ‘Don’t blame him. If I had a chance to gut that fucking beautiful bitch, I’d do her myself.’
In one fluid movement, before anyone could stop him, Theo stepped towards the laughing man, and with a violent jerk of his hands, broke his neck.
Chapter 8
Run With Me
Jess stirred as Theo slipped back in the bed and snuggled into his arms, her eyes still closed.
‘Cold,’ she complained at the touch of his cool skin. Theo wrapped his arms around her, needing her warmth, her hot blood to try to help the frozen heart of him.
He was a murderer. A killer.
The way Max had stared at him after he’d snapped Malcolm’s neck was something he’d never forget. He knew it reflected his own emotions. When Malcolm had threatened Jess – again – he’d exploded, all the pain, the loss, the terror of losing her overwhelmed him. Only one course of action had seemed possible in that moment.
Afterward, he’d tried to calm himself, dragging lungfuls of air into his body. Alan stayed back, letting the two friends adjust. Max had put a tentative a hand on his shoulder.
‘Theo…’ The love in his friend’s voice had broken the final wall and Theo bent over and sobbed.
‘Jesus, Max…. what have I done?’
Max couldn’t answer him, just hugged his friend. After Theo had calmed down, he turned back to Malcolm’s body. ‘No-one knows. No one except you, me and Alan. Let’s keep it that way. We’ll get rid of the body – no-one except Jules will miss this asshole anyway. He deserved what he got.’
Theo looked at Max, the hardness in his friend something he’d never seen. ‘Max, I can’t do that, I have to tell the police.’
‘Not an option.’ Alan spoke up and his voice was firm. ‘Listen, I’ll bring the car around.’
Max nodded. ‘Good, Theo, you’re going home. Alan and I will deal with this.’
Theo almost laughed. ‘Are you kidding me? This is my responsibility.’
Max stared at him. ‘Theo, if this had been Jules instead if Malcolm, would you be feeling this way?’
Theo slowly shook his head. ‘I guess not. But still, we’ve no idea where Gachet is and I hate that.’
Max sighed. ‘There’s something else. If Malcolm was in contact with him, Julien will know something has happened. It could make him angrier, more vengeful.’
‘I think ‘vengeful’ was over a long time ago. He’s psychotic. He won’t stop until he’s killed Jess.’
Max rubbed his eyes, looked back at Malcolm’s corpse. ‘Look, go home to Jess. Remind yourself why this…’ He kicked the dead man’s leg. ‘…is no great loss to anyone. Yeah, Jules will know but it might just flush him out. Just make sure Jess is fully protected. If I’ve learned one thing about Jules, it is that he’s a coward. He won’t try to get to her through a damn army.’
Alan had driven Theo back to the office and Theo grabbed a pool car from the parking garage, drove to the ferry. He couldn’t get Malcolm’s dead face out of his head. He’d seen two women he loved, one dead, one dying, and both had seemed more human than the wide stare of the dead man. Maybe it was because, in his mind, Malcolm was merely an extension of Jules – and Jules was a monster.
The Midnight Club Page 75