Finally, Theo traced the shape of her lips with his forefinger. ‘Jess…my Jessie…I know this is all unbelievably horrific, what Jules has been doing. But I want you to know…there’s nothing I won’t do to keep you safe, nothing I won’t do to make this better for you. I only ask this – please don’t shut me out again. Whatever happens from now on, we do together. Promise me.’
She gazed up into his impossibly handsome face and smiled, her body relaxing as she let herself believe that everything would be okay as long as they were together.
‘I promise you, Theodore Storm.’
The smiled and took her left hand in his. ‘There’s just one other thing.’
She smiled and brushed her lips against his. ‘What’s that?’
‘Jessica Wood…would you do me the great honor of marrying me?’
Jules sat in front of the pile of newspapers running the story and could have laughed. Two birds with one stone – destroy Jess and Storm’s reputations. Well, he thought, destroy may be an overstatement. Sullied. That was better, he liked that. I sullied their reputations as sure as I sullied Jessica a long time ago. He could still remember that first time, the complete trust of the naïve, the unlocked bedroom door of the twelve-year-old Jess. Her long dark hair spread across her pillow.
‘Boss?’
Jules looked up. A smug-looking Malcolm stood in the doorway. Jules smiled at him. His partner-in-crime.
‘What’s up, Malccy? Have a seat, buddy.’
Malcolm grinned at the nickname and sat down opposite Jules, pulling out a sheaf of papers and handing them to him. Jules ran his eyes down the documents and smiled. ‘Perfect.’
‘Sure you want to do this?’
Jules nodded. ‘Oh yes. Keep them wrong-footed, confused. ‘Jess won’t be alive long enough to enjoy it anyways.’
‘I wanted to talk to you about that,’ Malcolm took a deep breath in. ‘I’m prepared to do Jessica for you, boss, I’m prepared to take the rap. Just say the word and I’ll stick my knife in her. It would be my pleasure.’
Jules grinned at Malcolm, gratified that he would do that for him, excited by the other man’s bloodlust. He enjoyed killing as much as Jules did – it was what bound them together, what made Malcolm so loyal. He’d killed that homo’s husband without being asked twice, came home and they both enjoyed the retelling of it.
‘Thank you, Malcolm, but she’s mine. I’ll be the one to kill Jessica.’ He considered for a moment. ‘You can kill Storm if you like – but not until he’s had time to grieve Jess. I want him to feel that pain, Malccy.’
Malcolm laughed. ‘Deal.’ Jules could see the calculations begin in his mind, how he would do it, the pleasure he would take.
‘Until then, however….this.’ He waved the documents in front of Malcolm. ‘I’m going to enjoy this. They’ll never see me coming.’
Jess looked up as her assistant Molly tapped on the door. She’d been back at work for weeks now but still came in early so she could miss everybody’s curious stares, barricading herself in her office with a pile of paperwork. Occasionally someone would walk past her office and she would look away from their gaze. Now, though, she saw that Molly wore a smile and no pity and she was glad.
‘Can I order you some lunch, Jess? I was just going to get a sandwich but I can order out if you’d like?’
Jess smiled at her. ‘Thanks, Mols, ham on rye will be fine. Has anyone called?’
Molly rolled her eyes. ‘Press, mostly. Don’t worry,’ she added seeing Jess’s face pale, ‘I dealt with them.’ She pretended to wield a baseball bat, patting it into her palm.
Jess laughed. Molly Che might be five foot nothing and tiny but she could be fierce when it was needed. Jess had liked her immediately when they’d met and when Theo assigned Molly as her assistant, Jess and the young woman quickly became firm friends. Jess realized it had been a while since she’d had a really good girlfriend. The few she’d had always been scared off by Jules’s creepy come-ons. Jess was suddenly amused by the thought of Molly ‘dealing’ with Jules. Hell, she might buy her an assistant a real baseball bat, just in case.
‘You rock, Mols. When lunch comes, why don’t you come in and eat with me? I could do with a good gossip.’
‘You’re on…Jess?’
‘Yes?’
Molly shifted her weight and leaned against the doorframe. ‘In case you were worried…no one believes that crap in the papers. Not one person. They’re all on your side.’
Jess felt tears prickle in her eyes. ‘Thank you, Molly. That means the world to me.’
Molly grinned. ‘You’re family. No one messes with our family.’
She left Jess alone then. Jess dashed away the tears that had settled on her cheeks. Family. That word had been a source of pain for so long now she hardly recognized it. Grow a thicker skin, she told herself fiercely. Her phone rang then and even without looking at the screen, she knew who it was. She answered the call with a smile in her voice.
‘Hello, beautiful man.’
Theo laughed and she enjoyed the rich sound of it. ‘That’s a nice way to be greeted. How’re things, sweetheart?’
He was in New York, a continent away, for a meeting he couldn’t reschedule. Anyway, she had told him, they weren’t going to be dictated to by anyone else’s agenda. She’d insisted he go, telling him she had Max, Molly and Alan and a whole squad of security. Now, though, hearing his voice, she wished she’d gone with him.
‘Good, except I miss you.’
‘Me too, darling. I’ll try to be back as soon as I can but this meeting’s running late already. You staying with Max tonight?’
‘Sure am – I think he’s doing better. At least, that’s the impression he’s trying to give. God, Theo, I feel so guilty – ‘
‘Stop it. Max doesn’t blame you, no-one blames you. You being there is good for him. He loves you, y’know. You’re his family now.’
There was that word again. Every time she heard it, it made her a bit braver, hardened her heart against Jules’ machinations.
‘I love you, Mr. Storm.’ Her voice was soft, full of love and she heard him sigh happily.
‘Love you too, almost-Mrs. Storm.’
She smiled. ‘Call me later.’
After he’d said goodbye, she held her left hand up, enjoying the glint from the solitaire diamond she now wore on it. Mrs. Storm. She could get used to that. Jessica Storm. She’s said yes to Theo without hesitation the day he’d proposed, the day of the scandal, the newspapers. In that hotel room. She didn’t have any doubts, even now, a few weeks later. They were meant to be together. For as long as I allow you to live. Jules’ words came back to her then, a body-slam and she bent over, trying to quell the nausea that hit her.
‘You okay?’
Molly was at the door again, her dark eyes filled with concern. Jess tried to smile. ‘I’m fine, just a little nausea.’
Molly handed her a brown paper bag with a sandwich in then sat down opposite her. studying her. ‘You’re not pregnant, are you?’
Jess shook her head. ‘Definitely not.’ Then, a wave of amusement came over her. ‘Nope, no little gold-digger spawn for me just yet.’
Molly laughed, clearly relieved she was okay. ‘Shame, though. You and Theo will have the most beautiful babies.’
Jess flushed with pleasure. ‘Thank you, but woah horsey. We’ve never talked about kids, let’s just be happily engaged for a bit.’
Molly pouted then laughed. They chatted through lunch and by the time Molly went back to her own desk, Jess was feeling good again. She glanced once more at her engagement before shoving everything to the back of her mind and getting on with her work.
Theo shook the hands of his colleagues and went to find an empty office. He switched on his laptop, and as he was waiting for it to fire up, he switched his phone back on. A text from Jess…
Pretty sure Max has soundproof walls…wake me when you get in tonight, I’ll make it worth your while. I love you, J xx.
/>
Theo grinned and shot her a reply. I look forward to it, beautiful. I love you.
Then he flicked through his call log. Three missed calls. Same as yesterday and the day before and the day before that…Theo sighed. Time to bite the bullet. He pressed the call button and let it ring.
She answered on the third ring. ‘Theodore Storm, where the hell have you been?’
Theo let a long breath and cleared his throat. ‘Hi, Mom, how have you been?’
At almost five, Molly knocked on her door again. Jess blinked, trying to get her head out of the file she was looking at. Molly was frowning.
‘Jess, there’s a guy here who says he’s your family lawyer. William Corcoran?’
Jess’s eyebrows shot up and she got up and walked into the outer office. ‘William?’
The older man smiled kindly at her and she embraced him, ushering him into her office. They sat together on one of the long couches. William looked around approvingly. ‘This is very impressive, Jessica, your parents would be proud.’
Jess grinned wryly. ‘You mean they wouldn’t believe I slept my way to the top?’
William frowned, shaking his head. ‘No one who matters would believe that. Does believe that.’
Jess thanked him. ‘Why are you here, William? Not that isn’t always lovely to see you.’
‘Sweet girl. Well, I come bearing gifts, though I hardly believe it myself. Julien has released your inheritance. The board has agreed and I have the paperwork here.’
Jess was speechless for a long moment. ‘What’s the catch?’
William looked at her, understanding in his old eyes. ‘None….that I can see.’
Another long pause then Jess shook her head. ‘I don’t understand. After all this time, Jules would just…give in. I don’t trust it, I don’t trust him.’
‘I understand, Jessica, believe me, I do. But, legally, as far as the transfer is concerned, it’s all above board.’
No, no. There was something very wrong here. Jules wouldn’t just give up his only way to control her, not this easily. She sat back, running through every eventuality in her mind. Did Theo or Max have something to do with this? Did they find evidence of Jules’ involvement in Camilla and Josh’s deaths? If they did, she would insist they go to the police, not use it to blackmail Jules into releasing her. No, that couldn’t be it. No matter how loyal Max was, he’d never let Josh’s killer go free to protect Theo, to protect her. Nor would she. Theo…she wasn’t sure. He loved her more than life, she knew that. She would have to talk to him.
‘Jessica? Jess?’ William was speaking to her and it took a moment before she responded, so lost in thought was she. She smiled at him. He patted her hand.
‘Congratulations.’ He nodded towards her engagement ring and she smiled.
‘We haven’t announced it, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before. We just kept it low key.’
‘I understand.’
The elderly man stood and kissed her cheek. ‘Jessica, marry Storm, he is a good man, it doesn’t take much to see that. Julien is nothing more than a spoilt little brat. I think this is his way of admitting defeat.’
Jess wished more than anything she could believe him.
Theo let himself into Max’s apartment a little after one a.m. He glanced at the bottom of Max’s bedroom door and saw his light was out. Pushing the door of the guest bedroom open, he stopped in the doorway and just watched her sleep. She lay on her stomach, naked under the sheet, her face turned toward the bedside lamp so the soft glow fell across her honey-colored skin. Her dark hair clouded around her on the pillow, her long dark lashes swept down onto the faintly flushed cheeks. So beautiful. Theo closed the bedroom door and stripped quickly, dropping his clothes onto the floor then slipped under the sheet. Jess murmured and smiled as he pressed his lips to hers. Her body was so warm next to his and he sighed as she reached down for his cock, cupping it in her warm hand. She smiled sleepily at him.
‘Hey baby…’
She moved slowly down the bed, tracing a line down his body with her tongue, grazing his nipples with her teeth. Theo stroked her hair with his big hands gently pulling the soft silky strands through his fingers. As he felt her soft lush mouth envelop his cock, he felt it respond, blood rushing to fill it, her tongue tracing the pulsating veins. He grew harder as she sucked at him, her fingers tracing a line between his balls and his anus, pressing the sweet spot there. Theo’s breathing was coming in ragged gasps now as she worked on him, his cock quivering and swelling under her touch.
‘Christ….Jessie….I’m going to come…’
He felt her lips curve up in a smile and then as he shot into her mouth, she swallowed his seed, again and again, massaging his balls, prolonging his pleasure. As soon as he shuddered to a halt, he pulled her up into his arms and kissed her so thoroughly they were both breathless by the time they broke away from it. He hitched her legs around his hips and plunged his titanium-hard cock into her, gratified at the gasp she gave. He molded his hands over her soft breasts, teasing her nipples with his thumbs until they were hard and quivered under his touch. As he thrust, he enjoyed the undulation of her soft belly, the way she flung her head back as she neared her orgasm, the scarlet blush of her skin. He caught her waist with hands and thrust harder, driving her onward. God, he wanted to consume every part of her, bury himself inside her and his head spun as he shot thick creamy semen into her. She tensed and shivered through orgasm after orgasm and eventually, as they collapsed back on the bed, he traced a line between her breasts down to her navel, rimming the deep hollow and making Jess moan with pleasure. He caught her mouth with his, tasting her sweetness alongside his own salty tang.
‘Hello, beautiful…’
She smiled up at him, awake now, her hands tracing a pattern on his chest. ‘Hey, you. I missed you so much.’
He pulled into the cocoon of his arms. ‘A second would be too long without you, lovely one.’
She stroked his face. ‘You look exhausted.’ He leaned his face into her palm.
‘I admit I am…but in a good way.’
‘You’re home, handsome, sleep.’ She pulled his head down to her chest and curled her arms around him. ‘Sleep…’
Theo woke to an empty bed and the sound of laughter. Pulling on his jeans, he wandered out into the kitchen to find Jess and Max demolishing a stack of blueberry pancakes. His body relaxed at the sight of his two favorite people. Max still looked drawn and thin but at least some of his color had returned and the dark circles under his eyes were starting to fade. Jess was good for him, for them, Theo realized now. For all her dark past, the woman he loved was a light in their lives, someone from whom love shone and warmed everything she touched. She looked up and her face lit up at the sight of him.
‘Hey, sleepy boy is up.’ She hopped off the bar stool and came to him, sliding her arms around his waist, tipping her face up for a kiss. Theo, grinning, obliged…until Max protested and they broke off, chuckling at Max’s mock-horror. Theo nodded at the remnants of their breakfast. ‘Saved any of that for me? I’m starving.’
‘Of course,’ Max faked annoyance, ‘as if I’d deprive you of my famous pancakes.’ He pulled out a stack that he’d kept warming in the oven. Jess grinned at Theo.
‘If I’d known those were in there, I would have totally deprived you.’
Theo mussed her hair. ‘Food demon.’
Max leaned on the breakfast bar. ‘Saturday with my homies,’ he said softly. ‘Almost perfect.’
Jess squeezed his hand. ‘There’ll always be four of us here, Maxie. Always.’
Max looked at her gratefully. ‘I know.’ He was silent for a moment then shook himself. ‘I like having you both here. If it doesn’t cramp your style…’
Theo and Jess looked at each other, then Theo patted Max on the shoulder. ‘We’d be happy to stay as long as you want.’
‘Seconded.’ Jess grinned at him, nodding her ascent. Max visibly relaxed.
‘Thanks, dudes. I a
ppreciate it. I also appreciate that the walls are so thick,’ he grinned and waggled his eyebrows suggestively.
‘You should be,’ Jess dead-panned. ‘I’m quite the screamer.’
Theo nearly choked on his coffee as Max laughed out loud.
Later, they had decamped to their favorite coffee house and Jess told them both about William Corcoran’s visit and Jules’ seeming relinquishment of his financial control of her. Both Theo and Max were as skeptical as she was.
‘It makes no sense,’ Theo was scowling, ‘Why trash you in the press to just give up like that? I don’t trust this.’
‘Me either.’ Jess looked at Max who nodded his agreement.
‘It’s a trick, sweetheart. He’s an evil motherfucker – if he thought he was losing an inch of control over you…’
‘He’s fooling himself thinking he has any control over me anyways. Not now, not ever again. As far as I’m concerned he can drop dead. I wish he would.’
The three of them sat for a while, quiet, a silent assessment and the same question on each of their minds. Could I kill another person? When Jess met both their gazes, she knew the answer. Yes, if that person was Jules. They each had reason to end Julien Gachet.
A part of her wanted Jules’ gesture to be genuine contrition so that none of them would have to consider taking drastic action but…
‘What are you thinking, Jess?’ Theo’s voice was low, full of pain and she turned to look at him. His green eyes were troubled. She smiled at him, touched his face.
‘Nothing worth saying out loud.’ She turned to Max. ‘Hey, you, I wanted to ask you something. I’ve talked to Theo about this and we wanted to run something past you.’
Max sipped his coffee. ‘Hit me with it.’
Jess and Theo exchanged a glance. ‘Well, it’s about our wedding. You’re Theo’s best man, of course, but we…well, I was, wondering…’ She stopped and cleared her throat, feeling tears prickle in her eyes. Theo’s arm tightened around her shoulders and he gave her a reassuring nod. Max looked bemused.
Mallory Page 49
