Billionaire’s Quarry: A Billionaire, Bad Boy, Romance (An Alpha Billionaire Romance Boxed Set) (68 page)

‘I love you…’ He whispered and felt her clench her vaginal muscles around him. She was moaning now, and he felt the hot rush of her orgasm flood over his cock. He swiftly moved so she was under him, pulling out and ejaculating on her belly.

Finally, near exhaustion, they lay on the couch, wrapped in each other.
Skin
on skin, sated and delirious, they fell asleep in the others’ arms.

Max sat in his car outside the big house, waiting for any sign that Jules Gachet would be leaving for the day. He didn’t have to wait long.  Jules’
gray
Audi R8 sped out of the gates just after nine a.m. and Max wasted no time.

The woman at the door had a kind face and a rounded, well-fed body.  Max wanted to hug her immediately.  He told her he was a friend of Jess’ from college. The woman – Camilla – had squinted at him doubtfully but invited him in
anyway
.  He soon found he couldn’t lie to her for long, and gave a shrug of his shoulders.

‘I’m Theo Storm’s best friend – so that makes me a good friend of Jess too.’ He gave her the woman a grin and she smiled back, won over.

‘That’s better. 
There're
too many lies in the world -  and definitely too many in  this house.’

She ushered him in
to
the kitchen. ‘Have you had breakfast?’

She made him a huge stack of the most heavenly blueberry pancakes and sat down with him, a huge cup of coffee in her hand. ‘So, Mr…?’

‘Max. To tell you the truth, I’m not supposed to be here. Well, Theo would kill me.  But he’s worried.  We both are.  There have been incidents between your employer and Jess that have left her
scared
and bruised.  It has to stop but she won’t press charges.  It would help to know how to help her if I knew something of her upbringing…what the dynamic here was.’

Camilla was silent for a moment, looking out of the window, then she sighed. ‘Jess came here fifteen years ago when
Mr.
Gachet Sr. married her mother.  Julien was away then but he came back a couple of years later.  He claimed Jess straight away, was possessive, drove her friends away, was always with her.  We just didn’t
realize
how bad his…fixation was.  When the parents died and Jules was left to run the estate…that’s when things got really bad.  He tried to control every part of her life and she had to move out.  He still never leaves her alone.  He uses money to control her – which makes it worse and the other day, I found him…’

She fell silent and Max waited, patting her hand.  The woman struggled to speak for a time.

‘Camilla?’ Max’s voice was gentle. ‘Do you think he abused her? Sexually?  Physically?’

Camilla burst into tears. ‘I should have protected her…I should have…’ She was sobbing now and Max put his arms around her to comfort her. 

Driving away from the house a short time later, Max’s heart was thumping unpleasantly against his ribs and he felt guilty about invading Jess’ privacy.  But Julien Gachet was a sick and twisted fuck that she’d been forced to live with and who was still trying to control her. Max was betting that once Theo Storm – international billionaire came along – Jules had panicked at the thought of losing Jess to someone who could help her gain freedom from him.  He smirked humorlessly – Jules was exactly the kind of misogynistic asshole who would think Jess would find ‘someone better’ just for the money Max may not have known her long but he knew for sure that Jess loved Theo despite his great wealth.

Max decided he would try and warn Julien Gachet off.  If he’d
learned
anything growing up a fat gay Jewish kid, was that bullies were ultimately the worst kind of coward.  Theo’s wealth and influence far outstripped this little piece of human crap.

I owe you, Theo, Max thought, this one’s
on
me. He pressed his
hands-free
on the dash. His assistant answered.

‘Jenny? I need you to arrange a meeting.’

They ate breakfast in a comfortable silence, Theo lacing his fingers with hers as they sat at a little table on the deck outside.  The ocean crashed sedately onto the white sand a few feet away and Jess sat back, shaking her head slightly and smiling.

‘What?’ Theo grinned at her expression.

She turned to him, her eyes shining. ‘This week has been heaven. Actual heaven. You know something? I never wanted money, it wasn’t something that we ever had before Mom married my stepfather.  She didn’t marry him for it, she fell in love and it actually took him three attempts to get her to say yes.  She was worried we’d get too attached to the good life, that it would make me lazy and unambitious as far as my education went.  It didn’t, of course, she’d raised me right and despite our new wealth, we didn’t do over-the-top stuff.  I mean we got to travel and I’m so grateful for that but today, here with you, I can see how having money can give you little peeks at what the good life could be.  Of course, if we came here too often, it would ruin it.’ She glanced back at Theo and grinned. ‘Sorry, I’m rambling.  What I meant to say was thank you. Without you, it would mean nothing.’

Theo was moved beyond words so he leaned over and kissed her. ‘Want to go for a cheesy romantic walk on the beach?’

‘Hell
yes,
I do.’

Theo laughed and stood, offering her his hand. ‘Come on then.’

They walked for miles along the bright white sand, Jess taking in the wild beauty of the hills that rose in the center of the island, seeing tiny houses dotted occasionally amidst the palm trees.

‘Is there a town here?’

Theo nodded. ‘A small one but it’s pretty lively.  They have a great little music venue of you feel like dancing…again.’

She laughed and hugged him. ‘Always…in fact…’ She grinned wickedly and skip away from his reach.

Theo gave her a bemused smile. ‘What?’

She kissed him. ‘Take me dancing tonight and you’ll see…’

Jules Gachet
waited
at the restaurant of Theo Storm’s new boutique hotel, feeling edgy and irritated.  Camilla had given him the message quickly then made herself scarce without explaining who had called and why.

But it piqued his interest. ‘Your presence has been requested for lunch at the Stormfront Seattle Private Restaurant at 1pm, Thursday. I look forward to meeting you. Maximillian Zeigler, Vice President, The Stormfront Corporation.’ For a second he’d been confused until he remembered it was that bastard’s company, the one who was screwing his Jessica. Still, it was free lunch and he’d listen to whatever empty threats Storm’s muscle made and then ignore them. He’d punish Jessica for the threats when she returned from wherever she’d gone with that asshole.  Maybe his goon he was meeting would tell him where.

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.