Authors: Michelle Love
Quilla opened one eye. She lay on her stomach in her bed, her limbs pleasantly sore. Her thighs were aching in a way that made her smile. Jakob wasn’t beside her in bed but she could hear him whistling in the kitchen. Quilla glanced over the clock. It was after noon but she didn’t care. Last night – and this morning – had been the most erotic, most exhilarating night of her life. Only exhaustion had stopped them eventually and she had fallen asleep, wrapped in his thickly muscled arms. She closed her eyes, recalling every part of the night, the way he’d kissed her in the darkened alleyway – she knew without doubt that if he had taken her right then, she would not have turned him down. The idea they might be caught was thrilling to her.
She felt cool lips against the small of her back then and smiled as they trailed up her spine. The bed dipped as Jakob lay down with her and she turned over. He smiled appreciatively as he ran a hand over her belly, dipped his head to kiss both breasts, tease her nipples with his tongue.
‘Good morning,’ she said lazily and felt his laugh rumbled through his big chest.
‘Good
afternoon,
gorgeous. Damn, look at you…even supermodels don’t look like this when they get up…’
Quilla rolled her eyes. ‘Sweet talker. Perhaps you like the way the pillow seems to have made my face into this abstract art work.’ She turned her far cheek to him and he grinned when he saw the soft skin rumpled from the pillow’s creases.
‘I love every line,’ he said, kissing her. ‘I bought you brunch.’
She heaved herself into a sitting position and looked over to the nightstand. Two long glasses of orange juice stood on a tray with croissants and fresh fruit. ‘Oh yum, I am parched.’
He handed her a glass and she drank half of the cold juice in one go. ‘So hot.’
‘Yep.’ He wiggled his eyebrows and she laughed.
‘I mean the weather. Thank you for this, I needed this.’ She drained her glass and smacked her lips together, smirking at him. He was looking at her with a strange expression.
‘’Sup?’
He didn’t answer but instead grabbed her ankles and pulled her flat on the bed again. She giggled as he pushed the sheet away from her. ‘What are you doing?’
Playfully, he put a finger to her lips, silencing her. She took her cue, watching his lazily as he fished an ice-cube from his untouched glass and placed it on her throat. With his thumb and forefinger he gently traced a pattern with the cube around her breasts, taking his time with each, finishing by holding the cube on her nipple until it became painful, then taking each nipple into his mouth to warm it. Then, he drew it down the center line of her stomach, circling around her navel again and again, dipping into it, letting the icy water run into it, and then dipping his head to drink it from her. The ice cube, melting against her hot skin, was trailed lower until it was on her clit, Quilla’s legs parting gently as his hand slipped between them. All this time, Jakob never broke eye contact with her and Quilla, being silent, held in her moans of pleasure. She felt the ice against her now as he brushed it up and down her sex until it finally melted away. Then, so gently, his long finger slipped inside of her while his thumb brushed a steady rhythm on her clit. Quilla felt her vagina clench and tighten around his finger, responding to him and a small moan escaped. Jakob gently placed his free hand over her mouth, smiling, a question in his eyes. She knew without doubt that if she said ‘Stop’, he would do so immediately. She at once felt so vulnerable and yet safe under his caress.
Jakob increased the pressure on her clit and slipped another finger, then another inside her, pressing upwards against her g-spot until she tensed and shuddered, the mellowest yet all-consuming orgasm of her life rippling through her body. It seemed to go on and on. From somewhere Quilla remembered the French saying
La petite mort
– the little death – and that’s what that felt like, a scintilla, a moment where she didn’t care if she lived or she died.
As her breathing returned to normal, she smiled up at him. ‘You have mad skills.’
He touched her cheek with the back of his hand. ‘I love watching you come,’ he said simply, ‘it’s the most exhilarating thing in the world to me.’
Quilla shook her head. ‘Jakob Mallory…I’m going to wake up in a minute and discover I’m in a fever dream.’ But she loved the way he looked at her, loved being naked and totally vulnerable with this man.
‘Quilla?’
She locked her fingers with his. ‘Yes, lovely man?’
‘Will you come back to Seattle with me? I mean, when your scholarship is done. Will you come back and live with me?’
Her eyebrows shot up. ‘Live?’ She was silent for a moment and Jakob, his eyes wary, tried to smile.
‘I’m not trying to freak you out and if you say no, if you think it’s too soon, that’s okay.’
Quilla sat up again, studied his face. ‘Jakob…I really,
really,
' she exaggerated the word and he smiled, ‘want this to work. I do. It
is
a little fast to live together…and we come from such hugely different worlds – seriously, look at this place, it’s luxurious compared to my actual one bed in St Anne’s. I’m a grad student; I worked in the Art department of the university and just about make rent and food. I’m crazy about you but I think we should date a bit first.’
Jakob nodded, only wincing slightly. ‘I always go all in – it’s a character flaw – ‘
‘No,’ she interrupted, ‘It isn’t at all. Better to do that than always hold back. I’ve done that in the past, with…’ She sighed, hugging her legs to her chest. ‘My mom was a heroin addict. I helped get her clean, the last time and stupidly I thought we’d actually made it. I didn’t get her the follow up care she needed. And she started using again but she hid it. I found her dead, overdosed. So no, don’t hold back, please. It’s just I’m not ready quite yet.’
Jakob pressed his lips to hers. ‘Quilla Chen, you are wiser than your years.’
‘Grandpa.’
‘Ouch.’ But he laughed. ‘So, you’ll think about it?’
Quilla grinned and slid her hand around to the back of his neck, leaning her forehead against his. ‘Yup. And what’s more, I’ll think about it while sucking your big, delicious cock…’
‘You are a filthy, filthy girl…’
‘Oh I know...I know…’
If I hadn’t met Jakob,
Quilla thought as she stared wide-eyed out of the window at a rain-drenched Seattle,
I’d be sitting on a steaming, stinky bus instead of this air-conditioned behemoth of a town car.
Next to her, Jakob was clearly enjoying introducing her to the luxuries in his life. He’d insisted on changing her plane ticket to a business class one – next to him, of course – and they’d arrived back in Washington rested and without a hint of the jet lag she’d expected. And of course being with him had made leaving Venice easier – although she still felt a pang. She’d spent the last three months there, met Jakob there, fell in love with…everything.
Oh to hell with it,
she smiled to herself,
I fell in love with
him. She didn’t mind admitting that to herself, even if she was holding back from saying it to him…yet.
Jakob reached for her hand. ‘So, you want to go home, get changed? Get some rest?’
She nodded. ‘I think I need to. Do some laundry, call my friends. Just for today,’ she said hurriedly, not wanting him to think she didn’t want to be with him.
He nodded. ‘Of course. Look, take as long as you need – but I would like to take you to dinner, meet my family. Separately if you like, then it’s not too scary.’
‘That sounds perfect…I’d like to meet your dad at dinner, seems respectful and appropriate. Then maybe we could do something more relaxed with your brothers, your friends.’
‘Good call. Kit and Grady are still abroad, anyway but Joel is around. Skandar too,’ he added with a grin and she shrugged good-naturedly.
‘I’ve moved on from my crush. I prefer his uncle now.’
‘Damn straight.’
Later, at home, she suddenly missed his company – after all they’d been together day and night for nearly three months – and after loading her washer with her clothes, she snagged her phone from her purse and dialed her best friend.
Marley Griffin yelled a hello down the phone that made Quilla laugh. Marley, a science nerd who was currently wowing the science world with her research, was a Canadian emigre who Quilla had bonded with a college over their loathing of the cafeteria’s food. The dark haired pale skinned, hard-bodied Canook had been Quilla’s confident ever since but when she was in Venice, calling each other had been a case of ‘when they had the money to call.’ Emails just weren’t the same, Quilla realized now, as she listened to her friend’s happiness at hearing from her.
‘I’ve been saving up,’ Marley told her now, ‘So that the day you came back, we could go out and blow it all on drink and loose men . Or was it loose drink and men? Either.’
Quilla giggled. ‘God, I have missed you. When can we start drinking?’
Jakob stopped by the office before heading to his father’s house. His assistant Miles was there and the two chatted.
‘You back to work?’
‘Not for a couple of days, Miles, as long as there’s nothing too urgent.’
‘Nothing that can’t wait.’ Miles was a slight man of Iranian and Irish heritage, with effortless poise and grace and with a razor sharp intellect. Jakob thought again that he was wasted as his assistant, had offered to fund further education for him, but Miles insisted he was happy where he was – for now. ‘I might change my mind on it, so keep that offer open,’ he’d said with a grin and Jakob had reassured him that it would always be open to him. He liked that Miles didn’t defer to him, or kiss his ass if he disagreed with him. Gregor, Jakob’s business partner, loathed Miles – which was always a reason to keep someone around. Miles had no time for Gregor either.
‘How is Gregor?’
Miles sniffed. ‘Busy spreading STDs as usual.’
Jakob snorted with laughter. ‘No change there.’
Miles made a face. ‘Ugh, can you imagine?’
Jakob grinned. ‘I hear women find him attractive.’
Miles mumbled something and Jakob was pretty sure he heard the words ‘Helen Keller’. He tried to look disapproving but failed.
‘For someone as misogynistic as Gregor, he sure does enjoy having a lot of bad sex with as many woman as he can. Oh, I’m assuming it’s bad,’ Miles waved a hand dismissively, ‘because it’s
him
.’
Jakob laughed and right on cue, Gregor himself came through the door.
‘Miles, can you send these by courier?’ He threw an envelope down on the desk.
No please, no thank you
. Jakob’s eyes narrowed but Miles, as unflappable as ever, merely ignored the envelope. ‘I’m sure Mandy will send it for you in the morning.’
‘I’m asking
you.
’
‘Hello, Gregor.’
Gregor turned and blinked, obviously amazed at seeing him. ‘Hey, I didn’t know you were back. To be honest, I didn’t expect you back…your dad said something about Venice and a girl?’
Miles’ eyebrow shot up and he suddenly seemed very interested in their conversation. Jakob tried not to grin.
‘Something like that. Anyway, I’m back.’
Gregor chewed his lips then tapped the envelope. ‘Send that out.
Tonight,
Miles. Jakob, a word in private?’
Jakob winked at Miles, who made an obscene gesture behind Gregor’s back but did it with such a cheesy grin on his face, Jakob had to smother a laugh.
Jakob followed Gregor back to his office and sat down. He already knew what was coming.
‘So…Venice. For nearly three months? Could have given me some notice, Jake.’
Gregor knew Jakob hated his name shortened. He looked over at him now, obviously trying to figure out where this new relaxed Jakob had come from.
‘So, who is she?’
‘My girlfriend.’
Gregor shook his head. ‘Man, I thought we had a silent agreement – no long term things, no commitments to interfere with the business.’
Jakob gave a hollow laugh. ‘I seem to remember us saying that once, in college, stoned out of our minds. Didn’t think it was binding.’
‘How do you think we built this business, Jake? Work. Eighteen hours days.’
‘Which we had the energy for twenty five years ago. Jesus, Gregor, how much more money do you need? This place and the people we invested in are the top picks from every grad scheme in the country, hell, the world. You and me, we don’t even need to show up for work anymore.’
‘So that’s it? That’s why you dropped everything for some Italian pussy?’
Jakob’s dark green eyes took on a dangerous gleam. ‘Watch yourself, Greg. And she’s American, actually from here too.’
‘How’d you meet her?’
Jakob hesitated then decided the truth was the best way to go. ‘She dragged me out of the Venetian Lagoon after I jumped in. I was coming down, Greg, hard. She nursed me back to health.’
Greg sneered. ‘So she saves you from the drink, recognizes you and thinks ‘hey, meal ticket’.’
Jakob moved suddenly then, diving across the desk and grabbing Gregor by the throat. ‘Gregor, you don’t ever talk like that about her again, okay? Or we are done.’ He studied the other man’s eyes then released him in disgust. ‘You’re high at work?’
Gregor gave a laugh. ‘Seriously?
You’re
judging
me
? Did you think no-one noticed at that benefit in January how wasted you were? Don’t be a hypocrite, Jake. You know how much we built because we could use it to fuel our energy.’
‘Yeah,’ Jakob said, bleakly. ‘I remember and I can tell you now…it’s over. You need to get clean or I’m walking away with my share and you can do what the hell you want.’
He got up and walked to the door. ‘And I mean it, Gregor, you will speak about and to Quilla with respect or not at all.’
He slammed the door behind him, stalked down to the car and drove out to his dad’s place, feeling irked and tired and…
pissed
. Why was he still in business with that clown? It wasn’t as if he even liked Gregor – the dude was snaky as all hell. Fuck it. He’d talk to his dad – who had warned him about Gregor from the beginning – and work out a way to separate from him without risking the jobs of the people who worked there. Buy Gregor out maybe. Mallory Fisk didn’t need him anymore and Jakob didn’t need someone like that – such a malevolent presence – in his life..
As he drove out to the big house, he pushed Gregor to the back of his mind and focused instead on Quilla. He already missed her. Tomorrow he would go over early and see her before work. He still couldn’t quite believe she was his…or that he had fallen quite so hard. He’d always been such a workaholic but the last three months he realized how much of life he had been missing.
He steered the car up the long driveway of his father’s home. Despite his billions, Randall Mallory’s home wasn’t a tacky monolith to bad taste, instead it was a two story Ranch- style home – large yes – but not over the top.
Jakob didn’t bother to knock – it drove him mad that Ran never locked the door but today he didn’t care. He found his father reading in his library, his beloved dogs asleep at his feet.
‘Hey dad.’
Randall Mallory looked up and smiled, putting his book down. ‘Well about time, Jakob, come on in. I’ll call for some coffee.’
The dogs, two loopy Labrador retrievers, jumped up to greet Jakob and he wrestled with them whilst his dad ordered their drinks. Ran batted the dogs away affectionately and gave his son an awkward hug. He stood back and studied him. ‘Well now, you look good, Jakob, healthy. Rested.’
They sat, Jakob relieved to see his father looking so relaxed himself. Since their mom had died, Ran had gone through life with his usual stoicism but with a stoop to his tall frame, a sadness, an almost palpable sense of bewilderment. Francis Mallory had been the love of his life and without her, Ran wasn’t sure how to exist. His farther had never been the archetypal patriarch; he was kind, considerate, brilliant – and lonely and Jakob hated to see him so depressed.
Now, he smiled at his eldest son.
‘You really do look, good, Jakob. Now, tell me about this remarkable young lady.’