Page 197 of Under Her Skin
Yes,he knew he’d gotten to her, unleashed that same terror that bound her to him when she was younger. She’d got revoltingly independent, less afraid of him as she grew up, and that had enragedhim.
Jules Gachet had reachedhis late thirties without ever forming a serious romantic attachment. Why would he? With his French good looks, dark eyes, dark hair, olive skin, he was considered one of the world’s most eligible bachelors. He’d fucked around, taking his pick of supermodels, actresses, socialites, each one thinking they’d won the lottery when they’d met him. He let them think that, for a time, before cutting them dead with an almost gleeful finality. He enjoyed the mind games, the confusion and thehumiliation.
Because no-one,no-one, compared to Jessica. That tumbling dark hair, those wide brown eyes, that honey-coloured skin. He got hard now thinking about it. And today, he’d reduced her back to the terrified teenager that she’d been the first time he’d taken her, in the room next to their parents, late atnight.
Yes,today she became his Jess and again and not only that, he’d had a revelation, an epiphany. What he really wanted, what he most desired, what his endgame had always been whether he knew it ornot.
Her blood on his hands.He was going to kill Jessica one day. He wanted to killher.
Then he really would possess herentirely.
A brunette wandered into his eye-line. She didn’t compare to Jessica of course, but she was an adequate substitute. He beckoned her over with two fingers and she smiled, drifting over to him through the busyclub.
He fucked her in the ladies bathroom, not even bothering to learn her name. She was the usual type, good-looking with that hungry, eager look in hereyes.
‘I’ve seen you here before,’ she said, smiling as he led her to the bathrooms. I was wondering when I’d see youagain.’
‘Shh.’
He liftedher up and thrust into her. She winced, not ready for him but stayed silent, enjoying his brutality, his clinical sexuality. She tried to kiss him but he turned his head away. Afterwards, after they dressed, they walked out of the club towards his car. She slipped her hand into his. He dropped it almost immediately. She had trouble keeping up with hisstride.
‘Wait.’She said finally. He stopped and when he turned to look at her, it was with a blank stare, as if he’d only just noticed she wasthere.
‘Can I come back to yourplace?’
He laughed in her face. ‘Why the fuck would I wantthat?’
She baulked and he realised that under that slutty façade, she was just a kid. It made no difference tohim.
Amateur. He turned on his heel with a disgusted look on his face and got into hiscar.
Professor Gerry Landnoticed Jess’s pale face and exhausted eyes but discreetly said nothing. For a change, he swept all of the usual paperwork from her desk and told her to concentrate on the ‘Luna Soleil’. Jess was grateful for hiskindness.
She wasglad to be away from her desk. Every time she looked over at that side of the room, she saw Jules – felt Jules – with his hands on her. She’d thrown her paperknife away, dumping it in one of the cafeteria’s bins. It didn’t make sense but it made her feel better to know it was gone, that it couldn’t be used onher.
Theo had called her every hour, on the hour, just to check in and as soon as she heard his voice, she felt warmth flood through her. How could she give this up? Give himup?
As she worked on the painting, she lost track of all time, lost in what she was doing, lost in dreaming about Theo. She put all thoughts of Jules out of hermind.
The light was already fading by the time she walked out in the cool evening air. She knew Theo had a late meeting so she was surprised when his Mercedes pulled up beside her. Max leaned over and grinned ather.
‘I’m your ride tonight, lady.’
She giggled and got in the car. Max pulled the car around and drove out of the campus. Jess studied him as hedrove.
‘It’s nice to see you again, Max,’ she began, ‘but you really didn’t need to dothis.’
Max shrugged good-naturedly. ‘Did Theo mention I came over lastnight?’
She shook her head and he sighed. ‘Okay, well, he told me what happened with your step-brother – or rather that you and he had an argument. Both he and I don’t believe that’s all, by the way,’ – and he grinned over at her to soften his words. ‘Let Theo help you, whatever it is. You won’t betray the sisterhood, Ipromise.’
His tone was light and she smiled at his words but she could sense hisseriousness.
She sighed. ‘Max. It’s not fair to Theo or you. My history with Jules iscomplicated.’
They drove in silence for a while then Max pulled the car over to the side of theroad.
Jess took a deep breath in. ‘Max…’
