Chain of Lust (9 page)

“Jean-Luc,” she moaned.

He didn’t seem to hear her, eager to finish what he’d started. She guessed she had really aroused him. His thrusts were relentless, bordering on savage. She could only feel the fire. The sensations were beyond words. He plundered her cunt, ramming her with short, battering strokes. She gasped for air. Her heart hammered in her throat.

An orgasm hit her like a tornado.

Maddie tensed, surrendering to the sensation. Pure pleasure engulfed her. She floated to oblivion. Her pussy milked his cock in waves of orgasmic spasms. Her climax was beyond explosive, it was a mind-blowing rapture. Jean-Luc thrust one, two, three more times before he climaxed. His body convulsed as he pumped jets of cum into her cunt. He let out a harsh grunt when his cock spurted its last spasm. He stilled.

Maddie was drunk with her orgasm when Jean-Luc withdrew. She collapsed on the floor—she was panting when Jean-Luc snuggled behind her and wrapped an arm around her waist. He kissed her nape.

“Don’t ever tempt me like that,
chérie
. I’m a beast, after all…”

No shit.

Chapter Five

Maddie liked First Realm. She felt she would come to love her morning walk to her work place. The Central Market bustled with life from the moment she stepped out of Hugo’s magic door. This place reminded her of the old-world charm of Europe she’d seen on travel shows. Maddie buttoned her coat and strolled along the wet stone sidewalk. The air was a bit nippy. It looked like it had rained earlier. Now the sun was trying to squeeze out from the gloomy clouds. Water dripped from the vendors’ stall awnings as they put their merchandise out on display.

She eyed one vegetable stall as the owner stacked a big pile of red, mouth-watering heirloom tomatoes. She was thinking of doing some grocery shopping after work. They had been ordering room service since she’d moved to Maison Plaisir and she thought it would be a lot cheaper if she started cooking. She passed an old-fashioned butcher’s shop and couldn’t resist taking a peek through the window. The man inside waved at her. He was in the middle of slicing a big piece of roast beef. Maddie waved back. Maybe she should do pork chops for dinner. Jean-Luc was a meat and potatoes kind of guy.

Her shift didn’t start until nine o’clock. She had left the apartment a little early because it was only her second day at work. She wanted to give Genevieve a good impression. But now it seemed she’d have a lot of time to kill. Her watch showed it was only eight-thirty—the time on Earth and First Realm was in sync. As she strolled past a café, she decided to get a cup of coffee.

It cost her one silver and three copper coins. She didn’t know what the exchange rate on dollars was, but she guessed it was a reasonable price. They had foam cups too, and her drink came with a big dollop of whipped cream. She was surprised by how good it tasted. It beat the famous, overpriced coffee she used to buy every morning, when she had worked at the insurance company.

Maddie had almost finished her drink when she arrived at Genevieve’s Fine Outfitters. Her boss opened the door for her.

“Good. You’re early. We have a client asking for you personally,” Genevieve said.

“Who?” Maddie wondered. She had only worked there for a day. After Jean-Luc, she’d had three more clients and two big sales. She didn’t think she’d built a client base big enough that someone would ask for her.

“Thierry Ronnauds, one of our biggest clients. She heard from Margaret Duke about your excellent service.”

“Oh.” Margaret Duke had been one of her big sales yesterday. A lot of compliments and a bit of brown-nosing and the lady had spent her bottomless wallet like a crazed shopping addict. “I should attend to her now.”

Genevieve beamed.

After Maddie put away her coat and purse, she went to the waiting room of her new client. Genevieve told her she was the wife of a prominent man in First Realm. A socialite. Terry Ronnauds was a big woman. She was wrapped in a periwinkle two-piece suit and a peacock-feather hat. It looked so ridiculous on her, making her look like an overgrown bird.

“Madame Ronnauds,” Maddie greeted her. “Hello. How are you? I’m Madeline Cartwright.”

“Madeline, darling,” Terry replied with her deep, bassy voice.

Her accent was so thick that when she pronounced an ‘R’, she sounded like she was purring. Her face was painted white, with blue eye shadow that matched the colour of her clothes. Either that or somebody had punched both her eyes.

“Delightful to meet you. I had dinner with Margaret last night, and she looked absolutely fabulous. I adored the evening dress she wore, and the necklace was just stunningly beautiful. Who would think a carved jade pendant would go well together with black silk?” Terry drawled. Her hands animated each sentence as she spoke.

“I’m honoured. Mrs Duke was fun to dress up.”

“You should do me, as well. Can you not tell I’m excited?”

“It’s my pleasure. Shall we go to a fitting room?”

“Oh, do let’s.”

“Great. Would you like a cup of tea? How do you take it?”

“With milk and one sugar.”

“I’ll be with you in a moment.” Maddie strode to the kitchen to get Terry Ronnauds some tea. Genevieve had prepared it in advance and Maddie went to the dressing room with the tray.

Terry lounged on a chair lazily with a pipe in her mouth. The smell of burnt tobacco and expensive perfume assaulted Maddie’s nostrils as she poured Terry the tea. She didn’t know why Genevieve allowed her clients to smoke in the shop. The smell could ruin the merchandise.

“Here you go.”

“Thank you, darling.” Terry put her pipe in an ashtray and took a sip of the tea. She clicked her tongue. “Hmm. Excellent tea.”

“Genevieve made it just the way you like it.”

“Bless her heart. She’s the best tea-maker I’ve known.”

Terry sipped it some more, then abandoned the tea for her pipe. Big plumes of smoke drifted to the ceiling. The acrid smell made Maddie’s eyes water.

“How can I help you?” Maddie asked. “Do you have anything specific in mind?”

“I did, but then I didn’t. I am clueless, you have to forgive me. Mayor Sclize’s charity event is next month and I don’t know what I’m going to wear. Countess Morriad will attend the gala. Lady Constantine and Dowager Lysse will too. Naturally, I want to look my best.”

“Of course. So we would be looking for a full-length gown?”

“What do you think, dear?”

“It’s a gala, isn’t it? A girl needs a pretty dress.”

Terry’s laughter filled the room. She batted her heavily mascaraed lashes. “You’re right. A girl does need a pretty dress. Oh, it’s been forever since I felt like a little girl.”

Maddie grinned. Terry looked fiftyish, in human years. She couldn’t really guess. Nor could she guess what type of Unseen she really was. Her boss, Genevieve, was a fae. Maddie saw her transparent wings sparkling each time Genevieve walked under a bright light.

“What’s your favourite colour?” Maddie asked Terry.

“Can you not tell? It’s blue.”

Why of course
. Maddie nodded. “Give me a few minutes. Genevieve just received some beautiful new gowns yesterday. I think you’ll love them.”

“Marvellous. Just marvellous.”

Maddie went to the storage room and consulted with Genevieve about Terry’s size. She picked up several gowns from the racks and returned to the fitting room. Her client’s eyes lit up like she was a kid in a candy store.

“How delightful. The colours! Look at those lush fabrics.”

“I know. They’re gorgeous, aren’t they?” Maddie hung the gowns in the rack. She picked a princess cut taffeta gown layered with sheer chiffon. “Don’t you think it’s beautiful? Deep sapphire is perfect for evening wear.”

Terry clapped her hands happily. “Can we try it?”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Maddie was sure that on Earth, a personal shopper didn’t assist their clients in undressing. It was different in the First Realm. It seemed people here weren’t self-conscious about the shape of their bodies. Maddie put the gown back on the rack and helped Terry out of her clothes.

Underneath her eyesore of a suit, Terry wore a boned corset. She looked as if she was ready to burst from the seams. Maddie wondered how Terry could even breathe, being compressed with wickedly tight lacings like that.

Terry donned the gown and examined her reflection in the standing mirror like a school girl trying on her prom dress. The gown needed a few adjustments here and there, but Terry looked pleased about it. It was too flashy for Maddie’s taste, especially for a woman of Terry’s age. But she guessed Terry only liked glamorous, bordering on ridiculous, stuff. If she offered more classy styles, her client probably wouldn’t like it. Maddie threw a few compliments and made them sound sincere. Terry ate them up.

“What do you think?” Maddie asked.

“I love it.” Terry took a swirl. “My husband will love it too.”

“I bet he will. But it won’t be fair if you don’t try the others.” Maddie walked to the rack. “How about this navy one? If you don’t like it, I’ll let you have the one you’re wearing right now.”

Terry giggled girlishly. It sounded pretty weird for a middle-aged woman to do that. She turned to Maddie curiously. “You know, I just had a wonderful idea. You have to attend this gala. I happen to know someone, to get you an invitation. You have to meet my friends. They will adore you.”

Going to a charity gala? With her as the only human in the party? Maddie frowned. Didn’t seem like a very good idea. Besides, Jean-Luc had told her to keep a low profile until he sorted out the person behind the Jerry’s World incident. He didn’t discuss it much when they were together, but judging from the way he acted, it seemed it bugged the hell out of him.

Maddie thought hard for an excuse but failed—she hoped a refusal would be enough. “Thank you for the invitation, but I can’t go.”

“Why not?” Terry eyes widened. “It would be good for you. I know some of my friends would love to have you as their personal shopper…”

“That is very thoughtful of you, Madame Ronnauds, but I can’t go.”

Terry’s eyebrow arched. Her voice was laden with curiosity. “Is there a special reason you cannot attend the gala? You can bring that bounty hunter lover of yours.”

“You know Jean-Luc?” Maddie was a little surprised. She hadn’t told anybody she was seeing Jean-Luc. Only Genevieve knew the nature of their relationship.

Terry waved dismissively. “I know of him.”

“I didn’t know he was popular.” Maddie helped Terry with the zipper. It came off easily this time. The gown was loose. Even the corset Terry was wearing was loose.

“Oh, indeed. Monsieur Berthier is quite the talk among us. That charming gentleman. I heard he does lawman work for the Pit.”

The gown slowly slid down to the floor. But Maddie wasn’t paying attention to it. She was transfixed by the back of Terry’s corset. Her client’s skin sagged, as if the fat had been sucked dry before her eyes.

What the hell…

Theirry babbled on and on as Maddie realised something wasn’t right. Black splotches emerged on Terry’s pasty skin. She grew taller and taller, as if the monster within her body was seeking a way out from the obese shell. Her deep voice turned into a shrill whinny. Maddie took a step backwards, but a chair was in her way. She stumbled, hard.

Terry turned around. “Do tell me dear, are you really Berthier’s plaything?”

Panic engulfed Maddie. “W-what are you?”

Terry seized Maddie’s arm and yanked her from the floor. A derisive laugh broke from Terry’s throat. When Maddie took a good look at Terry’s mouth, rows of pointy, shark-like teeth gleamed back at her.

“Little bitch,” Terry said with triumph. “I’ve found you…”

* * * *

Having seen Maddie off to her second day at work, Jean-Luc got down to his own business. In his beastly form, Jean-Luc leapt from one building to another, bounding swiftly across the roads, lakes, and oceans, following Lucifer’s trail. He broke into Lucifer’s mansion in the Pit, looking for any clue as to his whereabouts. The only hint he could pick up on was the scent. Fifteen hours after he’d first started looking, the trail led him to a secluded resort in Phuket, Thailand. His paws hit the pristine white sand. He crouched and shifted into his human form, waiting.

The sunset stretched across the horizon, painting the sky with a red, torrid glow. His Lord sat on a chair of an outdoor restaurant, eating an early dinner. Plate upon plate of freshly cooked seafood lay before him, steaming and wafting delicious aromas of fresh peppers, basil, and garlic over to him. A waiter, dressed in traditional Thai attire, poured him some wine. Lucifer chuckled and thanked him.

What an odd place for a vacation for someone of his status. And his Lord’s chosen form was even odder. Lucifer was disguised as a sleazy, balding, middle-aged tourist, like some kind of corporate fat cat out to spend his embezzlement money in paradise. He was loud and annoying. He ate with disgusting manners. Strange. His Lord was usually refined in every way.

Jean-Luc paused, not convinced by what he saw. He decided to approach his Lord.

The man recognised him. “You.” He didn’t stop demolishing his food. Lucifer seized a big crab claw, dripping with sauce, and cracked it in half. He slurped it noisily. “What do you want, Hellhound?”

“My Lord.” Jean-Luc bowed. “Pardon my intrusion. But you haven’t been back to the Pit for quite a while. Things have happened.”

“Things always happen in the Pit. That’s why we call it the Pit. The clusterfuck of shits.” Lucifer mopped his sweaty forehead with the napkin. It seemed he couldn’t take the spicy Thai food, and yet he continued to chow them down as if there was no tomorrow. He took a large gulp of the wine and belched heartily. “What did she do this time?”

It appeared his lord knew the majority of the Pit fuckups were always associated with Lilith. Jean-Luc jumped on his chance. “It’s about my charge, Lord. Siegfried Chacon.” He told him about the feud between Lilith and Balam, and how Lilith had used her connections to pressure him to release Siegfried from his custody.