The Pleasures of Winter (22 page)

‘Please, Jack. Please let me come.’ She didn’t care that she was begging. She only knew that she would die if he didn’t give her some release soon.

‘What do you want?’

‘Fuck me. Please, fuck me.’ She never thought she would say those words out loud, but she had no dignity left.

As if her words were a starting pistol, Jack moved. He moved up her body, kissing her with abandon and taking her mouth greedily.

Jack knelt between her thighs. Abbie couldn’t stop trembling. He slid into her in one slow thrust and she cried out. She dug her nails into the scarf. He eased out slowly and thrust hard again.

Her body rocked against his. God, that was good. His thrusts increased in momentum as control slipped away from him. There was nothing but the sound of flesh slapping against flesh and his harsh grunts. This was no tender lovemaking, but a fierce, rough taking.

Jack was marking her as his, and her body responded. Her skin tingled at his every touch and her blood raced. The intensity of the moment converged in one shattering surge of pleasure. Her inner muscles gripped his cock, her clit pulsed as if it were on fire, stars exploded behind her eyelids.

When she came round, she was lying in his arms, untied and with her eyes uncovered. Abbie felt his heart thudding against her cheek and his mouth against her hair.

‘You OK, Abbie?’ There was a hint of nervousness in his voice that she hadn’t been expecting. She had gotten close enough to catch a glimpse of the hidden Jack and she knew that he wasn’t referring to the sex.

She snuggled into his arms and pressed a kiss against his chest. ‘I’m fine. It was amazing.’

After a while she heard a soft snuffle. Jack Winter was asleep in her bed.

Something jerked her out of her sleep. She turned to find Jack was sitting up in the bed, shaking. She sat up and switched on the bedside lamp.

‘Didn’t mean to wake you. Go back to sleep.’

She touched his chest. His skin was cold and clammy. ‘Are you sick?’

He shook his head. ‘Nothing like that. It’s just a bad dream.’

She stroked his arm. Even in the dim light he was pale. Whatever he had been dreaming about had really scared him. ‘Are you sure? I can make you some –’

Jack brushed her concerns away. ‘I’m fine. I’ll just grab a glass of water.’

He kissed her on the forehead, turned off the lamp and left the bedroom. Abbie lay awake, listening to him move around the sitting room. She heard the sound of the refrigerator door opening and closing and then there was silence. She rolled over, but she couldn’t sleep without him.

To hell with sleeping. She grabbed her robe and padded out. The sound of Jack’s voice stopped her in her tracks and she paused just inside the bedroom door to listen to the one-sided conversation.

‘No, I’m fine. I just wanted to hear your voice … How can you say that? I do miss you, you know that.’

His words, the affectionate tone of his voice, made her stomach drop as if she were on a roller coaster, plummeting down the ramp. Jack had left her bed so that he could call another woman.

‘No, I’m in New York this time. Pre-pub for the movie. You know how it is. Same old, same old.’

Abbie heard his easy laugh. This Jack was tender, comfortable with whoever he was speaking to at 4am. Another nightbird? Or maybe someone in another country.

‘OK, put her on.’

There was a short pause and Jack paced the floor of the sitting room as he listened to the voice on the phone.

‘A snow globe? You want a snow globe?’

She heard the teasing lilt in Jack’s voice. The American accent was gone and he sounded much as he had done in the jungle when he was talking to Kevin. His guard was down. Jack sounded as if he were speaking to a child.

She didn’t know that Jack had a family. His bio was sketchy about his earlier years in Ireland. Maybe there was a family. Perhaps Jack had left someone behind when he had come to seek his fortune in Hollywood.

The publicity machine played up his wild, party-boy image. The unattainable bachelor who would never settle down. Maybe Jack already had settled, and that was why he couldn’t commit. Abbie wanted to drag herself away from the door but a sick sense of fascination made her wait, hungry for more torture.

‘I’ll buy you the prettiest snow globe in all of New York, I promise. The prettiest snow globe for the prettiest girl. Now, put your mum back on.’

His voice changed, no longer adult to child. ‘Ciara, I
gotta go. It’s some godforsaken hour here and I have to fly to LA tomorrow, I mean today … Maybe, I don’t know.’ Jack’s tone became impatient. ‘I said I don’t know. Don’t push me on this.’

Jack flopped on to the couch, picked up a handful of feathers and let them drift between his fingers on to the floor. Abbie touched the swell of her breast. The marks he had made with the quill were still there, a series of faint red lines, one of which looked like the letter M.

Abbie tensed. Jack was speaking again. ‘I’ll think about it. OK? Look, I really have to go … I love you too, Ciara.’

Jack returned to the kitchen and Abbie heard the sound of the refrigerator door opening again. Turning on her heel, she fled back to bed.

Even before he woke up, Jack was aware of the unfamiliar warmth cuddled in at his side. He didn’t have to open his eyes to know it was Abbie. Her shape and smell were imprinted on his brain. What rattled him more than the instinctive recognition was the fact that he had slept with her in his arms, and it felt right.

Jack Winter didn’t do nights. He Dommed, he fucked, he had a good time and then he went home. He did not climb into bed, cuddle his sub all night long and fall asleep with her in his arms. But this was Abbie. No matter how hard he tried to keep aloof, she caught him at gut level.

He couldn’t believe he had slept again. Usually after that dream, he stayed awake all night. If he was in LA he’d go down to the beach and run outside for hours until he
was too exhausted to stay awake – anything to exorcize the memories of that cell, with the reek of the primitive toilet and the added torture of his claustrophobia. The prospect of spending years of being locked up like that still haunted him and dragged him, shaking and sweating, from the deepest sleep.

He had planned to fuck Abbie again, just to relieve the frustration generated by his old terrors, and then go out running. He couldn’t believe he had fallen asleep.

Maybe I should keep her.
He had no idea where the thought came from, but he dismissed it immediately. He didn’t do long term. He was very good at being a sessional Dom. He had subs in three cities he could call when he was in town. But as soon as the session was over, he was gone.

Abbie was unfinished business, that was all. Last night he had given her a tiny taste of life on the dark side, and she had loved it. He knew that she would want more, just as he knew that she would baulk if he ever allowed her to know the real him. At heart, she was a vanilla and feathers girl, and he was leather and steel.

She stirred in her sleep and rolled over, slipping one arm around his waist in an embrace that wasn’t as confining as he had expected. He could relax for a few minutes before he got up and showered.

His cell phone went off in the other room. He had left it there after talking to Ciara. Jack scrambled out of bed, hurrying to get to it before it woke Abbie. He had tired her out; she needed her rest. He was smiling when he answered it.

‘Jack, my boy, I’m back in LA. Where are you?’ Zeke Bryan’s voice was almost as loud as his neckties.

‘I’m still in New York.’

‘Well, get that ass of yours home as soon as you can. I’ve got you an audition for
The African Queen
.’

Jack exhaled sharply. This was the role he’d been waiting for. ‘I’m on an LA flight in three hours’ time. When is the audition?’

‘First thing tomorrow morning. I’ve set it up with the casting company that they’ll see you first, so you’ll be in ahead of the horde. Did I do good, or what?’

‘What do you mean, “horde”?’ Jack asked. ‘How many are going for this role?’

Zeke scoffed. ‘Charlie Allnut? Every major actor and every wannabe is lining up to get this role. It’s a sure-fire Oscar nomination.’

‘I know. That’s why I want it. I can only do dumb-ass action-man roles for so long before they dry up. I need something that doesn’t depend on having eight-pack abs and a silicon-enhanced leading lady.’

‘Don’t knock it. Those roles pay the bills, both yours and mine. Just remember, your call is at eight tomorrow morning. Make sure you’re on time.’ His voice dropped. ‘And keep your nose clean.’

‘Don’t worry, I’m as pure as the driven snow,’ he said and ended the call.

A husky laugh sounded from the doorway. Abbie stood there, wearing a sheet and nothing else. ‘Pure? After what you did to me?’ She was heavy-eyed, with faint bruises on her skin and a bite mark on her neck, and she looked sweet and good enough to eat. He wanted to take her back to bed and mark her up some more.

‘Compared to what I usually do, oh yeah.’

Her eyes widened, with a combination of speculation, fear and interest.

But he didn’t have time. ‘I’m sorry, Abbie, I have to go.’

Her face shut down. She was trying hard not to look upset. ‘I don’t want to, but I have an audition in LA in the morning. I have to be there.’

‘That’s OK. I know you’re busy.’ She was busy looking down at where her fingers were pleating and unpleating a fold of cotton sheet.

‘But not so busy I won’t expect you online at ten tonight.’

She looked up then. ‘But –’

He kept his voice stern. ‘You thought I’d let you off?’

‘Well …’

‘Not going to happen. But I have another account on Yahoo. Any time you need to chat to me, call Michael Delaney and I will answer.’

He had no idea why he gave her that account name. It was his private one.

‘Who is Michael Delaney?’

He didn’t want to think about that. ‘No one. Just a name I use.’

He changed the subject. ‘Are we clear? I’ll expect you at ten sharp. And Abbie?’ She met his eyes. ‘We are going to take this seriously.’

She nodded. He dressed quickly and kissed her before he headed to LA.

Abbie couldn’t wait for the weekly service clean. She dug out the vacuum cleaner and swept up the feathers. She
would probably be finding them for weeks. They had already made their way into the bedroom and bathroom. Little souvenirs of Jack, all waiting to ambush her.

She washed the dishes he had used the night before and poured the iced water into the sink. She looked around her. The apartment was restored to its pre-Jack state and she had never felt so miserable. She needed caffeine and Kit.

The coffee shop was crowded with Sunday morning customers, all enjoying brunch. She flopped down into a chair opposite Kit and a waiter arrived to take her order. ‘No fruit, no healthy smoothies, I need blueberry pancakes and coffee, lots of coffee.’

Kit sat back in her chair. ‘Aha, the post-coital special. How was your date with Kevin? Or do I need to ask?’

Abbie flushed. She had completely forgotten about Kevin. He had taken her out to dinner and she had abandoned him. She flipped open her phone. She had to call him and apologize.

‘Abbie, put the phone away and talk to me.’

The waiter returned with coffee and Abbie took a grateful sip, savouring her first caffeine hit of the day. ‘The date with Kevin didn’t go so well.’

‘Let me guess. Jack?’

‘How did you …?’

Kit stirred her berry smoothie with a straw. ‘You have that Jack expression on your face. The one you wear when he’s on your mind. So, tell me exactly what happened and please don’t spare the details. I’m a professional, I can take it.’

‘Bitch.’ Abbie grinned at her. ‘I’m so glad I’m not paying you $200 an hour. I’d be flat broke in no time.’

‘Honey, I will pay you $200 an hour to hear what Jack Winter is like between the sheets. Now, spill.’

‘Well, I went to Mamma D’Inzeo with Kev –’

‘Skip dinner, hon. I’ve already eaten. Fast forward to the Jack part.’

Abbie cringed when she remembered the restaurant. She would never get a reservation there again.

‘Jack turned up at the restaurant and caused a scene.’

Kit’s eyes widened. ‘Bad Boy Winter hits New York. I wish I’d been there to see that. OK, what happened next?’

‘We had an argument in Mamma d’Inzeo’s and …’

‘Back up there a minute. Please pinch me and tell me that Ms Prissy did not have a screaming match in a public place.’ Kit’s delighted laugh could be heard three tables away.

Abbie flushed. People were beginning to stare at them. ‘Will you please be quiet?’

‘Sorry, sorry. Oh god, I wish I’d been there.’

‘There was a moment when I wished you were there too, so I could give you a piece of my mind.’

‘Huh?’

‘He let slip that he’s the Dom your friend set me up with. He’s the one I’ve been telling my secrets to every night, the one who’s supposed to be helping me explore my submissive side.’

‘Oh, Abbie,’ Kit said. ‘I don’t know what to say. Paloma is very discreet about her Doms. I didn’t know she knew him, though I suppose they would have been on the same scene here before he went to LA. I’m really sorry.’

‘It’s OK. You’re forgiven.’ If it hadn’t been for Kit, she wouldn’t have connected with Jack online.

‘So, what happened when you found out?’

‘I threw a jug of iced water over him.’

Kit covered her mouth. Her cornrow braids bobbed up and down as her shoulders shook. After a few seconds she regained her composure and took a long sip from her smoothie.

Abbie was tempted to giggle. Looking back on it, she supposed it had been kind of funny. She never would have thought that she would do something so melodramatic. She caught an interested glance from the couple at the next table. There was no way that she could share the details of her encounter with Jack here. They needed to find somewhere private. They chatted about other things and then Abbie paid the bill and they stepped out into the November sunshine. The air was crisp and cold. She pulled her scarf around her neck, fighting the chill of the breeze.