The Secrets of Their Souls (19 page)

“Yo, Za Za, where ya at? The shit’s goin’ down, bitch ya.” Jemma walked through the door, giving an impromptu rap performance.

Zahra stood still, her eyes wide, her lips pressed together. Her gaze darted to her right, where Jayce sat on the couch, the look on his face priceless. Jemma took a few further seconds to appreciate her predicament.

“Fucking hell, Za Za, you could have warned me we were having company tonight!”

Zahra laughed so hard she had to lean against the island for support. When she could manage to speak again, she responded to her chagrinned sister. “I didn’t realize Kanye was coming to dinner.”

“This is mortifying.” Jemma groaned as she hid her face behind her hands, peeping between the slots of her fingers.

“Shit’s goin’ down, bitch ya?” Zahra repeated.

“I don’t know, it was the best I could come up with. Clearly I hadn’t rehearsed it!”

Jayce, who had been polite enough not to laugh until now, could no longer hold it in. “That was quite a performance…”

“Do not say another word, Tohmatsu—”

“Jem,” Zahra warned, not sure what was going to come out of her mouth next. “How did you not see him?”

“I don’t know. I just saw you when I opened the door and, like I said, I wasn’t expecting company. I didn’t think to look around the room for an audience.” Jemma took an apple from the fruit bowl on the dining table and sat down on the couch opposite Jayce.

Zahra looked at the two of them sitting together—it was a warming sight.

“Welcome to Foster family dinner,” Jemma said. “A gathering of dysfunctional love, world-class hip hop and, sadly, meatless cuisine.”

Jayce barked out a laugh. “I couldn’t agree more. Thank you for having me.”

Jemma smiled, seemingly pleased with her ability to entertain Jayce, and took a bit of her apple. “Might as well start the vegetarian feast now.”

Zahra snuck up behind her sister and hugged her, giving her a kiss on the cheek. “You can help me cook the vegetarian feast. Jayce needs to work.”

Jemma sighed but didn’t rebuff the demand. Together they worked the kitchen; chopping, sautéing, and baking. The sisters talked quietly while Jayce tapped rapidly on his keys, firing off emails like a sergeant.

“This is interesting,” Jemma said, pointing her knife toward their guest. “Normally the poor sucker would have to wait a few more months at least before getting an invite to family dinner.”

“This one is different,” Zahra said.

“You’re right about that. I can’t stop perving on him.”

“That’s not entirely what I meant,” Zahra responded, although she, too, had difficulty keeping her eyes off of him—he was easily the sexiest man who had ever taken a seat at her table. She didn’t think they were talking loudly enough for Jayce to hear, but she wasn’t in the mood for taking risks and urged her sister to change the subject. Jemma subsequently filled her in on the weekend’s escapades, which, interestingly, involved Devon Wright. Zahra shushed her sister again when she mentioned Devon’s name and reminded her Jayce didn’t condone inter-office dating.

Jemma rolled her eyes, lowered her voice to a whisper and continued. They happened to meet at a bar downtown. Some might say it was luck, some might say it was destiny; Zahra no longer knew which was real, if either.

“You would be impressed, sis, I drank far less than usual and was exceptionally well behaved. Oh, you know who else was there from Mason? Jackson Coby. He asked where you were,” Jemma said, whispering so quietly Zahra could barely hear her.

Zahra shook her head, dismissing the conversation. That was not a discussion she wanted Jayce to overhear.

“So what did you two lovers do last night?” Jemma asked.

“I met Maya and her fiancé for a few drinks and then I fell asleep on the couch waiting for Jayce to finish work.” She had been testing her decongestant medication theory this week, but the results were inconclusive—she had been dreaming less frequently but Raven still managed to make an appearance on occasion.

Jemma whistled. “You two are party animals.”

Zahra laughed at her sister’s sarcastic remark. She didn’t need to go out partying—her career and the man sitting on her couch were everything she’d ever wanted.

Four dishes later and dinner was prepared. Jemma placed the food on the table while Zahra poured the wine. “Let’s eat.”

Zahra learned something new about her sister over dinner: she was adept at simultaneously ingesting food and interrogating their guest. In the future, if she ever needed to find out something about Jayce, all she need do was to invite Jemma over. She gleaned his entire childhood, his university days and his family dynamics in a little under two hours. And he politely answered every question without hesitation. When the plates were empty, they were best of friends.

“Thank you for dinner,” Jayce said, kissing the soft spot behind Zahra’s ear. “She is a force to be reckoned with.”

“She’s just like my mother,” Zahra said under her breath.

His lips reverberated against her skin. “Imagine your entire family together, then,” he said. “That’s one dinner I don’t want to miss.”

“You’ll regret saying that.” She kissed him softly, running her fingers through his hair.

“Hu-hum, I’m still here,” Jemma interrupted.

Jayce shot her a winning smile. “My apologies.”

Zahra reluctantly let go of Jayce and helped her sister to do the dishes while he made a few calls in her study. She wiped down the stone countertops and Jemma dried the last of the baking trays. “All done,” she said, hanging the checkered dishtowel over the oven handle.

“Thanks, Jem.”

“Okay, I’m going to call a car.”

“Don’t leave on my behalf,” Jayce said. “I’ve got some more work to finish.”

Jemma waved a hand, yawning wide. “No, no. I’m exhausted. Best get home and have a good night sleep so that I’m refreshed and on top of my game tomorrow.”

Jayce chuckled. “Best you do that. Don’t call a cab, though, I’ll call my driver.”

“You don’t need to do that, I can call a cab.”

Jayce wouldn’t hear of it, insisting that his driver take her home.

For the rest of the evening, Jayce and Zahra sat at the dining table, side by side, as they worked on their laptops. Zahra yawned, rubbing her eyes.

“Come on, let’s go to bed. Turn that off,” Jayce said, closing his laptop down.

Zahra saved her work and then put her computer to sleep. From behind her, Jayce wrapped her up in his arms and walked to her to the bedroom, sucking on her earlobe the entire way. By the time he threw her onto the bed, she was already wet for him.

He climbed onto her and she loved the feeling of his weight on top of her. She rocked her hips against him and he nuzzled into her neck. “I can’t get enough of you,” he groaned, rocking back into her.

Zahra looked at him through her lashes. “Good. I want you to feel like that forever. I feel the same way.” She lifted his T-shirt up and ran her nails down his back. His head tilted backward and he closed his eyes. She slid her hand between their bodies and caressed him; his cock hardened at her touch and it turned her on.

“Slow,” he moaned in her ear, “I want to take it slow. I want to feel you,” he said, kissing her neck, “and I want to savor every touch.” His lips moved down to the top of her breasts. “I don’t want to fuck like animals, I want to make love, I want to remember everything.” He sucked harder and Zahra winced, sure she was going to be left with a bruise.

He lifted her top over her head and undid her bra and she took his shirt off. Their naked chests pressed together and she shivered as his mouth moved to her other breast, giving her a matching bruise. When Zahra reached for his jean buttons, he ground his hips down, blocking her. “Slow.” Zahra groaned and Jayce chuckled. Her pelvis was already throbbing and she wasn’t sure how long she could take it slow.

Zahra bit into his shoulder, punishing him with pleasure. He bit her nipple in response and she sucked in a short breath. He kissed her passionately and she could tell he wasn’t as in control as she’d thought.

“Slow, Jayce,” she told him and he smirked.

“I’m trying.” His voice was gruff and this time when she reached for his jeans, he didn’t stop her. She watched his eyes roll back in his head as she wrapped her fingers around his cock and for a moment he let her pleasure him.

“Come here, turn around.” He guided her onto all fours and then peeled down her jeans and panties. He rubbed two fingers back and forth and pressed her lower back with his hand, forcing her head down to the bed. His tongue was hot on her sensitive clit and she moaned as he licked her. She arched her back, lifting her ass higher and she heard him groan. He dug his nails into her hips and her pelvis coiled. He continued to caress her, his tongue tantalizing, and when he moved up, licking her ass, she could no longer hold it. She screamed his name as intense heat exploded through her and she quivered against his mouth.

She was still recovering from her orgasm when he slipped into her from behind, pushing her down on the bed. “That was so fucking sexy,” he growled and she clenched around him. “Fuck!” he swore, pushing in and out of her over and over again.

“Turn over, I don’t want to come yet,” Jayce said, pulling out.

Zahra lay on her back and put her heels on his shoulders as he entered her, thankful for her regular post-running stretching.

“Look at me,” Jayce said. “Don’t take your off eyes of me.”

She moaned, his cock deep inside her. “Jayce,” Zahra panted.

“You have no idea how good you feel,” he said, sucking on her lip. “Open your eyes, I want you to watch me.”

Zahra tried to keep her eyes open but the pleasure was too intense.

“We were meant for each other, Zahra.” Jayce was slamming in and out of her relentlessly now, no longer taking it slow—they were back to fucking like animals.

Zahra opened her eyes and looked into his and together they came, the world shattering around them. Zahra held him tightly, grinding against him as he slowed his pace before collapsing onto her. Jayce came inside her and he stayed there, placing sweet kisses all over her body. It was the last thing she remembered before she fell asleep.

My body was aching, my muscles longing to move, to roam, but I held my position. Sooner or later, they would have to come out. I stood hidden behind the pillar with one eye on my master’s chamber. Queen Keres had a new lover; I knew because she was no longer interested in me, and because I could hear her passionate throes echoing through the stone lair. She was also a screamer, but I already knew that. What I didn’t know was the identity of her lover. It was a crucial detail; they were too far in now to leave anything, or anyone, to chance. If we don’t kill her now, if we fail, she will behead us both and she will ensure a painful death: a public display of barbaric mutilation. And I will not allow that to happen to Dryas. I cared less about myself, but not to him, I would die a thousand deaths before I let her touch him.

We had been in the Kingdom for many nights, plotting the queen’s death. Bringing Dryas into the Kingdom had been easier than expected for the queen knew of him only by name. I still didn’t know what Dryas had done to her, and how she could possess so much hate for a man she had never met, but she didn’t send her finest assassin on a journey to the other end of the world for a man she simply disliked. No, Dryas had done something terrible to the queen.

Upon my return, I had passed the queen a severed head and bloody heart and announced Dryas was dead. I told them Dryas was my new lover, Brygos, and that he would stay with me in the castle. She didn’t question me, nor did anyone else—they feared me as much as they feared the queen.

In two nights’ time, Queen Keres would meet her death. I would lure her into her private gardens where Dryas would be waiting. He would kill her and give me the freedom I deserved. I would work for no one and I would answer to no one. We would leave the Kingdom and start a new life together—we would both be free.

The ear-shrieking moaning grew in intensity as she reached orgasm. Not long now, I told myself. Stay still, stay invisible.

The door creaked open and I pressed my back flat against the wall. Dryas moved fast, but not fast enough. He lied to me! He told me he was leaving the castle today to trade silver for our safe passage out of the Kingdom, but he hadn’t left at all! He was in the queen’s chamber! Oh, God, no. Please, no. Was Dryas the queen’s lover? Why else would he lie to me about where he was? My legs trembled violently and then gave in, surrendering to the stone floor. My throat burned with anger, with betrayal. I clutched at it, unable to breathe. My nails clawed the wall as I grappled for something to hold on to. No! No! No! Fury burned wild, destroying all reasonable thought. Why did reason matter now, anyway? It was too late for reason. Dryas had lied to me and whatever he was planning now, it didn’t involve me. He had betrayed me. The man who propositioned me with the deal, the man who showed me how beautiful life could be, the man whom I loved more than life itself. And he turned out to be nothing but a lying, cheating fool. Shame on me, I should have known better.

I stayed on all fours, my eyes stinging with tears of hatred. Hatred for this Godforsaken life. How much pain was one being supposed to endure? No more, I promised myself, no more. They would all pay. But Dryas would pay first.

Slowly, I stood up, my legs still shaking but now able to hold my weight again. I had my weapon of choice strapped to my leg, beneath my flowing white gown: a sadistic image. I inhaled deeply, assessing the exit: it was clear. I moved fast, fueled by a level of anger unbeknown before this time. My vision was blurred, no longer by tears but by raw vehemence. I was going to bring down this entire kingdom!

I knew where Dryas would be, because he had asked me to meet him there after the evening meal. I would give him no chance to explain because he didn’t deserve it. He didn’t deserve to speak another word. I opened the door and saw him sitting at the desk, writing a letter. Dryas looked up at me, smiling that beautiful damn smile. He had no idea I’d seen him leave her chamber. He stood and walked toward me, oblivious to his approaching death. “Raven, where have you been? I was becoming worried.” He looked genuinely concerned, but she knew better now, he was a spectacular liar. The best.