Aftermath (Dividing Line #6) (29 page)

CHAPTER 32

Mikey stared at his laptop, fighting the urge to look.

“Dammit,” he muttered, unable to resist any longer, lifting the lid and bringing up the live feed. At first he couldn’t make out what the stumbling figures on the screen were doing. When the man slapped Jules across the face Mikey shot to his feet, ready to race over there and intervene. He sat back down when Jules smiled and punched the man back. This was the game she liked to play.

At first he thought the man was Dane, his build was similar and he had dark hair, but when he turned his face to the camera he realised it wasn’t him. This man was a bit younger. Like Jules he was covered in tattoos, a massive snarling tiger’s head taking up his entire back. For some reason he looked familiar, although he couldn’t place him. Whoever he was he was strong because he ripped Jules’s top off her as though it were tissue paper. They flew about the room together in a frenzy, tearing off each other’s clothes until they were both completely naked. The man suddenly forced himself to slow, put Jules down on her feet and sank onto his knees before her, his face buried between her thighs. Jules’s hand went into his hair and her head fell back, eyes screwed tight shut with pleasure, mouth open in a silent moan. The man nimbly jumped to his feet again, picked her up and slammed her up against the wall in line with the camera. Mikey was sure she’d directed him there purposefully, he’d seen her gesturing towards that particular wall. As the man began pounding into her Jules’s head lolled to one side and she smiled at the camera.

Mikey cut the feed and slammed the laptop shut. He was sweating, his heart thudded and he had a hard on. Bloody Jules, she’d done that on purpose.

He wandered upstairs, attempting to push the image of Jules writhing with the man out of his head but it refused to go. He’d intended to have the cameras removed today but for some reason he’d kept putting it off. What the fuck was wrong with him?

Troubled, he headed upstairs, pausing to pop his head round Jamie’s door, who was sleeping peacefully in his cot. Mikey smiled.

Quietly he tiptoed down the landing to his own bedroom, still trying to shake the image of her out of his head, erection straining painfully. What was going on? Since he’d met Amber no other woman had made a dent in him and now he couldn’t stop thinking about his own cousin. It was sick.

He opened the bedroom door and stopped in his tracks. Amber was asleep in their huge bed, her red hair streaming out around her, beautiful body encased in a cream silk nightgown. All thoughts of Jules evaporated, leaving him with a sense of peace. What a relief.

He stripped off and climbed into bed, lying on his side to watch his wife sleep. When his arm went around her waist her eyes slid open.

“Hhmnnp,” she mumbled.

“What?” he smiled.

“Have you finished your paperwork?”

“Yes. Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“You can wake me any time,” she said, pulling him to her for a kiss, wrapping her warm body around his.

As he slid inside her the last image of Jules completely vanished and he lost himself in the feel and delicate scent of his beautiful wife. No one else could compare.

Jules stretched and yawned, nudging the warm lump in the bed beside her until it moved.

“Not up for a cuddle then?” said a deep voice.

“I’ve never been the soft and fluffy type Jax, you know that,” she replied, rubbing her eyes.

“Isn’t that the truth?” Jackson stretched and groaned. “Ow. Did you have to tear my bloody back to shreds? I’ve got a fight tonight.”

“It’ll only add to your macho image. What time is it?”

Jackson glanced at his watch. “Half eight.”

“Shit, I’m going to be late,” she said, sitting up.

A warm arm around her waist pushed her back down. “You don’t have to go yet. We can have some more fun.”

“Get off me or I’ll punch you in the nads.”

He sighed and released her and she leapt up.

“It’s like going to bed with a cactus,” Jackson said, propping himself up on an elbow to watch her scatter her personal belongings around the room.

“A cactus is better at hugs. Where’s my fucking clothes? I can’t find anything in here,” she muttered, rifling through the suitcase she’d brought from her old flat to tide her over until the rest of her stuff arrived. “Shit. I’ll jump in the shower first then I might remember where I’ve put everything.”

After a quick shower she charged back into the bedroom completely naked, dripping water everywhere. “Where’s my sodding underwear?” she yelled.

“Will you keep the noise down? I’m trying to sleep here.”

“I can’t be late for my first day at my new job.”

“What job’s that then?” he said, stretching, giving her an impressive display of muscles and tattoos.

“Mind your own business.”

“Is it with the Samaritans or the charm school?” he said dryly.

“Actually it’s working in a care home for cheeky bastard cage fighters who’ve had their kneecaps broken.”

“Bloody hell Venom you turn me on,” he grinned.

“My name is Jules,” she retorted, pulling on black trousers and a short sleeved black shirt.

“You always
ordered
me to call you Venom.”

“Yeah well, new start, new me.”

He stuck his leg out from under the duvet and nudged her thigh with his toe. “I like you the way you are. Ow,” he said when she slapped his foot away.

“Stop messing about, I’m in a hurry,” she said, dragging a comb through her hair, getting angry when it snagged on a knot.

“You might do better if you got it cut professionally. It looks like you had a go at it with a knife.”

“That’s because I did.”

“I like it, it’s cute.”

“Shut it.”

“Talking to me like that only makes me like you even more.”

“That’s because you’re off your head. Must be all those blows you’ve taken in the ring.”

“Hey, may I remind you I’m undefeated?”

“You wouldn’t be in my bed if you weren’t.”

Jackson got to his feet and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Come back to bed for a bit longer, they’ll wait.”

“Don’t make me hurt you.”

He ignored her and nuzzled her neck. “I heard Jasper’s done one. So, now that you’re finally free and single, why don’t we hook up?”

She turned in his arms, a gentle smile on her face. “You mean, start a relationship?”

“Yes,” he smiled back encouragingly.

Her eyes filled with wonder. “You really want me to be your girlfriend?”

“Yeah, why not?”

The gentle look fell. “Don’t be soft you big fucking girl. You know I’m not the settling down type.”

“I should have known. We’ve been shagging for the last two years and all that time you were with Jasper. I don’t know why I asked.”

“Neither do I. For Christ’s sake, where’s my mobile gone?”

“Here,” he said, fishing it out of the duvet. “You might want to give it a wash first. You enjoyed its vibration a bit too much.”

She gave him a small smile before taking it off him, digging a pack of baby wipes out of a holdall and running one over it.

Jackson followed her into the living room and watched her pull on her boots then her jacket.

“Help yourself to coffee, there’s a small jar in the kitchen,” she said. “Thanks for a great night. Don’t forget to close the door behind you on your way out.”

With that she was gone, leaving him standing in the middle of the room completely naked and alone.

Mikey glanced at his watch when Jules was escorted into his office by Grant, who then left them alone, closing the door behind him.

“You’re fifteen minutes late. Not a good start on your first day,” he frowned.

“Sorry, I was entertaining.” She sighed and rolled her eyes when he stared at her sternly. “I’ll stay fifteen minutes late if you’re going to get arsy about it.”

“What do you think this is? A fucking call centre.” He leaned back in his chair. “I’ll let you off just this once. I expect my employees to be punctual, whether they’ve been entertaining or not.”

“Noted.”

“Now, I want you to do something very important today,” he began.

Jules experienced a glimmer of excitement, wondering what it would be. Drugs? Extortion? Or good old fashioned murder?

“I want you to see the psychiatrist.”

Jules forced herself not to scowl.

“I can see you’re delighted,” he said. “You will go there and you will talk to her and you will listen carefully to any advice she gives you.”

Jules wrestled with herself, the desire to prove herself struggling with her temper and her natural instinct to do what the fuck she wanted to.

“This is part of the bargain we made and if you want to be welcomed into the family and into the business you will do it.”

“Fine,” she said, folding her arms across her chest and tapping a foot.

“Good. I’ll drive.”

“You’re coming too?”

“I want to make sure you actually get there.”

“You can’t sit in, it’s confidential.”

“I’ll wait in reception until you’ve finished.”

“Will she tell you everything I say?”

“Absolutely not. That will be between the two of you, but if you want to talk to me I’m here.”

“If I were you I wouldn’t hold my breath.”

Mikey picked up his car keys and got to his feet. “Let’s go.”

“Now?”

“Why not?”

“I thought I was here to work, not talk to some fucking bleeding heart.”

“Whether you start working for me or not depends on you talking to the bleeding heart,” he said, walking past her to the door.

“Did you like my tattoo?”

He hesitated, hand on the door knob. “What tattoo?”

“Venom, the snake. Don’t tell me you missed her. I’ll give you another peep, shall I?” she said, starting to unfasten her shirt.

“Stop that,” he barked. “You’re only doing it to distract me. You are going to this appointment and nothing is stopping it. Do you understand?”

“Yes little cuz,” she said, fastening her shirt back up again.

“And you will address me in a more respectful manner.”

“Sorry Sir,” she said sarcastically.

“You will call me Mikey, that is my name, not little cuz.”

“Got it boss.”

“Even better. Let’s go,” he snapped, pulling the door open and storming down the stairs, trying to get the image of that snake coiled around her body out of his head. Dane was right, Jules had a way of burying into your brain. He found himself a lot less angry at him for his deception.

“So Jules, tell me about yourself,” opened Cassandra, the shrink Mikey had made her see.

Jules scowled, legs stretched out before her, one booted foot crossed over the other, arms bunched angrily across her chest. The woman had irritated her on sight with her perfectly smooth brown bob, glasses perched precariously on the end of her long thin nose and slight overbite. At the same time she was strangely attractive with her smooth olive skin, pouty mouth and husky voice, but that didn’t stop her getting on her tits and she’d only just sat down.

“Like what?”

“Anything you want.”

At least Cassandra wasn’t giving her the patronising smile. “My name is Jules and I’m thirty five years old.”

“Anything else?” Cassandra enquired when she lapsed into silence.

“I like motorbikes, books and sadomasochistic sex,” she ended with a smile.

“If you’re hoping to put me off asking any more questions by providing shocking replies you’re going to be disappointed. I’ve heard it all in this room.”

“You’ve just issued me with a challenge. Now I’ll be forced to rise to it,” she smiled.

“You like a challenge?”

“Oh yes.”

“Go on then, shock me,” said Cassandra, settling back in her seat to listen.

“You’re really pretty. I’d like to push up your tight little skirt and stick my face between your creamy thighs.”

“Tempting but my girlfriend wouldn’t be impressed.” Cassandra’s pouty mouth lifted into a smile. “Yes I’m gay, but I’m guessing you’re not.”

Jules was disappointed that she’d failed. She hated failure. “I like women.”

“Not as much as men. Do you always use sexual innuendo as a distraction?”

“I find it very effective.”

“I’ve no doubt but it also stops you dealing with any uncomfortable situations.”

“I’ve dealt with plenty of them,” she replied, bored, shifting in her seat, tilting back her head to gaze up at the ceiling.

“Tell me about your parents.”

Jules’s head snapped back down again. “Why?”

“Did they teach you sex was a good distraction, that you could use your wiles to get your own way?”