Modeling Death (11 page)

After four hours of shooting, Jacob was convinced they'd gotten it all wrong. Relief swept him as he imagined a different killer out there, one not connected to him in any way.

The door to the warehouse banged open. Mandy stomped through the doorway in a pair of stiletto heels. Jacob was surprised since her ankle had supposedly been broken just a few days before. Maybe sucking people's souls healed all wounds.

"What the hell is going on here?" she demanded. Her eyes pinned Jacob on stage, and for a brief moment, he was overwhelmed with guilt. Before he remembered she was, in all likelihood, a killer.

"Nothing that concerns you," Pablo said in his thickly accented voice. "Jacob is merely doing me a small favor."

"All his schedules go through me," Mandy snapped. "Jacob, come down here. I need to talk to you. I've been looking around for you all afternoon."

Jacob looked at Guy, hidden behind the covered scaffolding on his right. He got a subtle nod. Okay, okay he could do this. Nerves bouncing around like a ping pong ball, Jacob came down the metal stairs. Mandy waited at the bottom.

"Hey, Mandy." He flashed her his best smile, and for a moment, her disapproving look disappeared.

"We need to talk, Jacob."

Jacob sighed. He'd promised not to leave the warehouse with her, but he let her lead him a few feet away to hear her out. "Did you hear Gregor died?"

"Yes." Her face showed a flash of guilt, sending Jacob's stomach churning. Gregor might have been an ass, but no one deserved to be sucked of all energy.

"You're not going to like what I have to say, but you need to know. I tried to stop her. I came to warn you before going to police because I didn't know who you were shooting with."

"What are you talking about?"

From the corner of his eye, he saw Niles step behind Mandy.

Mandy ranted, still not making sense. "She called me and told me to stop giving you shoots with other people. She said you shouldn't have to share the limelight, that you were too good to be on the same page as those other people. I swear I didn't know she was killing people until Gregor was dead. I only wanted to protect you, Jacob. You're like a son to me."

"Protect me from what?"

Cold laughter filled the warehouse. "From me!" Jacob turned at the familiar voice.

"Mother?"

His mother stood in the doorway. Her hair stood on end, her eyes, the same color as Jacob's, were wide with madness, and the expression on her face more maniacal than he'd ever seen before.

"Don't worry, baby boy. I took care of those others. They thought they could take away some of your shine."

"What did you do?" Jacob felt queasy. "You killed those men."

"They tried to take away the spotlight. I stopped them."

She looked so proud of herself.

"I tried to stop her, Jacob," Mandy whispered behind him. "I couldn't stop her in time. I wanted to protect you from that monster."

"I'm a monster? I should've killed you when you sent those others to take Jacob's place."

"I sent what the client asked for," Mandy shouted. "It didn't mean you had to kill them."

"You're no good for him. You were encouraging him to take photos!" Jacob's mother screamed. "You don't understand. He's meant to be seen. If his father sees him, he'll come back."

It was clear to Jacob in that instant that this wasn't about him. This was about his mother trying to bring his father back.

"You are still waiting for father." He didn't make it a question; he knew it as a fact.

"He'll come back," she said in a sing-song voice. "He'll come back when he sees you."

You have magic
.

Hadn't Guy told him he had untapped powers? If he used it accidentally all the time, would it work if he tried to use it on purpose? "You don't want to hurt anyone," Jacob said, pushing his belief into every syllable.

"I don't?" His mother's eyes turned foggy.

"You want me to take you home instead." Jacob took a step forward and, surprisingly, Guy released him. He'd thought Guy would be his biggest obstacle, but apparently Guy knew what Jacob was doing.

"I've always wanted your father, Jacob, but I didn't know how to tell him you were born. Now that you're famous, he's bound to see you in an advertisement and come back to me. You look so much like him, even if you have my eyes."

"I'm sure he'll come." Jacob used the low soothing voice he saved for children crying on the set. "Mandy says I've got a few really big ads coming up."

His mother's eyes lit up. "Yes, then you'll see. You'll get to meet him."

Jacob watched dispassionately as Niles snuck up on his mother. He saw the wizard's mouth move. Seconds later, she collapsed on the floor in a crumpled heap.

Tears filled his eyes but he blinked them back.

"I told her," Mandy whispered behind them. "I was so mad I told your mother you were here. I'm so sorry, Jacob."

Guy unlocked her handcuffs.

Jacob walked up to the woman he'd always thought of as a second mother. "I'm only here as a trap. We thought you were involved."

Mandy gave him a shaky smile. "I guess indirectly I was."

He watched sadly as Niles picked up his mother and carried her from the warehouse.

Pablo approached. "Sorry, Mandy. I supported their belief you were guilty."

Mandy gave a laugh as she rubbed her wrists. "I would've accused me too. They were all my models, after all. Maybe it's time I retired. After this, my reputation is shot anyway."

Jacob walked over and gave her a hug. "You let me know. If you leave, so will I."

Mandy gave him a pat on the back. "Deal."

* * * *

Nothing like a life-changing experience to make a man horny. After a traumatic afternoon, he needed reassurance from the man he loved. Jacob barely waited until they'd cleared the door to strip off Guy's shirt. Stumbling and unfastening buckles, snaps, and buttons as they went, both men were laughing as they finally hit the mattress, more or less unclothed.

Jacob tore off Guy's underwear before throwing himself on the mattress. "Your turn to fuck me."

Guy laughed. "If you insist."

Jacob stroked himself as he watched Guy's fine ass leaning over the bed.

Unable to resist, he sank his teeth into one tight cheek.

"Hey!"

"I told you to keep things where they are easy to reach."

Guy looked over his shoulder with laughing blue eyes. "You didn't say the penalty was a butt bite."

Jacob shrugged. "Penalties have to be paid."

"Uh, huh." Guy didn't sound convinced, but he did retrieve the condom and lube. "Do you want to be on your back or hands and knees?"

Jacob rolled over. It wasn't that he didn't want to see his lover, but he knew Guy could get a better angle in this direction.

The feel of wet lube being pushed into his hole had him shoving back against the invasion. He could feel Guy spreading him with his thick fingers.

"More," he moaned.

"Easy," Guy said, kissing Jacob's shoulder. "We'll get there."

"Get there faster."

A soft chuckle was his response.

Jacob let out a groan. Guy wouldn't be hurried.

Just as he was about to flip around and tackle his lover, Guy slid inside, causing Jacob to moan. "Yes."

"You feel so amazing," Guy whispered, sliding in and out with excruciating slowness.

"Yes, right there." Jacob shifted so Guy's cock hit his prostate over and over. Wrapping his hand around his own length, he was shocked when Guy smacked him on the ass. "What!"

"That's mine," Guy growled.

"You can play with it later. Fuck me."

Laughter was his lover's response as Guy pounded into him. Jacob desperately pumped his shaft, seeking relief. Before long, the scent of spunk and the sounds of groans filled the air.

The men collapsed on to the bed together.

"I'm never leaving your ass," Guy murmured against Jacob's shoulder.

"It might be hard to find pants that fit."

Guy's laughter, while still deep inside him, made Jacob tingle. Before he could get used to the sensation, his lover pulled out. "I'll be right back."

Jacob watched while Guy headed for the bathroom.

"I thought he'd never leave," said a voice.

Jacob yelped as a man appeared by the foot of his bed. Quickly covering himself, Jacob glared at the intruder.

"You really should start keeping something by the bed to clean up with," the man said.

He was about to ask who the man was, but the words died in his chest. The man, or whatever he was, looked just like Jacob.

"Hello, son."

The words shook Jacob. He'd never thought he'd have any man call him son.

"Um, hello."

"Sorry to interrupt like this, but I just learned about you." He gave Jacob a wry smile. "I guess there won't be any grandkids, huh?"

Jacob shrugged. "I wouldn't completely rule it out. If I'm going to live as long as Guy says, I have plenty of time to find a surrogate. What's your name anyway?"

"Oh sorry. I'm Denius, and as I'm sure you've noticed the resemblance, I'm also your father. I didn't know you existed until a friend showed me this magazine and asked when I'd posed." Denius held up a copy of the latest fashion magazine with Jacob on the cover. "You are really stunning."

Jacob laughed. "You should know." It twisted the knife in his chest to learn his mother had been right. His father had come back when he learned about Jacob.

Denius smiled. "Yes, I should. I'll leave you now. I know this isn't the best time. Maybe we could get together next week for dinner? You can bring your mate. I wasn't there for you as a child, but I'd love to be there for you as a man."

"I'd like that too."

Jacob didn't miss the longing in Denius's expression. He'd withhold his opinion of the man until he got to know him better, but it would be nice to see if they could at least be friends.

Denius's eyes glowed for a moment. "I programmed my number into your phone. Call me next week when you have time."

"I will." Jacob really meant that too. The man appeared sincere, but time would tell. He didn't bother telling his newly-found father about his mother. They needed to get to know each other before he unloaded the anger he had over his father's abandonment.

Before he could say anything else, Denius vanished. Guy walked back in. "That was weird. The bathroom door wouldn't open."

Jacob laughed. "It was probably my father." He went on to tell Guy all about his father's visit.

Guy smiled. "I'm glad he contacted you." He lost his carefree expression a moment later. "I wouldn't tell your mother about that just yet. She has some healing to do first."

Jacob shook his head. "I'm not planning on telling her." The Council had recommended incarceration and therapy for his mother, with visitation by Jacob at least once a month. They believed he could help ground her, but only time would tell.

Epilogue

Jacob couldn't believe it when the helicopter touched down behind William's house. Who kept a helipad in their backyard? Jacob laughed at himself. Who was he to criticize? After all, he was arriving at a wedding in a helicopter. Shaking his head, Jacob stepped out of the helicopter and into the arms of William Stamson.

"I'm so glad you're here. You need to convince Cash to wear the tuxedo I picked for him."

Jacob released William. "If you can't win him over with your persuasive techniques, I don't think I have any hope."

"What do you know about his persuasive techniques?" a deep voice asked.

Jacob looked up to see a dark-haired man with black eyes regarding him with suspicion.

"You must be Cash." Remembering the tips his father had given him over dinner the other night, Jacob flashed him his best smile. "I'm so pleased to meet you."

Cash took Jacob's hand, his pupils dilating. Damn, maybe he'd overdone the whammy a bit.

"I hear you're going to look amazing in your new tuxedo." With a wink to Will, Jacob turned Cash around and headed him back towards the house, still talking about how great he'd look if he wore the outfit Will picked for him.

* * * *

"He's really improved," Will said, watching the interaction with wide eyes.

Guy laughed. "Yeah, the only person it doesn't appear to work on is me."

"Are you sure?" Will said, quirking a brow. "Maybe it doesn't work because you already give him everything he wants."

"Maybe." A burst of pride made Guy walk taller. "He's the most amazing person."

"Yeah, did he ever tell you how we met?" Will started walking back towards the house, and Guy unconsciously followed.

"He said you bought a bunch of clothes at a charity walk."

"Yeah, did he mention he didn't get paid for the event, and afterwards, he anonymously gave them several thousand dollars?"

"No," Guy mused, watching Jacob lead Cash back to his own house.

"Jacob is more than just a pretty face. Remember that." Will's tone had Guy ripping his gaze away from Jacob's ass to face Will.

"Is that a threat?" he asked in amusement. "Because if it is, you have to stand in line. His cousin, David, threatened to infiltrate my computer system and set flags for the IRS, his manager Mandy threatened to break my kneecaps, and his father told me he knew how to make someone disappear. I don't think I'm worried about one more threat."

Will laughed. "Maybe not, but consider me on the Jacob Protection Team. If anything happens to him, I have a vortex with your name on it." Despite his teasing tone, Will's eyes told the true story. Hurt his friend and suffer the consequences.

"Huh." Guy looked at the smaller man. "Somehow I think I find you the scariest."

Will's smile wasn't the least bit reassuring. "Then you are a very smart man. Now that you've had the requisite threat, tell me the details. How did you two meet?"

Guy rubbed his forehead. "To tell the truth, it's a wonder we haven't met before. I mean, you are a friend of Jacob's. Milo roomed with Jacob while I invested in his business, and Jacob's cousin works for my company."

"There is a reason you're called fated mates, Guy. Fate meant for you to get together; it just took a while before you were both ready. Now that you found him, what do you think?"