‘Are you gay?’
Jack laughs. ‘That’ll be a surprise to my girlfriend.’
Lana gasps. ‘You have a girlfriend?’
‘Mmnnn.’
‘Since when?’
‘About a week ago. I was always so focused on getting out of the estate I didn’t allow myself to get distracted. But my goal is in sight now and she’s a great girl.’
‘And just when were you going to tell me, Jack Irish?’
‘Well, how could I with you springing your big news on me?’
‘Tell me more about her.’
Before he can answer, her phone rings. It is Blake. ‘Hi,’ she says, looking at Jack.
‘Are you at the apartment?’
‘No.’
‘Can you get there in thirty minutes?’
‘I guess so.’
‘See you in thirty minutes.’
‘That was him?’ Jack asks.
She nods. ‘I’ve got to go. I’ll take a rain check on lunch with you, but I’m buying and we’re going somewhere nice.’
‘With his money?’
She doesn’t say anything. Of course it’s his money. Her credit cards were maxed out before him.
‘Thanks, but no thanks. I understand why you’re doing what you’re doing, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to help spend his money. As far as I’m concerned it’s blood money—your blood. I’m not going to drink from it.’
She looks at him helplessly. ‘It’s not that bad. Don’t let it come between us, please,’ she begs.
‘Nothing will come between us. I’ll always be here for you and will be long after he is gone. I’m your brother. No matter what happens, I want you to know I’m always here, a phone call away. You can always come to me.’
Tears spring into her eyes. She blinks them away. ‘What’s the name of that girlfriend of yours?’
‘Alison.’
‘Jesus, she’s lucky.’
He smiles. ‘You must tell her.’
‘When?’
‘You’ll see at Tom’s birthday party. I’m bringing her.’
She bites her lip. ‘If I am allowed to be there, I would love to meet her.’
His eyes narrow dangerously. ‘Are you some kind of sexual slave to him, Lana?’
Lana feels the hot color run up her neck. ‘No, but it’s the arrangement—I have to be there whenever he wants me.’
Jack draws a sharp breath. ‘That is just sick,’ he fumes.
Lana covers her cheeks with her palms. ‘Please, Jack, leave it.’
‘You’re such a fucking innocent. Does your mother know about this pact of abuse you have signed up for?’
‘Of course she doesn’t, but it’s not abuse, Jack. It’s not exactly a hardship to sleep with the man that Hello! magazine has called the most eligible bachelor in the world.’
‘So what does your mother think?’
Lana bites her lip. ‘She thinks I’ve got myself a rich boyfriend.’ She pauses. ‘You know I don’t believe in God. All my life I’ve thought it’s a cruel god up there, if there is one at all, but you do, and your god is kind and forgiving. Will you pray to your god to save my mother?’
‘I pray every day for your mum, Lana.’
The tears spill down her cheeks.
Sadly, he reaches out a hand and wipes them. ‘Don’t cry, little one. Maybe this treatment will work. Maybe she will get better.’
She smiles. ‘I don’t know what I’d do without you, Jack. Sometimes when I am really sad I think of you studying in your dorm, and it makes me feel happy. “Dr Jack Irish, your next patient has arrived.”’
Jack smiles, but it is a sad smile.
‘I did what I had to do.’
Jack puts his hand on his forehead; his eyes are unexpectedly gentle. ‘All right, Lana. We’ll play it your way. Be safe and remember I’m here for you. Always. If ever it gets…strange or dangerous, call me immediately. I swear if he ever hurts you, I don’t care if I end up in prison, I’m going to punch his lights out.’
She nods. ‘I’ll be all right. It’s just sex,’ she says and he winces.
‘Please don’t say that again, Lana. It hurts my ears.’
‘I’ve not suddenly become Fat Mary, you know.’
‘Perish the thought,’ Jack says, the ghost of a smile flickering into his face.
‘I have to go now.’
He stands. ‘I’ll pop by and see your mum later.’
‘Thanks Jack. She’ll like that. She likes you. Do you know she thought you and I would get together?’
He makes a face. ‘Oh dear.’
She laughs. ‘I know. Goodbye, Jack.’
She moves forward, kisses him on his cheek and walks towards the entrance. As she crosses it her phone flashes with an incoming text.
Wear nothing.
She looks at the screen again. Wear nothing. And feels a stirring of excitement deep within her belly.
Eighteen
In the bathroom her eyes are smoky in the mirror. She undresses quickly and pulls on the bathrobe hanging behind the door. She still hasn’t got used to her hairless body. It seems too girlish, somehow, but she knows why he wants it so. Everything in his life is neat and tidy. Not a pubic hair out of place.
When she hears him in the corridor she freezes.
Wear nothing.
She takes the bathrobe off, slips into the bedroom and stands inside the door. He is already there. He is dressed in grey trousers. His tie is loosened and his shirtsleeves have been haphazardly folded up his arms. His watch glints on his strong wrist. He goes to her and leads her to the big black armchair by the large mirror. She sees herself in the mirror. Nude.
‘Porcelain skin and fuck me now, blue eyes. How beautiful you are,’ he says, watching her through the mirror. His eyes are heavy-lidded and cloudy with desire.
Fully clothed he stands behind her. Gently, he hooks his handmade leather shoe underneath her right foot and lifts it. The leather is cool and smooth and the laces rub erotically against the soft sole of her foot. His shoe deposits her foot on the padded seat of the big black chair.
The position has exposed her sex in the most indecent way. She doesn’t recognize the woman in the mirror. She looks wanton and shameless. Now she knows why she is bald. There is nothing to hide behind. It is so shameful it is exciting. She looks away.
‘I want you to see what I am doing to you.’
She meets his eyes in the mirror. He kisses her neck and she moans and tries to turn towards him.
‘No, watch.’ She looks at the mirror. She is throbbing with excitement. She has willingly spread open her sex and allowed him access into her most intimate parts. She feels his fully clothed body brush against her. Vaguely: buttons pressing into her back…soft wool against her buttocks and thighs. Then his hand is moving towards her navel.
‘I love your skin. It is like the finest silk.’ His hand moves downwards without any resistance. All the while he is watching her watching herself.
His palm comes to press on her pubic bone. She watches the palm make circles. The circles become tighter and tighter until they are moving the flesh over her clitoris. Suddenly his index finger taps at her clit. She shivers with helpless wanting.
‘Not yet,’ he whispers. ‘I will decide when you come.’
Then his fingers move quickly in a sweeping motion along her crack, gathering juice. There is enough there. The lubricated finger circles the swollen, throbbing bud. Watching him pleasure her is the most unexpectedly erotic thing she has experienced.
She gasps and longs for the feeling of being full. That feeling of having him inside her, but he does not give that to her. Instead he rubs around her sex, his fingers are cunningly methodical. The same movement again and again.
In minutes she feels the waves coming, but as she pushes eagerly towards them, towards release, his fingers stop, and even though she pushes her hips towards them, they stubbornly refuse to move, until the waves dissipate. She sags against him, frustrated, and he slowly pushes his finger into her.