Page 256 of Under Her Skin

The girl he’d taken had now fainted. He pushed up her shirt and waited. She stirred and opened her eyes. She looked at the knife in terror, disbelief. His hand was still clamped on her face and she shook her head wildly to free her mouth, to scream, to beghim.

Jessica hadn’t begged. He wanted her to plead with him to spare her. He needed her to dothat.

Hannah had begged him just as he had shown her the blade and smiled tenderly ather.

And then she, like this girl, had bled forhim.

Max was waitingfor them in Jess’s office as they arrived back, hand-in-hand, in the Seattle office. He hugged them both and shut the door behind them, chatting easily about their conference. He grinned atJess.

‘You, lady, are astar.’

She looked at Theo, who was equally confused. Max handed her a magazine, one of the top glossies. She saw her name on the cover and looked up in amazement. Maxnodded.

‘They’ve done a feature. A good one, Jess, before you make thatface.’

‘But I didn’t give an interview or even have picturestaken…’

He took the magazine back and flipped to the centrefold. He held it up. The full page photo of Jess was of her laughing with Theo at some event they’d attended; the smaller photo was taken from her previous life at the college, working with Gerry. The headline read ‘Fighting Back: The woman who tamed Theo Storm and survived apsychopath’

Jess took the magazine from Max and read the article, Theo leaning over her shoulder to read it. It was a puff-piece but a well-written one and very positive about Jess and the Stormfront Foundation. Still, Jess looked uncomfortable and Max leanedforward.

‘I know you don’t like this sort of thing, Jess, but in this case, I think it’s a good thing. Your name is out there anyway, it has been since you and Theo met and with the attempted murder…it’s time you controlled the narrative. You’re the head of one of the largest arts foundations in the world. Yeah, okay, some are going to say it’s because of Theo but no-one can argue you haven’t made it a success. If it hadn’t been for the… well, your leave of absence, then we would be even bigger. This time next year, under your direction, we willbe.’

Max’s words brought tears to her eyes and, embarrassed, she looked at Theo who nodded. He moved to sit next to her, picked up her hand. ‘Max’s right. And from a security point of view, your visibility will make it even hard for anyone who wishes you harm to get nearyou.’

Jess nodded slowly. ‘Okay. Okay then, well,what…?’

‘We’ve been getting requests, interviews – print media and t.v.,photoshoots.’

‘Ohgod.’

Both Theo and Max chuckled at her expression. ‘Listen, my idea is this. A press junket. One big t.v. interview. One photo shoot and interview with one top magazine. That’sit.’

Jess sighed. ‘All they want to know will be how it felt to be stabbed by my rapey step-brother.’

Theo nodded. ‘Because that’s all they know. You give them a glimpse of you, Jess Wood, I promise it’ll change thestory.’

‘I feel like you’re both biased. I’m not thatinteresting.’

She couldn’t help but giggle at the synchronized eye-rolling of the two men. ‘Fine, fine, but you have to help meprepare.’

Max grinned and Theo kissed her cheek. ‘I think a charity event would be appropriate to make the most of thepublicity.’

‘Now you’re talking.’ Jess leaned into Theo’s big body. ‘You sure the exposure will be okay? Securitywise?’

Theo slid his arms around her waist and kissed her temple. ‘Wookie safe, Ipromise.’

Max looked askance at them and Jess grinned. ‘Longstory.’

Max was collecting up his papers. ‘Okay, I’ll go start the ball rolling. See you two later.’ He headed for the door then stopped, and turned back. ‘And by the way, stop screwing in your office. You’re corrupting the securitystaff.’

With a wide grin, he waved and disappeared while Jess buried her head in her hands and Theo started laughing. ‘So much for your latent exhibitionism. To be fair, the security team are probably all in love with you anyways.’ He pulled her, still blushing furiously, to her feet and kissed hersoftly.

She rubbed the tip of her nose against his. ‘You’re presuming they’re straight, Mr. Storm, they could just as easy be enjoying your perfect body.’ She pulled his shirt out of his pants and ran her hands underneath it. Theo grinned, his eyes crinkling at the corner, obviously enjoying the feel of her hands on hischest.

‘I’m not sure this is quite what Max meant, but I’m okay with it,’ he said, then pressed his lips against hers. She kissed him back then pulled away, closing his office door and lockingit.

‘Technically,’ she said with a grin, ‘This is my office and he didn’t say anything about not screwing in here.’ She closed the blinds, then in one easy fluid movement, peeled her dress off, over her head, shaking out her long dark hair. The dark red burgundy underwear she wore was glorious against her honey-coloredskin.