Chương 9

The helicopter landed on the Beverly Hills pad at twelve minutes to three. Louis was moving as soon as the door opened. He stepped out, adjusted his sunglasses, and crossed toward the house. Élise Tremblay, the house manager, was waiting just inside the open doors. She wore a fitted blue house uniform. Her blonde hair was pinned neatly at the back of her head, exposing a delicate face, pale eyes, and a mouth that curved slightly at the corners. She smiled when she saw them.

"Welcome home." Judith handed over her bag.

"Thank you, Élise." Serana disappeared down the hall toward her rooms. Judith turned back to Louis.

"Try to be visible at dinner."

"I'll be there."

"Don't be late." She touched his arm briefly, then continued up the stairs. Her heels clicked against the stone. Élise stepped forward for his jacket. He gave it to her. Her fingers closed around his. Louis's hand stayed there and squeezed hers before he let go.

"Would you like something to eat?" she asked.

"No, thanks." He looked toward the stairs.

"I'm going to shower." He glanced back at her.

"Join me." She nodded once.

"Of course. I'll be there in a few minutes." She turned and went through the west archway. Louis stayed in the empty hall, listening to her steps fade. She had been waiting for him to ask, he thought. Maybe she had been waiting since the helicopter touched down. He had asked for it. He had wanted it. Still, the feeling of being handled stayed with him. Upstairs, the curtains were already drawn, leaving the room dim. The bed had been turned down, and the bathroom door stood ajar.

Louis stopped at the foot of the bed and unbuttoned his shirt. Cool air reached his chest. He heard her footsteps in the corridor before the bedroom door opened. Élise came in and closed it behind her. Her gaze moved over his open shirt, the buttons undone to his chest. One corner of her mouth lifted before she lowered her eyes to the buttons.

"Long day?" she asked. He stepped closer to her.

"You could say that." Her hand rose to his collarbone, fingers resting lightly on his skin.

"You look like you need to relax." Her other hand slid along the edge of his waistband.

"Shall we start in the shower?" He looked down at her. Her eyes were steady, and the small smile had not left her mouth. He bent to kiss her. She lifted her chin and kissed him back, one hand settling against his open shirt. Her mouth tasted of mint. He kissed her harder. Her lips opened under his, and his tongue slid against hers. She answered without hesitation, one hand closing in his shirt while the other settled at his waist. She pulled him into the bathroom and slid the glass door shut.

The shower was already running, steam whitening the glass. Élise undressed him first, finishing the buttons of his shirt, then his belt, then pushing the fabric down and away from him. Louis let her do it. Then she undressed herself. The blue uniform came open and slipped from her shoulders, revealing black lace beneath it. His eyes went straight to her breasts, full and pale above the dark edge of the bra. He cupped and squeezed them through the lace. Élise drew a quick breath.

He pulled her tightly against him, his hard cock pressing into her stomach. The lace felt rough against his bare chest. Then he slid one hand down and kneaded her ass through her panties. Louis reached behind her, found the clasp, and unhooked the bra. Élise rolled her shoulders forward and let him slide the straps down her arms. Then she took off her panties. Louis's eyes dropped to her smooth, bare pussy. This story originates from a different website.

Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. She took his hand and led him under the shower. Water ran between their bodies as she pulled him close. Her hands moved down his wet chest and settled at his hips, pulling him closer. Then she wrapped one hand around his cock. She stroked him slowly, watching his face as his breath changed. Louis wrapped both arms around her shoulders and pulled her close. He closed his eyes. Her wet breasts pressed against his chest while her hand worked him.

His mouth pressed to her shoulder. Her other hand moved into his hair and kept him there.

"You're tense," she said over the shower. He opened his eyes and looked at her, water running from his hair.

"It's fine."

"Only tense?" she asked. Her hand kept moving on him. He did not answer. He slid one hand down her wet stomach and between her legs. Under the shower, he could not tell what was water and what was her. His fingers parted her and found her clit. Her fingers tightened around his cock, but her rhythm did not break.

"No," he said.

"Not just that." He rubbed her harder. Élise parted her thighs enough for his hand and kept stroking him at the same pace.

"I don't want to talk about it." He pushed into her hand, wanting more friction.

"I just want this." Élise nodded once. Her hand worked him faster. Then she went down in front of him. Louis watched her take his cock into her mouth. Her lips closed around him, warm and wet, and she took him deeper without rushing. Her wet hair clung to her cheeks. His breath caught, and his hand tightened in her hair. She took her time, one hand steady at the base of him, her tongue moving along the underside. Louis's hand tightened in her wet hair.

He held her head and pushed into her mouth, taking the rhythm from her. Élise stayed where he put her, one hand on his thigh while he used her mouth in short, uneven thrusts. Water ran down his face and neck. His eyes closed. He came in her mouth. His hips jerking once before he held himself still. Élise swallowed and stayed there until his grip loosened. Then she pulled back, her mouth red from him. She stood under the spray and rinsed her lips with the back of her hand.

Then she kissed him once, before turning to soap herself. Louis watched her wash. Her breathing was even. Her hands moved over her own body unhurriedly. She rinsed, pushed wet hair back from her face, and looked at him with attentive eyes. Louis stared at his feet. She knew exactly what he liked, when to touch him, and when to stop. He had liked that until a minute ago. Now his body was done wanting her, and the sight of her naked in front of him felt ordinary. She turned off the shower and stepped out first.

Then she took a towel and came back to him. Cool air hit his wet skin. He stood still while she dried him carefully with steady hands.

"Better?" she asked, meeting his eyes in the mirror. Louis nodded. Élise finished drying herself and went back into the bedroom. He followed. She dressed quickly. Black lace first, then the blue uniform. The buttons closed one by one. He watched her in silence. When she was fully dressed, she turned to him and inclined her head slightly.

"I'll be in the kitchen if you need anything," she said.

"Élise." Her hand stopped at the door. She looked back at him. He didn't know what he wanted to say. An apology? A demand? He wasn't sure. In the end, he just shook his head.

"Nothing. Thanks." Élise looked at him for another second, then lowered her eyes. She turned and left the room. Louis dropped the towel, pulled on loose pants and a T-shirt, and sat on the edge of the bed with his elbows on his knees, staring at the dark wood floor. After a minute, he reached for his phone. He opened the camera and took a picture from where he sat: the window, the sky, the far edge of the city. He sent it to Angelique with no caption. A minute later, she replied. I'm on the plane. It's very boring.

He typed in a smile. Lucky. I'm stuck in Beverly Hills with nothing to do until tonight. The reply came faster than he expected. That sounds like a problem of your own making. Try reading something. Louis laughed and typed back. Not in the mood for books. But I'll take suggestions if you have them. This time the pause was longer. I'll make you a list. You can tell me if you survive them. He read it twice before typing back. Looking forward to it. He set the phone beside him. Then he stood and walked to the window.

Los Angeles sat in the afternoon haze. Beyond the city, the Pacific glared in the sun.