The Call: A Psychic Paranormal Romantic Comedy Read online

  "You need to calm down," Sam repeated. "Matilda's fine. He's an idiot. Hank will address it. If he keeps being an idiot, we'll fire the agency."

  "How can you fucking say that? That fucker is disgusting," Jake growled. "We aren't working with him."

  "Then we aren't working with him," Sam agreed. "We can ask the agency to fire him or find a different agency. Either way, it'll be fine."

  "Also, you ponder the magnificence of Matilda's breasts all the time. He's offensive, but not alone in his musings," Sam pointed out.

  "OH FUCK YOU! I WOULD NEVER-" Jake started.

  "I'm not saying you would. But I happen to remember a garden incident during which thoughts of Matilda were less than professional. I'm not saying you're anything like that douche-bag. I am saying you need to calm down. She is a beautiful woman; she's undoubtedly dealt with this before."

  After several deep breaths, Jake nodded. The two brothers walked back toward the conference room.

  ✽✽✽

  Matty got back from refilling her tea and sat down at the table to update some notes. She was hoping Sam and Jake would be back soon so she could go visit. Like good consultants do with their clients. Not because she wanted to breathe in the scent of Jake.

  Damn. I have to stop this. He didn't even really hug me earlier. Sam overstated things, and now shit is awkward.

  Popovich sat down next to her and scooted closer.

  "Matilda, I'm so sorry for the misunderstanding earlier. I would hate to think I offended you," he whispered.

  "It's fine, Mr. Popovich. No hard feelings," she scooted her chair a little further away from him.

  "You should call me Ryan. Do people call you Matty? Matty. Such an adorable name for such a sweet little babe. I'd love to-" He was petting her shoulder.

  She jerked her shoulder away. "Mr. Popovich, I'm not interested in continuing this conversation. Please go back to your chair."

  "Aww, Matty. Don't be so cold." Popovich put an arm around her waist and pulled her back toward himself. "We can have a great time together."

  Matilda turned and looked at him with a smirking smile. "Ryan," she drawled, "if you don't get your arm away from me now, I'm going to break it."

  "Mmm, I like the feisty redheads. That's a lot of hair you've got tied up back there." His hand moved to pet her outer thigh. "I want to see it wrap-"

  She abruptly stood up and stomped on his instep. He shouted in pain.

  Matilda turned to walk away and found Sam and Jacob standing directly behind her, both faces lit with fury.

  Fuck. They're going to freak out.

  "Hi guys," she said. "Just need the little girl's room." She stepped back out of the room.

  Sam was waiting outside the bathroom door when she walked out. Without a word, he walked her to Jake's office. "Stay here."

  Matilda nodded.

  Why is there a suit coat and tie on the floor?

  She picked them up and hung them over a chair at Jake's table.

  ✽✽✽

  Popovich tried to play it off as Matilda's chair running over his foot. No one bought it.

  Shortly after Sam returned to the room, Ethan suggested that they wrap the meeting early because of a family emergency.

  While the conference room was clearing out, Sam picked up Matilda's computer and put it in her carry-all.

  Popovich sauntered over. "Hey, listen. Sam. I don't know what that little bitch said, but-"

  "You will take your things and leave my office now," Sam said quietly. "When you get back to your office, I suggest bracing yourself for the coming storm. I'm going to end your career just as soon as I get a free minute."

  "Now, Mr. Trellis-"

  "No, sir. I know my father took you out of this room to talk to you about 'that little bitch' not ten minutes ago. Don't claim otherwise. She is a daughter to him.

  "You were warned. You ignored the warning. Now you'll face the consequences. You do not touch those who are mine. And she is mine. As dear to me as my little sister.

  "Leave. Now."

  The menace was so clear in Sam's quiet voice, no one in the room made eye contact with him as he walked out with Jake.

  ✽✽✽

  "Why are you so pissed off? Matilda asked.

  "I'm not pissed off," Jacob growled.

  Samuel chuckled. "Yeah, not pissed off at all."

  “I don't know what I did to cause the hissy fit. If we're going to fight, I'd like to know what the fuck we're fighting about."

  "Think back on the day, Matilda. You can't come up with anything that would be rage-inducing? Nothing at all?" asked Sam.

  "For fuck's sake, Matilda. That asshole treated you like you were invisible for the entire fucking meeting and then all but MAULED YOU during the break." Jake roared. "You just let it fucking happen! Fifteen fucking people in that fucking room and you didn't say a fucking thing."

  "And? I took care of it." Matilda said flatly. She looked to Sam for help.

  Sam shook his head. No help incoming. "And now I'm leaving." And he was gone, leaving Matilda and Jacob to their argument.

  "Pool?" Matilda asked. At Jacob's nod, she racked the balls while he poured two tumblers of whiskey.

  "Ugh. The hard stuff? That bad?" Matty asked.

  Jacob met her eyes and drank his whiskey down in one gulp before handing her the other glass.

  "I'm sorry you're upset. There was nothing I could do without causing a scene.” She took a sip. Maybe whiskey was the right call after all.

  "You were worried about causing a scene? He could have hurt you." Jacob watched her closely.

  "Yes. But he didn't. He got the 'fuck off' message. Break."

  "Go ahead." Jacob poured another drink for himself as Matilda walked around the table to break.

  As she bent over the table and stretched for the shot, she heard Jacob sigh heavily from directly behind her. She didn't turn around. "What?" She asked as she stood straight again without taking the shot.

  "When I walked in and saw his fucking hands on you today, I thought you were into it. I have never been more jealous of anyone in my life.

  "And then you clearly weren't into it. My first reaction was relief that I wouldn't have to watch that dick touch you. Then I wanted to rip his arms off. Now I’m just fucking pissed you let it happen and didn’t say a fucking thing.

  The silence was heavy for a few heartbeats. Matilda took another sip of whiskey.

  "Still looking for the damsel in distress? Did you know Ellie, Eric, and I call you Prince Charming?" Matilda said with a forced chuckle.

  "Really?" Some of the anger and frustration was gone from his voice.

  "Yep." She took another sip of whiskey. "I would have asked for help, Jake. If I couldn't get away from him, I would have let you know. I wasn't that afraid of a scene."

  "If I'm Prince Charming, what does that make you?" Jake asked.

  "Most days, Lydia Bennet," Matty said with a chuckle.

  "You're crossing your metaphors" he said.

  "I know, but I refuse to think of myself as the ugly step-sister," she said, heavy on the irony.

  His head leaned on the top of her head, but he didn't touch her otherwise. "Why not Cinderella?"

  "I didn't know," Matilda whispered. "About the jealousy. That you wanted…" Matilda took a deep breath. Her heart was racing. She wanted to look at him but thought it might end the conversation.

  "Yes, you did. Sam told you months ago," Jacob said.

  "I didn't believe him."

  "Why?"

  Silence again.

  "Why?" He asked.

  "I don't think I can walk well in glass slippers, Prince Charming." She took a deep, calming breath. "No one trades a leggy blonde supermodel for someone that looks like the clearance section gimmick Cabbage Patch Kid," she muttered.

  Jake snorted. "At the moment, I can't think of anything I wouldn't trade to be with you. I have never, in my entire life, wanted anyone as I want you."

  "How's Bella thes
e days?" Matilda asked flatly.

  Jacob paused in his thoughts. Did she not know that was over?

  "I have no idea," Jake said with complete honesty. "I ended things the minute we touched down in Chicago in November. I haven't seen her since."

  Matilda's posture shifted. She exhaled in a whoosh.

  "Matty?"

  "Hmm?" She took another sip of whiskey.

  "In roughly ten seconds, I'm going to start rambling about how crazy I am about you. If you don't want to hear it, if you're not interested, walk away. OK?"

  Matilda closed her eyes and took another deep breath. I should probably hear him out on this, right? She thought.

  "You have this gorgeous slope, right here." He ran a shaking finger up her right hip to her waist. Matilda shivered.

  "Every fucking time you bend for a shot, I think about holding on to that slope where it flares to your hips. Every fucking time - from that first day on - I've thought about the dip and curve of your waist, about the shape of your ass and the swell of your amazing breasts." Jake sighed.

  "Sam dragged me out of that fucking shit-show meeting to remind me that I've spent the last year eying your body and that I can't blame someone else for looking.

  "He's wrong. I can blame that dick for looking," Jake gave a sarcastic chuckle.

  “Remember that first day? You came in here in just your tank top after getting cleaned up. I regretted giving you that fleece. Fuck. I’ve wanted you since the day I met you dripping in my doorway.”

  Jake wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer. She didn’t pull away.

  Matilda could feel his chest moving as he breathed deeply. Could feel his breath on her neck. She shivered again. "Cold?" He asked.

  She shook her head. She wasn't cold. His hands were running from hip to waist now.

  Can I do this? She wondered. Get it out of our systems. No relationship? There's no way this is more than physical in the long run. Can I do this?

  Another sip of whiskey. For courage. He was confessing. She could meet him halfway.

  She laced her fingers with his. "That night at the conference, after the garden." She took a deep breath and continued quietly. "I orgasmed so hard thinking about you, I almost passed out."

  Jacob went completely still, afraid to even breathe. Matilda lifted their joined hands to her lips, kissed his palm, and then sucked the tip of his index finger before scraping it with her teeth and tugging it back to her waist.

  And then Jacob's hands and mouth were everywhere. Pulling her tight to him, he kissed her neck and earlobes. His hands were in her clothes, under her shirt, gently tweaking her nipples.

  When she gasped and panted a bit, his hands plunged downward, unzipping her pencil skirt and pushing it to the floor. There was a growling, groaning sound when he felt her bare skin and stockings.

  When she tried to turn to face him, he held her tightly to his chest. "No, Matty. Barely keeping it together now." He was panting hard against her ear and neck, sending tendrils of sensation down her body. "If you turn around, you'll be splayed across that pool table and fucked hard, ready or not."

  That sounds good to me, she thought.

  She pulled his hands to her breasts and ground her ass against him. "I'm going to start without you if you don't get a move on," she whispered.

  He ran his hand down her body, shoving her tiny panties aside to access her small, wet slit. She gasped and jerked hard against him when he brushed her clit.

  One finger, then two. Oh my God, this is actually happening. She gasped again.

  "Please Jake. Please. Please now. I need…"

  And then he was gone. His hands. His body. Gone. She almost cried.

  ✽✽✽

  A hand pulled her hair out of its bun. Matilda gasped as Jake wrapped her flaming locks around his hand and then yanked her head down to the table, fully bending her over in front of him.

  Seeing her, hearing her like that. He almost lost it. Before it was too late, he slammed his shaft into her.

  She came immediately, the walls of her sex pulsing around him.

  "Oh my God. Oh my God. Matilda. So. Tight. Ugh, Matty, stop moving. Grinding. I have to, I can't…"

  "Jake, please now. Please. Please. Hard. Please." She begged in a whisper.

  And then he was moving in her, hard and fast, one hand tangled in her silky hair, the other holding her hips steady and safe from getting slammed into the table repeatedly.

  "I can't wait, Jake. I have to…"

  They exploded together.

  ✽✽✽

  As she drifted back to reality, Matilda looked around and whispered. "Jake! We just had sex in your office in the middle of the day. This is not good."

  "Hunh. I beg to differ. We just had an amazing, phenomenal, mind-blowing quickie in my office. In the late afternoon. Probably no one noticed."

  They stayed there, quiet and peaceful for about 30 seconds more.

  The sound of a tennis ball hitting the wall came from Sam's office. "Jesus Christ. A year of buildup to three minutes of fucking," he yelled. “I’m oddly unsatisfied.”

  "I’m going to die of embarrassment," Matilda whispered as Jacob laughed.

  A bang on the other wall. "I hate you both. You couldn’t give it two more days?! Mom won the betting pool."

  “I think we get to start the weekend early,” Jake murmured in her ear.

  Chapter 18

  Jake and Matilda made it off the 43rd floor without seeing anyone. Standing next to her in the elevator, it took effort not to touch her. She stood straight next to him, looking forward.

  We’ll be out of here in a minute. I can be professional until then. 45 seconds. 30 seconds.

  They walked out of the main doors of the building without pause, perfectly in step. When they got to the sidewalk, Jake realized he didn't know where they were going. He touched her arm and paused.

  "Your place? Mine? Somewhere else? Hungry?"

  "I don't care. Wherever is fine. Not hungry." She said to his chest.

  "Matty?"

  She didn't meet his eyes. She was upset. Embarrassed. He’d beat the shit out of his little brothers later.

  Jake had tried to reassure her before they left his office. Some hasty dressing and a round of quick bathroom trips later, all she’d say was “I’m fine.” Or, “It’s fine.”

  "My place is closer." He took her hand and started walking. Half a block later, she pulled her hand free to adjust her coat and then stuffed her hands in her pockets.

  She can't be that embarrassed. Sam and Noah love her, it'll be fine after a little teasing.

  Three blocks later, they entered his building and hit the button for the elevator.

  "Matty, they won't give you a hard time. I'll talk to them. They love you, they don’t want you to be upset. I would tease the fuck out of one of them in the same situation. But, never meanly. It’s a ‘brothers’ thing. Promise."

  "OK," she whispered as they got on the elevator. “It’s fine.”

  She still wouldn't meet his eyes. They got off the elevator in silence as Jake sensed impending doom. Something was really wrong. Was she hurt?

  He let her into the apartment and closed the door behind himself before taking her arm to stop her.

  A year of longing and lusting, then I rushed it and hurt her. I am the biggest asshole on the planet.

  "Matilda, what is it? Did I hurt you?" His voice was shaking a bit.

  Her eyes snapped to his. "No, you didn't. You… I… It was… amazing. I'm OK," she said quietly.

  ‘Amazing’ was a good thing, right? He wondered.

  He kissed the palm of her hand. "What, then?"

  She looked around. "I've never been here before. Maybe a drink and a tour?"

  Jake took her coat and bag. They walked into the living room, where he poured her an oversized double of whiskey.

  There wasn't much to the apartment. Jake spent very little time there outside of sleeping. Some furniture in the living room. A big
TV. His bedroom stuff. Two empty rooms. He’d been meaning to get a pool table for one of the rooms, but no one hung out here. It’d be a table for him to play alone.

  Not anymore, he thought. He looked at Matilda’s stiff posture. Maybe.

  “There’s not much to see, but sure.” He did the tour. Maybe she just needed some time?

  When they ended back in the living room, her glass was half empty and her hands were shaking.

  "Mat, you're killing me with this. Please, wherever it is, we'll fix it." She flinched.

  "Please, tell me what's wrong." He said as he pulled her into his lap on the couch.

  ✽✽✽

  Matilda snuggled in close to him, her head on his shoulder, her nose touching his neck. She sighed. He smelled so good.

  So, I'm terrible at focusing on just the physical stuff. I can't do that. OK. Learned something new about myself, she thought.

  What was she supposed to do now? She didn't belong here, with him. She'd eventually get crushed and be destroyed. Again.

  Just for right now. Just for a little bit, I can enjoy this, she thought.

  They sat together for a while. At some point, Jake started rubbing his hand up and down her back gently.

  How am I going to explain? He's so kind. He doesn't get it yet. This won't work.

  When their breathing was relaxed and synchronized, after the alcohol took the edge off, she spoke.

  "Thank you for this afternoon, for wanting me, for being you. No matter what's ahead, I'm grateful for you."

  He didn't say anything, didn't move. If he hadn’t been running his hand up and down her back, she'd think he had nodded off.

  ✽✽✽

  God, please. I know we don't talk often, but I try not to use your name in vain and to be a good person. Please let this be ok. Please. I love her. Please.

  "Did I tell you that my dad raised me?" She asked.

  He shook his head. “You’ve never talked about any other family, though.”

  “I don’t have any family.” There was weight to the words. It hurt her to say the words. “Well, I do. But not really. I have Ellie and Eric and Charlie. And then some people that share a few chromosomes with me.