He reached for his phone one last time, but instead of making another call that she would no doubt ignore, he began typing.
—-this was fucking it.
Hashing out emotional stuff over text messaging used to be something the billionaire thought he would never be guilty of. He was no etiquette monster like Willem, but he did think that text messaging made a rather sterile and puerile medium when resolving relationship conflicts.
And yet here he fucking was—-
The billionaire pressed the Send button, and off his message went.
I miss you, Ilse.
His phone vibrated a few seconds later, a new message arriving at his inbox.
I miss you, too.
The billionaire immediately tried calling her, but when the call went unanswered, he knew he had no choice.
Jaak: Have you been avoiding me because I didn’t fuck you?
Ilse: You’re only half-joking, aren’t you?
Jaak: The other half of me thinks you wised up. You finally saw me for the loser I am.
Seconds passed, and his phone remained frustratingly silent and still. His glance slanted towards the clock, and his jaw clenched.Seven minutes.He knew he could excuse himself for being late, but years of strict etiquette were hard to ignore. He hadpromised Willem he would be there on time, and although he was an ass about a lot of things, his word was his bond.
But just as he was about to reach for his wallet, his phone started to ring, and when he answered, Ilse’s voice reached him like a dreamy caress.
“Jaak.”
His eyes shut closed for a moment. “Ilse.”
“You’re only half-right, I’m afraid.” Her voice became softer, tender, the kind of voice that he had only heard Ilse use when talking to her brother. “Because I do want you to fuck me.”
The billionaire stiffened.
“I want you to make me yours, and I want you to be mine. I want you to surrender everything to me. Your fears, your pain, and most of all—-” Her voice caught, and his chest tightened.
“I want your secrets most of all,Jaak.”
His name on her lips was like having his world set to right again.
“You told me to wait, and I did think about waiting. But in the end, I don’t think I should. If I waited like you said I should, I think you’ll make me wait forever—-”
“Ilse—-”
“That’s why I had to leave.”
Ah.
“I’m jealous of your secrets, Jaak. They’ve owned you far too long.” A heartbeat of silence passed before she pressed ever so gently, “Don’t you think it’s my turn to own you?”
What she was asking felt too much and too little at the same time, but even so, the billionaire knew there could only be one way to answer her.
There had always been only one way to answer Ilse.
If she needed him, he would be there for her.
“How can I be yours,” he murmured gruffly, “if I don’t know where you are?”
