John Locke - The Love You Crave

“That’s okay too. But let me ask you this: what have you got to lose?”

“Apart from my dignity and self-respect?”

“Yes.”

She thinks about it a minute. Then surprises him by saying, “Out of curiosity, let’s see what you look like without your clothes.”

Moments later,Sam gasps, falls off her, rolls onto his back.

“That’s it?” Maybe says.

“For now. Sorry.”

“Thirty seconds?”

“What can I say? I was excited.”

“Jesus. I thought, you know, an older guy?”

“What about it?”

“I thought that was the big thing about older guys. They’re able to hold out longer.”

“Look. You need practice, I need practice.”

Maybe gives a half smile. “That’s sort of sweet.”

“Thanks. Anyway, being sexually satisfied is not what’s important right now.”

“That’s easy for you to say.”

“You know what I mean. The big news is we achieved having sex. Without pain.”

“True. The problem is I didn’t feel anything at all.”

“You must’ve felt something.”

“I don’t mean to hurt your feelings.”

Sam frowns. “Give me a minute.”

“Why, you want to fuck me two more times?”

“Funny. Can I ask you something?”

“What?”

“Why won’t you let me take off your top?”

“I’m a mess up there.”

“That can’t be true.”

“I’m self-conscious about my breasts.”

“Why?”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“But that’s the point. You don’t have to worry what you say to me.”

“They go in different directions.”

“Let me have a look.”

“You’re a pervert.”

“Let me see.”

She shows him. “See what I mean?”

“These are great boobs. But yeah, I see what you mean.”

“I can’t show these to someone I love.”

“Someone who loves you won’t care.”

“I’ll care.”

“Then I’ll get them fixed.”

“How?”

“This is the simplest surgery in the world. Thirty minutes, tops. Two weeks recovery.”

“What’re you, a plastic surgeon?”

“No. But a few stitches on the inside here,” he points, “and here…and you’re perfect.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive.”

“Will the stitches show?”

“No. They’ll be hidden under here…and here.”

“Will it hurt?”

“A little. But it’ll be worth it. To you.”

“Thanks, Sam.”

“My pleasure. And speaking of pleasure, I believe I’m ready, if you’re willing.”

She frowns. “I suppose you’ve earned another shot.”

He flips her over.

“What do you think you’re doing?” she says.

“Practicing. Let me know if I hurt you in any way.”

“Don’t worry, you’ll know.”

He enters her, and the experience makes him light-headed. He pulls her back, so that she’s on her knees, and after a couple of minutes, he hears her moaning softly. He’s behind her, and she can’t see the smile on his face. Nor could she possibly know what he’s thinking at this very moment, which is, I’m fucking Donovan Creed’s daughter!

When they’re done, he says, “Will you keep killing for me?”

“Yes,” she says. “If you keep paying me.”

“We make a perfect team.”

“What on earth makes you think that?

“You’re willing to kill for me, and I’m willing to die for you.”

“How much are you paying the other girl?” Maybe says.

“What girl?” Sam says.

“The one who’s been taking my classes at Mabry.”

“Twenty grand.”

“For twenty grand the best she can do is a B-plus in biology?”

“Like I said, the professor’s a dick.”

Maybe laughs. “That’s what I told my father.”

“You spoke to him?”

“Of course.”

“I thought you weren’t taking his calls.”

“If I ignore my father too long, he starts checking around.”

“You wouldn’t tell him about any of this, would you?”

“Are you crazy? He’d kill you.”

“Yes.”

Maybe studies his face a minute. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll tell him?”

“Should I be?”

“Yes. If you ever displease me enough, you’re toast.”

“Then promise you’ll never tell.”

“I won’t promise that.”

“Will you at least promise not to mention my name?”

“We’ll see. Right now he thinks you’re a post-Rapture pet salesman named Chuck.”

“You’re shitting me!”

Maybe laughs.

After ordering room service, Sam drives her home. Tries to kiss her at the door, but she puts her hand between their faces to block his lips.

“We don’t have that type of relationship,” she says. “Remember?”

“Sorry. I’ll check around, find the best doctor for the boob job. I’ll let you know when and where.”

“We’ll have a meeting first, right?”

“You and the doctor? Of course.”

“Thanks again for that.”

“My pleasure.”

Kimberly enters her apartment, locks the door behind her, heads for the kitchen, sees the message light blinking. She presses the button, hears her father’s voice. She looks at the digital clock on the oven. 8:55 a.m. Which makes it 5:55 in Vegas.

She calls her father, gets his voice mail. Leaves a message. “You said to call anytime before nine. I stupidly assumed you’d wait till the last minute to hear from me. But no. It’s exactly 8:55, and you’re nowhere to be found. Thanks a lot!”

Sam Case.

“Hello?”Sam says.

“Was it everything you hoped it would be?” Doc Howard says.

“What are you talking about?”

They’re on the phone, Sam driving to the airport, Doc Howard, somewhere in Virginia.

“Do I really have to say it out loud?” Doc Howard says. “It’s vulgar.”

“I honestly don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I’m talking about you and Kimberly Creed.”

“What about us?”

“You’re forcing me to say it? Fine. You fucked her. Was it all you hoped it would be?”

“How did you know?”

“It’s my job to know.”

“Did you have someone following me?”

“Following and listening.”

“ How? We were in a hotel room, for crissakes!”

“Doesn’t matter. It’s time to start paying the piper. Get off at exit 24-B, turn right, drive a half-mile to the bowling alley. Park there, and I’ll call you back.”

“How will you know when I park?”

“I’ve got a tracking device on your car.”

“I’m trying to catch a plane.”

“I know all about the flight. You’ll have plenty of time to catch it.”

Sam clicks his phone off and sighs. From where he is, the drive to exit 24-B will take ten minutes, a sufficient amount of time to reflect on how he and Doc Howard became allies in Sam’s war against Donovan Creed.

Six Weeks Earlier.

Six weeks ago, Doc Howard treated Sam for a nasty snakebite. Toward the end of the treatment, the two men sat down and had an interesting talk, during which Doc Howard said, “Apart from providing the snake that bit you, why do you hate Donovan Creed so much?”

Sam said, “He destroyed my life.”

“How so?”

“Why should I tell you? You work for the bastard!”

Doc Howard smiled. “You might be surprised how my path and yours can intersect to your benefit. Tell me more.”

“Creed stole my wife, put me out of business, and cheated my investors out of billions of dollars.”

“What type of investors?”

“I was hiding money for the world’s most dangerous people. Creed kidnapped my wife, Rachel, threatened to kill her if I didn’t give him the access codes to the funds. He wound up stealing every last cent, then he and Rachel revealed they’d been having an affair for six months. She’s been with him ever since.”