My heart pounds as I leave Veronique's room and move swiftly down the hallway through the darkened halls of the centuries-old villa. I feel exposed, like a hunted man making a run for it across an open field. It's a reckless, high stakes game I'm playing. Still, I feel I have no choice.
The next step of my plan in place, I make my way downstairs and pause at the door of my room. Inside, I hear the grunts and groans of two people in the throes of sexual passion, the bed pounding against the wall, bodies slamming together. I can hear Justine moaning and Peter growling. They're really going at it.
"Oh Jake," she moans. "Je viens! Je viens!"
I just smile and move on down the hall. He's enjoying this 20-something hottie who thinks she's enjoying me. Go figure.
When I get to Isabelle's room, I knock lightly on the door. A moment later, it opens. Isabelle is standing before me in jeans, a t-shirt, and bare feet. She's removed her makeup entirely. To my eyes, she's never looked more beautiful.
"May I come in," I say, leaning on the door frame.
"Of course."
She opens the door and I enter, realizing this is the first time I've been in her room. I take my time looking around. At the art on the walls. At the books on the shelves. She's got a good collection; she obviously has a discerning eye and an inquisitive mind.
I turn to her and she's leaning against a large drafting table which seems to serve as her desk.
"You doing okay?" I ask, softly.
"Yeah," she says quietly. "Better now."
"Do you feel like talking about it?" I ask, wondering how I can help.
"No. It's something I have to work out for myself."
She gives me a plaintive smile. I notice an overnight bag half packed on the divan.
"Going somewhere?" I ask. She stands and crosses the room.
"I'm leaving," she replies, matter-of-factly. "I'm leaving this house and I have no intention of coming back."
I watch her as she places a couple of books into her bag. She continues explaining.
"I'm sick of the hypocrisy. My Mother badgers me to be proper and then I discover she's taken Charles to her bed. My father complains about the state of the world but he doesn't do a thing about it. I don't want to spend another day being....infected by their way of thinking. It's like the girl in your story. She had a chance to escape, to live her life, but she squandered it. Well, this is my chance. And I'm taking it."
"Where will you go?"
"I'm not sure. To Paris perhaps. I have an aunt there who likes me. I'm sure she'll put me up for a bit. Then, who knows? Maybe London. "
"Paris will be lucky to have you. London too. I'm proud of you, Isabelle."
She looks at me for a moment, then stands and walks over to me. She raises herself on her tiptoes and kisses me on the lips.
"Thank you, Jake."
"For what?"
"For everything," she shrugs. "For being here... For inspiring me... For socking Charles in the nose."
"The cheek, actually."
She chuckles.
"Excuse me. The cheek."
She sits on the bed. She pats the spot next to her. I sit next to her.
"And for this afternoon," she adds. "At the waterfall."
I nod.
"Yeah. That was pretty special."
She turns to me, earnestly.
"Wasn't it? I mean, it was more than special. It was truly unique. For me, anyway. A once in a lifetime experience."
I look deep in her eyes. She really means it.
"It was that way for me too, Isabelle."
She looks in my eyes and places her hand on my cheek.
"I'm so glad."
I look down at my feet.
"You know, Isabelle. I have to tell you. Your mother's been...pursuing me ever since I got here. I want you to know that. After what happened with Charles."
"I know that," she answers. "I have eyes. I saw her at dinner. Heard her stupid double entendres. You know, it's not that she's a bad person. She's just...sad. She's like a little girl, lost in a way. She defined herself by her physical beauty for so long, she has nothing else. And she's frightened.
"Frightened of what?"
"Frightened of growing old. Frightened of being alone. Charles, too, acts the way he does because he's afraid. He acts superior because he's afraid he's inferior. How can you respect others if you don't respect yourself? But you're different. You respect yourself. You have....character. You would never behave like that."
I look at her and think about how wrong she is. I'm not different. I feel afraid too. I doubt myself. Too often I follow my cock and whore around. No, I'm no better than Charles. Or Veronique.
"All of us have weakness," I say quietly. "We're human. We're flawed. I'm trying to learn that and accept it. In myself and in others."
She looks at me and nods. I feel so close to her right now. I lean in slowly and our lips meet.
We kiss, deeply. Passionately. Our tongues find each other. Our arms embrace, our hands touching, squeezing. I hold her tight in my arms and kiss her neck. She presses against me, running her hands through my hair.
"Oh Jake," she whispers. "I feel like celebrating. Celebrating my new freedom. What shall we do?"