Beneath This Man (This Man Trilogy)(51)

He brushes me away from fussing over his hand. ‘Oh, I am. I like it when you’re all possessive and protective. It tells me you’re crazy in love with me.’

‘I am, even though you are stupidly challenging. And don’t be calling Sarah, sweetie.’ I mock.

He circles our noses and pushes his lips onto mine. ‘I won’t.’

‘You’ve slept with her.’ It’s a statement, not a question. He recoils, his green pools all wide and wary. I roll my eyes. ‘A dabble?’ I ask.

His eyes drop down slightly. ‘Yeah,’ His expression and body language scream uncomfortable. He’s not happy with this line of conversation.

I bloody knew it. Okay, that’s fine. I can cope with this as long as he keeps the hussy at arm’s length – or further. That might be bloody hard when the woman works for him and follows him around like a lost puppy.

‘I just want to say one thing.’ I press. I need to make this clear if I’m ever going to keep company, both socially and professionally, with any men in future, although I’m fully aware that Jesse’s possessive streak is never going to go away completely. ‘It’s all about you.’ I drop a kiss onto his lips to reinforce my declaration.

‘It’s all about me.’ he mumbles against me.

I grin. ‘Good boy.’

He pulls back and runs his fingers down my neck, his eyes full of satisfaction. ‘Why is your hair wet?’

‘I had a shower but didn’t have time to dry my hair. I needed you.’

He smiles mildly. ‘I love you, Ava.’

I rest my cheek on shoulder. ‘I know.’

I’m not kidding myself that this is the air completely cleared. I have a woman scorned to contend with and Jesse’s possessiveness to work on. The latter, I think, will be a lifelong bone of contention, but if Jesse, especially like this, is my compensation, then it’s all worth it. But on top of all that, there’s the huge issue of Mikael and his need for revenge. I can’t even begin to think of how we’re going to deal with that. I know one thing, though. I won’t be working with him anymore. What will Patrick’s reaction be to that?

‘Take the day off work tomorrow.’ His voice is beseeching.

I’ve not even advised Patrick of my afternoon appointment with Mr Ward, but I need a break and a long weekend with Jesse is hard to turn down. I’ve no appointments and I’m ridiculously up to date with everything else. Patrick owes me a few days in lieu. He won’t mind.

I pull myself away from his chest. ‘Okay.’ I agree.

He frowns, like I’m going to retract my answer or add a but to it. I’m not. I want to take the day off work and spend it with him. Maybe I can pump him full of the re-assurance he needs. I’m not going anywhere with anyone, except him. I’ll text Patrick and clear it. I know he’ll be fine.

‘Really?’ His eyes twinkle as his lips tip at the edges. ‘You’re being very reasonable. That’s not like you.’

My eyes bulge at his comment. I know he knows that he’s the unreasonable one. He’s playing on it. I don’t bite. ‘I’m ignoring you.’ I grumble.

‘Not for long. I’m taking you home to our tower in the sky. I’ve not been inside you for way too long.’ He stands and props me on my feet. ‘Shall we?’ He cocks his arm out and I link it with mine, my stomach clenching at the prospects awaiting me when we get home.

‘I fancy a bit of rowing.’ I flip casually.

He raises a sardonic eyebrow at me. ‘We’ll row another day, baby. I want to make love.’ he says softly, looking down at me. I smile.

He leads me through the summer room and to the entrance hall. I ignore the disappointed faces of all of the women we pass, all obviously hoping we would be leaving separately. John meets us at the door and gives me his distinguished smile.

‘I’ll see you tomorrow.’ Jesse informs him as he opens the door for me.

‘S’all good.’ He slaps Jesse on the shoulder and walks off in the direction of the bar.

Jesse places his hand in the small of my back to guide me out and as I turn, I catch a glimpse of Sarah standing in the doorway of the bar. She greets John, but her eyes are fixed firmly on me and Jesse leaving The Manor. She is watching intently and there is no mistaking the look of bitterness on her pouty face. I predict handbags at dawn. She looks like a woman who gets what she wants. My bitchy side races to the surface, and I silently dare her to try, tossing her a warning look. I ignore the little part of my brain advising me that I’m preparing myself for a trampling mission. My neurotic Lord is rubbing off on me.

‘Leave your car, we’ll get it tomorrow.’ he says as he opens the passenger door to his Aston Martin.

‘I may as well drive it back now.’ I’m here, it would be silly not to.

He narrows his eyes on me and thrusts his hand towards the passenger seat of his car. I shake my head, but get in. We’ve had enough words for today. I don’t need my car, anyway. He slips in besides me and starts the car.

As we make our way down the long driveway, we pass Sam’s Porsche on its way towards The Manor. I bolt upright in my seat. ‘Hey, there’s Kate!’ I blurt. Sam honks his horn and puts his thumb up to Jesse, and I crane my neck as we pass them. Kate puts a reluctant hand up to me. ‘What’s she doing here?’ I look at Jesse, who keeps his eyes on the road. Oh, good God! ‘She’s a member, isn’t she?’ I ask accusingly.

‘I don’t discuss members. Confidentiality.’ He’s dead pan.

‘So she is a member!’ I shriek. I don’t believe this.

He shrugs and presses a button to open the gates. The little minx! Why hasn’t she told me? Is she here for all things kinky in general, or is she here for Sam specifically? Christ, just when I thought my fiery, red headed friend couldn’t surprise me more. Oh, she has some explaining to do.

Jesse roars off down the road and plays with a few buttons on the steering wheel. The stereo kicks in and I’m surrounded by a distinctive male voice. I recognise it.

‘Who’s this?’ I ask.

He starts tapping the steering wheel. ‘John Legend. You like?’

Oh, I do. I reach over to the steering wheel and Jesse slides his hands down to give me access to the controls. I locate the right one and turn it up more.

‘I’ll take that as a yes.’ He smirks and reaches over to place his hand on my knee. I cover it with mine.

‘Yes, I do.’ I answer. ‘Is your hand okay?’

‘Fine, unravel your knickers, lady.’

‘I need to text Patrick.’

‘Yes, do. I’m looking forward to having you all to myself tomorrow and all weekend.’ He removes his hand from my knee and replaces it on the steering wheel.

I fire a quick text over to Patrick and, as expected, he replies speedily, telling me to have a well-deserved day off.

Perfect.





Chapter 16




We stroll into Lusso hand in hand, and Clive clocks us immediately, giving me a disapproving look. I smile an apology and notice maintenance repairing my handiwork.

‘Mr Ward.’ Clive says cautiously. Is he waiting for a ticking off for letting me escape? I think I might be forced to defend him if Jesse tries to reprimand him. It’s not in his job description to play prison guard.

‘Clive.’ Jesse nods and leads me to the elevator without another word to an obviously apprehensive Clive.

As the doors close, I’m thrust up against the wall, the full length of his body cocooning mine. The powerful throb I’m so familiar with these days drops straight into my groin and has my veins heating immediately. He slips his leg between my thighs and raises it, brushing over my core and, just like that, I’m panting.

‘You’ve upset the concierge.’ he breathes, his lips close to mine, our hot breaths mingling in the small space between our mouths.

‘Damn.’ I force the word out through my strangled breaths, and he crashes his lips to mine, taking them with conviction and purpose, while grinding his beating erection against me. Oh Lord, I want to rip his clothes off, but this most certainly isn’t making love, not that I would even dream of complaining.

‘Why aren’t you wearing a dress?’ he asks irritably, between plunging his tongue in and out urgently.

I’m asking myself the very same question. It would be around my waist by now and he would be inside me. ‘I’m running out of dresses.’ I’ve had nothing cleaned since I’ve been here and most of my clothes are still at Kate’s.

He moans into my mouth. ‘Tomorrow, we buy only dresses.’ He thrusts his hips forward and upwards, colliding with and rubbing against my core.

I sigh in pure, uninhibited pleasure. ‘Tomorrow we buy one dress.’ I reach down between us and unfasten his belt. He breaks away from my lips and rolls his damp forehead over mine, his eyes shining with approval as his lips part. I rub the back of my palm over his trousers, feeling him twitch and jerk beneath my touch while I run a trail across his bottom lip with my tongue. Unzipping him, I reach in to free his raging hard on, then take a firm grip at the base, squeezing lightly.

He closes his eyes tight. ‘Mouth.’ he commands gently.

I’m totally on board. I can’t get enough of him. I’m rampant with need for him to work his magic on me and eradicate all of the day’s crap.