This Man Confessed(66)

“Yes, boy?”

“Where are you?”

“In the kitchen.”

With that confirmation, he slips out and takes the stairs quickly. I watch over his shoulder as we rise, praying that Cathy doesn’t come to investigate. She doesn’t. I make it to the safety of the master suite with my dignity still whole.

“There.” He places me on my feet and drops a kiss on my forehead.

“What time is it?”

“Ten to eight.”

I roll my eyes and point an accusing glare at him. “Why didn’t you wake me?” I walk off to the bathroom.

“You needed to sleep.”

“Not for fifteen hours.” I flip the shower on and step straight into the water, not bothering to wait for it to warm. I need waking up.

“You obviously do need it,” he mumbles from the other side of the glass as he removes his running shoes.

I slip past him, dry my hair, apply my makeup, and get dressed in ten minutes flat, then head downstairs.

“Morning, Cathy.” I take my phone off the charger and slip it in my bag.

“Ava, you look a little brighter.” Cathy dries her hands on the front of her apron and does a little assessment of me. “Yes, much brighter.”

“I feel it.”

“What would you like for breakfast?”

“Oh, I’m late, Cathy. I’ll grab something at work.” I throw my bag over my shoulder.

“You’ll eat!” Jesse’s stern, take-no-shit voice hits me from behind, and I turn to find a scowl fixed to his face as he fastens his tie. “She’ll have a bagel, Cathy. With eggs.” He seems to consider something for a second. “Actually, no eggs.”

My eyes widen. “Cathy, thank you, but I’ll eat at work.” I walk out of the kitchen, leaving Jesse with his jaw slightly gaping.

I slam the penthouse door behind me. No run. I will eat. No eggs. My contentment was short-lived. I stab at the elevator keypad, but it doesn’t open, so I restab, getting myself more and more worked up. “No eggs?” I yell at the row of numbers when the door still doesn’t shift.

“You okay?”

I swing around and find my neurotic control freak with his hands draped loosely in his trouser pockets, watching me lose my temper with the innocent keypad.

“I can eat eggs!” I yell at him. “What’s the new code?”

“Excuse me?”

“You heard.” I bash the pad with the side of my fist.

“Yes, I heard. But I’m giving you a chance to retract that tone.” He’s completely straightfaced and unaffected by my little outburst, while my eyes have just bulged at his insolence.

I walk up to him, calm and composed, and reach up on my tiptoes so I’m as near as possible to his nauseatingly splendid face—the one I want to smash in at this particular moment in time. “Fuck…off.” I breathe on him before stomping off toward the stairwell, praying he hasn’t taken the initiative to change the code on this door yet. He hasn’t. I smile smugly as I push my way through. Thirteen floors is going to kill me, but I start tackling them anyway.

By floor seven, I’ve removed my heels and by floor four, I have to stop and take a breather. I’m hot, sweaty, and I feel sick. “Fucking man,” I grumble, taking a deep breath and carrying on my way. I push my way through the fire door and walk straight into that damn chest, before being pushed back into the stairwell. I don’t even try to battle free from his grasp. I’m absolutely beat.

I’m lifted from my feet and held in place against the concrete wall. I’m damp with sweat and panting heavy, exhausted breaths in his face.

“You’re not getting an apology fuck,” I practically wheeze all over him. I’m struggling to fight off his potency, but I’m not yielding to this. It’s no eggs today, but it’ll be something more extreme tomorrow.

His lips form a straight line and his green eyes narrow. “Mouth!”

“No! You are not—” That’s as far as I get before his mouth hits mine, attacking me full force. I know exactly what he’s doing, but that doesn’t stop my bag from dropping to the ground and my hands from grappling at his suit-covered back. This is the Jesse I know and love. I couldn’t be happier. I moan. I yank at his jacket. I pull his hair and bite at his lip.

“Stubborn woman.” He works up to my ear and bites down. “Someone’s gagging for it.” He kisses the sensitive void under my lobe, and I shudder from top to toe. “Shall I make you scream in the stairwell, Ava?”

Oh good Lord, I want him to fuck me in the stairwell. “Yes.”

He pulls away, letting me slide down the wall to my feet, and then rearranges his groin area while observing my shocked face under hooded eyes. “Would love to, but I’m late.”