Текст книги "This Man Confessed"

Автор книги: Jodi Ellen Malpas

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Текущая страница: 10 (всего у книги 34 страниц)

Chapter 11

We spend most of Saturday making friends. I’ve relished in the sleepy sex, and I’ve disagreed with almost everything Jesse has said, just to get some sense fucked into me. I then swiftly forgot what I’d agreed to during the sense fucking, instigating a reminder fuck. We had an alfresco fuck right after we ate on the terrace, followed by a retribution fuck when Jesse decided that breaking my promise warranted one. But I know he just wanted me in handcuffs and, quite frankly, I deserved it. I’ve been fucked in every way, shape and form, and I’ve loved every single second of it, even if I am a little sore now. I’m back to relaxing sweetly on Central Jesse Cloud Nine. With the absence of a pregnancy, he’s back to taking me how and when he wants and any which way, too. Yesterday has more than made up for my lack of dominant Jesse in recent weeks. I couldn’t be happier. But there is really no lack of a pregnancy.

Kate checked in, and I’m sure I heard my brother in the background, but she denied it, proceeding to ask me if Jesse and I had made friends. Yes. She also asked if I’d told Jesse that I’m still pregnant. No. After a full day of being indulged in him and having things completely back to normal, just how they should be, I’m sure this is the right decision.

‘Are you going to lie there all day, or are you getting dressed so we can shoot to The Manor?’ He stands in the bathroom doorway gloriously naked, rubbing a towel over his dark blonde locks.

I push myself up and crawl to the bottom of the bed, and then flop back down on my front, propping myself up on my elbows and resting my chin in my palm. I know what I’m doing, and so does he by the look in his twinkling greens. Not that I don’t want to go to The Manor. With the absence of a certain whip wielding witch, Jesse’s country estate is a far more pleasant place to be.

‘I might.’ My voice is inviting and low, just how I intended it to be. ‘You’re hard.’ I nod at his groin and flick my eyes back up to him, struggling to hold back my grin. I bite my lip and watch him closely.

‘That would be because I’m looking at you.’ He drapes the towel over his shoulders and leans on the door frame.

I start drooling at the mass of pure, tempting gorgeousness and smile. ‘You’re hard everywhere.’

‘Except here.’ he says, all deep and coarse, tapping his chest. ‘Here, I’m as soft as shit. But only for you.’

My smile widens. ‘You can be hard-hearted sometimes.’ I muse, rolling over onto my back, my head hanging off the end of the bed.

‘You’re a temptress, Mrs Ward.’

I watch his upside down body approach slowly until he’s standing looking down at me, his steel shaft brushing my top lip. ‘You want it?’ he asks, clasping the base and guiding himself from side to side across my lips. The hot dampness has my tongue darting out to taste, but he pulls back, his lips tipping at the corners. ‘Say please.’

‘Please.’ I reach up and run my fingertips down the centre of his chest, and he moans, guiding his cock straight to my lips. I open slowly while watching as his face contorts with anticipation, then I close my lips around him.

‘Ava, that damn fucking mouth of yours.’ he groans, clenching his eyes shut.

‘Should I stop?’ I bite down lightly and drag my teeth across his smooth flesh. ‘Do you want me to stop?’

‘I want you to shut the fuck up and concentrate on what you’re doing.’

I smile and release him before flipping myself over and sitting on the end on the bed between his thighs. I grab his cock and squeeze… hard.

‘Stop teasing me, lady.’ His hands find my hair, his fists clenching, and he pushes me down to him.

I don’t put up any resistance. I love taking him like this. My head drifts down and my fingernails grip onto his firm arse, pulling him forward.

‘Oh fuck!’ he barks, holding my head in place. ‘Just stay there.’

He’s brushing the back of my throat, and I’m struggling to stop my stomach from convulsing. I keep quiet whilst he spasms against me, his head dropped back and his fists tightening in my hair. I need to keep control here. I cannot be throwing up, I’ll never explain it, so instead of concentrating on my mouthful of solid cock, I focus solely on keeping myself from retching. I close my eyes and inhale through my nose. What is wrong with me? If pregnancy brings aversions and mine is a sudden intolerance of Jesse’s manhood in my mouth, then I never want to be pregnant again.

I relax a little when he withdraws and quickly drop him from my mouth before crawling up his body and wrapping my legs around him. I need to play this perfectly, especially judging by the incredulous look on his handsome face. He doesn’t like me halting things. That’s his call. I lean in and bite his lip. ‘I want you inside me.’

‘I was quite happy where I was.’ he splutters in disbelief. It makes me laugh. ‘I’m glad you find it funny, Ava.’

‘I don’t, I’m sorry.’ Pushing my lips to his, I wave the need card. It’s my only option. ‘I need you inside me now.’

He pulls back and narrows his eyes. It worries me. But then he knocks me out with his smile, reserved only for me. ‘You’ll never have to ask me twice, baby.’ He lowers me to the bed and comes down with me. ‘Get rid of the towel.’

I yank the bath sheet from around his neck and fling it across the room.

‘Put your hands in my hair.’ he orders. I comply immediately, lacing my fingers though his mass of wet, dirty blonde. ‘Pull it.’ He leans down and licks my lips as I tug at his hair on a moan. ‘Kiss me hard, Ava.’ His stern tone just spikes my need further. I tackle his mouth with desperation and conviction. ‘Stop.’ he orders, and I do, even though I really don’t want to. ‘Kiss me softly.’ he whispers, and I sigh, gently sweeping my tongue through his mouth, so very lazily. It’s heaven. ‘Enough.’ he says harshly, and again I stop. He pulls back and drops a loving kiss on my lips. ‘Why can’t you do everything I ask that quickly?’

I grin and pull him in closer, re-claiming his mouth. ‘Because your power hungry persona is rubbing off on your wife.’

He laughs and rolls over so I’m astride his hips. ‘Take the power, baby.’

‘Okay.’ I agree quickly, lifting myself from his groin. He reaches down, and I slap his hand away. ‘Excuse me.’

‘Oh, sorry.’ He grins sheepishly. ‘Don’t fuck about, though, will you?’

‘You’re forgetting, God,’ I grab his erection and guide him to me. ‘You’ve just relinquished the power.’ I lower gently, his grin soon disappearing, being replaced with thorough appreciation.

He moans and grabs the tops of my legs. ‘I might give you the power more often.’

I lift and slowly sink back down, running my hands all over his chest. ‘You like?’

‘Oh, I love.’ He looks up at me and starts smoothing his hands over the tops of my thighs.

‘You’re so handsome.’ I lift and lower gently again on a sigh.

‘I know.’ he says simply.

‘You’re arrogant.’

‘I know. Up you go.’

I raise my eyebrows. ‘Who has the power?’

‘You do, but you won’t for long if you abuse it. Up.’ He’s restraining a smile, and I scowl, but lift myself anyway. ‘Good girl.’ he pants. ‘Faster.’

Sinking back down, I grind gently. ‘But I like it like this.’

‘Faster, Ava.’

‘No. I have the power.’ I work my way back up, but don’t get the chance to tease my way down. I’m flipped onto my back and pinned down.

‘You lost your chance, lady.’ He drives straight in with purpose. ‘I’m taking the power back.’

Bang!

I yell, my legs falling open.

Bang!

‘Fuck!’ I scream as he hits my womb.

‘Mouth!’

Bang!

‘Jesse!’

‘You pushed your luck, baby.’ he grunts, flexing his grip of my wrists and hitting me over and over and over. My eyes close. ‘Eyes!’ I rip them open on a shocked yelp. ‘Better.’ Sweat is pouring down his face, dripping onto my cheeks. I need to hold onto him, scratch him and bite him, but I’m completely powerless, just as he likes me.

‘Let me hold you.’ I cry, pulling at his grip as he thunders on.

‘Who has the power?’

‘You do, you fucking control freak!’

‘Watch,’ Bang! ‘your,’ Bang! ‘mouth!’

I scream.

‘Fuck! he yells. ‘Come for me, Ava!’

I can’t. I’m trying to focus on the climax that’s lingering somewhere deep, but every time I think I’ve captured it, he hits me again with those punishing hips and knocks it back. My eyes close and I can do nothing more than accept the assault my body is under.

‘Jesus, Ava. I’m going to come!’

And with that he shouts, grinds and collapses on top of me, releasing my hands from his fierce grip. His breathing is chaotic, his body twitching and his skin wet. I’m all of those things, too, minus one satisfying climax.

‘You didn’t come.’ he pants into my neck. I can’t talk, so I hum and shake my head, my arms flopped limply at the side of my head. ‘Baby, I’m sorry.’

I hum again and attempt to lift my arms to cuddle him so he knows that I’m fine, but my muscles are on shut down. Our sweaty chests are compressing together and our erratic breathing is the loud. We’re both completely shattered. I want to stay in bed, but then I feel the absence of his weight, and I’m being lifted into his arms. I mumble an audible protest as I’m carried to the bathroom. He turns the spray on, grabs a towel from the shelf and chucks it on the floor of the shower before laying me down on it. I just about muster up the strength to frown up at him as he lowers himself to the floor and spreads my legs.

‘Let’s bring you back to life.’ He flicks the shower to cool and settles between my thighs before really waking me up with a stretched out, agonisingly soft stroke of his tongue, right up the centre of my core.

My back arches, my lifeless arms spring to life and my voice comes back. ‘Ohhhhh Godddd!’ I grab his wet hair and push him further into me, the previously deep, misplaced orgasm now gushing forward. I don’t even try to control it. I start panting, my stomach muscles tensing, my head lifting, as the cool, fresh water rains all over me. He’s everywhere, licking, biting, sucking, trailing kisses down the inside of my thighs and slowly back up again to plunge his tongue in deep.

‘Awake yet?’ he mumbles around my flesh, then bites lightly on my clit.

‘More!’ I demand, yanking at his hair. I hear him laugh a little before he follows through on my order and seals his mouth completely around me and sucks me gently to climax.

I burst. I see stars. I moan and throw my hands over my head. Way too good. Just way way too bloody good. I’m pulsing against him and completely limp. The cool spray is divine, the consistent purring of the shower relaxing. I’m not getting up from this floor—not for anyone or anything. He can put me straight back in bed.

‘I love love love feeling you throb.’ He kisses his way up my body until he finds me lips, giving me more special attention. I only respond with my mouth, unable to convince my muscles to move, and not bothering to make much effort of it either. ‘Am I redeemed?’

I nod against his kiss and he laughs, pulling back to study me. My eyes are still working fine. He’s just beyond fucking beautiful, and he knows it, the big headed arse. ‘I love you.’ I just about manage to squeeze the words past my fitful breaths.

He dazzles me with that smile… my smile. ‘I know you do, baby.’ He gets up, far too spritely for my liking. ‘Come on. Now I’ve fulfilled my Godly obligation, we need to go to The Manor.’ He takes my hand and heaves me up with absolutely no effort at all. And I don’t help. I make myself a deadweight in protest, not that it hampers him.

‘Do I have to come?’ I grumble, as he squirts some shampoo in my hair and starts lathering me up.

‘You never usually complain about coming.’ He grins at me, and I roll my eyes. ‘Yes, you do. We have some time we need to catch up on. Four days’ worth.’ I ignore him and let his big, firm hands massage my head and then rinse me. ‘You’re done, lady. Out.’ He slaps my arse and sends me on my way, while he finishes his shower.

I look longingly at the bed, but as much as it’s calling me, I resist and venture into the colossal walk-in-wardrobe to get ready. We do have time to catch up on, and we have lots of hard to catch up on, too. We’ve broke the back of it, and this is all the more reason for me to remedy the situation that will undoubtedly take me back to being treated like I’m breakable if I remain pregnant.

I walk into the kitchen and find Jesse rummaging frantically through the cupboards. With his arms raised, his broad back is accentuated by the pull of his white polo t-shirt, the vast expanse of firmness making my hands twitch at my sides and my eyes blink to confirm that he’s real. I smile. He’s real all right, and he’s also mine.

‘What are you doing?’ I ask, pulling my hair up into a messy mass of wildness on top of my head.

He turns around and looks at me in alarm. ‘I’ve run out of Sun-Pat.’

‘What?’ I laugh at his genuine distress. ‘You’ve run out of peanut butter?’

‘It’s not fucking funny!’ He slams the cupboard door shut before stalking over to the fridge, yanking it open, and shifting endless bottles of water. ‘What the fuck is Cathy playing at?’ he barks to himself.

I can’t help it. I double over with laughter. This is not the normal behaviour for someone who merely likes something. He’s addicted to it. My Lord is addicted to peanut butter and, quite possibly, is going to have a seizure if he doesn’t get his fix soon. I’m happily tittering away when I hear the fridge door slam. I bolt upright and do a rubbish job of restraining my grin. I’m clamping down painfully on my lip to prevent it.

‘What are you grinning at?’ He scowls at me, good and proper.

‘Why the compulsion for peanut butter?’ I ask quickly before re-clamping down on my lip.

He folds his arms across his chest, still scowling. ‘I like it.’

‘You like it?’

‘Yes, I like it.’

‘You’re in a bit of a pickle, considering you just like it.’ My lip drags through my teeth as I completely lose the battle to keep back my smirk.

‘I’m not in a pickle.’ he argues on a small laugh. ‘It’s no big deal.’

‘Okay,’ I shrug, still grinning. It is such a big deal.

He walks across the kitchen and around the island towards me, his eyes widening as my lower body comes into view. ‘What the hell are they?’ he blurts.

I look down at myself and back up to shocked green eyes. ‘Shorts.’

‘You mean knickers?’

I’m grinning again. ‘No, I mean shorts.’ I grab the hem on each leg of my denim shorts and pull them up. ‘If they were knickers, they’d look like this.’

He gasps a little, still studying the offending garment. ‘Ava, come on, be reasonable.’

‘Jesse,’ I sigh. ‘I’ve told you. If you want long skirts and roll neck jumpers, then go find someone your own age.’ I pull my shorts back down and kneel to tie the laces of my Converse, ignoring the grumbling and bristling emanating from every delicious fibre of my unreasonable man. ‘I might go for a swim at The Manor.’ I look up at him, and his grumpy face is back to horror.

‘In a bikini?’

I laugh. ‘No, in a snowsuit. Of course in a bikini.’ I’m really pushing my luck here, and I know it.

‘You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?’

‘I’d like to go for a swim.’

‘I’d like to strangle you.’ he snaps. ‘Why do you do this to me?’

‘Because you’re an unreasonable arse and you need to loosen up. You may be an old man, but I’m only twenty six. Stop acting like a caveman. What’ll happen if we go on a beach holiday?’

‘I thought we could go skiing.’ He’s the one smirking now. ‘I’ll show you how good I am at very extreme sports.’

I grin at his repeated words from our very first meeting, and then jump up to his body, my nose diving straight into his neck. ‘You smell luscious.’ I inhale in his yummy scent as he carries me out to the car, still wearing the short shorts.

* * *

We pull up at The Manor, and I’m quickly collected from my side of the car before being pulled up the steps and into the entrance hall. I hear the distant hum of chatting from the bar and smile when I see John approaching, looking ever the frightening mountain of a man.

‘Ava would like to go swimming.’ Jesse grumbles as John joins us and starts walking alongside, matching Jesse’s strides and my quick steps that are keeping up with him.

The big guy looks down at me, his eyebrows peeking above his wraparounds. ‘You do, girl?’

I nod. ‘It’s hot out there,’

The small smile flashing across John’s face is an indication that he knows damn well what I’m doing. Yes, I’m trying to bash all unreasonableness out of my husband, and this is the perfect place to start—at the sex haven of my Lord, where the revealing of flesh is an everyday occurrence. I’m not planning on ever stripping down and prancing around for everyone to see, but a swim in a decent bikini is a good place to start. If he can overcome it here, then he can overcome it anywhere.

We pass the bar, and I spot Sam. I can’t see his face, but his body slumped on a stool is a clear indication of how he’s feeling. My best friend is an idiot. She’s running away from something good, just to reignite something that’s terribly bad. Sam might have dragged her over to the dark side, but he doesn’t deserve to be crapped all over like this.

As soon as we enter Jesse’s office, he drops my hand and goes straight to the integrated fridge. He pulls out a jar of peanut butter, immediately unscrews the lid and plunges his finger in. John doesn’t bat an eyelid, instead taking a seat on the other side of Jesse’s desk, while I look on with a smile on my face. He walks casually over to his chair and takes his seat, slipping his finger into his mouth and sighing. He likes it?

‘What’s happening?’ he asks John around his finger.

‘Camera three is out of action. The surveillance company is scheduled to come sort it out.’ John shifts in his seat and pulls his phone from his pocket. ‘I’ll chase them up.’ He dials and puts his phone to his ear before standing and walking over to the window.

‘Baby, you okay?’

I flick my eyes from John’s back to Jesse, finding a concerned look on his face. ‘Yes, fine.’ I realise now that I’m still standing at his office door, so I start towards his desk and sit myself down in the chair next to John’s. ‘Daydreaming. Sorry.’

His finger slips into his mouth again. ‘What about?’

I smile. ‘Nothing. Just watching you settle now you have your peanut butter.’

He looks down at the jar and rolls his eyes. ‘Want some?’

‘No.’ My nose wrinkles in distaste, and he laughs, his eyes twinkling, his soft lines springing from his greens as he screws the lid on and slides the jar onto his desk. He’s had his fix. ‘How’s Sam?’

‘Shit. He won’t talk about it. How’s Kate?’

‘Not good.’ I’m not lying, she really isn’t.

‘What do you know? Why did she end it?’

I shrug as casually as possible. ‘Because of this place, probably.’ I’m resisting the urge to sit on my hands. I dare not even mention my brother. ‘It’s probably for the best.’

He nods thoughtfully. ‘Do you want to swim or stay with me?’

I know what answer he wants. ‘What are you going to do?’ I ask, eyeing up the piles of paperwork on his desk. I’ve never seen it so messy, and I know why. No Sarah. But I’m not feeling in the slightest bit guilty about it, even if it means Jesse’s desk looks like a bomb’s gone off on it.

He looks at the paperwork, too, and sighs. ‘This is what I’ll be doing.’ He flicks through one of the piles.

‘Why don’t you employ someone else?’

‘Ava, it’s not that straight forward in this line of work. You have to know someone, trust them. I can’t just call the job centre and ask them to send along someone who can type.’

Okay, now I am feeling a little guilty. He’s right. We’re talking about people of high society, people with high powered jobs. Jesse has told me that they delve into the history of these people to determine their financial status and medical history, including any criminal convictions. I suppose there is a confidentiality issue. ‘I could help.’ I offer reluctantly, even though I wouldn’t have the first idea where to start, but his overwhelmed expression as he scans the masses of paper on his desk is really nudging the guilt.

His eyes fly up. ‘You would?’

I shrug and grab the first piece of paper I can lay my hands on. ‘An hour here and there, I suppose.’ I scan the text in my hands and recoil. It’s a bank statement. At least I think it is. The figures on here look more like international telephone numbers, so it could be a telephone bill. I glance up at him. He’s grinning.

‘We’re very rich, Mrs Ward.’

‘Fucking hell!’

‘Ava…’

‘I’m sorry, but…’ I try to focus on all of the digits but lose my place. ‘This sort of stuff shouldn’t be lying on your desk, Jesse.’ It has his account numbers on and everything. ‘Wait… did Sarah look after your finances?’

‘Yes,’ he says quietly. I bristle. I don’t trust the woman.

‘Do you have any idea where your money is? How much there is?’ I place the paper back on his desk.

‘Yes, look,’ He takes the piece and points at it. ‘I have this much and it’s in this bank.’

‘You have just one account? What about business accounts, savings, pensions?’

He looks a little alarmed, and almost irritated. ‘I don’t know.’

I gape at him. ‘She did everything? All of your accounts?’ I don’t like that thought at all.

‘Not anymore.’ he grumbles, throwing the paper back down. ‘But you’ll help?’ He’s smiling again.

How can I not? This man is stinking rich and has no idea where and how any of his money is stored. ‘Yes, I’ll help.’ I grab a pile and start sifting through, but then I have a very worrying moment of realisation. My head snaps up, finding a contented face staring straight at me. ‘I said I’d help, that’s all. A few hours here and there, Jesse.’

He visibly sags at my words. ‘But it’s the perfect solution.’

‘For you! The perfect solution for you! I have a career. I am not giving it up to come here every day and file paperwork!’ The cheeky swine. He wants me to replace Sarah as his office girl. Not a chance. ‘And anyway,’ I dump the pile back on the desk and stand. ‘I don’t know how to lash a whip, so I think I’m a little under qualified.’ I don’t know why I said that. It was unnecessary and really quite spiteful.

He’s shocked. He’s sitting far back in his chair with a mixture of disbelief and anger on his face. ‘That was a little childish, don’t you think?’

‘I’m sorry,’ I scoop my bag up. ‘I didn’t mean it.’

John joins us again and breaks the uncomfortable silence that has fallen between us. ‘They’ll be an hour,’ He slips his phone back in his pocket. ‘Before I forget, we’ve had a further three memberships cancelled.’

Jesse’s eyebrows rise in curiosity. ‘Three?’

‘Three,’ John confirms as he walks towards the door. ‘All female,’ he adds, leaving the office.

I watch as Jesse’s elbows hit his desk and his face falls straight into his palms. I feel rotten. Dropping my bag, I make my way around his desk and push him back in his chair before sitting on his desk in front of him. He watches me as he chews that lip. ‘I’ll sort allof this out,’ I signal to the paperwork everywhere. ‘But you need to get someone on this. It’s a fulltime job.’

‘I know,’ He clasps my ankles and pulls them up so my feet are sitting on his knees. ‘Go for a swim. I’ll make a start on this, okay?’

‘Okay,’ I study him closely and he studies me studying him.

‘Go on, beautiful girl. Spit it out.’ He’s smiling a little.

‘They’re withdrawing their memberships because you’re no longer available to fu…’ I bite my tongue. ‘To have sex with.’ That makes me immensely happy and it’s obvious.

‘It would seem so, wouldn’t it?’ He narrows his eyes on me. ‘I can see this pleases my wife.’

I shrug, but I can’t hide my pleasure at this news. ‘What’s the ratio of men to women?’

‘Members?’ he asks.

‘Yes,’

‘Seventy thirty,’

My mouth drops open. I remember Jesse saying there were roughly fifteen hundred members. That’s a thousand women who are potentially after my Lord. ‘Well,’ I brush off my shock. ‘You might have to turn The Manor into a gay club.’

He laughs and dangles my feet back off the desk. ‘Go take a swim.’

* * *

The changing rooms are empty. I wriggle into my bikini, remove my diamond, re-tie my hair high on my head and stuff my things in one of the wooden walnut lockers. In all of the time I’ve been with Jesse, I’ve never used the spa and sports facilities, but I’m reliably informed that there’s no skinny dipping allowed, so I’ll brave it and put Jesse to the test at the same time. I wander through the area, looking for any sign of life, but it’s completely deserted. It’s lunchtime on a Sunday. I would have thought it would be a peak time for members to utilise this part of The Manor.

Stepping into the huge glass building, I scan the area, finding all of the Jacuzzis, the huge pool, and the sun loungers are empty. It’s eerily quiet, the only sound a distant hum of water pumps. Laying my towel on a plush wooden sun lounger, I gingerly take the first step into the water and sigh. It’s tepid. Lovely. I wade down the rest of the steps and push myself into the water and start a breast stroke to the other end of the pool.

I’m relishing in the calmness and quiet as I swim length after length, no one joining me, no one venturing in to use the Jacuzzis, and no one coming to relax on a sun lounger. But then I hear movement, and I stop mid-length to see who appears from the entrance that leads to changing areas. My eyes flick from the male to the female entrances, and then Jesse emerges, wearing a loose pair of black swimming shorts. I sigh in appreciation, and he blasts me with his smile, before diving straight in, his body stretching out, making minimal noise or splashing as he slips below the surface. I float in the middle of the pool and watch the shadow of his tall body approaching me under the water until he’s right in front of me, but he remains submerged beneath me.

Then I feel his palm wrap around my ankle, and I squeal as I’m yanked under the water, just catching a lungful of air before I disappear, my eyes naturally clenching shut. His lips meet mine, his arms surrounding me, and he rolls us around under the water, our skin slipping all over each other, our tongues dancing wildly.

This is nice, but I’m rubbish at holding my breath, and he must be gasping for air, having been down here a lot longer than me. I pinch him to indicate my depleting breath, and my lungs scream a thank you when we surface, my legs clenching around his waist and my arms around his shoulders. I try to grab a hold of my bearings and attempt to open my eyes, and when I do, I’m greeted by a dirty great big grin. I know he can’t touch the bottom himself, so he must me treading water frantically with my dead weight clinging to him. You would never know it, though. That’s even if he is. He looks like he’s just floating effortlessly in front of me.

I push his wet hair from his face and match his grin. ‘You closed the pool, didn’t you?’

‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’ He shifts me around to his back and starts swimming to the side. ‘It’s never busy at this time of day.’

‘I don’t believe you.’ I rest my chin on his shoulder. ‘You couldn’t stand the thought of me in a bikini and others seeing it. Admit I’m right.’ I’ve got my Lord worked out.

He reaches the edge of the pool and pulls me from his back, pushing me up against the side. ‘I love the thought of you in a bikini.’

‘But for your eyes only?’

‘I’ve told you before, Ava. I don’t share you with anyone or anything, not even their eyes,’ He slides his hands down my sides and onto my thighs. ‘Just for my touch,’ he whispers. It makes me immediately clench my thighs as he leans in and kisses me gently before scanning my face. ‘Just for my eyes.’ His finger slips into the side of my bikini bottoms, and I hold my breath as he strokes me softly. ‘Just for my pleasure, baby. I know you understand me, don’t you?’

‘I do,’ I shift in front of him and drape my arms over his shoulders.

‘Good. Kiss me.’

I dive right in and show my appreciation with a long, hot, passionate kiss that draws a low moan from each of us. His hands shift to my waist, his big hands circling me completely as he holds me tight, and we kiss for the longest time—there in the middle of the pool, just me and him, drowning in each other, consuming each other, loving each other.

Everything that happens between us is a result of the potent, sometimes poisonous, love we share. It pushes us to behave erratically and unreasonably—both of us. In reality, we are probably level pegging in the crazy department, or maybe I have overtaken him. I certainly feel crazy. What I’m planning definitely qualifies me as crazy. And if he finds out what his crazy wife is planning, then I’ve no doubt I will see him tip over the edge of craziness.