Текст книги "Beneath This Man"
Автор книги: Jodi Ellen Malpas
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Текущая страница: 25 (всего у книги 33 страниц)
I wilt under his fierce gaze, but I have to hold my own here. ‘You’re being unreasonable.’ I protest quietly. We couldn’t organise a wedding in a month, anyway. I take another bite of my toast and soak up the resentment emanating from every pore of my challenging man.
‘Do you love me?’ he asks sharply.
I look at him with narrowed eyes. ‘Don’t ask stupid questions.’ He’s impossible sometimes.
‘Good,’ he grunts with utter finality, returning his attention to his laptop. ‘I love you too. We get married next month.’
I drop my toast in exasperation. ‘Jesse, I’m not marrying you next month.’ I get up from my stool and take my plate to the bin to get rid of my half eaten breakfast. I’ve completely lost my appetite.
‘Come here.’ he growls to my back.
I swing around to face him, finding the fierceness is back. What’s wrong with waiting? It’s only a year or two. I’m not going anywhere. ‘No.’ I toss at him. His eyes widen. ‘And you are not going to be fucking an agreement out of me. Forget it.’ I’m standing my ground here. Start as you mean to go on and all that. I’m not very confident, admittedly, but I’ll try my hardest to fight him on this.
‘Watch your fucking mouth, Ava.’ His face screws up and his lips press into a straight line as he pins me with his glare. ‘Three.’
‘Oh no!’ I laugh. ‘Don’t even think about it!’ I start scanning the kitchen to plan my escape route, but with him nearer the exit than me, I’m facing immanent capture.
‘Two.’ He gets up and brushes his hands off.
‘No!’
‘One.’
‘Jesse, you can fuck right off!’ I scorn myself for my bad language, which has probably just heightened his annoyance. Swearing and defying him? Not a good combination.
‘Mouth!’ he barks. ‘Zero.’ He starts making his way around the island to me, and I instinctively start circling the other way. ‘Come here.’ He grinds the words out, stopping briefly before he starts coming at me from the other direction.
I ensure I remain on the other side of the island from him. ‘No, what’s the rush? I’m not going anywhere.’ I try to reason with him. I know as soon as he has me in his potent grasp, I’m screwed.
‘Damn right you’re not. Why are you delaying it?’ He continues calmly coming at me.
‘I’m not delaying. It takes a good year to organise a wedding.’
‘Not our wedding.’ He thrusts his body forward threateningly, and I dive in the opposite direction. ‘Stop running from me, Ava. You know it makes me crazy mad.’
‘Then stop being unreasonable!’ I almost laugh when he suddenly changes direction and I dive off the other way.
‘Ava!’
‘Jesse!’ I mock, weighing up the likelihood of making it through the arch and up the stairs before he catches me. I don’t fancy my chances.
‘Right!’ he yells and starts sprinting towards me.
I screech and dart off towards the archway. I know I’ll never make it up the stairs, so I fly into the gym and try to shut the glass door. He’s up against the other side, pushing against me, but I know he’s holding back so he doesn’t hurt me. He could push me off my feet with a flick of his little finger.
‘Let go of the door.’ he yells.
‘What are you going to do?’
He immediately lets up on the pressure and looks at me through the glass with slight concern etched on his face. ‘What do you think I’m going to do?’
‘I don’t know.’ I lie. I know exactly what he’s going to do. He’s going to hit me with a sense fuck. My busy hands pushing up against the door prevent my fingers from delving into my hair. His trepidation seems to intensify and the pressure on the door lessens further. I take advantage and slam it shut, flipping the lock.
His mouth drops open. ‘You didn’t just do that.’ He tries the handle of the door and I step back. ‘Ava, open the door.’ he orders. I shake my head. His bare chest starts heaving violently. ‘Ava, you know how it makes me feel if I can’t lay my hands on you. Open the door.’
‘No, tell me we can discuss our wedding reasonably.’
‘We were.’ He tries the handle again and the door shakes. ‘Ava, please, open the door.’
‘No, we weren’t discussing it, Jesse. You were telling me how it’s going to be. You’ve really never had a relationship, have you?’
‘No. I’ve told you this.’
‘I can tell. You’re shit at it.’
His anxious, green eyes flip to mine. ‘I love you.’ he says softly, like that explains everything. ‘Please, open the door.’
‘Do you agree?’ I ask. I’ve never had this power over him. I know how much he hates not being able to get to me and this is taking advantage of his weakness, but it’s the only weakness I know, so if I have to use it, then I will, especially for something of this magnitude.
His teeth are going ten to the dozen on his bottom lip as he mulls over my demand. He sighs. ‘I agree. Open the door.’ He grasps the handle, but then I think of something else – something that will have cause for another countdown later. I may as well kill two birds with one stone.
‘I’m going out with Kate later.’ I say daringly.
His eyes bulge, as I knew they would. ‘What?’
‘Last night, I told you that I was going out with Kate.’ I remind him.
‘And? Open the door.’
‘You can’t stop me from seeing my friend. If I’m going to marry you, it’s not so you can control my every move. I’m going out with Kate later and you’re going to let me…without a fuss.’ My voice is calm and assertive when inside I’m bracing myself for a sense fucking to rival all those that have come before.
‘You’re pushing your luck, lady.’ His jaw clenches, and I exhale a weary breath.
I’m pushing my luck because I want to go out with my friend? I turn my back on him and take myself to the weights bench, sitting down and making myself comfortable. I’m not opening that door until he relents, so I might be here a while.
‘Ava, what are you doing? Open the fucking door.’ I watch as he shakes the door frantically. God, I love him, but he’s got to ease up on the unreasonable demands and protectiveness.
‘I’m not opening that door until you start being more reasonable. If you want to marry me, then you need to loosen up.’
He looks at me like I’m stupid. ‘It’s not unreasonable to worry about you.’
‘You don’t worry, Jesse, you torture yourself.’
‘Open the door.’ He jiggles the handle again.
‘I’m going out with Kate later.’
‘Fine, but you’re not drinking. Open the fucking door!’
Oh yes, I should be challenging him on that too, but I think I have probably given him enough heart attacks for one morning. He looks besides himself which is ridiculous – I’m right here. I stand up and walk to the door, flipping the lock and standing back before I put him in an early grave. He barrels in and yanks me to his chest, taking us to the floor on one of the cushioned mats.
He completely smothers me with his body and breathes heavily into my hair. ‘Please don’t do that to me again.’ he pleads, and I’m suddenly riddled with guilt. His anxiety on this matter is one of his most unreasonable parts. ‘Promise me.’
‘It’s the only way I can get you to listen to me.’ I try and placate him as I stroke his back, feeling his heart hammering against my chest.
‘I’ll listen. Just don’t put anything between us again.’
‘You can’t be with me all of the time.’
‘I know, but it will be on my terms when I can’t be.’
I laugh and throw my arms over my head. ‘What about me?’
He pulls his head back and scowls at me. ‘I’ll listen.’ he mutters grumpily. ‘You’re being very challenging, wife to be.’ He buries his head back into my neck on a sulk.
Oh, he is so thick skinned. I don’t bother arguing with him on that, though. I had expected to be thrust up against the wall and fucked to within an inch of my life after my delinquencies, so the fact he is just holding me is a bit of a surprise. Maybe I’ve found my bargaining tool.
He sits up and drags me onto his lap. ‘Why don’t you go to The Manor for a drink?’
‘Absolutely not!’ I splutter.
‘Why?’ He looks insulted.
‘So you can keep an eye on me?’
‘It’s logical. You can have a drink, I can make sure you’re safe, and then I can bring you home.’
He really does make it sound logical, but I’m not making a rod for my own back. I’ll never step foot in a bar ever again. ‘No. End of.’ I say firmly.
He pouts, and I shake my head to affirm my answer. And anyway, she will be there, throwing her looks and nasty little comments about. Not a chance.
‘Impossible woman.’ he sulks, standing with me in his arms. I’m placed on my feet and given a chaste kiss. ‘I’m going to get a shower, you’ll come.’ He arches a suggestive eyebrow and hits me with his roguish grin. I don’t mind so much when he demands things like that.
‘I’ve had a shower.’
‘Well you’ll have another with me.’
‘I’ll be up in a minute. I need to call Kate.’ I pull myself from his grip and make my way back to the kitchen. ‘Where’s my phone?’
‘Charging on the side. Don’t be long.’ he calls after me.
I find my phone and ring Kate.
‘Hello?’ Her croaky voice comes over the phone. She sounds hung over.
‘Hey, feeling bad?’ I ask.
‘No, tired. What time is it?’
I glance at the oven. ‘Eleven.’
‘Shit!’ she exclaims, and I hear a commotion in the background. ‘Samuel, you loser. I’m late! Ava, I’m supposed to be in Chelsea delivering a cake! I’ll call you later.’
‘Hey, are we still out tonight?’ I shout before she hangs up on me.
‘Of course. Are you still allowed?’ she teases.
‘Yes! I’ll be at yours at seven.’
‘Brill! See you then.’
I hang up and my phone immediately alerts me of a text message. I open it as the penthouse monitor system starts bleeping at me. Walking over to the cordless device that will connect me to Clive, I glance down to my screen.
My blood runs cold. It’s Mikael.
I don’t want to look at it, but my thumb presses down on the open button before I can convince my brain to delete it without reading it.
I can’t make Monday. I’m back in Denmark temporarily. I will be in touch upon my return to re-arrange our meeting.
My stomach flies up to my mouth, choking me, and my phone starts to shake in my hand. What the hell am I going to do? I don’t even consider advising Jesse of this. He’ll spiral into meltdown, without a doubt. I delete the message immediately, knowing Jesse’s bad phone manners will have him finding it. I don’t reply either. At least I’ve got a bit more time to figure this out and to speak to Patrick. How long will he be gone? How long have I got to prepare for that meeting? I contemplate texting him back to tell him I already know about his wife and Jesse, but then the intercom shrieks again, startling me.
I answer to Clive. ‘Ava, there’s a delivery here for you. I’ll be up in a minute.’
I don’t have a chance to ask what it is or who it’s from. Clive hangs up. I walk back into the kitchen, apprehensive and nervous, and start scrolling through my phone, searching for the PIN facility so I can prevent Jesse from intercepting any more messages that Mikael might send. He’s going to get so suspicious when he finds it’s got a lock on it, but I would rather deal with his slighted state than deal with a six foot three inch whirlwind flying through the penthouse. He knows that his bad phone manners annoy me, so it shouldn’t be very difficult to brush this off. I have no other choice.
I make my way to the door. I’ll deal with this on Monday morning when Jesse isn’t within such close proximity of me and my phone. Until then, I need to put on an unaffected, relaxed face, and I really must speak to Patrick.
I open the door and hear the elevator arrive, then the unmistakable sound of Clive grumbling. Curiously walking towards the elevator, I find Clive heaving box after box and bag after bag.
‘Ava, you have a serious problem. I think you are what they call a shopaholic. Do you want it all inside?’ he huffs.
‘Urh, yeah.’ I look and see Harrods bags and gift boxes everywhere. What the hell? I’m like a spare part, holding the door open, mouth gaped, as Clive hoofs them all through and dumps them in the penthouse.
I can’t believe he’s done this. Why didn’t I suspect something was amiss when he so willingly let me have my way when bargaining with him? Or let me think I got my way, more to the point. The man must have blown a ridiculous amount of money yesterday.
Clive dumps the last bag and starts making his way back to the door. ‘That’s your lot. Was there anything left?’
I look bewilderedly up at Clive’s back. ‘Pardon?’
He turns and frowns. ‘At the store, did you buy them out?’
‘Urhhh, yeah. Thanks, Clive.’
‘Oh, a young lady stopped by.’ Clive informs me, but then instantly snaps his mouth shut, obviously realising his error.
That soon snaps me from my dazed state. ‘Really?’ I blurt.
His old eyes are wide. ‘Urm…I don’t know…’ He starts walking back. ‘Actually, maybe it was for a different resident. Can’t be sure.’ He laughs nervously. ‘It’s my age.’
‘Yeah, whatever, Clive. Short black hair?’ I ask. He said mature when referring to the blonde wavy one, who I now know to be Mikael’s wife – or ex-wife.
‘Can’t be sure, Ava.’
I actually feel a little sorry for him. The poor man shouldn’t have to deal with this. ‘Let’s keep this quiet, shall we?’
‘Oh?’ He looks relieved.
‘Yes, you don’t tell Jesse about the young woman, and I won’t tell anyone about our neighbours habits.’
He sucks in a sharp gasp. Oh yes. I play dirty, old man. I walk over and shut the door in his face. Can my poor brain cope with much more. I’m not telling Jesse. I don’t want him contacting Coral, helping her, seeing her. I’m brimming with uncertainties and fear, battling raging jealousy and I’ve just set myself up for a lifetime of this. I agreed to marry him. Am I stupid?
Jesse’s phone starts screaming from the kitchen, and I find myself following the ringtone until I‘m stood at the island looking down at the screen. I knew who it would be before I even got a glimpse of the display. Rightly or wrongly, I answer it, disregarding my conscience that is currently advising me I’m a hypocrite.
‘Coral?’ I say, evenly and clearly. There is silence, but she doesn’t hang up. ‘Coral, what do you want?’
‘Is Jesse there?’ Her voice is small, and I’m a touched surprised that she hasn’t hung up. I realise now that I was expecting her to, once she heard my voice. Maybe I just wanted her to be aware that I’m aware, I don’t know, but she’s certainly got some balls.
‘He’s in the shower. Can I help you?’ I sound polite, but with an edge of irritation.
‘No, I need to speak to him.’ She doesn’t sound polite. She sounds affronted.
‘Coral, you need to stop bothering him.’ I need to make myself clear here, seeming as Jesse has suddenly grown a conscience.
‘Ava, isn’t it?’ she asks.
I’m not sure I like her tone. ‘That’s right.’ I try to maintain my evenness, but I have no idea where this conversation is leading and it’s making me incredibly nervous.
‘Ava, he’ll make you need him, then abandon you. Walk away while you still can.’ She hangs up.
I stand with Jesse’s phone still suspended at my ear, my eyes darting around the kitchen, my mind swamped again. I can’t walk away. Not now, not ever. And he would never let me; I don’t want to. I try to convince my brain that she is just envious, all of these women are jealous and slighted because Jesse played them all off, used them and tossed them away when he was bored or finished with them. That’s the logical reason. I know how I felt when I was without him, so if that is how all of these women feel, then I completely get it. I also feel very sorry for them, but it’s not my fault they can’t stand the fact that he has changed his ways for me – not for any one of them…for me. He has stopped drinking for me. He has stopped his dabbling for me. It’s his history, a nasty history, but it’s his history, nevertheless. It’s all historical, and I can’t hold his past against him. I straighten my shoulders in my own little private display of determination. I will never walk away from him. He has made me need him, but I know he needs me too. I’m going nowhere.
Sliding his phone on the counter, I walk back into the living space and I’m instantly reminded of what had my brain in meltdown before the call from Coral. I stand with my arms hugging my body, looking at the mountain of shopping bags and boxes before me. I don’t know whether to be excited or furious. He disregards my opinions and wishes at every turn, with his neurotic, challenging ways, and now I fear I’m becoming neurotic and challenging as well. He brings out the worst in me, and I know damn well I bring out the worst in him. John said as much. Easygoing, laidback Jesse Ward? No such man exists. Well, he does, when I’m complying, I saw him last night, but its times like this I easily forget about that man.
I kneel on the floor and gingerly poke one of the bags, peeking inside cautiously, like something could jump out and attack me. Huh? That wasn’t in my like pile. I pull out a silk, navy Calvin Klein dress. That was in my maybe pile. I open a box and find a Chloe, structured, cream and black dress. That was in the no pile. It was way over my set price threshold.
Oh no. They’ve mixed it all up. I pull another bag towards me and find a pair of Diesel, baggy fitting jeans. Okay, they weren’t in any pile. I work my way through all of the bags and boxes, also finding lace underwear in every design and colour you could imagine.
God only knows how long later, I’m sat in the middle of the floor, surrounded by a mass of clothes, shoes, bags and accessories. Every single item I tried on is here, except for the gown – all of the likes, the no’s, the maybes and a whole lot more that I didn’t try. I know there must be a mistake because even the slate Chloe dress is here, and Jesse would never have willingly bought that for me. I do love it, though.
Oh God! I flop back onto the floor and gaze up at the high ceilings of the penthouse. This is just way too much; the gown, the necklace, the ring, and now all of this. I am completely overwhelmed and feeling a bit suffocated. I don’t want all of this stuff. I just want him, without the history, without the other women and without Mikael poking about.
‘Hey, baby.’ Jesse’s wet, handsome face appears, floating above me. ‘I’ve been waiting for you. What’s up?’ He pouts.
I scoff and signal in the general direction of the designer jumble sale surrounding me. Can he not see it all? He looks around, completely unfazed by the piles and piles of women’s wear flanking me.
‘It arrived then?’ he says coolly. I make a dramatic display of throwing my arms back in exasperation, and he exhales to match my drama before lying down next to me. ‘Look at me.’ he orders softly. I turn my face to his and get an injection of his fresh, minty breath. ‘What’s the problem?’
‘This is too much.’ I complain. ‘I just want you.’
He smiles, his eyes twinkling with pleasure. ‘I’m glad, but I’ve never had anyone to share my money with, Ava. Please humour me.’
‘People will think I’m marrying you for your money.’ I say it as it is. I’ve already encountered the accusation.
‘I couldn’t give a fuck what people think. It’s all about us.’ He twists onto his side and pulls at my hip so I’m mirroring him. ‘Now, shut up.’
‘You won’t have any money left if you spend like you did yesterday.’ I grumble quietly. If Zoe works on commission, she could probably retire after Jesse’s spending splurge yesterday.
‘Ava, I said shut up.’
‘Make me.’ I counter on a half-smile.
And he does.
He crowds me completely and eats me alive among half of Harrods women’s department.
Chapter 26
I walk into the bedroom after a fresh shower and shake my head at Jesse, who’s sprawled on his back across the bed wearing only his tight, white boxer shorts and making a damn effective point of letting me know he’s not happy. I sit myself in front of the floor length mirror and start drying my hair. We’ve spent all day carting the obscene amount of clothes and accessories up the stairs. I now have my own side of the colossal walk-in-wardrobe and a very happy man, until I started to get myself ready for my night out with Kate. His contented mood soon changed, but with Tom and Victoria catching up with us too and a whole pile of shit to land on Kate, I’m looking forward to it and Jesse has got to learn to share me.
I finish my hair and turn the dryer off to hear heaving, huffing and puffing coming from the bed. He’s behaving like a schoolboy, so I ignore it and make my way into the bathroom to cream up and get my make-up on. I’m mid-mascara application when he walks in, all casual, and lies himself down on the chaise lounge with an almighty exhale of air, his lean body reclining coolly and his arms draping over his head, accentuating every fine muscle on his torso. I try to ignore him, but Jesse prancing around in a pair of white, tight Armani boxer shorts is very distracting. He’s doing it on purpose.
I make a hasty retreat from the bathroom to find my underwear and something to wear. That could take some time, especially with Jesse’s critical eyes watching over me, but I don’t even make it to my newly appointed underwear drawer before I’m seized and slung onto the bed, minus one towel. I should have known; he’s going to trample me and mark me and send me out with his scent all over me. He’s done this before.
I’m flipped over onto my hands and knees, and my legs spread as he grasps my waist, efficiently restraining me. ‘You won’t come.’ he growls as he plunges two fingers into me and starts scooping them around, stretching me and preparing me.
The sudden invasion has me burying my face in the bedding to stifle my cry. He’s going to leave me pre-orgasm again, I know it.
‘This is for my pleasure, not yours.’ he grates firmly. He starts circling my entrance, and I moan into the bed in desolation. This is ultimate torture. He knows exactly what he’s doing. I stiffen all over in response to his touch.
‘Relax, Ava. I don’t want to hurt you.’ He pushes into me with his fingers, my natural instinct having me tensing my muscles in an attempt to prevent his invasion.
I cry out.
‘Relax!’ he yells, and I will my body to obey his command, but it’s not having any of it. I’m fighting the inevitable that will be Jesse abandoning me before I explode. I don’t want to go out this evening full of pent up pressure in my groin. I want to be sated and relaxed and he can do that. The bloody arse! I feel him position himself at my opening.
I whimper.
‘Damn it, Ava.’ His tone is full of aggravation ‘Stop fighting me.’
‘You’re going to desert me, aren’t you? You’re not going to see me through.’ I pant desperately.
‘That’s my call, baby.’ He slaps my backside. ‘Relax!’
‘I can’t!’ The sting radiates through me from his swift collide, and he yells in frustration at my non-conformity as he reaches underneath me to brush his fingers over my pulsing centre. ‘Ohhhhhhhh!’ I relax instantly as the connection of his heated touch blasts my senses and rockets me forward, flicking the switch that he has a direct link to. A sea of intense pleasure drowns me and I start a hasty build up towards a furious climax. I try and grab it and keep hold, but he withdraws his fingers. ‘No!’ I shout, completely frustrated.
‘Oh, yes.’ His fingers re-enter me, sweeping through me, his thumb skimming across the very tip of my clitoris, prompting me to push back in a desperate attempt to try and capture more friction. He pulls out, spreading the moisture up my crease.
‘No, Jesse!’ I feel his solid cock pushing against my opening. ‘Please!’
‘You love it, Ava.’ He advances, breaching me, slowly and controlled. ‘Oh, FUCK.’
I could cry with infuriation and frustration, but it doesn’t stop me from pushing back, taking him all of the way. I know I’m not going to come, but I can’t help myself.
He yells, grabs my waist, and then thunders forward, knocking every scrap of air from my lungs.
‘Oh, God!’ I scream as he fills me completely. He charges forward, giving me no time to adjust to him. He means business.
‘Oh, Ava.’ he pants, holding himself inside me. ‘You feel fucking amazing, baby.’ He grinds himself against me on a long drawn out moan, and I concentrate on getting my ragged breaths under control. ‘Brace yourself on the headboard.’
I take a deep breath and reach up to wrap my hands around one of the wooden planks, crying out as the change in position has him penetrating me deeper. He holds still as I follow through on his orders, running his palm down my spine gently. The fireworks crackling at my core are bordering painful.
‘Do you have a good grip?’
‘Yes!’ I spit shortly, earning myself a swift slap across my backside. I’m going to scream with frustration and he’s not even done with me yet. Why the hell am I not stopping this?
I hear him suck in a sharp breath as he starts withdrawing from me, the fullness alleviating slightly, but then I’m thrust forward as he re-enters me on a punishing drive. I scream again.
‘Brace your arms, Ava!’ He repeats the delectable move, and I stiffen my arms and rest my sweating forehead on my forearm.
‘Jesse, please.’ I beg.
‘It’s feels good, doesn’t it?’ he asks, his voice carnal and hungry.
‘Yes.’
‘You love me taking you hard, don’t you, Ava?’
‘Yes!’
‘I know you do,’ He shifts his grip from my hips and hooks his hands over my shoulders before he crashes forward again and again, yelling in fulfilment each and every time. He reaches under me and glides over my quivering clit with his fingers.
I scream and sink my teeth into my arm in desperation as my head starts to spin with a mixture of incredible pleasure and sharp stabbing pains. I can feel my climax approaching, and in a fraught attempt to seize it, I push back against him on each of his incessant blows.
‘Oh, no you don’t.’ he growls, removing his fingers and withdrawing his cock.
I cry out in anger as he yanks my hands from the headboard and spins me around, pushing me down on the bed. He straddles my stomach, trapping my arms by my side with his knees and starts lashing his fist back and forth over his pulsing cock. I close my eyes.
‘Open your eyes, Ava!’ he shouts and grabs my hipbone, prompting me to scream and buck under him.
‘You’re a bastard!’ I throw him my evilest look. ‘I’m going to get so drunk tonight!’
‘No, you’re not.’ He continues working himself over me as I watch, his eyes hooded and dark, his strained neck muscles bulging. I press my lips together. I will not be opening my mouth!
He falls forward, bracing his free hand on the bed and spills himself all over my breasts on a loud yell that resounds around the whole bedroom. He pants above me, slowing his strokes as I wriggle futilely. My breasts are coated in his warn cum, my hair is all over the place, my make-up probably needs re-doing and I’m fit to burst with the immense pressure in my groin. I am not a happy girl.
‘Do you want to come?’ he asks, looking down at me, sweat coating his forehead.
‘I’m going out!’ I bark, just to make it clear that I am not bargaining with him on this. No way!
‘Stubborn woman.’ He reaches down and wipes his palm all over my chest, spreading himself over every square inch of my torso. ‘My work here is done,’ he says on a half-smile, before leaning down and pressing his lips hard on mine.
My lips part involuntarily and I soak up the greedy lashes of his tongue, moaning, begging for more, but then he pulls back and I thrash my head from side to side, flipping myself onto my front. I hear him laugh, and then he slaps my arse hard before he gets off the bed. ‘Don’t shower.’
‘I’ve not got time!’ I yell to his back as he rearranges his boxers on his way out. I shout and thrash myself about on the bed for a few moments. I don’t know what this is going to achieve, apart from messing my hair up some more and smudging my make-up further. I can’t believe he did that. What am I talking about? Of course I can believe it. This man is beyond unreasonable and challenging.
Right! I jump off the bed and set about sorting myself out. My blow dried waves are now more of a tousled array of brunette and my cheeks are flushed. I look well and truly fucked, which is ironic because I’m not. Not in the satisfying sense, anyway. I clench my thighs together on a groan and grab a wash cloth to wipe the remnants of Jesse from my chest. There is no wiping away the huge love bite on my boob. There will be no low cut anything for me tonight and not just because of the bruise on my chest.
Control freak!
After refreshing my make-up and getting dressed, I walk down the stairs as quietly as possible. I’m heading straight out that door and with any luck, it will be a while before he notices I’m gone. He is nowhere to be seen as I scan the vastness of the penthouse, so I tiptoe to the kitchen and poke my head around the archway. Where is he?
‘You’re not fucking wearing that!’
My legs instantly kick into gear at the sound of that fierce voice and I dash for the door, slamming it behind me to hinder his pursuit while praying the elevator is open. I thank all that is holy and dive in the lift, punching the code in frantically. The doors shut just as I see Jesse’s raging face appear through the tiny gape. I give him a cheeky wave and turn to look at myself in the mirror.
Okay, so the grey Chloe number is a bit on the racy side, but my legs look incredible, even if I do say so myself. He asked for this.
The elevator door opens and I scurry across the marble floor, searching for my keys as I go. He’s got to get some clothes on and wait for the elevator to get back up to the penthouse, so I should be fine.
‘Hi, Clive!’ I sing, running past him and emerging into the evening air. I fire my key fob at my car and run across the car park.
I hear him before I see him. I turn and watch as he flies out the foyer of Lusso, looking like the Devil himself. I clench my lips shut to suppress my laugh. He looks homicidal. He tears towards me, barefoot and gloriously naked, except for his fine, tight boxer shorts. I stay where I am. I knew I wouldn’t be going out in this dress, whether he caught me here or at the bar, I was always going to be hauled home in disgrace and dressed in something more suitable by Jesse’s standards.
He grabs me and flings me up onto his shoulder, reaching up to hold the hem of my dress down before taking me straight back into Lusso. ‘It’s just my fucking luck that I go and fall crazy in love with most impossible woman in the fucking world. Evening, Clive.’
