Текст книги "Beneath This Man"

Автор книги: Jodi Ellen Malpas

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Текущая страница: 6 (всего у книги 33 страниц)

He reaches my nipple, bites it lightly, and then clasps his arm under my bum, lifting me so I’m eye level with him. ‘Are you ready to be fucked good and proper, baby?’

‘Knock yourself out.’ I challenge, draping my arms over his shoulders.

He smashes his lips against mine possessively and attacks my mouth. When he’s like this, I forget about his weak moments – the moments when I’m comforting him, holding him and reassuring him. Not at the moment, though. Right now, he is brutally sexy and domineering. I love it, and I’ve really, really missed it.

He keeps our mouths fused as he carries me out of the kitchen and towards the gym.

The Gym?

He kicks the door open and sets me on my feet as he leans down to maintain our kiss and accommodate our height difference. He bites my bottom lip gently and starts walking forward, prompting me to step back in time with his advance. After a few steps, he stops and kisses up to my ear, his hot breath igniting all of my senses. I’m mentally begging for him.

‘Fancy a work out?’ he whispers.

‘What did you have in mind?’ I nuzzle my cheek into him as he laps at my ear, causing the heartbeat at my core to kick in again, subtle and slow. He steps back from me and the absence of his warm body in front of mine leaves me chilly, wanting to pull him back to me.

Casting my eyes around the gym, I wonder what he’s got planned. My stare falls back to Jesse. He’s watching me with promising, lust filled eyes, as he reaches for his shorts and pushes them down his legs, his arousal springing free.

I gasp. I don’t know why, I’ve seen it enough times, but it still makes my breath hitch. I glide my eyes up, past his scar and to his perfect pecs. I will never tire of staring at the fine physique of the man who is stood in front of me – not ever. He’s a work of art, carefully sculptured and polished to complete perfection.

He nods behind me and I slowly pivot, but all I see is the rowing machine and his punch bag. I turn back and face him. His face is completely impassive, and he slowly nods again, indicating that what he has in mind is, indeed, behind me.

It dawns on me. He said he was going to rip me in half.

Oh good Lord!

‘Oh.’ I whisper.

He starts walking slowly towards me and the potential of his intention has me fidgeting on the spot. Taking my hand, he leads me to the rowing machine and then lowers his big, naked body so he is sitting on the seat. His erection stands up vertical from his body and the prospect of this scenario suddenly has me panting with anticipation.

I’m tugged forward to stand in front of him, and he reaches forward with his injured hand to guide my leg over the runner so I’m straddling his legs. I look down at him, my heart kicking into its maximum speed limit as I wait for his next instruction.

He reaches up and cups my breasts with his big palms and softly, slowly massages them until they ache with heaviness. I don’t miss the small wince on his face, but he doesn’t stop, and I’m not about to try and stop him myself.

‘Hmmm.’ My head rolls back and my lips part, letting out short, rapid rushes of air.

‘Ava, you fucking kill me.’ he says quietly. I pull my head down so our eyes meet. ‘I love you.’ he whispers, sliding his hands down to rest on my hips. I jerk and the corner of his mouth twitches. ‘I love how you flinch when I touch you here.’ He circles his index fingers in the sensitive hollows. I struggle to keep my legs steady. ‘I love how wet you are for me here.’ He slides his finger into me and drags the wetness out and over my lips.

I moan.

‘I love how you taste.’ He slips his finger into his mouth and pulls it out slowly while he watches me, then taking my hand again, he tugs me towards him and guides me down onto his waiting arousal.

I cry out when he impales me, the thick hardness of him completely spearing me.

He rests his forehead against mine. ‘I love how it feels to be inside you.’ He locks his hands around my lower back. ‘Wrap your legs around me.’ he demands.

I hook my legs around his waist and loop my ankles, pulling me in closer to him. His breath falters as I reach forward and place my hands on the front of his shoulders.

‘I.love.you.’ he states firmly as he begins to slide us slowly forward on the seat, the abrupt halt at the end of the runner causing me to jerk slightly on a small cry.

His eyes clench shut.

Yes, now I am beginning to see the benefits of this. His penetration is deep, but it won’t take many of these slides and hits to have me begging to let go.

When he opens his eyes, I lower my mouth to his and he accommodates my demand for mouth contact. I love his mouth. I love what he can do with his mouth. I love the words and the tones that come out of his mouth. I love the way he chews his bottom lip when deliberating something important to him.

‘I love you.’ I say against his lips.

He pulls back, his handsome face looking content. ‘I can’t tell you how happy that makes me.’ He slowly slides us back up the runner. ‘Do you need me?’

I brace myself for the jolt that I know will come and when it does, we both moan together. ‘I need you.’

‘That makes me happy too. Again?’ he asks, but he’s already on his way back down the runner.

‘Please.’ We jolt again at the end of the line. ‘Wow!’ I blurt as the ache in my stomach transforms into a slow climb to climax.

We’re travelling back up the runner, a bit faster this time.

Jolt!

‘Oh!’

‘I know,’ he whispers. ‘More?’

‘Yes!’ I plunge my tongue into his mouth desperately.

He slides us down slowly, but doesn’t let it hit the end this time. Instead, he pushes off with his feet and sends us gliding up the runner. We hit the end with such force, our bodies collide hard and I have to release his lips and bury my face in his shoulder on a choked scream.

‘Oh shit!’ he strains and repeats the same delicious move.

Slide and hit!

This is intense. I’ve never felt him so deep. I rest my mouth on his shoulder, resisting the urge to clamp onto him with my teeth, my hands moving onto the back of his head to hold me steady as he slides us back down the runner, ready for another crash to the top. My insides are furling, and I can feel him twitching and kicking inside me. He catapults us back up the runner and when we hit the top, my teeth sink into his shoulder and I cry out in pure, exquisite pleasure.

‘Fuck, Ava!’

I release my teeth and kiss my bite mark as we descend again.

‘Get your teeth back into my shoulder.’ he pants.

Oh, he likes it. I recall many times when I have bit him and stabbed him with my nails. I do as I’m bid and moan against him as I bite his shoulder on a crash.

‘Shit, I’m going to come,’ he yells, letting us roll back down the runner. ‘You ready?’

‘Yes!’ I wrap my mouth around his shoulder and clamp my teeth lightly, ready for his assault.

He lets loose.

There are no more controlled movements. He slides and crashes us relentlessly as I clamp onto him with my teeth and fingernails. The intensity of his muscled length pounding me deeply has me screaming his name against his shoulder. I start to feel fireworks fizzing as he continues with the slides and hits, pushing me towards ultimate detonation. The relentless throbbing and beating of his erection deep inside me has me sprinting to the finish and I’m gone, pushed into ecstasy on a loud crash and a cry from both of us. I sink my teeth in once more, sending Jesse into a bucking fit as his hips fly up and he shouts loudly.

Oh my God.

I’m still pulsing and riding out my orgasm when I’m vaguely aware of being gently rocked back and forth, the slight motion draining everything he has to give me.

I pull my face away from his shoulder and plant a kiss on the bite mark.

‘You’re a savage, lady.’ He twists his head to take a look at himself, and then his eyes flick to mine.

Taking possession of my mouth, he kisses me deeply and I squeeze him in my arms, joining him in his blissful oblivion. I could stay like this forever, completely encased in Jesse.

‘I’m going to take you to bed and sleep all night buried deep inside you.’ He slowly begins to lift, keeping us connected. ‘Kiss me, now.’ he commands as he starts striding out of the gym with me wrapped around his waist. I run my hands through his hair and gently yank it before slowly lowering my lips to his.

‘Savage.’ he says against my lips.

I smirk and open my eyes as he takes the stairs, finding him staring at me as our tongues dance leisurely between our mouths. I hold his eyes with mine the entire way to the bedroom where he lowers me to the bed under him. I can feel him hardening inside me again. This man is relentless.

Hooking his arm under my lower back, he shifts me up the bed until my head finds a pillow, our mouths and bodies remaining locked the whole journey.

‘Stay with me.’ he says, pulling back and brushing my hair away from my face. He studies me intently, his eyes sparkling with satisfaction at having me in his arms.

‘I’m here.’

‘Move in with me.’ He drops his face and circles my nose with his.

Oh? Does this man know the meaning of the word gradual? He’s being a bit hasty, and we still haven’t discussed any of the more important stuff – like The Manor and work and his challenging ways.

‘I want you here when I go to sleep.’ He licks my bottom lip. ‘And I want you here when I wake up. Starting and ending my day with you is all I need.’

Now, I’m fully aware that if I don’t give the answer he wants, I’m facing an attack of the sulks or a sense fuck, and I don’t want to spoil this moment. I need this moment. ‘Do you not think this is all a bit soon?’ I ask.

He pulls his face up, his expression not quite sulky, but well on its way. ‘You obviously do.’

‘It’s been two days.’ I try to reason with him.

He frowns. ‘Two days since what?’ He lifts his torso up and slips out from me a little, planting his forearms into the mattress on either side of my head. He plunges forward and my breath catches in my throat. ‘I want this every morning and every night.’ He smirks, knowing damn well what he’s doing to me. He’s going to hit me with a sense fuck. ‘And maybe a bit in between.’ He lazily pulls back and slowly pushes forward again. I clench my eyes closed. I’m not fooled that he is about to make love to me. Maybe, if I agree, I’ll get gentle Jesse, but I’m really not sure about living with him.

‘You only want me for my body.’ I feign shock on a rushed breath.

He gasps and drives long and controlled into me. ‘You don’t want this?’

I throw my head back and moan. ‘You don’t play fair, Mr Ward.’

He withdraws slowly. ‘Say yes!’ he shouts as he pounds forward, knocking the wind right out of me, forcing my arms to fly back to brace myself on the headboard. ‘Have I got to fuck some sense into you, Ava?’

Oh, here it comes. He’s going to fuck some sense into me that makes no sense at all. Moving in with him? It’s way too soon.

My muscles tighten and my blood heats, sailing through my veins at a ridiculous speed. I hate that he does this to me. All sensibility is well and truly derailed. ‘No!’ I snap, and he thunders into me again, grunting as he does. He reaches forward with his bad hand and slides his palm under the back of my head, pulling me up to face him. I’m not sure if the scowl on his face is because he’s mad or because his hand is hurting.

‘Say it.’ he orders and then charges forward again.

I’m not going to give in on this. It really is too soon. He won’t stop this; he’s too far gone himself. ‘No.’ I state firmly and precisely on a pant.

He growls and hammers forward, pounding mercifully into me. I grip onto him with the muscles of my womb as he forces me further up the bed. ‘Fucking hell, say it, Ava!’ he roars. A bead of sweat trails down his temple and his frown line jumps into position.

‘No!’

‘Ava!’ he shouts, and it echoes around the bedroom before he smashes our mouths together viciously. I buck and writher under his forceful body and greedy mouth as my pending release simmers low in my groin. ‘You like that?’ he gasps against my mouth as he persists with his relentless pounds.

‘Yes!’

‘You want this every day?’

‘Yes!’ I cry. I really do!

He yanks my hair tighter and grinds his hips harder. ‘Say it then.’ he growls. I feel the wound up coils snapping inside me as I fly into a bottom pit of pure pleasure beneath him. All reason is lost as he takes ownership of my body, soul and mind.

‘Yes! Yes! Yes! Fucking hell. Yes!’ I scream.

‘Watch your fucking mouth!’ His booming voice is piercing as he joins me in my pleasure and releases my hair before punching his fist into the mattress. That had to hurt! He pushes himself into me as deep as he can and holds himself there, his head rolling back.

He groans.

I feel his hot release pumping deep into me, and I bring my hands down from the headboard to rest on his chest. His head drops, his eyes find mine and he slowly circles his hips against me, easing us both down.

‘That wasn’t so hard, was it?’ His voice is hoarse and dry.

I smooth his solid chest under my palms. ‘I was under the influence.’ I say, and then mentally slap myself for my poor choice of words.

He can’t hold me to this, surely. But then I realise…this is Jesse, my unreasonable control freak. He can, and he will.

He smiles a glorious, full smile and kisses me tenderly, then rolls us over so I’m sprawled across this chest. His finger traces the column of my spine and he smoothes my hair. I snuggle happily into him.

He sighs.

‘I can’t be with you every second of the day.’ I say thoughtfully, though how I feel right now, it’s tempting. Why wouldn’t I want this day and night, and a little bit between as well?

He exhales, long and wearily. ‘I know you can’t. I wish you could.’

‘I have a job, a life.’

‘I want to be your life.’ he says quietly.

‘You are.’ I argue softly. He can be so vulnerable and delicate, and I know I’m the answer to that. It is miles away from the domineering brute who just fucked some sense into me. Is it sense, though, or just pure craziness?

Chapter 7

I’m freezing cold. I wince at the invasion of light that’s attacking my eyes as I open them and bolt upright in bed.

Where is he?

I brush my hair out of my face, jump out of bed and rush into the bathroom. He’s not there. In a blind panic, I hot foot it downstairs and skid to a stop at the kitchen entrance.

‘Morning.’ He puts his coffee down and gets up from the island, walking casually towards me. It’s like I’m looking at a different man. Have I dreamt the last couple of days?

He is fully clad in a charcoal grey suit, crisp white shirt and a soft pink tie. He’s clean shaven, his messy blonde hair has been manipulated to the side and his green eyes are twinkling in delight. He looks stunning.

‘Urh…morning.’ I stutter. I’m confused.

He reaches for me and wraps an arm around my waist, then hoists me off my feet and up to his lips. ‘Sleep well?’ he asks, brushing his lips against mine.

‘Hmmm.’ I hum. I’m staggered. I was sure that I would be set for battle this morning with Mr Challenging.

‘You see, this is exactly why I want you here morning, noon and night.’ he muses.

‘Why?’ I ask on a frown. So he can do this every morning? Maybe moving in with him wouldn’t be such a bad idea after all.

He lets me slide down his front, then stands back to look me up and down. He clasps his newly shaved chin with his bad hand and arches a brow on a mild grin.

Oh fucking hell! I’m naked!

‘Shit!’ I turn and make a hasty retreat to the stairs.

I don’t get very far. He catches me halfway up, wrapping his arm around my waist and lifting me from my feet. ‘Watch your mouth!’ He turns and takes me back to the kitchen, sitting me on the breakfast bar.

‘Oh!’ I yelp, as the coldness of the marble spreads across my bare backside.

He laughs and separates my thighs before settling himself between them. ‘I want you to come down for breakfast every morning just like this.’ He trails his finger from my knee to the apex of my thighs. I’m more than awake now. I’m tense too.

‘You’re confident I’m going to be here every morning.’ I say as casually as any woman can when a God-like creature is lightly brushing his forefinger across her pubic hair. I’m trying to display a cool and casual demeanor, but I’m rigid, and he knows it. Anyway, he can’t hold me to things when I’ve agreed to them mid-orgasm.

He’s fighting a grin. ‘I am confident, because you said yes. Or was it…’ He looks up to the ceiling in deep thought and then back at me. ‘Oh, I remember. It was…yes, yes, yes, fucking hell, yes!’ He loses the battle to restrain his grin and the corner of his mouth lifts cheekily as he slips his finger inside me.

I tense further. ‘I was caught at a weak moment.’ I can’t hide the lust in my voice. He’s got me.

He circles his thumb over my clitoris and my leg muscles start aching. I shift on the worktop slightly to give him better access. I’m so bloody easy.

‘Do I need to remind you why it was a good decision?’ he asks, and then takes my lips, trading one finger for two and plunging straight into me, whipping me into a desperate, wanton state.

No he doesn’t. It’s nonsensical, but I’ll take the reminder. I grab his suit jacket, clench my fists and moan into his mouth. I feel him grin against my lips before he releases them and pushes me down on the worktop. The coldness of the marble radiates through me, but I’m beyond caring about a little coldness against my bare skin. I need him…again.

With his eyes burning into mine, he undoes his belt and trousers urgently then yanks his boxers down, freeing his morning erection. In a coordinated set of moves, he clasps me under my thighs and pulls me forward onto his waiting cock.

‘This is another reason.’ he growls, pulling back and then hurling forward.

‘Oh God! Jesse!’ I drop my head back onto the worktop and arch my back into him. Oh good Lord, he has the moves. He starts a punishing rhythm of drives that have me clamping my hands on the edge of the worktop to stop myself riding up the marble. His breathing is hard and loud, and he lets a gruff bawl escape his lips on each advance.

‘Fuck! You feel perfect, baby.’ He rams forward again, hitting me hard, a despairing yelp bursting from my mouth.

I don’t know what to do with myself; he’s relentless with his momentum as he charges forward over and over and over. I’m dizzy. He places his hand on my breast and massages hard, all in time with his solid thrusts.

‘Remember yet?’ he barks, but I can’t answer. Speech has totally evaded me. With each powerful drive, he is edging me closer and closer. I inhale and hold my breath as I reach the summit of my build up. ‘Answer the question, Ava,’ he demands. ‘Now!’

‘Yes!’

‘You’re staying with me?’ His grip of my breast tightens, his hips powering forward relentlessly.

‘Oh God! Oh God! Jesse!’

‘Answer the fucking question, Ava!’ His unremitting blows are sending me wild, my head spinning, my core trembling violently.

‘Yes!’ I scream on a rushed release of air as I’m rocketed skyward in a deliriously wonderful sensation of satisfaction, buzzing from top to toe, my back arching, my body in fits of spasms.

‘Oh yes!’ He collapses on top of me, pinning me to the worktop.

I flop my arms above my head on an exhausted sigh and let my muscles naturally contract around him as we lay panting and sweating on the island. I’m completely and utterly shattered. I could go back to bed, but I’ve got to go to work and not that I would admit it to Jesse, I really don’t want to. I would rather he carry me upstairs and love me all day long –maybe longer.

‘Morning.’ I say between pants.

He lifts his head up to look at me. ‘God, I fucking love you.’

‘I know you do. You shaved.’ I breathe. I really could go back to bed. I feel like I’ve been on one of his torturous runs.

‘You want me to grow it back?’

I reach up and run my palm down his newly smoothed face. ‘No, I like seeing all of you.’

He turns his face into my palm and kisses it, then pushes himself up and plants a kiss on my stomach before withdrawing from me to sort his trousers out.

He stares down at me as he refastens his belt then wipes his moist, lush lips with the back of his hand. ‘I’ve got to go. Get out of my sight before I take you again,’ He clasps my hand and pulls me off the counter before dropping a long sensual kiss on my lips. ‘Now.’

I debate remaining exactly where I am – I want more, but he seems content with getting on with his day without me and that has to be a good thing. I don’t want to derail him, so I saunter off butt naked and well aware that he’s watching me. I stop at the archway and turn to face him, finding him standing with his hands in his pockets, legs spread slightly, his eyes twinkling. He’s studying me very carefully.

‘Have a nice day.’ I smile, reaching down and running my finger over my moist cleft, and then up to my mouth. Oh, I really am a little temptress.

‘Fuck off, Ava.’ he warns.

I grin and pivot, taking myself upstairs. I am such a slut! But I don’t care. I’m pleasantly surprised by his happy persona this morning. I had been bracing myself for a challenge, trying to get myself out of the penthouse Jesse-free and on with my working day. This is progress. I’m pleased.

It’s Monday and I have a lot of work to sort out.  I feel powerful and I need to power dress to enhance my confident attitude. Thank God Kate took the initiative to pack some work clothes and… my black, sleeveless pencil dress.

I shower and make the best job I can with my hair before slipping my dress on and grabbing my red heels on the way downstairs, but I come to an abrupt halt at the door.

Shit!

I haven’t got my car and some of the files I need are in there. I exit the penthouse hastily and race downstairs to find Clive taking a delivery outside the foyer. I run out into the sunshine towards him while putting my shades on. ‘Clive, I need a cab!’

‘Ava, how are you this morning?’ He beams at me. ‘Your transport is here.’

‘My transport?’

He points towards a black Range Rover, and I see John leaning against the hood on his phone. He has his customary shades on and his black suit. He nods at me, as per his usual greeting.

I start walking towards him, but remember something. I swing back to face Clive. ‘Did Jesse speak to you about the visitor he had yesterday?’

‘No, Ava.’ Clive makes his way back to his desk.

Hmmm. I thought not. I carry on my way and as I approach John, I catch the tail end of his conversation.

‘She’s here, Jesse, I’ll be there soon.’ His rumbling voice always makes him sound like he’s in a bad mood. He hangs up and nods at the car, his indication that he wants me to get in.

I take myself around the front and climb in. If I wasn’t in such a rush, I would probably complain. ‘Why are you here?’ I ask as I settle in the passenger seat.

‘Jesse asked me to take you to work.’ He doesn’t sound impressed.

I don’t want to put him out. Jesse must have realised before me that my car wasn’t here, but I could have just got a cab. There’s no need to arrange lifts for me and anyway, why didn’t he just hang around and take me himself?

‘I need to get my car. Do you mind? It’s at Kate’s, she lives in Notting Hill.’

He nods his acceptance, lets his window down and leans his arm on the frame. He looks like one mean mother fucker. I wonder how he and Jesse know each other. Yes, he works for Jesse, but he seems to be in the know about the drink problem too, or lack of problem –whichever. A million questions dance on my lips, but I resist asking him. If there is one thing I do know about Big John, it’s that he’s not a big talker, but then one question just shoots right out.

‘Did you get the gates sorted?’

His face turns slowly towards me and I see his forehead slightly wrinkled, an indication that he’s frowning. I hold his stare, but he still doesn’t answer.

‘The gates of The Manor.’ I prompt. ‘They malfunctioned last Sunday.’

He starts nodding and turns his face back to the road. ‘All sorted, girl.’

I bet they are. Does John know what I’m thinking?

We travel in silence, except for John’s humming, and he drops me at Kate’s. ‘Thanks, John.’ I call, jumping out of his car.

‘S’all good.’ he rumbles, and he’s gone.

It’s eight. I have time, so I run up the path to Kate’s house.

I head straight through to find her whisking a gigantic bowl of sugar and butter. ‘Hey.’ I dunk my finger in her bowl.

She swats it with her spoon. ‘Out! I’ve got so much to do! I got absolutely nothing done yesterday.’ She’s really flustered which is a million miles away from her usual calm and collective façade. What’s got her in this state?

‘Oh yeah?’ I smirk.

‘Fun!’ she snaps, tipping flour onto the measuring scales. I take the sensible decision to leave it right there. ‘How’s your brother?’ she asks.

Oh, we’ve gone from Dan to brother? ‘He’s good.’ I won’t go into too many details.

‘Jesse?’ she asks, her tongue hanging out as she bends down to gage the scales.

‘Yeah,’ I flop down into one of the tub chairs.

She straightens up and looks at me questioningly. I haven’t got time at the moment to go into too many details, there is far too much to get her opinion on.

‘Ava?’

I sigh. ‘He wants me to move in. I said yes, but that’s only because he fucked some so called sense into me after I said no. He followed it up with a reminder fuck this morning.’ I shrug.

Kate gapes at me. ‘Wow!’

I laugh, ‘Yes.’

‘Isn’t it a bit soon?’ she asks.

The question shocks me, but I’m glad she’s of the same mindset as me. ‘I think so. He wants me day and night and a little bit in between. He’s bad enough already, with his demands, control and worrying. I can’t lose my identity.’

‘Well said. Have you told him this?’ She tosses the flour into the bowl and starts mixing again.

‘No. Hey what went down at The Manor on Saturday night and why didn’t you answer any of my calls?’ I fire the questions accusingly.

She shoots her bright blues to mine. ‘Nothing!’ she barks defensively. ‘I forgot to call you back.’

I’m immediately suspicious. ‘I was referring to the police turning up.’ I say with a raised brow. She was a bit quick to shoot that answer at me. What has she been up to?

‘Oh!’ She gets all flustered and flappy as she returns to mixing her cake mixture a little too frantically. ‘I don’t know. Jesse turned up and the police left shortly after.’

‘Hey, chick!’

Sam’s cheerful voice comes from the doorway and we both look up in unison.

I cough, looking anywhere and everywhere, except at Sam. ‘Hi.’ I wave a flappy hand in his direction. He’s a nightmare. I feel my face burning up as I glance at Kate in desperation, silently begging her to do something about the cheeky sod.

‘Samuel, put some clothes on.’ Kate scorns him on a small smile.

‘I’ve come to help.’ he whines.

I continue to direct my eyes all over Kate’s workshop to avoid him. Jesse was right, he is an exhibitionist. He’s completely naked, except for one of Kate’s miniscule Cath Kidston aprons, and as he walks past me, my eyes drift and I get a right eyeful of his tight, naked butt.

‘You’ve already put me way behind.’ Kate moans, slapping his naked rump with a spatula full of cake mixture.

‘I hope you’re going to dispose of that now!’ I laugh. She shrugs and starts licking the spatula on a smile. She’s enjoying my discomfort.

Sam turns to face me with the biggest grin on his cheeky face, clearly enjoying my embarrassment too. And then he bends slightly, shoving his arse in Kate's face. ‘Now you’re going to have to lick it all off.’

I jump out of the tub chair in a complete fluster. ‘I’d better be going.’ I blurt, my voice high and squeaky. I don’t want to witness the impending clean-up operation of Sam’s caked buttocks.

‘See ya!’ Kate laughs as I make my escape.

‘Hey, how’s my buddy?’ Sam calls.

I don’t look back for fear of what I might see. ‘Fine!’ I shout, slamming the door behind me. Kate’s short, curt response to my enquiries about The Manor is making my head spin. I don’t want to even think what I’m thinking.

I drive myself to work. I would’ve just grabbed my files and jumped on the tube, but I plan on collecting my remaining belongings from Matt after work. That chore, I am not looking forward to. I’ve been putting it off all week in light of his telephone call to my parents. I’ve not spoke to him about it, and I don’t plan to either. What would be the point? I don’t want to get into a spitting match with him and in fact, I don’t ever want to see him again. Not after today, anyway.

I arrive at the office on time to a huge bunch of calla lilies lay across my desk. I sigh. How does he arrange flowers so quickly?

I find the card.

You’re a savage and a tease.

You drive me crazy,

I love you.

Jx

I drive him crazy? The man is delusional. I fire a quick text to him;

I know u do. Flowers r beautiful. Thank u for the ride…2 work. Ax

I settle at my desk and bring up my email and list of things to do, but I’m quickly distracted from my work when I remember that I’ve not taken my pill. I grab my bag from the floor and rummage through.

After a good few minutes of searching, I have my bag turned upside down on the desk and everything sprawled all over the place.

‘Shit shit shit!’ I curse. Please, not again.

‘Morning, flower.’ Patrick strolls into the office.

‘Morning,’ I don’t look up from my futile searching. I deserve a medal for being so bloody careless. ‘Did you have a good weekend?’ I ask, scrunching up a handful of loose receipts and chucking them in my wastepaper bin.

Patrick grunts a few times. ‘No, I bloody didn’t. Look!’

I drag my attention from the pile of handbag crap all over my desk to see what I’m supposed to be looking at. ‘What?’ I ask. He points to his head, so I get out of my chair and lean up on my tiptoes, but I can’t see anything. ‘Patrick, what?’

‘That, there, look!’ He bends slightly.

‘Patrick, what am I looking at?’

‘There, that ruddy great bald patch!’ he says, his voice annoyed.

I scan his mop of thick silver hair looking for a bald patch, but I’m damned if I can see one. ‘Patrick, there is no bald patch.’ I appease him.

‘Damn well would be if I didn’t take my vitamins.’ he grumbles. ‘Nice flowers.’

‘Oh yes. My brother.’ I blurt out quickly. I need to have a word with Jesse about this.