Beneath This Man (45 page)

He walks towards me. ‘You know I have a history, Ava.’ he says impatiently.

‘Yes, but have you fucked every female member of The Manor?’

‘Watch your fucking mouth!’

‘NO!’ I walk over to the drinks cabinet and grab the first bottle of alcohol I can lay my hands on – which happens to be vodka – and pour some into a tumbler. My hands are shaking as I lift the glass and tip the neat contents down my throat. It’s only now I wonder why he keeps alcohol in his office if he wants to avoid drinking it. My throat burns and I shudder as I slam the glass down on the polished wooden counter. I’m not stupid enough to pour another. I stand with my hands braced on the cabinet staring at the wall.

He’s silent.

My throat is sore and gravelly and I feel completely out of control, consumed by jealousy and hatred. ‘How would you feel if another man laid his eyes all over my naked body while I was handcuffed to a bed?’ I ask evenly.

The heavy breath that travels the short distance between us and warms my back tells me my answer. ‘Murderous,’ he snarls.

As I thought. ‘How would you feel listening to someone voice their opinions on my bedroom manner? Saying they were not going to give up trying to get me in bed.’

‘Don’t!’

I turn to find him watching me closely, his jaw ticking wildly. ‘My work here is done.’ I quip and make my way to the door. That sideboard looks heavy, but I don’t get the opportunity to try and move it. Jesse steps in my way, halting my progress. I take a calming breath and look up at him. ‘You should know, I’m not leaving, but only because I can’t. I’m going out there and I’m going to have a drink, and tomorrow night I’m going out with Kate. And you are not going to stop me.’

‘We’ll see about that.’ he fires confidently.

‘Yes, we will.’

He starts chewing his lip, his eyes burning into mine. ‘I can’t change my past, Ava.’

‘I know. And it doesn’t look like I’m going to be able to forget about it either. Will you move the cabinet, please?’

‘I love you.’

‘Move the cabinet, please.’

‘We need to make friends.’ His face is deadpan, while my eyes have just widened.

‘No!’ I shout, disgusted by his intention to win me over with a quick fuck.

He takes a step forward, and I take one back. ‘I’ll trample, Ava.’ he warns calmly. I take another step back, watching as he regards me carefully. ‘Are you going to deny me?’ He arches a cautionary eyebrow, and I carry on stepping back until my backside is pushed up against the drinks cabinet and my hands are braced on the edge. If he gets his hands on me, I’m completely done for, and I want to stay mad. I need to stay mad. He’s going to try and blind me with his touch again.  

He reaches me and places his hands over mine. My face is level with his neck and jaw. I try to block off my sense of smell, but fail miserably. I know I won’t be allowed to leave his office until he’s happy that we’re friends.

‘Tomorrow, I’m going back to Kate’s.’ I say bravely. I need time to try and sort my unreasonable jealous frame of mind out. It would seem that Jesse Ward has brought out some rather nasty qualities in me too.

‘You know that’s never going to happen, Ava. But just you saying it makes me really fucking mad.’

‘I am.’ I retort. I’m being stupidly daring, but I need him to know how much this is bothering me.

He bends so he’s at my eyelevel. ‘Crazy mad, Ava.’ he warns softly. ‘Look at me.’ he breathes in my face.

I whimper slightly. ‘No.’ It’ll be game over and one tally on Jesse’s scoreboard if I do.

‘I said, look at me.’

I shake my head faintly and he heaves a sigh.

‘Three.’ he starts clearly.

My eyes instinctively fly up to his, but not because he’s started the countdown and I don’t want him to reach zero. It’s because I’m shocked. I’ve unwittingly complied with his command, and I’m now staring into dark green pools of lust.

‘Kiss me.’ he demands.

I purse my lips and shake my head, attempting to pull my arms free.

‘Three.’ he begins again and I freeze, my mouth dropping open in shock. He brushes his lips gently over mine. ‘Two.’  

This isn’t fair. He could kiss me, but I know he won’t. He wants me to submit and I’m desperately trying to resist, even though my treacherous body is screaming for him.

‘One.’ His lips meet mine again.

I snap my head away and wriggle under his hold, desperately fighting him off. ‘No, you’re not distracting me, Jesse.’

He shouts a frustrated yell and releases his grip, my hands flying up to his chest to push him away. We battle, my flailing hands beating him away from me as he tries to grab at my wrists.

‘Ava!’ he yells, securing me and spinning me around. I don’t know why I’m doing this. I could never win, even though he is obviously handling me with care. ‘Fucking stop it, you crazy woman!’

I ignore him, rage and adrenalin spiking my stamina to continue fighting him off.

‘For fuck sake!’ he shouts, taking me down to the floor and securing me under his body. ‘Pack it in!’

I heave under him, every muscle aching, my hammering heart jumping from my chest. I open my eyes, finding a perplexed look on his face. He doesn’t know what to do with me. I’m losing complete control.

We stare at each other, both of us panting from the exertion of our physical battle. And then we both move forward fast, our mouths crashing together, our tongues dueling urgently.

It’s a tally for Jesse. He moans, releasing his grip of my wrists and fisting my hair in his hands as he tackles my mouth with as much force as I’m taking his. This is a possessive kiss. I’m reinforcing my claim to him, trying to make him see how strongly I feel about him, how the thought of other women and Jesse can make me just as crazy mad as him. His hand finds my breast and grabs me hard through the material of my dress, kneading and squeezing as he groans.

My tongue aches, my lips are becoming sore, but neither one of us is letting up. We’re both trying to make a point here. My hands move from his biceps to his head, and I yank his hair before applying pressure, pushing him into me. I’m fizzing all over, burning up completely as I writher on the floor beneath him, making a damn successful point of ownership. And then he rolls us over and my lips leave his, drifting down his suit covered torso until I reach the zipper of his trousers. I yank it down and make quick work of releasing him, his cock slipping free, my hand wrapping around his shaft without delay.

In a complete frenzied mess, my mouth coats him and I take him all of the way, no soft caressing, no light licks or teasing strokes. I attack him, frantic and desperate.

‘Fuck!’ he barks, as I feel him hit the back of my throat. ‘Fuck, fuck, fuck!’

I don’t gag, or heave. I thrust him into my mouth repeatedly, tirelessly, squeezing his base and reaching between his thighs to grasp his heavy sacks. Hard.

‘JESUS!’ His hips fly up. ‘Ava!’ His hands find my head and yanks at my hair. I don’t know if he’s begging me or scolding me.

I concentrate on reinforcing my desperation for him, working him fast and harshly, his flesh feeling silky on the insides of my mouth, the friction from the speed of my strokes heating us both.

‘Keep me in your mouth, Ava.’ he orders, his hips meeting my every advance. My cheeks are aching, but I power on.

And then I recognise the sign of him expanding in my mouth, his breathing becoming disjointed and his fists tightening in my hair. I moan around him, increasing my iron grip on his balls and moving my other hand under his shirt. I grab his nipple, squeezing hard.

He bellows, his groin shoots up and he pushes my head down onto him, his tip pushing against the back of my throat.

He comes.

I swallow.

We both moan.

‘Fucking hell, woman.’ he pants, withdrawing from my mouth and pulling me up his body. ‘Fucking, fucking hell.’ He takes my lips again, sweeping his tongue through my mouth, sharing his salty essence. ‘I take it that means you’re sorry.’ he puffs between firm lashes of his tongue.

I have unwittingly just given him an apology fuck. Am I sorry? For being a complete unreasonable, possessive fool…just like him? ‘No, I’m not.’ I affirm. I’m really not. Our tongues keep up together, both of our groans and shifting hands working all over each other’s bodies.

I reach back down and wrap my hand around his semi-erect length, relentlessly working him while we both tackle each other’s mouths hard…aggressively. I’m not prepared to stop. He pulls away, panting, his chest heaving, but I don’t give up. I push my abused lips back to his, plunging my tongue in, continuing with my frantic handling of his cock.

‘Ava, stop.’ He grabs my hand from is groin and turns his face to break our lip contact.

I don’t give up, even now. I fight him, urgently smothering him with my mouth.  He’s never refused me before.

‘Ava! Please!’ He loses his patience and pushes me over onto my back, pinning me under his body.

I feel tears stabbing at my eyes. I’m more desperate than any of those women. I’m not dealing with this well at all. A sob slips through my lips and I turn away from him, completely ashamed.

‘Baby, don’t.’ he pleads softly, pulling my face back to his and brushing my wild hair from my face. He gazes down at me, almost in sympathy. ‘I understand.’ he whispers, wiping his thumb under my eye. ‘Don’t cry.’ he skims my lips with his. ‘It’s always just you.’

I blink back my tears. ‘I’m not coping with this.’ I reach up to touch his face. ‘I feel violent.’ I admit. I can’t believe I just openly volunteered that information, and I’m stunned I really do feel like that. ‘Mine.’ I say quietly.

He nods. He gets it. ‘Always just yours.’ He pulls my palm to his lips and kisses it firmly. ‘Please, ignore them. They’re shocked, that’s all. Their noses have been put firmly out of joint by a young, dark eyed, breathtaking beauty. My beauty.’

‘You’re my beauty.’ I affirm harshly.

‘All of me, Ava. Every single piece.’ Shifting his body, he rests himself all over me, completely coating me. He grasps my face in his palms, his green eyes staring down at me. ‘Ava, you own me.’ He places his lips on mine, ‘Do you understand me?’

I nod in his hold, feeling weak and needy.

‘Good girl.’ he whispers. ‘You are mine and I am yours.’

I nod again for fear of wailing if I open my mouth.  I didn’t think I could love him more.

He runs his palms over my cheeks and his eyes scan every inch of my face. ‘I know this is hard for you.’

‘I love you.’ I just about manage to get the words out.

‘I know you do. And I you.’ He sits up and secures himself before helping me up. ‘We’ll make friends properly later. I don’t want to trample your dress,’ He smiles a little and spins me around. ‘It looks like it needs a bit of patience and we all know how little of that I have when it comes to you.’ He turns me back and rubs his nose over mine. ‘Better?’

‘Yes.’

‘Good. Let’s go.’ He takes my hand and leads me to the door, dropping it briefly to shift the sideboard back, before reclaiming it and leading me back to the party. I feel so much better. He understands.

Chapter 22

The band has started and people have filtered into the summer room.

‘Motown?’ I ask, a little surprised as I’m pulled through the few tables left set up.

‘They’re a great band. You want to dance?’ He glances down at me with a half-smile, and I’m reminded that my man has some serious moves.

‘Later.’ I’m conscious that Kate is probably wondering what has happened and where I am. He nods and takes me through to the bar.

My stool is free and I’m lifted onto it. Kate, Drew and Sam are all holding position at the bar and all seem to be lit up, the alcohol flowing well.

‘Where have you been?’ Kate enquires, flicking a cautious glare at Jesse.

‘In Jesse’s office discussing a certain female who he called to free him after I left him handcuffed to the bed.’ I blurt it all out quietly while I keep my eye on Jesse to ensure he’s not listening. He’s too busy ordering drinks with Mario.

‘You left him there?’ Kate face is somewhere between shock and amusement.

‘Yes.’ I didn’t mention that before. ‘He was really mad.’

‘I’m not surprised. He called Sarah to free him?’

‘Yes.’ I grate. ‘And he’s slept with her.’

‘Oh.’ Kate’s lips purse. ‘Why would he call her?’ She comes in closer, wedging herself between me and Jesse so she is stood in front of me.

‘He couldn’t get hold of anyone else. John was here and Sam was otherwise engaged.’

‘What day was this again?’

‘Wednesday.’ I raise my eyebrows and watch as she mentally casts her mind back to Wednesday morning. The penny obviously drops because a guilty look washes over her face. I’m not even going to ask why Sam was unable to come to Jesse’s rescue. ‘Sarah took great delight in advising me. That and the pleasurable experience of listening to three women compare notes on Jesse’s bedroom skills sent me over the edge.’ I grumble.

‘Oh dear.’ Kate gives me a sympathetic face. ‘History, Ava.’

‘I know.’ I shake my head disgustedly. ‘Kate, I’ve got so much to tell you. Can we go out tomorrow night? I need to let off some steam.’

She nods and then lets out a small yelp as she’s lifted from her feet and placed to the side by Jesse, giving him access to me. She slaps him on the shoulder playfully and giggles.

‘Drink.’ He thrusts a glass of water under my nose, and I take it without complaint. I watch him smile as I down the glass of water, before I hand him the empty glass. He nods in surprised approval, then replaces the empty with a glass of
Mario’s Most Marvelous
stuff. ‘See how easier things are when you do as you’re told?’ he says thoughtfully.

I narrow playful eyes on him and shake my head at his impertinence. Yes, it is, but his demands are not always as simple as drinking a glass of water. He turns away to catch up with Drew and Sam, but keeps a firm hand on my knee.

‘Oh look.’ Kate whispers.

I follow her gaze and see Sarah with a group of men, laughing, stroking, touching and generally feeling every single one of them up at every opportunity. Her beady eyes land on me, and she stares with a smug, satisfied look on her face – until I feel Jesse’s lips on my cheek. I leave her seething in the knowledge that her little plan hasn’t worked and turn my attention to Jesse. He winks at me and standing me up, he collects my arms and drapes them over his shoulders before sweeping his hands around my back and pulling me close, his forehead resting on mine. It’s a gesture of reassurance. I’m grateful.