Beneath This Man (20 page)

‘Where did that come from?’ I ask. I’m still in shock. I’ve met many levels of his sexual capabilities, but this one has dazed me completely. I can’t believe I didn’t see it coming. If that had been a sense fuck, I would have foregone everything, but I’ll keep that to myself.

He drags my lobe between his teeth. ‘Tell me we’re friends.’

‘We’re friends.’ I sigh. ‘Tell me where that came from.’

He reaches up and releases my other wrist from the cuffs, the absence of the heavy burden a relief. He slips out of me and flips me over, holding my wrists at either side of my head. I look up at him, waiting for an answer, but it doesn’t seem forthcoming. Should I keep my mouth shut?

He eventually speaks. ‘I like hearing you scream.’ He grins. ‘And I like knowing that I’m the one making you scream.’

Ha! Mission accomplished. ‘I have a sore throat.’ I pout.

He drops a kiss on my lips. ‘Are you hungry?’

‘No.’ I’m really not, and I’m not getting out of this bed either. It’s not even eight o’clock.

‘I’ll go and get you some water and then we can snuggle, deal?’ he asks, circling his nose with mine.

‘Deal.’ I agree. Snuggle? Is he kidding me? After that? This man is like the sex version of Jekyll and Hyde.  

He gives me a light kiss before peeling himself away from me, and I crawl up the bed, settling on my front and reveling in his scent all over the sheets. I’m absolutely bushed and my arse stings a little. If I wasn’t so satisfied and sated, I would be enormously pissed off that he has just gotten the upper hand. He doesn’t know it, but he has just derailed my evening plans. I’m way too tired to pursue my truth fuck now.

I roll over onto my back, staring up at the ceiling and battle away the unwanted thoughts that are raiding my exhausted mind. How many women? I’ve maintained I don’t want to know the answer to that question – the one that keeps popping up, uninvited and pointlessly into my brain. But unreasonable curiosity is making its unwanted presence hard to ignore. If I wasn’t so shattered, I might give that direction of thought more attention, but I am, so I close my eyes and quietly thank Jesse for draining me of any energy to pursue my unreasonable fit of curiosity.

‘Baby, have I fucked you unconscious?’ The bed dips and I feel his warm, hard body flank me. I drag myself onto my side. ‘Strawberry?’ He brushes the cool, plump fruit across my bottom lip, and I open to take a bite. ‘Good?’

‘Very.’ I say around my mouthful of delicious, ripe strawberry. I’m definitely hungry for these.

He starts grazing on his lip. Oh no. What’s he thinking? My chews slow down as I watch his eyes dart around a bit.

He finally speaks. ‘You didn’t mean it, did you? When you said you didn’t live here?’

I pause mid-chew and look at the worried face in front of me. His frown line is slowly creeping across his brow. ‘You want me to live with you, but you won’t even tell me how old you are.’ I raise my eyebrows. He has got to see the weirdness in this. There’s a whole lot of other stuff as well, stuff that I’m trying my hardest to ignore – and failing – but I’ll stick to this minor detail for now.

‘What difference does my age make?’ he asks as he pops a strawberry into his own mouth.

I shake my head, watching him chew. ‘Okay,’ I swallow. ‘What do I tell my parents when they ask? In fact, what do I tell my family when they enquire about your profession?’

Profession? Is there a professional name for Jesse?

The cogs commence and he shrugs, slipping another strawberry past my lips. ‘Tell them I own a hotel.’

I accept his offering, but keep talking. I’m not going down easily here. ‘What if they would like to see this hotel?’ I mumble around my munching.

‘Then they can see it.’ He smiles. ‘You thought it was a hotel.’

I scowl at him. ‘You had me escorted around the premises by staff and locked me up in your office so no one could talk to me. Are you going to do the same with my Mum and Dad?’

‘I’ll show them around on a quiet day.’ he answers swiftly.

Has he thought about this already? I can’t believe I’m talking about the possibility of him meeting my parents. I can’t even begin to think about how my Mum and Dad will take to Jesse. Yes, he can turn the charm on, but I’m supposed to be young, free and single after seven years and two shitty relationships, and I doubt very much that he’ll be able to control his trampling behaviour, even with my parents.

‘What if they want to stay at this hotel?’ I fire back. ‘They live in Newquay, so they’ll be staying in a hotel if they come to visit.’

He starts laughing. ‘Should I put them in the communal room?’

I jab him in the stomach, which only serves to increase his amusement. I’m irritated that he’s finding my predicament so funny, but I’m also beginning to see snippets of this easygoing Jesse who everyone keeps telling me about. I don’t like him very much at the moment, though. ‘I’m glad you find my turmoil so funny, and you still haven’t answered the age issue.’ I grab a strawberry and shove it in my mouth.

He recovers from his laughing fit and turns serious eyes onto mine. ‘Ava, it would seem you’re looking for any excuse to get out of this.’ He reaches over and drags his finger across my bottom lip. ‘If your parents ask how old I am, then make an age up, however old you want me to be, I’ll be that. If they come to visit, then they will stay here. There are four spare bedrooms, all with bathrooms. Stop fighting it. Now, is that all?’ He arches an expectant brow at me.

Damn you Jesse Ward. ‘Are you going to trample my parents?’

‘If they get in my way.’ he says seriously.

I have a mental meltdown on the spot. My Mum is not slow in expressing her opinion, and my Dad, while a gentle giant, can be fierce when it comes to his children.  This is not good news. I need to avoid the meeting my parent’s scenario for as long as possible – maybe even never.

‘Why were the police at The Manor?’ I shoot at him. This is another thing that’s playing on my mind.

He rolls his eyes. ‘I told you, some idiot is playing silly games.’

‘What sort of silly games?’

‘Ava, it’s nothing for you to worry about. End of.’ He presents me with another strawberry, and I reluctantly take it. He’s trying to stop me from asking irritating questions by keeping my mouth full.

It doesn’t stop me, though. ‘What about this mystery woman?’

‘She’s still a mystery.’ he answers swiftly and shortly.

‘So you asked Clive?’ I’m aggravating him now.

‘No, Ava, I haven’t had time.’ He’s very annoyed. He bloody has asked Clive, and he’s also asked him to keep his mouth shut. I need to be cute here, too. I’ll speak to security. I scowl at him, but he continues. ‘When can I take you shopping?’

What?   

He must catch my alarmed face because his irritated expression softens immediately. ‘I owe you a dress and with the anniversary party coming up, I thought we could kill two birds with one stone.’

‘I have plenty of dresses.’ I grumble. A shopping trip with Jesse is at the top of my
avoid to do
list. I’ll walk out of the store looking like an Eskimo.

‘Are you going to defy me at every turn today, lady?’ He narrows his greens on me, and I give him my own little scowl in return, but I’m too exhausted to quarrel. Instead, I move myself into his chest and snuggle up to him. He might be an arrogant, challenging arse, but I’m completely in love with him and there is nothing I can do about it.

Chapter 10

I peel my eyes open and find myself tucked closely into Jesse’s chest. It’s not quite daylight, which means it’s very early, and Jesse isn’t awake, so it’s definitely before five. My brain snaps awake immediately and I begin the meticulous task of freeing myself from his body without disturbing him. It’s hard. He seems to hold onto me as tight in his sleep as he does when he’s awake.

I tentatively edge myself away from him, pausing and tensing every time he shifts or sighs in his sleep. My body is rigid as I creep my way to the edge of the bed. Once I’m free, I release the breath that I’ve been holding and look down at my handsome man with two days’ worth of stubble. I want to jump straight back into bed with him, but I resist. What I have planned spurs me to leave him sleeping peacefully while I rootle quietly through my bag for my phone.

It’s five o’clock. Shit! Okay, I’ve got to be quick or he’ll be waking soon to drag me around the streets of London on one of his torturous marathons. I creep about the bedroom like a naked burglar, retrieving my stash from the wooden trunk and easing out the contents. The carrier bag crumples, and I grit my teeth, freezing in place as he rolls onto his back on a moan.

I remain like a statue until I’m sure that he’s settled, then make my way over to the bed, padding quietly across the thick carpet.

Right, Mr Ward!

I gently grasp his wrist and tug it gingerly up over his head to the wooden headboard. I struggle. His arm is heavy. I manage to get him in position and slip the handcuff over his wrist and then attach it to one of the wooden bars of the headboard. I stand back and admire my handiwork, feeling rather pleased with myself. Even if he does wake up now, he’s not going anywhere.

I collect the other set of cuffs and make my way around the other side of the bed. I have to kneel on the bed to reach for his arm, but I’m not so worried about waking him now that I have at least one arm secured, although this will work better if he can’t lay any hands on me.

I maneuver his arm cautiously above his head and fasten the other handcuff around the wrist of his damaged hand. It’s looking much better, but I’m mindful that this could hurt if he fights against them.

I stand back smugly. That was way easier than I thought, and he’s still dead to the world. I practically dance my way back over to the bag and finish my preparations before slipping into some stunning black lace underwear that I picked up on my last minute shopping exhibition.

Oh God, he’s going to go spare. I make my way back over to my sprawled, restrained, naked God and climb up to straddle his hips. He stirs and I mentally laugh delightedly when I feel him begin to harden under me. I sit patiently and wait.

It’s not long before his beautiful lashes start flickering and his lids start to twitch. His eyes open and find mine immediately, his morning erection now in full firmness beneath me.

‘Hey, baby.’ His throat is husky as he squints and gains focus.

I run my eyes down his torso, his muscles bunched and taut from the position of his arms. ‘Hey,’ I smile brightly and watch closely as he gains full consciousness and then moves his arms, clanging the metal on the wooden headboard.  The abrupt yank on his wrists has his eyes snapping wide open, and I hold my breath, watching his sleepy face as he frowns and looks up over his head.

He jiggles his arms again. ‘What the fuck?’ His voice is still hoarse. He swings his eyes to mine. They are all wide and stunned. ‘Ava, why the fuck am I handcuffed to the bed?’

I fight the grin from my face. ‘I’m introducing a new kind of fuck to our relationship, Jesse.’ I state calmly.

‘Mouth!’ He rattles his wrists again and takes another look at his restrained hands. I see realisation dawn on his handsome face as he turns his eyes back to me. ‘These are not my handcuffs.’ he says warily.

‘No, and there are two pairs. I’m sure you’ve noticed.’ I can’t believe how calm I’m being. I’m crapping it. ‘So, like I was saying, I’ve invented a new fuck, and guess what?’ I ask with a little excitement in my voice. I’m really pushing my luck.

He doesn’t scorn me this time. Instead, he arches a nervous brow. ‘What?’

Oh, I could cuddle him. ‘I thought of it just for you.’ I grind myself onto him teasingly and his chest expands, his jaw tensing. ‘I love you.’

‘Oh, fucking hell.’ he groans.

I place my hands on his chest and lower myself down to his face. He watches me as I descend, his eyes shimmering in anticipation and short pants of breath escaping his parted lips. ‘How old are you?’ I murmur, brushing my lips lightly over his.

He lifts his head to try and make better contact, but I pull back. He scowls, dropping his head back down. ‘Thirty three.’ he pants, and then moans in despair as I grind down again.

I drop my mouth to his neck and nibble my way up to his ear, licking and lapping as I go. ‘Tell me the truth.’ I whisper, and then bite his lobe gently.

His cheeks puff out. ‘Holy shit! Ava, I am not telling you how old I am.’

I sit up on his chest and shake my head at him. ‘Why?’

His lips form a straight, annoyed line. ‘Undo the cuffs, I want to touch you.’

Ah!

‘No.’ I toss back at him, grinding down again, rubbing him in just the right spot. I’m not unaffected myself, but I have to keep my control here.

‘Fuck!’ He yanks his hands and jerks his legs slightly, causing me to jolt forward. ‘Remove the fucking cuffs, Ava!’

I steady myself. ‘No!’

‘For fuck sake!’ he roars. ‘Don’t play games with me, lady!’

Oh, he’s angry. ‘I don’t think you’re in a position to tell me what to do.’ I remind him coolly. He stills, but he’s heaving long, heavy and very frustrated breaths. ‘Are you going to stop being unreasonable and tell me?’

His eyes narrow good and proper. ‘No!’

Oh, he really is a stubborn arse. This is ridiculous, but I’m not prepared to be kept in the dark on this stupid little issue anymore. ‘Fine.’ I say calmly. I fall down onto his chest and clasp his face in my palms. He gazes up at me, waiting for what I’m going to do. I plant my mouth on his and moan as he parts his lips and his tongue darts out, seeking mine.

I pull back.

He growls in frustration.

Shifting off of his lap, I wickedly give his erection a long, slow lick straight up his shaft.

‘Ohhhh, fucking hell,’ he moans despairingly. ‘Ava!’ 

I smile, sitting on my heels between his legs before collecting my weapon of mass destruction and holding it up in front of him. His head lifts, his eyes nearly falling out when he registers what I’m clasping.

‘Oh, no! Ava, I swear to God!’ He throws his head back on the bed. ‘You can’t do this to me. FUCK!’