This Man (38 page)

‘Oh, I love that grin. You won’t be filthy for long.’ He leans over me, rubbing his erection against my core, scooping a trail of chocolate from my nipple with his index finger and keeping his eyes firmly on mine as he slides it between his lips and licks it off in the most spectacular fashion.

‘Hmmm, chocolate, cream and sweat.’ he says hoarsely.

I shudder under his piercing eyes, the light throb of my sex kicking in to high gear, as I writhe on the bar under his intoxicating stare. I reach up to pull him down onto me. I need contact. He lets me take him, dropping his lips to mine and resting his chest on me so we slip and slide all over again. The warmness of his body all over mine catapults me straight to Central Jesse Cloud Nine.

I gently coax his tongue from his mouth with small butterfly flicks, smiling against his lips as he moans deep in his throat. His arm snakes under my lower back and tugs me up from the counter, supporting me as he suspends me and claims my mouth. My arms remain around his neck, working my fingers through his hair as he continues to ravish me, and I continue to writhe.

Straying away from my lips, he begins kissing his way up my cheek to my ear, making a point of grinding his ever loving hips against me, instigating the familiar heaviness to weigh down in my groin. I moan, long and low, as my fingers curl tightly in his hair and he bites my lobe, slowly dragging it through his teeth. Oh hell, I’m soaring on pleasure here.

‘Jesse.’ I pant, arching myself into him.

‘I know.’ he hums against my ear. ‘You want me to take care of it?’

‘Yes!’ I cry.

He drops a tender kiss on the hollow of my ear, easing me down onto my back.

With his upper body braced on one arm at the side of me, he gently brushes the hair from my face. I watch as he studies me thoughtfully, his green pools swimming, the cogs of his mind turning.

‘Everything is so much more bearable with you around, Ava. ’ he says softly, his eyes searching mine.

I absorb his words, completely stunned by his confession. What’s more bearable? I can’t cope with the vagueness of this statement, especially not now. There is more than meets the eye with this man – not just confident and wealthy, possessive and gentle, controlling and dominate. I could go on forever. But there’s more.

I gaze up at him. I want to ask questions, but as I draw breath to speak, he drops his head to my breast, flicking his tongue over my already taut nipple, circling it and licking the chocolate away. I buck when his teeth clamp over my tight bud, the sharp stab arching my back and pushing my breast up further, forcing him to pull away slightly to accommodate me.

‘Feel good?’ he asks.

‘Yes!’

‘You want more of my mouth?’

‘Jesus, Jesse!’

He hums in satisfaction, spreading his attention between my breasts, lapping, nipping and sucking the chocolate, gradually and meticulously away.

I moan. I’m a sweating mess. My fingers are clawed in his hair as I squirm under his expert tongue. One touch of my core and I’ll be propelled into a despairing stupor.

‘All clean.’ he drawls as he lifts his body, his eyes locking with mine. ‘But she wants more of my mouth.’ He licks his lips and backs away from me, my stomach performing a full three sixty spin.

Oh, Christ. I won’t last a second.

He looms over me, looking straight down to the apex of my thighs. He eases his palms onto my thighs and slowly pulls them further apart. ‘Fuck, Ava. You’re weeping.’ He breathes in deep, and I see the rise and fall of his chest speed up. He flicks one last gaze up at me before his head

drifts

down,

slowly

and

provocatively. I clamp my eyes shut, tensing my whole body, as I wait for that first dash of contact.

And there it is. One long sweep of his tongue, straight up the centre of my core, with a little dance on my clit to finish off.

‘Oh…
God!
’ I groan, and I’m rewarded with two fingers thrust straight in to maximum capacity. I buck and writher involuntarily as Jesse lays an arm across my stomach to hold me down.

‘You want me to stop?’ he asks. His voice is gravel, my reaction violent. He swiftly returns to my sex, plunging his fingers in deep while lightly stroking my clitoris with his tongue.

In seconds, I feel the peak of an explosion on the horizon, and with one last casual sweep up the very centre of my most sensitive place, I burst apart under him. I’m lost. I thrash my head from side to side, a rush of breath escaping my burning lungs on a long peaceful sigh, as my thumping heart works its way back down to a steady, safe rate.

He laps gently, helping me ride out the pulses of my orgasm, letting me drift delicately down as I moan in pure satisfaction. He has the most incredible mouth.

In my subliminal state, I feel him shift from between my legs, reaching up to slip his fingers into my mouth so I can lap up the moisture of my release.

‘See how good you taste, Ava?’ he hums, swirling his finger around my mouth, then sliding them into his own, ensuring every last piece of me is savoured by his tongue. His head drops and he hovers over my face, looking into my eyes before resting his lips gently on mine, brushing from side to side. ‘You’re amazing. I need to be inside you.’

He shifts quickly, and in one measured movement, he yanks me forward and impales me on his waiting arousal. I cry out at the shock invasion, my abating climax resurrected.

Jesus!

‘My turn,’ he gasps, pulling out and firing forward again. I cry out, throwing my arms over my head as he clamps onto my thighs tightly, pulling me back and forth on the marble to match his momentum. I peel my eyes open and find him sweating, his jaw clenched.

The remnants of the cream and chocolate has me sliding to meet him with ease, tingling sensations attacking me between my thighs, the delicious full drives of his powerful body set to blow my brain clean out of my head.

Fucking hell!

‘Does that feel good, Ava?’ he shouts over my cries.

‘God, yes!’

‘You won’t run away from me again, will you?’

‘No!’
Never!

I’m hauled up onto his body and swung around to meet the wall, my back crashing against it, causing a shocked yell to burst from my mouth. I lied. I’m not use to him, at all. And I’m not sure I ever will be.

He’s so incredibly powerful, forceful and large. I endure his determined, unrelenting pounds as I’m pushed up the wall on cry after cry.

In my desperation to control my rolling orgasm, I find his shoulder and latch on with my mouth, sinking my teeth into his flesh.

‘Oh, FUCK!’ he roars. I hear his forehead collide into the wall behind me, his hips powering forward.

That’s it.

I release his shoulder, throw my head back on a harsh cry and erupt into a splintering follow up orgasm.

He stills suddenly, his breathing ragged and violent, and then he thunders forward one last, powerful time. ‘Jesus!’ he barks, jerking against me, inside and out. I’m convulsing in his arms with my own fitful breathing, trying to gulp down some valuable air into my overworked lungs.

Shock and awe. Wow!
I clench my arms and legs tighter around him, close my eyes and melt into his body.

I’m only dimly aware of being transported back to the kitchen island in his arms, the movement causing his semi-erection to stroke the wall of my uterus as I cling onto him, revelling in his heat. I lay back as he lowers me, feeling the comfort of his solid chest rest onto mine.

Instinctively, I curl my arms around his back as he showers my face with tender kisses.

Oh God, I feel so overwhelmed. I’ve never felt so needed or wanted. My time with Jesse, good and bad, strops and affection, has blasted any other feelings I’ve had, well and truly, out of the water. I open my eyes, knowing he’s looking at me.

‘You and me.’ he whispers, gazing down at me.

I close my heavy lids and pull his head down to bury my face in his neck, completely losing myself in him.

‘We need a shower.’

I drag my eyes open. I’m being lifted from the breakfast bar, I’m wrapped around Jesse and I have no intention of letting go. ‘Let’s stay.’ I murmur dreamily.

I’m so tired.

He chuckles. ‘Just hold on. I’ll do all the work.’

So I do. I hold on tight, my legs wrapped around his waist, my arms around his shoulders, as he carries me through the penthouse, up the stairs and into the bathroom.

‘Put me in bed.’ I gripe as he deposits me on the vanity unit.

‘Your sticky,
I’m
sticky. Let me wash us both, then we can get in bed and snuggle.

Deal?’ He goes to turn the shower on.

I look up at him through sleepy eyes.

‘No, put me in bed.’ I grumble.

‘Ava, you’re adorable when you’re sleepy.’ He scoops me up from the unit and carries me into the shower. I rest my head in the crook of his neck, making no attempt to free myself from his warm body. The water is blissful. ‘I’m going to put you down,’ he says. I tighten my grip around him. He laughs. ‘I can’t wash you down without any free hands.’

‘I want to stay stuck to you.’

He sighs, leaning his back against the tiled wall with me still clutched to him.

Turning his face into mine, he drops a tender kiss on my forehead, humming against my skin. I acknowledge the contact through my sleepy state by nuzzling his neck, humming my own little sigh of contentment.

One arm releases me, his knee rising to meet my backside, while he leans over and grasps the shower gell from the shelf, dropping it to the floor before doing the same with the shampoo. He lowers his knee, slips his arm back under my bent legs and slowly slides down the wall, holding tightly onto me. I feel the firmness of the shower floor beneath him as we come to rest on the floor.

I know I’m restricting him with my arms clenched around his neck, but I don’t move them, and he doesn’t complain. He works around me, holding me with one arm, washing and rinsing my hair with his free hand as best as I’ll allow. His task is unhurried as he cleans away the leftovers of cream and chocolate from my body, his hand gliding over me tenderly in slow, careful circles, wheedling me into a slumber. I keep my hold of him. I don’t want to ever let go.

‘I want to look after you forever.’ he whispers, pressing his lips against my temple.

I release a hand from his neck, brushing down his chest to his abdominals, slowly circling his belly button. ‘Okay,’ I agree.

I’m more than happy with that. I can’t think of anything more natural to me – I doubt I ever will.

He lets out a long, tired breath. ‘Come on, let’s get you out.’

I pull myself away from him, struggling to my feet. I feel utterly shattered. I put my hand out and he accepts it willingly, although I’m of no assistance in actually heaving him to his feet. I notice the remnants of some chocolate on his chest so I dip and pick up the shower gel, squirting some in my hands.

He watches me as I work up a lather in my hands and place my palms against his chest, his gaze fixed on my hands while they work over him, his light dusting of hair stuck to the solid muscle beneath.

When I’m done, I lean in to drop a chaste kiss on the centre of his chest. I look up at him and find his eyes are squeezed shut, his face turned up towards the ceiling.

I reach up and kiss his throat to get his attention, but a few seconds pass before he brings his face down to mine.

I smile at him, and he offers a little one in return. It’s not convincing, and it has me wondering what’s causing his anguish.

‘What’s wrong?’ I ask nervously.

‘Nothing’s wrong. Everything is right.’

He cups my cheeks in both of his hands, giving me a half smile, his eyes running all over my face before he turns the shower off and steps out, wrapping a towel around his narrow waist.

I walk out behind him, and I’m immediately engulfed in a soft bath sheet.

He rubs me from top to toe, working the excess water from my hair.

‘You want me to carry you?’ he asks.

I actually do. How lazy of me. I nod and he smiles approvingly, scooping my naked body up into his arms and carrying me to the bed. I crawl under the sheets, inhaling deeply as my head rests on the pillow, the delicious waft of Jesse swamping my senses. Oh, I’ll sleep well here.

He drops his towel. I open the covers in invitation and as soon as he’s close enough, I crawl into his chest, burying my face under his chin, my hot breath ricocheting off his neck, back into my face.

I draw my leg up, resting my upper leg between his thighs.

I’m completely swathed in him, and it’s the most soothing place in the world.

‘You’re too comfy.’ I garble into his throat.

‘I am?’

‘You are.’

‘Good. Go to sleep, baby.’ He drops a kiss on top of my head and squeezes me to him.

There is no space welcome between us.

Chapter 26

I regain consciousness with Jesse lying between my thighs, rubbing his nose against mine. I force my eyes open.

‘Morning, lady.’

I groan, extending my arms above my head in a long, satisfying stretch. Oh, I slept very well. As I settle back down, I feel Jesse’s morning hard on nuzzling between my thighs, a flicker of a smile playing at the sides of his mouth.

I wiggle under him. ‘Morning, yourself,’

In one swift movement, he drives deep into me, and it’s already a great day. I hold onto his tight biceps as he rests on his forearms and works up into a firm, steady rhythm.

He opens his eyes. ‘I love sleepy sex with you.’

I stare into his calm, peaceful face and let him take me to paradise, but I’m abruptly snapped out of my dreamy state when Jesse rolls us both over, keeping us connected, so I’m straddling him. The sudden gravity sensitises me to his invasion.

‘Ride me, Ava.’ His voice is raspy, his hunger filled eyes glistening in the morning light. He grasps my thighs, and I plant my palms on his pecs.

I look down at him. ‘I’m in charge?’

He grins. ‘Do your worst, baby.’ He flicks his hips up, prompting me to instigate some movement.

Right! Staring him squarely in his sludgy, sleepy eyes, I slowly and carefully rise from his hips, bracing myself up for a few seconds, teasing and watching his face blaze for friction. Then slowly, I lower myself back down with equal precision, forcing myself down, grinding as far as possible until I feel his arousal hit my womb. It sends him into a tailspin.

He throws his head back, moaning so loud it echoes around the bedroom. I smile to myself. This is my opportunity to regain the power and I’m going to make the most of it.

‘Again?’ I ask confidently. I’m going to love this.

‘Fuck, yes!’ he pants.

‘Mind your language, please.’ I taunt him as I slowly rise again, falling with complete

precision,

grinding

myself

against him. I repeat the tortuous move again and again, watching as he crumbles beneath me.

His hands shoot up to cup my breasts, his thumbs working small circles around my tight nipples. I rise again, pausing at my peak. His eyes are skipping, his mouth parted. I’m struggling to keep control above him.

‘Down?’ I tease.

‘Oh God, yes.’

I descend again, seeing his face distort, clear evidence of his suffering. He won’t endure this for much longer. I can see the strain carved in his tense jaw and creased forehead. He groans, holding my breasts tighter, sending a sharp, shooting pain directly to my core.
I’m
not going to be able to endure this for long. I’m on the crest of release, and I need him to be there when I fall.

I lift myself up, watching as he expects me to slowly lower myself. I don’t.

Instead, I knock the wind right out of him and crash down, completely impaling myself on him. I grind down hard.

‘Jesus fucking Christ!’ he roars, sweat instantly breaking out across his brow. I roll

my

hips,

ensuring

optimum

penetration, forcing myself down onto him.

Yes, you’ll beg. ‘Fuck, fuck, fuck. Ava, I’m going to come!’

‘Wait.’ I demand.

His

eyes

snap

open

in

shock,

desperation filling them. I roll again, watching as he squeezes his eyes shut, his frown line the deepest I’ve ever seen it.

This is taking everything out of him. I just need one more…

‘Ava, I can’t.’ he pleads.

‘Shit! Wait.’

‘Watch your mouth!’ he yells, his eyes still closed in concentration. It’s killing him.

‘Fuck off, Jesse!’

His eyes fly back open in warning at my crass words, but I couldn’t give a damn. I clamp my hands over his and use my leg muscles to lift myself again, hovering above him and crashing down so he completely spears me.

I lift again. ‘Now!’ I cry, smashing back down. My body explodes, sending me soaring right into orbit. I’m vaguely aware of Jesse’s strangled moans as I feel hot moisture invade me, warming my entire being. I collapse onto his chest in an exhausted heap – job done.

I lay sprawled across him, melting into the rhythm of his fingers circling my back, his semi-erection drumming steadily inside me. Our heartbeats are clashing together between our chests as we try to regulate our breathing. We’re both totally replete.

‘I love sleepy sex with you.’ I murmur.

He kisses the top of my head. ‘Except for your filthy mouth.’ His voice is full of scorn.

I laugh and look up at him, reaching to run my fingers down his stubbly cheek. I love his stubble. He turns his face into my touch, kissing my fingers and returning my smile.

‘I don’t think we can call that sleepy sex, baby.’

‘No?’

‘No. We’ll think of a new name for that one.’

‘Okay.’ I agree, completely contented. I rest my cheek back onto his chest and trace small circles around his golden nipple.

‘How old are you, Jesse?’

‘Twenty nine,’

I scoff, but it occurs to me, very suddenly, that I won’t have a clue when we finally reach his real age. I’m plumping for thirty four. That’s eight years past me – I can live with that.

I sigh. ‘What’s the time?’ I could do with another hour.

He shifts me from his chest. ‘I left my watch downstairs. I’ll go take a look.’

‘You need a clock in here.’ I grumble as he gets out of bed, leaving me cold and bare without him.

‘I’ll put in a complaint to the designer.’

he replies dryly.

I ignore him, turning over to snuggle down, making do with the pillow. This bed is the most comfortable I’ve ever slept in. I did well here.

‘Seven thirty.’ I hear him shout from downstairs.

I bolt upright in bed. ‘Shit!’ I jump out and race downstairs to the kitchen. ‘You’ll have to drop me at home.’

He sits, dead cool and casual on the bar stool, completely bare arsed naked, scooping peanut butter from a jar with his finger. ‘I’m a bit busy this morning.’ he says without looking at me.

Oh, the irritating pig! This is, without a doubt, a ploy to keep me here. After all, he did say I wouldn’t be walking, and I am.

I’ll get the tube, it’s no bother. I scan the floor where I dropped my clothes – no clothes.

‘Where are my clothes, Jesse?’

He sticks his peanut butter covered finger into his mouth, sucking it off and pulling it slowly from his mouth on a little pop. ‘I’ve no idea.’ he says, completely straight faced and unaffected.

Where has he hid them, the little shit?

They can’t be far. I stalk around his apartment, huffing and puffing, pulling open cupboard doors and looking behind furniture. I march back into the kitchen, finding him still sitting there, looking infuriatingly naked and handsome, and completely unaffected by my frenzy.

Oh, I’ve not got time for this. I can’t be late for work. ‘Where are my fucking clothes?’ I shout.

‘Watch your fucking mouth!’

I shake my head at him. He’ll have a bar of soap in my mouth next. ‘Jesse, I never swore out loud before I met you…funny, huh? I need to get home so I can get ready for work.’

‘I know you do.’ And in goes another peanut butter covered finger.

‘So, where are my clothes?’ I try calm, but if he doesn’t give me my clothes
now
, I’ll soon revert back to mad woman. I can’t be late.

‘They are…somewhere.’ He grins around his finger.

‘Where is somewhere?’ I ask, while thinking about how much I dislike roguish Jesse today.

‘If I tell you, you have to give me something in return.’

I feel mad woman coming on! ‘What?’ I yell.

‘Don’t drink tomorrow night.’ His face is deadpan.

I scowl at him as I watch him fighting to control a smirk from breaking out. The conniving pig! He’s got me cornered, naked, late for work and in need of a lift.

I stand, pondering his trade. If I’m honest, I wasn’t planning on getting particularly drunk, especially after my performance on Saturday. I’ve not even asked Kate if she’s free yet, but I don’t want Mr Control Freak thinking he can dictate my every move. Give him an inch and all that.

‘Fine!’ How will he know if I have a drink, anyway?

He looks shocked. ‘That was easier than I thought. What about lunch later?’

‘Okay, get my clothes!’

‘Who holds the power, Ava?’ he asks.

I don’t have time to challenge him on that. ‘You do, get my clothes!’

‘Correct.’ He struts over to the fridge –

with a little extra swagger for my benefit –

and opens the door. ‘Here you are, lady.’

They were in the fridge? Well, I would never have looked in there. I snatch them from his hand, and he raises a warning brow at me. I don’t care. I’m going to be so late. He watches me frantically yank my capri pants on and laughs as I hop around gasping when the freezing cold material rests on my skin.

‘Have I got time for a shower?’ he asks seriously.

‘NO!’

He laughs, slaps my bum and saunters out of the kitchen.

Jesse drives me home in his usual driving style – frighteningly fast and ever impatient, but today I’m grateful.

He waits for me in the car, making a few calls, while I shower and get ready in record time. I shove on some black, fitted ankle grazers, a white shirt and my red Dune ballet pumps. I’m dressed for speed today. My hair is having a strop for not being blow dried last night, so I pin it into a messy up do. I’ll put my make-up on in the car.

As I rush across the landing, I collide with a half-naked Sam. Has he moved in?

Put some clothes on!

‘You’re always in a rush, chick.’ He laughs. I side step him, darting into the kitchen to get a glass of water and swallow my pill. ‘Good night?’

I nod over my glass as he stands, bold as brass in the kitchen doorway, looking all roughed up. I won’t ask if he’s had a good night. That much is obvious.

‘Where’s Kate?’ I ask.

He grins. ‘I’ve tied her to the bed.’

My eyes widen. I have no idea if he’s serious or not. He’s such a joker. ‘Tell her I’ll call her later.’ I wait for Sam to budge and let me out. ‘See ya.’ I call, running down the stairs.

‘Hey, tell Jesse I’m not running today.’

he shouts after me.

I run down the path and onto the street, where Jesse is illegally parked and flipping off a traffic warden from his driver’s seat. I wait for the warden to finish lecturing Jesse, but he seems to be on a roll.

‘Move so the lady can get in the car.’

Jesse growls. The warden ignores him, launching into a speech on verbal abuse and lack of consideration for other road users.

‘Excuse me.’ I prompt, trying for polite as appose to Jesse’s aggressiveness. I get ignored. Damn, I’m going to be super late.

‘For fucks sake!’ Jesse swings his door open and strides around the car to meet the warden on the pavement. The poor man visibly shrinks at Jesse’s presence, moving away hastily. He opens the door, deposits me in the car before slamming it, cussing some more and sliding back behind the wheel. We roar off down my street, way too fast.

‘They’re just doing a job, you know.’ I flip the mirror down to sort my make-up out.

‘Power hungry failures that didn’t make cops,’ he grumbles. He looks at me and smiles. ‘You look lovely.’

I snort. ‘Watch the road. Oh, Sam said he can’t make your run.’

‘Lazy bastard. He’s still there then?’ he asks, overtaking a taxi. I grab the side of my seat. My make-up is going to be everywhere.

‘He’s got Kate tied to the bed.’ I mumble, flicking my lashes with my mascara wand.

‘Probably,’

I swing my head around with my wand half way to my eyes. ‘You don’t sound shocked.’

‘That’s because I’m not.’ He looks at me out the corner of his eye.

He’s not? So, Sam’s into kinky shit? ‘I don’t want to know.’ I mutter, returning to the mirror.

‘No, you don’t.’ he says quietly.

We pull up near my offices, but far enough away so I’m not spotted getting out of Jesse’s Aston Martin. I’m still trying to figure out how Patrick might react to all of this. Jesse hasn’t mentioned the extension since Sunday, and I can’t imagine a pleasant reaction from my boss if I tell him that I’m not designing for Mr Ward, I’m fucking him instead.

‘What time’s your lunch?’ he asks. He strokes my thigh, generating the familiar stabs of pleasure. Now is not the time to get horny, and that touch does it for me.

‘One,’ I squeak.

He rubs circles on my thigh. I stiffen slightly. ‘I’ll be here at one then.’