This Man (This Man 1)

I walk over to the huge fridge-freezer, delving into the deepest depths of my bag. Where are they? I slap my bag onto the worktop next to the fridge, removing everything, but I find no pills. Please, not again. I’m hopeless.

‘What’s up?’ he asks.

‘Nothing,’ I mutter, dumping everything back into my bag. ‘Fuck. ’ I curse under my breath, but then mentally applaud myself for separating the packets and putting some in my underwear drawer.

‘Watch your mouth, Ava. ’ he rebukes me. ‘Come on, you’ll be late. ’

‘Sorry,’ I mutter. ‘This is your fault, Ward. ’ I swing my bag onto my shoulder.

‘Mine?’ he blurts, all wide eyed. ‘What’s my fault and how?’

‘Nothing, but it’s your fault because you’re distracting me. ’ I accuse.

He looks down at me, his lips twitching. ‘You love me distracting you. ’

I do as well. I can’t deny it.

I’m delivered to Berkeley Square in record time. He really is a menace on the roads, in his stupidly expensive car. He parks illegally on the corner and turns himself to face me. He’s chewing his bottom lip and he has been for most of the journey. What’s he thinking about?

‘I love waking up with you. ’ he says gently, reaching over and running his thumb across my bottom lip.

I turn in my seat so I’m facing him. ‘I love waking up with you too. But I don’t like being run ragged at five in the morning. ’ My legs are really feeling it, and it’s only going to get worse. I didn’t stretch after the run because I was sidetracked by Mr Challenging and his challenging ways. My day is looking to be really uncomfortable with my nude heels to boot.

‘You would prefer to be fucked ragged?’ He grins that roguish grin, running his palm down the front on my dress.

Oh, no you don’t! ‘No, I prefer sleepy sex. ’ I correct him. I lean over, plant a chaste kiss on his mouth and get out of the car, leaving him and his frown line alone. I lean back in. ‘I’ll be seeing you tomorrow. Thank you for exhausting me before work. ’ I shut the door and start walking off on my abused legs in the most uncomfortable shoes I own. Thank God I’ve got a day in the office because I couldn’t be prancing around London in these beauties. My phone shouts at me from my bag. I pull it out.

You look incredible in that dress. Good choice. You’re welcome. Jx

Turning around, I see him watching me walk away. I perform a little rotation and catch his dazzling smile before I hear the guttural roar of his car go speeding off. I smile to myself. He’s been really rather reasonable this morning.

I walk into the office and find Tom consoling Victoria at her desk. I roll my eyes to myself. What drama has occurred at eight thirty on a Friday morning?

‘Just get it fixed. ’ Tom soothes, rubbing her back. I look down, finding Victoria inspecting her thumb nail. I roll my eyes again.

‘I don’t have time today,’ she cries. ‘This is a disaster!’

She broke a flipping nail? The girl should have sought a career in stage school. But then I remember…she has a date with Drew tonight. Oh, this really is a disaster for Victoria. I make my way to my desk as she files down her broken nail, Tom continuing to rub her back. He looks up at me, making an equally dramatic give-me-strength gesture before virtually sprinting over to my side of the office. I know what’s coming.

He plants his palms on my desk, leaning forward. ‘What was all that about?’

‘Shhhhhhh!’ I scowl at him, looking over my shoulder into Patrick’s office. He’s not there, but he could be in the kitchen or the conference room. I should have known my gay, inquisitive friend would be picking my brain on Jesse’s shock visit to the office yesterday. In fact, I’m surprised he held out until this morning.

Tom waves a dismissive hand. ‘He’s not here. Tell me!’

I focus my attention on my computer, turning it on and faffing with the mouse. What do I tell him? I’ve fallen in love with a controlling, domineering, unreasonable, neurotic, trampling man, who happens to be a client and fucks me senseless? Oh, who also gives me the countdown when I disobey him? Yes, that about covers it. I look up and find Victoria’s joined the interrogation party.

‘He’s one hot S. O. B!’ she sings.

‘S. O. B?’ I frown.

‘Son of a bitch. ’ they say in unison.

Oh? Yes, he’s that too. I smile to myself, stretching my legs under the table on a sigh. Oh, that feels good.

‘Don’t hold out on us!’ Tom whines, executing the gayest pout I’ve ever seen.

‘I’m sleeping with him. ’ I shrug. I’m in love with him!