Beneath This Man (This Man 2)

My simmering anger transforms into smugness at Jesse’s short, curt retort to Natasha’s impertinent performance, as we leave the communal room and an undoubtedly sour faced Natasha behind.

‘I would like to send a memo too.’ I say sardonically as he guides me down the stairs. These women need to be put in their place. They are a load of desperate, malevolent losers.

He laughs. ‘Whatever you want, Ava.’

Really? It would save the hassle of accosting each and every one and dishing out the warnings. I might take him up on that offer, and I might also compile a staff memo reflecting the same subject matter. I would only need one copy of that one, though. How many copies would I need for the female members?

‘Do you want a drink?’ Jesse asks, as we approach the bar.

‘Please.’ I’m trying not to sound hurt, but I know I’m failing miserably.

He looks at me and by his thoughtful expression and his lip nibbling, I can tell he’s regretting taking me up there. I’m regretting it too. This has not helped me in attempting to deal with Jesse’s history.

‘Why did you take me up there?’ I ask. He knew what I was going to see. I don’t know what I was expecting, but it certainly wasn’t that.

‘You want me to be more open with you.’

He’s right. I do. I’m regretting that too. I’ll never be able to wipe those sights from my mind, but I don’t see strange men up there, kneeling or pleasuring. All I see is Jesse. I feel sick, but I asked for it.

‘I never want to go up there again.’

‘Then you won’t.’ he answers immediately.

‘And I never want you to go up there either.’ I’m being unreasonable by asking him to avoid the epicenter of his business.

He studies me carefully. ‘I’ve no need to go up there. Everything I need is standing within touching distance and I plan on keeping her that close.’

I nod my head, my eyes darting across his body. ‘Thank you.’ I say quietly, feeling guilty for making such a demand and even guiltier that he’s submitted with no questions, arguments or challenging.

He pushes my hair from my face gently. ‘You find Kate and I’ll get the drinks.’

‘Okay.’

‘Go.’ He turns me around, sending me on my way.

I make my way through to the summer room, avoiding the toilets, even though I could do with a wee. The dance floor is busy and I spy Kate immediately, her red hair a beacon in the crowd. I step onto the dance floor as Otis Reading’s Love Man kicks in and Kate screams, thrilled at my arrival and the track.

‘Where have you been?’ she yells over the music.

‘A tour of the communal room.’ I shrug, but then the hideous thought of Kate up there stamps all over my mind. Oh God no!

Her big blues widen in astonishment, and then her pale face breaks out in a big grin. This does not assist in ridding my head of such unbearably awful thoughts. She grabs my hand and I grasp my dress so I can join her. Sam and Drew are very well oiled and performing some pretty criminal moves as they attract the attention of many women on the dance floor. Kate doesn’t seem to mind. She keeps her hand in mine and rolls her eyes at her wayward fellow and his cheeky grin. She is as laidback and unthreatened as ever, but Sam, it would seem, is not so. He soon yanks her away from a man dancing a bit too close for his liking.

I jump and have a mild panic attack when a back presses up against mine, but his smell soon invades me and I turn my face into the chin that is resting on my shoulder.

‘Hey, my beautiful girl.’

‘You made me jump.’

‘How did you know it was me?’ he asks.

‘Natural instinct.’ I can’t help but smile at him.

He smiles straight back. ‘I’m going to dirty you up.’

He is? He reaches down and shifts my dress up ever so slightly, and then hunkers down behind me, taking me with him. He starts slowly circling his hips, placing his palm on my lower stomach and guiding me around with him. My rotating hips soon catch on to his tempo and we’re in sync and in time to the band, who are doing an amazing rendition of the famous track. I throw my head back on a laugh when his arm appears suspended at the side, drifting up and down as he grinds his hips into mine, our circling speeding up and slowing in unison to the beat as I’m swayed from side to side and back and forth. Kate and Sam are in a tight clinch and Drew makes a grab for a woman who’s blatantly asking for it.

I place my hand over his on my stomach and let him do his thing, with no reservations and no concern for the dozens of women around us, who are all suddenly well aware of Jesse’s presence on the floor and have all upped their game in the dancing department. Their attempts to catch his eye will be in total vein. His chin is resting firmly on my shoulder as he dirties me up with his glorious, gyrating hips and with no regard for who is watching. It’s all about me.

‘Oh God, I love you.’ he says in my ear, kissing my temple, then clasping my hand and sending me out on a little spin before returning me to his waiting chest. The dancers applaud, and the band kicks into Stevie Wonder’s Superstitious. I hear Kate squeal from behind me. ‘More dancing?’ His eyebrow arches on a confident grin as he slowly sways me from side to side.

‘Drink.’ I plead.

‘You can’t keep up with your God, sweet temptress.’ His voice is husky.

We’re the only ones in an embrace as everyone around us gets down to the current offering from the band. Jesse’s right; they are really very good.

He runs his nose up the side of my face and then circles it slowly. ‘Are you happy?’