Beneath This Man (This Man 2)

I feel his palm fall lightly onto my thigh and circle lazily. ‘Baby, I’ve had the best day, thank you.’

‘Why are you thanking me for?’ I yawn again, my eyes getting heavy. It’s me who’s been spoiled and lavished with attention.

‘For letting me remind you.’ he says quietly.

I turn sleepy eyes onto him and smile, watching as he starts the car and pulls out hastily. I close my eyes and give in to my exhaustion. He’s reminded me all right, and I’m so glad I let him.

‘Evening, Clive.’ I feel the vibrations of Jesse’s voice drift into my body, which is secured firmly to his chest. I can’t believe how tired I am.

‘Mr Ward, should I get the elevator for you?’

‘No, I’ve got it. Thanks.’

In my comatose state, I wonder if Clive lives here. He’s supposed to be one of two concierges, but I’ve never seen the other one. I hear the penthouse door being kicked shut and in no time at all, I’m lying on the bed. I think I might leave the dress exactly where it is. I curl up on my side.

‘Come on you. Let’s get you out of that dress.’ He rolls me onto my back.

‘Leave it.’ I grumble sleepily. I have zero energy.

I hear him laugh. ‘I am not sleeping with you fully dressed, lady. Not ever. Come here.’ He pulls me up by my hands and moves my legs to dangle off the bed, before removing my shoes. ‘Up you come.’ I’m tugged lightly to standing position and turned around. ‘How do you get this thing off?’ he asks, as his hands drift across the back and then down the sides of the dress.

I reach over my shoulder and point at the concealed zip. He grasps it, drawing it slowly down my back, and then pushes it off my shoulders. I step out and then fall back against his chest.

‘I think I might just leave you in this,’ His appreciative voice wakes me slightly as his palms smooth down my sides over the delicate lace of my corset and onto my hips. ‘Teeth?’

‘Please.’ I start walking towards the bathroom with his palms resting on my waist.

He lifts me onto the vanity unit and loads my brush up with toothpaste before running it under a tap. ‘Open.’ he orders, and I let my mouth drop open, giving him access to my teeth.

He sets about brushing them with care, circling slowly and patiently while he holds my jaw. His concentration frown is set firmly in place and his eyes are shimmering with contentment, and I know it’s because he’s undertaking a task of his self-appointed job; looking after me.

He pulls the brush out. ‘Spit.’

I empty my mouth and let him wipe away the stray paste from my lips, watching me as he slips his thumb into his mouth and sucks it off. I’m exhausted, but I’m not that exhausted. I spread my thighs and grab the front of his shirt, pulling him as close as I can get him.

He grins at me. ‘Has someone woken up?’ He cups my face with both hands and drops a tender kiss on my lips.

I’ve not completely woken up, but one of his hands in the right place and I will. ‘It’s you. It’s instinctive.’ I still sound half asleep.

‘I never in a million years thought I would ever say this, but I’m not going to take you tonight.’ He circles his nose with mine, and I shift my hips forward in invitation. Now I’m the brazen hussy. He pulls back and gives me a stern look on an arched brow. ‘No.’ he mouths and drops his hands from my face. ‘Do you want to wash your make-up off?’

I’m shocked. ‘Are you denying me?’ I ask in disbelief. So it’s one rule for him and another for me? My jilted state has woken me up good and proper now.

He starts chewing that lip, watching me curiously. ‘I guess I am. Who would have thought?’ He shrugs and runs a wash cloth under the warm tap. ‘Show me that beautiful face.’ I look up at him and he gently wipes the damp cloth over my scowling expression.

‘But I thought we were going to make friends properly?’ I’m very slighted and it’s obvious in my tone.

He pauses and the edge of his mouth lifts. ‘Are we not friends?’

‘No, we’re not.’

‘Oh?’ His brow furrows. ‘Would you snuggle with someone you’re not friends with?’

I purse my lips and place my palms on his firm arse, pressing him up against me. ‘I might if my non-friend promises to make friends with me in the morning.’

He laughs lightly. ‘Deal, let’s go snuggle.’ He lifts me from the vanity unit. ‘I love you in lace, but I love you more naked and all over me. Let’s take it off.’ He strides into the bedroom, puts me on my feet and reaches around to unclasp all of the hook and eyes that are running down the centre of my back, letting the bodice fall to the floor before drawing my knickers down my legs.

He steps back and starts undressing himself as he nods towards the bed. I clamber in and settle down, my earlier tiredness returning as soon as my head hits the pillow. Jesse climbs in and lets me crawl onto his chest where I’m at my happiest. I feel his arms settle around my body and I’m drifting off, just like that.

‘Tomorrow, we get all of your things from Kate’s,’ He shifts, pulling me further onto his body. ‘On Monday, we tell Patrick, and I think you should be letting your parents know that I’m more than just a friend.’

I mumble an inaudible acknowledgment of his words. Moving in officially doesn’t seem like such a concern now, but I’m mindful that Patrick and my parents might be a completely different scenario. Actually, Patrick I’m not so concerned about either, even with the Mikael situation, which I still haven’t worked out how to deal with. My parent’s opinion, though, has eclipsed everything. To the outside world, Jesse might seem like a controlling tyrant and he is to a certain extent, but he is also a whole heap of other things. I’m not sure my Mum and Dad will see past his obvious need to smother me and control me. They will see it as unhealthy, but is it unhealthy if you accept it? Not because you’re frightened or vulnerable, but because you love them immeasurably and the times when you want to scream with frustration, and maybe even strangle them, are trumped by the times like this. He’s challenging all right, and I fight him to a certain extent, but I’m not deluded enough to think that I’m the one wearing the trousers in this relationship. I know exactly why he is like this with me. I know he lives in fear of me being taken away from him, but I live with the same fear. And I’m not sure that Jesse’s fear is an unreasonable one – not with my developing knowledge of his history.