Beneath This Man (This Man 2)

‘You think it was Mikael in the footage, don’t you?’

‘Yes, I do.’

I don’t know why I feel shocked, I knew he thought it, but the confirmation makes me more on edge. ‘Do you think that Mikael drugged me?’ I spit the question out.

‘I don’t know, Ava.’ He sounds completely deflated.

‘It’s a bit farfetched, isn’t it?’

‘He hates me, Ava. He knows you’re my Achilles heel. He’s been waiting for this.’

I stand, turning to face him. ‘Should we go to the police?’ I ask. Jesse’s concern is really concerning me now.

‘No,’ He shakes his head. ‘I’m dealing with it.’

‘Okay,’ I say quietly. I’m not arguing with him on this.

He sighs. ‘I should be walking away from you. If I could bear it, I would.’

‘What?’ I recoil, feeling panicked that he would even suggest such a thing.

‘I’ve upset a lot of people, Ava.’

‘Shut up!’ I’m feeling angry, ‘Don’t say things like that.’

‘Ava, the drink, the women…’

‘I said, don’t!’ I shout. ‘I don’t need a reminder that there have been other women since I’ve met you.’ I’m really mad now.

‘I’m sorry. I wish I could change everything, except you. You’re the only right thing in my life and I’m even making that all wrong.’ His head drops.

Tear start to build in my eyes. I know he’s remorseful, I know he has regrets. Damn it, I know this. I grab his chin and bring his face up to mine. ‘Don’t.’ I grind the words out.

He sighs, running his eyes all over me. ‘I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve you.’

‘You reminded me.’

He smiles mildly, then narrows his eyes on me playfully. ‘I like your dress.’ His hand slides up the inside of my thigh and sweeps through the seam of my knickers.

‘I like my dress too.’ Damn, I’m panting again. My bag tumbles to the kitchen floor and I grab the front of his suit jacket.

He slips his finger out and brings it up to my mouth, wiping the wetness straight across my freshly glossed lips. ‘I’m a very lucky man.’ He pulls me onto his lap and tilts me back, pushing his lips against mine on a long, lingering, sensual kiss. When he’s taken what he wants, he pulls back and flashes me his smile, reserved only for me.

I return it, running my thumb across his full bottom lip. ‘That colour doesn’t suit you.’ I drag away the soft, nude sticky gloss/cum.

‘No?’ He pouts, and I laugh. He stands me up before grabbing the remote control for the sound system. ‘I want to dance with you.’

‘You do?’

‘I do.’

I smile when Foster the People Pumped up Kicks fires from the speakers, very loudly. Oh, he really wants to dance. I’m yanked into his chest, his palm rests on my lower back and his spare hand grasps mine.

I place my other hand on his shoulder and look up at him on a smile. ‘You make me so happy.’

His eyes twinkle, his luscious lips tipping at the corner. ‘I’m going to make you happy for the rest of my life, baby. Let’s dance.’ He starts stepping backwards out of the kitchen and as soon as we’re in the vast open space of the penthouse, I’m immediately twirled out and brought back in again before he starts guiding me around the room. I laugh, looking up into his shining pools of green pleasure as I’m weaved between the furniture, twirled around while he smiles down at me. I’m guided from one end of the penthouse to the other, out onto the terrace, around the decking before being taken back inside.

‘What are we doing?’ I ask as we circle the sofa again.

‘I don’t know. Something between a waltz and a quickstep, I think.’ He grins at me as I continue to follow his lead. His eyes look like they could explode with happiness. ‘I think I enjoy this just as much as being buried inside you.’

‘Really?’ I ask, completely shocked.

‘No.’ He frowns. ‘That’s probably the stupidest thing I’ve ever said.’

My head falls back on a laugh, and he leans down resting his lips on my throat as he directs me back into the kitchen. He lifts me up to his body, my legs curling around his tight hips, my hands finding his hair. I hold his gaze and he stops his movements, studying me closely before placing me gently on the counter.

His palms cup my cheeks, his stare seeping into my eyes. He really doesn’t need to say anything, but I know he will. It’s like he wants to demonstrate how good he is at his newfound talent. He talks to me now.

His thumbs smooth over my skin. ‘Who has the power, Ava?’

I roll my eyes. ‘You do.’

‘You’re wrong.’

‘I am?’ I blurt. He holds the power. He’s made that perfectly clear.

‘You are.’ He smiles, and I frown. ‘You’re the one with the power, baby.’

‘But you always insist it’s you who holds the power.’

He shrugs. ‘I like you stroking my ego.’

I start laughing. ‘Are you joking?’

‘No.’

I stop laughing when he doesn’t join me in my humour, even though it’s pretty damn humorous. He definitely holds the powers. What’s wrong with him?

He burns holes through me with his stunning eyes. ‘I hold the power over your body, Ava. When those beautiful eyes are full of lust for me, that’s when I hold the power.’ He releases my cheeks and skates his palms up the insides of my thighs.