This Man (This Man 1)

‘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 gel 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?’