This Man (This Man 1)

I crane my neck around to get him in my line of sight, finding a completely blank expression. He’s giving nothing away. I shake my head, turning back around and letting him have his stupid age secret. I’m past caring now. I love him – nothing could change that.

‘I’ve never had a bath before. ’ he says quietly.

‘Never?’

‘No, never, I’m a shower man. But I think I might be a bath man now. ’

‘I love having a bath. ’

‘Me too, but only if you’re in it with me,’ He squeezes me. ‘It’s a good job the designer of this place anticipated the need for a big one. ’

I laugh. ‘I think she did well. ’ Never in a million years did I anticipate enjoying a soak in it when I helped coordinate the crane lift of the damn thing. At the time, I was regretting being so extravagant, but now I’m reaping the benefits of the giant, bespoke tub, it was definitely a ball ache worth enduring.

‘I wonder if she ever considered being in it?’ he muses.

‘No, she didn’t. ’

‘Well, I’m glad

she is. ’ He tugs at my ear lobe with his teeth as I feel his feet slide down my shins, rubbing across the tops of my feet above the bubbly water.

I close my eyes and rest my head against his chest. Perhaps I should ditch work and stay with him all day after all. In my sleepy bath time slumber, I decide that tub talk with Jesse is one of my new favourite pastimes. And I might even start running in the morning. Not crazy distances, but around the Royal Parks once or twice every other morning. I must remember to stretch.

‘You’re going to be late for work. ’ he says softly in my ear. I pout to myself. I’m way too comfortable. ‘Just think…if you didn’t go to the office, we could stay longer. ’ He kisses my temple and rises to get out, leaving me silently wishing I had of relented to his insistence on staying with him all day.

I give my own little private huff of disgust and grab the men’s shampoo. It looks like it’s going to be another bad hair day.

Chapter 31

I pad into the bedroom and find my cream, fitted dress spread out on the bed, with my nude heels and some fancy lace underwear that I don’t recognise. I frown to myself, picking up the unfamiliar bra and knickers set. He’s brought me underwear, and he’s brought me underwear in the right size? He really does think he can dictate my wardrobe.

I thread my fingers over the pretty, delicate lace in a soft cream colour. It’s beautiful, but a bit over the top for work. I start going through my gym bag to find an alternative, but there’s no underwear to be found and no other option in the clothes department either. In fact, there are no other clothes at all, the sly sod.

I resign myself to accepting my fate, getting myself ready and slipping into the underwear and dress that Jesse has decided I’m wearing today. I suppose I should be grateful that he’s not laid out my oversized, chunky knit jumper. I’m super relieved that he’s had the initiative to leave me a hairdryer, though. I apply my make-up, blow-dry my hair into a tousled, slightly messy mass, pile it up and make my way downstairs.

I find Jesse at the kitchen island on his mobile, dunking his finger into a jar of peanut butter. He glances up at me, nearly knocking me off of my heels with his roguish smile. Oh yes, he’s super satisfied with himself.

I run my eyes over his grey suited, black shirted physic and sigh in admiration. His dirty blonde hair has been ruffled with wax and set in a messy array to one side, and I’m super appreciative that he’s not shaved. He looks rugged and mind-bogglingly handsome. Why did I insist on going to work?

‘I’ll be there when I’ve dropped Ava at work. ’ He turns himself on the stool, cocking his head to the side. ‘Yes, tell Sarah I want it on my desk when I get there. ’ He pats his lap, and I make my way over, fighting the scowl from my face at the mention of her name. ‘We revoke his membership, simple. ’ I lower myself onto his knee, smiling when he buries himself in my neck and inhales deeply. ‘He can kick off all he likes, he’s gone, end of. ’ he spits harshly. What’s he on about? ‘Get Sarah to cancel it…yes…okay…see you in a bit. ’

He hangs up, tosses his phone on the worktop and snakes his arms under my knees to pull me up from floor and onto his lap, greeting me with a greedy, full on kiss. He moans into my mouth in pure satisfaction.

‘I like your dress. ’ he mumbles around my lips. He’s extra minty, mixed with a little peanut butter. I can’t stand peanut butter, but I love him and all this attentiveness, so I’ll ignore it.

‘You picked it. Of course you like it. What’s with the underwear?’

He pecks my lips and puts me down. ‘I told you, always in lace. ’ He runs his eyes down my body.

I don’t argue – a pointless exercise if ever there was one, and I’ve got it on now.

‘Breakfast?’ he asks.

Author: Jodi Ellen Malpas

I glance at the clock on the cooker. ‘I’ll grab something at the office. ’ I can’t be late. I grab my bag to get my pills. ‘Can I have some water?’

‘Knock yourself out, baby. ’ He returns to his jar of peanut butter.