Beneath This Man (This Man 2)

‘Deliriously.’ I don’t hesitate. That is the easiest question I’ve ever had to answer. I pull him closer to me. There is too much space between us.

‘Then my work here is done.’ He pushes his face into my neck and breathes in deeply, and I smile in pure and utter bliss as he holds me tight, cocooning me in his arms. I’ve never been so happy, and I know I never will be. I can deal with his past.

‘Your temptress is dying of thirst.’ I say quietly.

I feel him grin against my neck. ‘God forbid.’ he says, releasing me under duress. ‘Come on, I don’t want to be accused of neglecting you.’ He turns me in his arms and starts guiding me from the dance floor.

As I reach the edge, I’m aware of the sudden absence of Jesse’s warm palm at the base of my back and I turn to search him out. My eyes are immediately assaulted at the sight of Jesse’s alarmed face as four women – two of which are voice number one and three from the toilet – grab and stroke him as they manhandle him back onto the dance floor. These women really don’t have any self-respect. I see Kate, Sam and Drew all with incredulous looks on their drunken faces as the women work together to restrain their prey. The poor man is trapped, and short of slapping them down, he’s going nowhere. His distressed face is a result of anxiety because of me watching him fighting off the pack of wolves trying to nail him. And after our recent encounter in his office, he knows he’s not the only one who wants to trample. God only knows what he would do if this situation was in reverse. The dance floor would be a bloodbath.

I walk calmly over to them and Jesse stops struggling against them, watching as I approach. His sudden submission has the women halting in their feeding frenzy. I put my hand out to him and he takes it immediately, all of the women dropping their hands from my man’s body and watching me calmly claiming what is mine. I pull him towards me and spread my contemptuous glare on all four silent women. I say nothing, even though I’m boiling inside at their audacity. I turn, pulling Jesse from the dance floor. I hear a few gasps and definitely a whoop from Kate, but I don’t look back. I’m relishing in the fact that for once, I’m leading Jesse. This has absolutely never happened and it doesn’t for long. I’m scooped up and carried the rest of the way to the bar.

‘I love it when you’re all possessive.’ he says contentedly. ‘Kiss me, now.’

I want to point out that I only trample when necessary, but that would be a pointless exercise if ever there was one. I link my arms at the base of his neck and drown in his mouth while feeling a whole lot of eyes on us. Maybe the memos won’t be required after all.

‘There.’ He places me on my customary stool and waves Mario over, who produces my drink immediately from behind the bar, along with two bottles of water.

I pick a bottle up and start swinging the water willingly before Jesse has the opportunity to demand it.

He perches on the stool opposite and gives me an approving smile. ‘Mario, how’s the stock?’ he asks, as he stands back up and leans over the bar, running his eyes up the long row of endless glass doors. I glance over and see dwindling shelves.

‘Ah, Mr Ward, you have thirsty members this evening,’ He laughs as he removes some empty bottles from the optics. ‘I’ll do a stock take tomorrow. We have a delivery arriving on Sunday.’

‘Good man.’ Jesse says, sitting back down on the stool and placing his foot on my stools footrest. ‘Are you okay?’ He reaches over and straightens my diamond.

I stifle a yawn as I nod. ‘Fine.’

He smiles. ‘I’m taking you home. It’s been a long day.’ I welcome his suggestion. It has been a very long day. Trampling takes a lot out of you.

John walks into the bar, claps Jesse on the shoulder and nods at me. ‘You good, girl?’ he rumbles, and I nod at him too. I’ve suddenly lost the power of speech. I’m absolutely exhausted.

‘I’m taking her home. Everything okay upstairs?’

‘S’all good,’ John confirms. He nods at me, and I’m yawning again. ‘I’ll call for your car. Take her home.’ He gets his phone out and gives a few short, precise instructions before giving Jesse the nod.

‘I need to see Kate.’ I manage to mumble through my tired state. I go to lower myself from the stool but Jesse places his hand on my knee to stop me.

John performs that deep baritone laugh that reverberates through your entire being. ‘I think I may have just seen her disappear upstairs with Sam.’

Oh?

Jesse joins John in his amused state. ‘Do you want to go and say goodbye?’

‘No!’ I know my face is screwed up in disgust and they laugh harder. Copping a load of Kate and Sam in the act? No, thank you. Oh God, will anyone else be joining them? Where’s Drew? I frantically shake my stray, uninvited thoughts away. ‘Take me home.’ I shudder and drop onto my tired feet. All things considered, these shoes are incredibly comfortable, considering I’ve been in them for over seven hours.

Jesse and John exchange a few words, but my brain won’t allow my ears to listen. I do, however, home in on him telling John not to expect him in tomorrow which means I’m getting my lie in with him, and I’ll be performing an Oscar worthy hissy fit if he wakes me up with the dawn chorus and presents me with my running kit.

I say goodbye to Mario and John and let my head fall onto Jesse’s shoulder as he leads me out of The Manor and puts me in his car before sliding in behind the wheel.

‘I’ve had the best day.’ I murmur dreamily, as my body moulds into the cool, soft leather. I really have, brazen hussies aside.