Beneath This Man (This Man 2)

‘There have been no other women in my life!’ he argues through my hand.

I push it harder to his lips. ‘But I need to know something.’

His eyebrows rise. He can’t answer because my hand is too tight on his lips.

‘You want to keep me as far away from the women of The Manor, but what about the sex?’ I can feel him grinning against my palm. He finds this a funny question? I take my hand away from his mouth. Yes, he’s grinning that roguish grin. It’s a lovely sight, even if I’m not happy about his amusement at my question. He goes out of his way to dress me suitably, according to him, makes me wear lace – that request is suddenly very obvious – and he doesn’t want me to drink.

Oh God!

The reason for that has just landed with an enormous smack in my brain. ‘You don’t like me drinking because you think I’m going to do what you used to do when you were drunk. You think I’m going to want to f**k everything in sight!’ I practically screech the words at him and his grin soon disappears. I’ve not even given him a chance to answer my previous question and I’m lobbing him another. Well not a question; more of a conclusion.

‘Will you stop f**king swearing?’ He rolls onto his back, without so much as a hiss or spit of pain.

Oh no. I scramble up, ignoring my own pain, and straddle him. ‘It is, isn’t it? That’s the reason.’

I watch as he absorbs my words. He can’t possibly argue with it, I know I’ve got him here. He takes a deep breath and opens his mouth to talk, but nothing comes out. He takes another but still, nothing comes out. He does this three times before he eventually speaks. ‘It’s not just that, Ava. You’re vulnerable when you’re drunk.’

‘But it is part of the reason, isn’t it?’ I know the other part is men assuming I’m fair game. He already admitted that.

‘Yes, I guess so.’ he admits.

‘Okay, what about the sex?’ This I really need to know. He wants to make me the opposite of all things Manor-ish, yet he f**ks me stupid.

The grin is back. ‘I already told you this. I can’t get close enough to you.’

‘Sleepy sex achieves that.’ I scoff. I’m not going to push this too far. I love dominant Jesse.

‘Yes, it does, but we have an incredible chemistry. I’ve never felt it before.’

My heart gallops in my chest and for the first time in nearly a day, it’s with happiness. He’s never felt it before? But he’s slept with dozens of women, or is it hundreds? My smile disappears instantly. ‘What feelings?’

His hands rest on my thighs. ‘It’s pure bliss, baby. Total gratification. Absolute, complete earth shifting, universe shaking love.’

My smiles back. ‘Yeah?’

‘Oh yeah. Complete heaven.’

I fall forward onto his chest. ‘Ouch!’

‘Careful,’ He pushes me back up. ‘Does it hurt bad?’ A flash of anger flies through his eyes as he waits for my answer, and I pray that John has sent Steve packing before Jesse gets hold of him. I still can’t believe he’s a Policeman.

‘It’s fine.’ I shift. ‘What am I going to do about work?’ I ask. Where has this weekend gone? I inwardly laugh. It’s gone on lavish shopping trips, lavish food, lavish jewellery, lavish lace dresses, a lavish party, a peculiar marriage proposal, lots of incredible sex, date rape, whippings…I groan. It’s been one hell of a weekend.

‘Unravel your knickers. I’ve spoken to Patrick.’ Jesse sits up and shifts us to the edge of the bed.

He has? ‘Is there anyone in my life who you haven’t trampled?’ I ask dryly.

He stands and places me on my feet, his wonderful nakedness right in front of me. ‘Don’t be cheeky.’ He warns with total seriousness. ‘There are no whip marks on your arse, lady. Anyway, why does our home look like it’s been ransacked by burglars?’

Oh, I forgot about that. How could I. ‘I was looking for something.’

He frowns. ‘What?’ he asks, but I detect a hint of cautiousness.

I study him, assessing his expression and his body language. I can’t fathom it at all. ‘Nothing.’

He turns me away from him and starts walking me to the bathroom with one hand on my elbow and another cupping my bum. His lack of curiosity as to what I was looking for has only heightened my suspicions. He would never usually accept such a vague answer to one of his questions.

‘What did you tell Patrick?’ I ask as he lifts me onto the vanity unit.

‘I told him that you passed out on Saturday and put your back out.’

Oh? Good thinking. ‘Did he not think it strange that you called him?’

‘I don’t know and I don’t really care.’ He starts drawing a bath and comes back over to me. ‘Look what you’ve done to your beautiful body.’ he says quietly, gazing over my shoulder to my bare back in the reflection of the mirror. ‘I won’t be taking you on your back for a while.’

A wave of disappointment travels through me as I glance over my shoulder. ‘Is that it?’ I blurt incredulously. I feel like I’ve been skinned alive and all I’ve got to show for my torture are a few long, red welts and one with a sliver of dried blood.

‘What do you mean, is that it?’ He sounds angry.

I drag my eyes away from my pitiful wounds on a scowl and look at Jesse, who is displaying a similar expression to mine, but probably fiercer. I grab his hips. ‘Turn around.’ I order as I push him to guide his reluctant, lean body away from me. His back comes into view and I gasp. Now that’s what I’m talking about. He has double the amount of lash marks, more blood and generally more to show for the shitty day we had yesterday. ‘See, yours are better than mine.’