Beneath This Man (This Man 2)

What am I saying?

He flies back around and I just about manage to release his waist before I’m dragged off the unit and onto the floor. He pins me with an incensed stare and grabs the tops of my arms, shaking me slightly. ‘Shut up, Ava!’

‘Sorry!’ The word flies out my mouth without much prompt. Why am I talking such rubbish? ‘It just hurts so much. I thought it would look a lot worse than that.’

‘It’s f**king bad enough!’ He drops me and returns to the bath, pouring in some lavender oil and swishing the water with his hand.

That really was a stupid thing to say. I deserved that. ‘I said, I’m sorry.’ I grumble, but he ignores me.

I c**k my head to the side and admire his firm nakedness as I swing my legs and roll my shoulders in an attempt to work some flex back into them. I need to relax. I can feel my muscles knotting across my shoulders. I sit patiently on the vanity unit while Jesse goes about getting towels and the shampoo and conditioner, setting them on the side of the bath before collecting up the mess I’ve made. He does it all in complete silence, not looking at me once. He knows what I’ve been looking for.

‘Off .’ He offers his hand and an expectant face, but I decline and slide off the unit with care, removing my knickers and taking myself to the bath. I step in and gingerly lower myself into the stinging water. I ignore the grunt of disapproval that Jesse fires off at my rejection. I’m too busy clenching my teeth and concentrating on getting myself under the water which soon starts soothing rather than stabbing at my back. I lay back and close my eyes on an appreciative sigh.

I can feel him watching me. I open one eye and I’m met by two eyebrows kissing his hairline as he jerks his head in a move gesture. I make a point of demonstrating the inconvenience he’s causing me by taking my time and huffing a lot as I shift forward in the bath to make room for him. I don’t know why I’m being insolent. Well, I do. I’m pissed that my war wounds are pitiful compared to Jesse’s and I’m the one wincing, hissing and generally behaving like I’ve been stoned whilst naked.

He climbs in and sinks down behind me, without so much as a huff of discomfort as the water coats his back. He clasps his hands over my shoulders and gently tugs, easing me back against him. ‘Don’t fight me.’ He bites my ear, and I squirm. His legs bend up and he wraps his arms around my neck so I’m completely swathed in him.

Right then. Now for the tub talk.

I rest my head back against his shoulder and relish his morning stubble grazing the side of my face. ‘So, Steve is out on his arse?’ I ask coolly.

‘Gone.’

‘No questions asked?’

‘Not one, except whether he would prefer burial or cremation.’ he says sardonically, and I believe him. His answer, although brutal and a tad over-the-top, is just the response I was hoping for. ‘Am I hurting you?’ he asks.

‘No, I’m fine.’ I assure him. He squeezes a little harder, but our slippery bodies are preventing the drag of skin. ‘So, does the same apply to Sarah?’

BOOM!

He pauses mid-nuzzle, and I continue my slow, feathery circles of his thighs with my index fingers, as if I haven’t just said that. What’s good for the goose and all that, plus, Steve has no sexual interest in me. Sarah, quite clearly, has an active interest in Jesse and as my thick skinned man seems to be oblivious to her romantic pursuit, it’s down to me to instigate damage control.

‘What has Sarah got to do with this?’ He sounds really perplexed.

If he could see me, he would see a screwed up face of disbelief. He cannot be serious. I must not lose my head. ‘She hurt you.’

‘I asked her to.’

‘I asked Steve to.’ I counter calmly.

‘Yes, but Steve knew you were off limits, that you are mine. He crossed a clear line that I drew and not just with who he practiced his shit on, but also how he carried it out, although the former is my ultimate bone of contention.’ He bites my earlobe to make sure I know he means me. Who else? ‘He accepted a whip from someone he hadn’t met before and never even clarified the limits. You could have been mentally unstable for all he knew.’

‘I probably was at that specific moment.’ I mutter. ‘And anyway, you’re mine. You’re off limits too, you know.’

‘I know.’ he says softly. ‘I know, baby. Never again, but I think you’ve demonstrated your grievance with Sarah.’ he adds sarcastically.

I smile smugly. Yes, I have, but I still want her out on her arse. ‘So, you’re not getting rid of her?’ I ask, although, begrudgingly, I already know the answer to that question.

‘She’s an employee and a close friend. I can’t sack her for doing something I asked her to, Ava.’

I sigh heavily, blatantly wanting him to be aware that I’m not happy about this. A friend? A close friend? ‘She planned it, Jesse.’

‘What do you mean, she planned it?’

‘The text that I got from John.’

‘What text?’

‘The one she sent from John’s phone saying I should go to The Manor.’ I’m going to get nowhere with this, I know it.

‘You think Sarah lifted John’s phone and sent you a text?’

‘Yes!’

‘Don’t be daft!’

‘I’m not being daft!’ I screech. ‘I have it on my phone, I’ll show you.’

‘Ava, Sarah wouldn’t do that.’

Oh, please! She’s supposed to be his friend. He obviously doesn’t know her very well. I’ve had the pleasure of her for only a month-ish, and I worked her out within a second of meeting her. He is so thick skinned. ‘Do you think I imagined it?’