Beneath This Man (This Man 2)

I tense, my mouth parting, my hands shooting up to clench his suit jacket in my fists.

He smiles, leaning in and placing his lips gently on mine. ‘See.’ he whispers, removing his hands from my thighs and prizing my grip from his chest. ‘The power’s yours again.’

I study him on a half-smile, completely getting it. ‘That’s why you f**k me senseless, give me the countdown and demand I kiss you when I’m mad.’

He smiles. ‘Watch your mouth.’

‘You’ve completely exposed yourself. I’m never going to let you touch me again!’

He laughs, really hard. His chest expands and he throws his head back. I think I already knew that. That’s why I run at the start of the countdown. I know what he’s capable of when he gets his hands on me. His head comes back down, his eyes scanning my face.

‘Well, Mr Ward. Given how much sex we have, I’d say you’re the majority shareholder of power in this relationship.’

I grin when he starts with the laughing again. It’s a wonderful sight, the faint lines fanning his greens, making his eyes sparkle. ‘Baby, we will never have enough sex.’

‘That makes you a very powerful man then.’

‘Oh Jesus, Ava.’ He sweeps my hair away from my face and cups my cheeks. ‘I love you so f**king much. Kiss me.’

‘Feeling weak?’

He leans in. ‘I am.’ His lips brush gently over mine and I indulge him, handing him the control he craves, letting his tongue saturate my senses as he hums into my mouth and draws all of the power from me.

‘Better?’ I ask around his lips.

‘Much. Come on, lady, we have a date.’ He places me on my feet before turning the music off and scooping my clutch from the floor. ‘Ready?’

‘Oh, let me show you the message.’ I take my bag and retrieve my phone. I had almost forgotten about that.

‘What message?’ he asks on a frown. He clearly has too.

‘The one sent from John’s phone.’ I scroll through my phone, my heart beating nervously. This is it. This is the moment I get this off my chest. I have it plain and clear, so he can’t possibly argue with it. John wouldn’t do this. ‘There.’ I hold my phone up to him and he takes it. His frown line creeps across his brow as he reads the message, a thoughtful look plaguing his expression. His eyes flick to mine and back to the screen. He’s really thinking about this.

After what seems like forever, with me tense and him staring at the screen, he starts nodding mildly. ‘I’ll be dealing with this.’ He tosses my phone on the counter. He doesn’t look very happy at all.

I sag a little in relief. I think I almost expected him to defend her or say that it must have been someone else, but who else would do that? I don’t need to say anything more. He knows, and I’m so relieved.

My phone starts singing and I scoop it up from the counter, seeing Ruth Quinn’s name flashing up on the screen. I let out a tired sigh and reject the call. She’ll soon call the office and find out that I’m off work today.

‘Who’s that?’ he asks.

‘A new client. A pain in the arse new client.’

He takes my phone and slides it back on the worktop, then pulls me into his chest. ‘No work today. Are you ready for our date?’

I nod into his chest. ‘Yes.’

His lips press into the top of my head and he releases me, holding his arm out in a very gentlemanly manner. I smile, threading my arm through his. He winks and leads me out of the penthouse and to the elevator.

We reflect in all of the mirrors around us. Everywhere I look, I can see him in all of his beauty, and me with my hand slipped under his suit jacket, un-willing to let him go. He glances down at me out the corner of his eye. ‘I should make you give me an apology f**k here and now.’ he says in a low, quiet voice.

‘Do I owe you an apology?’

‘You do.’ He returns his eyes forward, and I find them in the reflection of the doors.

‘What for?’ I quickly scan my mind for anything he might be referring to, and I come up with – in Jesse’s world – way too much for him to hold against me. But this morning I’ve been compliant and he has been quite reasonable.

‘You owe me an apology for making me wait too damn long for you.’ His face is completely straight and his words full of meaning.

I smile and tuck myself into his side. I’ve not really had to wait very long for him at all, two crappy relationships aside. While he was battling numerous demons, I was blissfully unaware and going through the motions of any normal young woman. It’s a strange thought.

The elevator door opens and his arm drapes gently around my shoulder as we walk through the foyer of Lusso. ‘Clive.’ Jesse nods at Clive, who nods brusquely in return before he continues with something that has his attention on his desk. He didn’t even acknowledge me or ask how I am. I heard his concerned voice last night when Jesse carried me in. Have I upset him again?

We emerge into the cool, evening air and Jesse bleeps the DBS. ‘Oh, Kate rang. You should probably call her back.’ he says.

‘You answered my phone again?’ I ask, but he just shrugs off my accusation.

I sigh and open my bag to retrieve my phone, but after a little rummage, I discover no phone. ‘Jesse, I’ve left my phone in the tower.’

He makes a long, exaggerated point of demonstrating the inconvenience I’m causing. ‘Here.’ He passes the keys. ‘Hurry up or we’ll be late for dinner.’

‘I’ll be quick.’ I race off, back into the foyer of Lusso, throw a frown at Clive, who still ignores me, and press the code for the elevator. Why is it not on the ground floor still? I wait impatiently for it to return to base, then jump in.