Mad About You: A Box Set

by Pamela Ann

  I had a second or two to decide what to do. I could very well make a scene to prove a point, or I could walk out of there and figure this out later on. Better yet … yeah, the third option was much better.

  Directing my gaze at Ava, I controlled the simmering jealousy that ricocheted through me. “You have three minutes to wrap this up. I’ll be waiting for you outside, lovely wife of mine.”

  Unblinking, I didn’t pay a glance to either of them before I walked out the door, straightening my tie as I took out my car keys. Thank goodness I had driven today because I needed some time alone with Ava to discuss her lunch date. Taking my phone out, I texted Grant to tell the rest that I had to dash and take care of something rather important and will see them back at the office in an hour’s time.

  Checking my watch, I noted the time as I kept glancing at the doors, waiting for her hasty exit. Two minutes had passed, and she wasn’t coming. The back of my neck became heated while my body tensed, debating what to do next if she didn’t come out as I had demanded.

  Ten seconds past the three minutes, she breezily walked out the door, scouting for any sign of me. The instant she spotted me, she immediately looked away, her eyes downcast as she made her way towards me.

  “Get in,” I said as I opened the door for her. Once she was inside, I closed it before rounding the car to get into the driver’s seat.

  I didn’t glance towards her as she sat quietly, withdrawn. I started the engine, and it roared angrily, as if making it known how powerful it was. Driving a powerful sports car that could cruise up to four hundred kilometers an hour had its advantages when one was in a rush and trying to avoid traffic.

  I wasn’t sure where I was heading, but I needed to drive swiftly until I could find the perfect spot to talk to her without being too far from the office. After all, I still had a meeting to attend to in an hour’s time.

  Once I had found the perfect spot behind a private building, I parked in the alleyway that led to a small garden with enough trees to give us privacy. I took a loud breath before killing the engine as I stared at the dashboard.

  “I’m going to say this once. I expect you to explain what I just witnessed in that restaurant.” My emotions were running amuck, and I couldn’t differentiate any of it, because I was too livid and too caught up with Ashton’s hands holding hers to think coherently.

  When she didn’t immediately respond, I bit the bottom of my lip as I loosened my tie. I felt like the bloody thing was suffocating me, making it much harder to think.

  “There’s really no point of being jealous, Reiss. Didn’t last night prove that?”

  There is every point.

  “You were letting him touch you! I could only be thankful that none of my associates knew you’re my wife, or else I would’ve been greatly humiliated by your thoughtless actions! Ashton knows that you married me, so you letting him touch you only gives him encouragement to keep trying to win you back. Is that what you want, Ava? Do you want to go back to him?”

  “Are you trying to be rid of me?” A sob caught in her voice. “You use me, and the second you’re done, you couldn’t care less about what happens to me. Well, fine, I’m not going to stand in your way. I’ll be out of the house by the time you come home tonight.”

  She was about to yank the door open when I pressed the lock button, far from done discussing this with her.

  “Open the bloody door, Reiss!”

  I wanted to throttle her and demand what the hell was going on in that pretty head of hers. I hadn’t expected her to say those things, and I was too caught off guard by her words to have a clue what to say next. I expected this conversation to be about what had happened at the restaurant and for us to agree we’d openly tell each other if we were about to dine with anyone in particular. Her irrational response wasn’t what I’d had in mind—far from it. She had gone off the rocket with that one.

  “I swear, I am done with you! You used me. Last night, I gave you something I hadn’t thought of giving anyone, and I did all of that because I love you. But this blasted love is pointless, because you’re a heartless swine. All you care about is hurting me. Well, you’ve done a splendid job at making me weep, again.” She paused before reaching out to grip my face with her hand, nails digging into my skin as she scathingly studied my face. When I tried to look away, she let out a harsh sound. “Look at me, you coward! Take a bloody look at me!”

  I reluctantly did before immediately feeling inept.

  “I’m hurting … so please, open the door and let me go,” she begged, her eyes furiously shedding tears.

  Without blinking, I felt her pain digging itself into my soul.

  “Sorry, but I can’t do that. You’re not going anywhere. Not today, not tomorrow, and most assuredly not until this shit is over. You cry foul when I kindly asked you to tell me what was behind your date with Ashton? Is that so wrong, Ava? Why throw what happened last night in my face? Last night’s events have nothing to do with right now. I need to know what is going on between you two, or it’ll drive me mad trying to figure out what went on between you two.”

  “He’s leaving tomorrow, and he wanted to see me before going back to the states. I don’t have any intention of being with another man. You just confuse me. One second, you’re acting like a mad, jealous man; then, in the blink of an eye, you’re aloof and distant, acting as if nothing’s happened between us.” She wiped a tear before continuing, “Though I don’t know if it’s relevant or not, Ash did ask if he could kiss and hold me one last time.”

  Ash. Yeah, the bastard might as well have asked her if he could shag her for the last time. “And did you—did you say yes?”

  “He never gave me the chance to respond. He said to think about it and give him my response after dessert.”

  How convenient.

  “Did you—did you want to do it?” I knew the risk of asking such a question, yet had to know even if it was somehow killing me inside to wait for her answer.

  “It doesn’t matter.” She brushed it off as if to purposely taunt me.

  It had worked like a charm.

  “It doesn’t matter,” I muttered under my breath. “I see.” She was royally fucking with my head, and I was letting her do it. “So, if I tell you that I’ll go see Hilary tonight and do bloody knows what, I’m sure it wouldn’t matter to you, would it? Since none of it is pertinent any longer.”

  “Go ahead. I don’t care. Now will you open the door?”

  This infuriating woman never did the things I expected her to.

  “You are not leaving me, Ava!” I almost screamed in her face, wanting to project how frustrated I was inside. I couldn’t fully explain or disclose what I was going through without sounding like I was desperate, though. I simply couldn’t let her see how she got to me. I just couldn’t. She was lethal to my health, to my life and welfare. “So answer me! Did you or did you not want to give in to your ex-husband’s farewell request?” My body shook with fear of her answer and from the anger that was running through my veins.

  She looked away, staring at her exposed, smooth thighs. “No, not even for a second. I promised not to betray you, but even then, I just can’t keep betraying myself by letting him touch me when I keep wishing it was you. The past years have proven that.”

  Relief coursed through my body. I felt like a balloon that just popped, releasing all the tension from my body as I strived to level my breathing. “Would you mind—would you come here? I just want to hold you.”

  She seemed uncertain for a second before she gave a fragile nod.

  Pushing the seat backwards to give enough room, I gently scooped up her body and situated her across my lap with her head against my shoulder. Relief still coursed through me as I closed my eyes. This conversation had almost made us both lose our minds and throw away this … whatever this was at the moment.

  “I don’t want you to go, so please stop threatening me with it. If I come out harsh, it’s because I’m not accustomed to expressing mysel
f like I used to. The times when I’m aloof, it’s mostly because I’m stressed out about something. If it’s not work, it’s you. I can’t always give in to this possessed need to always want you, Ava. You must understand the strain that I’m under. I know it’s not an excuse, but give me time to get used to it, and I’m sure I’ll learn how to manage these problems along the way.

  “After last night, especially after last night, I don’t want to cause anymore hurt, so I’m sorry for inflicting more pain today. I felt like a madman, seeing only red after I saw he was touching you.” Fragments of my feelings started to come out, and I wasn’t sure where it was going to lead me. “You’re mine—my wife—and I don’t ever share what’s mine, most especially you. You should know that by now.”

  “This is good enough—hearing you say these things is good enough to make me happy. If it’s not possible to love me again, your trust and loyalty is enough.” She gazed up at me, looking flushed with her reddened eyes, before taking my lips, kissing me with all of her heart. I kissed her in the same fevered fashion, but when her hand travelled below and started to rub my cock outside my trousers, I groaned in protest.

  “I have a meeting that I can’t cancel, so there’s no time for this. Tonight, I promise, once I get you to bed, I’ll pleasure you until you succumb to sleep from it all.” I tried to stop her hand from aggravating my cock even more as I gave her chaste kisses, hoping she’d pay heed.

  “I don’t want a bed. I need you now—inside me.” She moaned my name just as I felt her working through unbuttoning my trousers. I muttered her name when I heard the sound of the zipper being lowered and then felt the heat of her overeager hand stroking my length. “Please? I promise to be quick.”

  Like I ever stood a chance. “It’s all yours, princess. Do as you wish.”

  She wickedly grinned before she shifted her position, straddling me with her thighs on both sides of my hips. She lifted the ends of her dress, giving me a glimpse of her white, lacey underwear. She pushed the flimsy fabric to the side then slowly lowered herself on my shaft. We groaned in unison as the head of my cock disappeared into her famished cunt.

  “I can’t believe you wore that to see your ex. God, I’ll gladly punish you tonight, just you wait,” I promised as I tried to push away the tortured thoughts of her and Ashton. “I’m going to make you suffer …” The words almost didn’t come out of my mouth because the wench was lost in her own world, riding my cock until she milked me to the very last drop.

  She was bloody fantastic. Breathtakingly incredible.

  This was the Ava I knew. Nothing would stop her from achieving whatever she wanted. Heavens, life was definitely much brighter with her in it.

  Chapter 153

  Reiss

  “Mum and dad are both expecting us come Friday. We’ll be staying all weekend, so pack enough clothes, and please, a swimsuit is a must, unless you’d like to go without one.” I was on the phone with Ava because I somehow had managed to have overlooked something that had been planned months back.

  My jovial tone went on a serious note, clearing my throat as I primed myself to tell her. “There’s another thing,” I started saying, pausing just to make sure she had a second or two to process what was to come next. “There’s this fundraiser, and I had seriously forgotten about it until Emily reminded me of it earlier this morning. I hope that’s all right with you?”

  “Yeah,” her small voice came through. It was making me incredibly guilty.

  The past two weeks had been brilliantly fantastic, and I was hoping this tiny error on my part wouldn’t change a thing between us.

  “Are you going with someone; is that why you’re telling me about this?” She sounded rational, as if none of this was bothering her, which only made me frown a little more.

  “Emily had previously put Hilary’s name in, and since all the formal invitations were sent out, it’s hard to change names at the last minute. You know how these things work—”

  “I do. Of course I do.” She sighed before adding, “Are you coming home to change, or will you be changing at the office?”

  “I’m coming home. Maybe we could share a small meal or something …” Anything, really, as long as she wasn’t royally mad at me.

  “Yeah, I suppose that won’t be so bad. What time should I expect you?” she asked, just as I glanced at the time.

  “In an hour.” I cleared my throat. “Expect me in an hour’s time.”

  Staring at the hairpin that had a jewel that was closely similar to her eyes, my memory took me to the morning I had taken it out of her hair while she was sleeping. As always, we had ended up in bed right after we had arrived back from dinner, and in my haste, I had simply ripped her clothes off because I couldn’t wait any longer. She had looked peaceful with her dark her in a perfect imperfect disarray, framing her beautiful face. I was uncertain what had prompted me to take it, but something had me wanting to have a piece of her with me while at work.

  It made me feel closer to her since she spent her days doing whatever she had planned. From yoga to scouting the perfect nursery, she had managed to fill her time with all kinds of activities so she didn’t have to keep waiting for me to get home. I was ecstatic that she was having a lovely time. Although, at the same time, I was worried she was on her own.

  When I had requested if she would be okay if I hired another driver for her convenience, she had immediately shut it down, leaving me somehow frustrated and frightened for her safety. It wasn’t just her that I was protecting now; she was carrying our little bundle, and I was this overprotective man who simply wanted them safe at all times.

  “Ava …” I trailed off, wanting to say so much, yet I wasn’t sure how to even start.

  “Yes, Reiss?”

  I miss you … “I’ll see you in a bit, yeah?” I was a coward, and I knew it. I had this immense fear that, if I started telling her what was going on in my mind, she might change her mind and take flight. The first time had been tragic enough. If she did it to me again, I wouldn’t stop until she fully knew how furious I was with her.

  After ending the call with a hasty goodbye, my hand clung on to her emblem.

  Hilary had called earlier, stating that, if I didn’t want to take her, she totally understood because she knew my situation with Ava. I felt awful since I knew Hilary had gone through such lengths to prepare for tonight. I didn’t want to hurt Ava’s feelings, nor did I want to rebuff Hilary’s lengthy preparations for a night out. Besides, I knew tonight was important because I hadn’t been doing much else after work other than be with Ava, and deep down, I believed that, if I didn’t put a little space between us, things could get utterly complicated. However, I knew I had better ask Ava for that face to face so I could see her expressions and tell if she was lying to hurt me or not.

  Approximately an hour later, I arrived at the house, finding Ava sprawled in front of the television, indulging in her odd fascination with reality TV. She had cute, bite-sized egg, ham, and fresh mozzarella with tomato and basil sandwiches. She also had petite, fresh-cut chips; mini fruit tarts; fresh crème; and blueberry scones with a freshly brewed pot of tea.

  “Hello …” I greeted with a knock before I strode into the room, grinning at her engrossed face as she ate one of the sandwiches. The sauce oozed out of the sandwich, leaving her with a small peach colored smear next to her lip. “How’s your afternoon going?” I bent over to give her a peck before my thumb swiped the sauce off her face. Then, placing it in between my lips, I sucked the flavor from my thumb. “Tasty,” I murmured and saw her cheeks flush beautifully at me.

  “Hi,” she greeted me with a smile before her concentration went back to the show.

  Sitting next to her, I took my time as I poured myself a cup of tea before taking my shoes off and stretching out. She eagerly sought my warmth and placed her head on my chest.

  “Most of these women have fake boobs. They look rather tacky on such a small frame,” she murmured much to herself before glancing at
me. “Have you touched one? Does it feel rubbery like it appears to me?”

  My brows rose up, a soft chuckle emanating from me. “Well, let’s see …” I pretended to recall the women I had been with as she patiently waited for me. “I do remember this one woman. She was gorgeous, but one could immediately tell that she wasn’t happy with her body. It was all she spoke about the entire night, and seeing that I was more inebriated than I cared for, I hadn’t minded when she kept on talking about how she wanted to enlarge this area, stretch that part. It was unfortunate, really, but yeah, her boobs weren’t rubbery per say. Although, I can’t fully agree they were soft, either. I suppose they were right between rubbery and soft”—I made a face—“if that makes sense at all.”

  “Which do you prefer?” she asked curiously.

  “Need you ask?” I pulled her towards me, leaving kisses on her neck before trailing them down to the valley of her cleavage. “I prefer these. Not just any boobs, but my wife’s breasts. They’re mighty glorious.”

  She squealed as she protested, and told me I had better be on my best behavior.

  When we separated, she told me, “I made blueberry scones. I remember you used to love them.” She took a napkin before carefully taking one from the small pile on the blue china. Handing it to me, she urged me to take a small bite.

  The sweetness softly crumbled on my tongue, melting into a powdery goodness. “Delicious. Christ, how I love these,” I groaned as I took another bite before making another sound of enthusiasm. “So good …”

  For a while, my attention was focused on the show as well, wondering how in the world these women survived acting and looking like they had come out of a drag show. The piled on make-up, larger than life breasts, ostentatious jewelry, claw-like nails, and the hideous hair … did any men find these monstrosities attractive?

  Quietly, we both ate, enjoying each other’s company in comfortable silence. I knew I should start getting ready soon; however, I wasn’t completely inclined to leave her side just yet. I liked this—the comfortable silence, the companionship, the feeling of having Ava next to me. Was this how life was supposed to be with her—simple, uncomplicated, without much care for the rest of the world?