Beneath This Man (This Man Trilogy)

by Jodi Ellen Malpas

  I take a few calming breaths, grab my clutch and roll my shoulders back. It’s no good. I’m stupidly nervous. I’ve got to face all the members of The Manor, and I’m really not looking forward to it. Those women have made it clear that I’m a gatecrasher. I can’t imagine their opinion will change just because I’m wearing a couture gown or because I’m officially Jesse’s girlfriend. Girlfriend? Well, that just sounds stupid, but what else would he call me? And he seems a bit mature to be labeled my boyfriend. It just doesn’t sound right.

  Okay. I gather the bottom of my gown up a little and admire my shoes before I make my way to the bedroom door and to the top of the stairs.

  As the huge open plan area comes into view, I hear the low mesmerising tones of The Moody Blues, Nights in White Satin falling over me from all of the integrated speakers. I smile to myself, and then I see him.

  I halt in my tracks at the top step and try to catch my breath. It’s like seeing him for the first time all over again. He looks devastating in his black suit, crisp white shirt and black tie. He’s freshly shaved so I can see him in all of his loveliness and his hair has been persuaded to the side with some wax. Oh God, I’m going to be doing some serious trampling tonight.

  He hasn’t seen me yet. He’s pacing slowly, hands in his trouser pockets, watching his feet. He’s nervous. My confident, cocky, conceited ex-playboy is nervous?

  I watch in silence as he sits down, clasping his hands together, circling his thumbs briefly, before getting up and commencing pacing. I smile to myself and like he has sensed I’m nearby, his head snaps up to me and I get a full frontal impact of my stunning man in all of his glory. My breath hitches and I clasp the handrail on the stairs to steady myself.

  His eyes widen a touch. ‘Oh, Jesus.’ he mouths, and I shift on my heels under his intense gaze. Our eyes lock and he starts walking slowly towards the stairs. I would start down to meet him, but my stupid legs are frozen firmly in place and no amount of mental encouragement is convincing them to move. He might need to carry me down the stairs.

  He takes the steps, all the time keeping his eyes firmly set on mine, and when he reaches me, he holds his hand out on a small smile. I take a deep breath and grasp my dress, placing my hand in his and letting him lead me down the stairs, my legs more solid now that he has hold of me.

  When we reach the bottom, he stops and turns to face me, running his eyes up and down my lace clad body. He takes a slow walk around to my back, and I clench my eyes shut, praying that I’ve not made a mammoth error with my brave choice of a plunged back. I hear him inhale sharply, and then his warm fingertip meeting with the nape of my neck. He trails a slow, languid path down the centre on my spine, setting off a flurry of pins and needles all over my bare flesh. He finishes at the base of my spine and then there is the unmistakable heat of his mouth on my skin as he drops a kiss on the centre of my back. I physically relax under the warmth of his lips. He would have disintegrated by now if he was going to.

  He slowly makes his way back around to my front and locates my eyes. ‘I can’t find my breath.’ he murmurs, snaking his hand around my waist and pulling me into him, taking my mouth tenderly, like I’ve become as delicate as the lace encasing me.

  I’m so relieved, and all knots and nerves have been chased away. All I have to worry about now are the endless women who’ll be humiliating themselves at his feet. He pulls away and pushes his hips into my lower stomach, the evidence of a raging erection clear and present. He would never make me undress – not now, surely?

  ‘I really like your dress.’ he says on a small smile. ‘You didn’t try this one. I would have remembered this one.’ He looks down at the dress in awe.

  ‘Always in lace.’ I repeat his words, and his eyes fly back up to mine.

  ‘You chose this dress for me?’ he asks softly.

  I nod mildly as he steps back and puts his hands back in his pockets. He starts chewing that lip, the cogs whirling around as he nods knowingly…approvingly.

  His eyes climb back up my body to reach mine. ‘Like I chose this for you?’ He pulls his hand from his pocket and I see a delicate, platinum layered chain hanging from his finger.

  I nearly choke on my own tongue as my eyes take in the piece of fine jewellery. I saw it in a glass cabinet as I passed through the jewellery department with Zoe this morning. She pointed it out and it had me spellbound immediately, displayed all on its own, with layers of delicate linked platinum and a chunky square cut diamond suspended on the end. I nearly had heart failure when I read the small piece of card detailing the price that was displayed next to it.

  My eyes jump to his. ‘Jesse, that necklace was sixty grand!’ I splutter. I won’t ever forget. I counted the zeros repeatedly.

  Oh God!

  I start to get really hot all of a sudden as I flick my eyes from Jesse’s to the swinging diamond that’s still dangling from his finger. He smiles and walks around to the back of me, gathering my hair and placing it over my shoulder. My heart is performing jumping jacks in my chest as he brings the necklace over my head and it rests on my breast bone. It feels like a huge burden on my chest. I’m starting to shake.

  His hands skim my back as he fastens the clasp and then he slides his palms onto my shoulders and rests his lips on the nape of my neck. ‘You like?’ he whispers in my ear.

  ‘You know I do, but…’ I reach up and feel the diamond, then instantly want to get a velvet cloth and polish my finger print from it. ‘Did Zoe tell you?’ I feel sick. I know she is technically in sales, but to tell Jesse that I was completely rapt by an obscenely expensive diamond necklace is taking advantage. Sixty thousand pounds? Oh, heck!

  ‘No, I asked Zoe to show it to you.’ He turns me around in his arms and runs his fingertips over the necklace and down the centre of my chest. ‘You are crazy beautiful.’ He kisses my lips softly.

  He asked her? I laugh a nervous laugh. ‘Are you talking to me or the diamond?’

  ‘It’s all about you,’ he says on a raised brow. ‘As it always will be.’

  My laughter abates instantly. ‘Jesse, what if I lose it, what if…’ I’m silenced by his lips.

  ‘Ava, shut up.’ He replaces my hair down my back. ‘It’s insured and it’s a gift from me. If you don’t wear it, I’ll be crazy mad. Understand?’

  His tone suggests I’m not to argue with him on this, but I’m completely overwhelmed and even more nervous than before, now this necklace has been introduced to this evening’s party. I won’t be getting on the underground or walking the streets late at night anymore, that’s for sure – not with this thing hanging around my neck. Mind you, I doubt I would be doing that much, anyway. Not if Jesse has his own way, which he probably will.

  I take a deep breath and rest my hands on his chest. ‘I really don’t know what to say.’ My voice is slightly shaky, matching my body.

  ‘You could say you love it.’ His lips tip at the corner. ‘You could say thank you.’

  ‘I do love it. Thank you.’ I reach up and kiss him.

  ‘You are more than welcome, baby. It’s not as beautiful as you, though. Nothing is.’ He takes my hands from his chest. ‘My work here is done. Come on, you’ve made your God late.’ He leads me to the front door and flicks the music off before grabbing his keys and taking us out to the elevator. I notice that the glass has been fixed.

  The doors open, we step inside and I watch him punch in the code before standing back. He glances down at me and winks.

  ‘You’re crazy handsome,’ I say wistfully, reaching up and dragging my thumb across his bottom lip to wipe the remnants of my lipstick away. ‘And all mine.’

  He grabs my hand and kisses the tip of my finger. ‘Just yours, baby.’

  As we walk through the foyer of Lusso, Clive does a double take and gapes slightly. Jesse’s arm goes firmly around my shoulder, and I know this is a sign of things to come tonight, which is fine because I don’t plan on leaving his side all night.

  He helps me into the DBS an
d we travel to The Manor at high speed. I’ve made him late for his own anniversary party, but he doesn’t seem that bothered. He tosses his eyes over to me every so often and half smiles when I catch him looking at me.

  I rest my palm on his firm thigh and relax completely when he places his hand on mine, giving it a reassuring squeeze. I am so in love with him right now and, unexpectedly, I’m looking forward to this evening for the first time. Fun loving Jesse is out to play tonight and it is these little snippets of time when I can see the laidback character who everyone keeps telling me about. I’m not ignorant to the fact that I only see this Jesse when things are going his way, when I’m doing as I’m told and he’s getting what he wants, but I’m at my happiest, my most content when he’s like this. I am well and truly in my element on Central Jesse Cloud Nine.

  I’m not surprised to see John on the steps of The Manor when we pull up. Jesse collects me from the car and leads me to the entrance where John is briefing a dozen or so men in full valet attire. Jesse chucks his keys at John, who catches them and passes them to one of the valets with strict instructions to only move the Aston Martin if absolutely necessary.

  I put my hand up to John, and he smiles broadly at me as we pass, flashing me his gold tooth. He is in his usual black suit, except he has replaced the black shirt in favour of a white one with a black bow tie. The shades are still firmly in position, though. He looks really smart. He absolutely oozes coolness.

  ‘There you are!’ Sarah’s panicked voice is the first thing to attack my ears as we enter The Manor. She is scuttling towards us, her legs restricted to small shifting movements due to the tight, red, satin dress that could qualify as a second skin. She must have poured herself into the thing. If there was any doubt previously regarding the status of her breasts, they have just been completely eradicated. They are hoist up in the strapless dress and if she lowered her lips, she could kiss them.

  She halts her hasty advance on Jesse and gives me the once over, her eyes finishing and remaining on my neck. She’s spotted the necklace, which is hardly surprising, you can’t exactly miss it, but she is not dazzled by the beauty or sparkle – not a chance – she is weighing up the likelihood of who has bought it and judging by her screwed by botox pumped face, she has hit the nail right on the head. I instinctively reach up and clasp the diamond, almost like I’m protecting it from her beady eyes. She flicks a begrudging stare at me and then runs her eyes down my lace clad body. I straighten my shoulders and smile sweetly.

  ‘I’m here now.’ Jesse grumbles, as he pulls me along beside him. We enter the bar and find Mario dishing out firm instructions to the bar staff. The bar has tripled in size and I realise that the folding doors dividing the bar and restaurant have been opened and dozens of tall bar tables and stools have been scattered between the rooms.

  ‘Here, sit.’ He lifts me onto a stool at the bar and calls Mario over before sitting himself opposite me.

  Sarah points at a spreadsheet in her hand. ‘Can we just go through …’

  ‘Sarah, give me a minute.’ Jesse cuts her off, without taking his eyes from me. I could kiss him. ‘What would you like to drink?’ he asks.

  I can feel the ice emanating from Sarah as she stands there like a plum and waits for Jesse to tend to me before he gives her the attention she’s demanding. I might take a while to decide. Can I have alcohol? He did say I can drink if he is around.

  Mario appears, looking rather dapper in his white waistcoat and bow tie, his hair combed precisely to the side and his moustache neatly trimmed. He smiles brightly and I remember the lush cocktail he made for me earlier today. ‘I’ll have a Mario Most Marvelous, please.’ I grin at Mario.

  He laughs loudly. ‘Yes!’ He starts faffing at the bar. ‘Mr Ward?’

  ‘Just a water, please, Mario.’ Jesse replies, leaning towards me for a kiss. I can feel Sarah’s eyes drilling into me, so, of course, I oblige and let him have his way. Not that I need Sarah around to do that. He has his way wherever and whenever he chooses.

  ‘Sloe gin, Mario.’ she snaps petulantly, and then proceeds to huff while Jesse gets his fix of me. He really does not have any regard for this woman, and I feel all the more comfortable for it. She’s not even really a threat.

  ‘Jesse, I could really do with you in the office.’ she presses.

  He growls, and I’m mentally willing him to trample all over her. ‘Sarah, please!’ he grates, standing up in front of me. ‘Baby, do you want to stay here or would you like to come with me?’

  I’m not looking at her, but I know she has just rolled her eyes, and while I would love to piss her off more, I’m quite happy to sit with happy Mario and drink my Most Marvelous. ‘I’m good here, you go.’

  He grabs his water and pushes his lips to my forehead. ‘I’ll be quick.’ He stalks off, leaving Sarah to virtually jog on her eight inch heels in order to keep up with him, but not before she leans across me to retrieve her gin from the bar on a snarl. I ignore it and accept my drink from a smiling Mario.

  ‘Thank you, Mario.’ I return his smile and take a sip, gasping in gratitude.

  ‘Miss Ava. May I say how magnificent you are looking this evening?’ He smiles fondly, and I blush slightly.

  ‘Mario, may I say how devilishly handsome you look this evening.’ I raise my glass to the small Italian man, who I have become rather fond of.

  He slaps the bar on a sharp burst of laughter, and then his eyes fall onto the diamond that’s suspended around my neck before he tips his eyes back up to me with a high raised eyebrow. ‘He loves you very much, yes?’

  I give a little embarrassed shrug, feeling suddenly uncomfortable with the friendly Italian. I don’t want everyone thinking the inevitable, just like Sarah did. ‘It’s just a necklace, Mario.’ A Sixty grand necklace, yes, but no one has to know that small detail. I reach up to grasp it again. I have to keep checking it’s there, even though I can feel the weight perfectly.

  ‘I see that you love Mr Ward very much too.’ He smiles and tops my glass up. ‘It makes me happy.’

  It does? He gets distracted by a smashed glass and goes stalking off, waving his arms around and shouting in Italian.

  I sit happily at the bar watching the staff preparing for the evening. Champagne is poured into hundreds of glasses and the bar is repeatedly wiped down by Mario. He shouts instructions around and points here and there to guide his staff. This is like a finely tuned execution of organisation – he knows what he is doing. The little Italian is a perfectionist, making everything just so. The huge room looks stunningly made up, everything obviously arranged precisely and with the utmost attention to detail. The low hanging chandeliers are shimmering subtly, giving off a soft apricot glow of light, the words sensuous and invigorating springing to mind immediately – words I have heard before.

  Pete appears with a tray of canapés. ‘Ava, you look wonderful.’ He presents me with the tray. ‘Would you like a canapé?’

  I take in the glorious smell of smoked salmon and spy the small flat breads caked in cream cheese. ‘Ah, Pete.’ I place my hand on my stomach. ‘I’m still full from lunch.’ I have no idea how I’m going to manage a three course meal. I’ll burst out of this dress.

  ‘Ava, you hardly ate your lunch.’ He gives me a disapproving look and carries on his way. ‘Enjoy your evening.’

  ‘You too, Pete.’ I reply, feeling immediately silly for telling a member of Jesse’s staff to enjoy their evening of working hard, but he’s right, I didn’t finish my lunch. That’s because I lost my appetite when Sarah rocked up and it’s probably why I’m not hungry now either.

  I turn back to the bar and find my glass has been filled again. I search Mario out and spot him across the bar repositioning some stools. He catches my eye and gives me a cheeky grin, while I hold my glass up and give him a frown. He ignores it and carries on moving stools about. I’ll have to be careful. I’ve had two glasses of this Most Marvelous concoction already, and I have no idea what’s in it. I can’t be fall
ing about all over the place when people start arriving.

  ‘Ava!’

  I jump into standing position as Kate’s excited shriek hammers me from the side.

  ‘Whoa!’ She skids to a stop in front of me, her eyes popping out of her head. ‘Fucking hell!’

  ‘I know.’ I grumble. ‘I’m petrified of the damn thing. It should be in a safe.’ I reach up and fiddle with it again, and Kate bats my hand away to cop a feel herself.

  ‘Wow! That is some serious special.’ She drops the diamond and stands back to eye me up. ‘Look at you! Someone has been thoroughly spoilt today.’

  I laugh. I think what I have been today is way past spoilt. ‘What about you?’ I grab her hands and hold them out to the side. ‘I love the dress.’ I send her on a little twirl. She looks fabulous, as always, in a long, green gown, her red locks vibrant and piled high on her head. ‘Do you want a drink? You have to try this stuff.’ I grasp my glass from the bar and hold it up. ‘Here, sit. Where’s Sam?’

  She pushes herself onto the stool and rolls her eyes. ‘He wouldn’t let any of the valets park his car. He thinks they’re all driving morons who can’t handle the power of a Carrera.’ She laughs. ‘Where’s Jesse?’

  My smile disappears. ‘Sarah dragged him off somewhere,’ I glance at the clock and note he’s been gone for over an hour. ‘Anyway, I couldn’t help but notice a certain Carrera, with a certain red head in it, pulling into The Manor yesterday evening.’ I say casually as I sip my drink, eyeing her reaction over the rim of my glass.

  My fiery, red head friend fires me a fiery glare. ‘Yes, Ava. You’ve already pointed that out.’ she says haughtily. ‘Get me that drink.’

  I shake my head, but I don’t press her. ‘Mario?’ I call, and he waves his acknowledgment as he walks over. ‘This is my friend Kate. Kate, this is Mario.’

  ‘Yes, we’ve met.’ Kate smiles at Mario.