Beneath This Man (This Man Trilogy)

by Jodi Ellen Malpas

  ‘How are you this evening, Kate?’ Mario blesses her with one of his lovely warm smiles.

  ‘I’ll be better when you get me one of those.’ She points to my glass, and Mario laughs before going to fetch his glass jug of the Most Marvelous stuff.

  Of course they’ve met. I’m so envious of her laidback nature. Mario returns with his jug and I slap my hand over my glass when he tries and fill mine again, throwing him a playful, warning look. He shrugs, muttering something in Italian and fighting a smile, clearly trying to pretend he’s offended.

  ‘Where’s the love?’

  We both turn and see Sam stood, legs spread and arms extended in the entrance of the bar. He looks unusually smart, compared to his traditional baggy jeans and t-shirt combo. He straightens his suit jacket and waltzes to the bar confidently, shouting for a bottle of beer as he approaches. He may look smart, but his hair is its usual mop of brown, messy waves and his cheeky grin and dimple are ever present.

  ‘Ladies! May I say how damn fine you’re both looking this pleasant evening?’ He kisses my cheek and then lavishes Kate with a dramatic sloppy one. She bats him away, laughing. ‘Where’s my man?’ he asks, glancing around the bar.

  I want to correct him and tell him that Jesse is, in fact, my man, but I think I might be in the realms of trampling if I do that. I laugh to myself and at my little mental trample. ‘He’s in his office.’ I say, taking another sip of my drink. I’m pacing myself, but this stuff is delicious and going down a treat. I feel better now that Kate is here, my mind distracted from the fact that Jesse is still missing.

  An hour later, the bar is crammed full and Jesse is still nowhere to be seen. Soft jazz is playing in the background and the sound of happy chatter is prominent in the air. The men all look fine in tuxes and suits and the woman have all gone to town in various gowns and cocktail dresses. I’m not ignorant to the fact that I seem to be the choice of conversation for many groups of people, particularly women, who make a rubbish job at hiding their interest. The thing that is bothering me the most, though, is my unreasonable, enquiring mind that keeps wondering just how many of them Jesse has slept with. It’s a depressing thought and one I don’t think I will ever shake off.

  I’m on my third glass of the Most Marvelous stuff and sipping it cautiously. Drew has arrived and actually looks no different to normal. He always looks well groomed and precise. I exhale and relax when I feel two big palms rest on my hips and his fresh water, minty loveliness drift into my nose. Where has he been?

  His chin rests on my shoulder. ‘I’ve neglected you.’

  I crane my neck to see him. ‘Yes, you have. Where have you been?’

  ‘I couldn’t get two yards without someone making a play for me. I’m all yours now, I promise.’ He pushes his front into my back and leans over to shake hands with the boys’ before leaning towards Kate so she can kiss his cheek. I can guarantee that all of the someone’s who he couldn’t get two yards past were women. ‘Is everyone good?’ he asks as he waves Mario for some water.

  ‘We will be when dinner is out the way.’ Sam grins and chinks bottles with Drew. I know what he’s getting at, and I distinctively remember Jesse giving firm instructions for the upstairs to remain locked until ten thirty. Now I know why; to keep keen people, such as Sam, out.

  I’m suddenly attacked with a very worrying thought. Bloody hell, will Kate be disappearing upstairs later? I look at her with wide eyes, but damn her, she won’t look at me. She knows what I’m thinking – I can tell by the way she’s turning her body further away from me, hiding her face.

  ‘Ten thirty.’ Jesse says sternly. He pulls me off the stool and sits there himself before pulling me down onto his lap and burying his face into my neck. Sam and Drew throw each other disapproving looks and Kate still refuses to look at me.

  ‘I want to lay you on that bar and take my time peeling all of this lace off.’ he whispers in my ear. I stiffen over him and silently wish for him to shut up immediately before I oblige and climb up onto the bar for him. He pushes his groin up into my backside. ‘What’s under the dress?’

  ‘More lace.’ I say quietly on a smile, and he groans in my ear. Why did I say that? I need to curb the sex talk, not encourage it.

  ‘You’re fucking killing me.’ He nips my ear, causing shivers to bolt through me.

  ‘You have to stop.’ I warn, rather unconvincingly. It will take him a week to get me out of this dress and back in it again. Actually, it probably wouldn’t take him that long at all. He’ll lose his patience and rip it off, in which case, I won’t be putting it back on.

  ‘Never.’ His tongue dips into my ear, and I close my eyes on a sigh.

  ‘You guys!’ Kate playfully slaps Jesse’s shoulder. ‘Put her down!’

  ‘Yeah, you’re restraining our sexual needs, but it’s okay for you to sit there and fondle your girl.’ Sam complains.

  Jesse lands Sam with a reproachful glare. ‘Try and stop me. I’ll shut up shop now and take her home.’

  ‘You’re trampling your mates now.’ I laugh, and they all start laughing with me. I feel Jesse resume nibbling at my nape. ‘Who’s that?’ I ask.

  ‘Who’s who?’ His head comes up from my neck, and I nod towards a woman stood in the entrance of the bar with a cream shift dress on. She’s probably early thirties, with black bobbed hair and pretty features. I wouldn’t have paid much attention, but she is staring straight at us and she’s alone.

  She starts walking towards us, and I feel Jesse tense under me. Sam and Drew shut up immediately, which only serves to make me even more wary. Who the hell is she?

  When she reaches our group, she stops, keeping her eyes on Jesse. The tension is tangible and I glance at Kate to find a heavy frown on her forehead as she looks at the woman stood silently in front of us. Then I’m suddenly standing and being positioned back on the stool, minus one Jesse beneath me.

  ‘Coral, do you want to come to my office?’ Jesse asks, way too soft and gently for my liking. She nods, and I can see her eyes brimming with tears. ‘Come on.’ He turns to me, offering an apologetic smile before leading her away with his hand placed at the bottom of her back, leaving me sat wondering what the hell is going on and mentally demanding him to remove his hand from her.

  John gives him a nod as they pass at the bar entrance, and then proceeds to notify everyone that dinner will be served imminently. There is a bustle of bodies’ that make for the summer room, the women flicking me curious stares as they pass. I ignore them; I’m too busy wondering what Jesse is doing with the mystery woman.

  The silence that has fallen in our little group is broken by Kate. ‘Who was that?’ She helps me down from my stool.

  I glance at Drew and Sam, who both shrug denial of any knowledge, but I can tell by their sudden discomfort that they know exactly who Coral is. ‘I don’t know. I’ve never seen her before.’ I say on a frown, following the mass of people into the summer room. ‘Jesse seems to know her, though.’ I add dryly.

  We find our table, and I’m beyond relieved to find myself sat with Kate, Sam, Drew and John. I’m not so pleased that Sarah is also with us, though. Another man, who I’ve not met, joins us. He’s introduced as Niles – a cute, floppy haired public schoolboy type, not the kind of man I would expect to find at The Manor at all. But what is The Manor’s type?

  The summer room has been completely emptied of sofas and occasional tables, and in their place are masses of round tables, seating between eight and ten people. I can’t even count them, I lose track at table thirty. The colour scheme is black and gold. I wonder if that’s an accident.

  Candles are burning everywhere, enhancing the key ingredient; sensual. It was on Jesse’s specification for the extension and at the time, when I was oblivious to The Manor’s activities, it was a weird request, but now the descriptor it cropping up everywhere I look.

  A band is set up in the corner, but it’s the four men with saxophones who are providing the music throughout dinner. The chair
next to me is still empty and the one next to that has Sarah perched neatly on it. I’m guessing she arranged the seating plan and was most pissed off when she had no choice but to sit me on the other side of Jesse.

  Where is he?

  Kate picks up a gold, structured, satin bag and waves it in the air at me. They must be the gift bags. I decide that I’m not even going to look inside mine, and my decision is only reinforced when Kate shoves her nose in and then snaps the bag shut with wide blue eyes. Sam tries to snatch it from her, but she bats him away and he grumbles, grabbing the men’s black equivalent that’s positioned at his place setting. He does the same little rendition as Kate, but instead of a wide eyed, stunned look, he looks at Kate and grins from ear to ear, prompting her to make a grab for his bag. He pushes her away.

  A starter of scallops is served, and I’m momentarily distracted from my speculating by the divine dish. The Manor really does do food very well.

  ‘So, Ava, I’m told you carried out the works at Lusso.’ Niles says across the table. ‘Quite a feat.’ He smiles, raising his glass to me.

  ‘It didn’t hurt the portfolio.’ I reply casually.

  ‘You’re modest.’ He laughs.

  ‘She’s good,’ Kate pipes up. ‘She’s working on the extension upstairs.’ Kate points her fork towards the ceiling of the summer room in the most unladylike manner.

  ‘I see. Is that how you met Jesse?’ Niles asks, a little surprised.

  ‘It is.’ I confirm politely but elaborate no further. I’m not comfortable talking about me and Jesse, especially with a stone faced Sarah within touching distance. Niles has also just reminded me that he is still nowhere to be seen. ‘What do you do?’ I ask to steer the conversation away from Jesse and my curious mind.

  He puts his fork down and wipes his mouth with his napkin. ‘I supply Jesse’s stock.’ he says on a small smile.

  I just about manage to stop myself from asking the most stupid question I ever would. He doesn’t supply food or drink to The Manor. No, Niles supplies other essentials – essentials for the top floors of The Manor. I nod my acknowledgment, not wanting to push that line of chat any further.

  Sarah jumps into the gap of conversation, asking Niles how his recent trip to Amsterdam went. I’m thankful, even though I quickly turn my attention away from where that discussion is heading too.

  I look over at Kate, who tosses me a filthy look and then nods towards Sarah while cupping her breasts on a grin. I try not to smile, but I can’t help the corners of my mouth tweaking at her brashness. She is so unaffected by everything. I love her.

  I finish my Most Marvelous and accept the glass of white that the waiter offers, taking an immediate sip and laughing when Drew stabs at his last scallop with his fork and it flies into the middle of the table. He gets rather mad with the slippery culprit as he tries to retrieve it, grumbling sulkily as he stabs at it, eventually giving up and grabbing it with his hand. He throws it on his plate in a mood, then glances up at the rest of the table who, with the exception of Sarah, are all delighting in his little performance. He relents and stands to bow, restoring his refined character. His fun, lighthearted performance is a mile away from the stand-offish Drew I know.

  Starters are swiftly removed from the table and replaced with salmon and an array of colourful vegetables. I’m thankful dinner is relatively light. I couldn’t stomach much more and with Sarah sat next to me, my appetite is not improving. She hasn’t said one word to me during dinner and has not enquired as to Jesse’s whereabouts, so I assume that she knows. She advises the waiter to remove Jesse’s untouched starter and hold off on his main for the meantime. If Kate wasn’t here, I would be getting really cranky now.

  ‘You didn’t bring Victoria?’ Kate tosses the question at Drew and he catches it without an ounce of shock or surprise.

  ‘No, she’s sweet but hard work.’ He takes a swig of wine and sits back in his chair. ‘I’m happy exactly where I am at the moment.’ He raises his glass and everyone joins him, including me, even though I’m not particularly happy about where I am at the moment. Drew continues, ‘Anyway, she wouldn’t let me lay a hand on her without the lights off.’

  I nearly spit my wine all over the table, then proceed to laugh – really hard.

  ‘I told you!’ Kate screeches, throwing a napkin over the table at me.

  I grab it and start mopping up the wine dripping down my chin, still laughing.

  Drew looks at me and Kate in turn, a smirk breaking the corners of his serious face. ‘You kind of need to see what you’re doing for what I had in mind.’

  ‘Stop!’ I howl, trying desperately to rein in my chuckles. I glance across at Sarah, and I’m met with a filthy glare. I ignore her and resist the killing temptation to smash her face into her salmon.

  I sit bolt upright – as does Sarah – when I spot Jesse and the mystery woman emerging from the corridor that leads down to his office. John must catch our sharp reaction because he jumps up from the table and makes his way over. They have an exchange of quiet words before John takes over responsibility of the woman and leads her out of the summer room.

  Jesse looks across the room until he finds my eyes, and then starts making his way over. He’s stopped a dozen times by various men and women as he passes tables, but he doesn’t hang about for conversation. He just shakes hands with the men and leans down to kiss the women, smiling politely before searching me out again. Why can’t he shake the women’s hands as well? He eventually makes it to me and sits himself down, grabbing my knee under the table. Sam cheers his arrival and pours some water into Jesse’s wine glass, Kate frowns at me and Sarah drops all conversation with Niles in favour of Jesse.

  He turns into me and gives me very sorry eyes. ‘Forgive me?’

  ‘Who was that?’ I ask quietly.

  ‘No one for you to be concerned about,’ He nods at my half empty plate. ‘How is the food?’

  No one for me to be concerned about? Well, that just makes me all the more concerned, but is this really the time to be pushing this? ‘It’s good, you should eat.’ I say shortly, looking for a waiter, but I’m a bit slow on the uptake. It seems Sarah has taken care of that already. His salmon lands in front of him and he tucks in, keeping his palm firmly on my knee, chopping and forking with one hand. I’m prepared to leave this for now, this is not the time or the place, but I want to know what that was about.

  When John returns and does his signature nod at Jesse, I throw him a curious stare which he catches and tramples all over by leaning in and lavishing me with his lips. I only half-heartedly return his kiss, fully aware that he’s trying to distract me again.

  He pulls back, giving me an enquiring eye. ‘Are you holding back on me?’ he asks sharply.

  ‘Yes, are you?’ I toss back at him, unimpressed by his attitude towards my concern.

  ‘Hey,’ he grates, quite loudly, considering the close proximity of our company. ‘Who do you think you’re talking to?’ he asks on a scowl, his grip on my knee tightening.

  I shake my head. ‘Let’s see what your reaction would be if a mystery man pulled me away from you for over an hour.’ I look him straight in the eye, noticing Sarah’s sly smile behind him. She can fuck off. I’m in no mood for her.

  His eyes soften, his tense jaw easing up a bit. He releases his grip of my knee and strokes up to the juncture of my thighs. I tense. He knows what he’s doing. ‘Ava, please don’t say things that will make me crazy mad.’ His voice has softened, but I can still detect the slight anger in his tone. ‘I’ve told you not to worry so you shouldn’t. End of.’

  ‘Stop kissing all of the women.’ I turn back towards the table, ignoring his hot touch through my dress. I’m simmering on the inside with possessiveness. I’m getting as bad as him, and this conversation is going to get us nowhere – not here and now, anyway.

  Chapter 21

  When dessert and coffee has been served and my cheeks hurt from Kate and Sam antics at the table, John stands and announces
, in his usual booming voice, that everyone should clear the room so it can be emptied of tables, ready for the band.

  Jesse stands and helps me up from my chair, making a meal of showering me with attention, which I petulantly brush off. He’s trying his hardest to distract me from my sulks. I’m stopped from walking away from the table when he grabs my elbow and whirls me around so we’re front on front.

  He burns a hole into me with pools of green displeasure. ‘Are you going to behave like a spoilt brat for the rest of the evening, or have I got to take you upstairs and fuck some sense into you?’

  I recoil at his animosity as he looks past me and smiles, obviously acknowledging someone who is behind me. He returns his eyes to mine, his smile disappearing instantly. I’m stunned by his reaction to my grievance. He reaches around me and places a firm palm on my bum, pushing me into his groin and circling those damn hips, hard and slow. I curse my treacherous body for tensing, and my hands for instinctively flying up to grab his shoulders.

  He leans into my ear. ‘Do you feel that?’ He grinds hard again.

  I lose the battle to restrain my moan of pleasure. I do not want to be getting horny here because there is not a chance in hell I’m going to let him take me while we’re in this place. Not ever.

  ‘Answer the question, Ava.’ He clamps onto my earlobe and drags it through his teeth.

  My grip of his shoulders tightens. ‘I feel it.’ My voice is broken and low.

  ‘Good. It’s yours. All of it.’ He pushes harder, further into me. ‘So stop with the fucking sulks. Do you understand me?’

  ‘Yes.’ I exhale into his shoulder.

  He releases me and stands back, raising expectant eyebrows at me. I nod, trying to gather myself together. Will he always have this influence on me? I’m trembling and seriously rethinking my vow to avoid sex at The Manor. I could, quite easily, drag him upstairs to one of the private suites and let him eat me alive.

  I glance past him and catch the viper glare of Sarah, and in a pathetic stamp of ownership, I put myself into Jesse’s chest again and look up at him with sorry eyes.