Beneath This Man (This Man Trilogy)

by Jodi Ellen Malpas

  He’s watching me carefully, trying to work out my thoughts and then he turns his full body to face me and takes my other hand. ‘You’re not an exhibitionist, Ava, and I love you all the more for it. You are mine and mine only and I am only yours. Do you understand me?’ His voice is laced with concern. He knew what I was thinking.

  My bones turn to mush, my heart misses too many beats and I stagger forward slightly. He pulls me into him, my forehead meeting his shoulder. He is solid and warm and all mine.

  ‘Fucking hell.’ he whispers as his chest concaves on a deep breath. ‘I can’t tell you how much I love you.’ He kisses the top of my head. ‘Come on, I want to dance with you.’ He breaks away and tucks me under his arm to head for the door. After watching all of that, he wants to dance with me? He leans down. ‘I bet if I checked, you’d be wet.’ he says softly. My breath catches and I hear him laugh quietly. ‘Only for me.’ he reminds me. Not that I need reminding.

  I glance over my shoulder and come to an abrupt, shocked halt. I watch as the woman is flipped over onto her hands and knees and one man slams into the back of her as another one of the men kneels in front of her. He trusts himself straight into her mouth, silencing her shocked yelps. My eyes widen at the sudden change in approach. They both pump into her, one at each end of her body, and the third man starts circling the kneeling mass of bodies. What the hell is he going to do?

  Oh no!

  I watch in horror as the third man collects something from the nearby cabinet and then lowers himself to the floor on his knees at the back of her. The other man pulls out and spreads her cheeks, giving him access to her arse. I need to walk away. I need to leave now, but I’m transfixed as I watch him insert something. I have no idea what, but it’s big and it’s only half submerged when he’s finished. I can’t rip my eyes away. He then leaves to allow the other man to re-enter her on a yell before he positions himself on his back under the woman. He grabs a breast with one hand, lifts his head and takes the other in his mouth, and then wraps his spare hand around his cock.

  Oh good Lord. I feel Jesse tug my hand, and I look up at him, finding a cautious face. There must be no denying the look on mine. Please don’t tell me he has done this sort of stuff.

  ‘Come on, you’ve seen enough.’ He pulls me towards the doors that will take me away from all of this. Jesus, the reality of this place has just slammed right into my poor, innocent brain.

  ‘Jesse?’

  ‘Don’t, Ava.’ He shakes his head without looking at me. He knows what I’m thinking. The inadequacy has returned, harder, more forcefully than before. ‘I just need you.’ he says, still refusing to meet my eyes.

  ‘Have –’

  ‘I said, don’t.’ He carries on leading me, and I choose not to push for anymore, not that I’d get an answer. I can’t think of him like that.

  As we reach the door, Natasha intercepts our escape. She’s naked, except for a microscopic pair of satin knickers, her boobs jiggling all over the place as she comes to a stop in front of us. I don’t know where to look.

  ‘You’re a bit overdressed, Jesse.’ she purrs.

  What? After what I’ve just endured, this is a sure fire way to tip me over the edge. I could slap her. My hand balls into a fist and my jaw tenses, but Jesse diverts us, taking us around to the side. ‘Have some fucking respect, Natasha.’ he snaps.

  My simmering anger transforms into smugness at Jesse’s short, curt retort to Natasha’s impertinent performance, as we leave the communal room and an undoubtedly sour faced Natasha behind.

  ‘I would like to send a memo too.’ I say sardonically as he guides me down the stairs. These women need to be put in their place. They are a load of desperate, malevolent losers.

  He laughs. ‘Whatever you want, Ava.’

  Really? It would save the hassle of accosting each and every one and dishing out the warnings. I might take him up on that offer, and I might also compile a staff memo reflecting the same subject matter. I would only need one copy of that one, though. How many copies would I need for the female members?

  ‘Do you want a drink?’ Jesse asks, as we approach the bar.

  ‘Please.’ I’m trying not to sound hurt, but I know I’m failing miserably.

  He looks at me and by his thoughtful expression and his lip nibbling, I can tell he’s regretting taking me up there. I’m regretting it too. This has not helped me in attempting to deal with Jesse’s history.

  ‘Why did you take me up there?’ I ask. He knew what I was going to see. I don’t know what I was expecting, but it certainly wasn’t that.

  ‘You want me to be more open with you.’

  He’s right. I do. I’m regretting that too. I’ll never be able to wipe those sights from my mind, but I don’t see strange men up there, kneeling or pleasuring. All I see is Jesse. I feel sick, but I asked for it.

  ‘I never want to go up there again.’

  ‘Then you won’t.’ he answers immediately.

  ‘And I never want you to go up there either.’ I’m being unreasonable by asking him to avoid the epicenter of his business.

  He studies me carefully. ‘I’ve no need to go up there. Everything I need is standing within touching distance and I plan on keeping her that close.’

  I nod my head, my eyes darting across his body. ‘Thank you.’ I say quietly, feeling guilty for making such a demand and even guiltier that he’s submitted with no questions, arguments or challenging.

  He pushes my hair from my face gently. ‘You find Kate and I’ll get the drinks.’

  ‘Okay.’

  ‘Go.’ He turns me around, sending me on my way.

  I make my way through to the summer room, avoiding the toilets, even though I could do with a wee. The dance floor is busy and I spy Kate immediately, her red hair a beacon in the crowd. I step onto the dance floor as Otis Reading’s Love Man kicks in and Kate screams, thrilled at my arrival and the track.

  ‘Where have you been?’ she yells over the music.

  ‘A tour of the communal room.’ I shrug, but then the hideous thought of Kate up there stamps all over my mind. Oh God no!

  Her big blues widen in astonishment, and then her pale face breaks out in a big grin. This does not assist in ridding my head of such unbearably awful thoughts. She grabs my hand and I grasp my dress so I can join her. Sam and Drew are very well oiled and performing some pretty criminal moves as they attract the attention of many women on the dance floor. Kate doesn’t seem to mind. She keeps her hand in mine and rolls her eyes at her wayward fellow and his cheeky grin. She is as laidback and unthreatened as ever, but Sam, it would seem, is not so. He soon yanks her away from a man dancing a bit too close for his liking.

  I jump and have a mild panic attack when a back presses up against mine, but his smell soon invades me and I turn my face into the chin that is resting on my shoulder.

  ‘Hey, my beautiful girl.’

  ‘You made me jump.’

  ‘How did you know it was me?’ he asks.

  ‘Natural instinct.’ I can’t help but smile at him.

  He smiles straight back. ‘I’m going to dirty you up.’

  He is? He reaches down and shifts my dress up ever so slightly, and then hunkers down behind me, taking me with him. He starts slowly circling his hips, placing his palm on my lower stomach and guiding me around with him. My rotating hips soon catch on to his tempo and we’re in sync and in time to the band, who are doing an amazing rendition of the famous track. I throw my head back on a laugh when his arm appears suspended at the side, drifting up and down as he grinds his hips into mine, our circling speeding up and slowing in unison to the beat as I’m swayed from side to side and back and forth. Kate and Sam are in a tight clinch and Drew makes a grab for a woman who’s blatantly asking for it.

  I place my hand over his on my stomach and let him do his thing, with no reservations and no concern for the dozens of women around us, who are all suddenly well aware of Jesse’s presence on the floor and have all upp
ed their game in the dancing department. Their attempts to catch his eye will be in total vein. His chin is resting firmly on my shoulder as he dirties me up with his glorious, gyrating hips and with no regard for who is watching. It’s all about me.

  ‘Oh God, I love you.’ he says in my ear, kissing my temple, then clasping my hand and sending me out on a little spin before returning me to his waiting chest. The dancers applaud, and the band kicks into Stevie Wonder’s Superstitious. I hear Kate squeal from behind me. ‘More dancing?’ His eyebrow arches on a confident grin as he slowly sways me from side to side.

  ‘Drink.’ I plead.

  ‘You can’t keep up with your God, sweet temptress.’ His voice is husky.

  We’re the only ones in an embrace as everyone around us gets down to the current offering from the band. Jesse’s right; they are really very good.

  He runs his nose up the side of my face and then circles it slowly. ‘Are you happy?’

  ‘Deliriously.’ I don’t hesitate. That is the easiest question I’ve ever had to answer. I pull him closer to me. There is too much space between us.

  ‘Then my work here is done.’ He pushes his face into my neck and breathes in deeply, and I smile in pure and utter bliss as he holds me tight, cocooning me in his arms. I’ve never been so happy, and I know I never will be. I can deal with his past.

  ‘Your temptress is dying of thirst.’ I say quietly.

  I feel him grin against my neck. ‘God forbid.’ he says, releasing me under duress. ‘Come on, I don’t want to be accused of neglecting you.’ He turns me in his arms and starts guiding me from the dance floor.

  As I reach the edge, I’m aware of the sudden absence of Jesse’s warm palm at the base of my back and I turn to search him out. My eyes are immediately assaulted at the sight of Jesse’s alarmed face as four women – two of which are voice number one and three from the toilet – grab and stroke him as they manhandle him back onto the dance floor. These women really don’t have any self-respect. I see Kate, Sam and Drew all with incredulous looks on their drunken faces as the women work together to restrain their prey. The poor man is trapped, and short of slapping them down, he’s going nowhere. His distressed face is a result of anxiety because of me watching him fighting off the pack of wolves trying to nail him. And after our recent encounter in his office, he knows he’s not the only one who wants to trample. God only knows what he would do if this situation was in reverse. The dance floor would be a bloodbath.

  I walk calmly over to them and Jesse stops struggling against them, watching as I approach. His sudden submission has the women halting in their feeding frenzy. I put my hand out to him and he takes it immediately, all of the women dropping their hands from my man’s body and watching me calmly claiming what is mine. I pull him towards me and spread my contemptuous glare on all four silent women. I say nothing, even though I’m boiling inside at their audacity. I turn, pulling Jesse from the dance floor. I hear a few gasps and definitely a whoop from Kate, but I don’t look back. I’m relishing in the fact that for once, I’m leading Jesse. This has absolutely never happened and it doesn’t for long. I’m scooped up and carried the rest of the way to the bar.

  ‘I love it when you’re all possessive.’ he says contentedly. ‘Kiss me, now.’

  I want to point out that I only trample when necessary, but that would be a pointless exercise if ever there was one. I link my arms at the base of his neck and drown in his mouth while feeling a whole lot of eyes on us. Maybe the memos won’t be required after all.

  ‘There.’ He places me on my customary stool and waves Mario over, who produces my drink immediately from behind the bar, along with two bottles of water.

  I pick a bottle up and start swinging the water willingly before Jesse has the opportunity to demand it.

  He perches on the stool opposite and gives me an approving smile. ‘Mario, how’s the stock?’ he asks, as he stands back up and leans over the bar, running his eyes up the long row of endless glass doors. I glance over and see dwindling shelves.

  ‘Ah, Mr Ward, you have thirsty members this evening,’ He laughs as he removes some empty bottles from the optics. ‘I’ll do a stock take tomorrow. We have a delivery arriving on Sunday.’

  ‘Good man.’ Jesse says, sitting back down on the stool and placing his foot on my stools footrest. ‘Are you okay?’ He reaches over and straightens my diamond.

  I stifle a yawn as I nod. ‘Fine.’

  He smiles. ‘I’m taking you home. It’s been a long day.’ I welcome his suggestion. It has been a very long day. Trampling takes a lot out of you.

  John walks into the bar, claps Jesse on the shoulder and nods at me. ‘You good, girl?’ he rumbles, and I nod at him too. I’ve suddenly lost the power of speech. I’m absolutely exhausted.

  ‘I’m taking her home. Everything okay upstairs?’

  ‘S’all good,’ John confirms. He nods at me, and I’m yawning again. ‘I’ll call for your car. Take her home.’ He gets his phone out and gives a few short, precise instructions before giving Jesse the nod.

  ‘I need to see Kate.’ I manage to mumble through my tired state. I go to lower myself from the stool but Jesse places his hand on my knee to stop me.

  John performs that deep baritone laugh that reverberates through your entire being. ‘I think I may have just seen her disappear upstairs with Sam.’

  Oh?

  Jesse joins John in his amused state. ‘Do you want to go and say goodbye?’

  ‘No!’ I know my face is screwed up in disgust and they laugh harder. Copping a load of Kate and Sam in the act? No, thank you. Oh God, will anyone else be joining them? Where’s Drew? I frantically shake my stray, uninvited thoughts away. ‘Take me home.’ I shudder and drop onto my tired feet. All things considered, these shoes are incredibly comfortable, considering I’ve been in them for over seven hours.

  Jesse and John exchange a few words, but my brain won’t allow my ears to listen. I do, however, home in on him telling John not to expect him in tomorrow which means I’m getting my lie in with him, and I’ll be performing an Oscar worthy hissy fit if he wakes me up with the dawn chorus and presents me with my running kit.

  I say goodbye to Mario and John and let my head fall onto Jesse’s shoulder as he leads me out of The Manor and puts me in his car before sliding in behind the wheel.

  ‘I’ve had the best day.’ I murmur dreamily, as my body moulds into the cool, soft leather. I really have, brazen hussies aside.

  I feel his palm fall lightly onto my thigh and circle lazily. ‘Baby, I’ve had the best day, thank you.’

  ‘Why are you thanking me for?’ I yawn again, my eyes getting heavy. It’s me who’s been spoiled and lavished with attention.

  ‘For letting me remind you.’ he says quietly.

  I turn sleepy eyes onto him and smile, watching as he starts the car and pulls out hastily. I close my eyes and give in to my exhaustion. He’s reminded me all right, and I’m so glad I let him.

  ‘Evening, Clive.’ I feel the vibrations of Jesse’s voice drift into my body, which is secured firmly to his chest. I can’t believe how tired I am.

  ‘Mr Ward, should I get the elevator for you?’

  ‘No, I’ve got it. Thanks.’

  In my comatose state, I wonder if Clive lives here. He’s supposed to be one of two concierges, but I’ve never seen the other one. I hear the penthouse door being kicked shut and in no time at all, I’m lying on the bed. I think I might leave the dress exactly where it is. I curl up on my side.

  ‘Come on you. Let’s get you out of that dress.’ He rolls me onto my back.

  ‘Leave it.’ I grumble sleepily. I have zero energy.

  I hear him laugh. ‘I am not sleeping with you fully dressed, lady. Not ever. Come here.’ He pulls me up by my hands and moves my legs to dangle off the bed, before removing my shoes. ‘Up you come.’ I’m tugged lightly to standing position and turned around. ‘How do you get this thing off?’ he asks, as his hands drift across th
e back and then down the sides of the dress.

  I reach over my shoulder and point at the concealed zip. He grasps it, drawing it slowly down my back, and then pushes it off my shoulders. I step out and then fall back against his chest.

  ‘I think I might just leave you in this,’ His appreciative voice wakes me slightly as his palms smooth down my sides over the delicate lace of my corset and onto my hips. ‘Teeth?’

  ‘Please.’ I start walking towards the bathroom with his palms resting on my waist.

  He lifts me onto the vanity unit and loads my brush up with toothpaste before running it under a tap. ‘Open.’ he orders, and I let my mouth drop open, giving him access to my teeth.

  He sets about brushing them with care, circling slowly and patiently while he holds my jaw. His concentration frown is set firmly in place and his eyes are shimmering with contentment, and I know it’s because he’s undertaking a task of his self-appointed job; looking after me.

  He pulls the brush out. ‘Spit.’

  I empty my mouth and let him wipe away the stray paste from my lips, watching me as he slips his thumb into his mouth and sucks it off. I’m exhausted, but I’m not that exhausted. I spread my thighs and grab the front of his shirt, pulling him as close as I can get him.

  He grins at me. ‘Has someone woken up?’ He cups my face with both hands and drops a tender kiss on my lips.

  I’ve not completely woken up, but one of his hands in the right place and I will. ‘It’s you. It’s instinctive.’ I still sound half asleep.

  ‘I never in a million years thought I would ever say this, but I’m not going to take you tonight.’ He circles his nose with mine, and I shift my hips forward in invitation. Now I’m the brazen hussy. He pulls back and gives me a stern look on an arched brow. ‘No.’ he mouths and drops his hands from my face. ‘Do you want to wash your make-up off?’

  I’m shocked. ‘Are you denying me?’ I ask in disbelief. So it’s one rule for him and another for me? My jilted state has woken me up good and proper now.