Beneath This Man (This Man, #2)(171)

I can feel him watching me. I open one eye and I’m met by two eyebrows kissing his hairline as he jerks his head in a move gesture. I make a point of demonstrating the inconvenience he’s causing me by taking my time and huffing a lot as I shift forward in the bath to make room for him. I don’t know why I’m being insolent. Well, I do. I’m pissed that my war wounds are pitiful compared to Jesse’s and I’m the one wincing, hissing and generally behaving like I’ve been stoned whilst naked.

He climbs in and sinks down behind me, without so much as a huff of discomfort as the water coats his back. He clasps his hands over my shoulders and gently tugs, easing me back against him. ‘Don’t fight me.’ He bites my ear, and I squirm. His legs bend up and he wraps his arms around my neck so I’m completely swathed in him.

Right then. Now for the tub talk.

I rest my head back against his shoulder and relish his morning stubble grazing the side of my face. ‘So, Steve is out on his arse?’ I ask coolly.

‘Gone.’

‘No questions asked?’

‘Not one, except whether he would prefer burial or cremation.’ he says sardonically, and I believe him. His answer, although brutal and a tad over-the-top, is just the response I was hoping for. ‘Am I hurting you?’ he asks.

‘No, I’m fine.’ I assure him. He squeezes a little harder, but our slippery bodies are preventing the drag of skin. ‘So, does the same apply to Sarah?’

BOOM!

He pauses mid-nuzzle, and I continue my slow, feathery circles of his thighs with my index fingers, as if I haven’t just said that. What’s good for the goose and all that, plus, Steve has no sexual interest in me. Sarah, quite clearly, has an active interest in Jesse and as my thick skinned man seems to be oblivious to her romantic pursuit, it’s down to me to instigate damage control.

‘What has Sarah got to do with this?’ He sounds really perplexed.

If he could see me, he would see a screwed up face of disbelief. He cannot be serious. I must not lose my head. ‘She hurt you.’

‘I asked her to.’

‘I asked Steve to.’ I counter calmly.

‘Yes, but Steve knew you were off limits, that you are mine. He crossed a clear line that I drew and not just with who he practiced his shit on, but also how he carried it out, although the former is my ultimate bone of contention.’ He bites my earlobe to make sure I know he means me. Who else? ‘He accepted a whip from someone he hadn’t met before and never even clarified the limits. You could have been mentally unstable for all he knew.’

‘I probably was at that specific moment.’ I mutter. ‘And anyway, you’re mine. You’re off limits too, you know.’

‘I know.’ he says softly. ‘I know, baby. Never again, but I think you’ve demonstrated your grievance with Sarah.’ he adds sarcastically.

I smile smugly. Yes, I have, but I still want her out on her arse. ‘So, you’re not getting rid of her?’ I ask, although, begrudgingly, I already know the answer to that question.

‘She’s an employee and a close friend. I can’t sack her for doing something I asked her to, Ava.’

I sigh heavily, blatantly wanting him to be aware that I’m not happy about this. A friend? A close friend? ‘She planned it, Jesse.’

‘What do you mean, she planned it?’

‘The text that I got from John.’

‘What text?’

‘The one she sent from John’s phone saying I should go to The Manor.’ I’m going to get nowhere with this, I know it.

‘You think Sarah lifted John’s phone and sent you a text?’

‘Yes!’

‘Don’t be daft!’

‘I’m not being daft!’ I screech. ‘I have it on my phone, I’ll show you.’

‘Ava, Sarah wouldn’t do that.’

Oh, please! She’s supposed to be his friend. He obviously doesn’t know her very well. I’ve had the pleasure of her for only a month-ish, and I worked her out within a second of meeting her. He is so thick skinned. ‘Do you think I imagined it?’

‘No, I’m thinking that you were drugged on Saturday night and maybe you’ve made a mistake.’ he says all soothingly. I don’t appreciate it. I didn’t bloody imagine it!

‘I’ll show you.’ I sound like a stroppy teenager. ‘She wants you.’

‘Well she can’t have me, she knows that. I belong to you.’ He presses his lips to the side of my face.

‘You do.’ I huff, pushing my cheek into his kiss.

This is a bit difficult. Jesse is right; he can’t dismiss her from his employment for doing something that he asked her to do, which absolutely stinks because I can’t imagine he would be of the same opinion if the boot was on the other foot. My only comfort is the knowledge that Jesse has absolutely no interest in her and of that, I am completely sure. I’m not going to burden him with my bitchy streak. I will reserve that for Sarah when necessary, and for all of the other women who are lacking any self-respect. Damage control will be tricky when there are so many of these bloody leeches. I’m pissed that he can’t see her for what she is.

‘Lean forward so I can bathe your back.’ He pushes me forward by my shoulders, and I reluctantly sit up. ‘I’ll be gentle.’