Beneath This Man(47)

'No, Ava, I didn't have time. I promise you I will ask, though. I'm just as curious as you are. Now, are you hungry?' He circles his tongue around my ear. It could send me to sleep. At least he hasn't lied about talking to Clive.

'Yes.' I answer on a yawn. I'm famished. And tired too, but I'm not giving in. 'I'm not going to sleep until you tell me who that woman was.'

'How can I tell you if I don't know?'

'You do know.'

'I don't f*cking know!'

I jump at his harshness, and then feel his arms lock tighter around me. 'I'm sorry.'

'Okay.' I say quietly. But it's not. I'll speak to Clive in the morning.

'My lovely lady is exhausted.' he whispers. 'Take away?' He bites at my earlobe, smoothing the soles of his feet down my shins.

'You have a fridge full of food, it's a waste.'

'Well, can you be bothered to cook?' he asks.

No, I can't, but I notice he doesn't offer. Then again, he has openly admitted that cooking is one of the only things he's crap at. What were his words? Oh yes...I can't be amazing at everything. He was serious as well, the arrogant arse.

'Take away.' I agree.

He shifts under me. 'I'll go and order, you wash your hair.' He lifts himself out of the bath and leaves me in the massive tub by myself. I watch his wet nakedness stroll out of the bathroom, returning a few moments later with some women's shampoo and conditioner. I'm eternally grateful. My poor hair has been mistreated way too much lately. He gives me a grin and leans down to kiss my forehead. 'Wear lace.' He disappears out of the bathroom and I fall back in the tub, closing my eyes for a while and savouring the quiet and peaceful surroundings of the colossal master bathroom of Lusso. How did I end up here?

I stretch myself out and I'm immediately aware of Jesse's absence in the bed. Propping myself up on my elbows, I spy him sat on the chaise lounge, bending down.

Oh no!

I lay back down as quietly as I possibly can and shut my eyes. He might not have noticed I woke - if I'm lucky. After a few silent moments, I feel the bed dip, but I keep my eyes firmly shut, silently begging him to leave me alone.

An age of me pretending to be asleep passes by and he still hasn't nudged me, so I cautiously open my eyes and find green pools of delight staring down at me. I groan, very loudly, as I watch the semblance of a small smile tickle his lips. I flip myself over onto my front and cover my head with a pillow, then hear him laugh as the pillow is whipped from my head and I'm turned over onto my back.

'Good morning.' he chirps, and I screw my face up in disgust at his cheery, break of dawn happiness.

'Please don't make me.' I plead, pulling my most solemn face.

'Up you get.' He grabs my hand with his good one and pulls me into a sitting position. I make a big display of moaning in repulsion at his idea of starting the day, and then nearly start crying when he presents me with my freshly laundered running kit that he, so generously, bought me.

'I want sleepy sex,' I complain. 'Please.'

He hoofs me off the bed and draws my lace knickers down my legs before tapping my ankles to lift. 'It will do you good.' he states firmly.

It's all right for him. He runs stupid distances on a daily basis. I'm more of a quick few miles girl when I feel the need to shift a few pounds. 'Hey! Are you trying to tell me something?' I narrow my eyes on his crouched form before me.

He rolls his eyes and signals for me to lift my foot so he can get me into my Little Miss knickers. 'Shut up, Ava. If anything, you're too slim at the moment.' he scolds me. He's right, I am.

I let him dress me in my shorts, vest top and trainers. 'This is torture.' I grumble.

'Go brush your teeth.' He slaps my bum, and I head off into the bathroom, dragging my feet and rolling my head back to make a point of my disgruntled mood.

I clean my teeth, locate a hair bobble from my bag and make my way down the stairs to find him at the front door waiting for me. 'I'm just a hindrance.' I moan as I scrape my hair into a ponytail. He'll be much quicker without me, and I'll get an extra hour and a half in bed. 'I'll never do the full fourteen.'

He takes my hand and leads me out of the penthouse and into the elevator. 'You'll never be a hindrance to me, I like having you with me.' He punches in his code and we descend to the foyer. I love being with him too, but not at five in the morning and running around London.