Beneath This Man(64)

My sarcasm only serves to notch his fury level up a little more - if that was possible. 'Ava, I'm warning you!'

'I can't believe you're being so cranky over this. It was okay for you to handcuff me!'

'I was in control!' he yells back at me.

Ah! So all of this is just about him being in control? That's stupid! 'You're a power freak!' I shout back, and he wriggles a little more. 'I'm going to get a shower.' I stomp off.

'I'm only a power freak with you!' he yells at my back. 'Ava!'

I slam the bathroom door and remove my bra. The arrogant, power obsessed, controlling arse! My delight in the fact that my truth f*ck worked has been well and truly trampled. I throw myself in the shower and listen to my name being yelled repeatedly. If I wasn't so affronted, I would laugh. He really doesn't like not being able to touch me and he really, really doesn't like relinquishing power.

I shower and brush my teeth at a leisurely rate. It's still super early. I have plenty of time.

When I walk back into the bedroom, I find Jesse has calmed down slightly, but there is definitely still a hint on anger in his expression as he looks up at me.

'Baby, come and free me, please.' he pleads.

His sudden turn in mood has me suspicious and on my guard. I know his game, and I'm not falling for it. As soon as I free him, he'll be on me like a lion before manhandling me into my running kit and dragging me around the streets of London. I'm not denying that I would love to have him all over me right this minute, but I'm not hanging about to be tortured by fourteen miles. Unfortunately, they come as a package deal.

I sit myself in front of the floor length mirror to start drying my hair. I glance in the reflection every now and again and see him watching me, but he just scowls and throws his head back like a brooding schoolboy whenever I catch him. I smile to myself.

I apply my make-up and smother myself in coco butter and when I put on the cream lace underwear set that Jesse bought me, I hear him whimper. I smile smugly to myself. I may as well. I don't know how long I'm going to be holding this power. I slip my white ruffle blouse on with my black, slim fit trousers and black heels.

I'm ready. I walk over to my handcuffed man and lean down to drop a long, lingering kiss onto his parted lips. I don't know why I'm doing this. My bravado is commendable.

He sighs and brings his knees up so the soles of his feet are flat on the bed.

I reach down and wrap my hand around his still erect cock. I'm seriously in for it when he catches me.

He jerks. 'Ava. I love you so f*cking much, but if you don't undo these cuffs, I'm going to f*cking strangle you!' His voice is a mixture of pleasure and pain.

I smile around his mouth and give him a chaste kiss on the lips before leaning down and kissing my way from his chest to his solid cock, and then all the way to the tip, finishing off with a little swirl before taking him deep into my mouth.

'Ava, please!' he moans.

I release him and retrieve the key to the handcuffs from the chest of drawers. As I walk back over, he lets out a relieved breath. I don't know why, I'm not freeing him completely. I undo his damaged hand and it falls limply to the bed. A pang of guilt assaults me as he gingerly flexes his fist to try and get some life back into it. I walk over to the chest and place the key back on top.

'What are you doing?' he asks on a frown.

'Where is your phone?'

'Why?' The confusion in his face is clear.

'You'll need it. Where is it?'

'It's in my suit jacket. Ava, just give me the key.' He's losing his patience again.

I scan the room and spot his jacket on the floor where he obviously dumped it last night before he pounced on me in the bathroom. I find his phone in the inside pocket and place it on the bedside table, just out of reach. I don't want him calling for assistance before I make my escape.

I fetch my bag and stride out of the bedroom, leaving him a massive mess of unexploded male. I am so going to cop it later, but at least I released one hand. It might be his damaged one, but he'll be able to sort himself out... if he doesn't grip too hard.

'Hello, flower.' Patrick comes out of his office as I take my seat. 'You're bright and early this morning.' He sits on the edge of my desk and performs his usual snort of disgust as the desk performs its usual creak of protest. 'What have you got to tell me?'

'Not much,' I turn my computer on. 'I have a meeting with Mr Van Der Haus at lunchtime to go over my designs.'