‘Ava, stop.’ He grabs my hand from is groin and turns his face to break our lip contact.
I don’t give up, even now. I fight him, urgently smothering him with my mouth. He’s never refused me before.
‘Ava! Please!’ He loses his patience and pushes me over onto my back, pinning me under his body.
I feel tears stabbing at my eyes. I’m more desperate than any of those women. I’m not dealing with this well at all. A sob slips through my lips and I turn away from him, completely ashamed.
‘Baby, don’t.’ he pleads softly, pulling my face back to his and brushing my wild hair from my face. He gazes down at me, almost in sympathy. ‘I understand.’ he whispers, wiping his thumb under my eye. ‘Don’t cry.’ he skims my lips with his. ‘It’s always just you.’
I blink back my tears. ‘I’m not coping with this.’ I reach up to touch his face. ‘I feel violent.’ I admit. I can’t believe I just openly volunteered that information, and I’m stunned I really do feel like that. ‘Mine.’ I say quietly.
He nods. He gets it. ‘Always just yours.’ He pulls my palm to his lips and kisses it firmly. ‘Please, ignore them. They’re shocked, that’s all. Their noses have been put firmly out of joint by a young, dark eyed, breathtaking beauty. My beauty.’
‘You’re my beauty.’ I affirm harshly.
‘All of me, Ava. Every single piece.’ Shifting his body, he rests himself all over me, completely coating me. He grasps my face in his palms, his green eyes staring down at me. ‘Ava, you own me.’ He places his lips on mine, ‘Do you understand me?’
I nod in his hold, feeling weak and needy.
‘Good girl.’ he whispers. ‘You are mine and I am yours.’
I nod again for fear of wailing if I open my mouth. I didn’t think I could love him more.
He runs his palms over my cheeks and his eyes scan every inch of my face. ‘I know this is hard for you.’
‘I love you.’ I just about manage to get the words out.
‘I know you do. And I you.’ He sits up and secures himself before helping me up. ‘We’ll make friends properly later. I don’t want to trample your dress,’ He smiles a little and spins me around. ‘It looks like it needs a bit of patience and we all know how little of that I have when it comes to you.’ He turns me back and rubs his nose over mine. ‘Better?’
‘Yes.’
‘Good. Let’s go.’ He takes my hand and leads me to the door, dropping it briefly to shift the sideboard back, before reclaiming it and leading me back to the party. I feel so much better. He understands.
Chapter 22
The band has started and people have filtered into the summer room.
‘Motown?’ I ask, a little surprised as I’m pulled through the few tables left set up.
‘They’re a great band. You want to dance?’ He glances down at me with a half-smile, and I’m reminded that my man has some serious moves.
‘Later.’ I’m conscious that Kate is probably wondering what has happened and where I am. He nods and takes me through to the bar.
My stool is free and I’m lifted onto it. Kate, Drew and Sam are all holding position at the bar and all seem to be lit up, the alcohol flowing well.
‘Where have you been?’ Kate enquires, flicking a cautious glare at Jesse.
‘In Jesse’s office discussing a certain female who he called to free him after I left him handcuffed to the bed.’ I blurt it all out quietly while I keep my eye on Jesse to ensure he’s not listening. He’s too busy ordering drinks with Mario.
‘You left him there?’ Kate face is somewhere between shock and amusement.
‘Yes.’ I didn’t mention that before. ‘He was really mad.’
‘I’m not surprised. He called Sarah to free him?’
‘Yes.’ I grate. ‘And he’s slept with her.’
‘Oh.’ Kate’s lips purse. ‘Why would he call her?’ She comes in closer, wedging herself between me and Jesse so she is stood in front of me.
‘He couldn’t get hold of anyone else. John was here and Sam was otherwise engaged.’
‘What day was this again?’
‘Wednesday.’ I raise my eyebrows and watch as she mentally casts her mind back to Wednesday morning. The penny obviously drops because a guilty look washes over her face. I’m not even going to ask why Sam was unable to come to Jesse’s rescue. ‘Sarah took great delight in advising me. That and the pleasurable experience of listening to three women compare notes on Jesse’s bedroom skills sent me over the edge.’ I grumble.
‘Oh dear.’ Kate gives me a sympathetic face. ‘History, Ava.’
‘I know.’ I shake my head disgustedly. ‘Kate, I’ve got so much to tell you. Can we go out tomorrow night? I need to let off some steam.’
She nods and then lets out a small yelp as she’s lifted from her feet and placed to the side by Jesse, giving him access to me. She slaps him on the shoulder playfully and giggles.
‘Drink.’ He thrusts a glass of water under my nose, and I take it without complaint. I watch him smile as I down the glass of water, before I hand him the empty glass. He nods in surprised approval, then replaces the empty with a glass of Mario’s Most Marvelous stuff. ‘See how easier things are when you do as you’re told?’ he says thoughtfully.
I narrow playful eyes on him and shake my head at his impertinence. Yes, it is, but his demands are not always as simple as drinking a glass of water. He turns away to catch up with Drew and Sam, but keeps a firm hand on my knee.
‘Oh look.’ Kate whispers.
I follow her gaze and see Sarah with a group of men, laughing, stroking, touching and generally feeling every single one of them up at every opportunity. Her beady eyes land on me, and she stares with a smug, satisfied look on her face – until I feel Jesse’s lips on my cheek. I leave her seething in the knowledge that her little plan hasn’t worked and turn my attention to Jesse. He winks at me and standing me up, he collects my arms and drapes them over his shoulders before sweeping his hands around my back and pulling me close, his forehead resting on mine. It’s a gesture of reassurance. I’m grateful.
‘You okay?’ he asks.
I smile, pulling back to get an eyeful of his beautiful face. ‘Perfect.’
‘Good.’
We both jump at a flash of light and turn to see Kate with a camera pointing at us. Jesse grabs me and suspends me in his arms, my head flying back on a laugh as I register the continuous clicks and flashes of the camera.
His mouth rests on my throat. ‘Smile for me, baby.’
I pull my head back up and find his green eyes shimmering with contentment…with happiness. I make him happy. I make him determined to live. I make him want to leave this lifestyle behind. I smile, lacing my fingers through his hair and pulling his lips down to mine.
‘Okay,’ Kate shouts. ‘That’s enough!’
Jesse has me, taking exactly what he wants, with no regard for our audience or any concern for our location. I’m returned to standing position and placed back on the stool, my drink handed to me before he returns to the male conversation, like he hasn’t just silenced the room with his over-the-top, obviously out of character display of love. But I’m not blushing; I’m not concerned or embarrassed – not in the slightest.
I glance across the bar, finding Sarah spitting nails. ‘She really doesn’t like me, Kate.’
‘Oh, fuck her!’ Kate spits nastily. ‘Do you care?’
‘No, I don’t. But I’m pissed that I have no choice but to suck up the fact that Jesse will be coming here daily and she’ll be here.’ Would he sack her if I asked him to?
Kate disappears from in front of me when Sam makes a grab for her and hauls her out of the bar. I sit up straight and wait with baited breath to see if she is yanked to the left towards the stairs, or to the right towards the summer room. They go to the right. I exhale, immensely relieved. I can’t even think about that.
‘Ava, dance!’ she shouts, as she disappears from view. I’ll find her in a minute.
I’m distracted by a man approaching Jesse with his hand outstretched. I recognise him. Jesse takes it, shaking it mildly as he shifts and flicks his eyes to me. I’ve noticed that as more drink flows, more people are approaching Jesse to converse – women mainly. They chat briefly and the guy tips his drink in my direction. Jesse glances towards me and then steps forward with him. He’s probably mid-forties and his jacket is removed. He looks a little tipsy.