Beneath This Man - Malpas Jodi Ellen - Страница 79

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‘Ava!’ I hear him yell, and then the telltale signs of his thumping footsteps coming after me.

I have no idea what I plan on doing when I get outside. I know he will catch me, and I know he won’t let me leave. I’ll steal a car. I don’t care that I’m way over the limit. My visit to the toilet was bad enough, but Sarah has completely finished me off. I can’t subject myself to this torture anymore. It’s rotting my reasonableness, turning me into a jealous, resentful monster. I shouldn’t have come here.

‘Ava, get your fucking arse here!’

I make it to the steps and bump into Kate. ‘Where have you been?’ she asks shortly, her eyes widening when she obviously catches sight of Jesse in pursuit of me.

‘I’m going.’ I blurt, gathering my dress up, ready to take the steps. She watches me hastily pass her with a what-the-hell look coated all over her pale face. I fly down the steps, stupidly fast, and collide with his solid, suit-covered chest. That fucking chest! I’m hoofed up and slung over his shoulder with no effort at all.

‘You’re not fucking going anywhere, lady.’ he growls, and starts back up the steps to The Manor.

I flick my hair out of my face and push my hands into his lower back to try and break free. ‘Let go of me!’ I yell frantically as I wriggle, but he has a tight hold, and I know he would die before letting me go. ‘Jesse!’

Kate watches with an open mouth as we pass her, before throwing her cigarette butt on the floor and following us in. ‘What’s going on?’

‘He’s an arsehole! That’s what is going on!’ I yell, attracting the attention of all the valet staff, who halt all duties and quietly observe me being jostled back into The Manor. ‘Jesse, put me down!’

‘No!’ He continues through the entrance hall and towards the summer room. ‘It’s fine Kate. I just need a little chat with Ava.’ he says calmly, increasing his grip on me as I continue to battle his hold.

Looking up, I see Kate stop at the bar entrance and shrug at me. I want to scream at her, but I know she’ll be of little use in trying to prize Jesse off me. I’m carried through the summer room, where all of the tables have been cleared and a dance floor set up. The band stops their sound check and watch as Jesse strides through with me draped across his shoulder. I crane my neck around and spot John coming from the direction of Jesse’s office, and he laughs as he shakes his head. It’s not bloody funny. We pass him in the corridor, but he says nothing. He just moves to let us by before carrying on his way, like this is an everyday, normal occurrence. I suppose it is.

Jesse kicks his office door shut and dumps me on my feet, his face contorted with rage, which only boosts my own fury. He points his finger in my face. ‘Don’t you EVER walk away from me!’ he roars.

I flinch.

He throws his arms up in frustration and walks over to the drinks cabinet as I make for the door again. Will he have a drink if I leave? At the moment, I’m too mad to care. I grab the handle of the door, but make no further progress. I’m grabbed and yanked back before he places me on my feet again and practically kicks a cabinet until it blocks the exit.

‘What the fuck are you playing at?’ He grasps my shoulders and shakes me ever so slightly. ‘What’s going on?’

I regain possession of my body and walk away from him. He growls but leaves me. It’s not like I can go anywhere now.

I swing around and throw him the filthiest look I can muster. ‘I can’t believe you trample all over any man who so much as looks at me, yet you think it’s perfectly okay for you to have another woman in your bedroom while you are naked and laying on the bed!’ My voice is getting higher. I’m so mad! ‘I thought John freed you!’

His face drops slightly as he takes on board what I have just screeched at him. ‘Well, he didn’t!’ he yells. ‘He was at The Manor, Sam was unobtainable and Sarah was nearby. What did you want me to do?’

I gape at him. How can he be mad with me? ‘Well, I wouldn’t want you calling another woman!’

‘Well, you shouldn’t have left me handcuffed to our fucking bed!’

‘It’s your bed!’ I’m poking again.

His eyes widen. ‘OURS!’

‘Yours!’ I counter childishly. He throws his head back and curses at the ceiling. I don’t care. He is not turning this around on me. ‘And, while we’re at it, I’ve just had the pleasure of listening to three women compare notes on your sexual abilities. That, I really enjoyed. Oh, and Zoe kindly informed me of your busy bed habits. And who the hell was that woman?’ I try and regain a bit of composure. I’m struggling. The constant thoughts and mental images of Jesse entertaining another woman are poisoning my mind. It’s ridiculous. He’s thirty seven years old.

He walks towards me. ‘You know I have a history, Ava.’ he says impatiently.

‘Yes, but have you fucked every female member of The Manor?’

‘Watch your fucking mouth!’

‘NO!’ I walk over to the drinks cabinet and grab the first bottle of alcohol I can lay my hands on – which happens to be vodka – and pour some into a tumbler. My hands are shaking as I lift the glass and tip the neat contents down my throat. It’s only now I wonder why he keeps alcohol in his office if he wants to avoid drinking it. My throat burns and I shudder as I slam the glass down on the polished wooden counter. I’m not stupid enough to pour another. I stand with my hands braced on the cabinet staring at the wall.

He’s silent.

My throat is sore and gravelly and I feel completely out of control, consumed by jealousy and hatred. ‘How would you feel if another man laid his eyes all over my naked body while I was handcuffed to a bed?’ I ask evenly.

The heavy breath that travels the short distance between us and warms my back tells me my answer. ‘Murderous,’ he snarls.

As I thought. ‘How would you feel listening to someone voice their opinions on my bedroom manner? Saying they were not going to give up trying to get me in bed.’

‘Don’t!’

I turn to find him watching me closely, his jaw ticking wildly. ‘My work here is done.’ I quip and make my way to the door. That sideboard looks heavy, but I don’t get the opportunity to try and move it. Jesse steps in my way, halting my progress. I take a calming breath and look up at him. ‘You should know, I’m not leaving, but only because I can’t. I’m going out there and I’m going to have a drink, and tomorrow night I’m going out with Kate. And you are not going to stop me.’

‘We’ll see about that.’ he fires confidently.

‘Yes, we will.’

He starts chewing his lip, his eyes burning into mine. ‘I can’t change my past, Ava.’

‘I know. And it doesn’t look like I’m going to be able to forget about it either. Will you move the cabinet, please?’

‘I love you.’

‘Move the cabinet, please.’

‘We need to make friends.’ His face is deadpan, while my eyes have just widened.

‘No!’ I shout, disgusted by his intention to win me over with a quick fuck.

He takes a step forward, and I take one back. ‘I’ll trample, Ava.’ he warns calmly. I take another step back, watching as he regards me carefully. ‘Are you going to deny me?’ He arches a cautionary eyebrow, and I carry on stepping back until my backside is pushed up against the drinks cabinet and my hands are braced on the edge. If he gets his hands on me, I’m completely done for, and I want to stay mad. I need to stay mad. He’s going to try and blind me with his touch again.

He reaches me and places his hands over mine. My face is level with his neck and jaw. I try to block off my sense of smell, but fail miserably. I know I won’t be allowed to leave his office until he’s happy that we’re friends.

‘Tomorrow, I’m going back to Kate’s.’ I say bravely. I need time to try and sort my unreasonable jealous frame of mind out. It would seem that Jesse Ward has brought out some rather nasty qualities in me too.

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