Beneath This Man

'What have you got there?' Jesse's husky tone invades my ears from behind, and I swing around on my stool to see him stood behind me with his frown line firmly in place.

I hold the glass out and smile. 'You should try. Oh my God!' I glance up to the heavens to reinforce my point.

He recoils slightly, his frown deepening. 'No thanks, I'll take your word for it.' He sits down next to me. 'Don't drink too much.' He gives the glass a disapproving look.

My brain quickly kicks into gear, and I realise what I've just said. Oh, I'm an idiot. 'I'm sorry!' I blurt. 'I wasn't thinking.' I mentally throw myself over the bar and into the waste disposal unit.

Mario must get a waft of the tension because he soon disappears, leaving me and Jesse alone. I put the drink down and turn back towards the bar. The delicious cocktail doesn't taste so sweet now.

'Hey,' He pulls me off my stool and onto his lap, and I bury my face under his chin. I can't look at him. I feel so stupid. 'It's fine. Unravel your knickers, lady.' he laughs. His facial expression didn't say it was fine. Or was the look because I was drinking it? He leans back to look down at me and pulls my chin up with his finger. His eyes soften. 'Stop it and kiss me.'

I oblige immediately, feeling the back of his neck out to pull him down. I relax completely in his arms and soak him up, humming into his mouth. I feel him smile around my kiss. 'I'm sorry.' I repeat myself. I feel so stupid.

'I said, stop it.' he warns. 'I don't know what your concern is.'

He doesn't? My concern is his reproachful glare at the alcohol. 'Did you get everything sorted?' I ask.

'I did. Now we eat, and then we go home to bath and snuggle for a while, deal?' He looks at me expectantly.

'Deal.' That was an easy deal.

'Good girl.' He gives me a chaste kiss and shifts me back onto my stool. 'Here's our lunch.' He nods across the bar, and I see Pete carrying a tray in our direction. He places it down. 'Thank you, Pete.' Jesse says.

'It's my pleasure, as always. Enjoy.' He gives me a pleasant smile. He is so nice. In fact, everyone who works for Jesse is lovely, with the exception of one person, but I won't let her ruin my day on Central Jesse Cloud Nine.

I unroll my knife and fork and plunge straight in to the colourful salad doused in that yummy dressing. I need to find out what it is.

'Good?'

I look up around a forkful of salad and see Jesse pop his own fork into his mouth. I moan my appreciation. I could eat this every day for the rest of my life. He smiles at me.

'Jesse, are you happy for the band to set up in the far corner of the summer room?'

My shoulders tense as Sarah's shrill voice washes over me.

F*ck off!

My appetite has just run for the hills and my mood plummeted into subzero temperatures. Oh God, I hate this woman and now Jesse has admitted that he has slept with her, I really want to smash her face in.

'That's fine. I thought we agreed that?' Jesse turns slightly on his stool to acknowledge her. I don't. I stay facing the bar and start poking at my salad with my fork.

'We did, I was just checking. How are you, Ava?' she asks.

I scowl at my plate. Does she really want to know because I'll happily tell her. I feel Jesse's eyes on me, waiting for me to be decent and answer the witch. I swivel on my stool and plaster a big, insincere smile on my face. 'I'm good thank you, Sarah. And you?'

Her smile is as phony as mine. I wonder if Jesse is picking up on this. 'I'm fine. Are you looking forward to tonight?'

'Yes, I am.' I lie. I might be looking more forward to it if she wasn't going to be here.

Jesse pipes up, relieving me of strained pleasantries. 'I'm heading off. I'll be back at six. Make sure everything is in order upstairs.'

Okay, any hope of finishing my lunch has totally dissolved now. I'm going to be spending all night watching people drift off up the stairs for a visit to the communal room.

'The suites and communal room remain locked until ten thirty,' Jesse points his fork towards the bar entrance. 'No exceptions.' he adds sternly.

'Of course,' Sarah agrees. 'I'll leave you to it. See you later, Ava.'

I swivel slightly and smile. 'Bye.'

She returns my smile, but after last night, there is no getting away from the fact that we dislike each other, so all of this pretending is pretty senseless. I swivel back to face the bar as soon as I can to recommence poking at my salad. I have no doubt she's playing all friendly and kindly for Jesse's benefit. Surely he must see her for what she is.

'Why are you not looking forward to this evening?' Jesse asks quietly as he continues with his lunch.

'I am.' I say without looking at him.

I hear him sigh heavily. 'Ava, stop twiddling your hair. You did it when Sarah asked you and you're doing it now.' He nudges my knee with his, prompting me to freeze mid-twiddle and drop my hair.

I put my fork down. 'I'm sorry if I can't get excited about attending a party where every time someone looks at me or speaks to me, I'll be thinking they might want to drag me upstairs and f*ck me.'

I jump as Jesse's knife and fork clatter against his plate. 'For f*ck sake!' He pushes his plate away aggressively, and out of my peripheral vision, I see him reach up and start rubbing his temples. 'Ava, watch your mouth.' he huffs tiredly. My jaw is grabbed and yanked to face him. His green eyes are brimming with anger. 'No one will be doing any such thing because they all know you're mine. Don't say things that make me crazy mad.'

I shrink a little under his stern tone. 'Sorry.' I sound grumpy, but it's the truth. They could be thinking anything, how would he know?

'Please try and show a bit more willingness.' He shifts his grip on my jaw and cups my cheek. 'I want you to enjoy yourself.'

His beseeching face makes me want to slap my loser arse all over the bar. He's spent God only knows how much money on a stunning gown and dresses for me and this is a special night for him. I'm such an ungrateful cow. I crawl across to straddle his lap. He, of course, doesn't give a shit that my legs are wrapped tightly around his waist and we are sat at the bar.

'Forgive me?' I bite his bottom lip cheekily and circle his nose with mine.

'You're adorable when you sulk.' he sighs.

'You're adorable all of the time.' I toss back at him and seal our lips together. 'Take me home.' I say into his mouth.

He moans. 'Deal. Up you get.' He stands with me, and I release my thighs iron grip of his hips.

'Oh no!' I exclaim.

'What?' He looks at me worriedly.

'I've got to get some whiskey for Clive.'

'Have you?' His brow furrows 'Why?'

'It's my peace offering. Can we stop somewhere on the way home?'

He rolls his eyes and takes my hand. 'Clive's earned well out of this and he didn't even fulfil his brief.' Jesse starts walking us out of The Manor. I throw a little wave at Mario and Pete, and they return the gesture.

'How much did you pay him?' I ask.

'Not enough for him to do the job properly.' He flicks an accusing eye at me, and I grin, encouraging Jesse's roguish one to appear. 'Don't look at me like that when I'm in no position to take you, Ava. Get in the car.'

I gasp at his shamelessness. 'What about my car?' I look over at my Mini.

'I'll get one of the staff to drop it off.' He dismisses my concern and guides me down onto the passenger seat.

I'm relieved when we finally get back to Lusso. It would seem that Clive has unusual and very expensive taste in whiskey. We finally found the specific Glenmorangie Clive requested in a specialist off license in Mayfair and there was almost a disagreement about who was paying for it. Jesse eventually backed down. He sulked like a schoolboy, but he backed down.

'Clive, Glenmorangie Port Wood Finish.' I hand him the bottle.

His eyes light up like Christmas as he takes the bottle and runs his palm over the label. 'I can't believe you found some. I thought you could only get it on-line.'

I look at him in disbelief and it's hard not to notice Jesse's incredulous look. We've trailed three supermarkets and two off licenses trying to find that damn bottle, and all along he knew how difficult it is to get hold of? I leave Clive caressing his bottle of whiskey and board the elevator with Jesse.

'You should have got the cheeky bastard a supermarket special.' he grumbles irritably as he punches in the code. I notice it still hasn't changed, but I'm not reminding him again.

'Will Cathy be here still?' I ask. I hope not. I want to crawl inside Jesse and stay put for a while, but after our unexpected trip around London in search of the elusive whiskey, we haven't got as much time as I would have hoped. I know that is the cause of Jesse's downturn in mood.

'No, I told her to get off as soon as she's done.' he answers shortly. He's really grumpy.

We enter the foyer to the penthouse and Jesse balances my bags as he negotiates the key in the lock. He opens the door and I follow him in before taking the bags from him.

'What are you doing?' he asks on a furrowed brow.

'I'm taking these upstairs to the spare room. You can't see my dress.' I make my way to the stairs.

'Put them in our room.' he shouts after me.

Our room? 'No can do.' I call, disappearing into my favourite spare bedroom.

I immediately unpack my dress from the suit bag and hang it on the back of the door. I sigh and stand back to get the full view. He's either going to come on the spot or disintegrate on the spot.

I set about unpacking my corset, shoes and bag and leave the other dresses until later. I hear a small knock at the door. 'Don't come in!' I blurt and run to the door, opening it slightly. I find a smirking Jesse with his hands shoved in his pockets.

'Are we getting married?' he asks.

'I want it to be a surprise.' I wave him away. 'I need to paint my nails. Go.' He wanted willing, so he better not complain.

He holds his hands up. 'Fine, I'll wait for you in the bath. Don't be long, I've already lost an hour searching for f*cking whiskey.' he grumbles, walking off across the landing.

I shut the door and retrieve my make-up bag from my handbag, finding the post that Clive handed me this morning. I put it on the chest near the door before settling on the bed to prep and preen.

I walk into the bathroom to find Jesse submerged in bubbly water with a disgusted look on his face. I pull my dress over my head and remove my bra and knickers, his expression changing from affronted to approving as I climb in the bath.

'Where have you been?'

'I was waiting for my nails to dry.' I settle between his legs and lay back against his firm chest.

He hums happily and tangles our legs together, wrapping his arms around me and sinking his nose into my hair. 'That's two hours I've lost with you that I'm not going to get back.' he mutters sullenly. 'No more painting nails and hunting down scarce whiskey.'

'Okay.' I agree. I know where I would rather be. 'Oh, I forgot. Clive gave me some post for you this morning. I shoved it in my bag and forgot about it. Sorry.'

'No problem.' He dismisses my concern. 'I love, love, love you wet and sliding all over me.' He palms my boobs and bites my neck. 'Tomorrow, we stay in bed all day long.'

I smile to myself, silently wishing we could do exactly that right now, but then I feel his heart beating against my back and it has me thinking about his beating heart comment. 'What was the first thing you thought when you saw me?' I ask.

He's silent for a few moments. 'Mine.' he growls and bites my ear.

I squirm above him laughing. 'You didn't!'

'I f*cking did, and now you are.' He turns my face to his and kisses me gently. 'I love you.'

'I know you do. Did it ever occur to you to ask me to dinner instead of stalking me, asking inappropriate questions and cornering me in one of your torture chambers?'

He glances away thoughtfully. 'No, it didn't. I wasn't thinking straight. You made me crazy confused.' He shakes his head.

'Confused about what?'

'I don't know. You triggered something in me. It was very disturbing.' He leans back and I rest my head back again.

Triggered what? A heartbeat? I would think that a strange statement, but he triggered something in me too and that was also very disturbing. 'You gave me a flower.' I say quietly.

'Yeah, I was trying to be a gentleman.'

I smile. 'So the next time you saw me, you asked me how loud I would scream when you f*ck me?'

'Mouth, Ava.' He laughs. 'I didn't know what to do. I only usually have to smile to get what I want.'

'You should have tried to be less arrogant.' I don't relish the thought of Jesse smiling and getting what he wants. How many women has he smiled at?

'Maybe. Tell me what you thought.' He nudges me, and I smile to myself. We could be here a very long time. 'Tell me.' he presses impatiently.

'What, so your head can swell further?' I scoff, earning myself a dig in the hip. I jerk sending water flying over the edge of the bath. 'Stop!'

'Tell me, I want to know.'

I take a deep breath. 'I nearly passed out,' I admit unashamedly 'And then you kissed me. Why did you kiss me?' I ask in disbelief, performing a little shudder.

'I don't know. It just happened. You nearly passed out?' he asks. I can't see his face, but I would put my life on the likelihood of his roguish grin being firmly fixed on his lush face.

I crane my head back. Yes, as I thought. I roll my eyes. 'I thought you were an arrogant arse, with your touching, tactless comments and inappropriate manners. But I was so affected by you.' I still can't believe how blind I was to my surroundings and Jesse's clues that suggested The Manor wasn't a hotel at all. I was too wrapped up in fighting off the unwanted reactions I was having to him - then giving in, then fighting again.

He starts circling my nipples with his fingertips. 'I needed to keep touching you to see if I was imagining things.'

'What things?'

'My whole body buzzed every time I laid a finger on you. It still does.'

'Me too.' I agree quietly. It's the most incredible feeling. 'Do you realise the effect you have on women?' I spread my palms over the tops of his thighs.

'Is it similar to the one you have on me?' He laces his fingers through mine. 'Do they stop breathing for a few seconds every time they see me?' He presses his lips onto my temple and inhales deeply. 'Do they want to keep me in a glass box so nothing and no one can hurt me?'

I almost stop breathing.

He sighs heavily, and I rise and fall on his chest 'Do they think their life would be over if I wasn't here?' he finishes softly.

Tears jump into my eyes and I struggle to catch my breath. Okay, the first one for sure, but the other two I think are probably reserved only for me. They are pretty strong words, considering we've known each other for a month. At the beginning, I thought he was after one thing and one thing only, but his behaviour soon told me otherwise, even if I did ignore it. This man was relentless, and now I'm so thankful he was. His business and drink issue are irrelevant now. He's still Jesse and he is still mine.

I turn myself over to my front and slide up his chest, his eyes following mine until they are level with his. 'You stole my lines.' I say softly. I need him to know that he isn't the only one in this relationship who feels unbelievably possessive and protective. It's crazy, this big domineering man, who has completely and utterly taken me, who has me surrendering to him without question or without much doubt. I've given him the power to completely destroy me. He's as important to me as I know I am to him. It just is. 'I love you so much.' I say firmly. 'You have to promise me that you'll never leave me.'

He scoffs. 'Baby, you're stuck with me forever.'

'Good. Kiss me.'

'Are you making demands?' His lips twitch, his eyes twinkle.

'Yes. Kiss me.'

He parts his lips in invitation as his closes the gap between our mouths. I lose myself in him. I wish we didn't have to go anywhere. I savour the heat of his minty breath and meet his circling tongue with equal sentiment as he slides his palms all over my wet back.

'I know it would make you very happy to stay here all night, but we need to think about getting a move on.' He palms by bum and pulls upward so I slide higher and he has access to my neck.

'Let's stay.' I plead unreasonably. I slide back down and catch a perfect rub of him against my entrance.

He sucks in a sharp breath. 'Oh, you have to let me out because if I stay, we'll be going nowhere.' He kisses me urgently and pushes me up so I'm sat on my heels in front of him.

'Stay then.' I pout, pushing against him, wrapping my arms around his neck and sitting myself on his lap. He makes a poor effort to stop me. 'I want to mark you.' I grin and latch on to his pec with my lips.

He groans and lays back. 'Ava, we'll be late.' he says with zero concern. I clamp my teeth around his flesh and suck. 'F*ck, I can't say no to you.' he moans, lifting me to position himself underneath me.

He lets me sink down on a united sigh, and I clamp down a little harder with my teeth, starting to work myself into a slow, controlled rhythm, up and down. He circles my waist with his palms and lifts and lowers me onto his body in time to my set tempo.

'Let me see your face.' he demands. I release my bite and kiss it, before bringing my head up to his level. 'Better.' He smiles.

I liquefy all over him, brushing his wet hair from his forehead and threading my fingers at the back of his head. Our movements remain synchronised as water laps around us and we watch each other closely, the pressure in my groin simmering gently until he flicks his hips up suddenly and my hands fly out to grip the edge of the bath. My cheeks puff out and he smirks at me before repeating the move.

'Again.' I demand impulsively as the rush of my imminent climax hurdles forward. I cry out and throw my head back when he complies. One hand shifts from my waist and drifts upwards until his palm rests on my neck.

'More?' he asks on a low husk.

My head falls back down. 'Yes.' I manage to gasp the word before he snaps his hips up. I close my eyes.

'Eyes, baby.' he warns gently, sliding his hand back down my front to my waist.

I open my eyes, finding Jesse's jaw tensed, his neck veins bulging. I'm lifted again and brought down to meet his rising hips. I cry out, fighting the impulse to close my eyes.

'Does that feel good?' he asks, rewarding me with another flick of his hips.

'Yes!' My knuckles whiten from my fierce grip on the bath.

'Don't come, Ava. I'm not ready.'

I concentrate on controlling the climax pushing forward, Jesse's steady, controlled movements not helping me in my attempts. His head falls back, but he keeps his eyes firmly on mine, lifting me, yanking me back down and grinding hard, time and time again. Together, we moan, my head becoming heavy from maintaining eye contact. I just want to throw it back and let go, but I've got to wait for the okay. I don't know how much longer I can.

'Good girl.' he praises me, gripping my waist harder and guiding me around on his hips. 'Can you feel me, Ava?'

'You're going to come.' I gasp, feeling his cock expanding inside me.

He smiles. 'Get your fingers around them nipples.'

I release the edge of the bath and pinch my nipples into stiffer nubs, rolling my fingers under his watchful eyes.

'Harder, Ava.' he demands, punishing me with another hard blow of his hips. I cry out, clamping down further, the stab of pains shooting straight down to my sex. 'Harder!' he shouts, digging his thumbs into my waist.

'Jesse!'

'Not yet, baby. Not yet. Control it.'

I swallow hard, tensing every muscle in my body, going completely rigid above him. I don't know how he's doing this. I can see the strain in his face and his tense jaw, and I can feel it in his throbbing cock. His control is incredible. I'm hurdling towards a furious climax, the pressure of my own grip on my nipples getting harder the closer I get. Then he slides his hand down to my inside thigh and moves it across to stroke lightly, the rise and fall of his hips causing the friction of his fingers to rub in time to his unhurried drives.

I start shaking my head in desperation. 'Jesse, please!'

'You want to come?'

'Yes!'

He pushes his thumb to the top of my *oris. 'Come.' he commands, with another thrust upwards, sending me delirious as my body explodes and I scream, the desperate cry echoing around the bathroom.

On a loud curse, he lifts me back up and yanks me down onto him, again and again and again. I yell at the shock, punishing blows and fall forward onto his chest, shaking uncontrollably. I feel him lift my dead weight slightly and bring me back down as he plunges up, holding himself into me, his solid thighs beneath me feeling severe against my limp body.

'Oh, Jesus!' he exhales loudly, water splashing around us. 'Ava, tomorrow I'm handcuffing you to the bed.' he pants. 'Kiss me now.'

I drag my head from his chest and find his lips as he slowly circles his hips, wheedling every last bit of pleasure from us. Now, I could go to sleep right here on his wet chest.

'Take me to bed.' I mumble around his mouth. There is not a chance of getting out of tonight, I know this.

'I'm ignoring you.' he replies sternly.

I clamp my palms on his cheeks to hold him in place while I smother his face with my lips in a desperate attempt to convince him that we should stay. 'Let me love you.' I whisper, moving my hands to the back of his head to grasp his hair. I just want to stay.

'Baby, don't. I hate saying no to you. Off you get.' He pushes me away from him so he slides out, and I grumble moodily as he lifts himself from the bath.

He hates saying no to me? Yes, only when I'm offering my body to him.

'Wear your hair down tonight.' he says, grabbing a towel.

I get myself out of the bath and turn the shower on. 'I might want to wear it up.' I retort, getting under the water to start shampooing my hair. As it happens, I am wearing it down, but I'm being insolent for the sake of it.

I yelp when his palm connects with my bum on a harsh sting. I rinse the shampoo from my hair and open my eyes to be confronted with a glowering, extremely displeased man. 'Shut up,' It's that tone that dares me to object. 'You will wear your hair down.' He skims his lips over mine. 'Won't you?'

'I will.' I breathe.

'I know you will.' He removes himself from the shower. 'You get ready in here, I'll use another room.'

'Not the cream room!' I shout in a panic. 'Don't go in the cream room!'

'Unravel your knickers, lady.'

I watch his wet beaded shoulders leave the bathroom and me to finish my shower.

I'm standing in front of the floor length mirror gazing at myself, my stomach in absolute knots. My hair has been blow dried into glossy, tumbling waves, my make-up is delicate and natural, and I'm in the dress. It feels incredible, but my nerves are all over the place. I'm not sure if it's because of where I'm going, or if it's because I'm having an unreasonable pang of anxiety that Jesse won't like the dress.

I turn in the mirror to see the plunging back, which seems so much more revealing than it did in the store. Will he go mad? He nearly had heart failure over a cut out panel in a summer dress.

Blowing my hair out of my face, I spray some extra deodorant. I'm roasting hot - nerves, no doubt. I put my simple white gold studs in - the lace won't allow for anything more - and transfer my gloss and powder into my clutch with my phone. The door knocks and my heart joins my stomach in the knots department.

'Ava? Baby, we need to go.' he says quietly through the door. He makes no attempt to come in and that small little gesture, accompanied by his soft, unsure voice tells me he might be nervous too. Why? Normally he would barge in, no knock and no gentle coaxing.

'Two minutes.' I call. My voice is high and shaky as I spritz myself with my favourite Calvin Klein scent. There is no growling or impatient voice demanding I should get my arse in gear. He just leaves me to sort my nervousness out.

I take a few calming breaths, grab my clutch and roll my shoulders back. It's no good. I'm stupidly nervous. I've got to face all the members of The Manor, and I'm really not looking forward to it. Those women have made it clear that I'm a gatecrasher. I can't imagine their opinion will change just because I'm wearing a couture gown or because I'm officially Jesse's girlfriend. Girlfriend? Well, that just sounds stupid, but what else would he call me? And he seems a bit mature to be labeled my boyfriend. It just doesn't sound right.

Okay. I gather the bottom of my gown up a little and admire my shoes before I make my way to the bedroom door and to the top of the stairs.

As the huge open plan area comes into view, I hear the low mesmerising tones of The Moody Blues, Nights in White Satin falling over me from all of the integrated speakers. I smile to myself, and then I see him.

I halt in my tracks at the top step and try to catch my breath. It's like seeing him for the first time all over again. He looks devastating in his black suit, crisp white shirt and black tie. He's freshly shaved so I can see him in all of his loveliness and his hair has been persuaded to the side with some wax. Oh God, I'm going to be doing some serious trampling tonight.

He hasn't seen me yet. He's pacing slowly, hands in his trouser pockets, watching his feet. He's nervous. My confident, cocky, conceited ex-playboy is nervous?

I watch in silence as he sits down, clasping his hands together, circling his thumbs briefly, before getting up and commencing pacing. I smile to myself and like he has sensed I'm nearby, his head snaps up to me and I get a full frontal impact of my stunning man in all of his glory. My breath hitches and I clasp the handrail on the stairs to steady myself.

His eyes widen a touch. 'Oh, Jesus.' he mouths, and I shift on my heels under his intense gaze. Our eyes lock and he starts walking slowly towards the stairs. I would start down to meet him, but my stupid legs are frozen firmly in place and no amount of mental encouragement is convincing them to move. He might need to carry me down the stairs.

He takes the steps, all the time keeping his eyes firmly set on mine, and when he reaches me, he holds his hand out on a small smile. I take a deep breath and grasp my dress, placing my hand in his and letting him lead me down the stairs, my legs more solid now that he has hold of me.

When we reach the bottom, he stops and turns to face me, running his eyes up and down my lace clad body. He takes a slow walk around to my back, and I clench my eyes shut, praying that I've not made a mammoth error with my brave choice of a plunged back. I hear him inhale sharply, and then his warm fingertip meeting with the nape of my neck. He trails a slow, languid path down the centre on my spine, setting off a flurry of pins and needles all over my bare flesh. He finishes at the base of my spine and then there is the unmistakable heat of his mouth on my skin as he drops a kiss on the centre of my back. I physically relax under the warmth of his lips. He would have disintegrated by now if he was going to.

He slowly makes his way back around to my front and locates my eyes. 'I can't find my breath.' he murmurs, snaking his hand around my waist and pulling me into him, taking my mouth tenderly, like I've become as delicate as the lace encasing me.

I'm so relieved, and all knots and nerves have been chased away. All I have to worry about now are the endless women who'll be humiliating themselves at his feet. He pulls away and pushes his hips into my lower stomach, the evidence of a raging erection clear and present. He would never make me undress - not now, surely?

'I really like your dress.' he says on a small smile. 'You didn't try this one. I would have remembered this one.' He looks down at the dress in awe.

'Always in lace.' I repeat his words, and his eyes fly back up to mine.

'You chose this dress for me?' he asks softly.

I nod mildly as he steps back and puts his hands back in his pockets. He starts chewing that lip, the cogs whirling around as he nods knowingly...approvingly.

His eyes climb back up my body to reach mine. 'Like I chose this for you?' He pulls his hand from his pocket and I see a delicate, platinum layered chain hanging from his finger.

I nearly choke on my own tongue as my eyes take in the piece of fine jewellery. I saw it in a glass cabinet as I passed through the jewellery department with Zoe this morning. She pointed it out and it had me spellbound immediately, displayed all on its own, with layers of delicate linked platinum and a chunky square cut diamond suspended on the end. I nearly had heart failure when I read the small piece of card detailing the price that was displayed next to it.

My eyes jump to his. 'Jesse, that necklace was sixty grand!' I splutter. I won't ever forget. I counted the zeros repeatedly.

Oh God!

I start to get really hot all of a sudden as I flick my eyes from Jesse's to the swinging diamond that's still dangling from his finger. He smiles and walks around to the back of me, gathering my hair and placing it over my shoulder. My heart is performing jumping jacks in my chest as he brings the necklace over my head and it rests on my breast bone. It feels like a huge burden on my chest. I'm starting to shake.

His hands skim my back as he fastens the clasp and then he slides his palms onto my shoulders and rests his lips on the nape of my neck. 'You like?' he whispers in my ear.

'You know I do, but...' I reach up and feel the diamond, then instantly want to get a velvet cloth and polish my finger print from it. 'Did Zoe tell you?' I feel sick. I know she is technically in sales, but to tell Jesse that I was completely rapt by an obscenely expensive diamond necklace is taking advantage. Sixty thousand pounds? Oh, heck!

'No, I asked Zoe to show it to you.' He turns me around in his arms and runs his fingertips over the necklace and down the centre of my chest. 'You are crazy beautiful.' He kisses my lips softly.

He asked her? I laugh a nervous laugh. 'Are you talking to me or the diamond?'

'It's all about you,' he says on a raised brow. 'As it always will be.'

My laughter abates instantly. 'Jesse, what if I lose it, what if...' I'm silenced by his lips.

'Ava, shut up.' He replaces my hair down my back. 'It's insured and it's a gift from me. If you don't wear it, I'll be crazy mad. Understand?'

His tone suggests I'm not to argue with him on this, but I'm completely overwhelmed and even more nervous than before, now this necklace has been introduced to this evening's party. I won't be getting on the underground or walking the streets late at night anymore, that's for sure - not with this thing hanging around my neck. Mind you, I doubt I would be doing that much, anyway. Not if Jesse has his own way, which he probably will.

I take a deep breath and rest my hands on his chest. 'I really don't know what to say.' My voice is slightly shaky, matching my body.

'You could say you love it.' His lips tip at the corner. 'You could say thank you.'

'I do love it. Thank you.' I reach up and kiss him.

'You are more than welcome, baby. It's not as beautiful as you, though. Nothing is.' He takes my hands from his chest. 'My work here is done. Come on, you've made your God late.' He leads me to the front door and flicks the music off before grabbing his keys and taking us out to the elevator. I notice that the glass has been fixed.

The doors open, we step inside and I watch him punch in the code before standing back. He glances down at me and winks.

'You're crazy handsome,' I say wistfully, reaching up and dragging my thumb across his bottom lip to wipe the remnants of my lipstick away. 'And all mine.'

He grabs my hand and kisses the tip of my finger. 'Just yours, baby.'

As we walk through the foyer of Lusso, Clive does a double take and gapes slightly. Jesse's arm goes firmly around my shoulder, and I know this is a sign of things to come tonight, which is fine because I don't plan on leaving his side all night.