‘One,’
Shit! I bolt towards his outstretched arms, colliding against his hard body. There was no mistaking the dark look of satisfaction I got a glimpse of before my head was buried in his neck. I don’t even know what happens on zero, but I do know how much I love his arms around me, so it’s a no brainer really. Oh, that feels good. As my face nuzzles between his pecs and I trace my fingers over his back, I can hear his heartbeats slow under my ear. He exhales and stands, placing me on the island, working his way between my thighs. He rests his palms on the tops of my legs.
‘I like your shirt.’ He skates his palms over my thighs.
‘Is it expensive?’ I ask on a pout.
‘Very,’ He smirks. He knows my game. ‘What do you remember about last night?’
Oh? Yes, I was ridiculously drunk, shockingly brazen on the dance floor, and I think I might have admitted to myself that I’m in love with him. He doesn’t need to know the last revelation. ‘You’re a good dancer.’ I say instead.
‘What can I say? I’m a sucker for JT,’ He shrugs it off swiftly. ‘What else do you remember?’
‘Why?’ I ask on a frown.
He sighs. ‘At what point do you draw a blank?’
Where is he going with this? ‘I don’t remember getting home, if that’s what you’re getting at. I do realise I was stupidly drunk and highly irresponsible.’
‘You don’t remember anything after the bar?’
‘No.’ I admit. That’s never happened to me before.
‘That’s a shame.’ His sludgy eyes search mine for something, I’ve no clue what.
‘What’s a shame?’
‘Nothing,’ He leans down, kissing me tenderly on the lips, smoothing his palms over my face.
‘How old are you?’ I ask as I look him straight in the eye.
He dips his lips to mine again, coaxing them open and slowly swirling his tongue around my mouth before biting my bottom lip and tugging gently. ‘Twenty six.’ he whispers, planting soft, skimming kisses all over my mouth.
‘You missed twenty five.’ I mumble, closing my eyes in complete contentment.
‘No, I didn’t. You just can’t remember asking me.’
‘Oh. After the bar?’
He rubs his nose against mine. ‘Yes, after the bar.’ He pulls back and runs his thumb across my bottom lip. ‘You feeling better?’
‘Yes, you need to feed me.’
He laughs, planting a chaste kiss on my lips. ‘Are you making demands?’
‘Yes,’ I say haughtily. ‘Get me my clothes.’
He narrows his eyes on me, making a play for my hip bone, squeezing it hard and sending me jolting across the worktop on a squeal. ‘Who has the power, Ava?’
‘What are you talking about?’ I laugh around his torturous squeezes.
‘I’m talking about how much easier we’ll get along if you accept who holds the power.’
Oh, I can’t bear it anymore. ‘You do!’
He releases me immediately. ‘Good girl.’ He grabs my hair and yanks me forward, landing me with a hard, forceful kiss. ‘Don’t forget it.’
I melt into him, absorbing his so called power on a long drawn out sigh. All too soon, he leaves me on the worktop and returns a few minutes later with my underwear, dress, shoes and bag. I scowl at him as I take them.
‘Don’t look at me like that, lady. You won’t be wearing that dress again, I can assure you. Put the shirt over it.’ He gives the dress a disapproving look before leaving the kitchen to take a call.
I laugh to myself. Who holds the power? Me, that’s who! Control freak! I throw my clothes on and rummage through my bag to try and find my contraceptive pills, but they’re nowhere to be seen. I tip out the entire contents of my clutch onto the worktop and rifle through the crap that I harbour in my bag, only to find I didn’t put them in.
‘You ready?’
I turn to see Jesse in the archway to the kitchen with his hand held out. ‘Two seconds.’ I stuff my things back in my bag and walk over, taking his outstretched hand.