‘You manage my babies all right.’ I point out. She’s great with them.
‘Yes, that is because I get to hand the adorable creatures back to you when I’m fed up of them.’ She grins, and I match it, raising my bottle for her to chink.
‘I’m going to find my wife.’ I stand back up, keen to locate her and advise her on what exactly I plan on doing to her later.
Where is she?
I find her in the kitchen with Cathy, who has taken over food preparations. ‘There’s my boy!’ My old housekeeper sings, reaching up to kiss my cheek before exiting the kitchen with a tray full of tiny sandwiches, crusts cut off. ‘I’ll tell Clive to gather the children. Wonderful day!’
Watching her leave, I turn slowly until my eyes find what they’re looking for. She’s watching me closely, and those eyes are smoking out. She’ll never get enough of me.
‘I’ve missed you.’ I stalk forward, placing my bottle on the worktop as I pass. The tea towel is dropped from her hands, and she’s leaning back on the counter, willing me on, the little temptress.
I’m not gentle. I grab her and pin her to the wall, my mouth falling to the sweet flesh of her neck. ‘Jesse, don’t.’ she exhales, arching herself into my chest.
‘Later, I’m ripping this dress off and I’m going to f**k you into next year.’
She moans, raising her bare knee and rubbing it lightly over my solid cock.
Control, control, control. Fucking control.
‘Deal.’ She wisely agrees, not that she has a choice. Wherever, whenever, she knows that. But not f**king now.
I growl my frustration and rip my body from hers. ‘I f**king love you.’
‘I know.’ She smiles, but it doesn’t make her eyes sparkle like usual.
‘What’s up, baby?’ I hunker down to get my face level with hers. ‘Tell me.’
She sighs and flicks me almost nervous eyes. ‘I wish Dan was here.’
It takes every ounce of my love for this woman, not to roll my eyes or growl in frustration. The bloke rubs me up the wrong way, I can’t help it. ‘Hey, you know he’s fine.’ I remind her. Fuck me, the prick’s cost me near on half a f**king million since I’ve known him, not that I will ever share that with Ava. She knows about the first bailout, but not the subsequent two. She’ll only get her knickers in a twist. He just can’t keep himself out of trouble. ‘It’s too hard for him,’ I say what I know will ease her. ‘With Kate and Sam, you know.’
‘I know.’ she agrees. ‘I’m being stupid.’
‘No, you’re not. Kiss me, wife.’ I need to distract her. She doesn’t waste any time. She’s on me immediately, moaning into my mouth and yanking at my hair. It always works. ‘You taste delicious.’ I’m growling. Fucking hell, I’m going to lose my f**king mind. I bite her lip and push my hips into the curves of her perfect body. ‘I’m getting rid of them.’ I declare. ‘Fucking imposters.’
She grins that f**king grin, hardening me further. ‘Stop being unreasonable.’ She laughs. ‘It’s your babies day.’
‘There is nothing unreasonable about me wanting you and my babies all to myself.’ I try to focus on cooling down my raging hard on, but with my body pushed up to hers, those eyes begging for me to claim her, it’s f**king impossible. ‘I can’t look at you.’ I mutter, stepping away and exiting the kitchen sharply before I bend her over the counter top.
I’m about to trample the party.
* * *
I virtually kick the last people out, which happen to be Ava’s parents and they’re taking my babies for the night, so I’m delicate-ish. I lean into the back of Joseph’s car, my heart pounding happily at the sound of my babies giggling when I take turns to smother them. ‘Be bad for nana.’ I wink, get another collective giggle and a scold from Elizabeth before shutting the door and sprinting back into the house on the prowl.
‘Ava?’ I shout, poking my head around the kitchen door. ‘Ava?’
‘You have to find me!’ She laughs, but I can’t figure out from which direction that silky voice came from.
Damn it, she’s playing f**king games. ‘Ava, don’t make me crazy mad.’ I warn. Where the f**k is she? ‘Ava?’ She’s silent now, and so copping it when I get my hands on that body. ‘For f**k sake!’ I yell, taking the stairs four at a time and crashing into our bedroom. ‘Ava?’
Nothing.