This Man (This Man #1)

‘See, that’s always been a problem for me, Ava.’ I place the tip of my finger on the shiny wood of her desk and drag it lazily across the surface. ‘I’ve never been able to behave when it comes to you.’

‘Wherever, whenever,’ she murmurs, lust spilling over every word. ‘We’ve had sex in this office, haven’t we?’

‘The couch, the floor, the desk, against the door.’ I take her feet from the desk and use them to pull her closer on her rolling chair, smiling when she sticks herself to the back. Plucking the file from between her limp fingers, I flick it across her desk and lower her feet to the floor, straddling her lap and placing a palm on either side of her head. ‘I have many fond memories in this office, baby. I wish you had them, too.’ I dip, touching her nose with mine, loving the feel of her breathy pants hitting my face. ‘But I’m going to love making more.’ I place my hand between her thighs, going in for the kill. I’m too wound up to resist. Last night has only made me hungrier for her. And besides, I know my wife well enough to know when she wants it, and she wants it now. ‘Spread them.’

Her legs split open immediately, and before I have the chance to kiss her, she’s kissing me. I’m attacked with brutal force, her body up out of the chair faster than is wise, yet I’m in no position to stop her. I sit her on the desk, putting myself between her thighs. While her mouth devours mine, her frantic hands work the button of my fly, yanking impatiently, small growls backing up her frustrated, fumbling fingers. I smile around our kiss, my grip of her hair gentle, contradicting her force. I rip my lips away from her, finding her eyes. She looks drunk.

I draw back and pull up my T-shirt over my head. ‘Who has the power, baby?’

‘You,’ she murmurs, reaching for the waist of my jeans and tugging me forward. Her hand soon finds my cock, pulling it free and squeezing gently. I’m so fucking thrilled that she still knows that. Still feels it. Still wants me with a craving she can’t control. I am her god.

Jesus. This woman rules me. Controls me. She keeps my blood chasing through my veins, my heart beating, my soul pure. And right now, she doesn’t even know it. She needs reacquainting with the feelings that always cripple us. That take us to heights no one could ever understand. The feelings that make us us. I think she’s more or less there already. Even before this moment. Even before we made love. Even if she’s confused by our connection and the natural reactions we have to each other. They’re all still there inside her, there to be uncovered.

‘I’m going to fuck you to—’

I’m interrupted from finishing my promise when the door of the office flies open. And there’s only a split second before a shocked yelp penetrates the room. ‘Oh my God, I’m so sorry!’

I just catch sight of a distressed-looking Cherry before the door slams, leaving us alone again.

‘Oh God, how embarrassing!’ Ava scrambles up from the desk with the help of my hand. ‘Who was that?’

‘Cherry.’ I steady Ava on her feet and push her hair from her eyes on a smile. She’s all in a fluster, and it’s sexy as hell.

‘Who’s Cherry?’

‘She works for us. Wait there.’ I head to the door, damning myself for not locking it. Fucking hell, I’m charged.

‘Jesse?’ Ava calls, and I turn, finding her pointing at my groin area as she dips to collect the things we’ve knocked from the desk. ‘You might want to put yourself away. And maybe put your T-shirt back on.’ She throws it to me and I catch it, looking down at my crotch.

Shit, I’m hanging out all over the place. I hear her chuckle as I continue to the door, tucking my cock into my boxers and fastening my jeans. Swinging the door open, I find Cherry standing outside, her cheeks crimson.

Her gaze drops to my chest, her body visibly softening. ‘Oh, there it is,’ she whispers under her breath.

‘What?’

She snaps out of her little trance and looks up at me. ‘Good to see you, Jesse.’ The tone of her voice is effortlessly husky, and her eyes are flashing delightedly. She smiles, giving me the once-over again, hugging the files to her chest. The pressure pushes her tits up. Again, not that I’m purposely looking. They’re kinda just . . . there.

I ignore her blatant flirting, looking past her down the corridor when I hear the sound of footsteps – heavy footsteps that can belong to only one man. John strides towards us, his signature shades firmly in place. ‘Cherry,’ he rumbles, nodding sharply at the woman outside my office before turning his eyes on me. ‘What are you doing here?’

‘We’re not staying.’ I pull my T-shirt on as I back up into the office to let them in, ignoring the grin on Cherry’s face.

John spots Ava at her desk, his smooth forehead crinkling a little. ‘Hey, girl.’

‘Hey,’ she says quietly, looking past me to the woman who’s on the threshold of her office. She also looks wary. Maybe a little pissed off, and it’s not because Cherry put the blockers on our moment.

I quickly move aside when Cherry wanders in, her arm brushing mine. ‘It’s lovely to see you, Ava.’ She reaches the desk and smiles brightly at my wife, who looks at her with a little suspicion.

‘Sure it is,’ she mumbles, all hostile. ‘Would you mind giving us five minutes?’ she says to Cherry, the question sounding like anything but a question, her tone flat, her smile sickly sweet.

‘Of course.’ Cherry backs away, turning and sashaying to the door. She definitely straightens her back on the way, and she definitely has a little pouty-lips thing going on. Fucking hell.

I roll my eyes and face my annoyed wife. Maybe annoyed is an understatement. Seething seems more appropriate. She isn’t a happy girlie. And I’m thrilled. She cocks her head in question, and I just shrug. What can I say?

‘I’ve given Cherry a few more responsibilities in Ava’s absence,’ John says, maybe a little cautiously. ‘Sorry if I’ve upset you, girl.’

‘Don’t worry,’ Ava grumbles moodily. ‘It’s not like I can remember how to do my job, anyway.’ She picks up a few bits of paper from the floor and scans them before chucking them back on the desk and dropping to the chair.

‘The accounts need to be kept in check, membership fees collected, creditors paid,’ the big man continues, showing a rare pacifying side.

‘You don’t need to be worrying about work at the moment.’ I join John in his attempts to make Ava feel better, because despondency over work isn’t good when she’s spouting off shit about other jobs. Over my dead body. ‘We need to focus on getting you well.’

Her scowl is pointed at me, though I know she’s more annoyed with herself. ‘I feel fine,’ she grumbles, pushing herself to her feet. ‘And I also don’t need to be worried about some hussy coming on to my husband.’

John coughs, and I smile like a madman on the inside. She’s not only being possessive over me, which alone is thrilling, she’s also being possessive over her job. This is good. She can quit with the stupid idea of getting another one. ‘No woman turns my head unless it is my wife,’ I remind her, wandering over and collecting her hand. ‘You know that.’

Her over-the-top pout is so adorable. She wants reassurance. I’ll give it, all day every day. I hope we once again get to the point when she doesn’t need it any more. ‘I know that.’ She puts herself in my chest, her arms slipping around my back, her cheek squished against my T-shirt. ‘For such an old man, you’re in high demand, Jesse Ward.’

I recoil, and John laughs his laugh that’s capable of shaking a building. ‘Go home,’ he chuckles, making for the door. ‘I’m keeping Cherry in check.’

‘Thanks, John.’ I wrestle Ava from my front and turn her, leading her to the door. ‘Old?’

Her shoulders jump under my palms. ‘Your age doesn’t seem to be making the slightest bit of difference to the attention you get. That Cherry must be ten years younger than me.’