‘Do. You. Like. That?’ I retreat and surge forward, my own sounds of pleasure filling the car and mixing with hers. ‘Tell me.’
Her head falls back, eyes infused with need. I sacrifice my need for a verbal answer when she places a hand over mine between her thighs and starts working with me to bring her to climax. Her back arches against the seat and she stiffens, her clit beginning to throb under the pad of my thumb. She goes quietly, but boy does she go, trembling in the aftermath of her orgasm, her lids becoming heavy. I’m so enthralled by the sight, I forget what brought us to this moment. Until she speaks.
‘I’m still going to yoga,’ she breathes, going limp in the seat.
I laugh a little under my breath, pulling my fingers free of her clenched thighs and taking my time licking her sweet juices from them while she watches. ‘You’re not going.’
Her lips twist, her eyes becoming mischievous. Then I’m quickly swallowing when she strokes over my jeans, stirring my raging cock further. She smiles when I solidify from top to toe, inhaling. ‘Later, I’m going to smother my boobs in peanut butter and you’re going to lick it all off.’
‘I’m dropping you off and picking you up,’ I all but squeak, resting my hand over hers before my dick bashes its way through my jeans. How’d she know that’s her ace card? I don’t know, but I’m not arguing. I can kill the time at the club. I really should show my face there, anyway.
Her face beams, satisfied, as she drops me. ‘Hurry up, then. You’ve made me late.’ Pulling her skirt down, she ushers me back so she can shut the door. It feels like I’ve just been played. Like she has learned again that to get what she wants, she has to catch me at my weakest moments, like bribing me with peanut butter and her boobs. My plan just backfired, and when she fails to hold her grin back as I round the car, my eyes burning through the windscreen, I know for sure I have definitely been played.
Yet that tiny shred of reason within me tells me to let it go. She’s right. As much as I want to – feel like I need to – I can’t have her nailed to me for all eternity. She has to rebuild other parts of her life. I’m just going to have to get used to the nervous breakdowns while she does that.
Chapter 51
Ava
When Jesse pulls up at the kerb, he releases my belt, turning to get me in his sights. ‘Be careful,’ he warns. ‘And I’ll pick you up at this exact spot in a couple of hours.’
‘Okay.’ I barely contain my eye-roll as I lean over and peck his cheek. ‘See you later.’ I slam the door and jog across the road.
‘Don’t run!’ he yells as I turn to face him from the other side of the road. ‘Might shake up the baby.’
I laugh. The man is a nutcase. I spot Zara up the street near Elsie’s and wave as I make my way over. She takes me in a big hug. ‘Is your husband waiting for you?’
I pull out of her embrace and look over my shoulder, seeing Jesse still idling at the kerb. ‘He’s probably checking I get in the building without injuring myself,’ I joke, returning my attention to Zara when he eventually pulls away. ‘He worries about me, and now he’ll be worrying even more.’
‘Why?’
‘We just came from the hospital.’ I take the scan picture from my bag and hold it out, and her blue eyes fall to it. I don’t get the reaction I was expecting, her eyes taking on a sad edge. My proud smile falls. ‘Zara?’ Oh, shit.
She looks up at me, a bit vacant. ‘I’m sorry.’ She shakes herself to life.
‘What’s up?’ I quickly get rid of the picture, concerned.
‘I’m being silly. It’s just, I can’t have children myself.’
‘Oh my God.’ I kick myself hard, moving in to give her a hug. ‘I’m so sorry.’
‘It’s not your fault. It’s not mine either, in fact. Just a rare genetic thing that they can’t really explain.’ She embraces my offer of comfort and returns my squeeze. ‘My ex blamed me, hence his handy fists.’
I wince. ‘What an arsehole.’ Pulling away, I push a wet strand off her cheek, and she smiles sadly. ‘You’re happier without him, right?’
‘Of course. My job’s going great, and there’s talk of a promotion already. Things really couldn’t be going better.’
‘That’s fab.’
‘Hey, as a matter of fact, I have a date later,’ she tells me, an excited sparkle in her eyes. ‘I need a dress. Fancy a quick trip to the shops after yoga to help me choose?’
‘Sure.’ I don’t hesitate. She needs me. I’ll call Jesse and let him know. He’ll be fine.
‘Congratulations on the baby, Ava.’ Zara nudges my shoulder, flipping me a genuine smile. ‘You’re clearly so happy.’
‘On Central Jesse Cloud Nine,’ I say without thought, frowning as I do.
‘Sounds like an amazing place to be.’
‘You have no idea.’
Chapter 52
For a Tuesday afternoon, the club is heaving. I wander through the reception area, nodding to people as I go. They all seem surprised to see me. Or are they wondering where Ava is?
I’m just heading upstairs when Sam calls. ‘Hey,’ I answer.
‘Sleeping pills. Where can I get them?’ He sounds urgent.
I smile, hearing the exhaustion in his voice. ‘Do I look like the local dealer?’ John spots me halfway up the stairs, surprise on his face, too, before pulling an about-turn and flanking me on my way up. I point to my phone and mouth ‘Sam,’ making John grin a shit-eating grin. ‘Knocking yourself out isn’t a good idea when there’s a baby around.’
‘Fucking hell, I’ve never been so tired. I’m walking dead. And Kate’s turned into a demon woman.’
I remember those days not too fondly, though we had two to deal with. I don’t point that out. Sam wouldn’t appreciate it. Instead, I do something any decent mate would do. After all, a bit of practice and refreshing my skills would probably do me well, plus Ava will relish in it, I’m sure. ‘Hey, how’d you think Kate would feel about letting us have Betty for the night so you two can catch up on some sleep?’
‘Argh, mate, you’d do that?’ He sounds perkier, just like that, just with the promise of some downtime. ‘She’d be fine.’
‘Hadn’t you ought to ask her first?’ I ask, remembering that first time we left the twins to have a date night. Ava was fine, mind you. It was me who was fretting. I reach the top of the stairs with John, breaking onto the gym floor. I point to Ava’s office and he nods, holding a finger up to indicate he’ll be there in a tick.
‘Trust me, she’ll be fine,’ Sam assures me. ‘And if she isn’t, then I’ll come and stay with you.’
I laugh, pushing my way into Ava’s office. I find Cherry sitting in Ava’s chair, and my laughter fades. She looks all wrong. There’s only one woman who belongs in that chair. ‘Speak to Kate and get back to me.’
‘We’ll be there at seven pronto,’ he counters, hanging up.
‘Oh, hi.’ Cherry beams at me, looking past my shoulder. ‘No Ava?’
‘No Ava,’ I confirm, heading for my wife’s desk. I scan the surface, noting many things out of place. The pen pot is on the wrong side, the mouse mat is different, and the in-and-out trays are all askew. Perfectly neat, but still askew. Ava didn’t have them like that, pushed neatly into the back corner. Not that my wife will know that.
‘Can I get you a drink?’ Cherry gets up, tapping a pile of papers on the edge of the desk to tidy them.
‘A water, thanks.’ I drop into the now-vacant chair and scan the room while Cherry makes her quiet exit. It feels empty. Lacking life. I rest back and wedge my elbow into the arm, drumming my fingers on my cheek, thoughtful. And I smile. A new baby.
‘What are you grinning at?’ John asks, stalking towards the desk. It occurs to me in this moment that one of my oldest friends is in the dark over the past few days’ revelations.
‘I’m going to be a dad.’ I sound stable, and I’m proud of myself for it.
‘You’re already a dad, you stupid motherfucker.’ He drops into the chair opposite me. ‘I thought Ava was the one who lost her memory.’
Had anyone else said that, I would have beaten them black and blue. But this is John. He’d beat me black and blue. ‘Again,’ I add. ‘I’m going to be a dad again.’