Total pages in book: 214
Estimated words: 202638 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1013(@200wpm)___ 811(@250wpm)___ 675(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 202638 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1013(@200wpm)___ 811(@250wpm)___ 675(@300wpm)
I reach forward to brush my thumb over the jagged line of his scar. ‘How did you get this?’ I try my luck. I know he won’t answer me, and I know it’s a sore subject, but I’m compelled to extract as much information as I can. I now know the worst of him so what harm can it do?
He looks down at my hand on his scar and sighs. ‘Inquisitive this morning, aren’t you?’
‘Yes,’ I confirm. I am.
‘I already told you, I don’t like talking about it.’
‘You’re holding back on me.’ I accuse, and he rolls onto his back on a heavy sigh and rests his forearm across his face. Oh no, he’s not evading this. I straddle his hips and pull his arm away. ‘Why won’t you tell me about your scar?’
‘Because, Ava, it’s in my past where I want it to stay. I don’t want anything affecting my future.’
‘It won’t. It’s doesn’t matter what you tell me. I’ll still love you.’ Does he not understand that?
I frown when he smirks. ‘I know.’ he says too confidently. He’s pretty cock sure of himself this morning. ‘You already told me that when you were legless.’ he adds.
I did? I don’t remember that either. I told him a lot when I was drunk. ‘So why won’t you tell me?’
He places his hands on the juncture of my thighs. ‘If it won’t change how you feel about me, then there is little point in tarnishing your pretty little head with it,’ He raises his eyebrows, ‘Is there?’
‘I’m not going to tell you anything if you ask me.’ I sulk.
‘You already said that.’ He sits up and seals our lips, my arms mechanically wrapping around him, but then I think of something else.
‘Did you ever find out how the gates came to be open and the front door too?’ I try my hardest to sound casual.
‘What?’ he pulls away from me, looking perplexed.
‘When I came to The Manor on Sunday, the gates opened without me pressing the intercom and the front door was ajar.’ I know it was her.
‘Oh. The gates malfunctioned, apparently. Sarah had it sorted out.’ He pushes his lips to mine again.
‘That’s very convenient. Did the manual front door malfunction too?’ I ask, my sarcasm potent. I bet she had it sorted, and I can’t believe he bought that feeble explanation. I know what happened. The tramp intercepted my message, relishing the thought of me turning up unannounced and discovering The Manor’s offerings.
‘Sarcasm doesn’t suit you, lady.’ He gives me a very scornful look, but I don’t care. That woman is a deceitful tramp. Oh, I feel full of determination all of a sudden, but slightly sympathetic for Jesse. He actually thinks she’s a friend? Should I share my verdict? ‘What would you like to do today?’ he asks.
Oh shit! I’ve got to see Dan today and I can’t take Jesse with me. What would that look like? I can hardly introduce Jesse to Dan. That’s a disaster waiting to happen, what with Dan’s older brother protectiveness and Jesse’s trampling tendencies. How am I going to play this?
‘Well, there’s just one thing I have...’ Jesse’s phone starts ringing, halting my announcement.
‘For fuck sake,’ he curses, lifting me from his lap and placing me on the bed. He gets up and answers his phone before walking out of the bedroom. ‘John?’ He sounds a little impatient.
I lay on the bed, running through all of the ways I can break it to him that I really must go and meet Dan. He’ll understand.
‘I’ve got to go to The Manor.’ he says sharply, stalking back into the room and heading for the bathroom.
Again? I haven’t even asked him what dragged him there last night, and I notice Kate hasn’t called me back. ‘Is everything okay?’ I ask. He looks pissed.
‘It will be, get ready.’
What?
Oh no! I am not going to that place! I’ve still got to wrap my head around it all. He can’t make me go.
I hear the shower turn on and I jump up to go and explain my reluctance, walking into the bathroom and finding him in the shower already. He smiles knowingly and gestures for me to join him. I walk in and grab the sponge and shower gel, but he takes them from me and loads up the sponge himself before turning me around and beginning to wash me down. I stand quietly, searching my brain for a way to approach this, as he works the sponge slowly across my body. Surely he won’t have a hissy fit over my unwillingness.
‘Jesse?’
He kisses my shoulder blade. ‘Ava?’
‘I really don’t want to come.’ I blurt, and then scold myself for not being a little more tactful.
He pauses with his swirling circles for a few moments before he continues. ‘Can I ask why?’