‘Good. Go to sleep, baby.’ He drops a kiss on top of my head and squeezes me to him.

There is no space welcome between us.

Chapter 26

I regain consciousness with Jesse lying between my thighs, rubbing his nose against mine. I force my eyes open.

‘Morning, lady.’

I groan, extending my arms above my head in a long, satisfying stretch. Oh, I slept very well. As I settle back down, I feel Jesse’s morning hard on nuzzling between my thighs, a flicker of a smile playing at the sides of his mouth.

I wiggle under him. ‘Morning, yourself,’

In one swift movement, he drives deep into me, and it’s already a great day. I hold onto his tight biceps as he rests on his forearms and works up into a firm, steady rhythm.

He opens his eyes. ‘I love sleepy sex with you.’

I stare into his calm, peaceful face and let him take me to paradise, but I’m abruptly snapped out of my dreamy state when Jesse rolls us both over, keeping us connected, so I’m straddling him. The sudden gravity sensitises me to his invasion.

‘Ride me, Ava.’ His voice is raspy, his hunger filled eyes glistening in the morning light. He grasps my thighs, and I plant my palms on his pecs.

I look down at him. ‘I’m in charge?’

He grins. ‘Do your worst, baby.’ He flicks his hips up, prompting me to instigate some movement.

Right! Staring him squarely in his sludgy, sleepy eyes, I slowly and carefully rise from his hips, bracing myself up for a few seconds, teasing and watching his face blaze for friction. Then slowly, I lower myself back down with equal precision, forcing myself down, grinding as far as possible until I feel his arousal hit my womb. It sends him into a tailspin.

He throws his head back, moaning so loud it echoes around the bedroom. I smile to myself. This is my opportunity to regain the power and I’m going to make the most of it.

‘Again?’ I ask confidently. I’m going to love this.

‘Fuck, yes!’ he pants.

‘Mind your language, please.’ I taunt him as I slowly rise again, falling with complete precision, grinding myself against him. I repeat the tortuous move again and again, watching as he crumbles beneath me.

His hands shoot up to cup my breasts, his thumbs working small circles around my tight nipples. I rise again, pausing at my peak. His eyes are skipping, his mouth parted. I’m struggling to keep control above him.

‘Down?’ I tease.

‘Oh God, yes.’

I descend again, seeing his face distort, clear evidence of his suffering. He won’t endure this for much longer. I can see the strain carved in his tense jaw and creased forehead. He groans, holding my breasts tighter, sending a sharp, shooting pain directly to my core. I’m not going to be able to endure this for long. I’m on the crest of release, and I need him to be there when I fall.

I lift myself up, watching as he expects me to slowly lower myself. I don’t. Instead, I knock the wind right out of him and crash down, completely impaling myself on him. I grind down hard.

‘Jesus fucking Christ!’ he roars, sweat instantly breaking out across his brow. I roll my hips, ensuring optimum penetration, forcing myself down onto him. Yes, you’ll beg. ‘Fuck, fuck, fuck. Ava, I’m going to come!’

‘Wait.’ I demand.

His eyes snap open in shock, desperation filling them. I roll again, watching as he squeezes his eyes shut, his frown line the deepest I’ve ever seen it. This is taking everything out of him. I just need one more…

‘Ava, I can’t.’ he pleads.

‘Shit! Wait.’

‘Watch your mouth!’ he yells, his eyes still closed in concentration. It’s killing him.

‘Fuck off, Jesse!’

His eyes fly back open in warning at my crass words, but I couldn’t give a damn. I clamp my hands over his and use my leg muscles to lift myself again, hovering above him and crashing down so he completely spears me.

I lift again. ‘Now!’ I cry, smashing back down. My body explodes, sending me soaring right into orbit. I’m vaguely aware of Jesse’s strangled moans as I feel hot moisture invade me, warming my entire being. I collapse onto his chest in an exhausted heap – job done.

I lay sprawled across him, melting into the rhythm of his fingers circling my back, his semi-erection drumming steadily inside me. Our heartbeats are clashing together between our chests as we try to regulate our breathing. We’re both totally replete.

‘I love sleepy sex with you.’ I murmur.

He kisses the top of my head. ‘Except for your filthy mouth.’ His voice is full of scorn.

I laugh and look up at him, reaching to run my fingers down his stubbly cheek. I love his stubble. He turns his face into my touch, kissing my fingers and returning my smile.

‘I don’t think we can call that sleepy sex, baby.’

‘No?’

‘No. We’ll think of a new name for that one.’

‘Okay.’ I agree, completely contented. I rest my cheek back onto his chest and trace small circles around his golden nipple. ‘How old are you, Jesse?’

‘Twenty nine,’

I scoff, but it occurs to me, very suddenly, that I won’t have a clue when we finally reach his real age. I’m plumping for thirty four. That’s eight years past me – I can live with that.

I sigh. ‘What’s the time?’ I could do with another hour.

He shifts me from his chest. ‘I left my watch downstairs. I’ll go take a look.’

‘You need a clock in here.’ I grumble as he gets out of bed, leaving me cold and bare without him.

‘I’ll put in a complaint to the designer.’ he replies dryly.

I ignore him, turning over to snuggle down, making do with the pillow. This bed is the most comfortable I’ve ever slept in. I did well here.

‘Seven thirty.’ I hear him shout from downstairs.

I bolt upright in bed. ‘Shit!’ I jump out and race downstairs to the kitchen. ‘You’ll have to drop me at home.’

He sits, dead cool and casual on the bar stool, completely bare arsed naked, scooping peanut butter from a jar with his finger. ‘I’m a bit busy this morning.’ he says without looking at me.

Oh, the irritating pig! This is, without a doubt, a ploy to keep me here. After all, he did say I wouldn’t be walking, and I am. I’ll get the tube, it’s no bother. I scan the floor where I dropped my clothes – no clothes.

‘Where are my clothes, Jesse?’

He sticks his peanut butter covered finger into his mouth, sucking it off and pulling it slowly from his mouth on a little pop. ‘I’ve no idea.’ he says, completely straight faced and unaffected.

Where has he hid them, the little shit? They can’t be far. I stalk around his apartment, huffing and puffing, pulling open cupboard doors and looking behind furniture. I march back into the kitchen, finding him still sitting there, looking infuriatingly naked and handsome, and completely unaffected by my frenzy.

Oh, I’ve not got time for this. I can’t be late for work. ‘Where are my fucking clothes?’ I shout.

‘Watch your fucking mouth!’

I shake my head at him. He’ll have a bar of soap in my mouth next. ‘Jesse, I never swore out loud before I met you…funny, huh? I need to get home so I can get ready for work.’