Page 131 of This Woman Forever
“I th?—”
“No, Ava.” Absolutely not. I will not be flexing on this particular wish. “This is not up for discussion. End of. Never, no way.”
Looking rather alarmed, Ava shakes her head. “What do you think they’ll do?”
Make us wait. But I don’t say that because I’ll be accused of being unreasonable. “I don’t know, but I’m not giving them the chance.” Now it’s time to show Ava what I’ve been working on.
“You pay your taxes and so do I,” she says on a laugh. “It’s a privilege to have a National Health Service. You should be grateful.”
“I am, it’s wonderful, but we won’t be utilizing it. End of.”
“Neurotic.”
I balk at her cheek. She’s playing with me. She’s cute. “...ish.” I look down her body. “I like your dress.” It’ll be on the floor soon, but I like it.
“Thank you.”
“I want to show you something.” I lead her with a palm on her back through The Manor. “Come on.” Up the stairs, around the landing, past the stained-glass window. “Here.” I open the door and watch her face fall in astonishment as she steps into the room. I bite my lip, nervous, watching her take it all in.
“You did this?” she asks.
“I gave someone your drawing and told them to create it.” I close the door. “Is it close?” It’s identical, but Ava wasn’t overseeing these works and it’s been a while since she created those drawings.
“It is.” She has another quick look. “When?”
“It doesn’t matter when. What matters is if you like it.”
“It’s perfect,” she breathes.
“It’s ours.”
“Ours?”
“No one has ever been in this room and no one ever will be. This is our room. If I’m working”—which is likely given Sarah’s absence—“and you’re with me, maybe you’ll want a sleep or some rest.”
“You mean when I have swollen ankles or exhaustion from carrying too much weight?” Her face becomes pensive, and I know why. She doesn’t want our child here. She’s been thinking about that—The Manor, my old lifestyle, the baby.
“I mean,” I say softly, keen to explain myself. “If we need it, it will be here.”
She nods, only very mildly, and takes it in some more. “Why is that in here?” she practically whispers, looking at the cross.
I smile. “Because I had it put in here.”
“Why?”
“I think it might... help.” I watch her chest start to pulse with her breathless anticipation.
“What do we need help with?”
“You want it hard,” I say quietly, moving in on her. “And I’m not very comfortable with that when you’re carrying my baby.” I can’t have this battle for the next... how long? Fuck me, we’ve been together a couple of months. Is she months or weeks? Yeah, not waiting for a routine scan. “So I thought carefully...” Shoes, gone; socks, gone; jacket, gone—all under Ava’s watchful eyes. “And came up with the Compromise Fuck.” I already love the Compromise Fuck, and Ava will too.
“I don’t understand.”
Is she being coy? I start on my shirt and tie, and her eyes drop down my front as I slowly expose it to her hungry gaze. “You will.” I go to the sideboard and press play on the system, turning back to Ava when a slow, sensual beat joins us.
“What is this?” she breathes. I get close, absorbing the thrums of her body.
“This is Amber, Sexual.” My skin buzzes. “Afterlife.” Specifically chosen. “Appropriate, don’t you think? It doesn’t always have to be hard, Ava. I hold the power, no matter how I take you.” I guide her to the cross. She lets me. “It’s not the hard you love, anyway. It’s me taking you so unapologetically.”