Page 17 of This Woman Forever
Everything. I’m everything to her. So I need to stop doubting myself. “And you are my temptress. Or you could be my Lady of The Manor.”
She’s quickly pushing herself away from me, outraged. “I am not being the Lady of the Sex Manor.”
Or... this manor. I chuckle and bring her back to my chest, my hands on a feeling frenzy, my nose pulling in deep inhales of her sweet scent. “Whatever you want, my lady.”
“Just lady will do,” she breathes, and follows it up with, “I’m so in love with you.”
“I know you are, Ava.” My guilt swells.
“I need to get ready. I’m getting married, you know.”
I’m smiling again. “You are? Who’s the lucky bastard?”
She removes herself again, watching me closely. “He’s a challenging, neurotic control freak.” Her little palm strokes my scratchy face. “He’s so handsome.” Her low voice is setting off the ache in my groin again. “This man stops me breathing when he touches me and fucks me until I’m delirious.”
I resist telling her off for cursing, actually keen for her to continue telling me what she loves so much about me. Nothing will beat it, except her kissing me, which she does, starting on my chin before making her way to my lips.
“I can’t wait to marry him. You should probably go so I’m not keeping him waiting.”
“What would this man say if he caught you kissing another man?”
I feel her smile. “Oh, he’d probably castrate the guy, then offer burial or cremation—that sort of thing.”
I feign shock. “He sounds possessive. I don’t think I want to take him on.”
“You really don’t. He’ll trample all over you.” Her gorgeous shoulders shrug, making me laugh delightedly. She knows me so well. “Happy?” she asks.
“No, I’m shitting myself.” I take her with me when I fall to my back. “But I’m feeling brave. Kiss me.”
She doesn’t leave me waiting. It’s a wise move. I’m desperate for her and still seriously having to have a stern word with myself not to tear her lace off. Ava’s quickly all over me, demonstrating just how irresistible she finds me, and I am all for it, lapping up her attention. Letting it settle me. Settle us.
“Jesse Ward, get your sweaty body off my daughter!”
I roll my eyes at the familiar shriek, while Ava blesses my ears with her giggling, still smothering my face with her lips. I don’t stop her. Her mother can wait.
“Ava, you’ll smell. Get up! Tessa, help me out here, will you?”
Ava’s nails dig into my biceps as her mother tries to pry her away from me. She’s not giving up easily, my defiant little temptress. I grin like a fool.
“Mum,” she yells over her laugh, wrestling her hands away. “Stop it! I’ll get up.”
“Get up then. You’re getting married in half an hour, your hair is a mess, and you’ve broken an ancient tradition, rolling around on the floor with your husband-to-be. Tessa, tell her.”
Our frightening wedding planner steps forward and flashes me a disapproving look, mixed with a little lust. For me. Yes, as soon as we were face to face, I wielded my looks as well as my cash. No apologies. It worked. “Yes, come on, Ava,” Tessa says.
Ava finally relents on a grumble, lifting and leaving me sprawled on my back across the floor.
“Oh, look at you.” Elizabeth starts to poke and prod my girl while Ava looks down at me, her brown eyes sparkling, her lush lips curved mischievously. I lift up to my elbows, wanting a better view. “You’re a pair of children.” Then Elizabeth’s eyes harden, all for me, actually making me wilt slightly. “Out.”
“All right.” I give in before I completely obliterate my relationship with my soon-to-be mother-in-law, smiling when I see Ava flashing a warning look at our wedding planner, who’s got her eyes on me. It’s the chest. She’s not seen my chest in the various meetings we’ve had. I fucking love how possessive my bride is.
“I’ll take care of the groom,” Tessa declares, shooing me toward the door. “Jesse, come on.”
Something catches my eye. Or, more to the point, something doesn’t. “Wait.” My hand brushes the hollow of Ava’s throat. “Where’s your diamond?”
“Shit.” Her panic is clear, her hand feeling all over her bare chest where the diamond once rested neatly. “Shit, shit, shit. Mum!”
I would have accepted the first curse, but four? “Ava, please, watch your mouth.”