‘Good afternoon, lady. ’ He sits on the bike with his helmet resting between his thighs, wearing no leather, just jeans and a white t-shirt. I can’t help but think how irresponsible it is. He looks delicious, though.
‘You’re a menace. ’ I scorn, coming to a stop in front of him.
‘Did I scare you?’ He secures his helmet on the handle bars of his bike.
‘Yes. That thing needs a noise risk assessment. ’ I complain.
‘This thing is a Ducati 1098. Watch your mouth. ’ He slips his arms around my waist and yanks me onto his lap. ‘Kiss me. ’ he breathes. He claims my lips, making a dramatic display of possessing my mouth for all to see. I hear jeers and taunts from passersby, but I don’t care. I wrap my arms around his neck and let him have me. It’s only been a few hours, but I’ve missed him.
Suddenly, it occurs to me that we’re a hundred yards from my office a
nd Patrick could breeze out at any moment. If he sees me cavorting with Mr Ward, he’ll jump to the obvious conclusion: I’m giving special treatment at the expense of his profitability. After that meeting, I’m already skating on wafer thin ice.
I wriggle to free myself, but he just increases his hold on me, pressing his lips harder to mine. My attempted escape becomes fraught and desperate the tighter he holds me. Placing my hands into his chest, I push against him, and he eventually frees my lips, but not my body.
He narrows fierce eyes. ‘What do you think you’re doing?’
‘Let me go. ’ I strain against him.
‘Hey. Let’s get one thing straight, lady. You don’t dictate when and where I kiss you, or for how long. ’ He’s deadly serious.
Self-assured control freak!
I use all my strength to free myself, failing miserably. I’m out of breath. ‘Jesse, if Patrick sees me with you, I’m in all kinds of shit. Let me go!’ To my utter shock, he releases me, and I scramble onto the pavement to straighten myself out. When I look up, I’m met with the filthiest scowl I’ve ever encountered. He’s proper glaring at me. It makes me mad. And what’s all that about kisses where ever, however and for as long as he pleases? That’s taking his controlling tendencies to a whole new level.
‘What the fuck are you talking about?’ he shouts. ‘And watch your mouth!’
‘You,’ I start accusingly, ‘have not paid your bill, and now I’m supposed to be giving you a polite reminder. I was forced to give some spiel about you being away. ’ Could a full on kiss be considered a polite reminder? Jesse would probably think so.
‘Consider me reminded. Now, get your arse here. ’
Oh, if looks could kill. ‘No!’ I say incredulously. He really doesn’t like being defied. I’m not risking my job security, just so I don’t upset Mr Control Freak here.
He looks at me in complete disbelief, dismounting his bike in the most spectacular fashion, his jeans stretching tightly over his magnificent thighs. I shift on my feet. I’m way too affected by this man.
He glares at me. ‘Three,’
I gape. He wouldn’t? Not in the middle of Berkeley Square. It would look like I’m being abducted, raped and murdered all at once! Obviously, I know different, but it won’t look good to an outsider, and I hate to think what Jesse is capable of if someone tries to pull him off me.
His lips spread into a straight line of displeasure, while he drills holes into me with his hard stare. ‘Two,’ he grates through gritted teeth.
Think, think, think. I huff. ‘Oh, I’m not getting into a row with you in the middle of Berkeley Square. You’re a child sometimes!’ I pivot and start walking away. I don’t know why I’m doing this, he’s like an unexploded bomb, but I’ve got to hold my own here. He’s being stupidly unreasonable, and I’m putting my foot down. I feel him close behind me as I stalk towards Bond Street, but I charge on. There’s a cute boutique up here. I’ll escape in there.
‘One!’ he yells.
I carry on walking. ‘Fuck off! You’re being unreasonable and unfair. ’ I know I’m pushing my luck now, swearing and disobeying, but I’m that mad!
‘MOUTH! What’s so unreasonable about wanting to kiss you?’
Good grief. Is he that self-absorbed? ‘You know damn well what’s unreasonable about it. And it’s unfair because you’re trying to make me feel shitty about it. ’ I enter the store, leaving him pacing up and down on the pavement, looking through the window every now and then. I knew he wouldn’t come in. I’m not oblivious to the fact that he looks raging mad and I have to leave the shop at some point, but I need a few moments alone to collect myself. I start mooching about.
An overdressed, over made up girl approaches me. ‘Can I help you?’
Author: Jodi Ellen Malpas
‘I’m just browsing, thanks. ’
‘This section is all new season stock,’ She runs her arm along a suspended rail of dresses. ‘We have some beautiful dresses. Please, just ask if you need another size. ’ She smiles.