Total pages in book: 204
Estimated words: 193115 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 966(@200wpm)___ 772(@250wpm)___ 644(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 193115 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 966(@200wpm)___ 772(@250wpm)___ 644(@300wpm)
“What was she doing here?” he asks, catching up with me and getting in the elevator.
“It’s not what you think.”
“It’s never what anyone thinks,” Drew says flatly. “So what was she doing here?”
“She’s in love with me.”
Drew scoffs. “It must be so tough being a stud.”
I dazzle him with a smile that could light up the building. “Want some tips?”
“Fuck off.” He rolls his shoulders, pulling at his suit jacket, and I laugh. I’ve made myself clear to Freja. It’s one less thing to worry about amid the dozens of things for me to worry about. I only have to hope Mikael doesn’t find out I slept with his wife, find out I’m seeing the pretty interior designer who I just know he has his eye on, and tell said pretty interior designer that I slept with his wife. Actually, it’s not so much that I slept with his wife, as I didn’t know Ava then. Mikael knows what The Manor is and that’s bound to come up in conversation with Ava. Jesus, he might even think she’s a member. Sexually adventurous. Open to a come-on from him. Jesus.
So, yes. Mikael cannot know about Ava and me.
“If anyone around here is giving tips,” Drew says, “it’s me.”
I’m about to ask if he has any tips for a clueless man who thinks he might have found the one, but then I remember who I’m talking to. Drew wouldn’t know love if it slapped him around the face with a dildo. The man’s impenetrable. Probably more clueless than I am. And definitely kinkier. In fact, he’s pure filth.
Says the man who fucked a woman up the arse with no prep to test her boundaries and feelings for him.
The lift opens and Drew’s out, leaving my frowning form tucked away in the corner. I wasn’t testing her boundaries. Was I? I shake my head, following behind my friend. No, I was testing how responsive she is to me. How much she trusts me. How much she’s into me. Her acquiescence. Because one thing I know is that if a woman wasn’t majorly into a man, she definitely wouldn’t let him take her arse. Unless, of course, she was a member of The Manor. Which Ava isn’t.
“What a total pit,” Drew says, completely deadpan, as he walks through the lounge to the kitchen. “And do yourself a favor and get rid of Coral.” My eyes widen as I follow him into the kitchen, finding him with his face in the fridge. “Peanut butter? Is that all you’ve got to offer?”
“Step away from the peanut butter,” I warn as the door is slammed in disgust. I barge him out of the way and open it again, helping myself to a jar. Fucking hell, I’m beginning to feel stressed again. I whip off the lid and dive in. “What happened with Coral?”
Drew rests his arse against the counter. “Steaming drunk. Again.”
“Last night?” I ask, and he nods, his face in his phone. “Sarah didn’t mention it.”
“Sarah didn’t have to deal with it. She was busy in the communal room. John dealt with her. Took her home.”
“He didn’t mention it,” I muse, slowly sucking my finger clean, thoughtful, as Drew taps away at the screen of his phone. Why didn’t he mention it? I need to know this kind of shit.
“He said he didn’t want to trouble you.” He looks up, tucking his phone away. “Said you’ve got enough on your plate.” His head tilts. “Anything to do with a pretty little interior designer?”
I shove my finger in the jar and into my gob, buying some time. What can I say? Luckily, I don’t have to say anything. Sam rounds the corner into the kitchen with Cathy in tow, their hands full of cleaning stuff. Their timing is impeccable.
Drew looks on, horrified. “I’m not cleaning,” he declares, and Cathy laughs. “I came round to chill the fuck out before I go let off some steam at The Man—” He snaps his mouth shut, eyeing Cathy.
“At The Manor, dear?” she asks on a laugh, dumping her bucket on the counter. She pulls one rubber glove off, and it snaps, piercing the air. “Think I’ll fit in?”
I fall apart laughing, as does Sam, and Drew’s eyes widen dramatically. “Like a dream,” he murmurs, giving me a pleading look, like, get me the fuck out of here.
“Now,” Cathy says, giving us all a moment of her eyes. “How about I cook you boys dinner before I go pack for my trip?”
“Where are you going, Cathy?” Sam asks, settling on a stool.
“Ireland, dear. Visiting family for a few weeks.”
“A few weeks?” He looks at me. “You’ll be missed, I’m sure, since Jesse’s suddenly decided to move out of The Manor.”
I scowl, and Drew looks at me with interest. “Fuck you,” I snap, having one last dip of my vice before replacing it in the fridge. “I’ll survive just fine.” I go to Cathy and give her a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you for the offer, but you should get home to pack. I’ll drive you.”