I step out of the elevator and let us into my penthouse, heading straight for the kitchen for some water. I have a few swigs to moisten my parched mouth before handing it to Ava, and I watch her as she obediently hydrates herself, emptying the rest of the bottle.

“Turn around,” I say once she’s set the empty aside. Her body stiffens before my eyes, her chest concaving on her inhale of anticipation. And she slowly turns away from me. No challenge. No defiance. I step in and rest my palms on her shoulders, feeling her burning up. I pull the zip down leisurely, my eyes falling with it, taking in her exposed skin, and she steps out and turns to face me. My mind is screaming a million questions as I consider her from my crouched position. But one is louder than the rest.

Why?

I rise, the dress in my grasp, drawing a path up her front with my nose, breathing in every inch of her. Smelling her yearning. “Do you want my mouth on you, Ava?” I ask into her neck, and she gulps, exhaling dreamily. “You need to say the word.”

“Yes.”

“Do you want me to fuck you, baby?” I slip my hand between her legs and brush lightly over her lace knickers.

“Jesse.”

“I know,” I whisper, deeply satisfied. “You want me.” I nibble at her ear, breathing heavily, pushing her to her limit. She’ll break soon. I’ll break soon. Yet I can’t let this go.

My dick is screaming as I back away, asking me what the fuck I’m playing at, but it’s for the greater good. It has to be. “Stay there,” I say, seeing the docile, compliant woman that resides beneath the temptress. The woman who cannot resist me. The woman who submits.

I collect what I need from the drawer and pace slowly back to her, and her heavy eyes follow me, her lips parted, her hands twitching, dying to grab me. I take that final step into her body. Meld our chests. Her heartbeats clash against mine. Whimpers of contentment come thick and fast as I coat her face with my lips.

I kiss my way to her mouth, but I don’t allow her to progress it to tongues. I slowly crouch before her, studying her perfection as she finds my shoulders for support. Satisfaction. It feels so good. I stand and breathe down on her. “You’re so affected by me.”

She agrees. No doubt.

“I know you are.” I kiss the hollow beneath her ear and absorb her violent shudder. “It . . . really . . . fucking . . . turns . . . me . . . on.” What I’m about to do feels inhumane.

Almost.

I step back, and she blinks her surprise.

I hold up the dress.

And a pair of scissors.