Free This Man Confessed by Jodi Ellen Malpas

fingers lace through mine. “To keep you safe.”
    “You use that as an excuse for your unreasonable behavior.”
    “No. You make me crazy.”
    “You make yourself crazy. I’m going to work tomorrow and you are going to let me, and you’re not going to make a fuss of it. You promised.”
    I feel his mouth at my ear again, and I use every modicum of strength to restrain my moan. “But you promised to obey me. I think marriage vows override any promises that were made before.” He pushes himself up against my bum. “Does someone need some sense fucked into them?”
    I jerk, sending water swishing around us. I’d love some sense fucked into me, but I still won’t relent. “You also promised to stop fucking sense into me because it was agreed that all of the sense only makes sense to you.” I’m beginning to wish we’d never made that agreement. Sense fucking equals hard fucking.
    “Love, honor, and obey,” he whispers, and my face naturally turns toward that low, husky voice, my lips finding his. “That makes sense, doesn’t it?”
    “No.” I breathe. “Hardly anything you demand makes sense.”
    “We make sense.” He swamps me with his mouth. “Tell me we make sense.”
    “We make sense.”
    “Good girl. Sit up so I can bathe you.” He drops my lips, leaving me feeling deserted, and pushes me forward. “We’ll have breakfast with your family, and then I’m taking you home. Deal?”
    “Deal.” I can’t wait to go home, but I absolutely can wait to go downstairs and face Kate and Dan. I’m not even going to try and work out what the hell Kate’s thinking. Will she even remember? She was pretty pissed. And Sam. I inwardly groan. How am I going to face Sam knowing this?
    “What are you thinking about?” Jesse asks, pulling me back to the here and now.
    “Kate,” I answer immediately. “I’m thinking about Kate and Sam.”
    “I’ve told you, A—”
    “Don’t tell me it’s none of my business, Jesse. She’s my best friend. I feel like I’m watching a car crash in slow motion. I need to stop it.”
    “No, you need to mind your own business, Ava,” he scorns me harshly. “You’re done.” He places the sponge on the edge of the bath and rises behind me, stepping out and grabbing a towel. “Wash your hair.” He rubs himself down and wraps the towel around his waist. “Maybe you could show as much concern for a little detail in our relationship that needs addressing.” He drills holes into me with an expectant look, and I immediately forget all issues relating to Sam and Kate, but I don’t embrace his newfound talent for talking—a talent only used on subjects of his choice. Instead, I slide down into the bath and immerse myself in the bubbly water. I’m not looking at him, but I know he’s just rolled his eyes. He can roll his eyes all he likes. I’m dealing with this in my own way. And that way is to wedge my head as far underground as I can get it.
    *  *  *
    We walk into restaurant of The Manor hand in hand and are immediately greeted by loud clapping and cheering. The first things I notice, apart from the noise, are Kate’s obvious hangover, and across the room, Dan’s glacial glare, pointed right at Jesse.
    My husband either notices neither or ignores them both, because he scoops me up and strides through the tables, places me neatly on a chair opposite Mum and Dad, then takes one up next to me.
    “Darling!” Mum’s excited shriek hammers at my ears. “What a wonderful day it was, despite a certain difficult man.” She glares across the table at Jesse.
    “Good morning, Elizabeth.” Jesse beams at my mum, and she rolls her eyes, but I can tell she’s restraining a fond smile. “How are you, Joseph?”
    My dad nods while carving through a sausage. “Very well. Did you two enjoy your day?”
    “We did, thank you. Are you being looked after?” Jesse casts his eyes around the restaurant, checking that the staff are seeing to the remaining guests.
    “Too