Mister Know It All: A Hero Club Novel

by Amélie S. Duncan

  The victorious glint to his tone amused me. Even though the tension I had before eased, a familiar worry arose in its place. Sure, Ford’s willingness to share his secrets made me feel closer to him. But in doing so, I discovered a delicate part of myself. If he left me now, I’d be crushed.

  I stiffened my back to mask the tremble in my body. But there wasn’t much room on the couch, and Ford’s body remained flushed to my side. The desire to move and put some distance between us came over me again, to give me enough time in my head to regroup my protection. But then Ford used that moment to pull my back against his chest and closed his arms around me.

  He lifted my hair, his breath heating the nape of my neck. “Are you cold or freaking out?”

  “Um, yes, a bit of both.”

  Ford cuddled me tighter, and I snuggled in and closed my eyes. When he held me, I just couldn’t bring myself to let him go.

  JASMINE

  I’m your phoenix

  Ford kissed my lips, and said, “I wish I didn’t, but I have work and need to run a few errands.”

  We sat up on the couch, and I stretched my arms above my head. “I understand you’re busy. I should probably go home too. I have nothing to wear.”

  We both eyed my creased dress on the floor.

  Stretching my arm down to retrieve the dress, his hand closed on my wrist. “Not yet. I finally have you in my studio, and I want to take photos.”

  Ford stood and straightened. The room was bright, and staring at him nude, I forgot everything else. My eyes traveled over every inch of him: his sculpted torso smooth and mostly hairless, except a thin trail of hair to his large cock. He padded over to where he tossed his underwear, giving me precious seconds to admire his perfect backside before covering his ass with his briefs.

  I raked my fingers through my tangled hair and put on my glasses while eyeing my torn panties. I can’t put those back on. Then again, did Ford plan to take nude photos?

  I remembered Cecile’s bondage photos. Would Ford want the same from me?

  My eyes flicked to Ford, with one of his cameras now in his hand. His eyes were glazed over, and his lips formed a line.

  “What’s wrong?”

  He scratched his jaw. “Usually, I know what I want to do, but with you—”

  “It’s not a good time anyway. My hair is a mess, my eyes puffy from crying, and you kissed off all my lipstick. Or are you nervous about the nudes? I like to think of myself as uninhibited, but I don’t want a vulva shot like the one you took of Cecile hanging somewhere—”

  “Neither do I,” he said and frowned.

  “Oh.” I lowered my head and picked up his T-shirt and put it on. I didn’t feel insecure, but something about hearing he didn’t want to take sexy photos of me made me feel weird.

  “It isn’t because I didn’t think about you naked posing for me,” he said. “I even planned to put you in a collar and serve you a dish of milk like a kitten for you to lap, then jerk all over your face and photograph you licking my cum off your lips.”

  My body clenched so hard I shifted my legs on the couch. I should have been upset about how Ford wanted to debase me, but it turned me on for some reason. Did I have a humiliation fantasy? Did I want to be treated like his pet?

  His lips spread into a wide smile. “You like that, huh? I want to know what turns you on sexually. That’s what drives my art, my passion. But I don’t feel like I need to make your pictures obvious. Your body is beautiful, and I do want you naked, but in a way that captures your essence. You give me a whole new dimension to explore. You inspire me.”

  Ford’s gaze was long, touching every piece of my face with an intensity that made it impossible to break. His vulnerability once again drew me in and intertwined with my own. He was giving me another part of himself. And I knew I wanted more.

  His face lit up. “I have an idea, but first, we’ll have to shower.”

  “What’s your idea?” I asked.

  “I’m going to paint part of your body, but we have to clean up so that the paint sets.”

  I removed his shirt, and we went to his bathroom. Instead of splitting up, Ford took my hand, led me across to the shower, and turned it on full blast. He wasted no time in putting all his focus into bathing me. He soaped me thoroughly, leaving not one part of my body untouched by him.

  “May I do the same, Ford?”

  He nodded and watched me intently as I lathered up my hands and washed them over him, taking my time giving every part of him the same care he had shown to me. I was turned on, but there was something else. Touching him had brought on a sense of possessiveness in me.

  Ford lifted my face to him, and he smiled. “That’s what I want, for you to think of me as yours. That’s what I feel when I touch you.”

  Ford was moving fast ahead again, but in a way, I liked how much he wanted me and wasn’t afraid to tell me or show me. I didn’t understand how he could be this way after what happened with Cecile.

  I asked him, “How can you be so sure about me?”

  “Giving up is when you lose,” Ford said. “Everything in my life I fought for. I’ve lost plenty, but I don’t give up easily.”

  We stepped out, and I laughed when Ford tried to dry me too. “Come on, Ford.”

  “I want you comfortable with me and with your nakedness around me.”

  Once we were dry and he gave me a brush to untangle my hair, he put on a fresh pair of briefs, and we went back into the studio. There he laid out a large drop canvas, paint, and airbrush.

  I clasped my hands together and squealed. “Airbrushing, like cosplay?”

  Ford quickly lifted his camera and started taking pictures. “Yeah. I learned when I went to conventions when I was younger.”

  “Super geek,” I teased.

  “I thought you told me that was a badge of honor?” he joked back.

  I grinned. I did say that after we went to Saucer Burger that first night. Gosh, that seems like forever ago.

  “Please make me Daenerys Targaryen walking out of the fire, embracing her power as the mother of dragons. Dracarys,” I growled in Dothraki.

  Ford laughed and lowered his camera. “Yer Shekh Ma Shieraki Anni. You are my sun and stars.”

  I giggled. “You speak Dothraki too. I And Yer Jalan Atthirari Anni. You are the moon of my life.”

  Ford walked closer and took pictures of my face, “You’re my moon goddess. That’s how I saw you the first night you were here.”

  “You were thinking of using my body as a canvas?”

  “I was thinking how beautiful you looked in the moonlight,” he said, and my heart skipped a beat.

  Ford tested his airbrush. “I’ll start with setting spray, stand with your arms out and legs parted.” He stood, letting his eyes move slowly over me. “God, you’re beautiful. I need to hurry before I have to fuck you.”

  “Ford, you’re unbelievable.” I grinned. But I felt incredibly desired too, and that was an amazing aphrodisiac.

  He misted the paint over my body, and it felt like a film clinging to my skin.

  “Do you know what you’re going to do?”

  “It’s a surprise.”

  He moved around me, his face stern, his eyes fixed as he sprayed over my body, stopping between paint applications to take photos. I wanted to see, but I focused on standing still. When he reached my legs, I glanced down and squealed on the inside. Flames!

  He motioned me to follow him over to a floor-length mirror in the corner when he was done. I was mostly still naked, but with flames wings down my arms, legs, and feet.

  “What am I, a phoenix?”

  “Actually, you’re an angel. The flames represent the ferocity in how I desire you.”

  “Oh, I like that much better,” I said, beaming at him. I spun around and flapped my arms like a bird in flight. “What should I do?”

  “Maybe not that,” he said, laughing. “Honestly, just be you. Nothing else.”

  A lump grew in my throat—just me.r />
  All my quirks and weirdness that men in my life tried to change didn’t bother Ford. At least not as much as it did when we first met. He bothered me too.

  He snapped photos of my face and down my body as I moved around the studio.

  I twirled on my feet, leaped, crouched, laid on the floor with my arms above my head, and Ford followed me, capturing everything with his camera.

  He stopped after a while and gave me a dark look. “I need you, Jasmine.”

  Setting down the camera, he lifted me, covering my face with kisses that had no end, and I never wanted them to. He pulled down his briefs, and he was already hard. He didn’t hesitate to bend me over and take me right where we stood. With a moan, I let him because I was just as desperate, just as willing. From his words of adoration, his unmistakable lust, I felt lighter than I’d ever felt before. This man was wooing me. Adoring me. Spoiling me for other men. And surprisingly, I felt alive. Vibrant. Satiated.

  “Something about sex always makes me exhausted. I probably should go home or call Tam.”

  He handed me my bag, and I took out my phone. “Rest up, Ms. Bisset. I’m not done having sex with you today.” His tone was light, but I believed him and couldn’t wait. Sex with Ford was an obsession.

  I checked my phone. I had an unread message from Tam.

  Tam: You’re going to die when I tell you who I met today! Martin said we’ll come over and leave at eight.

  “Tam’s having a really good time celebrity spotting. Suggests we all go out at eight?”

  “Okay. I have a few things to pick up, and I’ll take you out for dinner first.”

  I sat up. “If we’re going to dinner, I should go back to my place and pick up a change of clothes.”

  He gently pressed on my shoulders until my back met the mattress again. “I want you to stay. I’ll take care of the clothes. I already have a few things in mind.”

  My brows rose. “Like what? How could you have any ideas about anything for me?”

  He gave me a mischievous grin. “I chose the right socks. Let me surprise you.”

  “Something to wear to another theme restaurant?” I joked and texted Tam back.

  Jasmine: Glad you’re enjoying yourself. Everything is fine here.

  My phone vibrated in my hand with a new message from Tam.

  Tam: So you made up? I’m not surprised. Ford couldn’t take his eyes off you like he’s already caught up. Martin says he falls in love fast. Be careful.

  My pulse sped up, and the skin on my face tingled. They think Ford’s falling in love with me? They’re wrong. He can’t be. It’s way too soon.

  “Something wrong?” Ford asked, his expression turned concerned.

  I turned off the screen on my phone. “Nothing. Tam’s just checking to see if we’ve made up.”

  “We have.” He placed my phone on his charging station on the bedside table. “I’ll be back soon. If a few deliveries arrive, ignore them. I’ll get them later.”

  “I can handle deliveries,” I said and yawned.

  He kissed me and leaned over my ear. “I’m so happy you’re here with me.”

  I am too, Ford.

  Reaching my arm out of the warm covers, I hit the button on the nightstand to turn on the lights. My after-sex nap had lasted longer than I intended, and Ford hadn’t awakened me. Was he here? I sat up and spied a sweatshirt, a pair of flannel bottoms, and socks left for me to wear at the end of the bed. I laughed as I put the clothing on and padded out into the hallway. The lights were on downstairs, and some cheesy love song was on. I smiled and gagged.

  “Ford, what on earth are you playing? Please put that song out of its misery.”

  I went down the stairs and stopped at the bottom. There were suitcases, bags, and boxes on and next to the couch in the living room.

  “Ford?” I called again, and out of the kitchen came a blonde woman with windswept shoulder-length hair. She had a leg brace and a cane, but otherwise, she was as beautiful, tall, and elegant as she appeared in her pictures.

  “I’m Cecile, but from your expression, you recognize me,” she said. “You’re Ford’s lover, I know.” She flicked her gaze over me and twisted her lips. “He’s usually quite particular. You’re not what I expected from him.”

  I squared my shoulders. “I honestly don’t care what you think.”

  “Of course, you don’t care. You’re selfish. I get it—you enjoy Ford. He’s beautiful, generous.” She opened a box marked Perla and touched a black lace bra. “Delicate. Ford has good taste in clothes, and he’s good in bed. I don’t care if you slept with him. What I can’t believe is that you knew he was in love with me, and you tried to take him away.”

  The blood pounded in my ears, and my stomach twisted in a knot. I didn’t know what to say or how to act. There was no answer that I could give that would soothe my conscience or Cecile’s hurt. But I wasn’t the only one to blame.

  I touched my throat. “I hadn’t planned for anything to happen between us, but it has. We were friends, but it’s more now. I can’t take what doesn’t want to go.”

  I immediately thought of Angelique. She’d said the same thing to me. There was no doubt Randall had been an asshole for going behind my back, but she wouldn’t have been able to take him away if he didn’t want to leave. Randall wanted my work, but he didn’t want to spend his life with me. But I didn’t care about that now.

  Cecile’s face contorted into a scowl, and she fisted her hands at her sides. “You’re in Ford’s life for a minute, and you’re already territorial. We were together for two years. Three months is not a long time apart when we have a lifetime ahead of us.”

  “That’s up to Ford, not just you.” I crossed my arms. “You left and didn’t talk to him. I don’t understand how you can expect a functioning relationship when you won’t even talk to him over the phone—”

  “How dare you. You know nothing about us, so stop trying to act like you do. Are you blind? Can’t you see I’ve had an accident.” She gestured down to her braced leg. “I’ve been rehabilitating, and he promised to give me time. I love Ford, and if you have any decency to you, you will let us work things out.”

  I lowered my eyes and ran my hands down my arms. My conscience screamed inside of my head that what Cecile said made sense. Ford and I had only started. They had years. But my head and heart also filled with our time together. There was no one like Ford. He made me believe that he cared. The way he shared the deepest longings of his life with me.

  Whisper what is hard, and I’ll carry that with me.

  Ford chose me.

  “I don’t want to walk away from Ford. I’m sorry to cause you pain.”

  Her eyes narrowed to slits. “You’re not sorry. You’re heartless. But I see that I expected too much from a woman willing to seduce a man she knew wasn’t available. I’m back—”

  “Yes, you’re back, now that Ford’s ready to move on,” I said. “You rushed back to keep him. That doesn’t sound like love. It sounds like control—”

  “It’s love, and you’re disgusting,” she hissed. “Just shut up. You have no right to judge our relationship like you’re a part of it. It’s all fun for you right now, but Ford can be overbearing. He gave me time because he knows it too.”

  The door opened, and Ford rushed inside with a bag in hand. “You’re awake, Jasmine . . . Cecile?” His eyes widened in surprise, and he stopped in his tracks.

  “I’m back, sweetheart,” she said and choked, tears flowing down her face.

  “How did you get inside my home, Cecile?” he asked in a clipped tone.

  Her eyes bulged. “What kind of greeting is that?”

  Ford didn’t answer her. He walked over to me and touched my shoulders. “Are you okay? I didn’t know she was coming.”

  “Ford.” Cecile’s voice dropped an octave.

  “She was here when I woke up,” I said to him.

  “Ford?” Cecile called again like he didn’t hear her the first time. “Don’t
I get more than that? You haven’t seen me in months.”

  He turned to Cecile, and his eyes narrowed. “You don’t live here, and you don’t get to show up out of the blue and move in.” He glared over at her suitcases. “I want your keys to the apartment back.”

  Her mouth formed a perfect “O.” “What? I picked out this apartment for us—”

  “And you left,” Ford cut her off. “This is no longer your home. We’re not together anymore—”

  “But I don’t have an apartment in New York City anymore, remember? I moved in here with you—”

  “Then you need to stay at a hotel,” Ford said. “You can’t stay here.”

  Cecile snorted. “A hotel? You’re not serious. I need to talk to you. Alone.” She glowered over at me. “I’m not going.”

  He walked over to the call button and spoke to the front desk through the intercom.

  “Hello, Alex. I need you to send security up to my home. Ms. Arpin no longer has access to this apartment.” He paused. “Yes, a new code. I also need you to call her a cab and come upstairs to collect her baggage.”

  “Ford, honestly, isn’t that dramatic?” Cecile was actually scolding him. “I’ll give back your key. You are really behaving oddly, and this is not like you. I know you’re upset, but you don’t have to be this brutal,” she sobbed and dabbed her eyes. “You see how he treats me? This is what you have to look forward to when you try to take care of yourself.”

  My stomach flipped over. Ford had a right to be upset with Cecile, and I didn’t want to diminish his feelings. I know I also wasn’t nice to Randall after I found out about his affair. Still, I didn’t like seeing Ford being so cold-blooded. He’d showed me he wasn’t putting her first, but I didn’t want him to be cruel.

  “Maybe I should go,” I whispered to him.

  Ford’s brows furrowed. “No, you will not. She doesn’t run my house, and she will leave.” His voice rose.

  The doorbell chimed, and Ford opened the door. The front desk manager and building security appeared in the doorjamb.