by T L Swan
Bridget widens her eyes at me. Fuck I know, what is she doing?
She holds out her hand again and he takes it in his. “Lovely to meet you, Rick,” she whispers.
Oh god, give me a break.
He hands her a business card. “If you think of any reason why you need to ring me, please feel free,” he smiles sexily.
She smiles nervously and Bridget frowns, huh? What the hell? Why would she need to ring you, dipshit?
“Thank you, I will,” she replies.
Rick then turns and walks down the hall to meet the others and I grab her by the arm and lead her into the kitchen. “What do you think you are doing?” Bridget whispers angrily.
“What?” Abbie snaps as she rips her arm from the vice grip I have on her.
“You don’t screw the cops, Abbie,” I whisper.
“I’m not screwing anybody,” she snaps.
I raise my eyebrows in question.
“Yet.” She smiles. “Although I am having a drought and he is gorgeous. Maybe I will.”
“No,” Bridget snaps. “I frigging mean it. He could bring us undone,” she whispers angrily.
“God.” Abbie shakes her head in disgust at us. “You two are the biggest drama queens I know. Calm down.”
The car horn beeps from out the front. “I’m coming, I’m coming,” I sigh as I look for my sunglasses around the bedroom. Where in the hell have I put them? The horn sounds again. Bloody hell, shut up. I finally find them and make my way downstairs. The Lamborghini is parked in the driveway and everyone is gathered around it.
“Joshua, are you sure you don’t want to marry me instead?” Abbie asks as she hangs in the window looking at the beautiful interior of the car.
Everyone laughs and Joshua looks at her deadpan. “Positive Abbs.”
I smile and put my hands on my hips as I circle the beast. This doesn’t even look like a frigging car.
Joshua throws me the keys. “You’re driving, presh,” he says.
I look at the keys in my hand and I see the beautiful silver key ring with the initials:
NMS
I smile broadly and hold it out for Bridget to see. She pretends to swoon as she picks it up and smiles. She turns to Joshua. “You really are a little bit beautiful, Joshua Stanton.”
I smile broadly as my eyes flick to him. “Don’t I know it?” I reply.
Joshua shakes his head and gets into the passenger side of the car, unimpressed.
“What about me: am I beautiful?” Cameron asks.
Bridget looks at him flatly. “No, you’re an idiot.”
He grabs her in a headlock and she squeals in laughter as they start to wrestle and he pushes her over so she falls into the hedge.
“See, an idiot. That’s what an idiot would do.” She squeals as she giggles. Ben grabs her hand and pulls her out of the bush.
I nervously hop into the driver’s seat. “It’s very low.” My eyes flick to Joshua.
He smiles broadly and I melt. That’s the first genuine smile I have seen from him in a week.
“Are you sure that other cars can even see you in this thing?” I ask.
He nods. “Start the engine.” He points to the ignition.
I bite my bottom lip as I start the car and I laugh loudly.
Joshua’s eyes light up in excitement.
“I’m like a bad ass gangster,” I yell out the window and Ben laughs.
“This doesn’t feel safe,” I murmur as I adjust the rear-view mirror.
“It’s not meant to be; it’s designed to frighten the hell out of you.” Joshua smiles.
I nod as I practise the blinkers. “Hmm, it’s working,” I mutter under my breath. I slowly go round the driveway and everyone waves. I squeal loudly in excitement and Joshua laughs.
“Look out drivers, here we come.” I laugh.
“Stop talking, concentrate and watch the road,” Joshua murmurs and the fear in his eyes makes me laugh again.
“Oh, are you scared Stanton?” I squeal.
His eyes flick to me and he smirks. “Maybe.”
I sit in the car across the road from where Joshua is talking to a real estate agent who we have called in on our way to Willowvale. They have emerged from the office and are standing on the sidewalk finishing their conversation. Joshua is wearing my favourite army-green cargo pants with a black V-neck jumper. The way he is standing, back facing me with one foot up on the curb, I can see every muscle in his broad back and that tight behind… excellent viewing just quietly. Oh and that clippered dark hair, a walking goddamn orgasm. He’s been quiet, too quiet, and I need to take his mind off things. Ben’s words about us not being safe are playing on my mind. Joshua was attacked once on his way back from Willowvale. A little earlier when I bought coffee for us in a cafe I kept looking around nervously to see if people were following us now. I quickly glance around the street to see if anyone suspicious is lurking. I thought the security would have been following us by now, but apparently not. My recurring nightmare comes into my mind. What if someone had Joshua and I had to try and defend him? I wouldn’t have a frigging clue how to do that. Maybe I should take some self-defence classes and learn how. The image of me being gang-raped brings a ball of fear to my throat and I internally hear the sound of the metal bar hitting Joshua’s head. I close my eyes. Stop it Natasha, it’s not real.
How can a nightmare frighten someone so much? I now know for sure that my dreams are stress-related. I have had my nightmare twice this week, the first time since my place got broken into the night before we went to Kamala.
Joshua finally walks back across to the car. He smiles warmly at me through the windscreen and I feel my heart skip a grateful beat. I have never loved him more than I do now. The way he has handled this whole nightmare has only cemented our relationship and how strong it really is. I honestly thought that when he found out that I knew about his mother it was going to be hell to pay and we would start all of our ridiculous games again. But no. We are finally past the nonsense infiltrating our precious relationship.
“Sorry, that took longer than I thought.” He bounces into his seat.
I bend down to the cup holder and produce a protein smoothie and the coffee I bought him at the shop. “Here you are, babe.”
He smiles and his eyes twinkle. “You’re looking after me very well these days, presh.”
I smirk. “Isn’t that what wives do: look after their husbands?”
His face falls. “Not always,” he answers quietly as he takes them from me and I know he is thinking of his own mother and father.
Shit! Why did I frigging say that? What an idiot!
Trying to recover the situation I quickly answer. “Well that’s what this wife does, future wife,” I stammer as I correct myself.
He smirks and bends over and pecks me on the lips. “Lucky me.”
“Yes, you are lucky actually. I’m hot property you know.” I widen my eyes to accentuate my point.
He smirks as he pulls the car back onto the road. I made him swap and drive. I’m just too nervous… wrong side of the road in a space machine… not a good combination.
Ten minutes later we are driving up the beautiful driveway toward Willowvale and I feel my nerves flutter. All of the staff here know Amelie, and they all know what went down. If this place wasn’t so sacred to Joshua it would be the first damn thing I would change. It would be so gone and that sold sign would be swinging in the breeze.
Joshua’s eyes light up and he starts to look at me. Oh jeez, he wants me to be excited now.
“What?“ I smile.
“We are home.” He smiles broadly.
“You think this is home?” I question, slightly horrified.
He nods. “This is my favourite place on earth. I love it here. I want you to love it here as much as I do.”
My stomach drops. Oh shit, I need to get over myself and start liking this country life crap. I look around at all the space. What the hell do you do out here? I’m telling you one t
hing. If he thinks for one minute I’m wearing jodhpurs he’s got another think coming—my behind would look like a stocking full of marbles in those things.
We pull into the parking area and Joshua laughs out loud when he sees an old dog trotting up the road towards us. He quickly gets out of the car and bends to pat it. I sit with my eyes glued on the mansion in front of me. This is ridiculous wealth. The house isn’t a house, it’s a frigging castle minus Mr Darcy. Actually, no, that’s not true. My Mr Darcy is right here. I smile inwardly as I watch him pat the dog.
Joshua comes around to my door and opens it for me. “Out presh.” He holds his hand out for me and I climb out of the comfort of my luxury car. Joshua gets our bags and we walk slowly up the stairs.
“Where is everybody?” I ask as I follow him, remembering how many people were here last time.
“I have given everyone a few days off. I told you I need some time alone,” he replies.
I fake a smile and nod nervously. “Oh right.” Shit, are we safe? This place is like a perfect setting for a horror murder massacre. No neighbours, out in the country, no one would hear me scream… stop it, Natasha.
I follow him into the house and my eyes go straight to the ceiling. It is really beautiful.
Joshua walks to the huge staircase. “Come on,” he calls and I follow him tentatively up the stairs and down the huge hallway towards his room. He keeps walking past it and I stop at the door and peer in… the scene of the crime. Joshua had sex with Amelie in that room, on that bed. My head drops at the visual that rolls around in my pea brain.
“Tash, don’t,” he whispers, well aware of what is going through my mind. He drops the bags and comes back and cuddles me. “Sweetheart, don’t think of it,” he whispers into the top of my head.
There’s that word again… the pity sweetheart. I put on a brave face and nod. Stop being a baby. “I know,” I whisper as I pull out of his grip.
“I have had the master room redone, new bed, paint and bathroom. But change it to whatever you like. Actually change the whole house to whatever you like.” He pulls me into the bedroom. My eyes flick around the huge space, a large modern bed with light grey velvet padding on the headboard that matches the huge triple ottoman at the bottom of the bed. All white bed linen and walls, and all along the length of one wall is a huge window bench seat in the same grey luxurious material and four double bay windows that go off it. A large double comfy-looking sofa lounge in the same beautiful material is in the corner with a lamp and a small mirrored table next to it. On the far wall is a picture in black and white with a silver pendant light hanging over it and I walk over to try and make it out. I squint and then my eyes widen when I work it out. It’s me in bed naked from the back, taken on the first night we were together, the photo that Joshua had on his phone. My eyes flick to Joshua. “Why would you want this photo in our bedroom?”
“Because it is my favourite picture in the world. When I took it I thought that I only had that night with you.” He runs his finger down the picture following the shape of my hips and down my legs. “I was gutted that night thinking I had to let you go.”
I smile softly. “And yet you didn’t,” I whisper.
He shakes his head. “You didn’t let me go.”
“I will never let you go, Josh,” I reply.
He kisses me gently as he holds my face, his tongue slowly sliding through my open lips. “Do you know how much I love you?” he whispers.
I smile and emotion steals my ability to speak.
“I fucking adore you,” he whispers. “You are everything to me. This money and this life mean nothing to me if I don’t have you.”
I smile as tears fill my eyes.
“Even though you are a crybaby,” he whispers into our kiss.
I smile as he kisses me again.
“Josh,” I whisper.
“Hmm,” he replies as his lips drop to my neck.
“We’re going to be ok, you know. This is our family now—right here in this room, in this house. Our love and our children will block everything else out.”
I feel him smile into my neck. “Our six children,” he whispers into my skin.
“Maybe.” I smirk.
“Let’s make some tonight.” He lifts my top over my shoulders.
“No,” I mutter.
“No?” he repeats.
I shake my head. “No knocking up Stanton.”
He smirks. “Run us a bath and I am going to find us some wine. Three hours of hot water therapy is just what I need.” He kisses me and stretches my bottom lip with a stretch as he pulls away from me. A flutter of nervous excitement runs through me, Mr Stanton is in the house and I can tell he’s feeling bad.
Chapter 11
True to our words we are on our third hour in the bath, our second bottle of crystal champagne and about our tenth top-up of hot water. The room is steamy and warm and Joshua is in front encircled by my legs, his head on my chest between my breasts. With each glass of champagne he relaxes and talks just that bit more… too bad I am also feeling inebriated and so damn relaxed that I may slip into a coma at any minute. My psychology skills are down the gurgler. I pick up the sponge and squeeze it over Joshua’s chest as I brush my lips over his temple.
He frowns slightly as he thinks of something.
I kiss his cheek and wait for him to speak. One thing I have learned tonight is that if I don’t ask he will tell me. If I do ask… he shuts up.
“I’m a bad person,” he whispers.
I frown as I kiss him again on his temple. “Why do you say that?” I squeeze the water over his chest from the sponge.
“I’m glad she’s dead.” He sighs.
I frown. “Who?”
“The prostitute,” he replies.
“Oh,” I whisper. TC, the bitch.
“When the police told me she was dead I was relieved.”
“I understand why,” I whisper into his temple.
He turns and looks at me in shock. “You do?”
“That whole situation is a nightmare,” I whisper.
“It is,” he sighs as he looks forward again.
“We are innocent. Nothing can be proven, Joshua.” I kiss him again on the side of his cheek reassuringly.
He nods. “Fucking Starsky and Hutch didn’t help the situation.” He takes a drink from his crystal champagne glass.
I laugh out loud. “Starsky and Hutch.” I giggle. “I thought you said they were dumb and dumber.”
He widens his eyes. “Yeah that too,” he says flatly. We sit for another ten minutes as we slip into another comfortable silence.
“I think it’s true,” he murmurs as he stares into space.
“What is?”
“I think my father didn’t love my mother.”
I frown as I continue to wash him. His thoughts are jumping all over the place.
“He was never home when I was a child, now I think about it and compare it to how I feel about you.” He pauses.
I wait for him to keep speaking.
“I wouldn’t leave you for one night. I couldn’t stand being away from you. As soon as we kids went to bed I would hear his car leave.”
His eyes drop down as his hands slide up and down my shins as he thinks. “He couldn’t have loved her,” he murmurs almost to himself.
I don’t know what to say so I stay silent and he brings my feet around onto his stomach and rubs them onto his semi-hard cock. God, he feels good, even with my feet.
“Tell me about your tattoo.” I smile into his temple.
He drops his head back to my shoulder and looks at me. “Which story do you want? The one I tell everybody or the truth?”
I smile. “Let’s start with the one you tell everyone.”
He smiles and turns and kisses my arm. “So I met this smoking hot girl this night, had the most unfucking-believable sex and we had such a bender that we ended up in a tattoo parlour at 6 am and I woke up with this—her name was obviously Natasha. I don’t
remember ever getting it.”
I smile faintly. How many women has he told that story to?
He kisses my breast.
“Tell me the other one,” I murmur.
He rolls over so he is lying with his chest rubbing on my pubic bone. “So I met this smoking hot girl who I had known forever… but not really at all.” Our eyes are locked. “And I couldn’t stay away from her no matter how hard I tried.”
A trace of a smile brushes my lips. “Go on,” I whisper.
“And then one night I kissed her and for the first time in my life I didn’t want to fuck.”
I frown. “You didn’t?”
He shakes his head and then takes my nipple into his mouth and sucks it seductively. “I wanted to lie next to her, for her to hold me, to want me. I wanted to protect her and then the feelings got out of control and grew so strong that the need to be inside her turned me inside out. So much so that I was totally consumed with need for this woman.” He stops and smiles to himself. “And when she let me make love to her for the first time…” He pauses and looks into space. “It was the first time I had ever made love too. Up until then I had only had sex. I didn’t even know what making love was. It was the best and worst day of my life. I realised I was desperately in love and then I knew I couldn’t have her.”
I lean up and gently swipe my tongue through his wet lips.
“And the tattoo?” I whisper into his kiss.
“I wanted a mark on the outside of my body to match the mark I had for her on the inside of my body.”
I smile softly at him. Dear god, I love this man.
“I had been to the tattoo parlour three times to discuss what he was going to do and then on her 21st birthday at 9 am I was waiting at the door when it opened. If I couldn’t have her, I was not going to let myself ever forget her and what she had taught me. It took six hours to do.”
My eyes gaze into his. How did I ever get so lucky as to have this man love me?
He kisses me with such intensity and emotion that he rolls us slowly so that I am on top of his large body. His hand grabs the back of my head hard as he holds me to him and kisses me aggressively, passionately. Instinctively my body starts to rub itself back and forth over his large erection that is lying thick up against his stomach. His tongue takes possession of my mouth as he holds me almost brutally to his kiss. He grabs my thighs, spreads me over him and his hands start to slide up and down my wet body.
