“What, me?” I smiled devilishly. “Nobody does retribution like Adele. And anyway, singing songs of revenge is far better than actually carrying out the act, don’t you agree?” I said, returning to the song and singing—rather boldly—about making someone’s head burn.
Josh released one hand from the steering wheel and grabbed the back of his neck, as if to ease some discomfort … or a sudden onset of a burning feeling.
I smiled.
Brad’s head appeared between Josh’s and my seat. “How tall is she? Short? Giraffe? Your height?”
I turned to him and sang louder. “Rolling in the deeeeeep.”
“You’re not playing fair,” he grouched, sitting back in his seat.
“All is fair in love and war.” I sang to the tune of the song.
“Hey! Who said anything about love and war?”
Oh, Brad you’re gonna love Em! No doubt. I also suspected they’d be going to war at some point.
Giggling, I bit my thumbnail and looked out the window, soon feeling the warmth of Josh’s hand slide onto my thigh. I looked down and smiled, placing my hand over it. God, it felt nice. Soothing. Perfect. But I also didn’t want to get too far ahead of myself. We still had a lot of things to sort out.
Gently squeezing his hand, I glanced back up at him, his pearly-white smile magnetising. My singing stopped … and I fucking blushed. With one simple look, that was what he did to me.
Maybe, just maybe, we would stick.
***
Em’s flight had been delayed by fifteen minutes, so we’d grabbed some drinks and were waiting at a café not far from the baggage carousel. I was so excited to see her. I’d missed her so much.
Em just had the ability to leave the most adorable impression on your heart. You couldn’t not love her. She was probably one of the most giving people I knew … but also knew how to get exactly what she wanted. She was simply a breath of fresh air and, after the past few days, I needed to breathe again.
Josh’s hand kept subtly finding my upper thigh under the table despite my attempts to swipe it away while Brad bounced nervously in his seat.
“How bad’s the bruise?” he asked, glaring at Josh and lightly dabbing at his eye.
I assessed his face from a distance. “It’s actually not that bad.”
“Yeah, that’s cause fuckhead’s got a weak swing.”
“You want to test that theory?” Josh asked, his hand sliding up my thigh again, only this time continuing to rest upon my pussy.
I nearly spat out the mouthful of latte I’d just sipped and quickly placed my hand under the table, digging my nails into his skin. His smirk morphed into a wince before retracting his hand from my lap.
Smiling satisfactorily, I sipped my latte again and spotted Em walking toward us, pulling her cabin suitcase. Beside her were two other women: a really tall brunette with long hair, wearing a skirt suit and heels; and the other, a blonde in a cute little blue summer dress with boobs the size of rockmelons. Em was in a pair of cut-off denim shorts, a white singlet top with a crochet overlay and a pair of flip-flops. Her short brown hair was stylishly messed and held back from her face with a pair of large black-rimmed sunglasses. As always, she looked stunning.
“Hey, Brad, see those three women walking toward us.?” I inconspicuously pointed them out. “If one of those could be Em, which one would you choose?”
His head shot up. “Is one of them her?”
“No,” I said quickly, sipping my latte again. “I’m just curious.” God, I’m such a bitch.
Brad sat back and threaded his fingers together, resting them on his head. “Hmm … all three are gorgeous. Blondie’s boob’s are fake, so she’s out.”
I squinted and tried to get a better look. “Are they?”
“Yep. Can pick ’em a mile away. But they’re not my thing.” He kept eyeing Em and the other woman. “The tall brunette in heels is nice, but she looks a shitload smarter than me.”
“Everyone is smarter than you,” Josh added dryly.
Brad’s eyebrows rose. “You want to go again? Round fucking five in the airport? ’Cause I will, you know.”
Oh no they won’t. Enough was enough. “Stop it, you two. Em will be here any second, so behave.”
Brad glared at Josh before tipping his chin at me. “The hot little pixie.”
“The hot little pixie?” I glanced at Em again and cracked up laughing.
“Yeah, she looks like a naughty little sex pixie. Cute, but hot as fuck as well.”
Standing up, my chair sliding along the ground behind me, I smiled and tossed my empty latte cup in the bin. “I’m so glad you said that.”
He scrunched his face at me, as if I were crazy, so I winked and turned around, walking toward Em and putting the poor bastard out of his misery. She spotted me and squealed, running while dragging her case behind her. And even above Em’s excited shriek, I could still hear Brad say “holy fuck” and Josh reply with “out of your league”. It made me laugh.
“Coriiiiii!” she sang in A cappella.
I ran.
She ran.
I hugged.
She hugged.
We both jumped up and down and held hands.
“Oh my God, Em, you have no idea how much I’ve missed you,” I murmured into her neck as we embraced. “It’s such a cock-forest on this tour. Too many men is not a good thing.”
She laughed and squeezed me tighter. “Glad I could come and plant my vagina in this forest you speak of.”
“Oh, you have no idea how welcome your vagina is.” Pulling away, I placed my hands on her shoulders and took her in. “Come on, I want you to meet some people.”
Her eyes lit up. “Camera-smasher Josh?”
My eyes lit up, too. “Yes, and Surfer-Brad.”
Linking arms, I directed her to the guys. Both of them stood up, Brad smoothing down his blond wisps.
“Brad, this is my best friend, Em. Em, this is Brad.”
Em smiled and released her arm from mine, holding her hand out for him to … wait for it … kiss not shake. God, I love her.
“Pleasure to meet you, Brad.”
He kissed her hand. “Pleasure is all mine. Can I get your suitcase for you?”
“Oh shit! My other suitcase!” she took off, running toward the carousel.
Brad looked at me and smiled. “I think I’m in love. No offence, Cori. You’re great, but you belong to fuckhead. And even though the sex was off the charts …”
Josh tensed, stepped forward and balled his fists. I grabbed his hand and tried to calm him down with the soft stroke of my fingers while Brad stupidly continued. “… there was just no spark, right? You’re like a little sister to me.”
Oh my God! I think I’m gonna puke.
Brad rushed off after Em, leaving Josh and I both gobsmacked. His hand slipped from mine and he turned to pack up his coffee cup, avoiding my gaze.
“What’s wrong?”
“Just don’t like it being rubbed in my face. That’s all.” He walked to the bin, dumped the rubbish and, still avoiding my gaze, held out his hand for me to take. I stared at it, and when I didn’t accept he looked up. “Sweetheart, take my fucking hand.”
“No.” I crossed my arms over my chest.
He clicked his jaw, moved the table aside and cupped my face. “I don’t want to hear when another man has had his cock in you, especially Brad. Hearing … even just thinking about it.” He closed his eyes. “I don’t fucking like it—”
“Do you think I like to hear or think about all the women you’ve fucked, touched, kissed … whatevered? No, I don’t. I bury it because I have no choice.”
No more words were spoken when his lips sealed mine and his tongue tenderly dipped into my mouth. He had me instantly swimming in his warmth, his passion and his delicious taste. It was all well and good being in the land of Josh’s kiss, but it wasn’t the solution when hurdles were in our way.
One of Josh’s hands crept from my cheek and sett
led into my hair, cradling the back of my head while the other dropped and splayed on my lower back, pulling me flush with his chest. I could feel the beating of his heart against my breasts and the heat coursing through his fingertips. I. Could. Just. Feel. Him. All of him.
Em’s voice sounded, breaking our kiss. “You two done sucking face?” she asked. “Hi, I’m Em, Cori’s bestfriend.” She held out her hand to Josh.
He accepted and smiled. “Hi, I’m Josh, Cori’s …” Josh hesitated and gave me an unsure, nervous glance.
“Boyfriend,” I answered.
“Yeah, boyfriend,” he reaffirmed. “I’m Cori’s boyfriend.”
“You’re camera-smasher Josh. I’ve heard all about you!” She waggled her eyebrows.
“I think I’ll keep this one,” Brad said with a nod in her direction and the draping of his arm on her shoulder.
She looked down her nose at his hand, and her eyes widened in delight. “Why, Brad, that hand of yours is rather large.”
I face-palmed.
Josh scoffed.
And Brad nodded proudly. “Yep. Definitely keeping this one.”
***
Em and Brad would not shut up during the drive from the airport to our hotel in Surfer’s Paradise, whereas Josh and I were participating in a battle of mutual silent treatment. We really needed to talk, but first thing was first … Em-time.
“This room is so funky! Check out these flip-flops in a bag on the wall. And oh my God, is that a cocky lamp?” she skipped over to the hideous white lamp next to the TV.
“It’s horrid and gave me the creeps,” I said with a shudder. “I unplugged it.”
“Don’t be so mean. Poor cocky.” She stroked the fucking thing as if it were real.
“I swear it’s possessed. Come on, put it back and come and tell me what’s been happening.” I patted the mattress beside me.
Em sat the lamp down and plugged it in. No fucking way is that thing being turned on tonight. I will test its flying capabilities before that happens.
“Don’t worry about what’s been happening with me,” she said, crossing her legs and raising her hand, creating an O shape with her thumb and forefinger. “A big fat zero, that’s what. I want to know what’s been happening with you. You and that beast you’re fucking.”
“Who says I’m fucking him?”
“Oh please,” she droned, rolling her eyes. “It’s written all over your vagina.”
I laughed. “Okay, okay. I’ve fucked Josh … once.”
“Annnnd?”
“And I’m in love with him.”
“Wow! He must have the cock of the century.”
I flopped back on the bed, recalling that night we’d had sex and seeing his beautifully big, glistening monster.
“Yeah, he does. But that’s not it.”
“No? Well good. I’d hate to think you’d become that shallow after only a month.”
I couldn’t hold it in any longer and completely broke down, covering my face with my hands and ugly-crying every emotion I’d sustained since meeting Josh. “I hate him and I love him. He makes me so angry and so happy. I laugh and I cry. I kiss and I punch. He hurts me and then fixes me. He touches me and cuts me. He leaves me so fucking raw and bare, Em.”
The bed moved just slightly and I felt her head lay on my chest and her arm hug me tight. “Cori, honey, that sounds wonderful.”
“It is and it isn’t. When he hurts me, he kills me.”
She lifted one of my fingers so that she could see my eye. “But does he bring you back to life?”
I stared at her sanguine expression. “Yes.”
“Then live him—breathe him. Set boundaries and enjoy staying within them together. You can’t compare all relationships to what you had with Steve. What you guys shared was controlled, safe … suffocating. Your days with him were set out before you. You both walked that knowing-line and never deviated. That’s not what love is, Cori. Love is being spun around on the spot, really fast, and then trying to walk a straight line after been slapped in the face with a wet fish. Love is and should be spontaneous and exciting.”
“I fucked Brad to get back at him,” I blurted out. “Is that love?”
She sat up on her elbow. “He hurt you real bad, huh? You’d never dream of doing a thing like that unless he seriously fucked you over.”
“He broke me, Em. Into a million little pieces.”
“Did he put you back together again?”
“Not yet. But he wants to.”
She smiled. “Then fucking let him. Let the bastard glue you back together.”
I, too, sat up and rested on my elbows. “I am. Starting from today.”
***
Later that night, we all had dinner at the hotel, followed by drinks at the bar. Brad and Em—and Noah—were getting along like a house on fire. And watching all three of them converse inspired the need to get comfy with a bowl of popcorn.
Priceless viewing.
Giggling, I sipped my Malibu and Coke and whispered quietly to Josh. “Em is definitely going to have her hands full with those boys.”
I wasn’t worried though. I had no doubt she’d handle it, not to mention thoroughly enjoy the game. Em was a harmless tease … most of the time.
Taking another sip, the luscious scent that was Josh seduced my sense of smell when he leaned against me. “Want to go for a walk to the beach,” he murmured into my ear, his breath against my neck, paralysing.
My eyelids fluttered and I licked my lips. “Sure,” I breathed out.
He stood and placed his hand in mine, guiding me to stand with a look I’d never seen him wear before. And my God did he wear it well. The crinkle in the corners of his hooded brown eyes, together with the near blinding gleam of his pearly-white smile had me tilting my head, curiously.
Josh, noticing my uncertainty, winked then led me out of the hotel and down to the beach, which was only one hundred or so metres away. The warm Autumn air was perfect, a hint of salty sea life passing under my nose as it blew the leaves of the Pandanus trees lining the beach. Waves crashed into the shore, and the distant sound of traffic grew quieter and quieter as we approached the sand.
Stopping at the edge of the path, I balanced on Josh’s steady arm and removed my heels.
“Want me to carry you, Sweetheart?”
“No, thank you,” I said with a smile, crooking my neck to look up at him while balancing on one foot. “I like the feel of sand between my toes.”
“How ‘bout the feel of my tongue between your toes?” He waggled his eyebrows.
“Ew! No!” I hit him on the arm. “I like the feel of your tongue elsewhere.”
Groaning, he dragged said tongue up the side of my neck, sending through me a shiver so delightfully warm that my toes curled into the sand.
“Mm… I miss your taste,” he murmured, nudging my ear. “It’s fucking killing me.” Oh God, I miss your taste, too! I miss your everything.
Groaning some more, he laced my fingers with his, and we stepped onto the beach and found a cozy little spot in among some sand dunes. Josh sat and pulled me down to rest in between his powerful legs, bear-hugging me with his strong arms. He really was the most wonderful human blanket alive.
Silence took hold as we sat and absorbed the serenity of being in each other’s arms without so much as a care in the world.
It was perfect. Just us.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart,” he said, breaking the silence and squeezing me tighter. “But you need to know something.”
I tensed.
Bye bye, perfect.
“I never fucked those two women from last night.”
My heart rate increased and confusion washed over me in waves, just like the ones hitting the shore in front of us. Yet he continued. “I couldn’t do it. I didn’t want to.”
Stunned.
… speechless.
I didn’t know what to think, let alone say. I was a mixed bag of emotional lollies, the assortment of flavours ra
nging from guilty-grape to relieved-raspberry. There was even a confused-caramel and sickly-strawberry among the bunch. Choosing one, I proverbially stuck guilty-grape in my mouth and sucked hard. I deserved that emotion for sleeping with Brad.
When I didn’t say anything, he continued, releasing one hand and moving my hair away from my neck to rest his chin on my shoulder. “I just thought you ought to know. That’s all. I don’t want to keep any secrets from you.”
I nodded. “Where’d you go then?”
He gently kissed the back of my neck and murmured into my skin. “I spent the night at a bar with Chief, talking about … stuff.”
The feel of his soft, delicate lips had my eyelids fluttering until they fell closed. “Oh,” I sighed. “What stuff?”
“That after this tour is finished, I’m done.”
What?
I shuffled in his arms like a beetle stuck on its back, I broke our glorious position so that I could kneel before him in the sand and get a better look at his face. “No! No way!”
“Hey! This is what I want,” he said, grabbing my arms and holding me still.
“Josh, no! You love performing. I don’t want you to stop because of me. I’d never forgive myself.”
“It’s got nothing to do with you,” he said, calmly, bringing my wrist to his lips and gently nibbling my skin. “Okay, it does. But honestly, Corinne, I’ve been thinking about it for a while. I’ve just never had a real reason to give it all up.”
“But … but—”
“Hear me out,” he interrupted, pulling me closer to him.
I inched forward on my knees then lowered my arse to rest on the back of my heels, surrendering. “Okay. Let me have it.”
“I’ve lived this lifestyle for the past six years. When I was younger, it was fun. Took my mind off things …”
His eyes spoke of sadness, so I inched forward a little more and raised my hand to touch his face, knowing the rejection by his parents was why his eyes projected that particular emotion. Josh playfully nipped at my hand and pulled me the final distance to sit, straddled on his lap, my arms resting on his shoulders, my hands settling in his hair.
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