Stanton Box Set

“Tash, you know why, it will be just harder to leave when the time comes, and it will end. We both know that.”

I blow out a breath in frustration. “But can you please stick with your promise?”

He leans back and smiles. “The one you made me promise under sufferance.”

I smile. “Yes, that one.”

“I know what you did back there you know?” he smirks.

“Well, desperate times call for desperate measures and I seriously will go postal if you sleep with someone else, Josh. I mean it,” my voice is rising.

“Ok sshh,” he whispers, as he looks around. “Why is that so important to you?” he asks. He really has no idea, does he?

“Because if we run into each other, say at the Ivy, can you imagine how it would feel if I’m with someone else?”

He runs his tongue over the top of his front teeth. “I think we both saw how that went the other night,” he says deadpan.

I smile and bite my lip. “What did you do to that guy anyway?”

“Nothing until we got out to the back security room and he told me you give a great blow job.”

I gasp, “Josh, I’ve never been with him.” I put my hand over my mouth. “My god, what a liar.”

He narrows his eyes at me. “Never,” he repeats.

“Definitely not,” I answer. “He’s a dick.”

“Why were you letting him touch you then?”

I swallow. This would sound childish, even to my ears. “I was mad with you Josh. I had just seen you with that stripper.” I swallow the lump in my throat as the visual re–enters my brain.

He reaches over and squeezes my hand. “So you were going to sleep with him to pay me back,” he murmurs.

“I was going to try,” I whisper.

“What does that mean?” he snaps.

“Josh, I have trouble being with… other men.”

He frowns. “What do you mean?” he whispers.

I shake my head. “Can we talk about something else?”

“No. You told me no secrets, remember.”

This was going to make me sound like the world’s biggest loser. “Josh, other men don’t…” I shrug my shoulders. “Get me hot for it. I usually get the hell out of there before they even get to first base.”

He frowns. “Why?” he questions. “When you are with me you’re gagging for it.”

I burst out laughing and choke on my wine. “Gagging for it,” I repeat. He smiles and nods. “Josh, you are a born romantic. You should write a romance novel and call it gagging for it.”

His eyes twinkle as he smiles warmly. “It does have a ring to it, doesn’t it?” he smirks.

“It’s definitely a book I would buy.” I do wide eyes at him to accentuate my point.

“It would be a real page turner, I suspect.”

Our meal arrives and we both eat in silence, lost deep in thought. And as we are waiting for the check I peek up at the gorgeous man sitting opposite me.