“Josh, let’s just go inside and tell them.” He kisses me again but doesn’t answer. Our passion turns desperate as he grinds up against me and lifts my leg around his hip so he can gain access to my wet centre.
“I want to try and make a go of it. I will move back to America with you.” He stills and pulls back to look at me and my leg drops to the ground as he frowns.
“You would do that?”
“Josh, I would do anything to be with you. You have to know that by now.” He kisses me again more urgently and rams his hips up against mine. Oh shit, I think I’m going to come just by doing this. His arousal just amped up ten notches.
“Josh, I’m serious, let’s go back inside and tell them. They will understand and, if they don’t, I don’t care. We will deal with this together.” He kisses me again and pulls back to run his fingers through my hair while smiling and looking down at me. I can hear my heartbeat in my ears.
“Slow down precious, let’s just see if we can get through a week without ripping each other’s heads off before we do anything rash.” I smile a shy smile as I gather my senses. What’s wrong with me?
“You’re right,” I whisper. I run my hands up his strong arms and over his broad shoulders. I feel the power emanating from his body. “When will I see you again if your mother’s here?”
“I will come over tonight when she goes to sleep,” he sighs. “Give me one more kiss to last me till then,” he smiles his broad melting smile and I feel my heart flutter. I would do anything to be with this man. We sneak out of the shadows and to Josh’s car. I see him make eye contact with the bodyguards and he nods.
“Josh, why are you so guarded?”
“Drawback of having money,” he sighs. “Don’t worry, it shits me too.” What exactly does that mean? Ten minutes later we are armed with cream and heading back to the house. He holds my hand on his lap the whole time, deep in thought, occasionally lifting my hand to kiss the back of it. I don’t know why but all this honesty suddenly has me hoping of a real future with him. Maybe we can do this? Is it really possible? Would I move to America? Who knows and who cares. He’s holding my hand and he just told me he’s completely mine. Nothing at all can wreck my night tonight.
How wrong can a person be?
We arrive back at the house and I head up while Josh goes and talks to his bodyguards. I’m met by Margaret at the front door.
“Hi,” I smile and she glares at me.
“Is it?” She hisses. Shit, did she just see us? I hope not and an uneasy feeling rips through me. She brushes past me and I walk in the front door. What in the world was that about? I watch her storm across the road to Joshua. Brock comes barrelling up the hall and grabs me by the arm and drags me into my old bedroom. Ow, what the hell?
“Brock,” I snap as I pull my arm from his grip.
“What in the fuck is going on with you and Stanton?” Holy mother fuck.
“What do you mean?” I feel faint.
“Margaret just went berko at Cameron when she found out you two went to the shop.”
I swallow the tennis ball and bucket of sand in my throat. “What did she say?”
“She said you two cannot be trusted. What in the fuck does that mean, Natasha?” Oh crap…crap, crap, crap.
“Um, I don’t know,” I shrug. “You know she’s tapped.”
“Is she?” he snarls.
“Of course,” I reply. “What do you think?”
“I know what I saw at the wedding and I warned him that night that I would kill him if he touched you.”
“You did what?” I snap. “Are you kidding me?”
“I am going to say this once and once only, Natasha. Listen, because I genuinely mean it. I will fucking kill him if he lays a finger on you.”
I roll my eyes. “Drop dead Brock. I’m twenty–four years old. Stop trying to control me. I’m friends with Josh. You and Margaret are as bad as each other. Go back to over–protecting Bridget, because I’m not putting up with your shit.” I storm out of the bedroom and back into the lounge room just as Joshua and his mother come in the front door. I hotfoot it straight to the kitchen without making eye contact. This night is quickly turning from hero to zero.
Twenty minutes later we are seated at the dining table. Bridget and Brock are on either side of me and directly opposite is Margaret. Cam and Will are on either side of her and Josh is next to Cam. Mum is at one head of the table and Dad at the other. I don’t think I have ever dreaded a family dinner quite as much. Brock is onto us and so is Margaret for that matter. I know I can’t lie for shit, I feel like a frigging Russian spy just about to take a lie detector test. I look down, determined not to make eye contact with Josh or anyone for that matter. I know he is feeling uncomfortable as well. I can feel it in my bones. Brock is the first to speak.
“So, Josh, I saw on the internet you dated Heidi Mills, that supermodel.” Cameron chokes.
“Pass the carrots,” Wilson asks me and I know it’s a distraction tactic. I slowly look up to see Josh’s reaction. He nods but keeps his eyes cast down. What is frigging Brock playing at? Bridget taps my leg underneath the table.