Stanton Box Set

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.