Page 97 of Stanton Adore

He winces. “Nearly,” he whispers. I stare at him openmouthed.

Holy shit, this is unimaginable.

“Joshua Stanton, you are a total mindfuck, do you know that?”

He smiles. “I’m your mindfuck if you’ll have me.”

“That depends.” I smile as I cross my arms in front of me. “On what?”

“On whether you’re going to show me how that I-love-you sex you mentioned last night goes.”

He smiles and kisses me. “Does it have a happy ending?” he whispers into my neck.

I bite my lip as I smile. “Yes, but this time the happy ending is going my way.”

An hour later, we are in the shower and Josh is soaping up my back with deep massaging strokes. My eyes are closed, I am leaning onto the glass and am deeply relaxed. In all honesty, I just want him to myself for the day. Bang work I say.

“Can’t you stay home with me today?” I know I sound like a whiny kid, but I don’t care. I turn and kiss him as I put my arms around his neck.

“No, you’ve already made me late.” He pulls my hips into his by my behind. He smiles down at me tenderly. I find myself returning the goofy grin.

“What?” I frown. He hunches his shoulders and bends to kiss me softly, his tongue swiping through my lips. He grinds his hips into mine and once again I feel his beautiful length against my stomach. “Do you know how long I have dreamed of having you like this?” he whispers into my neck. I smile as I drop my head back to allow him greater access to me.

“Like what?” I smile. I know exactly what he means. “Wanting me as much as I want you.”

I smile again. “How could you have ever thought anything else, you big dope?” He grabs me hard on the bum and I squeal with laughter.

“Big dope,” he growls as he bites me hard on the shoulder. “I will show you just how big I am.” I giggle as I hunch to escape his attack. “Tash.”

I look up at the serious tone in his voice. My eyes close at the contact of his lips to mine. “Hmm.”

“Our adult relationship starts today, OK?”

I frown at him, not understanding his meaning. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, to me, our relationship of being scared of being found out and unsure of each other is over. I want to start again.” Tears well in my eyes at the sincerity in his face and the meaning of the words. It’s true that I have felt torn, guilty and unsure about our relationship since the day it began. What we have is beyond beautiful, how could it be wrong? It’s impossible and he’s right, we need to start acting like adults and take our future into our own hands.

“I would like that too,” I whisper as I lean in for another gentle kiss. With his lips pressed to my temple I hear the gentle words.

“I fucking adore you, precious girl.”

These words are very quickly becoming my favorite thing in the world to hear. Chicken soup for my soul.

Eleven o’clock and I am on my way home from the gym. I may as well try to lose the twelve pounds I have stacked on since Mr. Orgasmic came back on the scene. It does seem like I am naked a lot of the time lately. It’s only a matter of time before hail damage strikes. A song comes onto the radio. It’s a new track by Katy Perry called ‘Dark Horse’. I heard it the other day and it gave me goose bumps. The words are exactly the situation between Josh and me and, seeing as we are literally the dark horses of the family, a pubescent idea comes into my brain and I laugh at the thought. I stop off and grab a coffee and text the girls.

Five o’clock Oscar’s Coffee Catch up

They both reply immediately, and I smile as I appreciate the two most beautiful friends any girl could wish for. I remind myself to ask them about their stuff tonight. I have been so self-absorbed lately I wouldn’t have a clue what’s going on with them or Jeremy or army guy. It seems every time we talk lately, I’m rambling on about myself and my problems. I’m a bad friend. I didn’t even talk to Bridge at Mum’s the other night. I was too busy fighting with Mole Patrol to even notice poor Didge. I make a pact to myself to not turn into one of those bitches that only needs friends when she’s single. I hate those girls. I’ve had them as friends before. They get a new boyfriend and, poof, you never see them again—they drop off the face of the earth. I know I need my friends. They keep me sane and make me laugh. Mostly at myself.

As soon as I get home, I download the song ‘Dark Horse’ and send it through as a message to Josh’s phone. I smile when I imagine him opening it. I frown as the thought that he might open it in front of someone crosses my mind—how embarrassing. Surely, he wouldn’t be that stupid? It seems all this sexing up definitely wears a girl out and I shower and flop into bed for a well-deserved nana nap. No doubt the frigging nymphomaniac will hit me full throttle again tonight…not that I’m complaining.

I awake with the sound of the keys in the door and smile that my beautiful man has surprised me with an early visit home. I amble into the lounge room in my undies and tank top. To my horror the face I’m looking at is Bruce Willis, my new bodyguard. What the fuck. I scream and run back into my bedroom to cover up.

“Sorry, Natasha,” he calls out. “The delivery guy couldn’t get you and I was getting worried.”

I chuck on some clothes and return to the lounge, fuming mad. “Why do you have a key to my apartment?” I demand. He nods and moves to the side to allow a delivery man with a huge bouquet of red roses to step out from behind him. Oh shit, I’m a total bitch. I rub my forehead in frustration.

The delivery guy speaks. “Natasha?” I smile and nod. “Can you sign here?” He pulls out a delivery docket and pen. I sign and he passes over the biggest bunch of red roses I have ever seen and then disappears back out the door to retrieve something else. I sheepishly look at Bruce, embarrassed by my rude outburst. I am not going to get used to this invasion of privacy—it’s doing my head in. The delivery guy returns with a big black gift box with a beautiful satin cream bow. I smile as I take it and put it onto the table.