Joshua smirks. “I wouldn’t go that far.”
Adrian lies on his back across the bonnet and blows out a breath, hands behind his head. “You know I think Rod Stewart was right on the money.” Joshua and Ben frown at each other and then him.
“You know, the first cut is the deepest.” All three men smile.
“That is true. You remember every minute detail. Come on, let’s go. Enough of this shit, she fucks with my head.”
“Aren’t we going in?” Adrian asks.
“No, I just wanted to see where she lives.”
“Does she have a boyfriend, married, what’s her story?”
“No, no nothing. Nothing I can dig up anyway.”
“You’ve kept tabs on her?”
“Yes, from a distance.”
“When did you last speak to her?” After a silence of five minutes, Josh blows out a breath and replies.
“Seven and a half years ago, the day she dumped me.” Adrian and Ben look at each other, the shock evident on their faces.
“So you haven’t spoken a word to her since?”
“Nope.”
“You haven’t called?”
“Nope.” They all look back to the window and the lights go off.
Ben urges for a second time. “Just go in man.”
“Even if I wanted to, the law forbids it.”
“She had a restraining order put on you?” Adrian gasps.
Joshua shakes his head. “No,” he answers quietly.
“Her parents did?”
Josh looks back up to the window. “Something like that. Get in the car, let’s go and don’t let me come back here. This is pointless.”
“Ok. But are we not here because of her? Isn’t that defeating the purpose?”
“Shut up dick,” Josh smiles at Adrian. “Stop making sense.” As the car speeds away Josh puts his head back into the seat and rubs his face.
“I need a drink, a strong fucking drink.”
11.50 pm, Bondi
Joshua leans over the railing of the balcony looking out to the ocean, sipping his Cointreau and ice out of a thick short crystal tumbler. The place Adrian has rented for him for the three months is swank, on the water. It is a little dated and well below the standard of his LA house. They chose it because it was the only one near a surf beach that had another house next door for Ben and Adrian. Having just run for an hour on the treadmill he is freshly showered and barefoot and wearing a loose pair of sweats and a white Bonds singlet. It’s March here. The first month of autumn, a cool briskness hangs in the air. Desperately trying to rein himself in from googling her and finding out her phone number he takes another sip of his liquor and enjoys the warmth as he swallows, temporarily closing his eyes.
“This is a fucking disaster. I should have stayed in Melbourne,” he mutters to himself. The doorbell rings and assuming it’s Adrian, he saunters to the front door and opens it. A beautiful caramel blonde in a trench coat and white high heels stands before him, a sexy smile playing on her lips.
“Can I help you?”
“I’m looking for Joshua Stanton,” she breathes in a husky voice.
He raises an eyebrow. “You’ve found him.”
“I’m a friend of Carson’s. He asked me to deliver your house–warming present.”
Joshua smiles and raises both his eyebrows. “Did he now, and what would that be?” She opens her coat and there she stands. White silk stockings, suspender belt, a lace white thong and short–cut white satin corset. Her body is tanned, toned and amazing. His jaw ticks, he bends his head to the left as if trying to crack his neck. His eyes scan up and down her body and he stands back, raising his hand, gesturing for her to enter.
“I do love house–warming presents.” He smiles a long sexy smile which she returns.
“You know, I think tonight for once, I will too.” She takes his hand. “I heard a little secret.”
“Oh yes, and what was that?”
“You like having your cock sucked.”
“You did, did you?” He smiles. “Show me a man who doesn’t.” He opens his eyes wide.
“Yes, it’s a coincidence don’t you think?” He looks at her puzzled. “Because tonight I’m in the mood to suck your cock dry.”
“Hmm. That is a mood that I like. Coincidental or not,” he smiles. “I do have great friends don’t I?” he adds.
“You do. I’m a very expensive house–warming gift.”
He unashamedly looks her up and down. “I can see that,” he leads her to the bar where he pours another Cointreau for himself.
“Do you want a drink?” He holds up his glass and tips his head to the side, cracking his neck again.
She shakes her head. “No thanks.”
He smiles, raises his eyebrows and takes her hand, leading her back to the foyer to go up the stairs to his bedroom, still carrying his drink.
“You know you are just the distraction I needed tonight.”
She smiles.
“What did you say your name was?” he asks.
“What do you want it to be?”
He continues walking up the stairs and stops mid step to turn and look at her. He narrows his eyes and puts his chin to an angle.
“My bedroom is this way… Natasha.”
Chapter 2