“Tash, I care about you and when I rang you on Monday night and you told me you got back with your boyfriend I was gutted and it has made me realise I have real feelings for you.”
I shake my head. “Jess, don’t. I’m in love with him-it will only ever be him.”
He narrows his eyes. “Does this idiot have any idea how lucky he is?” he says softly.
I smile sadly and shrug. “I hope so or else I am making a huge mistake. If there was going to be someone else Jes … it would be you.” I gently run my hand down his cheek and he turns and kisses the inside of my palm.
“We could be good together,” he says softly.
“I know,” I whisper. “But it’s not going to happen, I’m sorry.”
He steps forward and pulls me into an embrace and cuddles me, his lips dust my temple. “There is a chemistry between us, can you feel it?” he whispers into my forehead.
My eyes widen as I feel his arousal against my body. I do feel the chemistry. It has never been in question. “Jes, don’t,” I whisper into his neck. He puts his finger under my chin and pulls it up to meet his face, and he kisses me gently. “Jes,” I whisper. He kisses me again, running his tongue through my lips more urgently and my hands rise to the back of his neck.
The key turns in the door and I jump back from Jesten in a rush. Holy shit.
Joshua opens the door and does a double take between Jesten and me. His eyes drop down my body to my nightgown.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” he growls at Jesten. My eyes widen in horror. OH. MY. GOD.
“You,” Jesten snaps. “This is your boyfriend?” he screams at me.
Joshua storms into the apartment and punches Jesten straight in the face and he drops to the ground and I scream.
“Joshua! What the hell?” Holy shit!
He picks him up off the floor and they start to punch each other and Joshua throws him across the table and the vase of flowers smashes everywhere.
“I swear to god I am going to tear you limb from limb!” Joshua screams.
I have never seen Joshua so crazy. He’s going ballistic and throwing Jesten around like a rag doll. I think he’s going to kill him.
“This is the fucking guy!” Joshua screams at me.
I shake my head as I burst into tears. He thinks I slept with Jesten. I can’t believe I even contemplated it. What in the hell is the matter with me?
“You know I hate him. How could you!” Joshua is so mad that he looks like the incredible hulk and is scaring even me.
“No, no, no.” I shake my head violently. What the hell have I done?
“She loved every minute of it,” Jesten baits. My eyes widen in horror. Not now Jesten, you are going to get yourself killed.
Joshua punches him violently again three times in succession.
“Joshua!” I scream. “Stop it!”
Jesten fights back and kicks Joshua in the stomach and they roll until the lounge tips over. Oh shit, this is really bad. I run to the front door and open it in a rush.
“Get in here,” I scream to the guards who are all standing around listening, obviously letting Joshua kill Jesten on purpose.
“Max,” I scream as I turn to see Joshua throw Jesten over his shoulder. “Joshua no. Stop it!” Oh my god, he’s going to kill him.
“I will get a knife and cut your fucking throat,” Joshua screams as he smashes Jesten’s head on the ground.
Ok, he’s getting unstable and the stupid bodyguards are just standing around watching. I run down the hall and bang on Max’s door. Max opens the door in a rush.
His eyes widen when he sees me. “What’s wrong?” A smash comes from the apartment and he frowns and runs past me into my apartment.
“Jesus,” he yells. “What are you idiots doing? Stop this immediately.”
The guards finally step in and break them up and start to drag Jesten from the apartment.
“I’m not leaving her here with this psychopath,” Jesten yells at Max.
Max’s nervous eyes flick to me and I think he agrees with Jesten.
“I’m ok. He won’t hurt me,” I whisper.
“Tash, come with me,” Jesten pleads.
My terrified eyes meet Joshua’s. “It’s ok Josh, calm down baby.” I walk slowly over to him as he sucks precious air into his lungs. He’s furious. He thinks I slept with Jesten. I slowly slide my hand up his perspiration-clad arm as his dark eyes meet mine.
“Sshhh,” I whisper to try and calm him. “Goodbye Jesten,” I snap, “Max show him out.”
The guards leave the room and I am left with my broken wild animal.
“Sshhh, it’s ok, baby,” I whisper. “He’s gone.”
Max stands in the doorway watching us. Joshua has his hands on his head and is breathing heavily, his eyes are downcast and unable to meet mine. I stand in front of him, my heart breaking. This looks bad, I am in my nightdress, it’s nine o’clock at night and Jesten was here. Could he tell when he opened the door that I had just pulled from Jesten’s grip? I would have lost it too had I walked in on this. I will never forgive Jesten for saying I loved it-what a trouble-making asshole.
My eyes flick to Max who is still standing at the door, ensuring my safety no doubt. The worry is written all over his face.
“It’s ok, Max, can you give us some privacy please?” I murmur as my eyes stay planted on Joshua’s broken face.
“Are you sure?” he questions.
“Fucking get out!” Joshua screams as he loses control once again.
I nod nervously to Max and mouth the words, “Go.”
Max holds my glare and lifts an eyebrow in silent question. I give him a nod and he leaves silently.
Joshua is still gasping for breath.
“Baby,” I whisper as I grab his face between my hands gently. “I swear on my mother’s life I did not sleep with him.” His eyes still look at the ground.
“Joshua, I went to the hotel the other night to make you think I had done it, I knew the guards would tell you, but I didn’t have any intention of going through with it. It’s only you, Joshua, it’s only ever been you.”
His angry eyes meet mine.
I shake my head nervously as tears of guilt fill my eyes.
His glare holds mine. “How long?’
I frown, not understanding the question. “What do you mean?”
“How long have you wanted him?”