“Good morning,” I whisper into the top of his head as I kiss it.
“Are you ok?” he whispers into my chest.
“Mmm,” I reply with my eyes still closed, but to be honest I just don’t know. I have a serious throb between my legs and for once it’s not from arousal. Rough sex for hours on end will do that to a girl.
I begin to get up. I need to go to the bathroom.
“Stay here with me presh. You are not leaving my side today.” He smiles as he kisses me gently again.
“Josh, I need to go to the bathroom. I will be right back.” I kiss him gently as I rise from the bed. His eyes scan down my body and he frowns.
“What?” I ask as I look down at myself.
He reaches up and runs his fingers over the four bruises on my right hipbone.
I frown. “What are those bruises from?”
His face drops at the realisation. “My fingers.”
I turn and look at myself in the mirror as I put my hair behind my shoulders, and I smirk. “I have the same four bruises on my left shoulder too.”
His eyes widen in horror.
“That was some hold you had on me from behind when I was on my knees. No wonder I’m sore.”
He looks down at the bed. “I’m sorry. I lost my head.”
My eyes hold his. “What was that? Round three?”
He swallows and nods, daring me with his eyes to say something.
“That wasn’t sex, Joshua.”
“What was it?” he whispers.
“That was a claiming. You were showing me who my body belongs to.”
He raises an eyebrow in silent disapproval. “And was the message understood?” he says coldly.
A frisson of unease runs through me and I nod. “Loud and clear Mr Stanton … loud and clear.”
“So did you give your notice?” Joshua asks as he drinks his protein shake while sitting on the bench as I cook.
“Aha.” I pour the vegetables into the wok off the chopping board.
“One week?” he asks.
“No, I told you I have to give two.”
“We are leaving in a week,” he snaps.
I roll my eyes. “Listen.” I point the wooden spoon at him. “I am moving to the other side of the world and I have things to tie up. I can’t just leave in seven days.”
“Like what?”
I raise my eyebrows. “Like my mother, like my apartment, like the two best friends I am leaving behind.”
He swigs his drink angrily.
“I was thinking we might move to Willowvale when we get home,” he replies.
I turn and frown. “What out in the country… with the horses?” Is he kidding?
He nods matter-of-factly and swigs more protein.
I shake my head. “No.”
He frowns. “What do you mean no?”
I widen my eyes at him. “No, I am not moving to the country. I want to live near Adrian and I want to party…in LA.”
He narrows his eyes at me. “Party?” he questions, affronted.
I nod. “Aha, I’m only twenty-five, Joshua. I can think of nothing worse than being locked on a farm while you ride around on frigging horses like Captain America.”
“Captain America doesn’t ride a horse,” he mutters.
I roll my eyes in response. “I’m sure he did,” I snap.
“We are moving to LA, you are buying me a new house and then when we are old and have two …” I hold up two of my fingers to accentuate my point, “two children, I will move to Willowvale … and not a moment before.”
He narrows his eyes again. “Listen here …you will leave when I damn well say and if you think you are moving to LA to run amok you have another think coming. I won’t stand for it. And we are having six children!”
I walk over to him and smile as I rub my hand over his penis through his suit pants. He closes his eyes and leans back to give me access.
“You know Joshua baby,” I whisper as I smile into his neck.
“Hmm,” he smiles.
“I can be very persuasive when I want to be.” I smile and lick my lips as I unzip his suit pants. He lies back onto the bench on his elbows, and his eyes watch my mouth intently.
“Hmm,” he sighs.
I slowly slide his pants down and give him one long lick up the length of his shaft. “You see, I know I have something that you need and I’m prepared to bargain with it to get my own way,” I whisper as I smile and lick him again.
He smirks. “Bitch,” he whispers.
There is a knock at the door and Joshua jumps up in a start. “Piss off,” he snaps.
I smile as I lick my lips and head for the door as Joshua straightens himself up in the kitchen.
I open the door in a rush to see Ben talking to two men in the hallway.
They turn to me and hand me a business card. I smile in question. “Hello.”