“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.
“Hmm,” he replies as his lips drop to my neck.
“We’re going to be ok, you know. This is our family now-right here in this room, in this house. Our love and our children will block everything else out.”
I feel him smile into my neck. “Our six children,” he whispers into my skin.
“Maybe.” I smirk.
“Let’s make some tonight.” He lifts my top over my shoulders.
“No,” I mutter.
“No?” he repeats.
I shake my head. “No knocking up Stanton.”
He smirks. “Run us a bath and I am going to find us some wine. Three hours of hot water therapy is just what I need.” He kisses me and stretches my bottom lip with a stretch as he pulls away from me. A flutter of nervous excitement runs through me, Mr Stanton is in the house and I can tell he’s feeling bad.
True to our words we are on our third hour in the bath, our second bottle of crystal champagne and about our tenth top-up of hot water. The room is steamy and warm and Joshua is in front encircled by my legs, his head on my chest between my breasts. With each glass of champagne he relaxes and talks just that bit more… too bad I am also feeling inebriated and so damn relaxed that I may slip into a coma at any minute. My psychology skills are down the gurgler. I pick up the sponge and squeeze it over Joshua’s chest as I brush my lips over his temple.
He frowns slightly as he thinks of something.
I kiss his cheek and wait for him to speak. One thing I have learned tonight is that if I don’t ask he will tell me. If I do ask… he shuts up.
“I’m a bad person,” he whispers.
I frown as I kiss him again on his temple. “Why do you say that?” I squeeze the water over his chest from the sponge.
“I’m glad she’s dead.” He sighs.
I frown. “Who?”
“The prostitute,” he replies.
“Oh,” I whisper. TC, the bitch.
“When the police told me she was dead I was relieved.”
“I understand why,” I whisper into his temple.
He turns and looks at me in shock. “You do?”
“That whole situation is a nightmare,” I whisper.
“It is,” he sighs as he looks forward again.
“We are innocent. Nothing can be proven, Joshua.” I kiss him again on the side of his cheek reassuringly.
He nods. “Fucking Starsky and Hutch didn’t help the situation.” He takes a drink from his crystal champagne glass.
I laugh out loud. “Starsky and Hutch.” I giggle. “I thought you said they were dumb and dumber.”
He widens his eyes. “Yeah that too,” he says flatly. We sit for another ten minutes as we slip into another comfortable silence.
“I think it’s true,” he murmurs as he stares into space.
“What is?”
“I think my father didn’t love my mother.”
I frown as I continue to wash him. His thoughts are jumping all over the place.
“He was never home when I was a child, now I think about it and compare it to how I feel about you.” He pauses.
I wait for him to keep speaking.
“I wouldn’t leave you for one night. I couldn’t stand being away from you. As soon as we kids went to bed I would hear his car leave.”