Total pages in book: 152
Estimated words: 145155 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 726(@200wpm)___ 581(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145155 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 726(@200wpm)___ 581(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
Ben and I frown at each other and then him.
“You know, the first cut is the deepest.” All three of us smile.
“That is true. You remember every minute in 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, “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.”
We 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.
I shake my head. “No,” I answer quietly.
“Her parents did?”
I look 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? Doesn’t that defeat the purpose?”
“Shut up, dick.” I smile at Adrian. “Stop making sense.” As the car speeds away, I put my head back into the seat and rub my face.
“I need a drink, a strong fucking drink.”
Bondi, 11:50 p.m.
I lean over the railing of the balcony looking out to the ocean, sipping my Cointreau and ice out of a thick short crystal tumbler. The place Adrian has rented for me for the three months is swank, on the water. It is a little dated and well below the standard of my LA house. We 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, I am freshly showered and barefoot and wearing a loose pair of sweats and a white Bonds tank top. It’s March. Here, it’s the first month of fall, a cool briskness hangs in the air. Desperately trying to rein myself in from googling her and finding out her phone number, I take another sip of my liquor and enjoy the warmth as I swallow, temporarily closing my eyes.
“This is a fucking disaster. I should have stayed in Melbourne,” I mutter to himself.
The doorbell rings and, assuming it’s Adrian, I saunter to the front door and open it. A beautiful caramel blonde in a trench coat and white high heels stands before me, a sexy smile playing on her lips.
“Can I help you?”
“I’m looking for Joshua Stanton,” she breathes in a husky voice.
I raise an eyebrow. “You’ve found him.”
“I’m a friend of Carson’s. He asked me to deliver your housewarming present.”
I smile and raise both my eyebrows. “Did he now, and what would that be?”
She opens her coat and there she stands. White silk stockings, suspender belt, a white lace thong and short-cut white satin corset. Her body is tanned, toned and amazing. My jaw tics, I bend my head to the left as if trying to crack my neck. My eyes scan up and down her body and I stand back, raising my hand, gesturing for her to enter.
“I do love housewarming presents.” I smile a slow smile, which she returns.
“You know, I think tonight, for once, I will too.” She takes my hand. “I heard a little secret.”
“Oh yes, and what was that?”
“You like having your cock sucked.”
“You did, did you?” I smile. “Show me a man who doesn’t.” I open my eyes wide.
“Yes, it’s a coincidence don’t you think?” I look 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.” I smile. “I do have great friends, don’t I?” I add.
“You do. I’m a very expensive housewarming gift.”
I unashamedly look her up and down. “I can see that.” I lead her to the bar where I pour another Cointreau for myself. “Do you want a drink?” I hold up my glass and tip his my head to the side, cracking my neck again.
She shakes her head. “No thanks.”
I smile, raise my eyebrows and take her hand, leading her back to the foyer to go up the stairs to my bedroom, still carrying my drink.
“You know, you are just the distraction I needed tonight.”
She smiles.
“What did you say your name was?” I ask.
“What do you want it to be?”
I continue walking up the stairs, then and stop mid-step to turn and look at her. I narrow my eyes and put my chin at an angle.
“My bedroom is this way…Natasha.”
2
Natasha
“I’m telling you he’s cheating,” Bridget whines.
“Oh fuck, not this again,” I mutter, running my hands through my hair, my elbows resting on the table. “Just dump him already.”