Page 119 of Stanton Unconditional

CHAPTER 19

Natasha

We lie in my bed contented and satisfied. That was close, how I held him off from sex I will never know. If he had pushed for it, I would have caved. I told him that we were not being intimate, but the reality is I crave for it from him, ache for it. I don’t have it in me to not let him touch me and he is heaven under my hands. When I am here and in the moment with this man, nothing else matters. This is where I am supposed to be, with my love in my bed. Joshua has his head on my chest, my arms are wrapped around him as I gently run my fingers over his back, his hand is on my stomach and he intermittently kisses my chest as he lies close. Something is going on between us, I can feel it. There is a tenderness that I haven’t felt from him since my father died and ,God, I’ve missed it. I’m exhausted, I need to go to sleep. I kiss the top of his head gently. “Baby,” I ask. “Hmm,” he replies.

“Can you be here when I wake up, please?” I ask. I can’t help myself.

“Yeah, okay.” He kisses my chest again and snuggles his head into my breast and breathes a deep contented sigh.

I am just drifting off. “Tash,” he whispers.

“Mmm,” I answer.

“You didn’t give me your closing argument yet.”

I smile broadly and kiss his head again. “Joshua,” I whisper. “Yes,” he answers.

“I missed you today,” I whisper.

I can feel him smile into my chest and I smile into the darkness. “Do you want to know something else I did today, Josh?” I whisper as I kiss the top of his head again and rub my hand over his short hair.

“What?” he answers.

“I loved you today.” I feel him smile and he kisses my breast as he links our hands together.

“You really should be on the debating team, Tash, you do give a great closing argument,” he sighs.

I smile broadly and after a few minutes of silence in the darkness I hear him speak.

“Goodnight, Tash,” he whispers.

“Goodnight, Josh.

I wake to the sound of someone quietly knocking on the front door. Joshua answers it. “Thanks man. I will be leaving here in about an hour.”

“Ok, Max is downstairs. What do you want me to tell him?” a male voice replies.

“I want to speak to him so I will be down a little earlier.” “Okay thanks.” The door closes.

Joshua walks back into my room with an overnight bag and a suitcase. He puts it on the chair at the end of my bed. He opens the drapes, and I am blinded by the blazing light. “Are you making me breakfast?” He grabs my foot out from the bottom of my blanket and starts to twist my toes.

I frown as I rip my foot from his grip. “Mmm,” I groan. “Up.” He smiles as he runs his stubble up my neck.

“Mmm,” I groan again. Why does he have to be so damn perky in the mornings?

“I mean it, you wanted me here in the morning. I am here, so get up.” He slaps my behind.

Oh God…so annoying. I lean up onto my elbows. “What time is it?” I frown.

“I have usually been in the gym for two hours by this time, lazybones.” He smiles.

“That’s great, coffee and eggs on toast,” I mutter as I flop back onto the bed.

He smirks and exits the room. I lie and try to wake up as I hear him fussing in the kitchen. Five minutes later he comes back in with a cup of coffee.

“Here you are.” He passes me the coffee.

“Thank you.” I smile. He leans in and tucks a piece of hair behind my ear.