by T L Swan
She smiles at me, “Lucky you got that Brazilian wax. It’s not pretty when girl’s pubes hang out the bottom of miniskirts.”
“Eeww, you’re an animal,” Bridget chuckles.
“Hurry the hell up”, she snaps. “Time to tart up. Mr Stanton is going down.”
I look into the mirror at my reflection an hour later; ok, yes it’s true. I do look sort of hot. I’ve got the cleavage happening, thanks to my super–dooper Booster Bra, tight–wrap – bandage black dress, my shoes that I want to marry and my hair is straightened to within an inch of its life. I’m even wearing red lipstick. If he can resist me looking as skanky as this then good luck to him, he deserves an exit pass. Now the dirty talk, that’s a whole different story. What the hell do I say? And how far is too far? There’s a fine line between hot and downright low, maybe I will just follow his lead all night. See how far he can take me.
11.45 pm
We walk into our favourite bar at the Ivy and I must say the reaction of a few drunken men outside on the street to my dress has given me the confidence boost I so desperately needed. Abbie heads to the bar to buy our drinks and I wait with Bridget. She knows a group of girls here from uni and one of them has come over to talk to us.
“Oh my, Natasha, you look amazing tonight,” she smiles. “Have you lost weight?” I fake a smile and nod. I hate it when girls say that when they can’t think of anything else. I haven’t lost frigging weight, you silly bitch. My thoughts are anywhere but on this conversation.
“Two o‘clock,” Bridget whispers. I casually look around and I see them, the Stanton boys— well, three of them and Adrian. Two other men are not far from them leaning up against the wall and I now recognise them as Josh’s bodyguards. Josh is in his standard jeans and blazer but he has a pink check shirt on and he looks frigging awesome as usual. Bastard. I turn away instantly, not wanting to be the one that notices him first. Play the game Natasha, play the game, I chastise myself. Cameron notices us and bounds straight over. He grabs Bridge in an embrace and twirls her around.
“How are my two favourite cousins?” He smiles as he kisses her on the cheek. He comes over to me and puts his arm around my shoulder and kisses my forehead. “Sorry about the other night. Josh is a prick.” Huh what’s he talking about? Oh the fight night—shit, he doesn’t know that I’ve seen Josh since. My mind races off in a tangent. He hasn’t told them we’ve hooked up, why would he do that ? I know the answer: to protect me. I am suddenly seeing our midnight visits in another light. They have been staying at his house so of course he wants to be home before they wake up. Maybe, and I mean just maybe, I have misread this situation. Abbie returns with our drinks and I take mine immediately, wishing I could drain the damn tumbler in one gulp. From the corner of my eye I see the others join Cam and our group. Adrian kisses me on the cheek and squeezes my hand as does Wilson when he arrives. Joshua, however, stays back and silent but I can feel him watching me and I refuse to look at him. He can kiss my ass.
I keep playing the game, refusing to make eye contact with him while I talk to Adrian.
“So why did you bail on me today?” I tease.
He shuffles his feet. “I wasn’t allowed out to play,” he winces.
“Huh, what does that mean?” He leans in and lowers his voice so that no one else can hear us. “Josh said if he can’t spend time with you then I’m not allowed to either.”
I frown, not understanding his statement. What does that mean?
“Josh can spend time with me—he just doesn’t want to,” I snap.
Adrian winces and nods. “By the way,” he whispers. “Josh hasn’t told his brothers about,” he points his glass at me. “You know,” as he nods his head.
“I thought so. Why not?”
He shrugs. “He’s got it in his head it’s really wrong.”
I scowl. “We are not hurting anyone, Adrian.”
He smiles. “I know, I thought you were ok with it. Josh, however, isn’t.” I take a gulp of my drink without tasting it. Adrian gets his phone out of his pocket and reads the text. He smiles. “I’m going to the bar,” he gestures.
“Ok,” I smile. I turn back to Cam and Bridget’s conversation although I’m not in it. I feel my phone vibrate in my bag and I pull it out to check.
Hello x
It’s Joshua. My eyes immediately shoot up to him. He dips his head and gives me a stifled smile. I text back:
Hello
My phone beeps again:
Are you purposely not returning my kiss?
Hmm, what does that mean? Why would he even notice no kiss? This is honestly the most confusing man on the planet. I don’t know what to text so I just look up at him and shrug my shoulders. He gives me a sad smile; he knows I’m cranky. Well, tough titties for him. What does he expect? Bridget thankfully reappears through the crowd with a round of margaritas. Good timing Bridge. How in the hell am I supposed to stand two metres from him and not talk to him all night? This isn’t punishment for him. I’m punishing my stupid self. I look around the club and notice most of the female population eyeing our group of men. I look back at the boys and I smile. Of course they attract attention. Look how gorgeous the four of them are. They are all very alpha male, even Adrian who’s so masculine and good–looking he definitely defies the camp gay boy image. My phone beeps again:
Nice dress
I read the message and smile as I bite my lip—this hard–to–get act is wearing thin on me already. I look up and very deliberately do a pirouette to show him the full package. He gives me a carnal smile, his eyes drop down the length of my body and he cracks his neck. Jackpot, there it is.
Abbie pulls me by the hand. “Come on. We are dancing,” she says as she heads towards the stairs.
“I will meet you down there.” A bartender walks past us with a tray of drinks and I have an idea. “Excuse me, can I ask you to do me a favour?” He looks around.
“Sure.”
I pull $20 out of my purse. “Do you see that man over there in the navy blazer?” He looks around. “No, over there near the wall.” I point with my chin. “Pink check shirt.”
“Oh yes,” he smiles, “he’s hot.”
“I know,” I smirk. “Can you go over and discreetly give him this money and tell him the lady in the black dress and red lipstick would like to place him on layby?”
He smiles at me as he frowns, “Really?”
“Yes, please.” I pull a whiny face at him. He heads off towards Joshua and I stand still watching while he taps him on the shoulder and whispers into his ear. Joshua dips his head to listen and then looks up as the bartender discreetly points me out. He smiles as he takes the money from the bartender and sticks it in his pocket. I smile and bite my lip as our eyes lock. He’s giving me that look. You know the one, the one I love. Come fuck me it screams and, boy, it’s smoking hot. I head towards the stairs to dance feeling quite proud of myself and halfway down the stairs my phone beeps again.
Layby Receipt
I smile broadly and stop still. Ow—some idiot bangs into the back of me.
“Watch out,” I snap.
“Well don’t stop on the stairs, stupid.” Mmm, good point. I walk to the bottom of the stairs and continue reading:
Layby Name: Beautiful Slut
Layby Number: 69
Item Purchased: Lamborghini
Pick up time: 1.00 am
Don’t be late!
I smile and continue to the dance floor to join the girls and Adrian.
Two hours later I’m feeling very woozy on my legs when my favourite song comes on. It’s a track by Jason Derulo called ‘Talk Dirty to Me’. I pull out my phone, smiling, and text Joshua:
Talk Dirty to Me
I smile as I put my phone away. Ok, let’s see what he’s got. My phone beeps immediately:
Keep thinking those dirty thoughts, precious. I want that beautiful tight cunt nice and creamy when I suck on it later.
Holy fuck. He’s good at talking dirty; t
hat’s absolutely filthy. I smile again. What in the hell am I doing? I am so out of my league here. I text back a lame reply:
It’s working, I like it.
My phone beeps immediately:
You will swallow.
Christ, um, what will I write?
Yes
It beeps again:
It wasn’t a question.
Ok, it’s official. He’s the hottest man on the planet and I find myself feeling rather overheated by his texts. My phone beeps again:
How loud are you going to scream when you come on my face with your knees on my pillow?
Shit, ok. That’s dirty. I look around, feeling quite embarrassed and flushed. I just know I am going to get some awesome sex tonight. I could come just by reading his texts. My phone beeps again:
Do you have any idea how hard you are going to cop it tonight?
I smile and shake my head, good god…hard I hope. I text back:
Ok you win, I’m gagging. Pick up time is now. I will be up in a minute.
A few more tracks later I turn to find Adrian with another round of margaritas so, of course, I have to drink. I wouldn’t want to waste a perfect margarita; that would be blasphemy. Needless to say I don’t go to find Joshua for about another forty minutes. Adrian and I head towards the stairs together.
“Josh has just texted me,” he says, smiling. “I have to take you out to the limo first and he will follow a few minutes later. It will be here in twenty minutes.” I frown, not understanding why. “He just doesn’t want you two to be photographed together.”
“Oh,” I nod. “Ok, that makes sense.” I smile. When we get to the top of the stairs Adrian takes my hand to lead me through the crowd and I follow, not paying any attention. He suddenly stops and I run into his back.
“Let’s get a drink,” he says nervously and pulls me towards the bar, huh, why? I look over my shoulder at Joshua and see him talking to a blonde. He’s got his hands in his pockets and he’s scowling at her.
“Who is Joshua talking to?” I ask Adrian. He starts to fidget in his pockets, looking for money, “Um, not sure,” he murmurs without making eye contact with me. He’s lying and I don’t have to be a psychologist to know that. I look back over toward Joshua and the blonde and I see him mouth the words “Go away”. Huh, he knows that girl—I can tell by the way he’s annoyed with her. That wasn’t a casual brushoff. I go to walk towards them and Adrian pulls me back by the hand.
“Hey, stay here,” he smiles as he pulls his arm around my shoulder. I look back over my shoulder and she is still talking to him. Actually she looks…familiar. Where in the hell do I know her from? I hope she’s not an ex–patient. Abbie and Bridget come back up the stairs and head straight over to the meeting spot. I see Abbie’s back straighten when she sees the girl and her hand goes onto her hip…huh. She barrels straight over to Joshua and I can see him shuffle on his feet, he’s nervous…he’s hiding something. I wish I couldn’t read body language so well… it’s really annoying. I pull out of Adrian’s grip which I now know for sure is so I don’t interrupt Josh, asshole, and head over towards them. Abbie is saying something to her and I can tell by the way Abbie is talking that she is mad. What in the world is going on? Am I missing something? When I get to them Joshua immediately links our hands and, without making eye contact, whispers into my ear.
“We’re leaving.” Huh? He turns his back on the girl and gestures for me to walk in front of him. Hang on a minute—how exactly does he know this girl? I pull my hand out of his grip.
“Who is that woman?” I ask.
“Nobody,” he answers way too fast.
“Joshua, don’t lie to me,” I snap. She pushes around in front of Joshua and I see him make eye contact with his bodyguards and nod. This is ridiculous. What in the hell is happening here? She puts her hand out to shake my hand and I take it out of habit of good manners.
“Hello,” she purrs.
I frown. “Hello.”
“And you are?” she asks as she raises her eyebrows.
“Leaving,” Joshua snaps as he steps in between us. He grabs my hand and twists me so I am standing behind him. It’s a defensive stance and I know that he thinks she is a threat…to what I don’t know. The bodyguards come and stand over her, asking in silence for her to leave. I pull out of his grip and walk back around him. What is his problem?
“Natasha, my name is Natasha,” I say.
She looks at Joshua and bubbles up a giggle. “You’ve got to be kidding. Her name is Natasha; she’s Natasha.” The blood drains out of my face as realisation sets in. Oh fuck, she has seen his tattoo. This woman has slept with him. He grabs my hand again and I snatch it out of his and walk off to the bathroom. Ok, I’m fuming. So he hasn’t stuck to the deal, as if he would. Who was I kidding? Abbie is hot on my heels.
“My god, Natasha, how in the hell does he know TC?”
I stop mid–step and turn. “That was tunnel cunt,” I fume.
She nods and winces. “I thought you knew,” she hunches her shoulders. “Mm, sorry.”
I bump into a girl coming out as I enter the ladies room. “Watch out where you’re going,” I snap.
“Ok, sure thing, psycho,” she replies. I’m not even kidding when I say I could do some serious bitch–slapping tonight. TC…TC…TC…are you fucking kidding me?
“Abbie, how would he know her?” I’m fuming.
“I don’t know,” she whispers. “But when I got there I heard him tell her to get out of his fucking sight.”
“What! He said that? Just like that.”
“Yes.”
“What did he say?”
“He said get out of my fucking sight. What a stupid mole,” she winces.
“He’s slept with her.”
“What, how do you know?” she looks horrified.
“Because she has seen his tattoo and she laughed when I told her my name is Natasha.”
Abbie fake–punches her fist. “Let’s take her out.” I smile. That is such an Abbie thing to say. How is it that even in the most intense situations Abbie can make me laugh? I go to the loo, wash my hands and then lean up against the wall.
“I’m going to back–door it, Abbs. I can’t be with him tonight. It’s making me sick just thinking of him with her.”
“This is exactly what the silly mole wants,” she snarls.
“What?” I frown.
“She wants you to get the shits and then leave him here and then she will go in for the kill.”
“She can have him,” I snap. “I’m not settling anymore. He’s a player and you know what? I’ve played right into his hands. He’s used me for the last time. He promised me he wouldn’t sleep with anyone else. What a joke.” I turn and storm out of the bathroom and run straight into the brick wall that is Joshua Stanton.
Chapter 15
“We’re leaving,” he snaps as he grabs my hand. I snatch my hand out of his.
“Don’t touch me,” I scowl. He stops and frowns at me. I sigh and put both of my hands up in a stop signal.
“Just go home with blondie, Josh. we both know you’ve done it before.”
He drops his head and rests his hand on my hip.
“Tash, don’t be like that.”
“You promised me, you asshole.” Oh no, those stupid tears are welling again. I bite my lip and look down to the ground. He grabs my hand once more and I snatch it away.
“I said don’t fucking touch me!” I yell. Ok, donkey on the edge. I’m coming very close to licking the windows here. This could be a scene from Fatal Attraction with yours truly starring as the serial killer. “Josh I’m leaving. Have a nice night, actually life…it’s been nice knowing you.” I stomp to the front door with him hot on my heels. I glance across the room to catch Bridget and Adrian’s eye and give them a wave as I disappear down the stairs and out the door. Outside I immediately lift my arm for a cab as I stomp towards the curb.
“What are you doing?” he snaps. “You’re acting totally
irrational.”
“Irrational!” I scream as I push him in the chest. “I said go away!” I yell. I really am going for an Oscar here but I’m too mad to care. The limo pulls up, he bends down and in one fell swoop picks me up and throws me over his shoulder and pushes me into his limo. I get in and scowl as I shuffle to the other side to get away from him but he scoots in after me.
“What’s fucking wrong with you?” he yells. I gesture that the driver can hear us, so he pushes the privacy screen button and it goes up slowly. He sits back in his seat and runs his pointer finger over his lips while resting his elbow on the door. I know he’s thinking. He runs both of his hands through his hair. He’s frustrated. Well, good, because I’m fuming. “If it’s not too much trouble, Natasha,” he sneers, “please tell me what the hell is the matter with you.”
“When did you sleep with her?” He frowns but doesn’t answer me. “Josh, you promised me,” and that is it, the pathetic dam bursts and I break into full–blown sobs.
“Promised what?” he says gently as he slides over to be near me and he wraps me in an embrace. “Sh precious, don’t cry. I can’t stand it, baby.” He kisses my forehead.
“You told me you wouldn’t be with anyone else,” I sob. “And yet you slept with her.” I sound pathetic but I can’t even pretend to act cool anymore, I don’t have it in me.
“Baby, I’m sorry, it was before I got back with you. I didn’t know what was going to happen between us.” I stay silent as I process his words, my chest racking with sobs. He runs his hand down over my hair. I shake my head. I’m an embarrassment to myself. I have absolutely no self–respect. I put my head down.
“How many times?” I ask but he stays silent. “Josh, how many times?” I repeat…still silence. “So help me, Josh, if you don’t.”
“Don’t ask questions you don’t want to know the answer to, Natasha.”