Pieces of Truth

by Angela Richardson

  “Josh. I can’t believe you have this, and kept it all those years. I’m not angry, I’m, I’m, exactly where I should be right now.” And that was it for me. The sweet incredulous look on his face gave me all the confidence I needed to take the next step.

  “Do you love me Josh?”

  He looked stunned, and stepped back a bit. “Of course I do. You know that.”

  I walked up to him, closing the space he had created. “No, I don’t mean as my best friend.”

  His eyes grew dark as he realized what I asked him. “Norah, I…”

  “Tell me.” My eyes lit up as I looked deep into his own, pleading with him not to be scared.

  “Look, there are things I have to tell you first.” Josh looked so surprised and withdrew from me, not sure what to do.

  I went over to the table on the terrace and placed the framed sketch down gently, and returned to standing in front of Josh. “I’m sick of all our talking. I just want to know, do you love me Josh, in the way a man loves a woman with every kind of emotion and desire imaginable? ”

  Josh scanned my face, and saw I was being serious. He saw how I needed to know, right there and then. He stepped forward and looked me right in the eyes. “You know I do.”

  “Say it Josh. Say it like you really mean it. I need to hear it, again.”

  Josh inhaled sharply. I don’t think he knew where this had come from or where it was going, but he reached for me now, and drew my half-naked body into him, wrapping both arms around me and leaning into my face, so his forehead was resting on mine, his breath close to my mouth.

  “Lenorah, it has always, and will always be you. I love you like nothing else I have ever known. You are the reason I believe I can be happy in this world after I lost everything. When I dream of the future, I only see you.”

  I breathed out with loving satisfaction, then pulled out of his embrace and stepped away. Josh looked at me as if he expected me to turn and walk away from him yet again, only this time I didn’t.

  I stood back, slowly undid the robe I was wrapped in and dropped it to the floor.

  “I love you too Joshua.” I started walking towards him. “And I want you. Do you want me too?”

  Josh looked like his mind had left his body. He was speechless. Frozen. Unable to move from where he stood.

  “Josh,” I whispered.

  He breathed again, regaining some rational thought, his eyes everywhere on my naked body. “Do you have any idea how long I’ve waited for this moment Norah?”

  “As long as I have.”

  His eyes met mine.

  “I want you Josh, now.”

  Josh immediately stepped forward to take hold of my body, but stopped just before he was about to touch me. “Norah, understand that I won’t be able to go back from this. Once we cross this line, there will never be anyone else for me. You are the last person I ever want to be with.”

  I reached for him now. “Josh, I wouldn’t be doing this right now if I didn’t want you forever.”

  “Forever?” His eyes searched mine for confirmation. I nodded. His arms went around my body. “Oh, Norah.”

  Josh’s lips were on mine as we held each other in a passionate embrace. We had found a connection. Our hearts opened, our lust aligned, every cell in my body was exploding and rippling as my naked body was being held by the one person who had always genuinely looked at me with pure acceptance of who I was, wholly and solely. Finally the fear of taking that step was gone, and we were here in the moment that was about to change everything.

  My hands went to Josh’s waist, lifting his shirt above his head. We paused our kiss, and opened our eyes to look at each other again. We both stood and took a step back. Josh looked at me again for any hesitation, but I only moved towards him and his pants, which I eagerly undid. Josh, finally realizing that I wasn’t about to retreat, found the confidence to take me. His hands on my back, the other lost in my tangled hair, I could hear him moan as I pulled down his boxers and they fell to his feet. Josh was naked now, his hard body and excitement pressed up against me. I paused again from our kiss and looked down. I wanted to see Josh the same way he was seeing me right now; naked, vulnerable but ready for one another. I wanted us to be open and bare in every sense. I never wanted to hide from Josh again.

  I had no words when I saw Josh naked for the first time. I had imagined it, but seeing him so ready for me was mind-blowing. I had known this guy since I was thirteen and his body had been a mystery to me for a decade.

  Not anymore.

  And his body, including the part of him I ached for most, was everything I hoped it would be. I breathed hard as I looked at Josh. He had the same hungry yet love-filled expression. “You are spectacular Norah. Transcendent in beauty.”

  “Josh.”

  This time Josh grasped me with more intensity. He picked me up, my legs wrapping around his waist and he carried me back into the apartment and to the sofa in the lounge. As he lay me on the sofa, my arms went above my head, and Josh’s lips went from my mouth to my neck, and to my breasts. He held them gently while teasing me by sucking and licking my nipples.

  “Ohhhh!” I moaned. I reached for Josh so I could please him at the same time. When my hands found him, he was already incredibly hard, so I gently let my fingers stroke him, running them up and down so every touch was drawn out and sensitive. Josh’s eyes flew open and looked at me as he continued to explore, suck and fondle my breasts.

  “I will never get enough of this. You feel every bit as perfect as I imagined, and your touch...Norah...what it does to me...”

  My body could barely take another minute without being fully connected to Josh. Josh’s head then started travelling from my breasts to my stomach. He planted kisses near my belly button, and my hips instinctively bucked, wanting his mouth to go even lower.

  His mouth hovered around my opening, kissing all around it. I couldn’t help but breathe out, “Oh my God Josh, you are not even in me yet, and I feel like I’m about to lose it.”

  Josh’s tongued flicked into at me, and I almost completely fell over the edge. But I was long gone. There was no going back to friendship, old feelings, ex-boyfriends. It had all led to this. I pushed him off me, and Josh stared at me, breathing hard. I also sensed he was trying really hard to maintain control in drawing out this moment for as long as possible. I lifted Josh’s chin, and spoke into his eyes. “Josh, we have the rest of our lives to do it slowly and sweetly a million times over. Let’s do what we both want to do, and just lose control in the moment. There are going to be many more moments, I assure you.”

  Josh looked like his breathing actually stopped as I conveyed this wasn’t a one-off type of thing. No, this was the start of millions and millions of moments for me and Josh.

  “I love you Norah.”

  “I love you too Joshua. Now take me. Hard.”

  Josh quickly pulled my body towards him and we both toppled onto the floor and onto the big white fluffy rug in the centre of Josh’s lounge room. His hands were a bit rougher now, but so were mine. We wanted it so badly you could taste the sexual tension built up in the very air around us. Our bodies twisted and rolled all over the rug, as we got closer and closer to being ready to become one. Finally, I was on my back and Josh was above me. I wished I could see the stars right now, because in my head, it was all I could imagine. Josh’s broad chest hovered above me. With my legs spread apart, he looked at me, his hand cupping my cheek and then his fingers ran past my lips as he watched my face, and then, Josh slowly lowered himself into me.

  OH...MY...GOD!

  I had that feeling you get when you feel so full it’s completely satisfying. Josh was touching me in every way that needed to be touched, and he hadn’t even begun to move inside me yet. Here we were, connected in the most intimate way possible, and it was the most perfect feeling in the world. Every inch of Josh felt right.

  And then he began to move.

  “Norah,” Josh kept shouting my name over and over ag
ain. I knew I wouldn’t last long. Hearing Josh say my name and feeling him inside me, like it was always meant to be, pushed me to scream like I’ve never screamed before. Somewhere in the haze, I screamed Josh’s name and he moaned mine too, but when it was finally silent, he lay on top of me, listening to my heart, and my hands were on his neck, never wanting to let go.

  Chapter 21

  More Lies?

  ~ ~ ~

  I had lost count of how many times Josh and I made love that day. It was constant and never-ending. We couldn’t get enough of it. We were insatiable. We did it in his bedroom, on the terrace, in the kitchen. Every single moment that we wanted to, which was all the time. By evening, I had to catch my breath. I ran a hot bubble bath in Josh’s grand bathtub and slid in, Josh following me a few minutes later.

  “I thought you were going to rest,” I said to Josh, as he pulled me against his chest through the bubbles.

  “I hated being away from you,” he said, leaning down to my cheek, kissing it gently. I stared at our entwined feet which had emerged from the bubbles at the other end of the long tub.

  “Josh, today has been…”

  “I know. We are... The way we... I think I’m addicted.”

  We both laughed and when we finished, the atmosphere became serious. Josh hugged me as we both listened to the sound of the bubbles lightly disintegrating and popping, but I could tell something was on his mind.

  “Norah, what are you going to do about Clint? He is going to find you, and he will want to know where he stands.”

  I knew this would come up. I stopped Josh from saying any more than he needed to.

  “Josh. It’s over with Clint. The moment you brought me back here I knew this was going to happen. I think I always knew it would lead to this. I just didn’t know how we would get here, but we have. Finally.”

  Josh wasn’t completely convinced. “But, he might change your mind, he might...” He trailed off. I knew Josh must have been worried about how quickly I had moved on from Clint. I had jumped from one bed into another. Yes it looked bad, but I didn’t care. I didn’t feel like that was how it should be seen. The moment was right, and I no longer cared about whether or not this would hurt Clint. To me, I had made a choice. Josh was it, he was my end. My destiny. I regretted nothing. Why should I give a damn about Clint’s feelings, when he clearly did not care about mine?

  “Josh, nothing will change my mind. You have always been the right guy for me. You are not like Clint or Samuel. Why; have you changed your mind?”

  Josh’s body tensed as I questioned his feelings. “Never. I want you here forever Norah.”

  “Then forever I will stay,” I said, moving backwards so I put my neck into the crook of Josh’s neck.

  “Are you being serious Norah? Don’t toy with my emotions.” Josh’s hands had shifted to my hips in the bathtub.

  I turned my head to look up at him. “I don’t want to waste any more time with the wrong guys. I just want every moment from now on to be with the right guy. You Josh. Just you.”

  Josh sighed, relieved. “I love you so much Norah.”

  “I love you too Josh.”

  His hands began to find their way around and up in between my thighs. I tilted my head back and closed my eyes in anticipation. His hands would soon find me and I would be ready, wanting him again. Before he reached that spot, he stalled.

  “You need to call Tess. She has called me a thousand times since the truth and dare party, worried about you. When she couldn’t get hold of you after everything went down, I gave her my cell number in case I found you first.”

  Oh crap, I had forgotten all about Tess. I should let her know I’m OK. More than OK. I hope her trip back to London was alright.

  “I wonder why I haven’t heard from her on my cell?”

  “Ahhh, perhaps it’s because you shot your cell to pieces Nor,” Josh pointed out. Everything before this turn of events with Josh had become fuzzy memories in my mind. I had forgotten I did that.

  I giggled, “Oh yeah, that’s right. I’ll have to get her number from you then.”

  Josh started to kiss my neck now returning to what we started. His hands returned to my inner thighs where I needed him to be. It was going to be a long and orgasmic night, and I couldn’t wait to have more of Josh.

  ~ ~ ~

  The first thing I heard in the morning was the sound of the shower and Josh singing. I had no idea Josh sang in the shower. He was awful and couldn’t carry a tune. I giggled as I listened to how happy he sounded as he attempted the high notes. I think he was singing Lifehouse’s, You and Me. I smiled as I stretched out in Josh’s bed. A buzzing sound went off near my ear.

  What’s that?

  Josh’s cell phone was on vibrate and going off. It must have buzzed at least three times. Josh was a busy man. I wonder what could be so important at this time of morning.

  I rolled over on the bed, the Egyptian cotton sheets getting caught up between my naked body and the bed, cocooning me as I did. I reached over and grabbed his cell. Maybe it was Tess? I would love to talk to her right now and tell her everything was fine.

  My eyes lit up as I saw the name flashing. It was Tess. I pushed ‘Accept’.

  “Why hello there Miss Nicholls!” I said in my most charming voice. I couldn’t help it. I will still in a lovesick state of mind. Nothing could bring me down from the high.

  “Shit, fuck, oh my God, fuck Norah. Shit! Are you OK?”

  “And hello to you too! Yes, yes, I’m fine. I’m so sorry you were worried and that we didn’t get a chance to say good-bye, but you know...”

  “Yes, I saw what happened, I was there. Are you really OK? What happened with Clint? Fuck Norah…FUCK!”

  “Tess, calm down. I am alright. More than alright. Clint and I are over and I managed not to destroy walls because of it. Josh has...well...he was there for me.”

  “He told me you were staying at his place. Are you sure you are OK? I can probably get time off this weekend to fly back. We can use that ticket I got you and you can come back with me.”

  “No, that’s not necessary. I think I’m fine where I am Tess. But thank you so much for checking up on me, you are the best.”

  “What do you mean, you are fine where you are? Do you mean...with Josh?”

  I went quiet, not denying anything. A high-pitched squeal came from the cell. I had to hold it away from my head so it wouldn’t burst my eardrum.

  “Oh my God Norah, have you and Josh...did you and Josh...shit, wait, I’m going through a tunnel...”

  Click.

  Ah, European cell reception. I smiled at the cell as I placed it back on the side table. I knew Tess would call back with a million questions.

  The cell began buzzing again. I picked it up, but a different number flashed this time. A number I immediately recognized. It was my Dad. No doubt worried about my whereabouts. I was sure he was just checking in with Josh. He had mentioned that he had called a few times too. I thought about talking to my Dad, but I wasn’t in the mood for his parenting style. He would probably command me to come home after he found out that I’d left Clint, and I didn’t want to get into an argument with him about why I wouldn’t be doing that.

  I’ll just let it go to message bank.

  As I went to put the cell down, I felt the buzz of a message coming through.

  Damn my Dad is persistent.

  Curiosity made my eyes look at the screen before I placed the cell back on the side table. The words ‘job’ and ‘work’ flashed in my eyes.

  Ummm, what?

  I adjusted my vision again and hit the cell so I could read the message fully, which was, as I saw, from my Dad’s personal cell number. The message wasn’t about me, it was specifically for Josh.

  ‘Josh, regarding that important work, we need you to come by as soon as possible and finish the job.’

  Work, what work? A job? What job? With my Dad? Josh is working for my Dad?

  I started scrolling through his me
ssages very quickly as I heard the shower taps turning off.

  ‘Is it done?’

  ‘Did you meet with him? Is it taken care of?’

  ‘Are you sure you want to do this job. You know what it will mean.’

  Talk about curiosity killing the cat. Suddenly I felt claw marks digging long and hard down my back as I tried to formulate a reason as to why Josh would be working for my Dad. I knew all too well what type of jobs men do for my father. Why the hell would Josh be involved in any of it? He knows. He knows what it will do to me. No. It’s not possible. NOT POSSIBLE!

  My breathing became erratic. I felt myself turning inside out as I thought about Clint and Samuel. Two people who did things I never thought they would do. Now it looked like Josh was exactly like them. Doing what my Dad does. No, this isn’t happening, this can’t be happening. Not Josh. Please, NOT JOSH!

  My hand started to tremble at the idea of being sideswiped. I tried to move off the bed but the room was closing in all around me. The trembling from my hand had moved to the rest of my body as I crawled off the bed, still holding his cell in my hand. All I could think about was finding my clothes. I needed to run away from all this deception, and fast, even though my legs felt like bricks tied to the ground.

  I managed to find my jeans and boots but no shirt. I saw one of Josh’s business shirts hanging on a chair. I had both my hands in the sleeves when Josh came sauntering into the bedroom, the biggest grin ever on his face and a tiny white towel wrapped around his waist. I stilled like an animal, frightened and frozen in place, before bounding off into a forest. Josh’s face fell when he saw the look on my face, the way I was dressed and with his cell in my hand.