Page 200 of Stanton Unconditional

He reaches up and runs his fingers over the four bruises on my right hipbone.

I frown. “What are those bruises from?”

His face drops at the realization. “My fingers.”

I turn and look at myself in the mirror as I put my hair behind my shoulders, and I smirk. “I have the same four bruises on my left shoulder too.”

His eyes widen in horror.

“That was some hold you had on me from behind when I was on my knees. No wonder I’m sore.”

He looks down at the bed. “I’m sorry. I lost my head.” My eyes hold his. “What was that? Round three?”

He swallows and nods, daring me with his eyes to say something.

“That wasn’t sex, Joshua.” “What was it?” he whispers.

“That was a claiming. You were showing me who my body belongs to.”

He raises an eyebrow in silent disapproval. “And was the message understood?” he says coldly.

A frisson of unease runs through me and I nod. “Loud and clear, Mr. Stanton…loud and clear.”

“So, did you give your notice?” Joshua asks as he drinks his protein shake while sitting on the counter as I cook.

“Aha.” I pour the vegetables into the wok off the chopping board.

“One week?” he asks.

“No, I told you I have to give two.”

“We are leaving in a week,” he snaps.

I roll my eyes. “Listen.” I point the wooden spoon at him. “I am moving to the other side of the world and I have things to tie up. I can’t just leave in seven days.”

“Like what?”

I raise my eyebrows. “Like my mother, like my apartment, like the two best friends I am leaving behind.”

He swigs his drink angrily.

“I was thinking we might move to Willowvale when we get home,” he replies.

I turn and frown. “What? Out in the country…with the horses?” Is he kidding?

He nods matter of factly and swigs more protein. I shake my head. “No.”

He frowns. “What do you mean no?” I widen my eyes at him. “No, I am not moving to the country. I want to live near Adrian, and I want to party…in LA.”

He narrows his eyes at me. “Party?” he questions, affronted.

I nod. “Aha, I’m only twenty-five, Joshua. I can think of nothing worse than being locked up on a farm while you ride around on frigging horses like Captain America.”

“Captain America doesn’t ride a horse,” he mutters. I roll my eyes in response. “I’m sure he did,” I snap.

“We are moving to LA, you are buying me a new house and then when we are old and have two…” I hold up two of my fingers to accentuate my point, “two children, I will move to Willowvale…and not a moment before.”

He narrows his eyes again. “Listen here…you will leave when I damn well say and if you think you are moving to LA to run amok you have another thing coming. I won’t stand for it. And we are having six children!”