110 - The chapter with Josh

Rose

I felt the wind stir my hair that escaped from under the helmet Joshua had lent me as he guided us on his motorcycle through the streets of Waterfall. I kept everything that had happened that night in a dark, numb corner in the back of my mind, refusing to shed a single tear for that asshole.

No, I was going to enjoy my night with Josh and do my best to get Christian out of my system once and for all!

That thought calmed me down a bit, I shouldn't suffer for him. I would move on with my life and do it with my head held high!

It wasn't long before the man stopped his motorcycle in front of a commercial building in the city center. I got off the bike, taking off my helmet, frowning as I observed the place.

" Where are we? " I turned to the guy.

He just gave a small smile, nodding for me to follow him. Walking up to a big glass window that was covered with brown paper inside, he unlocked the glass door next to it, giving me the way to enter after turning on the lights.

I looked around with a frown. The place seemed to have been recently remodeled, one of its walls was made of exposed brick, contrasting with the light paint of the others, the floor of a glossy wood. With a small smile on his face, Joshua went around a service counter that was empty. I followed him, observing thick curtains that were open, allowing the view of the interior of the salon where two stretchers for tattoos were still covered by a transparent plastic.

" What is this place? " I asked again.

" It's my house," Joshua replied, adding when I turned to him in doubt, "And it's also my future studio. In fact, my house is over there.”

He pointed to a large glass window on a mezzanine, surprise overtaking my face at that information, making his smile widen.

" Are you serious?”

" Come, I'll show you... “

I followed him to a small staircase in the back, going up to the mezzanine, where the man opened a door, revealing a small and efficient room. There was a bed, and a dresser on one side, on the opposite wall, a counter with a fridge and a microwave and next to the large glass window that closed the mezzanine there was a sofa. I walked around the room, going to the window, watching the tattoo studio below.

" What do you think? " He approached as I took off my jacket.

" Practical... It suits you." I put the jacket on the sofa, keeping my gaze fixed on his.

" Practical…” he repeated with a half smile.

I turned my back to him, going back to observing the environment below, feeling the man approaching in slow steps.

"I didn't think you lived in a tattoo parlor, but I confess I thought it was pretty cool." I threw him a brief glance over my shoulder.

" Where did you think I lived? " his voice sounded close to my ear, making me close my eyes and take a deep breath for a second.

" An apartment on top of some store. You know, the basics," I tried to steady myself.

His hand came up to my shoulder and soon I felt his fingers brushing the skin exposed by the shoulder-to-shoulder neckline of my blouse as he moved the loose strands of hair out of his way, gently circling the tattoo on my skin.

Once again I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath at his touch feeling a shiver run through my body as Joshua brought his fingers to the nape of my neck.

" What are you doing?”

" Admiring my work," he whispered in my ear.

His fingers dug into my hair, working their way up through my scalp before closing in a fistful, pulling my head to the side, trailing his lips down to my neck. A small moan escaped my mouth as I felt his free hand move up my abdomen, lifting the fabric of the blouse I was wearing.

I turned my face towards him, another moan swallowed by a hungry kiss. His hand roamed my body, climbed my skin until it almost reached my breasts, but then frustrated me, going back down, around my waist. Tired of that game, I broke the kiss, and soon Joshua transferred his attention once again to my neck.

" Can you just stop teasing me? " I whimpered, making him laugh against my skin.

He finally got rid of my blouse, and it wasn't long before I was feeling his sheets against my bare skin as Josh tasted every part of my body with his lips.

I had no idea how involved I was with Davis until I noticed that I didn't remember what it was like to be with someone else. Because even though I was with Josh, feeling the pleasure consume me every second, and his name escaping my lips countless times that night, it was Christian who remained in my thoughts.

When the first rays of sunlight finally began to penetrate the room, I felt mentally and physically exhausted. I lay on Joshua's chest, tracing his numerous tattoos with the tips of my nails as my mind wandered over everything that had happened.

I was supposed to feel better, wasn't I?

"You seem distracted," Josh commented.

I lifted my face, finding his brown eyes fixed on me.

" Distracted? I'm just admiring your tattoos. Did you do any of them yourself? " I forced a smile.

I wasn't going to tell the guy I just had an amazing night with that I couldn't stop thinking about someone else.

" Do you want to talk about it? " He kept watching me.

I sat on the bed with a frown, not quite understanding what he was suggesting.

" About what? Your tattoos?”

" I can bet I know the reason for your distraction, and don't blame my tattoos again " he teased me, also sitting on the bed.

I blinked in a daze at that comment, not sure what to say. I highly doubt he knows why, right?

" I don't know what you're talking about, Joshua," I forced a lopsided smile.

" Rose, come on. I know your distraction has a first and last name," a condescending smile appeared on his face, making me blush.

I stood up in a jump, looking for my clothes scattered on the floor of his room, avoiding looking at the man.

Damn it Rose, why can't you forget that asshole for good?

" Rose, what are you doing? " He stood up, seeming to find my reaction funny.

" You promised you'd drive me back to campus in the morning, and it's already morning,” I blurted out.

Josh stepped closer, holding me by both arms, forcing me to look at him before speaking slowly.

" First of all, I'm not driving you to campus without buying you breakfast first. Secondly, I'm not offended that you're thinking about your ex, so you don't need to be embarrassed," he pointed out.

" I'm not…”

But it only took one look from him for me to give up on completing that sentence. It was clear that I couldn't fool him, so I'd better give up trying.

" A shower, breakfast and then I'll take you to the campus, what do you say? " he suggested " I can wait until you're properly fed to touch that name.”

" All right…”