CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 1

Josh awoken from a horrendous nightmare about his father leaving his mother. Realizing that it was just a dream, he notices a young, beautiful, naked red head lying next to him, who was none other than his supervisor, Laura Ryans. She was a beautiful sight as always and always came to him to cool off when she and her husband (Jonathan Ryans) fought. With looks like hers, who the hell could resist. She had long waist length cascading red hair that spelt trouble, cold blue eyes, a body men craved for, but some could only dream. He knew one thing was sure: he really loved her. ‘Not just for sex’.

No matter how many times he had her, last night was special. It was one year that they had known each other intimately. He knew she had been hitting the bottle hard complaining about her loser husband. The bitter truth.

Josh detested this but there wasn’t anything he could do about it. He convinced her on many occasions to leave her creep husband Jonathan and stay with him. Sometimes she took heed, and at other times her husband was her main concern.

“Laura! Wake up!” Josh said as he shook Laura gently to wake her up from sleeping.

He often wondered how a spineless man like Jonathan Ryans could treat a woman like Laura so rotten. (Jonathan Ryans was a black- haired, muscular, tall guy who had a light brown complexion and brown eyes). Most times Laura came to Josh, her face was usually covered in bruises which he himself nursed back to health. He gradually fell in love with her despite her status in life. He knew that if her husband ever found out about them that he would stand his ground, because she made him break his #1 rule:

“NEVER SLEEP WITH A WOMAN,

UNLESS YOU KNOW HER COMPLETELY”

Poor Josh had no idea whom Laura really was. If he found out who she really was, it would destroy him completely.

“Laura, Honey Wake up,”

On hearing Josh’s voice, Laura stretched like a cat and sleepily looked at him. Remembering she heard Josh’s voice before, she suddenly flew off the bed grabbing the sheet to cover her naked self. She looked at him hard and asked curiously yet firmly:

“Did we?”

“Did we what?” Josh asked as he looked at Laura as she stood there glaring at him. He laid on the bed naked very contented with himself.

“Did we you know?” Laura asked in a firm yet curious tone of voice like she was uncertain about last night events with Josh. She looked at him confused. To her, he was a very gorgeous man. With looks like his, who could refuse? Joshua Callahan was of average height which accentuated his well- built, muscular, caramel tanned brown complexion, spiny blond hair that spelt trouble, deep sexy brown eyes that usually highlighted green flecks when he got angry and a clean- shaven strong jawline. He was the perfect description of a perfect man and a perfect lover. Women often threw themselves at him, but he only had eyes for Laura.

“You mean screw?” Josh asked as he looked naughtily at Laura, but that changed when she shot him a deadly look and said angrily:

“Yes Josh,”

“Do I have to spell it out for you?”

“Of course, it was beautiful might I say,” Josh said as he realized what Laura was asking him.

“Have you forgotten what yesterday was?”

She looked at him and blurted out angrily after realizing that she had cheated on her husband once again;

“I know Josh. It was a mistake!”

Josh looked at her disappointed and asked curiously:

“A mistake, How? We’ve done it so many times and you’ve never said anything about it. Are you shy?”

“Shy?” Laura asked

Don’t be ridiculous,” Laura said angrily as she looked at him.

“Am I? I love you,” Josh said as raised up from lying down and motioned Laura to sit down on the bed close to him. She listened and sat down where he touched her face. She closed her eyes enjoying the feeling as she started to feel aroused. Suddenly she pulled away from and asked with concern without looking at him:

“But what about Johnny?”

Looking at her, he cupped her face and said as he made her look at him:

“Screw Johnny,”

“Honey!”

“He’s bad news, look at what he did,” as he touched her left cheek where once was a bruise that he had nursed back to health.

That was the love he had for her. She meant the world to him.

Pulling away from him, she shot him a seriously look for him to listen and take her seriously:

“Despite all he has done, he’s still my husband and I still love him,” Looking at her expression, he realized she meant business.

“I know,” Josh said not meeting her glance. A short while later he looked at her like he understood what she meant. The reality burned his heart, he loved Laura with all his heart and wanted her as his. The way things were heading; he wasn’t so sure. Her husband treated her like crap. She was such a beautiful woman that deserved the best. ‘Someone to love and cherish her’

“But he’s stupid,”

“I love you,” as he kissed her on the forehead. Looking at him, she whispered as he looked at her:

“Love you too, I’m sorry,” He held her left hand in his and kissed it as he then looked at her and said as he kissed her left cheek:

“I really think you should file for divorce,” Looking into his eyes, she understood the torment he was going through. She knew he loved her and she loved him dearly but the reality was. (Despite what she felt, she was a married woman.) Josh was right- her husband was an animal and she was afraid of him.

“You deserve better!”

“He will kill me,” Laura said as she looked at Josh and he understood she was afraid of her husband. He felt her pain and hugged her tightly. Closing his eyes, he wished for it to be a dream for Laura.

“If he finds out anything about us,”

“No he won’t, I will protect you,” Josh said as she looked at him and he looked at her.

“Thanks Josh,” Laura said as she hugged Josh and he responded to her. Looking at the clock in his room, he noticed that the time was getting late.

It was almost 8:30 a.m.

He then looked at her and leaned over where he kissed her on the lips, and pulled away from her saying as he looked at her;

“Sorry Honey, it’s getting late,” as he headed for the shower when Laura stopped him in his tracks when she said suddenly without any feelings:

“I still think last night was a mistake,” Turning around to face her, the pain shot him in his heart and he asked in a hurt tone of voice;

“Why? Don’t you love me?”

There was silence.

“I knew it! I took you in when he beat you, made you unattractive. I gave you money for your expenses. I gave you a place in my home, my heart. How could you?” Josh asked, as he looked her angrily as flashbacks of Johnny beating her flooded her mind. Blinking them away she looked at him.

“Josh I’m sorry, I do love you always have and always will…” Laura said as he looked at him. He then cut her off to say something. She realized he was mad as hell, so she shut him up when she said as tears streamed down her face:

“I really don’t know what to do,” Realizing that she was hurt. He came and hugged her and said as he looked into her eyes:

“Don’t worry I’ll take care of it,” Looking at him, she said as she leaned her head on his shoulder,

“You know I love you right?”

Looking into her eyes, he said as she kissed him on his left cheek:

“I know,” Josh then captured her lips in a passionate kiss.

“Well it’s getting late,” as he pulled his lips away from hers.

“Where are you going?” Laura asked in a curiously tone.

“To shower,” Josh said as he got up and headed to the shower.

“Will you shower after or would you like join me?”

“I will go after. Thanks for the offer,” Laura said as she looked at him shyly.

“OK,” Josh said as he left and showered. Laura put on her clothes and left Josh’s apartment.

1/2 hour later: