‘Mia just try dating him. You already know the worst that could happen and you have me to fall back on.’
‘I’ll just stick to sex for now thanks. I’ve met my end of the deal, you need to meet yours Lex.’
‘I know. Just not sure if I want to try it with Andrew that’s all.’
‘Thanks Lex, I really appreciate the advice. Right, I really need to get a hustle on. I’ve got some studying to catch up on. Are you up to date?’
‘Nag nag nag, it’s like bloody college all over again,’ she grumbled.
‘You’re behind already aren’t you?’
‘Maybe a little.’
‘Well I need to do my English catch up first, then I’ll help you with whatever you’ve not done. You really need to pull your finger out Lex, this is a step up from college and you could do it if you applied yourself.’
‘Teacher Page eh? Bet Gabe’s going to love you getting all strict with him, taking his control away.’
‘Lexi seriously, study now.’
It was past five o’clock by the time we’d caught up on our notes and I realised how hungry I was.
‘Ok, which take out are we dialling tonight?’ I asked her.
‘Curry?’
‘Hmmm not sure if I want to stink of garlic when I plan on getting up close and personal with him again.’
‘That rules out Thai too then. So Chinese or pizza it is. You choose.’
‘I had pizza Wednesday with Milo, so let’s go for Chinese. Your usual?’ I asked and she nodded. ‘I’ll dial, you grab some beer Lexi.’
I went in search of my mobile. It seemed pointless paying for a landline when I had unlimited minutes and texts on my iPhone. As I grabbed it from my room, I realised I hadn’t checked it all day and there was a message from Gabe.
Back home but finding it very hard to focus on studying. I keep thinking about you and what I want to do to you. Tried a cold shower, but that didn’t help so just got myself off again looking at that picture of you in the bath. You’re a very bad influence on me. I really enjoyed my time with you last night and this morning. I’m looking forward to spending more time with you tomorrow. Hope you’re not having any regrets? Gabe x
Regrets? Jesus, he was as fucked up as me if he was questioning whether I was happy about our time together. I sent him a reply. No regrets, other than not being able to repeat the sex portion of the night again. And it’s you who are the bad influence, taking poor virgins and making them come in all manner of public places. Shame on you Gabe. See you tomorrow
I hesitated, did I put a kiss on the end or not? I never had with anyone but Lex, Georgie and mum and it felt kind of weird to do with him, but what if he thought it was weird I hadn’t put one and he had? I stared at the phone for a while and decided to end with a smiley face instead. Christ it was so much easier when you didn’t give a shit I thought as I dialled up Mr Chan’s for our order.
After eating and watching some rubbish TV, I was surprised at how tired I felt and left Lexi in the lounge as I sloped off for a shower before bed. I closed my eyes and let the hot water hit the back of my neck and shoulders and gently moved my head from side to side. It felt so good, just like when Gabe had massaged my neck in the bath. I poured some baby wash onto my hands and ran them over my body imagining they were his hands touching my stomach, breasts and nipples and I felt a familiar swell below.
I figured I’d better do a road test if I was really planning on another round with him tomorrow. I leaned back on the tiled wall and let the water cascade off my chest as I gently inserted first one finger, then two. I winced as it stung a little, but not enough to stop me from gently bring myself off without too much discomfort, the orgasm that followed soon overrode any twinges of pain. I dried myself off and towel dried my hair and climbed into my bed and stretched out. I could still smell his scent on the pillow next to me and this time I hugged it to my face and breathed it in. I reached out for my phone to turn it off and saw I had another message. I really needed to check it more often.
Poor virgins? I think you’re a closet dominatrix after bossing me about in the toilet x
I think we’d better try again then, just to make sure Gabe. What do you think? PS I just had a very hot and steamy shower and road tested my engine for you. You’ll be pleased to know that the chassis is in working order and ready for a long ride tomorrow. You may need to purchase a new silencer though. Sweet dreams :-)
I was going to have sweet dreams anyway, but the thought of you getting off in the shower just adds fuel to an already intense fire. I’m going to dream about fucking you again. Does that make you feel good?
Not as good as I know you’ll make me feel tomorrow. Put it down, I don’t want you to wear it out before I see you
Trust me Mia, where you’re concerned there are no worries of me wearing it out. I am titanium!
Good to know. Now leave me alone, I’m tired and need my beauty sleep
None required Mia. You’re the most stunning girl I’ve ever seen. You knew I thought that the first time we locked eyes. By the way, you look even more beautiful when you’re sleeping with that after sex glow I put on your face :-)
You watched me sleeping?? Weirdo. Now please let me sleep Gabe “I’ve an insatiable appetite for sex” Austin. See you in the morning!
You remembered my surname, I’m touched, but I’m only insatiable when it comes to you. I’ve never come this many times in a week before G x
Week’s not over yet Mr Austin. Now leave me in peace to imagine all the things I want to do with you tomorrow. Starting with Starbucks, then the nearest supermarket, chemist, a good local pub…
Funny. Then stop texting me back, I have a very steamy dream to get back to G x
I smiled and turned my phone off, this could go on all night if I let it. The thought of him wanting to dream about sex with me was seriously hot. I inhaled my Gabe scented pillow again and gently drifted off to sleep.
Sunday
The alarm at 8.30 jolted me awake. I hadn’t slept so well since we’d moved here. I looked around my room, happy to realise that it was starting to feel like home already. I pulled on my t-shirt and opened my blinds, it was looking reasonably clear, but not hot and sunny like the last few days. I tiptoed to the kitchen, Lexi didn’t do mornings and she was well overdue a lie in. I made myself a coffee crept back to my room and sat on my bed cross legged as I sipped at it, daydreaming about how Gabe and I had made it to this point. We were moving fast, too fast?
I suddenly noticed it was nearly quarter past nine and shoved my cup on the side as I leapt up and made a dash for the bathroom. By the time I was showered and had dried my hair, smoothing out the kinks, I barely had time to apply some mascara and put on my underwear before I heard the intercom buzz. Shit, he was early. I dashed to the hall and picked up the phone.
‘Hello,’ I whispered.
‘Are you ok? You sound very quiet,’ he asked, his sexy voice sending a shiver down my spine.
‘I’m fine, I’m just trying not to wake up Lexi, she’s still sleeping.’
‘Are you ready?’
‘Nearly, you’re ten minutes early.’
‘I was half an hour early, I’m getting funny looks loitering around down here. How long do you need?’
‘Give me five minutes to throw something on and grab my bag.’
‘Ok but hurry, I’m going to get propositioned if I hang out down here much longer.’
I pulled on my jeans, some brown timberland boots and a black lace trimmed vest, then wrapped a black belted thick ribbed cardigan around me. No time for jewellery, I just grabbed my purse and keys and shoved them in my jeans pocket, gently closed the front door behind me and raced down the three flights of stairs. I stepped out to find Gabe leaning on the wall to my left and he gave me a dazzling smile.
‘Good morning,’ he said before pulling me towards him by my waist and kissing me gently, it was a few minutes before we came up for air.
‘Hmmm now that is a good
morning,’ I said blushing, marvelling at how quickly my body responded to him. ‘Not managed to pick up any business?’
‘Not until now, but you were worth the wait.’
‘Thanks. So what’s the plan?’ I asked as I looked him up and down. He had on black jeans, a pair of black converse hi tops and a crisp white fitted shirt that hung over his jeans, but with the cuffs turned back and unbuttoned at the top. He looked so edible.
‘I’m going to introduce some of Westhampton to you. Do you have comfortable shoes on? It’s a bit far for me to carry you again.’
‘Yes I do,’ I laughed. ‘So your arms can have the day off.’
‘Great, let’s get going.’ He held out his right hand to me and I eyed it suspiciously. ‘Really? We can fuck, bathe together and naked toothbrush but you won’t hold my bloody hand?’ he exclaimed as he grabbed it, interlocking his fingers with mine so I couldn’t let go. He pulled me with him as he started to walk and talk and explain some of the history of my neighbourhood and what lay in what direction.
I listened attentively, I could listen to him talk all day, his voice was smooth and husky and I could feel his thumb caressing my hand as we walked. I felt like a school girl with a crush again and had to keep biting my lip to stop myself from grinning inanely. His phone rang a number of times, but he kept pressing the ignore button and put it back in his pocket.
He pointed out Starbucks, the local newsagents, a chemist and office licence, great for Lexi’s fags and our wine and beer supplies, and M&S outlet which he told me would have more than enough fresh or microwave meals so that we wouldn’t have to cook from scratch. He took me to a fresh fruit and vegetable shop and purchased a crisp pink apple from which he took a bite and then offered a taste to me. As I took a bite from it he smiled and continued on his tour whilst he demolished it and deposited the core in a bin.
He grabbed a loaf of bread from a small bakery and just smiled at me when I asked what it was for, he seemed full of smiles this morning. We walked off the main path and down to the river into the park, then along the embankment, ducking under the weeping willows that blocked our way and the reason for the bread became clear. We took a seat on a bench at the edge of the river and quaking hoards of ducks appeared from nowhere sensing food was on offer. Gabe tore chunks off the bread offering it to me to throw and I laughed as they climbed over each other trying to make it to the front of the queue.
‘You really have the most amazing smile and laugh,’ he murmured as he leaned back on the bench and spread his arms across the top.
I glanced at him quickly, he looked so confident in himself, which was such a turn on. He tugged my hand, pulling me onto his lap and kissed me before letting me continue to try and spread the food out evenly to excited feathery group at our feet. When all the bread was gone we continued through the park, where lots of people were walking their dogs, cycling or running. As we exited through the main black iron gates, we reach Queen Street, which he told me was the main area for all the best day to day eateries in town. It was a quaint old cobbled street, with black and white buildings that hung over us as if trying to meet each other in the middle. We’d been out for just over two hours and I was already starting to feel hungry.
‘Ready to eat?’ he asked.
‘I am.’ I nodded vigorously.
‘What’s your favourite food?’
‘Has to be Italian. Pasta, pizza how much better can it get?’
‘Then this is the place to go,’ he said as he steered me through the door of a busy trattoria. We were shown to a small table for two. It was so typically Italian, with red white and green checked clothes on the table and a bottle of olive oil for drizzling on the basket of bread that was quickly produced with I took no time in attacking.
I choose a pasta dish of tagliatelle with ribbons of courgette, fresh green beans and new potatoes in a pesto sauce and Gabe asked for same and ordered a bottle of still water. As we ate I asked him about his swimming. He told me he’d started at a young age, encouraged by his dad and soon discovered he was good at it and started competing locally and nationally. He explained it was a good way of keeping fit, along with his black belt in Jiu Jitsu and that he also loved long distance running.
He didn’t mention his mother and I knew better than to ask again. He’d made it clear, by avoiding the question last time, that this was an area that was off topic. I could empathise and was equally evasive when we discussed my family. I left out the complicated issue of my relationship with my father, instead focussing on my mother, step father Gerry, sister Georgina and the town where I’d grown up.
‘So you and Lexi have been friends for a while then?’ he asked sitting back and putting his napkin on his empty plate.
‘Yes, seven years now.’
‘You seem an unlikely match.’
‘You think? I think we’re quite alike actually.’
‘How so?’
‘We’re both fiercely loyal and protective of those we care about, honest sometimes to our own detriment. We share a love of film and books. We’ve been through lots of crap and good times and we’re always there for each other.’
‘She’s fierce alright,’ he observed.
‘Underneath that tough exterior you all see is a warm generous person who I trust with my life. She’s more like a sister to me than my own sister.’
‘Then I’m glad that you have someone like that in your life.’
‘Don’t you have a Lexi?’ I asked surprised as I finished my meal.
‘I’m a guy, I’ve got plenty of male friends. Doug’s my best friend, but we don’t do the sharing thing to the extent you girls seem to do. How much exactly do you share?’
‘O pretty much everything. She knows most of the details of Friday night.’
‘Seriously? Great,’ he replied rolling his eyes.
‘I warned you Gabe. Lexi’s been the most important person in my life for a long time. I’ve no intention of cutting her out, or not sharing stuff with her, just because a guy comes into the picture.’
‘I wouldn’t ask you to do that, I can see how important she is to you.’
‘Good, because there have been a few guys who said they were cool with it and they weren’t and they didn’t last the distance,’ I said giving him a warning glance. ‘Guys come and go, Lexi and I’ll always be there for each other.’
‘Guys come and go? Wow,’ he exclaimed with a surprised shake of the head. ‘What’s your longest relationship?’
‘Three months with Kai.’
‘And yet you didn’t sleep with him?’ he said looking puzzled.
‘No. Are we really on this topic again?’ I looked at him confused, we’d already covered this yesterday.
‘I just can’t get my head around it Mia. Didn’t you love him?’
‘No, like you I’ve never been in love with anyone either.’
‘What was wrong with him?’
‘Nothing, other than the occasional temper, he was a decent guy and he deserved to be treated better. I told you, I just wasn’t feeling it.’ I was starting to feel like I was being interrogated, that he was running a check on my mental or psychological stability.
‘Have you ever felt this elusive “it”?’
‘No, not until,’ I took a deep breath, ‘not until now. This is getting a little intense Gabe,’ I commented as I drank some of my water.
‘Sorry, I’m just trying to understand you better.’
‘It’s not something we can fit into a quick lunch date, stuff like that takes time.’
‘And I’m willing to invest that time Mia. I just want to be sure that you are too.’
‘Wow you really feel the need to define this don’t you. I thought we’d agree to just see how it went day by day.’
‘We did, but you need to know that I don’t do things half-heartedly. I commit to anything I start.’
‘You were hardly committed to Julie, you dumped her the minute you thought I was a done deal,’ I pointed out.
/> ‘I thought I’d explained that. We were doing fine. We spent a lot of time together other the years with our swimming and we got on well, so it seemed a natural progression to start dating. She’s attractive, the sex was ok, I thought that was as good as it got, until I laid eyes on you. Seeing you made me aware that if I could have such intense feelings for someone, by only looking at them, then what I’d had with her, or any other girl before that was never real.’
‘So you’re basically saying you thought you were happy with her, until a different new exciting model came along? So if I let this become something more, I could be standing in her shoes in a few months’ time too?’
‘I could say the same about you. What are you scared of? Falling for a guy and them leaving you?’
‘Maybe I’m not ready to talk about that yet.’ I was starting to get irritated at the in depth grilling I was getting.
‘Well I’m right there with you. There are things I’m not ready to talk to you about too, but I can tell you I don’t like people leaving me. The thought of you walking away terrifies me and we’re only on our second date.’
‘And it was going so well up until now,’ I sighed.
‘It was?’
‘Yes of course it was Gabe. You’re very easy to be around. Other than my mother, I’ve never felt comfortable with anyone else but Lexi, but you’re ruining it with these incessant deep questions.’
‘Ok, how do I make it better again?’
‘I could think of a few ways,’ I said with a nervous smile and bit my lip.
‘You don’t want dessert?’
‘No. Do you mind if we go now?’ I asked, looking at him thinking he’d be a perfect dessert.
‘Not at all. Are you happy to walk back? I need to pick up a few supplies.’
‘Condoms?’
‘No, I already have some of those as instructed,’ he laughed. ‘If I’m going to have the odd sleep over, you need to get some food in other than cereal and popcorn. I have to eat healthily for my training and physique.’ He signalled the waiter over for the bill and I dug my purse out of my jeans. ‘You can put that away, this is on me,’ he said with a frown.
New Leaves, No Strings (Austin Erotic Romance Series) Page 15
