Forever & an Engine (The Austin Series)

by C. J. Fallowfield

  ‘O my god,’ I exclaimed in horror. ‘The footage of us having sex on your car wasn’t still in there was it? Doug and Lexi were in there the other night.’

  ‘No, I moved that into my own personal locked folder called Mia, which I’m very much looking forward to adding to,’ he rubbed his nose on mine and kissed my forehead and held me tightly.

  ‘Hmmm me too.’

  ‘I got you lots of chocolate and microwave popcorn, they’re in the cupboard on the right of the plate rack. You’ve more mini B&J’s in the freezer and there’s loads of stuff if you want to make a sandwich. There’s a toasted sandwich machine in one of the cupboards next to the sink. I’d prefer you don’t attempt to cook anything. I’d like to find the house in one piece and smoke free when I get back.’

  ‘Very funny. Thanks for thinking of us.’

  ‘Shit it’s past nine. I need to go and get my books and head in. God I’d so much rather be here with you.’

  ‘Me too,’ I sighed as I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him, gently this time. ‘I love you, now go study. I’ll look forward to seeing you when you get home.’

  ‘You said that like we’re living together.’

  ‘Go.’ I smacked his bottom and he kissed me quickly and left the kitchen. I enjoyed my coffee standing there and sighed when I heard him leave. Had we really only been together for three weeks? It seemed longer, especially given how much I hated being apart from him already. I followed his instructions with the coffee machine and made a fresh latte and headed upstairs to give it to Lexi and realised I’d no idea which bedroom she was in, or which floor. ‘LEX?’ I shouted. I heard mumbling from the back bedroom and headed down and knocked the door. ‘I’ve made you a coffee, can I come in?’

  ‘Uh huh,’ she groaned and I snuck in.

  ‘I made you a latte with some vanilla syrup, it’s nearly as good as Starbucks,’ I smiled as she sat up and I handed it over.

  ‘I could so get used to living here Mia,’ she said, her eyes wide in awe. I laughed. Lexi’d always been impressed by people who had money, other than her education fees, she’d never seen any as her mum drank it all away. ‘I mean it’s a frigging tempura memory foam mattress. In the spare room or should I say one of the spare rooms,’ she exclaimed and I burst out laughing and she looked at me surprised.

  ‘I think you’ll find it’s a Tempur mattress Lexi, not a tempura mattress.’

  ‘So what’s a tempura mattress? I can’t imagine it could be any better than this one, I’ve slept like a log on it.’

  ‘There’s no such thing as a tempura mattress, tempura is a style of Japanese cooking, where they coat vegetables in batter and deep fry them.’

  ‘Wow yeah,’ she laughed. ‘I guess a tempura mattress wouldn’t be nearly as comfy then, but pretty damn handy if you needed a snack in the night. Do they tempura chocolate? I’d love to try a deep fried chocolate bar.’

  ‘I think people do that all the time, but it’s not a Japanese speciality I don’t think. We’ll have to ask mum to deep fry some chocolate for you when we go home so you can try it. So, how do you fancy us hanging out in the cinema today?’ I asked.

  ‘Hell yeah. I’m thinking after our little Neo reference yesterday that it’d be cool to do the trilogy on the big screen.’

  ‘Excellent,’ I nodded.

  ‘Nice Keanu Bill and Ted shoe in. I love that film.’

  ‘He was so much cooler in The Matrix though. “I know Kung Fu”’

  ‘God yes that training fight scene with Morpheus was awesome. I think he came into his own in Speed though.’

  ‘Hmmm he was seriously hot in that, “Mister, I’m already there”’ I nodded.

  ‘O Matrix trilogy we’re on. Come on, shift off my batter bed and let me get freshened up, see you in the basement. There’s a phrase I never thought I’d say,’ she chuckled.

  While Lexi had a shower I opened up Gabe’s computer and copied the movies across and then browsed his collection. He’d loads and pretty much all my taste. I went and had a shower myself, washed my hair and changed into some sexy underwear, my Yoga hipsters and tightly fitted black jumper, failing miserably to bend over far enough to pull on a pair of socks so I gave up. I headed down and rummaged in the cupboards, grabbed some chocolate and smiled when I found a large bottle of full fat coke in the fridge. I grabbed the two blankets from the lounge and settled into the double chair on the front row, grinning to myself remembering the last time I’d been down here.

  ‘What you smiling about?’ she asked as she toddled in.

  ‘You so don’t want to know Lex. Right coke and chocolate’s on your right and I know where the popcorn is for later. We can do toasted sandwiches for lunch.’

  ‘Sod toasties I want pizza and Ben & Jerry’s, we’ve both been through ordeals this week.’

  ‘I know a place that can deliver if I can work out how to open the gate.’

  ‘Then work it out. If we order after this one, we can eat during Revolutions and have popcorn with Reloaded.’

  ‘I like your style, but I’m not sure I can manage pizza, ice cream and popcorn Lex.’

  ‘Ok I guess we can have the mini ice cream Gabe got if we need it.’

  ‘Are you ok if I recline us and put on the heated seat?’

  ‘It has a heated seat?’ she exclaimed.

  ‘Yes, didn’t you find that when you were here the other night?’

  ‘No, too tipsy to explore. Recline and heat me up baby,’ she winked at me as she used Gabe’s pet name for me. I shook my head and adjusted the seats, dimmed the lights and worked out the gates then pressed play. We were an hour in when the film froze and the postman’s face appeared on screen. ‘What the hell?’ she said looking startled.

  ‘Cool isn’t it?’ I said as I got up and headed up to get the door. The postman handed me a parcel and some letters. I shut the door, putting the letters on the hall table and realised the parcel was for me, it was one of Gabe’s presents and was really nicely gift wrapped. I went up and put it on his bedside table and went back down to find an impatient Lexi waiting for me.

  ‘How much money does Gabe have?’

  ‘Lexi!’ I admonished.

  ‘Seriously, how much?’

  ‘It’s his dad’s house not his and I get the impression his dad’s pretty well off.’

  ‘Well duhhhh doesn’t exactly take a genius to see that. How much does Gabe have though? Paying for your op, his car, the designer clothes.’

  ‘I don’t know Lexi, it’s none of my business, which means it’s definitely none of yours,’ I replied shooting her a glare.

  ‘Huffy,’ she replied pulling a face at me.

  ‘Sorry, but that’s not why I’m with him so I don’t care. I’ve got to look into a way to repay him regardless. Can we get back to the film?’

  ‘You were the one holding it up with your two hour postman visit Miss stroppy pants.’

  I shook my head and pressed play. It was nearly twelve thirty by the time it finished and I ordered pizza. I had the same as the other week and Lexi ordered a spicy meat feast with stuffed crust and we put on Revolutions. Lexi paid for the pizza when it arrived, her get well present to me and I ate three quarters of it before admitting defeat and closed the box, that would do for tomorrows breakfast.

  Lexi managed all of hers and belched loudly before swigging some coke. I sighed, it wasn’t my favourite habit of hers, you’d think having gone to an exclusive boarding school they’d have managed to drum some manners into her, but she was never one for following the rules or being normal. We had a break so I could have a walk around to stretch my legs and head up to take my painkillers. I tried bending over a few times, which was definitely getting easier. It was after four by the time we started the last film and I ended falling asleep about ten minutes in, all snuggled up in the blanket. Lexi had the volume full blast, but even the surround sound that was practically vibrating our chair wasn’t enough to keep me awake. Lexi shaking me and yelling my name wa
s though.

  ‘What?’ I groaned.

  ‘Gabe’s at the door.’

  ‘What?’ I squinted through sleepy eyes at the screen and sure enough there was his face and he looked really pissed. ‘Why’s he buzzing it’s his house? And isn’t he supposed to be in English?’ I asked as I checked my watch.

  ‘Well don’t ask me, let the poor sod in and ask him. He’s getting really irate. Actually don’t, this is quite amusing, leave him out there for a while, it’s more entertaining than the third film,’ she chuckled as she watched him scowling at the camera. ‘It’s like being at a safari park, watching the animals in their natural habitat.’

  ‘Well he’s looking like one animal that’s well overdue his feed,’ I sighed as I pulled my blanket off. I headed upstairs rubbing my eyes and opened the door.

  ‘Thank god,’ he uttered as he stormed in dumped his bags and then grabbed me and squashed me tightly to him.

  ‘Gabe what’s going on? Why aren’t you in English?’ I asked. He let me go, stepped back and put his hands on his hips. O no, I knew that stance, he was angry.

  ‘What’s fucking going on? I’ve only been trying to reach you since lunchtime, to see if you were ok and not had a bloody response. Where’s your phone?’ he snapped.

  ‘Upstairs on the dock,’ I whispered, cringing.

  ‘What’s the point of having the bloody thing Mia if you never look at it?’ he said with a glare.

  ‘I’m sorry I forgot it was there.’

  ‘I was worried sick something had happened to you.’

  ‘I’m fine, what would’ve happened to me?’

  ‘You could have fallen down the bloody stairs or tried swimming too soon and drowned. Christ Mia,’ he ran a hand through his hair. I could see he was almost shaking and walked up to him and put my hands on his chest. He tried to avoid looking in my eyes. I knew why, I always melted and forgave him when I looked into his.

  ‘Lexi was here with me, she’d have rung you. Look at me Gabe, I’m fine.’ I ducked my head down and looked up to meet his downwards gaze and he shifted on his feet. Good I was wearing him down.

  ‘I thought you’d bloody changed your mind about our fight yesterday and you’d packed up and left and were ignoring my messages.’

  ‘Gabe, I told you I was sorry. I’m right here, I’m not going anywhere.’

  ‘I had to leave English early to come and make sure you were ok.’ No swearing and no snappiness, good that was progress.

  ‘Thanks for doing that, but I’m good. Better than good, especially now you’re here.’ I smiled and ran my hands up his chest and kept eye contact with him.

  ‘I know what you’re doing Mia. You’re trying to break me with your smiles and your touching and your … your … your tits look even bigger than normal. Are you wearing a push up bra?’ He asked as his eyes widened. I burst out laughing and he chuckled and pulled me into his arms resting his chin on my head. ‘I was really worried Mia.’

  ‘I know, I’m sorry, I’m crap with my phone, you know that. Why were you ringing your own doorbell?’

  ‘I was in such a rush this morning I forgot my keys.’

  ‘Well now you’re home can I welcome you back with a kiss?’

  ‘Hmmm yes please, now you’re talking.’ He lifted me up and sat me on the hall table kissing me deeply and I clung to him and made the most of it. I really had missed him and he’d only been gone a few hours.

  ‘For god’s sake, if it’s not the sodding postman delaying the film, or the pizza delivery guy, now you two are at it in the fucking hall ruining my viewing,’ came Lexi’s annoyed voice, interrupting us.

  ‘You had pizza for lunch?’ said Gabe surprised, pulling away.

  ‘Yes sorry, we had a craving,’ I shrugged.

  ‘Who gives a fuck guys. Mia can we go and finish the damn film. Please.’

  ‘Go, I need to work on an assignment. I’ll see you later.’ He kissed me and helped me down and ran upstairs.

  ‘Ok let’s go Lexi. We really need to talk about this fondness you have for the work fuck and its various connotations multiple times in a sentence. Potty Clarke is living up to her reputation.’

  ‘Fuck you,’ she teased. I grinned as she put her arm around me and we headed back down to watch the end of the film.

  It was after six when we tidied up and Lexi headed up to have a sleep while I went in search of Gabe. I grabbed his present from the bedroom, after looking for him in there and the bathroom, with no luck, but found him in his study.

  ‘There you are, I was worried sick,’ I teased. He swung around in his chair smiling and patted his lap for me to get on. I did and put one arm around his neck as he slipped his around my waist. I kissed him and handed him his present.

  ‘What’s this?’

  ‘Well you have to open it to find out.’

  ‘Why do I have a present?’ he looked at me surprised.

  ‘It’s a belated birthday one.’

  ‘I feel spoilt.’

  ‘You deserve to be. Come on open it, I want to see what you think,’ I smiled. He fumbled with the wrapping still having one arm around my waist.

  ‘You do it, I can’t reach.’

  ‘Are you calling me fat?’ I teased.

  ‘Never. Sexily curvaceous, incredibly hot and mine is what I’d call you,’ he planted a kiss on my lips then my forehead. ‘I don’t want to let go in case you fall. Please open it, I’m dying to see what it is. It feels heavy.’

  ‘You’re very excited,’ I observed.

  ‘I’m not used to getting presents.’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘Well it’s only dad and I. I don’t often get something to open, especially not a day other than Christmas or my birthday. Mia please open it or I’ll plonk you on the floor and do it myself,’ he ordered. I pulled off the wrapping and handed him the digital hand held camcorder and watched his face. ‘Are you serious? I can’t believe you got this. Is it what I think it’s for?’ He was grinning like a child.

  ‘Yes I’m serious, the tripod will come separately. I figured we could have some fun with it, you know … sexually.’

  ‘O baby, you’re not going to be disappointed, we’re going to have so much fun with it,’ he replied with a twinkle in his eye.

  ‘It remains private Gabe, if ever I find any tapes of me on the internet I’ll separate you from that delicious manhood of yours.’

  ‘As if I’d want to share you naked with anyone else. Baby I love it, thank you, you’ve spent too much money.’ He put it on the desk and kissed me, then jerked back. ‘Shit speaking of sharing, you’re becoming a You Tube and Facebook legend. It’s all over campus, the guys are going crazy for your clip. I’ve been slapped on the back that many times I think I’m bruised.’

  ‘O god seriously? It’s going to be so embarrassing when I go back in. I can’t believe you’re being so cool about this.’

  ‘I think I just made it to top stud at Uni for “banging that hot chick” in the words of most of the guys, plus it helps that word is spreading that you’re off the market and mine,’ he said smiling happily.

  ‘You were already top stud Gabe,’ I smiled kissing his forehead ignoring his over possessive comments. ‘Were they all that polite?’

  ‘Not all of them no. I did have to punch one of them, look.’ He showed me his right hand and his knuckles were all red, so I kissed them for him.

  ‘Thank you for protecting my virtue. So if you’re ok with this clip, how do you feel about me going topless?’

  ‘What? That’s a bit random.’

  ‘Well if say … we were on holiday, would it bother you if I was topless and men were staring and saying things?’ I asked. I’d thought of a way of making some extra cash fast to pay him back, but I wasn’t sure how well learning to pole dance so I could perform at Peppers strip club would go down with him, so I needed to test the water. He frowned for a minute and I could see the cogs whirring.

  ‘No, I guess topless would be fine.
Most women do it don’t they? I told you I’m fine now with men looking, it’s touching I wouldn’t be happy with, that I’ve got a problem with.’

  ‘Or calling me derogatory names,’ I smiled.

  ‘Well yes, that too. So, I need something to eat and then I plan to eat you.’

  ‘Gabe.’ I slapped him on the arm making him laugh.

  ‘So you can say rude and suggestive things to me, like you did this morning, but it’s not ok the other way round?’

  ‘You could try and make it sound a bit more sexy.’

  ‘I’ll make it sound damn sexy when I’m down there,’ he murmured, nibbling my neck.

  ‘Stop doing that, I’m already excited enough as it is. I had a nice shower and put on some sexy underwear for you.’

  ‘Don’t baby,’ he sighed. ‘I’m not sure how I’m going to do this without getting to fuck you.’

  ‘I’ll have to do something for you then. Again,’ I smiled. He raised an eyebrow and laughed.

  ‘If we’re keeping score, I think you’re quite a few orgasms ahead of me. Right let’s stop this sex talk before I take you here and now, regardless of your stitches. Would you eat some lasagne if I cook one?’

  ‘Sure.’

  ‘We’ll get Indian instead for tomorrow night as you two ruined my pizza plan.’

  ‘Blame Lexi, I was all for toasted sandwiches.’

  ‘Where is she?’

  ‘Snoozing, but she’ll definitely be happy with lasagne too. I’ll wake her up when it’s time to eat.’

  ‘You’d better warn her to wear her headphones, I plan to have you screaming, in the good way.’ He grinned, picked me up and carried me down to the kitchen and deposited me on my viewing spot. I watched as he even made the white sauce from scratch and put loads of mustard, cracked black pepper and cheese in it, before layering it all up in a large square dish and putting it in the oven and preparing some herbed buttered focaccia.

  ‘So I can bend over a bit now, do you want to take me on at pool Gabe?’

  ‘Sure it’s not too much?’ he asked, flashing me a concerned look.

  ‘Are you trying to back out Gabe Austin? Too scared of losing to a mere girl again?’