‘We did,’ he sighed as he kissed my hand. I felt a tear trickle down my cheek to see how upset he was looking. I knew if I didn’t take it off he wouldn’t, so I carefully extracted my hand from his, took one last look at it, and slid it off. ‘You look sad,’ he said quietly as he reached up and wiped my cheek with his index finger.
‘I am, because I’m hurting you. Do we have the necklace so I can put it on now?’ I asked and he nodded.
‘What outfit are you wearing tonight?
‘I have some new shorts and a blouse that I’d like to wear, why?’
‘Will you be wearing silver or gold jewellery?’
‘Gold.’
‘Ok.’ He reached up and grabbed one of four Tiffany’s boxes on my bedside cabinet and took out a yellow gold snakeskin chain and opened it up. I threaded one end through my ring and did up the clasp, making sure it was tightly shut and slipped it over my head. It was a long chain so when I tucked it into my clothes, the ring nestled in my cleavage. ‘See, safe as houses,’ I smiled as I bent down and kissed him.
‘You remember our agreement?’
‘I do Gabe, I’ll give it to you when I’m ready.’
‘Good.’ He grabbed another of the Tiffany’s boxes and I smiled as he slipped a ring on my right ring finger then took in a surprised gasp of air to see he’d put a yellow gold version of the heart and diamond ring we’d seen. ‘I got it in white and yellow gold, so there’d be no excuses,’ he shrugged and I laughed.
‘Are you going to buy me two of every piece of jewellery from now on?’
‘No, just these, the other boxes are your white gold ring and necklace. Come on, we need to go down and join the others and open your cards and presents. It is your birthday.’
‘It is,’ I smiled. ‘Thank you for my special rings, I love all of them.’ We stood up and I kissed him again and again until he laughed and pulled me off him. ‘Stop, I’m desperate to fuck you. What was I thinking inviting everyone round? We should have just spent the night in bed together.’
‘We’ll be doing that every night soon Gabe, maybe we can fit in some shower sex as we get ready for the party later.’
‘Hmmm, now you’re talking,’
Robert brought in a tray of mulled wine and there were Sicilian lemon truffles in a bowl on the coffee table and we happily drank as I opened my cards first, touched to have a “Special Friend” one from Lexi, “Special Girlfriend” from Gabe. Mum and Gerry had even got me a “Special Daughter” one and a beautiful hot pink soft leather iPhone case, a large bottle of Baileys and had sent me a cheque, they always preferred to do that, a small present or two to open and a cheque so I could get whatever I wanted. I had a bottle of my favourite perfume from Lexi and more lemon truffles, a gift voucher from my sister and was really touched when I opened Doug’s present to find a white wood heart photo frame with the photo of Gabe and I back in there.
‘Why is that back here?’ Gabe asked. ‘You’re wrapping up her own stuff and giving it back as presents you cheap skate?’ he laughed. Doug looked at me and pulled a face and I smiled and shook my head.
‘No, it’s a new frame Gabe, because when we’d fallen out I had a tantrum and threw it across the room and it broke. I was really upset, so Doug’s replaced it for me.’
‘You threw it?’ Gabe exclaimed.
‘Yes, sorry,’ I grimaced.
‘Don’t piss her off in the kitchen Gabe or you’re likely to get a plate at your head,’ laughed Lexi. ‘She has a temper on her when she wants.’
‘I know, she has a slap across the face down to a fine art,’ he laughed as he picked up my hand and kissed it.
‘Well sometimes you deserve it,’ I protested.
‘Well said Mia,’ nodded Robert.
‘Ok enough Gabe bashing, I got her this ring, ok? I’m not all bad.’ He held up my hand and everyone admired it.
‘Ok Mia, that leads on nicely to the gift from Sofia.’ Robert handed me another gift. I opened it and looked at him in surprise. It was a stunning pair of what I assumed were diamond rub over earrings, set in yellow gold.
‘Robert these are too much, I barely know her.’
‘Who’s Sofia?’ asked Doug.
‘Dad’s girlfriend.’
‘Dude, finally! Way to go.’ Doug held up his hand in a high five and Robert laughed and slapped it back.
‘Yes it has been a long time coming, but first love stays with you for a long time,’ he said as he looked at Gabe with an apologetic smile. ‘She was very taken with you Mia and loved how nice you were to her on the first night of us all meeting. She has connections in the diamond trade so in future if anyone wants diamonds, you let me know ok?’ He gave Gabe a look. ‘Right, my gift.’
‘I feel so spoilt,’ I whispered, feeling embarrassed as I opened another small box. ‘O my God, Gabe you need to increase the house insurance,’ I uttered as I pulled out a diamond tennis bracelet in white gold. ‘Robert it’s stunning, thank you.’ I leaned over and kissed him.
‘You’re welcome, you’ve done so much for Gabriel in the short time you’ve been together, it’s the least I could do.’
‘Ok, my gift now,’ declared Gabe as he pulled a medium and large box from under the coffee table.
‘Gabe seriously?’ I’ve had my ring, my holiday and my Jimmy Choo bag,’ I uttered.
‘He got you a Jimmy Choo bag? Man you’re so lucky,’ Lexi groaned.
‘I know I am, but he spends too much on me,’ I sighed and he gave me a look as he held the medium box out. I unwrapped it and Lexi and I groaned as I pulled out the pair of gold metallic textured Jimmy Choo sandals, the ones I’d seen in the shop window in New York and they would go perfectly with my bag. ‘How did you get them?’ I asked as I looked at him.
‘Megan went shopping for me,’ he laughed. ‘She gave them to Dad to put in his luggage for me.’
‘What is it with chicks and this Jimmy Shoe dude?’ asked Doug.
‘Jimmy CHOO not shoe, do you know nothing about women Doug?’ Lexi teased.
‘Obviously not,’ he laughed.
‘Well I’m wearing these tonight,’ I advised and everyone laughed as I kissed them.
‘Ok, open this one and we’d better all go and get ready,’ Gabe advised as he passed over the large box. I opened it and pulled out the dress and Lexi and I groaned again, which made him smile.
‘O my God Gabe, it’s breathtaking,’ I whispered. It was a white sweetheart bandeau dress with gold embroidery around the bodice and had a short white feather skirt. ‘Where did you find this?’
‘I can’t reveal my sources as I plan to get more presents from there in future,’ he winked.
‘Well I’m taking us all out for a meal on Boxing night as I return to New York on Friday evening, so it will be perfect for you to wear then Mia.’
‘Thank you so much everyone, I feel so lucky,’ I sighed as I looked at the gifts everywhere.
‘Right let’s all go and get ready. Meet down here in an hour?’ Gabe suggested.
‘I’m ready dude, showered and dressed at home.’
‘I only need half an hour,’ nodded Robert.
‘Same here,’ replied Lexi.
‘Well you can all drink down here while you wait for us as we’re going to need longer, no interruptions please,’ instructed Gabe and I didn’t even bother shaking my head as Doug started whooping in the background and everyone laughed. Lexi helped gather up my gifts and carried them up with us.
‘When did you have time to do all these trees Gabe,’ she asked.
‘Doug helped me while you guys were having movie Tuesday last week. See you in the bathroom baby?’
‘Sure,’ I nodded.
‘Don’t be long,’ he winked as he disappeared.
‘Bathroom sex?’ Lex asked with her eyebrow raised.
‘Shower sex. HOT shower sex. We’ve only done it once today. So you and Doug?’
‘I can’t do it now, he’s so happy. I’ll have to wait until after Chris
tmas.’
‘Thanks for my perfume, I’ll wear it tonight.’
‘Sorry it’s so boring, but I know you love it.’
‘I do and it’s not boring at all. Go on, get out of here, he’s wet and naked waiting in there for me.’
‘You two are never going to leave this bloody new apartment, bet you can’t wait to christen it.’
‘Already have, bent over the pool table earlier,’ I giggled.
‘Gross, I’m never playing there now,’ she laughed, then pulled a face as Gabe yelled my name. ‘Shit I’d better go, happy orgasms.’
‘O trust me, they will be,’ I nodded as I showed her to the door, shut it and quickly stripped and joined him.
‘Wow,’ I groaned as I stood pressed chest first against the tiles, with Gabe still flexing inside me.
‘Hmmm wow indeed,’ he murmured as he kissed the side of my neck.
‘Come on, we’d better get ready as I want to try ringing Mum on the ship before we go out.’
‘Are you missing her?’
‘Her and Gerry, it’s my first Christmas without them, but you’re doing an excellent job in making it special for me Gabe. Thank you so much for all my presents, I love each and every one, but you know what my best present was?’
‘What?’ he asked as he kissed my ear.
‘Being back together with you.’
‘Tell me about it,’ he sighed. ‘Can we agree never to be apart like that ever again, it was up there as one of the worst times of my life.’
‘Mine too.’
I washed his hair for him and enjoyed watching him soap his body up as I washed mine and he had a quick shave and smacked my bare bottom as I stepped out of the shower and disappeared to get ready. I put some coconut oil in my hair to leave it silky smooth and shiny as I dried with the diffuser for lots of body and curl then just put on some tinted moisturiser and my highlighter, mascara and eyeliner and some gloss, then pottered into the dressing room and put on my black and hot pink underwear, a pair of very tight small gold glitter shorts, a semi sheer black long sleeve blouse and my new pair of gold Choo’s and packed my new gold clutch. I went to admire both gifts in the mirror, chuffed to bits and made sure I put on my gold bangle from Gabe and my new gold earrings from Sofia. I was Christmas sparkle personified. I headed downstairs to hear them all laughing in the lounge, so I sneaked into the kitchen, marvelling at yet another thick bushy perfectly decorated tree, and rang Mum’s mobile.
‘Mia,’ she screamed down the phone.
‘Mum, you nearly deafened me,’ I laughed.
‘O sweetheart I’ve missed you, especially today, happy birthday.’
‘Are you crying?’
‘Yes she is,’ came Gerry’s voice, ‘I’ve put you on speaker so we can both talk to you. Happy birthday princess.’
‘Thank you Dad and thanks so much for my lovely leather iPhone case and the cheque.’
‘You’re welcome, I think your Mum’s pulled herself together now,’ Gerry laughed.
‘Stop it, she’s my baby and we’ve never been apart on her birthday. How was New York? Did you love it?’
‘I did Mum, we had an amazing time and I’ve been so spoilt with gifts, I have Jimmy Choo shoes on and a bag by him too.’
‘No,’ she gasped. I laughed and hopped up on the bar stool and put them on speaker phone so I could fill them in properly and hear about their travels so far. They were in Tortola at the moment and apart from missing Georgie, Lexi and I they were loving it.
‘Here you are,’ came Gabe’s voice and I looked around let out a little sigh of pleasure to see him in his black trousers and jacket and a silver grey shirt. ‘Fuck,’ he mouthed as he eyed my bottom in my shorts and miming squeezing it making me giggle.
‘Hello Gabe,’ shouted Mum down the phone.
‘Hello Jacqui and Gerry, having a good time?’
‘Amazing, thank you so much for looking after my little girl so well and spoiling her for us.’
‘It’s no chore, I’m sorry to interrupt your call, but we need to be leaving in a minute, I’ll leave you to say your goodbyes baby,’ he pecked me on the lips and had a quick grope of my arse. ‘Hope to see you both again soon.’
‘You too Gabe,’ came the chorus from them both and we all laughed and I watched as he headed out of the door.
‘Right I’d better get going, I’ll ring you tomorrow to say Happy Christmas ok?’
‘Love you sweetheart,’ came Mum’s wavering voice.
‘Don’t cry Mum or you’ll set me off and we’re going out. Love you both too, speak tomorrow, bye.’
‘Bye Mia,’ came another chorus which made me laugh before I turned the phone off. I stood up and blew out a deep breath. I was nineteen years of age and away from my home town and my parents for the first time ever on my birthday, yet I had a boyfriend I adored as well as a new father figure. I would never have imagined this as I celebrated my eighteenth birthday last year, I’d come such a long way and I was actually seriously happy. I went to join everyone and had to do a twirl in my new shoes and laughed as Doug insisted he was going to call my Kylie Minogue for the rest of the evening.
‘So where are we going?’ I asked. Everybody smiled at me and I gasped as Gabe pulled out the silk blindfold and did it up around my eyes.
‘It’s a surprise,’ he advised as he picked me up and carried me outside. ‘Seriously sexy bloody shorts,’ he whispered in my ear. ‘I can’t wait to get you out of those later.’
‘You realise your whisper is rather loud Gabriel,’ came his Dad’s voice with a chuckle.
‘I keep telling them Mr A, but do they listen to me?’
I felt Gabe duck me and drop me onto a smooth seat before picking me up and sitting me in his lap.
‘Are we in the limo?’ I asked.
‘We are, here hold out your right hand, champagne flute.’
‘Thank you,’ I smiled and everyone toasted my birthday and laughed as I smacked myself in the teeth trying to find my mouth. I was already feeling tipsy from the mulled wine early, the champagne was speeding me along nicely. We came to a stop and Gabe helped me out. ‘Can I take this off yet?’ I asked.
‘Not quite,’ he advised and made me squeal as he scooped me up again. I was convinced we were either going to the student bar or Fazeleys. I heard lots of chattering, and felt Gabe gently set me down and fiddling with my blindfold and I blinked a few times to refocus then shrieked and clapped when I saw we had the window table at the Gourmet Burger place I’d loved so much. ‘You said it was your favourite meal out,’ he smiled.
‘It was Gabe. O my God, Milo and Cindy,’ I gasped as I spotted them sitting opposite and looked up at him open mouthed.
‘It was pointed out that I need to make more of an effort with your friends,’ he said as he kissed my ear.
‘Thank you,’ I said sincerely as I smiled up at him and kissed his cheek. He reluctantly released my hand as I went to hug and kiss both of them.
‘Milo, I thought you were going home for Christmas?’
‘I’m going first thing in the morning, I didn’t want to miss your birthday.’
‘Thank you that’s so kind of you.’
‘Here’s a small gift for you, don’t get too excited.’
‘Can I keep it for later?’ I asked, worried about opening it in front of Gabe.
‘Sure.’
‘Cindy, how are you?’ I gave her another hug and kiss. ‘You have nowhere better to be on Christmas Eve?’ I laughed.
‘Choice of a night with my boring old parents or seeing you in gold glitter hot pants? I made the right choice,’ she smiled. ‘Plus I’m getting to know your friend Milo, without gyrating in his lap this time.’
‘Sssshhhh’ I warned, horrified. ‘That’s Gabe’s Dad over there.’
‘O shit sorry, Mum’s the word. Here’s a card and my present is that I’m going to work on a new Pole routine with you.’
‘Brilliant, thanks Cindy.’ I went and sat opposite them, b
etween Gabe and Lexi and everyone laughed when I said I wanted a chocolate shake instead of a bottle of beer for the first round. I ordered the same burger and fries as last time, Gabe having the same and I was convinced the restaurant was going to tell us to pipe it down as we were the noisiest table with all of our laughing.
‘Thank you, this has been the best birthday ever,’ I whispered to Gabe as I squeezed his thigh under the table and gazed at him.
‘Love face,’ he smiled proudly.
‘You’d better believe it.’
‘Well your birthday’s not over yet, we have a cake to come and it’s movie Tuesday so you have free reign when we get home.’
‘Really,’ I smiled.
‘God I have a feeling I’m going to regret this, it’s going to be some girly crying film isn’t it?’
We finished off the meal with a pyramid tower of chocolate profiteroles with sparklers as everyone sang happy birthday to me and laughed as I started crying.
Christmas
‘Good morning.’ He smiled at me as I opened my eyes.
‘Morning,’ I smiled back. ‘How do you look so good, I have a hangover.’
‘I didn’t drink as much as you,’ he reminded me. I rolled onto my side to face him properly.
‘I had an amazing birthday and trip away and just loved all of my presents. Thank you so much.’
‘You’re welcome.’ He reached out and ran his thumb over my bottom lip. ‘Happy Christmas baby.’
‘Happy Christmas Gabe, I hope it’s the first of many that I wake up to like this.’
‘With me.’
‘With you,’ I nodded.
‘Me too.’
‘You wake up with yourself every day, where’s the special in that?’
‘So funny Miss Page, I’m looking forward to waking up with the love of my life every day for the rest of my life.’
‘Gabe,’ I sighed as I palmed his face and ran my thumb over his eyebrow scar. ‘I’m so happy right now.’
‘Fancy being even happier?’
‘Yes please,’ I sighed as he worked his hand into my hair and bent his lips to mine. ‘God,’ I groaned as his lips gently worked against mine. Featherlike kisses that made my lips swell, my breathing hitch and every nerve in my body tingle. I reached down and grasped his taut bottom and pulled his body tightly against mine. ‘What time is it?’
Love & Loss (The Austin Series) Page 28
