Baggage & Buttons

by C. J. Fallowfield

As I rounded the corner I was faced with a beautiful large double fronted Georgian house, covered in creeping ivy. Parked outside was a gunmetal grey Porsche Boxster convertible, a black Audi TT RS Coupe and a black Range Rover. So it seemed Gabe was a Porsche and a push bike guy after all. I was surprised, I knew he liked designer gear, but he’d never indicated he came from this sort of wealth, other than his throw away comment last night about me pretending “the baby” was his, because of what I thought he may have in the bank.

  I stood in front of the glossy black front door and checked my watch. It was seven twenty, I was ten minutes early. I figured he was always early, so I looked around to make sure I couldn’t be seen, undid my mac and placed it on top of my handbag on the stone step and lifted the heavy metal door knocker and rapped it sharply a few times. I heard the door being unlocked from the inside and felt my stomach warm at the thought of seeing his reaction and what it might lead to. I put my hands on my hips and looked down to check on myself. My Basque was extremely tight fitting and sucked in my waist, squeezing my breasts together, pushing them up so high they were nearly spilling out of the top. I looked like an extra from Pirates of the Caribbean. As the door opened I made my announcement.

  ‘Mr Austin, tonight’s your lucky night,’ I giggled. The giggles were soon replaced with a startled scream, as I came face to face with an older, but equally good looking, version of Gabe.

  ‘Indeed it appears so, but I think you’re actually here for my son,’ he replied with an Austin dazzling smile, before he turned his head to avoid looking at me. I quickly crossed my legs to protect my privates and tried to cover my heaving bosom with one hand, as I reached down and grabbed my mac with the other, dying inside.

  ‘O god Mr Austin … I’m so sorry, I thought you were Gabe … If I’d known that you were here … I would never have … God I’m so embarrassed. I have my coat on now,’ I stuttered, as my trembling fingers did up the belt way too tightly and he turned to face me again.

  ‘How about we start again? I’ll push the door to, you knock and it will be like it never happened.’

  ‘Thank you, I’d really like that,’ I nodded, as I felt every inch of my skin burning with shame. I wished a fissure would open up below me and swallow me down. He closed the door and I covered my face with my hands and stamped my foot on the floor a few times in frustration. Damn it, what was he doing here? If Gabe had deliberately set up this meeting, if that was my surprise, I wasn’t going to be happy at all. I contemplated running, but in these heels and with that gravel, I knew I wouldn’t get far. It was too late anyway, as I heard the door being reopened.

  ‘Hello Mia, I’m Robert, Gabriel’s father. A pleasure to meet you, please come in,’ he smiled as he held out his hand for me to shake.

  ‘Hello Mr Austin nice to meet you too.’ I took his hand and shook it, noticing what a firm grip he had and how incredibly well-spoken he was. To think Lexi said I talked posh? Mum would love him, that voice, those looks. I was trying to act all cool, but inside I was cringing, how could I have been so stupid to stand there like that? Not only was I not ready to meet a parent, but to do it like that. He shut the door and turned to face me.

  ‘Gabriel’s still in the kitchen. I’m so sorry, I wasn’t supposed to be here but my onward flight was pushed back, some complication with papers not having been filed correctly at the airport. Anyway, I decided to take the opportunity to come home to surprise him, as I’m not in the UK often. I’ll be leaving you both alone within the next couple of hours.’

  ‘I can always get a taxi home and leave you both to enjoy your time together.’

  ‘Nonsense, Gabriel would never forgive me, though it was very kind of you to offer,’ he smiled.

  ‘Ok, thank you, I’m sorry to intrude.’ I breathed a sigh of relief that it was just a coincidence that he was here.

  ‘It’s me who’s intruding, I’m sorry to gate crash your evening.’

  He led me down the wide hall and I kept my eyes down, too embarrassed to look at him again. I noticed I was walking on the old original black and white tiled floor, it seemed an incredible house. I heard him open a door and took a breath to compose myself and looked up to see him indicating for me to go ahead of him. I walked into an unexpectedly modern white shaker kitchen, with black granite worktops, a modern white Aga and large island unit. It looked as if the back wall had been removed and an extension with glass bi-fold doors and a glass roof lantern had been done, which housed a large oak dining table with 12 leather scroll back chairs. It was a stunning room.

  Gabe stood at a large chrome range, dressed in his pair of dark blue jeans, which showed off his bottom fantastically and a fitted white shirt with the sleeves rolled back. He looked up and saw us both standing there and gave me the most beautiful, if slightly nervous smile and came over and kissed me quickly on the lips.

  ‘I see you’ve met my father.’

  ‘Yes Mr Austin answered the door.’ I blushed again as the scene played out in my head.

  ‘Mia. I think we’re past formalities don’t you? Please call me Robert,’ he gave me the same kind smile that I saw so often on Gabe’s face. ‘I’ll leave you both to it for a while. As I’m here I may as well grab a few more things to take back with me.’ He left and pulled the door to and I covered my face with my hands.

  ‘Mia, I’m so sorry, I know you were against the whole meeting the parents’ thing, but he just turned up unexpectedly about twenty minutes ago, I promise I didn’t plan this.’

  ‘No, but I planned this, I’m so embarrassed,’ I said, as I opened my mac and showed him my outfit. He let out a long low whistle and gave an approving nod.

  ‘Wow, when I said sexy, you really went all out. Why are you embarrassed? I love it, your tits look sensational.’

  ‘Because I wasn’t wearing the coat when your dad answered the door and I told him “Mr Austin tonight’s your lucky night.”’

  ‘What?!’ Gabe’s voice had gone up a couple of octaves.

  ‘I heard the door being unlocked and said it before I realised it wasn’t you. Gabe I’m so sorry, I could’ve died of shame. He was very gentlemanly about it.’ Gabe started laughing. ‘It’s not funny,’ I protested as I did my mac back up. ‘How am I going to look him in the eye again? I’ve never met the parent of a boyfriend before, but I’m pretty sure that wasn’t the way to make a good impression.’

  ‘Well you’ll have left a lasting one,’ he said, still laughing and I punched his arm, before he grabbed my waist and kissed me. ‘I’m sorry. I can just imagine how shocked he must’ve been. He was already shocked enough that I’d invited you over, let alone seeing you dressed so sexily.’

  ‘Why would he be shocked at you inviting me?’

  ‘Because you’re the first.’

  ‘First what?’

  ‘First girl I’ve ever brought home.’

  ‘Seriously?’ Now it was my turn to be stunned.

  ‘Yes seriously, I’m serious about you Mia. I’m comforted when I’m not with you to picture you in your apartment, so I wanted you to see where I lived.’

  ‘I don’t understand why you haven’t brought anyone else here. Not even Julie?’

  ‘No not even Julie. I haven’t because I didn’t love anyone else Mia. Bringing someone to my home’s personal for me, it means something. It shows things about my life that I don’t necessarily want others to know.’

  ‘Like your Porsche sitting outside? You told me you had a push bike,’ I smiled.

  ‘I do have a push bike, but the Porsche is my dad’s, as is the Range Rover. Mine’s the TT.’

  ‘O right, it’s a very sexy looking car and your house is amazing,’ I said, as I looked around the room again, taking it all in.

  ‘Dad’s pretty well off,’ Gabe shrugged.

  ‘So he bought your car for you?’

  ‘No, I received a substantial trust fund when I turned eighteen from a life insurance policy mum had. I don’t tell people, or often use the car at Uni, as I only
want friends who like me for me and not because I have a sports car and some money.’

  ‘Damn it, we better end this then as that was all I was interested in you for, for me and my illegitimate baby of course,’ I giggled. He gave me a mock scowl and picked me up and spun me around kissing me. ‘Gabe?’

  ‘Yes?’

  ‘Thank you for inviting me.’

  ‘You’re welcome baby.’

  ‘I need to tell you something.’

  ‘O god is this to do with your thing for older mature blond men? Are you dumping me for my dad?’ he said with a grin as he put me down.

  ‘Very funny. He’s very attractive though. I can see where you got your jawline, cheekbones and hair from.’

  ‘Wait until you see a picture of mum, she was so beautiful,’ he sighed, with a sad smile.

  ‘I’d love to see her,’ I said softly and kissed him again, hoping to take his mind off her.

  ‘So what did you want to tell me?’

  ‘I don’t like to tell people things either, in case they get the wrong impression, so I haven’t lied to you, but I didn’t correct you when you made the wrong assumption.’

  ‘With what?’

  ‘My family’s comfortably off and I don’t rent my apartment, it was purchased for me outright and it’s in my name.’

  ‘So you’re saying that I picked a girl with money? Excellent.’

  ‘You’re not cross?’

  ‘No,’ he said with a shake of his head. ‘You didn’t lie to me, it was an error of omission and I can totally understand wanting people to get to know you for you and not want to be with you because of your car, house or status.’

  ‘I don’t have a car, they offered to get me one for my eighteenth, but I figured I’d be coming to a town or city for Uni with trains, buses and taxis and I like a drink now and again. Why have all that extra expense?’

  ‘Well now you have me to drive you wherever you need to go, I’ll be your personal chauffeur.’

  ‘Will you wear a suit and hat?’ I asked, putting my arms around his neck.

  ‘Why would that turn you on?’ he looked down at me with an amused twinkle in his eyes.

  ‘I love men in suits and the thought of you driving your sexy sporty car in one, then fucking me in it is very exciting,’ I nodded, feeling my core warm at the thought.

  ‘Hmmm, then I shall add that to my list of places we need to do it in,’ he murmured as he kissed my neck.

  ‘How long’s the list?’ I sighed happily.

  ‘It’s growing, as am I. Please can we move onto another topic before I ditch dinner and my dad and take you right here?’

  ‘You could be Professor Plum and take me in the kitchen with the rolling pin,’ I teased.

  ‘Mia please,’ he implored, as I felt him hardening against my hip.

  ‘Sorry.’

  ‘We’ll go and get you changed first. If you don’t mind I’d like to ask him to eat with us before he goes, I don’t see him often and he was really excited about meeting you. Though I imagine he got a bit more excitement than he bargained for.’

  ‘Gabe I’ve got no other clothes, I only brought a bra and some spare knickers.’

  ‘Well you can’t sit in your mac eating dinner with us. Come on, it’s ready so I’ll put it in the oven to keep warm until I find you something to wear.’

  He took my hand and led me back into the hall and up a grand double winder staircase, which I noticed rose up to another level. The corridor was wide and long with beautifully polished wooden floors, so I walked carefully in my heels, so I wouldn’t scratch the wood. Gabe took me to the first door on the right and into his bedroom. It was a huge room, with two sets of rectangular sash windows overlooking the drive and had white painted interior shutters pulled back into the deep walls. The room was painted in a slate grey with brilliant white skirting, coving and picture rails. Like me, he obviously disliked clutter so it was minimally furnished, with a large super king black leather sleigh bed with white bedding taking centre stage. Above the bed was a large black and white pencil drawing of a Lamborghini. I noticed he’d left the original dark wood floorboards in here too and I turned around to look what was behind me and gasped.

  To the right of the bedroom door was a large black lacquer oriental chest and above it hung a big black and white portrait of Gabe and I looking down at our entwined fingers smiling. It was the picture that Doug had taken when we were outside the English room on Monday. The black and white canvas on the left, above the flat screen TV was what really caught my eye though and I walked over to examine it.

  It was a shot of me. I was standing looking straight at the camera lens, my hair was hanging out of a messy up do, looking dishevelled. My lips were enlarged, glossy and slightly parted. The kohl around my eyes was smudged and I’d a slight dewy glow to my face. You couldn’t see much of my body, the shot had been taken in a crowded room and it was a glance of me through the people surrounding me, but the photographer had zoomed in on me from the chest up.

  The thing that struck me most though was my eyes. The sheer lust in them as I stared towards the camera lens was obvious. Where had he got this picture from? I’d never seen it and couldn’t place it at all. I could see I was wearing a spaghetti vest top trimmed with lace and a push up bra, out of which my breasts rose like two smooth domes. I racked my brains to think where I’d last worn this outfit. I turned to Gabe and he was smiling at me.

  ‘I don’t understand, I don’t remember this picture being taken. I’m sure I’ve not worn those clothes since meeting you, how do you have it?’

  ‘This was taken the night we first saw each other, the night you don’t seem to remember, which by the way was like a knife to my heart when you texted me that bit of information earlier,’ he said as he tilted his head studying the confusion on my face.

  ‘But where? When?’

  ‘It was freshers’ week on the Monday. It was my birthday so I went to one of the bars on Princes street with the Julie and swim team and I spotted you across the room. You were talking to some guy and I couldn’t take my eyes off you. Doug saw me staring and got his camera out and started taking pictures of you. It was as if you knew I was watching you, you just turned to look at me and we locked eyes … I just felt the connection immediately.’

  ‘Really?’ I had no recollection of this at all, but I remembered going out that night and how sick I’d been in the morning.

  ‘Hmmm. You looked at me like you wanted to rip my clothes off and devour me right there and then and Doug snapped it. I love it,’ he said as he looked back up at it, then back at me. ‘It was the first time we saw each other and I have it captured and up on my wall.’

  ‘Gabe, I’m so sorry, I don’t remember. I was completely wasted that night, in fact most of the week.’

  ‘I tried to get across the room to meet you, but by the time I’d pushed my way through you were gone. I looked everywhere, but you must have left. I even kept going back to the bar every night that week, thinking you might come back to it, you’ve no idea how disappointed I was not to see you again. So imagine my surprise when I looked up in English on the first day and there you were on the floor in front of me.’

  ‘That’s why you winked?’ I gasped. ‘You thought I’d remembered seeing you before. Is that is why you sent me 18 roses instead of 11?’

  ‘Yes, it was 18 days since I first saw you. Is it ok that I’ve got those pictures on the wall?’

  ‘I guess so,’ I shrugged blushing.

  ‘I thought you may find it stalkerish and creepy,’ he grinned.

  ‘O it’s definitely stalkerish, but as you’re providing me with many wonderful orgasms I won’t press charges Mr Austin. I hate to tell you this, but I think you have it really bad for me.’

  ‘That I do Miss Page, but you already knew that,’ he said softly as he walked over to me and swept my fringe away from my eyes. ‘You’re sure it’s not too much for me to have that up there?’

  ‘No it’s fine, but
while we’re on the topic of stalking, I would like to know how you found Lexi’s pregnancy test?’

  ‘It wasn’t what you thought Mia, I wasn’t rummaging in your bin. I used some of your dental floss and when I dropped it in your pedal bin I saw the packet and stick. I wouldn’t just rifle through your private things.’

  ‘Why didn’t you just come and talk to me?’

  ‘Mia I was angry, upset, hurt and confused all rolled up into one, I couldn’t trust how I’d react if I confronted you. I needed time to mull it over and calm down so I wouldn’t hurt you, or say something I regretted.’

  ‘Well you did a bang up job of that,’ I laughed, taking him by surprise.

  ‘You’re laughing about it?’

  ‘We’ve already shouted and screamed at each other Gabe, it was all a horrible misunderstanding and we’ve both apologised, so it’s done and dusted. Let’s forget it now ok?’

  ‘Really, you’re sure?’

  ‘I’m sure. We’ll both have to agree to handle our next argument better ok?’

  ‘You think we’re going to argue again?’

  ‘O I know we’ll argue again Gabe, we’re both hot headed and stubborn and like to be in control and you can be downright bossy sometimes. As long as we can do the making up bit with orgasms after I’m happy.’ I threw my arms around his neck and kissed him, he responded with such tenderness it made my stomach flip. He slowly undid the tie on my mac and pushed it off my shoulders, then lifted me up, his hands on my bare bottom cheeks and carried me over to his bed and threw me on it.

  ‘Are you going to fuck me now?’ I gasped, as I lay sprawled looking up at him. I was praying he’d say yes, my body was primed for him already. He looked at me through hooded eyes and sighed.

  ‘I so want to Mia, but right now we need to get you some clothes and go and have dinner with my father. Seeing as how you’ve already given him an eyeful, I’d prefer you don’t come down to dinner with an “I’ve just fucked your son” rosy facial. I promise to make up for it when he’s gone.’

  I sighed and watched as he turned and opened a white panelled door, giving me a glimpse of an enormous walk through dressing room and I clambered off the bed and went inside, amazed. It stretched the width of his bedroom and had fitted hanging space, shoes racks and cubby holes on each side and even two leather tub chairs to sit on. Gabe pulled out a pair of grey sweat pants and a black t-shirt and nodded to the door at the other end of the dressing room.