The Honeymoon Period (The Austin Series) (22 page)

‘God,
you’re so beautiful,’ he sighed as he reached up and brushed my hair out of my
face, without missing this time.

‘Funny, I
was just thinking the same about you.’ I ran my fingers over his lips and
wriggled down his chest and lay a trail of kisses along his collarbones, from
good to bad and felt the wet tip of his erection touching the bottom of my
breasts. He parted his thighs for me to slide down between as I licked and
sucked each of his nipples and felt him squirm below me as his fingers ran
through my hair. I ran my tongue down over each of his abs and around his navel
and heard him suck in his breath as I neared his cock, lying up his stomach and
jerking every few seconds. I was careful not to touch it yet and kissed my way around
it, enjoying the soft smoothness of his naked skin.

I let my
hands roam over his muscular torso as I gently bit and sucked on the inside of
each of his thighs and heard him moan my name, before I moved to run my tongue
over his balls while I stroked his perineum with my fingers. As I ran my tongue
up his shaft he shuddered and I swirled my thumb over his head enjoying the
softness of his foreskin and licked, sucking greedily and heard him groan.

‘You know
what it does to me when you do that.’

‘How about
when I do this then?’ I asked as pulled his foreskin down and ran my tongue
around the edge of his head.

‘O fuck,
Mia,’ he growled, then gasped as I took his length into my mouth right down to
his root and back up again and I set up a steady rhythm and let my thumb and forefingers
join in below my lips. I hollowed my cheeks and felt him moving below me,
grunting each time I slid down his shaft and tightened my grip. I loved having
him in my mouth, just as much as when he was inside me. I felt more connected,
he needed me, he wanted me and it was all about what I could do for him and not
what we could do together. ‘Mia, stop,’ he groaned hoarsely. ‘I’m going to come.’
He grabbed the hand resting on his stomach and linked his fingers with mine as
he tugged, indicating for me to pull away, but I didn’t want sex, I just wanted
to relax him. I sucked him harder and heard him panting. ‘
Mia, you’re too
good,’
he whispered as his free hand clawed at the sheets and I felt him
stiffen in my mouth and suddenly it was flooded as he sat up and groaned and he
held my head gently as I took wave after wave down until he’d nothing left to
give me. He flopped back down on the bed and I pushed him to move over and lay
down leaning against him, nestling into his shoulder while he wrapped a protective
arm under my neck and supported my shoulder. ‘I love you so much baby,’ he murmured
and pulled the duvet back over us.

I smiled
sadly as he promptly fell asleep, not for the lack of sexual reciprocation, but
for his earlier words which still left a scar on my heart.

When I woke up it was twenty
to ten and he lay fast asleep, face down in the middle of the bed, his head
sideways on the pillow facing me, with his arm outstretched across my stomach.
It was the closest we’d been on waking in weeks. I carefully climbed out,
substituting my body with a pillow for him to hold onto and went and had a
quick wash and got changed into my yoga pants and red Bardot jumper, pulling my
hair into a ponytail as I went downstairs to get us both some coffee. I found
Robert already at the dining table reading the newspaper.

‘Morning
Mia, I thought you’d sleep in longer after such a late night.’

‘You too.’
Robert looked fresh as a daisy.

‘I’m used
to it with work. I often manage on only a few hours. How’s Gabriel?’ he asked
and I blushed as I saw him notice the love bites up the side of my neck.

‘Still
sleeping which is most unlike him. I thought I’d get him a strong coffee.’

‘How about
I do us a cooked brunch for ten-thirty. That may help him recover. I need to
leave at six tonight, so I was thinking we could have a late lunch /early
evening meal together if I’m not ruining any plans?’

‘Of course
you’re not, that would be lovely. Would you like another coffee?’ I asked
nodding at his mug.

‘No I’m
good, thank you.’

‘Then I’ll
get him up and we’ll see you down here in a while.’ I carried the two coffees
upstairs and shook my head to see he’d not even moved. I sat on the bed, leaned
back on the headboard and gently stroked his hand and smiled as his fingers
twitched and he mumbled something. ‘Gabe, wake up sleepy boy.’

‘Hmmm, I
thought it was sexy boy,’ he groaned as he opened his eyes. Even hung over, the
blue in them framed by his lashes made me catch my breath.

‘Not this
morning, no. Gorgeous as you are you still look like hell. Coffee’s on your
bedside table.’

‘Don’t I
get a good morning kiss?’

‘No, not
with that stale whiskey breath, drink your coffee and then you need to drink
some of the water I got you last night that you didn’t even touch.’

He rolled
over onto his back and groaned and put his hand on his forehead. ‘I feel like
shit. Did I wake you up last night?’

‘You don’t
remember?’ I asked surprised.

‘No.’

‘Yes, yes
you did. You staggered in at three and I had to undress you and try and put you
to bed while you insisted on groping me and telling me how beautiful I was.’

‘Well, that
I
can
imagine doing. I didn’t try it on with you did I?’

‘Yes, you
were quite persistent, so I gave you a blow job and you promptly fell asleep.’

‘What? Without
looking after you?’ He had the good grace to look mortified.

‘Yes.’

‘O God baby,
I’m so sorry.’ He struggled up and leaned against the headboard and put a palm
on his forehead again. ‘Shit. This is why I don’t drink large amounts. I never
remember what I’ve done, end up feeling like crap and this is how I used to get
into fights.’ I was glad he’d forgotten his comments of last night, there was
no point bringing it up, we’d just end up arguing, but I was still feeling hurt
that he’d not shared how upset he was. He reached over and drank his water in
one and then grabbed his coffee and reached out for my hand, which I gave him
and he squeezed it. ‘I can’t believe I didn’t look after you.’

‘You weren’t
just drunk Gabe, you were completely wasted and you’re always looking after me
so don’t worry about it. Drink your coffee, get some more water down you and go
and have a shower. Your dad’s making us a cooked breakfast for ten-thirty.’

‘Great, I
could really eat.’

‘Well, I
need to start doing some packing after and then we could go and get some
supplies and do him a roast dinner before he goes.’

‘Do we have
time for shower sex?’ he asked, wiggling his eyebrows up and down.

‘With you smelling
like that, no.’ I got up while he protested and went into the bathroom and
started unpacking all the toiletries and cosmetics he’d purchased me yesterday
and discovered he’d cleared out the cabinet above the right hand sink for me. I
put them away and headed into the wardrobe and unpacked the spare underwear and
bras that I’d insisted we buy from a normal shop, instead of him buying
designer gear. He’d also purchased me more work out and running gear, including
some new trainers. Two bikinis, a swimsuit, some more jeans, t-shirts, jumpers
and boots and converses that could be left at his, as well as a couple of nice going
out dresses. I started packing the rest of my clothes and shoes to take back to
the apartment and jumped when I realised he was standing behind me.

‘Gabe, you
frightened me,’ I gasped with a hand to my chest. He stood naked watching me
with his erection bobbing in front of him.

‘Come in
the shower with me,’ he pleaded.

‘No we
don’t have time and you still need to brush your teeth, I can smell the booze
from here.’

‘See I told
you this is how relationships end up, sex on special occasions only,’ he
grumbled.

‘Well, you
only have four weeks to wait until my birthday,’ I teased.

‘Don’t even
make jokes like that.’

I reached
up and smacked his bottom. ‘Like I could last that long. Move it big boy.’ He
grinned and disappeared into the bathroom and I’d just finished packing when he
returned clad only in a little towel and ran his hands through his wet hair and
grinned as he saw my eyes roaming over his damp body, he really looked so good.
He gave me his hand and pulled me up and put his arms around my waist.

‘Typical you
want me now I’m out of the shower. I’ve minty fresh breath so kiss me, now,’ he
ordered. I pushed my hands into his wet hair and pulled him to me and moaned as
our lips met then suddenly remembered our discussion of last night and pulled
away and buried my face in his chest and wrapped my arms tightly around his
neck and sighed. ‘Baby what’s going on?’

‘Nothing,’
I mumbled. ‘I just love you and want to hold you for a minute, we’ve not been
able to do this for so long.’

‘I know and
I’m sorry.’ He kissed my neck and ran his hands up and down my back. I released
him reluctantly and watched as he pulled off his towel and rubbed his gorgeous
body down. Much as my body was ready for him, my head wasn’t, I still needed to
process how hurt I felt. He smiled, he knew that I was aroused and it didn’t
help as I watched him pull on a pair of tight navy boxers, his dark navy jeans
and a white shirt which he left unbuttoned at the collar. He padded barefoot
back to the bathroom and blasted his hair with the hairdryer and reappeared
smelling and looking edible.

‘God, you’re
so hot,’ I sighed. ‘I think you might just be the most beautiful thing I’ve
ever seen.’

‘I think
the same about you every minute, Mia. How did we get so lucky to find each other?’
He didn’t give me a chance to answer as he pushed me up against the wall and
kissed me forcefully. He broke away leaving me gasping for air and flashed me a
smile before taking my hand and heading downstairs.

‘Perfect
timing guys. How’s the head, Gabriel?’ asked Robert as he plated up.

‘Coffee and
water helping Dad. How are you, ok? You had as much as me,’ he replied making
himself another black coffee and me a latte as I set the table.

‘Trust me, I’m
feeling it too, but I drink socially more often than you do.’

We all sat
down and tucked into a massive breakfast of bacon, sausage, poached eggs, beans,
and fried mushrooms and tomatoes and some hot buttered toast and discussed what
food we’d need to get in for the Christmas break and Robert suggested stocking
up on spirits and beer. He wanted a tree in the hall, Gabe’s lounge and the
corner of the dining room and Gabe wanted one in his bedroom. Robert insisted
on making a significant transfer to Gabe’s account to cover the costs. I
cleaned up as they argued before agreeing on who’d cover what, both of them
shutting me down when I suggested I pay for a half of it as Lexi and I were
joining them.

‘So Dad, we’re
going to go and get something so we can cook you a roast dinner before you go
tonight. What do you fancy?’

‘It’s been
a while since I’ve had a decent roast beef, if you don’t mind?’ he asked
looking at us both. We shook our heads and Gabe started making a list of what
we needed.

‘I better
go and put on my jeans and check with Lexi how it’s going over there with the
clean. Thanks Robert, that was really nice. Are you going to come shopping with
us?’

‘No, I’ll
get re-packed and may take a swim and relax in the steam room and sauna.’

I wandered
up and changed into my tight black jeans and my red converse trainers and put
Gabe’s navy suede sneakers out for him, making the bed before sitting on it and
calling Lexi. It went straight to answer machine.

‘Hey Lex
it’s me. Just making sure it’s going ok over there with the cleaners. Probably
be back about seven-ish tonight, we’ll have eaten so don’t worry about us and
just because I’m coming back doesn’t mean Doug can’t stay over. As long as we
agree a rota for the bathroom. I’ve missed you, it’ll be nice to come home.’

I went and
put on some mascara, Vaseline and jewellery and came back to the bedroom to see
Gabe sitting on the bed, shoes on ready.

‘Ok, I’m
good to go,’ I smiled. He gave me a quick look, stood up and walked to the
bedroom door and opened it and waited for me. I looked at him as I passed, he
looked strangely moody all of a sudden and I wondered if his hangover was
kicking in. I grabbed his keys from the rack in the hall and opened the car as
we walked across. ‘Do you want to try driving? It’s not too far to the
supermarket.’ He shook his head and got in the passenger seat and I slid in
behind the drivers’ wheel and started the engine. ‘Gabe, what’s wrong? You seem
off.’

‘Nothing,
I’m fine. Let’s go,’ he replied, but he was very short and sharp. I looked at
him again, he wasn’t fine, the crease in his brow said so, without the tension
I could feel radiating off him.

We drove in
silence to Waitrose and I carefully pulled into a parking place at the far end
of the car park in the corner. I was still nervous about scratching his car, or
someone denting it, so I always picked the space furthest away from the
supermarket door, which usually made him laugh. I looked at him as he went to
reach for the door handle and I put my hand on his knee.

‘Is it your
hangover?’

‘What?’

‘The reason
you’re all quiet.’

‘No, I’m
fine.’ He went to get out again and I tugged on his sleeve.

‘Gabe talk
to me, I know something’s wrong.’

‘I said I
was fine. Let’s just get the shopping, ok?’

‘No, not ok.
Talk to me, don’t shut me out.’

‘Like you
talked to me last night?’ He turned to face me, looking seriously pissed at me.

‘What?’ I
sat back and pulled my hand away.

‘You’d
rather talk to my dad and cry on his shoulder than do that with me?’ he
snapped. I sighed and sat back in my seat. That was why he’d changed, Robert
had obviously said something to him.

‘Gabe, you
were drunk.’

‘Drunk or
sober Mia, I’m your boyfriend. If I upset you I need to trust you to tell me.’

‘Gabe, what
would’ve been the point? You were so drunk you wouldn’t have remembered the
conversation. Christ, this morning you couldn’t even remember getting a blow
job.’

‘That’s not
the point. You don’t run to my dad with our problems, Mia.’

‘Run to
your dad?’ I asked surprised. ‘I was getting you some water to help you sober
up and he was there, ok. I didn’t
run
to anyone.’

‘Our
problems are our problems Mia, no one else’s.’

‘O don’t
you even
think
about going down that road, Gabe. You’ve been discussing all
my
personal issues with Robert. My concerns about marriage and children,
my fertility issues and even my relationship with my dad, so you don’t get to
lecture me on keeping things between us private.’

‘So you’re
saying I can’t discuss my relationship with my own father.’

‘No of
course not, but don’t you dare have a go at me when he then wants to talk to me
about the things that you’ve let slip to him. I don’t appreciate some of the very
personal and private things in my life being shared without my knowledge.’

‘He’s
my
dad Mia, I can tell him whatever I want to about our relationship and how
your issues affect me, it’s not your place to discuss our problems with him.’

‘I wasn’t
even aware we had any problems, or that my “issues” were affecting you so badly
until you offloaded on me last night, Gabe.
You
told me no pressure,
that you’d let me deal with the whole boat load of crap that just landed on me
after my diagnosis in my own time and hey, guess what? You’re not. I’m the one
who gets to be mad here, not you.’ I was trying to stay calm, but I was finding
it difficult I was so cross with him. I’d even been planning to tell him that I
was prepared to offer him what he wanted all along, at some stage in our
future, but now I was mad.