Love & Loss (30 page)

‘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, between 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.

‘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?’

‘Who cares,’ he muttered between kisses.

‘Everyone could be waiting for us.’

‘Let them wait, I have more important things to do.’

‘You did me twice last night,’ I sighed as he moved onto my neck.

‘And you didn’t wear your Santa outfit so I demand a re-run tonight.’ He gently pushed me onto my back and I automatically parted my legs to let him settle between them. ‘Gentle or hard?’

‘Gentle please, hard tonight.’

‘What about this afternoon?’

‘This afternoon too?’

‘Think of me as your after lunch Christmas cracker, which a very large surprise inside,’ he winked.

‘Hmmm I love large surprises,’ I giggled, then gasped as he pushed his way into me and hissed through his teeth. I gripped his shoulders and lifted my hips up to meet his powering down.

‘Good?’

‘Excellent,’ I whispered on a breathy sigh and he smiled and bent his head to kiss me as he moved inside me. It never ceased to amaze me how much more connected I felt to him when he was inside me, on every level. ‘Gabe,’ I sighed as I felt myself clench around him and slipped my hands down his muscular back to grip his pert buttocks and drag him deep inside me.

‘You want more of me?’

‘All of you, always,’ I moaned as he withdrew and pushed back in, until my body resisted him going any further.

‘Shit,’ he groaned as he did it again and lifted one of my breasts and applied his lips, teeth and tongue to my nipple.

‘Gabe … I’m so sorry … I’m coming,’ I groaned as I felt everything clench and that tingling in the top of my scalp.

‘Fine with me baby,’ he mumbled against my breast as my back arched and legs stiffened and I felt an explosion of pleasure surge through me as stars filled my eyes.

‘
Gabe,
’ I cried as tremors jolted my bones. He groaned my name as he emptied himself into me and collapsed on top of me, his face in the crook of my neck as I stroked his hair. I was so looking forward to moving into the apartment when we could just lie here in pleasant orgasmic bliss and have nowhere to go and nothing else to do. I loved these moments after we’d both come, where we just lay happily in each other’s arms. ‘I guess we’d better get up, we have presents to open and dinner to prepare.’

‘I can’t wait until we can just spend all day in bed together,’ he sighed as he ran his lips up and down my shoulder.

‘I was just thinking the same,’ I laughed. ‘But we only have three nights to wait, so come on,’ I replied with a smack to his bottom. He lifted his head to look at me, his blue eyes sparkling. ‘What?’

‘You in my bed, under me. Best Christmas present
ever
.’

‘You might revise that assessment when you open your actual present,’ I smiled.

‘Unless it involves you, much as I may love it, no contest baby.’

‘Stop wooing me, you make my insides melt,’ I pulled his face down to mine and kissed him again. ‘Come on, shift it, I’m excited to give my presents out.’

We found everyone already in the kitchen, where a chorus of Happy Christmas’s filled the room as we all hugged and kissed. Robert poured us some champagne and he and Gabe sorted us scrambled eggs and smoked salmon on toasted bagels and we all headed to the lounge to open our gifts.

I insisted on giving Robert his thank you gift first, the silver tie pin I’d purchased in New York and he looked chuffed to bits and handed me a small package that contained a stunning pair of white gold and diamond drop earrings and I hugged him tightly making him laugh. Lexi and I gave Doug our joint gift, a forty minute Ferrari thrill ride at the Silverstone formula one race track and he punched the air and laughed as Gabe sulked.

‘Would you have liked that Gabe?’ I asked as I looked at him.

‘What guy wouldn’t?’ he sighed as Doug continued to chuckle and wave the voucher in his face.

‘You’d better have one of my presents to cheer you up a bit then,’ I advised and handed him a wrapped gift box and watched his face light up when he realised not only had he got Silverstone vouchers too, but they were two half day ones, a Ferrari experience and the Audi experience.

‘Get in,’ he yelled and grabbed my face and kissed me hard.

‘Happy now?’ I laughed.

‘Ecstatic,’ he groaned as he read about what was involved, while I gave Robert his Ferrari thrill voucher as well.

‘I figured you could all go together and have a boy’s day out.’

‘Mia that’s wonderful, thank you. I’ll tell you what, I’ll pay for the three of us to stay for the weekend at Whittlebury Hall, make it a proper boy’s weekend. It’s about time I taught you two youngsters how to play golf.’

‘A whole weekend?’ asked Gabe as his hand quickly tightened around mine.

‘It’ll be good for you Gabe, you can have fun with Doug and your Dad,’ I rubbed his bicep reassuringly.

‘But what about you?’

‘Gabe, it’s ok, we can plan it advance to make sure that you’re happy, you don’t have to get stressed about it now ok?’ I ran a hand through his hair and saw Robert wince and whisper ‘
Sorry
’ over Gabe’s shoulder. I shook my head to let him know it was ok, smiled and quickly changed the conversation. ‘Ok Doug, here’s a couple of small extra’s from New York for you, Lexi too.’ I went to move my hand out of Gabe’s, but he wouldn’t let go, so I nodded to the gifts under the tree. Doug was over the moon with his
FBI Female Body Inspector
and
Keep Calm Smoke a Bong
T-shirts and Lexi grinned as she shook her snow globe and then hugged her one kilogram bag of Jelly Belly’s making me laugh. She looked really touched to have a bottle of her favourite perfume from Robert and he smiled to get a large ceramic Marmite pot with a jar inside, Gabe had told Lexi that he loved the stuff. Gabe had got Lexi some new Xbox games and she actually squealed with delight at her silver Jimmy Choo clutch from him and launched herself at him across the sofa making him laugh.

‘I love it, thank you thank you thank you,’ she planted loads of kisses on his cheek making him blush.

‘Great, way to show me up dude,’ sighed Doug as he handed Lexi a small wrapped box. She opened it and pulled out a silver chain with a large puffed silver hammered heart on the end and froze staring at it. ‘Shit, you don’t like it do you? Too much?’

I gave her a sympathetic smile as she quickly looked at me and I winced as I saw she had tears in her eyes. She stood up and quickly walked out of the room as everyone went quiet.

‘I’ll go after her,’ I went to stand and Doug put his hand on my shoulder.

‘No, it’s ok let me. I knew it was a risk, it’s an overdue talk.’ I kissed his cheek and watched as he left and closed the door and my heart sank.

‘What’s going on?’ Gabe asked looking confused.

‘He’s just told Lexi that he’s serious about her and loves her, without using the actual words. She’s never heard that from a guy before, so she’s not handling it well.’

‘Like you didn’t?’

‘Probably worse,’ I sighed as I looked at the door, hoping she wasn’t going to break up with him today of all days.

‘Is there anything we can do anything to help?’ asked Robert.

‘Thanks,’ I smiled, ‘but I think they just need to have a talk on their own. She’s not had much love in her live and finds it hard to let people in.’

‘Well you were like that and look at us now,’ reassured Gabe with a kiss to my temple.

‘I know, but it’s harder for Lex.’

‘Ok, well let’s finish your presents while we wait for them, as we’ll need to make a start on the cooking soon.’ He handed me my bag from Mum and Gerry and I found another large cheque and unwrapped another hot pink leather item, like my iPhone cover, but I looked at it confused, not sure what it was for. ‘Here open my gift and it may make sense,’ Gabe laughed. I carefully undid the paper and looked at Gabe with my mouth open.

‘An iPad?’

‘An iPad air, it’s the latest model with the biggest memory for all your music, plus you said you wanted to do more reading, well you can have hundreds of books on here all at your fingertips.’

‘Gabe I love it, thank you so much,’ I beamed. I’d coveted one for ages as my old notebook computer had been playing up for a while.

‘I’ve already charged it for you and loaded some apps I thought you’d like and some photo’s too, so your Mum and Gerry got you the Italian leather case and stand to protect it. I got you a silver keyboard as well. You can play with it later while Dad and I cook,’ he laughed and snatched it out of my hands as I was trying to look for the on button. ‘You have another present from me to open.’

‘Gabe you’ve already spoilt me,’ I protested.

‘Remember that conversation we had?’ he asked with a stern look.

‘Ok,’ I sighed and looked at Robert in despair, he just laughed and held his hands up.

‘You won’t change him Mia, if he wants to do something he does it.’

‘Yeah I’m getting that and he has the audacity to call
me
stubborn?’ I laughed. I watched as he grappled a large rectangular package from behind the Christmas tree.

‘Careful, it’s breakable,’ he warned. I felt my eyes fill up as I looked at the Peter Smith painting in a white frame, it was two of his Impossimals with love hearts floating all around them, called “It’s Love” and I bit my lip as I looked back up at Gabe. ‘I thought it might be nice in the bathroom, above the fireplace,’ he advised as he wiped my tears away. I just nodded, I couldn’t say anything, he just knew me so well.

‘I’m going to see if it’s safe to go in the kitchen and make a start,’ advised Robert as he stood up.

‘I’ll be with you in a minute Dad, I’d just like a minute with my girl,’ Gabe advised as he took the picture from me and propped it up safely behind his blanket box against the window.

‘Ok, remember to come and help yourself to drinks whenever you want Mia.’

‘Thanks Robert and thanks so much for my stunning earrings. I’d like to have Sofia’s number off you too later if I can, I’d like to thank her for my studs.’

‘We’ll facetime her later off your iPad,’ he smiled and left Gabe and I alone.

‘Gabe I feel so lucky, you’ve got me so many nice things, thank you,’ I mumbled as I sniffed and tried to stop myself crying. He came to sit with me and clasped me face and kissed me.

‘Why are you upset?’

‘Because I’ve never had a guy be so nice to me Gabe. I love you, you know that right?’

‘Of course I do baby, are you ok?’

‘I’m fine,’ I nodded. I was partly worried about what was going on with Lexi and Doug and also missing Mum and Gerry.

‘I know your fine means it’s not. Are you missing your Mum?’

‘A bit,’ I smiled, feeling embarrassed to admit it.

‘We’ll ring her later, you’ll just have to make do with me ok?’

‘I’ll never just make do with you Gabe, you’ll never be second choice for me.’

‘Thanks baby. You do have another present, but it’s under the tree upstairs as it’s for private eyes only.’

‘Not
another
vibrator?’ I gasped.

‘No,’ he laughed. ‘Now we’re having sex again you won’t need any more than you already have.’

‘Well you have another couple of presents too,’ I told him as I went and got the small box from under the tree.

‘More presents? Those Silverstone experiences will have been really expensive,’ he frowned.

‘Are
you
seriously lecturing me on overspending Gabriel Austin,’ I laughed and handed him the smallest box. He was really chuffed with his silver Ferrari cufflinks, it had taken me ages to find a pair. ‘Now this box you can’t open in public either,’ I winked and he laughed.

‘You haven’t got me a cock piercing have you?’

‘Ewwww that would be sacrilegious scarring that work of art,’ I gasped.

‘My cock’s a work of art?’ he smiled.

‘O yes, a masterpiece and I’m still looking forward to pulling that cracker later as promised.’

‘Hmmm, I pulled a cracker when I found you,’ he sighed.

‘Pass me some crackers to go with that cheese,’ I giggled and grabbed his face and kissed him fiercely.

‘Christ five minutes alone and he’s all over her again,’ came Doug’s voice. We broke apart and I looked up to see him standing holding Lexi’s hand, she was chewing the corner of her mouth, which I knew meant she wasn’t happy.

‘Well I need to go and help Dad with dinner, can I trust you with the fire Doug?’

‘And leave me alone with two emotional babes, no way, I’m cooking.’

‘You
can’t
cook Doug,’ I laughed.

‘I can stir. Stirring is way preferable to being left alone with you two, you look like you’ve been crying as well,’ he replied with a flick of his head to me.

‘Good tears, my man’s spoilt me. I can look after the fire Gabe, you boys go and help Robert. Lexi and I haven’t exchanged gifts yet so we can have some girly time.’

‘Want some Bailey’s?’ Gabe offered.

‘Yes please,’ Lexi nodded vigorously, I smiled and nodded too.