‘Don’t worry about it, much as I’d love to lie here and take advantage of you over and over, I’ve some serious catching up to. Some lectures clash with my swimming, so I need to put extra time in if I want to keep up.’
‘So you’re heading back to your digs?’
‘I don’t live in digs, I live at home,’ he said looking amused.
‘Sorry, I forgot you were a local. You live with your parents?’
‘Just my dad, but he works away a lot so I’m pretty much on my own there.’
‘Where’s your mum?’
‘I thought this wasn’t going to be a mastermind quick fire round? Come on, I need to get this formal meeting with Lexi under my belt, last night didn’t count.’ He kissed me again and swung himself off the bed and headed out of the bedroom.
I watched him go and wondered if he was brave, or just plain stupid to face her alone. I hopped out of bed and quickly pulled on my jeans and ran my fingers through my matted hair, piled it up again and padded barefoot to the bathroom to brush my teeth. My toothbrush was lying next to the one he’d used last night and I smiled to myself as I remembered us standing here naked brushing in unison. I could vaguely hear voices coming from the kitchen, but couldn’t make out what they were saying. I wiped my mouth and headed out to rescue him.
Lexi was sitting with her back to me at the table, both feet up on her chair, hugging her knees with her coffee balanced on them, staring right at him. Gabe was leaning casually against the kitchen sink, ankles crossed, facing us both. I raised my eyebrows in question as I entered the room and he smiled back.
‘There’s no need to do the look,’ said Lexi without looking round at me.
‘What look?’
‘The “are you ok?” look. Honestly have I ever upset any of your boyfriends before?’ she asked turning to look at me.
‘You already think of me as her boyfriend? Interesting,’ smirked Gabe as he grabbed his mug off the counter and took a swig of his coffee.
‘He’s not my boyfriend Lexi,’ I said as I flashed him a warning look. ‘But yes you’ve upset some of them before. I never heard from Pete again after you had words with him.’
‘He was a shithead, I knew straight away he was no good for you. You do know how to pick them.’
‘So I take it that as Gabe’s still standing here, you’ve decided he’s ok for me to hang out with?’
‘Hmmm. Not quite decided yet, but we’ve had the talk.’ She turned to stare at him. She was still sussing him out, but he held his ground and didn’t flinch.
‘Which of the talks?’ I sighed.
‘You know the one. Hurt my best friend in any shape or form and I’ll bitch slap you and bad mouth you around town, or possibly kill you talk.’
‘Jesus Lexi, we’ve only just met. It’s a bit early to lay the talk on him.’
‘It may seem early to you, but you’ve never gone this far with a guy before so this is way beyond early for you. It’s so beyond early … they need a new name for early.’
‘I’m going to leave you both to your debate and head off,’ interrupted Gabe as he put his mug back in the sink. ‘Lexi, thanks for the coffee and the chat. Mia, walk me out?’
‘Sure.’ I glared at Lexi’s back as he passed me, but she turned and caught my stare and stuck her tongue out.
‘Bye Gabe, see you soon,’ she called out all sweetness and light.
I followed him out to the hall, opened the front door and gestured with my head to follow me out onto the landing.
‘So I’m not your boyfriend?’ he asked examining my face, making me sigh.
‘No. We agreed sex with dates, I’m not ready for labels Gabe.’
‘So I can’t call you my girlfriend, but I can do this?’ He pushed me back against the door frame and gently cradled my face again with his hands as he leaned into me and explored my mouth with his tongue. I moaned and responded, wrapping my arms around his neck. I felt my nipples stiffen as they rubbed against his chest.
‘You can do that as often as you like,’ I sighed as I sagged against him and kissed him back again.
‘Hmmm minty fresh,’ he murmured as he broke away.
‘Hmmm coffee,’ I replied. We kissed some more and as my hands made their way up to nest in his hair he groaned and pulled his head back.
‘O no you don’t.’
‘Don’t what? Kissing’s on the agreed list, as is sex. The more of both the better,’ I sighed as I tried to pull him back to me.
‘I can see where this is going. The no bra thing, the kissing, the messing with my hair, all of which really turn me on. I can’t afford to, I’ve got stuff to do and you need to rest.’
‘I slept fine, more than fine.’
‘I’m not talking sleep, I’m talking about down here,’ he said as he placed a protective hand gently between my legs.
‘You do fuss over nothing,’ I said sulkily.
‘It’s not nothing to me Mia. Are we ok?’
‘We’re fine Gabe.’
‘Good. So what are your weekend plans?’
‘I’ve got catching up to do with Lexi and studying from my missed lectures, thanks to my fainting episode and your little water leak scam, then a quiet night in. I’ve no idea about Sunday.’
‘How about meeting up? I can show you around your new neighbourhood and we can do lunch?’ I hesitated for a second and he picked up on it. ‘For christ’s sake, I’m hardly on one knee proposing, its lunch and a bloody walk. I’m not asking to spend today or tonight with you, which I think I deserve some serious credit for as I desperately want to.’
He was right, I needed to chill out. ‘Ok that’s fair. Thanks for not crowding me.’
‘Great, I’ll come here for ten then.’ He kissed me again and turned and started to make his way down the stairs and I leaned over the bannister to watch him.
‘Bring plenty of condoms,’ I called.
‘Seriously?’
‘Seriously, it’s all about the sex remember? And by tomorrow afternoon its nearly two days rest, which is more than enough don’t you think? Why are you smiling again?’
‘I can see right up your top and your gorgeous nipples are erect. Go back in before I change my mind and come straight back up there now.’
‘Bye Gabe.’
‘See you tomorrow Mia,’ he blew me a kiss and vanished out of sight. I smiled and let myself back into the flat ready for my grilling from Lexi. I’d barely closed the door behind me when she appeared.
‘Spill already.’
‘Hang on a minute, I didn’t get to drink my coffee. Let me make another one first.’
‘Well get your skates on, I’m dying here. I’ve waited a long time for this discussion. I’m getting changed and you’d better be ready to talk when I get out.’
I opened the fridge to find the milk, not hard as it was the only item in there. Gabe was probably right, we really ought to try and eat a bit better. As I stood waiting for the kettle to boil and watched the steam escaping from the spout, it reminded me of the haze of the club and flashes of the evening came back to me and made me smile.
‘Lex, let’s do this,’ I yelled as I passed her room and headed to the lounge. Two weeks in and we already had our favourite spots. Lexi liked to stretch out and hog one side of the sofa with her tarantularous legs and I liked to curl up on the recliner. And that was exactly where I was heading, with no intention of moving for an hour or two. Lexi’d been right, it was like I’d done a few sessions of Pilates back to back and I was beginning to feel the burn. As I settled in and inhaled the scent of my coffee, she hurtled in and threw herself over the back of the sofa, landing perfectly outstretched.
‘What the hell are you wearing?’ I exclaimed in disbelief.
‘It’s a panda onesie.’
‘Well I can see that, it’s got bloody ears and little pink paws and everything. Lex, seriously?’
‘It’s warm and snuggly, besides you’re the only one who’ll see it.’
‘
You look a complete tit. What happened to my uber cool, hard as nails friend?’
‘What happened to my virginal prissy friend? Fucking in nightclub bathrooms and god knows where else.’
‘I told you we never did it in there.’
‘May as well have from the noise you were making. Made me blush and that takes some doing. So come on and don’t spare the details.’
‘O Lex it was absolutely amazing, he was amazing. I had about five orgasms before any penetration. He was so attentive and he never once pushed me or asked me to do anything to him.’
‘I hope you did? Give and take remember.’
‘O I did, I remember chanting “gummi bear no teeth” to myself as I went down there.’
‘How did you find it? Did it gross you out? Lots of woman hate giving oral.’
‘Really? I loved it. It gave me a feeling of complete control and power over him. He was making all the right noises and his face when he came was … wow. I even swallowed.’
‘On a first date? You’re taking this new venture very seriously. Did he reciprocate?’
‘A number of times. I have to admit it was a very weird feeling at first, I felt so undignified until …’ I blushed, even talking to Lexi I was embarrassed.
‘You came? Yeah that tends to take away any worries of what he may be thinking or how you look. So better than your toys or masturbating?’
‘So much better Lexi, I mean I won’t be giving up either in the near future, but they pale into comparison.’
‘So what happened after I left you?’
‘My feet were killing me in those bloody boots, so he swooped me up and carried me to the taxi and then up here.’
‘All the way up those bloody stairs? Jesus poor sod.’
‘Hey,’ I retorted throwing a cushion at her head. ‘He’s fit, it was a good work out for him.’
‘That and the other things he was doing to you. So was he all gentle and can I put it in now? Or did he take you roughly doggy style?’
‘Can I put it in now? Men really ask that?’ I asked surprised.
‘One guy I went with did. “Can I kiss you? Can I touch your breasts? Can I put it in now?” I was like just man up and fuck me already, I don’t need a running commentary.’
‘He was neither,’ I laughed. ‘We were just in the moment and it happened, it was very hot and heavy and boy does he know what he’s doing.’
‘On the bed?’
‘No, not in bed. Up against the wall and I’m really feeling the burn in my thighs today.’
‘Wow I’m impressed. Did you tell him it was your first time?’
‘I didn’t have to Lex, I started bleeding which pretty much gave it away.’
‘Did he freak? Some guys hate seeing blood down there.’
‘Not in that way. He was just really upset that I hadn’t told him I was a virgin. He said he’d have been gentler with me if he’d known. In his words he fucked me quite hard, so he was really concerned that he’d hurt me or put me off trying again. I don’t understand why I bled though. I’ve had smears and used toys, why now?’
‘Judging by the size of his hard on in his underwear commercial shot, he obviously got further in.’
‘Lex he was so sweet about it. He wrapped me up in my dressing gown, sat me down and ran a bubble bath for me, climbed in with me and washed me all over.’
‘You did it in the bath as well?’
‘No, we went to bed and I fell asleep on his chest. When I woke up he was gone and I was like shit. I really thought he’d left, but he’d only gone around the corner to get a Starbucks.’
‘We have a Starbucks here?’ she exclaimed looking amazed.
‘I know right?’
‘So did you do it again this morning?’
‘No,’ I sighed. ‘He refused as he wanted me to have some time to get over it, I do feel a bit tender down there if I’m honest.’
‘Christ, are you dating mother bloody Teresa?’ I looked up at her and saw that despite the sarcasm she was impressed, he’d scored some major brownie points with her on that one. ‘So what was your favourite bit?’ she asked.
‘Orgasms aside?’
‘Well yeah, they’re a given,’ she grinned.
‘Either when he held my face and kissed me, I love when guys do that, it’s so tender. Or when he told me how he would’ve done it with me if he’d known it was my first time.’
‘Shit Mia, are you falling for him? This was supposed to be all about sex.’
‘Lex. I know it’s supposed to be all about having sex and fun, but I really like him. I don’t want it to just be a few nights of sex and it’s over, but I’m also scared of getting attached to someone I like again.’
‘Mia I know you got burned by Alex, but you were 14 and he was a jerk. Any guy that dumps his girlfriend for not having sex, underage sex at that, is a bloody jerk.’
‘He was the first guy I ever dated Lexi. I was so mad about him, it really hurt.’
‘I know and that’s why you’ve never let a guy dump you since Mia. Now you always pick shit heads, keep them at arm’s length and dump them if they get serious.’
‘I really trusted him Lexi, it’s not something you just get over. Not with my dad letting me down all the time too.’
‘Do you think you can trust Gabe?’
‘I don’t know do I? It’s not even been a week since we first met.’
‘How do you feel about him?’
‘I really fancy him, I mean who wouldn’t right? He’s so damn hot. I’m trying to hold back, but for the first time with anyone since Alex, I really don’t want to. He could’ve just tried to have sex with me again, at any time last night or this morning, but he refused and was so gentlemanly about it. I really think he’s a good guy. Part of me thinks I’d like to try the whole boyfriend girlfriend thing again, with him, but I’m so scared of getting hurt again.’
‘Well he’s really into you Mia, seriously into you. I could tell you liked him so I gave him full barrels this morning and he took it. He said something along the lines of I think she’s amazing, she brings out the protector in me and I’ve no intention of ever letting anyone hurt her.’
‘He really said that?’
‘There was more but I forget it all. Mia it’s good to see you with a daft big grin on your face, over a guy. You’re actually happy. So don’t just hump and dump, try it for real and see how it goes.’
‘Hmmm.’
‘Hmmm what?’
‘I just don’t want to get my hopes up.’
‘He’s not Alex or your dad, don’t ruin something before you’ve given it a chance. I can tell you want to try this.’
‘It’s scary Lex. Things fall apart and people get hurt.’
‘Yes they do, but I thought we were both going to man up and deal with that? We can’t keep avoiding things for fear of getting hurt again, or we’ll end up with just each other. Much as I love you, I’d like more.’
‘So what about you and Andrew? You didn’t have to dash back this morning.’
‘I thought Gabe was the typical one night stand kind of guy. You know, get up, get out before she wakes up. I knew you liked him so I wanted to be here for you, I thought it’d hit you hard if he legged it. He’s surprised me.’
‘Thanks Lex, you’re the best, but what about you?
‘Well I made it to two nights with a guy, a 100% improvement which is not bad going, even if I do say so myself.’
‘Am I sensing it won’t be three times?’
‘No. He’s ok, but maybe I want more than ok too. Maybe I want someone who ignites me with just a look. Not saying I’m holding out for Mr Perfect and never shagging anyone again until he turns up, but like we knew this was our apartment without even visiting it, I just think that there’s someone for everyone.’
‘Lexi Clarke, you’re an old romantic under that hard arsed exterior. Well usually hard arsed, I’m really having the most difficult time taking you seriously in that bloody outfit.’
>
‘Tell anyone I’m soft or about this outfit and I’ll kick your ass,’ she smiled.
‘Your secret’s safe with me.’
‘So when are you seeing Mr Sensitive again?’
‘He wants to come over tomorrow at ten and take me on a tour of the area and have lunch.’
‘How civilised, I thought you’d be fucking all night tonight and was going to dig out my headphones.’
‘No, I told him from the start I didn’t want to be suffocated, so he’s giving me some space and time to recuperate, but I warned him to bring protection with him tomorrow. Is it ok for him to come back with me? I really want sex with him again.’
‘Mate as long as you’re smiling like that he can come as many times as he wants,’ she winked.
‘You’re so rude. Seriously Lexi, this is our place, he won’t be here all the time. I’ll still want to spend quality time with my best bud.’
‘Bet your arse you will but you know me, I never know my social schedule, so spend as much time with him as you want.’
‘Tuesday movie nights are off limits Lex, I’ll make that perfectly clear.’
She grinned at me. ‘I was hoping you’d say that, it’s my fav part of the week. So how are you feeling about sex now?’
‘Good I guess. He told me it was really good and he was amazed I’d not done it before, but much as I want it again I still feel kind of nervous about it.’
‘How so? If he wants to do it with you again, that’s a good sign.’
‘I get the impression he’s been with lots of girls Lexi. I’ve got a lot to live up to. I guess I feel a bit inadequate and inexperienced, so I tried to counteract that, like you said, by pretending to be all confident and sexy. I’m worried it won’t be enough.’
‘Mia you told him it was sex no strings. If sex was all he was after, given how he looks, he could just go and pick up any girl he wanted to shag couldn’t he? He’s not doing that is he? He still wants to have sex with you, so you must be stacking up just fine. Keep doing what you’re doing, channel that inner sex vixen and if you need to know anything else you ask me ok?’
We settled in for an hour’s discussion on sex and what I could do to build up my confidence and please an experienced guy. Some of Lexi’s ideas had me cringing and some left me in hysterics.
New Leaves, No Strings (Austin Erotic Romance Series) Page 14