‘Hey slow down there cowboy, I said I think. Besides, Lexi’s never been in a relationship that lasted longer than a night, actually we’ve just moved up to two nights this week. I wouldn’t want there to be any fallout.’
‘Well maybe we should have a casual night out as a foursome and just see how they get on?’
‘I guess we could. Listen I need a serious caffeine fix before English, shall we hit Starbucks and grab a coffee and a bun?’
‘Your diet’s so bad, how do you keep your figure?’
‘I don’t know, just lucky I guess. Lexi’s the same, we can eat junk ’til the cows come home and never seem to put on any weight.’ I leaned over in the chair to put the hairdryer back in my drawer and dropped it, screaming as I was hit with a searing pain in my side.
‘Mia what’s wrong,’ Gabe shouted in a panic as he leapt off my bed and ran to my side.
‘I just have this awful pain in my side,’ I gasped as I doubled up. ‘It feels like a hot poker moving through me. O god I need to lie down.’
Gabe quickly picked me up off the chair into his arms and carried me to my bed and gently lay me down on top of the duvet. His face had gone as pale as I felt mine had and I curled up into a ball hugging my stomach.
‘What can I do, should I ring an ambulance?’ he asked as he crouched at the side of the bed and stroked my forehead looking worried sick.
‘No it’ll go in a while, honestly I’ll be fine.’ I panted.
‘How do you know?’
‘It happens a lot. I get these awful stabbing pains in my side, really bad low back pain and bad cramps that just come from nowhere.’
‘What’s going on? I heard a scream and shouting,’ called Lexi from outside.
‘Lexi please come in. I don’t know what to do with her.’
I watched Gabe run a hand through his hair as he looked down at me nervously, then I felt the bed sag as Lexi sat down at my feet and I attempted a smile through the pain radiating through my pelvis.
‘O god you have them back again? I told you it’s not bloody normal, you need to get looked at. I’m going to get you a hot water bottle , some painkillers and a glass of water, I’ll be back in a couple of minutes ok?’
‘Thanks Lexi,’ called Gabe as she left the room. ‘What can I do baby?’ he said as he studied me and stroked my hair, while I lay panting.
‘Will you just lie with me for a while?’
He walked to the other side of the bed and I felt him climb up and carefully move into position behind me, drawing up his knees into mine and putting his arm around me. His hand reached for mine, which was clutching my stomach and he stroked the back of my hand with his thumb as he kissed my hair.
‘God I can’t bear to see you like this. You gave me such a fright. You could’ve warned me this might happen.’
‘I’m sorry. I thought it was a bit early for the talk about my monthly cycles. This tends to happen when I’m due.’
‘When are you?’
‘Saturday or Sunday, sorry if that ruins your weekend plans.’ I winced as another wave of blinding pain shot through me.
‘Mia, I told you it’s not all about the sex, the sex is fantastic and I fully intend to take advantage of you whenever and wherever I can, but I love just being with you. So if you need a few days or a week of no sex that’s fine,’ he murmured as he grazed his lips over my temple.
‘You’re not into sex when woman are on are you? As I don’t think I could handle that.’
‘Never tried it, but I wouldn’t do anything you weren’t happy with baby.’
Lexi knocked and came in with a hot water bottle, which Gabe reached for and he lifted my hands and placed it carefully where I was clutching. She sat at the bottom of the bed and stroked my leg.
‘Mia you have to get this sorted, it’s been going on for almost four years.’
‘Then why hasn’t she been to a doctor?’
‘Beats me, she’s so bloody stubborn sometimes. She kept telling me it was normal to have pain with your periods and I was like no it’s fucking not, not to this degree, but she says she just has to deal with it.’
‘So what can we do about it?’
‘Force her to talk to the doctor. If needs be I’m going into that appointment to make sure she tells them.’
‘Hello “she” is lying right here. Do I get a say in the matter?’
‘No,’ said Lexi and Gabe in unison and I sighed.
‘So let’s ring the doctor now and get her seen straight away,’ said Gabe.
‘We’re already booked in at nine tomorrow if you think you should wait until then?’ asked Lexi directing the question to me.
‘Honestly, in another five or ten minutes I’ll be fine, it’ll pass.’
‘Well I’m on hot chocolate watch. I know a mug with two spoons of sugar always cheers you up when you’re down. Gabe you want anything?’
‘I’d love a black coffee please Lexi.’
‘On it.’
When she was gone I heard Gabe sigh. ‘Is it me? Is this my fault? Have I done this by being too rough with you during sex?’ he asked quietly.
‘No, of course not. I promise you it’s been happening for a while. Like Lexi said I just thought it was normal to get like this, but when all the other girls at boarding school said no, I realised something was wrong.’
‘And you’ve not done anything about it?’
‘No,’ I said quietly.
‘Why?’
‘I’ve been too frightened to find out, in case there’s something really wrong.’ I felt his grip on my hand tighten.
‘God Mia you’re crazy. If something’s wrong it needs sorting and waiting’s not going to help. I can’t believe how you can look after others so well and just ignore yourself. Well I can tell you that it’s not happening while you’re with me, if Lexi can’t go with you tomorrow I’m taking you myself.’ He sounded really cross with me. ‘Why are you going tomorrow if it wasn’t about this? Is something else wrong?’
‘No, nothing I just wanted to talk about my options.’
‘Options?’
‘Contraception, so you don’t have to keep wearing condoms.’
‘You’d do that for me?’ he asked as he kissed my cheek.
‘Yes. I’m just a bit concerned about other stuff if we take that route.’
‘Other stuff?’
‘STI’s,’ I mumbled, embarrassed to be bringing it up.
‘I’ve never had sex without a condom Mia, so I shouldn’t have anything, but if you need me to take the tests to reassure yourself, I will.’
‘You would? Really?’ I twisted my head to look at him and he planted a kiss on my lips.
‘Of course, anything to make you happy and the thought of being able to come free of bloody rubbers is fantastic.’
‘Thank you.’
‘How are you doing? Any better?’
‘Yes the stabbing pain’s gone, I’m just aching inside.’
‘Well we’ll lie here as long as you need.’
I closed my eyes and took comfort in the warmth on my belly and Gabe’s strong arms around me. I could feel his heart beating on my back and it soothed me. Lexi came back with our drinks and put them on the bedside cabinet.
‘I’m in the lounge sorting out our books and notes. Call me if you need me ok?’
‘Thanks Lex.’
‘Lexi thank you, I feel so much better knowing you’re here with her when I’m not,’ Gabe added. She smiled as she shut the door. ‘Do you think you’re ready to sit up baby?’
‘Let’s give it a try.’
He helped me and gathered all the pillows and put them against the headboard and I shuffled back into them.
‘Ok?’
‘Yes much better thanks, sorry if I gave you a scare.’
‘Mia I need you to be looked at and sorted. God if I lost you as well …’ he cut himself short and took a laboured deep breath.
‘Gabe I promise I’m going to be looked at. Please don
’t compare my little troubles with what happened,’ I said as I reached over and ran my fingers through the side of his hair. He turned his head to kiss my wrist.
‘I can’t help it, I love you so much Mia.’
The look he gave me seemed so sincere I had to break his gaze and gingerly leaned over to grab my hot chocolate so I could avoid looking at him. I was ok, the pain and cramps had gone as suddenly as they’d arrived. I knew they would, it happened all the time. Gabe reached over to grab his coffee and we sat quietly drinking our drinks. He reached out his hand to link our fingers and stroked the back of my hand with his thumb.
‘Ok, what do you want to eat? All you’ve had all day is a banana and it’s nearly twelve. Do you want something from Starbucks? I can go and get it for you.’
‘No thanks, but I’d love some peanut butter on toast.’
‘I’ll go and make it for you,’ he said kissing me and letting go of my hand.
‘Gabe?’
‘Yes?’
‘I like butter on the toast.’
‘What?’ he asked, surprised.
‘Butter on the toast, then peanut butter.’
‘But that’s peanut butter and butter on toast, that’s not normal,’ he stated with a frown on his face.
‘You sound just like Lexi, that’s how I like it,’ I pouted.
‘You must be feeling better if you’re trying your sexy pout on me. Fine, I’ll do it how you like it.’
‘Thanks and help yourself to something, it’s your food.’
When he came back in he’d made himself a plate of melon slices with Parma ham and the left over strawberries.
‘God Gabe, you eat so healthily.’
‘I have to, a body like this doesn’t come without work you know,’ he grinned.
‘Then keep working, you know that’s all I’m interested in you for,’ I teased.
‘I thought it was for my ferocious sexual appetite and big cock.’
‘Well they’re just very very nice bonuses, but I’d be happy to just sit and look at you naked all day,’ I nodded as I chewed on my toast.
‘I love that you like my body so much.’
‘I do. I look at that picture you sent me every time I turn on my phone, it’s my wallpaper. I was thinking of having it made into wall art for the bedroom you know.’
‘Wow you really do like it. Well I’ve some of your photos up too and your bath picture is my screen saver on my iPhone and iPad and the picture of you in my shirt as my wallpaper on my iPad.’
‘You could see my parts in that shot.’
‘No one else gets to see it but me, my iPad’s protected.’
‘What do you have as your wallpaper on your iPhone?’
‘The picture of you sleeping.’
‘Obsessive much? What picture of me sleeping?’
‘The one I took while you were asleep,’ he laughed.
‘See creepy. As if watching me sleep wasn’t bad enough, you’re taking pictures of me as well? Let me see it,’ I demanded holding out my hand.
‘You look beautiful, your face is still full of post fuck glow, your hair’s tumbling around your face and your lips are slightly parted as you breathe. Your shoulder and the top of your breasts are showing above the duvet and your soft skin is just glowing. I love it.’ I watched his face as it went soft and his eyes shined as he talked.
‘God you make me sound so perfect, let me see.’ I waved my outstretched hand at him.
‘You are perfect Mia, my perfect,’ he whispered as he handed it over and kissed my cheek. I gave him a shy smile and studied it. He’d captured me in a moment where I looked so happy and peaceful. I handed it back to him and he gently kissed my lips and stroked my hair.
As I finally got up and started to organise my book bag, we had a rather heated discussion about his request for me to remain in bed and not go into Uni at all.
‘Gabe seriously let it go, I don’t need wrapping in cotton wool,’ I sighed. ‘I’m fine now. I can’t put my life on hold just because I get the odd pain now and again.’
‘Mia I don’t want to risk something happening to you.’
‘I’m going in whether you like it or not. How did you get here this morning?’ I asked Gabe.
‘I ran.’
‘Before we even went running? You’re insane. How long did it take you?’
‘About three quarters of an hour, I live the other side of the park, near where we went for lunch.’
‘God then I really did slow you down this morning. It took me half an hour to do less than half of the journey.’
‘Less than half? More like a third, but I liked running with you and I especially liked the non-running parts with you,’ he grinned.
‘So did I, very much. Ok, we better make a move. Lexi, you ready to go?’ I yelled.
‘Yes are we all getting the bus? If so it’s in ten,’ she shouted back. I looked at Gabe and he rolled his eyes and nodded.
‘Ok, be out in a minute,’ I yelled back.
‘Come on then, if you insist on bloody doing this.’ He grabbed my bag off me and slung it over his shoulder.
‘What about your books? You didn’t bring them?’
‘I left them in my locker on campus after swimming last night, so I wouldn’t have to go home again. I just need a pee, I’ll be back in a second, unless you want to come and do it for me again?’ he smirked.
‘I’ll pass this time big boy, but hurry up.’
‘Are we going or what?’ yelled Lexi. I went and stood in the hall with her and waited for Gabe to come out.
‘Gabe, we’re going to miss the bus,’ I called after a couple of minutes when he still hadn’t appeared. He finally came out carrying my bag, but didn’t respond when I smiled at him.
‘We’d better move or we’re going to have to pay for a cab as the next one will get us in late,’ said Lexi.
I opened the door and we all hurried down the stairs and ran to the bus stop, it was already waiting and started to pull away as we approached. Gabe ran faster and yelled at it to stop and banged on the side window and luckily it pulled up for us to hop on. He got on first and asked for three tickets, but Lexi and I flashed our passes at him smiling. He purchased his ticket and headed straight for the back seat and went in first, as I went to move in, he put my bag on the seat next to him.
‘Gabe, what’s that all about?’ I asked as I picked it up and dropped it on the floor and sat next to him.
‘Just giving you some space, isn’t that what you wanted?’
‘What?’ I asked surprised. His tone was sullen and he wasn’t smiling.
‘I thought you didn’t like being crowded, or were you lying about that too?’ he asked as he shot me a dark look.
‘What are you going on about? Lying about what?’ I asked confused.
‘Nothing, forget it,’ he said scowling at me.
‘Forget what? I’ve no idea what’s going on other than you suddenly being really pissed off with me for no reason. I told you I’m fine now.’
‘There’s damn good reason Mia. Just forget it, this isn’t the time or place to discuss it,’ he snapped as he looked at me quickly and then turned away and stared intently out of the window, his arms folded tightly across his chest.
I sat open mouthed and looked at his reflection. His eyes had narrowed and he had a real scowl on his face. What the hell was going on with him? He was fine earlier and now he had this whole fucked off aura about him. We sat in silence for most of the journey. I looked over at Lexi, but she was too engrossed in a game to notice. I looked back at him, but he still seemed really tense.
‘Where are you?’ I asked as I put my hand on his thigh and I knew I didn’t imagine feeling him stiffen up.
‘Right here with you. Still,’ he said as he continued to stare out of the window.
‘No you’re not. You look really distant, what’s on your mind?’
‘Leave it be Mia,’ he said with a heavy sigh.
‘Is this about my atta
ck this morning?’
‘No and I told you not now,’ he snapped and ran a hand over his face.
‘Fine don’t talk to me then,’ I snapped back, pissed off with him too at this point. ‘But don’t think I’m letting you off that easily. You won’t even look at me. We’re going to have to talk whether you like it or not.’
‘O don’t worry, we’ll be talking about it, but I already told you this isn’t the time or place,’ he hissed, finally turning to shot me down with a glare before looking away again. The bus pulled up at our stop and I looked at him feeling annoyed and puzzled at the same time, before following Lexi down the aisle. Gabe hopped off behind me and quickly marched away, with my Uni bag on his back, before I’d even had a chance to say anything or kiss him goodbye.
‘Ok what was that about?’ asked Lexi.
‘I’ve absolutely no idea,’ I said shaking my head, shell shocked.
‘He looked seriously pissed.’
‘Yeah he did didn’t he? He didn’t even kiss me goodbye.’
‘What have you done?’
‘I haven’t done anything,’ I said indignantly. ‘Why do you assume I’ve done something?’
‘His bloody world revolves around you Mia, if he’s pissed it’s something to do with you.’
‘Well I don’t know. We were fine back at the apartment. He was really sweet making sure I was ok. He went for a pee and came out in a foul mood. I tried to talk to him on the bus and he muttered something about it not being the right time.’
‘International man of mystery that one. Slow down I want a fag before we go in.’
‘Lexi,’ I exclaimed giving her a look.
‘What?’ she said as she fished one out and dangled it from the corner of her mouth as she rummaged for her lighter. I nodded to her stomach.
‘O for fucks sake,’ she said rolling her eyes at me. ‘Like it makes a difference Mia. I’ve smoked and been wasted countless times since it happened and it’s not like I’m keeping it.’
‘Doesn’t it just feel wrong though? Now that you know?’
‘No,’ she replied forcefully.
‘Really?’
‘It’s my body, when did you become master of it?’ she said flashing me a glare.
New Leaves, No Strings (Austin Erotic Romance Series) Page 30