Forever & an Engine (The Austin Series)

by C. J. Fallowfield

  ‘Is Gabe down there now?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘What’s he wearing?’

  ‘I’m not telling you, but he looks good Mia. Very good.’

  ‘He looks good to me in anything Lex,’ I sighed, hoping he’d be wearing his grey suit and white shirt like our last date, he’d looked so edible in it.

  ‘Trust me, you’ll be ecstatic. I would say you’ll cream your knickers, but you’re not exactly wearing them are you? Right where are your straighteners so I can curl for you?’

  ‘In the bathroom, avert your eyes while I get off the bed.’

  We headed into the bathroom and Lexi stood behind me, updating me on Doug and the wonders of his tongue and groping hands, as she did sections of my hair until I ended up with beautiful curls. I didn’t really watch what she was doing as I was too busy looking at her happy animated face in the mirror. I’d never seen her like this over a guy before, what were the odds of both of us starting a relationship with another set of best friends.

  ‘So what do you think?’ she finally asked. I blinked and focussed on the mirror to see that she’d pinned up some hair at the sides and left the rest cascading down my back.

  ‘Lexi it looks beautiful, thank you so much. Shit I’ve gone all teary.’ I fluttered my eyes at the ceiling, I looked just like a princess, I definitely looked the part to meet my own Prince Charming waiting downstairs.

  ‘You soft git,’ she laughed and slapped my arm. She helped me put my shoes on, wrapping the crystals up around my calves with her eyes shut, which made me laugh and then helped wriggle the dress over my head and smoothed it down. ‘God Mia you look stunning,’ she sighed with a shake of her head.

  I walked to look in the floor standing mirror and took a gasp to see the full effect of everything together. You could just see a hint of my garter through the slit in the dress and the shoes looked really sexy, as did the low neckline. Gabe was right, he did know my body, it fitted perfectly skimming my curves instead of clinging or being too loose.

  ‘Wow,’ I gulped. This wasn’t Mia who went on dates in her jeans and converses before she came to Westhampton, I hardly recognised myself.

  ‘I’ll go down and tell him you’re ready, it’s nearly 7.30.’

  ‘Thanks Lex, it’s been so nice just spending time hanging out and chatting.’

  ‘It has hasn’t it? Ok have a great time and see you in the morning.’

  I packed my gloss, phone and purse into my new clutch bag and folded the pashmina over my arm as I heard Gabe calling me from downstairs. I did a quick double check in the mirror and opened the bedroom door and carefully worked my way down the stairs. When I got to the bottom I lifted my head and was nearly knocked out at the sight of him.

  He stood there in a perfectly tailored jet black three piece suit which accentuated his muscular body to the max. He was wearing a crisp white shirt and had on a pale silver tie, which matched my pashmina. He was standing, legs slightly apart, with his hands in his trousers and I could see a familiar bulge. His face was slightly flushed and he’d a huge smile on his face, but his eyes were a stormy blue and bore into me. It was his I want to fuck you right now face and I felt the same way about him and he knew it. The air between us was scorching and I could feel my skin vibrating as my arm hairs stood to attention.

  ‘Mia, you look stunning.’ He spoke with a hoarseness to his voice.

  ‘Thank you. I don’t know what to say, you look … you’re so … wow.’

  ‘I decided to Harvey up for you,’ he smiled, but even Gabriel Macht didn’t look this good in a suit and this was me talking, or rather thinking.

  ‘You out Harvey’d Harvey Gabe. Do we have to go out? I just want to rip your clothes off right now,’ I groaned. He bit his lip and closed his eyes for a second then walked over to me, pulling me aggressively by the waist against his stomach. I gasped as I felt one hand on my bare back and the other slid through the slit in my dress to touch my thigh. As his fingers grazed the garter he let out a low animalistic growl that make me quiver against him.

  ‘You’ve no idea how tempting that is. You look so damn sexy baby.’ Suddenly his mouth was on mine and I was clutching at his shoulders as he kissed me hard, his lips crushing mine. I felt his hand move to grip my bottom tightly and groaned again when the doorbell rudely interrupted us. He pulled away and stepped back wiping his mouth. ‘We need to go for our meal. I need to make sure you’re really ready for me before we try anything Mia. I don’t want to hurt you.’

  ‘Gabe trust me I’m ready, I’m more than ready,’ I sighed, my knees trembling.

  ‘I’ll be the judge of that Mia. You’ve already proved I can’t trust you. You’ve put your need to fuck me above your own health more than once. Come,’ he held out his hand to me. ‘The driver’s waiting.’

  ‘Driver?’

  ‘Yes, I thought I might enjoy a few drinks with you tonight. You need to relax after the week you’ve had.’

  I stepped forward and took his hand and we looked at each other as we both felt the energy crackle as we touched, just like on our first handshake the first time we officially met. He opened the front door and I stepped out to find a Mercedes waiting with smoked out windows and the car was gleaming. A driver in a peak cap and a suit opened the rear door for me.

  ‘Good evening Mr Austin, Miss Page.’

  I looked startled to hear my name and Gabe smiled. ‘This is Riley, dad’s regular driver when he’s home, I asked if I could borrow him for the night. He’s good at remembering names, as well as directions.’

  ‘Hello Riley,’ I smiled and he nodded back politely. Gabe helped me into the rear passenger seat, Riley closed the door and the two of them chatted as they walked around the front of the car, both unbuttoning their jackets, before Riley opened the back door for Gabe to slide in besides me. Riley buckled up and pulled out of the drive as Gabe took my hand and ran his thumb over my knuckles while he and Riley made small talk. I looked out of the privacy glass window my head spinning. I’d been brought up in a reasonably well off home, but this was just so far beyond that.

  ‘Baby are you ok?’ Gabe lifted my hand and kissed it and I turned to look at him and fell in love with him all over again. He was just breath taking. Why wasn’t he a famous male super model with that face and his body? If there were a privacy partition in the vehicle I’d have mounted him right there.

  ‘Yes, it’s just when you said a date, I thought we were going to a simple restaurant or something. This is so … it’s just so …’

  ‘Mia I wanted tonight to be special, you’ve had a really tough week.’

  ‘O Gabe it is. You’ve spoilt me so much, I mean my dress, shoes, pashmina and bag. I love them all, thank you so much, they’re just amazing.’

  ‘You look amazing,’ he smiled as he kissed my hand again.

  ‘It’s just a lot you know. I’m used to being taken on dates to the cinema or to a Frankie & Benny’s or Wetherspoons pub or something, in jeans or a dress from a non-designer store.’

  ‘You’d have preferred that?’ He looked hurt and I mentally kicked myself, I hadn’t meant to offend him, not after he’d gone to so much trouble and expense.

  ‘Gabe, as long as I’m with you I’d be happy on a date at McDonalds in my running gear. You don’t have to spoil me and spend lots of money to impress me, you already have me, I love you,’ I whispered, acutely aware of Riley sitting a few feet in front of us.

  ‘I know that Mia and that’s part of what I love about you, so that’s why I love to do it. I’m not doing it to impress you, I’m doing it because I love you, because you deserve to be treated like this.’ I looked away and bit my lip hard to stop the tears that were threatening to flow. ‘Mia, I don’t know who in your life has made you feel that you’re not special and deserving, but you are and I’ll continue to treat you that way for the rest of your life. Why aren’t you looking at me?’

  ‘I’m trying not to cry and if I look at you I will, because you’re just too
nice to me,’ I uttered as I blinked back the tears and stared out of the car window.

  ‘O baby.’ I felt him release my hand and put his arm around me and pulled me over until my head was resting on his shoulder. I slipped my hand into his jacket and fiddled with his waistcoat buttons as he ran his lips over my hair. ‘You smell so sexy,’ he whispered.

  ‘So do you. I can’t wait for you to see your presents, I hope you like them Gabe,’ I managed to say. Being so close to him was driving me crazy, his smell, his clothes, his body, just him. He was my whole perfect package.

  ‘If you chose them for me I’ll love them, because they came from you.’ He suddenly grabbed my hand from his waistcoat and moved it down and squeezed my fingers around his erection. ‘Seeing you looking like that’s present enough. See what you do to me?’ he whispered. He let go of my hand and I looked at the rear view mirror to check Riley couldn’t see before I started to rub my hand over his crotch vigorously. I wanted to rip the zip down and take him in my mouth. ‘Hmmm. Steady now, we’ve a long night ahead,’ he murmured in my ear before removing my hand.

  He turned my face to his and started kissing me softly and I closed my eyes and let him take me over. I got an image of him pulling himself out of the zipped opening of his trousers and fucking me while still wearing his suit and felt a wave of heat and excitement rush over me.

  Riley coughed discreetly and announced that we’d arrived so we pulled apart and I rummaged in my bag and reapplied my gloss as Riley opened Gabe’s door. I heard them chat then Riley got back in the driver’s side and Gabe opened my door for me. As I took his hand I carefully swivelled putting my left foot down on the road first. As I did, my dress parted and when I lifted my right foot, my bare leg was exposed. I watched his eyes widen as they took in the full effect of the shoes snaking up my calf and the black garter at the top of my thigh. I raised myself up and let the dress fall back in place.

  ‘I need some serious brownie points for not fucking you right now against this car,’ he growled as he closed the door behind me and firmly took my hand. He led me around towards the entrance of a very modern looking glass and chrome building and I looked up wondering how many floors there were. ‘26 and we’re nearly going all the way,’ he replied winking, as if he’d read my mind.

  We walked into a polished marble lobby and over to a bank of elevators and I spotted a security desk further down and the man tipped his cap and called out ‘Good evening Mr Austin.’

  ‘Do you know him?’ I asked Gabe as he ushered me into the lift with his hand in the small of my back, his fingers against my skin were driving me crazy.

  ‘Yes, dad started his company from this building, his firm covers the whole of the 24th floor.’ He pressed the button for the 25th floor and smiled at me.

  ‘So why doesn’t Robert work here instead of flying all over the world?’

  ‘He could if he wanted, but he chooses to spend time overseeing the main city offices. I think moving around takes his mind off how lonely he is. As they meet at Uni, I think there’s just too many memories here for him.’ I watched as his face changed and sadness set in, so I moved to stand in front of him and clasped his face and kissed him.

  ‘I love you,’ I whispered as I lay kisses on each corner of his mouth before putting my arms around his neck and holding him closely to me. I felt his arms close around my back and his face nuzzle into my neck and we just stood holding each other until the lift pinged. I let go and he gave me a soft thankful look, which instantly changed back to a raging look of beastial lust as he looked at my pert breasts. I felt another wave of heat start in my groin and wash up over me and shivered with delight as he took my hand.

  He led me out onto a sparkling black granite floor and down some steps and I gasped. In front of us was a magnificent view of the city twinkling below. To either side behind us ran a dimly lit bar, with jewel coloured glasses and bottles along the mirrored shelves. There were people crowded along the bar drinking and laughing, all immaculately dressed and you could tell it was a classy place. In alternate frames of the glass wall in front of us were semi-circular high back booths, shielding their occupants. A pretty redhead in a tight elegant black sheath dress came to greet us.

  ‘Hello Mr Austin, your table’s ready please follow me.’

  I laughed internally. To watch the way woman were around him was getting amusing. Our red headed hostess was smiling way too much at Gabe, fluttering her eye lashes and gently touching his arm as we walked and she enquired after his dad. I decided I was going to ignore it, I was going to have to get used woman drooling over him, after all if he wasn’t mine and I saw him out I’d be doing the same, but with possibly less self-control and more crust on my chin.

  Instead I chose to focus on the crowds at the bar as we passed. I noticed a few men watching me as I walked and looked down to realise that my leg extended from the dress and showed off my jewelled calf and a hint of my garter with each stride. I looked up at Gabe expecting him to frown and have words with me, but he just smiled proudly at me and rubbed my knuckles with his thumb.

  As we passed a group of guys, one of them, a good looking guy in his mid-thirties, eyed me intently and I’d the feeling I knew him from somewhere. He smiled widely at me and looked me up and down and I felt the grip on my hand tighten, nothing escaped Gabe.

  We were led to the end of the room and I gasped as I saw the final booth in the corner was surrounded by a beautiful shimmering curtain made of dangling fibre optic lights that shielded the booth from anyone’s view. Red parted them and Gabe indicated for me to enter. Inside was a small semi-circular table laid out with a dazzling white cloth, reflective silverware and crystal with white lilies and tea lights. A curved, high backed padded red leather booth wrapped around the table. I slid in and heard the curtain fall and it rustled again and Gabe entered from the right unbuttoning his jacket. I crossed my legs, the dress falling down showing my garter and entire right thigh, almost all the way up to the hip. I heard Gabe inhale quickly as he handed his jacket to Red. He sat beside me placing his elbows on the table, steepling his fingers as he smiled at me.

  ‘I’d like a bottle of 2005 Cristal please,’ he said flashing a quick glance at Red who nodded and disappeared through the shimmering curtain. I looked out at the view and then around us realising we weren’t overlooked in any way. I caught him watching me and smiled.

  ‘Gabe it’s so beautiful here and the view is just … spectacular.’

  ‘I was going to say the same about you. I think all the men in the bar appreciated it too, especially your friend.’

  ‘What friend?’ I tried to brush it off, I didn’t want to fight again and it wasn’t like I knew who the guy was. Why did he have to pick up on everything?’

  ‘Please Mia. I saw you exchange looks. How do you know each other?’

  ‘I recognise him, but that’s all,’ I shrugged.

  ‘I hope so,’ he said sharply. I closed my eyes, I hated it when his jealousy reared up. I waited a beat and then opened them.

  ‘I thought you were happy for me to be appreciated, you were fine with the You Tube deal. Besides that hostess was dribbling as she touched you, it goes both ways you know.’

  ‘You’re right, I don’t mind men looking, but there was a connection, he seems to know you Mia.’

  ‘Well I don’t recall him, so don’t let it spoil our evening.’ I reached up and brushed his hair behind his ear, took his hand and put it under the table on my knee. I slowly pulled it up my thigh until he reached my garter and just like that he was back with me, just me and him.

  ‘You’ve the most amazing legs,’ he whispered as he ran his hand up and down, making me arch my back and sit up a little straighter.

  ‘O god Gabe can’t we go and lock ourselves in the toilet now?’

  ‘Miss Page, you’re so desperate for it aren’t you?’ His eyes were full of sparkle again, I finally felt like we’d got some of the weeks trauma behind us.

  ‘I’m desperate
for you and you are for me too. I can see it written all over your face Gabe. You want me.’

  ‘Mia I want you all the time. The degrees of want vary along a scale from need to desperation.’ His low firm tone made my toes curl. He moved his hand slightly so it ran up the inside of my thigh. I leaned my head back against the high back of the padded bench and sighed contentedly until I heard the curtain moving.

  ‘Mr Austin, your champagne and the menus.’ Red had returned and had placed an ice bucket next to Gabe. She placed two champagne flutes on the table and carefully poured handing the first to him.

  ‘Please come in five minutes for our order and I’d prefer to serve the champagne from now on thanks.’ She nodded at him and left and I jumped as he pulled and released my garter. It snapped, the sound of it hitting my skin seemed so loud. ‘I love how soft your skin is,’ he sighed as he handed me a flute and raised his glass to me. ‘To my beautiful girlfriend and hoping she’s on the road to a full recovery.’

  ‘To my gorgeous boyfriend, thank you for taking such good care of me and for my amazing gifts and this romantic meal. Here’s also to hoping he’ll fuck me senseless at some stage in the evening. Orgasm endorphins have to be better than actual painkillers.’ I raised mine and smiled as he laughed. We both took a sip, it was perfectly chilled with just the right amount of bubbles. He handed me a menu.

  ‘Here, she’ll be back in a while. No complaining about prices and have as many courses as you want.’ I scanned the menu and my eyebrows raised, I was glad he was paying. I could feel his fingers stroking the inside of my thigh, just below the garter. It was very distracting and I shuffled in my seat. He gave me a couple of minutes before squeezing my leg.

  ‘What are you having?’ I asked.

  ‘Whatever you are,’ he replied and I looked at him.

  ‘You’ve done that every time we’ve eaten out. Why?’

  ‘So when you kiss me after dinner you’re not thinking about the other flavours in my mouth, you’re just thinking about my kiss,’ he smiled.