Love & Loss (The Austin Series)

by C. J. Fallowfield

  ‘I’m teenage boy fantasy, sex bomb, kick arse, Lara Croft,’ I smiled. He just nodded and didn’t say a word. ‘Well I sincerely hope that you’re not coming like that. Not coming as in sexually coming, I meant coming to the party in just a towel.’ He shook his head and gripped himself. ‘Have you lost ability to talk?’

  ‘Yes,’ he uttered hoarsely. ‘Fuck, you look seriously hot.’

  ‘Thank you. You don’t look too bad yourself, though I really would prefer you put some clothes on before everyone gets here.’

  ‘Do you have fake nipples in?’

  ‘No,’ I glared. ‘It’s all me, with my nipple revealing bra and crotchless knickers that you like so much.’

  ‘Do we have time for a quickie?’ he asked as he started walking towards me.

  ‘No we don’t,’ I gasped. If he thought he could be all mardy with me earlier then expect me to drop my shorts just like that he had another think coming. I pulled out my guns as he got closer and sprayed him with a giggle. He narrowed his eyes and growled.

  ‘Did you just squirt me?’

  ‘Did you just growl at me?’

  ‘Come on baby, my two favourite fantasies in one, you and Lara.’ He advanced on me again and I sprayed him before squealing as he rushed me and I ran screaming to the other side of the island. ‘Get over here, now,’ he ordered as he faced off against me.

  ‘Make me,’ I challenged. He had a bit of sparkle back in him and I wanted him in a good mood.

  ‘O game on,’ he uttered as he moved quickly and I shrieked and started running. I left the safety of the island and dodged around the pool table and he leaned over and gripped the other end of it as he kept his eyes firmly fixed on my chest. ‘You know you don’t stand a chance right?’

  ‘O cocky boy’s back,’ I giggled and squirted him again. As he made a move to his left, so did I and broke back towards the island, but he changed direction and before I knew it he’d dropped to the floor, sliding across the oak and knocked my feet out from under me and caught me as I went down screaming. He rolled over, pressing my chest down into the floor as he lay on my back and licked my neck. I squirmed under him trying to get out, but he grabbed my hands and pinned them to the floor.

  ‘Cocky boy wins baby,’ he murmured in my ear. ‘For that I’m going to spank this round bottom pink and then fuck it.’ I groaned as he bit my neck and gently sucked as he ground his erection into my backside.

  ‘Like bloody rabbits you too, are you at it again?’

  I lifted my head and saw Doug and Lexi standing in the doorway and I started giggling again while Gabe sighed heavily in my ear.

  ‘Obviously not,’ he muttered and climbed off me. ‘Seriously bad timing guys.’

  ‘Don’t leave your front door open on party night if you don’t want to be interrupted Gabe,’ shot Lexi. I scrambled up and adjusted my shorts and t-shirt and holstered my guns. ‘People are on their way up.’

  ‘Shit,’ groaned Gabe. ‘I’d better go get ready.’

  ‘I’ll entertain them, don’t rush,’ I advised, then frowned at him and nodded to his obvious erection. He shrugged and headed back to the bathroom.

  ‘Told you that outfit would cheer him up,’ Doug chuckled.

  ‘Very up, excuse the pun,’ nodded Lexi with a wink.

  ‘Stop it you two,’ I giggled. ‘He’ll be even more grumpy now he’s not had sex when he wanted it.’

  I was thrilled to find that a load of the swim team had turned up, thankfully not Julie, but Doug introduced Lexi and I to them all and I wished I’d thought of organising name badges. I logged into Spotify off my iPad and clicked the playlist that Gabe and I had spent a few hours putting together. I wasn’t the only one in awe at the quality of the sound coming through the built in speakers dotted around the apartment, Gabe had gone all out on a superb system that our iPads or iPhones could hook into. I cranked it up. It was a bring your own bottle party, though we’d supplied crates of beer and loads of plastic cups, so I told everyone to just help themselves to drink. Gabe had already locked up his favourite whiskey and my liqueurs in case they got downed as well. I was chatting to James, one of the swim boys when I felt a body press up behind me and fingers slide around my waist over my bare stomach. I recognised Gabe without even looking, the smell of his clothes, body wash and skin were instant olfactory stimulants.

  ‘James, you chatting up my girl,’ he asked as he kissed my temple.

  ‘As if Gabe, just nice to finally meet her, you’ve been hiding her away.’

  ‘For good reason it seems from the looks she’s getting tonight.’

  ‘Cool apartment.’

  ‘Thanks,’ Gabe and I replied together and laughed.

  ‘Well I’ll go get another beer, you want?’ James asked.

  ‘No thanks,’ we both replied and this time he laughed. Gabe let go of me and I turned around and groaned as I saw his outfit. He was dressed like Doug, in army camouflage combat pants with army boots and a seriously tight fit khaki t-shirt that showed off every defined muscle he had, topped off with dog tags and black stripes on his face.

  ‘Stonebridge I presume?’ I smiled.

  ‘I was going to come as Harvey, but Doug said it was too boring to come in a three piece suit and I couldn’t bring myself to slick my hair back,’ he grinned. I was pleased to see he was in a better mood.

  ‘I’m happy for you to Harvey up for my own private entertainment one night Gabe, but this look is also very hot on you.’ I ran my palms up his abs and pecs and let out a groan.

  ‘As is this look on you, I was so pissed off when Doug and Lexi interrupted us.’ He yanked me against him and pulled my pony tail to tilt my chin up. ‘I’m going to kiss you now and I expect you to respond properly, I don’t give a fuck who’s watching. Clear?’

  ‘Clear,’ I sighed and crumbled as his lips smashed against mine and he ate hungrily, one hand still fixing my hair, while the over moved to squeeze my bottom, virtually lifting me off the floor as he pressed me against him. Desire pooled at the apex of my thighs as his tongue worked its way around mine. He only pulled away as we heard a load of whooping.

  ‘It’s not midnight yet mate,’ yelled Doug over the music and I blushed as Gabe released me and saw everyone was watching us, including Milo and his friends. I looked at Gabe and sighed, he hadn’t been overjoyed that I’d invited Milo and he’d obviously spotted him coming in and put on that display for him. Gabe tucked me into his side as they came over and I felt him stiffen as all the boys kissed me on the cheek and commented on my outfit. I was slightly relieved to see that he shook hands with them all and pointed them in the direction of the beers and I gave Milo a discreet wink and smile.

  ‘Are you going to remain glued to me all evening?’ I asked.

  ‘Just making sure everyone knows you’re with me.’

  ‘Everyone already knows that Gabe, we invited them as a New Year house warming party for the two of us.’

  ‘You don’t want to spend the evening with me?’ he frowned as he looked down at me.

  ‘Not every second of the night, I’d like to mingle and chat to people without them feeling on edge that I have a personal bodyguard within three inches of me all night.’ I watched as his frown deepened. ‘I’ll be kissing you at midnight and I’m a sure thing to come home with you. Give me a bit of leeway now and I may even throw in a Lara Croft pole and lap dance,’ I coaxed. The crinkles in his brow smoothed out as his eyebrows raised.

  ‘Now you’re talking.’

  ‘So kiss me again and go mingle,’ I ordered.

  I was glad that we’d invited all the neighbours from the building, we’d left the doors to our two apartments open so people could wander between the two and with the music, talking and laughter we were rowdy. I screamed as Cindy turned up and we hugged as she introduced me to some of the other dancers from Peppers and one immediately spotted my pole and clapped her hands. Before I knew it we were having a Pole off with each other, much to the delight of all the boys.
I half expected Gabe to come and drag me off it when it was my turn, but he stood with his powerful arms folded across his broad chest with a proud smile on his face as he watched everyone looking at me. I blew him a kiss as I dismounted and grabbed my beer and headed over to number five to get some food. I was leaning back on my old desk eating a Cajun chicken wrap when I felt a hand on my shoulder and looked around mid-mouthful to see Milo.

  ‘You’re full of surprises,’ he smiled.

  ‘I am?’ I mumbled with my hand in front of my mouth.

  ‘How long have you been pole dancing?’ he asked and I pointed at my mouth and nodded my head as I chewed and swallowed.

  ‘A couple of months, I’m a trained dancer, ballet and general and took it up after our visit to Peppers.’

  ‘You dance there?’ he exclaimed his eyes wide. I hadn’t planned on telling him, but I didn’t want to lie. I knew Gabe wouldn’t be impressed, but he was the one who’d stuck the pole in the lounge, for any visitor to see. Robert’s expression when he’d seen it had been priceless.

  ‘Only the once, but I’ve been offered more shifts and I need the cash.’

  ‘O my God, Zane will go crazy if he hears you’re dancing, I’m amazed he’s not here now following you around like a love sick puppy,’ he laughed as he did a check around us.

  ‘God please don’t say anything, I’m not sure how I’d feel about you guys coming to watch, plus I know Gabe wouldn’t be impressed.’

  ‘My lips are sealed. Cool costume.’

  ‘I need to reload my guns, I’m all out,’ I smiled. ‘I have no idea who you are though,’ I commented as I looked him up and down. He was in black combat pants and a tight khaki granddad shirt and was wearing black gloves and had a large syringe sticking out of his pocket. Milo laughed.

  ‘You obviously didn’t watch Dexter?’

  ‘Dexter?’

  ‘Amazing show. Serial killer who worked for the police department in Miami and killed killers that had got away with murder. He injected them with animal tranquilizers to knock them out until he took them to his lair and dismembered them.’ He waved the syringe at me and I grimaced.

  ‘Amazing show? Seriously? I’m not sure I’d like watching that.’

  ‘Sounds weird but trust me it’s gripping. It was amazing how he got away with it for so many years when he was surrounded by the very people who were hunting him.’

  ‘I’ll stick to my super hero shows thanks,’ I laughed. ‘Give me Arrow any day.’

  ‘That’s an awesome show too,’ he nodded. I smiled as Lexi came in and she frowned and gestured with her head to come over.

  ‘Excuse me a minute Milo.’ I put down my plate and headed over to her. ‘What’s wrong?’

  ‘Gabe’s looking for you, figured you may not want to be found cozying up in the corner with Milo.’

  ‘I wasn’t cozying, we were just talking, but I appreciate the heads up. Where is he?’

  ‘The kitchen … our kitchen … your kitchen … my kitchen … fuck this is confusing, number five’s kitchen. He’s discovered the trays of chocolate caramel shortbreads in the freezer and I’m telling you it could get ugly if anyone else wants any.’

  ‘Really? That’s not like him.’

  ‘Well try and get him away from them, I’d like some.’

  I laughed and headed off via the bathroom, filling up my pistols again and crept up to the kitchen door. He had his back to me and Lexi was right, he was standing in front of the tray and a good chunk were missing. I took him by surprise with a load of squirts to the back of the neck, but he spun around, his cheeks bulging from the small squares of dessert and raised a water rifle and I screamed as he laughed while we soaked each other.

  ‘What are you doing?’ I spluttered as he grasped me around the waist and smoothed my wet fringe to the side.

  ‘I like you wet,’ he winked.

  ‘Not that, I heard a rumour you’d liberated a tray of dessert from the freezer and were protecting it with your life. What gives Stonebridge?’

  ‘Come to tomb raid them from under me have you Croft?’

  ‘Yes and to witness your gluttony, you don’t normally go for sweet treats, you prefer savoury.’

  ‘I know but Lex gave me one and they’re really good.’

  ‘One?’ I laughed, ‘there’s more than one missing off that tray. Soldiers need to stay in shape you know.’

  ‘I do know baby, after watching you on that pole I know exactly how I’d like to stay in shape, but given we are stuck with all these people for a few more hours I wanted something else sweet to satisfy me. I’m thinking I’d like to buy some chocolate and caramel sauce so I can pour it on you and lick it all off.’

  ‘Could we get some of that chocolate stuff that goes hard when you pour it? I’d love to coat your cock in it and then have to bite and suck it off slowly.’

  ‘O fuck,’ he groaned and he moved his hands down to my bottom and pressed me against him. ‘Can’t we kick everyone out and do it now?’

  ‘Sadly not, but you know what we can do tomorrow?’

  ‘Spend all day having sex?’

  ‘That too, but I was thinking we haven’t used the Clone your Willy kit Lexi got us.’

  ‘Ok, I’m game,’ he nodded as his voice took on a lower huskier tone than normal. ‘I like the idea of a 69 with my cock in your mouth while I suck your clit and fuck you with my clone,’ he whispered as he bit my ear lobe and I groaned at the thought of it.

  ‘Only if you use the butt plug as well.’

  ‘Greedy greedy greedy girl,’ he chuckled as he kissed my neck. ‘Why don’t we get a second kit and I can fuck you in all three holes at the same time?’

  ‘O shit,’ I moaned as I sagged against him. ‘I think I could come by you just kissing my neck and talking me through that scenario.’

  ‘Step away from Croft Stonebridge, or I will stick you with my pointy sword,’ came Lexi’s voice and Gabe groaned with frustration as I turned giggling to see her brandishing her plastic weapon.

  ‘Have you come to free the chocolate squares?’ I asked.

  ‘I have, Stonebridge is a greedy chuffer and needs to be stopped before he bloats like the marshmallow man from Ghostbusters.’

  ‘Greedy chuffer?’ he scowled at her and I giggled again.

  ‘You’ll get chunky,’ I nodded and he smacked my bottom making me squeal and Lexi blush.

  I left them to argue over the fact Gabe wanted to hide some for our personal use and went back to our apartment to grab another beer. The party was in full flow and I did a quick responsible home owners check that nothing had been damaged yet. My phone was buzzing non-stop with pre-midnight texts from Mum and Gerry, Georgie and the girls back home. I replied to them all and looked up and spotted Gabe on the other side of the room, mid conversation with some of his swim team, but his eyes were firmly fixed on me. I blew him a kiss and I felt my chest constrict, I swore he got more handsome by the day. It was already twenty past eleven and I quickly side stepped a staggering James and felt my phone vibrate again. I looked down to see it was Sam, the singer calling and quickly looked around for Lexi, but couldn’t see her. Gabe was still talking to his friends so I answered but could hardly hear over the noise.

  ‘Hold on, I’m going somewhere quieter,’ I yelled. I headed out onto the landing and opened the door to the roof terrace and stepped out and gasped to find Lexi locked in an embrace with Milo’s friend Dan. They pulled apart quickly and Dan ran his hands through his hair and played tennis going from my scowling face to Lexi’s embarrassed one and made the wise choice of squeezing past me and leaving. ‘Sam, I’m really sorry, can I ring you back in five minutes, I just have a crisis to deal with,’ I said calmly while spearing Lexi with another look as her face lit up to realise he’d called. I’d taken a photo of us earlier and texted it to him with ‘Up for it?’ as the caption.

  ‘Sure babe, make sure you do, I have a date for you. I’m definitely up for it.’

  ‘Excellent,’ I re
sponded. ‘Call you in a while.’

  ‘Holy shit he called back?’

  ‘Don’t even think of changing tack with me Lexi. Have you and Doug split up?’

  ‘Mia,’ she sighed.

  ‘I take it that’s a no then. Again. Unacceptable Lexi, what if he’d just come out here looking for you?’ I watched her shrug and I let out an exasperated sigh. ‘That’s what you want isn’t it? You want him to catch you with someone else so he can have a fit and break up with you, so you don’t have to do it.’

  ‘I really like him Mia, I don’t want to hurt him.’

  ‘You think seeing you snogging someone else isn’t going to hurt him?’

  ‘He’ll probably put it down to the booze and me being a slut and move on. If I break up with him I’ll always be the girl that broke his heart at Christmas, after he’d told her he loved her.’

  ‘Lexi you …’ I cut myself off as I saw her bottom lip wobbling. Why couldn’t she just admit how she felt about him and give into it. ‘Come here,’ I sighed and opened my arms and she walked into them. I rubbed her back as I rocked her. ‘If you really can’t let go with him you have to end it Lexi. It’s not fair and he deserves better. Don’t do it like this, he’ll be hurt, but he’ll go away with happy memories of your time together instead of hating you. We’re still going to see him, a lot, you need to try and keep things amicable, you knew this from the start.’

  ‘I know,’ she whispered. ‘I just feel so miserable.’

  ‘Come on then, let’s ring Sam back and fix up a date as you’re going to be single.’ I let go of her and she straightened up and gave me a half smile.

  ‘You’d really do that?’

  ‘I’d do it for you, arrange the meeting, not the threesome,’ I added and this time I got a full smile. I redialled his number and he gave me the name of the hotel he’d be staying in while in London on Valentine’s night we agreed on meeting in the hotel bar at 8 p.m. ‘Sam, I’m sorry but it’s coming up to midnight here, I need to re-join the party.’