The Honeymoon Period (The Austin Series)

by Fallowfield, C. J.

  Tuesday

  I stirred and realised Gabe was no longer under my arm. I opened my eyes and smiled when I looked into the big brown shiny plastic eyes of big boy the panda. I rubbed my eyes and looked around, it was eight-thirty. I lay back down and sighed, the bathroom door was open and it was quiet, he must’ve gone already, but it wasn’t like him not to have left a note. I tried to motivate myself to get up and get ready for a run, but was so tired and cosy I couldn’t be bothered to move. I curled up in a ball and buried my face in his pillow and smiled, I loved the smell of his pillow. I jumped when I felt the mattress dip and opened my eyes to see him sitting at the edge of the bed in front of me fully dressed in his low rise grey sweats and a sweatshirt.

  ‘Morning. How did you sleep?’ he asked as he bent and kissed my forehead.

  ‘Hmmm, fabulously after I was ravaged in the night.’

  ‘I put you a coffee up there and I have a tray of scrambled eggs and bacon with white buttered toast and orange juice for you, if you think you can sit up.’

  ‘I thought you’d gone. You were cooking?’

  ‘Yes, I shut the kitchen door to keep the noise down. Doug and I have just eaten. Lexi’s asleep and Doug’s too scared to wake her up, but I thought you might be hungry.’

  ‘I am, for food and you.’

  ‘Food I can get for you, but we don’t have time for the other,’ he said pulling my bottom lip as I pouted. ‘Sit up, I’ll bring it in.’

  He sat at the bottom of the bed watching me as I ate. I’d stopped complaining about it as I knew it made him happy to see me enjoying my food.

  ‘God, that was good. Thank you.’ I leaned over and swigged some of my coffee.

  ‘Are you still going for your run?’

  ‘I still feel tired and now I’ve got a full tummy I’m thinking no.’

  ‘Then stay in bed. There’s a really nice combined kitchen and bathroom place that does tiles too, so we only have to go to one place and fit in lunch. We don’t have to leave until eleven-thirty so you can have another couple of hours sleep.’

  ‘That sounds so good.’

  ‘Ok then settled. Let me take your tray and I’ll get out of your way and wake you up for eleven if that’s enough time for you to get ready?’

  ‘It is, thanks. Promise me something?’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Don’t overdo it today, you don’t need to push yourself so hard. I want you fit and healthy, not injured again.’

  ‘I promise,’ he smiled and kissed me, took my tray off me and waited for me to snuggle back down. ‘See you later baby. Sweet dreams,’ he winked and disappeared out of view.

  I closed my eyes again, feeling full and happy and woke again at twenty past ten, got up and stretched and headed for a shower. I then stripped the bedding and fitted a fresh set, fluffing up the duvet and pulled on pair of white micro briefs and my bra and laid out my leather look skinny trousers, white and silver skull t-shirt and black blazer, then did some eye makeup and dried my hair upside down for some body. I turned around and let out a startled scream to see Gabe sitting on the side of the bed watching me.

  ‘Shit Gabe. How long have you been there?’

  ‘Long enough to want you to bend over again in those tiny knickers. You look gorgeous baby.’

  ‘Thank you. So do you, I love the damp hair look on you.’ I walked over to him and he parted his legs for me to get close as I ran my fingers through it, bent down and kissed him. He slid his hands up under my knickers to cup my buttocks and kissed the flesh of my breasts heaving out of my bra.

  ‘So are you going to tell me how it went or just try and seduce me?’

  ‘I have to try now?’

  ‘No, but you’re like me. You use it as a distraction technique.’

  ‘Well Dr. Jarvis can see me Monday lunchtime and I’ve asked for daily sessions moving forward until he decides what I need.’

  ‘That’s great Gabe, I’ll call him later and fix up mine as well. What about swimming?’

  ‘It went ok. Pete works us hard, but I’m way behind Doug and that’s not something I’m used to.’

  ‘Gabe, you’ve only been back in the pool a few days. Give it time.’

  ‘I know it’s just frustrating that’s all. You know what else is frustrating?’

  ‘Seeing me in underwear and not having time for sex?’

  ‘We must be able to fit in a quickie, it’s off the menu until tomorrow night.’

  ‘Gabe much as I love it, I’m all shower fresh and made up and don’t want to have to start all over again, particularly when a woman’s going to be in that region in less than four hours. I also don’t want us to rush choosing our fittings for the apartment either. Stop sulking and let me get ready and if we’ve got time when we get back I’ll suck you off.’

  ‘Mia, you can be so dirty and crude sometimes. You’ve just turned me on even more with that dirty mouth of yours,’ he grinned, squeezing my buttocks. I slapped his hands and pulled them out of my knickers, kissed him and got dressed and bent to pull on my black snakeskin peep toe platform heels and heard a whistle and felt a slap on my backside as he emerged from the bathroom.

  ‘Wow, are those trousers painted on? You know we’re shopping not clubbing right?’

  ‘I wanted to look decent because knowing you we aren’t going to be shopping for kitchens and bathrooms in the local DIY store.’ I turned around to see him in a pair of electric blue, very tight boxers, clinging to another impressive erection. ‘Shit, is it too late for me to reconsider the whole no time for sex thing? You look damn hot.’

  ‘Sorry moments passed Mia, I’m shower fresh and don’t want to ruin it when some woman’s going to be waxing this region later,’ he winked, gesticulating his crotch.

  ‘What?’ I exclaimed horrified.

  ‘What?’ he said, looking all innocent as I squinted my eyes and glared at him.

  ‘You have a woman wax you?’

  ‘Well I don’t want some guy handling my balls and cock while he does it,’ he replied pulling on a pair of low rise distressed faded jeans.

  ‘I don’t want any women handling any of your junk, thank you very much.’ I stood with my hands on my hips as I felt my blood boiling from fury as well as the heat in my core from the sight of him half naked.

  ‘Are you serious?’

  ‘Yes, it’s all mine.’

  ‘It’s just a wax baby,’ he chuckled, making me madder.

  ‘Fine. I’ll call my salon right now and say that I don’t want Amy to do it, I want Greg. I want Greg to see me drop my tiny knickers, climb on the bed and spread my legs for him, letting him inspect me thoroughly before running his fingers full of hot wax all over my tight wet little …’

  ‘Ok, ok you’ve made your point,’ he interrupted with a frown. ‘I don’t want Greg anywhere near you Mia, not even a fucking massage.’

  ‘So you’ll change your appointment?’

  ‘It’s a bit late to change it,’ he replied as he pulled on a blue pinstripe shirt and started to button it up.

  ‘Do it now,’ I ordered, seething.

  ‘Mia,’ he laughed.

  ‘Do it now or I’ll ring and cancel the appointment myself.’ I crossed my arms across my chest.

  ‘You don’t even know where I go,’ he smirked.

  ‘You think this is funny? Fine I’ll ring Doug and he’ll tell me, you’re bound to go to the same place.’

  ‘Shit baby you really are jealous, it’s very sexy.’ He tucked his shirt into his jeans and walked over to me.

  ‘Yes, I’m bloody jealous. I don’t want any woman ever looking at your privates, let alone touching them. That’s just wrong. Why are you still grinning? What are you grinning at?’

  ‘You’re so mad.’

  ‘Damn right I am. I can’t believe you thought I’d be ok with this, Gabe,’ I uttered, confounded.

  ‘I figured you might not be, so I stopped seeing my usual waxer when we started seeing each other and I have a guy do it
now.’

  ‘You did? You were teasing me?’

  ‘Not about not wanting Greg to wax you, but yes, I just wanted to see if you’d be pissed about it and you were.’ He put his arms around my waist and gave me that smile, that break your heart and make you swoon smile, and I scowled and slapped his bicep, which hurt me more than him.

  ‘That was just mean. I was really mad, Gabe.’

  ‘Maybe you understand why I’ve a problem with you wanting to pole dance then.’

  ‘Men are looking at me with knickers on and no bare nipple in sight Gabe, it’s only like you wandering around a pool in your tiny speedos even without a hard on. It’s a bit different to having some woman touching my man’s penis.’

  ‘Your man’s penis?’

  ‘Yes mine and don’t you forget it.’ I put my arms around his neck.

  ‘Jealousy and fury looks so good on you baby, I want to fuck you so badly right now.’

  ‘Don’t, I do too, but if we leave shopping another week it’ll delay us moving in. Kiss me then go and put your shoes on and we can get going,’ I ordered. He held me tightly and slipped his tongue between my lips and I responded. I was so desperate to pull his clothes off and get him back on the bed, I had to pull away and he sighed.

  ‘Pack those trousers for clubbing, they’re very sexy’ he murmured running his hands over my curvy bottom.

  ‘I’ve a far sexier outfit for clubbing that’s going to blow your mind especially when I get down and dirty grinding on the dance floor. You better be in good shape Gabe Austin, because I plan on fucking you a lot this weekend.’

  ‘Damn it, Mia. Get out of the bedroom now, before I throw you down and rip those damn trousers off you. Trust me, it’s you who needs to be in good shape baby. I’m going to fuck you into oblivion.’

  ‘Argggghhhh, I’m so frustrated right now,’ I pouted making him laugh. He slapped my bottom again and went to put on his socks and shoes as I grabbed my bag. It was eleven-fifteen and I debated waking up Lexi, but decided to leave her lying in. Gabe grabbed my hand and we headed down to the car park. He had his Audi back instead of the Range Rover and looked at me and waved the keys.

  ‘You drive if it’s not too far, Gabe.’

  ‘I thought you enjoyed it?’

  ‘I do, but it’s far sexier watching you drive.’

  He grinned and opened the door for me and shut me in. I watched him as he drove, he’d lost none of his confidence and dressed in his shirt with his hair still slightly damp I wanted to straddle him right there. I put my hand on his thigh and he smiled over at me. It took us about twenty minutes to get to the showroom and I was right, it looked seriously expensive. I waited for him to open my door and he held out his hand to help me up.

  ‘Gabe, you don’t need to spend a fortune in here, ok?’

  ‘They have varying prices and we’ll get what we like Mia, regardless of the cost. As you say, it’s our first home together and I want it to be just right.’

  ‘Fine,’ I conceded. It would be nice to have a whole day without an argument so I linked my right hand with his left and walked into the store. We were spotted immediately and Gabe put the salesman straight in his place telling him that we’d make up our own minds before ordering and confirming our required timeframe. I tried not to smile as the sales guy, Dave, stuttered and turned crimson as Gabe led me away. We had our scale plans with us and had already decided what base and wall units we wanted and where, it was just a matter of choosing the style.

  ‘What do you think?’ Gabe asked as we wandered around looking at the first section which was ultra-modern and glossy.

  ‘I know we’re going to have some modern pieces of furniture Gabe, but it’s a Victorian place, I think we need to keep some of the period feel with the fixtures and fittings.’

  ‘I love that you said that. I like the classic shaker style in white.’

  ‘Then why didn’t you say instead of dragging me around these hideous shiny gloss units?’

  ‘I wanted you to choose.’ He led me towards the right area.

  ‘Gabe, I may be living there but it’s your apartment. You need to say what you like. What if we split up and you’re stuck with something I chose that you hate?’

  ‘You’ve great taste baby, you picked me.’

  ‘No you pursued me, quite forcefully if I remember.’

  ‘You wanted pursuing Mia, with all your flirting and banter and leaning on the wall begging me to kiss you.’

  ‘That really pissed me off,’ I laughed giving him a hip bump.

  ‘I know it did. I think that sealed the deal for us, me holding off kissing you that day. It made you even more desperate for me and this seriously fuckable body,’ he replied with a cocky grin as he scanned himself with his free hand.

  ‘I would normally call you an arrogant arse Gabe Austin, but on this occasion I can’t dispute any word in that self-ego boosting statement, you do have a seriously hot fuckable body, that is now my property.’

  ‘Wow, possessiveness looks so hot on you too Mia,’ he groaned and squeezed another erection through his jeans. I smiled and gasped.

  ‘O God, that one Gabe.’ I tugged him over to a white painted shaker kitchen with square chrome handles and ran my hand over the wood. ‘Do you like it?’

  ‘It’s hard to focus on anything but this throbbing Mia, but yes I love it, not too keen on this white granite sparkly top though.’

  ‘No it’s all too white. What do you think about thick oak worktops to match the flooring?’

  ‘Yes, works for me, though I’d like a double shallow butlers sink if you don’t mind?’

  ‘Sounds good. Should we be agreeing so easily on this stuff?’

  ‘Gives us more time for lunch and a quick blow job,’ he grinned. I pulled my tongue out at him. ‘Don’t, I’m trying to get him to go down and you’re being all suggestive. What about appliances?’ he asked. I looked at him and bit my lip. ‘What baby? You’ve got an idea, what is it?’

  ‘I’ve always loved the Smeg retro appliances.’

  ‘They have pretty good ratings. What colour?’

  ‘You know them?’

  ‘Mia, I’m fucking bored when you’re at Uni and I’m lounging around. I’ve been looking at all sorts of things.’

  ‘Yes,’ I laughed. ‘Like how many calories are in semen. Have you been watching porn?’

  ‘Only our tape from weeks ago,’ he replied, looking slightly guilty.

  ‘I haven’t seen that yet,’ I said slapping his arm. ‘Any good?’

  ‘So damn hot baby, I came a couple of times watching it.’

  ‘I can’t believe you’ve done that without me.’

  ‘Watching or coming?’

  ‘Either, both. I don’t masturbate without you.’

  ‘I did then as I still wasn’t allowed sex. I don’t masturbate now that you’re back on the menu baby, you do it so much better.’

  ‘Thank you. Can we talk kitchens and bathrooms, I’m getting all hot and bothered now.’

  ‘Fine. So what colour? Cream, black?’

  ‘That’s a bit boring, why don’t we add a splash of colour. I love the red.’

  ‘Sorted. I love these retro brick gloss tiles.’

  ‘Me too. White?’

  ‘Now we’ve coloured appliances I’m cool with that. As I’ll be doing most of the cooking I’ve already ordered the oven, hob, coffee maker and microwave so we just need a tap and extractor and we’re good to hit the bathroom stuff. This is so much easier than I thought it’d be,’ he nodded.

  We agreed on a retro chrome mixer with white porcelain handles and Gabe wanted an instant hot water tap to save us having a kettle. I couldn’t bite my tongue over the extractor and we ended up arguing over it when he saw my eyes light up at a gorgeous, but ridiculously priced, crystal chandelier one. I said no matter how pretty it looked it was too much money, which only made him more determined to get it. He scribbled the details on the long list in his folder and I stormed off the bath
room section without him. I felt his hands on my hips as I was stroking an old fashioned Victorian traditional heated towel rail combined with a built in white old school radiator.

  ‘Is that too expensive for me to buy?’ he asked sarcastically.

  ‘Actually no, it’s very good value if you like it.’

  ‘I do. Why aren’t you arguing with me still?’

  ‘As you keep reminding me it’s your money. Modern bath or claw foot?’ I replied without looking at him.

  ‘Claw foot and free standing as long as it’s big enough for both of us to share.’ He kissed the back of my neck and sighed. ‘I love you baby. Don’t be pissed with me for wanting to make the place somewhere you want to share with me.’

  I turned around to look at him. ‘I’m not. I love that you’re being so thoughtful in taking into account what I like, but honestly that extractor’s as much as all the appliances combined.’

  ‘You haven’t seen the price of the cooker, hob and coffee machine I’m getting,’ he smiled.

  ‘Don’t joke.’

  ‘Mia I saw your face, and it’s pretty spectacular. I’ll be damned if we’re going to have a beautiful looking apartment with an ugly stainless steel thing hanging over the island. It’ll be the first thing you see as you walk in. It needs to look good,’ he said firmly. I knew he was right but it was still a lot of money. I sighed and kissed him.

  ‘Ok.’

  ‘Great.’

  We agreed to go to an antiques market to find a second hand large chest of drawers to strip down and turn into the base for the sinks, as we couldn’t find any bathroom units that we liked. We choose two white square counter top sinks and high chrome taps as well as taps for the bath and bidet, which we picked out to match the toilet. We decided on a wet room shower with large glass floating wall with a double overhead power shower and large travertine tiles for the floor, shower wall and sink splash backs, as I liked the idea of painting the walls cream to keep it warm and cosy.

  ‘What about storage?’ he asked.

  ‘Well if we have the chest of drawers we can keep toiletries and things in there, but it might be nice to look for an old glazed bookcase or dresser that we could paint and we could use it to stack towels and bed linen in and hide the cleaning supplies.’