Baggage & Buttons (32 page)

‘I just had cotton wool on a stick shoved up my penis by
a man for you and you can’t tell me if you’ve thought that far ahead.’

‘I’m sorry, I haven’t Gabe, we’re only a couple of weeks
into a relationship and I’m just enjoying it and hoping it doesn’t end. That’s
as far as I’ve thought,’ I took a sip of my latte. ‘Damn it now my coffee’s
cold. Next time we’re either drinking in or I’m duck taping your mouth shut.’ I
slammed it down on the console table behind the sofa. What the hell was he
thinking asking me about marriage and bloody kids after two weeks?

‘Are you ok baby? I can feel your heart racing.’

‘Well it’s not from caffeine overdose that’s for sure,’
I snapped, irritated.

‘Mine’s lovely,’ he grinned. ‘You’re sure you’re ok?’

‘Yes I’m fine Gabe,’ I sighed. ‘I just like my latte’s
hot.’

‘So what are you doing with the rest of your day?’

‘I have a beautician’s appointment.’

‘What are you having done?’ he asked as he nuzzled my
chest.

‘Lexi and I are getting facials and I’m having a wax.’

‘O god. It’s bad enough I’m this close to your
nipples. I don’t need you telling me about your smooth vagina.’

‘I’ve just realised you have no pubic hair either,’ I
exclaimed with a gasp. ‘Or chest, leg or arm hair.’

‘You’re lucky I have head hair and eyebrows, I drew
the line at waxing those off in the name of speed.’

‘So you wax too?’

‘You’ve seen my tiny trunks, not a great look to have
pubes sticking out everywhere, plus body hair can add fractions of a second to
swim times, so most swimmers wax everything off. You seriously only just
realised that I was bare?’

‘Well it’s not like I’ve seen another one in real life
is it?’

‘No, only in the porn movies you’ve watched. What was
that all about? Do you have a collection?’

‘Lexi got a load of an old fling while we were still
at school and I watched them. I wanted to see what I was missing and what all
the fuss was about.’

‘And?’ he asked as he finished the last of his black
coffee.

‘Let’s just say I like the real thing better. None of
the men were that attractive looking either, facially anyway. Are you into porn?’

‘I was, but I don’t want it, or need it now I’ve got
you.’

‘Even when we’re not having sex, like last night?’

‘Thanks for reminding me of that, but no. I used porn
to get off to, as there was no one I wanted to imagine. So now I have you to visualise,
I don’t need it.’

‘Hmmm, I
think
that’s a compliment, so thank
you?’

‘It is. I never masturbated thinking about any of my
exes. Do you still watch it?’

‘No, but I don’t mind watching it with you, if you
want to?’

‘I don’t, but I love you even more for offering.’

‘So what else do you like to do that we haven’t’ I
asked.

‘Sex wise?’

‘Yes, what sort of things really turn you on?’

‘I’d like to restrain you more often, that really gets
me off, as does being a bit rough and fast sometimes, but equally I’d never
enjoyed going slow and gentle until I met you, so I’m happy to do whatever you
want baby. We can try anything you want and see what we both enjoy can’t we?’

‘I really liked it when you handcuffed me and the
spanking too,’ I smiled down at him.

‘Mia much as I’d love to continue this conversation,
in
depth
, I’m hard and it’s really not a good time for me to be aroused,’ he groaned
as he shifted slightly onto his side, his face nestled in my breasts. I ran my
fingers through his hair again and he let out a contended sigh. I saw him fighting
to keep his eyes open, he looked totally exhausted. I took his empty cup out of
his hands and put it behind me.

‘Close your eyes Gabe, we can just stay here until
you’ve got to go,’ I whispered and just like that he fell asleep in my lap. I
heard the key in the front door and realised Lexi must’ve been out. I looked
down at Gabe, hoping she wouldn’t call out for me and wake him up. I grabbed my
phone off the table behind me and quickly texted her.

Lex, I’m in the lounge, but Gabe’s fallen asleep on me
and I don’t want to disturb him

I heard her text tone tinkle in the distance and then
her feet approaching the lounge door. She gently opened it and stuck her head
around.

‘You ok?’ she whispered.

‘Yes you?’

‘Surprisingly good this morning. Still on for
beauticians at two?’

‘Yes.’

‘Do you need anything?’

‘I’d be so happy if you could microwave my latte for
me, it’s gone cold.’

‘How long?’

‘I don’t know, try a minute, test it and do another
minute if it needs it.’ I looked down as I felt Gabe stir, but he was still
asleep. Lexi crept in and took my coffee of me.

‘God he looks so young when he’s sleeping. Be back in
a minute.’

‘Thanks Lex.’

I looked back down at him and felt my stomach knot
again. He was right with what he’d said earlier, I knew that I loved him
because even when I was mad with him, my heart would ache every time I looked
at him. I just sat memorising each angle of his face, his strong jaw line and
cheekbone, the curve of his nose and lips, his long dark lashes. He was so good
looking, I found myself wondering again why he’d fallen for me.

‘Here Mia, think this should be good.’

‘Thanks Lex, would you mind putting the blanket over
him?’

‘You can’t just sit there for the next few hours with
him lying on you.’

‘I can and I will. It’s my fault he’s not slept, he
needs this. I can catch up on some texts and do some internet research into
this bloody pelvic condition.’

‘Ok, well text me if you need anything else,’ she said
as she carefully arranged the blanket over him. She smiled at me and I blew her
a kiss as she left the room.

I set a vibration alarm to wake Gabe up at one
o’clock, then did a load of texting to some of my boarding school friends, to
see how they had settled into their Uni’s and jobs, suggesting us all going out
on the first Saturday of half term when we were planning on going home. I
suddenly realised I’d not even thought far enough ahead with Gabe to discuss
half term, but there was no way I wasn’t going home for a few days and seeing mum
and my friends.

I looked up ovarian cysts, then moved onto endometriosis
and ended up wishing I’d not looked into either of them. Every monthly bleed
could make it worse and I’d been putting off being seen. I needed to take my
mind off it and opened my kindle app and picked up on a saucy book I’d not
looked at since I’d met Gabe. I was amazed how much more enjoyable it was, now
I knew what sex actually felt like it, the scenes were so much more vivid and I
could imagine it being Gabe and I playing the main characters.

I was so engrossed reading that I jumped when my alarm
vibrated. Gabe slept on and I sighed, he looked so peaceful and happy I really
didn’t want to wake him, but I knew he couldn’t afford to miss any more
lectures than he already had, so I gently stroked his forehead.

‘Gabe ... Gabe. It’s time to wake up. Gabe … baby,
it’s one o’clock,’ I whispered. He groaned and stretched out and slowly opened
his stunning blue eyes to look at me, making me catch my breath.

‘Did you just call me baby?’

‘I think I did, it’s grown on me.’ I remembered how
mortified I’d been that night in the club when he’d called me that. I’d always
hated pet names, but coming from him … well now I loved it.

‘I like it. Is it really one o’clock?’

‘Yes, you’ve been asleep for over two hours.’

‘Why didn’t you wake me up?’ he yawned.

‘You were tired and you obviously needed it,’ I smiled
and stroked his hair again. He sat up and turned, one leg tucked under him, to
face me.

‘Thank you, you’re so sweet,’ he held my face as he
brushed my cheek with his thumb and just looked into my eyes. I turned my head
to kiss his palm and looked back at him and smiled. ‘What?’ he said.

‘I love you so much,’ I whispered.

‘Not as much as I love you.’ He pulled me into him and
I lay my head on his shoulder and closed my eyes and just enjoyed his arms
around me and his scent. To think this time last week he’d terrified me with
his declaration of love, now, after a day without it, I was relieved and it
made me feel all warm inside.

‘Gabe?’

‘Yes.’

‘Can we go for another run together tomorrow, if I try
not to slow you down so much?’

‘Are you up to it?’

‘It’ll do me good. Endorphins relieving pain remember?’
I kissed his neck.

‘Ok, but let’s make it later so you can have a lie in.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘Yes, I can have a swim at home and then come over.
How about ten?’

‘Great, leave your books on campus. You can have a
shower here after, your clothes are all clean.’

‘Ok, thanks.’

‘Are you running back now?’

‘Yes I better get moving.’

‘Gabe?’

‘Yes?’

‘I’m allowed to ask if you have plans tomorrow night
after practice? I was wondering if you’d want to spend the night?’

‘I’d love to baby, I was beginning to think you were
going to hold me off until the weekend. Thanks for letting me get some sleep.’

‘Thanks for getting Q-tipped for me. Have fun with
Doug and Milo tonight and I’ll see you in the morning.’

‘Already looking forward to it.’ He kissed me, smiled
and headed off.

I felt better for having made plans with him. I went
to move and groaned as I realised my legs had gone to sleep and my painkillers
had worn off. I was going to need some for this wax, it was always more painful
having it done when I was on. I rubbed my legs back to life and headed to the
bathroom and downed a couple of pills.

‘Lex, he’s gone. Are you in hiding?’

‘No, just listening to music in my room. Is it time to
go?’ she called. I stuck my head around her door.

‘Not quite, I’m a bit peckish, do you want a sandwich?’

‘What do we have?’

‘Well now I’ve mastered the defrost button on the
microwave, I can get some bread out of the freezer and we have a load of
different cheeses, some sliced ham from the deli and some fresh tomatoes if
that sounds ok?’

‘Great, I’ll come and help.’

‘So what are we going to do for dinner tonight?’

‘Can we just do take out for once? I miss junk,’ she
asked pulling her best pleading face.

‘Chinese?’

‘I fancy pizza.’

‘Ok, as long as we can have some Ben & Jerrys.’

‘Mia wash your mouth out with soap. Your mum would be
so disappointed in you. Has she not raised you with the knowledge that
B&J’s is for
very
special occasions only?’

‘I think it’s a special occasion,’ I chuckled,
remembering how strict mum was on letting us have it. ‘We deserve it.’

‘How so?’

‘Hello? You’re pregnant and I’m on, if that’s not
deserving of a special occasion I don’t know what is.’

‘I’m so loving your thought process right now. Chunky
Monkey?’

‘No, I hate the chocolate bananas. Why put chocolate
in ice cream if it’s not Dairy Milk or Galaxy? I just don’t get it.’

‘Ok, well that rules out about six of the other
flavours I was hoping to try.’

‘Well mum’s about 200 miles away Lex, she’ll never
know. Have your own tub, it can always go in the freezer for another night.’

‘But it’s
luxury
ice cream Mia. What if she
finds out? We’ll be grounded.’

‘Damn it you’re right, there’s only one thing we can
do to protect ourselves.’

‘What?’

‘We each eat our own tubs and dispose of the evidence
very carefully in someone else’s bin so CSI Page can never trace them back to
us.’

‘Shit really? The things I have to do to avoid the
wrath of Mrs P. Ok, you’ve twisted my arm to the point of no return, a tub each
it’ll have to be. Chunky Monkey, you and I have a date.’

We made it to the beauticians and separated into our
own rooms. I went for pain before pleasure, getting the wax out of the way
first. It was amazing that I could let a stranger see me like this, but still get
embarrassed when Gabe looked down there. We decided on a radiance facial and I
nearly fell asleep it was so good, so I decided that this was going to be a
monthly thing and booked up for a year in advance with the same therapist. Lexi
was already sitting in the waiting room when I came out.

‘Wow Lex, you’re glowing. Did you enjoy it?’

‘Loved it thanks. Don’t know why you bother, your skin’s
always amazing. How was the wax?’ she asked as we headed out.