Infinite Love (11 page)

‘Mia?’ came Lexi’s horrified voice.

‘Yes, sorry, I needed my bag, Gabe’s ready to go. I’ll wait outside while you … whatever.’ I quickly opened the door and stepped out into the corridor, closing it behind me. Had I really just seen what I thought I’d seen? Sam, Lexi and
Doug
in a threesome? I put my fingertips to my temples as I closed my eyes and took in a deep breath. Lexi and Sam I could believe would do something like that, but
Doug
? I never thought sweet Doug was the cheating kind for starters, let alone to do
that.
I heard the door behind me and a sigh.

‘Mia, God I’m so sorry.’

‘Don’t apologise, it’s nothing to do with me.’

‘I know but … shit.’

‘Do you have my bag?’ I asked as I deliberately kept my back to her as I tried to take a calming breath.

‘Yes. Are you going to look at me?’

‘I’m not sure I can Lexi, not after … what were you thinking?’

‘I wasn’t. Sam suggested it, Doug was drunk and up for it and I miss him, so I thought why the hell not?’

‘Lexi,’ I sighed.

‘I’m fucking single Mia, I don’t need your permission to have sex with whoever I want.’

‘You’re playing with fire, Lexi,’ I scowled as I spun around to look at her. She wrapped her arms around herself as she stood there in the hotel dressing gown. ‘You know that Doug’s still in love with you, you don’t think he wasn’t already hurting to see Sam turn up here tonight and now you stick him in … in the middle of
that.
’

‘He’s a grown man, he could have said no.’

‘He’s also a taken man. He’s never cheated on anyone before and you’ve just made a cheater out of him. What about Sarah too? She’s our friend now. I just can’t believe how selfish you’re being.’

‘Selfish?’ she scowled as she placed her hands on her hips.

‘Yes, selfish. You’re putting your own needs above everyone else’s feelings. You want a threesome fine, do whatever the hell you want sexually, go have a bloody orgy for all I care, but don’t fuck around with our best friend who’s already taken and still hurting over you, you’ve taken advantage of him in a drunk emotional state. You think he’s going to wake up in the morning happy about this? Happy that you used him for a bit of a thrill?  Not knowing that you’re going to tell him in the morning that you’re still not ready for more and then leave him with a broken heart as well as a belly full of guilt? Did you even think how that may affect him or his relationship with Sarah? Or all of our relationships as friends?’

‘I don’t need a fucking parental style lecture, thanks very much,’ she spat.

‘Well, if you didn’t act like a bloody child I wouldn’t need to give you one. You’re still in love with Doug Lexi, it’s time you grew up and acted like an adult and took ownership of that and either leave him to move on without you if you’re still not ready, or bloody step up and commit to him.’

‘Fuck you, just because you’re all bloody happy don’t be coming up here to rub my face in it,’ she hissed.

‘Fuck me?!’ I gasped.

‘Yes, all self fucking righteous just because
you’ve
found Mr. Perfect and you’re life’s all fucking wonderful.’

‘I’m “fucking self-righteous?” You’re bang out of order now, Lexi. I met someone that I love and I
am
happy. It’s my wedding day and I won’t bloody apologise for being happy today of all days, so don’t you dare accuse me of rubbing your face in it, you’re supposed to be happy for me, that’s the job of a best friend. You’ve been supportive of my relationship with Gabe from the start, so where the hell is this coming from?’

‘Everything comes so easy to you, Mia. You have your family, you’re the perfect fucking daughter, girlfriend and student and
everyone
loves you and you sail along happily. You don’t know what it’s like to live in that perfect bloody shadow.’

‘O my God, Lexi. I’m on the verge of slapping you,’ I seethed as I glared at her. ‘Everything does
not
come so easy to me. My own father isn’t here, at my own damn wedding to give me away, so I’m hardly the perfect daughter. He didn’t even ring to see if I was ok after what happened and it’s not like he wouldn’t have seen my face all over the bloody news. I work bloody hard to keep my grades up, everyone doesn’t love me and how
dare
you say I sail along happily after … everything that I’ve been through since we moved to Westhampton. I’m fucked up inside, I probably can’t give Gabe the one thing he wants most in life and that’s eating me up. I’ve gone through hell with him after his accident, then his diagnosis and recovery for twelve months and I just lost one of my best friends after some fucking psycho …’ I broke off and wiped my tears away. What the hell was wrong with her? I’d never felt so let down and hurt by anyone in my whole life.

‘Shit, I’m sorry, Mia,’ she whispered as her face fell.

‘Give me my bloody bag,’ I snapped and snatched it out of her hand. ‘Go and enjoy your screwing around, but don’t come running to me when it all goes tits up and you’re upset and in tears, because that’s how this is all going to end Lexi, along with the six of us being friends. Go and do whatever the hell you want because tonight I don’t care. I
am
happy and if you can’t handle that then that’s your problem. If my perfect life is too much for you then from now on if I need someone I’ll turn to Gabe.’

‘Mia, I …’

‘What the bloody hell is going on?’ roared Gabe as he stepped out of the lift and took one look at my tear streaked face and our body language.

‘Nothing. I was just saying goodbye to Lexi. I’m ready to go.’ I took a step toward him and felt her grab my arm.

‘Don’t go, I
need
you,’ she whispered. I shrugged her off and narrowed my eyes at her.

‘No you don’t. If you did you wouldn’t have just been so hateful, and to do it today as well. You’ve
no idea
how much you’ve just hurt me, Lexi.’ I quickly stepped toward Gabe who was frowning as he watched us, and I grabbed his hand. ‘Please, can we go.
Now
.’

‘Sure baby.’

‘Mia,’ called Lexi from behind me. I was sure I could hear her crying, but I was too angry to look back.

‘Goodnight, Lexi.’ I stepped into the lift and tugged Gabe in behind me and pressed for the ground floor.

‘What the hell’s going on?’ he demanded.

‘Nothing,’ I smiled as I wiped my face. ‘We just had a disagreement that I don’t want to think about right now. I just want my husband to put his arms around me and kiss me properly. The sooner we can say goodnight to everyone, the sooner we can go. I want you, so badly.’

‘I want you too,’ he sighed as he pulled me to him and smiled down at me. ‘I’ve never seen you look more beautiful, Mia. I want to make love to you for hours tonight and lose myself in you.’

‘I want that too,’ I whispered as I put my arms around his neck and lost myself in his kiss. Thoughts of Lexi and her bizarre behaviour were pushed to the back of my mind and padlocked up for now, no way was she ruining tonight for me. We headed back to the lake house and started saying our goodnights to everyone.

‘I’m seeing you tomorrow, Mum,’ I moaned as she sobbed on my shoulder.

‘I know, but … it’s like you’re not my little girl anymore.’

‘Come on Jacqui, leave her be. Gabe’s got her now,’ coaxed Gerry as he separated us and gave me a hug and a kiss.

‘Bye everyone, see you for lunch tomorrow. If you need more drinks just ring the hotel, they’re under strict instructions to keep supplying bottles until you’re done,’ called Gabe over his shoulder as he pulled me outside onto the balcony and down the small jetty.

‘Gabe, where are we going?’ I giggled as he stepped into a small outboard boat with a man at the helm.

‘Wonderland,’ he laughed as he held out a hand to help me in. He sat me down at the front, under the shelter of a see through canopy over the bow of the boat and picked up a blanket and wrapped me tightly in it. ‘Are you ok?’ he whispered as he kissed my ear and put his arm around me.

‘I am, I’ve had an amazing day, thank you, Mr. Austin.’

‘You’re welcome, Mrs. Austin,’ he grinned and kissed my temple as the boat started to move. I waved as everyone in the lake house gathered on the balcony to watch us leave, then I screamed as a load of fireworks exploded and lit up the sky.

‘Gabe,’ I laughed. ‘You’re crazy.’

‘Crazy in love,’ he laughed as he kissed me again and we watched them as we powered across the water. It felt so surreal, me in my dress, him all suited up, sitting in a small boat in the middle of this magnificent moonlit scenery watching all these colours exploding. I giggled and clapped every time one lit up the sky and Gabe laughed as he kept looking over at my face. ‘It’s good to see you so happy.’

‘You too,’ I smiled.

‘Best day of my life.’

‘Mine too, let’s hope I can make it best night of your life too,’ I winked.

‘O, I’m sure you will,’ he chuckled. ‘Look.’ He pointed behind me and I twisted my head out let out a happy sigh. We were approaching an island and next to a jetty was the most perfect little white painted boathouse, all light up with Christmas lights.

‘This is where we’re staying?’

‘Yes, is that ok?’

‘Perfect,’ I grinned.

‘I’ll carry your bags for you,’ came a deep voice. I looked around, I hadn’t even taken any notice of the guy who’d ferried us over. I was too enthralled with the fireworks. I was taken aback, he was not what I had expected at all. I thought I’d see an old man in a sou’wester with a thick beard and a pipe. Not this guy. He was very tall and exceptionally good looking with dark hair, dressed in jeans and a cable sweater. He looked like he didn’t belong in this setting and he had such sad eyes as he looked at us both with stupid smiles all over our faces.

‘Thanks,’ replied Gabe. He climbed out and held his hand out to me.

‘Careful, the snow’s slippery on the jetty,’ our sailor warned. I grabbed Gabe’s hand and stood up, letting the blanket fall and the minute I stood next to him he swooped me up into his arms and I giggled as he carried me to the door of the boathouse. ‘I’ll pick you up at twelve-thirty tomorrow. Congratulations both.’

‘Thank you very much, see you then.’ Gabe nodded at him, then flicked his head to the door handle, indicating for me to grab it. I opened it and Gabe stepped inside and pushed it too with his foot. I gasped as I took in the interior. It was like something out of a Scandinavian Christmas home brochure. Everything was painted white, there was a small log burner chucking out loads of heat, a comfy looking weathered leather sofa, a tiny kitchen and bistro table and chairs and a ladder to climb up to a small mezzanine in the eaves where it looked as if the bed lived. There were fairy lights on and candles everywhere and more white roses, a small Christmas tree in the corner with presents underneath and I could smell mulled wine.

‘Gabe, it’s beautiful,’ I sighed.

‘It was this or the honeymoon suite at the hotel,’ he shrugged.

‘Then you chose well,’ I smiled and kissed him before he set me down.

‘We have mulled wine and a hamper for a carpet picnic if you’re hungry.’

‘I am hungry, but at this moment in time not for food, for my husband,’ I winked.

‘Say that again,’ he ordered with a boyish grin.

‘I, Mrs. Mia Austin, would like my husband to ravish me immediately,’ I ordered in a breathless tone.

‘“Mrs. Austin,” God, I love that. O well, anything to keep the old ball and chain happy I suppose,’ Gabe sighed as he shrugged off his black jacket and threw it onto the sofa.

‘Less of the old. I’m only twenty, just like you. Will you?’ I asked as I turned and offered my back to him so he could undo my zip.

‘No,’ he replied as he lay a trail of kisses up the back of my neck as I shivered with pleasure. ‘I want you to be wearing it the first time.’

‘First time?’ I looked at him coyly over my shoulder.

‘O yes baby, knowing that you’re completely mine now has me extra turned on. Plus, the thought that you’re no longer on the pill and I could get you pregnant means he’s not going down anytime soon.’

‘What a birthday present,’ I giggled as I spun around and gently tugged down the zip on his trousers. He started unbuttoning his waistcoat and hissed through his teeth as I slid my hand through the gap in his silk jersey boxers to grasp his hot solid flesh. ‘Hello, big boy,’ I winked as I felt a surge of heat run through my body and my clit swelling in anticipation.

‘O baby, you’ve no idea how big. I’m so hot for you right now.’

‘Take off your waistcoat and cravat and unbutton your shirt but leave it on,’ I ordered as I carefully extracted him from his trousers and gently stroked his length.

‘Bossy,’ he laughed as he did as he was told, his eyes burning as he held my gaze.

‘If you think I’m going to be some compliant little wife who does as she’s told, you married the wrong girl, Austin.’

‘I married the right girl, who
never
does as she’s told, yet I still love her to pieces,’ he winked. I slowly lifted my dress and sank to my knees and looked up at him as I guided him toward my mouth. He groaned and nested his fingers in my hair, kneading my scalp as I took my first taste of him. Running my tongue up his shaft and licking the moisture gathered on his soft head. A shiver ran down my spine to see the way he was looking down at me, as if he still couldn’t believe it, I could hardly believe it.
What a difference fifteen months in a person’s life could make
I thought. I engulfed him and closed my eyes, enjoying the heftiness of him filling my mouth, the smell of his masculine skin, hearing his groans of pleasure. ‘Baby, look at me, let me see you,’ he whispered.

I opened my eyes and looked up at him through my lashes and he let out a strangled moan as his fingers tightened in my hair while I bobbed back and forth on him. He started to tilt his pelvis, thrusting into me harder, touching the back of my throat and I had to breathe through my nose and remind myself how to do this without gagging, it had been a long time since he’d let me do this. I reached around and cupped his perfectly formed buttocks and drew him closer, my nose pressed against his hard bare stomach. My Gabriel Austin was all man, but when I was on my knees like this in front of him, ironically I held all the power and he knew it. Not only did he know it, he relinquished it willingly, giving himself over to me without abandon.