Chapter 16
SIXTEEN
VIX - PRESENT
The sun rises, its glow seeps through the sheer black curtains, casting shadows on the ceiling.
I lie in Austin’s bed, watching him sleep, his bare chest rising and falling with each breath he takes.
I can hear the birds chirping just outside his window, and it feels like I’m in a movie, lying here with a big smile on my face, the man I love next to me, who loves me in return.
I brush a loose strand of his unruly hair away from Austin’s forehead.
The light touch makes him stir in his sleep.
He rolls onto his side and opens his eyes.
A smile illuminates his face, and it’s the most beautiful sight I have ever seen.
He drapes his arm over my stomach and pulls my body closer to his. I wrap my leg around his thigh.
“Mornin’, beautiful,” he says, placing a gentle kiss on my forehead. I sigh, so content in this very moment, as he holds me in his arms.
“Good morning,” I whisper, peppering kisses along his neck, up his jaw and on his mouth. I feel his erection swelling against my centre, and I roll my hips against his length.
“Someone’s ready to go again, huh?” His eyes darken as he threads his fingers through my hair. I nod slowly, teeth sinking into my bottom lip, heat flickering between us.
The door swings open, and I hear Kash and Leah bickering as they make their way into the room. I throw the covers over my head, hiding from the intrusion, but it doesn’t do anything to block out the cat calling I hear, when they’ve clearly caught us in bed together.
“Well, well, well,” Kash drawls. “Somebody had a good birthday, it seems.” The end of the bed dips, as Kash plops down, no boundaries whatsoever.
“I knew it!” Leah exclaims. “You totally hooked up,” she insists
“Obviously, they were going to hook up, Leah; they can’t keep their hands off each other. Ever…” Kash says, sounding annoyed.
“Jealous, are we?” Leah says and waits for Kash to reply. I poke my head out from under the covers.
“Can we help you?” I ask, wishing they would both give us some privacy.
“Well, I don’t know about Austin, but I know you could—” Kash starts, and Leah slaps her hand over Kash’s mouth.
“And on that note,” she grabs him by the arm and hauls him to his feet, “let’s go, we’ll catch up with you after class,” she says and pushes Kash out the door, not letting him speak another word.
“Well, cat’s out of the bag.” I sigh. Austin laughs and pulls me back to him. We drag the covers over our heads and stay hidden together for a while, exchanging sweet kisses before having to face the real world.
I’m having trouble focusing in class. Everything the professor is saying is going in one ear and out the other.
My mind keeps drifting to Aussy and everything that had transpired the night before.
I feel like I’m living in a fever dream, like everything I’ve ever wanted is happening all at once.
It feels too good to be true if I’m being honest, and it’s like I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop.
No one could possibly be this happy without shit hitting the fan.
Classes are dismissed, and I gather my things and head for the door. As soon as I step out, I’m ambushed by a shrieking Leah, startling me in the hallway. Her questions pile on, demanding details of everything that happened between Aussy and me last night.
“Ev-ery-thing,” she emphasizes. “I need every single detail, the good, the really good, and the oh gods in between.” I laugh and continue walking towards our room.
“How long have you been standing out here waiting for me?” I ask her, and she shrugs.
“That’s not important, now spill!” she demands.
“I don’t know what to tell you,” I tease. “We just went back to his room, cuddled and then fell asleep.” I give her an angelic baby face.
“You totally did it!” she exclaims, and I let out a chuckle.
“Leah, I don’t kiss and tell,” I tease.
“What are you, twelve?” she asks. “Do you fuck and tell then?” She waggles her brows, and I howl.
“Yes, Leah, we had sex. Are you happy? Are you satisfied that your best friend and ex-fling did the nasty?”
“Yes actually,” she beams, satisfaction written all over her face. “Now I can finally sleep at night,” she replies.
“Remind me never to keep a diary in our room.” I poke at her.
“Oh, please, just because I pull your secrets out of you doesn’t mean I would tell them to the world,” she states.
“Wanna go for coffee before you go meet up with Mr. Dreamboat?” she asks, and I nod my head.
“I will never say no to getting coffee,” I answer.
“With me, right? You’ll never say no to getting coffee with me is what you meant to say?” I look at her with a serious expression on my face and nod my head dramatically.
“Yes… Yes, of course, that’s what I meant.” We both laugh and head to fuel up.
Leah and I spend a good hour chatting away. She makes me divulge every little detail about my steamy night with Austin. What is privacy anyway? I check the time on my phone and see that I have a text from the devil himself.
Miss me yet?
He asks, and I smile, like a giddy fool in love.
Hmmm, not yet.
I reply, and wait, those little three dots indicating that he’s typing.
I can see you smiling, you know.
He teases, and I look up, eyes scouring the cafeteria for his familiar face.
Stalker vibes, I’m into that, you know.
My smile continues to grow, and I hear Leah clearing her throat across the table.
“You two are so stinking adorable it makes me sick,” she says. A chill runs down my spine. I know he’s close. So close I can feel the shift of energy around us. A breath of hot air warms my ear as he whispers over my shoulder.
“Miss me now?” I instantly feel the heat between my legs and the blush crawling up my cheeks.
Leah catches the change in my composure. “And on that note,” she chimes, “I’ll catch you two lovebirds later,” she says, gathering her books and coffee. We say our goodbyes to Leah and leave the cafeteria.
“So what’s our plan for tonight?” I ask Austin.
“I thought we could take a little drive,” he says, taking my hand and walking me over to his car.
“Oh?” I question. “And where are we going?”
“We could drive out to a small restaurant I found for dinner. Away from the school. Away from our friends. Just some time for the two of us to talk. There are still so many things I need to learn about you,” he says. I nod my head.
“That sounds nice.” I smile at him, and he smiles right back. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.
The drive is long, about an hour outside of the campus grounds, but it feels so nice to get away from the hustle and bustle of college life.
The restaurant Aussy found is a quaint little mom-and-pop Italian restaurant in the next town over.
A town where small shops are all the rage and vendors line the streets selling art, jewellery, and home goods.
The restaurant is tucked away between two alleys.
We walk in the door, and the ambiance is set. The intimacy of the restaurant sets my nerves ablaze. It looks so fancy, and I feel completely underdressed, but Austin assures me this place doesn’t have a dress code. I look around and notice that other customers are also dressed in casual attire.
We are greeted by an older Italian man, who introduces himself as Alessandro. He seats us and tells us that our waiter will be with us soon, and that his wife has prepared today’s special: traditional spaghetti and meatballs. I look to Austin, who waggles his eyebrows.
“Lady and the Tramp style, huh?” I giggle.
We’ve been here for only a few minutes, and I already love this place. It’s intimate, beautiful, and so welcoming. We order our food and sip on our drinks while we wait.
“So,” Austin starts the conversation. “How are you feeling… about us?” he asks, and I bring my index finger to my chin as if pondering his question and then smile.
“Ten out of ten, would recommend,” I tell him, and he chuckles.
“Five stars all around,” he replies with a twinkle in his eye, and I giggle.
He reaches across the table and takes my hand in his.
“I meant every word last night,” he tells me, his tone serious and attentive. “I love you, Vix. And I want this. Us. I want you.” I release a breath, the intensity of the moment stealing all of the air in the room. “You’re mine,” he says, and there’s that word again.
Mine.
I lean across the table and place a delicate kiss on his lips—just a brush of our mouths against one another to leave him wanting more.
“I love you, Austin,” I tell him. “I’m yours.”
I always have been.