Chapter 13 #3
“Erik!” Ingrid stood there stunned. She mentioned loving that car when they were watching How to Steal a Million, but she never considered owning one. “This must have cost a fortune!”
Erik went over to her. He knew that part was coming up.
“Rookie, shut up about the cost. You never let me buy you anything, and I wanted to do this.” He kissed her so that she couldn’t say more. “Now, let’s see your driving skills.”
“Oh, I’m sure I can drive a road car better than you.” She grinned.
“Just remember this has a lot more power than what you’re used to!”
Erik was right. Ingrid realised this as soon as they pulled out of the garage, and she was on the streets of Monte Carlo. She might have boasted about her driving skills a little too much.
“Just relax, you’ve got this,” Erik said after laughing at her initially.
“It helps that you’ve stopped laughing!” She retorted. “Where are we going?”
“How about some lunch at Las Brisas?”
“Ok, but I’m paying after this ridiculous gift.”
As they were leaving the restaurant, Erik was getting his usual fan photos. It didn’t stop, even in Monaco. Ingrid hopped into the driver’s seat and waited for her passenger princess.
“Seeing you drive was a major turn on, you know?” Erik said as they walked through the door.
“Oh, really?” She said as he pulled her back to him.
“I think those boxes can wait a little while longer.” As he unbuttoned her blouse and kissed her cleavage.
“Only a little while?” She unzipped his shorts.
Erik kissed her as he pressed himself hard against her. Ingrid dug her fingers into his back as she pulled him closer into her.
“Here?” She asked.
“Here. I can’t wait any longer.”
He fumbled to get her shorts off and picked her up onto the entranceway sideboard.
Ingrid arched her back as she wrapped her legs around him.
He grabbed one of her hands and pinned it to the wall, with the other one keeping her safe around the waist, as he leaned in to whisper in her ear, “As I said, major turn on.”
Ingrid waited a bit before responding, so she could get him just to the right spot.
“I’m going to drive you more often,” She whispered back.
“Fuck,” He let out. Then put his golden head in her chest, “Why did you do that to me? I didn’t even make you orgasm.”
“But you’re about to…”
Unpacking was forgotten until the next day. Fortunately for Erik, this meant he could avoid most of it as he was heading back to the factory. It was also fortunate for Ingrid, because she didn’t want Erik underfoot while she was unpacking.
“You aren’t being very helpful!”
“If you tell me where you want things, then I can put them there,” he replied.
“Oh god, look at us, we’re arguing already, and I haven’t even moved in!” She said, laughing.
“No, you’re just bloody indecisive and stubborn,” he said, kissing her with each word.
“This is true.”
She leaned back against the edge of the couch. They were both sitting on the floor, staring at a box of her living room décor items. Erik’s phone started ringing.
“Hi Mark!”
He looked at Ingrid, puzzled.
“Hi mate, I saw online that you were in town. Never thought I’d see you let a girl drive you around! How are you?”
Erik watched Ingrid get up and go out to the balcony to smoke. The mood always shifted when Mark was mentioned.
“Great, how are you doing?”
“Oh, you know, getting by. I was wondering if you’d be keen for dinner this evening?”
“Sure, let me just check with Ingrid.” Erik was about to go outside and ask her when Mark stopped him.
“I was hoping just the two of us.”
“I’d love to, but Ingrid has just moved in, and I’m flying to the UK in the morning for the rest of the week. If you want to hang out just the two of us, how about coffee this afternoon?”
“Wow, she’s really got you pussy whipped.” Erik held himself back from responding to this comment. “But coffee sounds good, Rik. Want to meet up at around 3 pm?”
Erik agreed, hung up, then went outside to join Ingrid.
“Can I have a drag of that?”
“What did he want?”
“Initially dinner, but he didn’t want you there, so changed it to coffee this afternoon.” He took another drag of the cigarette and handed it back to her.
“I’m telling you; he’s in love with you,” she said. “Does he sound sober?”
“I thought he was sober that whole time, so I’m not the best judge,” He responded. “Come, let’s not let him ruin our morning. I was quite enjoying our first living-together argument.”
Later that day, when Erik was with Mark, Ingrid’s words kept playing in his mind.
She had been the one to pick up on his alcoholism, and she might be right again.
Mark seemed restless, but that was understandable for someone who no longer had a career.
He also kept making snide remarks about Erik’s relationship, which Erik couldn’t understand.
There did seem to be an element of jealousy, but Erik tried to explain it away as someone entering the friendship group.
When he left, he suggested that Mark spend some time with Ingrid to get to know her better and show her around town a bit more.