In The End (Butterfly #1) (5 page)

I ran upstairs, picked up my bag from its resting position on the chair and refreshed my lip gloss. I raised my eyes at myself for the excitement that was now bubbling over in me due to the upcoming car journey I would be spending with Nicholi. He was waiting at the front door for me and opened it as I drew closer.

It was a beautiful autumn morning, the thunderstorm clearing the air, leaving it cleansed and purified. The sun was gracing us, bouncing its rays off the autumn leaves, absorbing its goodness ready for next spring.

Nicholi opened the car door for me and I climbed in, buckling my seat belt with ease.

‘Where to?’ he mocked, mimicking a taxi driver and tipping his invisible hat.

I giggled. ‘St Bart’s hospital, please,’ I requested, noting Nicholi’s expression change from happiness to concern.

‘Is everything alright?’ he asked, his eyes growing darker and brow furrowing.

‘Yes, I’m fine it’s just a wound check, nothing to worry about,’ I implored, wanting desperately to see him happy again.

‘Great, St Bart’s it is then, ma’am.’ I giggled, and we drove off down the pathway that would lead us onto the road to Connecticut.

‘Anything else planned for today?’ Nicholi asked politely. I watched the gates open, glinting in the sun, the Gothic dragon casting a shadow onto the road ahead.

‘I need to run a few errands, nothing exciting, and then I will be ready to pick the kids up. I’m hoping I will get the all clear to drive today so I won’t need a chauffeur anymore.’ I felt heavy all of a sudden with that revelation.

‘I really don’t mind, I enjoy your company,’ Nicholi advised, turning on the radio and furnishing himself with a pair of designer sunglasses. He looked extremely sexy and with that thought I blushed crimson and complaining it was hot in the car, opened the window to help cool my shame. We arrived at St Bart’s hospital and Nicholi pulled into the multi-storey car park underneath.

‘Are you coming too?’ I questioned, noting Nicholi had removed his seatbelt and was gathering his jacket that had been lying on the backseat.

‘Yes, I want to make sure you’re alright,’ he confirmed and climbed out of the car, heading to my side to open the door.

‘Is that okay with you?’ he implored, looking me straight in the eyes and reached for my hand to help me out of the car.

‘Eh sure,’ was all I could muster, my body reacting with pleasure to his skin against mine as our fingers entwined. His fingers appeared to leave mine as reluctantly as mine did his as we walked side by side to the elevator. I pushed the button and noted we had company; a heavily pregnant woman moaning and leaning on her partner for support had joined us in the wait for the elevator. The doors opened and allowing them both to enter first, Nicholi and I smiled at each other, pressing the elevator to close.

The atmosphere was electric; I could feel the tension radiating out from my body, mixed with the highly charged emotions of the expectant couple, a potent cocktail. The doors opened on the delivery floor and the couple waddled out together, clutching each other for support.

‘Good luck,’ I shouted, turning to gush to Nicholi. ‘It’s so exciting, a new life will be born today, completely free from tarnish and expectation.’ Before I could finish my thought Nicholi pulled me into his arms and lowering down, our lips met for the first time. Passion and desire flowing freely, we moved in unison. I reached up and laced my fingers within his thick brown hair; he traced the outline of my back and then pulled away.

‘I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done that,’ he recoiled, turning to face the elevators side.

‘I’m not.’ With that thought pulsing through my veins, I pulled his arm back and standing on my toes reached up to kiss him, gently at first until I heard him groan with pleasure and pull me against him, the curves of our bodies melding together perfectly.             

The peal of the elevator announced we were approaching our destination, and I reluctantly pulled away, my heart acknowledging its satisfaction throughout my whole body. What had we done? What were we doing? Does this mean anything? The thoughts were now rushing through my head in a nauseating fashion, like an endlessly turning merry-go-round. As though acknowledging my confused state, Nicholi reached for my hand, our fingers locked and entwined before he bent down to kiss my nose.

‘That was the best elevator ride I have ever had,’ he whispered, grinning from ear to ear and pulled me forward to the waiting room. I checked in and sat down next to Nicholi who was flicking through a magazine casually.

‘What are you doing at work today?’ I asked, almost whispering. Trying to keep my head clear and my thoughts cool; I locked my hands together on my lap.

‘I have to present the project I have been working on to the senior partners and think about when I will see you again.’ His voice dropped with the latter and he leaned across to unlock my hand from its prison, taking it into his own.

‘What are your plans?’ he questioned, stroking his finger against my hand as though he was tracing every last line, making me lose any ability to communicate.

‘I, er,’ taking a deep breath I continued. ‘Have to do some errands, bank and post office.’ I dwindled away, looking up to meet his gaze, his eyes penetrating my soul, and I knew exactly where this was going and what I was doing. ‘Thinking about you,’ I added, the sound of my name being called out brought me back to reality and I leaned in to kiss him on the nose. ‘See you soon,’ I whispered, heading to where the voice had come from, taking one last look at Nicholi, who had never looked happier since I had met him.

‘Miss Thomas,’ the voice announced, turning around to face me. A woman in her early forties approached me, her glasses perched on the end of her nose, pinching her nostrils slightly, creating a nasally tone.

‘It’s Nichols,’ I corrected, eyeing the woman suspiciously.

‘Of course, the doctor will be with you shortly,’ she confirmed, sauntering off through the door.

‘Miss Nichols.’ A male doctor appeared. A face I remembered from that night. ‘How are we doing?’ he asked, sitting and applying a pair of gloves, the elastic vocalising its displeasure.

‘Good thanks, I think I am healing well,’ I explained as he reached down to examine the wound.

‘Yes, you are, the stitches have dissolved nicely, no need to keep dressing it, just during bathing for the first two days then you can leave it off altogether.’ He wrote studiously away on his tablet. ‘Do you have any questions for me?’ he asked, placing the tablet back in its dock and looking up.

‘Can I drive now?’ I replied, hoping that I would receive positive news; I hated being reliant on people, though when I thought of Nicholi my body trembled with pleasure and I pushed the thought away, shifting in my seat.

‘Yes, that’s fine, if you feel any discomfort or lack of mobility come back, otherwise we are done,’ he added, getting up to leave.

‘Great, thank you,’ I replied, leaving to return to Nicholi, who looked like he was having his ear chewed off by an elderly lady seated next to him. He smiled when he saw me coming, excused himself and walked across the waiting room to greet me.

‘Everything okay?’ he asked, taking my hand and kissing my fingers gently.

‘Great,’ I replied, almost breathless from the feel of his touch, and let him lead me from the waiting room back into the hallway.

‘Do you mind if we just visit someone who is a patient here?’ he asked, pulling me closer into his arms.

‘Yes, of course,’ I began, slowly losing any sense of reality. ‘Is it a friend of yours?’ I questioned, shuddering with pleasure as his hands were at the small of my back.

‘Something like that,’ he confirmed, albeit vaguely, leading me down the corridor and across the other side of the hospital.

‘It’s this one,’ he announced, tightening his grip on my hand and pushed the door open. ‘Grandpa,’ Nicholi began. ‘I brought someone here to see you. This is Sophia.’ Feeling the tension that was radiating through his hand into mine, made me think there was much more to this than just an introduction.

The man was around seventy and looked like he had suffered a stroke, his left side limp and useless. He started trying to talk, his face etched with something, not fear, but surprise that dwindled to shock and then annoyance. He seemed to be scowling at Nicholi, voicing something that only he and Nicholi were in on. Nicholi smiled slightly menacingly and walked us out.

‘What was that about?’ I asked, confused by the reaction I had received.

‘I just wanted to introduce you,’ Nicholi claimed and sensing my displeasure continued. ‘It’s not what you think, we have history, him and me, and it’s complicated. I promise I will explain everything, don’t be mad, okay?’ his eyes pleading with mine and lowered, kissing my cheek softly.

‘Just don’t do anything like that again,’ I commanded. ‘Okay?’

‘Of course, I’m so sorry, baby,’ his voice lowering, husky and sensual, leaning in. ‘You ready to go?’ he asked, calling the elevator back up to collect us. The doors closed, and I felt the tension pulsing between us. Nicholi leaned in and kissed me softly at first as I reached and pulled him closer to me. I felt his body shudder with pleasure and our lips once again moved in unison. We arrived at the parking garage, reluctantly untangled ourselves and made our way back to the car hand in hand.

‘So where to now, madam?’ Nicholi grinned, taking my hand and kissing my fingers one by one.

‘Hmm.’ I could not think, his touch was driving me crazy, and I felt deliriously happy, something I had not felt in so long. I drew my hand away and he tensed. ‘You’re driving me crazy,’ I confirmed, reassuring him. ‘I need to do some errands and you have to get to work, right?’ I asked, desperately trying to focus on anything else.

‘I’m feeling feverish, here,’ Nicholi reached out and placed my hand on his forehead. ‘I need to be nursed back to health,’ he proclaimed, wearing a mischievous grin.

‘It’s work for you, Mr Veneto, presentations don’t do themselves, besides I want to see the building you have designed so you need to get it done,’ I commanded and fastened my seat belt in readiness.

‘Okay,’ Nicholi sighed, pulling a forlorn face. ‘Work it is,’ and pulled out onto the road.

His offices were right in the centre of the town and exactly where I needed to be to complete my errands. We agreed to meet back in three hours to go collect the boys and after a quick kiss goodbye on the cheek, I left him there. All I could think about was Nicholi, and I felt like I was walking in my own personal bubble, filled with passion, just waiting to exude out.

I needed to go to the post office, bank and a clothing store. I usually detested shopping and avoided it like the plague, but not today, I felt giddy with excitement and possibility, nothing could bring me down.

After carrying out some financial transactions and posting some cheques, I headed over to the local mall. I was going to buy some more modest pyjamas, but my mind was wandering and I ended up in the lingerie section of the store, wondering what Nicholi preferred when I caught my reflection in the mirror. I looked so happy I almost did not recognise myself, then the guilt set in, dragging me down like a cement slab in a quarry, and I was back to reality.

I quickly left the store and instead, headed over to the toy store. I wanted to get Jacob and Max a little welcome from me gift and was perusing the aisles when I had the intense feeling someone was watching me, something that I had felt since I left Nicholi, but had brushed it off. I turned around, scanning the aisles, just regular shoppers all around me with children playing and parents wondering how they could leave without making a purchase. I selected two items and went to pay; still not shaking the feeling I was being followed. After leaving the store, I decided to grab a coffee. Sitting down I reached into my bag and called Nicholi.

‘Hey you,’ he began. ‘How’s it going? You having fun?’ he asked curiously.

‘I, yes, think so,’ was all I managed and Nicholi interrupted.

‘What’s wrong, Sophia? Where are you?’ Nicholi replied, suddenly very anxious.

‘I’m at the mall; it’s probably nothing, just ignore me. How’s your morning going?’ I tried without success to change the subject.

‘I’ll be right there.’ The line went dead, and I ridiculed myself for calling in the first place. He was going to think I was completely crazy.

I watched Nicholi enter the mall, looking frantic, I felt terrible for causing such a panic and ran over to meet him.

‘I’m okay, it’s nothing, I was just being stupid,’ I gushed as Nicholi took me by the hand and led me to the seating area.

‘What happened?’ He looked at me so seriously I actually started to feel scared myself.

‘I felt like someone was following me, it’s crazy, I’m insane, just ignore me please.’ I reached across to hug him, feeling terrible for the anguish I had clearly caused and then froze. ‘That’s her, that’s the woman who has being following me,’ I whispered into Nicholi’s ear. She had been standing at the back of the post office, picking up and putting back the gift cards aimlessly and waiting in line at the bank. I had seen her reflection in the mirror at the clothing store and then finally she was standing, watching me at the toy store. I felt Nicholi tense and slowly turn around.

‘Nicholi, aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?’ she began, sarcastically.