Fire - Betrayal (36 page)

Nic organized a seat
for me and my parents in with the VIPs. I was sure that he wanted to show my parents what he was capable of, his strength and power, and that he was worthy of my love.  But he didn’t have to.  My parents loved him to death.

I
loved the intensity of the races.  I loved the time trials. I loved the team pursuits, and the cat and mouse game they seemed to play in some races.  I was amazed by Nic’s commitment, his intense concentration and his good sportsmanship at the completion of each event that he entered into.  I loved the colours on his cycling suit.  I loved the streamlined shape of the bike helmet that he wore, and the style of his night glasses that wrapped around his eyes for each event.  I loved him so much that I thought I couldn’t contain my love for him anymore.

Then a
fter the completion of the events for the night, the riders warmed down by riding their cycles sedately around the track. Some of the spectators stayed for this part, trying to talk to the cyclists, and even asking for their autographs or photos.

None of the
cyclists wore their helmets at this time, and many had unzipped their cycling suit and peeled them down to their waists revealing their athletic build.

Nic rode to warm down, sometimes holding on to the handle bars, sometimes not, and often riding with another competitor talking and laughing with
him.

My
parents had left after the final race and the presentations, leaving me there on my own, so I decided to walk down to the cycling track and try to catch Nic as he rode past.

I
pushed my way through the screaming girls, and called out his name as he approached.  Nic was in conversation with his team mate, but at the sound of my voice, he turned to see me, smiled, and then rode his bike up to the fence that separated the spectators from the track.

Nic stopped right in front of
me and removed his riding glasses, revealing his deep blue eyes, and then brought his face to mine and kissed me, making the crowd scream and go wild.

He
helped me over the fence and sat me sideways on his bike and slowly returned to the centre of the velodrome, dismounting the bike and then helping me off.  He placed his bike in the bike racks, and then led me down the steps in the centre of the velodrome which led to the massage and physio rooms, and showers and change rooms.

Nic introduced
me to the team doctors and physios.  They talked to me while he showered and got changed. Then he checked out of the velodrome and ushered me quickly to his car.  He was unusually quiet.

He
drove to a lookout high on the top of a mountain.  He parked the car there and then got out, opening my door and holding my hand. I was in awe of him, and I couldn’t believe that fateful day as my house was being built that our lives crossed tracks.  I was so in love with him, and Ben was starting to fade into the distance, barely visible at all.

Nic walked
me around the lookout, pointing out landmarks and stars.  He stood closely next to me, and ran his hand lightly over my back.  He stood behind me and wrapped his arms around the front of me.  It was then that I turned in his arms to face him, and looked deeply into his eyes.

I
moved my lips to his, and kissed him deeply, placing my hand behind his head and entwining my fingers in his hair.  He groaned and whispered my name.

“Nic, I truly
, deeply love you,” I whispered.

Nic looked at me, tears in his eyes.

“Cate, be mine forever,” he whispered as he held me tenderly.

“Stay with me tonight,“
I whispered. He kissed me gently,“I’ll try.”

We
stood together at the top of the lookout for a little while longer, in each other’s arms, soaking in the warm loving presence of each other.  Then Nic drove me home, and came inside the house with me.

He was silent
, serious.

“Nic….”I said, concerned.

He looked deeply into my eyes. “Just trying to shut down my emotions so that I don’t give in to my desires for you Cate,” he whispered. I quietly and calmly led him up to my bedroom, and then had a shower and left Nic to himself on the queen size bed.

When
I returned from the shower, in my ugliest pajamas, Nic was laying on the bed on his stomach with his shirt off.  I stopped myself and breathed in deeply at the sight of his gorgeous body, then slowly went over to the bed to lie beside him. He smelled delicious. I placed my hand lightly on his back, and then kissed his back.  I found myself running my hand over his back lightly, and over his muscular arms.  I couldn’t help myself.  He was absolutely beautiful. Nic lay there without moving. He had never allowed this before.

After a while he rolled over, his well defined chest and stomach
muscles spectacular, and I could not stop myself from touching him. Irresistible….

My
fingers traced the contours of his muscles on his body.  He shivered at my touch and kept his eyes on me.  My fingers wandered to Nic’s face, where I traced lightly over his lips.  Then he reached down to me and lifted my face to his, and kissed me, moaning as if in pleasure and pain.  He gently pulled away from me.

“I’m not going to run away from you tonight
Cate. I’ll sleep on the floor!” he said roughly.

He
took a pillow and rolled off the bed and onto the floor.  It was much safer that way, and then he would still be here in the morning.

“I love you Nicholas,”
I whispered.

“And I love you deeply,”
he replied, his face serious.

I
opened my eyes slowly as I felt the warm morning rays of sunshine on my bed, and then I stretched, arching my back. Then I saw him, and smiled, and pushed him back teasingly, before getting out of bed to look out the window.

I felt his warmth as he stood closely behind me.
Nic kissed me gently on the head, and then pushed my hair to the side and kissed me lightly on my neck, creating goosebumps over my body.

Then
held me against his body.  I closed my eyes enjoying the feel of his body against mine, and lifted my arms up behind me to go around his neck.  I stood there for quite a while in Nic’s arms, enjoying our closeness.

I
knew that he would have to go soon, but I didn’t want him too.  I turned around and wrapped my arms around him properly, pushing my body into his, and then I lifted my lips to his to kiss him.

He
only let me kiss him briefly, before he said,” Now I do have to run away from you my beautiful Cate.  I will look forward to seeing you at the Masquerade Ball tonight.  Until we meet again Madame!”

Then he gave
me a soft, tender, lingering kiss before he put his shirt back. My heart skipped a beat.  I was breathless.

He
left in his sports car. I couldn’t wait until the Masquerade Ball tonight, to see my beautiful Nic again.

Heartbreak

The red sports car pulled up outside the Boswell family home.
Nic was on a mission.  He was there to ask for permission to marry Cate. He couldn’t be apart from her anymore.  He wanted to become one with her.  He wanted to give her everything that he had.

He rang to doorbell, and then went inside.

“Nic, it’s so good to see you,” said Cate’s mum, hugging him.

“Is everything okay son?” asked
Cate’s father.

“Yes, definitely,“ Nic said nervously.

“Thank-you both for seeing me at such short notice.  I just want to.. ah … ask for your permission to ask Cate to marry me.  I will not marry her without your blessing.  I know how important her family is to her,” Nic said sincerely.

C
ate’s mum rushed over and hugged him with tears in her eyes, while Cate’s dad walked over to him and shook his hand.

“You have our blessing Nic.  We’d be proud to have you as part of our family,”
Cate’s dad said sincerely.

Nic breathed out relieved at their approval
, his heart jumping for joy.  He shared a quick drink and a bite to eat with Cate’s parents before he left, making sure that they were sworn to secrecy. He wanted Cate to have no idea that he was about to ask her to marry him at the Masquerade Ball tonight.

***

The day went slowly, and seemed so long. I looked outside my bedroom window.  The sky was blue, clear and crisp.  Birds jumped happily in amongst the trees singing songs of joy, and I could hear the sounds of children’s sweet voices playing happily in a yard nearby.

Nic
enter my daydream.  I couldn’t wait to find him at the Ball, and dance with him, and kiss him after our masks were off.  I sighed dreamily, and then kept myself very busy to make the day go faster.

And then f
inally, it was time to start preparing for the Ball.  I started with a relaxing bubble bath, complete with candles and a scented bath bomb.

Then
my personal hair and make-up artist came to the house to do my hair, according to the instructions of the Masquerade Ball.

My
naturally curly hair was pinned high on my head leaving the curls loose at the top. Those loose ends were then secured to form a cascading updo. Bits of hair were left out to frame my face.  Then, gently inserted into my hair was a delicate and intricate tiara.

I
watched on in interest, as my face was transformed before me with the magic of make-up.  I was very pleased with the final effect.

Finally,
I wriggled into my glorious off-white ball gown. It was a beaded organza a line gown with spaghetti straps, and a low scoop neckline, emphasizing my womanly curves. The corset was tight fitting with boning for support, secured by pearl shaped snap closures in the back, and was fitted at the waist, but then flared out into a tulip shape at the hem, reaching to the floor.

I
looked at myself in the full length mirror, and was very pleased with what I saw .  I was sure that Nic would melt when he saw me.

***

He
firstly returned to his own earth family, to their happiness, and then drove a car to where Cate’s house used to be, before it had been burnt to the ground.

He slowed the car to almost a stop as he approached Katie’s Gate.  There was a new house on the lot of land.  It was unfamiliar, and dark.

Ben felt the panic rising in his chest.  He would have phoned her, but, he wanted to see her in person, to gage her reaction to him.  In a fluster, he drove to the next best place – Cate’s parent’s house.

He urgently knocked on the
front door, and paced to and fro.  After a short while, Cate’s dad answered.

“Ben?  Come in son,” said
Cate’s father shocked to see him.  He thought that he was long gone from Cate’s life, and they would never see him again.

Ben saw
Cate’s mother and went and hugged her warmly.

“Ben, you look upset, how can we help you?” asked Mrs Boswell.

“I’m looking for Cate.  I need to talk to her. I can’t stand to be apart from her anymore.  Can you please tell me where she is?” Ben asked, emotional and panicked.

“Yes,” said Kate’s mum,
her eyes full of love for Ben. “She’s….”

“Before you tell me though, I
need to ask you something...Mr and Mrs Boswell, I am asking for your permission to marry your beautiful daughter, if she will have me.  It would mean everything to me if she were my wife. I promise to love her deeply until the end of our days upon the Earth.  I promise to keep her safe, and from harm.  I promise to make her happy, always.  I promise to treat her like a princess, and I promise to put her needs before mine.”

C
ate’s mother put her hands up to her face and started to cry.

“Oh Ben…
If Cate wants to marry you, then we approve.  But, Cate has gone to the Masquerade Ball.  She’s meeting Nic there…..he has also asked for our permission to marry her.  He is planning to ask her tonight.  I’m so sorry Ben…..”

Ben looked at
Cate’s parents with shock on his face, and did not say a word.  His worst fears were coming true.

She
had
moved on and fallen in love with another man.

Emotion choked the inside of him.  He lowered his head and despondently left the house.  He could hear
Cate’s mum crying in the distance.

He was too late.

Slowly, he drove home, and then he lay on his bed feeling desolate.  What was he to do now?  He
had
pushed her too far.  He
had
pushed her away.

Ben’s
Earth mother entered the room, and sat and listened to his outpouring of grief.

“Well, what are you doing laying on your bed here Ben.  Get up, put on your tails suit and go to the Masquerade Ball
. Don’t go down without a fight.  You belong together Ben.  I know that she doesn’t love Nic as she loves you.  I can see it in her eyes when she looks at him.  Now get going before I go there myself, dressed in my pajamas!” demanded Ben’s mother.