The One Awakened: Book 1 in The One Trilogy (42 page)

I laugh to myself at the gall of this over-confident man and wish I had half of his surety. “So yes… we’ll see. It’s
very
early days.” His coy smile shows me that he likes his new beau more than he’d care to admit to anyone, including himself. He really is a poppet; a complete drama-queen but a star all the same. It appeared that the love and lust fairy had sprinkled her magic over everyone the past few weeks; Abby & Nathan, I tick off mentally - Colin and James, get added to the list - Sebastian and I? I screw up my nose in annoyance at the uncertainty of it all. Lust 100% but love? I shouldn't even torture myself this way.
“Come help me choose between sumptuous charcoal grey velvet or deep scarlet silk.” I lead him over towards the large workstation we have in the midst of the studio. “I need to order some lunch. Do you fancy salad or sandwich?”
“I need carbs today doll, but don’t tell anyone.” His pats his lean washboard tummy, “I’m feeling hormonal and am after some stodge but I’m supposed to be juicing.”

I laugh and agree. “Me too - in need of stodge that is. I’ll ask Jackie to pick something up for us from
The Slug & Lettuce
.
”

I’m also sharply reminded that I need to pop out to the chemist asap and purchase the blasted morning after pill – shame I didn’t have a raincoat, trilby and dark glasses to hand. The disguise would really help with the nosey buggers in my near vicinity. The whole drama was probably overkill; we’d only had unprotected sex once - no twice - make that three times, I correct myself, remembering the
kitchen
incident with crystal clarity.
 

No better to be safe, the way my luck has been of late I can’t risk the additional problem of pregnancy.

Colin is stroking the samples of both fabrics along either side of his sun-bed enhanced face. “The silk, says luxury, sex, and is naughty but nice. The velvet is lush, thick and will look a… maz… ing in 9foot drop curtains - heavy though?” he looks up at me, arching his brow.
“I agree but I’m leaning towards the velvet as it will be so opulent.” I pout my mouth. "Hmmm. What about if we combine the two and line the velvet with the red silk? That way when they are drawn back around those huge pewter finials we’ve chosen, you can see both fabrics. Hard and soft; perfect for the sensual theme of the suite?”
“Perfect Darling! Very erotic.” Colin nods his head, licking his lips “Perhaps I can convince James to let us christen the room together, for its maiden voyage. Ahhh, now that’s a thought
.
”
 

I can literally see the cogs turning in his perfectly groomed head and knowing that I’ve lost his interest for the immediate time being I roll my eyes and head over to my assistant to order some much needed sustenance. My stomach is growling. As if she can hear my tummy rumbles, Jackie pops over, smiling fondly at us with her notepad and a huge round vase of white roses, studded with pearls in varying degrees of size.

“Here you go Lu. You really are popular at the moment!” Her face is genuinely gleeful and she delicately places the thick glass bowl in front of me and I melt at the beauty of the arrangement. It was so unusual and utterly me. I look in between the roses, dazzled at their quantity - there must have been two-dozen large roses tightly packed together, at least. There wasn’t a card, but a silver foiled heart dangles from the grey velvet ribbon around the bowl and turning it over, I see the message I’m keen to locate.

The message is perfect and warms me to my toes. Even his bold confident scrawl was sexy.
 

“Right enough about me.” I shake myself out of my bubble.

“About bloody time!” Colin moans next me
.
“A man could die of starvation here - for food and love.”

I ignore his petulance and thank Jackie, who is still oohing and ahhing over the flowers. Both Colin and I give her our lunch orders and within minutes she’s disappeared to the shops.

A few hours and soup and a sandwich later and I’m proud of my creative achievements today. I’ve caught up on some paperwork, and checked the calendars for the next few weeks, chased a few overdue accounts and am much further ahead with The Ashton business. I was annoyed with myself this morning, for not finalising some of my designs this weekend but I’d been otherwise occupied, by a certain delicious contractor and his tools, especially now I knew he was thinking of me too. We may be confused but he was showing he had no regrets.
There it is. Shit!
 

 
I’d done so well and he’s back, fully imposed on my delicate mind, full frontal images of him and his magnificent physique, leaning against my bedroom door, climbing over my naked body, bending me over, soaping me up; the pictures are running carelessly around my head, taunting me, testing me and stressing me out entirely.
 

Enough!
 

Taking a deep breath I decide to take a ride up to The Ashton and check up on the works there. Anything to get me out and en route I’d pop into the small independent chemist I’d noticed on the corner of the quaint village square, which sat just prior to the left turn up to the hotel. Hopefully I won’t be recognised there. I feel so ashamed but I’d put it off long enough.

I force a fixed smile back onto my furrowed face
.
“I’ll be back in tomorrow guys – I’m off to check on the Silver Construction lads and then going to get Finn. See you in the morning,” I inform the team as I leave and thinking quickly on my feet add. “I’m actually not feeling that great, so I’m going to put my calls straight to voicemail until tomorrow and try get an early night - got awful tummy ache.”
 

Jackie nods her acknowledgement, whilst ending another call and as I near the exit, shouts, “Night Lucia. Take care.”

Driving, I check in with Abby; I needed her advice big-time. Her bubbly voice answers on the third ring.

“Hola Honey!”

I smile despite my gloom and laugh. “Hey Abs. You OK?”

“All good my end Chickadee but I can sense all is not the same with you. What’s the crack?”
 

That’s what I love about Abby; she could read me like a book. I decide to get straight to the point.

“I need to get the bloody morning after pill? Which was the one you took when you were with Dave?” I can almost see her eye roll down the phone and I inwardly cringe at my stupidity. Dave had been her on off boyfriend for over 4years and she’d finally kicked him to the curb when she’d caught him balls deep in her cousin.
“Urggghh Dave the Dickless, don’t remind me. Urmmm, let me think… it began with an ‘
L
’ - Simon Lebon something or other.” She laughs to herself at her own joke. “Wait, did it split? You never said anything yesterday - unless it happened after? What did Sebastian say?”
I rub my temple in stress, the other hand still on the wheel. “He didn’t say anything. He doesn’t know and I don’t want him too!” My horrified reply is clearly apparent.

“He must have known at the time though?” I can hear the disbelief in her voice. “Was he
that
big?”

I ignore her last comment but so does she, as she has realised how stupid I have been.
 

“Oh you didn’t - Lulu what were you thinking?”
 

“Er I wasn’t and neither was Sebastian. We just got carried away in the moment. Abs it was
primitive
.
” My voice cracks with emotion and I sense her empathy returning

“I know I know. We nearly messed up too. These Silver brothers are magnetic, I’ll give them that but I still think Sebastian should know and go through it with you Babe. He’s a good guy and I know it’s a bit of an odd arrangement you two have going at the mo and you don’t want the drama but I’d definitely be telling Nathan if it were happening to us.”

I ponder her words, knowing deep down she was right but she was also right about the drama. I didn’t want to be
that girl
. I’m strong enough to handle this alone; fuck I’ve managed to set up my own business, run a home, bring up my son, as a single parent and get through a nasty break-up. If I can do all that I can take a God damned pill to show some responsibility - albeit delayed responsibility.

“Really? Even when this is just sex?” I consider my own question and change my mind immediately. “No! I mean it Abby, Sebastian doesn’t need to know. He tries to control everything and I need to feel like I’m the one in control here. Besides I want to just enjoy our time right now - not get too heavy you know?”

“Perhaps if he’d been in control at the time of unprotected sex he’d have a leg to stand on but who am I to say?” Her dry judgmental hum is heartfelt but she is on a mission now and gaining momentum. “I mean I love Sebastian but why is it that men get to be all spontaneous, with their big cocks, amazingly buff guns and tight bums; turn-us-on to the point of losing all power over our minds and our sensibilities, and reduce us to melting pots of passion in seconds. We get amazing unforgettable sex and then
we're
the ones who have to cramp and puke in retribution.”
 

I can tell that she is combining her own previous experience with
Dave the Dickless,
and her present situation with the delicious Nathan Silver. She has it sooo bad!
“Actually in my case, the sex was rubbish with Dave so I had shit sex, no orgasm and had to pop the pill anyway and thank God I did. Now Nathan on the other hand - I’m going to have to be careful with him. He wants to do it everywhere and on everything and fuck Lu he’s hung like a freaking donk…”

“Abs Abs, I get it.” I laugh, happy for her and realising I’ve lost her full attention I try to change the subject. “I’ll take it today but I mean it, don’t tell Sebastian, Nathan… anyone!”

“Ok Lu. Pinky promise. I’ll call you tonight to see how you’ve got on. If you need me I’m there with bells on and maybe some anti-sickness medication.”

I smile and ring off just as I pull into the centre of Holdgate. It was time to pay for my sins!