Echo (The Butterfly Series Book 3)

by Isabella Redwood

  I met him on the dance floor as he pulled me into his arms and we had our first dance to Eva Cassidy, Somewhere over the Rainbow.

  Wrapped in his arms, feeling his body moulded into mine, a perfect fit I smiled at our son, playing with his new puppy. My sister nursing her son while Cross entertained the twins colouring, back to my husband who was looking at me like I was the rarest gem in an ocean of stone.

  ‘Ready to go, Mrs. Veneto?’ whispering that velvet tone that made my insides flip and crave for him endlessly.

  ‘Yes, Mr. Veneto. I cannot wait.’ I smiled as he winked at me and kissed my forehead nose and then mouth, lingering and taking my breath away.

  Saying goodbye to JC was so difficult. He was besotted with his puppy and it made me feel less guilty for leaving him. The twins were pulling him to go get in the car and I knew he would have a whale of a time with Sophia and Cross.

  ‘Don’t worry about anything. Just have the best time.’ Sophia whispered.

  I wiped the tears that were streaming down my face and waved as Nicholi led me into the car.

  ‘Tropical Island, sandy beaches, crystal clear water, chocolate covered strawberries all over you,’ he grinned mischievously, as the electricity that had been ebbing and flowing all day, pulsed and I felt my whole body melt in his wake.

  ‘I still can’t believe this is real. Pinch me. No don’t. I never want to wake up.’ I closed my eyes as his arms encircled me.

  ‘This is just the beginning.’

  We sat down and headed to the airport, a sea of utter bliss, its waves lapping gently at our feet as the sun radiated down from up above.

  SEVENTEEN

  FINALLY

  Waiting to depart at the airport, I was looking through magazines to take on the flight. Turning around I saw Nicholi perusing the books and smiled. This was already the perfect honeymoon and it had barely begun. I would be spending two heavenly weeks with Nicholi. The first week in Fuji with an emphasis on purely relaxing and celebrating his birthday. The second week we would go back to Rome and Venice. It felt so poignant to return there being that was where he proposed and I knew there was one store I had to go to before we left.

  ‘Nic, I just need to go to the bathroom, could you pay for these for me please?’ knowing that the queue would keep him occupied while I dipped out to make a secret purchase.

  ‘Sure, baby. Say hi to JC for me and tell him I love and miss him already.’ He planted a chaste kiss on my cheek as I handed him my magazine haul.

  ‘I will do.’ I grinned, barely able to hide my excitement, but I had to. This was going to be the best birthday gift I could ever give him and perusing the aisles, I knew exactly what I wanted to get.

  Hiding my loot in my hand luggage, I re-joined Nicholi and waited for our flight to be called.

  ‘I cannot believe we are finally on our way.’ I watched the plane taxi down to the runway out of the window and Nicholi, his eyes bursting with excitement as were mine.

  Arriving in Fiji, we were completely exhausted having barely slept and a delay in Bangkok had caused us to miss our flight.

  Checking in and finally getting our room key, I suddenly got a burst of energy and watching Nicholi take a shower before he pulled me in with him, I was now very much awake.

  ‘I can’t believe this is happening, ah, Lexi. I love you so much.’ He kissed me so passionately as our hands explored, teasing and setting fire to the always-simmering desires.

  Wrapping me in a towel, he lay me down on the bed and I reached to wrap my hands around his neck, my fingers running through his hair as his moans echoed throughout the room and had me virtually panting to have him inside.

  We fell asleep wrapped together, our bodies needing to be constantly touching as dreams entered and I did not have the energy to push them away.

  ‘You remember; you know you do.’ Larissa was standing above me and I was barely seventeen. Looking around the room, it was our birthday party and I had ran upstairs after another argument with my father. I stared at the gift he had bought me, the perfect gift that I knew could not possibly have been from him. The wooden jewellery box, so exquisite, its wooden fixings catching the light and sending shards across the room, filtering out the hatred and leaving diluted love.

  Reaching out my hand, I lifted the lid and jolted upright in bed.

  ‘Lexi, I’m here.’ Nicholi pulled me closer to him and I felt my heart regulate. Was there something about the box I had missed? Knowing we were thousands of miles away and there was nothing I could do now, I closed my eyes and let sleep consume me once more.

  Waking to the sound of the waves lapping against the shore, I had completely forgotten about the dream and watching Nicholi slowly stir, there was only one thing I had on my mind. Reaching to stroke and tease his body, I longed to feel him against me and as he opened his eyes, his smile beaming, there was nothing else that mattered.

  Tucking into a breakfast of fresh tropical fruit and pastries, I had not realised how hungry I was.

  ‘Baby, did you have a nightmare last night?’ Nicholi took my hand in his and stroked away any fears.

  ‘I don’t remember, it is weird, but I can’t.’ I shook my head and frowned in annoyance before his fingers caressing my thigh had me completely in the moment and longing for more.

  We managed to pull ourselves away from the bedroom and decided to take a walk on the beach. I had checked in with JC who was completely besotted with his new puppy and was enjoying his vacation with Sophia and Cross. After speaking with him, I felt flat; missing him and Nicholi suggested we go snorkelling.

  Walking into the ocean hand in hand about to experience something together for the first time, my heart soared once more. I could never feel despondent for long around Nicholi. He was the perfect chocolate sundae in its finest form.

  ‘Wow, that was incredible,’ we both said in union, seeing the neon fish in all their glory and feeling them brush up against you, swimming with the current.

  ‘Hungry?’ he asked suggestively and I giggled into his arms as we headed back to our room, eventually ordering room service.

  The next few days flew by and preparing for my epic surprise for Nicholi’s birthday, I could barely contain the excitement.

  ‘I can’t wait to see what you have planned. You look like you could spontaneously combust with the secrets. Can I tease it out of you?’ He pulled me onto the bed as I shook my head with absolute conviction.

  ‘No way.’ I laughed as he started to tickle me, and as his hands brushed past my thigh, he certainly had a secret weapon that could get me to confess to anything.

  ‘We will see about that,’ his voice seductive as he removed my bikini bottoms and I was floating in ecstasy.

  ‘Happy birthday,’ I whispered, noting it was just past midnight and we had fallen asleep around eleven, still extremely jet lagged.

  ‘Thank you, baby,’ his voice husky as he kissed my fingers one by one, his eyes twinkling.

  ‘So, do I get my surprise now?’ sitting upright ready to receive his gifts.

  ‘Hmm, you certainly can. At least one of them.’ I sat in his lap wrapping my legs around him, kissing his chest as his hair tickled against my cheeks and we were lost in one another.

  Climbing out of bed, I checked to make sure my movement had gone undetected. Nicholi stirred but remained sleeping as I ducked into the bathroom ready for present number one.

  Opening the packaging, I held my breath. I was as certain as I could be, but had resisted the temptation to test until now.

  Dipping in the sample and placing the stick on the counter top, my mind wandered back to the first test I took in a restaurant toilet with my sister. How things had changed and now here I was, married, taking a test in the suite of our honeymoon bathroom.

  Watching the egg timer empty and fill, it reminded me of my life so far, having everything, losing it all and then getting it back tenfold. The timer disappeared and I waited for the words to display. PREGNANT, appeared in bold lette
rs and I shrieked out with glee. Placing my hand across my mouth, I peeked to make sure he was still sleeping and reassured myself I had not awoken him. I set to wrapping surprise number two that JC had helped me with.

  Padding back to the bedroom with the gifts in tow, I opened the curtains and admired our ocean view.

  Turning round, I surveyed our suite and my eyes focused on the huge king size four-poster bed with its silk fabrics swaying in the air con breeze. The Jacuzzi tub to the side that we had certainly made extensive use of, to the entertainment system that we had yet to turn on.

  I was too busy musing I had not noticed Nicholi had woken up and was staring at me.

  ‘Oh, good morning, my delicious husband, and happy birthday once again.’ I sashayed over to him in the sexy lingerie that was birthday gift number three.

  ‘Well, I think you are the delicious one, Mrs. Veneto. God, I love you.’ He scooped me into his arms as we devoured each other.

  Lying in Nicholi’s arms as he kissed my neck I could not wait any longer.

  ‘More presents?’ Sitting up I handed him present number two, its ribbons swaying in the breeze as my hand shook.

  ‘Ah, I love it.’ He turned the tee shirt over that had JC’s hand print on along with Nicholi’s and mine. On the back had the words, the best daddy and I had to bite my lip to stop the tears escaping prematurely.

  ‘Open this one next.’ I handed him the pregnancy test stick wrapped up inside a three-layer box structure.

  ‘This is very interesting; I will have to remember this.’ He laughed that melodic sound as he unwrapped each layer to find confetti and multicoloured tissue paper. Finally, he got to the last box and I wiped the tear quickly away as he stared at me perplexed and frowned a little.

  ‘Happy tears?’ Moving me closer he wiped away the stray tear as I took a deep breath, and tried to re-group.

  ‘Open it.’ My voice was ragged and full to the brim with unspoken emotion as he pulled off the paper and opened the box. He looked at the test and back to me, his eyes glistening as his lip quivered and I nodded slowly.

  ‘This is the best birthday ever, come here.’ He pulled me into his arms and kissed my belly.

  ‘I am the happiest and most blessed man in the universe. Hi, little one. I am your daddy and I cannot wait to see you.’

  The tears flowed unrestricted down both our faces as we made love once more, so tenderly and fuelled by everything that we had been through and survived. To now, so content and whole, nothing could harm us.

  Prising ourselves away from the bedroom later in the afternoon I took Nicholi down to the ocean for his final gift. We were taking a boat out and having an ocean picnic.

  Sipping the fizzy white grape juice I had asked the kitchen to pack, we tucked into our smoked salmon appetisers and monkfish main. I had asked for cupcakes for dessert and taking a match, I lit his candle.

  ‘Make a wish.’ I watched him close his eyes and when he opened them, I could see straight through to his soul. Completely absorbed in him and the moment. I watched him blow out his candle and take me into his arms.

  ‘I have everything I could ever wish for.’

  Lying down on the deck, I could not agree more.

  Packing to leave was bittersweet and as Nicholi would not let me even carry a single item of baggage, I watched as he loaded up the car and opened the door for me to enter, his eyes lingering as mine reciprocated. Would we ever get enough of each other to calm this longing? I sincerely hoped not.

  We had decided to tell JC in person and looking at the airport for souvenirs for everyone, I laughed.

  ‘What?’ taking my hand and moving me closer, he was so protective now and it was the most amazing feeling.

  ‘I was just thinking we had the whole Island to explore and pick perfect gifts, yet we never left our room and now have to get hello Fuji ornaments.’ We both giggled and Nicholi shrugged noncommittedly.

  ‘Our honeymoon and I want that room back.’ His eyes were on fire and ignited mine within milliseconds.

  Boarding the second flight, I was completely exhausted and curled up next to Nicholi, unable to keep my eyes open any longer as he held me close and we both fell asleep. Utterly in love and bathed in each other, the perfect cocktail.

  ‘Baby, we are here.’ Nicholi stroked my cheek as I opened my eyes and watched the plane land in Rome. It felt like a lifetime ago that we were here and picking up our hire car, Nicholi drove us to the hotel filling me in on everything he had planned for us.

  Checking into the hotel I desperately wanted a shower to wash my hair and Nicholi ran the bath for me filling it with the most delicious coconut bubble bath as I washed my hair quickly and plunged into the abyss of bounty bar bubbles.

  ‘So, on a scale of one to ten, how would you rate your honeymoon so far, Mrs. Veneto,’ he grinned sheepishly while washing my legs, lingering a little too long on my inner thighs as I held my breath and tried to concentrate.

  ‘Hmm, a million.’ I leant into his touch as someone knocked at the door.

  ‘Hold that thought.’ Grabbing a dressing gown off the bathroom door, he stumbled to the door, tripping on my bra that had been strewn across the hallway, a trail of clothing leading directly to us like a yellow brick road of laundry.

  ‘It was just room service. I forgot I had pre-ordered champagne and strawberries. I have asked them to switch for something fruity and sparkling instead.’ He looked at my belly adoringly. ‘How far along do you think you are?’ kissing my stomach affectionately as I did the math.

  ‘I think I will be due around Christmas time.’ I marvelled that this year we would be a family of four.

  ‘Another perfect present. We will make sure your gifts are all under the tree for you, little one.’ He took my hand and led me into the waiting towel.

  ‘I have something fun planned for today and now more than ever it will definitely come in handy,’ he grinned as he handed me my clothes that I had laid out as I tried to guess where we were going.

  Admitting defeat, I nibbled on some strawberries while he made some calls and I took the opportunity to speak to JC, finding lying so hard.

  ‘I miss you too, sweetheart. Yes, see you very soon.’ I passed the phone to Nicholi who had finished his call and we left for my surprise experience.

  ‘Welcome to Chef Luigi’s cooking master class,’ Nicholi announced, taking my hand and leading me into the restaurant.

  ‘You booked us cooking lessons?’ smiling as his eyes danced in anticipation.

  ‘I need help, can’t have you eating microwave noodles every time I want to make you dinner,’ he winked as we sat down for our one on one lessons.

  Listening to the chef describe making fresh pasta and it being an extension of the soul was making me starving and smelling the delicious aromas as he demonstrated and we attempted to copy, my mouth was watering.

  Nicholi was trying so hard to follow along and even managed to make some excellent fresh pasta that looked far better than my attempt. He grinned with satisfaction as I toyed with my pasta when the chef was not looking, completely distracting Nicholi as his eyes longingly met mine.

  ‘Okay, taste testing.’ He handed us a bowl each of the fresh pasta and sauce we had made and I had never tasted anything so good.

  ‘You can cook for me every night now, Nic,’ I nodded as we finished our lunch and the chef gave us a dessert selection of Italian pastries and ice cream to try.

  By the end of the session, I was stuffed and completely in awe of my wonderful husband who had planned this for me.

  ‘That was so much fun, thank you.’ I kissed his cheek as we slipped into the elevator, utterly mesmerised with each other.

  ‘You make everything fun,’ he whispered sensually moving closer until our bodies responded and the elevator was full of unspoken desire that needed instant gratification.

  Awaiting me back at the room was a hundred sunflowers, each with a crystal sparkling inside and I could not believe my eyes.

&
nbsp; ‘Happy mother’s day,’ he announced with JC on Skype, part of the plan though not knowing that he was going to have a sibling next year.

  Sophia watched me curiously, as I tried to distract her from what was obvious. The way Nicholi was looking at me, she knew instantly and as Cross took JC to get ice cream, her squeals filled our suite.

  ‘When did you find out? I’m so excited and happy for you,’ she gushed, the tears rolling down her face mirroring mine. However, unlike seven years ago, these were pure tears of joy and I once again felt like pinching myself to make sure I was not dreaming.

  ‘Around six weeks. I think it will be a Christmas baby.’ I was excited to confirm that when we returned to the states and I could see my doctor.

  ‘We are over the moon.’ Nicholi kissed my hand as I lay against his shoulder.

  ‘Well, I will let you two get back to the honeymoon. Love you.’ She hung up as I waved back and Nicholi pulled me into his arms.

  ‘Feel like a swim in the pool downstairs?’

  I nodded eagerly and quickly put on my bikini that would no doubt be too small very soon.

  After relaxing in the pool and Jacuzzi, Nicholi confirmed we had dinner reservations and selecting a red silk dress with the crystal necklace Sophia had given me, I was ready to go. Leaving my hair loose, I returned to find Nicholi staring into space.

  ‘What’s wrong?’ I took his hand as he pulled me onto his lap.

  ‘I just had a phone call from my mom. She said her and my dad are getting back together.’ He was stumbling over his words as though his mouth was disconnected from his brain and reality.

  ‘I saw the way they looked at each other in the hospital. He clearly loves her very much.’ I remembered feeling like I needed to give them privacy, so many unsaid emotions flying around the room at terminal velocity.