Chalk Butterfly: Part One (First Time Erotic Romance)

by Audra Red

  The effort it took Alexander not to run right out of the office was massive.

  “Yes,” he replied.

  “I don’t want to drive all the way from Plainville and find you haven’t been making your appointments,” Natalie added tersely. “Alexander?”

  “Yes,” he said, looking out the window. “I promise.”

  ***

  When Alexander got back to his apartment, he felt utterly exhausted.

  “Don’t just throw your things about,” Natalie scolded him as they walked in. She bent over and picked up Alexander’s discarded mittens. “I didn’t clean all night for you to immediately mess up the place.”

  “I’m sorry,” Alexander said, as if on autopilot. It worked best just to agree with her, usually. He flopped down on the couch and closed his eyes. Cat trotted out of the bedroom at the sound of their arrival and curled up on the couch beside Alexander. Alexander patted the fat creature on the head.

  “I’m setting up this can opener and then I’ll bring the groceries up,” Natalie called from the kitchen. Alexander nodded and stared blankly at the wall. “Alexander?”

  “Yes, Mum,” he called back.

  He heard her muttering and moving things around.

  He had wanted to stand up for himself, he truly did.

  It was obvious that he was going through a tough spot with his hands, but he doubted the blisters originated from work stress. He felt the most comfortable at work and actually felt that he contributed to society in some small way, instead of staying hauled up in his flat like a hermit.

  ‘Stop feeling sorry for yourself,’ he thought, and squirmed out of his jacket.

  It was amazing how easily his day could be upset. He’d been having a lovely time with his mother, and then a little doctor’s visit had completely turned the tide of his emotions. But what had he expected?

  Visits from Natalie were hardly relaxing times. She usually had a motive for showing up.

  She was a rather controlling type, though Alexander was thankful for her care of him. He could never repay her for all of the time she put into him when he was younger. Of course, she’d have a difficult time letting go of him now that he was out on his own.

  But that didn’t mean he had to like it. He’d moved out to be independent.

  He frowned, and allowed Cat to crawl up onto his lap.

  At first he’d loved the new attention she had laid upon him. He had been young and desperate for her to approve of his every move.

  But after awhile of living with his disease, the attention got old. She was a worried mother, and while she had reason to be, some thought her to be overcautious. Dr. Holmes had even mentioned her letting up a bit on Alexander, even though he himself was rather strict.

  Alexander frowned and thought back to the first years he’d lived in America. It had been difficult making friends, as he was home schooled and wasn’t allowed to participate in sports.

  But he had the library.

  His love of books grew from hiding away in that special place.

  A sour memory came to him. He’d wanted to be involved in one of the plays the library put on, but his mother had become near hysterical over the idea. It involved a bit of physical exertion, and Alexander had fought long and hard for her permission to join.

  She hadn’t let up and Alexander missed out.

  It only got worse from there. He wasn’t allowed to join the scouts or go to sleepovers. The small group of friends he did have dwindled, and he became the quiet boy with the funny accent.

  His only real friends were made at the special camps he went to each summer. There he met many other children with EB and other conditions. There he felt included, not singled out in the least.

  But even then, his mother was around. She volunteered as a counselor and made certain Alexander didn’t get too involved with certain activities.

  Alexander cleared his mind, refusing to think on it any longer. It was over with and she’d be gone soon. He’d miss her, of course, but the time alone would actually be welcome, even if he usually disliked it.

  He found himself dozing as his mother bustled about the kitchen, and before he knew it, she was waking him up. Her hair was wrapped up in a scarf and she had her jacket buttoned.

  “Darling,” she greeted sweetly. He smiled sleepily as she pressed a soft kiss to his forehead. “Don’t sleep out here tonight; you’ll be sore in the morning.”

  Alexander murmured a slurred, “Yes, Mum,” before sitting up and blinking his eyes open.

  “Don’t be upset with me,” she said, crouching low to embrace him strongly. “I love you and I want you to be happy.”

  “I love you too,” he whispered, returning the hug. “Drive safe.”

  “Trying to kick me out?” she asked, pulling back with a smile on her face. “Take your vitamins, wrap your hands and eat dinner,” she added.

  “Okay, out with you,” Alexander said, standing shakily. “I’ll walk you to the door.”

  At the door, she kissed him once more. “Most importantly of all,” she said, standing halfway out the door. “Don’t get your heart broken.”

  “Don’t worry, I’ll get over Elijah,” Alexander laughed, the sound out of place with the mood in the room. Natalie shook her head.

  “I didn’t mean him,” she said slyly, and slipped out the door. Alexander let out a long breath. “And don’t forget to feed your cat!” he heard her cry once more before she made it down the stairs.

  “Goodbye, Mum!”

  ***

  Daniel washed the last paint brush off with meticulous. The cleanup had taken longer than he'd planned, and by time the living room was straightened out again, the sun dipped slowly below the horizon.

  'What a day,' he thought, satisfied.

  And then his cellphone rang.

  ***

  Alexander walked back into the kitchen and noticed his answering machine was blinking.

  He pressed the button and went about finding the cat food. Cat wound impatiently around his legs as the first message beeped on.

  “Alex, it’s Elijah. Yeah. Well, I just want to apologize again for being such an ass at work and forgetting about your date and... yeah. Well. Um. Tell your mom I say hi. And set up your voicemail! I feel like it's 1997 or something when I leave a message on your machine.”

  Alexander smiled at Elijah’s ramblings and dug around the cabinets for the cat food. His mother had rearranged everything and he couldn’t find the canned foods for the life of him.

  He opened the pantry and smiled wider as Elizabeth came on the machine.

  “I hope Elijah called. I told him that he better,” she said, and Alexander could hear someone else talking in the background. “Not now honey, I’m on the phone. Alex, Liam says hello. Not that kind of hello. Liam... Liam!” There were the sounds of a giddy struggle. “Um... see you on Monday, Alex.”

  Alexander laughed at that, even though he was certain it’d kill Elijah to know how well Elizabeth and Liam, her boyfriend, got on.

  “Poor Eli,” he muttered, finding the can of cat food and trying to fit it into the electronic opener.

  “Alexander,” the voice that came from the machine was low and husky. Alexander nearly dropped the can. “Just wanted to know if you survived the weekend. If you’re there, Mrs. Price, my apologies. You have a lovely son.”

  Alexander was astounded as to how his skin immediately flushed at the sound of Daniel’s voice.

  “Remember tomorrow,” Daniel finished, and the machine beeped off.

  Alexander couldn’t stop the smile that crept onto his face and with a click, the can popped into place.

  “So, that’s how it works,” he mumbled, scooping the food into Cat’s dish. Cat immediately nudged Alexander’s hand away and went after the food ravenously. Alexander stared down at the floor stupidly, the silly smile still adorning his face.

  Before he could really stop himself, he picked up his phone.

  ***

  It was Alexand
er.

  “Alexander,” he answered immediately, smiling as the younger man let out a small laughing sound.

  “Hey, Daniel,” Alexander replied. Daniel could hear him shuffling about.

  “Got my message, huh?”

  “Yeah, yeah,” Alexander said quickly. “Listen.”

  “To what?”

  Alexander snorted.

  “To me,” Alexander said, a tone of incredulous humor in his voice.

  “I am listening to you,” was Daniel’s response and a soft giggle carried over the line. Daniel wanted to smack himself at the smile the sound induced.

  “Don’t be a git,” Alexander said, not unkindly. “Come for a walk with me.”

  Daniel grinned at his good fortune and at Alexander’s good nature. “Really?”

  “I mean, if you... um, want to,” Alexander mumbled. “I didn’t mean to demand you come or, if you’re busy and--”

  “I’d love to,” Daniel interrupted. “Where to?”

  “I didn’t get that far in my planning,” Alexander said sheepishly. “I just...”

  “Hey, we can decide when I get there, okay?”

  Alexander was quiet for a moment, and then Daniel heard a very tiny hiccup.

  “You okay, Alexander?”

  Alexander hiccupped again. “Yeah, fine,” he said, taking a deep breath. “I hiccup when I’m nervous... sometimes.”

  “Drink some water?”

  “Do you think I’m weird?” Alexander asked quickly, ignoring Daniel’s suggestion. “I’ll just hold my breath while you answer.”

  Daniel laughed. “What if I told you I like weird?”

  Alexander didn’t respond.

  “Holding your breath?”

  No response.

  “I’m coming over.”

  There was a strangled noise and then Alexander, panting, said, “Wait.” Another small hiccup followed. “I don’t know where you’ll park.”

  “I’ll take the subway,” Daniel said, already pulling on his shoes and jacket. “Okay?”

  Alexander hiccupped again. “Um, yeah.”

  “You sure?”

  “Yeah,” Alexander said.

  Daniel tugged on a hat and pulled open the door. “I’ll see you in thirty, then.”

  Alexander hiccupped his goodbye and Daniel grinned.

  ***

  “Fuck, fuck, fuck,” Alexander muttered, gently pulling on his mittens. He’d taken care of his hiccups, finally resorting to drinking nearly a half gallon of water. “Why am I so stupid?”

  Cat looked at him warily, perched lazily on the arm of the sofa, and yawned before easily drifting into sleep.

  “You’re no help,” Alexander said with a groan and winced visibly as a soft knock was heard at his door. 'I could hide,' he thought, the idea warming to him.

  But he found himself walking to the door anyway.

  He couldn’t explain why he’d asked Daniel to come over; it wasn’t anything he'd planned. His only plan had been to return Daniel’s call and possibly chat a bit.

  He’d been in a strange mood with his mother’s visit and Daniel’s affections.

  ‘Encouraging him will get you nowhere,‘ Alexander thought. ‘Reconsider hiding.’

  Alexander opened the door.

  “Hey,” Daniel greeted and already Alexander found himself blushing.

  “Hi,” Alexander murmured. “So... walk?” The last thing he wanted was to let Daniel into his flat. He needed to put as much space between them as possible or he’d do something stupid.

  Daniel nodded and they were soon outside the building, standing beneath a tall streetlamp.

  “I didn’t notice how dark it was,” Alexander said shyly, looking past Daniel to the street.

  “It’s alright,” Daniel said, touching Alexander’s arm gently. “Any particular route in mind?”

  “We could just hop around the block,” Alexander suggested. “I need to stretch my legs out.”

  “Been cooped up all weekend?”

  Alexander turned toward Daniel and smiled small. “My mum,” he replied.

  “I see, so you wanna blow off some steam.”

  “Sorta. You sure you don’t mind?” Alexander found Daniel’s hand on his arm as the older man shook his head.

  “I’m glad you asked me.”

  “I don’t know why I did,” Alexander admitted. “Sorry, but I feel like kind of an arse.”

  Daniel knitted his brows together and Alexander sighed.

  “I told you no and then yes and now I’m calling you over here and...” Alexander trailed off and looked down at his shoes. A beat of silence hung between them. “Do you really like weird?” Alexander finally asked. Daniel’s hands tightened on his arms and Alexander gasped quietly.

  “I like you,” Daniel said. Alexander leaned forward an inch and felt a bit woozy.

  “Why?”

  Daniel laughed and moved his hands up to Alexander’s shoulders. “You’re kind,” he said, the words sending warmth through Alexander’s belly. “You’re smart.”

  “You don’t know that,” Alexander retorted with little effort. Daniel’s hands turned up to his neck, and Alexander’s knees quaked as he felt a strong thumb press sweetly along his collarbone.

  “I can tell,” Daniel said. “I like smart, kind weirdos.” His voice lowered then, the words coming out husky and deep.

  “Oh,” Alexander replied, rocking on his feet. Daniel’s thumb moved in a slow circle. “Oh.”

  Daniel grinned, watching Alexander’s eyes fall shut for half a moment before flickering wide open again. A soft sigh escaped Alexander’s lips and Daniel slipped a hand up the back of the soft neck. His large hand cradled Alexander’s skull and he felt the extreme need to kiss the younger man. Yeah, he was about to officially have it bad for Alexander.

  Alexander could sense the movement and pulled back slightly, though not enough to leave Daniel’s intimate embrace.

  “Don’t,” Alexander whispered.

  “I’m sorry,” Daniel replied, biting at his tongue. “Really.”

  “I feel like I might fall into you,” Alexander admitted, his hands trembling slightly at his sides. “Weird, huh?”

  “Nah,” Daniel said with a smile, smoothing his hand down Alexander’s neck and back. “Do you like me?”

  Alexander made a small noise and stepped fully away from Daniel. He began walking in the opposite direction of his apartment, and with a heavy sigh, Daniel followed quickly behind.

  “Alexander?”