9

Butterfly and the CEO

Chapter 9

Ellie's point of view.

I wake up the following morning, with a banging head as I vaguely remember some parts of the previous night; I know Zac was sitting on the floor with me in the ladies toilets, his gentle voice calming me as he stroked my hair, as he told me everything was going to be okay.

He called me baby! He told me he was here for me.

I don't remember much after that.

Was I sick? Did he hold my hair? Did that happen, or am I imagining it? Fuck I'm never going to be able to face him again.

I sigh as I remember being held in his arms as he sat on the floor, holding me in his arms. It felt so right. There's something about Zac Harris that has a calming effect on me. He's strong and protective and yet incredibly kind and gentle. He makes me feel safe, and that's something I haven't felt for a long time, I know I had a major breakdown last night, and Zac was by my side helping me through it. My heart feels somewhat lighter today, and I feel as though I can breathe again. I know I can't hide my past anymore, and it's time to move on with the help of my friends.

I open my eyes with a groan, Wow my head feels like it's going to explode. I feel the heat rush to my cheeks as I realise I'm lying on Zac’s chest, his muscular arms wrapped around my waist as he holds me tight. Oh My…. he stayed all night with me.

I've never had anyone look after me like this before. I turn my head to look at him, this beast of a man. He's all muscle, and yet he looks so cute when he sleeps. I snuggle into his warmth as I think to myself

“I’ll just shut my eyes for five more minutes.”

When I open my eyes again, I sigh. I feel as though I’ve been hit by a train, run over by a bus and then struck by lightning on my way down as I try to untangle myself from Zac’s arms.

He chuckles in my ear, sending shivers down my spine…

Oh my lord…...this man…..Of course I blush, making Zac laugh as he stretches his arms above his head, giving me a slight glimpse of his muscular abs and that very tempting V that leads to….yeah, you know where I'm heading with that one… This man is built like a Greek god.

His breath tickets my ear as he whispers.

“Good morning beautiful, how’s the head this morning?”

I groan as I reply.

“It fucking hurts…... Mmmmm, Zac? What happened last night? Why am I sleeping on the sofa with you?”

He chuckles, most probably recalling all of my drunken antics before he says,

“Well, you danced the night away, and boy, can you shake that sexy little ass of yours. Then you drank way too much, so much so that you fancied a sleep in the ladies toilet, so I carried you home where you then projectile vomited all over yourself, all over me, all over the sofa and the floor before I managed to get you to the toilet…….I had no idea that one little redhead could contain so much vomit.”

He looks at me with a mischievous glint in his eye as I bury my face in my hands, pretty sure I'm going to die of embarrassment as I whisper.”

“Oh my god, I'm so sorry Zac, why did I drink so much.”

He chuckles before he says.

"We've all been there, Ellie…."

Zac is now looking at me as he laughs at my embarrassment. He's smiling at me, and I smile back. God, he must think that I’m a right nutcase. I reluctantly pull away from him as I drag myself into a sitting position frowning as I look down at my clothes; my face fills with horror as I say,

“Mmmmm, Zac? Who put my pyjamas on?”

He laughs, holding his hands up as he whispers in my ear.

“Not guilty, you have Erin to thank for that one. Maybe next time, Ellie, although I would much rather be taking them off than putting them on.”  

“Ohhhhhh…….”

That is all I manage to say, feeling the heat creeping up my face. I jump up with a wobble before running off to the bathroom.”

“I need the toilet.”

I call out,  listening as Zac laughs behind me, clearly enjoying my embarrassment; Oh, my God, my emotions are all over the place. How much did Erin see if she undressed me?.

What the hell did I tell him? What did he see? Although he seems unfazed by all of this and he makes me feel so safe and so good. I know that Zac Harris would never hurt me. I know he likes me, and although I'm a little scared of the chemistry between us, it is off the scale, but that also excites me at the same time. I look at myself in the mirror as I have a wash and brush my hair and teeth before finally pulling myself together enough to leave the bathroom. Zac is now in the kitchen, putting the kettle on. He looks up and smiles as I take a seat on one of the kitchen stools as rub my head. Zac looks at me before he says.

“Wheres your painkillers, Ellie?”

I reply with a wince….

“Mmmmm, top cupboard on the right, I think.”

He reaches up to grab the medical box from the cupboard, taking two painkillers out before handing them to me with a glass of water, leaning over as he gently rubs my temples, he whispers in my ear.

“Feeling rough, Baby girl?”

I nod my head feeling him tense as I moan.

“Mmmmm, that feels so good,” I say as he replies.

“I like taking care of you, Ellie.”

“MMMM”, I whisper again as his fingers run through my hair, he whispers in my ear.

“Can I kiss you? I really want to kiss you, Ellie.”

He runs his thumb over my bottom lip, causing me to moan at the sensation. The air between us is electric; my body responds to his touch leaning into him as he takes my lips in a gentle kiss that takes my breath away. A soft yet passionate kiss that I don't want to end, we pull apart both breathless. He holds his forehead to mine as he whispers.

“I've wanted to do that from the first moment I set eyes on you. I've been dreaming of kissing you every day…... Jesus baby, you just blew my dreams away. I never knew a kiss could feel this good, baby.”

“Me neither."

I say as the air between us crackles with the sexual tension as we look into each other's eyes, reluctantly pulling away when Erin walks into the room, grinning as she says.

“Oh, am I interrupting something?”

Yes…………..

Zac chuckles as he says.

“Not at all Erin, would you like a cup of coffee?”

She plops down on the stool next to me as she says.

“Yes, please, Ellie, how are you feeling, hunni.”

I frown as I reply,  “If I said great, would you believe me?”

She laughs as she says, “Nope.”

Zac looks at us both as he says.

“I need food; who wants some breakfast?”

Erin replies first, for a girl who is so tiny, she sure likes her food.

“Yes please, Sausage, bacon and eggs are all in the fridge.”

Zac laughs as he pulls everything out. From Erin's tone of voice, he knows she won't be the one cooking it. He looks over at me, noticing my pale face as he says.

“Would you like some toast, Ellie?”

I shake my head.  “Mmm no, I'm okay, thanks, Zac.”

He turns back to look at me as he says.

“You need to eat, Ellie, and It will make you feel better.”

He put a plate of toast in front of me, and I pick at it, although I have to admit it does make me feel a little better. He finishes his breakfast before he says.

“Ladies, I'd best get going. My mum will kill me if I don't turn up for one of her family Sunday dinners.”

He laughs as he pulls me off the stool, keeping hold of my hand as we walk to the door.  He gives me a sweet kiss before he says.

“I’ll call you later, babe.”

I look at the door long after he's gone, my hand going to my lips, still tingling from his kiss.  He called me babe……..I turn around to see Erin watching me with a grin on her face, her eyes wide as she says.

“Wow, he's got it bad.”

I smile; Zac Harris is just fucking perfect. He's not the only one that's got it bad, as Erin would say…..

Can I open my heart? Can I let him in? Am I ready to share the horrors of my past?