CHAPTER 9 – ITS OVER

Jocelyn awoke to the loud buzzing sound. She waited till her senses gathered then saw his phone dancing as it buzzed closer to the edge of the night stand. Thorpe had somehow managed to bury and anchored himself to her beneath the comforter. And he had to have put the Ac on as well. She could get use to waking up like this with him… when did they fall asleep like this? Finally the phone stops and just as it stops it started again.

Whoever it was wanted to reach him, she looked for her watch and gasped it was just after three they had skipped breakfast and lunch. And she didn't even feel hungry now, except of course for him. Then for the first time since last night she questioned her own wisdom in inviting him up to her room as he suggested. Perhaps she should have been more circumspect to have remained within sight of anybody, even the sleepy porter; while she told Thor she was familiar with his game and also threatened to report him to the proper authorities if he ever came a mile within her sister or her for that matter.

But that wasn't what had happened, there was no one person to be blaming she wanted him as much as he wanted her. But that was over and done with, now they could part ways and she had to make sure he never sort her again or her sister. But Lizzel was a grown woman now and its time she stopped running interference every time one of her relationships turned bad.

"Thorpe?" Jocelyn said quietly as she threw the sheets from over his head. He stirred but didn't wake.

"Thorpe?" she said again shaking him.

"You better be waking me up for more." He said moving his head as he kissed her breast but made no move to do anything else.

She smiled; all this would be so perfect if circumstances weren't part of the equation. God it was going to be so hard to say goodbye to him. Would she ever experience these kinds of feelings again with another man? She highly doubted she would. But Hamilton Thorpe wouldn't be the guy; he was bad news for her.

"Well I did have that in mind when I awoke but it's your phone, it won't stop ringing. Damn thing rung into the best dream I had, that we made love this morning."

"Oh that wasn't a dream that was all real."

"I thought so to."

"Still I am a light sleeper how could I sleep through that so soundly?"

"I'm sure there's a logical explanation, even though I can't complain that sleeping next to you makes me relax enough to enjoy sleeping. And it's not because you have exhausted all my energy." he said just as his phone started to vibrate again. He looked at the caller ID, "Shit its Thorpe calling." He said as he bolted from the bed to the bathroom closing the door behind him gently as he answered the phone.

Jocelyn leaned back against the cool pillows ruffling her sleepy hair and smiled at the memory of how right it felt to be with him. Then she sat up straight "…did he say Thorpe was calling?" Nah he must have meant someone else possibly work. She didn't mention it either when he emerged 5 minutes later.

"Gotta go?"

"No actually my office was just checking in to see if I was alright as I don't usually take a day off. They are just surprised I guess."

"I bet they are though you shouldn't have."

"Why not…? I thought you wanted to spend the day with me as well as I with you."

"Are you still going to play clueless Mr Thorpe?"

"Will you just drop the tease and tell me what you mean?" he said getting in the bed beside her

"I am talking about Lizzel, are you going to lie here and tell me that you don't know Lizzel, that you have never met Lizzel nor that you care for her?"

"Yes I am, how can I care about someone who I don't know much less met." He retorted kissing her palm now in his hand.

"I've known Lizzel all my life she's deceptive and some but she wouldn't lie to me, about a guy. So of course I believe her, and if you promise me that you'll never try to contact her again I'll give you three days to get clear before I go to the police and inform them of the people you have involved her with."

"Why?" he asked letting her hand go "why are you giving me time to make a get away?"

"Because I …" Jocelyn broke of feeling wretched and unable to explain the wild contradiction of emotions which see-sawed her to and fro in a mess of indecision's and uncertainties.

"Well?"

"I just want us both… me and Lizzel to be rid of this whole unpleasant affair. I want us me and Lizzel to go back home to New York without looking over our shoulder or living in fear of our lives. I want for us to both forget about you, or that you ever existed. I don't want any reminders of you or this business affair in the shape of police, judicial courts and, and things like that."

"Ok… but what do you really want?"

"I want to never see you again; I don't even want to think of you again ever after today." She said she was unaware of herself or the tears which had escaped rolling down her cheeks like giant pearls. Thorpe pulled her into the confines of his arm, rocking her; he pushed her back to wipe away the tears, his finger running effortlessly over her smooth skin, glowing with the after effects of making love. She tried to pull away then from his insistent touch, but he wouldn't let her.

His touches just seem to burn through to her very being like a brand. She heard him laugh softly as he drew her closer kissing her forehead and eyes. She wanted him to let her go and at the same time she wanted to stay like this with him always. There was no escaping him, no matter where she ran; she wouldn't be able to forget him. His caressing hands moved from her cheeks over her shoulder pausing briefly near her breast where the sheet had fallen away.

She moved in and he moved in locking their lips together in a gentle kiss, growing heated by the seconds till it was bruising to them both. There was no tenderness in his touch as he pushed her down into the pillows and climbed atop her grinding himself into her near her heat. She could feel the thumping of his heart beat against her breast tips. And for a crazy moment her own stopped as his raced as she strained her body against his, feeling the hardness of his sinew muscles.

He slid the sheet away so there was nothing between them, he drew their bodies closer, grinding harder into her in this crescendo passionate dance of bodies, which threatened to drown all commonsense in its rising tide. Again and again Thorpe's kisses melted the iron clad gates of defense she had erected into willing submission. It was fully madness…. but a total commitment of her love to this man….

She tasted the salt of her tears mingled with the sweetness of his kisses; a sob tore from her throat, from deep within her body. She could not distinguish what next she said but it didn't matter. She was only aware of this consuming fire which threatened to engulf them both. Never before had she know this kind of wild and unfettered passion. She had certainly never imagined that her body could respond so eagerly to another's touch, especially if her sister was in love with the very man who's touch she wanted to be only hers, wanted no one else to fully reach the heights or the depths this man touches and something else could take her.

"I fell in love with him Jo." She heard Lizzel's voice repeat again. Suddenly reality confronted her, jarring her harshly back into the world about her which she sort to escape in his arms. She wanted to go where only lovers could go. She pulled herself from his embrace, summoning all her strength to break from the trance and security which his arms promised. They were all false promises. False words…. False kisses…. He wouldn't be hers, never could. Everything about the man was a sham and a lie. What of his name? Pain fired through her as she felt his arms try to keep her trap once more, but she couldn't allow it. Now was the time to break the spell their shared ardor had cast over them.

"I'll never forgive you for that." She said

"What did I do wrong now?"

"Stop it, just stop it. Do you hear me never will I forgive you ever." She screamed as she scrambled from the bed. She could do this better with space between them. "You lie there and continue to lie to me and then you play upon my weakened state."

"Joce, just calm down and tell me what you're talking about."

"What I am talking about," she said moving farther away as she watched him get up and moved towards her unabashed by his nakedness.

"Don't make another move, I swear if you do I'll, I'll do something."

"Amore (Love), just calm down, tell me what the matter is and we can sort it out."

"Don't … ok." She said moving towards the bathroom. "Just stay, there don't come near me."

"I can't do that I need you to talk to me and I need you to hear me out."

"What, so you can tell me more lies. Please stay there let me get dress and then-"

"Ok but I am not going anywhere, until we talk Joce."

She didn't bother answering him she stumbled into the bathroom and slammed the door bolting and locking it. She was way too long in the bathroom and he called her name only to hear her attempt at shutting her feelings off for him in the form of ….

"Please be gone by the time I get out."

He wouldn't know that just as she said those words she turned the shower on, and got under it as the tears came again. He wouldn't know that she continued to cry under the downpour as he banged away on the door for her to open the door. He could have broken the damn door down, but he didn't want to scare her, make her think otherwise, so finally he gave up.

And he wouldn't know that after his banging had stopped that she couldn't bear to think that he had actually left for good, but she'd wait it out. She got out the bathroom an hour later. Still in her robe she called to arrange a flight out immediately. And if she couldn't get a flight back to New York today then she would fly anywhere. It didn't matter where as long as she put distance between herself and Hamilton Thorpe.

~Next Morning~

She would have to wait another day or two for a flight. So she went to the reception and told them to clear her bill as she would be leaving possibly tomorrow. She threw the thought a way of getting anything to eat, she couldn't stomach anything. Her heart felt too heavy within her and she was too full of the numerous things she must do to shake the dust of Kefalonia from her shoes.

When she got back to her room her phone rang again.

"Ciao…?"

"Ciao ma'am there is a call for you."

"Ok grazie (Ok thank you)." She said as she accepted the call.

"Hello Ms Carter you called earlier about a flight to New York, well if you're still interested there has been a cancellation and you can get on the last flight out from Zurich."

The only thing was she had to leave now, so she could catch it she was already packed and called down to the reception to ask them to clear her bill as of today for she would be leaving in a few minutes. She also asked that a taxi be called for her.

She checked once more to make sure she didn't leave anything behind, walked out locking the door with her two cases in tow. She wouldn't be able to take one last farewell to the seaside, which had so dominated her brief two weeks

She fought the sudden rise of tears surging upwards, as she walked out to the promenade while she waited on a taxi. Looking back at the hotel and remembering last night unexpectedly at this moment of her final departure was causing her a pain she had not anticipated. How much more could she beat herself up for allowing herself to foolishly fall in lust with the same man her sister was in love with furthermore she had only known him a brief time? But what hurt the most was that he was a rogue without morals of any sort and that was a double blow to the commonsense she had believed herself to possess.

The air felt refreshing and looking around her for the final farewell at a place which had captivated her with its magic, she felt unaccountably saddened by the knowledge that she would never again visit the 'Ticin. She also accepted as she grew aware of the fact that she would always associate Thorpe with these surroundings, and if she was to move on that meant wiping her memories clean of him and Kefalonia as though it never existed.

"Buongiorno, signora, come sta (Good morning, Miss, how are you)?"

Jocelyn turned around sharply to see who had addressed her and was surprised to see the elderly grey suited Don Juan who had tried to attract her attention some nights before. Not wanting to appear rude she murmured an acknowledgement to him…

"Buongiorno a voi, anziano, io sto bene (Good Morning to you to, senior, I am fine.) And started to move away, when he stopped her again with his greeting she felt feelings of annoyance surge to replace her feelings of regret.

She turned around about to tell him off….

"Excuse me Signorina Lizzel may I speak with you one moment?"

She paused on the threat that tip the edge of her tongue and instead regarded the stranger with curiosity in her alert eyes.

"How do you know my name?" she demanded

"I…" he paused smiling charmingly "I inquired at the front desk this morning after our little encounter last night. I found that I could not forget the Bellissima Donna."

She noted his command of English was excellent. She felt even more annoyance rising. She had enough to bother herself with without the unwanted attention of an elderly flirtatious Italian Romeo, wanna be. "You had no right to do such a thing." She snapped "now if you'll excuse me I'll be going." She said as she pushed pass him, his frail but strong hand reached out and caught her own, though it wasn't a tight grip she could feel he had strength and could apply more pressure if necessary.

"Please you must forgive an old man who appreciates beauty…. No matter in what form it comes. You are leaving Kefalonia?"

"Not that it's any of your business but yes and you are keeping me back."

He still didn't let her go. There are people watching. Please let me go."

"Ok, I understand, though I wish we had met earlier still I wish you a safe… viaggio sicuro (Safe Journey.)"

"Grazie (Thank you,)" she forced a smile forward.

"Ciao Signora Lizzel…" He said as he stood still watching her walk away.

Jocelyn kept her head straight aware that he was still watching her. She didn't feel relief till she had entered the lobby. Even though she knew he meant no harm she was in no mood to make new friends or much less humoring lonely Italians who sought companionship of young women. She went over to the desk and inquired about her taxi which was like a few minutes late. Just then they heard the toot of a horn.

"There is your taxi."

"Grazie," She replied

"Signora before you leave there is a parcel here for you."

He reached under the desk and handed her the parcel. "Now signora let me help you with your bags."

"Grazie, but um who delivered this parcel for me?" she asked puzzled drawing her brows in deep frowns. There was no label to indicate that it was intended for her.

"Are you unsure about it ma'am?"

"No it's just are you sure it is for me? Who delivered it?"

"Si signora, it is for you Miss Lizzel right an elderly gentleman brought it in and enquired your name, this morning. He left it specifically for you saying you would appreciate the small memento souvenir of your holiday."

She thanked the receptionist kindly and entered the waiting door of her taxi. As the taxi pulled away from the curb she opened the box carefully. Inside was another facsimile doll of the cat she had received from the party last. But this one was more elaborate than the previous. The diamante stones glittering as the sun caught them as she examined it in her hands. It was a real collector's item of excellent workmanship. Jocelyn wished she had time to return the gift to the stranger, after the way she had acted towards him.

She did not wish to keep this memento of her stay. Memories of this time were not happy ones. Then again she sighed heavily this souvenir would perhaps serve to remind her not to give her heart away easily at some future date. Jocelyn's mind was too preoccupied by practical concerns to dwell on her problems. The station was busy and travelers luggage crammed with duty free purchase overflowed on the platform around her. She was glad she only had one large carrier and a small carrier. She felt a momentary passing of sympathy for an elderly couple in front of her whose cases, bags and hold-alls surrounded them like an encroaching sea around an island.

She did not have long to wait before the train arrived. She had a corner seat and settled in for her journey. She did not bother to open the paperback on her lap. She knew that the trite romance with its inevitable happy ending would only mock the reality which she had experienced recently. She closed her eyes to the scenery outside as the distance lengthened between Thorpe and herself. She was aware only of the need to get home, back to New York. The prospect of being once more in her flat with her son and work to occupy her time offered her refuge from the pain which mocked her being. Work which she had always conscientiously adhered to would at least offer her a distraction from her preoccupation with Mr. Thorpe.

There would be no time for bewailing a love that was not meant to be when she buckled down to serious work. Soon she would be immersed once more in her son's well being, her life, and her passion for the boring rules as Lizzel had described it, her work and she'd be able to forget about this whole two weeks of her life. She fell asleep amongst the burr of chatter. An hour later after boarding the plane It was only when she was fastening her seatbelt in the aircraft preparing for takeoff that she recalled herself to the present and compared it with the previous journey when, Thorpe had sat beside her. The memory was painful. She tried to thrust it away but the clear lines of Thorpe's features with those perceptive and unusual grey but really blue eyes continued to haunt her.

She tried to turn her thoughts back to the negative aspects of his character. He had clearly shown himself to be a philanderer though he wasn't married but just the same and a no good rake, and that was just putting it mildly. She told herself. He had also shown he was a criminal. Anyone who trafficked in drugs surely lacked all moral sense of duty to his fellow human beings. She could find nothing to excuse his behavior. She was thankful that the seat beside her was vacant and she was able to concentrate entirely upon the dark world of her own thoughts and conjectures. The one good thing being she would never see Hamilton Thorpe again. She'd have dreams alright but soon they would fade, dreams always went away after a while.

Not even Lizzel would place her in a situation which necessitated a meeting between Thorpe and herself, ever again she promised herself vehemently. The flight passed without incident. Lost within the speculations which bounded from Thorpe to Lizzel and then back to her-self she hadn't noticed the time fly by for descent. As she disembarked the flight and followed the cue to the luggage area, she felt a strange sense of sadness engulf her as she picked out her luggage. She felt a different person to the one who had set out on this journey first.

The person before had then known the satisfaction of a well organized life, being the best mother to her son, leisure in work efficiently done and an inner strength derived from her own positivity. Suddenly she felt less able to cope with the traumas of living, almost reduced by her foolish affections for so worthless a man. Resolutely Jocelyn squared her shoulders moving towards the exit green channel. She had nothing to declare. All she wanted to do was to blank out the nightmare of the past two weeks as if they had never been, if only she could wake up to find herself in bed and this had all been a terrible dream. That she had been a victim of a dream which had taken on all the horror of reality.

But Jocelyn knew that the pain was too real and it was not a figment of her imagination or self delusion not that is to say until she reached the lobby of the airport concourse. Then she wanted to pinch herself to make sure she was really awake. Standing in the middle of a group of strangers was her partner Detective Fusco and none other than Hamilton Thorpe. He saw her at the same moment her gaze had fallen on him after moving her gaze of Fusco. Fusco stayed where he was as Thorpe started to walk towards her and Jocelyn willed herself to escape but she couldn't move. Did something happen to Taylor… her mother? God no, she couldn't show any weakness now; she believed in god, he wouldn't let anything happen to Taylor or her Mother.

There was no doubt they had been waiting for her arrival on this flight. A ghost definitely as she continued to stare at the man who approached her. Scarcely able to credit the evidence of her eyes, she was aware only that as he towered over her, his lips and face was set in a hard forbidding line, his expression unreadable, unfathomable, when she felt herself tense in every nerve and muscle of her body as they came face to face. Silence hung between them like a heavy drape set. Each was reluctant to be the first to speak as if it was a battle to test the strength of the other. Though the bustle of the airport went on around them like they weren't there, she tried to focus on that but was made aware of nothing else except this moment with its unexpected confrontation, with the man who had occupied all her thoughts since she set off to return home.

"Hello Jocelyn." He finally said breaking the silence. Like slow motion the film gradually played itself out before her eyes. She was alert now to the life about them and where they were. Somewhere on the peripherals of her consciousness she saw Detective Fusco and another man closing in on them. She moved aside expecting them to pass. They made no attempt to do so but instead aligned themselves fractionally behind Thorpe's shoulder and within ear shot.

Their presence hampered Jocelyn, preventing her from demanding to know what Thorpe was doing here. Why he was here with her partner and another police officer? And how in the hell had he known what flight she'd be on? Her thoughts circled tempestuously, as she felt rising panic within her. His expression remained grim and unsmiling, she swallowed hard. These must be his thug body guards; Fusco was one of his goons who came to make sure that she was taken care off. Make their demands, or harm would befall her son and mother, that had to be it. Fighting down increasing apprehension she forced herself to acknowledge him, foremost.

"Mr. Thorpe what are you doing here? How'd you know what flight I was on? And how do you know Detective Fusco?" she asked her voice sounding breathy and nervous totally unlike her own.

"Mi dispiace, (I'm Sorry)." He whispered, as Fusco stepped forward towards her moving Thorpe out of the way while the other guy pulled on Thorpe's arm she was snapped back to reality as Fusco announced … "Lizzel Lara you are under arrest for trafficking of drugs and stolen gems. You have the right to remain silence, you have the right to an attorney." she could not make out the rest of what he was saying, as her gazed focused on Thorpe once more and what he might have done. How did Fusco know about Lizzel, everything was starting to spin really fast around her?

"Now ma'am as a favor to Mr. Thorpe who has been most co-operative we will ask you to come this way, we won't handcuff you yet."

"Then I'm not under arrest…." She said the spark of defiance igniting within her

"Ma'am please let's not make a scene, we just want to go to a more secure room so we can continue the necessary procedures.

"NO! If you don't cuff me now then I am walking out of here now, so if I am under arrest then cuff me if not I am gone. I don't have any one that I know who would do me such a favor."

"Ma'am…" Fusco said his eye brows raised, clearly letting Carter know that she was taking it to far by drawing attention to them all.

"Are you going to arrest me or not?" she asked louder as they looked at Thorpe. He said something to the other guy that was still holding him and turned away Fusco moved behind her and cuffed her hands behind her back. It had to be done this way, if Thorpe was right about the people watching Carter pretending to be her sister.