Uninvited CH 23

Gia woke up the next morning as she had been ever since she stopped sleeping in the same bed as Nikolas, confused and lonely. She was half expecting Nikolas to try and sneak into her room last night but he hadn’t. Why should it bother her so much that he hadn’t? Gia got out of bed and headed for the shower. She wondered why everything made her think about Nikolas. What had he done to her? She’d never been this way about anyone, and he was driving her mad with his little games, like the one under the table last night. Even the shower made her think about him as she got in. She thought about the times they shared in it. She smiled as she remembered his face as he looked up at her from the shower floor. That sexy grin he perfected. That smile could drive her mad. She took a deep breath as she got out of the shower and got dressed. Gia decided to wear a long denim skirt and a black sleeveless shirt. Her hair was up in a loose bun and she wore little makeup. She pulled on her black boots and headed for the door. She took a deep breath and braced herself for the day.

Nikolas sat at the table in the kitchen in his usual spot, holding his paper. He wasn’t focusing on the news it held but instead he was thinking about Gia. His game at the dinner table the night before was meant to get Gia’s attention. Well it had but it also got his. All it did was make him painfully aware that they were not together. He remembered her glaring at him and heading out the door in a mood when she left for bed. He wanted more than anything to run after her, carry her up stairs and make love to her all night long. But he knew that would only make things worse. Gia needed to end things with Zander and all she was asking for was a little time to do it. However, he didn’t think that reminding her that she was his was a bad thing.

Nik sighed as Zander opened the door to the kitchen and walked in. “Where’s Gia?” Zander asked. “Well Zander she’s probably up stairs in her room getting dressed. Don’t worry I’m sure she’ll be down soon.” Nik said. His voice was polite but Zander thought he was being condescending and so he glared at him. Zander sat down and he and Nik quietly waited for Gia. They both looked up when the door swung open and Gia came into view. Nik thought that she looked uncomfortable when she looked at he and Zander. He smiled up at her and then let his eyes roam her body; she looked so beautiful he had to look away. “Good morning.” Gia said. Nik wasn’t sure whom she was saying it to. “Hi.” Nik simply said trying not to sound to excited to see her. Zander got up and made his way over to her. Nik looked away when they began to kiss. He felt like he was going to puke. He smiled as he looked at the table and noticed what was in the bowl in front of him. Zander and Gia broke from their kiss and Gia stopped dead as she looked at him. “Peach Gia?” Nik asked as he held it up to her.

Gia headed for the kitchen and opened the door to find both Nik and Zander at the table. She was only expecting to see Nik in his usual spot. She looked back and forth between the two men and didn’t know what to do. She saw Nik’s inviting smile and took notice of the way his eyes got their fill of her body before quickly looking away. “Good morning.” She said, her statement meant for Nik but she said it to both of them. “Hi.” She heard Nik simply say. That’s all Nik had to do to get to her, just hay hi. His deep voice always does things to her body. She braced herself as she saw Zander heading towards her. She accepted his kiss but never stopped thinking about Nikolas and how it must be killing him to see. She pulled away and looked at Nikolas, expecting him to be upset but her mouth dropped at what she saw. “Peach Gia?” He asked as he held it up and smiled at her. “No thank you.” Gia finally got out. Nik shrugged as he bit into the peach, never taking his eyes off of her. A flustered Gia needed to focus on something else other than Nikolas. “So you ready to go?” She asked addressing Zander fully. He nodded and they both began to leave the kitchen. “I’m ready too.” Nik said quickly as he caught up to them. Zander exited first and just when Gia was about to go out, Nik pulled her back towards him and brought his face to the side of her neck. “You look beautiful Gia.” Nik whispered in her ear and then lightly kissed her neck. Nik let go of her and Gia stepped into the entryway almost in tears. “Come on lets go.” Zander said when they were all there.

Nikolas drove, trying desperately not to think about what was going on in the back seat. He truly believed that his plan was working, but it was still hard to sit by and let the woman he loves pretend to still be in love with a man. He focused on driving to the penthouse and when he pulled up and he stole a glance in the rearview mirror, it was pretty obvious that they had been making out. It was killing him to see that. He wanted so desperately to be the one in her arms.

Just think of Nikolas, Gia told herself as she was making out with Zander. She saw the desperation in Zander’s eyes and she just couldn’t take it. Whenever she looked at Nikolas’ face she saw lust and desire and love. But when she looked at Zander’s, she saw sadness and confusion and longing, she just couldn’t bare to see that. But it was so hard to think about Zander when she knew Nikolas was in the front. She knew underneath his polite and calm exterior it must have been killing him to see.

Nikolas prayed that his aunt was even home. Gia’s plan to go see Sonny had caught him off guard. His idea to go see Alexis was completely last minute and he secretly feared that she would not be there when he arrived. As the three made their silent trip up the elevator, Nikolas was suddenly a bit saddened for another reason. His aunt Alexis was the one family member who he was aloud to completely be himself around. She knew him so well and wanted so much for him to be happy. He had wanted to introduce Gia to her the minute he knew he was in love with her but had wanted to wait until the feeling was mutual. Now that they were both honest about their feelings, Nik wanted desperately for Gia to meet her. He glanced over at Gia and had to fight the urge to tell her everything he was feeling right there in the elevator. When the doors opened he headed for his aunts room without saying a word to Gia and knocked on the door. He heard Gia doing the same to Sonny’s door and heard hers being opened and them being invited in by someone. His chest felt heavy as he continued to knock. He was startled when the door swung open to reveal his aunt who wore a smile on her face but it quickly faded when she looked at his face.

Something was off; Gia could feel it in her bones. The silent elevator ride was reason enough to worry but that wasn’t it. She could sense it. Nikolas was acting a little strange; she could tell something was bugging him. She knew the obvious would be seeing her and Zander together but for some reason she didn’t think that was it. When he had invited himself along on this trip she had wondered if he really had an aunt Alexis. She thought that if they were close that he would have told her about her. Now, she wondered if he was nervous because there was no aunt. She felt him look at her and she looked back at him when he looked away again. He looked so sad. She held in her tears as she fought the urge to hold him. It wasn’t like Nikolas to be this upset; it would take something big for him to act like this. As the doors of the elevator opened, she wanted so much to go in Nikolas’ direction but she instead fallowed Zander. She was still thinking about Nikolas when Sonny’s door opened and they were invited in but she put on a fake smile and greeting her friend.

“Come here Nikolas.” Alexis said as she held her arms open to him. He was crying with relief that she had opened the door. Nikolas stepped in and expected Alexis’ warm embrace. After he released all his tears, Alexis closed the door and led him over to the couch to sit down. Nikolas felt like an emotional teenage girl as he spewed everything out to his aunt, fighting back tears as he spoke. His aunt held his hand the whole time and when he was done, she gave him a long hug. “So she’s over there right now?” Alexis asked when she pulled away. Nik nodded his head. “Yeah she’s showing off her jerk of a boyfriend to Sonny.” Nik said. “Ex boyfriend.” Alexis reminded. Nik gave his aunt a look. “Alexis, she hasn’t broke up with him yet.” Nik said. “Yes but she’s in love with you.” Alexis said. Nik nodded slowly. “Sometimes I wonder, would she really do this to me if she loved me?” Nik asked. “Nikolas, she’s giving up the man she thought she loved for you. You just have to have faith in her that she’ll end things with Zander soon.” Alexis said. Nik squeezed her hand and smiled at her. “Thanks Alexis.” Nik said. Their moment was interrupted by a knock at the door.

Gia had tried to focus on Sonny. It was really nice visiting with him and any other time she would have been ecstatic to spend time with her old friend. But her mind kept drifting to the room across the hall, where Nikolas was. Zander and Sonny seemed to be hitting it off pretty well. They were engrossed in a conversation about Zander’s hopes of opening up a motorcycle shop, so engrossed that Gia was starting to feel left out. After what seemed like forever of sitting and listening to them talk, Gia couldn’t take it any longer. “You know, I think I’m going to go see how Nikolas is doing.” Gia said as she stood up. Zander looked at her with concern for a moment but nodded his head. “OK we’ll be right here, hurry back though.” Zander said. Gia nodded, walking out and heading to the door she heard Nikolas go in. She nervously knocked on the door, not knowing what to expect.

Alexis opened the door to find a beautiful young woman standing there. “May I help you?” Alexis asked. “Hi, my name is Gia and I’m looking for Nikolas Cassadine, is he here?” Gia asked politely. Alexis smiled and opened the door to let Gia in. “It’s nice to meet you Gia, I’m Alexis.” She said as she extended her hand and shook Gia’s. Gia looked past her to see Nikolas sitting on the couch, who had looked up when he saw her. Gia instantly went to him, not giving a second thought about being rude. “Nikolas what’s wrong?” Gia asked as she reached him. Alexis excused herself but knew she wasn’t really heard and went up stairs to give them some privacy.

Nik looked up at Gia with an almost disgusted look on his face. “Nothing Gia, why don’t you go back to Zander if you need someone to feel sorry for.” Nik said harshly. Gia’s lower lip dropped slightly as his words stunned her. “Nikolas, I just want to make sure your OK.” Gia said. “Well I’m fine Gia so you can go now.” Nik said as he stood up and headed to the door to open it for her. Gia stopped him and turned him so that he was facing her. “I’m sorry.” She said, locking eyes with him. Nik shook his head. “Gia you can’t just say you’re sorry and make things better. This isn’t something that a sorry can fix. Gia do you know that I wanted more than anything to bring you here to meet my aunt as a couple. I wanted to show her the woman I love and who loves me in return but I can’t.” Nik said. Gia had tears in her eyes as he spoke. “Nikolas, I love you. Please believe that.” Gia said as she caressed his face. Tears were now flowing from Nik’s eyes as he looked down at her. “Nikki, please believe me.” Gia said softly as she lightly kissed his lips. Nik nodded his head sadly, giving in to her. Gia deepened the kiss and they were soon passionately kissing as they held each other. “Just a week OK? I promises I’ll tell him in a week.” Gia said when she pulled away. “Fine, but I can’t take much more of this Gia.” Nik said. “I know.” Gia said as she pulled him in for a hug.