Lucien gripped Proserpina’s hand, stroking the inside of her wrist gently, suggestively and then, raising it to his lips, he kissed her palm.
“Something funny, woman?’ he growled thickly, putting down his whiskey tumbler and Proserpina felt the familiar wetness pooling between her legs as he looked into her husband’s hungry eyes.
It was going to be one of those nights, she thought, her heart racing as she looked into his slate grey eyes, dark with desire. A night of submitting to her man and she felt her insides clenching in desire. His eyes skimmed over her face, noting the widened eyes, the slightly parted lips and his lips twisted slightly. A cruel grimace which made her heart skip a beat, her breathing become shallower. She needed to know that she should have told him about the pregnancy, he thought as she lowered her head and continued to eat. Yes, he would be using her thoroughly tonight, both of them knew it and neither of them could wait to get into their bedroom…
With a supreme effort, he looked away from her enticing lips.
He looked at her near-empty plate.
“The f*ck aren’t you eating?’ he grated and she dimpled sheepishly. But before she could reply, her daughter joined the conversation.
‘Mumma has not been able to keep her food down for a few days now, more than no, a few weeks, right Mumma?’ said Ria worriedly, for she had overheard her father.
Lucien scowled at his wife, gripping her hand and she winced.
‘Why the f*ck didn’t you…?,’ he snarled.
‘Please Lucien,’ she said softly and looked up in gratitude as Beatrice appeared with a small helping of pan-seared salmon and a tiny helping of the casserole Melissa had brought along.
‘What the f*ck is this?’ he cried in astonishment as Proserpina began to eat slowly.
Beatrice crossed her arms across her bony chest and glared at him.
‘Now you be talking and shouting like you was the Don here and all, but let the girl eat already!’ she scolded him severely.
Lucien scowled at her.
‘You just know how to put babies in her belly, mister Don.’ she snapped and Proserpina ducked her head, face flaming as Lucien glared at the old woman who stomped off to the kitchen. He looked up and met Ria’s twinkling smile and Melissa’s broad grin.
‘I should have retired her, meddling old…’ he growled but his wife’s appealing gaze made him stop.
Scowling, he watched his wife as she ate, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear as she spooned her food daintily. He watched the soft mouth, the way she licked her lips as she relished the casserole. He felt his erection harden.
It did not take too much of his imagination to think of how it would feel when that luscious mouth was wrapped around his hard c*ck, sucking and milking him, while he held her head in position, making sure that his c*ck was being thoroughly serviced as he came down her throat …
*
To cover his arousal, he snapped at her angrily.
‘But you made all this … for…?’ he growled in a low voice, accusingly, waving his hand at the spread on the table.
She looked at him, her soft brown eyes shining.
Her love shone brilliantly in her coffee-coloured eyes, dark with passion as she gazed at him.
He reached across and cupping her chin, he pulled her to him, kissing her hard. Wriggling, she blushed. “Lucien, stop it…’ she murmured, “Our guests, our children.’
Beatrice stopped in mid-serve and looked like she was about to say something. But Claude made a teasing comment that annoyed her and the old woman turned to give him a tongue lashing instead. Everyone laughed. Except for two people.
*
Cole bristled.
He felt his hate for Proserpina Delano surge to a crescendo. His aunt was too drunk to care.
Beside Cole, a small hand patted his arm.
It was Tara.
‘You will get used to them,’ smiled the lovely child, dimpling as she followed his gaze. She had an indulgent look on her face, obviously imagining that like everyone else at the table, the sizzling passion between the Boss and his wife was something he found amusing. If she only knew, he thought, gnashing his teeth. And then, she beamed at him as she went on,
‘Pappa and Mumma are so much in love, even after so many years. I think it is wonderful, don’t you?’
She did not seem to notice his expression for she continued forking some pie onto her plate, oblivious to his hard face.
With a dimpled smile, she went on softly, ‘ I’m Tara.’
Cole planted an answering smile on his lips as he studied her carefully. The child was exquisite with her soft grey-blue eyes and features resembling her beautiful mother, the softness and innocence so like the older woman; only with her tantalising figure, the full ripeness of her maturity made Proserpina Delano seem like a man’s wet dream.
This child beside him was just a girl…
A plan began to form in his head.
*
“You are my little sister, right?’ he grinned and she nodded her head as she passed him the meatloaf. Her long lashes curled in an attractive way, sweeping onto her soft pink cheeks as she looked at her plate. She was a sensitive thing, he thought, sweet and untouched and always under the protection of her big sister.
But what happens when her sister is not at home, he thought cunningly.
He looked up and glanced at Britney. The woman looked wasted, clearly out of place. But…his eyes darted to where his father was fussing over that pretty young wife of his, his hands all over her, the dirty old ba*tard, thought Cole seething.
But now he had a plan alright!
Cole smiled warmly and turned to Tara.
*
Paddy’s eyes flickered to Cole. All evening long, he had been keeping an eye on the young, unwanted guest. Now he felt a warning prickle down his spine as he watched the man paste a plastic smile on his face and inch closer to Tara.
Paddy wanted to alert Ria but she was trying hard to ignore the fact that Philippe Diaz was in the room and watching her. She was blushing and trying to concentrate on her food and listen to her father, all the while darting glances at the muscular Latino who was moving about or standing in the doorway, leaning against the door jamb.
Piers was stiff as he concentrated on his food, trying hard to avoid any conversation with Cole. They looked so different. Paddy already had his suspicions; he just needed to get downstairs and begin to work on his computers…
*
Piers typed away on his phone. His mind was in turmoil; first, his father came out with the declaration that he had cheated on their mother and had a son to boot, a son old enough to be his age, well almost; then his mother who had declared that she was carrying another baby. Piers sighed as he forked a mouthful of the delicious pie and allowed himself to relish the taste. He adored his mother and respected his father but wasn’t there a limit to the number of kids a woman should bring into this world?
And to top it off, his girl Susie was beginning to act strange; she wanted to meet him, wanted to be with him… Piers sighed. He hated it when she behaved in such a needy manner.
He looked up and met his sister’s gaze. He grinned. Ria had the hots for Philippe. It was only a matter of time before the handsome young man who had been their playmate all during their childhood was ensnared by his sister. He looked across at Philippe who stood, observing the table silently.
The big man always made him feel comfortable and knowing that Philippe was the Enforcer in Training, made him feel better. The dark man glanced his way at that moment and Piers gave him a slow, supportive wink. Years of being together meant that they had an unspoken understanding of each other.
His eyes moved to Cole and he felt again the deep resentment that he had first felt on hearing about the existence of the fellow. Cole had only managed to reinforce his dislike. With his slimy appearance and his eyes that never stayed still, or held your gaze long enough, he sent off a very unpleasant feel. How on earth had Pappa managed to sire such an undesirable man, thought Piers exasperatedly. His eyes automatically moved to his parents. He sighed. His father looked as though he would leap across and carry off his beautiful, delicate-looking mother any moment. He admired Lucien Delano but he knew the man had a dark side. Perhaps that was why he seemed besotted by Proserpina, Piers mused as he devoured the large serving of chicken roast that Beatrice served him. Mumma was light and loveliness, while his father was like a dark, brooding King of Darkness. Piers shook his head slightly and grinned at his own imagination.
Claude and Schwartz had also noticed the growing friendship of Cole and Tara. Claude sat, glowering as he took in the fact that his easily impressionable younger sister was chatting away with Cole as though she had known him for years. her long, sensitive fingers that flew across the piano as she spun magic, were waving as she moved her hands dramatically, making a point. With a pang, he thought that he teased her all the while and so she avoided him while this stranger; here he stiffened his shoulders and glared at Cole, the ba*tard, was chatting her up and she was giggling and blushing as he spoke. Claude wanted to reach across the table and grab the fellow by the scruff of his neck and push his face into the pudding.
His large fists clenched but then he felt a warning look coming his way. Shifting slightly, he met the eyes of his Mumma’s best friend.
Melissa Lord; who had rightly read his expression. She shook her head slightly and pursed her lips in a silent No.
He scowled and hunkered down in his seat. As he looked away, he saw that James Schwartz was also watching the animated conversation between Cole and Tara, a slight expression of unease on his handsome features. His parents were as always, lost in each other, with Pappa holding his Mumma’s hand and murmuring something to her that made her turn pink and drop her gaze.
Claude sighed and shook his head. The man had the look that he, Claude, had when he was about to take a woman to bed, a savage and intense look. A look that said he was about to zero in on his victim no matter what.
The apple does not fall far from the tree, he thought to himself as he turned away. He had heard of how Lucien St Claire had been like a bull in heat during his younger days, taking women in the dozens to his bed each day, and he would still be raring to go after running through them.
I got your insatiable libido, Pops, reflected Claude and grinned to himself. Only, you seem to have been charmed by Mumma and now, no other woman will do.
Paddy sighed. Something had to be done.