Lucien
He was loathe to leave his Woman and get back to work but he had too much to do; with two new projects being launched in a week’s time and Claude’s big fight coming up, he knew he had to go to the Club. Schwartz was efficient alright but people jumped when Lucien Delano was on the premises. Handsome James was a lot more easy-going; he would be unable to wield the whip as decisively as the Boss.
Now he watched as his wife entered the house, her wide hips swaying in that tantalising fashion that still made him go hard like an infatuated schoolboy. Damn, he thought, tearing his eyes off the curvaceous figure as she disappeared into the safety of the house after turning to give him a smile that promised so much and the car roared down the driveway. The Mafia Don studied his phones and was soon immersed in his work, frowning as he read the latest reports on Paval.
*
Claude was panting as he finished his practice in the ring under the watchful eye of his trainer, the very same man who had been his father’s trainer and a close friend of Lucien Delano. Throwing down his towel, he glanced automatically to the door where Paddy sometimes came to watch him. The young man would then accompany him back home or they would spend time at the local pub before parting ways.
He scowled as he noted that the doorway was ominously empty.
“Where the f*ck was Paddy?’ he thought crossly. The other man had not been in his basement apartment when Claude went in search of him. Notorious for ignoring calls and messages, Paddy had vanished once again.
Claude had not wanted to ask the staff; word would get back to his mother who would undoubtedly worry. She loved Paddy and was always looking out for him. Damn, thought Claude as he towelled his strong chest.
The young apprentice who picked up the towels after him was saying something and he barely registered what the youth was saying till he caught the words,’…your towels?’
Scowling, Claude turned; sweat glistening on his large shoulders.
“The f*ck did you say?’ he barked and the youth fell back a step, hesitantly.
“Sir, I was wondering if the man who used to collect your towels had returned them to your trainer.’ he stuttered. Claude frowned some more.
What the hell was the fellow talking about?
Shaking his head, he walked off.
It was only a long while later that the significance of what the youth had been saying, struck him but by then it was very late…
*
Ria walked up to Philippe who had accompanied her mother to the clinic along with Pappa and was now back in the house, preparing to leave.
He had on his dark leather jacket and was planning to leave on his bike and get to the Club before the Boss. Watching Ria approach with a determined glint in her eyes, he raised his brows questioningly as she approached, a coolness on his face.
But there was something that she wanted to do, right away. It would not wait. She had hinted at it to her father and he had looked at her, amusement glinting in his gray blue eyes.
‘Go ahead, Poppet,’ he growled and she had all but skipped out, smiling so hard, her face ached now. It was something she owed her Mumma, sweet, kind and generous Mumma.
Her Pappa had agreed, after all and his expression said he had her back. What more did she need?
***
Philippe watched her as she danced out of the house, an expression of joy on her lovely face.
He loved this sassy little woman with her sprightly walk, the blonde curls bouncing and her ripe body. But he loved her, above all for the person she was for he had literally grown up with her. She was loving kind and generous, loving and funny.
Tilting her chin she snapped,
“Philippe, I need you to come with me. Now.’
He smiled slightly, just a slow twist of that sensual mouth. He was greatly turned on when she did the” Lady of the Manor speaking to the Hired help” act. At times like that, he wanted nothing better than to grab a handful of those silky blonde locks, pull her to him and crush that soft red mouth. But he was careful to hide his hunger for her . Uncomfortably aware that his large c*ck was jumping up in anticipation, he forced a cold look onto his face, as he said blandly, mockingly servile,
“Yes, princess?’
He knew that he was riling her further but the round patches of pink that immediately appeared on her cheeks made him so hard, he felt he would burst the seams of his fly.
She steeled her shoulders, mouth in a red pout, her face turning a delicate pink as she tried to hide her awareness of him, his closeness as he moved to stand just a little out of her personal space.
Glaring up at him, face flushed becomingly, she said in a steely tone,
“I have some work to be done and I think I shall need your help. Capo.’
the last word was to remind him of his place, she thought craftily and saw the amusement twinkling in his dark eyes as he flashed her a look.
This time, his white teeth flashed, a contrast to his swarthy skin and she blinked.
Damn, but he was so handsome, so virile; his smile caused a flutter in her belly.
Ria did not want to show him how she cared for him. No, that would be a weakness. So she crossed her arms over her chest and jutted her chin out as she looked him in the eye defiantly.
Scowling at him, she added,
‘You need to come with me, NOW. I have already spoken to Pappa.’
“Yes.’ he nodded, giving her a derisive salute and said in a deceptively mild voice, “Where do you wish to go, Princess?’
She smiled brilliantly, a gleam of anticipation in her large grey-blue eyes as she said,
“The Town House.’