Proserpina
That night, as I sat before the mirror after a bath, brushing out my hair, I caught Lucien’s eye as he emerged, towelling his body. He had resumed going to the gym and I strongly suspected that he was also going to the boxing arena to fight. But I did not ask because it would invariably become a sore point between us and I was tired, thoroughly sick of the discontent around us.
There were wars that I could win if I carefully sidestepped the smaller battles.
He came and stood behind me and I watched his reflection, the powerful muscles rippling as he moved, thinking with the now familiar weakness growing in my belly, reminding me that I was already longing to have him claim me, inspite of being well into my pregnancy now.
‘How much I loved this man…’
He looked up and met my eyes in the mirror, a glint of something in his eyes. Then with a sudden movement; he bent down and nipped my shoulder, pulling my robe off my shoulder, his hot mouth moving to my neck, grazing the skin lightly with his teeth. Lucien Delano was definitely a practised lover and with one touch, he had me trembling like a virgin on her first night with her lover.
“Did you want something, woman?’ he growled and I felt his manhood prodding against my back as he straightened up abruptly, eyes gleaming with satisfaction as he studied my reflection. Following his eyes, I saw that my cheeks were flushed but it was my eyes; they were large, pools of desire, imploring him to take me as he wished.
I looked away, biting my lip, hating my weakness for succumbing to his touch so easily. I shuddered. Weak as clay in his hands, I wanted nothing better than to surrender to him but the thought of Ria’s harsh words stopped me. I moved away and saw the frown on his face as I rose. Sighing, I moved back to him and placed my cheek against this hair-roughened chest.
‘Lucien…’ I murmured.
He gripped my chin and titled it, eyes like cold steel raking me.
“What is it, woman?’ he asked and now the tone was different.
Serious.
I sighed.
“Just hold me,’ I said.
How could I tell him what Ria had said; he adored his daughter although there was a coolness between them right now because he had for almost the first time in her life, rejected her pleas without offering her a counterproposal to mollify her, just a wee bit.
I reached up and touched his hard cheek, now dark with stubble and felt the slight movement in my womb. I was already wet for him, I thought as my finger moved to his mouth, those harsh lips that could make me beg for release. I stroked his lower lip with my thumb, my eyes fixed on what I was doing. He parted his mouth ever so little and sucked the plump part of my finger before biting it hard, startling me. I moaned as he swirled his tongue over my thumb to reduce the pain and then he was lifting me onto the counter, his breathing ragged as he grunted,
‘Witch…’
But I pushed at his chest as I thought of Piers and his announcement, of Ria and her hurtful accusations.
Lucien stiffened. My sudden change in mood had alerted him that something was off…
I dragged the robe to give me some semblance of dignity but his eyes followed my every movement, hawk-like.
Tilting my head so that I was looking into that fierce wolf-like gaze, I spoke to him,
‘Piers came to me this evening.’
*
There was a long, taut silence.
Lucien studied my face without saying a word. He knew about my reservations when it came to his occupation. It was something that lay between us, a bone of contention. I knew he could not give up the only profession he knew although I hated it. It was too late. He was now the Mafia Don, the leader of the pack.
Too far gone to turn around now, he had said once when I had begged him to leave his life of crime and begin anew. I had been younger, foolish then. Now I knew we had no option but to dig in our heels and go on down the path that my husband had chosen. I would be with him, despite my reservations. Because I loved him and knew that I could not live without him. it was as simple as that!
*
With a sigh, I leaned my head against his solid chest as he wound a powerful, muscular arm around my waist, holding me to him; then he gripped my chin once more and said his voice a low growl.
“Yes, he came to me. And I agreed. ‘
His eyes roved over my face, unrelenting, forcing me to meet his gaze and I acquiesced.
The unspoken words floated between us:
Did you think I would reject him?
No, I thought, No Lucien St Claire.
I bit my lip, lowering my lids. What else could my Mafia Don have done?
Lucien broke the silence, stepping closer so that I could feel the heat of his naked body. My eyes wandered to his proud manhood, half erect and I felt my cheeks flame for I knew that I would be pleasuring him later.
He spoke in a hoarse voice,
‘But my son, our son, came to me only AFTER he had spoken to you. After seeking your approval, eh?’
His lips twisted as he jerked my head up again, a fistful of my heavy hair in his hand as he said softly, his mouth against mine, taunting me gently,
“Our eldest son is his Mumma’s son. He will never do anything that displeases you. ‘
His words made me understand; he meant that no matter what happened, the power to decide much of the future, lay in my hands and I sighed.
If I had told Piers that I did not wish it to be so, he would not have joined his father. But I loved my children; their lives were theirs to live, and I was only an instrument to guide them if necessary. I could not play God to protect them…
He trailed a hand down my back, tugging my robe off, his mouth planting hot kisses down my neck and I arched my back helplessly as his scorching kisses moved lower, to my breasts where he nipped at the pointed, full nipples relentlessly and then to my belly, and further down…
I moaned, protesting softly, for my nipples were tender and his mouth was harsh as he sucked and bit at them, but he rubbed his stubble-rough cheeks against them and slid two fingers inside my soaking-wet sex as I willingly arched my back, panting.
“Ah, my pregnant bi*ch, so horny and ready for her Master, eh?’ he grunted, his teeth sinking into my shoulder as he moved his practised fingers and I clung to him, whimpering as I felt an orgasm approaching.
I sobbed his name as I came; throwing my head back and he devoured my lips hungrily as I raked my nails into his powerful back, hips undulating wildly as I thrashed in his arms.