Ria
She was speechless as she looked into the hard black eyes. He was close, too close for comfort and she stood up, meaning to move away. But it only brought her against his broad chest and she swallowed, choosing to sit down instead hurriedly.
“Wha… What… do you mean?’ she croaked, abandoning all attempts to put up a brave front.
He smiled, just a small movement of his lips and it was not even a smile, she thought as she heard herself breathing loudly. Philippe moved to stand before her and then, he tugged at her upper arms, pulling her to her feet.
Ria had taken off her jacket as it was warm inside the room. The beanie she had on was also discarded although Philippe felt that it made her look adorably cute. The classic denim and boots look with distressed jeans and camel-coloured boots with stole and beanie cap, with the cashmere stole added to the style quotient perfectly. Ria always wore her favourite tan-coloured waistcoat with this look to get that extra warmth, all of which she had dumped on the large chair near the door. Her ensemble had been completed with a pair of shearling boots which she had kicked off and now, when she stood up, she barely reached up to Philippe’s chin.
She stared into the black eyes, with the flecks of brown which were boring into hers, fiercely.
“Ah, Princess,’ he said and she could feel the heat of his huge body as his voice rumbled deep in his chest,
‘You need to be careful when you play with fire.’
She swallowed, meeting his gaze, for once at a loss for words. The silence smouldered; it would have become something more lethal for his eyes were riveted on her parted plump lips, moist and inviting, when suddenly the doorknob rattled. Someone was trying to enter and then Carmen’s high, sing song voice came, tinged with annoyance.
“It is I Carmen. You said you wanted dinner.’
She sounded annoyed and Philippe turned his dark head to look at the door. He moved away, releasing her arms and Ria let out a breath.
She did not know whether she should be thanking the horrid woman or if she should just scream because she had ruined what Ria had been looking forward to.
*
Dinner was a simple affair and Carmen, who sat down with them to partake of the repast, alternately glared at Ria, daggers were drawn, or when she tried to flirt with Philippe who barely acknowledged her advances. She stroked his arm, trailing a hand over his massive forearms and Ria quivered with fury.
Philippe smiled to himself.
Carmen was no cook and the food was all picked off from a supermarket shelf, thought Ria in distaste. the potatoes, cheese and beans were almost tasteless and she found herself thinking wistfully about her mothers’ culinary delights. Along with that came the pang of shame and guilt; she had hurt Mumma wither words the last time they talked to each other. It had been spiteful and mean of her and she cringed as she recalled the look of pain on her Mumma’s beautiful face as she had accused her of being just a sex object, willing to go to any lengths to keep Pappa happy.
Now, as she sat at the small table in the cosy kitchen, she began to realise the many layers that Lucien Delano’s past had encompassed. And she began to glimpse of the struggle her mother had gone through, how she must have suffered hurt and pain while being Pappa’s …she hated the word but it was true, yes, Pappa’s mistress.
She looked about, her golden head bobbing as she noted the spotlessly clean counters, the barely used, gleaming stove and the variety of utensils that were neatly arranged on the shelves. It was simply a place where people came for a meal occasionally. Not a place inhabited by a family. No laughter of children and their squabbles… But other stuff happened here, and she felt her cheeks turn warm as she understood what her father had used the house for.
Carmen was trying her best to involve Philippe in a conversation but the Capo kept studying his phone, giving her monosyllabic replies. The woman finally seemed to get the message and she turned her malicious attention to Ria.
“So,’ she said condescendingly, noting with glee that the young woman was just picking at her food, unhappily, ‘When did you meet my Capo here?’ and she slid a look at Philippe, a look of ownership as she emphasised the My Capo. He was barely listening, concentrating as he was on the incoming texts from Piers.
Ria fumed and opened her mouth to snap but then she smiled, an angelic smile and murmured coyly,
“He swept me off my feet a long while ago.’
Philippe looked up at the sound of her kittenish, bashful statement and he smiled, a slow smile that made him look incredibly sexy. It was the smile of a man who wanted a woman, no holds barred as he looked into her eyes, his gaze moving to her mouth and back.
Ria felt her heart pounding and she stared back at him, her longing openly displayed, unable to hide her emotions.
Carmen glared between them, hating them for pushing her out. She felt like an outsider here and she did not like it at all.
“F*ck!’ she snapped and rose to her feet, grabbing Ria’s plate of half-eaten food as she strode to the sink to dump the dishes angrily.
Her gesture broke the moment and the two young people looked away. The Capo was once again lost in his phone while Ria bit her lip and asked in a small voice,
“Can I help?’
She might be the powerful Mafia Don’s daughter but at home, her mother had drummed in the idea that all of the children, the boys and the girls alike, had to carry their plates to the kitchen after their meal and on occasion, help with the washing if it was required.
Philippe looked up, frowning in surprise. he knew that Proserpina Delano had brought up her children well but this?
He admired the girl before him as she looked at Carmen, a smile on her lips. but Carmen turned, leaning her hip against the counter as she sneered,
“You?’ And she turned away, flinging the dishcloth at Ria as she stated,
“You can keep the dishes back.’ She knew very well that Ria would not have a clue but she wanted t o make the young girl feel uncomfortable. But Ria rose and began to stack the plates that Carmen was washing, doing a deft, skilful job.
Over her shoulder, Carmen met the Capo’s cold hard, gaze and blanched.
‘”Baby, come with me,’ he growled and pulled at Ria’s hand, but she resisted, placing her small hand on his shoulder as she stepped to him.
“We can wait for a little longer, can’t we, my love?’ she said, loud enough for Carmen to hear her.
And she leaned down, her arm around Philippe’s shoulder, biting his lower lip before moving away with a small giggle.
He stared at her, his body on fire for her. The little tease, he thought, she was playing him. But he loved it. Loved this face of the girl who he worshipped.
Carmen pretended not to watch them but she was furious.
*
Later, as they climbed the stairs to the bedroom, Ria knew that the Capo’s hot gaze was on her rounded behind and she swung her hips a little more than necessary to tantalise him. The sound of his swearing under his breath made her dimple mischievously.
Now I have you where I want, Miser Capo, she thought to herself gleefully.
He grabbed her arm as she almost stumbled on the top step and she gulped as he swung her around, the warmth of his body swirling around her.
“You can stop the little sl*t act,’ he growled menacingly and she straightened, anger blazing in her grey-blue eyes.
“You think…? she stuttered in rage. Then she laughed jeering at him as she went on,
‘Why would I be interested in YOU of all people, Philippe ?’ she gritted, insultingly.
With a harsh, lewd oath, he propelled her into the bedroom backwards and slammed the door shut as he forced her against the door, his body trapping her.
“Baby, you are asking for it and tonight, you are going to get it,’ he said, his voice revealing that he was on the edge and could take no more as she continued to taunt him, knowing that she was playing with fire but too reckless with her own passion and her knowledge of her power over him.