Proserpina
My baby and I left the hospital a few weeks later. We had been ‘roomed in’ as the nurses said, using their jargon, in the ‘parenting room’ for a couple of days, to check if the little fellow would be able to cope and more to the point, would we be able to handle it? For a premature baby required a lot of care.
Lucien did not stay; he had begun to shuttle between the hospital, our home, and the Clubs. He was readying them for the opening which was to be conducted in an elaborate manner, he told me, when I asked. As always, he told me very little about his business and both of us preferred it that way. I rarely told him about my academic work; we kept our professional tasks in separate compartments. It was better that way.
As for me, I was slipping back into my old routine of working also, but to a very limited amount as my family and of course, Melissa, were onto me like tigers if I over-exerted. My friend came almost every day, to visit and to see that I was taking care of myself. She had a way with babies and we spent a lot of time, warm and comfortable in each other’s company.
Schwartz dropped in too, smiling and looking relieved that things had been sorted out between us, my husband and I.
*
The little fellow was thriving. He was now able to suckle and the first time he had done so, I had shut my eyes momentarily, enjoying the moment of connection between the little child we had created my lover, and me. Lucien had been in the room with me that afternoon. I would never forget the look on his face when I opened my eyes, which were full of unshed tears, and l met his fierce glare; the possessiveness, the desire, had left me gasping. And when he came to me and bunched my hair in his fist as he tilted my head to kiss me, even as my baby suckled greedily at my breast, I knew that there was no other man I would want in my life, although he was all rough edges and hardness.
*
Of course, we were escorted back home in style; my children made sure of that. The balloons and streamers were all the outcome of my children’s ideas, of course. And the celebratory cake was Melissa’s.
From Ria, I had gathered that both Piers and Claude were thoroughly involved in their father’s business now; Piers had slipped into his new role effortlessly, but that was the way he was, astute and quick to learn and take up challenges.
As for Claude, he had told me gleefully enough, that he had visited the gym after a long hiatus, the day his sling had come off. He had felt a little stiff but he was determined to get back into shape. And he was pulling out all the stops to try and be fit for the fight, the Big Fight at the inauguration of Lucien’s second club which was larger and more sophisticated that his first and third ones.
Apparently, my son Claude, was alarmed because Lucien had hinted that he might enter the ring himself if Claude was not up to it.
I rolled my eyes when I heard that.
*
We had named the little one Rudolph. Tara had declared that as it was Christmas, it was only proper to name the baby after Santa’s favorite reindeer. The others had sniggered and chortled, laughing at her but seeing the look of hurt on her face, I had agreed instantaneously and Lucien could not care either way. So, Rudi, he was.
*
I sighed as I cradled the greedy little fellow in my arms who seemed to want to feed all day long. My nipples were already sore and I looked up with a smile as Lucien came into the bedroom where I was nursing him. Even after all these years, after all this time, I felt a warm blush steal over my face as I saw the look in his eyes. He had showered and changed, as Camille had insisted that the little mite was still susceptible to infection and we had to be careful around him. Lucien was on his way to the Club and he was in his dinner jacket and suit. I was in my nursing gown and I felt strangely naked as his eyes raked me again. He came closer and then stretched himself beside me, his mouth hungrily, possessively latching onto me as his hand stroked the little fellow’s head.
My head fell back onto the pillows as he turned to the child, his hand going to my nipples, ownership in his gesture as he grunted,
‘Soon, it will be my mouth on these teats, woman.’
And then, his voice thick with passion, he went on, ‘And I will not be so gentle on them.’ ‘ I gasped at his coarse words but he met my eyes, the cold, hard eyes holding my gaze as he went on,
‘ We need to get this fellow weaned away from your big tits.’ I scowled at him and he looked at me, hunger in his eyes as his mouth sought mine again, his hand gripping my chin hard.
“Woman, I am tired of fisting myself every night. I need to f*ck you.’
I breathed in sharply, aghast at this open proclamation. Undeterred, he continued,
” To hold you in my arms, to put my seed inside your fertile womb again.’
His open admission, the avid look in his eyes, predatory and demanding, made me look away, Gripping my chin, he forced me to look at him as he growled, his breath hot on my nape as he nuzzled me greedily.
Hoarsely, he went on,
“I mean it, woman. When I see you every day, lying here, half-naked and inviting me to f*ck you, your big teats…’
Stopping, he groaned and moved my hand to his trousers as I looked into his hard eyes, helplessly, and felt the large bulge.
‘Ah, f*ck, Woman, don’t look at me like that,’ he groaned and swung his legs onto the ground as he turned away, breathing hard.
I sat up a little, as I spoke, fiercely,
“Lucien, I am not going to be a breeding mare or something. No more children. That’s it. This,’ and I looked down lovingly, at the little head, of blonde hair, wisps of it, actually, as the baby suckled like a glutton,
” This little chap is going to be our last child.”
And then, meeting his blinding hot gaze, as he smiled as though he knew better, I whispered,
“Please.’
Lucien said nothing, just rocked on his heels speculatively, fists in his pockets.
Then, in a voice rough with the passion that he was holding down with an immense effort, he said,’ I am leaving now. I shall be back very late. ‘
I nodded, biting my lip uncertainly as I watched him.
He was struggling with his insatiable urge to take me in his arms and as he put it,”f*ck me. but both of us knew that I wanted time; I was sleeping in the bedroom beside the nursery and Lucien had been expressly forbidden from joining me.
Now I sighed as he strode out without a backward glance. I did not know whether to be happy or sad. His hunger, this sexual appetite he had, alarmed me at times. But I knew that he had mellowed down a lot. And he was not interested in any other women, not anymore. Sighing, I shifted the baby to my shoulder, and dozed off, his small warm body cuddled to my chest.
*
Ria
She straightened in shock as she saw the man who had entered the kitchen silently.
Ria had been trying to follow in her mother’s footsteps and prepare breakfast. Of course, Beatrice tut-tutting away in the background and complaining and criticizing had not really helped. But she was used to the old woman who worshipped Mumma. So Beatrice was convinced that no one who cooked like Proserpina ever walked the earth; she was the Only One. But the young woman had shrugged and kept on valiantly; the old woman was never going to be pleased anyway. Now she turned to snap at Beatrice who was complaining that the waffles had to be prepared with a little more buttermilk. As Ria whipped about to give the old girl a piece of her mind, she saw the man who had come into the kitchen silently. He was standing in the doorway leading from the garden, watching her, the look in his eyes taking her breath away.
It was worshipful and adoring and she felt her pulse hammering.
Philippe? She breathed in wonder, dropping her wooden ladle and almost knocking over the whisking bowl in her hands as she stared at him, open-mouthed.
“Can you stop staring at him like a moon-struck calf now?’ said Beatrice nastily and waddled over to snatch the spatula from Ria’s nerveless hands. The maids hid smiles and Ria felt her face flame.
*
It had been weeks now since Philippe had been dragged out of her father’s study, battered after the harsh beating the Don had administered. They had all been totally caught up with Mumma and baby Rudi.
Although she kept thinking of him when she was in bed, staring outside, she had not made any attempt to meet him. She respected her Pappa’s wishes.
But Camille had kept her abreast of what was happening, alright.
The woman had rightly gauged the distress of the younger girl and as she stayed in a cottage close to the one occupied by Philippe’s family, she knew all that was happening there.
Ria had known that Phillippe had been summoned by her father; what had transpired in the meeting was a mystery. But she knew that her lover had been reinstated. Only, she had not met him.
*
Philippe’s mother had passed away a few months ago and his brothers were holding down jobs in various parts of the world, courtesy of the Mafia Don. Philippe had been staying in the city for a while as his father had been mortified to hear that his son had gotten involved with the Boss’s daughter. The old man had strict ideas of hierarchy and he had been shocked and furious with his son. he knew that the Don had done a great deal for his family and the thought that his son had cheated on the Don, as he saw it, had left the old man hurt and angry with the Capo.
Added to that, he respected Lucien Delano, and the thought that his son might have displeased the Don had made him livid with rage.
But the Don had spoken to Philippe’s father, who was his former gardener and who continued to live on the sprawling grounds in a cottage with all the amenities and the man had apologized profusely to his Boss; then and only then, had he allowed Philippe to return to the house.
Now she looked into the familiar brown eyes, the slow smile, and the large muscled physique.
“Oh, Philippe,’ she cried and threw herself into his arms, sobbing with joy as he wound his arms around her waist and kissed her back,
“Ah, young people these days!’, grumbled Beatrice turning away, ‘No sense of decorum.’ And then, seeing the interested looks on the faces of the maids as they stared at the couple who were blissfully unaware of anyone else as they kissed, she snapped, hand on her heavy hips,
‘We watching a reality show or sumtin here, then?’
The maids hastily went back to their work but they were smiling.
*
Maja
She stared at Melissa Lord unable to believe what she was hearing although a small part of her had known to expect something like this.
The younger blonde woman met her gaze unflinchingly.
“Your son,’ she repeated coolly, ‘Magnus Nord was caught at school in the possession of drugs. And not marijuana. But powerful ones.”