Ria turned in astonishment as Philippe strode into the kitchen of the Delano mansion. It was almost one in the afternoon, mealtime at the sprawling Delano mansion.
With his black hair tied back, the beard neatly trimmed, in his black leather jacket and black jeans, complemented by black leather boots, he cut a stylish, impressive figure as he walked in, heading to the young woman with her golden hair in a messy bun, plump lips parted in astonishment as she saw him.
Her grey-blue eyes widened in shock.
*
The Capo was a man who followed a strict agenda. He never came home to meet her, not in the middle of the day, anyway! He respected her father way too much. And it was lunchtime. He was usually at someplace where her father saw fit to send him. What was he doing her now?
Ria had been with Beatrice and Camille in the kitchen, helping to prepare lunch, and baby Rudi was peevish, so she was carrying him on her hip, her little brother who had cereal all over his mouth and managed to look adorable as he waved a spoon above his head.
Mumma had called to say she would be coming at dinnertime; she was with Pappa.
No guesses about what those two were up to, she thought, having heard the underlying guilt in her Mumma’s melodious tones.
All the Delano kids were about in the kitchen, Piers and Tara being the ones who were not there yet.
*
Now everyone watched in astonishment as Philippe strode across to Ria, his eyes shining, and pulled her into his arms, kissing her forcefully even as she tried to put up some semblance of resistance. Then he stepped away from her with a wide grin, his strong white teeth gleaming in his tanned face. Camille hastily grabbed baby Rudi as Philippe sank onto one knee in the middle of the kitchen, quite unaffected by the maids and the very interested Delano siblings who were around.
“Ria, ‘ he said, his voice thick with emotion, his eyes shining as he gazed into her face, all his love on his expressive handsome profile,
‘Ria Delano, will you please marry me?’
And he stretched out his hand. To her amazement, she saw an ancient-looking ring in the center of his palm. It was probably a family heirloom, she thought wildly, her hands flying to her burning cheeks.
She cupped her hands over her mouth and then she blurted,
‘ Philippe! Like…I mean… what the…?’
Claude, the ever-irrepressible one, shouted out, as he stood, lounging in the doorway, a grin on his handsome face,
‘Oh, go, on! Ria do not keep the fella waiting!’
Dom and Lou hooted and Piers appeared in the doorway, as did Tara, who looked lost and unhappy now.
But then Ria burst out crying and laughing as she demanded, struggling to look severe as she said,
‘Did you ask Pappa?’
Claude groaned loudly and the boys made another loud sound.
Piers stepped into the room, lips twitching in merriment as Tara squealed,
‘It’s romantic!’
Philippe laughed heartily and then growled,
‘ Baby, my knees hurt like hell from all this kneeling. Of course, I asked your Pappa. How else would I be here?’
Claude guffawed loudly and Dom whistled.
” I need time,’ began Ria but then Philippe was standing up and sweeping her into his arms again, kissing her hard and she threw her arms around his neck.
In the background there was the applause which neither of the lovers was aware of; Beatrice was sobbing in joy, telling no one in particular that she was glad that the Lord had kept her alive to see this day as she stood, wiping her eyes on a tea towel as was Camille. The maids were giggling and weeping for some of them had seen Ria from the days when she had been a toddler; they all knew Philippe, the erstwhile gardener’s son too. And baby Rudi feeling left out, gave a bellow of exasperation. Later Piers reflected that nothing in the Delano household happened in halves; they were such a melodramatic lot!
*
Proserpina
She glanced at her husband on the way back to the house. The shadows of evening fell across the road as the cavalcade of black cars glided along and she sighed, her body aching but the ache also brought back the memories of what she and her lover had been doing in the penthouse suite he claimed as his in the sprawling new Club.
“We have inaugurated this room,’ he had grunted hoarsely as he held her after he had emptied his seed in her, holding her body to his as she lay, gasping, floating in a space of well-being, of having been well used by her lover.
And seeing the bewilderment on her soft, flushed face, he rolled over on top of her, taking a nipple between his teeth as he grunted,
‘I intend to f*ck you in every single room of this place and inaugurate it.’
She had trembled. She believed him capable of doing that too!
*
Sensing her eyes on him, the Mafia Don glanced up from his phones and his eyes narrowed, the desire, the longing in her eyes was reflected in the narrow-eyed, lustful look he gave her as his gaze slid over her
Reading his reaction accurately, she sat up, shrinking into her space in the corner as she breathed huskily, then bit her lip nervously.
“Lucien,’ she said urgently,’ We are almost home.’
‘We shall take a detour then,’ he growled, reaching for her and she felt the wetness pooling between her thighs again. His hand moved up her thigh, and he grunted in approval. He had ordered her to leave her panties off and she had obeyed him; now his hand slid further up and she moaned, already wet to take him. She would never stop responding to this man who only had to look her way to make her come she thought as he moved, pulling her onto his lap, his thick manhood bulging as she opened his fly with trembling hands…
*
It was late when they finally reached home.
She stumbled out, her face heating as she thought of how he had f*cked her relentlessly in the back seat of the car, the small glass parting closed to shut out any prying eyes. He had made her take off her dress so she had been naked as she rode him, utterly at his mercy.
She had to control her moaning and whimpering. Lucien had looked amused as she bit her lip to control herself and it had only egged him on to make her more crazed. When she had finally begged him to come he had laughed and thrust into her so hard, she had bitten his shoulder to keep from crying out. Nevertheless, her sex had milked him dry and he had gently wiped her with a clean towel that he had produced from nowhere when he was done. Later, he helped her to get back into her pretty pink dress.
Now she watched as he strode to her.
But Lucien looked as cool and in command as ever as he rounded the car and came to her, taking her elbow, helping her into the house. His eyes gleamed and she glared at him.
How dare he look as impeccable as ever while she was still reeling from the hot encounter.
Monster, she mouthed and he frowned. But then, the elevator doors opened and they were stepping into the warm hall of the house. The sounds of the children, hooting in excitement, met them and Lucien stepped out, his broad shoulders straight and strong as Claude came rushing into the hallway, pursued by Ria.
The young man skidded to an abrupt halt when he met his father’s cold gaze and he seemed to wilt. Not so his daughter;
‘Pappa,’ she squealed and then she was in her father’s arms, sobbing,
“Are you… you are happy, aren’t you, Pappa?’
Lucien Delano kissed his daughter’s blonde head, his eyes closing for a moment pensively.
*
After he had hauled Proserpina and the twins back home to Hollowford from Bhutan, it had been Ria who had made the first move to befriend him, stranger, that he was. She was always beside him, at mealtimes, urging him to reduce his drinking, while Piers would sit, a guarded look on his small face, glaring at the man who had fathered him.
He adored this golden child of his and he hugged her, for a long while, silent.
Then he growled,’ Should I get him killed, then?’
Ria tipped her head up, and his gut clenched; she had his colouring but her mother’s limpid features all over again as she giggled and said,
“Pappa, not just yet.’
And then, chaos was erupting all around them.
Proserpina stepped forward and placed a hand on her husband’s strong muscled arms. He turned to meet her warm brown eyes as she whispered,’ Love you…’ as she leaned her head against his shoulder.