Proserpina
Without another thought, I threw down my hairbrush and raced after her, the maids goggling at me before following at a more sedate pace. They were used to our rather rambunctious games and took it to be another such boisterous round of catch. They had no clue how desperate I was.
Little Piers charged behind me, shouting, frantically, 'Mumma! Catch Ria! Piers want pink egg!!!'
I was dimly aware of the startled security men who could not believe that we were racing along the corridors on the second floor, whooping and screaming despite the strict injunctions of His Highness, Lucien Delano, I thought hysterically.
It was only when I saw Ria heading for the staircase leading to the foyer of the house, that I felt a deep sense of panic. Of the inevitable, that was about to happen.
"No! I wailed, running as fast as my legs could carry me along the carpeted corridor. 'NO ! Ria! Not downstairs! You can't go there!"
Even as she grinned and turned to stick out her tongue at Piers as she hurried down the stairs, her little body bending forwards in her haste, her tiny behind jutting out to help her move faster, she slipped and missed a step.
The precious egg and silicone balls slipped from her sweaty hands and rolled down the carpeted stairs.
To land with a thud at the feet of the men who were standing at the foyer, watching us in incredulity and astonishment.
I groaned, bending over, hands on hips as I fought to catch my breath.
The wretched ball had come to rest beside Lucien's Delano's booted feet.
I watched in horror as he bent to pick up the dreadful, shocking pink ball, cradling the jiggle beads in his other hand. My heart came to a standstill as he raised his head to look up, meeting my eyes. Even from a distance, I saw the thunderous expression on his face, felt the force of his rage as I noticed the prominent white lines around his nose and my heart sank to my toes. Could it get any worse?
***
Lucien
Lucien stared at her, his fury growing as he ran his eyes over her small, voluptuous figure as she stood at the top of the stairs. Young Proserpina, his Woman, was now the cynosure of all the eyes in the room.
Tom Seyton-Bates chuckled and said, 'Your naughty young au pair was playing with the kids, eh? Playing with Ben Wa balls? Nice games, eh? We could join too boys, huh?'
He chortled, and the men with him guffawed, but the undercurrent of sexual tension was evident. The Ben Wa balls and the association with them had aroused all the men. Lucien swung his head to glare at the older man but Schwartz stepped in smoothly: 'That's the Boss' wife,' he said blandly, "Proserpina Delano."
Mateo Ramos, the Spanish arms dealer who was also with them, sucked the air through his teeth in a vulgar manner and gave a low whistle. He was a large, swarthy man with a protruding stomach and a reputation for hurting the women he took to bed. Now his eyes were gleaming with lust as they drank in the sight of the nubile young woman in the shorts and the T-shirt that stretched tightly across her breasts, coming down the stairs slowly, her long mahogany-colored hair falling in a heavy sheath behind her.
"So he hides the sweetest cheery and keeps her to himself, eh?' He growled in a voice that betrayed his covetousness as he stepped forward, his hand lightly touching the front of his trousers. The burly Mafia Don clenched his fists to stop himself from smashing Ramos's nose.
***
Proserpina
I hung back and then giving in to the inevitable, began to descend slowly, Placing my hand on the polished wooden balustrade for courage, I raised my chin and looked at the men who were standing in a group, watching me as though I was a cow being displayed in the market.
There were around seven of them, including my husband who was the one standing a little in front, glowering at me. A handful of bodyguards stood around, alert as ever.
The old man in the Stetson looked at me with a hint of amusement, while the dark man with the long nose and thick lips, who was openly ogling me, made me recoil in disgust. If a man could rape a woman visually, I thought, that was what he was doing to me with his beady eyes.
I avoided looking at Lucien who I knew was enraged. Instead, I met the eyes of Schwartz, his friend who was watching me with a slight frown on his forehead. I smiled tightly at him, and he grinned back, giving me a reassuring wink that no one else could have seen.
Finally I looked at Lucien.
The aggression in his stance made me falter, and I stumbled a little, my eyes widening at the pure rage in his face.
And then, I had an idea; I would not let him have the upper hand. I would not show the fear that I was experiencing before these lecherous men.
Proudly, confidently, I raised my chin. Smiling at the men in general, swaying my hips just a little, knowing that the audience of men was watching lasciviously, I stepped close to my lover.
Then, placing my hands on his smooth jacket, I rose on my tiptoes and murmured seductively, just loud enough for everyone to hear, "Darling... I miss you so..."
The shout of laughter from the old man in the Stetson was instantaneous.
"It looks like your little lady wants to send you a message, look at that, on her shirt, man!' he chortled.
Belatedly I remembered which old T-shirt I had pulled on in my haste. It had been a gift from Tanya , an old, faded one that I wore when I was cleaning out stuff. Like I had been doing this afternoon.
The one that had the great caption:
HORNY AND WET
RAIN, DEAR!!!
With a cartoon head of a coy looking deer peeking out.