Lucien
When he woke up the next day, the sunlight was streaming into his bedroom. The light drapes at the French doors had been left open when he went to bed last night and now he sat up slowly, blearily. Too much drink and a very late night had made him restless and he had finally fallen asleep at dawn.
The excited sounds of his children floated up and he curiously limped across to the windows facing the lawn. He was bare-chested, wearing his boxers and he became aware that the chill of winter was beginning to set in. Striding to the balcony, he looked down onto the lawns below his rooms on the second floor, scratching his hirsute chest absently.
His wife and children were on the grass, at what Proserpina possibly imagined was a secluded part of the garden. She had no idea that when he came out onto his terrace, he had a good view of his family. She was doing her morning yoga exercises and the kids were fooling around. They were all in yoga outfits but it was his wife's flexibility that made him focus entirely on her, like a schoolboy fascinated by the first sight of a woman's luscious body.
The look on her face, calm and peaceful as she performed the asanas- he had heard her call them by that name- made him take a sharp breath. She looked beautiful. Her long hair was in a thick braid that hung down her back like a rope. She stretched and coiled and unfurled herself smoothly as he watched, oblivious to his greedy gaze.
He strolled across the terrace that overlooked the garden to get a better view of her. A hand moved to his morning wood, stiff and erect now, on seeing her.
The swelling of her baby bump was evident and her large, lush breasts seemed to have grown even heavier.
The thought of holding her in his arms, fondling her soft body made him give an involuntary groan. He felt himself hardening uncomfortably as his manhood reacted to the image his mind conjured up at once. As she bent over, he stared greedily at her well-toned behind, as she moved fluidly, unconsciously arousing him by her smooth movements.
Suddenly, Proserpina opened her eyes and looked around, then raised her eyes and caught him staring unashamedly at her, drinking in the lovely vision.
Her face colored and she stopped, abruptly, rightly interpreting the look of desire on his grim face. Bending down smoothly, she rolled up the yoga mat she had been using, and calling to the children to follow her, she vanished into the house before he could move.
With an oath, he stroked his now fully erect manhood that demanded release and went into the bathroom.
Damn the woman, he thought grimly as he pleasured himself ;rope after rope of his release making him groan her name, shutting his eyes as he thought of her. Just looking at her gorgeous, pregnant body made him hard. Was he some kind of pervert, he wondered grimly as he shaved, staring at his reflection.
She was pregnant, and all he wanted was to straddle her luscious young body and take her as she writhed sensuously beneath him...
His cold, dark face stared back at him impassively giving an answer that he already knew.
Later in the day, when he went down, preparing to leave, the sounds of his children laughing and shouting stopped him. He could also hear a familiar voice; Schwartz?
So early in the morning, his friend was already here and firmly entrenched in the kitchen from the sounds of it.
Surprised and more than a little annoyed, he made his way to the kitchen and halted in the doorway.
The sunlight lit up the large, spacious, and warm-looking kitchen. A pleasant but unfamiliar aroma of cooking wafted up, and he frowned even more heavily, wondering what was being prepared.
As expected, it was Ria who spotted him. She was sitting at the small dining unit in a corner of the kitchen, giggling helplessly as Schwartz, who looked fresh and clean as ever, damn him, thought Lucien jealously, entertained the kids. He was clowning around with Piers, and everyone wore indulgent smiles, including the stiff upper lip, Sita Kumar.
As for old Beatrice, she had the goofy look of a person who was totally smitten by the tall, handsome man who turned to grin as he noticed Lucien.
Lucien felt his anger rise as he saw Proserpina at the large. gleaming stove, preparing food.
'What the hell, woman?' he roared and everyone in the kitchen turned to stare.
Proserpina, with a spatula in one hand, the other hand discreetly massaging her lower back, turned around in alarm as he raised his voice, only to turn pink with fury as she realized that he was talking to her.
"Are you talking to me?' she asked in a small, chilly voice that dripped icicles.
"What the f*ck...I mean, what are you doing in the kitchen?' he demanded roughly, "Aren't you supposed to be in bed?'
Proserpina slammed down the spatula as a very startled Beatrice turned to look at her, her eyes moving from the one to the other in puzzlement.
His little wife waddled over and as she moved, he realized that her gait had also altered. It was just that he had never taken notice, he thought ashamedly.
Coming closer to him, she said in a low undertone, almost threatening him,
"I do not want to create a scene in the kitchen before the staff.'
And stepping closer so that only he could hear,
'But you can get one thing straight, Mr. Mob Boss. I AM NOT GOING TO LIE ON THE BED ALL DAY LIKE A BEACHED WHALE BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY, YOU GOT ME KNOCKED UP. So there!'
Swinging around, she marched off, her freshly washed hair swinging behind her and her lingering sweet fragrance only tantalizing him further.
The entire audience in the kitchen seemed to be watching him interestedly.
He swallowed.
Cleared his throat.
Proserpina said languidly over her shoulder, as though she had never laid down the law,
"Lucien, would you like a cup of Vietnamese coffee?'
Schwartz gave a snort and murmured something about adding a shot of vodka to it but Proserpina fixed him with a glare. Pretending to be chastened, Schwartz bowed his head and surreptitiously winked at Beatrice.
Suddenly, Ria raced across to Lucien,
"Pappa, what happened to your hand,' she demanded, shrilly, ' it's all red. You have to put on a Band-Aid or it will hurt. Mumma says so.'
Proserpina
The sudden mention of Lucien's bruises had me turning around so suddenly, I almost felt faint. I had all but forgotten about them.
But the stony look on his face made me think better of it. I knew how many buttons I could push at one time with the man who stood glowering across at me.
"The pancakes better be as good as last time,' teased Schwartz drolly and I heard Lucien's gruff voice, the annoyance barely disguised as he said,
"What pancakes?'
'Mate, your wife makes the best Indian pancakes I've had in my life, light and fluffy and what's that thingie that goes with it? That coconut dip? It's mind-blowing.'
And then, feigning innocence, he went on,
'Don't say you've never had it before!'
I felt my face go hot as I felt the sudden stillness in the kitchen.
If Schwartz was trying to make Lucien feel bad about what he had been missing, he was doing an excellent job, I thought.
"Indian pancakes?' he repeated, his voice a low growl.' Have you been eating them regularly at MY house?'
I decided that it was time to step in.
' Ria,' I said,' help Beatrice to set the table. Your father can eat along with us this morning.' I flashed him a look from under my lashes and said in a silky tone,
"If he wants to, that is?"
Lucien's eyes glittered at me but without another word, he followed little Ria as she tugged his hand and practically dragged him to the large dining room. Piers trailed behind them.
Hands on hips, I glared at Schwartz who stood up, whistling nonchalantly as he left, hands in trouser pockets. At the doorway, he turned and gave me a deep wink.
The man was a riot! I thought, shaking my head. But I could not help smiling at his outrageous charm and audacity.