Proserpina
Strangely enough, I found that there was now a change in my attitude to the baby and to the world around me. Possibly because the little devil in me had begun to allow me to eat without forcing me to rush to the washroom to throw up, I thought, half amusedly. I had an idea that the child I was carrying would be more like Ria, a tyrant.
To be fair to him, Lucien had fixed an appointment with the old doctor who had arrived at the house, as crusty as ever. But after examining me, he had seemed more satisfied and informed me that the child seemed to be growing well. He also seemed to be agreeable with my gain in weight and left after prescribing more vitamins.
I dozed off, feeling a strange sense of peace. Dreaming of Bhutan and the cool hills, I woke up and stretched languidly and yelped in alarm as I saw a figure looming at the edge of my bed.
I sat up in fright and winced as the movement resulted in a flutter in my belly. Lucien stood there, as dark and broodingly enigmatic as ever.
Supporting myself on my arms, I sat and glared at him.
"What do you want?' I snapped. I did not take lightly to come awake after a blissful dream of peace only to face the man who had caused me such woe. In my dream, I was loved and cherished. The reality made me waspish.
'Are you trying to scare me to death?' I glowered at him.
***
Lucien.
He had wanted to check on her after the doctor had left. The grizzly old man had fretted and fumed about not attending house calls. How could he know that it was dangerous for Proserpina to leave the heavily guarded house, thought Lucien testily.
He made sure that the old man was kept happy; Schwartz had taken care to have him leave in a better mood, using his charm to wring out a small smile from the grumpy old man.
***
Although the doctor had informed him that his young wife was now doing much better, Lucien had a deep urge to see her, to talk to her. Not the cutting remarks she passed in his presence if at all; no, he wanted desperately to hold her, to reassure her that the child she was carrying would be loved.
But when he entered her room, he found her fast asleep. She was lying flat on her back, her small face lit up by a smile in her sleep and he stood there, watching her, finally acknowledging the deep feeling he felt. A fist was curled and lay against her cheek, the other hand lay protectively across the small mound of her belly bump.
The Mafia Don, Lucien Delano, felt a wave of helplessness, of deep affection within him as he stared at the figure of the sleeping woman, looking younger, happier than he had seen her in a long time.
So this was the love his Woman had kept telling him about, he mused, standing at the foot of her bed, a smile on his face as he looked at her.
This feeling of being happy when you saw the person you loved was smiling, unaware of your presence.
How he longed for her to be dreaming about him, a happy dream, where they were as they had been before, perfect in the presence of each other.
***
He moved and she moaned slightly, a hand going to her stomach. She smiled again and slowly, her lashes fluttered open.
And she looked at him and gave a small scream, shooting up in bed.
When she spoke, her furious words were like a blow to his stomach.
She hated him, he thought dully.
And rightly so, said a voice within him. When had he ever shown her true affection, showed how much he cared?
***
Proserpina
He cleared his throat and spoke in a curiously hoarse voice. If I did not know better, I would have thought he was apologetic.
'What did the doctor say?' he growled.
I tilted my chin and thought childishly that I would refuse to answer. Let him suffer.
But the softness I could never suppress won over.
Shrugging my shoulders and staring at the curtains, I replied,
"He said the baby is developing... growing well'
"What about YOU?' he said in a gruff voice, impatiently.
I swung my legs off the bed, taking my time to answer. Getting up from bed was becoming increasingly difficult. The doctor informed me that I was now entering my seventh month.
"He said I'm fine,' I said flippantly, almost dismissively.
Lucien moved to stand before me, careful to maintain a distance as he added,
'Are you sure you should be doing those...exercises now?'
As always, he had chosen to ask the questions that made me livid.
I stood up and glared at him,
'The Yogic exercises I am doing are to ensure a smooth delivery.' I hissed, tilting my head to stare at him.
***
Lucien
She looked so enticing, he thought, his body reacting to her nearness as always. He wanted her, damn it, he wanted to sink himself to the hilt inside her! To feel her soft muscles clench him and squeeze his co*ck dry as she used to ...
Like a kitten that raised its hackles to fight an attack no matter how much larger the foe was.
He wanted to hold her in his arms, kiss her on that lovely mouth, make those great brown eyes that were flashing fire at him now, soften in helpless passion as she used to do.
Instead, he thrust his hands in his pockets and turned away, desperate to hide the bulge in his trousers.
"If you say so,' he said coldly and limped out of the room.
***
Proserpina
I stood, perplexed, watching him leave.
Why had he come? The old Lucien of yore would have ignored my state; this man was as confusing as the other!
Could it be that he had begun to care? Asked a small, wistful voice within me.
I shot down the idea immediately. Lucien Delano was too cruel and uncaring to begin to care for me, I thought bitterly. One part of me wanted to run after him, grab him and hold him, kiss that firm, harsh mouth, and melt in his arms. Feel those rough hands touch me, use me, anything...
Get a grip on yourself, woman, I told myself.
***
These days however I was beginning to have more intense dreams of him.
I longed to have him make love to me.
Reading about this phase of pregnancy made me understand that women did feel a longing for their partner in bed; a hunger that was sometimes so great, I woke up at night to take a cold shower!
But I stood still.
My pride made me stand and stare after his disappearing back.