All night long, intermittently, we had made love; passionate love, gentle love, discovering and rediscovering our bodies.
I must have climaxed almost a million times- well, yes, that's an exaggeration- but the heightened desire we felt after the separation he had imposed on us made it feel like a new birth..
When I came awake in the early hours of the morning, it was to find his powerful warm body beside me, an arm draped across my breasts, stroking my nipples that ached from having been suckled so desperately, so urgently. Whimpering, I stirred, my legs shifting as I moved to face him, my body coming awake to its need again rolling over as he shifted to throw his leg possessively over mine.
He was awake and watching me languidly and chuckled softly as I reached down to feel his hardening manhood.
'Woman, aren't you satisfied yet, you greedy little thing,' he growled,
In reply, I kissed his large hands and placed them on my belly. The feel of our child who had decided to kick me rather fiercely, made him sit up in astonishment. He stared at me in a mixture of wonder and reverence.
"Is that..?' he whispered in a hoarse voice, eyes widening in amazement.
I giggled. He looked so shocked, it was comical.
Yes, I nodded. And winced as another sharp movement made me stiffen.
"Are you okay, little one?' he asked, his voice rough with concern.
I tried not to grimace as a small flutter in my belly reminded me of the one I had, growing within me. Immediately, his expression sharpened.
"You alright, little one?' he said, the strain in his voice palpable.
I smiled.
And because I could not help myself, I laughed at the concern in his voice.
This was what I had dreamt of when I lay awake, alone and unhappy in the huge bed, longing for him to be beside me.
Reaching out my hands to frame his harsh face, I whispered,
'You stayed with me. I have never come awake to find you beside me, before, Lucien.'
For a long moment, he said nothing. He just stayed, propped on one strong elbow, looking down at me.
Then he stood up.
I sat up in dismay. Had I said something wrong?
He turned to me and effortlessly scooped me up in his arms.
" You need to have a bath, woman' he grunted, his eyes on my breasts as they shook with every step.
I wrapped my arms around his powerful shoulders.
"I can walk, I said shyly,' Your leg...
' Damn my leg', he snapped and bend forward to kiss me.
I melted. All coherent thought was lost as we stood under the shower, washing each other. But then, he made me come again, slipping his fingers within me, finding my sensitive spot while he supported me as I shook with the spasms of my explosion. When I sagged against him, he lowered me into the bathtub and joined me in the warm water.
As I sat, drying my hair, wrapped in a bath towel, I drank in the sight of my husband and his muscular physique. All over again.
Meeting his cool eyes in the mirror, I felt my face flame as I thought of the utterly wanton manner I had spent the night with him.
How I had abandoned myself and surrendered to him so completely.
***
Suddenly, the sound of an agitated pounding on the door made Lucien turn around sharply.
Ria's shrill voice could be heard,
"Pappa! Pappa! OPEN THE DOOR, PAPPA! Come quickly! We can't find Mumma!'
Lucien had crossed the room and thrown open the door before I made it halfway, having hastily pulled on his large bathrobe.
Ria hurtled in like a little tornado and came to an abrupt stop.
Looking from me to Lucien and then back to me, she asked in a demanding voice,
'Pappa, what is Mumma doing in your room?'
And then, flinging herself on me, she sobbed,
"I thought you had run away, Mumma!'
Piers had also wandered in, looking adorable in his pyjamas, hair tousled and blinking back tears. He nestled himself in my arms and we stood, huddled for a while as I murmured soothingly to them.
Lucien stood apart, watching silently.
I felt my cheeks with colour.
Lucien had never spent the entire night with me after we had moved into the bungalow. The kids were too young to figure out our complicated relationship but obviously, Little Miss Ria had been keeping tabs.
**
Being the little dramatic person she was, Ria's sniffles subsided soon enough and as she turned to her father, eyes wide in curiosity.
Now she stepped close to Lucien and looked him over.
Then uncaring of the maids who were hovering in the doorway, ears pricked and listening, she said in her dulcet tones,
'Did you and Mumma do the thing that Mummas and Pappas do in bed? Did you make more babies?'
My cheeks flamed.
Good God, I thought.
Horrified, I walked forward, wanting to shut the little minx mouth before she embarrassed us further.
But Lucien nodded his head seriously, trying not to smile although I saw hard mouth twitching in amusement.
Shooting a blinding, hot look at me, he said,
"Yes, Ria. We did the things that Mummas and Pappas do.'
He shot me another blistering look as he finished and I wrapped my arm around myself, my face flaming. And he said in a low growl, his eyes blazing as they swept over me, while he came closer and stood beside me,
'We were making more babies.'
He was obviously enjoying my discomfiture.
'Oh.' Said Ria, nodding her head wisely, while Piers stood, staring in wonder at his father, his small mouth rounded in a perfect O.
'And,' she went on, obviously relishing the role of the interrogator,' Did you and Mumma make The Noises?'
Lucien bent down, scooping the little girl up in his powerful arms.
I blushed hotly at the desire in his eyes and became acutely aware of the entertainment we were providing for free to the maids who were hiding sly grins.
***
I had had enough,
' You should not ask Pappa such questions, darling.' I murmured
Ria turned to me, frowning, her little nose crinkled in puzzlement, cradled securely in her father's arms and obviously feeling emboldened.
" But Philippe said to us that his Mumma and Pappa go to bed and make a lot of noise when they think he is asleep...They make babies all the time!'
"Who is Phillipe?' growled Lucien and I saw the look of anger on his face, that anyone should be speaking about something so intimate with his daughter.
I half-smiled. Paternal Possessiveness rearing its ugly head in the father, hmm? I thought.
I stood, leaning against the chair, unconsciously stroking my stomach.
"They are the gardener's sons. They play with...'
"Why should the gardener's sons play with my children,' bellowed Lucien, placing Ria on the floor gently as he turned to glower at me.
I opened my mouth to make a saucy reply but my daughter beat me to it.
"Because they are my friends!' yelled little Ria suddenly and we turned to stare in astonishment at her.
Quivering with rage, her tiny fists balled up, she looked furious, blonde curls bouncing around her small red face. Lucien smiled unwillingly, his annoyance disappearing as suddenly as it had come...
"Okay, pumpkin,' he said scooping her up in his strong arms and tickling her till she giggled helplessly. Then, dropping a kiss on her small head and chucking Piers under the chin, he strode out of the room after sending a heated glance at me.
I smiled down at Ria fondly.
She was stroking my belly, talking to her sibling-to-be, and instinctively, I wrapped my arms around her and hugged her.
******