Proserpina
As for Lucien, he did not say a word but the hand that fastened itself around my upper arm, presumably to help me, was like a harsh vice, tight and painful. I dabbed at my mouth furtively but I felt his cold eyes follow my gesture.
'What was that?' he snarled, his voice low and vibrating with a slow-burning rage.
I turned to look up at him fearfully, wide-eyed. I had fashioned my long hair in a chignon, to make myself look older and more mature but at that moment, I felt like a guilty schoolgirl caught by the harshest teacher ever, preparing for the inevitable punishment.
'I...I wanted to thank him...' I whispered, aware that the bodyguards were with us, a few feet away. And aware that they could hear us.
'Thank him?', Sneered Lucien, his hand tightening even more, 'What has he done for you, eh?'
I felt a coldness inside me.
The manner in which Lucien regarded me in suspicion troubled me. When would he realise that for me, there was no other man in my life but him?
Not wanting to create a scene in public, I decided not to react.
' Please Lucien,' I replied softly, 'you're hurting me.'
He stopped abruptly and I realised that we were standing in the spot where a corridor snaked off to his room on one side, the other leading to the hall where we could hear the muted sound of festivities, people laughing and talking.
And suddenly I thought of the first time he had dragged me into the club, the way he had taken me to his room and what had happened after that.
Unconsciously, my lips parted with desire as I gazed at him, all the love I had for him shining in my eyes.
Lucien must have picked up on my thoughts for he looked at me, his heavy-lidded eyes glittering with a nameless emotion and pulled me closer. I stood, my stomach pressed against him, looking up at him, defencelessly. My small hands lay on the soft material of the lapels of his dinner jacket. It was as though we were oblivious to the people around us, the ones entering, giving us strange looks as they glided past.
'Woman...' he began. Unable to disguise the heat in his words he growled and then he broke off abruptly, an aloof, cold look returning to his eyes as someone stepped forward, calling his name.
We turned to the hall and I followed him as he led me, my small. cold hand in his large one as we entered the room.
*
The room was filled with people and I shrank, hiding behind the burly figure of my husband.
Lucien did not let go of my hand as he circled the room, his men in tow. Discreetly, they maintained their distance but were evident in their intentions. They were here to protect the Boss and me.
Slowly, I became aware that my dress was clinging to my chest and attracting the looks of many of the people in the room. With each passing moment, I was becoming more aware of the daringly low back and the plunging, deep neck which lovingly snuggled against my lush breasts, displaying the soft roundness of the pale mounds. I had opted not to wear a bra as the bodice fit me a little too snugly. Now I became conscious of the fact that my nipples had pebbled against the material that stretched across my breasts, inviting the appreciative looks of the men who regarded my bust with coarse, greedy eyes. It was not that the women in the room were conservatively dressed, on the contrary, some women seemed to be wearing clothes resembling just a thong and a bikini bra! It was just that with my full figure, I felt awkward and Lucien's annoyance and irritation seemed to be making me more upset with each passing moment.
There were no friendly faces around too. Sita had not been able to come as Lucien had practically ordered her to stay home with the twins. Looking around, I noticed that neither Danielle nor Grace were to be seen.
But there was worse to come. I noticed Ramos, the swarthy man who had visited our house on that awful day. Ria had accidentally sent one of the sex toys, a bright pink egg, rolling to land at her father's feet when he was with a large group of men, The guests who had been there that day, had been tickled to see that and a slew of whispered lewd comments had ensued despite Lucien standing and glaring at me in undisguised fury.
Ramos had been there. The unpleasant man had visually undressed me that day at our house. I experienced the same sensation as he did not take his small, beady eyes off me the entire time. Now he had two women with him who were nowhere as decently attired as I. Yet, his gaze remained riveted on me. And whichever way I turned, he seemed to be standing, a drink in his hand, his small eyes riveted on my breasts.
Although I shuddered in revulsion when he came towards us, he smiled and greeted Lucien and then turned to me. His wet lips landed on the inside of my wrist and, I felt him lick me surreptitiously. I jerked my hand away, disgusted. The skimpily dressed ladies with him kept touching and pawing him but his gaze remained fixed on me. He seemed fascinated by my obvious fear and dislike of him. The fact that I was with child seemed to make him even more lustful and I moved to hide behind my husband who stood, looking as though he would smash the man's nose anytime now.
I was getting increasingly aware that my husband had noticed the men devouring me with their eyes openly. He had looked at me, running his eyes over my body possessively to see the reason for the protracted, lascivious looks I was receiving. When his eyes fell on my breasts and the dark, nipples that stood out prominently through the thin material of the gown, I looked up at him, mutely. His hand moved up my arm and I winced as his grip tightened painfully. He pulled me closer and I gazed at him, eyes wide with panic. I could see the fury in him but why was he angry with me?
'I’m sorry,' I whispered, 'I couldn’t wear ..." I blushed.
With his face like thunder, he dragged me to a corner of the room and stood beside me, his fists bunched in his pockets as he spoke to the men who stepped forward to speak to him. I wilted beside him, unhappy and weary, half-hidden by his bulk, a large potted plant shielding me effectively.
There were many women around, wearing skimpy dresses that exposed their slim, long legs. I noticed a few of them looking at me curiously. A few slunk over to my husband and wrapped their arms around him with a familiarity that left me with a cold feeling of dread in my stomach.
I watched jealously as some of them kissed him on the mouth in a way that suggested that he had known them intimately. My eyes filled with tears and I looked down at the baby bump I carried. Suddenly I felt very small and gauche.
With my swollen belly and the large man exuding power standing beside me, I was sure that we made a sight. I did not sit down soon but Lucien seemed impervious to my discomfort.
Schwartz came over to us with Shark and smiling down at me, he asked,
"Delano mate, the little lady looks exhausted. Haven’t you been looking after her?"
Then, looking at me with keen eyes, he asked gently, 'How about I get you a drink, then, little lady?'
Lucien stiffened. He had not asked me whether I was feeling comfortable or not, not once in the past hour although I had been shifting from foot to foot as I stood beside him. Now he watched silently, eagle-eyed, as a server materialised out of nowhere with a tall glass of some fruit juice.
I gulped it down thirstily and licked my lips gratefully.
Then looked up and met my lover's eyes as he stared at my mouth, hungrily.
"Why don’t you let her sit down, Delano? Or are you punishing her?' said Schwartz in a teasing voice but his eyes held a look of sharp concern as they raked my wan face.
I was feeling exhausted and so very sad.
Again, someone turned up with a comfortable armchair and I all but collapsed. Schwartz arranged for a small footstool too, and I blushed in embarrassment as I gratefully placed my small, slightly swollen feet on them. My husband remained remote and silent staring down his nose at us coldly while Schwartz pampered me.
I knew from the sudden silence that the rest of the guests in the room had taken note of Schwartz kind gesture. But they had probably put a different construction to it.
Slipping down to my eye level, balancing on his haunches, Schwartz grinned at me reassuringly and said, leaning forward, conspiratorily,
'Ignore those bastards and bitches!' He winked again and stood up lithely.
Patting Lucien on the shoulder, he continued to mingle with the crowd.