ProserpinaMy voice broke as I stared at the floor, unable to see the looks on the faces of my children. Paddy’s fingers tightened as I continued,‘No, it happened a long time ago, the boy…he’s older than Claude, I think but younger than you.’ I looked at the twins, appealing to them.Piers was still holding my hand in his but I could feel the anger coursing through him.He spun around abruptly,“The f*cking old GOAT!’ he shouted and whirling about, went to stand beside the window, his shoulders bunched tightly with the effort of controlling his fury.*I saw Tara turn to Ria and ask in a stage whisper, eyes rounded in shock,‘Is Piers calling Pappa a goat?’I stood up and said my voice trembling with the effort,“Piers. Don’t you DARE speak of your father in that way!’He spun around and burst out.“Mumma, you are …he doesn’t deserve you!’And I saw to my sorrow that my eldest son was almost in tears. He crossed the room and took me in his arms, holding me close, ’Mumma, Mumma, ‘ he
A couple of years agoThe years had been kind to him, thought Lucien Delano as he looked at his family around the table. It was dinner and he was enjoying the meal with his family. And of course, James Schwartz, who was more family than friend, who spent more than half of his life here, at Lucien’s mansion. Handsome James, who was still the only man he truly trusted, was his loyal friend who still wore his heart on his sleeve when he gazed at Proserpina.“Get yourself a woman,’ thought Lucien in irritation. every time he caught Schwartz’s almost worshipful gaze resting on Proserpina. Though he knew that his wife would never think of Schwartz in any way but as a friend. He smiled to himself.He would not let her, he thought, his eyes blazing. She belonged to HIM, only him.Even after all these years, he could not keep his hands off her. The moment they were in bed, it was explosive. Just last night, she had been sobbing as he had finished pumping his seed into her again.The sight of t
ProserpinaWhen she came awake to the familiar feeling of nausea, she swung her legs to the floor and made it to the bathroom just as the sickness hit her. After she had finished retching violently, she leant against the wall, panting.Morning sickness, she thought bitterly. She was getting too old for this she told herself and glanced in the mirror. The face that gazed back at her was pale, deathly white and only the dark bruises under her eyes added any colour to her face. Splashing water on her tired eyes, she reflected on her conversation with Brian.He had suggested that she take a few days off and fly to Bhutan. Stepping under the shower, she thought about it as the warm jets of water pounded her body. Why not? she asked herself.But in her heart of hearts, she knew she would not run away. She was the one who held the family together, her children needed her.Yes, perhaps in a few months, she could decide. But right now, she had to stay and fight. She would meet Lucien’s ‘son’ a
ProserpinaWhen she came awake to the familiar feeling of nausea, she swung her legs to the floor and made it to the bathroom just as the sickness hit her. After she had finished retching violently, she leant against the wall, panting.Morning sickness, she thought bitterly. She was getting too old for this she told herself and glanced in the mirror. The face that gazed back at her was pale, deathly white and only the dark bruises under her eyes added any colour to her face. Splashing water on her tired eyes, she reflected on her conversation with Brian.He had suggested that she take a few days off and fly to Bhutan. Stepping under the shower, she thought about it as the warm jets of water pounded her body. Why not? she asked herself.But in her heart of hearts, she knew she would not run away. She was the one who held the family together, her children needed her.Yes, perhaps in a few months, she could decide. But right now, she had to stay and fight. She would meet Lucien’s ‘son’ a
LucienWhen he came awake, he was alone in the sprawling townhouse penthouse bedroom, the luxurious master suite. It must be around four in the afternoon, he thought, rubbing his gritty eyes. After a rough night here at the Townhouse, he had gone across to the Delano mansion to inform his family of the decision to bring his son, Cole, to the of for a round of introductions. Only, things had soured and he had left immediately, returning to the townhouse and drinking himself house into a stupor, sick with guilt and the look on his lovely Woman's face.His man, Gustav, was moving around softly but he felt relieved to see that he had managed to get rid of Britney who had seemed to think that he had come to the townhouse last evening to be with her.No amount of persuasion seemed to convince the woman that he had no interest in her body anymore; that what they had shared if it could be called so, was dead. He had used her body at one time on a regular basis; he had never had feelings for
ProserpinaWhen I woke up to the familiar need to throw up, I was feeling drained. Leaning against the bathroom wall, I sighed. My life was unravelling and I had not contacted my colleagues at the Buddhist Centre all week. The blog remained un-updated too and I sighed, the tears trickling down my cheeks.Worse, I missed the feel of Lucien in the bed beside me; his warm, reassuring presence, the way he would take me in the morning, rolling over on top of me even as I came out of the throes of sleep, the exquisite feel of his stubble against my body, his shaft urgently digging into me before plunging inside …Yes, I missed it all.But I was damned if I was going to mope. I had to be strong, had to fight.*Splashing water on my face, I determined to look my best today; Lucien was going to bring his ‘son’ and his former playmate here this evening for dinner; a terse message had arrived on my phone to that effect. Well, I was going to be prepared for it, I thought, thrusting out my chin.I
ProserpinaI was more than a little surprised when Melissa turned up in the afternoon, bringing along with her, a hairstylist and a beautician.“What?’ I gaped at her in alarm.‘You are beautiful as you are,’ she said smartly, hands on hips like she was addressing one of her first graders, and then wagging her forefinger at me severely, she went on,’But right now, I think you need to look your Best. Which is not true as of now. You need to look at your hair. It’s a mess.’ I shrank. It was true. I had not been sleeping or eating well. My long brown tresses looked dry and brittle. I sighed and turned away but she grabbed my arm.“Look, you dish up the best food in the world and you are an amazing Mom. But you need to take care of your body, your looks, too.’I nodded slowly.So the next two hours of the afternoon went by in giving me a manicure and the works. I dozed off as the beautician worked on me, massaging my body with her deft hands. When I came awake, I felt rejuvenated, my bo
ProserpinaThe sound of Lucien roaring at someone in the corridor alerted us to his arrival and I tensed. But Schwartz held my arms, gently stroking them with his thumbs and I knew what he was trying to say; stay calm.Our eyes were on the door as my husband strode in. His eyes, grey like cold steel, narrowed as they rested on me and I saw his jaw tighten. But it was the woman who traipsed behind him who caught my attention.Britney. With the startlingly blonde hair that came from the mixture of chemicals in a bottle, she looked hard-faced and unpleasant, her lips thinning as she looked at me.Once she had been one of my husband’s favourite wh*res, I thought grimlyHer clothes were inappropriate, to say the least. A fire engine red outfit with a sweetheart neckline and a built-in push-up bra with padded cups that made her breasts thrust out in an awkward way. The asymmetric high-low hem with visible boning details that add silhouette-defining structure and adjustable self-ties spaghet