LucienHe wiped his lips and tossed the napkin down. Looking around, he saw the satisfied faces of his guests. As usual, he thought approvingly, his Woman had outdone herself. The flavored rice, with the taste of spices, had been subtle and delicious. The chicken she had prepared to go along with it, which was called Tandoori chicken, had been exquisite and O’Connor had been in raptures. But then, he was always like that, observed Lucien, his eyes moving over his old friend.The man’s dramatic utterances and cheerful, almost benign little goblin looks, made him a guest who could hold the attention of the guests with ease , with his many stories.Patrick O’Connor had been in his element, flooding his eager audiences with myths from his country. Tara had listened wide-eyed as he narrated the tale of the Banshee. Right now, he was onto the myth of the Children of the Lir.His eyes kept roving to Proserpina, repeatedly, and he seemed to wait for her to smile and applaud, a fact that did n
Lucien was furious with Schwartz; it was obvious that he had kissed his Woman and he sat in his car, clenching and unclenching his fists.Schwartz had got into his own vehicle but Lucien could see that he was distracted, had seen the way the man who was his best friend, had avoided Proserpina’s confused brown eyes.She had looked hurt and unhappy, not the expression of a woman who was cheating on her husband, he knew.So it had been Schwartz who had got carried away.Now he got out of the car in silence, his body stiff with anger and strode into the Club.Schwartz followed, his long legs striding beside the Don, head hanging low, morose and repentant.*Once in the study, however, Lucien indicated that he wanted to be alone with his mate. His guards and valet trooped out silently.And the moment Schwartz stepped in, Lucien swung his fist, connecting with Shwartz’s jaw. The tall man lurched back, his hand going to his face, stumbling, a crystal vase crashing to the floor and shattering
PiersHe watched, his face a cold, hard mask, reminiscent of his father, as the woman was hauled up, shackled, and her hands behind her back. Suitably restrained. He knew what a dangerous individual she was for he had gone through her bio. And he had no intention of letting her get away. As she was jerked roughly to the door, still in her T-shirt and shorts, her night clothes, the cat appeared. A large, aged tabby, who walked forward, tail in the air, an attitude of ownership in every fibre of its movement. Approaching her, it rubbed itself against her legs. She spoke then, in a throaty growl, her eyes, black marbles of anger, spearing him.’See that the cat is fed.’ And as Piers met her gaze coldly, she added, through gritted teeth,“Please.’He nodded, a curt gesture and then, she was being forced into the car, two of his men flanking her, her hands behind her back, making her squirm uncomfortably. Piers sat in the front, and met her angry gaze in the rear view mirror as his cars sl
PiersHe watched, his face a cold, hard mask, reminiscent of his father, as the woman was hauled up, shackled, and her hands behind her back. Suitably restrained. He knew what a dangerous individual she was for he had gone through her bio. And he had no intention of letting her get away. As she was jerked roughly to the door, still in her T-shirt and shorts, her night clothes, the cat appeared. A large, aged tabby, who walked forward, tail in the air, an attitude of ownership in every fibre of its movement. Approaching her, it rubbed itself against her legs. She spoke then, in a throaty growl, her eyes, black marbles of anger, spearing him.’See that the cat is fed.’ And as Piers met her gaze coldly, she added, through gritted teeth,“Please.’He nodded, a curt gesture and then, she was being forced into the car, two of his men flanking her, her hands behind her back, making her squirm uncomfortably. Piers sat in the front, and met her angry gaze in the rear view mirror as his cars sl
PiersHe felt the hot flush of anxiety as he released his grip on the obnoxious woman he was holding so closely. Damn her. But she was a vixen, he thought furiously, trembling with rage. She smiled, her wide, tempting mouth parting to reveal pearly white teeth. She delicately licked her bottom lip, amusement, and arousal going through her as he watched the young man’s face flush with anger and desire.‘Well?’ she whispered,’ Shall we talk’He thrust her away from him and turning, left the small holding cell. But her voice rang in his eyes.‘Piers Delano, believe me now, There is something you need to know about your precious sibling.’*Hours later, he was back. He did not have the courage to tell his father what he had just learnt. Lucien Delano adored his daughters and that whatever silly little Tara had been up to, must be kept a secret. He had tried to call his siblings, Ria and Claude but both of them were unreachable. Claude must be asleep, he thought as he rubbed his forehead i
ProserpinaIt was Valentine’s Day, Camille had told me earlier that day, beaming from ear to ear as she walked about with the single rose her beloved husband, Antony Beston, who was also our Head of Security, had chosen to give her.I smiled wanly. Ria was off with her beloved Capo and I had not had the heart to break up those lovers.*I waited for my husband to return that evening but he had sent me a terse message that something had held him up. He did not turn up the next day and I worried whether he had seen Schwartz kissing me and had misconstrued the entire matter.Sighing, I brushed my hair out and prepared to go to bed. The kids, my triplets, that is, had gone away on a field trip. Melissa had come to tell me about it since she knew of how fiercely possessive Lucien was about the kids. She knew that he would not give the permission for them to leave Hollowford easily.But she had been excited and eager to have the children join the trip. Something about a writer who was visit
TaraShe glanced about her. Everyone was watching the play. Not everyone was interested in the action but it was a totally different experience all said and done. Not a darkened theatre, but a large, open hall with the sunlight streaming in through the windows. The actors moved about, some of them suddenly emerging from the audience, as the teenagers sat on the ground, on throws placed about the room, not conventional chairs. Tara glanced back at her siblings. Dom was watching the play, leaning forward, rapt and attentive. But Lou was sitting back, looking bored, his eyes wandering about the room.Her friend, Maddie was surreptitiously using another phone, this time, her own little red phone, sending and receiving messages. Tara marvelled at her daredevilry. The girl was so brave, daring authority at every step!She patted her bag; her phone was secreted away in a pocket within the voluminous bag which had been a gift from Piers and Ria. She hugged her knees and tried to concentrate o
Lucien Delano looked about as the phone pinged. His son Piers had sent a message. He frowned.His Woman lay beside him, along with the little son, all of seven months, at her breast, suckling greedily, for Proserpina made it a point to bring the babe into the bedroom for his morning feed. Lucien would never tire of watching the moment between his woman and their child, the babe tugging greedily at her teat and her look of love as she gently stroked the head of soft blonde curls.This one had also inherited his father’s colouring, she had remarked crossly.The baby’s fist was clenched tightly and Lucien used to force his thick, calloused finger into the tight fist, a feeling of wonder coursing through him as he watched his lovely wife, her body still fresh from his fierce lovemaking of the night before, as she sighed in contentment, in love, and held the child cupped to her breast lovingly.He had been kissing her, as they lay, content in each other’s company while the baby nursed at h