Lucien was close enough for me to make out the fine lines around his eyes, the flecks of grey in his pale blue eyes and I shrank back as far as I could. He pressed into me and there was a tense silence as he stood still, warring with his body that wanted me as I felt the hardness of his manhood.Then, with something like a superhuman effort, he raised his head and said in a soft, dangerous voice, his eyes like chips of granite,' Little wh*re. Do you want to be fucked by Ramos and his type?'I straightened in panic and pushed at his hard chest, furious and terrified, all in one.' What...How dare you...I'd die rather than have that repulsive fellow touch me, ' I spat,With one fist, he bunched the front of my old Tee and jerking me close, he said through gritted teeth,'So this advertisement was for ...??? The benefit of the security men? The gardeners?'My eyes filled with hurt that he could say such a dreadful thing to me. And before he could anticipate my reaction, I had reached up

ProserpinaIt was now a month since our last, violent meeting and I had not set eyes on Lucien since.We, the children and I, never went down if there was a hint of guests arriving. Instead, we hid away like ghosts, staying upstairs until Beatrice appeared to announce that the coast was clear.*The man I had married never came to see us, the twins and I. But his friend, James Schwartz, often turned up, to stay for hours, playing with the kids, quite happy to be in his shirt sleeves, becoming a horse, a donkey or whatever the kids wished him to be. He would make them laugh as he sat on the floor of the nursery, or carry them around on his strong shoulders, whooping and shouting making them laugh. I saw the gentleness, the tenderness in his face as he watched my children and I knew that he was a good man with a tragic story.At first, I kept my distance and apart from an occasional remark, he did not seem to want to talk to me. But on more than one occasion, I caught his green eyes on

ProserpinaI came awake suddenly. Something had disturbed me: what was it? a noise? A touch?I opened my eyes and almost screamed.Lucien stood a little away from me. The charcoal grey suit he was wearing was slightly rumpled as though he had dressed in a hurry. His pristine white shirt was open at the throat, revealing his neck, that tanned throat and the hint of his hirsute chest that I had cuddled into on many an occasion in the past.His grey-blue eyes were ringed with exhaustion and he looked as though he had aged at least ten years, that firm mouth a straight line...***I shot up in bed, huddling into my comforter, enraged. HOW DARE HE COME INTO MY ROOM, I thought.“What are YOU doing here?' I demanded fury and fear mingling in my voice.He stood looking at me silently, swaying slightly.Drunk as always, I thought, my lips curling in derision.He noticed the contempt in my face and the expression on his face darkened...“What are you doing here?’ I hissed again, and then, taunt

Proserpina'Having a good time, eh?' growled Lucien and I sat up, suddenly bolt upright as though I had been zapped by a Taser. My husband had been drinking but his face was cold, eyes sharp as they took in my flushed face. They slid over my body and I shivered.How could I ever get over this man? He was like a drug.Schwartz however, was unmoved. Swivelling, he stood up easily, hands in his pockets, mirroring Lucien's stance on the grass and smiled lazily. He seemed to be weighing up the situation and choosing his words before answering. When he drawled, there was an easy look on his face:"Mate, I see a despondent-looking lady, I make her laugh. My good deed for the day has been done.'He turned to look at me and then winked outrageously and I dimpled in return, unable to resist.He was such an incorrigible flirt! And a harmless one at that.Behind us, I felt Lucien stiffen.From the corner of my vision. I also sensed Sita shift restlessly.***Ria appeared before Lucien could respo

ProserpinaDinner that evening was a strange affair.For one thing, Schwartz had left without a word of goodbye. Normally he would wander into the kitchen and spend some time teasing Beatrice although she pretended to get annoyed; he would then fool around with the kids, wink and joke with the maids and Sita. Ignoring him for the major part, Sita would look at him stonily but it was obvious where her heart was. This was a routine we had every alternate day of the week and I knew that the twins looked forward to it. As for me, I enjoyed the light-hearted banter of this handsome man who was a dear friend. But only that.That evening, the twins looked around for him before settling down meekly as Lucien sat, glowering at them like an angel of darkness from the head of the table, his large thick arms bunched under the jacket he still wore.. The tumbler of whiskey, positioned effectively at his elbow, gleamed rosily in the light of the chandeliers. One of his men, Ted Brister, was doubling