Chapter 11
“We come armed with reinforcements.” Leesa announced, the minute the group of women were shown into Blair’s elegant gold and cream salon.
“I thought it was just you and Kelly.” She could have wept with joy as the women filed in one behind the other. First came Leesa, sweeping into the room with her usual flamboyant grace, a dazzling smile on her lips and bearing an enormous basket of what looked like babies stuff, including an enormous stuffed pink bear.
She was followed by Kelly, who had her own basket, then there was Monique, trailing behind with several items in her arms, enough so that it almost covered her face. And…, Blair let out a startled scream as she stared at the woman she had not seen in ages.
“Tianna? What! How are you here?”
Princess Tianna Ricci moved gracefully across the carpet to kiss her on the cheek. “There is such a thing as private jets and God! I am beginning to sound like my husband.” She plopped down on a comfortable chair next to Blair and slipped out of her stylish ankle length boots.
“I had some business to do in the States as well as checking on mom. When the girls told me they were dropping by, I had to come. Ah here comes another surprise.” They all grinned as Hailey swept into the room, with her own arms loaded.
“Some of your staff are on their way up with more things. Darling, you are huge.” She made the announcement in her own inimitable way as she walked over and sat next to Tianna. “How the hell are you able to move?”
“In slow careful movements.” Tears glistened in her eyes as she stared at some of the most powerful women in the world, right here in her salon.
For the past few weeks, she had alternated between acute despair and hopelessness. She had been making even more frequent trips to the bathroom and her ankles, and every part of her body was swollen. “
The contractions (false ones of course) came frequently and her husband and the entire staff were feeling the brunt of her abject misery.
She was into her seventh month and scheduled for a C-section at the end of April which was two weeks away. The babies were doing okay, and wonders upon wonders, she had gotten her heart’s desire. They were having two sets of twins – two girls and two boys.
A team had been hired to transform three bedrooms to accommodate the quadruplets, and she was only allowed to monitor the progress from afar, by using a device. Cameras were already set up in all the rooms, so she could see what was going on.
She felt fat and useless and on top of it, her husband was barely touching her. Oh, he would do his duty by rubbing the cream on each night, but he had started staying in one of the other rooms because of how restless she had become.
With the frequent trips to the bathroom and her inability to find a comfortable spot on the huge bed, she was making it hard for him to fall asleep. And he needed his sleep. With the spring comes the harvesting and the marketing, which was keeping him so busy.
“This is a ‘no tears’ zone.”
She sniffed them back. “It comes with the territory. You brought me gifts.” She stopped when two maids came in with several gift bags and placed them on a table in front of the window.
“We brought you tons of gifts.” Tianna qualified. “We know your husband’s family is one of the wine kings in the US, but we aim to do our part. But first…” She glanced over at Leesa and Kelly who were arranging the things on several tables and running out of space. “We have more surprises. Kelly?”
“Ah yes.” She came forward, with her usual long-limbed grace and sank down on a cushion on the floor. “We know how unattractive you must be feeling, what with that huge belly in front of you, but I must say, goodness! Your skin is amazing and your hair!
Darling, you must get pregnant more often…” She grinned at the look thrown her way by the others. “And I am being insensitive, but pregnancy does agree with you.”
“I retain water like a damn tap, and I have stopped wearing underwear, because what is the point? My tits are huge, and my nipples hurt all the time, and I think that my vagina is twice its normal size.” She felt the pressure on her chest easing as the women burst out laughing.
“I’m sure Cayden has no complaints in that area.” Leesa chimed in, her smile disappearing at the look on Blair’s face. “Darling, what’s the matter?”
She shook her head and struggled to ease up on the pillows at her back. She had been trying to paint some bright and light objects for the babies’ rooms but had to abandon the project, because she was feeling tired and dejected.
“I should not be discussing…”
“We’re all friends here and I think it’s safe to say that we have all been through things in our marriage.” Leesa looked at the others for qualification and got agreeing nods. “And we’re all here for you.”
“We are,” Kelly agreed.
“We haven’t had sex in three weeks.” She blurted out. “And I cannot blame him. I mean, look at me? I am like three whales rolled in one and I pee every five minutes, so I am sure I smell of urine all the damn time. And he is busy…”
“If you continue to be down on yourself, I am going to hit you over the head with one of those paintings,” Kelly threatened. “You are beautiful, and I am not bullshitting you. You know I do not have time for that. It so happens that we have just the thing in mind, something that is going to boost your spirit dramatically.
A massage and a makeover. We called Barry and he has agreed to delay his trip to France for another day and come over to give us the full works. When he is finished with you, your gorgeous husband is going to be worshiping at your feet.”
Tears came again and this time she let them flow. “Oh, let me cry!” She exclaimed, running her hands over her cheeks. “These are tears of gratitude and joy. What time is he arriving?”
Kelly picked up her phone. “Perfect timing. He is on his way. Now, time to open gifts.”
*****
“I am so grateful you agreed to have lunch with me.” Claudine purred, her tawny eyes hungrily wandering over his face. “I was not sure you would. I take it the rumors are true? Your wife’s expecting four babies?”
“It is,” he responded easily, giving his nod of approval as the waiter poured the wine into the glasses. The restaurant was Italian and was tucked into a private road that led to a pond and a small bridge.
The place was perfect and was part and parcel of his company. It was somewhere they could bring out of town associates they wanted to woo into investing. “You said it was important.”
“Yes.” Using the tip of her fingernail, painted in fire engine red, she dipped it into the rich burgundy and brought it to her lips. Keeping her eyes on his, she slid her tongue over the moisture, the movement deliberately seductive and designed to stir his blood. It did nothing for him, except had him feeling amused.
“I am still waiting for you to tell me what it is.” He pointed out.
She pouted, feeling the acute disappointment that she had not succeeded in her ploy to get him worked up. “Darling, how are you coping? Your wife is carrying four babies, and I have to say, I simply cannot comprehend such a thing.
Why would any woman want to do that to her own body?” She gave a delicate shudder and took a sip of wine as if to wash away the very taste of it.
“My wife is an amazing woman and discussing her with you is off the table.” His voice was inflexible, his green eyes flat. “Now tell me why I had to see you. You did say it is a matter of urgency.”
She pouted again. “I am going back to Italy.”
“Alright.” He gave her a puzzled look. “And that’s it?”
She took a delicate sip of the wine again and eyed him over the rim of the glass. “I was hoping to bum a ride off you.”
“The jet is used for business reasons and occasional pleasure. I hope that you are not implying that I should have it at your disposal. It is for family and you are not family.”
She winced slightly at that. “We had fun, did we not?”
Cayden tamped down the impatience. He knew what this was – a poorly disguised effort to get him back into her bed. He had not been with his wife for almost a month, but he was not even tempted. He would never cheat on Blair.
Aside from the fact that she was very pregnant with his four babies, she was also the woman he was completely in love with. He would never settle for anyone other than her.
“We did. But that was in the past.”
“It does not have to be.” She gave him a slow, sultry smile. Claudine Accardi was an acclaimed Italian actress and a former model and once a long time ago, Cayden had idly contemplated making their relationship permanent, but then she had cheated on him with a cast member.
It had taken that incident to make him realized he would have been settling for the wrong woman. She was incredibly beautiful with her raven black hair and alabaster skin, but she could never be Blair, not even close.
“I would never cheat on my wife. And for you to even hint at that, it shows that you do not know me very well. If that is all?”
Her tawny eyes flashed fire - “I love you.”
He actually laughed at that. Genuine amusement flashing across his face. “No, you don’t. I don’t believe you know the meaning of the word.”
Leaning forward, he lifted one long elegant hand, where a magnificent pearl and ruby ring flashed on her ring finger. “Stunning and very expensive. Was this given to you before or after you dumped the poor bastard you have been seeing?”
She pouted, red lips managing to look both sexy and pleading at the same time. “Pierre is lousy in bed and too clingy.” She gripped his fingers. “You. on the other hand, were a tiger in bed. Darling, I still have such vivid memories of what we used to do there. I do not want to say goodbye.”
“We already did.” He extricated his fingers from hers and finished the wine. “Enjoy the Primavera, it is the best I ever tasted and order yourself a dessert. I have to go back to work.”
He strode away without a second look.
*****
Barry was flamboyantly gay. And his impeccable style and rapier wit were well known in the movie industry. He was horribly expensive but was one of the best. He came in – or rather glided in with a full team of assistants at his beck and call.
His hair was carefully styled blonde – a sort of gilded color immaculately shaped and styled. His outfit was a creaming red and gold pantsuit and a pair of red boots with heels.
After blowing kisses at the beautiful women in the room, he made his acerbic comment on the hugeness of Blair’s belly and her breasts, before snapping out orders. Within minutes, her salon had been transformed into an elegant beauty salon/ massage area. Folding beds had been brought, and they were ordered to strip down to skin.
“I don’t feel comfortable…,” Blair began, but was shushed when Barry, simply led her to a comfortable recliner and started to take off the robe she had donned this morning.
“Hey.”
“Darling, I have seen it all and must say, your boobs are quite the work of art.” Stepping back, he pursed his lips and examined her naked upper body.
“Some of my strawberry and honey cream to get the skin glowing. Not that it needs much help. Being pregnant has brought out the shine.” Clapping his hands, he went to get his enormous work bag and started digging.
“Diego darling, not that cream. It is hard to believe that you have been with me the longest and still have no idea what to do. Use the lemon for Kelly and the citrus for the others.” Shaking his head in disgust, he got to work.
It took several hours of being pommeled and poked and with her frequent trips to use the bathroom, the tasks took much longer. First she was scrubbed from face to feet with something smelling of raspberry and cream.
And then she was shaved down below, for an added allure. “Bare as a baby’s butt.” Barry nodded in approval. “Your man is going to eat his fill and come back for more.”
Blair had stopped being embarrassed and self-conscious, a few hours ago.
“If you say so.”
“I do, darling.” He purred as he worked on her breasts. “He is going to want to lick every inch of your skin. You’re totally welcome.”
Ignoring his comment, she closed her eyes and allowed his competent hands to work out the kinks. She had called down to the kitchen and food had been sent up, tons of it. The girls had devoured the delicious pates, chilled lobster tails, giant shrimps and caviar and were now content to exchange stories.
Barry was a notorious gossip and had all the goods on most people and was certainly not afraid to dish.
“I am telling you, girl…” He crowed. “That Belinda is a piece of work.” He had finished with her body and was now doing her hair. “She caught her husband with another man and is refusing to give him a divorce. Leon, please hand me the apricot conditioner. No dummy, the one in the oblong tube.
Good God, you would think you are blind as well as illiterate. As I was saying, she is in denial. I knew the gentleman was gay a long time ago, because he propositioned me at a party some time ago.”
“And I am sure you did not turn him down.”
He gave Kelly an injured look. “I thought you knew me better, darling. I do not mess around with married men. Bad karma. And besides, I was in a very committed relationship at the time.”
“You mean with sticky fingers Josh?” Leesa called out.
“You are so mean, darling.” He tsked as he slicked conditioner through Blair’s hair. “You know I have not yet recovered from what that- that creature did to me.”
“And yet, you were seen with him just last week, making the rounds at several restaurants.” Kelly grinned at his bashful expression. “I have eyes everywhere. What the hell are you still doing with him? Didn’t he relieve you of several thousand dollars and some really expensive jewelry?”
He made a pained sound deep inside his throat as he rinsed Blair’s hair.
“You do not understand how difficult it is to find love. All of you inside this room have found darling men, very wealthy and ones who are committed. Not to mention how well they look on the eyes. Josh is great in bed, and he makes me feel cherished.”
“How much is he costing you this time?” Leesa asked him dryly.
Barry made another pained sound, “he promised not to steal from me again.”
“I hope you got that in writing,” Kelly commented.
“Don’t be such a bitch.”
“I am a bitch and you are an idiot. Now enough of this tiresome conversation, I need some champagne.” Plucking off the cucumber slice, she looked at Blair. “Darling, I hope you don’t mind, but I am going to send someone to raid the wine cellar.”
“Be my guest!” Blair waved a hand at her and closed her eyes, contented to tune them out.
*****
He found her on the balcony. His mother told him she had some visitors and who they were, and he was grateful that she had some diversion. He knew she had been suffering from acute bouts of depression lately and was feeling guilty.
He had been spending nights in the adjoining bedroom through tacit agreement. She moved around a lot and often got up to use the bathroom, therefore robbing him of sleep.
He hated to be away from her, but that was the only way he could deal with what was happening. During the night, he would make his way into their bedroom to check on her. He stopped first in the rooms assigned to be the nurseries and made note of the progress.
His mother was the one in charge of the supervision and had been giving him regular reports. Standing just inside what was going to be the girls’ room, he admired the pale pink silk wallpapers with the princess theme clearly etched into the fabric.
The furnishings were white and delicate looking. Two cots were already set up, side by side and he noticed additional items inside the room. Stuffed toys were placed on shelves and a pink and white bookcase stood next to the shelves.
Using the adjoining door, he stepped into the blue and green room that would be the boys’ and felt his throat closing up and a lump forming. It struck him forcibly that he was going to be a father of four. And he felt slightly overwhelmed.
What in the hell did he know about how to be a dad? His own father was a good one, excellent in fact. Not overly indulgent and had been there for their most important achievements, no matter how busy he was. He was hoping he would be the same.
Leaving the rooms, he made his way into their suite and saw her through the glass as soon as he stepped into the bedroom. Deciding to shower before joining her, he went into the bathroom and made quick work of washing off the very long day.
He would spend time with his wife and delay going to his very lonely bed for as long as possible. With that in mind, he donned baggy sweats and t-shirt and made his way through the open glass doors that led to the balcony.
He was about to comment on the set up of dinner and candles burning, when she turned around and had his heart going into complete overdrive. Words failed him and all he could do was stare.
The disheveled hair was no longer, instead, it was shimmering in the overhead lights with glints of burnished gold showing through the dark brown. That was not the only changes. Her skin glowed as if a light had been turned on inside her and was projecting a flame.
The robe, a rich burgundy and completely transparent, was her only attire. Her soft smile drew him in, with the seductive knowledge that he was bowled over and damned if he wasn’t. He felt himself harden to impossible proportions and was vaguely happy he had decided to ditch the underwear.
“Hi.”
Even the sound of her voice had his heart doing springs inside his chest.
He had to clear his throat twice before he could respond.
“Hi.”
“I hope you’re hungry.”
“Starving.” His eyes skimmed over lips coated with shimmering red gloss.
“For food, darling.” She was laughing at him, but he could not find the levity. The hunger was roaring inside him, and he knew that food would have to wait.
“I need you.” He barely glanced at the table and the scent of the candles mingled with the enticing scent of her perfume. Striding forward, he turned her to face him, fingers skimming over her skin in wonder. “It feels like satin.” He murmured. “What did you do?”
She seemed pleased at the compliment.
“I had some visitors today.”
“So, I heard.” He was busy running his fingers through her hair. “That fruitcake Barry is a genius.” He watched as the strands drifted through his fingers with a life of its own.
“That is already established. How was your day?”
“Hmm?” He was distracted by the seams of her lips.
“Your day.” She laughed again, exhilarated that she could do this to him at this stage of her pregnancy. She had started to think she was not attractive to him anymore and wondering if he was wishing that he was with someone else.
“I don’t want to talk.” He growled. “And food will definitely have to wait.”