Episode 48
Episode 48
The Little Death
MADAM ALANA
The morning brought with it the sense of peace and serenity. It had been a couple months since we’d been home. Sleeping in my own bed, with the sounds of the French countryside coming from the open balcony door, eased the tension I had when I went to bed.
Rhodes and Maia were on their way to France right now, even though Christophe and I made it clear that all was well here. Rhodes wasn’t comfortable with being away from his daughter after Maia and I had been threatened, which I understood completely. If somebody had threatened my Christophe, I’d be stuck to his side like glue. And that the authorities still didn’t know anything about who was behind them, was deeply concerning.
I rolled over in bed to face the open door. I could see Christophe with the morning paper open, a cup steaming on the small bistro set along with a plate holding a few sugar cookies. Christophe had a major sweet tooth and often paired treats with his morning cappuccino, espresso, or tea.
“I can feel you watching me, mon coeur . Why not come sit with me?” He spoke aloud but kept reading the paper.
I yawned, shifted the covers back, and reached for my black satin robe at the end of the bed. I slipped it over my short matching nightie and tied the belt. I gathered my long hair over to one shoulder and sashayed to the balcony.
When I got close, Christophe closed his paper, folded it, set it down and looped an arm around my hips, pulling me to his side and down onto his lap crossways.
“ Bonjour, chéri ,” he murmured and then took my mouth in a heated kiss.
I threaded my fingers through his salt and pepper locks, running my nails down his scalp the way I knew he liked.
“Aaaaahhhh,” he groaned then smiled. “How are you faring this morning?”
“Better. Being home helps. Though I know things are going to be interesting once Rhodes and Maia arrive and he introduces her to Emily.”
“Do you fear that Emily will not accept Maia into their lives?” Christophe asked.
I played with his hair, twirling the longer layers around my first finger. “I do not know. Teenagers tend to react unexpectedly. I’m just hoping we can help ease the introduction.”
“Perhaps when they are all settled and jet lag has cleared, we can take them out. Show both Emily and Maia more of our country, and divert them from the more delicate subjects?”
His plan was sound, provided the teenager didn’t simply implode upon meeting her father’s fiancée. “I think we shall take Rhodes’ lead and hope for the best.”
Christophe smiled. “So wise, my wife.” He winked playfully.
I leaned forward and kissed him deeply once more. “I’m going to get ready for the day. Can you check on Emily…”
“I did, not fifteen minutes before you awoke. She’s completely out. Dead to the world.” He stood up and wrapped his arm around me from behind. “Remember what I promised you when we were leaving Las Vegas then ended up with all of our plans turned to ash?” He slowly walked me forward until my knees hit the bed. Then he rubbed his hardness against my satin covered ass and whispered in my ear. “Hands on the bed, Alana,” he growled in that raspy, deep tone that made my knees shake.
Instantly, I complied by bending forward and placing my hands on the bed. As I looked down, I saw his pajama bottoms fall down his legs and pool around his ankles. My throat went dry even as my lower half became wet with arousal. I shuffled my feet in anticipation as Christophe slid his hands along my thighs, pushing the robe and nightie up until the material hung around my waist. The chill in the room kissed my bare skin when it was exposed but immediately warmed when my husband gripped and squeezed each cheek.
“I’ve been thinking about fucking you like this for two days, chéri . Widen your stance and let me in to play.”
His heated words were like wildfire to my libido. My sex clenched, while my legs shook, and I trembled wantonly.
He nudged the large head of his cock between my legs and against my slick seam, lubricating it as he rubbed it back and forth. He gripped my hips and thrust home.
I cried out at the blissful intrusion, then muffled it with my hand over my mouth, just to be certain Emily couldn’t hear, even though her room was on the other end of the hall.
Christophe was a man on a mission, a madman, lost to his desire. I loved every second of his deep plunges paired with gentle yet crude affirmations. He told me how he liked to watch his wet cock disappear within me over and over again. How my forbidden hole winked at him with every plunge. The way my pussy held him in the tightest fist he’d ever known. That he would never love another more than me.
His filthy mouth sent us both spiraling into la petite mort…the little death .
He moved gently as our orgasms subsided. My face was still pressed to the bed, bum in the air, as he swirled his hips, working out the last of his pleasure. He shivered, then leaned over and placed a warm kiss to my spine.
“Bienvenue à la maison, mon amour.” Welcome home, my love .
I grinned against the sheets, my position still precarious, but I felt a million times better after that homecoming.
“A welcome home indeed, husband.”
* * * *
Shortly after our bed-play this morning, Christophe and I took a shower and got ready for the day. Once completed, we woke Emily so she could get onto France time sooner rather than later. We also informed her that her father’s plans had changed, and he would be arriving in France soon with a woman in tow. For some reason, that made her excited, whereas we thought perhaps she’d be unnerved by not only the fact that he was joining her two-week vacation with us, but that he would be bringing a lady friend. Neither seemed to be the case.
We joined Emily in the kitchen where Aurelie, our cook, was plating omelets, potatoes, and bacon as the buzzer to the gate sounded. Our house attendant took care of it, but that didn’t stop Emily from tossing her utensils to the counter, jumping off the chair, and racing bare-footed, still in her pajamas, through the house screaming, “He’s here!”
“We better go make sure the meet and greet goes well,” Christophe announced, pushing out of his chair.
“Agreed.” I followed him to the front of the house where the door was already open and Emily was bouncing from foot to foot like a little monkey.
Rhodes stopped the car, leaned over and said something to Maia who looked wide-eyed and terrified in the passenger seat before he got out.
“Where’s my best girl?” he called out.
Emily jumped in the air, both arms raised above her head before she dashed down the stairs. When Rhodes reached the bottom step, she jumped into the air. He caught her, bracing a foot back as he did so, but locked her in place and spun her around.
“Daddy! I knew you couldn’t vacation without me!” she gushed. “You need me!”
Ah, now I see. Emily—almost fourteen and wanting to be so independent—actually needs her father to want to spend time with her. Interesting bit of information I planned to discuss with Rhodes at a more private moment.
Christophe curled me against his side as we watched the tableau unfold.
The house attendant opened the door for Maia who cautiously exited the car and gave me a slight wave before her gaze moved to take in the house. I saw her mouth the word, “Wow,” as she crossed her arms over her chest, in an attempt to make herself a little smaller and less noticeable. It didn’t work. Maia was a stunning natural beauty. No matter where she went, what she wore, or how hard she tried to hide, she would always be noticed.
“Who’s that?” Emily pointed to Maia.
Maia uncrossed her arms and rubbed her palms on her faded jeans.
Rhodes set Emily down then looped his arm around her shoulders. “That is Maia Fields,” he said.
“Is that your girlfriend?” Emily asked, shy interest in her tone.
“Um, sort of. She’s a friend, and a girl but…” Rhodes rubbed at jaw tiredly.
That was my cue.
I clapped my hands, and everyone looked at me. “Emily darling, this is Maia, an old friend of mine. She is dating your father. So when plans changed, we all thought it would be fun to spend time together in France and get to know one another. Oui , Rhodes? Maia?”
“Yeah, for sure. Is that okay, kiddo?” Rhodes gestured to Emily, his tone filled with worry.
“ Oui, oui ,” Maia said and then snorted as though attempting and failing to hold back her laughter. “I mean, that sounded like I have to go pee. Which, technically, I really do, but that wasn’t…”
Emily cracked up laughing. “Dad! Your girlfriend said oui, oui, because she has to pee pee!” She continued to cackle.
Maia laughed, probably harder than she needed to, but walked up to the girl and held out her hand. “Hi, I’m Maia. I like your anime pj’s. They’re cool as fuck.” Then her eyes widened as Rhodes said, “Maia!”
“Shit, fuck, ah, I mean…I’m really tired,” Maia stammered miserably. “Sorry, Emily,” she mumbled, her cheeks turning bright pink.
Surprising us all, Emily reached out and pulled Maia into a hug, clapping her on the back. “Is this your first time meeting a guy that has a kid?” she asked out of the blue, sounding rather mature all of a sudden.
“Totally,” Maia admitted. “And you’re so pretty, which means your mom is probably drop dead gorgeous,” she babbled, laying it on a little thick.
“She is,” Emily said with pure pride. “She’s a model, but I don’t get to see her much.” Emily’s tone said even more than the words themselves.
Not that I needed a reminder, but I hated Portia Davenport. Hated her with every fiber of my being.
“I don’t get to see my mom much either. It sucks. Does it suck for you?” Maia asked sounding genuine.
Emily tilted her head, looking deeply into Maia’s eyes. Then she suddenly nodded. “Totally, but my Dad is pretty cool.” She covered her mouth. “Duh, you probably know that already since you’re his girlfriend. I can’t believe my Dad has a girlfriend. Did you know you’re the first one ever?”
“No pressure there. Jeez, Emily. You trying to make me pass out?” She teased Emily, who laughed heartily. “Thank you for being such an awesome kid and not being mean. I was scared to meet you. Rhodes said you were the most important thing in his entire life, and if you didn’t like me, well, all bets were off.”
That last part did not sound like Rhodes, but I could see the way Maia was playing this.
Emily puffed up her chest. “Daddy! You said that about me?”
I could tell by the look on Rhodes’ face that he, in fact, had not said anything of the sort. Maia was schmoozing this teenager like her life depended on it and winning splendidly.
He deflected, answering the bit that was true. “I… Well, you are the most important thing in my life.”
“Daddy, I told you I wanted you to be happy. You, like, never ever date. This is a good thing. Besides”—she looked Maia up and down—“I think we’re close in size. We can share clothes!” She squealed as though they were all of a sudden best friends.
“Anything of mine you want, it’s yours. I don’t have much anyway.” This was probably the truth, especially if her place had been ransacked.
Emily looped her elbow with Maia’s. “Don’t worry about it. My dad has loads of cash. He will buy you all the clothes you need and more. I get him to buy me new stuff all the time. All you have to do is—”
“Em!” Rhodes cut her off. “Please don’t encourage my girlfriend to manipulate me.”
“And now you see the stick in the mud, responsible side. I’ll show you how to get past that side too,” Emily whispered.
“God save me from beautiful women that have me wrapped around their little fingers,” Rhodes called out to the heavens.
“Anyway, your room is on the first floor. We’re on the top. Do you want me to show you? Oh, and Dad, Aurelie made an American breakfast,” Emily called out, taking Maia up the steps at a quick clip.
“What? I was looking forward to crepes,” he grumbled.
“Right?” Emily said. “Uncle Christo apparently hasn’t had enough American breakfasts even after being in Las Vegas for like, ever!”
“ Ma douce ,” Christo called out to his niece. “Nothing is better than American food.”
Emily rolled her eyes. “If you’d rather have crepes, I’ll bet we can get Aurelie to make some. She did last night, and they were fab-u-lous.”
Maia nodded. “Um, yeah, okay. Whatever everyone else wants. I’m not a picky eater.”
“Really? My mom doesn’t eat much of anything. She says air makes her fat. Isn’t that weird? How can air make you fat?” Emily prattled on.
Rhodes looked at me, then at Maia and Emily. All three of us were shocked at how nice Emily was being to his new girlfriend. Somehow, Maia had won over the teenager within the span of a few minutes.
The two of them disappeared into the house. “Holy shit!” I heard Maia say as Emily responded. “Dope, right?” I needed to look up this meaning of the word “dope” so I knew what exactly she meant. I thought it meant drugs.
“How did that just happen?” Rhodes said, his voice low enough so only Christophe and I could hear. “I expected tears and a tantrum.”
I shrugged. “Maybe your little girl is growing up?”
He shook his head. “Something is up, and I’m going to get to the bottom of it. I know my kid, and that wasn’t her.”
“Well, Maia did play along a bit more than I would have expected. Our little pickpocket has picked up a thing or two. At least enough to win over a teenager,” I agreed.
“And what about that part about Emily knowing I couldn’t be happy vacationing without her. It was like she wanted me to miss her so much that I’d come running to France to be with her.”
I offered my thoughts. “I don’t know. Maybe it’s because her mother doesn’t miss her at all?”
“That’s a good point. Terrible and true. I’ll think about it. She did just find out her mother wasn’t going to marry Pablo. She was excited about her mother settling down. And she liked the guy. He was decent in his own way. Then again, Emily has liked all of Portia’s men. Hmmm. Maybe that’s what it is. The first time I’m bringing someone around.”
“Maybe,” I pressed my lips together, pondering the oddity.
“I just…I thought it wouldn’t go well between Maia and Emily,” Rhodes continued.
“Let us not look a gift horse in the mouth,” Christophe added with a clap to his shoulder.
“You’re right. And I could really use a hot meal and a nap.” Rhodes said.
“Come, darling, let’s get you and Maia settled.”
Christophe broke off to have Aurelie make two more plates and redo ours as I followed Rhodes and the sounds of two girls cackling like hyenas.
When Rhodes and I entered the downstairs suite, we found Maia and Emily sitting cross-legged on the bed laughing.
“Dad! Did you know that Alana and Maia met years ago when she tried to steal Auntie’s watch? But Auntie caught her!”
Rhodes and I both looked at Maia. Who smiled sweetly.
“Uh…Maia shared that? It’s news to me.” Rhodes’ voice cracked and I could see his jaw tighten.
“Was I not supposed to?” Maia gulped, her face suddenly pale.
Rhodes was silent for a full breath, his nostrils flaring as though he were trying to keep his cool.
“Maia was just a teenager like you. She didn’t know any better at the time, right Maia? One should never steal.” I clarified.
Maia looked at my serious expression and then at Rhodes stiff stature. “No. Uh, it was a different time and I’m not proud of it. But Alana caught me and then helped set me on the right track…” she winced obviously uncomfortable.
Rhodes shoulders slumped in what could only be relief. “See Em, we all make bad decisions but sometimes, we learn our lesson and good can come of it. Like Alana and Maia’s long friendship.”
“I still think that’s so cool. Can you teach me how to take someone’s watch without them knowing it?” She put her hands together in front of her chest as she begged.
“Uh…I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Maia said at the same time Rhodes barked, “Absolutely not!”
My breath caught as Rhodes went eerily silent. He pointed to the door. “Emily, honey, go eat breakfast. We’ll be there in a second. I need a quick word with my girlfriend,” Rhodes tone brooked no argument.
“Come chéri , let’s give them time.”
Emily bounced off the bed. Rhodes sighed and rubbed his face with both his hands as Emily raced out of the room and down the hall.
“We’ll be in the kitchen,” I murmured and shut the door.
The second the door shut, came a growled, “You will not teach my daughter how to steal!”