Family Reunion (71 page)

"No shame? Excuse me madam and just what is it I should be ashamed of?"

"Hmmm, yes well… we shall see, shan't we?"

"Oooh Lena, don't start anything." He groaned pitifully.

"Me? Start anything, why would I start anything?"

"You're a woman aren't you? The whole lot of you cannot be content unless you can ruin a man's peace."

"The whole lot of us, hm? And you milord would know, because you've had – a whole lot of us!"

Manny stopped and looked at her with his eyes shifting left and right thinking where she might be steering the conversation. "What's – wrong?" He asked the dreaded words.

"Ohhh - nothing."

"Bloody hell! What did I do?"

"I said nothing."

"You said nothing…but you meant something! Women always say nothing, when in fact it's something!" He jabbered.

"Emmm, and you of all men would know, what women always say."

Again he stopped to think, she was leading him somewhere and he knew he had better be careful or else find himself good and stuck.

"Madam, I surrender …what's going on?"

"Ohhh nothing, perhaps I should go and slip into something more appropriate."

Again Manny paused for thought.

Lena had to bite the inside of her mouth not to laugh at the faces he made and the way his eyes shifted about fishing for the answer to the mystery. Turning from him, she made her way to the door; opening it she looked back seductively and teasingingly, "Well?"

His eyes grew wide, he stood. "Now?"

"Is there any reason we need wait any longer?" She slipped from sight. Manny rushed to the door, watching her as she strolled down the alleyway, smooth and fetching she turned back to him, never breaking her graceful glide from him. "Meet you in your room – be ready." With a pussy cat smile she turned away again and finally reached the door to her cabin. Manny stood in the hallway staring, his lust on the rise as his mind leapt to what was to come.

In no time flat he was throbbing,
his heart pounding as he stared down the empty corridor. He couldn't help think it.

‘
Morris you were right ... if she’s not the devil’s own, I don’t know what is.’

As he stood, he realized she’d said she'd meet him in his room, now theirs.
'Why the hell am I standing here!?'
He charged into his cabin, jerking his shirt open, pulling it from his arms to the floor as he made speed for his chair where he sat and removed his boots and stockings in record time. Standing he undid his breeches, not getting them down fast enough as he stepped out of them; the whole time, keeping his eyes on the door.

"Come on Manny, just stay calm, don't go getting too excited. You have all night old man…all night. No
Mike-e-y
around to interrupt now." He muttered his sons name facetiously. "After all, I'm no inexperienced pup, I can control it. Just take a few deep breaths and be patient." He coached himself as he stood nude before his mirror, throwing water on his face, rubbing his hands around his neck and with his nose turned to the side, he took a quick sniff beneath his underarm, "Emmm, not bad, but we have a long night a head of us." He grinned, taking the soap to give himself a quick second wash, drying himself afterwards and went for his cologne, adding a touch here and there. With that done, he picked up his brush, ran it through his hair a few good strokes, shaking the front top to loosen it a little, running his fingers over his moustache and short beard, checking his profile in the mirror. He looked around the nice sized cabin for his robe; it was on the end of the bed. He went quickly to put it on then pulled the covers back on his king size bed.

He was ready!

Lena closed the door, falling back to it with a calculating gleam in her eyes. Taking her time, she moved from it and slowly went about the chore of getting ready for him. "Oh my Sandra, however am I going to wear this?" She wondered, looking through the sheer garment. "Oh but wear it I will." Lena stood looking in the full length, oak framed mirror, knowing beyond a doubt if she had been white, she would be red as a beet in the face. She wondered exactly what the thing hid, she might as well have been naked for all that one could see, and one could see all!

The maker, whomever that person was, did not stop, content with its sheerness, but made splits on both sides up past her hips to her waist. At her waist, was a ribbon to tie. The bodice was nothing more than two meager panels to contain her breasts, each one gathered at the shoulder with a ribbon to tie to the back panel, which hung loose, dipping and exposing the skin of her back. Any slight movement would expose her man pleasing charms.

She inhaled deeply and shrugg
ed, one panel gaped to the side and Lena closed her eyes with the shake of her head as she pulled it gently back in place.

"Oh well."

Freshened up from her quick wash, with a pat of powder here and there and a dab of her perfume, she was ready. Donning her silk turquoise blue wrap, she stepped into her slippers, and made her way back to her waiting husband. Manny was pacing the cabin counting to a hundred, if she wasn't there by the time he hit it, he would be going after her.
'Seventy-five, seventy-six, seventy-seven-…'

He heard his cabin door come slowly open and stopped in mid stride in the middle of the room with his eyes on the door. Slowly Lena stepped in, her eyes going immediately to his as she closed the door and leaned back against it, her hands still on the knob.

Manny stood with his hands in the pockets of his closed robe, tied at the waist. He could feel his heart hammering anew at the sight of her. To see her standing there looking at him that way was all it took for his loins to flood with blood and heat.

Neither said a word as she finally stepped away from the door, never taking her eyes from his. Lena beckoned the trembling in her limbs to cease their reaction to his presence. A presence so overwhelming, she had no choice but to respect the difference between them. Her hand went to the tie belt of her wrap, pulling it from its slip knot, the belt fell away. Slowly she took the edges of her robe, opening it before him, until her scant wisp of attire was exposed to his hungry eyes. Taking the robe in hand, she pulled it off of her arms and dropped it to the floor.

"Well milord?"

"Come here." He commanded in a throaty whisper.

"Not so fast."

"What? Don't you toy with me lady, get over here."

"Tell me something, how do you know Terra Biquay? How were you able to find a seamstress in such short notice to design and make my wedding gown? How long have you known her? Hmmm?"

Manny stood staring with his mouth open, his mind drew a complete blank, without thought he said, "Terra Biquay?"

"Yes, Madame Terra Biquay? You know, she made my wedding gown… her."

"Your wedding gown? She made it."

"At short notice, like that!" Lena snapped her fingers.

"Ohhh, not now, please darlin'… not now." Manny whimpered.

"So it's true!" She stomped
, pointing at him. "You slept with her! How dare you get one of your…your…lovers to make my wedding gown! You louse! The nerve of you!"

"It was…it was a long time ago!"

"So it is true then?!"

"I thought you knew it was true? Ohhh Lena, merciful heaven… not tonight." He whimpered.

"Yes – not tonight Milord Webster! Take a good look, because it is as close as you're going to get!" She fussed putting her wrap back on. Tying the ribbon she turned for the door.

"Oh no you don’t!" He shouted, rushing to catch her, Lena squealed and ran out the door down the alleyway screaming and trying not to laugh as he tromped after her. He grabbed her in the alleyway, his arm going around her waist to pull her back, turning her; he pressed her against the wall. "If you think…I'm going let you get away with this…you don't know me very well lady."

"You sir, are a cad, a libertine, a rutting beast who is-…"

"Madly – in love - with
you
." His mouth closed over hers inserting his tongue, kissing her so hard and fast that he took her breath away and scattered her thoughts. No passion in the world could possibly match the passion that flared to life between them. The instant fire engulfed them both. Lena's breasts rose and fell trying to breathe as he devoured her. Manny stood back from her, breathing hard. "Enough of this." It was a warning before he reached down and scooped her up into his arms. Still breathless from his kiss, Lena could only hold onto him in anticipation. With every step he took back to their room, Manny knew he had to get control of himself. He wanted to take it slow, he wanted to be gentle, but he could feel himself swollen and thick, his urge overpowering to bury himself deep within her that very second.

"You little witch... do you know what the sight of you does to me! Terra Biquay – I can't even remember what she looks like!" He grumbled in their room, closing their door with his foot and heading straight for the bed.

"She was so smug, with her hints…I just knew-…"

He laid her down and came down kissing her gently, cutting off her words. Lena wrapped her arms around him, returning his kiss. "You… you are my wife!" He broke off to say, and then went down to kiss her again. "You…" He gasped, untying and pulling at her negligee. Lena opened his robe pushing it off of his shoulders.

"She meant nothing to me. No woman does for me what you do.
Don't bring her up again. Right now, it is just you and I…that is the way it will always be… understand?"

Breathless, Lena nodded.

Manny looked down at her, caressing her brow, her cheek, admiring her skin. "I love everything about you…everything." He leaned down and kissed her lips softly, shifting her into the bed more comfortably, tossing the last of their garments aside. They lay on top of the covers with Manny once again staring down at her, his hand gently teased her breast, watching her nipple grow hard, determined not to rush, he wanted to savor every moment with her.

"Tell me something, what do you think about me? When you look at me…do you ever see the difference in us?" He asked in a passion filled whisper.

Lena smiled, her breathing deep, tugging at her bottom lip, she really had to focus on what he'd asked, feeling a little mischievous she nodded, "Um hm."

Manny cocked his head to the side. "Just um hm? Um hm what?"

Lena stifled her giggle before it escaped, answering, "I look at you and say, um hm...that shooo' is some white man." She followed that with a throaty laugh and subtle stroke to his groan. Manny leaned propped on his hand, his other hand caressing her flat stomach and up to her breast.

"Will you behave yourself, tell me the truth." He was serious although smiling. She sighed and reached up letting her fingers stroke over his hair, then down the side of his face, where she cupped his cheek with her soft palm, "When I look at you, I think, what a man – not - what a white man or oh what a pale man-…"

"I'm not pale!" He shot defensively. Lena laughed softly. "I know that Manny, and if you were, it would make no difference, because it's the man under the skin I love. The way that God has chosen to present you, has nothing to do with it."

"You ever wish I'd been black?"

She was hesitant in her answer, and finally said honestly, "There were times, the hard times, but … I have only – always – loved you."

"So you've regretted loving me?" He asked a little troubled.

Lena looked at him a moment before she responded. "As I said, only at the hard times, don't look at me like that. You asked, I'm just being truthful."

Manny stared at her for the moment, speechless. Lena stroked his
cheek with her thumb, sensing his battle with the small amount of hurt she may have caused and to give him a chance to air his mind. She asked in return, "Has there ever been a time when you regretted loving me? Wishing that I was white?"

"No! Not ever, not once. I was too busy resenting this world, my father, and other people who wouldn't allow me to love whom I'd chosen. I've never wanted to love anyone but you. As I said, I love everything about you, the person you are deep within and the person I see on the surface."

Lena looked at him suspiciously. "Manny! You're saying that to be mean!" He looked at her shocked. "How, in the world, is
that
mean!?"

"It is! You're trying to make me feel bad for saying what I did."

"Lena, I said what I said because it is the truth. If you feel bad I suggest you do something to make up for it." He murmured, beginning to like the turn of events. Lena smiled cunningly. "I see." She whispered softly as her hand rose to the crop of hair showing in the center of his chest, her touch made them both shiver. Her eyes watched the play of her fingers and then glanced up to look into his eyes. Manny groaned deeply, squirming closer to her hip so she could feel his erection. "Let me love you this time." She spoke in a voice seductive and smooth. Taking charge, Lena pushed him slowly onto his back to lean up beside him, caressing his hard chest that rose and fell with his uneven breathing, feeling the muscles that clung to his rib cage, her thumbs stroking over his nipples, both were immediately pebble hard.