Chapter 5
Rebecca watched 2-year-old Scarlet sleeping soundly in her crib, a tired yet content smile on her face. After making sure the crib's sides were tightly shut and switching on the baby monitor, she left the room and hauled the laundry basket sitting outside the room in her arms. Separating the clothes and putting them in the washer, she went on to clear up the kitchen as remnants of eaten breakfast still lay there. Cavendish was quite in a hurry to get to work this morning. He had a big presentation today which may or may not skyrocket his career as an ad executive. He absently kissed her cheek and left, while she pouted for a bit. They shared easy affection complete with all the touchy-feeliness one saw on Lifetime. She thought it would dim once kids were in the picture, but her husband still looked at her only, despite women fluttering their lashes and throwing flirty smiles at him.
Damn it, that really pisses me off! I want to tear their eyes out. The blond hair and the blue eyes give me enough trouble, not to mention that narcissism I secretly find adorable despite how it annoyed me in the beginning. But I'll say this for him. He goes after what he wants, and he wanted me for keeps. After all these years, he is still dedicated to me. Even now he makes my heart beat like a drum.
She wondered what her aunt was up to. Viola was a complicated woman who kept things buried deep inside and smiled like everything was roses and cakes. She had never seen her rattled until Doflamingo showed up. He had paid for her college education, but she barely saw him around, even during her semester breaks. The few glimpses she had of him were enough to warn her not to go near him. He exuded menace and violence which made the men in the mansion respect him, but she had also seen his demeanor change when he was around Viola. She noted that his eyes became a fraction softer when he looked at the black-haired siren and even a rare fond smile graced his lips. Her aunt had no idea of course and thought she was just another woman to him.
Rebecca knew it would be a waste of breath trying to defend the man because her aunt was quite bull-headed when she wanted to be. Something about the blond man brought out the best and the worst in her.
They are both complicated people who repress way too much. But I do think they are good for each other. I hope she tells him about Damian.
She had unbraided her pink hair as she sat on the sofa comfortably, both legs propped up on it, her white and pink summer dress patterned with sakura petals sliding a little over her knees as she adjusted her position and leisurely sipped her wine. The load she had started washing was quite a big one. It would take a while.
The front door lock unclicked, and she got up from her comfortable placement to see who it was. Her aunt had a key and sometimes dropped by to deliver leftover diner food. As she neared the noise source, her vision was greeted by the sight of Cavendish who closed and locked it.
'Honey, you are home early!'
He was in his suit, pale blue shirt and grey jacket and slacks. He had cut his hair short, but she knew he kept a tattoo on his left shoulder.
He abruptly walked towards her, wrapped his arms around her slender waist and attacked her mouth ferociously. She moaned as his tongue entered her mouth and massaged hers. He broke away just to ask:
'Is Scarlet sleeping?'
'Mmhmm'
'Good.'
Without further ado, he gently pushed her against the wall and lifted her legs to wrap around his waist. She curled her fingers in his lustrous hair curling down his nape as his mouth kissed and nipped her throat while his hands were busy tracing and shaping her curves. His hands then travelled to her shoulders to untie the strings which fell open with a single tug to expose her full breasts with cherry-tipped nipples. He squeezed them in his palms and then his fingers pinched and played with them before taking them into his mouth one by one to lick and suck at his pace.
Rebecca was flooded with too many sensations as she grinded against his hardness. He groaned at the feel and then went to the kitchen with her wrapped around him. He put her on the table and pulled the dress off her. He marveled at the sight of her in nothing but rose-pink panties which were damp with his ministrations. She sat up and unbuttoned his shirt while his mouth attacked the soft column of her throat. She wrapped her legs tighter around him in response and helped him out of the pale blue confection. Running her hands over the surprising hard chest and abs, she remembered that he kickboxed as a hobby and still practiced in the wee hours of the morning. She got off the table and sat him down on one of the chairs. Cavendish looked at her in wonderous arousal as she unzipped him and pulled his hard length out. Without warning, she sucked him into her mouth while cupping his balls. Her warm and wet mouth tightening and loosening around his appendage nearly had him undone right then and there. He slid his hands around her hair and lay her back on the previous spot as he almost ripped her panties in urgency. He pulled her thighs apart and placed his mouth where he 's been burning to. He sat down and licked her slippery opening. She moaned as he went on to mimic the motions of sex with his tongue plunging in and out of her entrance. He snaked a hand up to palm her breast while its companion was placed on her lower stomach to still her movements.
'Ahhhh, don't stop! Feels so good.'
'Babe, you feel heavenly to me.'
She looked at the man who has her heart as a single tear slid down her cheek. He means everything to her. She would never give him up. Not for anything.
'Oh no! Becca, I'm sorry! Did I hurt you?!'
She shook her head and pulled him up to lock her lips with his. His hands gently held her face as their tongues met. She wrapped her legs around his lean hips and with a gasp, she felt him drive into her and stay still for a moment. He sped up then, slow and fast, gentle and rough while she screamed her pleasure through his name. He groaned and they finished a little before and after each other. They lay there in pure bliss to recover and when Cavendish did, he picked her up bridal style despite her giggles and they proceeded upstairs for a few blessed and uninterrupted hours of more lovemaking.
Later….
They rolled around in bed, hands leisurely tracing patterns over each other's skin. Rebecca turned and languidly smiled at her husband while he ran his hands through her hair.
'Finally found time for me, huh?'
'Babe, I'm really sorry I've been so busy lately.'
'It's fine. I know you are working that hard for all of us. Though, it was hard to imagine we would be living like this one day.'
Cavendish held her close as he mused the turns their lives had taken. He never believed he could find happiness and love because where he came from, they were only tools to use for their own benefit. His family had money and status but that was all there to it. He had an older brother and a younger sister who was acceptable to the family because they were obedient puppets. They kept up with the family expectations and joined the financial world while he remained something of an idealist. His well-connected family wanted him to marry some heiress to finalize a business deal, but he rebelled. He packed his bags one night and left behind that life of luxury and comfort.
Coming back to the present, he looked at his wife and marveled that she had fallen in love with him and married him. She was the purest and most generous soul he had ever met in his life, compared to his past acquaintances. She had been wary of him when they met but he gradually won her over through patience and persistence. The moment he saw her, he knew she was it for him. Quite a classically romantic view in a modern age, but it happened to them both.
'Babe, do you think Vi will tell him about Damián?'
Cavendish mulled over his thoughts about Rebecca's scary but lovable aunt. Viola had found him annoying in the beginning, but she was also a major reason of his present happiness. He understood she kept her cards close to her chest, but he always felt that Damian should meet his father. Underworld Mafia boss or not. He was fond of the woman and wished her every happiness, but he felt it was up to her to decide.
'Becca my darling, your aunt is a force of nature and yet the mention of Doflamingo shakes her composure. He did manage to find her after all these years, coincidence or not. Compared to what you have told me about him, it is quite surprising all of us are still alive. It may have to come to that, wouldn't you agree? I mean, you would want to know if you were in Damian's position?
'I guess so, but Aunti-o had a good reason to run. I would never want my kids to grow up in such an atmosphere. Doflamingo has the right to know he's a father, though.'
'Something we both agree on.'
They continued to lay there when Rebecca's cell phone started ringing. As she checked the screen, she saw that it was the subject of their discussion.
'Auntio, we were just talking about you!'
'Cavendish is home? That's unusual. How did his presentation go?'
'Yeah, babe, you did not tell me.'
'Pretty great. They are offering me a promotion.'
Rebecca squealed in happiness while Viola wryly covered her ears on the other side of the phone and smiled. A few smooches could be heard, and she decided to cut in before they mentally traumatized her.
'Whoa, okay, hold on! Rebecca, I'd like to talk to guys tonight if that's okay.'
'Of course, Aunti-o. Come over for dinner.'
'I'll bring the food. My treat.'
'See you then.;
She hung up wondering what may have happened when Cavendish started tickling her. They were about to kiss when the baby monitor wailed with Scarlet's cries. They looked at each other with amused exasperation as she started putting ion her dress. He perused her form, his blue eyes still burning with latent desire which she admonished with a slight frown. He sighed and checked his watch. It was time to pick up Max from kindergarten.
Dinner that night was lively as they were in a celebratory mode. Viola had brought the food as promised, steaks and mashed potatoes complete with the works. The children played in the other room. Little Scarlet was safely nestled in her father's arms as they chatted about the vents of the day. Viola looked at them wistfully She wanted her own husband and children. The latter she was blessed with in the form of a lively yet charming little boy, the former remained a topic she did not want to think about.
She remembered her parents, the loud laughter of her father which filled a room, her sister admonishing yet braiding her hair gently at the same time. Her mother was a no-nonsense woman, but her eyes crinkled up in laugh lines at the sight of her family laughing and enjoying their time together. She was often amused and exasperated at her father's excessive kindness, even at his own expense. Her illness took her away from them too soon. Rebecca's father suffered the same fate, though he enjoyed a very brief marriage to her sister.
What did we ever do to piss off the universe? Rebecca and I are the only ones left of our family. Looking back, I had wanted nothing more than to have someone who would cherish me. I dreamed of having a marriage just like my mom and dad.
A longing that she kept deeply buried came out at that moment, causing her to tear up. She excused herself and went to the kitchen to get dessert.
'Aunti-o, you okay?'
'Of course, Becca.'
She did not look convinced, but she helped her scoop out ice cream which they carried to the living room. Cavendish slipped an arm around Rebecca's shoulders and pressed his lips against her temples. She snuggled with the bowl in her hand and turned to Viola.
'You wanted to talk. Is something wrong?'
'No, it's just…. Rosinante came by the other day.'
'Really?! How is he? He bought me ice cream sometimes. Even helped with homework once.'
'That sounds like him. So, he met Damian.'
Their gasps echoed across the silent room. They looked at each other and motioned for her to continue her retelling of the encounter.
'He knew right away who Damian's father was. He was already scolding me for going missing when Damian walked in. I suppose it was bound to happen. He advised me to think about my kid's future, but I don't know.'
Cavendish spoke then, his fingers interlacing under his chin as he marshalled up his thoughts.
'Viola, the kid and the father should know of each other's existence. I respect and fully understand why you two ran away but think. One day he will want to know. I'll be surprised if he has not been asking already.'
'Yeah, he did, but I distracted him.'
'It is risky, a lot of things could change, but he should hear it from you.'
'Rosinante said the same thing in a roundabout way.'
'Then, you have your answer.'
They left, promising to have the next big cookout at Viola's place. Damian fell asleep on the way home so she carried him into their apartment. She just changed his pajamas deciding she would give him a bath in the morning. Looking at his serene face, she tried to imagine Doffy having such an expression. To her dismay, she realized she has never seen such an expression on him. He always smirked at her when they exchanged verbal banters, a couple of heated looks occasionally thrown her way. She never put it into much account as she knew how he had women wrapped around his finger. Admitting reluctantly that she had succumbed to his charms a few times, it infuriated her to imagine him with anyone else. To not think of him often for long intervals would be a blessing.
As she lay in bed that night, Viola thought about the past, the present and what the future could possibly hold for her. Her life changed the day she met him, this man with so many layers despite his smiling façade, things that shaped him into the man he is today and her role in his life. They shared intense chemistry, but she held herself wary when it came to her feelings. She was already scared that it was too late to save herself. Perhaps, he was too deep in her veins.
I have avoided thinking about him and he seems to be staying away from me too. For some reason, it makes me feel a tiny bit lonely. Doffy has no qualms about punishing people who wrong him. I have seen him break fingers, wrists and other joints slowly and swiftly; let's not even touch the long-awaited revenge plans for enemies who thought they had the upper hand. He has left a destructive path in his wake; it's almost like he's punishing his parents' murderers.
Yet, he has never hurt me though I never really thought he would regard me on such an intense level. If what Rosinante says is true, then it is painting a new side of Doffy I'm not familiar with. He can be kind and gentle though the idea is laughable, but those traits are rarer than factual accounts of dinosaur bones in his case!
A part of me wants to tell him, wishes for him to show these mythical traits so I can let myself trust him. On the other hand, over my dead body will I let him follow Doffy's footsteps.
