Cayman Desires

by Simmons, Sabel

  Bette snorted: “Not mentioning names, but following my eyes, unlike others who have been sleeping till all hours in the mornings lately, I have been grafting since sunrise the past three days to get everything ready.” She rolled her eyes suggestively towards Clarissa saying this.

  Clarissa felt her cheeks burn, but could not eradicate the soft smile from her lips. Raymond has been extremely attentive and tender towards her since Sunday, even sleeping with her and making love to her every morning before allowing her to dress and go to work. Hence her being late every day.

  Bette glanced at Clarissa, noticing the tender smile on her lips, the bright, shiny eyes and worried the inside of her cheek. She prayed that Clarissa would not be hurt again. She told Bette their history the week before and it was as clear as daylight that Clarissa still loved him with all her heart.

  “Well, we won’t get things done standing around looking pretty all day! There is still a lot to be done. C’mon, Boss, I need your assistance with the centerpiece for the buffet table. You are more of an expert with flowers than I.”

  She pulled Clarissa towards the buffet area, chatting all the way.

  Once they finished with all the preparation, Clarissa was so hot; she decided to go for a quick swim in the sea. This time of the afternoon the water was very tranquil, perfect for a lazy swim.

  Dressed in a black bikini, with a black and white chiffon wrap tied around her waist, she strolled down to the beach, enjoying the sunshine on her exposed skin. There was not much time to enjoy the sun and surf this time of year.

  She spread her towel near the edge of the water, untied the wrap around her waist and sank down on the towel, breathing in the fresh salty air.

  Two small hands circled her from behind, covering her eyes. The young voice deepened to growl in her ear. “Guess who!”

  “Hmmm, now let me see … who do I know that sounds so big and strong? Uhm, is it Tarzan?”

  Robby peeled in laughter, let go of her eyes and wrapped his small arms around her neck from behind.

  “It’s me, silly!”

  “Oh, I’m sorry … it’s Tarzan’s boy!”

  He laughed again. “Daddy, Rissa says you’re Tarzan!”

  “First I’m Blackbeard, now Tarzan. What next Miss Langston?”

  She looked up as he lowered himself next to her on the tiny space left on her towel. His side and thigh touching hers scorched a trail of fire all the way down to her toes.

  He leaned forward and kissed her deeply. She leaned into him and returned the kiss. His tongue stroked the seam of her lips begging for entrance, which she willingly offered and their tongues met in a passionate dance.

  “Argh! Not again! You’re kissing again! How can you breathe when you do that?”

  Smilingly Raymond pulled away from Clarissa, looked up at his son standing next to him.

  “You just wait and see, my boy. Not so far in the future, you will also be kissing some girl and not worry about breathing.”

  “Oh, jig, no! Not me!” He pulled his face, grabbed Raymond by the hand and pulled.

  “C’mon Dad, let’s go swim. Rissa, come swim with us.”

  The three of them ran hand in hand towards the sea, played and frolicked for close to an hour. Clarissa laughingly withdrew from them and fell down on her towel, tired but completely relaxed.

  Robby and Raymond played around for a while longer, then Raymond came over and joined her on the towel; Robby happily building a sand castle a short distance from them. He entertained them non-stop with his funny sayings.

  Raymond leaned into Clarissa, his gaze on her softly smiling lips. She noticed the hungry look in his eyes.

  “Ray … no … Robby … “

  “Robby is fine, I’m not. If I don’t get a kiss right this minute, I will dissolve into a cloud of steam.”

  His mouth closed over hers and his upper body pressed her down in the sand. Her hands crept over his shoulders to caress his muscled back. The kiss deepened and she sighed in bliss. His mouth left hers to explore lazily over her cheek to settle on her earlobe.

  She felt her stomach muscles tighten, she rubbed her leg up and down Ray’s hairy one and he groaned in her ear.

  “Woman … if you want us to create a scandal … continue doing that …”

  His tongue slipped in and out her ear and she moaned as she felt the heat rush down her stomach to settle low between her legs.

  “Ray … stop … please … I …”

  “Ugh! Daaaad! Not again!”

  Reluctantly Raymond pulled away from her; looked deep into her eyes, hazed over with desire, then placed a soft tender kiss on her lips.

  He jumped up and Robby, realizing his intend, squeaked and started racing towards the sea. Raymond caught up with him and swung him high in the air. His excited shrieks were sure to be heard miles down the beach.

  “Robert, you are giving me a headache. Please stop this nonsense and nagging me all the time.”

  Raymond glared at Robby, but could not gather the usual fiery emotion behind his words, especially with his own replica gazing up at him so innocently.

  “But Daaad … you even stay with Rissa every night! So that DOES mean …”

  Raymond groaned so loud Robby stopped and grabbed his hand worriedly.

  “Dad, are you okay? You’re not getting sick are you?”

  “No Robby, I am not sick, apart from that headache I just mentioned.”

  “Yes, but Daaad … as I was saying … “

  “As you were saying … nothing! Who says I am staying with Clarissa every night?”

  “Aren’t you?”

  “Robert, do not answer a question with a question!”

  When did this little boy become so clever? He did not even talk or think like a little boy, more like a child twice his age! He acted so grown up. He cleared his throat and smiled, realizing that his son was exactly the way he was as a little boy. Way too clever for his age!

  “Well, no one, Dad. I just wanted to sleep with you the other night, but you were not there and this morning I wanted us to go swimming with sunrise and you were not there, AND your bed was still made up. So, heeellloooo…”

  “So therefore you just automatically assumed I was with Clarissa? Look Robby, this is grown-up stuff. There are things you would not understand.” He held his hand up as another “But Daaad ...,” filled his ears.

  “No, no more! Let’s go for that swim. We’ll even do some board surfing.”

  “Really … really, really? Cool! WAY Cool!”

  Raymond always said no to board surfing, as he felt Robby was still too small, but at least that got him off his one-track mind from Clarissa becoming his new mommy!

  Satisfied that the party was a huge success, Clarissa fell in bed just past midnight. She was exhausted after the past two and a half weeks and left with the party still in full swing. Bette however, managed fine and she would make sure it continued that way until all the guests partied enough.

  The smile on her lips when she snuggled into her pillows, were indicative of her happiness. She spent most of the night in Raymond’s arms on the dance floor. They always loved dancing and he was an excellent dancer, it was pure bliss.

  Now lying in bed, her feet throbbing and her body tired beyond imagination, she had hope for their future. He clearly broke any association, if there even was one, between him and the petite blond woman that hanged on his arm since their arrival.

  The way he treated her, the attention he gave her, in public and in front of his mother were more than enough affirmation that he must still have feelings for her. With a smile on her face and bliss in her heart, she fell in a deep, exhausted sleep.

  Raymond stood looking down at the sleeping woman as the moonlight softly caressed her beautiful face. He knew she was exhausted; still he was upset when he realized she had slipped away without telling him or asking him to join her.

  However, it was his uncle’s party, so he would not have been able to leave before they did anyway
. He bent down and placed a soft kiss on her cheek. His fingertips softly grazed the slope of her breast, and he smiled as the nipple immediately puckered into a hard little nub. He contemplated getting into bed with her, but knew very well, he would not only be able to sleep and not make love with her. She needed some sleep.

  Straightening, he turned and left to wander listlessly down the pathway to his uncle’s cottage. He undressed and pulled on a pair of sleeping shorts. Opening the balcony door he always left open during the night, he walked out onto the balcony. A soft, yet warm breeze brushed over him.

  He sighed and stood gazing out to the sea. His mind and his heart were in turmoil. Robby’s constant nagging about Clarissa augmented it to fester inside him constantly. He pulled his hands through his hair and grunted.

  What was he to do? He, who have always been so in charge of his feelings and emotions. When he arrived here and came across Clarissa, the hurt and hatred that festered inside him over the years came to the surface and all he wanted to do was hurt her, as much as he hurt all those years ago.

  Now, all he wanted to do was treasure her … love her. Yet all those years of hurt and hate still lingered inside him. Mistrust and insecurity were now the biggest emotions that raged through him. Was what she was showing towards him now, really what she felt in her heart, or was it once again her way of guaranteeing her future with the Princeton Group?

  His fist came down on the balustrade with a thud. Damn his mother for telling him about Henry Scott all those years ago, damn Henry Scott for confirming the story!

  Clarissa waved the final group of Miguel’s friends’ goodbye; the shuttle taking them to the airport pulled away. Smilingly, she turned to Miguel.

  “Well, Miguel, have you at least enjoyed your party and having all your friends here?”

  Miguel beamed at her. “Oh yes. You did a superb job!”

  “You’ll have to thank Bette. I handed all responsibilities over to her for your party. I’m sure she’ll be thrilled.”

  “It will most definitely be done. I’ve checked with her earlier and you are relatively free today. Please join us for brunch at the cottage, just to say thank you for all you have done for us.”

  “It was only a pleasure and of course I’ll join you.”

  Retha linked her arm through Clarissa’s. “No time like the present. Come, everything is ready. And you’re even dressed appropriately.”

  Clarissa smiled. It was actually her day off and she planned to spend the day exploring a bit. She knew Raymond would be spending his mother’s last day in her company, so she needed to get away to think.

  “Ok, but I will be leaving directly after brunch. I planned on exploring for the day, but half the day is more than enough time to relax.”

  Upon arrival, Clarissa stiffened as she noticed Cecile lounging in a chair at the patio table. Robby sulked next to Raymond, standing next to the balustrade leading onto the steps to the beach.

  When Robby noticed Clarissa, his face lit up and he sped in her direction. Bracing herself she caught his sturdy body and lifted him high, groaning playfully.

  “I’m going to have to eat a lot more staple food if I were to keep on catching you like this. You’re so strong!”

  Robby laughed in glee and pumped his muscles at her. She lowered him to the ground; he grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the patio and his dad.

  Raymond smiled down at her, draped his arm around his shoulder, but Cecile ignored her greeting.

  She sneered at Clarissa, “You should not encourage the little boy, you know. Everyone knows once they leave here, you’ll never see him again, so you’re just …”

  Robby gave a strangled cry, looked up with tears and confusion in his eyes at Clarissa and Raymond. “Dad …”

  Cecile snorted. “See … it is already too late! Stop it Robert, there is absolutely no reason to cry over this little tar…”

  “MOTHER!” Raymond thundered at her, but Robby started sobbing and ran inside and up to his room, a furious Retha on his heels.

  Cecile stood up and faced Raymond with malice in her eyes.

  “No, don’t Mother me. It is time someone speaks the truth around here. She has been whoring with you and you are too blind to…”

  Raymond was livid and Clarissa turned as pale as a sheet. He closed in on his mother, his whole body ready to strike.

  “I warned you the other day Mother, not to say anything against Clarissa. I expect you to apologize to her and then you can …”

  “Apologize! Over my dead body! What is the matter with all of you? Miguel, talk to him!”

  Miguel’s eyes glowed with hatred. “What did I ever saw in you? No Cecile, you are what is the matter. You have no right to insult Clarissa like this. No right, whatsoever, and you, more than anyone know it!”

  Raymond frowned at his uncle. “What do you mean, Uncle?”

  Before he could reply, Retha joined them again and at Raymond’s concerned look told him that Robby was fine. Then she turned towards Cecile.

  “I threw you out a door by your hair once before Cecile. I am not too old to do that again! Now, if you have no intention of apologizing to this wonderful woman here, leave.”

  Cecile sputtered in indignation and Raymond looked at his aunt in wonder. Never has he seen her so angry. It was a quiet anger, an anger that was far more dangerous than his visual, loud anger.

  “I am only thinking of my son’s future. You have given him your empire, Miguel. Do you really want to have it ruined by his relationship with this … this …”

  “Mother, I am not going to stand for this much longer!”

  “But, Ray! It is your birthright! You, at the top, in charge of the Princeton Group! This … this wh … this woman pulled you down once before! Don’t allow that to happen again!”

  Clarissa’s blood dropped to pool in the soles of her feet. She swayed and just wanted to leave, but Raymond’s hard hand on her shoulder kept her rooted next to him. She felt the anger so long suppressed erupt from him in the tightening of every muscle in his body.

  “Birthright! Birthright! What birthright, Mother!” He literally shouted the words at her, fury vibrating in his voice.

  Cecile took a step back at the anger thrown at her. She paled visibly and looked at her viscously angry son facing her.

  “Wha … what do you mean?”

  “What do I mean? You mean I have to spell it out for you!”

  Retha approached Raymond and laid a calming hand on his arm. “Ray, not so loud, Robby should no …”

  Raymond hardly acknowledged her, even though he nodded, his arm still like a vice around Clarissa, his eyes unyielding on his mother.

  Cecile’s confidence started to waiver. “Ray, son, what are you saying?”

  “What I am saying, dear Mother is that you know just as well as I do, that the Princeton Group Hotels is NOT my birthright! Never was, never will be!”

  Miguel paled. “Ray, my boy, what do you mean?”

  Everyone looked at Raymond in shock. Cecile went grey.

  “No, you don’t know what you are saying! It is yours! It is! Your father …”

  “Was not Darius St Claire,” he said so quietly they had to strain to hear him. Cecile dropped down on the chair and struggled to breathe.

  “How can you say that? He loved you with all his heart. He was your father!”

  “Stop lying, Mother. He might have been the man you married, but he was most definitely NOT the man who fathered me!”

  “No … Ray … no … you …” Cecile tried to stop him, but he ignored her. Facing his aunt and uncle, who was now deathly pale, he continued softly.

  “I am sorry, Uncle, but you have to know the truth.” His grip tightened on Clarissa.

  “Five years ago Mother asked me to clear out all Dads paperwork in the study. All these years there were still stuff lying around in boxes. I went through everything and came across … across an envelope from a pathologist. ”

  Cecile slumped in her cha
ir, her mouth pressed in a thin line; hatred in her eyes fastened on Miguel and Retha.

  “It was DNA results, mine and his. It was clearly indicated even though there were similarities in our DNA, Darius St Claire could not have fathered me.”

  Everyone was deadly silent, the one paler than the other. Retha sank down on a chair and Miguel stood behind her, his hand clamped on her shoulder, not even realizing he was probably hurting her with his vice-like grip. His voice came out in a hoarse whisper.

  “Not your father … he was not your father …” He swung to Cecile, hope enlivening the gloom in his eyes.

  “Cecile, you were … he is … Ray is he …” He could not get the question out. Retha lifted her hand and covered his on her shoulder.

  “You married Darius directly after … after … and you said Raymond was a honeymoon baby … and was born two months … two months premature …”

  Clarissa inhaled sharply. Could it be? Raymond glanced down at her and saw the excitement mounting in her. His gaze swung questioningly towards his uncle.

  Cecile pressed her lips even tighter together and refused to answer him, hatred still scoring from her towards Retha.

  “Cecile! Is he mine! Is Raymond my son?”

  Miguel’s voice wavered at the possibility, and he had to force his feet to remain where they were, least he went over there to strangle the truth out of her!

  Raymond drew his breath in with shock, his gaze riveted on Miguel and Retha, a soft smile now playing around her mouth where she sat looking up at him.

  Cecile hissed in anger and directed the full force of it in his direction.

  “What do you think, Miguel? High and mighty Miguel and Retha St Claire! You used me! For months, I was good enough because you needed someone to boost your ego. I did that, I was there for you, not her! I did everything you wanted and needed then what did you do? When she snapped her fingers, you crawled back to her like a little puppy!”

  Retha paled and she swung her gaze towards Cecile.

  “You’ve got it wrong, Cecile. He needed time, time I was prepared to give him because I loved him. You saw a tiny crack in the wall and thought you could wiggle through it! He didn’t need a lover he needed understanding and love. Both emotions you could not give him!”