Cecile snorted. “Maybe not, but I gave him what you never could. A son!”
Three people paled even more, and Raymond still struggled to breathe.
“But that was my revenge! You were both so high and mighty! Blaming me for everything, whereas I only took what was offered! Yes, Miguel, I had your son, but you never knew and would never have known! I would never have told you! You, who so desired your own son! What a joke!” She laughed harshly.
“All those years, you and your precious wife helped me to raise him. All those years, you never knew you were in fact raising your own son! That, my dear Miguel, was my revenge for what you did to me!”
Raymond stepped towards Cecile, anger in every step.
“And Dad? Did you keep it from his as well?”
Cecile colored. “He was always suspicious. He never knew about my relationship with Miguel, but he found it hard to believe that I could fall pregnant in a short two weeks’ worth of a honeymoon. He apparently had a low sperm count and questioned me from day one.”
“Obviously something you denied?”
“What else was I supposed to do, Ray? Tell him the truth and then end up on the street with a baby and no way to support you.”
“There were us! I am his father!”
She snorted. “Oh, please, let’s not go there again! You would have been the last person I would ever have told!”
“What made him do the DNA test? It was only done when I was six years old.”
Cecile shifted uncomfortably on her chair.
“You had Darius’s dark hair and eyes, but everything else … your mouth, everything about you. You were an exact replica of Miguel at that age. You only started taking after Darius when you got older, I suppose the genes of twins intermingle in their kids. Your father and Miguel were not identical twins. Darius and I were paging through some old photo albums after his mother passed away. You asked questions with every photo. You were the one that in your excitement pointed out that there was a picture of you. Darius went as still as stone, sat staring at the picture for ages. He sent you to take a bath and then turned to me.”
Cecile wrung her hands on her lap at the memory.
“He went berserk! He accused me of all sorts of things. That I cheated on him with Miguel. I was so scared. I thought he was going to hit me and I told him he was imagining things. They were twins, so obviously the genes would regenerate to their children.”
She looked at Ray beseechingly.
“He calmed down after that, even apologized for becoming so angry, so I thought that was the end of it.”
“But it wasn’t.”
“No, he clearly didn’t believe me and had the DNA tests done. I could kick myself. I never realized the results were amongst his other documents otherwise I would never have asked you to go through those things.”
“I for one am glad you did.” Miguel ground out through tight lips.
“What happened when he got the results?”
“He was livid. He came home the minute he received them. He would not listen to reason. He slapped me repeatedly. He was so angry.” Tears now streamed down her cheeks.
“I shouted it out to him. Ray is Miguel’s son! He is Miguel’s son! He just stopped. He stared at me with loathing in his eyes. He didn’t ask, but everything came out. I told him the truth.”
Raymond looked at her with disgust and shook his head.
“That is when he had the heart attack?”
“Yes,” Cecile whispered. She wiped the tears furiously from her cheeks.
“They were always so competitive. The one thing he could not accept was that Miguel managed to father a child when he knew he would not be able to. To hear that the boy he adored was his brothers’ was more than he could bear. To know that he has treasured and loved his brother’s child as his own was too much for him.”
She shuddered at the memory. “He was dead before the ambulance arrived.”
She reached out to Raymond beseechingly. “Ray, believe me, I had no other choice. I would never have allowed Miguel to take you away from me. Not then and not now.”
Raymond looked at her with loathing. “The difference from then to now is that now … I have the choice … you … you have nothing!” He grated the last words through clenched teeth and so soft Clarissa had to strain to hear them.
Cecile paled even more, her skin the color of white paint. She stretched a beseeching hand towards Raymond. “Ray, please…”
“NO … no more!”
Miguel stepped between Mother and son, his eyes hard as steel when they met hers. “I think it is time you left. You have caused more damage in your miserable life than I ever imagined. Don’t ever come near my family ever again!”
Gripping her by the elbow, he led her down the veranda steps and pushed her away from him down the path. She stood looking back at Raymond, and for the first time she looked frail and defeated. When she realized no one was going to call her back she turned and stumbled down the path.
Chapter Ten
Miguel slowly climbed the veranda steps, his heart in total turmoil, rejoicing at the same time. Raymond was his! He was his own flesh and blood. The strong, proud young man was his son! Their eyes met and Miguel noticed the uncertainty flashing in Raymond’s eyes. His heart contracted. Would they be able to get past all the wrong doings over the years and be a happy family? He walked up to Raymond, a small smile hovering on his lips.
“I still can’t believe it! I can’t begin to tell you how many times over the years did I wish you were my son … and now …,” emotions clogged his throat and he had to swallow hard to keep the sob from escaping his lips.
Raymond took the small step that separated them and pulled his father into his arms. They held on to each other like lost souls. Retha and Clarissa cried unashamedly, with a confused Robby that just walked in, looking on. He felt tears fill his eyes even though he had no idea why the two women were crying or why his Dad and Uncle Miguel were hugging so fiercely.
They pulled apart and the blinding smiles on their faces wiped out the recent unpleasantness. They started talking at the same time and it was clear that the turn of events carried both their acceptance.
“I always felt close to you, Unc … Dad …,” Miguel’s eyes misted and he clasped Raymond’s shoulder. “If only … so many years wasted!”
“Let’s not waste any more, let’s get to know one another as father and son, be a family … at long last!”
Raymond looked down at Robby pulling at hand, his eyes cloudy. “Daddy, what is happening? Why is everyone crying and so sad?” His lower lip quivered and he felt like crying too. Raymond laughed aloud, the sound of joy and happiness caressing the slight breeze in the air.
“Something magical happened, my boy! Something magical!” He bent down to pick Robbie up, hugging him tight. “We just found out that Uncle Miguel is in fact my Daddy … and therefore … your grandfather!” Robby frowned, still not understanding but the word grandfather made his face lit up.
“Granddad? I have a Granddad. Whoopee!” He literally lunged into Miguel’s arms and hugged him so tight around his neck Miguel battled to breathe. Yet he did not complain, laughingly returning the hug until Robby wiggled to be let down. Immediately he rushed into Retha’s arms. “And a Granny … a Nana! I have a Nana!” Totally forgetting that Cecile were in fact his real Nana, which caused a fresh set of tears to course down Retha’s cheeks.
It was much later when Robby looked around and his voice rose, “Where is Rissa, Daddy?”
Raymond realized she was not amongst them anymore and his ire rose immediately. Did his feelings mean so little to her that she could not stay and share in his joy!
Retha’s soft hand on his arm pulled him back from leaping down the stairs to go looking for her. “She realized how much this must mean to the two of you Ray, that is why she left. To give the two of you time to get to know each other better.”
A grim smile locked on his lips, a clear indication tha
t it was not how he saw it. Miguel cleared his throat, knowing how torn Raymond was to stay or to go after Clarissa.
“It’s fine Ray, go find her. Now that we know what we are to each other, we have lots of time to become a family. Go … we’ll be here when you return.”
Raymond did not need a second invite and he was down the veranda striding down the pathway to her cottage in a flash. His long strides covered the distance in no time. He threw open the front door, still amazed that no one locked their doors here, and strode in. The quietness told him she was not there.
He cursed and swung around and stormed to the hotel. Today was the one day that he really needed her with him and she again was only concerned about her job! Supposedly wanting to give him and Miguel time to get to know each other … hogwash! Today she would admit to him that her job was the most important thing in her life. Maybe then, he would be able to forget and carry on with his life!
It took threats, and then nearly begging to get Bette to tell Raymond where to find Clarissa. “She went to the Mastic trail on the North Side. There is a hidden cove that opens into a waterfall with a pool. She always goes there when she is upset and needs to relax.” The last bit she spat at him like a venomous snake. “It is a two hour drive so she should nearly be there by now.”
“Two hours!” A glance at his watch told him it was already twelve o’ clock. He was not going to waste two hours driving! “Where can I charter a helicopter?” He did not even realize how long ago she left!
“I really think you should leave her be. She worked herself to death the past two months and needs some time to herself. You only ups …”
The flash of anger in his eyes warned her she was threading on thin ice. “You seem to forget that you now work for me. Let me be very clear Miss Du Pont, I do not appreciate any of my employees interfering with my private life, least of all dictate to me what I should or should not do!”
“I am sorry, but Clarissa is also my friend and I love her! I do not want to see her hurt!”
“Trust me; she does not need your protection. She is the expert in dishing out hurt! Now, are you going to tell me where I can charter a helicopter or do I find an EMPLOYEE that will?”
The threat neatly hidden was not lost on Bette. She stomped around her desk and scrambled through business cards in her drawer. Finding what she was looking for she thrust it towards him with a mutinous frown on her brow. Thanking her, he strode out the door pulling his cell phone from his pocket at the same time.
By the time the chatty pilot circled the landing spot close to the Mastic Trail entrance his mood had lifted somewhat. The view from the air was breathtaking and soothed his anger. As he climbed from the helicopter, he realized he never asked Bette how to get to the hidden cove! Cursing under his breath, he swung back to the pilot.
“Do you know the directions to the hidden waterfall cove?” The pilot stared at him blankly. “No, I am afraid not. I’ve heard rumors about it, but no one I know has ever come across it. Guess that’s why it is called the hidden cove!” He guffawed at his own joke but swallowed it when Raymond glared at him.
Raymond grabbed his backpack where he stuffed swimming trunks and a towel in and with a wave to the pilot walked towards the entrance of the trail. With relief, he noticed a reserve warden and walked up to him. Repeating the question the warden looked at him sharply. “How do you know about the hidden waterfall cove? Only natives ever talk about it?”
On a hunch, Raymond flashed a smile and relaxed his stance. “Clarissa told me. We were supposed to meet here at the entrance but I was delayed and she went on without me, but forgot to tell me how to get there.”
The warden stared at him with distrust, “How do you know Clarissa? She has never brought anyone with her.”
So, the trusting Trace had never been invited here. That made his smile broaden even more. “We are old friends, from back in Manchester. Actually … more than friends…” He let the suggestion hang between them and had to suffer another agonizing few minutes before the warden reluctantly gave him the directions.
“Now remember, if you reach the yellow sign indicating the Mangroove swamp you are too far and have missed the turn.”
Raymond thanked him and set off at a jog. It was close to one already and it was hot and humid. He stopped and pulled his shirt off over his head and stuffed it in the backpack and set off in a jog again. Soon he reached the curve the warden told him about and slowed to a walk searching for the silver colored stone that marked the area where he had to turn into the thick forest. He sighed with relief when he found it and quickly followed the directions until he reached the side of the mountain. Without hesitation, he walked towards the side of the mountain covered with greenery.
“How am I supposed to find …?” he mumbled under his breath when all of a sudden a slight breeze lifted some of the curtain of vines towards him, cooling his glistening torso. “Aah…” He pushed the branches out of the way and stepped into the cool interior of the cave. It was slightly humid but surprisingly light inside. He heard the rushing sound of water falling and walked in that direction, absolute amazement in his eyes when he exited the cave behind the curtain of water. He lifted his hand and let it trail into the falling water. He noticed a narrow ledge leading from behind the waterfall to the side and followed it quickly. His eyes searching the moment he landed on the lush green grass surrounding the clear blue pool.
The beauty of the nature around him disappeared and all that occupied his mind was the sight of the beautiful goddess, breaking the surface of the pool. Head thrown back she lifted her arms and stretched backwards to float lazily on her back. His breath caught in his throat. Her sun bronzed body glistened in the sun as it gently warmed the parts exposed … and they were all exposed. She was completely naked!
The blood surged to his groin and he felt himself go instantly hard as a rock. He threw the backpack on the ground, kicked off his sneakers and pushed his pants and jockeys off. He made a clean dive directly in her direction, kicking strongly to reach her.
The sound of someone diving into the water pulled Clarissa out of her dreamy state and she struggled to an upright position, kicking her legs lightly, her eyes frantically scanning the water. She was naked for goodness sake!
The sight of the naked man swimming towards her energized her to start swimming to the edge of the pool. No one ever came here, which is why she always swam naked! Before she even started swimming, she felt hard hands grab her by the waist and pulled her back against a hard, aroused body. She started struggling violently, but the arm around her waist tightened. The voice in her ear soft, but oh, so passionate and familiar.
“Now where do you think you are going, my love?” Ignoring her gasp his head lowered and his warm lips closed around the pulsing vein in her neck, softly kissing, licking and suckling. Her head fell back on his shoulders and she moaned. “Raymond … how did you find me?”
“With a lot of effort…” He had been drifting them to the side of the pool all the while and he quickly turned her around. Their eyes met and she shivered at the look of fiery desire and passion in his. Before she could utter a word, he pulled her legs around his waist and surged forward plunging full length into her pulsing heat. His breath warm against her neck he growled in her ear.
“You better hold on, my love … this is going to be rough!”
Before she could even comprehend what he said, he started thrusting into her with rough urgency, hard and deep. It was as if he desperately tried to fuse their bodies as one. They were on the deep end of the pool and she felt the smooth stone edge against her back. He held on to the edge of the rocky surface to aid him in his urgent possession of her.
Clarissa hung on for dear life. Her own body could not deny the pleasure in the deep thrusts rocking her. Each plunge made her crave the next, harder, deeper, more … until she screamed and scoured her nails down his back as pleasure so deep exploded and carried her higher than she ever imagined she could go.
&nbs
p; Raymond followed soon after and his shout echoed hers as his body shattered in pieces. He breathed hard and fast as if he had just run seven miles. He pushed deeper into her, still hard and pulsing he leaned full against her, trapping her between his body and the pools’ edge at her back. He struggled to get his body under control and when Clarissa tightened her legs and arms around him, he groaned in her neck.
Clarissa felt fully engulfed by Raymond, his hard arms around her holding her in place against the pools’ edge, his hard body pressed tight against her from breast to where he still lodged inside her. She closed her eyes and breathed him in, her body still tightly wired even though she just had the most shattering climax. She tightened her muscles around his hard length inside her and smiled when she heard his breath catch. She did it again, twice rapidly after each other and he tightened in her arms, his arousal growing even bigger and harder inside her.
“Don’t … I still don’t have control over … I still need to … I still need more!”
She turned her head, softly kissing his ear and whispered, “Then take more…” She pulled his earlobe between her lips and softly suckled it. He drew in his breath, and then totally lost it again when Clarissa started rotating her hips; causing so much pleasure, he felt the last of his control slipping. “God, baby … I don’t want to hurt you …but if you cont …”
Clarissa was savoring his fullness deep inside her and tightened her muscles around him at the same time she rotated and he could hold back no longer. With a growl, he lifted her clear out the water and pushed her on the soft grass covered edge of the pool. He surged out of the water reminding her of pictures of Zeus rising from the sea. Water dripping from his body, he immediately spread her legs and lowered himself on her plunging in and filling her eager body to the hilt. She moaned and pushed her hips into his with her legs bend and her feet flat on the ground. She could not get enough of him!
“You are really playing with fire, Clarissa! I am trying to slow down…”
Cayman Desires Page 12