Aphrodite's Stand

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Aphrodite's Stand Page 15

by Sandra Scott


  Tossing her long black hair, Sly jammed her balled fists onto her curvy hips. “No! We are not like family! Paulo and I is family!”

  “Are family,” Racine said.

  “Racine!” Al said. “Behave yourself, please!”

  George spoke up. “Sly, please present good manners upon entering this house.”

  “Sure, whatever,” Racine said to her mother.

  “Yes, Papa Georigios. I mean Papa George,” Sly said.

  Silently, the two younger women continued to size each other up.

  “Forgive me. I almost forgot to introduce my best friend, Paulo,” Jayson blurted out too quickly and, in Andra’s opinion, too loudly. “Paulo, this is Andra’s mother, Mrs. Williams, and Andra’s sister, Racine.”

  After Paulo bowed quickly over Al’s hand, his face lit up with appreciation as he approached Racine, ready to claim her hand.

  Shaking her head, she snatched it behind her back. “Didn’t you just hear me tell Mr. George over there I’m not into that stuff? So you need to back off, buddy.”

  His grin widened at a perceived agreeable alternative. “Then I may kiss your cheek?” he asked hopefully.

  “No, you may not!” She shook her head in disbelief. “Sheesh! What’s with the men over here?”

  For the first time in a while, Stefano spoke up. “Perhaps most are simply overpowered by your beauty and charm and cannot help themselves.”

  Prickling at Stefano’s tone, Racine crossed her arms over her chest. She rocked back on her heels. “Well, I notice you didn’t do that!”

  Stefano’s responding shrug was like a slap in the face.

  Twisting her head, Racine glared at Sly, who quietly giggled with pleasure. However, a few seconds later, Racine’s intensity forced Sly’s laughter to cease, and now uncomfortable, Sly moved closer to Paulo, who in turn watched the scene in awkward muteness.

  Racine’s sights zeroed in on Stefano once more.

  “You,” she growled, only to be cut short by George.

  “Stefano!” his father said in admonishment, shaking his head with authority. “Once again, I must ask you to apologize.”

  After first nodding stiffly to his father, Stefano bowed toward no one in particular inside the room. “My sincere apologies.”

  Sincere? Andra thought. You sure can throw that word around a lot!

  Everyone jumped when, as if on cue, with a clatter of rattling utensils and cart wheels, Helena crossed into the room, her solid arms pushing before her a white-linen-tablecloth-covered cart filled with silver platters holding various edible delicacies as well as assorted coffee, teas, and other beverages.

  “Dinner is on time, Mr. Georigios,” she said, stopping to clean her hands with her apron. Smiling, she kept her English words slow, enunciating them carefully. “Will you be ready for the eating then?”

  Delayed in his reaction to her question, George took a moment to break his reproachful stare from Stefano. He then shook his head as if to clear it. “I apologize, Helena.” With a strained smile, he nodded at her. “Yes, I thank you. We will be ready.”

  It seemed to take Helena a moment to absorb the emotionally charged atmosphere. Her ready smile slowly disappeared, transforming into a hesitant frown. Nodding with awkward uncertainty, she turned and disappeared from the room as quickly as her wide girth could carry her.

  Andra stifled a frustrated sigh at the turn of events.

  Great. Now we’ve managed to frighten poor Helena to the point she probably doesn’t want to show her face again. She couldn’t help but let out a drawn-out breath. It’s gonna be another unbearable night. And my family’s here, so I won’t be able to lock myself inside the bedroom.

  As if he’d heard her dismal thoughts, Jayson ducked his head. “Doc,” he whispered, “I predict this is going to be some dinner. You’ll be there, right?”

  The smile she gave Jayson camouflaged her misery. In her peripheral vision, Andra covertly observed Stefano pour himself another full glass of brandy, which pretty much confirmed her forecast.

  It wasn’t a good start.

  28

  Knowing more people roamed the house, Andra didn’t feel the need to lock the bedroom door. She felt safe in assuming an impromptu visit from either Stefano or Sly had dropped from probable to zero.

  So when the door swung inward, although not finished dressing, she remained perfectly calm.

  Jayson slipped into the room.

  As usual, his virile good looks took her breath away, leaving her paralyzed and speechless.

  How do I find the strength to leave this man?

  He grinned at her, pivoted, and shut the door.

  Still unwavering in her decision to separate from him, she’d come to the conclusion that the last time they had made wonderful, all-consuming love would be their last time.

  The click of the bedroom door locking sounded loud. She froze, clearing her throat. “Hey, buddy, what are you doing?”

  Andra’s eyes darted about, trying to focus on anything other than his hand resting dangerously upon the doorknob, and her sights ultimately landed on a chair supporting a pile of unfolded clothes.

  Jayson faced her, his carefree smile turning dangerously seductive. “With so many people walking about the villa, I wanted to make sure we had a little privacy.” With graceful stealth, he approached her. “I wouldn’t want anyone walking in on us.”

  His chuckle caused goose bumps to spider across Andra’s flesh.

  She quickly finished zipping her dress. “Well, I guess so. It’ll be a little awkward—them bursting in on you while you’re changing for dinner.” She attempted a laugh; however, it came out jittery and high pitched. “And speaking of clothes, I’ll fold those clothes and put them away while you change.”

  “You’re deliciously tantalizing, Doc,” he said, as if she hadn’t said a word. Deliberately, his eyes roamed her body. “Like sweet dark chocolate—tasty, delectable, good enough to eat.”

  Andra’s eyes widened at the simile. She shook her head. “Nope, we don’t have time to fool around.” At his approach, she moved in reverse, her legs ultimately bumping against the mattress. “Stop playing, Jay, and get dressed for dinner. Your in-laws are waiting.”

  He laughed. With a firm finger, he pushed her shoulder, forcing her to land on her back across the bed. “We’re married, remember?” he asked. Bending, he captured one leg to slide his palm along her calf toward her foot, where he leisurely took off one high heel and then the other. “I believe Al wouldn’t object to her son-in-law pleasuring his wife, right?”

  He draped himself over her, forcing her body deeper into the mattress. Ravenously, his lips latched on to her neck; he then used them as a human suction cup, pulling her flesh inside his mouth.

  “Stop it,” Andra moaned. She wanted to push him away but couldn’t find the strength. “Jayson, we don’t have time for this.”

  “So now it’s Jayson, is it?” he mumbled, his full mouth chewing her delicate skin.

  “Yes.”

  Andra raised weakened fingers to separate herself from his lips but found to both her frustration and delight that Jayson impeded her effort by grasping her wrists. He stretched them upward, pinning them above her head.

  She turned away from his mouth, unwittingly exposing more flesh for his suction pleasure. She murmured in undiluted ecstasy as the pressure immediately increased.

  “Like I said, you taste like sweet dark chocolate,” he whispered against her neck. “And I’m a starving man.”

  When he finally released her wrists, they somehow stayed in place without his assistance.

  She arched her spine as Jayson’s mouth made a moist trail along her skin. It traveled south to the cleft of her breasts. His tongue, wet and smooth, plunged deep between the divided mounds displayed above her bodice’s scooped neckline while his sliding p
alms moved along her sides to stop at each breast.

  His large hands wrapped around them, and as if testing two melons, he firmly squeezed.

  “Hmm, your breasts are getting fuller, baby.” He pushed them together, causing the fleshy crests to bubble up below her chin. “As far as I’m concerned, I like it a lot.”

  “I believe I’m coming upon that time of the month,” she said, her voice breathless. “So I wouldn’t go for it if I were you.”

  Andra closed her eyes as her husband’s body slid farther south. His lips took time to generously kiss each breast point and then her flat belly, only to finally hover above the hem of her flared skirt. Looking up at her with sultry eyes, Jayson smiled. “I’ll chance it.”

  “I don’t understand. Why am I such a priority now?” she asked, moving her head from side to side. “You’ve basically ignored me since we got here.”

  Jayson answered by leisurely lifting her hem. He paused to push aside her protesting hands and then glided his warm palms along her outer thighs until they completely disappeared under her skirt. Andra felt a tug on her panties, and without being asked, she lifted her bottom to assist in their removal.

  The swoosh of lacy material sailing through the air to land somewhere across the room was barely noticeable. As Jayson bunched her skirt to her belly, Andra willingly drew her dangling legs upon the bed and bent them at the knees. She opened them wide at his sigh of pleasure.

  “You always have been, and will always be, my first priority, Doc,” he said. Chuckling softly, he pressed gentle lips against her inner thigh, only to do the same to its twin. “Just a taste, baby. A small snack before dinner.”

  Forgetting her pledged celibacy with her husband, she returned her hands, palms up, above her head. Arching her back, she lustfully inhaled the moment her husband’s eager mouth claimed her womanly core.

  A knock sounded.

  “Hey, Andra?” Racine’s muffled voice penetrated the locked door. “You decent?”

  Both heads jerked up. Quickly, Jayson repositioned Andra’s skirt over her thighs just as she let out a loud exhalation.

  “Race, hold on a minute!” she called out. “I’m coming!” Sitting up, she stole a glance at Jayson, who remained on his knees before her, his face grinning from ear to ear. “What’s so funny?” she asked him.

  He wagged one eyebrow. “I’m coming?”

  Her face drew a blank until she realized what he meant. Embarrassed, Andra gently kicked him with her big toe. “Climb outta that gutter you crawled into,” she whispered. “You’re so nasty!”

  “What?” he asked her, rubbing her covered thigh. “You said it, not me!”

  “Oh, just go get dressed!”

  Jayson rose, brushing off the knees of his charcoal-gray pants. “Don’t need to. I’m wearing this to dinner.”

  He threw her a flirtatious wink before heading for the door. Upon his arrival, he again looked her way, his dark eyes matching almost perfectly his black button-down shirt, waiting for Andra to rise off the bed.

  Signaling to him that she wasn’t quite ready to let Racine in, she scanned the room for her discarded underwear. She located them hanging partially off the chair that held the clothes she intended to fold. Spinning to retrieve them, she stopped short when her husband shook his head.

  “Keep them off. I might want a quick snack later.”

  Feeling decadently exposed without panties underneath her dress, she mutely received the kiss he blew.

  With enthusiastic vigor, he flung open the door. “Well, hello, Sis—gorgeous as ever.” Before Racine could respond, Jayson threw Andra a playful look. “You coming?” Suggestively, he wiggled an eyebrow again, and Andra giggled.

  Racine released an impatient sigh. “I don’t know what that’s all about, but”—she pushed Jayson across the threshold and out into the hall—“we’ll be right there. I just want a minute with my sister. See you downstairs.” She shut the door in his face.

  “Racine, you were rude!”

  Her little sister swatted the air. “Oh, he loves it, and you know it.” She strolled over to Andra, hugged her, and then plopped onto the bed recently dented by Andra’s frame. She patted the mattress beside her. “Come on. Let’s talk! How’ve you been?”

  Sighing in both exasperation and love, Andra sat next to her. She immediately stretched out on her side and propped herself up on one elbow, causing Racine to duplicate her position. They faced each other in close sisterly proximity.

  Andra winced when Racine got right to the point.

  “So what’s up with you and Miss Prima Donna? I can see you don’t like her,” she said. Her volume dropped, her pitch suddenly low and confidential. “I’m with ya. I’m pretty sure I know what’s up, but I don’t wanna jump the gun. You tell me.”

  “I’m not sure I understand your meaning,” Andra said, sniffing.

  Flopping onto her back, Racine laughed hysterically. She then swiped at merry tears. “Now I know something’s up! Whenever you get that proper uppity tone in your voice, you’re trying to cover up!”

  Andra clicked her tongue at her sister’s on-target assessment and flopped onto her back as well. She gazed upward as sparkling speckles of spackled white ceiling stared down on them from up high. “Well, okay,” she admitted. “Sly’s been a thorn in my side since I’ve been here. She’s always hanging around, not to mention she’s young and beautiful.”

  Racine propped herself up on both elbows to stare down at Andra. “What? That girl? Beautiful? Please!” Racine snorted. “She’s got nothing on you, Sis, not with those buck teeth and her extra-wide forehead.”

  Andra gaped at her sister. “You’re kidding, right? She’s probably the most gorgeous, perfect woman I’ve met in person.” Andra laughed at her sister’s dubious expression. “Present company excluded.” She paused to swat Racine’s arm. “Come on—admit it.”

  Dubiousness made way for reluctant concession. “Okay, I guess she’s cute, and I may have exaggerated a bit concerning her flaws—which she does have.” Racine made sure to interject the last bit. Her voice lowered reflectively. “But maybe you’re exaggerating her looks in the opposite direction. She’s not all that either. Nobody’s perfect.”

  As Andra pondered her words, Racine maneuvered her body into a sitting position, turned directly toward Andra, and sat cross-legged. Leaning forward, she rested her palms on bent knees. Her eyes delved deep to study Andra’s. “You’ve got a kinda twitchy look about you, like you’re ready to jet.” At Andra’s startled expression, Racine reached over and patted her arm. “You can’t hide anything from me. Like I said, Sis, I’ve known you too long.”

  Swiftly, Andra sat up, the hasty motion causing the room to sway. Recovering quickly before Racine had time to make a big deal of it, she carefully mirrored her sister’s cross-legged position, making sure to discreetly keep her pantie-less situation under wraps.

  She waited for the room to stop dipping before she felt steady enough to speak. “Okay, but you can’t tell Mama. I don’t want her to worry.” At Racine’s consensual nod, Andra continued. “True, I was seriously contemplating flying home. Things have been, well, not so good due to Jayson’s family business and all.”

  Racine’s brow lifted. “The ‘and all’ is probably the most frustrating, I imagine.”

  Sly’s face, although not quite as perfect now, floated inside Andra’s head, and by the sour expression on Racine’s face, she figured the same face had insinuated itself into her mind as well.

  Racine stretched forth to tap Andra’s kneecap, causing Sly’s daydream image to evaporate into nothingness. Intently, Andra focused on her baby sister’s lips, which were in serious motion.

  “Hey, you being an upstanding doctor and all, I’m cool with the fact that you don’t want to get your hands dirty. Just say the word, and I’ll kick her butt all across this Grecian countryside for you.
When the dust clears, they’ll never find the body.”

  Andra looked off into space, her mind wrapping itself around her newest daydream fueled by Racine’s words. A few blissful moments raced by before she shook her head. “No. Actually, I thought about kicking her butt myself, but it wouldn’t be right.” She sighed and threw her sister a small, hopeful glance. “Would it?”

  Racine shrugged in noncommittal silence. Then, as if a lightbulb had blinked on inside her brain, she frowned. “So, Andra, you were ready to jet outta here, only to have us show up. Don’t tell me we stopped you from going home?” At Andra’s uneasy silence, Racine hit the heel of one palm against her forehead. “I told Mama to hold off on coming over here! But you know how determined she can be.”

  Her words trailed off into innocent nothingness, causing Andra to stare at her in mute astonishment. Finally, neither could keep a straight face, and they both tumbled onto the mattress, holding their sides and laughing with abandon.

  All too quickly, another knock sounded at the door. Muffled broken English quelled their laughter.

  “Dr. Andra ? Dr. Andra’s sister? Mr. Jayson asks you for dinner,” Helena’s muffled voice said from the other side. “It is ready, please.”

  “I’m not going,” Racine said, blinking once.

  Unfolding her legs, Andra swung them off the bed and stood up. Daintily, she smoothed her skirt, attempting to coax Racine off the bed with no luck. Finally, she had to physically pull the stubborn girl to her feet.

  “You are going,” she whispered to Racine. She then called out at the closed door, “Thanks, Helena! We’ll be right down, okay?”

  “Nai, Dr. Andra.”

  Racine’s jaw dropped. Facing Andra, she pointed at the closed door. “Did she just tell you no?”

  Andra stifled a giggle, slapping Racine on the arm. “Shh!” She waited until she heard Helena’s subdued steps retreat down the hall. “No, you big dope! Nai means ‘yes’ in Greek.”

  Before Racine could get out a snappy comeback, Andra held up a hand. “We’re going to be on our best behavior, right, Racine?” When she didn’t answer, Andra placed determined fists on her hips. “You were the one who wanted to come over here uninvited. This is the outcome you get with that decision, so deal with it!”

 

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