by Corby, Linda
Paul looked into Zaneen’s eyes as she opened the door and it crossed his mind how little she had changed, still the beautiful woman he so desired. While he was speaking to her he realize that her beautiful sage green eyes were watering, and he instinctively knew that she still loved him regardless of what she might have to say.
“Thought I’d pop in and see how you were getting along and find out if you will be in the island for long this time. Ray tells me it is just over a year that you’ve been with Andrew now, I don’t mean to pry but is it going to be wedding bells this time around, that is if you intend to stay with him of course?”
Zaneen’s face showed that she was not too happy that Ray had been talking about her to Paul, then realizing that Paul might well not have come to see her otherwise and could not hold it against him as she had never stopped missing Paul, she always wished she had gone after Paul rather than being so independent and vein, she had not really believed that he would not return as her logic had thought that he would. As she replied to Paul’s question she couldn’t help regretting that they had ever parted.
“Let’s put it this way, Paul, I could tell you to mind your own business but as I’ve not seen you for so long I really think it would be better if we could iron out our differences. I would rather be able to speak to you when our paths cross than to have bad feelings between us. As you can see I am getting along quite nicely and as far as wedding bells, well Andrew has asked me but you should know me better than that to think that I would marry him is just plain crazy. I could not really say how long I will be staying, but as you know I do have to live in Satra for seven months of the year for tax reasons. I think that should cover all your questions? Now tell me what you’ve been up to for all this time. Ray told me that you have invested wisely and made a fortune on the stock market, and also that you now own several businesses and investment properties on the island. He mentioned that you are not involved with anyone special at the moment and you still see a lot of your old friends, I would like to know how they are getting on, the ones I have not seen myself of course. So you see I have been kept fairly well informed as to your affairs as well!”
Paul laughed as he spoke to Zaneen and she could not help smiling to herself and thinking how she had missed seeing his endearing open face and sparkling blue grey eyes.
“I have the feeling that Ray would like to see us back together again, by the way he has been passing information on to both of us all this time. You do know the way that I think on it, don’t you Zaneen?”
Zaneen noted the mischievous glint in his eyes as she answered him.
“Yes, I have a feeling that Ray feels some responsibility for our separation. Otherwise why should he try to keep us up to date with what the other half has been up to; when you think how long he has been doing this he must think we had something special in the first place, don’t you agree?”
Paul was over quick to answer as Zaneen had given him just the opening he had been looking for.
“Yes my love he obviously does, for that matter so do I.”
Zaneen’s face betrayed her and she knew there was no point in trying to cover it up, she threw her pride to the wind, as she had always wanted Paul back.
“To be honest with you Paul I still love you and I probably always will. It is just that I cannot stand to be owned or ruled by anyone. The thought of a ball and chain frightens me too much. The only reason we parted in the first place was because you wanted to run my life. Maybe you were right about some things I just don’t know. I only did the things you didn’t approve of because we needed the money and I only do them now to fill that empty space that you left me with!”
Paul took Zaneen into his arms and hugged her in a warm embrace as he spoke.
“My God Zaneen, the very things I wanted to get you out of I have managed to push you further into. When I left I thought you would give it all up and come running back to me, it was only pride that stopped me from coming back and the longer I have stayed away the worse things got. But I still love you; I never stopped all the time we have been apart. It makes me heave when I think of the time we have missed together, wasted because of pride!”
Zaneen could not cope with her emotions as they overwhelmed her, she pushed Paul away from her and took his hand looking into his eyes, she stated that she would like to go to Milve Beach and walk along the water’s edge as the clean fresh air would help her to think things through, plus Tarbra needed a run anyway.
Paul agreed and drove them all down there in his Range Rover.
Even after all this time the two of them had a huge problem to keep their hands off each other, whenever they came into contact with each other the slightest touch was enough to send electric shock waves between them.
As they played splish-splosh with Tarbra on the surfs edge Paul could not resist the urge to take Zanneen in his arms and kiss her gently on her long slim neck and it was the most natural thing in the world for Zaneen to embrace him back. Their lips touched and the past eight years became a vague memory.
Paul pulled Zaneen into his arms Zaneen could feel his warmth, their bodies touching as their breathing deepened. Paul’s hands wondered across her back as she ran her fingernails through his chest hair, thinking about stopping him but wanting him too much, she kissed his lips with his bottom lip between her teeth she could feel him harden against her hips as she looked into his eyes, he pulled her gently onto the warm sand, as the waves crashed onto them Zaneen slid her hands into his boxers, she slid his boxers down as he slid her bikini bottoms to one side. Removing her bikini top Paul could feel her nipples harden against his chest, holding her hips as she gripped his hips with her knees. Paul felt her sharp intake of breath as he pushed his hips upwards while entering her; with every movement they felt a burning emotional release. As she kissed his neck he slid his hand across her hard nipples down her flat sweating belly down to her hips and between her lips, he rubbed her clit in a circular motion, rubbing faster as she moved faster, she felt her muscles stat to twitch as his breathing deepened and her hips jolted. His head tilted back pushing his hair into the sand, Zaneen held her breath, bit her lip and dug her nails into the sand as she orgasmed she closed her eyes and could feel his throbbing as he came in her, lying on top of Paul with his arms around her she could feel his racing heart beneath her.
Tarbra wagged her tail profusely as they reclaimed their clothes and lay down on the towels, she ran around like a puppy jumping up and licking both of them, and they stayed their chatting about their future until the brilliant red sunset subsided and a slight night chill cooled their bodies.
When they arrived back Paul went into the kitchen to get the ice bucket while Zaneen telephoned Ray Colt and asked him to pop over for a drink without informing him as to why. Paul came into the lounge with Champagne and the ice bucket, Zaneen got the glasses out telling him that she had got hold of Ray and he was on his way over.
Ray spotted Paul’s car as he arrived and hoped he had not been invited to play referee, he breathed a sigh of relief when Paul opened the door to him holding a glass of bubbly with a smile on his face.
“Come on in Ray, we’ve got something to tell you with a little job involved, we are going to get married on Monday and Zaneen would like you to give her away. I have booked the registrar and organized the licence; we wanted you to be the first to know!”
Ray’s face was a picture of happiness as he replied.
“I’d love to, do tell me how you have suddenly come to this snap decision, you’ve virtually not spoken for eight years and now you are getting married in three days time?”
Zaneen laughed and replied taking Paul’s hand in hers.
“We love each other Ray, it is because of you that we eventually swallowed our pride, I have agreed to give up my contract work, I don’t have any jobs booked and I don’t have any left over, nor do I have any other commitments to sort out that I know of.”
Ray had waited to hear her say those words for a long time, lo
nger than he cared to admit. He was more than relieved that they had decided to live a more normal life now, in his opinion Paul Dray was worth a million Andrew Fletchers and as Paul was his oldest son although illegitimate he couldn’t have been more pleased with the situation.
Zaneen telephoned Andrew and told him it was over between them and what the situation was, telling him what he could do with any other jobs that came in for her. She could tell he was upset but she could not be sure of how he really felt over losing her or if it was the money she had been making her that he would actually miss. Either way it no longer mattered.
Ray contacted Ricky to tell him to come over for the wedding, he did not feel too happy when Ricky told him of how he’d met Reemo Long and had been stupid enough to take her to Preston’s hotel, as Ricky would be arriving for the wedding with Reemo as his partner the following morning . Ray decided to wait till they arrived before he made any judgement, after all Ricky did sound rather taken with her. Ray just hoped that she had nothing to do with Preston’s death.
Paul asked Ray if everything was alright after he had hung up the telephone having spoken to Ricky registering the frown that had appeared on Ray’s forehead during the conversation.
Ray explained his suspicions to Paul and Zaneen, as Zaneen had already explained to Paul how she had moved Stephanie and Antony from Rudmin to the flat adjoining her bungalow and about the events following. Ray felt that Paul should know just in case Reemo had been involved in Preston’s death in any way as if she had there could well be repercussions while she was in Satra. As it happened Paul knew exactly what had gone down, but he did not bother saying anything, some things are better left unsaid in his view.
Zaneen and Paul had decided on a very quiet wedding with the reception at Brialdigc after. They had thought that they would go on to stay on one of the smaller islands nearby for a quiet and relaxing honeymoon week, Zaneen quite fancied the idea of Preplon as she had never been able to find the time to visit this neighbouring island and it was well known for its beautiful cliff paths and country views. It was well know to all the islands as being the best kept paths as one man had spent his entire life keeping them in good order, she wished that a similar man or men had bothered to do the same thing in Satra over half the bridle paths in Satra had disappeared over the years or had been fenced across to prevent access buy property owners to stop people using them.
Many bridle paths and footpaths had been vanishing over the years on Satra; still Zaneen knew that it always took a long time for politicians to realizing what they were losing by taking no action to prevent this type of thing happening normally when it was too late.
Ray left at about six o clock that evening, Paul and Zaneen went out for a snack meal at a nearby pub called The Amsterdam by their local CB Radio members who had special names for just about everywhere in the island, they called a pub a watering hole which always amused her, she always imagined a group of them over the horses water butt outside the pub door whenever she heard it. Still she found them to be a cheerful friendly lot that are always willing to help others when they could, without hurting anyone along the way, it was beyond her as to why people in authority had made such a fuss when all they were doing was to use what was supposed to be free air anyway.
There have to be some rules in life for people to live in harmony but she did wonder how long it would be before there was a tax on the air people breath, but then maybe everyone would be happy living as they did in Russia.
When they had finished their meal that had been delicious they went straight back to Brialdigc for an early night and some nooky.
8The Morning After.
Zaneen awoke to the sound of twittering birds along with the snoring of Paul beside her; she leaned over and kissed him gently on the shoulder running her fingers over the little brown moles on his shoulders and back.
He wondered if she felt as satisfied with their sexual relationship and compatibility as he did. She had been incredible the night before, though she always had been, he was not sure if he felt like that because she was so hot in bed or because he’s feeling were so much deeper than just a sexual act for her.
Zaneen spooned Paul from behind pressing her hard nipples into his back, her legs curled around his and she ran her foot up and down his calf muscle, her toes curling with the slight pain she had in her crutch and hip bones, a longing to straddles his member and satisfy her need for him to enter her overcame her as she reached over him to embrace his member with her hand, sliding her long fingernails over his now erect member, they embraced and their bodies entwined as one as their mouths met and they kissed in ecstasy, his member throbbed inside her, the perspiration soaked their bodies as they clung to each other like limpets clinging magnetically to each other, as if parting would have been deadly to them both, until they came and fell into each other’s arms limp and spent from pure excitation.
Zaneen took Stephanie and Antony to the airport, they thanked her for what she had done especially for saving Antony’s life. It was not long after that when Ricky and Reemo arrived, Zaneen was glad it had not been foggy that morning as it meant she had not had to wait for long between the flights.
As they came down the passageway to collect their cases Zaneen realized that they were obviously very much in love with each other, she had never seen Ricky bother with any woman as he was usually such a pig in that way. She spotted Silky as they headed for the airport car park, as she left the car park she drove in the opposite direction simply to find out if he was following them or not. Sure enough he did.
Zaneen knew the islands roads inside out and even though she lost Silky without any problem she knew that he would soon be able to trace them as he was bound to have taken the number plate of Paul’s Range Rover. When they got back to Brialdigc she parked the car inside the garage and shut the door as quickly as she could, even though it was a shame that Silky would have got the number he would not be able to get the motor tax office to do a search for him until the Monday morning.
They all went into the Bungalow joining Paul and Ray in the lounge.
Zaneen watched Reemo’s expressions as she told Ray that Silky had been following them, stating that she knew Silky to be a heavy for one of the Mafia families.
Ray looked at Ricky and then Reemo, he then asked Reemo outright what her connection with Preston’s death had been, making sure that she understood she would be endangering all their lives if she hid the truth. They all waited in silence for Reemo to speak, as she did it was obvious that she was telling the truth.
“I instigated his disposal, though I had no idea that he had any Mafia connections. Ricky didn’t have anything to do with it. He didn’t even know that I had. If you want me to leave I will do.”
Ricky could not believe his ears and as he spoke Reemo felt a great relief, she had not been sure how he would react to what she had said, and was frightened of the prospect of going out on her own with Silky waiting for her.
“Why didn’t you tell me the truth in the first place Reemo, for that matter would it have done any harm to let me know what you had been up to after? “
Reemo gave a sad smile as she spoke.
“I didn’t know quite how to tell you Ricky, and I was hoping that there would not be any repercussions and that I would never have to admit what I had done to anyone, but as I said I did not know of the Mafia connects Preston had.”
In a strange way Reemo reminded Zaneen of herself of what she had been like when she had been around Reemo’s age, and as she listened to Reemo talking she warmed to her in a strange inexplicable way.
“Ricky I’m sorry, I didn’t intend for you to get involved in anything. It was just something that I had to do regardless of what it might cost me. I don’t care what happens to me but if it safeguards everyone else I will find Silky and give myself up. Does that help you any, Ricky?”
Zaneen broke in before Ricky had time to say anything, and they all agreed with what she had to say.
“Don
’t be so stupid Reemo; I disposed of my father’s murderers, at the time I had no idea of whom or what their connections were. It would do none of us any good if you left and we would all feel terrible if you did. I suggest that we all sit down, I for one completely agree and understand Reemo’s motives for getting rid of the old bastard, and I cannot say I know of anyone who liked him so it was no loss!”
Ray stated that he would see what he could do, as Ray picked up the telephone Ricky wondered just how well he really knew his father. He always thought that Zaneen was the one with the shady associates. He had always thought that his father had made all his money manufacturing children’s toys and the like for exporting all over the world, now he was not too sure what the situation really was.
Jack Maison answered the telephone still half asleep as he never usually awoke before lunchtime. He recognized Ray Colt’s voice immediately and was curious as to why he was calling at ten twenty in the morning as Ray knew his sleeping habits.
“Sorry to disturb you Jack but I’ve just had a little problem crop up, and you’re just the one for the job!”
Jack replied, still rubbing the sleep from his eyes, and stretched across to turn on the Teas maid on the nightstand bedside table, he’s mouth felt grotty from the night before and he wished he’d had a lot more sleep.
“That’s alright Godfather you know I’m always glad to hear from you, what is it I can do for you?”
Ray spoke slowly realizing that Jack was still half asleep and knowing that he would only have Jack telephoning him back and he would only have to repeat himself all over again.
“I would like you to get some of our family together and bring them over to Satra, bring some by boat and the rest by air so as not to look suspicious, make it about half a dozen groups of four or five people; there well could be some trouble on the horizon.
Lora Preston the north central Godmother might well be about to overstep her mark. I am going to try and talk to Lora but you know how the land lies there!”