She straightens in her chair holding herself with a stoic position like I have now put her on guard. “I have always done what I had to do for my sons, Murphy.” She waves her hands in the air. “Wanting this casino was business. Meeting you and knowing how much my son wanted you was also business.”
She aggressively jabs her finger on top the table. “Do you think I would allow just any woman to come into my family? It’s all business. I’m aware that you know I hand selected Fallon for Gabriel. And Avery was always meant for Liam. Both of them have something that makes them special. They know how to persevere. They can control different aspects of this family even if I were not here.”
I take a sip of my drink. “Then what about me? Why me?”
Catherine tilts her head and begins to smile. “Tell me, Murphy, are you scared of me?”
I stare at her, trying to decipher what answer she’s looking for. Does she want me to tell her no? Does she want my honesty? And then what will she do with my answer? I decide to go with the truth, mom always said the truth will never betray you.
“Yes, you scare me.”
“Good, you’re smart enough to be scared. But you’re smart enough to not let it weaken you. That’s a hard thing to do. Even though you fear me you never allowed it to stop you from your goals. You never allowed that fear to get in the way of what you wanted or deserved. That is why you.”
After a brief pause, she begins again. “To be scared and still have the courage to go against me is something that I never come across. Except for me, that is. I have been scared of many things and of many people. But I pushed through and pushed my way to the top so I would become the one feared.”
“So, you’re comparing me to you?”
“I guess I am. We are both very good at hiding our fear and our feelings. I need you in this family. It’s hard for me to admit, but I’ll share that with you. Both Fallon and Avery have their own strengths. And you have yours, it fits into what is needed to keep this family on top.”
We both look up as the waiter comes to serve our first tasting plate. Catherine thanks him, then quickly excuses him.
She then looks back to me and continues. “The only thing that worries me is that you have not suffered.”
“Suffered?” I laugh. “You would prefer for me to have suffered?”
“No, I would never wish that on anyone. But suffering toughens you in a way that you aren’t.”
“So, now I’m not tough?”
“You’re tough, but not in the way that I am or the girls are. We understand the things that must be done. You don’t, you’re still too optimistic about things. Violence still makes you ill. Violence is necessary for what we do. Violence is necessary for what Zander does.”
She gets quiet and says, “I was told when Zander beat that man to death you flinched, you would not help my son. Fallon had to help him down. That cannot happen again. You are the one that has to be there for him. Can you accept that, and do it? If Zander, your children or this family were in danger would you turn to violence to help us?”
“I have been around people like you, Catherine.”
“Yes, I know you have, but you have never been involved or seen the ugly side of our business before you met us. You saw the men in their suits, their flashy cars and expensive women on their laps. You never witnessed what it took to get those things. Now you have. Can you accept it and understand when or why it is needed?”
I don’t have an answer for her, I have no idea what I would do in the position of having to decide. I watch as she starts to eat. I’ve never met anyone like her before. On the outside, you see a beautiful, classy woman. But then when you look into her eyes you see the calculated, devious woman underneath. I shake my thoughts of her and think of Zander. I know what he does, hell I have seen him in action. I’m not one that will walk away from a fight, but what Zander and the rest of them do is something I never thought about before. Then I find myself snickering, she’s also right, I have been around people like her and this family my whole life. But I have never witnessed any wrongdoing. Knowing and seeing are two different things. Will I ever understand it? I decide to do what I do best. I turn it around on her.
“Are you scared of me?”
She puts her fork down and wipes the corner of her mouth with a napkin. She then looks at me and answers, “Yes. I haven’t had to fear anyone in a long time, but I have and do fear you.”
“Why?”
She raises her voice while looking me dead on in my eyes. “You know why! Don’t play coy with me now. You want us to get past everything so we can have a relationship. I’m willing, but do not play dumb with me. Zander, I only fear you because of Zander.”
She throws her napkin down on the table. Our server comes back with our next plate, but Catherine puts her hand up to let him know not to come any closer.
“Listen to me well, Murphy. I am not going to worry about you for the rest of my life. We either come to an understanding or I will find a way to get rid of you.” She then leans back in her chair. “You do know how to try my patience. I’ll give you that.” She starts laughing, at what I’m not sure. “I’ve heard the stories of the boys teasing Zander, they say you are just like me. That he fell in love with a woman like his mother. I guess in many ways we are alike. You’re clever and strong. You sure are hard headed.”
She sits back up in her chair. “I’m trying here, Murphy. You want me to lay it all out for you I will if that’s what it takes, but only for my son. Zander loves you, that I am sure of. He loves you so much that he was willing to go to war against me for you and yes that scared the shit out of me. Not because I was worried he would hurt me and not because I was worried about hurting him. Because I wouldn’t, I could never hurt my children. I was scared because I didn’t want to lose him. Zander is special to me; all my sons are, but Zander has the biggest heart. It’s as big as he is. That alone makes him one of the most powerful men I know. He will go to any lengths to protect what he loves. I felt a pull and still do because of you. I am not willing to lose my son over my fear. You control a part of him that I used to control. You hold that power now. I need for us to develop a relationship because it’s important to him.”
She leans in closer, lowering her voice. “But if you ever hurt my son, come hell or high water I will destroy you. I will take my grandchildren and turn them against you. I won’t kill you, I will let you suffer for the rest of your life knowing I did that to you.”
I clear my throat. “So, we’re going back to you threatening me?”
“I swear, Murphy Stern, you are the most frustrating woman I think I have ever met. I’m simply warning you. No threats here. I wanted to lay everything out on the table so we can begin to form a bond.”
I laugh. “A bond, what kind of bond do you think we can have? I think we have gone beyond the point of us having a true bond, don’t you?”
“No, I don’t. Let me teach you.”
“Teach me to what, to be your lap dog? To make sure I behave or that I can make sure that Zander behaves the way you want? What do you want to start with, Catherine, my wardrobe, my style? Like you did with Fallon or Avery?”
She shrugs her shoulders. “No, I actually like your style. I think it suits you. And no, I do not want to make you my lap dog. I want to make you top dog. Ask Fallon or Avery if they feel like my lap dogs. I dare you. Sweet Avery will turn on you so quick if you suggest that. She is no dog for anyone, not ever again. That girl is stronger than you think and can handle way more than you will ever comprehend. And Fallon has a power that you will never understand. I trained her and she uses those teachings and owns her life. She can and will make anyone do what she wants them to do without breaking a nail. Together they are unstoppable. You, just need some training to make you the boss you want to be and the boss I need you to be.”
“What do you mean the boss?”
“Your mother did well by you, Murphy, she gave you the importance of hard work. She taught you independ
ence and she taught you how to be in charge. But she shielded you way too much. What I mean is, I will train you to be like me. To be a leader like I taught my sons. I will teach you everything I know. My sons will always control the business but there are so many sectors of what we do that not even Gabriel can do it by himself. The bigger we grow, the more he will need help. Everyone plays their part in this family, they are all leaders in their fields. But Gabriel will need help in overseeing everything. I don’t want to put that all on him. You will be powerful beyond your dreams. You will learn to control that temper of yours and then you will control it all. But don’t cross me, because I will put you in the ground.”
“Catherine, what you’re asking for is something I don’t think I’m ready for. I never wanted any of this.”
Catherine stands abruptly. “You might not have wanted this, but you have it.” She then lays her hand on my shoulder. “You’ll be ready, I promise when those babies are born you will be ready for anything.”
She walks away, leaving me by myself to think of all she said. I don’t know if my love for Zander can ever make me decide to be like her.
59
Murphy
When Catherine leaves, I start wrapping up everything I have to do because Zander insisted I take off early tonight. We have a doctor’s appointment tomorrow. I am 32 weeks and I see Dr. Martin every two weeks now. He says I am doing great, but every time we see him Zander grows more worried that the doctor will put me on bed rest and tell us to stop all sexual activity. So, Zander makes a point that the night before our weekly appointment we have a special date night and then a romantic night in bed. I must admit that I am bigger than a house these days and I don’t really feel sexy, but Zander always finds a way of making me feel like the sexiest woman around. So yeah, it’s easy to say he gets very lucky very frequently. Before Zander picks me up I decided not to tell him about what Catherine and I talked about. It would only upset him and I don’t want to ruin our night.
Tonight, he has plans to take me to another fancy restaurant, but I am so tired that I beg him just to take me home. I’m willing to settle for a doggy bag and a movie. He agrees and takes me home. But when we get there I am so surprised because when we arrive in our bedroom there is a table set up with candles and a beautifully set meal. For a man who never dated he sure knows how to wine and dine a lady.
I tear slips down my face, but Zander is right there to catch it.
“Don’t cry, Red, it was nothing, I promise, just a quick text and it was all done for me.”
I try to hide my emotional tears with, “It’s not you, you big oaf. It’s the hormones.”
He smiles and says, “Sure it is. Come on, turn around, I’m going to help you slip out of your dress and shoes so you can eat comfortably.”
“Comfortably, you sure it’s not more for your comfort to have me in nothing but my bra and panties?”
“Trust me, Red, there will be nothing comfortable about sitting across from you when you are almost naked.”
See, he knows exactly what to tell a woman that weighs a ton. But if you saw his eyes as he examines my body from head to toe as he undresses me, you would believe him too.
Once he has me undressed he walks me over to my chair. I notice as he adjusts his very noticeable tent that’s growing by the second.
We begin to eat, I eat like a starving woman. When I finally look up, Zander is leaning back in his chair, looking at me while he passes his finger down through his beard on his chin. He looks so fucking sinister and dangerous like that. Sexy as shit. His blue eyes are targeted straight at mine, making me start to feel insecure about eating.
In a low, sexy voice, he says, “Don’t stop, I’m enjoying the view.”
“Why? Did I drop something?”
I look down at my now humongous breasts. I don’t see anything. I look back up and see the heat in his eyes that melts me into a puddle of desire.
“I enjoy watching you eat. I like thinking of you feeding our babies. Besides it’s sexy as fuck!”
“Oh yeah?”
“Oh yeah!” He then stretches his legs out and unzips his pants. “I told you I wouldn’t be comfortable.”
“You did. What are you going to do about it?”
“I am going to finish watching my wife as she makes me harder than fuck, then I am going to jerk my cock off to take away some of the pain she causes.”
I swallow hard and can’t take my eyes away from him as he does everything he said he was going to do. I take a sip of my water as he’s rubbing up and down, slowly taunting me. I lick my lips and hear him growl. He eyes close for a second then open looking like a man driven to the point of breaking. Again, the look should be scary coming from a man his size, but there is nothing I want more than to see that look on his face for the rest of my life. It lets me know how much he tries to control himself around me. Makes me feel desired no matter how big I’m getting.
“Are you finished eating, Red?” Having lost all speech, I swallow then nod. “Then lay on the bed. I’m starving, it’s my turn to eat.”
I slowly stand up and slip my panties down my legs. Then I walk to the bed and lie down as sexy as I can manage for being pregnant. Then I spread my legs, offering myself up as his feast. Instead of coming to me right away, he taunts me by watching my pussy exposed for him as he continues to work himself up and down. It becomes torture as I start to feel my wetness dripping down my sex.
He slowly stands to walk to me. I watch as he towers over me, slipping out of his shirt slowly taunting me more. Every button is undone with intention to get me riled and he knows it’s working.
As he gets to the last few buttons he says, “I can see you glistening.”
His slow movements start to drive me insane. “Zander.”
“I’ve never seen anything more beautiful. You hear me, Red? You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.”
His shirt falls to the floor then he pushes his pants and boxers down slowly as he continues to watch me.
My head falls back as he kneels down before me. He takes his massive hand and pushes me back to lie down. Leaving his hand stretched out over my chest, he starts enjoying his meal, devouring me with vigor like a man starved for days. There is nothing slow in his feast. His mouth wraps around my clit, tugging, then it feels like his whole mouth is covering me as his tongue laps me from top to bottom. I can’t take it, I reach my peak and explode almost immediately, but Zander won’t let me come down. He slides his hand down to my stomach, holding there as his other hand opens me wider. His fingers slide into me one at a time until I feel so full and scream out his name.
“Zander! Fuck!”
He doesn’t stop, he continues on me until my body starts backing up on its own to find escape. But he’s not having it. His hand on my stomach slowly reaches up to my neck. holding me in position where he wants me. He’s pushing his fingers into me over and over, sending me screaming louder as I convulse all over him.
“Stop Zander, stop!”
He finally looks up with a conniving smile showing his dimples. He stands up. “Never,” is all he says as I back up, going towards the headboard, not really knowing if I am trying to get away from him or making room for him. I am so delirious with the pleasure he just gave me and I have learned that the look in his eyes right now means I should be warned, he is coming for more. With no place left to go, he slowly crawls to me. With the same heat in his eyes. He pulls on both my legs, making me go to him the rest of the way.
“Never try to run away from me, Red, I will always get you.”
The way he says it makes my legs spread wider than ever. His voice is so sensual and he has me under his spell. He takes one of my legs and pulls it up his chest tilting me sideways as he enters me fast and hard, causing me to lose my breath. He grunts out “Fuck!” then stops, waiting for me to adjust. His size takes time to get used to, but who am I to complain? The things he does with his cock and hips should be outlawed. This position is one of m
y favorites, he’s able to hit me in all the right spots and watching him maneuver his hips, damn, the man definitely knows how to roll his hips. He slowly starts moving, rotating so I can feel his cock everywhere. It doesn’t take long before I shatter again.
This time he stops all movements and grabs my ankle in a tight hold. With his head thrown back he says, “Oh my god, Murphy, I can’t imagine life without your pussy wrapped around me, squeezing me like this.”
When I come down, he moves out of me and lifts me, kissing me hard and strong. Devouring my mouth like it’s his last kiss. He then orders me down on all fours. He takes me from behind slow and tenderly, trying to stretch his orgasm out. With his hands on my hips, he bends, kissing my back. Moving up to my neck. I feel him unclasping my bra, which we hadn’t removed earlier. It falls down my arms as he starts playing with my extra sensitive nipples. Then he grabs a handful. “Fuck, I love your tits, they overfill my hands.” He wraps one hand around my breasts and one around my stomach as he lifts me up to match his stance. Fucking me nice and slow. He growls in my ear right as I cum again, “You’re mine. All mine.” He then gently pushes me back down onto all fours and grabs my hips and explodes inside me, growling out my name.
I start to move as he is rubbing up and down my back, but he stops me. “Not yet, don’t make me leave you yet.”
He lifts me back up to him, with my back to his chest he continues to caress my breasts and stomach. Then he stops suddenly.
“Zander, what’s wrong?” He slips out of me and moves in front of me. Staring at my breasts. “Zander, what is it?”
He looks at me with a big smile. “They’re wet.”
I look down and see him pass his finger over my nipple gathering a liquid which can only be the beginning of my breast milk. Then he takes his thumb and puts it into his mouth, tasting the liquid. One of his brows raises, causing a very mischievous look on his face. Then he starts raising both his brows up and down at me.
Art of War Page 30
