Not only that, but she suddenly realized that she did have a quaint notion that if, when, she got married, it would be for forever. There was no room for negotiation, no room to even entertain thoughts of divorce. Yes, she thought, I am something of a romantic. I want the fairytale, the happily ever after, even though I would rather have died than admit it before now. Even to myself... Growing up with her mother, she had been taught that there was no such thing as happily ever after. She had learned through years of observation that there was no such thing as pure, true love.I think I will have to rethink that, she thought, I will need to unlearn all of the 'undeniable, irrefutable truths' my mother taught me.
But not tonight. Tonight, she would go up to Marblehead and meet Andrew's family. She would set aside thoughts of love, marriage and forever and try her best to be the best she could be, so that even if -- no when -- Andrew's parents expressed their doubts about her, they would find her behavior and demeanor unimpeachable. Casting a final approving glance at herself in the mirror, she left the bathroom.
*****
She had bought a new dress for the evening, but as they drove the forty-five minutes up to Marblehead, she was second-guessing the choice. She had loved it from the moment she'd seen it in the Newbury Street boutique. When she'd tried it on, though, she'd known that it was 'the one'. Without being too tight, the dress molded to her every curve as though it had been tailor made for her. Made of garnet red shantung silk, the dress had a scooped, low neckline and wide straps over the shoulders. From the front, it looked modest enough. From the back, it was anything but modest; the scoop in the back echoed the neckline, but dipped sinfully low on her back, leaving almost every bronzed inch of the toned flesh bare. She had accessorized the dress with matte gold strappy high-heeled sandals and a suite of jewelry in the same matte tone of gold as her shoes. The chandelier earrings were bedecked with garnets, as was the bracelet. The pendant on the matching necklace hovered just above the shadow between her breasts, drawing the eye to the hint of cleavage bared there. She had done her eyes in smoky shades of gray and wore garnet red lipstick. Her hair was swept back from her face and cascaded down her back in loose waves. She had thought she looked pretty good. Until now... and now it was too late to be having second thoughts.
Andrew had complimented her on her appearance profusely and she knew he was sincere. However, she knew she only had one chance to make a good first impression and she was worried that her dress, hair and makeup might be too... Too... Tooeverything and that Andrew's mother, especially, would disapprove. Normally, Claudia wouldn't have given a second thought to what she had chosen to wear; she knew she had impeccable taste in clothing. Tonight was different, though. She wanted to be everything Andrew's parents could possibly want for him. She didn't want them thinking she was gauche or backwards or lacking in taste. She was a bundle of nerves.
As they drove, she was preoccupied with the anxious thoughts that streamed through her mind. She responded monosyllabically to Andrew's attempts at conversation. She didn't notice that Andrew had exited the motorway and pulled into the parking lot of a playground until they came to a stop and he turned off the ignition.
"Why are we stopping?"
"Because, I want to know what's wrong with you," he responded.
"Nothing's wrong. I'm fine. We should go, we're going to be late, Andrew."
"No we're not. Are you nervous about meeting my parents?"
"Of course I'm nervous! What do you think?" she said testily.
"Their going to love you, Claudia. Don't worry."
"Right, Andrew. They're going to love that you're dating a Black woman, who has no pedigree, no connections, no money, no nothing..." she said, sarcasm dripping from her voice.
"Would you stop it? I don't know who you think you're going to be spending Christmas with, but the people you just described are not my parents. They're going to think you are lovely and they will accept you because I've brought you home. They won't think about your skin color and they won't care whether or not you have any money. That stuff doesn't matter to them! Seeing me happy does matter to them and if you keep this up, I won't be happy when we get there and then you'll actually have a reason to worry..."
"Hmph," Claudia said, unable to come up with an argument to refute what he'd said.
"That's right -- hmph," Andrew said. "Just relax, I'm telling you they'll love you. They really will. My dad's a sucker for a beautiful girl. He'll probably think you're too good for me, especially with the way you look tonight. I promise you, there's no need to worry, baby."
"I can't help it, Andrew. I have all of these 'what ifs' running through my mind. And all of them are really bad. I don't want to embarrass you in front of your family or give anyone a reason to say anything bad about you..."
"They won't," he said abruptly. "There's nothing bad to say. You're a gorgeous, incredibly talented and self-made woman. What's bad about that? And, may I remind you that you're the one who's doing all the judging? Give them a chance, Claudia."
"You're right. I just want to make a good first impression so badly," she said, closing her eyes and leaning her head against the headrest with a sigh.
"Just be yourself. That's the only way I like you to be," he placed his hand over hers where they were knotted together in her lap. He brought one hand to his lips and placed a kiss on her knuckles, then turned it over to kiss her palm. Leaning over the gearshift, he kissed her lips. He pressed light closed-mouthed kisses to her lips at first, then teased her mouth open and delved inside to taste her. She responded to him, turning her head on the headrest to meet his lips more fully and to ply her tongue in his mouth in turn. She reached up, lay a slim hand alongside his face, held him close to her.
They made out in the car like a pair of horny teenagers. The windows steamed up as they groped at each other. Andrew kissed her neck, the expanse of her chest and hint of her breasts left exposed by the scooped neckline of her dress. Claudia slipped a hand between his thighs, stroked the length of his cock through the fabric of his tuxedo pants. He groaned and slid a hand under the above-the-knee hemline of her dress. Up, up his hand went until he reached the apex of her thighs where it met with hot, wet flesh. Snapping his head up, he swallowed convulsively and asked,
"No panties?"
"Nope, can't wear any underwear at all under this dress; even a thong showed right through..."
"Oh, God," he groaned, "this is going to be the longest night of my life..."
"It'll be worth the wait, I promise," she teased, nipping his earlobe.
"I'm tempted to say to hell with the party and turn around and go back to your place. My mom would kill me, though," he sighed regretfully, "we'd better go before we're later than we already are."
"Let's go then and hurry! Don't make them hate me already just because you couldn't keep your hands to yourself."
He smiled and pressed a lingering kiss, full of promise, to her lips then refastened her seatbelt and his own. They were on the motorway again in no time at all. Claudia opened the lighted mirror within the car's sun visor and groaned at the smeared mess that had started out as carefully applied lipstick. Darting a glance at Andrew, she couldn't help but laugh, his mouth was smeared with the garnet lip-stain, too.
Looking alarmed, he asked, "What are you laughing at?!"
Laughing harder, Claudia simply handed him a tissue. She reapplied her lipstick, checked the rest of her makeup and her hair, smoothed her dress for the umpteenth time. Finally, she subsided. This is as good as its gonna get, she thought. Having decided that worry and anxiety weren't useful in this situation, she turned to Andrew and asked him to tell her more about his parents and brother and about who else would be at the party, the better to know what was waiting for her. They spent the rest of the drive chatting and Claudia was able to forget for awhile what she was about to face.
*****
They arrived at the house -- a beautifully restored Victorian right on the rocky coast of Marblehead. The house was huge and lights blaz
ed from all the windows. The property was decked out in tasteful Christmas decorations -- no gaudy lights or lawn ornaments like you sometimes saw in the suburbs. The snow that had fallen during the day gave the house a gingerbread quality, but on a much larger scale. Pulling into the circular driveway, Andrew got out of the car and told the valet to park his car with the family vehicles in the carriage house and to then take their overnight cases to wherever they'd be sleeping. He came around to the passenger side, opened the door for Claudia and helped her out of the car.
"Ready?"
"Ready as I'll ever be," she said. "Do I look OK?"
"Gorgeous."
"Thanks, lead on..."
Andrew led her up the front steps of the house. Normally, he would have gone in through the kitchen, but tonight he knew it would be full and bustling with the catering staff. They walked in and were immediately surrounded with warmth, cheer and music. One of the people hired to handle the guests' coats and personal belongings came up to them and divested them of their coats. Apprehensively, Claudia relinquished the protective shell of her coat.
"Here goes nothing," she said to Andrew with a nervous smile.
"Relax."
They skirted around the throngs of people in search of either Andrew's parents or drinks, whichever came to them first. Personally, Claudia would much rather have the drink first. Suddenly, Andrew was seized from behind then drawn into an enthusiastic hug from a man who appeared to be a few years younger than Andrew. It had to be his brother, Brian. The two men looked a lot alike, there was no doubt they were brothers. However, there were almost imperceptible differences in their features and, though both men were very handsome, Claudia couldn't help but think smugly that she was happy she'd gotten the better looking brother.
"Brian, this is my girlfriend, Claudia Beaumont. Everyone calls her Claudia," Andrew said, proudly presenting her to Brian. "Baby, this is my little brother, Brian."
"I'm so glad to finally meet you," Brian said, "Andrew's told me a lot about you, but he forgot to mention that you are drop-dead gorgeous!"
Claudia was bemused at having been introduced as Andrew's girlfriend and also by the fact that Andrew had apparently talked about her to his brother.
"Likewise, Brian. And, I've heard a lot about you, too," she finally managed to respond.
"Probably none of it good. If I know Andrew," Brian joked, "he probably told you only bad things about me so I wouldn't have a chance in hell at stealing you away from him. And believe me, if you weren't already spoken for, I'd definitely be trying to sweep you off your feet!"
Batting her lashes comically, Claudia said in a pseudo purr, "Chér, if you keep flattering me like that you might actually have a chance at me..."
"Madamoiselle, I aim to please," Brian said, sketching a courtly bow.
"All right, you two! Enough flirting," Andrew said with an exaggerated air of pretend annoyance. "Where're mom and dad?"
"Coming up right behind you. Get ready, mom went crazy when I got here," Brian warned. "Acted like a mother bear who'd found her long-lost cub... You'd think she never saw us."
"Andrew, darling, you're finally here," a cultured female voice said from behind them.
The beautiful, tall woman with ash-blonde hair swept Andrew into a hug, then stood back to get a good look at him.
"Oh, honey, you're much too thin!" she fretted, "Why won't you take better care of yourself?" Placing her hand on his cheek, she examined his face carefully, sincere concern evident in her eyes. "Aren't you eating at all? And look at this shaggy hair... I've told you that you've got to do better taking care of yourself. Going off to all those godforsaken places you go..." she grumbled.
"And what's this?" she asked, looking at a red smear near his ear. In the age old way mothers do, she wet a fingertip with her tongue and rubbed at the spot vigorously. Claudia blushed and groaned inwardly as she watched Andrew's mother scrub at the red lipstick stain on his neck.
"Mom," Andrew said, squirming away. "I'm fine. You look beautiful, by the way," he kissed her cheek. "And the party looks like it'll be a raging success as usual." Turning to the distinguished-looking gentleman who'd stood quietly while Andrew's mother fussed over him, Andrew said, "Dad, you're looking well."
Ignoring the hand Andrew had proffered for a handshake, the man gripped Andrew in a bear hug.
"Good to see you, son. Don't mind your mother. She won't be happy until she's got you fattened up like me!" his father joked, patting the slight bulge under his tuxedo.
"Andrew, aren't you forgetting something," the mother said in a mock-imperious tone, darting her eyes pointedly toward Claudia where she stood off to one side with Brian.
"Oh. Right. Mom, Dad, this is my girlfried, Claudia Beaumont -- or Claudia, as she's known to friends and family. Babe, this is my mom -- Maggie, and my dad -- Iain."
Claudia extended her hand to Maggie, "I'm so pleased to meet you," she began and was then clasped in a warm embrace, having her cheeks pecked in turn with airy kisses of greeting.
"Darling, welcome!" Maggie said. "You are a very pretty girl, aren't you? Just look at those eyes -- and that hair! Isn't she pretty, Iain," she gushed to her husband, then went on without waiting for a response. "I adore your jewelry; that set was one of my favorites," she said and Claudia didn't know what she meant by that, but didn't have a chance to ask because Maggie rushed on, "I must apologize in advance for not having enough time to get to know you tonight. But never fear, we'll just be the five of us tomorrow for Christmas, so we'll have plenty of time together."
"Maggie, don't scare the girl off, for God's sake, she only just got here," Iain cut in gruffly. "And let go of her so I can say hello."
Again, Claudia's attempt at a handshake was ignored in favor of a warm hug and kisses to her cheeks. Iain stood back and examined her as closely as Andrew's mother had examined him. Apparently approving of what he saw, he kissed her hand before tucking it into the crook of his arm.
"Well. I'll introduce Claudia around. Andrew, my boy, don't just stand there, dance with your mother," he ordered before sweeping Claudia away.
Andrew, Brian and their mother, watched mystified as the pair receded into the crowd.
"He's incorrigible," Maggie groused with affection. "You'd better do as he says, Andrew. Let's dance. And Brian, if you know what's good for you, you'll find your Aunt Beth and do the same."
*****
Iain Conal was delightfully charming and an irrepressible flirt. She could see where Andrew and his brother had learned their tricks. He danced attendance on her throughout the early portion of the party. He introduced her to myriad people, sometimes whispering to her about the eccentricities of his guests before introducing her to them. It was his way of soothing her nerves and it worked. It was impossible to be nervous when you're giggling, she thought. Iain had danced with her, made sure that her glass was never empty and that she had her fill of the foods offered on the expansive buffet.
Claudia excused herself from the group Iain was entertaining with one of his stories. He paused in the telling,
"Hurry back, dear, I'll be lost without your companionship," he said with a roguish smile.
"Not to worry, I'll be right back, Mr. Conal -- er, I mean, Iain," she stammered. He'd already corrected her more times than she could count; he didn't stand on formality.
She broke away from the group and made her way to the bathroom in the hall. Before she made it there, Andrew grabbed her hand and led her into the kitchen and up the stairs that were tucked into the corner of the huge space.
"Don't use the downstairs bathroom; it's for the guests," he admonished, "use one of the ones upstairs. That's what all the family will do tonight."
They reached the third floor and Andrew led her down the hall and to a turreted bedroom with an en suite bathroom.
"This is where mom put us for tonight," he said with a sweep of his arm. "The bathroom's over there. I'll wait for you."
Claudia went in and freshened up. When
she came out with hair and makeup once again immaculate, she found Andrew lounging across the bed, propped against the pillows. He patted the space next to him and she went over and sat down.
"So?" he asked, arching one brow.
"So, what?"
"Are you going to admit that I was right and you were wrong?" he asked, tickling her behind the knees.
"Never!" Claudia giggled.
"Oh yes, I think you will. Just wait and see," he said menacingly, then lunged for her.
"Andrew, for crying out loud," an imperious voice said from the open doorway. Andrew and Claudia jumped apart guiltily. "Leave the poor girl alone! There'll be plenty of time for all of that after the party's over!"
At the last comment, Claudia jumped up from the bed, blushing from the tips of her toes to the roots of her hair.
"Come, darling, it's my turn to monopolize you. Andrew, your bowtie is crooked. Straighten it and get back downstairs," Maggie said, grabbing Claudia's hand and leading her out of the room.
Claudia looked over her shoulder at Andrew with wide eyes and shrugged helplessly. He rolled his eyes and flopped back on the bed. I feel like a teenager, he thought grumpily, first making out in the car and then getting caught by my mom with a girl in my room. Still, he thought with pride, mom, dad and Brian seemed completely charmed by his girl... He'd known they would be, because she was perfect for him. They would have known that he was serious about her when he'd told them he was bringing someone home with him for Christmas. He'd not told Claudia that she was the first woman that he'd ever introduced to his parents; he'd known she'd have been even more nervous if he had. She was the only one who didn't know the significance of her presence in his family home on a holiday that was so important to his to them all.
Getting off of the bed, he went to the mirror and straightened the offending bowtie, smoothed his rumpled hair. With a sigh, he rejoined the revelry downstairs. He couldn't wait until it was over. Then he would have Claudia all to himself, no more meddling or 'monopolization' from his parents and Brian.
*****
The Seduction Of Claudia Page 11
