Antoine Poirier was delighted with the way Uncle Gaston had taken to his Madeleine from the very beginning, immediately accepting her and making her feel as one of the family. He was worried for fear that it would not go that way at all. Madeleine not being of the select social class from which his benefactor had insisted he choose a wife when that time came; in fact, hers could hardly be called even the lower middle class, her father being nothing more than a fisherman. It hadn't been an act of defiance on his part, for Lord knows, he felt greatly indebted to this man who had taken him in following the brutal death of his parents, treating him as he might his own son, had there been one, even to giving him the finest of education at McGill University; no, it had simply been love… of the head-over-heels variety, and upon first sight at that; then, Uncle Gaston had amazed him by understanding.
Antoine had found her in a small restaurant where she waited on table and where he took lunch only occasionally, until that day. The rest was inevitable, for as she had told him some two weeks later when he asked her to become his wife, she had loved him from the first moment she saw him. Her lack of formal education, or the fact that she came from poor peasant stock, nothing could have been of less importance to him; her exotic beauty stunned him; she had only to smile that first time and he was completely lost. Even Annette… snippy, audacious, envenomed Annette… even she had taken to her immediately, and from the first moment Uncle Gaston had laid eyes on her he had done little more than smile his pleasure.
Of course, the proof of Uncle Gaston's acceptance had come when he'd asked Madeleine to act as family hostess at these Friday night affairs, and he, Antoine, could barely contain his own elation… even now, as he watched her graceful movements beside his Uncle, the powerful little man holding affectionately to her hand, and the manner in which she conducted herself in the presence of Montreal's most elite… as if she had been born to it… filled him with pride and love. God, if only he didn't have this other worry, he thought.
Uncle Gaston had assured him a dozen times that there was nothing to get upset about, but just the idea of Ottawa sending officials over to look at the company books and records had upset him considerably. He couldn't help it; after all, Galaxy Mining, Ltd. was his responsibility, and because Uncle Gaston had entrusted him with its helm he felt more accountable than ever. He had worried himself to the point where he could hardly sleep nights, and of course, the whole thing was having an effect on his and Madeleine's personal lives. Their love-making had become little more than a series of abortive attempts at sex on his part, filling his Madeleine with unsated frustrations, he felt certain, and God Almighty, he didn't know what to do about it.
She was such a vibrant, voluptuous creature; he had only to look at her even in her clothes to feel immediate stimulation and a stirring at his loins, but to enjoy the enchanting vision of her magnificent young body in the rich splendor of nakedness was enough to set him off like a rutting bull. It seemed at those times he had no control whatever over himself, that nothing mattered only plunging his aching penis into her tantalizing flesh and emptying his life-giving sperm into her. He just couldn't seem to contain his lust, even though he invariably hated himself after and would sincerely vow that it would be different next time… yet, wonderful, loving person that she was, she would smile understandingly and forgive him. Nevertheless, he felt certain that his constant failures were straining their yet-to-be-seasoned relationship and he laid the whole damned mess to this Ottawa investigation business… whatever that was all about.
Now, as he watched them moving among the guests, Madeleine looked his way and smiled. A warmth crept over him and he responded with a slight pursing of his lips that she would understand… a symbolic kiss. It was at that moment that Ginny Novak joined him, taking his arm fondly and brushing one soft, full breast against it.
"Darling, I've been looking for you," she said for greeting, smiling radiantly up into his face.
"Really? I've been right here," he said, always aroused by the suggestive tiny lights that seemed to be forever dancing in her sea-green eyes. As always, she'd had a bit too much to drink and her attractive face reflected it in the slackness about her wide, full mouth and the slight glaze to her eyes. Her usually upswept, perfectly coiffured blonde-hair showed tattle-tale wild strands also, and when she spoke there was just the hint of thickness to her tongue.
"I've been in the playroom sampling the bourbon," she said, giving his arm a little squeeze and once pressing her full, ripe breast against him. "I was hoping you might wander back and sample some with me. We might even've gotten into a game of billiards… or something."
Antoine smiled. Her words, her gestures, her every move was suggestive of sex, and had been since the first day she had walked into this house on the arm of Uncle Gaston better than a year ago, replacing his former mistress. Her capacity had been obvious, her duties nil… except to cater to the master's personal and private needs… whatever they might be. Antoine only knew that he didn't blame his Uncle; after all, he was human and Aunt Yolande had been ill for at least a dozen years; a man had to have a woman, and Ginny Novak was very much that.
He, himself, had never touched her sexually… had hardly ever laid a hand upon her, but in all honesty he had wanted to many times, and from her actions… just the way she would hang onto him, or brush her breasts against him teasingly as she was doing right at that moment, he felt certain that she would be receptive. But once again, his loyalty to the man who had befriended and raised him would never permit him to commit such an act. Ginny Novak was his uncle's toy, and although Antoine too-often could barely tolerate the little man's cruel and abusive treatment of her in public, he bit his lip and kept his place. After all, if she didn't like it, she could always go back to the States where she came from.
Now, as he watched her, she looked about the room until her eyes found what they sought.
"Ah, so there the little czar is," she said with obvious distaste. "And with your Madeleine, of course."
"Of course…? Why do you say it like that?" Antoine questioned, her derisive tone provoking him.
"Did I say it wrong? I'm sorry, darling. Probably just the natural, unrefined farmer coming out in me. Nothing more crude than a half-drunk, corn-fed girl, they say."
Antoine grinned and she moved around until her back was to Uncle Gaston and Madeleine, then he saw the almost immediate, serious expression that sobered her attractive face. It surprised and puzzled him simultaneously.
"What is it?" he heard himself question. "Is something wrong, Ginny?"
"We must go someplace where we can talk," she replied in a voice above a whisper. "It's terribly important to you, Antoine…"
"What is it?"
"We can't discuss it here," she insisted, "too dangerous."
"But… I don't understand…"
"Wait…" she said, turning slowly, her loose little smile returning once more as she pretended to look dazedly across the room. Then, he felt her hand tightening on his arm, and she said: "Look, they're leaving the room… now we can slip out…"
Antoine watched his Uncle leading Madeleine toward the central hall and felt a moment of confusion. "Where the devil are they going?"
"Probably to the front sitting room," Ginny lied. "There're some guests in there, too. Please, now come with me."
She gave him little chance to refuse, ushering him by the arm through the doorway that led to the servants' corridor and back toward the playroom.
"Look, Ginny… I don't understand," Antoine said, resisting, but not enough to slow her anxious pace. "What's so damned important that we couldn't talk about it back there?"
"Plenty, darling," she half-whispered as they entered the near-darkened playroom and she closed the door quietly behind them. "In fact, I'm not going to tell it all to you here, either. It's too dangerous… could even mean my neck…"
"Your neck? Good God, what're you trying to say, girl?" he snapped, his accent broadening his English in irritation.
Ginny Novak eased in close to him, both hands suddenly clutching at the muscles of his arms. She looked up into his face, her own expression one of taut seriousness. "Listen to me," she almost hissed, her lovely eyes probing the depths of his own irked and questioning ones, "that filthy uncle of yours is working at hanging you. And unless you do something about it awfully damned quick, it's going to be too late."
"Wh-What? Look… what the hell are you talking about, anyway?" Antoine rapped, angrily trying to shed her hands from his arms. "Is that what you brought me back here for? To malign Uncle Gaston? Christ, what kind of girl are you? You sleep with him, eat his food, drink his liquor… and too damned much of that by the way you're talking…"
"Stop it!" she hissed vehemently. "Stop and listen to me you stupid, naive idiot! Galaxy Mining, Ltd. is in trouble with the government. I overheard a conversation between Gaston and his attorney, Robert Jovell, this afternoon on the telephone. I heard Gaston say something to the effect that he'd been expecting it… it had to come sooner or later, but that he wasn't worried, they couldn't touch him… the whole operation was in your name! Now… do you still think I'm trying to malign that noble bastard?"
Antoine was stunned. He stared down at her, hardly seeing her. Of course, it was all ridiculous. Either she had misinterpreted whatever it was she'd heard, or she was making the whole thing up for reasons of her own. Certainly, Uncle Gaston would never do anything that would reflect on him, Antoine, let alone making him some sort of scapegoat that might wind him up in prison. The whole idea was preposterous!
"I-I don't know what you're trying to do," he spat at her, "but whatever it is you're wasting your time. My advice is that you lay off the liquor and get yourself out of here as soon as you can. It looks to me like you've overstayed your welcome."
With that, he tried to get around her, but she quickly backed to the door and stood against it, momentarily preventing his leaving. Her usual dancing, suggestive eyes narrowed in her own anger, and although the scintillating lights continued to enliven them, they were now tiny explosions of rage.
"You are a stupid ass, Antoine Poirier! I don't know why in hell I should be putting my head on the chopping block for you… but here I am! Now you listen to me, damn you; what I've told you is truth! You can do whatever you want about it, I don't care. This much I can tell you, that little gargoyle you call 'uncle' is a vile monster, and he doesn't care anymore about you than he does one of his lovely prostitutes who has to kick in a third of her earnings so that he can live in the style he's become accustomed to. And as far as overstaying my welcome, M'sieu', I'd be out of here in two minutes if I dared… but you know what would happen to me if I tried? I'd be dead! That's right, dead!" Suddenly, a mean little smile stretched her pretty mouth. "I hope to God you don't think I'm here because I want to be? You'd have to be out of your mind to believe that. I'm here because that foul bastard won me in a poker game from a stateside hood just like him… a gambler named Lou 'The Ace' Fennel… and you don't run away from their kind of scum… you merely deteriorate into a common whore to provide their bread and butter when they're finished with you… or you kill yourself… You pays your money, and you takes your choice."
Antoine stared at her as if his eyes were glued upon her paled, anger-lined face. Every word she spoke had registered, and abruptly, he realized her sincerity. Whether there was any accuracy in what she had said pertaining to Galaxy Mining and Uncle Gaston abandoning him, was still questionable in his mind, but her own position, he suddenly found himself not doubting for a moment. Almost instantly, his heart went out to her, and when he saw the little tears trickling down her cheeks he couldn't help himself. He opened his arms and she burst inside them with a sob.
"There, there," he whispered into her ear as she cried against his chest, the scent of her hair filling his nostrils as she clung to him and he held her, smoothing his hand down her back, caressing the silken material of her gown to feel the soft flesh and indentation of her barely perceptible spine beneath. Her full, pointed breasts dug into his chest, while the little round bowl of her belly rested snugly beneath his own, and as he held her, she inched tighter against him until her warm, full thighs clung tightly to his hard, lean ones, and her pelvis and belly ground against, and shared the length of his stiffening cock.
She raised her face to him then, her wet full mouth falling open… and he kissed her. Her arms encircled his neck and her mouth clung to his hungrily. Almost subconsciously, his tongue slid between her opened lips and teeth and she softly began to suck on it, drawing it deeper and deeper into the warm moist cavern toward her throat as her soft, vibrant loins began to rotate against his already throbbing prick in tiny little stimulating circles. He gasped into her mouth, his long, sinewy hands dropping to cup at her soft, yet firm, hollowing buttocks so full and round in his grasp, and she pressed even tighter against him.
Eventually, they separated for a breath, and he said: "I-I didn't know, Cheri… I-I had no idea why you stayed with him… the way he treated you… I used to wonder why you put up with it… God… I've wanted you so bad a thousand times…"
She whimpered at his words and he felt the vibrations of sound against him more than he heard it. Her mouth searched for his and he kissed her again, this time, tasting the deliciousness of her tiny tongue as it darted forward between his lips.
"Oh darling," she hissed, "we must make love. I've wanted you for so long, too. But we have to be careful. He'd kill us if he found out."
"He won't find out… nobody but you and I will know," Antoine assured her, his hands caressing and stroking her back and buttocks covetously now, the soft, warm resilience of her flesh causing his hardening penis to throb vigorously between them.
"I can feel you so hot and hard and excited against me," she whispered. "God, how I'd love to take it out right here… right now, and suck it until it pumped its love sperm down my throat."
"Christ! Don't talk that way or I'll come right in my pants," he smiled, but said in a harsh, whispering voice. "I want those things too, but we have to find a place. We can't do anything here…"
"I know," she interrupted excitedly. "The summer house at Ste. Agathe des Monts. We can go there… tomorrow, darling."
He thought about it briefly. It seemed safe enough. Uncle Gaston wouldn't be opening it for a mouth… not until July. The idea intrigued him. Christ, he had to have her now, after this; there was no turning away from it any longer. He had to fuck her!
"All right. Tomorrow around two. I'll meet you there, Cheri. Are you sure you can get away without suspicion?"
"Yes, I'm certain of it… but it wouldn't make any difference. I'd come to make love to you even if I had to bring an audience."
"Damn!" he gasped, and kissed her once more.
Then, she eased back away from him and he read the concerned expression on her face. "Please, darling," she whispered. "You must listen to what I've told you. Galaxy Mines is in great danger… and that puts you in great danger. I don't know to what extent but maybe I'll hear more tonight and be able to tell you tomorrow."
"I'm not worried about that," he lied. "I'm more concerned about how I'm going to get you away from all this."
"Don't worry about me. I can take care of myself. What's important is that you take care of Madeleine and yourself. I know this evil man better than you, darling. I know him at his vilest, bedroom self… and that's where you really come to know a man's mettle."
"But I can't believe he would do anything to hurt me. I-It's just impossible to believe. I mean, after all, I'm like his own son…"
"Oh darling, please… You must try to understand the type of man he is," she almost begged him. "I realize why you've closed your eyes to these things… because he has been like a father to you. But in God's name, don't blind yourself entirely. He's the warlord over crime in Canada… and you must know about his connections with the syndicate…"
"Yes, yes, I know all of that," Antoine replied, not looking at her now as he fished out a cigarette and lighted it. Then, suddenly looking at her, he said: "But I'm not just a… a relative to him… I'm like his very own flesh and blood. He's raised me, Cheri, clothed, fed and educated me. No, Christ, I can't believe it! He just couldn't do anything to hurt me…"
"Unless…" she whispered.
"Unless? Unless what?"
"Unless… it becomes a matter of your neck… or his…"
She reached him at that point. Antoine stood very still and dragged at his cigarette. In his mind, he was endeavoring to evaluate Galaxy's situation. It occurred to him that he had never actually seen the mines in Alberta or the Yukon; Uncle Gaston had not thought that necessary. His task was to see that the ever-increasing stockholders received favorable dividends and that the Board of Directors met once a month, with quarterly reports being sent out on the day to all investors. Should there ever be a shortage of cash to meet dividend payments, he was to immediately report it to his Uncle so that whatever the deficit might be it could be made up. Investors don't like to be informed of non-dividend quarters, Antoine, he'd said to him once. So, even if it hurts, and we have to take it from other enterprises, we'll keep them happy, eh?
He questioned the illegality of it then, but the powerful little man had merely laughed.
Don't you worry about illegality, young man. That's my department. You just take care of board meetings and that cute little wife of yours, eh? She looks to me as if she might require lots of loving.
And then, he'd laughed, vulgarly, a little too vulgarly, Antoine had thought, biting his own tongue to keep from saying something he might later be sorry for…
"Darling… do you understand what I've been trying to tell you?" Ginny questioned, moving close to him once more.
"I-I… I've got to think," he said, walking to a table and stubbing out his cigarette.
"About me?"
He went to her quickly, enfolding her into his arms once more. "Hell no… not about you, Cheri. You've haunted my mind for a year now." He kissed her. "Look, we have to get out of here… get back to the party before we're missed."
"Yes, I know. Tomorrow then… at the summer place?"
"At the summer place… I wouldn't miss it for anything in the world."
"Oh… Oh darling," she moaned, kissing him a last time. "I wish I was twenty-one instead of twenty-nine… I wish I'd never known a man before you…"
"Funny," he said, grinning down at her, "I'm glad that you're twenty-nine… and more happy that you've known other men. Now, I'm going to get the benefit of all that experience… and it better be good."
"Whatever it is, it'll be for you and you alone."
"We'll see," he teased.
"Yes," she whispered, "we'll see…"