Page 19 of Downfall

There’s not the passion, not the fire that we had, but she’s still responding. She still clearly wants this.

His mouth moves across her skin, removing each layer of fabric with his hands and revealing more and more of her flesh. I’m too far away to make out the finer details but my mind is more than capable of filling in the blanks and, as I watch, the current Rose turns back to the twenty year old I loved. It’s her body I’m imagining as Paris goes down on her. As his hands spread her thighs. As his mouth begins to devour that part of her that once only I knew intimately.

She rolls her head. I can’t tell if she’s liking it or faking it but as the minutes pass she clearly grows more frustrated. She pulls him up. His mouth is back on hers. I can imagine how he tastes now, the saltiness of her seasoning his tongue.

And then I watch as he fucks her. As he thrusts over and over and she arches her back, clearly seeking more. Clearly wanting more. His hands grab at her waist. I don’t doubt if I was there, in the room with them he’d be grunting away like a pig. Would she be moaning? Would she be crying out in pleasure? Something about her expression makes me think not.

And when he comes there’s one obvious thing of note. That she hasn’t. He lays across her, swamping her body beneath his and she stays perfectly still, half crushed by him. Her head is turned, it’s almost as if she’s in a daze but it’s not from afterglow. I smirk more in that knowledge because that never happened when she was with me. It wasn’t even a conscious thing. I just knew how to take care of her and I made sure her needs were met. All of them. Every single one. Without even having to try either.

How satisfying it is to know that Paris is either too selfish or incapable of doing the same.

When I was with her she was always satisfied. She always came. Multiple times at that. But right now her husband can’t even give her one orgasm. Not even one.

It’s that notion that makes my walk back to my house all the better. That keeps the smile on my face long after they’ve no doubt fallen asleep.

And when Ben asks what’s got me in such a good mood I just shake my head. It’s my secret right now. I want to savour it a bit longer.

Rose

Paris half digs his fingers into my waist but the smile remains on my lips nonetheless. I know he’s angry. I don’t know what about exactly but already I know how this evening is going to end.

We’re at one of the Governor’s events. Technically it’s a political rally but we all know it’s a done deal. Darius is as good as re-elected before the ballot paper has even been finalised and printed. He holds too much sway for there to be any other outcome.

My black dress clings to me and mercifully the way it covers hides the remnants from my husband’s last outburst while still looking revealing enough to be glamourous. And with my hair styled and huge diamonds dangling from my ears, I fit the part.

Darius is barely metres from us. When Paris disappears off to the bar it’s Darius who notices I’m alone and he takes the moment to talk to me. We’ve had an easy enough relationship considering him being the Governor and me being my father’s daughter has often meant we’ve been on opposing sides.

The Capulets are often making demands he cannot meet but as Horace Montague aged, even I can see my family’s alliance with the Blumenfeld’s is tightening. The only question is whether Darius is aware of it and whether it is something he will continue to encourage because, if he decides we are a threat, I don’t doubt his response will be as swift as it is deadly.

“Beautiful as always Rose.” He says passing me a glass of champagne and I give him a smile. He’s a shrewd man. Deadly when crossed but not cruel for cruelty’s sake from what I’ve seen.

“Thank you.” I reply.

“Where is that husband of yours, to have abandoned you so?”

I glance around making a show of looking for Paris when in truth I’m pleased he’s gone. Perhaps he’ll sate his anger on someone else though I don’t have high hopes of it.

“Stick with me then. I will keep you safe.” He teases taking my hand and tucking it into the crook of his arm. I laugh while around us camera’s flash. No doubt wanting to get a pretty memento to upload to social media and for the press to print later.

From the sides I can feel my family watching. I don’t look. I don’t want to see the ambition reflected in their stares. This will make my father happy. To have his daughter on the arm of the Governor, for the entirety of Verona Bay to see a Capulet photographed with him.

Yes, this will make him very happy indeed.

I think of asking Darius about Otto. Of bringing it up. But in truth it feels to risky in such a situation. What would I say if he took offence? For all the Capulet blood that runs in my veins I don’t have the sophistication that the rest of my family do. Afterall I wasn’t brought up to be that person. My only value was in the marriage market, not in the powerplay of politics.

“You know, if you weren’t half my age, and if you weren’t married to my nephew, I’d have snapped you up myself.” He states.

I roll my eyes with amusement. “Is that so?”

He grins more. He’s notexactlybeing a lech. It’s just how he is. A ladies man through and through. He gets the occasional complaint every now and then about sexual impropriety, about inappropriate comments but nothing that ever sticks. The man is like Teflon. And especially so since his wife died. Apparently a long sustained illness has bought him a lifetime worth of sympathy and justifications.

“Governor.”

Darius turns to see one of his men stood awkwardly.

“What is it?” Darius asks.

The man glances at me then murmurs something into his ear. Darius shakes his head. “I’m not dealing with that now.” He says. “Go make yourself busy.”

---