“Yeah, that should be fun,” she said sarcastically.
“She was a bitch the entire time at the hotel,” Tucker said. “The staff hated her.”
“Tucker,” I snapped at him.
“What?” he asked. “I don’t care, man.”
“It’s going to be difficult to deal with her,” Cleo said. “But I’ll ask Matt to help me out. He owes me a lot of favors anyway…”
“What if she specifically wants you?” Tucker asked.
“I’ll get her to trust Matt…in time.” She turned her gaze to me, watching me like she wanted to crawl into my lap and hook her arms around my neck.
“When does she get here?” Tucker asked.
“In a few days,” Cleo said.
“And you’re still going to keep this relationship a secret?” Tucker asked.
Cleo nodded. “Unfortunately.”
Tucker turned to me, like he wanted my confirmation.
“I can’t trust that she won’t tattle on Cleo,” I said. “Valerie probably has no idea Cleo can’t date clients, so that probably wouldn’t happen, but it’s too risky. When I move, we’ll tell her.”
“That sucks,” Tucker said. “She’s moving in, and you’re moving out. Cleo will lose her favorite client.”
“Well,” Cleo said. “He’s still my favorite man.” She smiled at me.
I lived for those smiles. Made me feel like I was on top of the world.
“It’ll be nice to have Derek here,” Tucker said. “I’m gonna teach him everything. And when he’s old enough…take him to his first strip club.”
I rolled my eyes. “You are not taking my son to a strip club.”
“And getting him weed—”
“You just lost babysitting duties,” I said.
Tucker chuckled. “Come on, I’m joking…sorta.”
Cleo chuckled.
“You guys have any fun plans before she gets here?” Tucker asked.
“No,” Cleo said. “I’ve just been preparing.”
“Actually.” I turned to her. “I wanted to see if you’d like to go to the cabin this weekend, just the two of us.” I suspected I wouldn’t have the opportunity ever again, because I would feel too guilty going there without Derek.
She smiled. “I’d love to.”
“A fuck-a-thon at the lake.” Tucker nodded in approval. “That does sound nice.”
I turned to my brother, irritated that he talked about our sex life so openly.
“By the way, you think I could bring a girl up there?” he asked.
“No.” I turned back to Cleo.
“Oh, come on,” Tucker said.
“Have a fuck-a-thon in your apartment,” I snapped.
“Come on, that’s not sexy or adventurous,” Tucker said. “If I take her to that quiet cabin, her panties will be off, and we’ll be doing it everywhere—”
“Then the answer will always be no.” I grabbed his beer from his hand and set it on the coaster. “I think it’s time for you to go.”
Tucker rolled his eyes. “Whatever, man.” He got off the couch and headed to the door. “I’ll talk to you later.” He left the condo.
I looked at Cleo, who was smiling slightly, like she found him comical rather than annoying. I studied her beautiful face, watched her look at me. “I don’t talk about us to him…you know…private stuff.” I didn’t want Cleo to think I was talking about her tits, her ass, and all that intimate stuff. I knew men talked about their conquests. I’d done the same. But I didn’t do that with her. Didn’t want her to think I would share such private information like it was meaningless. “I have with other women, but not with you.”
Her eyes were the same as always, like I lit up her sky. “I wouldn’t care if you did.”
That wasn’t what I expected her to say.
“It’s your brother. Sharing experiences creates bonding moments.”
“Yes, but I would never share those intimate details with anyone.” I would never say she gave good head, how nice her ass looked in the air, the way her expression changed when she came.
“Well, if you want to, I’m okay with it.”
I assumed she’d want every detail about her private life to be under lock and key. “Why?”
She shrugged. “I’m not some hussy you picked up in a bar. We have a deep and meaningful connection. It’s just not the same thing. Our physical relationship is beautiful, so why would I want to hide it?” She continued to look at me. “It’s not like you’re going to a bar and telling a bunch of your boys how you nailed me. You’re telling your brother, who’s your best friend.”
I didn’t know what to say.
“I’d tell people stuff…if I was at liberty to say anything.”
I rested my arms on my thighs, leaning forward slightly. “I still don’t think I’d tell him.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re mine, and I don’t want to share.”
Instead of getting a driver, I rented a car.
I didn’t want to sit on opposite sides of the car and pretend to be friends and colleagues.
That shit was getting old.
Summer was almost over but the weather was still hot and sunny, so I selected a convertible Porsche. When we got into the wilderness, I pulled the top down so we could feel the fresh air against our faces.