That’s another mistake people make. They assume escalation is loud.
“I hope your wife leaves your retirement alone,” Ivy says mildly, unloading the dishwasher like she lives here. “It’s petty and mean to go after it. Especially when she’s the one who cheated.”
Drew’s shoulders lock. Then his eyes snap to me. “You told her?”
I take a drink and shrug. I didn’t tell her, but I know Ivy lurks and listens.
“Oh, no. I heard him tell Marcus.” She rinses a plate like this is perfectly normal information to have.
Drew looks at me with wide eyes. “You let this happen?” he hisses, glancing at Ivy. She’s humming softly, her back to us.
I meet his gaze and tell the truth in the safest possible way. “I don’t stop her.” I give him a look and gesture in her direction. He looks doubtful but nods.
What I don’t say is that I could.
I briefly considered it.
But late at night, when she isn’t here, the house feels too quiet. I miss the soft sounds of her moving through it. The way she notices when I forget to eat and comes over to cook. The way the lights are always off in the morning because she turned them off after I fell asleep.
I don’t tell him I like the way Ivy looks at me. Like I’m the only thing worth paying attention to.
Plus, he already knows I’m fooling around with her. Ivy let that cat out of the bag.
Cum swallower. I still can’t believe she called herself that.
I laughed at the shocked look on Drew’s face, but it bothers me. It’s degrading. I don’t know what Ivy is to me, but cum swallower and hand job enthusiast aren’t it.
She’s more.
But I’d never tell her that.
Besides, I can’t tell her to leave. She’s entertaining. Especially now that Drew is here.
He loves rules and order. She’s chaos in a pressed white shirt.
“You should tell her to leave. Or get a restraining order. Or both.”
“Oh, I don’t respond well to paper threats,” she chirps. “I do best with calm conversations and positive reinforcement. And snacks.”
My brother looks like he’s deciding whether to laugh or call a lawyer.
I almost laugh out loud. Instead, I look down at my glass, my shoulders shaking slightly.
God help me, I’m enjoying this.
I tell myself I should stop. That this has gone on long enough. That encouraging her—even silently—is reckless. That involving my brother crosses a line.
“For God’s sake, Sebastian. Does she lurk around here when you sleep?”
No way in hell I’m answering that question.
“I hate the term lurking. It sounds so... creepy.” She shivers.
“What the hell?” Drew runs a hand through his neatly combed hair, messing it up.
“Oh, don’t worry. I’m not going to watch you sleep. I only watch Sebastian.” She closes the dishwasher door and straightens, giving Drew a reassuring smile.
He makes a wounded sound in the back of his throat that has satisfaction rolling through me.
