After I finish eating, she cleans my plate and the skillet and puts them in the cabinet, not bothering to use my dishwasher.

“You want a tour of the mansion?” I ask, standing up from the stool, and tuck it under the nook.

“I already took one. I counted thirteen rooms and ten bathrooms. Why do you need so much space?”

“I don’t. I bought this place as a trophy so every time I look at it, it reminds me how far I’ve come in life.” I twitch my mouth.

“It’s beautiful, so big and spacious. I like it, especially the mini-movie theater you have and the deck. Your furniture and drapes look expensive. I’ve never seen any of the fabric.”

“I hired an interior designer to import my shit from France and Italy.”

“Hmmm, fancy,” she says, giggling.

Time to get down to business.

I grab her by the ass and set her on the flat surface of the nook, spreading her legs, ready to feast on my real meal.

“Gunner,” she says breathlessly. “I’m very sore, so we have to hold off on sex, just for a few days.”

“I won’t fuck you, I’ll just lick your clit, okay?” I drop to my knees on the cold marble floor and sling her legs around my shoulders.

“Okay,” she says, placing her hand on the back of my head, nudging me toward her pussy.

“Someone’s getting bold.” I inhale the scent of her and my dick aches.

“I’m sorry. Your tongue is so addictive.”

The doorbell rings, and Gia wrinkles her nose.

“I wasn’t expecting anyone today,” I say. If it’s Tom, my gardener, he knows the code to get into my mansion to get himself something to drink or eat. I rush through the living room and open the oak door. My mom stands on the threshold holding her glass bowl and sage stick. She looks lovely wearing a cream blouse and black dress pants with heels.

Oh, shit. Oh, shit.

I’ve never taken a woman to officially to meet my ma. She knows I fuck around with different women, but Gia is the first woman I’ve taken seriously, and I don’t know how my ma would respond to Rainbow.

“Hey, honey. I’m here to do your monthly house cleansing.” She walks inside, and I shut the door behind her. Every month my ma comes by and cleanses my house of negative energy. Today, she’s in one of her chipper moods; her cleansing is like her alcohol. I think that stick gets her drunk. “After I’m done, we’ll spend time together, cook lunch, and you’ll tell me about your week. Herold is working late at the shop again.”

“I forgot you were coming,” I say, rubbing my neck. “I have a guest.”