“I’m not lying. When I was home, I didn’t fuck anyone but you. Not because I’m moral—I don’t know the meaning of the word—but because I didn’t want to do anything that would drain me. I probably would have been nicer to you if I had gotten it from other women—or from other men for that matter. I’ll take it from anyone. Instead, since I was depending on you for it, I became a very frustrated guy.”

“We had sex all the time!”

“I’m sure it felt that way to you.”

“It was that way!”

“Not to me, baby doll. You know, there were times when I was up late at night—I was always a night owl—when I was done with my work, and I just kept staring at the clock, waiting for a sufficient amount of time to pass so I could wake you up and fuck you again. Back then, I was not only younger but insatiable. I’ve slowed a little, but I’ve still got that in me with you around here. I could do it again. Right now. I’ve been waiting for you for a very long time, little girl. I haven’t touched another woman since I picked you up in Los Angeles.”

That would explain a lot. Still, I was stunned. “Really?”

“Yeah, really! Think I’m always this way? It’s years of fucking pent-up frustration.” He wrapped his arms around me. “But … I know you’re tired. I can wait until the sun comes up.”

I saw light shining through the top of the bedroom window. “The sun is up,” I noted. “Please, let’s sleep. I’m so tired. You must be exhausted as well.”

“I’ll cop to that.” He hugged me tightly. “This is nice.” He nuzzled me again and I pulled away. His beard, the few times he had one, had always been soft. But his stubble against my cheek was like sandpaper. He said, “I’ll shave before I come to you. Been a long time since I’ve had to think about that.”

A few moments later, I felt him relax. I said, “Chris?”

“No, I don’t know anything about your boy, and no, I really didn’t cheat on you when I was home, and no, I haven’t fucked anyone since you got here. God’s honest truth.”

“How’d you know what I was going to ask?”

“Because I know you as well as you know me. Now go to sleep.”

I closed my eyes.

For some absurd reason, his admissions made me feel better.

I had always been easily pleased.

CHAPTER 7