CHAPTER FIVE
Cleo
It was so odd that my stepdad decided not to touch me. After all, I’ve seen the way he looks at me, the way he eats me up with his eyes. So for him to suddenly pull the “you’re too young” stuff was a shocker. Drake Markham, Master of the Universe, actually had some ethics.
I admit, I’d expected him to fuck me that night, for us to dive right into an illicit relationship, touching each other everywhere, his cock buried deep in my cunny. And I’d made it easy for him too, coming on strong, telling him, showing him with my actions that I was wanton, wet, and willing.
But surprisingly the big man turned me down. And Drake’s rejection has made me so … happy. So happy that I can barely breathe, I’m positively vibrating, the air humming around me with energy. I smiled at myself in the mirror, singing a little as I brushed out my hair, the long red strands gleaming in the light. It’s just so different from what I’m used to. Someone was looking out for me, with my best interests at heart. Drake could have taken candy from a baby, but he didn’t, and my heart felt like it might burst with joy. So I almost didn’t hear when a knock came at the door.
“Come in,” I sang out. I half-expected it to be Drake again, but it was my mom, slinking in, her curvy form squeezed into a skintight red dress. She probably had a date with Carlos tonight, who knew where they were going, but the scarlet dress was sure to see the floor at some point.
“Mom, I didn’t expect you,” I said, turning to look at her, keeping my voice even. “Where are you headed?” I said indicating the dress.
“Oh nowhere,” said my mom breezily. “Nowhere you’d know.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Okay, fine,” I said deadpan. “It’s up to you.”
“Well, since you’ve asked,” she pouted. “I’ve been thinking of visiting Mr. Jennings on the North Shore.”
Oh my god. The same Mr. Jennings who’d kicked her out stark naked? Oh god.
“Lorena, get a grip,” I said tightly. “This guy is no good, don’t you remember? He treated you like shit, made you do the walk of shame naked, and threw his dog’s crap at you too. Why? Why would you visit him?”
Because that was what I hadn’t told Drake. Not only had Lorena been ejected in her birthday suit, but she’d been covered with dog crap Jennings had hurled at her, his epithets ringing as she strode down the walkway. The rags I’d run to her with had been to wipe that stuff off, to protect her.
But Lorena just looked at me slyly.
“Honey, you’ll never understand,” she said. “I’ve had a lot of experience with men, sometimes they just need to let the bad vibes out, you know? Jennings needed to let loose that day, vent some steam, and if I helped him do it? All the better, he appreciates me that much more.”
This was some messed-up reasoning, but I wasn’t about to argue with her.
“Fine Mom, have it your way,” I said tightly, turning back to the mirror. “Just don’t expect me to pick up the pieces like I usually do.” And a shiver ran down my spine as I remembered the sight of my mom walking down the walkway covered in shit. I almost cried again, it made me so sad for a woman who didn’t even seem to feel it.
But Lorena had come in to say something.
“Honey, I understand that you’ve been talking with Drake?”
My pupils dilated with shock, but I kept my expression impassive, fighting the instinct to turn in my seat and pin her with a glare.
“What do you mean?” I managed smoothly, continuing to brush, giving nothing away. Oh god. She must have seen me go into his office, but I hoped she hadn’t figured out what had gone on in there, that she hadn’t pressed her ear to the door. So I tried to play it off.
“Yeah, Daddy and I chatted a little. Why what did he say?”
And Lorena merely smiled again.
“He said you were growing up to be so beautiful, that’s all,” she purred.
Oh thank god, Drake hadn’t said anything and I let out a sigh of relief.
“Oh okay, great,” I said, as nonchalantly as I could manage. “Mom, I’m going out tonight, if you’ll excuse me?” I said, eyeing the door, my hint obvious. Of course, I was going nowhere. I just wanted to lie in bed and replay my conversation with Drake in my head, the way he’d been so manly, so amazing, so unbelievably caring.
But Lorena had come in for a purpose.
“Honey, it’s time for you to pick up on family traditions,” she said, serious for once in her life. “We’re vixens and even if you look like an Irish lass, you still have my hot Spanish blood coursing through you.”
I rolled my eyes.
“What does that mean, Mom?” I asked, exasperated. I really wanted her to leave, I wanted to get back to my daydreams of my hot stepdad again.
“It means, honey, that it’s time for you to see the Donkey Club,” she said, shooting me a sly smile. “To learn about men, we always start at the Donkey.”
What? What was that? It sounded like some kind of lame kids’ playhouse with Mickey Mouse as its leader.
Seeing my befuddled expression, my mom laughed.
“No baby, the Donkey Club is a gentlemen’s club in the City. I’ll take you. Some of my old contacts might still be around.”
Internally I lurched back in horror but tried not to show it, instead keeping my expression frozen.
“Um, Mom, I’m not the right girl,” I said tightly. “A gentlemen’s club? In the city? It’s just not me, I like it here on Long Island with the trees and birds and big lawns. Besides, why? Why a gentlemen’s club?”
“Oh honey, lighten up,” scolded my mom. “Drake’s comment about you being so beautiful made me think, that’s all,” she said nonchalantly. “It’s time for you to come out to the City with me, girls’ night and all that. You’ll like it, I promise.”
I hesitated. I’m ashamed to admit but after everything that’s happened, I still craved Lorena’s love. Even knowing that my mom was the champion of bad decision-making, that she always prioritized herself above anybody else, when I heard the words “girls’ night,” I immediately thought that maybe, just maybe, Lorena wanted to spend quality time together.
“You mean, like you and me, together, for a night?” I asked tentatively. I hated the slightly begging tone in my voice, hated myself even as I felt my heart lurch faster. Maybe this could be an opportunity for us to bond a little, develop some mother-daughter kinship.
“Of course baby, it’ll be you and me like best friends,” purred Lorena. “It’ll be fun. You’ll see.”
And so it was set. I had a date to explore the City with my mom … at a place called the Donkey.