‘A wife is the queen beside the throne. A mistress is a sin committed in the shadows. I need both to survive this life.’
When I questioned him further, he said casually, ‘I will not pretend that I am superhuman, Simeon. I make mistakes along with every other red-blooded man out there faced with temptation. Your mother is my queen, the one I’d die to protect, and my mistress is the object of my twisted fantasies. I can do what I want with one and nurture the other. Who do you believe owns my heart?’
I said nothing more, never questioning him again because I kind of understood his meaning. Mom is and always has been the queen of our empire and has earned his respect. Hell, we all defer to her, and I’m guessing my father’s depravity and carnal proclivities would disrespect her in his eyes.
This world brings with it a certain kind of madness that sex does a good job of blurring for a sadistic moment. It’s why I fuck whores in the rooms beside the gallery. It’s cold, impersonal, and an outlet for my pent-up rage. I would never hurt them, but I don’t respect them. They service me like every other punter out there, and feelings don’t enter into it. It’s cold, transactional,and serves a purpose, but now I understand my father’s point of view, accepting the fact that Alice will always be enough for me; otherwise, I would have failed at being the man she deserves.
I serve up the breakfast and as she sips her freshly squeezed juice, fresh from my juicer, she sighs with contentment.
“I love your life, Simeon. It’s so relaxing.”
It makes me chuckle. “What, living over a strip joint with a criminal is more relaxing than praying to God locked away in a convent?”
I raise my eyes, and she nods. “Of course. With you, I am free to indulge in living. There my personality was hidden behind a habit and a serene smile. Any wicked thoughts were crushed and replaced by charitable ones. It was a constant battle remaining pure in thought when the world beckoned outside my window.”
“It shows a certain kind of strength to choose that life, angel.”
“It appears I don’t have any strength, Simeon. I have chosen wicked sin over pure living because I have never felt so alive since I met you.”
“I’m glad to hear it.”
I reach across the table, and our fingers entwine, and the intimacy of the moment is not lost on me.
“I have lived alone in this building for several years because this is my personal space I don’t get from living with my family.”
She smiles as if she understands, causing me to add, “They never come here. If they require it, I visit them and I am happy with that. This place is not for everyone, but it offers me sanctuary. This apartment is smaller than any my family owns and yet it enables me to breathe. I cook; I don’t clean though.”
I drop a wink and her soft chuckle draws a smile on my face.
“I shut myself away in here to cleanse my mind and stop pretending. I never wanted to change a thing until you came into my life. It appears that home is now you, Alice. You give me auniverse to orbit, and sharing this space with you feels right, as if you take a cold apartment and make it a home.”
“I love that.”
“What?”
“The way you open up to me and let me crawl inside. It reassures me because many would be horrified at the speed at which I allowed you to take over my world and change its direction.”
“I’m guessing you’re referring to your sisters.”
“I am.”
A sad smile accompanies her words, and she sighs, “Without them, an important part of me is missing.”
I say carefully, “I have news about Rose.”
“Good news?” She gasps, “I am so worried about her, Tiffany too.”
“She is married.”
“How do you know?”
“She married my brother, Julius.”
“Your brother?”
Her eyes widen and I nod, “So it appears that your sister is safe to a degree and hopefully happy, although knowing Julius, she has a hard time ahead of her.”
“Why?”
