Page 48 of Blue Gold

“Since when do you lock the door when you shower?” She narrowed her brown eyes at me.

Thinking of what to say, I ran a hand through my wet hair. “I don’t know… I didn’t think about it.”

Darting her eyes down my body, she gave me a knowing look. “Were you having fun by yourself, honey?” she teased, half a smirk on her red lips.

I nearly choked on my own spit over being caught so easily.

“Relax. I’m just teasing you.” She patted my chest. “But next time, invite me to join you. I’m your wife. It’s my job to take care of you.” She chuckled at my clear embarrassment.

“Claudia,” I huffed, only causing her to laugh harder as she walked past me on her way inside the bathroom. Quietly, I watched her go over to the sink, where she grabbed a jar of her hand cream and opened the lid.

“While you went out for your run, I was left to handle a mini crisis,” she said while applying a decent amount of cream to her tan skin.

“How so?”

“Elliot didn’t wake up, and I had to cook Maya breakfast myself.”

My heart spiked at the mention of Elliot at the same time guilt overtook me. Guilt because Elliot didn’t oversleep at all. In fact, he was up before the sun rose and only lied about it because, at that time, instead of doing the job he was paid to do, he went swimming with me.

“And then, if that wasn’t bad enough, your parents called to announce they’re joining us for a late lunch.”

The mention of my folks was enough to pull me back together, and I scowled. “What? Why?”

“I have no clue, but they’re coming soon.” Claudia put down her cream and turned around.

My brows furrowed. “What will we eat?”

Passing by me on her way out, she shrugged. “Whatever Elliot is cooking.”

The idea of my father, my extremely homophobic and rude father, meeting my precious Elliot struck me with worry, and I coughed to clear my dry throat. “Why can’t we all go eat at the country club?”

“It’s already too late for that, honey,” Claudia said without batting an eye. “Finish up in here and come downstairs, okay? Maya also wants to show you her new book.”

It only took a few words for reality to slip back in and remind me of right and wrong. The more I yearned for Elliot, the worse a husband, son, and father I became. I didn’t enjoy being this selfish man who hid from his wife behind locked doors. But despite all that, at this moment, all I wished was to go down to the kitchen and spend hours watching Elliot do just about anything. Him existing next to me used to be enough, but not anymore. Not after I got a taste of his lips and experienced the warmth of his touch. So perhaps this selfishness wasn’t a conscious choice but rather a result of an unfulfilled desire that had long since reached its boiling point.

Walking between the flower beds, I admired the red hue of the rose petals as their fragrance carried through the warm air⁠—

“Don’t Claudia’s tits look magnificent in that dress she’s wearing?”

My father’s entirely inappropriate comment reminded me he was here, and repulsed, I looked away from the roses to stare ahead at where Claudia was walking with Maya and Mother.

“I’d appreciate it if we didn’t discuss my wife’s breasts,” I said, trying to stay composed despite the way my dad continued to stare at her cleavage. While she wore a beautiful floral dress that complemented her curvy figure, Father had no reason to bring it up so bluntly.

Staying put and with one hand shoved in his trousers, Father continued ogling my wife. “I bet you like sucking on those tits, don’t you, son?” His stare moved to me. “One lucky bastard.” He laughed, patting my shoulder.

An actual chill ran down my spine at his words, and I gnawed at the inside of my cheek to contain my growing irritation.

“They’re even bigger than I remembered.” His eyes slid back to her. “Is she knocked up?”

My brows furrowed at his bizarre question. “What?”

“Claudia. Is she pregnant again? With a pair like that⁠—”

“No, she isn’t,” I cut him off before he could continue spouting this nonsense.

“Well, she should be.” He moved a hand over his jaw. “At your age, I already had the three of you.” He tsked. “It’s about damn time you start bringing me more grandchildren.”

With a sigh, I looked ahead at my wife and daughter. “Maya is all that we need, and besides, Claudia just got back to work this year, and she wants to focus on her career.”