"And he's rich."
"Yeah."
She nods fair. "It's not about sex."
I raise a brow really.
"Not only about sex. It's trust. I, actually… I want to talk to you about that."
Ugh. Not an older sister be careful talk. I appreciate her looking out for me, I do. But I've heard this make sure you trust your sexual partners lecture enough times.
I don't need the talk. I'm plenty gun-shy.
I hate hesitating. It's not me. It's not comfortable for me. It's not what I want to be.
And now my sister is here to remind me I'm unable to be my badass bold self in this one arena.
Does she know I'm scared? Or does she believe my bark matches my bite?
"Do we have to?" I shrug like I don't care about her lecture.
"Humor me. Please. Let me be an obnoxious, overprotective older sister for ten minutes."
How am I supposed to say no to that? I nod. "You do look good." I take a long sip of my iced coffee. "Chic yet sexy."
"Boss bitch?"
"Totally boss bitch. Expensive."
"I can only be bought for the highest price?"
"No. Like you're the one who buys men for the right price."
"Which men are these?"
"Ones who satisfy you then leave the second you're done with them."
She laughs. "And how much do I spend on these men?"
"I don't know. How much would you spend?"
"I'm not sure I'd hire an escort."
Escort. What a euphemism. As if people are really hiring professionals to escort them on dates.
"I have Ty."
"And he already blows your mind?"
She smiles and drifts into the Love Zone. Hazy eyes, soft expression, intense contentment.
She's happy. I'm happy for her. It's great. I'd say enough already, but I brought this on myself. "Shall we?" I motion to the balcony.
She snaps back to reality, nods, follows me outside.
My balcony isn't nearly as grand as the terrace slash rooftop deck at her and Ty's place. It's a tenth the size, with way cheaper furniture, but it's still a balcony with a view of the Hudson.
It's fucking amazing.
"I don't think I'd want to hire someone," she says. "Not for sex. I wouldn't want to bring money into it."
"What if that was the only way you could be with Ty again?"
"No."
"You're sure?"
She nods. "When he called, I thought he might offer that."
"He might try to pay you for sex?" That's hard to believe. Yes, Ty is obsessed with her. Yes, he's used to getting what he wants. Yes, we were super-broke before he swooped in to save the day… well, the mortgage.
But it's not Ty. He has an over developed sense of right and wrong. He always has to be fair. He always has to win with sportsmanship.
"He wouldn't pay for sex," I say.
"He wouldn't. But it had been three years, and I was used to rich assholes who thought they could buy me. I didn't know what he wanted."
"He did want to fuck you."
"He did." She starts drifting into the Love Zone.
Ugh, no. "Would you have taken money for sex?"
"I don't know. Maybe. If it was him, maybe."
That's harder to believe. Yes, Indie does what it takes to survive, but she's romantic about sex and love. "Really?"
"It would make sense, wouldn't it? This guy, the best fuck of my life, shows up and offers me money for something I want to do anyway. Why wouldn't I take it?"
"It does make sense."
"But I'm not sure. I was scared to be with him again. Scared to lose him again. I didn't realize it consciously, but, deep down, I knew."
"He's that good?" I ask.
"Yes." Her expression gets dreamy. "But it's not because he has a huge dick or nimble fingers."
"It's not?"
She laughs. "Fifty percent of guys are above average size."
"I know how averages work." I take another sip. Try to find a way to phrase the question so she'll answer. "Is he not… noticeably above average?"
"We're not going there."
"You started it."
"Even so."
"He totally is."
Her cheeks flush. "It's not about that. There are guys with huge dicks who are terrible lays."
"And you know from experience?"
"I've had bad sex, yeah."
"Ever with Ty?"
"No."
I raise a brow.
She shakes her head not going there. "It's not because of his girth. It's the intimacy, the communication, the trust."
Ugh… this again. "Why do you make sex so unfun?"
She laughs. "Why do you ask for details?"
"Fish swim, birds fly—"
"Sienna Simms asks inappropriate questions about sex."
"And Indigo Simms tries to turn the questions into boring talks about boundaries?"
"Sex is all about boundaries and communication."
"Maybe the kinky sex you and Ty have."
"Definitely the kinky sex me and Ty have." For a second, she drifts into the Love Zone, then she catches herself, focuses on her tea. "We're good. You know that, right?"
"You and Ty? I am well aware of your healthy sex life."
"We're good everywhere. And I… I'm okay. Do you know that?"
"Of course."
"I'm still here. I'm still your big sister. I know you're a grown-up with your own apartment and everything, but—"
Here it comes.
"I'm still looking out for you."
"I know. I appreciate it."
She slows. Takes a long sip. Looks me over. "You kept me distracted for a while."
"Did I?"
She nods. "But I'm not leaving until we have this conversation."
Ugh.
"I know you and Cam have a certain… flirtation."
"It doesn't mean anything."
"Maybe. Maybe not. It's more than Cam. It's everything."
"So you wouldn't mind if I slept with Cam?"
Her blue eyes fill with surprise. "It's a bad idea."
Obviously.
"He's not just Ty's cousin. They're close. They're business partners. If something happened, it would be messy."
"I know."
"But you're an adult and you can consider consequences like an adult. I trust you with that."
"Why do you make it sound so boring? You should forbid me from kissing him. Tell me you'll never forgive me."
She smiles. "That would encourage you."
Probably.
"I don't really know Cam. I don't know what he wants. But I know you. You're a very appealing person."
"Why does that sound like an accusation?"
"It's not." Her voice softens. "You're my favorite person in the world."
"Before Ty?"
She nods. "You're good company. And Cam… he's human. I'm sure he notices."