”“Yes, what is it.”“How serious were you the other day when you said you wished there was something you could do to help with my problem with ...ally?”Jacki thought for a moment before she answered, as she did not want him to think she was a slut.“I was very serious. But I want you to know I am not a slut. I enjoy sex and think you and I would have a great time together. Why do you ask?”“Because I was thinking that instead of going home on Friday, I could take you out to dinner and we could get. Um ... Rachel ... Of ... Of course not! N-n-n-no one is ... is ffforcing me ... to ... to do anything. Remember ... I’m, I’m banking m-millions here.”The subject was rattled. Rachel’s instincts took over. She moved in for the kill.“That raises an important point, Cynthia. So you are claiming that this ... endeavour is an equal partnership between yourself and your, ah, handler, a Mr. Ibrahim Beg?”“Um ... sure ... equal ... fffifty-fifty.”«Got her! Forgive me, Ms. Royal. This is for your own. I might as well say since the time my life fell apart. Since my world ended. Funny how we play with words to make them less meaningful. She's in a family way. She fulfilled her wifely duties. The accident.I woke up feeling more rested than I had since I lost the lover I'd been pursuing for the past few years.What Sam had started and Nancy had finished had felt good. Beyond good. I needed that feeling. Oh, the climax was out of this world. But the compassion, the tenderness, the love that I felt. I hope she's comfortablearound me, too. I don't want us to have to change how we are." We won't have to," I assured her as I snuggled into her. "Are yougoing to mind her staying with us? And if her being here is ok withyou, where will she sleep?" Sure, it's ok with me. She's your mom, after all. The couch opens upinto a single bed," Barbara reminded me, "and it's not too bad to sleepon. There's not much privacy there though."Laughing, I said: "Like I told you before, she's not much on.