“I do think you should speak to Marcus when he arrives though, get it all out in the open” I venture on to thin ice.
“Kate, please just leave it.” His voice is quiet, but I can hear the subtle warning tones woven in.
“OK, OK” I put my hands up, agreeing to let it go. It is none of my business, but I hate seeing him like this, maybe I’ll speak to Marcus when he gets here, see if he will be reasonable?
We wake the next morning to a God awful clattering coming from downstairs. I spring from the bed, grabbing a stray stiletto as a weapon, ready to attack whatever intruder lurks outside. Still half asleep Carlos mumbles into the pillow, “What are you doing?”
“There’s someone downstairs” I reply in a harsh whisper, the heel raised to my shoulder and poised for action.
“It’s probably Marcus” Carlos points out, “he is incapable of doing anything quietly, but by all means throw that shoe at him, be good to bring him down a peg or two” he laughs, pulling me back down into bed and wrapping himself around me; his morning glory apparent and pressed into my back, as his hands fondle my breasts.
“Hey! I’m not doing that with your brother just downstairs”
“Awww what?” he employs his whiny child voice.
“If we can hear him, then he can hear us! I don’t want him listening in”
“But what if he stays for a week? You mean to say we won’t be having sex that whole time?”
“No, we will just have to be a little bit more inventive about where we do it” I say, turning to face him and throwing him a quick wink.
“Challenge accepted Ms. Mavers” he says, before kissing me.
“Right, come on. Let’s get up and meet this brother of yours.”
Walking downstairs, Carlos clinging to my hand possessively, I catch my first glimpse of Marcus; he’s in the kitchen, his back is to us as he moves around cooking up what smells like a fry-up. He has broad shoulders and you can make out every rippling muscle under his tight, white t-shirt. He has the same perfectly bronzed skin as Carlos, but his hair is shorter and a lighter shade than his siblings, more of a golden brown colour that shimmers when it catches the light.
He hears our approach and turns towards us, his face is almost identical to Carlos, they have the same strong jaw and dimpled cheeks, the same green eyes and captivating smile.
“Hey you guys” he says in a voice similar to Carlos but with more of an American twang. Wiping his hands on a towel he steps forward and outstretches his arms as if he is about to hug me, but I cut off his advances by extending my free hand for him instead. He shakes it firmly before greeting Carlos, “Little bro, how’s life been treating you?” he asks giving him a playful punch on the shoulder.
“Fine” Carlos smiles, politely, but offers nothing more. Marcus doesn’t seem to notice, or care and instead turns back to me, “You must be Kaitlin, I’ve heard a lot about you” I don’t know who from as he is barely on speaking terms with Carlos.
“Marcus, I presume” I say formally, keeping a wary distance, “I could say the same about you.”
“All good I hope?” he responds, as if unaware of any bad blood between them.
“Hmm” I react coldly, baffling him for only a second.
“OK, well I’ve made breakfast if you’re hungry? Pancakes, bacon, scrambled eggs, sit down and I’ll bring it over” he turns to finish putting everything in separate serving dishes while Carlos and I move to sit at the breakfast bar; I take the end stool, while he sits in the middle, removing me from any further contact with Marcus.
Me and Carlos eat in silence, listening to Marcus chatter excitedly about his latest business venture. Something to do with import / export couriers, it’s all rather dull, but he is convinced it is some sort of goldmine.
I’m half tempted to hook him into advertising through us, Mick was just starting to toy with the idea of going international when I left. So this could be a good jumping off point, if it’s as successful as he claims it will be; but somehow I don’t think Carlos would be fond of the idea and frankly when I think about working closely with Marcus it gives me a foreboding feeling.