Page 70 of From Wink to Kink

I pick up another object, turning it over in my hands. "Okay, but what's this one? It's got all these straps and?—"

"That's a strap-on," Ruby blurts out, then buries her face in her hands.

I blink, looking between the object and Ruby's mortified expression. "A strap-on? For what?"

She peeks at me through her fingers. "You've never heard of pegging?"

Pegging? "Wait, you mean... in the...? With the...?" I gesture vaguely at my backside.

She nods, looking at me like I just crawled out from under a rock.

For a moment, there's silence. Then, I can't help it. I burst out laughing.

"Oh man," I wheeze, clutching my sides. "The look on your face!"

She throws a pillow at me, but I can see she's fighting back a smile. "You knew what it was all long? You’re a jerk, Newcomb."

"Come on," I say, still chuckling as I dodge another pillow. "You've got to admit, it's pretty fucking funny. Here we are, being gifted sex toys like it's Christmas morning in a red-light district."

Ruby groans, followed by a hint of a giggle. “This is not how I imagined this trip going."

"You mean you didn't plan on exploring the joys of pegging with your brother's teammate? I'm shocked, truly."

She rolls her eyes, but she's fully smiling. "You're impossible."

I wink at her, ignoring the way my heart skips a beat when she grins. "That's part of my charm."

We continue unpacking the basket, when we come across a schedule for the next day’s activities.

"Wow," Ruby mutters, scanning the list. "Here we go."

I peer over her shoulder, my eyebrows shooting up as I read. "Tantric Awakening, Exploring Your Sensual Self, Advanced Rope Techniques,Fun with Handcuffs.

I scan further down the list, relief washing over me as I spot the one thing that doesn't sound like it belongs in a Fifty Shades novel. "Hey, what about this one?Couples Communication Workshop: Building Bridges, Not Walls. That sounds... tame, right?"

She considers it for a moment, then nods. "Not sure we’re ready for that.”

“Fine. Then would you rather try your hand atSensual Massage 101?" I throw my hands up in mock surrender, trying not to think about the idea of giving Ruby a massage—as much as I might like to.

She shrugs. "Fine. Communication it is.”

“Okay. If you insist. Though I've been told I'm very good with my hands."

She swats my arm. "In your dreams, Newcomb."

We pull on our bathing suits, and as I watch Ruby fuss with her hair in the mirror, a small smile playing at her lips, I realize I'm looking forward to seeing where this place takes us next, even if it means navigating the most awkward couples' workshop in history.

But one thing's for sure, I'm keeping that strap-on as far away from my ass as possible.

35

CHUCK

On the wayto the beach, the jungle air is thick and heavy, clinging to my skin like a damp towel. Ruby and I are picking our way along a narrow trail, supposedly headed toward some scenic overlook. An endless sea of jungle green feels like it could swallow us whole, surrounding us on all sides and reaching several hundred feet into the air, almost like being in a tunnel.

"Watch your step," Ruby calls over her shoulder. "There's a root?—"

Too late. My foot catches, and I stumble, arms windmilling. I manage to catch myself before face-planting in the muddy trail. My dignity isn't so lucky.

---