Page 22 of Some Like It Hott

Natalie’s teasing feels good in more ways than one.

And yet when I open my mouth, I drop a single, blunt, “No.”

A small furrow appears in Rachel’s brow. She looks from Natalie to me and back again, lifting her shoulder in a small shrug. “Well,” she says cheerfully, “it’s a lot of fun. But I’m not here to sell you on the products—just the services. You know where to find me if you decide to invest.” Then she shrugs again. “And since you’re not actually a couple, I won’t subject you to my intimacy lecture. Just know that it’s good. Survey after survey says it increases the number of orgasms attendees have per week.” She winks.

I choose that unfortunate moment to glance at Natalie. She’s watching me right back. Our eyes meet—and we both look away quickly.

Rachel extends her hand, and Natalie returns the vibrator to her but holds on to the Kegel balls, like she’s reluctant to let them go. “I’m going to take a set of these,” she tells Rachel. “I’ve always been curious.”

“Oh, they’re lots of fun,” Rachel says. “I’ll set aside some for you.” She grins. “We can talk another time about strategies.”

Strategies. Strategies that will involve Natalie parting her legs and easing those balls into her?—

“Preston, what about you?” Rachel asks.

“Oh. No, thank you. No product for me,” I say hastily.

“No, I was asking”—she does an admirable job of keeping a straight face—“what you think about the concept of the Wedding Launch?”

If my face gets any hotter, it will burst into flame. Andfuck me. I’m not a twelve-year-old boy in sex-ed class; I’m a grown man who—blurted lies aside—definitelyhas a Fleshlight at home, used a vibrator with his ex-wife, and thinks that sex toys are basically cool.

I just wasn’t expecting to be blindsided by them…or my curiosity about what Natalie does with hers. But no way am I going to let her know that.

“I think it’s great,” I say, pulling it together. “Fun and educational and obviously an important topic.”

I actually manage to sound semi-human.

“And obviously the launch would be purely optional for newlyweds! Not everyone’s comfortable with all this,” Rachel says, spreading a hand to indicate her product. “But it’s my hope that I could start a lifelong conversation about mutual pleasure.”

“Absolutely,” I say. “I’m a big fan of mutual pleasure.”

Beside me, Natalie makes a sound. I don’t think it’s a laugh, but it couldn’t have been anything else, right?

Rachel settles back on her bench. “Don’t let the food and champagne go to waste.” She hands Natalie back her plate and glass, and with deep gratitude, I swallow half my glass of champagne in one gulp, glad to have something to do with my hands.

Rachel tilts her head. “Let’s talk about what else you might be interested in, programming-wise. Book clubs are out because you don’t have the lead time, but we could do wine tastings, nature cruises, or any of the other things I mentioned.”

Natalie nods. “Can you get me a proposal with pricing for the Wedding Launch? I’m thinking we could have two per week, one right before and one right after the weekend? If you have the availability.”

“I have a great team of educators, and we’ve got a good-sized fleet at this point,” Rachel says. “I can’t be at every party myself, but I can definitely make them happen.”

“And maybe include in the proposal, but broken out so I can see them separately, one nature cruise and one wine tasting per week?”

“Absolutely,” Rachel says.

“Oh, and—can you demo the possible sessions at the Wilder-Hott party this weekend?” Natalie asks. She explains that Hanna has asked for the demo, not telling Rachel the story of how I antagonized her into demanding it. I…appreciate that.

“Absolutely,” Rachel says.

They sort out timing and details, and business concluded, Brody navigates us back to the dock. The sun has dipped below tree level now, and the breeze is cool. I try not to notice the goose bumps rising on Natalie’s bare arms, but I’m having trouble looking away. Finally, for my own well-being, I shed my jacket and settle it over her shoulders.

She gives me a startled sideways glance.

“You looked cold,” I say.

“Thanks.” She bites her lip and pulls it closer around her.

When we get back to the dock, Natalie pays Rachel for her Kegel balls and crams the pink box into her purse, and we walk back to the parking area together.

---