Page 52 of The Promises We Break

I can’t help but smile.

“It’s been so crazy, Hudson. We’ve already located the building we are converting, applied for the permits, and hired contractors. I’m leading the marketing team to start putting this out there next week. It’s all happening so fast; so much faster than I could have ever imagined. I guess that’s what happens when you tell everyone your boss is Christian Ford.”

“So, then, what are the stipulations you told me about?” That makes her pause.

“Well, it wasn’t their stipulations, it was mine,” she replies shyly.

“Does this have anything to do with the excruciating text message about modifying our agreement?” I ask.

Her head snaps my way. “Excruciating?” she repeats.

“Yes.” I toss an olive at her. “About modifying our agreement and not telling me anything more for two long ass weeks.” I half laugh, trying to keep it light.

“Well, I wanted to have the conversation in person.” Her voice is light, too light.

Fuck.

I sit up, placing my plate on the coffee table in front of us.

“What’s up?” I interlace my fingers together, placing my elbows on my legs, giving her my full attention.

“Well…” She sits up, sliding her plate on top of the closed pizza box, next to mine. Her fingers pinch her bottom lip, as if in deep thought. Then they move slightly, tugging on her top lip as she nibbles on the inside.

“Ember…” I pull her hand away from her face, keeping it held in mind. “Talk to me.”

My heartbeat has kicked up a few notches. The pressure flowing through my veins rivals that of world famous geysers.

She’s having a hard time verbalizing whatever is on her mind, and it’s clearly been weighing on her.

“I…” She pauses, a long ass pause. Her lungs deflate with a long exhale that matches the descent of her shoulders. “I need sex lessons. I need you to give me sex lessons.”

I physically choke on air.

Her wide eyes glare with concern for only a brief moment before they furrow in confusion.

After I catch my breath, I can’t help but let out a chuckle.

“Don’t laugh at me.” She lets go of my hand.

“No, no. I almost died by choking on my own breath. I’m laughing at myself. But I can’t say I’m not shocked.” I reach for her hand again, pulling it close to me as I slide off the couch and place myself in front of her, so we’re face to face.

I use my index finger to tilt her chin up, so her eyes meet mine. “Tell me more about these lessons.”

The vulnerability in her eyes is like nothing I’ve seen. Ember has been a positive energy source, as powerful as the sun, since the moment I met her. Other than that moment on stage, where her nerves got the best of her, she’s always been strong, confident, and assertive in what she wants.

“I mean, maybe notlessons, just experience. It’s just… I know this could be a really great thing. This club. I feel it in my soul and down to the marrow of my bones. The business stuff I can do. I just need… help, in the other areas. I want to do it justice.”

Jesus.

Her emotional mix of nerves and confidence marry each other in a way I’ve never seen before.

Could Iteachher things about sex? Sure. Some things about certain sexual lifestyles I know enough about; the others we could figure out together. But spending the next, however long it takes, to get this building up and running, exploring her in ways no one else has.

Fuck.

This might destroy me. Just in time for her to leave me.

“I’ve only had one other partner, aside from you,” she says.

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