Page 9 of Good Girl's Bad Lessons

He glanced at her. She probably thought it was wrong of him to try to purchase Desmorais’s home. “Yes.”

She shook her head. “A-are you crazy? That’s not right. Who in their right mind would sell their home out of the blue?”

Nico shrugged. “Honey, you don’t know how many times I’ve heard people say they wouldn’t sell a property, and they changed their mind when the price was right.” Hell, he’d tell Desmorais his own sob story if needed. His connection to the place had to help him persuade the old man to sell.

She lifted her chin. “I don’t think you’ll be able to buy it. I would never have propositioned the deal knowing that was your plan. I thought it was just some random vacation home or building.”

He waved her off. Now it was too late for second-guessing. “I applaud your values, but you’ll have to let me do my thing.”

She shifted her weight from foot to foot and glanced around him like she was looking for the right thing to say. Why did she make such a big deal? “I can’t convince him to sell it to you.”

“You’ll watch me do it.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “Listen, if you have any doubts about…”

“No. I’m good. We’re doing this. What are we eating?”

“You’re my main dish, piccola,” he said, gazing at her alluring eyes. “And I’m sure I’ll want seconds.”

Nico slid out of his seat, beat the valet to opening Emma’s door and seeing her out of the car.

“Your invitation, sir?” the blond man in the black suit asked, as usual.

He fished it out of his pocket and showed it to the man, who scanned it with a small device and nodded. “Thank you, sir. Please proceed.”

Nico gave him the key to his car, and looked at a baffled Emma. He hadn’t told her the details of the place where he’d take her, because well, watching her reactions would be so much more fun. He’d attended this sex club a few times in the past, and a couple of times he’d brought women who knew all about the rules and expectations.

They walked into the club, which looked like an abandoned warehouse, from the box-shaped, dark exterior. He held her hand in his, and a thrill of excitement shot up his arm. Being here with her would definitely be…different.

“Is this a new restaurant?” she asked when they entered the dimly lit reception area.

“No,” he whispered. “This is a club. Just follow my lead.”

The attendant, a ginger-haired woman in her forties, walked up to them carrying a silver tray on which two Venetian type masks sat. He’d RSVP’d early that morning, and he hoped this place wasn’t too much for Emma.

If she thought she was ready to learn everything to keep a guy interested, he wanted to start it with a bang. Maybe she’d run for the hills and decide the idea wasn’t for her, which would make everything less complicated. After all, he’d argue that he’d tried, but she hadn’t been up to it—therefore, she still had to maintain her end of the bargain.

He truly hoped she didn’t enjoy any of it, because if she did, he was in deep shit. Don’t forget you’re giving her the tools to get her fiancé back. Not you, who has gotten a vasectomy for the purpose of not having kids or settling down. Not you, a voice inside him echoed. A man who hadn’t protected his brother, who’d wronged him and never even had the guts to tell him about it.

…

Emma put on the mask the attractive woman handed her. It was a small version of those carnival ones—it covered her face but left her mouth free and also exposed her eyes. For the past half hour, she’d slipped on an invisible mask from the moment he told her about his idea to buy the same house where Desmorais planned on building an animal sanctuary.

Acid rolled into her stomach. If she had told Nico about her project with Desmorais, she’d be infringing the confidentiality agreement. Not that Desmorais would find out, but still, it’d be wrong.

Yeah, right, that’s why you didn’t tell him. Because you’re so fucking altruistic. If she had told Nico there was no way Desmorais would sell his beloved home because he loved it so much that he wanted to turn it into a shelter, Nico could possibly ax their deal. She’d had to persuade him to begin with. He wouldn’t teach her how to be good in bed for the heck of it. And now, skimming around her surroundings, she realized she wanted him to teach her everything. Badly.

“Emma,” he called, pulling her from her temporary guilt.

She wondered if this was one of those progressive eateries where people shared a meal with strangers on a bed. She inhaled, trying to determine the type of cuisine, but no food aromas came to her.

“What’s this for?” she asked Nico, shaking her wrist, where the woman had put a red plastic band.

“Means you’re here as a voyeur. No one will touch you,” he said, placing his hand on the small of her back and prompting her to walk in the direction of a set of tall, heavy doors.

“What if they touch anyway?” she asked, a pang of fear in her voice. She’d be willing to learn things from Nico, but not from some random strangers. If he thought she was into orgies, she’d be out.

“They won’t. If anyone touches a hair of yours, I’ll knock out their teeth.” The muscle in his jaw twitched.

A flutter traveled through her, almost as if she strangely felt…protected. Simon was a sweetheart, but he’d never punch another guy for her. Not that he didn’t love her—he did—but he always preferred talking things out and finding sensible solutions. That’s why she always knew he’d be a great partner and father.

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