Page 10 of Red Rose Cupcake

Shit.

I grit my teeth. I can’t let her slip away. Not now. Not after what we’ve already shared. I’m not going to push her, but I need her to hear me out.

Me: Meet me. Neutral ground. Just a drink. You pick the place.

There’s a long pause, and I’m about to text her again when my phone buzzes.

Rosie: Fine. The Clemence. Tomorrow, 7.

I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. The Clemence is one of those upscale spots in Monterey—a sleek mahogany bar inside a luxury hotel, fancy cocktails, the whole nine yards.

I’m not letting this conversation slip. Tomorrow, I’ll lay it all out for her.

* * *

ROSIE

After last night with Knox… The way he touched me, the way he knew my body—like he’d been reading me for years. It was so good, too good. And that’s exactly the problem. Every time I’m around him, I lose myself. I’ve never been with a man who could make me come undone like that, who could make mecrave him the way I crave Knox. It’s terrifying. There’s no safety net, no wall to hide behind when he’s near. And I’m not used to that kind of vulnerability. I barely know him, but he already understands me in ways that should have taken time. So, as much as my body aches for him, my mind is telling me to back off. To protect myself. It’s too intense, too fast. I need to be careful. That’s why I texted him.I need space. I’ve got to figure out what’s real and what’s just the lust talking. And if it’s only lust… I can’t let myself become entangled in it.

* * *

KNOX

The next evening, I walk into The Clemence a few minutes early. The place is posh, with dim lighting and dark wood everywhere. The kind of place where people come to close business deals. It feels like the right spot for what I’m about to propose.

I spot Rosie as soon as she walks in, and damn, she looks incredible. Curves hugged by a dark green dress that makes her skin glow, hair pulled back, and a determined look in her eye. She’s not here to play games.

But neither am I.

She sits across from me, her expression guarded, and the intoxicating scent of her perfume instantly makes me hard. But I can already tell she’s ready to pull away.

“I’m listening,” she says, crossing her arms. The gesture making her full tits push out. Fuck.

I take a breath, reaching into my jacket. I pull out a folded piece of paper and slide it across the polished wooden table toward her.

Rosie’s eyes narrow as she picks it up. She unfolds it slowly, her impeccably manicured eyebrows knitting together as shereads. Her eyes widen in disbelief, and when she looks up at me, there’s a mix of shock and… curiosity.

“What… what is this?” she asks, her voice shaky but trying to stay calm.

I lean forward, resting my hand gently on hers. “Breathe,” I murmur, my voice low and steady. “Just hear me out.”

She stares at me, then back at the paper. It’s a list—a breakdown of everything I want us to explore together. Sensory play, touch exercises, fantasy fulfillment. It’s all there, written out like some kind of road map to the next phase of our relationship.

“Knox…” she starts, but she’s struggling to find the words. She shakes her head, clearly overwhelmed. “This is… this is too much. I don’t know if I can—”

“Youcan,” I interrupt, my tone firm but not forceful. “And I’ll be with you every step of the way. This isn’t just about sex, Rosie. It’s about you trusting me. About us building something real.” I squeeze her hand, leaning in a little closer. “I want you to experience everything you’ve been missing. And I want to be the one who gives it to you.”

She looks down at the paper again, her lips parted slightly, her breath coming out in shallow, quick bursts. I can see the hesitation in her eyes, but I also see the curiosity—the hunger.

“Knox… I don’t know if I’m ready for all this,” she whispers, her voice barely audible.

I squeeze her hand, my thumb brushing over her knuckles. “You don’t have to decide right now. But I want you to think about it. This is for you, Rosie. It’s about you taking control of your pleasure—about us exploring something deeper.”

She’s quiet for a long moment, her eyes flicking between the list and me. I stay silent, letting her process it. I know I’m pushing her out of her comfort zone, but I also know that this is what she needs—to feel safe, but also to feel wanted, desired.

Finally, she lets out a slow breath and looks up at me. “And you’re… you’re really serious about this? About me?”

I hold her gaze, my voice soft but certain. “I’ve never been more serious about anything in my life.”

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