Page 2 of Red Rose Cupcake

He nods, calm and steady. “I think everyone’s capable of giving pleasure to their partner. It’s more about knowing how to listen. Paying attention to their clues.”

His voice drops slightly, like we’re the only ones here, and it’s not cocky—it’s assured, confident in a way that feels… hot.

I cross my arms, leaning into the moment. “So what I’m hearing is you’ve got all the answers?”

He chuckles, shaking his head. And damn if the sound doesn’t make my temperature rise. “Not all the answers. But I know to ask the right questions.”

Interesting. My heart does a little flip, and I can’t hold back my smile.

My new friend and colleague, Candace, our host, jumps in. “Oh, Knox would know what he’s talking about.” She’s smirking. “He’s a sex therapist,” she tells me.

I stand there, eyes wide, mouth gaping. Really?…

Knox steps closer, his green eyes still locked on mine, his rich voice dropping even lower. “If you’re curious, I could show you.”

The air shifts between us, and I feel the heat rising in my chest. Is he suggesting what I think he’s suggesting? The crazy thing is… I’m tempted to say yes. “Show me, huh?”

Knox leans in just a bit, the rich notes of his woodsy cologne hitting me straight where it counts—a warm, manly scent that wraps around me like a hug. “Yeah,” he says, voice gravelly now. “I bet I could.”

I blink, feeling my breath catch. He’s not being pushy. He’s not even being cocky. But there’s something in his smoldering eyes that says he’d know what he’s doing, and more than that, he’d know exactly how to make it feel right.

“And if you’re wrong?” I ask, keeping my voice steady, while my heart is racing.

“I’m not,” he says, his calm tone hypnotizing. “But it’s not about being right or wrong. It’s about giving you what you want. What you need.”

There’s a beat of silence, the air between us thick with tension. I should be shutting this down. I should be the responsible adult here. Fuck that.

I smirk, feeling the pull between us grow stronger. “Alright, you’re on.”

Chapter 2

ROSIE

The breeze off the ocean feels nice out here on the deck, a cool contrast to the warmth inside the house. The waves roll softly in the distance, like a background noise to whatever this is between Knox and me. The party’s still going strong inside, but out here? It’s like the world’s narrowed down to just us.

I’m leaning against the railing, trying to play it cool, but I can feel him standing close, the heat from his large body mixing with the chill in the air. I know he’s watching me. I can feel his fiery eyes on me, studying, waiting.

“You really believe that?” I ask, keeping my voice casual, even though my pulse is speeding up. “That it’s just about finding the right connection?”

He nods, his gaze steady on mine. “I do.”

I shift, turning to face him, curiosity winning over caution, and just ask, “you think you can make me come?”

I say it like it’s a challenge, but there’s a part of me that’s already half-convinced. Something about the way he carries himself, the way he says things—like he’s not trying to impress me, but he knows exactly how it’s gonna go.

He steps closer, close enough that his scent envelops me. “It’s not about me,” he says, his voice low and steady. “It’s about you. Your body knows what it wants, Rosie. All I’ll be doing is helping it along.”

My breath catches. I wasn’t expecting that, but damn if it doesn’t make my breath catch. “And what if you’re wrong?”

He shakes his head, stepping in even closer, so close I can feel the heat radiating off his body. “I’m not.”

It’s not cocky. It’s not even arrogant. It’s just… confident. Like he’s so damn sure of himself, and for some reason, I believe him.

I let out a shaky breath, my body reacting to his nearness. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”

His eyes stay on mine, and I can feel the weight of his attention. “Let me show you.”

A shiver runs down my spine as his hand brushes lightly against my arm, his touch sending sparks through me. He’s so close now, his lips near my ear, his breath warm against my skin. “Let me give you what you want.”

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