Page 34 of The Upgrade

“I can see that.” I hate that I’m already lying. That I’m not telling her I’ve seen Kit again.

“Anyway, I’m glad it happened. That you got your one night with my brother.” There’s a sweet note of sadness in her voice. “I want you to be happy.”

“But?” I can tell by her voice there’s a but.

She hesitates. “I’m glad it was just a one-time thing. Boys aren’t worth risking our friendship, you know?”

“I know.”

And I know in that moment that I can’t ever tell her.

It’ll be our secret, Kit’s and mine. As long as he keeps his mouth shut, our chance meeting here can be nothing more than a tropical extension of our first hookup. A stealthy vacation fling.

“I miss you already,” I tell her. “But I’m so glad I’m here.”

“Promise me something, okay?”

“Okay.” There’s no hesitation, though part of me hopes she won’t ask me not to touch Kit again. “Whatever you want.”

“Promise you’ll put yourself first. That you’ll prioritizeyou—your pleasure, your needs, your sexual satisfaction.”

“I promise.” I think I can do it. I’m already halfway there.

“And promise we’ll never never let a man get between us again.”

“I promise,” I say, swallowing hard.

Crossing my fingers, I pray those two vows don’t conflict.

CHAPTER6

KIT

My first day of work flies by in a blur.

I meet with my first half-dozen consorts for unfiltered conversation about their jobs, lives, and experiences working at Crystal Bliss Retreat. My subjects run the gamut from a cheerful Scottish twenty-something consort whose accent leaves guests swooning, to a muscular, soft-spoken Albanian consort who has purportedly perfected rope play to an art.

I’m taken aback by how much everyone seems to like working here.

“Are you kidding me?” A good-natured Canadian named Jaques laughed when I asked what he liked about being a consort. “I’m paid exceptionally well to have sex with women who enjoy it. What’s not to love?”

The female consorts share similar experiences. “I’m bi, so honestly, I love lots of things here.” Those were the words of the pretty blonde consort I saw earlier today by the pool. Sybil gazed over the ocean and sipped her iced tea. “Threesomes are great, but I especially love giving women their first same-sex experience. When my wife and I were?—”

“Wait.” I glanced down at my notes. “You’re married?”

“To Kora.” Sybil smiled sweetly like someone addressing a slightly dim child. “It’s an open marriage.”

“Of course.” It’s not like I wasn’t aware those exist. “I just didn’t have it in my notes that any of the consorts were married.”

“A few of us are,” Sybil said. “Kora’s supportive of my work. She loves watching if a guest requests it, or just hearing about my enchantments. I never share identifying details,” she added quickly, probably worried I’d have confidentiality concerns. “Kora knows who I’m with through the portal, but beyond that, it’s just imagination.”

“I understand.” But I wasn’t sure I did. I’m an open-minded guy, but that level of openness in a marriage feels foreign to me.

The moan of a pretty brunette jars me back to the moment, to this poolside enchantment with a guest who ordered theSunblock Bliss Au Deux—a sensuous application of sunscreen performed by two shirtless male consorts.

Since I’m one of them, I try to stay focused. “Would you mind if I unhook your bikini top?”

The guest blushes a bit shyly. “Just for a second, okay? I’m still getting used to all this.”

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