Lex’s hand slid up my arm, resting at the back of my neck, grounding me. “No,” he murmured. “It’s honest. And honesty isn’t wrong. You’re just scared of what it means.”
I looked up at him then, searching his face for something I couldn’t name. “You’re not worried?”
“Should I be?” His brow lifted slightly, but there was a hint of a smirk at the corner of his mouth. “Majesty and I have shared before, remember?”
“Yes, Sir, I remember,” I said, voice barely audible.
“You’re not some passing night, Cami. You matter. To both of us.”
The admission made my chest ache. “You make it sound so easy.”
Lex leaned closer, his breath warm against my ear. “Maybe because it is.” He kissed the shell of my ear and then my lips. “Let’s get you cleaned up for the day. You ready?”
I nodded, needing a distraction. “What are we doing today?”
“I was thinking that after your horseback riding lesson, some training, and then we could go get food and if something is showing in the theater, we can go there too.”
I jumped up quickly, ran into the bathroom and turned on the shower.
Lex laughed from the other room. “I’ll take that as a yes. I’ll meet you downstairs when you’re ready.”
“Yes, Sir!”
Because who wanted to miss out on more time with the horses?
Chapter Ten
Majesty
Day One: The Art of Attention
The main teaching space was already set up when I arrived at 7 a.m. the next day with mats arranged in a semi-circle facing the demonstration area, chairs positioned for note-taking, water stations at each corner. Lex had been up since five, his meticulous nature demanding that every detail be perfect before the students arrived.
I found him adjusting the lighting for the third time, his jaw tight with the kind of focus that meant he was nervous, even if he’d never admit it.
“It looks good,” I said, setting down the box of materials I’d brought from storage.
“The left side is still too dim.” He moved to adjust another switch.
“Lex.” I waited until he looked at me. “It’s perfect. And even if it wasn’t, they’re here to learn, not critique our lighting design.”
He exhaled slowly, some of the tension leaving his shoulders. “I know. I just want this to go well.”
“It will.” I moved closer, lowering my voice even though we were alone. “How are you feeling about Cami being part of this? Really?”
“Terrified,” he admitted. “Excited. Worried we’re going to fuck it up somehow.”
“We’re not going to fuck it up.” I squeezed his shoulder. “We do what we always do. We teach, demonstrate, and create a safe space for learning. The only difference is that this time, the person assisting us is someone we’re falling for.”
“That’s a pretty significant difference.”
“It is,” I agreed. “But we’ve got this. And she’s stronger than either of us is giving her credit for.”
The sound of footsteps on the stairs made us both turn. Cami appeared in the doorway, and I felt my breath catch the way it had been doing since that first kiss.
She wore black leggings and a fitted tank top. It was the standard attire we’d requested for the physical portions of the workshop, and her hair was pulled back in a practical ponytail. But it was the look in her eyes that got me. She was nervous but determined, vulnerable but brave.
“Morning,” she said, clutching a water bottle like a lifeline. “Am I early?”
