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“Don’t tempt fate. We’ve still got the actual ritual to record tomorrow.”

“Right. I’ll save my questions until then.”

I checked our levels and started the take.

The first portion went smoothly. I delivered Isadora’s dialogue with the soft confidence I’d developed for her character, and Hudson responded with the warm, intimate delivery that had become so natural to him.

Then we reached Drake’s next declaration.

Hudson glanced at the line, adjusted his breathing, and looked toward me.

“I want you naked against me, Isadora. I want your hands on my skin, and I want to hear you ask me to kiss you.”

His voice was low and deliciously rough.

I knew the words. I’d read them dozens of times, made notes beside them, and rehearsed Isadora’s response.

But sitting beside Hudson, hearing him speak that line with such effortless intimacy, I suddenly found it difficult to remember what came next.

My gaze dropped to his mouth.

Oh, for heaven’s sake.

I knew perfectly well how to read a sentence.

I swallowed and found my place.

“Then come closer, Drake,” I answered, letting Isadora’s challenge soften into invitation. “I’m tired of imagining it.”

Hudson held my gaze as the last words left my mouth.

For a moment, neither of us moved.

Then he reached toward the workstation and stopped the take.

The recording indicator went dark.

“Peyton?”

“Yes?”

He glanced at the equipment.

“Are we finished recording?”

I checked the software, confirmed the file had stopped capturing, and saved the take. Then I closed the recording session and switched off the audio interface. Bridget’s earlier call was over, the Folio reviewer wasn’t connected to the workstation, and neither of our phones was recording or transmitting anything.

“We’re finished,” I told him.

Hudson leaned back slightly.

“Good.”

Something in his expression made me forget all about the next day’s recording schedule.

He glanced once more at the dark recording indicator before turning fully toward me.

“Because I’ve been wanting to say something to you all afternoon, and I’d rather it didn’t end up in somebody’s audiobook.”