‘How much have you budgeted for this little project?’ he asked, an amused smile playing around his lips.
‘I haven’t exactly. I was just going to play it by ear. But I have five hundred, and after that I couldn’t afford to spend more than a hundred euro a week.’
‘Well, you can do a lot in half an hour,’ he said, edging closer to her on the sofa. ‘And maybe we could work something out.’ He reached out with one finger and began tracing her collarbone where it was exposed by the open neck of her shirt.
Claire gulped. ‘Like what?’
Luca looked into her eyes for a long time before answering, his finger lightly stroking her skin. ‘I could take part payment in kind, maybe.’ He leant forward and pressed his lips to the hollow at the base of her throat, his finger tugging at the neck of her shirt.
‘You mean – sex?’
Luca lifted his head. ‘Yeah. Why not? I like sex. I don’t have a regular girlfriend. Maybe apart from your lessons, you could?—’
‘Service you?’
‘You make it sound so cold.’
‘I thought cold was what you wanted.’ Paying him in sex – she wasn’t sure how she felt about that. What did that make her? But it was no worse than what she had suggested to him.
‘Well, think about it anyway.’ He kissed her, one hand stroking down her arm, then coming up to open the top button of her shirt.
Claire pulled away. ‘What are you doing?’
‘Obviously we’re going to have to start with the basics.This is called kissing. I’m kissing you. It’s part of what’s known as foreplay. Do you want to take notes?’
‘Oh! I don’t – I wasn’t planning to start right away. I’m not… prepared.’
‘I don’t mind a bit of undergrowth if that’s what you’re worried about.’
‘It’s not,’ she yelped. But it so was. She had lots of prep work to do before she’d be ready to let Luca see her naked. She didn’t even have any decent underwear. ‘I— I don’t have any cash on me right now,’ she said.
‘You can owe me,’ he said, leaning in again.
‘No.’ She pushed him away. ‘I’d rather pay upfront.’
‘Well, why don’t I give you a free sample? Try before you buy.’ He was nuzzling her neck, his breath warm on her skin.
‘No, that really won’t be necessary.’
‘Suit yourself,’ he said, finally giving up and sitting back.
‘We need to go over the rest of the ground rules first anyway. For instance, how much time will you be able to give me? When would be the best time for me to come here?’
‘I tell you what, give me the five hundred and I’ll give you all the time you need.’
‘Really? That would only allow me two and a half hours with an escort.’
‘Well, I believe in giving value for money. Think of it as a special offer – buy one, get one free.’
‘I have work in the daytime, so I’d have to come in the evenings.’
‘That’s fine.’
Claire fished in her bag and pulled out a diary. ‘Would Thursday evening be convenient for you to start?’ she asked.
Luca smirked and she knew he was mocking her formal demeanor. ‘Thursday evening is perfect. I’ll pencil it into my diary.’
‘Now, another thing. I’ll be going on the pill, but I want you to wear condoms as well. I’ll pay for them – and any other expenses involved.’
