“Thank you. I’ll definitely take you up on that. Although, given that I didn’t pack a swimsuit, I think I’ll wait until after Amalia leaves each day. I wouldn’t want to give the poor woman an unexpected view of my ass.”
Reed arches his brow, his dirty thoughts etched all over his face. “As you wish. Full disclosure, though...” He gestures above us, to a second-story wall of windows. “That’s my bedroom right there. If I hear a splash, I’m gonna head straight to my window, hoping to see an unexpected view of your ass.”
“As you wish. As long as you join me after I’ve gotten my workout in.”
“No need to swim as your work out. I work out every morning, first thing. I was assuming my shadow would join me.”
“Oh, I love morning workouts. I taught some morning classes at the gym at UCLA.”
“Youtaughtclasses?”
I nod. “Spin and Pilates.”
He gestures to my body. “Well, that answers that question. Well, hell. If you like spin, you should try out my Peloton this week.”
“Oh! I’ve always wanted to try one.” I frown. “Except... shoot. I didn’t pack my cycling shoes, any more than a swimsuit... probably because IthoughtI’d be on the road this week with one of my favorite bands.”
Reed pulls out his phone, ignoring my snarky tone. “What’s your shoe size, Ricci?”
“Oh. No. I didn’t mean for you to?—”
“I insist.”
“I can’t let you buy me cycling shoes, Reed.”
“Tell me your damned shoe size, or I’ll sic Amalia on you. And trust me, you don’t want a determined Amalia on your ass.”
Reluctantly, I tell Reed what he wants to know, and he places the order.
“Thank you. You’re making me feel right at home.”
“My home is yours.” He drinks me in for a long beat, brazenly undressing me with his eyes. “How about we cut this tour short, and head straight to the last stop?”
“Nope,” I say. “I want the full tour. Plus, don’t pop a stiffy yet, dude. You’re not getting into my pants again until you’ve fulfilled your end of our bargain.”
He looks at me blankly.
“Alessandra’s demo? You’re required to listen to the first minute of all three songs.”
“Aren’t you forgetting a little something? Before I’m required to listen to a single song on that demo, you’re required to give me two lap dances and a striptease.”
I scoff. “I’ve already paid my debts to you, and then some. Letting you eat me out at the stadium was the equivalent offivestripteases. And the way you fucked me in that closet was the equivalent oftenlap dances. Plus, regardless, all bets were off the minute that PA walked in on us, and saw my tits and wahoo hanging out, and you camped between my legs with shiny lips. That was the most humiliating thing that’s ever happened to me, Reed. I get a free pass for that.”
Reed chuckles. “Fair enough. All right. I hereby release you from your debts, on one condition: I’ll listen to the demo in bed—while lying next to you.”
I raise my index finger. “If we’reon topof the bed, yes. Notinit. And if we’re fully clothed.”
He chuckles. “On top of the bed, but in our pajamas.”
I pause. “Agreed.”
He winks. “Tricked ya. I sleep in the nude.”
I giggle. “You’ve got to wear sweatpants, at least, or we’ll get too distracted and never make it through the entire demo.”
“I’ll wear briefs. That’s my final offer.”
I roll my eyes. “Fine, but I’m wearing my actual pajamas.”
