Entangled (A Tryst Novel) by Alex Rosa Read Free Book Online

help with those pesky student loans.”
    I knew it
.
  "You can’t bribe me.”
    He chuckles, but I get the sense that eventually he’ll be the one getting impatient with me. “Skyler, do you want to help or not?”
    “What do I have to do?”   Please tell me there is clothing involved
.
    “Lucky for you, this is a jeans advert, but I want it provocative. I want you in that pair of jeans, and nothing else.” He points to a pair hanging over the curtain.
    I go wide-eyed.
    “That is, if you fit. If you don’t, well, then we might be wasting both our time.”
    His tone feels like a dare, and I immediately feel challenged to fit into the jeans of whichever prissy model was supposed to wear them. “Let me see.”
    I reach over to grab for the hanging, dark blue pair of designer jeans, and I know the moment I touch them they’re way out of my price range.
    I turn around to see Gio still staring. “Do you mind?”
    He pouts to conceal another unreadable emotion. “No, Skyler. I’m going to watch, because you might as well get used it.”
    I get the sinking feeling that what he’s said has a double meaning, but I decide to take it as another challenge.
    I go for the button on my jeans, finding it ironic I’m unbuttoning the button I had just secured. I stare at him as I undress, making sure his eyes don’t do anything I don’t approve of.
    What I find most odd about the situation is that I should obviously have a problem with a man asking me to undress in front of him, but I don’t. There’s something in the way he holds himself that oozes authority, in a professional way. Maybe it’s the slicked-back strands of his thick Italian hair, or his toned arms that fold themselves over his broad chest, or even his perfectly trimmed face, well-manicured where it needs to be—no, it’s none of those things. It’s his eyes; the static electric gold that tells me to trust him, in all senses—with the camera that I have not seen him use yet, and in general. He can’t be over thirty, and I find his overall presence impressive.
    Now down to my underwear, I pray to God my antagonistic attitude will have not been for nothing as I slip my admittedly muscular leg into the jeans.  
Please fit.
    “Gio, has anyone ever told you you’re kind of bossy?” I say as I put one leg into the jeans.
    With our eyes still locked, as if taking notes on each other, his lips switch. “No. Usually no one has the guts, but then again, good thing   I am the boss
.
”
    I snort, which makes him laugh, and I wonder if the two of us are forming an unlikely friendship, defiance and all.
    After buttoning the jeans, I release a gleeful, unladylike squeal as I prance around the small space, which Gio seems to disapprove of with an eyebrow raise. I place both hands on my hips, not caring about my bra and jeans ensemble, to shriek, “They fit!”
    Take that, model bitches!
    “
Perfetto
! I’d ask you to take off your bra, but I can tell that will take time. But do me a favor and turn around.”
    I feel my breath catch in my throat, knowing that the idea of being   naked
 
in any form in front of strangers doesn’t sit well with me, but I do as I’m told. I turn around, finding it funny that   Gio
 
does certainly wield some magic with his words and charm.
    He takes in a slow, deep breath. “
Molto bella
. You have the most beautiful dimples in your lower back, my most favorite part on a woman. You’re perfect.”
    “. . . who’s perfect?”
    My eyes go wide as the smooth voice I have come to love sounds as Blake rounds the corner of the makeshift curtain wall.   How did I get here again?
    “Skyler! What are you doing? Gio? What the hell?”
    Gio, as if well versed in this situation, lets out a string of more deep, skin-tingling laughs, and I’m back to covering myself. “Blake! Calm yourself, and convince your beautiful girlfriend to model for me today . . . with you!”
    Blake’s look matches the one I gave the moment I