Xcite Delights Book 1 by Various

may take some getting used to, but if it’ll get me looking hot in my new bikini for the summer hols, I can live with it. And if Alison’s fab new body is any indication of what the man can do, well, I can learn to salute. ‘Call me Penny, please.’
    He studies me from under tightly drawn brows. ‘Barnet tells me you want to hire my services.’
    ‘Barnet? Oh, Alison. Right. I do, yes. Come in. Tea? Coffee? Water?’
    ‘No. Nothing. Barnet says you want the standard beach job. ’Zat right?’
    ‘The standard beach job?’
    He stops in the centre of the lounge and folds pile driver arms across his chest, giving me a tight-faced look that lets me know in no uncertain terms my ignorance is insufferable. ‘Beach? Bathing costume?’ His enormous hands drop to his hips, and he takes a step closer. ‘You don’t want to look like a lard-arse in your new bikini. ’Zat it?’
    I blush hard. ‘That about sums it up, yes.’
    He gives me another disapproving onceover, like he can see every extra inch of pale, unfit flesh hiding beneath my baggy gym suit. ‘Gonna cost you a hundred quid an hour,’ he says.
    I grab for the arm of the sofa like I’ve been gut punched. ‘A hundred quid an hour?’
    He nods.
    ‘That’s a little out of my price range.’
    ‘You get what you pay for,’ he says.
    ‘I understand that, of course, I do.’ I offer an anaemic smile. ‘It’s just, well, Alison said you were affordable. That’s all.’
    He holds me in his cold blue stare. ‘Barnet was on the contingency plan. That’s a different matter altogether, more demanding.’
    I’m up at five in the fucking morning. How much more demanding can it be, I wonder. ‘But it’s more affordable?’ I ask.
    He shrugs. ‘There are certain terms and conditions. Certain arrangements to be taken into account.’
    ‘Tell me,’ I say, feeling my heart hammering in my throat. I do not want to go to the beach this summer hiding behind a wrap or a sloppy T-shirt.
    ‘Here are the terms.’ He moves a step closer. ‘You do exactly as I say at all times, and if you don’t, you take the consequences without complaint. You do that, and I guarantee results by the end of our contract period.’
    ‘OK,’ I nod. ‘And if I do exactly what you say to the end of our contract period, then what does it cost?’
    He looks at me like I’m an imbecile. ‘That is the cost.’
    ‘That’s all? That’s it. I just have to do as you say?’
    ‘Exactly as I say. At all times.’
    ‘So, what’s the catch?’
    He folds his arms across his chest again and glares down at me. ‘Look, do you want the contingency plan or not? If not, stop wasting my time. I got paying clients.’ He turns toward the door.
    ‘All right! All right. If you can get me the results you got for Alis ... for Barnet then I’ll take the contingency plan.’
    I’m expecting a handshake or a ‘You won’t regret it,’ or something. Instead, he holds me in a cast-iron gaze until I start to squirm, folding my arms across my breasts, feeling like maybe he has X-ray vision. At last he speaks. ‘You sure you’re up for this level of commitment?’
    ‘Yes, of course I am. I mean if Barnet can do it, surely I can do it, Mr Sturgis, Hawk.’
    He grinds his teeth and his jaw clenches like a vice grip. ‘You will address me as “sir” for the duration of our association, Davis. Are we clear?’
    I square my shoulders even more square. ‘Yes, sir, we’re clear.’
    ‘You will do exactly as I say.’
    ‘Sir, yes, sir.’
    ‘You will not question my authority. Ever. You got that?’
    ‘Sir, yes, sir.’
    He moves nose to nose with me, practically breathing fire. ‘This is no joke, Davis. Man’s body is his temple. Keeping it fit and healthy is serious business.’
    ‘Yes, sir.’ I figure now might not be the best time to tell him I’m not a man. Surely he must have noticed that – me with the tits and long hair and lippy and all.
    ‘Good. Then we start now. I got a gym I use