Page 50 of Crescendo

“Uh—”

Alisha laughed. “You’re saying she’s good in bed? Shocker. She’s good with her hands and cares about you. Sounds pretty intoxicating to me.”

“Me too,” Sian said immediately. “Sign me right up.”

A hint of jealousy flared inside of me at the idea of Lydia sleeping with Sian. That wasn’t fair—we were casual and Lydia wasn’t even interested in Sian—but I couldn’t quite stop it.

I needed to change the topic. Needed them to believe it was a one-time thing.

“She’s been teaching me the cello. Last night, actually,” I said, fighting the urge to tell them everything in some weird bid to… what? Scare them off? Brag? I didn’t know this version of myself.

Sian’s eyes flashed, her eyebrows shooting up her head. “Sexy.”

Alisha shot her a look. “You think cellos are sexy?”

She shrugged. “Not the cello itself, more cellists.”

I rolled my eyes. “You just think musicians are hot.”

“Oh, and you’re telling me you don’t? You didn’t think it was hot when she was telling you how to hold the bow and draw it over the strings?” she laughed.

My body tingled. “She didn’t reallytellme how to do that.”

Alisha narrowed her eyes. “What’s that emphasis?”

“Nothing,” I said quickly.

They both laughed.

“Oh,” Sian said pointedly. “She didn’ttellyou but she did…showyou?”

“It’s not like that.” My voice was little more than a squeak.

“Did you like it?”

“What do you think?”

“I think…” She laughed. “I think you ended up in bed with her, so I’m guessing you did.”

“Mm.”

“Oh, you really liked it.”

Of course I fucking liked it. I had a hot woman pulling my legs apart to put a cello there, then wrapping herself around my back and touching me up so I could play without overthinking it. Whowouldn’tlike that?

“I’m grateful to her for… bearing with me and helping me learn to play. She’s a great teacher,” I said, keeping my voice measured.

Sian laughed. “She’s good. You deserve that.”

Alisha smiled a little more softly, nodding.

“So,” Sian said, her eyes flashing, “I think this is a good time for us to give you your gift.”

“Gift?” I frowned, looking between them.

Alisha held her hands up. “Sian’s idea.”

That didn’t bode well.

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