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“How long did you live with them?”
“Three years. But after I had to move again, my coach was already invested, so he took over and filled that mentor role.”
The conversation is suddenly derailed by a series of grunts from the speakers. Followed by snorting noises, then a cry that sounds like it’s coming from underwater.
“What the fuck is that?” I demand.
“That, I believe, is a hippopotamus.” Gigi flashes a big smile.
“You smile too much,” I accuse.
“Oh no. Arrest me, officer.”
I roll my eyes.
“I think the real issue is—you don’t smile enough.”
“It makes my face hurt.”
“But you’re hot when you smile. And it makes you look more approachable.”
I blanch. “Baby, I don’t want people approaching me. That sounds awful.”
Her mouth falls open in awe. “Did you just call me baby?”
“Did I?” I didn’t even notice.
“You did.”
Well…shit. I need to watch myself.
A brief silence falls. Well, not quite. The symphony of Dan Grebbs’s field recorder fills the therapy room. The timer should be going off any second.
“So, this thing we’re doing,” Gigi starts.
A chuckle slips out.
“What?” she says defensively.
“Nothing, I was just waiting for it. I called you baby. This was bound to happen.”
“Waiting for what?”
“For the what-are-we talk. I swear it’s encoded into chick DNA. Always need to know where they stand.”
“Is that such a bad thing, knowing where we stand? I mean, I know we only had sex once—”
“Does it count as once when the first night involved about a hundred rounds?” I ask, genuinely curious.
“You’re right. It’s like a dog years thing. One night was the equivalent of two years of dating.”
I snort like one of the hippos in the African bushveld.
“But…there’s no feelings involved, right? It’s just a physical release.” She waves a hand between us, then winces when the water laps over her chest. “Another tool in our training arsenal to keep ourselves loose. Right?”
When I don’t respond, she pushes the issue.
“Well?”
“You want to know if there’s feelings involved?” I offer a shrug. “I mean, it felt really good when I was inside you.”
“That’s not what I mean.” But I succeed in bringing a blush to her cheeks.
“It felt really good when you were coming on my face,” I continue.
She’s squirming in the tub now. It’s cute.
“Oh, stop that,” she grumbles. “We’re in an ice bath.”
“So?” I reach my hand beneath the water and rest it on my groin.
Her gaze doesn’t miss that. “Don’t tell me you’re capable of having an erection while submerged in ice water. Is your dick actually hard right now?”
“No,” I answer with a chuckle. Then I get serious again because I know she’ll take us right back here if I don’t. “Look. I don’t do feelings.”
“Ohhh. He doesn’t do feelings,” she says sarcastically. “Gosh, Ryder. You’re so cool and tough.”
“I’m baring my soul and you’re making fun of me?”
“Baring your soul, my ass. All I’m saying is, you can’t ‘do’ feelings or not do feelings. Sometimes feelings just sneak up on you.”
“Not on me.” Although lately I’ve been wondering.
She’s quiet for a beat before heaving a sigh. “I guess it doesn’t matter either way. I can’t see feelings developing either.”
There is no conceivable explanation for the disappointment that hits me.
I should be thrilled to hear those words.
So why the hell does it feel like a switchblade to the gut?
“We’re too different. For example, my favorite thing to listen to is this—” She gestures to the speaker on the ledge. “These beautiful, soothing nature sounds. Meanwhile, you probably listen to death metal songs.”
The timer goes off.
“Thank God,” she cries, shooting to her feet a nanosecond later. A full-body shiver visibly rolls through her as she races to grab her towel.
I get out of the tub and find my own towel.
“I usually do five minutes in the sauna now,” Gigi tells me.
Her gaze meets mine, and I can’t control my lips from tugging upward.
“Lead the way,” I say.
We go two doors down to the dry sauna. The heat feels like pure heaven on my face when we step inside. Gigi sets the timer for five minutes, then gives me a curious look.
“Have you ever had sex in a sauna?”
Damned if my dick doesn’t jump at the idea.
I play it cool, though. “Very presumptuous of you to think I’m going to have sex with you in here.”
Her jaw drops.
With a mocking grin, I walk past her and sit on the top bench. This heat is perfect after the cold tub. My pores burst open and it’s a fantastic feeling. I’m still sore from last night’s hits, but not as much as before. The body is an incredible machine.
As if to punish me, Gigi sits on the other bench. We face each other in the small space. My gaze focuses on the firm thighs emerging from the sides of her black one-piece.
“I like that suit,” I say.
