I stopped, allowing myself a self-indulgent smile. It was a good thing she couldn’t see me, because what she said next almost made me choke on my own saliva.

“What if I gave you a nude?”

I poked my head back around the lockers so fast I almost got whiplash. “Nudes? Of you?” Thank God, Satan, and any other deity out there that my voice didn’t crack. I had to keep it cool. “Overpricing yourself a little, aren’t you?”

She didn’t look happy about me throwing her own words back in her face. “Frankly, sending you a nude is overpaying,” she said, waving her hand. “But whatever. Give me your number.”

“Hey, woah now. I’ll take your nude as payment, Jess, but I have conditions.” She glared at me, but since she’d suggested it, I was going to milk this for all it was worth. “I don’t want some old pic Kyle has jacked off to. I want you to take a new one, just for me.”

She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, sure, fine.”

Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit. She was serious. She was actually going to do it. “Take one and send it, now,” I said. “Not later.”

She laid her hand over her heart, an expression of mock offense on her face. “Jason, don’t you trust me? I think you’d show a little more appreciation. It’s not like I send nudes to just anyone.”

“I really don’t give a fuck how many people have seen you naked.” I leaned back against the lockers, trying to figure out a way to keep myself calm. “All I care about is that this photo is meant for me.”

She shifted slightly. There it was again, that spark of excitement in her eyes. Like this was thrilling for her. Like it was a game.

“Fine, it’ll be a brand-new shiny nude just for you,” she said. “Bye. Leave. I’d like to shower before they start locking up the campus.”

My entire body tingled. “Go ahead. Do your thing.”

“You have got to be kidding,” she growled in frustration. “Ugh, at least face the other way. I’ll scratch your fucking eyes out if you turn around.”

“Easy, kitty.” I turned around, arms folded. I didn’t need to stare at her naked and I wasn’t going to push for it. But I didn’t want her sneaking out of paying me either. I did the work, I deserved something in return. If this was what she wanted to give, fuck, she could pay me with nudes anytime she wanted. “I’m not here to be a creep, just to make sure I get paid.”